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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-KSB
[X] ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (FEE REQUIRED)
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED) FOR THE
TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _____ TO _____
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-13084
BYRON PREISS MULTIMEDIA COMPANY, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
New York 13-3676574
(STATE OF INCORPORATION) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
24 West 24th Street, New York, New York 10010
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE) (ZIP CODE)
Issuer's telephone number: (212) 989-6252
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Act.
Name of each exchange
Title of each class on which registered
Common Stock, par value $.001 per share Boston Stock Exchange
Redeemable Common Stock Purchase Warrants Boston Stock Exchange
Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act:
Units, each Unit consisting of two shares of Common Stock and two
Redeemable Common Stock Purchase Warrants
(Title of class)
Common Stock, par value $.001 per share
(Title of class)
Redeemable Common Stock Purchase Warrants
(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 ____
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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 PARTY III OF THIS FORM 10-KSB OR ANY
AMENDMENT TO THIS FORM 10-KSB. [X]
THE ISSUER'S REVENUES FOR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 WERE $6,891,305.
THE AGGREGATE MARKET VALUE OF THE VOTING STOCK HELD BY NON-AFFILIATES AT MARCH
25, 1997, WAS APPROXIMATELY $2,674,528, COMPUTED BY REFERENCE TO THE CLOSING
BID PRICE AS REPORTED ON THE NASDAQ SMALL CAP MARKET ON THAT DATE.
THE NUMBER OF SHARES OF THE ISSUER'S COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.001 PER SHARE,
OUTSTANDING AS OF MARCH 25, 1997 WAS 4,661,875. THE NUMBER OF THE ISSUER'S
REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS OUTSTANDING AS OF MARCH 25, 1997 WAS
1,207,500. NONE OF THE ISSUER'S UNITS (EACH UNIT CONSISTING OF TWO SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK AND TWO REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS) WERE
OUTSTANDING AS OF MARCH 25, 1997.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. PORTIONS OF THE ISSUER'S PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE 1997 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO
PART III HERETO.
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PART I
Item 1. Description of Business
OVERVIEW.
Byron Preiss Multimedia Company, Inc., a New York
corporation (the "Company"), was incorporated in July 1992, among other
things, to develop, publish and distribute interactive multimedia software on
CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) and in other multimedia formats for
on-line delivery and in such other non CD-ROM formats as the Company deems
commercially viable. The Company's primary strategy has been to develop
top-quality content in on-line, print, or broadcast forms, based on licenses
of existing or new media products or talents in specific areas with consumer,
educational, entertainment or professional appeal and recognition. The Company
is now a diversified digital content publisher and producer, its current
strategy is to develop content and acquire licenses for production in digital
form and then exploit said content in multiple formats such as books,
internet, video and CD-ROMs. The Company's products are designed to have
global market appeal and are aimed to attract consumers, schools and
libraries. The Company intends to emphasize three operating areas which are
(i) Education, (ii) Multimedia, which includes on-line, Internet, CD-ROM, DVD
(Digital Versatile Disc) and game software, and (iii) Publishing.
At this time, the Company's intends to expand through (i)
internal growth of its publishing program, with an emphasis on titles with
global appeal, (ii) maximization of its existing strategic relationships, and
(iii) promotion of its educational software development. The Company intends
to explore the acquisition of businesses to expand or complement its existing
business. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in achieving its expansion goals.
Through its recent acquisition of Dolphin, Inc., a producer
of educational, training and tutorial software, the Company intends to broaden
its relationships with companies engaged in the school, library and corporate
training markets. See "Subsequent Events." The Company already has
relationships globally in the educational software area with Simon and
Schuster, America's largest educational publisher, with von Holtzbrink, among
the top publishers in Germany, with Anaya, the largest Spanish language
publisher and with Macmillan, the largest educational publisher in the U.K. As
the Company develops its educational business, it hopes to attract other
educational software development companies in order to become prominent in
this sector.
The Company plans to increase its print publishing program
with the launch of a new imprint at Simon and Schuster, which is expected to
be called Byron Preiss Multimedia Books. These books are intended to exploit
the synergies between traditional print books, multimedia and the internet. It
is anticipated that the first books to be published under the imprint will
include books with the National Basketball Hall of Fame, Virtual Comics
paperbacks, and The Ultimate Einstein, a book-and-CD-ROM package produced in
association with the Estate of Albert Einstein. Some of these titles will
allow the company to re-purpose or use in multiple media the underlying
digital content and hence derive more than a single revenue stream from the
same license or property.
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The Company's historic concentration on traditional
self-financed and marketed CD-ROMs has been reduced and is expected to
constitute a smaller part of the Company's production. This is intended to
reduce the historic losses incurred by the Company in the marketing and
development of certain titles in favor of the financing or partial financing
of certain titles by partners such as Simon and Schuster Interactive. However,
to date, as a multimedia content provider, the Company has produced a
multitude of CD-ROM products. See "Publishing Releases and Schedule." The
Company's titles are published under distinct imprints including Digital
Bauhaus for innovative non-fiction; Brooklyn Multimedia for interactive games;
Crayon Multimedia for children's entertainment; 21st Century Classics for
multimedia literature; Arts and Commerce for desktop tools and toys; and
Virtual Comics for interactive comics. See "Brand Strategy." The Company's
products are intended to be distinctive for their creative editorial content,
graphics and audio and video material in an interactive setting. The Company
develops and publishes its software on CD-ROM for use with personal computers
including, Windows compatible and Apple Macintosh PCs, and will publish in
other multimedia formats and for on-line delivery, as and if these formats
gain widespread market acceptance, and in non-CD-ROM forms, such as books, as
the Company deems commercially viable.
Symbolic of the Company's evolution is its new Forbes
Corporate Warrior Business Simulation Game. This title, developed in
conjunction with Simon and Schuster Interactive and funded by them, is the
first consumer software product developed under the Forbes name. It is
expected to be launched on the internet in April in conjunction with Forbes
Magazine's 80th Anniversary. Forbes is one of the most successful business
magazine in the United States. It is the intention of the Company that this
title will be available in a downloadable demonstration version on the
internet; in traditional boxed form in software stores; as a bundled
demonstration disk with a forthcoming Prentice Hall business textbook and as
an unlockable demonstration disk with selected subscriber copies of Forbes
magazine itself. The Forbes Corporate Warrior Simulation Game will enable the
company to reach internet customers, Forbes subscribers, game buyers and
business school students with a single product. The foregoing marketing plan
is intended for implementation in mid to late 1997 in conjunction with Forbes
and Simon and Schuster Interactive. There can be no assurance that said
marketing plan will be implemented or will be successful.
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND.
CD-ROM software is part of a media format referred to as
interactive multimedia. Rapid advances in processor, compression and optical
storage technologies permit the combination of traditional media with computer
technology to enable the user to experience and respond to text, audio, video
and graphic materials. Interactive multimedia software comes in several
categories such as entertainment, education, business and personal
productivity. The user may explore entire libraries in seconds to locate a
single fact, construct and limit the details of a set of assembly
instructions, determine the direction of a story and what characters
participate, or create new documents tailored to a specific need.
Interactive multimedia is designed to transform the
traditional media audience from passive viewers into active participants.
CD-ROM software is a versatile publishing and delivery format, since a single
CD-ROM can hold up to either 330,000 pages of text, 72 minutes of video, 16
hours of audio or the contents of more than 800 conventional floppy discs, or
a
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combination of the above. Companies such as Apple Computer, IBM and Sony have
created hardware and/or software for interactive multimedia.
The growth of the interactive multimedia market is dependent
upon the extent of availability of CD-ROM drives in personal computers and the
installed base of modems for on-line service use. Most computer
manufacturers, including IBM and Apple, PC's with built-in CD-ROM drives. The
consumer electronics companion are also developing new DVD (digital versatile
disks) systems for playback through television monitors. Although the Company
does not believe that its future success is dependent on the prevalence of
such a system, should a television-based DVD system gain widespread consumer
acceptance, the Company will be in a position to translate a portion of its
products in the necessary format, at additional expense. Due to issues
relating to incompatible hardware systems, the Company has and may continue to
be compelled to design and publish titles that operate on multiple
computer-based CD-ROM platforms and to deliver non-computer products in other
formats which may develop major viable market followings. The Company has and
currently intends to continue to develop its CD-ROM products for use on IBM
and IBM compatible Pcs running Windows and certain titles for use on the Apple
Macintosh and Power PC platforms.
In general, fiscal year 1996 was a difficult year for the
Trade Book Publishing industry, in part, due to companies experiencing
unusually high returns of products from book stores. There can be no assurance
that the Trade Book Publishing industry will show improvement during 1997.
SERVICES OF BYRON PREISS.
Byron Preiss, the President, Chief Executive Officer and a
principal shareholder of the Company, is also president, chief executive
officer and the principal shareholder of Byron Preiss Visual Publications,
Inc. ("BPVP") and of related entities, Byron Preiss/Richard Ballantine, Inc.
and General Licensing Company Inc., which are private companies that perform
the same type of services (such as book packaging) as performed by BPVP. In
the course of their book production activities and obtaining book publications
rights, BPVP and its related entities often have the opportunity to acquire
CD-ROM and other audio and visual rights to authors' works.
Since inception, the Company has relied upon the
availability of Mr. Preiss to serve as its Chief Executive Officer and
President. The Company has licensed from BPVP and related entities the rights
to certain materials which have provided or will provide content for some
products which the Company has developed, is developing or plans to develop in
the near future. The Company does not rely on BPVP or its related entities to
acquire rights, and the Company has and continues to actively acquire rights
in its own name. Nevertheless, the Company's acquisition of properties and
licenses from sources other than BPVP has often been dependent upon Mr.
Preiss' experience and contacts in the book publishing and software fields.
The Company believes that it has benefitted and will continue to benefit from
Mr. Preiss' book publishing and software experience, from the ability to
acquire CD-ROM rights from BPVP and related entities and from the publication
and publicity by BPVP and its book publisher licensees and distributors of
works for which the Company will be publishing CD-ROM products. Certain
licenses acquired by the Company, such as the Company's licenses with American
Heritage and Forbes have occurred simultaneously with BPVP's acquisition of
book rights to the same
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property from the same licensor. For example, in connection with the Company's
license with American Heritage, in the same year that the Company released its
CD-ROM title for American Heritage History of the Civil War, BPVP packaged a
related book for Viking.
CONTENT LICENSES.
To date, the Company has sought to acquire licenses from
publishers, popular authors, artists and film and television companies; and
the Company intends to continue to acquire rights to properties and talent
which will support its marketing strategy. In licensing agreements, the
Company seeks: (i) reasonably long terms for the license, at least 3 to 5
years, (ii) customary advances, guarantees and royalty rates, and (iii)
artistic and editorial cooperation of the licensor. Due to the multimedia
nature of certain of the Company's products, licenses are required for audio,
video, cinematic, and written materials to supplement original content
provided by the Company, for each particular product being developed, the
Company seeks to obtain content licenses from various authors and other rights
holders (including guilds and unions controlling rights to certain properties)
as the development of the product progresses.
The Company's current licenses typically run for terms of
approximately 3 to 5 years, cover world English or all world rights, and
usually provide for an upfront payment to the rights holder plus a royalty of
from 5% to 10% on revenues received from CD-ROM sales.
The Company has also acquired certain print and on-line
rights with respect to their licenses. The Company is also exploring broadcast
applications for certain of its titles.
BRAND STRATEGY.
It is the Company's intention to coordinate its marketing
and promotional efforts in order to build identities for each of the Company's
imprints. These imprints consist of brand names on particular products or
on-line services to serve as general headings and graphics for separate
product categories. The Company anticipates a reduced reliance on such brand
names in the future. All products are marketed under these imprint headings
and the Company has used these imprints in connection with promotion and
publishing for retail and direct mail sales of the Company's products. The
Company's six imprint headings are as follows:
o DIGITAL BAUHAUS(R): SOFTWARE FOR THE THINKING USER. Software titles
for the Digital Bauhaus imprint are designed to feature powerful search and
retrieval methods, extensive cross-referencing of subjects and complete
indexing. This imprint is designed to be distinctive for its designs and
content based on popular arts and science properties, such as the Company's
first product Isaac Asimov's The Ultimate Robot(R), and the Company's
subsequently released the following CD-ROMs: The Ultimate Frank Lloyd Wright:
America's Architect; American Heritage History of the Civil War; Exploring the
Planets and The Ultimate Einstein. The Company anticipates releasing the
following six (6) CD-ROM titles under this imprint in 1996: Scientific
American Library The Universe; Timetables of Technology; Scientific American
Library's Illusion; The Way Baseball Works; Total Television and American
Heritage: His Name Was Lincoln.
o CRAYON MULTIMEDIA(R): CHILDREN'S SOFTWARE FOR HOME, SCHOOLS, AND
LIBRARIES. Software titles sold under the Crayon Multimedia imprint feature
creativity tools,
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games and adventures based on properties such as The Bank
Street College Ready-To-Read Book series. The titles are intended to
complement children's traditional educational curricula, such as language arts
and social studies and are planned to be distinguished by activities that
encourage the young user to learn about subjects in more enjoyable ways. The
Company's first CD-ROM title released under the Crayon Multimedia imprint was
The World of Totty Pig(TM) and the Company subsequently released "Not Now!"
Said the Cow(TM); Hard Hat; and Baby Rom. The Company anticipates releasing
the following CD-ROM titles under this imprint in 1997: American Heritage
History of the United States for Young People; The Twelve Circus Rings. The
reversion of rights to the Inside/Outside title from Penguin USA to the
Company is currently under discussion between the parties.
o BROOKLYN MULTIMEDIA(R): INTERACTIVE GAMES AND ENTERTAINMENT
software. Software titles developed for the Brooklyn Multimedia imprint
feature games based on popular Software entertainment products such as comic
books, films and popular talent in their specific areas. Some titles are
designed to provide an alternative to typical arcade games with
adventure-style computer games. Certain titles are designed to be
distinguished by functions that permit the player to enter the world of the
license, such as the Company's CD-ROM title Gahan Wilson's The Ultimate
Haunted House; Robot City and Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles. The
Company released Spider-Man, the Private Eye Game and Westworld 2000 in 1996.
o 21ST CENTURY CLASSICS(TM): CLASSIC LITERATURE MADE ENJOYABLE FOR
STUDENTS AND ADULTS. Software developed for the 21st Century Classics imprint
features great literature favorites enhanced by interactive tours, video and
audio and interviews with authors and scholars. These titles are intended to
be distinguished by solid editorial content and accuracy. The software is
designed as a one-stop guide to literary classics. This line includes the
Company's CD-ROM title Trouble is My Business: The Raymond Chandler Library and
John Steinbeck - Of Mice and Men. The Company completed the following two (2)
CD-ROM titles under this imprint in 1996: John Steinbeck's: The Pearl and The
Red Pony; and The Grapes of Wrath. However, due to the closing of Penguin
Electronic Publishing, the Company is currently having discussions with Penguin
USA regarding the possible reversion of the John Steinbeck titles from Penguin
USA. The Company also acquired rights to the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald. The
market demand for literary titles has been less than anticipated by the Company.
o ARTS AND COMMERCE(R): SOFTWARE FOR HOME, PROFESSIONAL AND
INSTITUTIONAL GRAPHIC DESIGN, FEATURING LEADING LICENSES, ARTISTS AND
DESIGNERS. Software for the Arts and Commerce imprint provides a line of
desktop and professional design tools developed to give small businesses and
users the ability to create sophisticated documents, forms, reports and
multimedia material. The Company intends to continue to publish software that
will feature pre-made art work or interactive design tools. Titles are
intended to be distinguished by the exceptional quality of their still or
video libraries and ease of use, as well as compatibility with existing
desktop publishing and graphic software. The Arts and Commerce imprint is
currently comprised of the following CD-ROM titles: The Multimedia Cartoon
Studio; The Melrose Place CD-ROM; Beverly Hills 90210; The Frasier Companion;
The Baywatch Companion; Seinfeld 95 and Will Eisner's The Spirit. The Company
has entered into a letter of agreement with Fox Interactive for the production
of a CD-ROM/Internet hybrid title based on The X-Files intended for
publication in 1997.
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o VIRTUAL COMICS(TM): ON-LINE COMICS FEATURING POPULAR COMIC BOOK
ILLUSTRATIONS. The Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Byron Preiss
Multimedia On-Line Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has launched an
on-line service, Virtual Comics(TM), primarily on the World Wide Web and also
under an independent content provider agreement with the Microsoft Network.
Virtual Comics(TM) features new super-heros developed for the digital medium
in an interactive format. These products are designed to enable fans to be
part of the story, not just observers. The Company has released They Call
Me...the SKUL(TM), and THE SUIT(TM) and The 6(TM). The Company entered into a
non-binding letter of intent with America On-Line relating to a joint venture
involving Virtual Comics. See "On-Line Services."
The Company developed an election campaign simulation game
for use on Decision '96 interactive on-line service. Decision '96, which was
produced by NBC News and Microsoft Corporation, delivered updated news and
information surrounding the candidates, issues and political elections of
1996.
The Company has applied for registered trademarks for 21st
Century Classics(TM) and Virtual Comics(TM). There can be no assurance that
the Company will be granted trademarks on any or all of such imprints. The
failure to obtain a trademark registration may require the Company to select
an alternative imprint for that category of product. The Company is aware of a
competing use of the Virtual Comics name but not a product using the Virtual
Comics name, and is currently exploring its options.
PUBLISHING RELEASES AND SCHEDULE.
The Company's first product, Isaac Asimov's The Ultimate
Robot(R) was released by the Company in November 1993 and received a
prestigious Invision Award. The Company's next CD-ROM products, which were
released during 1994, were: the Seinfeld Screensaver & Planner; the R. Crumb
Screensaver and Companion; The Multimedia Cartoon Studio; The Essential
Frankenstein: The Multimedia Experience; Trouble Is My Business: The Raymond
Chandler Library; The World of Totty Pig; Gahan Wilson's The Ultimate Haunted
House; The Ultimate Frank Lloyd Wright: America's Architect; and Kurt
Vonneguts's - Slaughterhouse Five. During 1995, the Company released
approximately fifteen (15) titles, including but not limited to, The Melrose
Place Companion; Beverly Hills 90210; The Frasier Companion; The Baywatch
Companion; Hard Hat; Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles; American Heritage
History of the Civil War; Exploring the Planets; Robot City; "Not Now!" Said
the Cow; Baby Rom; The Ultimate Einstein; Will Eisner's The Spirit; Seinfeld
95 and John Steinbeck - Of Mice and Men. The Company developed approximately
sixteen (16) titles, during 1996, including, Scientific American Library The
Universe and Illusion; Timetables of Technology; The Way Baseball Works; Total
Television; American Heritage: Lincoln; American Heritage History of the
United States for Young People; The Twelve Circus Rings; My Cool Diner;
Inside/Outside World Tour Game; Spider-Man; Private Eye Game; Westworld 2000;
Forbes Corporate Warrior, a business simulation game; The John Steinbeck
Library: The Pearl and The Red Pony and The Grapes of Wrath. Although a
completed version of each of these titles was developed during 1996, certain
of the co-published titles are expected to be released during 1997, including
Scientific American Library Illusion. At this time, during 1997, the Company
currently anticipates developing several titles including, but not limited to,
Spider-Man: The Venom Factor. The 1997 titles are in various stages of
development, with the majority of which being anticipated for release during
the later part of 1997. In addition, during 1997, the Company and Simon and
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Schuster Interactive plan to re-release certain of their titles by bundling
them together, such as the new American Heritage Lincoln being packaged with
the existing American Heritage History of the Civil War.
Pursuant to certain agreements that the Company has entered
into with Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc., the Company has co-published books
including Spider-Man; The Venom Factor; The Ultimate Spider-Man; Iron Man: The
Armor Trap; Spider-Man Carnage In New York; The Incredible Hulk: What Savage
Beast; and Fantastic Four: To Free Atlantis. In 1996, the Company co-published
with Putnam/Berkley the following books: Stan Lee's Riftworld: Odyssey;
Daredevil: Predator's Smile; X-Men: Mutant Empire Book 1 Siege; Spider-Man &
The Incredible Hulk: Rampage; Spider-Man: Goblin's Revenge; Spider-Man: The
Octopus Agenda; The Ultimate Super-Villains; The Ultimate X-Men; X-Men: Mutant
Empire Book 2: Sanctuary; and Iron Man: Operation A.I.M. The Company also
co-published with Pocket Books three Spider-Man Super Thriller books and the
Spider-Man "You Are Spider-Man" book. During 1997, at this time, the Company
plans to release various X-Men titles, Spider-Man titles including The
Octopus Agenda, a hardcover book featuring The Fantastic Four. See "Marketing
& Distribution -- Marvel Comic Book Characters."
In addition, in 1997, the Company intends to release three
hardcover books with Pocket Books distribution which are, Battlestar
Galactica, The Ultimate Einstein and The Rhino History of Rock and Roll: The
70's, six Virtual Comics paperbacks and, two paperbacks with the National
Basketball Hall of Fame and others.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
meet its current schedule or that interruptions outside of the Company's
control will not impede the Company's current scheduled delivery plans and
delay the release dates or any of the Company's pending projects. Any delays
in planned delivery or release dates will correspondingly delay the Company's
receipt and recognition of revenues, and could place the Company in default
under certain of its content license and joint venture agreements.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.
All software product development is managed directly or
indirectly by the Company which utilizes outside talent to develop certain
titles from time to time. Each project is assigned to an internal team, a
freelance team or independent contractor for all or a part of the production
based on the particular skills and knowledge required. Project teams normally
consist of one or more programmers, designers, editors, animators, sound
suppliers, video engineers, quality controllers and production assistants, all
of whom receive direction from full-time staff personnel. In general, actual
development time is estimated to average 9 to 12 months elapsed time (but may
be as short as six months or as long as two years) and to employ no less than
4 persons per title. The Company's staff is primarily engaged in supervision
and direction of teams of outside consultants, freelance programmers and
software designers with responsibility for separate development projects.
Company staff members also work on internal development of certain titles.
The Company believes that the continuation of internal
development, outside developers and freelancers allows it to work with the
best available talent on certain projects, while reducing continuing overhead.
However, there can be no assurance that freelance
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development personnel will be as loyal or effective as full-time employees. In
order to ensure quality and timely production, in-house staff supervise every
project from start to finish and coordinate development with licensing, product
testing, marketing and translating for use on different computer systems.
Books are developed in-house editorially and with text and
illustrations commissioned from freelance writers and illustrators. Editing is
sometimes provided by staff from BPVP under the Company's management services
agreement with BPVP. See "Description of Property."
MARKETING & DISTRIBUTION.
GENERAL. To date, the Company has entered into several
domestic and international agreements relating to distribution of the
Company's products. In connection with the Company's domestic distribution
agreements, the Company generally is required to pay fees to distributors, for
rendering distribution, warehousing, manufacturing, and technical support
services provided by the distributor, and or its designee, which, in the
aggregate amount, generally ranges from approximately 15% to 25% as a
percentage of the distributors net sales of the Company's products. Each of
the Company's domestic distribution agreements fall within this range. The
Company is in negotiation with Simon and Schuster for a book distribution
agreement to cover books, which have been distributed through Simon & Schuster
from 1996.
With respect to the Company's international distribution
agreements, the Company has entered into two types of distribution agreements.
In the first type, which is often referred to as a localization and
distribution agreement, the Company grants to the distributor a license to
replicate CD-ROMs in a language and to manufacture and distribute said CD-ROMs
in a given territory. With respect to such localization and distribution
agreements, the Company generally receives from the distributor a percentage
of sales, which generally ranges from 5% to 25% of the distributor's net sales
relating to the Company's products, with most agreements providing for
approximately 20% of net sales. Each of the localization and distribution
agreements entered into by the Company fall within this range. In the second
type of international distribution agreement, the Company grants the
distributor the right to license, market, and sell CD-ROMs, which are
purchased by the distributor directly from the Company. In this type of
agreement, the Company earns revenues based upon its sales of products to the
distributor.
The Company is dependant on Simon and Schuster and Putnam
Berkley for distribution of its products. Any change in such relationships
could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
SIMON & SCHUSTER AGREEMENTS. The Company entered into a
Software Development Agreement dated as of March 21, 1995 (the "Development
Agreement") with Simon & Schuster Interactive ("S&S"), a division of Simon &
Schuster, Inc. Pursuant to the terms thereof, the Company and S&S will jointly
develop a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 products in digital electronic media
to be based upon pre-existing third party and original works. These products
will be developed by the Company and S&S through the joint contribution of
their respective properties, resources, names, talent and know-how.
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Pursuant to the Development Agreement, S&S and the Company
shall share equally, the net income (if any), resulting from the joint work
developed, which net income will take into account deductions, which include,
but are not limited to, certain costs for obtaining the rights to the content
used in the joint work, certain out-of-pocket and internal costs allocated by
S&S to the joint work, including warehousing, distribution and marketing of
the joint works, the development fee paid by S&S to the Company and certain
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Company.
In connection with each joint work developed, S&S is to pay
the Company a fee of up to $450,000, which is payable by S&S in four payments
based upon certain milestones achieved by the Company which are set forth in
the Development Agreement. The fourth payment is required to be made by S&S,
upon acceptance by S&S of the final master, related technical specifications
and the manual for that certain joint work. In the event that S&S and the
Company determine that the development fee for any of the first four joint
works shall be less than $450,000, S&S shall reduce the fourth milestone
payment in accordance with the terms of the Development Agreement.
Pursuant to the terms of the Development Agreement, each of
the Company and S&S has the right and license (subject to any agreed upon
third party license restrictions) to copy, reproduce, manufacture, market,
publish, distribute, sell for rental and sell any joint works and to
sublicense the rights to do the same in all markets and through all channels
of distribution throughout the world. In connection with the joint work
developed the Company is responsible for developing such joint work in
accordance with the terms of the Development Agreement and is required to
provide certain end-user support to S&S. All aspects of the promotion,
marketing and distribution of the joint works will be under S&S's sole and
exclusive control including, but not limited to, the pricing and sublicensing
of the joint works. See "Viacom Purchase Agreement."
In June 1995, the Company and S&S amended the Development
Agreement to co-publish the following three CD-ROM titles, which are Ray
Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles based on the beloved science fiction novel;
Scientific American Library's The Planets, based on the book, Exploring
Planetary Worlds and Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe: Private Game, which is
an interactive game based on the novel The Little Sister by the classic
American mystery writer, that was originally planned to be named Raymond
Chandler's Philip Marlowe: The Little Sister Game. Although the foregoing
three titles were partially developed pursuant to the Microsoft Agreement (as
hereinafter defined), the Company believes that Ray Bradbury's The Martian
Chronicles and Scientific American Library's The Planets were approximately
one-half developed and Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe: Private Game was
only approximately 10% developed. See "Microsoft Agreement." In January 1996,
the Company entered into a further extension of the Development Agreement
agreement to include additional mutually agreed upon titles and to provide a
profit margin calculated upon the development fee.
During 1995, Simon & Schuster Interactive Distribution
Services ("S&S Distribution"), a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.,
distributed three (3) of the Company's titles without a formal agreement. With
a view towards enhancing the distribution activities of the Company by, among
other things, expanding the Company's market penetration, the Company entered
into a Distribution Services Agreement (the "S&S Distribution Agreement"),
dated as of January 1, 1996 with S&S Distribution pursuant to which the
Company granted to
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S&S Distribution certain rights to market and distribute titles, and to provide
inventory, warehousing and fulfillment services for the titles. The S&S
Distribution Agreement initially identified six (6) titles which shall be
distributed by S&S Distribution, including The Frasier Companion; The Baywatch
Companion with Screensaver; The Ultimate Einstein; My Cool Diner; and Westworld.
In addition, the Company agreed to grant S&S Distribution the right to
distribute any and all titles that the Company develops, publishes or for which
the Company gains distribution rights throughout the term of the S&S
Distribution Agreement, with permitted exceptions. There can be no assurance
that S&S Distribution will be successful in promoting and selling the Company's
titles. In December 1996, the Company entered into an agreement with The
Learning Company for distribution of jewel case versions of Virtual Comics The
Skul and The Suit games and for Scientific American Library: The Planetarium.
PENGUIN. In October, 1995 the Company entered into an
agreement (the "Penguin Agreement") with Penguin Electronic Publishing, a
division of Penguin Books USA, Inc. ("Penguin") pursuant to which, the Company
and Penguin will develop five (5) CD-ROM projects tentatively titled: The John
Steinbeck Library, (which shall consist of a CD-ROM edition of each of the
following works by John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men, The Pearl and The Red Pony
and The Grapes of Wrath; Total Television by Alex McNeil and The
Inside-Outside World Tour based on The Inside-Outside Book of New York City,
The Inside-Outside Book of Washington, D.C., The Inside-Outside Book of London
and The Inside-Outside Book of Paris by Roxie Monroe. Penguin was appointed
the exclusive distributor of such CD-ROMs in the English language and all
markets in the US, its territories and Canada and a non-exclusive right
throughout most of the world. Penguin shall obtain the rights and clearances
for the literary materials published by Penguin to be used in the CD-ROMs. The
Company is required to develop such CD-ROMs in conformity with certain
specifications and within an agreed budget. In addition, Penguin and the
Company agreed that Penguin will commit to paying its half of the development
costs for each CD-ROM pursuant to the terms of the Penguin Agreement. Pursuant
to the terms of the Penguin Agreement, the Company and Penguin shall share
equally the profits and losses accruing from the development, promotion and
distribution of the CD-ROMs and the receipts from the licensing by Penguin and
the Company of certain publication and subsidiary rights in the CD-ROMs,
except that if the Company completes a CD-ROM for less than the amount
budgeted, Penguin shall recoup its overpayment of development costs in the
manner provided pursuant to the terms of the Penguin Agreement. The Penguin
Agreement runs for a period of seven (7) years from the initial publication of
each CD-ROM project, respectively and shall continue thereafter until
terminated upon thirty (30) days notice by either party. In late 1996, Penguin
Electronic Publishing reduced its operations and the division was closed in
December 1996. The Company is in discussions with Penguin USA about assuming
distribution to the software trade of its titles previously to be co-published
with Penguin Electronic Publishing.
MARVEL COMIC BOOK CHARACTERS. Pursuant to an Agreement dated
as of September 1, 1994 (the "Marvel Agreement") entered into by the Company
with Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. ("Marvel"), the company obtained the
exclusive license in the United States and Canada to publish novels in hard
cover and paperback formats for ages 15 and up based on certain comic book
characters owned by Marvel including, among others, Spider-
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Man(R), The Incredible Hulk(R), and The Fantastic Four(R). The Company has and
will continue to create these novels through the services of freelancers
supervised by the Company. Marvel has the right to approve each stage of
development of the books and is under no obligation to do so.
The Company is obligated to publish at least 4 novels in
each twelve-month period. The first two titles were published in 1994 and the
Company has co-published with Putnam Berkeley Group, Inc. eight books
including Spider-Man; The Venom Factor, a mass market paperback; The Ultimate
Spider-Man, a mass market paperback; Iron Man: The Armor Trap; Spider-Man
Carnage In New York; The Incredible Hulk: What Savage Beast; and Fantastic
Four: To Free Atlantis. In 1996, the Company released the following books:
Stan Lee's Riftworld: Odyssey; Daredevil: Predator's Smile; X-Men: Mutant
Empire Book 1 Siege; Spider-Man & The Incredible Hulk: Rampage; Spider-Man:
Goblin's Revenge; Spider-Man: The Octopus Agenda; The Ultimate Super-Villains;
The Ultimate X-Men; X-Men: Mutant Empire Book 2: Sanctuary; and Iron Man:
Operation A.I.M.. The Company anticipates releasing approximately nine new
titles during 1997 including, but not limited to, various X-Men titles and
Spider-Man titles such as The Octupus Agenda. The Company has also been
granted the right of first refusal on audio titles to the Marvel books which
it publishes and produced one audio tape in 1996 under contract with Simon and
Schuster Audio. The Marvel Agreement has an initial term of three years and
may be renewed upon the mutual agreement of Marvel and the Company. Marvel is
entitled to royalties based on the sale of books under the Marvel Agreement.
The Company renewed this Agreement with Marvel in September 1996 for a period
ending December 2000.
On September 26, 1994 the Company entered into a
Co-Publishing Agreement (the "Putnam Agreement") with Putnam Berkeley Group,
Inc. ("Putnam") pursuant to which the Company and Putnam agreed to jointly
publish all books subject to the Marvel Agreement. The Company and Putnam will
share in all profits and losses from the acquisition, development,
publication, sale and distribution from such books, as specifically provided
in the Putnam Agreement. The Company and Putnam have agreed to consult with
each other on the number of copies for all printings in excess of 10,000 for
hardcopies and 25,000 for paperback editions, subject to certain provisions.
Putnam has agreed to publish at least one anthology and four
paperback books for each twelve-month period during the term of the Putnam
Agreement. The Company is obligated to make all payments to Marvel and the
freelance writers and illustrators contracted to develop the Marvel books
while Putnam is fully responsible for all printing, manufacturing,
advertising, selling and distributing of such books. The Putnam Agreement had
an initial term through December 31, 1996 but was extended through January 15,
1999. If the Putnam Agreement is not terminated and the Marvel Agreement is
renewed, then at Putnam's option the term of the Putnam Agreement may be
extended on the same terms and conditions and for the same period as the
Marvel Agreement is in effect.
Pursuant to an agreement, dated as of February 15, 1995,
between the Company
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and Marvel (the "Marvel CD-ROM Agreement"), Marvel granted to the Company the
exclusive right to publish, distribute and sell in all languages throughout the
world three (3) different CD-ROM titles of interactive adventures which visually
recreate plots and/or storylines of novels previously published by the Company
or to be published by the Company pursuant to the Marvel Agreement. The Marvel
CD-ROM Agreement continues through January 31, 2000 unless sooner terminated by
the parties in accordance with the terms thereof. Pursuant to the Marvel CD-ROM
Agreement, as amended, the Company shall publish three titles, the first title
of which by August 31, 1997, the second title by December 31, 1997 and the third
title by December 31, 1998. The first title, Spider-Man: The Sinister Six(TM),
was published in November 1996. During 1997, the Company intends to publish
Spider-Man: The Venom Factor.
In performing the Marvel CD-ROM Agreement, the Company is
permitted to use all commonly accepted multimedia elements, such as sound and
animation created exclusively for such CD-ROM titles. Marvel has retained the
sole right to approve various stages of creation of the CD-ROM titles that are
the subject of the Marvel CD-ROM Agreement.
Pursuant to an agreement (the "Marvel Young Adults
Agreement"), dated as of June 15, 1995, entered into by the Company with
Marvel, the Company obtained the sole and exclusive right to print, publish,
distribute and sell in the United States and Canada as well as non-exclusive
rights to distribute and sell throughout most of the world, under the
Company's own imprint, young adult books including, mass-market size paperback
books and hardcover books, based on certain comic book characters owned by
Marvel, known as the "Marvel Superheroes", including, among others,
Spider-Man(R). In addition, the Company had been granted the right to
manufacture and sell throughout the world one (1) CD-ROM title of interactive
adventures based upon one or more of such books. The Company is required to
manufacture and sell one (1) CD-ROM and publish at least four (4) books during
the first year of publication and at least four (4) books in each subsequent
year of publication under the Marvel Young Adults Agreement. Marvel has the
right to approve each stage of development of the books. The Marvel Young
Adults Agreement runs through January 15, 1999, unless sooner terminated in
accordance with the terms thereof.
In addition, pursuant to an agreement (the "Marvel X-MEN
Agreement"), dated as of June 28, 1995, entered into by the Company with
Marvel, the Company obtained the exclusive license to print, publish,
distribute and sell in the United States and Canada as well as a non-exclusive
right to sell throughout most of the world, under the Company's own imprint,
softcover novels in mass-market size, hardcover novels and limited edition
novels, for approximately ages fifteen (15) and up, based upon certain comic
book characters owned by Marvel, known as the "X-MEN(R)". In addition, the
Marvel X-MEN Agreement provides that one or more of the books may be adopted
to CD-ROM format exclusively by the Company which shall be one of the three
titles to be published under the terms and conditions of the Marvel CD-ROM
Agreement. The Company is required to publish at least two (2) mass-market
softcover novels, one (1) hardcover novel and one (1) anthology under the
Marvel X-MEN Agreement. The Marvel X-MEN Agreement runs through January 15,
1999, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the provisions thereof. The
Agreement was amended to provide
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for the additional publication of books based on Generation X, another Marvel
title.
During December 1996, Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. filed
a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of
Delaware in Wilmington (the "Marvel Bankruptcy"). Although, at this time, the
Company believes that such event should not effect the relationship between
the parties, there can be no assurance that such Marvel Bankruptcy will not
adversely effect the Company.
RETAIL AND DIRECT MAIL. The Company's titles distributed by
S&S pursuant to each of the Development Agreement and the S&S Distribution
Agreement, by certain international distributors and pursuant to other
relationships, may be sold through some or all of the following retail
channels, some of which are not currently significant distributors of
computer software, including: (i) traditional trade software wholesale
distributors; (ii) traditional trade book distributors; (iii) alternative
distribution to target markets, including sales over on-line services; (iv)
CD-ROM samplers and mail order; and (v) national electronics chains and other
mass merchandisers.
Trade software wholesale distributors distribute primarily
to independent computer stores and chain outlets and sometimes to department
and electronics stores. Trade book distributors distribute to bookstores and
chains, as well as schools and libraries. The Company also has developed a
direct response capability through a Memphis-based 800 number.
INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION. The Company believes that
foreign countries offer significant potential markets for its products due to
increasing worldwide demand for interactive multimedia software on CD-ROM and
books. The Company entered into a Localization and Distribution Agreement with
a distributor of multimedia products in Korea pursuant to which, in general,
the Company, among other things, has granted the distributor the right and
license to replicate certain CD-ROMs in the Korean language and to
manufacture, distribute and sell those CD-ROMs in Korea. The Company also
entered into an agreement with Gaga Communications, Inc. ("Gaga") of Japan,
for distribution of certain titles in Japan. In September of 1995, the Company
and Gaga amended the Gaga Agreement whereby the parties reallocated a $130,000
advance among the Company's titles being distributed by Gaga, including Robot
City. During the fourth quarter of 1995, The World of Totty Pig was published
in Japan by Gaga. The Company is currently engaging in discussions with Gaga
about further renegotiation of their agreement.
In addition, the Company entered into a CD-ROM Distribution
and Replication Agreement dated February 12, 1996 with MacMillan Publishers
Limited ("Macmillan") pursuant to which the Company granted to Macmillan for a
five year term the sole and exclusive right throughout the UK and Ireland to
manufacture, sell and distribute certain CD-ROM products including, but not
limited to, Scientific American Library The Planets and The Ultimate Einstein.
The Company entered into a Localization and Distribution
Agreement dated as
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of February 23, 1996 with Systhema, A.G. ("Systhema") pursuant to which the
Company granted to Systhema an exclusive license, through December 31, 1999,
throughout the Republic of Germany, Austria, German speaking Switzerland and
Liechtenstein to manufacture, sell and distribute certain CD-ROM products
including, but not limited to, Scientific American Library The Planets and The
Ultimate Einstein.
The Company entered into a binding Letter of Agreement with
Anaya Multimedia S.A., pursuant to which the parties agreed to enter in an
Agreement whereby the Company will grant to Anaya the exclusive rights for
localization, publishing, and distribution of the Spanish language version of
the Scientific American titles, "The Planets", "The Universe" and "Illusion",
(collectively, the "Spanish Titles"), and Anaya will grant to the Company the
exclusive license to publish, license and sublicense such Spanish Titles
outside of Spain.
In addition, the Company has entered into distribution
agreements with certain distributors of multimedia products in each of Norway,
Sweden, Finland, Israel, France, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and others
in which the Company, among other things, has granted to the distributor the
right and license to market, distribute and sell certain of the Company's
CD-ROMs in a given territory.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
achieve international success with its products.
ON-LINE SERVICES.
The Company has produced an on-line service, Virtual Comics,
primarily on the World Wide Web and also under an independent content provider
agreement with the Microsoft Network. During 1996, the Company developed its
Virtual Comics division. Virtual Comics(TM), which provides comics on-line in
an interactive format, features comic book illustrations of new super-heros
developed for digital medium. These products are designed to enable fans to be
part of the story, not just observers. The Company's has released They Call
Me...the SKUL(TM), and THE SUIT(TM) and anticipates releasing THE 6(TM). See
Brand Strategy - Virtual Comics(TM). The Company has also published print
comic books featuring these characters. On November 1, 1996, the Company
entered into a non-binding Letter of Intent with America On-Line ("AOL") to
form a strategic alliance to develop the Company's Virtual Comics On-Line
division. However, the Company was recent notified that such joint venture
relationship between AOL and the Company relating to The Virtual Comics
division will need to be restructured due to internal changes at AOL. There
can be no assurance that such joint venture will be entered into.
The Company has developed an election campaign simulation
game for use on Decision '96 a new interactive on-line service. Decision '96,
which was produced by NBC News and Microsoft Corporation, delivered updated
news and information surrounding the candidates, issues and political
elections of 1996.
COMPETITION.
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Competition in the CD-ROM software and book publishing and
on-line service markets and comic books is intense. The Company's competitors
include several large media and publishing companies with substantial
financial and personnel resources and numerous small companies with lesser
resources. The CD-ROM software market is now facing enhanced competition as a
result of two factors which are (i) reduced prices as a result of reduced
price publishers and (ii) the development of new electronic distribution
technologies including, certain "on-line" services, which are discussed below
and (iii) a reduction in the number of stores selling CD-ROMs.
There are various publishers and distributors which market
their own multimedia products, including companies such as Microsoft, S&S and
Broderbund. Some computer and consumer electronics companies also now pursue
CD-ROM publishing. The current number of published titles in the categories of
interest to the Company approximates several thousand, and the quality of
available CD-ROM titles is expected to increase during the next several years.
The Company will compete for consumers' software expenditures with other
software developers and publishers targeting the entertainment and educational
segments of the multimedia CD-ROM market.
In the children's educational software market, the Company's
children's educational products may encounter strong competition from
established products in that field, and similar competition may be met in
other specialized areas. The Company has attempted to differentiate itself
from its competitors through its focus on licensing high quality products
based upon recognized works of popular authors and artists, by utilizing an
imprint strategy and by aligning with strategic partners such as S&S. There
can be no assurance that this strategy will enable the Company to compete
successfully in its targeted markets. The Company also competes with other
publishers and developers for content licenses and for talented development
personnel. Dolphin, Inc. the educational software development company recently
acquired by the Company, competes with other development companies as well as
divisions of large companies.
On-line services presently delivered through telephone lines
or in the future, cable lines, or satellite dishes, may also compete with
CD-Roms as a delivery mechanism. Major content suppliers are using on-line
services to deliver content on-line through services such as, America On-line,
Prodigy and CompuServe in the business to dedicated on-line series may reduce
the profitability of working with said services.
Major competitors in the consumer entertainment and
"edutainment" markets include Broderbund's The Voyager Company, and a variety
of other established publishers including Mindscope, Broderbund, Electronic
Arts and Spectrum Holobyte.
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In addition, competition in the comics book markets is
intense. The merger of Capital City Distribution Inc. and Diamond Comic
Distributors, who are large comics distributors, has further reduced the
distribution opportunities in print comic books.
MANUFACTURING.
To date, manufacturing of program discs and packages have
been contracted out to third party manufacturers. There are numerous
manufacturing sources available throughout the United States and the Company
is not dependent on any one source. Simon and Schuster and Putnam Berkley
provide manufacturing services to the Company on the books they distribute
through the regular suppliers.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
Technical and customer support standards are very high in
the computer software market. In order to remain competitive, the Company
maintains telephone technical assistance for its customers with respect to
certain of its products. Technical support personnel will work in-house,
offsite or be contracted for through third-party independent fulfillment
houses or to individual subcontractors. The Company has established a
dedicated telephone line to answer such technical support calls. Pursuant to
the S&S Distribution Agreement, the Company is responsible for technical
support unless the Company otherwise elects to utilize the technical support
services provided by S&S Distribution.
VIACOM PURCHASE AGREEMENT.
Pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as
of March 22, 1995 (the "Viacom Purchase Agreement"), the Company sold to
Viacom International Inc. ("Viacom"), a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. and an
affiliate of Simon & Schuster, Inc., for a total consideration of $5,964,000,
paid in cash: (i) 852,375 unregistered shares of the Company's Common Stock
(representing an aggregate of approximately 20% of the Company's outstanding
Common Stock), (ii) warrants to purchase an additional 315,000 shares of the
Company's common Stock at an exercise price of $7.00 each, and (iii) an
additional warrant (the "Additional Warrant") to purchase up to an aggregate
of a number of shares of Common Stock (the "Additional Warrant Shares") equal
to, at any time, 20% of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
of stock options (x) granted pursuant to the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan,
as such plan may be amended from time to time, and (y) granted to employees
not pursuant to any stock option plan, at an exercise price of $7.00 per share
of Common Stock.
In connection with the Viacom Purchase Agreement, the
Company entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with Viacom pursuant to
which it granted to Viacom demand and incidental registration rights
pertaining to any Common Stock of the Company held by Viacom. In accordance
with the terms of the Viacom Purchase Agreement, the Company has covenanted
that (i) it will not pay any cash dividends to its shareholders without
Viacom's prior
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written consent, and (ii) its Board of Directors will be increased from 4 to 5
members, including one director nominated by Viacom.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
The Company's future success will be heavily dependent upon
its content, its distributed software and books and the performance of
Dolphin. The Company will rely on a combination of contractual rights,
trademarks, trade secrets and copyright laws to establish or protect its
products in the countries where it will conduct business. There can be no
assurance that the steps taken by the Company to protect its rights will be
adequate to deter misappropriation. Furthermore, there can be no assurance
that claims relating to the Company's alleged infringement on the intellectual
property of others will not be asserted against the Company. Copyright and
other proprietary rights to the use of CD-ROM and on-line material and
material licensed for use on CD-ROM and on-line is a relatively new area and
there is the possibility of legal challenges in respect of all such rights.
Moreover, as is the case in the music recording industry, CD-ROM software is
capable of being reproduced by unauthorized persons. Any such unauthorized
reproduction might be difficult to police and could detrimentally affect the
Company. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect
proprietary rights in products and technology to the same extent as to the
laws of the United States.
In addition, practically all of the content (text, excerpts,
artwork, film, photographs, plot, concepts, music, talent, programming and
software) of the Company's products will be used by the Company pursuant to
rights obtained in licensing agreements from others or under contracts with
creative talent including programmers, some of whom will be employees of the
Company and others which shall be third party suppliers. The Company will,
therefore, necessarily be dependent upon the validity of its licensors' rights
and the agreement and financial capability of each licensor to indemnify the
Company against any claims, litigation and eventual damages from any such
claims. This exposure is increased by reason of the fact that some of the
Company's products are expected to include materials based upon rights
obtained from a variety of different licensors.
The Company currently owns federal trademarks which are ARTS
AND COMMERCE(R), CRAYON MULTIMEDIA(R), THE ULTIMATE ROBOT,(R) BROOKLYN
MULTIMEDIA(R) and DIGITAL BAUHAUS(R). In addition, the Company has
approximately thirteen (13) trademark applications pending, including the
following marks VIRTUAL COMICS(TM), THEY CALL ME THE... SKULL(TM), and 21ST
CENTURY CLASSICS(TM). There can be no assurance that the Company will be
granted registrations on any or all of such trademarks. The failure to obtain
a trademark registration may require the Company to select an alternative
trademark for that product or imprint, as the case may be.
Although the Company implements protective measures by
primarily filing copyright and trademark applications when deemed appropriate
in order to defend its material proprietary rights, there can be no assurance
that such efforts will be successful. The failure
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and ability of the Company to effectively protect its proprietary information
could have an adverse effect on the Company's business.
EMPLOYEES
As of the date hereof, the Company had approximately 37
full-time employees and 1 part-time employee, consisting of administrators and
programmers. In addition, as of the date hereof, Dolphin, Inc. had
approximately 22 employees. The Company also uses the services of freelance
software developers, consultants, programmers and product designers on an "as
needed" basis. The freelancers comprise teams which develop products under the
Company's supervision. The Company believes that its future success will
depend, in part, upon its ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified
personnel and independent contractors. Competition for such personnel is
intense. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in
attracting and retaining such personnel.
SUBSEQUENT EVENT
ISSUANCE OF CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES. On February 5, 1997, the
Company completed the sale (the "Transaction") of 8.0% Convertible Debentures
due January 31, 1999 (the "Debentures") in an aggregate principal amount of
$2,000,000 in reliance upon the exemption from registration under Regulation S
("Regulation S") afforded by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In
connection with the Transaction, the Company received net proceeds in the
amount of approximately $1.84 million (excluding legal, accounting and other
miscellaneous expenses). The Debentures are convertible, at the holders (the
"Holders") option, anytime commencing 45 days after the issue thereof, into
shares of common stock, $.001 par value per share, of the Company (the "Common
Stock"), at a conversion price for each share of Common Stock equal to the
lower of (a) 70% of the average closing bid price of the Common Stock for the
(5) five business days immediately preceding the conversion date or (b) 75% of
the average of the closing bid price of the Common Stock for the (5) five
business days immediately preceding the date of subscription by the Holder
thereof, in each case as reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ"). The Company is entitled, at its
option, to redeem part or all of the Debentures being converted by paying to
the Holders the product of (i) the average market price for the 5 consecutive
trading days as reported by NASDAQ prior to the notice of conversion, and (ii)
the number of shares of Common Stock that would be issuable if the Debentures
were converted.
In addition, as part of its arrangement with VenGua Capital
Markets, Ltd. ("VenGua"), the European based broker involved in the
Transaction, the Company issued warrants (the "Warrants") to VenGua, and an
affiliate thereof, to purchase an aggregate of 50,000 shares of Common Stock.
The Warrants are exercisable for shares of Common Stock at any time from and
after February 1, 1998 to and including January 31, 1999 at a purchase price
of $2.40 per share, which price may be adjusted upon the occurrence of certain
events, including, but not limited to, stock splits and capital
reorganizations.
ACQUISITION OF DOLPHIN, INC. On March 21, 1997, the Company
acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock (the "Dolphin
Shares") of Dolphin, Inc., a New Jersey corporation ("Dolphin"), pursuant to
the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Stock Purchase Agreement"),
dated as of March 21, 1997 between the Company and Andrew K.
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Gardner (the "Seller"). Dolphin is a provider of educational, tutorial and
training software products. The Company anticipates that Dolphin's business will
complement its existing business by, among other things, enhancing the Company's
capabilities to produce content for educational and corporate clients and
providing the Company with access to testing, tutorial and training businesses
for schools and corporations.
Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the
Company acquired from the Seller all of the Dolphin Shares, in exchange for
the following consideration (collectively, the "Consideration"): (a) Five
Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($580,000.00) in cash, consisting of Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) payable by wire transfer and Eighty
Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00) deposited into an interest bearing escrow
pursuant to the terms of an escrow agreement; (b) a Convertible Note (the
"Convertible Note") in the principal amount of One Million Seven Hundred Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($1,750,000.00), which Convertible Note is secured by a
pledge of, among other things, the Dolphin Shares pursuant to the terms of the
Pledge Agreement (as defined below); and (c) approximately 395,947 shares (the
"Purchaser Shares") of unregistered Common Stock of the Company.
The Convertible Note bears interest at a rate of 7% per
annum from and after March 21, 1997 and is due on March 1, 2001 (the "Maturity
Date"). The outstanding principal balance of the Convertible Note on December
31, 1997, together with interest accruing thereon, shall be repaid in 39 equal
monthly installments of $53,087.35 commencing January 2, 1998 and continuing
on the first business day of each succeeding month. The principal amount of
the Convertible Note, at the holder's option, may be converted into the number
of duly authorized, validly issued, fully-paid and non assessable shares of
Common Stock (the "Conversion Shares") equal to the then unpaid principal
amount of the Convertible Note being converted, divided by $5.75, as may be
adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Convertible
Note. The Convertible Note may be prepaid at the Company's option.
Pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Note, the entire
unpaid principal amount of the Convertible Note, together with accrued
interest and charges thereon shall be due and payable upon the occurrence of
an "Event of Default" under the Convertible Note. An "Event of Default" under
the Convertible Note shall include, such things as, (a) the Company's failure
to make any payment due thereunder within 10 days after the due date therefor
and failure to make such payment for an additional 30 days after written
notice of such non-payment; (b) the Company's breach of any material
obligation under Section 5 of the Convertible Note, relating to conversion of
the Convertible Note, if such breach has not been cured within 60 days; (c) a
Default (as described below) under the Pledge Agreement giving due recognition
of any notice and cure provisions thereof. The Convertible Note also provides
that the Maturity Date may be accelerated in the event that (i) the Seller
terminates his employment under the Employment Agreement (as defined below)
for "Good Reason" in certain circumstances or (ii) Dolphin terminated Seller's
employment under the Employment Agreement without "cause". The indebtedness
evidenced by the Convertible Note is secured by the Stock Pledge Agreement,
dated as of March 21, 1997 between the Company and the Seller (the "Pledge
Agreement").
Pursuant to the terms of the Pledge Agreement, the Company,
among other things, granted to the Seller a continuing lien and security
interest in and to the Dolphin Shares and the proceeds thereof. The Company
also generally agreed, among other things, (i) to maintain working capital (as
defined in the Pledge Agreement) and stockholder's equity (as
21
<PAGE>
defined in the Pledge Agreement) levels, as provided therein, (ii) not to
liquidate, dissolve, merge or consolidate Dolphin or sell substantially all of
its assets, (iii) not to borrow money from any person other than the Company or
loan money to any person other than the Company and (iv) not to sell, lease,
assign or grant a lien on the Dolphin Shares. In addition, the Pledge Agreement,
generally, provides that a "Default" shall occur upon the occurrence of certain
events including, but not limited to,: (i) any "Event of Default" under the
Convertible Note; (ii) failure to perform, observe or comply with a material
provision of the Pledge Agreement and cure such breach after written notice
thereof; (iii) a breach of a representation or warranty contained in the Pledge
Agreement or a breach of certain representations or warranties contained in the
Stock Purchase Agreement or any officer certificate relating thereto; (iv)
liquidation, dissolution of termination of Dolphin; or (v) bankruptcy of the
Company. Upon and after the occurrence of a Default, the Seller may, among other
rights and remedies, exercise his right to sell the Collateral, or any part
thereof in accordance with and subject to the provisions described in the Pledge
Agreement.
Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement (the
"Registration Rights Agreement"), dated as of March 21, 1997, the Company
granted Seller certain demand registration rights pertaining to the Conversion
Shares held by the Seller and incidental "piggyback" registration rights
pertaining to the Purchaser Shares.
In connection with the transactions contemplated by the
Stock Purchase Agreement, Mr. Gardner and Dolphin entered into an Employment
Agreement, dated March 21, 1997 (the "Employment Agreement") for a three (3)
year term, subject to the possibility of earlier termination pursuant to the
provisions of paragraph 9 thereof. Pursuant to the terms of the Employment
Agreement, Mr. Gardner shall be employed as the President and Chief Executive
Officer of Dolphin.
Item 2. Description of Property
On November 1, 1993, the Company entered into a lease (the
"Initial Lease") for approximately 5,000 square feet of office space for a
term of four and one-half years, at 24 West 25th Street, New York, New York.
The lease provides for an initial annual rental of $51,970, with an annual
escalation adjustment of 4%. In July 1995, the Company entered into a second
lease (the "Second Lease") for approximately 5,000 square feet of additional
office space on the fifth floor at 24 West 25th Street. The Second Lease,
which runs through April 1998, contains substantially the same terms and
conditions as the Initial Lease. The Second Lease provides for minimum annual
rent of $48,750 throughout the term. Each of the Initial Lease and the Second
Lease (collectively, the "Leases") provided that the Company may cancel said
Leases effective as of September 30, 1996 by giving notice thereof to the
Landlord no later than April 30, 1996. At the end of April, 1996, the Company
gave notice to the Landlord of its intent to cancel each of the Leases
effective as of September 30, 1996. The Company has subsequently extended its
leases until March 31, 1997 and is currently in the process of renewing such
Leases for space on the fifth, tenth and eleventh floors at 24 West 25th
Street, New York, New York for a term of five years with a two-year
cancellation clause.
The Company shared office space with BPVP and Byron Preiss
Electronic Books, Inc. from the Company's inception through February 1994.
During such time, BPVP provided all of the secretarial, bookkeeping and
maintenance for the office, for which BPVP charged the
22
<PAGE>
Company the amount of $1,700 per week. On January 1, 1995, the Company entered
into a one-year Management Services Agreement (the "1995 Management Services
Agreement") with BPVP pursuant to which BPVP agreed to provide the Company with
the services of certain employees, and the use of certain office space,
equipment, furniture, utilities and such other items as the Company and BPVP may
agree (collectively, the "Management Services"). Pursuant to the 1995 Management
Services Agreement, the Company paid a total of $195,736 to BPVP during 1995.
The Company entered into a one-year Management Services Agreement, dated as of
January 1, 1996 (the "1996 Management Services Agreement"), with BPVP, which
contains substantially the same terms and conditions as set forth in the 1995
Management Services Agreement. In connection with the 1996 Management Services
Agreement, during 1996 the Company paid to BPVP a total of $185,319. At this
time, during 1997, the Company intends to assume the lease on the eleventh floor
and to sublet a portion of said space to BPVP and related parties. Furthermore,
certain employees of BPVP continue to provide services to the Company and the
Company may enter into a management services agreement with BPVP for 1997, which
agreement, if consummated, will require the payment of substantially less fees
than that required under the 1996 Management Services Agreement. In addition,
approximately three former employees of BPVP have been made employees of the
Company since the inception of the Company. The Company believes that the use of
BPVP's facilities, employees, resources and services have been, if continued,
will be upon terms and conditions which the Company believes to be at least as
favorable as will continue to could have been obtained in arms-length
negotiations with independent third parties.
ITEMS 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Company is not a party to any pending legal proceeding
other than routine litigation that is incidental to the Company's business.
However, the Company (i) is currently engaged in an audit by the Internal
Revenue Service relating to an examination of the Company's Form 1120 for the
year ended December 31, 1994 and (ii) is currently engaged in an audit by the
New York State Department of Taxation and Finance relating to a sales and use
tax audit of the Company for the period commencing with the Company's
inception in July 1992 through February 29, 1996. The Company believes that
the foregoing investigations are ordinary and routine in nature and will not
have a material adverse effect on the Company.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
None during the fourth quarter of the year ended December
31, 1996.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
Since the effectiveness of the Company's initial public
offering on May 11, 1994, the Company's Common Stock and Warrants have been
traded on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System (NASDAQ) Small Cap Market under the symbols "CDRM" and "CDRMW",
respectively, and on the Boston Stock Exchange under the symbols "BYP" and
"BYPW", respectively. At the Company's request, on May 16, 1994, the Company's
Units (each Unit consisting of two shares of Common Stock and two Redeemable
23
<PAGE>
Common Stock Purchase Warrants) were delisted from the NASDAQ Small Cap Market
and do not trade independently. Set forth below are the range of reported high
and low bid and ask quotations for the Company's Common Stock and Warrants for
each of the quarters indicated as reported on the NASDAQ Small Cap Market. All
over-the-counter market price quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without
retail mark-up, mark-down or commission, and may not necessarily represent
actual transactions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Price Per Share
Of Common Stock Price Per Warrant
--------------- -----------------
BID ASK BID ASK
--- --- --- ---
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended December 31, 1994
Second Quarter High 5 5/8 6 1/8 2 1/2 3
Low 4 4 3/8 1 1 3/8
Third Quarter High 6 5/8 7 3 1/2 3 3/4
Low 5 1/8 5 5/8 1 5/8 2 1/4
Fourth Quarter High 6 7/8 7 3 1/2 4 1/8
Low 4 3/4 5 3/8 1 5/8 2 1/4
Year Ended December 31, 1995
First Quarter High 5 1/2 7 2 7/8 3 1/4
Low 5 1/8 5 1/2 2 2 1/4
Second Quarter High 6 7/8 7 3/8 2 3/4 3 1/4
Low 5 3/8 6 1/8 1 5/8 2 3/8
Third Quarter High 9 7/8 10 1/4 3 1/8 3 1/2
Low 5 5/8 5 1/2 1 7/8 2 3/8
Fourth Quarter High 9 7/8 10 1/8 2 7/8 3 3/8
Low 7 7 5/8 1 3/4 2 1/8
Year Ended December 31, 1996
First Quarter High 8 1/2 9 2 1/4 2 1/2
Low 7 1/8 7 3/8 1 1/2 2
Second Quarter High 6 7/8 7 1/4 1 3/4 2 1/16
Low 5 1/2 6 1 1/4 1 5/8
Third Quarter High 4 1/4 4 3/4 1 1/8 1 3/8
Low 3 1/2 3 7/8 9/16 7/8
Fourth Quarter High 3 1/2 3 3/4 1 1/8 1 5/16
Low 1 7/8 2 1/4 9/16 3/4
</TABLE>
Holders. As of December 31, 1996, the Company, to its
knowledge, had approximately 109 shareholders of record of its Common Stock
(representing approximately 1100 beneficial owners of the Common Stock) and
approximately 46 holders of record of its Warrants (representing approximately
1050 beneficial owners of the Warrants).
24
<PAGE>
Dividends. The Company has not paid dividends on its Common
Stock since its inception and has no intention to pay any dividends to its
shareholders in the foreseeable future. The Company currently intends to
reinvest earnings, if any, in the development and expansion of its business.
The declaration of dividends in the future will be at the election of the
Board of Directors, and will depend upon the earnings, capital requirements
and financial position of the Company, plans for expansion, general economic
conditions and other pertinent factors. In addition, under the terms of the
Viacom Purchase Agreement, the Company may not pay any cash dividends to its
shareholders without Viacom's prior written consent. See "DESCRIPTION OF
BUSINESS -- Viacom Purchase Agreement."
Item 6. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The following discussion and analysis should be read in
conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes
thereto (the "Financial Statements") included elsewhere in the Form 10-KSB.
(a) General.
Byron Preiss Multimedia Company, Inc. a New York
corporation, was incorporated in July 1992 to develop, publish and distribute
interactive multimedia software on CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory) in
addition to other multimedia formats, including books and on-line. The Company
has established many strategic relationships and its primary strategy has been
to develop top-quality content in on-line, print, or broadcast forms, based on
licenses of existing or new media products or talents in specific areas with
consumer, educational, entertainment or professional appeal and recognition.
In March 1995, Viacom International Inc., a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. and an
affiliate of Simon & Schuster, Inc. purchased a 20% interest in the Company
offering Byron Preiss Multimedia opportunities to make contact with such
global Viacom brands as Simon & Schuster, Nickelodeon, the Sci-fi Channel, and
MTV. The Company's early emphasis on CD-ROM publishing has evolved into a
multiple media focus, allowing the Company to use its experience in digital
production to produce content for the Internet, traditional print books,
videotapes, and new platforms such as DVD (Digital Versatile Discs) and
advanced MMX Pentium computers. The Company has also established international
co-publishing relationships with some of the largest European and Asian
educational and software publishers including companies located in the United
Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Australia, Japan and Korea. Through its wholly owned
subsidiary Virtual Comics, Inc., the Company has developed interactive and
print comics as well as merchandise.
(b) Results of Operations.
Net Revenues. Net revenues for fiscal year 1996 amounted to
$6,891,305 as compared to net revenues of $6,314,501 for fiscal year 1995.
CD-ROM net revenues accounted for $5,698,094 or 83% of net revenues for fiscal
year 1996 as compared to $5,300,340 or 84% of net revenues for fiscal year
1995. Books accounted for net revenues of $1,193,211 or 17% of total net
revenues in fiscal year 1996 as compared to $1,014,161 or 16% of total net
revenues in fiscal year 1995. (See Note 12 to Financial Statements).
25
<PAGE>
Under both the Company's co-publishing and distribution
arrangements with Simon & Schuster, CD-ROM net revenues totalled $4,803,237 or
70% of net revenues in fiscal year 1996 as compared to $1,562,000 or 25% of
net revenues in the prior year. Under the Company's agreement with Penguin
Electronic Publishing, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc., CD-ROM net
revenues totalled $578,938 in fiscal year 1996 as compared to $159,000 in the
prior year.
The Company completed twelve CD-ROM titles of which eight
were under the Company's co-publishing relationship with Simon & Schuster
Interactive. These titles include: (i) The Timetables of Technology, a 3D
exploration of technology from the discovery of fire in the Stone Age to the
creation of the Internet in the Information Age; (ii) Forbes Corporate Warrior
a fast-paced action game whereby the player competes for wealth and share
price, (iii) The Way Baseball Work, an entertainment and reference disc
produced in conjunction with The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum;
(iv) American Heritage: The History of the United States for Young People an
American History reference disc geared towards young people based on the
widely used Prentice Hall textbook The American Nation; (v) Philip Marlowe
Private Eye Game a mystery/adventure game based on Raymond Chandler's classic
detective; (vi) American Heritage: Lincoln, based on the life and times of one
of America's most revered presidents and (vii) Illusion: a Scientific American
Library title, which lets users take a tour of the universe from the building
blocks of matter to deep space, a tour of the universe from the tiniest
building blocks of matter to the deepest edges of known space.
Under the Company's co-publishing agreement with Penguin
Electronic Publishing, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc., the Company
completed four CD-ROM titles, two of which are based on the works of John
Steinbeck Library: The Pearl & The Red Pony and The Grapes of Wrath. The other
two CD-ROM titles are Total Television, a multimedia encyclopedia and trivia
game spanning the history of television and The Inside- Outside World a
treasure hunt game for children based on the popular book series by Roxie
Munro.
Under the Company's distribution agreement with Simon &
Schuster Distribution Services, the Company distributed three new titles
including Spider-Man The Sinister Six featuring the #1 Super Hero from Marvel
Comics; Sci-Fi Channel Trivia Game; and Westworld 2000 an interactive
action/strategy game based on the science fiction film Westworld which was
directed by Michael Chichton.
Under the Company's agreements with Marvel Entertainment
Group, it co- published with Putnam Berkley Group, Inc. thirteen books
including Stan Lee's Riftworld: Odyssey, X-Men: Mutant Empire Books 2:
Sanctuary, The Ultimate X-Men, Spider-Man Goblin's Revenge, Spider-Man & the
Incredible Hulk: Rampage (Doom's Day Book 1), Daredevil: Predator's Smile, The
Ultimate Super-Villains, Spider-Man: The Lizard Sanction, Spider-Man: The
Octopus Agenda, Iron Man: Operation A.I.M. Under this arrangement net revenues
for fiscal 1996 totalled approximately $1,027,420 as compared to $1,014,000
for the 1995 fiscal year.
Under a new co-publishing arrangement with Pocket Books, a
division of Simon & Schuster, the Company completed and distributed three
books including Spider-Man:
26
<PAGE>
Midnight Justice, Spider-Man: The Sinister Six and Spider-Man: Deadly Cure.
Net revenues under our distribution agreement with Pocket Books totalled
approximately $165,791 in 1996.
In fiscal 1995 the Company had revenues from the recognition
of amounts previously paid to the Company pursuant to an agreement with
Microsoft Corporation in connection with the development, production, and
publication of certain CD-ROM titles and additional payments to the Company as
the result of an amendment of said agreement.
The entertainment software industry is highly seasonal.
Product demand typically peaks during the holiday season. Timely releases to
meet demand are crucial to success, and delays will result in lost sales
during peak times. Other factors may lead to quarterly fluctuations included
delays in market acceptance of new products, timing of orders by distributors
and dealers, and direct-mail and other marketing expenditures. Delays are
prevalent in the business of software production.
Cost of Revenues. Cost of revenues increased to $6,949,037
for fiscal year 1996, up from $4,440,919 in fiscal year 1995. The dollar
increase in the cost of revenues is attributed to both the increase in the
number of CD-ROMs and books titles completed during the year as well as higher
development and marketing costs for certain CD-ROM titles developed in fiscal
year 1996 as compared to fiscal year 1995. As a percentage of revenues, cost
of revenues increased during fiscal year 1996 to 101% up from 70% for net
fiscal year 1995, as a result of higher development costs for certain of its
CD-ROM titles. During 1996, in accordance with the Company's accounting policy
(See Note 2 to Financial Statements), the Company elected to defer certain
development costs and amortize those costs over various periods up to and
including eighteen months. In fiscal year 1995 all costs associated with the
development and completion of CD-ROM were included in cost of revenues. (See
Note 2 to Financial Statements). Under the Simon & Schuster Interactive and
Penguin Electronic Publishing co- publishing agreements development fees are
recorded as a sale upon final acceptance by Simon & Schuster Interactive or
Penguin of a CD-ROM title. There are no advance development fees associated
with the Simon & Schuster Interactive Distribution Agreement or the
Co-Publishing Agreement with Putnam Berkley Group Inc.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling,
General and Administrative expenses decreased slightly to $3,635,062 in fiscal
year 1996, from $3,748,652 in fiscal year 1995. As a percentage of revenues,
selling, general and administrative expenses also decreased to 53% in fiscal
year 1996, from 59% in the prior year. The decrease in both the dollar amount
and as a percent of net revenues can be partially attributed to the cost
reduction program which the Company implemented during fiscal year 1996. The
major reductions in 1996 as compared to 1995 is attributed to a $340,143
reduction in distribution costs associated with our distribution agreement
with Simon and Schuster Interactive as a result of more CD-ROM titles being
co-published as well as a reduction in legal expenses, salaries and messengers
costs.
Other Income. Other income decreased to $132,927 in fiscal
year 1996, down from $333,186 in fiscal year 1995, due principally to less
funds being available for investment.
Liquidity and Capital Resources. The Company's balance sheet
at December 31, 1996 reflects cash and cash equivalents totalling $1,381,998
with working capital of $1,303,803
27
<PAGE>
and a current ratio of 1.5 times. As of December 31, 1996, the Company had
virtually no debt. Under a letter agreement with America Online, Inc. the
Company was advanced $300,000 in 1996 to fund development costs of the potential
joint venture. The advance has been recorded as a long term royalty payable.
(See Note 6 to Financial Statements). At this time, the Company believes its
existing cash, cash equivalents, anticipated cash flow from operations together
with the proceeds from its recent financing will be adequate to meet the
Company's cash requirements for fiscal 1997. On February 5, 1997, the Company
completed the sale of 8.0% Convertible Debentures due January 31, 1999 in an
aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000 in reliance upon the exemption from
registration under Regulations S afforded by the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. In connection with the transaction, the Company received net proceeds
in the amount of approximately $1,840,000. (excluding legal, accounting and
other miscellaneous expenses). (See Note 13 to Financial Statements).
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
The following financial statements are furnished as part of this Annual Report
on Form 10-KSB:
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Pages
Report of Independent Public Accountants F-1
Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 1996 F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations For the Years F-3
Ended December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' F-4
Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 1996 and
December 31, 1995
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years F-5
Ended December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-6
ITEM 8. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
PART III
The information required by Part III, Items 9, 10, 11 and 12
of this Form 10-KSB are incorporated by reference from the Company's
definitive proxy statement (to be filed in accordance with ss.240.14a-101,
Schedule 14A) which involves the election of directors and which will be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission not later than 120 days after the
end of the fiscal year covered by this Form 10-KSB.
28
<PAGE>
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) EXHIBITS.
The following documents heretofore filed by the Company with the
Securities and exchange Commission ("SEC") are hereby incorporated by
reference:
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
The following documents heretofore filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") are hereby incorporated by
reference:
3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amendment thereto*
3.2 Amended and Restated By-laws*
4.1 Specimen Common Stock Certificate*
4.2 Specimen Redeemable Warrant Certificate*
4.3 Underwriter's Warrant Certificate*
4.4 Form of Warrant Agreement between the Company and Continental Stock
Transfer and Trust Company*
10.1 Employment Agreement, dated April 1, 1994, between the Company and
Byron Preiss*+
10.2 Multimedia Publishing Agreement, dated July 1993, between the Company
and Microsoft Corporation*
10.3 1993 Stock Option Plan*+
10.4 Agreement of Lease, dated October 29, 1993, between the Company
and 24-28 West 25th St. Associates, L.P.*
10.5 Voting Trust Agreement, dated July 15, 1993, among Robert Oehler and
the voting trustees, as amended*
10.6 Form of Consulting Agreement between the Company and Thomas James
Associates, Inc.*
10.7 Amendment, dated March 21, 1994, to Multimedia
Publishing Agreement, between the Company and Microsoft Corporation*
10.8 Letter Agreement, dated April 1, 1993, between Byron Preiss Visual
Publications, Inc. ("BPVP"), and the Company.*
10.9 Letter Agreement, dated April 1, 1993, between Byron Preiss
Electronic Books, Inc., and the Company.*
10.10 $700,00 principal amount Promissory Note, dated June 11, 1993,
payable by the Company to the order of Berman CD-ROM Partnership,
L.P., a New York limited partnership; $25,000 principal amount
Promissory Note, dated June 25, 1993, payable by the Company to the
order of Richard S. Meisenberg; and $30,000 principal amount
Promissory Note, dated July 27, 1993, payable by the Company to the
order of Craig Gordon*
10.11 Agreement, dated March 1, 1993, between the Company and Doubleday, a
division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc.*
10.12 Agreement, dated June 16, 1993, between the Company and W.H. Freeman
& Company, a division of Scientific American, Inc.*
10.13 Agreement, dated August 9, 1993, between the Company and David
Larkin, Paul Rocheleau and Michael Freeman*
10.14 Letter Agreement, dated May 15, 1992, between BPVP and Gahan Wilson
and letter agreement, dated July 14, 1993, between BPVP and Gahan
Wilson*
10.15 Agreement, dated January 20, 1995, between Byron Preiss Video
Production Inc. and Ray Bradbury, and amendment thereto*
10.16 Agreement, dated October 30, 1992, between the Company and Philip
Marlowe, B.V.*
10.17 Letter Agreement (the "Letter Agreement"), dated April 1, 1994, among
the Company, BPVP, and Byron Preiss Electronic Books, Inc.*
10.18 Agreement, dated February 1, 1994, between the Company and Gaga
Communications, Inc.*
10.19 Letter Agreement, dated January 18, 1994, between the Company and
Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc.*
10.20 Affiliate Label Distribution Agreement dated June 21, 1994 between
Time Warner Interactive Group and the Company.**
10.21 Stock Purchase Agreement dated March 22, 1995 between Viacom
International Inc. and the Company.**
10.22 Registration Rights Agreement dated March 22, 1995 between Viacom
International Inc. and the Company.**
29
<PAGE>
10.23 Software Development Agreement dated March 21, 1995 between Simon &
Schuster Interactive, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. and the
Company.**
10.24 Amendment, dated March 22, 1995, to the Employment Agreement, dated
April 1, 1994, between the Company and Byron Preiss**+
10.25 Agreement dated September 1, 1994 between Marvel Entertainment Group,
Inc. ("Marvel") and the Company.**
10.27 Warrant Agreement and Certificate dated March 22, 1995 between Viacom
International, Inc. and the Company.**
10.28 Warrant Agreement and Certificate dated March 22, 1995 between Viacom
International, Inc. and the Company.**
10.29 Management Services Agreement dated January 1, 1995 between the
Company and BPVP.**
10.30 1993 Stock Option Plan, as amended.**
10.31 Co-Publishing Agreement dated September 26, 1994 between Putnam
Berkeley Group, Inc. and the Company.***
10.32 Agreement dated as of February 15, 1995, between the Company and
Marvel.***
10.33 Agreement dated as of June 15, 1995 between Marvel and the
Company.***
10.34 Agreement dated as of June 28, 1995 between Marvel and the
Company.***
10.35 Agreement of Lease, effective as of September 1, 1995, between the
Company and 24-28 West 25th Street Associates, L.P.***
10.36 Agreement dated October 20, 1995 between the Company and Penguin
Electronic Publishing, a division of Penguin Books USA Inc.***
10.37 Management Services Agreement dated as of January 1, 1996 between the
Company and BPVP.***
10.38 CD-ROM Distribution and Replication Agreement dated February 2, 1996
between Macmillan Publishers Limited and the Company.***
10.39 Amended and Restated Distribution Agreement dated as of January 1,
1996 between Simon & Schuster Interactive Distribution Services, a
division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. and the Company.** Multimedia
Publishing Agreement, between the Company and Microsoft
Corporation.**
10.40 Amendment No. 3 to Multimedia Publishing Agreement, between the
Company and Microsoft Corporation.**
10.41 Form of Offshore Securities Subscription Agreement.****
10.42 Form of 8% Convertible Debenture payable by the Registrant.****
10.43 Press Release dated February 6, 1997.****
10.44 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 21, 1997, between Byron
Preiss Multimedia Company, Inc. (the "Company") and Andrew K. Gardner
(the "Seller").*****
10.45 Convertible Note, dated March 21, 1997, in the principal amount of
$1,750,000 from the Company to the Seller.*****
10.46 Stock Pledge Agreement, dated as of March 21, 1997, between the
Company and the Seller.*****
10.47 Employment Agreement dated as of March 21, 1997 between Dolphin, Inc.
and the Seller.*****
10.48 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 21, 1997, between
the Company and the Seller.*****
* Incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 1994 (No.
33-74990-NY).
** Incorporated by reference to the Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement on From SB-2 filed with the Commission on May 10,
1996 (No. 33-74990-NY)
*** Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 10-KSB for the year
ended December 31, 1995 filed with the Commission on March 29, 1996.
**** Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the
Commission on or about February 19, 1997.
***** Incorporated by reference to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the
Commission on or about March 27, 1997.
30
<PAGE>
+ This Exhibit represents a management contract or compensatory plan.
THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE FILED HEREWITH:
21 Subsidiaries of the Company.
27 Financial Data Schedule.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K. The Company did not file any
Current Reports on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 1996.
31
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act,
the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BYRON PREISS MULTIMEDIA COMPANY, INC.
Date: March 31, 1997 By: /s/ Byron Preiss
------------------
Byron Preiss, Chief Executive
Officer and President
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints each of Byron Preiss and James R.
Dellomo, jointly and severally, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and
agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and all documents relating
thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and
perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and
about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact
and agent or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
32
<PAGE>
In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been
signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature and Title Date
<S> <C>
By: /s/ Byron Preiss March 31, 1997
-----------------------------------------
Name: Byron Preiss
Title: Chief Executive Officer,
President (Principal Executive
Officer) and a Director
By: /s/ James R. Dellomo March 31, 1997
-----------------------------------------
Name: James R. Dellomo
Title: Chief Financial Officer,
(Principal Accounting Officer)
and a Director
By: /s/ Matthew Shapiro March 31, 1997
-----------------------------------------
Name: Matthew Shapiro
Title: Director
By: March , 1997
-----------------------------------------
Name: Marvin Sharfstein
Title: Director
By: /s/ Jack Romanos March 31, 1997
-----------------------------------------
Name: Jack Romanos
Title: Director
By: /s/ Roger Cooper March 31, 1997
-----------------------------------------
Name: Roger Cooper
Title: Director
33
<PAGE>
BYRON PREISS MULTIMEDIA COMPANY, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
TOGETHER WITH AUDITORS' REPORT
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareholders of
Byron Preiss Multimedia Company, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Byron Preiss
Multimedia Company, Inc. (a New York corporation) and subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1996, and the related consolidated statements of operations,
changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the two years in
the period 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Byron
Preiss Multimedia Company, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996, and
the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years
in the period then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
New York, New York
March 7, 1997 (except with respect
to the matter discussed in the last
paragraph of Note 13 as to which
the date is March 21, 1997)
<PAGE>
BYRON PREISS MULTIMEDIA COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 1996
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,381,998
Accounts receivable, net 2,049,311
Inventory 394,000
Other current assets 64,056
---------------
Total current assets 3,889,365
PREPUBLICATION COSTS AND RIGHTS PURCHASED 2,745,216
EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS, net 543,206
OTHER ASSETS 212,373
---------------
Total assets $ 7,390,160
===============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 1,810,640
Deferred income 639,997
Other current liabilities 134,925
---------------
Total current liabilities 2,585,562
ROYALTY PAYABLE 300,000
---------------
Total liabilities 2,885,562
---------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 9)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares
authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, 30,000,000 shares authorized;
4,261,875 shares issued and outstanding,
$.001 par value 4,262
Additional paid-in capital 10,789,441
Retained deficit (6,289,105)
---------------
Total shareholders' equity 4,504,598
---------------
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity $ 7,390,160
===============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated balance sheet.
F-2
<PAGE>
BYRON PREISS MULTIMEDIA COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
1996 1995
---- ----
NET REVENUES $ 6,891,305 $ 6,314,501
COST OF REVENUES 6,949,037 4,440,919
-------------- --------------
Gross (loss) profit (57,732) 1,873,582
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 3,635,062 3,748,652
-------------- --------------
Loss from operations (3,692,794) (1,875,070)
OTHER INCOME, net 132,927 333,186
-------------- --------------
Net loss $ (3,559,867) $ (1,541,884)
============== ==============
NET LOSS PER WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
OUTSTANDING $ (0.84) $ (0.38)
============== ==============
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING 4,261,875 4,072,718
============== ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
F-3
<PAGE>
BYRON PREISS MULTIMEDIA COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Additional
Common Paid-in Retained
Stock Capital Deficit Total
----- ------- ------- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
BALANCE, December 31, 1994 $ 3,410 $ 4,851,378 $ (1,187,354) $ 3,667,434
Proceeds from sale of common stock, net
(May 11, 1994) 852 5,871,993 - 5,872,845
Net loss for the year ended December 31,
1995 - - (1,541,884) (1,541,884)
----------- --------------- -------------- ---------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1995 4,262 10,723,371 (2,729,238) 7,998,395
Compensation expense - 66,070 - 66,070
Net loss for the year ended December 31,
1996 - - (3,559,867) (3,559,867)
----------- --------------- -------------- ---------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1996 $ 4,262 $ 10,789,441 $ (6,289,105) $ 4,504,598
========= =============== ============== ===============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
F-4
<PAGE>
BYRON PREISS MULTIMEDIA COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
CASH FLOWS USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss $ (3,559,867) $ (1,541,884)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating
activities-
Depreciation and amortization:
Equipment, leasehold improvements and organizational costs 223,087 121,970
Prepublication costs and rights purchased 5,881,732 3,367,217
Compensation expense 66,070 -
Changes in operating assets and liabilities-
Accounts receivable (1,233,511) 79,901
Inventory (122,064) (194,244)
Other assets (192,708) 15,987
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 918,111 659,647
Other current liabilities (177,494) 73,442
Deferred income (124,770) (592,187)
--------------- ---------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 1,678,586 1,989,849
--------------- ---------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Sale of marketable securities 982,710 11,739,810
Purchase of marketable securities - (11,248,565)
Prepublication costs and rights purchased (5,970,528) (4,654,363)
Acquisition of fixed assets (201,890) (335,501)
--------------- ---------------
Net cash used in investing activities (5,189,708) (4,498,619)
--------------- ---------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from Royalty Payable 300,000 -
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net - 5,872,845
--------------- ---------------
Net cash provided by financing activities 300,000 5,872,845
--------------- ---------------
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (3,211,122) 3,364,075
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year 4,593,120 1,229,045
--------------- ---------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year $ 1,381,998 $ 4,593,120
=============== ===============
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the year for-
Taxes $ 20,750 $ 9,205
Interest 2,785 3,587
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
F-5
<PAGE>
BYRON PREISS MULTIMEDIA COMPANY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995
1. ORGANIZATION
Byron Preiss Multimedia Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company" or
"BPMC") was incorporated in the State of New York in July 1992, to develop and
publish interactive multimedia software. In 1996, the Company's primary
strategy was to develop products for use on various electronic and
nonelectronic mediums based on licenses of media products or talents in
specific areas with proven consumer, educational, or professional appeal. Its
products target the North American consumer, school, library, and small
business markets. A significant portion of the Company's products employ
interactive multimedia technology designed to make them easy to use. The
Company develops and publishes software on CD-ROMs and other digital formats
for use with popular personal computers such as IBM and IBM-compatible PCs and
the Apple Macintosh and the Apple Power PC. Such software development also
includes interactive comic book titles created on a digital format for use on
on-line services. The Company's operations also include the publishing of
books and other print materials.
The Company has sustained net losses of approximately $3,560,000 and
$1,542,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Management believes that its liquid assets of cash and net accounts receivable
aggregating approximately $3,400,000 as of December 31, 1996, the $1,840,000
net cash received from the sale of convertible debentures subsequent to
year-end (Note 13), and the anticipated cash flows from Dolphin, Inc., its
newly acquired subsidiary (Note 13), provide sufficient resources to allow the
Company to continue to operate through December 31, 1997.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the
Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Virtual Comics, Inc., Byron Preiss
Multimedia On-Line Services, Inc. and Byron Preiss Multimedia Holdings, Inc.
Virtual Comics, Inc. was incorporated in the State of Delaware in November
1996. Byron Preiss Multimedia On-Line Services, Inc. and Byron Preiss
Multimedia Holdings, Inc. have had no activity in 1996 and 1995. All
significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation.
Revenue Recognition
Development Revenue - Revenues related to the development of CD-ROM and
book titles are recorded upon completion and delivery of each title.
Revenues from the sale of CD-ROM and book titles to end users are
recorded upon shipment.
F-6
<PAGE>
Sale of Titles - Revenues related to the sale of titles not covered by
copublishing agreements (which are generally made by distributors) are
recorded upon shipment to end users, subject to appropriate reserve for
returns. According to distributor agreements, accounts receivable from
distributors for such sales are to be remitted net of return reserves.
As of December 31, 1996, the Company has accounts receivable from
distributors net of return reserves of approximately $1,142,000.
Subsequent to the delivery of the titles, the Company does not have any
material or significant obligations. The Company's sales of titles occur
primarily with two of its distributors under agreements described in
Note 11.
Equipment and Leasehold Improvements
Equipment is stated at cost. For financial reporting purposes, equipment is
being depreciated over five years using the straight-line method. Leasehold
improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the lease or the
useful life of the improvement.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months
or less are considered cash equivalents.
Inventory
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market.
Prepublication Costs and Rights Purchased
Prepublication costs are capitalized and represent the time and expenses
relating to work performed in order to prepare a working product ready for
sale. For financial reporting purposes, these costs will be charged to
operations as revenues are earned on the related titles, but in no event over
a period longer than eighteen months.
Rights purchased represent prepaid royalty expenses and relate to contracts
between the Company and various third parties which enable the Company to use
the said parties' material to create and produce products that contain such
material. For financial reporting purposes, these costs will be charged to
operations as revenues are earned on the related titles, but in no event over
a period longer than eighteen months.
The Company continually evaluates whether events and circumstances have
occurred that indicate the remaining useful life of prepublication costs or
rights purchased may warrant revision or that the remaining balances may not
be recoverable, using an estimate of undiscounted cash flows over the
remaining life of the related products. The Company's management believes,
based on these continuing analyses, that all capitalized prepublication costs
and rights purchased will be fully realized.
Deferred Income
Deferred income primarily represents amounts received under copublishing
relationships (Note 11). These amounts are recorded as deferred income pending
the final testing and acceptance of each title.
F-7
<PAGE>
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." Deferred income
taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences
between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting
amounts as of year-end based on the enacted tax rates. Valuation allowances
are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount
expected to be realized.
Net Loss Per Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Net loss per weighted average shares outstanding is computed based on the
weighted average number of common stock outstanding during the period. All
common stock equivalents were determined to be antidilutive.
Utilization 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.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Stock-based Compensation
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock Based Compensation," encourages, but does not require companies to
record compensation cost for stock-based employee compensation plans at fair
value. The Company has chosen to continue to account for stock-based
compensation awards to employees using the intrinsic value method prescribed
in Accounting Principles Board Opinion ("APB") No. 25, "Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees," and related Interpretations. Accordingly, compensation
cost for stock options awarded to key employees and directors is measured as
the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the Company's stock at the
date of grant over the amount an employee or director must pay to acquire the
stock.
As required, the Company has adopted SFAS No. 123 to account for stock-based
compensation awards to outside consultants. Accordingly, compensation costs
for stock option awards granted to outside consultants is measured at the date
of grant based on the fair value of the award using the Black Scholes option
pricing model. (Note 7).
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year's financial
statements to conform to the current year presentation.
F-8
<PAGE>
3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Byron Preiss, a principal shareholder and CEO of the Company, is also the
owner and CEO of Byron Preiss Visual Publications ("BPVP") and co-owner of
General Leasing Company, Inc. and Byron Preiss/Richard Ballantine, Inc. These
companies function as book producers, acquiring licenses from authors and
institutions. BPMC has purchased several such licenses from said companies
upon terms, including royalties in certain cases, which the Company believes
are as favorable as the terms which the Company could have obtained in dealing
with unaffiliated parties, and will have the opportunity to purchase
additional licenses under similar terms and conditions.
The Company reimburses BPVP for certain itemized expenses, including partial
salary reimbursements. Effective January 1, 1995, the Company entered into the
Management Services Agreement with BPVP covering the use of certain services,
office space, employees and office equipment. The Agreement was subsequently
amended to provide for termination on December 31, 1996. Total amounts paid to
BPVP for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 were $185,319 and
$195,736, respectively. As of December 31, 1996, there were no amounts due
BPVP.
The Company also contracts public relations and marketing services from
Hilsinger Mendelson, Inc., on a project by project basis, whose president is
the spouse of Byron Preiss. Total amounts paid to Hilsinger Mendelson, Inc.
for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 were $37,843 and $45,830,
respectively. As of December 31, 1996, $3,552 was outstanding for services
rendered.
4. STOCK PURCHASE
Pursuant to the terms of a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of March 22,
1995, the Company sold to Viacom International Inc., a subsidiary of Viacom
Inc. and an affiliate of Simon & Schuster, Inc.: (i) 852,375 unregistered
shares of the Company's common stock (representing an aggregate of
approximately 20% of the Company's outstanding common stock), (ii) warrants to
purchase an additional 315,000 shares of the Company's common stock at an
exercise price of $7.00 each and (iii) an additional warrant (the "additional
warrants") to purchase up to an aggregate of a number of shares of common
stock equal to, at anytime, 20% of the shares of common stock issuable upon
the exercise of stock options granted pursuant to the Company's 1993 Stock
Option Plan, as such plan may be amended from time to time, and granted to
employees not pursuant to any stock option plan, at an exercise price of $7.00
per share of common stock. The total consideration of $5,964,000 was paid in
cash.
Pursuant to the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company may not pay
any cash dividends without the written consent of Viacom.
5. EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS
Equipment and leasehold improvements consist of the following at December 31,
1996:
Equipment $ 783,950
Furniture and fixtures 49,570
Leasehold improvements 121,091
------------
954,611
------------
Less- Accumulated depreciation 411,405
------------
$ 543,206
============
F-9
<PAGE>
6. ROYALTY PAYABLE
The Company is currently engaged in discussions concerning the terms of a
proposed joint venture with America Online, Inc. ("AOL") under a letter of
intent (the "Letter"). Under the Letter, entered into in November 1996, the
Company was advanced $300,000 in 1996 to fund development costs of the
potential joint venture. These funds will be repaid in accordance with the
Letter. Until negotiations have been concluded upon, the Company has recorded
the advance as a royalty payable as of December 31, 1996 under the terms of
the Letter. The parties have not finalized any agreement relating to the
advance royalty borrowing. Based on preliminary discussions with AOL, the
Company believes that such amount will be payable beyond 1997 or converted
into some form of equity. Accordingly, these amounts have been classified as
long-term. There can be no assurance that such a joint venture will be entered
into.
7. STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Company's 1993 stock option plan (the "1993 Plan"), as amended, provided
for the granting of stock options to employees, officers, directors,
consultants and others to purchase up to 425,000 shares of common stock. On
April 15, 1996, the shareholders approved an amendment to the 1993 Plan to
increase the number of shares of common stock available for issuance, pursuant
to the 1993 Plan, by 100,000 shares to a total of 525,000 shares of common
stock of the Company.
Options may be either "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section
422A of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or
nonqualified options. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees
of the Company.
The per share exercise price of the common stock subject to an incentive stock
option may not be less than the fair market value of the common stock on the
date the option is granted. The per share exercise price of the common stock
subject to a nonqualified option may be established by the Board of Directors
of the Company, except that the Company will not grant nonqualified options at
an exercise price of less than 50% of the fair market value of the common
stock on the date the option is granted. No person who owns, directly or
indirectly, at the time of the granting of an incentive stock option to him,
10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company (a "10% Stockholder") will be eligible to receive any incentive stock
options under the Plan unless the option price is at least 110% of the fair
market value of the common stock subject to the option, as determined on the
date of grant.
Stock options may not be transferred by an optionee other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution, and, during the lifetime of an optionee, the
option will be exercisable only by him or by his legal guardian or legal
representative. In the event of termination of employment other than by death
or for cause, the optionee will have three months after such termination
during which he can exercise the option. Upon termination of employment of an
optionee by reason of death, his option remains exercisable for one year
thereafter to the extent it was exercisable on the date of such termination.
No options under the 1993 Plan are permitted to be granted after the tenth
anniversary of the effective date of the 1993 Plan. Under the 1993 Plan, the
Company has granted 317,640 options through December 31, 1996. The majority of
such options are five-year options and vest equally over three years. All
options granted under the 1993 Plan provide for the payment of the exercise
price in cash or, with the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company,
by delivery to the Company of shares of common stock already owned by the
optionee having a fair market value
F-10
<PAGE>
equal to the exercise price of the options being exercised, or by a combination
of those methods of payment. Therefore, an optionee may be able to tender shares
of common stock to purchase additional shares of common stock and may
theoretically exercise all of his stock options with no additional investment
other than his original shares.
Any unexercised option that is terminated, canceled or expires for any reason
without being exercised in full may again become available for issuance under
the 1993 Plan, unless the 1993 Plan has been terminated.
The Company accounts for awards granted to employees and directors under APB
No. 25. Had compensation cost for these stock options been determined
consistent with SFAS No. 123, the Company's net income and earnings per share
would have been reduced to the following pro forma amounts:
1996 1995
---- ----
Net loss:
As reported $ (3,559,867) $ (1,541,884)
Pro forma (3,617,477) (1,583,745)
Primary EPS:
As reported (.84) (.38)
Pro forma (.85) (.39)
The effects of applying SFAS 123 in this proforma disclosure are not indicative
of future amounts as additional awards in future years are anticipated.
During 1996 and 1995, the Company granted 25,640 and 2,000 options,
respectively to outside consultants under the 1993 Plan. All transactions with
individuals other than those considered employees, as set forth within the
scope of APB No. 25, must be accounted for under the provisions of SFAS No.
123. Under SFAS No. 123, the fair value of the options granted to consultants
in 1996 and 1995 as of the date of grant using the Black Scholes pricing model
is $128,547, and $5,383, respectively. The 1996 and 1995 nonqualified stock
options ("NQSOs") were granted to the consultants for terms of up to five
years, at an exercise price of $3.63 and $6.00, respectively. One-half of the
1996 NQSOs become exercisable at the date of grant and one-half become
exercisable one year from the date of grant. The 1995 NQSOs vest ratably over
three years after the date of the grant. As of December 31, 1996, 13,486 of
the NQSOs granted to consultants were exercisable. The expense recognized at
December 31, 1996 related to the NQSOs granted to consultants was $66,070.
F-11
<PAGE>
Option activity for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
-------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Weighted Weighted Weighted Weighted Weighted Weighted
Average Average Average Average Average Average
Exercise Exercise Exercise Exercise Exercise Exercise
Price Price Price Price Price Price
Discount FMV Premium Discount FMV Premium
Shares Options Options Options Shares Options Options Options
------ -------- -------- -------- ------ -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Outstanding, begin-
ning of year 263,000 $ 4.28 $ 4.02 $ 5.57 205,000 $ 4.20 $ 3.80 $ 5.13
Granted 30,640 3.63 - 7.88 82,000 - 5.75 6.07
Exercised - - - - - - - -
Forfeited (33,500) 4.00 5.50 6.04 (24,000) 4.00 2.18 5.13
Expired - - - - - - - -
---------- ---------
Outstanding, end of
year 260,140 263,000
========== =========
Exercisable, end of
year 155,986 72,333
Weighted average FV of
discount option
granted $5.01 -
Weighted average FV of
FMV options granted - $3.22
Weighted average FV of
premium options
granted $4.25 $2.74
</TABLE>
The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions used for grants in 1996 and 1995: risk-free interest rate of
6.30%; expected life of 5 years; expected volatility of 58% and expected
dividend yield of zero percent.
The following table summarizes information with respect to stock options
outstanding at December 31, 1996:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
--------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Weighted
Average Weighted
Number of Options Remaining Weighted Number of Options Average
Range of Exercise Outstanding at Contractual Average Outstanding at Exercise
Prices December 31, 1996 Life Exercise Price December 31, 1996 Price
- ----------------- ----------------- ----------- -------- ----------------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$2.18 - $3.27 37,000 1.68 $ 2.18 32,000 $ 2.18
$3.28 - $4.92 30,640 4.09 $ 3.69 16,153 $ 3.71
$4.93 - $7.40 187,500 3.09 $ 5.50 107,833 $ 5.40
$7.41 - $11.12 5,000 4.02 $ 7.88 - -
-------------- -------------- ---- ------- -------------- -------
$2.18 - $11.12 260,140 3.03 $ 4.86 155,986 $ 4.56
============== ============== ==== ======= ============== ======
</TABLE>
F-12
<PAGE>
8. INCOME TAXES
At December 31, 1996, deferred taxes consisted of the following:
Net operating loss carryforwards $ 1,869,000
Reserve for product returns 529,000
Other 80,000
--------------
2,478,000
Valuation reserve (2,478,000)
--------------
Net deferred tax asset $ -
=============
Reconciliations between actual tax expense and the amount computed by applying
the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to the loss from continuing
operations are as follows:
% of Pretax
Income
--------------------
1996 1995
---- ----
Tax at statutory:
Federal income tax rate (34)% (34)%
Addition to net operating loss 34 34
----- -----
0% 0%
--------------------------------------------------------
The Company has incurred net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards of
approximately $4,300,000 which will begin to expire in 2008 unless utilized or
limited. The benefit from the Company's net operating losses for income tax
purposes has been fully reserved for because future realization is not
considered to be "more likely than not." These NOL carryforwards are subject
to audit and may be limited due to current IRS audit. A change in ownership
under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (as amended) could
significantly limit the future utilization of the Company's net operating
losses.
9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
In September of 1996, the Company amended its lease for office space to expire
on March 31, 1997. The minimum rental commitment under this lease, as of
December 31, 1996, is $26,900. The Company is currently negotiating terms to
extend this lease.
The Company may be subject to an additional future liability for royalties
depending on the sales volume of its titles.
10. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
In April 1994, the Company entered into an Employment Agreement with its chief
executive officer. The Employment Agreement, as amended, provides for
compensation of $300,000 in 1996; $350,000 in 1997; and $350,000 plus such
additional amounts as is determined by the Board of Directors in 1998.
F-13
<PAGE>
11. DEVELOPMENT, DISTRIBUTION, AND
COPUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS
Development Agreements
The Company entered into a Software Development Agreement (the "Simon &
Schuster Agreement"), dated as of March 21, 1995, with Simon & Schuster
Interactive ("S&S"), a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Pursuant to the
terms thereof, the Company and S&S will jointly develop a minimum of four (4)
products in digital electronic media, based upon preexisting third party and
original works, using and contributing their joint property, resources, names,
talent and know-how. It is anticipated that the joint works will initially
consist of CD-ROM computer software products. In connection with each joint
work developed, S&S is to pay the Company a fee of up to $450,000 unless
otherwise agreed to by both parties. For the products developed under the
Simon & Schuster Agreement, S&S has the exclusive right and license (subject
to any agreed-upon third party license restrictions) to copy, reproduce,
manufacture, market, publish, distribute, sell for rental and sell any joint
works and to sublicense the rights to do the same in all markets and through
all channels of distribution throughout the world. All aspects of the
promotion, marketing and distribution of the joint works is in S&S's sole and
exclusive control including, but not limited to, the pricing and other terms
and conditions of the marketing or sublicensing of the joint works.
Distribution Agreements
The Company entered into a Distribution Services Agreement (the "S&S
Distribution Agreement"), dated as of January 1, 1996 with S&S Distribution
pursuant to which the Company, among other things, granted to S&S Distribution
the right to distribute certain titles in the United States and Canada (the
"Exclusive Territory"). The Company retained the right, directly and through
other distributors, to market and distribute the titles in certain channels in
the Exclusive Territory as well as all other territories other than the
Exclusive Territory. The S&S Distribution Agreement also provides for the
availability of manufacturing services and technical support services to be
provided by S&S Distribution. S&S Distribution is required to use commercially
reasonable efforts to actively promote and sell each of the agreed upon
titles. S&S Distribution shall be entitled to receive, among other things, a
monthly distribution fee for rendering services pursuant to the S&S
Distribution Agreement. Pursuant to the S&S Distribution Agreement, the
Company is responsible for product and packaging design as well as technical
support if the Company elects not to utilize S&S Distribution technical
support services. The S&S Distribution Agreement commenced on January 1, 1996
and shall continue for a term of two years through December 31, 1997. The S&S
Distribution Agreement is automatically renewable for successive one-year
terms unless either party thereto elects to terminate such S&S Distribution
Agreement, effective on the anniversary date of January 1, on not less than
sixty (60) days prior written notice. The Company agreed to grant S&S
Distribution the right to distribute any and all titles that the Company
develops, publishes or for which the Company gains distribution rights
throughout the term of the S&S Distribution Agreement, with permitted
exceptions.
Copublishing and Distribution Agreement
In September 1994, the Company entered into a copublishing agreement with the
Putnam Berkley Group ("Putnam") for the publication of hardcover and softcover
books. This agreement runs concurrently with a licensing agreement the Company
has entered into with Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. ("Marvel") for the
rights to use Marvel's comic book characters
F-14
<PAGE>
in the publication of between four and twelve books each year, for the three
years beginning September 1, 1994. The copublishing agreement stipulates that
the Company and Putnam will share profits and losses from the acquisition,
development, publication, sale, and distribution of novels. The Company's
responsibilities under the copublishing agreement include payments to Marvel
under the licensing agreement, payments to writers and illustrators, and
payments for edit, design, and illustration of each book. Upon publication of a
Marvel novel, the Company is obligated to expend an agreed-upon amount of
advertising funds to promote sales. In addition to the revenue generated from
the book publishing, the Company uses the content of the novels in the
development of its CD-ROM titles.
Penguin
In October 1995, the Company entered into an agreement (the "Penguin Agreement")
with Penguin Electronic Publishing, a division of Penguin Books USA, Inc.
("Penguin") pursuant to which, the Company and Penguin will develop CD-ROM
projects. Penguin was appointed the exclusive distributor of such CD-ROMs in the
English language and all markets in the U.S., its territories and Canada and a
nonexclusive right throughout most of the world. The Penguin Agreement runs for
a period of seven (7) years from the initial publication of each CD-ROM project,
respectively, and shall continue thereafter until terminated upon thirty (30)
days' notice by either party. Penguin shall obtain the rights and clearances for
the literary materials published by Penguin used in the CD-ROMs. The Company is
required to develop such CD-ROMs in conformity with certain specifications and
within an agreed-upon budget.
12. SEGMENT INFORMATION
In 1996, due to increased competition in the consumer software market and
increasing consumer demand in the Company's book titles, the Company changed
its strategy from a vertical approach of selling CD-ROMs to placing more
emphasis on its book publishing operations and effectively segmented its
primary operations into interactive multimedia development and book
publishing. Although certain of the published book titles may eventually
migrate into digital formats, operating information of all book titles have
been included in the book publishing segment detailed below as such titles
have not been specifically identified as of year-end.
The Company's interactive multimedia operations are dedicated to the
development of products for use on digital mediums, including CD-ROMs, on-line
services, and other electronic formats.
The book publishing operations are based on the creation of original material
using licensed trademarked characters.
F-15
<PAGE>
In the table set forth below, information regarding operations for each of the
Company's industry segments as of December 31, 1996 and for the year then
ended is as follows (000's omitted):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Interactive
Multimedia Book
Development Publishing Consolidated
----------- ---------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1996:
Net revenues $ 5,698 $ 1,193 $ 6,891
-----------
Loss from operations (3,621) (72) $ (3,693)
Other income, net 133
-----------
Net loss $ (3,560)
===========
Identifiable assets $ 6,370 $ 934 $ 7,304
Corporate assets 86
-----------
Total assets $ 7,390
===========
Depreciation and amortization
of equipment and leasehold
improvements $ 172 $ 15 $ 187
Capital expenditures 5,823 316 6,139
</TABLE>
13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Sale of Convertible Debentures
On February 5, 1997, Byron Preiss Multimedia Company, Inc. completed the sale
of 8.0% convertible debentures due January 31, 1999 in an aggregate principal
amount of $2,000,000 in reliance upon the exemption from registration under
Regulation S afforded by the Securities Act of 1933. In connection with the
sale, the Company received net proceeds in the amount of approximately
$1,840,000 (excluding legal, accounting and other miscellaneous expenses). The
debentures are convertible, at the Holders' option, anytime commencing 45 days
after the issue thereof, into shares of common stock, $.001 par value per
share, of the Company, at a conversion price as defined in the sale agreement
(the "Agreement"). The Company is entitled, at its option, to redeem part or
all of the debentures being converted as provided for under the Agreement.
Acquisition
On March 21, 1997, the Company acquired all the issued and outstanding capital
stock of Dolphin, Inc. (a New Jersey corporation), for total consideration of
approximately $2,330,000 in cash and convertible notes and approximately
400,000 shares of the Company's common stock. The acquisition has been
accounted for as a purchase and the excess of the purchase price over net
assets acquired is currently being evaluated to determine the appropriate
allocation. Dolphin is a custom software development company serving customers
in need of high quality, interactive education and training software products.
Such tailored products are used for educational and training purposes of
students, teachers, researchers, medical professionals, and workers across a
broad foray of industries.
F-16
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 21
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY
State of
Name Incorporation
- ---- -------------
Byron Preiss Multimedia On-Line Services, Inc. Delaware
Byron Preiss Multimedia Holdings, Inc. Delaware
Virtual Comics, Inc. Delaware
Dolphin, Inc. New Jersey
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996
<CASH> 1,381,998
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 2,049,311
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 394,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 3,889,365
<PP&E> 954,611
<DEPRECIATION> 411,405
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,390,160
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,585,562
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 4,262
<OTHER-SE> 10,789,441
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 7,390,160
<SALES> 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 6,891,305
<CGS> 6,949,037
<TOTAL-COSTS> 10,584,099
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 0
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<INCOME-PRETAX> (3,559,867)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (3,559,867)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (3,559,867)
<EPS-PRIMARY> 0.84
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.84
</TABLE>
