As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2018.
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Wizard Entertainment, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
| Delaware | 7900 | 98-0357690 | ||
|
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
662 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Telephone: (310) 648-8410
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
John D. Maatta
Chief Executive Officer and President
662 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Telephone: (310) 648-8410
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
|
Steven D. Pidgeon DLA Piper LLP (US) 2525 East Camelback Road, Suite 1000 Phoenix, Arizona 85016 |
Michael Francis Christina C. Russo Akerman LLP 350 E Las Olas Blvd, Suite 1600 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 |
Approximate date of commencement of the proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective.
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. [X]
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
| Large accelerated filer | [ ] | Accelerated filer | [ ] | |
| Non-accelerated filer | [ ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | [X] | |
| Emerging growth company | [ ] |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. [ ]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1)(2) |
Amount of Registration Fee | ||||||
| Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share | $ | 13,000,000 | $ | 1,575.60 | ||||
| Representative’s Warrants to purchase common stock (3) | $ | — | $ | — | ||||
| Shares of common stock underlying the Representative’s Warrants (4) | $ | 1,040,000 | $ | 126.05 | ||||
| Total | $ | 14,040,000 | $ | 1,701.65 | ||||
| (1) | Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the amount of the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933. |
| (2) | Includes common stock that the underwriters have the option to purchase to cover over-allotments, if any. |
| (3) | The Registrant has agreed to issue warrants exercisable within five years after the effective date of this registration statement representing 8% of the securities issued in the offering (the “ Representative’s Warrants ”) to Roth Capital Partners, LLC, as representative of the underwriters. The Representative’s Warrants are exercisable at a per share price equal to 115% of the common stock public offering price. See “ Underwriting .” In accordance with Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act, because the shares of the Registrant’s common stock underlying the Representative’s Warrants are registered hereby, no separate registration fee is required with respect to the warrants registered hereby. |
| (4) | Represents the maximum number of shares of the Registrant’s common stock issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrants. |
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to completion, dated October 10, 2018
Preliminary Prospectus
Shares
Wizard Entertainment, Inc.
Common Stock
We are offering $13,000,000 of shares of our common stock.
Our common stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol “WIZD”. We have applied to have our common stock listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the same symbol. The closing of this offering is contingent upon the successful listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The last reported bid price of our common stock on the OTCQB on October 9, 2018, was $0.16 per share.
After the consummation of this offering, Bristol Investment Fund, Ltd. and our management will beneficially own approximately [__]% of our common stock on an as converted basis, or approximately [__] % of our common stock if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full. As a result, we will be a “controlled company” within the meaning of the corporate governance standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market. However, we do not intend to avail ourselves of the controlled company exemption under the corporate governance standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market. See “ Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions ”, “ Description of Capital Stock ”, and “ Risk Factors—Risks Relating to this Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock—The ownership by our Executive Chairman of our common stock will likely limit your ability to influence corporate matters. ”
The offering is being underwritten on a firm commitment basis. We have granted the underwriters an option to buy up to an additional [__] shares of common stock from us to cover over-allotments. The underwriters may exercise this option at any time and from time to time during the 30-day period from the date of this prospectus
Investing in our common stock involves risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.
| Per Share | Total (1) | |||||||
| Price to public | $ | [__] | $ | [__] | ||||
| Underwriting discounts and commissions (2) | $ | [__] | $ | [__] | ||||
| Proceeds to us, before expenses | $ | [__] | $ | [__] | ||||
| (1) | Assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock described below. If the underwriters exercise the option in full, the total underwriting discounts and commissions payable will be $[__] and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will be $[__]. |
| (2) | See “ Underwriting ” on page 59 of this prospectus for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters. We have agreed to issue to the representative of the underwriters warrants to purchase up to 8% of the aggregate number of shares of common stock sold in this offering. The representative’s warrants will have an exercise price equal to 115% of the public offering price per share of common stock sold in this offering. The registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part also registers the issuance of the representative’s warrants and the shares of common stock underlying the representative’s warrants. |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Delivery of the shares of common stock will be made on or about [__], 2018.
Roth Capital Partners
The date of this prospectus is [__], 2018.
Table of Contents
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us that we have referred to you. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different, or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.
For investors outside the United States: We and the underwriters have not done anything that would permit this offering, or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the shares of our common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside of the United States.
You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus.
| i |
Certain Trademarks, Trade Names, and Service Marks
This prospectus contains trademarks, trade names and service marks that we use in our business. Each one of these trademarks, trade names and service marks is either (i) our registered trademark, trade name or service mark, (ii) a trademark, trade name or service mark for which we have a pending application, (iii) a trademark, trade name or service mark for which we claim common law rights or (iv) a trademark, trade name or service mark that is owned by a third party and used by us under license. All other trademarks, trade names or service marks appearing in this prospectus belong to their respective owners. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ®, ™ or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, trade names and service marks. We do not intend our use or display of other parties’ trademarks, trade names or service marks to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other parties.
| ii |
This summary highlights information contained in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus and the information in “Risk Factors”, “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.
As used in this prospectus, “we”, “us”, “our”, “Wizard”, “the Company”, or “our Company” refer to Wizard Entertainment, Inc., and references to “Conventions” refer collectively to Kick the Can Corp. and its predecessors, Wizard Conventions, Inc., and Kicking the Can, L.L.C.
Our Company
We are a producer of “pop culture” live multimedia conventions across the United States. These live multimedia conventions provide a social networking and entertainment venue for enthusiasts of movies, TV shows, video games, technology, toys, social networking/gaming, comic books, and graphic novels. We intend to increase our presence in the digital space, through the creation and distribution of high-quality and compelling content.
Our objective is to create an expanded and qualitatively enhanced digital initiative to become a dominant voice for pop culture enthusiasts across multiple media platforms. Key elements of our strategy include:
| ● | producing and distributing high-quality Pop-Culture/Comic Conventions (“ Comic Conventions ”) across the United States to entertain fans and to allow for promotion of consumer products and entertainment; | |
| ● | producing and distributing high-quality content and leveraging the content created at the Comic Conventions through digital media outlets such as websites, apps, emails, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, among others; and | |
| ● | obtaining sponsorships and promotions from media and entertainment companies for our digital initiative Comic Conventions, including: |
| o | expanding our relationships with entertainment and media companies; and | |
| o | utilizing our digital assets to create and launch a revised and vibrant e-commerce venture. |
| ● | expand operations to include fixed-site attractions that will be appealing to enthusiasts of pop-culture. |
Comic Conventions
We produce live Comic Conventions across the United States that provide a social networking and entertainment venue for enthusiasts of movies, TV shows, video games, technology, virtual reality experiences, toys, social networking, gaming, comic books, and graphic novels. Our Comic Conventions provide an opportunity for companies in the entertainment, toy, gaming, virtual reality, publishing and retail business to carry out sales, marketing, product promotion, public relations, advertising, and sponsorship efforts.
We have been producing Comic Conventions since July 1997. In 2017, we held 14 Comic Conventions in the following cities:
| ● Austin, TX | ● Des Moines, IA | ● New Orleans, LA | ● Sacramento, CA | |
| ● Chicago, IL | ● Madison, WI | ● Oklahoma City, OK | ● St Louis, MO | |
| ● Cleveland, OH | ● Minneapolis, MN | ● Philadelphia, PA | ||
| ● Columbus, OH | ● Nashville, TN | ● Portland, OR |
| 1 |
Our target audience includes men and women primarily in the 18 to 34 year-old demographic, together with families of all ages who are fans of various types of entertainment and media, including movies, music, toys, video games, consumer electronics, computers, and lifestyle products (e.g. clothes, footwear, digital devices, and mobile phones). Within the last year, we have added new attractions at our events, including live music, anime, and programming for children. We continuously review our existing operations and procedures relating to our Comic Conventions in order to ensure that we produce the best possible fan experience at our Comic Conventions. At the same time, we have taken significant steps to maximize revenue and contain costs.
We receive revenue from Comic Conventions primarily from three sources: (i) consumer admissions; (ii) exhibitor booth sales; and (iii) national and/or regional sponsorships. Comic Conventions vary in cost to produce depending on the size and scope of the convention.
Digital Media
We produce content for a number of digital media platforms, including our recently updated website, emails, newsletters, and Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, to create awareness of our Comic Conventions and provide updates to our fans and consumers. We also use our website to provide the latest Wizard Entertainment news and information. While we derive little or no direct revenue from these properties, they have the indirect benefit of supporting sales relating to our Comic Conventions, as well as helping us secure additional sought after and high-profile talent. This helps us obtain additional admissions, booth sales and sponsorships for our Comic Conventions. We intend to increase our presence in the digital space, through the creation and distribution of high-quality and compelling content.
Competitive Strengths
In the live, regionally-based consumer conventions market, competitive strength is measured by the location and size of the region or city, the frequency of live events per year, the VIP list (e.g. celebrities and artists), the number of paying attendees, the physical size of the convention, the extent of the public relations outreach (through traditional media, digital media and social media), and the quantity and quality of exhibitors and dealers. We believe that we have a strong competitive position because our Comic Conventions take place in major cities across the United States throughout the year. Our numerous annual Comic Conventions enable us to market our events throughout the entire year, create a large amount of high-quality content that can be distributed through our digital media outlets, and market nationally as well as regionally. Our multiple locations also allow us to work with more celebrities, artists and writers and host them in numerous cities.
There are a number of Comic Convention providers that produce events across the country; however, on an annual basis, we produce a greater number of Comic Conventions in the United States annually than any other organization.
We believe that our Comic Conventions are well known and well respected in the Comic Convention and pop culture industry. We have a reputation among fans, exhibitors, and celebrities for producing high-quality and well-attended conventions.
Growth Strategy
We plan to pursue expansion by converting the Company from a live-event business into a live event/media company adding content development and other activities to our existing operations.
We plan to organically develop new local attractions as adjuncts to our Comic Conventions, including a focused initiative to develop new attractions as an adjunct to our existing conventions. We also seek to increase revenues of our existing Comic Conventions through improving the fan experience by adding more entertainment, exhibitors, celebrities, panels, gaming tournaments, and opportunities for VIP experiences. While increasing revenues we are working to reduce our operating costs. We aim to leverage our existing resources and exposure, both online and at Comic Conventions, to generate revenue through new, complimentary business opportunities.
We intend to increase revenue through increasing corporate sponsorships with experienced marketers by offering these advertisers a wide range of promotional vehicles, both on-site and through our digital media and online offerings. We believe that we will be able to further enhance our relationships with our existing dealers, exhibitors, celebrities, and VIPs while, at the same time, developing new relationships with national brand marketers looking to connect with our growing audiences. Additionally, we are seeking opportunities to expand our operations outside of the United States, especially in Asia and the Middle East.
| 2 |
In addition to our core live event comic convention business, we are actively entering the media space by (i) developing intellectual property with Sony Pictures Entertainment (“ Sony ”), (ii) programming two televisions networks in China, (iii) developing location-based entertainment opportunities, (iv) exploring pop-up retail and merchandising opportunities, (v) pursuing pop culture-related content under our “WizPop” brand, and (vi) expanding into alternative affinity-based attractions which will co-locate with the core comic conventions.
To help facilitate our growth, we have recently restructured our internal operations. We have also revamped our production methods allowing us to produce Comic Conventions at a cost that is materially lower than the production cost that we had been spending. Additionally, we have been successful in materially containing costs associated with corporate overhead. We believe these measures will assist us in achieving our growth strategies.
Recent Developments
On December 1, 2016, we sold convertible notes (the “ Notes ”) to Bristol Investment Fund, Ltd. (“ Bristol ”), an entity controlled by our Executive Chairman, pursuant to a securities purchase agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) for a cash purchase price of $2,500,000. Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, the Notes will be exchanged (the “ Exchange ”) for our Series A Preferred Stock (the “ Preferred Stock ”), which will be convertible into common stock, contain certain protective provisions, and have an initial aggregate liquidation value of approximately $2.9 million, representing the outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest on the Notes. After giving effect to this offering and the exchange of Notes for Preferred Stock, Bristol and its affiliates will have the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of our directors and the approval or rejection of any change in control transaction. In connection with the Exchange, we entered into an agreement with Bristol to provide certain rights previously granted to Bristol pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, including that the consent of the holders of a majority of the Preferred Stock will be required for the incurrence of certain liens on the Company’s assets. In addition, upon Bristol’s request, we will register the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock or shares issued in payment of any dividend on the Preferred Stock on a Registration Statement on Form S-3, once eligible to utilize such form. Following the consummation of this offering, we expect to be a “controlled company” for the purposes of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. However, we do not intend to avail ourselves of the controlled company exemption under the corporate governance standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market. For a discussion of our relationship with Bristol and more details on Bristol’s ownership interest, see “ Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions ”, “ Description of Capital Stock ”, and “ Risk Factors—Risks Relating to this Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock—The ownership by our Executive Chairman of our common stock will likely limit your ability to influence corporate matters ”.
During 2016, we underwent significant senior management restructuring. The restructuring included the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, who entered into such role with experience at major movie studios and television networks. We also appointed an Executive Chairman. Focused on reforming our operations and key operating controls, the new management team has worked extensively to position us to successfully grow by, among other things, implementing operating controls and efficiencies, as well as an increased focus on corporate strategy.
On October 24, 2017, we announced alignment with CNLive to distribute advertising-supported linear programming and subscription video on-demand (“ SVOD ”) streamed content to mobile devices in China. The alignment with CNLive, one of only seven entities licensed to distribute content over mobile devices in China, provides us with a multi-year right and license to program a 24/7, linear and SVOD services across all of mainland China, including Macao and Hong Kong.
On February 12, 2018, we announced the formation of a working relationship with Sony. As part of the relationship, we will work with Sony to jointly discover top artistic talent with the aim of incubating the next generation of movies, television, and digital media. We also plan to explore other strategic initiatives with Sony in areas such as immersive entertainment, location-based entertainment, programming and live events. Pursuant to an exclusive license with Sony we are producing a “Ghostbusters” fan fest on June 8, 2019 celebrating the 35 th anniversary of the “Ghostbusters” motion picture franchise.
| 3 |
On February 27, 2018, we announced an agreement with Associated Television International (“ ATI ”), an Emmy-winning, worldwide full-service production and distribution company. ATI will distribute a daily, four-hour wheel of programming under the “WizPop” brand, to be streamed live in China via the CNLive platform.
On [__], 2018, we effected a 1-for-[__] reverse stock split on our common stock. Share amounts set forth herein reflect the split.
Risks Associated with Our Business
Our business is subject to numerous risks described in “ Risk Factors ” immediately following this prospectus summary and elsewhere in this prospectus. These risks represent challenges to the successful implementation of our strategy and to the growth and future profitability of our business. Some of the more significant risks are:
| ● | We may never achieve or sustain profitability; | |
| ● | We may not be able to attract sufficient capital to finance all of our planned operations; | |
| ● | We may be unable to continue as a going concern; | |
| ● | We may fail to manage our expected growth which could cause a disruption of our operations and failure to generate revenues at levels we expect; | |
| ● | Our collaboration agreements in the digital media space may not produce the anticipated commercial success; | |
| ● | We are subject to the terms of a letter agreement with Bristol, our principal stockholder, which may hinder our ability to raise additional capital if and when needed. | |
| ● | We may not be able to prevent others from using our intellectual property, and may be subject to claims by third parties that we infringe on their intellectual property; | |
| ● | We encounter competition in our business, and any failure to compete effectively could adversely affect our results of operations. | |
| ● | If we do not maintain and further develop and market our brand, we may not be able to attract sufficient audiences to our Comic Conventions; | |
| ● | We may fail to attract a sufficient number of sponsors and pop culture advertisers; | |
| ● | We rely on key contracts and business relationships, and if our current or future business partners or contracting counterparties fail to perform or terminate any of their contractual arrangements with us for any reason or cease operations, or should we fail to adequately identify key business relationships, our business could be disrupted and our reputation may be harmed | |
| ● | We may fail to attract high-profile celebrities and VIPs to our Comic Conventions; | |
| ● | We may not be able to secure or retain desirable dates and locations for our Comic Conventions; | |
| ● | We may fail to accurately monitor or respond to changing market trends and adapt our Comic Conventions and digital media offerings accordingly; and | |
| ● | A decline in general economic conditions and disruption of financial markets may, among other things, reduce the discretionary income of Comic Convention attendees and consumers or further erode advertising markets. |
| 4 |
We were incorporated as GoEnergy, Inc. in Delaware in 2001, renamed as Wizard World, Inc. on December 6, 2010 and renamed as Wizard Entertainment, Inc. on October 5, 2018. Our executive offices are located at 662 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, California 90049, and our telephone number is (310) 648-8410. We maintain a website at www.wizardworld.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of, and should not be considered as being incorporated by reference into, this prospectus.
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and have elected to take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosure available for smaller reporting companies.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”). The Commission maintains an internet site that contains our public filings with the Commission and other information regarding our company, at www.sec.gov. These reports and other information concerning our company may also be accessed at the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.
| 5 |
| Common stock offered by us | [__] shares | |
| Offering price | $[__] per share | |
| Common stock outstanding before this offering | 68,535,036 shares, as of June 30, 2018 | |
| Common stock to be outstanding after this offering | [__] shares. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, the total number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after this offering would be [__]. | |
| Over-allotment option | We have granted a 30-day option to the underwriters to purchase up to [__] additional shares of common stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any. | |
| Use of proceeds | We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. See “ Use of Proceeds ” for further details. | |
| Lock-up | Before the completion of this offering, we and each of our officers and directors have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell, offer, agree to sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale of, or otherwise dispose of or hedge, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock beneficially owned by them, or any securities beneficially owned by them that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of common stock, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of the underwriter. See “ Underwriting ” for additional information. | |
| Risk factors | Investing in our shares of common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “ Risk Factors ” for a discussion of factors you should consider before making a decision to invest in our common stock. | |
| Controlled company | After the completion of this offering, Mr. Kessler, our Executive Chairman, will continue to control a majority of our common stock, on an as converted basis. We do not intend to avail ourselves of the controlled company exemption under the corporate governance standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market. | |
| Proposed listing | Our common stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol “WIZD”. We have applied to have our common stock listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “ Nasdaq CM ”) under the same symbol. The closing of this offering is contingent upon the successful listing of our common stock on Nasdaq CM. |
The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering as shown above is based on 68,535,036 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2018. This number of shares excludes, as of June 30, 2018:
| ● | 3,743,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, having a weighted average exercise price of $0.59 per share; | |
| ● | 16,666,667 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, having a weighted exercise price of $0.15 per share; | |
| ● | an aggregate of up to 11,257,000 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans; | |
| ● | [__] shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock issued in the Exchange; and | |
| ● | [__] shares issuable upon the exercise of the Representative’s Warrant. |
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes:
| ● | That the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase up to an additional [__] shares of our common stock; and | |
| ● | No options or shares of common stock were issued after June 30, 2018, and no outstanding equity awards were exercised after June 30, 2018. |
| 6 |
Summary Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
The following table presents summary consolidated financial data for the periods and at the dates indicated. The summary consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2016 and 2017, and for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2017, have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary consolidated financial data as of June 30, 2017 (as restated) and 2018, and for the six months ended June 30, 2017 (as restated) and 2018, have been derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for any future period.
The following information should be read in conjunction with “ Capitalization ”, “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ”, “ Business ” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
| Year Ended December 31, | Six Months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| Statement of operations data: | 2016 | 2017 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
| Convention revenue | $ | 21,994,433 | $ | 14,983,033 | $ | 8,384,041 | $ | 9,103,033 | ||||||||
| ConBox revenue (1) | $ | 707,101 | 84,580 | $ | 84,580 | $ | - | |||||||||
| Gross profit | $ | 6,534,543 | $ | 9,316 | $ | 36,605 | $ | 1,727,197 | ||||||||
| Operating expenses | $ | (7,716,789 | ) | $ | (5,346,924 | ) | $ | 3,214,561 | $ | 1,688,192 | ||||||
| (Loss) income from operations | $ | (1,182,246 | $ | (5,337,608 | ) | $ | (3,177,956 | ) | $ | 39,005 | ||||||
| Other expenses | $ | (325,857 | $ | (395,887 | ) | $ | (177,459 | ) | $ | (429,894 | ) | |||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | (1,508,103 | ) | $ | (5,733,495 | ) | $ | (3,355,415 | ) | $ | (390,889 | ) | ||||
| Income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted (2) | $ | (0.03 | ) | $ | (0.08 | ) | $ | (0.05 | ) | $ | (0.01 | ) | ||||
| At December 31, | At June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| Balance sheet data: | 2016 | 2017 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 4,401,217 | $ | 1,769,550 | $ | 2,918,778 | $ | 1,457,735 | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 5,835,129 | $ | 2,940,089 | $ | 4,337,820 | $ | 2,238,770 | ||||||||
| Current liabilities | $ | 2,736,953 | $ | 6,306,310 | $ | 4,294,930 | $ | 6,002,600 | ||||||||
| Total liabilities (3) | $ | 3,764,129 | $ | 6,306,310 | $ | 4,320,408 | $ | 6,002,600 | ||||||||
| Year Ended December 31, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities data: | 2016 | 2017 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
| Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (2,488,009 | ) | $ | (2,533,595 | ) | $ | (1,389,454 | ) | $ | (303,887 | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | $ | (311,140 | ) | $ | (98,072 | ) | $ | (92,985 | ) | $ | (7,928 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | 2,476,667 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
| Net change in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (322,482 | ) | $ | (2,631,667 | ) | $ | (1,482,439 | ) | $ | (311,815 | ) | ||||
| Year Ended December 31, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| Other financial data (unaudited): | 2016 | 2017 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA (4) | $ | (544,985 | ) | $ | (4,894,287 | ) | $ | (2,817,097 | ) | $ | 125,559 | |||||
| (1) | We ceased the sale of merchandise under the ConBox brand name in 2017. | |
| (2) | Reflects the 1-for-[__] reverse stock split of our common stock that occurred on [__], 2018. | |
| (3) | Immediately prior to this offering, the Notes (with an aggregate outstanding amount of $[__], including accumulated but unpaid interest) will be converted to the Preferred Stock. |
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| (4) | In addition to net income (loss) presented in accordance with GAAP, we use Adjusted EBITDA to measure our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure of operating performance and is not based on any standardized methodology prescribed by GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income (loss), cash flows from operating activities or other measures determined in accordance with GAAP. Also, Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. | |
| We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before (i) interest expense, (ii) depreciation and amortization, (iii) stock-based compensation, and (iv) items that management believes are not part of our core operations. We present Adjusted EBITDA because we believe its assists investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Management and our board of directors has begun to use Adjusted EBITDA to assess our financial performance and believe it is helpful in highlighting trends because it excludes the results of decisions that are outside the control of management, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate and capital investments. We have begun to reference Adjusted EBITDA in our decision-making because it provides supplemental information that facilitates internal comparisons to the historical operating performance of prior periods. In addition, we have based certain of our forward-looking estimates and budgets on Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider such measure either in isolation or as a substitute for analyzing our results as reported under GAAP. |
| Year Ended December 31, | Six Months Ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA: | 2016 | 2017 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss: | $ | (1,508,103 | ) | $ | (5,733,495 | ) | $ | (3,355,415 | ) | $ | (390,889 | ) | ||||
| Add (deduct): | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | $ | 26,481 | $ | 395,102 | $ | 176,674 | $ | 429,894 | ||||||||
| Depreciation | $ | 159,101 | $ | 147,832 | $ | 85,538 | $ | 48,274 | ||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | $ | 777,536 | $ | 296,274 | $ | 276,106 | $ | 38,280 | ||||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (544,985 | ) | $ | (4,894,287 | ) | $ | (2,817,097 | ) | $ | 125,559 | |||||
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Relating to Our Company
We may never achieve or sustain profitability.
We have historically operated at a loss, which has resulted in an accumulated deficit. There can be no assurance that we will ever achieve profitability. Even if we do, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Failure to do so would continue to have a material adverse effect on our accumulated deficit, would affect our cash flows, would affect our efforts to raise capital and is likely to result in a decline in our common stock price.
If we need additional capital to fund our growing operations, we may not be able to obtain sufficient capital and may be forced to limit the scope of our operations.
We have had to rely on a combination of cash flow from operations and new capital in order to sustain our business. As we move forward to implement our growth strategies, we may experience increased capital needs. We may not, however, have sufficient capital to fund our future operations without additional capital investments. If adequate additional financing is not available on reasonable terms or at all, we may not be able to carry out our corporate strategy and we would be forced to modify our business plans (e.g., limit our expansion, limit our marketing efforts and/or decrease or eliminate capital expenditures), any of which may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. Such reduction could materially adversely affect our business and our ability to compete.
Our capital needs will depend on numerous factors, including, without limitation, (i) our profitability, (ii) our ability to respond to a release of competitive products by our competitors, and (iii) the amount of our capital expenditures, including acquisitions. Moreover, the costs involved may exceed those originally contemplated. Cost savings and other economic benefits expected may not materialize as a result of any cost overruns or changes in market circumstances. Failure to obtain intended economic benefits could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating performances.
We need to manage growth in operations to maximize our potential growth and achieve our expected revenues. Our failure to manage growth can cause a disruption of our operations that may result in the failure to generate revenues at levels we expect.
In order to maximize potential growth in our current markets, we may have to expand our operations. Such expansion will place a significant strain on our management and our operational, accounting, and information systems. We expect that we will need to continue to improve our financial controls, operating procedures and management information systems. We will also need to effectively train, motivate, and manage our employees. Our failure to manage our growth could disrupt our operations and ultimately prevent us from generating the revenues we expect.
We recently entered into collaboration arrangements in the digital media space. There can be no assurance they will produce commercial success.
We recently entered into collaboration arrangements to provide advertising-supported linear programming and SVOD content in China and to jointly discover top artistic talent with the aim of incubating the next generation of movies and media. There can be no assurance that these initiatives will achieve commercial success or, even if they do, that they will be profitable for the Company.
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We are subject to the terms of a letter agreement with Bristol, our principal stockholder, which may hinder our ability to raise additional capital if and when needed.
In connection with the exchange of certain outstanding indebtedness for shares of our Preferred Stock, we entered into an agreement with Bristol, our principal stockholder, which will become effective upon the exchange. The agreement provides, among other things, that Bristol may exchange its shares of Series A Preferred Stock as consideration in any future financing and the consent of Bristol will be required for the incurrence of certain liens on the Company’s assets. These terms may hinder our ability to raise additional capital on adequate terms, if at all. If we are not successful in raising sufficient additional capital as needed, we may be compelled to reduce the scope of our operations and planned capital expenditures and/or sell or license certain assets at inopportune times, which could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to pursue our business strategy and our future financial condition.
Our ability to use NOLs to reduce future tax payments may be limited if taxable income does not reach sufficient levels or there is a change in ownership of the Company.
At December 31, 2017, we had net operating loss carry-forwards (“ NOLs ”) of approximately $9.9 million for U.S. federal tax purposes and also anticipate NOLs for state tax purposes. These NOLs expire at varying dates through 2036. To the extent available, and to the extent that we generate taxable income, we intend to use these NOLs to reduce the corporate income tax liability associated with our operations. Section 382 (“ Section 382 ”) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), generally imposes an annual limitation on the amount of NOLs that may be used to offset taxable income when a corporation has undergone significant changes in stock ownership. In general, an ownership change, as defined by Section 382, results from a transaction or series of transactions over a three-year period resulting in an ownership change of more than 50 percentage points of the outstanding stock of a company by certain stockholders or public groups, which are generally outside of our control.
Relating to Our Business and Industry
General
We may not be able to prevent others from using our intellectual property, and may be subject to claims by third parties that we infringe on their intellectual property.
We regard the content that we plan to distribute via digital media to be important to our success. We plan to rely on non-disclosure and other contractual provisions to protect our proprietary rights. We may also try to protect our intellectual property rights by, among other things, searching the Internet to detect unauthorized use of our intellectual property.
However, policing the unauthorized use of our intellectual property is often difficult and any steps we take may not, in every case, prevent the infringement by unauthorized third parties. Further, there can be no assurance that our efforts to enforce our rights and protect our intellectual property will be successful. We may need to resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, which may result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
Further, although management does not believe that our products and services infringe on the intellectual rights of others, there is no assurance that we will not be the target of infringement or other claims. Such claims, even if not true, could result in significant legal and other costs and may be a distraction to our management or interrupt our business.
We encounter competition in our business, and any failure to compete effectively could adversely affect our results of operations.
We anticipate that our competitors will continue to expand and seek to obtain additional market share with competitive price and performance characteristics. Aggressive expansion of our competitors or the entrance of new competitors into our markets could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we do not compete successfully against new and existing competitors, we may lose our market share, and our operating results may be adversely affected.
We compete with other advertising service providers that may reach our target audience by means that are more effective than our Comic Conventions and digital media. Further, if such other providers of advertising have a long operating history, large product and service suites, more capital resources and broad international or local recognition, our operating results may be adversely affected if we cannot successfully compete.
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Our future success depends upon, in large part, our continuing ability to attract and retain qualified personnel.
Expansion of our business and operations may require additional managers and employees with industry experience, in which case our success will be dependent on our ability to attract and retain experienced management personnel and other employees. There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract or retain qualified personnel. Competition may also make it more difficult and expensive to attract, hire and retain qualified managers and employees. If we fail to attract, train and retain sufficient numbers of the qualified personnel, our prospects, business, financial condition and results of operations will be materially and adversely affected.
Comic Conventions
If we do not maintain and develop our Wizard World Comic Convention brand, we will not be able to attract an audience to the Comic Conventions.
We attract audiences and advertisers partly through brand name recognition. We believe that establishing, maintaining and enhancing our portfolio of Comic Conventions and the brands of our strategic partners will enhance our growth prospects. The promotion of our Wizard World Comic Convention brand and those of our strategic partners will depend largely on our success in maintaining a sizable and loyal audience, providing high-quality content and organizing effective marketing programs. If we fail to meet the standards to which our consumers are accustomed, our reputation will be harmed and we may lose market share.
Our future success depends on attracting sponsors and pop culture advertisers who will advertise at our Comic Conventions. If we fail to attract a sufficient number of sponsors and pop culture advertisers, our operating results and revenues may not meet expectations.
One of our important strategies is to create an integrated platform of tours on which sponsors and pop culture advertisers wishing to reach our young male and female target audience may advertise. However, advertisers may find that our targeted demographic does not consist of their desired consumers or a critical mass of consumers, decide to use a competitor’s services or decide not to use our services for other reasons. If the sponsors and pop culture advertisers decide against advertising with us, we may not realize our growth potential or meet investor expectations. Our future operating results and business prospects could be adversely affected.
We may not be able to respond to changing consumer preferences and our sales may decline.
We operate in markets that are subject to change, including changes in customer preferences. New fads, trends and shifts in pop culture could affect the type of live events customers will attend or the products consumers will purchase. Content in which we have invested significant resources may fail to meet consumer demand at the time. A decrease in the level of media exposure or popularity of the pop culture market or a loss in sales could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects and financial condition.
We rely on key contracts and business relationships, and if our current or future business partners or contracting counterparties fail to perform or terminate any of their contractual arrangements with us for any reason or cease operations, or should we fail to adequately identify key business relationships, our business could be disrupted and our reputation may be harmed.
If any of our business partners or contracting counterparties fails to perform or terminates their agreement(s) with us for any reason, or if our business partners or contracting counterparties with which we have short-term agreements refuse to extend or renew the agreement or enter into a similar agreement, our ability to carry on operations and cross-sell sales and marketing services among different platforms may be impaired. In addition, we depend on the continued operation of our long-term business partners and contracting counterparties and on maintaining good relations with them. If one of our long-term partners or counterparties is unable (including as a result of bankruptcy or a liquidation proceeding) or unwilling to continue operating in the line of business that is the subject of our contract, we may not be able to obtain similar relationships and agreements on terms acceptable to us or at all. If a partner or counterparty fails to perform or terminates any of the agreements with us or discontinues operations, and we are unable to obtain similar relationships or agreements, such events could have an adverse effect on our operating results and financial condition. Further, if we are unable to timely produce our Comic Conventions or produce the same quality of Comic Conventions to which our target demographic has been accustomed, the consequences could be far-reaching and harmful to our reputation, existing business relationships and future growth potential.
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We may also need to form new strategic partnerships or joint ventures to access appropriate assets and industry know-how. Failing to identify, execute and integrate such future partnerships or joint ventures may have an adverse effect on our business, growth, financial condition, and cash flow from operations.
Our future success depends on attracting high-profile celebrities and VIPs to our Comic Conventions. If we fail to attract such celebrities and VIPs, our attendance may suffer and our operating results and revenues may be adversely impacted.
Our ability to maintain our competitive position will be dependent on attracting high profile celebrities and VIPs to attend our Comic Conventions. We attract our audience by providing opportunities to meet some of their favorite celebrities. Our failure to attract such high-profile celebrities and VIPs may hurt the attendance at our Comic Conventions and as a result, our operations results and revenues may be adversely impacted.
Digital Media
We could face a variety of risks of expanding into a new business.
We expect to continue to expand into digital media and content creation. Risks of our entry into the new business line of digital media, include, without limitation: (i) potential diversion of management’s attention and other resources, including available cash, from our existing businesses; (ii) unanticipated liabilities or contingencies; (iii) the need for additional capital and other resources to expand into this new line of business; and (iv) inefficient combination or integration of operational and management systems and controls. Entry into a new line of business may also subject us to new laws and regulations with which we are not familiar, and may lead to increased litigation and regulatory risk. Further, our business model and strategy are still evolving and are continually being reviewed and revised, and we may not be able to successfully implement our business model and strategy. We may not be able to attract a sufficiently large number of audience or customers, or recover costs incurred for developing and marketing these products or services. If we are unable to successfully implement our growth strategies, our revenue and profitability may not grow as we expect, our competitiveness may be materially and adversely affected, and our reputation and business may be harmed.
In developing and marketing the new business of digital media, we may invest significant time and resources. Initial timetables for the introduction and development of our digital media business may not be achieved and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible. Furthermore, any new line of business could have a significant impact on the effectiveness of our system of internal controls. Failure to successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of our new digital media business could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We will face significant competition in the digital media business. If we fail to compete effectively, we may lose users to competitors, which could materially and adversely affect our ability to generate revenues from online advertising.
We will face significant competition for online advertising revenues with other websites that sell online advertising services. In addition, we indirectly compete for advertising budgets with traditional advertising media, such as television and radio stations, newspapers and magazines, and major out-of-home media. Some of our competitors may have longer operating histories and significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do, and in turn may have an advantage in attracting and retaining users and advertisers.
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Relating to Being a Public Company
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results or prevent fraud may be adversely affected and investor confidence may be adversely impacted.
As directed by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or SOX 404, the Commission adopted rules requiring public companies to include a report of management on our internal controls over financial reporting in their annual reports. Under current Commission rules, our management may conclude that our internal controls over our financial reporting are not effective. Even if our management concludes that our internal controls over financial reporting are effective, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is qualified if it is not satisfied with our controls or the level at which our controls are documented, designed, operated or reviewed, or if it interprets the relevant requirements differently from us. In the event that we are unable to have effective internal controls, investors and others may lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements and our ability to obtain equity or debt financing as needed could suffer.
We have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and, as a result of such weaknesses, our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting were not effective as of December 31, 2017, December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015. These material weaknesses were originally identified in connection with our assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, and were determined not to have been remediated as of December 31, 2017. To date, our remediation efforts to address this material weakness have included, among other things, hiring additional qualified personnel and undertaking improvements to our systems and processes. No assurances can be given that our efforts will sufficiently correct our material weakness or will prevent us from identifying or correcting a material weakness in the future. Our independent registered accounting firm was not required nor did they include an attestation report regarding internal control over financial reporting because we are a “smaller reporting company”.
In addition, failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. If we or our independent registered public accounting firm identify material weaknesses, the disclosure of that fact, even if quickly remedied, could reduce the market’s confidence in our financial statements and harm our stock price. In addition, if we are unable to continue to comply with SOX 404, our non-compliance could subject us to a variety of administrative sanctions, including the inability of registered broker-dealers to make a market in our common stock, which would likely reduce our stock price.
Relating to Our Industry
A decline in general economic conditions and disruption of financial markets may, among other things, reduce the discretionary income of consumers or further erode advertising markets, which could adversely affect our business.
Our operations are affected by general economic conditions, which affect consumers’ disposable income. The demand for entertainment and leisure activities tends to be highly sensitive to the level of consumers’ disposable income. Declines in general economic conditions could reduce the level of discretionary income that our fans and potential fans have to spend on consumer products and entertainment, which could adversely affect our revenues. Volatility and disruption of financial markets could limit our advertisers’, sponsors’, and/or promoters’ ability to obtain adequate financing to maintain operations, and result in a decrease in sales volume that could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Continued softness in the market could adversely affect our revenues or the financial viability of our distributors.
The advertising market is particularly volatile and we may not be able to effectively adjust to such volatility.
Advertising spending is volatile and sensitive to changes in the economy. Our advertising customers may reduce the amount they spend on our media for a number of reasons, including, without limitation:
| ● | a downturn in economic conditions; | |
| ● | a deterioration of the ratings of their programs; or | |
| ● | a decline in advertising spending in general. |
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We may be unable to maintain or increase our advertising fees and sales, which could negatively affect our ability to generate revenues in the future. A decrease in demand for advertising in general, and for our advertising services in particular, could materially and adversely affect our operating results.
Relating to this Offering and Ownership of Our Securities
We expect to become listed on the Nasdaq CM concurrently with this offering. If we fail to maintain this listing, our stock price and ability to raise capital would be adversely affected.
Our common stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol “WIZD”. We have applied to have our common stock listed on the Nasdaq CM under the same symbol. The closing of this offering is contingent upon the successful listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq CM. If, after listing, we fail to satisfy the continued listing standards of the Nasdaq CM, such as the corporate governance requirements (to the extent applicable to us), stockholder equity requirements, or the minimum closing bid price requirement, Nasdaq may take steps to delist our common stock. Such a delisting would likely have a negative effect on the price of our common stock and would impair your ability to sell or purchase common stock when you wish to do so. In the event of a delisting, we can provide no assurance that any action taken by us to restore compliance with listing requirements would allow our common stock to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our common stock, prevent our common stock from dropping below the minimum bid price requirement or prevent future non-compliance with the Nasdaq CM’s continued listing standards.
Our stock price is likely to be highly volatile because of our limited public float.
The market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile because there has been a relatively thin trading market for our stock, which causes trades of small blocks of stock to have a significant impact on our stock price. You may not be able to resell shares of our common stock following periods of volatility because of the market’s adverse reaction to volatility. Other factors that could cause such volatility may include, among other things: actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results; the absence of securities analysts covering us and distributing research and recommendations about us; overall stock market fluctuations; economic conditions generally; announcements concerning our business or those of our competitors; our ability to raise capital when we require it, and to raise such capital on favorable terms; conditions or trends in the industry; litigation; changes in market valuations of other similar companies; announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships or joint ventures; future sales of common stock; actions initiated by the Commission or other regulatory bodies; and general market conditions. Any of these factors could have a significant and adverse impact on the market price of our common stock. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.
If you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will suffer immediate dilution of your investment.
We expect the public offering price of our common stock to be substantially higher than the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Therefore, if you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering. Based on the public offering price of $[__] per share, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, you will experience immediate dilution of $[__] per share, representing the difference between our as adjusted pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering and the assumed public offering price.
In addition, as of June 30, 2018, we had outstanding stock options to purchase 3,743,000 shares of common stock and outstanding warrants to purchase 16,666,667 shares of our common stock. To the extent these outstanding options or warrants are exercised, there may be further dilution to investors in this offering.
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The ownership by our Executive Chairman of our common stock will likely limit your ability to influence corporate matters.
Mr. Paul Kessler, our Executive Chairman, is currently the beneficial owner of 71% of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock, and is expected to beneficially own [__]% of our common stock (or approximately [__]% if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full) after the completion of this offering. Mr. Kessler may be deemed to beneficially own the securities held by Bristol. Immediately prior to completion of this offering, Bristol will exchange the Notes for convertible Preferred Stock that will vote with the common stock with each one share of Preferred Stock having voting rights equal to [__] shares of common stock, giving him [__]% of the votes on any matter before the stockholders of the Company (or approximately [__] if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full). As a result, Mr. Kessler has, and will continue to have, significant influence over most matters that require approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and approval (or rejection) of significant corporate transactions, even if other stockholders oppose (or approve of) them. This concentration of ownership might also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of our Company that other stockholders may view as beneficial.
The Preferred Stock is senior to the common stock, and carries certain other protective provisions, giving it priority on liquidation, which could affect the trading price of the common stock.
At closing of this offering, Bristol will exchange the Notes into shares of Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock has a priority on liquidation of the Company over the common stock and contains certain other protective provisions. These factors could depress the price of the common stock.
Following the completion of this offering, we will qualify as a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq rules and will qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. While we do not intend to rely on these exemptions, we may change our decision in the future.
Following the completion of this offering, we will qualify as a “controlled company” within the meaning of the Nasdaq corporate governance standards, because in excess of 50% of our voting power will be beneficially owned by Mr. Paul Kessler, our executive chairman. Under these rules, a “controlled company” may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including:
| ● | the requirement that a majority of our board of directors consists of independent directors; | |
| ● | the requirement that we have a nominating and corporate governance committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; | |
| ● | the requirement that we have a compensation committee that is composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and | |
| ● | the requirement for an annual performance evaluation of the nominating and corporate governance and compensation committees. |
Following this offering, we do not intend to take advantage of these exemptions. See “Corporate Governance”. However, we could change our decision in the future. In such event, you would not have the same protections that these rules are intended to provide.
In order to raise sufficient funds to expand our operations, we may have to issue additional securities at prices which may result in substantial dilution to our shareholders.
If we raise additional funds through the sale of equity or convertible debt, our current stockholders’ percentage ownership will be reduced. In addition, these transactions may dilute the value of our common shares outstanding. We may also have to issue securities that may have rights, preferences and privileges senior to our common stock.
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Our stock has been thinly traded, so an investor may be unable to sell at or near ask prices or at all.
The shares of our common stock historically have been thinly traded, meaning that the number of persons interested in purchasing our common stock at or near ask prices at any given time may be relatively small or non-existent. This situation is attributable to a number of factors, including the fact that we are a smaller reporting company that is relatively unknown to stock analysts, stock brokers, institutional investors and others in the investment community who generate or influence sales volume. Even in the event that we come to the attention of such persons, they would likely be reluctant to follow an unproven company such as ours or purchase or recommend the purchase of our shares until such time as we become more seasoned and viable. As a consequence, our stock price may not reflect an actual or perceived value. Also, there may be periods of several days or more when trading activity in our shares is minimal or non-existent, as is currently the case, as compared to a seasoned issuer that has a large and steady volume of trading activity that will generally support continuous sales without an adverse effect on share price. A broader or more active public trading market for our common shares may not develop or if developed, may not be sustained. Due to these conditions, you may not be able to sell your shares at or near ask prices or at all if you need money or otherwise desire to liquidate your shares.
Currently, there is a limited public market for our securities, and there can be no assurances that any public market will ever develop and, even if developed, it is likely to be subject to significant price fluctuations.
Our stock has been thinly traded, if at all. Consequently, there can be no assurances as to whether:
| ● | any market for our shares will develop; | |
| ● | the prices at which our common stock will trade; or | |
| ● | the extent to which investor interest in us will lead to the development of an active, liquid trading market. |
Active trading markets generally result in lower price volatility and more efficient execution of buy and sell orders for investors.
Until our common stock is fully distributed and an orderly market develops in our common stock, if ever, the price at which it trades is likely to fluctuate significantly. Prices for our common stock will be determined in the marketplace and may be influenced by many factors, including the depth and liquidity of the market for shares of our common stock, developments affecting our business, including the impact of the factors referred to elsewhere in these risk factors, investor perception of our Company and general economic and market conditions. No assurances can be given that an orderly or liquid market will ever develop for the shares of our common stock.
Our management has broad discretion as to the use of the net proceeds from this offering.
We cannot specify with certainty the particular uses of the net proceeds we will receive from this offering, and these uses may vary from our current plans. Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds, including for any of the purposes described in “ Use of Proceeds ”. Accordingly, you will have to rely upon the judgment of our management with respect to the use of the proceeds. Our management may spend a portion or all of the net proceeds from this offering in ways that holders of our common stock may not desire or that may not yield a significant return or any return at all. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business.
We are currently subject to the “penny stock rules” which may make our securities more difficult to sell.
We are currently subject to the Commission’s “penny stock” rules as our securities sell below $5.00 per share and we are not listed on a national securities exchange. The penny stock rules require broker-dealers to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document prepared by the Commission which provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer must also provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson, and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. In addition, the bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to completing the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation.
Furthermore, the penny stock rules require that prior to a transaction, the broker dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. The penny stock rules are burdensome and may reduce purchases of any offerings and reduce the trading activity for our securities and the price at which they trade.
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We are not likely to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future, and only appreciation of the price of our common stock, if any, will provide a return to investors in this offering for the foreseeable future.
We currently intend to retain any future earnings for use in the operation and expansion of our business. Accordingly, we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future, but will review this policy as circumstances dictate. In addition, the terms of any existing or future debt agreements we may enter into may preclude us from paying dividends. Because we do not intend to declare cash dividends on our shares of common stock in the foreseeable future, stockholders must rely on appreciation of the value of our common stock for any return on their investment.
Provisions of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws and Delaware law could make an acquisition of our Company, which may be beneficial to our stockholders, more difficult and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove the current members of our board and management.
Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each to be effective immediately prior to completion of this offering, could discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change of control that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares. Furthermore, these provisions could prevent or frustrate attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove members of our Board. These provisions also could limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common stock, thereby depressing the market price of our common stock. Stockholders who wish to participate in these transactions may not have the opportunity to do so. These provisions:
| ● | allow the authorized number of directors to be changed only by resolution of our Board of Directors; | |
| ● | provide that our stockholders may remove our directors only for cause; | |
| ● | authorize our Board to issue without stockholder approval shares of common stock, that, if issued, would dilute our stock ownership and could operate as a “poison pill” to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer to prevent an acquisition that is not approved by our Board; | |
| ● | authorize our Board to issue without stockholder approval shares of preferred stock, the rights of which will be determined at the discretion of the Board that, if issued, could operate as a “poison pill” to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer to prevent an acquisition that is not approved by our Board; | |
| ● | establish advance notice requirements for stockholder nominations to our Board or for stockholder proposals that can be acted on at stockholder meetings; | |
| ● | limit who may call stockholder meetings; | |
| ● | limit the right of stockholders to act by written consent unless authorized by 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our then outstanding capital stock; and | |
| ● | require the approval of the holders of 66 2/3% of the total votes of our capital stock entitled to vote in order to amend certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws. |
In addition, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which may, unless certain criteria are met, prohibit large stockholders, in particular those owning 15% or more of the voting rights on our common stock, from merging or combining with us for a prescribed period of time.
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides for indemnification of officers and directors at our expense and limits their liability, which may result in a major cost to us and hurt the interests of our stockholders because corporate resources may be expended for the benefit of officers and/or directors.
Our Certificate of Incorporation and applicable Delaware law provide for the indemnification of our directors and officers against attorney’s fees and other expenses incurred by them in any action to which they become a party arising from their association with or activities on our behalf. This indemnification policy could result in substantial expenditures by us that we will be unable to recoup.
We have been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, indemnification for liabilities arising under federal securities laws is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification for liabilities arising under federal securities laws, other than the payment by us of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding, is asserted by a director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, we will (unless in the opinion of our counsel, the matter has been settled by controlling precedent) submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction, the question whether indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The legal process relating to this matter, if it were to occur, is likely to be very costly and may result in us receiving negative publicity, either of which factors is likely to materially reduce the market and price for our shares if such a market ever develops.
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statement
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by our use of forward-looking terminology such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “may”, “might”, “plan”, “potential”, “predict”, “seek”, or “should”, or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. In particular, statements about the markets in which we operate, including growth of our various markets, and our expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, prospects, assumptions, or future events or performance contained in this prospectus under the headings “ Summary ”, “ Risk Factors ”, “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ”, and “ Business ” are forward-looking statements.
We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors, including those discussed in this prospectus under the headings “ Summary ”, “ Risk Factors ”, “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ”, and “ Business ”, may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, or could affect our share price. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include:
| ● | general economic conditions; | |
| ● | the availability and adequacy of cash to meet our requirements; | |
| ● | the reputation of the sponsors, vendors, and VIPs to our Comic Conventions; | |
| ● | our ability to secure desirable dates and locations for our Comic Conventions; | |
| ● | disruptions in global or local travel conditions or terrorist actions and communicable diseases; | |
| ● | our ability to monitor and respond to changing market trends; | |
| ● | our ability to attract a sufficient number of sponsors and pop culture advertisers; | |
| ● | our ability to attract celebrities and VIPs to our Comic Conventions; | |
| ● | competition from existing convention operators or new competitors; | |
| ● | risks associated with our growth strategy; | |
| ● | the effect of shifts in marketing and advertising budgets to online initiatives; | |
| ● | our ability to retain our senior management team and our reliance on key full-time employees; | |
| ● | the use of third party agents whom we do not control; | |
| ● | our reliance on a limited number of outside contractors; | |
| ● | changes in legislation, regulation and government policy; | |
| ● | risks and costs associated with new Comic Convention launches; | |
| ● | disruption of our information technology systems; | |
| ● | the failure to maintain the integrity or confidentiality of employee or customer data; | |
| ● | risks associated with event cancellations or interruptions; | |
| ● | risks associated with material litigation; | |
| ● | risks associated with material weaknesses; and | |
| ● | other factors beyond our control. |
Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are not guarantees of future performance and our actual results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity, and events in the industry in which we operate, are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods.
Any forward-looking statement that we make in this prospectus speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this prospectus.
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We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the sale of our common stock offered hereby will be approximately $[__], after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us (or approximately $[__] if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full).
We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds of this offering. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. This expected use of proceeds represents our intentions based on current plans and business conditions. Thus, as of the date of this prospectus and except as explicitly set forth herein, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses of the net proceeds from this offering. Pending application of the net proceeds as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.
Although it is difficult to predict future liquidity requirements, we believe that the net proceeds from this offering and our existing cash flow from operations will be sufficient to fund our operations for the next twelve months.
We have not declared or paid any dividends on our common stock and intend to retain any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business. Therefore, we do not anticipate paying dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. There are no restrictions on our present ability to pay dividends to stockholders of our common stock, other than those prescribed by Delaware law.
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Our common stock has been quoted on OTCQB under the symbol “WIZD”. We have applied for listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq CM under the same symbol. The closing of this offering is contingent upon the successful listing of our common stock on the Nasdaq CM.
The last reported sale price for our common stock on October 9, 2018 was $0.16 per share. The table below sets forth high and low bid prices for our common stock during the periods indicated as quoted on the OTCQB (as adjusted for the 1-for-[__] reverse stock split). We note that over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. We refer you to “ Risk Factors—Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Our Securities ” for additional discussions relating to the risks associated with our common stock being traded on the OTCQB.
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| High | Low | High | Low | High | Low | |||||||||||||||||||
| First Quarter | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.263 | $ | 0.26 | $ | 0.155 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 0.115 | ||||||||||||
| Second Quarter | $ | 0.53 | $ | 0.304 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.135 | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.211 | ||||||||||||
| Third Quarter | $ | 0.49 | $ | 0.28 | $ | 0.35 | $ | 0.09 | $ | 0.27 | $ | 0.125 | ||||||||||||
| Fourth Quarter (through October 9, 2018) | $ | 0.335 | $ | 0.125 | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.11 | 0.164 | 0.13 | ||||||||||||||
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If you purchase our common stock in this offering, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the offering price per share and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering. Our net tangible book value as of June 30, 2018, was approximately $(3,718,830), or $(0.05) per share. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our total tangible assets, less total liabilities, by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2018. Dilution in net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of shares of common stock in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
After giving effect to (i) the sale of [__] shares of our common stock in this offering at a public offering price of $[__] per share and deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and (ii) the 1-for-[__] reverse stock split, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2018 would have been approximately $[__], or $[__] per share. This would represent an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $[__] per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $[__] per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering at the public offering price. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:
| Public offering price per share | $ | |||||||
| Net tangible book per share as of June 30, 2018 | $ | (0.05 | ) | |||||
| Increase per share attributable to investors in this offering | ||||||||
| As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering | ||||||||
| Dilution per share to investors in this offering | $ |
If the underwriters’ option to purchase up to an additional [__] shares of our common stock is exercised in full at the public offering price of $[__] per share, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, the as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering would be $[__] per share, representing an increase in net tangible book value of $[__] per share to existing shareholders and immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $[__] per share to investors participating in this offering at the public offering price.
The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering as shown above is based on 68,535,036 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2018. This number of shares excludes, as of June 30, 2018:
| ● | 3,743,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, having a weighted average exercise price of $0.59 per share; | |
| ● | 16,666,667 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, having a weighted exercise price of $0.15 per share; | |
| ● | an aggregate of up to 11,257,000 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans; | |
| ● | [__] shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock issued in the Exchange; and | |
| ● | [__] shares issuable upon the exercise of the Representative’s Warrant. |
New investors will experience further dilution if any of our outstanding options or warrants are exercised, new options are issued and exercised or we issue additional shares of common stock, other equity securities or convertible debt securities in the future.
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The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of June 30, 2018:
| ● | on an actual basis; and | |
| ● | on an as-adjusted basis to give effect to the sale by us pursuant to this offering of shares of our common stock, and the application of the net proceeds from this offering as described in “ Use of Proceeds ”. |
You should read this table in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto appearing in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto appearing in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
| As of June 30, 2018 | Actual | As adjusted (1) | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 1,457,735 | ||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 80,000,000 shares authorized; 68,535,036 shares issued and outstanding, actual; [__] shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted (2) | 6,855 | |||||||
| Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share; 20,000,000 shares authorized; and no shares issued and outstanding, actual and as adjusted | - | |||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 19,999,173 | |||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (23,712,360 | ) | ||||||
| Non-controlling interest | (12,498 | ) | ||||||
| Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity | $ | (3,718,830 | ) | |||||
| Total capitalization | $ | 2,238,770 | ||||||
| (1) | If the underwriters’ option to purchase up to an additional [__] shares of our common stock is exercised in full, (i) an additional shares of common stock would be issued and we would receive approximately $[__] million in additional net proceeds; and (ii) cash and cash equivalents, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization would each also increase by approximately $[__] million. | |
| (2) | The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 68,535,036 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2018, and excludes, in each case as of June 30, 2018: |
| ● | 3,743,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, having a weighted average exercise price of $0.59 per share; | |
| ● | 16,666,667 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, having a weighted exercise price of $0.15 per share; | |
| ● | an aggregate of up to 11,257,000 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans; | |
| ● | [__] shares issuable upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock issued in the Exchange; and | |
| ● | [__] shares issuable upon the exercise of the Representative’s Warrant. |
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION OF OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THIS DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT RELATE TO FUTURE EVENTS OR OUR FUTURE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE. THESE STATEMENTS INVOLVE KNOWN AND UNKNOWN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES AND OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE OUR ACTUAL RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS TO BE MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM ANY FUTURE RESULTS, LEVELS OF ACTIVITY, PERFORMANCE OR ACHIEVEMENTS EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED BY THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, THOSE LISTED UNDER “FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS” AND “RISK FACTORS” AND THOSE INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
Overview
We intend for this discussion to provide information that will assist in understanding our financial statements, the changes in certain key items in those financial statements, and the primary factors that accounted for those changes, as well as how certain accounting principles affect our financial statements. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and accompanying notes for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Our objective is to create expanded and qualitatively enhanced offerings and initiatives to become a dominant voice for pop culture enthusiasts across multiple media platforms. Key elements of our strategy include:
| ● | producing and distributing high-quality Comic Conventions across the United States and internationally to entertain fans and to allow for promotion of consumer products and entertainment; | |
| ● | producing and distributing high-quality content and leveraging the content created at the Comic Conventions through digital media outlets such as websites, apps, emails, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, among others; | |
| ● | obtaining sponsorships and promotions from media and entertainment companies for our Comic Conventions, including: |
| o | expanding our relationships with entertainment and media companies; and | |
| o | utilizing our digital assets to create and launch a revised and vibrant e-commerce venture. |
| ● | expand operations to include fixed-site attractions that will be appealing to enthusiasts of pop-culture. |
We produce Comic Conventions across the United States that provide a social networking and entertainment venue for enthusiasts of movies, TV shows, video games, technology, virtual reality experiences, toys, social networking, gaming, comic books, and graphic novels. Our Comic Conventions provide an opportunity for companies in the entertainment, toy, gaming, publishing and retail business to carry out sales, marketing, product promotion, public relations, advertising, and sponsorship efforts.
During 2016, we underwent a significant senior management restructuring. The restructuring included the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, entering his role with experience at major movie studios and television networks. We also appointed an Executive Chairman. The new management team has reviewed key operating controls and taken several steps to reform our operating controls and procedures. In addition, the management team consolidated our operations to a single office in order to improve our overall operational efficiency.
Operations
At present, we are engaged primarily in the live event business and derive income from: (i) the production of Comic Conventions, which involves the sales of admissions and exhibitor booth space, and (ii) sale of sponsorships and advertising. As we move forward, we intend to recast the company as a hyphenate live event- media company. The entry into the media space will complement to our core live event business, and will stand alone as producer of entertainment content across many platforms.
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We plan on continuing to qualitatively enhance and broaden our Comic Conventions by featuring a blend of live entertainment, programming and content and celebrities that is unique in the industry. Further, we are (i) carefully researching and identifying new geographic markets for our Comic Convention, (ii) preparing for offerings affinity-based offerings as a co-located adjunct to our Comic Conventions; and (iii) examining price sensitivity in the markets where we hold our events with the intention of perfecting revenue models based on scalable event pricing.
Concurrently with our efforts in the domestic Comic Convention business, we are focused on international operations, entering the digital media space and location-based entertainment sector, and producing live-event offerings that will appeal to fans beyond the pop-culture genre.
We currently expect to produce 14 live events during 2018, although that number of conventions may change as we evaluate locations and venues.
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Compared to the Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Summary of Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||
| June 30, 2018 | June 30, 2017 | |||||||
| Convention revenue | $ | 5,111,867 | $ | 4,936,084 | ||||
| ConBox revenue | $ | - | $ | 10,461 | ||||
| Gross margin | $ | 622,365 | $ | (345,141 | ) | |||
| Operating expenses | $ | (866,636 | ) | $ | (1,550,737 | ) | ||
| Loss from operations | $ | (244,271 | ) | $ | (1,895,878 | ) | ||
| Other expenses | $ | (261,001 | ) | $ | (92,776 | ) | ||
| Net loss attributable to common shareholder | $ | (505,272 | ) | $ | (1,988,504 | ) | ||
| Income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | ||
Convention Revenue
Convention revenue was $5,111,867 for the three months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $4,936,084 for the comparable period ended June 30, 2017, an increase of $175,783. The increase in convention revenue is primarily attributable to enhanced marketing techniques and the qualitative enhancement of the Conventions. We ran four events during the three months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to five events during the comparable three months ended June 30, 2017. Average revenue generated per event in 2018 was $1,277,966 as compared to $987,216 during 2017.
ConBox Revenue
ConBox revenue was $0 for the three months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $10,461 for the comparable three months ended June 30, 2017, a decrease of $10,461. We ceased ConBox operations in 2017 due to its ongoing costs resulting in the decrease.
Gross Profit
Gross profit percentage for the convention segment increased from a gross profit percentage of (7)% during the three months ended June 30, 2017, to a positive gross profit percentage of 12% during the three months ended June 30, 2018. The gross profit percentage increase was attributable to enhanced marketing and show production techniques which allowed us to generate more revenue at the Conventions while decreasing the costs of producing the Conventions.
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Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018, were $866,636, as compared to $1,550,737 for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The change is attributable to a decrease in staffing and a correlating decrease in employee compensation, general and administrative expenses and consulting expenses. The $467,895 decrease in compensation is primarily attributable to a decline in both headcount and officer compensation. General and administrative expenses decreased by $126,154 from the prior year comparative period primarily due to a decrease in service fees and web development.
Loss from Operations
Loss from operations for the three months ended June 30, 2018, was ($244,271) as compared to a loss from operations of ($1,895,878) for the three months ended June 30, 2017. The positive variance was primarily attributable to the introduction of strategies by our management which increased gross revenue while containing Convention production costs in addition to our cost containment strategy concerning corporate overhead. We have addressed both issues. Additionally, we have augmented our marketing activities to increase attendance at its conventions. During the fourth quarter of 2017 the Company dramatically reduced its corporate overhead expenses, reducing the projected Corporate Operating budget in 2018 to $2,700,000 compared with $4,900,000 in 2017. This reduction combined with the operating efficiency in producing the Conventions is materially improving the operating results in 2018.
Other Expenses
Other expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $261,001, as compared to $92,776 for the three months ended June 30, 2017. In each case, the expense was interest expense related to the convertible note and corresponding debt discount.
Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholder
Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended June 30, 2018, was ($505,272) or loss per basic and diluted share of ($0.01), compared to a net loss of ($1,988,504) or loss per basic and diluted share of ($0.03) for the three months ended June 30, 2017.
Inflation did not have a material impact on our operations for the applicable period. Other than the foregoing, management knows of no trends, demands, or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our results of operations.
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Compared to the Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Summary of Statements of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||
| June 30, 2018 | June 30, 2017 | |||||||
| Convention revenue | $ | 9,103,033 | $ | 8,384,041 | ||||
| ConBox revenue | $ | - | $ | 84,580 | ||||
| Gross margin | $ | 1,727,197 | $ | 36,605 | ||||
| Operating expenses | $ | (1,688,192 | ) | $ | (3,214,561 | ) | ||
| Income (loss) from operations | $ | 39,005 | $ | (3,177,956 | ) | |||
| Other expenses | $ | (429,894 | ) | $ | (177,459 | ) | ||
| Net loss attributable to common shareholder | $ | (390,889 | ) | $ | (3,354,772 | ) | ||
| Loss per common share – basic and diluted | $ | (0.01 | ) | $ | (0.05 | ) | ||
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Convention Revenue
Convention revenue was $9,103,033 for the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $8,384,041 for the comparable period ended June 30, 2017, an increase of $718,992. As mentioned earlier, the increase in convention revenue is primarily attributable to enhanced marketing techniques and the qualitative enhancement of the Conventions. We ran seven events during the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to eight events during the comparable six months ended June 30, 2017. Average revenue generated per event in 2018 was $1,300,433 as compared to $1,048,005 during 2017.
ConBox Revenue
ConBox revenue was $0 for the six months ended June 30, 2018, as compared to $84,580 for the comparable six months ended June 30, 2017, a decrease of $84,580. We ceased ConBox operations due to its ongoing costs in 2017 resulting in the decrease.
Gross Profit
Gross profit percentage for the convention segment increased from a negative gross profit percentage of (1%) during the six months ended June 30, 2017, to a positive gross profit of 19% during the six months ended June 30, 2018. As was the case for the three month period ended June 30, 2018, the gross profit percentage increase was attributable to enhanced marketing and show production techniques which allowed us to generate more revenue at the Conventions while decreasing the costs of producing the Conventions.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018, were $1,688,192, as compared to $3,214,561 for the six months ended June 30, 2017. As mentioned earlier, the change is attributable to a decrease in staffing and a correlating decrease in employee compensation, general and administrative expenses and consulting expenses. The $1,015,940 decrease in compensation is primarily attributable to a decline in both headcount and officer compensation. General and administrative expenses decreased by $407,210 from the prior year comparative period primarily due to a decrease in service fees and web development.
Income (Loss) from Operations
Income from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2018, was $39,005 as compared to a loss from operations of ($3,177,956) for the six months ended June 30, 2017. As with the three month period ended June 30, 2018, positive variance was primarily attributable to the introduction of strategies by Management which increased gross revenue while containing Convention production costs in addition to our cost containment strategy concerning corporate overhead.
Other Expenses
Other expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $429,894, as compared to $177,459 for the six months ended June 30, 2017. Other than a loss on the disposal of equipment in the amount of $785 during the six months ended June 30, 2017, all expense for both periods was interest expense.
Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholders
Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the six months ended June 30, 2018, was ($390,889) or loss per basic and diluted share of ($0.01), compared to a net loss of ($3,354,772) or loss per basic and diluted share of ($0.05), for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Inflation did not have a material impact on our operations for the applicable period. Other than the foregoing, management knows of no trends, demands, or uncertainties that are reasonably likely to have a material impact on our results of operations.
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Year Ended December 31, 2017 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 2016
Summary of Statements of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016:
| Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||
| Statement of operations data: | 2017 | 2016 | ||||||
| Convention revenue | $ | 14,983,033 | $ | 21,994,433 | ||||
| ConBox revenue | $ | 84,580 | 707,101 | |||||
| Gross profit | $ | 9,316 | $ | 6,534,543 | ||||
| Operating expenses | $ | (5,346,924 | ) | $ | (7,716,789 | ) | ||
| Loss from operations | $ | (5,337,608 | ) | $ | (1,182,246 | ) | ||
| Other expenses | $ | (395,887 | ) | $ | (325,857 | ) | ||
| Net loss attributable to common shareholder | $ | (5,733,495 | ) | $ | (1,508,103 | ) | ||
| Loss per common share – basic and diluted (1) | $ | (0.08 | ) | $ | (0.03 | ) | ||
| (1) | Reflects the 1-for-[__] reverse stock split of our common stock that occurred on [__], 2018. |
Prior to 2018, the Company maintained operating segments: Conventions and Conbox. The Company ceased Conbox operations in 2017, which is the principal reason for the decrease in ConBox operating results compared to 2016.
Convention Revenue
Convention revenue was $14,983,033 for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $21,994,433 for the comparable period ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $7,011,400. The decrease in convention revenue was primarily attributable to staging fewer shows than the prior year. We ran fourteen events during the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to sixteen events during the comparable year ended December 31, 2016. Average revenue generated per event in 2017 was $1,070,217 as compared to $1,374,652 during 2016.
ConBox Revenue
ConBox revenue was $84,580 for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $707,101 for the comparable year ended December 31, 2016, a decrease of $622,521. We ceased the sale of merchandise under the ConBox brand name in 2017, which resulted in the decrease in ConBox revenue.
Gross Profit
Gross profit percentage for the convention segment decreased from a gross profit of 31% during the year ended December 31, 2016, to a gross profit of 0.1% during the year ended December 31, 2017. We produced fourteen events during the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to sixteen events during the comparable year ended December 31, 2016. The gross profit percentage decrease was attributable to decreased revenue at each show coupled with high production costs.
Gross profit percentage for the ConBox segment increased from a negative gross profit percentage of 46% during the year ended December 31, 2016, to a gross profit of 5% during the year ended December 31, 2017. The gross profit percentage increase was attributable to an overall decrease in fulfillment costs. We ceased the sale of merchandise under the ConBox brand name in 2017.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017, was $5,346,924, as compared to $ 7,716,789 for the year ended December 31, 2016. The change was attributable to a decrease in employee compensation and general and administrative expenses offset by a slight increase in consulting expenses. The $1,450,062 decrease in compensation was primarily attributable to a decline in both headcount and officer compensation. General and administrative expenses decreased by $943,383 since the prior year comparative period due to a decrease in service fees, travel and web development.
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Loss from Operations
Loss from operations for the year ended December 31, 2017, was $5,337,608 as compared to a loss from operations of $1,182,246 for the year ended December 31, 2016. The loss was primarily attributable to issues related to production costs and corporate overhead that could not be sustained. We have addressed both issues. In particular, during the fourth quarter of 2017, we dramatically reduced our corporate overhead expenses. Additionally, we have augmented our marketing and talent departments to increase attendance at our conventions.
Other Expenses
Other expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017, was $395,887, as compared to $325,857 for the year ended December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company recorded interest of expense of $395,102 related to the convertible note and corresponding debt discount compared to $26,481 during the year ended December 31, 2016. We recorded a loss of $262,500 during the year ended December 31, 2016 on the CONtv joint venture with Cinedigm compared to a loss of $0 during the year ended December 31, 2017. See Footnote 5 to the Financial Statements included herein for more information. For the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded a loss of $785 and $36,876, respectively, upon the disposal of equipment.
Net Loss Attributable to Common Stockholder
Net loss attributable to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2017, was $5,732,814 or loss per basic and diluted share of $0.08, compared to a net loss of $1,575,361 or loss per basic and diluted share of $0.03, for the year ended December 31, 2016.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table summarizes total current assets, liabilities and working capital at June 30, 2018 compared to December 31, 2017:
| June 30, 2018 | December 31, 2017 | Increase/(Decrease) | ||||||||||
| Current Assets | $ | 2,149,305 | $ | 2,765,278 | $ | (615,973 | ) | |||||
| Current Liabilities | $ | 6,002,600 | $ | 6,306,310 | $ | (303,710 | ) | |||||
| Working Capital (Deficit) | $ | (3,853,295 | ) | $ | (3,541,032 | ) | $ | 312,263 | ||||
At June 30, 2018, we had a working capital deficit of $3,853,295 as compared to working capital deficit of $3,541,032, at December 31, 2017, an increase of $312,263. The change in working capital is primarily attributable to a decrease in cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and prepaid expenses. These changes in current assets were offset by an overall decrease in current liabilities.
The following table summarizes total current assets, liabilities and working capital at December 31, 2017 compared to December 31, 2016:
| December 31, 2017 | December 31, 2016 | Increase/(Decrease) | ||||||||||
| Current Assets | $ | 2,765,278 | $ | 5,599,279 | $ | (2,833,991 | ) | |||||
| Current Liabilities | $ | 6,306,310 | $ | 2,736,953 | $ | 3,569,357 | ||||||
| Working Capital (Deficit) | $ | (3,541,032 | ) | $ | 2,862,326 | $ | (6,403,358 | ) | ||||
At December 31, 2017, we had a working capital deficit of $3,541,032, as compared to working capital of $2,862,326, at December 31, 2016, a decrease of $6,403,358. The change in working capital is primarily attributable to a decrease in cash and cash equivalents, and prepaid expenses and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses, unearned revenue and convertible promissory notes. These were offset in part by an increase in accounts receivable.
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Cash Flows
Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was $303,887 and $1,389,454, respectively. The net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, was ($390,889) and ($3,355,415), respectively.
Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, was $2,533,595 and $2,488,009, respectively. Net cash used in investing activities was $98,072 and $311,140, respectively, for such periods; and net cash provided by financing activities was $0 and $2,476,667for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016. See “ Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions ” for information about our capital raise in 2016.
Going Concern Analysis
The Company had income (loss) from operations of $39,005 and $(3,177,956) for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of June 30, 2018, we had cash and working capital deficit of $1,457,735 and $3,853,295 respectively.
We had a net loss of $5,733,495 and $1,508,103 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, we had cash and a working capital deficit of $1,769,550 and $3,541,032, respectively.
We have evaluated the significance of these conditions in relation to our ability to meet our obligations, which had previously raised doubts about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern through June 2019. However, the Company believes that the effects of its cost savings efforts with regard to corporate overhead and show production expenses, which commenced in 2017, are being made manifest in 2018.
In addition to our cost containment strategies, we have announced three relationships intended to expand our future revenues: (1) an alignment with Sony Pictures Entertainment to explore a number of strategic initiatives; (2) an agreement to program a linear advertising supported channel and an SVOD Channel in China on the CNLive platform; and (3) a programming agreement with ATI to launch the Chinese networks.
Additionally, if necessary, management believes that both related parties (management and members of the Board of Directors) and potential external sources of debt and/or equity financing may be obtained based on management’s history of being able to raise capital from both internal and external sources coupled with current favorable market conditions. Therefore, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern.
The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the matters discussed herein. While we believe in the viability of management’s strategy to generate sufficient revenue, control costs and the ability to raise additional funds if necessary, there can be no assurances to that effect. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the ability to further implement the business plan, generate sufficient revenues and to control operating expenses. However, based on the results of the six months operating results where operating costs decreased by 47% and convention revenue increased by $175,783, management’s strategies on a directional basis appear to be positive and impactful.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2018, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies
We believe that the following accounting policies are the most critical to aid you in fully understanding and evaluating this “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation .”
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Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date(s) of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period(s). Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, varying from 3 to 5 years or, when applicable, the life of the lease, whichever is shorter.
Impairment charges, if any, are included in operating expenses in the accompanying statements of operations.
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes under Section 740-10-30 of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“ FASB ”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ ASC ”). Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are determined based upon differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent management concludes it is more likely than not that the assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the statements of operations in the period that includes the enactment date.
We adopted section 740-10-25 of the FASB ASC. Section 740-10-25 addresses the determination of whether tax benefits claimed or expected to be claimed on a tax return should be recorded in the financial statements. Under Section 740-10-25, we may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent (50%) likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Section 740-10-25 also provides guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties on income taxes, accounting in interim periods and requires increased disclosures.
The estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities are reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, as well as tax credit carry-backs and carryforwards. We periodically review the recoverability of deferred tax assets recorded on our consolidated balance sheets and provides valuation allowances as management deems necessary.
Management makes judgments as to the interpretation of the tax laws that might be challenged upon an audit and cause changes to previous estimates of tax liability. In addition, we operate within multiple taxing jurisdictions and are subject to audit in these jurisdictions. In management’s opinion, adequate provisions for income taxes have been made for all years. If actual taxable income by tax jurisdiction varies from estimates, additional allowances or reversals of reserves may be necessary.
Revenue Recognition
We follow paragraph 605-10-S99-1 of the FASB ASC for revenue recognition. We will recognize revenue when it is realized or realizable and earned. We consider revenue realized or realizable and earned when all of the following criteria are met: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) the product has been shipped or the services have been rendered to the customer, (iii) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.
Unearned convention revenue is deposits received for conventions that have not yet taken place, which are fully or partially refundable depending upon the terms and conditions of the agreements.
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Unearned ConBox revenue is non-refundable up-front payments for products. These payments are initially deferred and subsequently recognized over the subscription period, typically three months, and upon shipment of the product. We ceased the sale of merchandise under the ConBox brand name in 2017.
We recognize cost of revenues in the period in which the revenues was earned. In the event we incur cost of revenues for conventions that are yet to occur, we record such amounts as prepaid expenses and such prepaid expenses are expensed during the period the convention takes place.
Equity–Based Compensation
We recognize compensation expense for all equity–based payments in accordance with ASC 718 “ Compensation – Stock Compensation ”. Under fair value recognition provisions, we recognize equity–based compensation net of an estimated forfeiture rate and recognizes compensation cost only for those shares expected to vest over the requisite service period of the award.
Restricted stock awards are granted at our discretion. These awards are restricted as to the transfer of ownership and generally vest over the requisite service periods, typically over a four-year period (vesting on a straight–line basis). The fair value of a stock award is equal to the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the grant date.
The fair value of option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black–Scholes option valuation model. The Black–Scholes option valuation model requires the development of assumptions that are input into the model. These assumptions are the expected stock volatility, the risk–free interest rate, the expected life of the option, the dividend yield on the underlying stock and the expected forfeiture rate. Expected volatility is calculated based on the historical volatility of our common stock over the expected option life and other appropriate factors. Risk–free interest rates are calculated based on continuously compounded risk–free rates for the appropriate term. The dividend yield is assumed to be zero as we have never paid or declared any cash dividends on our common stock and does not intend to pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. The expected forfeiture rate is estimated based on historical experience.
Determining the appropriate fair value model and calculating the fair value of equity–based payment awards requires the input of the subjective assumptions described above. The assumptions used in calculating the fair value of equity–based payment awards represent management’s best estimates, which involve inherent uncertainties and the application of management’s judgment. As a result, if factors change and we use different assumptions, our equity–based compensation could be materially different in the future. In addition, we are required to estimate the expected forfeiture rate and recognize expense only for those shares expected to vest. If our actual forfeiture rate is materially different from our estimate, the equity–based compensation could be significantly different from what we recorded in the current period.
We account for share–based payments granted to non–employees in accordance with ASC 505-40, “ Equity Based Payments to Non–Employees ”. We determine the fair value of the stock–based payment as either the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measurable. If the fair value of the equity instruments issued is used, it is measured using the stock price and other measurement assumptions as of the earlier of either (1) the date at which a commitment for performance by the counterparty to earn the equity instruments is reached, or (2) the date at which the counterparty’s performance is complete. The fair value of the equity instruments is re-measured each reporting period over the requisite service period.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
We follow paragraph 825-10-50-10 of the FASB ASC for disclosures about fair value of our financial instruments and paragraph 820-10-35-37 of the FASB ASC to measure the fair value of our financial instruments. Paragraph 820-10-35-37 establishes a framework for measuring fair value in GAAP and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. To increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures, paragraph 820-10-35-37 establishes a fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three (3) broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The three (3) levels of fair value hierarchy defined by paragraph 820-10-35-37 are described below:
Level 1 – Quoted market prices available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date;
Level 2 – Pricing inputs other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date; and
Level 3 – Pricing inputs that are generally observable inputs and not corroborated by market data.
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Financial assets are considered Level 3 when their fair values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques and at least one significant model assumption or input is unobservable.
The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. If the inputs used to measure the financial assets and liabilities fall within more than one level described above, the categorization is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement of the instrument.
The carrying amount of our assets and liabilities, such as cash, accounts receivable, inventory, prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and unearned revenue approximate their fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2015, the FASB issued the Accounting Standards Update (“ ASU ”) No. 2015-11 “ Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory ”. The amendments in this ASU do not apply to inventory that is measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. The amendments apply to all other inventory, which includes inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost. An entity should measure inventory within the scope of this ASU at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method. For public business entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted the standard during the year ended December 31, 2017 and the adoption did not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “ Leases (Topic 842) ”. Under ASU 2016-02, lessees will be required to recognize, for all leases of 12 months or more, a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. Additionally, the guidance requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature of an entity’s leasing activities. This ASU is effective for public reporting companies for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted, and must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. We are in the process of evaluating the effect of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, “ Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (Topic 606) ”. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross verses Net) (Topic 606)”. These amendments provide additional clarification and implementation guidance on the previously issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. The amendments in ASU 2016-10 provide clarifying guidance on materiality of performance obligations; evaluating distinct performance obligations; treatment of shipping and handling costs; and determining whether an entity’s promise to grant a license provides a customer with either a right to use an entity’s intellectual property or a right to access an entity’s intellectual property. The amendments in ASU 2016-08 clarify how an entity should identify the specified good or service for the principal versus agent evaluation and how it should apply the control principle to certain types of arrangements. The adoption of ASU 2016-10 and ASU 2016-08 is to coincide with an entity’s adoption of ASU 2014-09, which we intend to adopt for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted the standard during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and the adoption did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
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In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “ Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) ”. The FASB issued this update to improve the accounting for employee share-based payments and affect all organizations that issue share-based payment awards to their employees. Several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions are simplified, including: (a) income tax consequences; (b) classification of awards as either equity or liabilities; and (c) classification on the statement of cash flows. The updated guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the update is permitted. We adopted the standard during the year ended December 31, 2017 and the adoption did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, “ Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients ”, which narrowly amended the revenue recognition guidance regarding collectability, noncash consideration, presentation of sales tax and transition and is effective during the same period as ASU 2014-09. We are currently evaluating the standard and do not expect the adoption will have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, “ Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments ”. ASU 2016-15 will make eight targeted changes to how cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The new standard will require adoption on a retrospective basis unless it is impracticable to apply, in which case it would be required to apply the amendments prospectively as of the earliest date practicable. We adopted the standard during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and the adoption did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “ Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory ”, which eliminates the exception that prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income tax effects for intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The updated guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the update is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new standard.
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, “ Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) ”, requiring that the statement of cash flows explain the change in the total cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim reporting periods therein, beginning after December 15, 2017 with early adoption permitted. The provisions of this guidance are to be applied using a retrospective approach which requires application of the guidance for all periods presented. We adopted the standard during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and the adoption did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “ Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting ”, which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. This standard is required to be adopted in the first quarter of 2018. We adopted the standard during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and the adoption did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In July 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-11, “ Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480) and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): I. Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features; II. Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception ”. Part I of this update addresses the complexity of accounting for certain financial instruments with down round features. Down round features are features of certain equity-linked instruments (or embedded features) that result in the strike price being reduced on the basis of the pricing of future equity offerings. Current accounting guidance creates cost and complexity for entities that issue financial instruments (such as warrants and convertible instruments) with down round features that require fair value measurement of the entire instrument or conversion option. Part II of this update addresses the difficulty of navigating Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, because of the existence of extensive pending content in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. This pending content is the result of the indefinite deferral of accounting requirements about mandatorily redeemable financial instruments of certain nonpublic entities and certain mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests. The amendments in Part II of this update do not have an accounting effect. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. We early adopted the ASU 2017-11 in the three months ending December 31, 2017.
Management made the decision to early adopt ASU 2017-11, which required retrospective adjustment causing the 2016 audited financial statements to be restated. See Footnote 3 to the Financial Statements. The comparative financial information disclosed in the Form 10-K including the audited 2016 financial statements represent the restated amounts. The comparative financial information disclosed in the June 30, 2018 Form 10-Q including the unaudited financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2017 represent the restated amounts.
In September 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-13, “ Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842) ”. The new standard, among other things, provides additional implementation guidance with respect to Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606 and ASC Topic 842. ASU 2017-03 is effective for annual and interim fiscal reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new standard but do not expect it to have a material impact on our implementation strategies or our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.
Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective accounting pronouncements, if adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements.
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Our Company
We are a producer of “pop culture” live multimedia conventions across the United States. These live multimedia conventions provide a social networking and entertainment venue for enthusiasts of movies, TV shows, video games, technology, toys, social networking/gaming, comic books, and graphic novels. We intend to increase our presence in the digital space, through the creation and distribution of high-quality and compelling content.
Our objective is to create expanded and qualitatively enhanced offerings and initiatives to become a dominant voice for pop culture enthusiasts across multiple media platforms. Key elements of our strategy include:
| ● | producing and distributing high-quality Comic Conventions across the United States and internationally to entertain fans and to allow for promotion of consumer products and entertainment; | |
| ● | producing and distributing high-quality content and leveraging the content created at the Comic Conventions through digital media outlets such as websites, apps, emails, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, among others; and | |
| ● | obtaining sponsorships and promotions from media and entertainment companies for our Comic Conventions, including: |
| o | expanding our relationships with entertainment and media companies; and | |
| o | utilizing our digital assets to create and launch a revised and vibrant e-commerce venture. |
| ● | expand operations to include fixed-site attractions that will be appealing to enthusiasts of pop-culture. |
Comic Conventions
We produce Comic Conventions across the United States that provide a social networking and entertainment venue for enthusiasts of movies, TV shows, video games, technology, virtual reality experiences, toys, social networking, gaming, comic books, and graphic novels. Our Comic Conventions provide an opportunity for companies in the entertainment, toy, gaming, publishing and retail business to carry out sales, marketing, product promotion, public relations, advertising, and sponsorship efforts.
We have been producing Comic Conventions since July 1997. In 2017, we held 14 Comic Conventions in the following cities:
| ● Austin, TX | ● Des Moines, IA | ● New Orleans, LA | ● Sacramento, CA |
| ● Chicago, IL | ● Madison, WI | ● Oklahoma City, OK | ● St Louis, MO |
| ● Cleveland, OH | ● Minneapolis, MN | ● Philadelphia, PA | |
| ● Columbus, OH | ● Nashville, TN | ● Portland, OR |
Our target audience includes men and women primarily in the 18 to 34 year-old demographic, together with families of all ages who are fans of various types of entertainment and media, including movies, music, toys, video games, consumer electronics, computers, and lifestyle products (e.g. clothes, footwear, digital devices, and mobile phones). Within the last year, we have added new attractions at our events, including live music, anime, and programming for children. We continuously review our existing operations and procedures relating to our Comic Conventions in order to ensure that we produce the best possible fan experience at our Comic Conventions, while seeking to maximize revenue and contain costs. At the same time, we have taken significant steps to maximize revenue and contain costs.
We receive revenue from Comic Conventions primarily from three sources: (i) consumer admissions; (ii) exhibitor booth sales; and (iii) national and/or regional sponsorships. Comic Conventions vary in cost to produce depending on the size and scope of the convention.
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Digital Media
We produce content for a number of digital media platforms, including our recently updated website, emails, newsletters, and Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram accounts, to create awareness of our Comic Conventions and provide updates to our fans and consumers. We also use our website to provide the latest Wizard Entertainment news and information. While we derive little or no direct revenue from these properties, they have the indirect benefit of supporting sales relating to our Comic Conventions, as well as helping us secure additional sought after and high profile talent. This helps us obtain additional admissions, booth sales and sponsorships for our Comic Conventions. We intend to increase our presence in the digital space, through the creation and distribution of high-quality and compelling content.
Sponsorships and Advertising
We sell sponsorship and advertising opportunities to businesses seeking to reach our core target audience of active entertainment consumers.
Sponsorships and Promotions
We provide sponsorship opportunities that allow advertisers a wide range of promotional vehicles on-site and through our public relations efforts. For example, we offer advertisers the ability to: (i) display signage at our Comic Conventions, (ii) include their desired logos on all direct mail that is sent in connection with one or more Comic Conventions, (iii) be included in press releases to the media, (iv) obtain sponsor tags on the radio spots or in the print or online ads where we advertise, and (v) obtain advertising space in our digital media. We also provide the opportunity for advertisers to sponsor events at the Comic Conventions, such as costume contests or gaming tournaments and the ability to brand “step-and-repeats” for photo opportunities, meet and greets with celebrities, VIP packages, and “goody” bag giveaways. Sponsors pay a fee based upon the position of their advertising media and the exposure it will receive. We are able to increase our revenue by utilizing a strategic floor layout that maximizes the amount of highly profitable booth, advertising, and sponsorship opportunities. We are actively engaged in enhancing our capabilities to facilitate sponsorship opportunities.
Marketing
Our Comic Conventions are marketed through a variety of media outlets, including social media, websites, public relations, television, radio, out-of-home, email, “street-teams”, flyers, and postcards. Our Comic Conventions usually obtain publicity through coverage of the events at our Comic Conventions by local television stations, radio stations, newspapers, national press, fan websites, blogs, and social network channels such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. We often do not pay for the publicity. For example, we typically invite local television stations to our Comic Conventions so that they can interview the celebrities featured at our Comic Conventions, providing our Comic Conventions with incidental publicity. In addition, we often arrange for celebrities to call into local radio stations. As a result, we receive on-air promotion of our events and the radio station reaches a larger audience who want to tune in to hear our celebrities. We also receive on-air promotion by exchanging air time for admission giveaways to our Comic Conventions.
Competitive Strengths
In the live, regionally-based consumer conventions market, competitive strength is measured by the location and size of the region or city, the frequency of live events per year, the guest and VIP list (e.g. celebrities and artists), the number of paying attendees, the physical size of the convention, the extent of the public relations outreach (through traditional media, digital media and social media), and the quantity and quality of programming, live entertainment, exhibitors and dealers. We believe that we have a strong, if not unique, competitive position because our Comic Conventions take place in major cities across the United States throughout the year. Our numerous annual Comic Conventions enable us to market our events throughout the entire year, create high-quality content that can be distributed through our digital media outlets, and market nationally as well as regionally. Our multiple locations also allow us to work with more celebrities, artists and writers and host them in numerous cities. Additionally, we are focused on the strategy of developing innovative and competitive revenue models which modulate the manner in which tickets are sold to our events.
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There are a number of Comic Convention providers that produce events across the country; however, we produce more Comic Conventions in the United States annually than any other organization.
We also believe that our Comic Conventions are well known and well respected in the Comic Convention and pop culture industry. We have a reputation among fans, exhibitors, and celebrities for producing high-quality and well-attended conventions.
Growth Strategy
We plan to pursue expansion by converting the Company from a live-event business into a live event-/media company adding content development and other activities to our existing operations.
We plan to organically develop new Comic Conventions. We also seek to increase revenues of our existing Comic Conventions through improving the fan experience by providing entertainment, programming, exhibitors, celebrities, panels, gaming tournaments, and opportunities for VIP experiences that will be appealing to core base of fans. We aim to leverage our existing resources and exposure, both online and at Comic Conventions, to generate revenue through new, co-located complimentary business opportunities.
We intend to increase revenue through increasing corporate sponsorships with experienced marketers by offering these advertisers a wide range of promotional vehicles, both on-site and through our digital media and online offerings. We believe that we will be able to further enhance our relationships with our existing dealers, exhibitors, celebrities, and VIPs while, at the same time, developing new relationships with national and specialty brand marketers looking to connect with our growing audiences. Additionally, we are seeking opportunities to expand our operations outside of the United States, especially in Asia and the Middle East.
In addition to our core live event comic convention business, we are actively entering the media space by: (i) developing intellectual property with Sony, (ii) programming two televisions networks in China, (iii) developing location-based entertainment opportunities, (iv) exploring pop-up retail and merchandising opportunities, (v) producing and distributing pop culture-related content under our “WizPop” brand, and (vi) expanding into alternative affinity-based attractions which will co-locate with the core comic conventions.
To help facilitate our growth, we have recently restructured our internal operations. We have also revamped our production methods allowing us to produce Comic Conventions at a cost that is materially lower than the production cost that we had been spending. Additionally, we have been successful in materially containing costs associated with corporate overhead. We believe these measures will assist us in achieving our growth strategies.
Intellectual Property
We have a portfolio of trademarks and service marks and maintain a catalog of copyrighted works. Such marks include “Wizard World”, “Where Pop FI Comes to Life”, “Wizard World Girls”, and “WizPop”. Our trademarks, if not renewed, are scheduled to expire between 2021 and 2029.
Employees
We currently have 18 full-time equivalent employees. Additionally, we engage two consultants providing us with greater competence in our core operating areas.
Regulation
Typically, we do not have to obtain permits to operate the Comic Conventions. The convention centers that host our Comic Conventions obtain any required permits and cover fire safety and occupancy matters as part of our rental agreement. Crowd control varies by location and is either provided by the convention center’s personnel or by a third-party security service recommended by the convention center. The convention centers do, however, require liability insurance, which we have obtained and maintained.
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Legal Proceedings
A complaint for breach of contract and various disability discrimination claims was filed by our former Chief Operating Officer, Randy Malinoff, after we terminated him for cause. We believe that the matter, which is set for trial in 2019, is without merit. We currently intend to proceed to trial on this matter.
Additionally we have filed suit against a former vendor alleging a number of claims on behalf of the Company with regard to convention decorator services that were provided to the Company.
With the exception of the foregoing dispute, we are not involved in any disputes and do not have any litigation matters pending that we believe could have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Recent Developments
On December 1, 2016, we sold convertible notes (the “ Notes ”) to Bristol Investment Fund, Ltd. (“ Bristol ”), an entity controlled by our Executive Chairman, pursuant to a securities purchase agreement (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) for a cash purchase price of $2,500,000. Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, the Notes will be exchanged (the “ Exchange ”) for our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “ Preferred Stock ”), which will be convertible into common stock, contain certain protective provisions, and have an initial aggregate liquidation value of approximately $2.9 million, representing the outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest on the Notes. After giving effect to this offering and the exchange of Notes for Preferred Stock, Bristol and its affiliates will have the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of our directors and the approval or rejection of any change in control transaction. In connection with the Exchange, we entered into an agreement with Bristol to provide certain rights previously granted to Bristol pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, including that the consent of the holders of a majority of the Preferred Stock will be required for the incurrence of certain liens on the Company’s assets. In addition, upon Bristol’s request, we will register the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock or shares issued in payment of any dividend on the Preferred Stock on a Registration Statement on Form S-3, once eligible to utilize such form. Following the consummation of this offering, we expect to be a “controlled company” for the purposes of the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. For a discussion of our relationship with Bristol and more details on Bristol’s ownership interest, see “ Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions ”, “ Description of Capital Stock ”, and “ Risk Factors—Risks Relating to this Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock—The ownership by our Executive Chairman of our common stock will likely limit your ability to influence corporate matters ”.
During 2016, we underwent significant senior management restructuring. The restructuring included the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, who entered into such role with experience at major movie studios and television networks. We also appointed an Executive Chairman. Focused on reforming our operations and key operating controls, the new management team has worked extensively to position us to successfully grow by, among other things, implementing newly constituted internal accounting, marketing, and talent departments.
On October 24, 2017, we announced alignment with CNLive to distribute advertising-supported linear programming and subscription video on-demand (“ SVOD ”) streamed content to mobile devices in China. The alignment with CNLive, one of only seven entities licensed to distribute content over the internet in China, provides us with a multi-year right and license to program a 24/7, linear and SVOD services across all of mainland China, including Macao and Hong Kong.
On February 12, 2018, we announced the formation of a working relationship with Sony Pictures Entertainment (“ Sony ”). As part of the relationship, we will work with Sony to jointly discover top artistic talent with the aim of incubating the next generation of movies, television, and digital media. We also plan to explore other strategic initiatives with Sony in areas such as immersive entertainment, location-based entertainment, programming and live events.
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On February 27, 2018, we announced an agreement with Associated Television International (“ ATI ”), an Emmy-winning, worldwide full-service production and distribution company. ATI will distribute a daily, four-hour wheel of programming under the “WizPop” brand, to be streamed live in China via the CNLive platform.
On [__], 2018, we effected a 1-for-[__] reverse stock split on our common stock. Share amounts set forth herein reflect the split.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated as GoEnergy, Inc. in Delaware in 2001, renamed as Wizard World, Inc. in December 2010, and renamed as Wizard Entertainment, Inc. in September 2018. Our executive offices, which we sublease from BAC, are located at 662 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, California 90049, and our telephone number is (310) 648-8410.
We maintain a website at www.wizardworld.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of, and should not be considered as being incorporated by reference into, this prospectus.
For certain historical information about us, see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and have elected to take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosure available for smaller reporting companies.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, are available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Commission. The Commission maintains an internet site that contains our public filings with the Commission and other information regarding our company, at www.sec.gov. These reports and other information concerning our company may also be accessed at the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.
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Governance Matters
Attendance at Board, Committee and Annual Stockholders’ Meetings
The Board held one formal meeting, and acted by unanimous written consent one time in 2017. No committee of the Board met separately during 2017. We expect each director to attend every meeting of the Board and the committees on which the director serves. In 2017, all directors then serving attended the meetings and signed the consent of the Board. Although we have no formal policy, we encourage each of the directors to attend the annual meeting of stockholders.
Director Independence
In general, the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules require that a majority of a listed company’s directors be independent and that a compensation committee and nominating committee of the board of directors composed solely of independent directors be established. However, these standards are not applicable to any company where more than 50% of the voting power is held by one individual or group. Mr. Kessler, our Executive Chairman, currently controls 71% of the total voting power of our common stock, and is expected to control [__]% (or approximately [__]% if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full) of the total voting power of our stock after the completion of this offering. Accordingly, we are a “controlled company” and are exempt from those rules. We do not intend to take advantage of these exemptions.
Additionally, we will be subject to Nasdaq Stock Market Rules requiring that the Audit Committee (i) be composed solely of independent directors; (ii) be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm, which must report directly to the audit committee; (iii) establish procedures to receive, retain, and treat complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters, and for employees’ confidential, anonymous submissions of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters; (iv) have the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisors when the committee determines such outside advice is necessary; and (v) be adequately funded by us. Prior to completion of this offering, our Audit Committee will be in compliance with these standards.
The Nasdaq Stock Market Rules listing standards have both objective tests and a subjective test for determining who is an “independent director” of each listed company. The objective tests state, among other things, that a director is not considered independent if he or she is an employee of ours or is a partner in or executive officer of an entity to which we made, or received, payments in the current or any of the past three fiscal years that exceed 5% of the recipient’s consolidated gross revenue for that year, or $200,000, whichever is greater. The subjective test states that an independent director must be a person who lacks a relationship that, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. As of August 31, 2018, Greg Suess, Jordan Schur, and Michael Breen qualify as “independent” in accordance with the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules.
Corporate Code of Ethics
The Board is committed to legal and ethical conduct in fulfilling its responsibilities. Our Board expects all directors, as well as officers and employees, to act ethically at all times. All directors, officers, and employees must adhere to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. We have implemented a Whistleblower Policy and provide multiple ways in which perceived unethical conduct can be anonymously reported. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the Whistleblower Policy are posted on Internet website under the “ Investor Relations—Corporate Governance ” tab.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Our Board recommends that stockholders initiate any communication with the Board in writing and send it to the attention of our Corporate Secretary by mail to: Board of Directors, Wizard Entertainment, Inc., 662 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, California 90049, or by e-mail to jdmaatta@wizardworld.com. This process will assist the Board in reviewing and responding to stockholder communications in an appropriate manner. Our Board has instructed our Corporate Secretary to review such correspondence and, in his discretion, not to forward items if he deems them to be of a commercial or frivolous nature or otherwise inappropriate for our Board’s consideration.
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Committees of the Board of Directors
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee assists our Board in its general oversight of our financial reporting, internal controls, and audit functions, and is responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation, and oversight of the work of our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is also responsible for reviewing and approving related party transactions, discussing risk management with management, and maintaining and enforcing our Code of Ethics.
The Audit Committee’s job is one of oversight. Management is responsible for our financial reporting process including its system of internal control, and for the preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”). Our independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing our financial statements. It is the Audit Committee’s responsibility to monitor and review these processes. It is not the Audit Committee’s duty or responsibility to conduct auditing or accounting reviews. Therefore, the Audit Committee has relied on management’s representation that the financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with U.S. GAAP and on the representations of the independent registered public accounting firm included in their report on our consolidated financial statements.
The members of the Audit Committee are Michael Breen (chair), Gregory Suess and Jordan Schur, all of whom are independent under the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules. The Board has determined that Michael Breen also meets the Commission’s qualifications to be an “audit committee financial expert”. Under the rules promulgated by the Commission, the designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than the duties, obligations and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the Audit Committee and the Board in the absence of such designation or identification. The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are financially literate and experienced in business matters and are capable of (1) understanding U.S. GAAP and financial statements, (2) assessing the general application of GAAP principles in connection with our accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves, (3) analyzing and evaluating our financial statements, (4) understanding our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, and (5) understanding audit committee functions.
The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by our Board. A copy of the Audit Committee’s charter is available on our website under the “ Investor Relations—Corporate Governance ” tab.
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee has authority for reviewing and determining salaries, performance-based incentives, and other matters related to the compensation of our executive officers, and administering our stock option plans, including reviewing, amending, and granting stock options to our executive officers and key employees.
The members of the Compensation Committee are Gregory Suess (chair), Michael Breen and Jordan Schur, each of whom are independent. Although we expect to be a “controlled company”, as of the close of this offering within the meaning of Nasdaq corporate governance standards, and do not need to comply with the independence requirements regarding compensation committees, we plan to do so.
The Compensation Committee operates under a formal charter that governs its duties and standards of performance. A copy of the Compensation Committee’s charter is available on our website under the “ Investor Relations—Corporate Governance ” tab.
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
The primary responsibilities of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “ Governance Committee ”) are to identify individuals qualified to become members of the Board, select or recommend director nominees for each election of directors, develop and recommend to the Board criteria for selecting qualified director candidates, and provide oversight in the evaluation of the Board and each committee.
The members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are [•] (chair), [•] and [•], each of whom are independent. Although we expect to be a “controlled company”, as of the close of this offering within the meaning of Nasdaq corporate governance standards, and do not need to comply with the independence requirements regarding compensation committees, we plan to do so.
The Governance Committee is responsible for reviewing with the Board, from time to time, the appropriate skills and characteristics required of Board members in the context of the current makeup of the Board. This assessment includes understanding of and experience in business, consulting and solution companies and finance experience. The Governance Committee reviews these factors, among others, in the context of an assessment of the perceived needs of the Board at a particular point in time. As a result, the priorities and emphasis of the Nominations Subcommittee and of the Board may change from time to time to take into account changes in business and other trends, and the portfolio of skills and experience of current and prospective Board members.
Consideration of new candidates for our Board typically involves a series of internal discussions, review of information concerning candidates, and interviews with selected candidates. Board members or executive officers typically suggest candidates for nomination to the Governance Committee. If appropriate, the Governance Committee may retain a professional search firm to identify potential director candidates. Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee considers candidates proposed by stockholders and evaluates them using the same criteria as for other candidates. A stockholder seeking to recommend a prospective nominee for the consideration the Governance Committee must do so by giving notice in writing to the Governance Committee at [__]. Any such notice must, for any given annual meeting, be delivered to the Governance Committee not less than 120 days prior to the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. The notice must state (1) the name and address of the stockholder making the recommendations, (2) the name, age, business address, and residential address of each person recommended, (3) the principal occupation or employment of each person recommended, (4) the class and number of shares of our common stock that are beneficially owned by each person recommended and by the recommending stockholder, (5) any other information concerning the persons recommended that must be disclosed in nominee and proxy solicitations in accordance with Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (6) a signed consent of each person recommended stating that he or she consents to serve as a director if elected.
The Nominating and Governance Committee operates under a written charter, a copy of which is available on our website under the “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance” tab.
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Directors and Executive Officers
Our Board of Directors and Executive Officers
John D. Maatta, age 66, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
John D. Maatta has been a member of our Board since May 25, 2011, serving as Chairman of the Board from February 5, 2016 through April 22, 2016. Mr. Maatta has served as our Chief Executive Officer and President since May 3, 2016. Prior to joining us, Mr. Maatta was engaged in the practice of law from October 2014 to January 2016. Mr. Maatta also served as Executive Vice President of The CW Television Network from January 2006 to October 2014, prior to which he was the Chief Operating Officer of The CW Network, which is America’s fifth broadcast network and a network that focuses substantially on targeting young adults between the ages of 18 and 34. From September 2005 through September 2006, Mr. Maatta served as the Chief Operating Officer of The WB, a Warner Bros. television network (“ The WB ”), where he had direct oversight of all business and operations departments, such as business affairs, finance, network distribution (which included The WB 100+ station group), technology, legal, research, network operations, broadcast standards and human resources. While Chief Operating Officer at The WB, Mr. Maatta also served as The WB’s General Counsel. Mr. Maatta is currently a director of Trader Vic’s, Inc., a Polynesian-style restaurant chain, a position he has held since 1998. Mr. Maatta received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of San Francisco in 1974, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in 1977. Between 2013 and 2016 Mr. Maatta served as the President of UNICEF for the Southern California region, and is a current member of the UNICEF Southern California Board and the Chairman of the UNICEF Chinese Children’s Initiative. Mr. Maatta is also a member of the Southern California Board of the Asia Society.
The Board believes that Mr. Maatta is qualified to serve as a director as a result of his knowledge of the Company and its industry and extensive leadership experience.
Paul L. Kessler, age 57, Executive Chairman
Paul L. Kessler was appointed as Executive Chairman of the Company on December 29, 2016. Mr. Kessler is Principal, Portfolio Manager and Founder of Bristol Capital Advisors, LLC. His investments have focused on emerging growth public companies, private equity, venture capital, and private companies on the path to becoming public. Mr. Kessler has guided and overseen hundreds investment transactions in his career, as lead, co-lead, or syndicate investor.
Mr. Kessler has broad experience in financing private and public emerging growth companies as well as negotiating, structuring and re-structuring investment transactions. Mr. Kessler has worked on numerous mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, venture capital, private equity, re-structuring and other capital market activities. He has actively worked with executives and boards of companies on corporate governance, capital formation, and oversight, strategic repositioning and alignment of interests with shareholders.
Mr. Kessler co-founded Start Engine, LLC, incubating or starting over 60 technology companies while evolving into its current status as a leading US-based Crowd Funding platform. He is a lead investor and Advisor to ‘Act One Ventures’ a UCLA/LA based accelerator and founding Advisor to MedTech Innovator, a leading US based medical technology accelerator.
Mr. Kessler has been a guest speaker on tops including financing emerging growth public companies and at a variety of forums, including Activist Investing in Europe, The Deal Corporate Governance Conference, The Pipe’s Conference, Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA), Wall Street Reporter’s Pipe Conference, UCLA Anderson School of Management, and Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business and Management. He has attended courses at various colleges and universities, including Harvard Business School’s Executive Education Program, Stanford Business School’s Executive Directors Consortium, and UCLA’s Extension Program.
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The Board believes that Mr. Kessler is qualified to serve as a director as a result of his extensive experience in finance, sourcing and identifying investment opportunities, and negotiating, structuring and re-structuring investment transactions with emerging growth companies both private and public companies.
Greg Suess, age 46, Director
Greg Suess has served as a director of our Company since May 9, 2011. In 2018, he co-founded Activist Artists Management (“Activist”), a management and consulting company that focuses on media and entertainment and provides comprehensive management services for its clients, including talent and brand management, managing partnerships, strategic alliances and marketing strategies that engage consumers through entertainment, music and lifestyle experiences. Mr. Suess is, and has been since inception, a partner at Activist. Since 1997, Mr. Suess has been with the law firm of Glaser, Weil, Fink, Howard, Avchen & Shapiro, LLP, where he is currently Partner and focuses on general corporate law and media and entertainment. Mr. Suess holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California (Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies), and holds a JD/MBA from Pepperdine University. He is a member of the State Bar of California.
The Board believes that Mr. Suess is qualified to serve as a director as a result of his extensive experience and background in the media and entertainment industry complements the Company’s events business and its new initiatives and will provide a significant contribution to the Company’s growth.
Michael Breen, age 55, Director
Michael Breen has been a director of our Company since March 2017. Mr. Breen is an English qualified solicitor and was the Managing Director of the Sports and Entertainment Division of Bank Insinger de Beaufort N.V., a wealth management organization and part of the BNP Paribas Group, one of the world’s largest banks. Mr. Breen was an equity partner with the law firm Clyde & Co, where he specialized in all aspects of sports and entertainment law. Mr. Breen also has extensive experience in event-based entertainment, having been responsible for the legal documentation relating to the world-famous UK music awards known as the Brit Awards. Mr. Breen holds an Honours LLB degree in law from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.
The Board believes that Mr. Breen is qualified to serve as a director as a result of his extensive experience and background in the entertainment industry and entertainment law.
Jordan Schur, age 54, Director
Jordan Schur has been a director of our Company since March 2017. Mr. Schur is a veteran of the music and film industries. In 1994, Mr. Schur created Flip Records, a record label that sold over seventy million records. In 1999, Mr. Schur was appointed President of Geffen Records at Universal Music Group, where he merged the original Geffen Records with MCA Records and DreamWorks Records. The expanded company went on to become a market leader, generating over Two Billion Dollars in sales. In 2006, Mr. Schur left Geffen and founded Suretone Records which drove several artists to number one on iTunes and Soundscan in the U.S. and around the world. Mr. Schur entered the film industry in 2008, founding Mimran Schur Pictures and going on to become a successful film producer. In 2012, Mr. Schur founded Suretone Pictures, where he released several notable films. In 2014, Mr. Schur, in partnership with Cinsay, created and launched Suretone Live, the world’s first syndicatable e-commerce and social media driven film, television, and music content destination. Mr. Schur holds a Bachelor’s degree from Boston College.
The Board believes that Mr. Schur is qualified to serve as a director as a result of his extensive experience and background in the music and film industry.
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Executive and Director Compensation
Our named executive officers, consisting of our principal executive officer and the next two most highly compensated executive officers as of December 31, 2017, were:
| ● | John D. Maatta, Chief Executive Officer and President; |
| ● | Paul L. Kessler, Executive Chairman; and |
| ● | Randall S. Malinoff, former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer |
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth all of the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to our named executive officers during fiscal 2017 and 2016.