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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended Commission File Number 0-15596
March 31, 1999
SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 75-1940923
(State of incorporation) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
P.O. Box 1006, New York, New York 10268
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(914) 251-1800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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 whether the registrant has filed all documents and
reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan
confirmed by a court. 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 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 voting Common Stock (par value $0.001 per
share) held by non-affiliates as of June 28,1999 was approximately $4,959,605
based on the average of the closing bid and ask prices of the Common Stock on
June 28, 1999 of $1.45 as reported by the National Quotation Bureau.
8,062,768 shares of Common Stock were outstanding as of June 28, 1999.
Documents Incorporated by Reference: Portions of the registrant's definitive
proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later
than July 29, 1999 are incorporated by reference in Items 10 through 13 of Part
III of the Form 10-K.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
MARCH 31, 1999
PART I PAGE
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ITEM1. BUSINESS 1
ITEM2. PROPERTIES 21
ITEM3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 21
ITEM4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF 23
SECURITY HOLDERS
PART II
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ITEM5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY 23
AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
ITEM6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 26
ITEM7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND 26
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
ITEM7A. QUANTITIVE AND QUALITIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISK 35
ITEM8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND 35
SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH 35
ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
PART III
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ITEM10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF 35
THE REGISTRANT
ITEM11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 35
ITEM12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN 35
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
ITEM13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED 35
TRANSACTIONS
PART IV
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ITEM14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 36
AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Introduction
As a result of a change of control of Spectrum Information
Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Spectrum" and, together with its
subsidiaries, the "Company") in December 1998, Spectrum's senior management and
Board of Directors were replaced. See "- Change of Control." The new senior
management and Board of Directors, which has experience in building publicly
held companies, changed the direction and nature of the Company's business,
discontinued its prior business and began seeking to establish several websites
for the marketing of products and services over the Internet. The Company is
planning to change its corporate name to Siti-Sites.com, Inc. at its next annual
meeting of shareholders and will retain its stock symbol "SITI". In pursuit of
its new strategy, on June 23, 1999, the Company consummated its acquisition of
Tropia, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Tropia"), which operates an MP3 music
site that promotes and distributes the music of independent artists through its
website located at www.tropia.com. See "- Tropia."
The Company believes that while there are innumerable websites now in
operation, there are still many worthwhile opportunities to pursue. Many
websites attempt to make themselves appealing to the broadest audience possible.
The Company hopes that it can develop other sites targeted to the interests of
specific demographic groups by entering into joint ventures with specialists in
such groups. In this way, the Company believes it can foster multiple
communities of loyal participants, which will lead to long term marketing
possibilities. Management believes the World Wide Web is becoming the
marketplace of choice for consumers all across the globe. The Company continues
to search for additional opportunities to establish websites for the marketing
of other products and services over the Internet.
Tropia
On June 23, 1999, the Company consummated its acquisition of Tropia,
which operates an MP3 music site that promotes and distributes the music of
independent artists through its website located at www.tropia.com. Tropia, which
is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was acquired for an aggregate
of 316,850 shares of the Company's common stock, half of which were delivered at
closing, and half of which are in escrow to be delivered after one year, if
certain goals are achieved. The Company has agreed to provide $100,000 of
capital to Tropia initially and approximately $800,000 of additional capital
during the next twelve months. The acquisition was effected by merging SITI-II,
Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spectrum, with and
into Tropia. Tropia was partially owned (55%) by Red Hat Productions, Inc., an
award-winning independent film production company which is owned by Barclay
Powers, a large shareholder of the Company, and Jonathan Blank, the current
Chief Executive Officer of Tropia. Lawrence M. Powers, the Chairman/CEO and a
large shareholder of the Company, has been a financial participant and one-third
owner of Red Hat Productions, Inc. since 1997. Tropia was also owned (45%) by
Ari Blank and Arjun Nayyar, the designers of the website who are now employees
of Tropia.
The fully functioning website, and related business arrangements with
artists and marketing agents, has been under development since February 1999 and
was valued at 500,000 shares of the Company's common stock. However, Lawrence M.
Powers and Barclay Powers (his son) have waived their rights to participate in
the shares otherwise receivable by Red Hat Productions, Inc. from the
acquisition. As a result of this waiver, the shares delivered to Red Hat
Productions, Inc. were reduced proportionately and all such shares were
distributed by Red Hat Productions, Inc. solely to Mr. Blank.
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The Company will reserve 183,150 shares of its common stock (which equals the
number of additional shares that would otherwise have been issued but for the
waiver) for issuance in the future (in the form of stock and/or options to
acquire stock) for existing and new management personnel of Tropia.
Tropia means "positive change," which is what the digital revolution is
all about. For the first time in history, artists can make their music directly
available to a global audience. It is no coincidence that MP3 is the most
searched term on the Internet (according to searchterms.com).
Tropia is geared towards the college market. There are over 3,000
colleges in the U.S. with 15 million students who are typically heavy web users.
These avid music fans have broadband access which enables them to download songs
rapidly and view TV quality video. Currently, the Tropia catalogue includes over
60 artists and several independent record labels, with new ones being added
rapidly as they are evaluated by the Tropia staff (in order to create the most
entertaining experience for users, Tropia does not accept all submissions).
Immediate post-launch plans include expanding the music catalogue,
developing strategic marketing partnerships and incorporating state-of-the-art
multi-media. Additionally, Tropia is building the data infrastructure to provide
artists with access to the new global marketing and distribution system through
simple and highly effective information management techniques. Ultimately,
Tropia plans to be a destination entertainment network for the college audience
that will expand internationally through strategic foreign alliances. However,
there can be no assurance as to the likelihood or timing of any of these events.
The audience demographics of Tropia are desirable to advertisers as
this market segment has substantial disposable income available for music and
video related merchandise purchased through the website. Further, such audience
segment will provide valuable information into a database for future marketing
revenues. In addition, Tropia will offer valuable services, both free and for
nominal charges, to artists and to its audience.
Tropia was created by Red Hat Productions, Inc. (redhatproductions.com)
and by a talented web site development team of two 23 year old Columbia
University graduates with wide experience in Internet technology and college
media. Red Hat Productions is an award-winning L.A. and N.Y. based independent
film company that produced the cult hit, SEX, DRUGS & DEMOCRACY,
("Enthralling... a seductive argument" -- Roger Ebert). The web developers
worked on sites prepared for major firms such as Viacom, Gateway, and the Museum
of Modern Art.
The Tropia website, which went online in May 1999, uses the Internet
and data compression technologies, such as the MP3 (MPEG1, Layer 3) format, to
create a compelling experience for consumers to conveniently access an expanding
music catalogue, and a valuable distribution and promotional platform for music
artists. The website showcases the music of independent artists and artists
signed by independent record labels. Consumers are able to search the website by
artist, by song title and by genre, and can sample and download complete songs
free of charge in MP3 format. The website also embodies a 24 hour RealAudio
radio station with multiple free radio streams, classified by genre, to enable
consumers to sample music. CDs and other merchandise (such as posters, t-shirts,
hats and stickers) of featured artists are also being offered through the
website. Prior to going online, the operations of Tropia consisted largely of
developing the website and the infrastructure necessary to attract artists and
download music on the Internet.
The independent artists and record labels are required to agree to
permit the Company to distribute their music over the website without receiving
any royalty. In turn, each independent artist and each artist represented by an
independent record label is given its own webpage within the website, and
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the ability to promote and distribute its music to a large number of consumers
worldwide essentially at no cost to the artist. The artists and record labels
are offered attractive sharing arrangements whereby they participate in the
proceeds from the sales of their CDs and other merchandise featured on the
website. The Company's relationship with each artist and independent record
label will be non-exclusive. The Company anticipates that independent artists
and independent record labels will be drawn to the website because they have
been historically underserved by the traditional music industry, and they would
welcome a low cost, low risk method of distribution.
The website is designed to attract a youthful audience (ages 14-25),
with a specific emphasis on college students. The Company believes that college
students will be the ideal audience for the website because they generally:
- are among the highest spenders on music;
- have the most powerful computers and wide-spread broadband
access to the Internet;
- spend a significant amount of time on the Internet;
- share the attitudes and values of, and identify strongly with,
the independent artists featured on the website;
- can be reached fairly easily and inexpensively by campus
newspaper, radio and television stations and promotional tours
by the website's featured artists; and
- will appreciate the value of free downloaded music.
The Company believes that its variety of free downloadable music will
help distinguish the website from other providers of music online. In addition,
consumers will now have the ability to locate independent artists whose music is
not sold through traditional music retailers. The website will also facilitate
communication between fans and independent artists, via its artist websites, to
be followed by tour information and other services attractive to artists and
fans.
The Company hopes to create a premier entertainment destination for the
discovery of independent music by designing the website so that both artists and
consumers will have access to the information they desire, in an interface that
is easy, intuitive, uncluttered and attractive. The Company intends to continue
to develop the website further (with video presentations, live performances,
etc.) and introduce new products and services, as appropriate, to meet the needs
of artists and consumers. The Company is currently sponsoring concerts in New
York, San Francisco and Los Angeles for several emerging groups, and intends to
continue such promotions. Obtaining rights to offer free MP3 downloads from
established artists for limited periods is also under discussion, to attract
visitors to the website in the coming school year.
Management Background/Philosophy
Operations.
Jonathan Blank, Co- President/CEO of Tropia, is a 34 year old graduate
of Columbia University, with an M.F.A. from its Film School, in film making and
directing. He founded Red Hat Productions, Inc. in 1993 with Barclay Powers, who
is now a Co-President of Tropia.
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Barclay Powers is a 36 year old graduate of Columbia University who was
an executive associate for five years to the Chairman/CEO of Spartech
Corporation (see "-Investors and Administration"), specializing in marketing
projects, acquisitions and joint ventures.
Since 1992, Jonathan Blank and Barclay Powers have jointly produced and
marketed two documentary films and a feature length theatrical film, all aimed
at the college youth market. The films, now in video release, were written and
directed by Jonathan Blank and produced by Barclay Powers. The sound tracks of
their films employed the same types of artists as are on the Tropia website.
These two film producers, based in Los Angeles, will contribute to the website
by continuing to evaluate new music and provide creative ideas to develop of the
website.
Philip Foxman, a music supervisor to Tropia, worked with Messrs. Blank
and Powers as supervisor on their films, and is active on the music tour circuit
with wide connections among emerging artists in the U.S., the U.K. and
Australia. Three other music consultants active in college music promotions are
also currently employed by Tropia in Los Angeles and New York.
Ari Blank (Jonathan Blank's brother), Creative Director of Tropia, is a
23 year old Columbia University liberal arts graduate, who has been engaged in
website design and development for several years, most recently with
"Ovendigital", a pre-eminent New York-based website design firm. The Tropia
"idea" began with him from his experience in college TV and broadcasting.
Arjun Nayyar, Technical Director of Tropia, is a 23 year old Columbia
University engineering graduate with several years experience in software design
for websites. He was most recently employed at Merrill Lynch. Arjun Nayyar and
Ari Blank have been associated on several projects since their student days, and
are a key development team at Tropia, based in New York.
Investors and Administration
Lawrence M. Powers, Investor and Chairman/CEO of the Company, is a 67
year old businessman and securities lawyer who helped build several large public
companies as a lawyer, director and financial mentor, and later as chief
executive officer. Most recently, he founded and built Spartech Corporation
(NYSE), now an $800 million plastics manufacturing group assembled from many
small businesses, starting as Chairman of a previously bankrupt shell (1978)
with few assets, and becoming CEO in 1984. Raising some $200 million during his
tenure, he, together with the management team he assembled, built one of the
largest plastic processing companies in the U.S. by 1992 (12 plants). Spartech
has now become a world leader (40 plants) since his retirement in 1992. He
remained on the board until 1995, and is still a major securities holder of
Spartech. He was educated at Yale Law School, senior executive programs at
Harvard Business School (between 1980-1998), and most recently in its
Information Technology management program. His specialty has, for decades, been
developing strategies and financing, combined with acquisitions and joint
ventures. The management team he assembled at Spartech Corporation has remained
in place, building it to its present value.
Robert Ingenito, Investor and Director of the Company (age 56), is a
nationally known figure in the direct marketing industry, using databases for
"data mining" in customer development. He was the President and a principal of
Axciom Corporation (NYSE), a $750 million database management firm, when it
first went public (and a director along with Lawrence M. Powers in the 1980's).
Most recently, Mr. Ingenito founded and manages Access Communications and Access
Direct, two established data service companies ($32 million in sales); Access
Direct produces high volume, highly segmented mail correlated to its clients'
segmented databases; Access Communications produces critical documents from
on-line transmissions from its clients. Mr. Ingenito is active in developing
Tropia's strategy.
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Steven Gross, Investor (age 58), is a prominent corporate, securities
and acquisition lawyer, with wide ranging financial relationships. A Harvard Law
School graduate, he was formerly a law partner of Mr. Powers. Mr. Gross is now a
senior partner of Sills Cummis Radin Tischman Epstein & Gross, P.A., a large law
firm based in Newark, NJ. His law firm is counsel to the Company.
Jon M. Gerber, Vice President and director of the Company (age 45), is
a management consultant with an engineering background in computer systems and
components, and in operations development. He has an M.B.A. in Finance from the
University of Wisconsin, and presently conducts his own investment management
business in New York. He is becoming a full-time senior officer of the Company,
and is organizing its New York offices with its technical team. He is also
working with Tropia CEO, Jonathan Blank, on establishing Los Angeles offices,
where much of the marketing team will be based. Mr. Gerber is a second cousin of
Lawrence M. Powers.
Chairman/CEO Powers believes in building a management team with strong
stock incentives. On purchasing a control position in the Company of 3,000,000
shares in December 1998 through Powers & Co., a sole proprietorship owned by Mr.
Powers (see "- Change of Control"), he promptly made assignments of portions of
his shares to potential executives and creative talent who could help develop
the Company's Internet business. Mr. Powers assigned 200,000 shares (and an
option to acquire an additional 80,000 shares) to Jon Gerber, 200,000 shares to
Jonathan Blank, a stock option to acquire 40,000 shares to Paul Marshall (a
computer consultant who founded Maxus Systems, a virtual reality decisions
support system), and 100,000 shares to Michael Gerber, the brother of Jon
Gerber, and his wife, Carol Colman (Ms. Colman is a prominent author of many
self-help books and "wellness" programs). These assignments of Mr. Powers'
shares, which resulted in the Company recognizing an expense of $250,000, were
made to encourage their respective creative ideas for websites and e-commerce
opportunities. Several concepts which could add investor value to the Company
are under discussion among these substantial shareholders, and Tropia was the
first one, generated by Jonathan and Ari Blank. As the Company is built, all
major contributors to its success will hereafter likely receive stock or option
grants from the Company to maintain an entrepreneurial shareholder attitude in
their efforts.
Traditional Methods for Distribution of Music
Recorded music is recognized as one of the most popular forms of
entertainment. It is a $40 billion industry, approximately 20% of which is
independent music. Until the late 1990s, the distribution of music by the music
industry had remained relatively unchanged for many years. Artists were
generally required to sign exclusive contracts with record labels who would
develop, distribute and promote their recordings. The major record labels have,
to a great extent, controlled the type and quantity of music made available to
consumers. As a result, the number of artists served by the existing music
distribution system has been fairly small compared to the number of artists who
desire to pursue their music as a career.
Moreover, consolidation within the industry accelerated sharply during
the 1990's, further reducing the number of distribution channels. Partly as a
consequence of these acquisitions, the major labels have confronted spiraling
costs, diminishing their already-low incentives to take risks with unknown
bands. Critics have noted that the industry has failed to develop any consistent
"breakout" artists or music styles since the hip-hop and alternative movements
emerged in the late 1980s.
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The Internet and Digital Music
This music industry is changing, however, due to the popularity of the
Internet and the advent of compressed digital music formats, including the MP3
format, which itself may be replaced by subsequent formats. The Internet has
grown rapidly in recent years, driven by the development of the World Wide Web,
intuitive web browsers and faster connections, the proliferation of multimedia
PCs and the emergence of compelling Web-based content. In recent years, with
more and more consumers buying multimedia PCs with a sound card, speakers and a
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, people have increasingly used their computers to play
music.
Unlike college students, many consumers have not been able to
experience high quality Internet audio and video because of their relatively low
bandwidth Internet connections. New platforms, such as cable and direct
subscriber line modem and satellite data broadcast, are already being created to
deliver high-speed access to digital media. Growth will depend on the investment
of billions of dollars by the telecommunications industry in new infrastructure.
In the meantime, high-speed connections will largely remain limited to larger
businesses, research institutions and colleges and universities. The Company has
therefore determined that the student market, in large part because of its ready
access to high-speed connections and its spirit of "independence," will prove to
offer the greatest opportunity for developing its business.
Another impediment to the transmission of music over the Internet has
been the large size of music files. For example, a three minute song can occupy
more than thirty megabytes of storage. Storing and transferring audio files can
be expensive and slow. To address this problem, compression formats have been
developed. One of the first widely accepted standards for the compression of
music was MP3, adopted by the Moving Picture Experts Group. The MP3 standard
offers at least 10:1 compression and audio integrity at near-CD quality. MP3
playback is currently available on most operating environments such as Microsoft
Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT and Mac OS, most major versions of UNIX
(including Linux, the platform for www.tropia.com) and many other operating
environments. Forrester Research, Inc. estimates that there are over 50 million
MP3-capable users today. The development of compression formats such as MP3 and
the increased availability of higher bandwidth Internet connections have made it
practical to transmit music over the Internet.
In addition, the transmission of music over the Internet has been made
more desirable by the recent introduction of certain products to enable
consumers to move the audio content from a PC to a portable listening device.
Portable audio players capable of storing and playing back downloaded MP3 audio
files have been introduced by Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. and Creative
Technologies, Ltd. Many new types are in development. The Company believes that
these types of products will be desirable for many listeners on the website.
As a result, aside from the traditional music distribution channels
there are now other alternatives: complete digital music content and information
clearinghouses (such as MP3.com, which uses data compression technologies to
distribute and promote the music of a wide variety of artists), more traditional
record label structures (such as EMusic.com, Inc. (formerly known as GoodNoise
Corporation)) and a combination of both (such as the IUMA). Artists will now
have much greater control of their product, their marketing, their distribution
channels, even their pricing. But no matter how much the music industry may
change, artists will always need exposure. With musicians all over the world
able to produce and distribute their music globally, it will become increasingly
important (and difficult) to be seen and heard. The Company believes that its
volume of free downloads, approved for quality by its growing staff, will set
Tropia apart from other websites which sell music over the Internet and will be
significant in helping to draw a substantial audience.
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Advantages of the Website
The Company believes that www.tropia.com will be desirable to both
consumers and independent artists. For the consumer, the website will provide an
attractive and functional site with superior content, as well as the following
advantages:
- - RADIO-STYLE INTERFACE. To more easily deliver music to the consumers,
the website includes a radio-style interface, where users can "tune
into" various radio streams, classified by genre, to enable consumers
to sample music. If a consumer likes a song, he or she can download the
MP3 version for free. In this way, the website will deliver content to
visitors, rather than forcing them to seek it out (a task that is
especially difficult when the majority of the artists are unknown). The
Company believes that this ease of use and quantity of free downloads
will distinguish www.tropia.com from other digital music sites.
- - INTERACTIVITY. The website creates an interactive music experience
which is expected to include chat rooms, on-line interactive interviews
with featured artists and other interactive functions. The Company
believes that the website's interactivity will also distinguish it from
other digital music sites.
- - CONVENIENCE. The website offers a consumer the ability to listen to or
download songs by featured artists 24 hours a day from the convenience
of his or her home, school or office. If the consumer likes the song,
he or she may buy the CD over the website.
- - COMMUNICATIONS WITH ARTISTS AND OTHER FANS. The website will allow fans
to contact artists directly via e-mail and to communicate with one
another through message boards. In addition, artists can use their web
page to communicate directly with their fans, advising them of concerts
and new releases. Message boards allow fans with common interests and
preferences to be connected.
For the artist, www.tropia.com will provide the following advantages:
- - DISTRIBUTION AND PROMOTION. The website offers artists the ability to
promote their music to a global and growing base of consumers through
their own webpage for no charge, control pricing of their music and
achieve superior economics through revenue sharing on sales of their
CDs and other merchandise. The Company believes this high level of
artist control from origination to final distribution is extremely
appealing to artists. The website also facilitates artist discovery by
allowing users to browse the site by artist, by song title and by
genre.
- - MARKETING. The website will provide artists with various marketing
tools, including public relations assistance, tour and concert
promotions, and e-mail promotions, among others.
- - NON-EXCLUSIVE. The Company's relationship with the artists and the
independent record labels will be on a non-exclusive basis, enabling
featured artists to distribute their music using the website, as well
as other means (such as other websites).
- - ACCESS TO CONSUMER FEEDBACK AND STATISTICS. Upon the implementation of
tracking software (which is now in progress), artists will receive
detailed information about the number of people visiting their webpage,
listening to their music, downloading their songs, and how many CDs
they sold during the day and over the past month. Artists will then
have valuable information about their fan base including geographical
information. The Company's aggregated data and
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demographic analyses will allow the Company to offer artists sales,
marketing and other information that enables them to define, evaluate
and connect with their fan base. As the website grows and more artists
and independent record labels join, artists can use this information,
such as geographic and listener data, to determine which of their songs
receive the best reception, which genres are best suited for their
songs and how their music compares to other songs in the same genre or
region. This allows them to change their music selections or target
promotional events and marketing to their fans through the site.
The Company's Strategy
The objective of the Company with respect to its Tropia business is to
create a premier entertainment destination for the discovery of independent
music by designing the website so that both artists and consumers will have
access to the information they desire. To achieve this objective, the Company
will focus on the following key elements (although there can be no assurance as
to the likelihood or the timing of these elements):
- - CONTINUE TO DEVELOP MUSIC CONTENT. The Company is continuing to
evaluate and amass a collection of quality independent music and hopes
to have approximately two to five downloadable tracks each from more
than 100 artists by late summer 1999.
- - USE THE LATEST COMPRESSION FORMATS. The music on the website will be
offered in both the MP3 (for downloads) and RealAudio (for radio-style
listening) compression formats. However, the Company's intention is to
support compression standards that achieve acceptance by the Internet
community, and, accordingly, the Company may change its compression
systems in response to technological and market developments. (Each of
the Company's audio formats has certain minimum system requirements for
hardware and software in order for a user to listen to the audio
samples on the Company's website. Because of limitations in their own
hardware's capabilities, certain users may be unable to use all of the
Company's services.)
- - USE E-COMMERCE. Initially, the Company will sell CDs and other
merchandise (such as posters, t-shirts, hats and stickers) of its
featured artists. The Company will expand merchandise volume as quickly
as possible, incorporating as many music related goods as possible. The
artists and independent record labels will also participate in the
proceeds from the sales of their CDs and other merchandise featured on
the website. As the website builds an audience, the Company will seek
out advertising targeted at its youthful audience, and seek joint
ventures and other alliances.
- - DEVELOP ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITY. The Company also hopes to implement
more advanced commerce functionality in the near future. For example,
the Company hopes to institute custom CD burning for consumers who
compile lists of MP3s. In the longer term, the Company may implement a
pay-per-download system for digital music (while keeping its radio
streams free), based on low-level financial transaction technologies,
many of which are currently under development.
- - TARGET THE COLLEGE STUDENT MARKET; INTRODUCE TROPIA COLLEGE TV WEBSITE.
As discussed above, the Company will focus its marketing efforts on
college students. The Company believes that college students will be
among the first demographic groups to act on the new consumer freedoms
the Internet is creating, and that the Company can provide the
environment for those transactions to occur. The Company intends to use
much of its marketing budget to advertise directly to the college
audience, through ads in college media, promotional music distribution
to college radio stations (such as weekly CDs featuring the newest
material), as well as promotional
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campus tours. In addition, the Company will structure its site to more
closely match the needs and desires of college students.
For example, the website may permit college students to view the top
ten downloads from their school, or network with other students at
their school with similar tastes in music. The Company also hopes to
provide a strong boost to its college marketing drive by launching
Tropia College TV (projected for the fall of 1999), a website devoted
to providing exposure to the best in college television broadcasting. A
percentage of advertising revenue from this project will be channeled
directly back to the college TV stations which are traditionally
cash-strapped. It will therefore be in the interest of these college
media organizations to promote this website because the more people who
log on, the more money each TV station will make. The Company will, in
effect, have agents on major college campuses across the country to
gather information about the desires of the college audience and to
distribute the Company's marketing materials directly to college
students.
- - GENERATE REVENUES PRIMARILY FROM SALES OF MERCHANDISE. At first, the
Company expects to receive its revenues primarily from the online sale
of CDs and other merchandise, and later from the other commerce
functionality described above. The Company initially does not intend to
generate any significant revenues from online advertising, but plans do
so in the future. Since the Company does not buy the music for the
website, the incremental cost to add more music on the website should
not be significant. The Company believes that due to the popularity of
digital music, MP3 will be its own marketing tool. According to
searchterms.com, "MP3" is one of the most frequently searched terms on
the Internet, exceeding "sex." Any development in the MP3 industry
receives national attention on the pages of WIRED, THE NEW YORK TIMES,
and ROLLING STONE, and television networks such as MTV and CNN. Whether
it's the injunction against the Diamond Rio player or the release of
Chuck D MP3 tracks - many teenagers, college students, record industry
and Internet executives hear about it. Awareness spreads at the speed
of information.
- - BECOME A SERVICE BASED COMMUNITY. The Company believes that in the
digital music industry an artist will be as much a consumer as a
producer. Therefore, the Company will begin to construct a
service-based community. Ultimately, the Company hopes to provide
assistance to artists with music and entertainment industry contacts,
and to provide valuable music news and marketing resources.
- - DEVELOP RELATED WEBPAGES. Consumers will be able to access a separate
"business entrance" at main.tropia.com, which will feature all
information relevant to Tropia's business, such as contact information
and press releases. In addition, artists will be able to log on to a
related website known as bands.tropia.com. This website will enable
them to access relevant news and information (including reports of
visitors, downloads and purchases), update their webpages and
communicate with other artists and Tropia. New artists and independent
record labels wishing to join Tropia can do so through this website.
- - ESTABLISH USER ACCOUNTS. The Company expects to introduce user accounts
which will facilitate the formation of a community, as well as the
collection of useful marketing information. Consumers will be able to
customize their interface significantly. With the integration of agent
software, users can be more easily directed towards the content they
might like as well as to other consumers who might share the same
tastes. Consumers will be able to establish individual play lists for
public use, encouraging consumers to interact creatively with one
another. After consumer accounts are established, the implementation of
low-level financial transactions (such
9
as a consumer paying 25 cents for a song) becomes much more feasible,
as consumers can keep an open tab.
- - DEVELOP YOUTH BASED MARKETING. The Company is developing "street teams"
in major markets, as well as using other youth based marketing
approaches, to help reach its target audience.
Technology
Brilliant new technologies are developed with each new month for
Internet-based media. The Company will be quick to adopt appropriate new
technologies as they become viable. The Company has planned its current
technology structure with the likelihood of quick and significant expansion in
mind.
The Company will run the Linux operating system on its Intel-based
webserver, the most common hardware platform in the world. The Company has
chosen Linux because of its cost and availability of resources. It is a proven
web platform with a wealth of stable, efficient and open software. Apache Web
Server, another public-license product, will serve the Company's webpages.
To handle its growing data indexing requirements, the Company will use
Oracle database technology, due to its flexibility, robustness and availability
of resources. Oracle's capabilities far exceed the potential of the hardware,
and so as the hardware improves, the Company will be ready to expand in step
using this powerful technology.
The Company will develop custom applications using open standards such
as Java, perl, and portable C/C++, to bind the webserver to the database. These
languages are available on virtually all platforms and can scale to accommodate
large amounts of users.
The music on the website (including the free radio streams and the
on-demand music downloads) will be streamed through Progressive Network's
RealServer. RealServer technology works very reliably on Linux, as well as on
many other platforms, allowing the Company to be more flexible in its technology
growth. The integration of the Linux webserver, the Apache server software, the
Oracle database, and the RealServer will provide an efficient and easy method of
streaming entertainment and information over digital networks, and one which
will foster fast and significant growth.
The Company's interface v2.0 (with a target launch date of August 1999)
will be dramatically more active and interactive, with the introduction of
dynamically-driven Flash Generator technology. The proliferation of Macromedia
software (the Flash player is included in the Internet Explorer installer, as
well as the software which accompanies the Intel Pentium III), and the
significant improvements in its technology, mean that Flash and Director not
only provide relatively-low bandwidth streaming media, but also an alternative
to RealMedia for streaming high quality audio and video files across digital
networks. The vector functionality of Flash (meaning that a Flash image can
expand or contract to any size without any loss in quality) provides the Company
the ability of integrating entrancing "eye-candy" into the music delivery
structure. Instead of watching music videos (which translate very poorly to the
web, and provide nothing different from what one can view on television), the
user sees the CD cover of the band morph into fractal art, based on variables in
the music itself, such as beats-per-minute, tone, pitch - any measurable musical
concept. This is only one feature the Company plans to integrate in interface
v2.0, to provide a streaming media environment, combining music, video, computer
animation and virtual reality - all information in a way that has seldom been
produced before.
10
Intellectual Property
The Company may be liable to third parties for content on the website
and CDs the Company distributes:
- - if the music, text, graphics or other content on the website violates
their copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights;
- - if the artists or independent record labels associated with the website
violate their contractual obligations to others by providing content on
the website; or
- - if content distributed over the website is deemed obscene or
defamatory.
The Company may also be subject to these types of liability for content
that is accessible from the website through any links to other websites. The
Company attempts to minimize these types of liability by requiring
representations and warranties relating to its artists' ownership of and rights
to distribute and submit their content and by taking related measures to review
content on the website. Artists also agree to indemnify the Company against
liability it might sustain due to the content they provide. It is the Company's
belief that the artist is responsible for the material he or she submits.
However, in the future, the Company could be found liable for content made
available on the website.
Although the Company has not experienced a material loss due to
content-related liability to date, the website is relatively new and the Company
cannot give assurances that its measures to limit this liability will continue
to be successful or that the Company will not be held liable for the website's
content. Liability or alleged liability could harm the Company's business by
damaging its reputation, requiring it to incur legal costs and diverting
management's attention away from the Company's business. Moreover, future claims
may not be adequately covered by insurance.
With respect to Tropia, the Company's intellectual property includes
its trademarks and copyrights, proprietary software, and other proprietary
rights it may possess. The Company believes that its intellectual property is
important to its success and its competitive position and seeks to protect it.
However, its efforts may be inadequate. The Company owns the domain names
"tropia.com," "tropia.net" and "tropia.org" and has applied for federal
trademark registration for "tropia." The Company's trademark registration
application could be denied.
In addition, third parties may claim that the Company violated their
intellectual property rights. To the extent that such claim is successful
against the Company, the Company may be required to pay damages, obtain a
license to use such third party's intellectual property or use non-infringing
methods to conduct its activities. It is possible that a license from such a
third party would not be available on commercially acceptable terms, or at all,
or that the Company would be unable to conduct its activities in a
non-infringing manner. See "- Risk Factors That May Affect the Company's
Business, Future Operating Results and Financial Condition."
There is also no assurance that the measures taken by the Company will
adequately protect the confidentiality of the Company's proprietary information
or that others will not independently develop products or technology that are
equivalent or superior to those of the Company. Any litigation regarding the
Company's or a third party's proprietary rights could be costly and divert
management's attention, result in the loss of certain of the Company's
proprietary rights, require the Company to seek licenses from third parties and
prevent the Company from selling its products and services, any one of which
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of
operations and financial
11
condition. See "- Risk Factors That May Affect the Company's Business, Future
Operating Results and Financial Condition."
Competition
The market for the online promotion and distribution of music and
music-related products is highly competitive and rapidly changing, with many
large and small competitors. With no substantial barriers to entry on the
Internet, the Company expects that competition will continue to intensify. The
bases of competition in the online music promotion and distribution industry
include (i) quantity and variety of digital recorded music content - both free
and for a fee; (ii) the ability of consumers to search and sample music
according to their preferences; (iii) the ease of downloading music; (iv) the
fidelity and quality of the sound of the music; and (v) the ability to promote a
website, both online and through traditional marketing, concerts and strategic
alliances.
The Company faces competitive pressures from other providers of online
music content which distribute free downloadable music, such as MP3.com, Inc.,
Riffage.com, Mjuice.com, Noisebox.com, and various other companies.
In addition, although they generally do not offer the ability to
download complete songs for free, the Company also potentially faces competition
from:
- - Other providers of online music content such as EMusic.com, Inc.
(formerly known as GoodNoise Corporation) and Launch Media, Inc.
- - Companies offering MP3 or other audio compression formats, such as
those of AT&T Corp., IBM Corporation, Liquid Audio, Inc., Microsoft
Corporation, and RealNetworks, Inc. Some of these companies also offer
customers the ability to download music from their websites.
- - Online destination sites, including online prerecorded music retailers
like Amazon.com, Inc. and CDNow Inc.
- - Online "portals" like America Online, Inc., Excite, Inc., Infoseek
Corporation, Lycos, Inc. and Yahoo!, Inc.
- - Traditional music industry companies such as BMG Entertainment, a unit
of Bertelsmann AG; EMI Group plc; Sony Corporation; Time Warner Inc.
and Universal Music Group, a unit of The Seagram Company Ltd., some of
whom have recently entered the online commercial community.
Many of the Company's existing and potential competitors have longer
operating histories, greater brand name recognition, larger consumer bases and
significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources. The Company
cannot give assurances that websites maintained by its existing and potential
competitors will not be perceived by consumers, artists or others as being
superior to the Company's. The Company also cannot give assurances that the
Company will be able to maintain or increase its website traffic levels,
purchase inquiries and number of click-throughs on any online advertisements or
that competitors will not experience greater growth than the Company does.
Increased competition could result in advertising price reduction, reduced
margins or loss of market share, any of which could harm the Company's business.
In addition, because of the rapidly changing structure of the Internet, the
Company in the future may find itself competing with suppliers of software
critical to its business.
12
Government Regulation
Laws and regulations directly applicable to Internet communications,
commerce and advertising, including laws relating to privacy, intellectual
property and content (such as obscenity, pornography, libel and defamation
laws), are becoming more prevalent. Although the Company's operations are
currently based in New York and Los Angeles, the governments of other states,
the United States and foreign countries may attempt to regulate the Company's
activities on the Internet or to levy sales and other taxes relating to its
activities. The Company does not currently intend to collect sales, use or other
taxes on the sale of goods and services on its website other than on sales in
New York and California. However, one or more states or foreign jurisdictions
may seek to impose tax collection obligations on companies that engage in online
commerce. If they do, these obligations could limit the growth of electronic
commerce in general and limit the Company's ability to profit from the sale of
goods and services over the Internet.
The Company cannot predict how any of these laws and regulations might
affect its business. In addition, these uncertainties make it difficult to
ensure compliance with laws and regulations governing the Internet. These laws
and regulations could harm the Company by subjecting the Company to liability or
forcing the Company to change how it does business.
Employees
As of March 31, 1999 the Company had two employees in general
administration. All other employees had resigned or been terminated as a
result of the change of control transaction. As of June 23, 1999, as a result
of the Tropia acquisition, the Company had ten employees and consultants,
including two in website development, five in marketing and three in general
administration. The Company hopes to add two additional website developers, a
public relations consultant and additional marketing agents in the summer of
1999. However, other than the two website developers at Tropia, no employees
have yet been put on salary, and consultants and agents are paid monthly
fees. Present management of the parent company has been working without
salary and may continue to do so for an undetermined period of time. The
Company has recorded an administrative expense and a capital contribution of
$31,250 to account for the value of these services provided by management of
the parent company. The Company's future performance depends in significant
part on its ability to continue to attract, retain and motivate highly
qualified technical and management personnel, for whom competition is
intense. The Company may also continue to employ independent contractors and
agents to support its development, marketing and administrative
organizations. None of the Company's employees is represented by any
collective bargaining unit. The Company believes that its relations with its
employees and consultants and agents are good.
Prior Company History
The following discussion of historical information relates primarily to
the Company's prior business which was discontinued after the change of control
and senior management of Spectrum in December 1998. See "Change of Control."
This discussion must be considered in light of the new direction and nature of
the Company's business. See "- Tropia."
Spectrum was organized in 1984. Prior to January 1995, it developed and
patented technologies relating to wireless data transmission over cellular
networks, and commenced a licensing program with modem and integrated circuit
manufacturers. The Company also marketed, through a distributor, direct connect
cellular data transmission activation kits (including cellphone software drivers
and cables) to licensees. However, revenues failed to meet expectations and
Spectrum was operating at a loss.
13
In January 1995, the Company engaged a new President/Chief Executive
Officer and elected a new Board of Directors. From January 1995 through December
11, 1998, the Company's management had to resolve many financial and legal
problems inherited from prior years and refocus the business direction of
Spectrum and its then current subsidiaries. One strategy was to reorganize under
Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. In late January 1995, the Company and three
of its then current operating subsidiaries filed Chapter11 bankruptcy petitions.
The Company consummated its plan of reorganization over two years ago, on
March 31, 1997. See "Item 3. Legal Proceedings-Past Bankruptcy Proceedings."
During the following 21 months, the Company spent substantial monies to
develop and patent new software and related products for use in high speed
Internet data transmission. To obtain additional funds, the Company converted
many of its patent license agreements to paid up licenses. However, financing
could not be found to continue the development and marketing of the Company's
products. By December 1998, the Company had wound down its overhead and
operations and was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy protection a second
time. A change of control and of senior management resulted, and new financing
was infused into the Company.
With respect to its prior businesses, the Company holds six U.S.
patents, had certain patent applications pending and regularly used certain
trademarks and service marks (some of which were registered with the U.S. Patent
and Trademark office). The Company does not expect the former businesses to
provide any material future revenues. The Company is trying to sell these
patents and other rights relating to its prior businesses, but does not
anticipate that their sale, if it occurs, will provide a significant source of
revenue. The Company is not pursuing any pending patent applications relating to
its prior businesses.
Change of Control
On December 11, 1998, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase
Agreement with Powers & Co., the principal of which is Lawrence M. Powers.
Pursuant to this Stock Purchase Agreement, Lawrence M. Powers, through Powers &
Co., purchased 3,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock (which totaled
approximately 54.9% of the outstanding aggregate shares of voting stock of the
Company at the time) and an option to acquire an additional 1,800,000 shares of
the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share, for an
aggregate purchase price of $600,000. As a result of this transaction and
subsequent investments and option exercises, an aggregate of $1,007,000 of new
equity was invested in the Company. In substance, the new investors acquired
control of the Company with all of its known existing obligations provided for
prior to closing, enabling it to make a fresh start, unencumbered by past
business activities.
The Company's senior management and Board of Directors were replaced in
connection with this change of control transaction. Its new senior management
and Board changed the direction and nature of the Company's business and
discontinued its prior business. The Company is now doing business as
Siti-Sites.com and is seeking to establish several websites for the marketing of
products and services over the Internet. The Company plans to develop the sites
independently and through strategic alliances and believes it can obtain
necessary financing for the short term from existing shareholders and other
sources. Management thinks the World Wide Web is becoming the marketplace of
choice for consumers all across the globe. While there are innumerable websites
now in operation, management believes that there are still many worthwhile
opportunities to pursue. Many websites attempt to make themselves appealing to
the broadest audience possible. The Company hopes that it can develop multiple
sites targeted to the interests of specific demographic groups by entering into
joint ventures with specialists in such groups. In this way, the Company
believes it can foster multiple communities of loyal participants, which, in
turn will lead to long term marketing possibilities. Members of the Company's
new senior management and
14
Board of Directors, in addition to having general management experience as
Chairman/CEO of a large public company (Lawrence M. Powers) or President (Robert
Ingenito) of publicly held and private businesses, have backgrounds in direct
marketing, computer manufacturing and management consulting (Jon Gerber), and
finance and acquisitions.
The Company is planning to change its corporate name to Siti-Sites.com,
Inc. but will retain its stock symbol "SITI". The name change is subject to
shareholder approval and will be presented at the next meeting of shareholders,
scheduled within the next several months. Shareholders owning approximately
two-thirds of the issued and outstanding shares of its common stock have
expressed approval of the name change as being in the best interest of the
Company and its shareholders.
Due to the emerging nature of the Company's business, management had
closed the offices previously rented and postponed the expense of obtaining
corporate office space. To date, management continues to operate the Company's
administrative business from its personal offices but expects to open new
offices in New York and Los Angeles as its new Tropia subsidiary gets underway.
The mailing address of the Company is currently P.O. Box 1006, New York, NY
10268-1006 and its telephone number remains (914) 251-1800.
Prior to its acquisitions described herein, the primary expenses of the
Company since the change of control transaction were accounting and legal costs.
Minutemeals (Discontinued Development Project)
In pursuit of its Internet strategy, in March 1999 the Company entered
into an Investment and Business Development Agreement with the creators of a
food/lifestyle web site, "minutemeals.com." Minutemeals.com was to provide
menus, recipes, instructions, shopping lists, etc. to enable busy people prepare
complete meals at home in twenty minutes, with home delivery of food planned for
the future. The Company contributed $105,000 to Minutemeals.com, Inc., which
owned the website, for a minority interest in that corporation and an option to
evaluate the project in the future. The remainder of the stock was owned by the
creators of minutemeals.com. The website was to undergo a four month testing and
development period after which the Company would have the option to further fund
the project and acquire the remaining shares. Prior to the conclusion of this
testing and development period, the parties agreed that it would be in their
best interests to cease their arrangement due to creative differences as to the
development path for the website and other underlying business reasons. The
Company announced in May 1999 that the Investment and Business Development
Agreement had been terminated. The Company then transferred its stock of
Minutemeals.com, Inc. back to that corporation in satisfaction of all of its
obligations and received back $23,000 in funding.
Risk Factors that May Affect the Company's Business, Future Operating Results
and Financial Condition.
In addition to the other information in this Annual Report on Form
10-K, the following risk factors should be considered in evaluating the
Company's business and prospects.
Limited Operating History in New Business
The Company's senior management and Board of Directors were replaced in
December 1998 following the change of control transaction. The new senior
management and Board changed the direction and nature of the Company's business.
Prior to that time, the Company had engaged in other businesses and developed a
negative image which will need to be overcome. The Company does not expect the
former businesses to provide any material future revenues. See "- Prior Company
History."
15
On June 23, 1999, the Company entered into an entirely new business
when it consummated its acquisition of Tropia. See "- Tropia." The concept
behind this business is relatively new. In addition, the Tropia website only
went online in May 1999. The Company has little operating history upon which an
evaluation of its new business and prospects can be based. It is uncertain
whether a website that relies upon attracting people to listen to and download
music from lesser-known independent artists can attract a sufficient number of
customers to survive. New offerings will need to be developed to meet constantly
changing consumer preferences and new competition. There can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to provide an acceptable blend of products and
services to continuously attract them to the website. The website will provide
much of its music without charge, and may not be able to generate sufficient
revenue to cover its expenses. The Company cannot give assurances that it will
be successful, grow or be profitable.
History of Losses; Anticipation of Future Losses
In its prior activities, the Company incurred significant operating
losses from its discontinued operations during its last three fiscal years;
of approximately $5.4 million for the year ended March 31, 1997, $3.1 million
for the year ended March 31, 1998, and $1.3 million for the period ending
December 31, 1998. (See Note 1(c) to the consolidated financial statements).
As of March 31, 1999, the Company's accumulated deficit was approximately $72
million. The Company has not achieved profitability and expects to incur
operating losses for the foreseeable future. The Company anticipates that in
the foreseeable future it will depend substantially on revenue from the sale
of CDs and merchandise over the website. The Company will need to generate
significant revenues to achieve and maintain profitability, and cannot give
assurances that it will be able to do so. Even if profitability is achieved,
the Company cannot give assurances that it can sustain or increase
profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future. See "Item 7.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."
New Market
The market for online music promotion and distribution is relatively
new and rapidly evolving. As a result, demand and market acceptance for the
Company's products and services are subject to a high degree of uncertainty and
risk. The Company is attempting to capitalize on a talent pool of independent
artists not currently served by the traditional recording industry. There is no
assurance that consumers will continue to be interested in listening to or
purchasing music from these artists. If this new market fails to develop,
develops more slowly than expected or becomes saturated with competitors, or the
Company's products and services do not achieve or sustain market acceptance, the
Company's business could be harmed. See "- Business - Competition."
Reliance on Artists and Independent Record Labels
The Company will rely on artists and independent record labels to
provide content for the website. The Company's success depends on having a
website that offers high quality and diverse music choices, all of which come
from outside artists. The Company's failure to attract and retain artists and
record labels who can provide content would limit the overall quality and
quantity of the offerings on the website and harm the Company's business.
Because the Company's artist and record label contracts are non-exclusive and
can be terminated at anytime, the Company's retention of artists and record
labels requires that the Company offer sufficient benefits, such as artist
services and artist-oriented content, to encourage them to remain with the
website. If the Company is not able to maintain its ability to serve and provide
valuable tools to artists, artists and record labels may leave the website and
remove their content. This could also prevent the Company from attracting new
artists. The loss of artists and the inability to attract new artists would
impair the Company's ability to generate revenue. Since the Company's artists
will be independent, they generally will not be well-known or have had a large
following. In addition, if
16
the Company develops a bad reputation among independent artists and record
labels, the website's content could be adversely affected.
Development of New Standards for the Electronic Delivery of Music
The Company currently relies on MP3 technology for both brand identity
and as a delivery method for the digital distribution of music. The Company does
not own or control MP3 technology. The onset of competing industry standards for
the electronic delivery of music could significantly affect the way the Company
operates its business as well as the public's perception of the Company. For
example, some of the major recording studios have recently announced a plan to
develop a universal standard for the electronic delivery of music, called the
Secured Digital Music Initiative, or SDMI, and have announced their intention to
make this delivery method available by the end of 1999. In addition, major
corporations such as Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corporation, AT&T Corp. and Sony
Corporation have launched efforts to establish proprietary audio formats that
will compete with the MP3 format. Some competitive formats offer security and
rights-tracking features that MP3 technology does not currently offer.
Widespread industry and consumer acceptance of any of these audio formats could
significantly harm the Company's business if it is unable to adapt and respond
to such changing standards. Although the Company is not tied exclusively to the
use of MP3 technology or to any other specific standard for the electronic
delivery of music, if a proprietary music delivery format receives widespread
industry and consumer acceptance, the Company may be required to license
additional technology and information from third parties (which may be
competitors of the Company) in order to adopt such a format. The Company cannot
provide any assurance that this third-party technology and information will be
made available to the Company on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
MP3 technology is Controversial
The traditional music industry has not embraced the development of the
MP3 format to deliver music, in part because users of MP3 technology can
download and distribute unauthorized or "pirated" copies of copyrighted recorded
music over the Internet. Although the Company's philosophy of dealing only with
independent artists and independent record labels will not facilitate music
piracy and can support multiple audio compression and delivery technologies, the
Company may still face opposition from a number of different music industry
sources including record companies and studios, the Recording Industry
Association of America and certain artists, due to the Company's use of MP3
technology. In addition, adverse news or events relating to MP3 technology
generally may harm the Company's business.
Continued Development and Maintenance of the Internet and the
Availability of Increased Bandwidth to Consumers
The success of the Company's business will depend largely on the
development and maintenance of the Internet infrastructure to make the Internet
a viable commercial marketplace for the long term. This includes maintenance of
a reliable network with the necessary speed, data capacity and security, as well
as timely development of complementary products such as high speed modems, for
providing reliable Internet access and services. Because global commerce on the
Internet and the online exchange of information is new and evolving, the Company
cannot predict whether the Internet will prove to be a viable commercial
marketplace in the long term. The success of the Company's business will rely on
the continued improvement of the Internet as a convenient means of consumer
interaction and commerce, as well as an efficient medium for the delivery and
distribution of music. The success of the Company's business will depend on the
ability of its artists and consumers to continue to upload and download MP3 and
other music files, as well as to conduct commercial transactions using the
website, without significant delays or aggravation that may be associated with
decreased availability of Internet bandwidth.
17
Consumers will need to access the website over a high-bandwidth connection, such
as cable or direct subscriber line modem or satellite data broadcast. If such
broadband distribution networks do not achieve widespread consumer acceptance,
the Company may be unable to effectively distribute content in its most
compelling format. There is no assurance that broadband distribution networks
will ever achieve consumer acceptance, and if they do not, the Company's growth
may be limited. Lack of "Name-Brand" Recognition
Many consumers remain unfamiliar with shopping on the Internet.
Concerns about transaction security, potential credit-card or other fraud,
service problems and the like have resulted in a retail environment favoring
well-established retail names. Retailers who have established themselves in
brick-and-mortar stores (like the Gap), catalogue sales (like Lands End) or
early Internet sales (like Amazon) are able to leverage early success into new
markets. For example, within six months of launching CD sales, Amazon acquired
over 50% of the market from the less well-known CD Now and Music Boulevard
sites. Consequently, the entry of established music retailers into the
downloadable music business will pose a substantial competitive threat for the
Company's business. See "- Business - Competition."
Future Acquisitions May Cause Dilution or Adversely Affect Operating
Results
As part of the Company's business strategy, the Company may seek to
acquire other websites for the marketing of products and services over the
Internet. The Company has no current agreements or commitments with respect to
any such acquisition and there can be no assurance that the Company will enter
into any such agreements or commitments. In the event of such future
acquisitions, the Company could (i) issue equity securities that would dilute
current stockholders' percentage ownership in the Company; (ii) incur
substantial debt; or (iii) assume contingent liabilities. Such actions could
cause the Company's operating results or the price of the Company's common stock
to decline. In addition, the Company may not be able to successfully integrate
any businesses, products, technologies or personnel that may be acquired in the
future.
The Company May Need to Obtain Additional Financing
Management believes that current cash and cash equivalents will be
sufficient to meet the Company's anticipated cash needs for working capital and
capital expenditures for the next eight to twelve months. The accompanying
consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared on the basis
that it is a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the
satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. However, because
of the Company's change in control, discontinuance of historical operations and
new strategic direction as of December 11, 1998, such realization of assets and
liquidation of liabilities is subject to substantial uncertainty. Further, the
Company's ability to continue as a going concern is highly dependent near term
on its ability to raise capital, upon the achievement of the business objectives
described in "Item 1. Business - Tropia" and profitable operations therefrom,
and the ability to generate sufficient cash from operations and financing
sources to (i) meet obligations, (ii) fund more rapid expansion, (iii) develop
new or enhance existing services or products, (iv) respond to competitive
pressures; or (v) acquire complementary businesses, technologies, content or
products. The Company cannot give assurances that these objectives will be met,
that acceptable alternatives will be found or that additional financing will be
available on terms favorable to it, or at all. See "Item 7. Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -
Liquidity and Capital Resources." Note 1(d) to the Financial Statements
Retention and Integration of its Existing Management; Hiring Additional
Qualified Employees
Retention and Integration of Employees
The Company's future performance will be substantially dependent on the
continued services of its management and the Company's ability to retain and
motivate them. See "- Business - Management
18
Background/Philosophy." The loss of the services of any of the Company's
officers or senior managers could harm the Company's business. The Company does
not have long-term employment agreements with any of its key personnel. All of
the Company's management team joined the Company after the change of control in
December 1998. Most of these individuals have not previously worked together and
are currently being integrated as a management team. If the Company's senior
managers are unable to work effectively as a team, the Company's business would
be harmed. The Company's future success will also depend on its ability to
attract, train, retain and motivate other highly skilled technical, managerial,
marketing and support personnel. Competition for these personnel is intense,
especially for engineers and web designers, and the Company may be unable to
successfully attract sufficiently qualified personnel. The Company will need to
integrate these employees into its business. The Company's inability to hire,
integrate and retain qualified personnel in sufficient numbers may reduce the
quality of the Company's programs, products and services, and could harm the
Company's business.
Continued Upgrading of Technology Infrastructure
The Company must continue to add hardware and enhance software to
accommodate increased content and use of the website. If the Company is unable
to increase the data storage and processing capacity of its systems at least as
fast as the growth in demand, the website may become unstable and may fail to
operate for unknown periods of time. Unscheduled downtime could harm the
Company's business and also could discourage users of the website and reduce
future revenues.
Systems Failure
Substantially all of the Company's hardware, operations and records are
currently located at the offices of Globix (a New York based service provider),
in its managements' home offices, temporarily in its accountant's offices and in
the home offices of its software developers. The Company intends to lease
offices in New York and Los Angeles in the near future to consolidate these
separate sites. Fire, floods, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications
failures, break-ins and similar events could damage these systems and cause
interruptions in the Company's services. Computer viruses, electronic break-ins
or other similar disruptive problems could result in reductions or termination
of the Company's services by its customers or otherwise adversely affect the
website or the Company's off premises providers. The Company's business could be
adversely affected if its systems were affected by any of these occurrences. The
Company's insurance policies may not adequately compensate the Company for any
losses that may occur due to any failures or interruptions in its systems. The
Company does not presently have any backup systems or a formal disaster recovery
plan. The website must be able to accommodate a high volume of traffic and may
in the future experience slow response times or decreased traffic for a variety
of reasons. In addition, the Company's customers depend on Internet service
providers, online service providers and other website operators for access to
the Tropia website. Many of them have experienced significant outages in the
past, and could experience outages, delays and other difficulties due to system
failures unrelated to the Company's systems. Moreover, the Internet network
infrastructure may not be able to support continued growth.
Any of these problems could adversely affect the Company's business.
Web Security Concerns Could Hinder E-Commerce
A significant barrier to e-commerce and communications over the
Internet has been the need for secure transmission of confidential information.
Internet usage may not increase at the rate we expect unless some of these
concerns are adequately addressed and found acceptable by the market. Internet
usage could also decline if any well-publicized compromise of security occurred.
The Company may incur significant costs to protect against the threat of
security breaches or to alleviate problems caused by such breaches. Any such
protections may not be available at a reasonable price or at all. If a third
person
19
were able to misappropriate the personal information of the website's users, the
users could sue or bring claims against the Company.
The Company Faces Year 2000 Risks
Many existing computer programs cannot distinguish between a year
beginning with "20" and a year beginning with "19" because they use only the
last two digits to refer to a year. For example, these programs cannot tell the
difference between the year 2000 and the year 1900. As a result, these programs
may malfunction or fail completely. If the Company or any third parties with
whom the Company has a material relationship fail to achieve year 2000
readiness, the Company's business may be seriously harmed. In particular, year
2000 problems could temporarily prevent the Company from offering the Company's
goods and services. See "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure."
Government Regulation
The Company's business is subject to rapidly changing laws and
regulations. These laws and regulations could harm the Company by subjecting it
to liability or forcing it to change how it does business. See "- Business -
Government Regulation."
Liability for Content
The Company may be liable to third parties for content on the website
and on the CDs the Company distributes or for content that is accessible from
the website through links to other websites. The Company attempts to minimize
these types of liability. However, there can be no assurance that these measures
will be successful or that the Company will not be found liable for content.
Liability or alleged liability could harm the Company's business by damaging its
reputation, requiring the Company to incur legal costs in defense, exposing the
Company to awards of damages and costs and diverting management's attention away
from the Company's business. See "- Business - Intellectual Property."
Inadequate Intellectual Property Protection
The Company believes that its intellectual property is important to its
success and its competitive position and seeks to protect it. However, its
efforts may be inadequate. In addition, third parties may claim that the Company
violated their intellectual property rights. To the extent that such claim is
successful against the Company, the Company may be required to pay damages,
obtain a license to use such third party's intellectual property or use
non-infringing methods to conduct its activities. See "- Business - Intellectual
Property."
Market Listing; Volatility of Stock Price
The Company was delisted from the NASDAQ National Market in April 1995,
3 1/2 years before the recent change of control. Since then, the Company's
common stock has been traded on the OTC Bulletin Board. Since the Company's
emergence from Chapter 11 in 1997, the market for the Company's common stock has
been relatively illiquid and subject to wide fluctuations. There can be no
assurance that an active public market for the common stock will develop or be
sustained. Further, the market price of the Company's common stock may be highly
volatile based on quarterly variations in operating results, acquisitions by the
Company, announcements of technological innovations or new products by the
Company or its competitors, or other events or factors.
20
Shares Eligible for Future Sale
The Class A Preferred Stock of the Company (further described below at
"Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters") that was issued in connection with the settlement of a class action
litigation (762,303 of which were issued to a trustee for the plaintiffs for
later distribution) pursuant to the Plan has automatically converted to common
stock as of March 31, 1999. In addition, the Company has been informed by such
trustee that in June 1999, the Bankruptcy Court approved the distribution by the
trustee of these converted shares. There can be no assurance as to how long it
will take to distribute all of these shares. However, the sale in the public
market of these distributed shares, or other converted shares, could adversely
affect the future market price for the common stock. See "Item 3. Legal
Proceedings - Past Bankruptcy Proceedings."
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including, but not limited to statements related to business objectives and
strategy of the Company. Such forward-looking statements are based on current
expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's industry,
management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by the Company's management.
Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks,"
"estimates," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to
identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions that are difficult to predict; therefore, actual results may differ
materially from those expressed, forecasted, or contemplated by any such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual events or results to
differ materially include, among others, those set forth in "- Risk Factors That
May Affect the Company's Business, Future Operating Results and Financial
Condition." Given these uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Unless required by law,
the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
However, readers should carefully review the risk factors set forth in other
reports or documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and
Exchange ("SEC") Commission, particularly the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and
any Current Reports on Form 8-K.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
During November 1998 through January 1999, the Company terminated the
leases relating to all of its previously existing facilities, including its
former headquarters located on Westchester Avenue in Purchase, New York (2,400
square feet), its research and development facility located on Mount Royal
Avenue in Marlboro, Massachusetts (2,700 square feet), and its research and
development office located near Redwood City, California (500 square feet).
In connection with its acquisition of Tropia, the Company intends to
lease office and software development space in New York and Los Angeles, at
rentals to be negotiated. The members of the Company's senior management
continue to operate the Company's administrative business out of their personal
offices, and the Company's senior management had found the present arrangements
sufficient until the acquisition of Tropia.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
As of the date of this report the Company knows of no pending or
threatened legal actions that could have a material impact on the operations or
financial condition of the Company.
21
Past Bankruptcy Proceedings
On January 26, 1995, the Company and three of its four then current
operating subsidiaries, Computers Unlimited of Wisconsin, Inc., d/b/a Computer
Bay ("Computer Bay"), Dealer Services Business Systems, Inc., d/b/a Data One
("Data One"), and Spectrum Cellular Corporation ("Cellular"), filed petitions
for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States
Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York (the "Bankruptcy Court").
A fourth subsidiary, Spectrum Global Services, Inc., did not file for bankruptcy
protection but was sold by the Company in October 1995. The Bankruptcy Court
converted the action for Computer Bay to a case under Chapter 7 of the
Bankruptcy Code. A trustee oversaw the liquidation of Computer Bay's assets and
the Company no longer had control over the Computer Bay estate. Data One
consummated a separate liquidating plan of reorganization on October 4, 1996,
which had been unanimously supported by Data One's voting creditors. In March
1996, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Company's Third Amended Disclosure
Statement with respect to the Third Amended Consolidated Plan of Reorganization
Proposed by Spectrum and Cellular (the "Plan") dated as of March 18, 1996. As
contemplated by the Plan, the bankruptcy estates of Spectrum and Cellular have
been substantively consolidated. On August 14, 1996, the Bankruptcy Court
entered an order confirming the Plan, as amended. On March 31, 1997, the Company
consummated the Plan. The effective date of the Plan was March 31, 1997, and the
material provisions thereof are described in Note 1(b) to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.
Past Securities Related Proceedings
As previously reported by the Company, in December 1997, the SEC filed
a civil lawsuit against Salvatore T. Marino, a then-current employee and former
officer of the Company, and two of the Company's former directors and officers
alleging violations of certain sections of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
and rules promulgated thereunder. Prior to the change of control of the Company,
the Company agreed to pay approximately $229,000 to Mr. Marino ($100,000 of
which was paid to his counsel) as part of a settlement of his claim seeking to
have the Company advance legal fees incurred in defense of this action. Also as
previously reported by the Company, during May 1997, the SEC and the Company
reached a settlement agreement under which Spectrum agreed to the entry of an
administrative order requiring it to cease and desist from committing any and
future violations of the registration, antifraud, reporting and recordkeeping
provisions of the federal securities laws. The Company neither admitted nor
denied the SEC's findings relative to events in 1992 and 1993, and which relate
to the allegations in the SEC's action against Mr. Marino. The SEC did not seek
monetary penalties and recognized that the Company's then current Chief
Executive Officer and Board of Directors (since replaced in December 1998) had
cooperated in the SEC's investigation.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New
York previously informed the Company in 1997 that it was the subject of an
investigation regarding violations of securities laws that may have occurred
prior to the appointment in January 1995, of the Company's Chief Executive
Officer and Board of Directors, all of whom were replaced in December 1998 as
the new control group took over management. To the knowledge of current
management, no communication has been received on this matter since 1997.
Other Proceedings
From time to time in previous years, the Company has been a party to
other legal actions and proceedings incidental to its business. As of the date
of this report, however, the Company knows of no other pending or threatened
legal actions that could have a material impact on the operations or financial
condition of the Company.
22
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS
The common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the
"Common Stock"), was traded in the NASDAQ System from September 8, 1987 through
December 18, 1990. Prior to this period, and from December 19, 1990 through June
11, 1991, the Common Stock traded in the over-the-counter market. From June 12,
1991 through April 27, 1995, the Common Stock again was traded in the NASDAQ
System. The Common Stock was traded in the NASDAQ National Market System from
April 28, 1992 through April 26, 1995. On April 27, 1995, NASDAQ delisted the
Company from the National Market System because the Company failed to meet
certain net tangible asset and bid and ask price criteria. The stock is
currently being traded on the NASD OTC Bulletin Board. There are currently 13
registered market makers for the Common Stock.
On March 31, 1997, the Plan became effective, which included a 75:1
reverse stock split. See "Item 3. Legal Proceedings - Past Bankruptcy
Proceedings." On that day, the Company's reorganized common stock became
eligible for trading under the symbol "SITI." The range of high and low closing
bid prices for the Common Stock for the fiscal years 1999 and 1998 are set forth
below, reflecting the 75:1 reverse stock split. The National Quotation Bureau
provided this information which may not reflect actual transactions.
HIGH AND LOW BID PRICES
1999 1998
Low High Low High
First Quarter. $0.75 $1.69 $2.75 $7.00
Second Quarter 0.31 1.06 1.13 3.50
Third Quarter 0.13 3.13 1.50 2.28
Fourth Quarter 1.13 3.13 1.13 1.69
On June 28, 1999, the last reported bid and ask prices of the Common
Stock were $1.375 and $1.5315, respectively.
As of June 28,1999 there were approximately 5,186 holders of record of
the Company's Common Stock (which amounts do not include the number of
shareholders whose shares are held of record by brokerage houses but include
each brokerage house as one shareholder).
The Company has paid no dividends for the years ended March 31, 1999
and 1998 and the Company has no current plans to pay dividends in the
foreseeable future. The Company plans to retain earnings, if any, to finance
development and expansion of the Company's operations. Payment of cash
23
dividends, if any, in the future will be determined by the Company's Board of
Directors in light of future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition
and other relevant considerations.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
Pursuant to the Plan, the Company issued 1,089,006 shares of Class A
Stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the "Class A Stock"), in 1997
in connection with the settlement of a class action lawsuit pending at the time.
See "Item 3. Legal Proceedings - Past Bankruptcy Proceedings." The Company also
issued other shares of Class A Stock and Common Stock in connection with the
Plan. Each share of Class A Stock was convertible into one share of Common Stock
at any time and automatically converted into one share of Common Stock on March
31, 1999. The material provisions of the Plan are described in Note 1(b) to the
Consolidated Financial Statements. The exemption from registration for all Class
A Stock and Common Stock issued under the Plan was provided for in Section 1145
of the Bankruptcy Code.
On December 11, 1998, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase
Agreement with Powers & Co., a sole proprietorship owned by Lawrence M. Powers,
pursuant to which Lawrence M. Powers, through Powers & Co., purchased 3,000,000
shares of Common Stock and an option (the "Option") to acquire an additional
1,800,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share. The
Option was exercisable from the Closing Date until December 11, 2003. Powers &
Co. paid cash consideration of $600,000 for the Common Stock and the Option at
the closing. Mr. Powers is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
of the Company.
Also on December 11, 1998, Mr. Powers transferred 500,000 shares of
Common Stock and a portion of the Option (representing the right to acquire
300,000 shares of Common Stock) to Reece Schonfeld in consideration for
$100,000. The transfer to Mr. Schonfeld was effected immediately after the
closing of the sale of Common Stock and the Option to Powers & Co. Mr. Schonfeld
became a director of the Company but resigned on May 6, 1999.
On December 12, 1998:
(1) The Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with
Robert Ingenito, a director of the Company, pursuant to which
Mr. Ingenito purchased 500,000 shares of Common Stock and an
option to acquire an additional 300,000 shares of Common Stock
at an exercise price of $0.15 per share. Mr. Ingenito's option
is exercisable from December 12, 1998 until December 12, 2003.
The total purchase price paid by Mr. Ingenito for the Common
Stock and his option was $100,000.
(2) Lawrence M. Powers made a gift of 200,000 shares of Common
Stock and a portion of the Option (representing the right to
acquire 80,000 shares of Common Stock) to Jon Gerber, a second
cousin of Mr. Powers who is the Executive Vice-President,
Secretary and Treasurer of the Company.
(3) Lawrence M. Powers made gifts of (a) 995,000 shares of Common
Stock and a portion of the Option (representing the right to
acquire 690,000 shares of Common Stock) to Barclay Powers, the
son of Lawrence M. Powers, and (b) a total of 310,000 shares
of Common Stock and a portion of the Option (representing the
right to acquire 40,000 shares of Common Stock) to four other
individuals. Transfer instructions to complete these gifts
were given on December 27, 1998. Lawrence M. Powers and
Barclay Powers have a verbal understanding that the shares of
Common Stock and the portion of the Option (and the Common
Stock
24
issued upon exercise of the Option) gifted to Barclay Powers
may be voted, exercised and disposed of by either of them.
On December 21, 1998, Steven E. Gross, a Member of the law firm
representing the Company, entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with the
Company pursuant to which Mr. Gross purchased 250,000 shares of Common Stock and
an option to acquire an additional 150,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price of $0.15 per share. Mr. Gross' option is not exercisable until December
21, 1999 and it may be exercised from such date until December 21, 2003. The
total purchase price paid by Mr. Gross for the Common Stock and his option was
$50,000.
Also, on December 21, 1998, Jason Gross, son of Steven E. Gross,
entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with the Company, pursuant to which
Jason Gross purchased 250,000 shares of Common Stock and an option to acquire an
additional 150,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per
share. Jason Gross' option is not exercisable until December 21, 1999 and it may
be exercised from such date until December 21, 2003. The total purchase price
paid by Jason Gross for the Common Stock and his option was $50,000.
On December 24, 1998, Powers & Co. exercised its remaining option to
purchase 690,000 shares, and Barclay Powers exercised his option to purchase
690,000 shares, all at an exercise price of $.15 per share. The total price paid
to the Company by Mr. Powers and his son was $207,000. Upon completion of these
transactions, each of Barclay Powers and Powers & Co. owned 1,685,000 shares,
and no options to purchase shares.
On May 19, 1999, Mr. Gerber exercised the option to purchase 80,000
shares of Common Stock at $0.15 per share, and tendered $12,000 to the Company.
On June 23, 1999, the Company issued 45,833 shares of Common Stock to
Red Hat Productions, Inc. (an affiliate of certain officers and shareholders of
the Company), solely for issuance to Jonathan Blank, 56,250 shares of Common
Stock to Ari Blank, an employee of the Company, and 56,250 shares of Common
Stock to Arjun Nayyar, an employee of the Company, in connection with the
consummation of the acquisition of Tropia. On such date the Company also agreed
to deliver to an escrow agent an additional 45,833 shares of Common Stock in the
name of Red Hat Productions, Inc., solely for issuance to Jonathan Blank, an
additional 56,250 shares of Common Stock in the name of Ari Blank, and an
additional 56,250 shares of Common Stock in the name of Arjun Nayyar for
possible delivery to such parties in one year. See "Item 1. Business - Tropia."
The Company is using proceeds from the foregoing transactions to fund
its current operations, to explore new business opportunities and to retain
accounting, legal, and other professional advice.
The shares of Common Stock issued by the Company as described above
were issued in reliance upon the exemption from registration provided under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, on the basis that such transactions did not
involve any public offering. The stockholders who received such shares of the
Company had access to all relevant information regarding the Company necessary
to evaluate the investment; each such stockholder represented that the Common
Stock was being acquired for investment only. There was no general solicitation
or advertising involved, and the Company used reasonable care to ensure that
such stockholders were not underwriters.
25
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table presents selected financial information relating to
the financial condition and results of discontinued operations of the Company
and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and
notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
For the Years Ended March 31,
-------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total revenues of continuing operations 0 0 0 0 0
Loss from continuing operations (484) - - - -
Loss from continuing operations per
common share (0.17) - - - -
Net income (loss) from continuing and
discontinued operations (1,804) (3,077) (6,180) 2,942 (14,276)
Net income (loss) per share from
continuing and discontinued operations (0.56) (2.33) (6.04) 2.88 (14.01)
Weighted average common
Shares outstanding 3,200 (a) 1,325 1,022 1,022 1,019
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total assets 1,030 1,600 6,043 16,105 14,706
Long-term debt - - - - -
Stockholders' equity (deficit) 887 678 2,161 2,089 (901)
Dividends per share None None None None None
(a) See Note 1(m) (i) to Financial Statements regarding increase in outstanding
shares in December, 1998.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Organization and Change of Control
Spectrum was organized in 1984. As a result of a change of control of
the Company in December 1998, the Company's senior management and Board of
Directors were replaced. See "Item 1. Business - Change of Control." The new
senior management and Board of Directors changed the direction and nature of the
Company's business and discontinued its prior business. It is now seeking to
establish several websites for the marketing of products and services over the
Internet. The Company hopes that it can develop websites targeted to the
interests of specific demographic groups by entering into joint ventures with
specialists in such groups. The Company is planning to change its corporate name
to Siti-Sites.com, Inc. at its next annual meeting of shareholders, although it
will retain its stock symbol "SITI".
In pursuit of its new strategy, on June 23, 1999, the Company
consummated its acquisition of Tropia, which operates an MP3 music site that
promotes and distributes the music of independent artists through its website
located at www.tropia.com. Tropia is geared towards the college market. The
Tropia website, which went online in May 1999, uses the Internet and data
compression technologies, such as the MP3 (MPEG1, Layer 3) format, to create a
compelling experience for consumers to conveniently access an expanding music
catalogue, and a valuable distribution and promotional platform for music
artists. The website will showcase the music of independent artists and artists
signed by independent record labels. Consumers are able to search the website by
artist, by song title and by genre, and can sample and
26
download complete songs free of charge in MP3 format. The website also embodies
a 24 hour RealAudio radio station with multiple free radio streams, classified
by genre, to enable consumers to sample music. CDs and other merchandise (such
as posters, t-shirts, hats and stickers) of featured artists are also being
offered through the website. Prior to going online, the operations of Tropia
consisted largely of developing the website and the infrastructure necessary to
attract artists and download music on the Internet. See "Item 1. Business -
Tropia."
Prior to the change of control of the Company, the Company had
developed and patented technologies relating to wireless data transmission over
cellular networks and had later developed and patented new software and related
products for use in high speed Internet data transmission. See "Item 1. Business
- - Prior Company History." In 1995, the Company and three of its then current
operating subsidiaries filed Chapter11 bankruptcy petitions and a plan of
reorganization was consummated on March 31, 1997. See "Item. 3 Legal Proceedings
- - Past Bankruptcy Proceedings." Thereafter, the Company operated at a loss and
could not find financing to continue the development and marketing of its
products. By December 1998, the Company had wound down its overhead and
operations and was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy protection a second
time. In connection with the change of control, new financing was infused into
the Company. See "Item 1. Business - Prior Company History."
In view of the Company's new Internet business strategy and the rapidly
evolving nature of its business, the following information relating to the
results of the Company's prior discontinued operations should not be relied upon
as an indication of future performance. All of the Company's operations prior to
January 1, 1999 are discontinued operations. The following information should
also be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the
notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
27
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS; CONTINUING AND DISCONTINUED
The following discussion relates to the Company's continuing operations
since the Change of Control Transaction and its prior operations which were
discontinued December 31, 1999.
CONTINUING OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth certain financial data for continuing
operations for the periods indicated. As a result of the December 11, 1998
Change of Control Transaction described in "Item 1. Business-Change of
Control,", the Company discontinued its previous operations. In accordance with
Accounting Principles Board, ("APB") Statement #30, "Reporting the Effects of
the Disposal of a Segment of a Business," the prior years' financial statements
have been restated to reflect such discontinuation. All assets and liabilities
of the discontinued segment have been reflected as net liabilities of
discontinued operations.
Years Ended March 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 % 1998 % 1997 %
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTINUING OPERATIONS: (Amounts in thousands)
REVENUES 0 -- 0 -- 0 --
----------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES:
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE 414 -- 0 -- 0 --
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES 414 -- 0 -- 0 --
----------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS) $(414) -- -- -- -- --
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED REVENUES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
In view of the Company's new Internet business strategy and the rapidly
evolving nature of its business, the company had no revenues from continuing
operations.
OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
The operating costs and expenses are primarily composed of
compensation to employees via stock and options (See "Item 1. Business-Change
of Control") and legal and accounting fees which have been incurred while the
Company goes through its transition resulting from the December 11, 1998
Change of Control Transaction. See Operating Loss from Continuing Operations,
below. In accordance with Accounting Principles Board "Reporting the Effects
of the Disposal of a Segment of a Business," the prior years' financial
statements have been restated to reflect such discontinuation. All assets and
liabilities of the discontinued segment have been reflected as net
liabilities of discontinued operations.
OPERATING LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS
The Company had no Revenues and the Company's Operating Loss from
continuing operations for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999 was $414,000,
as shown above. This amount is primarily composed of compensation to
employees via stock and options (See "Item 1. Business-Change of Control")
and legal and accounting fees which have been incurred while the Company goes
through its transition resulting from the December 11, 1998 Change of Control
Transaction.
28
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE RELATED TO CONTINUING OPERATIONS
The company had no income from continuing operations. The expenses are
primarily compensation to employees via stock and options as well as legal and
accounting fees which have been incurred while the company goes through its
transition resulting from the December 11, 1998 Change of Control Transaction.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
As of March 31, 1999 the Company has working capital of $864,000 which
follows from the infusion of cash as a result of the December 11, 1998 Change of
Control transaction. The following information, to the extent that it relates to
prior discontinued operations, should not be relied on as an indicator of future
performance.
The Company called its employee loans during the quarter ended December
31, 1998. These loans were collateralized by the Company's Common Stock. The
former employees elected to default on their respective loans resulting in a
write-off in employee loans and the purchase of treasury stock. These
decreases were partially offset by the elimination of the litigation reserve
of $645,000 as well as the reduction in accounts payable and accrued expenses
of approximately $182,000 and $335,000, respectively. From fiscal 1997 to
fiscal 1998, working capital decreased by approximately $3,067,000 primarily
due to a decrease in cash and marketable securities of $3,259,000. The
decrease is due to the payment of approximately $2,572,000 in operating
expenses and $440,000 in bonus expenses for all employees, primarily in
accordance with Bankruptcy Court approved success bonus and new hire
employment contracts.
During the prior fiscal year, the Company paid approximately $440,000
in Chapter 11 claims in connection with the Plan and made no such payments
during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999. See "Item 3. Legal Proceedings -
Past Bankruptcy Proceedings." However, during the twelve months ended March 31,
1999, the Company paid approximately $229,000 pursuant to a settlement agreement
with a former employee. See "Item 3. Legal Proceedings - Past Securities Related
Proceedings."
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999, the Company purchased
58,000 shares of treasury stock. The Company issued loans as part of the
distribution of stock to employees which were collateralized by the Company's
common stock. During the fiscal year, the employees defaulted on their loans
resulting in the purchase of treasury stock for $7,000. During the fiscal
year ended March 31, 1998, the Company purchased $4,000 of treasury stock as
part of the distribution of stock to employees. There were no financing
activities for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
Capital expenditures amounted to approximately $74,000, $199,000 and
$116,000, respectively, for the twelve months ended March 31, 1999, March 31,
1998 and March 31, 1997. These expenditures were primarily related to the
outfitting of new engineering development facilities in the Marlboro,
Massachusetts area and the individual office in Redwood City, California. These
facilities, which were used in connection with the Company's discontinued
operations, have since been closed.
The Company currently is financing its daily operations primarily
through the application of the proceeds of the investments in the Company in
connection with the change of control transaction in December 1998 (see "Item 1.
Business - Change of Control"), as well as the proceeds from the exercise of
stock options. The Company has agreed to provide $100,000 of capital to Tropia
initially and approximately $800,000 of additional capital during the next
twelve months. The Company continues to monitor expenses in order to conserve
cash. Management believes that current cash and cash equivalents will be
sufficient to meet the Company's anticipated cash needs for working capital and
capital expenditures for the next eight to twelve months. The accompanying
consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared on the basis
that it is a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the
satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. However, because
29
of the Company's change in control, discontinuance of historical operations and
new strategic direction as of December 11, 1998, such realization of assets and
liquidation of liabilities is subject to substantial uncertainty. Further, the
Company's ability to continue as a going concern is highly dependent near term
on its ability to raise capital, upon the achievement of the business objectives
described in "Item 1. Business - Tropia" and profitable operations therefrom,
and the ability to generate sufficient cash from operations and financing
sources to (i) meet obligations, (ii) fund more rapid expansion, (iii) develop
new or enhance existing services or products, (iv) respond to competitive
pressures; or (v) acquire complementary businesses, technologies, content or
products. The Company cannot give assurances that these objectives will be met,
that acceptable alternatives will be found or that additional financing will be
available on terms favorable to it, or at all. If adequate funds are not
available or are not available on acceptable terms, the Company's ability to
fund expansion, take advantage of unanticipated opportunities, develop or
enhance services or products or otherwise respond to competitive pressures would
be significantly limited. If the Company raises additional funds by issuing
equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of its
stockholders will be reduced, and these securities may have rights, preferences
or privileges senior to those of such stockholders. Except as otherwise
disclosed therein, the accompanying consolidated financial statements do not
include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the
recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of
liabilities that may result from the possible inability of the Company to
continue as a going concern.
SUMMARY OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
The following discussion relates solely to discontinued businesses in
certain wireless data patents that preceded the Company's bankruptcy
reorganization (effective date March 31, 1997) (see "Item 3. Legal Proceedings -
Past Bankruptcy Proceedings"), the Company's unsuccessful software and related
products for use in high speed Internet data transmission (see "Item 1 Business
- - Prior Company History") and the change of control transaction of December 11,
1998 (see "Item 1 Business - Change of Control"). This discussion should not be
relied upon as an indication of future performance and is presented as a
separate discussion in accordance with APB Statement #30, "Reporting the Effects
of the Disposal of a Segment of a Business". Further, in order to separate the
effect of continuing operations from the discontinued operations, the reporting
period for discontinued operations is the nine month period ending December 31,
1998 and is not a full fiscal year. The prior reporting periods ending March 31,
1998 and 1997 represent full twelve month fiscal years.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the
percentage relationship that certain items bear to revenue from discontinued
operations. This summary provides trend data relating to the Company's
discontinued operations. Amounts set forth below reflect the Company's Data One
and Computer Bay subsidiaries as operations which were discontinued prior to
December 11, 1998.
30
OPERATING RESULTS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Years Ended March 31,
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 (a) % 1998 % 1997 %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Amounts in thousands)
Revenues $ 2,324 100.0 $ 1,833 100.0 $ 1,873 100.0
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues -- -- 52 2.8 161 8.6
Selling, general and administrative 4,115 177.1 5,015 273.6 5,677 2.705
Total operating costs and expenses 4,115 177.1 5,067 276.4 5,838 311.7
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Operating income (loss) $(1,791) (77.1) $(3,234) (176.4) $(3,965) (211.7)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Other income and (expenses) 471 20.2 157 8.5 (1,415) 75.5
(Loss) from discontinued operations $(1,320) (56.9) $(3,077) (167.9) $(5,380) (287.2)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
(a) The nine month reporting period for discontinued operations ends
December 31, 1998 and is not a full fiscal year, whereas data for
1998 and 1997 are for complete 12 month periods.
CONSOLIDATED REVENUES FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Consolidated revenues increased approximately $491,000 or 27% for the
nine month period ended December 31, 1998 as compared to the prior year, due to
a $626,000 or 37% increase in licensing revenues offset by a $135,000 or 94%
decrease in merchandise sales. Consolidated revenues decreased approximately
$40,000 or 2% for the twelve months ended March 31, 1998 as compared to the
prior year, due to a $245,000 or 63% decrease in merchandise sales offset by a
$205,000 or 14% increase in licensing revenues.
The increase in licensing revenues for the nine months ended December
31, 1998 as compared to the twelve month period in the prior fiscal year is
primarily due to the Company's recognition of approximately $1,350,000 in
revenues and $153,000 of accelerated royalty income. These amounts were
recognized in connection with an up-front fee pursuant to a license agreement
that the Company entered into during the current fiscal year, and the
acceleration of a guaranteed payment pursuant to a licensing agreement. This
non-recurring increase was partially offset by the decrease associated with the
renegotiation of a license agreement which the Company entered into in the prior
fiscal year. No further revenue is expected from these licensing agreements. The
Company has no future obligations to provide goods or services under these
agreements. The Company is not currently aware of any significant unlicensed
manufacturers that are infringing the Company's discontinued wireless data
products and associated patents. Furthermore, the Company is no longer carrying
these assets at any value, and does not expect them to provide material future
revenues.
The increase in licensing revenues for the twelve months ended March
31, 1998 as compared to the twelve months ended March 31, 1997 is primarily due
to a renegotiated license agreement the Company entered into with a leading
modem chipset manufacturer, which included an up-front fee of $1,000,000. This
increase was partially offset by a decrease in royalties that the Company
recognized as a result of the AT&T break-up. The decrease in licensing revenues
for the twelve months ended March 31, 1997, as compared to 1996 is primarily
attributable to the recognition of a one-time fee of $6,000,000, pursuant to a
licensing settlement agreement with U.S. Robotics (and its Megahertz, Inc.
subsidiary) in fiscal 1996. Licensing revenues for the fiscal year 1997 included
payments of approximately $850,000 of
31
an up-front license fee pursuant to an agreement that the Company entered into
during fiscal 1994. The Company received the final installments in the quarter
ended September 30, 1996, during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1997.
Merchandise sales decreased for the nine months ended December 31, 1998
as compared to the twelve months ended March 31, 1998 because of (1) the
continued effects of a licensing agreement the Company entered into with a
distributor, which agreed to assume the Company's activation kit business during
the quarter ended December 31, 1997, and (2) the discontinuance of the Company's
prior business in December 1998. Under the licensing agreement, the distributor
had committed to undertake specified marketing efforts intended to stimulate the
market for activated cellular capable modems and to pay the Company a royalty
for each activation kit it sells.
Merchandise sales decreased for the year ended March 31, 1998 as
compared to the year ended March 31, 1997 because of lower demand for the
Company's cellular data activation kits and the effects of the licensing
agreement discussed above.
OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Operating costs and expenses from discontinued operations decreased
approximately $952,000 or 19% for the nine months ended December 31, 1998 as
compared to the twelve months ended March 31, 1998, primarily due to a decrease
in selling, general and administrative expenses of approximately $900,000 or 18%
and a decrease in cost of sales of approximately $52,000 or 100%.
The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses for the
nine months ended December 31, 1998 as compared to the prior fiscal year was
primarily due to a decrease in outside services (mainly the independent
contractors retained to assist in the development of the Company's software
product) of $792,000 or 66%, due to the completion of this product. Selling,
general and administrative expenses further decreased as a result of the
Company's change in control in December 1998. As a result of this change, all
Spectrum employees were terminated and the facilities in Purchase, New York, as
well as all other offices, were closed.
Operating costs and expenses decreased approximately $771,000 or 13%
for the year ended March 31, 1998 as compared to the year ended March 31, 1997
primarily due to a $662,000 or 12% decrease in selling, general and
administrative expenses and a $109,000 or 68% decrease in cost of sales.
The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses for the
twelve months ended March 31, 1998 as compared to the prior fiscal year was
primarily due to a decrease in legal fees of $518,000 or 66% due to the
reduction of legal expenses following the Company's reorganization. During
fiscal year 1997, the Company recognized a $334,000 write-down of intangible
assets that was related to legal expenses incurred in defending the Company's
patents. Insurance expense decreased approximately $123,000 or 35% for the year
ended March 31, 1998 as compared to the same period in the prior year primarily
due to the reduction of policy premiums associated with the Company's directors'
and officers' insurance. Personnel and related expenses decreased $141,000 or 6%
for the year ended March 31, 1998 as compared to the same period in the prior
year due to a reduction in head count and because the Company did not pay
bonuses which had been paid in fiscal 1997 pursuant to the Bankruptcy Court
approved plan of reorganization. These decreases were offset by an increase of
$581,000 or 95% in outside services, primarily independent contractors retained
to assist in the development of the software product, for the twelve months
ended March 31, 1998 as compared to the twelve months ended March 31, 1997.
32
OPERATING LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
The Company's operating loss decreased $1,443,000, or 45%, to
$1,791,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 1998 as compared to the twelve
month period in the prior fiscal year. This decrease was primarily due to
decreased selling, general administrative expenses of $900,000 or 18% and
increased licensing revenues of $626,000 or 37%.
The Company's operating loss decreased $731,000 or 18% to $3,234,000
for the twelve months ended March 31, 1998, as compared to the same period in
the prior fiscal year primarily due to decreased selling, general administrative
expenses of $662,000 or 12% and decreased cost of sales of $109,000 or 68%.
OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE RELATED TO DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
Other income increased approximately $314,000 or 200% for the nine
month period ended December 31, 1998 as compared to the year ended March 31,
1998 as a result of the elimination of the litigation reserve, which resulted in
the recognition of approximately $416,000 in income. This increase was partially
offset by a $130,000 or 82% decline in interest income for the period reported,
as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year. Interest income
decreased because the Company had lower cash balance s than during the prior
fiscal year.
Other income decreased approximately $193,000 or 55% for the year ended
March 31, 1998 as compared to the year ended March 31, 1997, primarily due to a
$273,000 or 63% decrease in interest income. Interest income decreased because
the Company had lower cash balances than in the prior year as a result of
creditor payments of approximately $3,250,000 pursuant to the consummation of
the Plan. This decrease was partially offset by a loss the Company recognized
upon the sale of an investment during fiscal year 1997.
On October 4, 1996, Data One, a subsidiary of the Company, consummated
its Chapter 11 liquidation plan, which resulted in a gain of $531,000.
In addition, as discussed in "Item 1. Business - Change of Control," on
December 11, 1998, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with
Powers & Co., the principal of which is Lawrence M. Powers. Pursuant to this
Stock Purchase Agreement, Lawrence M. Powers, through Powers & Co., purchased
3,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock (which totaled approximately
54.9% of the outstanding aggregate shares of voting stock of the Company at the
time) and an option to acquire an additional 1,800,000 shares of the Company's
common stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share, for an aggregate purchase
price of $600,000. As a result of this transaction and subsequent investments
and option exercises, an aggregate of $1,007,000 of new equity was invested in
the Company. Giving effect to this change of control transaction, and losses
from continuing and discontinued operations, resulted in a net loss of
$1,804,000 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999 as compared to net losses
of $3,077,000 and $6,180,000 in fiscal years ending March 31, 1998 and 1997,
respectively.
In view of the Company's new Internet business strategy and the rapidly
evolving nature of its business, information relating to the results of the
Company's prior discontinued operations should not be relied upon as an
indication of future performance.
33
EXTRAORDINARY LOSS
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997, the Company reported an
extraordinary loss of approximately $800,000 in connection with the consummation
of the Plan. See "Item 3. Legal Proceedings - Past Bankruptcy Proceedings." As
of March 31, 1996, the Company had reserved approximately $8,400,000 related to
litigation and pre-petition accounts payable and accrued liabilities. On the
Effective Date of the Plan, the Company made payments of $3,000,000 in cash and
issued approximately $6,134,000 in Class A Convertible Preferred Stock. The
Company also recorded approximately $1,100,000 in connection with future cash
payments and stock issuances pursuant to the Plan. Collectively, these
transactions resulted in an extraordinary loss of $1,800,000, which was
partially offset by a gain of approximately $1,000,000 associated with a
reduction in professional fees approved by the Bankruptcy Court.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities", requires companies to recognize all
derivatives contracts as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and
to measure them at fair value. Historically, the Company has not entered into
derivatives contracts either to hedge existing risks or for speculative
purposes. Accordingly, the Company does not expect adoption of the new standard
on January 1, 2000 to affect its financial statements.
YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE
Many existing computer programs cannot distinguish between a year
beginning with "20" and a year beginning with "19" because they use only the
last two digits to refer to a year. For example, these programs cannot tell the
difference between the year 2000 and the year 1900. As a result, these programs
may malfunction or fail completely. Since the Company's business and,
consequently, its hardware, telecommunications and software systems are
relatively new, the Company believes most of these systems are already year 2000
ready and the Company does not expect internal year 2000 problems to materially
affect it. Nevertheless, because the Company's business relies heavily on the
Internet and on computer and telecommunication systems, including those of its
customers and other third parties, the year 2000 problem could seriously harm
the Company. Therefore, the Company is in the process of assessing the effect
that the year 2000 problem may have on it and developing a year 2000 readiness
plan. The Company is continuing to evaluate its information technology systems,
including computers and software applications, and its other technology systems,
such as its security systems and other equipment in which software is embedded.
As the Company identifies critical hardware, telecommunications, software and
other technology systems that require modifications, replacements or upgrades
needed for year 2000 readiness, the Company plans to make the required
modifications, replacements or upgrades. As of March 31, 1999, all hardware
which was in operation had been tested and found to be year 2000 compliant. All
software found not to be year 2000 compliant as of such date has been scheduled
to be retired or replaced no later than August 30, 1999. The Company estimates
that the costs of its year 2000 readiness efforts, including any necessary
modifications, upgrading or replacement of computer hardware or software, will
not exceed $25,000. The Company also is assessing how other parties' year 2000
problems could affect the Company. The Company intends to contact parties who
have material relationships with the Company, including its Internet service
providers, in order to inquire as to their year 2000 readiness. Based upon the
responses to these inquiries, the Company will evaluate the extent to which
these parties' year 2000 readiness, or lack of readiness, might impact the
Company's business. If the Company or any third parties with whom the Company
has a material relationship fail to achieve year 2000 readiness, the Company's
business may be seriously harmed. In particular, year 2000 problems
34
could temporarily prevent the Company from offering its goods and services. For
example, because the Company communicates with its users almost exclusively by
computer over the Internet, the Company's operations could be disrupted to the
extent year 2000 problems cause failures or malfunctions of computer or
telecommunications systems used by the Company's artists, customers or Internet
service providers. This, in turn, could result in financial loss and damage to
the Company's reputation. In addition, disputes could arise with customers and
other third parties over damage caused by the failure of the Company's products
or services to be year 2000 compliant, some of which might result in legal
liability. The need to address problems caused by failure to achieve year 2000
readiness also could divert the Company's management, personnel and financial
resources away from the Company's core business activities. The Company is
currently developing contingency plans to be implemented if the Company
encounters year 2000 problems. The Company expects to complete these plans in
September 1999. However, notwithstanding these plans and the Company's other
efforts, the Company cannot give assurances that the Company will be year 2000
ready, or that year 2000 problems will not adversely affect the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The company had no short-term investments as of March 31, 1999.
Market risk relating to the Company's interest bearing cash equivalents
held as of March 31, 1999 is considered to be immaterial.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Information called for by this item is set forth in the Company's
consolidated financial statements and supplementary data contained in
this report, and can be found at the pages listed in the following
index on page F-1.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
NONE.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The information required by Item 10 is incorporated by reference to the
Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission not later than July 29, 1999.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by Item 11 is incorporated by reference to the
Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission not later than July 29, 1999.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The information required by Item 12 is incorporated by reference to the
Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission not later than July 29, 1999.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The information required by Item 13 is incorporated by reference to the
Company's definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission not later than July 29, 1999.
35
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE FILED AS PART OF THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM
10-K:
1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FILED AS A PART OF THIS
REPORT ARE LISTED IN THE "INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES" AT ITEM 8.
2. FINANCIAL SCHEDULES
DO NOT APPLY
3. EXHIBITS
2.1 MERGER AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AMONG THE COMPANY,
SITI-II, INC., TROPIA, INC., RED HAT PRODUCTIONS, INC., ARI
BLANK AND ARJUN NAYYAR, DATED JUNE 23, 1999 (11)
2.2 FORM OF MERGER AGREEMENT AMONG THE COMPANY, MINUTEMEALS.COM,
INC., JOSEPH LANGHAN AND DONALD MOORE (10)
2.3 CONSOLIDATED PLAN OF REORGANIZATION PROPOSED BY SPECTRUM
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SPECTRUM CELLULAR
CORPORATION, DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 8, 1996 (5)
2.4 STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, DATED SEPTEMBER 11, 1995, BY AND
AMONG THE COMPANY AND THE LORI CORPORATION, COMFORCE
CORPORATION, ET AL. (4)
3.1 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF SPECTRUM INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGIES, INC., AS AMENDED (2)
3.2 CERTIFICATE OF MERGER BETWEEN SITI-II, INC. AND TROPIA, INC.
(11)
3.2 AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF SPECTRUM INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGIES, INC., AS AMENDED EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 29, 1994 (3)
3.3 RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF THE COMPANY (6)
3.4 RESTATED BYLAWS OF THE COMPANY (5)
36
10.1 INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT AMONG THE
COMPANY, MINUTEMEALS.COM, INC., JOSEPH LANGHAN AND DONALD
MOORE, DATED MARCH 19, 1999 (10)
10.2 STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND POWERS & CO.
DATED DECEMBER 11, 1998 (7)
10.3 STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND ROBERT
INGENITO DATED DECEMBER 12, 1998 (8)
10.4 STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND ROBERT
INGENITO DATED DECEMBER 12, 1998 (8)
10.5 STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND JON M. GERBER
DATED DECEMBER 12, 1998 (9)
10.6 STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND
DONALD J. AMORUSO (3)
10.7 STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND
CHRISTOPHER M. GRAHAM (3)
10.8 OPTION AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND
MAURICE W. SCHONFELD (1)
10.9 AMENDED AND RESTATED 1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN OF THE COMPANY (3)
10.10 AMENDMENT TO 1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN DATED JULY 6, 1994 (3)
10.11 AMENDMENT TO 1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN DATED APRIL 26, 1995 (3)
10.12 SPECTRUM 1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (5)
10.13 SPECTRUM 1996 INCENTIVE DEFERRAL PLAN (5)
10.14 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES,
INC. AND MIKHAIL DRABKIN DATED DECEMBER 11, 1998 (1)
10.15 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES,
INC. AND BARRY HINTZE DATED DECEMBER 11, 1998 (1)
10.16 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES,
INC. AND RICHARD DUFOSSE DATED DECEMBER 11, 1998 (1)
10.17 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES,
INC. AND CHRISTOPHER GRAHAM DATED DECEMBER 11, 1998 (1)
10.18 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES,
INC. AND DONALD AMORUSO DATED DECEMBER 11, 1998 (1)
10.19 SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES,
INC. AND SALVATORE T. MARINO DATED OCTOBER 4, 1998 (1)
10.20 TERMINATION AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 28, 1999 AMONG COMPANY,
MINUTENEALS.COM, INC. JOSEPH LANGHAN, AND DONALD MOORE (1)
21.1 SUBSIDIARIES OF SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (1)
23.1 CONSENT OF BDO SEIDMAN, LLP, FILED HEREWITH
27.1 FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE (1)
99.1 DISCLOSURE STATEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSOLIDATED PLAN OF
REORGANIZATION PROPOSED BY SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES,
INC. AND SPECTRUM CELLULAR CORPORATION, DATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 8, 1996 (5)
(1) FILED HEREWITH.
(2) PREVIOUSLY FILED AS AN EXHIBIT TO THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT
ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1990, AND
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.
(3) PREVIOUSLY FILED AS AN EXHIBIT TO THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT
ON FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1995, AND
INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE.
(4) PREVIOUSLY FILED AS AN EXHIBIT TO THE COMPANY'S CURRENT REPORT
ON FORM 8-K FILED OCTOBER 17, 1995, AND INCORPORATED HEREIN BY
REFERENCE.
(5) PREVIOUSLY FILED AS AN EXHIBIT TO THE COMPANY'S CURRENT REPORT
ON FORM 8-K FILED MARCH 26 1996, AND INCORPORATED HEREIN BY
REFERENCE.
(6) PREVIOUSLY FILED AS AN EXHIBIT TO THE COMPANY'S REGISTRATION
STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 DATED MARCH 31, 1997, AND INCORPORATED
HEREIN BY REFERENCE.
(7) PREVIOUSLY FILED AS AN EXHIBIT TO THE COMPANY'S CURRENT REPORT
ON FORM 8-K FILED DECEMBER 17, 1998, AND INCORPORATED HEREIN BY
REFERENCE.
(8) PREVIOUSLY FILED AS AN EXHIBIT TO MR. INGENITO'S SCHEDULE 13D
FILED DECEMBER 23, 1998.
(9) PREVIOUSLY FILED AS AN EXHIBIT TO MR. GERBER'S SCHEDULE 13D
FILED DECEMBER 23, 1998.
(10) PREVIOUSLY FILED AS AN EXHIBIT TO THE COMPANY'S CURRENT REPORT
ON FORM 8-K FILED APRIL 5, 1999 AND INCORPORATED HEREIN BY
REFERENCE.
(11) PREVIOUSLY FILED AS AN EXHIBIT TO THE COMPANY'S CURRENT REPORT
ON FORM 8-K FILED [JULY 31, 1996] AND INCORPORATED HEREIN BY
REFERENCE.
(b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
1. THE COMPANY FILED A CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K DATED APRIL 5,
1999, WHICH REPORTED THAT THE COMPANY HAD ENTERED INTO AN
INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH
MINUTEMEALS.COM, INC.
2. THE COMPANY FILED A CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K DATED [JUNE 30,
1999] WHICH REPORTED THAT THE COMPANY HAD ENTERED INTO A
MERGER AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH TROPIA, INC.
37
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.
SPECTRUM INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
DATED: JULY 13, 1999 BY /s/ Jon M. Gerber
-------------------------------
JON M. GERBER
(VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY AND TREASURER)
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, THIS REPORT
HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS ON BEHALF OF THE REGISTRANT AND
IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.
DATED: JULY 13, 1999 BY /s/ Lawrence M. Powers
-------------------------------
LAWRENCE M. POWERS
(CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS)
DATED: JULY 13, 1999 BY /s/ Robert Ingenito
-------------------------------
ROBERT INGENITO
(DIRECTOR)
DATED: JULY 13, 1999 BY /s/ Jon M. Gerber
-------------------------------
JON M. GERBER
(VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY,
TREASURER AND DIRECTOR)
38
SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1999 and 1998 F-3
Consolidated Financial Statements for Each of the Three Years in the Period Ended March 31, 1999
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-7 - F-19
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Spectrum Information Technologies, Inc.
New York, New York
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Spectrum
Information Technologies, Inc. and subsidiaries as of March 31, 1999 and
1998, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive
loss, stockholders' equity (deficit) and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended March 31, 1999. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
presentation of the financial statements. 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 consolidated financial position of Spectrum
Information Technologies, Inc. and subsidiaries at March 31, 1999 and 1998, and
the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended March 31, 1999 in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
The Company has experienced significant losses from continuing operations for
the three years ended March 31, 1999, largely due to professional fees incurred
in its 1997 bankruptcy reorganization, and in defending itself in the numerous
litigation cases prior to January 26, 1995 discussed in Note 6 to the
consolidated financial statements and the decline in its prior business. In
December 1998, new investors invested in excess of $1 million for a controlling
interest in the Company. As a result of this change of control transaction, the
Company's senior management and Board of Directors were replaced, the Company's
prior business was discontinued and the Company changed the direction and nature
of the Company's business. The Company is now seeking to establish several
websites for the marketing of products and services over the Internet. However,
because of significant recurring losses, the Company's change of control, the
discontinuance of its prior business and its new strategic direction, there
remains a substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going
concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared
assuming the Company will continue as a going concern. Management's plans in
regard to these matters are described in Note 1(a) to the consolidated financial
statements. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments
that might result from the outcome of the uncertainties discussed herein.
/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
BDO Seidman, LLP
New York, New York
June 11, 1999
F-2
SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
MARCH 31, 1999 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,007 $ 1,600
-------- --------
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 1,007 1,600
-------- --------
Investment in Minutemeals.com 23 --
-------- --------
TOTAL ASSETS $ 1,030 $ 1,600
-------- --------
-------- --------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities $ 24 $ --
Accrued legal fees 51 --
Net liabilities of discontinued operations 68 922
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 143 922
-------- --------
Total liabilities 143 922
-------- --------
COMMITMENTS
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Class A Convertible Preferred Stock, $.001 par value, 1,500 shares authorized,
and 0 and 813 issued and outstanding, respectively 1
Common stock, $.001 par value, 10,000 shares authorized and 7,904 and 1,557
issued and outstanding, respectively 8 2
Paid-in capital 73,752 71,740
Accumulated deficit (72,562) (70,758)
-------- --------
1,198 985
Treasury stock, 62 and 4 shares at cost, respectively (311) (304)
Accumulated comprehensive loss -- (3)
-------- --------
Total stockholders' equity 887 678
-------- --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,030 $ 1,600
-------- --------
-------- --------
SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
F-3
SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 1998 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVENUES $ -- $ -- $ --
------- ------- -------
OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Selling, general and administrative expenses 414 -- --
------- ------- -------
Total operating costs and expenses 414 -- --
------- ------- -------
OPERATING LOSS (414) -- --
------- ------- -------
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Loss on investment in Minutemeals.com (82) -- --
Interest income 12 -- --
------- ------- -------
Total other income (expense), net (70) -- --
------- ------- -------
LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS (484) -- --
------- ------- -------
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Loss from discontinued operations (1,320) (3,077) (5,380)
------- ------- -------
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (1,320) (3,077) (5,380)
------- ------- -------
EXTRAORDINARY LOSS ON EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT -- -- (800)
------- ------- -------
NET LOSS $(1,804) $(3,077) $(6,180)
Other comprehensive gain, net of tax 3 27 118
------- ------- -------
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS $(1,801) $(3,050) $(6,062)
------- ------- -------
------- ------- -------
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER COMMON SHARE:
Loss from continuing operations $ (.17) $ -- $ --
Loss on discontinued operations (.39) (2.33) (5.26)
Loss on extinguishment of debt -- -- (.78)
------- ------- -------
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE $ (.56) $ (2.33) $ (6.04)
------- ------- -------
------- ------- -------
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES USED IN BASIC AND DILUTED CALCULATION
(SEE NOTE 1 (m) (i) TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS)
3,200 1,325 1,022
------- ------- -------
------- ------- -------
SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
F-4
SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES SPECTRUM INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
Class A
Convertible
Preferred Common
Stock Stock Treasury Stock
----------- ----------- --------------
Accumulated
Paid-in Accumulated Comprehensive Total
Shares $ Shares $ Capital Deficit Shares $ Loss
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, March 31, 1996 - - 1,022 1 64,037 (61,501) 1 (300) (148) 2,089
Net loss - - - - - (6,180) - - - (6,180)
Comprehensive gain from Unrealized
gains on Marketable securities - - - - - - - - 118 118
Issuance of Class A convertible
Preferred stock 1,022 1 - - 6,133 - - - - 6,134
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, March 31, 1997 1,022 1 1,022 1 70,170 (67,681) 1 (300) (30) 2,161
Net loss - - - - - (3,077) - - - (3,077)
Comprehensive gain from Unrealized
gains on Marketable securities - - - - - - - - 27 27
Issuance of Class A convertible
Preferred stock 67 - - - 300 - - - - 300
Conversion of Class A convertible
Preferred stock to common stock (276) - 276 - - - - - - -
Issuance of common stock - - 259 1 1,270 - - - - 1,271
Purchase of treasury stock - - - - - - 3 (4) - (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, March 31, 1998 813 $1 1,557 $2 $71,740 $(70,758) 4 $(304) $(3) $ 678
Net loss - - - - - (1,804) - - - (1,804)
Comprehensive gain from Unrealized
gains on Marketable Securities - - - - - - - - 3 3
Issuance of common stock and options - - 5,534 5 1,716 - - - - 1,721
Purchase of treasury stock - - - - - - 58 (7) - (7)
Contribution of services by management - - - - 31 - - - - 31
Contribution of rent by management 15 15
Contribution of Administrative Services 250 250
Conversion of Class A convertible
Preferred stock to common stock (813) (1) 813 1 - - - - - -
Balance, March 31, 1999 - $- 7,904 $8 $73,752 $(72,562) 62 $(311) $- $ 887
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
F-5
SPECTRUM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
Year ended March 31, 1999 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss $ (1,804) $ (3,077) $ (6,180)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used by continuing
activities:
Compensation to employees via stock and options 250 -- --
Contribution of services by management 31 -- --
Contribution of rent by management 15
Increase in:
Accounts payable 4 -- --
Accrued liabilities 71 -- --
Loss on extinguishment of debt -- -- 800
Loss on discontinued operations 1,320 3,077 5,380
Loss on investment in Minutemeals.com 82 -- --
-------- -------- --------
Net cash used by continuing operations (31) -- --
Net cash used by discontinued operations (1,925) (3,012) (8,479)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used by operating activities (1,956) (3,012) (8,479)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities 449 1,759 108
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 3 3 --
Purchase of marketable securities -- -- (1,504)
Purchase of property and equipment (74) (199) (116)
Issuance of employee loans -- (79) --
Investment in Minutemeals (105) -- --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used by investing activities 273 1,484 (1,512)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock 800 -- --
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants 297 -- --
Purchase of treasury stock (7) (4) --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used by financing activities 1,090 (4) --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (593) (1,532) (9,991)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 1,600 3,132 13,123
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR (including cash amounts
in net assets of discontinued operations) $ 1,007 $ 1,600 $ 3,132
-------- -------- --------
-------- -------- --------
SEE ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
F-6
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) BUSINESS
Spectrum Information Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Spectrum" and, together with its subsidiaries, the "Company"),
was organized in 1984. As a result of a change of control of the
Company in December 1998, the Company's senior management and Board
of Directors were replaced. The new senior management and Board of
Directors changed the direction and nature of the Company's
business and discontinued its prior business. It is now seeking to
establish several websites for the marketing of products and
services over the Internet. The Company hopes that it can develop
websites targeted to the interests of specific demographic groups
by entering into joint ventures with specialists in such groups.
The Company is planning to change its corporate name to
Siti-Sites.com, Inc. at its next annual meeting of shareholders,
although it will retain its stock symbol "SITI". An aggregate of
$1,007,000 of new equity was invested in the Company as a result of
the change of control transaction and subsequent equity investments
and option exercises.
In pursuit of its new strategy, on June 23, 1999, the Company
consummated its acquisition of Tropia, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Tropia"), which operates an MP3 music site that promotes and
distributes the music of independent artists through its website
located at www.tropia.com. The Company has agreed to provide
$100,000 of capital to Tropia initially and approximately $800,000
of additional capital during the next 12 months. The acquisition
was effected by merging Siti-II, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Spectrum, with and into Tropia. Tropia
is geared towards the college market. The Tropia website, which
went online in May 1999, uses the Internet and data compression
technologies, such as the MP3 (MPEG1, Layer 3) format, to create a
compelling experience for consumers to conveniently access an
expanding music catalogue, and a valuable distribution and
promotional platform for music artists. The website will showcase
the music of independent artists and artists signed by independent
record labels. Consumers are able to search the website by artist,
by song title and by genre, and can sample and download complete
songs free of charge in MP3 format. The website also embodies a 24
hour RealAudio radio station with multiple free radio streams,
classified by genre, to enable consumers to sample music. CDs and
other merchandise (such as posters, t-shirts, hats and stickers) of
featured artists are also being offered through the website. Prior
to going online, the operations of Tropia consisted largely of
developing the website and the infrastructure necessary to attract
artists and download music on the Internet. This acquisition is
more fully described in Note 8 (b).
Prior to the change of control of the Company described above, the
Company had developed and patented technologies relating to
wireless data transmission over cellular networks and had later
developed and patented new software and related products for use in
high speed Internet data transmission. In 1995, the Company and
three of its then current operating subsidiaries filed Chapter11
bankruptcy petitions and a plan of reorganization was consummated
on March 31, 1997 (Note 1(b)). Thereafter, the Company operated at
a loss and could not find financing to continue the development and
marketing of its products. By December 1998, the Company had wound
down its overhead and operations and was on the verge of filing for
bankruptcy protection a second time at the time of the change of
control transaction. The Company does not expect the Company's
former discontinued businesses to provide any material future
revenues.
Because of the emerging nature of its business and the change of
control transaction, from December 11, 1998 through December 31,
1998, management closed the offices previously rented by the
Company and from January 1, 1999 management has postponed the
expense of obtaining corporate office space, but intends to have
new offices in New York City and Los Angeles. Until that time,
management continues to operate from its personal offices. The rent
which would have been paid under more normal circumstances, after
vacating the Purchase New York facility on December 31, 1998, has
been estimated to be $15,000 for the period January 1, 1999 through
March 31, 1999 and has been included in Administrative Expenses and
as an addition to Paid in Capital. The Company has placed into
storage certain computer equipment which it hopes to use for its
planned web-sites. No employees have yet been put on salary from
December 11, 1998 through March 31, 1999. Present management has
been working without salary and may continue to do so for an
undetermined period of time. The foregone salaries have been
estimated to be $31,250 and have been included in Administrative
Expenses and as an addition to Paid in Capital. Management also
received stock and options valued at approximately $250,000 from
the Chief Executive Officer and has been included in Administrative
Expenses and as an addition to Paid in Capital.
In view of the Company's new Internet business strategy and the
rapidly evolving nature of its business, the following information
relating to the results of the Company's prior discontinued
operations should not be relied upon as an indication of future
performance.
F-7
(b) THE COMPANY'S PRIOR REORGANIZATION
On January 26, 1995, the Company and three of its four then current
operating subsidiaries, Computers Unlimited of Wisconsin, Inc., d/b/a
Computer Bay ("Computer Bay"), Dealer Services Business Systems,
Inc., d/b/a Data One ("Data One"), and Spectrum Cellular Corporation
("Cellular"), filed petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the
Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern
District of New York (the "Bankruptcy Court"). A fourth subsidiary,
Spectrum Global Services, Inc., did not file for bankruptcy
protection but was sold by the Company in October 1995. The
Bankruptcy Court converted the action for Computer Bay to a case
under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. A trustee oversaw the
liquidation of Computer Bay's assets and the Company no longer had
control over the Computer Bay estate. Data One consummated a separate
liquidating plan of reorganization on October 4, 1996, which had been
unanimously supported by Data One's voting creditors (see Note 6(a)).
In March 1996, the Bankruptcy Court approved the Company's Third
Amended Disclosure Statement with respect to the Third Amended
Consolidated Plan of Reorganization Proposed by Spectrum and Cellular
(the "Plan") dated as of March 18, 1996. As contemplated by the Plan,
the bankruptcy estates of Spectrum and Cellular have been
substantively consolidated. On August 14, 1996, the Bankruptcy Court
entered an order confirming the Plan, as amended. On March 31, 1997
(the "Effective Date"), the Company consummated the Plan. On March
31, 1997, the Company consummated the Plan (the "Effective Date").
The Plan, as approved by the Bankruptcy Court, provided for the
following:
(i) Full payment of all general unsecured and priority claims plus
6% interest per annum from the filing date thereon totaling
approximately $2,954,000.
(ii) $300,000 of common stock to be issued to the trustee of Computer
Bay as a portion of the settlement of the trustee's claim. The number
of shares issued in May 1997, 66,667, was determined based on the
average bid or reported low price of the reorganized common stock for
the last five business days preceding the thirty-first day following
the Effective Date of the Plan set forth in the Bankruptcy Court
approved settlement agreement. This amount was recorded as a reserve
for Chapter 11 claims to be paid in stock.
(iii) $112,000 of common stock to be issued to the Company's former
financial advisor in settlement of an administrative claim. The
number of shares issued in May 1997, 24,939, was determined based on
the average bid or reported low price of the reorganized common stock
for the last five business days preceding the thirty-first day
following the Effective Date of the Plan as set forth in the
Bankruptcy Court approved settlement agreement. This amount was
recorded as a reserve for Chapter 11 claims to be paid in stock.
(iv) The settlement of the class action lawsuits of approximately
$676,000,000 filed against the Company by the payment by the Company
of $250,000 and the delivery of approximately 45% of the equity
ownership in Spectrum to a trustee to be distributed to the members
of the class.
This resulted in a total of 1,089,006 shares of Class A Convertible
Preferred Stock to be granted to the class. These shares were
recorded at their fair value of $6,434,000. 1,022,339 of these shares
were recorded as Class A Convertible Preferred Stock and paid-in
capital since they were issued on the Effective Date. The remaining
66,667 shares were issued in May 1997 and therefore recorded as a
reserve for Chapter 11 claims to be paid in stock.
(v) A 75 to 1 reverse stock split for all outstanding shares of the
Company's common stock on the Effective Date of The Plan.
(vi) Success bonus payable of $300,000 in cash and approximately
227,000 shares of reorganized common stock pursuant to the incentive
plans discussed in Note 2. The shares were valued at $1,363,122. This
value was recorded as a reserve for Chapter 11 claims to be paid in
stock. The cash portion was recorded as an accrued liability at March
31, 1997.
(vii) Waiver and non-payment of approximately $1,082,000 of accrued
professional fees approved by the Bankruptcy Court.
As a result of the consummation of the Plan and the consummation of
the liquidating plan of reorganization of Data One, the Company
recorded an extraordinary loss of approximately $800,000 in fiscal
1997 calculated as follows:
F-8
Liabilities subject to compromise at March 31, 1996
(excluding Data One because a separate liquidating plan of
reorganization was consummated on October 14, 1996
resulting in a gain on disposal of $531,000) $8,456,000
Waiver and non-payment of accrued professional fees 1,082,000
Class Action settlement (6,684,000)
General unsecured and priority claims plus interest and reserve for disputes
(3,654,000)
----------
Total extraordinary loss on extinguishment of debt $ (800,000)
----------
----------
(c) DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
As a result of the December 11, 1998 Change of Control Transaction
described in Note 1(a), the Company discontinued its operations
resulting in a loss of $1,320,000 from the discontinued operations.
In accordance with Accounting Principles Board, ("APB") Statement
#30, "Reporting the Effects of the Disposal of a Segment of a
Business," the prior years' financial statements have been restated
to reflect such discontinuation. All assets and liabilities of the
discontinued segment have been reflected as net liabilities of
discontinued operations. The following table reflects the net
liabilities:
FOR THE PERIODS ENDED, MARCH 31, 1999 1998
-------------------------------
MARKETABLE SECURITIES -- 449
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET -- 194
REFUNDS RECEIVABLE 12 --
EMPLOYEE LOANS -- 79
PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER 8 192
FIXED ASSETS -- 258
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE (3) (190)
ACCRUED EXPENSES (85) (490)
RESERVE FOR LITIGATION (645)
DEFERRED ROYALTY INCOME (153)
RESERVE FOR UNPAID CHAPTER 11 CLAIMS (616)
-------------------------------
TOTAL (68) (922)
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
Operating results from discontinued operations are as follows:
FOR THE PERIODS ENDED, MARCH 31, 1999 1998 1997
---- ---- ----
REVENUES $ 2,324 $ 1,833 $ 1,873
------- ------- -------
OPERATING COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of Sales - 52 161
Selling, general and administrative expenses 4,115 5,015 5,677
------- ------- -------
Total operating costs and expenses 4,115 5,067 5,838
------- ------- -------
OPERATING LOSS (1,791) (3,234) (3,965)
Other income and (expenses) 471 157 (1,415)
-----------------------------------
(LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS $ (1,320) $ (3,077) $ (5,380)
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
(d) BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company
have been prepared on the basis that it is a going concern, which
contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of
liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company continues
to monitor expenses in order to conserve cash. However, because of
the Company's change in
F-9
control, discontinuance of historical operations and new
strategic direction as of December 11, 1998, such realization of
assets and liquidation of liabilities is subject to substantial
uncertainty. Further, the Company's ability to continue as a
going concern is highly dependent near term on its ability to
raise capital, upon the achievement of the business objectives
described in Note 1(a) and profitable operations therefrom, and
the ability to generate sufficient cash from operations and
financing sources to (i) meet obligations, (ii) fund more rapid
expansion, (iii) develop new or enhance existing services or
products, (iv) respond to competitive pressures, or (v) acquire
complementary businesses, technologies, content or products. The
Company cannot give assurances that these objectives will be met,
that acceptable alternatives will be found or that additional
financing will be available on terms favorable to it, or at all.
If adequate funds are not available or are not available on
acceptable terms, the Company's ability to fund expansion, take
advantage of unanticipated opportunities, develop or enhance
services or products or otherwise respond to competitive
pressures would be significantly limited. If the Company raises
additional funds by issuing equity or convertible debt
securities, the percentage ownership of its stockholders will be
reduced, and these securities may have rights, preferences or
privileges senior to those of such stockholders. Except as
otherwise disclosed therein, the accompanying consolidated
financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect
the possible future effects on the recoverability and
classification of assets or the amounts and classification of
liabilities that may result from the possible inability of the
Company to continue as a going concern. The financial statements
for the years ended March 31, 1997, reflect accounting principles
and practices set forth in AICPA Statement of Position 90-7,
"Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization Under the
Bankruptcy Code", which the Company adopted as of January 26,
1995, the date of the Company's Chapter 11 filing (Note 6(a)).
(e) USE OF ESTIMATES
In preparing financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles, management is required to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets
and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
(f) PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the
accounts and results of operations of the Company's former wholly
owned subsidiary, Cellular and its former subsidiary, Data One
(through October 4, 1996 when the subsidiary was liquidated in
Chapter 11 as described in Notes 1(b) and 6) has been reflected as a
discontinued operation for all periods presented (Note 1(c)). All
significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation.
(g) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents include the Company's cash balances and
short-term investments that mature in 90 days or less when acquired.
Cash and cash equivalents are carried at cost plus accrued interest,
which approximates market.
(h) REVENUE RECOGNITION
Sales of product from discontinued operations were recognized upon
shipment to the customer. Deferred revenue on licensing agreements
was recognized when earned based on each individual agreement. During
the fiscal year ending March 31, 1999 several licensing agreements
were renegotiated to provide for lump sum final payments versus
ongoing royalties. As these renegotiated agreements did not require
the Company to provide future products or services, revenue was
recognized upon completion of the terms of the agreements. These
revenues are shown in Note 1(c).
(i) PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is recorded
using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the
assets of 3 to 5 years. Currently the Company has no material fixed
assets of value.
F-10
(j) LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
Loss per share for the years ended March 31, 1999, March 31, 1998 and
March 31, 1997 was based on the weighted average number of common
shares and common stock equivalents (convertible preferred shares,
stock options and warrants), if applicable, assumed to be outstanding
during the year. The weighted average number of shares used in the
computation of loss per share for 1999, 1998 and 1997 are
approximately 3,200,000, 1,325,000 and 1,022,000, respectively.
Common stock equivalents were not included in the computation of
weighted average shares outstanding for all periods presented because
such inclusion would be anti-dilutive. Because of the substantial
sales of common stock and options in December 1998, the weighted
average number of 3,200,000 shares of common stock is not fully
reflective of the 7,904,345 shares outstanding as of March 31, 1999.
All references in the consolidated financial statements with regard to
average number of shares have been calculated giving retroactive
effect to the reverse stock split discussed in Note 1(b)(v).
(k) COMPREHENSIVE GAIN (LOSS)
The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard
("SFAS") No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" which requires that
all components of comprehensive income and total comprehensive income
be reported on one of the following: a statement of income and
comprehensive income, a statement of comprehensive income or a
statement of stockholders' equity. Comprehensive income is comprised
of net income and all changes to stockholders' equity, except those
resulting from investments by owners (changes in paid in capital) and
distributions to owners (dividends). For all periods presented,
comprehensive income is comprised of unrealized holding losses on
marketable securities.
(l) RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133,
"Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS
133 requires companies to recognize all derivatives contracts as
either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and to measure them
at fair value. Historically, the Company has not entered into
derivatives contracts either to hedge existing risks or for
speculative purposes. Accordingly, the Company does not expect
adoption of the new standard to affect its financial statements.
2. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(a) CLASS A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
Shares of Class A Convertible Preferred Stock were convertible to
common stock on a one-to-one basis upon the request of the holder and
were automatically converted on March 31, 1999. Until March 31, 1999,
holders of such shares had liquidation preference in bankruptcy and
have had the same voting rights as the common stockholders. During the
year ended March 31, 1999 all shares previously not converted,
approximately 813,000, were converted from preferred stock to common
stock. During the year ended March 31, 1998 approximately 276,000
shares were converted from preferred stock to common stock.
F-11
(b) STOCK AND OPTION ISSUANCES
The Company has issued common stock and options under the provisions
of:
(i) 1991 AND 1992 STOCK OPTION PLANS
The Company has two Stock Option Plans (the "1991 and 1992
Plans") covering the issuance of incentive and non-qualified
stock options to key employees, consultants and non-employee
directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. The aggregate
number of shares of common stock granted under the 1991 and
1992 Plans is 294,560 shares. All of the options available
under these plans had been awarded prior to the Company's
reorganization and were treated in accordance with the 75:1
reverse split set forth in the Plan. Additional information
follows:
Shares Subject Weighted Average
to Options Exercise Price
-------------------------------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1996 at $75.00 - $337.50 per share 95,393 $149.78
Extinguished at $84.38 - $225.00 per share (41,496) $119.14
-------------------------------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1997 at $75.00 - $337.50 per share 53,897 $173.37
Extinguished at $84.38 - $225.00 per share (7,999) $178.13
-------------------------------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1998 at $84.38 - $337.50 per share 45,898 $172.54
Extinguished at $84.38 - $225.00 per share -- $ --
-------------------------------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1999 at $84.38 - $337.50 per share 45,898 $172.54
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
The following table summarizes information about the 1991 and 1992 Plans'
stock options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 1999 in accordance
with the 1991 and 1992 stock option plans:
Outstanding and
Range of Exercise Exercisable at Weighted Average Remaining Weighted Average
Prices March 31, 1999 Contractual Life (Years) Exercise Price
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$75.00 to 337.50 27,751 .75 $185.53
$84.38 to 324.75 9,212 1.49 $129.02
$84.38 to$225.00 8,935 4.80 $177.08
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45,898 1.69 $172.54
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ii) 1996 INCENTIVE DEFERRAL PLAN
As part of a Bankruptcy Court approved success fee to
employees, officers and all non-executive directors for
confirming a plan of reorganization, the Company also issued
Reorganized Spectrum Common Stock pursuant to the two
incentive compensation programs described in the Company's
Plan of Reorganization. The 1996 Incentive Deferral Plan
authorizes the issuance of 207,925 shares of Reorganized
Spectrum Common Stock to officers and employees who were in
the employ of the Company on March 31, 1997 (the "Effective
Date"). During the first quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company
specifically awarded 194,790 of these 207,925 shares to be
distributed in three equal installments of 64,930 during
August 1997, February 1998 and August 1998. These
distributions were utilized to decrease the Reserve for
Chapter 11 and other stock claims. The remaining 13,135 shares
have not been allocated for distribution. This Incentive
Deferral Plan provides that Participants may elect to satisfy
certain income tax withholding requirements by remitting to
the Company cash or, subject to certain conditions, shares of
Reorganized Spectrum Common Stock or by instructing the
Company to withhold shares payable to the Participant. In
addition, the Incentive Deferral Plan provides that the
Compensation Committee may, in its absolute discretion, make
loans to Participants to assist them in meeting income tax
liabilities arising in connection with awards under the Plan.
During fiscal 1998, the Company purchased 3,131 shares of
treasury stock for approximately $4,000 and issued
approximately $79,000 of officers and employee loans with
variable interest rates in order to pay the withholding taxes
attributable to these awards. These loans were collateralized
by the stock issued in conjunction with the loan and were
payable on demand within 30 days. During fiscal 1999, the
Company reacquired 57,341 shares of treasury stock
collateralizing the officer and employee loans with a fair
value of approximately $7,000 resulting in a bad debt expense
of $73,000.
F-12
(iii) 1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
The 1996 Stock Incentive Plan authorizes the issuance of
276,079 shares of Reorganized Spectrum Common Stock, or
options to purchase such common stock, to employees, officers,
and directors of the Company. Pursuant to this Plan, the three
non-executive directors who were in the employ of the Company
on the Effective Date were specifically allocated an aggregate
of 34,077 shares to be distributed as follows: 300 shares on
the Effective Date, 11,259 during June 1998, 11,259 during
November 1998 and 11,259 during June 1999. During fiscal 1998,
7,400 shares with a fair market value of $9,250 were
distributed to employees and directors of the Company as
additional compensation. Total options, under the plan,
granted to employees and officers of the Company with various
vesting periods and performance criteria totaled 209,815.
Additional information as follows:
Shares Weighted
Subject to Average
Options Exercise Price
---------------- ---------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1996 and 1997 0 $ 0
Granted at $1.50 - $2.15 per share 209,815 $2.09
Exercised at $2.15 per share (3,500) $2.15
---------------- ---------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1998 at $1.50-$2.15 per share 206,315 $2.09
Granted at $0.75 to $1.3125 15,750 $0.88
Exercised at $0.75 to $2.15 per share (45,364) $1.79
Extinguished at $0.75 to $2.15 per share (101,124) $1.97
---------------- ---------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1999 at $1.69-$2.15 per share 75,577 $2.14
---------------- ---------------
---------------- ---------------
The following table summarizes information about stock options
outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 1999:
Outstanding and Weighted Average
Range of Exercise Exercisable at Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average
Prices March 31, 1999 (Years) Exercise Price
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$1.69 to $2.15 75,577 5.30 $2.14
F-13
(iv) 1998 CONSULTANT STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
The 1998 Consultant Stock Incentive Plan authorizes the
issuance of 100,000 shares of Reorganized Spectrum Common
Stock, or options to purchase such common stock, to
non-employees and consultants of the Company. During fiscal
1999 and 1998, respectively, 47,500 and 10,000 options were
granted. There were no options granted during fiscal 1997.
Additional information as follows:
Shares Subject Weighted
to Options Average
Exercise
Price
Outstanding at March 31, 1996 and 1997 0 $ 0
Granted at $2.15 per share 10,000 $2.15
-------------------------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1998 at $2.15 per share 10,000 $2.15
Granted at $0.875 per share 47,500 $0.88
Exercised at $0.875 to $2.15 (10,000) $0.88
Extinguished at $0.875 per share (7,500) $0.88
-------------------------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1999 at $0.875 -$2.15 per share 40,000 $1.19
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
The following table summarizes information about non-employee
and consultant stock options outstanding and exercisable at
March 31, 1999:
Outstanding and Weighted Average
Range of Exercise Exercisable at Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average
Prices March 31, 1999 (Years) Exercise Price
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$0.875 to $2.15 40,000 9.15 $1.19
(v) SEVERANCE OPTIONS
In connection with the change of control transaction described
in Note 1(a), the Company's prior management granted options
to acquire an aggregate of 300,000 shares of Reorganized
Spectrum Common Stock as part of a severance package for
employees, officers and/or directors of the Company who were
resigning and executing settlement agreements in connection
with the change of control transaction. This plan was
implemented concurrently with the December 11, 1998 stock
purchase agreement between the Company
F-14
and Powers & Co. (a sole proprietorship owned by Lawrence M.
Powers) and the option agreements were executed on December
11, 1998.
Additional information as follows:
Weighted Shares
Average Subject to
Exercise Price Options
-------------------------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1998 $0.00 0
-------------------------------
Granted at $0.35 per share $0.35 300,000
-------------------------------
Outstanding at March 31, 1999 at $0.35 per share $0.35 300,000
-------------------------------
-------------------------------
The following table summarizes information about severance
stock options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 1999:
Outstanding and Weighted Average
Range of Exercise Exercisable at Remaining Contractual Life Weighted Average
Prices March 31, 1999 (Years) Exercise Price
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$0.35 per share 300,000 4.71 $0.35
(vi) PRO FORMA EFFECT OF OPTIONS GRANTED TO EMPLOYEES
The Company applies the Accounting Principles Board ("APB")
Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and
related Interpretations in accounting for their stock option
plans. Under APB Opinion 25, no compensation cost is
recognized if the exercise price of the Company's employee
stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock
on the date of the grant.
SFAS No. 123 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board,
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", which is effective
for transactions entered into after December 15, 1995,
requires the Company to provide pro forma information
regarding net income and earnings per share as if compensation
cost for the Company's stock option plans had been determined
in accordance with the fair value method prescribed by SFAS
No. 123. There were 315,750 stock options granted during the
fiscal year ended March 31, 1999 and 209,815 stock options
granted during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998 of which
3,500 were canceled. There were no stock options granted to
employees during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
The Company estimates the fair value of each stock option at
the grant date by using the Black Scholes option-pricing
model with the following weighted-average assumptions used
for grants in 1999 and 1998, respectively: no dividends
paid; expected volatility of 46.1% and 46.5%, respectively;
weighted-average risk free interest rate of 5.46% and 5.67%,
respectively; and expected lives of 1-10 years.
Under the accounting provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Company's
net loss and earnings per share would have been reduced to the
pro forma amounts indicated below:
1999 1998 1997
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
NET LOSS:
As reported $(1,804) $(3,077) $(6,180)
Pro forma $(1,835) $(3,116) $(6,180)
BASIC AND DILUTED
EARNINGS PER SHARE
As reported $(0.56) $(2.33) $(6.04)
Pro forma $(0.57) $(2.36) $(6.04)
F-15
3. CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK, FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk consist principally of temporary cash
investments. The Company currently invests most of its cash investments in
money market funds with financial institutions insured by the FDIC. At
times, such cash investments were in excess of the FDIC insurance limit.
The carrying amount of these cash investments approximates the fair value
due to their short maturity
4. COMMITMENTS
The Company leased office space and certain equipment under operating
leases for part of fiscal year ended March 31, 1999 as well as all of
fiscal years ended March 31, 1998 and March 31, 1997. Total rent expense
for 1999, 1998, and 1997 was approximately $161,000, $167,000 and $173,000,
respectively, all of which are included in the loss from discontinued
operations. The rent which would have been paid under more normal
circumstances, after vacating the Purchase New York facility on December
31, 1998, has been estimated to be $15,000 for the period January 1, 1999
through March 31, 1999 and has been included in Administrative Expenses and
as an addition to Paid in Capital. All of the office leases and equipment
leases were terminated during the 1999 fiscal year.
5. INCOME TAXES
Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between
amounts reported for financial statement and income tax purposes. Deferred
tax assets consist of:
MARCH 31, 1999 1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
Net operating loss carryforwards including current
year loss $ 179 $ 22,125
Reserves for discontinued operations -- 248
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
179 $22,373
Valuation allowance (179) (22,373)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------
$ -- $ --
---------- ---------
---------- ---------
Given the developmental stage of the Company's business strategy and the
expectation of continued operating losses for the foreseeable future, it is
unknown as to whether the benefit of any of the deferred tax assets will be
realized. Therefore, at March 31, 1999, the Company recorded a deferred tax
asset with a valuation allowance of equal value. The change in the
valuation allowance for the three years in the period ended March 31, 1999
was $22,194,000, $4,951,000 and $686,000.
Due to the change in control of ownership in December 1998, the Company's
net operating loss carryforwards from prior years and the net operating
loss of the current year up to the date of the change of control were
terminated. The current year net operating loss carryforward is
approximately $438,000.
6. LITIGATION
(a) PAST BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS
On January 26, 1995, the Company and three of its four then current
operating subsidiaries, Computers Unlimited of Wisconsin, Inc.,
d/b/a Computer Bay ("Computer Bay"), Dealer Services Business
Systems, Inc., d/b/a Data One ("Data One"), and Spectrum Cellular
Corporation ("Cellular"), filed petitions for relief under Chapter
11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for
the Eastern District of New York (the "Bankruptcy Court"). A fourth
subsidiary, Spectrum Global Services, Inc., did not file for
bankruptcy protection but was sold by the Company in October 1995.
The Bankruptcy Court converted the action for Computer Bay to a
case under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. A trustee is oversaw
the liquidation of Computer Bay's assets and the Company no longer
had control over the Computer
F-16
Bay estate. Data One consummated a separate liquidating plan of
reorganization on October 4, 1996, which had been unanimously
supported by Data One's voting creditors. In March 1996, the
Bankruptcy Court approved the Company's Third Amended Disclosure
Statement with respect to the Third Amended Consolidated Plan of
Reorganization Proposed by Spectrum and Cellular (the "Plan")
dated as of March 18, 1996. As contemplated by the Plan, the
bankruptcy estates of Spectrum and Cellular have been
substantively consolidated. On August 14, 1996, the Bankruptcy
Court entered an order confirming the Plan, as amended. On March
31, 1997 (the "Effective Date"), the Company consummated the
Plan. The effective date of the Plan was March 31, 1997, and the
material provisions thereof are described in Note 1(b).
The details of the Plan, the recapitalization, and the Company's
by-laws are set forth in detail in the Plan and associated
Disclosure Statement, which the Company filed with the SEC on its
Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of March 26, 1996. The
Company's amended certificate of incorporation is contained in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 dated March 31, 1997.
(b) PAST SECURITIES RELATED PROCEEDINGS
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") filed a civil
lawsuit against Salvatore T. Marino, a then-current employee and
former officer of the Company, and two of the Company's former
directors and officers alleging violations of certain sections of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and rules promulgated
thereunder. Prior to the change of control of the Company, the
Company agreed to pay approximately $229,000 to Mr. Marino
($100,000 of which was paid to his counsel) as part of a settlement
of his claim seeking to have the Company advance legal fees
incurred in defense of this action. In addition, during May 1997,
the SEC and the Company reached a settlement agreement under which
Spectrum agreed to the entry of an administrative order requiring
it to cease and desist from committing any and future violations of
the registration, antifraud, reporting and record-keeping
provisions of the federal securities laws. The Company neither
admitted nor denied the SEC's findings relative to events in 1992
and 1993, and which relate to the allegations in the SEC's action
against Mr. Marino. The SEC did not seek monetary penalties and
recognized that the Company's then current Chief Executive Officer
and Board of Directors (since replaced in December 1998) had
cooperated in the SEC's investigation.
The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New
York previously informed the Company in 1997 that it was the
subject of an investigation regarding violations of securities laws
that may have occurred prior to the appointment in January 1995, of
the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors, all
of whom were replaced in December 1998 as the new control group
took over management. To the knowledge of current management, no
communication has been received on this matter since 1997.
(c) OTHER PROCEEDINGS
From time to time in previous years, the Company has been a party
to other legal actions and proceedings incidental to its business.
As of the date of this report, however, the Company knows of no
other pending or threatened legal actions that could have a
material impact on the operations or financial condition of the
Company.
F-17
7. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS ENDED MARCH 31,
------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------------------------------
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the year for interest $ -- $ -- $ --
Cash paid during the year for income taxes $ 10 $ 14 $ 3
NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS:
Class A Preferred Stock issuance $ -- $ 300 $6,434
Common Stock reserved for Computer Bay Trustee $ -- $ -- $ 300
Pursuant to Bankruptcy Court approved success bonuses and
payments of unsecured claims via common stock issuance $ -- $1,234 $ --
Conversion of Class A Preferred Stock to Common Stock $ 1 $ -- $ 276
Treasury stock obtained from the cancellation of employee loans $ -- $ -- $ 7
Issuance of stock pursuant to the plan or reorganization $ 591 $ -- $ --
Compensation to outside services $ 33 $ -- $ --
Paid in capital contributions via stock and options to employees $ 250 $ -- $ --
Contributions by management (rent and compensation) $ 46 $ -- $ --
8. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
(a) MINUTEMEALS
In March 1999, the Company entered into an Investment and Business
Development Agreement with the creators of a food/lifestyle web
site, "minutemeals.com." Minutemeals.com was to provide menus,
recipes, instructions, shopping lists, etc. to enable busy people
to prepare complete meals at home in twenty minutes, with home
delivery of food planned for the future. The Company invested
$105,000 in Minutemeals.com, Inc., which owned the website, for a
minority interest in that corporation and an option to evaluate the
project in the future. The remainder of the stock was owned by the
creators of minutemeals.com. The website was to undergo a four
month testing and development period after which the Company would
have the option to further fund the project and acquire the
remaining shares. Prior to the conclusion of this testing and
development period, the parties agreed that it would be in their
best interests to cease their arrangement due to creative
differences as to the development path for the website and other
underlying business reasons. On June 2, 1999 the Company announced
in May 1999 that the Investment and Business Development Agreement
had been terminated. The Company transferred its stock of
Minutemeals.com, Inc. back to that corporation in satisfaction of
all of its obligations and received back $23,000. As a result, the
Company has recorded an additional charge to income and a reduction
in the investment of $82,000.
F-18
(b) TROPIA
As described in Note 1(a), on June 23, 1999, the Company
consummated its acquisition of Tropia, which operates an MP3 music
site that promotes and distributes the music of independent artists
through its website located at www.tropia.com. The Company has
agreed to provide $100,000 of capital to Tropia initially and
approximately $800,000 of additional capital during the next 12
months. The acquisition was effected by merging Siti-II, Inc., a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spectrum,
with and into Tropia. Tropia is geared towards the college market.
The Tropia website, which went online in May 1999, uses the
Internet and data compression technologies, such as the MP3 (MPEG1,
Layer 3) format, to create a compelling experience for consumers to
conveniently access an expanding music catalogue, and a valuable
distribution and promotional platform for music artists. The
website will showcase the music of independent artists and artists
signed by independent record labels. Consumers are able to search
the website by artist, by song title and by genre, and can sample
and download complete songs free of charge in MP3 format. The
website also embodies a 24 hour RealAudio radio station with
multiple free radio streams, classified by genre, to enable
consumers to sample music. CDs and other merchandise (such as
posters, t-shirts, hats and stickers) of featured artists are also
being offered through the website. Prior to going online, the
operations of Tropia consisted largely of developing the website
and the infrastructure necessary to attract artists and download
music on the Internet.
Tropia, which is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was
acquired for an aggregate of 316,850 shares of the Company's common
stock, half of which were delivered at closing, and half of which
are in escrow to be delivered after one year, if certain goals are
achieved. Tropia was partially owned (55%) by Red Hat Productions,
Inc., an award-winning independent film production company which is
owned by Barclay Powers, a large shareholder of the Company, and
Jonathan Blank, the current Chief Executive Officer of Tropia.
Lawrence M. Powers, the Chairman/CEO and a large shareholder of the
Company, has been a financial participant and one-third owner of
Red Hat Productions, Inc. since 1997. Tropia was also owned (45%)
by Ari Blank and Arjun Nayyar, the designers of the website who are
now employees of Tropia.
The fully functioning website, and related business arrangements
with artists and marketing agents, has been under development since
February 1999 and was valued at 500,000 shares of the Company's
common stock. However, Lawrence M. Powers and Barclay Powers (his
son) have waived their rights to participate in the shares
otherwise receivable by Red Hat Productions, Inc. from the
acquisition. As a result of this waiver, the shares paid to Red Hat
Productions, Inc. were reduced proportionately and all such shares
were distributed by Red Hat Productions, Inc. solely to Mr. Blank.
The Company will reserve 183,150 shares of its common stock (which
equals the number of additional shares that would otherwise have
been issued but for the waiver) for issuance in the future (in the
form of stock and/or options to acquire stock) for existing and new
management personnel of Tropia.
F-19