U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-KSB
Check the appropriate box:
[ X ] Annual report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
[Fee Required]
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999.
[ ] Transition report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
[No Fee Required]
For the transition period from ___________to ____________.
Commission file number 1-12580.
THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.
(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)
New York 03-0291679
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
6655 Shelburne Road, Post Office Box 965
Shelburne, Vermont 05482
(802) 985-3001
(Address of principal executive offices)
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Name of each exchange on
Title of each class which registered
Common Stock, par value $.05 per share NASDAQ Smallcap Market
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:
Common Stock, per value $.05 per share
(Title of class)
Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 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 .
Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item
405 of Regulation S-B contained in this form, and no disclosure will 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-KSB or any amendment to this Form 10-KSB. [ ]
The issuer's revenues for its most recent fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 were
$21,583,885
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
issuer, based on the average high and low prices of such stock on September 18,
1999, as reported on NASDAQ, was $21,527,431.
As of September 18, 1999, there were 6,321,504 shares of the issuer's common
stock issued and 6,298,484 shares outstanding.
Documents Incorporated By Reference
The following documents, in whole or in part, are specifically
incorporated by reference in the indicated part of this Annual Report on
Form 10-KSB:
Proxy Statement for 1999 Annual Meeting of the issuer's stockholders:
Part III, Items 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format (check one):
Yes; No X.
The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.
1999 Form 10-KSB Annual Report
Table of Contents
Part I Page
Item 1. Description of Business 3
Item 2. Description of Property 9
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 11
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security
Holders 12
Part II
Item 5. Market for Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters 12
Item 6. Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan
of Operation 14
Item 7. Financial Statements 17
Item 8. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants
on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 18
Part III
Item 9. Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and
Control Persons; Compliance With Section
16(a) of the Exchange Act 18
Item 10. Executive Compensation 18
Item 11. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and Management 18
Item 12. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 18
Item 13. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 18
Signatures 24
Index to Financial Statements 26
Part I.
Item 1. Description of Business
Founded in 1981 and incorporated in 1984, The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.
(the "Company"), with its principal offices located at 6655 Shelburne Road,
Shelburne, Vermont, is a designer, manufacturer, and direct marketer of teddy
bears and related products.
Principal Business Segments and Distribution Methods
In accordance with new accounting rules applicable for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1999, the Company has identified the following segments within
its business on which it will separately report certain financial results. The
largest of the Company's business segments is the Bear-Gram gift delivery
service comprising 84.0 percent of the Company's total business for the fiscal
year ended June 30, 1999. The Company's retail store operations represented
11.2 percent of net revenues, and wholesale, corporate affinity, and licensing
programs together were 4.8 of net revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1999.
<TABLE>
Primary Business Segments
(12 months ended June 30)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1999 1998 1997 1996
Bear-Gram Service* 84.0% 81.2% 80.9% 83.0%
Retail Store Operations 11.2% 18.0% 17.7% 12.9%
Wholesale/Corporate 4.8% 0.8% 1.4% 4.1%
* Excludes Bear-Gram revenues from retail operations.
</TABLE>
The Bear-Gram delivery service involves sending personalized teddy bears
directly to recipients for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries,
weddings, and new births, as well as holidays such as Valentine's Day,
Christmas, and Mother's Day. Through this service the Company offers teddy
bears in a variety of sizes and colors, as well as approximately 100 different
teddy bear outfits to further customize the teddy bear. Every Bear-Gram gift
includes a customized teddy bear made in its Shelburne, Vermont factory, which
can be further personalized with embroidery on the outfit, a candy treat, and a
personal message on a card all delivered in a colorful box with an "airhole".
Orders for the Bear-Gram delivery service are generally placed by calling a
toll-free telephone number (1-800-829-BEAR) and speaking with Company sales
representatives, called Bear Counselors. An increasing number of orders,
however, are being placed by customers online at the Company's website with
twenty-five percent of total orders in the Bear-Gram gift delivery service
segment placed on line during the month of June 1999, versus ten percent in
June 1998. Orders placed by 4:00 p.m. can be shipped the same day; packages are
delivered primarily via Federal Express and other carriers by next-day air,
two-day air or United States Postal Service Priority Mail.
The Company's Bear-Gram segment sales are heavily seasonal, with Valentine's
Day, Christmas, and Mother's Day as the Company's largest sales seasons.
The Company uses primarily the direct response radio distribution channel
supported visually by the internet to market its Bear-Gram gift delivery
service. Every radio advertisement is now tagged with the Company's website
address in addition to its toll free telephone number. The combination of
direct response radio and the internet represent 87.6 percent of net revenues
in the Bear-Gram segment for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999. Other
avenues of distribution for marketing the Bear-Gram delivery service are direct
mail catalogs and print advertisements primarily in magazines which together
represent 12.4 percent of net revenues for the same twelve-month period.
<TABLE>
Primary Distribution Methods for the Bear-Gram Segment
(12 months ended June 30)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1999 1998 1997 1996
Radio/Internet 87.6% 88.7% 86.5% 91.3%
Direct Mail/Print 12.4% 11.3% 13.5% 8.7%
</TABLE>
The Bear-Gram delivery service was first introduced on a small scale in
1985. Throughout the 1980's, however, the Company's marketing efforts focused
primarily on wholesaling teddy bears to specialty stores and direct retail
through its own outlets. Shortly before Valentine's Day in 1990, the Company
introduced radio advertising of its Bear-Gram delivery service on radio station
WHTZ ("Z-100") in New York City, positioning it as a novel gift for Valentine's
Day, and offering listeners a toll-free number for customers to order from the
Company's facility in Vermont. This test proved to be successful, and the
service was expanded to other major radio markets across the country.
Primarily through the Bear-Gram delivery service, the Company has increased its
net revenues from approximately $351,000 in 1989 (the year prior to the initial
New York City Bear-Gram campaign) to a peak of $21,584,000 in 1999.
Since 1990, the Company has expanded the radio advertising of its Bear-
Gram delivery service beyond New York City, to include other metropolitan areas
and syndicated radio programs carried by stations across the United States,
with significant expansion occurring in the past two years. During its fiscal
year ended June 30, 1997, the Company regularly placed advertising on 44 radio
stations in twelve of the twenty largest radio market areas in the United
States. For Valentine's Day in fiscal years ended June 30, 1998 and 1999, the
Company advertised on approximately 152 radio stations in 44 different markets,
and 253 radio stations in 49 different markets, respectively.
The Company began taking orders on its website in March of 1997
recognizing that the website provided visual support to the Company's radio
advertising campaign across the country and a convenient way for customers to
place orders. In December 1997, online orders presented seven percent of total
Bear-Gram orders. The percentage has trended upward reaching twenty-five
percent of total Bear-Gram orders in June 1999.
The Company includes sales from orders placed on its internet website, www.
vermontteddybear.com, with sales generated by direct response radio as it
believes that the majority of traffic to the website is generated by radio
advertising. All radio advertisements are tagged once with the website address
in addition to three mentions of its toll-free number. A total of 1,206,000
unique visitors were recorded during the twelve months ended June 30, 1999,
more than triple the 396,000 unique visitors received during the twelve months
ended June 30, 1998.
In the year ahead, the Company plans to expand its Bear-Gram radio
advertising into more new radio markets as well as to extend its advertising
campaigns within its developing markets to periods of the year additional to
Valentines' Day and Mother's Day. The goal continues to be to efficiently and
cost-effectively maximize the number of radio listeners reached with a message
that positions the Bear-Gram gift delivery service as a creative alternative to
flowers and other gifts which are typically sent by a sender to a receiver. The
website will continue to provide visual support to an increasing number of
potential customers hearing the Company's advertising.
The Company also generates Bear-Gram revenues from direct mail initiatives and
print advertising. The Company introduced its first catalog for Christmas of
1992, and has an in-house mailing list in excess of 1,400,000 names. During
the twelve months ended June 30, 1999, more than 16 million circulated pages
were mailed to prospective customers. The Company intends to increase the
number of circulated pages in the year ahead, primarily by mailing to the
increasing names on the in-house mailing list accumulated from orders placed
both online and by telephone primarily in response to radio advertising.
The retail operations business segment was second only to the Bear-Gram
delivery service segment in its contribution to the Company's total sales in
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, at 11.2 percent of net revenues. During
1997 and 1998, the Company had placed a greater emphasis on retail operations
operating Company-owned retail stores in North Conway, New Hampshire, Freeport,
Maine and on Madison Avenue in New York City, in addition to its factory store
in Shelburne, Vermont. The contribution of all retail operations was 18% of net
revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.
Due to continued unprofitability in the satellite stores, the Company
began to reverse its retail expansion strategy during its fiscal year ended
June 30, 1998, closing its New York City store on December 7, 1997. The
remaining satellite stores were closed during the fiscal year ended June 30,
1999. The Freeport, Maine store was closed in August 1998 and the North Conway,
New Hampshire store was closed in October 1998. The Company's very successful
factory retail store is the only retail location which remains in operation.
The Company actively promotes family tours of its teddy bear factory and store
at the factory location in Shelburne, located ten miles south of Burlington,
Vermont. The factory drew over 103,000 visitors in the twelve-month period
ended June 30, 1999, and has drawn more than 493,000 visitors since moving to
its new location in July 1995. In an effort to make a visit to the factory
more entertaining and draw additional traffic, the Company has implemented the
Make-A-Friend-For-Life bear assembly area, where visitors can participate in the
creation of their own teddy bear.
The following table shows the Company's largest markets and most frequent
reasons given by customers for purchasing the Company's Bear-Gram gifts:
<TABLE>
Percentage of Bear-Gram revenues
(12 months ended June 30)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1999 1998 1997 1996
Markets
New York City 37.6% 37.8% 40.8% 35.5%
Boston 12.1% 13.4% 13.2% 9.5%
Philadelphia 9.4% 8.9% 11.6% 8.9%
Chicago 6.0% 6.5% 8.9% 7.3%
Detroit 5.1% 4.0% 3.3% 0.0%
Los Angeles 4.8% 6.3% 5.8% 4.0%
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
Percentage of Bear-Gram orders
(12 months ended June 30)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Reasons for Purchases
Valentine's Day 25.2% 27.7% 22.1% 20.8%
Mother's Day 12.7% 9.3% 6.0% 7.4%
Birthdays 11.5% 11.8% 11.6% 13.4%
New Births 10.4% 11.6% 10.3% 12.8%
Get Wells 10.4% 11.0% 9.7% 12.0%
Christmas 8.7% 8.4% 5.6% 8.6%
</TABLE>
During its fiscal year 1998, the Company began pro-actively developing
opportunities in the corporate affinity market and certain wholesale markets as
a business segment. The Wholesale/Corporate business segment accounted for 4.8%
of net revenues for fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, and is the fastest growing
segment of the Company's business. While numerous corporate affinity programs
involve the Company's Vermont Teddy Bear brand bear, manufactured at the
Shelburne Vermont factory, the largest orders involve teddy bear products which
were designed by the Company and manufactured off shore. The Company also sells
wholesale its Make-A Friend for Life teddy bears designed and imported by the
Company to Zany Brainy, Inc., an educational toy store chain based in King of
Prussia, Pennsylvania. Zany Brainy's retail customers participate in the making
of their own teddy bear in the Make-A-Friend-for-Life kiosks in select Zany
Brainy locations.
Each corporate and wholesale program varies to meet the needs of the
Company's corporate or wholesale customer but every program carries the
Company's lifetime guarantee. The Company has partnered with several factories
in China that meet the Company's stringent quality and fair labor standards. All
imported teddy bears are identified with a co-branded label and a tag that reads
"designed and imported by The Vermont Teddy Bear Company."
Competitive Business Conditions
The Company competes with a number of sellers of flowers, balloons, candy,
cakes, and other gift items, which can be ordered by telephone for special
occasions and delivered by express service in a manner similar to Bear-Gram
gifts. The Company also competes to a lesser degree with a number of companies
that sell teddy bears in the United States, including, but not limited to,
Steiff of Germany, Dakin, North American Bear, and Gund. Many of these
competitors have greater financial, sales, and marketing resources than the
Company.
The Company also competes with businesses that market and sell teddy bears in a
manner similar to Bear-Grams, including "Pooh-Grams" by certain subsidiaries of
Disney Enterprises, Inc. On May 16, 1997, the Company filed suit against the
Disney subsidiaries alleging that "Pooh-Grams" infringed on the Company's marks
and sought to enjoin the sale of "Pooh-Grams." On September 9, 1997, the two
companies entered into an agreement to resolve their dispute, whereby Disney
will continue to offer its Pooh-Gram products and services but will voluntarily
limit its use of the Pooh-Gram mark in certain advertising.
With the advent of the Internet, many small companies have started web-sites
that allow customers to order bears and have them delivered in a manner similar
to Bear-Gram gifts. The Company vigorously defends trademark infringement when
it appears on these web-sites, and continues to police the Internet for such
infringement.
There are no material barriers to entry into this market, and accordingly, there
can be no assurance that additional companies will not seek to compete directly
with the Company, including those with greater resources than the Company.
Principal Products
From its inception, the Company's primary focus has been to design,
manufacture and market the best teddy bears made in America. Until recently,
the Company manufactured its bears exclusively in the United States. Beginning
in its fiscal year 1998, the Company began importing certain of its products
from China for its corporate and wholesale business segment. However, convinced
that its identity as an American manufacturer of teddy bears is a key element of
its brand positioning, the Company remains committed to preserving and growing
its Shelburne, Vermont based manufacturing operation to make the classic Vermont
Teddy Bear brand bear for the Bear-Gram gift delivery service. The Company
believes that, apart from its own Vermont Teddy Bear brand product, most of the
teddy bears sold in the United States are manufactured in foreign countries,
and that the Company is the largest manufacturer of teddy bears made in the
United States. Additionally, the Company sources plush fabric and other
materials from offshore for its Shelburne-based teddy bear manufacturing
operations, in an effort to lower the Company's cost of goods sold and to
broaden its available sources of supply. Previously the Company has relied on a
single domestic source of supply for plush fabric.
The move offshore represents a significant departure from the Company's
historical position as an American manufacturer using almost exclusively
American materials. The Company's strategic repositioning involves a commitment
to ensuring that our partners adhere to stringent quality standards and provide
decent, lawful working environments to their employees. The Company obtains a
written statement to that effect from each offshore vendor prior to any
transaction. Company management has visited the factories of its established
partners in China and will continue to visit its offshore partners periodically.
With this repositioning, the Company also commits to differentiate imported
product from its Vermont-made bears to preserve the Company's Vermont Teddy Bear
brand identity and to clearly label its imported products so as not to deceive
or confuse our customers. The "butt tag" of each imported teddy bear clearly
specifies that it is "made in China" and that it is "designed and imported by
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company."
The Company produces many different sizes of its Vermont Teddy Bear brand bears,
ranging from 11" to 36" tall, in six standard colors. In addition, certain
limited edition bears are produced of mohair which vary in size. Virtually all
of the Company's Vermont Teddy Bear brand bears have moveable joints and faux-
suede paw pads, features associated with traditional, high-quality teddy bears.
Approximately 100 different bear outfits are manufactured, including ballerina
bears, birthday bears, bride and groom bears, business bears, nurse bears, and
sports bears. Fifty-two percent of the outfits were out sourced to overseas
contractors during the twelve months ended June 30, 1999.
In addition to its own manufactured product, the Company sells items
related to teddy bears, as well as merchandise from other manufacturers
featuring the logo of The Vermont Teddy Bear Company available primarily in the
Company's factory retail store.
Sources and Availability of Materials, Supplies, and Production
Raw materials for the Company's bears and outfits are obtained from
several suppliers. The Company presently purchases certain of its raw materials
from single suppliers, but believes that alternate sources of supply are
available at competitive prices, should conditions warrant.
Fabric for all teddy bears is cut at the Company's Shelburne factory prior to
being sewn. Sewing of bear parts (arms, legs, bodies, and heads) is done by
employees, as well as by homeworkers and other domestic subcontractors. Once
individual parts are sewn, they are returned to the factory for mechanical
stuffing. The bears are assembled by attaching the stuffed parts to the bears
with plastic joints, hand-stuffing the bodies, and hand-stitching the backs.
Each bear is finally outfitted and accessorized by the Company's Bear
Dressers(tm) to meet customer requests.
Patents, Trademarks, and Licenses
The Company's name and its various logos, are in combination registered
trademarks and servicemarks in the United States. In addition, the Company also
owns the registered trademarks in the United States for "The Vermont Teddy Bear
Company," "Make-A-Friend-For-Life," "Teddy Grams," "Racer Ted" and "Beau and
Beebee." The Company also owns the registered service marks "Bear-Gram", "Bear
Counselor," "Vermont Bear-Gram", "Teddy Bear-Gram," and has applications
pending to register "Bearanimal," "Coffee Cub," "The Great American Teddy Bear,"
"All-American Teddy Bear," "Huffin' Puffin'," "Ted Ex," and "Teddy Express."
The Company also owns the registered trademark "Vermont Teddy Bear" in Japan.
The Company also claims copyright, service mark or trademark protection for its
teddy bear designs, its marketing slogans, and its advertising copy, web-site
pages and promotional literature.
Employees
As of June 30, 1999, the Company employed 223 individuals, of whom 91 were
employed in production-related functions, 112 were employed in sales and
marketing positions, and 20 were employed in general and administrative
positions. No employees are members of a union, and the Company believes it
enjoys favorable relations with all employees.
The Company supplements its regular in-house work force with homeworkers
who perform production functions at their homes. The level of outsourced work
fluctuates with Company production targets; at June 30, 1999, there were 24
homeworkers producing products for the Company. Homeworkers are treated by the
Company as independent contractors for all purposes, except for withholding of
federal employment taxes. As independent contractors, homeworkers are free to
accept or reject work offered by the Company. This working relationship allows
the Company to adapt to fluctuations in production requirements.
Item 2. Description of Property
In July 1995, to consolidate the Company's disparate locations and improve
manufacturing flow, the Company moved its principal offices, along with its
factory retail store, manufacturing, sales, and fulfillment operations to its
newly-constructed 62,000 square foot building, located on a 57-acre site along
U.S. Route 7 in Shelburne, Vermont. The new site is two miles south of the
Company's former location, and ten miles south of Burlington, Vermont. The
Company purchased the site for approximately $817,000, and the cost of improving
the site and constructing the new facility totaled approximately $7.1 million.
On September 26, 1995, the Company entered into a $3.5 million commercial
loan with the Vermont National Bank, secured by a first mortgage on the new
facility, as well as general business assets. Repayment of the mortgage loan
was based on a thirty-year fixed principal payment schedule, with a balloon
payment due on September 26, 1997.
On July 18, 1997, the Company completed a sale-leaseback transaction with W.P.
Carey, involving its factory headquarters and a portion of its property located
in Shelburne, Vermont. This financing replaced the Company's mortgage loan
agreement with the Vermont National Bank. The Company received approximately
$5.9 million in cash, of which approximately $3.3 million was used to pay off
the existing mortgage with the Vermont National Bank. The balance,
approximately $2.6 million, was used for general working capital purposes, to
pay down a $600,000 balance on the Company's line of credit (which was retired
as the result of the termination of the original mortgage loan), and transaction
costs associated with the sale-leaseback. The lease obligation, secured by the
business assets of the Company, is repayable on a twenty-year amortization
schedule through July 2017.
The Company has a month to month lease on 10,000 square feet of inventory space
at a separate location in Shelburne, Vermont, one mile north of the factory, for
$56,000 annually.
On May 30, 1996 the Company entered into a five-year operating lease for a
retail location in North Conway, New Hampshire. On July 29, 1998 in accordance
with the provisions of its lease, the Company formally notified its landlord of
the North Conway, New Hampshire location of its intent to close its retail
store, and as a result, had no further lease obligation effective February 1,
1999.
On October 24, 1996, the company entered into a ten-year lease for 2,600 square
feet on Madison Avenue in New York City. On December 7, 1997, the Company's 538
Madison Avenue location was closed due to structural problems at neighboring 540
Madison Avenue. On December 16, the Company announced that it was permanently
closing that retail location. The City of New York deemed the 538 Madison
Avenue building uninhabitable from December 8, 1997 to April 9, 1998, and the
Company has not made any rent payments on the lease since December, 1997. On
December 24, 1998, the Company received a notice from its landlord of 538
Madison Avenue alleging that it was in default under the lease for failure to
resume occupancy, and demand for back rent for the period July 8, 1998 to
December 31, 1998 in the amount of $144,355. Further on January 4, 1999 the
Company received a demand to resume rent payments beginning January 1999. The
Company disputes the landlord's position and believes it is not obligated to
resume occupancy or pay rent under the lease. As a result, on May 25, 1999, the
Company commenced action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County
of New York against 538 Madison Realty Company. The action seeks breach of
contract damages and a declaration that the contract at issue, the former lease
between the parties, has been terminated. The landlord has not answered or
asserted counter-claims, but has moved to dismiss the action based on purported
documentary evidence, the lease, itself. The motion has been fully briefed and
was submitted to the Court on September 14, 1999. No decision has been issued.
The Company has accrued management's estimated cost to settle this contingency,
but no assurance can be given that this dispute can be settled for this amount.
In the event that the Company is not successful in its suit against 538 Madison
Realty Company, the remaining amount owed under the lease over its remaining
term at face value is $2,825,000.
On January 17, 1997, the Company entered into a ten-year operating lease for a
retail location in Freeport, Maine. The Company reached an agreement on June 12,
1998 with The Town of Freeport to terminate its lease obligation for its retail
location in Freeport, Maine. The Company closed the Freeport store in August
1998, and its lease obligation terminated on August 6, 1998.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
On July 15, 1998, the Company filed a lawsuit against Tyco Industries,
Inc., entitled The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. vs. Tyco Industries, Inc., in
the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, alleging
that Tyco failed to make minimum royalty payments as required by its contract
with the Company dated September 11, 1995. Tyco denied liability for the minimum
royalties in its answer to the Company's complaint and filed a counter claim for
unspecified relief. The Company has denied any liability on the counter claim
and is vigorously pursuing this claim to collect amounts due, however no
assurances can be made that the amounts will be received from Tyco. A portion
of the claim is included in other assets as of June 30, 1999 in the accompanying
financial statements.
On October 24, 1996, the company entered into a ten-year lease for 2,600 square
feet on Madison Avenue in New York City. On December 7, 1997, the Company's 538
Madison Avenue location was closed due to structural problems at neighboring 540
Madison Avenue. On December 16, the Company announced that it was permanently
closing that retail location. The City of New York deemed the 538 Madison
Avenue building uninhabitable from December 8, 1997 to April 9, 1998, and the
Company has not made any rent payments on the lease since December, 1997. On
December 24, 1998, the Company received a notice from its landlord of 538
Madison Avenue alleging that it was in default under the lease for failure to
resume occupancy, and demand for back rent for the period July 8, 1998 to
December 31, 1998 in the amount of $144,355. Further on January 4, 1999 the
Company received a demand to resume rent payments beginning January 1999. The
Company disputes the landlord's position and believes it is not obligated to
resume occupancy or pay rent under the lease. As a result, on May 25, 1999, the
Company commenced action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County
of New York against 538 Madison Realty Company. The action seeks breach of
contract damages and a declaration that the contract at issue, the former lease
between the parties, has been terminated. The landlord has not answered or
asserted counter-claims, but has moved to dismiss the action based on purported
documentary evidence, the lease, itself. The motion has been fully briefed and
was submitted to the Court on September 14, 1999. No decision has been issued.
The Company has accrued management's estimated cost to settle this contingency,
but no assurance can be given that this dispute can be settled for this amount.
In the event that the Company is not successful in its suit against 538 Madison
Realty Company, the remaining amount owed under the lease over its remaining
term at face value is $2,825,000.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth
quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.
Part II.
Item 5. Market for Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Market Information
At the time of the initial public offering of 1,172,500 shares of the
Company's Common Stock in November 1993, the Company's Common Stock had been
approved for quotation on NASDAQ and the Pacific Stock Exchange under the
symbols "BEAR" and "VTB," respectively. To date, NASDAQ has been the principal
market for the exchange of the freely tradable shares of the Company's Common
Stock. On July 31, 1996, the Company voluntarily de-listed from the Pacific
Stock Exchange as a result of minimal trading volume. Between July 1, 1997 and
June 30, 1999, the high and low sales prices for a share of the Company's Common
Stock as quoted on NASDAQ were as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Quarter Ended High Low
June 30, 1999 $ 3.97 $ 1.94
March 31, 1999 $ 3.81 $ 1.44
December 31, 1998 $ 3.25 $ .50
September 30, 1998 $ 1.44 $ .69
June 30, 1998 $ 1.63 $ 1.06
March 31, 1998 $ 1.63 $ .75
December 31, 1997 $ 2.13 $ .88
September 30, 1997 $ 2.56 $ 1.06
</TABLE>
Description of Securities
Immediately prior to the Company's initial public offering, there were
4,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding, held of record by
nine shareholders. As a result of the 1,000,000 share initial public offering
and the Underwriters' purchase of 172,500 additional shares to cover over-
allotments in connection therewith, there were 5,172,500 shares of the Company's
Common Stock outstanding immediately following the offering. On March 8, 1995,
the Company purchased 12,000 common shares in the open market and continues to
hold these shares as treasury stock. On November 4, 1998, the company purchased
11,020 additional common shares from dissenting shareholders and continues to
hold these shares as treasury stock. From March 1, 1996 to June 30, 1999,
72,149 shares of the Company's Common Stock were issued pursuant to the exercise
of employee Incentive Stock Options. On February 3, 1999, 10 holders of Series
B Preferred Stock exercised conversion rights of 176,970 preferred shares into
474,989 shares of common stock. As a result of these activities, there were
5,696,618 shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding, held of record by
1563 shareholders as of June 30, 1999.
There are 90 shares of non-voting Series A Preferred Stock, held of record
by one shareholder, with a liquidation value of $10,000 per share plus
cumulative dividends of eight percent per annum. There has been no change in
the number of Series A Preferred shares and the original shareholder remains the
sole shareholder of Series A Preferred Stock.
On July 12, 1996, the Company privately placed $550,000 of Series B
convertible Preferred Stock. The 204,912 shares, $.05 par value, of Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock were issued to twelve individuals. Series B
stockholders are not entitled to any dividends or voting rights, but each share
was originally convertible into one share of the Company's Common Stock at any
time on or after July 14, 1997, subject to certain anti-dilution rights. As the
result of subsequent financing transactions, the anti-dilution provisions of the
Series B agreement were activated, and on February 3, 1999, 176,970 shares of
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was converted into 474,989 shares of the
Company's Common Stock. On July 19, 1999, the remaining 27,942 shares of Series
B Preferred Convertible Stock were converted into 74,996 shares of the Company's
Common Stock. The Company notes on or about July 3, 1999, 215,157 warrants
associated with the Series B Preferred Stock were exercised and converted into
519,265 shares of the Company's Common Stock. The Company received $523,692 in
consideration for these shares and $493,508 is classified as advances from
Series B Stockholders in the Company's balance sheet for the year ending June
30, 1999 and will be classified as equity in common stock in the year ending
June 30, 2000. On liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company,
remaining holders of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to be paid on a pari
passu basis with any holders of Series A Preferred Stock.
On November 3, 1998, the Company closed on a private placement of $600,000
of its Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series C Preferred
Stock") to an investor group lead by The Shepherd Group LLC. Accompanying the
Series C Preferred Stock are warrants to purchase 495,868 shares of the
Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.05 per share, which will
expire seven years from the date of issuance. In connection with the issuance
of the Series C Preferred Stock, a warrant to purchase 42,500 shares of the
Company's Common Stock was issued at an exercise price of $1.05 to the Company's
lessor in the sale-leaseback transaction. Because of the mandatory redemption
provision, the Series C Preferred Stock net of the value of the warrants has
been classified as long term debt in the accompanying balance sheet. The Company
has valued the warrants using the Black Scholes valuation model. The Company
will accrete, with charges to interest expense over a five-year period, an
aggregate of approximately $270,000.
Each of the sixty shares of Series C Preferred Stock has a liquidation
value of $10,000 per share, and is convertible into 9,523 shares of the
Company's Common Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock requires redemption upon
the tenth anniversary of its issuance, with both the Company and the Series C
Preferred stockholders having call and put rights, respectively, beginning on
the fifth anniversary of issuance. The Series C Preferred stock carries voting
rights on an as-converted basis, and, as a class, has the right to elect two
members to the Company's Board of Directors. Both the Series C Preferred Stock
and the accompanying warrants carry certain anti-dilution provisions. The Series
C Preferred Stock has a cumulative preferred dividend of six percent per annum,
payable quarterly. The dividends are required to be paid in additional shares
of Series C Preferred Stock for the first two and one-half years after issuance,
and thereafter may be paid in cash or additional shares of Series C Preferred
Stock, at the Company's option.
Dividends
The Company has never paid cash dividends on any shares of its Common
Stock, and the Company's Board of Directors intends to continue this policy for
the foreseeable future. Earnings, if any, will be used to finance the
development and expansion of the Company's business. The Company's ability to
pay dividends on its Common Stock is limited by the preferences of certain
classes of Preferred Stock, as well as certain indebtedness, and may be further
limited by the terms of Preferred Stock issued or other indebtedness incurred by
the Company in the future. Future dividend policy will depend upon the
Company's earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors
considered relevant by the Company's Board of Directors.
The Series A Preferred Stock is entitled to receive cumulative dividends of
eight percent per annum, which are payable before any dividend may be paid upon,
or set apart for, the Common Stock outstanding. The Series B Preferred Stock is
not entitled to receive dividends. The Series C Preferred Stock is entitled to
a six percent dividend, to be paid in additional shares of Series C Preferred
Stock for the first two and one-half years and thereafter either in cash or
Series C Preferred Stock, at the Company's discretion.
Item 6. Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation
The following discussion and analysis provides information that the Company's
management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the
Company's results of operations and financial condition. The discussion should
be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes that appear
elsewhere in this report, as well as the 10-KSB filing for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1998. This report contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A
of the Securities Act of 1993 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," and other
expressions that predict or indicate future events and trends, and that do
not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. Such
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those set forth in such forward-looking statements. The
Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-
looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Results of Operations
Comparison of Fiscal Year 1999 and Fiscal Year 1998
Net revenues for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 totaled $21,584,000,
an increase of $4,376,000 from net revenues of $17,208,000 for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1998. By business segment, Bear-Gram gift delivery service
revenues, which include radio, internet, and direct mail revenues, increased
$4,172,000, attributable to increased sales from the Company's
www.vermontteddybear.com web-site and the expansion of the Company's direct
response radio advertising campaign into new markets around the country. Net
revenues from retail store operations decreased by $699,000, principally due to
the closing of the Company's satellite retail stores. Net revenues from the
Wholesale/Corporate segment, which includes licensing revenues, increased
$903,000 as the Company added several new customers in the wholesale and
corporate affinity markets.
Gross margin increased by $3,341,000 to $13,151,000 for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1999, from $9,810,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.
As a percentage of net revenues, gross margin increased to 60.9 percent for the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, from 57.0 percent for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1998. The introduction of new products with higher unit margins, lower
costs associated with imported materials and teddy bear outfits, and a reduction
in goods purchased for resale are the primary factors that contributed to the
increase in gross margin. Lower product distribution costs associated with the
curtailment of off-site retail operations also contributed to improved gross
margin.
Selling expenses totaled $7,647,000, or 35.4 percent of net revenues, for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, a decrease from $7,867,000, or 45.7 percent
of net revenues, for the comparable period ending June 30, 1998. This $220,000
decrease was attributable to a decrease in retail operations costs of $959,000
associated with closing the Company's satellite stores, which were offset by
increases in Bear-Gram advertising costs, call center and customer service costs
and design and selling costs associated with the Company's expanded
Wholesale/Corporate business segment.
General and administrative expenses were $3,083,000 for the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1999, compared to $3,032,000 for the twelve-month period ended
June 30, 1998. As a percentage of net revenues, general and administrative
expenses were 14.3 percent for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, compared to
17.6 percent for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.
Interest expense decreased to $614,000 for fiscal year ended June 30,
1999, compared to $651,000 for the comparable period ending June 30, 1998.
Interest income increased to $72,000 as a result of larger average cash balances
in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999, compared to $26,000 for fiscal year
ended June 30, 1998.
As a result of the foregoing factors, the net income to Common
Stockholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999 was $1,711,000, compared to
a net loss to Common Stockholders of ($1,756,000) for the twelve months ended
June 30, 1998.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of June 30, 1999, the Company's cash position increased to $5,342,000,
from $1,527,000 at June 30, 1998. Of the $5,342,000, $363,000 is classified as
restricted cash; there was $361,000 of restricted cash at June 30, 1998. The
largest component of the restricted cash is $300,000 restricted by a debt
service reserve, which was required as part of the Company's loan agreement with
the Vermont National Bank and was required to be maintained as part of the
Company's sale-leaseback transaction. Cash provided by net income, an increase
to accounts payable, a decrease to inventory, the issuance of preferred stock
and advances from the Series B Preferred stockholders for the exercise of their
warrants more than offset equipment purchases and payment on long term debt.
On November 3, 1998, the Company closed on a private placement of $600,000
of its Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series C Preferred
Stock") to an investor group lead by The Shepherd Group LLC. Accompanying the
Series C Preferred Stock are warrants to purchase 495,868 shares of the
Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.05 per share, which will
expire seven years from the date of issuance. In connection with the issuance
of the Series C Preferred Stock, a warrant to purchase 42,500 shares of the
Company's Common Stock was issued at an exercise price of $1.05 to the Company's
lessor in the sale-leaseback transaction. Because of the mandatory redemption
provision, the Series C Preferred Stock net of the value of the warrants has
been classified as long term debt in the accompanying balance sheet. The Company
has valued the warrants using the Black Scholes valuation model. The Company
will accrete, with charges to interest expense over a five-year period, an
aggregate of approximately $270,000.
Each of the sixty shares of Series C Preferred Stock has a liquidation
value of $10,000 per share, and is convertible into 9,523 shares of the
Company's Common Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock requires redemption upon
the tenth anniversary of its issuance, with both the Company and the Series C
Preferred stockholders having call and put rights, respectively, beginning on
the fifth anniversary of issuance. The Series C Preferred stock carries voting
rights on an as-converted basis, and, as a class, has the right to elect two
members to the Company's Board of Directors. Both the Series C Preferred Stock
and the accompanying warrants carry certain anti-dilution provisions. The Series
C Preferred Stock has a cumulative preferred dividend of six percent per annum,
payable quarterly. The dividends are required to be paid in additional shares
of Series C Preferred Stock for the first two and one-half years after issuance,
and thereafter may be paid in cash or additional shares of Series C Preferred
Stock, at the Company's option.
On or about July 3, 1999, 215,157 warrants associated with the Series B
Preferred Stock were exercised and converted into 519,265 shares of the
Company's Common Stock. The Company received $523,692 in consideration for
these shares and $493,508 is classified as advances from Series B Stockholders
in the Company's balance sheet for the year ending June 30, 1999 and will be
classified as equity in common stock in the year ending June 30, 2000.
The Company believes that its existing cash and cash equivalent balances,
together with funds generated from operations, will be sufficient to finance the
Company's operations for at least the next twelve months.
Year 2000 Disclosure
The Company has been addressing computer software modifications or
replacements to enable transactions to process properly in the year 2000. Key
financial, information processing and operating systems, including accounting,
point of sale, phone, manufacturing, shipping and facilities systems were
updated to year 2000 compliance in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999. The
Company's facilities equipment is currently being updated, and all necessary
changes are expected to be complete by October 31, 1999.
Virtually all of these modifications or replacements were made in order
for the Company to handle increased order volume in addition to enabling
transactions to process properly in the year 2000. Therefore, the cost of
changes directly related to addressing year 2000 compliance, were not
significant to the financial statements.
Although the Company is working with suppliers and customers regarding
this issue, no assurance can be given with respect to any potential adverse
effects on the Company of any failure by other parties to achieve year 2000
compliance. As a contingency, the Company has scheduled all raw materials and
outfits needed from offshore vendors for manufacture of its Valentine's Day
product to be delivered prior to December 31, 1999.
Item 7. Financial Statements
The list of financial statements set forth under the caption "Index to
Financial Statements" on page 26 below is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Not applicable.
Part III.
Item 9. Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons;
Compliance With Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
Information concerning the directors and executive officers of the
Company, their terms of office, the periods during which they have served, their
personal business experiences is included in the Company's definitive Proxy
Statement for its 1999 Annual Meeting and is specifically incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 10. Executive Compensation
Information regarding compensation of the Company's directors and officers
is included in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its 1999 Annual
Meeting and is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
Item 11. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
Information with respect to the beneficial ownership of the outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock by (i) all persons owning of record, or
beneficially to the knowledge of the Company, more than five percent of the
outstanding shares, (ii) each director and executive officer of the Company
individually, and (iii) all directors and officers of the Company as a group, is
included in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement for its 1999 Annual Meeting
and is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Information regarding certain relationships and transactions between the
Company and its directors, director-nominees, executive officers, and the family
members of these individuals is included in the Company's definitive Proxy
Statement for its 1999 Annual Meeting and is specifically incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 13. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
Exhibits
3.3 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 3.3 to the Company's 1996 Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
3.4 Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as exhibit 3.4 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter
ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).
3.5 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 3.5 to the Company's 10-QSB for
the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).
3.6 Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company (filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as exhibit 3.6 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended
September 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).
4.1 Representative's Warrant issued to Barington Capital Group, L.P. upon the
consummation of the initial public offering of the Company's Common Stock in
November 1993 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.1
to the Company's 1993 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and
incorporated herein by reference).
4.2 Form of Common Stock Certificate (filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2
(File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.3 Form of Warrant, issued in connection with the private placement of
204,912 shares of the Company's Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.3 to the Company's 1996
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by
reference).
4.4 Form of Subscription Agreement issued in connection with the private
placement of 204,912 shares of the Company's Series B Convertible Preferred
Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.4 to the
Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and
Incorporated herein by reference).
4.5 Waiver of Joan H. Martin, dated April 12, 1996, issued in connection with
waiver of accrued dividends on Series A Preferred Stock (filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.5 to the Company's 1996 Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.6 Warrant to purchase 43,826.087 shares of the Company's Common Stock, dated
April 12, 1996, issued in connection with Joan H. Martin's waiver of accrued
dividends on Series A Preferred Stock (filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as exhibit 4.6 to the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
(File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
4.7 Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement, dated July 10, 1997, between the Company
and URSA (VT) QRS-30, Inc., in conjunction with the sale-leaseback of the
Company's headquarters in Shelburne, Vermont (filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.7 to the Company's 1998 Annual Report 10-KSB
(File No. 33-69898 and incorporated herein by reference).
4.8 Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement, dated December 31, 1997, in connection
with the $200,000 Term Loan of Green Mountain Capital (filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.8 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter
ended December 31, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference.)
4.8 Securities Purchase Agreement, dated September 25, 1998, between the
Company and The Shepherd Group LLC, in connection with the Company's private
placement of sixty shares of Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock
(filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.47 to the
Company's 1998 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein
by reference).
4.9 Amendment, dated November 3, 1998, between the Company and The Shepherd
Group LLC, to the Securities Purchase Agreement dated September 25, 1998 (filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.10 to the Company's 10-
QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by
reference).
4.10 Form of Warrant, issued in connection with the private placement of the
Company's Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.11 to the Company's 10-QSB for
the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).
4.11 Warrant to purchase 42,500 shares of the Company's Common Stock, issued to
URSA (VT) QRS 12-30, Inc., dated November 3, 1998, in connection with the
issuance of the Company's Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 4.12 to the Company's 10-
QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1998 and incorporated herein by
reference).
10.2 Stock warrants issued to Edmund H. Shea, Jr. IRA, Allan Lyons and William
Maines in connection with the bridge financing prior to the initial public
offering of the Company's Common Stock in November 1993 (a form of which was
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.2 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-69898) and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.10 Incentive Stock Option Plan adopted by the Company on August 16, 1993,
with form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement (filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.10 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form SB-2 (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.11 Securities Purchase Agreement, dated June 10, 1987 between the Company and
VTB Investment Group and Joan Hixon Martin (filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.11 to the Company's Registration Statement on
Form SB-2 (File No. 33- 69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.12 Agreement, dated as of June 19, 1995, between the Company and John N.
Sortino, providing the terms of Mr. Sortino's separation agreement with the
Company (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.12 to
the Company's 10-KSB for the transition period ended June 30, 1995 and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.13 Employment Agreement and Loan Arrangement, dated July 31, 1995, between
the Company and R. Patrick Burns providing the terms of Mr. Burns' employment
with the Company as Chief Executive Officer (filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.13 to the Company's 10-KSB for the transition
period ended June 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.14 Employment Agreement, dated November 1, 1993, between the Company and
Spencer C. Putnam (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit
10.14 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No.33-69898)
and incorporated herein by reference).
10.17 Commitment Letter issued by Vermont National Bank, Burlington, Vermont,
dated September 18, 1995, in connection with a Commercial Mortgage Loan and a
Line of Credit Loan (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
exhibit 10.17 to the Company's 10-KSB for the transition period ended June 30,
1995 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.18 Loan Agreement, dated September 26, 1995, between the Company and Vermont
National Bank regarding $3,500,000 Term Loan and $1,000,000 Line of Credit Loan
(filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.18 to the
Company's 10-KSB for the transition period ended June 30, 1995 and incorporated
herein by reference).
10.19 Commercial Term Note, dated September 26, 1995, issued in connection with
the $3,500,000 Term Loan of Vermont National Bank (filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.19 to the Company's 10-KSB for the transition
period ended June 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.19 Commercial Time Note, dated September 26, 1995, issued in connection with
the $1,000,000 Line of Credit Loan of Vermont National Bank (filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.20 to the Company's 10-KSB for
the transition period ended June 30, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.24 Amended 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Company, amended as of
November 28, 1995 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit
10.24 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 1995 and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.25 Loan Agreement, dated December 26, 1995, between Green Mountain Capital,
L.P. and the Company, in connection with a $500,000 Term Loan (filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.25 to the Company's 10-QSB for
the quarter ended December 31, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.26 Convertible Note, dated December 26, 1995, in the principal amount of
$200,000, issued in connection with the $500,000 Term Loan of Green Mountain
Capital (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.26 to
the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1995 and incorporated
herein by reference).
10.27 Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement, dated December 26, 1995, in connection
with the $500,000 Term Loan of Green Mountain Capital (filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.27 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter
ended December 31, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.28 Employment and Loan Agreements, dated June 30, 1996, between the Company
and R. Patrick Burns (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
exhibit 10.28 to the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-
69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.29 Employment Agreement, dated July 1, 1996, between the Company and
Elisabeth B. Robert (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
exhibit 10.29 to the Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 33-
69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.30 Amended 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan of the Company, amended as of
November 22, 1996 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit
10.30 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.31 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan adopted by the Company on
November 22, 1996 (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit
10.31 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.31 Employment Agreement, dated as of July 1, 1996, between the Company and
Spencer C. Putnam (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit
10.32 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.33 Convertible Note, dated November 19, 1996, in the principal amount of
$300,000, issued in connection with the $500,000 Term Loan of Green Mountain
Capital (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.33 to
the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated
herein by reference).
10.34 Lease Agreement, dated October 24, 1996, in connection with the Company's
lease of 2,600 square feet at 538 Madison Avenue in New York, New York (filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.34 to the Company's
1997 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by
reference).
10.34 Consulting Agreement, dated December 31, 1996, between the Company and
Venture Management Group, Inc., regarding the provision of consulting services
to the Company (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit
10.35 to the Company's 1997 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.36 Lease Agreement, dated January 17, 1997, in connection with the Company's
lease of 6,000 square feet at 55 Main Street in Freeport, Maine (filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.36 to the Company's 1997 Annual
Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.37 Lease Agreement, dated July 10, between the Company and URSA (VT) QRS-30,
Inc., regarding the sale-leaseback of the Company's headquarters in Shelburne,
Vermont (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.37 to
the Company's 1997 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated
herein by reference).
10.38 Binding commitment letter, dated October 10, 1997, from Green Mountain
Capital LP, in connection with a $200,000 term loan (filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.38 to the Company's 1997 Annual Report 10-
KSB (File No. 33-69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.39 Agreement, dated as of October 10, 1997, between the Company and R.
Patrick Burns, providing the terms of Mr. Burns' separation and consulting
agreement with the Company (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
exhibit 10.39 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1997
and incorporated herein by reference).
10.40 Employment Agreement, dated December 3, 1997, between the Company and
Elisabeth B. Robert (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
exhibit 10.40 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1997
and incorporated herein by reference).
10.41 Loan Agreement, dated December 31, 1997, between Green Mountain Capital,
L.P. and the Company, in connection with a $200,000 Term Loan (filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.41 to the Company's 10-QSB for
the quarter ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.42 Convertible Note, dated December 31, 1997, in the principal amount of
$200,000, issued in connection with the $200,000 Term Loan of Green Mountain
Capital (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.42 to
the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended December 31, 1997 and incorporated
herein by reference).
10.43 Employment Agreement, dated March 13, 1998, between the Company and
Spencer C. Putnam (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit
10.43 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.44 Employment Agreement, dated April 30, 1998, between the Company and Robert
D. Delsandro, Jr. (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit
10.44 to the Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.45 Non-Binding Proposal and Management Agreement, dated May 21, 1998, between
the Company and The Shepherd Group LLC, in connection with the Company's private
placement of sixty shares of Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock
(filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibits A and B to the
Company's definitive proxy statement for its Special Meeting of Stockholders
held September 11, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.46 Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated June 1, 1998, between the Company
and Elisabeth B. Robert (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
exhibit 10.46 to the Company's 1998 Annual Report 10-KSB (File No. 33-69898) and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.47 Securities Purchase Agreement, dated September 25, 1998, between the
Company and The Shepherd Group LLC, in connection with the Company's private
placement of sixty shares of Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock
(filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibit 10.47 to the
Company's 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30, 1998 and incorporated
herein by reference).
10.48 Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated June 11, 1999, between the
Company and Elisabeth B. Robert (filed herein).
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen, LLP, dated September 27, 1999 (filed herein)
24 Power of Attorney (filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
exhibit 24 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 33-
69898) and incorporated herein by reference).
Reports on Form 8-K
There were no reports filed on form 8 K during fourth quarter ended June
30, 1999.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.
Dated: September 28, 1999 By: /s/ Elisabeth B. Robert,
Elisabeth B. Robert, President
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 Company
and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Dated: September 28, 1999 By: /s/ Jason Bacon,
Jason Bacon, Director
Dated: September 28, 1999 By: /s/ Fred Marks,
Fred Marks, Director and Chairman
Of the Board
Dated: September 28, 1999 By: /s/ Barbara Johnson,
Barbara Johnson, Director
Dated: September 28, 1999 By: /s/ Spencer C. Putnam,
Spencer C. Putnam, Director, Vice
President and Secretary
Dated: September 28, 1999 By: /s/ Elisabeth B. Robert,
Director, President, Treasurer,
Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer
Dated: September 28, 1999 By: /s/ Thomas Shepherd,
Director
Dated: September 28, 1999 By: /s/ T. Nathaneal Shepherd,
Director
The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.
1999 Form 10-KSB Annual Report
Index To Financial Statements
Page
Report of Independent Public Accountants 27
Balance Sheets as of June 30, 1999 and 1998 28
Statements of Operations for the Years Ended June 30, 1999
and 1998 29
Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended June 30,
1999 and 1998 30
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended June 30, 1999 and
1998 31
Notes to Financial Statements 32
Report of Independent Public Accountants
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of The Vermont Teddy Bear Co.,
Inc. (a New York corporation) as of June 30, 1999 and 1998, and the related
statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the years then
ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our 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 financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of The Vermont Teddy Bear Co.,
Inc. as of June 30, 1999 and 1998, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
August 20, 1999
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.
Balance Sheet
June 30, 1999 and 1998
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents(includes restricted $ 5,342,483 $1,527,052
cash of $363,000 and $361,000 respectively)
Accounts receivable, trade 338,285 51,538
Inventories 2,036,074 2,396,245
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 469,928 444,229
Deferred income taxes 150,405 233,203
Total Current Assets 8,337,175 4,652,267
Property and equipment, net 8,157,784 8,844,475
Deposits and other assets 1,002,769 903,110
Note receivable 57,500 87,500
Total Assets $ 17,555,228 $14,487,352
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Short-term notes payable $ - $ 45,603
Current portion of:
Long-term debt 162,302 231,133
Capital lease obligations 217,884 225,738
Accounts payable 2,603,109 1,846,042
Accrued expenses 810,493 916,191
Income taxes payable 35,000 -
Total Current Liabilities 3,828,788 3,264,707
Long-term debt, net of current portion 167,644 338,317
Capital lease obligations, net of
current portion 5,530,298 5,748,182
Deferred income taxes 150,405 233,203
Total Liabilities $ 9,677,135 $ 9,584,409
Advances from Series B Preferred
stockholders $ 493,508 $ -
Series C Redeemable Preferred Stock 387,879 -
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $.05 par value:
Authorized 1,000,000 shares Series A;
issued and outstanding, 90 shares
at June 30, 1999 and June 30, 1998. 1,116,000 1,044,000
Authorized 375,000 shares Series B;
204,912 shares issued, outstanding 27,942
and 204,912 shares at June 30, 1999 and
1998 respectively. 1,397 10,245
Common stock, $.05 par value:
Authorized 20,000,000 shares:
issued 5,719,638 shares, outstanding 5,696,618
shares and issued 5,195,733 shares, outstanding
5,183,733 shares at June 30, 1999 and 1998
respectively. 285,982 259,787
Additional paid-in capital 10,891,616 10,587,316
Treasury stock at cost: 23,020 shares and
12,000 shares at June 30, 1999 and
June 30, 1998 respectively. (117,500) (106,824)
Accumulated deficit (5,180,789) (6,891,581)
Total Stockholders' Equity $ 6,996,706 $ 4,902,943
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 17,555,228 $ 14,487,352
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
</TABLE>
</PAGE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.
Statements of Operations
For the Years Ended June 30, 1999 and 1998
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
Net Revenues $21,583,885 $17,207,543
Cost of Goods Sold 8,432,829 7,397,450
Gross Profit 13,151,056 9,810,093
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:
Selling Expenses 7,646,996 7,866,843
General and Administrative Expenses 3,082,935 3,031,716
10,729,931 10,898,559
Operating Income(Loss) 2,421,125 (1,088,466)
Interest Income 71,828 26,126
Interest Expense (614,390) (650,572)
Other Income (443) 29,243
Income(Loss) Before Income Taxes 1,878,120 (1,683,669)
Income Tax Provision (35,000) 0
Net Income(Loss) 1,843,120 (1,683,669)
Preferred Stock Dividends (96,000) (72,000)
Accretion of Warrants Issued in connection with
Series C preferred stock (36,328) 0
Net Income (Loss)-Common Stockholders 1,710,792 (1,755,669)
Basic Net Income(Loss) Per Common Share $0.32 ($0.34)
Diluted Net Income(Loss) Per Common Share $0.22 ($0.34)
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares
Outstanding 5,396,148 5,172,475
Weighted Average Number of Diluted
Common Shares Outstanding 7,846,926 5,172,475
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
</TABLE>
</PAGE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.
Statements of Stockholders' Equity
Years Ended June 30, 1999 and 1998
<S> <C> <C>
Preferred Stock "A" Preferred Stock "B"
Shares Amount Shares Amount
Balance at June 30, 1997 90 $972,000 204,912 $10,245
Exercise of Common Stock Options -- -- -- --
Preferred Stock Dividends -- $72,000 -- --
Net Loss -- -- -- --
Balance at June 30, 1998 90 $1,044,000 204,912 $10,245
Exercise of Common Stock Options -- -- -- --
Series B Conversion to Common -- -- (176,970) ($8,848)
Original Issue Discount-
Series C Pref -- -- -- --
Accretion of Warrants-Series C Pref -- -- -- --
Preferred Stock Dividends -- $72,000 -- --
Treasury Stock Purchase -- -- -- --
Net Income -- -- -- --
Balance at June 30, 1999 90 $1,116,000 27,942 $1,397
Common Stock Additional Treasury
Shares Amount Paid-in Stock
Capital
Balance at June 30, 1997 5,172,750 $258,638 $10,565,482 ($106,824)
Exercise of Common Stock Options 22,983 $ 1,149 $ 21,834 --
Preferred Stock Dividends -- -- -- --
Net Loss -- -- -- --
Balance at June 30, 1998 5,195,733 $259,787 $10,587,316 ($106,824)
Exercise of Common Stock Options 48,916 $ 2,446 $ 46,752 --
Series B Conversion to Common 474,989 $ 23,749 ($14,901) -- --
Original Issue Discount-Series C Pref -- -- $ 272,449 --
Accretion of Warrants-Series C Pref -- -- -- --
Preferred Stock Dividends -- -- -- --
Treasury Stock Purchase -- -- -- ($10,676)
Net Income -- -- -- --
Balance at June 30, 1999 5,719,638 $285,982 $10,891,616 ($117,500)
Accumulated Stockholders' Deficit Equity
Balance at June 30, 1997 ($5,135,912) $6,563,629
Exercise of Common Stock Options -- $ 22,983
Preferred Stock Dividends ($72,000) $ 0
Net Loss ($1,683,669) ($1,683,669)
Balance at June 30, 1998 ($6,891,581) $4,902,943
Exercise of Common Stock Options -- $ 49,198
Series B Conversion to Common -- $ 0
Original Issue Discount-Series C Pref -- $ 272,449
Accretion of Warrants-Series C Pref ($36,328) ($36,328)
Preferred Stock Dividends ($96,000) ($24,000)
Treasury Stock Purchase -- ($10,676)
Net Income $1,843,120 $1,843,120
Balance at June 30, 1999 ($5,180,789) $6,996,706
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
</TABLE>
</PAGE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.
Statements of Cash Flows
For the Twelve Months Ended June 30, 1999 and 1998
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
Cash flows from operating activities
Net Income (loss) $1,843,120 $(1,683,669)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
provided by(used for) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 906,174 955,045
Loss on disposal of fixed assets 30,975 135,633
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable,trade (286,747) (5,234)
Inventories 360,171 906,068
Prepaid and other current assets (25,699) (57,282)
Deposits and other assets (145,603) (662,696)
Note Receivable 30,000 7,500
Accounts payable 757,067 (716,494)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (105,698) 330,844
Income Taxes 35,000 -
Net cash provided by(used for)
operating activities 3,398,760 (790,285)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment (214,265) (98,172)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets 9,751 40,888
Net cash used for investing activities (204,514) (57,284)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings of short-term debt - 313,136
Borrowings of long-term debt - 216,785
Payments of short-term debt (45,603) (817,533)
Payments of long-term debt (239,504) (3,463,430)
Proceeds from sale-leaseback of building
and property - 5,863,874
Principal payments on capital lease
obligations (225,738) (202,767)
Issuance of common stock, exercise
of stock options 49,198 22,983
Issuance of preferred stock 600,000 -
Advance from Series B Preferred stockholders
for warrant exercise 493,508 -
Purchase of Treasury Stock (10,676) -
Net cash provided by financing activities 621,185 1,933,048
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 3,815,431 1,085,479
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
of period 1,527,052 441,573
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $5,342,483 $ 1,527,052
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid for interest 612,290 653,214
Cash paid for taxes - 3,734
Supplemental Disclosures of Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Capital lease from sale-leaseback of
building and property - 5,863,874
Conversion of preferred stock to
common stock 8,848 -
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
</TABLE>
</PAGE>
The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
June 30, 1999
(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business and Operations
The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. (the Company), which was incorporated
under the laws of the State of New York in 1984, is a designer, manufacturer
and direct marketer of teddy bears and related products. Principal geographic
markets include New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles, and
Chicago. The Company's sales are heavily seasonal, with Valentine's Day,
Mother's Day, and Christmas as the Company's largest sales seasons.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. As discussed in Note 6, the Company has accrued the estimated
loss under a lease obligation as of June 30, 1999. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
Reclassification and Presentation
Certain items in fiscal year 1998 have been reclassified to conform
with 1999 classifications.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
All highly liquid investments with initial maturities of three
months or less are considered cash equivalents. At June 30, 1999 and 1998,
approximately $363,000 and $361,000 of the Company's cash was restricted,
respectively. The largest component of the restricted cash is $300,000
restricted by a debt service reserve, which was required as part of the
Company's loan agreement with the Vermont National Bank and was required to be
maintained as part of the Company's sale-leaseback transaction.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the
first-in, first-out method.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated
depreciation. Equipment acquired under capital leases is stated at the lower
of the present value of future minimum lease payments or fair value at the
inception of the lease.
Depreciation, including amortization of assets covered by capital
leases, is calculated using both the straight-line and accelerated methods over
the estimated useful lives of the assets, as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Building 37 years
Equipment 3-7 years
Furniture and fixtures 3-7 years
Vehicles 5 years
</TABLE>
Amortization of leasehold improvements is provided over their estimated
useful lives or the remaining lease term, whichever is shorter. Renewals and
improvements that extend the useful lives of the assets are capitalized.
Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes,
which requires the use of the liability method. This standard determines
deferred income taxes based on the estimated future tax effects of any
differences between the financial statement and the basis of tax assets and
liabilities, given the provisions of the enacted tax laws. In view of the
Company's 1998 and previous year's losses, a valuation allowance has been
provided to fully reserve its deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of
their realization. If the Company is able to achieve sufficient profitability
to realize all or a portion of its deferred assets, the valuation allowance will
be reduced through a credit to the income tax provision in future periods.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the
difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and
liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the
differences are expected to reverse.
Advertising
The Company expenses the production costs of radio and print
advertising the first time the advertising takes place. Catalog advertising,
consisting primarily of catalogs for the Company's products, is capitalized and
amortized over its expected period of future benefits, usually over the four-
month period following the initial mailing of the catalog.
At June 30, 1999 and June 30, 1998, capitalized advertising costs
were approximately $53,000 and $53,000, respectively, consisting primarily of
trade credits and unamortized direct-response catalogs. Advertising expenses
were $4,499,000 and $4,346,000 for the twelve months ended June 30, 1999 and
1998, respectively.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Company accounts for long-lived assets in accordance with SFAS No.
121, Accounting for Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets
to be Disposed Of. The Company continually reviews its long-lived assets for
events or changes in circumstances that might indicate the carrying amount of
the assets may not be recoverable. The Company assesses the recoverability of
assets by determining whether the depreciation of such assets over their
remaining lives can be recovered through projected undiscounted cash flows.
The amount of impairment, if any, is measured based on projected discounted
future cash flows using a discount rate reflecting the Company's average cost
of funds. At June 30, 1999, no such impairment of assets was indicated.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
In accordance with the requirements of SFAS No. 107, Disclosures
About Fair Value of Financial Instruments, the Company has determined the
estimated fair value of its financial instruments using appropriate market
information and valuation methodologies. Considerable judgment is required to
develop the estimates of fair value; thus, the estimates are not necessarily
indicative of the amounts that could be realized in a current market exchange.
The Company's financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents,
accounts receivable, accounts payable and debt. The carrying value of these
assets and liabilities is a reasonable estimate of their fair market value at
June 30, 1999 and 1998.
Earnings Per Share
In accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings Per Share, basic and diluted net
income (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by
the weighted number of common shares outstanding for all periods presented.
SFAS No. 128 establishes standards for computing and presenting earnings per
share and applies to entities with publicly held common stock or potential
common stock. The Company has applied the provisions of SFAS No. 128 and Staff
Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 98 retroactively to all periods presented.
The following table reconciles the weighted average common shares outstanding
to the shares used in the computation of basic and weighted average common
shares outstanding:
<TABLE>
Years Ended
6/30/99 6/30/98
<S> <C> <C>
Weighted average number of shares
used in basic EPS calculation 5,396,148 5,172,475
Add: Incremental weighted average common
shares issuable upon exercise of stock options
and warrants outstanding 2,450,778 --
Weighted average number of shares
used in diluted EPS calculation 7,846,926 5,172,475
</TABLE>
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding for 1999 exclude 118,963
potential common shares because the price of the options was greater than the
average market price of the common stock for that period. Diluted weighted
average shares outstanding for 1998 exclude 1,612,765 potential common shares
from stock options and convertible preferred stock because to include such
shares would have been anti-dilutive due to the Company's net loss in that year.
New Accounting Pronouncements
As of January 1, 1998, the Company adopted SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive
Income. SFAS No. 130 establishes new rules for the reporting and display of
comprehensive income and its components. The comprehensive income and loss is
the same as net income and loss for each period presented.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 131, Disclosures About
Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, was adopted by the Company in
fiscal year 1999. This statement introduces a new model for segment reporting,
called the management approach. The management approach is based on the way
that the chief operating decision maker organizes segments within a company for
making operating decisions and assessing performance. Reportable segments are
defined in any manner in which management disaggregates the company, for
example, based on products and services, geography, legal structure, etc. See
Note 11.
In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software
Developed or Obtained for Internal Use, requiring computer software costs
associated with internal use software to be expensed as incurred until certain
capitalization criteria are met. The Company will adopt SOP 98-1 beginning
July 1, 1999. Adoption of this Statement is not expected to have a material
impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
In April 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position 98-5, Reporting on Costs of Start-Up Activities,
requiring all costs associated with pre-opening, pre-operating, and organization
activities to be expensed as incurred. The Company will adopt SOP 98-5
beginning July 1, 1999. Adoption of this Statement is not expected to have a
material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
(2) Inventories
Inventories consist of the following at June 30, 1999 and 1998:
<TABLE>
1999 1998
<S> <C> <C>
Raw materials $ 390,082 $ 457,847
Work-in-process 195,908 21,804
Finished goods 1,450,084 1,916,594
$ 2,036,074 $ 2,396,245
</TABLE>
(3) Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consist of the following at June 30, 1999 and
1998:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
Land and land improvements $ 1,398,528 $ 1,398,528
Building 6,668,134 6,668,134
Equipment 3,667,851 3,504,435
Furniture and fixtures 375,452 381,548
Vehicles 103,515 127,664
Leasehold improvements 46,265 65,375
$ 12,259,745 $ 12,145,684
Less - Accumulated depreciation
and amortization 4,101,961 3,301,209
$ 8,157,784 $ 8,844,475
</TABLE>
Depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended June 30,
1999, and 1998 was $906,174 and $955,045, respectively.
(4) Related Party Transactions
As of June 30, 1996, R. Patrick Burns, the former President of the
Company, signed a new agreement with the Company which, at the time, provided
for his continued employment through June 30, 2000. In addition to cash
compensation and stock options, the Company also increased the amount available
to be loaned to Mr. Burns to $116,818, and revised the forgiveness schedule on
the loan agreement such that all outstanding amounts and related interest
charges would have been forgiven on July 29, 2000, provided that Mr. Burns would
remain continuously employed by the Company until that date. As of June 30,
1997, the Company had reserved for all loans due from Mr. Burns. On October 10,
1997, Mr. Burns stepped down as President and entered into a consulting
agreement with the Company. As of December 31, 1997, the Company accrued and
expensed the entire amount due to Mr. Burns under this consulting agreement and
will not seek any services from him in the future beyond his capacity as a
Director of the Company. The total accrued severance as of June 30, 1999 was
$25,000; the accrued severance for Mr. Burns as of June 30, 1998 was $100,000.
The current amount has been included as a component of accrued expenses in the
accompanying financial statements at June 30, 1999.
(5) Indebtedness
The Company has been operating without a working capital line of credit
since July 18, 1997.
On December 31, 1997, the Company borrowed $200,000 from Green Mountain Capital
L.P. in the form of a five-year term note. The note bears interest at 12
percent per annum, is repayable in monthly installments through December 31,
2002, and is secured by a security interest in the Company's real and personal
property. In conjunction with the issuance of the notes, Green Mountain Capital
received warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $1.00 per share, subject to certain anti-dilution provisions. (Prior
warrants granted to Green Mountain Capital to purchase 20,000 shares at $3.375
were canceled upon the issuance of this new note.) The right to exercise these
warrants begins December 31, 1999, and expires the earlier of December 31, 2004
or five years after the full repayment of the loan and existing notes. No value
has been ascribed to these warrants, as the amount was not material to the
financial statements.
As of June 30, 1997, the Company had a $1,000,000 revolving line of credit from
a bank, which was terminated on July 18, 1997, pursuant to the Company's sale-
leaseback transaction.
The Company's long-term debt consists of the following at June 30, 1999 and
1998:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
12.0% Green Mountain Capital L.P. notes payable $ 310,204 $463,674
(see detailed discussion above)
7.0% Job Development Authority notes, due in monthly
installments through April 1999, secured by inventory,
equipment, and trade accounts receivable -- 11,884
9.0% Note payable to bank, due in monthly installments
through December 2001, secured by a vehicle -- 13,395
8.5% Note payable to financing services, due
in monthly installments through June 2003,
secured by a vehicle 13,972 16,785
7.5% Note payable to North Creek Partners, due in
monthly installments through March 2007 -- 48,784
9.8% Note payable to financing services, due in
monthly installments through December 1999,
secured by a vehicle 5,770 14,928
$ 329,946 $ 569,450
Less - Current portion 162,302 231,133
Long-term debt, net of current portion $ 167,644 $ 338,317
</TABLE>
Certain debt agreements contain covenants that require the Company
to, among other things, restrict certain activities, meet certain financial
covenants, and periodically submit financial information. As of June 30, 1999,
the Company was in compliance with the covenants or had obtained waivers for
all covenants for the year ended June 30, 1999.
Scheduled future long-term debt maturities are as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Period ending June 30,
2000 $ 162,302
2001 100,068
2002 43,628
2003 23,948
2004 -
Thereafter -
$ 329,946
</TABLE>
As of June 30, 1999 and 1998, the Company had no outstanding letters
of credit.
(6) Commitments and Contingencies
Leases
On May 30, 1996 the Company entered into a five-year operating lease for a
retail location in North Conway, New Hampshire. On July 29, 1998 in accordance
with the provisions of its lease, the Company formally notified its landlord of
the North Conway, New Hampshire location of its intent to close its retail
store, and as a result, had no further lease obligation effective February 1,
1999.
On October 24, 1996, the company entered into a ten-year lease for 2,600 square
feet on Madison Avenue in New York City. On December 7, 1997, the Company's 538
Madison Avenue location was closed due to structural problems at neighboring 540
Madison Avenue. On December 16, the Company announced that it was permanently
closing that retail location. The City of New York deemed the 538 Madison
Avenue building uninhabitable from December 8, 1997 to April 9, 1998, and the
Company has not made any rent payments on the lease since December, 1997. On
December 24, 1998, the Company received a notice from its landlord of 538
Madison Avenue alleging that it was in default under the lease for failure to
resume occupancy, and demand for back rent for the period July 8, 1998 to
December 31, 1998 in the amount of $144,355. Further on January 4, 1999 the
Company received a demand to resume rent payments beginning January 1999. The
Company disputes the landlord's position and believes it is not obligated to
resume occupancy or pay rent under the lease. As a result, on May 25, 1999, the
Company commenced action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County
of New York against 538 Madison Realty Company. The action seeks breach of
contract damages and a declaration that the contract at issue, the former lease
between the parties, has been terminated. The landlord has not answered or
asserted counter-claims, but has moved to dismiss the action based on purported
documentary evidence, the lease, itself. The motion has been fully briefed and
was submitted to the Court on September 14, 1999. No decision has been issued.
The Company has accrued management's estimated cost to settle this contingency
but no assurance can be given that this dispute can be settled for this amount.
In the event that the Company is not successful in its suit against 538 Madison
Realty Company, the remaining amount owed under the lease over its remaining
term at face value is $2,825,000.
On January 17, 1997, the Company entered into a ten-year operating lease for a
retail location in Freeport, Maine. The Company reached an agreement on June 12,
1998 with The Town of Freeport to terminate its lease obligation for its retail
location in Freeport, Maine. The Company closed the Freeport store in August
1998, and its lease obligation terminated on August 6, 1998.
On July 18, 1997, the Company completed a sale-leaseback transaction involving
its factory headquarters and a portion of its property located in Shelburne,
Vermont. This financing replaced the Company's mortgage and line of credit
agreement with the Vermont National Bank. The Company received approximately
$5.9 million in cash, of which approximately $3.3 million was used to pay off
the existing mortgage with the Vermont National Bank. The balance,
approximately $2.6 million, was used for general working capital purposes, to
pay down a $600,000 balance on the Company's line of credit (which was retired
as the result of the termination of the original mortgage loan), and for
associated transaction costs of $679,000, which have been capitalized and
recorded as a component of other assets as of June 30, 1999. The lease
obligation, secured by the business assets of the Company, is payable on a
twenty-year amortization schedule through July 2017. The transaction was
accounted for under the financing method in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standard No. 98, "Accounting for Leases." The book value
of the building and apportioned land and land improvements was $6,331,576 as of
June 30, 1999.
The Company has a month to month lease on 10,000 square feet of inventory space
at a separate location in Shelburne, Vermont, one mile north of the factory, for
$56,000 annually.
In addition, the Company leases various equipment under noncancelable
capital lease agreements. Capital leases and noncancelable operating leases at
June 30, 1999 require the following annual minimum lease payments:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Capital Operating
Leases Leases
2000 $ 749,458 $ 526,965
2001 657,666 447,257
2002 652,400 373,995
2003 652,400 385,098
2004 652,400 388,082
Thereafter 8,535,567 847,000
Total minimum lease payments $ 11,899,891 $ 2,968,397
Less-Amounts representing interest $ 6,151,709
Present value of lease payments $ 5,748,182
Less-Current installments 217,884
Long-term portion $ 5,530,298
</TABLE>
The original cost and net book value of assets under capital lease at June
30, 1999 and 1998 was $7,494,680 and $6,371,084, and $7,494,680 and $6,647,142,
respectively. Rental expense under operating leases for the years ended June 30,
1999 and 1998 was $114,575 and $528,252, respectively.
Contingencies
On July 15, 1998, the Company filed a lawsuit against Tyco Industries, Inc.,
entitled The Vermont Teddy Bear Co., Inc. vs. Tyco Industries, Inc., in the
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, alleging
that Tyco failed to make minimum royalty payments as required by its contract
with the Company dated September 11, 1995. Tyco denied liability for the minimum
royalties in its answer to the Company's complaint and filed a counter claim for
unspecified relief. The Company has denied any liability on the counter claim
and is vigorously pursuing this claim to collect amounts due, however no
assurances can be made that the amounts will be received from Tyco. A portion
of the claim is included in other assets as of June 30, 1999 in the accompanying
financial statements.
On October 24, 1996, the company entered into a ten-year lease for 2,600 square
feet on Madison Avenue in New York City. On December 7, 1997, the Company's 538
Madison Avenue location was closed due to structural problems at neighboring 540
Madison Avenue. On December 16, the Company announced that it was permanently
closing that retail location. The City of New York deemed the 538 Madison
Avenue building uninhabitable from December 8, 1997 to April 9, 1998, and the
Company has not made any rent payments on the lease since December, 1997. On
December 24, 1998, the Company received a notice from its landlord of 538
Madison Avenue alleging that it was in default under the lease for failure to
resume occupancy, and demand for back rent for the period July 8, 1998 to
December 31, 1998 in the amount of $144,355. Further on January 4, 1999 the
Company received a demand to resume rent payments beginning January 1999. The
Company disputes the landlord's position and believes it is not obligated to
resume occupancy or pay rent under the lease. As a result, on May 25, 1999, the
Company commenced action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County
of New York against 538 Madison Realty Company. The action seeks breach of
contract damages and a declaration that the contract at issue, the former lease
between the parties, has been terminated. The landlord has not answered or
asserted counter-claims, but has moved to dismiss the action based on purported
documentary evidence, the lease, itself. The motion has been fully briefed and
was submitted to the Court on September 14, 1999. No decision has been issued.
The Company has accrued management's estimated cost to settle this contingency
but no assurance can be given that this dispute can be settled for this amount.
In the event that the Company is not successful in its suit against 538 Madison
Realty Company, the remaining amount owed under the lease over its remaining
term at face value is $2,825,000.
(7) Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes for the years ended June 30, 1999 and
1998 was comprised of the following:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Year Ended Year Ended
June 30, 1999 June 30, 1998
Current-
Federal $ 35,000 $ -
State 3,000 -
38,000 -
Deferred-
Federal - -
State - -
- -
Income tax provision (benefit) $ - $ -
</TABLE>
The components of the net deferred tax asset as of June 30,
1999 and 1998 are presented below:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets-
Vacation accrual $ 58,130 $ 44,753
Net operating loss carryforwards 1,680,000 2,303,590
Inventories 48,892 48,892
Severance accrual 10,000 44,105
Contribution carryforwards 97,346 117,736
Deferred rent 37,891 37,891
Other 52,916 52,705
Valuation allowance (1,834,770) (2,416,469)
Total deferred tax assets $ 150,405 $ 233,203
Deferred tax liabilities-
Prepaid expenses $ (21,020) $ (21,229)
Property and equipment (129,385) (211,974)
Total deferred tax liabilities $ (150,405) $ (233,203)
Net deferred tax asset $ - $ -
</TABLE>
The provision for income taxes varies from the amounts computed by
applying the U.S. federal income tax rate of 34% as follows for the
years ended June 30, 1999 and 1998:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Year Ended Year Ended
June 30, 1999 June 30, 1998
Statutory Federal tax rate 34% (34%)
Alternative Minimum Taxes 2% -
Utilization of Net Operating
Loss Carryforwards (34%) -
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets - 34%
Income tax provision (benefit) 2% - %
</TABLE>
At June 30, 1999, the Company has federal income tax net operating
loss (NOL) carryforwards of approximately $4.2 million. The NOL carryforwards
expire in varying amounts through 2013. In addition, as a result of the change
in tax reporting year-end to June 30, 1995, certain amounts of the NOL
carryforwards (approximately $1.7 million) are available for use ratably over a
six-year period beginning June 30, 1996. In addition, the Tax Reform Act of
1986 included certain provisions relating to changes in stock ownership that,
if triggered, could result in limitations on the utilization of the NOLs. The
Company has calculated or assessed the impact of certain changes in its
ownership and has determined that there are no limitations, except as described
above, on its ability to use its NOLs.
(8) Preferred Stock
Series A
The Company has issued 90 shares, $.05 par value, of Series A
Cumulative Preferred Stock to one individual. The Series A stockholder is
entitled to accrued dividends on the stated values of the shares at a rate of 8%
per annum. The dividends accrue regardless of whether dividends have been
declared, profits exist, or funds are legally available for payment. Dividends
are payable quarterly, in arrears. For the fiscal years ended June 30, 1999 and
1998, $72,000 of dividends were accrued. The Series A Preferred Stock carries a
liquidation preference value equal to the stated value per share plus all
accrued and unpaid dividends. The stated value is equal to $10,000 per share.
Series B
On July 12, 1996, the Company privately placed $550,000 of Series B
convertible Preferred Stock. The 204,912 shares, $.05 par value, of Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock were issued to twelve individuals. Series B
stockholders are not entitled to any dividends or voting rights, but each share
was originally convertible into one share of the Company's Common Stock at any
time on or after July 14, 1997, subject to certain anti-dilution rights. As the
result of subsequent financing transactions, the anti-dilution provisions of the
Series B agreement were activated, and on February 3, 1999, 176,970 shares of
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was converted into 474,989 shares of the
Company's Common Stock. On July 19, 1999, the remaining 27,942 shares of Series
B Preferred Convertible Stock were converted into 74,996 shares of the Company's
Common Stock. The Company notes on or about July 3, 1999, 215,157 warrants
associated with the Series B Preferred Stock were exercised and converted into
519,265 shares of the Company's Common Stock. The Company received $523,692 in
consideration for these shares and $493,508 is classified as advances from
Series B Stockholders in the Company's balance sheet for the year ending June
30, 1999 and will be classified as equity in common stock in the year ending
June 30, 2000. On liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company,
remaining holders of Series B Preferred Stock are entitled to be paid on a pari
passu basis with any holders of Series A Preferred Stock.
Series C
On November 3, 1998, the Company closed on a private placement of $600,000
of its Series C Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock ("Series C Preferred
Stock") to an investor group lead by The Shepherd Group LLC. Accompanying the
Series C Preferred Stock are warrants to purchase 495,868 shares of the
Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.05 per share, which will
expire seven years from the date of issuance. In connection with the issuance
of the Series C Preferred Stock, a warrant to purchase 42,500 shares of the
Company's Common Stock was issued at an exercise price of $1.05 to the Company's
lessor in the sale-leaseback transaction. Because of the mandatory redemption
provision, the Series C Preferred Stock net of the value of the warrants has
been classified as long term debt in the accompanying balance sheet. The Company
has valued the warrants using the Black Scholes valuation model. The Company
will accrete, with charges to interest expense over a five year period, an
aggregate of approximately $270,000.
Each of the sixty shares of Series C Preferred Stock has a liquidation
value of $10,000 per share, and is convertible into 9,523 shares of the
Company's Common Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock requires redemption upon
the tenth anniversary of its issuance, with both the Company and the Series C
Preferred stockholders having call and put rights, respectively, beginning on
the fifth anniversary of issuance. The Series C Preferred stock carries voting
rights on an as-converted basis, and, as a class, has the right to elect two
members to the Company's Board of Directors. Both the Series C Preferred Stock
and the accompanying warrants carry certain anti-dilution provisions. The
Series C Preferred Stock has a cumulative preferred dividend of six percent per
annum, payable quarterly. The dividends are required to be paid in additional
shares of Series C Preferred Stock for the first two and one-half years after
issuance, and thereafter may be paid in cash or additional shares of Series C
Preferred Stock, at the Company's option.
(9) Warrants
At June 30, 1999, there were several warrants outstanding for shares
of the Company's Common Stock. Substantially all of the warrant agreements
contain certain anti-dilution provisions which, if triggered, can result in
additional shares being available to the warrant holder and/or a reduction in
the exercise price for each share. Certain anti-dilution provisions were
triggered in fiscal 1999 as the result of the issuance of warrants and employee
stock options. The following table summarizes the Company's outstanding
warrants at June 30, 1999 and 1998, inclusive of the effects of anti-dilution
provisions:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
June 30, 1999 June 30, 1998
Warrant Exercise Expiration Warrant Exercise Expiration
Shares Price Date Shares Price Date
519,266 $ 1.000 7/2/1999 60,000 $ 6.005 8/3/1998
49,130 2.565 4/21/2001 115,000 15.348 11/23/1998
150,611 1.310 7/18/2004 519,266 1.000 7/2/1999
100,000 1.000 12/26/2004 100,000 1.000 12/26/2004
495,868 1.050 11/3/2005 45,150 2.791 4/12/2001
42,500 1.050 11/3/2005 150,611 1.310 7/18/2004
</TABLE>
(10) Stock Options
1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan
On August 16, 1993, the stockholders approved a 1993 incentive stock
option plan ("1993 Plan"), which provided for the granting of 200,000 stock
options to employees. Options granted may be either incentive stock options
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or non-qualified
options.
Under the 1993 Plan, the Option Committee of the Board of Directors
is authorized to grant both non-qualified and incentive stock options to full-
time employees of the Company only, including officers of the Company. The
Committee will determine the provisions and terms of any stock option grant. No
option may terminate later than ten years from the date the option is granted.
The Committee may provide for termination of the option in the case of
termination of employment with the Company or any other reason. No stock option
can be transferred except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
The 1993 Plan terminates on August 16, 2003, however, the 1993 Plan may be
terminated earlier by decision of the Board. The Board may amend the 1993 Plan;
however, any amendment that would (1) materially increase the benefits accruing
to participants under the 1993 Plan, (2) materially increase the number of
securities that may be issued under the 1993 Plan, or (3) materially modify the
requirements of eligibility for participation in the 1993 Plan must be approved
by the Stockholders of the Company.
The majority of options under the 1993 Plan vest ratably over a five-year
period, and a minority vest based on performance of the market price of the
Company's Common Stock. All stock options expire ten years after the date they
are granted. At various intervals, the stockholders of the Company have
ratified changes to the 1993 Plan, which have increased the number of shares
available under the plan to 2,000,000.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Exercise Weighted
Number of Price Remaining Average
Shares Range Average Contractual
Life
Outstanding,
June 30, 1997 1,447,019 $1.00 - $6.50 $1.06 8.6 years
Granted 178,500 $1.00 - $1.75 $1.22
Exercised (22,983) $1.00 $1.00
Cancelled (25,271) $1.00 - $1.25 $1.01
Outstanding,
June 30, 1998 1,577,265 $1.00 - $6.50 $1.09 7.9 years
Granted 440,000 $1.00 - $3.56 $1.38
Exercised (48,916) $1.00 - $1.25 $1.01
Cancelled (37,125) $1.00 - $6.50 $3.84
Outstanding,
June 30, 1999 1,931,224 $1.00 - $3.56 $1.10 7.5 years
</TABLE>
On June 3, 1997, the Company offered to grant options with an exercise
price of $1.00 per share (the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on
that date) in exchange for the surrender of all outstanding qualified employee
incentive stock options at that date. The repriced options had original
exercise prices ranging from $1.50 to $3.13 per share.
As of June 30, 1999, options to purchase 882,016 shares of the
Company's Common Stock were exercisable under the 1993 Plan with an average
weighted average exercise price of $1.01, and options to purchase 68,776 shares
of the Company's Common Stock were available for grant under the 1993 Plan. As
of June 30, 1998, options to purchase 805,640 shares of the Company's Common
Stock were exercisable under the 1993 Plan with an average weighted average
exercise price of $1.13, and options to purchase 399,502 shares of the Company's
Common Stock were available for grant under the 1993 Plan.
Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan
On November 22, 1996, the stockholders approved the Non-Employee Director
Stock Option Plan ("NEDSO Plan"), which provides for the granting of 400,000
shares of the Common Stock of the Company in exchange for their participation as
a Director of the Company. Pursuant to the NEDSO Plan, amended on January 22,
1998, each participating Director will receive an option to purchase 2,000
shares of Common Stock as an annual retainer. The Chairman of the Board of
Directors, if eligible, is also entitled to receive an additional annual
retainer to purchase 8,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock. In addition to
the annual retainer options, each participating director shall receive an option
to purchase up to 1,500 shares of Common Stock per quarter for actual attendance
at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors. All options have an exercise
price equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant,
vest immediately, and are exercisable for a period of ten years.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Weighted
Number of Average Price
Shares Per Share
Outstanding June 30, 1997 18,500 $1.87
Granted 20,500 1.15
Exercised - -
Cancelled (3,500) 1.05
Outstanding, June 30, 1998 35,500 $1.53
Granted 10,833 $2.01
Exercised - -
Cancelled - $ -
Outstanding, June 30, 1999 46,333 $1.64
</TABLE>
As of June 30, 1999, options to purchase 46,333 shares of the Company's
Common Stock were exercisable under the NEDSO Plan, and options to purchase
353,667 shares of the Company's Common Stock were available for grant under the
NEDSO Plan.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123
During 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 123,
Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, which defines a fair value based method
of accounting for an employee stock option or similar equity instruments and
encourages all entities to adopt that method of accounting for all of their
employee stock compensation plans.
The Company has elected to account for its stock based compensation plans
under APB Opinion No. 25, under which no compensation cost has been recognized.
However, the Company has computed for pro-forma disclosure purposes the value of
all options granted during fiscal years 1999 and 1998, using the Black-Scholes
option pricing model as prescribed by SFAS No. 123 and the following weighed
average assumptions used for grants:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
Risk-free interest rate 5.60% 6.0%
Expected dividend yield 0% 0%
Expected volatility 131.0% 121.0%
Expected lives 10 years 10 years
</TABLE>
Because the Statement 123 method of accounting has not been applied to
options granted prior to July 1, 1995, the resulting pro forma compensation cost
may not be representative of that to be expected in future years. Adjustments
are made for options forfeited prior to vesting. The total value of options
granted was computed and would be amortized on a straight-line basis over the
vesting period of the options. The weighted average fair value of options
granted during fiscal years 1999 and 1998 was $1.18 and $1.16, respectively.
If the Company had accounted with these plans in accordance with SFAS No. 123,
the Company's net income and earnings per share would have been reported as
follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
1999 1998
Net Income (Loss) As Reported $ 1,710,792 ($ 1,755,670)
Pro Forma 833,797 ( 2,541,875)
Basic and As Reported $0.32 ($0.34)
Diluted EPS Pro Forma 0.15 (0.49)
</TABLE>
Other Stock Options
At the Company's 1996 Annual Meeting, the Stockholders of the Company
approved two separate grants of non-qualified options to purchase 30,000 shares
of Common Stock each to two Directors of the Company. On January 22, 1998, one
director voluntarily waived their stock option. The remaining option has an
exercise price of $2.75 per share, being the fair market value on the date of
grant, has fully vested, and is exercisable through November 22, 2006.
(11) Segment Information
Operating segments represent components of the Company's business that are
evaluated regularly by key management in assessing performance and resource
allocation. The Company has determined that its reportable segments consist of
Bear-Gram Gift Delivery Service, Retail Operations, and Wholesale/Corporate
(including licensing).
The Bear-Gram delivery service involves sending personalized teddy bears
directly to recipients for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries,
weddings, and new births, as well as holidays such as Valentine's Day,
Christmas, and Mother's Day. Bear-Gram orders are placed through the toll free
number, on-line, or through the catalog.
The Company actively promotes family tours of its teddy bear factory and store
at the factory location in Shelburne, located ten miles south of Burlington,
Vermont. In an effort to make a visit to the factory more entertaining and draw
additional traffic, the Company has implemented the Make-A-Friend-For-Life bear
assembly area, where visitors can participate in the creation of their own teddy
bear.
During its fiscal year 1998, the Company began pro-actively developing
opportunities in the corporate affinity market and certain wholesale markets as
a business segment, which is the fastest growing segment of the Company's
business.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Bear-Gram Retail Wholesale/
Service Operations Corporate
FY 1999
Net Revenues $18,136,195 $2,406,163 $1,041,527
Cost of Goods Sold 6,751,217 1,067,657 613,955
Gross Margin 11,384,978 1,338,506 427,572
Gross Margin % 62.8% 55.6% 41.1%
FY 1998
Net Revenues $13,964,523 $3,104,925 $ 138,095
Cost of Goods Sold 5,737,711 1,613,860 45,879
Gross Margin 8,226,812 1,491,065 92,216
Gross Margin % 58.9% 48.0% 66.8%
</TABLE>
Revenues from individual customers, revenues between business segments, and
revenues, operating profit and identifiable assets of foreign operations are not
significant.
Consent of Independent Public Accountants
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation
of our report included in this form 10-KSB into the Company's previously filed
Registration Statement on Form S-8 No. 33-84586 (filed on September 26, 1995).
It should be noted that we have not audited any financial statements of the
Company subsequent to June 30, 1999.
Arthur Andersen LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
September 27, 1999
- -------------
EXHIBIT 10.48
- -------------
June 11, 1999
Elisabeth B. Robert
Shelburne, VT 05482
Dear Liz:
This letter will follow up on our recent Board meeting and confirm an amendment
to your Employment Agreement, dated November 9, 1998, relating to your position
as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Specifically, the Letter Agreement shall be amended to reflect a cash bonus of
$50,000 when the Company's stock price reaches $6.00 (based on a 30 day trading
average) or the date the Company reports annual pre-tax income of at least
$3,000,000; and an additional cash bonus of $50,000 when the Company's stock
price reaches $9.00 (based on a 30 day trading average) or the date the Company
reports annual pre-tax income of at least $4,000,000.
In all other respects, your Employment Agreement shall remain in effect without
modification. If this amendment is acceptable to you, please so indicate by
signing below.
Very truly yours,
Fred Marks
Chairman of the Board
Acknowledged and Agreed to:
Elisabeth B. Robert
President and CEO
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<S> <C>
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
EXTRACTED FROM THE JUNE 30, 1999 BALANCE SHEET
AND THE TWELVE MONTH STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS ENDED
JUNE 30, 1999 FOR THE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR CO., INC.
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1999
<CASH> 5,342,483
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 338,285
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 2,036,074
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 8,337,175
<PP&E> 12,259,746
<DEPRECIATION> 4,101,962
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 17,555,228
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 3,828,788
<BONDS> 6,078,128
0
1,117,397
<COMMON> 285,982
<OTHER-SE> 5,593,327
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 17,555,228
<SALES> 21,583,885
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 21,583,885
<CGS> 8,432,829
<TOTAL-COSTS> 8,432,829
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 10,730,374
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 542,562
<INCOME-PRETAX> 1,878,120
<INCOME-TAX> 35,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,710,792
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 1,710,792
<EPS-BASIC> 0.32
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.22
</TABLE>
