Document/ExhibitDescriptionPagesSize 1: 10-K Premier Exhibitions, Inc. 10-K/Fye 2-28-06 HTML 558K
2: EX-10.29 EX-10.29 Exhibition Tour Agreement HTML 49K
3: EX-21 EX-21 Subsidiaries HTML 10K
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Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
404-842-2600
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act: Common Stock, par value $.0001 per share
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known
seasonal issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Act. Yes o No þ
Check whether the issuer (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 þ No o
Check 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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated
filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” and
“large accelerated filer” in
Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
Large accelerated
filer o Accelerated
filer o Non-accelerated
filer þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange
Act). Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s outstanding
common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed
by reference to the closing price as reported on the OTC:BB, as
of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently
completed second fiscal quarter (August 31, 2005) was
approximately $23,830,000.
SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS UNDER THE
PRIVATE
SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Except for historical information contained herein, this Annual
Report on
Form 10-K contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involves certain
risks and uncertainties. The actual results or outcomes of
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. (hereinafter sometimes referred to as
“we,”“us,”“our,” or the
“Company”) may differ materially from those
anticipated. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying
the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable,
any such assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there
can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements
contained in this report will prove to be accurate. In light of
the significant uncertainties and risks inherent in the
forward-looking statements included herein, such information
should not be regarded as a representation by us that our
objectives and plans will be achieved. Included in these risks
are fluctuations in operating results, uncertainty regarding the
results of certain legal proceedings, competition and other
risks set forth herein and in other reports we have filed. Such
statements consisting of any statement other than a recitation
of historical fact and can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as “may”,
“expect”, “will”, “anticipate”,
“estimate” or “continue” or the negative
thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology.
We do not have any obligation to update publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as required by
law.
PART I.
ITEM 1.
BUSINESS
Overview of Our Business
We are in the business of developing and touring museum quality
exhibitions. We are known best for our Titanic exhibitions,
which we conduct through our wholly-owned subsidiary RMS
Titanic, Inc. and which honor the ill-fated liner RMS Titanic.
The Titanic has continued to captivate the thoughts and
imaginations of millions of people throughout the world since
1912 when it struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic
Ocean on its maiden voyage. More than 1,500 of the 2,228 lives
on board the Titanic were lost.
We are recognized as the
salvor-in-possession of
the Titanic wreck and wreck site. As such, we have the exclusive
right to recover objects from the Titanic. Through our
explorations, we have obtained oceanic material and scientific
data, including still photography and videotape, as well as
artifacts from the Titanic wreck site. The Titanic lies at
12,500 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean,
approximately 400 miles off the southern coast of
Newfoundland. We utilize this data and the artifacts for
historical verification, scientific education and public
awareness. We generate income through touring exhibitions, third
party licensing, sponsorship and merchandise sales. We intend to
continue to present exhibitions throughout the world in an
enlightening and dignified manner that embodies respect for
those who lost their lives in the disaster.
We believe that we are in the best position to provide for the
archaeological survey, scientific interpretation, public
awareness, historical conservation, and stewardship of the
Titanic shipwreck. We possess the largest collection of data,
information, images, and cultural materials associated with the
shipwreck. Our Titanic exhibitions have toured throughout the
world and have been viewed by more than 15 million people.
We operate all of our exhibitions through wholly-owned
subsidiaries. At this time, our wholly-owned subsidiary RMS
Titanic, Inc. is operating our Titanic exhibitions. We adopted
this holding company structure in October 2004. Prior to that,
we conducted all of our business activities, including our
exhibitions, exclusively through RMS Titanic, Inc.
We have expanded our exhibitions beyond the Titanic into human
anatomy exhibitions that explore the marvels of the human body.
We currently operate five exhibitions, four of which are known
as “Bodies...The Exhibition” and one known as
“Bodies Revealed.” We plan to present at least one
additional human anatomy-based exhibition in the future. We also
plan to conduct additional exhibitions in the future, not
related to
Titanic or human anatomy, and we expect that those exhibitions
will be conducted through additional subsidiaries that we will
organize in the future as needed.
Through February 28, 2006, the end of our most recent
fiscal year, we generated the majority of our revenue from
activities related to our Titanic exhibitions. Our principal
sources of revenue are exhibition tickets sales, merchandise
sales, licensing activities and sponsorship agreements. Prior to
April 2004, we relied on the services of Clear Channel
Communications, Inc. to present our Titanic exhibitions.
Titanic Ventures Limited Partnership, or TVLP, a Connecticut
limited partnership, was formed in 1987 for the purposes of
exploring the wreck of the Titanic and its surrounding oceanic
areas. In August 1987, TVLP contracted with the Institute of
France for the Research and Exploration of the Sea
(“IFREMER”) to conduct an expedition and dive to
the wreck of the Titanic. IFREMER is among the world’s
largest oceanographic institutes and is owned by the French
government. Using
state-of-the-art
technology provided by IFREMER, approximately 60 days of
research and recovery operations were performed by TVLP at the
Titanic wreck site through the use of a manned submersible named
Nautile. Approximately 1,800 objects were recovered during the
course of the 32 dives in that expedition. The recovered objects
were conserved and preserved by Electricite de France, or EDF, a
French government-owned utility. In addition to the recovery of
historic objects, the 1987 expedition also produced
approximately 140 hours of videotape footage and an
estimated 7,000 still photographs of the wreck site. The French
government subsequently conveyed to us title to these artifacts.
In July 2004, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern
District of Virginia concluded that such conveyance was not
valid and sought to deprive us of title to these artifacts. We
appealed that decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Fourth Circuit. On January 31, 2006, the Court of Appeals
reversed and vacated the ruling of the lower court. This
decision reconfirmed the validity of our title to the 1,800
artifacts recovered during the 1987 expedition.
On May 4, 1993, we acquired all the assets and assumed all
the liabilities of TVLP. In June 1993, we successfully completed
our second expedition to the Titanic wreck site, during which we
recovered approximately 800 artifacts and produced approximately
105 hours of videotape footage over the course of fifteen
dives. In July 1994, we recovered more than 1,000 objects and
produced approximately 125 hours of videotape footage
during our third expedition to the Titanic wreck site. In August
1996, we again recovered numerous objects and produced
approximately 125 hours of videotape footage during our
fourth expedition to the Titanic wreck site. In August 1998, we
recovered numerous objects and produced approximately
350 hours of videotape footage during our fifth expedition
to the Titanic wreck site. Among the highlights of our 1998
expedition were the successful recovery of the “Big
Piece,” a section of the Titanic’s hull measuring
approximately 26 feet by 20 feet and weighing
approximately 15 tons, and extensive mapping of the Titanic
and portions of the wreck site through the capture of thousands
of high-resolution color digital photographs.
Our 1987, 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1998 Titanic expeditions were
completed by charter agreements with IFREMER. Most of the
objects recovered during those expeditions were ultimately
transported to a privately owned conservation laboratory in
France for restoration and preservation to prepare for
exhibition. Certain of the objects that were recovered in 1987
as well as the “Big Piece,” recovered in 1998, went
through their conservation processes in the United States. All
of the artifacts not on exhibition are either in conservation or
housed in our storage facility in Atlanta, Georgia.
In March 1999, we entered into an agreement with Magicworks
Entertainment, Inc., a direct subsidiary of PACE Entertainment,
Inc. and an indirect subsidiary of SFX Entertainment, Inc.,
pursuant to which SFX was granted an exclusive worldwide license
to exhibit Titanic artifacts. This license agreement later
transferred to Clear Channel Communications, Inc., the successor
to SFX. In April 2004, we elected not to renew this agreement so
that we could begin developing and marketing Titanic exhibitions
on our own. In addition, we acquired all of the display
equipment necessary for our Titanic exhibitions from Clear
Channel Communications for an aggregate cost of $600,000.
During July and August of 2000, we conducted another expedition
to the Titanic wreck site. During this expedition, we utilized
the services of the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of
Moscow, which provided us with the research vessel Akademik
Mstislav Keldysh and two manned submersibles, the
MIR-1 and the
MIR-2. This expedition
consisted of a total of twenty-eight dives over a four-week
period and resulted in the recovery of more than 900 objects
from the wreck site, as well as the discovery of a new debris
field. Among the artifacts recovered during this expedition were
the ship’s wheel and stand, nine leather bags containing
more than 100 objects, the whistle control timer from the
navigation bridge, the main telegraph base and the docking
bridge telephone. Also recovered were binoculars, a pair of
opera glasses, sixty-five intact perfume ampoules, a camera, a
bowler hat, a first class demitasse and dinner plate, a base for
a cherub (likely from the ship’s grand staircase), as well
as gilded wood from a balustrade.
In May 2001, we acquired ownership of the wreck of the RMS
Carpathia, which was sunk during World War I off the coast
of Ireland. This ship rescued more than 700 of the
Titanic’s survivors. At present we have no definitive plans
to conduct an expedition to the RMS Carpathia.
In August and September 2004, we conducted our seventh
expedition to the Titanic wreck site. Expedition 2004 departed
from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on August 25, 2004 and
for the first time allowed us to rely exclusively on a deep
ocean remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, that permitted the
expedition to utilize
round-the-clock
underwater operations. In addition to the recovery of 75
historic artifacts from the Titanic wreck site, we discovered a
new debris field that includes remnants from the first class a
la carte restaurant. We plan to continue recovery work in the
future by planning additional expeditions to the Titanic
wreck-site.
During 2004, we expanded our exhibitions beyond the Titanic into
human anatomy exhibitions, which explore the marvels of the
human body. We currently operate one exhibition known as
“Bodies Revealed” and four exhibitions known as
“Bodies...The Exhibition.” We plan to present at least
one additional anatomy-based exhibition in the future.
“Bodies Revealed” debuted in August 2004 in Blackpool,
England, and was the first non-Titanic exhibition that we have
produced. “Bodies Revealed” opened in Seoul, South
Korea in March 2005 and in Mexico City, Mexico in March 2006.
The first “Bodies...The Exhibition” opened in Tampa,
Florida in August 2005 and the second exhibition opened in New
York City in November 2005. The third “Bodies...the
Exhibition” opened in Atlanta, Georgia in March 2006 and
the fourth “Bodies...The Exhibition” opened in London,
England in April 2006.
Our Titanic exhibitions have been exhibited in more than forty
venues throughout the world, including the United States,
France, Greece, Japan, Switzerland, Chile, Argentina, China and
England. The following lists our Titanic exhibition locations
and dates during our fiscal year ended February 28, 2006:
•
Whitaker Center, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (June 4 to
September 18, 2005);
•
Maryland Science Center, Baltimore, Maryland (February 12 to
September 11, 2005);
The AT Center, Seoul, South Korea (December 3 to
March 1, 2006);
•
Queen Mary, Long Beach, California (December 17 to
September 4, 2006); and
•
OshKosh Public Museum, OshKosh, Wisconsin (February 4 to
April 30, 2006).
The following lists our Titanic exhibition locations and dates
that opened or are scheduled to open during our current fiscal
year ending February 28, 2007:
•
Miami Museum of Science and Planetarium, Miami, Florida
(March 25 to October 15, 2006);
•
Science Center of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa (May 20 to
August 20, 2006);
•
The Metreon, San Francisco, California (June 10 to January
2007); and
•
The Tropicana Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada (opening June
2006).
We anticipate opening additional Titanic exhibitions during
fiscal year 2007. Due to the uncertainties involved in the
development and setup of exhibitions, the opening dates may vary
and the exhibit locations may be change.
“Bodies...The Exhibition” and “Bodies
Revealed” Exhibitions
We are using our experience in the exhibition business to
conduct exhibitions not related to the Titanic. In March 2005,
we acquired 100% of the membership interests in Exhibitions
International, LLC, which ultimately enabled us to gain
multi-year licenses and exhibition rights to multiple human
anatomy exhibitions, each of which contains a collection of at
least twenty whole human body specimens plus at least one
hundred and fifty single human organs and body parts. We are
already in possession of five sets of medical specimens, one of
which is known as “Bodies Revealed” and four of which
are known as “Bodies...The Exhibition.” We acquired
the rights to produce these exhibitions through separate
exhibition agreements, each of which is for a five-year term,
with the right to extend these agreements for up to five
additional years at our election. We expect to acquire an
additional collection of human anatomy specimens in fiscal year
ending February 28, 2007.
These specimens are assembled into anatomy-based exhibitions
featuring preserved human bodies, and offer the public an
opportunity to view the intricacies and complexities of the
human body. The exhibitions include displays of dissected human
bodies kept from decaying through a process called polymer
preservation, also known as plastination. In essence, the bodies
are drained of all fat and fluids, which are replaced with
polymers such as silicone rubber, epoxy and polyester. This
keeps the flesh from decaying and maintains its natural look.
Skin from the bodies is removed, or partially removed, to reveal
muscular, nervous, circulatory, reproductive or digestive
systems. The full body specimens are complimented by
presentation cases of related individual organs, both healthy
and diseased, that provide a detailed look into the elements
that comprise each system.
“Bodies Revealed” debuted in August 2004 in Blackpool,
England and was the first non-Titanic exhibition that we
produced. We expanded our human anatomy exhibition business by
creating two additional exhibitions known as “Bodies...The
Exhibition.” The first opened in Tampa, Florida in August
2005 and the second in New York City in November 2005. The
following lists our “Bodies...The Exhibition” and
“Bodies Revealed” exhibition locations during our
fiscal year ended February 28, 2006:
•
“Bodies Revealed,” Samsung’s Everland Theme Park,
Seoul, South Korea (March to November 2005);
•
“Bodies...The Exhibition,” Museum of Science and
Industry, Tampa, Florida (August 18 to February 26, 2006,
extended to September 5, 2006); and
•
“Bodies...The Exhibition,” South Street Seaport, New
York, New York (November 19 to December 2006).
The following lists our “Bodies...The Exhibition” and
“Bodies Revealed” exhibition locations during our
current fiscal year ending February 28, 2007:
•
“Bodies...The Exhibition,” Atlanta Civic Center,
Atlanta, Georgia (March 4 to September 4, 2006);
•
“Bodies Revealed,” Mexico City, Mexico (March 11 to
September 11, 2006); and
•
“Bodies...The Exhibition,” Earl’s Court
Exhibition Centre, London, England (April 12 to July 30,2006).
We anticipate opening additional “Bodies...The
Exhibition” and “Bodies Revealed” exhibitions
during our fiscal year ending February 28, 2007. Due to the
uncertainties involved in the development and setup of
exhibitions, the opening dates may vary and the exhibit
locations may be change.
Co-Production Agreements
In April, 2005 we entered into an agreement with SAM Tour (USA),
Inc. under which we agreed to work with SAM Tour to jointly
produce human anatomy exhibitions. With SAM Tour, we will
jointly present up to twelve human anatomy exhibitions entitled
“Bodies...The Exhibition” and/or “Bodies
Revealed.” With the limited exception of our human anatomy
exhibition currently underway in London, England, the agreement
stipulates mutual exclusivity. According to our agreement, we
are responsible for producing the design, providing the
exhibitry and providing the specimens necessary for each
exhibition, while SAM Tour is financially responsible for the
marketing, promotion, publicity, advertising and operation of
such exhibitions. Under the agreement, SAM Tour finances the
initial startup costs of each exhibition and we provide the
exhibition expertise, exhibitry and specimens required for each
exhibition. Under the agreement, SAM Tour initially recoups its
investment, which includes the initial startup costs, all
marketing and operating costs, and a license fee paid to us. The
profits from each exhibition are then split equally between SAM
Tour and us until the parties earn certain agreed upon amounts.
Thereafter, additional profits are calculated on a graduated
scale with ratios that increasingly favor us.
We opened our first exhibition in partnership with SAM Tour in
Tampa, Florida in August 2005. We opened our second exhibition
in New York, New York in November 2005. In March 2006, we opened
both our third exhibition in Atlanta, Georgia and our fourth
exhibition in Mexico City, Mexico.
Additional Exhibitions
We intend to develop and present new exhibitions in the future,
as well as additional exhibitions related to the Titanic and
human anatomy.
Titanic Donation Initiative
In keeping with our desire to conserve Titanic artifacts for
history and keep the collection of artifacts together, we are
exploring the possibility of selling or donating our Titanic
artifacts to a charitable institution. Doing so might also be in
our best financial interests, as it could clarify and finalize
the ownership of certain artifacts. In the event we sell or
donate Titanic artifacts, we will seek a long-term lease back
arrangement from the recipient of the artifacts which would
enable us to continue our Titanic exhibitions.
Merchandising
We earn revenue from the sale of merchandise, such as catalogs,
posters and Titanic-related jewelry. We have a contractual
relationship with Event Management, Inc., which is an
unaffiliated company that operates gift shops at exhibitions and
other locations. Event Management sells our merchandise at
exhibitions, as well as through its web site and its other
distribution channels. In connection with these sales, we
receive 30% of the gross sale proceeds. We also receive license
fees from Event Management for the use of our names and logos.
We also sell merchandise directly to the public, and we plan to
begin distributing a catalog of our merchandise in the near
future, with the hope that we can develop new revenue streams
from the sales of
merchandise through catalogs. Finally, we have produced high
quality, high content exhibition catalogs, which we sell at our
exhibitions through Event Management.
Marketing
We have developed several retail products utilizing coal
recovered from the Titanic, which has been incorporated into
jewelry. We intend to continue developing such products to
increase our merchandising revenues. We also intend to pursue
the direct marketing of merchandise and our video archives
through our web site and through third parties.
Titanic Expeditions
With the depth of the Titanic wreck approximately two and
one-half miles below the surface of the ocean in the North
Atlantic, we are dependent upon chartering vessels outfitted
with highly advanced deep sea technology in order to conduct
expeditions to the wreck site. In our 1987, 1993, 1994, 1996,
and 1998 expeditions, we entered into charter agreements with
IFREMER, pursuant to which IFREMER supplied the crew and
equipment necessary to conduct research and recovery efforts. In
addition to utilization of the research vessel Nadir, recovery
efforts were undertaken through the manned submersible Nautile.
Small, hard-to-reach
areas necessary for visual reconnaissance efforts were accessed
by a small robot, known as Robin, controlled by crewmen on board
the Nautile. The dive team had the capability of retrieving both
heavy objects, such as a lifeboat davit weighing approximately
4,000 pounds, and fragile objects weighing only a few ounces.
Because of the immense pressure of approximately 6,000 pounds
per square inch at the depth of the wreck site, it is impossible
for a dive team to reach such depths and explore the wreck site
through any means other than a submersible or a remotely
operated vehicle. The Nautile and Robin were each equipped with
video and still cameras that recorded all recovery and
exploration efforts. In connection with our 1987, 1993, 1994,
1996, 1998, 2000, and 2004 expeditions to the wreck site, we
engaged maritime scientists and other professional experts to
assist in the exploration and recovery efforts.
Our ability to conduct expeditions to the Titanic has been
subject to the availability of necessary research and recovery
vessels and equipment for chartering by us from June to
September, which is the “open weather window” for such
activities. Research and recovery efforts with a manned
submersible are presently limited to the availability and the
co-operation with the Nautile through charter arrangements with
IFREMER and MIR I and MIR II using charter
arrangements with P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology. To our
knowledge, no other manned submersible with the capability of
reaching the depth of the Titanic is presently commercially
available, however there are a number of remotely operated
vehicles available for hire. Based upon our experience with the
2004 expedition, remotely operated vehicles are a viable and
more efficient alternative to manned submersibles. The
availability of remotely operated vehicles has substantially
increased our flexibility in chartering for future expeditions.
Restoration and Conservation of Titanic Artifacts
Upon recovery from the Titanic wreck site, artifacts are in
varying states of deterioration and fragility. Having been
submerged in the depths of the ocean for more than
90 years, objects have been subjected to the corrosive
effects of chlorides present in seawater. The restoration of
many of the metal, leather and paper artifacts requires the
application of sophisticated electrolysis and other
electrochemical techniques. Some of the artifacts recovered from
the 1987 expedition were restored and conserved by the
laboratories of Electricite de France, a French government-owned
utility. Except for un-restored artifacts that are currently
being exhibited, many of the artifacts recovered from the 1987,
1993, 1994, 1996 and 1998 expeditions have undergone
conservation processes at LP3, a privately-owned conservation
laboratory in Semur-en-Auxois, France. When not being exhibited
or not being conserved at other conservation facilities, almost
all of our Titanic artifacts are housed in our conservation and
warehouse facility located in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Titanic was a great luxury liner, which bequeathed to the
world a classic story of tragedy at sea. Today, this shipwreck
is treated as an archaeological site, historic structure,
attraction for adventure tourism, ecological phenomenon,
international memorial, and as valuable property to be recovered
and shared with humanity. With the exception of adventure
tourism, we believe that all of these purposes are legitimate
and beneficial to society. We also believe that the multiple
values of the Titanic and its status as a social and cultural
icon demand the perspectives of many experts in scientific
interpretation and stewardship of the site.
We believe we are in the best position to provide for
archaeological survey, scientific interpretation and stewardship
of the Titanic shipwreck. We possess the largest collection of
data, information, images, and cultural materials associated
with the shipwreck. We have developed a partnership with the
Center for Maritime & Underwater Resource Management, a
nonprofit corporation, for services in archaeology, scientific
research, and resource management to aid in stewardship of the
Titanic wreck site.
We hope to work with the U.S. government and the P.P.
Shirshov Institute of Oceanology to present our collection of
knowledge and cultural materials to researchers, educators, and
other audiences in the form of scientific reports, an associated
interactive web site, and other intellectual products that
advance our purposes. Revenues from the sale of these
intellectual products are expected to at least meet the total
production costs. The scientific reports will integrate the
results of all expeditions to the Titanic wreck site since its
discovery. In addition, the publication will include the first
comprehensive site plan of the Titanic, which will assist in
determining future products in research, materials conservation
and education. The interactive web site will present this
scientific knowledge as well as its entire collection of
cultural materials.
RMS Carpathia
In May 2001, we acquired ownership of the wreck of the
Carpathia, which was sunk by a German torpedo during World
War I off the coast of Ireland. The Carpathia rescued more
than 700 of the Titanic’s survivors in the early morning
hours of April 15, 1912. In November 2005, we sold a 3%
ownership interest in the RMS Carpathia to Legal Access
Technologies, Inc. We reflected this transaction as a gain on
the sale of the Carpathia interest of $459,000 during the
quarter ended November 30, 2005. As part of this same
transaction, we also granted Legal Access Technologies, Inc. a
twenty-five year license to conduct joint exploration and
salvage expeditions to the Carpathia. Pursuant to the terms of
the agreement, Legal Access Technologies, Inc. was obligated to
make the following scheduled payments to us: (i) $100,000
on December 12, 2005; and (ii) $400,000 on
February 15, 2006. The $100,000 payment was collateralized
with 1,400,000 shares of Legal Access Technologies,
Inc.’s common stock, which satisfied its obligation to make
the first payment. Legal Access Technologies, Inc. failed to
make the second scheduled payment and, on April 3, 2006, we
terminated our agreement with Legal Access Technologies, Inc. In
accordance with the agreement, we retained the collateral in the
form of Legal Access Technologies, Inc.’s common stock. As
a result of this default and our subsequent termination of the
agreement, we reversed the gain of $459,000 net of the gain
from the retention of the marketable securities of $168,000 that
was recognized during our quarter ended November 30, 2005.
At present we have no plans to conduct an expedition to the
Carpathia.
Competition
The entertainment and exhibition industries are intensely
competitive. Given our limited capital resources, there can be
no assurances that we will be able to compete effectively. Many
enterprises with which we compete or may compete have
substantially greater resources than we do. Additionally,
following the success of the motion picture “Titanic”
in 1997, a number of entities have undertaken, or announced an
intention, to offer exhibitions or events with the Titanic theme
or involving memorabilia related to its sinking. Although we are
the only entity that exhibits artifacts recovered from the wreck
site of the Titanic, we may encounter competition for Titanic
exhibitions or events. We intend to compete with other entities
based upon the mass appeal of our planned exhibitions to
consumers of entertainment, museum, scientific and educational
offerings, and the quality and value of the entertainment
experience. We intend to emphasize the unique and distinctive
perspective of the Titanic in our exhibitions.
In addition, we compete with other human anatomy exhibitions
that are similar to ours. We believe we have certain competitive
advantages over this competition because our exhibitions focus
on a unique educational approach. Our experience in the
exhibition industry has enabled us to present an exhibition with
mass appeal to consumers of entertainment, museum, scientific
and educational offerings, and these consumers recognize the
quality and value of the educational experience of our
exhibitions.
The success of our merchandising efforts will depend largely
upon the consumer appeal of our merchandise and the success of
our exhibitions. We believe that our merchandise will
effectively compete because of its unique character and quality.
Environmental Matters
We are subject to environmental laws and regulation by federal,
state and local authorities in connection with our planned
exhibition activities. We do not anticipate that the costs to
comply with such laws and regulations will have any material
effect on our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive
position.
Employees
As of the date of this report we had 34 full-time
employees. We are not a party to any collective bargaining
agreement and we believe that our relations with our employees
are good.
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information about our directors,
executive officers and significant employees as of the date of
this report.
There are five members of our board of directors, three of whom
are “independent” under applicable legal standards.
Biographical information about each of our directors is set
forth below.
Arnie Geller is the chairman of the Board of Directors, and he
also serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Geller has served as a director since May 1999, and he
was appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors in October
2005. Mr. Geller served as our President from May 1993 to
May 1995, and he was reappointed as our President in November
1999 and has continued to serve us in that capacity ever since.
Prior to 1993, for approximately 27 years Mr. Geller
had principally been engaged in various executive capacities in
the record industry. Mr. Geller was a self-employed
corporate consultant prior to his reappointment as our president
in 1999.
Stephen Couture joined the Board of Directors in February 2006,
and he also serves as our Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer. Since 1996, Mr. Couture has been a partner and
principal in Couture &
Company, Inc., a private corporate financial consulting firm
formed in 1973 by his late father. As a partner and principal of
Couture & Company, Inc., Mr. Couture has been
involved in public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, venture
capital transactions, reorganizations and the financial
management of a number of growth enterprises. In such capacity,
Mr. Couture has also provided financial management services
to a diversified group of clients in the manufacturing,
logistics, distribution, exhibition, entertainment, retail,
service, product development and high technology sectors.
Mr. Couture holds a B.S. degree in Management Systems from
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and M.B.A. degrees from The
University of Tampa in both Finance and Accounting.
N. Nick Cretan, who is one of our independent directors,
has served as a director since April 2000. Mr. Cretan has
more than 30 years of management experience, including his
experience as Chief Operating Officer of the non-profit Maritime
Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey, which is a
trade association to develop and promote the Port of New York
and New Jersey. Mr. Cretan retired from this position in
2004. He also serves as President of Friends of the Statue of
Liberty, Ellis Island Foundation, President of Friends of
Gateway National Parks Foundation and as Executive Director of
the American Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation. Previously, he
served as deputy director of the San Francisco Marine
Exchange and as staff assistant at the National Federation of
Independent Business.
Douglas Banker
Douglas Banker, one of our independent directors, has served as
a director since August 2000. Mr. Banker has more than
25 years of experience in the entertainment industry that
includes providing management services to musicians and
recording artists; marketing, merchandising, licensing, and
sales of music media products; and the development and
management of concerts and similar events. Mr. Banker also
has authored several significant software programs that have
achieved commercial success and has been involved with the
management of the enterprises created for their
commercialization. Mr. Banker was President of the Board of
the Motor City Music Foundation in Detroit, Michigan from 1996
to 2000.
Alan Reed, who is one of our independent directors, was
appointed to the Board of Directors in February 2006 to fill an
existing vacancy. Mr. Reed is the founder of Reed Financial
Corporation, a firm created in 2002 to provide accounting and
business advisory services. From 1983 to 2002, Mr. Reed was
President of Alan B. Reed, CPA, P.C., an accounting firm
specializing in the entertainment industry. From 1983 to 1993,
Mr. Reed was president of Personal Business Management
Services, Inc., a company that managed federally insured credit
unions. Mr. Reed worked as a senior accountant with the
firm of Zeiderman & Edelstein, P.C. in New York
City from 1980 to 1982. From 1979 to 1980, Mr. Reed was a
junior accountant with the entertainment accounting firm of
Gelfand Bresslauer Rennert & Feldman in New York City.
Mr. Reed graduated from Boston University, with a B.S.
degree in accounting in 1979.
Executive Officers and Significant Employees
No family relationship exists between or among any of the
members of our board of directors or executive officers. None
our directors are directors of any other company having a class
of equity securities registered under or required to file
periodic reports pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or any company registered as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. Biographical information about
each of our executive officers is set forth below.
Arnie Geller, President and Chief Executive Officer
Arnie Geller serves as our President and Chief Executive
Officer. Further information about Mr. Geller is set forth
above under “Members of the Board of Directors.”
Stephen Couture serves as our Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer. Further information about Mr. Couture is set forth
above under “Members of the Board of Directors.”
Tom Zaller, Vice President — Exhibitions
Tom Zaller has served as our Vice President —
Exhibitions since August 2003. Mr. Zaller has more than
10 years experience in the production of exhibitions both
internationally and domestically. Prior to his joining us,
Mr. Zaller was Vice President for production at Clear
Channel International Exhibitions for two years, where he
collaborated on the development, design and production of
numerous Clear Channel exhibitions that were shown
internationally. While he was with Clear Channel,
Mr. Zaller was production manager for “Titanic: The
Artifact Exhibition,” which included twenty domestic and
nine foreign exhibitions. More than 13 million visitors
viewed these exhibitions worldwide. Prior to holding such
position with Clear Channel, Mr. Zaller served in similar
capacities with predecessor companies of Clear Channel.
Brian Wainger, Chief Legal Counsel and Vice
President — Business Affairs
Brian Wainger has served as our Chief Legal Counsel and Vice
President — Business Affairs since June 2004. He
became our acting secretary in July 2005. Before joining our
company, Mr. Wainger worked as an attorney at the law firm
of McGuireWoods, LLP, where he specialized in complex commercial
litigation and represented us in a now settled shareholder
derivative action. Before his employment at McGuireWoods,
Mr. Wainger served as an Assistant Attorney General for the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
Web Site Information and Other Access to Corporate
Documents
Our corporate web site is www.prxi.com. All of our Annual
Reports on
Form 10-Ks,
Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Qs and
Current Reports on
Form 8-Ks, and
amendments to such reports are available on this web site as
soon as practicable after they have been filed with the SEC. In
addition, our corporate governance guidelines and the charters
for our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee are available on our web
site. If you would like us to mail you a copy of our corporate
governance guidelines or any of our committee charters, please
contact Investor Relations, Premier Exhibitions, Inc., 3340
Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 2250, Atlanta, Georgia30326.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
Our business and operations are subject to numerous risks, some
of which are described below and elsewhere in this report. If
any of the risks described below should be realized, our
business and results of operation could be harmed. Additional
risks and uncertainties that are not currently known to us, or
which we currently deem to be immaterial, could also harm our
business and results of operations.
Until recently, we have had a history of operating losses,
and there is no assurance that we will continue to achieve
profitability in the future.
We have a history of operating losses. Only recently have we
begun to achieve profitability. We cannot predict if we will
continue to be profitable. It is uncertain if our future
prospects will result in profitable operations and, if we
experience future losses, the value of an investment in our
common stock could decline significantly.
Our future operating results will depend on our ability to
successfully implement our new business strategy, which in turn
depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our
control.
We are in the process of changing our business strategy in order
to become a general exhibition company. Previously, we relied on
third parties to produce our exhibitions, and we limited our
exhibition to displays of Titanic artifacts. However, we are now
the sole producers of our Titanic exhibitions, and we no longer
rely on third parties for the production of these exhibitions.
Moreover, we have expanded our exhibitions beyond those related
to the Titanic to include human anatomy exhibitions. Our future
operating results will depend on our
ability to successfully implement our new business strategy. We
believe that our ability to do so will depend on many factors,
some of which we believe are beyond our control, including:
•
our ability to continue to exhibit Titanic artifacts;
•
our ability to develop new exhibitions that the public will
attend;
•
our ability to operate our exhibitions profitably;
•
the continued popularity of and public demand for Titanic
exhibitions; and
•
continued public demand for historical and scientific
exhibitions.
We may be unable to raise additional capital when needed,
which would have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition and our ability to conduct our operations.
If we are unable to generate sufficient revenue for our planned
operations, or if we encounter unforeseen costs, we will need to
raise additional capital. We can give no assurances that
additional capital will be available to us on favorable terms,
or at all. Our inability to obtain additional capital, if and
when needed, would have a material adverse effect upon our
financial condition and our ability to continue to conduct our
operations.
We may not be granted a salvage award that is commensurate
with the efforts we have expended to recover items from the
Titanic wreck site or may be prohibited from exhibiting certain
Titanic artifacts already under our control.
We own 1,800 artifacts recovered during the 1987 expedition to
the Titanic. At a future date, however, a trial may be held in
the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of
Virginia to determine whether a salvage award to compensate us
for our efforts in recovering the remaining artifacts from all
other expeditions will be in cash or in kind. This means the
outcome of the salvage award trial is uncertain at this time. It
is possible that we may not be granted a salvage award that is
commensurate with our recovery efforts. It is also possible that
the court will take possession of certain of the artifacts,
which would affect the way we conduct certain exhibitions. These
outcomes may have a material adverse effect on our operations,
which, in turn, may reduce the value of an investment in our
common stock.
If we are unable to maintain our
salvor-in-possession
rights to the Titanic wreck and wreck site, we could lose our
exclusivity with respect to exhibiting artifacts recovered from
the Titanic
As recently as January 31, 2006, the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Fourth Circuit recognized that we are the
exclusive
salvor-in-possession of
the Titanic wreck and wreck site.
Salvor-in-possession
status enables us
to prevent certain third parties from salvaging the Titanic
wreck and wreck site and from interfering with our rights to
salvage the wreck and wreck site. To maintain our
salvor-in-possession
rights, we must maintain a presence over the wreck by making
periodic expeditions to the wreck site. In addition, we may have
to commence legal proceedings against third parties who attempt
to violate our rights as
salvor-in-possession,
which may be expensive and time-consuming. Moreover, there are
no assurances that the court will continue to recognize us as
the sole and exclusive
salvor-in-possession of
the Titanic wreck and wreck site.
Our exhibitions are becoming subject to increasing
competition.
We believe that our Titanic exhibition business is changing. For
example, an adverse ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Fourth Circuit stripped us of our exclusive right to
photograph and film the Titanic wreck site. Because of this
ruling, other companies can now photograph and film the Titanic
wreck site, which exposes us to new competition that could, for
example, result in our losing documentary opportunities.
Moreover, it is possible that other companies may attempt to
explore the Titanic wreck site in the future. If these companies
were successful, we would face increased competition.
Additionally, the availability of remotely operated vehicles for
charter from third parties to conduct expeditions may make it
easier for others to gain access to the Titanic site in
violation of our
salvor-in-possession
rights. These changes, as well as others, such as new laws and
treaties or new interpretations of existing laws or treaties,
could have a material adverse affect on our business.
In addition, our “Bodies...The Exhibition” and
“Bodies Revealed” exhibitions are subject to
competition from other exhibition vendors. To the extent other
exhibition companies are successful at marketing and promoting
competing exhibitions that are perceived more favorably than our
exhibitions by the public, there could be a material adverse
affect on our business.
We depend upon third parties to provide us with access to the
Titanic wreck site, as well as to assist us with our recovery
and restoration activities. If we become unable to obtain these
services from such third parties, we would not be able to
conduct future expeditions to the Titanic wreck site and
consequently our ability to produce new Titanic exhibitions
would be severely curtailed.
We do not own the equipment necessary to access the Titanic
wreck site. Instead, each time we desire to undertake an
expedition to the Titanic wreck site, we charter the necessary
equipment and personnel for the expedition from third parties.
Similarly, we utilize the services of third parties for
recovery, restoration and preservation services. Because we lack
the direct capability to independently access the Titanic wreck
site, we contract with providers of these services. We therefore
face the risk of being unable to access the Titanic wreck site
or being unable to obtain necessary services when needed. These
circumstances could arise if our third party providers charge
more for their services, exit the business of providing the
services, or are unable to, or refuse to, provide the services
to us at prices that we are willing to pay. If we were unable to
obtain necessary services from third parties, we would be unable
to conduct future expeditions to the Titanic wreck site and
consequently our ability to produce new Titanic exhibitions
would be severely curtailed.
Because we depend on discretionary spending by consumers to
generate revenue, if consumers have less discretionary income to
spend or decide to attend competing exhibitions rather than
ours, our results of operations would be adversely affected.
The amount spent by consumers on discretionary items, such as
entertainment activities and the purchase of merchandise,
depends on their level of discretionary income, which may be
adversely affected by general or local economic conditions. We
believe the consumers primarily attend our exhibitions for
entertainment. Accordingly, if consumers have less discretionary
income to spend because of poor economic conditions, we believe
they will be less likely to attend our exhibitions and purchase
our merchandise.
Consumers may decide that competing exhibitions are more
appealing and, consequently, they may not attend our
exhibitions. To date, we have had success exhibiting Titanic
artifacts. There can be no assurance, however, that consumers
will continue to be interested in viewing the Titanic or human
anatomy exhibitions
that we conduct, or that we will be able to present new,
alternative exhibitions that consumers will find appealing.
We are subject to currency exchange rate fluctuations, which
negatively affect our results of operations.
Our exhibitions tour outside the U.S. from time to time and
our financial arrangements with our foreign vendors have
historically been based upon foreign currencies. As a result, we
are exposed to the risk of currency fluctuations between the
U.S. dollar and the currencies of the countries in which
our exhibitions are touring. If the value of the
U.S. dollar increases in relation to these foreign
currencies, our potential revenues from exhibition and
merchandising activities outside the U.S. would be lowered
and our results of operations could be harmed.
Our success depends on the services of our executive officers
and key employees and the loss of their services could have a
material adverse effect on our business.
We believe that our future success depends to a significant
degree on the skills and efforts of Arnie Geller, our chief
executive officer; Stephen Couture, our vice president and chief
financial officer; Tom Zaller, our vice president —
exhibitions; and Brian Wainger, our chief legal counsel and vice
president — business affairs. If we lose the services
of Messrs. Geller, Couture, Zaller or Wainger, our business
and operating results could be adversely affected.
We may be unable to hire and retain the skilled personnel we
need to expand our operations and, as a result, could lose our
competitive position.
To meet our growth objectives and become a general exhibition
company, we must attract and retain skilled technical,
operational, managerial and sales and marketing personnel. If we
fail to attract and retain the necessary personnel, we may be
unable to achieve our business objectives and may lose our
competitive position, which could lead to a significant decline
in revenues. We face significant competition for these skilled
professionals from other companies, research and academic
institutions, government entities and other organizations.
New corporate governance requirements have increased our
costs and make it more difficult to attract qualified
directors.
We face new corporate governance requirements under the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as rules adopted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission. These laws, rules and
regulations have increased our legal and financial compliance
costs and make some activities more difficult, time-consuming
and costly. These new requirements also make it more difficult
and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer
liability insurance. We may be required to accept reduced
coverage or incur significantly higher costs to obtain coverage.
These new requirements are also likely to make it more difficult
for us to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve as
members of our board of directors or committees of the board.
Furthermore, as a result of the settlement agreements in
connection with the lawsuits Lawrence D’Addario v.
Arnie Geller, Gerald Couture, Joe Marsh and R.M.S. Titanic,
Inc. and Dave Shuttle and Barbara Shuttle v. Arnie
Geller, G. Michael Harris, Gerald Couture, and R.M.S. Titanic,
Inc., as discussed below in Item 3 of this report, we
will also be required to incur significant additional costs to
comply with the corporate governance standards upon which we
have agreed to settle those cases. Those costs could also have
an adverse effect on our results of operations.
ITEM 1B.
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2.
PROPERTIES
We have our principal executive offices located at Tower Place,
3340 Peachtree Road N.E., Suite 2250, Atlanta, Georgia.
This space of approximately 4,706 square feet is used for
management, administration, and marketing for our operations.
The lease for our principal executive offices commenced in April
2000 and was
amended on August 8, 2003, to extend the term until
February 28, 2008. The amended lease provides for initial
base lease payments of $110,591 annually with a 2.5% annual
adjustment during the lease term.
We also have a lease obligation that commenced November 1,2001 for approximately 10,080 square feet of space at an
undisclosed location (for security purposes) in Atlanta,
Georgia. This facility is used for conservation, restoration,
and storage of Titanic artifacts. On October 6, 2004 we
extended this lease for an additional three years with monthly
payments of $6,855 for the first year beginning January 1,2005, with 2% increases for each of the second and third years.
ITEM 3.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Status of International Treaty Concerning the Titanic
Wreck
The U.S. Department of State and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Department of
Commerce are working together to implement an international
treaty with the governments of the United Kingdom, France and
Canada concerning the Titanic wreck site. If implemented in this
country, this treaty could affect the way the U.S. District
Court for the Eastern District of Virginia monitors our
salvor-in-possession
rights to the Titanic. These rights include the exclusive right
to explore the wreck site, claim possession of and perhaps title
to Artifacts recovered from the site, restore and display
recovered artifacts, and make other use of the wreck. We have
raised numerous objections to the U.S. Department of State
regarding the participation of the U.S. in efforts to reach
an agreement governing salvage activities with respect to the
Titanic. The treaty, as drafted, does not recognize our existing
salvor-in-possession
rights in the Titanic. The United Kingdom signed the treaty in
November 2003, and the U.S. signed the treaty in June 2004.
For the treaty to take effect, the U.S. must enact
implementing legislation. As no implementing legislation has
been proposed, the treaty currently has no binding legal effect.
Several years ago we initiated legal action to protect our
rights to the Titanic wreck site from this treaty. On
April 3, 2000, we filed a motion for declaratory judgment
in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
asking that the court declare unconstitutional the efforts of
the U.S. to implement the treaty. On September 15,2000, the court ruled that our motion was not ripe for
consideration and that we may renew our motion when and if the
treaty is agreed to and signed by the parties, final guidelines
are drafted, and Congress passes implementing legislation. As
discussed above, although the treaty has been finalized, it is
not yet in effect because Congress has not adopted implementing
legislation, thus it is not yet time for us to refile our
motion. Neither the implementation of the treaty nor our
decision whether to refile the legal action regarding its
constitutionality will have any direct impact on our possession
and/or ownership of the Artifacts that we have already recovered.
As discussed in more detail below, in light of a
January 31, 2006 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Fourth Circuit, title to the 1800 artifacts recovered by
us during the 1987 expedition now rests firmly with us, the
Company. Title to the remaining artifacts in our collection will
be resolved by the
salvor-in-possession
legal proceedings pending in U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of Virginia.
Status of
Salvor-in-Possession
and Interim Salvage Award Proceedings
On April 12, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Fourth Circuit affirmed two orders of the U.S. District
Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in our ongoing
salvor-in-possession
case. These orders, dated September 26, 2001 and
October 19, 2001, respectively, restricted the sale of
artifacts recovered by us from the Titanic wreck site. In its
opinion, the appellate court reviewed and declared ambiguous the
June 1994 order of the district court that had awarded ownership
to us of all items then salvaged from the wreck of the Titanic
as well as all items to be salvaged in the future so long as we
remained
salvor-in-possession.
Having found the June 1994 order ambiguous, the court of appeals
reinterpreted the order to convey only possession, not title,
pending determination of a salvage award. We attempted to appeal
this decision to the United States Supreme Court. On
October 7, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court denied our
petition of appeal.
On May 17, 2004, we appeared before the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for a
pre-trial hearing to address issues in preparation for an
interim salvage award trial. At that
hearing, we confirmed our intent to retain our
salvor-in-possession
rights in order to exclusively recover and preserve artifacts
from the wreck site of the Titanic. In addition, we stated our
intent to conduct another expedition to the wreck site. As a
result of that hearing, on July 2, 2004, the court rendered
an opinion and order in which it held that it would not
recognize the 1993 Proces-Verbal, pursuant to which the
government of France granted us all artifacts recovered from the
wreck site during the 1987 expedition. The court also held that
we would not be permitted to present evidence at the interim
salvage award trial for the purpose of arguing that we should be
awarded title to the Titanic artifacts through the law of finds.
We appealed the July 2, 2004 Court Order to the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. On
January 31, 2006, the Court of Appeals reversed the lower
court’s decision to invalidate the 1993 Proces-Verbal,
pursuant to which the government of France granted to us all
artifacts recovered from the wreck site during the 1987
expedition. As a result, the court tacitly reconfirmed that we
own the 1800 artifacts recovered during the 1987 expedition. The
appellate court also affirmed the lower court’s ruling that
we will not be permitted to present evidence at the interim
salvage award trial for the purpose of arguing that we should be
awarded title to the remainder of the Titanic artifacts through
the law of finds.
Other Ongoing Litigation
In October 2005, Exhibit Human: The Wonders Within, Inc.
filed for binding arbitration against us in an action entitled
Exhibit Human: The Wonders Within, Inc. v. RMS
Titanic, Inc. In its claim, Exhibit Human alleges that
we breached our contract with them under which we acquired a
license to exhibit certain anatomical specimens that we present
in our “Bodies Revealed” exhibition. Later that month,
we filed a counterclaim against Exhibit Human in which we
allege that Exhibit Human breached its obligations to us
under the same contract. We are still in the initial stages of
this arbitration, which is taking place in Atlanta. Although we
intend to defend ourselves at the arbitration and to vigorously
pursue the counterclaim, we cannot predict the outcome of this
case.
On April 6, 2006, we filed an action entitled Premier
Exhibitions, Inc. v. Exhibit Human: The Wonders
Within, Inc. in the United States District Court for the
Northern District of Georgia under which we seek a declaratory
judgment from the court finding that the parties reached an
enforceable agreement for the acquisition of certain licensing
rights to the anatomical specimens that we present in our
“Bodies Revealed” exhibition. Although we intend to
vigorously pursue the litigation, we cannot predict the outcome
of the case.
On May 16, 2006, we were served with a lawsuit styled as
Stefano Arts v. Exhibitions International, LLC,
et.al., now pending in state court in Fulton County,
Georgia. The plaintiff alleges that we breached a contract with
it and that we tortuously interfered with a separate contract
entered into between it and a third-party. The plaintiff seeks a
percentage of our profits earned from our “Bodies...The
Exhibition” presentation in Tampa. While we cannot predict
the outcome of the case, we believe the lawsuit is frivolous and
we intend to aggressively defend ourselves at trial.
Settled Litigation and Other Concluded Matters
On March 24, 2006, we entered into a settlement agreement
with Plastination Company, Inc. whereby we amicably settled the
litigation Plastination Company v. Premier Exhibitions,
Inc., which was pending in the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Ohio. The terms of the settlement
agreement are confidential, and we do not believe that they are
material to our business.
On January 30, 2006, the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Virginia approved a settlement agreement
between the parties to Lawrence D’Addario v. Arnie
Geller, Gerald Couture, Joe Marsh and R.M.S. Titanic, Inc.
This lawsuit was commenced on April 25, 2002 and had
alleged fraud, self-dealing, mismanagement, diversion and waste
of corporate assets by our company and some of our officers,
directors and shareholders.
On February 2, 2006, the United States District Court for
the Middle District of Florida approved a settlement agreement
between the parties to Dave Shuttle and Barbara
Shuttle v. Arnie Geller, G. Michael
Harris, Gerald Couture, and R.M.S. Titanic, Inc. This
lawsuit, which was commenced on March 22, 2004 and had
alleged breaches of fiduciary duty by management, was directly
related to the D’Addario case.
The D’Addario settlement and the Shuttle
settlement utilize the same form of settlement agreement.
The primary component of such settlement agreement is our
adoption of a five-year corporate governance plan. The material
terms of the corporate governance plan are set forth below:
•
Our board of directors must be comprised of a majority of
independent directors.
•
We must have an audit committee of the board of directors,
comprised exclusively of independent directors, which, among
other things, has oversight responsibility for our internal
control and corporate compliance.
•
We must have a corporate governance committee of the board of
directors, comprised of a majority of independent directors,
which, among other things, oversees our implementation of the
corporate governance plan, reviews all contracts between us and
our officers, pre-screens director nominees, and reviews the
compensation of our five most highly paid officers.
•
Our independent directors must meet at least twice each calendar
year and have the authority to retain counsel, accountants, or
other experts.
•
Our directors must review the compensation paid to them by us
and make any appropriate changes.
•
All persons nominated to become a director must satisfy certain
requirements and possess core competencies.
•
Once a year over the five-year period for which the corporate
governance plan is applicable, our board of directors must
submit a written report to counsel representing the former
plaintiff confirming our compliance with the corporate
governance plan.
If we do not comply with the corporate governance plan, such
non-compliance will be remedied by injunctive relief pursuant to
Florida corporate law.
In addition to the corporate governance plan, the terms of each
of the D’Addario settlement and Shuttle
settlement, respectively, required the parties to execute
mutual releases, thereby waiving any claims that were raised or
could have been raised in each such litigation. Finally, in
connection with the D’Addario settlement and
Shuttle settlement, we agreed to pay an aggregate of
$300,000 of the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and costs,
which includes plaintiffs’ attorneys’
out-of-pocket expenses
of approximately $150,000. Such amounts represent the entire
cash settlement for both actions and were paid by our insurance
carrier.
ITEM 4.
SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Our 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on
December 8, 2005. At the 2005 Annual Meeting, our
stockholders:
1. elected Arnie Geller, N. Nick Cretan, and Douglas
Banker to serve as directors until the 2006 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and until their respective successors are elected
and have been qualified or until their earlier resignation,
removal or death; and
2. ratified the selection of Kempisty & Company,
Certified Public Accountants, P.C. as our auditors for the
fiscal year ending February 28, 2006.
Messrs. Geller, Cretan and Banker together constituted our
entire board of directors at December 8, 2005.
On November 1, 2005, the record date of the 2005 Annual
Meeting, we had 23,086,953 shares of common stock
outstanding. At the 2005 Annual Meeting, holders of
19,187,044 shares of common stock were present in person or
represented by proxy. The following sets forth information
regarding the results of the voting at the 2005 Annual Meeting.
Results of voting for the ratification of the board’s
selection of auditors:
Votes in favor
18,703,717
Votes against
470,657
Abstentions
12,670
PART II
ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY
SECURITIES.
Market Information
Our common stock is quoted on the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.’s OTC Bulletin Board under
the symbol “PXHB.OB.” Prior to October 14, 2004,
when we conducted our business through our wholly-owned
subsidiary, RMS Titanic, Inc., our common stock was quoted on
the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “SOST.OB.”
The following table provides the high and low closing prices for
our common stock as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board for
the periods indicated. These
over-the-counter market
quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up,
mark-down or commission, and they may not represent actual
transactions.
On May 10, 2006, we had 2,486 holders of record of our
common stock. This number does not include shareholders for whom
shares were held in a “nominee” or “street”
name.
Dividends
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital
stock, and we do not intend to pay any cash dividends in the
foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain any future
earnings to finance our operations and future growth.
The selected financial data set forth below is qualified by
reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, the
financial statements and notes thereto and Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations included in Item 7 of this report. The selected
financial data have been derived from our consolidated financial
statements that have been audited by independent certified
public accountants. The consolidated financial statements as of
February 28, 2006, February 28, 2005, and
February 29, 2004 and for each of the three years in the
period ended February 28, 2006 are included in Item 8
of this report.
Years Ended February 28 (29),
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
(In thousands)
Operating Results
Revenues
$
5,699
$
2,768
$
2,861
$
2,864
$
6,857
$
13,041
Total Operating Expenses
$
5,739
$
10,036
$
3,986
$
3,961
$
8,288
$
10,399
Income (Loss) From Operations
$
(40
)
$
(7,268
)
$
(1,125
)
$
(1,097
)
$
(1,431
)
$
2,642
Net Income (Loss)
$
(21
)
$
(6,784
)
$
(827
)
$
(1,088
)
$
(1,475
)
$
4,948
Cash Flows From Operations
$
472
$
(441
)
$
2,526
$
(1,377
)
$
595
$
2,130
Common Stock Data
Diluted Income (Loss) per Common Share
$
—
$
(0.38
)
$
(0.04
)
$
(0.06
)
$
(0.07
)
$
0.18
Diluted Average Shares Outstanding (in thousands)
16,733
18,059
18,615
18,960
20,819
28,231
Financial Position
Cash and Marketable Securities
$
610
$
146
$
1,945
$
547
$
1,258
$
4,699
Working Capital
$
(367
)
$
2,241
$
1,042
$
13
$
857
$
7,054
Total Assets
$
15,002
$
8,839
$
8,399
$
7,253
$
10,764
$
22,970
Total Debt
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
425
$
1,350
Stockholders’ Equity
$
12,751
$
7,342
$
6,550
$
6,004
$
7,679
$
20,282
Capital Expenditures
$
776
$
23
$
727
$
21
$
964
$
1,774
Financial Ratios
Current Ratio
0.84
2.50
1.56
1.01
1.28
3.62
ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Introduction
The following discussion provides information to assist in the
understanding of our financial condition and results of
operations, and should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing
elsewhere herein. This discussion and analysis addresses the
following topics:
We have been developing and touring museum quality exhibitions
since 1993. We operate our business through our parent company,
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. and our wholly-owned subsidiaries.
Previously, we conducted our business through RMS Titanic, Inc.,
which is now our wholly-owned subsidiary. Presently our business
consists of exhibitions based on the RMS Titanic and on human
anatomy. We intend to present different exhibitions in the
future, as well as additional exhibitions related to the Titanic
and human anatomy.
Effective on October 14, 2004, we reorganized into a
holding company structure whereby we became the holding company
of RMS Titanic, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ours which is the
entity that conducts all of our Titanic expeditions. The
reorganization was effected to generally provide for greater
administrative and operational flexibilities and to broaden the
alternatives available for future financings.
The reorganization into a holding company structure was effected
through the formation of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. as a wholly
owned subsidiary of RMS Titanic, Inc. and the formation of RMST
MergerSub, Inc., a Florida corporation as a wholly owned
subsidiary of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. An agreement and plan of
merger dated October 13, 2004 between RMS Titanic, Premier
Exhibitions, and MergerSub provided for the merger of MergerSub
with and into RMS Titanic, with RMS Titanic as the surviving
corporation. As a result of the merger, RMS Titanic became a
wholly owned subsidiary of ours, and each outstanding share of
common stock of RMS Titanic issued and outstanding immediately
prior to the merger was converted into one share of our common
stock. Also pursuant to the merger, each option to purchase RMS
Titanic common stock was converted into an option to purchase,
on the same terms and conditions, an identical number of shares
of our common stock.
As we continue to manage our own Titanic exhibitions directly,
and with the expansion of our exhibitions to include
anatomy-based exhibitions, we expect our operations to become
more profitable. In addition, as we have been able to devote
less time to litigation, we have been able to focus on
opportunities for future growth of our business. We believe that
we are a major exhibitor of premier exhibitions and we intend to
continue to implement and expand upon our present strategy.
Historically we have derived most of our revenue from our
Titanic exhibitions. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, RMS Titanic,
Inc., operates our Titanic exhibitions. It is the only company
permitted by law to recover objects from the wreck of the
Titanic. The ocean liner Titanic sank approximately
400 miles off the southern coast of Newfoundland on
April 15, 1912. The wreck lies 12,500 feet below the
surface of the Atlantic Ocean. We have obtained oceanic material
and scientific data available in various forms, including still
photography, videotape and artifacts from the wreck site and are
utilizing this data and the artifacts for historical
verification, scientific education and public awareness. These
activities generate revenue for us via ticket sales, third party
licensing, sponsorship and merchandise sales for our multiple
museum quality exhibitions that tour the world.
Our Titanic exhibitions have been exhibited in more than forty
venues throughout the world, including the United States,
France, Greece, Japan, Switzerland, Chile, Argentina, China,
England and other countries.
“Bodies...The Exhibition” and “Bodies
Revealed” Exhibitions
We are using our experience in the exhibition business to
conduct human anatomy exhibitions that are not related to the
Titanic. We have multi-year license and exhibition rights to
multiple separate human anatomy exhibitions, each of which
contains a collection of at least twenty whole human body
specimens plus at least one hundred and fifty single human
organs and body parts. We are already in possession of five sets
of specimens, one of which is known as “Bodies
Revealed” and four of which are known as “Bodies...The
Exhibition.”
These specimens are assembled into anatomy-based educational
exhibitions featuring preserved human bodies, and offer the
public an opportunity to view the intricacies and complexities
of the human body. The exhibitions include displays of dissected
human bodies kept from decaying through a process called polymer
preservation, also known as plastination. The bodies are drained
of all fat and fluids, which are replaced with polymers such as
silicone rubber, epoxy and polyester. This keeps the flesh from
decaying and maintains its natural look. Skin from the bodies is
removed, or partially removed, to reveal muscular, nervous,
circulatory, reproductive or digestive systems. The full body
specimens are complemented by presentation cases of related
individual organs, both healthy and diseased, that provide a
detailed look into the elements that comprise each system.
“Bodies Revealed” debuted in August 2004 in Blackpool,
England and was the first non-Titanic exhibition that we
produced. We expanded our human anatomy exhibition business by
creating four additional exhibitions known as “Bodies...The
Exhibition.” The first opened in Tampa, Florida in August
2005 and the second in New York City in November 2005. Our human
anatomy exhibitions promote scientific education and public
awareness of the human body. These activities generate revenue
for us via ticket sales, licensing sponsorship, and merchandise
sales for our multiple museum quality exhibitions that tour the
world.
Co-Production Agreements
In April, 2005 we entered into an agreement with SAM Tour (USA),
Inc. under which we agreed to work with SAM Tour to jointly
produce human anatomy exhibitions. With SAM Tour, we will
jointly present up to twelve human anatomy exhibitions entitled
“Bodies...The Exhibition” and/or “Bodies
Revealed.” With the limited exception of our human anatomy
exhibition currently underway in London, England, the agreement
stipulates mutual exclusivity. According to our agreement, we
are responsible for producing the design, providing the
exhibitry and providing the specimens necessary for each
exhibition, while SAM Tour is financially responsible for the
marketing, promotion, publicity, advertising and operation of
such exhibitions. Under the agreement, SAM Tour finances the
initial startup costs of each exhibition and we provide the
exhibition expertise, exhibitry and specimens required for each
exhibition. Under the agreement, SAM Tour initially recoups from
total exhibition profits its investment, which includes the
initial startup costs, all marketing and operating costs, and a
license fee paid to us. The profits from each exhibition are
then split equally between SAM Tour and us until the parties
earn certain agreed upon amounts. Thereafter, additional profits
are calculated on a graduated scale with ratios that
increasingly favor us.
We opened our first exhibition in partnership with SAM Tour in
Tampa, Florida in August 2005. We opened our second exhibition
in New York, New York, in November 2005. In March 2006, both our
third exhibition opened in Atlanta, Georgia and our fourth
exhibition opened in Mexico City, Mexico.
During the fiscal year ended February 28, 2006, our
revenues increased approximately 90% to $13,041,000 as compared
to $6,857,000 for the year ended February 28, 2005. This
increase was principally attributable to increases in exhibition
revenues of approximately 93% to $12,217,000 during the year
ended February 28, 2006, as compared to $6,320,000 for the
year ended February 28, 2005. The increase in revenues for
fiscal 2006 reflects the increase in the number of locations of
directly managed Titanic Exhibitions, which began in the first
quarter of the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005. Our
“Bodies...The Exhibition” and “Bodies
Revealed” exhibitions contributed additional revenue for
the year ended February 28, 2006.
Merchandise and other revenue increased approximately 42% from
$507,000 to $722,000 during the year ended February 28,2005, as compared to the year ended February 28, 2006. This
increase is attributable to an increase in the number of
locations of our Titanic exhibitions that have gift shops that
sell our merchandise.
Our sale of coal recovered from the Titanic increased to
$102,000 from $30,000, or approximately 240% during the year
ended February 28, 2006 as compared to the year ended
February 28, 2005. This increase is attributed to higher
exhibit sales of coal. Coal-related jewelry is included in
general merchandise sales.
We incurred exhibition costs of $2,672,000 and $2,891,000,
respectively, for the year ended February 28, 2006 and
2005. Exhibition costs are reflective of us conducting our own
exhibitions, usually presented at museum venues for which we
incur costs for advertising, marketing, promotion and
installation and de-installation of exhibitry and artifacts.
Prior to our fiscal year ended February 28, 2005, those
costs were borne by our licensee that conducted our Titanic
exhibitions. Exhibition costs related to our anatomical
exhibitions consist of the rental costs of the specimens.
Exhibition costs as a percentage of exhibition revenues were 22%
and 46%, respectively, for the year ended February 28, 2006
and 2005.
Our general and administrative expenses increased to $6,620,000
during the year ended February 28, 2006, as compared to
$4,397,000 for the year ended February 28, 2005. This 51%
increase is attributable to increased personnel necessary to
organize, administer and manage our exhibitions. We also
recorded additional non-cash charges for the fair value of
employee options and consultant warrants granted during the year
ended February 28, 2006. We have elected to fully charge
our operations for employee stock options issued in the year
such options are granted.
Our depreciation and amortization expenses increased $533,000 or
141% to $911,000 during the year ended February 28, 2006,
as compared to $378,000 for the year ended February 28,2005. The increase primarily reflects additional investments
made in fixed assets for our exhibitions. In addition, in the
year ended February 28, 2006, there was an increase in
amortization expense associated with the amortization of
exhibition licenses of $516,000, which was not present in the
year ended February 28, 2005.
During the year ended February 28, 2005, we sold the SV
Explorer, a 178 foot- 1050 ton ship that was to be used in the
expedition to the Titanic for $167,000 to Formaes ApS.
Skelgaardsvej 10, DK-9340 Asss, a Denmark company which
resulted in a loss on the sale of fixed assets of $356,000 and
$84,000 during the years ended February 28, 2005 and 2006,
respectively.
We realized income of $2,642,000 from operations during the year
ended February 28, 2006, as compared to a loss of
$1,431,000 from operations in year ended February 28, 2005.
We attribute this increase in income from operations to higher
revenues we generated by conducting our own exhibitions, despite
related increases in general and administrative expenses, as
well as to revenue contributions from our newest exhibitions,
“Bodies Revealed” and “Bodies...The
Exhibition.”
We incurred interest income of $85,000 and $2,000 for the year
ended February 28, 2006 and 2005, respectively. We incurred
interest expense of $47,000 and $46,000 for the year ended
February 28, 2006 and
2005, respectively. Interest expense during the year ended
February 28, 2006 and 2005 primarily pertains to a
shareholder loan of $500,000 that was made in 2004 in
anticipation of our capital needs as we transitioned to the
direct management of our exhibitions.
As a result of the default by Legal Access Technologies, Inc.
and our subsequent termination of the agreement relating to the
sale of the Carpathia interest, we retained marketable
securities of $168,000 which is reflected as other income during
the year ended February 28, 2006.
We recorded an income tax benefit of $2,100,000 during the year
ended February 28, 2006 relating to the realizability of
our net operating loss carryforwards during our current year.
We realized net income of $4,948,000 for the year ended
February 28, 2006 as compared to a net loss of $1,475,000
in the same prior year period. Basic income (loss) per common
share for the years ended February 28, 2006 and 2005 was
$0.21 and ($0.07), respectively. The basic weighted average
shares outstanding for the years ended February 28, 2006
and 2005 was 24,081,186 and 20,818,898, respectively. Diluted
income (loss) per common share for the years ended
February 28, 2006 and 2005 was $0.18 and ($0.07),
respectively. The diluted weighted average shares outstanding
for the years ended February 28, 2006 and 2005 was
28,230,491 and 20,818,898, respectively.
During our fiscal year ended February 28, 2005, our
revenues increased to $6,857,000 from $2,864,000 in our fiscal
year ended February 29, 2004. This increase of
approximately 139% is primarily a result of an increase of
$3,643,000 in our exhibition revenues. We believe that these
significant increases in revenues reflect the commencement of
our direct management of our Titanic exhibitions, which began
during the first quarter of fiscal year 2005.
Merchandise and other revenue increased approximately 326% from
$119,000 to $507,000, during the fiscal year 2005 as compared to
the fiscal year 2004. These increases are attributable to higher
sales of Titanic merchandise sold separately from the
exhibitions during fiscal year 2005. Our revenue from the sale
of coal-related items decreased from $68,000 to $30,000 or
approximately 56% during the 2005 fiscal year as compared to the
2004 fiscal year. This decrease is attributable to lower exhibit
sales of coal sold separately. Coal-related jewelry is included
in general merchandise sales.
The cost of sales of merchandise sold increased 134% to $257,000
from $110,000 in fiscal year 2005 as compared to fiscal year
2004. This increase was the result of higher revenues of
merchandise during the 2005 fiscal year.
We incurred exhibition costs of $2,891,000 for the fiscal year
2005 as we began to conduct our own exhibitions with museum
venues and thereby incur costs for advertising, marketing and
promotion, as well as installation and de-installation of
exhibitry and artifacts. There were no similar costs incurred in
fiscal year 2004 as those costs were borne by our licensee who
conducted our Titanic exhibitions.
Our general and administrative expenses increased $995,000, or
approximately 29%, from $3,402,000 in fiscal year 2004 to
$4,397,000 in fiscal year 2005. During fiscal year 2005, we
hired personnel to organize, administer, and manage our
exhibitions. Increases in expenses for legal, insurance,
conservation and occupancy for fiscal year 2005 represented the
largest portion of the remaining increase in general and
administrative expenses.
Our depreciation and amortization expenses increased to $378,000
from $253,000, or 49%, during fiscal year 2005 as compared to
fiscal year 2004. These increases primarily reflect the
acquisition of fixed assets during fiscal year 2005, including
the five sets of exhibition exhibitry acquired from our former
licensee, as well as additional investments made in fixed assets
for our exhibitions.
During the year ended February 28, 2005, we sold the SV
Explorer, a 178 foot- 1050 ton ship that was to be used in the
expedition to the Titanic for $167,000 to Formaes ApS.
Skelgaardsvej 10, DK-9340 Asss, a Denmark company which
resulted in a loss on the sale of fixed assets of $356,000
during the year ended February 28, 2005.
Our loss from operations increased to $1,431,000 in fiscal year
2005 as compared to $1,097,000 in fiscal year 2004, an increase
of approximately 30%. This increase in operating loss is
primarily attributable to the losses incurred from our
transition from being a licensor of Titanic artifacts to a
direct operator of Titanic exhibitions. In addition, we incurred
a substantial loss on the sale of fixed assets of $356,000
during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005 which
contributed to our operating loss.
Interest income for fiscal year 2005 amounted to $2,000 as
compared to $9,000 in the prior fiscal year. This decrease in
interest income is a consequence of maintaining lower cash
balances and the minimal interest earned on our bank accounts.
We incurred interest expense of $46,000 for fiscal year 2005 on
a shareholder loan of $500,000 that was made in anticipation of
our capital needs during our transition to the direct management
of our exhibitions. There was no interest expense incurred
during fiscal year 2004, as we had no debt.
Our loss from continuing operations before provision for income
taxes was $1,475,000 in fiscal year 2005 as compared to a loss
from continuing operations before taxes of $1,088,000 in fiscal
year 2004. There was no provision for income taxes in either
fiscal year. We incurred a loss of $(.07) per share for fiscal
year 2005, compared to a loss of $(.06) per share for fiscal
year 2004. The weighted average common shares outstanding were
20,818,898 and 18,960,047 for fiscal years 2005 and 2004,
respectively.
During fiscal year 2004, our revenues increased to $2,864,000 as
compared to $2,861,000 in the year ended February 28, 2003,
referred to as fiscal year 2003. This increase of $3,000 in
fiscal year 2004 primarily reflects higher exhibition income to
the extent not offset by a sale of coal revenue decrease in
fiscal year 2003.
Exhibition revenue and related sales were $2,677,000 in fiscal
year 2004 as compared to $2,646,000 in fiscal year 2003 for an
increase of $31,000, or 1%. This increase in these revenues was
principally attributable to higher catalog sales during fiscal
year 2004.
Our merchandise and other revenues, that included the sale of
merchandise, books and royalty payments, decreased slightly to
$119,000 from $121,000 in the prior fiscal year. This decrease
of $2,000, or about 2%, is primarily attributed to the lower
contribution of poster income at each exhibition venue during
fiscal year 2004. The sale of coal recovered from the Titanic
was $68,000 in fiscal year 2004 compared to $94,000 in fiscal
year 2003 and this decrease is attributed to lower demand at our
Titanic exhibitions.
Cost of goods sold were $131,000 for fiscal year 2004 as
compared to $175,000 in fiscal year 2003. This decrease of
$44,000 is primarily attributed to lower total cost of goods on
the lower merchandise revenues experienced for these products
sold during fiscal year 2004.
General and administrative expenses were $3,402,000 for fiscal
year 2004 as compared to $2,809,000 in fiscal year 2003. This
increase of $593,000, or 21%, is primarily attributed to charges
of $434,000 incurred in expensing of options and warrants
granted to employees, directors and consultants during fiscal
year 2004. We have elected to fully charge our operations for
employee stock options issued in the year such options are
granted.
Depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal year 2004 was
$253,000 as compared to $293,000 in fiscal year 2003. This
decrease of $40,000, or 14%, is primarily lower charges for
depreciation as the fixed asset lives of depreciable assets are
realized.
In fiscal year 2003, we incurred a write-down of a note
receivable in the amount of $296,000. There was not a comparable
charge for fiscal year 2004. During fiscal year 2004, we
incurred a charge of $175,000 for the settlement of litigation
that compared to a charge in the prior fiscal year of $413,000
for litigation settlement. These litigation settlements were
unrelated.
We experienced a loss from continuing operations of $1,097,000
for fiscal year 2004 as compared to a loss from operations of
$1,125,000 in fiscal year 2003. This decrease in income from
operations is primarily attributed to higher general and
administrative expense in fiscal year 2004 that was not offset
by the slightly higher revenues.
During fiscal year 2004, we earned interest income of $9,000 as
compared to $298,000 in the prior year. We maintained higher
cash balances during fiscal year 2003 and also benefited from
interest earned on tax refunds received during that fiscal year.
Income (loss) after provision for income taxes was ($1,088,000)
for fiscal year 2004 as compared to ($827,000) in fiscal year
2003. Basic and diluted earnings per common share were $(0.06)
and $(0.04) for fiscal years 2004 and 2003, respectively. The
weighted average common shares outstanding were 18,960,047 and
18,615,294 for the 2004 and 2003 fiscal years, respectively.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Net cash provided by operating activities was $2,130,000 for the
year ended February 28, 2006 as compared to $595,000 in the
year ended February 28, 2005. This increase primarily
reflects our change in operations to directly conducting our
Titanic exhibitions with museums and the increase in the number
of venue locations. Also, our newest exhibitions,
“Bodies...The Exhibition” and “Bodies
Revealed” have contributed to our cash provided by
operating activities as we collect non-refundable license fees
as well as receive additional exhibition revenue from these
exhibitions.
For the year ended February 28, 2006, the total cash used
in investing activities was $4,356,000, which included
acquisition of property and equipment of $1,774,000 and the
acquisition of exhibition licenses of $2,082,000. The increase
in acquisition of property and equipment primarily consists of
the purchase of additional exhibitry used in our Titanic,
“Bodies Revealed” and “Bodies...The
Exhibition” exhibits. The increase in acquisition of
exhibition licenses includes licenses acquired from Exhibitions
International, LLC for exclusive licensing rights to certain
anatomical specimens. In addition, we have purchased multi-year
license and exhibition rights for several additional separate
human anatomy exhibitions.
For the year ended February 28, 2006, cash provided by
financing activities was $5,127,000 and included advanced
exhibit funding of $1,425,000 and a $1,000,000 credit facility
made by our joint venture partner, SAM Tour (USA), Inc. pursuant
to a joint venture we entered into in April 2005. This
credit facility was repayable quarterly on account in the amount
of $100,000 per quarter beginning September 30, 2005
and $150,000 per quarter in 2006, and accrues interest at
the rate of ten percent per annum. This credit facility is
repayable in full on September 30, 2006. We provided a
general security interest over our assets as part of this
facility. In December 2005, our joint venture partner
exercised its option to extend for two additional exhibitions,
which caused the exhibition guarantee amounts to be set off
against principal and interest payment obligations on this
$1,000,000 credit facility. As of the option exercise date,
there were no principal and interest payments remitted to the
joint venture partner. In addition, our joint venture partner
purchased 300,000 shares of our common stock for $500,000.
During the year ended February 28, 2006, we received
approximately $166,000 for the exercise of 224,000 warrants and
options at exercise prices of $.32 per share to
$1.50 per share.
In the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005, we received a
shareholder loan of $500,000 that provided funding to assist us
in our transition to directly managing our own exhibitions. This
shareholder loan is unsecured and is for a five-year term with
interest at six percent over the prime rate and requires
quarterly payments of interest and principal.
In October 2005, we completed a private placement of our
securities, in which we raised $4,968,477 by selling units
consisting of shares of common stock and warrants to purchase
shares of common stock. Each unit consisted of
20,000 shares of common stock at a price of $1.67 per
share and a five-year warrant to
purchase 13,320 shares of common stock at an exercise
price of $2.50 per share. On a fully-diluted basis, the
units sold in the October 2005 private placement
represented a total of 4,956,577 shares of our common
stock. This total consists of 2,975,136 shares of common
stock and warrants to purchase up to 1,981,441 shares of
common stock. The warrants provide for customary anti-dilution
adjustments in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, and
recapitalizations. The warrants do not confer any voting rights
or any other shareholder rights. The proceeds of this private
placement are being used for general working capital purposes.
Our working capital and shareholders’ equity was $7,054,000
and $20,282,000, respectively, at February 28, 2006, as
compared with working capital of $857,000 and shareholders’
equity of $7,679,000 at February 28, 2005. Our current
ratio was 3.62 and 1.28 at February 28, 2006 and
February 28, 2005, respectively.
For the year ended February 28, 2005, cash provided by
financing activities was $1,703,000, which included a private
placement of securities in August 2004 and a loan provided
by two shareholders. In August 2004, we closed a private
placement in which we sold 1,469,927 shares of common stock
and warrants to purchase 441,003 shares of common
stock for aggregate consideration of $1,514,000. The net
proceeds of this private placement were $1,278,000 after fees,
expenses and other costs. In connection with this private
placement, we also issued warrants to purchase
293,985 shares of common stock to our placement agent. All
of the warrants issued in the private placement are exercisable
over a five-year term at an exercise price of $1.50 per
share. This private placement was used to supplement our working
capital needs.
On January 9, 2006, we finalized a $750,000 revolving line
of credit with Bank of America, N.A. This credit facility, which
is evidenced by a promissory note made by us in favor of Bank of
America, allows us to make revolving borrowings of up to
$750,000. Interest under this credit facility is calculated from
the date of each advance by Bank of America to us and is
determined based upon changes in an index that is the rate of
interest publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America
as its prime rate. Under the credit facility, we must make
interest only payments monthly and the outstanding principal
amount plus all accrued but unpaid interest is payable in full
at the expiration of the credit facility on June 30, 2006.
The credit facility contains customary representations,
warranties and covenants. We entered into the credit facility to
help finance the expansion of our exhibition business. On
April 26, 2006, we borrowed $333,014 under the credit
facility to repay the remaining principal on our shareholder
loan.
In connection with the credit facility, we also granted Bank of
America a security interest in all of our property, pursuant to
a commercial security agreement, up to the amount advanced under
the credit facility. In addition, in order to facilitate the
establishment of the credit facility, Sam Tour (USA), Inc., our
joint venture partner and secured lender, has agreed pursuant to
a UCC lien subordination agreement that any security interest,
lien or right it has or may have with respect to our property is
subordinate to the security interest we granted in favor of Bank
of America.
We conducted our seventh research and recovery expedition to the
Titanic wreck site in fiscal year 2005. During the year ended
February 28, 2005, we spent $879,000 on this expedition and
accounted for it as a cost of our
salvor-in-possession
right.
In order to protect our
salvor-in-possession
status and to prevent third parties from salvaging the Titanic
wreck and wreck site, or interfering with our rights and ability
to salvage the wreck and wreck site, we may have to commence
judicial proceedings against third parties. Such proceedings
could be expensive and time-consuming. Additionally, in order to
maintain our
salvor-in-possession
status we are required to maintain a reasonable presence over
the wreck. We may be required to incur the costs for future
expeditions so as to maintain our
salvor-in-possession
status. Our ability to undertake future expeditions may be
dependent upon the availability of financing. No assurances can
be given that any financing will be available on satisfactory
terms, if at all, as further discussed in this report under
“Risk Factors.”
Contractual Obligations
We have a non-cancelable operating lease for the rental of each
set of its specimens used in our anatomical exhibitions. The
leases are payable quarterly for a term of five years with five
annual options to extend.
We have non-cancelable operating leases for office space. The
leases are subject to escalation for our pro rata share of
increases in real estate taxes and operating costs. During the
fiscal year ended February 28, 2005, we entered into
another non-cancelable operating lease for warehouse space
through December 31, 2007.
The lease for our principal executive offices was amended a
second time on November 8, 2005 when the leased space was
increased to approximately 6,000 square feet. The amended
lease provides for base annual
lease payments of $110,591 with a 2.5% annual adjustment. The
second amended lease, which increased our office space by over
1,800 square feet, requires us to pay an additional total
of $71,242 over the duration of the lease.
The following table illustrates our contractual obligations and
commitments as of February 28, 2006:
Payments Due by Period
Less than
More than
Contractual Obligations
Total
1 Year
1-3 Years
3-5 Years
5 Years
Specimen fixed rentals
$
23,000,000
$
4,000,000
$
10,000,000
$
9,000,000
$
—
Real estate operating lease
881,000
306,000
575,000
—
—
Contractual commitment — Clear Channel Entertainment,
Inc.
500,000
500,000
—
—
—
Note payable — SAM Tour (USA), Inc.
500,000
500,000
—
—
—
Note payable — shareholder
350,000
350,000
—
—
—
Total
$
25,231,000
$
5,656,000
$
10,575,000
$
9,000,000
$
—
On October 1, 2005, we entered into two three-year
consulting agreements for investor relations services with a
firm and an individual that require aggregate monthly cash
consulting fees of $52,250 in October 2005,
November 2005 and December 2005. Thereafter,
consulting fees are $22,550 per month during the first year
and reduce to $13,300 for the remaining term. These agreements
require us to issue 350,000 shares of common stock and
250,000 five-year warrants to purchase our common stock at an
exercise price of $2.00 per share. The fair value of the
warrants is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is being amortized over
the three-year agreement term. We recorded $173,273 in
consulting expense related to these two agreements during the
year ended February 28, 2006. The common stock has not been
issued at February 28, 2006, and is recorded as a common
stock payable in our financial statements. The common stock and
the common stock underlying the warrants have
“piggyback” registration rights.
On November 30, 2005, we sold a 3% ownership interest in
the RMS Carpathia to Legal Access Technologies, Inc. for
$500,000. In addition, we sold Legal Access Technologies a
twenty-five year license to conduct joint expeditions with us to
the RMS Carpathia for the purpose of exploring and
salvaging the RMS Carpathia for $200,000. Under the terms
of this agreement, Legal Access Technologies, Inc. was obligated
to make payments under a payment schedule of $100,000 on
December 12, 2005 and the balance of $400,000 on
February 15, 2006. In the event of default, we had the sole
and exclusive option to terminate the agreement. We reflected
this transaction as a gain on the sale of the Carpathia interest
of $459,000 during the quarter ended November 30, 2005.
Pursuant to the terms of the agreement Legal Access
Technologies, Inc. was obligated to make the following scheduled
payments to us: (i) $100,000 on December 12, 2005; and
(ii) $400,000 on February 15, 2006. The $100,000
payment was collateralized with 1,400,000 shares of Legal
Access Technologies, Inc.’s common stock, which satisfied
its obligation to make the first payment. Legal Access
Technologies, Inc. failed to make the second scheduled payment
and, on April 3, 2006, we terminated its agreement with
Legal Access Technologies, Inc. In accordance with the
agreement, we retained the collateral in the form of Legal
Access Technologies, Inc.’s common stock. As a result of
this default and our subsequent termination of the agreement, we
reversed the gain of $459,000 net of the gain from the
retention of the marketable securities of $168,000 that was
recognized during our quarter ended November 30, 2005.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet financial arrangements.
We have identified the policies below as critical to our
business operations and the understanding of our results of
operations. In the ordinary course of business, we have made a
number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of
results of operations and financial condition in the preparation
of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates
under different assumptions and conditions. We believe that the
following discussion addresses our most critical accounting
policies, which are those that are most important to the
portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations
and require our most difficult, subjective, and complex
judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about
the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain.
Our critical accounting policies are as follows:
•
Revenue recognition;
•
Accounts receivables;
•
Income taxes;
•
Legal contingencies;
•
Property and Equipment; and
•
Impairment of long-lived and intangible assets.
Revenue Recognition
Exhibition Revenue. We recognize exhibition revenue for
our Titanic and anatomical specimen exhibits when earned and
reasonably estimable. Our exhibition agreements may have a fixed
fee, may be based on a percentage of revenue, or a combination
of the two. A variable fee arrangement may include a
nonrefundable or recoupable guarantee paid in advance or over
the exhibition period. The following are the conditions that
must be met in order to recognize revenue:
•
persuasive evidence of an exhibition arrangement with a customer
exists;
•
the exhibit is complete and, in accordance with the terms of the
arrangement, has been delivered;
•
the exhibition period of the arrangement has begun and/or the
customer can begin its exploitation, exhibition or sale;
•
the arrangement fee is fixed or determinable; and
•
collection of the arrangement fee is reasonably assured.
Our revenue may be predicated on a percentage or share of our
customers’ revenue from the exhibition. Our percentage of
the ticket sales for these exhibits, as well as merchandise
sales are recognized at point of sale. Advance ticket sales are
recorded as deferred revenue pending the “event date”
on the ticket.
In exhibition arrangements that have a variable fee structure, a
customer or joint venture partner may guarantee to pay us a
nonrefundable minimum amount that is to be applied against
variable fees. We record this non-refundable guarantee as
deferred revenue until all the conditions of revenue recognition
have been met.
Our customers and joint venture partners provide us with gross
receipt information, marketing costs, promotional costs, and any
other fees and expenses. We utilize this information to
determine our portion of the revenue by applying the contractual
provisions included in our arrangements with our customers and
joint venture partners. The amount of revenue recognized in any
given quarter or quarters from all of our exhibitions depends on
the timing, accuracy, and sufficiency of information we receive
from our customers and joint venture partners to determine
revenues and associated gross profits.
Audio Tour Revenue. Revenue derived from equipping and
operating an audio tour is recognized upon customer purchase of
the audio tour.
Merchandise Revenue. Revenues collected by third-party
vendors with respect to the sale of exhibit-related merchandise
is recorded when the merchandise is shipped to the third-party
vendor. Revenue from sales of coal recovered from the Titanic
wreck site is recognized at the date of shipment to customers.
Recovery costs attributable to the coal are charged to
operations as revenue from coal sales are recognized.
Sponsorship Revenue. Revenues from corporate sponsors of
an exhibition are generally recognized over the period of the
applicable agreements commencing with the opening of the related
attraction. Revenue from the granting of sponsorship rights
related to the our and dives is recognized at the completion of
the expedition.
Licensing Revenue. Revenue from the licensing of the
production and exploitation of audio and visual recordings by
third parties, related to our expeditions, is recognized at the
time that the expedition and dive takes place. Revenue from the
licensing of still photographs and video is recognized at the
time the rights are granted to the licensee.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are customer obligations due under normal
trade terms. We regularly evaluate the need for an allowance for
uncollectible accounts by taking into consideration factors such
as the type of client; governmental agencies or private sector;
trends in actual and forecasted credit quality of the client,
including delinquency and late payment history; and current
economic conditions that may affect a client’s ability to
pay. In certain circumstances and depending on customer
creditworthiness we may require a bank letter of credit to
guarantee the collection of our receivables. Our allowance for
bad debt is determined based on a percentage of aged receivables.
Income Taxes
We determine our effective tax rate by estimating permanent
differences resulting from the differing treatment of items for
tax and accounting purposes. The carrying value of our net
deferred tax assets is based on our present belief that more
likely than not we will be able to generate sufficient future
taxable income to utilize such deferred tax assets, based on
estimates and assumptions. If these estimates and related
assumptions change in the future, we may be required to record
or adjust valuation allowances against our deferred tax assets
resulting in additional income tax expense in our consolidated
statement of operations. Management evaluates the realizability
of the deferred tax assets quarterly and assesses the need for
changes to valuation allowances quarterly. While we have
considered future taxable income and ongoing prudent and
feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the present need
for a valuation allowance, in the event we were to determine
that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the
future in excess of our net recorded amount, an adjustment to
the valuation allowance would increase income in the period such
determination was made. Should we determine that we would not be
able to realize all or part of our net deferred tax asset in the
future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would be charged
to income in the period such determination was made.
We are currently involved in certain legal proceedings, as
discussed in Item 3 of this report. To the extent that a
loss related to a contingency is reasonably estimable and
probable, we accrue an estimate of that loss. Because of the
uncertainties related to both the amount and range of loss on
certain pending litigation, we may be unable to make a
reasonable estimate of the liability that could result from an
unfavorable outcome of such litigation. As additional
information becomes available, we will assess the potential
liability related to our pending litigation and make or, if
necessary, revise our estimates. Such revisions in our estimates
of the potential liability could materially impact our results
of operations and financial position.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for
major renewals and improvements are capitalized while
expenditures for maintenance and repairs not expected to extend
the life of an asset beyond its normal useful life are charged
to expense when incurred. Equipment is depreciated over the
estimated useful lives of the assets under the straight-line
method of depreciation for financial reporting purposes and both
straight-line and other methods for tax purposes.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Other
Intangibles
In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the
carrying value of long lived assets, including associated
intangibles may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability is
performed by comparing the estimated future undiscounted cash
flows associated with the asset to the assets carrying amount to
determine if a write down to market value or discounted cash
flows is required.
Artifacts recovered in the 1987 Titanic expedition are carried
at the lower of cost of recovery or NRV. The government of
France granted us ownership of these artifacts. The costs of
recovery are the direct costs of chartering of vessels and
related crews and equipment required to complete the dive
operations for that expedition.
To ascertain that the aggregate net realizable value, or NRV, of
the artifacts exceeds the direct costs of recovery of such
artifacts, we evaluate various evidential matters. Such
evidential matters include documented sales and offerings of
Titanic-related memorabilia, insurance coverage obtained in
connection with the potential theft, damage or destruction of
all or part of the artifacts and other evidential matter
regarding the public interest in the Titanic.
At each balance sheet date, we evaluate the period of
amortization of intangible assets. The factors used in
evaluating the period of amortization include: (i) current
operating results, (ii) projected future operating results,
and (ii) other material factors that affect the continuity
of the business.
We amortize our exhibition licenses on a straight line basis
over a five year term commencing on the effective date of the
exhibition license or right.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or
SFAS, No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation,” encourages, but does not require, companies
to record compensation cost for stock-based employee
compensation plans at fair value. We have elected to account for
our stock-based compensation plans using the intrinsic value
method prescribed by Accounting Procedures Bulletin, or APB,
Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees,” and to present pro forma earnings (loss) and
per share information as though we had adopted
SFAS No. 123. Under the provisions of APB Opinion
No. 25, compensation cost for stock options is measured as
the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of our common
stock at the date of the grant over the amount an employee must
pay to acquire the stock.
In November 2004, the Financial Accounting Standard Board,
or FASB, issued SFAS, No. 151, “Inventory Costs: an
amendment of APB No. 43, Chapter 4”
(“SFAS No. 151”), to clarify the accounting
for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling
costs and wasted material. SFAS No. 151 is effective
for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after
June 15, 2005. We do not believe the provisions of
SFAS No. 151, when applied, will have a material
impact on our financial position or results of operations.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153,
“Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets” (SFAS 153)
which amends Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 29,
“Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions”
(APB 29). SFAS No. 153 amends APB No. 29 to
eliminate the fair-value exception for nonmonetary exchanges of
similar productive assets and replace it with a general
exception for nonmonetary exchanges that do not have commercial
substance. It is effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges
occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005.
This statement is not anticipated to have a material impact on
our financial position or results of operations.
In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement No. 123
(revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”
(“FAS 123R”), which replaces FASB Statement
No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation” (“FAS 123”) and supercedes
APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued
to Employees.” FAS 123R requires all share-based
payments to employees, including grants of employee stock
options, to be recognized in the financial statements based on
their fair values, beginning with the first annual period after
June 15, 2005, with early adoption encouraged. The pro
forma disclosures previously permitted under FAS 123 no
longer will be an alternative to financial statement
recognition. We were required to adopt FAS 123R by
March 1, 2006. Under FAS 123R, we must determine the
appropriate fair value model to be used for valuing share-based
payments, the amortization method for compensation cost and the
transition method to be used at date of adoption. We early
adopted the fair value recognition provisions of FAS 123R,
using the modified prospective transition method requiring us to
recognize expense related to the fair value of our stock-based
compensation awards during fiscal year 2005. The adoption of
FAS 123(R) did not have a material impact on our financial
position or results of operations.
In November 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position
No. FAS 123R, “Transition Election Related to
Accounting for Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards,”
which provides an alternative transition method to establish the
beginning balance of the additional paid-in capital pool
(“APIC pool”) related to the tax effects of
employee stock-based compensation, and to determine the
subsequent impact on the APIC pool and consolidated
statements of cash flows of the tax effects of employee
stock-based compensation awards that are outstanding upon
adoption of FAS No. 123(R).
In March 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 107, Share-Based Payment
(“SAB No. 107”). SAB No. 107
provides guidance regarding the interaction between
FAS 123R and certain SEC rules and regulations, including
guidance related to valuation methods; the classifications of
compensation expense; non-GAAP financial measures; the
accounting for income tax effects of share-based payment
arrangements; disclosures in Management’s Discussion and
Analysis subsequent to the adoption of FAS 123R; and
modifications of options prior to the adoption of FAS 123R.
In May 2005, FASB issued SFAS No. 154,
“Accounting Changes and Error Corrections”
(“SFAS No. 154”), which will require that,
unless it is impractical to do so, a change in an accounting
principle be applied retrospectively to prior periods’
financial statements for all voluntary changes in accounting
principles and upon adoption of a new accounting standard if the
standard does not include specific transition provisions.
SFAS No. 154 supersedes APB Opinion No. 20,
“Accounting Changes,” which previously required that
most voluntary changes in accounting principles be recognized by
including in the current period’s net income (loss) the
cumulative effect of changing to the new accounting principle.
SFAS No. 154 also provides that if an entity changes
its method of depreciation, amortization, or depletion for
long-lived, non-financial assets, the change must be accounted
for as a change in accounting estimate. Under APB No. 20,
such a change would have been reported as a change in an
accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 became applicable
to accounting changes and error corrections made by us starting
in fiscal year 2006. The
effect of applying this new standard will depend upon whether
material voluntary changes in accounting principles, changes in
estimates or error corrections occur as well as consideration of
transition and other provisions included in the new standard.
In June 2005, the Emerging Issues Task Force
(“EITF”) reached a consensus on Issue
No. 05-06,
“Determining the Amortization Period for Leasehold
Improvements.”
EITF 05-06
provides guidance for determining the amortization period used
for leasehold improvements acquired in a business combination or
purchased after the inception of a lease, collectively referred
to as subsequently acquired leasehold improvements.
EITF 05-06
provides that the amortization period used for the subsequently
acquired leasehold improvements to be the lesser of (i) the
subsequently acquired leasehold improvements’ useful lives,
or (ii) a period that reflects renewals that are reasonably
assured upon the acquisition or the purchase.
EITF 05-06 is
effective on a prospective basis for subsequently acquired
leasehold improvements purchased or acquired in periods
beginning after the date of the FASB’s ratification, which
was on June 29, 2005. The adoption of EITF
No. 05-06 has not
had material effect on our financial position, cash flows or
results of operations.
In October 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position
(“FSP”) 13-1,
“Accounting for Rental Costs Incurred During a Construction
Period,” to clarify the proper accounting for rental costs
incurred on building or ground operating leases during a
construction period. The FSP requires that rental costs incurred
during a construction period be expensed, not capitalized. The
statement is effective for the first reporting period beginning
after December 15, 2005. We do not believe adoption of
FSP 13-1 will have
a material effect on our financial position, cash flows or
results of operations.
ITEM 7A.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET
RISK
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact our
financial position due to adverse changes in financial market
prices and rates. Market risk exposure is primarily a result of
fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange
rates. We do not hold or issue financial instruments for trading
purposes.
Interest Rate Risk
We have exposure to market rate risk for changes in interest
rates related to our variable interest credit facility discussed
in Item 7 of this report under the headings
“Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations.” Interest income on
our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments is
subject to interest rate fluctuations, but we believe that the
impact of these fluctuations does not have a material effect on
our financial position due to the short-term nature of any such
investments. We do not have significant long-term debt. Our
interest income and interest expense are most sensitive to the
general level of interest rates in the United States.
Sensitivity analysis is used to measure our interest rate risk.
For the year ended February 28, 2006, a
100 basis-point adverse change in interest rates would not
have had a material effect on our consolidated financial
position, earnings, or cash flow, as the only interest expense
affected by changes in interest rates is the expense related to
approximately $350,000 variable interest on our credit facility.
Foreign Currency Risk
We conduct a portion of our business activities outside of the
United States, and are thereby exposed to the risk of currency
fluctuations between the United States dollar and foreign
currencies of the countries in which we are conducting business.
If the value of the United States dollar decreases in relation
to such foreign currencies, our potential revenue from
exhibition and merchandising activities outside of the United
States will be adversely affected. During the year ended
February 28, 2006, we did not incur any material losses
because of changes in the exchange rates with respect to foreign
currencies. Although our financial arrangements with foreign
parties may be based upon foreign currencies, we have sought,
and will continue to seek where practicable, to make our
financial commitments and understandings based upon the United
States dollar in order to minimize the adverse potential effect
of currency fluctuations.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors
Premier Exhibitions, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of
February 28, 2006 and February 28, 2005, and the
related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
February 28, 2006. These consolidated financial statements
are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are
free of material misstatement. The Company is not required at
this time, to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of
its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits
included consideration of internal control over financial
reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of
expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s
internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we
express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred
to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of
February 28, 2006 and February 28, 2005 and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended February 28, 2006, in
conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Note 3)
1,405,000
3,458,000
Total current assets
3,942,000
9,742,000
Artifacts owned, at cost (Note 2)
4,476,000
4,476,000
Salvor’s lien (Note 2)
1,000
1,000
Salvor-in-possession rights (Note 2)
879,000
879,000
Property and equipment, net (Note 3)
738,000
2,033,000
Exhibition licenses, net (Note 3)
—
3,607,000
Deferred income taxes (Note 4)
—
2,100,000
Other assets
43,000
132,000
$
10,764,000
$
22,970,000
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 3)
1,660,000
1,038,000
Deferred revenue
1,000,000
300,000
Notes payable
425,000
1,350,000
Total current liabilities
3,085,000
2,688,000
Commitments and contingencies
—
—
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock; $.0001 par value; authorized
40,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 22,299,939 and
26,062,089 shares at February 28, 2005 and 2006,
respectively
2,000
3,000
Common stock payable
—
920,000
Additional paid-in capital
20,316,000
27,178,000
Accumulated deficit
(12,665,000
)
(7,717,000
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
26,000
(102,000
)
Total stockholders’ equity
7,679,000
20,282,000
$
10,764,000
$
22,970,000
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided
(used) by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
253,000
378,000
911,000
Issuance of common stock for interest expense
—
6,000
—
Issuance of common stock in exchange for options
—
1,569,000
—
Issuance of common stock and warrants for services
108,000
277,000
1,285,000
Issuance of compensatory stock options
434,000
—
256,000
(Increase) decrease in cost of artifacts
—
3,000
(1,000
)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
—
356,000
84,000
Other income from default on sale of Carpathia
—
—
(168,000
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable
(225,000
)
(704,000
)
(528,000
)
(Increase) decrease in deferred income taxes
—
—
(2,100,000
)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid and refundable taxes
290,000
(1,000
)
222,000
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets
166,000
(1,264,000
)
(2,053,000
)
(Increase) decrease in other assets
(715,000
)
39,000
596,000
Increase (decrease) in deferred revenue
(735,000
)
1,000,000
(700,000
)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities
135,000
411,000
(622,000
)
Total adjustments
(289,000
)
2,070,000
(2,818,000
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
(1,377,000
)
595,000
2,130,000
Cash flows used by investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment
(21,000
)
(964,000
)
(1,774,000
)
Investment in salvor-in-possession rights
—
(879,000
)
—
Purchase of exhibition license
—
—
(2,082,000
)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
—
230,000
—
Purchase of certificate of deposit
—
—
(500,000
)
Net cash used by investing activities
(21,000
)
(1,613,000
)
(4,356,000
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from notes payable
—
500,000
2,425,000
Principal payments on notes payable
—
(75,000
)
(2,932,000
)
Proceeds from option and warrant exercises
—
—
166,000
Proceeds from sale of common stock
—
1,278,000
5,468,000
Net cash provided by financing activities
—
1,703,000
5,127,000
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
—
26,000
(30,000
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(1,398,000
)
685,000
2,901,000
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
1,945,000
547,000
1,258,000
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$
547,000
$
1,258,000
$
4,129,000
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for interest
$
—
$
40,000
$
39,000
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing
activities:
During the year ended February 28, 2006, the Company issued
200,000 shares of its common stock and 300,000 warrants to
acquire its common stock in conjunction with its acquisition of
Exhibitions International, LLC. The value of the common stock
was $308,000 and the estimated value of the warrants was
approximately $299,000. The Company also assumed approximately
$750,000 of the debt of Exhibitions International, LLC. These
values are included in exhibition licenses in the Company’s
financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements.
Business, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. initially conducted business as
Titanic Ventures Limited Partnership (“TVLP”). In
1993, the Company acquired all of TVLP’s assets and assumed
all of TVLP’s liabilities. The transaction was accounted
for as a “reverse acquisition” with TVLP deemed to be
the acquiring entity. Premier Exhibitions, Inc. and TVLP are
referred to as the “Company” as the context dictates.
Effective at the close of business on October 14, 2004, the
Company reorganized into a holding company structure whereby
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. became the holding company of RMS
Titanic, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. RMS
Titanic, Inc. is the entity that conducts the Company’s
Titanic exhibitions.
The reorganization into a holding company structure was effected
through the formation of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. as a wholly
owned subsidiary of RMS Titanic, Inc. and the formation of RMST
MergerSub, Inc., a Florida corporation, as a wholly owned
subsidiary of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. An agreement and plan of
merger dated October 13, 2004 between RMS Titanic, Premier
Exhibitions, and MergerSub provided for the merger of MergerSub
with and into RMS Titanic, Inc. with RMS Titanic, Inc. as the
surviving corporation. As a result of the merger, RMS Titanic,
Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and each
outstanding share of common stock of RMS Titanic, Inc. issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the merger was converted
into one share of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. common stock. Also
pursuant to the merger agreement, each option to purchase RMS
Titanic, Inc. common stock was converted into an option to
purchase, on the same terms and conditions, an identical number
of shares of Premier Exhibitions, Inc. common stock.
In June 2000, the Company established a wholly-owned United
Kingdom subsidiary, Danepath Ltd., for the purpose of purchasing
the research vessel, RRS Challenger, a 178 foot- 1050 ton ship
that was to be utilized in the expedition to the RMS Titanic
wreck site during that summer. This vessel was acquired on
June 30, 2000 from the Natural Environment Research
Council, a British governmental agency. The name of the vessel
was changed to the SV Explorer. On April 2, 2002, the
Company sold its Danepath subsidiary to Argosy International
Ltd., an affiliated party. In January 2003, in settlement of an
outstanding obligation from Argosy, the Company acquired the
vessel, the SV Explorer, and related marine equipment in a
wholly owned United Kingdom subsidiary of the Company, Seatron
Limited. On January 21, 2005, the Company sold the SV
Explorer for $167,000 to Formaes ApS. Skelgaardsvej 10,
DK-9340 Asss, a Denmark company. The sale resulted in a loss of
$440,000 during the years ended February 28, 2005 and 2006.
In May 2001, the Company acquired the ownership rights to the
shipwreck the RMS Carpathia. The Carpathia was the vessel that
rescued the survivors from the Titanic. The asset is valued at a
cost of ($1,374,000) which is the un-amortized value of other
intangible assets purchased by the Company in April 2000 from
this same entity ($555,000), plus the fair market value of
1,104,545 newly issued shares of common stock ($819,000).
On March 6, 2002, in a separate agreement, the Company sold
to Argosy International, for minimal consideration, its 100%
ownership interest in White Star Marine Recovery, Ltd. That sale
terminated the Company’s obligation under an agreement with
Argosy International for the consulting services of Graham
Jessop. At the time of this sale, White Star Marine Recovery had
no assets other than this consulting contract.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All
inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
The Company was formed in 1987 for the purposes of exploring the
wreck and surrounding oceanic area of the vessel the Titanic,
obtaining oceanic material and scientific data available in
various forms, including still and moving photography and
artifacts (together “Artifacts”) from the wreck site,
and utilizing such data
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
and Artifacts in revenue-producing activities such as touring
exhibitions, television programs and the sale of still
photography. The Company also earns revenue from the sale of
coal and Titanic-related products.
The Company was declared
salvor-in-possession of
the Titanic pursuant to a judgment entered in the Federal
District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. On
April 12, 2002, the United States Court of Appeals for the
Fourth Circuit (the “Fourth Circuit”) affirmed two
orders of the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Virginia, Norfolk Division. R.M.S. Titanic,
Inc. v. The Wrecked and Abandoned Vessel ..., 2002
U.S. App. LEXIS 6799 (4th Cir. 2002). Dated
September 26, 2001 and October 19, 2001, these orders
restricted the sale of Artifacts recovered by the Company from
the Titianic wreck site. In rendering its opinion, the Fourth
Circuit reviewed and declared ambiguous the June 7, 1994
order of the District Court that had awarded ownership to the
Company of all items then salvaged from the wreck of the Titanic
as well as all items to be salvaged in the future by the Company
so long as the Company remained
salvor-in-possession of
the Titanic. Having found the June 7, 1994 order ambiguous,
the Fourth Circuit reinterpreted the order to convey only
possession, not title, pending determination of a salvage award.
As a consequence of the Fourth Circuit’s decision, the
Company reviewed the carrying cost of Artifacts recovered from
Titanic expeditions to determine impairment of values. Up until
the ruling by the Fourth Circuit, the Company was carrying the
value of the artifacts that it recovered from the Titanic wreck
site at the respective costs of the expeditions, as the Company
believed it was the owner of all Artifacts recovered. The
Company had relied on ownership being granted by the United
States District Court in the June 7, 1994 Order. As a
consequence of this review and in compliance with the
requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 142-Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
and SFAS No. 121-The Valuation of Non-Goodwill
Intangibles, it was determined that an impairment of realizable
values had occurred because of the Fourth Circuit’s ruling
that removed ownership of certain Artifacts from the Company
that were under the jurisdiction of the United States District
Court. The District Court has jurisdiction of all Artifacts that
have been recovered from the Titanic wreck site, except for
1,800 Artifacts recovered in the Company’s 1987 expedition
to the titanic. These 1987 Artifacts were previously granted to
the Company by the government of France in 1993. Furthermore,
the salvor’s lien that the Fourth Circuit Court
acknowledged the Company was entitled to under its
salvor-in-possession
status could not be quantified other than for a de minimus
amount because of the uncertainty of the wide latitude given a
United States Federal Maritime Court to apply the Blackwall
factors for a salvor’s award and the adjustment to such an
award, if any, for revenues the Company may have derived from
the Artifacts. In this process of determining the appropriate
award, courts generally rely on the six factors set out in
The Blackwall, 77. U.S. (10 Wall.) 1,14 (1869) that
include: (1) the labor expended by the salvors in rendering
the salvage service; (2) the promptitude, skill, and energy
displayed in rendering the service and saving the property;
(3) the value of the property employed by the salvors in
rendering the service, and the danger to which such property was
exposed; (4) the risk incurred by the salvors in securing
the property from the impending peril; (5) the value of the
property saved and (6) the degree of danger from which the
property was rescued. Therefore an impairment charge of an
amount equal to the costs of recovery for all expeditions after
1987, net of tax benefit, was established less a
re-classification of $1,000, a de minimus amount, for the
value of a salvor’s lien.
In August 2004, the Company conducted its seventh research and
recovery expedition to the Titanic wreck site and was successful
in obtaining over 75 artifacts. An important aspect of this
expedition was for the Company to preserve its sole and
exclusive rights as salvor- in-possession as conferred upon it
by the U.S. Federal District Court for the Eastern District
of Virginia. The cost of this expedition was $879,000 and is
classified as
salvor-in-possession
rights in the financial statements at February 28, 2005 and
2006. In its January 31, 2006 opinion, the Appellate Court
ruled that the Company must seek a salvage award under the law
of salvage. The award can be satisfied by either paying the
Company a cash award or by conveying it title to the remaining
artifacts. The Company evaluates and records impairment losses,
as circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired and
the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by the
asset is less
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
than the carrying amount of the asset. No such events have
occurred with regard to its
salvor-in-possession
rights.
Since August 1987, the Company has completed seven expeditions
to the wreck site of the Titanic and has recovered approximately
5,500 Artifacts, including a large section of the Titanic’s
hull and coal from the wreck site.
Costs associated with the care, management and preservation of
recovered Artifacts are expensed as incurred. A majority of the
Artifacts not in exhibition are located within the United States.
To ascertain that the aggregate net realizable value
(“NRV”) of the Artifacts exceeds the direct costs of
recovery of such Artifacts, the Company evaluates various
evidential matters. Such evidential matters includes documented
sales and offerings of Titanic-related memorabilia, insurance
coverage obtained in connection with the potential theft, damage
or destruction of all or part of the Artifacts and other
evidential matter regarding the public interest in the Titanic.
At each balance sheet date, the Company evaluates the period of
amortization of intangible assets. The factors used in
evaluating the period of amortization include: (i) current
operating results, (ii) projected future operating results,
and (iii) other material factors that affect the continuity
of the business.
Management believes that the carrying values of financial
instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts
receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities
approximate fair value as a result of the short-term maturities
of these instruments.
The Company maintains cash in bank accounts that, at times, may
exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced
any losses on these accounts. The Company considers highly
liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or
less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at
cost, which approximates market value. The Company’s cash
equivalents are primarily invested in commercial paper, money
market funds, and U.S. government-backed securities. The
Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit
standing of the financial institutions and issuers of its cash
equivalents.
Marketable securities which are available for sale are carried
at fair value and the net unrealized gains and losses, net of
the related tax effect, computed in marking these securities to
market have been reported within stockholders’ equity.
Accounts receivable are customer obligations due under normal
trade terms. The Company uses the allowance method to account
for uncollectible accounts receivable. The Company regularly
evaluates the need for an allowance for uncollectible accounts
by taking into consideration factors such as the type of client;
governmental agencies or private sector; trends in actual and
forecasted credit quality of the client, including delinquency
and late payment history; and current economic conditions that
may affect a client’s ability to pay. In certain
circumstances, and depending on customer creditworthiness, the
Company may require a bank letter of credit to guarantee the
collection of its receivables. The Company’s allowance for
bad debts is determined based on a percentage of aged
receivables.
Prepaid expenses consist of prepaid consulting and services that
are amortized over the term of the agreements, prepaid lease
payments that are expensed when earned, and reimbursable
expenses that are capitalized and recovered from each venue or
our co-production partner.
Revenue from the licensing of the production and exploitation of
audio and visual recordings by third parties, related to the
Company’s expeditions, is recognized at the time that the
expedition and dive takes place.
Revenue from the licensing of still photographs and video is
recognized at the time the rights are granted to the licensee.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Revenue from the granting of sponsorship rights related to the
Company’s expeditions and dives is recognized at the
completion of the expedition.
Revenue sharing from the sale of Titanic-related products by
third parties is recognized when the item is sold.
Revenue from license agreements is recognized pro-rata over the
life of the agreements. Amounts received in excess of amounts
earned are shown as deferred revenue.
Revenue from exhibitions is recognized when earned and
reasonably estimable. The Company’s exhibition agreements
may have a fixed fee, may be based on a percentage of revenue,
or a combination of the two. A variable fee arrangement may
include a nonrefundable or recoupable guarantee paid in advance
or over the exhibition period. The following are the conditions
that must be met in order to recognize revenue:
•
persuasive evidence of an exhibition arrangement with a customer
exists;
•
the exhibit is complete and, in accordance with the terms of the
arrangement, has been delivered;
•
the exhibition period of the arrangement has begun and/or the
customer can begin its exploitation, exhibition or sale;
•
the arrangement fee is fixed or determinable; and
•
collection of the arrangement fee is reasonably assured.
The Company sells coal recovered from the Titanic wreck site.
Revenue from sales of such coal is recognized at the date of
shipment to customers. Recovery costs attributable to the coal
are charged to operations as revenue from coal sales are
recognized.
Income tax expense includes income taxes currently payable and
deferred taxes arising from temporary differences between
financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and
liabilities. They are measured using the enacted tax rates and
laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to
reverse.
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of
property and equipment is provided for by the straight-line
method over the following estimated lives of the related assets
Exhibitry equipment
5 years
Marine equipment
10 years
Office equipment
5 years
Furniture and fixtures
5 years
Basic earnings per share is computed based on the
weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted
earnings per share is computed based on the weighted-average
number of common shares outstanding adjusted by the number of
additional shares that would have been outstanding had the
potentially dilutive common shares been issued. Potentially
dilutive shares of common stock include non-qualified stock
options and nonvested share awards. The computation of dilutive
shares outstanding excludes the
out-of-the-money
non-qualified stock options because such outstanding
options’ exercise prices were greater than the average
market price of our common shares and, therefore, the effect
would be antidilutive (i.e., including such options would result
in higher earnings per share).
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts in
the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
In the event that facts and circumstances indicate that the
carrying value of long lived assets, including associated
intangibles may be impaired, an evaluation of recoverability is
performed by comparing the
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
estimated future undiscounted cash flows associated with the
asset to the assets carrying amount to determine if a write down
to market value or discounted cash flows is required.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the
“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory
Costs: an amendment of APB No. 43, Chapter 4”, to
clarify the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility
expense, freight, handling costs and wasted material.
SFAS No. 151 is effective for inventory costs incurred
during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The
Company does not believe the provisions of
SFAS No. 151, when applied, will have a material
impact on its financial position or results of operations.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153,
“Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets” which amends
Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion
No. 29, “Accounting for Nonmonetary
Transactions”. SFAS No. 153 amends APB No. 29 to
eliminate the fair-value exception for nonmonetary exchanges of
similar productive assets and replace it with a general
exception for nonmonetary exchanges that do not have commercial
substance. It is effective for nonmonetary asset exchanges
occurring in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005.
This statement is not anticipated to have a material impact on
the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement No. 123
(revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”
(“FAS 123R”), which replaces FASB Statement
No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation” (“FAS 123”) and supercedes APB
Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees.” FAS 123R requires all share-based payments
to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be
recognized in the financial statements based on their fair
values, beginning with the first annual period after
June 15, 2005, with early adoption encouraged. The pro
forma disclosures previously permitted under FAS 123, no
longer will be an alternative to financial statement
recognition. The Company was required to adopt FAS 123R by
March 1, 2006. Under FAS 123R, the Company must
determine the appropriate fair value model to be used for
valuing share-based payments, the amortization method for
compensation cost and the transition method to be used at date
of adoption. The Company early adopted the fair value
recognition provisions of FAS 123R, using the modified
prospective transition method, requiring it to recognize expense
related to the fair value of our stock-based compensation awards
during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2005. The
adoption of FAS 123R did not have a material impact on the
Company’s financial position or results of operations.
In November 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position
No. FAS 123(R)-3,
“Transition Election Related to Accounting for Tax Effects
of Share-Based Payment Awards,” which provides an
alternative transition method to establish the beginning balance
of the additional paid-in capital pool (“APIC pool”)
related to the tax effects of employee stock-based compensation,
and to determine the subsequent impact on the APIC pool and
consolidated statements of cash flows of the tax effects of
employee stock-based compensation awards that are outstanding
upon adoption of FAS 123R.
In March 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 107, Share-Based Payment
(“SAB No. 107”). SAB No. 107
provides guidance regarding the interaction between
FAS 123R and certain SEC rules and regulations, including
guidance related to valuation methods; the classifications of
compensation expense; non-GAAP financial measures; the
accounting for income tax effects of share-based payment
arrangements; disclosures in Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
subsequent to the adoption of FAS 123R; and modifications
of options prior to the adoption of FAS 123R.
In May 2005, FASB issued SFAS No. 154,
“Accounting Changes and Error Corrections,” which will
require that, unless it is impractical to do so, a change in an
accounting principle be applied retrospectively to prior
periods’ financial statements for all voluntary changes in
accounting principles and upon adoption of a
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
new accounting standard if the standard does not include
specific transition provisions. SFAS No. 154
supersedes APB Opinion No. 20, “Accounting
Changes,” which previously required that most voluntary
changes in accounting principles be recognized by including in
the current period’s net income (loss) the cumulative
effect of changing to the new accounting principle.
SFAS No. 154 also provides that if an entity changes
its method of depreciation, amortization, or depletion for
long-lived, non-financial assets, the change must be accounted
for as a change in accounting estimate. Under APB No. 20,
such a change would have been reported as a change in an
accounting principle. SFAS No. 154 became applicable
to accounting changes and error corrections made by the Company
in fiscal year ended February 28, 2006. The effect of
applying this new standard will depend upon whether material
voluntary changes in accounting principles, changes in estimates
or error corrections occur as well as consideration of
transition and other provisions included in the new standard.
In June 2005, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”)
reached a consensus on Issue
No. 05-06,
“Determining the Amortization Period for Leasehold
Improvements.”
EITF 05-06
provides guidance for determining the amortization period used
for leasehold improvements acquired in a business combination or
purchased after the inception of a lease, collectively referred
to as subsequently acquired leasehold improvements.
EITF 05-06
provides that the amortization period used for the subsequently
acquired leasehold improvements to be the lesser of (i) the
subsequently acquired leasehold improvements’ useful lives,
or (ii) a period that reflects renewals that are reasonably
assured upon the acquisition or the purchase.
EITF 05-06 is
effective on a prospective basis for subsequently acquired
leasehold improvements purchased or acquired in periods
beginning after the date of the FASB’s ratification, which
was on June 29, 2005. The adoption of EITF
No. 05-06 has not
had material effect on the Company’s financial position,
cash flows or results of operations.
In October 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position
(“FSP”) 13-1,
“Accounting for Rental Costs Incurred During a Construction
Period,” to clarify the proper accounting for rental costs
incurred on building or ground operating leases during a
construction period. The FSP requires that rental costs incurred
during a construction period be expensed, not capitalized. The
statement is effective for the first reporting period beginning
after December 15, 2005. The Company does not believe
adoption of FSP 13-1
will have a material effect on the Company’s financial
position, cash flows or results of operations.
Note 2.
Artifacts
Artifacts recovered in the 1987 Titanic expedition are carried
at the lower of cost of recovery or NRV. The government of
France granted the Company ownership of these Artifacts in 1993.
The costs of recovery are the direct costs of chartering of
vessels and related crews and equipment required to complete the
dive operations for that expedition. Coal recovered in two
expeditions is the only item available for sale. Periodically,
as sales of coal occur, ten percent of the sale value is
deducted from the carrying costs of Artifacts recovered. During
2006, 2005 and 2004, $1,400, $3,000, and $6,000, respectively,
were deducted from Artifacts.
On April 12, 2002, the United States Court of Appeals for
the Fourth Circuit reinterpreted the June 7, 1994 order
that had awarded ownership of the Artifacts to the Company to
convey only possession, not title, pending determination of a
salvage award.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
As a consequence of the Fourth Circuit’s decision, the
Company reviewed the carrying cost of Artifacts recovered from
Titanic expeditions to determine impairment of values. Up until
the ruling by the Fourth Circuit, the Company was carrying the
value of the Artifacts that it recovered from the Titanic wreck
site at the respective costs of the expeditions as the Company
believed it was the owner of all Artifacts recovered. The
Company had relied on ownership being granted by the United
States District Court in the June 7, 1994 Order. As a
consequence of this review and in compliance with the
requirements of “SFAS No. 142” —
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and “SFAS
No. 121,” The Valuation of Non-Goodwill Intangibles,
it was determined that an impairment of realizable values had
occurred because of the Fourth Circuit’s ruling that
removed ownership of certain Artifacts from the Company that
were under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court.
The District Court has jurisdiction of all Artifacts that have
been recovered from the Titanic wreck site except for those
1,800 Artifacts recovered in the 1987 expedition. These 1987
Artifacts were previously granted to the Company by the
government of France in 1993. Furthermore, the salvor’s
lien that the Fourth Circuit Court acknowledged the Company was
entitled to under its
salvor-in-possession
status could not be quantified other than for a de minimus
amount because of the uncertainty of the wide latitude given a
United States Federal Maritime Court to apply the Blackwall
factors for a salvor’s award and the adjustment to such an
award, if any, for revenues the Company may have derived from
the Artifacts. In this process of determining the appropriate
award, courts generally rely on the six factors set out in
The Blackwall, 77. U.S. (10 Wall.) 1,14 (1869) that
include: (1) the labor expended by the salvors in rendering
the salvage service; (2) the promptitude, skill, and energy
displayed in rendering the service and saving the property;
(3) the value of the property employed by the salvors in
rendering the service, and the danger to which such property was
exposed; (4) the risk incurred by the salvors in securing
the property from the impending peril; (5) the value of the
property saved and (6) the degree of danger from which the
property was rescued. Therefore an impairment charge of an
amount equal to the costs of recovery for all expeditions after
1987, net of tax benefit, was established less a
re-classification of $1,000, a de minimus amount, for the
value of a salvor’s lien.
In August 2004, the Company conducted its seventh research and
recovery expedition to the Titanic wreck site and was successful
in obtaining over 75 artifacts. An important aspect of this
expedition was for the Company to preserve its sole and
exclusive rights as salvor-in-possession as conferred upon it by
the U.S. Federal District Court for the Eastern District of
Virginia. The cost of this expedition was $879,000 and is
classified as
salvor-in-possession
rights in the financial statements at February 28, 2005 and
2006. In its January 31, 2006 opinion, the Appellate Court
ruled that the Company must seek a salvage award under the law
of salvage. The award can be satisfied by either paying the
Company a cash award or by conveying it title to the remaining
artifacts. The Company evaluates and records impairment losses,
as circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired and
the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by the
asset is less than the carrying amount of the asset. No such
events have occurred with regard to its
salvor-in-possession
rights.
In May 2001, the Company acquired ownership of the wreck of the
RMS Carpathia. To-date the Company has not undertaken any
expeditions to the Carpathia and it has not recovered artifacts
from the wreck of the Carpathia. The Company evaluates and
reviews the wreck’s impairment in compliance with the
requirements of “SFAS No. 142,” Impairment of
Long-Lived Assets and SFAS 121 — The Valuation of
Non-Goodwill Intangibles.” The Company evaluates and
records impairment losses, as circumstances indicate that the
assets may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated
to be generated by the asset is less than the carrying amount of
the asset. No such events have occurred with regard to the
Carpathia. The Company at present has no definitive plans to
conduct an expedition to the Carpathia.
On November 30, 2005, the Company sold a 3% ownership
interest in the RMS Carpathia to Legal Access Technologies, Inc.
for $500,000. In addition, the Company sold it a twenty-five
year license to conduct joint expeditions with the Company to
the Carpathia for the purpose of exploring and salvaging the
Carpathia for $200,000. Under the terms of this agreement, Legal
Access Technologies, Inc. was obligated to make
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
payments under a payment schedule of $100,000 on
December 12, 2005 and the balance of $400,000 on
February 15, 2006. In the event of default, the Company had
the option to terminate this agreement. The Company reflected
this transaction as a gain on the sale of the Carpathia interest
of $459,000 during the quarter ended November 30, 2005.
Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Legal Access
Technologies, Inc. was obligated to make the following scheduled
payments to the Company: (i) $100,000 on December 12,2005; and (ii) $400,000 on February 15, 2006. The
$100,000 payment was collateralized with 1,400,000 shares
of Legal Access Technologies, Inc.’s common stock, which
satisfied its obligation to make the first payment. Legal Access
Technologies, Inc. failed to make the second scheduled payment
and, on April 3, 2006, the Company terminated its agreement
with Legal Access Technologies, Inc. In accordance with the
agreement, the Company retained the collateral in the form of
Legal Access Technologies, Inc.’s common stock. As a result
of this default and the Company’s subsequent termination of
the agreement, the Company reversed the gain of
$459,000 net of the gain from the retention of the
marketable securities of $168,000 that was recognized during our
quarter ended November 30, 2005.
Note 3.
Balance Sheet Details
The composition cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale
marketable securities is as follows:
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
On January 21, 2005, the Company sold the SV Explorer, a
178 foot- 1050 ton ship that was to be utilized in the
expedition to the Titanic for $167,000 to Formaes ApS.
Skelgaardsvej 10, DK-9340 Asss, a Denmark company which
resulted in a loss of $440,000 during the years ended
February 28, 2005 and 2006.
The composition of exhibition licenses is as follows:
In April 2004, the Company entered into an exhibition tour
agreement to license the rights to exhibit certain anatomical
specimens owned by another company. The purchase price paid for
the license was $685,000 in cash which represents its fair
value. This amount was recorded as an intangible asset and will
be amortized over the useful life of the license. The specimens
are currently in the possession of the Company and are currently
being exhibited in one of its exhibitions.
In May 2005, the Company acquired a company that held certain
exclusive licensing rights to certain anatomical specimens and
exhibitry that significantly broadened the Company’s
offerings in its human anatomy educational exhibition business.
The purchase price paid for the license was $3,438,000 (see
Note 11 — Acquisition) in the form of cash,
common stock, warrants, and the assumption of debt which
represents its fair value. This amount was recorded as an
intangible asset and is being amortized over the period of its
estimated benefit period of 5 years. As of
February 28, 2006, accumulated amortization was $516,000.
Based on the current amounts of exhibition licenses subject to
amortization, the estimated amortization expense for each of the
succeeding 5 years is as follows: 2007, 2008, 2009,
2010 – $688,000; 2011 – $171,000.
The composition of accounts payable and accrued liabilities is
as follows:
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Note 4.
Income Taxes
The total provision for income taxes differs from that amount
which would be computed by applying the U.S. federal income
tax rate to income before provision for income taxes. The
reasons for these differences are as follows:
Year Ended
February 28 (29),
2004
2005
2006
Current:
Statutory federal income tax rate
(34.0
)%
(34.0
)%
34.0
%
State and local net of federal deferred
(6.0
)%
(6.0
)%
6.0
%
Net operating loss carry-forward
40.0
%
40.0
%
(40.0
)%
Reverse of valuation allowance
—
—
(74.0
)
Effective income tax rate
0.0
%
0.0
%
(74.0
)%
The net deferred income tax asset consists of the following:
Deferred tax asset — expenses not currently deductible
—
—
Valuation allowance for doubtful tax assets
(2,800,000
)
—
$
—
$
2,100,000
The net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately
$5,438,000 expire in varying amounts from 2021 to 2027. The
Company recognizes the amount of taxes payable or refundable for
the current year and recognizes deferred tax liabilities and
assets for the expected future tax consequences of events and
transactions that have been recognized in the Company’s
financial statements or tax returns. The Company currently has
substantial net operating loss carryforwards. The Company has
reversed valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets.
The change in the valuation allowance for the year ending
February 28, 2006 was a reduction of $2,800,000.
The Company determines its effective tax rate by estimating its
permanent differences resulting from the differing treatment of
items for tax and accounting purposes. The carrying value of the
Company’s net deferred tax assets is based on the
Company’s present belief that it is more likely than not
that it will be able to generate sufficient future taxable
income to utilize such deferred tax assets, based on estimates
and assumptions. If these estimates and related assumptions
change in the future, the company may be required to record or
adjust valuation allowances against its deferred tax assets
resulting in additional income tax expense in the company’s
consolidated statement of operations. Management evaluates the
realizability of the deferred tax assets quarterly and assesses
the need for changes to valuation allowances quarterly. While
the Company has considered future taxable income and ongoing
prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the
present need for a valuation allowance, in the event the company
were to determine that it would be able to realize its deferred
tax assets in the future in excess of its net recorded amount,
an adjustment to the valuation allowance would increase income
in the period such determination was made. Should the Company
determine that it would not be able to realize all or part of
its net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the
deferred tax asset would be charged to income in the period such
determination was made.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Note 5.
Stockholders’ Equity
Income (Loss) Per Share
Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net
income (loss) by the weighted-average number of shares
outstanding during the period.
Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed by using the
weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding
and, when dilutive, potential shares from stock options and
warrants to purchase common stock, using the treasury stock
method.
The following table illustrates the computation of basic and
dilutive net income (loss) per share and provides a
reconciliation of the number of weighted-average basic and
diluted shares outstanding:
Year Ended February 28 (29),
2004
2005
2006
Numerator:
Net income (loss)
$
(1,088,000
)
$
(1,475,000
)
$
4,948,000
Denominator:
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding
18,960,047
20,818,898
24,081,186
Effect of dilutive stock options & warrants
—
—
4,149,305
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding
18,960,047
20,818,898
28,230,491
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic
$
(0.06
)
$
(0.07
)
$
0.21
Diluted
$
(0.06
)
$
(0.07
)
$
0.18
Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
The composition of accumulated other comprehensive (loss)
income, net of related taxes are as follows:
Prior to the acquisition of TVLP’s assets, the Company
initiated an exchange agreement with the holders of certain
Class B warrants in which the holders would receive shares
of the Company’s common stock in exchange for certain
Class B warrants. Through February 28, 2003, the
Company had received 20,700 Class B warrants to be
exchanged for 20,700 shares of common stock of the Company,
of which 16,500 shares still remain to be issued. There
were 2,810,963 warrants outstanding as of February 28, 2006.
During the year ended February 29, 2004, the Company issued
450,000 shares of common stock as payment for services and
compensation.
During the year ended February 28, 2005, the Company issued
150,000 shares of common stock as payment for services and
625,000 shares as payment for compensation.
During the year ended February 28, 2006, the Company agreed
to issue 350,000 shares of common stock as payment for
services reflected in common stock payable.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
During the year ended February 28, 2005, the Company sold
1,469,927 shares of common stock and warrants to
purchase 441,003 shares of common stock for aggregate
consideration of $1,514,000. The net proceeds of the private
placement were $1,278,000 after fees, expenses and other costs.
In connection with the private placement, the Company issued
warrants to purchase 293,985 shares of common stock to
its placement agent. All of the warrants issued in the private
placement are exercisable over a five-year term at an exercise
price of $1.50 per share.
On April 13, 2005, the Company received $500,000 in
connection with the sale of 300,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock to its joint venture partner. The
common shares were issued in this transaction at a price of
$1.67 per share in a private transaction.
During the year ended February 28, 2006, in connection with
the Exhibitions International, LLC acquisition, the Company
issued the following securities: (1) 200,000 shares of
the Company stock, valued at $1.54 per share; and
(2) 300,000 warrants to acquire Company common stock with a
three year term, each of which is for 100,000 shares with
at respective strike prices of $1.25, $1.50 and $1.75.
In October 2005, the Company completed a private placement of
its securities, in which the Company sold units consisting of
shares of common stock and warrants to purchase shares of common
stock. Each unit consisted of 20,000 shares of common stock
at a price of $1.67 per share and a five-year warrant to
purchase 13,320 shares of common stock at an exercise
price of $2.50 per share. The units sold in the October
2005 private placement represented a total of
4,956,577 shares of the Company’s common stock. This
total consists of 2,975,136 shares of common stock and
warrants to purchase up to 1,981,441 shares of common
stock. The warrants provide for customary anti-dilution
adjustments in the event of stock splits, stock dividends, and
recapitalizations. The warrants do not confer any voting rights
or any other shareholder rights.
On October 1, 2005, the Company entered into two three-year
consulting agreements for investor relations services with a
firm and an individual which required monthly cash consulting
fees of $52,250 in October 2005, November 2005 and December
2005. Thereafter, consulting fees are $22,550 per month
during the first year and reduce to $13,300 for the remaining
term. These agreements require the Company to issue
350,000 shares of common stock and 250,000 five-year
warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock at an
exercise price of $2.00 per share. The fair value of the
warrants is estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is being amortized over
the three-year agreement term. We recorded $224,400 in
consulting expense related to these two agreements during the
year ended February 28, 2006. The common stock has not been
issued at February 28, 2006, and is recorded as a common
stock payable in the Company’s financial statements. The
common stock and the common stock underlying the warrants have
customary “piggyback” registration rights.
Note 6.
Stock Options
In April 2000, the Company adopted an incentive stock option
plan (the “2000 Plan”) under which options to
purchase 3,000,000 shares of common stock may be
granted to certain key employees, directors and consultants. The
exercise price of the options granted is based on the fair
market value of such shares as determined by the board of
directors at the date of the grant of such options. In December
2003, the Company adopted a second incentive stock option plan
(the “2004 Plan”) under which options to
purchase 3,000,000 shares of common stock may be
granted to certain key employees, directors and consultants. The
exercise price was based on the fair market value of such shares
as determined by the board of directors at the date of the grant
of such options.
On October 16, 2005the Company’s Board of Directors
adopted resolutions to: (i) amend the 2000 Stock Option
Plan to reduce the number of authorized but unissued options
available for issuance under the 2000 Plan by 1,370,000; and
(ii) amend the 2004 Plan to reduce the number of authorized
but unissued options available for issuance under the 2004 Plan
by 1,030,000. The net effect of these resolutions will be to
In May 2001, the Company granted an option to
purchase 250,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock at $0.88 per share to its Vice President and Director
of Operations. This option has a
5-year maturity from
the date of grant. This option was canceled by its term ninety
days after the employee’s resignation during the fiscal
year ended February 28, 2003.
In February 2002, the Company granted an option to
purchase 600,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock at $0.40 per share to its former Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer. This option has a
10-year maturity from
the date of grant.
In February 2002, the Company granted an option to
purchase 500,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock at $0.40 per share to its President and Chief
Executive Officer. This option has a
10-year maturity from
the date of grant.
In February 2002, the Company reset the option strike price for
300,000 outstanding options owned by its directors to $0.40.
During August 2004, two officers of the Company, its President
and Vice President of Finance, as requested by the
Company’s investment banker, exchanged options that they
held for common stock at a ratio of two options for the issuance
of one share of common stock. The purpose of this transaction
was to make available more common shares to be sold in a private
placement of the Company’s securities. The Company’s
President exchanged 1.2 million options for
600,000 shares of common stock to vest over a two-year
period. The Company’s Vice President of Finance exchanged
600,000 options for 300,000 shares of common stock to be
vested over at two-year period.
During the year ended February 29, 2004, the Company
granted options to employees and directors on
950,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at
exercise prices of $0.28 to $0.32 per share. These options
have a 10-year maturity
from the date of grant.
During the year ended February 28, 2005, the Company
granted options to employees and directors on
700,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an
exercise price of $1.64 per share. These options have a
10-year maturity from
the date of grant.
During the year ended February 28, 2006, the Company
granted options to employees, directors, and consultants on
1,503,846 shares of the Company’s common stock at
exercise prices of $0.85 to $3.65 per share. These options
have a 10-year maturity
from the date of grant.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
As of February 28, 2006, options to
purchase 1,630,000 shares of common stock are
outstanding under the 2000 Plan and 1,916,672 shares of
common stock under the 2004 Plan. The following table summarizes
the information about all stock options outstanding at
February 28, 2006:
Options Outstanding
Options Exercisable
Weighted
Options
Average
Options
Outstanding
Remaining
Weighted-
Exercisable
Weighted-
at
Contractual
Average
at
Average
February 28,
Life
Exercise
February 28,
Exercise
Range of Exercise Prices
2006
(Years)
Price
2006
Price
$.28 to $.32
825,000
7.78
$
0.31
825,000
$
0.31
$.40 to $.65
1,410,000
4.93
$
0.40
1,410,000
$
0.40
$.85 to $3.65
1,311,672
9.43
$
2.20
240,396
$
1.02
3,546,672
2,475,396
In December 2004, the FASB issued Statement No. 123
(revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment”
(“FAS 123R”), which replaces FASB Statement
No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation” (“FAS 123”) and supercedes APB
Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees.” FAS 123R requires all share-based payments
to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be
recognized in the financial statements based on their fair
values, beginning with the first annual period after
June 15, 2005, with early adoption encouraged. The pro
forma disclosures previously permitted under FAS 123, no
longer will be an alternative to financial statement
recognition. The Company was required to adopt FAS 123R by
March 1, 2006. Under FAS 123R, the Company must
determine the appropriate fair value model to be used for
valuing share-based payments, the amortization method for
compensation cost and the transition method to be used at date
of adoption. The Company early adopted the fair value
recognition provisions of FAS 123R using the modified
prospective transition method requiring it to recognize expense
related to the fair value of our stock-based compensation awards
during Fiscal 2006. The adoption of FAS 123R did not have a
material impact on the Company’s financial position or
results of operations.
The weighted-average fair value of stock options granted is
based on a theoretical statistical model using the preceding
Black-Scholes option pricing model. In actuality, because the
Company’s stock options do not trade on a secondary
exchange, employees can receive no value or derive any benefit
from holding stock options under these arrangements without an
increase in the market price of the Company. Such an increase in
stock price would benefit all stockholders commensurately.
Note 7.
Litigation and Other Legal Matters
Status of International Treaty Concerning the Titanic
Wreck
The U.S. Department of State and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Department of
Commerce are working together to implement an international
treaty with the governments of the United Kingdom, France and
Canada concerning the Titanic wreck site. If implemented in this
country, this treaty could affect the way the U.S. District
Court for the Eastern District of Virginia monitors the
Company’s
salvor-in-possession
rights to the Titanic. These rights include the exclusive right
to explore the wreck site, claim possession of and perhaps title
to artifacts recovered from the site, restore and display
recovered artifacts, and make other use of the wreck. The
Company has raised numerous objections to the
U.S. Department of State regarding the participation of the
U.S. in efforts to reach an agreement governing salvage
activities with respect to the Titanic. The treaty, as drafted,
does not recognize the Company’s existing
salvor-in-possession
rights in the Titanic. The United Kingdom signed the treaty in
November 2003, and the U.S. signed the treaty in June 2004.
For the treaty to take effect, the U.S. must enact
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
implementing legislation. As no implementing legislation has
been proposed, the treaty currently has no binding legal effect.
Several years ago the Company initiated legal action to protect
its rights to the Titanic wreck site from this treaty. On
April 3, 2000, the Company filed a motion for declaratory
judgment in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of
Virginia asking that the court declare unconstitutional the
efforts of the U.S. to implement the treaty. On
September 15, 2000, the court ruled that the Company’s
motion was not ripe for consideration and that the Company may
renew its motion when and if the treaty is agreed to and signed
by the parties, final guidelines are drafted, and Congress
passes implementing legislation. As discussed above, the treaty
has been finalized and is not yet in effect because Congress has
not adopted implementing legislation, thus it is not yet time
for the Company to refile its motion. Neither the implementation
of the treaty nor the Company’s decision whether to refile
the legal action regarding its constitutionality will have an
impact on the Company’s ownership interest over the
artifacts that it has already recovered.
As discussed in more detail below, in light of a
January 31, 2006 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the Fourth Circuit, title to the 1800 artifacts recovered by
the Company during the 1987 expedition now rests firmly with the
Company; title to the remaining artifacts in the Company’s
collection will be resolved by the
salvor-in-possession
legal proceedings pending in U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of Virginia.
Status of
Salvor-in-Possession
and Interim Salvage Award Proceedings
On April 12, 2002, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Fourth Circuit affirmed two orders of the U.S. District
Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in the Company’s
ongoing
salvor-in-possession
case. These orders, dated September 26, 2001 and
October 19, 2001, respectively, restricted the sale of
artifacts recovered by the Company from the Titanic wreck site.
In its opinion, the appellate court reviewed and declared
ambiguous the June 1994 order of the district court that had
awarded ownership to the Company of all items then salvaged from
the wreck of the Titanic as well as all items to be salvaged in
the future so long as the Company remained
salvor-in-possession.
Having found the June 1994 order ambiguous, the court of appeals
reinterpreted the order to convey only possession, not title,
pending determination of a salvage award. On October 7,2002, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Company’s
petition of appeal.
On May 17, 2004, the Company appeared before the United
States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia for a
pre-trial hearing to address issues in preparation for an
interim salvage award trial. At that hearing, the Company
confirmed its intent to retain its
salvor-in-possession
rights in order to exclusively recover and preserve artifacts
from the wreck site of the Titanic. In addition, the Company
stated its intent to conduct another expedition to the wreck
site. As a result of that hearing, on July 2, 2004, the
court rendered an opinion and order in which it held that it
would not recognize the 1993 Proces-Verbal, pursuant to which
the government of France granted the Company all artifacts
recovered from the wreck site during the 1987 expedition. The
court also held that the Company would not be permitted to
present evidence at the interim salvage award trial for the
purpose of arguing that the Company should be awarded title to
the Titanic artifacts through the law of finds.
The Company appealed the July 2, 2004 Court Order to the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. On
January 31, 2006, the Court of Appeals reversed the lower
court’s decision to invalidate the 1993 Proces-Verbal,
pursuant to which the government of France granted to the
Company all artifacts recovered from the wreck site during the
1987 expedition. As a result, the court tacitly reconfirmed that
the Company owns the 1800 artifacts recovered during the 1987
expedition. The appellate court affirmed the lower court’s
ruling held that the Company will not be permitted to present
evidence at the interim salvage award trial for the purpose of
arguing that it should be awarded title to the remainder of the
Titanic artifacts through the law of finds.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Other Ongoing Litigation
In October 2005, Exhibit Human: The Wonders Within, Inc.
filed for binding arbitration against the Company. In its claim,
Exhibit Human alleges that the Company breached its
contract with them under which the Company acquired a license to
exhibit certain anatomical specimens that the Company presents
in its “Bodies Revealed” exhibition. Later that month,
the Company filed a counterclaim against Exhibit Human in
which it alleges that Exhibit Human breached its
obligations to the Company under the same contract. The Company
is still in the initial stages of this arbitration. Although the
Company intends to defend itself at the arbitration and to
vigorously pursue the counterclaim, the Company cannot predict
the outcome of this case.
On April 6, 2006, the Company filed an action against
Exhibit Human: The Wonders Within, Inc. in the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia under
which it seeks a declaratory judgment from the court finding
that the parties reached an enforceable agreement for the
acquisition of certain licensing rights to the anatomical
specimens that the Company presents in its “Bodies
Revealed” exhibition. This lawsuit has not yet been served.
Although the Company intends to vigorously pursue the
litigation, the Company cannot predict the outcome of the case.
Settled Litigation and Other Concluded Matters
On March 24, 2006, the Company entered into a settlement
agreement with Plastination Company, Inc. whereby it amicably
settled the litigation Plastination Company v. Premier
Exhibitions, Inc., which was pending in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The terms of
the settlement agreement are confidential, and the Company does
not believe that they are material to its business.
On January 30, 2006, the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Virginia approved a settlement agreement
between the parties to Lawrence D’Addario v. Arnie
Geller, Gerald Couture, Joe Marsh and R.M.S. Titanic, Inc.
This lawsuit was commenced on April 25, 2002 and had
alleged fraud, self-dealing, mismanagement, diversion and waste
of corporate assets by the Company and some of its officers,
directors and shareholders.
On February 2, 2006, the United States District Court for
the Middle District of Florida approved a settlement agreement
between the parties to Dave Shuttle and Barbara
Shuttle v. Arnie Geller, G. Michael Harris, Gerald Couture,
and R.M.S. Titanic, Inc. This lawsuit, which was commenced
on March 22, 2004 and had alleged breaches of fiduciary
duty by management, was directly related to the
D’Addario case.
The D’Addario settlement and the Shuttle
settlement utilize the same form of settlement agreement.
The primary component of such settlement agreement is the
Company’s adoption of a five-year corporate governance
plan. The material terms of the corporate governance plan are
set forth below:
•
The Company’s board of directors must be comprised of a
majority of independent directors.
•
The Company must have an audit committee of the board of
directors, comprised exclusively of independent directors,
which, among other things, has oversight responsibility for the
Company’s internal control and corporate compliance.
•
The Company must have a corporate governance committee of the
board of directors, comprised of a majority of independent
directors, which, among other things, oversees the
Company’s implementation of the corporate governance plan,
reviews all contracts between the Company and its officers,
pre-screens director nominees, and reviews the compensation of
its five most highly paid officers.
•
The Company’s independent directors must meet at least
twice each calendar year and have the authority to retain
counsel, accountants, or other experts.
•
The Company’s directors must review the compensation paid
to them by the Company and make any appropriate changes.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
•
All persons nominated to become a director must satisfy certain
requirements and possess core competencies.
•
Once a year over the five-year period for which the corporate
governance plan is applicable, the Company’s board of
directors must submit a written report to counsel representing
the former plaintiff confirming our compliance with the
corporate governance plan.
If the Company does not comply with the corporate governance
plan, such non-compliance will be remedied by injunctive relief
pursuant to Florida corporate law.
In addition to the corporate governance plan, the terms of each
of the D’Addario settlement and Shuttle
settlement, respectively, required the parties to execute
mutual releases, thereby waiving any claims that were raised or
could have been raised in each such litigation. Finally, in
connection with the D’Addario settlement and
Shuttle settlement, the Company agreed to pay an
aggregate of $300,000 of the plaintiffs’ attorneys’
fees and costs, which includes plaintiffs’ attorneys’
out-of-pocket expenses
of approximately $150,000. Such amounts represent the entire
cash settlement for both actions and were paid by the
Company’s insurance carrier.
Note 8.
Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt
Two of the Company’s shareholders lent the Company an
aggregate of $500,000 on May 5, 2004. The loan is
unsecured, and it is for a term of five years. The interest rate
for the loan is the prime rate plus six percent. The loan
requires quarterly payments of principal in the amount of
$25,000 and accrued interest. In consideration of the loan, the
Company also issued an aggregate of 30,000 shares of its
common stock to these shareholders. This stock was valued at
$35,000 and was recorded as a deferred financing cost and is
being amortized to interest expense over the term of the loan.
In April 2005, the Company entered into a term sheet with SAM
Tour (USA), Inc. for a joint venture to co-produce four
exhibitions for four domestic markets with a major entertainment
producer. The joint venture partner provided the Company with
$2,425,000 of funding. $1,000,000 of this funding was a credit
facility provided to the Company. This joint venture arrangement
provides the Company with minimum exhibition revenue guarantees
and revenue participation and include provisions for repayment
of the advance funding. The Company provided a general security
interest over its assets as part of this transaction. The credit
facility was repayable quarterly in the amount of $100,000 in
2005 commencing September 30th and $150,000 in 2006 and
thereafter and accrued interest at the rate of ten percent per
annum and was repayable in full on September 30, 2006. In
December 2005, the Company’s joint venture partner
exercised its option to extend for two additional exhibitions
which caused the exhibition guarantee amounts to be set off
against principal and interest payment obligations on this
$1,000,000 credit facility. As of the option exercise date,
there were no principal and interest payments remitted to the
joint venture partner.
On January 9, 2006, the Company finalized a $750,000
revolving line of credit with Bank of America, N.A. This credit
facility, which is evidenced by a promissory note made by the
Company in favor of Bank of America, allows the Company to make
revolving borrowings of up to $750,000. Interest under this
credit facility is calculated from the date of each advance by
Bank of America to the Company and is determined based upon
changes in an index which is the rate of interest publicly
announced from time to time by Bank of America as its prime
rate. Under this credit facility, the Company must make interest
only payments monthly and the outstanding principal amount plus
all accrued but unpaid interest is payable in full at the
expiration of the credit facility on June 30, 2006. This
credit facility contains customary representations, warranties
and covenants.
In connection with the above-described credit facility, the
Company has also granted Bank of America a senior security
interest in all of the Company’s property pursuant to a
commercial security agreement up to the amount advanced on the
facility. In addition, in order to facilitate the Company’s
establishment of the
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
credit facility, Sam Tour (USA), Inc., a secured lender of the
Company, has agreed pursuant to a UCC lien subordination
agreement that any security interest, lien or right it has or
may have with respect to the Company’s property is
subordinate to the security interest granted by the Company in
favor of Bank of America.
The Company entered into the above-described credit facility in
order to help finance the expansion of the Company’s
exhibition business. On April 26, 2006, the Company
advanced $333,014 on the credit facility to repay the remaining
principal on its shareholder loan.
Note 9.
Commitments and Contingencies
During the year ended February 28, 2002, the Company
entered into agreements for the services of two individuals for
an annual aggregate amount of $600,750. Each individual, at his
option, may elect to receive his compensation in shares of the
Company’s common stock. For this purpose, the common stock
will be valued at 50% of its closing bid price as of the date of
the election. However, for financial statement purposes the
Company will charge the full value of the common stock issued to
compensation expense.
On February 2, 2002, the Company executed an employment
agreement with its President and Chief Executive Officer. The
employment agreement was for a five-year term and provides for
annual base salaries of $330,750 per year, with annual 5%
increases. On April 10, 2004, this employment agreement was
extended on the same terms and conditions with a new termination
date of February 2, 2009.
On February 2, 2002, the Company executed an employment
agreement with its former Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer. The employment agreement is for a four-year term and
provides for annual base salaries of $270,000 per year,
with annual 5% increases. On April 10, 2004, this
employment agreement was extended on the same terms and
conditions with a new termination date of February 2, 2008.
On July 7, 2005, the Company’s Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer passed away which terminated the
employment agreement.
On February 21, 2006, the Company executed an employment
agreement with its new Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer. The employment agreement is for a three-year term and
provides for an annual base salary of $210,000 per year,
with annual 7% increases.
On March 14, 2006, the Company executed an employment
agreement with its Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel. The
employment agreement is for a three-year term and provides for
an annual base salary of $173,250 per year.
On March 14, 2006, the Company entered into an amendment to
its August 4, 2003 employment agreement with its Vice
President — Exhibitions. The original employment
agreement was for a three-year term and provided for an annual
base salary of $150,000 per year, with annual 5% increases.
The amendment extends the term of employment agreement for an
additional three years from January 27, 2006, the effective
date of the Amendment.
Lease Arrangements
The Company has a non-cancelable operating lease for the rental
of each set of its specimens used in its exhibitions. The leases
are payable quarterly for a term of five years with five annual
options to extend.
The Company has non-cancelable operating leases for office
space. The leases are subject to escalation for the
Company’s pro rata share of increases in real estate taxes
and operating costs. During the fiscal year ended
February 28, 2005, the Company entered into another
non-cancelable operating lease for warehouse space through
December 31, 2007.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The lease for the Company’s principal executive offices was
amended a second time on November 8, 2005 when the leased
space was increased to approximately 6,000 square feet. The
amended lease provides for base annual lease payments of
$110,591 with a 2.5% annual adjustment. The second amended
lease, which increased the Company’s office space by over
1,800 square feet, requires the Company to pay an
additional total of $71,242 over the duration of the lease.
Rent expense charged to operations under these leases was as
follows:
Year Ended February 28 (29),
2004
2005
2006
Real estate fixed rentals
$
94,000
$
124,000
$
207,000
Specimen fixed rentals
—
—
1,250,000
$
94,000
$
124,000
$
1,457,000
Aggregate minimum rental commitments at February 28, 2006,
are as follows:
Fiscal Year
2007
$
4,306,000
2008
5,320,000
2009
5,255,000
2010
5,000,000
2011
4,000,000
Thereafter
—
$
23,881,000
Note 10.
Related Party Transactions
Included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities at
February 28, 2005 and February 28, 2006 is $25,000 due
to certain partners of TVLP.
Two of the Company’s shareholders lent the Company an
aggregate of $500,000 on May 5, 2004. The loan is unsecured
and has a term of five years. The interest rate for the loan is
the prime rate plus six percent. The loan requires quarterly
payments of principal in the amount of $25,000 and accrued
interest. In consideration of the loan, the Company also issued
an aggregate of 30,000 shares of its common stock to these
shareholders. This stock was valued at $35,000 and was recorded
as a deferred financing cost and is being amortized to interest
expense over the term of the loan.
The Company issued an aggregate of 900,000 shares of common
stock to its president and chief executive officer and its
former chief financial officer during the second quarter of
fiscal year 2004. The Company issued these shares to these
officers in exchange for such officers tendering to the Company
options they held to acquire up to 1,800,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock. The value of the exchange was
$1,179,000, based on a price of $1.31 per share, which was
the market price of a share of the Company’s common stock
on the date of the exchange.
Note 11.
Acquisitions
In March 2005, the Company, through a newly formed wholly owned
subsidiary, Premier Acquisitions, Inc. (“PAI”), a
Nevada corporation, acquired all the membership interests in
Exhibitions International, LLC (“EI”), a Nevada LLC.
EI held certain exclusive licensing rights to certain anatomical
specimens and exhibitry that would significantly broaden the
Company’s offerings in its human anatomy educational
exhibition business. The acquisition of EI was completed as
follows: (1) payment of $1,500,000 by PAI for
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
100% of the membership interests of EI; (2) payment by PAI
of a debt of EI in the amount of $582,000; (3) the
assumption of $750,000 of debt; (4) the issuance of
200,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, valued
at $1.54 per share; and (5) the issuance to EI of
two-year warrants to acquire 300,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock, which warrants have respective
strike prices of $1.25 (with respect to 100,000 shares of
common stock), $1.50 (with respect to 100,000 shares of
common stock), and $1.75 (with respect to 100,000 shares of
common stock). The common stock underlying the warrants has
piggyback registration rights.
The fair value of the two-year warrants for EI to acquire
300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock was
estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
Expected life of options:
2 years
Risk-free interest rate:
4.75
%
Expected volatility:
100.0
%
Expected dividend yield:
$-0-
The estimated value of these warrants is approximately $299,000,
which is recorded in exhibition licenses in the Company’s
financial statements.
Note 12.
Employee Savings Plans
Effective March 2004, the Company adopted the RMS Titanic, Inc.
401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan under section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Under the Plan, all
employees eligible to participate may elect to contribute up to
the lesser of 12% of their salary or the maximum allowed under
the Code. All employees who are at least age 21 and have
completed 1,000 hours of service are eligible. The Company
may elect to make contributions to the Plan at the discretion of
the Board of Directors. During the fiscal year ended
February 28, 2006, the Company made no contributions to the
plan. The Plan name has been changed to Premier Exhibitions
401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Note 14.
Subsequent Events
On March 14, 2006, the Company executed an employment
agreement with its Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel. The
employment agreement is for a three-year term and provides for
an annual base salary of $173,250 per year.
On March 14, 2006, the Company entered into an amendment to
its August 4, 2003 employment agreement with its Vice
President — Exhibitions. The original employment
agreement was for a three-year term and provided for an annual
base salary of $150,000 per year, with annual 5% increases.
The amendment extends the term of employment agreement for an
additional three years from January 27, 2006, the effective
date of the Amendment.
On March 14, 2006, the Company entered into a Second
Amendment to the February 4, 2002 Employment Agreement with
the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. The
Second Amendment provided a quarterly cash bonus equal to 10% of
the Company’s quarterly net income. On March 21, 2006,
the Company entered into a Third Amendment to the
February 4, 2002 Employment Agreement. The Third Amendment
terminated the quarterly cash bonus equal to 10% of the
Company’s quarterly net income.
On March 24, 2006, the Company entered into a settlement
agreement with Plastination Company, Inc. whereby it amicably
settled the litigation Plastination Company v. Premier
Exhibitions, Inc., which was pending in the United States
District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. The terms of
the settlement agreement are confidential, and the Company does
not believe that they are material to its business.
On November 30, 2005, the Company sold a 3% ownership
interest in the RMS Carpathia to Legal Access Technologies, Inc.
for $500,000. In addition, the Company sold it a twenty-five
year license to conduct joint expeditions with the Company to
the Carpathia for the purpose of exploring and salvaging the
Carpathia for $200,000. Under the terms of this agreement, Legal
Access Technologies, Inc. was obligated to make payments under a
payment schedule of $100,000 on December 12, 2005 and the
balance of $400,000 on February 15, 2006. In the event of
default, the Company had the option to terminate this agreement.
The Company reflected this transaction as a gain on the sale of
the Carpathia interest of $459,000 during the quarter ended
November 30, 2005. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement,
Legal Access Technologies, Inc. was obligated to make the
following scheduled payments to the Company: (i) $100,000
on December 12, 2005; and (ii) $400,000 on
February 15, 2006. The $100,000 payment was collateralized
with 1,400,000 shares of Legal Access Technologies,
Inc.’s common stock, which satisfied its obligation to make
the first payment. Legal Access Technologies, Inc. failed to
make the second scheduled payment and, on April 3, 2006,
the Company terminated its agreement with the Legal Access
Technologies, Inc. In accordance with the agreement, the Company
retained the collateral in the form of Legal Access
Technologies, Inc.’s common stock. As a result of this
default and the Company’s subsequent termination of the
agreement, the Company reversed the gain of $459,000 net of
the gain from the retention of the marketable securities of
$168,000 that was recognized during our quarter ended
November 30, 2005.
On April 11, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors of the Company approved the extension of the
Employment Agreement of the Company’s President and Chief
Executive Officer for an additional two-year period expiring
February 4, 2011.
On April 11, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors granted and subsequently rescinded an extension of
the term of options previously issued to the estate of its
former Chief Financial Officer under the 2000 and 2004 employee
stock option plans. This extension was not required since the
estate intends on exercising these options before expiration.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed
to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our
reports filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded,
processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods
specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (the
“SEC”) rules and forms, and that such information is
accumulated and communicated to our management, including our
chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as
appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, an
evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the
participation of our management, including the chief executive
officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the
design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures.
Based upon that evaluation, the chief executive officer and
chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls
and procedures are effective in alerting them in a timely manner
to material information relating to the company required to be
included in periodic filings with the SEC. There have been no
significant changes in our internal controls over financial
reporting (as such term is defined in
Rules 13a-15(f)
and 15(d)-15(f) under the Exchange Act, during the most recent
fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably
likely to materially affect our internal controls over financial
reporting.
ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10.
THROUGH ITEM 14.
All information required by Items 10 through 14 is
incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for the 2006
Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will be filed within
120 days of the end of our fiscal year ended
February 28, 2006.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(a) Financial Statements.
The following financial statements of the Company are included
in Item 8 of this Annual Report:
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
p. 34
Consolidated Balance Sheets at February 29, 2005 and
February 28, 2006
p. 35
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
February 28(29), 2004, 2005 and 2006
p. 36
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the
years ended February 28(29), 2004, 2005 and 2006
p. 37
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
February 28(29), 2004, 2005 and 2006
Employment Agreement dated August 4, 2003 between the
Registrant and Tom Zaller
10-K
10.54
06-15-04
10
.8
Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 18, 2004, among
the Registrant, Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. (f/k/a
Sands Brothers International Limited) and certain purchasers
identified therein
10-Q
10.57
10-13-04
10
.9
Assumption Agreement, dated October 13, 2004, between the
Registrant and RMS Titanic, Inc.
8-K
99.1
10-20-04
10
.10
Form of Registration Rights Agreement from October 2005 private
placement
SB-2
10.10
01-05-06
10
.11
October 2004 Lease Amendment re warehouse space
S-1
10.11
04-07-06
10
.12
November 2005 Lease Amendment to lease for offices in Atlanta,
Georgia
10-Q
10.2
01-17-06
10
.13
Acquisition Letter Agreement among Premier Acquisitions, Inc.
and Exhibitions International, LLC, et al. dated
March 7, 2005
10-Q
10.1
7-14-05
10
.14
Form of $500,000 Promissory Note dated June 2004 from RMS
Titanic, Inc. payable to Joseph Marsh and William Marino
UCC Lien Subordination Agreement dated January 9, 2006
between Bank of America, Inc. and Sam Tour (USA), Inc.
8-K
99.3
1-13-06
10
.23
Settlement Agreement dated January 30, 2006 and approved by
the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Virginia in connection with the settlement of Lawrence
D’Addario v. Arnie Geller, Gerald Couture, Joe Marsh
and R.M.S. Titanic, Inc.
Form of Exhibition Tour Agreement between the Company and
Dr. Hong-Jin Sui and Dr. Shuyan Wang President of
Dalian Hoffen Bio Technique Company Limited
X
11
.1
Computation of Earnings Per Share (See Notes to Financial
Statements)
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant had duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed
below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and
in the capacities and as of the date indicated: