As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 1998
Registration No. 333-48657
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
FORM SB-2
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware 7812 13-3729350
(State or other (Primary Standard (I.R.S. employer
jurisdiction Industrial Number) identification number)
of incorporation)
611 Broadway, Suite 523
New York, New York 10012
(212) 505-6605
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)
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Richard L. Bulman, President
Kideo Productions, Inc.
611 Broadway, Suite 523
New York, New York 10012
(212) 505-6605
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
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Copies to:
Michael B. Solovay, Esq.
Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C.
845 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Telephone: (212) 752-1000
Facsimile: (212) 355-4608
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Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: As soon as
practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered
on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
of 1993 check the following box: |X|
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering: |_| __________
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier registration statement for the same
offering: |_| ____________
If the delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box: |_|
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
<PAGE>
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS--SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
PROSPECTUS
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
1,152,500 Shares of Common Stock
This Prospectus relates to the public offering by certain selling
stockholders (the "Selling Stockholders") of up to 1,152,500 shares (the
"Shares") of the Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share (the "Common Stock"),
of Kideo Productions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").
The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Shares
offered hereby. The Company is bearing the costs of this Offering. See "Plan of
Distribution."
The Common Stock is traded on the over-the-counter market under the symbol
KIDO. The Common Stock is not listed or admitted for trading on any stock market
and in September 1997 was delisted from trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.
As a result of that delisting and the market prices for the Common Stock, the
Common Stock is currently a "penny stock" for purposes of regulations
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Prior to the consummation
in June 1996 of the Underwritten Offering referenced herein, there had been no
public market for the Common Stock. There can be no assurance that an active
market for the Common Stock will exist or be sustained at any time after the
date hereof. See "Risk Factors--September 1997 Delisting of Securities from
Nasdaq," "--Additional Risks Relating to Delisted and Penny Stocks" and "Price
Range of Securities and Dividend Policy."
The report of independent accountants on the Company's consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 contains an
explanatory paragraph stating that the Company's consolidated financial
statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going
concern, while noting that the Company's recurring losses from operations and
net working capital deficiency raise substantial doubt about its ability to
continue as a going concern. See "Risk Factors--Going Concern Qualification in
Auditor's Report; History of Significant Losses; Limited Revenues; Accumulated
Deficit; Anticipated Future Losses."
The Company has informed the Selling Stockholders that the
anti-manipulative rules under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), including Rule 10b-3 and Regulation M, may apply
to their sales in the market and has furnished the Selling Stockholders with a
copy of these Rules. The Company also has informed the Selling Stockholders of
the need for delivery of copies of this Prospectus.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN
INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES, CERTAIN OF WHICH ARE DESCRIBED UNDER THE CAPTION "RISK
FACTORS" AT PAGES 10 TO 19 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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THE COMPANY HAS NOT REGISTERED OR QUALIFIED THE SHARES UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
OF ANY STATE AND, UNLESS THE SALE OF ANY SHARES TO A PARTICULAR PURCHASER IS
EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAWS,
<PAGE>
THAT SALE MAY NOT BE EFFECTED UNTIL THOSE SHARES HAVE BEEN SO REGISTERED OR
QUALIFIED.
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IN CONNECTION WITH ITS JUNE 1996 INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING, THE COMPANY CONSENTED
TO THE DENIAL OF SECONDARY TRADING IN ITS SECURITIES IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
AS A RESULT OF THIS ACTION, STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY CANNOT SELL ITS
SECURITIES THROUGH A BROKER-DEALER WHOSE OFFICE IS LOCATED IN NEW JERSEY OR TO
ANY NEW JERSEY RESIDENT, WHETHER THROUGH A BROKER-DEALER OR NOT, UNLESS SUCH
DENIAL IS REMOVED, OF WHICH THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY, THE SHARES IN ANY STATE TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR
THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
The Shares have been registered on behalf of the Selling Stockholders. The
Shares may be offered by them pursuant to this Prospectus until _______ __,
199_, provided that this Prospectus is kept current in accordance with
applicable provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") promulgated thereunder. The Company intends to maintain a
current prospectus covering the Shares until at least the three-year anniversary
of the date of this Prospectus. See "Description of Securities--Registration
Rights--Registration Rights Granted in Connection with the January 1998
Financing."
The Shares may be offered and sold by the Selling Stockholders from time
to time as market conditions permit in the over-the-counter market, or
otherwise, at prices and terms then prevailing or at prices relating to the
then-current market price, or in negotiated transactions. The Shares may be sold
by the Selling Stockholders by one or more of the following methods, without
limitation: (i) a block trade in which a broker or dealer so engaged will
attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the
block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (ii) purchases by a broker or
dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant
to this Prospectus; (iii) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in
which the broker solicits purchases; and (iv) face-to-face transactions between
sellers and purchasers without a broker/dealer. In effecting sales, brokers or
dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers or
dealers to participate. Such brokers or dealers may receive commissions or
discounts from Selling Stockholders in amounts to be negotiated. The Selling
Stockholders and any brokers, dealers agents or underwriters who act in
connection with the sale of the Shares hereunder may be deemed to be
"underwriters," within the meaning of the Securities Act, in connection with
such sale; accordingly, any commissions received by them and any profit on any
resale of the Shares effected as a principal might be deemed to be underwriting
discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. A person who is deemed to be
an underwriter could become subject to potential liability under Section 11 of
the Securities Act, from a lawsuit brought by a purchaser of the Shares, in the
event that the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact that is required to be stated in the Registration Statement or that is
necessary to make the statements in the Registration Statement not misleading.
In addition, under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any
person engaged in a distribution of the Shares may not simultaneously engage in
market-making activities with respect to the Company's Common Stock for a period
of nine business days prior to the commencement of such distribution, except
under certain limited circumstances.
The aggregate proceeds to the Selling Stockholders from the Shares will be
the purchase price of the Shares sold less the aggregate agents' or brokerage
commission and underwriters' discount, if any.
The date of this Prospectus is April __, 1998.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Available Information................................................... 1
Certain Trademarks...................................................... 1
Prospectus Summary...................................................... 2
Recent Developments..................................................... 6
Risk Factors............................................................ 10
Price Range of Securities and Dividend Policy........................... 20
Capitalization.......................................................... 21
Selected Financial Data................................................. 22
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and results of Operations................................... 23
Business................................................................ 33
Management.............................................................. 46
Principal Stockholders.................................................. 53
Selling Stockholders.................................................... 55
Plan of Distribution.................................................... 56
Certain Transactions.................................................... 57
Description of Securities............................................... 58
Shares Eligible for Future Sale......................................... 64
Legal Matters........................................................... 66
Experts................................................................. 66
Financial Statements.................................................... F-1
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
SB-2 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act with respect to the
Shares offered hereby. This Prospectus, which constitutes a part of the
Registration Statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the
Registration Statement, certain items of which are contained in the exhibits
thereto as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission. Statements
made in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other
document referred to herein are not necessarily complete. With respect to each
such contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, reference is made to the exhibit for a more complete
description of the matter involved, and each such statement shall be deemed
qualified in its entirety by such reference.
The Company files periodic reports and other information with the
Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.
The Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto, as well as such
periodic reports and other information filed with the Commission, may be
inspected without charge at the principal office of the Commission, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of such material may be
obtained by mail at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission at that same address. Such materials should also be available for
inspection and copying at the regional offices of the Commission: 500 West
Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661; and Seven World Trade
Center, New York, New York 10048. The Commission maintains a Web site
(http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and
other information regarding registrants, such as the Company, that file
electronically with the Commission.
The Company furnishes its stockholders with annual reports containing
financial statements which are examined and reported on, with an opinion
expressed, by an independent public accounting firm, as well as quarterly
reports containing unaudited financial information for the first three quarters
of each fiscal year. Requests for copies of such documents may be directed to
the Vice President-Finance, Kideo Productions, Inc., 611 Broadway, Suite 523,
New York, New York 10012.
No dealer, salesman or other person has been authorized in connection with
this Offering to give any information or to make any representation other than
those contained in this Prospectus, and, if given or made, such information or
representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company
or any broker, dealer, agent or underwriter. Except where otherwise indicated,
this Prospectus speaks as of the effective date of the Registration Statement.
Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale hereunder shall under any
circumstances create any implication that there have been no changes in the
affairs of the Company since the date hereof.
CERTAIN TRADEMARKS
Three federal trademark applications are currently pending in the United
States with respect to the name "Kideo," and corresponding trademark
applications have been filed in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain and the
United Kingdom. A federal trademark application also is currently pending in the
United States with respect to the name "Gregory and Me." Third-party trademarks
appearing in this Prospectus are the property of their respective holders.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
more detailed information and financial statements, including the notes thereto,
appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. Each prospective investor is urged to
read this Prospectus in its entirety. Except as otherwise noted, all information
contained in this Prospectus, including per share data and information relating
to the number of shares outstanding, (i) gives effect, retroactive to the
Company's inception, to an 8.6545-for-1 split of the Common Stock effected on
January 5, 1996, (ii) assumes no exercise of the Underwriter's Warrants (as
defined below under "Recent Developments--The 1996 Underwritten Offering"),
(iii) assumes no exercise of options (the "Employee Options") outstanding under
the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan"), and (iv) assumes no
conversion of the January 1998 Notes into and no exercise of the January 1998
Warrants, the 1998 Johnston Warrants or the SME Warrants (as those terms are
defined below under "Recent Developments--The January 1998 Financing") for any
shares of Common Stock.
The Company
In its nearly five year history, Kideo Productions, Inc. has succeeded in
developing proprietary technologies and production processes which have made it
a low-cost manufacturer of a revolutionary new type of home entertainment
product: digitally photo-personalized home videos ("Kideos") and
photo-personalized books. Since commercially launching its first Kideos
nationally in the spring of 1994, the Company has focused primarily on producing
proprietary Kideo titles for children aged two to seven. In 1997, however, the
Company obtained licenses (the "Barney Licenses") to manufacture and sell
photo-personalized home videos and books featuring Barney, the dinosaur
character from the highly-rated children's television series "Barney and
Friends", and in that same year the Company also obtained a license (the "Disney
License") providing for its release of four English language photo-personalized
books featuring certain characters owned by the Walt Disney Co. With its
existing photo-personalized product lines targeting the children's market, the
Company has created -- and believes it dominates -- a unique product niche in
the home video market.
In the Company's photo-personalized products, a child's face and name are
digitally placed by a PC-based production system into a story template that has
been digitally stored. The digital content is then output to either analog video
or a printed format, allowing the child to become the star in a personalized VHS
videocassette or book.
The Company currently markets eight proprietary personalized video titles
for children. The Barney Licenses provide for the release by the Company of one
photo-personalized Barney home video and three photo-personalized Barney books.
The Company has the right to market its Barney video title for the five-year
period ending June 30, 2002 and its Barney books for the five-year period ending
September 30, 2002. The Disney License provides for the release by the Company
of four English language photo-personalized books (the "Disney Books") featuring
Disney's standard characters (i.e., Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck,
Daisy Duck, Pluto and Goofy) and characters to be designated by Disney Licensed
Publishing ("Disney", a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Co.), from the popular
animated motion pictures "Disney's The Lion King" and "Toy Story". Two of the
Disney Books are required to be early learning books and two are to be original
story books. The Company has the rights to distribute the four Disney Books
until April 30, 2000 in Canada and the United States and its territories and
possessions.
For its fiscal years ended July 31, 1996 and 1997, the Company had net
losses of approximately $3,059,000 and $3,819,000, respectively, and it had an
accumulated deficit of approximately $10,398,000 as of January 31, 1998. The
report of independent accountants on the Company's consolidated financial
statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 contains an explanatory
paragraph stating that the Company's consolidated financial statements have been
prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, while
noting that the Company's recurring losses from operations and net working
capital deficiency raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a
going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any
adjustments that might result should the Company be unable to continue as a
going concern. See "Risk Factors--Going Concern Qualification in Auditor's
Report; History of Significant Losses; Limited Revenues; Accumulated Deficit;
Anticipated Future Losses" at page 10 below.
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The Company claims proprietary rights in its technologies and production
process. In April 1997, the Company was issued a U.S. patent relating to its
digital personalization production process (Patent No. 5,623,587). The Company
believes that this patent could potentially have substantial value, since the
Company expects that businesses owning characters that are popular in the
children's home video and television markets will ultimately seek to exploit
those characters in digitally photo-personalized audiovisual products.
Prior to 1997, the Company had marketed six Kideo titles (the "Original
Kideos"), which were created utilizing the first generation of the Company's
proprietary computerized production process. That production process resulted,
in general, in a videocassette product that might be likened to a "video
picturebook" -- the child's personalized character appearing in an Original
Kideo is capable of only a very limited range of partial-motion animation.
In January 1997, the Company began marketing the first two titles in its
new series of Gregory and Me Kideos. The Company created these titles utilizing
a newly implemented proprietary production system. As a result of the improved
computerized production technologies employed by this system, in a Gregory and
Me title the child's photo-personalized character can exhibit two-dimensional
full-motion animation and can be made to interact with both two-dimensional
animated versions and three-dimensional puppet versions of the Gregory and Me
cast of proprietary characters -- who in each title are led by Gregory Gopher.
It is this recently patented production process -- a sophisticated technological
system for the low cost, mass production of digitally photo-personalized videos
and books -- which the Company believes will provide it with a meaningful
near-term competitive advantage over new entrants into the emerging market for
digitally photo-personalized home entertainment products.
Despite the improved animation features which the Company's new production
system has enabled it to bring to a child's photo-personalized character
appearing in a Kideo title, the child's face itself does not currently exhibit
either two dimensional or three dimensional full-motion animation -- such as
moving eyes and eyebrows, or lips that move in synchronization with sound. The
Company believes that such features may be required in order for digitally
personalized media products to achieve broad consumer acceptance. There can be
no assurance, however, that the Company will ever succeed in developing a
production system capable of producing products with such features at a cost
acceptable to the Company. For instance, while the Company believes that, at the
present time, there are existing technologies (such as those that enabled Pixar
Animation Studios to produce the feature film Toy Story) that could be used to
produce products with such features, the Company believes that the costs
currently associated with such production would make those products far too
expensive for the broad-based consumer market.
Each of the Original Kideos and Gregory and Me Kideos utilizes a
digitally-stored video story template that features content and characters which
are proprietary to the Company. The eight existing Kideo titles each has a
playing time of approximately 20 minutes and a suggested retail list price of
$29.95. The Company believes, however, that more than half of all Kideos sold by
its customers have been offered at an actual retail price of $34.95 or higher.
To date, substantially all Kideos sold have been purchased by U.S. consumers.
The Company historically has relied primarily on national catalogue retailers
(such as Hammacher Schlemmer and Spiegel) to market and sell its products. Since
the Company's intial public offering in June 1996, however, the Company has
increasingly been targeting its marketing strategies towards direct-to-consumer
advertising and the development of relationships with established national
distributors of children's home video products.
During 1997, the Company determined to focus its near-term development
efforts for new digitally photo-personalized products increasingly upon the
creation of titles featuring licensed characters (instead of proprietary ones)
that have proven popularity in the children's home video market. In furtherance
of that objective, the Company in 1997 obtained the Barney Licenses (which allow
for the use of the Barney character in one photo-personalized home video and
three photo-personalized books) and the Disney License (which allows for the use
of certain Disney characters in four English language photo-personalized books).
In order to advance that objective, the Company also is currently seeking out
licensing, marketing and other arrangements with companies that control similar
types of characters and/or that have the demonstrated financial and operational
capabilities to promote and distribute children's home video products through a
broad range of domestic distribution channels, including retail outlets of
various kinds. The Company, however, is not seeking, or engaged in negotiations
concerning, any arrangements that relate to any merger, consolidation, purchase
or sale transaction involving the Company, any of its assets or any other
business.
In March 1998, the Company's photo-personalized Barney home video title --
"My Party With Barney" -- was first marketed for sale on The Home Shopping
Network ("HSN"), which broadcasts to over 70 million U.S. households. A 15
minute promotional spot was broadcast by HSN six times during a 48 hour period.
In
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response, HSN received telephone orders for approximately 9,000 units of "My
Party with Barney." In comparison, from the spring of 1994 (when the Company
first began selling its Kideo products) through January 31, 1998, the Company
had sold approximately 121,000 Kideos. As a result of the initial HSN
promotional broadcast, that channel and QVC agreed to continue marketing "My
Party With Barney," along with the Company's Gregory and Me Kideos, throughout
the spring and summer of 1998. Through April of 1998, orders for Kideo titles
had been placed with HSN and QVC in the amounts of approximately $750,000 and
$572,000 respectively, representing total sales of $1,322,000 (virtually all of
which represented order for "My Party With Barney"). Of that amount, the Company
had collected approximately $721,000 through April 30, 1998. The Company expects
that the continued marketing of the Kideo products on HSN and QVC as well as
other vendor based sales will continue to generate revenue and serve to fund
operations and reduce its working capital deficit.
This recent experience has reaffirmed the Company's belief that it may be
able to exploit significant sales opportunities through the creation of Kideos
that, like "My Party with Barney," feature licensed characters that have proven
popularity in the children's home video market.
The Company's long-term business strategy is to become a premier market
leader, both domestically and internationally, in the development, manufacturing
and marketing -- to children and other consumers -- of a wide variety of
digitally photo-personalized home video titles, other photo-personalized
audiovisual products, photo-personalized books, and related articles of
merchandise (both personalized and non-personalized). Included among the
Company's product development goals are:
o to develop additional photo-personalized home video and book titles
for children employing both proprietary and licensed characters; and
o to develop other digitally personalized audiovisual and printed
products likely to appeal to a demographic base spanning both
children and adults, such as personalized screen savers and other
personalized software products for personal computers.
In addition, the Company will in general continue to seek to expand its
product line by exploiting more sophisticated digital personalization
technologies, as they become available, in order to offer to consumers
progressively more sophisticated and entertaining personalized media products.
In the near term, however, the Company intends to focus its efforts
primarily on the continued expansion of the Kideo concept and product line. New
product development efforts will, for the forseeable future, be directed
principally towards the market segment that the Company believes it has largely
created and accordingly knows best -- the home-consumer market for digitally
photo-personalized products that are essentially videos, books and other
digitally personalized printed products (as opposed to, for example, computer
games or other computer software titles, such as personalized computer screen
savers). Examples of the types of new products currently being investigated by
the Company include photo-personalized puzzles, calendars and posters. The
Company does not expect, however, to be able to commercialize any of those
products for introduction to the markets until, the fall of 1998 at the
earliest.
The Company, a Delaware corporation, was originally incorporated in August
1993 under the laws of the State of New York. The stockholders of the Company's
New York predecessor, which was also known as Kideo Productions, Inc. (referred
to herein as "Kideo-NY"), exchanged all of their outstanding shares of common
stock of Kideo-NY for the capital stock of the Company in January 1995.
Effective upon such exchange, Kideo-NY became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company until it was merged into the Company in March 1996. Unless the context
otherwise requires, the terms "Company" and "Kideo Productions, Inc." as used
herein refer to Kideo Productions Inc., a Delaware corporation; its predecessor,
Kideo-NY; and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kideo Productions (Canada), Inc.
("Kideo-Canada").
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 611 Broadway,
Suite 523, New York, New York 10012, and its telephone number is (212) 505-6605.
4
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The Offering
This Prospectus relates to the public offering by the Selling Stockholders
of up to 1,152,500 shares of Common Stock (this "Offering"). The Company
will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Shares. The Company is
bearing substantially all of the costs of this Offering. The Shares may be
offered by the Selling Stockholders pursuant to this Prospectus until _____ __,
199_, provided that this Prospectus is kept current in accordance with
applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder. The Company intends to maintain a current
prospectus covering the Shares through that date and, thereafter, until at least
the three-year anniversary of the date of this Prospectus. The Shares may be
sold by the Selling Stockholders in transactions in the over-the-counter market,
in negotiated transactions, or a combination of such methods of sale. See
"Selling Stockholders," "Plan of Distribution" and "Certain
Transactions--Registration Rights of the 1998 Investors."
The Common Stock is traded on the over-the-counter market under the symbol
KIDO. The Common Stock is not listed or admitted for trading on any stock market
and in September 1997 was delisted from trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.
See "Risk Factors--September 1997 Delisting of Securities from Nasdaq,"
"--Additional Risks Relating to Delisted and Penny Stocks" and "Price Range of
Securities and Dividend Policy."
An investment in the Shares involves a high degree of risk. Prospective
investors should understand that they may sustain a total loss of their
investment and should carefully consider the factors described herein under
"Risk Factors."
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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
6
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The January 1998 Financing
On January 30, 1998, the Company entered into a Note and Warrant Purchase
Agreement (the "January 1998 Purchase Agreement") with Benjamin and Michael
Bollag (the "Bollags") pursuant to which, among other things, the Company: (a)
sold for $500,000 (i) an aggregate of $500,000 principal amount of 10%
convertible promissory notes (the "January 1998 Notes") and (ii) warrants to
purchase 500,000 shares of Common Stock (the "January 1998 Warrants"); (b)
entered into a security agreement, dated January 30, 1998 (the "Security
Agreement") with the Bollags, pursuant to which the Company granted the Bollags
a security interest in all of the assets of the Company as security for
performance by the Company under the January 1998 Notes; (c) agreed to register
all of the shares of Common Stock into which the January 1998 Notes may be
converted and for which the January 1998 Warrants may be exercised; and (d)
agreed that if the Company determined to sell securities prior to the repayment
in full of the January 1998 Notes, it would first offer the Bollags the
opportunity to purchase such securities. The transactions consummated pursuant
to the January 1998 Purchase Agreement are referred to herein as the "January
1998 Financing."
Pursuant to the January 1998 Purchase Agreement, the Company has included
in the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part all of the
shares of Common Stock into which the January 1998 Notes may be converted and
for which the January 1998 Warrants may be exercised.
The following is a summary of certain terms of the January 1998 Notes and
the January 1998 Warrants and of certain other transactions that were undertaken
by the Company in anticipation of, or in connection with, the January 1998
Financing.
January 1998 Notes
The January 1998 Notes were issued on January 30, 1998, bear interest at
the rate of 10% per annum, payable quarterly commencing April 30, 1998, and are
due on demand of the holder thereof at any time on or after April 15, 1999.
An "Event of Default" will occur under the January 1998 Notes if the
Company, among other things, fails to pay interest or principal when due or
fails to perform any material agreement, or materially breaches any
representation or warranty under, the January 1998 Purchase Agreement or the
Security Agreement. Upon an Event of Default, the entire indebtedness and
accrued interest may become immediately due and payable. Any amount outstanding
under the January 1998 Notes may be prepaid subject to the following
limitations:
(a) All interest accrued through the date of prepayment must be paid;
(b) The amount of such prepayment may not exceed net operating income
(excluding any non-cash expenses) generated by the Company from
January 30, 1998 through the date of prepayment;
(c) If, while the January 1998 Notes are outstanding, the Company sells
shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable
for Common Stock, subject to certain exceptions, only twenty (20%)
percent of the January 1998 Notes may be prepaid; and
(d) The Company shall forfeit the right to prepay one-third of the
principal amount of the January 1998 Notes if such amount is not
prepaid on or before October 15, 1998 and one-third of the principal
amount of the January 1998 Notes if such amount is not prepaid on or
before January 15, 1999. That portion of the principal amount that
is not prepaid on or before October 15, 1998, if any, is referred to
as the "October Tranche" and that portion of the principal amount
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that is not prepaid on or before January 15, 1999, if any, is
referred to as the "January Tranche." That portion of the remaining
principal amount that is not paid on or before the date April 15,
1999, if any, is referred to as the "Final Tranche."
If all or any part of the January 1998 Notes are outstanding on or after
April 15, 1999, then the Company may, upon 30 days prior written notice, pay
such amount, subject to the right of the holders thereof to convert their
January 1998 Notes into Common Stock during the period following their receipt
of notice and prior to repayment.
The January 1998 Notes may be converted, in whole or in part, into shares
of Common Stock after the following dates: (a) October 15, 1998, with respect to
the October Tranche, if any; (b) January 15, 1999, with respect to the January
Tranche, if any; and (c) April 16, 1999 with respect to the Final Tranche, if
any. The number of shares of the Common Stock to be received upon conversion
shall be determined as by dividing the principal amount of that portion of the
January 1998 Notes being converted by $1.00, subject to certain adjustments (the
"Conversion Price").
That conversion feature affords a discount to fair market value at the
time of conversion of the January 1998 Notes into Common Stock. The intrinsic
value of this feature related to the Notes issued in January 1998 was $465,000,
and that amount was recorded in the Company's financial statements for the
fiscal period ended January 31, 1998, as a deferred financing cost, which will
be amortized from the date the security was issued until the date it first
becomes convertible.
January 1998 Warrants
The January 1998 Warrants were issued on January 30, 1998 and entitle the
holders thereof to purchase through January 30, 2003 an aggregate of 500,000
shares of Common Stock at a price of $1.00 per share as follows: one-third of
the January 1998 Warrants become exercisable following May 1, 1998; an
additional one-third become exercisable on July, 15, 1998; and the balance
become exercisable on October 15, 1998. The exercise price is subject to
adjustment in certain circumstances (including in the event of a stock split or
dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of
assets of the Company or the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock
(or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock) at a
price less than the exercise price of the January 1998 Warrants.
Agreement with KSH Investment Group, Inc.
The Company delivered to KSH Investment Group, Inc. ("KSH") 12,500 shares
of Common Stock (the "KSH Shares") in consideration of KSH arranging the January
1998 Financing and agreed to register the KSH Shares. The KSH Shares are
included in the Shares that have been registered in connection with, and that
are being offered pursuant to, this Offering.
The Company's Board of Directors determined that the services of KSH in
arranging the January 1998 Financing had a value to the Company of approximately
$22,000, and accordingly issued the 12,500 KSH Shares based upon an approximate
fair market value of $1.75 per share of Common Stock.
January 1998 Johnston Financing Proposal
Concurrently with the Company's efforts to secure from the Bollags the
financing that they ultimately provided pursuant to the January 1998 Purchase
Agreement, the Company was negotiating with Charles C. Johnston, a director and
principal stockholder of the Company, concerning an offer by him to loan the
Company $500,000 on a short-term basis (the "January 1998 Johnston Financing
Proposal"). The Company asked for and received Mr. Johnston's agreement to allow
the Company to use his offer as a benchmark in its discussions with the Bollags,
for the purpose of securing from the Bollags more favorable terms relating to
their investment offer. When the Company reached its final agreement with the
Bollags and rejected the January 1998 Johnston Financing Proposal, the Company's
Board of Directors (excluding Mr. Johnston) determined that the Company had
derived meaningful advantages in its negotiations with the Bollags from being
able to so use Mr. Johnston's offer and, accordingly, on January 29, 1998 agreed
to Mr. Johnston's request that the Company should (i) grant to Mr. Johnston
warrants to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock (the "1998 Johnston
Warrants") for $1.00 per share and (ii) agree to register the shares of Common
Stock for which the 1998 Johnston Warrants may be exercised. The Company
additionally agreed to reimburse Mr. Johnston for up to $5,000 in legal fees and
disbursements
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incurred by him in negotiating the January 1998 Johnston Financing Proposal. The
shares underlying the 1998 Johnston Warrants are included in the Shares that
have been registered in connection with, and that are being offered pursuant to,
this Offering. The 1998 Johnston Warrants are exercisable at any time after
January 31, 1999 through March 8, 2003 and contain other terms identical to the
January 1998 Warrants. See "Management--Directors and Executive Officers,"
"Principal Stockholders" and "Certain Transactions--Transactions with Director
Charles C. Johnston."
Agreement with Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C.
Prior to the closing of the January 1998 Financing, Solovay Marshall &
Edlin. P.C. ("SME"), the Company's outside legal counsel (of which Michael B.
Solovay, a director of the Company, is a shareholder) agreed to allow the
Company to continue to defer payment of legal fees and expenses owing as of
December 31, 1997 in the amount of $160,000. In consideration of such agreement,
the Company agreed to pay SME $40,000 by March 15, 1998 and, on January 30,
1998, issued: (i) to SME, a note (the "SME Note") in the amount of $120,000 and
containing other terms identical to the January 1998 Notes; and (ii) to certain
shareholders and employees of SME, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 120,000
shares of Common Stock (the "SME Warrants") for $1.00 per share. The Company
also agreed to register the shares of Common Stock for which the SME Warrants
may be exercised. The shares underlying the SME Warrants are included in the
Shares that have been registered in connection with, and that are being offered
pursuant to, this Offering. The SME Warrants are exercisable at any time after
January 31, 1999 through February 2, 2003 and contain other terms identical to
the January 1998 Warrants.
Repricing of Employee Stock Options
The Company's Board of Directors in February 1998 recommended to the
Administrators of the Option Plan that 273,000 previously granted options to
purchase shares of Common Stock should be repriced to have an exercise price of
$2.50 per share. The options had previously been granted by the Administrators
to employees and directors of the Company at purchase prices ranging from
$3.1875 to $5.00 per share, and the weighted average purchase price of the
273,000 options was approximately $4.95 per share. The Administrators approved
the Board's recommendation on that same day. The resulting revaluation did not
otherwise alter in any respect any of the terms and conditions originally made
applicable under any optionee's stock option agreement, including provisions
relating to vesting, term of exercise and events of forfeiture. See
"Management--1996 Stock Option Plan."
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RISK FACTORS
The securities being offered hereby are highly speculative and involve a
high degree of risk, including but not limited to, those risk factors set forth
below, and therefore should not be purchased by anyone who cannot afford a loss
of his entire investment. Prior to making an investment in the Company, each
prospective investor should carefully consider the following risk factors
inherent in and affecting the business of the Company and this offering.
Limited Operating History. Although the Company was organized in August
1993, it did not launch its initial line of Kideo products until the spring of
1994. In the approximately four years since then, the Company has sold only a
total of approximately 121,000 Kideos. The Company thus has a limited operating
history upon which an evaluation of its business and prospects can be based.
Such prospects must be considered in light of the numerous risks, expenses,
difficulties and delays frequently encountered in connection with the formation
and early phase of operation of a new business, the development and
commercialization of new products based on innovative technology (such as
Kideos, which are an emerging business concept in a new and largely untested
market) and the rapid technological changes and evolving industry standards
associated with the industry in which the Company operates. See "Business."
Going Concern Qualification in Independent Auditor's Report; History of
Significant Losses; Limited Revenues; Accumulated Deficit; Anticipated Future
Losses. The report of independent accountants on the Company's consolidated
financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 contains an
explanatory paragraph stating that the Company's consolidated financial
statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going
concern, while noting that the Company's recurring losses from operations and
net working capital deficiency raise substantial doubt about its ability to
continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not
include any adjustments that might result should the Company be unable to
continue as a going concern. The Company has incurred substantial operating
losses since its inception, resulting in an accumulated deficit of approximately
$10,398,000 as of January 31, 1998. For its fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the
Company had revenues of approximately $1,346,000 and a net loss of approximately
$3,819,000, and, for the six months ended January 31, 1998, the Company had
revenues of approximately $593,000 and a net loss of approximately $1,225,000.
The Company believes that its net loss for the fiscal year ending July 31, 1998
could exceed the net loss for the prior fiscal year, and that the Company will
continue to operate at a loss until such time, if ever, when its operations
generate sufficient revenues to cover its costs. There can be no assurance that
revenues will increase significantly in the future, or even be sustained, or
that the Company will ever achieve profitability. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Business" and
Consolidated Financial Statements.
September 1997 Delisting of Securities from Nasdaq. Based upon its actual
balance sheet at April 30, 1997, the Company failed to meet Nasdaq's maintenance
requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. The Company
fell short of the required level of $2 million in total assets (reporting total
assets at April 30, 1997 of approximately $1.6 million) and fell short of the
required level of $1 million of capital and surplus (i.e., total stockholders'
equity) (reporting total stockholders' equity at April 30, 1997 of approximately
$240,000). Nasdaq subsequently notified the Company that -- unless the Company
could present to Nasdaq an acceptable financing and/or other plan which would
remedy such shortcomings and would make likely the Company's long-term
compliance with the listing requirements for the Nasdaq SmallCap Market -- the
Company's Common Stock and Warrants would be deleted from trading on Nasdaq.
Following the Company's submission of such a plan and hearings and other
administrative proceedings conducted by Nasdaq concerning the plan and the
Company's likelihood of long-term compliance with applicable listing
requirements, on September 26,
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1997 Nasdaq notified the Company that the Common Stock and Warrants had been
deleted as of that date from listing on the SmallCap Market. As a consequence of
this delisting, the Common Stock and Warrants since September 1997 have been
traded on the over-the-counter market and, as described immediately below, have
been subject to Commission regulations applicable to so-called "penny stocks".
As a further consequence of this delisting and the trading of the Common
Stock and Warrants on the over-the-counter market, purchasers of the Shares
offered hereby may find that the liquidity of the Company's securities has been
significantly impaired -- not only in the number of securities that can be
bought and sold, but also through delays in the timing of transactions,
reduction in security analysts' and the news media's coverage of the Company,
and lower prices for the Company's securities than might otherwise be attained.
To the Company's knowledge, only two securities analysts currently publish
research on the Company or otherwise follow the Common Stock.
Additional Risks Relating to Delisted and Penny Stocks. Since the
Company's securities were delisted from Nasdaq, they have become subject to Rule
15g-9 of the Exchange Act, which imposes additional sales practice requirements
on broker-dealers which sell such securities to persons other than established
customers and "accredited investors" (generally, an institution with assets in
excess of $5,000,000 or an individual with net worth in excess of $1,000,000 or
annual income exceeding $200,000, or $300,000 together with a spouse). For
transactions covered by this rule, a broker-dealer must make a special
suitability determination for the purchaser and have received the purchaser's
written consent to the transaction prior to sale. Consequently, such rule may
adversely affect the ability of broker-dealers to sell the Company's securities
and may adversely affect the ability of purchasers of the Shares offered hereby
to re-sell any of such Shares in the secondary market.
As a result of the September 1997 delisting of the Company's securities
from Nasdaq, the Common Stock (including the Shares offered hereby) and the
Warrants constitute "penny stocks" for purposes of Commission regulations. Those
regulations define a "penny stock" to be any non-Nasdaq equity security that has
a market price (as therein defined) of less than $5.00 per share or with an
exercise price of less than $5.00 per share (subject to certain exceptions). For
any transaction by broker-dealers involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the
rules require delivery, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, of a
disclosure schedule prepared by the Commission relating to the penny stock
market. Disclosure is also required to be made regarding commissions payable to
both the broker-dealer and the registered representative and current quotations
for the securities. Finally, monthly statements are required to be sent
disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and
information on the limited market in penny stocks.
The status of the Company's securities as penny stocks additionally render
the Company subject to Section 15(b)(6) of the Exchange Act, which gives the
Commission the authority to prohibit any person that is engaged in unlawful
conduct while participating in a distribution of a penny stock from associating
with a broker-dealer or participating in a distribution of a penny stock, if the
Commission finds that such a restriction would be in the public interest.
Significant Capital Requirements; Working Capital Deficit; Need for
Additional Financing. The Company's capital requirements in connection with its
development and marketing activities have been and will continue to be
significant. Because the Company has operated at a loss since its inception and
is not generating sufficient revenues from its operations to fund its activities
(as of January 31, 1998, the Company had a working capital deficit of $962,000),
it has to date been substantially dependent on loans from its stockholders and
private and public market sales of its securities to fund its operations. The
working capital deficit is indicative of the fact that the Company has been
reliant upon credit from its vendors to finance its operations. There can be no
assurances that the Company's vendors will continue to extend such credit. Most
recently, the Company undertook the January 1998 Financing so as to obtain the
working capital that it required in order to continue its creative development
activities and fund its marketing plans, as well as its other working capital
requirements. Although the Company anticipates, based on its currently proposed
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plans and assumptions relating to its operations (including assumptions
regarding the progress and timing of its new product development efforts), that
anticipated revenues from operations and its current cash and cash equivalent
balances will be sufficient to fund the Company's operations and capital
requirements for the foreseeable future, there can be no assurance that
such funds will not be expended prior thereto due to unanticipated changes in
economic conditions or other unforeseen circumstances. In the event the
Company's plans change or its assumptions change or prove to be inaccurate, the
Company could be required to seek additional financing sooner than currently
anticipated. The Company has no current arrangements with respect to, or
potential sources of, any additional financing, and it is not anticipated that
existing stockholders will provide any portion of the Company's future financing
requirements. Consequently, there can be no assurance that any additional
financing will be available to the Company when needed, on commercially
reasonable terms, or at all. Any inability to obtain additional financing when
needed would have a material adverse effect on the Company, requiring it to
curtail and possibly cease its operations. In addition, any additional equity
financing may involve substantial dilution to the interest's then existing
stockholders. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources."
Developing Market; New Entrants; Uncertain Growth of Market. The market
for digitally personalized media products has only recently begun to develop, is
rapidly evolving and currently has few proven products. As it evolves, the
Company believes it likely that this market will become characterized by rapid
technological changes and an increasing number of market entrants. Because the
market for the Company's products is new and evolving, it is difficult to
predict the future growth rate (if any) and size of this market or which methods
of product distribution will ultimately prove successful. The Company, for
instance, has experienced difficulties in attempting to market its products
through mass market retailers. It believes that such difficulties may stem
inherently from the fact that a customer at a retail store cannot make an
impulse purchase of a Kideo (but instead must take home, fill out and send in a
Kideo order form and then wait two to four weeks to receive the product). There
can be no assurance that the market for the Company's products will develop to a
point that will enable the Company's business to grow significantly (if at all)
or become profitable. If the market fails to develop, develops more slowly than
expected or becomes saturated with competitors, or, if the Company's products do
not achieve market acceptance, the Company's business, operating results and
financial condition will be materially adversely affected. See
"Business--Competition and Industry Background."
Unproven Market Acceptance of the Company's Products. As is typical in the
case of a new and rapidly evolving industry, demand and market acceptance for
recently introduced products are subject to a high level of uncertainty, and
there can be no assurance that products like those of the Company will meet with
widespread consumer acceptance.
Need to Produce Two and Three Dimensional Full-Motion Animation For Broad
Consumer Acceptance. The Company believes that in order for Kideos to meet with
widespread consumer acceptance, they may ultimately need to be produced so that
(unlike the present time) the personalized child characters appearing in them
can exhibit substantially the same features as the animated and live-action
characters now appearing in popular children's films and television shows --
such features as three-dimensional full-motion animation and lips that move in
synchronization with the child character's voice. There can be no assurance that
the Company will ever succeed in developing a production system capable of
producing Kideos with those types of features at a cost acceptable to the
Company or consumers. For instance, while the Company believes that, at the
present time, there are existing technologies (such as those that enabled Pixar
Animation Studios to produce the feature film Toy Story) that could be used to
produce products with such features, the Company believes the costs currently
associated with such production would make those products far too expensive for
the broad-based consumer market.
Limited Marketing Capabilities. The Company historically has had, and
continues to be disadvantaged by, limited marketing experience and limited
financial, personnel and other resources to undertake extensive marketing and
advertising activities. Only after receiving the net proceeds of the
Underwritten Offering did the Company enjoy any meaningful capabilities to
engage in any
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significant marketing and advertising activities. In the approximately one year
period following the June 1996 consummation of the Underwritten Offering, the
Company devoted approximately $1.2 million of the net proceeds therefrom to
various types of marketing tests and campaigns (primarily in connection with the
development and support of various forms of direct-to-consumer marketing,
including direct-response television and radio advertising). While revenues for
the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 (approximately $1,346,000) were 77% higher
than revenues for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year
(approximately $761,000), the Company's marketing activities did not generate
revenues sufficient to attain profitability. Developing increased market
acceptance for the Company's existing and proposed Kideo products will require
substantial marketing efforts and the expenditure of a significant amount of
funds. If current revenue levels are sustained for the near term, the Company
does not believe that it will have the capability to devote to those marketing
efforts funds of its own in amounts that will be sufficient to create broad
consumer awareness of the Company's products. The Company is therefore seeking
out marketing and other arrangements with companies that have the demonstrated
financial and operational capabilities to promote and distribute children's home
video products through a broad range of distribution channels. No assurance can
be given, however, that any of those arrangements (if concluded on terms
favorable to the Company, of which there can be no assurance) will materially
improve the Company's abilities to penetrate on a widescale basis the existing
children's video market or to position its products to appeal to mainstream
consumer markets. There in fact can be no assurance given that any marketing
efforts undertaken by the Company (or its future marketing partners, if any)
will result in any increased demand for the Company's products, or that any such
efforts will result in any significant increase in revenues. See
"Business--Marketing."
Dependence on Key Personnel. The success of the Company is largely
dependent on the abilities and continued personal efforts of its executive
officers, including especially those of Richard L. Bulman, the Company's
President and Chairman of the Board. All of the Company's current employment
agreements with its officers expire by December 1998. Any incapacity or
inability of Mr. Bulman or other of the Company's officers to perform their
services would have a material adverse effect on the Company. Moreover, other
than key man life insurance on the life of Mr. Bulman in the amount of
$2,000,000, the Company does not have (and does not intend to have) key man life
insurance on the lives of its officers or employees. The success of the Company
is also dependent on its ability to continue to retain and attract qualified
personnel. There is considerable and often intense competition for the services
of such personnel, both on a national level and within the rapidly growing
community of young computer-related businesses that have recently chosen to
locate in New York City, the site of the Company's offices. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able either to retain its existing personnel
or to acquire additional qualified personnel as and when needed. The loss of any
of its key employees' services could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's operations. See "Business--Employees" and "Management."
Potential Obsolescence due to Rapid Technological Changes. The
technologies underlying the Company's products (such as personal computer
hardware and software), as well as the market for those products, are subject to
rapid changes and evolving industry standards often resulting in product
obsolescence or short product lifecycles. While the Company will continue to
devote its efforts and funds to further developing and enhancing its existing
products, technologies and production facilities, there can be no assurance that
it will succeed in those efforts. The Company will likely depend to a
considerable extent upon its ability to develop and implement improved
technologies for the production of digitally personalized media products that
embody features (e.g., improved animation) superior to those displayed by the
Company's existing Kideos. The development and implementation of such new
technologies is a complex and uncertain process requiring high levels of skill
and innovation, as well as accurate anticipation
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of technological and market trends, and there can be no assurance that the
Company's efforts in this direction will succeed. The Company's digitally
personalized media products are designed for a relatively new and largely
untested market. Such a new market is particularly susceptible to rapidly
changing and evolving technologies and industry standards. The introduction by
the Company's existing or future competitors of digitally personalized media
products embodying superior technologies or the emergence of new industry
standards could exert adverse price pressures on the Company's existing or
future products or could render the Company's technologies obsolete or its
products unmarketable, any of which occurrences would have a material adverse
effect on the Company. See "Business--Technology Overview," "--Potential Future
Products" and "--Competition and Industry Background."
Competition. The Company believes that the market for digitally
personalized video media -- although only in its development stages -- will
likely evolve into a highly competitive market. The Company is aware of only one
other company in this country that is currently producing and marketing
personalized video media products. However, there are numerous other companies
involved in video media production who could possibly enter the personalized
market segment in which the Company is doing business. Many of such companies
have substantially greater financial, technical, production, marketing and other
resources than those of the Company. In the case of an entity with such
resources, the Company does not believe that there currently are, or are likely
to be in the foreseeable future, prohibitive barriers to entry into the business
of developing and marketing digitally personalized media products. Accordingly,
the ability of the Company to compete will depend on its ability to complete
development of, and introduce into the marketplace in a timely manner, its
proposed products and technology, and to continually enhance and improve such
products and technology. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to compete successfully, that its existing or future competitors will not
develop technologies or products that render the Company's products and
technology obsolete or less marketable (or otherwise have a material adverse
effect upon the Company's operations), or that the Company will be able to
enhance successfully its proposed products or technology or to adapt them
satisfactorily. See "Business--Competition and Industry Background."
Seasonality; Significant Fluctuations in Quarterly Financial Results.
Based upon the Company's limited operating history, it expects that a
substantial portion of its revenues in any fiscal year may result from sales
during the months of October through December. The Company believes that a
reason for this sales pattern is that a significant percentage of its products
have been given as gifts and, as such, sell at larger volumes during the holiday
season. For that and other reasons, the Company's results of operations are
likely to vary significantly from quarter to quarter, and financial results for
any given fiscal quarter will not necessarily be indicative of the results to be
anticipated for a full fiscal year. Other such reasons could include significant
fluctuations in demand for the Company's products, a change in the mix of
distribution channels through which products are sold, the introduction of new
products by the Company or its competitors, and changes in general economic
conditions. Moreover, as a result of its limited operating history, the Company
does not have historical financial data for a significant number of periods on
which to base planned operating expenses. Accordingly, the Company's expense
levels are based in part on its expectations as to future revenues and to a
large extent are fixed. However, the Company typically operates with no backlog.
As a result, quarterly sales and operating results generally depend on the
volume and timing of and ability to fulfill orders received within the quarter,
which are difficult to forecast. The Company may be unable to adjust spending in
a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected shortfall in revenue.
Accordingly, any significant shortfall of demand for the Company's products and
services in relation to the Company's expectations would have an immediate
adverse impact on the Company's business, operating results and financial
condition. Due to all of the foregoing factors, it is likely that the Company's
operating results in some future quarter
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will be below the expectations of public market analysts (if any are then
following the Common Stock) and investors. In such an event, the market price of
the securities offered hereby would likely be materially adversely affected. At
the present time, to the Company's knowledge, no public market securities
analysts are following the Common Stock. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
Limited Assurances as to Protection of Proprietary Technology. The Company
claims proprietary rights in its digital personalization production process. In
April 1997, the Company was issued a U.S. patent relating to its digital
personalization production process (Patent No. 5,623,587). None of the Company's
production technologies, however, are currently the subject of any issued
patents in any foreign jurisdiction, and there can be no assurance that any
foreign patents will be issued to the Company. Patents and patent applications,
like the ones issued to and filed involve complex legal and factual questions,
and breadth of patent claims that may have issued, or that may be allowed in the
future, is inherently uncertain. As a result, even when a patent is issued to a
company, there can be no assurance as to the degree or adequacy of protection
that such patent may afford. There can be no assurance, for instance, (i) that
the U.S. patent issued to the Company will be sufficiently broad to protect the
Company's proprietary technology or the processes to which such patent relates,
or (ii) that this patent will not be challenged, invalidated, designed around by
others or otherwise circumvented. There additionally can be no assurance that
- --independently of any protection afforded by any patents now or hereafter
issued -- the steps taken by the Company to protect its proprietary rights will
be adequate to prevent the misappropriation of its technology or the independent
development by others of hardware and software products with features based
upon, or otherwise similar to, those of the Company's products. In addition, if
the Company were to become involved in litigation to enforce any of its patent
rights, the attendant costs could be substantial or even prohibitive. The
Company accordingly may not enjoy any effective patent protection with respect
to its proprietary technology and processes. Although the Company believes that
its existing technologies and implementations of such technologies do not
infringe upon the rights of others, it is possible that third parties may
currently have, or may be granted in the future, patents claiming products or
processes that are necessary for or useful to the development of the Company's
technology, and that legal actions could be brought against the Company
asserting infringement. In addition, there can be no assurance that products
developed by the Company in the future will not infringe the current or future
patent rights of others, giving rise to infringement claims against the Company.
In the case of such infringement, the Company could, under certain
circumstances, be required to modify its products or to obtain a third-party
license in order to render the Company's technology or processes non-infringing.
Such thirty-party license might not be granted, or may not be available to the
Company on reasonable terms, either of which results could materially adversely
affect the Company's business and prospects. See "Business--Intellectual
Property Rights."
Possible Inability to Use or Register the Word "Kideo" as a Trademark. The
Company has adopted and used the word "Kideo" as its principal trademark for its
products and services. The Company has applied for registration of this
trademark in the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain and the
United Kingdom. There can be no assurance that the Company will be granted a
registered trademark of the word "Kideo" in any jurisdiction. In the United
States, another party had previously registered two allegedly similar trademarks
but had ceased using them and had filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. In July
1994, the Company commenced proceedings against the successor to the original
owner of these two trademarks (the "Successor") in order to obtain the
cancellation of these trademarks on the basis of abandonment. The Company
prevailed in one proceeding but the other proceeding is still pending. This
latter proceeding is currently suspended, pursuant to a stipulation agreed upon
by the Company and the Successor while they complete the formalities of a
settlement. In this settlement, the Successor has agreed to withdraw its
registration and a pending
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application to register the mark "Kideo" and to cease using this mark in the
United States. The settlement agreement has been prepared, agreed to by both
parties, and is in the process of being executed. If for any reason the
settlement agreement is not executed and delivered by the Successor (which the
Company currently considers unlikely), then the Company would recommence the
pending proceeding. In Company expects (based upon statements made to it by the
Successor) that the Successor will allege that, even if the previously
registered trademarks were abandoned by the original owner, the Successor
nonetheless made the first use thereafter of the trademark "Kideo" in the United
States. A proceeding of this nature is a lengthy and potentially expensive
process, and there can be no assurance that the Company will ultimately obtain a
registered trademark for the word "Kideo" and obtain the right to use this mark
in connection with its products and services. Another third party also has been
using the trademark "Kideo" locally in the State of Illinois and has obtained an
Illinois state registration of this mark. This may prevent the Company from
using this mark in the state of Illinois. To date, however, the Company has
received no communication from any party objecting to or otherwise challenging
its right to conduct its business and offer its products for sale in Illinois
under the name "Kideo." See "Business--Legal Proceedings."
Market for the Company's Securities; Possible Price Volatility. There can
be no assurance that an active trading market for the Company's securities will
exist or be sustained at any time after the date hereof, especially in view of
the September 1997 delisting of the Common Stock and Warrants from Nasdaq. No
person or entity is required to make a market in the Common Stock. As a result,
a purchaser of the Shares may experience difficulty in selling his Shares. In
addition, the market prices of the Company's securities may from time to time be
highly volatile, as has been the case with the securities of other companies in
emerging growth businesses. Factors such as the Company's financial results, the
introduction of new products by the Company or its competitors, and factors
affecting the video industry generally may have a significant impact on the
market price of the Company's securities. In recent years, the stock market
itself has experienced a high level of price and volume volatility, and market
prices for the stock of many companies (particularly of small and emerging
growth companies, like the Company, whose common stock is traded only in the
over-the-counter-market) have experienced wide price fluctuations which have not
necessarily been related to the operating performance of such companies. See
"Price Range of Securities and Dividend Policy."
No Dividends. The Company has never paid any cash or other dividends on
its Common Stock. Payment of dividends on the Common Stock is within the
discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon the Company's
earnings, its capital requirements and financial condition, and other relevant
factors. For the foreseeable future, the Board intends to retain future earnings
(if any) to finance its business operations and does not anticipate paying any
cash dividends with respect to the Common Stock. In addition, the payment of
cash dividends in the future will potentially be limited by the terms of
financing agreements that may hereafter be entered into by the Company or by the
terms of any series of dividend-bearing Preferred Stock that may be issued by
the Company. See "Price Range of Securities and Dividend Policy" and
"Description of Securities--Series A Preferred Stock."
Significant Management Holdings. As of the date of this Prospectus, the
Company's directors and officers as a group own an aggregate of approximately
22% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (28% when beneficial ownership is
considered) and will thus be able to exert significant influence over all
matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and
the approval of significant corporate transactions (such as acquisitions of the
Company or its assets). If they were to act together as a group, the Company's
officers and directors could delay or prevent a change of control of the
Company. See "Principal Stockholders" and "Description of Securities."
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Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute; Possible Adverse Effects Associated with
the Issuance of "Blank Check" Preferred Stock. The Company is a Delaware
corporation and is subject to imposed by Section 203 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law ("DGCL"), which is generally viewed as an anti-takeover statute.
In general, this statute prohibits a public company incorporate in Delaware from
entering into certain business combinations without the approval of its Board of
Directors and, as such, could prohibit or delay mergers or other attempted
takeovers or changes in control with respect to the Company. Such provisions may
discourage attempts to acquire the Company. In addition, the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the Company's Board of Directors to
issue up to 5,000,000 shares of "blank check" preferred stock, from time to
time, in one or more series, solely on the authorization of its Board of
Directors -- as was done in the case of the creation in May 1997 of the Series A
6% Convertible Participating Preferred Stock. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital
Resources--May 1997 Financing." The Board of Directors is thus authorized,
without further approval of the stockholders, to fix the dividend rights and
terms, conversion rights, voting rights, redemption rights and terms,
liquidation preferences, and any other rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions applicable to each new series of preferred stock. The issuance of
such stock could, among other results, adversely affect the voting power of the
holders of Common Stock and, under certain circumstances, make it more difficult
for a third party to gain control of the Company, discourage bids for the Common
Stock at a premium, or otherwise adversely affect the market price of the Common
Stock and Warrants. See "Description of Securities--Preferred Stock" and
"--Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law."
Certain Charter Provisions Having Anti-Takeover Effects. The Company's
Certificate of Incorporation includes provisions that may, under certain
circumstances, make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of the
Company (e.g., by means of a tender offer), prevent or substantially delay such
a change of control, discourage bids for the Company's securities at a premium,
or otherwise adversely affect the market price of the Company's securities. At
the next annual meeting of stockholders, for example, the Company's Board of
Directors will be classified into three classes of directors, with each class
serving a staggered three-year term. The Certificate of Incorporation also
provides that stockholder action may only be effected at a duly called meeting
of stockholders and not by a written consent in lieu of a meeting. These
provisions could make it more difficult for stockholders to effect certain
corporate actions that might facilitate a proposed acquisition of the Company
(e.g., the replacement of directors of the Company) and might have the effect of
delaying or preventing a change of control of the Company. See
"Management--Directors and Executive Officers."
Limitations on Liability of Directors and Officers. The Company's
Certificate of Incorporation includes provisions to eliminate, to the full
extent permitted by the DGCL as in effect from time to time, the personal
liability of directors of the Company for monetary damages arising from a breach
of their fiduciary duties as directors. The Certificate of Incorporation also
includes provisions to the effect that (subject to certain exceptions) the
Company shall, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time under the law
of the State of Delaware, indemnify, and upon request shall advance expenses to,
any director or officer to the extent that such indemnification and advancement
of expenses is permitted under such law, as it may from time to time be in
effect. In addition, the Company's By-Laws (the "By-Laws") require the Company
to indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any director, officer,
employee or agent of the Company for acts which such person reasonably believes
are not in violation of the Company's corporate purposes as set forth in the
Certificate of Incorporation. As a result of such provisions in the Certificate
of Incorporation and the By-Laws, stockholders may be unable to recover damages
against the directors and officers of actions taken by them which constitute
negligence, gross negligence or a violation of their fiduciary duties, which may
reduce the
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likelihood of stockholders instituting derivative litigation against directors
and officers and may discourage or deter stockholders from suing directors,
officers, employees and agents of the Company for breaches of their duty of
care, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit the
Company and its stockholders. See "Management--Limitations of Liability and
Indemnification."
State Registration Required for Sale of Shares. An investor may purchase
Shares only if those Shares are qualified for sale, or are exempt from
registration or qualification, under the applicable state securities laws of the
State in which the prospective purchaser resides. The Company has not registered
or qualified the Shares under any state securities laws and, unless the sale of
Shares to a particular investor is exempt from registration or qualification
under applicable state securities laws, that sale may not be effected until
those Shares have been so registered or qualified.
Shares Eligible for Future Sale; Registration Rights. As of the date of
this Prospectus, the Company has 3,694,628 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Of the outstanding shares, an aggregate of 2,233,114 shares have previously been
registered for sale under the Securities Act and, accordingly, are freely
tradeable without restriction or further registration thereunder. The Company
effectuated those prior registrations in June 1996 (as part of the Underwritten
Offering) and in August 1997 (in connection with the May 1997 Financing
described below under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources--May 1997
Financing"). Of the outstanding shares of Common Stock registered in June 1996,
(i) 1,400,000 registered shares of Common Stock were sold in the public market
pursuant to the Underwritten Offering, and (ii) 290,000 shares of Common Stock
were registered on behalf of certain selling stockholders of the Company. All of
the 543,114 outstanding shares of Common Stock registered in August 1997 were
registered on behalf of a selling stockholder of the Company.
All of the 1,461,514 remaining shares of Common Stock currently
outstanding (the "Restricted Common Stock") are "restricted securities" (as that
term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act), and as such they may be
sold only pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act, in
compliance with the exemption provisions of Rule 144 or pursuant to another
exemption under the Securities Act. Since June 24, 1997, however, substantially
all of these restricted securities have either been (i) eligible for sale in the
public market pursuant to Rule 144 or (ii) subject to the exercise of certain
demand and/or piggyback registration rights which the Company from time to time
has granted to various of its securityholders. A total of 1,235,234 shares of
the Restricted Common Stock are held by stockholders to whom the Company has
granted registration rights.
No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that sales of such
securities, or the availability of such securities for sale, will have on the
market prices prevailing from time to time for the Common Stock and Warrants.
However, even the possibility that a substantial number of the Company's
securities may, in the near future, be sold in the public market may adversely
affect prevailing market prices for the Common Stock and could impair the
Company's ability to raise capital through the sale of its equity securities. In
addition, any future exercise of the registration rights held by existing
securityholders of the Company could cause it to incur substantial expenses and
could have a further negative impact upon the Company's ability to raise capital
through the sale of its equity securities. See "Description of
Securities--Registration Rights," "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Plan of
Distribution."
Effect of Outstanding Convertible Securities. As of the date of this
Prospectus, there are outstanding: (i) currently exercisable Warrants to
purchase an aggregate of 1,610,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $4.00
per share;
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<PAGE>
(ii) fully vested Employee Options to purchase 261,003 shares of Common Stock at
$2.50 per share; (iii) currently exercisable Underwriter's Warrants to purchase
an aggregate of 140,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $8.25 per share;
(iv) currently exercisable Common Stock purchase warrants (which underlie the
Underwriter's Warrants) to purchase an aggregate of 140,000 shares of Common
Stock at a price of $5.20 per share; (v) certain currently exercisable warrants
(issued in October 1996 to an independent contractor to the Company) to purchase
an aggregate of 20,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $5.00 per share; and
(vi) certain currently exercisable warrants (which are beneficially held by
Charles C. Johnston, a director and principal stockholder of the Company) to
purchase an aggregate of 83,975 shares of Common Stock at a price of $3.60 per
share. If any of these convertible securities are exercised for or converted
into their underlying Common Stock equivalents, then the percentage ownership of
persons then holding shares of Common Stock (such as the purchasers of the
Shares offered hereby) will be diluted (and could be substantially diluted), and
subsequent sales in the public market of such underlying Common Stock could
adversely affect the prevailing market prices for the Common Stock (including
the Shares offered hereby). See "Recent Developments--Repricing of Employee
Stock Options," "Management--1996 Stock Option Plan" and "Description of
Securities."
Tax Loss Carryforward. The Company's net operating loss carryforwards
("NOLs") expire in the year 2010. Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, utilization of prior NOLs is limited after an ownership
change, as defined in Section 382, to an annual amount equal to the value of the
loss corporation's outstanding stock immediately before the date of the
ownership change multiplied by the federal long-term exempt tax rate. The equity
financing obtained by the Company in connection with the Underwritten Offering
and certain private financings completed prior thereto resulted in an ownership
change and, thus, in limitations on the Company's use of its prior NOLs. In the
event the Company achieves profitable operations, any significant limitation on
the utilization of its NOLs would have the effect of increasing the Company's
tax liability and reducing net income and available cash resources. See
Consolidated Financial Statements.
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PRICE RANGE OF SECURITIES AND DIVIDEND POLICY
The Common Stock and Warrants are traded in the over-the-counter market
under the respective symbols KIDO and KIDOW. The following table sets forth the
range of the high and low bid information (as provided by Standard & Poors
Comstock) of these securities for the period from June 24, 1996 (the effective
date of the Underwritten Offering) through April 24, 1998. Such information may
reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission,
and may not reflect actual transactions.
Common Stock Warrants
-------------- ----------
Low Bid High Bid Low Bid High Bid
------- -------- ------- --------
FISCAL 1996:
4th Quarter (from 7/31/96) 2-1/8 5-3/4 3/8 1-1/2
FISCAL 1997:
1st Quarter 2-3/4 4-1/8 1/2 1-1/8
2nd Quarter 2 3-1/2 3/8 7/8
3rd Quarter 2-3/4 4-1/8 3/8 1
4th Quarter 2-1/2 4-3/8 14/32 15/16
FISCAL 1998:
1st Quarter 15/16 2-3/4 1/8 7/8
2nd Quarter 1-15/16 2-1/16 1/8 1/2
3rd Quarter (to 4/24/98) 1-3/8 2-5/16 2/8 1/2
The Company has never paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock, and the
Board does not intend to declare or pay any dividends on its Common Stock in the
foreseeable future. The Board currently intends to retain all available earnings
(if any) generated by the Company's operations for the development and growth of
its business. The declaration in the future of any cash or stock dividends on
the Common Stock will be at the discretion of the Board and will depend upon a
variety of factors, including the earnings, capital requirements and financial
position of the Company and general economic conditions at the time in question.
In the case of cash dividends payable on the Common Stock (if ever declared by
the Board), the Company's ability to pay them hereafter may depend upon whether,
at the time in question, it has satisfied in full its obligations (if any) to
pay all dividends then accrued but unpaid on any then-outstanding shares of a
series of dividend-bearing Preferred Stock of the Company (if any such series is
then authorized and outstanding). In addition, the payment of cash dividends on
the Common Stock in the future could be limited or prohibited by the terms of
financing agreements that may be entered into by the Company (e.g., a bank line
of credit or an agreement relating to the issuance of other debt securities of
the Company). See "Description of Securities--Preferred Stock".
As of April 24, 1998, there were approximately 800 record holders of
Common Stock, and 9 record holders of Warrants.
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CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the short-term debt and capitalization of
the Company as of January 31, 1998: (i) on an actual basis; and (ii) on a pro
forma basis, giving effect as of such date to the conversion of all of the
January 1998 Notes into 620,000 shares of Common Stock. All amounts are in
thousands of dollars.
January 31, 1998
-------------------
Actual Pro Forma(1)
------ ---------
Short-term portion of capitalized leases obligations $ 78 $ 78
======== =======
Long-term portion of capitalized lease obligations $ 28 $ 28
Convertible notes payable-long term, net of discount 465 --
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred Stock, $.0001 par value, issuable in
series: 5,000,000 shares authorized; 4,000
shares authorized as Series A 6% Convertible
Participating Preferred Stock; no shares
issued and outstanding -- --
Common Stock, $.0001 par value: 15,000,000
shares, issued and outstanding 3,694,628 shares
at January 31, 1998 (actual); issued and
outstanding 4,314,628 shares (pro forma)(1) -- --
Additional paid-in capital 10,551 11,171
Accumulated deficit (10,442) (10,907)
-------- -------
Total Stockholder's Equity 109 264
-------- -------
Total Capitalization $ 574 $ 292
======== =======
xxxx
- ---------
(1) Gives pro forma effect to the conversion pursuant to the January
1998 Financing of convertible notes payable (i.e., the January 1998
Notes and the SME Note) into 620,000 shares of Common Stock.
Includes the recognition of the discount in the amount of $465,000
that resulted from the allocation of proceeds to the beneficial
conversion feature relating to such notes.
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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected financial data for the years and periods presented
below is derived from the Company's consolidated financial statements. The
financial data for the two fiscal years ended July 31, 1997 is derived from the
Company's audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included
elsewhere in this Prospectus. The data as of January 31, 1997 and 1998 and for
the six-month periods then ended is derived from the Company's unaudited
financial statements included elsewhere in this Prospectus, which, in the
opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting of only normal
recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the information set
forth therein. The results of operations for the six months ended January 31,
1998 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the
full fiscal year. The following data should be read in conjunction with the
Company's consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere
in this Prospectus and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations." All amounts are in thousands of dollars,
except per share amounts and number of shares.
Statement of Operations Data:
Six months Six months
ended ended
Year Ended Year Ended January 31, January 31,
July 31, 1996 July 31, 1997 1997 1998
-------------------------------------------------------
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Sales $ 761 $ 1,346 $ 761 $ 593
Gross profit 124 21 (76) 80
Net loss (3,059) (3,819) (2,336) (1,269)
Net loss per share(3) $ (2.27) $ (1.37) $ (0.79) $ (0.37)
Weighted average shs.(1) {1,304,876} {2,939,014} {2,939,014} {3,481,829}
Balance Sheet Data:
July 31, 1997 January 31, 1998 January 31, 1998
----------------------------------------------------
(unaudited) (pro forma)(2)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 164 $ 7 $ 7
Working capital (deficit) (666) (962) (962)
Total assets 1,488 2,269 1,804
Long-term obligations, net 74 493 28
Total liabilities 1,066 2,005 1,540
Stockholders' equity $ 422 $ 109 $ 264
- ----------
(1) Weighted average shares outstanding assumes all pre-IPO issuances of
Common Stock and all conversions into Common Stock of a previously
authorized series of Preferred Stock and of certain convertible debt
were made as of the beginning of the periods presented.
(2) Gives pro forma effect to the conversion pursuant to the January
1998 Financing of convertible notes payable (i.e., the January 1998
Notes and the SME Note) into 620,000 shares of Common Stock.
Includes the recognition of the discount in the amount of $465,000
that resulted from the allocation of proceeds to the beneficial
conversion feature relating to such notes.
(3) Restated in accordance with SFAS No. 128 and SAB No. 98 refer to
"Managements' Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations."
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
General
The Company was organized in August 1993 (and began operations in November
1993) to develop, manufacture and market digitally personalized videos for
children. The process of mass-producing personalized videos was developed
internally and supplemented with additional technology purchased in 1995 (see
"1995 Technology Acquisition" below). The Company claims proprietary rights in
its technologies and production process. In April 1997, the Company was issued a
U.S. patent relating to its digital personalization production process (Patent
No. 5,623,587).
The Company has incurred substantial operating losses since its inception,
resulting in an accumulated deficit of approximately $10,398,000 as of January
31, 1998. For its fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Company had revenues of
approximately $1,346,000 and a net loss of approximately $3,819,000, and, for
the six months ended January 31, 1998, the Company had revenues of approximately
$593,000 and a net loss of approximately $1,225,000. The Company believes that
its net loss for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 could exceed the net loss
for the prior fiscal year, and that the Company will continue to operate at a
loss until such time, if ever, when its operations generate sufficient revenues
to cover its costs. The report of independent accountants on the Company's
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997
contains an explanatory paragraph stating that the Company's consolidated
financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue
as a going concern, while noting that the Company's recurring losses from
operations and net working capital deficiency raise substantial doubt about its
ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do
not include any adjustments that might result should the Company be unable to
continue as a going concern.
On September 26, 1997, the Company was advised by Nasdaq that the
Company's Common Stock and Warrants had been deleted from listing on the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market. The Nasdaq decision was based in part upon the Company's
failure to meet, as reflected in its Form 10-QSB for the fiscal quarter ended
April 31, 1997, the "total assets" and "capital and surplus" requirements for
continued listing on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. See "Risk Factors--September
1997 Delisting of Securities from Nasdaq," "--Additional Risks Relating to
Delisted and Penny Stocks" and "Price Range of Securities and Dividend Policy."
In June 1996 the Company consummated the Underwritten Offering (see
"Initial Public Offering" below), raising net proceeds of approximately
$5,560,000 through the issuance of 1,400,000 shares of Common Stock and
1,610,000 Warrants. In connection with the Underwritten Offering (sometimes
called the "IPO"), all outstanding shares of a previously-authorized series of
Preferred Stock (the "Retired Preferred Stock") were automatically converted
into an aggregate of 293,533 shares of Common Stock, and $1,000,000 in principal
amount of the Company's 10% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 1998 (the
"Debentures") was converted into 279,889 shares of Common Stock.
The information set forth below includes "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and is subject to the safe
harbor created by that section. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, as they speak only as of the date
hereof.
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Revenue Recognition
The Company's products are marketed directly to consumers and also through
mail-order catalogs and retail stores. All customer orders, regardless of their
source, are processed at the Company's manufacturing plant in New York City.
Revenue is recognized when the completed personalized video is shipped to the
customer.
Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's
consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this
Prospectus.
Six months ended January 31, 1998 (the "Current Period") Compared to the
Six Months Ended January 31, 1997 (the "Prior Period")
Sales. Sales declined 22% to $593,000 in the Current Period from $761,000
in the Prior Period. The direct-to-consumer sales declined 1% to $405,000 in the
Current Period from $409,000 in the Prior Period. The catalogue and retail sales
declined $163,000 or approximately 46% to $189,000 for the Current Period. This
is attributed to the fact that in the Current Period there were no new product
releases as compared to the Prior Period when the Company had launched new
proprietary products and titles. In the Prior Period, the Company had introduced
four new Kideo titles. Those titles contributed significantly to an increase in
sales from $561,000 during the six months ended January 31, 1996 to $761,000
during the six months ended January 31, 1997 -- an increase of approximately
36%.
Due to the decline in vendor-based orders, the ratio of direct tape sales
increased to 52% for the Current Period as compared to 45% in the Prior Period,
improving the average sales price per tape to $27.73 for the Current Period as
compared to $24.28 in the Prior Period.
The Company sells a plush version of Gregory Gopher, a proprietary
character, and a non-personalized audiocassette featuring the sound track from
the Gregory Gopher videos. Sales of these ancillary products have not been
significant to date.
Cost of Sales. The Company had a gross profit of 13% or $80,000 for the
Current Period as compared to a loss in the Prior Period of ($76,000). Continued
inventory controls and improved manufacturing process, combined with a decrease
in volume, have reduced the cost of raw materials and direct labor, generating
savings of $28,000 and $73,000 respectively. Depreciation expense declined
$103,000 in the Current Period due to the retirement of manufacturing equipment
in the Prior Period; however, this reduction was offset by an increase of
$147,000 in amortization of content costs in the Current Period. Royalties and
other fixed costs of sales showed savings of $19,000 and $34,000 for the Current
Period.
Selling Expenses. Selling expenses decreased $611,000 or 49% in the
Current Period to $643,000 from $1,254,000 in the Prior Period. Promotional and
media expenses decreased by $238,000 in the Current Period as a result of
spending cut backs by the Company. Additional decreases reflect reductions in
sales related payroll and benefits of $196,000, catalog and retail-sourced
expenses of $31,000, outside services of $33,000 and a decrease in shipping
expenses of $71,000. The Company's present marketing programs include a "Kideo
Catalog" and a Kideo products promotion on the Home Shopping Network, introduced
late in the Current Period.
General and Administrative Expenses. The Company's general and
administrative expenses decreased $382,000 or 37% to $654,000 in the Current
Period from $1,036,000 in the Prior Period. The primary causes for this decrease
were in non-recurring development expenses of $192,000. The development expense
decrease, from $292,000 in the Prior Period to $100,000 in the Current Period,
is attributed to the development of new, more efficient production technology
that was developed and put in place in the Prior Period. Payroll and related
payroll expenses generated additional savings of $82,000 in the Current Period.
Other cost-effective savings by the Company during the Current Period were in
insurance of $17,000, expenses
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<PAGE>
associated with being a public company of $15,000 and infrastructure costs of
$57,000. These savings were offset by higher depreciation charges of $21,000.
The Company regularly reviews its general and administrative expenses for
potential cost-effective savings and implements them as and when practicable.
Management does not currently anticipate that, relative to the revenues expected
to be generated during the second half of the fiscal year ending July 31, 1998,
the Company's general and administrative expenses will run at a rate
proportionally higher than they did in the Current Period.
Loss from Operations. The loss from operations decreased $1,149,000 or 49%
to $1,217,000 in the Current Period from $2,366,000 in the Prior Period. In
response to unprofitable promotions spending in the prior periods, the Company
has implemented cost-saving measures that include across-the-board salary
reductions, reductions in shipping costs, headcount, benefits, and discretionary
spending. The Company continues this management policy as evidenced by the
decreases in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Current Period
as compared to the Prior Period.
Other Income (Expense). The Current Period reflects $44,000 of expenses
related to the January 1998 financing and $12,000 of lease interest expenses net
of $4,000 of interest income in that period. The Prior Period reflects an excess
of interest income from investments (Treasury bills, money market funds and
corporate commercial paper) over lease interest expenses.
Net Loss. The net loss in the Current Period was $1,269,000 or $0.37 loss
per share on 3,481,829 average shares of Common Stock outstanding, as compared
to the Prior Period net loss of $2,336,000, or $0.79 loss per share on 2,939,014
average shares of Common Stock outstanding.
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Fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 (the "1997 Fiscal Year") Compared to the
Fiscal Year Ended July 31, 1996 (the "1996 Fiscal Year")
Sales. During the 1997 Fiscal Year, the Company sold 45,600 personalized
videos, an increase of 42% over the 32,100 units produced and sold during the
1996 Fiscal Year. During the 1997 Fiscal Year, the Company released four new
personalized video titles. Mystery of the Missing King and Space Ace are
animated titles that were released in the first quarter of the 1997 Fiscal Year
(ended October 31, 1996) with direct mail and telemarketing programs. In January
1997, the Company released its first personalized videos combining live-action
and animation sequences: Gregory & Me: See What I Can Do! and Gregory & Me: My
Amazing Animal Adventure. Both titles feature Gregory Gopher and his friends,
proprietary characters developed by Company. In the 1997 Fiscal Year, these four
titles doubled the Company's video product offerings to eight proprietary
titles. The Company in the 1997 Fiscal Year also released a plush version of
Gregory Gopher and a non-personalized audio cassette featuring the sound track
from the videos. Sales of these ancillary products were not significant in the
period. The newly released videos accounted for 35% of the total sales volume in
the 1997 Fiscal Year.
Sales increased 77% to $1,346,000, and include a 265% increase (to
$745,000) in direct-to-consumer sales. This increase reflects the cumulative
results of the Company's direct marketing activities during the 1997 Fiscal
Year, which were undertaken utilizing proceeds from the Underwritten Offering.
These direct marketing activities included direct mail, telemarketing, radio,
print and television advertising. The Company believes that its
direct-to-consumer sales benefitted also from a higher level of consumer
awareness resulting from television and print exposure of the Company and its
products, including television exposure on the Oprah Winfrey Show, EXTRA,
Managing with Lou Dobbs, and articles on the Company published by The New York
Times, Gannett Newspapers, Newsweek, and Equity Magazine.
Catalog and retail-sourced sales increased 6% to $591,000. There was an
over all volume decline in the retail channel which primarily reflects 1996
Fiscal Year marketing programs that were not rolled out in the 1997 Fiscal Year.
The number of catalogs offering the Company's products increased from 16 in the
1996 Fiscal Year to 36 in the 1997 Fiscal Year. Revenues from this source,
however, remained level with the 1996 Fiscal Year due to several factors. The
timing of the release of the new Gregory & Me titles did not permit their
inclusion in Christmas catalogs. Additionally, one of the Company's first and
largest customers had been given an exclusive right to sell the Gregory & Me
titles in the catalog channel, which limited their exposure. That exclusive
right expired at the end of 1996. Since the balance of the Company's catalog
trade was limited to the first four titles of the Original Kideos, there was
some price erosion in this channel.
Production Equipment Write-Off. A write-off of production equipment
accounted for $226,000 in the 1997 Fiscal Year. The Company provided for the
disposal of certain production equipment during the second quarter of its
current fiscal year. This equipment was written off after the successful
completion of tests which established that older Kideo titles could be produced
using the Company's new, more efficient production equipment.
Gross Margin. The Company's gross margin fell to 2% of sales in the 1997
Fiscal Year from 16% in the 1996 Fiscal Year. Unit selling prices improved by
approximately 5% due to the shift in sales mix from catalog-sourced sales
(wholesale pricing) to direct-to-consumer sales (retail pricing). Unit sales in
the 1997 Fiscal Year were 50% higher than in the 1996 Fiscal Year. However,
these positive results were offset by increases in fixed costs of $396,000
related primarily to an expansion of production capacity (depreciation of
$26,000, rent of $31,000, supervision of $11,000, utilities of $9,000) and
amortization of Gregory & Me content development costs of $259,000. The one-time
write-off of
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production equipment described above in the amount of $226,000 was recognized in
this period.
Selling Expenses. The Company's selling expenses increased 166% in the
1997 Fiscal Year, to $1,959,000, from $737,000 in the 1996 Fiscal Year,
reflecting principally the costs of marketing the new Gregory & Me titles
through television, radio, print, direct mail, and telemarketing campaigns of
$1,100,000. In addition there were increased salaries of $291,000 mostly related
to data input and increased shipping expenses of $58,000 due to higher sales
volume. Retail marketing programs pursued during the 1996 Fiscal Year in the
amount of $133,000 were not recurring in the 1997 Fiscal Year.
General and Administrative Expenses. The Company's general and
administrative increased 67% in the 1997 Fiscal Year, to $1,901,000, from
$1,137,000 in the 1996 Fiscal Year. Research and development expenses increased
$161,000 during the 1997 Fiscal Year, to $374,000, from $213,000 in the 1996
Fiscal Year. The remainder of inter-period change relates primarily to (i) the
higher expenses associated with being a public company (legal, stockholder
reporting and insurance account for $326,000), (ii) higher infrastructure costs
(payroll, benefits, depreciation on leasehold improvements and online services
account for $235,000) and (iii) an allowance for doubtful accounts (for
$28,000).
Loss from Operations. Loss from operations increased 25% in the 1997
Fiscal Year, to $3,819,000, from $3,059,000 in the 1996 Fiscal Year, reflecting
the above changes. Most notably, the cost of launching the new Gregory & Me
titles on radio and television exceeded the revenues derived. One of the
benefits of the launch, however, was that the Company built a substantial
database of leads derived from people calling an 800 number for free Kideo order
kits. Management is pursuing strategic marketing alliances with third parties,
with the intention of reducing the Company's financial risk in
direct-to-consumer advertising programs. There can be no assurances that these
objectives will be achieved. The loss from operations includes operating
investments in infrastructure, including space expansion, operating systems,
research and development, and management.
Other Income (Expense). Other income net of expense reflects an excess of
interest income from investments (Treasury bills, money market funds and
corporate commercial paper) over interest expenses
Nonrecurring Items. Nonrecurring items relate to interest charges,
amortization of original issue discount related to certain of the Company's
pre-IPO private financings, and amortization of the issuance costs of certain
debt securities that either were repaid out of proceeds from the Underwritten
Offering or were converted into Common Stock upon the closing of that offering.
Net Loss. The net loss for the 1997 Fiscal Year was $3,819,000, or $1.37
per share on 2,939,000 average shares of Common Stock outstanding, as compared
to a net loss for the 1996 Fiscal Year of $3,059,000, or $2.27 per share on
1,304,876 average shares of Common Stock outstanding.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash used by operations of $607,000 for the six months ended January
31, 1998 improved 64%, or $1,092,000, from the Prior Period use of $1,699,000.
The Company invested $294,000 in that six-month period, of which $291,000 was in
capital content of the newly-licensed Barney home video title, as compared to
$899,000 invested in the six months ended January 31, 1997. Additional funds
were generated in the six months ended January 31, 1998 through (i) the issuance
of Common Stock for gross proceeds of $300,000, as described below under
"--September 1997 Financing," and (ii) the January 1998 Financing, which raised
gross proceeds of $500,000.
The Company's capital requirements in connection with its development of
new product, infrastructure and marketing activities have been and will continue
to be significant. The Company anticipates, based on its currently proposed
plans and assumptions relating to its operations (including assumptions
regarding the progress and timing of its new development efforts), that
anticipated revenues from operations and its current cash and cash equivalent
balances will be sufficient to fund the Company's operations and capital
requirements for the foreseable future. In the event the Company's plans
change or its assumptions change or prove to be inaccurate, however, the Company
could be required to seek additional financing sooner than currently
anticipated. The Company has no current arrangements with respect to, or
potential sources of any additional financing, and it is not anticipated that
existing stockholders will provide any portion of the Company's future financing
requirements. Consequently, there can be no assurance that any additional
financing will be available to the Company when needed, on commercially
reasonable terms, or at all.
Balance sheet conditions which may be indicators of the Company's
liquidity would include the cash balance along with the financing receivable
which was received in February 1998 (approximately [$317,000] at January 31,
1998, after the infusion on January 30, 1998 of $500,000 in proceeds from the
January 1998 Financing, as compared to a cash balance of approximately
[$164,000] at January 31, 1997); working capital (which was a deficiency of
approximately $962,000 at January 31, 1998, as compared to a deficiency of
approximately $346,000 at January 31, 1997); and the stockholders' equity
position (approximately $109,000 at January 31, 1998, as compared to
approximately $422,000 at January 31, 1997). The shrinking cash balances
indicate the Company's need for additional capital during the periods concerned.
Although there can be no assurances, the Company believes that its new vendor
relationships with HSN and QVC as well as its licensing agreement with Disney
will generate revenues sufficient to fund its operations.
In March 1998, the Company introduced on the Home Shopping Network the
Kideo title "My Party With Barney". A 15 minute promotional spot was brodcast by
HSN six times during a 48 hour period. In response, over 9,000 orders were
received for this title. Through April of 1998, orders for Kideo titles had been
placed with HSN and QVC in the amounts of approximately $750,000 and $572,000
respectively, representing total sales of $1,322,000 (virtually all of which
represented orders for "My Party With Barney"). Of that amount, the Company had
collected approximately $721,000 through April 30. Although historically the
Company has been dependent on equity financings to fund operations, the Company
expects that the continued marketing of the Kideo products on HSN and QVC and
the related funds generated and other vendor based sales will continue to
generate revenue and serve to fund its operations and reduce its working capital
deficit.
The Company has no current plans for additional financing.
Additionally, improvement in these indicators has in the past been
dependent on external sources of financing, in the forms described below rather
than through operations. Those operating factors which would afford an
evaluation of the Company's ability to internally generate liquidity in both the
short term and long term would include the revenue growth rate (77% over the
prior fiscal year), the gross margin generated from operating activities (the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 includes a significant equipment write-off) and
the rate of selling, general and administrative expense spending relative to the
revenue generated. Operating cash flow as evidenced by earnings adjusted for the
non-cash expenses of depreciation, amortization of content costs and non-cash
write-offs (resulting in negative operating cash flow of [$2,457,000] for the
1997 Fiscal Year) would provide an indication of the financing needed to fund
future operating activities; however, these must be evaluated along with
management's actions to increase its revenue stream, increase the efficiency of
its marketing efforts, and control the costs of its infrastructure as discussed
above.
The Company has no material commitments or plans for capital expenditures
at the present time. Currently, the Company's sales volume can be met with
existing production equipment, and increases in volume can be met by adding
additional shifts with existing equipment. Capital expansion for additional
production equipment will be driven by increases in sales volume and will be
funded by such revenues.
Because the Company has operated at a loss since its inception and has not
generated sufficient revenue from its operations to fund its activities, it has,
to date, been substantially dependent on loans from its stockholders and private
and public offerings of its securities to fund its operations. These financings
that have occurred since August 1, 1995 (being the commencement of the Company's
fiscal year ended July 31, 1996) are described below.
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1995 Pre-Bridge Financing
During September and October 1995, the Company effectuated a private
placement of $300,000 of its securities to six existing stockholders, including
an affiliate of Charles C. Johnston, a director of the Company (the "1995
Pre-Bridge Financing"). In connection with such financing, the Company issued to
the investors an aggregate of $300,000 in principal amount of 9% promissory
notes (the "1995 Pre-Bridge Notes") and 90,000 shares of Common Stock (the "1995
Pre-Bridge Shares"). The 1995 Pre-Bridge Notes bore interest at the rate of 9%
per annum and were to be repaid on the earlier of (i) one year from the date of
issuance and (ii) the consummation of an initial public offering of the
Company's securities. The net proceeds of the 1995 Pre-Bridge Financing were
used for working capital purposes. The Company used approximately $320,000 of
the IPO proceeds to repay all of the 1995 Pre-Bridge Notes. In addition, the
90,000 1995 Pre-Bridge Shares were registered by the Company with a per share
value of $1.81, concurrently with the IPO, for resale by their holders. See
"Management--Directors and Executive Officers," "Principal Stockholders" and
"Certain Transactions--Transactions with Director Charles C. Johnston."
1996 Pre-Bridge Financing
In January 1996, the Company obtained an aggregate of $125,000 in
financing (the "1996 Pre-Bridge Financing") from two of its executive officers
(Robert J. Riscica, who was then the Company's Chief Financial Officer, and
Marvin H. Goldstein, the Company's Vice President-Controller). In connection
with this 1996 Pre-Bridge Financing, Messrs. Riscica and Goldstein purchased two
and one-half units of the Company's securities, which units were identical to
the Bridge Units subsequently issued in connection with the 1996 Bridge
Financing, as such terms are defined immediately below (except that, unlike the
shares of Common Stock included in the Bridge Units, the shares included in
these units (the "1996 Pre-Bridge Shares") were not registered concurrently with
the IPO). As a result of the 1996 Pre- Bridge Financing, the Company issued to
Messrs. Riscica and Goldstein unsecured 9% promissory notes of the Company in
the aggregate principal amount of $125,000 (the "1996 Pre-Bridge Notes") and an
aggregate of 25,000 1996 Pre-Bridge Shares with a per share value of $2.32. The
Company used approximately $129,000 of the IPO proceeds to repay all of the 1996
Pre-Bridge Notes.
1996 Bridge Financing
In February 1996, the Company completed the sale of 15 units (the "Bridge
Units") to 11 private investors (the "1996 Bridge Financing"), each Bridge Unit
consisting of (i) an unsecured 9% promissory note of the Company in the
principal amount of $50,000, due and payable on the earlier of the consummation
of the IPO and February 23, 1997 (subject to extension, under certain
circumstances, to February 23, 1998) (each, a "Bridge Note") and (ii) 10,000
shares of Common Stock (the "Bridge Shares"), at a price of $50,000 per Bridge
Unit. The Company received gross proceeds of $750,000 from the sale of the
Bridge Units. After the payment of $75,000 in placement fees to the Underwriter
of the IPO, who acted as placement agent for the Company with respect to the
sale of the Bridge Units, and other offering expenses of approximately $85,000,
the Company received net proceeds of approximately $590,000 in connection with
the 1996 Bridge Financing. The Company's sale of the 15 Bridge Units resulted in
the Company's issuance of a total of $750,000 in principal amount of Bridge
Notes and 150,000 Bridge Shares. The Company used approximately $767,000 of the
IPO proceeds to repay all of the Bridge Notes. The 150,000 Bridge Shares were
registered by the Company with a per share value of $1.82, concurrently with the
IPO, for resale by their holders.
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June 1996 Financing
In June 1996, the Company completed the sale of two units (the "June
Bridge Units") to two private investors (the "June 1996 Financing"), each June
1996 Unit consisting of (i) an unsecured 9% promissory note of the Company in
the principal amount of $100,000, due and payable on the earlier of the
consummation of the IPO and February 23, 1997 (subject to extension, under
certain circumstances, to February 23, 1998) (each, a "June 1996 Note") and (ii)
25,000 shares of Common Stock (the "June 1996 Shares"), at a price of $100,000
per June 1996 Unit. The Company received gross proceeds of $200,000 from the
sale of the June 1996 Units. After the payment of $20,000 in placement fees to
the Underwriter, who acted as placement agent for the Company with respect to
the sale of the June 1996 Units, the Company received net proceeds of $180,000
in connection with the June 1996 Financing. The Company's sale of the two June
1996 Units resulted in the Company's issuance of a total of $200,000 in
principal amount of June 1996 Notes and 50,000 June 1996 Shares. Upon the
consummation of the IPO, the Company used $201,200 of the proceeds to repay all
of the June 1996 Notes, including interest. The 50,000 June 1996 Shares were
registered by the Company with a per share value of $1.80, concurrently with the
IPO, for resale by their holders.
Initial Public Offering
In January 1996, the Company's Board of Directors authorized an increase
in the number of shares of preferred stock from 100,000 to 5,000,000. In
addition, the Company's Board of Directors authorized an increase in the number
of shares of Common Stock from 400,000 shares, par value $.01 per share, to
15,000,000 shares, par value $.0001 per share, and declared a stock split p
stockholders received 8.6545 shares of Common Stock for each share of Common
Stock previously owned.
In June 1996, the Company consummated the Underwritten Offering of
1,400,000 shares of Common Stock at an offering price of $5.00 per share and
1,610,000 Warrants at an offering price of $.10 per Warrant. The net proceeds to
the Company were approximately $5,560,000 after deducting issuance costs of
$1,601,000, which were charged to equity.
Upon the closing of the IPO, the Company repaid $1,375,000 principal
amount of bridge note financings and converted the outstanding Debentures into
279,889 shares of Common Stock. In addition, all outstanding shares of the
Retired Preferred Stock were converted into 293,533 shares of Common Stock. A
more detailed summary of the Underwritten Offering begins on page ii of this
Prospectus.
May 1997 Financing
On May 9, 1997, the Company's Board of Directors, acting pursuant to the
authority granted under its Certificate of Incorporation, authorized the
creation of a series of the Company's Preferred Stock, par value $.0001 per
share (the "Preferred Stock"). The series so authorized is designated as the
Series A 6% Convertible Participating Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred
Stock") and consists of 4,000 shares, each share having a liquidation value of
$1,000. On May 13, 1997, the Company consummated a private placement sale,
arranged by a placement agent, to Sellet Marketing Corp. ("Sellet") of 750
shares of Series A Preferred Stock (the "May 1997 Financing"). The shares were
sold at their liquidation value, for a total purchase price of $750,000. The
Company used the approximately $705,000 in net proceeds from the May 1997
Financing as working capital for general corporate purposes (the $45,000 balance
representing issuance costs). Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement
between the Company and Sellet, the Company in August 1996 registered under the
Securities Act the shares of Common Stock into which the Sellet could convert
its 750 shares of Series A Preferred Stock. Those 750 shares became convertible
into Common Stock at Sellet's option on and after July 12, 1997, and Sellet
thereafter converted all
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of those shares into Common Stock, receiving an aggregate of 543,114 shares of
Common Stock. The Certificate of Designations relating to the Series A Preferred
Stock provides that the Series A Preferred Stock is initially convertible
(subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments) into shares of Common Stock
based upon the ratio of (a) the total liquidation value (at $1,000 per preferred
share) of the preferred shares being converted, to (b) the then-effective
conversion price. The conversion price at any point in time will be 80% of the
prior three trading days' average of the reported closing bid price per share of
Common Stock.
That conversion feature affords a discount to fair market value at the
time of conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock into Common Stock. The
intrinsic value of this feature related to the 750 shares issued to Sellet in
May 1997 was $187,500, and that amount was recognized in the Company's financial
statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997. In accounting for this
intrinsic value, the Company reduced retained earnings by the appropriate
portion of the discount, which is analogous to a dividend, and increased
additional paid-in capital, as if that dividend were directly reinvested. In the
consolidated balance sheet for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, total
assets, total liabilities and total equity balances remained unchanged after
this adjustment, although the equity section of that balance sheet did reflect
the reclassification from earned capital to contributed capital in the amount of
the discount recognized. In the consolidated statement of operations for the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1997, the Company's loss per share calculation
reflected the increase to loss per share of Common Stock which resulted from the
reduction to retained earnings in recognition of the discount described above
(i.e., as if it were a dividend to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock).
September 1997 Financing
The Company issued 200,000 shares of Common Stock on September 16, 1997 to
an affiliate of Charles C. Johnston, a director and principal stockholder of the
Company, for an aggregate purchase price of $300,000 (the "September 1997
Financing"), which the Company's Board of Directors (excluding Johnston)
determined to the be the fair market value of those 200,000 shares at the time
of issuance. The Company used the proceeds from this financing as working
capital for general corporate purposes. See "Management--Directors and Executive
Officers," "Principal Stockholders" and "Certain Transactions--Transactions with
Director Charles C. Johnston."
January 1998 Financing
A summary of this transaction begins on page 7 of this Prospectus under
"Recent Developments--The January 1998 Financing." As of March 16, 1998, the
Company had used all of the proceeds from this financing as working capital for
general corporate purposes.
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Impact of Recent Accounting Pronouncements
During the six month period ended January 31, 1998, the Company adopted
SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." This statement establishes standards for
computing and presenting earnings per share ("EPS"), replacing the presentation
of currently required primary EPS with a presentation of basic EPS. EPS amounts
for the Company's prior accounting periods have been restated to conform with
SFAS No. 128.
Staff Accounting Bulletin 98 ("SAB 98"), was issued on February 3, 1998.
SAB 98 revises various existing SAB's to be consistent with the requirements of
SFAS No. 128. The most significant revision relates to the calculation of
earnings per share when there have been issuances of stock or options at prices
below the IPO price in periods preceding an initial public offering. SAB 98
requires all registrants who accounted for transactions under SAB 83 to restate
these results in conformity with SFAS 128. Accordingly, the Company has restated
the net loss per share data, and weighted average numbers of shares outstanding
at July 31, 1996, as required.
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BUSINESS
General
In its nearly five year history, Kideo Productions, Inc. has succeeded in
developing proprietary technologies and production processes which have made it
a low-cost manufacturer of a revolutionary new type of home entertainment
product: digitally photo-personalized home videos ("Kideos") and
photo-personalized books. Since commercially launching its first Kideos
nationally in the spring of 1994, the Company has focused primarily on producing
proprietary Kideo titles for children aged two to seven. In 1997, however, the
Company obtained licenses (the "Barney Licenses") to manufacture and sell
photo-personalized home videos and books featuring Barney, the dinosaur
character from the highly-rated children's television series "Barney and
Friends". With its existing photo-personalized product lines targeting the
children's market, the Company has created -- and believes it dominates -- a
unique product niche in the home video market.
In the Company's photo-personalized products, a child's face and name are
digitally placed by a PC-based production system into a story template that has
been digitally stored. The digital content is then output to either analog video
or a printed format, allowing the child to become the star in a personalized VHS
videocassette or book.
The Company currently markets eight proprietary personalized video titles
for children. The Barney Licenses provide for the release by the Company of one
photo-personalized Barney home video and three photo-personalized Barney books.
The Company has the right to market its Barney video title for the five-year
period ending June 30, 2002 and its Barney books for the five-year period ending
September 30, 2002. The Disney Licence provides for the release by the Company
of four English language photo-personalized books featuring Disney's standard
characters (i.e., Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto and
Goofy) and characters to be designated by Disney from the popular animated
motion pictures "Disneys's the Lion King " and "Toy Story". Two of the Disney
Books are required to be early learning books and two are to be original story
books. The Company has the rights to distribute the four Disney Books until
April 30, 2000 in Canada and the United States and its territories and
possessions.
For its fiscal years ended July 31, 1996 and 1997, the Company had net
losses of approximately $3,059,000 and $3,819,000, respectively, and it had an
accumulated deficit of approximately $10,398,000 as of January 31, 1998. The
report of independent accountants on the Company's consolidated financial
statements for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 contains an explanatory
paragraph stating that the Company's consolidated financial statements have been
prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, while
noting that the Company's recurring losses from operations and net working
capital deficiency raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a
going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any
adjustments that might result should the Company be unable to continue as a
going concern.
The Company claims proprietary rights in its technologies and production
process. In April 1997, the Company was issued a U.S. patent relating to its
digital personalization production process (Patent No. 5,623,587). The Company
believes that this patent could potentially have substantial value, since the
Company expects that businesses owning characters that are popular in the
children's home video and television markets will ultimately seek to exploit
those characters in digitally personalized audiovisual products.
Prior to 1997, the Company had marketed six Kideo titles (the "Original
Kideos"), which were created utilizing the first generation of the Company's
proprietary computerized production process. That production process resulted,
in general, in a videocassette product that might be likened to a "video
picturebook" - the child's personalized character appearing in an Original Kideo
is capable of only a very limited range of partial-motion animation.
In January 1997, the Company began marketing the first two titles in its
new series of Gregory and Me Kideos. The Company created these titles utilizing
a newly implemented proprietary production system. As a result of the improved
computerized production technologies employed by this system, in a Gregory and
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Me title the child's photo-personalized character can exhibit two-dimensional
full-motion animation and can be made to interact with both two-dimensional
animated versions and three-dimensional puppet versions of the Gregory and Me
cast of proprietary characters -- who in each title are led by Gregory Gopher.
It is this recently patented production process -- a sophisticated technological
system for the low cost, mass production of digitally photo-personalized videos
and books -- which the Company believes will provide it with a meaningful
near-term competitive advantage over new entrants into the emerging market for
digitally photo-personalized home entertainment products.
Each of the Original Kideos and Gregory and Me Kideos utilizes a
digitally-stored video story template that features content and characters which
are proprietary to the Company. The eight existing Kideo titles each has a
playing time of approximately 20 minutes and a suggested retail list price of
$29.95. The Company believes, however, that more than half of all Kideos sold by
its customers have been offered at an actual retail price of $34.95 or higher.
To date, substantially all Kideos sold have been purchased by U.S. consumers.
The Company historically has relied primarily on national catalogue retailers
(such as Hammacher Schlemmer and Spiegel) to market and sell its products. Since
the Underwritten Offering, however, the Company has increasingly been targeting
its marketing strategies towards direct-to-consumer advertising and the
development of relationships with established national distributors of
children's home video products.
Operating Strategy
During 1997, the Company determined to focus its near-term development
efforts for new digitally photo-personalized products increasingly upon the
creation of titles featuring licensed characters (instead of proprietary ones)
that have proven popularity in the children's home video market. In furtherance
of that objective, the Company in 1997 obtained the Barney Licenses (which allow
for the use of the Barney character in one photo-personalized home video and
three photo-personalized books) and the Disney License (which allows for the use
of certain Disney characters in four English language photo-personalized books).
In order to advance that objective, the Company also is currently seeking out
licensing, marketing and other arrangements with companies that control similar
types of characters and/or that have the demonstrated financial and operational
capabilities to promote and distribute children's home video products through a
broad range of domestic distribution channels, including retail outlets of
various kinds. The Company, however, is not seeking, or engaged in negotiations
concerning, any arrangements that relate to any merger, consolidation, purchase
or sale transaction involving the Company, any of its assets or any other
business.
The Company's long-term business strategy is to become a premier market
leader, both domestically and internationally, in the development, manufacturing
and marketing -- to children and other consumers -- of a wide variety of
digitally photo-personalized home video titles, other photo-personalized
audiovisual products, photo-personalized books, and related articles of
merchandise (both personalized and non-personalized). Included among the
Company's product development goals are:
o to develop additional photo-personalized home video and book titles
for children employing both proprietary and licensed characters; and
o to develop other digitally personalized audiovisual and printed
products likely to appeal to a demographic base spanning both
children and adults, such as personalized screen savers and other
personalized software products for personal computers.
In addition, the Company will in general continue to seek to expand its
product line by exploiting more sophisticated digital personalization
technologies, as they become available, in order to offer to consumers
progressively more sophisticated and entertaining personalized media products.
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Technology Overview
The production of Kideos was made possible by relatively recent
advancements in the capabilities of affordable desktop personal computers
("PCs") to process, manipulate and edit digital video information. A
photo-personalized Kideo product is created by the following process: overlaying
a digitized photographic image of a child's face onto the body of an illustrated
character embodied in a pre-existing, digitally-stored template; and then
outputting the resulting series of digital images to either an analog VHS
videocassette or a printed format. That process, in the production of a
photo-personalized VHS videocassette, is synchronized with accompanying musical
and narrative soundtracks. The narrative track is also personalized in
appropriate places by inserting the spoken name of the child. In the book
format, the printed images of the photo-personalized child's character are
accompanied by text into which that child's name also has been digitally
inserted. In the future, the Company's current production technologies will
enable it to manufacture its photo-personalized products in digital versatile
disk ("DVD") and other digital formats.
The three older titles of those comprising the Original Kideos -- Mr.
Tibbs & the Great Pet Search; My Alphabet; and 1,2,3, Come Count With Me -- were
conceived and produced by the Company prior to the Company's development of its
recently patented digital personalization production process, using a less
advanced production system (referred to herein as the "TVL system"). These three
Kideo titles consist merely of 130 to 150 two-dimensional full-screen
illustrated images (or "frames") in which the child appears as the main
character together with other illustrated characters who comprise the standard
content of the particular title. In the three Kideo titles produced with the TVL
System, the illustrated body of the child's personalized character can be moved
around within a frame, but only in a limited number of frames, and each frame
appears on screen for almost six seconds before fading to the next frame. As a
result, the finished Kideo product has a somewhat static appearance that might
be likened to a "video picturebook," as distinguished from the full-motion
animation a consumer experiences when viewing, for example, a videocassette of
Disney's The Lion King. During the second half of 1996, the Company ceased
producing the three older Original Kideos on the TVL system and began
manufacturing them using the digital personalization production process in use
currently by the Company.
The fourth of the Original Kideo titles is My Christmas Wish. First
introduced to the market in the latter half of 1995, this title was the first
Kideo to be produced by the Company utilizing a newly-implemented system for the
production of digitally personalized videos. Because the Company utilized some
of the new and more advanced production technologies available to it with such
system, the two-dimensional illustrated body of the child's personalized
character in this title exhibits a significantly greater range of animated
motion -- although still not full-motion animation. In My Christmas Wish, not
only can the illustrated character be moved around the screen, but there is also
movement within the illustrated body itself (i.e., arms can be raised, the head
turned, etc.).
In January 1997, the Company introduced to the market the first two titles
of the Gregory and Me series of Kideos - See What I Can Do! and My Amazing
Animal Adventure. In creating these two titles, the Company utilized some of the
more advanced production capabilities afforded by its new digital
personalization production process. As a result, in the first two Gregory and Me
Kideos, the illustrated body of the child's personalized character exhibits
two-dimensional full-motion animation (instead of merely partial-motion
animation) and is able to interact with both two-dimensional animated versions
and three-dimensional puppet versions of the Gregory and Me cast of proprietary
characters.
The Company most recently employed these same advanced production
capabilities in creating its first photo-personalized Barney home video title --
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"My Party with Barney" -- which the Company currently is selling through direct-
response promotions on the HSN and QVC television channels.
The Company's ultimate objective for the evolution of its digital
personalization production process, however, is to create a manufacturing system
capable of producing, at low cost, Kideos -- as well as other digitally
personalized consumer media products -- in which the customer's personalized
character can exhibit two dimensional or three dimensional full-motion animation
in both its illustrated body and in the features of its personalized facial
image (e.g., moving eyes and eyebrows and lips that move in synchronization with
sound). The Company believes that such features may be required in order for
digitally personalized media products to achieve broad consumer acceptance.
There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will ever succeed in
developing a production system capable of producing products with such features
at a cost acceptable to the Company. For instance, while the Company believes
that, at the present time, there are existing technologies (such as those that
enabled Pixar Animation Studios to produce the feature film Toy Story) that
could be used to produce products with such features, the Company believes that
costs curerently associated with such production would make those products far
too expensive for the broad-based consumer market.
Production of Kideo Products
The Company's current digital personalization production process was
developed in order to further the Company's ultimate objective of creating
digitally personalized products featuring two-dimensional and three-dimensional
full-motion animation. The new production system (which is based upon the use of
affordable, networked IBM-compatible PCs) produces Kideos by employing PC
hardware, proprietary computer software and proprietary production technologies
and components in combination with various commercially available multimedia
production software applications.
The Company claims proprietary rights in its production technologies and
processes. In April 1997, the Company was issued a U.S. patent relating to its
digital personalization production process (Patent No. 5,623,587). The Company
believes that this patent could potentially have substantial value, since the
Company expects that businesses owning characters that are popular in the
children's home video and television markets will ultimately seek to exploit
those characters in digitally personalized audiovisual products.
The Company first used its current digital personalization production
process in the development of My Christmas Wish. As a result, this title became
the first Kideo title in which the illustrated body of the child's personalized
character is able to exhibit actual two-dimensional partial-motion animation.
The new Kideo production system is already capable, however, of producing an
even wider range of motion than that exhibited by the personalized character in
My Christmas Wish. The more advanced technologies utilized in the new system
make it possible to produce a personalized video in which (i) the illustrated
body of the child's personalized character can exhibit two-dimensional
full-motion animation and (ii) the personalized facial image of the child's
character can exhibit at least some limited motion, such as eyes that blink and
lips that move up and down (although not necessarily in synchronization with the
soundtrack). The Company expects that these improvements in the features of its
Kideos will enable it to produce new titles that will be more entertaining and
engaging for the child for whom a Kideo is purchased. To date, however, the
Company has not made use in any Kideo titles of the capability to achieve
partial animation of the personalized facial id's character. It is anticipated
that this feature improvement will first be implemented at some time during 1998
or 1999 in connection with a new title in the Gregory and Me series or in a
future title featuring popular
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children's characters licensed from others (the development of which cannot be
assured).
The Company believes that -- in addition to improving the quality and
features of the Company's products -- its new Kideo production system will
afford it a variety of other competitive advantages, including these:
o Reduced Production Time. When using the new production system, the
time required to manually silhouette (or "cut") the customer's face
and then for the PC to automatically size and place that face's
digital image throughout a digital video template has been reduced
by approximately 50% when compared with the time required for these
procedures using the defunct TVL system.
o Greater Production Yields. A single production station employing the
Company's new production system is capable of producing
approximately 160 personalized Kideos during an eight-hour shift, as
compared to the less than 80 such Kideos that a single TVL-system
production station was capable of producing during the same shift.
Product Fulfillment
The Company designs, develops and produces its Kideo products as finished
goods at its New York City facility, without employing any subcontractors in the
production process. Pre-paid Kideo order kits are shipped to the Company's
customers from third-party fulfillment centers. The components used in the
production of Kideos (e.g., Pcs, commercially available multimedia production
software applications, and VHS videocassettes and related labels and packaging)
are readily available to the Company from a large number of competitively priced
suppliers. Once ordered, a personalized Kideo is produced and shipped to the
customer generally within two to four weeks after the order is received. There
is consequently no meaningful backlog.
The Company believes that it currently has the production capacity,
personnel and other resources required in order to produce and deliver its
existing Kideo products on a timely basis and in accordance with the Company's
estimated demand for its products. This belief is derived in large part from the
nature of the Company's new production system, which is comprised of modular
production stations. In the event of increased demand for its Kideos, the
Company's experience has been that one or more production stations can be added
and the related production personnel trained in about one week. In addition,
because the Company sells a Kideo by first selling the order kit for the desired
title, the Company at any point in time can accurately forecast the short-term
demand for its products based upon the number of Kideo on circulation. As a
result, the Company believes that it can anticipate a need to add new Kideo
production stations reasonably in advance of having actually to meet any
increased future demand for its products.
The Existing Kideo Titles
The six Original Kideo titles (Mr. Tibbs & the Great Pet Search; My
Alphabet; 1,2,3, Come Count With Me; My Christmas Wish; Mystery of the Missing
King; and Space Ace ) and the first two Gregory and Me titles (See What I Can
Do! and My Amazing Animal Adventure) all feature characters developed by the
Company - respectively, Mr. Tibbs, Alexander G. Bear, Counting Cat, the
Company's own version of Santa Claus and, in each Gregory and Me title, a cast
of animal characters consisting of Gregory Gopher (the "host" of each title),
Cyrus, Shelly, Ziggy and Zag. Each video story lasts for approximately 20
minutes.
Each of the eight Kideo titles now being marketed has been designed to
take advantage of the power of video personalization to stimulate the
imagination of children by literally placing them in exciting and educational
situations where
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they can see themselves learning and having fun. They ride on the back of a
hippo while counting four turtles in a boat; they learn about the letter "L" by
leapfrogging over Alexander G. Bear; and they dive beneath the sea to meet a
tortoise. Mr. Tibbs even asks, "Sarah, would you like a zebra for a pet?" In My
Amazing Animal Adventure, the child at one point sees her personalized character
riding in a canoe with a three-dimensional puppet version of Gregory Gopher, who
calls her attention - addressing her by name - to various animals they are
passing on the river.
In addition to the child's face appearing throughout his or her
personalized Kideo, the child's name is spoken in various appropriate places on
the Kideo soundtrack. The Company maintains an extensive digital archive of the
audio recordings of the spoken first names of all of its child-customers. The
archive is updated on a regular basis as new Kideo orders are received which
require the recording and insertion of a name not then in the Company's
database. In its Kideo order kits and other marketing materials, the Company
makes a commitment to its potential customers to produce a Kideo in which any
specified name of a child will be spoken on the Kideo to that child's
personalized character. The child's name is also printed on the outside cover of
each tape (which is packaged in a white vinyl album cover), as well as on the
label of the tape itself. The tape shells come in assorted bright colors.
Each of the existing Kideo titles currently has a suggested retail list
price of $29.95. The Company believes, however, that more than half of all
Kideos sold to date by its customers have been offered at an actual retail price
of $34.95 or higher, and the Company is considering raising its suggested retail
list price to $34.95 in the near future.
Photo-Personalized Products Featuring Barney the Dinosaur and Disney Characters
In March 1998, the Company began selling on HSN and QVC its first
photo-personalized Barney home video title -- "My Party with Barney." In this
17-minute home video, the photo-personalized child character interacts with
Barney, one of the most popular children's market characters in America and the
star of the highly-rated children's television series "Barney and Friends." "My
Party with Barney" takes advantage of all of the sophisticated production
technologies and features that the Company has used in the production of the
Gregory and Me series of Kideos. This title is packaged similarly to the Gregory
titles in a personalized vinyl videocassette cover. The suggested retail list
price for "My Party with Barney" is $34.95. Under the Barney Licenses, the
Company has the right to market "My Party with Barney" for the five-year period
ending June 30, 2002.
The Company believes that the proven broad appeal of Barney products in
the Company's targeted demographic market will contribute to making this video
title its most successful ever. In the consumer marketplace, Barney has become
one of the most popular children's characters of all time. The Barney television
series is currently the number one ranked series among children from two to five
years old. Barney also is currently the number one ranked character in the
children's home video market, in which sales of Barney titles account for
approximately 17% of all children's non-theatrical home video titles.
"My Party with Barney" was first marketed for sale in March 1998 on The
Home Shopping Network ("HSN"), which broadcasts to over 70 million U.S.
households. A 15 minute promotional spot was broadcast by HSN six times during a
48 hour period. In response, HSN received telephone orders for approximately
9,000 units of "My Party with Barney." In comparison, from the spring of 1994
(when the Company first began selling its Kideo products) through January 31,
1998, the Company had sold approximately 121,000 Kideos. Through April of 1998,
orders for Kideo titles had been placed with HSN and QVC in the amounts of
approximately $750,000 and $572,000, respectively, representing total sales of
$1,323,000 (virtually all of which represented orders for "My Party With
Barney"). HSN and QVC have agreed to continue marketing "My Party with Barney,"
along with the Company's Gregory and Me Kideos, throughout the spring and summer
of 1998. This recent experience has reaffirmed the Company's
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belief that it may be able to exploit significant sales opportunities through
the creation of Kideos that, like "My Party with Barney," feature licensed
characters that have proven popularity in the children's home video market.
The Barney Licenses also permit the Company to market three
photo-personalized Barney books over the five-year period ending September 30,
2002. The first of these books, "Barney's Alphabet Adventure With Me," is
expected to be released in the late spring or early summer of April 1998. It
will be a 24-page, laminated hardcover book in which the child's image is
digitally printed throughout, accompanied by the insertion of the child's
printed name in the text of the story.
The Company believes that the proven broad appeal of Barney products in
the Company's targeted demographic market will contribute to making this book a
successful new product. Since 1993, over 34 million Barney books have been sold.
The latest "All-Time Bestselling Hardcover Children's Book Lists" includes 27
Barney book titles.
Under the Barney Licenses, the Company has the right to market its Barney
video title for the five-year period ending June 30, 2002 and its Barney books
for the five year period ending September 30, 2002. In each case, the Company's
distribution rights extend to Canada and the United States and its territories
and possessions. With respect to Barney video titles, the Company's
manufacturing rights are limited to the production of videos in the NTSC format
only. Within 60 days after the one-year anniversary of the first release of "My
Party with Barney", Kideo and Lyons Partnership, L.P. ("Lyons"), the licensor of
the Barney characters, are to negotiate in good faith regarding the potential
grant of a license by Lyons to the Company for the manufacture and distribution
of additional videos featuring Barney characters. On sales of videos and books
pursuant to the Barney Licenses, the Company is obligated to pay to Lyons, on a
quarterly basis, certain specified royalties (at rates believed by the Company
to be customary in the home video and book publishing industries for licensing
transactions of similar nature). Lyons' royalty rates for video and book sales
are subject to a specified dollars-and-cents minimum royalty per unit sold. In
the case of video sales, Lyons' royalty rates will increase as certain specified
unit sales levels are exceeded.
The Disney License provides for the release by the Company of four English
language photo-personalized books featuring Disney's standard characters (i.e.,
Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto and Goofy) and
characters to be designated by Disney from the popular animated motion pictures
"Disney's The Lion King" and "Toy Story". Two of the Disney Books are required
to be early learning books and two are to be original stroy books. The Company
has the rights to distribute the four Disney Books until April 30, 2000 in
Canada and the United States and its territories and possessions. The Company's
rights under the Disney License are nonexclusive; accordingly, Disney could
license any of its characters to third parties for the creation of different
photo-personalized books (the Company's rights being exclusive during the
contract's term with respect to the publication and sale of the Disney Books
created by it under the Disney License). The Disney Books are required to
hardcover books and are to be of a type and quality designed to sell at a
suggested retail price of $19.95; the Company, however, has the absolute
discretion to price each book as it deems appropriate. As partial consideration
for the rights granted by Disney under the Disney License, the Company paid
Disney $25,000 as an advance against the royalties payable to Disney thereunder.
On sales of the Disney Books pursuant to the Disney License, the Company is
obligated to pay to Disney, on a monthly basis, certain specified royalties (at
rates believed by the Company to be customary in the book publishing industry
for licensing transactions of similar nature), subject to (i) a specified
dollars-and-cents minimum royalty per unit sold and (ii) guaranteed aggregate
minimum royalties paid to Disney during the contract's term of $100,00.
Potential Future Products
There can be no assurance that the Company will ever be successful in
developing any of the potential new products described below (or their
associated production methodologies), that it will have the financial and other
capabilities required to commercialize such new products, or that any of such
products, if commercialized, will be successfully marketed by the Company or
contribute materially to the Company's future revenues or profits (if any).
Near-Term Product Development Goals
From among the many conceivable new product opportunities envisioned by
the Company, it currently intends, in the short- to near-term, to continue to
direct its product development efforts towards the market segment that it
believes it has largely created and accordingly knows best -- the home-consumer
market for digitally personalized products that are essentially videos, books
and other digitally photo-personalized printed products (as opposed to, for
example, computer games or other computer software titles, such as personalized
computer screen savers). Examples of the types of new products currently being
investigated by the Company include photo-personalized puzzles, calendars and
posters. The Company does not expect, however, to be able to commercialize any
of those products for introduction to the markets until the fall of 1998 at the
earliest.
Kideo Related Merchandise. By using proprietary content and characters to
expand its line of Kideos, the Company believes that it may be able to leverage
the investment it makes in the creation of such characters into an additional
revenue stream, i.e., by selling other, related merchandise featuring those same
characters. Mr. Tibbs, Alexander G. Bear and Counting Cat, for instance, could
all be produced as plush stuffed-animal toys or could be featured in children's
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coloring books and work books. The Company currently is marketing a plush toy
version of Gregory Gopher as well as an audio cassette containing the songs that
are sung by Gregory Gopher, Cyrus, Shelly, Ziggy and Zag in See What I Can Do
and My Amazing Animal Adventure.
Kideos Featuring Popular Licensed Characters. Although the Company
historically has focused on the development and exploitation of its proprietary
content, it has not ignored potential opportunities to expand its line of Kideos
to include titles featuring licensed characters that are popular in the
children's market. Since the Company's successful implementation of its new
production process in the manufacturing of the Gregory and Me titles and the
U.S. Patent Examiner's grant of the patent claims relating to aspects of that
production process, the Company has increasingly devoted management resources to
the development in the near-term of Kideo titles featuring licensed characters.
In furtherance of that development objective, the Company is currently seeking
out licensing, marketing and other arrangements with companies that control
those types of characters and/or that have the demonstrated financial and
operational capabilities to promote and distribute children's home video
products through a broad range of domestic distribution channels, including
retail outlets of various kinds. In a Kideo title featuring licensed characters,
the child's personalized character could conceivably appear alongside and
interact with animated characters (e.g., Bugs Bunny and Johnny Quest) or
live-action characters (e.g., Barney and Big Bird).
To date, however, the Company has not entered into any definitive
agreements with respect to the licensing of any such characters, and there can
be no assurance either that any such licenses will be made available to the
Company or that, if made available, they will be offered on terms and conditions
that are acceptable to the Company.
In pursuing these product development goals, the Company is not seeking,
or engaged in negotiations concerning, any arrangements that relate to any
merger, consolidation, purchase or sale transaction involving the Company, any
of its assets or any other business.
Longer-Term Product Development Goals
The Company expects that, over the course of the next decade or so, the
digital/electronic audiovisual media industries will experience significant
growth and that this growth could present businesses employing technologies like
those the Company has developed with numerous opportunities to apply digital
personalization to virtually any popular media content. While no assurance can
be given to this effect, such opportunities could someday in the future result
in consumer products that might conceivably include personalized computer screen
savers, personalized interactive video games or even personalized interactive
television programming. In order to capitalize on such opportunities, it is part
of the Company's long-term strategy for the development of future products to
create digitally personalized audiovisual products that are likely to appeal to
a broad demographic base, spanning both children and adults. The Company also
intends to continually seek to expand its product line by exploiting more
sophisticated digital personalization technologies, as they become available, in
order to offer progressively more sophisticated and entertaining personalized
media products.
Research and Development Expenditures
In the fiscal years ended July 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the Company's
expenditures on research and development activities totalled approximately
$374,000, $213,000 and $171,000, respectively.
Marketing
General
Over the approximately three years that Kideos have been marketed, the
Company believes that it has developed important sales and distribution
relationships with some of the country's most respected catalogue retailers and
retail stores. Kideo order kits have been made available for
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purchase at various times through such national mail order catalogues as
Hammacher Schlemmer, Spiegel, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Personal
Creations, Fingerhut, Celebration Fantastic, One Step Ahead, Johnson Smith, Just
Between Us, Skymall, Critics Choice Video and Troll Learn & Play. When the
Company first began marketing its products, sales through catalogue retailers
were the primary distribution outlet for Kideos. More recently, however,
direct-to-consumer sales have increased substantially as the Company has
explored and tested various types of direct marketing campaigns (including
television, radio and direct mail). The Company currently is seeking to expand
its sales and marketing efforts by increasing its distribution channels,
including by pursuing strategic marketing alliances with third parties.
Catalogue Sales
During the 1997 Fiscal Year, catalogue sales accounted for approximately
40% of the Company's revenues. Sales through the Hammacher Schlemmer catalogue,
in particular, accounted for approximately 7% of the Company's revenues. The
Company believes that the initial placement of Kideo information in mail order
catalogues resulted largely from the Company's engagement of an independent
national catalogue representative who represents over forty catalogues
nationwide. This representative (who is still being utilized by the Company)
receives 15% of the net sales proceeds generated by its product placements.
Because of the success generally experienced by Hammacher Schlemmer and
other catalogue retailers who were among the first to offer Kideos in their
catalogues, the Company currently is finding it increasingly easy to convince
other catalogue retailers to feature Kideos in their publications. In the 1996
and 1997 Christmas holiday season, for example, Kideos appeared in the Sears
Wish Book. Since August 1995, the number of nationally distributed catalogues in
which Kideos were marketed increased from 14 at the start to approximately 36
currently. For the foreseeable future, the Company will continue to target major
catalogues as potential new marketing outlets for Kideo.
Retail Distribution
To date, sales of Kideos through retail toy stores and other retailers
have not been a significant source of revenues. For the 1997 Fiscal Year, sales
of Kideos through retail outlets accounted for approximately 4% of the
Company's revenues. In March 1994, the FAO Schwarz flagship store on Fifth
Avenue in New York City became the first retail store to market the Company's
products. The store used an in-store display that provided order kits for
Kideos. Most retailers typically sell a Kideo order kit for $34.95. There can be
no assurance that any of the Company's current or future efforts to expand the
marketing of Kideos through mass market retail locations will prove successful
or meaningful to the Company's operations -- including any of its recent efforts
to obtain licensing, marketing and other arrangements with companies that
control popular children's market characters and/or that have the ability to
distribute children's home video products through a broad range of retail and
other domestic distribution channels. See "Risk Factors--Limited Marketing
Capabilities."
Direct Sales
Direct sales to consumers accounted for approximately 56% of the Company's
revenues for the 1997 Fiscal Year (as compared to approximately 27% of revenues
for the prior fiscal year). During the six months ended January 31, 1998,
direct-to-consumer sales accounted for 68% of the Company's revenue as compared
to 54% for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year. The Company
believes that this increase reflects the cumulative results of the Company's
direct marketing activities (including television and radio advertising and
direct mail campaigns).
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The Company believes that its direct-to-consumer sales benefitted also
from a higher level of consumer awareness resulting from television and print
exposure of the Company and its products, including television exposure on the
Oprah Winfrey Show, EXTRA, Managing with Lou Dobbs, and articles on the Company
published by The New York Times, Gannett Newspapers, Newsweek, and Equity
Magazine.
The Company strongly believes that, over the long term, if sufficient
funds are available for this purpose, direct sales efforts could ultimately
become the Company's largest distribution channel. While the Company cannot
predict which types of direct marketing activities may ultimately prove
successful in producing increased sales of Kideos, it anticipates that the
development and implementation of various types of direct marketing capabilities
will continue to consume a substantial portion of the Company's marketing
expenditures in the short to near term.
If current revenue levels are sustained for the near term, however, the
Company does not believe that it will have the capability to devote to its
marketing efforts funds of its own in amounts that will be sufficient to create
broad consumer awareness of the Company's products. The Company accordingly is
pursuing strategic marketing alliances with third parties, with the intention of
reducing its financial risk in direct-to-consumer advertising programs. There
can be no assurances that these objectives will be achieved. See "Risk
Factors--Limited Marketing Capabilities."
Customer Satisfaction and Service
A Kideo customer's satisfaction is guaranteed by the Company in that, if
unhappy with the product, the customer may return it until the Company has
produced and delivered a satisfactory Kideo. Even with this policy, refunds have
historically been negligible.
The Company provides its customers with the opportunity to track the
status of their Kideo orders by utilizing the Company's automated, toll-free
telephone response system (the "Customer Response System"). A customer who
orders a Kideo receives his order number for it from the Kideo order kit that he
purchased. When the Company receives that order kit, it creates a digital,
computerized version of the order (including the corresponding order number)
together with a physical bar-coded version (which also embodies the order number
information). At each stage of the Company's process of manufacturing that
particular Kideo, the bar-coded physical order is manually "swiped" through an
optical scanner, resulting in the computerized version of the order being
updated as to where that customer's Kideo is in the production process (e.g.,
the child's voice has been recorded and/or inserted into the title; the child's
face has been digitized; etc.). Because the Company's production system is fully
computerized and networked, when that customer calls the toll-free number and
inputs his order number, the Company's customer service operator can respond
instantly with the status of the order in question after checking the
appropriate computer database.
Competition and Industry Background
The Company believes that the market for digitally personalized video
media -- although only in its development stages -- will likely evolve into a
highly competitive market. The technologies which have enabled the production of
digitally personalized video products utilizing relatively low cost PC hardware
and software (as opposed to more expensive computer workstations and larger
computer systems) have only been available since approximately 1993. As a
result, there is relatively limited information available concerning the
potential market and demand for personalized video media products or concerning
the performance
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and prospects of companies seeking to do business in this new and largely
untested market.
To the Company's knowledge, at present there is only one other company
marketing personalized video media of any kind: U.R. The Star ("URTS"). URTS, a
Florida-based company, has been in the personalized video business since 1993.
The Company believes that URTS currently offers six stories, each having a
suggested retail list price of $19.95. Although the URTS product features a
combination of two-dimensional and three-dimensional partial motion animation,
the Company does not believe that these products compete effectively with Kideos
on the basis of quality. While each URTS tape is approximately 12 to 15 minutes
long, for example, the child's face will appear on-screen only for a total of
approximately 60 seconds. Several minutes can pass without the child's face
appearing at all. The Company does not believe that URTS engages in substantial
marketing of its stories through major national catalog retailers, direct
mail-order solicitations or television advertising.
There are numerous other companies involved in video media production who
could possibly enter the personalized market segment in which the Company is
doing business. Many of such companies have substantially greater financial,
technical, research, development, production, marketing and other resources than
those of the Company. Although the Company believes -- based upon the technical
expertise it has developed in its market and the quality, price and features of
its products -- that it will be able to compete favorably with its existing and
future competitors, there can be no assurances in this regard. In light of the
fact that the personalized video media business is in the earliest stages of its
development, there also can be no assurance that existing or future competitors
of the Company will not develop technologies and products that are significantly
superior to those of the Company, or that their products will not gain
substantially greater market acceptance, or that developments ill not ultimately
render the Company's technologies obsolete or its products unmarketable.
Despite risks of this nature, the Company believes that its recently
patented digital personalization production process will provide it with a
meaningful short-term to near-term competitive advantage over new entrants into
the emerging market for digitally personalized video products. The Company does
not believe that even well-financed potential competitors will be able, in a
relatively short period of time, to successfully research, develop, test and
implement production systems capable of low-cost mass production of digitally
personalized videos.
Intellectual Property Rights
The Company believes that its prospects for success depend more upon the
dedication, knowledge, ability, experience and technological expertise of its
employees than upon any legal protection that may be afforded to the Company's
proprietary rights.
The Company claims proprietary rights in various technologies (including
hardware and software), videos, cartoon characters, music, text, graphic images,
techniques, methods and trademarks which relate to the Company's products and
operations. Like many computer-related technology companies, the Company seeks
to protect such proprietary rights by relying upon a combination of patent,
trade secret, copyright, trademark and unfair competition laws and various
contractual restrictions, including confidentiality and non-disclosure
agreements.
Although the Company intends to protect its rights vigorously, there can
be no assurance as to the degree of legal protection that may be afforded to the
proprietary rights claimed by the Company. It is possible, for example, that
trade secrets may not be established, that secrecy obligations will not be
honored or enforceable, or that other parties will independently develop
technologies or processes that are similar or superior to those of the Company.
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It is also possible that a consultant or other third party engaged by the
Company might independently develop certain technological information which such
party then applies to one of the Company's own technological processes. In such
an event, a dispute could arise as to the ownership of the proprietary rights to
the information developed by such party. It is possible that such a dispute
might not be resolved in the Company's favor, despite steps the Company may have
taken in a contract with the party at issue seeking to claim ownership in
information developed by that party while engaged by the Company.
In April 1997, the Company was issued a U.S. patent relating to its
digital personalization production process (Patent No. 5,623,587). None of the
Company's intellectual property rights, however, are currently the subject of
any issued patents in any foreign jurisdiction. The Company believes that this
patent could potentially have substantial value, since the Company expects that
businesses owning characters that are popular in the children's home video and
television markets will ultimately seek to exploit those characters in digitally
personalized audiovisual products.
Patents and patent applications, like the ones issued to and filed by the
Company, involve complex legal and factual questions, and the scope and breadth
of patent claims that may have issued, or that may be allowed in the future, is
inherently uncertain. As a result, even when a patent is issued to a company,
there can be no assurance as to the degree or adequacy of protection that such
patent may afford.
Three federal trademark applications are currently pending in the United
States with respect to the name "Kideo," and corresponding trademark
applications have been filed in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain and the
United Kingdom. However, since one or more other parties may have rights to this
trademark (in this country and/or overseas), there can be no assurance that the
Company will ultimately obtain a registered trademark for the word "Kideo" for
use with respect to its products and services. A federal trademark application
also is currently pending in the United States with respect to the name "Gregory
and Me."
The Company also claims proprietary rights in its personalized sticker
books. In April 1997, the Company filed a U.S. patent application covering the
sticker books themselves and the process for making the personalized sticker
books.
Employees
As of March 16, 1997, the Company employed 17 full-time employees and four
part-time employees, including three in administration and finance, one in
marketing and sales, five in new product creation, six in production, one in
shipping, and five who are secretarial/clerical, database or customer service
employees. During the Christmas holiday season (roughly the months of October
through December), the Company generally employs approximately 30 additional
part-time employees to perform production and database tasks. The Company's
employees are not represented by any labor organizations. Management believes
that its relationship with its employees is good.
Facilities
The Company's principal executive office consists of approximately 6,000
square feet of leased space in New York City, of which approximately 2,400
square feet are used for offices and 3,600 are used for the manufacturing of
Kideos. In addition to customary office furnishings and equipment, the Company's
tangible property is comprised primarily of the PC hardware, digital image
scanning equipment, VHS video cassette recorders and related hardware that
constitute its system for the production of digitally personalized videos.
44
<PAGE>
Legal Proceedings
The Company has adopted and used the word "Kideo" as its principal
trademark for its products and services. The Company has applied for
registration of this trademark in the United States, Australia, France, Germany,
Japan, Spain and the United Kingdom. Another party had previously registered two
allegedly similar trademarks but had ceased using them and had filed for
bankruptcy under Chapter 11. On July 6, 1994, the Company commenced proceedings,
before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board of the United States Patent and
Trademark Office, against such party's successor (the "Successor"), seeking to
obtain the cancellation of these trademarks on the basis of abandonment. The
Company has prevailed in one proceeding, but the other proceeding is still
pending. This latter proceeding is currently suspended, pursuant to a
stipulation agreed upon by the Company and the Successor, while they complete
the formalities of a settlement. In this settlement, the Successor has agreed to
withdraw its registration and a pending application to register the mark "Kideo"
and to cease using this mark in the United States. The settlement agreement has
been prepared, agreed to by both parties, and is in the process of being
executed. The Company does not anticipate any reason why the settlement
agreement would not be executed and delivered by the Successor.
Another third party also has been using the trademark "Kideo" locally in
the State of Illinois and has obtained an Illinois state registration of this
mark. This may prevent the Company from using the "Kideo" mark in the state of
Illinois.
In the event that the Company does not prevail in obtaining the
unquestioned right to use the mark "Kideo," it does not believe that its
business or prospects will be materially adversely affected. While the Company
thinks that the name "Kideo" is particularly well-suited to the type of product
that it sells, the Company does not believe that its market penetration to date
has been extensive enough that the inability to market products under the Kideo
name will adversely affect its ability to find new customer accounts or damage
its relationships with existing accounts.
45
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT
Directors and Executive Officers
The following are the directors and executive officers of the Company. All
officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The Company
currently has authorized five directors (pursuant to a resolution adopted by the
Board in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation). There are no
vacancies on the Board.
Name Age Position
Richard L. Bulman 33 Chairman of the Board and President
Marvin H. Goldstein 51 Vice President-Controller
Bradley Dahl 37 Vice President-Development
Richard D. Bulman 63 Secretary, Director and Acting Chief
Financial Officer
Charles C. Johnston 63 Director
Thomas Griffin 59 Director
Michael B. Solovay 39 Director
Richard L. Bulman is the founder of the Company and has served as its
President and Chairman of the Board since its inception in August 1993. Prior
thereto, from April 1991 to June 1993, Mr. Bulman was Director of Applications
Development at Targa Systems Corp. ("Targa"), where he was responsible for
developing customized multimedia applications for such clients as International
Business Machines ("IBM"), John Hancock Mutual Life and Keystone Foods
(McDonalds). From February 1990 to April 1991, Mr. Bulman managed his own
marketing consulting firm, Richard Bulman Consulting, in Milan, Italy, where he
had responsibility for developing international marketing and advertising
campaigns for a broad range of clients including multinational corporations such
as Montedison and Instrumentation Laboratories. From December 1988 to February
1990, Mr. Bulman was Advertising Manager for 7 Days Magazine in New York.
Richard L. Bulman is the son of Richard D. Bulman, a director of the Company.
Marvin H. Goldstein was the Chief Financial Officer of the Company from
June 1994 until December 1995, when he became Vice President-Controller. Mr.
Goldstein also has been a partner of Golden Pearl Associates, a real estate
management firm that owns, manages and operates various business interests since
1980. In addition, from August 1979 to December 1993, Mr. Goldstein owned and
operated Hermans Haberdashery Co. Inc., a retail clothing firm, and prior to
that time he was with the accounting firm of Grant Thornton for approximately
four years and was a partner at William Greene & Co., CPAs for approximately
five years. Mr. Goldstein has been licensed as a certified public accountant in
the State of New York since 1972.
Bradley Dahl has served as the Company's Vice President of Development
since July 1995. Prior to being employed by the Company, Mr. Dahl served as the
Creative Director of Interactive Videosystems, Inc. from January 1993 to April
1995, where he market tested and developed certain technologies (lathe Company)
relating to the mass production of digitally personalized video products. Prior
to his employment at Interactive Videosystems, Mr. Dahl was, from May 1992 to
January 1993, a product developer for Serius Imaging and, from May 1990 to May
1992, an Account Representative at Impex Controls Ltd., a company that develops
computer-based network control systems for institutions such as hospitals and
46
<PAGE>
prisons. From January 1984 to May 1990, Mr. Dahl was the President of Alphatel
Videotex Directories Ltd., which developed, marketed and operated digital video
multimedia local area networked systems for large corporations and government
agencies.
Richard D. Bulman has served as Secretary and a director of the Company
since August 1993. Mr. Bulman has served as the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Targa since March 1992. Prior to joining that company, Mr. Bulman
was Vice President and General Manager for the International Market Network
(IMNET), a joint venture between IBM and Merrill Lynch & Co., from March 1988 to
January 1991. For the preceding 30 years, Mr. Bulman held various positions at
IBM, including Group Director and Chief Financial Officer of the U.S. Product
Group, Group Director of the U.S. Marketing and Services Group, and Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the IBM Service Bureau
Corporation. Mr. Bulman has also served as President of Bedford Associates, a
subsidiary of British Airways, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Information Systems, Inc., a technology outsourcing company, and a consultant to
various venture capital firms. Richard D. Bulman is the father of Richard L.
Bulman, the President and Chairman of the Board of the Company.
Charles C. Johnston has served as a director of the Company since June
1994. Mr. Johnston has served as the Chairman of the Board of the Computer
Systems and Services Business Unit of Teleglobe, Inc. of Montreal, Canada since
November 1989. He was previously founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of the Board of ISI Systems, Inc., a provider of specialty data processing
services and software which was acquired by Teleglobe, Inc. in 1989. Mr.
Johnston has also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ventex
Technologies, a company involved in the design and sale of electronic
transformers for the neon lighting industry. Mr. Johnston serves on the Board of
Directors of I.D. Matrix of Clearwater, Florida, Wordenglass & Electric, Inc.
and Spectrum Signal Processing of Vancouver, Canada, and is a trustee of
Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Thomas Griffin has served as a director of the Company since February
1996. Mr. Griffin has been the Co-Chairman of Griffin Bacal, Inc., an
advertising agency that he founded in 1978, for more than five years prior to
the date hereof. Griffin Bacal focuses on the advertising and marketing of
entertainment products and services for children and adults. Mr. Griffin is also
the founder, and since 1978 has been Co-Chairman, of Sunbow Entertainment, Inc.,
a company that produces and distributes animated and live action dramatic
television programming for children. Mr. Griffin also has been serving as a
director of both DDB Needham Worldwide since July 1994 and the Eastern Region of
the American Association of Advertising Agencies from 1994 to 1996.
Michael B. Solovay has served as a director of the Company since July 1996
and as an Assistant Secretary since February 1996. Since January 1992, Mr.
Solovay has been a partner in the law firm of Solovay Marshall & Edlin (which
has acted as legal counsel to the Company since October 1995). For approximately
five years prior to that time, Mr. Solovay had been an associate attorney in the
law firm of Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom.
All directors will hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders to
be held during 1998 (the "1998 Annual Meeting") and until their successors are
duly elected and qualified. The Certificate of Incorporation provides that, at
the 1999 Annual Meeting, the terms of office of the directors will be divided
into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III. At the 1998
Annual Meeting, Class I directors (consisting initially of Thomas Griffin and
Michael B. Solovay) will be elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting of
stockholders to be held in 1999, Class II directors (consisting initially of
Charles C. Johnston) will be elected for a term expiring at the annual meeting
of stockholders to be held in 2000, and Class III directors (consisting
initially of Richard L. Bulman and Richard D. Bulman) will be elected for a term
expiring
47
<PAGE>
at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2001. At each annual meeting
of stockholders beginning with the 1999 annual meeting, the successors to
directors whose terms will then expire will be elected to serve from the time of
election and qualification until the third annual meeting following election
(and in each case until their successors have been duly elected and qualified).
Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of
directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as
possible, each class will consist of an equal number of directors.
The Company has agreed that, until June 24, 2001, if so requested by the
Underwriter, it will nominate and use its best efforts to elect a designee of
the Underwriter to the Company's Board of Directors or, at the Underwriter's
option, as a nonvoting advisor to the Board. The Underwriter has not yet
exercised its right to designate such person, and has informed the Company that
it does not currently anticipate that it will exercise such right in the
foreseeable future.
The Company has obtained key man life insurance on the life of Richard L.
Bulman in the amount of $2,000,000.
Director Compensation
The Company reimburses the directors for reasonable travel expenses
incurred in connection with their activities on behalf of the Company but does
not pay its directors any fees for Board participation (although it may do so in
the future).
Executive Compensation
For the 1997 Fiscal Year, the executive officers in the aggregate were
paid approximately $364,000, and only one executive officer (Richard L. Bulman)
received aggregate cash compensation in excess of $100,000. Richard L. Bulman,
the Chairman of the Board and President, received cash compensation during the
1997 Fiscal Year totaling approximately $123,000 and cash compensation totaling
approximately $118,000 and $88,000 for the fiscal years respectively ended July
31, 1996 and 1995 (all of which represented salary in each case). Based upon the
foregoing, Mr. Bulman is the only executive officer of the Company who qualifies
as a "Named Executive Officer" for purposes of the disclosure set forth below
under this discussion entitled "Executive Compensation."
The following table summarizes the cash and other compensation paid by the
Company to Richard L. Bulman in respect of the 1996 Fiscal Year and the 1997
Fiscal Year.
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<PAGE>
Summary Compensation Table
Annual Compensation
Long Term
Compensation
Award
-----
-----------------------------------
Securities
Name and Year Ended Underlying
Principal Position July 31, Salary Bonus Options
- ------------------ -------- ------ ----- -------
Richard L. Bulman,
Chairman and President 1995 $ 88,000 0 45,003(1)
1996 $118,000 0 125,000(2)
1997 $123,000 0 0
- ----------
(1) Represents non-plan options granted in connection with a private placement
financing undertaken by the Company in May 1995. By their terms, these
options expired as of July 31, 1996 by reason of the Company failing to
achieve the level of pre-tax earnings required in order for the options to
become exercisable.
(2) Represents options granted under the Option Plan described further below.
The following table sets forth all grants of options to purchase Common
Stock which had been awarded to Richard L. Bulman before the end of the 1997
Fiscal Year.
Individual Option Grants During Prior Fiscal Years
Number of
Securities Percent of Total Exercise
Underlying Options Granted or Base
Options to Employees in Price Expiration
Granted Fiscal Year ($/share) Date
------- ----------- --------- ----
Richard L. Bulman:
1995 Fiscal Year 45,003(1) 100% $3.57 Expired
1996 Fiscal Year 125,000(1) 36.7% $2.50(2) 3/13/06
1997 Fiscal Year 0
- ----------
(1) See the notes to the immediately preceding table.
(2) These options, originally granted at an exercise price of $5.00 per share
of Common Stock, were repriced in February 1998 as described above under
"Recent Developments--Repricing of Employee Stock Options."
49
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth information concerning outstanding options
to purchase Common Stock held by Richard L. Bulman as of the end of the 1997
Fiscal Year. Mr. Bulman did not exercise any options during the 1997 Fiscal
Year.
Option Exercises During 1996 Fiscal Year
and Option Values
Number of Value of
Unexercised Unexercised In-
Options at the-Money
Shares 7/31/96: Options at
Acquired on Value Exercisable/ 7/31/96:
Exercise Realized Unexercisable Exercisable/
-------- -------- ------------- -------------
Richard L. Bulman 0 0 83,334 No exercisable
exercisable; or unexercisable
41,666 options were in-
unexercisable the-money at
7/31/97
Employment Agreement With Named Executive Officer
Richard L. Bulman. Effective January 1, 1996, the Company entered into a
three-year employment agreement with Mr. Bulman, the Chairman of the Board and
President of the Company. Pursuant to this agreement, Mr. Bulman is entitled to
receive a base salary of $125,000 for 1996, which is subject to annual increases
determined at the Board's discretion (but not less than the annual increase in
the cost of living). Mr. Bulman was also eligible to receive a discretionary
annual bonus in respect of each of the fiscal years ended July 31, 1996 and
1997. No discretionary annual bonus was awarded to Mr. Bulman in respect of
either of those fiscal years.
Under the agreement, Mr. Bulman is entitled to a $1 million term life
insurance policy and to long-term disability insurance, and his employment is
subject to confidentiality restrictions and a two-year non-competition covenant.
Pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Bulman was granted ten-year options
under the Option Plan to purchase an aggregate of 125,000 shares of Common
Stock, which options vest in increments as follows: (i) as to 41,667 shares, on
March 13, 1996; (ii) as to 41,667 shares, on January 1, 1997; and (iii) as to
41,666 shares, on January 1, 1998. The options were originally granted to Mr.
Bulman at an exercise price of $5.00 per share of Common Stock. All of the
options, however, were repriced to $2.50 per share in February 1998 as described
above under "Recent Developments--The January 1998 Financing--Repricing of
Employee Stock Options."
All of Mr. Bulman's options will vest immediately in the event of the
termination without cause of Mr. Bulman's employment prior to December 31, 1998.
In the event of his termination for cause, however, the Option Plan will result
in the simultaneous termination of all of Mr. Bulman's then-unexercised options.
Mr. Bulman's employment agreement also provides that, in the event of the
termination without cause of his employment before December 31, 1998, he will be
entitled to receive severance pay in an amount equal to his annual base salary
for the then-current year of the term of the agreement. In the event Mr.
Bulman's employment is terminated for cause, however, he will not be entitled to
receive any severance pay. Mr. Bulman's employment agreement defines "cause" as
including (in summary terms) his commission of a fraud on the Company,
misappropriation of Company funds or assets, possession of an illegal substance,
a material violation of any covenant in his Employment Agreement, or knowingly
influencing the Company's financial reporting in a manner inconsistent with
generally accepted accounting principles.
50
<PAGE>
1996 Stock Option Plan
The 1996 Stock Option Plan was approved by the Board of Directors and the
requisite number of stockholders in March 1996. The Option Plan is designed to
serve as an incentive for retaining qualified and competent employees, directors
and consultants. A total of 350,000 shares of Common Stock have been reserved
for issuance under the Option Plan.
So long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements under the
Exchange Act, the Option Plan must be administered by members of the Board of
Directors who are "disinterested persons" within the meaning of that term under
Rule 16b-3(c)(2)(i) promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act (such
persons are herein called the "Plan Administrators"). In February 1996, the
Board appointed Richard D. Bulman and Thomas Griffin to serve as the Plan
Administrators. Under the terms of the Option Plan, any Plan Administrator, upon
his initial appointment as such, is automatically granted nonstatutory stock
options exercisable for 15,000 shares of Common Stock. The Plan Administrators
are not permitted under the Option Plan to grant any options to themselves.
Under the Option Plan, the Plan Administrators are authorized, in their
discretion, to grant options thereunder to all eligible employees of the
Company, including officers and directors (whether or not employees) of the
Company as well as to consultants to the Company. The Option Plan provides for
the granting of both (a) "incentive stock options" (as defined in Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code) to employees (including officers and employee
directors) and (b) nonstatutory stock options to employees (including officers
and employee directors) and consultants. Options can be granted under the Option
Plan on such terms and at such prices as determined by the Plan Administrators,
except that: (i) in the case of incentive stock options granted prior to the
consummation of the Underwritten Offering, the per share exercise price of such
options must be $5.00 or more; and (ii) in the case of incentive stock options
granted after the consummation of that offering, the per share exercise price of
such options cannot be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on
the date of grant. In the case of an incentive stock option granted to a 10%
stockholder (a "10% Stockholder"), the per share exercise price cannot be less
than 110% of such fair market value. To the extent that the grant of an option
results in the aggregate fair market value of the shares with respect to which
options are exercisable by a grantee for the first time in any calendar year to
exceed $100,000, such option will be treated under the Option Plan as a
nonstatutory option.
Options granted under the Option Plan will become exercisable after the
periods specified in each option agreement. Options are not exercisable,
however, after the expiration of ten years from the date of grant (or five years
from such date in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a 10%
Stockholder) and are not transferable other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution. In addition, except in the case of an employee's
death, options held by any employee are not exercisable following the third
month after the date on which the employee's employment by the Company has
terminated.
As of the date of this Prospectus, out of the 350,000 shares of Common
Stock reserved for issuance under the Option Plan, there are outstanding options
covering 273,000 shares of Common Stock held by 16 directors, officers and
employees of the Company, including options to purchase 125,000, 15,000, 20,000,
45,000, 15,000 and 10,000 shares granted respectively to Richard L. Bulman,
Charles C. Johnston, Marvin H. Goldstein, Richard D. Bulman, Thomas Griffin and
Bradley Dahl. All of those 273,000 outstanding options were repriced to $2.50
per share in February 1998 as described above under "Recent
Developments--Repricing of Employee Stock Options."
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<PAGE>
Limitations of Liability and Indemnification
Section 145 of the DGCL contains provisions entitling the Company's
directors and officers to indemnification from judgments, fines, amounts paid in
settlement and reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) as the result of
an action or proceeding in which they may be involved by reason of having been a
director or officer of the Company. In its Certificate of Incorporation, the
Company has included a provision that limits, to the fullest extent now or
hereafter permitted by the DGCL, the personal liability of its directors to the
Company or its stockholders for monetary damages arising from a breach of their
fiduciary duties as directors. Under the DGCL as currently in effect, this
provision limits a director's liability except where such director (i) breaches
his duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) fails to act in
good faith or engages in intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
(iii) authorizes payment of an unlawful dividend or stock purchase or redemption
as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) obtains an improper personal
benefit. This provision does not prevent the Company or its stockholders from
seeking equitable remedies, such as injunctive relief or rescission. If
equitable remedies are found not to be available to stockholders in any
particular case, stockholders may not have any effective remedy against actions
taken by directors that constitute negligence or gross negligence.
The Certificate of Incorporation also includes provisions to the effect
that (subject to certain exceptions) the Company shall, to the maximum extent
permitted from time to time under the law of the State of Delaware, indemnify,
and upon request shall advance expenses to, any director or officer to the
extent that such indemnification and advancement of expenses is permitted under
such law, as it may from time to time be in effect. In addition, the By-Laws
require the Company to indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
director, officer, employee or agent of the Company for acts which such person
reasonably believes are not in violation of the Company's corporate purposes as
set forth in the Certificate. At present, the DGCL provides that, in order to be
entitled to indemnification, an individual must have acted in good faith and in
a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the Company's
best interests.
Director and Officer Indemnification Agreements
Pursuant to a Board resolution adopted before the consummation of the IPO,
the Company in November 1996 entered into indemnification agreements (the
"Indemnification Agreements") with each of the following persons (being all of
the Company's current directors and executive officers): Richard L. Bulman,
Charles C. Johnston, Thomas Griffin, Richard D. Bulman, Michael B. Solovay,
Marvin H. Goldstein, and Bradley Dahl. Under an Indemnification Agreement, the
Company (among other things) is obligated to (i) indemnify and hold harmless the
director or officer in question to the full extent permitted or authorized by
the DGCL and (ii) under circumstances, advance monies to that person in order to
cover expenses incurred in connection with a pending or threatened indemnifiable
claim. The Indemnification Agreements are given effect retroactive to June 24,
1996, the date on which the Commission declared the registration statement
relating to the Underwritten Offering to be effective. The Board of Directors
authorized and directed the Company to enter into these agreements based in part
upon the Board's determination that these agreements would enhance the Company's
ability to continue to attract and retain individuals of the highest quality to
serve as its directors and officers. The Company is not aware of any pending or
threatened claim against any of the Company's directors or executive officers
for which indemnification may be sought.
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<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information (based on information
obtained from the persons named below), as of April 24, 1998 (the "Computation
Date"), relating to the beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by (i)
each person or entity who is known by the Company to own beneficially five
percent or more of the outstanding Common Stock, (ii) each of the Company's
directors and (iii) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a
group. The Common Stock is the only class of the Company's equity securities
constituting voting securities. As no executive officer, other than Richard L.
Bulman, received cash compensation during the 1997 Fiscal Year exceeding
$100,000, Mr. Bulman is the only executive officer qualifying as a "Named
Executive Officer" for purposes of this table. With respect to beneficial
ownership of Warrants, see note 9 below. The Company is not a party to any
arrangements, or aware of any arrangements among any of its stockholders or
involving any of them and third parties, which may result in a change of control
of the Company.
Amount and Nature
Name and Address of Beneficial Percent of
of Beneficial Owners(1) Ownership(2) Shares(2)
- ----------------------- ------------ ---------
Richard L. Bulman ......................... 501,471(3) 13.13%
Charles C. Johnston ....................... 498,136(4) 13.13%
Richard D. Bulman ......................... 46,000(5) 1.26%
Michael B. Solovay ........................ 3,800 *
Thomas Griffin ............................ 23,000(6) *
All directors and executive officers
as a group (7 persons) .................... 1,133,052(7) 28.22%
- ----------
(1) Unless otherwise indicated in the notes below, the address for each named
individual or group is in care of Kideo Productions, Inc., 611 Broadway,
Suite 523, New York, New York 10012.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated, the Company believes that all persons named in
the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares
of Common Stock beneficially owned by them. A person is deemed to be the
beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired by such person within
60 days after the Computation Date upon the exercise of options, warrants
or convertible securities. Each beneficial owner's percentage ownership is
determined by assuming that options, warrants or convertible securities
that are held by such person (but not those held by any other person) and
which are exercisable within 60 days after the Computation Date have been
exercised and converted. Before any consideration is given to outstanding
options, warrants or convertible securities, the percentages herein are
based upon there being 3,694,628 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of
the Computation Date. An asterisk (*) indicates less than 1%.
(3) Includes 125,000 shares of Common Stock subject to currently exercisable
options granted under the Option Plan.
(4) Includes (i) 15,000 shares of Common Stock subject to currently
exercisable options granted under the Option Plan, (ii) 83,975 shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Johnston Warrants, which are
currently exercisable, and (iii) the 200,000 shares of Common Stock issued
to an affiliate of Mr. Johnston's in the September 1997 Financing
53
<PAGE>
described above under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources."
(5) Includes (i) 45,000 shares of Common Stock subject to currently
exercisable options granted under the Option Plan and (ii) 1,000 shares of
Common Stock subject to currently exercisable Warrants.
(6) Includes (i) 15,000 shares of Common Stock subject to currently
exercisable options granted under the Option Plan and (ii) 8,000 shares of
Common Stock subject to currently exercisable Warrants.
(7) Includes (i) an aggregate of 227,000 shares of Common Stock subject to
currently exercisable options granted under the Option Plan, (ii) 83,975
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Johnston Warrants and
(iii) 9,000 shares of Common Stock subject to currently exercisable
Warrants. The seven persons constituting the group of directors and
executive officers are Richard L. Bulman, Charles C. Johnston, Richard D.
Bulman, Thomas Griffin, Michael B. Solovay, Marvin H. Goldstein and
Bradley Dahl. Except as stated in the next sentence, as of the Computation
Date, no director or executive officer of the Company was the beneficial
owner of any Warrants, and no record holder of Warrants was the beneficial
owner of five percent or more of the outstanding Warrants. As of the
Computation Date, the following directors and executive officers were the
beneficial owners of the indicated Warrants, representing in each case
less than one percent of the outstanding Warrants: Richard D. Bulman,
1,000 Warrants; and Thomas Griffin, 8,000 Warrants.
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<PAGE>
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table provides certain information with respect to the
Common Stock held by each Selling Stockholder as of the Computation Date. Except
as otherwise disclosed in the footnotes to the table below, none of the Selling
Stockholders has had any position, office or material relationship with the
Company or any of its affiliates within the past three years (other than as a
result of his or its ownership of securities of the Company). The Selling
Stockholders are under no obligation to sell all or any of the Shares offered
hereby, nor are they obligated to sell any Shares immediately under this
Prospectus. The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sales of any
Shares by the Selling Stockholders. Assuming that each selling Stockholder were
to sell pursuant to this Offering all of the Shares registered in connection
with this Prospectus, after this Offering he would be the beneficial owner of
only the number of shares of Common Stock which is set forth in the first column
opposite such holder's name in the table below. Notes 2 and 3 to the table
identify the only Selling Stockholders who would, after this Offering and based
upon the foregoing assumption, beneficially own in excess of 1% of the Common
Stock
Shares
Beneficially Owned Shares
------------------ Registered Shares
in Offered
Connection Pursuant
with to
this this
Selling Shareholder Number Percentage Prospectus Prospectus
- ------------------- ------ ---------- ---------- ----------
Benjamin Bollag(1) 0 * 500,000 500,000
Michael Bollag(1) 15,000 * 500,000 500,000
KSH Investment
Group, Inc.(2) 77,449 2.10% 12,500 12,500
Charles C. Johnston(3) 498,136 13.13% 20,000 20,000
Michael B. Solovay(4) 3,800 * 18,000 18,000
Richard A. Edlin(4) 3,800 * 18,000 18,000
Jonathan Eiseman(4) 3,800 * 18,000 18,000
Wayne Lehrhaupt(4) 3,800 * 18,000 18,000
Norman Solovay(4) 3,800 * 18,000 18,000
Eric R. Levine(4) 0 * 14,000 14,000
Peter Kakoyiannis(4) 0 * 14,000 14,000
Stephen L. Weinstein(4) 0 * 2,000 2,000
--------- --------- --------- ---------
TOTAL 609,585 16.07% 1,152,500 1,152,500
- ----------
An asterisk (*) indicates less than 1%.
(1) The address of this Selling Stockholder is Hollister Ranch, Lot 89,
Gaviota, California 93117.
(2) The address of this Selling Stockholder is 245 Great Neck Road, Great
Neck, New York 11021. Represents (i) the 12,500 KSH Shares issued in
connection with the January 1998 Financing to KSH Investment Group and
(ii) 49,572 and 17,377 shares beneficially owned by, respectively, Harvey
Kohn and Cary Sucoff, who are owners and executive officers of that
company. After this offering and based upon the assumption described in
the penultimate sentence of the paragraph preceding this table, this
Selling Stockholder would beneficially own approximately 1.60% of the
Common Stock.
(3) The address of this Selling Stockholder is 184 High Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110. Mr. Johnston is a director and principal stockholder
of the Company. See Note (4) to the Principal Stockholders table appearing
above in this Prospectus, "Management--Directors and Executive Officers,"
"Principal Stockholders" and "Certain Transactions--Transactions with
Director Charles C. Johnston." After this Offering and based upon the
assumption described in the penultimate sentence of the paragraph
preceding this table, this Selling Stockholder would beneficially own
approximately 10.28% of the Common Stock.
(4) The address of this Selling Stockholder is c/o Solovay Marshall & Edlin,
P.C., 845 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022. This Selling Stockholder
is a member or employee of the law firm Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C.,
the Company's outside legal counsel. The shares of Common Stock registered
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on his behalf in connection with this Prospectus represent his allocated
shares underlying the SME Warrants described above under "Recent
Developments--The January 1998 Financing--Agreement with Solovay Marshall
& Edlin, P.C."
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Shares offered pursuant to this Prospectus are being offered on behalf
of the Selling Stockholders, and the Company will not receive any proceeds from
this Offering. The Shares may be offered by the Selling Stockholders pursuant to
this Prospectus until _____ __, 199_, provided that this Prospectus is kept
current in accordance with applicable provisions of the Securities Act, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. The Company
intends to maintain a current prospectus covering the Shares offered hereby
until at least the three-year anniversary of the date of this Prospectus. See
"Certain Transactions--Registration Rights In Connection with the January 1998
Financing."
The sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholders may be effected in
transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, or a
combination of such methods of sale. The Shares may be sold at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may effect such
transactions by selling the Shares directly to purchasers or through
underwriters or broker-dealers who may act as agents or principals. Such
underwriters and broker-dealers may receive compensation in the f, concessions
or commissions from the Selling Stockholders or the purchasers of the Shares for
whom such underwriters or broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell
as principal, or both (which compensation as to a particular underwriter or
broker-dealer may be in excess of customary compensation). Introducing brokers
may act as broker-dealer on behalf of one or more of the Selling Stockholders in
connection with the offering of certain of the Shares by Selling Stockholders. A
Selling Stockholder and any underwriter or broker-dealer who acts in connection
with the sale of the Shares hereunder may be deemed to be "underwriters" within
the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by them and any
profit on any resale of the Shares as principal might be deemed to be
underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person
engaged in a distribution of the Shares may not simultaneously engage in
market-making activities with respect to such Shares for a period of nine
business days prior to the commencement of such distribution, except under
certain limited circumstances. In addition to, and without limiting the
foregoing, the Selling Stockholders and any other person participating in such
distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and
rules and regulations thereunder (including Rule 10b-3 and Regulation M), which
provisions may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the Shares by
the Selling Stockholders and any other such stockholders.
The Company has agreed to pay substantially all of the expenses incident
to the registration, offering and sale of the Shares to the public, excluding
the commissions or discounts of underwriters, broker-dealers or agents.
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CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Future transactions (if any) between the of its directors, officers and/or
5% stockholders will continue to be on terms no less favorable to the Company
than could be obtained from independent third parties and will be approved by a
majority of the independent, disinterested directors of the Company. Described
below are transactions that have occurred since March 16, 1996 or that are
proposed to be effectuated by the Company as of the date of this Prospectus.
Transactions with Director Charles C. Johnston
Charles C. Johnston, a principal stockholder of the Company, has been a
director of the Company since June 1994, at which time he first purchased shares
of Common Stock. In the September 1997 Financing, the Company on September 16,
1997 issued 200,000 shares of Common Stock to an affiliate of Mr. Johnston for
an aggregate purchase price of $300,000, which the Company's Board of Directors
(excluding Johnston) determined to the be the fair market value of those 200,000
shares at the time of issuance. As a consequence of the January 1998 Johnston
Financing Proposal, on March 9, 1998 the Company issued to Mr. Johnston the 1998
Johnston Warrants described above under "Recent Developments--The January 1998
Financing--January 1998 Johnston Financing Proposal." These warrants entitle him
to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock for $1.00 per share. The Company also
agreed to register under the Securities Act the 20,000 shares of Common Stock
underlying the 1998 Johnston Warrants. Those shares are included in the Shares
that have been registered in connection with, and that are being offered
pursuant to, this Offering.
Transactions with Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C.
Prior to the closing of the January 1998 Financing, Solovay Marshall &
Edlin. P.C. ("SME"), the Company's outside legal counsel (of which Michael B.
Solovay, a director of the Company, is a shareholder) agreed to the continuing
deferral of payment by the Company of certain unpaid legal fees and expenses.
The Company in exchange issued to SME the SME Note and the SME Warrants
described above under "Recent Developments--The January 1998
Financing--Agreement with Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C." The SME Warrants
entitle certain shareholders and employees of SME to purchase an aggregate of
120,000 shares of Common Stock for $1.00 per share. The Company also agreed to
register under the Securities Act the 120,000 shares of Common Stock underlying
the SME Warrants. Those shares are included in the Shares that have been
registered in connection with, and that are being offered pursuant to, this
Offering.
On March 26, 1996, SME agreed to accept from the Company, in lieu of cash
and as partial payment for legal services rendered before that date, 24,000
shares of Common Stock (valued by the Company at that time as having a fair
market value of $3.50 per share). The Company issued such 24,000 shares to
members and an employee of SME on March 27, 1996.
THE 1996 UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING
On June 24, 1996, the Company completed an underwritten initial public
offering of 1,400,000 shares of Common Stock and redeemable warrants to purchase
1,610,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Warrants"), all of which were sold by the
Company (the "Underwritten Offering"). The initial public offering price was
$5.00 per share of Common Stock and $.10 per Warrant. Each Warrant entitles the
registered holder thereof to purchase, at any time from June 24, 1997 through
June 24, 2001, one share of Common Stock at a price of $4.00 per share, subject
to adjustment in certain circumstances (including in the event of a stock split
or dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation of the
Company). See "Description of Securities--Common Stock" and "--Public Warrants."
The Company sold 140,000 warrants to Whale Securities Co., L.P., as
underwriter of the Underwritten Offering (the "Underwriter") and its designees
(the "Underwriter's Warrants"). Each Underwriter's Warrant entitles the
registered holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $8.25 per share (165% of the initial public offering price per share)
and/or one warrant (each exercisable to purchase one share of Common Stock at a
price of $5.20 per share) at an exercise price of $.165 per warrant (165% of the
initial public offering price per Warrant). The Underwriter's Warrants contain a
cashless exercise provision. In the event that all of the Underwriter's Warrants
(and the warrants to purchase Common Stock which underlie the Underwriter's
Warrants) were to be exercised, the holders of the Underwriter's Warrants would
become the owners of an aggregate of 280,000 shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to
an agreement between the Company and the Underwriter, those 280,000 shares were
registered under the Securities Act and included by the Company in a
registration statement that was declared effective in September 1997.
The Underwriter's Warrants are exercisable during the four-year period
ending June 24, 2001 (the "Warrant Exercise Term"). In general, before that
date, the Underwriter's Warrants may not be sold, transferred, assigned or
hypothecated except to the officers and partners of the Underwriter and members
of the selling group formed by it to effectuate the Underwritten Offering.
During the Warrant Exercise Term, the holders of the Underwriter's Warrants are
given, at nominal cost, the opportunity to profit from a rise in the market
price of the Common Stock. To the extent that the Underwriter's Warrants are
exercised, dilution to the percentage ownership in the Company held by the
Company's current stockholders will occur. Further, the terms upon which the
Company will be able to obtain additional equity capital may be adversely
affected, since the holders of the Underwriter's Warrants can be expected to
exercise them at a time when the Company would, in all likelihood, be able to
obtain any needed capital on terms more favorable to the Company than those
provided in the Underwriter's Warrants. Any profit realized by the Underwriter
on the sale of the Underwriter's Warrants, the underlying shares of Common Stock
or the underlying warrants, or the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of such underlying warrants, may be deemed additional underwriting compensation.
The Company has also granted certain demand registration rights to the holders
of the Underwriter's Warrants during the four-year Warrant Exercise Period, and
has granted certain piggyback registration rights to such holders during the
seven year period ending June 24, 2003.
In connection with the qualification for sale under certain state
securities laws of the Common Stock and the Warrants at the time of the
Underwritten Offering, the Company consented to the denial of secondary trading
in its securities in the State of New Jersey. As a result of this action,
stockholders of the Company cannot sell shares of Common Stock or Warrants
through a broker-dealer whose office is located in New Jersey or to any New
Jersey resident, whether through a broker-dealer or not, unless such denial is
removed, of which there can be no assurance.
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DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
General
The Company is authorized to issue 15,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par
value $.0001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.01
per share. As of the date of this Prospectus, there are 3,694,628 shares of
Common Stock outstanding and no shares of any Preferred Stock outstanding.
Common Stock
The holders of the Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each shad in
the election of directors of the Company and in all other matters to be voted on
by the stockholders. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election
of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares
voting for the election of directors can elect all of the directors. Holders of
Common Stock are entitled (i) to receive such dividends as may be declared from
time to time by the Board out of funds legally available therefor, and (ii) in
the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, to share
ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and after provision
has been made for each class of stock (if any) having preference over the Common
Stock.
As a result of the creation of the Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to
the May 1997 Financing, and in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of
Designations relating to that series of stock and the Certificate of
Incorporation, in the event that the Company hereafter were to issue any of the
3,250 authorized shares of that series which remain available for issuance, the
holders of Common Stock would rank junior to the future holders of Series A
Preferred Stock in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
distribution or sale of assets, dissolution or winding up of the Company.
Holders of Common Stock have no conversion rights or preemptive rights and
are not subject to further capital calls or assessments. There are no redemption
or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock. The rights of the
holders of the Common Stock are subject to any rights that may be fixed for
holders of Preferred Stock, when and if any Preferred Stock is issued. All of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The
Company's By-Laws provide that the holders of at least 10% of its voting stock
will be able to call special meetings of stockholders.
Preferred Stock
The Company is authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock
from time to time in one or more series, in all cases ranking senior to the
Common Stock with respect to payment of dividends and in the event of the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. There is no Preferred
Stock currently authorized for issuance by the Company other than the Series A
Preferred Stock. The Board has the power, without stockholder approval, to issue
shares of one or more series of Preferred Stock, at any time, for such
consideration and with such relative rights, privileges, preferences and other
terms as the Board may determine (including, but not limited to, terms relating
to dividend rates, redemption rates, liquidation preferences and voting, sinking
fund and conversion or other rights). The rights and terms relating to any new
series of Preferred Stock could adversely affect the voting power or other
rights of the holders of the Common Stock or could be utilized, under certain
circumstances, as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in
control of the Company.
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Series A Preferred Stock
On May 9, 1997, the Company's Board of Directors, acting pursuant to the
authority granted under its Certificate of Incorporation, authorized the
creation of a series of Preferred Stock designated as the Series A 6%
Convertible Participating Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock"). The
Series A Preferred Stock consists of 4,000 shares, each share having a
liquidation value of $1,000.
In connection with the May 1997 Financing, 750 shares of Series A
Preferred Stock were issued to Sellet Marketing Corp. Pursuant to the
Certificate of Designations, on July 12, 1997 the Series A Preferred Stock
became convertible at a holder's option into shares of Common Stock. All of such
shares were subsequently converted into shares of Common Stock. As a
consequence, 3,250 shares of Series A Preferred Stock remain available for
future issuance.
Except as may be required by law, the holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock are not entitled under the Certificate of Designations to vote in the
election of directors of the Company or in any other matters to be voted on by
holders of the Common Stock. Holders of the Series A Preferred Stock have no
preemptive rights and are not subject to further capital calls or assessments.
There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Series A
Preferred Stock. The rights of the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are
subject, without requiring any series or class vote, to any rights that may be
fixed for holders of any other series of Preferred Stock (when and if issued)
which ranks on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock as to dividends or
distributions made upon dissolution, liquidation and winding up of the Company.
However, without the consent of the registered holders of at least fifty percent
of the then-outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, no class or series
of equity securities of the Company may be authorized or issued which would rank
senior to the Series A Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends or
distributions of any kind.
The Certificate of Designations provides that the Series A Preferred Stock
will initially be convertible (subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments)
into shares of Common Stock based upon the ratio of (a) the total liquidation
value (at $1,000 per preferred share) of the preferred shares being converted,
to (b) the then-effective conversion price. The conversion price at any point in
time will be 80% of the prior three trading days' average of the reported
closing bid price per share of Common Stock.
The Certificate of Designations provides that dividends on the Series A
Preferred Stock are payable semi-annually on each July 31st and January 31st,
commencing with July 31, 1998. The Company has the option to pay any or all of
the dividends through the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock
(utilizing the same conversion ratio as described above). Dividends on each
outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock accrue, cumulatively on a daily
basis, at the rate of 6% per annum of the liquidation value per share as in
effect at the commencement of the fiscal year of the Company in question. (As of
the date hereof, that liquidation value is $1,000 per share.) Those dividends
accrue whether or not dividends have been declared by the Board of Directors and
whether or not there are profits, surplus or other funds of the Company legally
available for the payment of the dividends.
In addition to the cumulative dividend described above, on and after July
31, 1998 the holders of outstanding shares (if any) of Series A Preferred Stock
will also have the right, on a fiscal-year basis, to participate in any cash
dividend payments made to the holders of the Common Stock. This participating
dividend will be payable, on July 31 of each year, in a sum equal to the amount
by which (i) the aggregate cash dividends paid on one share of Common Stock
during the fiscal year then ended exceeds (ii) the amount of the cumulative
dividend accrued (whether or not paid) in respect of on one share of Series A
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Preferred Stock.
Johnston Warrants
There are currently outstanding certain Class A Warrants and Class B
Warrants (which together constitute the Johnston Warrants) to purchase an
aggregate of 83,975 shares of Common Stock. All of these warrants are
beneficially owned by Charles C. Johnston, a director and principal stockholder
of the Company. Each Johnston Warrant is exercisable for the purchase of one
share of Common Stock at an initial exercise price of $3.60 per share. The
exercise price is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances (including in
the event of a stock split or dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merge
or consolidation of the Company). All of the Johnston Warrants will expire
during the year 2000. In addition, the Johns callable by the Company under
certain circumstances. The Company has also granted the holders of the Johnston
Warrants certain piggyback registration rights for the Common Stock issuable
upon exercise thereof. See "--Registration Rights" further below.
Public Warrants
Each Warrant offered pursuant to the Underwritten Offering entitles the
registered holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock, at a price of
$4.00, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, at any time during the
four year period following June 24, 1997. The Warrants are redeemable by the
Company, upon the consent of the Underwriter, at any time following June 24,
1997, upon notice of not less than 30 days, at a price of $.10 per Warrant,
provided that the closing bid quotation of the Common Stock, for a period of 20
consecutive trading days ending on the third day prior to the day on which the
Company gives notice, has been at least 150% (currently $6.00, subject to
adjustment) of the then effective exercise price of the Warrants. The holders of
the Warrants will have the right to exercise their Warrants until the close of
business on the date fixed for redemption. The Warrants were issued in
registered form under a Warrant Agreement by and among the Company, American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and the Underwriter. Reference
is made to the Warrant Agreement (which has been filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement) for a complete description of the terms and conditions
therein.
Other Warrants
In October 1996, the Company issued a warrant to purchase Common Stock to
an executive and owner of the company that acted as an independent contractor to
the Company in connection with the development, scripting and filming of the
animation and live-action sequences for the first two Gregory & Me titles. This
warrant, which is currently exercisable, entitles the holder to purchase an
aggregate of 20,000 shares of Common Stock, at an initial exercise price of
$5.00 per share, until October 30, 2001. The exercise price is subject to
adjustment in certain circumstances (including in the event of a stock split or
dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation of the
Company).
A summary description of the Underwriter's Warrants is set forth on page 6
of this Prospectus under the "Recent Developments--The Underwritten Offering."
In connection with the January 1998 Financing, the Company issued the
January 1998 Warrants, the 1998 Johnston Warrants and the SME Warrants described
above under "Recent Developments--The January 1998 Financing."
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Registration Rights
1995 Registration Rights Agreement
The Company has granted certain piggyback registration rights relating to
the shares of Common Stock held by the persons who invested in the May 1995
Units Financing and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Johnston Warrants, which together represent an aggregate of 663,830 shares of
Common Stock (collectively, the "1995 Registrable Shares"), pursuant to an
agreement between the holders of such securities and the Company, dated May 12,
1995 (the "1995 Registration Rights Agreement").
In the event a registration is a primary registration on behalf of the
Company, the Company will use its best efforts to include in such registration,
subject to the agreement of the managing underwriter or underwriters of the
offering relating thereto (if any): (i) first, the securities that the Company
proposes to sell; (ii) second, those (a) 1995 Registrable Shares, (b) securities
which are registrable pursuant to the terms of an agreement, dated June 17, 1994
(the "Investor Rights Agreement"), between the Company and certain stockholders
(the "June Investor Shares"), and (c) Bulman Shares (as hereinafter defined)
which are requested by the holders thereof to be included in such registration
(pro rata among the holders thereof); and (iii) third, other securities
requested to be included in such registration. In secondary, non-issuer
registrations, the Company will use its best efforts to include in such
registration, subject to the agreement of the managing underwriter or
underwriters of the offering relating thereto (if any): (X) first, those 1995
Registrable Shares, June Investor Shares and Bulman Shares which are requested
by the holders thereof to be included in such registration (pro rata among the
holders thereof); and (Y) second, other securities requested to be included in
such registration.
In connection with any underwritten piggyback registration, the holders of
the 1995 Registrable Shares have agreed to execute and deliver a "lock-up
agreement" with respect to any of their registrable securities included therein
for up to 90 days (or longer as the Company's underwriters may request but not
to exceed 180 days) after the effective date of the registration statement
relating to such underwritten offering.
Investor Rights Agreement
Under the Investor Rights Agreement, the Company agreed to register the
June Investor Shares (representing 136,342 shares of Common Stock) upon the
demand of holders owning at least 20% of the June Investor Shares then
outstanding; provided that (among other conditions): (i) no such demand
registration is required to become effective prior to the earlier of June 1,
1999 or within 90 days (or longer as the Company's underwriters may request but
not to exceed 180 days) after the effective date of any registration statement
initiated by the Company; and (ii) no more than two such demand registrations
are required to be effected. The Company also agreed to cause a Form S-3
registration of the June Investor Shares upon demand, but not more frequently
than once every year, and to include the June Investor Shares in certain
piggyback registrations as provided in the Investor Rights Agreement, which are
subject to the priorities discussed above concerning the 1995 Registration
Rights Agreement. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
Bulman Registration Rights Agreement
Pursuant to an agreement between the Company and Richard L. Bulman, dated
January 1, 1995, the Company has agreed to cause a registration statement to be
filed with respect to the shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Bulman (the "Bulman
Shares") upon Mr. Bulman's demand made not more than once per year during an
eight year period ending January 1, 2003. In addition, Mr. Bulman was granted
piggyback registration rights relating to such shares, which are subject to the
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priorities discussed above concerning the 1995 Registration Rights Agreement.
Mr. Bulman is currently the owner of 376,471 outstanding shares of Common Stock.
See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
Registration Rights of Gary Bilezikian
Pursuant to an agreement, dated October 26, 1993, between the Company and
Gary Bilezikian, a stockholder of the Company, the Company has granted Mr.
Bilezikian certain piggyback registration rights relating to his shares of
Common Stock if it proposes to file a registration statement under the
Securities Act. The Company is not obligated, however, to include any shares of
Common Stock held by Mr. Bilezikian either (i) in any registration statement
relating solely to the sale of securities to participants in a Company stock
plan or (ii) in any registration statement whose form does not include
substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a
registration statement covering the sale of shares of Common Stock owned by Mr.
Bilezikian. Mr. Bilezikian is currently the owner of 38,945 outstanding shares
of Common Stock. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
V-Seion Registration Rights Agreement
Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 14, 1995,
between the Company and V-Seion Multimedia Systems, Inc. ("V-Seion", which was
the seller of the assets acquired by the Company in the Technology Acquisition),
the Company granted V-Seion piggyback registration rights relating to its shares
of Common Stock (other than in connection with a registration effected solely to
implement an employee benefit plan or a transaction to which Rule 145(a)
promulgated under the Securities Act is applicable). If the registration
proposed by the Company is to be an underwritten offering of securities for the
account of either the Company or the holders of such securities, then the amount
of shares which V-Seion will be allowed to register can be limited, in the
underwriter's discretion, by certain relevant marketing factors. In the event
that any shares of Common Stock held by V-Seion are permitted by the underwriter
to be included in such a registration, V-Seion is prohibited from selling any of
such shares to the public for a period of 90 days (or such longer period, not to
exceed 180 days, as the underwriter may request) from the effective date of such
registration. V-Seion is currently the owner of 19,645 outstanding shares of
Common Stock. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
Registration Rights Related to Underwriter's Warrants
Subject to certain limitations and exclusions, the Company has agreed
that, upon the request of the holders of a majority of the Underwriter's
Warrants, the Company will (at its own expense), on one occasion during the
Warrant Exercise term, register the Underwriter's Warrants and the securities
underlying the Underwriter's Warrants under the Securities Act and that it will
include the Underwriter's Warrants and all such underlying securities in any
appropriate registration statement which is filed by the Company under the
Securities Act during the seven years following the date of this Prospectus.
Pursuant to the request of the holders of a Underwriter's Warrants, the Company
in August 1997 registered the 280,000 shares of Common Stock underlying the
Underwriter's Warrants (and the warrants underlying the same).
Registration Rights Granted in Connection with the January 1998 Financing
As described above under "Recent Developments--The January 1998
Financing," the Company in connection with that financing agreed to register
under the Securities Act the shares of Common Stock underlying the January 1998
Warrants, the 1998 Johnston Warrants and the SME Warrants. Those shares have
been registered under the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a
part and constitute the Shares being offered hereby. The Company additionally
agreed
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to maintain a current prospectus covering the Shares until at least the
three-year anniversary of the date of this Prospectus.
Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law
The Company is a Delaware corporation and thus subject to Section 203 of
the DGCL ("Section 203"), which is generally viewed as an anti-takeover statute.
In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly traded Delaware corporation from
engaging in any "business combination" (as defined) with any "interested
stockholder" (as defined) for a period of three years following the date that
such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless: (i) prior to such
date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business
combination or the h resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested
stockholder; (ii) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the
stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned
at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the
transaction commenced, excluding for purpose of determining the number of shares
outstanding those shares owned (a) by persons who are directors and also
officers and (b) by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not
have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the
plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or (iii) on or subsequent
to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and
authorized at an annual or special meetings of the stockholders, and not by
written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3% of the outstanding
voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
In general, Section 203 defines a "business combination" to include: (i)
any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested
stockholder; (ii) any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition involving the
interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation; (iii)
(subject to certain exceptions) any transaction which results in the issuance or
transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested
stockholder; (iv) any transaction involving the corporation which has the effect
of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the
corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or (v) the receipt
by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees,
pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through corporation. In
general, Section 203 defines an "interested stockholder" as (a) any entity or
person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the
corporation or (b) any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or
controlled by such entity or person.
The existence of Section 203 would be expected to have the effect of
discouraging takeover attempts involving the Company, including attempts that
might result in a premium over the market price of the Common Stock (if it is
then publicly traded).
Transfer Agent, Warrant Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent, warrant agent and registrar for the Common Stock is
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
63
<PAGE>
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
As of the date of this Prospectus, the Company has 3,694,628 shares of
Common Stock outstanding. Of the outstanding shares, an aggregate of 2,233,114
shares have previously been registered for sale under the Securities Act and,
accordingly, are freely tradeable without restriction or further registration
thereunder. The Company effectuated those prior registrations in June 1996 (as
part of the Underwritten Offering) and in August 1997 (in connection with the
May 1997 Financing described below under "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital
Resources--May 1997 Financing"). Of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
registered in June 1996, (i) 1,400,000 registered shares of Common Stock were
sold in the public market pursuant to the Underwritten Offering, and (ii)
290,000 shares of Common Stock were registered on behalf of certain selling
stockholders of the Company. All of the 543,114 outstanding shares of Common
Stock registered in August 1997 were registered on behalf of a selling
stockholder of the Company.
All of the 1,461,514 remaining shares of Common Stock currently
outstanding (the "Restricted Common Stock") are "restricted securities" (as that
term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act), and as such they may be
sold only pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act, in
compliance with the exemption provisions of Rule 144 or pursuant to another
exemption under the Securities Act. Since June 24, 1997, however, substantially
all of these restricted securities have either been (i) eligible for sale in the
public market pursuant to Rule 144 or (ii) subject to the exercise of certain
demand and/or piggyback registration rights which the Company from time to time
has granted to various of its securityholders. A total of 1,235,234 shares of
the Restricted Common Stock are held by stockholders to whom the Company has
granted registration rights.
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, any person (or persons
whose shares are aggregated), including persons who may be deemed to be
"affiliates" of the Company (as that term is defined under the Securities Act),
is entitled to sell, within any three-month period, a number of restricted
shares that have been beneficially owned for a least one year which does not
exceed the greater of (i) 1% of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or
(ii) an amount equal to the average weekly trading volume in the Common Stock
during the four calendar weeks preceding such sale. Sales under Rule 144 are
also subject to certain requirements as to the manner of sale, notice and the
availability of current public information about the Company. However, a person
who is not deemed an affiliate and has beneficially owned restricted shares for
at least two years is entitled to sell such shares without regard to the volume
or other resale requirements.
No predictions can be made of the effect, if any, that sales of shares of
Common Stock, or the availability of such shares for sale, will have on the
market price of such securities prevailing from time to time. Nevertheless,
sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock in the public market could
adversely affect prevailing market prices for the Common Stock and could impair
the Company's ability to raise capital through the sale of its equity
securities.
64
<PAGE>
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered hereby will be passed upon for the
Company by Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C. ("SME"), New York, New York. See
"Certain Transactions--Transactions with Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C."
EXPERTS
The audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended July 31,
1996 and July 31, 1997, included in this Prospectus and elsewhere in the
Registration Statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent
public accountants, as indicated in its report with respect thereto, and are
included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving
said report. Reference is made to said report, which includes an explanatory
paragraph relating to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, as
described in Note 1 of the notes to the financial statements.
66
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions Inc.
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Independent Accountants.......................................... F-2
Financial Statements:
Balance Sheet,
July 31, 1996 and 1997......................................... F-3
Statement of Operations,
Years Ended July 31, 1996 and 1997............................. F-4
Statement of Shareholders' (Deficiency) Equity,
Years Ended July 31, 1996 and 1997............................. F-5
Statement of Cash Flows,
Years Ended July 31, 1996 and 1997............................. F-6
Statement of Cash Flows, Supplemental Information
Years Ended July 31, 1996 and 1997............................. F-7
Notes to Financial Statements.............................................. F-8
Financial Statements (unaudited)
Balance Sheet,
January 31, 1998............................................... F-17
Statement of Operations,
Six Months Ended January 31, 1998 and 1997..................... F-18
Statement of Shareholders' (Deficiency) Equity,
Six Months Ended January 31, 1998 and 1997..................... F-19
Statement of Cash Flows,
Six Months Ended January 31, 1998 and 1997..................... F-20
Notes to Financial Statements.............................................. F-21
F-1
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareholders of Kideo Productions, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Kideo
Productions, Inc. (a Delaware Corporation) and subsidiary as of July 31, 1996
and 1997, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders'
equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Kideo
Productions, Inc. and subsidiary as of July 31, 1996 and 1997, and the results
of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note
1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company suffered recurring
losses from operations and has a net working capital deficiency that raises
substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management's
plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated
financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the
recoverability and classification of asset carrying amounts or the amount and
classification of liabilities that might result should the Company be unable to
continue as a going concern.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
New York, New York
October 31, 1997
F-2
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
at July 31, at July 31,
1996 1997
------- -------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents .................................................... $ 2,857 $ 164
Accounts receivable, net ..................................................... 95 31
Inventory .................................................................... 17 103
Prepaid expenses ............................................................. 123 28
------- -------
Total current assets ...................................................... 3,092 326
Property and equipment, net ...................................................... 558 507
Capitalized content costs, net ................................................... 432 518
Other assets ..................................................................... 286 137
------- -------
Total assets .............................................................. $ 4,368 $ 1,488
======= =======
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable ............................................................. $ 59 $ 475
Accrued expenses ............................................................. 271 210
Capital leases, current portion .............................................. 147 74
Unearned revenue ............................................................. 225 233
------- -------
Total current liabilities ................................................. 702 992
Capital leases, long term portion ................................................ 81 74
------- -------
Total liabilities ......................................................... 783 1,066
------- -------
Commitments and Contingencies (Notes 5, 6 & 11)
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred Stock, $.0001 par value; issuable in series: authorized 5,000,000
shares, issued and outstanding -0- shares at July 31, 1996 and 750 shares at
July 31, 1997 .............................................................. -- --
Common Stock, $.0001 par value; authorized 15,000,000 shares,
issued and outstanding 2,939,014 shares at
July 31, 1996 and 1997 ..................................................... -- --
Additional paid-in capital ................................................... 8,737 9,591
Accumulated deficit .......................................................... (5,152) (9,169)
------- -------
Shareholders' Equity........................................................ 3,585 422
------- -------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity ....................................... $ 4,368 $ 1,488
======= =======
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-3
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended Year ended
July 31, July 31,
1996 1997
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Sales ........................................ $ 761 $ 1,346
Cost of sales ................................ 637 1,099
Write off of production equipment ............ -- 226
----------- -----------
Gross profit (loss) .......................... 124 21
Selling expenses ............................. 737 1,959
General and administrative expenses .......... 1,137 1,901
----------- -----------
Loss from operations ......................... (1,750) (3,839)
----------- -----------
Other income (expense), net .................. (88) 20
Nonrecurring expenses related to debt
extinguished in connection with the Initial
Public Offering (1,221) --
----------- -----------
Net loss ..................................... $ (3,059) $ (3,819)
=========== ===========
Net loss per share* .......................... $ (2.27) $ (1.37)
=========== ===========
Weighted average number of shares outstanding* 1,304,876 2,939,014
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
- ----------
* Restated see note 1 to the accompanying financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-4
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Additional
Preferred Stock Common Stock Paid-in Accumulated Shareholders'
Shares Amount Shares Amount Capital Deficit Equity
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at July 31, 1995 ..................... 956,000 $ -- 616,891 $ -- $1,385 $(1,999) $ (614)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issuance of preferred stock in connection
with the May 1995 Units Financing ....... 43,750 -- -- -- 44 44
Issuance of common stock in satisfaction
of expenses in connection with the
May 1995 Units Financing ................ -- -- 3,239 -- 7 7
Issuance of common stock in connection
with October 1995 private placement ..... -- -- 90,000 -- 163 163
Issuance of common stock in connection
with January 1996 private placement ..... -- -- 25,000 -- 58 58
Issuance of common stock in partial
payment of interest on debt issued
in the May 1995 Units Financing ......... -- -- 6,462 -- 23 23
Issuance of preferred stock in satisfaction
of dividends on preferred stock issued
in the May 1995 Units Financing ......... 48,672 -- -- -- 49 49
Issuance of common stock in connection
with the February 1996 private placement -- -- 150,000 -- 274 274
Issuance of common stock for legal costs
in connection with the Company's
initial public offering ................. -- -- 24,000 -- 84 84
Issuance of common stock in connection
with the June 1996 private placement .... -- -- 50,000 -- 90 90
Issuance of common stock in connection
with the initial public offering ........ -- -- 1,400,000 -- 5,399 5,399
Issuance of warrants in connection with the
initial public offering ................. -- -- -- -- 161 161
Conversion of preferred stock to common ...... (1,048,672) -- 293,533 -- -- --
Conversion of debentures to common ........... -- -- 279,889 -- 1,000 1,000
Dividends on preferred stock ................. -- -- -- -- -- (94) (94)
Net loss ..................................... -- -- -- -- -- (3,059) (3,059)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at July 31, 1996 ..................... (0) $ -- 2,939,014 $ -- $8,737 $(5,152) $ 3,585
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issuance of preferred stock in connection
with May 13, 1997 financing ............. 750 -- 666 666
Discount to fair market value of the preferred
stock on the conversion to common stock . 188 (188) --
Dividends on preferred stock ................. (10) (10)
Net loss ..................................... (3,819) (3,819)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at July 31, 1997 ..................... 750 $ -- 2,939,014 $ -- $9,591 $(9,169) $ 422
==================================================================================
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-5
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended Year ended
July 31, 1996 July 31, 1997
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss ................................................ $(3,059) $(3,819)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of operating assets .... 333 696
Amortization of loan discount ........................ 585 --
Amortization of deferred debt costs .................. 396 --
Write off of production equipment .................... -- 226
Effect of changes in operating assets
and liabilities:
Accounts receivable ............................... (35) 64
Prepaid expenses and other current assets ......... (32) 8
Other assets ...................................... (489) 15
Accounts payable .................................. (369) 416
Accrued expenses .................................. 181 (71)
Unearned revenue .................................. 183 8
------- -------
Net cash used in operating activities ................... (2,306) (2,457)
------- -------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment ...................... (108) (561)
Increase in capitalized content and program costs ....... -- (448)
------- -------
Net cash used in investing activities ................... (108) (1,009)
------- -------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from bridge notes .............................. 1,375 --
Net proceeds from issuances of common and preferred stock 5,592 666
Proceeds from long term debt ............................ 32 --
Proceeds from lease financing ........................... -- 208
Repayment of loans payable - related parties ............ (61) --
Repayment of bridge notes ............................... (1,375) --
Principal payments on capital leases .................... (112) (101)
Debt issuance costs incurred ............................ (180) --
Dividends paid on preferred stock ....................... (61) --
------- -------
Net cash provided by financing activities ............... 5,210 773
------- -------
Net increase in cash ........................................ 2,796 (2,693)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period .... 61 2,857
------- -------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period .......... $ 2,857 $ 164
======= =======
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-6
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
(Dollars in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended Year ended
July 31, July 31,
1996 1997
---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash payments for interest ................................... $ 89 $ 26
Cash payments for income taxes ............................... 4 12
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing
activities:
Capital lease obligations for equipment purchases ........ -- 207
Dividends accrued on preferred stock ..................... 33 10
Security deposits applied to capital lease obligations ... -- 186
Discount to fair market value of the preferred
stock upon conversion to common stock ................. -- 188
Issuance of capital stock in satisfaction of expenses .... 84 --
Conversion of accrued expenses into long term debt ....... 12 --
Conversion of accrued expenses into capital stock ........ 41 --
Conversion of dividends payable into preferred stock ..... 49 --
Original issue discounts associated with bridge financings 546 --
Conversion of long term debt into common stock ........... 1,000 --
Conversion of preferred stock into common stock .......... 1,049 --
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-7
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CORPORATE STRUCTURE AND PRINCIPAL
BUSINESS ACTIVITY:
Business and Organization
Kideo Productions, Inc. ("Kideo-Delaware"), a Delaware corporation, was
incorporated on June 24, 1994. The accompanying consolidated financial
statements include the accounts of Kideo-Delaware and its wholly owned
subsidiary Kideo Productions (Canada), Inc. (collectively the "Company"). Kideo
Productions (Canada), Inc. commenced operations in July 1995. All significant
intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
The Company develops, produces and markets personalized children's
educational video tapes sold through direct sales, mail-order houses, children's
toy stores and various catalogs. The principal shareholder developed the initial
product line prior to the Company's commencement of operations. The Company is
devoted to the development of multimedia products using emerging technologies
with an emphasis on personalized products for children. The Company's sales are
seasonal in nature based, in part, on purchases made during the months of
October through December.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared
assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. As shown in the
consolidated financial statements, the Company has incurred net losses of
$3,059,000 and $3,819,000 for the years ended July 31, 1996 and July 31, 1997,
respectively. In addition, the Company has a net working capital deficiency of
$666,000 at July 31, 1997. The Company's strategy is to continue to obtain
licenses for popular media characters and apply its technology to the characters
under license. The Company plans to sell these products to its existing
customers as well as to new customers obtained through direct mail to customers
and sales to retail outlets. The Company anticipates that a portion of the cost
of the distribution, including advertising, will be funded by the licensing
partner. Although there can be no assurances, the Company anticipates, based on
its currently proposed plans and assumptions relating to its operations
(including assumptions regarding the progress and timing of its new development
efforts), that the proceeds remaining from the May 13, 1997 financing, and the
September 16, 1997 financing (described below), together with anticipated
revenues from operations and its current cash and cash equivalent balances, will
be sufficient to fund the Company's operations and capital requirements through
July 31, 1998.
Revenue Recognition
The Company generally records an account receivable and a corresponding
liability for unearned revenue for video tape order kits shipped to mail order
houses and retail stores. Revenue is recognized on the accrual basis when the
video tape is shipped to the ultimate consumer.
Capitalized Content Costs
Capitalized costs consist of deferred production costs related to the
production and development of the storylines of the Company's video tapes. The
Company's policy is to amortize production costs over the anticipated revenue
stream of the title, which it currently estimates to be two years. Management
continually evaluates its policy as sales of each title are made.
Certain technology rights, intellectual property and software related to
the production of video products, amounting to approximately $192,000, were
acquired on July 17, 1995 and are being amortized over a three-year period which
commenced August 1, 1995 using the straight-line method. Depreciation and
amortization charged to operations amounted to $64,000 per year for the years
ended July 31, 1996 and 1997.
F-8
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Long Lived Assets
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Acquired Assets and for Long Lived Assets to
be Disposed of", management periodically assesses whether there has been an
impairment in the carrying value of the excess of cost of such assets by
comparing the current and expected annual undiscounted cash flows with the
carrying amount. In the event there is an impairment of the asset, management
would reduce the carrying value to an amount equal to the projected discounted
cash flow of the underlying assets.
Advertising Costs
Advertising costs are charged to operations when the advertising takes
place. Advertising expenses for the years ended July 31, 1996 and 1997 were
$97,000 and $743,000 respectively.
Depreciation
Depreciation of property and equipment is provided for principally by the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets.
Income Taxes
The Company follows the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes", which requires that the tax
effect of temporary differences between the recorded carrying values and the
adjusted tax basis of assets and liabilities be reflected in the financial
statements at the tax rate at which the differences are expected to reverse. At
July 31, 1996 and 1997, there were no material temporary differences between the
book basis and tax basis of the Company's assets and liabilities.
As of July 31, 1997, the Company had a net operating loss carryforward for
both financial reporting and income tax purposes of approximately $8,844,000
available to offset future income, expiring during 2009 to 2012. This resulted
in a deferred income tax asset of approximately $3,980,000 for which the Company
recorded a full valuation allowance due to the uncertainty of future realization
of such losses. Based on the ownership changes arising from the initial public
offering, utilization of the net operating loss carry-forward will be limited.
Net Loss Per Share
In accordance with SFAS No. 128, net loss per common share amounts ("Basic
EPS") were computed by dividing net earnings after adjustments for preferred
stock dividend requirements, by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding and excluded any potential dilution. Net loss per common share
amounts assuming dilution ("Diluted EPS") were computed by reflecting potential
dilution from the exercise of stock options, to the extent they are dilutive.
Staff Accounting Bulletin 98 ("SAB 98") revises various existing SAB's to
be consistent with the requirements of SFAS No. 128. The most significant
revision relates to the calculation of earnings per share when there have been
issuances of stock options at prices below the IPO price in periods preceding an
initial public offering. SAB 98 requires all registrants who accounted for
transactions under SAB 83 to restate those results in conformity with SFAS 128.
Accordingly, the Company has restated earnings per share, and weighted
average number of shares outstanding data for all periods presented in
accordance with SFAS No. 128 and SAB 98.
F-9
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Warranty Costs
To date, the Company has not had any significant warranty costs for repair
or replacement of its product. Based on current sales and historical experience,
warranty costs, if any are charged to operations when incurred.
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires the use of estimates by management
affecting the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and
the disclosed amounts of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
Reclassifications
For comparability, certain Fiscal 1996 amounts have been reclassified
where appropriate to conform to the financial statement presentation used in
Fiscal 1997.
2. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment, at cost, consists of the following:
July 31, July 31, Estimated
1996 1997 Useful Life
--------- ----------- -----------
Video production equipment
and related software ........ $ 931,000 $ 605,000 3 years
Furniture and fixtures ...... 5,000 10,000 7 years
Office equipment ............ 63,000 124,000 5 years
Leasehold improvements ...... 21,000 164,000 3 years
--------- -----------
1,020,000 903,000
Less accumulated depreciation (462,000) (396,000)
--------- -----------
$ 558,000 $ 507,000
========= ===========
Included in property and equipment at July 31, 1996 and at July 31, 1997
are approximately $431,000 and $207,000, respectively, of assets acquired under
capital leases. Accumulated depreciation on these assets as of July 31, 1996 and
July 31, 1997 amounted to approximately $216,000 and $53,000 respectively. The
property held under these leases is collateral for the related capital lease
obligations as described in Note 6.
The Company provided for the disposal of certain production equipment
during the second quarter of the fiscal year. This equipment was written off
after the successful completion of tests allowing
F-10
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the production of older Kideo titles on new, more efficient equipment. The
write-off of production equipment accounted for a $226,000 expense for the year
ended July 31, 1997.
3. CAPITALIZED CONTENT COSTS
Capitalized content costs include the development, scripts, characters,
props, filming and post production of new Kideo titles introduced for the year
ended July 31, 1997.
July 31, July 31,
1996 1997
-------- --------
Capitalized content costs .................. $432,000 $777,000
Less accumulated amortization .............. -- 259,000
-------- --------
Net book value ............................ $432,000 $518,000
======== ========
4. OTHER ASSETS:
Other assets consist of the following:
July 31, July 31,
1996 1997
-------- --------
Deposits on capital lease obligations .............. 195,000 34,000
Technology rights and intellectual property ........ 34,000 17,000
Security deposits .................................. 17,000 18,000
Deferred expenses .................................. 40,000 68,000
-------- --------
$286,000 $137,000
======== ========
5. COMMITMENTS:
The Company leases 7,000 square feet of space under several noncancelable
operating leases for office, manufacturing and warehouse space. These leases are
subject to escalation for the Company's proportionate share of increases in real
estate taxes and certain other operating expenses. In addition the Company rents
additional office space on a month to month basis at a monthly rent of
approximately $950. Total rent expense for the years ended July 31, 1996 and
1997 amounted to $76,000 and $121,000, respectively. Future approximate minimum
rental payments required are as follows:
Year ending July 31,
1998 ............................................... $108,000
1999 ............................................... 18,000
--------
$126,000
========
The Company has entered into employment contracts with two
employees expiring a various times through December 1998. The aggregate minimum
commitment for future salaries, excluding bonus, is as follows:
Year ending July 31,
1998................................................ $211,000
1999................................................ 56,000
--------
$267,000
========
F-11
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
6. CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS:
Included in property and equipment are $431,000 and $207,000 in production
and office equipment held under capital leases at July 31, 1996 and 1997,
respectively. The future minimum lease payments under capital leases, all with
interest rates ranging from 13% to 16.5%, at July 31, 1997 are as follows:
Year ending July 31,
1998 ................................................. $105,000
1999 ................................................. 63,000
2000 ................................................. 6,000
2001 ................................................. 3,000
2002 ................................................. 2,000
--------
179,000
Less amounts representing interest ......................... 31,000
--------
$148,000
========
7. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
May 13, 1997 Financing
On May 13, 1997, the Company closed the private placement of 750 shares of
a newly authorized series of Preferred stock, designated as the Series A 6%
Convertible Participating Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock",
"Preferred Stock"). The shares were sold at their liquidition value of $1,000
per share, for a total purchase price of $750,000 in a transaction arranged
through Gerard Klauer Mattison & Co., Inc. as placement agent.
The Preferred Stock became convertible at the holder's option after July
12, 1997 into common shares based on the ratio of (a) the total liquidation
value (at $1,000 per preferred share) of the preferred shares being converted,
to (b) the then-effective conversion price. The conversion price at any point in
time is 80% of the prior three days average of the closing bid price per share
of the Company's common stock.
The Company has the option to sell up to 1,250 additional shares of
Preferred Stock for $1,250,000, commencing thirty days following the
effectiveness of a registration statement on the underlying shares. The
Company's registration statement was declared effective on September 2, 1997. As
of October 31, 1997 the Company had not exercised its option to sell the
remaining additional shares of Preferred Stock.
The conversion feature affords a discount to fair market value at the time
of conversion of the Preferred Stock into common. The intrinsic value of this
feature is $500,000 for the entire subscription of 2,000 Preferred Shares and
will be recognized in the financial statements in the proportion that the shares
issued bear to the total subscription. The amount recognized in the financial
statements at the fiscal year end of July 31, 1997 was $187,500, which is the
ratable portion of the discount related to the 750 Preferred Shares issued on
May 31, 1997. In accounting for this intrinsic value, the Company reduced
retained earnings by the appropriate portion of the discount, which is analogous
to a dividend, and increased additional paid-in capital, as if that dividend
were directly reinvested.
F-12
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Certificate of Designations provides that dividends on the Series A
Preferred Stock are payable semi-annually on each July 31st and January 31st,
commencing with July 31, 1998. The Company has the option to pay any or all of
the dividends through the issuance of additional shares of Common Stock
(utilizing the same conversion ratio as described above).
Initial Public Offering
In January 1996, the Company's Board of Directors authorized an increase
in the number of shares of preferred stock from 100,000 to 5,000,000. In
addition, the Company's Board of Directors authorized an increase in the number
of shares of common stock from 400,000, $.01 par value, to 15,000,000, $.0001
par value, and declared a stock split for which shareholders received 8.6545
shares of common stock for each share of common stock previously owned.
On June 25, 1996, the Company consummated an initial public offering of
1,400,000 common shares at an offering price of $5.00 per share and 1,610,000
warrants at an offering price of $.10 per warrant. The net proceeds to the
Company were $5,560,000 after deducting issuance costs of $1,601,000, which
were charged to equity. Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share
of common stock at an exercise price of $4.00 per share. The warrants will be
exercisable for a period of four years commencing June 24, 1997.
Upon the closing of the offering, the Company repaid $1,375,000 principal
amount of bridge note financings. Included in the bridge note financings were
payments to two officers for $125,000 and $300,000 to a director of the Company.
In addition the Company converted the outstanding principal amount of $1,000,000
subordinated debentures into 279,889 shares of common stock and the 1,048,672
shares of outstanding preferred stock were converted into 293,533 shares of
common stock. Additional loans of $61,000 in the aggregate were repaid to a
shareholder and a former director out of the proceeds of the offering.
The Company has granted to a director/shareholder and another shareholder
certain preemptive rights to purchase additional shares of common stock to avoid
dilution of their ownership in the event of certain sales of securities. The
Company has the right to acquire all or a part of one of these shareholders'
outstanding shares (up to 38,945 shares) for a price of up to $150,000 plus the
fair value of outstanding options, warrants or other rights to purchase
securities of the Company.
In March 1996, the Company issued 24,000 shares of common stock, valued by
the Company at $84,000 ($3.50 per share) at the time of the issuance, for legal
services rendered in connection with the IPO.
8. NON RECURRING CHARGES RELATED TO THE SECURITIES RETIRED UPON THE IPO
The Statement of Operations for the year ended July 31, 1996 reflects
$1,221,000 of expenses related to financings that were either retired or
converted into common shares in connection with the IPO. This consists of the
following:
Amortization of debt issuance costs outstanding
from July 31, 1995 ........................................... $ 207,000
Amortization of debt issuance costs incurred in
connection with bridge financings that closed
during the year ended July 31, 1996 .......................... 190,000
Amortization of original issue discount arising from
the allocation of a portion of bridge financing
proceeds to shareholders' equity, where shares
of common stock were issued in addition to
bridge notes issued at par value ............................. 585,000
F-13
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Interest on debt retired .......................................... 151,000
Redemption of certain warrants .................................... 88,000
----------
$1,221,000
==========
9. STOCK OPTION PLAN
In February 1996, the Board of Directors approved a stock option plan (the
"Plan"), under which 350,000 shares of common stock were reserved for future
issuance. The Plan provides for the sale of shares of common stock to employees
of the Company, including officers and directors ( whether or not employees) as
well as to consultants to the Company. For stock options granted before the
closing of the Company's proposed initial public offering, the per share
exercise price of such options is $5.00 and for stock options granted after the
closing of the Company's proposed initial public offering, the per share
exercise price of such options cannot be less than the fair market value of the
shares of common stock on the date of grant. The term of each option and the
manner of exercise is determined by the Plan's administrators, but options
granted under the Plan will become exercisable after the vesting period or
periods specified in each option agreement. However, options are not exercisable
after the expiration of 10 years from the date of grant
The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 ("FAS 123"), entitled "Accounting For
Stock-Based Compensation." FAS 123 calls for measuring compensation cost at the
date of grant, based on an estimate of fair value of the option over its
expected life.
The Company accounts for the cost of stock-based compensation using the
intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion Number
25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related Interpretations of
that rule. Accordingly, compensation cost for stock options is measured as the
excess of market value over the exercise price of the related option, measured
as of the date that the option is actually exercised. There were no options
exercised during the fiscal years ended July 31, 1996 or 1997. Accordingly,
there was no compensation expense related to stock options in those years.
Had the accounting provisions of FAS 123 been adopted by the Company,
reported net income and earnings per share would have changed as follows:
Fiscal 1996 Fiscal 1997
----------- -----------
Net Earnings, as reported $(3,059,000) $(3,819,000)
Net Earnings, pro forma for FAS 123 $(3,117,000) $(3,994,000)
Earnings per share, as reported $(2.27)* $(1.37)
Earnings per share, pro forma for FAS 123 $(1.74) $(1.41)
The FAS 123 pro forma effects are calculated using the grant date as the
measurement date; the Black-Scholes option-pricing model as the determinant of
fair value, further adjusted for lack of transferability of the underlying
shares at grant date; and an estimated option life of 5 years over which the
fair value is to be amortized. Additional variables used in applying
Black-Scholes included a volatility assumption of 60%; risk-free interest rate
of 6% and no common stock dividends during the option period.
- ---------
* Restated
F-14
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following table summarizes activity in the stock option plan:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Weighted Average
Stock Options Price per share Price per share
--------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
August 1, 1995 balance --
Grants during Fiscal 1996 341,000 $5.00 $5.00
Forfeitures (7,000) $5.00 $5.00
Options exercised --
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at July 31, 1996 334,000 $5.00 $5.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Grants during Fiscal 1997 13,000 $3.19 - $3.63 $3.29
Forfeitures (39,000) $3.19 - $5.00 $4.77
Options exercised --
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at July 31, 1997 308,000 $3.19 - $5.00 $4.96
====================================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Weighted Average Weighted Average Weighted Average
Fair Value of Number Remaining Number Earnings
Options Granted Exercise Outstanding at Contractual Exercisable Price
in 1997 Prices July 31, 1997 Life at July 31, 1997 Per Share
- --------------- -------- -------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$1.43 $3.19-5.00 308,000 8.64 198,339 $4.98
</TABLE>
10. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER:
During the years ended July 31, 1996 and 1997, $201,000 and $95,000,
respectively, of the Company's sales were to one customer.
11. LITIGATION:
The Company has applied for a registered trademark for the name "Kideo,"
however, this trademark has been previously registered by another party. On July
6, 1994, the Company began litigation against the successor to the original
owner of the trademark before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board of the
United States Patent and Trademark Office. That proceeding is currently
suspended pursuant to a stipulation agreed upon by the Company and such
successor while they discuss possible settlement. There can be no assurance that
a settlement satisfactory to the Company can be reached. If a satisfactory
settlement is not obtained the Company will pursue the original proceeding, and
in the event that the Company does not prevail in the proceeding it does not
believe that its business will be adversely affected.
12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:
September 16, 1997 Financing
On September 16, 1997, the Company issued 200,000 common shares to an
affiliate of Charles C. Johnston, a director of the Company in exchange for an
equity infusion of $300,000, which approximates fair market value.
Conversion of Preferred Stock
At various times during August and September, 1997 the holder of the
Company's Preferred Stock converted the 750 Preferred shares into 543,114 shares
of common stock at an average price of $1.38 per share.
Nasdaq Delisting
On September 26, 1997 The Company was advised by the Nasdaq Stock Market
that Nasdaq had deleted the Company's stock from listing in the Nasdaq Small Cap
Market. The Nasdaq decision was based
F-15
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
in part upon the Company's having not met, as reflected in its Form 10-QSB for
the quarterly period ended April 30, 1997, the "total assets" and "capital and
surplus" requirements for continued listing on the Nasdaq Small Cap Market.
Despite the Company's submission of a plan for achieving compliance with those
requirements, the Nasdaq decision indicated that the compliance panel lacked
adequate confidence in the Company's ability to sustain long term compliance.
F-16
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
at January 31,
1998
--------------
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ................................... $ 7
Financing receivable escrow ................................. 310
Accounts receivable trade ................................... 48
Inventory ................................................... 124
Prepaid expenses ............................................ 61
--------
Total current assets ..................................... 550
Property and equipment, net .................................... 355
Capitalized content costs, net ................................. 615
Deferred debt expense .......................................... 491
Other assets ................................................... 103
--------
Total assets ............................................. $ 2,114
========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable ............................................ $ 789
Accrued expenses ............................................ 300
Capital leases, current portion ............................. 78
Unearned revenue ............................................ 345
--------
Total current liabilities ................................ 1,512
Convertible notes payable-long term, net of discount ........... 465
Capital leases, long term portion .............................. 28
--------
Total liabilities ........................................ $ 2,005
--------
Shareholders' Equity
Preferred Stock: $.0001 par value; issuable in
series: authorized 5,000,000 shares, -0- shares
issued and outstanding at January 31, 1998 .................. --
Common Stock, $.0001 par value; authorized
15,000,000 shares, issued and outstanding
3,694,628 shares at January 31, 1998 ........................ --
Additional paid-in capital .................................. 10,551
Accumulated deficit ......................................... (10,442)
--------
Shareholders' (Deficiency) Equity .......................... 109
--------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity ............... $ 2,114
========
See accompanying notes.
F-17
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands except for per share amounts)
Six months ended
January 31, January 31,
1998 1997
------------------------------
Sales ...................................... $ 593 $ 761
Cost of sales .............................. 513 611
Write off of production equipment .......... -- 226
----------- -----------
Gross profit (loss) ........................ 80 (76)
Selling expenses ........................... 643 1,254
General and administrative expenses ........ 654 1,036
----------- -----------
Loss from operations ....................... (1,217) (2,366)
Other (expense) income, net ................ (52) 30
----------- -----------
Net loss ................................... $ (1,269) $ (2,336)
=========== ===========
Net loss per share - Basic ................. $ (0.37) $ (0.79)
=========== ===========
Weighted average number of shares
outstanding ............................. 3,481,829 2,939,014
=========== ===========
See accompanying notes.
F-18
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Additional
Preferred Stock Common Stock Paid-in Accumulated Shareholders'
Shares Amount Shares Amount Capital Deficit Equity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at July 31, 1997 .......................... 750 $ -- 2,939,014 $ -- $ 9,591 $ (9,169) $ 422
Conversion of preferred stock to common ........... (750) -- 543,114 -- (25) -- (25)
Issuance of common stock in connection
with the September 1997 Johnston Financing ..... 200,000 -- 300 -- 300
Dividends on preferred stock ...................... (4) (4)
Discount to fair market value of the January
1998, convertible notes payable on the
conversion to common stock ..................... 465 465
Issuance of warrants in connection
with the January 1998, Financing ............... 198 198
Issuance of common stock in lieu of commission
in connection with the January 1998, Financing . 12,500 -- 22 22
Net loss .......................................... (1,269) (1,269)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at January 31, 1998 ....................... (0) $ -- 3,694,628 $ -- $ 10,551 $ (10,442) $ 109
================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
F-19
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Six months ended
January 31, January 31,
1998 1997
--------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss ........................................... $(1,269) $(2,335)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of operating assets .. 383 317
Write off of equipment ............................. -- 226
Financing charges .................................. 44 --
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable ................................ (327) 8
Inventory .......................................... (21) (103)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets .......... (33) 2
Other assets ....................................... -- (89)
Accounts payable ................................... 434 186
Accrued expenses ................................... 70 (111)
Unearned revenue ................................... 112 200
---------------------
Net cash used in operating activities ........... (607) (1,699)
---------------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment ................. (3) (553)
Increase in capitalized content costs .............. (291) (346)
---------------------
Net cash used in investing activities ........... (294) (899)
---------------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuances of capital stock ....... 275 --
Proceeds from long term debt ....................... 500 --
Proceeds from lease financing ...................... -- 207
Principal payments on capital leases ............... (31) (66)
---------------------
Net cash provided by financing activities ....... 744 141
---------------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash .......................... (157) (2,457)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period . 164 2,857
---------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period ....... $ 7 $ 400
=====================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
F-20
<PAGE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1 Basis of Presentation
The interim financial data is unaudited; however, in the opinion of
management, the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting of all normal
recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of results for the interim
periods. The financial statements included herein have been prepared by the
Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in
financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and
regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures included herein
are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. Operating results
for the six months ended January 31, 1998 are not necessarily indicative of the
results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending July 31, 1998.
The organization and the business of the Company, accounting policies
followed by the Company and other information are contained in the notes to the
Company's consolidated financial statements filed as part of the Company's
annual report for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 on Form 10-KSB. This
quarterly report should be read in conjunction with such annual report.
For comparability, certain January 31, 1997 amounts have been reclassified
where appropriate to conform to the financial statement presentation used at
January 31, 1998.
2 Earnings Per Share
For the periods ended January 31, 1998, the Company adopted Financial
Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." In accordance with
the requirements of SFAS No. 128, Basic EPS was computed by dividing net loss
after adjustment for preferred dividend requirements, by the weighted average
number of shares outstanding. Diluted EPS was computed by dividing net loss
after adjustments for preferred dividend requirements, by the weighted average
number of shares outstanding. This excludes the antidilutive effect of
outstanding equity instruments. SFAS No. 128 requires presentation of both Basic
EPS and Diluted EPS on the face of the statement of operations. Earnings per
share amounts for the same prior-year period are restated to conform with the
provisions of SFAS No. 128.
Staff Accounting Bulletin 98 ("SAB 98") was issued in February 3, 1998.
SAB 98 revises various existing SAB's to be consistent with the requirements of
SFAS No. 128. The most significant revision relates to the calculation of
earnings per share when there have been issuances of stock or options at prices
below the IPO price in periods preceding an initial public offering. SAB 98
requires all registrants who accounted for transactions under SAB 83 to restate
these results in conformity with SFAS 128. Accordingly, the Company has restated
the net loss per share data, and weighted average number of shares outstanding
for prior periods as required.
F-21
<PAGE>
A reconciliation of the Basic EPS and Diluted EPS computations for net
earnings (loss) follows:
Six Months
Ended
January 31, 1998
-----------------
Basic Earnings Per Share
Net loss as reported $(1,268,696)
Less: Dividends on preferred Stock (4,769)
-----------
Net loss attributable to common stock $(1,273,445)
===========
Weighted average number of shares 3,481,829
-----------
Net loss per share $ (0.37)
===========
F-22
<PAGE>
Six Months
Ended
January 31, 1997
----------------
Basic Earnings Per Share
Net loss as reported $(2,335,110)
Less: Dividends on preferred Stock --
-----------
Net loss attributable to common stock $(2,335,110)
===========
Weighted average number of shares 2,939,014
-----------
Net loss per share $ (0.79)
===========
Six Months
Ended
Per share amounts January 31, 1997
----------------- ----------------
Primary EPS as reported $ (0.79)
Effect of SFAS No. 128 --
-----------
Basic EPS as restated $ (0.79)
===========
3 January 1998, Financing
The Company issued convertible notes and warrant purchase agreements in
the aggregate amount of $620,000, bearing interest at the rate of 10% per annum,
due April 15, 1999 and warrants to purchase a total of 640,000 shares of its
Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share, to certain investors and advisors. The
notes convert at a price of $1.00 per share. The Company has included on its
balance sheet deferred debt expense of $491,000, in connection with this
transaction, of which $465,000 is attributed to a beneficial conversion feature
recorded with the issuance of the convertible debt. The deferred debt expense
will be amortized from the date the security was issued until the date it first
becomes convertible. The cash received in connection with the issuance of the
notes was not received until February 10, 1998, and accordingly was classified
as a "financing receivable - escrow" in the January 31, 1998 balance sheet.
4 Subsequent Event
On February 20, 1998, 273,000 options previously issued to employees and
directors with a weighted average exercise price of $4.95 were repriced at
$2.50. This revaluation did not alter or amend any other provision of the
optionee's original option agreement, including vesting period and option term.
F-23
<PAGE>
PART II.
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 24. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporations Law (the "DGCL") contains
provisions entitling the Company's directors and officers to indemnification
from judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, and reasonable expenses
(including attorneys' fees) as the result of an action or proceeding in which
they may be involved by reason of having been a director or officer of the
Company. In its Certificate of Incorporation, the Company has included a
provision that limits, to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by the
DGCL, the personal liability of its directors to the Company or its stockholders
for monetary damages arising from a breach of their fiduciary duties as
directors. Under the DGCL as currently in effect, this provision limits a
director's liability except where such director (i) breaches his duty of loyalty
to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) fails to act in good faith or engages
in intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) authorizes
payment of an unlawful dividend or stock purchase or redemption as provided in
Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) obtains an improper personal benefit. This
provision does not prevent the Company or its stockholders from seeking
equitable remedies, such as injunctive relief or rescission. If equitable
remedies are found not to be available to stockholders in any particular case,
stockholders may not have any effective remedy against actions taken by
directors that constitute negligence or gross negligence.
The Certificate of Incorporation also includes provisions to the effect
that (subject to certain exceptions) the Company shall, to the maximum extent
permitted from time to time under the law of the State of Delaware, indemnify,
and upon request shall advance expenses to, any director or officer to the
extent that such indemnification and advancement of expenses is permitted under
such law, as it may from time to time be in effect. In addition, the By-Laws
require the Company to indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any
director, office, employee or agent of the Company for acts which such person
reasonably believes are not in violation of the Company's corporate purposes as
set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. At present, the DGCL provides
that, in order to be entitled to indemnification, an individual must have acted
in good faith and in a manner her or she reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the Company's best interests.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Company pursuant to any charter, provision, by-law, contract, arrangement,
statute or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. See Item 28.
II-1
<PAGE>
Item 25. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses payable by the Registrant (also herein called the
"Company") in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities
being registered hereby (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) are
set forth in the table below. None of such expenses will be borne by the Selling
Stockholders.
SEC registration fee........................................ $ 794.83
Printing expenses........................................... 1,000.00
Legal fees and expenses..................................... 20,000.00
Accounting fees and expenses................................ 15,000.00
TOTAL..................................... $36,794.83
Item 26. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Within the past three years, the Registrant has issued securities without
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), as
follows:
On June 2, 1994, the Registrant issued to a private investor known to the
Company 5,965 shares of Common Stock for a total consideration of $25,000.
On June 17, 1994, the Registrant issued 53,681 shares of Common Stock to a
private investor for a total consideration of $200,000. In connection with such
issuance this investor became a director of the Registrant.
In June and October 1994, and in connection with the above-mentioned March
and June transactions, the Registrant issued to two existing stockholders of the
Registrant an aggregate of 8,922 shares of Common Stock in lieu of aggregate
cash payments in the amount of $14,518 payable for investments advisory
services.
In November 1994, the Registrant issued 9,356 shares of Common Stock to a
private investor known to the Registrant for a total consideration of $26,000.
In March 1995, the Registrant issued an aggregate of 19,271 shares of
Common Stock to four existing stockholders of the Registrant for a total
consideration of $47,450.
During the period from May through October 1995, the Registrant issued to
79 accredited investors, including a director/principal stockholder of the
Registrant, through a private placement (the "May 1995 Units Financing"), an
aggregate of 1,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and an aggregate of
$1,000,000 principal amount of Debentures. The Registrant received total
compensation of $2,000,000, consisting of cash in the amount of $1,025,000 and
the conversion of certain notes outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of
$975,000, including $200,000 in principal amount of notes owing to the
director/principal stockholder of the Registrant.
In connection with the May 1995 Units Financing, the Registrant paid a
placement fee to one of the investors in the May 1995 Units Financing and a
company controlled by such investor in the aggregate amount of $90,000 in cash,
35,477 shares of Common Stock, 11,625 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and a
Debenture in the principal amount of $11,625.
II-2
<PAGE>
In July 1995, the Registrant issued to V-Seion Multimedia, Inc., a company
controlled by Bradley Dahl, 19,645 shares of Common Stock as a $70,000 partial
payment for the acquisition of certain hardware and software assets. In
connection with such transaction, Mr. Dahl became an executive officer of the
Registrant.
In September and October 1995, the Registrant effectuated a private
placement to six accredited investors known to the Registrant, including a
director/principal stockholder of the Registrant whereby the Registrant issued
$300,000 in principal amount of notes and 90,000 shares of Common Stock. The
Registrant received total cash consideration of $300,000 (including $100,000
from the director/principal stockholder in exchange for a $100,000 principal
amount promissory note and 30,000 shares of Common Stock).
In January 1996, the Registrant issued to two executive officers of the
Registrant $125,000 in aggregate principal amount of promissory notes and an
aggregate of 25,000 shares of Common Stock. The Registrant received a total cash
consideration of $125,000.
In February 1996, the Registrant issued to eleven accredited investors
$750,000 in aggregate principal amount of promissory notes and an aggregate of
150,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to a private placement (the "1996 Bridge
Financing"). The Registrant received total cash consideration in the gross
amount of $750,000. In connection with the 1996 Bridge Financing, Whale
Securities Co., L.P. ("Whale") acted as placement whereby Whale received an
aggregate commission of $75,000 in cash.
On March 26, 1996, SME agreed to accept from the Registrant, in lieu of
cash and as partial payment for legal services rendered prior to that date,
24,000 shares of Common Stock (valued by the Company at that time as having a
fair market value of $3.50 per share). The Registrant issued such 24,000 shares
to members and an employee of SME on March 27, 1996.
On May 24, 1996, options to purchase an aggregate of 4,000 shares of
Common Stock at a purchase price of $5.00 per share were granted under the 1996
Stock Option Plan to a consultant of the Registrant. Subject to various vesting
conditions, all of such options (once vested) will be exercisable until May 24,
2006. The Registrant received no consideration for these options, and such
options were issued without registration because no sale occurred in connection
with the issuance of the options.
On June 3, 1996, the Registrant issued to two accredited investors
$200,000 in aggregate principal amount of promissory notes and an aggregate of
50,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to a private placement (the "June 1996
Financing"). The Registrant received total cash consideration in the gross
amount of $200,000. In connection with this financing, Whale (the Underwriter of
the Underwritten Offering) received an aggregate commission of $20,000 in cash.
On October 30, 1996, the Registrant issued a warrant to purchase 20,000
shares of Common Stock at a price of $5.00 per share to an executive and owner
of a company that had acted as an independent contractor to the Registrant. See
the discussion in the Prospectus under "Description of Securities-Other
Warrants." The Registrant received no separate consideration for this warrant
(apart from the services rendered by such independent contractor), and such
warrant was issued without registration because no sale occurred in connection
with its issuance.
In March, May and September of 1996 and in April of 1997, the Registrant
granted options to purchase shares of its Common Stock to participants in its
1996 Stock Option Plan. See the discussion in the Prospectus under
"Management-1996 Stock Option Plan." The Registrant received no consideration
for these options, and such options were issued without registration because no
sale occurred in connection with the issuance of the options.
II-3
<PAGE>
On May 13, 1997, the Registrant issued 750 shares of its Series A
Preferred Stock to Sellet Marketing Corp. as described in the Prospectus
included in this Registration Statement under "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital
Resources--May 1997 Financing."
On September 16, 1997, the Registrant issued 200,000 shares of Common
Stock to an affiliate of Charles C. Johnston, a director and principal
stockholder of the Company, for an aggregate purchase price of $300,000 (the
"September 1997 Financing"), which the Company's Board of Directors (excluding
Johnston) determined to the be the fair market value of those 200,000 shares at
the time of issuance.
On January 30, 1998, the Registrant issued the January 1998 Notes, the
January 1998 Warrants, the 1998 Johnston Warrants, the KSH Shares and the SME
Warrants as described in the Prospectus included in this Registration Statement
under "Recent Developments."
Unless stated otherwise, at the times the above-mentioned securities were
issued, the foregoing persons represented to the Registrant that they were
acquiring the securities for purposes of investment and not with a view to
distribution, and appropriate legends were placed on the certificates
representing the securities so issued. In addition, the foregoing persons had
adequate access, through employment, business relationships, or otherwise to
information about the Registrant. Exemption from registration of such securities
is claimed under Section 4(2) of the Act since no public offering was involved
and the securities had been taken for investment purposes and not with a view to
distribution.
Item 27. Exhibits
Except for Exhibits 4.5, 5.1, 10.32 through 10.35, and 23.1 hereto, and
except for Exhibits marked (as indicated in the next paragraph) as being filed
as part of this Registration Statement, all Exhibits to this Registration
Statement referenced below (i) were previously filed as Exhibits to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (reg. no. 333-2294), declared
effective by the Commission in June 1996 (the "1996 Registration Statement"), or
as Exhibits to its Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (reg. no. 333-31035),
declared effective by the Commission in August 1997 (the "1997 Registration
Statement"), and (ii) are accordingly incorporated herein by reference. The
Company's Commission file number is 0-28158.
Any Exhibit marked below with an asterisk (*) indicates a contract or
compensatory plan or arrangement relating to the Company's management. Any
Exhibit marked below with a double asterisk (**) indicates an Exhibit to be
filed by amendment. Any Exhibit marked below with a number symbol (#) indicates
an Exhibit filed herewith. Any Exhibit marked below with a double number symbol
(##) indicates an Exhibit previously filed herewith.
No. Description
- --- -----------
3.1 Certificate of Incorporation. Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
3.2 By-laws, as amended and restated as of May 24, 1996. Previously filed as
Exhibit 3.3 to the 1996 Registration Statement.
3.3 Certificate of Amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as
filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on May 24, 1996. Previously
filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the 1996 Registration Statement.
3.4 Certificate of Designations of Series A 6% Convertible Participating
Preferred Stock. Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Report
on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference.
4.1 Form of Common Stock certificate. Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the
1996 Registration Statement.
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4.2 Form of Warrant Agreement between the Company and Whale Securities Co.,
L.P., including Form of Warrant Certificate. Previously filed as Exhibit
4.2 to the 1996 Registration Statement.
4.3 Form of Public Warrant Agreement among the Company, Whale Securities Co.,
L.P. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company as Warrant Agent.
Previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the 1996 Registration Statement.
4.4 Form of Redeemable Warrant. Previously filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
4.5 Form of certificate representing shares of Series A 6% Convertible
Participating Preferred Stock. Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the
Company's Report on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 1997, and incorporated herein
by reference.
4.6 Warrant issued on October 30, 1996. Previously filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the
1997 Registration Statement.
4.7## Form of January 1998 Warrant issued as of January 30, 1998 to each of
Benjamin Bollag and Michael Bollag.
4.8## Form of SME Warrant issued as of January 30, 1998 to various members and
employees of Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C.
4.9## Form of 1998 Johnston Warrant issued as of January 30, 1998 to Charles C.
Johnston.
5.1** Opinion of Solovay Marshall & Edlin, P.C.
10.1 Investor Rights Agreement, dated June 17, 1994, between the Company and
the investors named therein. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
10.2 Form of Stock Purchase Agreement, dated March 7, 1994, between the Company
and the investors named therein, relating to a private placement of shares
of Common Stock. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the 1996 Registration
Statement.
10.3 Form of Stock Purchase Agreement, dated March 31, 1994, between the
Company and the investors named therein, relating to a private placement
of shares of Common Stock. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
10.4 Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Richard Carney, dated May
10, 1994. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the 1996 Registration
Statement.
10.5 Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Henry Fredericks, dated
June 2, 1994. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the 1996 Registration
Statement.
10.6 Stock Purchase Agreement between the Company and Charles Johnston, dated
June 17, 1994. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the 1996 Registration
Statement.
10.7 Marketing Agreement between the Company and Consumer Programs, Inc. dated
November 3, 1994. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
10.8 Equipment Lease Agreements between the Company and National Marketing
Network, Inc., dated November 9, 1994, November 27, 1994 and December 8,
1994. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the 1996 Registration Statement.
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<PAGE>
10.9 Equipment Lease Agreements between the Company and Technilease, dated
August 22, 1994 and October 3, 1994. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.9 to
the 1996 Registration Statement.
10.10 Equipment Lease Agreement between the Company and Television
Laboratories, Inc., dated November 1994. Previously filed as Exhibit
10.10 to the 1996 Registration Statement.
10.11 Promissory Note to Charles Johnston, dated March 2, 1995. Previously
filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the 1996 Registration Statement.
10.12 Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and Richard L. Bulman,
dated January 1, 1995. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
10.13 Stock Option Agreement between the Company and Richard L. Bulman, dated
March 15, 1995. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
10.14 Stock Escrow Agreement between V-Seion and 477250 B.C. Ltd. (the
predecessor corporation which subsequently changed its name to become
Kideo-Canada), dated July 14, 1995. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.14 to
the 1996 Registration Statement.
10.15 Stock Transfer Restriction and Repurchase Agreement between 477250 B.C.
Ltd. and V-Seion, dated July 14, 1995. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.15
to the 1996 Registration Statement.
10.16 Registration Rights Agreement between the Company and V-Seion, dated
July 14, 1995. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.16 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
10.17 Asset Purchase Agreement between V-Seion Multimedia and 477250 B.C.
Ltd., dated July 17, 1995. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.17 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
10.18 Office Lease between the Company and Cable Building Associates, dated
September 28, 1995. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.18 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
10.19* Employment and Stock Issuance Agreement between the Company and Gary
Bilezikian, dated October 26, 1993. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.19 to
the 1996 Registration Statement.
10.20* Employment Agreement between 477250 B.C. and Bradley Dahl, dated July
14, 1995. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.20 to the 1996 Registration
Statement.
10.21* Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and Marvin
Goldstein, dated as of January 1, 1996. Previously filed as Exhibit
10.21 to the 1996 Registration Statement.
10.22* Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and Robert
J. Riscica, dated as of January 1, 1996. Previously filed as Exhibit
10.22 to the 1996 Registration Statement.
10.23* Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and
Richard L. Bulman, dated as of January 1, 1996. Previously filed as
Exhibit 10.23 to the 1996 Registration Statement.
10.24* Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and Joanne
Denk, dated as of January 2, 1996. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.24 to
the 1996 Registration Statement.
10.25* Form of Class A Warrant (Charles Johnston, a director of the Company, is
currently the only holder of any Class A Warrants).
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<PAGE>
10.26* Form of Class B Warrant (Charles Johnston, a director of the Company, is
currently the only holder of any Class B Warrants).
10.27* 1996 Stock Option Plan. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.28 to the 1996
Registration Statement.
10.28* Form of Stock Option Agreement. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.29 to the
1996 Registration Statement.
10.29 Form of Consulting Agreement between the Company and Whale Securities
Co., L.P. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.30 to the 1996 Registration
Statement.
10.30 Patent Application filed by Bradley Dahl, dated July 7, 1994. Previously
filed as Exhibit 10.31 to the 1996 Registration Statement pursuant to a
granted request for confidential treatment.
10.31 Patent Application filed by the Company dated June 9, 1995. Previously
filed as Exhibit 10.32 to the 1996 Registration Statement pursuant to a
granted request for confidential treatment.
10.32 Form of Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 13, 1997, between the
Company and Sellet Marketing Corp. ("Sellet"). Previously filed as
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Report on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 1997,
and incorporated herein by reference.
10.33 Form of Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 13, 1997, between
the Company and Sellet. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the
Company's Report on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 1997, and incorporated
herein by reference.
10.34 Form of Joint Escrow Instructions, dated as of May 13, 1997, between the
Company and Krieger & Prager, as Escrow Agent. Previously filed as
Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Report on Form 8-K, dated May 27, 1997,
and incorporated herein by reference.
10.35 Form of Indemnification Agreement, dated as of November 12, 1996 and
made retroactively effective as of June 24, 1996, between the Company
and each of the following persons (being all of its current directors
and executive officers): Richard L. Bulman, Charles C. Johnston, Thomas
Griffin, Richard D. Bulman, Michael B. Solovay, Robert J. Riscica,
Marvin H. Goldstein, and Bradley Dahl. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1
to the Company's Report on Form 10-QSB relating to the quarter ended
July 31, 1997 (dated March 14, 1997) and incorporated herein by
reference.
10.36## Form of Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement (the "January 1998 Purchase
Agreement"), dated as of January 30, 1998, among the Company, Michael
Bollag and Benjamin Bollag.
10.37## Form of Security Agreement, dated as of January 29, 1998, made by the
Company in favor of Michael Bollag and Benjamin Bollag.
10.38## Form of $250,000 principal amount Convertible Promissory Note (the
"January 1998 Notes"), dated January 30, 1998, made by the Company in
favor of each of Michael Bollag and Benjamin Bollag.
10.39# Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement, dated July 1, 1997, between
the Company and Lyons Partnership, L.P.
10.40# Licensed Book Publishing Agreement, dated October 1, 1997, between
the Company and Disney Licensed Publishing.
10.41# Publishing Agreement dated as of October 1, 1997, between the Company
and Lyons Partnership, L.P.
21.1 List of the Company's subsidiaries. Previously filed as Exhibit 21.1 to
the 1996 Registration Statement.
23.1# Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Certified Public
Accountants. Filed herewith.
24.1 No person has signed this Registration Statement under a power of
attorney. A power of attorney relating to the signing of amendments
hereto is incorporated in the signature pages hereof.
II-7
<PAGE>
Item 28. Undertakings
(1) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that it will:
(a) File, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement to:
(i) include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Act;
(ii) reflect in the prospectus any facts or events which,
individually or together, represent a fundamental change in the information in
the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation
from the law or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price present no more
than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
"Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement,
and
(iii) include any additional or changed material information
on the plan of distribution.
(b) For determining any liability under the Act, each post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement of the securities
offered, and the offering of securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
this offering.
(2) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the
Underwriter at the closing specified in the Underwriting Agreement certificates
in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the
Underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(3) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may
be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company,
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the
successful defense of any action suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
(4) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that it will:
(a) For determining any liability under the Securities Act, treat
the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4), or 497(h)
under the Securities Act as part of this registration statement as of the time
it was declared effective.
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<PAGE>
(b) For determining any liability under the Securities Act, treat
each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus as a new
registration statement for the securities offered in the registration statement,
and the offering of such securities at that time as the initial bona fide
offering of those securities.
II-9
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form SB-2 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement or amendment thereto to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, New York.
Dated: May 1, 1998
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
By /s/ Richard L. Bulman
------------------------
Richard L. Bulman
President
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each director and officer whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Richard L. Bulman, Robert J.
Riscica and Lawrence J. Studnicky III, or any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power and substitution and
re-substitution, to sign in any and all capacities any and all amendments or
post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement on Form SB-2 and to
file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting to such
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
all such other acts and execute all such other documents as they, or any of
them, may deem necessary or desirable in connection with the foregoing, as fully
as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement or amendment has been signed by the following persons in
the capacities and on the dates indicated:
Signature Title Date
- --------- ----- ----
/s/ Richard L. Bulman President and Chairman May 1, 1998
- ------------------------ of the Board
Richard L. Bulman
/s/ Marvin H. Goldstein Vice President-Controller May 1, 1998
- ------------------------ (the Registrant's principal
Marvin H. Goldstein accounting officer)
/s/ Richard D. Bulman Secretary and Director May 1, 1998
- ------------------------
Richard D. Bulman
/s/ Charles C. Johnston Director May 1, 1998
- ------------------------
Charles C. Johnston
/s/ Michael B. Solovay Director May 1, 1998
- ------------------------
Michael B. Solovay
/s/ Thomas Griffin Director May 1, 1998
- ------------------------
Thomas Griffin
II-10
MANUFACTURING & DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
THIS MANUFACTURING & DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made
effective July 1, 1997, by and between LYONS PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ("Lyons"), and
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC. ("Kideo").
WHEREAS, Kideo manufactures and distributes certain videos which are
"personalized" by incorporating therein a child's image, spoken name and the
like, and Kideo desires to obtain a license to manufacture and distribute such
personalized videos which also incorporate the Barney(R) character and related
characters, as more particularly described in Exhibit A, attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference (the "Videos"); and
WHEREAS, Lyons desires to grant such license to Kideo on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual
promises and covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
parties agree as follows:
1. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first
set forth above and, unless earlier terminated pursuant to its provisions, shall
continue through the date five (5) years thereafter (the "Term").
2. TERRITORY. The rights granted to Lyons hereunder shall be only
for the United States, and its territories, possessions and military bases
worldwide, and Canada (collectively, the "Territory").
3. LICENSE. On the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
Lyons hereby grants to Kideo and Kideo hereby accepts the exclusive license to
manufacture (in the NTSC format only) and distribute the Videos set forth on
Exhibit A for ultimate sale to the public, through all channels of distribution,
only in the Territory. Within sixty (60) days following the one-year anniversary
of Kideo's first release of the Videos, the parties shall negotiate in good
faith regarding the potential grant of a license by Lyons to Kideo for
additional tides for videos to be manufactured and distributed hereunder. On
reaching agreement on each additional title, if any, an exhibit substantially in
the form of Exhibit A shall be signed by the parties and attached hereto, and
shall thereupon be deemed to be fully incorporated herein by reference, and all
references herein to "Videos" shall thereafter be deemed to include that
additional title.
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 1 of 14
<PAGE>
4. MANUFACTURING.
(a) Delivery of Final Master. Lyons shall deliver to Kideo, on
such date as mutually agreed by the parties, the final master of each basic
title to be used for the manufacture of the Videos (each, a "Final Master").
Kideo shall bear all costs related to Lyons' production of each Final Master.
Lyons shall provide to Kideo, for Kideo's approval, a production budget for each
Final Master, which approval shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld.
(b) Manufacture of Videos. Kideo shall manufacture and/or
arrange for manufacture of the Videos by those vendors regularly used by Kideo,
at Kideo's sole cost. In the event any such vendor is not a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Kideo, Kideo shall, before authorizing such manufacture and before
placing any orders with the proposed manufacturer, obtain Lyons' approval. Kideo
shall then have the proposed manufacturer sign, in duplicate original, an
agreement in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto ("Manufacturer's Agreement").
Kideo shall deliver the original copies of the Manufacturer's Agreement signed
by Kideo and the proposed manufacturer to Lyons, and Kideo shall obtain Lyons'
signature on the Manufacturer's Agreement before the manufacture of the Videos
by the proposed manufacturer. Kideo shall arrange for all invoices for the
manufacturing of the Videos to be sent directly to Kideo.
5. MARKETING.
(a) Marketing Plan. Kideo shall provide to Lyons. for Lyons'
reasonable approval, a plan for the marketing and distribution of the Videos
(the "Marketing Plan"). Kideo shall not proceed with implementation of the
Marketing Plan without the prior approval of Lyons, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld. Lyons shall make good faith efforts to promptly respond
to Kideo's submitted Marketing Plan (or any portion thereof); provided that,
failure of Lyons to inform Kideo whether Lyons approves the Marketing Plan
within thirty (30) days following receipt thereof shall constitute Lyons'
disapproval.
(b) Implementation of Marketing Plan. On approval of the
Marketing Plan and subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 10, 11 and 12 hereof,
Kideo shall arrange for the design and production of packaging and marketing and
promotional materials by those vendors regularly used in connection with Kideo's
products, and the placement of any agreed on advertising of the Videos.
(c) Lyons' Marketing Services. Lyons shall make good faith
efforts to make its marketing resources available to Kideo for assistance in
Kideo's marketing of the Videos, including, but not limited to, inserting
printed material regarding the Videos in the packaging for a minimum of four (4)
new Lyons releases over a two-year period. Lyons shall also consider, in good
faith, whether a Barney-appropriate
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 2 of 14
<PAGE>
"trailer" to educate consumers regarding the availability and features of the
Videos might be developed and included on select Barney home video titles.
(d) Premiums, promotions and giveaways. No Videos may be used
as premiums, as part of promotions, or as giveaways without the prior written
approval of Lyons. A detailed description of any such planned promotional or
premium use of Videos, including, but not limited to, information about the
quantity of merchandise involved and the purpose of the program, must be
provided to Lyons. Failure to obtain prior written approval shall result in the
obligation of Kideo to pay full royalties on all Videos given away, or used as
premiums or in promotions.
(e) Marketing Costs. Kideo shall bear all marketing,
promotional and advertising costs related to the Videos and shall arrange for
all invoices therefor to be sent directly to Kideo.
6. DISTRIBUTION
(a) Kideo Services. Kideo shall use its reasonable efforts to
diligently and continuously manufacture, promote, market, sell and distribute
(collectively, "Distribute") the Videos in commercially reasonable quantities
throughout the Territory, beginning not later than the distribution date agreed
upon by the parties and set forth on the pertinent exhibit hereto. Kideo shall
Distribute the Videos in accordance with its customary policies and practices
applicable to similar products, substantially in accordance with the Marketing
Plan and subject to those approvals of Lyons as required herein.
(b) Fulfillment. Kideo shall maintain a number of staff and a
quantity and quality of equipment sufficient to allow prompt fulfillment of
reasonably anticipated orders.
(c) Distribution Costs. Kideo shall bear all distribution
costs related to the Videos and shall arrange for all invoices therefor to be
sent directly to Kideo.
7. ROYALTIES.
(a) Calculation of Royalties. Kideo shall pay to Lyons as
royalties (the "Royalties"):
(i) On each Video sold at Kideo's usual full direct
price ("Direct Price"), a sum equal to the following
percentage of the Direct Price ("Direct Royalty"):
On the first 15,000 units of a given Video title- 7.5%;
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 3 of 14
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On units 15,001 through 50,000 of a given Video title
- 10%;
On units 50,001 through 100,000 of a given Video title -
12.5%; and
On all units in excess of 100,000 of a given Video title
- 15%.
(ii) On each Video sold to a retailer, cataloger, or
similar party at less than the Direct Price ("Retailer
Price"), an amount equal to the Direct Royalty which would
otherwise be payable, multiplied by the percentage obtained by
dividing the Retailer Price by the Direct Price.
In no event shall the Royalties paid be less than the Minimum Royalty, as
defined below. No costs incurred in the manufacture, sale, distribution,
advertisement, or exploitation of the Videos shall be deducted from any
Royalties payable to Lyons by Kideo. No deductions shall be made for
uncollectible accounts. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, no costs
whatsoever shall be deducted for purposes of calculating the Royalties.
(b) Minimum Royalty Defined. "Minimum Royalty" shall mean the
sum of $1.25 for each Video sold, regardless of whether sold at Direct Price or
Retailer Price.
(c) Accrual. Royalties shall accrue upon the sale of the
Videos regardless of the time of collection by Kideo. For purposes of this
Agreement, the Videos shall be considered "sold" on the date when such Videos
are billed, invoiced, shipped or paid for, whichever event occurs first.
8. REPORTING AND PAYMENT
(a) Payments. Kideo shall pay to Lyons on a quarterly basis,
within 45 days following the end of each calendar quarter, the Royalties due to
Lyons for such period. Neither the expiration nor the termination of this
Agreement shall relieve Kideo from its obligation to pay the Royalties due to
Lyons as provided in this Paragraph.
(b) Statement. At the time of payment of Royalties, Kideo
shall also furnish Lyons a statement of the number of each of the Videos sold
during the immediately preceding period, the number sold at Direct Price, the
number sold at Retailer Price and such other information as Lyons may reasonably
require. Such statements shall be certified as true and correct by a duly
authorized officer of Kideo. Any inconsistencies or mistakes in such statements
or payments later discovered shall
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 4 of 14
<PAGE>
immediately be rectified and the appropriate payments made to Kideo or Lyons, as
the case may be.
(c) Address for Payment. The statements and payments required
pursuant to this Paragraph 8 shall be delivered to:
Lyons Partnership, L.P.
ATTN:__________
2435 N. Central Expressway, Suite 1600
Richardson, Texas 75080
9. OWNERSHIP OF PROPRIETARY MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY.
(a) Lyons' Ownership. As between Lyons and Kideo, Lyons'
ownership rights shall be as follows:
(i) The Barney, BJ(R) and Baby Bop(TM) dinosaur
characters and related characters that have been or may, in
the future, be developed by Lyons and all related materials
and rights, including, without limitation, all copyrights,
trademarks and other proprietary rights therein are owned
exclusively by Lyons (collectively, the "Proprietary
Materials").
(ii) The Final Master, as delivered by Lyons to Kideo,
shall be owned exclusively by Lyons.
(iii) As incorporated into the Videos, the Proprietary
Materials shall be owned exclusively by Lyons.
(b) Kideo's Ownership. As between Lyons and Kideo, and subject
to Lyons' ownership as set forth in subparagraph (a) above, Kideo shall own all
proprietary rights in and to the technology used in "personalizing" the Videos
with various children's images and spoken names.
(c) Image and Reputation. Neither party shall dispute the
other's ownership rights, as between them, as set forth above. Neither party
shall do or cause to be done anything that might adversely affect the image or
reputation of the other party or such other party's products, characters, or
proprietary materials. Kideo shall manufacture, sell, promote and distribute the
Videos in an ethical manner and in accordance with the terms and intent of this
Agreement.
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 5 of 14
<PAGE>
10. APPROVALS AND QUALITY.
(a) General. All Videos or other materials utilizing any of
the Proprietary Materials shall be manufactured, sold, distributed, and promoted
subject to Section 5 hereof.
(b) Product Submissions and Approvals. Prior to the release of
each title of the Videos to the market, Kideo shall deliver to Lyons one (1)
copy of each such Video, together with the packaging and promotional materials
for the Video, for the review and approval of Lyons, which approval shall not be
unreasonably delayed or withheld. In addition, Kideo shall deliver to Lyons five
(5) copies of each title of the Videos, together with their packaging, at no
cost to Lyons.
(c) Advertising Submissions and Approvals. Kideo may, subject
to Lyons' prior approval, use textual and pictorial matter pertaining to and
including the Proprietary Materials on such promotional, display and advertising
material as may, in Kideo's reasonable judgment, promote the sale of the Videos.
(d) Damaged, Defective, Non-Approved or Non-Complying Items.
Kideo shall not knowingly, nor shall it knowingly permit any third party to,
sell, market, distribute or use, for any purpose whatsoever, any Videos or
promotional and packaging material relating to the Videos which are damaged,
defective, seconds or otherwise substandard, or fail to meet Lyons' trademark
and copyright usage and notice requirements.
11. ARTWORK, COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICES AND PROTECTION.
(a) Ownership of Artwork. Lyons shall own all copyrights,
trademarks and other proprietary rights in the Proprietary Materials and any and
all artwork and designs authorized for use hereunder by Kideo in connection with
Distribution of the Videos which incorporates or otherwise includes any of the
Proprietary Materials (the "Artwork"). Kideo agrees and acknowledges that any
Artwork shall be a "work-made-for-hire" within the meaning of the United States
Copyright Act and shall be owned in its entirety exclusively by Lyons. Lyons
reserves for itself or its designees all rights to use any and all Artwork,
without limitation. To the extent any Artwork created by Kideo or any other
person or entity is not deemed to be a work-made-for-hire, Kideo hereby assigns
to Lyons all copyrights, trademarks and other proprietary rights in such
Artwork. Kideo agrees to execute or cause to be executed by any of its employees
who participate in the creating of any such Artwork any additional documents
proposed by Lyons to effectuate and confirm Lyons' sole and exclusive ownership
of all copyrights, trademarks and other proprietary rights in and to such
Artwork. Kideo warrants and represents that all contributions to the creation of
Artwork shall be undertaken as works-made-for-hire for or on behalf of Lyons. If
any third party makes or
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 6 of 14
<PAGE>
has made any contribution to the creation of the Artwork, Kideo shall, prior to
any use of such Artwork, obtain from such party a full assignment of rights such
that the foregoing assignment by Kideo shall vest full rights in Lyons.
(b) Notices. Kideo shall cause appropriate copyright and
trademark notices or other indicia of Lyons' ownership to be imprinted on each
of the Videos and all advertising, promotional, packaging and wrapping material
which includes any of the Proprietary Materials. Matters relating to Lyons'
trademarks, copyrights, and other notice elements, UPC symbols, cover layout and
packaging elements shall be determined by Lyons, in its sole discretion.
(c) Protection. Kideo shall assist Lyons in the procurement,
protection, and maintenance of Lyons' rights in and to the Proprietary
Materials, including, but not limited to, cooperating in the preparation and
filing and renewal of registered user applications, as necessary, in the
Territory. Lyons may, in its sole discretion, commence or prosecute and effect
the disposition of any claims or suits relative to the imitation, infringement
or unauthorized use of the Proprietary Materials either in its own name or in
the name of Kideo, or join Kideo as a party in the prosecution of such claims or
suits. Kideo agrees to cooperate fully with Lyons in connection with any such
claims or suits and undertakes to furnish full assistance to Kideo in the
conduct of all proceedings in regard thereto, provided that, Lyons shall be
solely responsible for all costs incurred in such regard. Kideo shall promptly
notify Lyons in writing of any infringements or imitations or unauthorized uses
by others of the Proprietary Materials of which Kideo becomes aware. Kideo shall
not, without the prior written consent of Lyons, institute any suit or take any
action on account of such infringements, imitations or unauthorized uses.
(d) Registration. In addition to those samples required to be
delivered to Lyons pursuant to Paragraph 10(b), Kideo agrees to deliver to
Lyons, as soon as available and free of cost, that number of the Videos,
together with their packaging, wrapping material, sales information and similar
material, as required for trademark or copyright registration purposes. Any
copyrights or trademarks with respect to the Videos shall be procured by and for
the benefit of Lyons and at Lyons' expense. Kideo further agrees to promptly
provide Lyons with the date of the first use in commerce of the Videos and any
other information required to effect such registrations.
12. COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS. Kideo
represents and warrants that it will at all times comply with all federal, state
and local laws, regulations, rules and guidelines, and all voluntary industry
standards relating or pertaining to the design, manufacture, sale, advertising,
distribution or use of the Videos. Kideo shall comply with any regulatory
agencies which shall have jurisdiction over the Videos and shall procure and
maintain in force any and all permissions, certifications and other
authorizations from governmental and other official authorities that may be
required in relation thereto.
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 7 of 14
<PAGE>
13. BOOKS AND RECORDS.
(a) Maintenance, Inspection and Audit. Kideo shall keep,
maintain and preserve, at Kideo's principal place of business, during the Term
and for at least three (3) years thereafter, complete and accurate records and
accounts covering all transactions relating to this Agreement. All such records
and accounts shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied. Such records and accounts shall be
available for inspection and audit, including the taking of extracts or copies
as Lyons deems necessary, at any time or times during reasonable business hours
and on reasonable notice by Lyons or its nominees, but not more than once during
each calendar year of the Term. Kideo agrees not to cause or permit any
interference with any such inspection and audit.
(b) Effect of Exercise of Audit Rights. The exercise by Lyons,
in whole or in part, at any time of the right to inspect and audit records and
accounts or any other right granted herein, shall be without prejudice to any
rights or remedies of Lyons and shall not preclude or prevent Lyons from
thereafter disputing the accuracy of any statement or payment
14. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS. Kideo and Lyons each represents
and warrants to the other as follows:
(a) It has full power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby;
(b) The making of this Agreement does not, and during the Term
will not, violate or conflict with any other agreements, rights or obligations
binding on or affecting it;
(c) This Agreement has been duly and properly authorized,
executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding
obligation enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
(d) There is not pending or, to its knowledge, threatened
against it any action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity or before any
court, tribunal, governmental body, agency, official or arbitrator that purports
to draw into question, or is likely to affect, the legality, validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or its ability to perform its obligations under
this Agreement.
15. LYONS' ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS. Lyons represents and warrants
to Kideo that the Final Master, as delivered to Kideo, will not infringe on any
patent, trademark, copyright or other proprietary right(s) of any third
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 8 of 14
<PAGE>
party, and that the Final Master does not contain any material which is
defamatory or obscene.
16. KIDEO'S ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS. Kideo represents and
warrants to Lyons that the "personalized" format of the Videos does not and will
not infringe on any patent, trademark, copyright or other proprietary right(s)
of any third party, and that neither the respective personalized elements of
each of the Videos nor any adaptations of or changes made to the Final Master by
Kideo will contain any material which is defamatory or obscene.
17. TERMINATION. The following rights are without prejudice to any
other rights which Lyons may have either pursuant to this Agreement, in law,
equity or otherwise.
(a) Lyons' Immediate Right of Termination. Lyons shall have
the right to immediately terminate this Agreement on written notice:
(i) If Kideo manufactures, sells, markets or distributes
any Videos containing or otherwise used in connection with the
Proprietary Materials or promotional or packaging material
relating thereto without Lyons' prior approval as provided for
by this Agreement or continues to manufacture, sell, market or
distribute any such Videos or promotional or packaging
material relating thereto after receipt of notice from Lyons
disapproving such items;
(ii) If Kideo fails to either (A) allow Lyons to inspect
Kideo's or its authorized manufacturers' facilities or (B)
obtain prior authorization by Lyons of any third party
manufacturers in accordance with Paragraph 4 of this
Agreement;
(iii) If Kideo breaches any provision of this Agreement
relating to the unauthorized assertion of rights in the
Proprietary Materials, including, without limitation, the
distribution or sale of the Videos or the use of any
promotional or packaging material which does not contain
appropriate trademark and/or copyright notices;
(iv) If Kideo fails to obtain or maintain product
liability insurance as required by this Agreement;
(v) If Kideo breaches any provision of this Agreement
prohibiting Kideo from directly or indirectly arranging for
the manufacture by third parties, assigning, transferring,
sublicensing,
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 9 of 14
<PAGE>
delegating or otherwise encumbering this Agreement or any of
its rights or obligations;
(vi) If Kideo fails to make timely payment of Royalties
or submissions of royalty statements when due two or more
times during any twelve-month period; or
(vii) If Kideo or any of its officers, directors,
employees, agents or affiliates takes any action in connection
with the manufacture, sale, distribution or advertising of the
Videos or the promotional and packaging materials which
damages or reflects adversely upon Lyons and/or the
Proprietary Materials.
(b) Right to Terminate on Notice. Without prejudice to any
other rights or remedies available to either party, either party may terminate
this Agreement in the event of a material breach hereof by the other, effective
on thirty (30) days' prior written notice; provided that, during such thirty
(30) day notice period, the party in breach fails to cure the breach to the
reasonable satisfaction of the non-breaching party.
18. EFFECT OF TERMINATION.
(a) Fulfillment of Pre-termination Orders. Neither Kideo or
Kideo's successors or permitted assigns shall have any right whatsoever after
the effective date of termination to manufacture, sell, ship, market, distribute
or otherwise use the Videos. However, Kideo shall complete the manufacture and
delivery of only such work-in-progress as is necessary to fill bonafide binding
orders accepted by Kideo prior to the termination of this Agreement.
(b) Return of Final Master. Within ten (10) business days
following the expiration or termination of this Agreement, Kideo shall (i) turn
over the Final Master to Lyons, and (ii) give evidence satisfactory to Lyons of
the destruction of all packaging materials. Lyons, at its election, shall have
the right to have its representatives observe such destruction.
(c) Reversion of Rights. From and after the expiration or
termination of this Agreement, all rights granted to Kideo under this Agreement
shall forthwith revert to Lyons, and Kideo shall refrain from any use of the
Proprietary Materials.
19. INDEMNITY.
(a) Each party assumes liability for, and shall indemnify,
defend, protect, save and hold the other harmless from and against, any and all
claims,
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 10 of 14
<PAGE>
actions, suits, costs, liabilities, judgments, obligations, losses, penalties,
damages and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of
whatsoever kind or nature arising out of any breach or alleged breach by such
party of any of its warranties, representations, covenants or obligations made
pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) To seek or receive indemnification hereunder:
(i) The party seeking indemnification must have promptly
notified the other of any claim or litigation of which it is
aware to which the indemnification relates; and
(ii) The party seeking indemnification must have
afforded the other the opportunity to approve any compromise,
settlement, litigation, or other resolution or disposition of
such claim or litigation; provided that, if such other party
fails reasonably to approve any such compromise, settlement,
litigation or other resolution or disposition of such claim or
litigation, such other party shall be obligated to defend any
such claim or litigation for the benefit of the party seeking
indemnification; and
(iii) The party seeking indemnification must cooperate
fully with the other in connection with defending such claim.
20. INSURANCE. Kideo shall, at its own expense, obtain and maintain,
during the Term and any applicable Sell-off Period, and for three (3) years
thereafter, standard comprehensive general liability coverage for bodily injury,
property damage and personal injury, from a qualified insurance carrier
reasonably acceptable to Lyons. Said coverage shall include broad form
contractual and product liability insurance, and shall be no less than Three
Million United States Dollars ($3,000,000.00) per claim, and shall name Lyons as
an additional insured. Kideo shall, promptly upon the execution of this
Agreement, furnish Lyons a certificate of insurance stating thereon the limits
of liability, the period of coverage, the parties insured (including Lyons and
Kideo), and the insurer's agreement not to terminate or materially modify such
insurance without notifying Lyons, in writing, at least thirty (30) days before
such termination or modification. Coverage shall be on an occurrence basis. The
existence of the product liability insurance shall not mitigate, alter or waive
the indemnity provisions of Paragraph 19.
21. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and communications
required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed delivered at the time of delivery if personally delivered or transmitted
via facsimile with receipt confirmed, the next business day following deposit
with a reputable courier service for overnight delivery, or five business days
following deposit in the United States mail, addressed as follows:
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 11 of 14
<PAGE>
If to Lyons: With a copy to:
Lyons Partnership, L.P. Lyrick Studios
ATTN: Executive Vice President ATTN: Vice President,
Suite 1600 Legal and Business Affairs
2435 N. Central Expressway Suite 1600
Richardson, Texas 75080 2435 N. Central Expressway
Facsimile: (972) 390-6001 Richardson, Texas 75080
Facsimile: (972)390-6001
If to Kideo:
Kideo Productions, Inc.
ATTN: Richard Bulman
611 Broadway
New York, New York 10012
Facsimile: (212) 505-2142
Either party may from time to time change its address by written notice to the
other specifying a new address.
22. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. Kideo is an independent contractor and
not an agent, partner, joint venturer, franchisee, affiliate or employee of
Lyons. No fiduciary or franchise relationship exists between the parties.
Neither party shall be liable for any debts, accounts, obligations or other
liabilities of the other, its agents or employees. Neither party shall have the
authority to obligate or bind the other party in any manner. Lyons has no
proprietary interest in Kideo and has no interest in the business of Kideo,
except to the extent set forth in this Agreement.
23. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
permitted assigns.
24. CONFIDENTIALITY. Each party may, during the Term of this
Agreement, have access to certain procedures, technical data, proprietary
information and trade secrets of the other party and its affiliates
(collectively, the "Confidential Information"). Neither party shall use,
disclose or otherwise permit any person or entity access to any of the
Confidential Information; provided that, it may disclose such portions of the
Confidential Information to its agents or employees who have a reasonable need
to know such information in connection with its performance hereunder. Each
party understands that it is not allowed to sell, license or otherwise exploit
any products or services which embody, in whole or in part, any Confidential
Information.
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 12 of 14
<PAGE>
25. GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE LEGAL
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR
PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE TRIED AND LITIGATED IN THE DISTRICT COURTS OF THE
STATE OF TEXAS, LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF DALLAS, STATE OF TEXAS OR, IF
JURISDICTIONALLY SUFFICIENT, THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN
DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AND EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY
SUBMITS THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTY TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
26. SEVERABILITY; HEADINGS. Each term and provision of this
Agreement constitutes a separate and distinct undertaking, covenant, term and
provision hereof. In the event that any term or provision of this Agreement
shall be determined to be unenforceable, invalid or illegal in any respect, such
unenforceability, invalidity or illegality shall not affect any other term or
provision of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall be construed as if such
unenforceable, invalid or illegal term or provision had never been contained
herein. If any term or provision of this Agreement shall for any reason be held
to be excessively broad as to time, duration, activity or subject, it shall be
construed, by limiting and reducing it, so as to be enforceable to the extent
permitted under applicable law as it shall then exist. Headings of paragraphs
herein are for convenience only and are without substantive significance.
27. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement
and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, commitments, arrangements,
negotiations, understandings, undertakings, representations or warranties,
whether oral or written, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement
other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein.
28. FORCE MAJEURE. Neither Lyons nor Kideo shall be liable for
failure to perform resulting, directly or indirectly, from or contributed to by
reason of fire, flood, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, accident, or other act
of God ("Force Majeure"), or by virtue of war, blockade, embargo, act of a
public enemy, civil disturbance, labor dispute (or threatened dispute), strike
lockout, inability to secure sufficient labor, essential commodities, necessary
equipment or adequate transportation facilities, applicable law, or any other
disruptive events beyond such party's reasonable control; provided that, if a
party's failure to perform continues for more than ninety (90) days, the other
party shall have the right, upon written notice, to terminate this Agreement.
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 13 of 14
<PAGE>
29. RIGHTS CUMULATIVE. Except as expressly provided in this
Agreement, and to the extent permitted by law, any remedies described in this
Agreement are cumulative and not alternative to any other available remedies.
30. AMENDMENT; WAIVER. Neither this Agreement, nor any of the terms
or provisions hereof, may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived, except
by a written instrument signed by the parties hereto (or, in the case of a
waiver, by the party granting such waiver). No waiver of any of the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other
provision hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a
continuing waiver. No failure of either party hereto to insist upon strict
compliance by the other party with any obligation, covenant, agreement or
condition contained in this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of, or estoppel
with respect to, any subsequent or other failure. Whenever this Agreement
requires or permits consent by or on behalf of any party hereto, such consent
shall be given in a manner consistent with the requirements for a waiver of
compliance as set forth in this Paragraph 30.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Kideo and Lyons have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their authorized representatives effective as of the date first set
forth above.
KIDEO PRODUCTION, INC. LYONS PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
/s/ Richard Bulman By: /s/ Timothy A. Clott
- -------------------------- ------------------------------
Richard Bulman Timothy A. Clott
Chief Executive Officer Executive Vice President
Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 14 of 14
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
MANUFACTURER'S AGREEMENT
THIS MANUFACTURER'S AGREEMENT is made pursuant to the Manufacturing &
Distribution Agreement ("Agreement") between LYONS PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ("Lyons")
and the undersigned KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC. ("Kideo"), a copy of which is
attached hereto and made a part hereof.
________________________________ (full name) at ________________ (principal
address) ("Manufacturer") desires to manufacture and sell to Kideo the following
Videos bearing certain of Lyons' Proprietary Materials: _______________________
(the "Videos"). Such Videos shall be manufactured only at (full address):
___________________________________. In consideration of Lyons' approval of the
manufacture by Manufacturer of the Videos utilizing the Proprietary Materials
listed in Paragraph 9 of the Agreement at the locations listed above, the
parties agree as set forth below.
1. Manufacturer acknowledges the validity of and Lyons' sole title to the
Proprietary Materials. Manufacturer agrees that its right to manufacture the
Videos utilizing the Proprietary Materials is in all respects subject to the
terms and conditions in the Agreement, including, but not limited to, the
termination provisions and restrictions on the use of the Proprietary Materials.
Manufacturer agrees that the provisions of the Agreement shall take precedence
over and supersede any agreements between Kideo and Manufacturer.
2. Manufacturer and Kideo acknowledge that Manufacturer's manufacture of
any Videos is subject to Lyons' prior written approval, and may not proceed
prior to Lyons' execution of this Agreement.
3. Manufacturer will (a) not manufacture the Videos to the order of anyone
other than Kideo; (b) invoice only Kideo; (c) not ship to anyone other than
Kideo; and (d) not manufacture after the expiration, or (if applicable) the
earlier termination of the Agreement. Manufacturer agrees that its manufacture
of Videos shall give Manufacturer no right to use the Proprietary Materials in
any manner whatsoever or to sell Videos utilizing the Proprietary Materials
except as specifically provided in this Agreement and/or beyond the expiration
or (if applicable) the earlier termination of the Agreement.
4. Manufacturer will not subcontract manufacture of any of the Videos or
any component thereof utilizing the Proprietary Materials.
5. Manufacturer will not manufacture any merchandise or other materials
whatsoever utilizing the Proprietary Materials, other than the Videos.
Exhibit B to Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 1 of 3
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
PROGRAMS
Personalized videos manufactured from the Final Master of the base title -- "My
Birthday With Barney"
Agreed Distribution Date: ______________________
Exhibit A to Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 1 of 1
<PAGE>
6. Without in any way limiting the terms and provisions of the Agreement,
Manufacturer shall:
(a) use only materials certified by the United States and/or
applicable state or other municipal agencies as acceptable for importing into
and distribution and use within and throughout the United States;
(b) use only materials and processes which meet or exceed any and
all applicable safety, quality, performance and flammability requirements of the
United States, each state of the United States and industry standards and
guidelines; and
(c) perform all inspections and testing necessary to ensure that all
Videos manufactured and sold pursuant to this Agreement meet or exceed all of
the foregoing requirements, standards and guidelines.
7. Manufacturer will permit Kideo and/or Lyons' authorized representatives
at any time to inspect Manufacturers activities, premises, accounting books and
invoices relevant to Manufacturers manufacture and supply of the Videos.
8. Manufacturer will keep confidential its manufacture of the Videos,
including, without limitation, Manufacturer will not publish or cause the
publication of pictures or other representations of any of the Videos and/or the
Proprietary Materials in any publication or promotional material, nor advertise
that Manufacturer is permitted to manufacture the Videos.
9. Upon notification of the expiration or termination of the Agreement,
Manufacturer will immediately cease manufacturing the Videos and immediately
destroy any and all copies, molds, plates, engravings and/or other devices used
to manufacture the Videos or any component thereof and/or reproduce the
Proprietary Materials, as well as any Videos or any component thereof remaining
in Manufacturer's possession, and deliver to Lyons a written certificate of
destruction signed by an officer or principal of Manufacturer.
10. Nothing herein will be construed so as to make Manufacturer a party to
or third party beneficiary of the Agreement and Manufacturer will look solely to
Kideo for payment and/or other compensation in respect of the manufacture of the
Videos. It is specifically acknowledged that this Agreement is not and shall not
constitute a license from Lyons to Manufacturer, and Manufacturer shall derive
no rights hereunder to manufacture any products whatsoever utilizing the
Proprietary Materials or any of Lyons' proprietary rights except as expressly
provided pursuant to this Agreement. Manufacturer will have no claim against and
hereby releases Lyons in respect of any such payment and/or any Videos and/or
the Agreement Furthermore, if Kideo's rights to use the Proprietary Materials
expire or terminate, Manufacturer agrees to make no claim against Lyons for any
reason whatsoever.
Exhibit B to Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 2 of 3
<PAGE>
11. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE
CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR
PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE TRIED AND LITIGATED ONLY IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
THE STATE OF TEXAS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF DALLAS, STATE OF TEXAS, OR IF
JURISDICTIONALLY SUFFICIENT, THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN
DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AND EACH PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS THE
PERSON OF SUCH PARTY TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING. MANUFACTURER IRREVOCABLY APPOINTS__________________
(THE "PROCESS AGENT"), WITH AN OFFICE ON THE DATE HEREOF AT _______________, AS
ITS AGENT UPON WHOM PROCESS AGAINST IT MAY BE SERVED.
-----------------------------------
LYONS PARTNERSHIP, L.P. MANUFACTURER
By Rhenclid, Inc., Its General Partner
By: By:
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
Timothy A. Clott Printed Name:
Executive Vice President ----------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
Date: Date:
------------------------------ ------------------------------
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Printed Name:
----------------------
Date:
------------------------------
Exhibit B to Manufacturing and Distribution Agreement
Between Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 3 of 3
LICENSED BOOK PUBLISHING AGREEMENT
This book publishing license agreement (the "Agreement") dated October 1, 1997,
is made by and between Disney Licensed Publishing ("Licensor") located at 500 S.
Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California 91521 and Kideo Productions, Inc.
("Licensee") located at 611 Broadway, Suite 523, New York, New York 10012.
1. GRANT OF RIGHTS
1.1 Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in
consideration for Licensee's promise to pay and Licensee's payments
of all royalties, advances and guarantees required hereunder,
Licensor grants to Licensee the nonexclusive right to publish in the
English language only, to print and bind in the United States or
Canada, or other parts of the world with Licensor's prior written
approval, and sell as set forth in paragraph 4 in the Territory
during the Term hereof, personalized storybooks utilizing Disney
Standard Characters (i.e., MICKEY MOUSE, MINNIE MOUSE, DONALD DUCK,
DAISY DUCK, PLUTO and GOOFY), and such characters as may be
designated by Licensor from the animated motion pictures entitled
DISNEY'S THE LION KING and TOY STORY which books are hereinafter
referred to jointly and severally as the "Book". Licensee shall
produce two (2) early learning versions of the Book utilizing Disney
Standard Characters and characters from Disney's The Lion King, and
two (2) original story versions of the Book utilizing Disney
Standard Characters and characters from Toy Story. The Book shall
measure six and one-fourth inches by nine and one-fourth inches (6
1/4" x 9 1/4"), contain twenty-eight (28) pages with a hard cover
and be of a type and quality designed to sell at a suggested retail
price of approximately nineteen dollars and ninety-five cents
($19.95); provided, however, that Licensee has the absolute
discretion to price the Book as Licensee deems appropriate.
1.2 Although this is a non-exclusive agreement, Licensor will not
authorize any publisher other than Licensee to publish and sell the
Book in the Territory during the Term, and Licensor itself will not
publish and sell the Book in the Territory during the Term. However,
Licensor may cause to be published and sold, in any language, and
without limit as to time or territory, different books based on the
same subject and containing excerpts from the text and art contained
in the Book.
1.3 Licensee recognizes and acknowledges the vital importance to
Licensor of the characters and other proprietary material owned and
created by The Walt Disney Company and its Affiliates (collectively
referred to herein as "Disney") and the association of the Disney
name with them. In order to prevent the denigration of
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 2
Disney's products and the value of their association with the Disney
name, and in order to ensure the dedication of Licensee's best
efforts to preserve and maintain that value, Licensee agrees that,
during the Term and any extension thereof, Licensee will neither
itself manufacture, advertise, promote, merchandise, display,
package, sell and/or distribute (nor permit any sublicensee,
distributor or other person or entity to do so) (a) any non-Disney
product, in such a manner as to imply an association with Disney
and/or its properties, (b) any product which contains any artwork or
other representation not owned by Disney, but which Licensor
determines, in its reasonable discretion, is confusingly similar to
Disney characters or other proprietary material, (c) any book which
contains any non-Disney owned images of a character for which there
is a Disney-owned image, or (d) any product containing material
which Licensor determines, in its sole discretion, is lewd,
lascivious, obscene, offensive, defamatory or otherwise injurious to
Disney or the Disney name, business or products.
2. TERM AND SELL-OFF
2.1 The term of this Agreement (the "Term") shall commence November 1,
1997 and continue through April 30, 2000. Distribution of all
versions of the Book shall commence on or before April 1, 1998 and
continue through the end of the Term. The Term shall not be extended
or continued beyond such date by implication or otherwise than by a
separate written agreement newly entered into.
2.2 Licensee agrees that the Book shall be manufactured during the Term
in quantities consistent with anticipated demand therefor so as not
to result in an excessive inventory build-up immediately prior to
the end of the Term. Licensee agrees that from the expiration or
termination of the Term Licensee shall neither manufacture nor have
manufactured for Licensee any Books, and that except as hereinafter
provided, Licensee will cease selling Books. Any unauthorized
distribution of Books after the expiration or termination of this
Agreement shall constitute copyright infringement. If Licensee has
any unsold copies of the Book in inventory on the expiration or
termination date, Licensee shall provide Licensor with an itemized
statement, certified by an authorized accredited officer of
Licensee, of all unsold copies of the Book remaining in stock.
2.3 Commencing as of the expiration of the Term by passage of time,
Licensee shall have the right to fill orders from its then remaining
stocks of the Book during a period of one hundred eighty (180)
consecutive days (inclusive of Saturdays,
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters. Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 3
Sundays and legal holidays), following the expiration date (the
"Sell-off Period"). Licensee's sell-off right is conditional upon
Licensee's freedom from default or breach of any term or condition
hereof, upon Licensor's receipt of the itemized inventory statement,
and upon Licensee's continued payment of royalties to Licensor based
upon such sales. Such royalties shall not be applied against any
advance or any guarantee hereunder. Following the expiration of the
Sell-off Period Licensee shall again advise Licensor of all unsold
copies of the Book remaining in stock. All unsold copies of the Book
shall, at the end of the Sell-off Period (or, if there is no
Sell-off Period, upon the expiration or earlier termination of the
Term) at Licensor's option be sold to Licensor at Licensee's actual
cost of manufacture, excluding overhead, or shall be destroyed, and
Licensee shall furnish Licensor with an affidavit of such
destruction signed by a principal officer of Licensee.
2.4 Licensee agrees that all pre-pricing and pricing of the Book shall
be in compliance with any and all applicable Laws (as hereinafter
defined in paragraph 8). In recognition of Licensor's interest in
maintaining a stable and viable market for the Book during and after
the Term and any Sell-off Period, Licensee agrees to refrain from
"dumping" the Book in the market during the Term and any Sell-off
Period granted to Licensee. "Dumping" shall mean the distribution of
the Book at volume levels significantly above Licensee's prior sales
practices with respect to the Book, and at price levels so far below
Licensee's prior sales practices with respect to the Book as to
disparage the Book. Other than the foregoing, nothing contained in
this Agreement shall be deemed to restrict Licensee's freedom and
that of Licensee's customers to pre-price and sell the Book at such
prices as Licensee or Licensee's customers shall determine.
3. TERRITORY
The territory of this Agreement (the "Territory") is Canada, the
United States, United States PX's wherever located, and United
States territories and possessions, excluding Puerto Rico, Guam,
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands and Palau. Licensee is
expressly prohibited from exporting the Book to any country outside
of the Territory, unless the Book is destined for ultimate delivery
in the Territory, and Licensee is expressly prohibited from selling
the Book to any party if Licensee knows, or in the exercise of
prudent business judgment should know, that such sale(s) ultimately
will result in the exporting of the Book outside of the Territory.
Licensee shall give Licensor prior written
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Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 4
notice of the country(ies) to which Licensee desires to export the
Book and such export shall be subject to Licensor's prior written
approval.
4. DISTRIBUTION
4.1 The Book may be sold only through direct response marketing efforts
using direct mail, magazines, catalogs, co-operative mailings and
package insert programs. All other advertising methods must be
submitted to Licensor for Licensor's prior written approval on a
case-by-case basis. Licensee may not sell the Book to retailers that
sell the Book on a duty-free basis, or to wholesalers for resale to
such retailers, unless such retailer or wholesaler has a
then-current license agreement with Licensor or an affiliate of
Licensor permitting it to make such duty-free sales. Licensee agrees
not to sell the Book, including any part or adaptation thereof,
otherwise than as herein provided without Licensor's prior written
approval. In addition, the Book shall not be used or sold to others
for use as a giveaway, fundraiser, or for lotteries, premiums,
promotions, or advertising purposes in connection with other
publications or articles, or to sell other products without the
prior written consent of Licensor. Licensee shall make all
solicitations, sales and collections solely in its own name and in
accordance with all applicable Laws.
4.2 Customer Lists
A. Licensor shall have the right to add new Book customer files
to Licensor's customer database at no cost to Licensor. The
customer list may be used by Licensor in any manner, including
the promotion of other businesses affiliated with Licensor
(such as magazines, catalogs, vacation clubs, etc.) except
that such files may not be used for the purpose of soliciting
orders for juvenile book product distribution to customers by
direct mail unless such product is an insignificant component
of the solicitation. Licensee shall furnish at no cost to
Licensor on a monthly basis, new Book customer files in an
available format requested by Licensor.
B. Licensee may use Book generated customer files in unrelated
businesses with the prior written approval of Licensor, except
that any such customer files may be used without prior consent
for purposes relating to the direct marketing business of
Licensee and its U.S. affiliates.
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Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 5
C. "Customer file" shall include all active, inactive and
substandard Book customer names, addresses, phone numbers,
presence of child and birthdate/age of child without
duplication.
D. Licensee will consult with Licensor in the area of customer
contact with those consumers who purchase Disney Books,
including but not limited to, customer service, and credit and
collection.
E. All standard forms of planned customer promotional contact for
the Book (i.e., direct mail promotion pieces, invoices/letters
accompanying product shipment) shall be submitted to Licensor
no less frequently than on an annual basis and whenever
materially updated from its prior written approval. Collection
letters shall clearly indicate the source of the letter, which
in no case shall be Licensor.
F. Licensor shall have the right, from time to time without prior
notice, to visit any and all customer service facilities to
observe all manner of handling of customer service related
matters.
G. Records of all contacts are to be maintained for a minimum of
twelve (12) months so that problems, if any, can be
investigated and tracked. After the twelve (12) month period,
this data shall be deleted in a secure manner.
H. A do-not-promote file shall be maintained for those customers
who request not to be contacted any further. These files shall
be sent to Licensor on a monthly basis for the same purpose.
5. CONSIDERATION
5.1 Advance
Licensee agrees to pay to Licensor, as a non-refundable advance
against the royalties payable to Licensor pursuant to paragraph 5.2
below, the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) upon the
execution of this Agreement by Licensee.
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Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disneys
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 6
5.2 Royalties
In connection with the publication of the Book hereunder Licensee agrees
to pay to Licensor the following royalties:
A. A sum of ten percent (10%) of net cash receipts of the
suggested retail price of each copy of the Book sold, but in
no event shall the minimum royalty payable to Licensor be less
than one dollar and sixty cents ($1.60) per copy sold. "Net
cash receipts" shall be defined as all cash receipts actually
received by Licensee (including amounts from collection
agencies for the Book accounts turned over to such agencies)
less actual refunds, less amounts received for shipping and
handling charges billed to the customer, and less applicable
sales and use tax charges. Shipping and handling charges shall
have no element of profit or overhead. They shall be
excludable only to the extent that they comprise reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses for shipping cartons, cartoning.
transfer of the Book to cartoning areas, invoice forms,
labels, outer envelopes affixed to cartons shipping advise
forms, and express freight charges for shipping advises and a
reasonable and realistic factor for bad debt expense related
to non-recovery of postage and handling charges from
customers. A reasonable and actual handling charge can be
allocated to each return to cover opening and checking.
B. When the Book is sold at wholesale to catalogs, Licensee shall
pay a sum of twenty percent (20%) of the wholesale price of
each copy of the Book sold, but in no event shall the minimum
royalty payable to Licensor be less than one dollar and sixty
cents ($1.60) per copy sold.
C. With respect to copies of the Book sold in Canada, the
foregoing royalties shall be computed based on the
corresponding price of the Book as sold in the United States,
provided that if the Canadian price, when such price is
converted to United States Dollars at the average rate of
exchange existing during the respective calendar month of
sale, is higher than the corresponding price of the Book as
sold in the United States, the foregoing royalties shall be
computed based on such higher price. All Canadian sales of the
Book shall be accounted for by Licensee separately from copies
of the Book sold in the United States.
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Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 7
D. No royalties will be payable on copies of the Book that are
provided gratis for review, promotion, advertising, sample, or
similar purposes intended to promote the Book, which copies
are not intended for sale, up to a maximum of two hundred
(200) copies. In addition, no royalties will be payable on
copies provided to Licensor pursuant to paragraph 6 of this
Agreement.
5.3 Guarantee
Licensee agrees and guarantees to pay Licensor not less than one
hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) in royalties based on sales
of the Book during the Term. Advances, if any, which shall have been
paid to Licensor against royalties payable hereunder shall apply
towards meeting such guarantee. If Licensee has not paid to Licensor
the total of such guaranteed sum prior to the expiration or earlier
termination of the Term, Licensee agrees to pay to Licensor with its
statement of account for the last monthly period of the Term the
difference between the total amount of payments, including advances,
paid to Licensor during the Term and such guaranteed sum.
5.4 Taxes
In no case shall amounts paid to Licensor be reduced by reason of
the imposition of any tax thereon or of any tax on receipts from the
distribution or sale of the Book at any level of distribution, other
than as set forth in paragraph 5.2 A. Any applicable GST on
royalties for sales in Canada shall be paid to Licensor in addition
to such royalties.
5.5 Letter of Credit
Together with the Advance payable upon the signing of this Agreement
Licensee shall provide Licensor with an irrevocable letter of credit
securing payment of Licensee's obligations hereunder and under any
other prior, concurrent or subsequent agreement between the parties
(in addition to any and all separate letters of credit that may be
in place regarding such agreement(s)), drawn on the Los Angeles or
New York City office of the bank and in all other respects
satisfactory to Licensor, in the amount of up to $75,000.00 and
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Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 8
expiring not earlier than November 30, 2000. In the event of one or
more partial draws on such letter of credit, Licensee agrees to
restore it to the original amount within fifteen (15) days after the
partial draw(s).
6. PUBLICATION, PRESS RUN & FREE COPIES
6.1 Unless another distribution date is set forth elsewhere in this
Agreement, Licensee shall publish the Book within six (6) months
after the beginning of the Term and shall keep the Book in print and
available for purchase in the distribution channels licensed
hereunder during the remainder of the Term. Licensee shall notify
Licensor of the publication date(s) of the Book, ninety (90) days
prior to such publication date(s).
6.2 Licensee agrees to print a minimum of five thousand (5,000) copies
per title of the Book during the Term.
6.3 Licensee agrees to furnish to Licensor, free of charge, fifty (50)
copies of each title of the Book from the first shipment of the
Book, and to sell to Licensor at fifty percent (50%) below the
published retail price any additional copies which Licensor requires
for purposes other than resale. Two of the free copies shall be
delivered by Licensee directly to Licensor's legal department for
copyright registration purposes, attention Copyright Paralegal, The
Walt Disney Company, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank,
California 91521-6365.
7. CONTENT
7.1 Licensor agrees to cooperate with Licensee in the preparation by
Licensee of the art work and text for the Book, and to that end
Licensor agrees to provide to Licensee such pre-existing art work,
textual and reproduction materials, and style guide in Licensor's
possession as may be available and which Licensor and Licensee deem
suitable for inclusion in the Book. The foregoing materials shall be
provided at Licensor's cost, with the exception that all shipping
costs (e.g. overnight delivery charges) for such materials shall be
borne by Licensee. Licensee shall notify Licensor of its choice of
courier and Licensee's courier account number.
7.2 The book shall be prepared only by one or more employees of Licensee
or by third parties who have conveyed all rights to Disney pursuant
to paragraph 11.3 hereof,
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Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 9
and written, designed, printed, published and sold at no expense to
Licensor. All aspects of the Book and its contents including without
limitation the format and size, the quality of paper, textual,
artistic and photographic content, printing, cover, notices (e.g.
copyright, trademark, logos), dust jacket (if any), slip case (if
any), audio elements (if any) and title thereof shall be subject to
Licensor's prior written approval, which shall lie in Licensor's
sole discretion. Licensor shall indicate approval or lack thereof in
a timely fashion. Licensee shall for this purpose supply Licensor
with layout, design, black line sketches, finished art, manuscript
drafts, finished manuscripts and sample of paper stock and color
proofs in advance of printing and shall supply from the first print
run and each subsequent print run samples for Licensor's written
approval. Licensor shall indicate the reasons for disapprovals and
the changes needed to obtain approval. Licensee shall ensure that
each copy thereafter printed shall conform in all respects to what
has been approved by Licensor and shall not ship or deliver copies
of the Book which do not so conform. If any nonconforming Book is
sold by Licensee, Licensor may, in addition to any other remedies
available to Licensor (including but not limited to termination of
this Agreement) by written notice require such Book be immediately
withdrawn from the market.
7.3 No material which is owned by a third party or in which a third
party has rights shall be embodied in the Book or used in
conjunction with the Book, unless Licensor has given knowing prior
approval in writing, such approval to be granted or withheld within
Licensor's sole discretion. In the event that Licensor does so
approve, Licensee shall obtain all necessary licenses (and all other
licenses required by Licensor) for the use of such material
(including but not limited to all audio elements, if any) in or in
conjunction with the Book. Licensee represents and warrants that the
following materials which will be embodied in the Book are subject
to patent ownership by Licensee as follows: manufacturing
methodologies encompassed in Licensee's U.S. Patent Number
5,623,587. Based on the foregoing, Licensor hereby acknowledges and
approves of the embodiment of the foregoing patented materials in
the Book, on condition that the quality of such materials meet
Licensor's approval during the approval process.
7.4 Except with respect to material supplied by Licensor, Licensee shall
pay and be solely responsible for the payment of all obligations to
third parties arising from the manufacture, distribution,
advertising and sale of the Book, including, but not limited to,
payments to designers, printers, recording artists, musicians and
applicable unions and guilds, and shall pay or cause to be paid to
the copyright
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 10
proprietors of the material referenced in paragraph 7.3 above, or to
their duly authorized agents, all royalties and other sums
(including the full statutory mechanical royalty rate if required
for audio material) which may become due under and in accordance
with said licenses and all applicable Laws.
7.5 Licensee understands that Licensor's interim and final approvals or
disapprovals of the Book or any part of the contents of the Book may
depend on whether necessary permissions from third parties have been
obtained.
7.6 The Book, (which by definition includes any and all of its
components), shall be of good quality, shall be free of defects in
design, materials and workmanship, shall comply with all applicable
Laws, and shall conform to any specifications set forth in this
Agreement and to the sample approved by Licensor. Licensee shall
follow reasonable and proper procedures for testing that the Book
complies with such Laws and shall provide Licensor with all safety
testing information. Upon reasonable notice, Licensor's designers
may inspect testing, manufacturing and quality control records and
procedures and to test the Book for compliance. Licensee shall also
give due consideration to any recommendations of Licensor that the
Book exceeds the requirements of applicable Laws. Any part of the
Book not in compliance with applicable Laws shall be deemed
unapproved, even if previously approved by Licensor and shall be
brought into full compliance therewith.
7.7 As early as possible, and in any case before commercial production
of the Book, Licensee shall submit to Licensor for Licensor's review
and written approval (to utilize such materials in preparing a
pre-production sample) all preliminary and proposed models of the
Book (including models of all separable components of the Book, if
any). Thereafter, Licensee shall submit to Licensor for Licensor's
written approval a pre-production sample thereof. Licensor shall
endeavor to respond to such requests within a reasonable time, but
such approvals should be sought as early as possible in case of
delays. In addition to the foregoing, as early as possible, and in
any case no later than sixty (60) days following written conceptual
approval, Licensee shall supply to Licensor for Licensor's use for
internal purposes, a prototype or pre-production sample of the Book.
7.8 Before shipping the Book, Licensee agrees to furnish to Licensor,
from the first production run of each supplier of the Book, for
Licensor's approval of all aspects thereof, samples with packaging,
which shall conform to the approved pre-
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 11
production samples. Approval or disapproval of the artwork as it
appears in the Book, as well as of the quality of the Book, shall
lie in Licensor's sole discretion and may, among other things, be
based on unacceptable quality of the artwork or of any part of the
Book as manufactured. Any part not so approved shall be destroyed.
Such destruction shall be attested to in a certificate signed by one
of Licensee's officers. Production samples of the Book for which
Licensor has approved a pre-production sample shall be deemed
approved, unless within twenty (20) days of Licensor's receipt of
such production sample Licensor notifies Licensee to the contrary.
7.9 Licensee agrees to make available at no charge such additional
samples of the Book as Licensor may from time to time reasonably
request for the purpose of comparison with earlier samples, or to
test for compliance with applicable Laws, and to permit Licensor
upon reasonable request to inspect Licensee's manufacturing
operations and testing records (and those of Licensee's Suppliers
(as hereinafter defined in paragraph 8)) of the Book.
7.10 It is specifically understood that Licensor may disapprove any part
of the Book or a production run because the quality is unacceptable
to Licensor, and accordingly, Licensor recommends that Licensee
submit production samples to Licensor for approval before committing
to a large original production run or to purchase a large shipment
from a new supplier.
7.11 No modification of an approved production sample shall be made
without Licensor's further prior written approval. The Book must
conform in all respects to the approved production samples.
7.12 Any part of the Book not meeting the standard of approved samples
shall be destroyed and replaced.
7.13 Notwithstanding the above, as Licensor relies primarily on Licensee
for the consistent quality and safety of the Book and its compliance
with applicable Laws, Licensor will not unreasonably object to any
change in the design of the Book or in the materials used in the
manufacture of the Book or in the process of manufacturing the Book
which Licensee advises Licensor in writing is intended to make the
Book safer or more durable.
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 12
7.14 Licensor shall have the right, by written notice to Licensee, to
require modification of any part of the Book approved by Licensor
under any previous agreement between Licensee and Licensor.
Likewise, if the Term of this Agreement is extended by mutual
agreement, Licensor shall have the right, by written notice to
Licensee, to require modification of any part of the Book approved
by Licensor under this Agreement. It is understood that there is no
obligation upon either party to extend the Agreement.
7.15 If Licensor notifies Licensee of a required modification under
paragraph 7.14 above, such notification shall advise Licensee of the
nature of the changes required, and Licensee shall not manufacture
the Book until it has been resubmitted to Licensor with such changes
and Licensee has received Licensor's written approval of such
modifications.
8. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND STANDARDS
8.1 "Suppliers" means any of Licensee's third-party manufacturers and
suppliers (and their sub-manufacturers and suppliers) which
reproduce or use the Disney Property (as hereinafter defined) and/or
trademarks in the Book, or components thereof, and/or which assemble
the Book.
8.2 "Laws" means any and all applicable laws, rules, and regulations,
including but not limited to, local and national laws, rules and
regulations, treaties, voluntary industry standards, association
laws, codes or other obligations pertaining to any of Licensee's
activities under this Agreement, including but not limited to those
applicable to the manufacture, pricing, sale and/or distribution of
the Book.
8.3 Licensee covenants that the Book and any component thereof
distributed hereunder shall be of good quality and free of defects
in design, materials and workmanship, and shall comply with all
applicable Laws, and such specifications, if any, as may have been
specified in connection with this Agreement and shall conform to the
sample thereof approved by Licensor.
8.4 Without limiting the foregoing, Licensee covenants on behalf of
Licensee's own manufacturing facilities, and agrees to require all
Suppliers to covenant by signing the Supplier's Agreement, as
follows:
A. Licensee and the Suppliers agree not to use child labor in the
manufacturing, packaging or distribution of the Book. The term
"child"
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Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 13
refers to a person younger than the local legal minimum age
for employment or the age for completing compulsory education,
but in no case shall any child younger than fifteen (15) years
of age (or fourteen (14) years of age where local law allows)
be employed in the manufacturing, packaging or distribution of
the Book. Licensee and the Suppliers employing young persons
who do not fall within the definition of "children" agree also
to comply with any Laws applicable to such persons.
B. Licensee and the Suppliers agree only to employ persons whose
presence is voluntary. Licensee and the Suppliers agree not to
use any forced or involuntary labor, whether prison, bonded,
indentured or otherwise.
C. Licensee and the Suppliers agree to treat each employee with
dignity and respect, and not to use corporal punishment,
threats of violence, or other forms of physical, sexual,
psychological or verbal harassment or abuse.
D. Licensee and the Suppliers agree not to discriminate in hiring
and employment practices, including salary, benefits,
advancement, discipline, termination, or retirement, on the
basis of race, religion, age, nationality, social or ethnic
origin, sexual orientation, gender, political opinion or
disability.
E. Licensee and the Suppliers recognize that wages are essential
to meeting employees' basic needs. Licensee and the Suppliers
agree to comply, at a minimum, with all applicable wage and
hour Laws, including minimum wage, overtime, maximum hours,
piece rates and other elements of compensation, and to provide
legally mandated benefits. If local Laws do not provide for
overtime pay, Licensee and the Suppliers agree to pay at least
regular wages for overtime work. Except in extraordinary
business circumstances, Licensee and the Suppliers will not
require employees to work more than the lesser of (a) 48 hours
per week and 12 hours overtime or (b) the limits on regular
and overtime hours allowed by local law, or, where local law
does not limit the hours of work, the regular work week in
such country plus 12 hours overtime. In addition, except in
extraordinary business circumstances, employees will be
entitled to at least one day off in every seven-day period.
Licensee and the Suppliers agree that, where local industry
standards are higher than applicable legal requirements, they
will meet the higher standards.
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 14
F. Licensee and the Suppliers agree to provide employees with a
safe and healthy Workplace in compliance with all applicable
Laws, ensuring, at a minimum, reasonable access to potable
water and sanitary facilities, fire safety and adequate
lighting and ventilation. Licensee and the Suppliers also
agree to ensure that the same standards of health and safety
are applied in any housing they provide for employees.
Licensee and the Suppliers agree to provide Licensor with all
information Licensor may request about manufacturing,
packaging and distribution facilities for the Book.
G. Licensee and the Suppliers agree to respect the rights of
employees to associate, organize and bargain collectively in a
lawful and peaceful manner, without penalty or interference,
in accordance with applicable Laws.
H. Licensee and the Suppliers agree to comply with all applicable
environmental Laws.
I. Licensee and the Suppliers agree to comply with all applicable
Laws, including those pertaining to the manufacture, pricing,
sale and distribution of the Book.
J. Licensee and the Suppliers agree that Licensor and its
designated agents (including third parties) may engage in
monitoring activities to confirm compliance with this
Paragraph 8, including unannounced on-site inspections of
manufacturing, packaging and distribution facilities, and
employer-provided housing, such inspections to include reviews
of books and records relating to employment matters and
private interviews with employees. Licensee and the Suppliers
agree to maintain on site all documentation necessary to
demonstrate compliance with this Paragraph 8. Licensee agrees
to promptly reimburse Licensor for the actual costs of
inspections performed pursuant to this Paragraph 8 when any of
Licensee's manufacturing facilities or any Suppliers does not
pass the inspection(s).
K. Licensee and the Suppliers agree to take appropriate steps to
ensure that the provisions of this Code of Conduct are
communicated to employees, including the prominent posting of
a copy of the Code of Conduct for Suppliers (copy attached) in
the local language and in a place readily accessible to
employees at all times.
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October I, 1997
Page 15
8.5 Licensee agrees to take appropriate steps, in consultation with
Licensor, to develop, implement and maintain procedures to evaluate
and monitor the Suppliers it uses to manufacture the Book or any
components thereof, and to ensure compliance with this Paragraph 8,
including but not limited to, unannounced on-site inspections,
packaging and distribution facilities and employer-provided housing,
reviews of books and records relating to employment matters and
private interviews with employees.
8.6 Both before and after Licensee puts the Book on the market, Licensee
shall follow reasonable and proper procedures for testing that the
Book complies with all applicable product safety Laws, and shall
permit Licensor's designees to inspect testing, manufacturing and
quality control records and procedures and to test the Book for
compliance with product safety and other applicable Laws. Licensee
agrees to promptly reimburse Licensor for the actual costs of such
testing. Licensee shall also give due consideration to any
recommendations by Licensor that the Book exceeds the requirements
of applicable Laws. Books not manufactured, packaged or distributed
in accordance with applicable Laws shall be deemed unapproved, even
if previously approved by Licensor, and shall not be shipped unless
and until they have been brought into full compliance therewith.
9. PUBLISHING MATERIALS AND PRINTING
9.1 All film positives, film negatives and other reproduction material
used in the manufacture of the Book shall be prepared only by
Licensee or by a third party under Licensee's control and who has
been approved by Licensor and who has executed and delivered to
Licensor the Supplier's Letter of Agreement in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated by this reference, and the Book
shall be printed only by Licensee or by a printer approved by
Licensor who has executed and delivered to Licensor the said
Supplier's Letter of Agreement. Licensee shall, upon Licensor's
request, deliver to Licensor, or to publishers designated by
Licensor, one or more duplicate sets of such film positives, film
negatives and other reproduction material used in the manufacture of
the Book, and Licensor or such publishers, as the case may be, shall
reimburse Licensee for the actual cost of duplicating any such
materials delivered. In no case shall the charge for such material
exceed the lowest price Licensee charges other publishers for
similar material.
9.2 It is not Licensor's policy to reveal the names of Licensee's
Suppliers to third parties or to any division of Licensor's involved
with buying products, except as
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 16
may be necessary to enforce Licensor's contract rights or protect
its trademarks, copyrights, and intellectual property.
9.3 If any such supplier utilizes characters or trademarks for any
unauthorized purpose, Licensee shall cooperate fully in bringing
such utilization to an immediate halt. If, by reason of Licensee's
not having supplied the above-mentioned agreements to Licensor or
not having given Licensor the name of any supplier, Licensor makes
any representation or takes any action and is thereby subjected to
any penalty or expense, Licensee will fully compensate Licensor for
any cost or loss Licensor sustains.
9.4 At the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement or at any
other time upon Licensor's written request therefor, Licensee agrees
that upon request of Licensor, all film positives, four-color
separations, photographs, transparencies, film negatives, black
keyplate proofs, other reproduction material used in the manufacture
of the Book, and all original artwork, whether furnished by Licensor
or otherwise acquired by Licensee (the property rights in all of
which such materials shall remain vested in Disney Enterprises, Inc.
(hereinafter referred to as "Disney Enterprises") or its
licensor(s), as the case may be, at all times) shall be delivered to
Licensor without charge other than the cost of delivery. If Licensee
should for any reason fail to deliver such materials or any part
thereof and Licensor thereafter must recreate such material,
Licensee agrees to reimburse Licensor for the reasonable costs
incurred by Licensor in so doing. If such materials are not
requested to be delivered to Licensor within one (1) year after the
Term, they shall be destroyed by Licensee.
10. ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION COMMITMENT
10.1 Licensee may advertise the Book in newspapers, periodicals,
magazines and other publications and, subject to receiving
Licensor's prior written approval in each case, in catalogs, on
billboards, radio, television or by other advertising or promotional
techniques; provided, however, that all artwork, text, scripts and
storyboards for all advertising shall be submitted to Licensor for
its prior review and written approval as to the content of such
advertising. Licensor's approval or lack thereof will be given in a
timely fashion. As a condition to the right of public distribution
licensed hereunder, appropriate and legally sufficient copyright
notice in Disney Enterprises' name shall be included in all
advertising for the Book in which any of Disney's characters or
other copyrighted materials appear.
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Agreement dated October 1, 1997
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10.2 Following the expiration or earlier termination of this Agreement
and the Sell-off Period, if any, referred to in this Agreement,
Licensee will not advertise or promote the Book in any manner or
issue any offering literature or material with respect thereto.
10.3 Licensee warrants that all advertising and promotions shall comply
with all applicable Laws and shall not infringe the rights of any
person or entity. Licensor's approval for the use or manner of use
of any proposed advertising or promotion hereunder shall not
constitute an opinion as to the legal appropriateness or adequacy of
such use or manner of use, and Licensee shall be solely responsible
for any liability or risk of liability arising out of, or connected
with, the use of any such proposed advertising or promotion.
10.4 Licensee shall pay to Licensor an amount equal to one percent (1%)
of Licensee's annual wholesale sales of the Book (the "Common
Marketing Fund Payment"), which amount Licensee agrees to pay
Licensor concurrently with royalties due each royalty payment period
as detailed in Paragraph 12 hereof. Licensee further agrees to pay
Licensor the following sums as a guarantee of such minimum payment
(the "CMF Guarantee') on Licensee's cumulative sales in the
following periods: twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) for the
period commencing November 1, 1997 and ending April 30, 2000.
Licensee shall pay Licensor the following non-refundable
installment(s) of the CMF Guarantee (the "CMF Advances"), due and
payable on the following date(s): $5,000.00 upon Licensee's signing
of this Agreement.
10.5 The Common Marketing Fund Payment shall be placed in a general fund
(the "Common Marketing Fund") for use in marketing and promoting the
Licensed Property, Disney characters, Disney's copyrights, and
trademarks (which may include the Licensed Property) and licensee
activities generally, all as Licensor deems appropriate in Licensor'
sole discretion. Such funds shall be expended by Licensor and/or
Licensor's designees in the amounts and in the manner Licensor deems
most appropriate in order to provide advertising and general sales
promotion and market research activities and in order to reimburse
Licensor for Licensor's actual administrative expenses or those of
Licensor's designees, incurred in administering and supervising such
advertising and promotion activities. In administering promotion
fees, Licensor and/or its agents and
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Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 18
designees undertake no obligation to make expenditures for Licensee
which are equivalent or proportionate to Licensee's contribution or
to ensure that Licensee or any other particular Licensee benefits
directly or pro-rata from the placement of any advertising or
promotion by Licensor or its designees. Licensee shall not be
entitled to any audit rights with regard to the Common Marketing
Fund.
10.6 Licensee agrees to pay in full the CMF Advances plus value added
taxes or other applicable taxes thereon, if any, on account of the
CMF Guarantee to accrue during the Term only and only with respect
to sales in the Territory. In addition, with Licensee's statement
for each royalty payment period ending on a date indicated
hereinabove with respect to the CMF Guarantee, Licensee shall pay
Licensor the amount, if any, by which cumulative payment made with
respect to sales in the Territory during any period or periods
covered by such provision fall short of the amount of the CMF
Guarantee specified for that period.
11. OWNERSHIP
11.1 Pursuant to this Agreement, Licensee shall not acquire or assert any
proprietary right, interest, or title to any fanciful character used
in the Book, to the title of the Book, or to any other material
prepared for or contained on or in the Book, or to any copy,
reproduction, translation, or derivative work thereof (collectively
referred to herein as "Disney Property") in any format or media,
through the exercise of any rights granted to Licensee hereunder.
All copyrights and trademarks, service marks and tradenames
pertaining to the Book, as well as all rights of every kind in and
to the Disney Property, shall be Disney Enterprises' or its
licensor(s), as the case may be, exclusive property, except such
trademarks, tradenames or service marks as do not relate to any
Disney material and do relate to the business name of the Licensee
or the name of any line of books heretofore published by Licensee.
No part thereof or excerpt therefrom may be used by or under the
authority of Licensee in any way separate from the Book without
Licensor's prior written consent.
11.2 As a condition to the right of public distribution licensed
hereunder, each copy of the Book shall bear a properly located
copyright notice comprised of c in a circle plus the yeardate (if
requested by Licensor) of publication plus "Disney Enterprises,
Inc." (or such other notices as Licensor may notify Licensee of in
writing), together with such other notice of copyright or trademark
as may be prescribed or required by Laws applicable to the Territory
in order to establish,
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Agreement dated October 1, 1997
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protect and preserve Disney Enterprises' or its licensor(s)
copyrights and trademarks. Licensee shall also include such credit
lines in the Book as Licensor may require by written notice to
Licensee, provided that Licensor shall not require such credit lines
to interfere with the Licensee's line look or to be obtrusive.
11.3 It is specifically agreed that if Licensee creates or acquires
material for use in the Book, whether or not based on or using
Disney Enterprises' fanciful characters and whether or not actually
used in the Book or published, such material shall be deemed a
work-for-hire for Disney Enterprises and all ownership rights
(including but not limited to the copyright therein) shall belong to
Disney Enterprises. Licensee agrees that prior to the creation of
any such material by third parties it will obtain from the artists
and/or writers who create such material, or from the owners of the
rights thereto, an agreement executed by Licensee and such artists
and/or writers that all such material shall be considered a
work-made-for-hire for Disney Enterprises and Licensee shall also
cause such artists, writers and/or owners to execute a full release
or assignment (in such form as Licensor may require) of all rights,
including but not limited to all copyrights, so that all such rights
shall inure to Disney Enterprises and become a part of Disney
Enterprises' copyright and other rights in and to the Book. Licensee
agrees that it will not give, or agree to give, credit of any kind
to any such artists or writers without the prior written approval of
Licensor. Licensee shall provide Licensor with a copy of every
work-for-hire agreement, release, assignment, mechanical license (if
applicable), and any other agreement entered into with respect to
the ownership of the Book.
11.4 Subject to the rights granted hereunder, title (including copyright
and physical ownership) to all material objects incorporating the
Disney Property (excluding copies of the Book, promotion pieces,
catalogue sheets and other advertising, but including without
limitation, original drawings and illustrations used in the Book or
in promotional or advertising material which portray the Disney
Property as well as all photographs and reproductions of the
originals), whether supplied by Licensor or prepared by or for
Licensee, shall be in Disney Enterprises, and such material objects
shall be delivered to Licensor in good condition (subject to normal
wear and tear) upon request, Licensor to pay delivery costs. In no
event shall Licensee sell or lease the use of any such material
objects or otherwise part with control thereof. In addition,
Licensor shall be granted a security interest in all material
objects incorporating the Disney Property (including without
limitation, any unsold inventory of the Book and any work in
progress containing Disney Property).
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Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 20
Licensee shall execute all documents and take all actions necessary
to evidence and perfect such security interest.
11.5 Licensee hereby assigns to Disney Enterprises all rights, title and
interest (including but not limited to all copyright(s) and any
extensions and renewals thereof) throughout the universe which
Licensee may have acquired relating to any and all material prepared
or published hereunder or contemplated hereby, or relating to the
Disney Property or its use of the same hereunder. Licensee hereby
appoints Licensor to act as Licensee's attorney-in-fact to execute
any documents in Licensee's name and/or on Licensee's behalf
necessary to grant or assign such copyrights or other rights to
Disney Enterprises.
11.6 Except with Licensor's written consent, neither Licensee nor any
affiliate of Licensee will register or seek to register in any
country copyright in the Book and/or in any part of the Disney
Property, and/or any trademark which is identical with any mark used
by Disney or which is so similar thereto as to suggest some
association with Disney. In the event of breach of the foregoing,
Licensee agrees, at its expense and at Licensor's request,
immediately to terminate the unauthorized registration activity and
promptly to execute and deliver, or cause to be delivered, to
Licensor such assignments and other documents as Licensor may
require to transfer to Disney Enterprises all rights to the
registrations or applications involved. Upon the expiration or
earlier termination of this Agreement and the Sell-off Period,
Licensee will cease to use in any manner any of the Disney Property,
trademarks or other proprietary rights owned by Disney Enterprises
or its licensor(s).
11.7 Should Licensee become aware of any infringing use or unauthorized
use of the Book, its contents, and/or the characters, Licensee
agrees to give Licensor prompt written notice, and that Licensee
will not, without Licensor's written consent, bring or cause to be
brought any criminal prosecution, lawsuit or administrative action
for infringement, interference with or violation of any rights to
the Book, its contents and/or the characters. Because of the need
for and the high costs of an effective anti-piracy enforcement
program, Licensee agrees to cooperate with Licensor, and, if
necessary, to be named by Licensor as a sole complainant or
co-complainant in any action against an infringer and,
notwithstanding any right of Licensee's to recover same, legal or
otherwise, Licensee agrees to pay to Licensor, and hereby waive all
claims to, all damages or other monetary relief recovered in such
action by reason of a judgment or settlement whether or not such
damages or
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Page 21
other monetary relief, or any part thereof, represent or are
intended to represent injury sustained by Licensee as a licensee
hereunder. In any such action against an infringer, Licensor agrees
to reimburse Licensee for reasonable expenses incurred at Licensor's
request, including reasonable attorneys fees if Licensor has
requested Licensee to retain separate counsel.
12. WARRANTIES AND INDEMNITIES
12.1 Licensee hereby represents and warrants that if any material other
than material supplied by Licensor is used in the Book, neither said
material nor any part thereof shall infringe upon or interfere with
any common law right or any other right of any person or entity and
that the creation, manufacture, publishing, marketing, pre-pricing,
pricing, sale and distribution of the Book shall be in compliance
with all applicable Laws and shall not infringe the rights of any
person or entity, that Licensee has obtained all necessary
permissions to use the patented materials referenced in paragraph
7.3 hereof at no cost to Licensor, and that such patents are not now
being challenged or reasonably expected to be challenged in the
future. Without limiting the foregoing, Licensee represents and
warrants that no such material shall in any way infringe any
copyright or defame or invade the rights of privacy or publicity of
any person or entity. Licensee further represents and warrants that
it will not use or allow the use of the name "Walt Disney" or the
name "Disney", or the name or likeness of the fanciful characters of
Disney or any name, mark, emblem, logo or designation that suggests
or implies an association with Disney, for any purpose other than as
specified in this Agreement, unless explicitly authorized by
Licensor in writing to do so. In the event Licensee is required by
law to make reference to the "Disney" name in any public document to
be filed by Licensee, then Licensee agrees to give Licensor prior
written notice thereof and to allow Licensor reasonable opportunity
to make any comments regarding the proposed reference.
12.2 Licensee hereby indemnifies and holds Disney harmless, during and
after the Term hereof, from and against any loss, liability,
judgment, settlement, cost or expense arising out of Licensee's
performance or non-performance of any act, duty or obligation
specified or contemplated by this Agreement, or arising out of
Licensee's negligence or breach or alleged breach of any of
Licensee's representations and warranties hereunder, provided that
Licensee is given timely notice of such claimed breach. In no event
shall Licensee be liable for loss of profits beyond the sum
guaranteed to Licensor herein.
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Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 22
12.3 Licensee further indemnities Licensor during and after the Term
hereof against all claims, liabilities (including settlements
entered into in good faith with Licensee's consent, not to be
unreasonably withheld) and expenses (including reasonable attorney's
fees) arising out of any defect (whether obvious or hidden and
whether or not present in any sample approved by Licensor) in the
Book, or arising from personal injury or any infringement of any
rights of any other person by the manufacture, sale, possession or
use of the Book, or its failure to comply with applicable Laws. The
parties indemnified hereunder shall include Licensor, its
licensor(s), and its and their parent, successors and subsidiaries,
and its and their officers, directors, employees and agents.
12.4 Licensor hereby warrants that the Disney Property supplied by
Licensor hereunder shall not infringe or interfere with any common
law right or other right of any person or entity or infringe any
copyright and hereby indemnities and holds Licensee harmless from
and against any loss, liability, judgment, settlement, cost or
expense arising out of Licensor's breach or alleged breach of the
foregoing warranty, provided that Licensor is given timely notice of
such claimed breach and is allowed to control the defense thereof.
In no event shall Licensor be liable for loss of profits, however.
12.5 Licensee shall maintain in full force and effect at all times while
this Agreement is in effect and for three (3) years thereafter
commercial general liability insurance on a per occurrence form,
including broad form coverage for contractual liability, property
damage, products liability and personal injury liability (including
bodily injury and death), waiving subrogation, with minimum limits
of no less than two million U.S. dollars (U.S. $2,000,000.00) per
occurrence, and naming as additional insureds those indemnified in
paragraphs 12.2 and 12.3 hereof. Licensee also agrees to maintain in
full force and effect at all times while this Agreement is in effect
such Worker's Compensation Insurance as is required by applicable
provincial or state law and, if Licensee is a U.S.-based licensee,
Employer's Liability Insurance with minimum limits of one million
dollars (U.S. $1,000,000.00) per occurrence. All insurance shall be
primary and not contributory. Licensee shall deliver to Licensor a
certificate or certificates of insurance evidencing satisfactory
coverage and indicating that Licensor shall receive thirty (30) days
unrestricted prior written notice of cancellation, non-renewal, or
material change in coverage. Licensee's insurance shall be carried
by an insurer with a Best Guide rating of B + VII or better.
Compliance herewith in
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Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 23
no way limits Licensee's indemnity obligations, except to the extent
that Licensee's insurance company actually pays Licensor amounts
which Licensee would otherwise pay Licensor.
13. STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT
13.1 Licensee shall submit to Licensor monthly statements of account so
as to be received by Licensor no later than twenty-five (25) days
after the end of each monthly period throughout the Term and the
Sell-off Period, regardless of whether any sales have taken place
and/or any royalties are payable to Licensor. Licensee's statements
shall be on forms designated by Licensor for Licensee's use, showing
all information requested by such forms, including but not limited
to, the number of Books sold by title (a sale shall be deemed to
have occurred on the date the Book is shipped to the customer), the
price(s) on which the royalty is calculated and the royalty payment
due. The statement forms Licensor designates for Licensee's use may
be changed from time to time, and Licensee agrees to use the most
current form Licensor provides to Licensee. Licensee shall fully
comply with all of Licensor's instructions for completing such
forms. Sales of books licensed under contracts with Licensor other
than this Agreement shall not be reported on the same statement as
sales of the Book under this Agreement. Sales to countries other
than the United States, if any such are permitted, shall be reported
separately by country. Royalty payments shown as due shall be
delivered to Licensor with such statements. Royalties are also
payable, and due with such statements, on inventory shrinkage that
exceeds two percent (2%). Inventory shrinkage is defined as the
reduction in Licensee's inventory of the Book which cannot be
accounted for by sales or damaged copies. Licensee's statements and
payments shall be directed to the attention of Licensor at P.O. Box
101947, Atlanta, Georgia 30392, with a copy sent to the attention of
Licensee's designated account executive at the address set forth in
paragraph 18 hereof. To the extent that royalties are not paid,
Licensor may offset royalties due hereunder against any sums which
Licensor or any of its affiliates may owe to Licensee or any of its
affiliates. No deduction or withholding from royalties payable shall
be made by reason of any tax. GST applicable to royalties (including
advances and guarantees) or to any other payments due to Licensor
shall be indicated on the statement and paid to Licensor along with
the royalty or other payment. My applicable tax on the manufacture,
distribution and sale of the Book shall be borne by Licensee.
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Agreement dated October 1, 1997
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13.2 Licensee shall indicate on its statements the amount of any reserve
for returns maintained and Licensee shall not maintain an
unreasonable reserve. In no event shall a reserve exceed fifteen
percent (15%) of sales reported in any royalty period unless with
the written agreement of Licensor. In the event that actual returns
exceed the reserve and cannot be recouped out of royalties otherwise
due in the relevant reporting period or any subsequent reporting
period, Licensor shall refund at the end of the Term, or at the end
of the Sell-off Period if any, unearned royalties previously paid in
excess of any advances and subject to payment by Licensee when due
of any guarantee obligation. Such refund may be applied by Licensor
against any late charges that may be due by Licensee hereunder. In
the event that reserves exceed actual returns, Licensee shall pay
royalties on the difference with Licensee's final statement of
account for the Term, or for the Sell-off Period if any.
13.3 Royalties received later than the due date shall bear interest at
eighteen percent (18%) per annum from the due date, or at the
maximum rate permissible by law if less than eighteen percent (18%).
13.4 Within thirty (30) days prior to the beginning of each royalty
reporting period and within ninety (90) days prior to the beginning
of each calendar year, Licensee shall submit to Licensor a forecast
of the expected net sales and royalties for each title of the Book
for each respective time period.
13.5 Licensee shall take all necessary steps to ensure that its
information systems, including without limitation, all its
proprietary and all third party hardware and software, process dates
correctly prior to, during and after the calendar year 2000 ("Year
2000 Compliance"). Year 2000 Compliance shall include, without
limitation, correct century recognition, calculations that properly
accommodate same century and multi-century formulas and date values,
and interface values that reflect the appropriate century. Necessary
steps to ensure Year 2000 Compliance shall include, without
limitation, analysis of all components of Licensee's information
systems and as necessary, development, installation and testing of
software fixes, patches and/or updates. In a timely manner, but no
later than by December 31, 1998, Licensee shall certify to Licensor
in writing that its information systems are Year 2000 Compliant.
Such certification is a material term of this Agreement. Upon a
breach by Licensee of its obligation under this paragraph, Licensor
shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement in accordance with the
provisions for termination set forth herein.
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Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 25
14. AUDITS
14.1 Licensor and/or a representative of Licensor shall have access
during the Term hereof and for two (2) years thereafter to the
pertinent books and records of Licensee (including the materials
referenced in paragraphs 11.3, 11.4, and 9 of this Agreement) during
reasonable business hours upon a prior request made by Licensor, and
Licensor and/or such representative may examine the same, make
copies thereof, take exhibits therefrom and conduct such audits
thereof as Licensor may from time to time deem necessary. Licensee
agrees that for the purpose of the foregoing, it will keep and
preserve accurate records concerning transactions entered into by it
under this Agreement during the Term and for a period of two (2)
years following the expiration of the Term, as extended, including
print runs, shipments to Licensee, inventory records, records of
sales and shipments by Licensee and records of returns. Licensor's
representatives shall be entitled to examine all invoices, whether
or not they pertain to the Book, for the purpose of determining
whether all invoices for the Book have been properly reflected in
the statements of account.
14.2 If in any audit of Licensee's records it is determined that there is
a shortfall of five percent (5%) or more in royalties reported for
any reporting period, Licensee shall, upon request from Licensor,
reimburse Licensor for the full out-of-pocket costs of the audit
including the costs of employee auditors at their then current
hourly rate for travel time during normal working hours and actual
working time.
15. WITHDRAWAL OF MATERIAL
The rights conferred by Licensor under this Agreement are subject to the
right of Licensor to require Licensee to withhold and/or withdraw any
character or material, or any part thereof, from use in connection with
the endeavors contemplated in this Agreement if such use should violate or
infringe or reasonably be claimed to violate or infringe the rights of any
third parties, provided that Licensor shall reimburse Licensee its
expenses reasonably incurred in complying with any withdrawal made
hereunder of previously approved material.
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Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 26
16. TERMINATION
Without prejudice to any other right or remedy available to it, Licensor
shall have the right at any time to terminate this Agreement prior to the
expiration of the Term in the event of the occurrence of one (1) or more
of the following:
16.1 If Licensee delivers to any customer without Licensor's written
authorization anything containing materials owned by Disney
Enterprises other than the Book described herein and approved in
accordance with the provisions hereof; or
16.2 If Licensee delivers the Book outside the Territory (unless the Book
is destined for ultimate delivery in the Territory) or sells the
Book to a third party if Licensee knows, or in the exercise of
prudent business judgment should know, that such sale will result in
delivery of the Book outside the Territory; or
16.3 If Licensee shall fail to make any payment and/or furnish any
statement as herein provided, and if such failure shall continue for
a period of thirty (30) days following the date said statement or
payment was due; or
16.4 If Licensee fails to publish the Book by the distribution date, if
any, set forth in paragraph 2.1 above or, if no distribution date is
set, within six (6) months after the commencement of the Term; or
16.5 If Licensee shall breach any other terms of this Agreement and if
any such breach is not corrected within thirty (30) days after
notification by Licensor of the breach (or, in the event of a breach
which cannot be corrected within thirty days, if Licensee fails to
commence such correction within thirty days and thereafter
diligently prosecutes it to completion); or
16.6 If Licensee breaches any material term of any other agreement
between the parties, and Licensor terminates such other agreement
for cause; or
16.7 If Licensee shall make any assignment for the benefit of creditors,
or file a petition in bankruptcy, or be adjudged bankrupt, or become
insolvent, or be placed in the hands of a receiver. The equivalent
of any of the proceedings or acts referred to in this paragraph,
though known and/or designated by some other name or term in
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The Lion King, and Toy Story
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Page 27
any part of the Territory shall likewise constitute a ground for
termination of this Agreement by Licensor; or
16.8 If Licensee fails for any reason to operate its business in the
usual manner, or fails for any reason to provide Licensor with
assurances satisfactory to Licensor that Licensee will so operate
its business, or if Licensee fails for any reason to otherwise meet
its obligations under this Agreement or to provide Licensor with
assurance satisfactory to Licensor that Licensee will meet such
obligations; or
16.9 If Licensee breaches any provision of this Agreement after having
breached such provision and cured such breach within the designated
period after notice from Licensor; or
16.10 If there should occur a change in Licensee's management, ownership
or control, or if Licensee transfers or attempts to transfer this
Agreement in contravention of paragraph 17 hereof; or
16.11 If Licensee breaches any covenant set forth in paragraph 8 of this
Agreement; or
16.12 If more than three (3) Supplier's Agreements are terminated in any
twelve-month period by Licensor for the Suppliers' failure to pass
compliance inspections as referenced in paragraph 8; or
16.13 If the patent referred to in paragraph 12.1 hereof, or Licensee's
right to practice such patent is limited in any material respects.
In the event of the expiration or termination of this Agreement all rights
herein granted to Licensee shall revert to Licensor, and Licensor shall be
entitled to retain any and all consideration paid to Licensor and other
things of value theretofore paid or delivered to Licensor. Without
limitation to the carry over of other obligations hereunder, Licensee's
obligations to permit audits and to turn over to Licensor all material
required to be turned over hereunder shall survive the expiration or
termination hereof
17. ASSIGNMENT
17.1 This license and the rights granted and obligations undertaken
hereunder are personal to Licensee and based upon the continued
personal involvement, control, and responsibility of and for
Licensee's management and operations by Richard Bulman, President
and Chief Executive Officer. Licensee shall not voluntarily or
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by operation of law assign, sublicense, transfer, encumber or
otherwise dispose of all or any part of Licensee's interest in this
Agreement (including, but not limited to, any encumbrance of the
Book) without Licensor's prior written consent, to be granted or
withheld in Licensor's absolute discretion. Any attempted
assignment, sublicense, transfer, encumbrance or other disposal
without such consent shall be void and shall constitute a material
default and breach of this Agreement. "Transfer" within the meaning
of this paragraph shall include any merger or consolidation of
Licensee or any directly or indirectly controlling affiliate(s) of
Licensee ("Controlling Affiliate"); any sale or transfer of all or
substantially all of Licensee's or its Controlling Affiliate(s)'
assets; any transfer of Licensee's rights hereunder to a division,
business segment, or other entity different from the one
specifically referenced on page 1 hereof, (or any sale or attempted
sale of the Book under a trademark or tradename of such division,
business segment or other entity); any public offering, or series of
public offerings, whereby a cumulative total of thirty-three and
one-third percent (33 1/3%) or more the voting stock of Licensee or
its Controlling Affiliate(s) is offered for purchase; and any
acquisition or series of acquisitions by any person or entity, or
group of related persons or entities, the cumulative total of
thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) or more of the voting
stock of Licensee or its Controlling Affiliate(s), or the right to
vote such percentage (or, if Licensee is a partnership, resulting in
the transfer of thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) or more
of the profit and loss participation in Licensee, or the occurrence
of any of the foregoing with respect to any general partner of
Licensee).
17.2 Licensee agrees to provide Licensor with at least thirty (30) days
prior written notice of any desired assignment of this Agreement or
other transfer as defined in paragraph 17.1 above. At the time
Licensee gives such notice, Licensee shall provide Licensor with the
information and documentation necessary to evaluate the contemplated
transaction. Licensor's consent (if given) to any assignment of this
Agreement or other transfer as defined in paragraph 17.1 above shall
be subject to such terms and conditions as Licensor deems
appropriate, including but not limited to payment of a transfer fee.
The amount of the transfer fee shall be determined by Licensor based
upon the circumstances of the particular assignment or transfer,
taking into account such factors as the estimated value of the
license being assigned or otherwise transferred; the risk of
business interruption or loss of quality, production or control
Licensor may suffer as a result of the assignment or other transfer;
the identity, reputation, creditworthiness, financial condition and
business capabilities of the proposed assignee or other entity
involved in the transfer; and Licensor's internal costs related to
the assignment or other transfer; provided, however, in no event
shall the transfer fee be less than ten percent (10%)
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 29
of royalties earned for the Book in the preceding twelve (12) month
period (if twelve (12) months of royalties have been reported), or
ten percent (10%) of the guarantee, whichever is higher. The
foregoing transfer fee shall not apply if this Agreement is assigned
to one of Licensee's affiliates as part of a corporate
reorganization exclusively among some or all of the entities
existing in Licensee's corporate structure when this Agreement is
signed; provided, however, that Licensee must give Licensor written
notice of such assignment and a description of the reorganization.
The provisions of this Subparagraph 17 shall supersede any
conflicting provisions on this subject in any publishing license
agreement previously entered into by the parties for this Territory.
17.3 Notwithstanding paragraphs 17.1 and 17.2, Licensee may, upon
Licensor's prior written consent, sublicense its rights and/or
obligations hereunder to any of Licensee s affiliates, provided that
each such affiliate agrees to be bound by all of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, and provided, that each such affiliate
agrees to guarantee Licensee's full performance of this Agreement
(including, but not limited to, paragraph 12) and to indemnify
Licensor for any failure of such performance, and further provided
that Licensee and each such affiliate agree to provide Licensor with
satisfactory documentation of such agreement(s), guarantee(s), and
indemnification upon Licensor's request therefor. Licensee hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees that any and all
affiliates sublicensed hereunder will observe and perform all of
Licensee's obligations under this Agreement, including, but not
limited to, the provisions governing approvals, and compliance with
approved samples, applicable Laws, and all other provisions hereof,
and that they will otherwise adhere strictly to all of the terms
hereof and act in accordance with Licensee's obligations hereunder.
Any involvement of an affiliate in the activities which are the
subject of this Agreement shall be deemed carried on pursuant to
such a sublicense and thus covered by such guarantee; however,
unless Licensee has obtained Licensor's consent to sublicense an
affiliate in each instance, such affiliate shall be deemed to be
included in the term "Licensee" for all purposes under this
Agreement, and Licensor may treat such unapproved involvement of the
affiliate as a breach of the Agreement. In the event of any
sublicense to an affiliate hereunder, the reference in paragraph
17.1 to "Controlling Affiliate" shall include such affiliate
sublicensee. "Affiliate" means, with regard to Licensee, any
corporation or other entity which directly or indirectly controls,
is controlled by, or is under common control with Licensee.
"Control" of an entity shall mean possession, directly or
indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management
or policies of such entity, whether through ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 30
17.4 Licensor's rights and obligations hereunder may be assigned,
delegated or otherwise transferred by Licensor.
18. NOTICES
All notices which either party is required to or may desire to serve upon
the other party hereunder shall be in writing and addressed to the party
to be served at the address set forth below, or to such other address as
either party may hereafter designate:
To Licensor: Disney Licensed Publishing
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
Attention: Lisa Holton
With a copy to: The Walt Disney Company
114 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
Attention: Kenneth E. Newman
Vice President - Eastern Regional Counsel
To Licensee: Kideo Productions, Inc.
611 Broadway, Suite 523
New York, New York 10012
Any notice, served by either party, may be served personally or by
depositing the same addressed as herein provided (unless and until
otherwise notified), postage prepaid, in the official mail of the country
in which deposited, or by documented overnight delivery service. Any
notice mailed as aforesaid shall be deemed to have been served on the date
of mailing. However, Licensor shall be deemed to have been served with a
notice of a request for approval of materials under this Agreement only
upon Licensor's actual receipt of the request and of any required
accompanying materials.
19. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
19.1 Licensee hereby acknowledges that the rights and powers retained by
Licensor hereunder are necessary to protect Disney Enterprises' or
its licensor(s), as the case may be, copyrights and property rights
generally, and specifically to conserve the goodwill and good name
of Licensor's products, the Disney Property and the
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 31
name "Disney". Nothing contained herein shall be construed to allow
Licensee to do any act or activity that could or might deprecate or
detract from such goodwill or in any way impugn the public
acceptance and popularity of any fanciful character of Disney or
impair its legal status.
19.2 Nothing herein contained shall be construed so as to constitute the
parties hereto principal and agent, employer and employee, partners
or joint venturers, nor shall any similar relationship be deemed to
exist between them. Neither party shall have any power to obligate
or bind the other party, except as specifically provided herein.
19.3 The paragraph headings contained herein are for convenient reference
only. They shall not be used in any way to govern, limit, modify or
construe this Agreement and shall not be given any legal effect.
19.4 All rights not specifically granted and licensed to Licensee
hereunder are reserved to Licensor.
19.5 No waiver by either party, whether express or implied, of any
provision of this Agreement shall constitute a continuing waiver of
such provision or a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement.
No waiver by either party, whether express or implied, of any breach
or default by the other party shall constitute a continuing waiver
of such breach or default or a waiver of any other breach or default
of the same or any other provision of this Agreement, nor shall any
failure of either party to object to conduct of the other be deemed
to waive such party's right to claim that a repetition of such
conduct is a breach hereof
19.6 In the event any provision contained herein is held to be unlawful
or unenforceable, such provision shall be severable from the
remaining provisions of this Agreement, which shall remain in full
force and effect.
19.7 This Agreement shall be deemed to have been made, entered into and
finally executed and delivered in the State of California, United
States of America (which execution and delivery are hereby
acknowledged by both parties hereto), and shall be governed,
controlled, interpreted and defined by and under the laws of the
State of California. Any legal actions pertaining to this Agreement
shall be commenced within the State of California and within either
Los Angeles or Orange Counties,
<PAGE>
Kideo Productions, Inc.
Disney Standard Characters, Disney's
The Lion King, and Toy Story
Agreement dated October 1, 1997
Page 32
and Licensee hereby waives trial by jury and consents to the
jurisdiction of the courts located in Los Angeles or Orange
Counties.
19.8 This Agreement, and any confidentiality agreement Licensee may have
signed pertaining to the Disney Property, shall constitute the whole
and complete agreement between the parties hereto concerning the
subject matter hereof, and no oral or prior written agreements shall
be deemed a part of or a modification of this Agreement. This
Agreement can only be modified by a written agreement between the
parties executed after the effective date hereof
ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC. DISNEY LICENSED PUBLISHING
By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE] By: /s/ [ILLEGIBLE]
------------------------------- -------------------------------
Title: President & CEO Title: Vice President
---------------------------- ----------------------------
Date: 12/8/97 Date: 12/12/97
----------------------------- -----------------------------
jaw
kp1015.doc
revised 111797
<PAGE>
SUPPLIER'S AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUPPLIER: _________
_________
_________
Reference is made to the license agreement dated ________ between Disney
Licensed Publishing ("Licensor") and __________ ("Licensee") in which Licenser
has licensed the publication by Licensee of ________________________________
(the "publication"). Licensor hereby authorizes you ("Supplier") to prepare,
from material supplied to Supplier by Licensee and/or Licensor, reproduction
material, including as applicable film positives, four color separations,
photographs, transparencies, film negatives, black separations, black keyplate
proofs and other reproduction material used in the manufacture of the
publication, upon the condition that the Supplier shall sign and fully comply in
all respects with this agreement. Failure of said condition shall entitle
Licensor to terminate this agreement forthwith. The property rights (including
but not limited to copyright and physical ownership) in all such materials shall
remain vested in Disney Enterprises, Inc., at all times. Said reproduction
material will be delivered by Supplier to no one other than Licensee, or as
Licensor may otherwise direct. Licensor shall be under no obligation to Supplier
with respect to such charges as may be incurred in connection with reproduction
material prepared at the request of Licensee.
The Supplier signing below agrees that (except as may be authorized under a
separate agreement with Licensor):
1. The Supplier will not manufacture the publication or components
thereof to the order of anyone but the Licensee, will invoice only
the Licensee, will not ship to anyone other than the Licensee or
Licensee's designees and will not ship after the expiration date of
the License Agreement.
2. The Supplier will not subcontract production of the publication or
components thereof without Licensor's written consent.
3. The Supplier will not (without Licensor's written consent)
manufacture the publication or components thereof listed above,
other than in accordance with this agreement.
4. From time to time, the Supplier will permit Licensor's authorized
representatives to inspect its activities and premises, accounting
books and invoices relevant to its manufacture and supply of the
publication.
5. The Supplier will not publish or cause the publication of pictures
from the publication in any other publication or promotional
material, nor advertise the fact that it is permitted to manufacture
the publication or components thereof, nor use the name "Disney" or
any variant thereof without Licensor's prior written consent.
6. In manufacturing the publication, the Supplier will comply with all
applicable local and national laws and regulations, treaties,
voluntary industry standards, codes or other obligations
<PAGE>
(collectively "Laws"), including but not limited to, applicable
health and safety standards and labor laws for manufacturing
operations. Specifically, the Supplier covenants that:
(a) The Supplier will not use child labor in the manufacturing,
packaging or distribution of the publication or components
thereof. The term "child" refers to a person younger than the
local legal minimum age for employment or the age for
completing compulsory education, but in no case shall any
child younger than fifteen (15) years of age (or fourteen (14)
years of age where local law allows) be employed in the
manufacturing, packaging or distribution of the publication or
components thereof. The Supplier employing young persons who
do not fall within the definition of "children" agrees also to
comply with any Laws applicable to such persons.
(b) The Supplier agrees only to employ persons whose presence is
voluntary. The Supplier agrees not to use any forced or
involuntary labor, whether prison, bonded, indentured or
otherwise.
(c) The Supplier agrees to treat each employee with dignity and
respect, and not to use corporal punishment, threats of
violence, or other forms of physical, sexual, psychological or
verbal harassment or abuse.
(d) The Supplier agrees not to discriminate in hiring and
employment practices, including salary, benefits, advancement,
discipline, termination, or retirement, on the basis of race,
religion, age, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sexual
orientation, gender, political opinion or disability.
(e) The Supplier recognizes that wages are essential to meeting
employees' basic needs. The Supplier agrees to comply, at a
minimum, with all applicable wage and hour Laws, including
minimum wage, overtime, maximum hours, piece rates and other
elements of compensation, and to provide legally mandated
benefits. If local Laws do not provide for overtime pay, the
Supplier agrees to pay at least regular wages for overtime
work. Except in extraordinary business circumstances, the
Supplier will not require employees to work more than the
lesser of (1) 48 hours per week and 12 hours overtime or (2)
the limits on regular and overtime hours allowed by local law,
or, where local law does not limit the hours of work, the
regular work week in such country plus 12 hours overtime. In
addition, except in extraordinary business circumstances,
employees will be entitled to at least one day off in every
seven-day period. The Supplier agrees that, where local
industry standards are higher than applicable legal
requirements, it will meet the higher standards.
(f) The Supplier agrees to provide employees with a safe and
healthy workplace in compliance with all applicable Laws,
ensuring, at a minimum, reasonable access to potable water and
sanitary facilities, fire safety, and adequate lighting and
ventilation. The Supplier also agrees to ensure that the same
standards of health and safety are applied in any housing it
provides for employees. The Supplier agrees to provide
Licensor with all information Licensor may request about
manufacturing, packaging and distribution facilities for the
publication.
(g) The Supplier agrees to respect the rights of employees to
associate, organize and bargain collectively in a lawful and
peaceful manner, without penalty or interference, in
accordance with applicable Laws.
<PAGE>
(h) The Supplier agrees to comply with all applicable Laws,
including those pertaining to the manufacture, pricing, sale
and distribution of the publication.
(i) The Supplier agrees to comply with all applicable
environmental Laws.
(j) The Supplier agrees that Licensor and its designated agents
(including third parties) may engage in monitoring activities
to confirm compliance with this Agreement, including
unannounced on-site inspections of manufacturing, packaging
and distribution facilities, and employer-provided housing,
such inspections to include reviews of books and records
relating to employment matters and private interviews with
employees. The Supplier agrees to maintain on site all
documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance with this
Agreement.
(k) The Supplier agrees to take appropriate steps to ensure that
the provisions of this Paragraph 6 are communicated to
employees, including the prominent posting of a copy of
Disney's Code of Conduct for Suppliers in the local language
and in a place readily accessible to employees at all times.
7. Upon expiration or termination of the License Agreement, or upon
notification by Licensor or Licensee, Supplier will immediately
cease manufacturing the publication and deliver to Licenser or its
authorized representative such reproduction materials as are
necessary for printing, and shall deliver to Licensee, or to
Licensor if Licensor so requests, all artwork, textual and
reproduction materials for the publication which Licensor or
Licensee may have caused to be furnished to Supplier, and all
original and reproduction material prepared by Supplier hereunder,
unless Licensee has engaged Supplier to do the printing, in which
case Supplier will deliver such original and reproduction material
at such other time as Licensor may direct, or in the absence of such
direction, upon completion of Supplier's use of such original and
reproduction materials for the printing of the publication. Said
materials shall be so delivered without charge other than the
expense of delivery, and shall be complete and in reproduction
condition. Supplier agrees to provide Licensor upon request, a
statement and/or a duplicate invoice as to all materials provided to
Licensee hereunder.
8. This Agreement shall be deemed to be entered into in California and
shall be governed and interpreted according to the laws of the State
of California. Any legal actions pertaining to this Agreement shall
be commenced within the State of California and within either Los
Angeles or Orange Counties.
DISNEY LICENSED PUBLISHING ACCEPTED AND AGREED BY:
By: By:
-------------------------------- -----------------------------------
(to be signed by Supplier)
Title: Title:
----------------------------- ---------------------------------
Company:
-------------------------------
<PAGE>
Code of Conduct for Suppliers
At The Walt Disney Company, we are committed to:
o standard of excellence in every aspect of our business and in every
corner of the world;
o ethical and responsible conduct in all of our operations;
o respect for the rights of all individuals; and
o respect for the environment.
We expect these same commitments to be shared by all suppliers of Disney
publications. At a minimum, we require that all suppliers of Disney publications
meet the following standards:
Child Labor Suppliers will not use child labor.
The term "child" refers to a person younger than 15 (or 14
where local law allows) or, if higher, the local legal
minimum age for employment or the age for completing
compulsory education.
Suppliers employing young persons who do not fall within the
definition of "children" will also comply with any laws and
regulations applicable to such persons.
Involuntary Labor Suppliers will not use any forced or involuntary labor,
whether prison, bonded, indentured or otherwise.
Coercion and
Harassment Suppliers will treat each employee with dignity and respect,
and will not use corporal punishment, threats of violence or
other forms of physical, sexual, psychological or verbal
harassment or abuse.
Nondiscrimination Suppliers will not discriminate in hiring and employment
practices, including salary, benefits, advancement,
discipline, termination or retirement, on the basis of race,
religion, age, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sexual
orientation, gender, political opinion or disability.
Association Suppliers will respect the rights of employees to associate,
organize and bargain collectively in a lawful and peaceful
manner, without penalty or interference.
Health and Safety Suppliers will provide employees with a safe and healthy
workplace in compliance with all applicable laws and
regulations, ensuring at a minimum, reasonable access to
potable water and sanitary facilities, fire safety, and
adequate lighting and ventilation.
Suppliers will also ensure that the same standards of health
and safety are applied in any housing that they provide for
employees.
<PAGE>
Compensation We expect suppliers to recognize that wages are essential to
meeting employees' basic needs. Suppliers will, at a minimum,
comply with all applicable wage and hour laws and
regulations, including those relating to minimum wages,
overtime, maximum hours, piece rates and other elements of
compensation, and provide legally mandated benefits. If local
laws do not provide for overtime pay, suppliers will pay at
least regular wages for overtime work. Except in
extraordinary business circumstances, suppliers will not
require employees to work more than the lesser of (a) 48
hours per week and 12 hours overtime or (b) the limits on
regular and overtime hours allowed by local law or, where
local law does not limit the hours of work, the regular work
week in such country plus 12 hours overtime. In addition,
except in extraordinary business circumstances, employees
will be entitled to at least one day off in every seven-day
period.
Where local industry standards are higher than applicable
legal requirements, we expect suppliers to meet the higher
standards.
Protection of the
Environment Suppliers will comply with all applicable environmental laws
and regulations.
Other Laws Suppliers will comply with all applicable laws and
regulations, including those pertaining to the manufacture,
pricing, sale and distribution of publications.
All references to "applicable laws and regulations" in this
Code of Conduct include local and national codes, rules and
regulations as well as applicable treaties and voluntary
industry standards.
Subcontracting Suppliers will not use subcontractors for the manufacture of
Disney publications or components thereof without Disney's
express written consent, and only after the subcontractor has
entered into a written commitment with Disney to comply with
this Code of Conduct.
Monitoring and
Compliance Suppliers will authorize Disney and its designated agents
(including third parties) to engage in monitoring activities
to confirm compliance with this Code of Conduct, including
unannounced on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities
and employer-provided housing; reviews of books and records
relating to employment matters; and private interviews with
employees. Suppliers will maintain on site all documentation
that may be needed to demonstrate compliance with this Code
of Conduct.
Publication Suppliers will take appropriate steps to ensure that the
provisions of this Code of Conduct are communicated to
employees, including the prominent posting of a copy of this
Code of Conduct, in the local language and in a place readily
accessible to employees, at all times.
<PAGE>
Code of Conduct for Licensees
At The Walt Disney Company, we are committed to:
o a standard of excellence in every aspect of our business and in
every corner of the world;
o ethical and responsible conduct in all of our operations;
o respect for the rights of all individuals; and
o respect for the environment.
We expect these same commitments to be shared by all Disney licensees and the
suppliers with which they work in the production of Disney publications. At a
minimum, we require that all Disney licensees meet the following standards:
Conduct of
Manufacturing Licensees that engage directly in the manufacturing of Disney
publications will comply with all of the standards set forth
in Disney's Code of Conduct for Suppliers, a copy of which is
attached.
Licensees will ensure that each manufacturer other than the
licensee also enters into a written commitment with Disney to
comply with the standards set forth in Disney's Code of
Conduct for Suppliers.
Licensees will prohibit suppliers from subcontracting the
manufacture of Disney publications or components thereof
without Disney's express written consent, and only after the
subcontractor has entered into a written commitment with
Disney to comply with Disney's Code of Conduct for Suppliers.
Monitoring and
Compliance Licensees will take appropriate steps, in consultation with
Disney, to develop, implement and maintain procedures to
evaluate and monitor suppliers of Disney publications and
ensure compliance with Disney's Code of Conduct for
Suppliers, including unannounced on-site inspections of
manufacturing facilities and employer-provided housing;
review of books and records relating to employment matters;
and private interviews with employees.
Licensees will authorize Disney and its designated agents
(including third parties) to engage in similar monitoring
activities to confirm Licensees' compliance with this Code of
Conduct. Licensees will maintain on site all documentation
that may be needed to demonstrate such compliance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLISHING AGREEMENT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS PUBLISHING AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made effective as of October 1,
1997, by and between LYONS PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ("Lyons") and KIDEO PRODUCTIONS,
INC. ("Kideo").
WHEREAS, Kideo desires to obtain a license to publish, print and
distribute personalized children's books by incorporating therein a child's
photograph, name and personalized text and also incorporating the Barney(R)
dinosaur character and related characters, the rights to which are owned by
Lyons (the "Characters") as more particularly described in Exhibit A, attached
hereto and incorporated herein by reference (the "Barney Books"); and
WHEREAS, Lyons is willing to grant such a license to Kideo only upon the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual promises and
covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:
1. TERM. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date first
set forth above and, unless earlier terminated pursuant to its provisions, shall
continue through the date five (5) years thereafter (the "Term").
2. TERRITORY. The rights granted to Kideo hereunder shall be only for
the United States, and its territories, possessions and military bases
worldwide, and Canada (collectively, the "Territory").
3. LICENSED PRODUCTS. The license granted to Kideo hereunder shall be
only for those children's books featuring the Characters as more particularly
described in Exhibit A, only in the English language, and only in the format set
forth in Exhibit A.
4. CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION. As used herein, "Channels of Distribution"
shall include the following and no others:
(a) Retail stores and merchants for sale and distribution
direct to the public; and
(b) Sales by Kideo directly to the consumer whereby such consumer's
order is delivered via mail or courier and not through traditional retail
channels ("Direct Sales"). Direct Sales shall not encompass solicitation via
flea market vendors or other similar means of distribution which traditionally
service a secondary, over-run, or irregular market.
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc.
Page 1 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
5. LICENSE; RESERVED RIGHTS; PURCHASE OPTION.
(a) On the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Lyons
hereby grants to Kideo and Kideo hereby accepts a non-exclusive license to
publish, print and distribute the Barney Books only through the Channels of
Distribution in the Territory. Within sixty (60) days following the one-year
anniversary of Kideo's first publication date of the first title of the Barney
Books, the parties shall negotiate in good faith regarding the potential grant
of a license by Lyons to Kideo for additional titles for Barney Books to be
manufactured and distributed hereunder, either new titles to be developed by
Kideo or existing titles of Lyons' books. On reaching agreement on each
additional title, if any, an exhibit substantially in the form of Exhibit A
shall be signed by the parties and attached hereto, and shall thereupon be
deemed to be fully incorporated herein by reference, and all references herein
to "Barney Books" shall thereafter be deemed to include such additional
title(s).
(b) General Reservation of Rights. Lyons expressly reserves all
rights not specifically granted to Kideo under this Agreement. Lyons may use or
license to any other party all rights not expressly and explicitly granted to
Kideo as Lyons, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
(c) Specific Reservation of Rights. Without limiting the generality
of Paragraph 5(b), Lyons specifically reserves and shall have the sole right to
publish, print. distribute, sell or use, and to license or authorize others to
use the Characters on or in connection with books and other items as follows:
(i) In connection with premiums, tie-ins, giveaways or
promotional arrangements;
(ii) By or through any broadcasting company or related station
airing programming related to the Characters;
(iii) By or through the Barney(R) Fan Club, any retail stores
operated by or on behalf of Lyons and arty catalogues produced or distributed by
or on behalf of Lyons;
(iv) On or about the premises of or in connection with any
live events, personal appearances, tours, exhibitions or other performance
venues featuring or otherwise relating to the Characters;
(v) In any theme or amusement park or retail store operated by
or on behalf of such park; or
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc.
Page 2 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
(vi) In any theater showing a movie featuring the Characters
or retail store operated by the studio distributing such movie.
(d) Kideo agrees that it will refrain and will exercise due care to
ensure that its customers refrain from using the Barney Books in any way which
would involve any exercise of Lyons' reserved rights.
(e) Purchase Option. Lyons shall have the right (but not
obligation) to place orders with Kideo (by supplying Kideo the necessary
personalized information for each Barney Book in the manner required by Kideo)
and purchase from Kideo, such number of each title of the Barney Books (i) for
non-resale promotional uses at Kideo's actual printing cost (including product
and fulfillment cost), plus shipping and handling, and (ii) for other uses in
connection with Lyons' reserved rights, at a price equal to the lowest wholesale
price (including product and fulfillment cost) charged by Kideo to a third party
purchaser. No Royalties shall be payable to Lyons by Kideo on account of such
sales.
6. OWNERSHIP OF PROPRIETARY MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY.
(a) Lyons' Ownership of Proprietary Materials. Kideo expressly
acknowledges that the Characters and all copyrights, trademarks and other
proprietary rights in or associated with the Characters (collectively, the
"Proprietary Materials") are owned exclusively by Lyons. Kideo shall not acquire
and shall not claim any title thereto, and Kideo shall derive no rights
hereunder to use, manufacture, market or distribute any merchandise or materials
whatsoever utilizing the Proprietary Materials except as expressly provided in
this Agreement. The parties agree that all uses of the Proprietary Materials by
Kideo pursuant to this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Lyons.
(b) Kideo's Ownership of Technology. As between Lyons and Kideo, and
subject to Lyons' ownership as set forth in subparagraph (a) above, Kideo shall
own all proprietary rights in and to the technology used in "personalizing" the
Barney Books with a child's photograph, name, and personalized text. Lyons
expressly acknowledges that nothing herein shall be construed to grant to Lyons
any ownership interest in any trademarks, trade dress or other proprietary
rights of Kideo, and Lyons shall nor claim any ride thereto or interest therein.
(c) Image and Reputation. Neither party shall dispute the other's
ownership rights, as between them, as set forth above. Neither party shall do or
cause to be done anything that might adversely affect the image or reputation of
the other party or such other party's products, characters, or proprietary
materials. Kideo shall manufacture, sell, promote and distribute the Barney
Books in an ethical manner and in accordance with the terms and intent of this
Agreement.
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 3 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
7. MARKETING.
(a) Marketing Plan.. Kideo shall provide to Lyons, for Lyons'
reasonable approval, a plan for the marketing and distribution of the Barney
Books (the "Marketing Plan"). Kideo shall not proceed with implementation of the
Marketing Plan without the prior approval of Lyons, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld. Lyons shall make good faith efforts to promptly respond
to Kideo's submitted Marketing Plan (or any portion thereof): provided that,
failure of Lyons to inform Kideo whether Lyons approves the Marketing Plan
within thirty (30) days following receipt thereof shall constitute Lyons'
disapproval.
(b) Implementation of Marketing Plan. On approval of the Marketing
Plan and subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 9, 10 and 11 hereof, Kideo
shall arrange for the design and production of packaging and marketing and
promotional materials by those vendors regularly used in connection with Kideo's
products, and the placement of any agreed on advertising of the Barney Books.
(c) Premiums. promotions and giveaways. No Barney Books may be used
as premiums, as part of promotions, or as giveaways without the prior written
approval of Lyons. A detailed description of any such planned promotional or
premium use of Barney Books, including, but not limited to, information about
the quantity of merchandise involved and the purpose of the program, must be
provided to Lyons. Failure to obtain prior written approval shall result in the
obligation of Kideo to pay full royalties on all Barney Books given away, or
used as premiums or in promotions.
(d) Marketing Costs.. Kideo shall bear all marketing, promotional
and advertising costs related to the Barney Books and shall arrange for all
invoices therefor to be sent directly to Kideo.
8. DISTRIBUTION.
(a) Kideo shall use its reasonable efforts to diligently and
continuously manufacture, promote, market, sell and distribute (collectively.
"Distribute") the Barney Books in commercially reasonable quantities throughout
the Territory, beginning not later than the publication date agreed upon by the
parties and set forth on the pertinent exhibit hereto. Kideo shall Distribute
the Barney Books in accordance with its customary policies and practices
applicable to similar products, substantially in accordance with the Marketing
Plan and subject to those approvals of Lyons as required herein.
(b) Fulfillment. Kideo shall maintain a number of staff and a
quantity and quality of equipment sufficient to allow prompt fulfillment of
reasonably anticipated orders.
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc.
Page 14 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
(c) Kideo shall bear all distribution costs related to the Barney
Books and shall arrange for all invoices therefor to be sent directly to Kideo.
9. APPROVALS AND QUALITY.
(a) General. Each Barney Book and all elements thereof, including,
without limitation, all editorial, photographic, artistic, credit and other
material to be included in the Barney Book and the format and look thereof shall
be subject to Lyons' prior written approval, which shall be in Lyons' reasonable
discretion; further, each author and illustrator whom Kideo desires to use in
the development of the Barney Books shall be subject to Lyons' prior written
approval, which shall be in Lyon's sole discretion. No Barney Book shall be
published, printed, sold, distributed, promoted or otherwise used in any manner
whatsoever without Lyons' prior written approval.
(b) Provision of Existing Books. In the event that the parties agree
upon additional titles to be included as part of the Barney Books, which consist
of existing Lyons' titles, Lyons will provide to Kideo, at a charge of Five
Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per book title, such title(s) in CD format for Kideo's
publication in the English language.
(c) Submissions and Approvals. Kideo shall submit each Barney Book
to Lyons, for Lyons' written approval, at each of the following stages:
(i) first draft manuscript;
(ii) final draft manuscript;
(iii) layout;
(iv) rough artwork;
(v) final artwork; and
(vi) final proof.
Kideo must obtain Lyons' approval of each stage of development prior to
proceeding to the next stage. Lyons shall use reasonable efforts to promptly
complete its review and inform Kideo whether materials are approved or
disapproved. Lyons' failure to approve, in writing, any such submission within
fifteen (15) days following receipt shall constitute disapproval. If Lyons
disapproves any such submission, Lyons shall explain its reasons therefor and
describe with reasonable specificity all modifications that would be required
for Lyons' approval. Kideo may request that any disapproval be reduced to
writing, If Lyons does not approve an element of the final proof which it
approved at an earlier stage and which was executed in conformity with such
approved earlier stage, Kideo shall make such changes as required by Lyons. and
Lyons shall reimburse Kideo its actual costs incurred in making such changes. In
no event shall Lyons bear any responsibility for the cost of changes to elements
not previously approved by Lyons or not executed in conformity with an approved
earlier stage.
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc.
Page 5 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
(d) Duplication Materials. Kideo shall be responsible for the
preparation. at its sole cost, of all film positives, color separations, film
negatives, black keyplate proofs, and other duplication materials used in the
manufacture of the Barney Books by Kideo (the "Duplication Materials"), as well
as all other costs in connection with the publication, printing, and
distribution of the Barney Books. The Duplication Materials shall be owned by
Lyons. During the term hereof. Kideo shall furnish to Lyons, at Kideo's actual
out-of-pocket costs plus fifteen percent (15%), duplicate Duplication Materials
(including, without limitation, duplicate film) for the Barney Books at Lyons'
request. During the term of [his Agreement, Lyons will not, without the prior
written consent of Kideo, use or grant to any third party the right to use any
of the Duplication Materials in connection with the publication of a book in the
Territory. However, the parties agree that Lyons shall be entitled, at all
times, to use or grant to any third party the right to use all of Lyons'
existing tides as published by Lyons, regardless whether any such existing tides
are hereafter added as Barney Books.
(e) Advertising Submissions and Approvals. Kideo may, subject to
Lyons' prior written approval, use textual and pictorial matter pertaining to
and including the Proprietary Materials on such promotional, display and
advertising material as may, in its reasonable judgment, promote the sale of the
Barney Books. No advertising may be placed in any Barney Book without Lyons'
prior written consent, which Lyons may withhold in its sole discretion.
(f) Approval Standards. Approval or disapproval shall be in Lyons'
sole discretion. Any Barney Books or promotional materials used in connection
therewith not approved by Lyons as provided in this Agreement shall be deemed
unlicensed and shall not be manufactured, sold, distributed or promoted by
Kideo. Lyons shall use reasonable best efforts to provide Kideo notice of its
approval or disapproval and, in the latter case, its reasons for same, in a
timely manner.
(g) Changes and Modifications. Any modification of a Barney Book or
any promotional materials must be submitted in advance for Lyons written
approval as if it were a new Barney Book or new promotional material. Approval
of a Barney Book or promotional material which uses particular artwork does not
imply approval of such artwork for use with a different Barney Book or
promotional material.
(h) Quality Maintenance. All Barney Hooks and promotional material
must conform in all respects to the proofs approved by Lyons. On first
publication of each tide of the Barney Books, Kideo shall provide to Lyons, free
of charge, 5 copies of each title of the Barney Books, with its packaging. At
Lyons' request, Kideo shall provide to Lyons, for Lyons' periodic quality
control inspection, a reasonable number of additional samples of the Barney
Books and promotional and packaging material relating to the Barney Books. All
samples furnished to Lyons shall be at no cost to Lyons, and no Royalties shall
be payable with respect thereto.
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc.
Page 6 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
(i) Damaged, Defective, Non-Approved or Non-Complying Items. Kideo
shall not knowingly. nor shall it knowingly permit any third party to sell,
market, distribute or use, for any purpose whatsoever, any Barney Books or
promotional and packaging material relating to the Barney Books which are
damaged. defective, seconds or otherwise substandard or fail to meet Lyons'
trademark and copyright usage and notice requirements or safety standards.
(j) Recall and Destruction. If any Barney Books or promotional or
packaging materials manufactured, distributed, sold, promoted or otherwise used
(i) have not been previously approved by Lyons; (ii) in Lyons' reasonable
judgment, have deteriorated in later production from those previously approved
by Lyons; (iii) are damaged, defective, seconds or otherwise substandard; or
(iv) fail to meet Lyons' trademark and copyright usage and notice requirements
or safety standards, Lyons may, together with any other remedies available to
it, require such Barney Books or promotional or packaging materials to be
immediately recalled and withdrawn from the market arid destroyed at Kideo's
expense, such destruction to be attested to in a certificate signed by an
officer or principal of Kideo.
10. OWNERSHIP, COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICES AND PROTECTION.
(a) Ownership. Lyons shall own all copyrights and renewals thereof,
trademarks and other proprietary rights in any and all materials approved by
Lyons for use in any of the Barney Books or which incorporate or otherwise
include any of the Proprietary Materials (the "Book Material"). Kideo agrees and
acknowledges that any Book Material shall be a "work-made-for-hire" within the
meaning of the United Stares Copyright Act and shall be owned in its entirety
exclusively by Lyons. Lyons reserves for itself or its designees all rights to
use any and all Book Material, without limitation. To the extent any Book
Material created by Kideo or any other person or entity is deemed not to be a
work-made-for-hire, Kideo hereby assigns to Lyons all copyrights, trademarks and
other proprietary rights in such Book Material. Kideo agrees to execute or cause
to be executed by any of its employees who participate in the creation of any
such Book Material any additional documents proposed by Lyons to effectuate and
confirm Lyons' sole and exclusive ownership of all copyrights, trademarks and
other proprietary rights in and to such Book Material, and Kideo irrevocably
appoints Lyons as its attorney-in-fact to execute any and all such documents if
Kideo fails to return executed copies of such documents to Lyons within fifteen
(15) days following submission. Kideo warrants and represents that all
contributions to the creation of Book Material shall be undertaken as
works-made-for-hire for Kideo on behalf of Lyons. If any third party makes or
has made any contribution to the creation of Book Material, Kideo shall, prior
to any use of such Book Material, obtain from such party a full assignment of
rights such that the foregoing assignment by Kideo shall vest full rights in
Lyons. Kideo shall not, without the prior written approval of Lyons. give or
agree to give credit of any kind to any such party or
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc.
Page 7 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
any employee of Kideo who participates in the creation of Book Material. Lyons
acknowledges chat nothing herein shall be construed to grant to Lyons any
ownership interest in any Kideo trademarks or trade drew
(b) Preparation of Artwork by Lyons. In the event that artwork for
use in the development of the Barney Books or any related packaging, display or
promotional materials is created by Lyons (or by third parties under contract to
Lyons), either at Kideo's request or as necessary, in Lyons' opinion, to modify
artwork initially prepared by Kideo and submitted for Lyons~ approval, Kideo
shall pay for such artwork at Lyons' prevailing commercial art rate. All such
payments shall be made by Kideo within forty-five (45) days of receipt of Lyons'
invoice for same. Lyons shall, upon Kideo's request, provide to Kideo estimates
of charges for artwork to be created by Lyons, which shall be agreed upon by
Kideo prior to Lyons beginning work.
(c) Notices. Kideo shall cause appropriate copyright and trademark
notices or other indicia of Lyons' ownership to be imprinted, irremovably and
legibly, on each Barney Book and all advertising, promotional, packaging and
wrapping material which includes any of the Proprietary Materials. In no event
shall Kideo use any copyright or trademark notices which shall conflict or be
confusing with or negate any notices required hereunder by Lyons. Matters
relating to Lyons' trademarks, copyrights, and other notice elements, UPC
symbols, cover layout and packaging elements shall be determined by Lyons, in
its sole discretion.
(d) Protection. Kideo shall assist Lyons in the procurement,
protection, and maintenance of Lyons' rights in and to the Proprietary
Materials, including, but not limited to, cooperating in the preparation and
filing and renewal of registered user applications, as necessary, in the
Territory. Lyons may, in its sole discretion, commence or prosecute and effect
the disposition of any claims or suits relative to the imitation, infringement
or unauthorized use of the Proprietary Materials either in its own name, or with
Kideo's prior written consent, in the name of Kideo, or join Kideo as a party in
the prosecution of such claims or suits. Kideo agrees to cooperate fully with
Lyons in connection with any such claims or suits and undertakes to furnish full
assistance to Lyons in the conduct of all proceedings in regard thereto. Kideo
shall promptly notify Lyons in writing of any infringements or imitations or
unauthorized uses by others of the Proprietary Materials. Kideo shall not,
without the prior written consent of Lyons, institute any suit or take any
action on account of such infringements, Imitations or unauthorized uses.
(e) Registration. In addition to those samples required to be
delivered to Lyons pursuant to Paragraph 9(h). Kideo agrees to deliver to Lyons,
as soon as available and free of cost, that number of each title of the Barney
Books, together with (heir packaging, wrapping material, sales information and
similar material, as required for trademark or copyright registration purposes.
Any copyrights or trademarks with respect to the Barney Books shall be procured
by and for the benefit of Lyons and at Lyons'
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc.
Page 8 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
expense. Kideo further agrees to promptly provide Lyons with the date of the
first use in commerce of each of the Barney Books and any other information
required to effect such registrations.
11. ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS.
(a) Compliance with Government and Industry Standards. Kideo
represents and warrants that it will at all times comply with all federal, state
and Local laws, regulations. rules and guidelines, and all voluntary industry
standards relating or pertaining to the design, manufacture, sale, advertising,
distribution or use of the Barney Books. Kideo shall comply with any regulatory
agencies which shall have jurisdiction over the Barney Books and shall procure
and maintain in force any and all permissions, certifications and other
authorizations from governmental and other official authorities that may be
required in relation thereto. Kideo further represents and warrants that each
Barney Book and component thereof shall comply with all applicable laws,
regulations, rules, guidelines and voluntary industry standards.
(b) No Tie-Ins. Kideo shall not associate other characters or
licensed properties with the Characters or other Proprietary Materials in any
books, packaging, promotional or display materials or otherwise (by way of
example only, personalized books featuring the characters Mickey Mouse or Lamb
Chop) unless Kideo receives Lyons' prior written approval. Kideo further agrees
not to use or authorize any third party to use any of the Proprietary Materials
on any business sign, business cards, stationery or forms, or as part of the
name of Kideo business or any division thereof. Lyons acknowledges and accepts
the use of Kideo's trademarked name and logo as currently used in its publishing
business.
12. MANUFACTURING.
(a) Production Facilities. Kideo agrees to promptly furnish Lyons
with the addresses of Kideo's production facilities for, and the names and
addresses of any third parties which manufacture, the Barney Books and related
packaging and promotional materials, Lyons shall have the right at any time
during regular business hours and at its own expense to inspect any such
facilities for the purpose of enabling Lyons to determine whether Kideo is
adhering to the requirements of this Agreement. Lyons shall maintain all
information regarding Kideo production facilities as confidential and shall
conduct any inspection in a reasonable manner such that no safety risks to the
manufacturer result from such inspection.
(b) Manufacture of Barney Books. Kideo shall manufacture and/or
arrange for manufacture of the Barney Books by those vendors regularly used by
Kideo, at Kideo's sole cost. In the event any such vendor is not a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Kideo, Kideo shall, before authorizing such manufacture and before
placing any Orders with the proposed manufacturer, obtain Lyons' approval. Kideo
shall then have the
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc..
Page 9 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
proposed manufacturer sign, in duplicate original, an agreement in the form of
Exhibit B attached hereto ("Manufacturer's Agreement"). Kideo shall deliver the
original copies of the Manufacturer's Agreement signed by Kideo and the proposed
manufacturer to Lyons, and Kideo shall obtain Lyons' signature on the
Manufacturer's Agreement before the manufacture of the Barney Books by the
proposed manufacturer. Kideo shall arrange for all invoices for the
manufacturing of the Barney Books to be sent directly to Kideo.
13. ROYALTIES.
(a) Calculation of Royalties. Kideo shall pay to Lyons as royalties
(the "Royalties").
(i) On each Barney Book sold at Kideo's usual full direct
price ("Direct Price"), an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the Direct Price
("Direct Royalty"); and
(ii) On each Barney Book sold to a retailer, cataloger, or
similar party at less than the Direct Price ("Retailer Price"), an amount equal
to the Direct Royalty which would otherwise be payable, multiplied by the
percentage obtained by dividing the Retailer Price by the Direct Price.
In no event shall the Royalties paid be less than the Minimum Royalty, as
defined below. No costs incurred in the manufacture, sale, distribution,
advertisement, or exploitation of the Barney Books shall be deducted from any
Royalties payable to Lyons by Kideo. No deductions shall be made for
uncollectible accounts. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, no costs
whatsoever shall be deducted for purposes of calculating the Royalties.
(b) Minimum Royalty Defined. "Minimum Royalty" shall mean the sum of
U.S.$ .90 for each Barney Book sold, regardless of whether sold at Direct Price
or Retailer Price.
(c) Accrual. Royalties shall accrue upon the sale of the Barney
Books regardless of the time of collection by Kideo. For purposes of this
Agreement, each Barney Book shall be considered "sold" on the date when such
Barney Book is billed, invoiced, shipped or paid for, whichever event occurs
first.
(d) No Royalties shall be paid on copies of the Barney Books
distributed free as samples or for review, publicity, promotion and like
purposes so long as Kideo is in compliance with Section 7(c) of this Agreement.
14. PRICING. After consultation between Lyons and Kideo, suggested
prices for the Barney Books shall be established for the different Channels of
Distribution.
Publishing Agreement 8ev"een Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc.
Page 10 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
15. ROYALTY PAYMENT AND REPORTING.
(a) Quarterly Payments. Kideo shall pay the Royalties in quarterly
periods, ending on the last day of each March, June, September and December
during the Term. Payments shall be received by Lyons within forty-five (45) days
after the end of each quarterly period. All royalty payments shall be in United
Stares dollars. Neither the expiration nor the termination of this Agreement
shall relieve Kideo from its Royalty payment obligations.
(b) Royalty Statement. At the time payment of Royalties is due,
Kideo shall also furnish Lyons, on forms provided or approved by Lyons, a
statement of the price of each Barney Book, the number of all Barney Books sold
during the immediately preceding quarterly period, and any such other
information as Lyons may reasonably require. Such statements shall be certified
true and correct by a duly authorized officer of Kideo. Receipt or acceptance by
Lyons of any statement furnished pursuant to this Agreement or of any sums paid
hereunder shall not preclude Lyons from questioning the correctness thereof at
any time, and any inconsistencies or mistakes in such statements or payments
that are discovered shall immediately be rectified and the appropriate payments
made by Kideo.
(c) Audted Statement. On Lyons' demand, but not more than once in
any calendar year period during the Term, Kideo shall, at its own expense,
furnish to Lyons a detailed statement for the period specified by Lyons,
certified by an independent certified public accountant, including, without
limitation, the number of each of the Barney Books sold in each country of the
Territory and as a total for the entire Territory. and the price of each.
(d) Address for Payment. The statements and payments required
pursuant to this Paragraph 15 shall be delivered to:
The Lyons Group
P.O. Box 910068
Dallas, TX 75391-0068
(e) Interest Charges. Any payments which are made to Lyons after the
due dare shall bear interest at the then current prime rate quoted by Lyons'
bank (or the maximum rare permissible by law, if less than the current prime
rate) from the dare such payments are due to the date of payment. Lyons' right
to interest on late payments shall not preclude Lyons from exercising any of its
other rights or remedies pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise with regard to
Kideo's failure to make timely remittances.
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc.
Page 11 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
16. BOOKS AND RECORDS.
(a) Maintenance, Inspection and Audit. Kideo shall keep, maintain
and preserve, at Kideo's principal place of business, during the Term and for at
least three (3) years thereafter, complete and accurate records and accounts
covering all transactions relating to this Agreement. All such records and
accounts shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied. Such records and accounts shall be available
for inspection and audit, including the taking of extracts or copies as Lyons
deems necessary, at any time or times during reasonable business hours and upon
reasonable written notice by Lyons or its nominees; but not more than once
during each calendar year of the Term. Kideo agrees not to cause or permit any
interference with any such inspection and audit All information gained in the
course of any inspection or audit shall be treated as confidential business
information of Kideo.
(b) Effect of Exercise of Audit Rights. The exercise by Lyons, in
whole or in part, at any time of the right to inspect and audit records and
accounts or any other right granted herein, shall be without prejudice to any
rights or remedies of Lyons and shall not preclude or prevent Lyons from
thereafter disputing the accuracy of any statement or payment.
(c) Deficiency.~. if Lyons causes an inspection and audit to be
instituted which discloses a deficiency between the amount found to be due to
Lyons and the amount actually received or credited to Lyons, Kideo shall be
responsible for payment of the deficiency, together with interest thereon at a
rate equal to two percent (2%) above the then current prime rare quoted by
Lyons' bank (or the maximum rare permissible by law, if less than the foregoing)
from the date such amount became due until the date of payment. If such
deficiency is at least equal to the greater of (i) the Royalty due for any
quarterly period and (ii) the sum of $2500.00, United States dollars, Kideo
shall also reimburse Lyons for its reasonable costs and out-of pocket expenses
of such inspection and audit.
17. WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS. Lyons and Kideo each represents and
warrants to the other as follows:
(a) It has full power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby;
(b) The making of this Agreement does nor, and during the Term will
not, violate or conflict with any agreements, rights or obligations binding on
or affecting it;
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions. Inc.
Page 12 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
(c) This Agreement has been duly and properly authorized, executed
and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation
enforceable in accordance with its terms; and
(d) There is not pending or, to its knowledge, threatened against it
any action. sun or proceeding at law or in equity or before any court, tribunal,
governmental body, agency or official or any arbitrator that purports to draw
into question, or is likely to affect, the legality, validity or enforceability
of this Agreement or its ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
l8. ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS.
(a) Lyons' Additional Representation. Lyons represents and warrants
to Kideo that no materials specifically provided by Lyons to Kideo pursuant to
this Agreement do or will violate the right of privacy or publicity, or defame,
or violate, or infringe any copyright, trademark, common law, or any other
proprietary right(s) of any person or entity.
(b) Kideo's Additional Representation. Kideo represents and warrants
to Lyons that none of the Barney Books nor any element thereof, including but
not limited to the "personalized" elements, except materials specifically
provided by Lyons to Kideo pursuant to this Agreement, do or will violate the
right of privacy or publicity or defame or violate any copyright, trademark,
common law, or any other proprietary right(s) of any person or entity.
19. TERMINATION. The following rights are without prejudice to any other
rights which Lyons may have either pursuant to this Agreement, in law, equity or
otherwise.
(a) Lyons' Immediate Right of Termination. Lyons shall have the
right to immediately terminate this Agreement on written notice:
(i) If Kideo manufactures, sells, markets or distributes any
Barney Books containing or otherwise used in connection with the Proprietary
Materials or promotional or packaging material relating thereto without Lyons'
prior approval as provided for by this Agreement or continues to manufacture,
sell, market or distribute any such Barney Books or promotional or packaging
material relating thereto after receipt of notice from Lyons disapproving such
items;
(ii) If Kideo fails to either (A) allow Lyons to inspect
Kideo's or its authorized manufacturers' facilities or (B) obtain prior
authorization by Lyons of any third party manufacturers in accordance with
Paragraph 11 of this Agreement;
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo ProductionS, Inc.
Page 13 OF 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
(iii) If Kideo breaches any provision of this Agreement
relating to the unauthorized assertion of rights in the Proprietary Materials,
including, without limitation, the distribution or sale of the Barney Books or
the use of any promotional or packaging material which does not contain
appropriate trademark and/or copyright notices;
(iv) If Kideo fails to obtain or maintain product liability
insurance as required by this Agreement;
(v) If Kideo breaches any provision of this Agreement
prohibiting Kideo from directly or indirectly arranging for the manufacture by
third parties, assigning, transferring. sublicensing, delegating or otherwise
encumbering this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations;
(vi) If Kideo tails to make timely payment of Royalties or
submissions of royalty statements when due two or more times during any
twelve-month period; or
(vii) If Kideo or any of its officers, directors, employees,
agents or affiliates takes any action in connection with the manufacture, sale,
distribution or advertising of the Barney Books or the promotional and packaging
materials which damages or reflects adversely upon Lyons and/or the Proprietary
Materials.
(b) Right to Terminate on Notice. Without prejudice to any other
rights or remedies available to either party, either party may terminate this
Agreement in the event of a material breach hereof by the other, effective on
thirty (30) days' prior written notice; provided that, during such thirty (30)
day notice period, the party in breach fails to cure the breach to the
reasonable satisfaction of the non-breaching party.
20. EFFECT OF TERMINATION.
(a) Fulfillment of Pre-termination Orders. Neither Kideo nor Kideo's
successors or permitted assigns shall have any right whatsoever after the
effective date of termination to manufacture, sell, ship, market, distribute or
otherwise use the Barney Books. However, Kideo shall complete the manufacture
and delivery of only such work-in-progress as is necessary to fill bonafide
binding orders accepted by Kideo prior to the termination of this Agreement
(b) Return of Duplication Materials. Book Materials. Within ten (10)
business days following the expiration or termination of this Agreement, Kideo
shall (i) turn over all Duplication Materials and Book Materials to Lyons, and
(ii) give evidence satisfactory to Lyons of the destruction of all promotional
and packaging materials. Lyons, at its election shall have the right to have its
representative observe such destruction. Lyons shall have the right, but not the
obligation, to purchase all or any
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 14 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
part of Kideo's then existing promotional and packaging material relating
thereto at Kideo's actual manufacturing cost for same. Kideo shall be
responsible to Lyons for any damages caused by the unauthorized use or sale, by
Kideo or others, of the Duplication Materials or any Barney Books or other
materials not turned over to Lyons.
(c) Reversion of Rights. From and after the expiration or
termination of this Agreement, all rights granted to Kideo under this Agreement
shall forthwith revert to Lyons, and Kideo shall refrain from any use of the
Proprietary Materials.
(d) Injunctive Relief.. Kideo acknowledges that its failure to cease
the manufacture, sale, marketing, distribution or other use of the Barney Books
or the promotional and packaging material relating thereto immediately when and
as provided herein, will result in immediate and irreparable damage to Lyons and
to the rights of any subsequent Kideo of Lyons. Kideo acknowledges and agrees
that there is no adequate remedy at law for failure to cease such activities and
that, in the event of such failure, Lyons shall be entitled to injunctive relief
and such other relief as any court with jurisdiction may deem just and proper.
21. INDEMNITY.
(a) Each party assumes liability for, and shall indemnity, defend,
protect, save and hold the other harmless from and against, any and all claims,
actions, suits, costs, liabilities, judgments, obligations, losses, penalties,
damages and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of
whatsoever kind or nature arising out of any breach or alleged breach by such
party of any of its warranties, representations, covenants or obligations made
pursuant to this Agreement. (l~) To seek or receive indemnification hereunder:
(i) The party seeking indemnification must have promptly
notifid the other of any claim or litigation of which it is aware to which the
indemnification relates; and
(ii) The party seeking indemnification must have afforded the
other the opportunity to approve any compromise, settlement, litigation, or
other resolution or disposition of such claim or litigation; provided that, if
such other party fails reasonably to approve any such compromise, settlement,
litigation or other resolution or disposition of such claim or litigation, such
other party shall be obligated to defend any such claim or litigation for the
benefit of the party seeking indemnification; and
(iii) The party seeking indemnification must cooperate fully
with the other in connection with defending such claim.
Pub1ishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 15 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
22. INSURANCE. Kideo shall, at its own expense, obtain and maintain,
during the Term and for three (3) years thereafter, standard comprehensive
general liability coverage for bodily injury, property damage and personal
injury, from a qualified insurance carrier acceptable to Lyons. Said coverage
shall include broad form contractual liability as well as product liability
insurance, and shall be no less than Three Million United States Dollars
($3,000,000.00) per claim, and shall name Lyons (including its parents,
affiliates, partners, subsidiaries, officers, employees, agents and
representatives) as additional insured. Kideo shall, promptly upon the execution
of this Agreement, furnish Lyons a certificate of insurance stating thereon the
limits of liability, the period of coverage, the parties insured (including
Kideo and Lyons), and the insurer's agreement not to terminate or materially
modify such insurance without notifying Lyons, in writing, at least thirty (30)
days before such termination or modification. Coverage shall be on an occurrence
basis. The existence of liability insurance shall not mitigate, alter or waive
the indemnity provisions of Paragraph 21.
23. NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands and communications, other
than statements and payments of Royalties, required or permitted under this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered at die time of
delivery if personally delivered or transmitted via facsimile, the next business
day following deposit with a reputable courier service for overnight delivery,
or five business days following deposit in the U.S. mail, certified mail postage
pre-paid, addressed as follows:
(a) if to Lyons: With a copy to:
Lyons Partnership, L.P. Lyons Partnership, L.P.
ATTN: Executive Vice President ATTN: Vice President
Suite 1600 Legal & Business Affairs
2435 N. Central Expressway Suite 1600
Richardson, Texas 75080 2435 N. Central Expressway
Facsimile: 972-390-6001 Richardson, Texas 75080
Facsimile: 972.390-6001
(b) If to Kideo:
Kideo Productions, Inc.
ATTN: Richard Bulman
611 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
Facsimile: 212-505-2142
Either party may from time to time change its address by notice to the other
specifying a new address.
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 16 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
24. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. Kideo is an independent contractor and not
an agent, partner, joint venturer, franchisee, affiliate or employee of Lyons.
No fiduciary or franchise relationship exists between the panics. Neither party
shall be liable for any debts, accounts, obligations or other liabilities of
the other, its agents or employees. Kideo shall have no authority to obligate or
bind Lyons in any manner. Lyons has no proprietary interest in Kideo and has no
interest in the business of Kideo, except to the extent set forth in this
Agreement.
25. BINDING EFFECT. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
permitted assigns.
26. CONFIDENTIALITY. Each party may, during the Term of this Agreement,
have access to certain procedures, technical data, proprietary information and
trade secrets of the other party and its affiliates (collectively, the
"Confidential information"). Neither party shall use, disclose or otherwise
permit any person or entity access to any of the Confidential Information;
provided that, each party may disclose such portions of the Confidential
Information to its agents or employees who have a reasonable need to know such
information in connection with its performance hereunder. Each party understands
that it is not allowed to sell, license or otherwise exploit any products or
services which embody, in whole or in part, any Confidential Information.
27. GOVERNING LAW; JURISDICTION. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE LEGAL
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE iNTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR
PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE TRIED AND LITIGATED ONLY IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
THE STATE OF TEXAS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF DALLAS, STATE OF TEXAS OR, IF
JURISDICTIONALLY SUFFICIENT, THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN
DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AND EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY
SUBMITS THE PERSON OF SUCH PARTY TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
28. SEVERABILITY; HEADINGS. Each term and provision of this Agreement
constitutes a separate and distinct undertaking, covenant, term and provision
hereof In the event that any term or provision of this Agreement shall be
determined to be unenforceable, invalid or illegal in any respect, such
unenforceability. invalidity or illegality shall not affect any other term or
provision of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall be construed as if such
unenforceable, invalid or illegal term or provision had never been contained
herein. If any term or provision of this Agreement
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 17 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
shall for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to time, duration,
activity or subject, it shall be construed, by limiting and reducing it, so as
to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law as it
shall then exist. Headings of paragraphs herein are for convenience only and are
without substantive significance.
29. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and
understanding among the panics hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof
and supersedes all prior agreements, commitments, arrangements, negotiations or
understandings, whether oral or written, between the parties with respect
thereto, There are no agreements, covenants, undertakings, representations or
warranties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement other than those
expressly set forth or referred to herein.
30. FORCE MAJEURE. Neither Kideo nor Lyons shall be liable for failure
to perform hereunder resulting from, directly or indirectly, or contributed to
by reason of fire, flood, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, accident, or other
act of God ("Force Majeure"), or by virtue of war, blockade, embargo, act of a
public enemy, civil disturbance, labor dispute (or threatened dispute), strike
lockout, inability to secure sufficient labor, essential commodities, necessary
equipment or adequate transportation facilities, applicable law, or any other
disruptive events beyond such party's reasonable control; provided that, if a
party's failure to perform continues for more than ninety (90) days, the other
party shall have the right, upon written notice, to terminate this Agreement.
31. RIGHTS CUMULATIVE. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement,
and to the extent permitted by law, any remedies described in this Agreement are
cumulative and not alternative to any other available remedies.
32. AMENDMENT; WAIVER. Neither this Agreement, nor any of the terms or
provisions hereof, may be amended, modified, supplemented or waived, except by a
written instrument signed by the parties hereto (or, in the case of a waiver, by
the party granting such waiver). No waiver of any of the provisions of this
Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision
hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing
waiver. No failure of either party hereto to insist upon strict compliance by
the other party with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition contained
in this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any
subsequent or other failure. Whenever this Agreement requires or permits consent
by or on behalf of any party hereto, such consent shall be given in a manner
consistent with the requirements for a waiver of compliance as set forth in this
Paragraph 32.
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 18 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Lyons and Kideo have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their authorized representatives effective as of the date first set
forth above.
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, [NC. LYONS PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
By Rhenclid, Inc., Its General Partner
By: /s/ Richard L. Bulman By: /s/ Timothy A. Clott
------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Printed Name: Richard L. Bulman Timothy A. Clott
Its: President & CEO Executive Vice President
Publishing Agreement Between Lyons
Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 19 of 19
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
Barney(R) Books
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Format Titles Publication Date
------ ------ ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
24 page, case bound cover, Three, titles to be mutually To be mutually agreed
diecut, personalized agreed upon. upon. The first book shall
be published no later than
April 1998.
</TABLE>
KIDEO PRODUCTIONS, INC. LYONS PARTNERSHIP, L.P.
By Rhenclid, Inc., Its General Partner
By: /s/ Richard L. Bulman By: /s/ T Clott
--------------------------- -----------------------------
Printed Name: Richard L. Bulman Timothy A. Clott
Its: President & CEO Executive Vice President
Exhibit A to Publishing Agreement Between
Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 1 of 1
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
MANUFACTURER'S AGREEMENT
THIS MANUFACTURER'S AGREEMENT is made pursuant to the Publishing Agreement
("Agreement") between LYONS PARTNERSHIP, L.P.("Lyons") and the undersigned KIDEO
PRODUCTIONS, INC. ("Kideo"), a copy of which is attached hereto and made a part
hereof.
__________________________________ (full name) at _________________________
(principal address) ("Manufacturer") desires to manufacture and sell to Kideo
the following books bearing certain of Lyons' Proprietary Materials:
______________________ (the "Barney Books"). Such Barney Books shall be
manufactured only at (full address):___________________________________________
In consideration of Lyons' approval of the manufacture by Manufacturer of the
Barney Books utilizing the Proprietary Materials listed in Paragraph 6 of the
Agreement, at the locations listed above, the parties agree as set forth below.
1. Manufacturer acknowledges the validity of and Lyons' sole title to the
Proprietary Materials. Manufacturer agrees that its right to manufacture the
Barney Books utilizing the Proprietary Materials is in all respects subject to
the terms and conditions in the Agreement, including, but not limited to, the
termination provisions and restrictions on the use of the Proprietary Materials.
Manufacturer agrees that the provisions of the Agreement shall take precedence
over and supersede any agreements between Kideo and Manufacturer.
2. Manufacturer and Kideo acknowledge that Manufacturer's manufacture of
any Barney Books is subject to Lyons' prior written approval, and may not
proceed prior o Lyons' execution of this Agreement.
3. Manufacturer will (a) not manufacture the Barney Books to the order of
anyone other than Kideo; (b) invoice only Kideo; (c) not ship to anyone other
than Kideo; and (d) not manufacture after the expiration, or (if applicable) the
earlier termination of the Agreement. Manufacturer agrees that its manufacture
of Barney Books shall give Manufacturer no right to use the Proprietary
Materials in any manner whatsoever or to sell Barney Books utilizing the
Proprietary Materials except as specifically provided in this Agreement and/or
beyond the expiation or (if applicable) the earlier termination of the
Agreement.
4. Manufacturer will not subcontract manufacture of any of the Barney
Books or any component thereof utilizing the Proprietary Materials.
Exhibit B to Publishing Agreement Between
Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 1 of 3
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
5. Manufacturer will not manufacture any merchandise or other materials
whatsoever utilizing the Proprietary Materials, other than the Barney Books.
6. Without in any way limiting the terms and provisions of the Agreement,
Manufacturer shall:
(a) use only materials certified by the United States and/or
applicable stare or other municipal agencies as acceptable for importing into
and distribution and use within and throughout the United States;
(b) use only materials and processes which meet or exceed any and
all applicable safety, quality, performance and flammability requirements of the
United States, each state of the United States and industry standards and
guidelines: and
(c) perform all inspections and testing necessary to ensure that all
Barney Books manufactured and sold pursuant to this Agreement meet or exceed all
of the foregoing requirements, standards and guidelines.
7. Manufacturer will permit Kideo and/or Lyons' authorized representatives
at any time to inspect Manufacturer's activities, premises, accounting books and
invoices relevant to Manufacturer's manufacture and supply of the Barney Books.
8. Manufacturer will keep confidential its manufacture of the Barney
Books, including, without limitation, Manufacturer will not publish or cause the
publication of pictures or other representations of any of the Barney Books
and/or the Proprietary Materials in any publication or promotional material, nor
advertise that Manufacturer is permitted to manufacture the Barney Books.
9. Upon notification of the expiration or termination of the Publishing
Agreement. Manufacturer will immediately cease manufacturing the Barney Books
and (a) immediately deliver to Lyons or Lyons' authorized representatives, at no
cost to Lyons. any and all films, copies, molds, plates, engravings and other
devices used to manufacture the Barney Books or any component thereof or
reproduce the Proprietary Materials, as well as any Barney Books or any
component thereof remaining in Manufacturer's possession; or (b) upon Lyons'
written instructions to do so, immediately destroy such items as Lyons may
direct, and deliver to Lyons a written certificate of destruction signed by an
officer or principal of Manufacturer.
10. Nothing herein will be construed so as to make Manufacturer a party to
or third party beneficiary of the Agreement and Manufacturer will look solely to
Kideo for payment and/or other compensation in respect of the manufacture of the
Barney Books. It is specifically acknowledged that this Agreement is not and
shall not constitute a license from Lyons to Manufacturer, and Manufacturer
shall derive no rights hereunder to manufacture any products whatsoever
utilizing the Proprietary Materials or any of Lyons'
Exhibit B to Publishing Agreement Between
Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 2 of 3
Document No. 1870
<PAGE>
proprietary rights except as expressly provided pursuant to this Agreement.
Manufacturer will have no claim against and hereby releases Lyons in respect of
any such payment and/or any Barney Books and/or the Agreement. Furthermore, if
Kideo's rights to use the Proprietary Materials expire or terminate,
Manufacturer agrees to make no claim against Lyons for any reason whatsoever.
11. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE
CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR
PROCEEDINGS ARISING TN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY SHALL BE TRIED AND LITIGATED ONLY IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF
TUE STATE OF TEXAS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF DALLAS, STATE OF TEXAS, OR IF
JURISDICTIONALLY SUFFICIENT, TILE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN
DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AND EACH PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS THE
PERSON OF SUCH PARTY TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS IN ANY SUCH
SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING. MANUFACTURER IRREVOCABLY APPOINTS _________________
(THE "PROCESS AGENT"), WITH AN OFFICE ON THE DATE HEREOF AT_____________________
AS ITS AGENT UPON WHOM PROCESS AGAINST IT MAY BE SERVED.
LYONS PARTNERSHIP, L.P. ____________________________________
By Rhenclid, Inc., Its General Partner MANUFACTURER
By By:
---------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Timothy A. Clott Printed Name:________________________
Executive Vice President Title: ______________________________
Date: ______________________ Date: _______________________________
K1DEO PRODUCTIONS. INC.
By: _________________________________
Printed Name: _______________________
Date:________________________________
- ---------------------------
Exhibit B to Publishing Agreement Between
Lyons Partnership, L.P. and Kideo Productions, Inc.
Page 3 of 3
Document No. 1870
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our
report (and to all references to our Firm) included in or made a part of this
Registration Statement of Kideo Productions, Inc. filed on Form SB-2
Registration No. 333-48657.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
New York, New York
May 1, 1998
