UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-KSB
(Mark One)
|x| Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 [Fee Required]
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
|_| Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 [No Fee Required]
For the transition period from _____________ to ____________.
Commission file number: 0-26328
VICTORMAXX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Name of small business issuer in its charter)
Illinois 36-3971950
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
1202N 75th Street, Suite 243, Downers Grove, Illinois 60516
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(630) 654-4398
(Issuer's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.001 par value
Check whether the issuer (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file
such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. |X| Yes |_| No
Check if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-B
is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the
registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-KSB or any amendment to
this Form 10-KSB. |X|
The Issuer's revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 were $750,382.
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
Registrant, based upon the closing sale price of the Common Stock on November
28, 1997 as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board, was approximately $639,734
(based upon $0.12 per share closing price on that date, as reported by the OTC
Bulletin Board).
As of November 28, 1997, there were 5,726,442 shares of the registrant's Common
Stock outstanding.
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VICTORMAXX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
INDEX TO ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-KSB
FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
Page
PART I
Item 1. Business 3
Item 2. Properties 9
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 9
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 11
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
Shareholder Matters 12
Item 6. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations 13
Item 7. Financial Statements 20
Item 8. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure 20
PART III
Item 9. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 21
Item 10. Executive Compensation 22
Item 11. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management 24
Item 12. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 25
Item 13. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 27
Signatures 28
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PART I
Item 1. Business
General
VictorMaxx Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") designed, developed and sold
virtual reality products for home use. The Company believes it was the first to
sell virtual reality head-mounted displays ("HMDs" or "headsets") intended for
home use with a suggested retail price of less than $ 1,000. The Company's first
product, the CyberMaxx 120 model, was introduced in November 1994. The Company
achieved only limited revenues from this product, which has now been
discontinued. The Company began shipping the more advanced CyberMaxx model 2.0
in August 1995. In December 1995, the Company began distribution of the VIR one,
a cordless, baseless game controller with a suggested retail price of $99.
In September 1995, the Company began development of a virtual reality
software system (the "Engine"), which allows for the programming of virtual
reality applications that can be accessed in a multi-user environment. The
Company also began development of a software game called Autoduel Online
(originally known as Car Wars), an application which was programmed to run using
the Engine. The game is based on characters and other materials licensed from
Steve Jackson Games Incorporated ("SJ Games").
In early 1996, the management of the Company concluded that its headset
was not likely to gain widespread consumer acceptance in the immediate future at
a suggested retail price of $889. In February 1996, the Company suspended
production of the CyberMaxx model 2.0 and in March 1996 lowered the price of the
CyberMaxx model 2.0 for the purpose of stimulating sales at a suggested retail
price of $499. During the second quarter of 1996, it became apparent that the
reduced price of the CyberMaxx model 2.0 was not going to stimulate sales and
the management of the Company made the decision to cease marketing virtual
reality hardware products. The Company liquidated its remaining CyberMaxx and
VIR one inventory. On October 31, 1996, the Company vacated it office facilities
and suspended its operations. Since that date, the management of the Company has
been conducting the business of the Company from a variety of personal
residences. See Item 6-"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."
On August 10, 1995, the Company completed an initial public offering (the
"Public Offering") of 2,700,000 shares of Common Stock, at a price of $6.00 per
share, and 2,700,000 Redeemable Warrants, at a price of $.25 per warrant. The
net proceeds from the Public Offering amounted to $14,839,708, net of
underwriter discounts and issuer expenses. The Company used $4,388,270 for the
payment of principal ($4,133,900) and accrued interest ($254,370) on the
outstanding bridge loan notes and other short-term debt previously incurred by
the Company, and $965,619 was paid to Bankers Capital, a division of Bankers
Leasing Corporation ("Bankers") for indebtedness and interest associated with
the acquisition of VictorMaxx, Inc. ("VI") assets. In connection with the Public
Offering, the Company sold to the managing underwriter, for nominal
consideration, warrants to purchase up to 270,000 shares of Common Stock and
270,000 Redeemable Warrants. The underwriters warrants are initially exercisable
at a price of $7.80 per share of Common Stock, and $.325 per Redeemable Warrant
for a period of four years commencing one year from the effective date of the
registration statement and are restricted from sale, transfer and assignment for
a specified
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period. On September 25, 1995, the underwriter exercised its over-allotment
option to purchase 379,700 Redeemable Warrants of the Company at a price of $.25
per warrant. The net proceeds from the exercise of the over-allotment option
amounted to $81,619.
On September 24, 1997, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire
all of the outstanding capital stock of Sonoma Holding Corp. ("Sonoma"). The
transaction, which is expected to close in December 1997, is contingent upon the
fulfillment of certain conditions by both of the parties. The Company will
account for the acquisition as a purchase.
The Company will issue 12,108,558 shares of its common stock and 100,000
shares of its preferred stock to the shareholders of Sonoma. The former
President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company is a
beneficiary of a profit sharing plan and trust that is a shareholder of Sonoma.
The preferred shares are convertible into 30,000,000 shares of the common stock
of the Company. Additionally, the Company will issue 1,550,000 shares of its
common stock to certain creditors of the Company in full satisfaction of their
claims against the Company. The creditor group includes the former President,
Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company and all of the current
officers and directors of the Company. Additionally, the Company will issue
615,000 shares of its common stock to a group of individuals as a settlement of
various employment claims and as compensation for assisting in the structuring
of the transaction. Included in this group are all of the current officers and
directors of the Company.
Unaudited consolidated financial statements for Sonoma, a diversified
industrial holding company, for the six month period ending June 30, 1997 show
sales of $2,224,040 and pretax earnings of $149,919.
Background
Virtual reality is a computer generated audio/visual environment, or
virtual world, into which the user may enter, freely travel and navigate through
scenes or information and interact on a contemporaneous (real time) basis with
objects or events encountered within that world. This virtual reality or virtual
world is often referred to as cyberspace. Virtual reality is characterized by a
sense of immersion, which is the experience of being in a separate world with
the freedom to move about and manipulate that virtual world. The immersion
effect is heightened through the use of stereoscopic (three dimensional) images
or scenes and stereophonic sound. The CyberMaxx attempts to provide the user
with a sense of immersion in the virtual world through use of a headset designed
so that the projected three dimensional image of the virtual world occupies 70
degrees diagonal of the user's field of view. The virtual world responds
realistically to the user's head movements which are monitored by sensors within
the headset. For example, as the user's head turns to the left or right,
headtracking sensors monitor this movement and the headset reveals a three
dimensional virtual world to the user's left or right according to the user's
head movements. Virtual reality gloves, body suits and other input devices may
also add a variety of sensory input and facilitate the user's manipulation or
interaction with the virtual world. Thus, through virtual reality oriented
products, the user may experience the illusion of being immersed in the
simulated environment generated by the computer and displayed in the headset.
Among popular applications of virtual reality are individual recreation games
and arcade systems in which one player competes against either the computer or
another player in an interactive game or contest carried on within the virtual
world in which the players are immersed.
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Products and Services
CyberMaxx. The Company believes that CyberMaxx was the first commercially
available virtual reality HMD product intended for home use with a suggested
retail price of under $1,000. CyberMaxx presents video images in an immersive,
stereophonic and stereoscopic environment and allows the user to experience the
sensation of immersion in the virtual world. It is fully compatible with IBM
type PCs using the video graphics adapter (VGA) standard and with other game
systems and video platforms using the National Television Standards Committee
(NTSC) standard. CyberMaxx can be used with Sega(R), Nintendo(R), Amiga(R) and
Jaguar(R) game systems, but not with the benefit of headtracking. When CyberMaxx
is used with compatible software, users may have the sensation of being immersed
in (or having become part of) a three dimensional ("3D") environment, complete
with stereo sound and real-time pitch, roll and yaw head tracking. CyberMaxx
provides a wide field of vision (70 degrees diagonal), using two full-color
active-matrix 180,000 pixel LCD's. CyberMaxx headsets can easily be connected
directly into the receptacles found on most PCs, VCRs, or video game devices. In
February 1996, the Company suspended production of the CyberMaxx model 2.0 and
deferred development of the next generation of the CyberMaxx headset. The
Company has liquidated its remaining CyberMaxx inventory.
VIR one. The VIR one, which was introduced at the 1995 Winter Consumer
Electronics Show ("CES") by VIR Systems PTY Limited ("VIR Systems") is a
cordless, baseless game controller that interfaces with IBM PC compatible
computers through the standard PC game port. The VIR one, which uses
non-directional infrared technology to transmit a signal from the controller to
the receiver in a wide angle pattern, works with any PC platform operating
system, including Windows 95, Windows 3.1, DOS and OS/2. The Company has
liquidated its remaining VIR one inventory.
Entertainment software. The Company was also engaged in the design and
development of interactive multimedia computer software for the entertainment
segment of the computer software market. The Company's first game, Autoduel
Online, was to be released as an Internet-based, multi-player game and would
have utilized the Company's Engine. Development of both the game and the Engine
were suspended during the fourth quarter of 1996.
Software
A varied and growing software supply for CyberMaxx was essential for the
development of the consumer market. As of December 31, 1996, there were 30
software titles providing some element of the virtual reality experience using
CyberMaxx. The existing titles include "Descent(C)" from Interplay, "Fortress of
Dr. Radiaki(C)" from Merit Software, "Tank Commander(C)" from Domark, and "Wings
of Glory(C)" from Origin. In addition, "Doom(C)" from ID Software is available
with headtracking but not stereoscopy. The Company provided development
materials, information updates and headsets to assist software developers to add
virtual reality features compatible with CyberMaxx to their programs. More than
100 software developers registered with the Company to receive this assistance.
The Company also maintained a bulletin board system and a site on the World Wide
Web, both of which are no longer in operation.
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Marketing, Sales and Customer Support
The Company marketed and sold its hardware products both domestically and
internationally. Marketing and sales efforts were directed toward establishing
dealer and distributor networks and selling directly to larger potential
domestic retail accounts.
The Company had entered into agreements with twelve domestic sales
representative organizations for the purpose of establishing a network to
facilitate the distribution of its products. The sales representative
agreements, which were geographically exclusive, generally provided for a
commission of 3-5% on sales within a representative's territory. In addition,
the Company established relationships with several domestic distributors,
including Ingram Micro and D&H Distributing. The Company also established a
network of over 40 foreign distributors. Generally, these relationships were
non-exclusive. The Company utilized a five person in-house sales staff to market
its headsets directly to dealers and retailers and to respond to customer
inquiries.
The Company also exhibited and demonstrated its products at various
consumer electronics and computer dealers and re-sellers trade shows, including
CES, Comdex and the Electronic Entertainment Expo.
The Company provided technical support to its customers by maintaining a
toll-free technical support line and by providing instructions on the operation
and repair of the CyberMaxx. In addition, the Company provided a limited 90-day
warranty covering the CyberMaxx headset against defects in workmanship and/or
materials under normal use and service. If a defect covered by the warranty
occured during the warranty period, the Company repaired or replaced the
product, at its option, without charge. The Company also bundled game software
and related manuals, purchased from independent software developers, with its
headsets.
Backlog
The Company typically shipped product within one week after receipt of an
order. Accordingly, backlog as of any particular date was not representative of
actual sales for any succeeding period.
Manufacturing and Sources of Supply
The Company did not have its own manufacturing facilities. CyberMaxx
headsets were manufactured by Pemstar, Inc. ("Pemstar"), an independent contract
manufacturer, at its facility in Rochester, Minnesota. About 10% of component
parts for CyberMaxx units were sourced by the Company. The balance of such
components were acquired and included in the assembly by Pemstar and its
subcontractors in accordance with Company specifications. A number of components
or sub-assemblies purchased by the Company or Pemstar for use in CyberMaxx units
were obtained from single source suppliers. The Company has no long term
commitments with its manufacturer or with the suppliers of component parts or
sub-assemblies, other than its technology licenses and supply agreements with
respect to video processor chips and headtracking sensors. VIR's products are
manufactured in China.
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Competition
Hardware. At least two other companies, Forte Technologies, Inc. ("Forte")
and Virtual i-O, offered virtual reality headsets for the home entertainment
market in competition with the CyberMaxx at suggested retail prices of less than
$1,000. The VIR one competed in a market segment that is characterized by
diverse product offerings and harsh price competition.
There can be no assurance that the products and services that may be
developed or acquired by the Company will be able to compete successfully with
the products and services of other companies in the future, or that competition
will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results and
financial condition.
Intellectual Property
The Company and its suppliers relied on a combination of proprietary
rights, trade secrets and patent laws as well as third party non-disclosure
agreements to protect their intellectual property rights. The Company also
licensed patents and other technology from third parties. The agreements for
these and other patents and technologies provided the Company with access to the
patents and technology on a nonexclusive basis. The licensed patents and
technology were material to the manufacture and sale of the CyberMaxx 2.0.
The Company had entered into agreements with 3-D ImageTek Corporation
("3-DI") and Koriel Engineering, Inc. ("KE") for stereoscopic video processor
chips which underlie the stereoscopic image display capacity of the Company's
CyberMaxx products. KE owns one portion of the stereoscopic technology. 3-DI
owns the other portion of the stereoscopic technology and is exclusively
distributing the chip incorporating both portions. The agreement between the
Company and 3-DI is a supply agreement and the agreement among the Company, 3-DI
and KE is a stand-by supply agreement (in the event of 3-DI's or KE's non
performance). In addition, the stand-by supply agreement permitted the Company
to purchase chips from a third party manufacturer designated by KE in the event
of a failure by 3-DI and KE to satisfy their respective obligations to supply
the chip. During the fourth quarter of 1996, the Company recorded an adjustment
of $98,000 to accrue the remaining liability under this contract.
The Company had entered into a supply, patent and technical license
agreement with Precision Navigation, Incorporated ("PNI"), covering the supply
of certain sensors, technical information and patent rights relating to a
digital magnetometer tracking system. These sensors and the licensed patents and
technology permit the inclusion of headtracking capability in the CyberMaxx
products.
On July 28, 1995, Forte commenced suit against the Company in the United
States District for the Western District of New York for alleged infringement of
a Forte patent relating to a headtracking device for use in a headset (the
"Forte Patent.") The suit sought an accounting and an award of an unspecified
amount of damages for infringement, a preliminary and permanent injunction to
prohibit the Company's sale of the CyberMaxx headset and other relief. On March
19, 1996, the Company and Forte executed an agreement to settle the litigation
brought by Forte. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company has
entered into a license agreement for use of the technology covered by the Forte
Patent which required the
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Company to make certain scheduled payments based on the total number of licensed
HMDs sold by the Company to date and in the future.
On October 14, 1995, the Company entered into a licensing agreement with
SJ Games, a publisher of board and role-playing games. The agreement grants the
Company the right to utilize certain characters and other materials associated
with Car Wars, a board game created by SJ Games in 1981, in LBEs, in an on-line
game to be accessed via the Internet and a CD-ROM home game. The Company
relinquished its rights under this licensing agreement in May 1997.
Health Related Concerns
Certain users of virtual reality headsets may risk a variety of perceptual
problems ranging from disorientation to seizure. The use of a headset may cause
certain users to have disoriented spatial assumptions that may feel real to the
user. After the use of an HMD, a person could experience a sense of dislocation,
nausea or exaggerated reflex responses. Certain persons who are predisposed to
seizures from epilepsy or related conditions may therefore be susceptible to
special risks using a virtual reality headset. Eye strain and exposure to
electromagnetic radiation may be other areas of concern. A warning as to
potential health dangers is included in the CyberMaxx packaging. Such notice
also cautions game players to limit their playing to not more than 15 minutes at
a time and not to operate machines or vehicles immediately after a virtual
reality experience. If the public's attention were focused on any of the health
hazards, real or imagined, created or aggravated by the use of virtual reality
products, sales of the Company's products could be materially adversely
affected. If users of the CyberMaxx experience any health problem as a result of
the hazards referred to above, or otherwise, notwithstanding the warning as to
potential health dangers, the Company could be subject to claims for product
liability. The Company carried product liability insurance in the amounts of
$1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 overall. No assurances can be given
that all claims will be covered by such insurance or that the amount of an
individual claim or all claims in the aggregate will not exceed coverage limits.
The Company canceled its product liability insurance policy as of October 31,
1996.
Government Regulation
The Company's hardware products must comply with certain requirements of
the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") regulating electromagnetic
radiation in order to be sold domestically. The Company's CyberMaxx and VIR one
both received a "Grant of Equipment Authorization" from the FCC as an indication
that the Company had successfully complied with the FCC requirements.
Employees
The Company had three part time, unpaid employees at October 1, 1997, all
of whom are officers and directors of the Company. The Company believes its
relationships with its employees are satisfactory.
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Item 2. Properties
The Company's executive offices were located at 510 Lake Cook Road,
Deerfield, Illinois 60015. These offices, comprising 5,672 sq. ft., were rented
pursuant to a sublease for a period expiring May 31, 1998. On October 31, 1996,
the Company vacated its office facilities and was released from future
obligations under its sublease agreement. Since that date, the management of the
Company has been conducting the business of the Company from a variety of
personal residences.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Except as set forth below, the Company is not a party to any material
legal proceedings.
In July 1995, the Company, a shareholder of the Company, the Placement
Agent, two officers of the Placement Agent and the former president, CEO and
director of the Company executed an agreement with respect to the settlement of
litigation brought by the former president, CEO and director against the
Company, the Placement Agent and two officers of the Placement Agent claiming
wrongful breach by the Company of an alleged employment agreement with the
former president, CEO and director and the Company's wrongful rejection of its
former president's attempt to put 122,900 shares of Common Stock to the Company
thereunder and intentional interference with such alleged agreement by the
Placement Agent and its officers. Under the terms of the settlement, the former
president, CEO and director had agreed to act as a consultant to the Company for
a period of 27 months to commence upon the closing of the Company's IPO and the
Company had agreed to pay him an aggregate $560,000 thereunder of which $300,000
was paid out of the net proceeds of the Company's IPO and the balance to be paid
in 26 monthly installments commencing September 15, 1995. The former president,
CEO and director had also agreed that during the consulting period that he would
not compete with the Company and would refrain from acquiring beneficial
ownership of more than 10% of its outstanding shares or becoming involved in any
proxy contest with respect to, or tender offer for, the Company. The settlement
arrangement also provided for the exchange of general releases between the
Company, the former president, CEO and director and other parties thereto. The
Company expensed the entire cost of this settlement in 1995.
The Company has not made any payments to the former president, CEO and
director subsequent to July 1996. As of December 31, 1996, the financial
statements of the Company reflect the $150,000 liability that is still
outstanding pursuant to the settlement agreement. The former president, CEO and
director and his attorney have asserted that the Company has breached the
settlement agreement and that, pursuant to the settlement agreement, the
provisions that specifically apply to the Company and its officers and directors
"...shall be null and void ab initio and each of the parties shall have such
rights, remedies and claims as they would otherwise have if this Agreement never
existed."
In a lawsuit filed by the former president, CEO and director in June 1995,
he asserted that the value of his alleged employment agreement was in excess of
$3.0 million. A key provision of the alleged employment agreement, dealing with
the issue of compensation, stated that "...although a portion may be in non-cash
compensation, the Executive's total compensation, namely base salary plus bonus
and incentives, if any, plus stock options compensation, if any, shall be not
less than 120% of the next highest paid executive's, or any other company
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employee's total compensation. As of December 31, 1996, the highest paid
employee of the Company has received cash compensation of $294,115. Additional
accrued compensation of $34,650 has been recorded on the books of the Company as
of December 31, 1996. As of December 31, 1996, the former president, CEO and
director of the Company has received cash compensation of $410,000 pursuant to
the settlement agreement.
Additionally, as of December 31, 1996, the highest paid employee of the
Company has received 139,424 shares of the Common Stock of the Company and
options to purchase an additional 334,617 shares at a strike price that has
subsequently been reset at $2.00 per share. While these shares and options were
issued on the date of the initial public offering of the Company, they did not
vest until April 20, 1997. The Company recorded compensation expense of $443,368
during the third quarter of 1995 related to the issuance of these shares and
options. The value of these shares and options on the vesting date was $17,428.
The former president, CEO and director of the Company and his attorney
have represented to the Company that they have each executed settlement
agreements whereby their claims arising from the alleged breach of the July 1995
settlement agreement will be settled for 1,000,000 shares of the Common Stock of
the Company. They have additionally represented that the settlement agreements
will be effective with the acquisition of Sonoma. The former president, CEO and
director is an affiliate of Sonoma.
On January 4, 1996, the attorney for the former president, CEO and
director of the Company served the Company with a Notice of Attorney's Lien
related to payments made pursuant to the July 1995 settlement agreement. On
October 15, 1996, the Company was served with a court order directly it to
deposit future payments pursuant to the July 1995 settlement agreement into two
Client Funds Accounts, one controlled by the attorney for the former president,
CEO and director of the Company and the second controlled by the attorney for a
creditor of the former president, CEO and director of the Company. The attorney
for the creditor of the former president, CEO and director of the Company had
previously served the Company with a Non-Wage Garnishment related to the former
president, CEO and director of the Company.
On March 10, 1997, an attorney for a customer of the Company alleged that
the Company was in default of a September 1996 purchase order and that his
client had sustained direct damages of approximately $20,000. The attorney
further asserted that his client may have suffered consequential damages in
excess of $200,000. The management of the Company has evaluated this claim and
is of the opinion that sufficient reserves have been recorded on the books of
the Company to cover any contingencies related to this claim.
The CyberMaxx and VictorMaxx trademarks are used by the Company in its
business. Applications for registrations of these trademarks in the United
States had been filed by VI and, after acquisition by Bankers, assigned to the
Company. Notices of opposition seeking to prevent registration by the Company of
the CyberMaxx and VictorMaxx trademarks had been filed by NBC Fourth Realty
Corp. alleging rights in and to the "T.J. Maxx" trade name and registered
service marks. The Company has entered into a settlement agreement with NBC
Fourth Realty Corp. whereby the Company has agreed to abandon its trademark
applications and cease all use of the trade names VictorMaxx and CyberMaxx by
September 1, 1997.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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None
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters
The Company's common stock commenced trading on The NASDAQ Small-Cap
Market ("NASDAQ") on August 10, 1995 under the symbol "VMAX." Prior to August
10, 1995, the common stock was not publicly traded. On October 23, 1996, the
Company received notification from the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel that
because the Company does not currently meet the maintenance criteria for
continued listing of its Securities on NASDAQ, that is Securities would be
delisted from NASDAQ effective at the close of business on October 24, 1996.
Subsequent to that date, the Securities of the Company have been quoted on the
OTC Bulletin Board. The following table sets forth the high and low closing
sales price for each quarterly period since August 10, 1995 for the common
stock, as reported by NASDAQ and on the OTC Bulletin Board.
High Low
---- ---
Fiscal year ending December 31, 1995
Third Quarter (beginning
August 10, 1995) 6 3/4 3 7/8
Fourth Quarter 4 1/4 1 1/2
Fiscal year ending December 31, 1996
First Quarter 2 1/2 1 3/4
Second Quarter 2 5/16 7/8
Third Quarter 31/32 3/8
Fourth Quarter 3/8 .01
Fiscal year ending December 31, 1997
First Quarter .32 .01
Second Quarter 3/8 .20
Third Quarter .35 .12
Fourth Quarter (through November 28, 1997) 3/8 .12
44As of November 27, 1997 there were approximately 150 shareholders of
record of the Company's common stock.
To date, the Company has not paid any dividends on its common stock. The
payment of dividends, if any, in the future is within the discretion of the
board of directors and will depend upon the Company's ability to generate
earnings, its capital requirements, and financial condition and other relevant
factors. The Company does not intend to declare any dividends in the foreseeable
future but instead intends to retain all earnings, if any, for use in the
Company's business.
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Item 6. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations
General
The Company designed, developed, marketed and sold virtual reality
products for home use, principally headsets sold under the trademark CyberMaxx.
The Company marketed the CyberMaxx through two intensely competitive channels,
both personal computer vendors and consumer electronics vendors, that are
characterized by harsh price competition, rapidly changing product mix and short
product life cycles. The Company's first product, the CyberMaxx 120 model, was
introduced in November 1994. The Company achieved only limited sales from this
product, which has now been discontinued. In 1995 the Company shifted its
primary focus to the development of the more advanced CyberMaxx model 2.0. This
model contains an improved optics system and has 50% more pixels (picture
elements) than the Company's previous model. The Company began shipping the
CyberMaxx model 2.0 in August 1995.
The Company believes that it was the first to sell virtual reality
headsets intended for home use with a suggested retail price of less than
$1,000. In early 1996, the management of the Company concluded that its headset
was not likely to gain widespread consumer acceptance at its suggested retail
price of $889. In February 1996, the Company suspended production of the
CyberMaxx model 2.0 and deferred development activities on the next generation
of the CyberMaxx headset. In March 1996, the Company lowered the price on the
CyberMaxx model 2.0 for the purpose of stimulating sales at a suggested retail
price of $499. In connection with this price reduction, the Company wrote down
its remaining CyberMaxx model 2.0 inventory, including component parts, and
tools and dies associated with the production of the CyberMaxx to their
estimated net realizable value. In December 1995, a catalog retailer that
previously had given the Company purchase orders for substantially all of the
Company's remaining inventory of the CyberMaxx 120 model, canceled its purchase
orders. As a result of these cancellations and due to the lack of sales demand
for this product, the Company wrote off the remaining value associated with the
CyberMaxx 120 model. These write downs were recorded during the fourth quarter
of 1996.
The Company expects that a significant portion of its future revenues, if
any, will be dependent upon the ability of its management to acquire another
operating entity to merge into the Company.
The Company was incorporated as an Illinois corporation on March 22, 1994.
On May 3, 1994, the Company acquired certain assets from Bankers for total
consideration of $1,379,485, consisting of the Company's note of $1,306,139,
payable in installments, plus warrants valued at $73,346 to purchase 35,146
shares of Common Stock at approximately $.049 per share. Bankers had acquired
from VI the VI Assets (constituting all of VI's then remaining assets, but
representing only approximately 35% of VI's total assets as of March 24, 1994
prior to seizure of inventory by other creditors and write-downs) in
satisfaction of its collateralized claims against VI. The Company did not
acquire assets directly from VI and did not assume VI's obligations, except for
certain obligations under a license agreement. However, certain VI creditors and
stockholders asserted claims against the Company which have been settled
13
<PAGE>
through the issuance, in the aggregate, of 797,104 shares of Common Stock and
$175,000 in cash payments to such claimants. The Company ultimately assigned a
value of $1,877,534 to the settlements of these preacquisition contingencies.
The purchase price associated with the acquisition exceeded the fair value of
the net assets by $2,509,888 and was recorded as goodwill. Effective March 31,
1995, the Company recorded a charge to operations to recognize the complete
impairment of the then unamortized balance of goodwill related to this
acquisition. See Note 2 to financial statements. There are certain stockholders
and creditors of VI with whom the Company has not settled. There can be no
assurance that these parties will not in the future assert claims or that the
Company will not be required to expend time and money in defending, settling
and/or paying such claims. However, management believes, after consultation with
outside legal counsel, that these and similar claims are wholly without merit,
and accordingly, the resolution of any additional claims is not expected to have
a material adverse effect on the Company.
Results of Operations
Year ended December 31, 1996 compared to year ended December 31, 1995
Net sales. Net sales increased 8.8% to $750,382 in the year ended December
31, 1996 from $689,769 for the year ended December 31, 1995. The Company derived
revenues of $597,985, including liquidation sales of $290,125, in 1996 from the
sale of the CyberMaxx and revenues of $152,397, including liquidation sales of
$103,257, from the sale of the VIR one. In 1995, the Company derived revenues of
$670,729 for the sale of the CyberMaxx and revenues of $19,040 from the sale of
the VIR one.
Gross profit (deficiency). The Company had a negative gross profit of
$394,102 for the year ended December 31, 1996 compared to a negative gross
profit of $2,081,002 for the year ended December 31, 1995. The 1996 results
include a net charge of $568,743 to account for the Company's decision to cease
marketing virtual reality hardware products. Included in this charge are
writedowns of $443,033 associated with the sale of liquidated product and a
charge of $344,926 to cover cancellation costs and the cost of excess component
parts held by the Company's contract manufacturer. These charges were partially
offset by the reversal of $219,216 in charges recorded in prior periods to
reserve for the return of obsolete inventory. The 1995 results include
writedowns totaling $1,769,987, including $1,085,610 to write down the CyberMaxx
and related component parts to their estimated net realizable value as well as
$684,377 to write off all of the remaining costs associated with the CyberMaxx
tools and dies.
Selling, general and administrative. Selling, general and administrative
expenses totaled $1,888,935 for the year ended December 31, 1996 compared to
$4,021,738 for the year ended December 31, 1995. Included in the 1996 balance
are sales and promotional expenses of $296,339, non sales compensation expense
of $459,714, occupancy expenses of $63,451, legal expenses of $86,555 and a
charge of $179,104 to write down the carrying value of property and equipment to
its estimated net realizable value. Additionally, the Company incurred non-cash
compensation expense of $167,934 related to the issuance of 185,307 shares of
restricted Common Stock to certain employees, directors and consultants to the
Company. Included in the 1995 balance, are sales and promotional expenses of
$497,602, non sales compensation expense of $861,821, occupancy expenses of
$220,032, legal and professional expenses of $669,714, goodwill amortization of
$209,157 and a charge of $443,368 related to the issuance
14
<PAGE>
of 139,424 shares of restricted stock to the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company.
Research and development. Research and development expenses totaled
$796,729 for the year ended December 31, 1996 compared to $1,043,932 for the
year ended December 31, 1995. Included in the 1996 and 1995 balances are
expenses totaling $323,599 and $133,376, respectively, related to the
development of the Company's virtual reality engine and the application software
for Autoduel Online. The remaining expense for both 1996 and 1995 consists
primarily of the costs of the Company's design, quality assurance, engineering
support activities and the cost of providing support to the entities developing
software for the CyberMaxx. These costs consist principally of compensation,
payments to outside consultants and related expenses, including the purchase of
component parts utilized in the design phase.
Impairment of Goodwill. Effective March 31, 1995 the Company wrote off the
remaining unamortized balance of goodwill related to the acquisition from
Bankers by recording a charge to operations of $1,649,764. The charge was
recorded as a result of the Company's evaluation of its existing products,
customer base and core technologies, all of which have undergone significant
change since the date of acquisition, the Company's inability to achieve sales
backlogs and the continuing and expected future losses. After consideration of
these factors and the expectation that the Company would continue to operate at
a loss in, the Company concluded that the recorded goodwill was impaired.
Interest expense. The Company incurred interest expense of $2,630 for the
year ended December 31, 1996 compared to $2,402,098 for the year ended December
31, 1995. Included in the 1995 expense are charges of $2,179,689 related to
various bridge financings, including the amortization of deferred financing
costs and original issue discount and the accrual of interest, interest expense
of $139,664 related to the Bankers obligation and miscellaneous interest
charges, primarily applicable to inventory financed by the Company's factory, of
$82,745. All outstanding loans were repaid from the net proceeds of the
Company's initial public offering which was completed in August 1995.
Year ended December 31, 1995 compared to period from March 22, 1994 (inception)
to December 31, 1994
Management of the Company believes that period-to-period comparisons may
not necessarily be meaningful given the varying periods covered by the financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 1995 and the period from March 22,
1994 (inception) to December 31, 1994..
Net sales. Net sales decreased 4% to $689,769 in the year ended December
31, 1995 from $718,469 for the period from March 22, 1994 (inception) to
December 31, 1994. The Company derived revenues of $670,729 (net of returns of
$620,194) in 1995 from the sale of CyberMaxx headsets compared to revenues of
$606,143 in 1994. Revenues from other products, primarily computer peripherals,
declined from $112,326 in 1994 to $19,040 in 1995.
Gross profit (deficiency). The Company had a negative gross profit of
$2,081,002 for the year ended December 31, 1995 compared to a negative gross
profit of $1,732,011 for the period from March 22, 1994 (inception) to December
31, 1994. The Company generated $103,542 in gross profit from product sales in
1995 compared to $99,897 in 1994.
15
<PAGE>
In connection with price reductions instituted in March 1996, the Company
wrote down its remaining CyberMaxx model 2.0 inventory, including component
parts, and the tools and dies associated with the production of the CyberMaxx,
to their estimated net realizable values. These writedowns, which totaled
$1,769,987, were charged to the 1995 results. Included in this expense is a
charge of $684,377, $619,739 of which was taken in the fourth quarter, to write
off all of the remaining costs associated with the CyberMaxx tools and dies. The
writedown of the CyberMaxx model 2.0 inventory, including component parts,
totaled $1,085,610, all of which was recorded in the fourth quarter. Included in
the inventory writedowns are charges of $176,435 associated with the production
of CyberMaxx model 2.0 headsets in 1996 pursuant to purchase orders initiated in
1995 and a charge of $200,000 to cover the cost of excess component parts held
by the contract manufacturer. Additionally, the Company recorded a fourth
quarter charge of $331,203 to write off the remaining value associated with the
CyberMaxx 120 model. The Company's obligation to the contract manufacturer for
the 1996 production and the excess component parts, $376,435, is included in
accrued liabilities at December 31, 1995.
During the period ended December 31, 1994, the Company recorded charges
totaling $1,733,758 for writedowns of CyberMaxx 120 model inventory and the
accelerated amortization of the tools and dies associated with the CyberMaxx 120
model optics.
During 1995, the Company incurred product refurbishment costs, primarily
related to the CyberMaxx 120 model, of $83,356. No such costs were incurred in
1994. During 1994, the Company agreed to accept merchandise previously sold to a
retailer by VI and granted a credit of $98,150 to the retailer, the net effect
of which was to reduce 1994 gross profit by the amount of the credit. No such
transactions occurred in 1995.
Selling, General and Administrative. Selling, general and administrative
expenses totaled $4,021,738 for the year ended December 31, 1995 compared to
$2,311,816 for the period from March 22, 1994 (inception) to December 31, 1994.
The increase is primarily attributable to additions to the Company's staff and
increased sales and marketing expenses related to the introduction of the
CyberMaxx 2.0 model. Personnel related expenses totaled $861,821 in 1995
compared to $539,407 in 1994. Additionally, the Company recorded a compensation
charge of $443,368 related to the issuance of 139,424 shares of restricted
common stock to the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
Occupancy expenses totaled $220,032 in 1995 compared to $119,433 in 1994 while
legal and other professional charges increased from $258,234 in 1994 to $669,714
in 1995. Sales and promotional expenses, not including personnel costs, totaled
$497,602 in 1995 compared to $356,288 in 1994.
Legal settlements. In July 1995, the Company and certain other parties
executed an agreement with respect to the settlement of litigation brought by
the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. As part of the
settlement, the former President and Chief Executive Officer agreed, amongst
other terms, to act as a consultant to the Company for a period of 27 months and
to not compete with the Company during that period. The Company expensed the
entire cost of this settlement in 1995, including $417,400 during the fourth
quarter.
Research and development. Research and development expenses totaled
$1,043,932 for the year ended December 31, 1995 compared to $1,213,053 for the
period from March 22, 1994 (inception) to December 31, 1994. Since August 1995,
the Company has incurred expenses totaling $133,376 related to the development
of its virtual reality engine and the application
16
<PAGE>
software for Car Wars. The 1994 balance includes a charge of $382,264 to account
for the writedown of technology under development acquired from Bankers. The
remaining expense for both 1995 and 1994 consists primarily of the costs of the
Company's product design, quality assurance, engineering support activities and
the cost of providing support to the entities developing software for the
CyberMaxx. These costs consist principally of compensation, payments to outside
consultants and related expenses, including the purchase of component parts
utilized in the design phase. While the Company intends to continue to commit
significant resources to the development of its virtual reality engine and Car
Wars, it anticipates that its research and development charges will decline, on
a relative to sales basis, in 1996 as the Company has eliminated its engineering
staff and outsourced, pending the receipt of additional funding, the development
of the next generation of its headset.
Impairment of Goodwill. Effective March 31, 1995 the Company wrote off the
remaining unamortized balance of goodwill related to the acquisition from
Bankers by recording a charge to operations of $1,649,764. The charge was
recorded as a result of the Company's evaluation of its existing products,
customer base and core technologies, all of which have undergone significant
change since the date of acquisition, the Company's inability to achieve sales
backlogs and the continuing and expected future losses. After consideration of
these factors and the expectation that the Company would continue to operate at
a loss in 1995, the Company concluded that the recorded goodwill was impaired..
Interest expense. The Company incurred interest expense of $2,402,098 for
the year ended December 31, 1995 compared to $481,112 for the period from March
22, 1994 (inception) to December 31, 1994. Interest expense applicable to the
Bankers obligation, which was paid in full on August 15, 1995, decreased from
$207,884 in 1994 to $139,664 in 1995. Interest charges applicable to the bridge
notes increased to $2,179,689 in 1995 from $254,287 in 1994, due to the
Company's need for increased capital prior to the Public Offering. The Company
amortized $1,344,080 of original issue discount and $623,592 of deferred
financing fees in 1995 compared to the amortization of $127,290 of original
issue discount and $84,644 of deferred financing fees in 1994. Interest accruals
applicable to the bridge notes increased from $42,353 in 1994 to $212,017 in
1995. Miscellaneous interest charges, primarily applicable to inventory financed
by the Company's factory, increased from $18,941 in 1994 to $82,745 in 1995. All
outstanding loans were paid in full in August 1995.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Prior to the Public Offering, the Company financed its operations
primarily through the private sale of equity securities, which raised net
proceeds of $663,732, borrowings from its stockholders, which raised net
proceeds of $93,900, bridge loan financings, which raised net proceeds of
$3,051,763 and the issuance of short term debt, which raised an aggregate of
$300,000. The Company completed its Public Offering on August 10, 1995, which
raised net proceeds of approximately $14,839,708. On September 29, 1995, the
underwriter exercised a portion of its over-allotment option, which raised net
proceeds of approximately $81,619.
At December 31, 1996, the Company had no unrestricted cash and cash
equivalents and a net book balance cash overdraft of $4,450 as compared to a net
book balance cash overdraft of $345,214 at December 31, 1995. In addition, at
December 31, 1995, the Company had $3,303,462 of securities classified as
available for sale, $1,500,000 of which was restricted
17
<PAGE>
pursuant to a standby letter of credit issued as a guarantee to the Company's
contract manufacturer. The securities available for sale consisted solely of
obligations of government agencies. The Company held no such securities at
December 31, 1996. During the year ended December 31, 1996, operating activities
used $2,932,266 of net cash and equivalents, investing activities provided
$3,264,356 of net cash and equivalents and financing activities used $340,764 of
net cash and equivalents.
The Company's independent accountants have included an explanatory
paragraph in their reports making reference to the Company's note to financial
statements (Note 1), which discusses the fact that the Company's financial
statements for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern and that the
substantial losses from operations suffered by the Company and its significant
reliance on obtaining continued financing to satisfy its liquidity requirements
raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going
concern.
Net Operating Loss Carryforwards
As of December 31, 1996, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards
for income tax purposes of approximately $17,760,000 to offset future taxable
income, if any. Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards is limited after an
ownership change, as defined in such Section 382, to an annual amount equal to
the value of the loss corporation's outstanding stock immediately before the
date of the ownership change multiplied by the federal long-term tax-exempt rate
in effect during the month the ownership change occurred. Due to the ownership
change in connection with the Public Offering, the Company is subject to an
annual limitation on the use of its net operating losses. Therefore, in the
event the Company achieves profitability, such limitation would have the effect
of increasing the Company's tax liability and reducing the net income and
available cash resources of the Company in the future.
Inflation
The Company does not believe that inflation has had a material effect on
its results of operations. However, there can be no assurance that inflation
will not affect the Company's business in the future.
Impact of the Adoption of Recently Issued Accounting Standards
The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" ("SFAS
No. 123") in October 1995. The Statement requires companies to estimate the fair
value of common stock, stock options, and other equity instruments issued to
employees using pricing models which take into account various factors such as
current price of the common stock, volatility of the underlying common stock and
expected life of the equity instrument. SFAS No. 123 permits companies to either
provide pro forma note disclosure or adjust operating results for the
amortization of the estimated value of the equity instrument, as compensation
expense, over the related vesting period. The Company applies the provisions of
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees" for its stock-based compensation programs and does not intend to
adopt the fair value accounting rules as permitted by SFAS
18
<PAGE>
No. 123 Management does not believe the adoption of SFAS No. 123 will have a
material impact on their Company's financial position or results of operations.
19
<PAGE>
Item 7. Financial Statements
Page
Reference
---------
Reports of Independent Accountants F-1
Balance Sheets at December 31, 1996 and 1995 F-3
Statements of Operations for the years ended
December 31, 1996 and 1995 F-4
Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the
years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 F-5
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
December 31, 1996 and 1995 F-6
Notes to Financial Statements F-7
Item 8. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure
Effective December 16, 1996, Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. resigned as auditors
of the Company. In connection with the audits of the Company's financial
statements for each of the two fiscal years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994,
and in the subsequent period, there were no disagreements with Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P. on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, or auditing scope and procedures which, if not resolved to the
satisfaction of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. would have caused Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P to make reference to the matter in their report.
20
<PAGE>
PART III
Item 9. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
The directors and executive officers of the Company are as follows:
Name Age Position with the Company
- - ---- --- -------------------------
Richard H. Currie 48 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Glenn Petersen 48 Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Director
Max Minkoff 30 Vice President - Technology and Director
- - ----------
Richard H. Currie joined the Company in April 1995 as President, Chief
Executive Officer and a director. Prior thereto, from November 1991 to April
1995, Mr. Currie was President of WMS Gaming, Inc., a subsidiary of WMS
Industries, a designer and manufacturer of video gaming machines and other
products for the casino gaming industry. From 1986 to 1991, Mr. Currie was
President of Coin Controls, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Coin Industries,
a publicly held British company engaged in the manufacture and distribution of
mechanical and electronic coin validators and coin payout devices.
Glenn Petersen co-founded the Company in March 1994 and became a director
of the Company in November 1994. From February 1994 until he co-founded the
Company, Mr. Petersen was Controller of VI. Prior thereto he was Executive Vice
President of Operations and Chief Financial Officer from August 1992 to July
1993 and Vice President Finance and Controller from July 1988 to August 1992 of
PC Distributing, Inc., ("PC") a distributor of microcomputers and software. PC
filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Act in
October 1993.
Max Minkoff joined the Company as Vice President - Technology in March
1994. He became a director of the Company in November 1994. Mr. Minkoff was
Director of Virtual Reality Technology with VI from September 1993 until joining
the Company. Prior thereto, Mr. Minkoff was a research assistant for Human
Interface Technology Laboratory at the University of Washington involved in
virtual reality research since 1991. From 1989 to 1991, he worked as an
Information Specialist for Rohm and Haas Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Voting Agreement
On December 12, 1994, four members of the Company's management, consisting
of Messrs. Koy (whose position with the Company has subsequently been
terminated), Petersen, David Bisbee (whose position with the Company has
subsequently been terminated) and Minkoff, who held, as of November 28, 1997, a
total of 470,146 shares of Common Stock, entered into a management voting
agreement under which they agreed that for a period which ended on May 1, 1997,
they would vote all but 5% of their respective shares in accordance with the
recommendations of the Board of Directors.
21
<PAGE>
Item 10. Executive Compensation
The following table sets forth information concerning all cash and
non-cash compensation paid by the Company as well as certain other compensation
awarded, earned by and paid, during the fiscal years indicated, to the Chief
Executive Officer and President of the Company. No other executive of the
Company received more than $100,000 in compensation in 1996.
Summary Compensation Table
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-Term Compensation
--------------------------
Annual Compensation Awards
------------------------------------------------- --------------------------
Other Restricted
Name and Annual Stock Options/
Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation Awards SARS
- - ------------------ ---- ------ ----- ------------ ------ ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Richard H. Currie 1996 $141,250 $ -- $ -- $ -- --
Chief Executive 1995 $152,865 $ -- $ -- $ 443,368 (1) 334,618
Officer and President 1994 $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- --
</TABLE>
- - ----------
(1) Consists of 139,424 shares of Common Stock awarded to Mr. Currie in August
1995 as compensation, valued at $3.18 per share.
Option Grants in Last Fiscal Year
No options were granted by the Company in 1996.
Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year End Option
Values
The following table provides, as to the Chief Executive Officer and
President of the Company, information concerning unexercised stock options at
December 31, 1996. Mr. Currie did not exercise any stock options during fiscal
year 1996.
Number of Securities
Underlying Value of Unexercised
Unexercised Options In-the-Money Options at
at December 31, 1996 December 31, 1996 (1)
-------------------- ---------------------
Name Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- - ---- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Richard H. Currie 111,539 223,079 $0 $0
- - ----------
(1) Based on the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on the OTC Bulletin
Board on December 31, 1996 ($.02)
Director Compensation
Non-employee directors of the Company receive a Board meeting fee of $500
and 500 shares of Common Stock for each Board meeting attended. No compensation
was paid by the Company to any non-employee director in 1996.
22
<PAGE>
Employee Agreements
Effective April 20, 1995, the Company entered into an employment agreement
with Richard H. Currie for a term ending April 20, 1998, pursuant to which he
would receive an annual base salary of $200,000, an annual bonus equal to 5% of
the Company's pre-tax profits (subject to a cap of $400,000 per year), the
issuance of 139,424 shares of restricted Common Stock; the grant of options,
exercisable at $6.00 per share, in the aggregate, to purchase 334,618 shares of
Common Stock and certain other benefits. The strike price for the options was
reset to $2.00 per share in 1996. In addition, Mr. Currie received a $10,000
bonus upon his election as an officer of the Company.
The Company has negotiated, in principle, an employment agreement with Max
Minkoff for a period of three years, pursuant to which he would receive an
annual base salary of $125,000, an annual bonus equal to 3% of pre-tax profits
(subject to a cap of $250,000 per year), the issuance of 114,140 shares of
restricted Common Stock, the grant of options, exercisable at $6.00 per share,
in the aggregate, to purchase 210,136 shares of Common Stock and certain other
benefits. The strike price for the options was reset to $2.00 per share in 1996.
Effective September 15, 1995, the Company entered into an employment
agreement with Glenn Petersen for a term ending September 14, 1998, pursuant to
which he would receive an annual base salary of $100,000.
1995 Stock Option Plan
In July 1995, the Company adopted the 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "Stock
Option Plan") covering up to 750,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock,
pursuant to which officers and key employees of the Company and consultants to
the Company are eligible to receive incentive and/or non-incentive stock
options. The Stock Option Plan, which expires on January 31, 2005, is
administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The
selection of participants, award of options, determination of price and other
conditions relating to the purchase of options is determined by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. Incentive stock
options granted under the Stock Option Plan are exercisable for a period of up
to 10 years from the date of the grant at an exercise price which is not less
than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant, except
that the term of an incentive stock option granted under the Stock Option Plan
to a shareholder owning more than 10% of the outstanding Common Stock may not
exceed five years and its exercise price may not be less than 110% of the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant.
As of November 28, 1997, options to purchase an aggregate of 748,754
shares of Common Stock at prices ranging from $2.00 to $6.00 have been granted
and are outstanding under the Plan, including 334,618 options to Mr. Currie,
210,136 options to Mr. Minkoff and 50,000 options to Mr. Petersen.
23
<PAGE>
Item 11. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The following table sets forth certain information concerning stock
ownership of (i) all persons known by the Company to own beneficially 5% or more
of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock as of November 28, 1997,
(ii) each director of the Company, (iii) each executive officer of the Company
named in the Summary Compensation Table contained in Item 11 hereof, and (iv)
all executive officers and directors of the Company as a group. Except as
indicated in the footnotes to this table, the Company believes that the persons
named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to the
shares of Common Stock indicated.
Amount and Nature Percent of
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner of Beneficial Owner Class
- - ------------------------------------ ------------------- -----
Richard H. Currie (1) 362,502 6.09%
1202N 75th Street
Downers Grove, Illinois 60516
Glenn Petersen (2) 187,549 3.23%
1202N 75th Street
Downers Grove, Illinois 60516
Max Minkoff (3) 289,345 4.93%
1202N 75th Street
Downers Grove, Illinois 60516
Kevin Koy (4) 320,241 5.52%
518 Edens Lane
Northfield, Illinois 60093
All directors and officers as a group (3 839,396 13.60%
people) (5)
- - ----------
(1) Includes 223,078 shares subject to outstanding stock options exercisable
within 60 days of the date hereof.
(2) Includes 80,900 shares subject to outstanding stock options exercisable
within 60 days of the date hereof. Also includes 106,649 shares which are
subject to a management voting agreement. See Item 9 - "Directors and Executive
Officers of the Registrant - Voting Agreement."
(3) Includes 140,091 shares subject to outstanding stock options exercisable
within 60 days of the date hereof. Also includes 149,254 shares which are
subject to a management voting agreement. See Item 9 - "Directors and Executive
Officers of the Registrant - Voting Agreement."
(4) Includes 74,442 shares subject to an outstanding stock option exercisable
within 60 days of the date hereof. Also includes 82,455 shares of Common Stock
pledged to George A. Hormel as security for a settlement judgment, and an
aggregate of 36,704 shares owed to Dakota Capital and CEP Partners under a
settlement agreement. See Item 12 - "Certain Relationships
24
<PAGE>
and Certain Transactions." of Mr. Koy's shares, 245,799 shares are subject to a
management voting agreement. See Item 9 - "Directors and Executive Officers of
the Registrant Voting Agreement."
(5) Includes 444,069 shares subject to outstanding stock options exercisable
within 60 days of the date hereof. Also includes 255,903 shares which are
subject to a management voting agreement. See Item 9 - "Directors and Executive
Officers of the Registrant - Voting Agreement."
Item 12. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
In March 1994, VI defaulted on its secured obligation to Bankers, which
obligation was guaranteed by Kevin Koy, the then President and Chief Executive
Officer and a director of VI. On April 11, 1994, Bankers elected to take
possession of the VI Assets, in satisfaction of VI's obligation to it.
Thereafter on May 3, 1994, Bankers and Company entered into an agreement wherein
Bankers sold the VI Assets to the Company for a purchase price of $1,306,139,
payable in installments, plus warrants to purchase 35,146 shares of Common Stock
at approximately $.049 per share. The purchase price bore interest and a monthly
fee and was collateralized by a security interest in the assets of the Company.
In August 1995, the Company paid its remaining indebtedness of $965,619 to
Bankers out of the proceeds from the Public Offering. The Company's obligation
to Bankers has been personally guaranteed by Kevin Koy.
Mr. Koy (the former President and Chief Executive Officer and a director
of the Company) and Mr. Petersen, (the Company's Chief Financial Officer) have
guaranteed lease obligations of the Company in the outstanding amounts at
November 28, 1997 of $9,153.
Pursuant to a letter agreement between Kevin Koy and George A. Homel II,
dated November 8, 1994, Mr. Koy agreed to execute a "warrant of attorney" in
favor of Mr. Hormel acknowledging his obligation to Mr. Hormel of $1,150,000
pursuant to previous guarantees of VI loans and pledged 122,900 shares of Common
Stock as security therefor. Under the terms of a letter agreement, if the shares
of the Company's Common Stock acquired by Hormel pursuant to the settlement with
stockholders and creditors of VI achieves and sustains for a period of six
months a fair market value equal to $1,150,000, plus interest thereon at 5% per
annum from November 8, 1994, during a two-year period commencing September 10,
1996, then the "warrant of attorney" will be deemed satisfied and Mr. Koy's
shares will be released from the pledge. If the fair market value is less than
such $1,150,000 that a number of pledged shares necessary to make up the
difference will be retained by Hormel and the balance returned to Koy. Under the
terms of a settlement agreement, Hormel has agreed to release to Koy 40,445
shares of Common Stock (of the 122,900 shares previously pledged).
Under a "make whole agreement" dated as of June 29, 1994 among the
Company, Dakota Capital Corp. ("Dakota"), CEP Partners, LP ("CEP") and Kevin
Koy, Mr. Koy agreed to transfer 44,490 shares of Common Stock to CEP and 4,449
shares of Common Stock to Dakota in the event that the Company had not completed
a registered public offering of its Common Stock by March 31, 1995.
Under a settlement agreement with Koy, Dakota and CEP respectively, have
agreed to release to Koy 11,123 shares and 1,112 shares of Common Stock
previously required to be
25
<PAGE>
delivered to them under the "make whole agreement" and to waive the requirement
of such agreement that the shares be transferred to them in the event that the
Company's initial public offering was not completed by March 31, 1995 and to
terminate such agreement. In lieu thereof, the settlement agreement provides
that if during the period commencing 13 months following the consummation of
this Offering and ending 19 months following such consummation the per share
price for the Company's Common Stock equals or exceeds $ 12.00 per share, on
average, for a period of 20 consecutive days then all of those remaining shares
delivered to Dakota and CEP will be returned to Mr. Koy. If the price per share
does not reach such $12.00 average then, depending on the maximum average price
during any such period, Mr. Koy will be required to forfeit all or a
proportionate part of such remaining shares.
As of July 18, 1995, the Company, George A. Hormel II ("Hormel"), the
managing underwriter, two officers of the managing underwriter and Kevin Koy
executed an agreement with respect to the settlement of litigation brought by
Koy against the Company, the managing underwriter and two officers of the
managing underwriter claiming wrongful repudiation or breach by the Company of
an alleged employment agreement with Mr. Koy, its wrongful rejection of Koy's
attempt to put 122,900 shares of Common Stock to the Company thereunder and
intentional interference with such alleged employment agreement by the managing
underwriter and two if its officers. Under the terms of the settlement, Koy has
agreed to act as a consultant to the Company for a period of 27 months
commencing September 16, 1996, and the Company has agreed to pay him an
aggregate $560,000, of which $300,000 was paid from the proceeds of the Public
Offering and the balance in 26 consecutive equal monthly installments commencing
September 15, 1995. As of November 28, 1997, $150,000 of this balance remained
unpaid. Koy has also agreed that during the consulting period he will not
compete with the Company and will refrain from acquiring beneficial ownership of
more than 10% of its outstanding shares or becoming involved in any proxy
contest with respect to, or tender offer for, the Company. The settlement
agreement also contains general releases between Koy and the other parties
thereto. See Item 3 - "Legal Proceedings."
In November 1994 the Company and Messrs. Koy and Petersen entered into
settlement agreements with certain stockholders and creditors of VI under which
the Company issued an aggregate of 797,104 shares and options for an additional
32,524 shares of Common Stock to such VI creditors and stockholders, in exchange
for a release of their claims against the Company and certain claims against Mr.
Koy. As part of this settlement, the parties entered into a Voting Agreement
under which they agreed to vote for certain designees of the parties for
directors. All of the current directors are designees who have been named or
designated under such agreement. See Item 9-"Directors and Executive Officers of
the Registrant-Voting Agreement."
During the first half of 1995, Glenn Petersen, Chief Financial Officer and
a director of the Company purchased a fractional interest in a bridge loan unit
issued by the Company for $5,000. The loan was repaid, with interest, from the
proceeds from the Public Offering.
On April 27, 1995, the Company entered into an agreement with Spencer Kuo
and Yao Huang Cheng, the former Chief Financial Officer of VI, pursuant to which
they and the Company exchanged covenants not to sue and Kuo obtained similar
covenants from two Taiwanese factory suppliers to VI (the "Kuo Claimants") in
exchange for the issuance to the Kuo Claimants and Yao Huang Cheng of an
aggregate of 236,201 shares of Common Stock (the "Settlement Shares"). The Kuo
Claimants had previously threatened to commence suit
26
<PAGE>
against the Company on the grounds that the transfer of VI Assets to Bankers and
their subsequent resale to the Company were improper diversions of assets and
fraudulent transfers, preventing payment to them of claims aggregating
approximately $4.0 million. Kuo and Cheng agreed to vote their Settlement Shares
for the eight directors, other than a designee of Kuo, specified in the Voting
Agreement. They have also represented that they had no proprietary interest in
the Company's technology, including the technology acquired from Bankers. Kuo
had also assigned to a corporation owned by the managing underwriter all rights
to certain indebtedness of VI, in the approximate amount of $3,500,000, and a
related guarantee by Kevin Koy of $1,000,000 thereof and all of Kuo's claims
against Kevin Koy. To limit the Company's exposure in this matter, Messrs. Koy
and Petersen had previously deposited into escrow, an aggregate of 277,614
shares of Common Stock (the "Escrowed Shares") beneficially owned by them to be
help defray the amount, if any, that the Company was required to pay to the Kuo
Claimants pursuant to any settlement or judgment in excess of the then fair
market value of 298,464 shares. Under the terms of the agreement with Kuo and
Cheng no shares are due from Messrs. Koy and Petersen and the Escrowed Shares
have been released from escrow.
Item 13. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) Exhibits:
None.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
None.
27
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Deerfield and the State of Illinois on the 28th day of November, 1997.
VictorMaxx Technologies, Inc.
By: _____________________________________
Richard H. Currie
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
____________________ President, Chief Executive Officer and November 28,
Richard H.Currie Director (Principal Executive Officer) 1997
____________________ Senior Vice President, Secretary, Chief November 28,
GlennPetersen Financial Officer and Director (Principal 1997
Financial and Accounting Officer)
____________________ Director November 28,
Max Minkoff 1997
<PAGE>
VictorMaxx Technologies, Inc.
Index to Financial Statements
Page
Reference
---------
Reports of Independent Accountants F-1
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants - 1995 F-2
Financial Statements:
Balance Sheets at December 31, 1996 and 1995 F-3
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended
December 31, 1996 and 1995 F-4
Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for
the Years Ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 F-5
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
December 31, 1996 and 1995 F-6
Notes to Financial Statements F-7
<PAGE>
[Letterhead of Hansen, Barnett & Maxwell]
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
of VictorMaxx Technologies, Inc.
We have audited the balance sheet of VictorMaxx Technologies, Inc. as of
December 31, 1996, and the related statements of operations, stockholders'
deficit and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the 1996 financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of VictorMaxx Technologies,
Inc. as of December 31, 1996, and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for the year then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the
Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the
financial statements, the Company has suffered substantial losses since
inception and has ceased all operations. Those conditions raise substantial
doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans
regarding those matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements
do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
/s/ Hansen, Barnett & Maxwell
----------------------------------
Salt Lake City, Utah
October 20, 1997
F-1
<PAGE>
Report of Independent Accountants
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
VictorMaxx Technologies, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of VictorMaxx Technologies, Inc.
as of December 31, 1995, and the related statements of operations, stockholders'
equity (deficit), and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 1995. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of VictorMaxx Technologies, Inc.
as of December 31, 1995, and the results of its operations and its cash flows
for the year ended December 31, 1995 in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company
will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial
statements, the Company has suffered substantial losses from operations since
inception and is highly reliant on obtaining continued financing to support its
business operations and satisfy its liquidity requirements. These factors raise
substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The
financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the
outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
Chicago, Illinois
April 12, 1996
F-2
<PAGE>
VICTORMAXX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 1996 and 1995
ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ -- $ 8,674
Available for sale securities -- 3,303,462
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
doubtful accounts of $25,000 8,759 12,536
Interest receivable -- 64,350
Inventories, net -- 602,406
Prepaid expenses -- 186,830
------------ ------------
Total Current Assets 8,759 4,178,258
Property and equipment, net of accumulated
depreciation and amortization 5,000 275,560
Other Assets -- 74,341
------------ ------------
Total Assets $ 13,759 $ 4,528,159
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Current Liabilities
Accounts payable $ 214,417 $ 817,619
Cash overdrafts 4,450 345,214
Accrued liabilities 446,564 1,068,723
Legal settlements payable 150,000 120,000
Payable to officer 5,500 --
------------ ------------
Total Current Liabilities 820,931 2,351,556
Legal settlements payable, non-current portion -- 100,000
Deferred rent -- 36,731
------------ ------------
Total Liabilities 820,931 2,488,287
------------ ------------
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Preferred stock, par value $.001; 1,000,000 shares
authorized; none issued -- --
Common stock, par value $.001; 20,000,000
shares authorized; 5,726,442 and 5,541,135
shares issued and outstanding 5,726 5,541
Additional paid-in capital 19,647,981 19,480,232
Accumulated deficit (20,460,879) (17,445,901)
------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) (807,172) 2,039,872
------------ ------------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) $ 13,759 $ 4,528,159
============ ============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-3
<PAGE>
VICTORMAXX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
1996 1995
------------ ------------
Net Sales $ 750,382 $ 689,769
Cost of sales, including write-down of carrying
value of inventories of $181,280 in 1996 and
$1,416,813 in 1995 1,144,484 2,770,771
------------ ------------
Gross profit (deficiency) (394,102) (2,081,002)
------------ ------------
Operating Expenses
Research and development 796,729 1,043,932
Selling, general and administrative 1,851,057 4,021,738
Impairment of goodwill -- 1,649,764
Legal settlements -- 560,000
------------ ------------
Total Operating Expenses 2,647,786 7,275,434
------------ ------------
Loss from operations (3,041,888) (9,356,436)
Other Income (Expenses)
Interest income 30,173 87,144
Interest expense (including amortization of
original issue discount and deferred
financing costs of $1,967,672 in 1995) (2,630) (2,402,098)
Other, net (633) (15,814)
------------ ------------
Net Loss $ (3,014,978) $(11,687,204)
============ ============
Per-share data
Net loss pr share $ (0.54) $ (3.00)
============ ============
Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares outstanding 5,629,783 3,899,553
============ ============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4
<PAGE>
VICTORMAXX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total
Common Stock Stockholders'
------------------------ Paid-in Accumulated Equity/
Shares Amount Capital Deficit (Deficit)
---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at December 31, 1994 1,871,549 $ 1,872 $ 2,656,523 $ (5,758,697) $ (3,100,302)
Issuance of common stock in connection
with bridge loans, average $1.15 per
share 490,733 490 562,760 -- 563,250
Issuance of common stock to settle
preacquisition contingencies, average
$2.34 per share 244,980 245 571,931 -- 572,176
Issuance of common stock in connection
with short-term debt, average $3.18 per
share 90,000 90 286,110 -- 286,200
Stock purchase warrants issued as
consideration to bridge loan holders -- -- 35,000 -- 35,000
Issuance of common stock and warrants at
Initial Public Offering (August 15, 1995),
net of issuance costs of $2,305,000 2,700,000 2,700 14,837,008 -- 14,839,708
Exercise of warrant over allotment option,
net of issuance costs -- -- 81,619 -- 81,619
Issuance of common stock and options
as compensation 143,873 144 449,281 -- 449,425
Net loss -- -- -- (11,687,204) (11,687,204)
---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Balance at December 31, 1995 5,541,135 5,541 19,480,232 (17,445,901) 2,039,872
Issuance of common stock as
compensation 185,307 185 167,749 -- 167,934
Net loss -- -- -- (3,014,978) (3,014,978)
---------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Balance at December 31, 1996 5,726,442 $ 5,726 $ 19,647,981 $(20,460,879) $ (807,172)
========== ============ ============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
<PAGE>
VICTORMAXX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net loss $ (3,014,978) $(11,687,204)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of property
and equipment 99,852 154,878
Disposition of property and equipment 5,710 16,208
Write-down of property and equipment 204,104 619,738
Impairment of goodwill -- 1,649,765
Amortization of goodwill -- 209,157
Amortization of deferred financing costs
and original issue discount -- 1,967,672
Provision for doubtful accounts -- 52,453
Write down of carrying value of inventories 181,280 1,416,813
Compensation expense relating to grant of
common stock and options 167,934 449,425
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable 68,127 388,533
Inventories 421,126 (1,984,276)
Prepaid expenses 186,830 (119,841)
Other assets 74,341 (125,929)
Accounts payable (597,702) (1,707,084)
Accrued liabilities (622,159) 712,869
Accrued legal settlement (70,000) 220,000
Deferred rent (36,731) (4,533)
------------ ------------
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities (2,932,266) (7,771,356)
------------ ------------
Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Purchase of available-for-sale securities -- (4,135,384)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities 3,303,462 831,922
Purchases of property and equipment (39,106) (277,242)
Purchases of dies and molds -- (213,832)
------------ ------------
Net Cash Provided by (Used in)
Investing Activities 3,264,356 (3,794,536)
------------ ------------
Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable -- 1,871,613
Repayments of notes payable -- (5,309,044)
Proceeds (decrease) from issuance of common
stock and warrants -- 14,921,327
Increase (decrease) in cash overdrafts (340,764) 90,670
------------ ------------
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities (340,764) 11,574,566
------------ ------------
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash (8,674) 8,674
Cash, Beginning of Period 8,674 --
------------ ------------
Cash, End of Period $ -- $ 8,674
============ ============
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest paid $ 2,630 $ 434,426
============ ============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
<PAGE>
VICTORMAXX TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
NOTE 1--NATURE OF BUSINESS ACQUISITION AND GOING CONCERN
Business -- VictorMaxx Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") was incorporated
as an Illinois Corporation on March 22, 1994. The Company was established
to engage in the design, development, manufacture and marketing of virtual
reality products including head-mounted displays ("HMDs") and related game
accessories and software products. Virtual reality is a computer generated
environment which may be experienced through an HMD. The Company had also
begun development of a computer software game that would have been
accessed over the Internet. After depleting its cash reserves and vacating
its office facilities, the Company suspended operations during the fourth
quarter of 1996.
Effective August 1, 1997, the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois
dissolved the Company for failure to file an annual repot and pay an
annual franchise tax of approximately $23,000. The Company can apply for
reinstatement upon payment of the delinquent franchise tax.
Acquisition -- In May 1994, the Company entered into an "Asset Sale
Agreement" with Bankers Capital, a division of Bankers Leasing
Association, Inc. ("Bankers") to acquire certain assets from Bankers for
consideration of $1,379,485, consisting of the Company's $1,306,139 note
payable plus $73,346 assigned for the cost of issuing warrants, which
expire in May 1997, to purchase 35,146 shares of common stock at $.049 per
share. Net assets acquired included $364,867 of tangible assets and
$382,264 of technology under development, net of $1,877,534 assigned for
settlement of preacquisition contingencies (settled with $175,000 in cash
payments and 797,104 shares of the Company's common stock). The purchase
price associated with the acquisition exceeded the fair value of the net
assets acquired by $2,509,888. Effective March 31,1995, the Company
recognized the complete impairment of the goodwill associated with the
acquisition of assets from Bankers. (See Note 2).
The acquired assets represented a portion of the assets previously
acquired by Bankers from VictorMaxx, Inc. ("VI"), a Delaware corporation,
upon its default on its obligations to Bankers, which elected to exercise
its first lien rights and take possession of substantially all of the
remaining assets of VI in satisfaction of its outstanding security
interest. Certain of the Company's directors, officers and stockholders
were formerly part of the management and shareholder group of VI.
Going Concern -- The accompanying financial statements have been prepared
assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company has
incurred $20,460,879 of losses from operations since inception and is
highly reliant on obtaining continued financing to satisfy its liquidity
requirements. The Company's revenues to date were primarily from sales of
a product line, the manufacture of which has been discontinued and there
can be no assurances of the Company's ability to generate future revenues
from other products. The above factors raise substantial doubt about the
ability of the Company to continue as a going concern.
F-7
<PAGE>
The Company expects its future revenues, if any, to be derived from the
sale of products or services from one or more entities that may be
acquired by the company. However, there can be no assurances that the
products or services acquired by the Company will be able to compete
successfully in the future with any of the products and services offered
by other companies.
Management of the Company has evaluated several acquisition candidates and
has entered into an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding capital
stock of Sonoma Holding Corp. ("Sonoma"). The management of Sonoma has
represented to the Company that additional financing will be available to
the Company after the completion of the acquisition. While the Company's
management believes that the acquisition will be completed, there can be
no assurances that the Company has the ability to complete the acquisition
and raise the necessary financing to enable it to continue as a going
concern.
NOTE 2--SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Management's Estimates -- The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition -- Revenues from sales to distributors and other
resellers were generally recognized when products were shipped. Revenues
from products shipped on consignment were recognized upon receipt of
payment for such products. Concurrently, the Company established
provisions for estimated returns, which were recorded as a reduction of
sales and accounts receivable.
Provision for Warranty Claims -- The Company reflected provisions for
expected future product warranty claims in its financial statements based
on claims experience. Such costs were accrued at the time revenue was
recognized.
Concentration of Credit Risk -- The Company sold to catalog houses,
consumer electronic specialty retailers, computer resellers and to
distributors of electronic products throughout the United States and in
foreign countries, including Germany and other European countries. The
Company required foreign customers to prepay by wire transfer or to post
satisfactory letters of credit. Sales to foreign customers were generally
denominated in U.S. currency.
Research and Development -- Research and development costs were expensed
as incurred. Assets acquired from Bankers in 1994 included research and
development for new product technologies under development at the time of
acquisition, which were expensed as of the date of acquisition.
Cash and Cash Equivalents -- The Company considered all highly liquid
investments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to
be cash equivalents. The carrying amount reported in the balance sheet for
cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.
The Company classifies outstanding checks in excess of cash balances as
current liabilities.
F-8
<PAGE>
Such outstanding checks in excess of cash balances amounted to $4,450 and
$352,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
The Company was required to maintain a minimum level of cash and
available-for-sale securities pursuant to a standby letter of credit
issued as a guarantee to the Company's contract manufacturer. At December
31, 1995, $1,500,000 of available-for-sale securities was restricted.
Available-for-Sale Securities -- In 1995, the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 ("SFAS No. 115") "Accounting for
Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities". Prior to adoption, the
Company did not hold debt or equity securities. The adoption of SFAS No.
115 resulted from the Company's initial purchase of certain debt
securities during the third quarter of 1995. In accordance with SFAS No.
115, the Company classified these investments as available-for-sale, as
the Company did not have the positive intent and ability to hold the
securities to maturity. Available-for-sale securities were carried at fair
value as of December 31,1995.
Inventories -- Inventories consisted principally of finished goods which
were stated at the lower of cost (determined on the first-in, first-out
basis) or market. During 1996 and the fourth quarter of 1995, the Company
recorded adjustments of $181,280 and $1,416,813 to write-down the carrying
value of inventories to net realizable value. The Company liquidated its
then remaining inventory during the third quarter of 1996.
Deferred Financing Costs -- Deferred financing costs consist principally
of legal costs and placement agent fees related to the issuance of the
Bridge Notes and were being amortized on a straight-line basis over the
term of the notes. The Bridge Notes were repaid in full, effective August
15, 1995, in conjunction with the Company's initial public offering of
common stock (See Notes 6 and 12). Accordingly, all remaining deferred
financing costs were amortized during the year ended December 31, 1995.
Property and Equipment -- Property and equipment are stated at the lower
of cost or net realizable value. Depreciation was computed using the
straight-line method for computer equipment and fixtures over estimated
useful lives of three years. Depreciation for dies and molds were computed
on a units of production basis. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs
were charged to operations as incurred. Upon sale or retirement of
property and equipment, the cost and the related accumulated depreciation
are eliminated from the respective accounts, and the resulting gain or
loss is included in the statements of operations.
During the fourth quarter of 1996, the Company recorded an adjustment of
$204,104 to write down the carrying value of its property and equipment to
net realizable value.
Goodwill -- Goodwill represented the excess of cost over fair value of net
assets acquired and was being amortized over a period of 36 months using
the straight-line method.
The Company recorded a charge to operations of $1,649,765 in the first
quarter of 1995 to recognize the complete impairment of the March 31, 1995
unamortized balance of goodwill related to the acquisition from Bankers
Capital. The charge was a result of the Company's evaluation of the
estimated recoverable value of its recorded goodwill, including
consideration of the Company's continuing and expected future operating
losses, its inability to achieve sales
F-9
<PAGE>
order backlogs, and changes to product technologies and distribution
channels since the date of acquisition.
Income Taxes -- The Company recognizes the amount of income taxes payable
or refundable for the current year and recognizes deferred tax assets and
liabilities for the future tax consequences attributable to differences
between the financial statement amounts of certain assets and liabilities
and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are
measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in
the years those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or
settled. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the
extent that uncertainty exists as to whether the deferred tax assets will
ultimately be realized.
NOTE 3--PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consist of the following at December 31:
1996 1995
----------- -----------
Dies and molds $ -- $ 744,188
Computer equipment 5,000 250,503
Fixtures -- 84,746
----------- -----------
Total at lower of cost or net realizable
value 5,000 1,079,437
Accumulated depreciation and
amortization -- (803,877)
----------- -----------
Property and Equipment, Net $ 5,000 $ 275,560
=========== ===========
NOTE 4--ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Accrued liabilities consist of the following at December 31:
1996 1995
---------- ----------
Compensation $ 154,694 $ 45,942
Technology royalties 167,057 31,144
Reserve for product returns and warranties 80,000 323,816
Other 44,813 291,386
Inventory purchase commitments -- 376,435
---------- ----------
$ 446,564 $1,068,723
========== ==========
F-10
<PAGE>
NOTE 5 -- BANKERS CAPITAL
In May 1994, the Company acquired certain assets from Bankers Capital (See
Note 1). As partial consideration for the acquisition of such assets, the
Company issued a $1,306,139 note payable. This note, which was
collateralized by a first lien on all of the tangible and intangible
assets of the Company, bore interest equal to the prime rate plus 1.5%.
(The prime rate was 8.5% at December 31, 1994). Bankers also charged an
additional service fee equal to 1% per month on the unpaid balance. The
entire outstanding balance of the note was paid with proceeds from the
Company's August 1995 initial public offering of common stock.
NOTE 6--BRIDGE NOTES
During 1994, the Company issued, in private placements, 37.25 units
consisting of one-year promissory notes and shares of common stock valued
at an average of $1.04 per share. The Company received $1,460,150 in cash
proceeds from the 1994 private placements, net of $402,350 in expenses.
During the fourth quarter of 1994, the Company borrowed $110,250 with
interest accruing at 20% per annum from certain of its stockholders, of
which $93,900 in principal balance was converted into 1.878 units
consisting of the same underlying component securities as the units
described above for the 1994 private placements.
In 1995, the Company issued 37.56 units consisting of the same underlying
component securities as in the 1994 private placements. The Company
received $1,877,500 in gross proceeds from the offerings, net of $285,887
of expenses. During June and July 1995, the Company borrowed an aggregate
of $300,000 through the issuance of certain short-term debt, evidenced by
promissory notes. This debt accrued interest at an annualized rate of 12%
and required the issuance by the Company of 90,000 shares of its common
stock. The entire balance outstanding of the bridge notes and short-term
debt was paid from the net proceeds of the Company's initial public
offering effective August 15, 1995.
The original issue discount of $1,471,370, representing the value assigned
by management to the shares of common stock issued with the bridge notes
and short-term debt, and deferred financing fees of $688,236 related to
the issuance of the common stock, totaling $2,159,606, was being amortized
on a straight line basis over the term of the bridge notes and short-term
debt. Upon the repayment of the bridge notes and short-term debt, the
remaining unamortized original issue discount and deferred financing fees
of $704,096 were written off.
NOTE 7--INCOME TAXES
No income tax benefit was recognized by the Company in connection with its
1996 and 1995 losses before income taxes. As of December 31, 1996 and
1995, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs) for federal
income tax purposes of $17,760,000 and $11,737,000, respectively, to be
applied against future taxable income, if any. These losses, if unused,
will expire beginning in 2009.
The Company expects these NOLs to be available to reduce future Federal
income tax liabilities of the Company. However, as the Company has
incurred an "ownership change" as defined under Section 382 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Company's ability to utilize its NOLs
is limited to an annual amount equal to the value of the Company's
outstanding stock immediately before the date of the ownership change
multiplied by the
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<PAGE>
federal long-term tax-exempt rate in effect during the month the ownership
change occurred. Therefore, in the event the Company achieves
profitability, such limitation would have the effect of increasing the
Company's tax liability and reducing the net income and available cash
resources of the Company in the future.
The significant temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and
liabilities and their financial reporting amounts and their tax effects at
December 31, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
--------------------------- --------------------------
Temporary Tax Temporary Tax
Difference Effect Difference Effect
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Purchased research and
development and other intangible
assets $ 2,314,000 $ 926,000 $ 2,507,000 $ 1,003,000
Asset write-down provisions 33,000 13,000 2,263,000 905,000
Accrued and other liabilities 271,000 108,000 879,000 351,000
Net operating loss carryforward 17,760,000 7,104,000 11,737,000 4,695,000
------------ ------------
Total Deferred Tax Asset 8,151,000 6,954,000
Valuation allowance (8,151,000) (6,954,000)
------------ ------------
Net Tax Difference $ -- $ --
============ ============
</TABLE>
The Company has recorded full valuation allowances against its deferred
tax assets as a result of the uncertainty of the ultimate realization of
benefits from such assets.
NOTE 8--COMPUTATION OF LOSS PER SHARE
For the year ended December 31,1995 the computation of net loss per share
is based on the weighted average number of common and common equivalent
shares outstanding during the period. Common stock equivalents consist of
outstanding stock options and warrants, which pursuant to Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 83 of the Securities and Exchange Commission, are included in
the weighted average shares as if they were outstanding for the entire
period to the extent they were granted within the 12 months preceding the
initial date of filing for the public offering (using the treasury stock
method until such time as shares are issued). During the year ended
December 31, 1996, loss per share is based on the weighted average number
of common shares outstanding.
Information regarding loss per share computed on a historical basis under
the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 15 is as
follows:
1996 1995
------------ ------------
Net loss per share $ (0.54) $ (3.25)
Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares outstanding 5,629,735 3,596,045
NOTE 9--STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS
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<PAGE>
Non-Qualified Plan C During 1994, the Company granted non-qualified stock
options to certain employees to purchase 24,208 shares of the Company's
common stock. The options, were exercisable upon vesting, and vest at one,
two, and three year anniversary dates from the date of grant. None of
these options were issued under the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan.
During 1996, the Company granted non-qualified stock options to certain
employees to purchase 1,888 shares of the Company's common stock. As of
December 31, 1996, certain of these non-qualified options have been
forfeited due to the termination of the employees. None of these options
have been exercised and options to purchase 18,435 shares remain
outstanding at December 31, 1996.
In July 1995, the Company's Board of Directors and a majority of the
Company's shareholders approved the 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "Stock
Option Plan") covering up to 750,000 shares of the Company's common stock,
pursuant to which officers and key employees of the Company are eligible
to receive incentive and/or non-qualified stock options. The Stock Option
Plan expires on January 31, 2005. As of December 31,1996, options for
749,254 shares were outstanding under the plan. These options were issued
in 1995 at an exercise price of $6.00 per share and vest at one, two, and
three year anniversary dates from the date of grant.
In May 1996, the Company modified the outstanding non-qualified stock
options. All options became immediately vested, and the exercise price was
reset to $2.00 per share for current employees. The exercise prices on all
other options remain as originally issued.
The fair value of each option granted and modified was estimated on the
date of grant or modification using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model
with the following weighted-average assumptions used for grants and
modifications in 1996 and 1995 (unaudited), respectively: expected
volatility of 112.6 for both years, risk-free interest rates of 6.8 and
6.2 percent, and expected lives of 7.3 and 8 years.
A summary of the status of the Company's additional stock option plan as
of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and changes during the years then ended is
presented below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
----------------------------- -----------------------------
Weighted-Average Weighted-Average
Shares Exercise Price Shares Exercise Price
--------- ---------------- --------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Outstanding at beginning of year 765,801 $ 1.99 24,208 $ 0.01
Granted 1,888 0.01 749,254 6.00
Exercised -- -- -- --
Canceled -- -- (7,661) 0.01
--------- ---------
Outstanding at end of year 767,689 1.99 765,801 5.87
========= =========
Options exercisable at year-end 767,689 336,838
Weighted-average fair value of
options granted during the year
(unaudited) $ -- $ 3.93
</TABLE>
At December 31, 1996, exercise prices for options outstanding ranged from
$0.01 to $6.00, and the weighted average remaining contractual life was
6.6 years.
Additional Options -- During March through August 1994, the Company
granted additional
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<PAGE>
options to purchase 209,126 shares of common stock to certain officers,
shareholders, vendors and creditors. These options became fully vested at
the date of grant and are immediately exercisable. These options generally
expire during the period from May 1997 through December 1998.
In addition, in 1995 the Company granted certain additional options to
purchase 3,375 shares of common stock by certain shareholders and
creditors. These options became fully vested at the date of grant and are
immediately exercisable.
In May 1996, the Company modified certain options held by an employee. The
exercise price was reset to $2.00 per share for a current employee. The
exercise prices on all other options remain as originally issued.
The fair value of each option granted and modified was estimated on the
date of grant or modification using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model
with the following weighted-average assumptions used for grants and
modifications in 1996 and 1995 (unaudited), respectively: expected
volatility of 112.6 for both years, risk-free interest rates of 6.2 and
6.0 percent, and expected lives of 2.2 and 4 years.
A summary of the status of the Company's additional stock option plan as
of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and changes during the years then ended is
presented below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
-------------------------- ----------------------------
Weighted-Average Weighted-Average
Shares Exercise Price Shares Exercise Price
-------- ---------------- --------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Outstanding at beginning of year 212,501 $ 3.09 209,126 $ 3.73
Granted -- -- 3,375 0.08
Exercised -- -- -- --
Canceled -- -- -- --
-------- ---------
Outstanding at end of year 212,501 3.09 212,501 3.67
======== =========
Options exercisable at year-end 212,501 212,501
Weighted-average fair value of
options granted during the year
(unaudited) $ -- $ 4.68
</TABLE>
At December 31, 1996, exercise prices for options outstanding ranged from
$0.01 to $6.45, and the weighted average remaining contractual life was
1.4 years.
The Company applies APB Opinion 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees, and related Interpretations in accounting for its plans.
Options granted during the period at exercise prices less than the fair
value of the Company's common stock at the date of grant resulted in a
$948 noncash compensation charge to operations in 1995. Had compensation
cost for the Company's stock-based compensation plan been determined based
on the fair value at the grant dates for awards under those plans
consistent with the method of FASB Statement 123, Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation, the Company's net loss and loss per share would
have been increased to the pro forma amounts indicated below:
F-14
<PAGE>
1996 1995
------------- -------------
(Unaudited)
Net Loss As reported $ (3,014,978) $ (11,687,204)
Pro forma $ (5,045,317) $ (12,754,648)
Net Loss per Share As reported $ (0.53) $ (3.00)
Pro forma $ (0.89) $ (3.27)
NOTE 10--COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases -- The Company leased its office facilities under operating leases
which required the Company to pay base rents and certain additional
amounts for its pro rata share of building operating costs. On October
31,1996, the Company vacated its remaining office facilities and was
released from future obligations under an operating lease which extended
through May 31, 1998. Rental expense was $87,000 in 1996 and $89,182, in
1995.
Technology License Agreements -- The Company has agreements with two
separate technology firms for the purpose of licensing certain technology.
Under one of the agreements, the Company paid a one-time execution fee of
$80,000 in 1995 and is required to make a continuing royalty payment for
each HMD sold by the Company. The other contract requires the Company to
make certain guaranteed minimum payments under a license and supply
arrangement. During the fourth quarter of 1996, the Company recorded an
adjustment of $98,000 to accrue the remaining liability under this
contract.
Other Licensing Agreement -- On October 14, 1995, the Company entered into
a licensing agreement with a publisher of board and role-playing games.
The agreement granted the Company the right to utilize certain characters
and other materials associated with a board game created by the publisher
in location based entertainment sites, in an on-line game to be accessed
via the Internet and in a CD-ROM home game. The Company relinquished its
rights under this licensing agreement in May 1997.
Manufacturing and Development Agreements -- The Company had entered into
manufacturing and development agreements with a contract manufacturer.
These agreements, which contain confidentiality and non-compete
provisions, allow the manufacturer to market the Company's product to
other buyers in the event that the Company is in default of its payment
terms. Additionally, the Company is obligated to purchase obsolete
inventory components and finished goods for discontinued product lines. In
the fourth quarter of 1995, the Company charged $376,000 to cost of sales
related to such commitments since the Company's products have been
discontinued.
Purchase Order -- On March 10,1997, an attorney for a customer of the
Company alleged that the Company was in default of a September 1996
purchase order and that his client had sustained direct damages of
approximately $20,000. the attorney further asserted that his client may
have suffered consequential damages in excess of $200,000. The management
of the company has evaluated this claim and is of the opinion that
sufficient reserves have been recorded on the books of the Cmpany to cover
any contingencies related to this claim.
F-15
<PAGE>
Other -- Certain creditors of VI have asserted, and others may assert,
claims against the Company based on the theory that the acquisition of the
VI assets by Bankers (pursuant to their first lien rights) and their
subsequent resale to the Company, are actionable as an improper diversion
of assets. A VI creditor group, which had an aggregate amount of
approximately $4,000,000 due from VI, filed a stockholders' derivative
suit against the Company and its former Chief Executive Officer based on
such theories. In April 1995, the Company entered into a settlement
agreement pursuant to which the Company and the group's representative
exchanged covenants not to sue, and the representative obtained similar
covenants from all parties within the group, in exchange for the issuance
by the Company of 236,201 shares of its common stock. The cost of settling
this claim, and other similar claims, was recorded as a preacquisition
contingency. There are certain stockholders and creditors of VI with whom
the Company has not settled. There can be no assurance that these parties
will not in the future assert claims or that the Company will not be
required to expend its resources in defending, settling and/or paying such
claims. Management believes, after consultation with outside legal
counsel, that these and similar claims are wholly without merit, and
accordingly, the resolution of any additional claims is not expected to
have a materially adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and
results of operations.
Legal Settlement -- In July 1995, the Company, a shareholder of the
Company, the Placement Agent, two officers of the Placement Agent and the
former president, CEO and director executed an agreement with respect to
the settlement of litigation brought by the former president, CEO and
director against the Company, the Placement Agent and two officers of the
Placement Agent claiming wrongful breach by the Company of an alleged
employment agreement with the former president, CEO and director and the
Company's wrongful rejection of its former president's attempt to put
122,900 shares of Common Stock to the Company thereunder and intentional
interference with such alleged agreement by the Placement Agent and its
officers. Under the terms of the settlement, the former president, CEO and
director has agreed to act as a consultant to the Company for a period of
27 months to commence upon the closing of the Company's IPO and the
Company has agreed to pay him an aggregate $560,000 thereunder of which
$300,000 was paid out of the net proceeds of the Company's IPO and the
balance will be paid in 26 monthly installments commencing September 15,
1995. The former president, CEO and director has also agreed that during
the consulting period he will not compete with the Company and will
refrain from acquiring beneficial ownership of more than 10% of its
outstanding shares or becoming involved in any proxy contest with respect
to, or tender offer for, the Company. The settlement arrangement also
provides for the exchange of general releases between the Company, the
former president, CEO and director and the other parties thereto. The
Company expensed the entire cost of this settlement in 1995, including
$417,400 during the fourth-quarter.
The Company has not made any payments to the former president, CEO and
director subsequent to July 1996. As of December 31, 1996, the financial
statements of the Company reflect the $150,000 liability that is still
outstanding pursuant to the settlement agreement. The former president,
CEO and director and his attorney have asserted that the company has
breached the settlement agreement and that, pursuant to the settlement
agreement, the provisions that specifically apply to the company and its
officers and directors "...shall be null and void ab initio and each of
the parties shall have such rights, remedies and claims as they would
other wise have if this Agreement never existed."
In a lawsuit filed by the former president, CEO and director in June 1995,
he asserted that
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<PAGE>
the value of his alleged employment agreement was in excess of $3.0
million. a key provision of the alleged employment agreement, dealing with
the issue of compensation, stated that A...although a portion may be in
non-cash compensation, the Executive's total compensation, namely base
salary plus bonus and incentives, if any, plus stock options compensation,
if any, shall be not less than 120% of the next highest paid executive's,
or any other company employee's total compensation. As of December 31,
1996, the highest paid employee of the Company has received cash
compensation of $294,115. Additional accrued compensation of $34,650 has
been recorded on the books of the company as of December 31, 1996. As of
December 31, 1996, the former president, CEO and director of the Company
has received cash compensation of $410,000 pursuant to the settlement
agreement.
Additionally, as of December 31, 1996, the highest paid employee of the
Company has received 139,424 shares of the Common Stock of the Company and
options to purchase an additional 334,617 shares at a strike price that
has subsequently been reset at $2.00 per share. While these shares and
options were issued on the date of the initial public offering of the
Company, they did not vest until April 20, 1997. the company recorded
compensation expense of $443,368 during the third quarter of 1995 related
to the issuance of these shares and options. The value of these shares and
options on the vesting date was $17,428.
The former president, CEO and director of the Company and his attorney
have represented to the Company that they have each executed settlement
agreements whereby their claims arising from the alleged breach of the
July 1995 settlement agreement will be settled for 1,000,000 shares of the
Common Stock of the Company. They have additionally represented that the
settlement agreements will be effective with the acquisition of Sonoma
Holding Corp. ("Sonoma") (See Note 13). The former president, CEO and
director is an affiliate of Sonoma.
On January 4, 1996, the attorney for the president, CEO and director of
the Company served the Company with a Notice of Attorney's Lien related to
payments made pursuant to the July 1995 settlement agreement. On October
15, 1996, the company was served with a court order directing it to
deposit future payments pursuant to the July 1995 settlement agreement
into two Client Funds Accounts, one controlled by the attorney for the
former president, CEO and director of the Company and the second
controlled by the attorney for a creditor of the former president, CEO and
director of the Company. The attorney for the creditor of the former
president, CEO and director of the Company had previously served the
Company with a Non-Wage Garnishment related to the former president, CEO
and director of the Company.
Legal Settlement -- In July 1995, a competitor commenced legal action
against the Company in the United States District Court for the Western
District of New York for alleged infringement of a patent relating to a
head tracking device for use in a HMD. The suit sought an accounting and
an award of an unspecified amount of damages for infringement, a
preliminary and permanent injunction against the Company's sale of its
HMD, and other relief. The head tracking technology used by the Company is
covered by patents and technology acquired under license from a third
party.
In March 1996, the Company signed a settlement agreement with this
competitor in the alleged patent infringement matter. As part of the
settlement, the Company entered into a licensing agreement with this
competitor for use of the technology related to the patented
F-17
<PAGE>
headtracking device which requires the Company to make certain scheduled
payments based on the total number of licensed HMD's sold by the Company
to date and in the future.
Employee Agreement -- The Company has entered into an employment agreement
with its President and Chief Executive Officer for a period of three
years, each with a base salary of $200,000, plus a bonus equal to 5% of
pre-tax profits, not to exceed $400,000, and certain restricted stock and
options to purchase shares of common stock. The Company has also entered
into a three year employment agreement with one of its Vice Presidents at
a base salary of $100,000. In addition, the company has negotiated, in
principal, an employment agreement with one of its Vice Presidents at a
base salary of $125,000 for each of the next three years, plus a bonus
equal to 3% of pre-tax profits, not to exceed $250,000, and certain
restricted stock and options to purchase shares of common stock. Each of
these employees are also members of the Company's Board of Directors.
NOTE 11--SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
In July 1995, the Company's Board and a majority of the Company's
shareholders, approved a plan to change the Company's common stock, which
had no par value to common stock with a par value of $.001 per share, to
increase the number of shares of common stock the Company is authorized to
issue from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000, to authorize the issuance of
1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.001 per share and to
split the Company's outstanding common stock 20.2225 to one. The share and
per share amounts in the financial statements reflect the effects of the
20.2225-for-1 stock split.
NOTE 12--COMPLETION OF INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
On August 10, 1995, the Company sold 2,700,000 shares of common stock and
2,700,000 redeemable warrants to purchase shares of common stock in an
initial public offering (IPO). The net proceeds from the IPO amounted to
approximately $14,839,708, net of underwriter discounts and issuer
expenses. The Company used $4,388,270 for the payment of principal
($4,133,900) and accrued interest ($254,370) on the bridge loan notes and
other short-term debt previously incurred by the Company, and $965,619 was
paid to Bankers Capital for indebtedness and interest associated with the
acquisition of VI assets. The exercise prices for the stock subject to the
redeemable warrants are as follows:
Exercise Price of
Warrants Expressed as
Period After a Percentage of Per
the IPO Share IPO Price
--------------- ---------------
Zero to 14 months 120%
15 to 23 months 110%
24 to 35 months 100%
36 to 47 months 90%
48 to 60 months 75%
The redeemable warrants may be called by the Company at $.05 per warrant
provided that the market price of the common stock is at or above the
following:
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<PAGE>
Market Price of
Common Stock
Expressed as a
Period After Percentage of Per
the IPO Share IPO Price
--------------- ---------------
13 to 14 months 150%
15 to 23 months 140%
24 to 35 months 130%
36 to 47 months 120%
48 to 60 months 65%
In connection with the offering, the Company sold to the underwriter, for
nominal consideration, warrants to purchase up to 270,000 shares of common
stock and 270,000 redeemable warrants. The underwriter warrants are
initially exercisable at a price of 130% of the initial public offering
price per share of common stock and per redeemable warrant for a period of
four years commencing one year from the effective date of the registration
statement and are restricted from sale, transfer and assignment for a
specified period. During 1996, the exercise price of these options was
reset to $2.00 per share.
On September 29, 1995, the underwriter exercised its over allotment option
to purchase 379,700 redeemable warrants of the Company at a price of $.25
per warrant. The net proceeds from the exercise of the over allotment
option amounted to approximately $81,619.
NOTE 13--SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On September 24, 1997, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire
all of the outstanding capital stock of Sonoma. The transaction, which is
expected to close in early November 1997, is contingent upon the
satisfactory conclusion of due diligence and the fulfillment of certain
conditions by both of the parties. The Company will account for the
acquisition as a purchase.
The Company will issue 12,208,558 shares of its common stock and 100,000
shares of its preferred stock to the shareholders of Sonoma. The preferred
shares are convertible into 30,000,000 shares of the common stock of the
Company. The former President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of
the Company, is affiliated with Sonoma. Additionally, the Company will
issue 1,550,000 shares of its common stock to certain creditors of the
Company in full satisfaction of their claims against the Company. The
creditor group includes the former President, Chief Executive Officer and
Director of the Company and all of the current officers and directors of
the Company. Additionally, the Company will issue 615,000 shares of its
common stock to a group of individuals as a settlement of various
employment claims and as compensation for assisting in the structuring of
the transaction. Included in this group are all of the current officers
and directors of the Company.
Unaudited consolidated financial statements for Sonoma, a diversified
industrial holding company, for the six month period ending June 30, 1997,
show sales of $2,224,040 and pretax earnings of $149,919.
