THEGLOBE COM INC - Quarter Report: 2007 September (Form 10-Q)
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
x
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
|
For
the
quarterly period ended September 30, 2007
OR
o
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
FOR
THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______ TO _________
COMMISSION
FILE NO. 0-25053
THEGLOBE.COM,
INC.
(EXACT
NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
STATE
OF DELAWARE
|
|
14-1782422
|
(STATE
OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF
INCORPORATION
OR ORGANIZATION)
|
|
(I.R.S.
EMPLOYER
IDENTIFICATION
NO.)
|
110
EAST
BROWARD BOULEVARD, SUITE 1400
FORT
LAUDERDALE, FL. 33301
(ADDRESS
OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
(954)
769 - 5900
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required
to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements
for
the past 90 days. x
Yes
o
No
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check
one):
Large
accelerated filer o
|
|
Accelerated
filer o
|
|
Non-accelerated
filer x
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes
o
No
x
The
number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Common Stock, $.001 par value
(the "Common Stock") as of November 9, 2007 was 172,484,838.
THEGLOBE.COM,
INC.
FORM
10-Q
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
PART I:
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2007 (unaudited) and
December
31, 2006
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and
nine
months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months
ended
September 30, 2007 and 2006
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
|
5
|
|
|
|
Item
2.
|
Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
16
|
|
|
|
Item
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
30
|
|
|
|
Item
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
30
|
|
|
|
PART II:
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
Item
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
31
|
|
|
|
Item 1A.
|
Risk
Factors
|
31
|
|
|
|
Item
2.
|
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
43
|
|
|
|
Item
3.
|
Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
|
43
|
|
|
|
Item
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
43
|
|
|
|
Item
5.
|
Other
Information
|
43
|
|
|
|
Item
6.
|
Exhibits
|
43
|
|
|
|
|
SIGNATURES
|
45
|
ITEM
1. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THEGLOBE.COM,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SEPTEMBER 30,
|
DECEMBER 31,
|
||||||
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||
|
(UNAUDITED
|
)
|
|||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
Current
Assets:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
412,234
|
$
|
5,316,218
|
|||
Accounts
receivable
|
165,701
|
45,870
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses
|
213,395
|
358,701
|
|||||
Net
assets of discontinued operations
|
8,251
|
960,280
|
|||||
Other
current assets
|
5,624
|
13,001
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Total
current assets
|
805,205
|
6,694,070
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Intangible
assets
|
408,289
|
526,824
|
|||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
111,061
|
144,216
|
|||||
Other
assets
|
40,000
|
40,000
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
1,364,555
|
$
|
7,405,110
|
|||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
|
|||||||
Current
Liabilities:
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$
|
754,098
|
$
|
507,578
|
|||
Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities
|
1,529,409
|
1,484,669
|
|||||
Deferred
revenue
|
1,254,540
|
1,222,705
|
|||||
Notes
payable due affiliates
|
4,650,000
|
3,400,000
|
|||||
Net
liabilities of discontinued operations
|
2,012,023
|
5,160,872
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
10,200,070
|
11,775,824
|
|||||
|
|
||||||
Deferred
revenue
|
318,180
|
232,433
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Total
liabilities
|
10,518,250
|
12,008,257
|
|||||
Stockholders'
Deficit:
|
|||||||
Common
stock, $0.001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized;
172,484,838 shares issued at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 |
172,485
|
172,485
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
290,475,429
|
289,088,557
|
|||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(299,801,609
|
)
|
(293,864,189
|
)
|
|||
Total
stockholders' deficit
|
(9,153,695
|
)
|
(4,603,147
|
)
|
|||
Total
liabilities and stockholders' deficit
|
$
|
1,364,555
|
$
|
7,405,110
|
See
notes
to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
THEGLOBE.COM,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three
Months Ended
September
30,
|
Nine
Months Ended
September
30,
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
(UNAUDITED)
|
|||||||||||||
Net
Revenue
|
$
|
599,580
|
$
|
385,755
|
$
|
1,676,644
|
$
|
1,062,042
|
|||||
Operating
Expenses:
|
|||||||||||||
Cost
of revenue
|
183,532
|
118,057
|
376,835
|
373,999
|
|||||||||
Sales
and marketing
|
439,008
|
883,995
|
1,684,688
|
1,818,326
|
|||||||||
General
and administrative
|
698,783
|
1,102,950
|
3,150,606
|
3,394,058
|
|||||||||
Depreciation
|
21,738
|
18,971
|
64,792
|
54,367
|
|||||||||
Intangible
asset amortization
|
39,512
|
39,512
|
118,535
|
148,699
|
|||||||||
|
1,382,573
|
2,163,485
|
5,395,456
|
5,789,449
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
Operating
Loss from Continuing Operations
|
(782,993
|
)
|
(1,777,730
|
)
|
(3,718,812
|
)
|
(4,727,407
|
)
|
|||||
|
|||||||||||||
Other
Income (Expense), net
|
|||||||||||||
Interest
income (expense), net
|
(861,059
|
)
|
2,277
|
(1,475,840
|
)
|
127,876
|
|||||||
Other
income, net
|
10,048
|
—
|
10,048
|
21,130
|
|||||||||
(851,011
|
)
|
2,277
|
(1,465,792
|
)
|
149,006
|
||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
Loss
from Continuing Operations
|
|||||||||||||
Before
Income Tax
|
(1,634,004
|
)
|
(1,775,453
|
)
|
(5,184,604
|
)
|
(4,578,401
|
)
|
|||||
Income
Tax Provision
|
—
|
124,313
|
—
|
124,313
|
|||||||||
Loss
from Continuing Operations
|
(1,634,004
|
)
|
(1,899,766
|
)
|
(5,184,604
|
)
|
(4,702,714
|
)
|
|||||
Discontinued
Operations, net of tax
|
251,196
|
(1,052,614
|
)
|
(752,816
|
)
|
(6,576,963
|
)
|
||||||
Net
Loss
|
$
|
(1,382,808
|
)
|
$
|
(2,952,380
|
)
|
$
|
(5,937,420
|
)
|
$
|
(11,279,677
|
)
|
|
Loss
Per Share -
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
and Diluted:
|
|||||||||||||
Continuing
Operations
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
$
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
Discontinued
Operations
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
$
|
—
|
)
|
$
|
(0.04
|
)
|
||
Net
Loss
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
$
|
(0.02
|
)
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
$
|
(0.06
|
)
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Weighted
Average Common Shares Outstanding
|
172,485,000
|
174,723,000
|
172,485,000
|
174,680,000
|
See
notes
to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
THEGLOBE.COM,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
Nine
Months
Ended
September 30,
|
||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
(UNAUDITED)
|
|||||||
Cash
Flows from Operating Activities:
|
|||||||
Net
loss
|
$
|
(5,937,420
|
)
|
$
|
(11,279,677
|
)
|
|
Add
back: loss from discontinued operations
|
752,816
|
6,576,963
|
|||||
Net
loss from continuing operations
|
(5,184,604
|
)
|
(4,702,714
|
)
|
|||
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash flows
from
operating activities:
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
183,327
|
203,066
|
|||||
Non-cash
interest expense related to beneficial conversion features of
debt
|
1,250,000
|
—
|
|||||
Employee
stock compensation
|
131,076
|
349,406
|
|||||
Compensation
related to non-employee stock options
|
5,796
|
107,992
|
|||||
Other,
net
|
—
|
(21,130
|
)
|
||||
|
|||||||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities
|
|||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
(119,831
|
)
|
(91,229
|
)
|
|||
Prepaid
and other current assets
|
152,683
|
(25,811
|
)
|
||||
Accounts
payable
|
246,520
|
(454,425
|
)
|
||||
Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities
|
44,740
|
199,640
|
|||||
Income
taxes payable
|
—
|
(806,406
|
)
|
||||
Deferred
revenue
|
117,582
|
55,462
|
|||||
Net
cash flows from operating activities of continuing operations
|
(3,172,711
|
)
|
(5,186,149
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash flows from operating activities of discontinued operations
|
(3,063,222
|
)
|
(5,376,893
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash flows from operating activities
|
(6,235,933
|
)
|
(10,563,042
|
)
|
|||
|
|||||||
Cash
Flows from Investing Activities:
|
|||||||
Net
cash released from escrow
|
—
|
781,764
|
|||||
Purchases
of property and equipment
|
(26,345
|
)
|
(52,604
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash flows from investing activities of continuing
operations
|
(26,345
|
)
|
729,160
|
||||
Net
cash flows from investing activities of discontinued
operations:
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from the sale of property and equipment
|
108,294
|
137,626
|
|||||
Proceeds
from the sale of the Now Playing magazine
|
—
|
130,000
|
|||||
Net
cash flows from investing activities
|
(81,949
|
)
|
996,786
|
||||
Cash
Flows from Financing Activities:
|
|||||||
Borrowings
on notes payable
|
1,250,000
|
—
|
|||||
Proceeds
from exercise of stock options and warrants
|
—
|
18,420
|
|||||
Net
cash flows from financing activities of continuing
operations
|
1,250,000
|
18,420
|
|||||
Payments
on debt of discontinued operations
|
—
|
(30,218
|
)
|
||||
1,250,000
|
(11,798
|
)
|
|||||
Net
Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
(4,903,984
|
)
|
(9,578,054
|
)
|
|||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, at beginning of period
|
5,316,218
|
16,480,660
|
|||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents, at end of period
|
$
|
412,234
|
$
|
6,902,606
|
See
notes
to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
(1)
ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
DESCRIPTION
OF THEGLOBE.COM
theglobe.com,
inc. (the "Company" or "theglobe") was incorporated on May 1, 1995 (inception)
and commenced operations on that date. Originally, theglobe.com was an online
community with registered members and users in the United States and abroad.
That product gave users the freedom to personalize their online experience
by
publishing their own content and by interacting with others having similar
interests. However, due to the deterioration of the online advertising market,
the Company was forced to restructure and ceased the operations of its online
community on August 15, 2001. The Company then sold most of its remaining online
and offline properties. The Company continued to operate its Computer Games
print magazine and the associated CGOnline website (www.cgonline.com),
as
well as the e-commerce games distribution business of Chips & Bits, Inc.
(www.chipsbits.com).
On
June 1, 2002, Chairman Michael S. Egan and Director Edward A. Cespedes became
Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, respectively.
On
November 14, 2002, the Company acquired certain Voice over Internet Protocol
("VoIP") assets. In exchange for the assets, the Company issued warrants to
acquire 1,750,000 shares of its Common Stock and an additional 425,000 warrants
as part of an earn-out structure upon the attainment of certain performance
targets. The earn-out performance targets were not achieved and the 425,000
earn-out warrants expired on December 31, 2003.
On
May
28, 2003, the Company acquired Direct Partner Telecom, Inc. ("DPT"), a company
engaged in VoIP telephony services in exchange for 1,375,000 shares of the
Company's Common Stock and the issuance of warrants to acquire 500,000 shares
of
the Company's Common Stock. The Company acquired all of the physical assets
and
intellectual property of DPT and originally planned to continue to operate
the
company as a subsidiary and engage in the provision of VoIP services to other
telephony businesses on a wholesale transactional basis. In the first quarter
of
2004, the Company decided to suspend DPT's wholesale business and dedicate
the
DPT physical and intellectual assets to its retail VoIP business.
On
May 9,
2005, the Company exercised an option to acquire all of the outstanding capital
stock of Tralliance Corporation (“Tralliance”), an entity which had been
designated as the registry for the “.travel” top-level domain through an
agreement with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
(“ICANN”). The purchase price consisted of the issuance of 2,000,000 shares of
theglobe’s Common Stock, warrants to acquire 475,000 shares of theglobe’s Common
Stock and $40,000 in cash.
As
more
fully discussed in Note 4, “Discontinued Operations,” in March 2007, management
and the Board of Directors of the Company made the decision to cease all
activities related to its computer games businesses, including discontinuing
the
operations of its magazine publications, games distribution business and related
websites. In addition, in March 2007, management and the Board of
Directors of the Company decided to discontinue the operating, research and
development activities of its VoIP telephony services business and terminate
all
of the remaining employees of that business.
PRINCIPLES
OF CONSOLIDATION
The
condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly-owned subsidiaries from their respective dates of acquisition.
All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated
in
consolidation.
UNAUDITED
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The
unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company
as
of September 30, 2007 and for the three and nine months ended September 30,
2007
and 2006 included herein have been prepared in accordance with the instructions
for Form 10-Q under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Article
10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Certain
information and note disclosures normally included in consolidated financial
statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations relating
to interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
In
the
opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated
financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal
recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position of
the
Company at September 30, 2007 and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006. The
results of operations and cash flows for such periods are not necessarily
indicative of results expected for the full year or for any future
period.
USE
OF
ESTIMATES
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities
and
the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting
period. These estimates and assumptions relate to estimates of collectibility
of
accounts receivable, accruals, the valuations of fair values of options and
warrants, the impairment of long-lived assets and other factors. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
CASH
AND
CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash
equivalents consist of money market funds and highly liquid short-term
investments with qualified financial institutions. The Company considers all
highly liquid securities with original maturities of three months or less to
be
cash equivalents.
COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME (LOSS)
The
Company reports comprehensive income (loss) in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income." Comprehensive income (loss) generally represents all changes in
stockholders' equity during the year except those resulting from investments
by,
or distributions to, stockholders. The Company's comprehensive loss was
approximately $5.9 million and $11.3 million for the nine months ended September
30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, which approximated the Company's reported
net
loss.
CONCENTRATION
OF CREDIT RISK
Financial
instruments which subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist
primarily of cash and cash equivalents and trade accounts receivable. The
Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents with various financial
institutions and invests its funds among a diverse group of issuers and
instruments. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers'
financial condition and establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts, if
required, based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of customers,
historical trends and other information.
REVENUE
RECOGNITION
Continuing
Operations
INTERNET
SERVICES
Internet
services revenue consists of registration fees for Internet domain
registrations, which generally have terms of one year, but may be up to ten
years. Such registration fees are reported net of transaction fees paid to
an
unrelated third party which serves as the registry operator for the Company.
Payments of registration fees are deferred when initially received and
recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the registrations’
terms.
Advertising
on the Company’s www.search.travel
website
is generally sold at a flat rate for a stated time period and is recognized
on a
straight-line basis over the term of the advertising contract.
6
Discontinued
Operations
COMPUTER
GAMES BUSINESSES
Advertising
revenue from the sale of print advertisements under short-term contracts in
the
Company's magazine publications was recognized at the on-sale date of the
magazines.
Newsstand
sales of the Company's magazine publications were recognized at the on-sale
date
of the magazines, net of provisions for estimated returns. Subscription revenue,
net of agency fees, was deferred when initially received and recognized as
income ratably over the subscription term.
Sales
of
games and related products from the Company's online store were recognized
as
revenue when the product was shipped to the customer. Amounts billed to
customers for shipping and handling charges were included in net revenue. The
Company provided an allowance for returns of merchandise sold through its online
store.
VOIP
TELEPHONY SERVICES
VoIP
telephony services revenue represented fees charged to customers for voice
services and was recognized based on minutes of customer usage or as services
were provided. The Company recorded payments received in advance for prepaid
services as deferred revenue until the related services were
provided.
SEGMENT
REPORTING
Effective
with the March 2007 decision by management and the Board of Directors of the
Company to cease all activities related to its computer games and VoIP telephony
services businesses, the Company is now involved in one operating segment,
the
Internet services business.
NET
LOSS
PER SHARE
The
Company reports net loss per common share in accordance with SFAS No. 128,
"Computation of Earnings Per Share." In accordance with SFAS 128 and the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 98,
basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding during the period. Common equivalent shares consist of the
incremental common shares issuable upon the conversion of convertible preferred
stock and convertible notes (using the if-converted method), if any, and the
shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants (using the
treasury stock method). Common equivalent shares are excluded from the
calculation if their effect is anti-dilutive or if a loss from continuing
operations is reported.
Due
to
the Company's net losses from continuing operations, the effect of potentially
dilutive securities or common stock equivalents that could be issued was
excluded from the diluted net loss per common share calculation due to the
anti-dilutive effect. Such potentially dilutive securities and common stock
equivalents consisted of the following for the periods ended September
30:
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||
Options
to purchase common stock
|
17,792,000
|
20,049,000
|
|||||
Common
shares issuable upon exercise of warrants
|
16,911,000
|
6,911,000
|
|||||
Common
shares issuable upon conversion of Convertible Notes
|
193,000,000
|
68,000,000
|
|||||
Total
|
227,703,000
|
94,960,000
|
7
RECENT
ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In
February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No.
159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.”
SFAS No. 159 expands the scope of what entities may carry at fair value by
offering an irrevocable option to record many types of financial assets and
liabilities at fair value. Changes in fair value would be recorded in an
entity’s income statement. This accounting standard also establishes
presentation and disclosure requirements that are intended to facilitate
comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for
similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 is effective for the
Company on January 1, 2008. Earlier application is permitted under certain
circumstances. We are currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 159
and
have not yet determined the impact on our consolidated financial
statements.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This
standard defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value
in
generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosure about fair
value
measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies to other accounting standards that require
or
permit fair value measurements. Accordingly, this statement does not require
any
new fair value measurement. This statement is effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years.
We are currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 157 and have not
determined the impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In
September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 108,
“Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying
Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.” SAB No. 108 addresses how
the effects of prior year uncorrected misstatements should be considered when
quantifying misstatements in current year financial statements. SAB No. 108
requires companies to quantify misstatements using a balance sheet and income
statement approach and to evaluate whether either approach results in
quantifying an error that is material in light of relevant quantitative and
qualitative factors. SAB No. 108 permits existing public companies to initially
apply its provisions either by (i) restating prior financial statements as
if
the “dual approach” had always been used or (ii) recording the cumulative effect
of initially applying the “dual approach” as adjustments to the carrying value
of assets and liabilities as of January 1, 2006 with an offsetting adjustment
recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings. Use of the “cumulative
effect” transition method requires detailed disclosure of the nature and amount
of each individual error being corrected through the cumulative adjustment
and
how and when it arose. The adoption of this standard did not have a material
impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or
liquidity.
In
June
2006, the FASB issued Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty
in Income Taxes,” an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for
Income Taxes,” which clarifies accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in
tax positions. FIN No. 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement
attribute for the financial recognition and measurement of a tax position taken
or expected to be taken in a tax return. The interpretation is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. We have evaluated the impact
of
adopting FIN No. 48 on our consolidated financial statements, and the adoption
of FIN No. 48 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial
position, cash flows and results of operations.
RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain
2006 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation. In
accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of
Long-Lived Assets,” the operations of the Company’s games and VoIP telephony
services divisions have been accounted for in accordance with the provisions
of
SFAS No. 144 and the 2007 results of their operations have been included in
income (loss) from discontinued operations. Prior periods have been reclassified
for comparability, as required.
(2)
GOING
CONCERN CONSIDERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT’S PLAN
The
Company received a report from its independent accountants, relating to its
December 31, 2006 audited financial statements containing an explanatory
paragraph stating that its recurring losses from operations and its accumulated
deficit raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a
going concern. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements
have
been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
the
United States of America on a going concern basis, which contemplates the
realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course
of business. Accordingly, the condensed consolidated financial statements do
not
include any adjustments relating to the recoverability of assets and
classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be
unable to continue as a going concern. However, for the reasons described below,
Company management does not believe that cash on hand and cash flow generated
internally by the Company will be adequate to fund the operation of its
businesses beyond a short period of
time.
These reasons raise significant doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as
a going concern.
8
As
of
September 30, 2007, the Company had a net working capital deficit of
approximately $9,395,000, inclusive of a cash and cash equivalents balance
of
approximately $412,000. Such working capital deficit included an aggregate
of
$4,650,000 in
secured convertible demand notes and accrued interest of approximately $838,000
due to entities controlled by Michael Egan, the Company’s Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer (See Note 3, “Debt,” for further details).
Notwithstanding
previous cost reduction actions taken by the Company and its recent decision
to
shutdown its unprofitable computer games and VoIP telephony services businesses
in March 2007 (see Note 4, “Discontinued Operations”), the Company continues to
incur substantial consolidated operating losses, although reduced in comparison
with prior periods, and management believes that the Company will continue
to be
unprofitable in the foreseeable future. Based upon the Company’s current
financial condition, as discussed above, and without the infusion of additional
capital, management does not believe that the Company will be able to fund
its
operations, including making the $225,000 payment to its Registry Operator
which
is contractually due on November 15, 2007 (see Note 7. “Subsequent Event” for
further discussion), beyond the middle of November 2007.
It
is our
preference to avoid filing for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
However, in order to continue operating as a going concern for any length of
time beyond November 2007, we believe that we must quickly raise capital.
Although there is no commitment to do so, any such funds would most likely
come
from Dancing Bear Investments, Inc., an entity controlled by Michael Egan,
the
Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, under a Note Purchase Agreement
entered into on May 29, 2007 or otherwise from Michael Egan or affiliates of
Mr.
Egan or the Company, as the Company currently has no access to credit facilities
with traditional third parties and has historically relied on borrowings from
related parties to meet short-term liquidity needs. Any such capital raised
would not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and would not be
offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable
exemption from registration requirements. Although, until November 25, 2007,
Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. still has the right to purchase an additional
$1,750,000 under the Note Purchase Agreement, there can be no assurance that
Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. will elect to purchase additional 2007
Convertible Notes. Further, the conversion of any of the convertible debt
securities outstanding as of the current date, or issued in the future, will
likely result in very substantial dilution of the number of outstanding shares
of the Company’s Common Stock.
In
addition to our immediate need to raise capital, we believe that our long-term
financial viability will be determined mainly by our ability to successfully
execute our current and future business plans, including (i) achieving net
growth in the number of “.travel” domain name registrations; (ii) improving and
monetizing our www.search.travel
website;
(iii) further reducing our operating expenses and (iv) successfully settling
disputed and other outstanding liabilities related to our discontinued
operations. The amount of capital required to be raised by the Company will
be
dependent upon the Company’s performance in executing its current and future
business plans, as measured principally by the time period needed to begin
generating positive internal cash flow. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be successful in raising a sufficient amount of capital (including
selling any additional 2007 Convertible Notes) or in executing its business
plans. Further, even if we raise capital and are successful in achieving each
of
the aforementioned objectives, if demand for repayment of any or all of the
$4,650,000 in outstanding secured debt as of the current date or related accrued
interest is made, there is no assurance that we will not, and it is likely
that
we will, be required to file for bankruptcy protection at that
time.
(3)
DEBT
On
May
29, 2007, Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. (the “Noteholder”), an entity which is
controlled by the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, entered into a
Note Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Company pursuant to which it
acquired a convertible promissory note (the “2007 Convertible Note”) in the
principal amount of $250,000. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Noteholder
was granted the optional right, for a period of 180 days from the date of the
Agreement, to purchase additional 2007 Convertible Notes such that the aggregate
principal amount issued under the Agreement could total $3,000,000 (the
“Option”).
On
June
25, 2007, July 19, 2007 and September 6, 2007, the Noteholder acquired
additional 2007 Convertible Notes in the principal amounts of $250,000, $500,000
and $250,000 respectively. At September 30, 2007 the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of 2007 Convertible Notes totaled $1,250,000.
9
The
2007
Convertible Notes are convertible at anytime prior to payment into shares of
the
Company’s Common Stock at the rate of $0.01 per share. The conversion
price of the 2007 Convertible Notes is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence
of certain events, including with respect to stock splits or combinations.
Assuming the Option is fully exercised and all 2007 Convertible Notes are
thereafter converted at the initial conversion rate, and without regard to
potential anti-dilutive adjustments resulting from stock splits and the like,
approximately 300,000,000 shares of Common Stock could be issued. To the
extent that the Company does not have a number of authorized shares of Common
Stock (after taking into account outstanding options, warrants and other
convertible securities of the Company) sufficient to permit conversion of the
2007 Convertible Notes in full, then the 2007 Convertible Notes shall, until
additional shares have been authorized, be convertible only to the extent of
available shares. At the present time (after taking into account
outstanding options, warrants and other convertible securities of the Company),
if the Option was fully exercised, approximately $803,800 of the resulting
$3,000,000 aggregate amount of 2007 Convertible Notes (equal to approximately
80,380,000 shares) could not be converted into shares until the Company’s
authorized capital stock is increased. The Company anticipates that it will
seek
to amend its Certificate of Incorporation so as to increase its authorized
shares of Common Stock at its next annual meeting of shareholders. The
2007 Convertible Notes are due five days after demand for payment by the
Noteholder and are secured by a pledge of all of the assets of the Company
and
its subsidiaries, subordinate to existing liens on such assets. The 2007
Convertible Notes bear interest at the rate of ten percent per annum.
Additionally, under the terms of the Agreement, the Noteholder was granted
certain demand and certain “piggy-back” registration rights in the event that
the Noteholder exercises its option to convert any of the 2007 Convertible
Notes.
As
the
2007 Convertible Notes were immediately convertible into common shares of the
Company at issuance, an aggregate of $750,000 and $1,250,000 of non-cash
interest expense was recognized and credited to additional paid-in capital
during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, as
a
result of the beneficial conversion features of the 2007 Convertible
Notes. The value attributable to the beneficial conversion features was
calculated by comparing the fair value of the underlying common shares of the
2007 Convertible Notes on the date of issuance based on the closing price of
theglobe’s Common Stock as reflected on the OTCBB to the conversion price and
was limited to the aggregate proceeds received from the issuance of the 2007
Convertible Notes.
(4)
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
In
March
2007, management and the Board of Directors of the Company made the decision
to
cease all activities related to its computer games businesses, including
discontinuing the operations of its magazine publications, games distribution
business and related websites. The Company’s decision to shutdown its computer
games businesses was based primarily on the historical losses sustained by
these
businesses during the recent past and management’s expectations of continued
future losses. As of September 30, 2007, all significant elements of its
computer games business shutdown plan have been completed by the Company, except
for the collection and payment of remaining outstanding accounts receivables
and
payables.
In
addition, in March 2007, management and the Board of Directors of the Company
decided to discontinue the operating, research and development activities of
its
VoIP telephony services business and terminate all of the remaining employees
of
the business.
The
Company’s decision to discontinue the operations of its VoIP telephony services
business was based primarily on the historical losses sustained by the business
during the past several years, management’s expectations of continued losses for
the foreseeable future and estimates of the amount of capital required to
attempt to successfully monetize its business. On April 2, 2007, theglobe agreed
to transfer to Michael Egan all of its VoIP intellectual property in
consideration for his agreement to provide the Security in connection with
the
MySpace litigation Settlement Agreement (See Note 6, “Litigation,” for further
discussion). The Company had previously written off the value of the VoIP
intellectual property as a result of its evaluation of the VoIP telephony
services business’ long-lived assets in connection with the preparation of the
Company’s 2004 year-end consolidated financial statements. As of September 30,
2007, all significant elements of its VOIP telephony services business shutdown
plan have been completed by the Company, except for the resolution of certain
vendor disputes and the payment of remaining outstanding vendor
payables.
Results
of operations for the computer games and VoIP telephony services businesses
have
been reported separately as “Discontinued Operations” in the accompanying
condensed consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented.
The
assets and liabilities of the computer games and VoIP telephony services
businesses have been included in the captions, “Assets of Discontinued
Operations” and “Liabilities of Discontinued Operations” in the accompanying
condensed consolidated balance sheets.
10
The
following is a summary of the assets and liabilities of the discontinued
operations of the computer games and VoIP telephony services businesses as
included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets:
|
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||
Assets:
|
|||||||
Computer
Games
|
|||||||
Accounts
receivable, net
|
$
|
7,750
|
$
|
518,279
|
|||
Inventory,
net
|
—
|
37,736
|
|||||
Prepaid
and other current assets
|
501
|
44,111
|
|||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
—
|
38,747
|
|||||
|
8,251
|
638,873
|
|||||
VoIP
Telephony Services
|
|||||||
Accounts
receivable, net
|
—
|
25,031
|
|||||
Prepaid
and other current assets
|
—
|
113,815
|
|||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
—
|
182,561
|
|||||
|
321,407
|
||||||
|
|||||||
Net
assets of discontinued operations
|
$
|
8,251
|
$
|
960,280
|
|
September
30,
|
December
31,
|
|||||
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||
Liabilities:
|
|||||||
Computer
Games
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$
|
37,771
|
$
|
226,497
|
|||
Accrued
expenses
|
3,999
|
22,863
|
|||||
Subscriber
liability, net
|
19,017
|
71,827
|
|||||
|
60,787
|
321,187
|
|||||
VoIP
Telephony Services
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable
|
1,704,816
|
2,062,562
|
|||||
Accrued
legal settlement
|
—
|
2,550,000
|
|||||
Other
accrued expenses
|
246,420
|
227,123
|
|||||
|
1,951,236
|
4,839,685
|
|||||
|
|||||||
Net
liabilities of discontinued operations
|
$
|
2,012,023
|
$
|
5,160,872
|
11
Summarized
financial information for the results of operations of discontinued operations
was as follows:
Three
Months Ended September 30,
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
Computer
Games:
|
|
|
|||||
Net
revenue
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
517,604
|
|||
|
|
|
|||||
Income
(loss) from operations, net of tax
|
$
|
3,009
|
$
|
(139,975
|
)
|
||
|
|
|
|||||
VoIP
Telephony Services:
|
|
|
|||||
Net
revenue
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
6,579
|
|||
|
|
|
|||||
Income
(loss) from operations, net of tax
|
$
|
248,187
|
$
|
(912,639
|
)
|
Nine
Months Ended September 30,
|
2007
|
2006
|
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
Computer
Games:
|
|||||||
Net
revenue
|
$
|
608,415
|
$
|
1,344,441
|
|||
|
|||||||
Loss
from operations, net of tax
|
$
|
(143,247
|
)
|
$
|
(497,827
|
)
|
|
|
|||||||
VoIP
Telephony Services:
|
|||||||
Net
revenue
|
$
|
630
|
$
|
34,385
|
|||
|
|||||||
Loss
from operations, net of tax
|
$
|
(609,569
|
)
|
$
|
(6,079,136
|
)
|
The
Company has estimated the costs expected to be incurred in shutting down its
computer games and VoIP telephony services businesses and has accrued charges
as
of September 30, 2007, as follows:
Computer
Games Division
|
Contract
Termination
Costs
|
|
Purchase
Commitment
|
|
Other
Costs
|
|
Total
|
||||||
Shut-Down
costs expected to be incurred
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
24,235
|
$
|
24,235
|
|||||
|
|||||||||||||
Included
in liabilities:
|
|||||||||||||
Charged
to discontinued operations
|
$
|
115,000
|
$
|
106,000
|
$
|
22,902
|
243,902
|
||||||
Payment
of costs
|
—
|
—
|
(22,902
|
)
|
(22,902
|
)
|
|||||||
Settlements
credited to discontinued operations
|
(115,000
|
)
|
(106,000
|
)
|
—
|
(221,000
|
)
|
||||||
|
$ | — |
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
12
VoIP
Telephony Services Division
|
Contract
Termination
Costs
|
|||
Shut-Down
costs expected to be incurred
|
$
|
416,466
|
||
|
||||
Included
in liabilities:
|
||||
Charged
to discontinued operations
Payment
of costs
|
$
|
428,966
(37,667
|
)
|
|
Settlements
credited to discontinued operations
|
(12,500
|
)
|
||
|
$
|
378,799
|
Net
current liabilities of discontinued operations at September 30, 2007 include
accounts payable and accruals totaling $378,799 related to the estimated
shut-down costs summarized above.
(5)
STOCK
OPTION PLANS
We
have
several stock option plans under which nonqualified stock options may be granted
to officers, directors, other employees, consultants and advisors of the
Company. In general, options granted under the Company’s stock option plans
expire after a ten-year period and generally vest no later than three years
from
the date of grant. Incentive options granted to stockholders who own greater
than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company must be issued at 110% of the fair market value of the stock on the
date
the options are granted. As of September 30, 2007, there were approximately
5,192,000 shares available for grant under the Company’s stock option
plans.
A
total
of 100,000 stock options were granted during the nine months ended September
30,
2007, with a weighted-average fair value of $0.07. During the nine months ended
September 30, 2006, a total of 6,030,000 stock options were issued, including
550,000 stock options which would vest only upon the achievement of certain
performance targets. The performance targets were not achieved and the 550,000
stock options were cancelled in the first quarter of 2007. The weighted-average
fair value of stock options granted during the first nine months of 2006,
excluding the performance stock option grant, was $0.15.
There
were no stock option exercises during
the nine months ended September 30, 2007. Stock option exercises during the
nine
months ended September 30, 2006 resulted in cash inflows to the Company of
$18,420. The corresponding intrinsic value as of exercise date of the 349,474
stock options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, was
$119,628.
Stock
option activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was as
follows:
Total
Options
|
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
|
||||||
Outstanding
at December 31, 2006
|
20,142,620
|
$
|
0.36
|
||||
Granted
|
100,000
|
0.08
|
|||||
Exercised
|
—
|
—
|
|||||
Canceled
|
(2,450,190
|
)
|
0.16
|
||||
Outstanding
at September 30, 2007
|
17,792,430
|
$
|
0.39
|
||||
Options
exercisable at September 30, 2007
|
16,572,753
|
$
|
0.41
|
The
weighted-average remaining contractual terms of stock options outstanding and
stock options exercisable at September 30, 2007 were 6.6 years and 6.5
years, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of both options outstanding
and stock options exercisable at September 30, 2007 was approximately
$38,400.
13
Stock
compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting
period. Stock compensation expense totaling $136,872 was charged to continuing
operations during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, including $5,796
of
expense resulting from the vesting of non-employee stock options and
approximately $35,468 from the accelerated vesting of stock options issued
to
terminated employees. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, stock
compensation expense of $457,398 charged to continuing operations included
$107,992 of expense related to the vesting of non-employee stock options and
$5,619 from the accelerated vesting of stock options issued to terminated
employees.
At
September 30, 2007, there was approximately $64,000 of unrecognized compensation
expense related to unvested stock options which is expected to be recognized
over a weighted-average period of 1.7 years.
The
Company estimates the fair value of each stock option at the grant date by
using
the Black Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted-average
assumptions used for grants in 2007: no dividend yield; an expected life of
approximately six years;
115%
expected volatility and a risk free interest rate of 4.85%.
The risk
free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield in effect at the time
of
grant; the expected life is based on historical and expected exercise behavior;
and expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s
stock price, over a time period that is consistent with the expected life of
the
option.
(6)
LITIGATION
On
June
1, 2006, MySpace, Inc. (“MySpace”), a Delaware corporation, filed a lawsuit in
the United States District Court for the Central District of California against
theglobe.com, inc. (the “Company”). We were served with the lawsuit on June 6,
2006. MySpace alleged that the Company sent at least 100,000 unsolicited and
unauthorized commercial email messages to MySpace members using MySpace user
accounts improperly established by the Company, that the user accounts were
used
in a false and misleading fashion and that the Company's alleged activities
constituted violations of the CAN-SPAM Act, the Lanham Act and California
Business & Professions Code § 17529.5 (the “California Act”), as well as
trademark infringement, false advertising, breach of contract, breach of the
covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and unfair competition. MySpace sought
monetary penalties, damages and injunctive relief for these alleged violations.
It asserted entitlement to recover "a minimum of" $62.3 million of damages,
in
addition to three times the amount of MySpace's actual damages and/or
disgorgement of the Company's purported profits from alleged violations of
the
Lanham Act, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. Subsequent discovery in the
case disclosed that the total number of unsolicited messages was approximately
400,000.
On
February 28, 2007, the Court entered an order (the “Order”) granting in part
MySpace’s motion for summary judgment, finding that the Company was liable for
violation of the CAN-SPAM Act and the California Business & Professions
Code, and for breach of contract (as embodied in MySpace’s “Terms of Service”
contract). The Order also upheld as valid that portion of MySpace’s Terms of
Service contract which provided for liquidated damages of $50 per email message
sent after March 17, 2006 in violation of such Terms. The Company estimated
that
approximately 110,000 of the emails in question were sent after such date,
which
could have resulted in damages of approximately $5.5 million. In addition,
the
CAN-SPAM Act provided for statutory damages of between $100 and $300 per email
sent in violation of the statute. Total damages under CAN-SPAM could therefore
have ranged between about $40 million to about $120 million. In addition, under
the California Act, statutory damages of $1,000,000 “per incident” could have
been assessed.
On
March
15, 2007, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement with MySpace whereby
it agreed to pay MySpace $2,550,000 on or before April 5, 2007 in exchange
for a
mutual release of all claims against one another, including any claims against
the Company’s directors and officers. As part of the settlement, Michael Egan,
the Company’s CEO, who is also an affiliate of the Company, agreed to enter into
an agreement with MySpace on or before April 5th pursuant to which he would,
among other things, provide a letter of credit, cash or other equivalent
security (collectively, “Security”) in form and substance satisfactory to
MySpace. Such Security was to expire and be released (and in fact did expire
and
was released) on the 100th day following the Company’s payment of the foregoing
$2,550,000 so long as no bankruptcy petition, assignment for the benefit of
creditors or like liquidation, reorganization or insolvency proceeding is
instituted or filed related to the Company during such 100-day period.
14
On
April
2, 2007, theglobe agreed to transfer to Michael Egan all of its VoIP
intellectual property in consideration for his agreement to provide the Security
in connection with the Settlement Agreement. On April 13, 2007, Michael Egan
and
an entity wholly-owned by Michael Egan, and MySpace entered into a Security
Agreement, an Indemnity Agreement and an Escrow Agreement (the “Security
Agreements”) providing for the Security. On April 18, 2007, theglobe paid
MySpace $2,550,000 in cash as settlement of the claims. MySpace and theglobe
filed a consent judgment and stipulated permanent injunction with the Court
on
April 19, 2007, which among other things, dismissed all claims alleged in the
lawsuit with prejudice.
On
and
after August 3, 2001 six putative shareholder class action lawsuits were filed
against the Company, certain of its current and former officers and directors
(the “Individual Defendants”), and several investment banks that were the
underwriters of the Company's initial public offering and secondary offering.
The lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of New York. A Consolidated Amended Complaint, which is now the
operative complaint, was filed in the Southern District of New York on April
19,
2002.
The
lawsuits purport to be class actions filed on behalf of purchasers of the stock
of the Company during the period from November 12, 1998 through December 6,
2000. Plaintiffs allege that the underwriter defendants agreed to allocate
stock
in the Company's initial public offering and its secondary offering to certain
investors in exchange for excessive and undisclosed commissions and agreements
by those investors to make additional purchases of stock in the aftermarket
at
pre-determined prices. Plaintiffs allege that the Prospectuses for the Company's
initial public offering and its secondary offering were false and misleading
and
in violation of the securities laws because it did not disclose these
arrangements. The action seeks damages in an unspecified amount. On February
19,
2003, a motion to dismiss all claims against the Company was denied by the
Court. On December 5, 2006, the Second Circuit vacated a decision by the
district court granting class certification in six of the coordinated cases,
which are intended to serve as test, or “focus,” cases. The plaintiffs selected
these six cases, which do not include the Company. On April 6, 2007, the Second
Circuit denied a petition for rehearing filed by the plaintiffs, but noted
that
the plaintiffs could ask the district court to certify more narrow classes
than
those that were rejected.
Prior
to
the Second Circuit’s December 5, 2006 ruling, the majority of issuers, including
the Company, and their insurers had submitted a settlement agreement to the
district court for approval. In light of the Second Circuit opinion, the parties
agreed that the settlement could not be approved because the defined settlement
class, like the litigation class, could not be certified. On June 25, 2007,
the
district court approved a stipulation filed by the plaintiffs and the issuers
terminating the proposed settlement. On August 14, 2007, the plaintiffs filed
amended complaints in the six focus cases. The amended complaints include a
number of changes, such as changes to the definition of the purported class
of
investors, and the elimination of the individual defendants as defendants.
On
September 27, 2007, the plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification in
the
six focus cases. If the plaintiffs are successful in obtaining class
certification, they are expected to amend the complaint against the Company
and
the other non-focus case issuers in the same manner that they amended the
complaints against the focus case issuers and to seek certification of a class
in the Company’s case. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the
Company cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of the matter. We cannot
predict whether we will be able to renegotiate a settlement that complies with
the Second Circuit’s mandate. If
the
Company is found liable, we are unable to estimate or predict the potential
damages that might be awarded, whether such damages would be greater than the
Company’s insurance coverage, and whether such damages would have a material
impact on our results of operations or financial condition in any future
period.
The
Company is currently a party to certain other claims and disputes arising in
the
ordinary course of business. The Company currently believes that the ultimate
outcome of these other matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not
have
a material adverse affect on the Company's financial position, results of
operations or cash flows. However, because of the nature and inherent
uncertainties of legal proceedings, should the outcome of these matters be
unfavorable, the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.
15
(7)
SUBSEQUENT EVENT
In
October 2007, the Company entered into a new registry operator agreement (the
“New Agreement”) with its existing registry operator (the “Registry Operator”).
The New Agreement was effective on October 1, 2007 and has an initial term
of
three (3) years excluding optional renewal periods. The Registry Operator has
provided and continues to provide registry operation services to the Company
since the start-up of its “.travel” internet services business in October 2005
under a predecessor Master Services Agreement dated as of October 11, 2005.
Under the New Agreement, the Company paid the Registry Operator a start-up
fee
of $37,500 on November 8, 2007 and is obligated to pay additional fees of
$225,000 on November 15, 2007 and $112,500 on October 15, 2008. The additional
fees to be paid to the Registry Operator represent pre-payments of registry
operator fees related to the Company’s planned purchase of “.travel” domain
names. Additionally, the Registry Operator is also entitled to receive a certain
percentage of future revenue related to “.travel” domain names purchased under
the New Agreement. Further, under the New Agreement the Company committed to
ensuring that a pre-determined number of “.travel” websites are launched by no
later than September 30, 2008. See Note 2, “Going Concern Considerations and
Management’s Plan” and the “Immediate and Critical Need for Capital” section of
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations for a discussion of the Company’s ability to pay the additional fees
due to the Registry Operator under the New Agreement.
FORWARD
LOOKING STATEMENTS
This
Form
10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal
securities laws that relate to future events or our future financial
performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by
terminology, such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "plan,"
"anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "project," "predict," "intend," "potential"
or "continue" or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology,
although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. In addition,
these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements
regarding:
·
|
implementing
our business plans;
|
|
|
·
|
marketing
and commercialization of our products and services;
|
|
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·
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plans
for future products and services and for enhancements of existing
products
and services;
|
|
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·
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our
ability to implement cost-reduction programs;
|
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|
·
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potential
governmental regulation and taxation;
|
|
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·
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the
outcome of pending litigation;
|
|
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·
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our
intellectual property;
|
|
|
·
|
our
estimates of future revenue and profitability;
|
|
|
·
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our
estimates or expectations of continued losses;
|
|
|
·
|
our
expectations regarding future expenses, including cost of revenue,
sales
and marketing, and general and administrative expenses;
|
|
|
·
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difficulty
or inability to raise additional financing on terms acceptable to
us;
|
|
|
·
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our
estimates regarding our capital requirements and our needs for additional
financing;
|
|
|
·
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attracting
and retaining customers and employees;
|
|
|
·
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rapid
technological changes in our industry and relevant
markets;
|
|
|
·
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sources
of revenue and anticipated revenue;
|
|
|
·
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implementation
of our shutdown of certain businesses and our estimate of the associated
costs;
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·
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our
ability to sell and/or recover certain business assets;
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·
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competition
in our market; and
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·
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our
ability to continue to operate as a going
concern.
|
16
These
statements are only predictions. Although we believe that the expectations
reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot
guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.
We
are not required to and do not intend to update any of the forward-looking
statements after the date of this Form 10-Q or to conform these statements
to
actual results. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the
forward-looking events discussed in this Form 10-Q might not occur. Actual
results, levels of activity, performance, achievements and events may vary
significantly from those implied by the forward-looking statements. A
description of risks that could cause our results to vary appears under "Risk
Factors" and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. The following discussion should be
read together in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto and the audited
consolidated financial statements and notes to those statements contained in
the
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
OVERVIEW
As
of
September 30, 2007, theglobe.com, inc. (the "Company" or "theglobe") managed
a
single line of business, Internet services, consisting of Tralliance Corporation
(“Tralliance”) which is the registry for the “.travel” top-level Internet
domain. We acquired Tralliance on May 9, 2005. Prior to the end of the 2007
first quarter, management and the Board of Directors of the Company made the
decision to cease all activities related to its computer games and VoIP
telephony services businesses. Results of operations for the computer games
and
VoIP telephony services businesses have been reported separately as
“Discontinued Operations” in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements
of operations for all periods presented. The assets and liabilities of the
computer games and VoIP telephony services businesses have been included in
the
captions, “Assets of Discontinued Operations” and “Liabilities of Discontinued
Operations” in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance
sheets.
BASIS
OF PRESENTATION OF CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
We
received a report from our independent accountants, relating to our December
31,
2006 audited financial statements, containing a paragraph stating that our
recurring losses from operations and our accumulated deficit raise substantial
doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The Company continues
to
incur substantial consolidated net losses and management believes the Company
will continue to be unprofitable and use cash in its operations for the
foreseeable future. Based upon our current cash resources and without the
infusion of additional capital management does not believe the Company can
operate as a going concern beyond the middle of November 2007. See “Immediate
and Critical Need for Capital” section of this Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further
details.
Our
condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
on
a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and the
satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. Accordingly,
our
condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments
relating to the recoverability of assets and classification of liabilities
that
might be necessary should we be unable to continue as a going
concern.
DESCRIPTION
OF BUSINESS—CONTINUING OPERATIONS
OUR
INTERNET SERVICES BUSINESS
Tralliance
was incorporated in 2002 to develop products and services to enhance online
commerce between consumers and the travel and tourism industries, including
administration of the “.travel” top-level domain. In February 2003, theglobe
entered into a Loan and Purchase Option Agreement, as amended, with Tralliance
in which theglobe agreed to fund, in the form of a loan, at the discretion
of
theglobe, Tralliance’s operating expenses and obtained the option to acquire all
of the outstanding capital stock of Tralliance. On May 5, 2005, the Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”) and Tralliance entered into
a contract whereby Tralliance was designated as the exclusive registry for
the
“.travel” top-level domain for an initial period of ten years. Renewal of the
ICANN contract beyond the initial ten year term is conditioned upon the
negotiation of renewal terms reasonably acceptable to ICANN. Additionally,
we
have agreed to engage in good faith negotiations at regular intervals throughout
the term of our contract (at least once every three years) regarding possible
changes to the provisions of the contract, including changes in the fees and
payments that we are required to make to ICANN. In the event that we materially
and fundamentally breach the contract and fail to cure such breach within thirty
days of notice, ICANN has the right to immediately terminate our contract.
Effective May 9, 2005, theglobe exercised its option to purchase
Tralliance.
17
The
establishment of the “.travel” top-level domain enables businesses,
organizations, governmental agencies and other enterprises that operate within
the travel and tourism industry to establish a unique Internet domain name
from
which to communicate and conduct commerce. An Internet domain name is made
up of
a top-level domain and a second-level domain. For example, in the domain name
“companyX.travel”, “companyX” is the second-level domain and “.travel” is the
top-level domain. As the registry for the “.travel” top-level domain, Tralliance
is responsible for maintaining the master database of all second-level “.travel”
domain names and their corresponding Internet Protocol (“IP”)
addresses.
To
facilitate the “.travel” domain name registration process, Tralliance has
entered into contracts with a number of registrars. These registrars act as
intermediaries between Tralliance and customers (referred to as registrants)
seeking to register “.travel” domain names. The registrars handle the billing
and collection of registration fees, customer service and technical management
of the registration database. Registrants can register “.travel” domain names
for terms of one year (minimum) up to 10 years (maximum). The registrars retain
a portion of the registration fee collected by them as their compensation and
remit the remainder, presently $80 per domain name per year, of the registration
fee to Tralliance.
In
order
to register a “.travel” domain name, a registrant must first be verified as
being eligible (“authenticated”) by virtue of being a valid participant in the
travel industry. Additionally, eligibility data is required to be updated and
reviewed annually, subsequent to initial registration. Once authenticated,
a
registrant is only permitted to register “.travel” domain names that are
associated with the registrant’s business or organization. Tralliance has
entered into contracts with a number of travel associations or other independent
organizations (“authentication providers”) whereby, in consideration for the
payment of fixed and/or variable fees, all required authentication procedures
are performed by such authentication providers. Tralliance has also outsourced
various other registry operations, database maintenance and policy formulation
functions to certain other independent businesses or organizations in
consideration for the payment of certain fixed and/or variable
fees.
In
launching the “.travel” top-level domain registry, Tralliance adopted a phased
approach consisting of three distinct stages. During the third quarter of 2005,
Tralliance implemented phase one, which consisted of a pre-authentication of
a
limited group of potential registrants. During the fourth quarter of 2005,
Tralliance implemented phase two, which involved the registration of the limited
group of registrants who had been pre-authenticated. It was during this limited
registration phase that Tralliance initially began collecting registration
fees
from its “.travel” registrars. Finally, in January 2006, Tralliance commenced
the final phase of its launch, which culminated in live “.travel” registry
operations. As of September 30, 2007 the total number of “.travel” domain names
registered was approximately 27,800.
On
August
15, 2006, the Company introduced its online search engine dedicated to the
travel industry, www.search.travel.
The
search engine was developed by Tralliance to benefit both consumers at large
and
“.travel” domain name registrants, as the search engine delivers qualified
search results from the entire World Wide Web, giving priority to destinations
and businesses that are authenticated “.travel” registrants. During August 2006,
the Company launched a national television campaign to promote the new search
engine and website. The Company has begun marketing the www.search.travel
website
to potential advertisers interested in targeting the travel consumer and plans
to seek additional net revenue through the sale of advertising sponsorships.
During 2007, the Company completed a number of website enhancements and, subject
to the availability of cash resources, plans to continue to make additional
improvements to its www.search.travel
website
in the future.
18
DESCRIPTION
OF BUSINESS—DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
COMPUTER
GAMES BUSINESS
In
February 2000, the Company entered the computer games business by acquiring
Computer Games Magazine, a print publication for personal computer (“PC”)
gamers; CGOnline, the online counterpart to Computer Games magazine; and Chips
& Bits, an e-commerce games distribution business. Historically, content of
Computer Games Magazine and CGOnline focused primarily on the PC games market
niche.
During
2004, the Company developed and began to implement plans to expand its business
beyond games and into other areas of the entertainment industry. In Spring
2004,
a new magazine, Now Playing began to be delivered within Computer Games Magazine
and in March 2005, Now Playing began to be distributed as a separate
publication. Now Playing covered movies, DVD’s, television, music, games, comics
and anime, and was designed to fulfill the wider pop culture interests of
readers and to attract a more diverse group of advertisers: autos, television,
telecommunications and film to name a few. During 2005, the Now Playing online
website (www.nowplaying.com),
the
online counterpart for Now Playing magazine, was implemented and costs were
also
incurred to develop a new corporate website (www.theglobe.com),
also
targeted at the broader entertainment marketplace.
In
August
2005, based upon a re-evaluation of the capital requirements and risks/rewards
related to completing the transition to a broader-based entertainment business,
the Company decided to abort its diversification efforts and refocus its
strategy back to operating and improving its traditional games-based businesses.
During the remainder of 2005, the Company implemented a number of revenue
enhancement programs, including establishing a used game auction website
(www.gameswapzone.com),
introducing a digital version of its Computer Games Magazine, and entering
into
several marketing partnership affiliate programs. Additionally, during the
latter part of 2005, the Company completed the implementation of a number of
cost-reduction programs related to facility consolidations, headcount
reductions, and decreases in magazine publishing and sales costs. In January
2006, the Company completed the sale of all assets related to Now Playing
Magazine and the Now Playing Online website for approximately
$130,000.
The
premiere issue of a new quarterly print publication, Massive Magazine (renamed
MMOGames Magazine in 2007), was released in September 2006. The new magazine
was
dedicated solely to “massively multiplayer online” games (“MMO” games) and
included features on the culture of MMO games, focusing on players, guilds
and
communities. The editorial staff of Computer Games Magazine produced the content
for the new magazine. The new magazine was also accompanied by a complementary
website (www.mmogamesmag.com).
In
March
2007, management and the Board of Directors of the Company made the decision
to
cease all activities related to its Computer Games businesses, including
discontinuing the operations of its magazine publications, games distribution
business and related websites. The Company’s decision to shutdown its Computer
Games businesses was based primarily on the historical losses sustained by
these
businesses during the recent past and management’s expectations of continued
future losses. As of September 30, 2007, all significant elements of its
computer games business shutdown plan have been completed by the Company, except
for the collection and payment of remaining outstanding accounts receivables
and
payables.
VOIP
TELEPHONY BUSINESS
During
the third quarter of 2003, the Company launched its first suite of consumer
and
business level VoIP services. The Company launched its browser-based VoIP
product during the first quarter of 2004. These services allowed customers
to
communicate using VoIP technology for dramatically reduced pricing compared
to
traditional telephony networks. The services also offered traditional telephony
features such as voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding, and call waiting for
no
additional cost to the customer, as well as incremental services that were
not
then supported by the public switched telephone network ("PSTN") like the
ability to use numbers remotely and voicemail to email services. In the fourth
quarter of 2004, the Company announced an "instant messenger" or "IM" related
application which enabled users to chat via voice or text across multiple
platforms using their preferred instant messenger service. During the second
quarter of 2005, the Company released a number of new VoIP products and features
which allowed users to communicate via mobile phones, traditional land line
phones and/or computers. From the initial launch of its VoIP services in 2003
through 2005, the Company continued to expand its VoIP network, which was
comprised of switching hardware and software, servers, billing and inventory
systems, and telecommunication carrier contractual relationships. Throughout
this period, the capacity of our VoIP network greatly exceeded
usage.
19
The
Company’s retail VoIP service plans had included both “peer-to-peer” plans, for
which subscribers were able to place calls free of charge over the Internet
to
other subscribers’ Internet connections, and “paid” plans which involved
interconnection with the PSTN and for which subscribers were charged certain
fixed and/or variable service charges.
During
2003 through 2005, the Company attempted to market and distribute its VoIP
retail products through various direct and indirect sales channels including
Internet advertising, structured customer referral programs, network marketing,
television infomercials and partnerships with third party national retailers.
None of the marketing and sales programs implemented during these years were
successful in generating a significant number of “paid” plan customers or
revenue. The Company’s marketing efforts during this period of time achieved
only limited success in developing a “peer-to-peer” subscriber base of free
service plan users.
During
2006, the Company re-focused its efforts on VoIP product development. During
the
first quarter of 2006, the Company developed a plan to reconfigure, phase out
and eliminate certain components of its existing VoIP network. During the second
quarter of 2006, the Company discontinued offering service to its small existing
“paid” plan customer base and completed the implementation of its plan to
significantly reduce the excess capacity and operating costs of its VoIP
network.
In
March
2007, management and the Board of Directors of the Company decided to
discontinue the operating, research and development activities of its VoIP
telephony services business and terminate all of the remaining employees of
the
business. On April 2, 2007, theglobe agreed to transfer to Michael Egan all
of
its VoIP intellectual property in consideration for his agreement to provide
certain Security in connection with the MySpace litigation Settlement Agreement
(See Note 6, “Litigation,” in the accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion).
The
Company had previously written off the value of the VoIP intellectual property
as a result of its evaluation of the VoIP telephony services business’
long-lived assets in connection with the preparation of the Company’s 2004
year-end consolidated financial statements. The Company’s decision to
discontinue the operations of its VoIP telephony services business was based
primarily on the historical losses sustained by the business during the past
several years, management’s expectations of continued losses for the foreseeable
future and estimates of the amount of capital required to attempt to
successfully monetize its business. As of September 30, 2007, all significant
elements of its VOIP telephony services business shutdown plan have been
completed by the Company, except for the resolution of certain vendor disputes
and the payment of remaining outstanding vendor payables.
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
THREE
MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 COMPARED TO
THE
THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
CONTINUING
OPERATIONS
NET
REVENUE. Net revenue totaled $600 thousand for the three months ended September
30, 2007 as compared to $386 thousand for the three months ended September
30,
2006, an increase of approximately $214 thousand, or 55%, from the prior year
period. Approximately $87 thousand, or 41%, of the total increase in net
revenue as compared to the third quarter of 2006 resulted from net revenue
attributable to the sale of advertising on our www.search.travel
website.
The www.search.travel
website
was introduced in August 2006. Total domain names registered as of the end
of
the third quarter of 2007 and 2006 approximated 27.8 thousand and 20.9 thousand,
respectively.
COST
OF
REVENUE. Cost of revenue totaled $184 thousand for the three months ended
September 30, 2007, an increase of $66 thousand, or 56%, from the $118 thousand
reported for the three months ended September 30, 2006. Cost of revenue consists
primarily of fees paid to third party service providers which furnish outsourced
services, including verification of registration eligibility, maintenance of
the
“.travel” directory of consumer-oriented registrant travel data, as well as
other services. Fees for some of these services vary based on transaction levels
or transaction types. Fees for outsourced services are generally deferred and
amortized to cost of revenue over the term of the related domain name
registration. The increase in cost of revenue was due primarily to higher
registration eligibility verification costs expensed during the current quarter
as compared to the third quarter of 2006. Cost of revenue as a percent of net
revenue was approximately 31% for both the third quarter of 2007 and
2006.
20
SALES
AND
MARKETING. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of salaries and
related expenses of sales and marketing personnel, commissions, consulting,
advertising and marketing costs, public relations expenses and promotional
activities. Sales and marketing expenses totaled $439 thousand for the three
months ended September 30, 2007 versus $884 thousand for the same period in
2006, a decrease of $445 thousand or 50%. In August of 2006 Tralliance
introduced its travel related search engine, search .travel, with television
and
internet advertising campaigns expenses of approximately $311 thousand
recognized during the third quarter of 2006, compared to advertising costs
of
$46 thousand during the same period of 2007. Also in the third quarter of 2006
Tralliance recognized expenses totaling $125 thousand in connection with
promoting our registry operations and search engine in China.
GENERAL
AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses consist
primarily of salaries and other personnel costs related to management, finance
and accounting functions, facilities, outside legal and professional fees,
information-technology consulting, directors and officers insurance, and general
corporate overhead costs. General and administrative expenses totaled $699
thousand in the third quarter of 2007 as compared to approximately $1.1 million
for the same quarter of the prior year, a decrease of $404 thousand, or 37%.
Stock compensation expense decreased approximately $160 thousand, executive
officer personnel costs decreased approximately $142 thousand, and travel and
entertainment expense decreased by approximately $77 thousand in 2007 in
comparison to the third quarter of 2006.
DEPRECIATION
AND AMORTIZATION. Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $61 thousand
for
the three months ended September 30, 2007 as compared to $58 thousand for the
three months ended September 30, 2006, or an increase of $3
thousand.
OTHER
INCOME (EXPENSE), NET. During the third quarter of 2007, $750 thousand of
non-cash interest expense was recorded related to the beneficial conversion
features of the $750 thousand in convertible promissory notes acquired by an
entity controlled by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. See
“Capital Transactions” and Note 3, “Debt,” of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion. Additional net
interest expense of $111 thousand was reported for the third quarter of 2007
compared to total net interest income of $2 thousand reported for the same
quarter of the prior year. As a result of the Company’s net losses incurred
during the second half of 2006 and the nine months ended September 30, 2007,
the
Company had a lower level of funds available for investment and generated less
interest income during the third quarter of 2007 as compared to the same quarter
of the prior year.
INCOME
TAXES. No tax benefit was recorded for the losses incurred during the third
quarter of 2007 or the third quarter of 2006 as we recorded a 100% valuation
allowance against our otherwise recognizable deferred tax assets due to the
uncertainty surrounding the timing or ultimate realization of the benefits
of
our net operating loss carryforwards in future periods. As of December 31,
2006,
we had net operating loss carryforwards which may be potentially available
for
U.S. tax purposes of approximately $162 million. These carryforwards expire
through 2026. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 imposes substantial restrictions on
the
utilization of net operating losses and tax credits in the event of an
"ownership change" of a corporation. Due to various significant changes in
our
ownership interests, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, we have substantially limited the availability of our net operating
loss carryforwards. There can be no assurance that we will be able to utilize
any net operating loss carryforwards in the future.
21
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS
Discontinued
operations generated net income of approximately $251 thousand for the third
quarter of 2007 as compared to a net loss of $1.1 million during the third
quarter of 2006 and is summarized as follows:
Computer
Games
|
VoIP
Telephony
Services
|
Total
|
||||||||
Three
months ended September 30, 2007:
|
||||||||||
Net
revenue
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
$
|
—
|
||||
Operating
(expenses) credit
|
(2,288
|
)
|
231,385
|
229,097
|
||||||
Other
income, net
|
5,297
|
16,802
|
22,099
|
|||||||
|
$
|
3,009
|
$
|
248,187
|
$
|
251,196
|
Computer
Games
|
VoIP
Telephony
Services
|
Total
|
||||||||
Three
months ended September 30, 2006:
|
||||||||||
Net
revenue
|
$
|
517,604
|
$
|
6,579
|
$
|
524,183
|
||||
Operating
(expenses)
|
(657,579
|
)
|
(918,819
|
)
|
(1,576,398
|
)
|
||||
Other
income (expense), net
|
—
|
(399
|
)
|
(399
|
)
|
|||||
|
$
|
(139,975
|
)
|
$
|
(912,639
|
)
|
$
|
(1,052,614
|
)
|
The
operations of both the computer games division and the VOIP telephony services
division were shutdown effective March 2007 which contributed to the overall
decline in both net revenue and operating expenses in the third quarter of
2007
as compared to the same quarter of the prior year. The net credit in
operating expenses reported by the VOIP telephony services division for the
third quarter of 2007 resulted principally from the favorable settlement of
a
disputed vendor contract during the quarter.
NINE
MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 COMPARED TO
THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
CONTINUING
OPERATIONS
NET
REVENUE. Net revenue totaled $1.7 million for the nine months ended September
30, 2007 as compared to $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30,
2006, an increase of approximately $615 thousand, or 58%, from the prior year
period. Approximately $250 thousand, or 41%, of the total increase in net
revenue as compared to nine months ended September 30, 2006 resulted from net
revenue attributable to the sale of advertising on our www.search.travel
website.
The www.search.travel
website
was introduced in August 2006.
Total
domain names registered as of the end of the third quarter of 2007 and 2006
approximated 27.8 thousand and 20.9 thousand, respectively. During 2007, stock
compensation expense decreased $321 thousand, and legal accounting and
professional fees decreased $246 thousand, in comparison with 2006.
COST
OF
REVENUE. Cost of revenue totaled $377 thousand for the nine months ended
September 30, 2007, an increase of $3 thousand, or 1%, from the $374 thousand
reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Cost of revenue as
a percent of net revenue was approximately 22% for the nine months ended
September 30, 2007 as compared to 35% for the same period of 2006. The decline
in cost of revenue as a percent of net revenue was due primarily to Tralliance
performing more verifications of registration eligibility in-house during 2007
compared to 2006 and the lower fee rate payable to verify a domain name
subsequent to its initial year of registration.
22
SALES
AND
MARKETING. Sales and marketing expenses totaled $1.7 million for the nine months
ended September 30, 2007 versus $1.8 million for the same period in 2006.
Beginning in the third quarter of 2006, Tralliance engaged several outside
parties to promote our registry operations and the www.search.travel
website
internationally, which resulted in an increase in sales and marketing personnel
costs of approximately $272 thousand as compared to the nine months ended
September 30, 2006. Offsetting these increases in comparison to the nine months
ended September 30, 2006 were decreases of approximately $366 thousand in costs
associated with advertising, promotion, and public relations.
GENERAL
AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses totaled
approximately $3.2 million in the first nine months of 2007 as compared to
$3.4
million for the same period of the prior year, a decrease of $243 thousand,
or
approximately 7%. During 2007, stock compensation expenses decreased $321
thousand, and legal, accounting and professional fees decreased $246 thousand,
in comparison with 2006. Personnel costs in 2007 increased $351 thousand
in comparison to 2006 as throughout 2006 and into 2007 we hired additional
staff
to accommodate the increase in authentication and registration activity
experienced by Tralliance and additionally during 2006 reassigned certain
employees of the VOIP telephony services division to
Tralliance.
DEPRECIATION
AND AMORTIZATION. Depreciation and amortization expense totaled $183 thousand
for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 as compared to $203 thousand for
the nine months ended September 30, 2006, or a decline of $20
thousand.
OTHER
INCOME (EXPENSE), NET. As mentioned in the discussion of the three months
ended September 30, 2007 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2006,
during the the first nine months of 2007, $1.25 million of non-cash interest
expense was recorded related to the beneficial conversion features of the $1.25
million in convertible promissory notes acquired by an entity controlled by
our
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. See “Capital Transactions” and Note
3, “Debt,” of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
for further discussion. Additional net interest expense of $226 thousand
was reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to total
net
interest income of $128 thousand reported for the same period of the prior year.
As a result of the Company’s net losses incurred during 2006 and the first nine
months of 2007, the Company had a lower level of funds available for investment
and generated less interest income during the 2007 period as compared to the
same period of the prior year.
INCOME
TAXES. No tax benefit was recorded for the losses incurred during the first
nine
months of 2007 or the same period of 2006 as we recorded a 100% valuation
allowance against our otherwise recognizable deferred tax assets due to the
uncertainty surrounding the timing or ultimate realization of the benefits
of
our net operating loss carryforwards in future periods. As of December 31,
2006,
we had net operating loss carryforwards which may be potentially available
for
U.S. tax purposes of approximately $162 million. These carryforwards expire
through 2026. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 imposes substantial restrictions on
the
utilization of net operating losses and tax credits in the event of an
"ownership change" of a corporation. Due to various significant changes in
our
ownership interests, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, we have substantially limited the availability of our net operating
loss carryforwards. There can be no assurance that we will be able to utilize
any net operating loss carryforwards in the future.
23
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS
The
loss
from discontinued operations, net of income taxes totaled approximately
$753
thousand in the first nine months of 2007 as compared to a net loss of
$6.6
million during the first nine months of 2006 and is summarized as
follows:
Computer
Games
|
VoIP
Telephony
Services
|
Total
|
||||||||
Nine
months ended September 30, 2007:
|
||||||||||
Net
revenue
|
$
|
608,415
|
$
|
630
|
$
|
609,045
|
||||
Operating
(expenses)
|
(786,218
|
)
|
(702,634
|
)
|
(1,488,852
|
)
|
||||
Other
income, net
|
34,556
|
92,435
|
126,991
|
|||||||
|
$
|
(143,247
|
)
|
$
|
(609,569
|
)
|
$
|
(752,816
|
)
|
Computer
Games
|
VoIP
Telephony
Services
|
Total
|
||||||||
Nine
months ended September 30, 2006:
|
||||||||||
Net
revenue
|
$
|
1,344,441
|
$
|
34,385
|
$
|
1,378,826
|
||||
Operating
(expenses)
|
(1,972,268
|
)
|
(5,980,086
|
)
|
(7,952,354
|
)
|
||||
Other
income (expense), net
|
130,000
|
(133,435
|
)
|
(3,435
|
)
|
|||||
|
$
|
(497,827
|
)
|
$
|
(6,079,136
|
)
|
$
|
(6,576,963
|
)
|
Net
revenue and operating expenses of the computer games division declined as
compared to the first nine months of 2006 primarily due to the shutdown of
the
business’ operations effective March 2007. Operating expenses of the VoIP
telephony services division for the first nine months of 2007 declined in
comparison to the same period of the prior year principally as a result of
the
shutdown of the business in March 2007, as well as the cost reduction efforts
implemented by the Company during 2006.
LIQUIDITY
AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
CASH
FLOW ITEMS
As
of
September 30, 2007, we had approximately $412 thousand in cash and cash
equivalents as compared to $5.3 million as of December 31, 2006. Net cash flows
used in operating activities of continuing operations totaled $3.2 million
and
$5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006,
respectively, or a decrease of approximately $2.0 million. The impact of the
payment of $806 thousand in income tax liabilities during the first nine months
of 2006, coupled with a favorable accounts payables balance change during the
first nine months of 2007 as compared to the same period of the prior year,
were
the primary factors contributing to the lower level of cash used in operating
activities of continuing operations.
A
total
of $3.1 million in net cash flows were used in the operating activities of
discontinued operations during the first nine months of 2007 as compared to
a
use of approximately $5.4 million of cash in operating activities of
discontinued operations during the same period of the prior year. The lower
level of cash used by operating activities of our discontinued businesses was
primarily the result of the decrease of approximately $5.8 million in net losses
of the businesses as compared to the first nine months of 2006. Partially
offsetting the impact of the lower losses as compared to the 2006 period was
the
$2.6 million settlement payment made in connection with the MySpace litigation
during March 2007.
24
Net
cash
flows of $26 thousand were used for capital expenditures by continuing
operations during the first nine months of 2007. Net cash flows of $729
thousand were provided by investing activities of continuing operations during
the first nine months of 2006. As a result of the October 2005 sale of our
SendTec, Inc. marketing services business, we were required to place $1.0
million of cash in an escrow account to secure our indemnification obligations.
On March 31, 2006, pursuant to the related escrow agreement, $750 thousand
of
the escrow funds were released to the Company.
Discontinued
operations provided $108 thousand in net cash flows during the first nine months
of 2007 as a result of the sale of property and equipment. During the
first nine months of 2006, net cash flows of $138 thousand from the sale of
property and equipment and $130 thousand from the sale of our Now Playing
magazine were provided by discontinued operations.
We
received $1.25 million in proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes during
the first nine months of 2007. See Note 3, “Debt,” of the Notes to
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further
information.
CAPITAL
TRANSACTIONS
On
May
29, 2007, Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. (the “Noteholder”), an entity which is
controlled by the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, entered into a
Note Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Company pursuant to which it
acquired a convertible promissory note (the “2007 Convertible Note”) in the
principal amount of $250,000. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Noteholder
was granted the optional right, for a period of 180 days from the date of the
Agreement, to purchase additional 2007 Convertible Notes such that the aggregate
principal amount issued under the Agreement could total $3,000,000 (the
“Option”).
On
June
25, 2007, July 19, 2007 and September 6, 2007, the Noteholder acquired
additional 2007 Convertible Notes in the principal amounts of $250,000, $500,000
and $250,000 respectively. At September 30, 2007 the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of 2007 Convertible Notes totaled $1,250,000.
The
2007
Convertible Notes are convertible at anytime prior to payment into shares of
the
Company’s Common Stock at the rate of $0.01 per share. Assuming the Option
is fully exercised and all 2007 Convertible Notes are thereafter converted
at
the initial conversion rate, and without regard to potential anti-dilutive
adjustments resulting from stock splits and the like, approximately 300,000,000
shares of Common Stock could be issued. To the extent that the Company
does not have a number of authorized shares of Common Stock (after taking into
account outstanding options, warrants and other convertible securities of the
Company) sufficient to permit conversion of the 2007 Convertible Notes in full,
then the 2007 Convertible Notes shall, until additional shares have been
authorized, be convertible only to the extent of available shares. At the
present time (after taking into account outstanding options, warrants and other
convertible securities of the company), if the Option was fully exercised,
approximately $804 thousand of the resulting $3.0 million aggregate amount
of
2007 Convertible Notes (equal to approximately 80,380,000 shares) could not
be
converted into shares until the Company’s authorized capital stock is increased.
The Company anticipates that it will seek to amend its Certificate of
Incorporation so as to increase its authorized shares of Common Stock at its
next annual meeting of shareholders. The 2007 Convertible Notes are due
five days after demand for payment by the Noteholder and are secured by a pledge
of all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, subordinate to
existing liens on such assets. The 2007 Convertible Notes bear interest at
the rate of ten percent per annum.
The
2007
Convertible Notes were not registered under applicable securities laws and
were
sold in reliance on an exemption from such registration. The Noteholder is
entitled to certain demand and piggy-back registration rights in connection
with
its investment. The conversion price of the 2007 Convertible Notes is
subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, including with
respect to stock splits or combinations.
IMMEDIATE
AND CRITICAL NEED FOR CAPITAL
For
the
reasons described below, Company management does not believe that cash on hand
and cash flow generated internally by the Company will be adequate to fund
the
operation of its businesses beyond a short period of time. Additionally, we
have
received a report from our independent accountants, relating to our December
31,
2006 audited financial statements, containing an explanatory paragraph stating
that our recurring losses from operations and our accumulated deficit raise
substantial doubts about our ability to continue as a going
concern.
25
As
of
September 30, 2007, the Company had a net working capital deficit of
approximately $9.4 million, inclusive of a cash and cash equivalents balance
of
approximately $412 thousand. Such working capital deficit included an aggregate
of $4.65 million in secured convertible demand notes and accrued interest of
approximately $838 thousand due to entities controlled by Michael Egan, the
Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. (See Note 3, “Debt,” for further
details).
Notwithstanding
previous cost reduction actions taken by the Company and its recent decision
to
shutdown its unprofitable computer games and VoIP telephony services businesses
in March 2007 (see Note 4, “Discontinued Operations” in the accompanying Notes
to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements), the Company continues
to incur substantial consolidated operating losses, although reduced in
comparison with prior periods, and management believes that the Company will
continue to be unprofitable in the foreseeable future. Based upon the Company’s
current financial condition, as discussed above, and without the infusion of
additional capital, management does not believe that the Company will be able
to
fund its operations, including making the $225 thousand payment to its Registry
Operator.which is contractually due on November 15, 2007 (See Note 7.
“Subsequent Event” in the accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements for further discussion), beyond the middle of November
2007.
It
is our
preference to avoid filing for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
However, in order to continue operating as a going concern for any length of
time beyond November 2007, we believe that we must quickly raise capital.
Although there is no commitment to do so, any such funds would most likely
come
from Dancing Bear Investments, Inc., an entity controlled by Michael Egan,
the
Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, under a Note Purchase Agreement
entered into on May 29, 2007 or otherwise from Michael Egan or affiliates of
Mr.
Egan or the Company, as the Company currently has no access to credit facilities
with traditional third parties and has historically relied on borrowings from
related parties to meet short-term liquidity needs. Any such capital raised
would not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and would not be
offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable
exemption from registration requirements. Although, until November 25, 2007,
Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. still has the right to purchase an additional
$1.75 million under the Note Purchase Agreement, there can be no assurance
that
Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. will elect to purchase additional 2007
Convertible Notes. Further, the conversion of any of the convertible debt
securities outstanding as of the current date, or issued in the future, will
likely result in very substantial dilution of the number of outstanding shares
of the Company’s Common Stock.
In
addition to our immediate need to raise capital, we believe that our long-term
financial viability will be determined mainly by our ability to successfully
execute our current and future business plans, including (i) achieving net
growth in the number of “.travel” domain name registrations; (ii) improving and
monetizing our www.search.travel website; (iii) further reducing our operating
expenses; and (iv) successfully settling disputed and other outstanding
liabilities related to our discontinued operations. The amount of capital
required to be raised by the Company will be dependent upon the Company’s
performance in executing its current and future business plans, as measured
principally by the time period needed to begin generating positive internal
cash
flow. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in raising
a
sufficient amount of capital (including selling any additional 2007 Convertible
Notes) or in executing its business plans. Further, even if we raise capital
and
are successful in achieving each of the aforementioned objectives, if demand
for
repayment of any or all of the $4.65 million in outstanding secured debt or
related accrued interest is made, there is no assurance that we will not, and
it
is likely that we will, be required to file for bankruptcy protection at that
time.
Tralliance,
the Company’s Internet services business, began collecting fees related to its
“.travel” registry business in October 2005. In August 2006, we introduced our
online search engine dedicated to the travel industry, www.search.travel,
and
launched a national television campaign to promote the new search engine and
website. During the third quarter of 2006, we also expanded Tralliance’s
domestic and international sales and marketing infrastructure, principally
by
entering into a number of arrangements with third party consultants and
travel-related organizations. At this time, our primary objective is to quickly
and substantially increase Tralliance’s revenue levels. In this regard, we are
focused on accelerating the rate of new “.travel” domain name registrations,
both in the U.S. and in international markets, in order to generate current
revenue and to also provide a base for future registration renewal revenue.
Additionally, we are focused on generating sponsorship and search advertising
revenue streams from our newly established www.search.travel
search
engine and website. We are currently working on developing certain new marketing
programs (including programs related to our October 2007 agreement with our
Registry Operator as discussed in Note 7. “Subsequent Event” of our accompanying
financial statements) to accelerate “.travel” domain name registration revenue
growth and plan to make certain improvements to our www.search.travel website,
however, the implementation of these marketing programs and website improvements
are dependent upon the availability of sufficient cash resources. In addition
to
the factors set forth in the preceding paragraph, management presently believes
that its success in quickly and substantially increasing Tralliance’s revenue
levels will be a critical factor in the Company’s ability to continue as a going
concern.
26
In
March
2007 management and the Board of Directors of the Company made the decision
to
cease all activities related to its Computer Games businesses, including
discontinuing the operations of its magazine publications, e-commerce games
distribution business and related websites. The Company’s decision to shutdown
its Computer Games businesses was based primarily on the historical losses
sustained by these businesses during the recent past and management’s
expectations of continued future losses. As of September 30, 2007, all
significant elements of its computer games business shutdown plan have been
completed by the Company, except for the collection and payment of remaining
outstanding accounts receivables and payables.
In
addition, in March 2007, management and the Board of Directors of the Company
decided to discontinue the operating, research and development activities of
its
VoIP telephony services business and terminate all of the remaining employees
of
the business. The Company’s decision to discontinue the operations of its VoIP
telephony services business was based primarily on the historical losses
sustained by the business during the past several years, management’s
expectations of continued losses for the foreseeable future and estimates of
the
amount of capital required to attempt to successfully monetize its business.
As
of September 30, 2007, all significant elements of its VOIP telephony services
business shutdown plan have been completed except for the resolution of certain
vendor disputes and the payment of remaining outstanding vendor
payables.
We
have
estimated the total amount of costs expected to be incurred in shutting down
our
computer games and VoIP telephony services businesses. The amount of these
shutdown costs, related principally to the termination of VOIP telephony service
contracts, are not yet certain. However, at the present time, we believe that
total cash expenditures for shutdown costs will approximate $24 thousand for
our
computer games business and will not exceed $416 thousand for our VoIP telephony
services business.
The
shares of our Common Stock were delisted from the NASDAQ national market in
April 2001 and are now traded in the over-the-counter market on what is commonly
referred to as the electronic bulletin board or OTCBB. Since the trading price
of our Common Stock is less than $5.00 per share, trading in our Common Stock
is
subject to the requirements of Rule 15g-9 of the Exchange Act. Under Rule
15g-9, brokers who recommend penny stocks to persons who are not established
customers and accredited investors, as defined in the Exchange Act, must satisfy
special sales practice requirements, including requirements that they make
an
individualized written suitability determination for the purchaser; and receive
the purchaser's written consent prior to the transaction. The Securities
Enforcement Remedies and Penny Stock Reform Act of 1990 also requires additional
disclosures in connection with any trades involving a penny stock, including
the
delivery, prior to any penny stock transaction, of a disclosure schedule
explaining the penny stock market and the risks associated with that market.
Such requirements may severely limit the market liquidity of our Common Stock
and the ability of purchasers of our equity securities to sell their securities
in the secondary market. We may also incur additional costs under state blue
sky
laws if we sell equity due to our delisting.
EFFECTS
OF INFLATION
Due
to
relatively low levels of inflation in 2007 and 2006, inflation has not had
a
significant effect on our results of operations since inception.
MANAGEMENT'S
DISCUSSION OF CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The
preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities
and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting
period. Our estimates, judgments and assumptions are continually evaluated
based
on available information and experience. Because of the use of estimates
inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from
those estimates.
27
Certain
of our accounting policies require higher degrees of judgment than others in
their application. These include revenue recognition, valuation of receivables,
valuation of goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets and
capitalization of computer software costs. Our accounting policies and
procedures related to these areas are summarized below.
REVENUE
RECOGNITION
Continuing
Operations -
INTERNET
SERVICES
Internet
services net revenue consists principally of registration fees for Internet
domain registrations, which generally have terms of one year, but may be up
to
ten years. Such registration fees are reported net of transaction fees paid
to
an unrelated third party which serves as the registry operator for the Company.
Net registration fee revenue is recognized on a straight line basis over the
registrations' terms.
Advertising
on our www.search.travel
website
is generally sold at a flat rate for a stated time period and is recognized
on a
straight-line basis over the term of the advertising contract.
Discontinued
Operations -
COMPUTER
GAMES BUSINESSES
Advertising
revenue for the Company's magazine publications was recognized at the
on-sale date of the magazines.
Newsstand
sales of the Company's magazine publications were recognized at the on-sale
date of the magazines, net of provisions for estimated returns. Subscription
revenue, net of agency fees, was deferred when initially received and
recognized as income ratably over the subscription term.
Sales
of
games and related products from the online store were recognized as revenue
when
the product was shipped to the customer. Amounts billed to customers for
shipping and handling charges were included in net revenue. The Company provided
an allowance for returns of merchandise sold through its online
store.
VOIP
TELEPHONY SERVICES
VoIP
telephony services revenue represented fees charged to customers for voice
services and was recognized based on minutes of customer usage or as services
were provided. The Company recorded payments received in advance for prepaid
services as deferred revenue until the related services were
provided.
VALUATION
OF CUSTOMER RECEIVABLES
Provisions
for the allowance for doubtful accounts are made based on historical loss
experience adjusted for specific credit risks. Measurement of such losses
requires consideration of the Company's historical loss experience, judgments
about customer credit risk, and the need to adjust for current economic
conditions.
GOODWILL
AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
In
June
2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 141, "Business Combinations" and
SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." SFAS No. 141 requires
that
certain acquired intangible assets in a business combination be recognized
as
assets separate from goodwill. SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill and other
intangibles with indefinite lives should no longer be amortized, but rather
tested for impairment annually or on an interim basis if events or circumstances
indicate that the fair value of the asset has decreased below its carrying
value.
28
Our
policy calls for the assessment of the potential impairment of goodwill and
other identifiable intangibles with indefinite lives whenever events or changes
in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable or
at
least on an annual basis. Some factors we consider important which could trigger
an impairment review include the following:
·
|
significant
under-performance relative to historical, expected or projected future
operating results;
|
|
|
·
|
significant
changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy
for our overall business; and
|
|
|
·
|
significant
negative industry or economic
trends.
|
When
we
determine that the carrying value of goodwill or other identified intangibles
with indefinite lives may not be recoverable, we measure any impairment based
on
a projected discounted cash flow method.
LONG-LIVED
ASSETS
The
Company's long-lived assets primarily consist of property and equipment,
capitalized costs of internal-use software, and values attributable to covenants
not to compete.
Long-lived
assets held and used by the Company and intangible assets with determinable
lives are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate
that
the carrying amount of assets may not be recoverable in accordance with SFAS
No.
144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." We
evaluate recoverability of assets to be held and used by comparing the carrying
amount of the assets, or the appropriate grouping of assets, to an estimate
of
undiscounted future cash flows to be generated by the assets, or asset group.
If
such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized
is
measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the
fair value of the assets. Fair values are based on quoted market values, if
available. If quoted market prices are not available, the estimate of fair
value
may be based on the discounted value of the estimated future cash flows
attributable to the assets, or other valuation techniques deemed reasonable
in
the circumstances.
CAPITALIZATION
OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE COSTS
The
Company capitalizes the cost of internal-use software which has a useful life
in
excess of one year in accordance with Statement of Position No. 98-1,
"Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for
Internal Use." Subsequent additions, modifications, or upgrades to internal-use
software are capitalized only to the extent that they allow the software to
perform a task it previously did not perform. Software maintenance and training
costs are expensed in the period in which they are incurred. Capitalized
computer software costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the
expected useful life, or three years.
IMPACT
OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In
February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No.
159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.”
SFAS No. 159 expands the scope of what entities may carry at fair value by
offering an irrevocable option to record many types of financial assets and
liabilities at fair value. Changes in fair value would be recorded in an
entity’s income statement. This accounting standard also establishes
presentation and disclosure requirements that are intended to facilitate
comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for
similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 159 is effective for the
Company on January 1, 2008. Earlier application is permitted under certain
circumstances. We are currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 159
and
have not yet determined the impact on our consolidated financial
statements.
29
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This
standard defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value
in
generally accepted accounting principles and expands disclosure about fair
value
measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies to other accounting standards that require
or
permit fair value measurements. Accordingly, this statement does not require
any
new fair value measurement. This statement is effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years.
We are currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 157 and have not
determined the impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In
September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) No. 108,
“Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying
Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements.” SAB No. 108 addresses how
the effects of prior year uncorrected misstatements should be considered when
quantifying misstatements in current year financial statements. SAB No. 108
requires companies to quantify misstatements using a balance sheet and income
statement approach and to evaluate whether either approach results in
quantifying an error that is material in light of relevant quantitative and
qualitative factors. SAB No. 108 permits existing public companies to initially
apply its provisions either by (i) restating prior financial statements as
if
the “dual approach” had always been used or (ii) recording the cumulative effect
of initially applying the “dual approach” as adjustments to the carrying value
of assets and liabilities as of January 1, 2006 with an offsetting adjustment
recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings. Use of the “cumulative
effect” transition method requires detailed disclosure of the nature and amount
of each individual error being corrected through the cumulative adjustment
and
how and when it arose. The adoption of this standard did not have a material
impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or
liquidity.
In
June
2006, the FASB issued Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty
in Income Taxes,” an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for
Income Taxes,” which clarifies accounting for and disclosure of uncertainty in
tax positions. FIN No. 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement
attribute for the financial recognition and measurement of a tax position taken
or expected to be taken in a tax return. The interpretation is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. We have evaluated the impact
of
adopting FIN No. 48 on our consolidated financial statements, and the adoption
of FIN No. 48 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial
position, cash flows and results of operations.
Interest
Rate Risk. Interest rate risk refers to fluctuations in the value of a security
resulting from changes in the general level of interest rates. Investments
that
we classify as cash and cash equivalents have original maturities of three
months or less and therefore, are not affected in any material respect by
changes in market interest rates. At September 30, 2007, debt outstanding was
composed of $4.65 million of fixed rate instruments due on demand with an
aggregate average interest rate of 10.00%.
Foreign
Currency Risk. We transact business in U.S. dollars. Foreign currency exchange
rate fluctuations do not have a material effect on our results of
operations.
We
maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure (1)
that
information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified
in the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") rules and forms, and (2)
that this information is accumulated and communicated to management, including
our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to
allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and
evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that
any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can
provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives,
and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating
the
cost benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Our
Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness
of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2007. Based on
that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer
have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in
alerting them in a timely manner to material information regarding us (including
our consolidated subsidiaries) that is required to be included in our periodic
reports to the SEC.
30
Our
management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief
Financial Officer, have evaluated any change in our internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2007
that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect,
our
internal control over financial reporting, and have determined there to be
no
reportable changes.
See
Note
6, "Litigation," of the Financial Statements included in this
Report.
ITEM
1A. RISK FACTORS
In
addition to the other information in this report, the following factors should
be carefully considered in evaluating our business and prospects.
RISKS
RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS GENERALLY
WE
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTINUE AS A GOING CONCERN.
We
have
received a report from our independent accountants, relating to our December
31,
2006 audited financial statements containing an explanatory paragraph stating
that our recurring losses from operations and our accumulated deficit raise
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. For the
reasons described below, Company management does not believe that cash on hand
and cash flow generated internally by the Company will be adequate to fund
the
operation of its businesses beyond a short period of time. These reasons raise
significant doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going
concern.
As
of
September 30, 2007, the Company had a net working capital deficit of
approximately $9.4 million, inclusive of a cash and cash equivalents balance
of
approximately $412 thousand. Such working capital deficit included an aggregate
of $4.65 million in secured convertible demand notes and accrued interest of
approximately $838 thousand due to entities controlled by Michael Egan, the
Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
(See
Note
3, “Debt,” in the accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements for further details).
Notwithstanding
previous cost reduction actions taken by the Company and its recent decision
to
shutdown its unprofitable computer games and VoIP telephony services businesses
in March 2007 (see Note 4, “Discontinued Operations” of the Notes to Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements), the Company continues to incur
substantial consolidated operating losses, although reduced in comparison with
prior periods, and management believes that the Company will continue to be
unprofitable in the foreseeable future. Based upon the Company’s current
financial condition, as discussed above, and without the infusion of additional
capital, management does not believe that the Company will be able to fund
its
operations, including making the $225 thousand payment to our Registry Operator
which is contractually due on November 15, 2007 (See Note 7. “Subsequent Event”
in the accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements for further discussion), beyond the middle of November
2007.
It
is our
preference to avoid filing for protection under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
However, in order to continue operating as a going concern for any length of
time beyond November 2007, we believe that we must quickly raise capital.
Although there is no commitment to do so, any such funds would most likely
come
from Dancing Bear Investments, Inc., an entity controlled by Michael Egan,
the
Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, under a Note Purchase Agreement
entered into on May 29, 2007 or otherwise from Michael Egan or affiliates of
Mr.
Egan or the Company, as the Company currently has no access to credit facilities
with traditional third parties and has historically relied on borrowings from
related parties to meet short-term liquidity needs. Any such capital raised
would not be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and would not be
offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable
exemption from registration requirements. Although, until November 25, 2007,
Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. still has the right to purchase an additional
$1.75 million under the Note Purchase Agreement, there can be no assurance
that
Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. will elect to purchase additional 2007
Convertible Notes.
Further,
the conversion of any of the convertible debt securities outstanding as of
the
current date, or issued in the future, will likely result in very substantial
dilution of the number of outstanding shares of the Company’s Common
Stock.
31
In
addition to our immediate need to raise capital, we believe that our long-term
financial viability will be determined mainly by our ability to successfully
execute our current and future business plans, including (i) achieving net
growth in the number of “.travel” domain name registrations; (ii) improving and
monetizing our www.search.travel
website;
(iii)
further reducing our operating expenses; and (iv) successfully settling disputed
and other outstanding liabilities related to our discontinued operations. The
amount of capital required to be raised by the Company will be dependent upon
the Company’s performance in executing its current and future business plans, as
measured principally by the time period needed to begin generating positive
internal cash flow. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in raising a sufficient amount of capital (including selling any
additional 2007 Convertible Notes) or
in
executing its business plans. Further, even if we raise capital and are
successful in achieving each of the aforementioned objectives, if demand for
repayment of any or all of the approximately $4.65 million in
outstanding secured debt as of the current date or related accrued interest
is
made, there is no assurance that we will not, and it is likely that we will,
be
required to file for bankruptcy protection at that time.
WE
HAVE A HISTORY OF OPERATING LOSSES AND EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO INCUR
LOSSES.
Since
our
inception, we have incurred net losses each year and we expect that we will
continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future. We had losses from
continuing operations, net of applicable income tax benefits, of approximately
$5.9 million for the first nine months of 2007 and $17.0 million, $13.3 million
and $24.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004,
respectively. The principal causes of our losses are likely to continue to
be:
·
|
costs
resulting from the operation of our
business;
|
·
|
failure
to generate sufficient revenue; and
|
·
|
selling,
general and administrative
expenses.
|
Although
we have restructured our businesses, we still expect to continue to incur losses
as we attempt to improve the performance and operating results of our Internet
services business and while we attempt to complete the shutdown of our recently
discontinued computer games and VoIP telephony services businesses.
WE
ARE A PARTY TO LITIGATION MATTERS AND OTHER CLAIMS THAT MAY SUBJECT US TO
SIGNIFICANT LIABILITY AND BE TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE.
We
are
currently a party to litigation and other claims and/or disputes arising in
the
ordinary course of business. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate the
range of any loss or damages resulting from any of the pending lawsuits or
claims due to uncertainty regarding the ultimate outcome. The defense of any
litigation or the process required to resolve outstanding claims and/or disputes
may be expensive and divert management's attention from day-to-day operations.
An adverse outcome in any of these matters could materially and adversely affect
our results of operations and financial position and may utilize a significant
portion of our cash resources. See Note 6, “Litigation,” in the Notes to
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further details
regarding outstanding legal matters.
OUR
NET OPERATING LOSS CARRYFORWARDS MAY BE SUBSTANTIALLY
LIMITED.
As
of
December 31, 2006, we had net operating loss carryforwards which may be
potentially available for U.S. tax purposes of approximately $162 million.
These
carryforwards expire through 2026. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 imposes
substantial restrictions on the utilization of net operating losses and tax
credits in the event of an "ownership change" of a corporation. Due to various
significant changes in our ownership interests, as defined in the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, we have substantially limited the availability
of our net operating loss carryforwards. There can be no assurance that we
will
be able to utilize any net operating loss carryforwards in the
future.
32
WE
DEPEND ON THE CONTINUED GROWTH IN THE USE AND COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF THE
INTERNET.
Our
business is substantially dependent upon the continued growth in the general
use
of the Internet. Internet and electronic commerce growth may be inhibited for
a
number of reasons, including:
·
|
inadequate
network infrastructure;
|
·
|
security
and authentication concerns;
|
·
|
inadequate
quality and availability of cost-effective, high-speed
service;
|
·
|
general
economic and business downturns;
and
|
·
|
catastrophic
events, including war and
terrorism.
|
As
web
usage grows, the Internet infrastructure may not be able to support the demands
placed on it by this growth or its performance and reliability may decline.
Websites have experienced interruptions in their service as a result of outages
and other delays occurring throughout the Internet network infrastructure.
If
these outages or delays frequently occur in the future, web usage, as well
as
usage of our services, could grow more slowly or decline. Also, the Internet's
commercial viability may be significantly hampered due to:
·
|
delays
in the development or adoption of new operating and technical standards
and performance improvements required to handle increased levels
of
activity;
|
·
|
increased
government regulation;
|
·
|
potential
governmental taxation of such services;
and
|
·
|
insufficient
availability of telecommunications services which could result in
slower
response times and adversely affect usage of the
Internet.
|
WE
MAY FACE INCREASED GOVERNMENT REGULATION, TAXATION AND LEGAL UNCERTAINTIES
IN
OUR INDUSTRY, BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, WHICH COULD NEGATIVELY
IMPACT OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION AND/OR OUR RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS.
There
are
an increasing number of federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations
pertaining to the Internet. In addition, a number of federal, state, local
and
foreign legislative and regulatory proposals are under consideration. Laws
and
regulations have been and will likely continue to be adopted with respect to
the
Internet relating to, among other things, liability for information retrieved
from or transmitted over the Internet, online content regulation, user privacy,
data protection, pricing, content, copyrights, distribution, electronic
contracts and other communications, consumer protection, the provision of online
payment services, broadband residential Internet access and the characteristics
and quality of products and services.
Changes
in tax laws relating to electronic commerce could materially affect our
business, prospects and financial condition. One or more states or foreign
countries may seek to impose sales or other tax collection obligations on
out-of-jurisdiction companies that engage in electronic commerce. A successful
assertion by one or more states or foreign countries that we should collect
sales or other taxes on services could result in substantial tax liabilities
for
past sales, decrease our ability to compete with other entities involved in
the
industries in which we participate, and otherwise harm our
business.
33
Moreover,
the applicability to the Internet of existing laws governing issues such as
intellectual property ownership and infringement, copyright, trademark, trade
secret, obscenity, libel, employment and personal privacy is uncertain and
developing. It is not clear how existing laws governing issues such as property
ownership, sales and other taxes, libel, and personal privacy apply to the
Internet and electronic commerce. Any new legislation or regulation, or the
application or interpretation of existing laws or regulations, may decrease
the
growth in the use of the Internet, may impose additional burdens on electronic
commerce or may alter how we do business. This could decrease the demand for
our
existing or proposed services, increase our cost of doing business, increase
the
costs of products sold through the Internet or otherwise have a material adverse
effect on our business, plans, prospects, results of operations and financial
condition.
WE
RELY ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS.
We
regard
substantial elements of our websites and underlying technology as proprietary
and attempt to protect them by relying on intellectual property laws and
restrictions on disclosure. We also generally enter into confidentiality
agreements with our employees and consultants. In connection with our license
agreements with third parties, we generally seek to control access to and
distribution of our technology and other proprietary information. Despite these
precautions, it may be possible for a third party to copy or otherwise obtain
and use our proprietary information without authorization or to develop similar
technology independently. Thus, we cannot assure you that the steps taken by
us
will prevent misappropriation or infringement of our proprietary information,
which could have an adverse effect on our business. In addition, our competitors
may independently develop similar technology, duplicate our products, or design
around our intellectual property rights.
We
pursue
the registration of our trademarks in the United States and, in some cases,
internationally. However, effective intellectual property protection may not
be
available in every country in which our services are distributed or made
available through the Internet. Policing unauthorized use of our proprietary
information is difficult. Legal standards relating to the validity,
enforceability and scope of protection of proprietary rights in Internet related
businesses are also uncertain and still evolving. We cannot assure you about
the
future viability or value of any of our proprietary rights.
Litigation
may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights
or to
determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. However,
we may not have sufficient funds or personnel to adequately litigate or
otherwise protect our rights. Furthermore, we cannot assure you that our
business activities and product offerings will not infringe upon the proprietary
rights of others, or that other parties will not assert infringement claims
against us, including claims related to providing hyperlinks to websites
operated by third parties, sending unsolicited email messages or providing
advertising on a keyword basis that links a specific search term entered by
a
user to the appearance of a particular advertisement. Moreover, from time to
time, third parties have asserted and may in the future assert claims of alleged
infringement by us of their intellectual property rights. In the fourth quarter
of 2005, we were sued by Sprint Communications Company, L.P. (“Sprint”) for
alleged unauthorized use of “inventions” described and claimed in seven patents
held by Sprint. In August 2006, we entered into a settlement agreement with
Sprint which resolved the pending patent infringement lawsuit. As part of the
settlement, we agreed to enter into a non-exclusive license under certain of
Sprint’s patents. Additionally, on February 28, 2007, the United States District
Court for the Central District of California entered an order, related to the
lawsuit filed against theglobe by MySpace, Inc. (“MySpace”), granting in part
MySpace’s motion for summary judgment, finding that we were liable for violation
of the CAN-SPAM Act and the California Business & Professions Code, and for
breach of contract. On March 15, 2007, the Company entered into a Settlement
Agreement with MySpace whereby, among other things, the Company agreed to pay
MySpace approximately $2.6 million in exchange for a mutual release of all
claims against one another, including any claims against the Company’s directors
and officers. See Note 6, “Litigation,” in the Notes to Unaudited
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further details regarding the
MySpace settlement. Any litigation claims or counterclaims could impair
our business because they could:
·
|
be
time-consuming;
|
·
|
result
in significant costs;
|
·
|
subject
us to significant liability for
damages;
|
·
|
result
in invalidation of our proprietary
rights;
|
34
·
|
divert
management's attention;
|
·
|
cause
product release delays; or
|
·
|
require
us to redesign our products or require us to enter into royalty or
licensing agreements that may not be available on terms acceptable
to us,
or at all.
|
We
license from third parties various technologies incorporated into our products,
networks and sites. We cannot assure you that these third-party technology
licenses will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms.
Additionally, we cannot assure you that the third parties from which we license
our technology will be able to defend our proprietary rights successfully
against claims of infringement. As a result, our inability to obtain any of
these technology licenses could result in delays or reductions in the
introduction of new products and services or could adversely affect the
performance of our existing products and services until equivalent technology
can be identified, licensed and integrated.
The
regulation of domain names in the United States and in foreign countries may
change. Regulatory bodies could establish and have established additional
top-level domains, could appoint additional domain name registries or could
modify the requirements for holding domain names, any or all of which may dilute
the strength of our names or our “.travel” domain registry business. We may not
acquire or maintain our domain names in all of the countries in which our
websites may be accessed, or for any or all of the top-level domain names that
may be introduced. The relationship between regulations governing domain names
and laws protecting proprietary rights is unclear. Therefore, we may not be
able
to prevent third parties from acquiring domain names that infringe or otherwise
decrease the value of our trademarks and other proprietary rights.
WE
MAY BE UNSUCCESSFUL IN ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING BRAND AWARENESS; BRAND
IDENTITY IS CRITICAL TO OUR COMPANY.
Our
success in the markets in which we operate will depend on our ability to create
and maintain brand awareness for our product offerings. This has in some cases
required, and may continue to require, a significant amount of capital to allow
us to market our products and establish brand recognition and customer loyalty.
Many of our competitors are larger than us and have substantially greater
financial resources.
If
we
fail to promote and maintain our various brands or our business' brand values
are diluted, our business, operating results, and financial condition could
be
materially adversely affected. The importance of brand recognition will continue
to increase because low barriers of entry to the industries in which we operate
may result in an increased number of direct competitors. To promote our brands,
we may be required to continue to increase our financial commitment to creating
and maintaining brand awareness. We may not generate a corresponding increase
in
revenue to justify these costs.
OUR
QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS FLUCTUATE.
Due
to
our significant change in operations, including the entry into new lines of
business and disposition and/or cessation of other lines of business, our
historical quarterly operating results are not necessarily reflective of future
results. The factors that will cause our quarterly operating results to
fluctuate in the future include:
·
|
the
outcome and costs related to defending and settling litigation, claims
and
disputes;
|
·
|
changes
in the number of sales or technical
employees;
|
·
|
the
level of traffic on our websites;
|
·
|
the
overall demand for Internet travel services and Internet
advertising;
|
·
|
the
addition or loss of “.travel” domain name registrants, advertising clients
of our www.search.travel
website and electronic commerce partners on our
website;
|
35
·
|
overall
usage and acceptance of the
Internet;
|
·
|
seasonal
trends in advertising and electronic commerce sales in our
business;
|
·
|
costs
relating to the implementation or cessation of marketing plans for
our
business;
|
·
|
other
costs relating to the maintenance of our
operations;
|
·
|
the
restructuring of our business;
|
·
|
failure
to generate significant revenues and profit margins from new and/or
existing products and services; and
|
·
|
competition
from others providing services similar to
ours.
|
OUR
LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY MAKES FINANCIAL FORECASTING DIFFICULT. OUR
INEXPERIENCE IN THE INTERNET SERVICES BUSINESS WILL MAKE FINANCIAL FORECASTING
EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.
We
have a
limited operating history for you to use in evaluating our prospects and us,
particularly as it pertains to our Internet services business. Our prospects
should be considered in light of the risks encountered by companies operating
in
new and rapidly evolving markets like ours. We may not successfully address
these risks. For example, we may not be able to:
·
|
maintain
or increase levels of user traffic on our www.search.travel
website;
|
·
|
generate
and maintain adequate levels of “.travel” domain name
registrations;
|
·
|
generate
and maintain adequate www.search.travel
advertising revenue;
|
·
|
adapt
to meet changes in our markets and competitive developments;
and
|
·
|
identify,
attract, retain and motivate qualified
personnel.
|
OUR
MANAGEMENT TEAM IS INEXPERIENCED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF A LARGE OPERATING
COMPANY.
Only
our
Chairman has had experience managing a large operating company. Accordingly,
we
cannot assure you that:
·
|
our
key employees will be able to work together effectively as a
team;
|
·
|
we
will be able to retain the remaining members of our management
team;
|
·
|
we
will be able to hire, train and manage our employee
base;
|
·
|
our
systems, procedures or controls will be adequate to support our
operations; and
|
·
|
our
management will be able to achieve the rapid execution necessary
to fully
exploit the market opportunity for our products and
services.
|
36
WE
DEPEND ON HIGHLY QUALIFIED TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL
PERSONNEL
Our
future success also depends on our continuing ability to attract, retain and
motivate highly qualified technical expertise and managerial personnel necessary
to operate our businesses. We may need to give retention bonuses and stock
incentives to certain employees to keep them, which can be costly to us. The
loss of the services of members of our management team or other key personnel
could harm our business. Our future success depends to a significant extent
on
the continued service of key management, client service, sales and technical
personnel. We do not maintain key person life insurance on any of our executive
officers and do not intend to purchase any in the future. Although we generally
enter into non-competition agreements with our key employees, our business
could
be harmed if one or more of our officers or key employees decided to join a
competitor or otherwise compete with us.
We
may be
unable to attract, assimilate or retain highly qualified technical and
managerial personnel in the future. Our deteriorating financial performance
creates uncertainty that may result in departures of key employees and our
inability to attract suitable replacements and/or additional managerial
personnel in the future. Wages for managerial and technical employees are
increasing and are expected to continue to increase in the future. We have
from
time to time in the past experienced, and could continue to experience in the
future if we need to hire any additional personnel, difficulty in hiring and
retaining highly skilled employees with appropriate qualifications. If we were
unable to attract and retain the technical and managerial personnel necessary
to
support and grow our businesses, our businesses would likely be materially
and
adversely affected.
OUR
OFFICERS, INCLUDING OUR CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRESIDENT
HAVE
OTHER INTERESTS AND TIME COMMITMENTS; WE HAVE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITH SOME
OF
OUR DIRECTORS; ALL OF OUR DIRECTORS ARE EMPLOYEES OR STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY
OR AFFILIATES OF OUR LARGEST STOCKHOLDER.
Because
our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Egan, is an officer or
director of other companies, we have to compete for his time. Mr. Egan became
our Chief Executive Officer effective June 1, 2002. Mr. Egan is also the
controlling investor of Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. and E&C Capital
Partners LLLP, which are our largest stockholders. Mr. Egan has not committed
to
devote any specific percentage of his business time with us. Accordingly, we
compete with Dancing Bear Investments, Inc., E&C Capital Partners LLLP, Blue
Wall, LLC and Mr. Egan's other related entities for his time.
Our
President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and Director, Mr. Edward A.
Cespedes, is also an officer or director of other companies. Accordingly, we
must compete for his time. Mr. Cespedes is an officer or director of various
privately held entities and is also affiliated with Dancing Bear Investments,
Inc.
Our
Vice
President of Finance and Director, Ms. Robin Lebowitz is also affiliated with
Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. She is also an officer or director of other
companies or entities controlled by Mr. Egan and Mr. Cespedes.
Due
to
the relationships with his related entities, Mr. Egan will have an inherent
conflict of interest in making any decision related to transactions between
the
related entities and us, including investment in our securities. Furthermore,
the Company's Board of Directors presently is comprised entirely of individuals
which are employees of theglobe, and therefore are not "independent." We intend
to review related party transactions in the future on a case-by-case
basis.
WE
RELY ON THIRD PARTY OUTSOURCED HOSTING FACILITIES OVER WHICH WE HAVE LIMITED
CONTROL.
Our
principal servers are located in areas throughout the eastern region of the
United States primarily at third party outsourced hosting facilities. Our
operations depend on the ability to protect our systems against damage from
unexpected events, including fire, power loss, water damage, telecommunications
failures and vandalism. Any disruption in our Internet access could have a
material adverse effect on us. In addition, computer viruses, electronic
break-ins or other similar disruptive problems could also materially adversely
affect our businesses. Our reputation and/or the brands of our business could
be
materially and adversely affected by any problems experienced by our websites,
databases or our supporting information technology networks. We may not have
insurance to adequately compensate us for any losses that may occur due to
any
failures or interruptions in our systems. We do not presently have any secondary
off-site systems or a formal disaster recovery plan.
37
HACKERS
MAY ATTEMPT TO PENETRATE OUR SECURITY SYSTEM; ONLINE SECURITY BREACHES COULD
HARM OUR BUSINESS.
Consumer
and supplier confidence in our businesses depends on maintaining relevant
security features. Substantial or ongoing security breaches on our systems
or
other Internet-based systems could significantly harm our business. We incur
substantial expenses protecting against and remedying security breaches.
Security breaches also could damage our reputation and expose us to a risk
of
loss or litigation. Experienced programmers or "hackers" have successfully
penetrated our systems and we expect that these attempts will continue to occur
from time to time. Because a hacker who is able to penetrate our network
security could misappropriate proprietary or confidential information or cause
interruptions in our products and services, we may have to expend significant
capital and resources to protect against or to alleviate problems caused by
these hackers. Additionally, we may not have a timely remedy against a hacker
who is able to penetrate our network security. Such security breaches could
materially adversely affect our company. In addition, the transmission of
computer viruses resulting from hackers or otherwise could expose us to
significant liability. Our insurance may not be adequate to reimburse us for
losses caused by security breaches. We also face risks associated with security
breaches affecting third parties with whom we have relationships.
WE
MAY BE EXPOSED TO LIABILITY FOR INFORMATION RETRIEVED FROM OR TRANSMITTED OVER
THE INTERNET.
Users
may
access content on our websites or the websites of our distribution partners
or
other third parties through website links or other means, and they may download
content and subsequently transmit this content to others over the Internet.
This
could result in claims against us based on a variety of theories, including
defamation, obscenity, negligence, copyright infringement, trademark
infringement or the wrongful actions of third parties. Other theories may be
brought based on the nature, publication and distribution of our content or
based on errors or false or misleading information provided on our websites.
Claims have been brought against online services in the past and we have
received inquiries from third parties regarding these matters. Such claims
could
be material in the future.
WE
MAY BE EXPOSED TO LIABILITY FOR PRODUCTS OR SERVICES SOLD OVER THE INTERNET,
INCLUDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES SOLD BY OTHERS.
We
enter
into agreements with commerce partners and sponsors under which, in some cases,
we are entitled to receive a share of revenue from the purchase of goods and
services through direct links from our sites. We cannot assure you that any
indemnification that may be provided to us in some of these agreements with
these parties will be adequate. Even if these claims do not result in our
liability, we could incur significant costs in investigating and defending
against these claims. The imposition of potential liability for information
carried on or disseminated through our systems could require us to implement
measures to reduce our exposure to liability. Those measures may require the
expenditure of substantial resources and limit the attractiveness of our
services. Additionally, our insurance policies may not cover all potential
liabilities to which we are exposed.
WE
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT SECTION 404 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT ON A TIMELY
BASIS.
The
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as directed by Section 404 of
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, adopted rules generally requiring each public company
to
include a report of management on the company's internal controls over financial
reporting in its annual report on Form 10-K that contains an assessment by
management of the effectiveness of the company's internal controls over
financial reporting. This requirement will first apply to our annual report
on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007. In addition, at December
31, 2008 the company's independent registered public accounting firm must attest
to and report on management's assessment of the effectiveness of the company's
internal controls over financial reporting.
We
have
not yet developed a Section 404 implementation plan. We have in the past
discovered, and may in the future discover, areas of our internal controls
that
need improvement.
We
may
need to hire and/or engage additional personnel and incur incremental costs
in
order to complete the work required by Section 404. There can be no assurance
that we will be able to complete a Section 404 plan on a timely basis. The
Company's liquidity position will also impact our ability to adequately fund
our
Section 404 efforts.
38
Even
if
we timely complete a Section 404 plan, we may not be able to conclude that
our
internal controls over financial reporting are effective, or in the event that
we conclude that our internal controls are effective, our independent
accountants may disagree with our assessment and may issue a report that is
qualified. This could subject the Company to regulatory scrutiny and a loss
of
public confidence in our internal controls. In addition, any failure to
implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in
their implementation, could harm the Company's operating results or cause the
Company to fail to meet its reporting obligations.
RISKS
RELATING TO OUR INTERNET SERVICES BUSINESS
OUR
CONTRACT TO SERVE AS THE REGISTRY FOR THE “.TRAVEL” TOP-LEVEL DOMAIN MAY BE
TERMINATED EARLY, WHICH WOULD LIKELY DO IRREPARABLE HARM TO OUR DEVELOPING
INTERNET SERVICES BUSINESS.
Our
contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”)
to serve as the registry for the “.travel” top-level Internet domain is for an
initial term of ten years. Additionally, we have agreed to engage in good faith
negotiations at regular intervals throughout the term of our contract (at least
once every three years) regarding possible changes to the provisions of the
contract, including changes in the fees and payments that we are required to
make to ICANN. In the event that we materially and fundamentally breach the
contract and fail to cure such breach within thirty days of notice, ICANN has
the right to immediately terminate our contract.
Should
our “.travel” registry contract be terminated early by ICANN, we would likely
permanently shutdown our Internet services business. Further, we could be held
liable to pay additional fees or financial damages to ICANN or certain of our
related subcontractors and, in certain limited circumstances, to pay punitive,
exemplary or other damages to ICANN. Any such developments could have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition and results of
operations.
OUR
BUSINESS COULD BE MATERIALLY HARMED IF IN THE FUTURE THE ADMINISTRATION AND
OPERATION OF THE INTERNET NO LONGER RELIES UPON THE EXISTING DOMAIN NAME
SYSTEM.
The
domain name registration industry continues to develop and adapt to changing
technology. This development may include changes in the administration or
operation of the Internet, including the creation and institution of alternate
systems for directing Internet traffic without the use of the existing domain
name system. The widespread acceptance of any alternative systems could
eliminate the need to register a domain name to establish an online presence
and
could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
WE
OUTSOURCE CERTAIN OPERATIONS WHICH EXPOSES US TO RISKS RELATED TO OUR THIRD
PARTY VENDORS.
We
do not
develop and maintain all of the products and services that we offer. We offer
most of our services to our customers through various third party service
providers engaged to perform these services on our behalf and also outsource
most of our operations to third parties. Accordingly, we are dependent, in
part,
on the services of third party service providers, which may raise concerns
by
our customers regarding our ability to control the services we offer them if
certain elements are managed by another company. In the event that these service
providers fail to maintain adequate levels of support, do not provide high
quality service, discontinue their lines of business, cease or reduce operations
or terminate their contracts with us, our business, operations and customer
relations may be impacted negatively and we may be required to pursue
replacement third party relationships, which we may not be able to obtain on
as
favorable terms or at all. If a problem should arise with a provider,
transitioning services and data from one provider to another can often be a
complicated and time consuming process and we cannot assure that if we need
to
switch from a provider we would be able to do so without significant
disruptions, or at all. If we were unable to complete a transition to a new
provider on a timely basis, or at all, we could be forced to either temporarily
or permanently discontinue certain services which may disrupt services to our
customers. Any failure to provide services would have a negative impact on
our
revenue, profitability and financial condition and could materially harm our
Internet services business.
39
REGULATORY
AND STATUTORY CHANGES COULD HARM OUR INTERNET SERVICES
BUSINESS.
We
cannot
predict with any certainty the effect that new governmental or regulatory
policies, including changes in consumer privacy policies or industry reaction
to
those policies, will have on our domain name registry business. Additionally,
ICANN’s limited resources may seriously affect its ability to carry out its
mandate or could force ICANN to impose additional fees on registries. Changes
in
governmental or regulatory statutes or policies could cause decreases in future
revenue and increases in future costs which could have a material adverse effect
on the development of our domain name registry business.
OUR
INTERNET SERVICES BUSINESS IS DEPENDENT ON THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY. OUR BUSINESS
MAY
BE AFFECTED BY EVENTS WHICH AFFECT THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY IN
GENERAL.
Revenue
and cash flows of our Internet services business principally result from the
registrations of domain names in the “.travel” top level domain. The ability to
register such domain names are only available to businesses which are involved
in the travel industry. Events such as terrorist attacks, military actions
and
natural disasters have had a significant adverse affect on the travel industry
in the past. In addition, recessions or other economic pressures, such as the
level of employment in the U.S or abroad have also had negative impacts on
the
travel industry. The overall demand for advertising, as well as the level of
consumer travel may also be linked to such events or economic conditions. If
such events result in a negative impact on the travel industry, such impact
could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations
and
financial condition.
WE
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTRACT ADVERTISERS OR INTERNET USERS TO OUR SEARCH.TRAVEL
WEBSITE.
Our
www.search.travel
search
engine competes for advertising dollars with large Internet portal and search
engine sites, such as Google, America Online, MSN and Yahoo!, that offer
listings or other advertising opportunities for travel companies. These
companies have significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other
resources and larger client bases. In addition, we also compete with traditional
media companies, such as newspaper and magazine publishers, that provide online
advertising opportunities on their websites. We expect to face additional
competition as other companies enter the online advertising market. If we do
not
attract a sufficient number of Internet users and advertisers to our search
engine website, our present business model may not be successful and our
business could be adversely affected.
RISKS
RELATING TO OUR RECENTLY DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
WE
MAY INCUR EXCESSIVE SHUTDOWN COSTS.
In
connection with our recent decision to discontinue the operations of our
computer games and VoIP telephony services businesses, we have evaluated the
amount of costs expected to be incurred in shutting down these businesses.
The
amount of these shutdown costs, principally related to vendor contract
termination costs, are not yet certain, however, at the present time, we believe
that total shutdown costs for both businesses combined will range from between
$24 thousand to $440 thousand. Although we will attempt to negotiate vendor
settlements near the lower end of this range, there can be no assurance that
we
will be successful. Additionally, liabilities presently unknown to us could
be
identified in the future. Either or both of these adverse outcomes could
negatively impact the Company’s already weakened liquidity and financial
condition.
40
RISKS
RELATING TO OUR COMMON STOCK
THE
VOLUME OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE SALE IN THE OPEN MARKET COULD DRIVE DOWN
THE PRICE OF OUR STOCK OR KEEP OUR STOCK PRICE FROM IMPROVING, EVEN IF OUR
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IMPROVES.
As
of
November 9, 2007, we had issued and outstanding approximately 172.5 million
shares, of which approximately 88.5 million shares were freely tradable over
the
public markets. There is limited trading volume in our shares and we are now
traded only in the over-the-counter market. Most of our outstanding restricted
shares of Common Stock were issued more than one year ago and are therefore
eligible to be resold over the public markets pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Sales
of
significant amounts of Common Stock in the public market in the future, the
perception that sales will occur or the registration of additional shares
pursuant to existing contractual obligations could materially and adversely
drive down the price of our stock. In addition, such factors could adversely
affect the ability of the market price of the Common Stock to increase even
if
our business prospects were to improve. Substantially all of our stockholders
holding restricted securities, including shares issuable upon the exercise
of
warrants or the conversion of convertible notes to acquire our Common Stock
(which are convertible into 193 million shares as of the date of this filing),
have registration rights under various conditions and are or will become
available for resale in the future. In addition, the holder of the 2007
Convertible Notes has the option to acquire an additional $1.75 million of
such
Notes, which would be convertible into an additional 175 million shares, for
which the holder has been granted registration rights.
In
addition, as of September 30, 2007, there were outstanding options to purchase
approximately 17.8 million shares
of
our Common Stock, which become eligible for sale in the public market from
time
to time depending on vesting and the expiration of lock-up agreements. The
shares issuable upon exercise of these options are registered under the
Securities Act and accordingly, subject to certain volume restrictions as to
shares issuable to executive officers, will be freely tradable.
Also
as
of November 9, 2007, we had issued and outstanding warrants to acquire
approximately 16.9 million shares of our Common Stock.
Many of
the outstanding instruments representing the warrants contain anti-dilution
provisions pursuant to which the exercise prices and number of shares issuable
upon exercise may be adjusted.
OUR
CHAIRMAN MAY CONTROL US.
Michael
S. Egan, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, beneficially owns or
controls, directly or indirectly, approximately 369 million shares of our Common
Stock as of November 9, 2007, which in the aggregate represents approximately
78% of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock (treating as outstanding
for
this purpose the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise and/or conversion
of the options, convertible promissory notes (including the 2007 Convertible
Notes) and warrants owned by Mr. Egan or his affiliates). Accordingly, Mr.
Egan
will be able to exercise significant influence over, if not control, any
stockholder vote.
DELISTING
OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR INVESTORS TO SELL SHARES. THIS
MAY POTENTIALLY LEAD TO FUTURE MARKET DECLINES.
The
shares of our Common Stock were delisted from the NASDAQ national market in
April 2001 and are now traded in the over-the-counter market on what is commonly
referred to as the electronic bulletin board or "OTCBB." As a result, an
investor may find it more difficult to dispose of or obtain accurate quotations
as to the market value of the securities. The delisting has made trading our
shares more difficult for investors, potentially leading to further declines
in
share price and making it less likely our stock price will increase. It has
also
made it more difficult for us to raise additional capital. We may also incur
additional costs under state blue-sky laws if we sell equity due to our
delisting.
41
OUR
COMMON STOCK IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN "PENNY STOCK" RULES WHICH MAY MAKE IT A
LESS
ATTRACTIVE INVESTMENT.
Since
the
trading price of our Common Stock is less than $5.00 per share, trading in
our
Common Stock is subject to the requirements of Rule 15g-9 of the Exchange Act.
Under Rule 15g-9, brokers who recommend penny stocks to persons who are not
established customers and accredited investors, as defined in the Exchange
Act,
must satisfy special sales practice requirements, including requirements that
they make an individualized written suitability determination for the purchaser;
and receive the purchaser's written consent prior to the transaction. The
Securities Enforcement Remedies and Penny Stock Reform Act of 1990 also requires
additional disclosures in connection with any trades involving a penny stock,
including the delivery, prior to any penny stock transaction, of a disclosure
schedule explaining the penny stock market and the risks associated with that
market. Such requirements may severely limit the market liquidity of our Common
Stock and the ability of purchasers of our equity securities to sell their
securities in the secondary market. For all of these reasons, an investment
in
our equity securities may not be attractive to our potential
investors.
ANTI-TAKEOVER
PROVISIONS AFFECTING US COULD PREVENT OR DELAY A CHANGE OF
CONTROL.
Provisions
of our charter, by-laws and stockholder rights plan and provisions of applicable
Delaware law may:
·
|
have
the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control
of our
Company;
|
·
|
discourage
bids of our Common Stock at a premium over the market price;
or
|
·
|
adversely
affect the market price of, and the voting and other rights of the
holders
of, our Common Stock.
|
Certain
Delaware laws could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a
change in control of our Company. One of these laws prohibits us from engaging
in a business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three
years from the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless various
conditions are met. In addition, provisions of our charter and by-laws, and
the
significant amount of Common Stock held by our current executive officers,
directors and affiliates, could together have the effect of discouraging
potential takeover attempts or making it more difficult for stockholders to
change management. In addition, the employment contracts of our Chairman and
CEO, President and Vice President of Finance provide for substantial lump sum
payments ranging from 2 (for the Vice President) to 10 times (for each of the
Chairman and President) of their respective average combined salaries and
bonuses (together with the continuation of various benefits for extended
periods) in the event of their termination without cause or a termination by
the
executive for “good reason,” which is conclusively presumed in the event of a
“change-in-control” (as such terms are defined in such agreements).
OUR
STOCK PRICE IS VOLATILE AND MAY DECLINE.
The
trading price of our Common Stock has been volatile and may continue to be
volatile in response to various factors, including:
·
|
the
performance and public acceptance of our product
lines;
|
·
|
quarterly
variations in our operating
results;
|
·
|
competitive
announcements;
|
·
|
the
operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors
may deem comparable to us; and
|
·
|
news
relating to trends in our markets.
|
The
market price of our Common Stock could also decline as a result of unforeseen
factors. The stock market has experienced significant price and volume
fluctuations, and the market prices of technology companies, particularly
Internet related companies, have been highly volatile. Our stock is also more
volatile due to the limited trading volume and the high number of shares
eligible for trading in the market.
42
ITEM
2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
(a)
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities.
During
the quarter ended September 30, 2007, the registrant reported two separate
sales
of unregistered secured demand convertible promissory notes (the “2007
Convertible Notes”) pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated May 29, 2007.
The registrant reported the sale of a 2007 Convertible Note in the principal
amount of $500,000 on July 19, 2007 in its Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
period ended June 30, 2007. (See Note 3, “Debt,” and Note 7, “Subsequent Event”
in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of such
report). The registrant also reported the sale of a 2007 Convertible Note in
the
principal amount of $250,000 on Form 8-K dated September 6, 2007.
(b)
Use
of
Proceeds From Sales of Registered Securities.
Not
applicable.
None.
None.
(a) In
October 2007, the registrant entered into a Master Co-Marketing Agreement with
NeuStar, Inc. which is effective October 1, 2007. The Co-Marketing Agreement
is
discussed elsewhere in this 10-Q and is filed as an exhibit. Since October
2005,
NeuStar has provided certain technical back-end operator services for the
registrant’s “.travel” domain name registry business pursuant to a Master
Services Agreement. To the extent that the Master Co-Marketing Agreement is
not
considered of the type that ordinarily accompanies the kind of business
conducted by the registrant, then it should have been previously reported on
a
Form 8-K.
4.1
|
Security
Agreement dated May 29, 2007 by theglobe.com, inc. and Dancing Bear
Investments, Inc. (1)
|
4.2
|
Unconditional
Guaranty Agreement dated May 29, 2007. (1)
|
4.3
|
$250,000
Secured Demand Convertible Promissory Note dated May 29, 2007
(1)
|
4.4
|
$250,000
Secured Demand Convertible Promissory Note dated June 25, 2007
(2)
|
4.5
|
$500,000
Secured Demand Convertible Promissory Note dated July 19, 2007
(3)
|
4.6
|
$250,000
Secured Demand Convertible Promissory Note dated September 6, 2007
(4)
|
10.1
|
Note
Purchase Agreement dated May 29, 2007 between theglobe.com, inc.
and
Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. (1)
|
10.2
|
Amendment
to Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2007 between theglobe.com
and
Michael S. Egan
|
10.3
|
Amendment
to Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2007 between theglobe.com
and
Edward A. Cepedes
|
43
10.4
|
Master
Co-Marketing Agreement dated October 1, 2007 between NeuStar, Inc.
and
Tralliance Corporation (5)
|
31.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule
15d-14(a).
|
31.2
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule
15d-14(a).
|
32.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
32.2
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
______________
(1)
Incorporated by reference from our Form SC 13D/A-3 filed on May 30,
2007.
(2)
Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K filed on June 26, 2007
(3)
Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
June
30, 2007
(4)
Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K filed on September 7,
2007
(5)
Portions of this Agreement have been omitted as indicated by asterisks or other
markings pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed by the
registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
44
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
|
|
theglobe.com,
inc.
|
|
|
|
|
Dated
: November
9, 2007
|
By:
|
/s/
Michael
S. Egan
|
|
Michael
S. Egan
Chief
Executive Officer
(Principal
Executive Officer)
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Edward
A. Cespedes
|
|
|
Edward
A. Cespedes
President
and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial Officer)
|
45
EXHIBIT
INDEX
4.1
|
Security
Agreement dated May 29, 2007 by theglobe.com, inc. and Dancing Bear
Investments, Inc. (1)
|
4.2
|
Unconditional
Guaranty Agreement dated May 29, 2007. (1)
|
4.3
|
$250,000
Secured Demand Convertible Promissory Note dated May 29, 2007
(1)
|
4.4
|
$250,000
Secured Demand Convertible Promissory Note dated June 25, 2007
(2)
|
4.5
|
$500,000
Secured Demand Convertible Promissory Note dated July 19, 2007
(3)
|
4.6
|
$250,000
Secured Demand Convertible Promissory Note dated September 6, 2007
(4)
|
10.1
|
Note
Purchase Agreement dated May 29, 2007 between theglobe.com, inc.
and
Dancing Bear Investments, Inc. (1)
|
10.2
|
Amendment
to Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2007 between theglobe.com
and
Michael S. Egan
|
10.3
|
Amendment
to Employment Agreement dated October 1, 2007 between theglobe.com
and
Edward A. Cepedes
|
10.4
|
Master
Co-Marketing Agreement dated October 1, 2007 between NeuStar, Inc.
and
Tralliance Corporation
|
31.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule
15d-14(a).
|
31.2
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule
15d-14(a).
|
32.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
32.2
|
Certification
of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
______________
(1)
Incorporated by reference from our Form SC 13D/A-3 filed on May 30,
2007.
(2)
Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K filed on June 26, 2007
(3)
Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
June
30, 2007
(4)
Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K filed on September 7,
2007
46