SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
NETWORKS NORTH, INC.
f/k/a NTN CANADA, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York 11-2805051
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(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
14 Meteor Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 1A4
(416) 675-6666
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(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, or registrant's principal
executive offices)
Frederick M. Mintz, Esq.
Mintz & Fraade, P.C.
488 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 486-2500
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(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of agent for service)
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the
public:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration
Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
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If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed Proposed
Title of maximum maximum
securities to Amount to be offering price aggregate Amount of
be registered registered (1) per share (2) offering price registration fee
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Common
Stock, par
value
$0.0467 1,359,301 $3.125 $4,247,815.6 $1,253.10
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(1) For the account of certain Selling Shareholders. Includes 192,857 shares
of Common Stock issuable in exchange for 900,000 shares of the Company's
outstanding Convertible Preferred Stock.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
Pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act, the registration fee has
been calculated based upon the closing sale price as reported by NASDAQ
Small-Cap Market for the Company's Common Stock on August 10, 1998.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file
a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement
shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
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This Prospectus relates to an offering by certain selling shareholders
("Selling Shareholders") of an aggregate of up to 1,359,301 shares of Common
Stock of Networks North, Inc. f/k/a NTN Canada, Inc. (the "Company"). The
Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of Common Stock by
the Selling Shareholders.
The Common Stock may be offered from time to time by the Selling
Shareholders through ordinary brokerage transactions in the over-the-counter
market, in negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at
the time of sale or at negotiated prices.
It should be noted that the selling shareholders may be deemed affiliates
of the Company and are subject to applicable restrictions on transferability
pursuant to Rule 144 which was promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
The Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market and is quoted on
the NASDAQ Small-Cap Market under the symbol NETN. On August 10, 1998, the
closing sale price of the Common Stock as reported by NASDAQ was $3.125.
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THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
SEE RISK FACTORS COMMENCING ON PAGE 8
-------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is August 10, 1998
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, registration statements, proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company with the Commission can be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at
the Commission's Regional Offices located at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and 7 World Trade Center, Suite
1300, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can be obtained from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington,
D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission maintains a World Wide Web site
that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The address
of the World Wide Web site is http://www.sec.gov.
The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form
S-3 (herein, together with all amendments and exhibits, referred to as the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), with respect to the Securities. This Prospectus which
constitutes part of the Registration Statement does not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are
omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For
further information with respect to the Company and the Securities offered
hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and the
financial statements, notes and schedules filed as a part thereof or
incorporated by reference therein, which may be inspected at the public
reference facilities of the Commission at the addresses set forth above or
through the Commission's World Wide Web site.
Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract
or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance are
qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of such contract or document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents previously filed with the Commission by the
Company are incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof:
1. Registration Statement on Form 10-12G, as filed with the Commission
on January 5, 1998;
2. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1997, as
filed with the Commission on November 28, 1997;
3. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ending May 31, 1998,
February 28, 1998 and November 30, 1997;
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All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference
and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such reports or other
documents.
The Company will furnish without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference, except for the
exhibits to such documents. Requests should be directed to the Company at 14
Meteor Drive, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, M9W 1A4, telephone: (416) 675-6666.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the more detailed information and financial statements, including the notes
thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus or incorporated by reference
herein. This Prospectus contains certain forward looking statements concerning
the Company's operations, economic performance and financial condition. Such
statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company's
actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a
number of factors including those identified under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere
in this Prospectus.
The Company
Networks North, Inc. was originally incorporated under the laws of the
State of New York on May 12, 1986 under the name Triosearch Inc. On June 9,
1988, Triosearch changed its name to NTN Canada, Inc. On March 16, 1998, NTN
Canada, Inc. changed its name to Networks North, Inc. The Company presently
conducts its operations through a wholly owned subsidiary, NTN Interactive
Network Inc. ("NTNIN") which is the principal operating company of the entity.
The Company, through NTNIN, currently provides its products and services
through eight business units or subsidiaries. Of these eight, two are considered
to be the traditional core of the Company's business, that is, directly related
to multi-player interactive entertainment programs. The two traditional core
business units are the Hospitality Group ("Hospitality Group") and the Corporate
Events/Home Market Group. Five other units are collectively referred to as the
"Magic Lantern Group," which include (i) NTNIN's wholly-owned subsidiary Magic,
which is involved in the marketing and distribution of Educational video and
media resources, (ii) Magic's wholly-owned subsidiary Custom Video, which is
involved in the manufacturing of videotape copies, (iii) Custom Video's
wholly-owned subsidiary BCLC, which is involved in the marketing and fulfilment
services of educational video titles, (iv) Magic's 75%-owned subsidiary
Sonoptic, which is involved in the conversion of analog video to digital video
formats, and (v) Magic's 50%-owned subsidiary Viewer Services, which is involved
in the inbound telemarketing and fulfilment services for television broadcasters
and others. The eighth unit, Interlynx Multimedia, Inc., is involved in
designing and developing educational and corporate multimedia, programming for
CD-ROMs and web-sites, animation, and 3-D rendering.
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The Offering
Securities Offered ................... 1,359,301 shares of Common Stock
Common Stock Outstanding (1) ......... 2,768,930 shares
Use of Proceeds ...................... The Company will not receive any
proceeds from sales of Common Stock
by the Selling Shareholders
Risk Factors ......................... Prospective investors should consider
carefully certain Risk Factors relating
to an investment in the Company. See
"Risk Factors."
NASDAQ Symbol ........................ NETN
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(1) Includes 192,857 shares of Common Stock to be issued in exchange for
900,000 shares of Preferred Stock as of the date of this Prospectus.
Excludes an aggregate of 969,625 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of stock options either granted or eligible to be granted under
the Company's employee stock option plans.
It should be noted that the selling shareholders may be deemed affiliates
of the Company and are subject to applicable restrictions on transferability
pursuant to Rule 144 which was promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
Statement of Operations Data (Canadian Dollars):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended August 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating revenues........... Cdn$10,351,689 Cdn$6,318,251 Cdn$4,559,382 Cdn$3,147,980 Cdn$2,770,479
Cost of sales ............... 3,395,898 2,223,916 1,701,629 1,244,462 1,268,250
Gross profit ................ 6,955,791 4,094,335 2,857,753 1,903,518 1,502,229
Net income (loss) ........... 609,387 541,059 357,535 75,694 55,811
Net income (loss) per share . .25 .25 .21 .07 .07
Weighted average number of
shares outstanding ......... 2,441,992 2,144,175 1,699,239 1,049,244 799,971
<CAPTION>
Nine Months Three Months
Ended May 31 Ended May 31
------------------------------- -------------------------------
1998 1997 1998 1997
---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating revenues Cdn$11,143,311 Cdn$7,420,034 Cdn$3,651,725 Cdn$2,557,706
Cost of sales 4,317,277 2,266,251 1,441,730 849,820
Gross profit 6,826,034 5,153,783 2,209,995 1,707,886
Net income (loss) 493,798 384,704 144,807 59,739
Net income (loss) per share .19 .16 .05 .02
Weighted average number of
shares outstanding 2,541,311 2,441,617 2,546,073 2,441,617
</TABLE>
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Special Note Concerning Forward Looking Statements
Prospective investors should carefully consider the following factors, in
addition to the other information contained in this Registration Statement, in
evaluating an investment in the Securities offered hereby. This Registration
Statement contains forward-looking statements which involve risks and
uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward looking statements as a result of certain factors,
including those set forth in the following risk factors and elsewhere in this
Registration Statement.
The ownership and trading of shares of common stock of the Company are
speculative and offer a high degree of risk, including, but not necessarily
limited to, the risk factors described below. One should carefully consider the
following risk factors inherent and affecting the business of the Company before
making an investment decision.
Risk Factors
Reliance on NTN Communications, Inc. The programming for the Hospitality Group,
which is engaged in the marketing and distribution of NTN Entertainment Network
Services (the "Network"), is furnished by NTN Communications, Inc. of Carlsbad,
California ("Communications"), and is supplied through independent transmission
companies. In addition, Communications is the Company's sole supplier of
selected components of Network subscriber systems including Playmakers. The
Company has no equity interest in Communications and the long term viability of
the Company's Network business is dependent upon the continued availability of
broadcast services originating at Communications' Broadcast Center. If
Communications ceases operations or terminates broadcast services, the Company
believes, but cannot assure, that services of the nature, quantity, and quality
currently provided by Communications would become available from others. Any
interruption in broadcast services would result in an interruption in those
broadcast services normally delivered to Group Subscribers. Other Company
services would continue, including the availability of interactive programmes
and games. The Company has not formulated plans for action which would be taken
should Communications cease operations or alter the availability or terms of
continued availability of broadcast services.
Based upon its Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
December 31, 1997, Communications reported a net income (loss) of approximately
US$(12,457,000), US$(22,952,000), US$(3,948,000) and US$(707,000) for the years
ended December 1997, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Shareholders' equity was
US$8,726,000, US$10,222,000 and US$33,451,000 for the years ended December 31,
1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. At December 31, 1997, Communications held
cash and cash equivalents of US$4,764,000 and held working capital of US$17,000.
The financial statements accompanying Communications' Annual Report on
Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, expressed the uncertainty
of Communications' ability to
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carry on as a going concern. Since, December 31, 1996, the operations have not
been qualified by that uncertainty by Communications' accountants.
Credit Risk of Customer Base. In common with many businesses, credit risk is
dependent upon the type of customer which the Company supplies. A large
percentage of the Company's customers are in the food and beverage industry
which traditionally has a higher than average failure rate, which could account
for the inability to collect substantial sums of monies owed to the Company each
year.
Satellite Malfunctions. Due to the dependence on satellite technologies, an
operating failure to one or more of the broadcast satellites depended upon by
the Company could conceivably render the whole network useless for an indefinite
period of time.
Dependence upon Licenses with Sports Leagues or other Companies. Pursuant to
licenses with Major League Baseball, National Football League, Canadian Football
League, National Hockey League, and the Canadian Olympic Association, the
Company produces and delivers interactive games played in conjunction with live
broadcasts of sporting events. There is no guarantee that upon the expiration of
the license with the sports leagues that the licenses will be renewed. The
inability to renew any of these licenses may have material adverse effects upon
the Company.
Advertising. While the Company is not wholly dependant upon advertising revenue,
any adverse economic condition can cause advertising and sponsorship revenues to
fall to levels that could adversely affect the Company's financial condition.
No Dividends. To date, the Company has not paid any dividends on its Common
Stock and it does not expect to declare or pay dividends on the Common Stock in
the foreseeable future.
Dilution. Pursuant to the approval of the shareholders of the Company at the
annual meeting of shareholders of the Company on February 27, 1998, the Company
has replaced its Long Term Incentive Plan with a new stock option plan which
increased the number of shares of the Company's Common Stock subject to employee
stock option plans from 525,000 to 1,000,000. At the present time, the Company
has granted to certain employees and directors of the Company options to
purchase 519,500 shares of the Common Stock of the Company, of which 30,375
options have been exercised. The 489,125 granted options remaining are
exercisable at the option of the grantees either at $3.00 per share, pursuant to
an agreement between the Company and the grantees which lowered the exercise
price of such options from an average exercise price of $4.35, provided the
option holders agree to restrictions on redemption for a period of six months
or, at the initial exercise price if the option holders determine not to agree
to the aforementioned restriction. To the extent the market price of Common
Stock at the time of exercise exceeds the exercise price, the exercise of the
foregoing options will have a dilutive effect on the Company's shareholders.
The Company has in the past and may in the future acquire one or
more companies with payment with the Company's stock in lieu of cash payment.
Such acquisitions will have a dilutive effect on the shares of the Company.
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Indemnification of Directors and Officers. The Company has taken out insurance
for each director and officer of the Company against liabilities imposed upon
him (including reasonable amounts paid in settlement) and expenses incurred by
him in connection with any claim made against him or any action, suit or
proceeding to which he may be a party by reason of his being or having been a
director or officer of the Company. The foregoing may reduce the likelihood of
derivative litigation against directors and may discourage or deter shareholders
or management from suing directors for breaches of their duty of care, even
though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit the Company and
its shareholders.
Technological Change. The computer and interactive industries are subject to
rapid and significant technological change, and the ability of the Company to
compete is dependent in large part upon its continued ability to enhance and
improve its products and technologies. In order to do so, the Company must
effectively utilize and expand its research and development capabilities, and,
once developed, expeditiously convert new technology into products and processes
which can be commercialized. The Company's competitors may succeed in tapping
into markets previously monopolized by the Company by developing technologies,
products and processes that render the Company's processes and products
obsolete. The Company's development efforts are subject to all the risks
inherent in the development of new products and technologies, including
unanticipated delays, expenses, technical problems or difficulties, as well as
the possible insufficiency of funds to satisfactorily complete development,
which could result in abandonment or substantial change in product
commercialization. There can be no assurance that product development efforts
will be successfully completed on a timely basis, or at all, or that
unanticipated events will not occur which would result in increased costs or
material delays in product development or commercialization.
Industry Factors. Sales of the Company's products, especially the Hospitality
Market, are dependant on discretionary spending by consumers, which may be
adversely affected by unfavorable economic conditions. Any decrease in the level
of consumer spending on Network Programming, corporate spending on the Corporate
Market, or adverse conditions on any corporation or company relied upon in any
way by the Company could adversely affect the Company's proposed business and
prospects. The Company's future operating results will depend on numerous
factors beyond its control, including the popularity of the sports leagues
licensing products to the Company, the financial health of NTN Communications,
Inc., local economic conditions, changes in consumer demographics, the
availability and relative popularity of other forms of entertainment, and public
tastes and preferences, which may change rapidly and cannot be predicted.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares on Common
Stock by the Selling Shareholders. The Company has agreed to pay certain
expenses in connection with this offering, currently estimated to be
approximately $29,000.00.
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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
The Common Stock of the Company, par value $.0467 per share (the "Common
Stock"), is traded in the over-the-counter market and is quoted on the NASDAQ
SmallCap Market ("NASDAQ"), under the symbol "NETN." Set forth below is the
range of high and low bid prices for shares of Common Stock for each full
quarterly period within the Company's two most recent fiscal years, as derived
from reports furnished by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
as adjusted to give retroactive effect to the Company's three-for-two (3:2)
stock split made effective August 15, 1996. The information reflects
inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-ups, mark-downs or commissions and may
not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Bid Prices
------------------------------------
Quarters Ended High Low
- -------------- ---- ---
November 30, 1995.......................... US$4-5/12 US$3-1/4
February 29, 1996.......................... 5-1/12 3-1/12
May 31, 1996............................... 6-1/2 4-7/12
August 31, 1996............................ 7-1/8 4-1/4
November 30, 1996.......................... 8 4-7/8
February 28, 1997.......................... 5-1/4 3-7/8
May 31, 1997............................... 4-5/8 2-7/8
August 31, 1997............................ 6-5/8 3-7/16
November 30, 1997.......................... 6-3/8 4
February 28, 1998.......................... 4-1/2 2-3/4
May 28, 1998*.............................. 3-7/8 3-1/8
* May 31, 1998, the end of the fiscal quarter of the Company, fell out on a
Sunday. The last trading day of the fiscal quarter was May 28, 1998.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS AND PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
An aggregate of up to 1,359,301 shares may be sold pursuant to this
Prospectus by the Selling Shareholders. Except as described below, the Selling
Shareholders have never held any position or office with the Company or had any
other material relationship with the Company. The Company will not receive any
of the proceeds from the sale of shares of Common Stock by the Selling
Shareholders.
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The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
Selling Shareholders:
Beneficial
Ownership of Percentage of
Shares of Shares to be Shares Owned Shares Owned
Selling Common Stock Sold in the After the After the
Shareholder Prior to Sale Offering Offering (1) Offering (1)
- ----------- ------------- -------- ------------ ------------
1199846 Ontario, 38,158(2) 185,448(3) 0 0
Ltd.
Karen L. 55,209 55,209 0 0
Anderson and
Gary A. Woodill
Netstar 925,787 925,787 0 0
Enterprises Inc.
(4)
Anor 400,357 192,857 207,500 7.6%
Management,
Ltd. (5)
(1) Assumes all of the shares offered hereby are sold by the Selling
Shareholders.
(2) Represents the first payment of stock in lieu of cash based upon two
promissory notes owned by Douglas Connolly, a director of the Company. The
38,158 shares of Common Stock are beneficially owned by 1199846 Ontario, Ltd.,
of which Mr. Connolly is the president. One payment of 49,097 shares of Common
Stock is due within the next 60 days (See (3), below).
(3) Represents five payments of stock in lieu of cash based upon two promissory
notes owned by Douglas Connolly, a director of the Company. The first payment of
38,158 has already been paid (See (2), above). The remaining payments are as
follows: 49,097 shares of Common Stock on August 31, 1998, 49,097 shares of
Common Stock on August 31, 1999 and 49,096 shares of Common Stock on August 31,
2000.
(4) Messrs. Lorne C. Stephenson and Bart Yabsley, directors of the Company, are
Senior Vice President, Administration & Corporate Affairs and General Counsel,
Corporate and Secretary, respectively, of NetStar Communications Inc., parent
company of NetStar Enterprises Inc. (successor in interest to Labatt
Communications Inc.).
(5) Includes (a) 192,857 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
900,000 shares
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of Convertible Preferred Stock held of record by Anor Management, Ltd. ("Anor"),
(b) 30,000 shares of Common Stock based upon the exercise of such number of
options by Mr. Rona in May, 1998 pursuant to the Company's Long Term Incentive
Plan and (c) 177,500 shares issuable upon exercise of options granted to Mr.
Rona pursuant to the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan, which are currently
exercisable. Mr. Rona is the President, sole director and sole shareholder of
Anor.
The Common Stock will be offered and sold from time to time as market
conditions permit in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise, at prices and
terms then prevailing or at prices related to the then-current market price, or
in negotiated transactions. The shares offered hereby may be sold by one or more
of the following methods, without limitation: (a) a block trade in which a
broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may
position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the
transaction; (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such
broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus; (c) ordinary
brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;
and (d) face-to-face transactions between sellers and purchasers without a
broker-dealer. In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the Selling
Shareholder may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Such broker
or dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Shareholder in
amounts to be negotiated. Such brokers and dealers and any other participating
brokers or dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters" within in the meaning of
the Securities Act, in connection with such sales. Any commissions, discounts or
other fees payable to a broker, dealer or market maker in connection with the
sale of any Common Stock will be borne by the Selling Stockholder.
INDEMNIFICATION
Article Tenth of the Company's Amended Certificate of Incorporation
provides for the elimination of personal liabilities of directors of the
registrant for breaches of certain of their fiduciary duties to the full extent
permitted by Sections 717 and 719 of the New York Business Corporation Law
("BCL"). Specifically, it states that no director of the Company shall be
personally liable to the corporation or any of its shareholders for damages of
any breach of duty in any such capacity except if a judgment or other final
adjudication adverse to him establishes that his acts or omissions were in bad
faith or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, or
that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which
he was not legally entitled or that his acts violated Section 719 of the BCL.
Section 801(b)(14) of the BCL enables a corporation in its certificate of
incorporation to strike out, change or add any provision not inconsistent with
the BCL or any other statute, relating to the business of the corporation, its
affairs, its rights or powers or the rights or powers of its shareholders, or
directors or officers. Section 717 provides for the elimination of personal
liabilities of directors provided they act in good faith and with the degree of
care used by an ordinary prudent person under like circumstances. Thus, no such
provision may eliminate or limit the liability of a director for breaching his
duty of loyalty, failing to act in good faith, engaging in intentional
misconduct or knowingly violating the law, paying an unlawful dividend,
approving an illegal stock repurchase or obtaining an improper personal benefit.
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Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Company has been informed
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is
therefore unenforceable.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the shares of Common
Stock offered hereby are being passed upon for the Company by Mintz & Fraade,
P.C., 488 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements (including schedules incorporated by
reference) of Networks North, Inc. at August 31, 1997 and 1996, and for each of
the three years in the period ended August 31, 1997, appearing in this
Prospectus and Registration Statement have been audited by Ernst & Young,
independent auditors, as set forth in their reports thereon incorporated by
reference herein which, as to the year 1997, are based in part on the report of
Harendorf, Lebane, Moss, independent auditors.
The information under the caption "Selected Financial Data" for each of
the three years in the period ended August 31, 1997 appearing in this Prospectus
and Registration Statement have been derived from consolidated financial
statements audited by Ernst & Young, independent auditors, as set forth in their
reports thereon incorporated by reference elsewhere herein, which, as to the
1997 year, are based in part on the report of by Harendorf, Lebane, Moss,
independent auditors of Magic Lantern. The information for each of the two years
in the period ended August 31, 1994 appearing have been derived from
consolidated financial statements audited by Madgett, Roberts, Marlowe, Laing,
Jackson & Chappell, Chartered Accountants, which expressed an unqualified
opinion on such statements.
The consolidated financial statements and selected financial data referred
to above are included in reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of
such firms as experts in accounting and auditing.
MATERIAL CHANGES
Board of Directors
James Newell and James Thompson, members of the Board of Directors of the
Company since 1994 pursuant to Netstar Enterprises Inc.'s ("Netstar") right to
designate members of the Board of Directors of the Company, resigned from the
Board of Directors of the Company in March, 1998 and June, 1998, respectively.
The Board of Directors accepted the resignations of Mr. Newell and
14
<PAGE>
Mr. Thompson at a duly called meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company
on July 10, 1998. Pursuant to the Designation Agreement dated October 4, 1994 as
between the Company and Netstar, Netstar has the right to designate one-third of
the members of the Board of Directors of the Company. Accordingly, Netstar has
designated Lorne C. Stephenson and Bart Yabsley as the two directors to replace
Messrs. Newell and Thompson. The Board of Directors of the Company confirmed and
ratified Messrs. Stephenson and Yabsley at a duly called meeting of the Board of
Directors of the Company on July 10, 1998. Messrs. Stephenson and Yabsley's
biographies are as follows:
Lorne C. Stephenson, age 47, is the Senior Vice-President, Administration and
Corporate Affairs (1995 to present) of Netstar Communications Inc., a company
involved in broadcast operations. Mr. Stephenson was the Vice President,
Corporate Affairs (1991 - 1995), Vice-President, Entertainment (1989 - 1991),
Executive Assistant to Chairman and CEO (1983 - 1989) and Director of Corporate
Affairs (1979 - 1983) for John Labatt Ltd., a Canadian-owned international
consumer product and entertainment conglomerate. Mr. Stephenson is a member of
the Canadian Cultural Advisory Group on International Trade, a member of the
Board of Governors and Chairman of the University Advancement Committee of
McMaster University and a member of the Board or directors of Montcrest, a
private school in Toronto, Canada.
Bart Yabsley, age 34, is the General Counsel, Corporate and Secretary (May 1998
to present) of Netstar Communications Inc., a company involved in broadcast
operations. Mr. Yabsley was the Associate General Counsel, Corporate (November
1997 - April 1998) and Legal Counsel (October 1994 - October 1997) of Netstar.
15
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No dealer, salesperson or any other person has been authorized to give any
information or to make any representations other than those contained in this
Prospectus, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not
be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company or the Selling
Shareholders. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus, nor any sale made
hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has
been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof or that the
information contained herein is correct as of any date subsequent to the date
hereof. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation
of an offer to buy any securities offered hereby by anyone in any jurisdiction
in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person
making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom
it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
----------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Available Information..........................................................4
Information Incorporated by Reference..........................................4
Prospectus Summary.............................................................6
Risk Factors...................................................................8
Use of Proceeds...............................................................10
Price Range of Common Stock...................................................11
Selling Stockholder and Plan of Distribution..................................11
Indemnification...............................................................13
Legal Matters.................................................................14
Experts .....................................................................14
Material Changes..............................................................14
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,359,301 Shares of
Common Stock
NETWORKS NORTH, INC.
f/k/a NTN Canada, Inc.
--------------
PROSPECTUS
--------------
August 10, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PART II -- INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
Expenses payable in connection with the issuance and distribution of the
securities being registered (estimated except in the case of the registration
fee) are as follows:
Amount
----------
Registration Fee $ 1,253.10
Legal and Accounting Fees and Expenses $25,000.00*
Miscellaneous 2,500.00
----------
TOTAL $28,753.10
==========
The above fees will be paid by the Company.
* Estimate
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Article Tenth of the Registrant's Amended Certificate of Incorporation
provides for the elimination of personal liabilities of directors of the
registrant for breaches of certain of their fiduciary duties to the full extent
permitted by Sections 717 and 719 of the New York Business Corporation Law
("BCL"). Specifically, it states that no director of the Registrant shall be
personally liable to the corporation or any of its shareholders for damages of
any breach of duty in any such capacity except if a judgment or other final
adjudication adverse to him establishes that his acts or omissions were in bad
faith or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, or
that he personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which
he was not legally entitled or that his acts violated Section 719 of the BCL.
Section 801(b)(14) of the BCL enables a corporation in its certificate of
incorporation to strike out, change or add any provision not inconsistent with
the BCL or any other statute, relating to the business of the corporation, its
affairs, its rights or powers or the rights or powers of its shareholders, or
directors or officers. Section 717 provides for the elimination of personal
liabilities of directors provided they act in good faith and with the degree of
care used by an ordinary prudent person under like circumstances. Thus, no such
provision may eliminate or limit the liability of a director for breaching his
duty of loyalty, failing to act in good faith, engaging in intentional
misconduct or knowingly violating the law, paying an unlawful dividend,
approving an illegal stock repurchase or obtaining an improper personal benefit.
II-1
<PAGE>
Item 16. Exhibits
(a) Exhibits
Exhibit No.
5 Opinion of Mintz & Fraade, P.C.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP
23.2 Consent of Mintz & Fraade, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5)
24. Power of Attorney
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) to file, during any period in which it offers or sells securities, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement;
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (The "Securities Act");
(ii) to reflect in the Prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of
securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not
exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of
the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to
Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and prices represent no
more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in
the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement.
Provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply
if the information required to be filed with a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange of Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") that are incorporated by reference
II-2
<PAGE>
in the registration statement.
(2) that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) to remove by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) that for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee
benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that
is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore,
unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities
(other that the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director,
officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
II-3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Etobicoke, Province of Ontario, on this 10th day
of August, 1998.
NETWORKS NORTH, INC.
By: /s/ Peter Rona
----------------------------------
Peter Rona
President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following person in the capacities
and on the date indicated.
Name Title Date
- ---- ----- ----
Peter Rona * President, Chief Executive August 10, 1998
- -------------------------- Officer, Principal Financial
Peter Rona & Accounting Officer and
Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Registrant
Douglas R. Connolly * Director August 10, 1998
- --------------------------
Douglas R. Connolly
Daniel C. Downs * Director August 10, 1998
- --------------------------
Daniel C. Downs
Dale G. Smith * Director August 10, 1998
- --------------------------
Dale G. Smith
Lorne C. Stephenson * Director August 10, 1998
- --------------------------
Lorne C. Stephenson
Adrian P. Towning * Director August 10, 1998
- --------------------------
Adrian P. Towning
Bart Yabsley * Director August 10, 1998
- --------------------------
Bart Yabsley
* By:/s/ Peter Rona
--------------------------
Peter Rona
as Attorney-in-Fact
II-4
EXHIBIT NO. 5
Opinion of Mintz & Fraade, P.C.
<PAGE>
[LETTERHEAD OF MINTZ & FRAADE, P.C.]
August 10, 1998
Networks North, Inc.
14 Meteor Drive
Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 1A4
Gentlemen:
Our firm is acting as counsel for Networks North, Inc., a New York
corporation (the "Company"), with respect to the registration statement on Form
S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), which was filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of registering under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), 1,359,301 shares (the "Shares")
of Common Stock, par value $.0467 per share, of the Company.
You should assume for purposes of this opinion that our investigation has
been limited solely to those items which are specifically set forth in this
opinion and that no further investigation has been undertaken, and that we have
reviewed only the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as
the "Documents"): the Registration Statement, the Minutes of the Board of
Directors of the Company dated February 20, 1998, the Articles of Incorporation
of the Company filed with the Secretary of State on May 12, 1986 and all
amendments and restatements thereto dated June 13, 1988, September 4, 1990,
October 15, 1992, October 4, 1994 and March 3, 1998, and the By-Laws of the
Company.
We have assumed, without investigation, the authenticity of the Documents,
the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of the persons who
executed the Documents, due authorization, valid execution, delivery and
acceptance of the Documents and the conformity to the originals of the Documents
which were submitted to us as copies. The scope and application of this opinion
is limited to the Federal Securities Laws and the laws of the State of New York.
No opinion is being rendered hereby with respect to the truth and
accuracy, or completeness of the Registration Statement or any portion thereof.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications which are set
forth herein, we are of the opinion that, as of the date hereof, the Shares have
been duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable.
<PAGE>
Networks North, Inc.
August 10, 1998
page 2
We consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in
the Prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
Mintz & Fraade, P.C.
By: /s/ Alan P. Fraade
------------------------
Alan P. Fraade
EXHIBIT NO. 23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS
================================================================================
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement [Form S-3] and related Prospectus of Networks North, Inc.
pertaining to the offering of up to 1,359,301 shares of its common stock held by
certain stockholders and to the incorporation by reference of our report dated
October 31, 1997, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
Networks North, Inc. [formerly known as NTN Canada, Inc.] included in its Form
10-K for the year ended August 31, 1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Toronto, Canada /s/ Ernst & Young
August 7, 1998. Chartered Accountants
- ------------------------------[LOGO] ERNST & YOUNG------------------------------
EXHIBIT 24
Powers of Attorney
<PAGE>
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned Directors of
Networks North, Inc. (formerly NTN Canada, Inc.) constitutes and appoints Peter
Rona, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign a registration statement on Form S-3 under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the registration of
1,359,301 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0467, of Networks North, Inc.,
and any and all amendments to the aforementioned registration statement, and to
file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and
agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned members of the Board of Directors of
Networks North, Inc. have hereunder set their hands this 24th day of July, 1998.
/s/ Peter Rona
--------------------------------------
Peter Rona
/s/ Douglas Connolly
--------------------------------------
Douglas Connolly
/s/ Daniel C. Downs
--------------------------------------
Daniel C. Downs
/s/ Dale G. Smith
--------------------------------------
Dale G. Smith
/s/ Lorne C. Stephenson
--------------------------------------
Lorne C. Stephenson
/s/ Adrian P. Towning
--------------------------------------
Adrian P. Towning
/s/ Bart Yabsley
--------------------------------------
Bart Yabsley
