SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-KSB
Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.
Commission file number 0-19409
SYNERGY BRANDS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 22-2993066
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
40 Underhill Blvd.
Syosset, NY 11791
(Address of corporate offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 516-682-1980
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act:
Title of Each Class Name of Exchange
Common Stock, $.001 par value NASDAQ/Small-Cap System
and Boston Stock Exchange
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (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. Yes_X_ NO__
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]
On March 31, 2000, the aggregate market value of the voting stock of
Synergy Brands Inc., held by non-affiliates of the Registrant (based on the
closing price as reported on the NASDAQ for March 26, 2000) approximately
$38,000,000. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a
conclusive determination for other purposes. The number of outstanding shares of
the Registrant's Common Stock as of March 31, 2000 was 14,455,616.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Proxy Statement for Registrant's 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held June 2000 are incorporated by reference in Part III (for
other documents incorporated by reference refer to Exhibit Index at page 35)
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PART I
Other than historical and factual statements, the matters and items
discussed in this report on Form 10-KSB are forward-looking information that
involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ
materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors
that could contribute to such differences are discussed in the forward-looking
statements and are summarized in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking Information and
Cautionary Statements."
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
A. OVERVIEW
Synergy Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBR) and its consolidated subsidiaries,
("SYBR" or "the Company") have developed, operate and continue to seek
opportunities to establish, Internet Businesses directed at sale of variety of
products as well as Partnering and seeking to partner or invest with advanced
technologies to enhance the Company's properties and participate in new ventures
synergistic with the other operations of the Company (Internet Infrastructure),
including establishment of strategic contacts and alliances with other
companies.
SYBR's Internet strategy includes the internal development and operation of
subsidiaries as well as the taking of strategic positions in other Internet
companies that have demonstrated synergies with SYBR's core businesses. The
Company's strategy also envisions and promotes opportunities for synergistic
business relationships among the Internet companies within its portfolio. At
March 31, 2000 SYBR's Internet subsidiaries included BeautyBuys.com (50% voting
interest through the Company's wholly owned subsidiary SYBR.com Inc.) and,
Netcigar.com (wholly owned by SYBR.com Inc.), SYBR.com Inc. as well as PHS Group
(a subsidiary of BeautyBuys.com Inc.). BeautyBuys.com is a leading online
Business to Consumer beauty department store consisting of 7,000 unique brands.
In addition the Company has developed through BeautyBuys.com Inc. Dealbynet.com
as an internet domain expected to be further developed independently as SYBR's
supply chain integration model for its Business to Business platform being
developed in the Health and Beauty as well as grocery businesses. Netcigar.com
is a leading online retailer of premium cigars and other related luxury items.
PHS is the Company's fulfillment platform for its Business to Business Internet
operations. The facility allows for automated order processing, inventory
management and customer service. PHS Group Inc. is a subsidiary of
BeautyBuys.com Inc.
In November of 1999 SYBR sold a 50% voting interest in BeautyBuys.com to
Sinclair Broadcast Group (NASDAQ: SBGI), the largest U.S. independent Television
broadcaster for approximately $70 million. Sinclair owns 61 television stations
in 40 U.S. markets reaching approximately 25% of the U.S. population. As part of
the purchase Sinclair also acquired a 16.5% equity stake in SYBR, thereby making
Sinclair the largest shareholder of SYBR.
The Company has adopted a strategy of seeking opportunities to realize
gains through investments or having separate subsidiaries or affiliates buy or
sell minority interests to outside investors. The Company believes that this
strategy provides the ability to increase shareholder value as well as provide
capital to support the growth in the Company's subsidiaries and investments. The
Company expects to continue to develop and refine the products and services of
its businesses focusing on the internet as the primary mode of distribution,
with the goal of increasing revenue as new Products are commercially introduced,
and to continue to pursue the acquisition of or the investment in, additional
Internet companies. The Company will seek to continue to attract traditional
media investments, partner with advanced value added technologies that will be
synergistic to its internet platforms as well as partner with existing internet
companies to achieve its goals of building a strategic portfolio of internet
assets.
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The present focus of the Company is on product sales through internet
channels. Subsidiaries of the Company historically active in non-internet sales
for the Company, New Era Foods Inc., Synergy Brands Distribution Inc., and
Island Wholesale Grocers Inc. have become inactive. In the tobacco product area
the Company also maintains a majority (67%) stock interest in Premium Cigar
Wrappers Inc., a company involved in the procurement and sale of raw tobacco for
cigar production and the Company continues to distribute to wholesalers and
retailers cigar and cigar products via land channels through its wholly owned
subsidiary Gran Reserve Corp., Business which is being transformed to an
Internet Platform through Netcigar.com.
THE COMPANY'S CORPORATE OFFICE IS LOCATED AT 40 UNDERHILL BLVD., SYOSSET,
NEW YORK 11791, AND ITS TELEPHONE NUMBER IS (516) 682-1980. THE COMPANY
MAINTAINS A CORPORATE WEBSITE AT WWW.SYNERGYBRANDS.COM.
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B. INTERNET SALES
1. BEAUTYBUYS.COM.
In the first quarter of 1999 the Company established through its subsidiary
BeautyBuys.Com Inc. an e-commerce website (www.BeautyBuys.com) to offer direct
to the consumer via internet sales on a non-exclusive basis a popular selection
of nationally branded beauty care products, including salon hair and skin care
items, designer fragrances and cosmetics, and consumer health and beauty care
products, most being previously sold by the Company as part of its traditional
distribution business. BeautyBuys.com Inc. has further expanded its internet
operations into B2B sales of most products offered through its retail internet
sales as well as adapting much of the Company's historical wholesale product
trade outside the health and beauty care industry to the B2B platform.
Advertising on radio, television and on-line channels is an integral part
overall traffic-building plan for BeautyBuys.com. To further this area of
expanded awareness of the BeautyBuys.com presence in the marketplace the Company
has established for BeautyBuys.com a strategic alliance with a material
advertising source in Sinclair Broadcasting Inc., and plans to partner with
others.
In November of 1999, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (NASDAQ Symbol, SBGI)
acquired a 50% voting interest in BeautyBuys.com, Inc., in exchange for $70
million in advertising on television, radio and within the Sinclair network of
61 television stations, in 40 markets and 6 radio stations. Sinclair will
provide production, creative services, media planning and exclusive placement in
their online communities through their assistance and advertising time by
contract devoted to BeautyBuys.com. The partnership with Sinclair Broadcast
Group, Inc. and the exchange of media for equity; the Company believes is a
milestone that will accelerate the growth and development of BeautyBuys.com,
Inc. In addition to the considerable media resources that are now available to
BeautyBuys.com, Inc, there is a wealth of advertising and media management
expertise that Sinclair is providing to the partnership. Sinclair owns and-or
programs 61 television stations in the United States that reach almost 25% of
the television viewing population in 40 markets that focus on the American
middle market. Sinclair stations are affiliated with the 4 major networks (ABC,
NBC, CBS, FOX) as well as Warner Bros. and UPN. The Sinclair partnership will
afford the Company many unique opportunities, in television and radio
advertising (including infomercial production and broadcasting), editorial and
public relations coverage, and even product development. The financial strength
and support of Sinclair is also proving to be a major benefit to BeautyBuys.com,
Inc., and will be leveraged by BeautyBuys to attract other media partner.
Sinclair is the largest FOX & WB affiliates network in the US. (see 8-K filed
December 7, 1999)
BeautyBuys.com's website design work is proprietary. It was developed to
accommodate the specific marketing and record keeping requirements of the
Company. State-of-the-art technology is utilized in site design, tracking
systems, hosting and affiliated programs. BeautyBuys.com strives through
internal development efforts on creating and enhancing the specialized,
proprietary software that is unique to its Business.
BeautyBuys.com utilizes a proprietary computerized web based database
management system that collects, integrates and allows analysis of data
concerning sales, order processing, shipping, purchasers, receiving,
inventories, and financial reporting. At any given time, management can
determine the quantity of product stored by item, cost by item, aging and other
characteristics necessary for expeditious fulfillment and distribution.
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BeautyBuys.com has implemented a broad array of services and systems for
site management, searching, customer interaction, transaction processing and
fulfillment. BeautyBuys.com uses a set of software applications for: Accepting
and validating customer orders; Organizing, placing, and managing orders with
vendors and fulfillment partners; Receiving product and assigning it to customer
orders; and Managing shipment of products to customers based on various ordering
criteria.
These services and systems use a combination of BeautyBuys' own proprietary
technologies and commercially available licensed technologies. Products acquired
for resale by BeautyBuys.com Inc. are shipped in bulk to the Company's warehouse
facility. BeautyBuys maintains inventory on 90% of its products and has
arrangements to purchase the balance of its needs on a "Just-in-time" basis. All
orders are assembled in a single facility for shipment to the customer via UPS
or confirmed priority mail.
BeautyBuys' website can be shopped 24 hours a day, seven days a week from
anywhere that a consumer has Internet access. BeautyBuys offers a large
selection of products and in addition provides various levels of product content
that includes wealth of health-related information, buying guides and other
tools designed to help consumers make educated purchasing decisions.
Additionally shopping list and e-mail reminders are designed to make it easier
for customers to regularly purchase their preferred products.
BeautyBuys believes that the breadth and depth of its product selection,
together with the flexibility of its online store and its range of helpful and
useful product information and other shopping services, enables BeautyBuys.com
to provide a strong merchandising strategy. BeautyBuys continues to develop its
web site through value added technologies, strategic partnerships and marketing
programs. To date it has developed interest from in excess of 25,000 business
affiliates and over 30,000 on-line customers. The web site currently receives in
excess of 100,000 unique visitors per month with the average time visiting on
site in excess of 13 minutes. BeautyBuys uses sophisticated micro-markteting
techniques to increase its sales and enhance the customer shopping experience.
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BeautyBuys' Marketing efforts are aimed at flexibility of presentation to
attract new and repeat customers and give ease of access to product availability
and information. BeautyBuys' online store provides flexibility to change
featured products or promotions without having to alter the physical layout of a
store. BeautyBuys.com is also able to dynamically adjust its product mix in
response to changing customer demand, new seasons or holidays and special
promotions.
BeautyBuys has the ability to offer products to individual customers based
on their brand preferences. BeautyBuys also cross-sells its departments to
promote impulse buying by customers.
BeautyBuys has programs that allow it to provide samples of products
designed as personal gifts. BeautyBuys also plan to use sampling to work with
manufacturers to introduce new products.
BeautyBuys' editorial strategy is to present helpful, value-added
information to consumers in a readable, user-friendly format. BeautyBuys
assembles content to provide both reference and product-related information.
BeautyBuys competes with several online merchants including Perfumania.com,
Gloss.com, Beauty.com, Planet Rx, Drugstore.com, ibeauty.com and others. In
addition, BeautyBuys competes with the traditional retail market including
department stores, chain stores and mass merchandisers. BeautyBuys' competitors
can be divided into several groups: chain drugstores, such as Walgreen's, CVS
and Eckerd; mass market retailers such as Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target;
supermarkets, such as Safeway, Albertson's and Kroger; warehouse clubs; and mail
order and major department stores, such as Nordstrom, Macy's and Bloomingdales.
Each of these competitors offers one or more of the health, beauty, wellness and
personal care product categories as offered BeautyBuys on and through its
website.
At this time there is no online vendor known to BeautyBuys that dominates
the beauty and health care market. BeautyBuys believes that with its quality
selection, competitive pricing, advertising, customer profiling and technology,
it can become dominant in this industry.
Management believes that the following are principal competitive factors in
the market place wherein it operates, all of which are acknowledged to exist and
are focused upon in BeautyBuys' operations: Brand recognition, Selection,
Convenience, Price, Website performance and accessibility, Customer service,
Quality of information services, Reliability and speed of order shipment.
Administrative offices of BeautyBuys.com, Inc. are located at 40 Underhill
Blvd., Syosset, New York. Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. is located at 10706
Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, MD. 21030. The BeautyBuys web site is hosted by
Exodus Communication at Walthom, Ma. B2C retail sales of products offered direct
to the consumer by BeautyBuys.com is accomplished under its main corporate
identity, and the B2B sales of product is accomplished through a further
subsidiary of BeautyBuys.com called PHS Group Inc. PHS sells health and beauty
care and salon products and B2B products sales will be marketed through use of
the domain name Dealbynet.com.
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2. NETCIGAR.COM
In July 1999, the Company launched through its subsidiary NetCigar.com Inc.
a web site (www.netcigar.com) for sale of premium cigar products. Through
NetCigar.com Inc. the Company offers information and sales on a variety of
cigars and cigar related products and content, including cigar news and events,
editorials, and an array of cigars and cigar products of both proprietary labels
and other popular brands. The Company has our affiliation with a Dominican
Republic tobacco grower and cigar manufacurer from where the Company receives
proprietary label cigars for sale on the web site of NetCigar.com Inc. (see
"Distribution of Premium Cigars" infra). The Company also markets humidors, and
sells golf oriented gifts and apparatus. The Company has a long term warehousing
arrangement in Miami, Florida for storage of mainly its proprietary cigars.
There are no retail stores to upkeep. NetCigar.com Inc. is not locked into any
traditional pricing mode for sale of its products so marketing quality products
at significant discounts is possible and is a large part of its business.
NetCigar is seeking a formidable advertising media partner similar to the model
its sister corporation (both with SYBR as the parent) BeautyBuys.com Inc. (see
Supra) accomplished with Sinclair Broadcasting. NetCigar's web site adds
convenience to customer and potential customer shopping by being open and
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for access from anywhere that a
consumer has internet access. A significant portion of NetCigar's web site
design is proprietary and NetCigar has had the site designed and has developed
the site to accommodate specific marketing and record keeping requirements to
enhance customer service.
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Netcigar.com, Inc., utilizes a proprietary computerized database management
system that collects, integrates and allows analysis of data concerning sales,
order processing, procurement, shipping, receiving, inventory and financial
reporting. At any given time, Company executives can determine the quantity of
product stored by item, cost by item, aging and other characteristics necessary
for expeditious fulfillment and distribution. A network system of the Company's
office and warehousing facilities allows for online assessment and transactional
reporting capabilities. All consumer orders are shipped from the Company's
warehouse within 3 days of order placement. Netcigar.com maintains an inventory
on approximately 50% of its product mix; the other 50% is purchased on a
just-in-time basis. The distribution facility is modular and sufficient space is
available to handle the Company's anticipated growth in this area of product
sales. After an order is shipped, customers can view order-tracking information
on NetCigar's web site.
As customers use NetCigar's web site, they provide NetCigar with
information about their buying preferences and habits. NetCigar then can use
this information to develop personalized communications and deliver useful
information, special offers and new product announcements to its customers. In
addition, NetCigar uses e-mail to alert customers to important developments and
merchandising initiatives.
NetCigar competes with many and varied sources for cigar products in a
market both large and highly fragmented. No single traditional retailer competes
against the Company in all of its product lines and there are an array of
recently developed e-commerce cigar sites. The largest competitor, JR Cigars has
only recently developed an e-commerce web site for its product sales as an
adjunct to this traditional brick and mortar retail stores and catalogue sales.
It is estimated that JR Cigars has approximately at 14% present market share. No
other competitor is known to have more than 5% market share.
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Traditional pre-internet cigar sales has evolved through the following 4
categories of retailing, which together remain the main source of cigar
marketing:
1. Mom and Pop brick and mortar tobacco shops that typically average 2500
square feet and generate average annual volume of approximately $250,000
per store.
2. Chain and franchise brick and mortar tobacco shops that average 12,000
to 15,000 square feet and generate approximately $5,000,000 in annual
volume per store.
3. Catalog and mail order vendors that do monthly mailings to as many as
500,000 customers (in some instances as few as 25,000 customers), which is
the portion of the market that will be the easiest to convert to E-Commerce
purchases, and
4. Drug stores and mass market retailers representing less than 10% of the
market
The Company believes that the following are principal competitive factors
present in its operations and product presentation: Brand recognition,
Selection, Convenience, Price, Web site performance and accessibility, Customer
service, Quality of information serves and Reliability and speed of order
shipment.
Many of the Company's store-based and online competitors have longer
operating histories, larger customer bases, greater brand recognition and
significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources than
Netcigar.com. Traditional store-based retailers also enable customers to see and
feel products in a manner that is not possible over the Internet. Traditional
store-based retailers can also sell products to address immediate needs, which
the Company and other online sites cannot do.
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3. FUTURE INTERNET SITES.
The Company plans to develop and/or partner with new e-commerce sites that
complement its strategy of branding through media partnerships.
C. NON-INTERNET SALES.
The Company services on a direct store basis through its subsidiary
BeautyBuys.com Inc and affilated parties several drug store and supermarket
chains in the Northeast United States and numerous other retail outlets for the
sale of hair and skin care products available to the Company through contacts
made in the industry. Similar products are also made available to be sold direct
to the consumer via internet sales (see "B. Internet Sales" supra). In this
product area Company affiliated sources stock the designated store shelves on
the design of the planogram developed by Company affiliates which service is
offered at no additional charge which aspect of sales helps maintain the client
as long as awareness is maintained of and remedies for deficiencies are made in
product shelf storage as it occurs. This aspect of the Company's business
presently accounts for only a minority of its operations and products sales and
is operated also through the Company's subsidiary BeautyBuys.com Inc. through
its subsidiary PHS Group Inc.
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D. COMPETITION
The Company is small in both physical and financial attributes in
comparison to many of its competitors in the grocery industry health and beauty
aids, cigar, and other business areas in which it participates. Such differences
however do not act as a material hindrance to operations in e-commerce because
where the traditional over the counter retailer model of business was location
oriented, internet sales are not burdened with such fixed overhead. Access to
product remains important but the Company is confident of the continued
availability of product from it fulfillment sources with whom the Company has
successfully acquainted itself or developed in house. For further discussion of
particular competitive concerns in the e-commerce area of the Company's business
refer to the particular discussion of the internet sales areas of business
operations of the Company through its subsidiaries as heretofore-described (see
B Internet Sales-BeautyBuys.com and NetCigar.com supra). The Company's knowledge
and experience in and devotion to its business, receptiveness to general
customers and service, should also continue to benefit its operations and
continue to allow it to compete with its more financially endowed competitors.
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In the Salon and Skin care product market and that for fragrances and
cosmetics the primary thrust of the business, as the Company perceives it, is to
secure market share which once established can be maintained with good service
and maintenance of competitive pricing. Once the particular stores are acquired
as clients and the service and price levels are maintained, it is difficult to
lose the account. However, special circumstances beyond the Company's control
such as acquisitions, other financial events, among others may cause the Company
to lose customers.
In internet sales the Company competes to obtain its product from
manufacturers also supplying competing distributors. The leveling factor appears
to be service and exposure on the internet. The Company is striving for expanded
internet exposure and prides itself in offering good prices and service. The
expanding presence of the Company on the Internet should act as a further
balancing factor because of the enhancement of selling efforts such allows
without the need for any corresponding expansion of the Company's physical
business facilities and personnel.
E. INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The various web sites established for sale of the Company's products are of
multi-tier construction to allow for ease of administration and record keeping.
Behind the screen visible to the consumer when visiting the Company's various
product category websites are internet based marketing and accounting
information programs to allow the Company to review interest shown in its
websites and account for sales made therefrom. The Company also maintains its
own websites regarding information on the Company as a public entity and its
various business interests. Internet sites presently available regarding Company
business and product sales are:
BeautyBuys.com
NetCigar.com
SynergyBrands.Com
DealbyNet.com
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The Company utilizes a proprietary computerized data base management system
which collects, integrates and allows for analysis of data concerning sales,
order processing, shipping, purchasers, receiving, inventories, and financial
reporting. At any given time the Company is able to determine the quantity of
product stored by item, Company costs, age and other characteristics necessary
for expeditious distribution. The system provides for system networking of the
Company's various offices and warehousing and allows for on-line transnational
reporting capabilities. The Company (through its revelant subsidiaries) programs
the web sites maintained by those subsidiaries in Cold Fushion and Java
utilizing a Windows NT platform and SQL 7 Database software. The Company's web
based systems are hosted by Exodus communications utilizing redundant
sophisticated due processing servers. Communications is provided by UUNET on
proprietary T-1 and leased T-3 facilities. The Company's intranet is protected
by Verisign and its RSA infrastructure.
F. SEASONALITY
Sales of beauty care products and fragrances increase over traditional gift
giving holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and
Valentine's Day.
Cigar products sales also increase during holiday periods and summer
months, but also sales spurts occur during periods of special sporting events.
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G. SHIPPING AND HANDLING
Products sold on a B2B basis by the Company are shipped in bulk from
inventory maintained by the Company at its warehouse facilities by common
carriers, unless alternative arrangements are made to have the product shipped
using another service (e.g. postal carrier or UPS) the cost of which is added to
the acquisition cost of the product to the purchaser. All B2C orders are
consolidated in a single facility then packed and shipped to the customer within
7 days mainly by UPS. Approximately 90% of product inventory is in warehouse
stock and 10% is purchased by the Company on an as needed "just in time" basis.
The Company does not own its trucks and is dependent on common carriers in the
trucking industry. Although the Company can call upon any of several hundred
common carriers to distribute its products, from time to time the trucking
industry is subject to strikes or work stoppages, which could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's operations if alternative modes of shipping are
not then available. Additionally, the trucking industry is subject to various
natural disasters which can close transportation lanes in any given region of
the country. To the extent common carriers are prevented from or delayed in
utilizing local transportation lanes, the Company will likely incur higher
freight costs due to the limited availability of trucks during any such period
that transportation lanes are restricted.
The Company generally purchases Promotional Grocery Products and HBA
products for its promotional business to be sold B2B in truckload quantities to
take advantage of better pricing from the supplier and lower freight costs. The
Company does not foresee difficulty in arranging additional trucking if it
increases its business volume. The Company has arranged for warehousing when and
where necessary, on a contract basis and has thereby eliminated the existence of
and need for centralized warehousing.
H. TRADEMARKS, LICENSES AND PATENTS
The Company has obtained rights to various copyrights, trademarks,
tradenames, and domain names in its internet business. The Company has obtained
a wholesale pharmaceutical license through the New York State Department of
Education, but to date has not utilized it. The Company has worldwide rights to
the "Suarez Gran Reserva", "Breton Legend", "Anduleros", "Don
Otilio","Alminante" "Nativo" and various other trade names in marketing of
premium handmade cigars. The cigar tradenames are owed by Gran Reserve Corp.
Others are owned directly by the Company or where applicable and appropriate by
BeautyBuys.com Inc.
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I. EMPLOYEES
The Company and its subsidiaries in the aggregate as of the date of this
report employ and contract 35 full time/part time persons all of whom work in
executive, administrative, marketing, data processing, accounting or clerical
activities and certain work as Company employees that integrate with the various
warehouses where Company products are stored. The Company does lease and staff
its warehouse in New Jersey from where it facilitates storage, sorting, packing
and shipping of products sold in its BeautyBuys.com web site. Otherwise
warehousing is contracted on an as needed arrangement staffed through the
warehousing entity contracted with except for supervisory personnel hired by the
Company.
J. GOVERNMENT REGULATION
1. TOBACCO INDUSTRY REGULATION AND TOBACCO INDUSTRY LITIGATION
Regulation. The tobacco industry is subject to regulation at federal, state
and local levels. Federal law has required States, in order to receive full
funding for federal substance abuse block grants, to establish a minimum age of
18 years for the sale of tobacco products, together with an appropriate
enforcement program. The recent trend is toward increasing regulation of the
tobacco industry, and the increase in popularity of cigars could lead to an
increase in regulation of cigars.
The Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") has determined that nicotine
is a drug and that it has jurisdiction over cigarettes and smokeless tobacco
products, as nicotine-delivering medical devices, and therefore, promulgated
regulations restricting and limiting the sale, distribution and advertising of
cigarette and smokeless tobacco products. Cigars were not included in the FDA's
regulations. The prohibition on retailers from selling cigarettes, cigarette
tobacco or smokeless tobacco to persons under the age of 18 and requiring
retailers to check the photographic identification of every person under the age
of 27 became effective on February 28, 1997.
The FDA is continuing its efforts to increase regulation over tobacco and
tobacco-related products. Its efforts however were forestalled by a recent
decision in the Fourth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals where that court
ruled that the FDA lacks jurisdiction to regulate tobacco products and struck
down all the provisions of the FDA's regulations over tobacco product use (See
BROWN & WILLIAMSON V. FDA, 153 f.3d 155 (4th Cir. 1998). The Fourth Circuit
denied a U.S. Department of Justice petition for rehearing by the Panel or en
banc. The Solicitor General filed a petition for a writ of certiorari requesting
the U.S. Supreme Court review the decision of The Fourth Circuit but a ruling on
the petition has not yet been given but is expected in the near future. The
FDA's age and identification regulations will remain in effect pending the
outcome of this litigation.
The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services ( the "HHS") Inspector
General issued a report in February 1999, urging the Federal Trade Commission to
require cigars to carry warning labels similar to those contained on cigarette
packages. This report marks the first time that cigars have specifically been
identified for increased regulatory oversight by a federal health agency.
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While the cigar industry has not been subject to federal regulatory efforts
to date, there can be no assurance that there will not be an increase in federal
regulation in the future against cigar manufacturers or distributors. The HHS
report indicates that federal regulatory effort directed toward cigar
manufacturers and distributors may be increasingly likely. The costs to the
Company of increased government regulations could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business and results of operations.
In addition, the majority of states restrict or prohibit smoking in certain
public places and restrict the sale of tobacco products to minors. Local
legislative and regulatory bodies have also increasingly moved to curtail
smoking by prohibiting smoking in certain buildings or areas or by requiring
designated "smoking" areas. Further restrictions of a similar nature could have
an adverse effect on the sales or operations of the Company. Numerous proposals
also have been considered at the state and local level restricting smoking in
certain public areas, regulating point of sale placement and promotion and
requiring warning labels.
Federal law has required health warnings on cigarettes since 1965 and on
smokeless tobacco since 1986. Although there is no federal law currently
requiring that cigars or pipe tobacco carry such warnings, California has
enacted legislation requiring that "clear and reasonable" warnings be given to
consumers who are exposed to chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or
reproductive toxicity, including tobacco smoke and several of its constituent
chemicals. Violations of this law, known as Proposition 65, can result in a
civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 per day for each violation. Although similar
legislation has been introduced in other states, the Company is not aware of any
action taken. There can be no assurance that such legislation introduced in
other states will not be passed in the future or that other states will not
enact similar legislation. Consideration at both the federal and state level
also has been given to consequences of tobacco on others that are not presently
smoking (so-called "second-hand" smoke). There can be no assurance that
regulations relating to second-hand smoke will not be adopted or that such
regulations or related litigation would not have a material adverse effect on
the Company's results of operations or financial condition.
Increased cigar consumption and the publicity that such increase has
received may increase the risk of additional regulation. There can be no
assurance as to the ultimate content, timing, or effect of any additional
regulation of tobacco products by any federal, state, local or regulatory body,
and there can be no assurance that any such legislation or regulation would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.
Litigation. Historically, the cigar industry has experienced less
health-related litigation than the cigarette and smokeless tobacco industries
have experienced.
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Litigation against the cigarette industry has historically been brought by
individual cigarette smokers. In 1992, the United States Supreme Curt in
Cippollone v. Liggett Group, Inc. ruled that federal legislation relating to
cigarette labeling requirements preempts claims based on failure to warn
consumer about the health hazards of cigarette smoking, but does not preempt
claims based on express warranty, misrepresentation, fraud, or conspiracy. To
date, individual cigarette smokers' claims against the cigarette industry have
been generally unsuccessful.
Current tobacco litigation generally falls within one of three categories:
class actions, individual actions (which have been filed mainly in the State of
Florida) or actions brought by individual states generally to recover Medicaid
costs allegedly attributable to tobacco-related illnesses. The pending actions
allege a broad range of injuries resulting from the use of tobacco products or
exposure to tobacco smoke and seek various remedies, including compensatory and,
in some cases, punitive damages together with certain types of equitable relief
such as the establishment of medical monitoring funds and restitution. The major
tobacco companies are vigorously defending these actions.
In May 1996, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Castano v. American
Tobacco, et al. reversed a Louisiana District Court's certification of a
nationwide class consisting essentially of nicotine dependent cigarette smokers.
Notwithstanding the dismissal, new class actions asserting claims similar to
those in Castano have recently been filed in certain states. To date, two
pending class actions against major cigarette manufacturers have been certified.
The first case is limited to Florida citizens allegedly injured by their
addiction to cigarettes; the other is limited to flight attendants allegedly
injured through exposure to second-hand smoke.
The tobacco industry recently negotiated settlements totaling more than
$240 billion with the states seeking reimbursement for expenditures by
state-funded medical programs for treatment of tobacco related illnesses.
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Recent reports indicate that the federal government intends to sue the
tobacco industry seeking reimbursement for billions of dollars spent by
government held programs to treat smoking-related illnesses. A federal
government task force has been formed to make a recommendation to the U.S.
Justice Department on when and where to file the lawsuit. Furthermore, the
inability of the federal government to obtain a portion of the funds from the
state settlements with the tobacco industry may increase the likelihood of
federal government litigation against the industry. The litigation could have a
material adverse affect on the profitability of tobacco and tobacco related
products.
While the cigar industry has not been subject to similar health-related
litigation to date, there can be no assurance that there will not be an increase
in health-related litigation in the future against cigar manufacturers or
distributors. The costs to the Company of defending prolonged litigation and
settlement or successful prosecution of any health-related litigation could have
a material adverse effect on the Company's business and results of operation.
2. MISCELLANEOUS GOVERNMENT REGULATION.
The United States Food and Drug Administration through the United States
Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act and other
various rules and regulations regulate, among other things, the purity and
packaging of HBA products and fragrances and cosmetic products and various
aspects of the manufacture and packaging of other grocery items sold by the
Company. Similar statutes are in effect in various states. Manufacturers and
distributors of such products are also subject to the jurisdiction of the
Federal Trade Commission with respect to such matters as advertising content and
other trade practices. To the Company's knowledge, it only deals with
manufacturers and manufactured products in a manner which complies with such
regulations and who periodically submit their products to independent
laboratories for testing. However, the failure by the Company's manufacturers or
suppliers to comply with applicable government regulations could result in
product recalls that could adversely affect the Company's relationships with its
customers. In addition, the extent of potentially adverse government regulations
which might arise from future legislation or administrative action cannot be
predicted. The Company is not aware of any government regulation directly
related to internet sales different from traditional marketing but immense
interest has been indicated on policing the internet focusing on contact and
access but the nature of the products marketed by the Company over the internet
does not appear to involve any of such concerns beyond product labeling and
advertising content which would apply regardless of the medium in which the
products are sold.
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ITEM 2: PROPERTIES
The Company's corporate offices and administrative headquarters are located
in Syosset, New York.
The Company maintains satellite offices in Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Florida and the Dominican Republic.
Product warehousing when necessary is done on a contract basis per pallet
of product stored and is stored in modular public warehouses primarily located
in New Jersey, and Ohio but also various other facilities. The Company stores at
its expense grocery, and health and beauty aids products which the Company sells
in bulk to further wholesalers and retail outlets independent of the Company.
The Company has standing orders with independent product sources for the
availability of and delivery of product to the Company which is not to be resold
in bulk and to accommodate the sales of product direct to the consumer via
internet sales where shipping of product to fulfill orders for consumers
requires diversity of products shipped in each package as ordered. Certain of
the more popular products, as viewed from the concentration of internet orders
for such products, are warehouse stored for the Company in the warehousing
facilities more adapted to the "pick and pack" retrieval and shipping character
of consumer internet sales practices of the Company. The main such warehousing
facility is located in New Jersey where the Company leases approximately 40,000
square feet of predominately product storage space and to a lesser extent space
for product order packing and warehouse administrative offices. Otherwise the
Company arranges to have the products shipped directly to the consumer from the
manufacturer using standard delivery services and/or the US postal service which
cost is built into the price charged for the product and that paid by the
Company to the manufacturer. Currently the Company maintains warehousing space
under the above referenced arrangements in New Jersey for warehousing of
products to be sold wholesale in bulk and for internet and other specialized
sales. There are also several humidified warehouses in Florida and the Dominican
Republic to store cigars supervised by Company officials and several warehouses
in the Dominican Republic to store raw tobacco for cigar production which are
independently operated.
ITEM 3: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is a party to a number of legal proceedings as either plaintiff
or defendant in connection with claims made for goods sold and various other
aspects of its business, all of which are considered routine litigation
incidental to the business of the Company. The Company is not aware of any other
litigation pending which might be considered material and not in the ordinary
course of business.
No other legal proceedings were terminated during the fiscal quarter ended
December 31, 1999 (other than routine litigation incidental to the business of
the Company).
ITEM 4: SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
During the fourth quarter of 1999 no matters were submitted for shareholder
approval during the fourth quarter.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's common atock trades on NASDAQ Small Cap under the Symbol
"SYBR", and on the Boston Stock Exchange under the Symbol "SYN". The NASDAQ
Stock Market, which began operation in 1971, is the world' . first electronic
securities market and the fastest growing stock market in the U.S. NASDAQ
utilizes today's information technologies -computer and telecommunications- to
unite its participants in a screen-based, floorless market. It enables market
participants to compete with each other for investor orders in each NASDAQ
security and surveillance of thousands of securities. This competitive
marketplace, along with the many products and services available to issuers and
their shareholders, attracts today's largest and fastest growing companies to
NASDAQ. These include industry leaders in computers, pharmaceutical,
telecommunications, biotechnology, and financial services. More domestic and
foreign companies list on NASDAQ than on all other U.S. stock markets combined.
The high and low sales prices in the NASDAQ Small Cap Market for the Company's
Common Stock, as reported by the NASDAQ for each of the quarters of the
Company's two most recent fiscal years are as follows:
COMMON STOCK
Quarter Ended High Low
- ------------- ------- -------
March 31, 1998 2.50 1.63
June 30, 1998 3.00 1.38
September 30, 1998 1.75 .38
December 31, 1998 3.13 .28
March 31, 1999 6.47 2.19
June 30, 1999 4.13 1.79
September 30, 1999 2.10 .89
December 31, 1999 4.63 1.28
March 31, 2000 4.13 2.41
On March 31, 2000, the Company had approximately 14,455,616 shareholders of
record, with much of the stock being held in street name. The Company is
currently listed on NASDAQ Small Cap.
The Company has never paid any dividends on its Common Stock and does not
presently intend to pay any dividends on the Common Stock in the foreseeable
future.
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ITEM 6. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN
OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
Synergy Brand's (SYBR or the "Company") Internet strategy includes the
internal development and operation of subsidiaries as well as the taking of
strategic positions in other Internet companies that have demonstrated synergies
with SYBR's core businesses. The Company's strategy also envisions and promotes
opportunities for synergistic Business relationships among the Internet
companies within its portfolio. Synergy Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYBR) develops
Internet properties that strategically partner with off-line and on-line media
companies to capture e-commerce markets within the Internet arena. The company
has developed the following web sites: Netcigar.com, BeautyBuys.com and
DealByNet.com.
SYBR's subsidiaries include BeautyBuys.com, Netcigar.com, Dealbynet.com as
well as PHS Group. BeautyBuys.com is a leading online Business to consumer
beauty department store consisting of 7,000 unique brands. Dealbynet.com is
SYBR's supply chain integration model for its Business-to-Business platform
being developed in the Health and Beauty as well as grocery businesses.
Netcigar.com is a leading online retailer of premium cigars and other related
luxury items. PHS is the Company's fulfillment platform for its Internet
operations. The facility allows for automated order processing, inventory
management and customer service.
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The Company has adopted a strategy of seeking opportunities to realize
gains through investments or having separate subsidiaries or affiliates buy or
sell minority interests to outside investors. The Company believes that this
strategy provides the ability to increase shareholder value as well as provide
capital to support the growth in the Company's subsidiaries and investments. The
Company expects to continue to develop and refine the products and services of
its businesses focusing on the internet as the primary mode of distribution,
with the goal of increasing revenue as new Products are commercially introduced,
and to continue to pursue the acquisition of or the investment in, additional
Internet companies. The Company will seek to continue to attract traditional
media investments, partner with advanced value added technologies that will be
synergistic to its internet platforms as well as partner with existing internet
companies to achieve its goals of building a strategic portfolio of internet
assets.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth selected operational data of the Company,
expressed as a percentage of revenues for the periods indicated below:
Years Ended December 31,
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Revenues 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of Sales (87.9) (106.2) (77.8) (88.6) (88.2)
Operating Expenses (8.1) (12.6) (17.2) (10.0) (59.0)
Other Income (expense) (1.6) (2.7) 0.5 1.4 (.02)
---- ---- ---- ---- -----
Income(loss)from
Operations Before
Income Tax 2.4 (21.5) 5.5 2.8 (48.1)
Income Tax
(Expense)Benefit (0.8) (0.3) -- (.1) --
Discontinued Operations (0.3) (129.9) (2.4) 0 --
Extraordinary Item -- -- -- -- --
---- ---- ---- ----- ----
Net Income(Loss) 1.3% (151.7)% 3.1% 2.7% (48.1)
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YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998.
Internet sales for its first year of operations grew to $3.1 million. The
Company's total revenues in 1999 grew by 19% to $13.1 million as compared to $11
million in 1998. Internet sales for the 4th Quarter of 1999 reached $2.5 million
as compared to no Internet revenues for the same period in 1998. In the 4th
quarter 1999 the Company converted its revenue platforms to web based systems as
part of its 50% sale of equity interest in BeautyBuys.com to Sinclair Broadcast
Group (NASDAQ: SBGI). The Company Reported a net loss of $741,682 or $.07 per
share before acquisition related and non-cash charges in 1999 (including
one-time charges related to the Sinclair deal and site development costs
totaling $5.6 million. The Company reported a $6.3 million loss or $.67 per
share.) for 1999.
1999 1998
Internet Sales $ 3,157,745 $ -
Non-internet sales $10,023,494 $11,055,549
Total Sales $13,181,239 $11,055,549
Acquisition related and non-cash charges (a) 5,600,000 -
Net Profit (loss) before one time charges (741,682) 297,508
Per share (0.07) 0.06
Net Profit (loss) (6,341,682) 297,508
Per share (0.67) 0.06
Weighted share outstanding 10,445,835 5,624,590
(a) Includes $4.4 million acquisition related charges in connection with
the Sinclair Broadcast Group acquisition of a 50% interest in BeautyBuys.com in
November, 1999 and $1.2 million Investment in the site designs of BeautyBuys and
net cigar.
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YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
Revenues increased by 120.7% to $11.01 million as compared to the prior
year. The Company attributes the increase to a significant increase in the
grocery and health and beauty aid (HBA) businesses; as a result of increased
business with Proctor & Gamble in particular.
Net income applicable to common stock increased from a loss of
$(50,090)(-.03 per share) to a profit of $297,508 ($.06 per share). The
Company's profit is attributable to the following factors:
(a) a significant reduction in financing costs.
(b) a significant increase in revenues
(c) elimination of losses in connection with discontinued
operations.
The Company's income was reduced by a one time charge in connection with
rebate adjustments in the amount of $220,000 and other charges totaling
$199,000.
In 1999 the Company developed E-commece sites for the purpose of expanding
its distribution to the consumer market through on-line channels. The Company
devotes a significant amount of resources and may require additional capital to
achieve its goals.
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<PAGE>
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's working capital decreased to $753,000 at December 31, 1999.
The drop in working capital is attributable to increased advertising and
development costs prior to the completion of the Sinclair acquisition (see
BeautyBuys). The company utilized its resources to repay its debt and as of
December 31 reduced its total debt from $1,875,000 to $615,000. Operationally,
the company incurred a $6.3 million loss in 1999. $5.6 million of that loss was
one time non-cash and non-recurring charges in connection with the development,
marketing and acquisition of the Company's Internet sites.
As a result of the Sinclair transaction, the company expects that the $69.4
million in advertising credits utilized by BeautyBuys.com will support its
continuing advertising expenses. The company's main operating subsidiaries,
BeautyBuys.com Inc. and SYBR.com are expected to incur losses in 2000. The
company believes that it has sufficient working capital and resources to grow
and expand the businesses of its operating subsidiaries. However, there can be
no assurances that additional capital would not be required in the event the
Company's business grows beyond its operating budgets.
The Company plans to continue to partner with media and technology
companies on a media for equity basis. The Company believes that this strategy
allows its operating subsidiaries to brand and expand their respective
franchises without causing adverse ramifications on the Company's working
capital. In addition the Company plans to leverage its media assets to acquire
interests in related companies that would complement its expansion strategy.
SEASONALITY
The Company generally experiences lower sales volume in the fourth quarter
due to the reduced number of selling days resulting from the concentration of
holidays in the quarter.
Sales of beauty care products and fragrances increase over traditional gift
giving holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and
Valentine's Day.
Cigar products sales also increase during holiday periods and summer
months, but also sales spurts occur during periods of special sporting events.
INFLATION
The Company believes that inflation, under certain circumstances, could be
beneficial to the Company's business. When inflationary pressures drive product
costs up, the Company's customers sometimes purchase greater quantities of
product to expand their inventories to protect against further pricing
increases. This enables the Company to sell greater quantities of products that
are sensitive to inflationary pressures.
However, inflationary pressures frequently increase interest rates. Since
the Company is dependent on financing, any increase in interest rates will
increase the Company's credit costs, thereby reducing its profits.
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FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
Other than the factual matters set forth herein, the matters and items set
forth in this report are forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from the
results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or
contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. INTERNET
The internet environment is new to business and is subject to inherent
risks as in any new developing business including rapidly developing technology
with which to attempt to keep pace and level of acceptance and level of consumer
knowledge regarding its use.
2. CASH FLOW.
The Company has experienced cash shortages which continue to adversely
affect its business. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources". The Company requires
additional working capital in order to maintain and expand its business.
3. DEPENDENCE ON PUBLIC TRENDS.
The Company's business is subject to the effects of changing customer
preferences and the economy, both of which are difficult to predict and over
which the Company has no control. A change in either consumer preferences or a
down-turn in the economy may affect the Company's business prospects.
4. POTENTIAL PRODUCT LIABILITY.
As a participant in the distribution chain between the manufacturer and
consumer, the Company would likely be named as a defendant in any product
liability action brought by a consumer. To date, no claims have been asserted
against the Company for products liability; there can be no assurance, however,
that such claims will not arise in the future. Currently, the Company does not
carry product liability insurance. In the event that any products liability
claim is not fully funded by insurance, and if the Company is unable to recover
damages from the manufacturer or supplier of the product that caused such
injury, the Company may be required to pay some or all of such claim from its
own funds. Any such payment could have a material adverse impact on the Company.
5. RELIANCE ON COMMON CARRIERS.
The Company does not utilize its own trucks in its business and is
dependent, for shipping of product purchases, on common carriers in the trucking
industry. Although the Company uses several hundred common carriers, the
trucking industry is subject to strikes from time to time, which could have
material adverse effect on the Company's operations if alternative modes of
shipping are not then available. Additionally the trucking industry is
susceptible to various natural disasters which can close transportation lanes in
any given region of the country. To the extent common carriers are prevented
from or delayed in utilizing local transportation lanes, the Company will likely
incur higher freight costs due to the limited availability of trucks during any
such period that transportation lanes are restricted.
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6. COMPETITION.
The Company is subject to competition in all of its various product sale
businesses. While these industries may be highly fragmented, with no one
distributor dominating the industry, the Company is subject to competitive
pressures from other distributors based on price and service and product quality
and origin.
7. LITIGATION
The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the
ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, the amount of
ultimate liability with respect to these actions will not materially affect the
financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company, but
there can be no assurance as to this.
8. POSSIBLE LOSS OF NASDAQ SMALL CAP LISTING.
Synergy currently qualifies for trading on the Nasdaq Small Cap system.
Nasdaq has adopted, and the Commission has approved, certain changes to its
maintenance requirements which became effective as of February 28, 1998,
including the requirement that a stock listed in such market have a bid price
greater than or equal to $1.00. The bid price per share for the Common Stock of
Synergy has been below $1.00 in the past and the Common Stock has remained on
the Nasdaq Small Cap System because Synergy has complied with the alternative
criteria which are now eliminated under the new rules. If the bid price dips
below $1.00 per share, the Common Stock could be delisted from the Nasdaq Small
Cap System and thereafter trading would be reported in the NASD's OTC Bulletin
Board or in the "pink sheets." In the event of delisting from the Nasdaq Small
Cap System, the Common Stock would become subject to rules adopted by the
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Commission regulating broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in
"penny stocks." The disclosure rules applicable to penny stocks require a
broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from
the rules, to deliver a standardized list disclosure document prepared by the
Commission that provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level
of risks in the penny stock market. In addition, the broker-dealer must identify
its role, if any, as a market maker in the particular stock, provide information
with respect to market prices of the Common Stock and the amount of compensation
that the broker-dealer will earn in the proposed transaction. The broker-dealer
must also provide the customer with certain other information and must make a
special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for
the purchaser and receive the purchaser's written agreement to the transaction.
Further, the rules require that following the proposed transaction the
broker-dealer provide the customer with monthly account statements containing
market information about the prices of the securities. These disclosure
requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in
the secondary market for a stock that becomes subject to the penny stock rules.
If the Common Stock became subject to the penny stock rules, many broker-dealers
may be unwilling to engage in transactions in the Company's securities because
of the added disclosure requirements, thereby making it more difficult for
purchasers of the Common Stock to dispose of their shares. The Company's common
stock has consistently remained at NASDAQ trading levels above $1 bidover the
past year and such historical stability combined with the Company increasing
business share in the market and its continuing establishment as a viable force
in the industries wherein it participates gives the Company confidence that its
subseptibilty to market deficiencies is in a much lessened state then in years
past.
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9. RISKS OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.
The Company has ventured into new lines of product and product distribution
(Cigars) (1997) (salon HBA products - (1999) and internet sales-see B (Internet
Sales)- (1998) and such product and product distribution lines are expected to
continue to constitute a material part of the Company's revenue stream. With the
addition of these new product and product distribution lines the Company is
hopeful of reaching and hopefully exceeding prior historic levels of product
sales. Because of the newness of these lines of products to the Company, the
Company's operations in these areas should be considered subject to all of the
risks inherent in a new business enterprise, including the absence of a
appreciable operating history and the expense of new product development.
Various problems, expenses, complications and delays may be encountered in
connection with the development of the Company's new products and methods of
product distribution. These expenses must either be paid out of the proceeds of
future offerings or out of generated revenues and Company profits. There can be
no assurance as to the continued availability of funds from either of these
sources.
11. RAPIDLY CHANGING MARKET MAY IMPACT OPERATIONS.
The market for the Company's products is rapidly changing with evolving
industry standards and frequent new product introductions. The Company's future
success will depend in part upon its continued ability to enhance its existing
products and to introduce new products and features to meet changing customer
requirements and emerging industry standards. The Company will have to develop
and implement an appropriate marketing strategy for each of its products. There
can be no assurance that the Company will successfully complete the development
of future products or that the Company's current or future products will achieve
market acceptance levels conducive to the Company's fiscal needs. Any delay or
failure of these products to achieve market acceptance would adversely affect
the Company's business. In addition, there can be no assurance that the products
or technologies developed by others will not render the Company's products or
technologies non-competitive or obsolete.
Management believes actions presently being taken to revise the Company's
operating and financial requirements should provide the opportunity for the
Company to continue as a going concern. However, Management cannot predict the
outcome of future operations and no adjustments have been made to offset the
outcome of this uncertainty.
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12. DEPENDENCE UPON ATTRACTING AND HOLDING.
The Company's future success depends in large part on the continued service
of its key technical, marketing, sales and management personnel and on its
ability to continue to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified employees.
Although the Company's key employees have stock options, its key employees may
voluntarily terminate their employment with the Company at any time. Competition
for such employees is intense and the process of locating technical and
management personnel with the combination of skills and attributes required to
execute the Company's strategy is often lengthy. Accordingly, the loss of the
services of key personnel could have a material adverse effect upon the
Company's operating efforts and on its research and development efforts. The
Company does not have key person life insurance covering its management
personnel or other key employees.
13. EXTENSIVE AND INCREASING REGULATION OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS
AND LITIGATION MAY IMPACT CIGAR INDUSTRY.
The tobacco industry in general has been subject to extensive regulation at
the federal, state and local levels. Recent trends have increased regulation of
the tobacco industry. Although regulation initially focused on cigarette
manufacturers, it has begun to have a broader impact on the industry as a whole
and may focus more directly on cigars in the future. The recent increase in
popularity of cigars could lead to an increase in regulation of cigars. A
variety of bills relating to tobacco issues have been introduced in the U.S.
Congress, including bills that would (i) prohibit the advertising and promotion
of all tobacco products or restrict or eliminate the deductibility of such
advertising expense, (ii) increase labeling requirements on tobacco products to
include, among others things, addiction warnings and lists of additives and
toxins, (iii) shift control of tobacco products and advertisements from the
Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") to the Food and Drug Administration (the
"FDA"), (iv) increase tobacco excise taxes and (v) require tobacco companies to
pay for health care costs incurred by the federal government in connection with
tobacco related diseases. Future enactment of such proposals or similar bills
may have an adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition
of the Company.
In addition, a majority of states restrict or prohibit smoking in certain
public places and restrict the sale of tobacco products to minors. Local
legislative and regulatory bodies also have increasingly moved to curtail
smoking by prohibiting smoking in certain buildings or areas or by designating
"smoking" areas. Further restrictions of a similar nature could have an adverse
effect on the Company's sales or operations, such as banning counter access to
or display of premium handmade cigars, or decisions by retailers because of
public pressure to stop selling all tobacco products. Numerous proposals also
have been considered at the state and local level restricting smoking in certain
public areas, regulating point of sale placement and promotions and requiring
warning labels.
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Increased cigar consumption and the publicity such increase has received
may increase the risk of additional regulation. The Company cannot predict the
ultimate content, timing or effect of any additional regulation of tobacco
products by any federal, state, local or regulatory body, and there can be no
assurance that any such legislation or regulation would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business.
In addition numerous tobacco litigation has been commenced and may in the
future be instituted, all of which may adversely affect the cigar consumption
and sale and may pressure applicable government entities to institute further
and stricter legislation to restrict and possibly prohibit cigar sale and
consumption, any and all of which may have an adverse affect on Company business
(see "Government Regulation - Tobacco Industry Regulation and Tobacco Industry
Litigation" supra).
14. RISKS RELATING TO MARKETING OF CIGARS.
The Company primarily will distribute premium handmade cigars which are
hand-rolled and use tobacco aged over one year. The Company believes that there
is an abundant supply of tobacco available through its supplier in the Dominican
Republic for the types of premium handmade cigars the Company primarily will
sell. However, there can be no assurance that increases in demand would not
adversely affect the Company's ability to acquire higher priced premium handmade
cigars.
While the cigar industry has experienced increasing demand for cigars
during the last several years, there can be no assurance that the trend will
continue. If the industry does not continue as the Company anticipates or if the
Company experiences a reduction in demand for whatever reason, the Company's
supplier may temporarily accumulate excess inventory which could have an adverse
effect on the Company's business or results of operations.
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15. NO DIVIDENDS LIKELY.
No dividends have been paid on the Common Stock since inception, nor, by
reason of its current financial status and its contemplated financial
requirements, does Synergy contemplate or anticipate paying any dividends upon
its Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
PART III
The information required by items 10-13 are omitted pursuant to general
instruction G(3) to form 10K. The Company has included this information in its
proxy statement to be mailed and filed with the Commission on or before April
30, 2000. The annual meeting is scheduled to be in June 2000. Such Proxy
Statement expected to be filed with the Commission by April 30, 200 0is
incorporated herein by reference.
PART IV
ITEM 8. FINANCING STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following financial statements of the Company are contained in Item 8
of this Report on the pages indicated:
Page
----
Independent Auditors Reports F1
Balance Sheet -
December 31, 1999 F2
Statements of Operations -
Years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 F3
Statements of Changes in Stockholders'
Equity - Years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 F4
Statements of Cash Flows - Years
ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 F5-F-6
Notes to Financial Statements as of
December 31, 1999 F7- F17
-32-
<PAGE>
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not Applicable
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCING STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
1. (a) Exhibits:
See Index to Exhibits
2. Reports on Form 8-K
On December 7, 1999 the Company filed a current report on Form 8-K
dated November 23, 1999 to report under Item 5 (Acquisition or
Disposition of Assets) the execution by the Registrant, BeautyBuys.Com
Inc.,("BeautyBuys") subsidiary of Registrant (by way of Registrant's
wholly owned subsidiary, SYBR.com Inc., a New Jersey corporation of
which BeautyBuys was at the time of execution a wholly owned
subsidiary), and Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc., a Maryland corporation
("Sinclair") of two stock purchase agreements (the "Transaction")
whereby Sinclair agreed to purchase 900,000 shares of Class B Common
Stock of BeautyBuys which represented 50% of the voting power
outstanding in BeautyBuys, and options (the "Options") to purchase up
to 8,100,000 shares of BeautyBuys, Class A Common Stock, and 2,200,000
of restricted common stock of Registrant, in exchange for a combination
of cash and advertising credits for advertising on radio and television
stations owned by Sinclair.
There were no other reports on Form 8-K filed during the fourth quarter
of 1999.
3. Financial Statement Schedules
none
-33-
<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.
Synergy Brands Inc.
by /s/ Mair Faibish
--------------------------------
Mair Faibish
Executive Vice President
Dated: April 14, 2000
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.
by /s/ Mair Faibish
----------------------------------
Mair Faibish
Executive Vice President
Principal Financial Officer
and Director
Signed: April 14, 2000
by /s/ Mitchell Gerstein
----------------------------------
Mitchell Gerstein, Director
Signed: April 14, 2000
-34-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
The Board of Directors
Synergy Brands, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Synergy
Brands, Inc. (formerly Krantor Corporation) and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of
December 31, 1999, and the related consolidated statements of operations,
changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31,
1999 and 1998. 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 audits.
We conducted our audits 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 audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Synergy
Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1999, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Belew Averitt LLP
Dallas, Texas
April 12, 2000
-F-1-
<PAGE>
SYNERGY BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheet
December 31, 1999
ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
CURRENT ASSETS
Cashand cash equivalents $ 1,156,032
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $69,965 788,077
Inventory (Note 4) 1,868,572
Other current assets 6,505
----------
Total current assets 3,819,186
COLLATERAL SECURITY DEPOSIT (Note 2) 400,900
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net (Note 3) 687,493
TRADE NAMES, net of accumulated amortization of $39,624 (Note 7) 2,657,440
----------
$ 7,565,019
==========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Note payable (Note 5) $ 150,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (Note 7) 2,916,338
----------
Total current liabilities 3,066,338
LONG-TERM DEBT (Note 5) 465,000
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 9) -
MINORITY INTEREST (Note 6) 682,394
PREFERRED STOCK OF SUBSIDIARY (Note 6) 160,125
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Note 7)
Class A preferred stock - $.001 par value; 100,000 shares authorized 100
Common stock - $.001 par value; 29,900,000 shares authorized 13,456
Additional paid-in capital 25,219,431
Deficit (18,542,575)
Stockholders' notes receivable (331,750)
Advertising and in-kind services receivable from stockholder (Note 7) (3,000,000)
----------
3,358,662
Less treasury stock, at cost, 1,400 shares (167,500)
----------
Total stockholders' equity 3,191,162
----------
$ 7,565,019
==========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-F-2-
<PAGE>
SYNERGY BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
----------- -----------
SALES (Note 10) $13,181,239 $11,055,549
Cost of sales 11,631,343 9,793,590
----------- -----------
Gross profit 1,549,896 1,261,959
OPERATING EXPENSES
Advertising and promotional 3,428,849 46,510
Development costs 1,037,587 -
Impairment of goodwill 1,153,597 -
General and administrative 2,075,880 1,027,040
Depreciation and amortization 69,617 29,867
----------- -----------
7,765,530 1,103,417
Operating income (LOSS) (6,215,634) 158,542
Other income (expense)
Interest income 78,473 95,775
Debt forgiveness income (Note 5) - 150,409
Miscellaneous (4,505) (1,062)
Interest and financing expenses (258,122) (68,371)
Dividends on preferred stock of subsidiary (Note 6) (24,500) (24,500)
----------- -----------
(208,654) 152,251
----------- -----------
Income (loss) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
AND MINORITY INTEREST (6,424,288) 310,793
MINORITY INTEREST IN lOSS (Note 6) 82,606 -
----------- -----------
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX $(6,341,682) $ 310,793
Income tax expense (Note 8) - 13,285
----------- -----------
NET INCOME (LOSS) $(6,341,682) $ 297,508
----------- -----------
Income (loss) applicable to common stock $(6,341,682) $ 297,508
=========== ===========
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE (Note 13)
Income (loss) from continuing operations $ (.67) $ .06
----------- -----------
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE $ (.67) $ .06
=========== ===========
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE $ (.61) $ .05
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-F-3-
<PAGE>
SYNERGY BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Notes
Class A Additional Receivable Total
Preferred Stock Common Stock Paid-in Treasury from Stockholder Stock-
holders'
Shares Amount Shares Amount Capital Deficit Stock Stockholders Receivables Equity
Balance at
December 31, 1997 100,000 $ 100 4,140,515 $ 4,140 $14,611,141 $(12,498,401) $(167,500) $ - $ - $1,949,480
Issuance of common
stock - - 1,240,051 1,240 523,300 - - - - 524,540
Common stock issued
in connection with
compensation plan - - 946,520 947 589,755 - - - - 590,702
Net income - - - - - 297,508 - - - 297,508
------- ---- --------- ----- ---------- ----------- --------- --------- -------- ---------
Balance at
December 31, 1998 100,000 100 6,327,086 6,327 15,724,196 (12,200,893) (167,500) - - 3,362,230
Issuance of common
stock - - 660,686 661 468,089 - - - - 468,750
Common stock issued
in connection with
compensation plan - - 2,877,353 2,878 3,698,986 - - - - 3,701,864
Conversion of
subordinated
debentures - - 600,000 600 599,400 - - - - 600,000
Common stock issued
in connection with
compensation plan
for notes receivable
from stockholders - - 790,385 790 330,960 - - (331,750) - -
Common stock issued
in connection with
stockholder receivables - - 2,200,000 2,200 4,397,800 - - - (3,000,000) 1,400,000
Net loss - - - - - (6,341,682) - - - (6,341,682)
------- ---- --------- ----- ---------- ----------- --------- --------- -------- ---------
Balance at
December 31, 1999 100,000 $100 13,455,510 $13,456 $25,219,431 $(18,542,575) $(167,500) $(331,750)$(3,000,000)$3,191,162
======= ==== ========== ======= ========== ============ ========= ========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-F-4-
<PAGE>
SYNERGY BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
----------- -----------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss) $(6,341,682) $ 297,508
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 69,617 29,867
Amortization of loan fees 54,116 -
Loss on disposal of property and equipment - 4,000
Impairment of goodwill 1,153,597 -
Dividends on preferred stock of subsidiary 24,500 24,500
Operating expenses paid with common stock 2,062,008 456,065
Debt forgiveness income - (150,409)
Minority interest in loss (82,606) -
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Net (increase) decrease in:
Accounts receivable (1,862,958) (1,892,010)
Inventory 109,797 (1,374,808)
Promotional rebates - 270,496
Other assets 47,145 25,648
Net increase (decrease) in:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 1,431,520 431,740
----------- -----------
Net cash flows used in operating activities (3,334,946) (1,877,403)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of property and equipment (47,427) (36,524)
Payment of collateral security deposit (400,900) -
Refund of collateral security deposit - 450,000
----------- -----------
Net cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities (448,327) 413,476
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from debt issuance 865,000 1,600,000
Payment of debt (525,000) -
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 3,508,606 -
Proceeds from issuance of common stock of subsidiary 765,000 -
----------- -----------
Net cash flows provided by financing activities 4,613,606 1,600,000
----------- -----------
NET INCREASE IN CASH 830,333 136,073
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year 325,699 189,626
----------- -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year $ 1,156,032 $ 325,699
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
-F-5-
<PAGE>
SYNERGY BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Cont.)
Years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
----------- --------
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Interest paid $190,549 $ 61,523
=========== ========
Income taxes paid $ 8,273 $ 11,021
=========== ========
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash operating,
investing and financing activities
Conversion of subordinated debentures $ 600,000 $ -
Non-cash issuance of common stock - 659,177
Common stock issued for notes receivable 331,750 -
Note payable offset against accounts receivable 1,000,000 -
Stock issued for advertising and in-kind services receivable 3,000,000 -
Purchase of Proset and Gran Reserve assets applied against
collateral security deposit and accounts receivable 5,421,814 -
----------- --------
Total non-cash operating, investing and financing activities 10,353,564 $659,177
=========== ========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
-F-6-
<PAGE>
SYNERGY BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
December 31, 1999 and 1998
1. Organization and summary of significant accounting policies
ORGANIZATION
Synergy Brands, Inc. (Synergy), (formerly Krantor Corporation) and its
subsidiaries have developed and operate Internet platform operations and
Internet-based businesses designed to sell a variety of products, including
health and beauty aids and premium handmade cigars, directly to consumers
(business to consumer) and to businesses (business to business). A summary of
the related organizations and operations is provided below.
In September 1996, Synergy formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, New Era Foods,
Inc. (NEF), which represented manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers in
connection with distribution of frozen seafood, grocery and general merchandise
products (see Note 9).
In October 1997, NEF formed a subsidiary, Premium Cigar Wrappers, Inc.
(PCW), for the purpose of producing premium cigar wrappers in the Dominican
Republic. NEF owns 66% of the common stock and approximately 22% of the
preferred stock of PCW (see Note 6).
In October 1998, NEF formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, PHS Group, Inc.
(PHS), which is a wholesale distributor of premium beauty salon products.
In January 1999, Synergy formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Sybr.com, Inc.
(Sybr), which is engaged in the development of Internet-based business to
consumer and business to business opportunities focused on beauty, personal
care, cigars and other consumer products through its subsidiaries, BB and
NetCigar.com, Inc.
In May 1999, Sybr formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, NetCigar.com, Inc.
(NetCigar), which is engaged in the development of Internet-based business to
consumer opportunities focused on cigars and related products.
In June 1999, Sybr formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, BeautyBuys.com, Inc.
(BB), which is engaged in the development of Internet-based business to consumer
and business to business opportunities focused on beauty, personal care and
other consumer products.
In November 1999, NEF sold 100% of the outstanding stock of PHS to BB for
$750,000. Further, Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG) acquired 2,200,000 shares of
Synergy common stock in accordance with a stock purchase agreement and 900,000
shares of outstanding Class B common stock (constituting 50% of the voting power
of all issued and outstanding common stock) of BB for $765,000, all of which is
more fully described in Note 7.
Also in November 1999, NEF acquired all of the outstanding common stock
(100 shares at $.001 par value) of Gran Reserve Corp. (GR), a distributor of
handmade cigars, (formerly GR Cigars, Inc.) from Tenda Foods Inc. (Tenda), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Asia Legend Trading Co. (ALT), a Chinese trading
company, for $1,066,840 in a business combination accounted for as a purchase.
NEF then transferred all of the outstanding common stock of GR to NetCigar. If
GR had been acquired at January 1, 1998, the Company's consolidated 1999 and
1998 revenue would have increased by $76,590 and $206,641, respectively, and the
consolidated results of operations would have increased by $15,841 and $7,589,
respectively.
-F-7-
<PAGE>
Finally in November 1999, NEF acquired certain infrastructure assets
related to the distribution agreement described in Note 9 for $3,201,397,
including leasehold improvements and equipment amounting to $350,000, accounts
receivable amounting to $520,000 and use of the Proset trade name for
$2,331,397. Such assets were transferred to BB in connection with the stock
purchase agreement more fully described in Note 7.
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Synergy, its
wholly-owned subsidiaries, its majority-owned subsidiary and BB (collectively,
the Company). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company recognizes revenue at the time merchandise is shipped to the
customer. The Company issues credits to the customer for any returned items at
the time the returned products are received.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Company considers time deposits with maturities of three months or less
when purchased to be components of cash.
MARKETABLE SECURITIES
Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments in
debt and equity securities at the time of purchase and re-evaluates such
determination at each balance sheet date. No securities were outstanding at
December 31, 1999.
INVENTORY
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company uses the
first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost method of valuing its inventory. All tobacco
inventory is included in current assets in conformity with standard industry
practice, not withstanding the fact that significant quantities of inventory may
be carried for several years for purposes of the curing process.
CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents
and accounts receivable. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents with
financial institutions it believes to be of high credit quality. Cash balances
in excess of Federally insured limits at December 31, 1999 totaled $954,035. The
concentration of credit risk with respect to receivables is mitigated by the
credit worthiness of the Company's major customers. The Company maintains an
allowance for losses based upon the expected collectibility of all receivables.
Fair value approximates carrying value for all financial instruments.
During 1998, the Company primarily distributed its products through an
unrelated intermediary and hence, all revenues were derived from this
organization. As a result, the Company had an inherent business risk in
concentrating its sales through this entity. This distribution arrangement was
terminated in November 1999. Management does not believe this transaction will
have a significant impact on future operations of the Company.
-F-8-
<PAGE>
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of property and
equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful
lives of the assets, ranging from 3 to 10 years. Leasehold improvements are
amortized over the shorter of the lease term or their estimated useful lives.
Maintenance and repairs of a routine nature are charged to operations as
incurred. Betterments and major renewals that substantially extend the useful
life of an existing asset are capitalized and depreciated over the asset's
estimated useful life. Upon retirement or sale of an asset, the cost of the
asset and the related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from
the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is credited or charged to income.
TRADE NAMES
Trade names consist of the "Proset" and "Gran Reserve" trade names acquired
in November 1999, which are being amortized over their expected useful lives not
to exceed 5 years.
LONG-LIVED ASSETS
Long-lived assets and intangible assets are reviewed for impairment
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not
be recoverable. Impairment is measured by comparing the carrying value of the
long-lived assets to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to
result from use of the assets and their ultimate disposition. In instances where
impairment is determined to exist, the Company will write down the asset to its
fair value based on the present value of estimated future cash flows.
PREFERRED STOCK OF SUBSIDIARY
Changes in preferred stock of the subsidiary are accounted for as equity
transactions and thus no gain or loss is recognized. Upon each new issuance of
the subsidiary's preferred stock, the Company will evaluate whether or not its
investment has been impaired and adjust accordingly.
ADVERTISING
The Company expenses advertising and promotional costs as incurred.
INCOME TAXES
The Company uses the asset and liability method of computing deferred
income taxes. In the event differences between the financial reporting bases and
the tax bases of an enterprise's assets and liabilities result in deferred tax
assets, an evaluation of the probability of being able to realize the future
benefits indicated by such assets is required. A valuation allowance is provided
for a portion or all of the deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not
that such portion, or all of such deferred tax assets, will not be realized.
EARNINGS PER SHARE
The Company calculates earnings per share pursuant to Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings per Share" (SFAS 128). SFAS
128 requires dual presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) on
the face of the statement of income for all entities with complex capital
structures, and requires a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of
the basic EPS computation to the numerator and denominator of the diluted EPS
computation. Basic EPS calculations are based on the weighted-average number of
common shares outstanding during the period, while diluted EPS calculations are
based on the weighted-average of common shares and dilutive common share
equivalents outstanding during each period.
-F-9-
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT ESTIMATES
In preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles, management is required to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses
during the reporting period. Actual results may vary from management's
estimates.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS 123), encourages, but does not require,
companies to record compensation cost for stock-based employee compensation
plans at fair value. The Company has elected to continue to account for
stock-based compensation using the intrinsic value method prescribed in
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees" (APB 25) and related interpretations. Accordingly, compensation cost
for stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of the fair market value of
the Company's stock at the date of the grant over the amount the employees or
non-employees must pay to acquire the stock.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission staff released
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements
(SAB 101), which provides guidance on the recognition, presentation and
disclosure of revenue in financial statements. SAB 101 did not impact the
Company's revenue recognition policies. In June 1998, the Financial Accounting
Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133
(SFAS No. 133), Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.
SFAS No. 133 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000, and
requires all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at fair
value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in
current earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether a
derivative is designed as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of
hedge transaction. Management does not believe the adoption of SFAS No. 133 will
have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements because it does
not currently hold any derivative instruments.
RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain 1998 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 1999
presentation.
2. COLLATERAL SECURITY
At December 31, 1999, the Company had a $400,900 security deposit with a
major supplier, which serves as collateral for credit purchases made by the
Company from the supplier.
3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment as of December 31, 1999 consisted of the following:
Office equipment $ 215,681
Machinery and equipment 48,825
Furniture and fixtures 75,000
Leasehold improvements 404,647
----------
744,153
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 56,660
----------
$ 687,493
==========
-F-10-
<PAGE>
4. INVENTORY
Inventory as of December 31, 1999 consisted of the following:
Salon finished goods $ 843,938
Tobacco raw materials 495,534
Tobacco finished goods 529,100
----------
$1,868,572
==========
5. NOTE PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT
Unsecured note payable to an individual stockholder,
with interest at 12%; paid in February 2000 $ 150,000
==========
Unsecured note payable to minority stockholder,
with interest at 7.5%; payable semi-annually beginning
June 1, 2000 through maturity on November 23, 2002 $ 465,000
==========
The Company financed its receivables in prior years through a revolving
line-of-credit facility with a commercial lender. In February 1999, the Company
entered into a settlement agreement with the lender for $200,000 to settle its
outstanding obligation. The settlement has been reflected in the 1998
consolidated statement of operations.
6. MINORITY INTERESTS
PCW was incorporated in October 1997 with 7,750 shares of authorized $.001
par value common stock. At December 31, 1998, PCW had 1,000 shares of common
stock outstanding, which were issued at par value. The Company owns 66% of the
common stock and an outside investor owns the minority interest. For financial
reporting purposes, the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash
flows for PCW are included in the Company's consolidated financial statements
and the outside investor's interest is reflected in the preferred stock of
subsidiary.
PCW had 2,250 shares of authorized $.001 par value preferred stock issued
and outstanding at December 31, 1998. PCW issued 1,750 shares of preferred stock
at inception to two unrelated individuals at $60 per share, and 500 shares to
the Company for a 22% minority interest in the preferred stock. The holders of
PCW preferred stock are entitled to receive cumulative dividends at the rate of
$14 per share before any dividends on the common stock are paid. Included in
preferred stock of subsidiary is $55,125 of preferred stock dividends payable at
December 31, 1999. The Company's portion of the dividend has been eliminated in
consolidation. In the event of dissolution of PCW, the holders of the preferred
shares are entitled to receive $60 per share together with all accumulated
dividends, before any amounts can be distributed to the common stockholders. The
shares are convertible only at the option of PCW at $120 per share.
BB was formed in June 1999 and in November 1999 was authorized to issue
50,000,000 shares of $.001 par value common stock, of which 49,100,000 shares
are Class A common stock and 900,000 shares are Class B common stock. At
December 31, 1999, BB had 9,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and 900,000
shares of Class B common stock outstanding. The Company owns all of the Class A
common stock and the Class B common stock is owned by the minority interest (see
Note 7). For financial reporting purposes, the assets, liabilities, results of
operations and cash flows of BB are included in the Company's consolidated
financial statements, and the outside investor's interest in BB is reflected in
the minority interest liability.
-F-11-
<PAGE>
7. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
During 1999 all outstanding warrants to purchase shares in Synergy's common
stock were exercised.
In 1994, Synergy adopted the 1994 Services and Consulting Compensation Plan
(the Plan). Under the Plan, as amended, 8,400,000 shares of common stock have
been reserved for issuance. Since the inception of the Plan, Synergy has issued
6,133,688 shares for payment of services to employees and professional service
providers such as legal, marketing, promotional and investment consultants.
Synergy had oversubscribed the Plan by 439,288 shares at December 31, 1999.
Common stock issued in connection with the Plan was valued at the fair value of
the common stock at the date of issuance at an amount equal to the service
provider's invoice amount. Under the Plan, Synergy granted options to selected
employees and professional service providers.
In November 1999, Synergy entered into a stock purchase agreement with SBG
whereby SBG purchased 2,200,000 shares of Synergy's restricted $.001 par value
common stock for $4,400,000. The purchase price consists of $1,400,000 cash, a
credit for a minimum of $2,000,000 of radio advertising and a credit for a
minimum of $1,000,000 of certain in-kind services, as defined.
In November 1999, BB entered into a stock purchase agreement with SBG,
whereby SBG purchased 900,000 shares of $.001 par value Class B common stock in
BB for $765,000 cash. The Class B common shares constitute 50% of the voting
power of the common stock issued and outstanding. At December 31, 1999 Sybr
owned 9,000,000 shares of Class A common stock and SBG owned 900,000 shares of
Class B common stock.
Simultaneously with the purchase of the Class B shares, BB and SBG entered
into a Class A Common Stock Option Agreement providing for a grant by BB to SBG
of the right to purchase 8,100,000 shares of its Class A common stock. In
consideration for the grant, SBG agreed to provide $50,000,000 of radio and/or
television advertising and promotional support, as defined, to be used from
November 1999 through December 31, 2004. The Company may not use more than
$10,000,000 of such advertising in any one calendar year and may carryover any
unused advertising time from all previous calendar years through December 31,
2005. SBG may terminate its obligation to carryover any unused advertising time
after December 31, 2001, by providing 90 days prior written notice to BB. As
further consideration for the grant, SBG also agrees to provide $18,623,535 in
certain in-kind services, as defined, at the request of BB.
In November 1999, BB acquired all of the outstanding $.001 par value common
stock of PHS from NEF for an 8% convertible subordinated note payable of
$750,000. Simultaneously with the transaction, $600,000 of PHS's convertible
subordinated debentures were converted to Synergy common stock.
In November 1999, ALT, Tenda, GR and NEF entered into an agreement whereby
NEF purchased the infrastructure assets and the common stock of GR and the U.S.
distribution network established by NEF for ALT, as defined, for $4,268,237.
Simultaneously with the purchase, the distribution agreement between ALT, Tenda
and NEF, described in Note 9, was terminated.
-F-12
<PAGE>
The following is a summary of such stock option transactions for the years
ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 in accordance with the Plan and other
restricted stock option agreements:
Weighted
average
Number of exercise
shares price
--------- --------
Outstanding at December 31, 1997 - $ -
Granted 3,985,500 $ .60
---------
Outstanding at December 31, 1998 (2,210,030 exercisable) 3,985,500 $ .60
Granted 3,604,600 $ 1.62
Exercised (2,996,500) $ 1.57
Expired (28,000) $ 1.50
Outstanding at December 31, 1999 4,565,600 $ 1.36
=========
Option price $.40 - 3.50
=========
Available for grant:
December 31, 1998 -
=========
December 31, 1999 -
=========
The Company applies APB 25 in accounting for its stock options.
Compensation costs related to options and charged to operations were $256,130
and $6,250 in 1999 and 1998, respectively. Had compensation costs for the stock
options been determined based on the fair value at the grant date consistent
with the method of SFAS 123, the Company's net income and earnings per share
would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:
1999 1998
------------ --------
Net income (loss):
As reported $(6,341,682) $297,508
============ =========
Pro forma $(7,641,148) $160,810
============ =========
Net income (loss) per common share:
As reported $ (.67) $ .06
============ =========
Pro forma $ (.81) $ .03
============ =========
The weighted-average fair value at date of grant for options granted during
1999 and 1998 was $.358 and $.034 per option, respectively. The weighted-average
contractual life of options outstanding at December 31, 1999 was approximately 4
years. The fair value of each option grant is estimated using the Black-Shoales
option-pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions used:
1999 1998
------------ ------------
Dividend yield 0% 0%
Expected volatility 0% 0%
Risk-free rate of return 6.17-6.74% 4.43-5.5%
Expected life 1 to 5 years 1 to 5 years
-F-13-
<PAGE>
The Company has also reserved 100,000 shares for a stock option plan
(Option Plan) for non-employee, independent directors, which entitles each
non-employee, independent director an option to purchase 10,000 shares of the
Company's stock immediately upon election or re-election to the Board of
Directors. Options granted under the Option Plan will be at the fair market
value on the date of grant, immediately exercisable, and have a term of ten
years. The Company had no options outstanding and exercisable and 80,000 shares
available for grant at December 31, 1999 at an option price of $.25 per share.
8. INCOME TAXES
At December 31, 1999, the Company had a net operating loss carryforward of
approximately $15,930,000, which, if not utilized, will begin expiring in 2011.
The components of the deferred tax asset at December 31, 1999 were
approximately as follows:
Net operating loss carryover $5,416,300
Deferred compensation 105,300
Allowance for doubtful accounts 23,800
Inventory 31,800
Capital losses 12,800
Valuation allowance (5,590,000)
-----------
$ -
==========
The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 1999 and
1998 consisted of the following:
1999 1998
-------- -------
Federal - current $ - $ 6,085
State and local - 7,200
-------- -------
Total $ - $13,285
======== =======
A reconciliation of income tax expense computed at the U. S. Federal
statutory rate of 34% and the Company's effective tax rate for the years ended
December 31, 1999 and 1998 is as follows:
1999 1998
------- -------
Federal income tax expense at statutory rate - 34.0%
Increase (decrease) resulting from:
Utilization of net operating loss carryforward - (34.0%)
State and local income taxes, net of Federal benefit - 3.2%
------- -------
- 3.2%
======= =======
9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
LEASE COMMITMENTS
The Company leases office and warehouse space in Wexford, Pennsylvania,
Syosset, New York, and Miami, Florida under operating leases expiring in July
2002, April 2001, and January 2001, respectively. The Company is also leasing
vehicles under operating leases expiring in 2004. Future minimum lease payments
under non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 1999 were as follows:
-F-14-
<PAGE>
Year ending
December 31,
2000 $ 98,924
2001 57,056
2002 27,782
2003 10,836
2004 553
--------
$195,151
========
Lease expense for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 was
approximately $88,900 and $54,800, respectively.
SERVICE AGREEMENT
BB's inventory is maintained in a public warehouse in South Kearny, New
Jersey. The Company is required to make rental payments based on 4% of the
Company's sales of inventory stored in the warehouse. The agreement expires in
October 2018 and may be cancelled by either party with a 90 day written notice
under certain circumstances, as defined.
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS
In 1996, the Company entered into a ten-year agreement with a Chinese
trading company (ALT) to distribute frozen seafood in the United States under a
licensing arrangement. The Company acted as an agent for ALT. Additionally, the
Company sold promotional grocery products to a subsidiary of ALT, for which ALT
provided funding. In November 1999, the agreement was terminated and the Company
acquired certain infrastructure and intangible assets from ALT for $4,268,237
(see Note 7).
In December 1997, NEF entered into a 25-year exclusive worldwide
distribution agreement with a Dominican Republic corporation (DR) for the sale
and distribution of premium handmade cigars manufactured in the Dominican
Republic. There is an option to extend the term of the distribution agreement up
to an additional 25 years.
LITIGATION
The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the
ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, the amount of
ultimate liability with respect to these actions will not materially affect the
financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
GUARANTEE
In March 1998, the Company guaranteed a $1,000,000 line-of-credit facility
to a Dominican cigar manufacturer, which is owned by a PCW stockholder. The
purpose of the line-of-credit is to provide financing to the cigar manufacturer
to which PCW will supply cigar wrappers.
10. MAJOR CUSTOMERS
The Company has one customer, the U.S. agent of ALT, which accounted for
54% and 100% of total sales for 1999 and 1998, respectively. The Company had no
accounts receivable from this customer at December 31, 1999.
-F-15-
<PAGE>
11. SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
The Company offers a broad range of Internet access services and related
products to businesses and consumers throughout the United States and Canada.
All of the Company's identifiable assets and results of operations are located
in the United States. Management evaluates the various segments of the Company
based on the types of products being distributed which were, as of December 31,
1999, as shown below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Grocery,
Salon Health & Internet
Products Beauty Based Corporate Total
============ ==== ========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Revenue 1998 $ 314,693 $10,740,856 $ - $ - $11,055,549
1999 2,823,572 7,172,132 3,157,745 27,790 13,181,239
============ ==== ========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Net earnings 1998 $ 9,404 $ 288,104 $ - $ - $ 297,508
1999 (55,878) 442,224 (4,776,732) (1,951,296) (6,341,682)
============ ==== ========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Identifiable
assets 1998 $ 836,808 $ 5,917,304 $ - $ - $ 6,754,112
1999 3,948,392 40,537 2,009,636 1,566,454 7,565,019
============ ==== ========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
Interest
expense 1998 $ 8,523 $ 59,848 $ - $ - $ 68,371
1999 59,966 188,556 9,600 - 258,122
============ ==== ========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
12. FOURTH QUARTER ADJUSTMENTS
The Company made fourth quarter adjustments to record advertising,
promotional and development expenses of approximately $2,178,000 and $256,000 in
compensation expense related to stock options.
13. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following data shows the amounts used in computing earnings per share
and the effect on the weighted-average number of shares of dilutive common
stock:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
------------ ----------
Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders $(6,341,682) $ 297,508
============ ==========
Weighted-average number of shares in basic EPS 9,434,993 5,101,041
Effect of dilutive securities (stock options and warrants) 1,010,842 523,549
------------ ----------
Weighted-average number of common shares and
dilutive potential common shares used in diluted EPS 10,445,835 5,624,590
============ ==========
</TABLE>
-F-16-
<PAGE>
14. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In April 2000, the Company formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, DealByNet.com,
Inc. to engage in Internet-based business activities, designed to create an
integrated supply chain from manufacturers of a variety of products to business
customers.
-F-17-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Exhibit No. Description Page
- ----------- ----------- ----
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation and amendments thereto (1) --
3.2 By-Laws (2) --
4 Warrants and debentures defining rights of security holders --
(3)
10.2 Distributorship Agreement dated December 1997 between Fabrica --
De Tobacco Valle Dorado SA and Gran Reserve Corporation as
partially assigned to New Era Foods Inc. (4)
10.3 Synergy Brands Inc. 1994 Services and Consulting Compensation --
Plan, as amended (5)
10.4 Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 23, 1999 by and between --
the Company and Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. (6)
10.5 Stock Purchase Agreement dated November 23, 1999 between --
BeautyBuys.com Inc., and Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. (6)
21 Listing of Company Subsidiaries EX-21
99 Listing of Company Intellectual Properties (6) EX-99
</TABLE>
(1) The amendments to Certificate of Incorporation filed 7/29/96 and filed
6/24/98 and Certificate of Designation regarding Preferred Stock filed
6/24/98, are incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed to the
Form 10K/A of the Company filed 9/3/98. The original Certificate of
Incorporation and other amendments thereto are incorporated by
reference to the exhibits filed to the registration statement of the
Company on Form S-1 (File No. 33-83226) filed by the Company with the
Commission on August 24, 1994.
(2) The amendment to the By-Laws approved by the Company's Board of
Directors on March 7, 1997 are incorporated by reference to the
exhibits filed to the Form 10K/A of the Company filed 9/3/98. The
original By-Laws are incorporated by reference to the exhibits filed to
the registration statement of the Company on Form S-1 (File No.
33-83226) filed by the Company with the Commission on August 24, 1994
(3) Copies of outstanding warrants and debentures are incorporated by
reference to the exhibits filed to the Form 8-K/A of the Company filed
with the Commission (File No. 0-19409) on 2/3/98. Description of rights
of Preferred Stock are included in Certificate of Designation regarding
Preferred Stock, as amended, and included as exhibit to the Form 10K/A
of the Company filed 9/3/98. Description of the Company's Common Stock
is incorporated by reference to the description contained in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 0-19409) filed
with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on
July 16, 1991, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose
of updating such description.
(4) Incorporated by reference to the exhibits to the Form 10K/A of the
Company filed 9/3/98.
(5) Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement of the Company
on Form S-8 (File No. 333-92243) filed with the Commission on 12/17/99.
(6) incorporated by reference to exhibits filed to the form 8-k of the
company filed with the commission (file no. 0-19409) on 12/7/99.
-35-
List of Subsidiaries
Corporation State of
Incorporation Status
- ----------- ------------- ------
New Era Foods Inc. Nevada wholly owned-active
but no direct business-
parent company of Premium
Cigars Wrappers Inc.
SYBR.Com Inc.
Island Wholesale Grocers Inc. New York wholly owned
inactive
Premium Cigar Wrappers Inc. New York active
majority owned by
New Era Foods Inc.
Synergy Brands Distribution Inc. New York wholly owned
inactive
PHS Group Inc. Pennsylvania active
majority owned by
Beauty Buys.com Inc.
d.b.a. Pro Set Distributors
SYBR.Com Inc. New York active
wholly owned by
New Era Foods Inc.
Net Cigar.Com Inc. New York active
wholly owned by
SYBR.Com Inc.
BeautyBuys.com Inc. New Jersey active
owned by
SYBR.com Inc.
50% voting interest
EX-21
EXHIBIT
Intellectual Property
The tradenames "BeautyBuys" and "NetCigar", for which U.S. trademark
applications have been filed.
THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES ARE LICENSED TO USE THE FOLLOWING TRADEMARKS:
Suarez Gran Reserve Breton Legend Breton Corojo Vintage
Corojo 2000 Andulleros Alimerante
Don Otilio
THE COMPANY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES OWN THE ADDITIONAL DOMAIN NAMES:
REGISTERED TO SYNERGY BRANDS INC.:
KRANTOR.COM GRANDRESERVE.COM GRANRESERVE.COM
SYBR.COM CANDLEBUYS.COM** ADD2CART.COM
SYNERGYBRANDS.COM SALONBUYS.COM** SALEBYNET.COM
BEAUTYBONUS.COM** CIGARREPUBLIC.COM DEALBYNET.COM
SALONCOUNTER.COM** DEALBUYNET.COM SALONBUY.COM**
FRAGANCESALON.COM** ADDTWOCART.COM BEAUTYBUYS.COM**
GLOBALSALON.COM** NETCIGARBUY.COM BEAUTYBUY.COM**
HEALTHFOODBUYS.COM** NETCIGARBUYS.COM GRCIGARS.COM
FRAGRANCESALON.COM** BESTCIGARBUY.COM CIGARBUY.COM
FRAGRANCEBUY.COM** CIGAREPUBLIC.COM CIGARMEDIA.COM
COSMETICBUYS.COM** BESTCIGARSBUY.COM MEATBUYS.COM
COSMETICBUY.COM** NETCIGARSBUYS.COM FISHBUY.COM
FRAGRANCEBUYS.COM** NETCIGARSBUY.COM MEALBUYS.COM
VITAMINBUYS.COM** BESTCIGARBUYS.COM FISHBUYS.COM
BESTCIGARSBUYS.COM SEAFOODBUYS.COM SYBRBUYS.COM
LIQUORBUYS.COM
REGISTERED TO NETCIGAR.COM, INC.:
COROJODEVEGA.COM NETCIGAR.COM COROHO.COM
COROJO2000.COM
REGISTERED TO BEAUTYBUYS.COM, INC.:
BEAUTYBUYSB2B.COM** BEAUTYBUYSBTOOB.COM**
BEAUTYBUYSBTOB.COM** BEAUTYBUYSWHOLESALE.COM**
BEAUTYBUYSBTWOB.COM** WHOLESALEBEAUTYBUYS.COM**
** Denotes ownership by BeautyBuys regardless of which entity registered the
domain name.
The Company also is studying the advantages and marketing potential of
establishing private label sales in the health and beauty aids and cosmetics
business areas to take advantage of certain inroads to these type consumer
products the Company has historically located and developed. The Company also
has entered multiple licensing and production agreements regarding the
establishment of internet sites for sale of the Company's products. The Company
has trademarked its websites on the internet.
EX-99
