UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
xANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE ANNUAL PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009
or
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number: 0000-24477
STRATUS MEDIA GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
|
Nevada
(State of Incorporation)
|
#86-0776876
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
|
3 E. De La Guerra St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(Address of principal executive offices)
(805) 884-9977
(Registrant's telephone number)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock par value $0.001
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No ý
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this Chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
|
Large accelerated filer o
|
Accelerated filer o
|
Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
|
Smaller Reporting Company ý
|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No ý
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2008 was $46,124,018 (excludes shares held by directors and executive officers). Exclusion of shares held by any person should not be construed to indicate that such person possesses the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the actions of the management or policies of the registrant, or that such person is controlled by or under common control with the registrant.
The number of shares of common stock outstanding at March 31, 2010 was 60,532,099 shares.
1
STRATUS MEDIA GROUP, INC.
FORM 10-K
DECEMBER 31, 2009
INDEX
2
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” section in Item 7 of this report, and other materials accompanying this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We attempt, whenever possible, to identify these forward- looking statements by words such as “intends,” “will,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “may,” “estimates,” “believes,” “should,” “projects,” or “continue,” or the nega
tive of those words and other comparable words. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, goals, prospects, opportunities, outlook, objectives, plans or intentions are also forward-looking statements. These statements may relate to, but are not limited to, expectations of future operating results or financial performance, acquisitions,, plans for growth and future operations, as well as assumptions relating to the foregoing.
These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions regarding future events and business performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual events or results to be materially different from any future events or results expressed or implied by these statements. These factors include those set forth in the following discussion and within Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and elsewhere within this report.
You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents that we file from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. Except as required by applicable law, including the rules and regulations of the SEC, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise, other than through the filing of periodic reports in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Item 1. BUSINESS
Overview
On March 14, 2008, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 20, 2007 by and among Feris International, Inc. (“Feris”), Feris Merger Sub, Inc. and Patty Linson, on the one hand, and Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc. (“PSEI”), on the other hand, Feris issued 49,500,000 shares of its common stock in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding shares of the PSEI, resulting in PSEI becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Feris and is the surviving entity for accounting purposes (“Reverse Merger”). In July 2008, Feris’ corporate name was changed to Stratus Media Group, Inc. (“Stratus” or “Company”). The Company is based in Los Angeles, California and remains a Nevada corporation.
PSEI, a California corporation, was organized in November 1998 and specializes in sports and entertainment events that it owns, and intends to operate, manage, market and sell in national markets. In addition, Stratus acquired the business of Stratus Rewards, LLC (“Stratus Rewards”) in August 2005. Stratus Rewards is a credit card rewards marketing program that uses the Visa card platform that offers a unique luxury rewards redemption program, including private jet travel, premium travel opportunities, exclusive events and luxury merchandise.
The business plan of Stratus is to operate the Stratus Rewards program and to own and all available event revenue rights from tickets/admissions, corporate sponsorship, television, print, radio, Internet, merchandising, and hospitality. With additional funding, the objective of management is to build a profitable business by implementing an aggressive acquisition growth plan to acquire quality companies, build corporate infrastructure, and increase organic growth. The plan is to leverage operational efficiencies across an expanded portfolio of events to reduce costs and increase revenues. The Company intends to promote the Stratus Rewards card and its events together, obtaining maximum cross marketing benefit among card members, corporate sponsors and Stratus events.
3
Strategy
Stratus uses a “roll up” strategy, targeting sports and live entertainment events and companies that are independently owned and operated, or being divested by larger companies, with the plan to aggregate them into one large leading live entertainment company. Our strategy is to purchase these events for at a target value of 4-6 times Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) of the events with the expectation that the combined EBITDA of the Company from these events will receive a higher valuation multiple in the public markets. Events and companies will also be considered for acquisition if they do not meet this financial criteria, but provide strategic or other value.
Contingent on the availability of capital, Stratus is targeting acquisitions of event properties. The goal is to aggressively build-up a critical mass of events, venues and companies that allow for numerous cross-event synergies. Specifically:
|
●
|
On the expense side, to share sales, financial and operations resources across multiple events, creating economies of scale, increasing the Company’s purchasing power, eliminating duplicative costs, and bringing standardized operating and financial procedures to all events, thus increasing the margins of all events.
|
|
●
|
On the revenue side, to present to advertisers and corporate sponsors a diverse menu of demographics and programming that allows sponsors “one stop shopping” rather than having to deal with each event on its own.
|
With these core operational synergies and subject to available capital, Stratus intends to (1) expand its acquisition strategy of additional live sports and entertainment events and companies, (2) combine existing and future events to serve targeted demographic markets, and (3) cross-promote the Stratus Rewards Visa card with these events to enhance the results of the card and event businesses.
The business plan of Stratus is to provide integrated event management, television programming, marketing, talent representation and consulting services in the sports and other live entertainment industries which may involve:
|
●
|
managing sporting events, such as college bowl games, golf tournaments and auto racing team and events;
|
|
|
●
|
managing live entertainment events, such as music festivals, car shows and fashion shows;
|
|
| ● | producing television programs, principally sports entertainment and live entertainment programs; and | |
| ● | marketing athletes, models and entertainers and organizations. |
The objective of this approach is to consolidate event properties and then craft individual large-scale deals to allow companies to bundle advertising across diverse events.
For example, subject to available capital, Stratus is targeting the acquisition of several music festivals by the end of 2011, with the goal of combining them with its current music festival events. Through these acquisitions, the Company plans to utilize core competencies in the areas of promotion, operations, marketing, sales and distribution. The objective is to afford Stratus better negotiating leverage with cost centers such as advertising, marketing, venue and talent costs on a regional, national and international scale. Additionally, by offering advertisers access to other Stratus’s properties, the Company hopes to create greater value for the advertisers by offering other key demographic target markets to the client and creating greater value, more impression and a higher cost point for less risk.
Event Properties
The following is the Company’s current portfolio of event properties (pursuant to which Stratus has rights to the names and/or contract rights to operate). Most of the properties have never been activated by the Company (such as the college football bowl games), require the payment of additional amounts to complete the acquisitions (such as the Core Tour alternative sports events) or have not generated revenues in the last two years and require reactivation (such as auto shows and music festivals).
College Sports Events
Freedom Bowl College Bowl Game acquired in October 1998 by Stratus. Played for the first time in 1984 at Anaheim Stadium, the Freedom Bowl was for years one of the “big” bowl games, hosting top teams from UCLA, USC, Washington, Colorado, Brigham Young and Arizona State. In 1996 this event became inactive and has not operated since. Stratus is seeking certification from the NCAA to conduct this event after 2011. Stratus intends to host this event at a major venue for potentially 60,000 or more attendees with attendant television rights.
Seattle Bowl College Bowl Game was assumed by Stratus in 2004 and operated in 2001 and 2002, was discontinued in 2003 and has not been operated since. Stratus is seeking certification from the NCAA to conduct this event after 2011.
Stratus is reviewing the opportunity to acquire an additional college bowl game and combine the three bowls into a series in which common cost centers will be shared and believes that increased sponsorship interest and revenue will result by expanding benefits to all three events. Stratus intends to seek major sponsors for a long-term multi-million title naming sponsorship, providing recurring revenues for multiple years. Implementation will depend on obtaining necessary capital and NCAA certifications.
4
Action Sports Events
Core Tour Action Sports & Music Festival - The Company entered into a contract to acquire its assets in October 2003. In connection with a settlement agreement on May 27, 2005, a legal judgment was entered in the Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles against the Company in favor of the previous owners of the “Core Tour” event of $482,126, plus accrued interest. The dispute arose out of the Company’s asset purchase of the “Core Tour” event from the plaintiffs. To complete the acquisition, the Company is required to pay $482,126 in cash. On December 31, 2008, the Company issued 102,840 shares of common stock valued at $163,516 to pay the owners of Core Tour accrued interest of $172,993. As conducted prior to 20
04, the event is a summer series of “extreme sports” events and concerts which visit multiple cities including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. In the past, the festival has involved competitions in BMX dirt motorcycle jumping, in-line skating, mountain boarding and skateboarding. A concert series runs in conjunction with the events that features music targeted at the intended market. Past events have resulted in an audience size of approximately 30,000 per day over three days and included major television coverage of the events. Subject to sufficient capital, Stratus intends to expand this series of events to 4 summer events and 4 winter events for a total of 8 events. The winter events are planned to include snowboarding, skiing and snowmobile racing events. None of these events have been operated since 2004.
ProElite, Inc. - Effective October 21, 2009, the Company entered into a Strategic Investment Agreement with ProElite, Inc. (“PEI”) pursuant to which PEI agreed to sell to the Company shares of PEI’s Series A Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Shares”). The Preferred Shares are convertible into the Common Stock of PEI. The amount of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion on a cumulative basis is equal to 95% of the sum of (a) the issued and outstanding shares of PEI as of the closing plus (b) any shares of PEI Common Stock issued after the closing upon exercise or conversion of any derivative securities of PEI outstanding as of the closing, subject to any adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizati
ons etc. and, in all cases, after giving effect to the shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares.
The purchase price of the Preferred Shares is $2,000,000 which will be used by PEI for payment of outstanding liabilities of PEI, general working capital and other corporate purposes and repayment of all amounts due under a note of PEI with respect to advances made to PEI by the Company of $100,000. Closing of the purchase of the Preferred Shares is subject to certain conditions including confirmation reasonable satisfactory to the Company that the financial records of PEI are such that they will enable PEI to become current in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission without undue expense and that the Company will be able to timely file by amendment PEI’s financial statements as required under Form 8-K. Upon closing, all of the current directors of PEI will resign and the board of directors o
f PEI will consist of two designees of the Company and one designee of PEI. Paul Feller, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, will become PEI’s Chief Executive Officer. Certain present and former key PEI executives will continue with PEI.
On February 4, 2010, the Company entered into an Amendment To Strategic Investment Agreement (the “Amendment”), dated as of January 26, 2010, with PEI pursuant to which the parties agreed to amend the terms of that certain Strategic Investment Agreement (the “Agreement”) entered into between PEI and the Company dated October 9, 2009. The Amendment (i) provides for certain interim funding by the Company to PEI prior to the closing, and contains representations regarding the Company’s ability to provide all funds necessary to perform its obligations under the Agreement and the Amendment, (ii) extends the outside date for the Closing to March 31, 2010, (iii) conditionally provides for changes in the board and management of PEI, subject to the Company’s timely compliance with delivery of
specified payments to PEI and third parties (the “Management Change”), (iv) credits against the Purchase Price certain expenses and amounts already loaned by the Company, (v) provides for the convertibility of amounts previously loaned into Preferred Stock of PEI on a pro-rata basis, (v) provides that all of the conditions to closing in Section 6.1 of the Agreement, have been satisfied to date and that, notwithstanding such conditions (other than the condition regarding legal compliance and certain ministerial conditions), the Company is unconditionally obligated to consummate the purchase and other transactions contemplated by the Agreement and the Amendment and pay the full Purchase Price (applying such credits as provided in the Amendment), (vi) provides for a guarantee of certain obligations of the Company, (vii) provides for an enforcement mechanism independent of the newly appointed board and management until the Closing and (viii) provides for application of certain post-closing coven
ants to the interim period.
This Amendment has been subsequently modified to extend the outside date for the closing to May 14, 2010.
Founded in 2006, ProElite, Inc. historically has delivered entertainment experiences in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live arena-based entertainment events, cable television programming and community-driven interactive broadband entertainment via the Internet. ProElite plans to deliver live MMA fight events that showcase the world's top fighters internationally. ProElite still holds the record for highest ratings for a major network telecast of a MMA event. ProElite also owns a web portal with social networking for MMA fighters and fans and live streams of MMA bouts not broadcast on television. A focal point of ProElite's live event promotions is Elite XC. Running its first show in 2007, it quickly became one of the most visible brands in mixed martial arts in the United States. The company maintains
its ownership stake in South Korean-based Spirit MC, and British promotion Cage Rage.
5
Auto Show Events
Santa Barbara Concours d’Elegance - acquired all of the assets in October 1998 from Crane School, after twenty years of operations. This event was last run in 2007. This is one of the oldest vintage automobile shows in the USA and in the past has drawn audiences of 40,000 or more per day over a four-day period. Anticipated to be held in October of 2010, the show is planned to move from its old location at the Sandpiper golf course in Santa Barbara to the Santa Barbara International Polo Club and Fields, to increase audience and revenue opportunities. This event will compliment the ten city tour of Concours d’ Elegance events. Stratus is adding additional elements to this event which include a vintage and modern Italian auto show, American classics
auto show, fashion show, music festival, wine festival, charity gala and auction, auto auction, and a road rally visiting top Central Coast wineries and points of interest.
The Beverly Hills Concours d’Elegance - acquired in June 2004 and last operated in August 2007. The Beverly Hills Concours historically has drawn over 65,000 spectators. In order to allow for ticket revenue and restricted access, Stratus is moving from the Rodeo Drive location used in the past to the Playboy Mansion and UCLA. Past exhibitors at the show have included car enthusiasts such as Jay Leno, Tim Allen and Nicolas Cage. Past corporate sponsors have included Daimler Chrysler, Rolex, Lladro, Ferrari, Brooks Brothers, Meguires, Geary’s of Beverly Hills and Grundy.
Contingent on available capital, Stratus intends to establish an additional 22 auto shows by 2011 and intends to combine the 29 auto shows into a national series in which common cost centers will be shared. Stratus believes that increased sponsorship interest and revenue will result from this combination. Stratus is currently seeking series and individual event sponsors for a sponsorship and, with sufficient capital, intends to run a number of these events in 2010 and 2011.
Mille Miglia – on April 7, 2010, the Company announced that it had acquired the exclusive rights to produce the Mille Miglia Tribute in North America from MAC Group and the Automobile Club of Brescia, Italy. Stratus intends to host a Mille Miglia mini-tribute in 10 cities throughout the United States in conjunction with the National Tour D’Elegance vintage auto show series and related television coverage. In the fall, Stratus intends to produce a 1,000 mile Mille Miglia Tribute on the California coast, featuring several special stops along the way at various historic and scenic points.
The 2010 Mille Miglia will take place from May 6th through 9th in Italy. As always, 375 cars will be able to compete in the race. The Mille Miglia is an open-road endurance race which is currently one of the most important classic sports cars events in the world. From 1927 to 1957, the Mille Miglia was a legendary speed race focused on drivers, challenges and adventures. Today, the legacy of the Mille Miglia remains strong through the use of yesterday’s cars on today’s roads. After 82 years, Mille Miglia is a unique event offering an extraordinary world-wide promotional stage. In 2009, over 4 million people lined up on the roads to see the cars and more than 1,500 registered journalists from all over the world covered the events.
Concert, Film and Music Festivals
Maui Music Festival - Acquired in October 2003, this three-day event features jazz and alternative rock performers from around the world. Past events have attracted 3,000 to 5,000 tourists and locals each day. Stratus plans to expand the event to a 5-day format with expos, merchandising opportunities and new music genres, including rhythm and blues and soft rock. This event has not been operated since 2002.
Core Tour Music Festival - This will be part of the Core Tour Action Sports acquisition, if and when acquired, and is intended to feature music that caters to the younger demographic (the same group to which the events are targeted). Stratus intends to expand the series to operate in part with the action sports series and with additional tour stops that operate separately. These events have not been operated since 2004.
Contingent on available capital, Stratus intends to establish four additional music festivals that include the Santa Barbara Music Festival, the Santa Barbara Jazz Festival, the Napa Jazz Festival and the Maui Jazz Festival. Subject to available capital, Stratus is targeting other key music festival acquisitions and believes that increased sponsorship interest and revenue will result. Stratus intends to expand the ticket, merchandising, concessions and sponsorship revenues by creating a series of events and key geographic locations, and by providing a venue for emerging talent to showcase, at little to no talent fee cost to Stratus, and by leveraging the booking of talent among a larger number of performances to reduce the cost per event. To date, these events have not been conducted.
Perugia International Film Festival – on February 9, 2010, Stratus announced that it had executed an exclusive ten-year agreement as the owner, operator and holder of all rights of the International Film Festival in Perugia, Italy, in partnership with the region of Umbria, the Province of Perugia and the Municipality of Perugia. The Perugia International Film Festival is scheduled to have its preliminary launch in the Fall of 2010. The Company intends to work with various firms and individuals in the film industry to establish this event as a premier event catering to the art and science of making and distribution.
6
Talent Management
Pro Sports Talent Management - acquired in November 2000 from a Stratus executive, in the past this effort has represented over 100 professional and retired athletes and has held non-exclusive agreements to represent appearances, corporate endorsements and player contracts to such highly recognized names as Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Joe Namath.
Stratus’s talent representation activities are planned to consist of athletes, entertainers and models principally with representation in contract and endorsement negotiations. Stratus expects to receive a percentage of monies earned by an athlete client, of approximately 4% of a player’s sports contract and approximately from 15% to 25% of related endorsement contracts. We expect modeling clients will pay Stratus 33% of a photo shoot or runway contract, 10% of film, television and commercial revenues, and 33% of endorsement contracts. Revenue from these sources is dependent upon a number of variables, many of which are outside Stratus’s control, including a player’s model’s skill, health, and public appeal. Principal operating expenses include salaries, wages and travel and entertainment expenses Agent re
presentation can be a lucrative business. Stratus has not actively represented athletes in the past five years.
Affiliate Lifestyle Marketing
Stratus Rewards VISA - acquired in August 2005, Stratus Rewards is a lifestyle management and entertainment club, credit card and rewards system marketed as the “White Card for Visa,” similar to the Black Card for American Express. The program was created expressly to support and enhance the affluent lifestyle. The program was designed to offer private jet travel, premium access to exclusive events and personal services to an affluent or near-affluent individual or business owner who seeks card-card usage rewards not found elsewhere.
The sponsoring bank that operated the back-end banking requirements for the Stratus program when the Company acquired Stratus, discontinued providing the Company with financial statements in October 2007 and formally discontinued the program in March 2008. The Stratus Rewards program is currently inactive. However, the Company is in advanced discussions with a bank in Europe to restart the program.
OPERATIONS
GENERAL
Subject to raising sufficient capital, the Company’s operations will consist primarily of (a) live sports events, (b) music concerts, (c) specialized live entertainment events, (d) other proprietary and non-proprietary entertainment events, and (e) media platform marketing through its Stratus Rewards Visa program. Subject to obtaining sufficient capital, the Company and the acquired businesses also intend to engage in other activities ancillary to its live entertainment businesses.
Seasonality
The Company’s event operations and revenues are expected to be largely seasonal in nature, with generally higher revenue generated in the third and fourth quarters of the year. The musical concerts that the Company intends to promote largely occur in the second and third quarters. To the extent that the Company’s entertainment marketing and consulting relate to musical concerts, they also predominantly generate revenues in the second and third quarters. Therefore, the seasonality of the Company’s business causes (and, upon consummation of the intended Acquisitions) will likely probably continue to cause a significant variation in the Company’s quarterly operating results. These variations in sales could have a material adverse effect on the timing of the Company’s cash flows and, therefore, on its ability
to service its obligations with respect to its indebtedness. However, the Company believes that this variation can be somewhat offset with the acquisition of events that are typically non-summer seasonal businesses.
Overview of the Live Entertainment Industry
With annual attendance at sporting events in the U.S. exceeding 470 million people, the sports business is estimated to generate $214 billion annually, which is greater than the U.S. automobile business. Combined with the $140 billion entertainment business, this represents a $354 billion market with tens of thousands of event properties available for acquisition. The industry is subject to recessionary pressures but has historically grown 5-10 percent annually with greater numbers of fans, higher television ratings, and increased corporate sponsorships.
The sports marketing industry has been historically fragmented, with local and regional entrepreneurs comprising the majority of the competitors. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, several companies launched consolidation efforts and one of the companies, SFX, was extremely successful in building a multi-million dollar company. Fourteen months after launching a $256M IPO, SFX was acquired by Clear Channel Communications for $4.4 billion. By 2000 there were three major companies — Clear Channel Communications (Owner of SFX), Interpublic Group (Owner of Octagon and Magna Global Entertainment), and International Management Group (IMG).
7
In recent years, these companies (known as “the Big 3”) have divested significant portions of their live sports and entertainment holdings for several reasons, detailed below in the “Competition” section.
For the marketing segment of the industry that Stratus intends to participate in,, the addressable market is estimated at $63 billion, divided as follows:
|
●
|
Sponsorships - $14 billion ~ represents sponsorships of leagues, teams, broadcasts and events. Sponsorships are high margin, and have enjoyed robust growth until the economic disruptions in late 2008. Sports receive 67 percent of all sponsorship dollars, with entertainment receiving nine percent and festivals receiving nine percent.
|
|
●
|
Event Entrance & Spending - $30 billion ~ includes ticket sales of $14 billion; concessions, parking, on-site merchandise sales of $12 billion; and premium seating revenue of $4 billion. Spectator spending in these categories grew an average 18% between 2005 and 2006.
|
|
●
|
Endorsements - $2 billion
|
|
●
|
Media Broadcast Rights - $12 billion ~ includes the four major professional leagues (football, baseball, basketball, hockey), NASCAR, and College Sports.
|
|
●
|
Professional Services — $15 billion ~ includes facility and event management at $7 billion; financial, legal and insurance services at $6 billion; marketing and consulting services at $2 billion; athlete representation at $385 million
|
Initially Targeted Events
Subject to the availability of sufficient capital, Stratus has targeted specific niches in the live sports and entertainment markets for its initial growth. These targets are expected to provide a combination of growth potential and reliable revenue streams.
Action Sports Industry ~ The action sports industry has expanded, evolved and contracted in the past ten years. The sports superstars admired by youth come not only from traditional sports, but from skateboarding, snowboarding, motorcycles and bikes. Currently dominated by the X-Games and now the Action Sports Tour promoted by NBC and Clear Channel, these events have elevated these non-traditional sports to new levels.
Mixed Martial Arts ~ commonly referred to as MMA, is a sport growing in popularity around the world. In MMA matches, athletes use a combination of a variety of fighting styles, including boxing, judo, jiu jitsu, karate, kickboxing, muay thai, tae kwon do, and wrestling. Typically, MMA sporting events are promoted either as championship matches or as vehicles for well-known individual athletes. Professional MMA competition conduct is regulated primarily by rules implemented by state athletic commissions. Athletes win individual matches by knockout, technical knockout (referee or doctor stoppage), submission, or judges’ decision.
The industry leader in MMA is the Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC. UFC produces regularly scheduled cable programming (on SPIKE TV) mainly through their reality show “The Ultimate Fighter.” The UFC also recently aired a live event on Versus TV network. UFC holds between 10-12 Pay-Per-View events per year and approximately 4-6 live events on free/cable television. UFC consistently sells live gates in excess of $2M per pay per event and is estimated to have generated over 1.5 million buys for UFC 100. Strikeforce, another MMA organization, has television deals with Showtime and CBS. Other MMA organizations include Bellator Fighting Championship, which is featured on Fox Sports Net, and King of the Cage, which has a television deal with HDNet.
MMA is also highly popular internationally and is well established in major markets such as Japan, Korea and the United Kingdom, where it has been aired on major broadcast networks in each of these markets for years. Strong interest from Middle Eastern is evident with the recent well-publicized US$100+ million investment by a Dubai group for a minority equity stake in the U.S. based UFC. Brazil, a market who lays claim to being the founding market for the sport, is arguably the leading exporter of professional martial artists who fight across all fight disciplines in the various fight organizations around the world.
Running Events Industry ~ Marathons (26.2 miles) dominate road running sports, but there is a growing market for shorter runs. Half-marathons (13.1 miles), 10 kilometer (6.2 miles) and 5 kilometer (3.1 miles) races actually draw more participants and can generate participation revenues equal to all but the major marathons. Until recently, these shorter events have not been marketed to create larger sponsorship and advertising interest. Only now are shorter races offering the merchandising, as well as the hospitality events and amenities associated with full marathons. Sponsors are beginning to recognize these opportunities. Revenues for these events could dramatically improve with aggressive marketing and event design.
Concert and Music Festival Industry ~ The concert and music festival industry consists primarily of regional promoters focused generally in major metropolitan markets. According to Amusement Business, industry gross box office receipts for North American concert tours totaled over $6 billion in 2007, compared to $1.1 billion in 1997, representing a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 21%. Stratus believes that increases in ticket sales during the last several years are in part due to the increasing popularity of outdoor venues and amphitheaters as live entertainment venues, as well as an increasing number of tours that attract older audiences who did not previously attend musical concerts.
The music festival industry consists primarily of regional promoters focused in a single geographic area. Many live event experiences are created with unique accents that are targeted at specific audiences through activity or location on an annual basis. Stratus believes there is significant opportunity in developing these music events that are unique in nature and held in desirable locations. For example, Stratus’s multiple music festivals, if and when activated, will provide a destination event and location that can capture fans on a national basis. Costs can be reduced through consolidating travel expenses including hotels, ground and air transportation and government travel subsidies. These travel packages and the desirable locations will allow for a premium ticket price driven by top name acts that can combine performance wi
th a vacation at a reduced fee.
8
Additionally, Stratus intends to use television and broadcast media to extend the reach of each event well beyond the festival itself Stratus believes that the music industry has not realized the full benefits of tour sponsorships. Stratus expects to change this opportunity by providing the methods by which sponsors can receive greater advantage of musical acts.
College Sports Industry ~ The Company believes that the NCAA’s limitation of new bowl games makes the established, bowl games that exist more valuable. This situation could improve if a playoff system is instituted in the existing bowl structure.
Motor Sports Industry ~ Specialized motor sports events make up a growing segment of the live entertainment industry. This growth has resulted from additional demand in existing markets and new demand in markets where new arenas and stadiums have been built. The increasing popularity of specialized motor sports over the last several years has coincided with, and, in part, been due to, the increased popularity of other professional motor sports events, such as professional auto racing, including NASCAR, Grand AM and Indy/IRL Car Racing. A number of specialized motor sports events are televised on several of the major television networks and are also shown on television in markets outside of the United States.
In general, most markets host one to four motor sports events each year, with larger markets hosting more performances. Stadiums and arenas typically work with producers and promoters to manage the scheduling of events to maximize their respective revenues. The cost of producing and promoting a typical single stadium event ranges from $300,000 to $600,000, and the cost of producing and presenting a typical single arena event ranges from $50,000 to $150,000. Typically, third parties create and finance monster trucks, demolition derbies, thrill acts, air shows and other motor sports concepts and events. They may perform in an individual event or in an entire season of events. As in other motor sports, corporate sponsorships and television exposure are important financial components that contribute to the success of a single event or seas
on of events.
Automobile shows and races draw an affluent demographic, and while participant fees, ticket and merchandise sales can be significant, the main revenue sources are from sponsors, advertisers, and hospitality events. Shows tend to be regional in nature, and within the region only a limited number of shows can be profitably operated. Four shows dominate the western USA; they are independently operated but could offer an opportunity if consolidated and marketed with synergies in mind. Additionally, auto shows integrated well with lifestyle sports, such as golf and tennis, and a coordinated program could enhance the combined event revenues.
Talent Representation Industry ~ Agenting involves the negotiation of employment contracts and the creation and evaluation of endorsement, promotional and other business opportunities, for the client. Agenting can be a lucrative business with high average margins. A provider in this industry may also provide ancillary services, such as financial advisory or management services to its clients in the course of the representation. By acquiring agent firms, Stratus can be in the position to add known names to its events, thereby increasing ticket sales, sponsorships and advertising.
Trade Shows/Expos Industry ~ U.S. trade shows generated $4.8 billion in revenue in 2007, with high margins and low capital expenditures. Trade shows and expos, such as health or auto shows, can be a natural complement to Stratus’s major events. By creating “cookie cutter” trade shows and expos that run concurrent with major anchor events, Stratus expects to gain maximum synergy from its event properties.
COMPETITION
The live sports and entertainment industry has been historically fragmented, with local and regional entrepreneurs comprising the majority of the companies. In the late 1990s, several companies launched consolidation efforts and one of the companies, most notably SFX. By the early 2000’s three major companies — Clear Channel Communications (Owner of SFX), Interpublic Group (Owner of Octagon, Magna Global Entertainment), and International Management Group (IMG) had established dominant positions which comprised an estimated 60-70 percent of industry revenues. These companies (known as “the Big 3”) have begun divesting some of their live sports and entertainment holdings for several reasons:
|
1.
|
The capital markets have demanded that the parent companies focus on core competencies.
|
|
|
2.
|
The companies face capital shortfalls and view the sports units as easy divestments.
|
|
| 3. |
The parent companies have not successfully integrated the sports units.
|
|
| 4. |
A “larger-than-life” owner passed on and the family is reorganizing (IMG).
|
|
| 5. | There are potential conflicts between advertising division and event sales division. |
Stratus believes that its acquisition strategy is fundamentally different from, and can be more profitable, than the strategies used by the “Big 3” in the past. For example, SFX sought total vertical integration, from ownership of the venue to negotiating a player’s salary. This required the company to manage the venues, which tend to run on low seven to eight percent margins. Stratus’s sole focus is on owning the event content and talent rights that generate high margins and are in increasing demand in the Experience Economy.
9
In addition to the “Big 3” there are a number of second-tier sports marketing groups. One or more of these groups may be attempting acquisition strategies that are similar to Stratus’, though the Company is unaware of any such efforts. The principal second-tier sports marketing groups are:
|
●
|
Velocity Sports & Entertainment
|
|
|
●
|
Vulcan Ventures
|
|
| ● |
Anschutz Entertainment Group
|
Although there are several live entertainment companies that are significantly larger than Stratus, management believes that Stratus can implement its strategy in its targeted verticals. Additionally, several of these companies are evaluating their strategic direction and may decide to sell parts of their sports portfolios, creating acquisition opportunities for Stratus.
The majority of the remaining live sports and entertainment events are owned and operated by smaller organizations and individuals. This industry remains fragmented and Stratus believes it is prime for consolidation.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risks described below before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also impair our business operations and financial results. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks or uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain
factors, including the risks we face described below.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS
Our Company is in early stages of development, which increases the risk of investments in our common stock
The Company is currently in the early stages of development, and is planning on bringing its staffing, infrastructure and marketing programs to an operational level, subject to available capital. Funding is needed to pay liabilities, reestablish operations, establish the business concept within current markets and to extend the business into new revenue generating markets through acquisitions.
We have incurred substantial losses, have not established business operations, and have received a “going concern” qualification from our auditors, which indicates that there are substantial risks in the Company establishing profitable operations and that the Company will need capital to continue as a going concern.
As noted in the opinion of our independent financial auditors, “The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses and has negative cash flow from operations. This raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.” For the years 2009 and 2008, the Company incurred net losses of $3,401,098 and $2,093,267. In addition, the Company had accumulated deficits of $18,073,782 and $14,672,683 as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and had negative working capital of, $2,907,646 and $4,079,179 as of December 31, 2009 and 2008. During 2010, the Company expects to raise capital and initiate the opera
tion of events and the Stratus Rewards program. However, until such time as operations are established with positive cash flows, the Company will require capital to continue as a going concern.
The implementation of the Company’s business plan will require additional financing. Additional funds will be required to complete acquisitions and integrate them into the Company. Based on market conditions at the time, the Company may be unable to obtain sufficient additional financing on favorable terms, or at all. If it raises additional funds by selling its equity securities, the relative ownership of its existing investors will be diluted or the new investors could obtain terms more favorable than those of its existing investors. If it raises additional funds through debt financing, it could incur significant borrowing costs as well as face the possibility of default of the Company if it is unable to repay the financing. If it cannot obtain sufficient financing, it may have to delay, reduce or eliminate its marketing and pr
omotion campaign, which could significantly limit its revenues.
Intangible assets comprise most of our assets and are subject to impairment charges that will increase the Company’s losses. Such losses could have a negative impact on the price of our common stock.
As of December 31, 2009, the total of intangible assets and goodwill was $4,024,443, or 94%, of total assets of $4,283,068. These intangible assets and goodwill are evaluated on an annual basis for impairment of the balance sheet value due to active or dormant status, competitive conditions, changes in Company plans, and other factors that the Company determines are highly likely to reduce the ability of these assets to generate cash in the future. In 2009, impairment charges were $640,805, which was 19% of the total loss of $3,401,098 and in 2008, impairment charges were $1,015,000, which was 49% of the total loss of $2,093,267. Additional impairment charges could be required in the future, which would increase losses and reduce the Company’s asset base accordingly and which could have an adverse
impact on the price of our common stock.
10
In addition to needing capital for basic operations, our strategy calls for expansion by acquisition, which will require additional capital.
While the Company has identified several promising acquisition targets and expects to be able to secure financing and complete these acquisitions, there can be no assurances that it will be able to do so. While the Company intends that the value added by acquisitions will more than offset the dilution created by the issuance of shares for acquisitions, there can be no assurance that this offset will occur. Additional financing for future acquisitions may be unavailable and, depending on the terms of the proposed acquisitions, financings may be restricted by the terms of credit agreements and privately placed debt securities contained in the financing. Any debt financing would require payments of principal and interest and would adversely impact the Company’s cash flow. Furthermore, future acquisitions may result in charges to ope
rations relating to losses related to the acquired events, interest expense, or the write down of goodwill, thereby increasing the Company’s losses or reducing or eliminating its earnings, if any.
Our strategy of expansion by acquisitions has inherent risks.
Although management believes that pursuing the Company’s acquisition strategy is in the best interests of the Company, such strategy involves substantial expenditures and risks on the part of the Company. There can be no assurance that acquisitions will be completed successfully or, if completed, will yield the expected benefits to the Company, or will not materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations. There can be no assurance that the value attributed by the market to acquisitions will offset the dilution created by the issuance of additional shares. Furthermore, consummation of the intended acquisitions could result in charges to operations relating to losses from the acquired events, interest expense, or the write down of goodwill, which would increase the Company&#
8217;s losses or reduce or eliminate its earnings, if any. As a result of the foregoing, there can be no assurance as to when the intended acquisitions will be consummated or that they will be consummated. Furthermore, the results of the intended acquisitions may fail to conform to the assumptions of management. Therefore, in analyzing the information contained in this document, stockholders should consider that the intended acquisitions may not be consummated at all.
While acquisition agreements generally provide for indemnification from the seller for a limited period of time with respect to certain matters, some sellers may not be willing to provide indemnification, or may limit the scope of indemnification or that other material matters not identified in the due diligence process will subsequently be identified or that matters heretofore identified will prove to be more significant than currently expected and it is possible that the provider of the indemnification may be unwilling or unable to provide such indemnification. Future acquisitions by the Company could result in (a) potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, (b) the incurrence of substantial additional indebtedness and/or (c) incurrence of expenses for interest, operating losses and the write down of goodwill and other intan
gible assets, any or all of which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of the operations, technologies, services and products of the acquired companies and the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns. In the event that such acquisitions were to occur, there can be no assurance that the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations would not be materially and adversely affected.
Our events have not been run on an annual basis since 2004 and need to be reestablished.
In 2004, the Company realized $2,554,600 of revenues from events. There were no revenues from events in 2006, the total revenues from events in 2005, 2007 and 2008 was $252,741, which was derived from smaller-scale, standalone events rather than recurring annual events of a larger scale anticipated in our business plan, and there were no revenues in 2009. Assuming sufficient capital, the Company intends to reestablish those events with sufficient critical mass to afford economies of scale in operations. While the Company believes that the nature of the event business allows for events to be readily reestablished and that it has the experience and management expertise to re-establish those events, there can be no assurance that such events will be successfully reestablished. The Company believes that it has full ow
nership of these events and related intellectual property, but there can be no assurance that unknown or unforeseen claims will not arise after successful reestablishment of such events.
Our credit card operations have been dormant since October 2007 and we need to obtain a sponsoring bank to reestablish our Stratus Rewards Visa card program.
A contractual relationship with a sponsoring bank is necessary for the Company to conduct its Stratus Rewards operations. In October 2007, the Company ended its relationship with its sponsoring bank that was limited to U.S. operations and is negotiating a new relationship with a bank in Europe that can support international operations. While the Company believes that these negotiations will be successful and this contractual relationship will be established, there can be no assurance that this relationship will be established.
11
Our company depends on its key executive officer.
The Company depends on Paul Feller, Chairman and CEO of the Company and we do not have key-person life insurance policies on him. In order to achieve its business objectives, the Company must hire additional personnel to fill key managerial positions and provide them with compensation packages sufficient to retain their services. The Company’s future success will depend upon the ability of its executive officers to establish clear lines of responsibility and authority, to work effectively as a team and to gain the trust and confidence of its employees. The loss of the services of a key employee could seriously impair the Company’s ability to operate and improve its events portfolio, which could reduce its revenues. The Company must also identify, attract, train, motivate and retain other highly skilled, technical, manageria
l, merchandising, engineering, accounting, marketing and customer service personnel.
Live entertainment events are largely cash based and are conducted in remote locations.
Live entertainment events are conducted in numerous locations and often involve significant cash collections for tickets, concessions, merchandise, etc. The Company has developed and will continue to develop controls and procedures to control cash, to monitor cash proceeds, and to ensure that it is collected and deposited properly, however there can be no assurance that all cash proceeds at an event will be deposited properly into the Company accounts.
We have not paid dividends on our stock, nor do we plan to do so for the foreseeable future.
At the present time, the Company intends to reinvest any cash generated from operations into expansion of operations and does not intend to pay dividends. The Company will periodically evaluate the best means to bring value to shareholders and such evaluations could result in a continuation of this policy. Investors should look to the growth in value as the primary means of realizing a return on their investment and should not look to dividends for a return. There can be no assurance that the proposed operations of the Company will result in sufficient revenues to enable the Company to operate at profitable levels or to generate positive cash flow. Any delay in the successful execution of the Company’s operations of or the acquisition and marketing strategies could delay the payment of dividends for an undetermined amount of time
.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR MARKETS
The success of our events requires the availability of suitable athletes, artists and locations.
The Company’s ability to sell tickets (including subscriptions) is highly dependent on the availability of popular athletes, artists and events. There can be no assurance that popular athletes, artists and events will be available to the Company in the future, or will be available on terms acceptable to the Company. The lack of availability of these artists and productions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. Because the Company will operate its live entertainment events under leasing or booking agreements with venues, its long-term success will depend upon its ability to renew these agreements upon their expiration or termination. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to renew these agreements on acceptable terms or at all, or that it will be
able to obtain attractive agreements with substitute venues.
Our industry is very competitive and most of our competitors are substantially larger than us and have better access to capital needed to successfully run events.
Competition in the live entertainment industry is intense, and competition is fragmented among a wide variety of entities. In addition, television, movies, internet and other non-live events compete for the time and attention for potential attendees for live events. The Company intends to compete on a local, regional and national basis with large venue owners and entertainment promoters for the hosting, booking, promoting and producing of live entertainment events. Moreover, the Company’s marketing and consulting operations will compete with advertising agencies and other marketing organizations. The Company will compete not only with other live entertainment events, including sporting events and theatrical presentations, but also with non-live forms of entertainment, such as television, radio and motion pictures. The CompanyR
17;s competitors have substantially greater resources than the Company. Certain of the Company’s competitors may also operate on a less leveraged basis, and have greater operating and financial flexibility than the Company. In addition, many of these competitors have long standing relationships with performers, producers, and promoters and may offer other services that are not provided by the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully in this market or against these competitors.
12
Our events business is dependent on obtaining local permits to conduct the events and our Stratus Rewards business operates in a highly-regulated environment.
The ability to conduct live entertainment events is subject to extensive local, state and federal governmental licensing, approval and permit requirements, including, among other things, approvals of state and local land-use and environmental authorities, building permits, zoning permits and liquor licenses. Significant acquisitions may also be subject to the requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act or other antitrust laws or regulations. Other types of licenses, approvals and permits from governmental or quasi-governmental agencies may also be required for other opportunities that the Company may pursue in the future, although the Company has no agreements or understandings with respect to these opportunities at this time. In addition, the Stratus credit card operates in a highly regulated and controlled market. The Company has used,
and intends to use a large, established commercial bank to run its credit card processing and payments, but there can be no assurance that the Company may not be subject to current or future rules or regulations that could adversely affect its ability to operate the Stratus card in the manner intended or to achieve the results expected. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain the licenses, approvals and permits it may require from time to time in order to operate its business.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Our proprietary rights may not adequately protect our ability to operate events and the credit card operations.
The Company has purchased a number of events and the Stratus Rewards business and intends to acquire other events as well. When an event is purchased, the Company acquires certain naming, venue and other intellectual property rights that are needed to conduct these events and card operations and prevent other parties from infringing on these events. While the Company does an extensive check to verify these rights, there can be no assurance that such intellectual property rights will be sufficient to allow the Company to conduct such events.
Third parties may claim that we infringe their intellectual property, and we could suffer significant litigation or licensing expense as a result.
If intellectual property rights relating to past or future acquisitions are challenged by third parties, we could incur significant costs to defend such rights and/or we could be required to pay license fees to such third parties if they were to prevail in a legal challenge to such intellectual property rights.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR COMMON STOCK
The market for our common stock only recently developed, the price of the stock has fluctuated in the past and the stock is thinly traded. If trading volume increases in the future, the fluctuations in price could be greater than those experienced in the past.
From the Reverse Merger on March 14, 2008 until September 19, 2008, our stock was listed on The Pink Sheets LLC, a privately-owned company whose Electronic Quotation Service provides an Internet-based, real-time quotation service (“Pink Sheets”). On November 3, 2008, our stock started trading on the OTC Bulletin Board® (“Bulletin Board”), a regulated quotation service that displays real-time quotes, last-sale prices, and volume information in over-the-counter equity securities that provides for improved liquidity and a larger potential shareholder base that those provided by the Pink Sheets. With this move to the Bulletin Board, the daily volume of trading in our shares increased significantly.
From November 3, 2008 to December 31, 2009, the average price of our common stock was $1.84 per share, with a low of $1.32 per share and a high of $2.57 per share, on an average trading volume per day of 21,917 shares. As noted below, it is possible that trading volumes could increase significantly following April 14, 2010 and such increased volume could lead to significant fluctuations in the price of our stock.
We have a significant amount of stock that will be eligible for resale under a Rule 144 exemption on April 14, 2010, and we have also sold stock that is, or will become within six months, eligible for resale under a Rule 144 exemption. Sales of such stock could depress the stock price significantly.
If our existing stockholders sell a large number of shares of our common stock or the public market perceives that these sales may occur, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly. At the time of the Reverse Merger on March 14, 2008, 49,500,000 shares our Stratus common stock were issued to existing Pro Sports & Entertainment (“PSEI”) stockholders, in addition to the 5,500,000 shares held by existing Feris International (“Feris”) shareholders.
The 5,500,000 shares held by Feris shareholders as of March 14, 2008 have all been eligible for resale under Rule 144. In addition, we have issued 5,532,099 shares of common stock between March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2010, of which 2,754,130 shares are eligible for resale as of March 31, 2010 under an exemption from registration under the revised Rule 144 requirements. Accordingly, there are 8,254,130 shares eligible for resale as of March 31, 2010.
13
As of April 14, 2010, the 49,500,000 shares issued or held at the time of the Reverse Merger by former PSEI shareholders will be eligible for resale under an exemption from registration under the revised Rule 144 requirements, resulting in a total of 57,754,130 shares that will be eligible for resale under Rule 144 as of April 14, 2010, compared to 8,254,130 shares eligible for resale prior to that date.
Of the 57,754,130 that will be eligible for resale as of April 14, 2010, 26,416,341 shares are held by our Chairman and CEO that have significant limitations on resale and 9,405,000 are held by an affiliate with volume restrictions on resale, leaving 21,932,789 shares that eligible for resale under Rule 144 as of April 14, 2010 with minimal restrictions.
Since the Company is the result of a “reverse merger,” shares can only be sold under an exemption from Rule 144(i), which pertains to shares issued by a company that executed a reverse merger with a “shell” company. Under an exemption from Rule 144(i), the exemption may be granted to remove the restrictive legend on stock certificates only for a specified sale of securities and not as a “blanket” removal that removes the restrictive legend and allows for sale at unspecified dates in the future. If our existing stockholders sell a large number of shares of our common stock or the public market perceives that these sales may occur, the market price of our common stock could decline significantly. If significant amounts of such shares of stock were sold, such sales could
result in significant declines in our stock price.
If we fail to continue to meet all applicable continued listing requirements of the Over The Counter Bulletin Board Market and our common stock is delisted from this market, the market liquidity and market price of our common stock could decline significantly.
Our common stock is listed on the Bulletin Board. Among other requirements to maintain such listing, we need to file our Quarterly Reports on Form 10Q and our Annual Report on Form 10K with the SEC in a timely manner. We did not file our Quarterly Reports on Form 10Q on time for the periods ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, but have filed on time since then. If we are late in filing our Form 10K for the period ending December 31, 2009 or if we are late with our Quarterly Reports on Form 10Q for the quarters ending on March 31, 2010 or June 30, 2010, we will be delisted from the Bulletin Board and will return to the Pink Sheets. In the event that delisting occurs because these SEC reports are filed late, we will need to file all periodic SEC reports in a timely manner for one year and me
et other applicable listing criteria before becoming eligible again for Bulletin Board listing.
In the event our common stock returns to the Pink Sheets, the market for our common stock will be adversely affected and the market price for our common stock could decline significantly.
As of March 31, 2010, our Chairman and CEO, along with his father, collectively controlled approximately 59% of our outstanding common stock.
As of March 31, 2010, our Chairman and CEO, along with his father, together controlled approximately 59% of our outstanding common stock. As a result, these stockholders, if they act together, will be able to influence our management and affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and approval of significant corporate transactions. You and other stockholders will have minimal influence over these actions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of our company and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
THE FOREGOING IS A SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE MORE SIGNIFICANT RISKS RELATING TO INVESTMENT IN THE COMPANY. THE FOREGOING SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS A REPRESENTATION THAT THE MATTERS REFERRED TO HEREIN ARE THE ONLY RISKS INVOLVED IN THIS INVESTMENT, NEITHER THE REFERENCE TO THE RISKS INVOLVED IN THIS INVESTMENT, NOR THE REFERENCE TO THE RISKS HEREIN SHOULD BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION THAT SUCH RISKS ARE OF EQUAL MAGNITUDE. PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN ADVISORS AS TO THE INVESTMENT AND ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMPANY.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable for smaller reporting companies.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
On May 1, 2009, the Company entered into a lease agreement for approximately 1,800 square feet of office space in Santa Barbara, California for use as its executive offices. This lease was amended on July 21, 2009 and expires on December 31, 2013 with a three-year renewal term available at an initial rent plus common area charges of $5,767 per month.
14
From May 2008 to June 2009, our corporate headquarters were located in West Hollywood, California, where we leased approximately 2,600 square feet of space for our corporate headquarters, general administrative functions, and sales and marketing efforts at $8,500 a month from April 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008, and $11,400 per month from November 1, 2008 until we vacated the lease in May 2009.
From prior to January 1, 2008 until May 2009, we leased approximately 1,800 square feet of space in Santa Barbara, California, for executive use at $4,000 per month under a lease expiring December 31, 2010.
We believe our existing facilities are adequate for our current needs and suitable additional or substitute space will be available as needed to accommodate expansion of our operations.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In connection with a settlement agreement in May 2005, a judgment was entered in the Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles against the Company in favor of the previous owners of the “Core Tour” event of $482,126 plus interest. The dispute arose out of the Company’s asset purchase of the “Core Tour” event from the plaintiffs. As of December 31, 2008, the Company recorded the $482,126 judgment. On July 31, 2008, Stratus Management and Core Tour have agreed to a revised settlement whereby Stratus will retain all rights of the Core Tour events in exchange for $482,126 in cash by December 31, 2008 and 74,000 shares of Common Stock as payment of interest. The Company is currently in default of this revised settlement and is actively working on modifying this revised
settlement to extend the due date for payment. If the Company is not able to agree on a timetable for payment of the $482,126 and/or is not able to pay the Core Tour parties, the Core Tour parties have the right to enforce their judgment against the Company in that amount, but under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company retains all rights to the Core Tour assets. On December 31, 2008, the Company issued 102,840 shares of our common stock to the owners of the Core Tour as payment for accrued interest on the judgment as of that date. These shares were valued at the $163,516 based on the closing stock price of our common stock as of that date, and accrued interest on the books of $172,993 was reversed, with the difference going to other income.
On August 18, 2008 two judgments totaling $70,805 were entered against Stratus related to wage claims for two former employees. This amount was taken as an expense in the three months ended September 30, 2008.
In February 2006, a former employee filed an action against the Company in Los Angeles court, alleging breach of employment contract. In October 2006, the court entered a default judgment against the defendants for $363,519 and the Company recorded a charge and set up a reserve of this amount for the year ended December 31, 2006. In September 2007, the Company filed a motion to set aside the default judgment, which was granted in March 2008. The Company reversed the reserve of $363,519 during the three months ended March 31, 2008. In May 2008, plaintiff filed an appeal of the order setting aside the default judgment. In June 2009, the court of appeal affirmed the order setting aside the default judgment, and trial in this matter is set for July 2010. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to t
he action and has not taken any expense or established a reserve during 2009.
Item 4. RESERVED
Item 5. MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES
15
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
Prior to the Reverse Merger on March 14, 2008, our stock was listed on The Pink Sheets LLC, a privately owned company whose Electronic Quotation Service provides an Internet-based, real-time quotation service (“Pink Sheets”). From March 14, 2008 until September 19, 2008, our stock continued to be listed on the Pink Sheets On September 19, 2008, our stock was approved for listing on the OTC Bulletin Board® (“Bulletin Board”), a regulated quotation service that displays real-time quotes, last-sale prices, and volume information in over-the-counter equity securities that provides for improved liquidity and a larger potential shareholder base that those provided by the Pink Sheets. On November 3
, 2008, we had obtained the CUSIP numbers and market makers needed for our stock to actively begin trading on the Bulletin Board.
The following table sets forth the high and low prices of our common stock since the Reverse Merger on March 14, 2008 for each period indicated and are as reported by the Pink Sheets or Bulletin Board for the dates indicated. Such quotations reflect prices between dealers in securities and do not include any retail mark-up, markdowns or commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
|
Fiscal Period
|
High
|
Low
|
||||||
|
2008:
|
||||||||
|
First Quarter
|
$ | 1.90 | $ | 1.10 | ||||
|
Second Quarter
|
$ | 2.10 | $ | 1.50 | ||||
|
Third Quarter
|
$ | 2.25 | $ | 1.50 | ||||
|
Fourth Quarter
|
$ | 2.00 | $ | 1.20 | ||||
|
2009:
|
||||||||
|
First Quarter
|
$ | 1.71 | $ | 1.32 | ||||
|
Second Quarter
|
$ | 2.00 | $ | 1.44 | ||||
|
Third Quarter
|
$ | 2.29 | $ | 1.80 | ||||
|
Fourth Quarter
|
$ | 2.57 | $ | 1.85 | ||||
As of December 31, 2009, there were approximately 1,396 stockholders of record of our common stock. We derived the number of stockholders of record by reviewing the number of former PSEI stockholders as of December 31, 2009, and by reviewing the listing of Non-Objecting Beneficial Owners of our common stock as of December 31, 2009.
STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The graph set forth below compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock between March 17, 2008 (the first trading day following the filing of a Report on Form 8-K on March 14, 2008 for the Reverse Merger) and December 31, 2009, versus the cumulative total return of the NASDAQ Composite Index and Russell 3000 Growth Index over the same period. This graph assumes the investment of $100,000 at the closing price of the market on March 31, 2008 in our common stock, the NASDAQ Composite Index and the Russell 3000 Growth Index, and assumes the reinvestment of dividends, if any. We have never paid dividends on our common stock and have no present plans to do so.
Since there is no published industry or line-of-business index for our business reflective of the performance the Company, nor do we believe we can reasonably identify a publicly-traded peer group, we measure our performance with issuers of similar market capitalization. We selected the Russell 3000 Growth Index because it measures the performance of a broad range of companies with lower market capitalization than those companies included in the S&P 500 Index, and we believe it is more appropriate comparison given our current market capitalization. We also compare our performance with the NASDAQ Composite Index. The comparisons shown in the graph below are based upon historical data. We caution that the stock price performance shown in the graph below is not necessarily indicative of, nor is it intended to forecast, the
potential future performance.
16
The following are the numbers used in the above graph, presented in tabular form:
|
NASDAQ
|
Russell 3000
|
|||||||||||
|
Date
|
Composite
|
Growth
|
Stratus
|
|||||||||
|
3/31/08
|
$ | 100,000 | $ | 100,000 | $ | 100,000 | ||||||
|
4/30/08
|
105,880 | 105,175 | 126,582 | |||||||||
|
5/30/08
|
110,706 | 109,052 | 126,582 | |||||||||
|
6/30/08
|
100,614 | 101,205 | 126,582 | |||||||||
|
7/31/08
|
102,062 | 99,536 | 126,582 | |||||||||
|
8/29/08
|
103,905 | 100,568 | 125,949 | |||||||||
|
9/30/08
|
91,795 | 88,648 | 129,747 | |||||||||
|
10/31/08
|
75,516 | 72,854 | 126,582 | |||||||||
|
11/28/08
|
67,398 | 66,686 | 94,304 | |||||||||
|
12/31/08
|
69,197 | 67,930 | 100,633 | |||||||||
|
1/31/09
|
64,765 | 64,429 | 94,937 | |||||||||
|
2/28/09
|
60,465 | 59,473 | 91,772 | |||||||||
|
3/31/09
|
67,091 | 64,654 | 92,405 | |||||||||
|
4/30/09
|
75,340 | 70,962 | 94,937 | |||||||||
|
5/31/09
|
77,841 | 74,341 | 109,494 | |||||||||
|
6/30/09
|
80,518 | 75,017 | 126,582 | |||||||||
|
7/31/09
|
86,836 | 80,424 | 136,076 | |||||||||
|
8/31/09
|
88,153 | 81,775 | 129,747 | |||||||||
|
9/30/09
|
93,111 | 85,380 | 144,937 | |||||||||
|
10/31/09
|
89,732 | 83,803 | 160,759 | |||||||||
|
11/30/09
|
94,164 | 88,533 | 132,911 | |||||||||
|
12/31/09
|
99,561 | 91,462 | 142,405 | |||||||||
The preceding Stock Performance Graph is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be incorporated by reference in any of our filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.
DIVIDEND POLICY
Since our inception, we have never declared or paid any cash dividends. We currently expect to retain earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business, and therefore do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
17
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS
The information required by this item regarding equity compensation plans is set forth in Part III, Item 12 “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities during the Three Months Ended December 31, 2009
During the three months ended December 31, 2009 the Company raised $440,000 through the issuance of 433,827 shares of common stock.
All securities were issued pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Section 4(2) and Regulation D.
Use of Proceeds from Sale of Registered Equity Securities
None.
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS
None during the fourth quarter of 2009.
Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included at Part II, Item 7 in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The selected data in this section is not intended to replace the consolidated financial statements.
18
| Condensed, Summary Income Statement and Balance Sheet | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Twelve Months Ended December 31,
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|||||||||||||||
|
(Restated)
|
(Restated)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Condensed, Summary Income Statement
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Event revenues | $ | 89,876 | $ | - | $ | 129,259 | $ | 33,606 | $ | - | |||||||||
| Stratus White Card revenues | 153,436 | 380,989 | 179,502 | 6,583 | - | ||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 243,312 | 380,989 | 308,761 | 40,189 | - | ||||||||||||||
| Total cost of revenues | 537,929 | 9,250 | 76,120 | 24,679 | - | ||||||||||||||
| Gross profit | (294,617 | ) | 371,739 | 232,641 | 15,510 | - | |||||||||||||
| Non-cash charges for impairment, fair value, | |||||||||||||||||||
| warrants and options | - | - | 1,713,369 | 1,231,283 | 1,802,398 | ||||||||||||||
| Other operating expenses | 1,073,273 | 1,102,623 | 1,338,227 | 1,006,603 | 1,786,869 | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 1,073,273 | 1,102,623 | 3,051,596 | 2,237,886 | 3,589,267 | ||||||||||||||
| Loss from operations | (1,367,890 | ) | (730,884 | ) | (2,818,955 | ) | (2,222,376 | ) | (3,589,267 | ) | |||||||||
| Total other (income)/expenses | 469,140 | (571,376 | ) | (218,498 | ) | (129,109 | ) | (188,169 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (1,837,030 | ) | $ | (159,508 | ) | $ | (2,600,457 | ) | $ | (2,093,267 | ) | $ | (3,401,098 | ) | ||||
| Basic and diluted loss per share | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.00 | ) | $ | (0.05 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | $ | (0.06 | ) | ||||
| Basic and diluted weighted-average common shares | 46,374,669 | 48,364,526 | 48,845,906 | 53,959,831 | 57,693,157 | ||||||||||||||
|
As of December 31,
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
|||||||||||||||
|
(Restated)
|
(Restated)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Condensed, Summary Balance Sheet
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Total current assets
|
$ | 528,893 | $ | 405,865 | $ | 187,853 | $ | 219,163 | $ | 256,827 | |||||||||
|
Property and equipment, net
|
38,149 | 25,530 | 12,913 | 2,469 | 1,798 | ||||||||||||||
|
Intangible assets, net
|
4,519,818 | 4,474,408 | 4,428,998 | 4,067,355 | 2,951,098 | ||||||||||||||
|
Goodwill
|
2,073,345 | 2,073,345 | 2,073,345 | 1,073,345 | 1,073,345 | ||||||||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 7,160,205 | $ | 6,979,148 | $ | 6,703,109 | $ | 5,362,332 | $ | 4,283,068 | |||||||||
|
Current liabilities
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Bank overdraft | $ | 6,100 | $ | 66,980 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 8,260 | |||||||||
| Accounts payable | 831,414 | 327,395 | 601,768 | 633,605 | 384,951 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred salary, legal judgment, and line of credit | 1,506,867 | 1,741,702 | 1,979,132 | 95,732 | 133,232 | ||||||||||||||
| Accrued interest | 395,092 | 527,523 | 695,557 | 193,421 | 242,284 | ||||||||||||||
| Other accrued expenses and other liabilities | 514,619 | 380,073 | 608,219 | 815,942 | 990,011 | ||||||||||||||
| Loans and notes payable | 1,101,450 | 1,120,085 | 1,418,750 | 1,552,005 | 922,017 | ||||||||||||||
| Event acquisition liabilities | 1,153,761 | 1,153,761 | 1,153,760 | 913,760 | 483,718 | ||||||||||||||
| Deferred revenue | 165,309 | 102,475 | 6,917 | - | - | ||||||||||||||
| Redemption fund reserve | 482,647 | 346,806 | 124,293 | 124,293 | - | ||||||||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 6,157,259 | 5,766,800 | 6,588,396 | 4,328,758 | 3,164,473 | ||||||||||||||
| Non-current portion of notes payable | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 625,000 | 625,000 | ||||||||||||||
| Total liabilities | 7,157,259 | 6,766,800 | 7,588,396 | 4,953,758 | 3,789,473 | ||||||||||||||
| Total shareholders' equity/(deficit) | 2,946 | 212,348 | (885,287 | ) | 438,990 | 493,595 | |||||||||||||
|
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity/(deficit)
|
$ | 7,160,205 | $ | 6,979,148 | $ | 6,703,109 | $ | 5,392,748 | $ | 4,283,068 | |||||||||
Please see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” included as part of Part II, Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion of key accounting changes which occurred during the years covered in the above table. Additional information regarding business combinations and dispositions for the relevant periods above may be found in the notes accompanying our consolidated financial statements at Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
19
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or anticipated results, including those set forth under “Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results” below and elsewhere in, or incorporated by reference into, this report.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “intend,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” or the negative of these terms, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. When used in the following discussion, the words “believes,” “anticipates” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Readers are cautioned not to place un
due reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The forward-looking statements in this report are based upon management’s current expectations and belief, which management believes is reasonable. These statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and we undertake no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements, which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
The following discussion relates to the operations of Stratus and should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Financial Statements.
Description of Business
Overview
Stratus is located in Santa Barbara, California, was originally formed as a California corporation in November 1998, and became a Nevada corporation through a reverse merger on March 14, 2008. Stratus is in the early stages of its development and owns or is targeting the acquisition of live entertainment companies in the following areas (“strategic verticals”): Action Sports, Auto Shows, College Sports, Concerts & Music Festivals, Food Entertainment, Diversified Media Marketing, Motor Sports, Running Events, Trade Shows & Expos, and Talent Management. Assuming Stratus is able to raise appropriate capital, Stratus intends to operate its current portfolio of live entertainment events, activate certain existing properties, operate Stratus Rewards and acquire and aggregate a global platform of
live entertainment events.
ProElite, Inc.
Effective October 21, 2009, the Company entered into a Strategic Investment Agreement with ProElite, Inc. (“PEI”) pursuant to which PEI agreed to sell to the Company shares of PEI’s Series A Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Shares”). The Preferred Shares are convertible into the Common Stock of PEI. The amount of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion on a cumulative basis is equal to 95% of the sum of (a) the issued and outstanding shares of PEI as of the closing plus (b) any shares of PEI Common Stock issued after the closing upon exercise or conversion of any derivative securities of PEI outstanding as of the closing, subject to any adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations etc. and, in all cases, after giving effect to the shares issuable upon convers
ion of the Preferred Shares.
The purchase price of the Preferred Shares is $2,000,000 which will be used by PEI for payment of outstanding liabilities of PEI, general working capital and other corporate purposes and repayment of all amounts due under a note of PEI with respect to advances made to PEI by the Company of $100,000. Closing of the purchase of the Preferred Shares is subject to certain conditions including confirmation reasonable satisfactory to the Company that the financial records of PEI are such that they will enable PEI to become current in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission without undue expense and that the Company will be able to timely file by amendment PEI’s financial statements as required under Form 8-K. Upon closing, all of the current directors of PEI will resign and the board of directors o
f PEI will consist of two designees of the Company and one designee of PEI. Paul Feller, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, will become PEI’s Chief Executive Officer. Certain present and former key PEI executives will continue with PEI.
On February 4, 2010, the Company entered into an Amendment To Strategic Investment Agreement (the “Amendment”), dated as of January 26, 2010, with PEI pursuant to which the parties agreed to amend the terms of that certain Strategic Investment Agreement (the “Agreement”) entered into between PEI and the Company dated October 9, 2009. The Amendment (i) provides for certain interim funding by the Company to PEI prior to the closing, and contains representations regarding the Company’s ability to provide all funds necessary to perform its obligations under the Agreement and the Amendment, (ii) extends the outside date for the Closing to March 31, 2010, (iii) conditionally provides for changes in the board and management of PEI, subject to the Company’s timely compliance with delivery of
specified payments to PEI and third parties (the “Management Change”), (iv) credits against the Purchase Price certain expenses and amounts already loaned by the Company, (v) provides for the convertibility of amounts previously loaned into Preferred Stock of PEI on a pro-rata basis, (v) provides that all of the conditions to closing in Section 6.1 of the Agreement, have been satisfied to date and that, notwithstanding such conditions (other than the condition regarding legal compliance and certain ministerial conditions), the Company is unconditionally obligated to consummate the purchase and other transactions contemplated by the Agreement and the Amendment and pay the full Purchase Price (applying such credits as provided in the Amendment), (vi) provides for a guarantee of certain obligations of the Company, (vii) provides for an enforcement mechanism independent of the newly appointed board and management until the Closing and (viii) provides for application of certain post-closing coven
ants to the interim period.
20
This Amendment has been subsequently modified to extend the outside date for the closing to May 14, 2010.
Stratus Business Plan
The business plan of Stratus is to operate the Stratus Rewards program and to own and realize all available event revenue rights from tickets/admissions, corporate sponsorship, television, print, radio, Internet, merchandising, and hospitality. With additional funding, the objective of management is to build a profitable business by implementing an aggressive acquisition growth plan to acquire quality companies, build corporate infrastructure, and increase organic growth. The plan is to leverage operational efficiencies across an expanded portfolio of events to reduce costs and increase revenues. The Company intends to promote the Stratus Rewards card and its events together, obtaining maximum cross marketing benefit among card members, corporate sponsors and Stratus events.
Stratus uses a “roll up” strategy, targeting sports and live entertainment events and companies that are independently owned and operated or being divested by larger companies with the plan to aggregate them into one large leading live entertainment company. The strategy is to purchase these events for approximately four to six times Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) of the events, with the expectation that the combined EBITDA of the Company from these events will receive a higher valuation multiple in the public markets.
Assuming the availability of capital, Stratus is targeting acquisitions of event properties. The goal is to aggressively build-up a critical mass of events, venues and companies that allow for numerous cross-event synergies. Specifically:
|
●
|
On the expense side, to share sales, financial and operations resources across multiple events, creating economies of scale, increasing the Company’s purchasing power, eliminating duplicative costs, and bringing standardized operating and financial procedures to all events, thus increasing the margins of all events. | |
|
●
|
On the revenue side, to present advertisers and corporate sponsors an exciting and diverse menu of demographics and programming that allows sponsors “one stop shopping” rather than having to deal with each event on its own, and in so doing, convert these sponsors into “strategic partners.”
|
With these core operational synergies and subject to available capital, Stratus intends to (1) expand its acquisition strategy of additional live sports and entertainment events and companies, (2) create entirely new event properties on the forefront of the “experience economy” and thus tap into people’s lifestyle passions, and (3) cross-promote the Stratus Rewards Visa card with these events to enhance the results of the card and event businesses.
The business plan of Stratus is to provide integrated event management, television programming, marketing, talent representation and consulting services in the sports and other live entertainment industries. Stratus’s event management, television programming and marketing services may involve:
|
●
|
managing sporting events, such as college bowl games, golf tournaments and auto racing team and events;
|
|
|
●
|
managing live entertainment events, such as music festivals, car shows and fashion shows;
|
|
| ● | producing television programs, principally sports entertainment and live entertainment programs; and | |
|
●
|
marketing athletes, models and entertainers and organizations. |
The following discussion relates to the operations of Stratus and should be read in conjunction with the Notes to Financial Statements.
Description of our Revenues, Costs and Expenses
Revenues
Our past revenues have included event revenues from ticket sales, sponsorships, concessions and merchandise, which are recorded when the event occurs, and Stratus revenues from membership fees, fees on purchases and interest income earned on the redemption trust. Membership fees and related expenses are amortized over the twelve month period and fees from purchases and interest income are recorded when they occur.
21
Gross Profit
Our gross profit represents revenues less the cost of goods sold. Our event cost of goods sold consists of the costs renting the venue, structures at the venue, concessions, and temporary personnel hired for the event. Cost of goods sold for the Stratus program are nominal.
Operating Expenses
Our selling, general and administrative expenses include personnel, rent, travel, office and other costs for selling and promoting events and running the administrative functions of the Company. Legal and professional services are paid to outside attorneys, auditors and consultants are broken out separately given the size of these expenses relative to selling, general and administrative expenses. Operating expenses also include expenses for impairment of goodwill, fair value expenses for issuing common stock for consideration less than the number of shares issued valued at market closing price on the day of issuance, and Black-Scholes expenses for options and warrants.
Interest Expense
Our interest expense results from accruing interest on a court judgment, loans payable to shareholders, current portion of notes payable-related parties and notes payable.
Critical Accounting Policies
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of goodwill related to certain events and the Stratus Rewards Visa White Card that we have acquired. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the net amounts assigned to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We apply the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, which requires allocating goodwill to each reporting unit and testing for impairment using a two-step approach.
The Company purchased several events that are valued on the Company’s balance sheet as intangible assets with a value equal to the consideration paid for such assets, which generally include licensing rights, naming rights, merchandising rights and the right to hold such event in particular geographic locations. There was no goodwill assigned to any of these events and the value of the consideration paid for each event is considered to be the value for each related intangible asset. Each event has separate accounts for tracking revenues and expenses per event and a separate account to track the asset valuation.
A portion of the consideration used to purchase the Stratus Rewards Visa card program was allocated to specific assets, as disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements, with the difference between the specific assets and the total consideration paid for the program being allocated to goodwill.
Goodwill and intangible assets were as follows:
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Licensing rights for events
|
$ | 2,224,258 | $ | 3,259,106 | ||||
|
Goodwill for Stratus Rewards
|
1,073,345 | 1,073,345 | ||||||
|
Identified intangible assets for Stratus Rewards
|
726,840 | 772,249 | ||||||
|
Total intangible assets and goodwill
|
$ | 4,024,443 | $ | 5,104,700 | ||||
The Company reviews the value of intangible assets and related goodwill as part of its annual reporting process, which generally occurs in February or March of each calendar year. In between valuations, the Company conducts additional tests if circumstances warrant such testing. For example, if the Company was unable to secure the services of any sponsoring banks, the Company would then undergo a thorough valuation of the intangible assets related to its Stratus Rewards program.
To review the value of intangible assets and related goodwill, the Company compares discounted cash flow forecasts with the stated value of the assets on the balance sheet.
The events are forecasted based on historical results for those events, adjusted over time for the assumed synergies expected from discounts from purchases of goods and services from a number of events rather than from each event on its own, and for synergies resulting from the expected ability to provide sponsors with benefits from sponsoring multiple events with a single point of contact.
22
These forecasts are discounted at a range of discount rates determined by taking the risk-free interest rate at the time of valuation, plus a premium for equity risk, plus a premium related to small companies in general, plus a risk premium for factors specific to the Company and the business that range from 9.5% for events to 55% for the Stratus Rewards Visa card. The total discount rates ranged from 27% for events, to 69% for athlete management to 79% for the Stratus Rewards program. Terminal values are determined by taking cash flows in year five of the forecast, then applying an annual growth of 2.0% to 2.4% for twenty years and discounting that stream of cash flows by the discount rate used for that section of the business.
If the Company determines that the discount factor for cash flows should be substantially increased, or the event will not be able to being operations when planned, it is possible that the values for the intangible assets currently on the balance sheet could be substantially reduced or eliminated, which could result in a maximum charge to operations equal to the current carrying value of the intangible assets of $4,024,443.
We believe that the events carried as intangible assets on the balance sheet will generate revenues and be profitable because they were profitable when they were acquired by Stratus and the Company has demonstrated that it can operate events in a profitable manner.
The following chart shows each event with an intangible value on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 or 2008 and the peak revenue and gross margin that each event achieved prior to acquisition. It should be noted that most events while privately owned tend to commingle business and personal expenses in an attempt to minimize profitability and the attendant tax liability, and that once owned by the Company we have or intend to eliminate those personal expenses in an attempt to maximize profitability.
|
Pre-Acquisition Peak Year Results (rounded to nearest thousand)
|
||||||||||||||
|
Peak Year
|
Revenues
|
Gross Margin $
|
Gross Margin %
|
|||||||||||
|
Long Beach Marathon
|
1998
|
$ | 2,300,000 | $ | 1,326,000 | 57.7 | % | |||||||
|
Freedom Bowl
|
1996
|
3,603,000 | 607,000 | 16.8 | % | |||||||||
|
Athlete management
|
1999
|
1,150,000 | 375,000 | 32.6 | % | |||||||||
|
Santa Barbara Concours
|
2000
|
880,000 | 229,000 | 26.0 | % | |||||||||
|
Concours on Rodeo
|
2001
|
1,304,000 | 274,000 | 21.0 | % | |||||||||
|
Core Tour
|
2002
|
2,300,000 | 667,000 | 29.0 | % | |||||||||
|
Maui Music Festival
|
2000
|
923,000 | 203,000 | 22.0 | % | |||||||||
| $ | 12,460,000 | $ | 3,681,000 | 29.5 | % | |||||||||
Of the above events, only the Core Tour events and a smaller-scale Concours on Rodeo were run by the Company after being acquired. The following table shows the revenues and gross margin for these two events, along with the results for the Stratus Rewards program after it was acquired by the Company:
|
Period
|
Post Acquisition
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Operated
|
Revenues
|
Gross Margin $
|
Gross Margin %
|
|||||||||||||
|
Core Tour
|
FY 2004
|
$ | 1,457,406 | $ | 379,930 | 26.1 | % | |||||||||
|
Stratus Rewards
|
8/05-10/07
|
517,620 | 517,620 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||
|
Concours on Rodeo
|
7/07 | 129,259 | 53,139 | 41.1 | % | |||||||||||
| $ | 2,104,285 | $ | 950,689 | 45.2 | % | |||||||||||
As of December 31, 2009, the following are the results and assumptions used for the valuation of intangibles assets and goodwill:
23
|
As of 12/31/2009
|
Year
|
Annual
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Book
|
Fair
|
Fair Value
|
Discount
|
Revenues
|
Growth
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Event/Item
|
Balance
|
Value
|
As % of Book
|
Rate
|
Begin
|
Rate
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Concours on Rodeo
|
$ | 169,958 | $ | 615,075 | 362 | % | 30 | % | 2010 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||
|
Santa Barbara Concours
|
243,000 | 591,760 | 244 | % | 30 | % | 2010 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||
|
Core Tour
|
1,067,069 | 1,942,698 | 182 | % | 30 | % | 2010 | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||
|
Freedom Bowl
|
344,232 | 1,224,648 | 356 | % | 30 | % | 2012 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||
|
Maui Music
|
400,000 | 510,356 | 128 | % | 30 | % | 2011 | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||
|
Total Events
|
2,224,259 | 4,884,537 | 220 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stratus Rewards:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Technology
|
193,239 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Membership list
|
60,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Corporate partner list
|
23,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Corporate membership
|
450,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Goodwill
|
1,073,345 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Stratus Rewards
|
1,800,184 | 15,740,151 | 874 | % | 83 | % | 2010 | 171 | % | |||||||||||||||
|
Total Events & Stratus
|
$ | 4,024,443 | $ | 20,624,688 | 512 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
The Company believes that Core Tour and Maui Music Festival are most at risk for additional impairment charges in the future because the fair value for each event is less than 200% of the book value for such events.
Key assumptions and risk factors for each of the events and Stratus Rewards are as follows. Each event carries general risks of restarting an event after being dormant for a number of years and requires the availability of sufficient capital, along with the specific risks mentioned below.
Most events are held during the summer months and require approximately six months of lead time to adequately plan the event. We believe that with the receipt of adequate funding by the second quarter of 2010, we will have more than sufficient time to plan and execute the Concours on Rodeo, Core Tour and Maui Music events for 2010. To allow for the NCAA approval process, we deferred the assumed start of the Freedom Bowl until 2011.
Concours on Rodeo: we plan on running this car show in 2010 and have initiated a number of internal meetings and planning sessions to do so. Revenues in 2010 are forecast at $691,000, compared with peak revenues in 2001 of $1,304,000, based on the assumption that the first year of restarting this event will result in revenues of approximately one half of the peak revenues. Revenues are assumed to grow at 7% per year thereafter as the event becomes reestablished and gains in popularity. This event was last operated by the Company in August 2007. In order to allow for ticket revenue and restricted access, Stratus is planning on moving from the Rodeo Drive location used in the past to the Playboy Mansion
and UCLA. The success of the event is dependent on revenues from sponsorship, gated VIP and special events held in conjunction with the event, and entrance fees for vehicles.
Santa Barbara Concours: The Company planned to operate the Santa Barbara Concours in 2009 but had to postpone the event due to venue site problems. A smaller-scale charity version of this event was last run by the Company in 2007. Revenues in 2010 are forecast at $686,000, which is approximately 75% of the $880,000 peak revenues obtained in 2000, when one event was held in that year and the current plans call for three events to be held consecutively. After reestablishing the event, it is assumed to grow at a rate of 7% per year. Depending on the venue selected for the event, the Company may have to obtain local permits, the granting of which cannot be assured.
Core Tour: The Company has been in discussions with the former principals of the Core Tour for them to play active operations management consulting roles to initiate the Core Tour in 2010. This event has not been run since 2004. Revenues are forecast to begin in 2010 at $1,935,000, compared with peak revenues in 2002 of $2,300,000. Revenues are assumed to grow at 16% per year thereafter as the events become established. In addition to the need to obtain local permits to conduct the events, the involvement of the former principals is important for the event to be successfully run, since these principals have extensive knowledge of the market, the venues and the competitors.
Freedom Bowl: this event was last conducted in 1996, prior to the Company’s acquisition of this event in 1998. The Company plans to begin recertification in 2010 to allow for sufficient time for the National College Athletics Association to recertify this event for 2011 and strategic negotiations with target NCAA Conference alignment. Revenues in 2012 are forecast to be $3,124,000, compared with peak revenues in 1996 of $3,603,000. Revenues are assumed to grow at 7% per year thereafter as the event becomes established. In order to conduct this event successfully, the Company must obtain certification from the NCAA, obtain acceptance and cooperation from the appropriate NCAA Conference(s), obtain a sta
dium lease, and obtain television coverage with acceptable economics.
24
Maui Music Festival: this event was last conducted in 2002, prior to its acquisition by the Company in 2003. This event is planned to be restarted in the summer of 2012, with forecast revenues of $670,000, compared with peak revenues in 2000 of $923,000. After restarting the event, revenues are assumed to increase at 13% per annum thereafter. In order to conduct this event successfully, the Company must obtain local permits, engage the appropriate artists to perform and obtain the cooperation of local hotels and tour operators to establish “package” deals for customers to combine attendance at the festival with hotel and vacation planning.
Stratus Rewards VISA Program: we have initiated discussions with several banks regarding their involvement as the affiliate bank for this program with a tentative launch for summer of 2010. Revenues for 2010 are forecast to be $2,508,337, which is substantially higher than the $517,620 of revenues realized in the 22 months the program was run by Stratus. The limited amount of revenues realized during this 22 month period was largely related to the then-sponsoring bank limiting the acceptance of new cardholders. This is based on the assumption that a new sponsoring bank will activate more users than the passive involvement of the prior bank and resulting failure to process applications shown by the prior sponsoring bank.
60;In order for this effort to be successful, the Company must engage a sponsoring bank and that bank must actively support the Company’s efforts in establishing and expanding this program. In addition, the credit card market is highly regulated and if regulations change in such a manner that restricts the Company’s ability to expand, the value of the intangibles related to the Stratus Rewards VISA program could be adversely affected.
We have hired an experienced bank executive as Vice President of Stratus Rewards with the sole responsibility to obtain one or more new banks as partners in the program and to relaunch the program by 2010. We are in active discussions with a bank in Europe to serve as the issuing bank for this program starting in the fourth quarter of 2010, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to conclude a definitive agreement with this bank and start issuing cards under the program.
We perform a goodwill impairment test annually or whenever a change has occurred that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of an intangible asset below its carrying amount. We engaged an outside service provider, who computed the estimated fair value of our intangible assets at December 31, 2009, using several valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow analysis. The service provider computed future projected cash flows using information we provided, including estimated future results of the events and card operations. We then compared the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to the carrying value of the reporting unit.
As of December 31, 2008, the Company determined that the $255,000 value of the Snow & Ski Tour and the $61,233 value of the Millrose games were impaired and $1,000,000 of goodwill for Stratus was impaired and these amounts were written off as of that date, net of $301,233 reduction in related liabilities, for a net charge of $1,015,000 taken to operating expenses.
As of December 31, 2009, the Company determined that the seller of the Concours on Rodeo event could not deliver the vote of the merchants on Rodeo Drive to allow the event to be held there. Because of that determination and the statute of limitations had expired on the ability of the sellers to collect on the remaining portion of the event acquisition liability, the Company eliminated the remaining event acquisition liability and wrote the $430,043 against the Concours on Rodeo intangible asset, resulting in no net expense. During 2009, a trademark expired relating to the Long Beach Marathon and the Company has elected to not renew the trademark and to no longer plan to conduct this event in the future. Accordingly, an impairment charge of $300,000 was taken in 2009. In addition, the Company
determined that $15,000 of intangible assets for athlete management had been impaired and a charge was taken in 2009 for this amount. The fair value for the Maui Music Festival as of December 31, 2009 was determined to be $510,356, which was less than the book value of this asset. Accordingly, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $325,805 to bring the book value for the Maui Music Festival to $400,000.
Income Taxes
The Company utilizes SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," which is codified in FASB ASC Topics 740-10 and 740-30, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The provision for income taxes represents the t
ax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.
As of December 31, 2009, the Company had a deferred tax asset of $7,376,945 that was fully reserved and a net operating loss carryforward of approximately $15,009,560 for Federal purposes. The Company will continue to monitor all available evidence and reassess the potential realization of its deferred tax assets. If the Company continues to meet its financial projections and improve its results of operations, or if circumstances otherwise change, it is possible that the Company may release all or a portion of its valuation allowance in the future. Any such release would result in recording a tax benefit that would increase net income in the period the valuation is released.
25
Stock-Based Compensation
Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123R, Share Based Payment (SFAS No. 123R), which is codified in FASB ASC Topics 718, using the modified prospective transition method. New awards and awards modified, repurchased or cancelled after January 1, 2006 trigger compensation expense based on the fair value of the stock option as determined by the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We amortize stock-based compensation for such awards on a straight-line method over the related service period of the awards taking into account the effects of the employees’ expected exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior.
We account for equity instruments issued to non-employees in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R and EITF Issue No. 96-18. The fair value of each option granted is estimated as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
Results of Operations
The following table shows information derived from our consolidated statements of operations expressed as a percentage of revenues for the periods presented:
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||||
|
Net revenues
|
- | 100 | % | |||||||
|
Cost of goods sold
|
n.m.
|
61 | % | |||||||
|
Gross profit
|
n.m. | % | 39 | % | ||||||
|
Total operating expenses
|
n.m. | % | 5,030 | % | ||||||
|
Loss from operations
|
n.m. | % | (4,992 | ) | % | |||||
|
Net other expenses
|
n.m. | % | 217 | % | ||||||
|
Net loss
|
n.m. | % | (5,209 | ) | % | |||||
Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
Revenues
Revenues for 2009 (“Current Period”) were $0, a decrease of $40,189, or 100%, from the $40,189 in revenues for 2008 (“Prior Period”). There were $0 in event revenues in the Current period, a decrease of $33,606 from event revenues in the Prior Period, which were realized from a Super Bowl event held in February 2008. Stratus card revenues were $0 in the Current Period, compared with $6,583 in the Prior Period, a decrease of $6,583, or 100%, from the Prior Period. The sponsoring bank that ran the program when the Company acquired Stratus stopped providing the Company with statements in October 2007 and discontinued the program in March 2008. The Stratus Rewards program is currently inactive and the Company is actively seeking a new sponsoring bank to restart the program
.
Gross Profit
The overall gross margin for the Current Period was $0, compared to overall gross margin for the Prior Period of $15,510, or 39% of total revenues. The gross margin for events was 46% in the Prior Period.
Operating Expenses
Overall operating expenses for the Current Period were $3,589,267, an increase of $1,351,381, or 60%, from $2,237,886 in the Prior Period. General and administrative expenses in the Current Period of $992,497 increased by $455,952, or 85%, from $536,545 in the Prior Period, primarily related to an increase in salaries and payroll taxes of $223,945 from the Prior Period to the Current Period related to higher staffing levels, an increase of $70,203 for directors & officers insurance, an increase of $37,463 for increased travel related to increased business development activity, an increase in rental expense of $25,043 related to the overlap of rents for the West Hollywood and Santa Barbara offices. Legal and professional services of $747,168 increased by $332,962, or 80%, from $414,206 in the Prior Period, prim
arily related to an increase of $312,914 in consulting expenses related to increased business development activity. Depreciation and amortization remained relatively constant with $55,852 in the Current Period, compared with $58,028 in the Prior Period.
26
Other (Income)/Expense
Other income decreased by $4,512, or 1%, from a gain of $315,598 in Prior Period to a net gain of $311,086 in the Current Period. Other income in the Current Period reflected a gain of $312,971 on the writeoff for accounts payable related to events that were canceled in 2004 and 2005 and which were past the statute of limitations for collection. Other income in the Prior Period included a $365,579 gain from reversing an accrual for legal judgment when the related court case was dismissed, offset by $70,805 of accruals for a judgment against Stratus related to two former employees, and a $20,642 gain from the writeoff of old payables related to events that were canceled and which were past the statute of limitations for collection.
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Other (Income)/Expense
|
||||||||
| Writeoff of old accounts payable | $ | (312,971 | ) | $ | (20,642 | ) | ||
| Decrease in legal accruals | - | (365,579 | ) | |||||
| Judgment from two former employees | 70,805 | |||||||
| Other | 1,885 | (182 | ) | |||||
| Net other (income)/expense | $ | (311,086 | ) | $ | (315,598 | ) | ||
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $122,917 in the Current Period, a decrease of $63,572, or 34%, from $186,489 in the Prior Period, primarily related to interest on the Core Tour judgment of $48,209 incurred in the Prior Period that was paid with stock on December 31, 2008 and was not incurred in the Current Period.
Quarterly Results (Unaudited)
The following table sets forth in thousands our unaudited historical revenues, operating income and net loss by quarter during 2008 and 2009:
|
Three Months Ended (Thousands except earnings per share)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3/31/08
|
6/30/08
|
9/30/08
|
12/31/08
|
3/31/09
|
6/30/09
|
9/30/09
|
12/31/09
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Revenues
|
$ | 39 | $ | 1 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||||
|
Gross Margin
|
14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Impairment of intangibles
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1,015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 641 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Fair value charge for stock sales
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
and value of warrants issued
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 216 | 111 | 305 | 110 | 635 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Other operating expenses
|
275 | 234 | 288 | 209 | 270 | 426 | 461 | 631 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total operating expenses
|
275 | 234 | 288 | 1,440 | 381 | 731 | 571 | 1,907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Loss from operations
|
(261 | ) | (233 | ) | (288 | ) | (1,440 | ) | (381 | ) | (731 | ) | (571 | ) | (1,907 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
Other (income)/expenses
|
(327 | ) | 53 | (19 | ) | 164 | 27 | (21 | ) | (19 | ) | (176 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Net Loss
|
$ | 66 | $ | (286 | ) | $ | (269 | ) | $ | (1,604 | ) | $ | (408 | ) | $ | (710 | ) | $ | (552 | ) | $ | (1,731 | ) | |||||||||
|
Basic and diluted earnings
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
per share
|
$ | 0.00 | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.00 | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Basic and diluted weighted-
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
average common shares
|
50,329 | 52,667 | 55,200 | 55,277 | 57,250 | 57,776 | 57,751 | 57,986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The report of our independent registered public accounting firm on the financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 contains an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern as a result of recurring losses, a working capital deficiency, and negative cash flows. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that would be necessary if we are unable to continue as a going concern.
27
During the year ended December 31, 2009, we sold 1,100,707 shares to investors for $1,294,000. The Company is actively pursuing equity capital and is targeting an initial raise of $5 million to $20 million. The proceeds raised will be used for operational expenses, settling existing liabilities, acquisitions and selling expenses. Due to our history of operating losses and the current credit constraints in the capital markets, we cannot assure you that such financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all. If we cannot obtain such financing, we will be forced to curtail our operations or may not be able to continue as a going concern, and we may become unable to satisfy our obligations to our creditors. In such an event we will need to enter into discussions with our credi
tors to settle, or otherwise seek relief from, our obligations.
As of December 31, 2009, our principal sources of liquidity consisted of accounts payable and accrued expenses and the issuance of equity securities. In addition to funding operations, our principal short-term and long-term liquidity needs have been, and are expected to be, the settling of obligations to our creditors, capital expenditures, the funding of operating losses until we achieve profitability, and general corporate purposes. In addition, commensurate with our level of sales, we will require working capital for sales and marketing costs to market our event properties. At December 31, 2009, we had no cash on hand and we had negative working capital of $2,907,646. At December 31, 2009, we had $1,232,017 in debt obligations (comprised of $315,000 loan from shareholders, $1,090,000 notes payable to relat
ed parties and $142,017 in notes payable), all of which is due upon demand, and $215,000 of which is in default for non-payment.
Cash Flows
The following table sets forth our cash flows for 2009 and 2008:
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Operating activities
|
$ | (1,057,070 | ) | $ | (505,950 | ) | ||
|
Investing activities
|
(213,122 | ) | - | |||||
|
Financing activities
|
1,269,392 | 506,554 | ||||||
|
Total change
|
$ | (800 | ) | $ | 604 | |||
Operating Activities
Operating cash flows for 2009 reflect our net loss of $3,401,098, offset by a source of funds from working capital of $336,277, impairment of intangible assets of $640,805, non-cash items (depreciation and amortization) of $47,204 and expense for value of stock issued in excess of liabilities received of $1,161,593. The change in working capital is primarily related to a net of $277,500 of accrued salaries, $118,305 of accrued interest, and $217,916 of accrued liabilities, offset by payments of $163,832 on accounts payable.
Operating cash flows for 2008 reflect our net loss of $2,093,267, offset by a source of funds from working capital of $335,825, impairment of goodwill of $1,000,000, non-cash items (depreciation and amortization) of $55,852 and expense for value of stock issued in excess of liabilities received of $216,283. The change in working capital is primarily related to a net of $76,233 from writing off intangible assets and related liabilities for the Snow Tour, $240,000 of accrued salaries, $183,234 of accrued interest, and $207,723 of accrued liabilities, offset by reversing a $365,579 reserve for a legal action that was dismissed.
Investing Activities
Capital constraints resulted in no cash used in investing activities during either period.
Summary of Contractual Obligations
Set forth below is information concerning our known contractual obligations as of December 31, 2009 that are fixed and determinable by year.
|
After
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2012
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Debt obligations*
|
$ | 1,000,000 | $ | 375,000 | $ | 500,000 | $ | 125,000 | $ | - | ||||||||||
|
Other debt obligations
|
547,017 | 547,017 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
|
Event acquisition liabilities
|
483,718 | 483,718 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
|
Legal Judgments
|
95,732 | 95,732 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
|
Rent obligations
|
138,408 | 69,204 | 69,204 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
|
Total
|
$ | 2,264,875 | $ | 1,570,671 | $ | 569,204 | $ | 125,000 | $ | - | ||||||||||
|
*
|
Debt incurred in connection with acquisition of Stratus. Repayment is triggered by first funding of at least $3,000,000. For purposes of this schedule such funding is assumed to occur by June 30, 2010
|
28
Financing Activities
During 2009 and 2008, we received cash proceeds of $1,294,000 and $625,000, respectively, from the sale of stock. In 2009 and 2008, we used a net of $82,891 and $122,963, respectively, to repay debt.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off balance sheet arrangements.
Not applicable for smaller reporting companies.
29
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Stratus Media Group, Inc.
Los Angeles, California
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Stratus Media Group, Inc. as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity/(deficit) and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2009. 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 the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of internal control over financial reporting. Our audits considered internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures i
n the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Stratus Media Group, Inc. as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2009 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses and has negative cash flow from operations. These conditions raise substantial doubt as to the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern. These financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from such uncertainty.
Goldman Parks Kurland Mohidin LLP
Encino, California
April 14, 2010
30
STRATUS MEDIA GROUP, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
ASSETS
|
||||||||
|
Current assets
|
||||||||
|
Cash
|
$ | - | $ | 800 | ||||
|
Restricted cash
|
- | 162,855 | ||||||
|
Receivables
|
- | 10,165 | ||||||
|
Deposits and prepaid expenses
|
44,827 | 35,861 | ||||||
|
Inventory
|
- | 9,482 | ||||||
|
Total current assets
|
44,827 | 219,163 | ||||||
|
Property and equipment, net
|
1,798 | 2,469 | ||||||
|
Intangible assets, net
|
2,951,098 | 4,067,355 | ||||||
|
Goodwill
|
1,073,345 | 1,073,345 | ||||||
|
Acquisition deposits
|
212,000 | - | ||||||
|
Total assets
|
$ | 4,283,068 | $ | 5,362,332 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | ||||||||
|
Current liabilities
|
||||||||
|
Bank overdraft
|
$ | 8,260 | $ | - | ||||
|
Accounts payable
|
384,951 | 603,189 | ||||||
|
Deferred salary
|
37,500 | - | ||||||
|
Accrued interest
|
242,284 | 193,421 | ||||||
|
Accrued expenses - legal judgments
|
95,732 | 95,732 | ||||||
|
Other accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
990,011 | 815,942 | ||||||
|
Loans payable to an officer and a director
|
315,000 | 892,488 | ||||||
|
Current portion and notes payable - related parties
|
465,000 | 465,000 | ||||||
|
Notes payable
|
142,017 | 194,517 | ||||||
|
Event acquisition liabilities
|
483,718 | 913,760 | ||||||
|
Redemption fund reserve
|
- | 124,293 | ||||||
|
Total current liabilities
|
3,164,473 | 4,298,342 | ||||||
|
Non-current liabilities
|
||||||||
|
Non-current portion of notes payable - related parties
|
625,000 | 625,000 | ||||||
|
Total liabilities
|
3,789,473 | 4,923,342 | ||||||
|
Commitments and contingencies
|
||||||||
|
Shareholders' equity
|
||||||||
|
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: 5,000,000 shares authorized
|
- | - | ||||||
|
0 and 0 shares issued and outstanding
|
||||||||
|
Common stock, $0.001 par value: 200,000,000 shares authorized
|
58,615 | 57,132 | ||||||
| 58,613,793 and 57,130,879 shares issued and | ||||||||
|
outstanding, respectively
|
||||||||
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
18,508,762 | 15,154,541 | ||||||
|
Stock subscription receivable
|
- | (100,000 | ) | |||||
|
Accumulated deficit
|
(18,073,782 | ) | (14,672,683 | ) | ||||
|
Total shareholders' equity
|
493,595 | 438,990 | ||||||
|
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
|
$ | 4,283,068 | $ | 5,362,332 | ||||
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
31
STRATUS MEDIA GROUP, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Net revenues
|
||||||||
|
Event revenues
|
$ | - | $ | 33,606 | ||||
|
Stratus revenues
|
- | 6,583 | ||||||
|
Total revenues
|
- | 40,189 | ||||||
|
Cost of revenues
|
||||||||
|
Event cost of sales
|
- | 24,679 | ||||||
|
Gross profit
|
- | 15,510 | ||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||
|
General and administrative
|
992,497 | 536,545 | ||||||
|
Impairment of intangible assets
|
640,805 | 1,015,000 | ||||||
|
Fair value charge for stock sales and warrants issued
|
1,161,593 | 216,283 | ||||||
|
Legal and professional services
|
747,168 | 414,206 | ||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
47,204 | 55,852 | ||||||
|
Total operating expenses
|
3,589,267 | 2,237,886 | ||||||
|
Loss from operations
|
(3,589,267 | ) | (2,222,376 | ) | ||||
| Other (income)/expenses | ||||||||
|
Other (income)
|
(311,086 | ) | (315,598 | ) | ||||
|
Interest expense
|
122,917 | 186,489 | ||||||
|
Total other expenses
|
(188,169 | ) | (129,109 | ) | ||||
|
Net loss
|
$ | (3,401,098 | ) | $ | (2,093,267 | ) | ||
|
Basic and diluted loss per share per share
|
$ | (0.06 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) | ||
|
Basic and diluted weighted-average common shares
|
57,693,157 | 53,959,831 | ||||||
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
32
STRATUS MEDIA GROUP, INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY / (DEFICIT)
|
Common Stock
|
Stock
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| Additional | Accumulated |
Subscription
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Paid-In Capital
|
Deficit
|
Receivable
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Balance at December 31, 2007
|
49,046,280 | $ | 49,046 | $ | 11,553,624 | $ | (12,573,916 | ) | $ | - | $ | (971,246 | ) | |||||||||||
|
Issuance of common stock for cash
|
746,254 | 747 | 624,253 | 625,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Issuance related to reverse merger
|
5,500,000 | 5,500 | 0 | (5,500 | ) | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Stock issued for interest
|
102,840 | 103 | 163,414 | 163,517 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock issued to settle amounts owed to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
shareholder and officer of Company
|
1,735,505 | 1,736 | 2,596,967 | 2,598,703 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Expense for value of stock issued | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| in excess of liabilities relieved | 216,283 | 216,283 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock subscription receivable | (100,000 | ) | (100,000 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net loss
|
(2,093,267 | ) | (2,093,267 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Balance as of December 31, 2008
|
57,130,879 | $ | 57,132 | $ | 15,154,541 | $ | (14,672,683 | ) | $ | (100,000 | ) | $ | 438,990 | |||||||||||
|
Issuance of common stock for cash
|
1,100,707 | 1,100 | 1,292,900 | 1,294,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Value of warrants
|
388,921 | 388,921 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stock issued for services
|
75,770 | 76 | 158,149 | 158,225 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Charge for fair value of common stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
above selling price
|
772,671 | 772,671 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stock issued to settle amounts owed to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
officer of Company
|
425,836 | 426 | 899,961 | 900,387 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Cancellation of stock subscription receivable
|
(119,399 | ) | (119 | ) | (158,381 | ) | (1 | ) | 100,000 | (58,501 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
Net loss
|
(3,401,098 | ) | (3,401,098 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Balance at December 31, 2009
|
58,613,793 | $ | 58,615 | $ | 18,508,762 | $ | (18,073,782 | ) | $ | - | $ | 493,595 | ||||||||||||
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements.
33
STRATUS MEDIA GROUP, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
||||||||
|
Net loss
|
$ | (3,401,098 | ) | $ | (2,093,267 | ) | ||
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss
|
||||||||
|
to net cash used in operating activities:
|
||||||||
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
47,204 | 55,852 | ||||||
|
Impairment of intangible assets, net of related liabilities
|
640,805 | 1,316,233 | ||||||
|
Expense for value of stock issued in excess of value received
|
||||||||
|
and for warrant expense
|
1,161,593 | 216,283 | ||||||
|
Stock issued for services
|
158,149 | - | ||||||
|
Increase / (decrease) in:
|
||||||||
|
Receivables
|
10,165 | (10,165 | ) | |||||
|
Inventory
|
9,482 | - | ||||||
|
Deposits and prepaid expenses
|
(8,966 | ) | (20,541 | ) | ||||
|
Accounts payable
|
(163,832 | ) | 11,194 | |||||
|
Deferred salary
|
277,500 | 240,000 | ||||||
|
Accrued interest
|
118,305 | 183,234 | ||||||
|
Accrued expenses - legal judgment
|
- | (365,579 | ) | |||||
|
Other accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
217,916 | 207,723 | ||||||
|
Event acquisition liabilities
|
(240,000 | ) | ||||||
|
Deferred revenue
|
- | (6,917 | ) | |||||
|
Redemption fund reserve
|
(124,293 | ) | - | |||||
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
(1,057,070 | ) | (505,950 | ) | ||||
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
||||||||
|
Capital expenditures
|
(1,122 | ) | - | |||||
|
Acquisition deposits
|
(212,000 | ) | - | |||||
|
Net cash used by investing activities
|
(213,122 | ) | - | |||||
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
||||||||
|
Bank overdraft
|
8,260 | - | ||||||
|
Transfer from restricted cash to operating cash
|
50,023 | - | ||||||
|
Payments on line of credit
|
- | (68,041 | ) | |||||
|
Payments on loans payable to an officer and a director
|
(30,391 | ) | (54,922 | ) | ||||
|
Payments on notes payable
|
(52,500 | ) | 4,517 | |||||
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock for cash
|
1,294,000 | 625,000 | ||||||
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
1,269,392 | 506,554 | ||||||
|
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
|
(800 | ) | 604 | |||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
|
800 | 196 | ||||||
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
|
$ | 0 | $ | 800 | ||||
| Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | ||||||||
|
Cash paid during the period for interest
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
|
Cash paid during the period for income taxes
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
| Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||
|
Issuance of common stock for subscription receivable
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
|
Conversion of accrued interest into common stock
|
$ | 69,442 | $ | 163,516 | ||||
| Conversion of loans, accrued salary, accrued interest and expenses due to | ||||||||
|
an officer of the company into common stock
|
$ | 900,387 | $ | 2,759,453 | ||||
See accompanying Notes to Financial Statements
34
STRATUS MEDIA GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2009 and 2008
1. Business
Business
On March 14, 2008, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 20, 2007 by and among Feris International, Inc. (“Feris”), Feris Merger Sub, Inc. and Patty Linson, on the one hand, and Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc. (“Stratus”), on the other hand, Feris issued 49,500,000 shares of its common stock in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Stratus, resulting in Stratus becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Feris and is the surviving entity for accounting purposes (“Reverse Merger”).
In July 2008, Feris’ corporate name was changed to Stratus Media Group, Inc. (“Company”). Stratus, a California corporation, was organized on November 23, 1998 and specializes in sports and entertainment events that it owns, operates, manages, markets and sells in national markets. In addition, Stratus acquired the business of Stratus Rewards, LLC (“Stratus”) in August 2005. Stratus is a credit card rewards program that uses the Visa card platform that offers a unique luxury rewards redemption program, including private jet travel, premium travel opportunities, exclusive events and luxury merchandise. The sponsoring bank that ran the program when the Company acquired Stratus stopped processing new members and sending the Company statements in October 2007 and provided notic
e in March 2008 that it was discontinuing the program. While several card members are continuing to use their cards with the sponsor bank, the Stratus Rewards program is currently inactive and the Company has not recorded new revenues since October 2007. The Company is actively seeking a new sponsoring bank to restart the program, but there can be no assurances that it will be able to do so.
2. Going Concern
The Company has suffered losses from operations and, without additional capital, currently lacks liquidity to meet its current obligations. The Company had net losses for 2009 and 2008 of $3,401,098 and $2,093,267, respectively. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had negative working capital of $2,907,646 and cumulative losses of $18,073,782. Unless additional financing is obtained, the Company may not be able to continue as a going concern. In the twelve months ended December 31, 2009, the Company raised $1,294,000 in capital through issuance of common stock. The Company is actively seeking additional capital to establish operations, restart the card and event businesses and complete and integrate targeted acquisitions. However, due to the current economic environment and t
he Company’s current financial condition, we cannot assure current and future stockholders there will be adequate capital available when needed and on acceptable terms.
The financial statements were prepared on a going concern basis which contemplates the realization of assets and the settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The 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 if the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
3. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”), pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission “SEC”).
To be consistent with the presentation of the income statement for 2009, the income statement for the year 2008 has reclassified the $216,283 fair value charge for stock sales and warrants issued from Other income to a separate line item under Operating Expenses. To be consistent with the presentation of Accrued expenses – legal judgments as of December 31, 2009, the balance sheet as of December 31, 2008 has $30,416 for a legal judgment reclassified from Accounts payable to Accrued expenses – legal judgments.
Stock Split
On March 14, 2008, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a 3.5821 for 1.000 forward stock split of the outstanding shares of Stratus's common stock. The effective date of the stock split was March 14, 2008 and was concurrent with the Reverse Merger. All share and per share information have been adjusted to give effect to the stock split for all periods presented, including all references throughout the financial statements and accompanying notes.
35
Use of Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on our knowledge of current events and actions we may undertake in the future, actual results may differ from such estimates and assumptions.
Event Revenues
Event revenue consists of ticket sales, participant entry fees, corporate sponsorships, advertising, television broadcast fees, athlete management, concession and merchandise sales, charity receipts, commissions and hospitality functions. The Company recognizes admissions and other event-related revenues when the events are held in accordance with SEC Statement Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) 104. Revenues received in advance and related direct expenses pertaining to specific events are deferred until the events are actually held.
Stratus Rewards White Visa Card
Stratus Rewards, the Company’s affiliate redemption credit card rewards program, generates revenues from transaction fees generated by member purchases using the card, and membership fees. Revenue is recognized when transaction fees are received and membership fees are amortized and recognized ratably over the twelve-month membership period from the time of receipt.
Allowance for Uncollectible Receivables
Accounts receivable are recorded at their face amount, less an allowance for doubtful accounts. We review the status of our uncollected receivables on a regular basis. In determining the need for an allowance for uncollectible receivables, we consider our customers financial stability, past payment history and other factors that bear on the ultimate collection of such amounts.
Cash Equivalents
We consider all highly liquid investments purchased with maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash
A portion of each credit card transaction by a card member is deposited into a trust account. This account is used to fund the purchase of goods or services by the card member through redemption of purchasing points. If a card member cancels their card and leaves unclaimed redemption points, the Company is entitled to the cash equivalent of those unclaimed points. With that exception, the cash otherwise is earmarked for member benefits and is not available to the Company for use in operations.
The Company maintains its cash in an account with a major financial institution. Deposits with this financial institution may exceed the amounts of insurance provided on such deposits. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash with this financial institution.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivables, accounts payable, a line-of-credit and accrued liabilities. The carrying amounts of financial instruments approximate fair value due to their short maturities.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. We record depreciation using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:
|
Equipment
|
3 – 5 years
|
|
Furniture and fixtures
|
5 years
|
|
Software
|
3 years
|
|
Leasehold improvements
|
Lesser of lease term or life of improvements
|
36
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Intangible assets consist of goodwill related to certain events and the Stratus Rewards Visa White Card that we have acquired. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the net amounts assigned to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We apply the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, which is codified in FASB ASC Topic 350, which requires allocating goodwill to each reporting unit and testing for impairment using a two-step approach.
The Company purchased several events that are valued on the Company’s balance sheet as intangible assets with a value equal to the consideration paid for such assets, which generally include licensing rights, naming rights, merchandising rights and the right to hold such event in particular geographic locations. There was no goodwill assigned to any of these events and the value of the consideration paid for each event is considered to be the value for each related intangible asset. Each event has separate accounts for tracking revenues and expenses per event and a separate account to track the asset valuation.
A portion of the consideration used to purchase the Stratus Rewards Visa card program was allocated to specific assets, as disclosed in the footnotes to the financial statements, with the difference between the specific assets and the total consideration paid for the program being allocated to goodwill.
The Company reviews the value of intangible assets and related goodwill as part of its annual reporting process, which generally occurs in February or March of each calendar year. In between valuations, the Company conducts additional tests if circumstances warrant such testing. For example, if the Company was unable to secure the services of any sponsoring banks, the Company would then undergo a thorough valuation of the intangible assets related to its Stratus Rewards program.
To review the value of intangible assets and related goodwill, the Company compares discounted cash flow forecasts with the stated value of the assets on the balance sheet.
The events are forecasted based on historical results for those events, adjusted over time for the assumed synergies expected from discounts from purchases of goods and services from a number of events rather than from each event on its own, and for synergies resulting from the expected ability to provide sponsors with benefits from sponsoring multiple events with a single point of contact.
These forecasts are discounted at a range of discount rates determined by taking the risk-free interest rate at the time of valuation, plus a premium for equity risk, plus a premium related to small companies in general, plus a risk premium for factors specific to the Company and the business that range from 9.5% for events to 55% for the Stratus Rewards Visa card. The total discount rates ranged from 27% for events, to 69% for athlete management to 79% for the Stratus Rewards program. Terminal values are determined by taking cash flows in year five of the forecast, then applying an annual growth of 2.0% to 2.4% for twenty years and discounting that stream of cash flows by the discount rate used for that section of the business.
If the Company determines that the discount factor for cash flows should be substantially increased, or the event will not be able to being operations when planned, it is possible that the values for the intangible assets currently on the balance sheet could be substantially reduced or eliminated, which could result in a maximum charge to operations equal to the current carrying value of the intangible assets of $4,024,443.
We believe that the events carried as intangible assets on the balance sheet will generate revenues and be profitable because they were profitable when they were acquired by Stratus and the Company has demonstrated that it can operate events in a profitable manner.
The following chart shows each event with an intangible value on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 or 2008 and the peak revenue and gross margin that each event achieved prior to acquisition. It should be noted that most events while privately owned tend to commingle business and personal expenses in an attempt to minimize profitability and the attendant tax liability, and that once owned by the Company we have or intend to eliminate those personal expenses in an attempt to maximize profitability.
37
|
Pre-Acquisition Peak Year Results (rounded to nearest thousand)
|
||||||||||||||
|
Peak Year
|
Revenues
|
Gross Margin $
|
Gross Margin %
|
|||||||||||
|
Long Beach Marathon
|
1998
|
$ | 2,300,000 | $ | 1,326,000 | 57.7 | % | |||||||
|
Freedom Bowl
|
1996
|
3,603,000 | 607,000 | 16.8 | % | |||||||||
|
Athlete management
|
1999
|
1,150,000 | 375,000 | 32.6 | % | |||||||||
|
Santa Barbara Concours
|
2000
|
880,000 | 229,000 | 26.0 | % | |||||||||
|
Concours on Rodeo
|
2001
|
1,304,000 | 274,000 | 21.0 | % | |||||||||
|
Core Tour
|
2002
|
2,300,000 | 667,000 | 29.0 | % | |||||||||
|
Maui Music Festival
|
2000
|
923,000 | 203,000 | 22.0 | % | |||||||||
| $ | 12,460,000 | $ | 3,681,000 | 29.5 | % | |||||||||
Of the above events, only the Core Tour events and a smaller-scale Concours on Rodeo were run by the Company after being acquired. The following table shows the revenues and gross margin for these two events, along with the results for the Stratus Rewards program after it was acquired by the Company:
|
Period
|
Post Acquisition
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Operated
|
Revenues
|
Gross Margin $
|
Gross Margin %
|
|||||||||||||
|
Core Tour
|
FY 2004
|
$ | 1,457,406 | $ | 379,930 | 26.1 | % | |||||||||
|
Stratus Rewards
|
8/05-10/07
|
517,620 | 517,620 | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||
|
Concours on Rodeo
|
7/07 | 129,259 | 53,139 | 41.1 | % | |||||||||||
| $ | 2,104,285 | $ | 950,689 | 45.2 | % | |||||||||||
As of December 31, 2009, the following are the results and assumptions used for the valuation of intangibles assets and goodwill:
|
As of 12/31/2009
|
Year
|
Annual
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Book
|
Fair
|
Fair Value
|
Discount
|
Revenues
|
Growth
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Event/Item
|
Balance
|
Value
|
As % of Book
|
Rate
|
Begin
|
Rate
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Concours on Rodeo
|
$ | 169,958 | $ | 615,075 | 362 | % | 30 | % | 2010 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||
|
Santa Barbara Concours
|
243,000 | 591,760 | 244 | % | 30 | % | 2010 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||
|
Core Tour
|
1,067,069 | 1,942,698 | 182 | % | 30 | % | 2010 | 16 | % | |||||||||||||||
|
Freedom Bowl
|
344,232 | 1,224,648 | 356 | % | 30 | % | 2012 | 7 | % | |||||||||||||||
|
Maui Music
|
400,000 | 510,356 | 128 | % | 30 | % | 2011 | 13 | % | |||||||||||||||
|
Total Events
|
2,224,259 | 4,884,537 | 220 | % | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stratus Rewards:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Technology
|
193,239 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Membership list
|
60,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Corporate partner list
|
23,300 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Corporate membership
|
450,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Goodwill
|
1,073,345 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total Stratus Rewards
|
1,800,184 | 15,740,151 | 874 | % | 83 | % | 2010 | 171 | % | |||||||||||||||
|
Total Events & Stratus
|
$ | 4,024,443 | $ | 20,624,688 | 512 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
The Company believes that Core Tour and Maui Music Festival are most at risk for additional impairment charges in the future because the fair value for each event is less than 200% of the book value for such events.
Key assumptions and risk factors for each of the events and Stratus Rewards are as follows. Each event carries general risks of restarting an event after being dormant for a number of years and requires the availability of sufficient capital, along with the specific risks mentioned below.
Most events are held during the summer months and require approximately six months of lead time to adequately plan the event. We believe that with the receipt of adequate funding by the second quarter of 2010, we will have more than sufficient time to plan and execute the Concours on Rodeo, Core Tour and Maui Music events for 2010. To allow for the NCAA approval process, we deferred the assumed start of the Freedom Bowl until 2011.
38
Concours on Rodeo: we plan on running this car show in 2010 and have initiated a number of internal meetings and planning sessions to do so. Revenues in 2010 are forecast at $691,000, compared with peak revenues in 2001 of $1,304,000, based on the assumption that the first year of restarting this event will result in revenues of approximately one half of the peak revenues. Revenues are assumed to grow at 7% per year thereafter as the event becomes reestablished and gains in popularity. This event was last operated by the Company in August 2007. In order to allow for ticket revenue and restricted access, Stratus is planning on moving from the Rodeo Drive location used in the past to the Playboy Mansion
and UCLA. The success of the event is dependent on revenues from sponsorship, gated VIP and special events held in conjunction with the event, and entrance fees for vehicles.
Santa Barbara Concours: The Company planned to operate the Santa Barbara Concours in 2009 but had to postpone the event due to venue site problems. A smaller-scale charity version of this event was last run by the Company in 2007. Revenues in 2010 are forecast at $686,000, which is approximately 75% of the $880,000 peak revenues obtained in 2000, when one event was held in that year and the current plans call for three events to be held consecutively. After reestablishing the event, it is assumed to grow at a rate of 7% per year. Depending on the venue selected for the event, the Company may have to obtain local permits, the granting of which cannot be assured.
Core Tour: The Company has been in discussions with the former principals of the Core Tour for them to play active operations management consulting roles to initiate the Core Tour in 2010. This event has not been run since 2004. Revenues are forecast to begin in 2010 at $1,935,000, compared with peak revenues in 2002 of $2,300,000. Revenues are assumed to grow at 16% per year thereafter as the events become established. In addition to the need to obtain local permits to conduct the events, the involvement of the former principals is important for the event to be successfully run, since these principals have extensive knowledge of the market, the venues and the competitors.
Freedom Bowl: this event was last conducted in 1996, prior to the Company’s acquisition of this event in 1998. The Company plans to begin recertification in 2010 to allow for sufficient time for the National College Athletics Association to recertify this event for 2011 and strategic negotiations with target NCAA Conference alignment. Revenues in 2012 are forecast to be $3,124,000, compared with peak revenues in 1996 of $3,603,000. Revenues are assumed to grow at 7% per year thereafter as the event becomes established. In order to conduct this event successfully, the Company must obtain certification from the NCAA, obtain acceptance and cooperation from the appropriate NCAA Conference(s), and obtain t
elevision coverage with acceptable economics.
Maui Music Festival: this event was last conducted in 2002, prior to its acquisition by the Company in 2003. This event is planned to be restarted in the summer of 2012, with forecast revenues of $670,000, compared with peak revenues in 2000 of $923,000. After restarting the event, revenues are assumed to increase at 13% per annum thereafter. In order to conduct this event successfully, the Company must obtain local permits, engage the appropriate artists to perform and obtain the cooperation of local hotels and tour operators to establish “package” deals for customers to combine attendance at the festival with hotel and vacation planning.
Stratus Rewards VISA Program: we have initiated discussions with several banks regarding their involvement as the affiliate bank for this program with a tentative launch for summer of 2010. Revenues for 2010 are forecast to be $2,508,337, which is substantially higher than the $517,620 of revenues realized in the 22 months the program was run by Stratus. The limited amount of revenues realized during this 22 month period was largely related to the then-sponsoring bank limiting the acceptance of new cardholders. This is based on the assumption that a new sponsoring bank will activate more users than the passive involvement of the prior bank and resulting failure to process applications shown by the prior sponsoring bank.
60;In order for this effort to be successful, the Company must engage a sponsoring bank and that bank must actively support the Company’s efforts in establishing and expanding this program. In addition, the credit card market is highly regulated and if regulations change in such a manner that restricts the Company’s ability to expand, the value of the intangibles related to the Stratus Rewards VISA program could be adversely affected.
We have hired an experienced bank executive as Vice President of Stratus Rewards with the sole responsibility to obtain one or more new banks as partners in the program and to relaunch the program by 2010. We are in active discussions with a bank in Europe to serve as the issuing bank for this program starting in the fourth quarter of 2010, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to conclude a definitive agreement with this bank and start issuing cards under the program.
We perform a goodwill impairment test annually or whenever a change has occurred that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of an intangible asset below its carrying amount. We engaged an outside service provider, who computed the estimated fair value of our intangible assets at December 31, 2009, using several valuation techniques, including discounted cash flow analysis. The service provider computed future projected cash flows using information we provided, including estimated future results of the events and card operations. We then compared the estimated fair value of the reporting unit to the carrying value of the reporting unit.
As of December 31, 2008, the Company determined that the $255,000 value of the Snow & Ski Tour and the $61,233 value of the Millrose games were impaired and $1,000,000 of goodwill for Stratus was impaired and these amounts were written off as of that date, net of $301,233 reduction in related liabilities, for a net charge of $1,015,000 taken to operating expenses.
39
As of December 31, 2009, the Company determined that the seller of the Concours on Rodeo event could not deliver the vote of the merchants on Rodeo Drive to allow the event to be held there. Because of that determination and the statute of limitations had expired on the ability of the sellers to collect on the remaining portion of the event acquisition liability, the Company eliminated the remaining event acquisition liability and wrote the $430,043 against the Concours on Rodeo intangible asset, resulting in no net expense. During 2009, a trademark expired relating to the Long Beach Marathon and the Company has elected to not renew the trademark and to no longer plan to conduct this event in the future. Accordingly, an impairment charge of $300,000 was taken in 2009. In addition, the Company
determined that $15,000 of intangible assets for athlete management had been impaired and a charge was taken in 2009 for this amount. The fair value for the Maui Music Festival as of December 31, 2009 was determined to be $510,356, which was less than the book value of this asset. Accordingly, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $325,805 to bring the book value for the Maui Music Festival to $400,000.
Research and Development
Research and development costs not related to contract performance are expensed as incurred. We did not incur any research and development expenses for 2009 or 2008.
Capitalized Software Costs
We did not capitalize any software development costs during the years 2009 or 2008. Costs related to the development of new software products and significant enhancements to existing software products are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established and are amortized over three years.
Valuation of Long-Lived Assets
We account for long-lived assets in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, which is codified in FASB ASC Topic 360, which requires that long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds their fair value. Assets to be disposed of by sale are reflected a
t the lower of their carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.
Inventory
Inventory consists of event merchandise valued at the lower of cost (determined on the first-in, first-out basis) or market. If deemed necessary, we will provide reserves for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of the inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. We had no inventory reserves at December 31, 2009 or 2008.
Net Loss Per Share
We compute net loss per share in accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings Per Share, which is codified in FASB ASC Topics 260. Basic per share data is computed by dividing loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted per share data is computed by dividing loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average shares outstanding during the period increased to include, if dilutive, the number of additional common share equivalents that would have been outstanding if potential common shares had been issued using the treasury stock method. Diluted per share data would also include the potential common share equivalents relating to convertible securities by application of the if-converted met
hod.
The effect of common stock equivalents (which include outstanding warrants and stock options) are not included for the years 2009 or 2008, as they are antidilutive to loss per share.
Stock-Based Compensation
Effective January 1 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123R, Share Based Payment (SFAS No. 123R), which is codified in FASB ASC Topic 718, using the modified prospective transition method. New awards and awards modified, repurchased or cancelled after January 1, 2006 trigger compensation expense based on the fair value of the stock option as determined by the Black-Scholes option pricing model. We amortize stock-based compensation for such awards on a straight-line method over the related service period of the awards taking into account the effects of the employees’ expected exercise and post-vesting employment termination behavior.
40
We account for equity instruments issued to non-employees in accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123R and EITF Issue No. 96-18.
The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury interest rates, the terms of which are consistent with the expected life of the stock options. There were no option grants in 2009 or 2008. Future option grants will be calculated using expected volatility based upon the average volatility of our common stock.
On January 1, 2007 we granted 4,862,895 options to purchase shares of our common stock that vested upon grant. We did not recognize any share-based payment expense in the years ended December 31, 2009 or 2008.
Advertising
We expense the cost of advertising as incurred. Such amounts have not historically been significant to our operations.
Income Taxes
The Company utilizes SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," which is codified in FASB ASC Topics 740-10 and 740-30, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at each year-end based on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The provision for income taxes represents the t
ax payable for the period and the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.
As of December 31, 2009, the Company had a deferred tax asset of $7,376,945, that was fully reserved and a net operating loss carryforward of approximately $15,009,560 for Federal purposes. The Company will continue to monitor all available evidence and reassess the potential realization of its deferred tax assets. If the Company continues to meet its financial projections and improve its results of operations, or if circumstances otherwise change, it is possible that the Company may release all or a portion of its valuation allowance in the future. Any such release would result in recording a tax benefit that would increase net income in the period the valuation is released.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FSP No. SFAS 157-4, “Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly” (“FSP No. SFAS 157-4”). FSP No. SFAS 157-4, which is codified in FASB ASC Topics 820-10-35-51 and 820-10-50-2, provides additional guidance for estimating fair value and emphasizes that even if there has been a significant decrease in the volume and level of activity for the asset or liability and regardless of the valuation technique(s) used, the objective of a fair value measurement remains the same. The Company adopted FSP No. SFAS 157-4 beginning April 1, 2009. This FSP had no material impact on the
Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, “Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments,” which is codified in FASB ASC Topic 320-10. This FSP modifies the requirements for recognizing other-than-temporarily impaired debt securities and changes the existing impairment model for such securities. The FSP also requires additional disclosures for both annual and interim periods with respect to both debt and equity securities. Under the FSP, impairment of debt securities will be considered other-than-temporary if an entity (1) intends to sell the security, (2) more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovering its cost, or (3) does not expect to recover the security’s entire amortized cost basis (even if the entity does not intend to
sell). The FSP further indicates that, depending on which of the above factor(s) causes the impairment to be considered other-than-temporary, (1) the entire shortfall of the security’s fair value versus its amortized cost basis or (2) only the credit loss portion would be recognized in earnings while the remaining shortfall (if any) would be recorded in other comprehensive income. This FSP requires entities to initially apply the provisions of the standard to previously other-than-temporarily impaired debt securities existing as of the date of initial adoption by making a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The cumulative-effect adjustment potentially reclassifies the noncredit portion of a previously other-than-temporarily impaired debt security held as of the date of initial adoption from retained earnings to accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company does not believe that this FSP has any material impa
ct on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In April 2009, the FASB issued FSP No. SFAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” which is codified in FASB ASC Topic 825-10-50. This FSP essentially expands the disclosure about fair value of financial instruments that were previously required only annually to also be required for interim period reporting. In addition, the FSP requires certain additional disclosures regarding the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments. These additional disclosures are required beginning with the quarter ending June 30, 2009.
41
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, “Subsequent Events,” codified in FASB ASC Topic 855-10-05, which provides guidance to establish general standards of accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. SFAS No. 165 also requires entities to disclose the date through which subsequent events were evaluated as well as the rationale for why that date was selected. SFAS No. 165 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009, and accordingly, the Company adopted this pronouncement during the second quarter of 2009. SFAS No. 165 requires that public entities evaluate subsequent events through the date that the financial statements are issued.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140,” codified as FASB ASC Topic 860, which requires entities to provide more information regarding sales of securitized financial assets and similar transactions, particularly if the entity has continuing exposure to the risks related to transferred financial assets. SFAS No. 166 eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity,” changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets and requires additional disclosures. SFAS No. 166 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company does not believe the adoption of SFAS No. 166 will have an impact on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R),” codified as FASB ASC Topic 810-10, which modifies how a company determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be consolidated. SFAS No. 167 clarifies that the determination of whether a company is required to consolidate an entity is based on, among other things, an entity’s purpose and design and a company’s ability to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. SFAS No. 167 requires an ongoing reassessment of whether a company is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. SFAS No. 167 also requires additional disclosures about a company’s involvement in variable inte
rest entities and any significant changes in risk exposure due to that involvement. SFAS No. 167 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company does not believe the adoption of SFAS No. 167 will have an impact on its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
On July 1, 2009, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2009-01, “Topic 105 - Generally Accepted Accounting Principles - amendments based on Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 168 , “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“ASU No. 2009-01”). ASU No. 2009-01 re-defines authoritative U.S. GAAP for nongovernmental entities to be only comprised of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification™ (“Codification”) and, for SEC registrants, guidance issued by the SEC. The Codification is a reorganization and compilation of all then-existing authoritative U.S. GAAP for nongovernmental entities, except for guidance issued by the SEC. The Codificatio
n is amended to effect non-SEC changes to authoritative U.S. GAAP. Adoption of ASU No. 2009-01 only changed the referencing convention of U.S GAAP in Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
4. Litigation
In connection with a settlement agreement in May 2005, a judgment was entered in the Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles against the Company in favor of the previous owners of the “Core Tour” event of $482,126 plus interest. The dispute arose out of the Company’s asset purchase of the “Core Tour” event from the plaintiffs. As of December 31, 2008, the Company recorded the $482,126 judgment. On July 31, 2008, Stratus Management and Core Tour have agreed to a revised settlement whereby Stratus will retain all rights of the Core Tour events in exchange for $482,126 in cash by December 31, 2008 and 74,000 shares of Common Stock as payment of interest. The Company is currently in default of this revised settlement and is actively working on modifying this revised
settlement to extend the due date for payment. If the Company is not able to agree on a timetable for payment of the $482,126 and/or is not able to pay the Core Tour parties, the Core Tour parties have the right to enforce their judgment against the Company in that amount, but under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company retains all rights to the Core Tour assets. On December 31, 2008, the Company issued 102,840 shares of our common stock to the owners of the Core Tour as payment for accrued interest on the judgment as of that date. These shares were valued at the $163,516 based on the closing stock price of our common stock as of that date, and accrued interest on the books of $172,993 was reversed, with the difference going to other income.
On August 18, 2008 two judgments totaling $70,805 were entered against Stratus related to wage claims for two former employees. This amount was taken as an expense in the three months ended September 30, 2008.
In February 2006, a former employee filed an action against the Company in Los Angeles court, alleging breach of employment contract. In October 2006, the court entered a default judgment against the defendants for $363,519 and the Company recorded a charge and set up a reserve of this amount for the year ended December 31, 2006. In September 2007, the Company filed a motion to set aside the default judgment, which was granted in March 2008. The Company reversed the reserve of $363,519 during the three months ended March 31, 2008. In May 2008, plaintiff filed an appeal of the order setting aside the default judgment. In June 2009, the court of appeal affirmed the order setting aside the default judgment, and trial in this matter is set for July 2010. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to t
he action and has not taken any expense or established a reserve during 2009.
42
5. Acquisition of Stratus Rewards
In accordance with the Asset Purchase Agreement dated August 15, 2005, by and between the Company and Stratus Rewards LLC (“Stratus Purchase Agreement”), Stratus acquired the business of Stratus, a credit card rewards program.
The total consideration for this acquisition was $3,000,000, with Stratus entering into a note payable of $1,000,000 and issuing 666,667 common shares valued at $2,000,000. The note is payable in eight quarterly equal payments over a 24 month period, with the first payment due upon completion of the first post-public merger funding of a minimum amount of $3,000,000.
The Stratus Purchase Agreement which specifically included the transfer to the Company of tangible personal property such as computers and all intellectual property, goodwill associated therewith, licenses and sublicenses. Stratus Rewards had at least $1.4 million of computer hardware and at least $0.2 million of computer software, all of which should have been transferred to the Company pursuant to the Stratus Purchase Agreement. These computer and software assets were not included in the accounting for the acquisition of Stratus Rewards by Pro Sports and the value of the computer hardware and software that was not received was allocated to goodwill. The owner of Stratus Rewards received notice on May 15, 2006 that if he did not deliver this hardware and software within 30 days, that the amount of cons
ideration he was entitled to would be reduced by at least the $1,000,000 amount of the note, if not an additional $1,000,000 value in the common stock issued as consideration. The owner responded on June 2, 2006 that his former law firm owned the computer hardware and software and he did not have the authority to release these items to the Company.
As a result, the Company intends to vigorously dispute the validity of the $1,000,000 note to the former owner and seek to have it canceled.
The results of operations of the business acquired have been included in the Company’s Statements of Operations from the date of acquisition. Depreciation and amortization related to the acquisition were calculated based on the estimated fair market values and estimated useful lives for property and equipment and an independent valuation for certain identifiable intangible assets acquired.
The sponsoring bank that ran the program when the Company acquired Stratus stopped processing new members and sending the Company statements in October 2007 and provided notice in March 2008 that it was discontinuing the program. While several cardmembers are continuing to use their cards with the sponsor bank, the Stratus Rewards program is currently inactive and the Company has not recorded new revenues since October 2007. The Company is seeking a new sponsoring bank to restart the program, but there can be no assurances that it will be able to do so. Despite this inactive status, the Company believes that the brand and value of the business remains intact and will increase in value with the addition of a new sponsoring bank. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded any impairment of the c
arrying value on its financial statements.
6. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment were as follows:
43
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Computers and peripherals
|
$ | 52,873 | $ | 52,873 | ||||
|
Office Machines
|
11,058 | 11,058 | ||||||
|
Furniture and fixtures
|
56,468 | 56,468 | ||||||
| 120,399 | 120,399 | |||||||
|
Less accumulated depreciation
|
(118,601 | ) | (117,930 | ) | ||||
|
Total Assets
|
$ | 1,798 | $ | 2,469 | ||||
For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, depreciation expense was $1,793 and $10,442, respectively
7. Goodwill and intangible assets
Goodwill and intangible assets were as follows:
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Licensing rights for events
|
$ | 2,224,258 | $ | 3,295,106 | ||||
|
Goodwill for Stratus Rewards
|
1,073,345 | 1,073,345 | ||||||
|
Identified intangible assets for Stratus Rewards
|
726,840 | 772,249 | ||||||
|
Total intangible assets and goodwill
|
$ | 4,024,443 | $ | 5,104,700 | ||||
Intangible assets of the Company were as follows:
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Intangible Assets Events
|
||||||||
|
Long Beach Marathon
|
$ | - | $ | 300,000 | ||||
|
Concours on Rodeo
|
169,957 | 600,000 | ||||||
|
Santa Barbara Concours d'Elegance
|
243,000 | 243,000 | ||||||
|
Cour Tour/Action Sports Tour
|
1,067,069 | 1,067,069 | ||||||
|
Freedom Bowl
|
344,232 | 344,232 | ||||||
|
Maui Music Festival
|
400,000 | 725,805 | ||||||
|
Athlete Management
|
- | 15,000 | ||||||
|
Total - Events
|
2,224,258 | 3,295,106 | ||||||
|
Stratus Rewards
|
||||||||
|
Purchased Licensed Technology, net of
|
193,240 | 227,849 | ||||||
| accumulated amortization of $152,860 and $83,641 | ||||||||
|
Membership List, net of accuulated amortization
|
60,300 | 71,100 | ||||||
|
of $47,700 and $26,100
|
||||||||
|
Corporate Partner List
|
23,300 | 23,300 | ||||||
|
Corporate Membership
|
450,000 | 450,000 | ||||||
|
Total - Stratus Rewards
|
726,840 | 772,249 | ||||||
|
Total Intangible Assets
|
$ | 2,951,098 | $ | 4,067,355 | ||||
In accordance with SFAS No. 142, the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets, other than the purchased licensed technology and the membership list for Stratus, are considered to have indefinite lives and are therefore no longer amortized, but rather are subject to annual impairment tests. The Company’s annual impairment testing date is December 31, but the Company monitors the facts and circumstances for all intangible properties and will record an impairment if warranted by adverse changes in facts and circumstances.
As of December 31, 2008, the Company determined that the $255,000 value of the Snow & Ski Tour and the $61,233 value of the Millrose games were impaired and $1,000,000 of goodwill for Stratus was impaired and these amounts were written off as of that date, net of $301,233 reduction in related liabilities, for a net charge of $1,015,000 taken to operating expenses.
44
As of December 31, 2009, the Company determined that the seller of the Concours on Rodeo event could not deliver the vote of the merchants on Rodeo Drive to allow the event to be held there. Because of that determination and the statute of limitations had expired on the ability of the sellers to collect on the remaining portion of the event acquisition liability, the Company eliminated the remaining event acquisition liability and wrote the $430,043 against the Concours on Rodeo intangible asset, resulting in no net expense. During 2009, a trademark expired relating to the Long Beach Marathon and the Company has elected to not renew the trademark and to no longer plan to conduct this event in the future. Accordingly, an impairment charge of $300,000 was taken in 2009. In addition, the Company
determined that $15,000 of intangible assets for athlete management had been impaired and a charge was taken in 2009 for this amount. The fair value for the Maui Music Festival as of December 31, 2009 was determined to be $510,356, which was less than the book value of this asset. Accordingly, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $325,805 to bring the book value for the Maui Music Festival to $400,000.
The purchased licensed technology and membership list are being amortized over their estimated useful life of 10 years. For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, amortization expense was $45,410 and $45,410, respectively.
8. Deferred Salary
Our president has an employment contract that stipulates an annual salary of $240,000. He has not received cash payments for salary since prior to 2006 and the $240,000 per year is accrued on a quarterly basis. As noted in Footnote 10 below, on December 31, 2009 and 2008, he accepted shares as payment for deferred salary and other amounts due to him. An employee of the Company is currently receiving 50% of his base salary in cash and deferring 50% until the Company’s cash position improves. As of December 31, 2009, this deferred salary was $37,500.
9. Accrued expenses – legal judgments
As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, we had $95,732 reserved as Accrued expenses – legal judgments to accrue for a judgment of $65,316 related to amounts due under a consulting contract related to the acquisition of an event, and $30,416 related to allegedly unpaid legal bills from a former attorney for the Company. Please see Footnote 4 for addition information regarding these amounts.
In connection with a consulting contract related to the acquisition of an event, the consultant obtained an arbitration award, by default, against the Company in August 2005 for $65,316 in the Los Angeles Superior Court. In September 2005, the plaintiff filed a petition against the Company to confirm the Award against the Company. In January 2006, the court entered a judgment on the Award and in October 2007, the Company filed a motion to set aside the Judgment on the basis of lack of service. In November 2007, the court denied the motion to set aside the Judgment. The Company recorded an expense of $65,316 in the year ended December 31, 2007 and has fully reserved this amount.
A former attorney for the Company filed an action against the Company in Los Angeles Superior Court seeking to collect allegedly unpaid legal fees in September 2005. Plaintiff purported to effect service on the Company by service on the California Secretary of State, and on its President by publication. Plaintiff obtained a default judgment in July 2006 for $30,416. In February 2008, the Company filed a motion to set aside the default judgment, and for leave to defend the action. The motion was denied. This amount is fully reserved on the Company’s financial statements.
10. Accrued liabilities
Accrued liabilities consisted of the following:
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Professional fees
|
$ | 163,207 | $ | 128,908 | ||||
|
Travel expenses
|
202,436 | 147,509 | ||||||
|
Consultant's fees
|
194,482 | 217,199 | ||||||
|
Payroll tax liabilities
|
348,638 | 270,047 | ||||||
|
Other
|
81,248 | 52,279 | ||||||
|
Total accrued liabilities
|
$ | 990,011 | $ | 815,942 | ||||
11. Loans payable to an officer and a director
The Loans Payable to Officer and Director represents a loan from the Company’s President and a member of the board of directors and amounted to the following at December 31, 2009 and 2008.
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Loan payable to officer (also a director), interest at 9.5% per annum
|
$ | 210,000 | $ | 767,488 | ||||
|
Loan payable to a director, interest at 10.0% per annum
|
105,000 | 125,000 | ||||||
|
Total
|
$ | 315,000 | $ | 892,488 | ||||
45
These loans are unsecured, due on demand, have no priority or subordination features, do not bear any restrictive covenants and contain no acceleration provisions. Interest expense on loans to officer and director for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was $81,862 and $106,914, respectively.
On December 31, 2008, the Company issued 1,735,505 shares of common stock to the President of the Company as payment of a total of $2,597,705 for a portion of the loan due to him along with accrued salary, accrued interest and other expenses. The number of shares was determined by dividing the amounts owed by the Volume Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) for 30 days prior to December 31, 2008. The shares were valued at $2,759,453 based on the closing price of the common stock on December 31, 2008, and $161,748 was taken as a fair value expense in operating expenses.
On December 31, 2009, the Company issued 425,836 shares of common stock to the President of the Company as payment of a total of $900,387 for a portion of the loan due to him along with accrued salary, accrued interest and other expenses. The number of shares was determined by dividing the amounts owed by the Volume Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) for 30 days prior to December 31, 2009. The shares were valued at $958,131 based on the closing price of the common stock on December 31, 2009, and $57,744 was taken as a fair value expense in operating expenses.
12. Notes payable to related parties
Notes Payable to Related Parties consisted of the following:
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
To shareholder (unsecured), dated January 14, 2005, with maturity of May 14, 2005. The principal amount
and accrued interest were payable <
/font>on May 14, 2005, plus interest at 10% per annum. This note is currently
in default.
|
$ | 70,000 | $ | 70,000 | ||||
|
To shareholder (unsecured), dated February 1, 2005, with maturity of June 1, 2005. The principal amount
and accrued interest were payable on June 1, 2005, plus interest at 10% per annum. This note is currently
in default.
|
10,000 | 10,000 | ||||||
|
To shareholder (unsecured), dated February 5, 2005, with maturity of June 5, 2005. The principal amount
and accrued interest were payable on June 5, 2005, plus interest at 10% per annum. This note is currently
in default.
|
10,000 | 10,000 | ||||||
|
To shareholder (unsecured) related to purchase of Stratus. The note is payable in eight quarterly equal
payments over a 24 month period, with the first payment due upon completion of the first post-public
merger funding, with such funding to be at a minimum amount of $3,000,000.
|
1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | ||||||
|
Total
|
1,090,000 | 1,090,000 | ||||||
|
Less: current portion
|
465,000 | 465,000 | ||||||
|
Long-term portion
|
$ | 625,000 | $ | 625,000 | ||||
These notes are unsecured, have no priority or subordination features, do not bear any restrictive covenants and contain no acceleration provisions. The $1,000,000 note related to the purchase of Stratus Rewards does not bear interest. For the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company incurred interest expense on these Notes Payable to Related Parties of $9,000 and $9,000, respectively.
13. Notes payable
Notes Payable consisted of the following:
46
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
To a shareholder (unsecured) $100,000 made in August 2008 and $84,517 made after
November 2008. Payable on demand and bears interest at 10%.
|
$ | 132,017 | $ | 184,517 | ||||
|
To non-shareholder (unsecured). Payable on demand and does not bear interest
|
10,000 | 10,000 | ||||||
|
Total
|
$ | 142,017 | $ | 194,517 | ||||
These notes are unsecured, have no priority or subordination features, do not bear any restrictive covenants and contain no acceleration provisions. For 2009 and 2008, the Company incurred interest expense on these Notes Payable of $15,920 and $18,800, respectively.
14. Event acquisition liabilities
The following sets forth the liabilities, in relation to the acquisition of events (refer to Note 7), assumed by the Company:
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Concours on Rodeo
|
$ | - | $ | 430,043 | ||||
|
Core Tour/Action Sports Tour
|
483,718 | 483,717 | ||||||
| $ | 483,718 | $ | 913,760 | |||||
As of December 31, 2009, the Company determined that the seller of the event could not deliver the vote of the merchants on Rodeo Drive to allow the event to be held there. Because of that determination and the statute of limitations had expired on the ability of the sellers to collect on the remaining portion of the event acquisition liability, the Company eliminated the remaining event acquisition liability and wrote the $430,043 against the Concours on Rodeo intangible asset, resulting in no net expense.
15. Redemption fund reserve
The redemption fund reserve records the liabilities related to the Company’s obligations to pay for the redemption of rewards from the Stratus credit card rewards program. On December 31, 2009, concerns about the collectability of the remaining $112,832 in restricted cash resulted in the Company writing off this amount and the offsetting balance in the redemption fund reserve.
16. Other income
Other income consisted of the following:
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Other (Income)/Expense
|
||||||||
|
Writeoff of old accounts payable
|
$ | (312,971 | ) | $ | (20,642 | ) | ||
|
Decrease in legal accruals
|
- | (365,579 | ) | |||||
| Judgment from two former employees | 70,805 | |||||||
|
Other
|
1,885 | (182 | ) | |||||
|
Net other (income)/expense
|
$ | (311,086 | ) | $ | (315,598 | ) | ||
In 2009, Other income reflected a gain of $312,971 on the writeoff for accounts payable related to events that were canceled in 2004 and 2005 and which were past the statute of limitations for collection. In 2008, Other income included a $365,579 gain from reversing an accrual for legal judgment when the related court case was dismissed, offset by $70,805 of accruals for a judgment against Stratus related to two former employees, and a $20,642 gain from the writeoff of old payables related to events that were canceled and which were past the statute of limitations for collection.
47
17. Related party transactions
From prior to fiscal 2006 through June of 2009, the Company rented office space owned by the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The total rent expense accrued by the Company in 2009 and 2008 was $30,000 and $48,000, respectively. The Company believes such rents were at or below prevailing market rates and terminated the rental of this space at the end of June 2009.
During 2009, the Company repaid $20,000 on a loan of $125,000 made on January 19, 2005 from an individual who became a director of the Company on April 30, 2009, bringing the balance owed to this director from $125,000 to $105,000.
18. Shareholders’ Deficit
Common Stock
On March 14, 2008, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 20, 2007 (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among Feris International, Inc. (“Feris”), Feris Merger Sub, Inc. and Patty Linson, on the one hand, and Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc. (“Stratus”), on the other hand, Feris issued 49,500,000 shares of its common stock in exchange for all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Stratus, resulting in a “reverse merger” in which Stratus became a wholly owned subsidiary of Feris and is the surviving entity for accounting purposes.
During 2009 and 2008, the Company raised $1,294,000 and $625,000, respectively, through the issuance of 1,100,707 and 746,254 shares of common stock, respectively.
On December 31, 2008, the Company issued 1,735,505 shares of common stock to the President of the Company as payment of a total of $2,597,705 for a portion of the money due to him along with accrued salary, accrued interest and other expenses. The number of shares was determined by dividing the amounts owed by the Volume Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) for 30 days prior to December 31, 2008. The shares were valued at $2,759,453 based on the closing price of the common stock on December 31, 2008, and $161,748 was taken as an expense in other income and expense. In the three months ended December 31, 2008, the Company issued 102,840 shares of common stock valued at $163,516 to pay the owners of Core Tour accrued interest on this amount of $172,993.
On December 31, 2009, the Company issued 425,836 shares of common stock to the President of the Company as payment of a total of $900,387 for a portion of the loan due to him along with accrued salary, accrued interest and other expenses. The number of shares was determined by dividing the amounts owed by the Volume Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) for 30 days prior to December 31, 2009. The shares were valued at $958,131 based on the closing price of the common stock on December 31, 2009, and $57,744 was taken as a fair value expense in operating expenses.
Stock Options
There was no non-cash stock option expense in 2009 or 2008.
The following table sets forth the activity of our stock options to purchase common stock:
|
Options Outstanding
|
Options Exercisable
|
||||||||||||
| Weighted | |||||||||||||
|
Average
|
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
|||||||||||
|
Remaining
|
Average
|
Average
|
|||||||||||
|
Range of
|
Options
|
Life in
|
Exercise
|
Options
|
Exercise
|
||||||||
|
Exercise Prices
|
Outstanding
|
Years
|
Price
|
Exercisable
|
Price
|
||||||||
|
Year ended December 31, 2007
|
$0.14-$0.84
|
6,161,084
|
4.0
|
$0.21
|
5,709,852
|
$0.21
|
|||||||
|
Year ended December 31, 2008
|
$0.14-$0.84
|
5,738,509
|
3.3
|
$0.19
|
5,738,509
|
$0.19
|
|||||||
|
Year ended December 31, 2009
|
$0.14-$0.84
|
5,730,509
|
2.3
|
$0.19
|
5,730,509
|
$0.19
|
|||||||
48
|
Options Outstanding
|
Options Exercisable
|
|||||||||||||||||
| Weighted | Weighted | |||||||||||||||||
| Price per | Average | Aggregate | Average | Aggregate | ||||||||||||||
|
Number
|
Share
|
Exercise
|
Instrinsic
|
Number
|
Exercise
|
Instrinsic
|
||||||||||||
|
of Shares
|
Range
|
Price
|
Value (a)
|
of Shares
|
Price
|
Value (a)
|
||||||||||||
|
Balance as of December 31, 2007
|
6,161,084
|
$0.14-$0.84
|
$0.21
|
n.a.
|
6,161,084
|
$0.21
|
n.a.
|
|||||||||||
|
Forfeited
|
(422,575)
|
$0.43-$0.84
|
$0.44
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Exercised
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Granted
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Balance as of December 31, 2008
|
5,738,509
|
$0.14-$0.84
|
$0.19
|
$ 8,033,913
|
5,738,509
|
$0.19
|
$ 8,033,913
|
|||||||||||
|
Forfeited
|
(8,000)
|
$0.43
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Exercised
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Granted
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Balance as of December 31, 2009
|
5,730,509
|
$0.14-$0.84
|
$0.19
|
$ 11,804,849
|
5,730,509
|
$0.19
|
$ 11,804,849
|
|||||||||||
|
(a)
|
The intrinsic value of an option represents the amount by which the market value of the stock exceeds the exercise price of the option of in-money options only.
|
Warrants
During 2005, the Company granted warrants with rights to purchase $36,250 of its common stock. These warrants have terms of five years and the exercise prices for these warrants will be the share prices applicable in the next Company Financing after March 2008. The warrants expire in 2010 and the exercise prices for these warrants and the number of shares for such warrants are to be determined by the share price used in such financing. The Company valued these warrants, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, at December 31, 2009 and 2008, at $0 and $0, respectively, and included this liability in other accrued expenses and other liabilities. There were no warrants granted in 2006, 2007 or 2008.
Since this Company Financing event has not occurred, the number of shares and the purchase price related to these warrants could not be determined as of December 31, 2009 or 2008. The Company analyzed these warrants in accordance with EITF pronouncement No. 00-19, “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock”. The Company determined that the warrants should be classified as a liability based on the fact that the number of shares attributable to these warrants is indeterminate.
These warrants were granted as financing costs related to notes payable agreements with two shareholders and one non-shareholder. The warrants are accounted for as financing costs which were capitalized and amortized over the five-year life of the debt. There was no related amortization expense in 2009 or 2008.
Since the number of shares and the purchase price related to these warrants can’t be determined, which in turn prevents a determination of the Black Scholes value of these warrants and consequent determination of the charge to the income statement, if any, for the periods ending on those dates.
During 2009, the Company issued warrants to purchase 60,050 shares of common stock in connection with the sale of common stock. These warrants have a strike price of $2.00 per share, vest upon issuance and a life of five years. During 2009, the Company issued warrants to three members of its board of directors to purchase a total of 1,315,000 shares of common stock at a strike price of $1.50, vesting monthly over thirty six months, and a life of five years. The total Black Scholes expense for these warrants is $1,861.470, which is being amortized over the vesting period. There are no repricing or antidilution features for these warrants. The total Black-Scholes expense for these warrants in 2009 was $388,921, using the following assumptions:
|
Range of estimated fair value of underlying common stock
|
$1.48 - $2.29
|
|
Range of remaining lives (in years)
|
4.3 - 5.0
|
|
Range of risk-free interest rates
|
1.81% - 2.31%
|
|
Range of expected volatilities
|
88% - 95%
|
|
Dividend yield
|
-
|
49
A summary of the warrants:
|
Warrants Outstanding
|
Warrants Exercisable
|
||||||||||||
| Weighted | |||||||||||||
|
Average
|
Weighted
|
Weighted
|
|||||||||||
|
Remaining
|
Average
|
Average
|
|||||||||||
|
Range of
|
Warrants
|
Life in
|
Exercise
|
Warrants
|
Exercise
|
||||||||
|
Exercise Prices
|
Outstanding
|
Years
|
Price
|
Exercisable
|
Price
|
||||||||
|
Year ended December 31, 2009
|
$1.50 - $2.00
|
1,414,050
|
4.5
|
$ 1.52
|
301,550
|
$ 1.61
|
|||||||
|
Warrants Outstanding
|
Warrants Exercisable
|
||||||||||||||
| Weighted | Weighted | ||||||||||||||
| Price per | Average | Aggregate | Average | Aggregate | |||||||||||
|
Number
|
Share
|
Exercise
|
Instrinsic
|
Number
|
Exercise
|
Instrinsic
|
|||||||||
|
of Shares
|
Range
|
Price
|
Value (a)
|
of Shares
|
Price
|
Value (a)
|
|||||||||
|
Balance as of December 31, 2009
|
1,414,050
|
$1.50-$2.00
|
$1.52
|
$ 1,032,257
|
301,550
|
$1.61
|
$ 192,992
|
||||||||
|
(a)
|
The intrinsic value of an option represents the amount by which the market value of the stock exceeds the exercise price of the option of in-money options only.
|
19. Commitments and contingencies
Office space rental
On May 1, 2009, the Company entered into a lease for approximately 1,800 square feet of office space in Santa Barbara, California for use as its executive offices. This lease was amended on July 21, 2009 and expires on December 31, 2013 with a three-year renewal term available at an initial rent plus common area charges of $5,767 per month.
From May 2008 to June 2009, our corporate headquarters were located in West Hollywood, California, where we leased approximately 2,600 square feet of space which is used for our corporate headquarters, general administrative functions, and sales and marketing efforts at $8,500 a month from April 1, 2008 to October 31, 2008, and $11,400 per month from November 1, 2008 until we vacated the lease in May 2009.
From prior to January 1, 2008 until May 2009, we leased approximately 1,800 square feet of space in Santa Barbara, California, for executive use at $4,000 per month under a lease expiring December 31, 2010.
Rent expense for 2009 and 2008 was $135,643 and $110,600, respectively.
Contractual obligations
Set forth below is information concerning our known contractual obligations as of December 31, 2009 that are fixed and determinable by year.
|
After
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
2012
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Debt obligations*
|
$ | 1,000,000 | $ | 375,000 | $ | 500,000 | $ | 125,000 | $ | - | ||||||||||
|
Other debt obligations
|
547,017 | 547,017 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
|
Event acquisition liabilities
|
483,718 | 483,718 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
|
Legal Judgments
|
95,732 | 95,732 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||
|
Rent obligations
|
138,408 | 69,204 | 69,204 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
|
Total
|
$ | 2,264,875 | $ | 1,570,671 | $ | 569,204 | $ | 125,000 | $ | - | ||||||||||
|
*
|
Debt incurred in connection with acquisition of Stratus. Repayment is triggered by first funding of at least $3,000,000. For purposes of this schedule such funding is assumed to occur by June 30, 2010
|
Employment Agreements
The Company has an Employment Agreement (“Agreement”), dated January 1, 2007, with its President and Chief Executive Officer, which requires the Company to offer a non-qualified stock option to purchase 10% of the fully diluted shares of the Company’s capital stock issued and outstanding on January 1, 2007, the effective date of the Agreement. The stock option has a term of five years at an exercise price of $1.79 per share for 4,862,894 shares and vested immediately on the date of the agreement. This stock option is subject to a customary anti-dilution provision with respect to any stock splits, mergers, reorganizations and other such events. The length of this Agreement is five years from the effective date unless the employment is terminated for another cause. During the duration of this Agreement, the C
hief Executive Officer is entitled to an annual salary of $240,000 and a bonus of $250,000 in the event a Valuing Event causes the Company to be valued in excess of $100,000,000 and an additional bonus of $500,000 in the event a Valuing Event causes the Company to be valued in excess of $500,000,000. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and the year ended December 31, 2008, no bonuses have been paid by the Company in relation to this Agreement. Pursuant to a written modification of this agreement on October 30, 2009, the President agreed the Valuing Event could only occur after January 1, 2010 and waived any right to claim a bonus related to a Valuing Event prior to January 1, 2010.
50
John Moynahan has been providing accounting and financial services to the Company as a consultant pursuant to a consulting agreement dated November 14, 2007. This consulting agreement calls for Mr. Moynahan to be reimbursed for his travel expenses and to receive $100 per hour for services provided to the Company, with a maximum of 40 hours per week to be billed to the Company. Upon the Company raising $2 million in capital, Mr. Moynahan is entitled to receive approximately $22,000 of amounts due to him from 2007 that were deferred. The Company is in the process of negotiating an employment agreement with John Moynahan. Under the agreement, Mr. Moynahan will receive an annual salary of $220,000. The proposed agreement further provides that Mr. Moynahan will receive annual stock options as appr
oved by the Board of Directors, for which a minimum of 1,557,183 options to purchase shares of common stock are currently reserved for issuance upon finalization of the proposed agreement. The exercise price for these options shall be the per share value of Company’s common stock at the time at such time as the proposed agreement is finalized and executed. Each of the options granted shall have a term of five years, shall vest one third upon grant, one third at the end of the first year of employment and one third at the end of the second year of employment. Such options shall terminate forty-five (45) days after the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated if such termination is for Cause or is the result of a resignation by Executive for reasons other than Good Reason. Such options shall not be assignable by Executive. Each option described above shall be subject to customary anti-dilution provision with respect to any stock splits, mergers, r
eorganizations or other such events. No such options have been granted to date.
20. Segment Information
Each event and the Stratus Reward program is considered an operating segment pursuant to SFAS 131 since each is budgeted separately and results of each event and the Stratus program are tracked separately to provide the chief operating decision maker information to assess and manage each event and the Stratus Program.
The characteristics of the Stratus Reward program are different than the events, so that operating segment is considered a reporting segment. The events share similar economic characteristics and are aggregated into a reporting segment pursuant to paragraph 17 of SFAS 131. All of the events provide entertainment and the logistics and production processes and methods for each event are similar: sponsorship sales, ticket and concession sales, security, stages, public address systems and the like. While the demographic characteristics of the audience can vary by event, all events cater to consumer entertainment.
A summary of results by segments is as follows:
|
As of and for the Year ended December 31, 2009
|
As of and for the Year ended December 31, 2008
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stratus
|
Stratus
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Credit Card
|
Events
|
Other
|
Total
|
Credit Card
|
Events
|
Other
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Revenues
|
$ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 6,583 | $ | 33,606 | $ | - | $ | 40,189 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Cost of sales
|
- | - | - | - | - | 24,679 | - | 24,679 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Gross margin
|
- | - | - | - | 6,583 | 8,927 | - | 15,510 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Depreciation & Amortization
|
45,410 | - | 1,794 | 47,204 | 45,410 | - | 10,442 | 55,852 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Segment profit
|
(45,410 | ) | - | (1,794 | ) | (47,204 | ) | (38,827 | ) | 8,927 | (10,442 | ) | (40,342 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Operating expenses
|
- | - | 3,542,063 | 3,542,063 | - | - | 2,182,034 | 2,182,034 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Oth. (Inc.)/Exp.
|
- | - | (188,169 | ) | (188,169 | ) | - | - | (129,109 | ) | (129,109 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net income
|
$ | (45,410 | ) | $ | - | $ | (3,355,688 | ) | $ | (3,401,098 | ) | $ | (38,827 | ) | $ | 8,927 | $ | (2,063,367 | ) | $ | (2,093,267 | ) | ||||||||||
|
Assets
|
$ | 1,800,185 | $ | 2,224,258 | $ | 258,625 | $ | 4,283,068 | $ | 2,008,449 | $ | 3,268,588 | $ | 85,295 | $ | 5,362,332 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Liabilities
|
$ | 1,000,000 | $ | 483,718 | $ | 2,305,755 | $ | 3,789,473 | $ | 1,124,293 | $ | 913,760 | $ | 2,885,289 | $ | 4,923,342 | ||||||||||||||||
51
21. Quarterly Results (Unaudited)
|
Three Months Ended (Thousands except earnings per share)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
3/31/08
|
6/30/08
|
9/30/08
|
12/31/08
|
3/31/09
|
6/30/09
|
9/30/09
|
12/31/09
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Revenues
|
$ | 39 | $ | 1 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||||
|
Gross Margin
|
14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Impairment of intangibles
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1,015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 641 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fair value charge for stock sales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
and value of warrants issued
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 216 | 111 | 305 | 110 | 635 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Other operating expenses
|
275 | 234 | 288 | 209 | 270 | 426 | 461 | 631 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total operating expenses
|
275 | 234 | 288 | 1,440 | 381 | 731 | 571 | 1,907 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Loss from operations
|
(261 | ) | (233 | ) | (288 | ) | (1,440 | ) | (381 | ) | (731 | ) | (571 | ) | (1,907 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
|
Other (income)/expenses
|
(327 | ) | 53 | (19 | ) | 164 | 27 | (21 | ) | (19 | ) | (176 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Net Loss
|
$ | 66 | $ | (286 | ) | $ | (269 | ) | $ | (1,604 | ) | $ | (408 | ) | $ | (710 | ) | $ | (552 | ) | $ | (1,731 | ) | |||||||||
| Basic and diluted earnings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
per share
|
$ | 0.00 | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | 0.00 | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | ||||||||||
| Basic and diluted weighted-average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
common shares
|
50,329 | 52,667 | 55,200 | 55,277 | 57,250 | 57,776 | 57,751 | 57,986 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
22. Income taxes
Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets for federal income taxes consisted of the following:
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Net operating loss carryforward
|
$ | 6,211,935 | $ | 4,920,659 | ||||
|
Amortization
|
(580,145 | ) | (560,692 | ) | ||||
|
Stock option compensation
|
904,334 | 904,334 | ||||||
|
Deferred compensation
|
883,794 | 764,913 | ||||||
|
Deferred state tax
|
(492,181 | ) | (390,917 | ) | ||||
|
Other
|
449,208 | 386,461 | ||||||
|
Valuation allowance
|
(7,376,945 | ) | (6,024,758 | ) | ||||
|
Net deferred tax asset
|
$ | - | $ | - | ||||
The Company had net operating loss carry-forwards (“NOL”) for federal and state income tax purposes of approximately:
|
December 31,
|
||||||||
|
2009
|
2008
|
|||||||
|
Combined NOL:
|
||||||||
|
Federal
|
$ | 15,009,560 | $ | 11,995,379 | ||||
|
California
|
12,541,676 | 9,527,495 | ||||||
The net operating loss carry-forwards begin expiring in 2020 and 2010, respectively. The utilization of net operating loss carry-forwards may be limited due to the ownership change under the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 382 and similar state provisions. The Company recorded a 100% valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets at December 31, 2009 and 2008 because of the uncertainty of their realization.
A reconciliation of the income tax credit computed at the federal statutory rate to that recorded in the financial statements for 2009 and 2008 is as follows:
52
|
December 31, 2009
|
December 31, 2008
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Rate reconciliation:
|
||||||||||||||||
|
Federal credit at statutory rate
|
(1,156,373 | ) | 39.79 | % | (711,711 | ) | 34.00 | % | ||||||||
|
State tax, net of Federal benefit
|
(198,007 | ) | 6.81 | % | (122,695 | ) | 5.86 | % | ||||||||
|
Change in valuation allowance
|
1,352,449 | -46.54 | % | 836,488 | -39.96 | % | ||||||||||
|
Other
|
2,731 | -0.09 | % | (1,282 | ) | 0.06 | % | |||||||||
|
Total provision
|
800 | -0.03 | % | 800 | -0.04 | % | ||||||||||
Given the immaterial amount of the tax provision, it was included in other income and expenses.
23. Subsequent events
Effective October 21, 2009, Stratus Media Group, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Strategic Investment Agreement with ProElite, Inc. (“PEI”) pursuant to which PEI agreed to sell to the Company, and the Company agreed to purchase from PEI, shares of PEI’s Series A Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Shares”). The Preferred Shares are convertible into the Common Stock of PEI. The amount of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion on a cumulative basis is equal to 95% of the sum of (a) the issued and outstanding shares of PEI as of the closing plus (b) any shares of PEI Common Stock issued after the closing upon exercise or conversion of any derivative securities of PEI outstanding as of the closing, subject to any adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, recapital
izations etc. and, in all cases, after giving effect to the shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Shares. The purchase price of the Preferred Shares is $2,000,000 which will be used by PEI for payment of outstanding liabilities of PEI, general working capital and other corporate purposes and repayment of all amounts due under a note of PEI with respect to advances made to PEI by the Company of $100,000. Closing of the purchase of the Preferred Shares is subject to certain conditions including confirmation reasonable satisfactory to the Company that the financial records of PEI are such that they will enable PEI to become current in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission without undue expense and that the Company will be able to timely file by amendment PEI’s financial statements as required under Form 8-K. Upon closing, all of the current directors of PEI will resign and the board of directors of PEI will consist of two designees of the Compa
ny and one designee of PEI. Paul Feller, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, will become PEI’s Chief Executive Officer. Certain present and former key PEI executives will continue with PEI.
On February 4, 2010, Stratus Media Group, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an Amendment To Strategic Investment Agreement (the “Amendment”), dated as of January 26, 2010, with PEI pursuant to which the parties agreed to amend the terms of that certain Strategic Investment Agreement (the “Agreement”) entered into between PEI and the Company dated October 9, 2009. The Amendment (i) provides for certain interim funding by the Company to PEI prior to the closing, and contains representations regarding the Company’s ability to provide all funds necessary to perform its obligations under the Agreement and the Amendment, (ii) extends the outside date for the Closing to March 31, 2010, (iii) conditionally provides for changes in the board and management of PEI, subject to the Company&#
8217;s timely compliance with delivery of specified payments to PEI and third parties (the “Management Change”), (iv) credits against the Purchase Price certain expenses and amounts already loaned by the Company, (v) provides for the convertibility of amounts previously loaned into Preferred Stock of PEI on a pro-rata basis, (v) provides that all of the conditions to closing in Section 6.1 of the Agreement, have been satisfied to date and that, notwithstanding such conditions (other than the condition regarding legal compliance and certain ministerial conditions), the Company is unconditionally obligated to consummate the purchase and other transactions contemplated by the Agreement and the Amendment and pay the full Purchase Price (applying such credits as provided in the Amendment), (vi) provides for a guarantee of certain obligations of the Company, (vii) provides for an enforcement mechanism independent of the newly appointed board and management until the Closing and (viii) provides for
application of certain post-closing covenants to the interim period.
Pro Forma financial statements for the consolidated Stratus Media Group, Inc. and Pro Elite, Inc. for December 31, 2009 and the year then ended are:
|
Pro Forma Consolidation of Stratus Media Group, Inc. and ProElite, Inc.
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Condensed, Summary Income Statement and Balance Sheet (Unaudited)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Year Ended December 31, 2009
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
ProElite
|
Consolidating
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
Stratus
|
(Preliminary &
|
Entries &
|
Pro Forma
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Media Group
|
Unaudited)
|
Eliminations
|
Consolidation
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Condensed, Summary Income Statement
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Event revenues
|
$ | - | $ | 996,147 | $ | - | $ | 996,147 | ||||||||||||
|
Total cost of revenues
|
- | 681,357 | - | 681,357 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Gross profit
|
- | 314,790 | - | 314,790 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Non-cash charges for impairment, fair value,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
warrants and options
|
1,802,398 | 1,693,821 | - | 3,496,219 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Other operating expenses
|
1,786,869 | 3,221,063 | - | 5,007,932 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Total operating expenses
|
3,589,267 | 4,914,884 | - | 8,504,151 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Loss from operations
|
(3,589,267 | ) | (4,600,094 | ) | - | (8,189,361 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
Other Income/(Expense)
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Net gain on disposal of assets
|
- | 4,228,970 | - | 4,228,970 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Gain on forgiveness of debt
|
- | 6,403,005 | - | 6,403,005 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Other income
|
311,086 | - | - | 311,086 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Interest expense
|
(122,917 | ) | (116,231 | ) | - | (239,148 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
Net loss
|
$ | (3,401,098 | ) | $ | 5,915,650 | $ | - | $ | 2,514,552 | |||||||||||
|
As of December 31, 2009
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
ProElite
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stratus
|
(Preliminary &
|
Pro Forma
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
Media Group
|
Unaudited)
|
Eliminations
|
Consolidation
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
Condensed, Summary Balance Sheet
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Total current assets
|
$ | 44,827 | $ | 75,180 | $ | - | $ | 120,007 | ||||||||||||
|
Property and equipment, net
|
1,798 | 170,125 | - | 171,923 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Intangible assets, net
|
2,951,098 | 12,000 | - | 2,963,098 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Goodwill
|
1,073,345 | - | - | 1,073,345 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Acquisition deposit & investment
|
212,000 | 1,000,000 | (212,000 | ) | 1,000,000 | |||||||||||||||
|
Total assets
|
$ | 4,283,068 | $ | 1,257,305 | $ | (212,000 | ) | $ | 5,328,373 | |||||||||||
|
Current liabilities
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Bank overdraft
|
$ | 8,260 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 8,260 | ||||||||||
|
Accounts payable
|
384,951 | 390,237 | - | 775,188 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Deferred salary, legal judgment, and line of credit
|
133,232 | - | - | 133,232 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Accrued interest
|
242,284 | - | - | 242,284 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Other accrued expenses and other liabilities
|
990,011 | 1,188,668 | (212,000 | ) | 1,966,679 | |||||||||||||||
|
Loans and notes payable
|
922,017 | 200,000 | - | 1,122,017 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Acquisition liabilities
|
483,718 | 1,339,601 | - | 1,823,319 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Total current liabilities
|
3,164,473 | 3,118,506 | (212,000 | ) | 6,070,979 | |||||||||||||||
|
Non-current portion of notes payable
|
625,000 | 500,000 | - | 1,125,000 | ||||||||||||||||
|
Total liabilities
|
3,789,473 | 3,618,506 | (212,000 | ) | 7,195,979 | |||||||||||||||
|
Preferred stock
|
- | - | ||||||||||||||||||
|
Common stock
|
58,615 | 5,585 | 1,333 |
(a)
|
65,534 | |||||||||||||||
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
18,508,762 | 65,347,072 | 1,998,667 |
(a)
|
85,854,500 | |||||||||||||||
|
Accumulated deficit
|
(18,073,782 | ) | (67,713,858 | ) | - | (85,787,640 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
Total shareholders' equity/(deficit)
|
493,595 | (2,361,201 | ) | 2,000,000 | 132,394 | |||||||||||||||
|
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity/(deficit)
|
$ | 4,283,068 | $ | 1,257,305 | $ | 1,788,000 | $ | 7,328,373 | ||||||||||||
|
(a) Assumes the $2,000,000 purchase by Stratus of ProElite preferred shares is obtained by selling 1,333,333 shares of
|
|||||
|
$0.001 par value Stratus Media Group common stock at $1.50 per share
|
|||||
Subsequent to December 31, 2009, the Company sold 1,374,230 shares of its common stock for $1,400,000, issued 32,609 shares to settle a contractual obligation related to the ProElite transaction of $75,000, issued 33,851 shares and issued 477,616 shares of common stock to settle a dispute with a long-term shareholder regarding the number of shares issued pursuant to a subscription agreement executed during 2007.
On February 22, 2010, the Company entered into an employment contract with William Kelly, the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and the Chief Operating Officer of ProElite, Inc. Under the agreement, Mr. Kelly will receive an annual salary of $240,000 and shall be eligible for bonuses based on objectives established by the Company’s board of directors and Mr. Kelly’s performance against those objectives. The proposed agreement further provides that Mr. Kelly will receive a grant of options to purchase 1,200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, with a five-year life, a strike price of $2.00 the following vesting schedule: 396,000 shares vest immediately, 396,000 shares vest on October 1, 2010 and 408,000 shares will vest on October 1, 2011. Such opti
ons shall terminate forty-five (45) days after the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated if such termination is for Cause or is the result of a resignation by Executive for reasons other than Good Reason. Such options shall not be assignable by Executive. Each option described above shall be subject to customary anti-dilution provision with respect to any stock splits, mergers, reorganizations or other such events. In connection with Mr. Kelly’s employment, the Company assumed a promissory note of $231,525 formerly owed to Mr. Kelly by ProElite, Inc. and agreed to pay the promissory note with $121,525 payable to Mr. Kelly upon the closing of the acquisition of ProElite by the Company, $55,000 due 90 days after the closing of the acquisition, and $55,000 due 180 days after the closing of the acquisition.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS IN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
On March 31, 2008, Stratus Media Group, Inc. (the “Company”) dismissed Gruber & Company, LLC (“Gruber”), as its principal independent accountant, and retained Singer Lewak Greenbaum & Goldstein, LLP (“SLGG”) as its principal independent accountant, who had been the auditors for Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc., the predecessor company to the Company. The decision to dismiss Gruber and to appoint SLGG was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. This change was made as the result of the reverse merger between Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc. and the Company on March 14, 2008.
53
Gruber’s report on the Company’s financial statements dated February 20, 2008, for the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, or qualification or modification as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. In connection with the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the two most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for the period between January 1, 2008 and July 30, 2008, which was the date of Gruber’s dismissal as the principal independent accountant for the Company, there were no disagreements, resolved or not, with Gruber on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or audit scope and procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the sati
sfaction of Gruber, would have caused Gruber to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their report.
On July 30, 2008, Stratus Media Group, Inc. (the “Company”) dismissed SLGG as its principal independent accountant, and engaged Goldman Parks Kurland Mohidin LLP (“Goldman”) as its principal independent accountant. The decision to dismiss Gruber and to appoint Goldman was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors.
SLGG’s report on the Company’s financial statements dated February 20, 2008, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, did not contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion, or qualification or modification as to uncertainty, audit scope, or accounting principles. In connection with the audit of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, and for the period between January 1, 2007 and July 30, 2008, which was the date of SLGG’s dismissal as the principal independent accountant for the Company, there were no disagreements, resolved or not, with Gruber on any matters of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or audit scope and procedures, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of SLGG, would have caused
SLGG to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with their report.
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
The term “disclosure controls and procedures” means controls and other procedures of the Company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Act (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclos
ure.
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Acting Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined) in Exchange Act Rules 13a – 15(c) and 15d – 15(e)). Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered in this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time periods and is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and princ
ipal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure based on the following material weaknesses:
|
|
1.
|
Lack of segregation of duties and check and balances. As of December 31, 2008, there was one person in the accounting department, which does not allow for segregation of duties and checks and balances that is allowed with a multi-person department. Outside of the accounting function, one or two individuals control every aspect of the Company's operation and are in a position to override any system of internal control.
|
|
|
2.
|
Lack of written controls and procedures, particularly with regard to entering into contracts and commitments by the Company.
|
|
|
3.
|
Use of an accounting software package that lacks a rigorous set of software and change controls. While this software is a proven industry standard and is in widespread use, it allows one person to make significant changes without oversight or approval.
|
Our Principal Executive Officer and Acting Principal Financial Officer do not expect that our disclosure controls or internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. Although our disclosure controls and procedures were designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, a control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute assurance that the objectives of the system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inh
erent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented if there exists in an individual a desire to do so. There can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
54
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
The term internal control over financial reporting is defined as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the Company's board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
|
1.
|
Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the issuer;
|
|
2.
|
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the issuer are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the issuer; and
|
|
3.
|
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the issuer's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
|
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a- 15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act, as amended. Management, with the participation of the Chief Executive and Acting Chief Financial Officers, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control – Integrated Framework. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s an
nual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Based on this assessment, and for the reasons cited above in the section of Disclosure Controls and Procedures, management has concluded that the Company did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 based on the criteria established in “Internal Control-Integrated Framework” issued by the COSO.
Remediation
To remediate these control weaknesses, the Company intends to utilize financial personnel at ProElite and to add additional personnel as needed to allow for segregation of duties and a system of internal reviews and checks and balances to strengthen controls. The Company intends to develop and implement a written set of policies and procedures for company operations, particularly with regard to controls over Company contracts and commitments. The Company intends to migrate its accounting system to the one utilized by ProElite that does provide for proper control over changes and for segregation of duties within the accounting system.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting through the date of this report or during the period ended December 31, 2009, that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Independent Registered Accountant’s Internal Control Attestation
This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information concerning this item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders that we shall file with the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information concerning this item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders that we shall file with the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information concerning this item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to that we shall file with the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.
55
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS, RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information concerning this item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders that we shall file with the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Information concerning this item will be set forth in our Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders that we shall file with the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.
56
Item 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements this Report on Form 10-K.
The following documents are furnished as exhibits to this Report on Form 10-K. Exhibits marked with an asterisk are filed herewith. The remainder of the exhibits previously have been filed with the Commission and are incorporated herein by reference.
|
Exhibit No.
|
Exhibit Description
|
|
3.1
|
Restated Articles of Incorporation of Titan (incorporated by reference from Form 10-SB (Film No. 98648988) filed by Titan with the Commission on June 16, 1998).
|
|
3.2
|
By-Laws of Titan as amended and restated on September 10, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 1, 1999).
|
|
4.1
|
Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from Form 10-SB (Film No. 98648988) filed by Titan with the Commission on June 16, 1998).
|
|
4.2
|
Certificate of Designations of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 1, 1999).
|
|
4.3
|
Warrant issued to Advantage Fund II Ltd., dated September 17, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 1, 1999).
|
|
4.4
|
Warrant issued to Koch Investment Group Limited, dated September 17, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 1, 1999).
|
|
4.5
|
Warrant issued to Reedland Capital Partners, dated September 17, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Form S-3 Registration Statement filed on October 15, 1999).
|
|
4.6
|
Warrant issued to Mr. Richard Cohn, dated September 17, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Form S-3 Registration Statement filed on October 15, 1999).
|
|
4.7
|
Warrant issued to Intellect Capital Corp., dated September 17, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Form S-3 Registration Statement filed on October 15, 1999).
|
|
4.8
|
Registration Rights Agreement with Advantage Fund II Ltd., dated September 15, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 1, 1999).
|
|
4.9
|
Registration Rights Agreement with Koch Investment Group Limited, dated September 15, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 1, 1999).
|
|
4.10
|
Certificate of Designations of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 24, 2000).
|
| 4.11 | Warrant issued to Advantage Fund II Ltd., dated March 9, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 24, 2000). |
| 4.12 | Warrant issued to Koch Investment Group Limited, dated March 9, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 24, 2000). |
| 4.13 | Warrant issued to Reedland Capital Partners, dated March 9, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Form S-3 Registration Statement filed on March 24, 2000). |
| 4.14 | Registration Rights Agreement with Advantage Fund II Ltd., dated March 7, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 24, 2000). |
| 4.15 | Registration Rights Agreement with Koch Investment Group Limited, dated March 7, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 24, 2000). |
57
|
10.1
|
Subscription Agreement with Advantage Fund II Ltd., dated as of September 15, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 1, 1999).
|
|
10.2
|
Subscription Agreement with Koch Investment Group Limited, dated as of September 15, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 1, 1999).
|
|
10.3
|
Modification and Partial Payment Agreement with Oxford International Management dated April 13, 2000
|
|
10.4
|
Subscription Agreement with Advantage Fund II Ltd., dated as of March 7, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 24, 2000).
|
|
10.5
|
Subscription Agreement with Koch Investment Group Limited, dated as of March 7, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 24, 2000).
|
|
10.6
|
1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan of Titan (Incorporated by reference from Form 10-SB (Film No. 98648988) filed by Titan with the Commission on June 16, 1998).
|
|
10.61
|
Agreement and Plan of Merger between Pro Sports & Entertainment and Feris International, Inc. dated August 20, 2007 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 14, 2008).
|
|
10.62
|
Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger between Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc. and Feris International, Inc. dated March 10, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 14, 2008).
|
|
10.63
|
Employment Agreement between Pro Sports & Entertainment, Inc. and Paul Feller dated January 1, 2007 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 14, 2008).
|
|
10.64
|
Share Purchase Agreement with Exclusive Events, S.A. with the “Vendors” (as defined in the Agreement) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 11, 2008).
|
| 10.65 | Strategic Investment Agreement between Stratus Media Group, Inc. and ProElite, Inc. dated October 9, 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 22, 2009). |
| 10.66 | Amendment to Strategic Investment Agreement between Stratus Media Group, Inc. and ProElite, Inc. dated January 11, 2010 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 26, 2010). |
|
31.1*
|
Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
|
|
31.2*
|
Certifications of the Principal Accounting Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
|
|
32.1*
|
Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
|
|
32.2*
|
Certifications of the Principal Accounting Officer under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
|
58
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
A list of the exhibits required to be filed as part of this report are presented in the Exhibit Index.
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized as of April 15, 2010.
|
STRATUS MEDIA GROUP, INC.
|
||
|
By: /s/ Paul Feller
|
||
|
Paul Feller
|
||
|
Chief Executive Officer
|
||
|
Principal Executive Officer
|
||
|
By: /s/ John Moynahan
|
||
|
John Moynahan
|
||
|
Acting Chief Financial Officer
|
||
|
Acting Principal Financial Officer
|
In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities as of April 15, 2010.
|
/s/ Paul Feller
|
||
|
Paul Feller
|
||
|
Director and Chairman of the Board
|
||
|
/s/ Glenn Golenberg
|
||
|
Glenn Golenberg
|
||
|
Director
|
||
|
Chairman of the Audit Committee
|
||
|
/s/ Randall Cross
|
||
|
Randall Cross
|
||
|
Director
|
||
|
/s/ Michael Dunleavy, Sr.
|
||
|
Michael Dunleavy, Sr.
|
||
|
Director
|
59
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATIONS OF CEO PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) or RULE 15d-14(a)
I, Paul Feller, certify that
|
1.
|
I have reviewed this Report on Form 10-K of Stratus Media Group, Inc. (“Registrant”)
|
|
2.
|
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
|
|
3.
|
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
|
|
4.
|
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:
|
|
a.
|
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
|
|
b.
|
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
|
|
c.
|
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
|
|
d.
|
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
|
|
5.
|
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
|
|
a.
|
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
|
|
b.
|
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
|
|
Date: April 15, 2010
|
||
|
/s/ Paul Feller
|
||
|
Name: Paul Feller
|
||
|
Title: Chief Executive Officer
|
60
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATIONS OF ACTING CFO PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-14(a) or RULE 15d-14(a)
I, John Moynahan, certify that
|
1.
|
I have reviewed this Report on Form 10-K of Stratus Media Group, Inc. (“Registrant”)
|
|
2.
|
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
|
|
3.
|
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
|
|
4.
|
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Registrant and have:
|
|
a.
|
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
|
|
c.
|
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
|
|
c.
|
Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
|
|
d.
|
Disclosed in this report any change in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
|
|
5.
|
The Registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
|
|
a.
|
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
|
|
b.
|
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
|
|
Date: April 15, 2010
|
||
|
/s/ John Moynahan
|
||
|
Name: John Moynahan
|
||
|
Title: Acting Chief Financial Officer
|
61
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as enacted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Stratus Media Group, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby certifies, to such officer’s knowledge:
(1) This Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 (“Report”) fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.
|
Date: April 15, 2010
|
||
|
/s/ Paul Feller
|
||
|
Name: Paul Feller
|
||
|
Title: Chief Executive Officer
|
The foregoing certification is being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
62
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY ACT OF 2002
Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as enacted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Stratus Media Group, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby certifies, to such officer’s knowledge:
(1) This Report on Form 10-Q for the year ended December 31, 2009 (“Report”) fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.
|
Date: April 15, 2010
|
||
|
/s/ John Moynahan
|
||
|
Name: John Moynahan
|
||
|
Title: Acting Chief Financial Officer
|
The foregoing certification is being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.
63