fm8k-0608.htm
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of
report (date of earliest event reported): June 6, 2008
aVINCI MEDIA
CORPORATION
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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000-17288
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75-2193593
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(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
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11781
South Lone Peak Parkway, Suite 270
Draper, UT
84020
(Address
of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
801-
495-5700
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Secure
Alliance Holdings Corporation
5700
Northwest Central Drive, Suite 350
Houston, TX
77092
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
[ ] Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
[ ] Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Forward
Looking Statements
This Form
8-K and other reports filed by Registrant from time to time with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (collectively the “Filings”) contain or may contain
forward looking statements and information that are based upon beliefs of, and
information currently available to, Registrant’s management as well as estimates
and assumptions made by Registrant’s management. When used in the
filings the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,”
“intend,” “plan” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions as they
relate to Registrant or Registrant’s management identify forward looking
statements. Such statements reflect the current view of Registrant
with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties,
assumptions and other factors (including the risks contained in the section of
this report entitled “Risk Factors”) relating to Registrant’s industry,
Registrant’s operations and result of operations and any businesses that may be
acquired by Registrant. Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect,
actual results may differ significantly from those anticipated, believed,
estimated, expected, intended or planned. Although Registrant believes that the
expectations reflected in the forward looking statements are reasonable,
Registrant cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the
securities laws of the United States, registrant does not intend to update any
of the forward looking statements to conform these statements to actual
results. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with
Registrant’s pro forma financial statements and the related notes that will be
filed herein.
Form
10 Disclosure
Item
2.01(f) of Form 8-K states that if the Registrant was a "shell" company
immediately before a transaction that results in the Registrant not
being deemed a shell company following the transaction, then the Registrant
must disclose in a current report on Form 8-K the information
that would be required if the
Registrant were filing a general form for registration of
securities on Form 10. Accordingly, this current report on Form 8- K includes
substantially all of the information that would be included in a Form
10.
ITEM
2.01. COMPLETION OF ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF
ASSETS.
Reverse
Merger Transaction; Acquisition of Sequoia Media Group, LC
Pursuant
to an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization dated December 6, 2007 and
amended March 31, 2008 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and
among Secure Alliance Holdings Corporation (the “Company”), SMG Utah, LC, a
Utah limited liability company (“Merger Sub”) and wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company, and Sequoia Media Group, LC, a Utah limited liability
company (“Sequoia”), Merger Sub merged with and into Sequoia, with Sequoia
remaining as the surviving entity and a wholly owned operating subsidiary of the
Company. This transaction is referred to throughout this report as
the “Merger.” The Merger
was effective on June 6, 2008, upon the filing of articles of merger with the
Utah Division of Corporations.
In
connection with the Merger, the Company effected a 1-for-2 reverse split of its
issued and outstanding common stock. Accordingly, the 19,484,032
shares of our common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Merger were reduced to approximately 9,742,016 shares (subject to rounding) as a
result of the Merger. We issued 38,986,114 post split shares of our
common stock in the Merger to the holders of Sequoia membership
interests. As a result of the reverse split and the Merger, there are
now approximately 48,728,130 shares of our common stock issued and
outstanding.
At the
effective time of the Merger, the legal existence of Merger Sub ceased and each
of the membership interests of Merger Sub that were outstanding immediately
prior to the Merger were converted into membership interests of
Sequoia. Simultaneously, the former members of Sequoia received an
aggregate of 38,986,114 shares of the Company’s common stock, representing
approximately 80% of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately after
the Merger. The Merger represents a change in control of the Company
inasmuch as greater than 50% of the issued and outstanding voting stock of
Company on a post-Merger basis is now held by the former holders of Sequoia
membership units.
Pursuant
to the Merger Agreement, we made a cash distribution of $2,000,000 (the
“Dividend”) to our stockholders of record as of May 20, 2008. The Dividend was
paid on June 4, 2008. The former holders of Sequoia membership units
did not receive any portion of the Dividend.
The
Merger Agreement was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 6, 2007, and is incorporated herein by
this reference. The Merger Agreement was amended on March 31, 2008
and such amendment was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to a Form 8-K on April 4, 2008, and
is incorporated herein by this reference. The foregoing description of the
Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby do not purport to be
complete and are qualified in their entireties by reference to the Merger
Agreement. Additional information about the Merger and related
proposals is set forth in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2008 and thereafter
distributed to the Company’s stockholders.
In
connection with the Merger transaction, we amended our Certificate of
Incorporation to (i) change our name from Secure Alliance Holdings Corporation
to aVinci Media Corporation; (ii) increase our authorized shares of common stock
from 100,000,000 to 250,000,000; (iii) authorize a class of preferred stock
consisting of 50,000,000 shares of $.01 per value preferred stock; and (iv)
effect a -1-for-2 reverse stock split.
Throughout
this Form 8-K the “Company” means aVinci Media Corporation (formerly known as
Secure Alliance Holdings Corporation). Reference to “we”, “us” and “our” means
the Company and our wholly-owned subsidiary, Sequoia.
Stockholder
Approval
A Special
Meeting of the Company’s stockholders was held on May 29, 2008 to consider and
vote upon the following proposals (the “Transaction Proposals”):
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1.
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A
proposal to approve the Merger Agreement, pursuant to which Merger Sub
will merge with and into Sequoia with Sequoia becoming the surviving
entity and our wholly owned
subsidiary;
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2.
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A
proposal to file a certificate of amendment to our Certificate of
Incorporation to effect a 1-for-2 reverse stock split (the
“Reverse Stock Split”) of our common stock, par value $.01 per share (the
“Common Stock”), such that holders of our Common Stock will receive one
share for each two shares they own;
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3.
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A
proposal to file a certificate of amendment to our Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of our Common
Stock from 100,000,000 to 250,000,000 and to authorize a class of
preferred stock consisting of 50,000,000 shares of $.01 par value
preferred stock;
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4.
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A
proposal to file a certificate of amendment to our Certificate of
Incorporation to change our name from “Secure Alliance Holdings
Corporation” to “aVinci Media Corporation”
and
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5.
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A
proposal to approve our 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008
Plan”).
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Each of
the Transaction Proposals was approved by the stockholders of the Company at the
Special Meeting of Stockholders. At the record date, for the special meeting,
April 16, 2008, we had 19,484,032 shares of common stock (calculated prior to
the Reverse Stock Split) issued and outstanding. Each share of common stock
entitled its holder to one vote on each matter submitted to the stockholders of
the Special Meeting of Stockholders.
Description
of Business of Sequoia
General
Development of Sequoia’s Business
Sequoia
is a Utah limited liability company organized on March 28, 2003 under the name
Life Dimensions, LC. In 2003, Sequoia changed its name from Life
Dimensions, LC to Sequoia Media Group, LC. Sequoia’s operations are
currently governed by a Board of Managers made up of five managers, three of
whom are the original founders and two of whom were appointed as part of a
private equity investment. Substantially all of its business is
conducted out of its Draper, Utah office. Sequoia also has an office
in Bentonville, Arkansas to help service Wal-Mart, which is one of its largest
retail customers.
Sequoia
has developed and deployed a software technology that employs “Automated
Multimedia Object Models,” its patent-pending way of turning consumer captured
images, video, and audio into complete digital files in the form of full-motion
movies, DVD’s, photo books, posters and streaming media
files. Sequoia filed its first provisional patent in early 2004 for
patent protection on various aspects of its technology with a full filing
occurring in early 2005, and Sequoia has filed several patents since that time
as part of its intellectual property strategy. Sequoia’s technology
carries the brand names of “aVinci” and “aVinci Experience.”
In May
2004 Sequoia signed its first client agreement with BigPlanet, a division of
NuSkin International, Inc. (“NuSkin”). Under the terms of
its BigPlanet agreement, Sequoia supplied them with its software technology that
they marketed, sold, and fulfilled for their consumers. Revenues from
BigPlanet represent substantially all of Sequoia’s sales through 2007 at
approximately $3.4 million from May 2004 through December
2007. Sequoia’s agreement with BigPlanet expired on December 31,
2007. BigPlanet continues to offer Sequoia DVD products and pays a
per-product royalty for products made on a monthly basis resulting in a royalty
of approximately $2,000 per month.
Since
inception, Sequoia has continued to develop and refine its technology to be able
to provide higher quality products through a variety of distribution models
including in-store kiosks, retail kits, and online
downloads. Sequoia’s business strategy has been to develop a product
solution that provides users with professionally created templates to
automatically create personalized products by simply adding end customer
images.
Sequoia’s
business efforts during 2006 and 2007 were directed at developing relationships
with mass retailers. Sequoia signed an agreement to provide its
technology in Meijer stores at the end of 2006. Due to an integration
problem issue with a third party supplier to Meijer, Sequoia has been delayed in
deploying its software technology in Meijer stores. However, Sequoia
is currently working with a new vendor, Hewlett Packard, and recently launched
its products in Meijer stores in April 2008.
During
2007, Sequoia signed an agreement with Fujicolor to deploy its technology on
their kiosks located in domestic Wal-Mart stores. Sequoia’s initial
integration and deployment with Fujicolor in domestic Wal-Mart stores took place
in the third quarter of 2007, with a software update scheduled for the third
quarter of 2008 to enhance the user experience and the product
offering.
Initial
operations before Sequoia’s formal entity organization in March 2003 were funded
through founder contributions. Operations since May 2004 have been
funded by royalty revenue received from BigPlanet, totaling approximately $3.4
million to date; from outside investment capital, totaling approximately $9.8
million to date; and from loans from Secure (associated with the Merger
transaction) totaling approximately $2.5 million.
From
pre-organization through Sequoia’s initial contract, the founders contributed
approximately $150,000. These initial contributions were provided in
exchange for promissory notes bearing interest at 10%, the principal and
interest of which were converted into convertible debentures bearing interest at
10% with a term of 13 months through January 31, 2005. The debentures
and interest were converted into Series A preferred membership interests (the
“Series A Preferred Units”) in January 2005. The preferences of the
Series A Preferred Units was the right to convert the Series A Preferred Units
into an investment in a future financing if, at anytime within 12 months of
receiving the Series A Preferred Units, Sequoia raised capital at a lower
valuation than such Series A Preferred Units holders’ initial investment (which
did not occur), and the right to receive distributions upon a liquidating event
before common unit holders receive distributions. All of the Series A
Preferred Units were converted into common units prior to the
Merger..
During
the fourth quarter of 2003, Sequoia initiated a small private offering that
closed in the first quarter of 2004. The offering consisted of
12-month convertible debt, bearing interest at the annual rate of
10%. In January 2005, all but $30,000 of the debt converted into
Series A preferred. In February 2005, Sequoia closed a private
offering of approximately $150,000 consisting of the sale of common units, and
it followed that offering with another offering in June of 2005, consisting of
the sale of common units through which Sequoia raised an additional
$173,000.
Needing
more capital to continue pursuing its business plan through 2006, Sequoia
undertook a larger private offering consisting of 12-month convertible debt,
bearing interest at 10%. The offering was taken in its entirety by
Amerivon Investment, LLC (“Amerivon”), who invested a total of
$829,250. At the time of the investment, Amerivon placed a member on
Sequoia’s Board of Managers. In August 2006, Amerivon invested an
additional $1,564,000 in a convertible debt offering, bearing interest at 9%,
intended to bridge Sequoia to a subsequent preferred equity offering targeting
$5 to $7 million. During the first quarter of 2007, Amerivon provided
additional bridge financing of $1,000,000 and an additional $535,000 of bridge
financing during the second quarter of 2007. In May 2007, Sequoia
closed the preferred equity offering with Amerivon at which time Amerivon
converted approximately $2.4 million in aggregate convertible debt held by
Amerivon, together with accumulated interest into common units of
Sequoia. Amerivon also provided approximately $4.9 million in
additional cash, which, along with $1.5 million of the bridge financing provided
during 2007, plus accumulated interest, was used to purchase a total of $6.4
million of Sequoia’s Series B preferred. Upon the closing of the
Series B preferred offering, Amerivon placed a second member on Sequoia’s Board
of Managers.
The
Series B preferred entitled its holders to redemption rights after four years,
annual dividends equal to 8% of the principal amount of the investment, and the
right to receive distributions before common and Series A preferred holders
receive distributions upon liquidation. The Series B preferred owners
converted all of their Series B preferred units into common units immediately
prior to the Merger.
Financial
Information about Operating Segments
Sequoia
conducts business within one operating segment in the United
States. From 2004 through 2007, Sequoia generated revenues primarily
with one customer, BigPlanet, a division of NuSkin. Beginning in
2008, Sequoia began generating revenues primarily through its agreements with
Fujicolor (in Wal-Mart stores), Costco.com, Meijer Stores and
Qualex.
Description
of Business
Software
Technology and Products
Sequoia
makes software technology that it packages in various forms available to mass
retailers, specialty retailers, Internet portals and websites that allow end
consumers to use an automated process to create products such as DVD
productions, photo books, posters, calendars, and other print media products
from consumer photographs, digital pictures, video, and other
media. Sequoia’s customers are retailers and other vendors and not
end consumers. Sequoia enables its customers to sell its products to
the end consumer who remain customers of its vendor and do not become its
customers directly. Sequoia currently delivers its technology to end
consumers through (i) third party photo kiosks at mass and specialty retail
outlets, (ii) retail kit shrink wrapped software at mass and specialty retail
outlets, (iii) simple software downloads through third party Internet sites,
(iv) simple software downloads though its own managed Internet site to which
third party Internet sites are linked, and (v) on its own managed web servers on
the world wide web to which third party Internet sites are linked.
Generally
all of Sequoia’s products require the end consumer to simply supply digital
images. Sequoia supplies preformatted templates for an occasion,
event, or style such as a wedding, birthday, or activity that fits a particular
style. A template for a DVD generally includes six to eight different
scenes that incorporate background images related to that particular template
theme. Each scene is built around four to ten digital image frames,
or placeholders, where user supplied images are placed to have the appearance of
being part of the themed contextual images Sequoia supplies to support the
template theme. Sequoia utilizes a technique it calls “layering,”
(which is the subject of its patent) to stitch together its supplied images with
the user-supplied images to produce a themed DVD movie. Scenes may
involve panning over the user images as though they are photographs sitting on a
table, or having user images appear in frames sitting on a mantle as the camera
angle appears to change and move around the mantle piece, to describe a few of
the hundreds of scene effects Sequoia utilizes. Each template also
provides a pre-designated position and font for a unique title, and in some
instances subtitle and other text, to be added by the end
consumer. The scenes are assembled in an order to give the production
a feeling of telling a story. Each template also comes with a default
sound track selected to match the template theme. In some
applications of Sequoia’s software, the consumer can select from one of several
music selections fitted to the selected theme. All of the images and
music Sequoia supplies with the themed templates are owned by Sequoia or have
been fully licensed from the owners of the rights.
Using a
wedding DVD template that is supplied on a retail kiosk as an example, a
consumer brings a CD or photo storage card containing his or her images to a
kiosk located in a retailer’s store. The consumer inserts the image
storage device into the kiosk reader and the kiosk loads the user images onto
the kiosk. The user then chooses to make a DVD from a menu on the
kiosk at which point our software is launched. The user browses the
categories and selects “wedding” from among four to six categories of templates
and then selects “wedding day” from a few different wedding
templates. The user next selects 40 photos from his or her user
supplied images to be incorporated into the template and can rotate and move the
images into the preferred orientation and order. A title and
subtitle, such as “John and Jessica’s Wedding,” “November 14, 2007,” are typed
into the kiosk by the user and the user specifies the number of copies he or she
wants to purchase. With this, the user has successfully ordered a
wedding DVD.
Upon
completion of an order, Sequoia takes the order information and images and
builds the DVD product remotely at its offices. The user then gets
back a DVD case with the users pictures on the cover containing a DVD with the
user’s image printed on the DVD as a label and an insert containing thumbnail
sized images of each user image used to make the DVD. The DVD plays
on standard DVD players and starts with a customer or aVinci branded “spin-up”
to get to a standard navigation screen. The navigation screen shows a
user image in a contextual background consisting of wedding
flowers. By pressing the “Play” button, the movie is launched with
the first scene featuring a wedding announcement with John and Jessica’s name in
a rich stylistic font. The perceived camera angle then pans over to a
digitally created frame containing a picture of the bride supplied by the user,
while soft wedding themed music plays. The scenes transition with
pictures of flowers taking the viewer through the wedding day. The
DVD ends with credits for licensed media and audio used to produce the DVD
production.
Sequoia’s
photo books are created in the same fashion as described for DVDs, only
Sequoia’s templates are created and laid out to tell the themed story in the
form of a ten to twenty page, eight by eleven inch photo book. Book
pages are laid out by Sequoia’s design experts, printed on a digital press and
hardbound. Posters incorporate one or more user images into themed
art matching DVD and photo book themes. Sequoia is not currently
selling any photo books, posters, or other print products to end consumers
because Sequoia is still in the final stages of development. Sequoia
plans to launch its first photo book and poster products during the second
quarter of 2008 although it cannot be assured of when the products will
launch.
Product
Delivery Model
Under
Sequoia’s business model, Sequoia integrates with retail or other vending
customers according to each customer’s business plan. Sequoia’s
customers maintain the end consumer relationship and control as much of the
image capture, product creation, and delivery of product as they desire based
largely upon the product delivery method they select. Sequoia does
the rest. Whatever Sequoia’s customers want to pass to it to manage,
Sequoia manages.
With its
kiosk model, Sequoia integrates with a third party kiosk provider and integrates
its software onto the kiosk. End consumers using the kiosk load their
images onto the kiosk and can make a variety of products. With
Sequoia’s software on the kiosk, when the consumer chooses to make a DVD
product, its software launches and takes the consumer through the process of
selecting a theme, a specific production type (called a storyboard), the photos
to be integrated into the product, a title, and the order
quantity. The kiosk then generates an order confirmation for the
consumer who uses the confirmation to pick up and pay for the order when
complete. Upon completion the kiosk order goes either to the
retailer’s lab to be fulfilled in store or to central processing to be fulfilled
remotely.
Retailers
and vendors can stock Sequoia’s retail kit product which consists of a small box
containing a CD containing a simplified version of its production software for a
specific production type (such as Wedding) and a product code. The
end consumer pays for the product at the store and can then use the CD at home
or work to place their prepaid product order. The CD loads the
software onto the customer’s computer and walks the customer through the process
of selecting his or her digital images to be used in creating the product,
typing any unique consumer information such as a customized title and subtitle,
entering order information for shipping, and uploading the order information and
image files for remote fulfillment.
With
third party Internet sites, the process is similar to Sequoia’s retail kit
product except for how the consumer loads the simple software on his or her
computer and how he or she pays for the product order. With an
Internet vendor that manages Sequoia’s software through their site, Sequoia
supplies the vendor with its software download. The consumer then
downloads the simple software from the vendor’s web servers over the
Internet. The software loads and walks the customer through the
process of selecting his or her digital images to be used in creating the
product, typing any unique consumer information such as a customized title and
subtitle, entering order information for shipping, taking the consumer’s credit
card information to process the payment transaction for products ordered via a
secure Internet transaction, and uploading the order for remote
fulfillment.
In the
event a retailer or vendor wants Sequoia to manage the software download, they
simply provide a link on their website to Sequoia and Sequoia provides the
simple software download from its web servers over the Internet. The
consumer process then works as outlined for a third party Internet site
deployment. Following the software download, the software loads and
walks the customer through the process of selecting his or her digital images to
be used in creating the product, typing any unique consumer information such as
a customized title and subtitle, entering order information for shipping, taking
the consumers credit card information to process the payment transaction for
products ordered via a secure Internet transaction, and uploading the order for
remote fulfillment.
As a
companion to the retail kit product, Sequoia is launching in the second quarter
of 2008 a web site that will allow consumers who upload orders using the retail
kit software to order additional copies and additional products on the web
site. Under this business model, the consumer uploads the product
order purchased as a retail kit product. Upon receipt of the order,
Sequoia provides the consumer with a dialogue box asking if they would like to
add additional copies of the created product to his or her order, and if he or
she would like to order a companion photo book or poster to the
order. If the customer chooses to order additional products, Sequoia
processes the payment transaction for the products ordered via a secure Internet
transaction.
To date
Sequoia’s customers have elected to have products fulfilled
remotely. Sequoia fulfills all the products either in house or
through third party vending partners. Once a consumer orders a
product by selecting the product and the pictures and his or her images to be
used in creating the product, the order and images are received by Sequoia’s web
servers deployed by it in-house or with third party vendors Sequoia contracts
with to do its fulfillment work. The servers process the orders and
photos and pass the electronic filed off to computers that build the final
product and send the files to be burned on a DVD or printed on a print media
product such as a photo book or poster. Finished products are shipped
to retail customers for delivery to end customers or directly to end customers
depending on the retail customer’s business model.
Sequoia’s
revenue model generally relies on a per product royalty. With all
product deployments except the retail kit product, each time an end customer
makes a product utilizing Sequoia’s technology, Sequoia receives a royalty from
its retail customers. From the royalty received, Sequoia pays the
royalties associated with licensed media and technology. If Sequoia
is performing product fulfillment, Sequoia also pays the costs of good
associated with production of the product. If Sequoia’s customer
utilizes in-store fulfillment, its customer pays the cost of goods associated
with production.
Sequoia
currently has fulfillment hardware deployed in two locations including its
Draper, Utah office and a Qualex (a subsidiary of Eastman Kodak Company)
facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania that allow for the fulfillment of DVD
products. Both locations have computer server configurations and DVD
burning and printing units. DVD supplies, including DVD media
supplied by Verbatim and Taiyo Yuden, DVD cases, and paper for printing DVD case
covers, are inventoried to be able to meet customer DVD fulfillment
needs. Sequoia’s photo book and poster product fulfillment operations
are in the implementation stage. Sequoia intends to fulfill photo
books and posters with third party fulfillment partners. Currently,
Sequoia has a fulfillment agreement with Qualex to build and ship many of its
DVDs, photo books and posters for select customers. Integration with
Qualex for creating DVD media was completed in February 2008.
Customers
In May
2004, Sequoia signed its first client agreement with BigPlanet, a division of
NuSkin. NuSkin is a global direct selling company. NuSkin
markets premium-quality personal care products under the Nu Skin® brand,
science-based nutritional supplements under the Pharmanex® brand, and
technology-based products and services under the Big Planet®
brand. BigPlanet, NuSkin’s technology division, offers its customers
ways to easily preserve, organize, share and enjoy photos
online. Under the terms of its BigPlanet agreement, Sequoia supplied
software technology to build DVD movies which BigPlanet marketed, sold, and
fulfilled for their consumers under their brand name
“PhotoMax.” Revenues from BigPlanet represented substantially all of
Sequoia’s sales through 2007 at approximately $3.4 million to
date. The agreement required an annual minimum guaranteed royalty of
$1 million, which was payable monthly in the amount of
$83,333.33. Sequoia’s agreement with BigPlanet expired on December
31, 2007 and Sequoia has been paid current through the end of the
term. BigPlanet continues to offer Sequoia DVD products and pays a
per-product royalty for products made on a monthly basis.
On
September 18, 2006, Sequoia signed an agreement to provide its technology in
Meijer stores. Meijer Distribution, Inc. (“Meijer”) is a
Michigan-based retailer that operates 181 super centers throughout the
mid-west. Sequoia’s agreement term with Meijer continues through a
date two years from the date Meijer first makes Sequoia’s software technology
available to end consumers, subject to automatic renewal for additional 12-month
periods after the initial term. Under the terms, Meijer purchases DVD
kits from Sequoia consisting of a pre-labeled DVD, DVD cover and paper for the
case cover, and inserts printed with thumbnail size images of all the user
photographs provided for use in the DVD production. Meijer placed and
paid for an initial purchase order of DVD kits, for approximately $109,000, but
due to an integration issue with a third party supplier to Meijer, the
deployment was delayed. Meijer entered into an agreement with Hewlett
Packard to deploy a photo kiosk solution in Meijer stores. Sequoia is
currently working with Hewlett Packard and Sequoia’s software was launched in
Meijer stores in April 2008 with full deployment through the 180 store chain in
May 2008.
In
January 2006, Sequoia signed an agreement with Storefront, a photo kiosk
company. Storefront anticipated deploying Sequoia’s software on
client kiosks in retailers such as King Soopers, Smith’s, Fred Meyer, Ralph’s
and others. Storefront has not deployed Sequoia’s software to date
and Sequoia does not know if they will ever deploy Sequoia software with their
customers.
On
September 1, 2007, Sequoia signed an agreement with Qualex, Inc. (“Qualex”) to
allow for the distribution of its software product to Qualex
customers. Qualex, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eastman Kodak, is the
largest wholesale and on-site photofinishing company in the world and it offers
traditional print and digital output solutions by operating a large network of
commercial and in store labs throughout the United States and
Canada. The agreement term is through September 30, 2009, at which
point it is subject to extension for additional 12-month terms at the election
of either party. Qualex will provide the fulfillment services for all
of its customers and Sequoia will receive a royalty per product
produced. Sequoia also signed a separate agreement with Qualex at the
same time that provides for Qualex to perform fulfillment services for select
customers. As part of the agreement, Sequoia has deployed its
fulfillment technology and equipment in Qualex’s Allentown, Pennsylvania
fulfillment center. Sequoia began processing live orders in February
2008 with Qualex.
During
2007 at the request of Wal-Mart, Sequoia signed an agreement with Fujicolor to
deploy its technology on Fujicolor kiosks located in domestic Wal-Mart
stores. Wal-Mart is a worldwide retailer with more than 5,000
domestic retail stores. Fujicolor is part of Fujifilm, which is a
world leader in photographic products and technology. Sequoia’s
initial integration and deployment with Fujicolor in domestic Wal-Mart stores
took place in the third quarter of 2007. Sequoia’s DVD product
offering is currently deployed throughout domestic Wal-Mart stores on Fujicolor
kiosks in more than 3,000 stores. Upon deployment with Fujicolor,
Sequoia intended to update the first version of its software within several
months. Because of software updates Fujicolor is making to its kiosks
generally, Sequoia has not been able to deploy any updates. Sequoia
is working with Fujicolor currently and anticipates updating its software in the
third quarter of 2008.
Sequoia
also became a Wal-Mart vendor and will begin shipping Sequoia’s retail kit
product to 200 Wal-Mart stores in June 2008, with a wider rollout anticipated
based upon initial sales in the 200 deployed stores.
In
January 2008, Sequoia signed an agreement with Costco.com, to deliver its DVD
product online. Sequoia’s DVD product began being offered at
Costco.com on the “photo” category at the end of March 2008.
In
addition to its current customers, Sequoia continues to actively negotiate
agreements and relationships with other mass and specialty retailers and other
vending partners.
Competitors
Sequoia’s
competitors consist primarily of professional videographers on the high-cost end
and slideshow software programs on the low-cost end, with varying software tools
in the middle. Unfamiliar evaluators on the surface may attempt to
compare the low-end slide show creator products with Sequoia’s products, but
when compared side by side differences are readily seen in production quality
and detail. Generally only user images are included in the slide show
and context; graphics, audio, and music are not included. Finished
productions are generally poor quality and lack any meaningful emotional
impact.
Software
providers who supply consumer tools or solutions for consumers to make their own
DVD productions include Adobe, Microsoft, Ulead, PhotoShow, Roxio, among
others. The closest direct competitive products to Sequoia’s
technology are software tools such as iPhoto, iMovie and Final Cut Pro from
Apple, each of which require users to spend a significant sum for the software,
devote extensive time to master software usage, and significant time to create
each individual production. Additional competitors include Simple
Star, MuVee, RocketLife, PhotoDex, and Smilebox all of which offer similar
products.
Common to
software tools are their lack of automation. The user spends a vast
amount of time mastering software to produce the same sort of automated results
that can otherwise be accomplished very quickly with Sequoia’s
products. A software user must first import media, organize it,
choose timing and effects, edit music to length then render the
production. The rendered production must then be committed to DVD
where the user has to then design a DVD interface before burning to DVD to have
any navigation capabilities.
Employees
As of
June 6, 2008, Sequoia had 34 full-time employees and 7 part-time
employees. Most of its employees work in its primary business office
in Draper, Utah.
Properties
Sequoia
currently leases approximately 13,000 square feet of office space at 11781 Lone
Peak Parkway, Suite 270, Draper, Utah 84020. Its current lease term
ends on April 30, 2010. Sequoia has a good relationship with its
landlord, DBSI Draper LeaseCo LLC. Sequoia conducts its corporate,
development, sales, and certain manufacturing operations out of its Draper
office. Sequoia’s main telephone number is (801) 495-5700 and its
facsimile number (801) 495-5701. Sequoia maintains a web site at
www.sequoiamg.com. Sequoia leases space in a computer hardware
collocation facility in Salt Lake City and has a good relationship with the
landlord.
In
Bentonville, Arkansas, Sequoia rents an office in an office suite consisting of
one office of about 300 square feet which houses one
employee. Sequoia uses the office when it visits Wal-Mart corporate
offices.
Legal
Proceedings
On
December 17, 2007, Robert L. Bishop, who worked with Sequoia in a limited
capacity in 2004 and is a current member of a limited liability company that
owns an equity interest in Sequoia, filed a legal claim alleging a right to
unpaid wages and/or commissions (with no amount specified) and company
equity. The Complaint was served on Sequoia on January 7,
2008. Sequoia timely filed an Answer denying Mr. Bishop’s claims and
counterclaiming interference by Mr. Bishop with Sequoia’s capital raising
efforts. Sequoia intends to vigorously defend against Mr. Bishop’s
claims and pursue Sequoia’s counterclaim.
Intellectual
Property
In early
2003, through patent counsel, Sequoia performed an initial patent search for
products and processes similar to its software technology. The search
revealed no prior art. In January 2004, Sequoia filed initial patent
applications seeking broad patent protection for its ideas, technologies,
point-of-sale business concept, and the system of automating solutions through
the use of pre-constructed templates.
Since its
initial filing, Sequoia has completed additional filings to extend and broaden
its patent protection. In February 2005, Sequoia filed for
international patent protection based on its original patents pending, filings
with the individual countries in Europe and Asia to secure the patents
internationally.
As part
of its product development, Sequoia routinely licenses media content such as
pictures, videos and audio to create products. Sequoia has numerous
license agreements with stock image and music sources that it routinely reviews
and keeps current.
SUMMARY
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA
The
following table sets forth selected historical financial data for Sequoia the
accounting acquirer in the merger with Secure. The following data at, and for
the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, have been derived from Sequoia’s
audited financial statements included as an Exhibit to this Form 8-K. The
following data at March 31, 2008 and for the three months ended March 31, 2008
and 2007 have been derived from Sequoia’s unaudited financial statements for the
three-month periods included as an Exhibit to this Form 8-K. You should read the
following information together with our financial statements, the notes related
thereto and the section entitled “Sequoia’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Report. The historical
results are not necessarily indicative of future results
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three-Months
Ended
|
|
|
Year
Ended
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
Summary
Operating Data:
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$ |
73,496 |
|
|
$ |
173,911 |
|
|
$ |
541,856 |
|
|
$ |
739,200 |
|
Operating
expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of sales
|
|
|
173,097 |
|
|
|
21,615 |
|
|
|
57,068 |
|
|
|
– |
|
Research
and development
|
|
|
560,377 |
|
|
|
344,429 |
|
|
|
1,890,852 |
|
|
|
1,067,687 |
|
Selling
and marketing
|
|
|
517,161 |
|
|
|
298,817 |
|
|
|
1,351,860 |
|
|
|
547,448 |
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
1,144,240 |
|
|
|
597,120 |
|
|
|
3,677,326 |
|
|
|
1,755,127 |
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
56,998 |
|
|
|
43,245 |
|
|
|
277,458 |
|
|
|
103,160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
operating expense
|
|
|
2,451,873 |
|
|
|
1,305,226 |
|
|
|
7,254,564 |
|
|
|
3,473,422 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
from operations
|
|
|
(2,378,377 |
) |
|
|
(1,131,315 |
) |
|
|
(6,712,708 |
) |
|
|
(2,734,222 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
income (expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
11,129 |
|
|
|
4,546 |
|
|
|
66,524 |
|
|
|
4,726 |
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(71,289 |
) |
|
|
(342,242 |
) |
|
|
(693,217 |
) |
|
|
(806,439 |
) |
Net
other income (expense)
|
|
|
(60,160 |
) |
|
|
(337,696 |
) |
|
|
(626,693 |
) |
|
|
(801,713 |
) |
Net
loss
|
|
|
(2,438,537 |
) |
|
|
(1,469,011 |
) |
|
|
(7,339,401 |
) |
|
|
(3,535,935 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deemed
dividend on Series B redeemable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
convertible
preferred units
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
(190,000 |
) |
|
|
– |
|
Dividends
on Series B redeemable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
convertible
preferred units
|
|
|
(131,353 |
) |
|
|
– |
|
|
|
(308,251 |
) |
|
|
– |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss applicable to common units
|
|
$ |
(2,569,890 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,469,011 |
) |
|
$ |
(7,837,652 |
) |
|
$ |
(3,535,935 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
per common unit – basic and diluted
|
|
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.07 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.30 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.16 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average common units – basic and diluted
|
|
|
30,228,842 |
|
|
|
21,547,422 |
|
|
|
26,453,062 |
|
|
|
21,547,422 |
|
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As
of March 31,
|
|
|
As
of December 31,
|
|
Summary
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
|
985,461 |
|
|
|
859,069 |
|
|
|
168,692 |
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
1,694,050 |
|
|
|
1,768,569 |
|
|
|
774,811 |
|
Total
assets
|
|
|
2,713,250 |
|
|
|
2,854,189 |
|
|
|
1,265,211 |
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
4,826,776 |
|
|
|
2,857,608 |
|
|
|
3,436,668 |
|
Long
term obligations
|
|
|
265,363 |
|
|
|
294,450 |
|
|
|
– |
|
Total
members’ (deficit)
|
|
|
(8,982,071 |
) |
|
|
(6,901,051 |
) |
|
|
(2,171,457 |
) |
Working
(deficit)
|
|
|
(3,132,726 |
) |
|
|
(1,089,039 |
) |
|
|
(2,661,857 |
) |
Sequoia’s
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
Sequoia
makes software technology that it packages in various forms available to mass
retailers, specialty retailers, Internet portals and web sites that allow end
consumers to use an automated process to create products such as DVD
productions, photo books, posters, calendars, and other print media products
from consumer photographs, digital pictures, video, and other
media. Sequoia’s customers are retailers and other vendors and not
end consumers. Sequoia enables its customers to sell its products to
the end consumer who remain customers of the vendor.
Sequoia’s
revenue model generally relies on a per product royalty. With all
product deployments except a retail kit product, each time an end customer makes
a product utilizing Sequoia’s technology, Sequoia receives a royalty from its
retail customer. From the royalties received, Sequoia pays the
royalties associated with licensed media and technology. If Sequoia
is performing product fulfillment, Sequoia also pays the costs of goods
associated with the production of the product. If Sequoia’s customer
utilizes in-store fulfillment, its customer pays the cost of goods associated
with production.
Through
2007, Sequoia generated revenues through the sales of DVD products created using
its technology. During 2008, Sequoia intends to deploy its technology
to create photo books and posters. Sequoia will continue to utilize
its current revenue model of receiving a royalty for each product made using its
technology.
Sequoia
signed its first agreement in 2004 under which it supplied its software
technology to BigPlanet, a company that markets, sells, and fulfilled personal
DVD products for its customers. Through 2006 all of Sequoia’s
revenues were generated through BigPlanet. Under the terms of this
agreement, BigPlanet was required to make minimum annual guaranteed payments to
Sequoia in the amount of $1 million to be paid in 12 equal monthly
installments. The BigPlanet agreement included software development,
software license, post-contract support and training. As a result of
the agreement terms, Sequoia determined to use the percentage-of-completion
method of accounting to record the revenue for the entire
contract. Sequoia utilized the ratio of total actual costs incurred
to total estimated costs incurred related to BigPlanet to determine the
proportional amount of revenue to be recognized at each reporting
date.
During
2006, Sequoia signed an additional agreement to provide its technology in Meijer
stores. The technology began being deployed in Meijer stores in April
2008 and has begun generating revenues in each store where the technology has
been deployed. Full deployment in all 180 Meijer stores occurred in
May 2008.
In 2007,
Sequoia signed an agreement with Fujicolor to deploy its technology on Fujicolor
kiosks located in domestic Wal-Mart stores. Sequoia has begun
generating limited revenues through Wal-Mart and anticipates generating
additional revenues through its Wal-Mart deployment during 2008.
Sequoia
manufactures its DVDs in its Draper, Utah facility and uses services of local
third-party vendors to produce print DVD covers and inserts and to assemble and
ship final products. Through a services agreement, Sequoia began
using Qualex to manufacture DVD and print product orders for certain
customers. Qualex has deployed equipment in Allentown, Pennsylvania
and Houston, Texas to manufacture Sequoia product orders.
Basis
of Presentation
Net
Revenues. Sequoia generates revenues primarily from licensing
the rights to customers to use its technology to create DVD products and from
providing software through retail and online outlets that allow end consumers
access to the technology to generate product orders which Sequoia produces and
ships. Customers then pay royalties to Sequoia on orders
produced. Sequoia’s ongoing revenue agreements are generally multiple
element contracts that may include software licenses, installation and set-up,
training and post contract customer support (PCS). For some of the
agreements, Sequoia produces DVDs for the end customer. For other
agreements, Sequoia provides blank DVD materials and Sequoia’s customer produces
DVDs for the end customer. For other contracts, Sequoia does not
provide any materials and Sequoia’s customer fulfills the orders for the end
consumer. Vendor specific objective evidence of fair value (VSOE)
does not exist for any of the elements of these contracts. Therefore,
revenue under the majority of Sequoia’s contracts is deferred until all elements
of the contract have been delivered except for the training and
PCS. At that time, the revenue is recognized over the remaining term
of the contract on a straight-line basis. Beginning in 2008, Sequoia
will allow customers to place orders via its website and pay using credit
cards. Revenues for orders placed online will be recognized upon
shipment of the product.
As
Sequoia expands its product offering through additional customers, Sequoia
believes its business and revenues will be subject to seasonal fluctuations
prevalent in the photo industry. A substantial portion of its
revenues will likely occur during the holiday season in the fourth quarter of
the calendar year. Sequoia expects to experience lower net revenues
during the first, second and third quarters than it experiences in the fourth
quarter. This trend follows the typical photo and retail industry
patterns.
Sequoia
has begun tracking key metrics to understand and project revenues and costs in
the future, which include the following:
Average Order
Size. Average order size includes the number of products per
order and the net revenues for a given period of time divided by the total
number of customer orders recorded during that same period. As
Sequoia expands its product offerings, it expects to increase the average order
size in terms of products ordered and revenue generated per order.
Total Number of
Orders. For each customer, Sequoia monitors the total number
of orders for a given period, which provides an indicator of revenue trends for
such customer. Sequoia recognizes the revenues associated with an
order when the products have been shipped. Orders are typically
processed and shipped within three business days after a customer order is
received.
Sequoia
believes the analysis of these metrics provides it with important information on
its overall revenue trends and operating results. Fluctuations in
these metrics are not unusual and no single factor is determinative of its net
revenues and operating results.
Cost of
Revenues. Sequoia’s cost of revenues consist primarily of
direct materials including DVDs, DVD cases, picture sheet inserts, third-party
printing, assembly and packaging costs, payroll and related expenses for direct
labor, shipping charges, packaging supplies, distribution and fulfillment
activities, rent for production facilities and depreciation of production
equipment. Cost of revenues also includes payroll and related
expenses for personnel engaged in customer service. In addition, cost
of revenues includes any third-party software or patents licensed, as well as
the amortization of capitalized website development costs. Sequoia
capitalizes eligible costs associated with software developed or obtained for
internal use in accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, or AICPA, Statement of Position No. 98-1, “Accounting for the Costs
of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use” and Emerging Issues
Task Force, or EITF, Issue No. 00-02, “Accounting for Website Development
Costs.” Costs incurred in the development phase are capitalized and
amortized in cost of revenues over the product’s estimated useful
life.
Operating
Expenses. Operating expenses consist of sales and marketing,
research and development and general and administrative
expenses. Sequoia anticipates that each of the following categories
of operating expenses will increase in absolute dollar amounts.
Research
and development expense consists primarily of personnel and related costs for
employees and contractors engaged in the development and ongoing maintenance of
Sequoia’s deployment of its products or various delivery platforms including
online, web and shrinkwrap deployments. These expenses include
depreciation of the computer and network hardware used to run Sequoia’s website
and product final products, as well as amortization of purchased
software. Research and development expense also includes co-location
and bandwidth costs.
Sales and
marketing expense consists of costs incurred for marketing programs and
personnel and related expenses for Sequoia customer acquisition, product
marketing, business development and public relations activities.
General
and administrative expense includes general corporate costs, including rent for
the corporate offices, insurance, depreciation on information technology
equipment and legal and accounting fees. In addition, general and
administrative expense includes personnel expenses of employees involved in
executive, finance, accounting, human resources, information technology and
legal roles. Third-party payment processor and credit card fees will
also be included in general and administrative expense in
2008. Sequoia also anticipates both an additional one-time cost and a
continuing cost associated with public reporting requirements and compliance
with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as additional costs such as
investor relations and higher insurance premiums.
Interest
Expense. Interest expense consists of interest costs
recognized under Sequoia’s capital lease obligations and for borrowed
money.
Income
Taxes. Sequoia has been a limited liability company and not
subject to entity taxation. Going forward, Sequoia anticipates making
provision for income taxes depending on the statutory rate in the countries
where it sells its products. Historically, Sequoia has only been
subject to taxation in the United States. If Sequoia continues to
sell its products primarily to customers located within the United States,
Sequoia anticipates that its long-term future effective tax rate will be between
38% and 45%, without taking into account the use of any of Sequoia’s net
operating loss carry forwards. However, Sequoia anticipates that in
the future it may further expand its sales of products to customers located
outside of the United States, in which case it would become subject to taxation
based on the foreign statutory rates in the countries where these sales took
place and our effective tax rate could fluctuate accordingly.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
Use of
Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and
disclosures. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Revenue Recognition and Deferred
Revenue. The Company’s revenue contracts generally include a
software license and post-contract support (PCS), and may include training,
implementation, and other services such as product fulfillment
services. Because the contracts generally include the delivery of a
software license, the Company accounts for the majority of its revenue contracts
in accordance with Statement of Position (SOP) 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition,
as modified by SOP 98-9, Modification of SOP 97-2 with
Respect to Certain Transactions. SOP 97-2 applies to
activities that represent licensing, selling, leasing, or other marketing of
computer software. SOP 97-2 generally provides that until vendor
specific objective evidence (VSOE) of fair value exists for the various
components within the contract, that revenue is deferred until delivery of all
elements except for PCS and training has occurred.
After all
elements are delivered except for PCS and training, deferred revenue is
recognized over the remaining term of the contract. Because of the
Company’s limited sales history, it does not have VSOE for the different
components that may be included in sales contracts.
The
Company records billings and cash received in excess of revenue earned as
deferred revenue. The deferred revenue balance generally results from
contractual commitments made by customers to pay amounts to the Company in
advance of revenues earned. Revenue earned but not billed is classified as
unbilled accounts receivable in the balance sheet. The Company bills
customers as payments become due under the terms of the customer’s contract. The
Company considers current information and events regarding its customers and
their contracts and establishes allowances for doubtful accounts when it is
probable that it will not be able to collect amounts due under the terms of
existing contracts.
Accounting for Equity Based
Compensation. The Company accounts for equity-based-based
compensation in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(SFAS) No. 123(R) (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment which
requires recognition of expense (generally over the vesting period) based on the
estimated fair value of equity-based payments granted.
(Intentionally
left blank)
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
2008
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
2007
|
%
Change
|
|
|
Revenues
|
$ 73,496
|
$ 173,911
|
(58%)
|
|
Total
revenues decreased $100,415, or 58 percent, for the three months ended March 31,
2008, as compared to the same period in 2007. The decrease in revenue is due to
the expiration of Sequoia’s agreement with BigPlanet on December 31,
2007.
Four
customers accounted for a total of 94 percent of Sequoia’s revenues for the
three months ending March 31, 2008 (individually 51 percent, 17 percent, 15
percent, and 11 percent) compared to one customer accounting for all of the
revenue for the same period in 2007. No other single customer accounted for more
than 10 percent of Sequoia’s total revenues for the three months ended March 31,
2008 or the same period in 2007.
Operating
Expenses.
|
|
Three
Months
Ended
March 31,
2008
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
2007
|
|
|
%
Change
|
|
Cost
of Goods Sold
|
|
$ |
173,097 |
|
|
$ |
21,615 |
|
|
|
701 |
% |
Research
and Development
|
|
|
560,377 |
|
|
|
344,429 |
|
|
|
63 |
% |
Selling
and Marketing
|
|
|
517,161 |
|
|
|
298,817 |
|
|
|
73 |
% |
General
and Administrative
|
|
|
1,144,240 |
|
|
|
597,120 |
|
|
|
92 |
% |
Depreciation
and Amortization
|
|
|
56,998 |
|
|
|
43,245 |
|
|
|
32 |
% |
Interest
Expense
|
|
|
71,289 |
|
|
|
342,242 |
|
|
|
(79 |
%) |
Sequoia’s
cost of goods sold expense increased $151,482, or 701%, for the three months
ended March 31, 2008, as compared to the same period in 2007. The increase is
primarily due to the change in the type of work being performed in 2008 versus
2007. In 2007, Sequoia primarily supplied software technology to build DVD
movies for a single customer – BigPlanet. In 2008, Sequoia has multiple
customers and the cost of goods sold includes not only fulfillment costs, but
also includes a portion of the sale of hardware to one of Sequoia’s customers
that purchased fulfillment equipment from Sequoia. (Both the revenue and costs
associated with this contract are being recognized over the life of the
contract.)
Sequoia’s
research and development expense increased $215,948, or 63%, for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 as compared to the same period in
2007. The increase is attributable to additional personnel and
related costs for new employees and consultants involved with technology
development for deployments and ongoing maintenance of Sequoia’s products in
Wal-Mart on kiosks, with various retailers online and with various retailers in
the form of hard good kits.
Selling
and marketing expense increased $218,344, or 73%, for the three months ended
March 31, 2008, as compared to the same period in 2007. The increase is
primarily due to additional personnel and related costs for new employees and
consultants involved with Sequoia’s increased marketing efforts directed at mass
retailers.
Sequoia’s
general and administrative expense increased $547,120, or 92%, for the three
months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to the same period in 2007. The
increase is primarily due to an increase in consulting and outside services of
approximately $210,000 as a result of the consulting agreement with Amerivon
(see “Sequoia Transactions and Relationships” below, for more information on
this consulting agreement). An increase of approximately $113,000 is
attributable to increased professional consulting services provided by
accounting, financial and legal services associated with Sequoia’s funding
activities and pursuit of the Merger Agreement with Secure Alliance.
Approximately $80,000 of the increase is attributable to an increase in benefits
expense due to the increase in average headcount from year to year. Finally,
approximately $70,000 of the increase is attributable to a bonus accrual, and
approximately $39,000 is attributable to an increase in stock-based compensation
expense due to an increase in options year to year.
Depreciation
and amortization expense increased $13,753, or 32%, for the three months ended
March 31, 2008, as compared to the same period in 2007. The increase is
primarily due to the purchase of computer equipment deployed to fulfill product
for new customer accounts and for office furniture and equipment for new
employees which began to be depreciated by Sequoia.
Sequoia’s
interest expense decreased $270,953, or 79%, for the three months ended March
31, 2008, as compared to the same period in 2007. The decrease is due to the
conversion of Sequoia’s convertible debt into equity in May 2007. To
fund operations, Sequoia undertook a large private offering consisting of
12-month convertible debt, bearing interest at 10%. The offering was
taken in its entirety by Amerivon, who invested a total of
$830,000. In August of 2006, Amerivon invested an additional
$1,560,000 in a convertible debt offering, bearing interest at 9%, intended to
bridge Sequoia to a subsequent preferred equity offering targeting $5 to $7
million.
In
December 2006, Sequoia entered into various short-term loans with members of
Sequoia totaling $265,783 to fund operations until the funding transaction with
Amerivon closed. These loans bore interest at 10% per annum and were
payable on or before December 31, 2007. In May 2007, these loans were
repaid.
Comparison
of the Years Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
|
|
2007
|
2006
|
%
Change
|
|
|
Revenues
|
$ 541,856
|
$ 739,200
|
(27%)
|
|
More than
90% of all revenues generated in 2007 and 100% in 2006 came from Sequoia’s
agreement with BigPlanet. Under the terms of the agreement, BigPlanet
was obligated to pay Sequoia $1 million in annual minimum guaranteed royalties,
payable in 12 equal monthly installments of $83,333.33. Big Planet
timely paid each monthly installment during each of the 24 months through 2005
and 2006. The BigPlanet agreement included software development,
software license, post-contract support and training. Because the
contract included the delivery of a software license, Sequoia accounted for the
contract in accordance with Statement of Position (SOP) 97-2, Software Revenue
Recognition, as modified by SOP 98-9, Modification of SOP 97-2 with Respect to
Certain Transactions. SOP 97-2 applies to activities that represent
licensing, selling, leasing, or other marketing of computer
software.
Because
the contract included services to provide significant production, modification,
or customization of software, in accordance with SOP 97-2, Sequoia accounted for
the contract based on the provisions of Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No.
45, Long-Term Construction-Type Contracts, and the relevant guidance provided by
SOP 81-1, Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and Certain
Production-Type Contracts. In accordance with these provisions,
Sequoia determined to use the percentage-of-completion method of accounting to
record the revenue for the entire contract. Sequoia utilized the
ratio of total actual costs incurred to total estimated costs to determine the
amount of revenue to be recognized at each reporting date. Sequoia
records billings and cash received in excess of revenue earned as deferred
revenue. The deferred revenue balance generally results from
contractual commitments made by customers to pay amounts to Sequoia in advance
of revenues earned. The unbilled accounts receivable represents
revenue that has been earned but which has not yet been
billed. Sequoia considers current information and events regarding
its customers and their contracts and establishes allowances for doubtful
accounts when it is probable that it will not be able to collect amounts due
under the terms of existing contracts.
As a
result of Sequoia’s use of the stated accounting methods, revenue recognition
recognized income in years other that the year cash was received. The
cash received under the BigPlanet agreement was the same in 2007 and 2006, or $1
million each year. As a result of applying the
percentage-of-completion method, revenue decreased from $748,069 in 2006 to
$541,856 in 2007, a 27% drop. The change in revenue recognition in
2007 from 2006 reflects the relationship between the percentage of Sequoia’s
total operating expenses directly associated with the BigPlanet agreement and
those related to other activities of the Company during each respective year of
the agreement. During 2006 a much greater percentage of Sequoia’s
resources were dedicated to the BigPlanet agreement than during 2007 because of
Sequoia’s pursuit of and work on additional customer accounts. The
BigPlanet agreement expired on December 31, 2007. The parties are in
negotiations to continue their business relationship.
Under the
original BigPlanet agreement, Sequoia provided its technology to BigPlanet for
it to use to market and sell customer products. Accordingly, Sequoia
did not have material costs of goods sold associated with the BigPlanet
revenues.
Sequoia
maintains its cash in bank demand deposit accounts, which at times may exceed
the federally insured limit. As of December 31, 2007 and 2006,
Sequoia had limited cash generating interest revenue and had not experienced any
losses.
Operating
Expenses.
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
%
Change
|
|
Research
and Development
|
|
$ |
1,890,852 |
|
|
$ |
1,067,687 |
|
|
|
77 |
% |
Selling
and Marketing
|
|
|
1,351,860 |
|
|
|
547,448 |
|
|
|
147 |
% |
General
and Administrative
|
|
|
3,677,326 |
|
|
|
1,755,127 |
|
|
|
110 |
% |
Depreciation
and Amortization
|
|
|
277,458 |
|
|
|
103,160 |
|
|
|
169 |
% |
Interest
Expense
|
|
|
693,217 |
|
|
|
806,439 |
|
|
|
(14 |
%) |
Sequoia’s
research and development expense increased $823,165, or 77%, from 2006 to
2007. The increase is attributable to additional personnel and
related costs for new employees and consultants involved with technology
development for deployments and ongoing maintenance of Sequoia’s products in
Wal-Mart on kiosks, with various retailers online and with various retailers in
the form of hard good kits. In August 2007, Sequoia launched a kiosk
deployment in Wal-Mart and began selling its first hard good kits for the
Christmas season. Sequoia also began developing an online platform in
2007 for selling products online with initial deployment anticipated in the
first quarter of 2008.
Selling
and marketing expense increased $804,412, or 147%, from 2006 to
2007. The increase was attributable to Sequoia’s increased marketing
efforts directed at mass retailers and an increased presence at the Photo
Marketing Association’s (“PMA”) annual trade show in February
2007. Additional personnel were hired to assist with development of
marketing materials resulting in additional personnel and associated costs of
approximately $725,000. An additional $80,000 was incurred in
preparation for the PMA show to pay for floor space, booth rental and set up at
the trade show held in February 2007. Expenses were incurred during
the last quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of 2007 for the PMA
show.
Sequoia’s
general and administrative expense increased $1,922,199, or 110%, from 2006 to
2007. New business development and operations personnel and
associated costs and sales materials accounted for approximately $801,000 of the
increase. Other costs associated with additional personnel such as
health care, office furniture, computers, phones and other infrastructure costs
across all departments totaled approximately $235,000. Approximately
$303,000 of the increase was attributable to an increase of contract labor
associated with platform (online and point-of-scan offerings) and product
development. An increase of approximately $115,000 was attributable
to increased professional consulting services provided by accounting, financial
and legal services associated with Sequoia’s funding activities and pursuit of
the Merger Agreement with Secure Alliance. Sequoia’s lease payments
increased as the company took out more space to house new employee growth by
approximately $301,000. Travel and entertainment costs increased
approximately $121,000 as Sequoia pursued business
opportunities. Equipment taxes, licensing and telephone expenses
increased by $56,000, all as a result of added personnel.
Depreciation
expense increased $174,298, or 169% from 2006 to 2007 as a result of purchasing
computer equipment deployed to fulfill product for new customer accounts and for
office furniture and equipment for new employees which began to be depreciated
by Sequoia.
Sequoia’s
interest expense decreased from $806,439 in 2006 to $693,217 in 2007 due to the
conversion of its convertible debt into equity during 2007. To fund
operations, Sequoia undertook a large private offering consisting of 12-month
convertible debt, bearing interest at 10%. The offering was taken in
its entirety by Amerivon, who invested a total of $830,000. In August
of 2006, Amerivon invested an additional $1,560,000 in a convertible debt
offering, bearing interest at 9%, intended to bridge Sequoia to a subsequent
preferred equity offering targeting $5 to $7 million.
In
December 2006, Sequoia entered into various short-term loans with members of
Sequoia totaling $265,783 to fund operations until the funding transaction with
Amerivon closed. These loans bore interest at 10% per annum and were
payable on or before December 31, 2007. In May 2007, these loans were
repaid.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources.
|
|
Unaudited
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|
|
Year
Ended
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
Statements
of Cash Flows
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
Flows from Operating Activities
|
|
$ |
(1,734,006 |
) |
|
$ |
(858,223 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,513,316 |
) |
|
$ |
(1,890,640 |
) |
Cash
Flows from Investing Activities
|
|
|
(24,720 |
) |
|
|
(51,386 |
) |
|
|
(577,295 |
) |
|
|
(414,995 |
) |
Cash
Flows from Financing Activities
|
|
|
1,885,118 |
|
|
|
930,375 |
|
|
|
6,780,988 |
|
|
|
2,464,288 |
|
Operating
Activities. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, net
cash used in operating activities was $(1,734,006) compared to $(858,223) for
the same period in 2007. For 2007, net cash used in operating activities was
$(5,513,316) compared to $(1,890,640) in 2006. The changes were due
primarily to Sequoia’s pursuit of new customers and development of additional
delivery methods for its software technology which required substantial
additional human, equipment and property resources.
Investing Activities. For the
three months ended March 31, 2008, Sequoia’s cash flows from investing
activities was $(24,720) compared to $(51,386) for the same period in 2007. The
change was due to purchasing less property and equipment in the three months
ended March 31, 2008 than in the same period in 2007.
For
2007, Sequoia’s cash flows from investing activities were $(577,295) compared to
$(414,995) in 2006. The change resulted primarily as a result of
purchasing property and equipment to allow for the fulfillment of products for
customers and anticipated customers.
Financing
Activities. For the three months ended March 31, 2008,
financing activities provided $1,885,118 of cash compared to $930,375 for the
same period in 2007. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, Sequoia
received $1.5 million from Secure Alliance in anticipation of closing the Merger
Agreement. During this period, Sequoia received $414,626 from Amerivon as they
exercised a portion of their warrants to purchase additional common units, and
used $(29,508) for principal payments under capital obligations. During the
three months ended March 31, 2007, Sequoia received $1 million from Amerivon,
and $20,000 from related party notes payable. Also during this period Sequoia
made payments of $(82,080) in loan costs, and $(7,545) for principal payments
under capital lease obligations.
Sequoia
has elected to grow its business through the use of outside capital beyond what
has been available from operations to capitalize on the growth in the digital
imaging industry. During the first half of 2006 Sequoia undertook a
private equity offering consisting of 12-month convertible debt, bearing
interest at 10%. The offering was taken in its entirety by Amerivon,
who invested a total of $829,250. At the time of the investment,
Amerivon placed a member on Sequoia’s Board of Managers. In August of
2006, Amerivon invested an additional $1,560,000 in a convertible debt offering,
bearing interest at 10%, intended to bridge Sequoia to a subsequent preferred
equity offering targeting $5 to $7 million. During the first quarter
of 2007, Amerivon provided additional bridge financing of $1,000,000 and an
additional $535,000 of bridge financing during the second quarter of
2007. In May 2007, Sequoia closed the preferred equity offering with
Amerivon at which time they converted approximately $2.4 million in aggregate
convertible debt held by Amerivon, together with accumulated interest into
common units of Sequoia. Amerivon also provided approximately $4.9
million in additional cash, which, along with $1.5 million of the bridge
financing principle provided during 2007, plus accumulated interest, was used to
purchase a total of $6.4 million worth of Sequoia’s Series B
preferred. Upon the closing of the Series B preferred offering,
Amerivon placed a second member on Sequoia’s Board of Managers.
In
anticipation of closing the Merger Agreement, Sequoia entered into a Loan
Agreement with Secure Alliance whereby Secure Alliance agreed to extend (and has
extended) to Sequoia $2.5 million to provide operating capital
through the closing of the transaction. A total of $1 million was
loaned to Sequoia during 2007, with an additional $1.5 million being loaned in
2008. In connection with the closing of the Merger Agreement, Sequoia
received approximately $7.3 million to fund operations in addition to the $2.5
million previously loaned to the Company by Secure Alliance. Upon
closing of the Merger, the $2.5 million notes payable to Secure Alliance were
eliminated. Management believes that the funds received in connection
with the Merger will be sufficient to sustain operations at least through the
year ending December 31, 2008.
New
Accounting Pronouncements
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007)
(SFAS 141R), Business
Combinations and SFAS No. 160 (SFAS 160), Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements, an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin
No. 51. SFAS 141R will change how business acquisitions are
accounted for and will impact financial statements both on the acquisition date
and in subsequent periods. SFAS 160 will change the accounting and
reporting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as
noncontrolling interests and classified as a component of equity. SFAS 141R
and SFAS 160 are effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal
2010. Early adoption is not permitted. The adoption of SFAS 141R and
SFAS 160 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s
financial statements.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 (SFAS 157), Fair Value Measurements,
which defines fair value, establishes guidelines for measuring fair value and
expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not
require any new fair value measurements but rather eliminates inconsistencies in
guidance found in various prior accounting pronouncements. SFAS 157 is
effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However, in
February 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-b which delays the effective
date of SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities,
except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial
statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). This FSP partially defers
the effective date of Statement 157 to fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years for items
within the scope of this FSP. Effective for fiscal 2008, the Company will adopt
SFAS 157 except as it applies to those nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial
liabilities as noted in FSP FAS 157-b. The adoption of SFAS 157 is not
expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial
statements.
In
July 2006, the FASB issued Financial Interpretation No. 48
(FIN 48), Accounting for
Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 109. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in
income taxes by prescribing the recognition threshold a tax position is required
to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. It also provides
guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in
interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2007 and as a result, is effective our
first quarter of fiscal 2008. The cumulative effects, if any, of applying
FIN 48 will be recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings as of the
beginning of the period of adoption.
Additionally,
in May 2007, the FASB published FSP No. FIN 48-1 (FSP FIN 48-1),
Definition of Settlement in
FASB Interpretation No. 48. FSP FIN 48-1 is an amendment to
FIN 48. It clarifies how an enterprise should determine whether a tax
position is effectively settled for the purpose of recognizing previously
unrecognized tax benefits. If the Company closes the merger with
Secure Alliance Holdings Corporation as noted in note 11, the Company will be
required to comply with FIN 48-1 on the merger date. The actual
impact of the adoption of FIN 48 and FSP FIN 48-1 on our consolidated
results of operations and financial condition will depend on facts and
circumstances that exist on the date of adoption. The Company is currently
calculating the impact of the adoption of FIN 48 and FSP FIN 48-1 but
does not expect it to have a material impact on the financial
statements.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
Sequoia
does not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably
likely to have a current or future effect on its financial condition, changes in
financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity,
capital resources that is material to investors.
Contractual
Obligations and Commitments
The following table sets forth certain
contractual obligations as of March 31, 2008 in summary form:
|
|
|
|
|
Less
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
More
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
than
1
|
|
|
|
1-3
|
|
|
|
4-5
|
|
|
than
5
|
|
Description
|
|
Total
|
|
|
year
|
|
|
years
|
|
|
years
|
|
|
years
|
|
Long-term
debt
|
|
$ |
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
Capital
lease obligations
|
|
|
388,085 |
|
|
|
166,162 |
|
|
|
221,923 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
Operating
lease obligations
|
|
|
695,134 |
|
|
|
317,990 |
|
|
|
369,494 |
|
|
|
7,650 |
|
|
|
– |
|
Notes
payable
|
|
|
2,747,361 |
|
|
|
2,747,361 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
Purchase
obligations
|
|
|
97,000 |
|
|
|
97,000 |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
Other
long-term liabilities under GAAP
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
|
|
– |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
3,927,580 |
|
|
|
3
,328,513 |
|
|
|
591,417 |
|
|
|
7,650 |
|
|
|
– |
|
As noted
above, $2.5 million of the notes payable outstanding were eliminated upon the
closing of the Merger with Secure Alliance.
Risk
Factors
You
should carefully consider the risks described below together with all of the
other information included in this report before making an investment decision
with regard to our securities. The statements contained in or
incorporated into this offering that are not historic facts are forward-looking
statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by
forward-looking statements. If any of the following risks actually
occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be
harmed. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could
decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
Company Risk
Factors
Since
Sequoia’s inception, it has been spending more than it makes which has required
it to rely upon outside financings to fund operations. If Sequoia is
not able to generate sufficient revenues to fund its business plans, Sequoia may
be required to limit operations.
Since
Sequoia’s inception Sequoia has operated at a loss. Sequoia is not
currently generating sufficient revenues to cover its operating
expenses. If Sequoia’s revenues do not begin to grow or if they
decline and its expenses do not slow or decline at a greater rate Sequoia may be
unable to generate positive cash flows. If Sequoia is unable to
generate positive cash flow from operations Sequoia will be required to seek
outside financing to continue operating at its current level or cease
operations. If new sources of financing are required, but are
insufficient or unavailable, Sequoia will be required to modify its growth and
operating plans to the extent of available funding, which would harm its ability
to pursue our business plans. If Sequoia ceases or stops operations,
its members could lose their entire investment. Historically, Sequoia
has funded its operating, administrative and development costs through the sale
of equity capital or debt financing. If Sequoia’s plans and/or
assumptions change or prove inaccurate, or Sequoia is unable to obtain further
financing, or such financing and other capital resources, in addition to
projected cash flow, if any, prove to be insufficient to fund operations,
Sequoia’s continued viability could be at risk. To the extent that
any such financing involves the sale of Sequoia’s membership interests, the
interests of Sequoia’s then existing members could be substantially
diluted. The holders of new membership interests of Sequoia may also
have rights, preferences or privileges which are senior to those of Sequoia’s
existing members. There is no assurance that Sequoia will be
successful in achieving any or all of these objectives over the coming
year.
Sequoia
anticipates its business will become highly seasonal in nature which may cause
its financial results to vary significantly by quarter.
The photo
retail business is very seasonal in nature with a significant proportion of
recurring revenues occurring the fourth quarter of the calendar year,
particularly around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. As a
result, Sequoia’s financial results will be difficult to compare
quarter-to-quarter. Additionally, any disruptions in operations
during the fourth quarter could greatly impact its annual revenues and have a
significant adverse effect on its relationships with its
customers. Sequoia’s limited revenue and operating history makes it
difficult for it to assess the impact of seasonal factors on its business or
whether its business is susceptible to cyclical fluctuations in the
economy.
Sequoia’s
technology solutions and business approach are relatively new and if they are
not accepted in the marketplace, its business could be materially and adversely
affected.
Products
created with Sequoia’s technology have only been available in the marketplace
since 2005. Sequoia has been pursuing a business model that requires
retail and vendor partners to recognize the advantages of its technology to make
it available to end consumers. Having generated limited revenues,
there can be no assurance that Sequoia’s products will receive the widespread
market acceptance necessary to sustain profitable operations. Even if
its services attain widespread acceptance, there can be no assurance that
Sequoia will be able to meet the demands of its customers on an ongoing
basis. Sequoia’s operations may be delayed, halted, or altered for
any of the reasons set forth in these risk factors and other unknown
reasons. Such delays or failure would seriously harm Sequoia’s
reputation and future operations. If Sequoia’s products or its
business model are not accepted in the market place, its business could be
materially and adversely affected.
Sequoia’s
product solution focuses on an aspect of the digital photo industry that has
never been directly addressed in any meaningful way. Sequoia provides
a nearly finished product that takes user images and combines them with stock
images to create context for user images in a themed
presentation. Sequoia also offers a unique DVD product that has not
been widely sold in the marketplace in the form it offers. The degree
of market acceptance of Sequoia’s product solution results in Sequoia’s products
going to the market with a high level of uncertainty and risk. As the
market for its product technology is new and evolving, it is difficult to
predict the size of the market, the future growth rate, if any, or the level of
premiums the market will pay for Sequoia’s services. There can be no
assurance that the market for Sequoia’s services will emerge to a profitable
level or be sustainable. There can be no assurance that any increase
in marketing and sales efforts will result in a larger market or increase in
market acceptance for Sequoia’s services. If the market fails to
develop, develops more slowly than expected or becomes saturated with
competitors, or if Sequoia’s proposed services do not achieve or sustain market
acceptance, Sequoia’s proposed business, results of operations and financial
condition will continue to be materially and adversely affected.
Ultimately,
Sequoia’s success will depend upon consumer acceptance of its product delivery
model and its largely pre-configured products. Sequoia relies on its
retail and internet vending customers to market its products to end
consumers. While Sequoia assists retailers with their marketing
programs, Sequoia cannot assure that retailers will continue to market its
services or that their marketing efforts will be successful in attracting and
retaining end user consumers. The failure to attract end user
consumers will adversely affect Sequoia’s business. In addition, if
Sequoia’s service does not generate revenue for the retailer, whether because of
failure to market it, Sequoia may lose retailers as customers, which would
adversely affect its revenue.
Sequoia
has for the past few years depended on a single customer for a significant
portion of its revenue. If Sequoia is unable to replace that customer
and add additional customers it could materially harm its operating results,
business, and financial condition.
During
2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, over 90% of Sequoia’s revenue was derived from a
single customer, BigPlanet. Sequoia’s contract with BigPlanet expired
on December 31, 2007. Sequoia is in negotiations to continue its
business relationship with BigPlanet, but it can provide no assurance that it
will enter into a new agreement or what the terms of the new agreement will
be. Sequoia added several additional customer contracts during 2007,
but they have not generated significant revenues to date. If in the
event Sequoia is unable to replace the revenues generated from BigPlanet and
increase the revenues for current customers and enter into additional agreements
with additional customers that generate revenue, Sequoia’s operations and
financial results will significantly suffer, jeopardizing long-term
operations. Sequoia may not succeed in attracting new customers, as
many of its potential customers have pre-existing relationships with Sequoia’s
current or potential competitors. To attract new customers, Sequoia
may be faced with intense price competition, which may affect its gross
margins.
Sequoia
needs to develop and introduce new and enhanced products in a timely manner to
remain competitive.
The
markets in which Sequoia operates are characterized by rapidly changing
technologies, evolving industry standards, frequent new product introductions
and relatively short product lives. The pursuit of necessary
technological advances and the development of new products require substantial
time and expense. To compete successfully in the markets in which
Sequoia operates, Sequoia must develop and sell new or enhanced products that
provide increasingly higher levels of performance and
reliability. For example, Sequoia’s business involves new digital
audio and video formats, such as DVD-Video and DVD-Audio, and, more recently,
the new recordable DVD formats including DVD-RAM, DVD-R/RW, and
DVD+RW.
Currently,
there is extensive activity in Sequoia’s industry targeting the introduction of
new, high definition formats including Blue Ray®. To the extent that
competing new formats remain incompatible, consumer adoption may be delayed and
Sequoia may be required to expend additional resources to support multiple
formats. Sequoia expends significant time and effort to develop new
products in compliance with these new formats. To the extent there is
a delay in the implementation or adoption of these formats, Sequoia’s business,
financial condition and results of operations could be adversely
affected. As new industry standards, technologies and formats are
introduced, there may be limited sources for the intellectual property rights
and background technologies necessary for implementation, and the initial prices
that Sequoia may negotiate in an effort to bring its products to market may
prove to be higher than those ultimately offered to other licensees, putting
Sequoia at a competitive disadvantage. Additionally, if these formats
prove to be unsuccessful or are not accepted for any reason, there will be
limited demand for Sequoia’s products. Sequoia cannot assure you that
the products it is currently developing or intend to develop will achieve
feasibility or that even if it is successful, the developed product will be
accepted by the market. Sequoia may not be able to recover the costs
of existing and future product development and its failure to do so may
materially and adversely impact its business, financial condition and results of
operations.
If
Sequoia is unable to respond to customer technological demands and improve its
products, its business could be materially and adversely affected.
To remain
competitive, Sequoia must continue to enhance and improve the responsiveness,
functionality and features of its solutions and its products. The
photo industry is characterized by rapid technological change, changes in user
and customer requirements and preferences and frequent new product and service
introductions. Sequoia’s success will depend, in part, on its ability
to license leading technologies useful in its business, enhance its existing
software offerings, develop new product offerings and technology that address
the varied needs of its existing and prospective customers and respond to
technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices on a
cost-effective and timely basis. There can be no assurance that
Sequoia will successfully implement new technologies or adapt its solutions,
products, proprietary technology and transaction-processing systems to customer
requirements or emerging industry standards. If Sequoia is unable to
adapt in a timely manner in response to changing market conditions or customer
requirements for technical, legal, financial or other reasons, its business
could be materially adversely affected.
Sequoia
has and expects to continue to experience rapid growth. If it is
unable to manage its growing operations effective, Sequoia’s business could be
negatively impacted.
Expected
rapid growth in all areas of Sequoia’s business may place a significant strain
on its operational, human, and technical resources. Sequoia expects
that operating expenses and staffing levels will increase in the future to keep
pace with its customer demands and requirements. To manage its
growth, Sequoia must expand its operational and technical capabilities and
manage its employee base, while effectively administering multiple relationships
with various third parties, including business partners and
affiliates. Sequoia cannot assure that it will be able to effectively
manage its growth. The failure to effectively manage its growth could
result in an inability to meet its customer demands, leading to customer
dissatisfaction and loss. Loss of customers could negatively impact
Sequoia’s operating results.
Sequoia
competes with others who provide products comparable to its
products. If Sequoia is unable to compete with current and future
competitors, its business could be materially and adversely
affected.
The
digital photography products and services industries are intensely competitive,
and Sequoia expects competition to increase in the future as current competitors
improve their offerings, new participants enter the market or industry
consolidation further develops. Competition may result in pricing
pressures, reduced profit margins or loss of market share, any of which could
substantially harm Sequoia’s business and results of
operations. Sequoia’s success is dependent upon its ability to
maintain its current customers and obtain additional
customers. Digital image services are provided by a wide range of
companies. Competitors in the market for the provision of digital
imaging services include Snapfish (a Hewlett-Packard service), Pixology plc,
LifePics, and Shutterfly among numerous others. In addition, end
consumers have a wide variety of product choices such as prints, photo books,
calendars, and other print and image products. Sequoia competes for
photo imaging output dollars with its DVD and other product
offerings. Internet portals and search engines such as Yahoo!, AOL
and Google also offer digital photography solutions, and home printing solutions
offered by Hewlett Packard, Lexmark, Epson, Canon and others. Most of
Sequoia’s competitors have longer operating histories, significantly greater
financial, technical and marketing resources, greater name and product
recognition, and larger existing customer bases. Although Sequoia has
been able to enter into relationships with many potential competitors, it cannot
provide any assurance its relationships will continue or that its competitors
will not pursue their own product solutions that Sequoia currently provides to
them. With the large and varied competitors and potential competitors
in the marketplace, Sequoia cannot be certain that it will be able to compete
successfully against current and future competitors. If Sequoia is
unable to do so, it will have a material adverse effect on its business, results
of operations and financial condition.
Sequoia
relies on its ability to download software and fulfill orders for its
customers. If Sequoia is unable to maintain reliability of its
network solution it may lose both present and potential customers.
Sequoia’s
ability to attract and retain customers depends on the performance, reliability
and availability of its services and fulfillment network
infrastructure. Sequoia may experience periodic service interruptions
caused by temporary problems in its own systems or software or in the systems or
software of third parties upon whom it relies to provide such
service. Fire, floods, earthquakes, power loss, telecommunications
failures, break-ins and similar events could damage these systems and interrupt
Sequoia’s services. Computer viruses, electronic break-ins or other
similar disruptive events also could disrupt its services. System
disruptions could result in the unavailability or slower response times of the
websites Sequoia hosts for its customers, which would lower the quality of the
consumers’ experiences. Service disruptions could adversely affect
its revenues and, if they were prolonged, would seriously harm its business and
reputation. Sequoia does not carry business interruption insurance to
compensate for losses that may occur as a result of these
interruptions. Sequoia’s customers depend on Internet service
providers and other website operators for access to its
systems. These entities have experienced significant outages in the
past, and could experience outages, delays and other difficulties due to system
failures unrelated to Sequoia’s systems. Moreover, the Internet
network infrastructure may not be able to support continued
growth. Any of these problems could adversely affect Sequoia’s
business.
The
infrastructure relating to Sequoia’s services are vulnerable to unauthorized
access, physical or electronic computer break-ins, computer viruses and other
disruptive problems. Internet service providers have experienced, and
may continue to experience, interruptions in service as a result of the
accidental or intentional actions of Internet users, current and former
employees and others. Anyone who is able to circumvent Sequoia’s
security measures could misappropriate proprietary information or cause
interruptions in its operations. Security breaches relating to its
activities or the activities of third-party contractors that involve the storage
and transmission of proprietary information could damage its reputation and
relationships with its customers and strategic partners. Sequoia
could be liable to its customers for the damages caused by such breaches or it
could incur substantial costs as a result of defending claims for those
damages. Sequoia may need to expend significant capital and other
resources to protect against such security breaches or to address problems
caused by such breaches. Security measures taken by Sequoia may not
prevent disruptions or security breaches.
Sequoia
relies on third parties for the development and maintenance of photo kiosks and
backend Internet connections to reach its customers and such dependence on third
parties may impair its ability to generate revenues.
Sequoia’s
business relies on the use of third party photo kiosks and Internet systems and
connections as a convenient means of consumer interaction and
commerce. The success of Sequoia’s business will depend on the
ability of its customers to use such third party photo kiosks and Internet
systems and connections without significant delays or aggravation. As
such, Sequoia relies on third parties to develop and maintain reliable photo
kiosks and to provide Internet connections having the necessary speed, data
capacity and security, as well as the timely development of complementary
products such as high-speed modems, to ensure its customers have reliable access
to its services. The failure of Sequoia’s customer photo kiosk
providers and the Internet to achieve these goals may reduce its ability to
generate significant revenue.
Sequoia’s
penetration of a broader consumer market will depend, in part, on continued
proliferation of high speed Internet access for customers using kiosk and
vendors providing its software and products via the Internet. The
Internet has experienced, and is likely to continue to experience, significant
growth in the number of users and amount of traffic. As the Internet
continues to experience increased numbers of users, increased frequency of use
and increased bandwidth requirements, the Internet infrastructure may be unable
to support the demands placed on it. In addition, increased users or
bandwidth requirements may harm the performance of the Internet. The
Internet has experienced a variety of outages and other delays and it could face
outages and delays in the future. These outages and delays could
reduce the level of Internet usage as well as the level of traffic, and could
result in the Internet becoming an inconvenient or uneconomical source of
products and services, which would cause Sequoia’s revenue to
decrease. The infrastructure and complementary products or services
necessary to make the Internet a viable commercial marketplace for the long term
may not be developed successfully or in a timely manner.
Sequoia
has relied upon its ability to produce products with its proprietary technology
to establish customer relationships. If Sequoia is unable to protect
and enforce its intellectual property rights, Sequoia may suffer a loss of
business.
Sequoia’s
success and ability to compete depends, to a large degree, on its current
technology and, in the future, technology that it might develop or license from
third parties. To protect its technology, Sequoia has used the
following: confidentiality agreements, retention and safekeeping of source
codes, and duplication of such for backup. Despite these precautions,
it may be possible for unauthorized third parties to copy or otherwise obtain
and use Sequoia’s technology or proprietary information. In addition,
effective proprietary information protection may be unavailable or limited in
certain foreign countries. Litigation may be necessary in the future
to: enforce its intellectual property rights, protect its trade secrets, or
determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of
others. Such misappropriation or litigation could result in
substantial costs and diversion of resources and the potential loss of
intellectual property rights, which could impair Sequoia’s financial and
business condition. Although currently Sequoia is not engaged in any
form of litigation proceedings in respect to the foregoing, in the future,
Sequoia may receive notice of claims of infringement of other parties'
proprietary rights. Such claims may involve internally developed
technology or technology and enhancements that Sequoia may license from third
parties. Moreover, although Sequoia sometimes may be indemnified by
third parties against such claims related to technology that Sequoia has
licensed, such infringements against the proprietary rights of others and
indemnity there from may be limited, unavailable, or, where the third party
lacks sufficient assets or insurance, ineffectual. Any such claims
could require Sequoia to spend time and money defending against them, and, if
they were decided adversely to Sequoia, could cause serious injury to its
business operations.
The
future success of Sequoia’s business depends on continued consumer
adoption of digital photography.
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Sequoia’s
growth is highly dependent upon the continued adoption by consumers of digital
photography. The digital photography market is rapidly evolving,
characterized by changing technologies, intense price competition, additional
competitors, evolving industry standards, frequent new service announcements and
changing consumer demands and behaviors. To the extent that consumer
adoption of digital photography does not continue to grow as expected, Sequoia’s
revenue growth would likely suffer. Moreover, Sequoia faces
significant risks that, if the market for digital photography evolves in ways
that Sequoia is not able to address due to changing technologies or consumer
behaviors, pricing pressures, or otherwise, its current products and services
may become unattractive, which would likely result in the loss of customers and
a decline in net revenues and/or increased expenses.
Other
companies’ intellectual property rights may interfere with Sequoia’s current or
future product development and sales.
Sequoia
has not conducted routine comprehensive patent search relating to its business
models or the technology it uses in its products or services. There
may be issued or pending patents owned by third parties that relate to Sequoia’s
business models, products or services. If so, Sequoia could incur
substantial costs defending against patent infringement claims or it could even
be blocked from engaging in certain business endeavors or selling its products
or services. Other companies may succeed in obtaining valid patents
covering one or more of Sequoia’s business models or key techniques Sequoia
utilizes in its products or services. If so, Sequoia may be forced to
obtain required licenses or implement alternative non-infringing
approaches. Sequoia’s products are designed to adhere to industry
standards, such as DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio and MPEG video. A
number of companies and organizations hold various patents that claim to cover
various aspects of DVD, MPEG and other relevant technology. Sequoia
has entered into license agreements with certain companies and organizations
relative to some of these technologies. Such license agreements may
not be sufficient in the future to grant Sequoia all of the intellectual
property rights necessary to market and sell its products.
Sequoia’s
products rely upon the use of copyrighted materials that it licenses and its
inability to obtain needed licenses, remain compliant with existing license
agreements, or effectively account for and pay royalties to third parties could
substantially limit product development and deployment.
Sequoia’s
products incorporate copyrighted materials in the form of pictures, video,
audio, music, and fonts. Sequoia actively monitors the use of all
copyrighted materials and pays up-front and usage royalties as it fulfills
customer orders for products. If Sequoia were unable to maintain
appropriate licenses for copyrighted works, it would be required to limit its
product offerings, which would negatively impact its
revenues. Sequoia also seeks to license popular works to build into
its products and the photo merchandizing market is extremely
competitive. In the event Sequoia is unable to license works because
its technology is not competitive or it has inadequate capital to pay royalties,
it may not be able to effectively compete for photo-product production business
which would seriously impart its ability to sell products.
Sequoia
could be liable to some of its customers for damages that they incur in
connection with intellectual property claims.
Sequoia
has exposure to potential liability arising from infringement of third-party
intellectual property rights in its license agreements with
customers. If Sequoia is required to pay damages to or incur
liability on behalf of its customers, its business could be
harmed. Moreover, even if a particular claim falls outside of
Sequoia’s indemnity or warranty obligations to its customers, its customers may
be entitled to additional contractual remedies against it, which could harm
Sequoia’s business. Furthermore, even if Sequoia is not liable to its
customers, its customers may attempt to pass on to it the cost of any license
fees or damages owed to third parties by reducing the amounts they pay for its
products. These price reductions could harm Sequoia’s
business.
Legislation
regarding copyright protection or content interdiction could impose complex and
costly constraints on Sequoia’s business model.
Because
of its focus on automation and high volumes, Sequoia’s operations do not
involve, for the vast majority of its sales, any human-based review of
content. Although use of its software technology terms of use
specifically require customers to represent that they have the right and
authority to reproduce the content they provide and that the content is in full
compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, Sequoia does not have the
ability to determine the accuracy of these representations on a case-by-case
basis. There is a risk that a customer may supply an image or other
content that is the property of another party used without permission, that
infringes the copyright or trademark of another party, or that would be
considered to be defamatory, pornographic, hateful, racist, scandalous, obscene
or otherwise offensive, objectionable or illegal under the laws or court
decisions of the jurisdiction where that customer lives. There is,
therefore, a risk that customers may intentionally or inadvertently order and
receive products from Sequoia that are in violation of the rights of another
party or a law or regulation of a particular jurisdiction. If Sequoia
should become legally obligated in the future to perform manual screening and
review for all orders destined for a jurisdiction, Sequoia will encounter
increased production costs or may cease accepting orders for shipment to that
jurisdiction which could substantially harm its business and results of
operations.
The
loss of any of Sequoia’s executive officers, key personnel, or contractors would
likely have an adverse effect on its business.
Sequoia’s
greatest resource in developing and launching its products is its
labor. Sequoia is dependent upon its management, employees, and
contractors for meeting its business objectives. In particular, the
original founders and members of the senior management team play key roles in
Sequoia’s business and technical development. Sequoia does not carry
key man insurance coverage to mitigate the financial effect of losing the
services of any of these key individuals. Sequoia’s loss of any of
these key individuals most likely would have an adverse effect on its
business.
If
the collocation facility where much of Sequoia’s Internet computer and
communications hardware is located fails, its business and results of operations
would be harmed. If Sequoia’s Internet service to its primary
business office fails, its business relationships could be damaged.
Sequoia’s
ability to provide its services depends on the uninterrupted operation of its
computer and communications systems. Much of its computer hardware
necessary to operate its Internet service for downloading software and receiving
customer orders is located at a single third party hosting facility in Salt Lake
City, Utah. Sequoia’s systems and operations could suffer damage or
interruption from human error, fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications
failure, break-ins, terrorist attacks, acts of war and similar
events. Sequoia does have some redundant systems in multiple
locations, but if its primary location suffers interruptions its ability to
service customers quickly and efficiently will suffer.
Sequoia’s
technology may contain undetected errors that could result in limited capacity
or an interruption in service.
The
development of Sequoia’s software and products is a complex process that
requires the services of numerous developers. Sequoia’s technology
may contain undetected errors or design faults that may cause its services to
fail and result in the loss of, or delay in, acceptance of its
services. If the design fault leads to an interruption in the
provision of Sequoia’s services or a reduction in the capacity of its services,
Sequoia would lose revenue. In the future, Sequoia may encounter
scalability limitations that could seriously harm its business.
Sequoia
may divert its resources to develop new product lines, which may result in
changes to its business plan and fluctuations in its expenditures.
As
Sequoia has developed its technology, customers have required Sequoia to develop
various means of deploying its products. In order to remain
competitive and work around deployment issues inherent in working with third
party kiosk providers, Sequoia is continually developing new deployments and
product lines. Sequoia recently developed a new point-of-scan product
to provide customers with an alternative to getting its products from retail
kiosks that are sometimes busy or out of order. The development of
new product types may result in increased expenditures during the development
and implementation phase, which could negatively impact Sequoia’s results of
operations. In addition, Sequoia is a small company with limited
resources and diverting these resources to the development of new product lines
may result in reduced customer service turn around times and delays in deploying
new customers. These delays could adversely affect Sequoia’s business
and results of operations.
Sequoia
may undertake acquisitions to expand its business, which may pose risks to its
business and dilute the ownership of existing members.
The
digital photo industry is undergoing significant changes. As Sequoia
pursues its business plans, Sequoia may pursue acquisitions of businesses,
technologies, or services. Sequoia is unable to predict whether or
when any prospective acquisition will be completed. Integrating newly
acquired businesses, technologies or services is likely to be expensive and time
consuming. To finance any acquisitions, it may be necessary to raise
additional funds through public or private financings. Additional
funds may not be available on favorable terms and, in the case of equity
financings, would result in additional dilution to Sequoia’s existing
members. If Sequoia does acquire any businesses, if Sequoia is unable
to integrate any newly acquired entities, technologies or services effectively,
its business and results of operations may suffer. The time and
expense associated with finding suitable and compatible businesses,
technologies, or services could also disrupt Sequoia’s ongoing business and
divert management’s attention. Future acquisitions by Sequoia could
result in large and immediate write-offs or assumptions of debt and contingent
liabilities, any of which could substantially harm its business and results of
operations.
Requirements
under client agreements and Sequoia’s method of delivering products could cause
the deferral of revenue recognition, which could harm its operating results and
adversely impact its ability to forecast revenue.
Sequoia’s
agreements with clients provide for various methods of delivering its technology
capability to end consumers and may include service and development requirements
in some instances. As Sequoia provides point-of-scan products that
require future fulfillment of products by it, Sequoia may be required to defer
revenue recognition until the time the consumer submits an order to have a
product fulfilled rather than at the time our point-of-scan product is
sold. In addition, if Sequoia is obligated to provide development and
support services to customers, it may be required to defer certain revenues to
future periods which could harm its short-term operating results and adversely
impact its ability to accurately forecast revenue.
Sequoia’s
pricing model may not be accepted and its product prices may decline, which
could harm its operating results.
Under its
current business model, Sequoia charges a royalty on each product produced using
its technology rather than selling software to its customers. If
Sequoia’s customers are offered software products to purchase that do not
require the payment of royalties, Sequoia’s business could
suffer. Additionally the market for photo products is intensely
competitive. It is likely that prices Sequoia’s customers charge end
consumers will decline due to competitive pricing pressures from other software
providers which will likely affect Sequoia’s product royalties and
revenues.
Sequoia
depends on third-party suppliers for media components of some of its products
and any failure by them to deliver these components could limit its ability to
satisfy customer demand.
Sequoia
currently sources DVD media and other components for use in its products from
various sources. Sequoia does not carry significant inventories of
these components and it has no guaranteed supply agreements for
them. Sequoia may in the future experience shortages of some product
components, which can have a significant negative impact on its
business. Any interruption in the operations of Sequoia’s vendors of
sole components could affect adversely its ability to meet its scheduled product
deliveries to customers. If Sequoia is unable to obtain a sufficient
supply of components from its current sources, it could experience difficulties
in obtaining alternative sources or in altering product designs to use
alternative components. Resulting delays or reductions in product
shipments could damage customer relationships and expose Sequoia to potential
damages that may arise from its inability to supply its customers with
products. Further, a significant increase in the price of one or more
of these components could harm Sequoia’s gross margins and/or operating
results.
Sequoia
relies on sales representatives and retailers to sell its products, and
disruptions to these channels would affect adversely its ability to generate
revenues from the sale of its products.
A large
portion of Sequoia’s projected revenues is derived from sales of products to
end-users via retail channels that it accesses directly and through a third
party network of sales representatives. If Sequoia’s relationship
with its sales representatives is disrupted for any reason, its relationship
with its retail customers could suffer. If Sequoia’s retail customers
do not choose to market its products in their stores, Sequoia’s sales will
likely be significantly impacted and its revenues would decrease. Any
decrease in revenue coming from these retailers or sales representatives and
Sequoia’s inability to find a satisfactory replacement in a timely manner could
affect its operating results adversely. Moreover, Sequoia’s failure
to maintain favorable arrangements with its sales representative may impact
adversely its business.
Changes
in financial accounting standards or practices may cause adverse unexpected
financial reporting fluctuations and affect Sequoia’s reported results of
operations.
A change
in accounting standards or practices can have a significant effect on Sequoia’s
reported results and may even affect its reporting of transactions completed
before the change is effective. New accounting pronouncements and
varying interpretations of accounting pronouncements have occurred and may occur
in the future. Changes to existing rules or the questioning of
current practices may adversely affect Sequoia’s reported financial results or
the way it conducts its business.
Sequoia
is vulnerable to acts of God, labor disputes, and other unexpected
events.
Sequoia’s
corporate business office is located in the Salt Lake City, Utah area near the
major freeway running north and south through Utah. The Salt Lake
valley is also a known seismic zone. A chemical or hazardous material
spill or accident on the freeway or an earthquake or other disaster could result
in an interruption in Sequoia’s business. Sequoia’s business also may
be impacted by labor issues related to its operations and/or those of its
suppliers or customers. Such an interruption could harm Sequoia’s
operating results. Sequoia is not likely to have sufficient insurance
to compensate adequately for losses that Sequoia may sustain as a result of any
natural disasters, labor disputes or other unexpected events.
Government
regulation of the Internet and e-commerce is evolving, and unfavorable
changes or failure by Sequoia to comply with these regulations could
substantially harm its business and results of
operations.
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Sequoia
is subject to general business regulations and laws as well as regulations and
laws specifically governing the Internet and e-commerce. Existing and
future laws and regulations may impede the growth of the Internet or other
online services. These regulations and laws may cover taxation,
restrictions on imports and exports, customs, tariffs, 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. 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 e-commerce as the vast majority of
these laws were adopted prior to the advent of the Internet and do not
contemplate or address the unique issues raised by the Internet or
e-commerce. Those laws that do reference the Internet are only
beginning to be interpreted by the courts and their applicability and reach are
therefore uncertain. For example, the Digital Millennium Copyright
Act, or DMCA, is intended, in part, to limit the liability of eligible online
service providers for listing or linking to third-party websites that include
materials that
infringe
copyrights or other rights of others. Portions of the Communications Decency
Act, or CDA, are intended to provide statutory protections to online service
providers who distribute third-party content. Sequoia relies on the
protections provided by both the DMCA and CDA in conducting its
business. Any changes in these laws or judicial interpretations
narrowing their protections will subject Sequoia to greater risk of liability
and may increase its costs of compliance with these regulations or limit our
ability to operate certain lines of business. The Children’s Online
Protection Act and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act are intended to
restrict the distribution of certain materials deemed harmful to children and
impose additional restrictions on the ability of online services to collect user
information from minors. In addition, the Protection of Children From
Sexual Predators Act of 1998 requires online service providers to report
evidence of violations of federal child pornography laws under certain
circumstances. The costs of compliance with these regulations may
increase in the future as a result of changes in the regulations or the
interpretation of them. Further, any failures on Sequoia’s part to
comply with these regulations may subject it to significant
liabilities. Those current and future laws and regulations or
unfavorable resolution of these issues may substantially harm Sequoia’s business
and results of operations.
Sequoia’s
failure to protect the confidential information of its customers against
security breaches and the risks associated with credit card fraud could damage
its reputation and brand and substantially harm its business and results of
operations.
A
significant prerequisite to online commerce and communications is the secure
transmission of confidential information over public
networks. Sequoia’s failure to prevent security breaches could damage
its reputation and brand and substantially harm its business and results of
operations for customers using online services. Sequoia relies on
encryption and authentication technology licensed from third parties to effect
the secure transmission of confidential customer information, including credit
card numbers, customer mailing addresses and email
addresses. Advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries in the
field of cryptography or other developments may result in a compromise or breach
of the technology used by Sequoia to protect customer transaction
data. In addition, any party who is able to illicitly obtain a user’s
password could access the user’s transaction data or personal
information. Any compromise of Sequoia’s security could damage its
reputation and brand and expose it to a risk of loss or litigation and possible
liability, which would substantially harm its business and results of
operations. In addition, anyone who is able to circumvent Sequoia’s
security measures could misappropriate proprietary information or cause
interruptions in its operations. Sequoia may need to devote
significant resources to protect against security breaches or to address
problems caused by breaches.
Company Stock Risk
Factors
Our articles of incorporation grant
our board of directors the power to designate and issue additional shares of
common and/or preferred stock.
Our authorized capital consists of
250,000,000 shares of common stock and 50,000,000 shares of preferred
stock. Our preferred stock may be designated into series pursuant to
authority granted by our articles of incorporation, and on approval from our
board of directors. The board of directors, without any action by our
shareholders, may designate and issue shares in such classes or
series as the board of directors deems appropriate and establish the rights,
preferences and privileges of such shares, including dividends, liquidation and
voting rights. The rights of holders of other classes or series of stock that
may be issued could be superior to the rights of holders of our common shares.
The designation and issuance of shares of capital stock having preferential
rights could adversely affect other rights appurtenant to shares of our common
stock. Furthermore, any issuances of additional stock (common or preferred) will
dilute the percentage of ownership interest of then-current holders of our
capital stock and may dilute the Company’s book value per share.
Because
we acquire Sequoia by means of a reverse merger, we may not be able to attract
the attention of major brokerage firms.
Additional
risks to our investors may exist since we became public through a “reverse
merger.” Security analysts of major brokerage firms may not provide coverage for
the Company. In addition, because of past abuses and fraud concerns stemming
primarily from a lack of public information about new public businesses, there
are many people in the securities industry and business in general who view
reverse merger transactions with public shell companies with suspicion. Without
brokerage firm and analyst coverage, there may be fewer people aware of the
Company and its business, resulting in fewer potential buyers of our securities,
less liquidity, and depressed stock prices for our investors.
We
are subject to Sarbanes-Oxley and the reporting requirements of federal
securities laws, which can be expensive.
As a
public reporting company, we are subject to Sarbanes- Oxley and, accordingly,
are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and other federal securities laws. The costs of compliance
with Sarbanes-Oxley, of preparing and filing annual and quarterly reports, proxy
statements and other information with the SEC, furnishing audited reports to our
shareholders, and other legal, audit and internal resource costs attendant with
being a public reporting company will cause our expenses to be higher than if we
were privately held.
There is not now, and there may not
ever be an active market for shares of our common stock.
In
general, there has been very little trading activity in shares of the Company’s
common stock. The small trading volume will likely make it difficult for our
shareholders to sell their shares as and when they choose. Furthermore, small
trading volumes are generally understood to depress market prices. As a result,
you may not always be able to resell shares of our common stock publicly at the
time and prices that you feel are fair or appropriate.
Because
it is a “penny stock,” you may have difficulty selling shares of our common
stock.
Our
common stock is a “penny stock” and is therefore subject to the requirements of
Rule 15g-9 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Under this rule,
broker-dealers who sell penny stocks must provide purchasers of these stocks
with a standardized risk-disclosure document prepared by the SEC. Under
applicable regulations, our common stock will generally remain a “penny stock”
for such time as its per-share price is less than $5.00 (as determined in
accordance with SEC regulations), or until we meet certain net asset or revenue
thresholds. These thresholds include (i) the possession of net tangible assets
(i.e., total assets less intangible assets and liabilities) in excess of $2
million in the event we have been operating for at least three years or $5
million in the event we have been operating for fewer than three years, and (ii)
the recognition of average revenues equal to at least $6 million for each of the
last three years. We do not anticipate meeting any of the foregoing thresholds
in the foreseeable future.
The
penny-stock rules severely limit the liquidity of securities in the secondary
market, and many brokers choose not to participate in penny-stock transactions
because of the difficulties in effectuating trades in such securities. As a
result, there is generally less trading in penny stocks than in other stock that
are not penny stocks. If you become a holder of our common stock, you may not
always be able to resell shares of our common stock publicly at the time and
prices that you feel are fair or appropriate.
We do not intend to pay dividends on
our common stock for the foreseeable future.
Except
for the Dividend to be paid to stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement, we
do not anticipate that we will pay any dividends for the foreseeable future.
Accordingly, any return on an investment in our Company will be realized, if at
all, only when you sell shares of our common stock.
Our
stock price has been volatile in response to market and other
factors.
The
market price for our common stock has been, and the market price for the our
stock after the Merger may continue to be, volatile and subject to price and
volume fluctuations in response to market and other factors, including the
following, some of which are beyond our control:
|
·
|
variations
in quarterly operating results from the expectations of securities
analysts or investors;
|
|
·
|
announcements
of technological innovations or new products or services by the Company or
its competitors;
|
|
·
|
general
technological, market or economic
trends;
|
|
·
|
investor
perception of the industry or prospects of the
Company;
|
|
·
|
investors
entering into short sale contracts;
|
|
·
|
regulatory
developments; and
|
|
·
|
additions
or departures of key personnel.
|
Financial
Information
The
financial statements of Sequoia and proforma financial information giving effect
to the Merger are attached as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The
following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial
ownership of our voting securities following the completion of the Share
Exchange and the closing of the Securities Purchase Agreement by (i) any person
or group owning more than 5% of each class of voting securities, (ii) each
director, (iii) our chief executive officer and each other executive officer
whose cash compensation for the most recent fiscal year exceeded $100,000 and
(iv) all executive officers and directors as a group as of June 6,
2008. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of the below-listed persons
is the Company’s address, 11781 South Lone Peak Parkway, Draper, UT
84020.
Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner
|
Number
of Shares Beneficially Owned (1)
|
Percent of Class
|
|
|
|
Chett
B. Paulsen (2)
(3)
|
6,411,458
|
13.16%
|
Richard
B. Paulsen (2)
(4)
|
4,239,744
|
8.70%
|
Edward
B. Paulsen (2)
(5)
|
2,227,691
|
4.57%
|
Tod
M. Turley (2)
(6)
|
18,532,212
|
36.82%
|
John
E. Tyson (2)
(7)
|
18,590,536
|
36.94%
|
Jerrell
G. Clay (2)
(8)
|
566,703
|
1.15%
|
Stephen
B. Griggs (2)
(9)
|
475,000
|
<1%
|
Terry
Dickson(2)
(10)
|
328,705
|
<1%
|
Mark
Petersen(2)
|
602,171
|
1.24
|
Amerivon
Investments, LLC
(11)
|
18,532,212
|
36.82%
|
Directors
and Executive Officers as a group (7 persons)
|
33,527,782
|
64.97%
|
|
|
|
Total
Shares Issued
|
48,728,130
|
100%
|
(1)
|
In
determining beneficial ownership of our common stock as of a given date,
the number of shares shown includes shares of common stock which may be
acquired on exercise of warrants or options or conversion of convertible
securities within 60 days of that date. In determining the percent of
common stock owned by a person or entity on June 6, 2008, (a) the
numerator is the number of shares of the class beneficially owned by such
person or entity, including shares which may be acquired within 60 days on
exercise of warrants or options and conversion of convertible securities,
and (b) the denominator is the sum of (i) the total shares of common stock
outstanding on June 4, 2008, and (ii) the total number of shares that the
beneficial owner may acquire upon conversion of the preferred and on
exercise of the warrants and options. Unless otherwise stated, each
beneficial owner has sole power to vote and dispose of its
shares.
|
(2)
|
These
are the officers and directors of the
Company.
|
(3)
|
These
shares are owned of record by P&D, LP, a family limited
partnership. In addition, Chett B. Paulsen has an option to
purchase 870,963 shares of stock at $0.27 per share. Such
option is not currently
exercisable.
|
(4)
|
These
shares are owned of record by 5 P’s in a Pod, LP, a family limited
partnership. In addition, Richard B. Paulsen has an option to
purchase 870,973 shares of common stock at $0.71 per
share. Such option is not currently
exercisable.
|
(5)
|
These
shares are owned of record by Family Enrichment, LP, a family limited
partnership. In addition, Edward B. Paulsen has an option to
purchase 609,674 shares of common stock at $0.71 per
share. Such option is not currently
exercisable.
|
(6)
|
Includes
(i) 16,929,640 shares owned of record by Amerivon Investments, LLC, (ii)
949,350 shares of common stock underlying currently exercisable warrants
owned by Amerivon Investments, LLC, and (iii) 653,222 shares of common
stock underlying currently exercisable stock options owned by Amerivon
Investments, LLC Amerivon Investments, LLC is an affiliate of
Mr. Turley.
|
(7)
|
Includes
(i) 58,323 shares owned of record by Mr. Tyson, (ii) 16,929,640 shares
owned of record by Amerivon Investments, LLC, (iii) 949,350 shares of
common stock underlying currently exercisable warrants owned by Amerivon
Investments, LLC, and (iv) 653,222 shares of common stock underlying
currently exercisable stock options owned by Amerivon Investments,
LLC Amerivon Investments, LLC is an affiliate of Mr.
Tyson.
|
(8)
|
Includes
91,703 shares owned of record and 475,000 shares underlying currently
exercisable stock options.
|
(9)
|
Represents
475,000 shares underlying currently exercisable stock
options.
|
(10)
|
Includes
88,102 shares owned of record and 240,603 shares underlying currently
exercisable stock options.
|
(11)
|
Includes
(i) 16,929,640 shares owned of record, (ii) 949,350 shares of common stock
underlying currently exercisable warrants, and (iii) 653,222 shares of
common stock underlying currently exercisable options. These
shares are also attributed to Mr. Turley and Mr. Tyson as described in
footnotes 6 and 7 above.
|
In
accordance with the Merger Agreement, and as a result of the Merger, our Board
of Directors increased the size of the Board from two members to seven
members. The Board filled the five vacancies created by such increase
by appointing as additional directors Chett B. Paulsen, Richard B. Paulsen,
Edward B. Paulsen, John E. Tyson and Tod M. Turley. As a result of the Merger,
our directors and executive officers are as follows:
Name
|
Age
|
Position
|
Chett
B. Paulsen
|
51
|
President,
Chief Executive Officer, Director
|
Richard
B. Paulsen
|
48
|
Vice
President, Chief Technology Officer, Director
|
Edward
B. Paulsen
|
44
|
Secretary/Treasurer,
Chief Operating Officer, Director
|
Terry
Dickson
|
50
|
Vice
President Marketing and Business Development
|
Tod
M. Turley
|
46
|
Director
|
John
E. Tyson
|
65
|
Director
|
Jerrell
G. Clay
|
66
|
Director
|
Stephen
P. Griggs
|
50
|
Director
|
Chett B. Paulsen, President and
Chief Executive Officer, Director. Chett co-founded Sequoia in
2003 and serves as its President and Chief Executive Officer. From
1998 to 2002, Chett co-founded, served as President and then as Chief Operating
Officer of Assentive Solutions, Inc. (aka, iEngineer.com, Inc.), which developed
visualization and collaboration technologies for rich media content that was
ultimately sold to Oracle in 2002. During his tenure with Assentive,
the company raised more than $25 million in private and venture capital funding
from entities including Intel, Sun Microsystems, J.W. Seligman, and T.L.
Ventures. From 1995 to 1998, Chett founded and managed Digital
Business Resources, Inc., which sold communications technologies to Fortune 100
companies such as American Stores and Walgreens, among others. From
1984 to 1995, Chett worked at Broadcast International (NASDAQ “BRIN”) playing
key management roles including Executive Vice President, Vice President of
Operations and President of the Instore Satellite Network and Business
Television Network divisions of Broadcast where he implemented and managed
technology deployment in thousands of retail locations for Fortune 500
companies. During Chett’s tenure at BI, market capitalization rose to
over $200 million. Chett graduated from the University of Utah in
1982 with a B.S. degree in Film Studies.
Richard B. Paulsen, Vice President
and Chief Technology Officer, Director. Richard co-founded
Sequoia in 2003 and serves as its Vice President and Chief Technology
Officer. From 1999 to 2003, Richard worked as a senior member of the
technical staff for Wind River Systems (NASDAQ “WIND”), managing a
geographically diverse software development team and continuing work on software
technology Richard pioneered at Zinc Software from 1990 to 1998 as one of Zinc’s
founders. Zinc subsequently sold to Wind River in
1998. From 1998 to 2000, Richard enjoyed a sabbatical and served as
the Director of Administrative Services for Pleasant Grove City, Utah, the
highest appointed office in the city. From 1981 through 1990, Richard
worked as a software consultant and programmer working for the University of
Utah Department of Computer Science conducting software analysis, design and
coding, and Custom Design Systems developing custom user interface tools and
managing the company’s core library used by thousands of developers
worldwide. Richard graduated with a MBA degree, with an emphasis in
financial and statistical methods, from the University of Utah in 1987 after
receiving a B.S. degree in Computer Science from the University of Utah in
1985.
Edward “Ted” B. Paulsen, J.D.,
Secretary/Treasurer, Chief Operating Officer, Director. Ted
has served as legal counsel since co-founding Sequoia in 2003, and joined the
company full time as Chief Operating Officer in September 2006. From
2003 to September 2006, Ted served as the Chief Operating Officer and Corporate
Secretary of Prime Holdings Insurance Services, Inc. where he helped position
the company operationally and financially to secure outside capital and partner
funding to support future growth beyond the company’s then current annual
revenue level. From 1995 through 2003, Ted worked as an associate and
then partner with the law firm of Gibson, Haglund & Paulsen and its
predecessor. With a securities focus, Ted has assisted emerging and
growing businesses with organizational, operational and legal issues and
challenges. His legal practice focused on assisting businesses
properly plan and structure business transactions related to seeking and
obtaining financing. Before moving to Utah and opening the Utah
office of his firm in 1996, Mr. Paulsen worked in Southern California from 1990
to 1995 with the law firm of Chapman, Fuller & Bollard where he practiced in
the areas of business and employment litigation and business
transactions. Ted graduated from the University of Utah College of
Law in 1990 after receiving a B.S. degree in Accounting from Brigham Young
University in 1987.
Terry Dickson, Vice President of
Marketing and Business Development. Terry has served as
Sequoia’s Vice President of Marketing and Business Development since May
2006. Prior to joining Sequoia, Terry was an advisor to Sequoia from
March 2004 through May 2006. Terry brings over 25 years of relevant
software marketing, sales and management experience to Sequoia. From
April 2002 to April 2006, Terry served as the Chief Executive Officer of Avinti,
Inc, a venture-funded startup company developing email security
software. From September 2001 to April 2002, he served as the Vice
President of Marketing at venture-backed Lane15 Software in Austin,
Texas. Prior to that, Terry was the founding Marketing Vice President
at Vinca Corporation from 1998 to 2000, where he played the point role in
negotiating a $92 million acquisition to Legato Systems (NASDAQ: LGTO) in
1999. From 1993 to 1996, Terry served in several marketing positions
at the LANDesk software operation of Intel Corporation, including serving as the
Business Unit Manager. He also served as Intel’s Director of Platform
Marketing, and was appointed as Chairman of the Distributed Management Task
Force, an industry standards body consisting of the top 200 computer hardware
and software vendors. Terry received a BS Degree in Marketing in 1980
from Brigham Young University, and an MBA degree from the University of
Colorado, Boulder in 1981.
Tod M. Turley,
Director. Tod was appointed to the Board of Managers of
Sequoia in March 2006, following an investment in Sequoia by Amerivon
Holdings. Tod has served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Amerivon Holdings since 2003. Tod has also served as the Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Amerivon Investments LLC, a subsidiary of
Amerivon Holdings (“Amerivon Investments” and, together with Amerivon Holdings,
“Amerivon”), since he co-founded it in April 2007. Amerivon is a
significant equity holder and investor in Sequoia. Through its
integrated approach of sales, consulting and capital, Amerivon accelerates rapid
growth plans for emerging growth companies such as
Sequoia. Previously, Mr. Turley served as the Senior Vice President,
Business Development of Amerivon Holdings from June 2001 to July
2003. Prior to Amerivon, Mr. Turley was the co-founder and Senior
Vice President of Encore Wireless, Inc. (private label wireless service provider
with a focus on “big-box” retailers). Earlier, he served for 13 years
as a corporate attorney and executive with emerging growth companies in the
telecommunications industry. He currently serves as a director on a
number of other boards of private companies, including Wireless Advocates and
Smart Pack Solutions. Tod graduated from the University of Utah in
1985 with a BA in Economics and French, and subsequently graduated from the
University of Southern California with a J.D. in 1988.
John E. Tyson,
Director. John became a member of Sequoia’s Board of Managers
in May 2007 as a representative of Amerivon. John has served as the
President of Amerivon Investments, LLC upon its formation in April 2007, and
also serves as Executive Vice President of Amerivon Holdings. John
previously served as the President of Amerivon Holdings from May 2005 through
April 2007. Concurrently, from April 2005 through April 2007, John
served as the President of Xplane Corporation, an information design firm using
visual maps to make complex processes easier to understand and Corporate Visions
Inc., a sales consulting and training company. Prior to that, John founded
etNetworks LLC, an IT training company (broadcasting IBM courses via satellite
directly to the Desktop PC) in 1997 and served as the company’s Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer and President through March 2005. From May 1980
through February 1995, John was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Compression Labs, Inc. (“CLI”), a NASDAQ company developing Video Communications
Systems. CLI pioneered the development of compressed digital video,
interactive videoconferencing and digital broadcast television, including the
systems used in today’s highly successful Hughes DirecTV® entertainment
network. Prior to CLI, John has held executive management positions
with AT&T, General Electric, and General Telephone &
Electronics. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Provant,
Inc., is a director on a number of boards of private companies, including
MicroBlend Technologies, Retail Inkjet Solutions, The Wright Company and
AirTegrity (a wireless networking company) and is an Advisory Board Member of
the University of Nevada-Reno, Engineering School.
Jerrell G. Clay,
Director. Jerrell has served as a Director of Secure Alliance
since December 1990, and as our Chief Executive Officer since October 3,
2006. Concurrently, Jerrell has served as the co-Founder, Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer of 3 Mark Financial, Inc., an independent
life insurance marketing organization, since January 1997, and has served as
President of Protective Financial Services, Inc., one of the founding companies
of 3 Mark Financial, Inc., since 1985. From 1962-1985, Jerrell held
various positions within the insurance industry, including general agent, branch
manager, vice president and branch agency director with a major life insurance
company. Jerrell currently serves as a member of the Independent
Marketing Organization’s Advisory Committee of Protective Life Insurance Company
of Birmingham, Alabama and is the past President of the Houston Chapter of the
Society of Financial Service Professionals. Jerrell is a Chartered Life
Underwriter and a Registered Securities Principal. Upon consummation
of the Merger, Jerrell will resign as our Chief Executive Officer, but will
remain a director of the Company.
Stephen P. Griggs,
Director. Stephen has served as a Director of Secure Alliance
since June 2002, and was our President and Chief Operating Officer from October
3, 2006 to the effective date of the Merger and as our Principal Financial
Officer and Secretary from April 20, 2007 to the effective date of the
Merger. Stephen has been primarily engaged in managing his personal
investments since 2000. From 1988 to 2000, Stephen held various
positions, including President and Chief Operating Officer of RoTech Medical
Corporation, a NASDAQ-traded company. He holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Business Management from East Tennessee State University and a
Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Central
Florida. Upon consummation of the Merger, Stephen will resign as our
President and Chief Operating Officer, but will remain a director of the
Company.
Chett B.
Paulsen, Richard B. Paulsen and Edward B. Paulsen, the original founders of
Sequoia, are brothers.
Executive
Compensation
Sequoia
Executive Compensation
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
Sequoia’s
primary objective with respect to executive compensation is to design a reward
system that will align executives’ compensation with Sequoia’s overall business
strategies and attract and retain highly qualified executives. The plan rewards
revenue generation and achievement of revenue opportunities generated by signing
contracts with retailers to carry Sequoia’s products.
The
principle elements of executive compensation are salary, bonus and stock option
grants. Sequoia pays these elements of compensation to stay
competitive in the marketplace with its peers.
During
2007, Sequoia participated in a Pre-IPO and Private Company Total Compensation
Survey which polled 221 companies and just under 14,800 employees (the
“Survey”). Sequoia’s compensation committee, consisting of one
outside manager and one executive manager, examined the software companies who
participated in the Survey and determined to compensate its executives at
approximately the 25th percentile because of the relative small size of Sequoia
and the stage of revenue generation. Each executive position at
Sequoia is represented in the Survey and the data from such positions were used
in determining the executive salary levels for 2008. For years prior
to 2008, all executives were working for salaries Sequoia determined it could
afford and all were making salaries below market and below prior salary
levels.
The
Survey also assessed bonus and total compensation levels. Sequoia’s executive
bonuses for 2008 are consistent with the Survey at about the 25th
percentile. For years prior to 2008, bonuses were determined by
assessing revenue generation, contracts signed with customers including large
retailers, value creation through signed contracts and general contribution to
the achievement of company objectives to position the company for revenues and
additional outside capital investment. Sequoia’s compensation also
considered the number of kiosks on which its products were deployed as a result
of an executive’s efforts, since its products are delivered in one instance on
kiosks located in major retailers.
Additional
incentives in the form of options to purchase equity interests in Sequoia were
granted in 2007. Terry Dickson was granted 510,000 (444,191post
Merger) options as incentive to join the company in 2006 and additional 300,000
(261,289 post Merger) options in 2007. The total grant was negotiated
between Sequoia and Mr. Dickson. The remaining executives, Chett B.
Paulsen, Richard B. Paulsen and Edward B. Paulsen have not received any option
grants or equity in the company from its formation until 2007. In
September 2007, Sequoia’s Board of Managers approved stock option grants to the
original founders as recognition of their efforts in generating revenues,
signing major retail accounts, positioning the company for future growth and to
provide additional incentive to continue in their management positions through a
critical time of revenue and operational growth. The options vest
over three years, with 50% vesting upon completion of one year of employment
from the date of grant, or September 28, 2008, with the balance vesting monthly
on a pro-rata basis over the following 24 months.
In
considering the elements of compensation, Sequoia considers its current cash
position in determining whether to adjust salaries, bonuses and stock option
grants. Sequoia, as a small private company, has used its outside
directors who sit on its Board of Managers (Tod M. Turley and John E. Tyson) to
help guide the executive compensation.
Summary
Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chett
B. Paulsen, CEO, President, Manager
|
2005
|
144,000
|
-
|
|
144,000
|
2006
|
163,167
|
144,400
|
|
307,567
|
2007
|
199,375
|
138,937
|
27,322(1)
|
365,634
|
Richard
B. Paulsen, CTO, Manager
|
2005
|
120,000
|
-
|
|
120,000
|
2006
|
142,917
|
129,500
|
|
272,417
|
2007
|
183,333
|
118,125
|
27,322(1)
|
328,780
|
Edward
B. Paulsen, CFO, COO, Manager
|
2005
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
2006
|
44,423
|
53,495
|
|
97,918
|
2007
|
173,854
|
88,000
|
19,125(2)
|
280,979
|
Terry
Dickson, VP Business Development
|
2005
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
2006
|
103,231
|
131,625
|
|
234,856
|
2007
|
181,042
|
135,000
|
8,197(3)
|
324,239
|
Mark
Petersen, VP Sales
|
2005
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
58,040(4)
|
2006
|
25,000
|
6,250
|
-
|
35,703(5)
|
2007
|
100,000
|
50,000
|
2,732(6)
|
152,732
|
|
(1)
|
Non-qualified
option grant to purchase 870,963 common units at $.71 (determined to be
the fair market value on the date of grant). Option vests 50%
upon completing 12 months of employment on September 28, 2008, with the
balance vesting monthly on a pro rata basis over the next 24 months of
employment.
|
|
(2)
|
Non-qualified
option grant to purchase 609,674 common units at $.71 (determined to be
the fair market value on the date of grant). The Option vests
50% upon completing of 12 months of employment at September 28, 2008, with
the balance vesting monthly on a pro rata basis over the next 24 months of
employment.
|
|
(3)
|
Non-qualified
option grant to purchase 261,289 common units at $.71 (determined to be
the fair market value on the date of grant). The Option vests
50% upon completing of 12 months of employment at September 28, 2008, with
the balance vesting monthly on a pro rata basis over the next 24 months of
employment.
|
|
(4)
|
Independent
contractor work.
|
|
(5)
|
Includes
$4,453 of other compensation.
|
|
(6)
|
Non-qualified
option grant to purchase 100,000 common units at $.62 (determined to be
the fair market value on the date of grant). Option vests 50%
upon completing of 12 months of employment at September 28, 2008, with the
balance vesting monthly on a pro rata basis over the next 24 months of
employment.
|
Currently,
directors receive no compensation pursuant to any standard arrangement for their
services as directors. Nevertheless, we may in the future determine
to provide our directors with some form of compensation, either cash or options
or contractually restricted securities.
Sequoia
Transactions and Relationships
In
December 2006, Sequoia entered into various loans with executives of Sequoia
totaling $265,783. These loans bore interest at 10% per annum and
were payable on or before December 31, 2007. Loan origination fees of
$20,005 were recorded as an asset to be amortized over the life of the
loans. On January 5, 2007, an additional $20,000 was loaned to
Sequoia. In April and May 2007, total outstanding principal, accrued
interest, and loan origination fees of $285,783, $10,376, and $20,005,
respectively, were repaid and the associated asset was fully
amortized.
Tod M.
Turley, a member of Sequoia’s Board of Managers who will become a member of our
Board if the Merger is approved and consummated, serves as the Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of Amerivon Investments and Amerivon
Holdings. John E. Tyson, is also a member of Sequoia’s Board of
Managers who will become a member of our Board if the Merger is approved and
consummated, serves as the President of Amerivon Investments,
LLC. Amerivon is a significant investor and equity holder in
Sequoia.
During
2006, Amerivon invested a total of $2,390,000 in Sequoia’s convertible
debt. At the time of its initial investment, Amerivon placed
Tod M. Turley on Sequoia’s Board of Managers. During 2007, Amerivon
(i) converted $2,390,000 of Sequoia’s convertible debt into common units of
Sequoia membership interests, (ii) made a $2,000,000 bridge loan that was later
converted in Series B Preferred Units of Sequoia membership interests (the
“Series B preferred”) and (iii) purchased an additional $4,400,000 of Series B
preferred. Upon the closing of the Series B preferred offering,
Amerivon placed John E. Tyson on Sequoia’s Board of
Managers. Amerivon converted all of its preferred units to common
units in connection with the consummation of the Merger. In exchange
for the conversion, Amerivon also received an additional 1,525,000 shares of
Sequoia’s common units.
Additionally,
Sequoia entered into a consulting agreement with Amerivon on August 1, 2007
whereby Amerivon will receive $775,000 for advising Sequoia will regard to
financial transactions and preparing for entering the public
market. The consulting agreement called for payment of $10,000 per
month for six months from August 2007 to January 2008, with additional payments
of $119,166 for the following six months. Amerivon agreed to defer
receipt of $109,116 each month until such time as the Sequoia has additional
cash available.
Sequoia
requires full Board of Managers review of any transaction that may result in the
payment of more than $10,000 to any officer, director or related affiliate of
Sequoia. Any member of the Board of Managers that is party to a
transaction under review is required to abstain from the Board of Managers vote
and does not participate in the meeting during which a final vote is taken on
the matter. All members of the Board of Managers are charged with
applying the procedures for related party transactions. Such
procedures are in writing and kept by Sequoia’s corporate
secretary. Each related party transaction during 2007 and 2008
followed Sequoia’s procedure for handling related party
transactions.
Description
of Securities
We are
authorized to issue up to 250,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value and
50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value. As of June 6, 2008, there
were 48,728,130 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding and no shares
of preferred stock issued or outstanding. The following is a
summary of the material rights and privileges of our common stock
and preferred stock.
Common Stock
Subject
to the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be outstanding,
each holder of common stock on the applicable record date is entitled to receive
such dividends as may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally
available therefrom, and in the event of liquidation, to share pro rata in any
distribution of our assets after payment, or providing for the payment, of
liabilities and the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock.
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held of
record on the applicable record date on all matters presented to a vote of
stockholders, including the election of directors. Holders of common stock have
no cumulative voting rights or preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for
any stock or other securities. Except as disclosed herein, there are no
conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to the
common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares of
common stock offered hereby will be, when issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
Preferred
Stock
Our Board
of Directors is empowered, without approval of the stockholders, to cause shares
of preferred stock to be issued in one or more series, with the numbers of
shares of each series to be determined by the Board. The Board of
Directors is also authorized to fix and determine variations in the
designations, preferences, and special rights (including, without limitation,
special voting rights, preferential rights to receive dividends or assets upon
liquidation, rights of conversion into common stock or other securities,
redemption provisions and sinking fund provisions) between the preferred stock
or any series thereof and the common stock. The shares of preferred
stock or any series thereof may have full or limited voting powers or be without
voting powers.
Although
we have no present intent to issue shares of preferred stock, the issuance of
shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase such shares,
could be used to discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal. For
instance, the issuance of a series of preferred stock might impede a business
combination by including class voting rights that would enable the holders to
block such a transaction, or such issuance might facilitate a business
combination by including voting rights that would provide a required percentage
vote of the stockholders. In addition, under certain circumstances,
the issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of the
holders of the common stock. Although the Board of Directors is
required to make any determination to issue such stock based on its judgment as
to the best interests of our stockholders, the Board of Directors could act in a
manner that would discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that
some or a majority of the stockholders might believe to be in their best
interests or in which stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over
the then market price of such stock.
Our
common stock has traded over-the-counter on the Pink Sheets under the symbol
“SAHC.PK” since June 19, 2007. From March 26, 2003 to June 18, 2007,
our common stock traded over-the-counter on the Pink Sheets under the symbol
“ATMS”. From February 1998 to March 25, 2003, our common stock traded
on the NASDAQ stock market under the symbol “ATMS”. As of June 9,
2008, our post merger, post reverse split trading symbol on the Pink Sheets is
“AVMC.PK”. The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low
bid information for our common stock for the two-year period ended September 30,
2007 and through May 28, 2008:
|
|
|
High
Bid*
|
|
Low
Bid*
|
|
|
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
$.40
|
|
$.22
|
|
|
Second
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
$.37
|
|
$.23
|
|
|
Third
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
$.35
|
|
$.27
|
|
|
Fourth
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
$.42
|
|
$.22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
$.48
|
|
$.35
|
|
|
Second
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
$.67
|
|
$.46
|
|
|
Third
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
$.96
|
|
$.62
|
|
|
Fourth
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
$.90
|
|
$.35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal
Year Ended September 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
$.87
|
|
$.60
|
|
|
Second
Fiscal Quarter
|
|
$.68
|
|
$.53
|
|
|
Third
Fiscal Quarter
(through
May 28, 2008)
|
|
$.55
|
|
$.30
|
|
*These
prices do not give effect to the 1-for-2 reverse stock split approved in
connection with the merger.
Holders
As of
June 6, 2008 there were 48,728,130 shares of common stock outstanding and
approximately 1,031 stockholders of record.
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
Our
transfer agent is Computershare, 350 Indiana Street, Suite 800, Golden, CO
80401; telephone (303) 262-0600.
Dividend
Policy
Except
for the $2,000,000 Dividend that we have paid to our stockholders of record as
of April 16, 2008, we have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to
date and do not anticipate we will pay dividends in the foreseeable future. The
payment of dividends in the future will be contingent upon revenues and
earnings, if any, capital requirements, and our general financial condition. The
payment of any dividends will be within the discretion of the then Board of
Directors. It is the present intention of the Board of Directors to retain all
earnings, if any, for use in the business operations. Accordingly, the Board
does not anticipate declaring any dividends in the foreseeable
future.
Warrants,
Options and Convertible Debt
There are
no outing options or warrants that would entitle any person to purchase Sequoia
membership interests. Currently, there are outstanding options and
warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Information about
outstanding options and warrants is as follows:
Holder
|
Shares
Underlying Option/Warrant
(1)
|
Exercise Price (1)
|
Expiration Date
|
|
|
|
|
Jerrell
G. Clay
|
450,000
|
$1.24
|
March
21, 2017
|
Stephen
P. Griggs
|
450,000
|
$1.24
|
March
21, 2017
|
Chett
B. Paulsen
|
870,963(2)
|
$0.71
|
December
31, 2012
|
Richard
B. Paulsen
|
870,963(2)
|
$0.71
|
December
31, 2012
|
Edward
B. Paulsen
|
609,674(2)
|
$0.71
|
December
31, 2012
|
Amerivon
Investments, LLC.
|
2,909,016
(3)
|
(3)
|
(3)
|
Terry
Dickerson
|
705,479(4)
|
(4)
|
(4)
|
Other
Employees
|
433,739
|
(5)
|
(5)
|
(1) The
share amounts and exercise prices reflect the 1-for-2 reverse split associated
with the Merger.
(2) Non-vested
options priced at $.71.
(3)
|
Includes
949,350 shares of common stock underlying currently exercisable warrants
priced at $.53, 653,222 shares of common stock underlying currently
exercisable options priced at $.18, 653,222 non-vested options priced at
$.18 and subject to sales performance in 2008, and 653,222 options priced
at $.71 and subject to sales performance vesting in
2009.
|
(4)
|
Includes
351,651 currently vested options priced at $.27, 92,540 non-vested options
priced at $.27, and 261,288 non-vested options priced at
$.71.
|
(5)
|
Includes
options held by employees that are exercisable at prices ranging from $.41
to $.71 and which expire at various times from September 10, 2011 to
December 31, 2012.
|
Recent
Sales of Unregistered Securities
For sales
of unregistered securities made by the Company during the three-year period
prior to the Merger, please refer to our quarterly reports and annual reports on
Form 10-K, and all of such disclosures are hereby incorporated herein by this
reference.
During
the first half of 2006 Sequoia undertook a private offering consisting of
12-month convertible debt, bearing interest at 10%. The offering was
taken in its entirety by Amerivon, who invested a total of
$829,250. In August of 2006, Amerivon invested an additional
$1,564,000 in a convertible debt offering, bearing interest at 10%, intended to
bridge Sequoia to a subsequent preferred equity offering targeting $5 to $7
million. During the first quarter of 2007, Amerivon provided
additional bridge financing of $1,000,000 and an additional $535,000 of bridge
financing during the second quarter of 2007. In May 2007, Sequoia
closed the preferred equity offering with Amerivon at which time they converted
approximately $2.4 million in aggregate convertible debt held by Amerivon,
together with accumulated interest into common units of
Sequoia. Amerivon also provided an additional $4 million in cash,
which, along with $1.5 million of the bridge financing principle provided during
2007, plus accumulated interest, was used to purchase a total of $6.4 million
worth of Sequoia’s Series B preferred.
Such
membership interests were not registered and were issued in reliance on Section
4(2) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, as amended.
Indemnification
of Directors and Officers
The
General Corporation Law of Delaware, Section 102(b)(7) provides that directors,
officers, employees or agents of Delaware corporations are entitled, under
certain circumstances, to be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’
fees) and other liabilities actually and reasonably incurred by them in
connection with any suit brought against them in their capacity as a director,
officer, employee or agent, if they acted in good faith and in a manner they
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if they had
no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. This
statute provides that directors, officers, employees and agents may also be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably
incurred b them in connection with a derivative suit brought against them in
their capacity as a director, if they acted in good faith and in a manner they
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, except that no indemnification may be made without court approval
if such person was adjudged liable to the corporation.
Our by-laws provide that we shall
indemnify our officers and directors in any action, suit or proceeding unless
such officer or director shall be adjudged to be derelict in his or her
duties.
Pre –Merger Directors’ and
Officers’
Insurance. All
rights to indemnification or exculpation existing in favor of our employees,
agents, directors or officers and our subsidiaries and to Mark Levenick and
Raymond Landry (the “D&O Indemnified Parties”) as provided in the respective
charter documents, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership or limited
partnership agreement as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement shall
continue in full force and effect for a period of six (6) years from and after
the closing date of the Merger Agreement (the “D&O Indemnity Period”).
Immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger Agreement, we purchased a
single payment, run-off policy or policies of directors’ and officers’ liability
insurance covering the D&O Indemnified Parties for claims currently covered
by our existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies arising in
respect of acts or omissions occurring prior to the effective time amount and
scope at least as favorable, in the aggregate, as our existing policies, and
shall remain in effect for a period of six years after the effective
time.
During the D&O Indemnity Period, we
shall indemnify and hold harmless the D&O Indemnified Parties in respect of
acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the closing to the fullest extent
permitted by Delaware law or any other applicable laws or provided under our and
our subsidiaries’ charter, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership or limited
partnership agreement in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement. If we or
any of our successors or assigns:
|
·
|
consolidates
with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or
surviving company or entity of such consolidation or merger,
or
|
|
·
|
transfers
or conveys all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any
Person,
|
then, and
in each such case, to the extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so
that our successors and assigns shall assume the obligations set forth
above.
The rights of each D&O Indemnified
Party hereunder shall be in addition to any rights such Person may have under
our or our subsidiaries’ charter, bylaws, certificate of limited partnership or
limited partnership agreement, or under Delaware law or any other applicable
laws or under any agreement of any D&O Indemnified Party with us or any of
our subsidiaries. These rights shall survive consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and are intended to benefit,
and shall be enforceable by, each D&O Indemnified Party.
Future Directors’ and
Officers’ Insurance. The Merger Agreement requires us to
indemnify and maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ and fiduciaries’
liability insurance for each continuing director:
|
·
|
during
the time such person serves on the Board of the Company or our
subsidiaries; and
|
|
·
|
for
a period of not less than six years following the time such continuing
director no longer serves on the Board of the Company or our
subsidiaries.
|
The
liability insurance required hereto shall be in amount and scope at least as
favorable, in the aggregate, as our policies immediately prior to the effective
time with comparable terms and conditions and with comparable insurance coverage
as is then in effect for the current officers and directors of the Company and
our subsidiaries and whose amount and scope are reasonably satisfactory to the
continuing directors.
Insurance
in the Event of Dissolution. We
agree that if we are dissolved or cease to exist for any reason prior
to:
|
·
|
the
termination of the D&O Indemnity Period;
or
|
|
·
|
the
six-year period following the time a continuing director no longer serves
as a director on the Board of the Company or our
subsidiaries,
|
then
prior to such dissolution or cessation we shall extend our then in effect
directors’ and officers’ and fiduciaries’ liability insurance policy on
commercially reasonable terms and conditions and with insurance coverage as
comparable as possible with the insurance policy then in effect for our current
officers and directors, and such extension shall provide such insurance coverage
to each D&O Indemnified Party in accordance with our obligations under the
Merger Agreement. We shall prepay all premiums in connection with
such extension. These rights shall survive consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and are intended to benefit,
and shall be enforceable by, each D&O Indemnified Party.
Adoption
of 2008 Stock Incentive Plan
As a
condition to the Closing of the Merger, the Company adopted a Stock Incentive
Plan (“2008 Stock Incentive Plan”) that can be used following the Closing of the
Merger. The Board of Directors believes that the adoption and
approval of a long-term stock incentive plan will facilitate the continued use
of long-term equity-based incentives and rewards for the foreseeable future and
is in the best interests of the Company. Shareholder approval of the
2008 Stock Incentive Plan was obtained, among other reasons, to ensure the tax
deductibility by the Company of awards under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Majority
Shareholders have approved the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan.
The
material features of the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan are summarized below. The
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the specific provisions of
the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan, the full text of which is set forth
as Exhibit 10.5 to this Form 8-K.
Description
of the 2008 Plan
The
following is a brief summary of certain provisions of the 2008 Plan, which
summary is qualified in its entirety by the actual text of the 2008 Plan
attached hereto as Annex D to this proxy statement.
The
Purpose of the 2008 Plan. The purpose of the 2008
Plan is to provide additional incentives to our directors, officers,
consultants, advisors and employees who are primarily responsible for our
management and growth. We intend for the 2008 Plan to meet the requirements of
Rule 16b-3 (“Rule 16b-3”) promulgated under the Exchange Act and that
transactions of the type specified in subparagraphs (c) to (f) inclusive of Rule
16b-3 by our officers and directors pursuant to the 2008 Plan will be exempt
from the operation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Further, the
2008 Plan is intended to satisfy the performance-based compensation exception to
the limitation on our tax deductions imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code with
respect to those options for which qualification for such exception is
intended.
Administration
of the 2008 Plan. The 2008 Plan is
to be administered by a committee consisting of two or more directors appointed
by the Board (the “Committee”). The Committee will be comprised
solely of “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and,
“outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, which
individuals will serve at the pleasure of the Board. In the event
that for any reason the Committee is unable to act or if the Committee at the
time of any grant, award or other acquisition under the 2008 Plan does not
consist of two or more “non-employee directors,” or if there is no such
Committee, then the 2008 Plan will be administered by the Board, provided that
grants to our Chief Executive Officer or to any of our other four most highly
compensated officers that are intended to qualify as performance-based
compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code may only be granted by the
Committee so comprised of outside directors. Subject to the other
provisions of the 2008 Plan, the Committee will have the authority, in its
discretion: (i) to designate recipients of options (“Options”), stock
appreciation rights (“Stock Appreciation Rights”), restricted stock (“Restricted
Stock”) and other equity incentives or stock or stock based awards (“Equity
Incentives”), all of which are referred to collectively as “Rights”; (ii) to
determine the terms and conditions of each Right granted (which need not be
identical); (iii) to interpret the 2008 Plan and all Rights granted thereunder;
and (iv) to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of the 2008 Plan.
Eligibility. The persons eligible for
participation in the 2008 Plan as recipients of Options, Stock Appreciation
Rights, Restricted Stock or Equity Incentives include our directors, officers
and employees of, and consultants and advisors to, provided that incentive stock
options may only be granted to our employees. Approximately 50
individuals will be eligible to participate in the 2008 Plan following the
Merger. In selecting participants, and determining the number of
shares covered by each Right, the Committee may consider any factors that it
deems relevant.
Shares
Subject to the 2008 Plan. Subject
to the conditions outlined below, the total number of shares of Common Stock
which may be issued pursuant to Rights granted under the 2008 Plan may not
exceed 2,500,000 shares. In the event of any merger, reorganization,
consolidation, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split or similar type of
corporate restructuring affecting the shares of Common Stock, the Committee will
make an appropriate and equitable adjustment in the number and kind of shares
reserved for issuance under the 2008 Plan and in the number and exercise price
of shares subject to outstanding Options granted under the 2008 Plan, to the end
that after such event each optionee’s proportionate interest will be maintained
as immediately before the occurrence of such event. The Committee will, to the
extent feasible, make such other adjustments as may be required under the tax
laws so that any incentive stock options previously granted will not be deemed
modified within the meaning of Section 424(h) of the
Code. Appropriate adjustments will also be made in the case of
outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights and Restricted Stock granted under the
2008 Plan.
Options. An option
granted under the 2008 Plan is designated at the time of grant as either an
incentive stock option (an “ISO”) or as a non-qualified stock option (a
“NQSO”). Upon the grant of an Option to purchase shares of Common
Stock, the Committee will fix the number of shares of Common Stock that the
optionee may purchase upon exercise of such Option and the price at which the
shares may be purchased. The purchase price of each share of Common
Stock purchasable under an Option will be determined by the Committee at the
time of grant, but may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of such
share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted; provided, however, that
with respect to an optionee who, at the time an ISO is granted, owns more than
10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock or of any
subsidiary, the purchase price per share under an ISO must be at least 110% of
the fair market value per share of the Common Stock on the date of
grant.
Stock
Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation
Rights will be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and
conditions as determined by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided,
Stock Appreciation Rights will become immediately exercisable and remain
exercisable until expiration, cancellation or termination of the
award. Such rights may be exercised in whole or in part by giving us
written notice.
Restricted
Stock. Restricted Stock
may be granted under the 2008 Plan aside from, or in association with, any other
award and will be subject to certain conditions and contain such additional
terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the 2008 Plan, as the
Committee deems desirable. A grantee will have no rights to an award
of Restricted Stock unless and until such grantee accepts the award within the
period prescribed by the Committee and, if the Committee deems desirable, makes
payment to the Company in cash, or by check or such other instrument as may be
acceptable to the Committee. Shares of Restricted Stock are
forfeitable until the terms of the Restricted Stock grant have been
satisfied.
Other
Equity Incentives or Stock Based Awards. Subject to the
provisions of the 2008 Plan, the Committee may grant Equity Incentives
(including the grant of unrestricted shares) to such key persons, in such
amounts and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee in its
discretion determines. Such awards may entail the transfer of actual
shares of the Common Stock to 2008 Plan participants, or payment in cash or
otherwise of amounts based on the value of shares of Common Stock.
Term of
the Rights. The
Committee, in its sole discretion, will fix the term of each Right, provided
that the maximum term of an Option will be ten years. ISOs granted to
a 10% stockholder will expire not more than five years after the date of
grant. The 2008 Plan provides for the earlier expiration of Rights in
the event of certain terminations of employment of the holder.
Restrictions
on Transferability. Options and
Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder are not transferable and may be
exercised solely by the optionee or grantee during his lifetime or after his
death by the person or persons entitled thereto under his will or the laws of
descent and distribution. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may
permit a transfer of a NQSO to (i) a trust for the benefit of the optionee or
(ii) a member of the optionee’s immediate family (or a trust for his or her
benefit). Any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise
dispose of, or to subject to execution, attachment or similar process, any
Option or Stock Appreciation Right contrary to the provisions hereof will be
void and ineffective and will give no right to the purported
transferee. Shares of Restricted Stock are not transferable until the
date on which the Committee has specified such restrictions have
lapsed.
Termination
of the 2008 Plan. No Right may be granted
pursuant to the 2008 Plan following December 31, 2018.
Amendments
to the 2008 Plan. The Board
may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the 2008 Plan, except that no
amendment may be made that would impair the rights of any optionee or grantee
under any Right previously granted without the optionee’s or grantee’s consent,
and except that no amendment may be made which, without the approval our
stockholders would (i) materially increase the number of shares that may be
issued under the 2008 Plan except as permitted under the 2008 Plan; (ii)
materially increase the benefits accruing to the optionees or grantees under the
2008 Plan; (iii) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for
participation in the 2008 Plan; (iv) decrease the exercise price of an ISO to
less than 100% of the fair market value on the date of grant thereof or the
exercise price of a NQSO to less than 100% of the fair market value on the date
of grant thereof; or (v) extend the term of any Option beyond that permitted in
the 2008 Plan.
Federal
Income Tax Consequences
Incentive
Options.
Options that are granted under the 2008 Plan and that are intended to qualify as
ISOs must comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. An
option holder is not taxed upon the grant or exercise of an ISO; however, the
difference between the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date will
be an item of adjustment for purposes of the alternative minimum
tax. If an option holder holds the shares acquired upon the exercise
of an ISO for at least two years following the date of the grant of the option
and at least one year following the exercise of the option, the option holder’s
gain, if any, upon a subsequent disposition of such shares will be treated as
long-term capital gain for federal income tax purposes. The measure
of the gain is the difference between the proceeds received on disposition and
the option holder’s basis in the shares (which generally would equal the
exercise price). If the option holder disposes of shares acquired
pursuant to exercise of an ISO before satisfying the one-and-two year holding
periods described above, the option holder may recognize both ordinary income
and capital gain in the year of disposition. The amount of the
ordinary income will be the lesser of (i) the amount realized on disposition
less the option holder’s adjusted basis in the shares (generally the option
exercise price); or (ii) the difference between the fair market value of the
shares on the exercise date and the option price. The balance of the
consideration received on such disposition will be long-term capital gain if the
shares had been held for at least one year following exercise of the
ISO.
We are not entitled to an income tax
deduction on the grant or the exercise of an ISO or on the option holder’s
disposition of the shares after satisfying the holding period requirement
described above. If the holding periods are not satisfied, we will
generally be entitled to an income tax deduction in the year the option holder
disposes of the shares, in an amount equal to the ordinary income recognized by
the option holder.
Nonqualified
Options. In the
case of a NQSO, an option holder is not taxed on the grant of such
option. Upon exercise, however, the participant recognizes ordinary
income equal to the difference between the option price and the fair market
value of the shares on the date of the exercise. We are generally
entitled to an income tax deduction in the year of exercise in the amount of the
ordinary income recognized by the option holder. Any gain on
subsequent disposition of the shares is long-term capital gain if the shares are
held for at least one year following the exercise. We do not receive
an income tax deduction for this gain.
Restricted
Stock. A recipient of restricted stock will not have taxable
income upon grant, but will have ordinary income at the time of vesting equal to
the fair market value on the vesting date of the shares (or cash) received minus
any amount paid for the shares. A recipient of restricted stock may
instead, however, elect to be taxed at the time of grant.
Stock
Option Appreciation Right. No taxable
income will be recognized by an option holder upon receipt of a stock option
appreciation right (“SAR”) and we will not be entitled to a tax deduction upon
the grant of such right. Upon the exercise of a SAR, the holder will include in
taxable income, for federal income tax purposes, the fair market value of the
cash and other property received with respect to the SAR and we will generally
be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction.
Awards
Granted Under the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan
As of the
date hereof, no specific awards have been granted or are contemplated under the
2008 Stock Incentive Plan.
Anti-Dilution
Protection
In the
event of any changes in the capital structure of the Company, including a change
resulting from a stock dividend or stock split, or combination or
reclassification of shares, the Board of Directors is empowered to make such
equitable adjustments with respect to awards or any provisions of the 2007 Stock
Incentive Plan as it deems necessary and appropriate, including, if necessary,
any adjustments in the maximum number of shares of common stock subject to the
2007 Stock Incentive Plan, the number of shares of common stock subject to and
the exercise price of an outstanding award, or the maximum number of shares that
may be subject to one or more awards granted to any one recipient during a
calendar year.
Amendment
and Termination
The Board
of Directors may at any time amend or terminate the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan,
provided that no such action may be taken that adversely affects any rights or
obligations with respect to any awards theretofore made under the 2007 Stock
Incentive Plan without the consent of the recipient. No awards may be made under
the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan after the tenth anniversary of its effective date.
Certain provisions of the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan relating to
performance-based awards under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code will
expire on the fifth anniversary of the effective date.
Effective
Date
The 2008
Stock Incentive Plan was effective immediately on the date of its approval by
the stockholders of the Company.
ITEM
3.02. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
As
disclosed under Item 2.01 above, in connection with the Merger the Company
issued an aggregate of approximately 38,986,114 shares of its common stock
(calculated after the Reverse Stock Split) to the former holders of Sequoia’s
membership units, all of which were unregistered. For these
issuances, the Company relied on the exemption from federal registration under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company
relied on this exemption based on the fact that the Sequoia Shareholders were
either accredited investors or persons who had knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters such that each was capable of evaluating the
risks of the investment in the Company.
ITEM
5.01. CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT.
As a
result of the Merger Transaction, the former members of Sequoia, now, as a
group, have voting control of the Company. As a result of the Merger
Transaction, the Company has elected a new Board of Directors and appointed new
officers in place of the former directors and officers of the
Company. The disclosures set forth in Item 2.01 above are hereby
incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01.
ITEM
5.02. DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR PRINCIPAL OFFICERS; ELECTION OF
DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS.
As a
result of the Merger Transaction, all officers of the Company resigned and the
officers of Sequoia were appointed in their place. As a result of the
Merger, the size of our Board of Directors was increased from two members to
seven members. Our pre-merger directors remained on the Board
and they appointed the following persons to the Board:
|
Name
|
Age
|
|
|
Chett
B. Paulsen
|
51
|
|
|
Richard
B. Paulsen
|
48
|
|
|
Edward
B. Paulsen
|
44
|
|
|
Tod
M. Turley
|
46
|
|
|
John
E. Tyson
|
65
|
|
The
disclosures set forth in Item 2.01 regarding the reconstitution of the Company’s
board of directors, and the resignation of the Company’s prior officers and
directors, are hereby incorporated by reference into this Item
5.02.
ITEM
5.03. AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OR BYLAWS; CHANGE
IN FISCAL YEAR.
As part
of the Merger Transaction, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation were amended
to (i) change the Company’s name from Secure Alliance Holdings Corporation to
aVinci Media Corporation, Inc., (ii) to increase the number of shares of common
stock authorized from 100,000,000 to 250,000,000; (iii) to authorize a class of
preferred stock consisting of 50,000,000 shares of $.01 par value preferred
stock; and (iv) to effect a 1-for-2 reverse stock split.
In
connection with the Merger, the Company’s board of directors determined on June
6, 2008 to change the fiscal year of the Company so that it ends on December
31st,
corresponding with the fiscal year of Sequoia. The Company’s report
covering the relevant transition period will be filed on Form 10-K.
ITEM
7.01. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE
On
June 6, 2008, the Company issued a press release to announce the completion of
the Merger, as described in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K. A copy
of this press release is furnished with this report as Exhibit
99.4.
ITEM
9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(a) Not
applicable.
(b) Not
applicable.
(c) Shell Company
Transactions. As a result of its acquisition of Sequoia
described in Item 2.01, the registrant is filing Sequoia’s financial information
as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report. As a result of its
acquisition of Sequoia described in Item 2.01, the registrant is also filing
certain pro forma
financial information, which pro forma financial
information is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit
|
Description
|
2.1
|
Agreement
and Plan of Merger dated December 6, 2007 (incorporated by reference to
exhibit 2.1 to the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed on
December 6, 2007).
|
2.2
|
Amendment
to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 31, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to exhibit 2.1 to the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K
filed on April 4, 2008.
|
3.1
|
Articles
of Merger relating to the merger of Merger Sub. with and into Sequoia,
Inc. (attached)
|
3.2
|
Certificate
of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation regarding name change,
increase in authorized shares, authorization of preferred stock and a
reverse split. (attached)
|
10.1
|
Employment
Agreement – Chett B. Paulsen (attached)
|
10.2
|
Employment
Agreement – Richard B. Paulsen (attached)
|
10.3
|
Employment
Agreement – Edward B. Paulsen (attached)
|
10.4
|
Employment
Agreement – Terry Dickson (attached)
|
10.5
|
2008
Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Definitive Proxy
Statement filed April 29, 2008).
|
99.1
|
Sequoia
Media Group, LC – Audited Financial Statements as of and for the Years
Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (attached)
|
99.2
|
Sequoia
Media Group, LC – Unaudited Financial Statements as of March 31, 2008 and
for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
(attached)
|
99.3
|
Unaudited
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements of Sequoia Media Group,
LC and Secure Alliance Holdings Corporation (attached)
|
99.4
|
Press
Release (attached)
|
SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
Date: June
10, 2008
|
aVINCI
MEDIA CORPORATION:
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Chett B. Paulsen
CHETT
B. PAULSEN
Chief
Executive Officer/President
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
|
Description
|
2.1
|
Agreement
and Plan of Merger dated December 6, 2007 (incorporated by reference to
exhibit 2.1 to the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K filed on
December 6, 2007).
|
2.2
|
Amendment
to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 31, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to exhibit 2.1 to the registrant’s current report on Form 8-K
filed on April 4, 2008.
|
|
Articles
of Merger relating to the merger of Merger Sub. with and into Sequoia,
Inc. (attached)
|
|
Certificate
of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation regarding name change,
increase in authorized shares, authorization of preferred stock and a
reverse split. (attached)
|
|
Employment
Agreement – Chett B. Paulsen (attached)
|
|
Employment
Agreement – Richard B. Paulsen (attached)
|
|
Employment
Agreement – Edward B. Paulsen (attached)
|
|
Employment
Agreement – Terry Dickson (attached)
|
10.5
|
2008
Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Definitive Proxy
Statement filed April 29, 2008).
|
|
Sequoia
Media Group, LC – Audited Financial Statements as of and for the Years
Ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (attached)
|
|
Sequoia
Media Group, LC – Unaudited Financial Statements as of March 31, 2008 and
for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
(attached)
|
|
Unaudited
Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements of Sequoia Media Group,
LC and Secure Alliance Holdings Corporation (attached)
|
|
Press
Release (attached)
|