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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
X Annual Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
- ----- Act of 1934, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001.
or
Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
- ----- Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from _______ to _______.
Commission File Number: 1-14128
EMERGING VISION, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
New York 11-3096941
(State of Incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification Number)
100 Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard
Garden City, NY 11530
Telephone Number: (516) 390-2100
(Address and Telephone Number of
Principal Executive Offices)
------------------------------
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
TITLE
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days:
Yes X No
--- ---
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in the definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
The aggregate market value of the Registrant's Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as
of April 8, 2002, (based upon the closing price of $0.08 per share as quoted on
the OTC Bulletin Board) was approximately $1,711,100. For purposes of this
computation, the shares of Common Stock held by directors, executive officers
and principal shareholders owning more than 5% of the Registrant's outstanding
Common Stock and for which a Schedule 13G was filed, were deemed to be stock
held by affiliates. As of April 8, 2002, there were approximately 21,388,750
outstanding shares of Common Stock held by non-affiliates.
As of April 8, 2002, there were outstanding 27,004,972 shares of the
Registrant's Common Stock and 2.51 shares of the Registrant's Senior Convertible
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (convertible into an aggregate of
334,667 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock).
Item 1. Business
--------
General
Emerging Vision, Inc. (the "Registrant" and, together with its
subsidiaries, hereinafter the "Company" or "Emerging") is one of the largest
chains of retail optical stores and one of the largest franchise optical chains
in the United States, based upon management's beliefs, domestic sales and the
number of locations of Company-owned and franchised stores (collectively
referred to herein as "Sterling Stores"). The Registrant was incorporated under
the laws of the State of New York in January 1992 and, in July 1992, purchased
substantially all of the assets of Sterling Optical Corp., a New York
corporation then a debtor-in-possession under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy
Code.
In March 2001, the Board of Directors decided that the Company should focus
its efforts and resources on growing its retail optical business and, as a
result, approved a plan to discontinue all other operations then being conducted
by the Company. In connection with this decision, the Company completed its plan
of disposal of substantially all of the net assets of Insight Laser Centers,
Inc. ("Insight Laser") - which operated three laser vision correction centers in
the New York metropolitan area; Insight Laser Centers N.Y.I, Inc. (the
"Ambulatory Center") - owner of the assets of an ambulatory surgery center
located in Garden City, New York; and the yet-to-be-developed Internet Division
- - which was to provide a web-based portal being designed to take advantage of
business-to-business opportunities in the optical industry, for which the
Company simply ceased further development and discontinued the operations of.
In early 2001, the Company closed two of its three Insight Laser locations
and, in an effort to pursue a sale of the remaining net assets, and continued to
operate the one remaining location from its center located in Trump Tower in New
York City. The Company was unable to secure a favorable deal to sell the
remaining net assets, and in November 2001, the Trump Tower location was closed
as well, thereby completely ceasing operations of Insight Laser.
On May 31, 2001, the Company sold the net assets of the Ambulatory Center
to the owner of the license required to operate the center. The Company remains
a guarantor of certain liabilities and future obligations associated with the
Ambulatory Center.
Store Operations
The Company and its franchisees operate retail optical stores principally
under the trade names "Sterling Optical," "IPCO Optical," "Site For Sore Eyes,"
"Duling Optical," and "Singer Specs," although most stores (other than the
Company's Site for Sore Eyes stores located in Northern California) operate
under the name "Sterling Optical." The Company also operates VisionCare of
California ("VCC"), a specialized health care maintenance organization licensed
by the State of California Department of Managed Health Care, which employs
licensed optometrists who render services in offices located immediately
adjacent to, or within, most Sterling Stores located in California.
Most Sterling Stores offer eye care products and services such as
prescription and non-prescription eyeglasses, eyeglass frames, ophthalmic
lenses, contact lenses, sunglasses and a broad range of ancillary items. To the
extent permitted by individual state regulations, an optometrist is employed by,
or affiliated with, most Sterling Stores to provide professional eye
examinations to the public. The Company fills prescriptions from these employed
or affiliated optometrists, as well as from unaffiliated optometrists and
ophthalmologists. Most Sterling Stores have an inventory of ophthalmic and
contact lenses, as well as on-site lab equipment for cutting and edging
ophthalmic lenses to fit into eyeglass frames, which, in many cases, allows
Sterling Stores to offer same-day service.
The Company sells the assets of certain of its Company-owned stores to
qualified franchisees, and, in certain instances, realizes a profit on the
conveyance of the assets of such stores. Through these sales, along with the
opening of new stores by qualified franchisees, the Company seeks to create a
stream of royalty payments based upon a percentage of the gross revenues of the
franchised locations, and grow the Sterling Optical brand name. The Company
currently derives its retail optical store revenues principally from the sale of
eye care products and services at Company-owned stores, and ongoing royalty fees
based upon a percentage of the gross revenues of its franchised stores.
As of December 31, 2001, there were 203 Sterling Stores in operation,
consisting of 34 Company-owned stores (including 9 stores being managed by
franchisees), and 169 franchised stores (including 1 store being managed by the
Company on behalf of the franchisee thereof). The Company continually seeks to
expand both its Company-owned and franchised store operations. Sterling Stores
are located in 24 states, the District of Columbia, Canada, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
2
The following chart sets forth the breakdown of Sterling Stores in operation as
of December 31, 2001 and 2000:
December 31,
2001(*) 2000
-------- --------
I. COMPANY-OWNED STORES:
--------------------
Company-owned stores......................... 25 20
Company-owned stores managed by franchisees.. 9 12
---- ----
Total.................. 34 32
==== ====
(*)Existing store locations: California (3), Illinois (3), Iowa (1),
Kentucky (1), Minnesota (4), Missouri (2), Nebraska (1), New York (15), North
Dakota (1), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (1) and Wisconsin (1).
II. FRANCHISED STORES:
-----------------
Franchised stores.......................... 168 198
Franchised stores managed by the Company... 1 3
---- ----
Total.................. 169 201
==== ====
(*)Existing store locations: California (27), Colorado (1), Connecticut
(1), Delaware (5), Florida (2), Illinois (2), Kentucky (2), Maryland (20),
Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (1), Montana (1), Nevada (1), New Jersey (8), New
York (45), North Dakota (5), Ontario, Canada (3), Pennsylvania (15), South
Dakota (1), Texas (2), Virginia (8), Washington, D.C. (2), West Virginia (1),
Wisconsin (13), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (2).
Sterling Stores generally range in size from approximately 1,000 square
feet to 2,000 square feet, are similar in appearance and are operated under
certain uniform standards and operating procedures. Many Sterling Stores are
located in enclosed regional shopping malls and smaller strip centers; however,
some Sterling Stores are located on the ground floor of office buildings or
other commercial structures, with a limited number of Sterling Stores being
housed in freestanding buildings with adjacent parking facilities. Sterling
Stores are generally clustered within geographic market areas to maximize the
benefit of advertising strategies and minimize the cost of supervising
operations.
In response to the eyewear market becoming increasingly fashion-oriented
during the past decade, most Sterling Stores carry a large selection of designer
eyeglass frames. The Company continually test-markets various brands of
sunglasses, ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses and designer frames. Small
quantities of these items are usually purchased for selected stores that test
customer response and interest. If a product test is successful, the Company
attempts to negotiate a system-wide preferred vendor discount for the product in
an effort to maximize system-wide sales and profits.
Franchise System
An integral part of the Company's franchise system includes providing what
the Company believes to be a high level of marketing, financial, training and
administrative support to its franchisees. The Company provides "grand opening"
assistance for each new franchised location by consulting with its franchisees
with respect to store design, fixture and equipment requirements and sources,
inventory selection and sources, and marketing and promotional programs.
Specifically, the Company's grand opening assistance helps to establish business
plans and budgets, provides preliminary store designs and plan approval prior to
construction of a franchised store, and provides training, an operations manual
and a comprehensive business review to aid the franchisee in attempting to
maximize its sales and profitability. Further, on an ongoing basis, the Company
provides training through regional seminars, offers assistance in marketing and
advertising programs and promotions, and consults with its franchisees as to
their management and operational strategies and business plans.
Preferred Vendor Network. With the collective buying power of Company-owned
and franchised Sterling Stores, the Company has established a network of
preferred vendors (the "Preferred Vendors") whose products may be purchased
directly by franchisees at group discount prices, thereby providing such
franchisees with the opportunity for higher gross margins. Additionally, the
Company negotiates and executes cooperative advertising programs with its
Preferred Vendors for the benefit of all Company-owned and franchised stores.
3
Franchise Agreements. Each franchisee enters into a franchise agreement
(the "Franchise Agreement") with the Company, the material terms of which
generally are as follows:
(a) Term. Generally, the term of each Franchise Agreement is ten years and,
subject to certain conditions, is renewable at the option of the franchisee.
(b) Initial Fees. Generally, franchisees (except for any franchisees
converting their existing retail optical store to a Sterling Store (a "Converted
Store"), and those entering into agreements for more than one location) must pay
the Company a non-recurring, initial franchise fee of $20,000. The Company
charges each franchisee of a Converted Store a non-recurring, initial franchise
fee of $10,000 per location. For each franchisee entering into agreements for
more than one location, the Company charges a non-recurring, initial franchise
fee of $15,000 for the second location, and $10,000 for each location in excess
of two.
(c) Ongoing Royalties. Franchisees are obligated to pay the Company ongoing
royalties in an amount equal to a percentage (generally 8%) of the gross
revenues generated by their Sterling Store. Franchisees of Converted Stores,
however, pay ongoing royalties, on their store's historical average base sales,
at reduced rates increasing (in most cases) from 2% to 6% for the first three
years of the term of the Franchise Agreement. In addition, most of the Franchise
Agreements acquired by the Company from Singer Specs, Inc. (the "Singer
Franchise Agreements") provide for ongoing royalties calculated at 7% of gross
revenues. Franchise Agreements entered into prior to January 1994 provide for
the payment of ongoing royalties on a monthly basis, while those entered into
after January 1994 provide for their payment on a weekly basis, in each case,
based upon the gross revenues for the preceding period. Gross revenues generally
include all revenues generated from the operation of the Sterling Store in
question, excluding refunds to customers, sales taxes, a limited amount of bad
debts and, to the extent required by state law, fees charged by independent
optometrists.
(d) Advertising Fund Contributions. Most franchisees must make ongoing
contributions to one of two advertising funds (the "Advertising Fund") equal to
a percentage of their store's gross revenues. Except for the Singer Franchise
Agreements, which generally provide for contributions equal to 7% of gross
revenues, for Franchise Agreements entered into prior to August 1993, the rate
of contribution is generally 4% of the store's gross revenues, while Franchise
Agreements entered into after August 1993 generally provide for contributions
equal to 6% of the store's gross revenues. Generally, 50% of these funds are
expended at the direction of each individual franchisee (for the particular
Sterling Store in question), with the balance being expended on joint
advertising campaigns for all franchisees located within specific geographic
areas.
(e) Financing. The Company generally has financed a majority of the
acquisition price of the assets (other than inventory) of Company-owned stores
sold to franchisees, to be repaid over a period of seven years, together with
interest at the rate of 12% per annum. The Company generally does not finance
the initial, non-recurring franchise fee or rent security deposits, which are
generally required under a franchisee's sublease. The purchase price is
generally based upon the historical and projected cash flow of the Sterling
Store in question. However, the Company has, on occasion, financed (and may in
the future finance) up to 100% of the acquisition price of a franchised store.
Substantially all such financing is personally guaranteed by the franchisee (or,
if a corporation, by the principals owning in excess of an aggregate of 51%
thereof) and is generally secured by all of the assets of the Sterling Store in
question, including subsequently acquired assets and the proceeds thereof. From
time to time, certain franchisees obtain financing from third parties. In such
cases, the Company generally subordinates its security interest in the assets of
the franchised location to the security interests granted to the provider of
such financing.
(f) Termination. Franchise Agreements may be terminated if the franchisee
has defaulted on its payment of monies due to the Company, or in its performance
of the other terms and conditions of the Franchise Agreement. During 2001, 25
franchised stores were closed, and the assets of (as well as possession of) an
additional 13 franchise stores were reacquired by the Company. Substantially all
of the assets located in such stores were voluntarily surrendered and
transferred back to the Company in connection with the termination of the
related Franchise Agreements. In such instances, it is generally the Company's
intention to re-convey the assets of such a store to a new franchisee, requiring
the new franchisee to enter into the Company's then current form of Franchise
Agreement. Subsequent to December 31, 2001, the Company repossessed 2 franchised
locations and currently operates them as Company-owned stores.
Marketing and Advertising
The Company's marketing strategy emphasizes professional eye examinations,
competitive pricing (primarily through product promotions), convenient
locations, excellent customer service, customer-oriented store design and
product displays, knowledgeable sales associates, and a broad range of quality
products, including privately-labeled contact lenses and lens cleaning solutions
presently being offered by the Company and certain of its franchisees.
Examinations by licensed optometrists are generally available on the premises
of, or directly adjacent to, substantially all Sterling Stores.
4
The Company continually prepares and revises its in-store,
point-of-purchase displays, which provide various promotional messages to
customers upon their arrival at Sterling Stores. Both Company-owned and most
franchised Sterling Stores participate in advertising and in-store promotions,
which include visual merchandising techniques to draw attention to the products
displayed in the Sterling Store in question. The Company is also in the process
of refining its interactive web site, which further markets the "Sterling" and
"Site for Sore Eyes" brands in an effort to increase traffic to its stores and,
in many instances, also uses direct mail advertising to reach prospective, as
well as existing, consumers.
The Company annually budgets approximately 4% to 6% of system-wide sales
for advertising and promotional expenditures. Generally, franchisees are
obligated to contribute a percentage of their Sterling Store's gross revenues to
the Company's segregated advertising fund accounts, which the Company maintains
for advertising, promotional and public relations programs. In most cases, the
Company permits each franchisee to direct the expenditure of approximately 50%
of such contributions, with the balance being expended to advertise and promote
all Sterling Stores located within the geographic area of the Sterling Store in
question, and/or on national promotions and campaigns.
Insight Managed Vision Care
Managed care is a substantial and growing segment of the retail optical
business. Under the trade name "Insight Managed Vision Care," the Company
promotes the use of its Sterling Stores through the ongoing development of its
managed care network. The Company, through Insight Managed Vision Care, markets
to payers (e.g. health maintenance organizations, preferred provider
organizations, insurance companies, Taft-Hartley unions, and mid-sized to large
companies) that offer eye care benefits to their covered participants. When
Sterling Stores provide services or products to a covered participant, it is
generally at a discount from the everyday advertised retail price. Typically,
participants will be eligible for greater eye care benefits at Sterling Stores
than those offered at eye care providers that are not participating in a managed
care program. The Company believes that the additional customer traffic
generated by covered participants, along with purchases by covered participants
above and beyond their eye care benefits, more than offsets the reduced gross
margins being realized on these sales. The Company believes that convenience of
store locations and hours of operation are key factors in attracting managed
care business. As the Company increases its presence within markets it has
already entered as well as expands into new markets, it believes it will be more
attractive to managed care payors due to the additional Sterling Stores being
operated by the Company and its franchisees.
Competition
The optical business is highly competitive and includes chains of retail
optical stores, superstores, individual retail outlets, the operators of web
sites and a large number of individual opticians, optometrists and
ophthalmologists who provide professional services and may, in connection
therewith, dispense prescription eyewear. As retailers of prescription eyewear
generally service local markets, competition varies substantially from one
location or geographic area to another. Since 1994, certain major competitors of
the Company have been offering promotional incentives to their customers and, in
response thereto, the Company generally offers the same or similar incentives to
its customers.
The Company believes that the principal competitive factors in the retail
optical business are convenience of location, on-site availability of
professional eye examinations, rapid service, quality and consistency of product
and service, price, product warranties, a broad selection of merchandise and the
participation in third-party, managed care provider programs. The Company
believes that it competes favorably in each of these areas.
Government Regulation
The Company and its operations are subject to extensive federal, state and
local laws, rules and regulations affecting the health care industry and the
delivery of health care, including laws and regulations prohibiting the practice
of medicine and optometry by persons not licensed to practice medicine or
optometry, prohibiting the unlawful rebate or unlawful division of fees and
limiting the manner in which prospective patients may be solicited. The
regulatory requirements that the Company must satisfy to conduct its business
will vary from state to state. In particular, some states have enacted laws
governing the ability of ophthalmologists and optometrists to enter into
contracts to provide professional services with business corporations or lay
persons, and some states prohibit the Company from computing its continuing
royalty fees based upon a percentage of the gross revenues of the fees collected
by affiliated optometrists. Various federal and state regulations limit the
financial and non-financial terms of agreements with these health care
providers; and the revenues potentially generated by the Company differ among
its various health care provider affiliations.
The Company is also subject to certain regulations adopted under the
Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act with respect to its in-store
laboratory operations. The Company believes that it is in material compliance
with all such applicable laws and regulations.
5
As a franchisor, the Company is subject to various registration and
disclosure requirements imposed by the Federal Trade Commission and by many
states in which the Company conducts franchising operations. The Company
believes that it is in material compliance with all such applicable laws and
regulations.
Environmental Regulation
The Company's business activities are not significantly affected by
environmental regulations, and no material expenditures are anticipated in order
for the Company to comply with any such environmental regulations. However, the
Company is subject to certain regulations promulgated under the Federal
Environmental Protection Act ("EPA") with respect to the grinding, tinting,
edging and disposal of ophthalmic lenses and solutions, which the Company
believes it is in material compliance with.
Employees
As of April 8, 2002, the Company employed approximately 238 individuals, of
which approximately 77% were employed on a full-time basis. Except for those
individuals employed at Company-owned Sterling Stores located in the New York
metropolitan area, and except for those individuals employed by the Registrant's
wholly-owned subsidiary, Insight IPA of New York, Inc. (which solicits managed
care provider agreements in the State of New York), of which there were none, no
employees are covered by any collective bargaining agreement. The Company
considers its labor relations with its associates to be in good standing and has
not experienced any interruption of its operations due to disagreements.
Additionally, the Company has employment agreements with two of its key
executives.
Item 2. Properties
The Company's headquarters, consisting of approximately 7,000 square feet,
are located in an office building situated at 100 Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard,
Garden City, New York 11530, under a sublease that expires in November 2006.
This facility houses the Company's principal executive and administrative
offices.
The Company leases the space occupied by all of its Company-owned Sterling
Stores and the majority of its franchised Sterling Stores. The remaining leases
for its franchised Sterling Stores, are held in the names of the respective
franchisees thereof.
Sterling Stores are generally located in commercial areas, including major
shopping malls, strip centers, freestanding buildings and other areas conducive
to retail trade. Sterling Stores range in size from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Information with respect to the Company's legal proceedings required by
Item 103 of Regulation S-K is set forth in Notes 2 and 12 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Report, and is incorporated by
reference herein
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
There were no matters submitted to a vote by the Company's shareholders
during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2001.
6
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
The Registrant's Common Stock was listed on the OTC Bulletin Board under
the trading symbol "ISEE.OB" as of August 23, 2001, and was previously listed on
the Nasdaq National Market System. Over-the-counter market quotations reflect
inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not
necessarily represent actual transactions. The range of the high and low sales
prices for the Registrant's Common Stock for each quarterly period of the last
two years, is as follows:
2001 2000
------------------ ------------------
Quarter Ended: High Low High Low
-------------- ------- ------- ------- -------
March 31 $0.72 $0.22 $15.13 $5.44
June 30 $0.37 $0.19 $8.19 $1.88
September 30 $0.80 $0.13 $2.63 $0.94
December 31 $0.14 $0.06 $1.50 $0.19
The approximate number of shareholders of record of the Company's Common
Stock as of April 8, 2002, was 328.
The number of shareholders of record of the Company's Senior Convertible
Preferred Stock as of April 8, 2002, was 2.
Historically, the Company has not paid dividends on its Common Stock, and
has no intention to pay dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
It is the present policy of the Registrant's Board of Directors to retain
earnings, if any, to finance the Company's operations and expansion.
7
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
The following Selected Financial Data has been derived from the audited
consolidated financial statements of the Company and should be read in
conjunction with those statements, which are included in this Report. The
consolidated financial statements have been examined and reported on by Arthur
Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, with respect to the years ended
December 31, 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998. The consolidated financial statements
for the year ended December 31, 1997 were audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent public accountants.
(In thousands except for per share data and number of stores)
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of Operations Data: 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
------------------------------------------------------------------
System-wide sales (1) $ 124,589 $ 128,775 $ 140,321 $ 147,402 $ 145,534
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Total revenues $ 20,619 $ 23,058 $ 29,580 $ 32,582 $ 35,193
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Loss from continuing operations $ (5,088) $ (14,628) $ (2,691) $ (16,016) $ (12,670)
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Income (loss) from discontinued operations $ 1,312 $ (15,533) $ 430 $ (956) $ (1,492)
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations $ - $ (8,831) $ - $ - $ -
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Net loss $ (3,776) $ (38,992) $ (2,261) $ (17,777) $ (14,162)
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Per Share Information - basic and diluted
- -----------------------------------------
Loss from continuing operations $ (0.19) $ (2.04) $ (0.41) $ (1.10) $ (0.91)
========== ========== ========== =========== ==========
Income (loss) from discontinued operations $ 0.05 $ (0.66) $ 0.03 $ (0.07) $ (0.11)
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations $ - $ (0.37) $ - $ - $ -
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Net loss per share $ (0.14) $ (3.07) $ (0.38) $ (1.23) $ (1.02)
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Weighted-average common shares outstanding 26,409 23,627 15,232 14,627 13,883
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital (deficit) $ (1,758) $ (3,987) $ (4,795) $ (3,351) $ 3,472
Total assets 11,057 22,531 30,312 32,685 43,265
Total debt 1,299 754 7,347 9,751 11,120
Sterling Store Data: (In thousands except for number of stores)
Year Ended December 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Company-owned stores bought, opened or reacquired 15 3 11 6 7
Company-owned stores sold or closed (10) (13) (16) (21) (19)
Company-owned stores at end of period 25 20 30 35 50
Company-owned stores being managed by Franchisees at end
of period 9 12 6 6 0
Franchised stores being managed by Company at end of period 1 3 5 12 6
Franchised stores at end of period 169 201 218 251 263
8
Average sales per store: (2)
Company-owned stores $ 518 $ 396 $ 420 $ 478 $ 424
Franchised stores $ 564 $ 546 $ 495 $ 475 $ 478
Average franchise royalties per franchised store (2) $ 43 $ 42 $ 38 $ 35 $ 37
(1) System-wide sales represent combined retail sales generated by
Company-owned and franchised stores, as well as revenues generated by VCC.
(2) Average sales per store and average franchise royalties per franchised
store are computed based upon the weighted-average number of Company-owned and
franchised stores in operation, respectively, for each of the specified periods.
For periods of less than a year, the averages have been annualized.
9
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
---------------------------------------------------------------
Results of Operations
---------------------
This Report contains certain forward-looking statements and information
relating to the Company that is based on the beliefs of the Company's
management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available
to, the Company's management. When used in this Report, the words "anticipate",
"believe", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions, as they relate to the
Company or the Company's management, are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Such statements reflect the current view of the Company with respect
to future events, are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties may include:
product demand and market acceptance risks; the effect of economic conditions;
the impact of competitive products, services and pricing; product development,
commercialization and technological difficulties; the outcome of current and
future litigation; and other risks described elsewhere herein. Should one or
more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying
assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those
described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected. The Company
does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
Results of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2001 compared to December 31, 2000
Net sales for Company-owned stores, including revenues generated by VCC, a
specialized health care maintenance organization licensed by the State of
California Department of Managed Health Care, decreased by $467,000, or 3.9%, to
$11,648,000 for the year ended December 31, 2001, as compared to $12,115,000 for
the comparable period in 2000. On a same store basis (for stores that operated
as a Company-owned store during the entirety of both of the years ended December
31, 2001 and 2000), comparative net sales decreased by $1,043,000, or 14.5%, to
$6,129,000 for the year ended December 31, 2001, as compared to $7,172,000 for
the comparable period in 2000. While, on average, there were more Company-owned
stores in operation during 2001 as compared to 2000, the Company experienced a
decline in sales during the last quarter of 2001. Management believes that this
decline was a direct result of the general economic downturn experienced as a
result of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, especially in light of the
fact that the nearly 50% of Company-owned stores operate in the State of New
York.
Franchise royalties decreased by $1,217,000, or 13.3%, to $7,860,000 for
the year ended December 31, 2001, as compared to $9,077,000 for the comparable
period in 2000. This decrease was a result of the fact that there were fewer
franchised stores in operation during 2001 as compared to 2000. As of December
31, 2001, there were 169 franchised stores in operation, as compared to 201 as
of December 31, 2000.
Net gains and fees on the conveyance of Company-owned store assets to
franchisees (which includes renewal fees and the fees related to the transfer of
store ownership from one franchisee to another) decreased by $158,000, or 53.0%,
to $140,000 for the year ended December 31, 2001, as compared to $298,000 for
the comparable period in 2000. This decrease was due to the fact that the
Company did not convey to franchisees (and thus did not realize a gain on) any
assets of Company-owned stores during the year ended December 31, 2001. In 2000,
however, the Company conveyed the assets of 3 Company-owned stores to
franchisees. The $140,000 reflected for the year ended December 31, 2001 relates
solely to transfer and renewal fees.
Interest on franchise notes receivable decreased by $263,000, or 21.7%, to
$947,000 for the year ended December 31, 2001, as compared to $1,210,000 for the
comparable period in 2000. This decrease was principally due to the fact that
several franchise notes matured during 2001.
Other income decreased by $334,000, or 93.3%, to $24,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2001, as compared to $358,000 for the comparable period in 2000.
This decrease was primarily a result of a decrease in the amount of interest
income earned by the Company, due to lower average cash balances on hand in its
banks during 2001, as compared to 2000.
The Company's gross profit margin increased by 5.5%, to 73.6% for the year
ended December 31, 2001, as compared to 68.1% for the comparable period in 2000.
This increase was a result of improved inventory management and control,
improved purchasing at lower average product costs, and better discounts
obtained in 2001 from certain of the Company's vendors. In the future, the
Company's gross profit margin may fluctuate depending upon the extent and timing
of changes in the product mix in Company-owned stores, competitive pricing, and
promotional incentives.
10
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $11,870,000, or
36.6%, to $20,361,000 for the year ended December 31, 2001, as compared to
$31,260,000 for the comparable period in 2000. This decrease was primarily due
to the the fact that the Company recorded increased charges of $10,260,000
during the year ended December 31, 2000, related to the Company's provision for
doubtful accounts associated with accounts and notes receivable due from
franchisees, along with certain receivables from franchisees for advertising
expenditures that the Company incurred on their behalf, while the Company
incurred no such charges during the year ended December 31, 2001. As discussed
in the prior year, the increased charges in 2000 were a direct result of a
change in management philosophy, policy, direction, and related courses of
action resulting from a change in the Company's senior management personnel
subsequent to December 31, 2000, to take back franchise stores and/or reevaluate
notes receivable due from various problem franchisees. During 2001, the Company
did not incur similar charges, as management carefully monitored and managed its
franchise receivables and notes. Additionally, due to corporate downsizing and
improved scheduling in its Company-owned stores, the Company reduced salary and
related expenses by approximately $1,500,000. Finally, there was a decrease in
depreciation and amortization of approximately $350,000 due to the full
depreciation in the prior year of certain of the Company's property and
equipment.
Provision for store closings was $964,000 for the year ended December 31,
2001. No such provision was provided for the year ended December 31, 2000. In
2001, management made the decision to close 11 of its Company-owned stores. In
connection therewith, the Company recorded a provision based on the expected net
proceeds, if any, to be generated from the disposition of the store's assets, as
compared to the carrying value (after consideration of impairment, if any) of
such store's assets and the estimated costs (including lease termination costs
and other expenses) that will be incurred in the closing of the stores.
Non-cash charges for issuance of warrants and induced conversion of
warrants decreased by $201,000, or 54.9%, to $165,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2001, from $366,000 for the comparable period in 2000. This
decrease was principally due to the fact that there were no induced conversions
of warrants during 2001. The 2001 charges relate solely to the issuance of
common shares in consideration for consulting services. Furthermore, the Company
has outstanding contingent warrants that become exercisable upon the
achievement, by the Company, of certain predetermined EBITDA targets. Due to
these contingencies, the future valuation of the contingent warrants, if and
when they become exercisable, will result in charges to the Company's results of
operations in future periods. The significance of these charges, if any, will be
dependent upon the fair market value of the Company's common stock at the time
that the respective EBITDA targets are achieved.
Loss from the operation of franchised stores managed by the Company
decreased by $460,000, or 73.4%, to approximately $167,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2001, as compared to approximately $627,000 for the comparable
period in 2000. As of December 31, 2001, there was only one store that the
Company was managing on behalf of a franchisee, as opposed to the three stores
the Company was managing on behalf of franchisees as of December 31, 2000.
Interest expense decreased by $389,000, or 90.0%, to $43,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2001, as compared to $432,000 for the comparable period in
2000. This decrease resulted from a decrease in long-term debt during the year
ended December 31, 2001, as compared to the comparable period in 2000.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2000 compared to December 31, 1999
Net sales for Company-owned stores, including revenues generated by VCC, a
specialized health care maintenance organization licensed by the State of
California Department of Managed Health Care, decreased by approximately
$5,486,000, or 31.2%, to $12,115,000 for the year ended December 31, 2000, as
compared to $17,601,000 for the comparable period in 1999. This decrease was
principally due to a lower number of stores in operation for the year ended
December 31, 2000, as compared to the comparable period in 1999, as described
below. As of December 31, 2000, there were 233 Sterling Stores in operation,
consisting of 32 Company-owned stores (including 12 Company-owned stores being
managed by franchisees) and 201 franchised stores (including 3 franchised stores
being managed by the Company on behalf of franchisees), as compared to 254
Sterling Stores in operation for the comparable period in 1999, consisting of 36
Company-owned stores (including 6 Company-owned stores being managed by
franchisees) and 218 franchised stores (including 5 stores being managed by the
Company on behalf of franchisees). On a same store basis (for stores that
operated as a Company-owned store during the entirety of both of the years ended
December 31, 2000 and 1999), comparative net sales decreased by $257,000, or
3.8%, to $6,524,000 for the year ended December 31, 2000, as compared to
$6,781,000 for the comparable period in 1999.
Franchise royalties decreased by $278,000, or 3.0%, to $9,077,000 for the
year ended December 31, 2000, as compared to $9,355,000 for the comparable
period in 1999. This decrease was a result of fewer franchised stores in
operation throughout fiscal year 2000, as compared to fiscal year 1999.
11
Net gains and fees on the conveyance of Company-owned store assets to
franchisees, including renewal fees and the fees related to the transfer of
ownership from one franchisee to another, decreased by $369,000, or 55.3%, to
$298,000 for the year ended December 31, 2000, as compared to $667,000 for the
comparable period in 1999. This decrease was principally due to the conveyance
of the assets of 3 Company-owned stores to franchisees during the year ended
December 31, 2000, as compared to the conveyance of the assets of 13
Company-owned stores to franchisees during the comparable period in 1999.
Management believed that this decrease was principally due to the Company's
original decision to sell the assets of its Sterling Optical division (which was
subsequently reversed), which was believed to negatively impact the
marketability of Sterling Stores to independent franchisees.
Interest on franchise notes receivable decreased by $255,000, or 17.4%, to
$1,210,000 for the year ended December 31, 2000, as compared to $1,465,000 for
the comparable period in 1999. This decrease was principally due to reductions
of the principal balance of several franchisees notes and fewer notes being
generated during fiscal 2000.
Other income (primarily initial franchise fees) decreased by $134,000, or
27.2%, to $358,000 for the year ended December 31, 2000, as compared to $492,000
for the comparable period in 1999, due to fewer stores being franchised during
fiscal year 2000.
The Company's gross profit margin decreased by 4.3%, to 68.1% for the year
ended December 31, 2000, as compared to 72.4% for the comparable period in 1999,
due to the mix of products being sold in Company-owned stores during each
respective period.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $8,782,000, or
37.2%, to $32,391,000 for the year ended December 31, 2000, as compared to
$23,609,000 for the comparable period in 1999. This increase was primarily
related to an increase of approximately $5,960,000 in the provision for doubtful
accounts associated with accounts and notes receivable due from franchisees.
This increase was a direct result of a change in management philosophy, policy,
direction, and related courses of action resulting from a change in the
Company's senior management personnel subsequent to year-end, to take back
franchise stores and/or reevaluate notes receivable due from various problem
franchisees, the number of which increased in 2000 as compared to prior years.
In this regard, the Company took back 7 franchised store locations immediately
subsequent to December 31, 2000. The increase in selling, general and
administrative expenses also includes approximately $4,300,000 of losses related
to receivables from franchisees for advertising expenditures that the Company
incurred on their behalf in the current period and in prior years, all of which
was determined in fiscal year 2000 to be unrealizable, or not collectible, by
the Company's new senior management. Another factor leading to the increase in
selling, general and administrative expense was the impairment charges of
approximately $1,131,000 primarily related to certain fixed assets at the
corporate headquarters that the Company deemed to no longer have future use, and
the write-off of the capitalized web development costs associated with the 1-800
Anylens business that was sold in the November 2000. Offsetting these increases
was a decrease of approximately $2,200,000 in Company-owned store related
operating costs due to the reduction in the number of Company-owned stores in
operation for the year ended December 31, 2000, as compared to the comparable
period in 1999.
Warrant issuance and induced conversion costs decreased by $2,005,000, or
84.67%, to $366,000 for the year ended December 31, 2000, from $2,371,000 for
the comparable period in 1999. This decrease was principally due to the
incurrence, during fiscal year 1999, of $2,000,000 of expenses related to the
Company's issuance of 2,500,000 warrants, all of which vested immediately.
Loss from the operation of franchised stores managed by the Company
increased by approximately $22,000, or 3.6%, to $627,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2000, as compared to $605,000 for the comparable period in 1999.
Interest expense decreased by $398,000, or 48.0%, to $432,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2000, as compared to $830,000 for the comparable period in
1999. This decrease resulted from a decrease in long-term debt during the year
ended December 31, 2000, as compared to the comparable period in 1999.
Loss from discontinued operations represents the net loss from the
operations of the Company's Internet Division, Insight Laser and Ambulatory
Center of $19,573,000, $1,083,000 and $3,708,000, respectively. The loss
attributable to the Internet Division included a net operating loss of
$15,409,000 (which primarily included charges for web-site development costs of
approximately $11,800,000, approximately $800,000 related to professional fees,
and approximately $1,300,000 related to salaries and wages), a non-cash
impairment charge of $711,000 on the expected disposal of certain assets,
$1,660,000 for estimated future liabilities and costs resulting from the
decision to dispose, and $1,700,000 related to the estimated operating losses of
the Internet Division through the end of April 2001 (the anticipated disposal
date). The loss attributable to Insight Laser included net operating losses of
$169,000, a non-cash impairment charge of $803,000 on the expected disposal of
certain assets and $111,000 for estimated future losses and
12
liabilities through the anticipated disposal date. The loss for the Ambulatory
Center included net operating income of $31,000, offset by a non-cash
impairment charge of $2,594,000 on the expected disposal of certain assets, and
$1,145,000 for estimated future losses and liabilities through the anticipated
disposal date.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
For the year ended December 31, 2001, cash flows used in operating
activities were $5,703,000, as compared to cash flows used in operating
activities of $1,915,000 for the year ended December 31, 2000. Approximately
$3,977,000 of the cash flows used in 2001 related to one-time liabilities that
arose as a result of the Company's plan of disposal of its discontinued
operations, and payment of those liabilities is reflected in the outflow of
$5,365,000 related to accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Other factors
leading to the increased cash used in operating activities were the $5,088,000
loss from continuing operations, offset by a decrease in franchise and other
receivables of $1,007,000, an increase in the accrual for store closings of
$964,000, charges of $930,000 related to long-lived assets, and depreciation and
amortization of $1,351,000.
For the year ended December 31, 2001, cash flows provided by investing
activities were $1,616,000, principally due to the proceeds received on its
franchise notes receivable, offset in part by limited capital expenditures made
by the Company during 2001.
For the year ended December 31, 2001, cash flows provided by financing
activities were $544,000, principally due to $750,000 of proceeds received in
connection with short-term loans provided to the Company by two related parties,
Horizon Investors Corp. ("Horizon") and Broadway Partners LLC ("Broadway").
As of December 31, 2001, the Company had negative working capital of
$1,758,000, and cash on hand of $1,053,000. As discussed above, the Company
utilized approximately $3,977,000 of cash in connection with one-time
liabilities associated with its plan of disposal of its discontinued operations.
On January 23, 2002, the Company secured two separate financing
arrangements, as follows:
Secured Term Note
The Company entered into a secured term note for $1,000,000 with an
independent financial institution. This note is repayable in 24 equal monthly
installments of $41,666, and bears interest as defined (4.95% at the inception
of the note). The note is fully collateralized/guaranteed by a $1,000,000
certificate of deposit posted by Horizon, a related party, at the same financial
institution.
Credit Facility
The Company entered into an agreement with Horizon to borrow up to a
maximum of $1,000,000. This credit facility bears interest at the prime rate
plus 1% (5.5% as of the date of the loan agreement), provided for an initial
advance of $300,000, requires minimum incremental advances of $150,000, matures
on January 22, 2004, requires ratable monthly principal and interest payments of
each borrowing, amortizable through the maturity date of the facility, is fully
collateralized by the Company's qualifying franchise notes (as referenced by a
pledge agreement), and requires the payment of a facility fee of 2% per annum,
payable monthly, on the unused portion of the credit facility.
Simultaneous with obtaining the above financing, the Company repaid
outstanding related party borrowings due to Horizon and Broadway totaling
$750,000, plus interest. In consideration for providing access to the credit
facility and guaranteeing the term note, the Company granted Horizon an
aggregate of 2,500,000 warrants (1,750,000 of which were immediately
exercisable, with the balance vesting in quarterly increments of 250,000,
beginning April 22, 2002, so long as any amounts remain unpaid under the secured
term note and/or credit facility). Each warrant has a five-year term and
provides for an exercise price of $0.01. The fair value of the warrants issued
was approximately $234,000. As of April 8, 2002, remaining availability under
the credit facility was approximately $700,000.
The Company believes that, in the furtherance of its business strategies,
the Company's immediate future capital requirements will include the renovating
and/or remodeling of certain Company-owned stores, terminating the leases of and
closing certain non-profitable Company-owned stores, the upgrading of management
information systems for Company-owned and franchised stores, and improved
support services for its franchise system.
The Company plans to attempt to improve its cash flows during 2002 by
improving store profitability through increased monitoring of store-by-store
operations, closing non-profitable Company-owned stores, implementing reductions
of administrative overhead expenses, where necessary and feasible, actively
supporting development programs for franchisees, and seeking additional
financing, if necessary and available. Management believes that with the
successful execution of its business plan (including the aforementioned
activities), its existing cash on hand, the collection of outstanding
receivables, and the availability under its existing credit facility, sufficient
liquidity will be available for the Company to continue in operation at least
through the end of the first quarter of 2003. However, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able achieve the aforementioned plans, or that any
additional financing, if needed, will be available.
13
Management's Discussion of Critical Accounting Policies
High-quality financial statements require rigorous application of
high-quality accounting policies. Management believes that its policies related
to revenue recognition, legal contingencies, allowances on franchise, notes and
other receivables, and accruals for store closings and costs of disposal of
discontinued operations are critical to an understanding of the Company's
financial statements because their application places the most significant
demands on management's judgment, with financial reporting results relying on
estimation about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Goodwill
In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statements of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 141, "Business
Combinations" and No. 142, "Goodwill and other Intangible Assets". SFAS No. 141
requires all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be accounted
for using the purchase method. Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill and intangible
assets with indefinite lives are no longer amortized but are reviewed annually
(or more frequently, if impairment indicators arise) for impairment. Separable
intangible assets that are not deemed to have indefinite lives will continue to
be amortized over their useful lives (but with no maximum life).
The Company has adopted SFAS No. 142 effective January 1, 2002 and,
accordingly, goodwill will no longer be amortized. In accordance with the SFAS
No. 142, goodwill will be evaluated periodically for impairment. The Company is
currently evaluating the effect of adoption, if any.
Asset Retirement Obligations
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations." This statement addresses the financial and reporting
obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the
associated asset retirement costs. It applies to legal obligations associated
with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from acquisition,
construction, development and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset,
except for certain obligations of lessees. This statement is effective for
fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2001. The Company is currently evaluating
the effect of adoption of SFAS No. 143 on its financial position and results of
operations, but does not expect its impact to be material.
Long-Lived Assets
In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144 "Accounting for the Impairment
or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets". This statement supersedes SFAS No. 121
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to
Be Disposed Of" and Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 "Reporting
Results of Operations - Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a
Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and
Transactions". The Statement retains the fundamental provisions of SFAS No. 121
for recognition and measurement of impairment, but amends the accounting and
reporting standards for segments of a business to be disposed of. The provisions
of this statement are required to be adopted no later than fiscal years
beginning after December 31, 2001, with early adoption encouraged. The Company
is currently evaluating the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 144.
14
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The Registrant presently has outstanding certain equity instruments with
beneficial conversion terms. Accordingly, the Registrant, in the future, could
incur non-cash charges to equity (as a result of the exercise of such beneficial
conversion terms), which would have a negative impact on future per share
calculations.
The Company is exposed to market risks from potential changes in interest
rates as they relate to the Company's investments in highly liquid marketable
securities and borrowings under its credit facility. The Company believes that
the amount of risk as it relates to its investments and any such borrowings is
not material to the Company's financial condition or results of operations. The
Company does not expect to use interest rate swaps or other instruments to hedge
its borrowings under its credit facility.
15
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
------
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 17
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 18
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 19
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the
Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 20
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999 21
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 22
Information required by schedules called for under Regulation S-X is either
not applicable or is included in the consolidated financial statements or notes
thereto.
16
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To Emerging Vision, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Emerging
Vision, Inc. (a New York corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001
and 2000, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders'
equity and cash flows for the three years ended December 31, 2001. 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 auditing standards generally
accepted in the 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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Emerging Vision, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for the three years ended December 31, 2001 in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
Melville, New York
April 8, 2002
17
EMERGING VISION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
December 31,
-----------------------------
2001 2000
-----------------------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,053 $ 5,215
Franchise receivables, net of allowance of $3,095 and $3,521, respectively 1,837 1,493
Other receivables, net of allowance of $171 and $323, respectively 739 1,997
Current portion of franchise notes receivable 2,993 2,622
Inventories, net 783 1,033
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 94 475
--------- ---------
Total current assets 7,499 12,835
--------- ---------
Property and equipment, net 1,075 2,995
Franchise notes and other receivables, net of allowance of $3,326 and $3,019, respectively 862 3,926
Goodwill, net 1,266 1,534
Other assets 355 401
Net assets of discontinued operations - 840
--------- ---------
Total assets $ 11,057 $ 22,531
========= =========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of capital lease obligations $ 186 $ 221
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 7,122 13,595
Accrual for store closings 964 -
Related party borrowings (Note 13) 750 -
Net liabilities of discontinued operations 235 3,006
--------- ---------
Total current liabilities 9,257 16,822
--------- ---------
Capital lease obligations 363 533
--------- ---------
Excess of fair value of assets acquired over cost - 317
--------- ---------
Franchise deposits and other liabilities 820 954
--------- ---------
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
Shareholders' equity
Preferred stock, $.01 par value per share; 5,000,000 shares authorized:
Senior Convertible Preferred Stock, $100,000 liquidation preference per
share; 3 shares issued and outstanding 287 287
Common stock, $.01 par value per share; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 27,187,309 and
25,559,231 shares issued, respectively, and 27,004,972 and 25,382,230 shares outstanding,
respectively 272 256
Treasury stock, at cost, 182,337 and 177,001 shares, respectively (204) (203)
Additional paid-in capital 119,926 119,453
Accumulated deficit (119,664) (115,888)
--------- ---------
617 3,905
--------- ---------
$ 11,057 $ 22,531
========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated balance
sheets.
18
EMERGING VISION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
For the Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999
-----------------------------------------
Revenues:
Net sales $ 11,648 $ 12,115 $ 17,601
Franchise royalties 7,860 9,077 9,355
Net gains and fees from the conveyance of Company-owned store
assets to franchisees 140 298 667
Interest on franchise notes receivable 947 1,210 1,465
Other income 24 358 492
--------- --------- ---------
20,619 23,058 29,580
--------- --------- ---------
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales 3,077 3,870 4,856
Selling, general and administrative expenses 20,361 31,260 23,609
Loss from franchised stores operated under management agreements 167 627 605
Provision for store closings (Note 8) 964 - -
Charges related to long-lived assets 930 1,131 -
Non-cash charges for issuance of common stock, warrants and induced
conversions of warrants 165 366 2,371
Interest expense 43 432 830
--------- --------- ---------
25,707 37,686 32,271
--------- --------- ---------
Loss from continuing operations before provision for income taxes (5,088) (14,628) (2,691)
Provision for income taxes - - -
--------- --------- ---------
Loss from continuing operations (5,088) (14,628) (2,691)
--------- --------- ---------
Discontinued operations: (Note 2)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations 1,312 (15,533) 430
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations - (8,831) -
--------- --------- ---------
Income (loss) from discontinued operations 1,312 (24,364) 430
--------- --------- ---------
Net loss $ (3,776) $ (38,992) $ (2,261)
========= ========= =========
Per share information - basic and diluted: (Note 4)
Loss from continuing operations $ (0.19) $ (2.04) $ (0.41)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations 0.05 (0.66) 0.03
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations - (0.37) -
--------- --------- ---------
Net loss per share $ (0.14) $ (3.07) $ (0.38)
========= ========= =========
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted 26,409 23,627 15,232
========= ========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
statements.
19
EMERGING VISION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001, 2000 AND 1999
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
Series B Convertible Senior Convertible
Preferred Stock Preferred Stock Common Stock
Shares Amount Shares Amount Shares Amount
------ ------ ------ ------ ---------- --------
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1998................................ - $ - 35 $4,025 14,920,351 $ 149
----------- ------- ------ ------ ---------- --------
Issuance of common shares upon induced conversion
of Senior Convertible Preferred Stock................. - - (14) (1,608) 1,172,500 12
Issuance of common shares to vendors and franchisees....... - - - - 61,273 1
Acquisition of RBG Consulting, Ltd......................... - - - - - -
Issuance of common shares upon exercise of warrants........ - - - - 500,000 5
Charge for payments related to stock price guarantees...... - - - - - -
Dividends on Senior Convertible Preferred Stock............ - - - - 22,506 -
Issuance of warrants for consulting services............... - - - - - -
Charge related to reductions in exercise price of warrants. - - - - - -
Net loss................................................... - - - - - -
----------- ------- ------ ------ ---------- --------
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1999................................ - - 21 2,417 16,676,630 167
Issuance of common shares upon induced conversion
of Senior Convertible Preferred Stock................. - - (18) (2,130) 2,468,334 25
Exercise of stock options and warrants..................... - - - - 2,048,460 20
Issuance of common shares for consulting services.......... - - - - 1,010,000 10
Issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock........... 1,677,570 - - - - -
Issuance of warrants in connection with
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.................. - - - - - -
Accretion of dividends on Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock....................................... - 11,743 - - - -
Issuance of common shares upon conversion of Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock........................... (1,677,570) (11,743) - - 3,355,140 34
Issuance of common shares to franchisees................... - - - - 667 -
Issuance of warrants and options for consulting services... - - - - - -
Equity contribution related to extinguishment of
debt to related party................................. - - - - - -
Acquisition of treasury shares............................. - - - - - -
Net loss................................................... - - - - - -
----------- ------- ------ ------ ---------- --------
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 2000................................ - - 3 287 25,559,231 256
Issuance of common shares for consulting services (Note 14) - - - - 1,628,078 16
Acquisition of treasury shares (Note 14)................... - - - - - -
Net loss................................................... - - - - - -
----------- ------- ------ ------ ---------- --------
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 2001................................ - $ - 3 $ 287 27,187,309 $ 272
=========== ======= ====== ====== ========== ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated statements.
EMERGING VISION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001, 2000 AND 1999
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
Treasury Stock, Additional Total
at cost Paid-In Accumulated Shareholders'
Shares Amount Capital Deficit Equity
------ ----- -------- --------- --------
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1998................................. - $ - $ 46,036 $ (37,663) $ 12,547
------- ----- -------- --------- --------
Issuance of common shares upon induced conversion
of Senior Convertible Preferred Stock.................. - - 5,035 (3,439) -
Issuance of common shares to vendors and franchisees........ - - 249 - 250
Acquisition of RBG Consulting, Ltd.......................... - - 640 - 640
Issuance of common shares upon exercise of warrants......... - - 995 - 1,000
Charge for payments related to stock price guarantees....... - - (386) - (386)
Dividends on Senior Convertible Preferred Stock............. - - 83 (83) -
Issuance of warrants for consulting services................ - - 2,000 - 2,000
Charge related to reductions in exercise price of warrants.. - - 371 - 371
Net loss.................................................... - - - (2,261) (2,261)
------- ----- -------- --------- --------
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 1999................................. - - 55,023 (43,446) 14,161
Issuance of common shares upon induced conversion
of Senior Convertible Preferred Stock.................. - - 23,812 (21,707) -
Exercise of stock options and warrants...................... - - 7,672 - 7,692
Issuance of common shares for consulting services........... - - 9,798 - 9,808
Issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock............ - - 6,239 - 6,239
Issuance of warrants in connection
with Series B Convertible Preferred Stock............. - - 4,379 - 4,379
Accretion of dividends on Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock........................................ - - - (11,743) -
Issuance of common shares upon conversion of Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock............................ - - 11,709 - -
Issuance of common shares to franchisees.................... - - - - -
Issuance of warrants and options for consulting services.... - - 94 - 94
Equity contribution related to extinguishment of
debt to related party.................................. - - 727 - 727
Acquisition of treasury shares.............................. 177,001 (203) - - (203)
Net loss.................................................... - - - (38,992) (38,992)
------- ----- -------- --------- --------
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 2000 177,001 (203) 119,453 (115,888) 3,905
Issuance of common shares for consulting services (Note 14) - - 473 - 489
Acquisition of treasury shares (Note 14)................... 5,336 (1) - - (1)
Net loss................................................... - - - (3,776) (3,776)
------- ----- -------- --------- --------
BALANCE - DECEMBER 31, 2001................................ 182,337 $(204) $119,926 $(119,664) $ 617
======= ===== ======== ========= ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
statements.
20
EMERGING VISION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in Thousands)
For the Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999
----------------------------------------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss from continuing operations $ (5,088) $ (14,628) $ (2,691)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations
to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 1,351 1,440 1,653
Provision for doubtful accounts 138 6,967 1,007
Provision for inventories 100 - -
Net gains from the conveyance of Company-owned store assets to
franchisees - (298) (667)
Accrued interest - - 83
Amortization of excess of fair value of assets acquired over cost (317) (348) (348)
Non-cash compensation charges related to options and warrants 165 94 2,371
Charges related to long-lived assets 930 1,131 -
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Franchise and other receivables 1,007 (35) (1,526)
Inventories 150 880 355
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 381 95 69
Other assets 15 330 (1,117)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (5,365) 2,788 (269)
Franchise deposits and other liabilities (134) (32) (106)
Accrual for store closings 964 (299) 180
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in operating activities (5,703) (1,915) (1,006)
--------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Franchise notes receivable issued - (582) (2,816)
Proceeds from franchise and other notes receivable 1,961 2,030 3,859
Purchases of property and equipment (345) (1,579) (1,386)
Proceeds from conveyance of property and equipment - - 1,947
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 1,616 (131) 1,604
--------- --------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments related to stock price guarantees - - (386)
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants - 7,692 1,000
Proceeds from borrowings 750 - 981
Payments on borrowings (205) (6,594) (2,968)
Net proceeds from the issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock - 10,618 -
Acquisition of treasury shares (1) (203) -
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 544 11,513 (1,373)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing operations (3,543) 9,467 (775)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operations (619) (4,360) 55
--------- --------- ---------
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (4,162) 5,107 (720)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year 5,215 108 828
--------- --------- ---------
Cash and cash equivalents - end of year $ 1,053 $ 5,215 $ 108
========= ========= =========
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest $ 49 $ 324 $ 699
========= ========= =========
Taxes $ 69 $ 28 $ 62
========= ========= =========
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Franchise store assets reacquired $ 501 $ 416 $ 815
Issuance of common shares for consulting services 165 - -
Issuance of common shares to settle vendor payable related to discontinued
operations 324 - -
Extinguishment of related party debt - 727 -
Preferred stock dividend paid in common shares - - 83
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
statements.
21
EMERGING VISION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 - ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS:
Business
- --------
Emerging Vision, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company"), is one of the
largest chains of retail optical stores and one of the largest franchise optical
chains in the United States, based upon domestic sales and the number of
locations of Company-owned and franchised stores (collectively referred to
herein as "Sterling Stores"). The Company was incorporated under the laws of the
State of New York in January 1992 and, in July 1992, purchased substantially all
of the assets of Sterling Optical Corp., a New York corporation then a
debtor-in-possession under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
On March 28, 2001, the Board of Directors decided that the Company should
focus its efforts and resources on growing its retail optical business and, as a
result, approved a plan to discontinue all other operations then being conducted
by the Company (Note 2). In connection with this decision, during 2001, the
Company completed its plan of disposal of substantially all of the net assets of
Insight Laser Centers, Inc. ("Insight Laser") - which operated three laser
vision correction centers in the New York metropolitan area, Insight Laser
Centers N.Y.I, Inc. (the "Ambulatory Center") - the owner of the assets of an
ambulatory surgery center located in Garden City, New York, and its Internet
Division - which was to provide a web-based portal being designed to take
advantage of business-to-business opportunities in the optical industry.
As of December 31, 2001, there were 203 Sterling Stores in operation,
consisting of 34 Company-owned stores (including 9 stores being managed by
franchisees), and 169 franchised stores (including 1 franchised store being
managed by the Company on behalf of the franchisee - Note 3). As discussed in
Note 8, the Company anticipates closing 11 of its non-profitable Company-owned
stores during 2002.
Basis of Presentation
- ---------------------
The Consolidated Financial Statements reflect the operations of the
Company's retail optical store division as continuing operations. The results of
operations and cash flows of Insight Laser, the Ambulatory Center and the
Internet Division are reflected as discontinued operations in accordance with
Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 30, "Reporting the Results of
Operations - Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and
Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions". The
remaining net liabilities of those segments of the Company's business have been
separately stated on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as net assets
or liabilities of discontinued operations, and are classified depending on their
expected realization and/or settlement date.
Management's Liquidity Plans
- ----------------------------
As of December 31, 2001, the Company had negative working capital of
$1,758,000, and cash on hand of $1,053,000. During 2001, the Company's operating
activities used approximately $5,703,000 of cash, of which approximately
$3,977,000 related to one-time liabilities that arose as a result of the
Company's plan of disposal (Note 2).
The Company plans to attempt to improve its cash flows during 2002 by
improving store profitability through increased monitoring of store-by-store
operations, closing non-profitable Company-owned stores, implementing reductions
of administrative overhead expenses, where necessary and feasible, actively
supporting development programs for franchisees, and by seeking additional
financing, if necessary and available. Management believes that with its plans
to attempt to improve cash flows as discussed above, its existing cash, the
collection of outstanding receivables, and the availability under its existing
credit facility (Note 19), there will be sufficient liquidity available to the
Company to continue in operation until at least the end of the first quarter of
2003. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be able achieve
the aforementioned plans, or that any financing will be available.
NOTE 2 - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
As discussed in Note 1, in March 2001, the Company's Board of Directors
decided to discontinue the operations of the Internet, Insight Laser and
Ambulatory Center divisions. The Company successfully completed its plan of
disposal of the assets of these segments in 2001; accordingly, the remaining
results of operations and cash flows have been reflected as discontinued
operations in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. As of December
31, 2001 and 2000, respectively, net liabilities of $235,000 and $2,166,000
related to these discontinued operations were segregated on the accompanying
Consolidated Balance Sheets.
22
In connection with its original plan of disposal, the Company, as of
December 31, 2000, recorded an initial provision of approximately $8,116,000 for
costs associated with the plan. This provision included estimates of future
operating losses, known and anticipated expenses associated with the sale of the
net assets of these divisions, and an estimate of loss upon disposition. As of
December 31, 2000, approximately $4,719,000 of this provision was accrued as
part of accounts payable and accrued liabilities on the accompanying
Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Internet Division
During 2001, in connection with discontinuing the operations of the
Internet Division, the Company incurred an aggregate of approximately $805,000
in severance payments to all of the Internet Division's personnel located in its
Dallas, Texas office, and approximately $1,298,000 of operating costs. Included
in such severance payments were payments of $277,000 and $205,000, respectively,
to Mr. Gregory Cook, the Company's former President and Chief Executive Officer,
and Mr. James Ewer, the Company's former Senior Vice-President of Operations.
Additionally, on March 23, 2001, the Company issued to each of Mssrs. Cook and
Ewer, fully-vested stock options to purchase 250,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.25, the fair market value on the date of
grant.
On April 24, 2001, the Company and Ms. Sara V. Traberman, the former Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, settled her claim for severance benefits
(which, in accordance with the terms of her Employment Agreement with the
Company, called for a cash settlement in the approximate amount of $1,300,000,
and the immediate vesting of the 400,000 stock options previously granted to her
under the Agreement, all as a result of the failure of the Company to sell its
non-Internet related assets by March 1, 2001) for a lump sum payment of
$750,000, plus the issuance of fully-vested stock options to purchase 125,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.29, the fair
market value on the date of grant.
On July 5, 2001, the Company and each of Rare Medium Group, Inc. and Rare
Medium, Inc. (collectively, "Rare") entered into a Settlement Agreement and
Mutual Release whereby the Company's dispute with Rare regarding their
respective obligations under the Company's various agreements with Rare
(pertaining to the development and implementation of the e-commerce business and
strategies of the Company's previously abandoned Internet Division) was settled,
and each of the parties was released from substantially all of its respective
obligations under the various agreements between the parties (including, but not
limited to, the $3.00 price protection guarantee afforded Rare with respect to
the 1,000,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock previously issued to Rare
under the agreements (the "Existing Shares"), all in exchange for the Company's
payment to Rare of $375,000, the Company's issuance to Rare of an additional
1,000,000 shares of its Common Stock (which the Company was required to attempt
to register for resale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act")), and the Company's agreement not to impede Rare's ability to sell the
Existing Shares, all of which were previously registered under the Act. As this
settlement amount was accrued as of December 31, 2000, no charge to the
accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations was required in 2001.
Additionally, the Company successfully settled certain claims related to
its Internet Division for less than the amounts originally accrued. As a result,
at various times during 2001, the Company reevaluated its total accrual related
to the discontinuance of the operations of its Internet Division and,
accordingly, reversed approximately $610,000 of such accrual into earnings.
Insight Laser
In early 2001, the Company closed two of its three Insight Laser locations
and, in an effort to pursue a sale of the remaining net assets, continued to
operate from its flagship center located in Trump Tower in New York City. The
Company was unsuccessful in its attempts to sell the business and net assets of
Insight Laser and, in September 2001, made a decision to cease all operations,
effective as of November 30, 2001, and attempt to settle all of Insight Laser's
liabilities in connection therewith (including lease termination costs and
employee-related severance costs), as well as to thereafter liquidate the assets
thereof. As a result of this decision not to sell such assets, the Company
accrued an additional $425,000 related to the discontinuance of the operations
of Insight Laser.
Ambulatory Center
On May 31, 2001, the Company and the owner/licensee of the Ambulatory
Center reached an agreement whereby the Company sold and transferred its assets
then located in the Ambulatory Center to a limited liability company owned, in
principal part, by the owner/licensee thereof. In consideration of the sale and
transfer, the purchaser assumed the Ambulatory Center's liabilities (subject to
certain limitations), released the Company from its obligations under the lease
for the premises of the Ambulatory Center (except in limited circumstances),
agreed to the termination of the Administrative Services and Consulting
Agreement
23
whereby the Company rendered services to the owner/licensee in connection
with the operation of the Ambulatory Center, and agreed to the termination of
the Purchase Agreement whereby an affiliate of the Company had agreed to
purchase the New York State License (Certificate of Need) for the Ambulatory
Center. As a result, the Company reversed into earnings, $887,000 of the
previously accrued $1,145,000 of liabilities related to the Ambulatory Center.
For the year ended December 31, 2001, the Company incurred approximately
$62,000, related to the aforementioned guarantee of certain liabilities of the
Ambulatory Center. Additionally, as of December 31, 2001, the Company has
accrued an additional $104,000 related to such estimated guaranty liabilities
for 2002.
The reversal of $1,497,000 of amounts previously accrued for the Internet
Division and Ambulatory Center, offset by the aforementioned additional accrual
of $425,000 for Insight Laser, is reflected in income from discontinued
operations on the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year
ended December 31, 2001. As of December 31, 2001, approximately $141,000 related
to discontinued operations remains accrued as part of accounts payable and
accrued liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Summarized financial information for these discontinued operations is as
follows (in thousands):
As of and for the Years Ended December 31:
Internet Insight Ambulatory
Division Laser Center Total
-------- --------- ---------- ---------
2001
Net revenues $ - $ 1,004 $ 72 $ 1,076
======== ========= ========== =========
Net income (loss) * $ 563 $ (47) $ 796 $ 1,312
======== ========= ========== =========
Current assets $ - $ - $ - $ -
======== ========= ========== =========
Total assets $ - $ - $ - $ -
======== ========= ========== =========
Current liabilities $ 145 $ 90 $ - $ 235
======== ========= ========== =========
Net assets (liabilities) $ (145) $ (90) $ - $ (235)
======== ========= ========== =========
2000
Net revenues $ 108 $ 2,610 $ 753 $ 3,471
======== ========= ========== =========
Net loss $(19,573) $ (1,083) $ (3,708) $(24,364)
======== ========= ========== =========
Current assets $ 36 $ 13 $ 10 $ 59
======== ========= ========== =========
Total assets $ 36 $ 953 $ 10 $ 999
======== ========= ========== =========
Current liabilities $ 1,208 $ 1,857 $ - $ 3,065
======== ========= ========== =========
Net assets (liabilities) $ (1,172) $ (1,004) $ 10 $ (2,166)
======== ========= ========== =========
* Net income results from the reversal of accruals associated with the
Company's plan of disposal.
NOTE 3 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
Use of Estimates
- ----------------
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and the
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the dates of such
financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during
the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Significant estimates made by management include, but are not limited to,
allowances on franchise, notes and other receivables, and accruals for store
closings and costs of disposal of discontinued operations.
Principles of Consolidation
- ---------------------------
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Emerging
Vision, Inc. and its operating subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
24
Company-Managed Stores
- ----------------------
The Company accounts for the results of operations of certain franchised
Sterling Stores operated by the Company under management agreements in
accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 97-2 ("EITF 97-2"),
"Application of FASB Statement No. 94 and APB Opinion No. 16 to Physician
Practice Management Entities and Certain Other Entities with Contractual
Management Arrangements." In accordance with EITF 97-2, the results of
operations of Company-managed stores are shown on a net basis, and are
classified as a loss from franchised stores operated under management agreements
in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, the Company managed
1, 3 and 5 Sterling Stores, respectively, for franchisees, under management
agreements entered into with each such franchisee. These management agreements
generally provide for the operation of the Sterling Store in question, by the
Company, with all operating decisions primarily being made by the Company. The
Company owns the inventory at these locations and is responsible for the
collection of all revenues and the payment of all associated expenses. For the
years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, these stores generated revenues of
$216,000, $1,382,000 and $1,524,000, respectively, and net losses of $167,000,
$627,000 and $605,000, respectively. Subsequent to December 31, 2001, due to the
significant operating losses being incurred, the Company terminated its single
outstanding management agreement with the franchisee of the Sterling Store in
question, recovered the assets of such store, and entered into a termination
agreement with the landlord thereof for the lease of the location. The cost of
this termination amounted to approximately $80,000.
Revenue Recognition
- -------------------
The Company generally charges franchisees a nonrefundable initial franchise
fee. Initial franchise fees are recognized at the time all material services
required to be provided by the Company have been substantially performed.
Continuing franchise royalty fees are based upon a percentage of the gross
revenues generated by each franchised location and are recorded as earned.
The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with SEC Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements." Accordingly,
revenues are recorded when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists,
delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the Company's price to the
buyer is fixed or determinable, and collectibility is reasonably assured.
The Company derives its revenues from the following four principal sources:
Net sales - Represents sales from eye care products and related services;
Franchise royalties - Represents continuing franchise fees based upon a
percentage of the gross revenues generated by each franchised location;
Net gains from the conveyance of Company-store assets to franchisees -
Represents the net gains from the sale of Company-owned store assets to
franchisees; and
Interest on franchise notes - Represents interest charged to franchisees
pursuant to promissory notes issued in connection with a franchisee's
acquisition of the assets of a Sterling Store or a qualified refinancing of a
franchisee's obligations to the Company.
The Company also follows the provisions of EITF 01-09, "Accounting for
Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (Including Reseller of the
Vendor's Products)" and, accordingly, accounts for discounts, coupons and
promotions (that are offered to its customers) as a direct reduction of sales.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
- -------------------------
Cash represents cash on hand at Company-owned stores and cash on deposit
with financial institutions. All highly liquid investments with an original
maturity (from date of purchase) of three months or less, are considered to be
cash equivalents. The Company's cash equivalents are invested in various
investment-grade, money market accounts.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
- -----------------------------------
As of December 31, 2001, the carrying values of the Company's financial
instruments, such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable
and long-term debt, approximated their fair values, based on their short-term
maturities and the nature of these instruments.
25
Inventories
- -----------
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value, and consist
primarily of contact lenses, ophthalmic lenses, eyeglass frames and sunglasses.
Property and Equipment
- ----------------------
Property and equipment are recorded at cost, less accumulated depreciation
and amortization. Depreciation is recorded on a straight-line basis over the
estimated useful lives of the respective classes of assets.
Goodwill
- --------
Through December 31, 2001, goodwill was being amortized, on a straight-line
basis, over its estimated useful life of 20 years, and accumulated amortization
on goodwill was approximately $1,275,000 and $1,007,000 as of December 31, 2001
and 2000, respectively.
In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 142, "Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets." This Statement provides that goodwill and intangible
assets with indefinite lives should no longer be amortized, but should be
reviewed, at least annually, for impairment. This Statement is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. In accordance with the adoption
of SFAS No. 142, beginning January 1, 2002, the Company will cease amortizing
its existing net goodwill of $1,266,000, resulting in the exclusion of
approximately $268,000 of amortization expense for the year ended December 31,
2002. The Company believes that its existing goodwill will likely not be
impaired based upon the fact that the Company is one reporting unit - a retail
optical business (Note 1).
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
- -------------------------------
The Company follows the provisions of SFAS No. 121, "Accounting for the
Impairment of Long Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of".
This Statement 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 the assets may not be
recoverable, but amends the prior accounting and reporting standards for
segments of a business to be disposed of. The Company periodically evaluates its
long-lived assets (on a store-by-store basis) based on, among other factors, the
estimated, undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated from such
assets in order to determine if an impairment exists. For the year ended
December 31, 2001, the Company recorded impairment charges of $574,000 for
stores it will continue to operate, and wrote off $356,000 of long-lived assets
related to stores that management has made the decision to close (Note 8). For
the year ended December 31, 2000, the Company recorded impairment charges of
$1,131,000 related to certain corporate long-lived assets that it no longer had
use for, along with the capitalized web development costs associated with the
development of the website for its 1-800 Anylens business (Note 13). These
amounts were reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the
years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, and a new basis, if any, for the
impaired assets was established. There were no impairment charges recorded in
1999.
Comprehensive Income
- --------------------
The Company follows the provisions of SFAS No. 130, "Reporting
Comprehensive Income," which establishes rules for the reporting of
comprehensive income and its components. For the years ended December 31, 2001,
2000 and 1999, the Company's operations did not give rise to items includible in
comprehensive loss that were not already included in net loss. Therefore, the
Company's comprehensive loss is the same as its net loss for all periods
presented.
Income Taxes
- ------------
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109,
"Accounting for Income Taxes". Under the asset and liability method specified by
SFAS No. 109, the deferred income tax amounts included in the Consolidated
Balance Sheets are determined based on the differences between the financial
statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities, as measured by the enacted
tax rates, that will be in effect when these differences reverse. Differences
between assets and liabilities for financial statement and tax return purposes
are principally related to inventories and the depreciable lives of assets.
26
Stock-Based Compensation
- ------------------------
The Company follows the provisions of Accounting Principles Board ("APB")
Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and FASB
Interpretation No. 44 "Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock
Compensation (an Interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25)" in connection with
stock-based compensation granted to employees and directors of the Company. The
Company provides the required pro forma disclosures, as if the fair value method
of SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock Based Compensation," was adopted (Note
15). Stock-based compensation granted to non-employees is accounted for using
the provisions of SFAS No. 123.
Concentration of Credit Risk
- ----------------------------
The Company operates retail optical stores in North America, predominantly
in the United States, and its receivables are primarily from franchisees that
also operate retail optical stores in the United States.
Segment Information
- -------------------
SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information," establishes annual and interim reporting standards for an
enterprise's operating segments, and related disclosures about its products,
services, geographic areas and major customers. For the years ended December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999, the Company's continuing operations were classified into
one principal industry segment - retail optical (Note 1). All other segments
have been reflected as discontinued operations. Accordingly, the disclosures
required by SFAS No. 131 have not been provided.
Reclassifications
- -----------------
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years' financial
statements to conform to the current year presentation.
New Accounting Pronouncements
- -----------------------------
In June 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations." This Statement addresses the financial and reporting
obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the
associated asset retirement costs, and applies to legal obligations associated
with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from acquisition,
construction, development and/or the normal operation of a long-lived asset,
except for certain obligations of lessees. This Statement is effective for
fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2001. The Company is currently evaluating
the effect of the adoption of SFAS No. 143 on its financial position and results
of operations, but does not expect its impact to be material.
In July 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations," which
requires that all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 be
accounted for using the purchase method.
In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." This Statement supersedes SFAS No.
121 and APB No. 30, retains the fundamental provisions of SFAS No. 121 for
recognition and measurement of impairment, but amends the accounting and
reporting standards for segments of a business to be disposed of. The provisions
of this Statement are required to be adopted no later than fiscal years
beginning after December 31, 2001. The Company is currently evaluating the
effect of the adoption of SFAS No. 144 on its financial position and results of
operations.
NOTE 4 - PER SHARE INFORMATION:
In accordance with SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share", basic net loss per
common share ("Basic EPS") is computed by dividing the net loss attributable to
common shareholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding.
Diluted net loss per common share ("Diluted EPS") is computed by dividing the
net loss attributable to common shareholders by the weighted-average number of
common shares and dilutive common share equivalents and convertible securities
then outstanding. SFAS No. 128 requires the presentation of both Basic EPS and
Diluted EPS on the face of the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.
There were 5,398,133, 5,590,966 and 3,571,624 stock options and warrants
excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the years ended December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively, as their effect on the computation of diluted
EPS would have been anti-dilutive. Additionally, for the years ended December
31, 2001 and 2000, there were 2.51 shares of our Senior Convertible Preferred
Stock outstanding, convertible into 334,667 shares of the Company's Common
Stock. Similarly, these shares were not "assumed converted" as the effect on the
computation would also have been anti-dilutive.
27
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted per
share information:
(In thousands)
-------------------------------------------------
Numerator: 2001 2000 1999
- ---------- ---- ---- ----
Loss from continuing operations $ (5,088) $ (14,628) $ (2,691)
Senior Convertible Preferred Stock dividends - - (83)
Induced conversion of Senior Convertible Preferred Stock - (21,707) (3,439)
Accretion of dividends on Series B Convertible Preferred Stock - (11,743) -
--------- --------- ---------
Numerator for basic and diluted loss per share -
loss attributable to common shareholders (5,088) (48,078) (6,213)
--------- --------- ---------
Basic and Diluted:
- ------------------
Loss attributable to common shareholders (5,088) (48,078) (6,213)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations 1,312 (15,533) 430
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations - (8,831) -
--------- --------- ---------
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $ (3,776) $ (72,442) $ (5,783)
========= ========= =========
Denominator:
- ------------
Denominator for basic and diluted per share information -
weighted-average shares outstanding 26,409 23,627 15,232
========= ========= =========
Basic and Diluted Per Share Information:
- ----------------------------------------
Loss attributable to common shareholders $ (0.19) $ (2.04) $ (0.41)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations 0.05 (0.66) 0.03
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations - (0.37) -
--------- --------- ---------
Net loss attributable to common shareholders $ (0.14) $ (3.07) $ (0.38)
========= ========= =========
NOTE 5 - FRANCHISE NOTES RECEIVABLE:
Franchise notes held by the Company consist primarily of purchase money
notes related to Company-financed conveyances of Company-owned store assets to
franchisees, and certain franchise notes receivable obtained by the Company in
connection with acquisitions in prior years. Substantially all notes are secured
by the underlying assets of the related franchised store, as well as, in most
cases, the personal guarantee of the principal owners of the franchisee. As of
December 31, 2001, these notes provided for interest at various rates ranging
from 8% to 12%.
Scheduled maturities of notes receivable as of December 31, 2001, are as
follows (in thousands):
2002 $ 2,993
2003 1,170
2004 835
2005 722
2006 626
Thereafter 835
---------
7,181
Less: allowance for doubtful accounts (3,326)
---------
$ 3,855
=========
28
NOTE 6 - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS:
Franchise receivables (such as royalties and rents receivable), franchise
notes receivable, and other Company receivables, are shown on the Consolidated
Balance Sheets net of allowances for doubtful accounts. The following is a
breakdown, by major component, of the change in those allowances, along with the
accruals for store closings and discontinued operations:
(In thousands)
As of December 31,
--------------------------------------------
Franchise Receivables: 2001 2000 1999
---- ---- ----
Balance, beginning of year $ 3,521 $ 2,443 $ 2,060
Charged to expense 138 2,994 910
Reductions (564) (1,916) (527)
-------- -------- --------
Balance, end of year $ 3,095 $ 3,521 $ 2,443
======== ======== ========
Franchise Notes Receivables:
Balance, beginning of year $ 3,019 $ 400 $ 450
Charged to expense - 3,650 97
Reductions, principally write-offs - (1,031) (147)
Additions 307 - -
-------- -------- --------
Balance, end of year $ 3,326 $ 3,019 $ 400
======== ======== ========
Other Company Receivables:
Balance, beginning of year $ 323 $ - $ -
Charged to expense - 323 -
Reductions (152) - -
-------- -------- --------
Balance, end of year $ 171 $ 323 $ -
======== ======== ========
Accrual for Store Closing:
Balance, beginning of year $ - $ 299 $ 954
Charged to expense 964 - -
Reductions - (299) (655)
-------- -------- --------
Balance, end of year $ 964 $ - $ 299
======== ======== ========
Accrual for Costs of Disposal of Discontinued Operations:
Balance, beginning of year $ 4,719 $ - $ -
Charged to expense 425 11,919 -
Reductions (including approximately $1,497 of accrual reversal) (5,003) (7,200) -
-------- -------- --------
Balance, end of year $ 141 $ 4,719 $ -
======== ======= ========
NOTE 7 - PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET:
Property and equipment, net, consists of the following:
(In thousands) Estimated
As of December 31, Useful
2001 2000 Lives
------- ------- ---------
Furniture and fixtures $ 275 $ 703 5 years
Machinery and equipment 1,580 3,524 3-5 years
Leasehold improvements 1,105 1,733 10 years*
------- -------
2,960 5,960
Less: accumulated depreciation (1,885) (2,965)
------- -------
Property and equipment, net $1,075 $2,995
======= =======
* Based upon the lesser of the assets' useful lives or the term of the
lease of the related property.
29
The net book value of assets held under capital leases included in property
and equipment aggregated $139,000 and $374,000 (net of accumulated depreciation
of $129,000 and $146,000) as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, was
$885,000, $1,172,000 and $1,304,000, respectively.
NOTE 8 - PROVISION FOR STORE CLOSINGS:
The Company follows the provisions of EITF 94-3 "Liability Recognition for
Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity," and
in accordance therewith, the Company provides for losses it anticipates
incurring with respect to those Company-owned stores that it has identified for
future closure, at the time that management makes a formal commitment to any
such plan of closure. The provision is recorded at the time the determination is
made to close a particular store and is based on the expected net proceeds, if
any, to be generated from the disposition of the store's assets, as compared to
the carrying value (after consideration of impairment, if any - see Note 3) of
such store's assets and the estimated costs (including lease termination costs
and other expenses) that are anticipated to be incurred in the closing of the
store in question. For the year ended December 31, 2001, the Company recorded a
provision for 11 store closings totaling approximately $964,000 (comprised of
$766,000 in lease termination costs and $198,000 for other associated expenses),
and such provision is separately stated in the accompanying Consolidated
Statement of Operations for 2001. As of December 31, 2001, the entire provision
remains accrued as accrual for store closings on the accompanying Consolidated
Balance Sheet. The Company anticipates closing all of the aforementioned stores
during 2002. No provision for store closings was provided for during the years
ended December 31, 2000 and 1999.
NOTE 9 - ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities consist of the following (in
thousands):
As of December 31,
---------------------------
2001 2000
-------- --------
Accounts payable $ 3,798 $ 5,811
Accrued payroll and fringe benefits 621 490
Accrual for costs of disposal of
discontinued operations (Note 2) 141 4,719
Accrued professional fees 306 330
Accrued rent 361 368
Accrued advertising 612 809
Other accrued expenses 1,283 1,068
-------- ---------
$ 7,122 $ 13,595
======== =========
NOTE 10 - INCOME TAXES:
The Company's effective tax rate differs from the statutory Federal income
tax rate of 34%, primarily due to the impact of recording a valuation allowance
to offset the potential future tax benefit resulting from net operating loss
carry-forwards for all years presented.
As of December 31, 2001 and 2000, net deferred tax assets were
approximately $20,600,000 and $21,300,000, respectively, resulting primarily
from the future tax benefit of net operating loss carry-forwards. In accordance
with SFAS No. 109, the Company has fully reserved for its net deferred tax
assets as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, due to the uncertainty as to their
future realizability.
As of December 31, 2001, the Company had net operating loss carry-forwards
totaling approximately $48,000,000 available to offset future taxable income for
federal income tax purposes. The net operating loss carry-forwards expire in
varying amounts through 2021 and may be limited in accordance with Section 382
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, based on certain changes in
ownership that have occurred.
NOTE 11 - CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS:
Total capital lease obligations as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 were
$549,000 and $754,000, respectively. Capital leases are recorded at the lower of
the present value of the minimum lease payments or the fair value of the
underlying assets, and are payable in monthly installments, together with
interest at various rates ranging from 6.47% to 14.60%. These leases mature at
various dates through April 2006. As of December 31, 2001, principal payments
due on the Company's capital leases are as follows (in thousands):
30
Principal
Year Payments
------ --------
2002 $ 186
2003 179
2004 153
2005 23
2006 8
--------
$ 549
========
NOTE 12 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
Operating Lease Commitments
- ---------------------------
The Company leases locations for the majority of both its Company-owned and
franchised stores, as well as its executive and administrative offices. As of
December 31, 2001, minimum future rental payments for Company-owned stores and
the Company's executive and administrative offices, as well as for stores leased
by the Company and subleased to franchisees, in the aggregate, are as follows
(in thousands):
------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
Total Lease Sublease Net Company
Obligations Rentals Obligations
------------------- ----------------- ----------------------
2002 $ 8,889 $ 7,313 $ 1,576
2003 7,029 6,010 1,019
2004 6,163 5,271 892
2005 5,047 4,268 779
2006 4,887 4,304 583
Thereafter 3,819 2,986 833
-------- -------- --------
$ 35,834 $ 30,152 $ 5,682
======== ======== ========
The Company holds the master lease on substantially all franchised
locations and, as part of the franchise agreement, sublets the subject premises
to the franchisee. In addition to the fixed rent payable under such master
leases, most master leases require payment of a pro rata portion of common area
maintenance expenses and real estate taxes, as well as percentage rent based
upon the sales volume of the store in question. As required by SFAS No. 13
"Accounting for Leases," the Company recognizes its rent expense on a
straight-line basis over the life of the related lease. Rent expense was
approximately $2,048,000, $3,444,000, and $4,267,000, net of sublease rentals of
approximately $8,443,000, $8,997,000, and $9,190,000, for the years ended
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively.
Employment Agreements
- ---------------------
The Company has employment agreements with two of its key employees, which
extend through July 2003 and June 2004, respectively. Each employment agreement
provides for certain base compensation and other miscellaneous benefits. One of
the employment agreements also provides for incentive compensation plan based
upon the Company's achievement of certain EBITDA targets, as defined. In
connection with these employment agreements, the Company granted an aggregate of
550,000 employee stock options at exercise prices ranging from $0.26 to $0.43,
and in all cases equal to the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock at
each respective date of grant. The options generally vest over a period of three
years (with accelerated vesting provided for in one of the agreements, upon the
Company's achievement of certain EBITDA targets, as defined), and expire 10
years from the respective dates of grant. The aggregate future annual base
compensation relating to these employment agreements for the years ended
December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, is $385,000, $334,000 and $125,000,
respectively.
31
Contingencies
- -------------
In 1999, the Company commenced an action in the Supreme Court of the State
of New York against Dr. Larry Joel and Apryl Robinson for amounts claimed due by
the Company on a series of five separate Negotiable Promissory Notes (the
"Notes"). The Notes were issued by corporations owned by the defendants in
connection with their purchase of the assets of, and a Sterling Optical Center
Franchise for, an aggregate of four of the Company's retail optical stores and
an optical laboratory. The repayment of each of the Notes was personally
guaranteed by each of the defendants. In response, the defendants asserted
counterclaims in excess of $13,000,000 based upon the Company's alleged failure
to comply with the terms of an oral, month-to-month consulting agreement between
Dr. Joel and the Company, as well as to purchase the assets of various companies
owned by Dr. Joel, including Duling Optical and D & K Optical - notwithstanding
the fact that the parties failed to agree upon the terms of any such purchase,
the parties failed to enter into any written agreement memorializing such a
transaction, and the Company subsequently purchased such assets from Norwest
Bank (which held a first lien on substantially all of the assets as collateral
for various loans made to each of the entities, all of which were then in
default) in a private foreclosure sale. In March 2001, the Appellate Division
granted the Company's Motion for Summary Judgment on the issue of the
defendants' liability, as guarantors of each of such Notes. A hearing on the
Company's damages took place in July 2001; and, in August 2001, the Court
granted the Company's claim for damages in the approximate amount of $800,000,
which the Company is seeking to enforce. In November 2001, the defendants each
filed for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and, in February 2002,
received a discharge in such proceedings, which the Company is presently
attempting to overturn. In addition, in March 2001, the Company filed an
additional Motion for Summary Judgment seeking dismissal of all of the
defendants' counterclaims; and the defendant, Dr. Joel, thereafter filed a
cross-motion seeking a determination that the Company breached the
aforementioned oral, month-to-month consulting agreement and that he is,
accordingly, entitled to damages of approximately $13,000,000, each of which
motions were decided entirely in favor of the Company. Subsequently, on July 2,
2001, the defendants, without counsel, filed an appeal of this decision by the
Court, which appeal has not yet been decided.
In February 2000, Essilor Laboratories of America, L.P. commenced an action
against the Company in the District Court of Dallas County, Texas seeking
damages of approximately $250,000, representing the alleged unpaid cost of
certain ophthalmic lenses previously purchased by the Company. In April 2002,
the Company settled this action for approximately $50,000.
In January 2001, the Company commenced an action against Binns Optical,
Inc. ("BOI"), Michael Binns and Mary Ann Binns (collectively, the "Guarantors")
in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri,
seeking to prohibit the defendants from operating the Sterling Optical store
located in Ballwin, Missouri, under any name other than Sterling Optical, as
well as to require the defendants to return to the Company all patient records,
customer lists, furniture, fixtures and equipment removed by the defendants from
the six Sterling Optical stores previously franchised to, and ultimately
abandoned by, BOI. In February 2001, the defendants entered into a Stipulation
agreeing to the entry of a preliminary injunction whereby the defendants agreed
to substantially all of the relief requested by the Company; and in March 2001,
the defendants filed a counterclaim against the Company seeking damages in the
amount of $3,000,000, plus punitive damages, as a result of the Company's
alleged fraud in the inducement, negligent misrepresentation, breach of
fiduciary duty and claims stated in the alternative for breach of contract and
breach of oral agreement. The Company denied the defendants' counterclaims and
filed a motion to dismiss all such counterclaims, as well as a claim for its
legal fees and costs associated with the action. On March 29, 2002, this motion
was decided by the Court in favor of the Company and, in connection therewith,
the Company was awarded legal fees and costs in the approximate amount of
$40,000. In a related matter, in February 2001, the Company commenced a separate
action against the Guarantors in the New York State Supreme Court by filing a
Motion for Summary Judgment in Lieu of Complaint, seeking damages (under the
Guarantors' payment guarantee in favor of the Company) as a result of the
failure of BOI to comply with its obligations under a series of eight Negotiable
Promissory Notes made by BOI in its favor; and in April 2001 and July 2001, the
Court granted the Company's motion and awarded the Company judgments for
damages, in the aggregate approximate amount of $1,500,000, which the Company is
seeking to enforce in the State of Missouri, where the Guarantors both reside.
In February 2001, five of the Company's Site for Sore Eyes franchisees
(owning an aggregate of seven franchised Site for Sore Eyes stores) commenced an
action in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
California seeking $35,000,000 of damages as a result of the Company's alleged
breach of the respective Franchise Agreements whereby each franchisee/plaintiff
operates its Site for Sore Eyes Optical store(s), fraud and violations of
California law, as well as a declaratory judgment that each of the Franchise
Agreements had been modified to afford each plaintiff certain rights which are
in addition to those set forth in the applicable Franchise Agreements. On April
1, 2002, the parties entered into a Settlement Agreement, whereby the plaintiffs
dismissed the action, with prejudice, in exchange for the Company agreeing to
certain amendments to the Franchise Agreement pertaining to each of the
aforementioned seven Site for Sore Eyes Optical Centers, and the Company and
Site-Ncal Area Rep, LLC, a California limited liability company owned by the
plaintiffs ("NCAL"), entering into an Area Representation Agreement whereby NCAL
is authorized to solicit individuals that are interested in acquiring a
franchise for one or more new Site for Sore Eyes retail optical stores to be
opened in the San Francisco Bay area of California. Additionally, NCAL agreed to
provide certain services to each new franchisee, all in consideration for the
Company's payment, to NCAL, of a portion of the initial franchise fees and
continuing royalty fees to become payable to the Company under each new
Franchise Agreement, as well as the Company's reimbursement of the estimated
administrative costs and expenses to be incurred by NCAL in connection
therewith.
32
In July 2001, the Company commenced an Arbitration Proceeding in the
Ontario Superior Court of Justice, against Eye-Site, Inc. and Eye Site
(Ontario), Ltd., as the makers of two promissory notes (in the aggregate
original principal amount of $600,000) made by one or more of the makers in
favor of the Company, as well as against Mohammed Ali, as the guarantor of the
obligations of each maker under each note. The notes were issued by the makers
in connection with their acquisition of a Master Franchise Agreement for the
Province of Ontario, Canada, as well as their purchase of the assets of, and a
Sterling Optical Center Franchise for, four of the Company's retail optical
stores then located in Ontario, Canada. In response, the defendants
counterclaimed for damages, in the amount of $1,500,000, based upon, among other
items, alleged misrepresentations made by representatives of the Company in
connection with these transactions. The Company believes that it has a
meritorious defense to each counterclaim. As of the date hereof, these
proceedings were in the discovery stage.
In February 2002, Kaye Scholer, LLP, the law firm previously retained by
the Company as its outside counsel, commenced an action in the New York State
Supreme Court seeking unpaid legal fees in the amount of $122,500. As of the
date hereof, the time for the Company to answer the Complaint, in such action,
has not yet expired. The Company believes that it has a meritorious defense to
such claim.
In addition to the foregoing, the Company is a defendant in certain
lawsuits alleging various claims incurred in the ordinary course of business,
certain of which claims are covered by various insurance policies, subject to
certain deductible amounts and maximum policy limits. In the opinion of
management, the resolution of these claims, should not have a material adverse
effect, individually or in the aggregate, upon the Company's business or
financial condition. Other than as set forth above, management believes that
there are no other legal proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company
is, or may be, a party, or to which any of its properties are or may be subject,
which, in the opinion of management, will not have a material adverse effect on
the Company.
As of December 31, 2001, the Company was a guarantor of certain leases of
Sterling Stores franchised and subleased to its franchisees. In the case all of
such franchisees defaulted on their subleases, the Company would be obligated
for aggregate lease obligations of approximately $2,890,000.
NOTE 13 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:
In 1999, the Company transferred one of its store locations in exchange for
a store location of Cohen's Fashion Optical ("CFO"), a retail optical chain
owned by certain of the principal shareholders and directors of the Company, and
purchased the lease and assets for another store from CFO for $100,000, payable
over 7 years, together with interest rate at a rate of 10% per annum.
In March 2000, the Company purchased the assets of the CFO store located in
Rochester, New York, for $100,000, payable over 7 years, together with interest
rate at a rate of 10% per annum. In connection therewith, CFO terminated its
lease for such store and the Company entered into a new lease for the premises
thereof.
During the first quarter of 2000, Broadway Partners LLC ("Broadway"), a
partnership owned by certain of the children of certain of the Company's
principal shareholders and directors, accepted from the Company its $550,000
offer to purchase a certain non-interest bearing debenture payable in full on
September 15, 2015 (previously issued by the Company in connection with its
acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Benson Optical Co., Inc. and
affiliates, and subsequently purchased by Broadway), having a then discounted
present value of approximately $1,277,000. The resulting gain of $727,000 was
reflected as a capital contribution, as it was shareholder related, in the
accompanying Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity.
On November 30, 2000, the Company sold and transferred to Anylens
Acquisition, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company owned by the children of
certain of the principal shareholders and directors of the Company, all of the
assets (including certain federally registered trademarks) then comprising the
proposed mail order, contact lens business previously being developed by the
Company, together with all of the Company's equity interests in two of its
wholly owned subsidiaries, 1-800-Anylens, Inc. and 1-800 Any Lens of Boca Raton,
Inc., which were then the lessees of certain real property and equipment
previously intended to be utilized by the Company in connection with the
operation of the aforementioned business.
In June 2001, due to the significant losses being incurred by the Company
in connection with the operation thereof, the Company subleased its store
(together with certain of the assets located therein) in Nyack, New York to
General Vision Services LLC ("GVS"), a retail optical chain owned by certain of
the principal shareholders and directors of the Company, and members of their
respective immediate families. In connection with this transfer, the Company
agreed to provide a rent subsidy of $2,500 per month through June 30, 2003.
33
In October 2001, the Company entered into a certain management agreement
with H&H Optical, LLC ("H&H") to manage the operations of a Company-owned store
located in Palm Desert, California. H&H is owned, in part, by the sister of the
Company's President and CEO. In December 2001, similar management agreements
were entered into with H&H to manage the operations of an additional three
Company-owned stores located in the State of Minnesota. These management
agreements generally have a term of 1 to 2 years, provide for the payment of
additional rent and Advertising Fund contributions (based upon the gross
revenues of the Sterling Stores in question), provide for a full rent subsidy by
the Company, and provide H&H with an option to purchase the assets of each
store, together with a Sterling Optical Center Franchise, at the end of the
respective terms thereof.
On December 3, 2001 and December 20, 2001, respectively, the Company's
Board of Directors authorized the Company to borrow $150,000 and $300,000 from
Horizon Investors Corp. ("Horizon"), a New York corporation principally owned by
a director and principal shareholder of the Company. The loan was payable on
demand, together with interest calculated at the prime rate plus 1%. The Company
repaid these loans (which aggregated $450,000 as of December 31, 2001), in full,
on January 23, 2002 (Note 19).
On December 6, 2001, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the
Company to borrow $300,000 from Broadway. The loan was payable on demand,
together with interest calculated at the prime rate plus 1%. The Company repaid
this loan ($300,000 as of December 31, 2001), in full, on January 23, 2002 (Note
19).
During 2001, the Company purchased from City Lens, Inc. ("City Lens"), an
ophthalmic lens laboratory owned, directly or indirectly, by certain of the
principal shareholders and directors of the Company, together with certain
members of their immediate families, ophthalmic lenses and certain lens
refinishing services for Company-owned stores. For the year ended December 31,
2001, the total cost of lenses and services purchased from City Lens, was
approximately $243,000.
Until January 10, 2002, the Company subleased, from a limited liability
company owned by certain of the Company's principal shareholders, and shared
with CFO and others, an office building located in East Meadow, New York.
Occupancy costs were appropriately allocated based upon the applicable square
footage leased by the respective tenants of the building. For the years ended
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, the Company paid approximately $440,000,
$420,000 and $494,000, respectively, for rent and related charges for these
offices. On January 10, 2002, the Company relocated to an office building
located in Garden City, New York, and entered into a sublease with CFO for one
of the two floors then being subleased to CFO. Occupancy costs are being
allocated between the Company and CFO based upon the respective square footages
being occupied. Management believes that such sublease is at fair market value.
During the ordinary course of business, largely due to the fact that the
entities occupy office space in the same building, and in an effort to obtain
savings with respect to certain administrative costs, the Company and CFO will
at times share in the costs of minor expenses. Management believes that these
expenses have been appropriately accounted for herein.
In the opinion of the Company's management, all of the above transactions
were conducted at "arms-length."
NOTE 14 - SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
1998 Debentures/Convertible Preferred Stock
- -------------------------------------------
On April 14, 1998, the Company issued $3,500,000 stated value
(approximately $4,025,000 fair value) of a series of the Company's Preferred
Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Senior Convertible Preferred Stock"), and
certain warrants (the "Warrants"), entitling the holders to purchase up to
700,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $5.00 per share, all remaining
Warrants having expired on February 17, 2001.
The Senior Convertible Preferred Stock originally required the Company to
pay quarterly dividends (in cash or Common Stock) calculated at the rate of 10%
percent per annum, commencing May 17, 1998. Additionally the Company was
required to redeem (in cash or Common Stock) all of the Senior Convertible
Preferred Stock outstanding on February 17, 1999, at 105% of the then
outstanding stated value thereof, based on a conversion price of $5.00, or, in
lieu thereof, at the Company's option, pay dividends thereon at the rate of 24%
per annum. In addition, the Senior Convertible Preferred Stock provided for a
price-protection guarantee, whereby the Company, under certain circumstances,
would be required to pay to the original holders the difference between the
$5.00 conversion price and the selling price (net of commissions) of any such
shares sold.
During 1999, certain holders of the Company's Senior Convertible Preferred
Stock exercised their right to convert an aggregate of $1,398,125 stated value
of Senior Convertible Preferred Stock, into an aggregate of 1,172,500 registered
shares of the Company's Common Stock and, in December 1999, certain holders of
the Warrants exercised their right to acquire an aggregate of 500,000 registered
shares of the Company's Common Stock. Additionally, in 1999, the Company paid
cash dividends (on its Senior Convertible Preferred Stock) in the aggregate
amount of $8,419 and in addition issued, in the form of stock dividends, an
aggregate of 22,506 registered shares of its Common Stock.
34
During 2000, certain of the holders of the Company's Senior Convertible
Preferred Stock exercised their right to convert an aggregate of $1,851,250
stated value of Senior Convertible Preferred Stock, into an aggregate of
2,468,334 shares of the Company's Common Stock.
As of December 31, 2001, there were 2.51 shares of Senior Convertible
Preferred Stock outstanding with a stated value of $251,000, convertible into
Common Stock at a rate of $0.75. The holders of the Company's Senior Convertible
Preferred Stock have the right to vote, as a single class, with the Common
Stock, on an as-converted basis, on all matters on which the holders of the
Company's Common Stock are entitled to vote.
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
- ------------------------------------
During the first quarter of 2000, the Company completed a private placement
pursuant to which it sold an aggregate of 1,677,570 units (the "Units"), each
Unit consisting of one share of the Company's Series B Convertible Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $7.00 per
share (the "Series B Preferred Stock"), and one warrant (the "Series B Warrant")
to purchase one-half share of Series B Preferred Stock at an exercise price, per
one-half share, equal to $7.59, exercisable from and after the expiration of the
six-month period following the date of the first issuance of such Series B
Warrants, for a period of 5 years thereafter.
Each share of Series B Preferred Stock was automatically converted into two
shares of the Company's Common Stock upon the Company's filing of an amendment
to its Certificate of Incorporation (the "Amendment") increasing its authorized
Common Stock from 28,000,000 to 50,000,000 shares, which was subject to the
Company's receipt of the approval of a majority of its shareholders. This
approval was obtained on April 17, 2000. Each Series B Warrant was initially
exercisable for one-half share of Series B Preferred Stock; however, upon the
automatic conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock into Common Stock, the
Series B Warrants (to the extent not previously exercised) became exercisable,
at the same exercise price of $7.59, for one full share of Common Stock.
In accordance with EITF Issue 98-05, "Accounting for Convertible Securities
with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion
Ratios," the net proceeds received in the private placement (approximately
$10,618,000) were allocated based on the relative fair values of the Series B
Preferred Stock and the Series B Warrants. Accordingly, approximately $6,239,000
was allocated to the Series B Preferred Stock and $4,379,000 was allocated to
the Series B Warrants. The approximately $11,743,000 liquidation value of the
1,677,570 shares of Series B Preferred Stock was recorded net of issuance costs
of approximately $1,125,000, and net of a full discount, of which approximately
$4,379,000 was attributable to the fair value of the Series B Warrants issued in
connection therewith, and approximately $6,239,000 was attributable to the
beneficial conversion feature embodied in the Series B Preferred Stock. This
discount was accreted in its entirety as preferred dividends through April 17,
2000, the date on which all of the Series B Preferred Stock automatically
converted into shares of the Company's Common Stock (as described above) at a
ratio of 1 to 2. In connection with the private placement, the Company issued to
the placement agents an aggregate of 500,000 warrants to purchase shares of the
Company's Common Stock at an exercise price of $7.59. The fair value of these
warrants, which expire on February 13, 2005, was treated as part of the issuance
costs of the Units.
Treasury Stock Purchases
- ------------------------
On October 31, 2000, the Company announced a program to repurchase, in
accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, up to 1,000,000 shares of its Common Stock at prevailing
prices in open market transactions effected during the one-year period
commencing November 1, 2000. As of December 31, 2001, the Company had acquired
182,337 shares of its Common Stock pursuant to such program.
Issuance of Common Stock for Consulting Services
- ------------------------------------------------
In February 2000, the Company issued 1,000,000 shares of its Common Stock
to Rare, pursuant to the terms of an agreement entered into between Rare and the
Company in connection with the development of the Company's anticipated
Internet-based portal business for its Internet Division (Note 2). Under the
terms of this agreement, Rare was to provide professional services to assist the
Internet Division with its web-based business strategy, including the
development of multiple web sites, operations planning and other services
related to building the Internet business. The terms of the Agreement afforded
Rare a price-protection guarantee on any such shares sold in the open market at
a price of less than $3.00 per share, and contained certain "lock-up" provisions
regarding the ability to sell such shares prior to certain dates. The
Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2000 was
charged as a result of this transaction. These charges were reflected in loss
from discontinued operations. On July 5, 2001, the Company issued an additional
1,000,000 unregistered shares of its Common Stock (the fair value of which was
approximately $325,000) to Rare as part of a settlement whereby the Company's
dispute with Rare, regarding their respective obligations under the Company's
various agreements with Rare, were settled (Note 2).
35
On January 16, 2001, the Company entered into an agreement with Goldin
Associates, L.L.C. ("Goldin") whereby Goldin agreed to provide interim
management services to the Company, for an initial six-month period, with
respect to its Sterling Optical, Insight Laser and Ambulatory Center divisions
(collectively, the "Divisions"), all at the direction of the Board of Directors
of the Company or its Chairman or other officers, pursuant to delegated
authority. The fee for such services was $50,000 per month, plus an additional
fee comprised of unregistered shares totaling 1.65% of the outstanding Common
Stock of the Company as of January 22, 2001, and warrants to purchase up to an
aggregate of 3.35% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company. As a result,
the Company issued 418,719 unregistered shares of its Common Stock (the fair
value of which was approximately $108,000 and was charged directly to
operations) to Goldin, along with warrants to purchase up to an additional
850,126 shares of Common Stock, all at an exercise price of $0.01, subject to
the Company achieving certain earnings targets (the "Incentive Fee"). In
connection with the shares issued, Goldin was granted certain limited piggy-back
registration rights.
The terms of the Incentive Fee provide that the warrants may only be
exercised according to the following schedule: (1) warrants to purchase 279,146
shares of the Company's Common Stock immediately following a year in which the
Divisions shall realize earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization ("EBITDA") of at least $1,000,000; (2) warrants to purchase an
additional 279,146 shares of the Company's Common Stock immediately following a
year in which the Divisions shall realize EBITDA of at least $2,000,000; and (3)
warrants to purchase an additional 291,834 shares of the Company's Common Stock
immediately following a year in which the Divisions shall realize EBITDA of at
least $3,000,000. These warrants become exercisable only if the applicable
EBITDA targets are achieved prior to December 31, 2004. Due to these
contingencies, the future valuation of these warrants, if and when they become
exercisable, will result in charges to the Company's results of operations in
future periods. Any warrants that vest will expire on January 22, 2008.
On April 26, 2001, the Company's Board of Directors approved the terms of
an agreement whereby it agreed to issue to Balfour Investors Incorporated
("Balfour"), in exchange for certain advisory services rendered to the Company's
Board of Directors, 209,359 unregistered shares of its Common Stock (the fair
value of which was approximately $57,000 and was charged directly to
operations), together with warrants to purchase up to 425,063 additional shares
of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.01. In connection with the shares
issued, Balfour was granted certain limited piggy-back registration rights. The
warrants will become exercisable according to the following schedule: (1)
warrants to purchase 139,573 shares of the Company's Common Stock immediately
following a year in which the Divisions shall realize EBITDA of at least
$1,000,000; (2) warrants to purchase an additional 139,573 shares of the
Company's Common Stock immediately following a year in which the Divisions shall
realize EBITDA of at least $2,000,000; and (3) warrants to purchase an
additional 145,917 shares of the Company's Common Stock immediately following a
year in which the Divisions shall realize EBITDA of at least $3,000,000.
Further, these warrants become exercisable only if the applicable EBITDA targets
are achieved prior to December 31, 2004. Due to these contingencies, the future
valuation of these warrants, if and when they become exercisable, will result in
charges to the Company's results of operations in future periods. Any warrants
that vest will expire on April 26, 2008.
Delisting of Common Stock
- -------------------------
On August 23, 2001, the Company notified The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.
("Nasdaq") of its Board of Directors' intention not to effect, in the near
future, a reverse stock split of its outstanding shares of Common Stock. In
response to this decision, on August 24, 2001, Nasdaq delisted the Company's
Common Stock from the Nasdaq National Market System ("Nasdaq-NMS"), pursuant to
Marketplace Rule No. 4310(c)(8)(B), due to its failure to comply with the
minimum bid price ($1.00) requirement for the continued listing of its shares of
Common Stock on the Nasdaq-NMS, all set forth in Nasdaq's Marketplace Rule No.
4450(a)(5). As a result, the Company's Common Stock now trades on the OTC
Bulletin Board under the symbol ISEE.OB.
NOTE 15 - STOCK OPTIONS AND WARRANTS:
Sterling Stock Option Plan
- --------------------------
In April 1995, the Company adopted a Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") that
permits the issuance of options to selected employees and directors of, and
consultants to, the Company. The Plan, as amended, reserves 7,000,000 shares of
Common Stock for grant and provides that the term of each award be determined by
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee") charged
with administering the Plan. Under the terms of the Plan, options may be
qualified or non-qualified and granted at exercise prices and for terms to be
determined by the Committee. Additionally, certain options previously issued
under the Plan provide that notwithstanding the termination of the Company's
employment of any such employee/holder, he/she will retain the right to exercise
those options that have previously vested in his/her favor until such time that
the options expire in accordance with the terms of the original grant.
36
A summary of the options previously issued under the Plan is presented in
the table below:
2001 2000 1999
----------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Weighted Weighted Weighted
Average Average Average
Exercise Exercise Exercise
Shares Price Shares Price Shares Price
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Options outstanding, beginning of period 5,590,966 $ 6.54 3,571,624 $ 5.52 2,598,624 $ 5.89
Granted 2,194,000 $ 0.32 3,207,500 $ 7.32 1,090,500 $ 4.31
Exercised - $ - (855,657) $ 5.44 - -
Canceled, forfeited or expired (2,386,833) $ 6.39 (332,501) $ 6.24 (117,500) $ 6.01
--------- ------- --------- ------- --------- -------
Options outstanding, end of period 5,398,133 $ 4.07 5,590,966 $ 6.54 3,571,624 $ 5.52
========= ======= ========= ======= ========= =======
Options exercisable, end of period 4,320,300 $ 4.80 2,823,466 $ 6.24 2,992,791 $ 5.75
========= ======= ========= ======= ========= =======
Of the total options outstanding as of December 31, 2001, there were
1,173,209 held by current employees of the Company, and 4,224,924 held by
directors of the Company, outside consultants and former employees. Of the total
options granted during 2001, 944,500 were granted to employees of the Company
and 1,249,500 were granted to directors of the Company, outside consultants and
former employees.
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding
and exercisable as of December 31, 2001:
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
-------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Weighted- Weighted- Weighted-
Average Average Average
Range of Remaining Exercise Exercise
Exercise Prices Outstanding Contractual Life Price Exercisable Price
--------------- ----------- ---------------- --------- ----------- ---------
$0.22 to $ 0.33 1,632,000 7.39 $ 0.29 1,204,167 $ 0.27
$0.34 to $ 0.51 500,000 9.51 0.43 - -
$1.81 to $ 2.72 5,000 7.83 1.88 5,000 1.88
$2.73 to $ 4.10 653,000 7.12 3.26 636,333 3.25
$4.11 to $ 6.17 927,133 4.93 5.95 793,800 5.94
$6.18 to $ 9.27 1,652,667 5.77 8.08 1,652,667 8.08
$9.28 to $13.92 28,333 8.21 9.73 28,333 9.73
The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
2001 2000 1999
---- ---- ----
Expected life (years) 5 5 5
Interest rate 4.80% 6.13% 6.00%
Volatility 114% 108% 102%
Dividend yield - - -
The Company has adopted the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS No.
123. Accordingly, no compensation cost has been recognized for those options
issued, under the Plan, to employees. Had compensation cost for the Company's
Plan been determined under SFAS No. 123, the Company's net loss and net loss per
share would approximate the pro forma amounts presented below (in thousands):
37
2001 2000 1999
---- ---- ----
Net loss attributable to common shareholders:
As reported $ (3,776) $ (72,442) $ (5,783)
Pro forma $ (8,916) $ (82,501) $(10,009)
Net loss per share - basic and diluted:
As reported $ (0.14) $ (3.07) $ (0.38)
Pro forma $ (0.34) $ (3.49) $ (0.66)
In 2000 and 1999, the Company recognized $94,000 and $2,000,000,
respectively, of expense related to its issuance of stock options and warrants
to certain non-employee consultants to the Company. The Company incurred no such
expenses in 2001.
Stock Purchase Warrants
- -----------------------
In December 1999, the Company issued 2,500,000 warrants to MY2000, LLC, an
entity acting as an independent advisor to the Company in connection with its
planned Internet business and strategy (Note 2), to purchase 2,500,000 shares of
the Company's Common Stock at a price of $2.00 per share, the fair value on the
date of issuance. In 1999, the Company recognized approximately $2,000,000 in
expense representing the fair value of the warrants granted. A principal of
MY2000, LLC, was also an executive of the entity the Company had retained and
paid, in cash and stock, to develop and launch its business-to-business web
sites and related strategy. During the first quarter of 2000, MY2000, LLC
exercised 1,000,000 of these warrants, the remaining 1,500,000 being unexercised
as of December 31, 2001, and expire on December 2, 2004.
In January 2001, the Company issued 850,126 warrants to Goldin (Note 14).
These warrants are only exercisable upon the achievement of certain EBITDA
targets by the Company, and expire on January 22, 2008.
In April 2001, the Company issued 425,063 warrants to Balfour (Note 14).
These warrants are only exercisable upon the achievement of certain EBITDA
targets by the Company, and expire on April 26, 2008.
NOTE 16 - 401(K) EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLANS:
Emerging Vision, Inc. and VisionCare of California, Inc., each sponsor a
401(k) Employee Savings Plan (the "401(k) Plan") to provide all qualified
employees of these entities with retirement benefits. Presently, the
administrative costs of each 401(k) Plan are paid entirely by such qualified
employees, no matching contributions having been provided by the Company.
NOTE 17 - FOURTH QUARTER CHARGES:
The Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets (on a
store-by-store basis) based on, among other factors, the estimated, undiscounted
future cash flows expected to be generated from such assets, in order to
determine if an impairment exists. In the fourth quarter of 2001, the Company
recognized approximately $574,000 of impairment charges for Company-owned stores
for which it has forecasted undiscounted negative future cash flows. The Company
also recorded a fourth quarter charge of approximately $475,000 related to
estimated closure costs of certain Company-owned stores (Note 8).
NOTE 18 - QUARTERLY INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (in thousands):
First Quarter Second Quarter Third Quarter Fourth Quarter
--------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001 2000
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Net revenues $ 5,464 $ 6,533 $ 5,288 $ 5,583 $ 5,006 $ 5,408 $ 4,861 $ 5,534
Net (loss) income from continuing
operations $ (41) $ (696) $ (57) $ (312) $ (1,942) $ 24 $ (3,048) $(13,644)
Income (loss) from discontinued
operations $ 431 $ (1,279) $ 1,064 $ (3,819) $ (657) $ (2,009) $ 474 $(17,257)
Net income (loss) $ 390 $ (1,975) $ 1,007 $ (4,131) $ (2,599) $ (1,985) $ (2,574) $(30,901)
38
NOTE 19 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:
Financing Arrangements
- ----------------------
Subsequent to December 31, 2001, the Company secured two separate financing
arrangements as follows:
Secured Term Note
On January 23, 2002, the Company entered into a secured term note for
$1,000,000 with an independent financial institution. This note is repayable in
24 equal monthly installments of $41,666, and bears interest as defined (4.95%
at the inception of the note). The note is fully collateralized/guaranteed by a
$1,000,000 certificate of deposit posted by Horizon, a related party (Note 13),
at the same financial institution.
Credit Facility
On January 23, 2002, the Company entered into an agreement with Horizon to
borrow up to a maximum of $1,000,000. This credit facility bears interest at the
prime rate plus 1% (5.5% as of the date of the loan agreement), provided for an
initial advance of $300,000, requires minimum incremental advances of $150,000,
matures on January 22, 2004, requires ratable monthly principal and interest
payments of each borrowing, amortizable through the maturity date of the
facility, is fully collateralized by the Company's qualifying franchise notes
(as referenced by a pledge agreement), and requires the payment of a facility
fee of 2% per annum, payable monthly, on the unused portion of the credit
facility.
Simultaneous with obtaining the above financing, the Company repaid its
outstanding related party borrowings totaling $750,000, plus interest (Note 13).
In consideration for providing access to the credit facility and guaranteeing
the term note, the Company granted Horizon an aggregate of 2,500,000 warrants
(1,750,000 of which were immediately exercisable, with the balance vesting in
quarterly increments of 250,000, beginning April 22, 2002, so long as any
amounts remain unpaid under the secured term note and/or credit facility). Each
warrant has a five-year term and provides for an exercise price of $0.01. The
fair value of the warrants issued (valued using the Black-Scholes model) was
approximately $234,000, and will result in additional interest expense over the
term of the financing arrangements.
39
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
---------------------------------------------------------------
Financial Disclosure
--------------------
None.
40
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
--------------------------------------------------
Information with respect to the Company's directors required by Item 401
and its directors and executive officers required by Item 405 of Regulation S-K
will be set forth in the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2002 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is
incorporated by reference herein, or will be filed in a Form 10-K/A.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
----------------------
Information required for executive compensation will be set forth in the
Company's Proxy Statement for the 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 14 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is incorporated by reference herein, or
will be filed in a Form 10-K/A.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
--------------------------------------------------------------
Information relating to the security ownership of certain beneficial owners
and management will be set forth in the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2002
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is
incorporated by reference herein, or will be filed in a Form 10-K/A.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
----------------------------------------------
Information relating to certain relationships and related transactions will
be set forth in the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2002 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant
to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is incorporated by
reference herein, or will be filed in a Form 10-K/A.
41
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K
---------------------------------------------------------------
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this Report:
1. Financial Statements.
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2001 and 2000
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years Ended
December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31,
2001, 2000 and 1999
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Financial Statement Schedules:
All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not
applicable, are not required, or the information required to be set forth
therein is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.
3. Exhibits
EXHIBIT INDEX
-------------
Exhibit
Number
- -------
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Sterling Vision,
Inc., dated December 18, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10K/A for the calendar year ended December 31,
1995, File No. 1-14128)
3.2 Amended and Restated By-Laws of Sterling Vision, Inc., dated December
18, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10K/A for the calendar year ended December 31, 1995, File No.
1-14128)
3.3 Form of Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company, dated February 8, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.94
to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 8, 2000)
3.4 Form of Certificate of Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of
the Company, dated February 4, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.96
to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 8, 2000)
4.1 Specimen of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-98368)
4.2 Form of Convertible Debentures and Warrants Subscription Agreement
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant's Current Report on
Form 8-K, dated February 17, 1998)
10.1 Sterling Vision, Inc.'s 1995 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-98368)
10.2 Form of Sterling Vision, Inc.'s Franchise Agreement (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-98368)
42
10.3 Lease Agreements between Neptune Technology Leasing Corp. and Sterling
Vision, Inc., Sterling Vision of California, Inc. and Sterling Vision, Inc., as
successor in interest to CFO (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the
Company's Registration Statement No. 33-98368)
10.4 Assignment and Assumption of Equipment Lease by and between Cohen
Fashion Optical, Inc. and Sterling Vision, Inc. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.6 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-98368)
10.5 Convertible, Callable, Subordinated Debenture Due September 15, 2015,
made by Sterling Vision, Inc. and payable to Benson Eyecare Corp. (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Company's Registration Statement No.
33-98368)
10.6 Assignment, dated September 15, 1995, by Benson Eyecare Corporation to
Sterling Vision, Inc. of that certain Revolving Credit Note (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the Company's Registration Statement No.
33-98368)
10.7 Assignment, dated September 15, 1995, by Benson Eyecare Corporation to
Sterling Vision, Inc. of that certain Subordinated Promissory Note made by OCA
Acquisition Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the Company's
Registration Statement No. 33-98368)
10.8 Assignment, dated September 15, 1995, by Benson Eyecare Corporation to
Sterling Vision, Inc. of Benson Eyecare Corporation's rights, title and interest
in certain trade receivables (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the
Company's Registration Statement No. 33-98368)
10.9 Note Purchase Agreement, dated September 15, 1995, between Benson
Eyecare Corporation and Sterling Vision, Inc. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.42 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-98368)
10.10 Form of Franchisee Stockholder Agreement to be entered into between
Sterling Vision, Inc. and certain of its Franchisees (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.47 to the Company's Registration Statement No. 33-98368)
10.11 First Amendment to the Company's 1995 Stock Incentive Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.63 to the Company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996, File No. 1-14128)
10.12 Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated September 30, 1996, between Eye
Site (Ontario) Ltd. And the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.64
to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 1996, File No. 1-14128)
10.13 Master Franchise Agreement, dated September 30, 1996, between Eye
Site, Inc., and Eye Site (Ontario) Ltd. and the Company (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.65 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended September 30, 1996, File No. 1-14128)
10.14 Form of Convertible Debentures and Warrants Subscription Agreement,
dated February 26, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 26, 1997)
10.15 Exchange Agreement, dated April 14, 1998, between the Registrant and
the Original Holders of the Registrant's Convertible Debentures Due February 17,
1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.78 to the Company's Current Form
on 8-K, dated April 14, 1998)
10.16 First Amendment to Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants
Subscription Agreement, dated January 4, 1999 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.78 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 4,
1999)
10.17 Second Amendment to Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants
Subscription Agreement, dated March 4, 1999 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.79 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated March 4, 1999)
10.18* Employment Agreement, dated as of August 20, 1999, between Insight
Laser Centers, Inc. and Kim Greenberg (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.88 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated August 20, 1999)
43
10.19 Third Amendment to Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrants
Subscription Agreement, dated December 7, 1999 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.90 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 7,
1999)
10.20 Form of Warrant, dated December 16, 1999, in favor of MY2000, LLC
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.93 to the Company's Current Report on
Form 8-K/A, dated December 16, 1999)
10.21* Employment Agreement, dated February 29, 2000, between the
Registrant and Joseph Silver (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 11.01 to the
Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000)
10.22* Legal Fee Retainer Agreement, dated February 29, 2000, between
Sterling Vision of California, Inc. and Joseph Silver (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 11.02 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2000)
10.23* Form of Severance Agreement and General Release, dated as of March
27, 2001, between Emerging Vision, Inc. and Gregory T. Cook (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.107 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2000)
10.24* Form of Severance Agreement and General Release, dated as of March
27, 2001, between Emerging Vision, Inc. and James E. Ewer (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.108 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2000)
10.25 Form of Consulting Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2000, between
Emerging Vision, Inc. and Balfour Investors Incorporated (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.109 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2000)
10.26 Form of Consulting Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2000, between
Emerging Vision, Inc. and Balfour Investors Incorporated (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.110 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2000)
10.27 Form of Stock Option Agreement, dated as of November 7, 2000, between
Emerging Vision, Inc. and Balfour Investors Incorporated (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.111 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2000)
10.28 Form of Management Services Agreement, dated as of January 22, 2001,
between Emerging Vision, Inc. and Goldin Associates, L.L.C. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.112 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2000)
10.29* Form of Settlement Agreement, dated as of April 24, 2001, between
Emerging Vision, Inc. and Sara V. Traberman (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.113 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 31, 2001)
10.30 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2001, by and among
Insight Laser Centers N.Y.I, Inc., Insight Amsurg Centers, Inc., Emerging
Vision, Inc. and Amsurg Acquisition Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.114 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 13, 2001)
10.31* Employment Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2001 and effective as of
July 2, 2001, between Emerging Vision, Inc. and Robert Hillman (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.115 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated
July 2, 2001)
10.32 Warrant Certificate and Agreement, dated as of January 16, 2001,
between Emerging Vision, Inc. and Goldin Associates, LLC
10.33 Warrant Certificate and Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2001,
between Emerging Vision, Inc. and Balfour Investors Incorporated
10.34 Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release, dated as of July 5, 2001,
between Emerging Vision, Inc. and Rare Medium Group, Inc. and Rare Medium Inc.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.116 to the Company's Current Report on
Form 8-K, dated July 2, 2001)
10.35 Form of Term Note, dated January 23, 2002, executed by the Company in
favor of North Fork Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.119 of the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 23, 2002)
10.36 Form of Loan Agreement and Exhibits, dated January 23, 2002, between
the Company and Horizon Investors Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.120 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 23, 2002)
10.37** Form of Settlement Agreement and General Release, dated as of April
1, 2002, between the Company and each of V.C. Enterprises, Inc., Bridget Licht,
Sitescope, Inc., Eyemagination Eyeworks, Inc. and Susan Assael, including the
form of Area Representation Agreement annexed thereto as an Exhibit
21** List of Subsidiaries
23** Consent of Independent Public Accountants
99** Letter to Commission Pursuant to Temporary Note 3T
44
b.) Reports on Form 8-K
On February 4, 2002, the Company filed a Report on Form 8-K regarding its
loan from North Fork Bank, and its credit facility from Horizon Investors Corp.
* Indicates exhibits relating to executive compensation.
** Exhibit being filed herewith
45
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
EMERGING VISION, INC.
By: /s/ Robert S. Hillman
-----------------------------------------
Robert S. Hillman
President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: April 16, 2002
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of
the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
- --------- ----- ----
/s/ Robert S. Hillman Chairman of the Board of Directors April 16, 2002
- -------------------------- President and Chief Executive
Robert S. Hillman Officer (Principal Executive
Officer)
/s/ Christopher G. Payan Senior Vice President, Treasurer, April 16, 2002
- -------------------------- Secretary and Chief Financial
Christopher G. Payan Officer (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
/s/ Alan Cohen Director April 16, 2002
- --------------------------
Alan Cohen
/s/ Robert Cohen Director April 16, 2002
- --------------------------
Robert Cohen
/s/ Benito (Ben) Fernandez Director April 16, 2002
- --------------------------
Benito (Ben) Fernandez
Director April __, 2002
- --------------------------
Joel Gold
Director April __, 2002
- --------------------------
William Stasior
46
EXHIBIT 10.37
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
AND GENERAL RELEASE
This Settlement Agreement and General Release ("Settlement Agreement") is
made and entered into as of the 1st day of April, 2002, by and between EMERGING
VISION, INC., f/k/a STERLING VISION, INC. ("EVI"), on the one hand, and VC
ENTERPRISES, INC.; BRIDGET LICHT, d/b/a SITE FOR SORE EYES; SITESCOPE, INC.;
EYEMAGINATION EYEWORKS, INC.; and SUSAN ASSAEL, d/b/a COREY OPTICAL, on the
other hand (individually, collectively, and in any combination, "Plaintiffs").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Plaintiffs brought an action against EVI in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of California entitled VC Enterprises,
Inc.; Bridget Licht, d/b/a Site for Sore Eyes; Sitescope, Inc.; Eyemagination
Eyeworks, Inc.; and Susan Assael, d/b/a Corey Optical v. Emerging Vision, Inc.
(the "Action");
WHEREAS, in order to avoid expensive and time-consuming litigation, EVI and
Plaintiffs desire to compromise and have agreed, without admission of any party
of any of the allegations set forth in the Action, to adjust, settle and
compromise the claims asserted in the Action and, in addition, any claim, right,
controversy, cause of action, obligation and liability of any kind or nature
whatsoever which may and/or could have been asserted in the Action, as described
more fully below; and
WHEREAS, EVI desires that, except as may be required by applicable law, the
terms, conditions and negotiations involved in the resolution and settlement of
the matters in controversy forever remain absolutely confidential and that
absolutely no publicity be accorded the terms and conditions of the parties'
settlement or the terms and conditions proposed during the negotiations leading
up to this Settlement Agreement without the prior written consent of EVI.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties to this Settlement Agreement, in consideration
of each and every undertaking and commitment of each to the other set forth
herein, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, mutually agree as
follows:
1. Settlement Terms
1.1 Plaintiffs hereby represent that, prior to the date hereof, they have
caused to be formed SITE-NCAL AREA REP, LLC, a new California limited liability
company ("SNAR"), the equity interests in which are owned by each of the
Plaintiffs (or the principal owner(s) of each Plaintiff, as the case may be) in
accordance with Schedule A annexed hereto.
1.2 EVI and SNAR shall enter into an Area Representation Agreement in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.
1.3 EVI and each Plaintiff shall execute amendments to each Plaintiff's
Site for Sore Eyes Franchise Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit 2.
2. General Releases
2.1 In consideration of the obligations the parties have undertaken as set
forth above, Plaintiffs, together with each of Carol Seltzer, Paul Licht and
Raymond J. Robison (individually, collectively or in any combination, the
"Plaintiff-Releasing Parties") each hereby releases and forever discharges EVI
and its past and present shareholders, agents, attorneys, employees, partners,
officers, directors, representatives, predecessors and successors, heirs and
assigns, and their past and present parents, divisions, departments,
subsidiaries and affiliates (individually, collectively or in any combination,
the"EVI Released Parties"), from any and all suits, claims, controversies,
rights, promises, debts, liabilities, demands, obligations, costs, expenses,
actions and causes of action of every nature, character and description, in law
or in equity, whether presently known or unknown, vested or contingent,
suspected or unsuspected, related or unrelated to the Action as to law or facts
or both, which the Plaintiff-Releasing Parties now own or hold or have at any
time heretofore owned or held, or may at any time own or hold against the EVI
Released Parties, arising prior to, up to and including the date of this
Settlement Agreement.
2.2 The Plaintiff-Releasing Parties represent and warrant that they have
not heretofore assigned or transferred or purported to assign or transfer, to
any person, firm or corporation whatsoever, any claim, controversy, right,
promise, debt, liability, demand, obligation, cost, expense, action or cause of
action herein released or purported to be released. If there is any claim,
controversy, right, promise, debt, liability, demand, obligation, cost, expense,
action or cause of action based on or arising out of or in connection with any
such transfer or assignment or purported transfer or assignment, the party which
made or purported to make such transfer or assignment agrees to indemnify and
hold the EVI Released Parties harmless from and against any such claim,
controversy, right, promise, debt, liability, demand, obligation, cost, expense,
action or cause of action, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs
incurred in connection therewith.
2.3 The parties hereto expressly accept and assume the risk that the facts
and/or law pertaining to the claims released herein may change, or that the
facts pertaining to the claims released herein may later be found to be
different from that which is now known or believed by the parties or their
attorneys to be true. This Settlement Agreement shall be and remain effective
notwithstanding any such change or difference.
3. No Admission of Wrongdoing or Liability
This Settlement Agreement is a full and final compromise, settlement and
release of disputed claims and is not intended to be, shall not constitute, and
shall not be construed as, an admission of the truth or correctness of any
allegation made by any party to the Action, or of the liability of any party, or
of their respective agents, representatives, predecessors, successors, heirs, or
assigns, to the others, any such liability being expressly denied.
4. Confidentiality of Settlement
The parties recognize that EVI, except as may be required by applicable
law, desires to keep the terms of this Settlement Agreement, and all discussions
related thereto, absolutely confidential. Plaintiffs represent and agree that,
except as may be required by applicable law, they will maintain the
confidentiality of the settlement terms and, further, that they have not and,
except with the prior written consent of EVI, will not, disclose the terms of
the settlement of the Action to any other person.
5. Waiver of Known and Unknown Claims
This Settlement Agreement is intended to include a general release and is
intended to extend to all claims, whether or not known or suspected by the
Plaintiff-Releasing Parties to exist in their favor at the time of execution
hereof, and the Plaintiff-Releasing Parties, by their execution hereof each
expressly waives all rights under Section 1542 of the California Civil Code and
any similar law of any jurisdiction. For the purposes of clarifying the content
of Section 1542 so that each of the Plaintiff-Releasing Parties clearly
understands the importance of such a waiver, the parties hereto to hereby elect
to fully set forth the words of such Section, which provides that: "A general
release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to
exist in his favor at the time of executing a release, which if known to him
must have materially affected his settlement with the debtor."
6. General Terms
6.1 Each of the Plaintiff-Releasing Parties and EVI hereby acknowledge that
in negotiating this Settlement Agreement, each has received advice from counsel
of their/its choosing. Each of the parties hereto do hereby represent and
warrant that the individuals signing this Settlement Agreement on their behalf
have full authority to do so.
6.2 This Settlement Agreement may only be amended in writing, signed by all
of the parties hereto.
6.3 This Settlement Agreement and the making hereof shall be governed as to
validity, interpretation, construction, effect, and in all other respects by the
laws of the State of California, which laws shall prevail in the event of any
conflict of law, without regard to, and without giving effect to, the
application of California choice of law rules.
6.4 This Settlement Agreement may be signed in counterparts and shall
become effective upon its execution by all of the parties, but its effective
date shall be the date first above written.
6.5 The provisions of this Settlement Agreement shall be severable. If any
provision shall become or be declared invalid or unenforceable, all other
provisions shall remain in effect. If any provision shall become or be declared
invalid or unenforceable, it shall be interpreted in such a manner and to such
an extent as to be enforceable.
6.6 Should any party prevail in any litigation involving or relating to a
breach by any other party of any provision of this Settlement Agreement, the
party which prevails shall be entitled to the amount of all reasonable
attorneys' fees and costs incurred in the course of that litigation.
6.7 This Settlement Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the
benefit of, the parties hereto, and their respective agents, representatives,
successors and assigns forever.
6.8 Plaintiffs agree to dismiss all claims in this Action with prejudice,
with each side to bear its own costs and attorneys' fees.
6.9 The parties agree that the terms of each Plaintiff's Franchise
Agreement shall remain in effect, except as expressly modified by the terms of
the definitive form of each of the Amendments thereto, to be entered into in
accordance with the provisions of Section 1.3 hereof.
6.10 The parties agree to execute any and all additional documents
reasonably necessary to carry out the terms, conditions and provisions of this
Settlement Agreement.
6.11 This Settlement Agreement constitutes the entire, full and complete
agreement between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements, no
other representation having induced the parties hereto to execute this
Settlement Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, the parties have entered into this Settlement Agreement on
the date and year first written above.
EMERGING VISION, INC.
Witness By: Christopher G. Payan
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
VC ENTERPRISES, INC.
Witness By: Paul Licht
Title: President
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
PAUL LICHT, Individually
Witness By: Paul Licht
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
[SIGNATURES CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGES]
BRIDGET LICHT, d/b/a SITE FOR SORE EYES
Witness By: Bridget Licht
Title: Sole Proprietor
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
BRIDGET LICHT, Individually
Witness By: Bridget Licht
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
SITESCOPE, INC.
Witness By: Carol Seltzer
Title: President
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
CAROL SELTZER, Individually
Witness By: Carol Seltzer
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
[SIGNATURES CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE]
EYEMAGINATION EYEWORKS, INC.
Witness By: Raymond J. Robison
Title: President
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
RAYMOND J. ROBISON, Individually
Witness By: Raymond J. Robison
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
SUSAN ASSAEL d/b/a COREY OPTICAL
Witness By: Susan Assael
Title: Sole Proprietor
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
SUSAN ASSAEL, Individually
Witness By: Susan Assael
Dated: March ___, 2002 Dated: March ___, 2002
SCHEDULE A
OWNERSHIP OF EQUITY
INTERESTS IN SITE-NCAL AREA REP, LLC
NAME PERCENT OWNED
Carol Seltzer 28.334%
Marty Seltzer 28.333%
Paul Licht 28.333%
Bridget Licht 5.000%
Raymond J. Robison 5.000%
Susan Assael 5.000%
EMERGING VISION, INC.
AREA REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT I
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
RECITALS.............................................................1
1. GRANT................................................................2
-----
2. TERM.................................................................3
----
3. DUTIES OF FRANCHISOR.................................................3
--------------------
4. FEES AND COMPENSATION................................................5
---------------------
5. DUTIES OF AREA REPRESENTATIVE........................................6
-----------------------------
6. PROPRIETARY MARKS....................................................9
-----------------
7. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.............................................10
------------------------
8. ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION............................................11
-------------------------
9. INSURANCE............................................................11
---------
10. TRANSFER OF INTEREST.................................................12
--------------------
11. DEFAULT AND TERMINATION..............................................15
-----------------------
12. OBLIGATIONS UPON TERMINATION OR EXPIRATION...........................17
------------------------------------------
13. COVENANTS............................................................18
---------
14. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AND INDEMNIFICATION...........................20
------------------------------------------
15. APPROVALS AND WAIVERS................................................20
---------------------
16. NOTICES..............................................................21
-------
17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT.......................................21
------------------------------
18. SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION........................................21
-----------------------------
19. APPLICABLE LAW.......................................................22
--------------
ATTACHMENT A ADDENDUM
ATTACHMENT B INDEMNIFICATION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
EMERGING VISION, INC.
AREA REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT
THIS AREA REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is hereby made and entered
into as of the 1st day of April, 2002, between Emerging Vision, Inc., a New York
corporation with its principal place of business at 100 Quentin Roosevelt
Boulevard, Garden City, New York 11530 ("Franchisor"), and Site-Ncal Area Rep,
LLC, a California limited liability company with its principal offices at 140
Battery Street, San Francisco, California 94111 ("Area Representative").
RECITALS:
1. Franchisor operates and franchises retail optical centers specializing
in the sale of prescription and non-prescription eye wear, contact lenses and
solutions, other optical and opthalmic products and related optical products and
services. The retail optical centers utilize distinctive and common formats,
layouts, signs, systems, designs and decor, and certain methods, management
techniques, standards, specifications and business operating procedures (the
"System"), which System is embodied in Franchisor's operating manuals (as the
same may be hereafter supplemented, amended and/or modified by Franchisor,
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Manuals").
2. Franchisor identifies the System by means of certain trade names,
service marks, trademarks, logos, emblems and indicia of origin including, but
not limited to, the name and mark, "SITE FOR SORE EYES" (together with such
other trade names, service marks, and/or trademarks as may hereinafter be
designated by Franchisor for use in substitution of the name and mark, "Site for
Sore Eyes", being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Proprietary
Mark") for use in connection with the System.
3. Franchisor continues to develop, use, and control the use of such
Proprietary Mark in order to identify, to the public, the source of products and
services marketed thereunder and the System's high standards of quality,
appearance and service.
4. Franchisor enters into franchise agreements and other related agreements
with unrelated third parties, by which such third parties obtain the right and
assume the responsibility to operate a retail optical store under one or more of
Franchisor's proprietary names and marks, all in accordance with such franchise
agreements and the Manual.
5. Area Representative desires to serve as a representative of Franchisor
with the right to solicit, evaluate, and screen (collectively, the "Promotional
Services") prospective franchisees who are ready, willing, and able to construct
and/or open and thereafter operate, under the Proprietary Mark, a new retail
optical store to be located within the Territory (as said term is hereinafter
defined) (any such retail optical store operated by an AR Franchisee [as said
term is hereinafter defined] under the Proprietary Mark and located within the
Territory, is hereinafter defined as a "Center") and, in connection therewith,
the responsibility to train and provide start-up and ongoing support and
assistance to, and to monitor the performance of, such franchisees ("Servicing
Responsibilities").
6. Based upon the information provided to Franchisor by Area
Representative, Franchisor believes that Area Representative is qualified to
assume and perform such Promotional Services and Servicing Responsibilities (and
all obligations, duties and/or responsibilities associated therewith and/or
attendant thereto) in each case, pursuant to and in accordance with, the terms
and provisions hereinafter set forth.
7. Area Representative understands and acknowledges the importance of
ensuring that all AR Franchisees (as said term is hereinafter defined) serviced
by Area Representative (pursuant to the terms hereof) achieve proper support and
assistance, and fully conform to Franchisor's System in operating its/his/her
Center.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:
1. GRANT
1.1 Franchisor grants to Area Representative, and Area Representative
accepts, the following rights and obligations:
1.1.1 to provide Promotional Services within the geographic area
("Territory") specified in paragraph 1 of the Addendum to this Agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit A ("Addendum") and to present, to Franchisor, in
accordance with the development plan (the "Development Plan") specified in
paragraph 2 of the Addendum, Qualified Prospects (as said term is hereinafter
defined) who are then ready, willing, and able to acquire, from Franchisor, a
Site for Sore Eyes Optical Center Franchise (a "Franchise") to own and operate a
new Center at a Qualified Location (as said term is hereinafter defined) within
the Territory; it being understood that, for purposes of this Agreement, the
term: (i) "Qualified Prospect" shall mean one or more unrelated third party
individual ( who are not then the owner(s) of an existing Site for Sore Eyes
Franchise ) having the financial ability (including working capital) and retail
optical store experience (in each case, as reasonably determined by Franchisor)
to construct, and/or open and operate a new Center in accordance with the Manual
and Franchisor's then current form of franchise agreement (hereinafter referred
to as a "Franchise Agreement" and, together with each of the documents related
thereto and required by Franchisor in connection therewith, as the same may be
amended, modified and/or supplemented by Franchisor from time to time during the
term of this Agreement, being hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Franchise Documents"), all as described in Franchisor's then current form of
Franchise Offering Circular for the State of California (as the same may be
amended, modified and/or supplemented by Franchisor from time to time during the
term of this Agreement, being hereinafter referred to as a "UFOC"); and (ii)
"Qualified Location" shall mean a new retail optical store location, located
within the Territory, that does not infringe upon the rights of any other of
Franchisor's franchisees then operating in the Territory and which is reasonably
2
anticipated (based upon demographic studies obtained by Area Representative) to
generate annual gross sales (exclusive of optometric exam fees), after the first
year of operation, of not less than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000), it
being understood that a location shall not be deemed to qualify as a Qualified
Location in the event Franchisor is required to guaranty more than six (6)
months of the rent and additional rent to become payable under the master lease
for such location; and
1.1.2 thereafter from time to time during the term of this Agreement, to
provide Servicing Responsibilities to Qualified Prospects who have acquired a
Franchise for a Qualified Location situated within the Territory during the term
hereof (such Qualified Prospects who actually acquire such Franchise being
hereinafter referred to as an "AR Franchisee").
1.1.3 Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, as long as Area
Representative is not then in default, in any material respect, in performing
its responsibilities and/or obligations set forth herein, and this Agreement is
then in full force and effect, Franchisor shall: (i) not enter into an agreement
that allows any other person or entity to exercise or assume substantially all
of the rights granted to Area Representative pursuant to this Agreement; and
(ii) refer to Area Representative any Qualified Prospect desiring to acquire a
Franchise for a Center.
1.2 Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 1.1 and 1.2 above, Area
Representative acknowledges that Franchisor retains the right to own, acquire,
establish and/or operate, and to license or franchise third parties to establish
and operate, retail optical centers under any name and mark other than the
Proprietary Mark, at any location within or outside the Territory.
1.3 Except as provided herein, this Agreement does not confer any rights or
obligations on Area Representative with respect to any of Franchisor's
franchisees who have not become an AR Franchisee pursuant to the terms hereof.
1.4 Area Representative's rights under this Agreement are contingent upon
Area Representative timely meeting the Development Plan, it being specifically
understood that, in the event Area Representative does not timely meet the
Development Plan as set forth in the Addendum, Franchisor shall have the right
(but not the obligation) to terminate this Agreement in accordance with the
provisions of Section 11.2 hereof.
2. TERM
The term of this Agreement shall be for ten (10) years from the date
hereof, unless sooner terminated in accordance with the terms hereof.
3
3. DUTIES OF FRANCHISOR
3.1 Franchisor shall have the sole and absolute authority to grant
franchises and execute Franchise Documents with Qualified Prospects who desire
to become AR Franchisees. Franchisor shall collect all fees from each AR
Franchisee, as required under the terms of its respective Franchise Agreement,
and thereafter distribute to Area Representative its share of such fees, as
provided for (and subject to the provisions of) Section 4 hereof.
3.2 Franchisor, from time to time during the term hereof, shall use its
reasonable, good faith efforts to prepare one or more franchise disclosure
documents (UFOCs) for use in offering franchises in the Territory and, to the
extent required, will, from time to time during the term hereof, use its
reasonable, good faith efforts to prepare any materials required to be
registered with any state regulatory agency. Franchisor's obligation is
contingent upon Area Representative providing Franchisor with all of the
information requested or required by Franchisor in connection therewith, in each
case, within the time periods reasonably specified by Franchisor. Franchisor
will bear the costs of the preparation of the UFOCs and any registrations or
other filings. If Franchisor, through no fault of Area Representative, loses its
rights to solicit and/or sell franchises in the Territory, Franchisor will
modify the Development Plan to accommodate Area Representative for the lost
opportunity. However, Area Representative understands that it is common for
temporary lapses in the ability to offer and sell franchises due to the need for
periodic modifications, updates, and regulatory approvals. Thus, lapses of
registration for consecutive time periods of ninety (90) days or less will not
require any modification of the Development Plan. Franchisor shall provide Area
Representative with an adequate number of current copies of Franchisor's UFOC
for delivery to Qualified Prospects.
3.3 Franchisor, at its sole cost and expense, shall provide Area
Representative with the following:
3.3.1 all forms (including applications for a franchise) required by
Franchisor for reporting details concerning Qualified Prospects;
3.3.2 such advertising materials as may then be utilized by Franchisor for
purposes of generally promoting the opportunity to become a Franchisee; and
3.3.3 copies of Franchisor's then current UFOC for the Territory.
3.4 Franchisor shall promptly refer to Area Representative any inquiry it
may receive from Qualified Prospects regarding their proposed acquisition of a
Franchise for a Qualified Location to be situated in the Territory.
4
3.5 Franchisor shall promptly process all referrals of Qualified Prospects
and their respective applications forwarded by Area Representative that are
submitted in accordance with Franchisor's policies and procedures; provided,
however, that Franchisor's decision to execute Franchise Documents with any
Qualified Prospect for a Qualified Location shall be at Franchisor's reasonable
discretion.
3.6 Franchisor shall have the right to monitor Area Representative's
performance of its Promotional Services and Servicing Responsibilities at such
times and utilizing such methods as Franchisor deems necessary.
4. FEES AND COMPENSATION
4.1 Franchisor, in partial reimbursement of the administrative and other
costs and/or expenses anticipated to be incurred by Area Representative in
performing its obligations hereunder, shall pay to Area Representative the
aggregate sum of One Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000) (all as
specified in paragraph 3 of the Addendum annexed hereto as Exhibit A), the first
installment of which ($25,000) shall be paid to Area Representative within a
maximum period of ten (10) days after the complete execution hereof (which first
installment shall be deemed fully earned by Area Representative and
non-refundable).
4.2 Provided that Area Representative is not then in default, in any
material respect, in performing its obligations hereunder, Franchisor shall pay
to Area Representative, as consideration for Area Representative's Promotional
Services, a promotional services fee equal to twenty five percent (25%) of each
initial franchise fee, in excess of One Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars
($140,000), actually paid to, and received by, Franchisor under each set of
Franchise Documents executed by Franchisor and an AR Franchisee for a Center to
be established in the Territory. Franchisor shall pay each such fee on the tenth
(10th) day after the expiration of each calendar month during the term of this
Agreement during which the Franchisor receives the full amount of such initial
franchise fee from an AR Franchisee.
4.3 Provided that Area Representative is not then in default, in any
material respect, in performing its obligations hereunder, Franchisor shall pay
to Area Representative, as consideration for Area Representative's Servicing
Responsibilities, a franchise servicing fee equal to forty three and
three/fourths percent (43.75%) of the continuing royalty fees, as defined in
each Franchise Agreement, actually received by Franchisor from those AR
Franchisees then operating their Center and for whom Area Representative then
provides Servicing Responsibilities. Such fee shall be paid to Area
Representative on the tenth (10th) day of the month following the month in which
such fees are actually paid to, and received by, Franchisor.
4.4 Franchisor shall use its reasonable good faith efforts to collect
initial franchise fees and continuing royalty fees directly from AR Franchisees,
5
and provide Area Representative with a report by the tenth (10th) day of each
month on the amounts collected during the preceding month, along with the
payments, if any, due Area Representative based upon such amounts. Franchisor
shall have sole discretion as to the terms and conditions of collections. Any
deferred payments from AR Franchisees shall not become payable to Area
Representative by Franchisor unless and until such fees have been collected by
Franchisor. In the event Franchisor refunds amounts collected from AR
Franchisees or if Area Representative, for any reason, owes money to Franchisor,
Franchisor shall have the right, as it deems appropriate, to set-off the amount
due from any monies owed to Area Representative, or to require Area
Representative to pay the monies due to Franchisor prior to Franchisor's payment
to Area Representative of any fees then due it hereunder. Franchisor shall have
no liability to Area Representative for payments required to be made to it
pursuant to this Paragraph 4.4 in the event that any AR Franchisee, for any
reason, fails to pay any monies owed to Franchisor, including any continuing
royalty fees then due by he/she/it to Franchisor.
5. DUTIES OF AREA REPRESENTATIVE
As a condition of receiving the rights set forth in Section 1.1 above, two
of Area Representative's members, Carol Seltzer and Paul Licht (the
"Guarantors"), each shall execute the Indemnification and Guaranty Agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Guaranty"). The Guarantors, together with the
other individuals specified in paragraph 4 of the Addendum are collectively
referred to herein as the "Principals".
5.1 In connection with Franchisor fulfilling its legal and/or other
franchise disclosure requirements, Area Representative shall:
5.1.1 provide to Franchisor all information reasonably required by
Franchisor to prepare all requisite UFOCs and ancillary documents for the
offering of franchises in the Territory, and review all materials Franchisor
prepares on Area Representative's behalf;
5.1.2 sign and return to Franchisor all documents reasonably required by
Franchisor, or its designee, for the purpose of registering the offer of
franchises throughout the Territory; and
5.1.3 review all materials Franchisor prepares on Area Representative's
behalf, it being understood that Franchisor shall not be liable for any errors
or omissions which may occur in the preparation of those materials.
5.2 In performing the Promotional Services required of it hereunder, Area
Representative shall:
6
5.2.1 at its sole cost and expense, reasonably advertise the System through
sales presentations and other means (such as local seminars and franchise
expositions, and local newspapers) as approved by Franchisor;
5.2.2 represent the System accurately, and make no representations or
omissions that contradict the terms and conditions of Franchisor's Franchise
Documents, UFOC, or related documents;
5.2.3 refer to Franchisor any inquiries from individuals or entities
regarding the establishment of franchised retail optical stores to be located
outside of the Territory;
5.2.4 honestly and accurately answer all inquiries of Qualified Prospects;
provide Qualified Prospects seeking to acquire an AR Franchise for a Center (to
be located in the Territory) with a copy of the Franchisor's then current form
of UFOC and other documents that Franchisor may require; and obtain from all
Qualified Prospects to whom it provides a copy of the UFOC, a signed copy of the
receipt annexed thereto ("Receipt");
5.2.5 conduct initial screening of Qualified Prospects according to
Franchisor's standards;
5.2.6 recommend promptly to Franchisor those Qualified Prospects whom Area
Representative deems qualified (as set forth herein and in accordance with
Franchisor's standards) by submitting to Franchisor such reports and other
documentation in the form prescribed by Franchisor;
5.2.7 respond to requests from Franchisor for clarification and/or
additional information regarding any Qualified Prospect;
5.2.8 prepare and maintain a written report, in the form prescribed by
Franchisor, for each Qualified Prospect rejected by Franchisor, which reports
shall be made available to Franchisor upon request;
5.2.9 comply at all times with all applicable federal, state, and local
laws and regulations affecting the promotion of franchise opportunities in the
Territory, including, without limitation, those relating to the offer and sale
of franchises and business opportunities; including:
5.2.9.1 furnish to Qualified Prospects only the then-current form of UFOC
Franchisor has authorized for use within Area Representative's Territory, along
with such promotional material that Franchisor may have previously approved;
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5.2.9.2 comply with all requirements for timing of delivery of UFOCs and
obtain and deliver to Franchisor the original signed acknowledgment of receipt
for each UFOC which Area Representative delivers to any Qualified Prospect;
5.2.9.3 make no representations or other statements that conflict with any
of the information contained in the UFOC delivered to a Qualified Prospect
and/or within Franchisor's then-current Franchise Documents;
5.2.9.4 make no earnings claims or projections, or provide any information
with regard to sales, revenues, income, costs, or expenses relating to a
franchise or retail optical store;
5.2.9.5 promptly notify Franchisor of any material information or event
which comes to Area Representative's attention that may require disclosure in
the UFOC;
5.2.9.6 use, display, publish and distribute, for purposes of soliciting
Qualified Prospects, only advertising, marketing, and promotional materials that
Franchisor has previously approved as acceptable for use in the Territory; and
5.2.9.7 stop soliciting Qualified Prospects immediately at any time that
Franchisor notifies Area Representative that the UFOC and/or Franchise Documents
are not then in compliance with applicable law or, if applicable, the
registration of the franchise program is not then in effect.
5.3 Notwithstanding any of the Franchisor's responsibilities under any
Franchise Document with an AR Franchisee (and without any inference that the
foregoing describes the Franchisor's obligation to an AR Franchisee under such
Franchise Documents), in discharging its Servicing Responsibilities, the Area
Representative shall:
5.3.1 utilize at least one retail optical store owned by any one of Area
Representative's Principals as a training center for AR Franchisees ("Training
Center") and offer therefrom initial and on-going training programs to AR
Franchisees, which Training Center and training programs shall conform to the
standards and specifications established and modified by Franchisor from time to
time in its operations manual or otherwise in writing, and which shall include
such other required and optional training programs, seminars, and workshops as
Franchisor may from time to time deem reasonably necessary and appropriate;
5.3.2 at all times, cause Carol Seltzer (or another individual acceptable
to the Franchisor, it being understood that such acceptance shall not be
unreasonably withheld by the Franchisor provided such individual possesses a
good moral character and business reputation, and has the aptitude and ability
to perform and fulfill the obligations of such Certified Trainer (as said term
is defined below), as may be evidenced by such individual's prior related
8
business experience including, but not limited to, experience in the duties and
responsibilities of such Certified Trainer), one of the Principals, to provide
initial and ongoing training to each Operations Support Staff Person (as said
term is hereinafter defined) and/or AR Franchisee (such person to be known as
the "Certified Trainer");
5.3.3 employ, at all times, one person whose primary responsibility shall
be to assist the Certified Trainer in fulfilling the Area Representative's
Servicing Responsibilities ("Operations Support Staff Person") for every five
(5) Centers opened and then operating in the Territory;
5.3.4 provide, in accordance with Franchisor's criteria for a Qualified
Location, site selection counseling and assistance, on-site inspections, site
evaluations, and site recommendations. Area Representative acknowledges and
agrees that final approval of all Qualified Locations shall be made by
Franchisor at Franchisor's discretion, and that Franchisor shall not, in any
case, guaranty more than six (6) months of the rent to become payable under the
prorated lease for any such Qualified Location; 1.1.1
5.3.5 provide ongoing advice and consultation to AR Franchisees with regard
to, and during, the construction of leasehold improvements to the premises of
its Center, and the installation of all equipment, fixtures, and supplies
required for the operation thereof, and certify to Franchisor, upon the
completion thereof, that all construction and installations have been completed
in accordance with Franchisor's prototype plans and specifications;
5.3.6 provide grand opening assistance, and other opening assistance in
such manner and form as may be reasonably required in connection with the
opening of a Center;
5.3.7 visit each AR Franchisee at least four (4) times each year during the
term of its Franchise Agreement and any renewals thereof, in order to provide
continuing assistance to such AR Franchisee and to verify compliance by each
such AR Franchisee with Franchisor's standards and specifications, as well as
with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and procedures; and provide to
Franchisor reports (on such forms and containing such information as Franchisor
may reasonably request) concerning each visit and any necessary follow-up visits
to verify the correction of deficiencies;
5.3.8 if requested by Franchisor, develop a specific marketing program for
one, more than one, or all AR Franchisees in the Territory, using material
provided or approved by Franchisor;
5.3.9 if requested by Franchisor, conduct periodic meetings of all AR
Franchisees in the Territory for the purpose of describing new products and
services, training, and general networking;
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5.3.10 provide such other periodic and continuing assistance to each AR
Franchisee as Franchisor may reasonably request or direct; and
5.3.11 provide such other reports to the Franchisor concerning the market
conditions in the Territory and/or the performance of each AR Franchisee, as
Franchisor may reasonably request.
5.4 Area Representative shall assist Franchisor in the collection of
delinquent accounts and royalty payments.
5.5 Area Representative shall not establish any computer website including
Internet and/or World Wide Web home pages, without Franchisor's prior written
approval. Any website must comply with standards specified in writing, by
Franchisor, it being understood that Franchisor may require that Area
Representative establish its own website as part of any website established by
Franchisor.
6. PROPRIETARY MARKS
6.1 Area Representative's right to use the Proprietary Mark is derived
solely from this Agreement. Area Representative may only use the Proprietary
Mark in connection with the operation of its Area Representation business and
only in accordance with this Agreement. Any unauthorized use of the Proprietary
Mark by Area Representative shall constitute an infringement of Franchisor's
rights in and to the Proprietary Mark. Area Representative's use of the
Proprietary Mark, and any goodwill established by Area Representative's use of
the Proprietary Mark, shall inure to Franchisor's exclusive benefit. Area
Representative must not, at any time, contest, or assist anyone else in
contesting, the validity or ownership of the Proprietary Mark. All provisions of
this Agreement applicable to the Proprietary Mark apply to any additional
trademarks, service marks, logo forms, trade dress, and commercial symbols that
Franchisor authorizes for use by, and licenses to, AR Franchisees and/or Area
Representative in connection with this Agreement.
6.2 Area Representative may not use the Proprietary Mark as part of any
corporate or trade name or with any prefix, suffix, or other modifying words,
terms, designs, or symbols, or in any modified form. Area Representative may not
use the Proprietary Mark in connection with the sale of any unauthorized product
or service or in any other manner not expressly authorized by Franchisor in
writing. Area Representative must give such notices of trademark and service
mark registrations and copyrights as Franchisor specifies, and Area
Representative must obtain such fictitious or assumed name registrations as may
be required under applicable law. Area Representative will not employ the
Proprietary Mark in any way that Franchisor has determined may result in
liability to Franchisor for any debts or obligations of Area Representative.
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6.3 Area Representative shall notify Franchisor immediately in writing if
Area Representative becomes aware of any apparent infringement of, or challenge
to, Area Representative's use of the Proprietary Mark or claim by any person of
any rights in the Proprietary Mark. Area Representative must not communicate
with any person other than Franchisor and Franchisor's counsel in connection
with any such infringement, challenge, or claim. Franchisor shall have the sole
right to take any action Franchisor deems appropriate, and the right to
exclusively control any litigation, administrative, or other proceeding arising
out of any infringement, challenge, or claim or otherwise, relating to the
Proprietary Mark. Area Representative will sign all documents, render such
assistance, and do such acts as Franchisor considers advisable to protect and
maintain Franchisor's interest in any such proceeding or to otherwise protect
and maintain Franchisor's interest in the Proprietary Mark.
6.4 If it becomes advisable at any time for Franchisor and/or Area
Representative to modify or discontinue use of the Proprietary Mark, and/or use
one or more additional or substitute trademarks or service marks, Area
Representative shall comply therewith within a reasonable time after
Franchisor's notice to Area Representative, and Franchisor's sole liability and
obligation to Area Representative in the event of such change will be to
reimburse Area Representative for Area Representative's (but not any AR
Franchisee's) out-of-pocket costs of compliance.
7. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
7.1 Neither Area Representative, nor any of its Principals, shall, during
or after the term of this Agreement, communicate, divulge, or use for the
benefit of any other person, partnership, association, or corporation, any
confidential information, knowledge, or know-how concerning Franchisor, its
guidelines for franchisee qualifications and/or the System, which Area
Representative and/or any of its Principals may be apprised, by virtue of Area
Representative's performance of its obligations under the terms of this
Agreement. Area Representative shall divulge such confidential information only
to such of its employees as must have access to it in order to perform their
employment responsibilities to Area Representative. Any and all information,
knowledge, know-how and/or techniques which Franchisor designates as
confidential shall be deemed confidential for purposes of this Agreement.
7.2 Area Representative acknowledges that any failure to comply with the
requirements of this Section 7 will cause Franchisor irreparable injury for
which no adequate remedy at law may be available, and Area Representative agrees
that Franchisor may seek, and Area Representative agrees to pay, all court costs
and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by Franchisor in obtaining, without
posting a bond, an ex parte order for injunctive or other legal or equitable
relief with respect to the requirements of this Section 7.
7.3 Area Representative shall require anyone who may have access to any
such confidential information to execute an agreement pursuant to which he/she
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shall agree to maintain the confidentiality of any such confidential information
which they may receive in connection with their association with Area
Representative. Such agreement shall be in a form satisfactory to Franchisor
including, without limitation, specific identification of Franchisor as a third
party beneficiary of such covenants, with the independent right to enforce them.
8. ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION
8.1 All advertising and promotion by Area Representative shall be conducted
in a dignified manner, conform to such standards as Franchisor has established
in the Franchise Documents, and not be used without Franchisor's prior approval.
8.2 Area Representative shall submit to Franchisor (in the manner
prescribed in Section 16) samples of all advertising and promotional plans and
materials prior to their use, and may commence use of such plans or materials
twenty (20) days after Franchisor's receipt thereof unless, prior thereto,
Franchisor shall have furnished written notice to Area Representative
prohibiting such use.
8.3 Franchisor shall have the right at any time after Area Representative
commences use of any advertising or promotional materials to prohibit further
use of such materials, effective immediately upon receipt of written notice to
Area Representative.
9. INSURANCE
9.1 Area Representative shall maintain in full force and effect at all
times during the term of this Agreement, at Area Representative's sole cost and
expense, insurance policies as specified in paragraph 6 of Exhibit A hereto that
shall protect Area Representative, Franchisor and its affiliates, and their
respective shareholders, directors, employees and agents, against any demand or
claim with respect to personal and bodily injury, death, or property damage, or
any loss, liability, or expense whatsoever arising out of or in connection with
the operation of Area Representative's business. Such policy or policies shall:
(i) be written by insurer(s) reasonably acceptable to Franchisor; (ii) name
Franchisor and its subsidiaries, and each of their respective officers,
directors, employees and agents, as additional insureds; (iii) comply with the
requirements prescribed by Franchisor in the Franchise Documents at the time
such policies are obtained; (iv) provide at least the types and minimum amounts
of coverage specified in the Addendum hereto; and (v) contain a waiver by Area
Representative and its insurers of their subrogation rights against Franchisor
and its affiliates, and their respective shareholders, directors, employees and
agents.
9.2 At least ten (10) days prior to the time any insurance is first
required to be carried by Area Representative, and thereafter at least ten (10)
days prior to the expiration of any such policy, Area Representative shall
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deliver to Franchisor Certificates of Insurance evidencing the proper types and
minimum amounts of coverage required hereunder. All Certificates shall expressly
provide that no less than twenty (20) days' prior written notice shall be given
to Franchisor in the event of a material alteration to, or cancellation or
non-renewal of, the coverages evidenced by such Certificates. Certificates
evidencing the insurance required by this Section 9 shall name Franchisor and
its subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and
agents, as additional insureds, and shall expressly provide that any interest of
each shall not be affected by any breach by Area Representative of any policy
provisions for which such Certificates evidence coverage.
9.3 Should Area Representative, for any reason, fail to procure or maintain
the insurance required by this Agreement, as such requirements may reasonably be
revised by Franchisor by notice given to Area Representative in writing,
Franchisor shall have the right and authority (but not the obligation) to
procure such insurance and to charge same to Area Representative, which charges,
together with a reasonable fee for the expenses of Franchisor in so acting,
shall be payable by Area Representative immediately after its receipt of written
notice thereof. The foregoing remedies shall be in addition to any other
remedies Franchisor may have.
10. TRANSFER OF INTEREST
10.1 Franchisor shall have the right to transfer or assign this Agreement
and all or any part of its rights or obligations under this Agreement to any
person or legal entity, and any assignee of Franchisor shall become solely
responsible for all obligations of Franchisor under this Agreement from and
after the date of any such assignment.
Area Representative understands and acknowledges that the rights and duties
set forth in this Agreement are personal to Area Representative and its
Principals as of the date hereof, and that Franchisor has executed this
Agreement in reliance on the Principals' business skill, financial capacity, and
personal character. Accordingly:
10.1.1 Area Representative shall not, without the prior written consent of
Franchisor, transfer, assign, give away, pledge, or otherwise encumber
("Transfer") the rights and/or obligations of the Area Representative under this
Agreement; and
10.1.2 a Principal shall not, without the prior written consent of
Franchisor, Transfer any interest of the Principal in Area Representative.
10.2 Franchisor shall not unreasonably withhold any consent required by
Section 10.2 above, provided, if Area Representative proposes to Transfer its
obligations hereunder, or if a Principal proposes to Transfer any direct or
indirect interest in Area Representative, Franchisor shall have absolute
discretion to require any or all of the following as conditions to any such
approval:
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10.2.1 The transferor shall have executed a general release, in a form
prescribed by Franchisor, by which such transferor releases any and all claims
he/she may have against Franchisor and/or its subsidiaries, and each of their
respective affiliates, successors, assigns, directors, officers, shareholders,
partners, agents, representatives, servants, and employees, in their corporate
and individual capacities including, without limitation, claims arising under
this Agreement, any other agreement between the transferor and Franchisor or its
affiliates, and federal, state, and local laws and rules;
10.2.2 The transferee of a Principal shall be designated as a Principal and
each transferee who is designated a Principal shall enter into a written
agreement, in a form satisfactory to Franchisor, agreeing to be bound as a
Principal under the terms of this Agreement as long as such person or entity
owns any interest in Area Representative and to personally guaranty the
performance of all such obligations by Area Representative; and
10.2.3 The transferor must acknowledge and agree that the transferor shall
remain bound by the covenants contained in Sections 13.1 and 13.2 of this
Agreement; and
10.2.4 In the event the transferor shall be either of the Guarantors (or
either of their respective prior transferees), the transferee shall: (i) then
have a financial "net worth" equal to or exceeding such transferor's then
financial "net worth," as well as have liquid assets (such as cash and/or
marketable securities) then equal to or exceeding such transferor's then liquid
assets; and (ii) execute and deliver to Franchisor a guaranty in the form of the
Guaranty annexed hereto as Exhibit B.
10.3 In addition to requirements contained in Sections 10.2 and 10.3 above,
if a proposed Transfer, alone or together with other previous, simultaneous, or
proposed Transfers, would have the effect of changing control of: (i) Area
Representative and/or its Principals; or (ii) ownership of Area Representative's
obligations and/or rights under this Agreement, Franchisor, in its sole
discretion, may require any of the following conditions to any such approval:
10.3.1 The Principals of the Area Representative shall: meet Franchisor's
educational, managerial, and business standards; each possess a good moral
character, business reputation, and credit rating; have the aptitude and ability
to fulfill the responsibilities of the Area Representative under this Agreement,
as may be evidenced by prior related business experience or otherwise; and, in
the case the transferor is a Guarantor, have adequate financial resources and
capital to fulfill the responsibilities of the Area Representative under Section
10.3.4 of this Agreement;
10.3.2 In the event such transferor shall be a Guarantor, such transferor
shall remain liable for all of the obligations to Franchisor under, and/or
pursuant to, Section 14.2 of this Agreement that arose prior to the effective
date of the transfer, and shall execute any and all instruments reasonably
requested by Franchisor to evidence such liability; and
14
10.3.3 Area Representative shall have complied with Section 10.5, and
Franchisor shall not have exercised its right of first refusal.
10.4 Franchisor shall have a right of first refusal to purchase the equity
interests of a Principal of Area Representative, as set forth below:
10.4.1 If any Principal desires to accept any bona fide offer from a third
party to purchase such Principal's equity interests in Area Representative, such
Principal shall promptly notify Franchisor of such offer and shall provide such
information and documentation relating to the offer as Franchisor may require.
The information and documentation relating to the offer shall include all
details of the proposed offer to enable Franchisor to adequately evaluate the
offer. Franchisor shall have the right and option, exercisable within sixty (60)
days after receipt of all such information, to send written notice to the
Principal that Franchisor intends to purchase the Principal's interests on the
same terms and conditions offered by the third party. If Franchisor elects to
purchase such Principal's interests, the closing of such purchase shall occur
within one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date of notice to such
Principal of the election to purchase by Franchisor;
10.4.2 Any material change in the terms of the offer prior to closing shall
constitute a new offer, subject to the same rights of first refusal by
Franchisor as in the case of the third party's initial offer. Failure of
Franchisor to exercise the option afforded by this Section 10.5 shall not
constitute a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement, including all of
the requirements of this Section 10, with respect to any subsequent proposed
transfer.
10.4.3 In the event the consideration, terms, and/or conditions offered by
a third party are such that Franchisor may not reasonably be required to furnish
the same consideration, terms, and/or conditions, then Franchisor may purchase
the interest proposed to be sold for the reasonable equivalent in cash. If the
parties cannot agree within a reasonable time on the reasonable equivalent in
cash of the consideration, terms, and/or conditions offered by the third party,
they each shall appoint an independent appraiser to conduct an appraisal of the
consideration, terms, and/or conditions offered by the third party, and the
average of the two appraisals shall be a binding determination of the value of
the assets or interests proposed to be sold. The cost of the appraisals shall be
shared equally by Franchisor and the Principal. If Franchisor elects to exercise
its right under this Section 10.5, Franchisor shall have the right to set off
all amounts due from Area Representative, if any, against any payment to become
due such Principal.
10.5 Upon the death of a Principal, the deceased's executor, administrator,
or other personal representative shall transfer the deceased's interest to a
third party approved by Franchisor within six (6) months after the death; it
being understood that, if such deceased Principal shall be a Guarantor, such
approval shall be conditioned upon the transferee complying with, and meeting
the requirements of, subsections 10.3.4 and 10.4.3 hereof. If no personal
15
representative is designated or appointed or no probate proceedings are
instituted with respect to the deceased's estate, then the distributee of such
interest must be approved by Franchisor. If the distributee is not approved by
Franchisor, then the distributee shall transfer the deceased's interest to a
third party approved by Franchisor within six (6) months after the deceased's
death.
10.6 Upon the permanent disability of any Principal, Franchisor may, in its
sole discretion, require such interest to be transferred to a third party
designated by Area Representative and approved by Franchisor in accordance with,
and subject to, the conditions described in this Section 10 within three (3)
months after notice to Area Representative. "Permanent Disability" shall mean
any physical, emotional, or mental injury, illness, or incapacity that would
prevent a person from performing the obligations set forth in this Agreement for
at least three (3) consecutive months and from which condition recovery within
three (3) consecutive months from the date of determination of disability is
unlikely. Permanent disability shall be determined by a licensed practicing
physician selected by Franchisor upon examination of such person or, if such
person refuses to be examined, then such person shall automatically be deemed
permanently disabled for the purposes of this Section 10.7 as of the date of
refusal. Franchisor shall pay the cost of any required examination.
10.7 Upon the death or Permanent Disability of any Principal of Area
Representative, such person or his/her representative shall promptly notify
Franchisor of such death or claim of Permanent Disability. Any transfer upon
death or Permanent Disability shall be subject to the same terms and conditions
as any inter vivos transfer.
10.8 Franchisor's consent to a transfer which is the subject of this
Section 10 shall not constitute a waiver of any claims it may have against the
transferring party, nor shall it be deemed a waiver of Franchisor's right to
demand exact compliance with any of the terms of this Agreement by the
transferor or transferee.
10.9 If Area Representative or any Principal of Area Representative becomes
a debtor in a proceeding under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or any similar law in
the U.S. or elsewhere, it is the parties' understanding and agreement that any
transfer of Area Representative, Area Representative's obligations and/or rights
hereunder, any material assets of Area Representative, or any indirect or direct
interest in Area Representative shall be subject to all of the terms of this
Section 10.
11. DEFAULT AND TERMINATION
11.1 Area Representative shall be in default under this Agreement, and all
rights granted herein shall automatically terminate without notice to Area
Representative: if Area Representative shall become insolvent or make a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or if a petition in bankruptcy is filed
by Area Representative or such a petition is filed against and not opposed by
Area Representative; or if Area Representative is adjudicated a bankrupt or
16
insolvent; or if a bill in equity or other proceeding for the appointment of a
receiver of Area Representative or other custodian for Area Representative's
business or assets is filed and consented to by Area Representative; or if a
receiver or other custodian (permanent or temporary) of Area Representative's
assets or property, or any part thereof, is appointed by any court of competent
jurisdiction; or if proceedings for a composition with creditors under any state
or federal law should be instituted by or against Area Representative; or if a
final judgment remains unsatisfied or of record for thirty days or longer
(unless a supersedeas bond is filed); or if Area Representative is dissolved; or
if execution is levied against Area Representative's business or property; or if
suit to foreclose any lien or mortgage against Area Representative's business
premises or equipment is instituted against Area Representative and not
dismissed within thirty days; or if the real or personal property of Area
Representative shall be sold after levy thereupon by any sheriff, marshal, or
constable.
11.2 Area Representative shall be deemed to be in default and Franchisor
may, at its option, terminate this Agreement and all rights granted hereunder,
without affording Area Representative any opportunity to cure the default,
effective immediately upon receipt of notice by Area Representative, upon the
occurrence of any of the following events:
11.2.1 If Area Representative fails to meet the total Minimum Cumulative
Number of Franchised Centers Open and Operating in the Territory under the
Development Plan within any time period specified in the Addendum; or if, during
each of the final five (5) years of the tem of this Agreement, Area
Representative fails to present to Franchisor at least one (1) Qualified
Prospect; provided, however, that in the event Franchisor terminates this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 11.2.1, Area Representative, provided it
continues to provide the Servicing Responsibilities, shall continue to receive
the fees set forth in Section 4.3 above for each AR Franchisee whose Center
opened prior to such termination;
11.2.2 If Area Representative (or one of its Principals) is charged or
convicted of a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, or any other crime or
offense that Franchisor believes is reasonably likely to have an adverse effect
on the System, the Proprietary Mark, the goodwill associated therewith, or
Franchisor's interest therein;
11.2.3 If Area Representative or one of the Principals assigns or
transfers, or attempts to assign or transfer, any of its rights or obligations
under this Agreement without Franchisor's prior written consent, in violation of
Section 10;
11.2.4 If Area Representative discloses or divulges the contents of the
confidential information provided to Area Representative by Franchisor in a
manner contrary to the terms of Section 7 hereof;
11.2.5 If Area Representative fails to comply with the covenants in Section
13.2 hereof or fails to obtain execution of the covenants required under Section
13.4 hereof;
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11.2.6 If Area Representative, after curing a default pursuant to Section
11.3 hereof, commits the same default again, whether or not cured after notice;
11.2.7 If Area Representative repeatedly is in default under Section 11.3
hereof for failure to comply substantially with any of the requirements imposed
by this Agreement, whether or not cured after notice; or
11.2.8 If any of Area Representative's Principals commits any default under
any franchise agreement and/or related document between him/her (or any entity
principally owned and/or controlled by him/her) and Franchisor, and fails to
cure such default, if such default can be cured, in accordance with the terms of
that franchise agreement.
11.3 Except with respect to the defaults set forth in Sections 11.1 and
11.2 of this Agreement, Area Representative shall have ten (10) days after its
receipt from Franchisor of a notice of default within which to remedy (and/or
cause to be remedied) any other default hereunder and provide evidence thereof
to Franchisor. If evidence sufficient to prove such a cure is not provided to
Franchisor within such time period, this Agreement may be terminated by
Franchisor on notice to Area Representative, effective immediately. Area
Representative shall be in default hereunder for any failure to comply
substantially with any of the requirements imposed by this Agreement, or to
carry out the terms of this Agreement in good faith.
12. OBLIGATIONS UPON TERMINATION OR EXPIRATION
Upon termination or expiration, this Agreement and all rights granted
hereunder to Area Representative shall forthwith terminate, and:
12.1 Area Representative shall immediately cease to perform any Promotional
Services and any Servicing Responsibilities and shall not be entitled to receive
any further fees or compensation pursuant to Section 4 hereof; provided,
however, that in the event Franchisor shall terminate this Agreement as a result
of Area Representative's failure to comply with the Development Plan, Area
Representative shall continue to receive the compensation set forth in Section
4.3 hereof if, and to the extent only that, Area Representative continues to
provide to each then AR Franchisee, the Servicing Responsibilities required of
it hereunder, in which event, this Agreement shall thereafter continue in full
force and effect (with respect to such then existing AR Franchisees) for so long
as Area Representative shall continue to provide such Servicing Responsibilities
and is not otherwise in default in performing and/or complying with its
obligations hereunder.
12.2 Area Representative shall immediately turn over to Franchisor all
advertising and promotional materials, records, files, instructions,
correspondence, brochures, forms, agreements, and any and all other materials
and all copies thereof in Area Representative's possession related to
18
Franchisor's business, and shall otherwise cease to represent itself to the
public as a current or former Area Representative of Franchisor, except if and
to the extent necessary to comply with its post-termination Servicing
Responsibilities;
12.3 Except if and to the extent necessary to comply with its
post-termination Servicing Responsibilities, Area Representative shall take such
action as may be necessary to cancel any assumed name or equivalent registration
which contains the mark "SITE FOR SORE EYES" or any other proprietary marks of
Franchisor; and Area Representative shall furnish Franchisor with evidence,
satisfactory to Franchisor, of its compliance with this obligation within twenty
(20) days after any such termination or expiration of this Agreement; and
12.4 Area Representative shall pay to Franchisor all damages, costs, and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, incurred by
Franchisor subsequent to the termination or expiration of this Agreement in
obtaining injunctive or other relief for the enforcement of any provisions of
this Section 12.
13. COVENANTS
13.1 Area Representative specifically acknowledges that, pursuant to this
Agreement, Area Representative will receive valuable confidential information,
including, without limitation, information regarding the operational, sales,
advertising and promotional methods and techniques of Franchisor and the System.
Area Representative covenants that, during the term of this Agreement, except as
otherwise approved in writing by Franchisor, neither Area Representative nor any
of its Principals shall, either directly or indirectly, for
itself/himself/herself, or through, on behalf of, or in conjunction with any
person, persons, partnership, or corporation:
13.1.1 Divert or attempt to divert to any competitor, by direct or indirect
inducement or otherwise, any business or customer of any retail optical store
operating under the System or any persons or businesses who have expressed
interest in entering into a franchise agreement with Franchisor, or do or
perform, directly or indirectly, any other act injurious or prejudicial to the
goodwill associated with the Proprietary Mark or the System; or
13.1.2 Unless released in writing by the employer, employ or seek to employ
any person who is, at the time, employed by Franchisor or by any Franchisee or
Franchisor (other than Area Representative or an entity affiliated with it), or
otherwise, directly or indirectly, induce any such person to leave his or her
employment.
13.2 Area Representative covenants that, except as otherwise approved in
writing by Franchisor, neither Area Representative, nor any of its Principals:
19
13.2.1 shall, during the term of this Agreement, either directly or
indirectly, for itself/himself/herself, or through, on behalf of, or in
conjunction with any person, persons, partnership or corporation, own, maintain,
operate, engage in, or have any interest in any business which promotes a
franchise opportunity for any entity that operates a business, or that offers
franchises to operate a business, that is the same as or similar to the business
then being operated by Franchisor, including without limitation, a business that
manufactures or sells, at wholesale or retail, contact lenses, prescription
and/or non-prescription eyewear and/or related eye care products, if any or all
such products comprise ten percent (10%) or more of the business' products, as
measured by the gross sales of the products sold by such business (a
"Competitive Business"), or fulfill any Servicing Responsibilities for any
entity that has entered into one or more franchise agreements authorizing third
parties to operate any other similar type of business; or
13.2.2 shall, for a continuous uninterrupted period of three (3) years from
the date of: (i) a transfer permitted under Section 10, above; (ii) the
expiration or termination of this Agreement (regardless of the cause for
termination); or (iii) a final order of a duly authorized arbitrator, panel of
arbitrators, or a court of competent jurisdiction (after all appeals have been
taken) with respect to any of the foregoing or with respect to the enforcement
of this Section 13.2, either directly or indirectly, for itself/himself/herself,
or through, on behalf of, or in conjunction with any person, partnership,
corporation, or other entity, own, maintain, operate, engage in, or have any
interest in any business which operates, or promotes a franchise opportunity for
any entity that offers franchises to operate, a Competitive Business, or
fulfills any Servicing Responsibilities for any entity that has entered into
franchise agreements authorizing third parties to operate any other type of
business within the Territory.
13.3 Section 13.2 hereof shall not apply to the ownership by Area
Representative (or any of its Principals) of less than a ten percent (10%)
beneficial interest in the outstanding equity securities of any publicly-held
corporation. As used in this Agreement, the term "publicly-held corporation"
refers to a corporation which has outstanding securities that have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934.
13.4 Area Representative shall obtain (and deliver to Franchisor) executed
covenants similar to those set forth in this Section 13 (as modified to apply to
an individual) from any officers, directors, and employees who have received
training from Franchisor or who are or may be involved in the management or
operation of the Area Representative's business. Every covenant required by this
Section 13.4 shall be in a form satisfactory to Franchisor, including, without
limitation, specific identification of Franchisor, as a third-party beneficiary,
of such covenants, with the independent right to enforce them. Failure by Area
Representative to obtain execution of a covenant required by this Section 13.4
and deliver such executed covenant to Franchisor shall constitute a default
under Section 11.2.5 hereof.
13.5 The parties agree that each of the foregoing covenants shall be
construed as independent of any other covenant or provision of this Agreement.
20
If all or any portion of a covenant in this Section 13 is held unreasonable or
unenforceable by a court or agency having valid jurisdiction in an unappealed
final decision to which Franchisor is a party, Area Representative expressly
agrees to be bound by any lesser covenant subsumed within the terms of such
covenant that imposes the maximum duty permitted by law, as if the resulting
covenant were separately stated in and made a part of this Section 13.
13.6 Area Representative understands and acknowledges that Franchisor shall
have the right, in its sole discretion, to reduce the scope of any covenant set
forth in Sections 13.1 and 13.2 of this Agreement, or any portion thereof,
without Area Representative's consent, effective immediately upon receipt by
Area Representative of written notice thereof; and Area Representative agree
that it shall comply forthwith with any covenant as so modified, which shall be
fully enforceable notwithstanding the provisions of Section 17 hereof.
13.7 Area Representative expressly agrees that the existence of any claims
it may have against Franchisor, whether or not arising from this Agreement,
shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by Franchisor of the covenants
contained in this Section 13. Area Representative agrees to pay all costs and
expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by Franchisor in
connection with the enforcement of this Section 13.
13.8 Area Representative acknowledges that Area Representative's violation
of the terms of this Section 13 would result in irreparable injury to Franchisor
for which no adequate remedy at law may be available, and Area Representative
accordingly consents to the issuance of an injunction prohibiting any conduct by
Area Representative in violation of the terms of this Section 13.
14. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AND INDEMNIFICATION
14.1 The parties intend that their relationships with each other shall be
as independent contractors. Each party shall be solely responsible for
fulfilling its obligations under this Agreement, and neither party shall
constitute, appoint or consider the other as its agent, employee or servant for
any purpose whatsoever. Neither Franchisor nor Area Representative (and/or any
of Area Representative's Principals) shall have any right or authority to assume
or create any obligation, express or implied, on behalf of, or in the name of,
the other, or to bind the other in any manner whatsoever.
14.2 Area Representative shall (as such obligations are guaranteed by the
Guarantors) indemnify and hold Franchisor, and its shareholders, directors,
employees and agents, harmless from and against any and all claims, losses,
costs, expenses, liabilities and damages arising, directly or indirectly, from,
as a result of, or in connection with the performance by Area Representative and
its employees and all persons acting on its behalf, of Area Representative's
obligations and undertakings pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise in
21
connection with the promotion of the opportunity to become an AR Franchisee, as
well as the costs, including attorneys' fees, of defending against them.
15. APPROVALS AND WAIVERS
15.1 Whenever this Agreement requires the prior approval or consent of
Franchisor, Area Representative shall make a timely written request to
Franchisor therefor, and such approval or consent must be obtained in writing.
Franchisor shall respond to Area Representative's timely requests in a
reasonably timely and prompt manner.
15.2 Franchisor makes no warranties or guarantees upon which Area
Representative may rely, and assumes no liability or obligation to Area
Representative by providing any waiver, approval, consent, or suggestion to Area
Representative in connection with this Agreement, or by reason of any neglect,
delay or denial of any request therefor.
15.3 No delay, waiver, omission or forbearance on the part of Franchisor or
Area Representative to exercise any right, option, duty, or power arising out of
any breach or default by the other party under any of the terms, provisions,
covenants, or conditions hereof, shall constitute a waiver by such party to
enforce any such right, option, duty, or power as against the other party, or as
to any subsequent breach or default by the other party. Subsequent acceptance by
Franchisor of any payments due to it hereunder shall not be deemed to be a
waiver by Franchisor of any preceding breach by Area Representative of the
terms, provisions, covenants or conditions of this Agreement.
16. NOTICES
16.1 Any and all notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be personally delivered, sent by telecopier (with hard
(paper) copy sent by overnight delivery), mailed by certified mail, return
receipt requested, or dispatched by overnight delivery envelope (using a
recognized overnight service), to the respective parties at the following
addresses unless and until a different address has been designated by written
notice to the other party:
22
Notices to Area Representative: Notices to Franchisor:
- ------------------------------ ---------------------
Site-Ncal Area Rep, LLC Emerging Vision, Inc.
140 Battery Street 100 Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard
San Francisco, California 94111 Garden City, New York 11530
Attention: Marty Seltzer Attention: President
Fax: 415-421-6072 Fax: 516-390-2110
with a copy to: General Counsel
Fax: 516-390-2150
Notices shall be deemed to have been received as follows: by personal
delivery or telecopier -- at the time of delivery; by overnight delivery service
- -- on the next business day following the date on which the Notice was given to
the overnight delivery service; by certified mail -- three (3) days after the
date of mailing.
17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND AMENDMENT
This Agreement and the documents referred to herein constitute the entire,
full, and complete Agreement between Franchisor and Area Representative
concerning the subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior agreements, no
representations, other than those specifically set forth herein, having induced
Area Representative to execute this Agreement. Except for those permitted to be
made unilaterally by Franchisor hereunder, no amendment, change, or variance
from this Agreement or the Guaranty shall be binding on either party unless
mutually agreed to by the parties and executed by their authorized officers or
agents in writing.
18. SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION
18.1 If any of the provisions of this Agreement may be construed in more
than one way, one of which would render the provision illegal or otherwise
voidable or unenforceable, such provision shall have the meaning which renders
it valid and enforceable. In the event any court or other government authority
shall determine any provision of this Agreement is not enforceable as written,
the parties agree that the provision shall be amended so that it is enforceable
to the fullest extent permissible under the laws and public policies of the
jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought and which affords the parties the
same basic rights and obligations and has the same economic effect. If any
provision of this Agreement is held invalid or otherwise unenforceable by any
court or other government authority or in any arbitration proceeding, such
findings shall not invalidate the remainder of the Agreement unless, in the
reasonable opinion of Franchisor, the effect of such determination shall have
the effect of frustrating the purposes of this Agreement, whereupon Franchisor
shall have the right, by notice in writing to Area Representative, to
immediately terminate this Agreement.
23
18.2 Except as expressly provided to the contrary herein, nothing in this
Agreement is intended, nor shall be deemed, to confer upon any person or legal
entity other than Area Representative, Franchisor, Franchisor's officers,
directors, and employees, and such of Area Representative's and Franchisor's
respective successors and assigns as may be contemplated (and, as to Area
Representative, permitted) by Section 10 hereof, any rights or remedies under or
by reason of this Agreement.
18.3 Area Representative expressly agrees to be bound by any promise or
covenant imposing the maximum duty permitted by law which is subsumed within the
terms of any provision hereof, as though it were separately articulated in and
made a part of this Agreement, that may result from striking from any of the
provisions hereof any portion or portions which a court may hold to be
unenforceable in a final decision to which Franchisor is a party, or from
reducing the scope of any promise or covenant to the extent required to comply
with such a court order.
18.4 All captions in this Agreement are intended solely for the convenience
of the parties, and none shall be deemed to affect the meaning or construction
of any provision hereof.
18.5 All provisions of this Agreement which, by their terms or intent, are
designed to survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement, shall so
survive the expiration and/or termination of this Agreement, including Sections
7, 12, and 13 hereof.
19. APPLICABLE LAW
19.1 This Agreement shall be deemed to have taken effect as of the date
first set forth above, and shall be interpreted and construed under the laws of
the State of California. In the event of any conflict of law, the laws of the
State of California shall prevail, without regard to, and without giving effect
to, the application of California conflict of law rules. If, however, any
provision of this Agreement would not be enforceable under the laws of the State
of California, and if any such provision would be enforceable under the laws of
the state in which the Territory is located, then such provision shall be
interpreted and construed under the laws of that state. Nothing in this Section
19.1 is intended by the parties to subject this Agreement to any franchise or
similar law, rule, or regulation of the State of New York or of any other state
to which it would not otherwise be subject, including, but not limited to, the
State of California.
19.2 Any legal action brought by Area Representative against Franchisor in
any forum or court, whether federal or state, shall be brought exclusively in
the federal district court covering the location at which Franchisor has its
principal place of business at the time of the action; provided, however, that
if the federal court would not have subject matter jurisdiction had the action
been commenced in such court, then, in such event, the action shall be brought
in the state court within the judicial district in which Franchisor has its
principal place of business at the time the action is commenced. Any legal
24
action brought by Franchisor against Area Representative in any forum or court,
whether federal or state, may be brought within the state and judicial district
in which Franchisor has its principal place of business at the time of the
action. Area Representative hereby waives all questions of personal jurisdiction
or venue for the purpose of carrying out this provision.
19.3 No right or remedy conferred upon or reserved to Franchisor or Area
Representative by this Agreement is intended to be, nor shall be deemed to be,
exclusive of any other right or remedy provided herein or permitted by law or
equity, but each shall be cumulative of every other right or remedy.
19.4 Franchisor and Area Representative irrevocably waive trial by jury in
any action, proceeding, or counterclaim, whether at law or in equity, brought by
either of them against the other, whether or not there are other parties in such
action, proceeding, or counterclaim. Any and all claims and actions arising out
of or relating to this Agreement, the relationship of Area Representative and
Franchisor, brought by either party hereto against the other shall be commenced
within two (2) years from the occurrence of the facts giving rise to such claim
or action, as evidenced by the filing of a claim in a legal action in accordance
with Section 19.2, or such claim or action shall be barred.
19.5 Franchisor and Area Representative hereby waive, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any right to, or claim of, any punitive, exemplary, or
multiple damages against the other.
19.6 Nothing herein contained shall bar Franchisor's right to obtain
injunctive relief against threatened conduct is likely to cause it loss or
damage, including violations of the terms of Sections 7, 10, 12 and 13 hereof,
under the usual equity rules, including the applicable rules for obtaining
restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.
25
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed and delivered
this Agreement on the day and year first above written.
WITNESS: EMERGING VISION, INC.,
Franchisor
_____________________ By: ________________________________
Name: Christopher G. Payan
Title: Chief Financial Officer
SITE-NCAL AREA REP, LLC,
Area Representative
ATTEST:
By:_________________________________
_____________________
Paul Licht, Name: Martin Seltzer
Managing Member Title: Managing Member
26
EXHIBIT A to
Emerging Vision, Inc. Area Representation Agreement
ADDENDUM TO AREA REPRESENTATIVE AGREEMENT
WITH SITE-NCAL AREA REP, LLC
1. The Territory is the San Francisco Bay area of Northern California.
2. The Development Plan is:
================================ ==============================================
Minimum Cumulative Number of
Franchised Centers Opened
in the Territory* By:
- -------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
0 The fifth (5th) anniversary of the Agreement
- -------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
1 The sixth (6th) anniversary of the Agreement
- -------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
2 The seventh (7th) anniversary of the Agreement
- -------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
3 The eighth (8th) anniversary of the Agreement
- -------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
4 The ninth (9th) anniversary of the Agreement
- -------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
5 The tenth (10th) anniversary of the Agreement
================================ ==============================================
* The Centers that are, after the date hereof, developed, owned, and/or
operated by Area Representative or its Principals and/or their respective
affiliates shall not be included in, and will not be counted toward satisfaction
of, the Development Plan.
3. Franchisor shall pay to Area Representative the aggregate sum of One
Hundred and Forty Thousand Dollars ($140,000) in reimbursement of Area
Representative's anticipated costs and/or expenses in performing its obligations
under the Agreement, payable as follows: Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000)
within a maximum period of ten (10) days after the final execution of the
Agreement, and the remaining One Hundred Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($115,000)
payable in six (6) equal consecutive quarterly installments, commencing ninety
(90) days after the execution of the Agreement.
A-1
4. The Principals of Area Representative, together with their respective
percentage ownership of the equity interests of Area Representative, are:
PERCENTAGE OWNERSHIP
NAME OF EQUITY INTERESTS
---- --------------------
Carol Seltzer 28.334%
Marty Seltzer 28.333%
Paul Licht 28.333%
Bridget Licht 5.000%
Raymond J. Robison 5.000%
Susan Assael 5.000%
5. The Minimum Insurance Coverage Requirements are Liability Coverage of
one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence and three million dollars
($3,000,000) in the aggregate.
Franchisor's Initials _____________; dated: ______________
Area Representative's Initials _____________; dated: ______________
A-2
EXHIBIT B to
Emerging Vision, Inc. Area Representation Agreement
INDEMNIFICATION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT (the "Guaranty") is being made
and given as of this 1st day of April 2002, by CAROL SELTZER, an individual of
the State of California ( the "Guarantor").
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, and as an inducement to Emerging Vision, Inc., a New
York corporation (together with its successors and/or assigns, hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Beneficiary"), to enter into that certain Area
Representation Agreement of even date herewith (the "Agreement") with Site-Ncal
Area Rep, L.L.C., a California limited liability company (the "Principal
Debtor"), Guarantor hereby personally and unconditionally agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Beneficiary, its shareholders, directors, officers,
employees and/or agents, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages,
liabilities, costs and/or expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable
attorney's fees, reasonable costs of investigation, court costs, and arbitration
fees and expenses) arising, directly or indirectly, from, as a result of, or in
connection with: (i) the performance, by the Principal Debtor (and its employees
and all persons acting on its behalf), of all of its obligations and
undertakings under, and/or pursuant to, the Agreement, or otherwise in
connection with the promotion of the opportunity to become an AR Franchisee (as
said term is defined in the Agreement), including the costs and/or expenses
(including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees), incurred by the
Beneficiary in defending against the same; and (ii) the enforcement, by the
Beneficiary, of the Guaranty.
Guarantor further acknowledges, agrees, stipulates and covenants that: (i)
his/her duties and obligations under this Guaranty shall be immediate,
unconditional, personal and conditioned only upon the Principal Debtor's failure
to timely comply with its obligations under Section 14.2 of the Agreement when
and as the same becomes due and performable; (ii) he/she shall tender any
payment guaranteed hereby immediately upon the Principal Debtor's failure to pay
the same; (iii) Guarantor's liability hereunder shall not be contingent or
conditional upon the Beneficiary's pursuit of any remedy against any other
person, including the Principal Debtor and/or any other guarantor; (iv)
Guarantor's obligations hereunder shall not be impaired, limited or otherwise
diminished by the existence of any other guaranty with respect to any
indebtedness guaranteed hereby, it being the intention of Guarantor that, in the
event that more than one person guarantees any obligation or indebtedness of the
Principal Debtor which is also guaranteed hereby, the liability of all such
guarantors shall be joint and several with respect to such obligations and/or
indebtedness; (v) Guarantor's liability hereunder shall not be diminished,
relieved or otherwise affected by any extension of time, credit or other
indulgence which the Beneficiary may, from time to time, grant to the Principal
Debtor or any other person including, without limitation, the acceptance of any
partial payment or performance and/or the compromise, release or settlement of
any claims; and (vi) this Guaranty shall continue and shall be irrevocable
during the term of the Agreement and for such additional period after
termination or expiration as any provision of the Agreement provides.
Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by Guarantor hereunder,
Guarantor expressly waives any and all rights of subrogation, reimbursement,
indemnity, exoneration, contribution or any other claim which he/she may now or
hereafter have against the Principal Debtor or any other person directly or
contingently liable for the obligations guaranteed hereby or against or with
respect to the Principal Debtor's property (including, without limitation,
property collateralizing the obligations arising from the existence or
performance of this Guaranty).
The Guarantor hereby consents and agrees, without limiting any other method
of obtaining jurisdiction, that in any action or proceeding commenced pursuant
to the terms of this Guaranty, service of a summons and complaint, or any other
process, in any action or proceeding, shall be sufficient if made on such
Guarantor by registered or certified mail to the Guarantor at the address
specified herein, whether such address shall be within or without the
jurisdiction of the Court where such action or proceeding is pending, and the
Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives personal service of such
process.
THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ALL RESPECTS IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY PRINCIPLES
RELATING TO CONFLICT OF LAWS. THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENT THAT ANY LEGAL OR
EQUITY PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF ANY MATTER
RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY, SHALL BE INSTITUTED ONLY IN A FEDERAL OR STATE COURT
COVERING THE LOCATION OF THE FRANCHISOR'S PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS AT THE
TIME THE ACTION IS COMMENCED; AND THE GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS AND
SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND WAIVES ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS OF
PERSONAL JURISDICTION OR VENUE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT THIS PROVISION.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Guarantor has executed this Guaranty as of the day and
year first above written.
GUARANTOR
------------------------------------
Name: CAROL SELTZER
Address: 1 Pine Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
STATE OF )
) SS.:
COUNTY OF __________ )
On the _____ day of March in the year 2002 before me, the undersigned,
personally appeared Carol Seltzer, personally known to me or proved to me on the
basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose name is subscribed to
the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his
capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument, the individual or the
person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.
--------------------------------
Notary Public
EXHIBIT B to
Emerging Vision, Inc. Area Representation Agreement
INDEMNIFICATION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AND GUARANTY AGREEMENT (the "Guaranty") is being made
and given as of this 1st day of April 2002, by PAUL LICHT, an individual of the
State of California ( the "Guarantor").
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, and as an inducement to Emerging Vision, Inc., a New
York corporation (together with its successors and/or assigns, hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Beneficiary"), to enter into that certain Area
Representation Agreement of even date herewith (the "Agreement") with Site-Ncal
Area Rep, L.L.C., a California limited liability company (the "Principal
Debtor"), Guarantor hereby personally and unconditionally agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Beneficiary, its shareholders, directors, officers,
employees and/or agents, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages,
liabilities, costs and/or expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable
attorney's fees, reasonable costs of investigation, court costs, and arbitration
fees and expenses) arising, directly or indirectly, from, as a result of, or in
connection with: (i) the performance, by the Principal Debtor (and its employees
and all persons acting on its behalf), of all of its obligations and
undertakings under, and/or pursuant to, the Agreement, or otherwise in
connection with the promotion of the opportunity to become an AR Franchisee (as
said term is defined in the Agreement), including the costs and/or expenses
(including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees), incurred by the
Beneficiary in defending against the same; and (ii) the enforcement, by the
Beneficiary, of the Guaranty.
Guarantor further acknowledges, agrees, stipulates and covenants that: (i)
his/her duties and obligations under this Guaranty shall be immediate,
unconditional, personal and conditioned only upon the Principal Debtor's failure
to timely comply with its obligations under Section 14.2 of the Agreement when
and as the same becomes due and performable; (ii) he/she shall tender any
payment guaranteed hereby immediately upon the Principal Debtor's failure to pay
the same; (iii) Guarantor's liability hereunder shall not be contingent or
conditional upon the Beneficiary's pursuit of any remedy against any other
person, including the Principal Debtor and/or any other guarantor; (iv)
Guarantor's obligations hereunder shall not be impaired, limited or otherwise
diminished by the existence of any other guaranty with respect to any
indebtedness guaranteed hereby, it being the intention of Guarantor that, in the
event that more than one person guarantees any obligation or indebtedness of the
Principal Debtor which is also guaranteed hereby, the liability of all such
guarantors shall be joint and several with respect to such obligations and/or
indebtedness; (v) Guarantor's liability hereunder shall not be diminished,
relieved or otherwise affected by any extension of time, credit or other
indulgence which the Beneficiary may, from time to time, grant to the Principal
Debtor or any other person including, without limitation, the acceptance of any
partial payment or performance and/or the compromise, release or settlement of
any claims; and (vi) this Guaranty shall continue and shall be irrevocable
during the term of the Agreement and for such additional period after
termination or expiration as any provision of the Agreement provides.
Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by Guarantor hereunder,
Guarantor expressly waives any and all rights of subrogation, reimbursement,
indemnity, exoneration, contribution or any other claim which he/she may now or
hereafter have against the Principal Debtor or any other person directly or
contingently liable for the obligations guaranteed hereby or against or with
respect to the Principal Debtor's property (including, without limitation,
property collateralizing the obligations arising from the existence or
performance of this Guaranty).
The Guarantor hereby consents and agrees, without limiting any other method
of obtaining jurisdiction, that in any action or proceeding commenced pursuant
to the terms of this Guaranty, service of a summons and complaint, or any other
process, in any action or proceeding, shall be sufficient if made on such
Guarantor by registered or certified mail to the Guarantor at the address
specified herein, whether such address shall be within or without the
jurisdiction of the Court where such action or proceeding is pending, and the
Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives personal service of such
process.
THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ALL RESPECTS IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY PRINCIPLES
RELATING TO CONFLICT OF LAWS. THE PARTIES HERETO CONSENT THAT ANY LEGAL OR
EQUITY PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF ANY MATTER
RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY, SHALL BE INSTITUTED ONLY IN A FEDERAL OR STATE COURT
COVERING THE LOCATION OF THE FRANCHISOR'S PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS AT THE
TIME THE ACTION IS COMMENCED; AND THE GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS AND
SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND WAIVES ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS OF
PERSONAL JURISDICTION OR VENUE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING OUT THIS PROVISION.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Guarantor has executed this Guaranty as of the day and
year first above written.
GUARANTOR
------------------------------
Name: PAUL LICHT
Address: 1070 Gray Fox Circle
Pleasanton, CA 94566
STATE OF )
) SS.:
COUNTY OF __________ )
On the _____ day of March in the year 2002 before me, the undersigned,
personally appeared Paul Licht, personally known to me or proved to me on the
basis of satisfactory evidence to be the individual whose name is subscribed to
the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his
capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument, the individual or the
person upon behalf of which the individual acted, executed the instrument.
--------------------------------
Notary Public
STORE NO. 505
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SITE FOR SORE EYES
OPTICAL CENTER FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO SITE FOR SORE EYES OPTICAL CENTER FRANCHISE
AGREEMENT (the "Amendment") is being made and entered into as of the 1st day of
April, 2002, by and between EMERGING VISION, INC. (f/k/a Sterling Vision, Inc.),
a New York corporation having an office at 100 Quentin Roosevelt Boulevard,
Garden City, New York 11530 (the "Company"), and BRIDGET LICHT, an individual
residing at 1070 Gray Fox Circle, Pleasanton, California 94566 (the
"Franchisee").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, on November 15, 1993, the Company and the Franchisee entered into a
certain Site For Sore Eyes Optical Center Franchise Agreement (the "Agreement")
for that certain retail optical store originally located at 1000 Broadway,
Oakland, California 94607 and subsequently relocated, by the Franchisee, to new
retail optical store premises situated at 829 Broadway, Oakland, California
94607 (the"Center"); and
WHEREAS, each of V.C. Enterprises, Inc. and/or Paul Licht guaranteed the
obligations of the Franchisee under the Agreement and certain of the documents
executed and delivered by the Franchisee in connection therewith; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to modify and/or amend certain
provisions of the Agreement, as well as certain of the documents executed and
delivered in connection therewith.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual terms, covenants and
conditions herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do
hereby agree as follows:
1) All capitalized terms used (but not otherwise defined) herein, shall
have the identical, respective meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement;
2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Agreement in
the Agreement and/or in any of the documents more particularly described
hereinbelow, it is expressly understood and agreed that, effective as of
September 1, 1997 the Premises of the Center shall be deemed to be 829 Broadway,
Oakland, California; and each of the following documents are hereby amended by
substituting, in the appropriate section/ paragraph of each such document, the
address of 829 Broadway, Oakland, California, for the address 1000 Broadway,
Oakland, California:
a) Security Agreement, dated November 15, 1997, between Sterling Vision of
California, Inc., a California corporation ("SVCI"), as Secured Party, and
Bridget Licht, as Debtor;
b) Guaranty and Assumption Agreement, dated November 15, 1993, made by Paul
Licht, as Guarantor, in favor of EVI, as Beneficiary;
c) Guaranty, dated November 15, 1993, made by each of Paul Licht and V.C.
Enterprises, Inc., as Guarantor, in favor of SVCI, as Beneficiary; and
d) Telephone Assignment Agreement, dated November 15, 1993, between Bridget
Licht, as Assignor, and EVI, as Assignee.
3) Subsection 1(C) of the Agreement is hereby modified by adding thereto a
new paragraph, as follows:
"It is expressly understood and agreed that nothing contained herein shall
be deemed to limit or otherwise restrict the Company from acquiring other chains
of retail optical stores then operating one or more retail optical stores
located within the Designated Territory of the Center (each a "Competing Store")
so long as each such Competing Store operates (and thereafter continues to
operate) under a name other than "Site for Sore Eyes" (or such other tradename
under which the Center is then being operated); provided, however, that, in such
event, the Company, commencing six (6) month's after the date of any such
acquisition, will be required to use its reasonable, good faith efforts to
dispose of the assets of, and the lease for, all such Competing Stores, only, to
one or more unaffiliated third parties, provided the sales price thereof is not
less than the purchase price reasonably allocated to such Competing Store(s) by
the Company, in good faith".
4) Subsection 6(B) of the Agreement is hereby modified by adding thereto,
after the end of the first paragraph thereof, the following:
"Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company:
(i) hereby amends the Operating Manual applicable to the Center; and (ii) hereby
agrees, if and to the extent permitted by the terms of each existing Site for
Sore Eyes Optical Center Franchise Agreement, to forthwith amend the operating
manual applicable (and/or to become applicable) to all other Site for Sore Eyes
optical centers presently (and/or in the future) in operation, in each case, to
provide for the Advertising and Promotion Procedures set forth on Exhibit A
annexed hereto and by this reference made a part hereof".
5) Subsection 10(D) of the Agreement is hereby modified by adding thereto a
new paragraph, as follows:
"Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Subsection 10(D), it is
expressly understood that the Company will not have the right to require the
Franchisee to change and/or modify the tradename of the Center unless a majority
of those Site for Sore Eyes franchisees who are then in Good Standing (which,
for purposes hereof, shall be deemed to be those Site for Sore Eyes franchisees
[including the Franchisee] who are not then in default, in any material respect,
in performing their respective obligations under their Franchise Agreement and
related documents), determine to discontinue the use of such name, it being
understood that the Franchisee, together with the franchisees of each then
existing Site for Sore Eyes optical center which is then in Good Standing (as
well as the Company, with respect to those Site for Sore Eyes optical centers
then owned and/or being operated by the Company) will have one vote per center.
In addition, it is understood that in the event it is determined to change such
name: (i) the new trade name of each center (including the Center) will be
changed to Sterling Optical or such other tradename reasonably designed by the
Company; and (ii) the owner/operator of each such Site for Sore Eyes optical
center (including the Franchisee) will be responsible for obtaining any required
consents of the Master Landlord of its/his/her respective center and/or
governmental authorities, as well as for the cost of changing the
exterior/interior signage of each such center".
6) Subsection 16(C) of the Agreement is hereby modified by adding thereto a
new paragraph, as follows:
"Provided the Franchisee has renewed the term of this Agreement pursuant
to, and in accordance with, the terms and provisions hereof and, further
provided, that the Franchisee is not then in default (after any required notice
and the expiration of any applicable cure and/or grace provision provided for
herein), in any material respect, in the observance and/or performance of any of
the provisions of the renewal franchise agreement to be entered into between the
parties, the Company shall credit the full amount of the renewal fee (actually
paid by the Franchisee to the Company pursuant to Subsection 16(C)(1)(b) above)
to the first dollars of continuing royalty fees to become payable to the Company
pursuant to such renewal franchise agreement".
7) There is hereby added to the Agreement a new Section Number 25, as
follows:
"25. OPERATION OF STERLING VISIONCARE OFFICE Provided the Franchisee is not
then in default, in any material respect, in: (i) performing and/or complying
with its obligations hereunder and/or under the Sublease for the Premises of the
Center; and/or (ii) in complying with its obligations and/or liabilities in
favor of the Company's wholly owned subsidiary, VisionCare of California ("VCC"
and, together with its successors and/or assigns, hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Owner"), the Company shall use its reasonable, good faith
efforts, during the Term hereof, to cause the Owner: (i) to continue to maintain
the operation of the Sterling VisionCare office located within or adjacent to
the Center (the "VCC Office") consistent with the operation thereof as of the
date hereof; and (ii) to continue to provide the same level of doctor coverage
in such VCC Office provided that the aggregate, daily enrollment fees (for all
such Sterling VisionCare offices then in operation) actually paid, from time to
time, to the Owner are sufficient to reimburse the Owner for all of its costs
and expenses (including an allocable share of overhead) in providing each such
doctor at each such Sterling VisionCare office, plus a profit (with respect to
all existing Sterling VisionCare offices, as a group) of ten (10%) percent,
which costs and expenses shall increase, each year, by an amount equal to the
Owner's increased costs and expenses in operating all such Sterling VisionCare
offices, it being specifically understood that Owner, within a maximum period of
fifteen days after it files the same with the California Department of
Corporations, shall be required to deliver to Franchisee a copy of VCC's annual
audited financial statements.
8) All other terms and provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect.
9) This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, all of which, when taken
together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of
the day and year first above written.
EMERGING VISION, INC.
By: _________________________
Robert Hillman, President
______________________________
BRIDGET LICHT
V.C. ENTERPRISES, INC.
By: _________________________
Paul Licht, President
______________________________
PAUL LICHT, Individually
EXHIBIT 21
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES:
STERLING ADVERTISING, INC.
STERLING VISION OF MAIN PLACE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF HEMPSTEAD, INC.
STERLING VISION OF NORTHWAY MALL, INC.
STERLING VISION OF BATAVIA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF REGO PARK, INC.
STERLING VISION OF NORTH SHORE MART, INC.
STERLING VISION OF BAY STREET, INC.
STERLING VISION OF BRAMALEA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF HAMILTON, INC.
STERLING VISION OF LIME RIDGE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF KINGSTON, INC.
STERLING VISION OF BLUE HEN MALL, INC.
STERLING VISION, OF LANDOVER, INC.
STERLING VISION OF MONDAWMIN, INC.
STERLING VISION OF PADDOCK MALL, INC.
STERLING VISION OF METRO NORTH, INC.
STERLING VISION OF FRANKLIN MALL, INC.
STERLING VISION OF TINLEY PARK, INC.
STERLING VISION OF EAU CLAIRE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF SENECA, INC.
STERLING ROSLYN CORP.
STERLING VISION OF WALDEN, INC.
STERLING VISION OF INDEPENDENCE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF ROTTERDAM, INC.
STERLING VISION OF FRANKLIN MILLS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF NEWBURGH, INC.
STERLING VISION OF BAY RIDGE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF WESTPORT, INC.
STERLING VISION OF DUNKIRK, INC.
STERLING VISION U.S.A., INC.
STERLING VISION OF CALIFORNIA, INC.
SITE FOR SORE EYES SACRAMENTO, INC.
SITE FOR SORE EYES ADVERTISING, INC.
STERLING VISION OF POTOMAC MILLS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF WHEATON PLAZA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF MID RIVERS, INC.
SVCI REAL ESTATE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF EAST ROCKAWAY, INC.
STERLING VISION OF NEWPARK, INC.
STERLING VISION OF NANUET, INC.
STERLING VISION OF DELAFIELD, INC.
STERLING VISION OF TOMS RIVER, INC.
STERLING MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
OPTI-PLEX OF NEW YORK, INC.
STERLING VISION OF ISLANDIA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF HAWTHORNE CENTER, INC.
STERLING VISION OF LEVITTOWN, INC.
STERLING VISION OF CHARLESTOWN, INC.
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES (Continued):
STERLING VISION OF SYOSSET, INC.
STERLING VISION OF CAPITOLA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF FOX RUN, INC.
STERLING VISION OF METRO N.Y., INC.
STERLING VISION OF ROSYLN, INC.
INSIGHT LASER CENTERS, INC.
INSIGHT LASER CENTERS, N.Y.I, INC.
INSIGHT LASER CENTERS NEW YORK II, LTD.
INSIGHT LASER CENTER N.C. II, INC.
STERLING VISION OF EAST MADISON, INC.
STERLING VISION OF HAGERSTOWN, INC.
STERLING BRYANT II CORP.
VISIONCARE OF CALIFORNIA
STERLING VISION OF WHITE FLINT, INC.
STERLING VISION OF CAMBRIDGE SQUARE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF CAPE GIRARDEAU, INC.
STERLING VISION OF EDISON, INC.
STERLING VISION OF NAPA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF LOS GATOS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF PRINCE GEORGES PLAZA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF TRACY, INC.
STERLING VISION OF COLUMBUS MILLS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF ONTARIO MILLS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF GREEN ACRES, INC.
STERLING VISION OF M.V., INC.
STERLING VISION OF SOUTHPARK, INC.
STERLING VISION OF NORTHPARK, INC.
STERLING VISION OF BREA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF BLASDELL, INC.
STERLING VISION OF SOUTHDALE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF WESTMINSTER, INC.
STERLING VISION OF FAIR OAKS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF NEWPORT BEACH, INC.
STERLING VISION OF FULTON ST., INC.
STERLING VISION DKM ADVERTISING, INC.
720 MARKET STREET REALTY CORPORATION
STERLING VISION OF SACRAMENTO, INC.
STERLING VISION OF FARGO, INC.
STERLING VISION OF ANAHEIM, INC.
STERLING VISION OF EASTLAND, INC.
STERLING VISION OF GASTONIA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF KIRKWOOD MALL, INC.
STERLING VISION OF BLUEFIELD, INC.
STERLING VISION OF GREEN BAY, NC.
STERLING VISION OF KENNEDY BLVD., INC.
STERLING VISION OF WEST BEND, INC.
STERLING VISION OF WEST MADISON, INC.
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES (Continued):
STERLING VISION DKM OF SHEBOYGAN, INC.
STERLING VISION OF KENOSHA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF HAMPTON, INC.
STERLING VISION OF FORESTVILLE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF FOND DU LAC, INC.
STERLING VISION OF FNR, INC.
STERLING LABORATORIES, INC.
STERLING VISION OF BASHFORD MANOR, INC.
STERLING VISION OF RIVERSIDE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF PALISADES, INC.
STERLING VISION OF DULLES, INC.
STERLING VISION OF LIGHT STREET, INC.
STERLING VISION OF PENN CENTER, INC.
SINGER SPECS ADVERTISING, INC.
STERLING VISION OF COLLINGTON PLAZA, INC.
INSIGHT TOTAL MANAGED CARE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF 78TH STREET, INC.
STERLING VISION OF DENVER, INC.
INSIGHT IPA OF NEW YORK, INC.
INSIGHT AMSURG CENTERS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF JERSEY GARDENS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF SHOPPINGTOWN, INC.
STERLING VISION OF CAMP HILL, INC.
STERLING VISION OF GREAT NORTHERN, INC.
STERLING VISION OF 125TH STREET, INC.
STERLING VISION OF THE FALLS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF OWINGS MILLS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF MACARTHUR CENTER, INC.
STERLING VISION OF MONTGOMERY, INC.
STERLING VISION OF CONCORD MILLS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF JAMESTOWN MALL, INC.
STERLING VISION OF ORLANDO, INC.
STERLING VISION OF BEAVER DAM, INC.
STERLING VISION OF APPLETON, INC.
STERLING VISION OF COLUMBIA MALL, INC.
1-800 ANY LENS OF BOCA RATON, INC.
STERLING VISION OF 794 LEXINGTON, INC.
INSIGHT LASER CENTERS OF BAY TERRACE, INC.
1-800 ANY LENS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF SEACLIFF VILLAGE, INC.
INSIGHT LASER CENTERS OF KING OF PRUSSIA, INC.
STERLING VISION OF ANNAPOLIS, INC.
STERLING VISION OF APACHE, INC.
STERLING VISION OF MAMARONECK, INC.
EXHIBIT 23
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation
of our reports included in this Form 10-K, into Emerging Vision, Inc.'s
previously filed Registration Statement File No. 333-33355.
/S/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Melville, New York
April 16, 2002
EXHIBIT 99
LETTER TO COMMISSION PURSUANT TO TEMPORARY NOTE 3T
Emerging Vision, Inc.
100 Quentin Roosevelt Blvd.
Garden City, New York 11530
April 16, 2002
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20549-0408
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Temporary Note 3T to Article 3 of Regulation S-X, Emerging
Vision, Inc. has obtained a letter of representation from Arthur Andersen LLP
("Andersen") stating that the December 31, 2001 audit was subject to their
quality control system for the U.S. accounting and auditing practice to provide
reasonable assurance that the engagement was conducted in compliance with
professional standards, that there was appropriate continuity of Andersen
personnel working on the audit and availability of national office consultation.
Availability of personnel at foreign affiliates of Andersen is not relevant to
this audit.
Very truly yours,
Emerging Vision, Inc.
/s/ Christopher G. Payan
- ------------------------------
Christopher G. Payan
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)