Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-259993
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
609,888
Shares of Common Stock Underlying Convertible Promissory Notes
2,267,897
Shares of Common Stock Underlying Warrants
69,852
Shares of Common Stock for Resale by Selling Securityholders
This
prospectus relates to the issuance by us of up to 609,888 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”)
upon the conversion of the outstanding principal amount and accrued interest thereon of certain convertible promissory notes (“Convertible
Notes”) held by the selling securityholders named in this prospectus or their permitted transferees (“Selling Securityholders”),
which entitle them to convert into Common Stock at the conversion rate of $11.50 per share; provided however, that upon failure to make
any payment called for under the convertible promissory note at any time after the issuance date, but prior to the conversion date, the
conversion price shall be $10.00 per share. For purposes of this prospectus, we have assumed a conversion price of $10.00 per share of
Common Stock.
In
addition, this prospectus relates to the issuance by us of up to 2,267,897 shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of 2,267,897 warrants
(“Warrants”) held by Selling Securityholders, which were issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes,
which entitle them to purchase Common Stock (i) at an exercise price of one hundred ten percent (110%) of the per share offering price
of the offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of the Common Stock or (ii) prior to the determination of the per
share offering price of the offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of the Common Stock and following such time
if the “up-listing” contemplated is not completed by November 1, 2021, at an exercise price of $10.73. For purposes of this
prospectus, we have assumed an exercise price of $9.35 per share of Common Stock (calculated based on 110% of the last reported sale
price of our Common Stock ($8.50 per share) on the OTC Market Group, Inc.’s OTCQB tier on September 28, 2021).
Furthermore,
this prospectus relates to the resale from time to time by Selling Securityholders of 69,852 shares of Common Stock which were commitment
shares issued to Selling Securityholders in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes. The Selling Securityholders will sell
their shares registered for resale in this prospectus at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related
to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices
We
will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the securities owned by the Selling Securityholders. We will not receive any proceeds
from the conversion of the Convertible Notes, but will receive the proceeds of any cash exercise of the Warrants. See “Use of Proceeds”
beginning on page 32 of this prospectus. We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of these securities,
including with regard to compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws. The Selling Securityholders will bear all commissions
and discounts, if any, attributable to their sale of securities. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page 119 of this
prospectus.
Our
Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTC Market Group, Inc.’s OTCQB tier under the symbol “WINR.” On September 28,
2021, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock was $8.50.
Our
principal executive offices are located at 7000 W. Palmetto Park Rd., Suite 505, Boca Raton, FL 33433.
Investing
in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 8 of this prospectus.
Neither
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The
date of this prospectus is October 12, 2021.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
No
dealer, salesperson or other individual has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained
in this prospectus in connection with the offer made by this prospectus and, if given or made, such information or representations must
not be relied upon as having been authorized by us or the selling stockholder. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or
a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which
the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or
solicitation. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication
that there has been no change in our affairs or that information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof.
For
investors outside the United States: We have not, and the selling stockholder has not, done anything that would permit this offering
or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United
States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves, and observe any restrictions
relating to, the offering of the shares of our common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.
Cautionary
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This
prospectus contains forward-looking statements. Specifically, forward-looking statements may include statements relating to:
|
●
|
our
future financial performance;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
changes
in the market for our products and services;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
expansion plans and opportunities; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
other
statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “estimate,” “plan,” “project,”
“forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,”
“target” or similar expressions.
|
These
forward-looking statements are based on information available as of the date of this prospectus and current expectations, forecasts and
assumptions, and involve a number of judgments, risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied
upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we do not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements
to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
As
a result of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, our actual results or performance may be materially different from
those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:
|
●
|
the
level of demand for our products and services;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
competition
in our markets;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
ability to grow and manage growth profitably;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
ability to access additional capital;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
changes
in applicable laws or regulations;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
other
risks and uncertainties indicated in this prospectus, including those under “Risk Factors.”
|
INDUSTRY
AND MARKET DATA
We
are responsible for the disclosure in this prospectus. However, this prospectus includes industry data that we obtained from internal
surveys, market research, publicly available information and industry publications. The market research, publicly available information
and industry publications that we use generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed
to be reliable. The information therein represents the most recently available data from the relevant sources and publications and we
believe remains reliable. We did not fund and are not otherwise affiliated with any of the sources cited in this prospectus. Forward-looking
information obtained from these sources is subject to the same qualifications and additional uncertainties regarding the other forward-looking
statements in this prospectus.
TRADEMARKS
AND COPYRIGHTS
We
own or have rights to trademarks or trade names that we use in connection with the operation of our business, including our corporate
names, logos and website names. In addition, we own or have the rights to copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary rights that
protect the content of our products and the formulations for such products. This prospectus may also contain trademarks, service marks
and trade names of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Our use or display of third parties’ trademarks,
service marks, trade names or products in this prospectus is not intended to, and should not be read to, imply a relationship with or
endorsement or sponsorship of us. Solely for convenience, some of the copyrights, trade names and trademarks referred to in this prospectus
are listed without their ©, ® and ™ symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights
to our copyrights, trade names and trademarks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
PROSPECTUS
SUMMARY
This
summary highlights certain information about us, this offering, and selected information contained in this prospectus. This summary is
not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before deciding whether to invest in our common stock.
For a more complete understanding of the Company and this offering, we encourage you to read and consider the more detailed information
in this prospectus, including “Risk Factors” and the financial statements and related notes. Unless the context otherwise
requires, “we,” “us,” “our,” or “the Company” refers to “Simplicity Esports and
Gaming Company,” a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries. “Simplicity Esports LLC” means our wholly
owned subsidiary, Simplicity Esports, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, and its consolidated subsidiaries. “PLAYlive”
means our wholly owned subsidiary PLAYlive Nation, Inc., a Delaware corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. “Simplicity
One” means our 76% owned subsidiary Simplicity One Brasil Ltda, a Brazilian limited liability company and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Unless
otherwise noted, the share and per share information in this prospectus reflects a reverse stock split of the outstanding common stock
of the Company at a one for eight (1-for-8) ratio, which was effected on November 20, 2020.
Industry
Overview
Esports
is the competitive playing of video games by amateur and professional teams for cash prizes. Esports typically takes the form of organized,
multiplayer video games that include real-time strategy, fighting, first-person shooter, and multiplayer online battle arena games. As
of July 7, 2021, the three largest selling esports games are Dota 2®, League of Legends® (both multiplayer online battle arena
games) and Counter Strike: Global Offensive® (a first-person shooter game). Other popular games include SMITE®, StarCraft II®,
Call of Duty®¸ Heroes of the Storm®, Hearthstone® and Fortnite®. Most major professional esports events and a wide
range of amateur esports events are broadcast live via streaming services including twitch.tv, azubu.tv, ustream.tv and youtube.com.
Esports also includes games which can be played, primarily by amateurs, in multiplayer competitions on the Sony PlayStation®, Microsoft
Xbox® and WII Nintendo® systems.
Although
official competitions have long been a part of video game culture, participation and spectatorship of such events have seen a global
surge in popularity over the last few years with the rapid growth of online streaming. The advent of online streaming technology has
turned esports into a global industry that includes professional players and teams competing in major events that are simultaneously
watched in person in stadiums, and by online viewers, which regularly exceed 1,000,000 viewers for major tournaments. According to Business
Insider, over 100 million viewers saw the 2019 League of Legends® World Championships in person and online. CNBC reported in April
2019 that League of Legends® World Championships attract more viewers than the Super Bowl. Much like how there is a worldwide gaming
market for the sports industry, there has now developed a worldwide gaming market for the esports industry. The impact has been so significant
that many video game developers are now building features into their games designed to facilitate competition.
According
to Newzoo, a global leader in esports, games and mobile intelligence, the total global esports audience was 500 million in 2019, with
an anticipated 27.5 million American gamers, and such global audience is expected to reach 646 million by 2023. In addition, according
to Newzoo, esports produced $950 million in 2019 revenue and was projected to reach $1.1 billion in 2020 and $1.6 billion in 2023. Esports
enthusiasts, which are people who watch professional esports content at least once a month, made up 201.2 million of the 2018 total,
up from 143.2 million in 2017. With a compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) (2017-2022) of +15.7%, this number is expected
to reach almost 297 million in 2022. The global average revenue per esports enthusiast, which includes not only gaming revenue, but also
sponsorships advertising and all other esports related revenues, is projected to be $5.45 in 2019, up +8.9% from $5.00 in 2018. The number
of occasional esports viewers, (people who watch professional esports content less than once a month), is expected to reach 252.6 million
in 2019, up from 221.6 million in 2018, and is projected to grow with a CAGR of +12.6% to surpass 347 million in 2022. The number of
people who are aware of esports worldwide was expected to reach 1.8 billion in 2019, up from 1.6 billion in 2018. According to Newtech
Mag, China and the U.S. have the largest populations of esports fans, with Brazil ranking first in Latin America, which is the fastest
growing gaming market, and third globally, with 20 million fans. The increasing prominence of esports as a mainstream entertainment industry
is driving the growth in awareness in most regions. Audience and awareness growth in the emerging regions of Latin America, Middle East
and Africa, Southeast Asia, and Rest of Asia is largely driven by improving IT infrastructure and urbanization. We believe the rise of
new franchises, such as Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds® or PubG®, is an important global growth factor as the influx of
millennials should continue to drive the growth of the esports industry’s audience and in turn, the esports gaming industry.
In
2019, globally there were 885 major esports events that generated an estimated $56.3 million in ticket revenues. The total prize money
of all esports events held in 2019 reached $167.4 million, a slight increase from $150.8 million in 2018. The League of Legends®
World Championship was 2019’s biggest tournament by live viewership hours on Twitch and YouTube, with 105.5 million hours. It also
produced $1.9 million in ticket revenues. The Overwatch® League was the most-watched league by live viewership hours on Twitch and
YouTube, generating 104.1 million hours. A report by Forbes estimates that the top 12 esports teams had 2019 revenues of between $8 million
and $29 million and were valued at between $120 million and $400 million.
Business
Overview
We
are a global esports organization, that is capitalizing on the growth in esports through three business units, Simplicity One Brasil
Ltda (“Simplicity One”), Simplicity Esports, LLC (“Simplicity Esports LLC”) and PLAYlive Nation, Inc. (“PLAYlive”).
We believe that we are the only Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reporting, completely integrated-esports company
that owns a League of Legends franchise. Additionally, we have the largest network of corporate and franchisee owned esports gaming centers
in North America.
Our
Esports Teams
We
own and manage multiple professional esports teams domestically and internationally. Revenue is generated from prize winnings, corporate
sponsorships, advertising, league subsidy payments and potential league revenue sharing payments from the publishers of video games.
Domestic
Esports Teams – Simplicity Esports LLC
Through
our wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Esports LLC, we own and manage multiple professional esports teams competing in games such as
Heroes of the Storm. We are committed to growing and enhancing the esports industry, fostering the development of amateurs to compete
professionally and signing established professional gamers to support their paths to greater success.
International
Esports Team - Simplicity One
Since
January 2020, through our 76% owned subsidiary Simplicity One, we manage Flamengo eSports, one of the leading Brazilian League of Legends®
teams competing in the top tier league CBLoL. CBLoL was the most talked about esports league in the world, on Twitter for the first half
of 2021, with Call of Duty League and Overwatch League ranking 2nd and 3rd respectively. Flamengo eSports was established in 2017 as
the Esports division of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, a successful Brazilian sports organization, with over 30 million followers across
social media accounts, known for its world-famous soccer team. Flamengo eSports’ League of Legends® team won the CBLoL Championship
in September 2019, which qualified the team to compete at the 2019 League of Legends® World Championship in Europe as one of 24 teams
from 13 different regions around the world. Flamengo Esports @flaesports was ranked as the 6th most tweeted about esports organization
in the world, ahead of Team Liquid and Cloud 9 ranking 7th and 10th respectively, for the first half of 2021.
Online
Tournaments
In
response to demand from customers for online esports tournaments which was in all likelihood triggered by the social distancing protocols
attendant to the COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced in March 2020 an initiative of online esports tournaments. Since March 2020, through
our wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Esports LLC, we have been holding online esports tournaments in the United States. In addition,
we commenced promoting these weekly online tournaments via text messages to our database of over 400,000 paying esports gaming center
customers, which we acquired in our acquisition of PLAYlive. If we can convert merely 1% of these existing customers from the PLAYlive
database to play in our paid online tournaments, we anticipate this business unit may generate approximately $1 million in annual revenues.
At a 5% conversion rate, this business segment may generate approximately $5 million in annual revenue. Management also intends to sell
sponsorship and marketing activations for these online tournaments which would create additional revenue. We also announced our initiative
to offer play at home online tournaments in Brazil. These tournaments are a way for us to engage with our customer base from home during
periods of required social distancing or quarantine.
Our
Gaming Centers
As
of August 30, 2021, we have 28 operational locations (16 corporate locations and 12 franchise locations), through our subsidiaries throughout
the U.S., giving casual gamers the opportunity to play in a social setting with other members of the gaming community. In addition, aspiring
and established professional gamers have an opportunity to compete in local and national esports tournaments held in our gaming centers
for prizes, notoriety, and potential contracts to play for one of our professional esports teams. In this business unit, revenue is generated
from franchise royalties, the sale of game time, memberships, tournament entry fees, birthday party events, corporate party events, concessions
and gaming-related merchandise.
Our
business plan encompasses a brick and click physical and digital approach to further recognize revenue from all verticals, which we believe
to be unique in the industry. The physical centers, together with our esports teams, lifestyle brand and marketing campaigns offer opportunities
for additional revenue via strategic partnerships with both endemic and non-endemic brands. Our ultimate goal is to further engage a
diverse fan base with a 360-degree approach driving traffic to both our digital platform, tournaments (online and in-person) and physical
real estate to maximize the monetization opportunities with these relationships. In addition, we have proprietary intellectual capital,
fan engagement strategies and brand development blueprints which complement our publicly available information.
Optimally,
the esports gaming centers of Simplicity Esports LLC (“Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers”) will measure between 2,000 and
4,000 square feet, with dozens of gaming stations. The Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers will feature cutting edge technology, futuristic
aesthetic décor and dynamic high-speed gaming equipment. We believe our brick-and-click strategy will present attractive opportunities
for sponsors and advertisers to connect with our audience, creating an intriguing monetization opportunity for sponsors and advertisers.
Currently our company owned stores operate in approximately 40,000 square feet of retail space in desirable, high traffic locations.
Creating
content that engages fans, sponsors and developers, while promoting our brand is one of our primary goals. In August 2021, we announced
a partnership with Television Korea 24 (“ESTV”) to provide esports and gaming content for their 24-7 live linear channel
around the world. ESTV can be viewed in over 45 countries including the U.S. and Brazil. We seek to reach a broad demographic encompassing
the casual, amateur and professional gaming community. Our philosophy is to enhance our footprint for both endemic and non-endemic partnerships.
We believe we possess a deep perception of our markets and understand the new age of branding while maintaining authenticity to the gaming
community that comprises our fanbase.
As
a result of COVID-19 (discussed below), all of our corporate and franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers were closed effective April 1,
2020. We commenced reopening Simplicity Gaming Centers on May 1, 2020 and have since reopened 16 corporate and 12 franchised Simplicity
Gaming Centers as of August 30, 2021, the majority of which are operating at restricted capacity based on local COVID-19 regulations.
See “Risk Factors—Public health epidemics or outbreaks, such as COVID-19, could materially and adversely impact our business.”
Corporate
Gaming Centers
As
of year-end May 31, 2021, through our subsidiary entities, we currently operate 15 corporate-owned retail Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers,
one of which was acquired during the third fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2021 and two of which were acquired in the fourth fiscal
quarter ended May 31, 2021. Subsequent to year end, we added one additional gaming center. Furthermore, we have engaged a national tenant
representation real estate broker to assist in the strategic planning and negotiations for our future Simplicity Esports Gaming Center
locations. We contemplate that new Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers will be funded by us as well as a combination of tenant improvement
allowances from landlords and sponsorships. The Company intends to continue the expansion of its corporate owned esports gaming center
footprint through the buildout of new esports gaming centers. The disruptions in commercial real estate caused by COVID-19 lockdowns
have allowed the Company to strengthen its existing relationships with national landlords by signing new locations with percentage rent
leases. The locations will range between 2,000 and 4,000 sq ft and be primarily located inside of shopping malls.
As
announced in June 2020, we are in discussions with commercial property owners regarding their desire to have us open 7,000 to 12,000
square foot Arenas at their properties. There are multiple locations available to us with a percentage of gross sales rent lease structure
(as opposed to fixed rent payments), and construction funds offered by the landlord to assist with the build out and equipping of our
planned Arenas. These Arenas are planned as hubs in our hub and spoke model that will see smaller corporate and franchisee owned gaming
centers as spokes connected to Arenas as hubs for larger events and tournaments.
Franchised
Gaming Centers
Due
to interest from potential franchisees, in 2019 we launched a franchising program to accelerate the expansion of our planned nationwide
footprint. We sell specific franchise territories, through our wholly owned subsidiary PLAYlive, and assist with the establishment and
buildout of esports gaming centers to potential business owners that desire to use our branding, infrastructure and process to open and
operate gaming centers. We currently operate 12 fully constructed franchise esports gaming centers. The 12 franchise owned gaming centers
that we have acquired to date generated prior to our acquisition of them over $1 million of revenue in the fiscal year ended May 31,
2021 despite operating with limited capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions. Due to interest from potential franchisees, we have launched
a franchising program to accelerate the expansion of our planned nationwide footprint. We sell specific franchise territories, through
our wholly owned subsidiary PLAYlive, and assist with the establishment and buildout of esports gaming centers to potential business
owners that desire to use our branding, infrastructure and process to open and operate gaming centers. Franchise revenue is generated
from the sale of franchise territories, supplying furniture, equipment and merchandise to the franchisees for buildout of their centers,
a gross sales royalty fee and a national marketing fee. We license the use of our branding, assist in identifying and negotiating commercial
locations, assist in overseeing the buildout and development, provide access to proprietary software for point of sale, inventory management,
employee training and other HR functions. Franchisees also have an opportunity to participate in our national esports tournament events,
and benefit from the growing profile of our professional esports teams. Once an esports gaming center is opened, we provide operational
guidance, support and use of branding elements in exchange for a monthly royalty fee calculated as 6% of gross sales. On January 1, 2020,
we implemented a national marketing fee of 1% of gross sales. To date, we have sold five of these franchise territories. COVID-19 travel
restrictions caused us to suspend the sale of new franchise territories from April 1, 2020 until October 1, 2020. During this time, a
pipeline of interested applicants has accumulated, and we anticipate new franchise territory sales over the next 12 months as a result.
The
combination of the esports gaming centers, owned or franchised by our wholly owned subsidiaries Simplicity Esports LLC or PLAYlive, provides
us with what we believe is one of the largest esports gaming center footprints in North America. Over the next 12 months, existing PLAYlive
esports gaming centers will be rebranded to Simplicity Esports gaming centers. All newly opened franchise esports gaming centers will
be branded as Simplicity Esports gaming centers and have numerous gaming PC’s. All gaming centers in our footprint will be participating
venues in our national esports tournaments.
Franchise
Roll Up Strategy
We
began implementing a franchise roll-up strategy in July 2020 as a result of the disruption caused by COVID-19 related stay at home orders,
and the disruption it caused to the commercial real estate market. The reduction in revenues for some franchisees because of stay-at-home
orders, and government mandates to remain closed created significant accrued rent payments due to landlords. We have been able to come
to terms with many franchisees to acquire the assets of their gaming centers and make them corporate owned. We have simultaneously negotiated
new leases with some of the largest national mall chains, including Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management, and are in
the process of negotiating additional locations with other landlords. The new leases involve significant reductions in or elimination
of fixed rent and the addition of percentage of revenues rent terms. During the fiscal year we signed 13 letters of intent and executed
definitive agreements for all of those locations, most of which were operational prior to year-end. We expect each of these locations
to be profitable as a result of the significant reduced rent expense via the percentage rent structure.
Our
Stream Team
The
Simplicity Esports LLC and Flamengo Esports stream teams encompass over 20 commentators (commonly known as “casters”), influencers
and personalities who connect to a dedicated fan base. Our electric group of live personalities represent our organization to the fullest
with their own unique style. We are proud to support and present a diverse group of gamers as we engage fans across a multiple of esports
genres. Our Twitch affiliation has enabled our stream team influences to reach a broad fan base. Additionally, we have created several
niches within the streaming community which has enabled us to engage fans within certain titles on a 24/7 basis. Our notoriety in the
industry is evidenced by our audience that views millions of minutes of Simplicity Esports’ and Flamengo Esports’ content
monthly, via various social media outlets including YouTube, Twitter and Twitch. Through Simplicity Esports LLC, we have begun to implement
a unique approach to ensure the ultimate fan friendly esports experience. Our intention is to have gamers involved at the grassroots
level and feel a sense of unity as we compete with top class talent. Our management and players are known within the esports community
and we plan to use their skills to create a seamless content creation plan helping gamers feel closer to our brand than any other in
the industry.
COVID-19
In
December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. While initially the outbreak was largely
concentrated in China and caused significant disruptions to its economy, it has now spread to several other countries and infections
have been reported globally.
Because
COVID-19 infections have been reported throughout the United States, certain federal, state and local governmental authorities have issued
stay-at-home orders, proclamations and/or directives aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Additional, more restrictive proclamations
and/or directives may be issued in the future. As a result, all of our corporate and franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers were closed
effective April 1, 2020. We commenced reopening Simplicity Gaming Centers on May 1, 2020 and have since reopened 15 corporate and 12
franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers, the majority of which are operating at restricted capacity based on local COVID-19 regulations.
Although our franchise agreements with franchisees of Simplicity Gaming Centers require a minimum monthly royalty payment to us from
the franchisees regardless of whether the franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers are operating, a limited number of the franchisees of
Simplicity Gaming Centers have defaulted on their obligations to pay their minimum monthly royalty payment to us. This has resulted in
either an increase in accounts receivables or a bad debt expense where account receivables are no longer collectible due to franchisee’s
inability to pay the minimum monthly royalty payments owed by the franchisee. As of May 31, 2021, we have recorded an allowance for doubtful
accounts of approximately $28,000 and have written off $112,000, partly in conjunction with taking back certain franchises and converting
them to company owned stores. We have experienced an increase in our account receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts
of approximately $32,000 during the year ended May 31, 2021 and an increase of $128,000 for the year ended May 31, 2020, as there were
no accounts receivable at year end May 31, 2019. Notwithstanding our efforts to support franchisees and still collect on receivables,
it is unclear exactly how much of the increase in accounts receivables is attributable to the impact of COVID-19. We have waived the
minimum monthly royalty payment obligations from July 2020 through present day and are instead billing the franchisees a true-up of 6%
of gross sales without a minimum. We continue to assess possible similar accommodations to the franchisees in light of the impact of
COVID-19. Additionally, the disruptions in commercial real estate caused by COVID-19 lockdowns have allowed the Company to strengthen
its existing relationships with national landlords by signing new locations with percentage rent leases.
The
ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are
highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, new information which may
emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or
the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption, reduced customer traffic and reduced
operations. Any resulting financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but is anticipated to have a material adverse
impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The
measures taken to date adversely impacted the Company’s business during the year ended May 31, 2021 and will potentially continue
to impact the Company’s business. Management expects that all of its business segments, across all of its geographies, will be
impacted to some degree, but the significance of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Company’s business and the duration
for which it may have an impact cannot be determined at this time.
RECENT
DEVELOPMENTS
For
a detailed description of recent developments of the Company, see “Description of Business—Recent Developments” on
page 56 of this prospectus.
Summary
Risk Factors
Our
business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere
in this prospectus. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:
|
●
|
our
history of losses;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
inability to attract sufficient demand for our services and products;
|
|
|
●
|
our
ability to successfully execute our growth and acquisition strategy and manage effectively our growth;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
changes
in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets we serve, and our ability to compete effectively;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
dependence on a strong brand image;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
cash needs and the adequacy of our cash flows and earnings;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
ability to access additional capital;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
dependence upon our executive officers, founders and key employees;
|
|
●
|
our
ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
reliance on our technology systems, the impact of technological changes and cybersecurity risks;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
changes
in applicable laws or regulations;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
ability to protect our trademarks or other intellectual property rights;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
potential
litigation from competitors or customers;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
public
health epidemics or outbreaks (such as the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19)) and our responses to such events could materially
and adversely impact our business;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
substantial amount of indebtedness may adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to operate our business, remain in compliance
with debt covenants and make payments on our indebtedness; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.
|
In
addition, our management has concluded that our historical recurring losses from operations and negative cash flows from operations as
well as our dependence on securing private equity and other financings raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going
concern and our auditor has included an explanatory paragraph relating to our ability to continue as a going concern in its audit reports
for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020.
Corporate
Information
Our
principal executive offices are located at 7000 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 505, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, and our telephone number
at that location is (855) 345-9467. The address of our website is www.ggsimplicity.com. The inclusion of our website address in this
prospectus does not include or incorporate by reference the information on our website into this prospectus.
The
name of the Company, the logos of the Company, and other trade names, trademarks or service marks of the Company appearing in this prospectus
are the property of the Company. Trade names, trademarks and service marks of other organizations appearing in this prospectus are the
property of their respective holders.
Nasdaq
Capital Market or NYSE American Listing, Reverse Stock Split and Increase in Authorized Shares of Common Stock
We
intend to list of our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market or the NYSE American. There is no assurance that our listing application
will be approved by the Nasdaq Capital Market or the NYSE American.
In
order to obtain Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American listing approval, we obtained approval of our board of directors and shareholders
of (i) a reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of our common stock in the range from one-for-two (1-for-2) to one-for-ten (1-for-10),
which ratio was to be selected by the board of directors and (ii) an increase in our authorized shares of common stock from 20,000,000
to 36,000,000 shares of common stock.
On
August 17, 2020, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to increase the authorized shares of common stock from 20,000,000 to 36,000,000.
Accordingly, our authorized capital stock consists of (i) 36,000,000 shares of common stock, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock.
On
November 17, 2020, our board of directors approved the Reverse Stock Split in a ratio of 1-for-8 and on November 17, 2020, we filed an
amended and restated certificate of amendment to our Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate
of Incorporation”), implementing the Reverse Stock Split in a ratio of 1-for-8, effective November 19, 2020; provided, however,
the Reverse Stock Split became effective for trading purposes on November 20, 2020 when it had been processed by the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). The Reverse Stock Split is intended to allow us to meet the minimum share price requirement
of the Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American. There is no assurance that our listing application will be approved by the Nasdaq Capital
Market or NYSE American.
Except
as otherwise indicated, all references to our common stock, share data, per share data and related information has been adjusted for
the Reverse Stock Split ratio of 1-for-8 as if it had occurred at the beginning of the earliest period presented. The Reverse Stock Split,
combined each eight shares of our outstanding common stock into one share of common stock, without any change in the par value per share,
and the Reverse Stock Split correspondingly adjusted, among other things, the exercise rate of our warrants into our common stock. No
fractional shares were issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split, and any fractional shares resulting from the Reverse Stock
Split were rounded up to the nearest whole share.
609,888
Shares of Common Stock Underlying Convertible Promissory Notes
2,267,897
Shares of Common Stock Underlying Warrants
69,852
Shares of Common Stock for Resale by Selling Securityholders
We
are registering (i) the issuance by us of up to 609,888 shares of our Common Stock which may be issued upon the conversion of the Convertible
Notes held by the Selling Securityholders, (ii) the issuance by us of up to 2,267,897 shares of our Common Stock which may be issued
upon the exercise of the warrants held by the Selling Securityholders, which were issued to the Selling Securityholders in connection
with the issuance of such Convertible Notes, and (iii) the resale from time to time by the Selling Securityholders of 69,852 shares of
Common Stock, which were issued to the Selling Securityholders as commitment fee shares in connection with the issuance of such Convertible
Notes.
Issuance
of Shares Underlying the Warrants and Convertible Promissory Notes
Shares
to be Issued upon Exercise of Warrants and Conversion of Convertible Promissory Notes
|
|
2,877,785
shares of Common Stock underlying the warrants and Convertible Notes.
|
|
|
|
Shares
Outstanding Prior to Exercise of Warrants and Conversion of Convertible Promissory Notes
|
|
1,593,428
shares of Common Stock as of October 1, 2021.
|
|
|
|
Shares
to be Outstanding Assuming Exercise of All Warrants and Conversion of the Entire Principal and Interest of Convertible Promissory
Notes
|
|
4,471,213
shares of Common Stock.
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock Held by the
Selling
Securityholders
|
|
We
are also registering 69,852 shares of Common Stock held by the Selling Securityholders named herein.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Terms
of Convertible Promissory Notes
|
|
The
per share conversion price into which the principal amount and interest (including any default interest) under the Convertible Notes
shall be convertible into shares of Common Stock hereunder shall be $11.50 per share; provided however, that upon failure to make
any payment called for under the convertible promissory note at any time after the issuance date, but prior to the conversion date,
the conversion price shall be $10.00 per share. For purposes of this prospectus, we have assumed a conversion price of $10.00 per
share of Common Stock.
|
|
|
|
Terms
of Warrants
|
|
Each
warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of our Common Stock at an exercise price of (i) one hundred ten percent (110%)
of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of the Common Stock or (ii)
prior to the determination of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of
the Common Stock and following such time if the “up-listing” contemplated is not completed by November 1, 2021, the exercise
price shall be $10.73. For purposes of this prospectus, we have assumed an exercise price of $9.35 per share of Common Stock (calculated
based on 110% of the last reported sale price of our Common Stock ($8.50 per share) on the OTC Market Group, Inc.’s OTCQB tier
on September 28, 2021). Each warrant may be exercised at any time commencing on the date of issuance until the third anniversary
following the date of issuance. In the event that there is no effective registration statement registering the shares underlying
the warrants, then the warrants may be exercised by means of a “cashless exercise” at the holder’s option, such
that the holder may use the appreciated value of the warrants (the difference between the market price of the underlying shares of
common stock and the exercise price of the underlying warrants) to exercise the warrants without the payment of any cash.
|
|
|
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
|
We
expect to receive approximately $21,204,837 in gross proceeds assuming the cash exercise of all of the warrants being registered
hereby at an exercise price of $9.35 per share of Common Stock. However, the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis, in which
case we would not expect to receive any gross proceeds from the cash exercise of the warrants. We intend to use any net proceeds
from the cash exercise of the warrants for working capital and general corporate purposes. We will not receive any of the proceeds
from the conversion of Convertible Notes into shares of Common Stock. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares
of Common Stock by the Selling Securityholders
|
|
|
|
Trading
Market
|
|
The
Company’s Common Stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB under the symbols “WINR.”
|
SELECTED
HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The
following table presents our selected historical consolidated financial data for the periods indicated. The selected historical consolidated
financial data for the years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020 and the balance sheet data as of May 31, 2021 and 2020 are derived from the
audited financial statements.
Historical
results are included for illustrative and informational purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of results we expect in future
periods, and results of interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. The data presented below should
be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere
in this prospectus.
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
May 31,
2021
|
|
|
May 31,
2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Statement of Operations Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
$
|
1,551,923
|
|
|
$
|
861,410
|
|
Cost of Goods Sold
|
|
|
1,014,310
|
|
|
|
591,541
|
|
Gross Profit
|
|
|
537,613
|
|
|
|
269,869
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
5,335,112
|
|
|
|
3,170,992
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(4,797,499
|
)
|
|
|
(2,732,121
|
)
|
Total other income
|
|
|
(1,397,329
|
)
|
|
|
66,342
|
|
Loss before provision for taxes
|
|
|
(6,194,828
|
)
|
|
|
(2,665,779
|
)
|
Income tax provisions
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(6,096,855
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,620,238
|
)
|
Basic and diluted net loss per share
|
|
$
|
(4.91
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2.71
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data (at period end)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
414,257
|
|
|
$
|
160,208
|
|
Working capital (deficit) (1)
|
|
|
(3,401,303
|
)
|
|
|
(2,662,032
|
)
|
Total assets
|
|
|
10,207,412
|
|
|
|
8,591,774
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
5,617,368
|
|
|
|
3,676,102
|
|
Stockholders’ equity (deficit)
|
|
|
4,590,044
|
|
|
|
4,915,672
|
|
(1)
|
Working
capital represents total current assets less total current liabilities.
|
RISK
FACTORS
An
investment in our securities carries a significant degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risks, as well as the
other information contained in this prospectus, including our historical financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in
this prospectus, before you decide to purchase our securities. Any one of these risks and uncertainties has the potential to cause material
adverse effects on our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results which could cause actual results to differ materially
from any forward-looking statements expressed by us and a significant decrease in the value of our common shares and warrants. Refer
to “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
We
may not be successful in preventing the material adverse effects that any of the following risks and uncertainties may cause. These potential
risks and uncertainties may not be a complete list of the risks and uncertainties facing us. There may be additional risks and uncertainties
that we are presently unaware of, or presently consider immaterial, that may become material in the future and have a material adverse
effect on us. You could lose all or a significant portion of your investment due to any of these risks and uncertainties.
Below
is a summary of material risks, uncertainties and other factors that could have a material effect on the Company and its operations:
|
●
|
our
history of losses;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
inability to attract sufficient demand for our services and products;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
ability to successfully execute our growth and acquisition strategy and manage effectively our growth;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
changes
in the competitive environment in our industry and the markets we serve, and our ability to compete effectively;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
dependence on a strong brand image;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
cash needs and the adequacy of our cash flows and earnings;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
ability to access additional capital;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
dependence upon our executive officers, founders and key employees;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
ability to attract and retain qualified personnel;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
reliance on our technology systems, the impact of technological changes and cybersecurity risks;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
changes
in applicable laws or regulations;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
ability to protect our trademarks or other intellectual property rights;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
potential
litigation from competitors or customers;
|
|
●
|
public
health epidemics or outbreaks (such as the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19)) and our responses to such events could materially
and adversely impact our business;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
substantial amount of indebtedness may adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to operate our business, remain in compliance
with debt covenants and make payments on our indebtedness; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.
|
Risks
Related to Our Business
We
have a relatively limited operating history and limited revenues to date and thus are subject to risks of business development and you
have no basis on which to evaluate our ability to achieve our business objective.
Because
we have a relatively limited operating history and limited revenues to date, you should consider and evaluate our operating prospects
in light of the risks and uncertainties frequently encountered by early-stage operating companies in rapidly evolving markets. These
risks include that:
|
●
|
we
may not have sufficient capital to achieve our growth strategy;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
we
may not develop our product and service offerings in a manner that enables us to be profitable and meet our customers’ requirements;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
growth strategy may not be successful; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
fluctuations
in our operating results will be significant relative to our revenues.
|
Our
future growth will depend substantially on our ability to address these and the other risks described in this section. If we do not successfully
address these risks, our business could be significantly harmed.
We
have a history of operating losses and our management has concluded that factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue
as a going concern and our auditor has included an explanatory paragraph relating to our ability to continue as a going concern in its
audit report for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020.
To
date, we have not been profitable and have incurred significant losses and cash flow deficits. For the fiscal years ended May 31, 2021
and 2020, we reported net losses of $6,096,855 and $2,620,238, respectively, and negative cash flow from operating activities of $1,391,938
and $1,523,262, respectively. As of May 31, 2021, we had an aggregate accumulated deficit of $12,291,899. We anticipate that we will
continue to report losses and negative cash flow for the foreseeable future. Our management has concluded that our historical recurring
losses from operations and negative cash flows from operations as well as our dependence on private equity and other financings raise
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and our auditor has included an explanatory paragraph relating to
our ability to continue as a going concern in its audit report for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020.
Our
consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. These adjustments
would likely include substantial impairment of the carrying amount of our assets and potential contingent liabilities that may arise
if we are unable to fulfill various operational commitments. In addition, the value of our securities would be greatly impaired. Our
ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon generating sufficient cash flow from operations and obtaining additional capital
and financing. If our ability to generate cash flow from operations is delayed or reduced and we are unable to raise additional funding
from other sources, we may be unable to continue in business. For further discussion about our ability to continue as a going concern
and our plan for future liquidity, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Ability
to Continue as a Going Concern.”
We
are a holding company and depend upon our subsidiaries for our cash flows.
We
are a holding company. All of our operations are conducted, and almost all of our assets are owned, by our subsidiaries. Consequently,
our cash flows and our ability to meet our obligations depend upon the cash flows of our subsidiaries and the payment of funds by these
subsidiaries to us in the form of dividends, distributions or otherwise. The ability of our subsidiaries to make any payments to us depends
on their earnings, the terms of their indebtedness, including the terms of any credit facilities and legal restrictions. Any failure
to receive dividends or distributions from our subsidiaries when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, results
of operations or financial condition.
Future
acquisitions or strategic investments could disrupt our business and harm our business, results of operations or financial condition.
We
may in the future explore potential acquisitions of companies or strategic investments to strengthen our business. Even if we identify
an appropriate acquisition candidate, we may not be successful in negotiating the terms or financing of the acquisition, and our due
diligence may fail to identify all of the problems, liabilities or other shortcomings or challenges of an acquired business.
Acquisitions
involve numerous risks, any of which could harm our business, including:
|
●
|
straining
our financial resources to acquire a company;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
anticipated
benefits may not materialize as rapidly as we expect, or at all;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
diversion
of management time and focus from operating our business to address acquisition integration challenges;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
retention
of employees from the acquired company;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
cultural
challenges associated with integrating employees from the acquired company into our organization;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
integration
of the acquired company’s accounting, management information, human resources and other administrative systems;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
need to implement or improve controls, procedures and policies at a business that prior to the acquisition may have lacked effective
controls, procedures and policies; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
litigation
or other claims in connection with the acquired company, including claims from terminated employees, former stockholders or other
third parties.
|
Failure
to appropriately mitigate these risks or other issues related to such strategic investments and acquisitions could result in reducing
or completely eliminating any anticipated benefits of transactions, and harm our business generally. Future acquisitions could also result
in dilutive issuances of our equity securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities, amortization expenses or the impairment
of goodwill, any of which could have a material adverse effect on business, results of operations or financial condition.
We
may require additional funding for our growth plans, and such funding may result in a dilution of your investment.
We
attempted to estimate our funding requirements in order to implement our growth plans. If the costs of implementing such plans should
exceed these estimates significantly or if we come across opportunities to grow through expansion plans which cannot be predicted at
this time, and our funds generated from our operations prove insufficient for such purposes, we may need to raise additional funds to
meet these funding requirements.
These
additional funds may be raised by issuing equity or debt securities or by borrowing from banks or other resources. We cannot assure you
that we will be able to obtain any additional financing on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. If we fail to obtain additional
financing on terms that are acceptable to us, we will not be able to implement such plans fully if at all. Such financing even if obtained,
may be accompanied by conditions that limit our ability to pay dividends or require us to seek lenders’ consent for payment of
dividends, or restrict our freedom to operate our business by requiring lender’s consent for certain corporate actions.
Further,
if we raise additional funds by way of a rights offering or through the issuance of new shares, any shareholders who are unable or unwilling
to participate in such an additional round of fund raising may suffer dilution in their investment.
We
may not have sufficient capital to fund our ongoing operations, effectively pursue our strategy or sustain our growth initiatives.
After
the consummation of the acquisition of Simplicity Esports LLC and PLAYlive Nation, Inc., our remaining liquidity and capital resources
may not be sufficient to allow us to fund our ongoing operations, effectively pursue our strategy or sustain our growth initiatives.
If we require additional capital resources, we may seek such funds directly from third party sources; however, we may not be able to
obtain sufficient equity capital and/or debt financing from third parties to allow us to fund our expected ongoing operations or we may
not be able to obtain such equity capital or debt financing on acceptable terms or conditions. Factors affecting the availability of
equity capital or debt financing to us on acceptable terms and conditions include:
|
●
|
our
current and future financial results and position;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
collateral availability of our otherwise unsecured assets;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
market’s, investors and lenders’ view of our industry and products;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
perception in the equity and debt markets of our ability to execute our business plan or achieve our operating results expectations;
and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
price, volatility and trading volume and history of our Common Stock.
|
If
we are unable to obtain the equity capital or debt financing necessary to fund our ongoing operations, pursue our strategy and sustain
our growth initiatives, we may be forced to scale back our operations or our expansion initiatives, and our business and operating results
will be materially adversely affected.
Our
growth strategy depends on the availability of suitable locations for our Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers and our ability to open new
Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers and operate them profitably.
A
key element of our growth strategy is to extend our brand by opening corporate owned as well as franchising retail Simplicity Esports
Gaming Centers in locations in the United States that we believe will provide attractive returns on investment. We have identified numerous
sites for potential corporate Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers and many other sites for potential franchised esports gaming centers,
in the United States, however, desirable locations for additional Simplicity Esports Gaming Center openings may not be available at an
acceptable cost when we identify a particular opportunity for a new Simplicity Esports Gaming Center.
In
addition, our ability to open new Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers on a timely and cost-effective basis, or at all, is dependent on
a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including our ability or the ability of the selected franchisee to:
|
●
|
reach
acceptable agreements regarding the lease of the locations;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
comply
with applicable zoning, licensing, land use and environmental regulations;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
raise
or have available an adequate amount of cash or currently available financing for construction and opening costs;
|
|
●
|
timely
hire, train and retain the skilled management and other employees necessary to meet staffing needs;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
obtain,
for acceptable cost, required permits and approvals, including liquor licenses; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
efficiently
manage the amount of time and money used to build and open each new Simplicity Esports Gaming Center.
|
If
we succeed in opening new Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers on a timely and cost-effective basis, we may nonetheless be unable to attract
enough customers to the new Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers because potential customers may be unfamiliar with our brands or concepts,
or our entertainment and menu options might not appeal to them. Our new Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers may not meet or exceed our
performance targets, including target cash-on-cash returns. New Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers may even operate at a loss, which could
have a significant adverse effect on our overall operating results.
Our
operations of Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers are significantly dependent on changes in public and customer tastes and discretionary
spending patterns. Our inability to successfully anticipate customer preferences or to gain popularity for such Simplicity Esports Gaming
Centers games may negatively impact our profitability.
Our
success depends significantly on public and customer tastes and preferences, which can be unpredictable. If we are unable to successfully
anticipate customer preferences or increase the popularity of the games offered at the Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers, the per capita
revenue and overall customer expenditures at the Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers may decrease, and thereby negatively impact our profitability.
In response to such developments, we may need to increase our marketing and product development efforts and expenditures, adjust our
game or product sale pricing, modify the games themselves, or take other actions, which may further erode our profit margins, or otherwise
adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. In particular, we may need to expend considerable cost and effort
in carrying out extensive research and development to assess the potential interest in a game, testing and launching new games, and to
remain abreast with continually evolving technology and trends, as well as the success and popularity of Simplicity stream team’s
casters, influencers and personalities among Simplicity Esports LLC’s dedicated fan base.
While
we may incur significant expenditures of this nature, including in the future as we continue to expand our operations, there can be no
assurance that any such expenditures or investments by us will yield expected or commensurate returns or results, within a reasonable
or anticipated time, or at all.
The
nature of our business exposes us to negative publicity or customer complaints, including in relation to, among other things, accidents,
injuries or thefts at the Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers, or health and safety concerns arising from improper use of our game equipment
or at our food and beverage venues.
Our
business inherently exposes us to negative publicity or customer complaints as a result of accidents, injuries, or in extreme cases,
deaths, arising from instances of air-borne, water-borne or food-borne contagion or illness, food contamination, spoilage, tampering,
equipment failure, improper use of our equipment, fire, explosion, terrorist attacks or civil riots, and other safety or security issues,
such as kidnapping, or associated risks arising from other actual or perceived non-compliance with safety, quality or service standards
or norms in relation to the various game, entertainment and food and beverage attractions at the Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers. Even
isolated or sporadic incidents or accidents may have a negative impact on our brand image and reputation, and the Simplicity Esports
Gaming Centers’, or games’ or our own popularity with customers. The considerable expansion of social media in recent years
has compounded the effect of any potential negative publicity.
We
cannot guarantee that our or our franchisee’s employee training, internal controls and other precautions will be sufficient to
prevent any such occurrence at the Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers, in relation to our Simplicity global virtual reality gaming and
fully integrated esports platform, or to control or mitigate any negative consequences. In addition, we or our franchisees rely on third-party
security and housekeeping staff for certain non-core functions, as well as certain technology vendors and partners. Although we monitor
vendors and partners and, in certain cases, may have a contractual indemnity or recourse in case of any default on their part, our ability
to assure a safe and satisfactory experience to our customers is necessarily limited to the extent of our or our franchisees’,
dependence on third parties, from time to time. Moreover, we may not be able to distance or insulate ourselves from any adverse publicity
or reputational damage arising from any act, omission or negligence on the part of a vendor or other third party, which may negatively
affect a customer’s experience at any of the Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers.
We
or our franchisees may not be able to operate in the United States, or obtain and maintain licenses and permits necessary for such operation,
in compliance with laws, regulations and other requirements, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial
condition.
Each
Simplicity Esports Gaming Center will be subject to licensing and regulation by alcoholic beverage control, amusement, health, sanitation,
safety, building code and fire agencies in the country, state, county and/or municipality in which the Simplicity Esports Gaming Center
is located. In the United States, each Simplicity Esports Gaming Center with a restaurant or bar will be required to obtain a license
to sell alcoholic beverages on the premises from a state authority and, in certain locations, county and municipal authorities. Typically,
licenses must be renewed annually and may be revoked or suspended for cause at any time. In some states, the loss of a license for cause
with respect to one Simplicity Esports Gaming Center may lead to the loss of licenses at all Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers in that
state and could make it more difficult to obtain additional licenses in that state. Alcoholic beverage control regulations relate to
numerous aspects of the daily operations of each Simplicity Esports Gaming Center, including minimum age of patrons and employees, hours
of operation, advertising, wholesale purchasing, inventory control and handling and storage and dispensing of alcoholic beverages. Our
failure or a failure by a franchisee in obtaining and maintaining the required licenses, permits and approvals at any one Simplicity
Esports Gaming Center could impact the continuing operations of existing Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers, or delay or prevent the opening
of new Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers. Although we do not anticipate any material difficulties occurring in the future, the failure
to receive or retain a liquor license, or any other required permit or license, in a particular location, or to continue to qualify for,
or renew licenses, could have a material adverse effect on operations and our ability to obtain such a license or permit in other locations.
As
a result of operating certain entertainment games and attractions, including skill-based games that offer redemption prizes, the Simplicity
Esports Gaming Centers in the United States are subject to amusement licensing and regulation by the countries, states, provinces, counties
and municipalities in which our Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers are located. These laws and regulations can vary significantly by country,
state, province, county, and municipality and, in some jurisdictions, may require us to modify our business operations or alter the mix
of redemption games and simulators we offer. Moreover, as more states in the United States and local communities implement legalized
gambling, the laws and corresponding enabling regulations may also be applicable to our redemption games and regulators may create new
licensing requirements, taxes or fees, or restrictions on the various types of redemption games we offer. Furthermore, other states,
provinces, counties and municipalities may make changes to existing laws to further regulate legalized gaming and illegal gambling. Adoption
of these laws, or adverse interpretation of existing laws, after we have established a Simplicity Esports Gaming Center in the jurisdiction
could require the existing center in these jurisdictions to alter the mix of games, modify certain games, change the mix of prizes that
we may offer or terminate the use of specific games, any of which could adversely affect our operations.
We
are also subject to laws and regulations governing our relationship with our employees, including those related to minimum wage requirements,
exempt status, overtime, health insurance mandates, working and safety conditions, immigration status requirements, child labor, and
non-discrimination. Additionally, changes in federal labor laws, including card verification regulations, could result in portions of
our workforce being subjected to greater organized labor influence, which could result in an increase to our labor costs. A significant
portion of Simplicity Esports Gaming Center personnel will be paid at minimum wage rates established by federal, state and municipal
law. Increases in the minimum wage result in higher labor costs, which may be only partially offset by price increases and operational
efficiencies.
We
are also subject to the rules and regulations of the Federal Trade Commission and various state laws regulating the offer and sale of
franchises. The Federal Trade Commission and various state laws require that we furnish a franchise disclosure document containing certain
information to prospective franchisees, and a number of states require registration of the franchise disclosure document with state authorities.
State laws that regulate the franchisor-franchisee relationship presently exist in a substantial number of states, and bills have been
introduced in Congress from time to time that would provide for federal regulation of the franchisor-franchisee relationship. The state
laws often limit, among other things, the duration and scope of non-competition provisions, the ability of a franchisor to terminate
or refuse to renew a franchise and the ability of a franchisor to designate sources of supply. We shall endeavor to make sure that any
franchise disclosure document we provide, together with any applicable state versions or supplements, and franchising procedures, comply
in all material respects with both the Federal Trade Commission guidelines and all applicable state laws regulating franchising in those
states in which we have offered franchises.
If
we and our franchisees fail to comply with such laws and regulations, we may be subject to various sanctions and/or penalties and fines
or may be required to cease operations until we achieve compliance, which could have an adverse effect on our business and our financial
results.
Our
growth through franchising may not occur as rapidly as we currently anticipate and may be subject to additional risks.
As
part of our growth strategy, we will continue to seek franchisees to operate Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers in certain strategic domestic
locations or venues. We believe that our ability to recruit, retain and contract with qualified franchisees will be increasingly important
to our operations as we expand. Our franchisees are dependent upon the availability of adequate sources of financing in order to meet
their development obligations. Such financing may not be available to our franchisees, or only available upon disadvantageous terms.
Our franchise strategy may not enhance our results of operations.
Expanding
through franchising exposes our business and brand to risks because the quality of the franchised operations will be beyond our immediate
control, including risks associated with our confidential information, intellectual properties (including trademarks) and brand reputation.
Even if we have contractual remedies to cause franchisees to maintain operational standards, enforcing those remedies may require litigation
and therefore our image and reputation may suffer, unless and until such litigation is successfully concluded.
We
could face liability from or as a result of our franchisees.
Various
state and federal laws will govern the relationship between us and our franchisees and the potential sale of a franchise. If we fail
to comply with these laws, we could be liable for damages to franchisees and fines or other penalties. A franchisee or government agency
may bring legal action against us based on the franchisee/franchisor relationship. Also, under the franchise business model, we may face
claims and liabilities based on vicarious liability, joint-employer liability, or other theories or liabilities. Such legal actions could
result in expensive litigation with our franchisees or government agencies that could adversely affect both our profit and our important
relations with our franchisees. In addition, regulatory or legal developments could result in changes to laws or the franchisor/franchisee
relationship that could negatively impact the franchise business model and, accordingly, our profit.
We
may not be able to compete favorably in the highly competitive out-of-home and home-based entertainment market in the United States,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.
The
out-of-home entertainment market in the United States is highly competitive. Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers that we or our franchisees
operate will compete for customers’ discretionary entertainment dollars with providers of out-of-home entertainment, including
localized attraction facilities such as movie theatres, sporting events, bowling alleys, sports activity centers, arcades and entertainment
centers, nightclubs and restaurants as well as theme parks. Many of the entities operating these businesses are larger and have significantly
greater financial resources, a greater number of locations, have been in business longer, have greater name and brand recognition and
are better established in the local markets where Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers are planned to be located. As a result, they may
be able to invest greater resources than we can in attracting customers and succeed in attracting customers who would otherwise come
to the Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers we or our franchisees operate. In the United States, the legalization of casino gambling in
geographic areas near any future Simplicity Esports Gaming Center would create the possibility for adult entertainment alternatives,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. We will also face competition from local, regional
and national establishments that offer entertainment experiences similar to us. Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers we or our franchisees
operate will also face competition from increasingly sophisticated home-based forms of entertainment, such as internet and video gaming
and home movie streaming and delivery. If we fail to compete favorably in the competitive out-of-home and home-based entertainment markets
it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our
senior management team has limited experience in establishing, operating, licensing rights to and franchising entertainment centers and
related products.
The
members of our senior management team have extensive backgrounds in finance and the management of financial services businesses, however,
they have limited prior experience in establishing, operating, licensing rights to and franchising entertainment centers. We will need
to expand our management team, to include individuals with expertise in establishing and operating entertainment centers as well as individuals
with expertise in product licensing and franchise operations. If we are unable to recruit professionals with acceptable backgrounds in
establishing and operating entertainment centers and with backgrounds in product licensing and financing, we may not be able to pursue
our growth strategy which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our
success depends upon our ability to recruit and retain qualified management and operating personnel at Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers.
We
and our franchisees must attract, retain and motivate a sufficient number of qualified management and operating personnel in order to
maintain consistency in our service, hospitality, quality and atmosphere of our Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers. Qualified management
and operating personnel are typically in high demand. If we and our franchisees are unable to attract and retain a satisfactory number
of qualified management and operating personnel, labor shortages could delay the planned openings of new Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers
which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Acquisitions,
other strategic alliances and investments could result in operating difficulties, dilution, and other harmful consequences that may adversely
impact our business and results of operations.
Acquisitions
are an important element of our overall corporate strategy and use of capital, and these transactions could be material to our financial
condition and results of operations. We expect to continue to evaluate and enter into discussions regarding a wide array of potential
strategic transactions. The process of integrating an acquired company, business, or product has created, and will continue to create,
unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures. The areas where we face risks may include, but are not limited to:
|
●
|
diversion
of management’s time and focus from operating our business to acquisition integration challenges;
|
|
●
|
failure
to successfully further develop the acquired business or product lines;
|
|
●
|
implementation
or remediation of controls, procedures and policies at the acquired company;
|
|
●
|
integration
of the acquired company’s accounting, human resources and other administrative systems, and coordination of product, engineering
and sales and marketing functions;
|
|
●
|
transition
of operations, users and customers onto our existing platforms;
|
|
●
|
reliance
on the expertise of our strategic partners with respect to market development, sales, local regulatory compliance and other operational
matters;
|
|
●
|
failure
to obtain required approvals on a timely basis, if at all, from governmental authorities, or conditions placed upon approval, under
competition and antitrust laws which could, among other things, delay or prevent us from completing a transaction, or otherwise restrict
our ability to realize the expected financial or strategic goals of an acquisition;
|
|
●
|
in
the case of foreign acquisitions, the need to integrate operations across different cultures and languages and to address the particular
economic, currency, political and regulatory risks associated with specific countries;
|
|
●
|
cultural
challenges associated with integrating employees from the acquired company into our organization, and retention of employees from
the businesses we acquire;
|
|
●
|
liability
for or reputational harm from activities of the acquired company before the acquisition or from our strategic partners, including
patent and trademark infringement claims, violations of laws, commercial disputes, tax liabilities and other known and unknown liabilities;
and
|
|
●
|
litigation
or other claims in connection with the acquired company, including claims from terminated employees, customers, former shareholders
or other third parties.
|
Our
failure to address these risks or other problems encountered in connection with our past or future acquisitions and investments or strategic
alliances could cause us to fail to realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions, investments or alliances, incur unanticipated
liabilities, and harm our business generally.
Our
acquisitions could also result in dilutive issuances of our equity securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities or amortization
expenses, or impairment of goodwill and purchased long-lived assets, and restructuring charges, any of which could harm our financial
condition or results of operations and cash flows. Also, the anticipated benefits of many of our acquisitions may not materialize.
Our
insurance coverage may not adequately protect us against all future risks, which may adversely affect our business and prospects.
We
maintain insurance coverage, including for fire, acts of god and perils, terrorism, burglary, money, loss of profit, fidelity guarantee,
fixed glass and sanitary fitting, electronic equipment, machinery breakdown, portable equipment, sign boards, commercial general liability,
marine transit, and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, as well as employee health and medical insurance, with
standard exclusions in each instance. While we maintain insurance in amounts that we consider reasonably sufficient for a business of
our nature and scale, with insurers that we consider reliable and credit worthy, we may face losses and liabilities that are uninsurable
by their nature, or that are not covered, fully or at all, under our existing insurance policies. Moreover, coverage under such insurance
policies would generally be subject to certain standard or negotiated exclusions or qualifications and, therefore, any future insurance
claims by us may not be honored by our insurers in full, or at all. In addition, our premium payments under our insurance policies may
require a significant investment by us.
To
the extent that we suffer loss or damage that is not covered by insurance or that exceeds our insurance coverage, the loss will have
to be borne by us and our business, cash flow, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be adversely affected.
Changes
in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, investments and results
of operations.
We
are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we are required to comply with
certain SEC and other legal requirements. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time
consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those
changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply
with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of
operations.
We
are dependent upon our executive officers and directors and their departure could adversely affect our ability to operate.
Our
operations are dependent upon a relatively small group of individuals and, in particular, our executive officers and directors. We believe
that our success depends on the continued service of our executive officers and directors. We do not have key-man insurance on the life
of any of our directors or executive officers. The unexpected loss of the services of one or more of our directors or executive officers
could have a detrimental effect on us.
Our
executive officers, directors, security holders and their respective affiliates may have competitive pecuniary interests that conflict
with our interests.
We
have not adopted a policy that expressly prohibits our directors, executive officers, security holders or affiliates from having a direct
or indirect pecuniary or financial interest in any investment to be acquired or disposed of by us or in any transaction to which we are
a party or have an interest. While our employment agreements with our key executive officers contain non-compete provisions, we do not
have a policy that expressly prohibits any such persons from engaging for their own account in business activities of the types conducted
by us. Accordingly, such persons or entities may have a conflict between their interests and ours.
We
are an emerging growth company within the meaning of the Securities Act, and if we take advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure
requirements available to emerging growth companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more
difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We
are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups
Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”), and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are
applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply
with the auditor internal controls attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley Act”),
reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the
requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments
not previously approved. As a result, our stockholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be
an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the
market value of our Common Stock held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any November 30 before that time, in which case we
would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following May 31. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities
less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance
on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading
market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further,
Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting
standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do
not have a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) are
required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out
of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election
to opt out is irrevocable. We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued
or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new
or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements
with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the
extended transition period difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Compliance
obligations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may require substantial financial and management resources.
Section
404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal controls beginning with our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2020. As long as we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to comply with
the independent registered public accounting firm attestation requirement on our internal control over financial reporting.
Provisions
in our third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and Delaware law may inhibit a takeover of us, which could
limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our Common Stock and could entrench management.
Our
third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals
that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. These provisions include a staggered board of directors and the ability
of the board of directors to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred shares, which may make more difficult the removal
of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our
securities.
If
we fail to keep pace with changing industry technology and consumer preferences, we will be at a competitive disadvantage.
The
Simplicity products and services compete within industries that are characterized by swiftly changing technology, evolving industry standards,
frequent new and enhanced product introductions, rapidly changing consumer preferences and product obsolescence. In order to continue
to compete effectively, we need to respond quickly to technological changes and to understand their impact on customers’ preferences.
We may take significant time and resources to respond to these technological changes and changes in consumer preferences. Our business
and results of operations may be negatively impacted if our products and services fail to keep pace with these changes.
Various
product safety laws and governmental regulations applicable to the distributor of Simplicity Esports LLC’s and/or PLAYlive Nation,
Inc.’s products may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our
distribution of Simplicity Esports LLC’s and/or PLAYlive Nation, Inc.’s products will be subject to numerous federal, state,
provincial, local and foreign laws and regulations, including laws and regulations with respect to product safety, including regulations
enforced by the United States Consumer Products Safety Commission. We and our franchisees could incur costs in complying with these regulations
and, if they fail to comply, could incur significant penalties. A failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations, or concerns
about product safety, may also lead to a recall or post-manufacture repair of selected Simplicity Esports LLC’s and/or PLAYlive
Nation, Inc.’s products, resulting in the rejection of the products by our franchisees, lost sales, increased customer service
and support costs, and costly litigation.
Public
health epidemics or outbreaks, such as COVID-19, could materially and adversely impact our business.
In
December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. While initially the outbreak was largely
concentrated in China and caused significant disruptions to its economy, it has now spread to several other countries and infections
have been reported globally.
Because
COVID-19 infections have been reported throughout the United States, certain federal, state and local governmental authorities have issued
stay-at-home orders, proclamations and/or directives aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Additional, more restrictive proclamations
and/or directives may be issued in the future. As a result, all of our corporate and franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers were closed
effective April 1, 2020. We commenced reopening Simplicity Gaming Centers on May 1, 2020 and have since reopened 15 corporate and 12
franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers, the majority of which are operating at restricted capacity based on local COVID-19 regulations.
Although our franchise agreements with franchisees of Simplicity Gaming Centers require a minimum monthly royalty payment to us from
the franchisees regardless of whether the franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers are operating, a limited number of the franchisees of
Simplicity Gaming Centers have defaulted on their obligations to pay their minimum monthly royalty payment to us. This has resulted in
either an increase in accounts receivables or a bad debt expense where account receivables are no longer collectible due to franchisee’s
inability to pay the minimum monthly royalty payments owed by the franchisee. As of May 31, 2021, we have recorded an allowance for doubtful
accounts of approximately $28,000 and have written off $112,000, partly in conjunction with taking back certain franchises and converting
them to company owned stores. We have experienced an increase in our account receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts
of approximately $32,000 during the year ended May 31, 2021 and an increase of $128,000 for the year ended May 31, 2020, as there were
no accounts receivable at year end May 31, 2019. Notwithstanding our efforts to support franchisees and still collect on receivables,
it is unclear exactly how much of the increase in accounts receivables is attributable to the impact of COVID-19. We have waived the
minimum monthly royalty payment obligations from July 2020 through present day and are instead billing the franchisees a true-up of 6%
of gross sales without a minimum. We continue to assess possible similar accommodations to the franchisees in light of the impact of
COVID-19. Additionally, the disruptions in commercial real estate caused by COVID-19 lockdowns have allowed the Company to strengthen
its existing relationships with national landlords by signing new locations with percentage rent leases.
The
ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are
highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, new information which may
emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or
the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption, reduced customer traffic and reduced
operations. Any resulting financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but is anticipated to have a material adverse
impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The
measures taken to date adversely impacted the Company’s business during the year ended May 31, 2021 and will potentially continue
to impact the Company’s business. Management expects that all of its business segments, across all of its geographies, will be
impacted to some degree, but the significance of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Company’s business and the duration
for which it may have an impact cannot be determined at this time.
Our
substantial amount of indebtedness may adversely affect our cash flow and our ability to operate our business, remain in compliance with
debt covenants and make payments on our indebtedness.
Our
substantial level of indebtedness increases the possibility that we may be unable to generate cash sufficient to pay, when due, the principal
of, interest on or other amounts due with respect to our indebtedness. Our indebtedness could have other important consequences to you
as a stockholder. For example, it could:
|
●
|
make
it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness and any failure to comply with the obligations
of any of our debt instruments, including financial and other restrictive covenants, could result in an event of default under the
senior secured credit facility and the senior subordinated note;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
make
us more vulnerable to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions and adverse changes in government
regulation;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
require
us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability
of our cash flows to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
limit
our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
place
us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
limit
our ability to borrow additional amounts for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements, execution
of our business strategy or other purposes.
|
Any
of the above listed factors could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks
Relating to Our Esports Business
Our
esports businesses are substantially dependent on the continuing popularity of the esports industry as a whole.
The
esports industry is in the early stages of its respective development. Although the esports industry has experienced rapid growth, consumer
preferences may shift and there is no assurance this growth will continue in the future. We have taken steps to diversify their businesses
and mitigate these risks to an extent and continue to seek out new opportunities in the esports industry. However, due to the rapidly
evolving nature of technology and online gaming, the esports industry may experience volatile and declining popularity as new options
for online gaming and esports become available, or consumer preferences shift to other forms of entertainment, and as a consequence,
our businesses and results of operations may be materially negatively affected.
Our
esports business faces intense and wide-ranging competition, which may have a material negative effect on our business and results of
operations.
The
success of our esports business is dependent upon the performance and/or popularity of its teams. Simplicity Esports LLC’s teams
compete, in varying respects and degrees, with other live sporting events, and with sporting events delivered over television networks,
radio, the Internet and online services, mobile applications and other alternative sources. For example, our esports teams compete for
attendance, viewership and advertising with a wide range of alternatives available in major metropolitan areas. During some or all of
the esports season, our teams face competition, in varying respects and degrees, from professional and collegiate basketball, hockey,
baseball, football, and soccer, among others.
As
a result of the large number of options available, we face strong competition for the sports and gaming fan. We must compete with other
esports teams, traditional sports teams and sporting events, in varying respects and degrees, including on the basis of the quality of
the teams we field, their success in the leagues, tournaments and genres in which they compete, our ability to provide an entertaining
environment at any esports games that we host at our centers, prices charged for tickets and the viewing availability of our teams on
multiple media alternatives. Given the nature of esports and sports in general, there can be no assurance that we will be able to compete
effectively, including with companies that may have greater resources than we have, and as a consequence, our business and results of
operations may be materially negatively affected by competition.
Our
businesses are substantially dependent on the continued popularity and/or competitive success of Simplicity Esports LLC’s teams,
which cannot be assured.
Our
future financial results will be dependent on the Simplicity teams becoming and remaining popular with our fan base and, in varying degrees,
on the teams achieving in-game success, which can generate fan enthusiasm, resulting in sustained ticket and merchandise sales during
the season. Furthermore, success in the regular season at certain tournaments may qualify one or more of our esports teams for participation
in post-season playoffs, which provides us with additional revenue from prize money by increasing the number of games played by our sports
teams and, more importantly, by generating increased excitement and interest in our esports teams, which can improve attendance in subsequent
seasons. There can be no assurance that any of our esports teams, will develop a significant fan base, maintain continued popularity
or compete in post-season play in the future.
Defection
of our esports players to other teams or managers could hinder our success.
We
compete with other esports athlete management businesses to sign and retain world class esports players, some of which have greater resources
or brand recognition and popularity than ours. Our players may choose to defect to other esports organizations for various reasons, including
that they have been made a superior offer or they have chosen to pursue new or other opportunities. The loss or defection of any of our
esports players could have negative consequences on our businesses and results of operations. While we take or intend to take, all appropriate
steps to retain our players and protect their interests, there can be no assurances that players will not defect to other esports organizations.
The
actions of the various esports leagues and tournaments may have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations.
The
governing bodies of the various esports leagues and tournaments, under certain circumstances, can take actions that they deem to be in
the best interests of their respective leagues or tournaments, which may not necessarily be consistent with maximizing our results of
operations and which could affect our esports teams in ways that are different than the impact on other esports teams. For example, they
can take actions relating to the rights to telecast the games of league members or tournament participants, including the Simplicity
team, licensing of the rights to produce and sell merchandise bearing the logos and/or other intellectual property of our esports teams
and the leagues or tournaments, and the internet-based activities of our esports teams. Certain of these decisions by the esports leagues
and tournaments could have a material negative effect on our business and results of operations. From time to time, we may disagree with
or challenge actions that the leagues or tournaments take or the power and authority they assert.
We
may be unable to effectively manage the growth in the scope and complexity of our business, including our expansion into the esports
business which is untested and into adjacent business opportunities.
Our
future success depends, in part, on our ability to manage our expanded business, including our aspirations for continued expansion. We
intend to dedicate resources to a new business model that is largely untested, as is the case with esports. We do not know to what extent
our future expansions will be successful. Further, even if successful, the growth of our business could create significant challenges
for our management, operational, and financial resources, and could increase existing strain on, and divert focus from, our core businesses.
If not managed effectively, this growth could result in the over-extension of our operating infrastructure, and our management systems,
information technology systems, and internal controls and procedures may not be adequate to support this growth. Failure to adequately
manage our growth in any of these ways may cause damage to our brand, damage our reputation or otherwise negatively impact our business.
Our
industry is subject to rapid technological change, and if we do not adapt to, and appropriately allocate our resources among, emerging
technologies and business models, our business may be negatively impacted.
Technology
changes rapidly in the interactive entertainment industry. We must continually anticipate and adapt our products, services and business
models to emerging technologies and delivery platforms in order to stay competitive. Forecasting our revenues and profitability for these
new products, services and business models is inherently uncertain and volatile, and if we invest in the development of interactive entertainment
products or services incorporating a new technology or for a new platform that does not achieve significant commercial success, whether
because of competition or otherwise, we may not recover the often substantial “up front” costs of developing and marketing
those products and services, or recover the opportunity cost of diverting management and financial resources away from other products
or services. Further, our competitors may adapt to an emerging technology or business model more quickly or effectively than we do, creating
products that are technologically superior to ours, more appealing to consumers, or both.
If,
on the other hand, we elect not to pursue the development of products or services incorporating a new technology or for new platforms,
or otherwise elect not to pursue new business models, that achieve significant commercial success, it may have adverse consequences.
It may take significant time and resources to shift product development resources to that technology, platform or business model, as
the case may be, and may be more difficult to compete against existing products and services incorporating that technology or for that
platform or against companies using that business model.
Many
elements of our business are unique, evolving and relatively unproven. Our business and prospects depend on the continuing development
of live streaming of competitive esports gaming. The market for esports and amateur online gaming competition is relatively new and rapidly
developing and are subject to significant challenges. Our business relies upon our ability to cultivate and grow an active gamer community,
and our ability to successfully monetize such community through tournament fees, subscriptions for our esports gaming services, and advertising
and sponsorship opportunities. In addition, our continued growth depends, in part, on our ability to respond to constant changes in the
esports gaming industry, including rapid technological evolution, continued shifts in gamer trends and demands, frequent introductions
of new games and titles and the constant emergence of new industry standards and practices. Developing and integrating new games, titles,
content, products, services or infrastructure could be expensive and time-consuming, and these efforts may not yield the benefits we
expect to achieve at all. We cannot assure you that we will succeed in any of these aspects or that the esports gaming industry will
continue to grow as rapidly as it has in the past.
We
may encounter difficulties in integrating Simplicity Esports LLC’s esports businesses or otherwise realizing the anticipated benefits
of the transaction.
As
part of our business strategy, from time to time, we acquire, make investments in, or enter into strategic alliances and joint ventures
with, complementary businesses, such as the acquisition of the Simplicity esports business in January 2019. The acquisition of Simplicity
Esports LLC involves significant risks and uncertainties, including: (i) the potential for Simplicity Esports LLC’s business to
underperform relative to our expectations and the acquisition price, (ii) the potential for Simplicity Esports LLC’s business to
cause our financial results to differ from expectations in any given period, or over the longer-term, (iii) unexpected tax consequences
from the acquisition, or the tax treatment of Simplicity Esports LLC’s business’s operations going forward, giving rise to
incremental tax liabilities that are difficult to predict, (iv) difficulty in integrating Simplicity Esports LLC’s business, its
operations and its employees in an efficient and effective manner, (v) any unknown liabilities or internal control deficiencies assumed
as part of the acquisition, and (vi) the potential loss of key employees of Simplicity Esports LLC’s businesses. Further, the transaction
may involve the risk that our senior management’s attention will be excessively diverted from our other operations, the risk that
the gaming industry does not evolve as anticipated and that any intellectual property or personnel skills acquired do not prove to be
those needed for our future success, and the risk that our strategic objectives, cost savings or other anticipated benefits are otherwise
not achieved.
Our
business may be harmed if our licensing partners, or other third parties with whom we do business, act in ways that put our brand at
risk.
We
anticipate that our business partners shall be given access to sensitive and proprietary information or control over our intellectual
property in order to provide services and support to our teams. These third parties may misappropriate our information or intellectual
property and engage in unauthorized use of it or otherwise act in a way that places our brand at risk. The failure of these third parties
to provide adequate services and technologies, the failure of third parties to adequately maintain or update their services and technologies
or the misappropriation or misuse of this information or intellectual property could result in a disruption to our business operations
or an adverse effect on our reputation, and may negatively impact our business.
Our
business is highly dependent on the success and availability of video game platforms manufactured by third parties.
We
expect to derive a substantial portion of our revenues from esports games played on game platforms manufactured by third parties, such
as Sony’s PS4®, Microsoft’s Xbox One®, and Nintendo’s Wii U® and Switch®, and PCs. The success of our
business will be driven in large part by our ability to accurately predict which platforms will be successful in the marketplace. We
also rely on the availability of an adequate supply of these video game consoles and the continued support for these consoles by their
manufacturers. We may be required to commit significant resources well in advance of the anticipated introduction of a new platform.
If increased costs are not offset by higher revenues and other cost efficiencies, our business could be negatively impacted. If the platforms
for which we invested resources do not attain significant market acceptance, we may not be able to recover our costs, which could be
significant.
The
games we support are subject to scrutiny regarding the appropriateness of their content. If the publishers and distributors we partner
with fail to receive their target ratings for certain titles, or if retailers refuse to sell such titles due to what they perceive to
be objectionable content, it could have a negative impact on our business.
Console
and PC games are subject to ratings by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (the “ESRB”), a self-regulatory body based
in the U.S. that provides U.S. and Canadian consumers of interactive entertainment software with ratings information, including information
on the content in such software, such as violence, nudity or sexual content, along with an assessment of the suitability of the content
for certain age groups. Certain other countries have also established content rating systems as prerequisites for product sales in those
countries. In addition, certain stores use other ratings systems, such as Apple’s use of its proprietary “App Rating System”
and Google Play’s use of the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) rating system. If the software publishers that supply our
games are unable to obtain the ratings they have targeted for their products, it could have a negative impact on our business. In some
instances, the software publishers and developers may be required to modify their products to comply with the requirements of the rating
systems, which could delay or disrupt the release of any given product, or may prevent its sale altogether in certain territories, which
would limit its availability for use in the games that our teams play.
We
will depend on servers to operate our games with online features. If we were to lose server functionality for any reason, our business
may be negatively impacted.
Our
business at our game centers will rely on the continuous operation of servers, some of which are owned and operated by third parties.
Although we shall strive to maintain more than sufficient server capacity, and provide for active redundancy in the event of limited
hardware failure, any broad-based catastrophic server malfunction, a significant service-disrupting attack or intrusion by hackers that
circumvents security measures, a failure of disaster recovery service or the failure of a company on which we are relying for server
capacity to provide that capacity for whatever reason would likely degrade or interrupt the functionality of our games with online features,
and could prevent the operation of such games altogether, any of which could result in the loss of sales for, or in, such games.
We
also rely on networks operated by third parties, such as the PlayStation® Network, Xbox Live® and Steam®, for the functionality
of the games we use which have online features. An extended interruption to any of these services could adversely affect our ability
to operate our games with online features, negatively impacting our business.
Further,
insufficient server capacity could also negatively impact our game center business. Conversely, if we overestimate the amount of server
capacity required by our business, we may incur unnecessary additional operating costs.
The
esports gaming industry is very “hit” driven. We may not have access to “hit” games or titles.
Select
game titles dominate competitive esports and online gaming, including League of Legends, Minecraft, Fortnite and Overwatch, and many
new games titles are regularly introduced in each major industry segment (console, mobile and PC free-to-download). Despite the number
of new entrants, only a very few “hit” titles account for a significant portion of total revenue in each segment.
The
size and engagement level of our online and in person gamers are critical to our success and are closely linked to the quality and popularity
of the esports game publishers with which we have licenses. Esports game publishers on our gaming platform, including those who have
entered into license agreements with us, may leave us for other gaming platforms or leagues which may offer better competition, and terms
and conditions than we do. Furthermore, we may lose esports game publishers if we fail to generate the number of gamers to our tournaments
and league competitions expected by such publishers. In addition, if popular esports game publishers cease to license their games to
us, or our live streams fail to attract gamers, we may experience a decline in gamer traffic, subscriptions and engagement, which may
have a material and adverse impact on our results of operations and financial conditions.
We
must continue to attract and retain the most popular esports gaming titles in order to maintain and increase the popularity of our leagues,
tournaments and competitions, and ensure the sustainable growth of our gamer community. We must continue to identify and enter into license
agreements with esports gaming publishers developing “hit’ games that resonate with our community on an ongoing basis. We
cannot assure you that we can continue to attract and retain the same level of first-tier esports game publishers and our ability to
do so is critical to our future success.
If
we fail to keep our existing gamers highly engaged, to acquire new gamers, to successfully implement a membership model for our gaming
community, our business, profitability and prospects may be adversely affected.
Our
success depends on our ability to maintain and grow the number of gamers attending and participating in our in-person and online tournaments
and competitions, and using our gaming platform, and keeping our gamers highly engaged. Of particular importance is the successful deployment
and expansion of our membership model to our gaming community for purposes of creating predictable recurring revenues.
In
order to attract, retain and engage gamers and remain competitive, we must continue to develop and expand our leagues, including internationally,
produce engaging tournaments and competitions, successfully license the newest “hit” esports games and titles, implement
new technologies and strategies, improve features of our gaming platform and stimulate interactions in our gamer community.
A
decline in the number of our gamers in our ecosystem may adversely affect the engagement level of our gamers, the vibrancy of our gamer
community, or the popularity of our league play, which may in turn reduce our monetization opportunities, and have a material and adverse
effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. If we are unable to attract and retain gamers, our revenues may
decline and our results of operations and financial condition may suffer.
We
cannot assure you that our online and in person gaming platform and centers will remain sufficiently popular with gamers to offset the
costs incurred to operate and expand them. It is vital to our operations that we remain sensitive and responsive to evolving gamer preferences
and offer first-tier esports game content that attracts our gamers. We must also keep providing gamers with new features and functions
to enable superior content viewing, and social interaction. Further, we will need to continue to develop and improve our gaming platform
and centers and to enhance our brand awareness, which may require us to incur substantial costs and expenses. If such increased costs
and expenses do not effectively translate into an improved gamer experience and long-term engagement, our results of operations may be
materially and adversely affected.
Risks
Related to International Operations
The
risks related to international operations, in particular in countries outside of the United States, could negatively affect the Company’s
results.
It
is expected that the Company will derive between 15% to 20% of its revenue from transactions denominated in currencies other than the
United States dollar, such as Brazil, and the Company expects that receivables with respect to foreign sales will account for a significant
amount of its total accounts and receivables. As such, the Company’s operations may be adversely affected by changes in foreign
government policies and legislation or social instability and other factors which are not within the control of the Company, including,
but not limited to, recessions in foreign economies, expropriation, nationalization and limitation or restriction on repatriation of
funds, assets or earnings, longer receivables collection periods and greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable, changes in
consumer tastes and trends, renegotiation or nullification of existing contracts or licenses, changes in gaming policies, regulatory
requirements or the personnel administering them, currency fluctuations and devaluations, exchange controls, economic sanctions and royalty
and tax increases, risk of terrorist activities, revolution, border disputes, implementation of tariffs and other trade barriers and
protectionist practices, taxation policies, including royalty and tax increases and retroactive tax claims, volatility of financial markets
and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, difficulties in the protection of intellectual property particularly in countries with fewer
intellectual property protections, the effects that evolving regulations regarding data privacy may have on the Company’s online
operations, adverse changes in the creditworthiness of parties with whom the Company has significant receivables or forward currency
exchange contracts, labor disputes and other risks arising out of foreign governmental sovereignty over the areas in which the Company’s
operations are conducted. The Company’s operations may also be adversely affected by social, political and economic instability
and by laws and policies of such foreign jurisdictions affecting foreign trade, taxation and investment. If the Company’s operations
are disrupted and/or the economic integrity of its contracts is threatened for unexpected reasons, its business may be harmed.
The
Company’s international activities may require protracted negotiations with host governments, national companies and third parties.
Foreign government regulations may favor or require the awarding of contracts to local contractors or require foreign contractors to
employ citizens of, or purchase supplies from, a particular jurisdiction. In the event of a dispute arising in connection with the Company’s
operations in a foreign jurisdiction where it conducts its business, the Company may be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of foreign
courts or may not be successful in subjecting foreign persons to the jurisdictions of the courts of United States or enforcing American
judgments in such other jurisdictions. The Company may also be hindered or prevented from enforcing its rights with respect to a governmental
instrumentality because of the doctrine of sovereign immunity. Accordingly, the Company’s activities in foreign jurisdictions could
be substantially affected by factors beyond the Company’s control, any of which could have a material adverse effect on it. The
Company believes that management’s experience to date in commercializing its products, services and solutions in Brazil may be
of assistance in helping to reduce these risks. Some countries in which the Company may operate may be considered politically and economically
unstable.
Doing
business in the industries in which the Company operates often requires compliance with numerous and extensive procedures and formalities.
These procedures and formalities may result in unexpected or lengthy delays in commencing important business activities. In some cases,
failure to follow such formalities or obtain relevant evidence may call into question the validity of the entity or the actions taken.
Management of the Company is unable to predict the effect of additional corporate and regulatory formalities which may be adopted in
the future including whether any such laws or regulations would materially increase the Company’s cost of doing business or affect
its operations in any area.
The
Company may in the future enter into agreements and conduct activities outside of the jurisdictions where it currently carries on business,
which expansion may present challenges and risks that the Company has not faced in the past, any of which could adversely affect the
results of operations and/or financial condition of the Company.
The
Company is subject to foreign exchange and currency risks that could adversely affect its operations, and the Company’s ability
to mitigate its foreign exchange risk through hedging transactions may be limited.
The
Company expects that it will derive between 15% and 20% of its revenues in currencies other than the United States dollar; however, a
substantial portion of the Company’s operating expenses are incurred in United States dollars. Fluctuations in the exchange rate
between the U.S. dollar, the Real (Brazil) and other currencies may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial
condition and operating results. The Company’s consolidated financial results are affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
Foreign currency exchange rate exposures arise from current transactions and anticipated transactions denominated in currencies other
than United States dollars and from the translation of foreign-currency-denominated balance sheet accounts into United States dollar-denominated
balance sheet accounts. The Company is exposed to currency exchange rate fluctuations because portions of its revenue and expenses are
denominated in currencies other than the United States dollar, particularly the Real. In particular, uncertainty regarding economic conditions
in Brazil pose risk to the stability of the Real. Exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect the Company’s operating results
and cash flows and the value of its assets outside of United States. If a foreign currency is devalued in a jurisdiction in which the
Company is paid in such currency, then the Company’s customers may be required to pay higher amounts for the Company’s products
or services, which they may be unable or unwilling to pay.
While
the Company may enter into forward currency swaps and other derivative instruments intended to mitigate the foreign currency exchange
risk, there can be no assurance the Company will do so or that any instruments that the Company enters into will successfully mitigate
such risk. If the Company enters into foreign currency forward or other hedging contracts, the Company would be subject to the risk that
a counterparty to one or more of these contracts defaults on its performance under the contracts. During an economic downturn, a counterparty’s
financial condition may deteriorate rapidly and with little notice, and the Company may be unable to take action to protect its exposure.
In the event of a counterparty default, the Company could lose the benefit of its hedging contract, which may harm its business and financial
condition. In the event that one or more of the Company’s counterparties becomes insolvent or files for bankruptcy, its ability
to eventually recover any benefit lost as a result of that counterparty’s default may be limited by the liquidity of the counterparty.
The Company expects that it will not be able to hedge all of its exposure to any particular foreign currency, and it may not hedge its
exposure at all with respect to certain foreign currencies. Changes in exchange rates and the Company’s limited ability or inability
to successfully hedge exchange rate risk could have an adverse impact on the Company’s liquidity and results of operations.
We
may be unable to obtain licenses in new jurisdictions where our customers operate.
We
are subject to regulation in any jurisdiction where our customers access our website. To expand into any such jurisdiction we may need
to be licensed, or obtain approvals of our products or services. If we do not receive, or receive a revocation of a license in a particular
jurisdiction for our products or services, we would not be able to sell or place our products or services in that jurisdiction. Any such
outcome could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and any growth plans for our business.
Privacy
concerns could result in regulatory changes and impose additional costs and liabilities on the Company, limit its use of information,
and adversely affect its business.
Personal
privacy has become a significant issue in the United States, Brazil, Europe, and many other countries in which the Company currently
operates and may operate in the future. Many federal, state, and foreign legislatures and government agencies have imposed or are considering
imposing restrictions and requirements about the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information obtained from individuals. Changes
to laws or regulations affecting privacy could impose additional costs and liability on the Company and could limit its use of such information
to add value for customers. If the Company were required to change its business activities or revise or eliminate services, or to implement
burdensome compliance measures, its business and results of operations could be harmed. In addition, the Company may be subject to fines,
penalties, and potential litigation if it fails to comply with applicable privacy regulations, any of which could adversely affect the
Company’s business, liquidity and results of operation.
The
Company’s results of operations could be affected by natural events in the locations in which it operates or where its customers
or suppliers operate.
The
Company, its customers, and its suppliers have operations in locations subject to natural occurrences such as severe weather and other
geological events, including hurricanes, earthquakes, or flood that could disrupt operations. Any serious disruption at any of the Company’s
facilities or the facilities of its customers or suppliers due to a natural disaster could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s
revenues and increase its costs and expenses. If there is a natural disaster or other serious disruption at any of the Company’s
facilities, it could impair its ability to adequately supply its customers, cause a significant disruption to its operations, cause the
Company to incur significant costs to relocate or re-establish these functions and negatively impact its operating results. While the
Company intends to seek insurance against certain business interruption risks, such insurance may not adequately compensate the Company
for any losses incurred as a result of natural or other disasters. In addition, any natural disaster that results in a prolonged disruption
to the operations of the Company’s customers or suppliers may adversely affect its business, results of operations or financial
condition.
Risks
Related to Regulation
The
Company is subject to various laws relating to trade, export controls, and foreign corrupt practices, the violation of which could adversely
affect its operations, reputation, business, prospects, operating results and financial condition.
We
are subject to risks associated with doing business outside of the United States, including exposure to complex foreign and U.S. regulations
such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”) and other anti-corruption laws which generally prohibit U.S. companies
and their intermediaries from making improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Violations
of the FCPA and other anti-corruption laws may result in severe criminal and civil sanctions and other penalties. It may be difficult
to oversee the conduct of any contractors, third-party partners, representatives or agents who are not our employees, potentially exposing
us to greater risk from their actions. If our employees or agents fail to comply with applicable laws or company policies governing our
international operations, we may face legal proceedings and actions which could result in civil penalties, administration actions and
criminal sanctions. Any determination that we have violated any anti-corruption laws could have a material adverse impact on our business.
Changes in trade sanctions laws may restrict the Company’s business practices, including cessation of business activities in sanctioned
countries or with sanctioned entities.
Violations
of these laws and regulations could result in significant fines, criminal sanctions against the Company, its officers or its employees,
requirements to obtain export licenses, disgorgement of profits, cessation of business activities in sanctioned countries, prohibitions
on the conduct of its business and its inability to market and sell the Company’s products or services in one or more countries.
Additionally, any such violations could materially damage the Company’s reputation, brand, international expansion efforts, ability
to attract and retain employees and the Company’s business, prospects, operating results and financial condition.
Regulations
that may be adopted with respect to the internet and electronic commerce may decrease the growth in the use of the internet and lead
to the decrease in the demand for esports products and services.
The
Company may become subject to any number of laws and regulations that may be adopted with respect to the internet and electronic commerce.
New laws and regulations that address issues such as user privacy, pricing, online content regulation, taxation, advertising, intellectual
property, information security, and the characteristics and quality of online products and services may be enacted. As well, current
laws, which predate or are incompatible with the internet and electronic commerce, may be applied and enforced in a manner that restricts
the electronic commerce market. The application of such pre-existing laws regulating communications or commerce in the context of the
internet and electronic commerce is uncertain. Moreover, it may take years to determine the extent to which existing laws relating to
issues such as intellectual property ownership and infringement, libel and personal privacy are applicable to the internet. The adoption
of new laws or regulations relating to the internet, or particular applications or interpretations of existing laws, could decrease the
growth in the use of the internet, decrease the demand for esports’ products and services, increase esports’ cost of doing
business or could otherwise have a material adverse effect on esports’ business, revenues, operating results and financial condition.
Risk
Factors Relating to Our Common Stock
Trading
on the OTC Markets is volatile and sporadic, which could depress the market price of our common stock and make it difficult for you to
resell your common stock.
Our
common stock is quoted on the OTCQB tier of the OTC Markets Group, Inc. (“OTC Markets”). Trading in securities quoted on
the OTC Markets is often thin and characterized by wide fluctuations in trading prices, due to many factors, some of which may have little
to do with our operations or business prospects. This volatility could depress the market price of our common stock for reasons unrelated
to operating performance. Moreover, the OTC Markets is not a stock exchange, and trading of securities on the OTC Markets is often more
sporadic than the trading of securities listed on a quotation system like Nasdaq Capital Market or a stock exchange like the NYSE American.
These factors may result in your having difficulty reselling any shares of our common stock.
Once
our common stock is listed on Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American, there can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with the
national stock exchange’s continued listing standards.
We
intend to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market or the NYSE American under the symbol “WINR.” There is no assurance
that our listing application will be approved by the Nasdaq Capital Market or the NYSE American. Assuming that our common stock is listed,
there can be no assurance any broker will be interested in trading our stock. Therefore, it may be difficult to sell your shares of common
stock if you desire or need to sell them. We cannot provide any assurance that an active and liquid trading market in our securities
will develop or, if developed, that such market will continue.
If
our common stock is approved for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American, there is no guarantee that we will be able to
maintain such listing for any period of time by perpetually satisfying continued listing requirements. Our failure to continue to meet
these requirements may result in our securities being delisted from Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American, as the case may be.
The
market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile because of several factors, including a limited public float.
The
market price of our common stock has been volatile in the past and the market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile
in the future. You may not be able to resell shares of our common stock following periods of volatility because of the market’s
adverse reaction to volatility.
Other
factors that could cause such volatility may include, among other things:
|
●
|
actual
or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
absence of securities analysts covering us and distributing research and recommendations about us;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
we
may have a low trading volume for a number of reasons, including that a large portion of our stock is closely held;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
overall
stock market fluctuations;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
announcements
concerning our business or those of our competitors;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
actual
or perceived limitations on our ability to raise capital when we require it, and to raise such capital on favorable terms;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
conditions
or trends in the industry;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
litigation;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
changes
in market valuations of other similar companies;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
future
sales of common stock;
|
|
●
|
departure
of key personnel or failure to hire key personnel; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
general
market conditions.
|
Any
of these factors could have a significant and adverse impact on the market price of our common stock. In addition, the stock market in
general has at times experienced extreme volatility and rapid decline that has often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating
performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock, regardless
of our actual operating performance.
Our
common stock has in the past been a “penny stock” under SEC rules may be subject to the “penny stock” rules in
the future. It may be more difficult to resell securities classified as “penny stock.”
In
the past, our common stock was a “penny stock” under applicable SEC rules (generally defined as non-exchange traded stock
with a per-share price below $5.00). If our common stock is not listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, NYSE American, or other national
securities exchange, unless we maintain a per-share price above $5.00, our common stock will become “penny stock.” These
rules impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers that recommend the purchase or sale of penny stocks to persons
other than those who qualify as “established customers” or “accredited investors.” For example, broker-dealers
must determine the appropriateness for non-qualifying persons of investments in penny stocks. Broker-dealers must also provide, prior
to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, a standardized risk disclosure document that provides information
about penny stocks and the risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer
quotations for the penny stock, disclose the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, furnish monthly
account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account, provide a special written determination
that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser, and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction.
Legal
remedies available to an investor in “penny stocks” may include the following:
|
●
|
If
a “penny stock” is sold to the investor in violation of the requirements listed above, or other federal or states securities
laws, the investor may be able to cancel the purchase and receive a refund of the investment.
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
If
a “penny stock” is sold to the investor in a fraudulent manner, the investor may be able to sue the persons and firms
that committed the fraud for damages.
|
These
requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity, if any, in the secondary market for a security that becomes
subject to the penny stock rules. The additional burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by such requirements may discourage broker-dealers
from effecting transactions in our securities, which could severely limit the market price and liquidity of our securities. These requirements
may restrict the ability of broker-dealers to sell our common stock and may affect your ability to resell our common stock.
Many
brokerage firms will discourage or refrain from recommending investments in penny stocks. Most institutional investors will not invest
in penny stocks. In addition, many individual investors will not invest in penny stocks due, among other reasons, to the increased financial
risk generally associated with these investments.
For
these reasons, penny stocks may have a limited market and, consequently, limited liquidity. We can give no assurance at what time, if
ever, our common stock will not be classified as a “penny stock” in the future.
If
the benefits of any proposed acquisition do not meet the expectations of investors, stockholders or financial analysts, the market price
of our common stock may decline.
If
the benefits of any proposed acquisition do not meet the expectations of investors or securities analysts, the market price of our common
stock prior to the closing of the proposed acquisition may decline. The market values of our common stock at the time of the proposed
acquisition may vary significantly from their prices on the date the acquisition target was identified.
In
addition, broad market and industry factors may materially harm the market price of our common stock irrespective of our operating performance.
The stock market in general has experienced price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating
performance of the particular companies affected. The trading prices and valuations of these stocks, and of our securities, may not be
predictable. A loss of investor confidence in the market for retail stocks or the stocks of other companies which investors perceive
to be similar to us could depress our stock price regardless of our business, prospects, financial conditions or results of operations.
A decline in the market price of our securities also could adversely affect our ability to issue additional securities and our ability
to obtain additional financing in the future.
Changes
in accounting principles and guidance, or their interpretation, could result in unfavorable accounting charges or effects, including
changes to our previously filed financial statements, which could cause our stock price to decline.
We
prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
(“GAAP”). These principles are subject to interpretation by the SEC and various bodies formed to interpret and create appropriate
accounting principles and guidance. A change in these principles or guidance, or in their interpretations, may have a significant effect
on our reported results and retroactively affect previously reported results.
Being
a public company results in additional expenses, diverts management’s attention and could also adversely affect our ability to
attract and retain qualified directors.
As
a public reporting company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. These requirements generate significant
accounting, legal and financial compliance costs and make some activities more difficult, time consuming or costly and may place significant
strain on our personnel and resources. The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls
and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. In order to establish the requisite disclosure controls and procedures
and internal control over financial reporting, significant resources and management oversight are required.
As
a result, management’s attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could have an adverse and even material effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations. These rules and regulations may also make it more difficult and expensive
for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance. If we are unable to obtain appropriate director and officer insurance, our
ability to recruit and retain qualified officers and directors, especially those directors who may be deemed independent, could be adversely
impacted.
We
are an “emerging growth company” and our election to delay adoption of new or revised accounting standards applicable to
public companies may result in our financial statements not being comparable to those of some other public companies. As a result of
this and other reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, our securities may be less attractive to investors.
As
a public reporting company with less than $1,070,000,000 in revenue during our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth
company” under the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of certain reduced reporting requirements and is relieved
of certain other significant requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. In particular, as an emerging
growth company we:
|
●
|
are
not required to obtain an attestation and report from our auditors on our management’s assessment of our internal control over
financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
are
not required to provide a detailed narrative disclosure discussing our compensation principles, objectives and elements and analyzing
how those elements fit with our principles and objectives (commonly referred to as “compensation discussion and analysis”);
|
|
●
|
are
not required to obtain a non-binding advisory vote from our stockholders on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements
(commonly referred to as the “say-on-pay,” “say-on-frequency” and “say-on-golden-parachute” votes);
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
are
exempt from certain executive compensation disclosure provisions requiring a pay-for-performance graph and CEO pay ratio disclosure;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
may
present only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related Management’s Discussion & Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”); and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
are
eligible to claim longer phase-in periods for the adoption of new or revised financial accounting standards under §107 of the
JOBS Act.
|
We
intend to take advantage of all of these reduced reporting requirements and exemptions, including the longer phase-in periods for the
adoption of new or revised financial accounting standards under §107 of the JOBS Act. Our election to use the phase-in periods may
make it difficult to compare our financial statements to those of non-emerging growth companies and other emerging growth companies that
have opted out of the phase-in periods under §107 of the JOBS Act.
Certain
of these reduced reporting requirements and exemptions were already available to us due to the fact that we also qualify as a “smaller
reporting company” under SEC rules. For instance, smaller reporting companies are not required to obtain an auditor attestation
and report regarding management’s assessment of internal control over financial reporting; are not required to provide a compensation
discussion and analysis; are not required to provide a pay-for-performance graph or Chief Executive Officer pay ratio disclosure; and
may present only two years of audited financial statements and related MD&A disclosure.
Under
the JOBS Act, we may take advantage of the above-described reduced reporting requirements and exemptions for up to five years after our
initial sale of common equity pursuant to a registration statement declared effective under the Securities Act or such earlier time that
we no longer meet the definition of an emerging growth company. In this regard, the JOBS Act provides that we would cease to be an “emerging
growth company” if we have more than $1,070,000,000 in annual revenues, have more than $700 million in market value of our Common
Stock held by non-affiliates, or issue more than $1.0 billion in principal amount of non-convertible debt over a three-year period. Further,
under current SEC rules we will continue to qualify as a “smaller reporting company” for so long as we have a public float
(i.e., the market value of common equity held by non-affiliates) of less than $250 million as of the last business day of our most recently
completed second fiscal quarter.
We
cannot predict if investors will find our securities less attractive due to our reliance on these exemptions.
If
we fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, the price of our securities may be adversely affected.
Our
internal control over financial reporting has weaknesses and conditions that require correction or remediation. For the year ended May
31, 2021, we identified a material weakness in our assessment of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures. We did not
effectively segregate certain accounting duties due to the small size of our accounting staff. We are dependent upon our Chief Financial
Officer, who is knowledgeable and experienced in the application of GAAP, to maintain our disclosure controls and procedures and the
preparation of our financial statements for the foreseeable future. We plan to increase the size of our accounting staff at the appropriate
time for our business and its size to ameliorate our concern that we do not effectively segregate certain accounting duties, which we
believe would resolve the material weakness in disclosure controls and procedures, but there can be no assurances as to the timing of
any such action or that we will be able to do so.
We
are required to comply with certain provisions of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and if we fail to continue to comply, our business
could be harmed, and the price of our securities could decline.
Rules
adopted by the SEC pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act require an annual assessment of internal control over financial
reporting, and for certain issuers an attestation of this assessment by the issuer’s independent registered public accounting firm.
The standards that must be met for management to assess the internal control over financial reporting as effective are evolving and complex,
and require significant documentation, testing, and possible remediation to meet the detailed standards. We expect to incur significant
expenses and to devote resources to Section 404 compliance on an ongoing basis. It is difficult for us to predict how long it will take
or costly it will be to complete the assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for each year and
to remediate any deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting. As a result, we may not be able to complete the assessment
and remediation process on a timely basis. In the event that our Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer determines that our
internal control over financial reporting is not effective as defined under Section 404, we cannot predict how regulators will react
or how the market prices of our securities will be affected; however, we believe that there is a risk that investor confidence and the
market value of our securities may be negatively affected.
Shares
eligible for future sale may adversely affect the market.
From
time to time, certain of our stockholders may be eligible to sell all or some of their shares of common stock by means of ordinary brokerage
transactions in the open market pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, subject to certain limitations. In general,
pursuant to Rule 144, non-affiliate stockholders may sell freely after six months, subject only to the current public information requirement.
Affiliates may sell after six months, subject to the Rule 144 volume, manner of sale (for equity securities), current public information,
and notice requirements. Of the approximately 1,463,470 shares of our common stock outstanding as of August 30, 2021, approximately 817,328
shares are tradable without restriction. Given the limited trading of our common stock, resale of even a small number of shares of our
common stock pursuant to Rule 144 or an effective registration statement may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Anti-takeover
provisions contained in our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could impair
a takeover attempt.
The
Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and bylaws contain provisions that could have the effect of delaying or preventing
changes in control or changes in our management without the consent of our board of directors. These provisions include:
|
●
|
no
cumulative voting in the election of directors, which limits the ability of minority stockholders to elect director candidates;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
exclusive right of our board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors
or the resignation, death, or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of
directors;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
the
ability of our board of directors to determine whether to issue shares of our preferred stock and to determine the price and other
terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly
dilute the ownership of a hostile acquirer;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
limiting
the liability of, and providing indemnification to, our directors and officers;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
controlling
the procedures for the conduct and scheduling of stockholder meetings;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
providing
that directors may be removed prior to the expiration of their terms by stockholders only for cause; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
advance
notice procedures that stockholders must comply with in order to nominate candidates to our board of directors or to propose matters
to be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation
of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company.
|
These
provisions, alone or together, could delay hostile takeovers and changes in control of the Company or changes in our board of directors
and management.
Any
provision of our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change
in control could limit the opportunity for our security holders to receive a premium for their securities and could also affect the price
that some investors are willing to pay for our securities.
We
have never paid dividends on our common stock and have no plans to do so in the future.
Holders
of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors. To date, we have paid
no cash dividends on our shares of common stock and we do not expect to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.
We intend to retain future earnings, if any, to provide funds for operations of our business. Therefore, any return investors in our
common stock may have will be in the form of appreciation, if any, in the market value of their shares of common stock. See “Dividend
Policy.”
We
will indemnify and hold harmless our officers and directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law.
Our
bylaws provide that we will indemnify and hold harmless our officers and directors against claims arising from our activities, to the
maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. If we were called upon to perform under our indemnification agreement, then the portion of
our assets expended for such purpose would reduce the amount otherwise available for our business.
Even
if our recent Reverse Stock Split achieves the requisite increase in the market price of our common stock, there can be no assurance
that we will be approved for listing on a national securities exchange or able to comply with other continued listing standards of a
national securities exchange.
Even
if our recent Reverse Stock Split increased the market price of our common stock sufficiently so that we comply with the minimum market
price requirement, we cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with the other standards that we are required to meet in order
to be approved for listing on a national securities exchange or maintain a listing of our common stock on such exchange.
The
Reverse Stock Split may decrease the liquidity of the shares of our common stock.
The
liquidity of the shares of our common stock may be affected adversely by the Reverse Stock Split given the reduced number of shares outstanding
following the Reverse Stock Split. In addition, the Reverse Stock Split may have increased the number of shareholders who own odd lots
(less than 100 shares) of our common stock, creating the potential for such shareholders to experience an increase in the cost of selling
their shares and greater difficulty affecting such sales.
USE
OF PROCEEDS
All
of the shares of Common Stock offered by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this prospectus will be sold by the Selling Securityholders
for their respective accounts. We will not receive any of the proceeds from these sales. We will not receive any proceeds from the conversion
of the Convertible Notes, but we will receive up to an aggregate of approximately $21,204,837 from the exercise of Warrants, assuming
the exercise in full of all of the Warrants for cash. We expect to use the net proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants for general
corporate purposes.
CAPITALIZATION
The
following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of May 31, 2021 on an actual basis.
This
table should be read in conjunction with the information contained in this prospectus, including “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and the related notes thereto appearing
elsewhere in this prospectus.
|
|
As of May 31, 2021
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
414,275
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible note payable
|
|
|
2,211,097
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity:
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock - $0.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding on an actual basis
|
|
|
-
|
|
Common stock - $0.0001 par value; 36,000,000 shares authorized; 1,427,124 shares issued and outstanding on an actual basis
|
|
|
142
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
16,708,762
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(12,291,899
|
)
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
4,590,044
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
$
|
5,972,134
|
|
DETERMINATION
OF OFFERING PRICE
Resale
of Common Stock by Selling Securityholders
Our
Common Stock is quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol “WINR.” The shares registered for resale in this prospectus being offered
by the Selling Securityholders will be sold at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the
prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices.
Issuance
of Shares of Common Stock Underlying Convertible Notes
The
price of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Conversion Notes is determined by reference to the conversion price of the Convertible
Notes, such that the principal amount and interest (including any default interest) under the Convertible Notes shall be convertible
into shares of Common Stock at a rate of $11.50 per share; provided however, that upon failure to make any payment called for under the
Convertible Notes at any time after the issuance date, but prior to the conversion date, the conversion price shall be $10.00 per share.
For purposes of this prospectus, we have assumed a conversion price of $10.00 per share of Common Stock.
Issuance
of Shares of Common Stock Underlying Warrants
The
price of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants is determined by reference to the exercise price of the Warrants, such that
each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of our Common Stock at an exercise price of (i) one hundred ten percent (110%)
of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of the Common Stock or (ii) prior
to the determination of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of the Common
Stock and following such time if the “up-listing” contemplated is not completed by November 1, 2021, the exercise price shall
be $10.73. For purposes of this prospectus, we have assumed an exercise price of $9.35 per share of Common Stock (calculated based on
110% of conform the last reported sale price of our Common Stock ($8.50 per share) on the OTC Market Group, Inc.’s OTCQB tier on
September 28, 2021).
DIVIDEND
POLICY
We
have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not currently anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
The agreements into which we may enter in the future, including indebtedness, may impose limitations on our ability to pay dividends
or make other distributions on our capital stock. Payment of future dividends on our common stock, if any, will be at the discretion
of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements and surplus, financial
condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. We intend to retain future earnings,
if any, for reinvestment in the development and expansion of our business.
MARKET
PRICE FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Market
Information
Our
common stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB tier of the OTC Market Group, Inc. under the symbol “WINR.” Our warrants issued
in connection with our initial public offering in August 2017 are currently listed on OTCQB under the symbol “WINRW.” The
OTC Market is a network of security dealers who buy and sell stock. The dealers are connected by a computer network that provides information
on current “bids” and “asks”, as well as volume information.
On
October 9, 2017, our common stock and warrants commenced public trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols “IAM”
and “IAMXW”, respectively. On November 20, 2018, we changed the symbols of our common stock and warrants to “SMSH”
and “SMSHW”, respectively, in conjunction with our name change from “I-AM Capital Acquisition Company” to “Smaaash
Entertainment, Inc.” On January 10, 2019, we changed the symbols of our common stock and warrants to “WINR” and “WINRW”,
respectively, in conjunction with our name change from “Smaaash Entertainment, Inc.” to “Simplicity Esports and Gaming
Company.” However, on January 25, 2019, the Nasdaq suspended our common stock and warrants from trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market
and the OTCQB commenced the quotation of our common stock and warrants. On April 2, 2019, the Nasdaq Capital Market filed a Form 25 for
our common stock and warrants, which became effective ten days thereafter.
We
intend to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market or the NYSE American under the symbols “WINR.” There is no assurance
that our listing application will be approved by the Nasdaq Capital Market or the NYSE American.
The
following table includes the high and low bids for our common stock since June 1, 2018. These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices,
without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. Prices in the tables below have
been presented to reflect the Reverse Stock Split of our outstanding shares of common stock.
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
Fiscal Year 2022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 1 to September 28, 2021
|
|
$
|
10.60
|
|
|
$
|
8.45
|
|
June 1 to August 31, 2021
|
|
$
|
14.30
|
|
|
$
|
9.05
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year 2021
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 1 to May 31, 2021
|
|
$
|
22.00
|
|
|
$
|
10.60
|
|
December 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021
|
|
$
|
21.08
|
|
|
$
|
11.00
|
|
September 1 to November 30, 2020
|
|
$
|
16.30
|
|
|
$
|
6.68
|
|
June 1 to August 31, 2020
|
|
$
|
18.64
|
|
|
$
|
6.44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 1 to May 31, 2020
|
|
$
|
13.76
|
|
|
$
|
5.36
|
|
December 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020
|
|
$
|
13.52
|
|
|
$
|
6.40
|
|
September 1 to November 30, 2019
|
|
$
|
21.52
|
|
|
$
|
12.00
|
|
June 1 to August 31, 2019
|
|
$
|
19.68
|
|
|
$
|
10.56
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year 2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 1 to May 30, 2019
|
|
$
|
17.60
|
|
|
$
|
4.48
|
|
December 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019
|
|
$
|
52.96
|
|
|
$
|
9.84
|
|
September 1 to November 30, 2018
|
|
$
|
88.40
|
|
|
$
|
25.20
|
|
June 1 to August 31, 2018
|
|
$
|
88.40
|
|
|
$
|
78.88
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year 2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 1 to May 31, 2018
|
|
$
|
84.16
|
|
|
$
|
79.20
|
|
December 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018
|
|
$
|
80.16
|
|
|
$
|
78.40
|
|
September 1 to November 30, 2017 (1)
|
|
$
|
79.84
|
|
|
$
|
78.40
|
|
August 16 to August 31, 2017 (2)
|
|
$
|
N/A
|
|
|
$
|
N/A
|
|
(1)
|
Our
common stock began separate trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on October 9, 2017.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Our
common stock did not trade separately from the Public Units until October 9, 2017.
|
On
September 28, 2021, the closing price for our common stock on the OTCQB was $8.50 per share.
The
volume of shares of common stock traded on the OTCQB was insignificant and therefore, does not represent a reliable indication of the
fair market value of these shares.
Holders
of Common Stock
As
of September 28, 2021, there were approximately 134 record holders of our common stock and 61 record holders of our warrants. The number
of record holders does not include beneficial owners of common stock and warrants whose shares and warrants are held in the names of
banks, brokers, nominees or other fiduciaries.
We
have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not currently anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
We intend to retain future earnings, if any, for reinvestment in the development and expansion of our business.
Historical
Common Equity Transactions
The
following is a summary of transactions by us since our inception on April 17, 2017 involving registered and unregistered issuances and
redemption of our common equity securities.
On
May 31, 2017, we issued 179,688 Founder Shares to I-AM Capital Partners LLC (“Sponsor”) in exchange for a capital contribution
of $25,000. Upon the partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option on September 13, 2017, 17,188 Founder Shares were
forfeited by the Sponsor, for a balance of 162,500 Founder Shares held by our Sponsor. Such securities were issued in connection with
our organization pursuant to the exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Our sponsor is an accredited
investor for purposes of Rule 501 of Regulation D. No underwriting discounts or commissions were paid with respect to such sales.
On
August 22, 2017, we sold 5,000,000 units at a purchase price of $10.00 per unit in our initial public offering (“IPO”) of
public units (“Public Units”), generating gross proceeds of $50.0 million. Each Public Unit consisted of one share of our
Common Stock (“Public Shares”), one right to receive one-tenth of one share our Common Stock upon consummation of an initial
business combination (“Public Right”), and one redeemable warrant (“Public Warrants”). Each warrant entitled
the holder to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $92.00 per share, subject to adjustment.
On
August 22, 2017, simultaneously with the consummation of the IPO and the sale of the Public Units, we consummated the private placement
of 254,500 units (“Private Placement Units”) at a price of $10.00 per unit, generating total gross proceeds of $2,545,000.
Each unit consisted of (i) one share of Common Stock, (ii) one right to receive one-tenth (1/10) of one share of Common Stock upon the
consummation of an initial business combination (“Private Placement Rights”), and (iii) one 5-year warrant to purchase one
share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $92.00 per share. The Private Placement Units, which were purchased by the Sponsor, are
identical to the Public Units, except the Private Placement Warrants underlying the Private Placement Units are non-redeemable and exercisable
on a cashless basis so long as they are held by the Sponsor or its affiliates or designees. If the Private Placement Units are held by
someone other than the initial holder, or its permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by us and exercisable
by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
On
August 22, 2017, we issued 6,250 shares of Common Stock to Maxim in connection with its services as underwriter for the IPO.
Contained
in the underwriting agreement for the IPO was an over-allotment option allowing the underwriters to purchase from the Company up to an
additional 750,000 Public Units (the “Over-Allotment Units”) and, in addition, the Company received a commitment from the
Sponsor to purchase up to an additional 26,250 Private Placement Units. On September 13, 2017, the underwriters partially exercised their
option and purchased 200,000 Over-Allotment Units, which were sold at an offering price of $10.00 per unit, generating gross proceeds
of $2,000,000.
On
September 13, 2017, simultaneously with the underwriter’s partial exercise of the over-allotment option, we consummated the sale
of an additional 875 Private Placement Units, generating gross proceeds of $70,000.
On
September 13, 2017, we issued Maxim an additional 250 shares of our Common Stock upon partial exercise of the over-allotment. These shares
were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
At
the Special Meeting on November 20, 2018, holders of 556,033 Public Shares exercised their right to redeem those shares for cash at a
price of $81.75 per share, for an aggregate of approximately $45,455,596.
On
November 20, 2018, we issued 250,000 shares of our Common Stock to AHA Holdings Private Limited as an upfront portion of the newly issued
shares of our Common Stock to be exchanged for all of the ownership interest in Smaaash Private within 6 months after the closing of
the Business Combination.
On
November 20, 2018, we issued 26,000 shares of Common Stock to Chardan Capital Markets, LLC (“Chardan”) in consideration of
services rendered. The shares issued to Chardan are subject to the same lock-up and will have the same registration rights as the shares
of the Company held by the Sponsor.
On
November 20, 2018, we issued 65,000 shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Public Rights.
On
November 20, 2018, upon the consummation of the transaction (“Business Combination”) with Smaaash Entertainment Private Limited
(“Smaaash Private”), we issued 3,269 shares of Common Stock underlying the Private Placement Rights to the holders of the
Private Placement Rights.
In
connection with the closing of the Acquisition of Simplicity Esports LLC, we issued 37,500, 87,500, and 250,000 shares of Common Stock,
respectively, to the Simplicity Owners on January 4, 2019, January 7, 2019, and March 27, 2019 in exchange for all of the issued and
outstanding equity interest of Simplicity Esports LLC held by Simplicity Owners.
On
January 4, 2019, upon the closing of the Acquisition of Simplicity Esports LLC, the Series A-1 Note in the amount of $500,000 and held
by Maxim automatically converted into 24,206 shares of Common Stock.
During
the period from March 1, 2019 through July 1, 2019, we sold an aggregate of 987,500 units at a purchase price of $2.00 per unit to 12
accredited investors in exchange for receipt of $1,975,000. Each unit consisted of (i) one share of Common Stock, and (ii) a 5-year warrant
to purchase one share of Common Stock at a purchase price of $32.00.
On
March 27, 2019, pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award, we issued Jed Kaplan, our then-Chief Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial
Officer and a member of our board of directors, 15,000 shares of our restricted Common Stock. Such shares vested over the succeeding
nine month period. As of July 7, 2021, all of such shares have vested. Mr. Kaplan currently serves as our Chairman of the Board.
On
March 27, 2019, pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award, we issued Roman Franklin, our then-President and a member of our board of directors,
4,500 shares of our restricted Common Stock. Such shares vested over the succeeding nine month period. As of July 7, 2021, all of such
shares have vested. Mr. Franklin currently serves as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors.
On
March 27, 2019, pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award, we issued Steve Grossman, President of Simplicity Esports, LLC, a wholly owned
subsidiary of our Company at such time, 3,000 shares of our restricted Common Stock. Such shares vested over the succeeding nine-month
period. As of July 7, 2021 all of such shares have vested.
Each
of the Restricted Stock Awards was entered into in connection with entry into employment agreements with each of Messrs. Kaplan, Franklin
and Grossman on December 31, 2018.
On
May 31, 2019, we issued 12,500 shares of Common Stock to Polar in exchange for Polar Asset Management Partners Inc.’s (“Polar”)
forgiveness of $143,476 owed by us to Polar under that that certain Debt Conversion Agreement entered into in May 2019 between Polar
and us.
On
July 30, 2019, in connection with the acquisition of a 100% interest in PLAYlive Nation, Inc. (“PLAYlive”) by way of merger,
the Company issued 93,750 shares of the Company’s common stock in exchange for 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock
from the owners of PLAYlive.
On
September 16, 2019, pursuant to a Restricted Award, we issued to Jed Kaplan, our then-Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial
Officer and a member of our board of directors, of 8,750 shares of our restricted Common Stock. Mr. Kaplan currently serves as our Chairman
of the Board.
On
September 16, 2019, pursuant to a Restricted Award, we issued to Roman Franklin, our then-President and a member of our board of directors,
of 2,625 shares of our restricted Common Stock. Mr. Franklin currently serves as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board
of directors.
On
September 16, 2019, pursuant to a Restricted Award, we issued to Steven Grossman, our Corporate Secretary, of 1,750 shares of our restricted
Common Stock. These shares were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Mr. Grossman has informed the Company that
he will resign as Corporate Secretary effective April 15, 2021.
On
March 11, 2020, in connection with the execution of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement with Triton Funds, LP, the Company issued 625
shares of the Company’s common stock to Triton Funds, LP (“Triton”) as a donation.
On
April 9, 2020, the Company delivered a Purchase Notice to Triton pursuant to the terms of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement requiring
Triton to acquire 15,625 shares of common stock, which resulted in $87,700 in proceeds to the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the Common
Stock Purchase Agreement, on April 9, 2020, the Company instructed the transfer agent to issue 15,625 shares of common stock to a custodial
account of Triton. Unfortunately, the transfer agent erroneously transferred the entire 90,625 shares of common stock under the Equity
Line to the custodial account of Triton, resulting in an over-issuance of 75,000 shares to Triton. The Company notified Triton of this
error and that the Company terminated the Common Stock Purchase Agreement with Triton. On November 18, 2020, the 75,000 shares issued
in error were returned by Triton and cancelled and returned to the treasury of the Company.
On
May 4, 2020, pursuant to the terms of that certain 10% Fixed Convertible Promissory Note dated April 29, 2020 in the principal amount
of $152,500 issued by the Company in favor of Harbor Gates Capital, LLC, the Company issued 1,250 shares of the Company’s common
stock to Harbor Gates Capital, LLC as additional consideration for the purchase of such note.
On
May 7, 2020, we issued 2,977 shares of our restricted Common Stock, at a price of 8.40 per share, to William H. Herrmann, Jr., a member
of our board of directors, for an aggregate purchase price of $25,000.
On
June 4, 2020, we issued 10,739 shares of common stock in connection with the conversion of $100,000 in principal of a convertible note
issued in favor of Maxim.
On
June 15, 2020, we issued 3,125 shares of common stock in satisfaction of an outstanding balance owed to a vendor.
On
June 18, 2020, pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and an accredited investor, pursuant
to which the Company issued a 12% self-amortization promissory note in the principal amount of $550,000, the Company issued 6,875 shares
of the Company’s common stock to such accredited investor as additional consideration for the purchase of such note.
On
June 29, 2020, the Company acquired the assets of one its franchisee owned esports gaming centers located on the Fort Bliss U.S. Military
base in El Paso, TX. In connection with the acquisition the Company issued 18,750 restricted shares.
On
June 30, 2020, the Company issued 12,334 shares of common stock at $7.76 per share to various employees of the Company as compensation.
In connection with the issuance of these shares, the Company recorded stock-based compensation of $95,700.
On
July 29, 2020, the Board issued 41,875 shares of common stock to Jed Kaplan, our then-Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial
Officer and a member of our board of directors. Mr. Kaplan now serves as our Chairman of the Board. Of these shares, (i) 31,250 shares
of common stock related to services provided by Mr. Kaplan to the Company during the 2020 fiscal year, (ii) 8,750 shares of common stock
related to grants that should have been, but were not, made pursuant to the Kaplan 2018 Agreement (as hereinafter defined), and (iii)
1,875 shares of common stock related to grants made pursuant to the Kaplan 2020 Agreement (as hereinafter defined). The Kaplan 2018 Agreement
provided for the grant to Mr. Kaplan of 1,250 shares of common stock per month. For the months of January 2020 through July 2020, however,
such shares had not been granted. Accordingly, the July 29, 2020 grant included an aggregate of 8,750 shares of common stock that should
have been granted for the months of January 2020 through July 2020. The Kaplan 2020 Agreement provides for the grant to Mr. Kaplan of
1,875 shares of common stock per month. Such shares were fully vested and earned as of the issuance thereof.
On
July 29, 2020, the Board also issued 34,813 shares of common stock to Roman Franklin, our then-President and a member of our board of
directors. Mr. Franklin now serves as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors. Of these shares, (i) 31,250
shares of common stock related to services provided by Mr. Franklin to the Company during the 2020 fiscal year, (ii) 2,625 shares of
common stock related to grants that should have been, but were not, made pursuant to the Franklin 2018 Agreement (as hereinafter defined),
and (iii) 938 shares of common stock related to grants made pursuant to the Franklin 2020 Agreement (as hereinafter defined). The Franklin
2018 Agreement provided for the grant to Mr. Franklin of 375 shares of common stock per month. For the months of January 2020 through
July 2020, however, such shares had not been granted. Accordingly, the July 29, 2020 grant included an aggregate of 2,625 shares of common
stock that should have been granted for the months of January 2020 through July 2020. The Franklin 2020 Agreement provides for the grant
to Mr. Franklin of 782 shares of common stock per month. Such shares were fully vested and earned as of the issuance thereof.
On
July 29, 2020, we issued an aggregate of 24,000 shares of common stock to an employee and the members of the Board of Directors of the
Company.
On
July 31, 2020, we entered into a marketing agreement whereby we issued 3,473 shares of common stock.
On
August 7, 2020, pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and an accredited investor pursuant
to which we issued a 12% self-amortization promissory note in the principal amount of $333,333, the Company issued 4,167 shares of common
stock.
On
September 16, 2020, we issued 13,209 shares of common stock to employees and consultants.
On
September 16, 2020, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,813 restricted common shares of the Company to executive officers and employees
of the Company for services rendered. More specifically, the Company issued 1,875 of these shares to Jed Kaplan and issued 938 of these
shares to Roman Franklin. These shares were valued at $25,420, or $9.04 per share, based on the quoted trading price on the date of grant.
In connection with the issuance of these shares, during the nine months ended February 28, 2021, the Company recorded stock-based professional
fees of $25,420.
On
September 22, 2020, in connection with an Asset Purchase agreement with Ignatious O’Riley, an existing franchisee to acquire such
franchisee’s assets in exchange for 2,989 shares of the Company’s common stock with fair value of $29,416 or $9.84 per share.
On
September 23, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Union Gap, entered into an Asset Purchase agreement with
Five Point Legacy Corp., an existing franchisee, to acquire such franchisee’s assets in exchange for 4,506 shares of the Company’s
common stock with a fair value of $43,974 or $9.76 per share.
On
October 1, 2020, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase agreement with Parryproject LLC, Owen Parry and Jennie Parry, an existing
franchisee, to acquire such franchisee’s assets in exchange for 3,688 shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair value
of $38,650 or $10.48 per share.
On
October 1, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Humble, entered into an Asset Purchase agreement with Team Centore
Entertainment Corp., and Charles Centore, an existing franchisee, to acquire such franchisee’s assets in exchange for 8,402 shares
of the Company’s common stock with a fair value of $88,052 or $10.48 per share.
On
October 12, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Frisco, entered into an Asset Purchase agreement with JAR Mathis
Holdings, Jared Mathis and Amy Mathis, an existing franchisee, to acquire such franchisee’s assets in exchange for 6,202 shares
of the Company’s common stock with a fair value of $74,423 or $12.00 per share.
On
October 30, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Santa Rosa, entered into an Asset Purchase agreement with B&R
Franchise Investments, LLC, Brian Chu and Richard Loo, an existing franchisee, to acquire such franchisee’s assets in exchange
for 4,202 shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair value of $46,068 or $11.44 per share.
On
October 30, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Brea, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Nextgen
Gaming, LLC, Ajay Chunilal Shah and Shweta Shah, an existing franchisee, to acquire such franchisee’s assets in exchange for 3,255
shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair value of $37,237 or $11.44 per share.
On
October 30, 2020, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Billings, entered into an Asset Purchase agreement with Button
Mashers, Inc, Jon Bessmer and Brandy Bessmer, an existing franchisee, to acquire such franchisee’s assets in exchange for 4,697
shares of the Company’s common stock with a fair value of $52,725 or $11.44 per share.
During
the three months ended November 30, 2020, the Company issued an aggregate of 9,844 restricted common shares of the Company to executive
officers of the Company for services rendered. Of these shares, the Company issued 5,625 shares to Jed Kaplan and issued 2,344 shares
to Roman Franklin. These shares were valued at $119,632, or per share prices ranging from $9.04 per share to $11.44 per common share,
based on the quoted trading price on the date of grant.
On
December 1, 2020, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Simplicity St. Louis, LLC, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with
Metta Gaming, LLC, Brian Paul Van Wyk, an existing franchisee, to acquire such franchisee’s assets in exchange for 3,523 shares
of the Company’s common stock with fair value of $52,845, or $15.00 per share.
On
December 3, 2020, the Company issued 5,000 shares of its common stock in satisfaction of $50,000 in legal fees. These shares were valued
at $80,000, or $16.00 per share, based on the quoted trading price on the date of grant. In connection with the issuance of these shares,
the Company reduced accounts payable by $50,000 and recorded legal fees of $30,000.
On
March 10, 2021, pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and FirstFire Global Opportunities
Fund, LLC, the Company issued a 12% convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $560,000. In addition, the Company issued
3,394 shares of its common stock to the investor as a commitment fee pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement.
On
March 11, 2021, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Simplicity Fullerton, LLC, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with
Say K 2 Play, LLC a California limited liability company, Paresh Mital an individual and Smeeta Mital, an existing franchisee, to acquire
such franchisee’s assets in exchange for 1,600 shares of the Company’s common stock with fair value of $20,800 or $13.00
per share.
During
the three months ended February 28, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 108,641 restricted common shares of the Company to executive
officers of the Company for services rendered. These shares were valued at $1,545,467, or per share prices ranging from $13.25 per share
to $19.75 per common share, based on the quoted trading price on the date of grant. In connection with the issuance of these shares,
during the three months ended February 28, 2021, the Company recorded stock-based compensation of $1,545,467.
On
March 26, 2021, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Simplicity Vancouver, LLC, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with
Bhavin Shah, an individual and Parshwa, Inc., a Washington corporation, an existing franchisee, to acquire such franchisee’s assets
in exchange for 2,900 shares of the Company’s common stock with fair value of $42,900 or $16.50 per share.
On
March 31, 2021, pursuant to the terms of that certain Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company issued and sold 41,667 shares of Common Stock
to Tiger Trout Capital Puerto Rico, LLC at a purchase price of $12.00 per share.
On
April 6, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,657 restricted common shares of the Company to executive officers and employees of
the Company for services rendered. More specifically, the Company issued 1,875 of these shares to Jed Kaplan and issued 782 these shares
to Roman Franklin. These shares were valued at $34,488, or $12.98 per share, based on the quoted trading price on the date of grant.
On
June 11, 2021, pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and FirstFire Global Opportunities
Fund, LLC, the Company issued a 12% convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $1,266,666. In addition, the Company issued
11,875 shares of its common stock to the investor as a commitment fee pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. Furthermore, the
Company issued a common stock purchase warrant for the purchase of 593,750 shares of the Company’s common stock.
On
June 16, 2021, pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and GS Capital Partners, LLC,
the Company issued a convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $333,333. In addition, the Company issued 3,125 shares of
its common stock to the investor as a commitment fee pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. Furthermore, the Company issued a
common stock purchase warrant for the purchase of 156,250 shares of the Company’s common stock.
On
July 22, 2021, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Simplicity Salinas, entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with an existing
franchisee, to acquire the franchisee’s assets in exchange for 6,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with fair value
of $65,100, or $10.85 per share, based on the fair value of assets acquired.
On
August 19, 2021, the Company and Maxim entered into the fourth amendment to the Series A-2 Note, as amended, pursuant to which the Company
and Maxim agreed that all obligations under the Series A-2 Note, as amended, shall be extinguished, and the Series A-2 Note, as amended,
shall be deemed repaid in its entirety, upon the satisfaction of the following obligations: (i) the Company’s payment of $500,000
to Maxim within three business days of August 19, 2021, (ii) the Company’s issuance of 20,000 restricted shares of the Company’s
common stock to Maxim within seven business days of August 19, 2021, and (iii) the Company’s issuance of a common stock purchase
warrant to Maxim on August 19, 2021 for the purchase of 365,000 shares of the Company’s common stock.
On
August 23, 2021, pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and Jefferson Street Capital,
LLC, the Company issued a convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $333,333. In addition, the Company issued 3,125 shares
of its common stock to the investor as a commitment fee pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. Furthermore, the Company issued
a common stock purchase warrant for the purchase of 156,250 shares of the Company’s common stock.
On
August 31, 2021, pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and Lucas Ventures, LLC, the
Company issued a convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $200,000. In addition, the Company issued 3,749 shares of its
common stock to the investor as a commitment fee pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. Furthermore, the Company issued a common
stock purchase warrant for the purchase of 187,400 shares of the Company’s common stock.
On
August 31, 2021, pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and LGH Investments, LLC, the
Company issued a convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $200,000.
On
September 1, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 82,500 restricted common shares of the Company to executive officers and directors
of the Company for services rendered during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021.
On
September 17, 2021, the Company issued a common stock purchase warrant for the purchase of 40,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock to FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC (“FirstFire”) as consideration for FirstFire entering into a first amendment
to the March 10 FirstFire Note in order to delay an interim payment of OID and interest due under the March 10 FirstFire Note to the
maturity date of such note.
On
September 28, 2021, pursuant to the terms of that certain Securities Purchase Agreement between the Company and Ionic Ventures, LLC,
the Company issued a convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $1,555,555.56. In addition, the Company issued 14,584 shares
of its common stock to the investor as a commitment fee pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement. Furthermore, the Company issued
a common stock purchase warrant for the purchase of 729,167 shares of the Company’s common stock.
On
October 1, 2021, the Company issued a common stock purchase warrant for the purchase of an additional 40,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock to FirstFire as consideration for FirstFire entering into a second amendment to the March 10 FirstFire Note in order to
remove the capital raising ceiling in such note.
The
above issuances/sales were made pursuant to an exemption from registration as set forth in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or
Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.
Nasdaq
Delisting
On
December 10, 2018, the Company received a written notice (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Division of The Nasdaq
Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) indicating that the Company has not complied with the requirements of IM-5101-2 of the listing
rules of Nasdaq (the “Listing Rules”).
The
Notice stated that after its Business Combination, the Company had not demonstrated that its common stock met Listing Rule 5505(b)(1)
that requires a market value of publicly held shares of at least $15 million. Additionally, the Company has not provided evidence that
its common stock has at least 300 round lot holders as required by Listing Rule 5505(a)(3) and that its public warrant has at least 400
round lot holders as required by Listing Rule 5515(a)(4). Finally, the Company does not comply with Listing Rule 5515(a)(2) which requires
that for initial listing of a warrant the underlying security must be listed on Nasdaq.
On
January 7, 2019, the Company received a second written notice from Nasdaq informing it that the Company failed to comply with Listing
Rule 5250(e)(2) which requires companies listed on Nasdaq to timely file notification forms for the Listing of Additional Shares (the
“LAS Notification”).
The
Company was required to submit the LAS Notification 15 days prior to the issuance of the securities; however, the Company filed the LAS
Notification for the issuance of the Series A-1 Note and Series A-2 Note and for the share exchange under our Share Exchange Agreement
after such 15-day periods. Nasdaq notified the Company that each of these matters serves as an additional and separate basis for delisting
the Company’s securities and that the review panel will consider these matters in rendering a determination regarding the Company’s
continued listing on Nasdaq.
The
Company’s management decided that moving from Nasdaq to the OTCQB was more appropriate for the Company at that time, while the
Company built out its planned network of retail esports centers.
On
April 1, 2019, the Company was notified by Nasdaq that it would delist the Company’s common stock and public warrants. The Company’s
common stock and public warrants were previously suspended from trading on Nasdaq, effective January 25, 2019.
On
April 2, 2019, Nasdaq filed a Notification of Removal from Listing and/or Registration under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on Form
25 with the SEC relating to the Company’s common stock and public warrants. As a result, the Company’s common stock and public
warrants were delisted from Nasdaq effective April 2, 2019.
The
Company’s common stock and public warrants currently are quoted on the OTCQB under the symbols “WINR” and “WINRW,”
respectively.
DESCRIPTION
OF BUSINESS
Unless
the context otherwise requires, “we,” “us,” “our,” or “the Company” refers to (i) “Simplicity
Esports and Gaming Company” after the consummation of the acquisition of Simplicity Esports, LLC, (ii) “Smaaash Entertainment
Inc.” before the consummation of the Acquisition of Simplicity Esports, LLC but after the closing of the Transactions with Smaaash
Entertainment Private Limited, and (iii) I-AM Capital Acquisition Company prior to the closing of the Transactions with Smaaash Entertainment
Private Limited. “Simplicity Esports LLC” means our wholly-owned subsidiary Simplicity Esports, LLC, a Florida limited
liability company, and its consolidated subsidiaries. “PLAYlive” means our wholly-owned subsidiary PLAYlive Nation, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries. “Simplicity One” means our 76% owned subsidiary, Simplicity One
Brasil Ltda, a Brazilian limited liability company, and its consolidated subsidiaries. “Smaaash Private” means Smaaash Entertainment
Private Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of India, and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Industry
Overview
Esports
is the competitive playing of video games by amateur and professional teams for cash prizes. Esports typically takes the form of organized,
multiplayer video games that include real-time strategy, fighting, first-person shooter, and multiplayer online battle arena games. As
of July 7, 2021, the three largest selling esports games are Dota 2®, League of Legends® (both multiplayer online battle arena
games) and Counter Strike: Global Offensive® (a first-person shooter game). Other popular games include SMITE®, StarCraft II®,
Call of Duty®¸ Heroes of the Storm®, Hearthstone® and Fortnite®. Most major professional esports events and a wide
range of amateur esports events are broadcast live via streaming services including twitch.tv, azubu.tv, ustream.tv and youtube.com.
Esports also includes games which can be played, primarily by amateurs, in multiplayer competitions on the Sony PlayStation®, Microsoft
Xbox® and WII Nintendo® systems.
Although
official competitions have long been a part of video game culture, participation and spectatorship of such events have seen a global
surge in popularity over the last few years with the rapid growth of online streaming. The advent of online streaming technology has
turned esports into a global industry that includes professional players and teams competing in major events that are simultaneously
watched in person in stadiums, and by online viewers, which regularly exceed 1,000,000 viewers for major tournaments. According to Business
Insider, over 100 million viewers saw the 2019 League of Legends® World Championships in person and online. CNBC reported in April
2019 that League of Legends® World Championships attract more viewers than the Super Bowl. Much like how there is a worldwide gaming
market for the sports industry, there has now developed a worldwide gaming market for the esports industry. The impact has been so significant
that many video game developers are now building features into their games designed to facilitate competition.
According
to Newzoo, a global leader in esports, games and mobile intelligence, the total global esports audience was 500 million in 2019, with
an anticipated 27.5 million American gamers, and such global audience is expected to reach 646 million by 2023. In addition, according
to Newzoo, esports produced $950 million in 2019 revenue and was projected to reach $1.1 billion in 2020 and $1.6 billion in 2023. Esports
enthusiasts, which are people who watch professional esports content at least once a month, made up 201.2 million of the 2018 total,
up from 143.2 million in 2017. With a compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) (2017-2022) of +15.7%, this number is expected
to reach almost 297 million in 2022. The global average revenue per esports enthusiast, which includes not only gaming revenue, but also
sponsorships advertising and all other esports related revenues, is projected to be $5.45 in 2019, up +8.9% from $5.00 in 2018. The number
of occasional esports viewers, (people who watch professional esports content less than once a month), is expected to reach 252.6 million
in 2019, up from 221.6 million in 2018, and is projected to grow with a CAGR of +12.6% to surpass 347 million in 2022. The number of
people who are aware of esports worldwide was expected to reach 1.8 billion in 2019, up from 1.6 billion in 2018. According to Newtech
Mag, China and the U.S. have the largest populations of esports fans, with Brazil ranking first in Latin America, which is the fastest
growing gaming market, and third globally, with 20 million fans. The increasing prominence of esports as a mainstream entertainment industry
is driving the growth in awareness in most regions. Audience and awareness growth in the emerging regions of Latin America, Middle East
and Africa, Southeast Asia, and Rest of Asia is largely driven by improving IT infrastructure and urbanization. We believe the rise of
new franchises, such as Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds® or PubG®, is an important global growth factor as the influx of
millennials should continue to drive the growth of the esports industry’s audience and in turn, the esports gaming industry.
In
2019, globally there were 885 major esports events that generated an estimated $56.3 million in ticket revenues. The total prize money
of all esports events held in 2019 reached $167.4 million, a slight increase from $150.8 million in 2018. The League of Legends®
World Championship was 2019’s biggest tournament by live viewership hours on Twitch and YouTube, with 105.5 million hours. It also
produced $1.9 million in ticket revenues. The Overwatch® League was the most-watched league by live viewership hours on Twitch and
YouTube, generating 104.1 million hours. A report by Forbes estimates that the top 12 esports teams had 2019 revenues of between $8 million
and $29 million and were valued at between $120 million and $400 million.
Business
Overview
We
are a global esports organization, that is capitalizing on the growth in esports through three business units, Simplicity One Brasil
Ltda (“Simplicity One”), Simplicity Esports, LLC (“Simplicity Esports LLC”) and PLAYlive Nation, Inc. (“PLAYlive”).
We believe that we are the only Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reporting, completely integrated-esports company
that owns a League of Legends franchise. Additionally, we have the largest network of corporate and franchisee owned esports gaming centers
in North America.
Our
Esports Teams
We
own and manage multiple professional esports teams domestically and internationally. Revenue is generated from prize winnings, corporate
sponsorships, advertising, league subsidy payments and potential league revenue sharing payments from the publishers of video games.
Domestic
Esports Teams – Simplicity Esports LLC
Through
our wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Esports LLC, we own and manage multiple professional esports teams competing in games such as
Heroes of the Storm. We are committed to growing and enhancing the esports industry, fostering the development of amateurs to compete
professionally and signing established professional gamers to support their paths to greater success.
International
Esports Team - Simplicity One
Since
January 2020, through our 76% owned subsidiary Simplicity One, we manage Flamengo eSports, one of the leading Brazilian League of Legends®
teams competing in the top tier league CBLoL. CBLoL was the most talked about esports league in the world, on Twitter for the first half
of 2021, with Call of Duty League and Overwatch League ranking 2nd and 3rd respectively. Flamengo eSports was established in 2017 as
the Esports division of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, a successful Brazilian sports organization, with over 30 million followers across
social media accounts, known for its world-famous soccer team. Flamengo eSports’ League of Legends® team won the CBLoL Championship
in September 2019, which qualified the team to compete at the 2019 League of Legends® World Championship in Europe as one of 24 teams
from 13 different regions around the world. Flamengo Esports @flaesports was ranked as the 6th most tweeted about esports organization
in the world, ahead of Team Liquid and Cloud 9 ranking 7th and 10th respectively, for the first half of 2021.
Online
Tournaments
In
response to demand from customers for online esports tournaments which was in all likelihood triggered by the social distancing protocols
attendant to the COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced in March 2020 an initiative of online esports tournaments. Since March 2020, through
our wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Esports LLC, we have been holding online esports tournaments in the United States. In addition,
we commenced promoting these weekly online tournaments via text messages to our database of over 400,000 paying esports gaming center
customers, which we acquired in our acquisition of PLAYlive. If we can convert merely 1% of these existing customers from the PLAYlive
database to play in our paid online tournaments, we anticipate this business unit may generate approximately $1 million in annual revenues.
At a 5% conversion rate, this business segment may generate approximately $5 million in annual revenue. Management also intends to sell
sponsorship and marketing activations for these online tournaments which would create additional revenue. We also announced our initiative
to offer play at home online tournaments in Brazil. These tournaments are a way for us to engage with our customer base from home during
periods of required social distancing or quarantine.
Our
Gaming Centers
As
of August 30, 2021, we have 28 operational locations (16 corporate locations and 12 franchise locations), through our subsidiaries throughout
the U.S., giving casual gamers the opportunity to play in a social setting with other members of the gaming community. In addition, aspiring
and established professional gamers have an opportunity to compete in local and national esports tournaments held in our gaming centers
for prizes, notoriety, and potential contracts to play for one of our professional esports teams. In this business unit, revenue is generated
from franchise royalties, the sale of game time, memberships, tournament entry fees, birthday party events, corporate party events, concessions
and gaming-related merchandise.
Our
business plan encompasses a brick and click physical and digital approach to further recognize revenue from all verticals, which we believe
to be unique in the industry. The physical centers, together with our esports teams, lifestyle brand and marketing campaigns offer opportunities
for additional revenue via strategic partnerships with both endemic and non-endemic brands. Our ultimate goal is to further engage a
diverse fan base with a 360-degree approach driving traffic to both our digital platform, tournaments (online and in-person) and physical
real estate to maximize the monetization opportunities with these relationships. In addition, we have proprietary intellectual capital,
fan engagement strategies and brand development blueprints which complement our publicly available information.
Optimally,
the esports gaming centers of Simplicity Esports LLC (“Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers”) will measure between 2,000 and
4,000 square feet, with dozens of gaming stations. The Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers will feature cutting edge technology, futuristic
aesthetic décor and dynamic high-speed gaming equipment. We believe our brick-and-click strategy will present attractive opportunities
for sponsors and advertisers to connect with our audience, creating an intriguing monetization opportunity for sponsors and advertisers.
Currently our company owned stores operate in approximately 40,000 square feet of retail space in desirable, high traffic locations.
Creating
content that engages fans, sponsors and developers, while promoting our brand is one of our primary goals. In August 2021, we announced
a partnership with Television Korea 24 (“ESTV”) to provide esports and gaming content for their 24-7 live linear channel
around the world. ESTV can be viewed in over 45 countries including the U.S. and Brazil. We seek to reach a broad demographic encompassing
the casual, amateur and professional gaming community. Our philosophy is to enhance our footprint for both endemic and non-endemic partnerships.
We believe we possess a deep perception of our markets and understand the new age of branding while maintaining authenticity to the gaming
community that comprises our fanbase.
As
a result of COVID-19 (discussed below), all of our corporate and franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers were closed effective April 1,
2020. We commenced reopening Simplicity Gaming Centers on May 1, 2020 and have since reopened 16 corporate and 12 franchised Simplicity
Gaming Centers as of August 30, 2021, the majority of which are operating at restricted capacity based on local COVID-19 regulations.
See “Risk Factors—Public health epidemics or outbreaks, such as COVID-19, could materially and adversely impact our business.”
Corporate
Gaming Centers
As
of year-end May 31, 2021, through our subsidiary entities, we currently operate 15 corporate-owned retail Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers,
one of which was acquired during the third fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2021 and two of which were acquired in the fourth fiscal
quarter ended May 31, 2021. Subsequent to year end, we added one additional gaming center. Furthermore, we have engaged a national tenant
representation real estate broker to assist in the strategic planning and negotiations for our future Simplicity Esports Gaming Center
locations. We contemplate that new Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers will be funded by us as well as a combination of tenant improvement
allowances from landlords and sponsorships. The Company intends to continue the expansion of its corporate owned esports gaming center
footprint through the buildout of new esports gaming centers. The disruptions in commercial real estate caused by COVID-19 lockdowns
have allowed the Company to strengthen its existing relationships with national landlords by signing new locations with percentage rent
leases. The locations will range between 2,000 and 4,000 sq ft and be primarily located inside of shopping malls.
As
announced in June 2020, we are in discussions with commercial property owners regarding their desire to have us open 7,000 to 12,000
square foot Arenas at their properties. There are multiple locations available to us with a percentage of gross sales rent lease structure
(as opposed to fixed rent payments), and construction funds offered by the landlord to assist with the build out and equipping of our
planned Arenas. These Arenas are planned as hubs in our hub and spoke model that will see smaller corporate and franchisee owned gaming
centers as spokes connected to Arenas as hubs for larger events and tournaments.
Franchised
Gaming Centers
Due
to interest from potential franchisees, in 2019 we launched a franchising program to accelerate the expansion of our planned nationwide
footprint. We sell specific franchise territories, through our wholly owned subsidiary PLAYlive, and assist with the establishment and
buildout of esports gaming centers to potential business owners that desire to use our branding, infrastructure and process to open and
operate gaming centers. We currently operate 12 fully constructed franchise esports gaming centers. The 12 franchise owned gaming centers
that we have acquired to date generated prior to our acquisition of them over $1 million of revenue in the fiscal year ended May 31,
2021 despite operating with limited capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions. Due to interest from potential franchisees, we have launched
a franchising program to accelerate the expansion of our planned nationwide footprint. We sell specific franchise territories, through
our wholly owned subsidiary PLAYlive, and assist with the establishment and buildout of esports gaming centers to potential business
owners that desire to use our branding, infrastructure and process to open and operate gaming centers. Franchise revenue is generated
from the sale of franchise territories, supplying furniture, equipment and merchandise to the franchisees for buildout of their centers,
a gross sales royalty fee and a national marketing fee. We license the use of our branding, assist in identifying and negotiating commercial
locations, assist in overseeing the buildout and development, provide access to proprietary software for point of sale, inventory management,
employee training and other HR functions. Franchisees also have an opportunity to participate in our national esports tournament events,
and benefit from the growing profile of our professional esports teams. Once an esports gaming center is opened, we provide operational
guidance, support and use of branding elements in exchange for a monthly royalty fee calculated as 6% of gross sales. On January 1, 2020,
we implemented a national marketing fee of 1% of gross sales. To date, we have sold five of these franchise territories. COVID-19 travel
restrictions caused us to suspend the sale of new franchise territories from April 1, 2020 until October 1, 2020. During this time, a
pipeline of interested applicants has accumulated, and we anticipate new franchise territory sales over the next 12 months as a result.
The
combination of the esports gaming centers, owned or franchised by our wholly owned subsidiaries Simplicity Esports LLC or PLAYlive, provides
us with what we believe is one of the largest esports gaming center footprints in North America. Over the next 12 months, existing PLAYlive
esports gaming centers will be rebranded to Simplicity Esports gaming centers. All newly opened franchise esports gaming centers will
be branded as Simplicity Esports gaming centers and have numerous gaming PC’s. All gaming centers in our footprint will be participating
venues in our national esports tournaments.
Franchise
Roll Up Strategy
We
began implementing a franchise roll-up strategy in July 2020 as a result of the disruption caused by COVID-19 related stay at home orders,
and the disruption it caused to the commercial real estate market. The reduction in revenues for some franchisees because of stay-at-home
orders, and government mandates to remain closed created significant accrued rent payments due to landlords. We have been able to come
to terms with many franchisees to acquire the assets of their gaming centers and make them corporate owned. We have simultaneously negotiated
new leases with some of the largest national mall chains, including Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management, and are in
the process of negotiating additional locations with other landlords. The new leases involve significant reductions in or elimination
of fixed rent and the addition of percentage of revenues rent terms. During the fiscal year we signed 13 letters of intent and executed
definitive agreements for all of those locations, most of which were operational prior to year-end. We expect each of these locations
to be profitable as a result of the significant reduced rent expense via the percentage rent structure.
Our
Stream Team
The
Simplicity Esports LLC and Flamengo Esports stream teams encompass over 20 commentators (commonly known as “casters”), influencers
and personalities who connect to a dedicated fan base. Our electric group of live personalities represent our organization to the fullest
with their own unique style. We are proud to support and present a diverse group of gamers as we engage fans across a multiple of esports
genres. Our Twitch affiliation has enabled our stream team influences to reach a broad fan base. Additionally, we have created several
niches within the streaming community which has enabled us to engage fans within certain titles on a 24/7 basis. Our notoriety in the
industry is evidenced by our audience that views millions of minutes of Simplicity Esports’ and Flamengo Esports’ content
monthly, via various social media outlets including YouTube, Twitter and Twitch. Through Simplicity Esports LLC, we have begun to implement
a unique approach to ensure the ultimate fan friendly esports experience. Our intention is to have gamers involved at the grassroots
level and feel a sense of unity as we compete with top class talent. Our management and players are known within the esports community
and we plan to use their skills to create a seamless content creation plan helping gamers feel closer to our brand than any other in
the industry.
Material
Acquisitions and Licensing
Acquisition
of Simplicity Esports, LLC
On
January 4, 2019, the Company consummated the transactions contemplated by that certain share exchange agreement, dated December 21, 2018
(as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Share Exchange Agreement, dated December 28, 2018 and by Amendment No. 2 to Share Exchange Agreement,
dated December 30, 2018, the “Share Exchange Agreement”) by and among the Company, Simplicity Esports, LLC, a Florida limited
liability company (“Simplicity Esports LLC”), each of the equity holders of Simplicity Esports LLC (“Simplicity Owners”)
and Jed Kaplan, in the capacity as the representative of the Simplicity Owners (the “Representative”). Pursuant to the Share
Exchange Agreement the Simplicity Owners transferred all the issued and outstanding equity interests of Simplicity Esports LLC to the
Company in exchange for an aggregate of 375,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the “Simplicity Esports Acquisition”).
As of January 4, 2019, upon the completion of the Simplicity Esports Acquisition, esports gaming became the primary business of the Company.
On
January 4, 2019, the Simplicity Owners received an aggregate of 37,500 shares of common stock at the closing of the Acquisition and an
additional aggregate of 87,500 shares of common stock on January 7, 2019. The Simplicity Owners were initially entitled to receive an
additional 250,000 shares upon the Company’s receipt of the approval of its stockholders to such issuance. This condition was removed
as the stockholder approval was only necessary due to the Company’s stock being listed on Nasdaq. Upon completion of the Simplicity
Esports LLC acquisition, the Company decided that moving off the Nasdaq was appropriate, and the 250,000 shares were issued to the Simplicity
Owners on March 27, 2019.
In
connection with the acquisition of Simplicity Esports LLC, on January 2, 2019, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s
Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate Amendment”) with the Delaware Secretary of State to change the Company’s
name from “Smaaash Entertainment, Inc.” to “Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company”. In addition, the Company
changed the ticker symbols of its common stock and public warrants to “WINR” and “WINRW,” respectively, and commenced
trading of its common stock and public warrants under such new ticker symbols on the OTCQB on January 10, 2019.
Acquisition
of PLAYlive Nation, Inc.
On
July 30, 2019, we acquired a 100% interest in PLAYlive by way of merger pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 25, 2019,
whereby we acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding common stock of PLAYlive from the selling stockholders (“PLAYlive Stockholders”)
of PLAYlive in exchange for 150,000 shares of our common stock. Following this merger, PLAYlive became our wholly owned subsidiary. On
the closing date of this merger, each of the PLAYlive Stockholders entered into a one-year lock-up agreement with the Company and each
of Duncan Wood, Jordan C. Jenson, and Alec T. Carpenter entered into an employment agreement with PLAYlive.
Licensing
of Flamengo Esports
Effective
January 20, 2020, Simplicity One Brasil entered into an Exclusive Trademark and Symbol Use License Agreement, and Other Covenants (the
“License Agreement”), dated November 5, 2019 with Clube de Regatas do Flamengo (one of the most successful Brazilian sports
organizations, known for its world-famous soccer team), whereby Clube de Regatas do Flamengo agreed to exclusively license its intellectual
property rights (“Flamengo IP Rights”) to Simplicity One Brasil (an entity which the Company and Team One E-Sports Ltda –
ME owned a 90% and 10% equity interest in, respectively), authorizing Simplicity One Brasil to use the Flamengo IP Rights on a League
of Legends team in esports as well as in other modalities in esports, which will be maintained and assembled by Simplicity One Brasil
during the term of the Licensing Agreement. The License Agreement has a term of three years, beginning on January 1, 2020 and ending
on December 31, 2022, and may be renewed by mutual written agreement by the parties. In exchange for the exclusive license, the Company
shall pay Clube de Regatas do Flamengo an annual fee for the first, second and third year in the amount of $32,300 (Reais$170,000.00),
$35,150 (Reais$185,000.00), and $38,000 (Reais$200,000.00), respectively, as well as the payment of royalties in the amount of 8% of
the gross revenues (less taxes) of the eSports teams pursuant to the terms of the Licensing Agreement. If either party unilaterally terminates
the Agreement or gives rise to certain termination grounds set forth in the Agreement, the terminating party will pay the other party
a non-compensatory fine in the amount of approximately $19,000 (Reais $100,000) to indemnify the other party, without prejudice to any
losses or damages that exceed such amount.
Flamengo
Esports was established in 2017 as the Esports division of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, a successful Brazilian sports organization,
known for its world-famous soccer team. Flamengo Esports’ League of Legends® team won the CBLoL Championship in September 2019
and competed at the 2019 League of Legends® World Championship in Europe as one of 24 teams from 13 different regions around the
world.
On
April 1, 2020, the Company released multiple players and staff members from Simplicity One Brasil Ltd as part of a restructuring in an
effort to make the Flamengo Esports project profitable. The Company was approved for ownership of a franchise spot in League of Legends
Brazil (CBLoL) in October 2020.
In
June 2020, while Simplicity One Brasil was preparing its initial application for purchasing from Riot Games a franchise in Campeonato
Brasileiro de League of Legends, Simplicity One Brasil become aware that the 10%-ownership interest of Team One E-Sports Ltda (“Team
One E-Sports”) in Simplicity One Brasil was in contravention of Riot Games’ policy that only one League of Legend esports
team could be owned by an owner at one time because Team One had already submitted an application for purchasing a franchise for another
League of Legend esports team. Accordingly, Simplicity One Brasil needed Team One E-Sports to divest itself of its 10%-equity interest
in Simplicity One Brasil in order for Simplicity One Brasil to proceed with its franchise application. Therefore, on June 22, 2020, Mr.
Kaplan entered into a Quota Purchase Agreement with Team One E-Sports, pursuant to which Mr. Kaplan acquired Team One Esports’
10%-ownership equity interest for $45,000 in cash. In addition, the Company transferred a 2%-equity interest (an aggregate of 4%) to
each of Laila De Braga Cavalcanti Loss and Frederico Tannure. Ms. Loss lives in Brazil and run the operations of Simplicity One Brasil,
in order to comply with Riot Games’ policy requiring local ownership in Brazil in order to apply for a franchise of a league of
legends sports team. Furthermore, on June 22, 2020, Mr. Kaplan agreed to forgive the debt of the Kaplan Promissory Note with a principal
balance of $90,000 in exchange for the Company assigning to Mr. Kaplan a 10% equity interest in Simplicity One Brasil. In light of the
restructuring of the ownership interest in Simplicity One Brasil, as of August 30, 2021, the Company, Mr. Kaplan, Ms. Cavalcanti Loss,
and Mr. Tannure own a 76%, 20%, 2% and 2% equity interest in Simplicity One Brasil.
COVID-19
In
December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. While initially the outbreak was largely
concentrated in China and caused significant disruptions to its economy, it has now spread to several other countries and infections
have been reported globally.
Because
COVID-19 infections have been reported throughout the United States, certain federal, state and local governmental authorities have issued
stay-at-home orders, proclamations and/or directives aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Additional, more restrictive proclamations
and/or directives may be issued in the future. As a result, all of our corporate and franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers were closed
effective April 1, 2020. We commenced reopening Simplicity Gaming Centers on May 1, 2020 and have since reopened 15 corporate and 12
franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers, the majority of which are operating at restricted capacity based on local COVID-19 regulations.
Although our franchise agreements with franchisees of Simplicity Gaming Centers require a minimum monthly royalty payment to us from
the franchisees regardless of whether the franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers are operating, a limited number of the franchisees of
Simplicity Gaming Centers have defaulted on their obligations to pay their minimum monthly royalty payment to us. This has resulted in
either an increase in accounts receivables or a bad debt expense where account receivables are no longer collectible due to franchisee’s
inability to pay the minimum monthly royalty payments owed by the franchisee. As of May 31, 2021, we have recorded an allowance for doubtful
accounts of approximately $28,000 and have written off $112,000, partly in conjunction with taking back certain franchises and converting
them to company owned stores. We have experienced an increase in our account receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts
of approximately $32,000 during the year ended May 31, 2021 and an increase of $128,000 for the year ended May 31, 2020, as there were
no accounts receivable at year end May 31, 2019. Notwithstanding our efforts to support franchisees and still collect on receivables,
it is unclear exactly how much of the increase in accounts receivables is attributable to the impact of COVID-19. We have waived the
minimum monthly royalty payment obligations from July 2020 through present day and are instead billing the franchisees a true-up of 6%
of gross sales without a minimum. We continue to assess possible similar accommodations to the franchisees in light of the impact of
COVID-19. Additionally, the disruptions in commercial real estate caused by COVID-19 lockdowns have allowed the Company to strengthen
its existing relationships with national landlords by signing new locations with percentage rent leases.
The
ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are
highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, new information which may
emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or
the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption, reduced customer traffic and reduced
operations. Any resulting financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but is anticipated to have a material adverse
impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The
measures taken to date adversely impacted the Company’s business during the year ended May 31, 2021 and will potentially continue
to impact the Company’s business. Management expects that all of its business segments, across all of its geographies, will be
impacted to some degree, but the significance of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Company’s business and the duration
for which it may have an impact cannot be determined at this time.
Corporate
History
Formation
We
were initially a blank check company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on April 17, 2017 under the name I-AM Capital
Acquisition Company. We were formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Although we were not limited to a particular industry or geographic region
for purposes of consummating a business combination, we focused on businesses with a connection to India. On November 20, 2018, we changed
our name from I-AM Capital Acquisition Company to Smaaash Entertainment, Inc. On January 2, 2019, we changed our name from Smaaash Entertainment,
Inc. to Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company.
Smaaash
Entertainment Private Limited
Business
Combination
On
November 20, 2018, the Company and Smaaash Entertainment Private Limited, a private limited company incorporated under the laws of India
(“Smaaash Private”), consummated the transactions (the “Transactions” or the “Business Combination”)
contemplated by the share subscription agreement (as amended, the “Subscription Agreement”), following the approval at the
special meeting of the stockholders of the Company held on November 9, 2018 (the “Special Meeting”).
Pursuant
to the Subscription Agreement, the purchase price of $150,000 was paid by the Company to Smaaash Private in exchange for 294,360 newly
issued equity shares of Smaaash Private at the closing of the Transactions (the “Closing”), representing less than 1% of
Smaaash Private at such time.
At
the time of the Closing, AHA Holdings Private Limited (“AHA Holdings”) and Shripal Morakhia (together with AHA Holdings,
the “Smaaash Founders”) agreed to transfer all of their ownership interest in Smaaash Private (the “Additional Smaaash
Shares”) to the Company in exchange for newly issued shares of our Common Stock (the “Transferred Company Shares”).
In
furtherance of the foregoing, at the Closing, the Company issued an aggregate of 250,000 shares of its common stock to the Smaaash Founders
as an upfront portion of the Transferred Company Shares (the “Upfront Company Shares”). In connection with the issuance of
the Upfront Company Shares, the Company and the Smaaash Founders entered into an escrow agreement pursuant to which the Upfront Company
Shares would be held in escrow and will be either, (i) if the Additional Smaaash Shares are not transferred in full to the Company within
the designated six-month period, cancelled, or (ii) if the Additional Smaaash Shares are transferred in full to the Company within the
designated six-month period, released from escrow and the number of Upfront Company Shares will be deducted from the Transferred Company
Shares that will be issued to the Smaaash Founders upon the delivery of the Additional Smaaash Shares. Pursuant to the terms of the escrow
agreement, the Upfront Company Shares have been cancelled because the Additional Smaaash Shares were not transferred in full to the Company
in the designated six-month period.
In
connection with the Closing, the Company changed its name from I-AM Capital Acquisition Company to Smaaash Entertainment Inc. changed
its stock symbols for its Common Stock, Public Rights and Public Warrants to “IAM,” “IAMXR,” and “IAMXW,”
respectively, and entered into a master franchise agreement (“Master Franchise Agreement”) and a master license and distribution
agreement (“Master Distribution Agreement”) with Smaaash Private. After the Closing, the Company’s primary assets consisted
of shares in Smaaash Private and the rights granted under the Master Franchise Agreement and the Master Distribution Agreement.
Business
of Smaaash Private
At
the time of closing of the Smaaash transaction, Smaaash Private operated 40 games and entertainment centers (“Smaaash Centers”),
including 39 Smaaash Centers in India and one international Smaaash Center in the U.S., in addition to carrying out product sales of
its games and equipment that Smaaash has developed in-house, supported by its sponsorship and other revenues.
Smaaash
Private’s core concept was to offer an interactive, immersive and fun experience to customers at its Smaaash Centers, blending
Augmented Reality (“AR”) and Virtual Reality (“VR”) and other games, indoor entertainment, and attractive food
and beverage options, customized to the tastes and preferences of a diverse set of customers across age groups, genders and backgrounds,
including corporate customers, families, friends and children. Smaaash Private’s game concepts are supported by its in-house technology,
value engineering and systems integration capabilities.
Master
Franchise Agreement
Under
the Master Franchise Agreement, Smaaash Private granted to the Company an exclusive right to establish and operate Smaaash Centers (as
defined under the Master Franchise Agreement) and to sublicense the right to establish and operate Smaaash Centers to third party franchisees,
and a license to use the products and other services developed by Smaaash Private with respect to the Smaaash Centers, in the United
States (“Territory”). Further, Smaaash Private has granted to the Company the limited license to use the Trademarks of Smaaash
Private (as set out in the Master Franchise Agreement) for the purposes of establishing and operating the Smaaash Centers in the Territory.
The Master Franchise Agreement has been executed on an arms’ length basis between Smaaash Private and the Company.
On
November 29, 2018, the Company and Smaaash Private executed an addendum to the Master Franchise Agreement (the “Amendment”).
Pursuant to the Amendment, Smaaash Private granted the Company the exclusive rights to set up family and entertainment centers under
the name “Total Sports Center” in the United States (“Total Sports Centers”) in which 51% of the investment will
be borne by the Company and 49% by Smaaash Private. Smaaash Private will be responsible for identifying the locations for setting up,
managing and controlling the Total Sports Centers and will carry out all the fit out requirements for such centers. Smaaash Private will
also appoint the management team for the centers. Smaaash Private will be entitled to 3% of the net revenue of each center, subject to
conditions to be confirmed by the parties.
Master
License and Distribution Agreement
Under
the Master Distribution Agreement, Smaaash Private granted to the Company an exclusive right to purchase from Smaaash Private specialized
video game equipment and products related to sports and recreational activities (“Products”) in the territory under the brand
name of Smaaash Private and sell them with a 15% markup to the customers which will be the sub-franchisees of the Company who will operate
the Smaaash Centers, as specified in the Master Franchise Agreement.
Shift
of Business Focus to Esports Gaming
Following
the January 2019 acquisition of Simplicity Esports LLC described below, we determined to shift our current primary focus to esports gaming.
Accordingly, we did not generate any revenues from Smaaash in 2019. The Master Franchise Agreement, as amended, and the Master Distribution
Agreement continue in full force and effect, however, and we may now or in the future pursue Smaaash Private business opportunities.
Polar
and K2
On
November 2, 2018, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with each of Polar Asset Management Partners Inc. (“Polar”)
and K2 Principal Fund L.P. (“K2”), pursuant to which Polar and K2 agreed to sell up to 61,250 and 27,500 shares, respectively,
of the Company’s common stock to the Company 30 days after the consummation of the transactions at a price of $89.84 contemplated
by the share subscription agreement with Smaaash Private.
On
December 20, 2018, the Company, Polar, K2 and the Escrow Agent, entered into an Amendment (the “Amendment”), pursuant to
which, among other things, the stock purchase agreements with Polar and K2 were amended to (x) reduce the purchase price per share payable
by the Company at the closing of the Stock Sales from $89.84 per share to (1) first $48.00 per share up to 20% of the original number
of Shares (as defined in the respective Purchase Agreement), (2) then $40.00 per remaining share up to 20% of the original number of
Shares, (3) then $32.00 per remaining share up to 20% of the original number of Shares, (4) then $24.00 per remaining Share up to 20%
of the original number of Shares, and (5) then $16.00 per remaining Share up to 20% of the original number of Shares, (y) to extend the
outside date of the closing of the Stock Sales until January 18, 2019, and (z) to authorize the issuance of $3,542,700 and $1,590,600
from the Escrow Account to Polar and K2, respectively, as partial payment for the Shares prior to the final closing of the Stock Sales.
The
Amendment also included provisions regarding the reduction of the exercise price and amendment of redemption provisions of the Company’s
Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants. On August 18, 2019, the Company held a special meeting of its public warrant holders
to approve the foregoing. However, these proposals were not approved by the requisite votes.
Acquisition
of Simplicity Esports, LLC
In
connection with the Simplicity Esports Acquisition, the Simplicity Owners received an aggregate of 37,500 shares of common stock at the
closing on January 4, 2019, an additional aggregate of 87,500 shares of common stock on January 7, 2019 and the remaining 250,000) shares
in March of 2019.
In
connection with the Simplicity Esports Acquisition, on January 2, 2019, the Company filed a Certificate of Amendment to the Company’s
Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate Amendment”) with the Delaware Secretary of State
to change the Company’s name from “Smaaash Entertainment, Inc.” to “Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company.”
In addition, the Company changed the ticker symbols of its common stock and public warrants to “WINR” and “WINRW,”
respectively, and commenced trading of its common stock and public warrants under such new ticker symbols on the OTCQB on January 10,
2019.
Equity
Line
On
March 12, 2020, the Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement with Triton Funds LP (“Triton”), dated as of March
11, 2020, pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, Triton was committed to purchase shares of the Company’s
common stock at an aggregate price of up to $500,000 (the “Maximum Commitment Amount”) over the course of the commitment
period which ends on the earlier of (i) the date on which Triton purchases the Maximum Commitment Amount and (ii) December 31, 2020 (the
“Equity Line”). In connection with the execution of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company registered the resale
of up to 90,625 shares of common stock issuable under the Equity Line in the amount of the Maximum Commitment Amount pursuant to a registration
statement declared effective by the SEC on March 30, 2020.
On
April 9, 2020, the Company delivered a Purchase Notice to Triton pursuant to the terms of the Common Stock Purchase Agreement requiring
Triton to acquire 15,625 shares of common stock, which resulted in $87,700 in proceeds to the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the Common
Stock Purchase Agreement, on April 9, 2020, the Company instructed the transfer agent to issue 15,625 shares of common stock to a custodial
account of Triton. These shares were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. Unfortunately, the transfer agent erroneously
transferred the entire 90,625 shares of common stock under the Equity Line to the custodial account of Triton, resulting in an over-issuance
of 75,000 shares to Triton. The Company notified Triton of this error and that the Company terminated the Common Stock Purchase Agreement
with Triton. On November 18, 2020, the 75,000 shares issued in error were returned by Triton and cancelled and returned to the treasury
of the Company.
Debt
Obligations
10%
Fixed Convertible Promissory Note
On
April 29, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), the Company issued a 10% Fixed Convertible Promissory Note (the “Harbor Gates
Note”), with a maturity date of October 29, 2020 (the “Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $152,500 in favor of
Harbor Gates Capital, LLC (“Harbor Gates”). Pursuant to the terms of the Harbor Gates Note, the Company agreed to pay to
Harbor Gates $152,500 (the “Principal Sum”) and to pay “guaranteed” interest on the principal balance at an amount
equivalent to 10% of the Principal Sum, to the extent such Principal Sum and “guaranteed” interest and any other interest,
fees, liquidated damages and/or items due to Harbor Gates have not been repaid or converted into Company common stock in accordance with
the terms of the Harbor Gates Note. The Harbor Gates Note carries an original issue discount (“OID”) of $2,500. Accordingly,
on the Effective Date, Harbor Gates delivered $150,000 to the Company in exchange for the Harbor Gates Note.
In
addition to the “guaranteed” interest, and upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as hereinafter defined), additional
interest will accrue from the date of the Event of Default at the rate equal to the lower of 20% per annum or the highest rate permitted
by law.
The
Company may prepay the Harbor Gates Note according to the following schedule:
Days
Since
Effective Date
|
|
Payment
Amount
|
Under
30
|
|
115%
of Principal Amount (as hereinafter defined) so paid
|
31-60
|
|
120%
of Principal Amount so paid
|
61-90
|
|
125%
of Principal Amount so paid
|
91-180
|
|
135%
of Principal Amount so paid
|
135%
of the remaining unpaid and unconverted Principal Amount, plus all accrued and unpaid interest will be due and payable on the Maturity
Date. “Principal Amount” refers to the sum of (i) the original principal amount of the Harbor Gates Note (including the OID);
(ii) all guaranteed and other accrued but unpaid interest under the Harbor Gates Note; (iii) any fees due under the Harbor Gates Notes;
(iv) liquidated damages; and (v) any default payments owing under the Harbor Gates Note, in each case previously paid or added to the
Principal Amount.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Harbor Gates Note, the Company agreed to issue Harbor Gates shares of Company common stock in two tranches as follows:
|
(i)
|
1,250
shares of common stock within three trading days of the Effective Date; and
|
|
(ii)
|
In
the event the average of the three volume weighted average prices for the Company’s common stock during the three consecutive
trading days immediately preceding the date which is the 180th day following the Effective Date is less than $8.00 per
share, then Harbor Gates will be entitled, and the Company will issue to Harbor Gates additional shares of common stock as set forth
in the Harbor Gates Note.
|
If
an Event of Default (as defined in the Promissory Note) occurs, the outstanding Principal Amount of the Harbor Gates Note owing in respect
thereof through the date of acceleration, shall become, at Harbor Gates’ election, immediately due and payable in cash at the “Mandatory
Default Amount”. The Mandatory Default Amount means 35% of the outstanding Principal Amount of the Harbor Gates Note will be automatically
added to the Principal Sum of the Harbor Gates Note and tack back to the Effective Date for purposes of Rule 144 promulgated under the
1934 Act. Commencing five days after the occurrence of any Event of Default that results in the eventual acceleration of the Harbor Gates
Note, the Harbor Gates Note will accrue additional interest, in addition to the Harbor Gates Note’s “guaranteed” interest,
at a rate equal to the lesser of 20% per annum or the maximum rate permitted under applicable law.
If
the Harbor Gates Note is not retired on or before the Maturity Date, then at any time and from time to time after the Maturity Date,
and subject to the terms hereof and restrictions and limitations contained in the Harbor Gates Note, Harbor Gates has the right, at Harbor
Gates’ sole option, to convert in whole or in part the outstanding and unpaid Principal Amount under the Harbor Gates Note into
shares of the Company’s common stock at the Variable Conversion Price. The “Variable Conversion Price” will be equal
to the lower of: (a) $8.00, or (b) 70% of the lowest volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock during the 15
consecutive trading days prior to the date on Harbor Gates elects to convert all or part of the Harbor Gates Note.
On
July 2, 2020, the Company repaid $152,500 and $15,2500 in accrued interest and $33,550 in prepayment penalty in full satisfaction of
the 10% Convertible Promissory Harbor Gates Note.
Kaplan
Promissory Note
On
May 12, 2020 (the “Issue Date”), the Company issued a promissory note (the “Kaplan Note”) in the principal sum
of $90,000 in favor of Jed Kaplan, Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors and greater than 5% stockholder of the Company.
The Kaplan Note matures on October 12, 2020 (the “Maturity Date”). The Company used the proceeds of the Kaplan Note to fund
the operations of Simplicity One Brasil Ltda, the Company’s majority owned subsidiary (“Simplicity Brasil”).
Pursuant
to the terms of the Kaplan Note, the Company agreed to pay to Mr. Kaplan the lesser of (i) the principal sum of $90,000 (the “Maximum
Commitment”), or (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all direct advances of the proceeds of the Kaplan Note (each, an “Advance”),
together with any interest thereon, and any and all other amounts which may be due and payable thereunder from time to time.
Subject
to the terms of the Kaplan Note, Mr. Kaplan agreed to make one direct Advance to and for the benefit of the Company on the Issue Date
in the amount of $45,000, and one additional Advance to and for the benefit of the Company at such time as the Company may request during
the two-month period following the Issue Date. The total of the aggregate principal balance of all Advances (collectively referred to
herein as the “Principal Amount”) outstanding at any time shall not exceed the Maximum Commitment. Advances made by Mr. Kaplan
to the Company under the Kaplan Note which have been repaid may not be borrowed again.
Prior
to the Maturity Date or an Event of Default (as hereinafter defined), the Principal Amount outstanding under the Kaplan Note will bear
interest at a rate of 3% (the “Interest Rate”). From and after the Maturity Date or upon and during the continuance of an
Event of Default, interest will accrue on the unpaid Principal Amount during any such period at an annual rate (the “Default Rate”)
equal to 10% plus the Interest Rate; provided, however, that in no event will the Default Rate exceed the maximum rate permitted by law.
The
Company could prepay the Kaplan Note, in whole or in part, without a prepayment penalty, at any time provided that an Event of Default
has not then occurred.
As
of May 31, 2020, advances under the terms of this note were $64,728. On various dates subsequent to May 31, 2020, Mr. Kaplan funded $25,272
pursuant to the Kaplan Promissory Note. With the contributions subsequent to May 31, 2020, the principal balances outstanding and due
Mr. Kaplan amounted to $90,000. On June 22, 2020, Mr. Kaplan agreed to forgive the debt of the Kaplan Promissory Note with a principal
balance of $90,000 in exchange for the Company assigning to Mr. Kaplan a 10% equity interest in Simplicity One Brasil, Ltda, a subsidiary
of the Company.
Self-Amortization
Promissory Note
On
June 18, 2020 (the “Issue Date”), the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “SPA”) with an
accredited investor (the “Holder”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% self-amortization promissory note (the “Amortization
Note”) with a maturity date of June 18, 2021 (the “Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $550,000. Pursuant to the
terms of the Amortization Note, the Company agreed to pay $550,000 (the “Principal Sum”) to the Holder and to pay interest
on the Principal Sum at the rate of 12% per annum. The Amortization Note carries an original issue discount (“OID”) of $55,000.
Accordingly, on the Closing Date (as defined in the SPA), the Holder paid the purchase price of $495,000 in exchange for the Amortization
Note. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the SPA, the Company agreed to issue 6,875 shares of the Company’s common stock to
the Holder as additional consideration.
The
Company may prepay the Amortization Note at any time prior to the date that an Event of Default (as defined in the Amortization Note)
(each an “Event of Default”) occurs at an amount equal to 100% of the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid
interest with no prepayment premium. The Amortization Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment
defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of provisions of the Amortization Note or SPA.
The
Company is required to make amortization payments to the Holder according to the following schedule:
Payment Date
|
|
Payment Amount
|
|
10/16/2020
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
11/16/2020
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
12/16/2020
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
01/18/2021
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
02/18/2021
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
03/18/2021
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
04/16/2021
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
05/18/2021
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
06/18/2021
|
|
$
|
65,921.26
|
|
Total:
|
|
$
|
594,921.26
|
|
In
connection with the November 23, 2020 SPA discussed below, we repaid principal and interest of $198,375 on this June 18, 2020 Note.
Upon
the Holder’s provision of notice to the Company of the occurrence of any Event of Default, which has not been cured within five
calendar days as provided in the Amortization Note, the Amortization Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall
pay to the Holder, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued
interest multiplied by 125% (the “Default Amount”). Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, additional interest will
accrue from the date of the Event of Default at the rate equal to the lower of 15% per annum or the highest rate permitted by law. The
Company shall have the right to pay the Default Amount in cash at any time, provided, however that the Holder may convert the Amortization
Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% contained in the Amortization Note)
at any time after the date that is five calendar days after the Amortization Note becomes immediately due and payable as a result of
an Event of Default until the Company has repaid the Amortization Note in cash. If the aforementioned event occurs, the conversion price
will be equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the respective
conversion. The Company intends to repay the Amortization Note in accordance with its terms so that no amount under the Amortization
Note is converted into shares of the Company’s common stock.
While
any portion of this Note is outstanding, if the Company receives cash proceeds of more than $2,000,000.00 (the “Minimum Threshold”)
in the aggregate from public offerings or private placements to investors, the Company shall, within two business days of Company’s
receipt of such proceeds, inform the Holder of such receipt, following which the Holder shall have the right in its sole discretion to
require the Company to immediately apply up to 50% of all proceeds received by the Company after the Minimum Threshold is reached to
repay the outstanding amounts owed under this Note.
On
February 19, 2021, we repaid the outstanding principal and interest on the June 18, 2020 Note.
August
7, 2020 Self-Amortization Promissory Note
On
August 7, 2020 (the “Issue Date”), the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “SPA”) with
FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC, an accredited investor (the “Holder”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12%
self-amortization promissory note (the “Self-Amortization Note”) with a maturity date of August 7, 2021 (the “Maturity
Date”), in the principal sum of $333,333. Pursuant to the terms of the Self-Amortization Note, the Company agreed to pay $333,333
(the “Principal Sum”) to the Holder and to pay interest on the principal balance at the rate of 12% per annum. The Self-Amortization
Note carries an original issue discount of $33,333. Accordingly, on the Closing Date (as defined in the SPA), the Holder paid the purchase
price of $300,000 in exchange for the Self-Amortization Note. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the SPA, the Company agreed to issue
4,167 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Holder as additional consideration.
The
Company may prepay the Self-Amortization Note at any time prior to the date that an Event of Default (as defined in the Amortization
Note) (each an “Event of Default”) occurs at an amount equal to 100% of the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued and
unpaid interest with no prepayment premium. The Self-Amortization Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other
things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of provisions of the Self-Amortization Note or SPA.
The
Company is required to make amortization payments to the Holder according to the following schedule:
Payment Date
|
|
Payment Amount
|
|
12/07/2020
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
01/07/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
02/08/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
03/08/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
04/07/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
05/07/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
06/07/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
07/07/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
08/07/2021
|
|
$
|
39,952.34
|
|
Total:
|
|
$
|
360,558.34
|
|
On
March 10, 2021, we repaid the outstanding principal and interest on the Self-Amortization Note.
Upon
the Holder’s provision of notice to the Company of the occurrence of any Event of Default, which has not been cured within five
calendar days as provided in the Amortization Note, the Amortization Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall
pay to the Holder, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued
interest multiplied by 125% (the “Default Amount”). Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, additional interest will
accrue from the date of the Event of Default at the rate equal to the lower of 15% per annum or the highest rate permitted by law. The
Company shall have the right to pay the Default Amount in cash at any time, provided, however that the Holder may convert the Amortization
Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% contained in the Amortization Note)
at any time after the date that is five calendar days after the Amortization Note becomes immediately due and payable as a result of
an Event of Default until the Company has repaid the Amortization Note in cash. If the aforementioned event occurs, the conversion price
will be equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the respective
conversion. The Company intends to repay the Amortization Note in accordance with its terms so that no amount under the Amortization
Note is converted into shares of the Company’s common stock.
While
any portion of this Note is outstanding, if the Company receives cash proceeds of more than $2,000,000.00 (the “Minimum Threshold”)
in the aggregate from public offerings or private placements to investors, the Company shall, within two business days of Company’s
receipt of such proceeds, inform the Holder of such receipt, following which the Holder shall have the right in its sole discretion to
require the Company to immediately apply up to 50% of all proceeds received by the Company after the Minimum Threshold is reached to
repay the outstanding amounts owed under this Note.
November
23, 2020 Self-Amortization Promissory Note
On
November 25, 2020, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “November 2020 SPA”), dated as of November
23, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), with an accredited investor (the “Holder”) pursuant to which the Company issued
a 12% self-amortization promissory note (the “November Amortization Note”) with a maturity date of November 23, 2021 (the
“Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $750,000. Pursuant to the terms of the November Amortization Note, the Company
agreed to pay to $750,000 (the “Principal Sum”) to the Holder and to pay interest on the principal balance at the rate of
12% per annum. The Company received net proceeds of $441,375, net of original issue discount of $75,000, origination fees of $35,250,
and the partial repayment of principal and interest of $198,375 on the June 18, 2020 Note. In connection with the November Amortization
Note, during the first twelve months of this note, interest equal to $90,000 shall be guaranteed and earned in full as of the Effective
Date, provided, however, that if the November Amortization Note is repaid in its entirety on or prior to February 23, 2021, then the
interest shall be accrued on a per annum basis based on the number of days elapsed as of the repayment date from the Effective Date.
In
connection with the November 23, 2020 SPA, the Company is required to issue warrants equal to 375,000 divided by the Exercise Price (as
defined below) (the “Warrant Shares”) (whereby such number may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions
of this Warrant) at the Exercise Price per share then in effect. For purposes of this Warrant, the term “Exercise Price”
shall mean 110% of the public offering price of the Company’s common stock under the public offering contemplated by the registration
statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company on October 23, 2020 (the “Uplist Offering”), provided, however, that if the Uplist
Offering has not been consummated on or before May 23, 2021, then the Exercise Price shall mean the closing bid price of the Company’s
common stock on December 23, 2020, subject to adjustment as provided in the warrant (including but not limited to cashless exercise),
and the term “Exercise Period” shall mean the period commencing on the earlier of (i) the date of the Company’s consummation
of the Uplist Offering or (ii) May 23, 2021, and ending on the five-year anniversary thereof. In connection with the issuance of these
warrants, on the initial measurement date, the relative fair value of the warrants of $157,438 was recorded as a debt discount and an
increase in paid-in capital.
The
Company may prepay the Amortization Note at any time prior to the date that an Event of Default (as defined in the Amortization Note)
(each an “Event of Default”) occurs at an amount equal to 100% of the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid
interest (no prepayment premium). The Amortization Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment
defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of provisions of the November Amortization Note or the November 2020 SPA.
The
Company is required to make amortization payments to the Holder according to the following schedule:
Payment Date
|
|
Payment Amount
|
|
2/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
3/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
4/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
5/21/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
6/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
7/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
8/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
9/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
10/22/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
11/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
Total:
|
|
$
|
840,000.00
|
|
On
February 19, 2021, we repaid the outstanding principal and interest on the November Amortization Note.
Upon
the Holder’s provision of notice to the Company of the occurrence of any Event of Default, which has not been cured within five
(5) calendar days (provided, however, that this cure period shall not apply to certain events of default as set forth in the November
Amortization Note), the November Amortization Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to the Holder,
in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied
by 125% (the “Default Amount”). Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as hereinafter defined), additional interest
will accrue from the date of the Event of Default at the rate equal to the lower of 15% per annum or the highest rate permitted by law.
The Company shall have the right to pay the Default Amount in cash at any time, provided, however that the Holder may convert the November
Amortization Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% contained in the Amortization
Note) at any time after the date that is five (5) calendar days after the November Amortization Note becomes immediately due and payable
as a result of an Event of Default until the Company has repaid the Amortization Note in cash. If the aforementioned event occurs, the
conversion price will be equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding
the date of the respective conversion.
The Holder shall have the right,
at any time following an Uncured Default Date (as defined in this Note), to convert all or any portion of the then outstanding and unpaid
principal amount and interest (including any default interest) into shares of the Company’s common stock at the Conversion Price.
Following the Uncured Default Date, the Conversion Price shall equal the lesser of (i) 105% multiplied by the closing bid price of the
Company’s common stock or (ii) the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock immediately preceding the date of the respective
conversion (the “Conversion Price”).
Amendments
to the Series A-2 Exchange Convertible Note
On
or about December 20, 2018, the Company issued that certain Series A-2 exchange convertible note in the original principal amount of
$1,000,000 (the “Series A-2 Note”) to Maxim.
On
June 18, 2020, the Company and Maxim entered into that certain first amendment to the Series A-2 Note (the “First Amendment”),
pursuant to which such parties agreed to the following: (i) Maxim’s resale of the Company’s common stock (the “Common
Stock”) underlying the Series A-2 Note shall be limited to 10% of the daily volume of the Common Stock on each respective trading
day, (ii) the maturity date of the Series A-2 Note was extended to December 31, 2020, (iii) the principal amount of the Series A-2 Note
was increased by $100,000 and (iv) the conversion price was reduced from $15.44 to $9.20.
On
December 31, 2020, the Company and Maxim entered into a second amendment to the Series A-2 Note to extend the maturity date of Series
A-2 Note to February 15, 2021.
February
19, 2021 12% Promissory Note and Securities Purchase Agreement
On
February 19, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “SPA”) dated as of February 19, 2021, with
an accredited investor (the “Holder”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% promissory note (the “Note”)
with a maturity date of February 19, 2022 (the “Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $1,650,000. In addition, the Company
issued 10,000 shares of its common stock to the Holder as a commitment fee pursuant to the SPA. Pursuant to the terms of the Note, the
Company agreed to pay to $1,650,000 (the “Principal Sum”) to the Holder and to pay interest on the principal balance at the
rate of 12% per annum (provided that the first twelve months of interest shall be guaranteed). The Note carries an original issue discount
(“OID”) of $165,000. Accordingly, on the Closing Date (as defined in the SPA), the Holder paid the purchase price of $1,485,000
in exchange for the Note. The Company intends to use the proceeds for its operational expenses, the repayment of those certain self-amortization
promissory notes previously issued to the Holder on June 18, 2020 and November 23, 2020, and the repayment of certain other existing
debt obligations. The Holder may convert the Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations
of 4.99% in the Note) at any time at a conversion price equal to $11.50 per share.
The
Company may prepay the Note at any time prior to the date that an Event of Default (as defined in the Note) (each an “Event of
Default”) occurs at an amount equal to 100% of the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest (no prepayment
premium). The Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations
and warranties, and breach of provisions of the Note or SPA.
The
Company is required to make an interim payment to the Holder in the amount of $363,000, on or before August 19, 2021, towards the repayment
of the balance of the Note.
Upon
the Holder’s provision of notice to the Company of the occurrence of any Event of Default, which has not been cured within five
(5) calendar days (provided, however, that this five (5) calendar day cure period shall not apply to any event of default under Sections
3.1, 3.2, and 3.19 of the Note), the Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to the Holder, in full satisfaction
of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied by 125% (the “Default
Amount”). Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, additional interest will accrue from the date of the Event of Default at
the rate equal to the lower of 15% per annum or the highest rate permitted by law.
Recent
Developments
March
2021 FirstFire Global 12% Promissory Note and Securities Purchase Agreement
On
March 10, 2021, the Company, entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “March 10 FirstFire SPA”) dated as of March
10, 2021, with FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “FirstFire”), pursuant
to which the Company issued a 12% promissory note (“March 10 FirstFire Note”) with a maturity date of March 10, 2022, in
the principal sum of $560,000. The Company received net proceeds of $130,606, net of OID of $56,000, net of origination fees of $8,394,
and the repayment of principal and interest of $365,000 on the August 7, 2020 Note. In addition, the Company issued 3,394 shares of its
common stock to the FirstFire as a commitment fee pursuant to the SPA. Pursuant to the terms of the March 10 FirstFire Note, the Company
agreed to pay to $560,000 (the “Principal Sum”) to the Holder and to pay interest on the principal balance at the rate of
12% per annum (provided that the first twelve months of interest shall be guaranteed). The March 10 FirstFire Note carries an OID of
$56,000. Accordingly, on the Closing Date (as defined in the March 10 FirstFire SPA), the Holder paid the purchase price of $504,000
in exchange for the Note. The FirstFire may convert the March 10 FirstFire Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the
beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% in the March 10 FirstFire Note) at any time at a conversion price equal to $11.50 per share.
The
Company may prepay the March 10 FirstFire Note at any time prior to the date that an Event of Default (as defined in the Note) (each
an “Event of Default”) occurs at an amount equal to 100% of the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest
(no prepayment premium). The March 10 FirstFire Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults,
breach of representations and warranties, and breach of provisions of the March 10 FirstFire Note or March 10 FirstFire SPA.
The
Company is required to make an interim payment to FirstFire in the amount of $123,200, on or before September 10, 2021, towards the repayment
of the balance of the March 10 FirstFire Note.
Upon
FirstFire’s provision of notice to the Company of the occurrence of any Event of Default, which has not been cured within five
(5) calendar days (provided, however, that this five (5) calendar day cure period shall not apply to any event of default under Sections
3.1, 3.2, and 3.19 of the March 10 FirstFire Note), the March 10 FirstFire Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company
shall pay to FirstFire, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the Principal Sum then outstanding plus
accrued interest multiplied by 125% (the “Default Amount”). Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, additional interest
will accrue from the date of the Event of Default at the rate equal to the lower of 15% per annum or the highest rate permitted by law.
Form
S-8 Registration Statement
On
March 18, 2021, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-8 for the purpose of resale or reoffer thereof, of 18,125 shares
of the Company’s common stock issued prior to the filing of such registration statement and held by the selling stockholder named
therein in connection with such selling stockholder’s provision of services to the Company. On June 4, 2021, the Company filed
a registration statement on Form S-8 for the purpose of resale or reoffer thereof, of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common
stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company’s 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
Appointment
of Mr. Kaplan as Chairman, Mr. Franklin as Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Lau as Chief Financial Officer; New Executive Officer Agreements
On
March 25, 2021, our board of directors appointed Jed Kaplan, our then-Chief Executive Officer, Interim Chief Financial Officer and a
member of the Board, as Chairman of the Board, effective March 29, 2021. Also on March 25, 2021, Mr. Kaplan submitted his resignation
as Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer. On the same date, our board of directors appointed Roman Franklin, our
then- President and Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board, as our Chief Executive Officer, effective March 29, 2021. Also
on March 25, 2021, our board of directors appointed Knicks Lau to serve as our Chief Financial Officer, effective March 29, 2021. Donald
R. Caldwell, who served as Chairman of the Board until March 29, 2021, continues to serve as a member of our board of directors and as
Chairman of the Audit Committee and Chairman of the Compensation Committee.
In
connection with Mr. Franklin’s appointment, on March 25, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement, dated as of March
29, 2021 by and between the Company and Mr. Franklin. See “Executive Compensation—Executive Officer and Director Compensation—Executive
Employment Agreements” for information regarding Mr. Franklin’s employment agreement.
In
connection with Mr. Lau’s appointment, on March 23, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement, dated as of March 29,
2021 by and between the Company and Mr. Lau. See “Executive Compensation—Executive Officer and Director Compensation—Executive
Employment Agreements” for information regarding Mr. Lau’s employment agreement.
Tiger
Trout SPA
On
March 31, 2021, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”) by and between the Company and Tiger
Trout Capital Puerto Rico, LLC (“Tiger Trout”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to Tiger Trout an
aggregate of 125,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) at a purchase
price of $12.00 per share, for a total purchase price of $1,500,000.
The
Agreement provides that the sale will occur in two tranches, as follows:
|
●
|
The
Company agreed to issue and sell to Tiger Trout on March 31, 2021 41,667 shares of Common Stock (the “First Tranche Shares”)
at a purchase price of $12.00 per share, for a total purchase price of $500,004 (the “First Tranche Purchase Price”).
The closing of the purchase and sale of the First Tranche Shares is referred to herein as the “First Closing”.
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Subject
to the satisfaction or waiver, by the party for whose benefit such conditions exist, of the conditions to the Second Closing (as
hereinafter defined), at such time and pursuant to the terms and conditions in the Agreement, the Company agreed to issue and sell
to Tiger Trout 83,333 shares of Common Stock (the “Second Tranche Shares” and together with the First Tranche Shares,
the “Shares”) at a purchase price of $12.00 per share, for a total purchase price of $999,996 (the “Second Tranche
Purchase Price” and together with the First Tranche Purchase Price, the “Purchase Price”). The closing of the purchase
and sale of the Second Tranche Shares is referred to herein as the “Second Closing”.
|
In
the Agreement, the Company agreed that, following the First Closing, the Company will utilize its commercially reasonable efforts to
file a resale registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) for the resale of the Shares,
and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to have such registration statement declared effective by the Commission within 30 calendar
days, but not more than 90 calendar days after March 31, 2021.
The
Company also agreed to, among other things, (i) make and keep adequate current public information available, as those terms are understood
and defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, and (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents
required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so long as the Company remains subject to such requirements and
the filing of such reports and other documents as required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144.
The
obligations of Tiger Trout to consummate the Second Closing is subject to certain conditions, including, but not limited to: (i) the
Registration Statement shall have become effective, and (ii) from March 31, 2021 to the date of the Second Closing, trading in the shares
of Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission of the Company’s principal Trading Market (as defined in the Agreement),
and, at any time prior to the date of the Second Closing, trading in securities generally as reported by Bloomberg L.P. shall not have
been suspended or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been established on securities whose trades are reported by such services,
or on any Trading Market, nor shall a banking moratorium have been declared either by the United States or New York State authorities
nor shall there have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity of such
magnitude in its effect on, or any material adverse change in, any financial market which, in each case, in the reasonable judgment of
Tiger Trout, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to purchase the Second Tranche Shares at the Second Closing.
On
April 28, 2021, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with File No. 333-255584, to register up to 125,000 shares of
the Company’s common stock by Tiger Trout pursuant to the Agreement, and the Form S-1 was declared effective by the SEC on May
10, 2021.
The
Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the Company and the Purchaser and other customary covenants and agreements.
The Agreement may be terminated by either the Company or Tiger Trout if the Second Closing has not occurred by the date that is 90 calendar
days after March 31, 2021. As of August 30, 2021, the Agreement is still in effect.
FMW
Media Works
Effective
April 1, 2021, in connection with compensation for services to be rendered, the Company issued 12,500 shares of common stock to FMW Media
Works.
Maxim
Note Payable
On
April 14, 2021, the Company and Maxim entered into the third amendment to the Series A-2 Note with Maxim pursuant to which the Company
and Maxim agreed to the following:
(i)
|
The
maturity date of the Series A-2 Note is extended to October 15, 2021.
|
|
|
(ii)
|
The
principal balance of the Series A-2 Note is increased by $50,000 as of April 14, 2021.
|
|
|
(iii)
|
The
Series A-2 Note was not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s)
of the Series A-2 Note) on or before April 30, 2021, and accordingly, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note increased by an
additional $50,000.
|
|
|
(iv)
|
The
Series A-2 Note was not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s)
of the Series A-2 Note) on or before May 15, 2021, and accordingly, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note increased by an
additional $50,000.
|
(v)
|
If
the Series A-2 Note is not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s)
of the Series A-2 Note) on or before July 15, 2021, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note will increase by an additional $100,000.
|
|
|
(vi)
|
If
the Series A-2 Note is not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s)
of the Series A-2 Note) on or before September 15, 2021, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note will increase by an additional
$100,000, representing a total cumulative increase in the principal balance of $350,000 if the Series A-2 Note is not repaid in its
entirety on or before September 15, 2021.
|
|
|
(vii)
|
The
Company will, within five business days after the Company’s receipt of the Second Tranche Purchase Price of $999,996, pay $500,000
to Maxim, which will reduce the principal owed under the Series A-2 Note by $500,000.
|
While
any portion of the Series A-2 Note is outstanding, if the Company receives cash proceeds from public offerings or private placements
of the Company’s common stock to investors (except with respect to proceeds from officers and directors of the Company), the Company
will, within five business days of the Company’s receipt of such proceeds, inform Maxim or such receipt, following which Maxim
will have the right in its sole discretion to require the Company to immediately apply up to 25% of such proceeds received by the Company
to repay the outstanding amounts owed under the Series A-2 Note. The parties understand that (a) each dollar applied toward repayment
pursuant to this clause (viii) will reduce the balance owed under the Series A-2 Note by one dollar, and (b) this clause (viii) will
not apply to the Tiger Trout transaction.
Form
S-1 Registration Statement
On
April 28, 2021, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with File No. 333-255584, to register up to 125,000 shares of
the Company’s common stock issued to Tiger Trout Capital Puerto Rico, LLC, a Puerto Rico limited liability company, which was declared
effective by the SEC on May 10, 2021.
Resignation
of Knicks Lau; Appointment of Nancy Hennessey as Chief Financial Officer and Appointment of Laila Cavalcanti Loss as a Director; New
Executive Officer Agreement and Corporate Secretary
On
May 7, 2021, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Laila Cavalcanti Loss to serve as a member of the Company’s Board
of Directors. On May 10, 2021, Knicks Lau resigned as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer for personal reasons. On May 11, 2021,
the Company’s Board of Directors appointed Nancy Hennessey as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective May 17, 2021.
In
connection with Ms. Hennessey’s appointment as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer effective May 17, 2021, on May 11, 2021,
the Company entered into an employment agreement, dated as of May 17, 2021 by and between the Company and Ms. Hennessey. See “Executive
Compensation—Executive Officer and Director Compensation—Executive Employment Agreements” for information regarding
Ms. Hennessey’s employment agreement.
In
May 2021, the Company hired Julianne Blanchette to serve as its Corporate Secretary to assist with Board of Directors and corporate governance
matters.
June
2021 FirstFire Global 12% Promissory Note and Securities Purchase Agreement
On
June 11, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “June 11 FirstFire SPA”) dated as of June 10,
2021, with FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC (“FirstFire”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% convertible
promissory note (the “June 11 FirstFire Note”) with a maturity date of June 10, 2023 (the “FirstFire Maturity Date”),
in the principal sum of $1,266,666. In addition, the Company issued 11,875 shares of its common stock to FirstFire as a commitment fee
pursuant to the June 11 FirstFire SPA. Pursuant to the terms of the June 11 FirstFire Note, the Company agreed to pay to $1,266,666 (the
“FirstFire Principal Sum”) to FirstFire and to pay interest on the principal balance at the rate of 12% per annum (provided
that the first six months of interest shall be guaranteed and the remaining 18 months of interest shall be deemed earned in full if any
amount is outstanding under the FirstFire Note after 180 days from June 10, 2021). The June 11 FirstFire Note carries an original issue
discount (“OID”) of $126,666. Accordingly, FirstFire paid the purchase price of $1,140,000 in exchange for the FirstFire
Note. The Company intends to use the proceeds for working capital and to pay off an existing promissory note issued by the Company in
favor of Maxim. FirstFire may convert the June 11 FirstFire Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership
limitations of 4.99% in the June 11 FirstFire Note; provided however, that the limitation on conversion may be waived (up to 9.99%) by
FirstFire upon, at the election of FirstFire, not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company) at any time at a conversion price
equal to $11.50 per share, as the same may be adjusted as provided in the June 11 FirstFire Note.
The
Company may prepay the June 11 FirstFire Note at any time prior to maturity in accordance with the terms of the June 11 FirstFire Note.
The June 11 FirstFire Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations
and warranties, and breach of provisions of the June 11 FirstFire Note or the June 11 FirstFire SPA.
Upon
the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the June 11 FirstFire Note), which has not been cured within three calendar days,
the June 11 FirstFire Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to FirstFire, in full satisfaction of its
obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the FirstFire Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied by 125%.
Pursuant
to the terms of the June 11 FirstFire SPA, the Company also issued to FirstFire a three-year warrant (the “June 11 FirstFire Warrant”)
to purchase 593,750 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to (i) 110% of the per share offering price
of the offering made in connection with any uplisting of the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior to the determination of the
per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any uplisting of the common stock and following such time if the uplisting
contemplated in clause (i) is not completed by November 1, 2021, $10.73.
The
Company also agreed to prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement covering the resale of all
shares issued or issuable pursuant to the June 11 FirstFire SPA, including shares issued upon conversion of the June 11 FirstFire Note
or exercise of the June 11 FirstFire Warrant. The Company agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration
statement filed with the SEC within 90 days following June 10, 2021 and to have the registration statement declared effective by the
SEC within 120 days following June 10, 2021.
GS
Capital Securities Purchase Agreement & Note
On
June 16, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “GS SPA”) dated as of June 10, 2021, with GS
Capital Partners, LLC (“GS Capital”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% convertible promissory note (the
“GS Note”) with a maturity date of June 10, 2023 (the “GS Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $333,333.
In addition, the Company issued 3,125 shares of its common stock to GS as a commitment fee pursuant to the GS SPA. Pursuant to the terms
of the GS Note, the Company agreed to pay to $300,000.00 (the “GS Principal Sum”) to GS and to pay interest on the principal
balance at the rate of 12% per annum (provided that the first six months of interest shall be guaranteed and the remaining 18 months
of interest shall be deemed earned in full if any amount is outstanding under the GS Note after 180 days from June 10, 2021). The GS
Note carries an original issue discount (“OID”) of $33,333. Accordingly, GS paid the purchase price of $300,000.00 in exchange
for the GS Note. The Company intends to use the proceeds for working capital and to pay off an existing promissory note issued by the
Company in favor of Maxim. GS may convert the GS Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations
of 4.99% in the GS Note; provided however, that the limitation on conversion may be waived (up to 9.99%) by GS upon, at the election
of GS, not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company) at any time at a conversion price equal to $11.50 per share, as the
same may be adjusted as provided in the GS Note.
The
Company may prepay the GS Note at any time prior to maturity in accordance with the terms of the GS Note. The GS Note contains customary
events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of provisions
of the GS Note or the GS SPA.
Upon
the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the GS Note), which has not been cured within three calendar days, the GS Note
shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to GS, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount
equal to the principal amount then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied by 125%.
Pursuant
to the terms of the GS SPA, the Company also issued to GS a three-year warrant to purchase 156,250 shares of the Company’s common
stock at an exercise price equal to (i) 110% of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any uplisting of
the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior to the determination of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection
with any uplisting of the common stock and following such time if the uplisting contemplated in clause (i) is not completed by November
1, 2021, $10.73.
The
Company also agreed to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement covering the resale of all shares issued or issuable pursuant
to the GS SPA, including shares issued upon conversion of the GS Note or exercise of the GS Warrant. The Company agreed to use its commercially
reasonable efforts to have the registration statement filed with the SEC within 90 days following June 10, 2021 and to have the registration
statement declared effective by the SEC within 120 days following June 10, 2021.
Fourth
Amendment to Series A-2 Maxim Note
On
August 19, 2021, the Company and Maxim entered into the fourth amendment (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the Series A-2 Maxim
Note, as amended, pursuant to which the Company and Maxim agreed that all obligations under the Series A-2 Maxim Note, as amended, shall
be extinguished, and the Series A-2 Maxim Note, as amended, shall be deemed repaid in its entirety, upon the satisfaction of the following
obligations: (i) the Company’s payment of $500,000 to Maxim within three business days of August 19, 2021, (ii) the Company’s
issuance of 20,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock to Maxim within seven business days of August 19, 2021, and
(iii) the Company’s issuance of a common stock purchase warrant to Maxim on August 19, 2021 for the purchase of 365,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock. The Company also granted Maxim an irrevocable right of first refusal superseding all others to act
as Company’s sole managing underwriter and sole bookrunner or exclusive placement agent or financial advisor, or finder in connection
with any public or private offering by the Company or any subsidiary of or successor to the Company (if applicable) of its equity, equity
linked or debt securities (including convertible securities) while the Company’s common stock is listed on any of the NYSE American,
the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors
to any of the foregoing, each, a “National Exchange”), within the period beginning on August 19, 2021 and ending on the close
of business on January 1, 2023.
On
August 19, 2021, the Company issued to Maxim a common stock purchase warrant (the “Warrant”) for the purchase of 365,000
shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrant Shares”) at an exercise price of $13.00, subject to adjustment as
provided in the Warrant. The Warrant is exercisable during the period commencing on August 19, 2021 and ending at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard
time on the date that is the earlier of (i) three years from the effective date of a registration statement registering for resale by
Maxim or its assigns the Warrant Shares (provided that such registration statement remains in effect at the end of the exercise period)
and (ii) the 42 month anniversary after August 19, 2021.
The
Company paid off the Maxim note, in its entirety at the end of August 2021.
Jefferson
Street Capital Securities Purchase Agreement & Note
On
August 23, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Jefferson SPA”) dated as of August 23, 2021,
with Jefferson Street Capital, LLC (“Jefferson”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% convertible promissory
note (the “Jefferson Note”) with a maturity date of August 23, 2023 (the “Jefferson Maturity Date”), in the principal
sum of $333,333. In addition, the Company issued 3,125 shares of its common stock to Jefferson as a commitment fee pursuant to the Jefferson
SPA. Pursuant to the terms of the Jefferson Note, the Company agreed to pay to $300,000.00 (the “Jefferson Principal Sum”)
to Jefferson and to pay interest on the principal balance at the rate of 12% per annum (provided that the first six months of interest
shall be guaranteed and the remaining 18 months of interest shall be deemed earned in full if any amount is outstanding under the Jefferson
Note after 180 days from August 23, 2021). The Jefferson Note carries an original issue discount (“OID”) of $33,333. Accordingly,
Jefferson paid the purchase price of $300,000.00 in exchange for the Jefferson Note. The Company intends to use the proceeds for working
capital and to pay off an existing promissory note issued by the Company in favor of Maxim. Jefferson may convert the Jefferson Note
into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% in the Jefferson Note; provided however,
that the limitation on conversion may be waived (up to 9.99%) by Jefferson upon, at the election of Jefferson, not less than 61 days’
prior notice to the Company) at any time at a conversion price equal to $11.50 per share, as the same may be adjusted as provided in
the Jefferson Note.
The
Company may prepay the Jefferson Note at any time prior to maturity in accordance with the terms of the Jefferson Note. The Jefferson
Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties,
and breach of provisions of the Jefferson Note or the Jefferson SPA.
Upon
the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the Jefferson Note), which has not been cured within three calendar days, the Jefferson
Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to Jefferson, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder,
an amount equal to the principal amount then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied by 125%.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Jefferson SPA, the Company also issued to Jefferson a three-year warrant to purchase 156,250 shares of the Company’s
common stock at an exercise price equal to (i) 110% of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any uplisting
of the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior to the determination of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection
with any uplisting of the common stock and following such time if the uplisting contemplated in clause (i) is not completed by November
1, 2021, $10.73.
The
Company also agreed to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement covering the resale of all shares issued or issuable pursuant
to the Jefferson SPA, including shares issued upon conversion of the Jefferson Note or exercise of the Jefferson Warrant. The Company
agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement filed with the SEC within 90 days following August
23, 2021 and to have the registration statement declared effective by the SEC within 120 days following August 23, 2021.
Lucas
Ventures Securities Purchase Agreement & Note
On
August 31, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Lucas SPA”) dated as of August 31, 2021,
with Lucas Ventures, LLC (“Lucas”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% convertible promissory note (the “Lucas
Note”) with a maturity date of August 31, 2023 (the “Lucas Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $200,000. In addition,
the Company issued 3,749 shares of its common stock to Lucas as a commitment fee pursuant to the Lucas SPA. Pursuant to the terms of
the Lucas Note, the Company agreed to pay to $200,000.00 (the “Lucas Principal Sum”) to Lucas and to pay interest on the
principal balance at the rate of 12% per annum (provided that the first six months of interest shall be guaranteed and the remaining
18 months of interest shall be deemed earned in full if any amount is outstanding under the Lucas Note after 180 days from August 31,
2021). The Lucas Note carries an original issue discount (“OID”) of $20,000. Accordingly, Lucas paid the purchase price of
$180,000.00 in exchange for the Lucas Note. The Company intends to use the proceeds for working capital and to pay off an existing promissory
note issued by the Company in favor of Maxim. Lucas may convert the Lucas Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the
beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% in the Lucas Note; provided however, that the limitation on conversion may be waived (up to
9.99%) by Lucas upon, at the election of Lucas, not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company) at any time at a conversion
price equal to $11.50 per share, as the same may be adjusted as provided in the Lucas Note.
The
Company may prepay the Lucas Note at any time prior to maturity in accordance with the terms of the Lucas Note. The Lucas Note contains
customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of
provisions of the Lucas Note or the Lucas SPA.
Upon
the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the Lucas Note), which has not been cured within three calendar days, the Lucas
Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to Lucas, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder,
an amount equal to the principal amount then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied by 125%.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Lucas SPA, the Company also issued to Lucas a three-year warrant to purchase 187,480 shares of the Company’s
common stock at an exercise price equal to (i) 110% of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any uplisting
of the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior to the determination of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection
with any uplisting of the common stock and following such time if the uplisting contemplated in clause (i) is not completed by November
1, 2021, $10.73.
The
Company also agreed to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement covering the resale of all shares issued or issuable pursuant
to the Lucas SPA, including shares issued upon conversion of the Lucas Note or exercise of the Lucas Warrant. The Company agreed to use
its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement filed with the SEC within 90 days following August 31, 2021 and
to have the registration statement declared effective by the SEC within 120 days following August 31, 2021.
LGH
Investments Securities Purchase Agreement & Note
On
August 31, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “LGH SPA”) dated as of August 31, 2021, with
LGH Investments, LLC (“LGH”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% convertible promissory note (the “LGH
Note”) with a maturity date of August 31, 2023 (the “LGH Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $200,000. Pursuant
to the terms of the LGH Note, the Company agreed to pay to $200,000.00 (the “LGH Principal Sum”) to LGH and to pay interest
on the principal balance at the rate of 12% per annum (provided that the first six months of interest shall be guaranteed and the remaining
18 months of interest shall be deemed earned in full if any amount is outstanding under the LGH Note after 180 days from August 31, 2021).
The LGH Note carries an original issue discount (“OID”) of $20,000. Accordingly, LGH paid the purchase price of $180,000.00
in exchange for the LGH Note. The Company intends to use the proceeds for working capital and to pay off an existing promissory note
issued by the Company in favor of Maxim. LGH may convert the LGH Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial
ownership limitations of 4.99% in the LGH Note; provided however, that the limitation on conversion may be waived (up to 9.99%) by LGH
upon, at the election of LGH, not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company) at any time at a conversion price equal to $11.50
per share, as the same may be adjusted as provided in the LGH Note.
The
Company may prepay the LGH Note at any time prior to maturity in accordance with the terms of the LGH Note. The LGH Note contains customary
events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of provisions
of the LGH Note or the LGH SPA.
Upon
the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the LGH Note), which has not been cured within three calendar days, the LGH Note
shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to LGH, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount
equal to the principal amount then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied by 125%.
The
Company also agreed to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement covering the resale of all shares issued or issuable pursuant
to the LGH SPA, including shares issued upon conversion of the LGH Note. The Company agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts
to have the registration statement filed with the SEC within 90 days following August 31, 2021 and to have the registration statement
declared effective by the SEC within 120 days following August 31, 2021.
First
Amendment to March 10 FirstFire Note
On
September 17, 2021, the Company entered into an amendment (“First Amendment”) with FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC
(“FirstFire”) to the March 10 FirstFire Note in order to delay an interim payment of OID and interest due under the March
10 FirstFire Note to the maturity date of such note. As consideration for FirstFire entering in to the First Amendment, the Company issued
to FirstFire a three-year warrant to purchase 40,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to (i) 110%
of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any uplisting of the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior
to the determination of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any uplisting of the common stock and following
such time if the uplisting contemplated in clause (i) is not completed by November 1, 2021, $10.73.
Ionic
Ventures Securities Purchase Agreement & Note
On
September 28, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “Ionic SPA”) dated as of September 28,
2021, with Ionic Ventures, LLC (“Ionic”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% convertible promissory note (the
“Ionic Note”) with a maturity date of September 28, 2023 (the “Ionic Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of
$1,555,555.56. In addition, the Company issued 14,584 shares of its common stock to Ionic as a commitment fee pursuant to the Ionic SPA.
Pursuant to the terms of the Ionic Note, the Company agreed to pay to $1,555,555.56 to Ionic
and to pay interest on the principal balance at the rate of 12% per annum (provided that the first six months of interest shall be guaranteed
and the remaining 18 months of interest shall be deemed earned in full if any amount is outstanding under the Ionic Note after 180 days
from September 28, 2021). The Ionic Note carries an original issue discount (“OID”) of $155,555.56. Accordingly, Ionic paid
the purchase price of $1,400,000.00 in exchange for the Ionic Note. The Company intends to use the proceeds for working capital. Ionic
may convert the Ionic Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% in the Ionic
Note; provided however, that the limitation on conversion may be waived (up to 9.99%) by Ionic upon, at the election of Ionic, not less
than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company) at any time at a conversion price equal to $11.50 per share, as the same may be adjusted
as provided in the Ionic Note.
The
Company may prepay the Ionic Note at any time prior to maturity in accordance with the terms of the Ionic Note. The Ionic Note contains
customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of
provisions of the Ionic Note or the Ionic SPA.
Upon
the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the Ionic Note), which has not been cured within the time prescribed in the Ionic
Note, it shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to Ionic, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder,
an amount equal to the principal amount then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied by 125%.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Ionic SPA, the Company also issued to Ionic a three-year warrant to purchase 729,167 shares of the Company’s
common stock at an exercise price equal to (i) 110% of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any uplisting
of the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior to the determination of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection
with any uplisting of the common stock and following such time if the uplisting contemplated in clause (i) is not completed by November
1, 2021, $10.73.
The
Company also agreed to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement covering the resale of all shares issued or issuable pursuant
to the Ionic SPA, including shares issued upon conversion of the Ionic Note or exercise of the Ionic Warrant. The Company agreed to use
its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement filed with the SEC within 30 days following September 28,
2021 and to have the registration statement declared effective by the SEC within 60 days following September 28, 2021.
Second
Amendment to March 10 FirstFire Note
On
October 1, 2021, the Company entered into an amendment (“Second Amendment”) with FirstFire to the March 10 FirstFire Note
in order to remove the capital raising ceiling in such note. As consideration for FirstFire entering in to the Second Amendment, As consideration
for FirstFire entering in to the Second Amendment, the Company issued to FirstFire a three-year warrant to purchase 40,000 shares of
the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to (i) 110% of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection
with any uplisting of the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior to the determination of the per share offering price of the offering
made in connection with any uplisting of the common stock and following such time if the uplisting contemplated in clause (i) is not
completed by November 1, 2021, $10.73.
Nasdaq
Capital Market or NYSE American Listing, Reverse Stock Split and Increase in Authorized Shares of Common Stock
We
intend to list our common stock and warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American. There is no assurance that our listing application
will be approved by the Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American.
In
order to obtain Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American listing approval, we obtained approval of our board of directors and shareholders
of (i) a reverse stock split of the outstanding shares of our common stock in the range from one-for-two (1-for-2) to one-for-ten (1-for-10),
which ratio was to be selected by the board of directors and (ii) an increase in our authorized shares of common stock from 20,000,000
to 36,000,000 shares of common stock.
On
August 17, 2020, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to increase the authorized shares of common stock from 20,000,000 to 36,000,000.
Accordingly, our authorized capital stock consists of (i) 36,000,000 shares of common stock, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock.
On
November 17, 2020, our board of directors approved the reverse stock split in a ratio of 1-for-8 and on November 17, 2020, we filed an
amended and restated certificate of amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, implementing the reverse stock split in
a ratio of 1-for-8, effective November 19, 2020; provided, however, the reverse stock split became effective for trading purposes on
November 20, 2020 when it had been processed by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). The reverse stock
split is intended to allow us to meet the minimum share price requirement of the Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American. There is no
assurance that our listing application will be approved by the Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American.
Employees
As
of October 1, 2021, we had approximately 20 full-time employees and 30 part-time employees. None of our employees is represented by a
union. We consider our relations with our employees to be good.
Legal
Proceedings
On
August 5, 2020, a lawsuit styled Duncan Wood v. PLAYlive Nation, Inc. and Simplicity eSports and Gaming Company (Case No. 20-1043) was
filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint alleges unlawful failure to make timely and reasonable payment
of wages, breach of contract, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing and unjust enrichment. The plaintiff seeks monetary damages
for compensation alleged to be owed, treble damages, interest on all wage compensation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other relief
as the Court deems just and proper. On October 30, 2020, Mr. Wood and Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company executed a mutual General
Release and the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice.
From
time to time, we are involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. To the knowledge of our
management, there are no legal proceedings currently pending against us which we believe would have a material effect on our business,
financial position or results of operations and, to the best of our knowledge, there are no such legal proceedings contemplated or threatened.
Properties
Our
corporate headquarters are located at 7000 W. Palmetto Park Road, Suite 505, Boca Raton, Florida 33433, where we lease approximately
250 rentable square feet of office space from an unaffiliated third party. This lease expires on June 1, 2022. Terms of the office lease
provide for a base rent payment of $800 per month. In total we lease approximately 40,000 rentable square feet of retail and office space
from unaffiliated third parties in 17 locations in Florida, Oregon, Texas, California, Missouri, Montana, and Washington State for our
corporate offices and gaming centers. These leases expire at various times, with the first expiration being May of 2022 and the last
being July of 2030. Terms of the office and retail leases currently provide for aggregate base rent payments of approximately $39,000
per month with annual price escalations. We believe that these facilities are adequate for our current and near-term future needs.
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
References
in this prospectus to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company,
formerly known as Smaaash Entertainment Inc. and prior to that as I-AM Capital Acquisition Company. The following discussion and analysis
of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and
the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
Overview
We
are a global esports organization, that is capitalizing on the growth in esports through three business units, Simplicity One Brasil
Ltda (“Simplicity One”), Simplicity Esports, LLC (“Simplicity Esports LLC”) and PLAYlive Nation, Inc. (“PLAYlive”).
We believe that we are the only Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reporting, completely integrated-esports company
that owns a League of Legends franchise. Additionally, we have the largest network of corporate and franchisee owned esports gaming centers
in North America.
Our
Esports Teams
We
own and manage multiple professional esports teams domestically and internationally. Revenue is generated from prize winnings, corporate
sponsorships, advertising, league subsidy payments and potential league revenue sharing payments from the publishers of video games.
Domestic
Esports Teams – Simplicity Esports LLC
Through
our wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Esports LLC, we own and manage multiple professional esports teams competing in games such as
Heroes of the Storm. We are committed to growing and enhancing the esports industry, fostering the development of amateurs to compete
professionally and signing established professional gamers to support their paths to greater success.
International
Esports Team - Simplicity One
Since
January 2020, through our 76% owned subsidiary Simplicity One, we manage Flamengo eSports, one of the leading Brazilian League of Legends®
teams competing in the top tier league CBLoL. CBLoL was the most talked about esports league in the world, on Twitter for the first half
of 2021, with Call of Duty League and Overwatch League ranking 2nd and 3rd respectively. Flamengo eSports was established in 2017 as
the Esports division of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, a successful Brazilian sports organization, with over 30 million followers across
social media accounts, known for its world-famous soccer team. Flamengo eSports’ League of Legends® team won the CBLoL Championship
in September 2019, which qualified the team to compete at the 2019 League of Legends® World Championship in Europe as one of 24 teams
from 13 different regions around the world. Flamengo Esports @flaesports was ranked as the 6th most tweeted about esports organization
in the world, ahead of Team Liquid and Cloud 9 ranking 7th and 10th respectively, for the first half of 2021.
Online
Tournaments
In
response to demand from customers for online esports tournaments which was in all likelihood triggered by the social distancing protocols
attendant to the COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced in March 2020 an initiative of online esports tournaments. Since March 2020, through
our wholly owned subsidiary, Simplicity Esports LLC, we have been holding online esports tournaments in the United States. In addition,
we commenced promoting these weekly online tournaments via text messages to our database of over 400,000 paying esports gaming center
customers, which we acquired in our acquisition of PLAYlive. If we can convert merely 1% of these existing customers from the PLAYlive
database to play in our paid online tournaments, we anticipate this business unit may generate approximately $1 million in annual revenues.
At a 5% conversion rate, this business segment may generate approximately $5 million in annual revenue. Management also intends to sell
sponsorship and marketing activations for these online tournaments which would create additional revenue. We also announced our initiative
to offer play at home online tournaments in Brazil. These tournaments are a way for us to engage with our customer base from home during
periods of required social distancing or quarantine.
Our
Gaming Centers
As
of August 30, 2021, we have 28 operational locations (16 corporate locations and 12 franchise locations), through our subsidiaries throughout
the U.S., giving casual gamers the opportunity to play in a social setting with other members of the gaming community. In addition, aspiring
and established professional gamers have an opportunity to compete in local and national esports tournaments held in our gaming centers
for prizes, notoriety, and potential contracts to play for one of our professional esports teams. In this business unit, revenue is generated
from franchise royalties, the sale of game time, memberships, tournament entry fees, birthday party events, corporate party events, concessions
and gaming-related merchandise.
Our
business plan encompasses a brick and click physical and digital approach to further recognize revenue from all verticals, which we believe
to be unique in the industry. The physical centers, together with our esports teams, lifestyle brand and marketing campaigns offer opportunities
for additional revenue via strategic partnerships with both endemic and non-endemic brands. Our ultimate goal is to further engage a
diverse fan base with a 360-degree approach driving traffic to both our digital platform, tournaments (online and in-person) and physical
real estate to maximize the monetization opportunities with these relationships. In addition, we have proprietary intellectual capital,
fan engagement strategies and brand development blueprints which complement our publicly available information.
Optimally,
the esports gaming centers of Simplicity Esports LLC (“Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers”) will measure between 2,000 and
4,000 square feet, with dozens of gaming stations. The Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers will feature cutting edge technology, futuristic
aesthetic décor and dynamic high-speed gaming equipment. We believe our brick-and-click strategy will present attractive opportunities
for sponsors and advertisers to connect with our audience, creating an intriguing monetization opportunity for sponsors and advertisers.
Currently our company owned stores operate in approximately 40,000 square feet of retail space in desirable, high traffic locations.
Creating
content that engages fans, sponsors and developers, while promoting our brand is one of our primary goals. In August 2021, we announced
a partnership with Television Korea 24 (“ESTV”) to provide esports and gaming content for their 24-7 live linear channel
around the world. ESTV can be viewed in over 45 countries including the U.S. and Brazil. We seek to reach a broad demographic encompassing
the casual, amateur and professional gaming community. Our philosophy is to enhance our footprint for both endemic and non-endemic partnerships.
We believe we possess a deep perception of our markets and understand the new age of branding while maintaining authenticity to the gaming
community that comprises our fanbase.
As
a result of COVID-19 (discussed below), all of our corporate and franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers were closed effective April 1,
2020. We commenced reopening Simplicity Gaming Centers on May 1, 2020 and have since reopened 16 corporate and 12 franchised Simplicity
Gaming Centers as of August 30, 2021, the majority of which are operating at restricted capacity based on local COVID-19 regulations.
See “Risk Factors—Public health epidemics or outbreaks, such as COVID-19, could materially and adversely impact our business.”
Corporate
Gaming Centers
As
of year-end May 31, 2021, through our subsidiary entities, we currently operate 15 corporate-owned retail Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers,
one of which was acquired during the third fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2021 and two of which were acquired in the fourth fiscal
quarter ended May 31, 2021. Subsequent to year end, we added one additional gaming center. Furthermore, we have engaged a national tenant
representation real estate broker to assist in the strategic planning and negotiations for our future Simplicity Esports Gaming Center
locations. We contemplate that new Simplicity Esports Gaming Centers will be funded by us as well as a combination of tenant improvement
allowances from landlords and sponsorships. The Company intends to continue the expansion of its corporate owned esports gaming center
footprint through the buildout of new esports gaming centers. The disruptions in commercial real estate caused by COVID-19 lockdowns
have allowed the Company to strengthen its existing relationships with national landlords by signing new locations with percentage rent
leases. The locations will range between 2,000 and 4,000 sq ft and be primarily located inside of shopping malls.
As
announced in June 2020, we are in discussions with commercial property owners regarding their desire to have us open 7,000 to 12,000
square foot Arenas at their properties. There are multiple locations available to us with a percentage of gross sales rent lease structure
(as opposed to fixed rent payments), and construction funds offered by the landlord to assist with the build out and equipping of our
planned Arenas. These Arenas are planned as hubs in our hub and spoke model that will see smaller corporate and franchisee owned gaming
centers as spokes connected to Arenas as hubs for larger events and tournaments.
Franchised
Gaming Centers
Due
to interest from potential franchisees, in 2019 we launched a franchising program to accelerate the expansion of our planned nationwide
footprint. We sell specific franchise territories, through our wholly owned subsidiary PLAYlive, and assist with the establishment and
buildout of esports gaming centers to potential business owners that desire to use our branding, infrastructure and process to open and
operate gaming centers. We currently operate 12 fully constructed franchise esports gaming centers. The 12 franchise owned gaming centers
that we have acquired to date generated prior to our acquisition of them over $1 million of revenue in the fiscal year ended May 31,
2021 despite operating with limited capacity due to COVID-19 restrictions. Due to interest from potential franchisees, we have launched
a franchising program to accelerate the expansion of our planned nationwide footprint. We sell specific franchise territories, through
our wholly owned subsidiary PLAYlive, and assist with the establishment and buildout of esports gaming centers to potential business
owners that desire to use our branding, infrastructure and process to open and operate gaming centers. Franchise revenue is generated
from the sale of franchise territories, supplying furniture, equipment and merchandise to the franchisees for buildout of their centers,
a gross sales royalty fee and a national marketing fee. We license the use of our branding, assist in identifying and negotiating commercial
locations, assist in overseeing the buildout and development, provide access to proprietary software for point of sale, inventory management,
employee training and other HR functions. Franchisees also have an opportunity to participate in our national esports tournament events,
and benefit from the growing profile of our professional esports teams. Once an esports gaming center is opened, we provide operational
guidance, support and use of branding elements in exchange for a monthly royalty fee calculated as 6% of gross sales. On January 1, 2020,
we implemented a national marketing fee of 1% of gross sales. To date, we have sold five of these franchise territories. COVID-19 travel
restrictions caused us to suspend the sale of new franchise territories from April 1, 2020 until October 1, 2020. During this time, a
pipeline of interested applicants has accumulated, and we anticipate new franchise territory sales over the next 12 months as a result.
The
combination of the esports gaming centers, owned or franchised by our wholly owned subsidiaries Simplicity Esports LLC or PLAYlive, provides
us with what we believe is one of the largest esports gaming center footprints in North America. Over the next 12 months, existing PLAYlive
esports gaming centers will be rebranded to Simplicity Esports gaming centers. All newly opened franchise esports gaming centers will
be branded as Simplicity Esports gaming centers and have numerous gaming PC’s. All gaming centers in our footprint will be participating
venues in our national esports tournaments.
Franchise
Roll Up Strategy
We
began implementing a franchise roll-up strategy in July 2020 as a result of the disruption caused by COVID-19 related stay at home orders,
and the disruption it caused to the commercial real estate market. The reduction in revenues for some franchisees because of stay-at-home
orders, and government mandates to remain closed created significant accrued rent payments due to landlords. We have been able to come
to terms with many franchisees to acquire the assets of their gaming centers and make them corporate owned. We have simultaneously negotiated
new leases with some of the largest national mall chains, including Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management, and are in
the process of negotiating additional locations with other landlords. The new leases involve significant reductions in or elimination
of fixed rent and the addition of percentage of revenues rent terms. During the fiscal year we signed 13 letters of intent and executed
definitive agreements for all of those locations, most of which were operational prior to year-end. We expect each of these locations
to be profitable as a result of the significant reduced rent expense via the percentage rent structure.
Our
Stream Team
The
Simplicity Esports LLC and Flamengo Esports stream teams encompass over 20 commentators (commonly known as “casters”), influencers
and personalities who connect to a dedicated fan base. Our electric group of live personalities represent our organization to the fullest
with their own unique style. We are proud to support and present a diverse group of gamers as we engage fans across a multiple of esports
genres. Our Twitch affiliation has enabled our stream team influences to reach a broad fan base. Additionally, we have created several
niches within the streaming community which has enabled us to engage fans within certain titles on a 24/7 basis. Our notoriety in the
industry is evidenced by our audience that views millions of minutes of Simplicity Esports’ and Flamengo Esports’ content
monthly, via various social media outlets including YouTube, Twitter and Twitch. Through Simplicity Esports LLC, we have begun to implement
a unique approach to ensure the ultimate fan friendly esports experience. Our intention is to have gamers involved at the grassroots
level and feel a sense of unity as we compete with top class talent. Our management and players are known within the esports community
and we plan to use their skills to create a seamless content creation plan helping gamers feel closer to our brand than any other in
the industry.
Our
Financial Position
For
the fiscal years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020, we generated revenues of $1,551,923 and $861,410, respectively, and reported net losses
of $6,096,855 and $2,620,238, respectively, and negative cash flow from operating activities of $1,391,938 and $1,523,262, respectively.
As of May 31, 2021, we had an aggregate accumulated deficit of $12,291,899. We anticipate that we will continue to report losses and
negative cash flow. There is substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern as a result of our historical recurring
losses and negative cash flows from operations as well as our dependence on private equity and financings. See “Risk Factors—We
have a history of operating losses, our management has concluded that factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as
a going concern and our auditor has included an explanatory paragraph relating to our ability to continue as a going concern in its audit
report for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020.”
Results
of Operations
The
following table summarizes our operating results for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020.
|
|
Fiscal Year
|
|
|
Fiscal Year
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
May 31, 2021
|
|
|
May 31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Franchise royalties and license fees
|
|
$
|
151,634
|
|
|
$
|
478,023
|
|
Franchise deposit revenue
|
|
|
154,291
|
|
|
|
44,984
|
|
Company-owned stores sales
|
|
|
1,053,226
|
|
|
|
174,042
|
|
Esports revenue
|
|
|
192,772
|
|
|
|
164,361
|
|
Total revenue
|
|
|
1,551,923
|
|
|
|
861,410
|
|
Less: Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(1,014,310
|
)
|
|
|
(591,541,068
|
)
|
Gross margin
|
|
|
537,613
|
|
|
|
269,869
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
(5,335,112
|
)
|
|
|
(3,001,9902
|
)
|
Other income (expense)
|
|
|
(1,397,329
|
)
|
|
|
66,342
|
|
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
|
|
|
97,973
|
|
|
|
45,541
|
|
Net Loss
|
|
$
|
6,096,855
|
|
|
$
|
(2,620,238
|
)
|
Summary
of Statement of Operations for the Fiscal Year Ended May 31, 2021 and 2020:
Revenue
We
generated $1,551,923 of revenue for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021 as compared to $861,410 for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020.
The increase in revenue is principally due to the increase in the number of company owned stores we operate offset by a reduction in
franchise royalties as franchises were converted to company owned stores.
Franchise
royalties, franchise deposit and termination revenue and company-owned stores sales, totaling $1,359,000 and $697,000, in the fiscal
year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020. In addition, Esports revenue was $193,000 during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021, up from $164,000
in the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020. This increase was due to inclusion of the full year of operations of Simplicity One Brazil which
was acquired in January 2020.
Cost
of Goods Sold
Cost
of goods sold during the fiscal years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020 totaled $1,014,000 and $592,000, respectively. Cost of goods sold is
related to player and team expenses related to esports revenues and cost of gaming system and store merchandise sold at company owned
store including the depreciation on the gaming equipment needed to generate these revenues. The increase is cost of goods sold is directly
related to the increase in company owned store revenues.
Other
Operating Expenses
Other
operating expenses for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021 totaled $5,335,000, a $3,002,000 increase from the $2,333,000 of other operating
expense in the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020. Included in this increase were compensation and related benefits increase of $1,227,000
primarily due to $862,000 increase in stock based compensation coupled with a $253,000 increase in salaries, wages and the related insurance
and taxes predominantly driven by the increase in employees related to the new company owned stores; professional fees increase of $272,000
of which $175,000 was for new design services and the $97,000 was for increased legal, accounting and consulting services; an increase
in general and administrative expenses of $475,000 primarily due to an increase in amortization of $85,000, an increase in rent of $198,000,
an increase in contracted services of $141,000 and an increase in utilities of $51,000. In addition, there was an increase of $359,000
in impairment expense on terminated franchises.
Other
income (expense)
Other
income/(expense) was an expense of $1,397,000 and income of $66,000 during the fiscal years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
The increase in other expense of $1,463,000 is due to an increase of $1,368,000 of interest expense on the notes payable mentioned herein,
$20,000 increase in foreign exchange losses, a $94,000 reduction in debt forgiveness income and a $69,000 reduction in other income offset
by a $19,000 increase in other income.
Net
loss attributable to non-controlling interest
As
part of the conversion of franchises into company-owned stores, two of the original franchisees retained a 21% interest in the stores,
one retained a 49% interest and 24% of our interest in Simplicity One Brasil, some of which is owned by our Chairman, as noted in the
related party footnote. As such, a portion of the net loss incurred during the year is allocated to those parties. For the fiscal year
ended May 31, 2021 the net loss attributable to non-controlling interests was $98,000 which is an increase of $52,000 from the year ended
May 31, 2020.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
In
2018, the completion of the Initial Public Offering and simultaneous Private Placement, inclusive of the underwriters’ exercise
of their over-allotment option, generated gross proceeds to the Company of $54,615,000. Related transaction costs amounted to approximately
$3,838,000, consisting of $3,360,000 of underwriting fees, including $1,820,000 of deferred underwriting commissions payable (which was
held in the Trust Account) and $478,000 of Initial Public Offering costs.
Following
the Initial Public Offering and the underwriter’s partial exercise of the over-allotment option, a total of $52,780,000 was placed
in the Trust Account and we had $552,190 of cash held outside of the Trust Account, after payment of all costs related to the Initial
Public Offering.
On
November 20, 2018, in connection with the closing of our initial Business Combination, the funds in the Trust Account were used for,
among other things, the following:
|
●
|
$45,455,596
to redeem 4,448,260 shares
|
|
●
|
$7,255,306
to fund the escrow agreement for Polar and K2
|
|
●
|
$150,000
to fund our investment in Smaaash
|
As
of May 31, 2020, we had no cash and marketable securities held in the Trust Account.
As
of May 31, 2021 and 2020, we had cash of $414,000 and $160,000, which is available for use by us to cover the costs associated with general
corporate purposes. In addition, as of May 31, 2021 and 2020, we had accounts payable and accrued expenses of $1,605,000 and $1,549,000,
respectively.
For
the fiscal years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020, cash used in operating activities amounted to $1,409,000 and $1,523,000, respectively.
The decline in net cash used of $115,000 is due to an increase in shares for services of $2,822,000, and increase in non-cash interest
expense of $1,118,000, an impairment loss of $359,000 an increase in depreciation and amortization charges of $258,000 and a decline
in debt forgiveness income of $94,000 offset by an increased net loss of $3,529,000. In addition changes in our operating liabilities
and assets used $174,000 of cash, a decline of $981,000 from May 31, 2020. The decline in cash provided is due to reduced accounts payable
and accrued expenses of $778,000, a reduction in deferred revenues of $281,000, an increase in inventory of $47,000, an increase in prepaid
expenses and security deposits of $34,000 and an increase in due from franchisee of $25,000, offset by reduced accounts receivable of
$96,000 and increased deferred brokerage fees of $88,000. Cash used in investing activities amounted to $152,000, a reduction of $15,000
from the prior year. The reduction is attributable to reduced purchase of property and equipment of $161,000, offset by higher use of
cash for acquisitions of $176,000. Cash provided from financing activities amounted to $1,815,000, an increase of $1,534,000 over the
prior year. The increase is mainly attributable to a net cash increase of $1,087,000 for the net effect of the issuance in notes payable,
coupled with an increase in funds received from private placement units of $379,000, an increase non-controlling interest in subsidiaries
of $179,000, offset by an increase in deferred financing costs of $111,000.
We
will need to raise additional funds in order to meet the expenditures required for operating our business.
Off-balance
sheet arrangements
We
have no obligations, assets or liabilities which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements. We do not participate in transactions
that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which
would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance
sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased
any non-financial assets.
Going
Concern
The
Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that it will continue as a going concern, which contemplates
continuity of operations, realization of assets, and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business.
As
reflected in the consolidated financial statements, the Company has an accumulated deficit as of May 31, 2021, a net loss and net cash
used in operating activities for the reporting period then ended. These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability
to continue as a going concern within one year from the of the date that the financial statements are issued.
The
Company’s cash position may not be sufficient to support the Company’s daily operations. Management plans to raise additional
funds by way of a private or public offering. While the Company believes in the viability of its strategy and its ability to generate
sufficient revenue and to raise additional funds, there can be no assurances to that effect. Should the Company fail to raise additional
capital, it may be compelled to reduce the scope of its planned future business activities.
The
ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the Company’s ability to further implement its business
plan, to generate sufficient revenue and to raise additional funds by way of public and/or private offerings.
The
consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts
or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
COVID-19
In
December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. While initially the outbreak was largely
concentrated in China and caused significant disruptions to its economy, it has now spread to several other countries and infections
have been reported globally.
Because
COVID-19 infections have been reported throughout the United States, certain federal, state and local governmental authorities have issued
stay-at-home orders, proclamations and/or directives aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Additional, more restrictive proclamations
and/or directives may be issued in the future. As a result, all of our corporate and franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers were closed
effective April 1, 2020. We commenced reopening Simplicity Gaming Centers on May 1, 2020 and have since reopened 15 corporate and 12
franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers, the majority of which are operating at restricted capacity based on local COVID-19 regulations.
Although our franchise agreements with franchisees of Simplicity Gaming Centers require a minimum monthly royalty payment to us from
the franchisees regardless of whether the franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers are operating, a limited number of the franchisees of
Simplicity Gaming Centers have defaulted on their obligations to pay their minimum monthly royalty payment to us. This has resulted in
either an increase in accounts receivables or a bad debt expense where account receivables are no longer collectible due to franchisee’s
inability to pay the minimum monthly royalty payments owed by the franchisee. As of May 31, 2021, we have recorded an allowance for doubtful
accounts of approximately $28,000 and have written off $112,000, partly in conjunction with taking back certain franchises and converting
them to company owned stores. We have experienced an increase in our account receivables, net of the allowance for doubtful accounts
of approximately $32,000 during the year ended May 31, 2021 and an increase of $128,000 for the year ended May 31, 2020, as there were
no accounts receivable at year end May 31, 2019. Notwithstanding our efforts to support franchisees and still collect on receivables,
it is unclear exactly how much of the increase in accounts receivables is attributable to the impact of COVID-19. We have waived the
minimum monthly royalty payment obligations from July 2020 through present day and are instead billing the franchisees a true-up of 6%
of gross sales without a minimum. We continue to assess possible similar accommodations to the franchisees in light of the impact of
COVID-19. Additionally, the disruptions in commercial real estate caused by COVID-19 lockdowns have allowed the Company to strengthen
its existing relationships with national landlords by signing new locations with percentage rent leases.
The
ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are
highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, new information which may
emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or
the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption, reduced customer traffic and reduced
operations. Any resulting financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but is anticipated to have a material adverse
impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The
measures taken to date adversely impacted the Company’s business during the year ended May 31, 2021 and will potentially continue
to impact the Company’s business. Management expects that all of its business segments, across all of its geographies, will be
impacted to some degree, but the significance of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Company’s business and the duration
for which it may have an impact cannot be determined at this time.
Contractual
obligations
We
do not have any long-term capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, except as follows:
Attorney
Settlement Agreement
In
March of 2019, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with its prior attorney. The settlement agreement called for $200,000
to be paid upon signing the settlement agreement and then another approximate $525,000 to be paid over-time. As of August 30, 2021, the
Company owes this attorney approximately $125,000.
Maxim
Settlement Agreement
On
November 20, 2018, the Company entered into a settlement and release agreement (“Settlement Agreement”) with Maxim, the underwriter
for the Company’s IPO. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company made a cash payment of $20,000 to Maxim and issued a demand
secured promissory note in favor of Maxim in the amount of $1.8 million (the “Note”) to settle the payment obligations of
the Company under the underwriting agreement dated August 16, 2017, by and between the Company and Maxim. The Company also agreed to
remove the restrictive legends on an aggregate of 6,500 shares of its common stock held by Maxim and its affiliate. The Note was surrendered
and exchanged pursuant to the securities exchange agreement described below.
Maxim
Exchange Agreement
On
December 20, 2018, the Company entered into a securities exchange agreement (“Exchange Agreement”) with Maxim. Pursuant to
the terms of the Exchange Agreement, Maxim agreed to surrender and exchange the Note in the amount of $1.8 million which was issued to
Maxim pursuant to the Settlement Agreement (discussed immediately above). In exchange, the Company issued to the Maxim a Series A-1 Exchange
Convertible Note in the principal amount of $500,000 (the “Series A-1 Note”) and a Series A-2 Exchange Convertible Note in
the principal amount of $1,000,000 (the “Series A-2 Note,” and collectively with Series A-1 Note, the “Exchange Notes”).
As
of December 31, 2018, upon the closing of the Simplicity Esports Acquisition, the Series A-1 Note automatically converted into 24,206
shares of the Company’s common stock.
The
Series A-2 Note bears interest at 2.67% per annum, payable quarterly and has a maturity date of June 20, 2020 (the “Maturity Date”).
The Company may pay the interest in cash or at its sole discretion, in shares of its common stock or a combination of cash and common
stock. However, the Company may only pay the interest in shares of its common stock if (i) all the equity conditions specified in the
note (“Equity Conditions”) have been met (unless waived by the Holder in writing) during the 20 trading days immediately
prior to the interest payment date (“Interest Notice Period”), (ii) the Company has provided proper notice pursuant to the
terms of the note and (iii) the Company has delivered to the Holder’s account certain number of shares of its common stock to be
applied against such interest payment prior to (but no more than five trading days before) the Interest Notice Period.
The
Series A-2 Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock (“Conversion Shares”) at an initial conversion
price of $15.44 per share, subject to adjustment for any stock dividends and splits, rights offerings, distributions, combinations or
similar transactions. Upon the Maturity of the Series A-2 Note, the conversion price will be automatically adjusted to the lower of (i)
the conversion price then in effect and (ii) the greater of the arithmetic average of the volume weighted average price of the Company’s
common stock in the five trading days prior to the notice of conversion and $4.00. The Holder may convert the Series A-2 Note at any
time, in whole or in part, provided that upon receipt of a notice of conversion from the Holder, the Company has the right to repay all
or any portion of the Series A-2 Note included in the notice of conversion.
Additionally,
the Series A-2 Note will automatically convert into shares of the Company’s common stock on the Maturity Date provided that (i)
no event of default then exists, and (ii) each of the Equity Conditions have been met (unless waived in writing by the Holder) on each
trading day during the 20-trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the automatic conversation date.
At
any time prior to the Maturity Date, the Company may also elect to redeem some or all of the outstanding principal amount for cash in
an amount (the “Optional Redemption Amount”) equal to the sum of (a) 100% of the then outstanding principal amount of the
note, (b) accrued but unpaid interest and (c) all liquidated damages and other amounts due in respect of the note (the “Optional
Redemption”). The Company may only affect an Optional Redemption if each of the Equity Conditions have been met (unless waived
in writing by the Holder) on each trading day during the period commencing on the date when the notice of the Optional Redemption is
delivered to the date of the Optional Redemption and through and including the date payment of the Optional Redemption Amount is actually
made in full.
Except
as otherwise provided in the Series A-2 Note, including, without limitation, an Optional Redemption, the Company may not prepay any portion
of the principal amount of the note without the prior written consent of the Holder.
The
Company is not permitted to convert any portion of the Series A-2 Note if doing so results in the Holder beneficially owning more than
4.99% of the outstanding common stock of the Company after giving effect to such conversion, provided that on 61 days’ prior written
notice from the Holder to the Company, that percentage may increase to 9.99%. However, if there is an automatic conversion, and the conversion
would result in the Company issuing a number of shares in excess of the beneficial ownership limitation, then any such shares in excess
of the beneficial ownership limitation will be held in abeyance for the benefit of the Holder until such time or times, if ever, as its
right thereto would not result in the Holder exceeding the beneficial ownership limitation, at which time or times the Holder will be
issued such shares to the same extent as if there had been no such limitation.
The
Series A-2 Note contains restrictive covenants which, among other things, restrict the Company’s ability to repay or repurchase
any indebtedness, make distributions on or repurchase its common stock or enter into transactions with its affiliates.
On
June 18, 2020, the Company and Maxim entered into that certain first amendment to the Series A-2 Note (the “First Amendment”),
pursuant to which such parties agreed to the following: (i) Maxim’s resale of the Company’s common stock (the “Common
Stock”) underlying the Series A-2 Note shall be limited to 10% of the daily volume of the Common Stock on each respective trading
day, (ii) the maturity date of the Series A-2 Note was extended to December 31, 2020, (iii) the principal amount of the Series A-2 Note
was increased by $100,000 and (iv) the conversion price was reduced from $15.44 to $9.20.
On
December 31, 2020, Maxim and Simplicity executed an amendment of the Note extending the maturity date to February 15, 2021.
On
April 14, 2021, the Company and Maxim entered into the third amendment to the Series A-2 Note with Maxim pursuant to which the Company
and Maxim agreed to the following:
(i)
|
The
maturity date of the Series A-2 Note is extended to October 15, 2021.
|
|
|
(ii)
|
The
principal balance of the Series A-2 Note is increased by $50,000 as of April 14, 2021.
|
(iii)
|
The
Series A-2 Note was not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s)
of the Series A-2 Note) on or before April 30, 2021, and accordingly, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note increased by an
additional $50,000.
|
|
|
(iv)
|
The
Series A-2 Note was not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s)
of the Series A-2 Note) on or before May 15, 2021, and accordingly, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note increased by an
additional $50,000.
|
|
|
(v)
|
If
the Series A-2 Note is not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s)
of the Series A-2 Note) on or before July 15, 2021, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note will increase by an additional $100,000.
|
|
|
(vi)
|
If
the Series A-2 Note is not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s)
of the Series A-2 Note) on or before September 15, 2021, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note will increase by an additional
$100,000, representing a total cumulative increase in the principal balance of $350,000 if the Series A-2 Note is not repaid in its
entirety on or before September 15, 2021.
|
|
|
(vii)
|
The
Company will, within five business days after the Company’s receipt of the Second Tranche Purchase Price of $999,996, pay $500,000
to Maxim, which will reduce the principal owed under the Series A-2 Note by $500,000.
|
While
any portion of the Series A-2 Note is outstanding, if the Company receives cash proceeds from public offerings or private placements
of the Company’s common stock to investors (except with respect to proceeds from officers and directors of the Company), the Company
will, within five business days of the Company’s receipt of such proceeds, inform Maxim or such receipt, following which Maxim
will have the right in its sole discretion to require the Company to immediately apply up to 25% of such proceeds received by the Company
to repay the outstanding amounts owed under the Series A-2 Note. The parties understand that (a) each dollar applied toward repayment
pursuant to this clause (viii) will reduce the balance owed under the Series A-2 Note by one dollar, and (b) this clause (viii) will
not apply to the Tiger Trout transaction,
Operating
Lease
We
have long-term operating lease obligations and deferred revenues related to franchise fees to be recognized over the term of franchise
agreements with our franchises, generally ten years. We will begin to recognize deferred franchise fee revenue at the time a franchise
commences operations. We will also recognize deferred franchise fee revenue upon completing acquisitions of franchisee owned gaming centers
and converting them to corporate owned centers.
In
February 2019, the Company entered into a 5-year operating lease in Boca Raton, Florida in connection with the opening of its first gaming
center. Rent is approximately $2,300 per month for the first year and contains customary escalation clauses. In June of 2019, the Company
entered into a 5-year operating lease for its corporate office, rent is approximately $700 per month. In August of 2019, the Company
opened its second gaming center and in connection with this gaming center entered into a 5-year operating lease in Deland, Florida. Rent
is approximately $2,500 per month for the first year and contains customary escalation clauses. On June 26, 2020, the Company entered
into a 10-year operating lease in El Paso, Texas for a corporate gaming center in Fort Bliss. It is a percentage rent lease (without
a base rent) which provides for the (i) first and second year of the lease, the rent would be 10% of gross sales of such gaming center
per year, (iii) third fourth and fifth year of the lease, the rent would be 12% of gross sales of such gaming center per year, and (iv)
sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth year of the lease, the rent would be 14% of the gross sales of such gaming center per year.
The
gaming center acquisitions that occurred in the current period were also complimented by the signing of new lease agreements with the
landlords. The leases consist of rent payments to be made as a percentage of each gaming center’s gross sales with a minimum floor
payment ranging between $1,000 and $3,000 monthly, representing 50-80% reductions in rent expense from prior leases that were in force
while the gaming centers were owned by franchisees.
Future
base lease payments under the non-cancelable operating lease related to Gaming Centers at August 30, 2021 are as follows:
Years Ending May 31,
|
|
Amount
|
|
2022
|
|
|
411,278
|
|
2023
|
|
|
391,832
|
|
2024
|
|
|
373,870
|
|
2025
|
|
|
330,017
|
|
2026
|
|
|
110,000
|
|
Total minimum non-cancelable operating lease payments
|
|
|
1,616,997
|
|
Debt
Obligations
For
a detailed description of debt obligations of the Company, please see “Description of Business—Debt Obligations,” “Description
of Business —Recent Developments— March 2021 FirstFire Global 12% Promissory Note and Securities Purchase Agreement,”
“Description of Business — Recent Developments — June 2021 FirstFire Global 12% Promissory Note and Securities Purchase
Agreement,” “Description of Business — Recent Developments — GS Capital Securities Purchase Agreement & Note,”
“Description of Business — Recent Developments — Jefferson Street Capital Securities Purchase Agreement & Note,”
“Description of Business — Recent Developments — Lucas Ventures Stock Purchase Agreement & Note,” “Description
of Business — Recent Developments — LGH Investments Stock Purchase Agreement & Note,” and “Description of
Business — Recent Developments — Ionic Ventures Securities Purchase Agreement & Note” on pages 51, 56, 59,
60, 61, 62, 62, and 63 of this prospectus, respectively.
Adoption
of 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan
The
board and shareholders of the Company approved of the Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2020
Plan”) on April 22, 2020 and June 23, 2020, respectively. The 2020 Plan provides for various stock-based incentive awards, including
incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, and other equity-based
or cash-based awards. On June 4, 2021, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-8 for the purpose of resale or reoffer thereof,
of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company’s 2020 Plan.
Fourth
Amendment to Series A-2 Maxim Note
On
August 19, 2021, the Company and Maxim entered into the fourth amendment (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the Series A-2 Maxim
Note, as amended, pursuant to which the Company and Maxim agreed that all obligations under the Series A-2 Maxim Note, as amended, shall
be extinguished, and the Series A-2 Maxim Note, as amended, shall be deemed repaid in its entirety, upon the satisfaction of the following
obligations: (i) the Company’s payment of $500,000 to Maxim within three business days of August 19, 2021, (ii) the Company’s
issuance of 20,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock to Maxim within seven business days of August 19, 2021, and
(iii) the Company’s issuance of a common stock purchase warrant to Maxim on August 19, 2021 for the purchase of 365,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock. The Company also granted Maxim an irrevocable right of first refusal superseding all others to act
as Company’s sole managing underwriter and sole bookrunner or exclusive placement agent or financial advisor, or finder in connection
with any public or private offering by the Company or any subsidiary of or successor to the Company (if applicable) of its equity, equity
linked or debt securities (including convertible securities) while the Company’s common stock is listed on any of the NYSE American,
the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors
to any of the foregoing, each, a “National Exchange”), within the period beginning on August 19, 2021 and ending on the close
of business on January 1, 2023.
On
August 19, 2021, the Company issued to Maxim a common stock purchase warrant (the “Warrant”) for the purchase of 365,000
shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrant Shares”) at an exercise price of $13.00, subject to adjustment as
provided in the Warrant. The Warrant is exercisable during the period commencing on August 19, 2021 and ending at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard
time on the date that is the earlier of (i) three years from the effective date of a registration statement registering for resale by
Maxim or its assigns the Warrant Shares (provided that such registration statement remains in effect at the end of the exercise period)
and (ii) the 42 month anniversary after August 19, 2021.
The
Company paid off the Maxim note, in its entirety at the end of August 2021.
Critical
Accounting Policies
The
preparation of consolidated financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and income and expenses
during the periods reported. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
Revenue
Recognition
As
of January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASC 606”). The new guidance sets
forth a new five-step revenue recognition model which replaces the prior revenue recognition guidance in its entirety and is intended
to eliminate numerous industry-specific pieces of revenue recognition guidance that have historically existed in GAAP. The underlying
principle of the new standard is that a business or other organization will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods
or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects to receive in exchange for the goods or services. The standard also
requires more detailed disclosures and provides additional guidance for transactions that were not addressed completely in the prior
accounting guidance. The Company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method and the adoption did not have a material
impact on its financial statements.
The
Company recognizes revenue when performance obligations under the terms of a contract with the customer are satisfied. Product sales
occur once control is transferred upon delivery to the customer. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects
to receive in exchange for transferring goods and services. Our revenue is derived from two sources, the first is from the sale of the
rights to our players to third parties and second from participation and prize money awarded at gaming tournaments.
The
following describes principal activities, separated by major product or service, from which the Company generates its revenues:
Company-Owned
Stores Sales
The
Company-owned stores principally generate revenue from retail esports gaming centers, including the sale of game time to casual players
on our high speed, high performance gaming stations, the sale of gaming related merchandise and accessories including controllers, collectible
card games, such as Pokemon Magic the Gathering, and Yugi-Oh, registration fees from local esports tournaments and leagues, and the sale
of party packages for party events. Revenues from Company-owned stores are recognized when the products are delivered, or the service
is provided.
Franchise
Royalties and Fees
Franchise
royalties are based on six percent of franchise store sales after a minimum level of sales occur, are recognized as sales occur. Any
royalty reductions, including waivers or those offered as part of a new store development incentive or as incentive for other behaviors,
are recognized at the same time as the related royalty, as they are not separately distinguishable from the full royalty rate. Franchise
royalties are billed on a monthly basis.
The
Company recognizes initial franchise license fee revenue net of costs incurred, when the Company has performed substantially all the
services required in the franchise agreement. Fees received that do not meet these criteria are recorded as deferred revenues until earned.
Initial franchise fees are generally recognized once a location is opened to the public which is when management deems substantially
all services required under the franchise agreements have been performed.
The
Company offers various incentive programs for franchisees including royalty incentives, new restaurant opening incentives (i.e. development
incentives) and other support initiatives. Royalties and franchise fees sales are reduced to reflect any royalty incentives earned or
granted under these programs that are in the form of discounts.
Commissary
sales are comprised of gaming equipment and supplies sold to franchised stores and are recognized as revenue upon shipment or delivery
of the related products to the franchisees. Payments are generally due within 30 days.
Fees
for information services, including software maintenance fees, marketing fees and website maintenance, graphic and promotion fees are
recognized as revenue as such services are provided.
Esports
revenue
Esports
revenue is a form of competition using video games. Most commonly, esports takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions,
particularly between professional players, individually or as teams. Revenues from esports revenue are recognized when the competition
is completed, and prize money is awarded.
Accounts
Receivable
The
Company estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts based on an analysis of specific customers (i.e. franchisees), taking into consideration
the age of past due accounts and an assessment of the customer’s ability to pay. Accounts receivable are written off against the
allowance when management determines it is probable the receivable is worthless. Customer account balances with invoices dated over 90
days old are considered delinquent and considered in the allowance assessment. The Company performs credit evaluations of its customers
and, generally, requires no collateral. As of May 31, 2021, management has recorded an allowance for doubtful accounts of $38,000.
Goodwill
Goodwill
is the excess of our purchase cost over the fair value of the net assets of acquired businesses. We do not amortize goodwill, but we
assess our goodwill for impairment at least annually. Our assessment date was May 31, 2021, and the company used a third-party valuation
expert to review our goodwill and this independent valuation, indicated no impairment.
Intangible
Assets and Impairment
Intangible
assets that are subject to amortization are reviewed for potential impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that carrying
amounts may not be recoverable. Assets not subject to amortization are tested for impairment at least annually. The Company had intangible
assets subject to amortization related to its acquisition of Simplicity Esports, LLC. These costs were included in intangible assets
on our balance sheet and amortized on a straight-line basis when placed into service over the estimated useful lives of the costs, which
is 3 to 5 years.
The
Company periodically reviews its intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. The Company recognizes an impairment loss when the sum of expected undiscounted future
cash flows is less that the carrying amount of the asset. The amount of impairment is measured as the difference between the asset’s
estimated fair value and its book value. For the year ended May 31, 2021, the company used a third-party valuation expert to review our
intangible assets and based upon this independent valuation, the company did not need to take an impairment charge.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company records stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation and ASC 505-50, Equity-Based
Payments to Non-Employees. All transactions in which goods or services are the consideration received for the issuance of equity
instruments are accounted for based on the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instrument issued,
whichever is more reliably measurable. Equity instruments issued to employees and the cost of the services received as consideration
are measured and recognized based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued and are recognized over the employees required service
period, which is generally the vesting period.
In
June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based
Payment Accounting, which aligns accounting for share-based payments issued to nonemployees to that of employees under the existing
guidance of Topic 718, with certain exceptions. This update supersedes previous guidance for equity-based payments to nonemployees under
Subtopic 505-50, Equity—Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. This guidance is effective for the Company as of January
1, 2019. The Company adopted ASU 2018-07 on January 1, 2019. The adoption of ASU 2018 did not have any material impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial statements.
Leases
In
February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The updated
guidance requires lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for most operating leases. In addition, the updated guidance
requires that lessors separate lease and non-lease components in a contract in accordance with the new revenue guidance in ASC 606. The
updated guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018.
On
January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02, applying the package of practical expedients to leases that commenced before the
effective date whereby the Company elected to not reassess the following: (i) whether any expired or existing contracts contain leases;
and (ii) initial direct costs for any existing leases. For contracts entered into on or after the effective date, at the inception of
a contract the Company assessed whether the contract is, or contains, a lease. The Company’s assessment is based on: (1) whether
the contract involves the use of a distinct identified asset, (2) whether we obtain the right to substantially all the economic benefit
from the use of the asset throughout the period, and (3) whether it has the right to direct the use of the asset. The Company will allocate
the consideration in the contract to each lease component based on its relative stand-alone price to determine the lease payments. The
Company has elected not to recognize right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases that have a
term of 12 months or less.
Operating
lease ROU assets represents the right to use the leased asset for the lease term and operating lease liabilities are recognized based
on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most leases do not provide an
implicit rate, the Company use an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the adoption date in determining the
present value of future payments. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is amortized on a straight-line basis over the lease term
and is included in general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Operating
Lease Right-of-Use Assets and Operating Lease Liabilities
The
Company adopted ASC Topic 842, Leases (Topic 842) and has elected the ‘package of practical expedients’, which permits it
not to reassess under the new standard its prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs.
In addition, the Company elected not to apply Topic 842 to arrangements with lease terms of 12 months or less. The Company has entered
into various lease agreements mainly to support the operations of its gaming centers.
The
significant assumption used to determine the present value of the lease liability was a discount rate ranging from 10% to 12% which was
based upon the Company’s estimated incremental borrowing rate at the start of the lease term.
MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth information regarding our directors and executive officers:
Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
Jed
Kaplan
|
|
57
|
|
Chairman
and Class II Director of the Company
|
Roman
Franklin
|
|
38
|
|
Chief
Executive Officer and Class I Director of the Company
|
Nancy
Hennessey
|
|
56
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
Donald
R. Caldwell
|
|
75
|
|
Class
I Director of the Company
|
Max
Hooper
|
|
79
|
|
Class
II Director of the Company
|
Frank
Leavy
|
|
68
|
|
Class
I Director of the Company
|
Edward
Leonard Jaroski
|
|
74
|
|
Class
I Director of the Company
|
William
H. Herrmann, Jr.
|
|
75
|
|
Class
II Director of the Company
|
Laila
Cavalcanti Loss
|
|
40
|
|
Class
II Director of the Company
|
Jed
Kaplan. Mr. Kaplan has been our Chairman since March 29, 2021 and a member of our board of directors since December 31, 2018.
He also served as our sole Chief Executive Officer from February 8, 2019 until March 29, 2021 and as our interim Chief Financial Officer
from February 8, 2019 to March 29, 2021. From December 31, 2018 to February 8, 2019, Mr. Kaplan served as our co-Chief Executive Officer.
He founded and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Shearson Financial Services, a FINRA-registered broker dealer, since May 1995.
As a natural leader possessing a passion for sports management, Mr. Kaplan has been involved in a wide variety of professional sports
and sports management ventures. Most recently Mr. Kaplan successfully sold the NBA G League Team, Iowa Energy, to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Currently Mr. Kaplan is also a minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando City Soccer Club and Swansea City of the English Championship
League. Mr. Kaplan’s insight, vision and knowledge are all represented as an appointed founding member of the NBA G League leadership
committee. Mr. Kaplan graduated from City University of New York in 1989 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
The
Company believes Mr. Kaplan’s strong expertise in the financial services and sports management industries qualifies him to serve
on its board of directors.
Roman
Franklin. Mr. Franklin has been a member of our board of directors since August 16, 2017 and our Chief Executive Officer since
March 29, 2021. From December 31, 2018 until March 31, 2021, Mr. Franklin served as our President. Mr. Franklin was Chief Investment
Officer of SMC Global USA from March 2016 until December 31, 2016, and prior, President of Franklin Financial Planning from 2005 to 2016.
Mr. Franklin is a 16-year veteran of the financial services industry. By the age of 22 he held FINRA Series 7, Series 66, and Life, Health,
and Variable Insurance Licenses. In 2005, he founded a fee-only registered investment advisory firm. In 2008, he was one of the youngest
recipients of the National Association of Financial Advisors (“NAPFA”) Registered Financial Advisor (RFA) designation. In
2015, he was elected as a Board Member of the NAPFA, South Region Board of Directors, overseeing more than a dozen states from Texas,
to Florida, to North Carolina. Mr. Franklin has experience in domestic and international investment, and has been involved in multiple
business transactions tied to India. Mr. Franklin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Barry University and an M.B.A.
in Finance from the Graduate School of Business at Stetson University. His civic organization roles include School Advisory Council for
Volusia County Schools, City of DeLand Economic Development Committee, and the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of Central Florida.
We
believe Mr. Franklin’s strong expertise in finance and international and domestic business transactions qualifies him to serve
on our board of directors.
Nancy
Hennessey. Ms. Hennessey has served as our Chief Financial Officer since May 17, 2021. Ms. Hennessey worked as the Senior Vice
President of Financial Planning and Analysis and as a consultant to the Chief Executive Officer of Travel and Leisure, formerly Wyndham
Destinations, an NYSE listed $5 billion market cap company from April 2011 to August 2019 as an employee and as a consultant until August
2020. From 1990 to 2011, Ms. Hennessey served multiple companies as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Hennessey
began her career by working for Ernst & Young as a Senior Auditor from 1986 until 1990. Ms. Hennessey is a Certified Public Accountant
and holds a BBA and MBA in Public Accounting from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University.
Donald
R. Caldwell. Mr. Caldwell, who has been an independent director since August 16, 2017, and served as our Chairman of the board
of directors from August 16, 2017 to March 29, 2021, is an experienced investor, co-founded Cross Atlantic Capital Partners, Inc., a
venture capital management company, where he has served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 1999. At Cross Atlantic Capital
Partners, Inc., Mr. Caldwell has raised four investment funds totaling over $500 million of committed capital and is responsible for
the firm’s operations, building the investment team, and growing the Cross Atlantic franchise through fundraising, network development,
and deal flow generation. Prior to founding Cross Atlantic Capital Partners, Inc. in March 1999, Mr. Caldwell was President and Chief
Operating Officer of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (NYSE: SFE) (“Safeguard”) from 1996 to 1999, where he also previously served
as Executive Vice President from 1993 to 1996. In addition to his service on our board, Mr. Caldwell currently serves on the board of
directors of three companies: InsPro Technologies Corporation (OTC: ITCC) since 2008, where he serves as chairman of the board and member
of the audit committee (a public company); Lightning Gaming, Inc. (a private company) since June 2015, where he serves as a director
and chairman of the audit committee; and Quaker Chemical Corporation (NYSE: KWR) (a public company) since 1997, where he serves as lead
director, as chairman of the executive committee and member of the compensation and audit committees; Mr. Caldwell was previously a member
of the board of directors of Diamond Cluster International, Inc. from 1994 to 2010 and has served as a director for several private companies
and non-profit organizations, including software and money management firms as well as the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and
the Committee for Economic Development. Mr. Caldwell is a Certified Public Accountant (Retired) and holds a Bachelor of Science degree
from Babson College and a Master of Business Administration from the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University.
We
believe Mr. Caldwell’s deep financial, entrepreneurial and business expertise and extensive experience as a member of the boards
and board committees of other public companies qualifies him to serve on our board of directors.
Max
Hooper. Dr. Hooper, who has been an independent member of our board of directors since August 16, 2017, serves as Managing Director
of Merging Traffic, a web-based crowdsourcing portal, since September 2015 and Head of Investment Banking and Senior Vice President of
Triloma Securities, a subsidiary of Triloma Financial Group LLC, since January 2016. Dr. Hooper is also the founder and owner of Partners
Advisory Group and Partners Capital Group, two financial advisory firms since January 2014. Since February 2018, Dr. Hooper’s primary
focus has been as Managing Director/CEO of Managing Traffic and co-owner of Triloma Financial Group. Prior to that, Dr. Hooper was co-founder
of Equity Broadcasting Corporation, a media company that owned and operated more than one hundred television stations across the United
States. Dr. Hooper is an accomplished entrepreneur and has started multiple businesses in technology/internet, lodging, and services
industries. Dr. Hooper has served on the investment committee of several venture capital and angel funds, and has completed “work
out” transactions as a Certified Debt Arbitrator representing banks and private transactions. Dr. Hooper also has prior experience
with SPACs such as transaction structuring, administration, research, and execution. Dr. Hooper has earned five doctorate degrees from
a variety of institutions.
We
believe Dr. Hooper’s expertise in investment, management and mergers and acquisitions over various industries qualify him to serve
on our board of directors.
Frank
Leavy. Mr. Leavy has been an independent member of our board of directors since August 16, 2017. Since 2007, Mr. Leavy has been
the Senior Vice President and Director of Finance and Administration for Blake’s All Natural Foods, a manufacturer of “better
for you” frozen entrees. Prior to that, he held various financial officer positions at member companies of Group Rossignol, a world
leading company in the winter sports industry. Specifically, he was Controller of Rossignol Ski Company from 1982 to 2006 and Vice President
of Finance of Skis Dynastar, Inc. and Skis Dynastar Canada from 2000 to 2006. He also served as Chief Operating Officer at Roger Cleveland
Golf Company, a subsidiary of Group Rossignol from 1999 to 2000 and was elected a director of the company from 2003 to 2005. Mr. Leavy
holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a Master of Science degree in accounting from the Graduate School
of Professional Accounting at Northeastern University.
We
believe Mr. Leavy’s extensive experience in corporate finance qualify him to serve on our board of directors.
Edward
Leonard Jaroski. Mr. Jaroski has been an independent member of our board of directors since October 2017. Mr. Jaroski was the
founder of Capstone Asset Management Company and had served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from 1987 to March 2016. Mr.
Jaroski was Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of various Capstone/Steward Funds in the fund complex from 1987 through 2016.
Mr. Jaroski was at Tenneco Financial Services from 1981 to 1987, where he was the Executive Vice President. He started his career at
Philadelphia Life Insurance Company as Manager of Investments in 1969, where he served until 1981 and also served as its Vice President
of Finance. He also served as a Director of Philadelphia Life Asset Management Company. Mr. Jaroski holds the insurance industry professional
designations of Chartered Life Underwriter, Charter Financial Consultant and Fellow Life Management Institute. He holds a B.B.A. degree
in Accounting from Temple University.
We
believe Mr. Jaroski’s experience in investments and asset management qualify him to serve on our board of directors.
William
H. Herrmann, Jr. Mr. Herrmann has been an independent member of our board of directors since October 2017. Mr. Herrmann has over
45 years of experience in financial services, and insurance and investment planning industries. Presently, Mr. Herrmann is the Owner
of Herrmann & Associates, a financial services firm affiliated with Hudson Heritage Capital Management Inc., a Registered Investment
Advisor since February 15, 2006. Mr. Herrmann has also served as an independent Director of Steward Funds, from 2011 until 2017. Mr.
Herrmann served as the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and was Chairman of the Contracts Committee. He
previously served as Independent Lead Director of Steward Funds. Mr. Herrmann is also an Independent Director of Church Capital Fund,
where he served as Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.
Mr.
Herrmann is a member of the Advisory Committee to the Liquidation Trustee for Church Capital Fund Liquidation Trust under TMI Trust Company.
Mr. Herrmann is also a Trustee of LuLu Shriners Investment Advisory Committee and the Chairman of Beta Rho Property Company. Mr. Herrmann
holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from Temple University, and holds the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation
from American College. Mr. Herrmann holds Series 7, 63, and 65 securities licenses as well as insurance licenses in multiple states.
We
believe Mr. Herrmann’s experience in financial services and the investment planning industry qualify him to serve on our board
of directors.
Laila
Cavalcanti Loss. Ms. Loss has served as a member of our board of directors since May 7, 2021. Since 2017, Ms. Loss, has practiced
law in private practice at Cavalcanti Loss Sociedade Individual de Advocacia. From 2010 to 2016, Ms. Loss served as the Head of Legal
in Latin America and Agola for Expro Group, a leading global oil services company. Ms. Loss holds a Master of Laws from the University
of Texas at Austin. She is permitted to practice law in Brazil and is admitted to the New York State Bar Association.
The
Company believes that Ms. Loss’s expertise in the legal industry qualified her to serve on its board of directors.
Our
officers and board of directors are well qualified as leaders. In their prior positions they have gained experience in core management
skills, such as strategic and financial planning, public company financial reporting, compliance, risk management, and leadership development.
Our officers and directors also have experience serving on boards of directors and board committees of other public companies and private
companies, and have an understanding of corporate governance practices and trends, which provides an understanding of different business
processes, challenges, and strategies.
Number
and Terms of Office of Officers and Directors
Our
board of directors is comprised of nine directors, divided into two classes, Class I and Class II, with only one class of directors being
elected in each year and each class serving a two-year term. There are four Class I directors and six Class II directors. However, as
of July 7, 2021, there is one board vacancy. The board is conducting a search for a replacement director to fill the vacancy. Once a
suitable replacement is found, they will serve as a Class II director.
Our
officers are elected by the board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board of directors, rather than for specific terms
of office. Our board of directors is authorized to appoint persons to the offices set forth in our bylaws as it deems appropriate. Our
bylaws provide that our officers may consist of a Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Vice Presidents, Secretary,
Assistant Secretaries, Treasurer and such other offices as may be determined by the board of directors.
Board
Committees and Director Independence
Our
common stock is presently quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol “WINR.” Our warrants issued in connection with our IPO in
August 2017 are currently listed on OTCQB under the symbol “WINRW.” Under the rules of the OTCQB, we are not required to
maintain a majority of independent directors on our Board of Directors and we are not required to establish committees of the Board of
Directors consisting of independent directors. However, we intend to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American.
In order to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market or NYSE American, we are required to comply with the applicable national
securities exchange’s standards relating to corporate governance, requiring, among other things, that:
|
●
|
A
majority of our Board of Directors to consist of “independent directors” as defined by the applicable rules and regulations
of the Nasdaq Capital Market or the NYSE American, as applicable;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
The
compensation of our executive officers to be determined, or recommended to the Board of Directors for determination, by independent
directors constituting a majority of the independent directors of the Board in a vote in which only independent directors participate
or by a Compensation Committee comprised solely of independent directors;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
That
director nominees to be selected, or recommended to the Board of Directors for selection, by independent directors constituting a
majority of the independent directors of the Board in a vote in which only independent directors participate or by a nomination committee
comprised solely of independent directors; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
Establishment
of an audit committee with at least three independent directors as well as composed entirely of independent directors, where at least
one of the independent directors qualifies as an audit committee financial expert under SEC rules and as a financially sophisticated
audit committee member under the applicable exchange rules.
|
Our
Board of Directors has determined in its business judgment that each of Messrs. Caldwell, Leavy, Jaroski and Herrmann and Dr. Hooper
is independent within the meaning of the applicable Nasdaq Capital Market and NYSE American rules, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and related
SEC rules. Therefore, a majority of the members of our Board of Directors is independent.
In
addition, our Board of Directors has two standing committees: an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee.
Committees
of the Board of Directors
Our
board of directors has two standing committees: an audit committee and a compensation committee. Both our audit committee and our compensation
committee are composed solely of independent directors.
Audit
Committee
Messrs.
Caldwell and Leavy and Dr. Hooper serve as members of our audit committee. Mr. Caldwell serves as chairman of the audit committee. Under
Nasdaq Capital Market and NYSE American listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have three members of the audit
committee, all of whom must be independent. Messrs. Caldwell, and Leavy and Dr. Hooper are independent.
Each
member of the audit committee is financially literate and our board of directors has determined that Mr. Caldwell qualifies as an “audit
committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.
Responsibilities
of the audit committee include:
|
●
|
the
appointment, compensation, retention, replacement, and oversight of the work of the independent auditors and any other independent
registered public accounting firm engaged by us;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
pre-approving
all audit and non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors or any other registered public accounting firm engaged
by us, and establishing pre-approval policies and procedures;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviewing
and discussing with the independent auditors all relationships the auditors have with us in order to evaluate their continued independence;
|
|
●
|
setting
clear hiring policies for employees or former employees of the independent auditors;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
setting
clear policies for audit partner rotation in compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
obtaining
and reviewing a report, at least annually, from the independent auditors describing (i) the independent auditor’s internal
quality-control procedures and (ii) any material issues raised by the most recent internal quality-control review, or peer review,
of the audit firm, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional authorities, within, the preceding five years
respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the firm and any steps taken to deal with such issues;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviewing
and approving any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC
prior to us entering into such transaction; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviewing
with management, the independent auditors, and our legal advisors, as appropriate, any legal, regulatory or compliance matters, including
any correspondence with regulators or government agencies and any employee complaints or published reports that raise material issues
regarding our financial statements or accounting policies and any significant changes in accounting standards or rules promulgated
by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
|
Compensation
Committee
The
members of our compensation committee are Messrs. Caldwell and Jaroski and Dr. Hooper. Mr. Caldwell serves as chairman of the compensation
committee. We have adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the principal functions of the compensation committee, including:
|
●
|
reviewing
and approving the compensation of all of our other executive officers;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviewing
our executive compensation policies and plans;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
implementing
and administering our incentive compensation equity-based remuneration plans;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
assisting
management in complying with our proxy statement and annual report disclosure requirements;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
approving
all special perquisites, special cash payments and other special compensation and benefit arrangements for our executive officers
and employees;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
producing
a report on executive compensation to be included in our annual proxy statement; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
reviewing,
evaluating and recommending changes, if appropriate, to the remuneration for directors.
|
The
charter also provides that the compensation committee may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant,
legal counsel or other adviser and will be directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the work of any such
adviser. However, before engaging or receiving advice from a compensation consultant, external legal counsel or any other adviser, the
compensation committee will consider the independence of each such adviser, including the factors required by the applicable national
securities exchange and the SEC.
Director
Nominations
We
do not have a standing nominating committee. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(1)(A) of the Nasdaq Listing Rules and Section 804(a) of
the NYSE American Company Guide, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by the board
of directors. The board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly
selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. The directors who shall participate
in the consideration and recommendation of director nominees are Messrs. Caldwell, Jaroski, Leavy, and Herrmann, and Dr. Hooper. In accordance
with Nasdaq Capital Market and NYSE American rules, all such directors are independent. As there is no standing nominating committee,
we do not have a nominating committee charter in place.
The
board of directors will also consider director candidates recommended for nomination by our stockholders during such times as they are
seeking proposed nominees to stand for election. Our stockholders that wish to nominate a director for election to the board of directors
should follow the procedures set forth in our bylaws.
We
have not formerly established any specific, minimum qualifications that must be met or skills that are necessary for directors to possess.
In general, in identifying and evaluating nominees for director, the board of directors considers educational background, diversity of
professional experience, knowledge of our business, integrity, professional reputation, independence, wisdom, and the ability to represent
the best interests of our stockholders.
Code
of Ethics
We
have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our directors, officers and employees. We previously filed a copy of our form of Code of
Ethics as an exhibit to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File 333-219251). You will be able to review these documents by accessing
our public filings at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, a copy of the Code of Ethics will be provided without
charge upon request from us. We intend to disclose any amendments to or waivers of certain provisions of our Code of Ethics in a Current
Report on Form 8-K. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Limitation
on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides that our officers and directors will be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized
by Delaware law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. In addition, our restated certificate provides that our directors
will not be personally liable for monetary damages to us for breaches of their fiduciary duty as directors, except to the extent such
exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”).
We
have entered into agreements with our officers and directors to provide contractual indemnification in addition to the indemnification
provided for in our third amended and restated certificate. Our bylaws also permit us to maintain insurance on behalf of any officer,
director or employee for any liability arising out of his or her actions, regardless of whether Delaware law would permit such indemnification.
We have purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our officers and directors against
the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances and insures us against our obligations to indemnify our
officers and directors.
Our
officers and directors have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to any monies in the trust account,
and have agreed to waive any right, title, interest or claim of any kind they may have in the future as a result of, or arising out of,
any services provided to us and will not seek recourse against the trust account for any reason whatsoever. Accordingly, any indemnification
we provide to our officers and directors will only be able to be satisfied by us if we have sufficient funds outside of the trust account.
These
provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions
also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against officers and directors, even though such an action,
if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected
to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against officers and directors pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
We
believe that these provisions, the insurance and the indemnity agreements are necessary to attract and retain talented and experienced
officers and directors.
The
Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Although
our management is primarily responsible for managing our risk exposure on a daily basis, our board of directors oversees the risk management
processes. Our board, as a whole, determines the appropriate level of risk for our Company, assesses the specific risks that we face,
and reviews management’s strategies for adequately mitigating and managing the identified risks. Although our board administers
this risk management oversight function, our audit committee supports our board in discharging its oversight duties and addresses risks
inherent in its area.
Director
Compensation
During
the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021, each non-employee director, other than our Chairman of the Board, received a grant of 2,500 shares
of the Company’s common stock as compensation for services as a member of the Board. Our Chairman of the Board received an annual
grant of 5,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in exchange for his services in that capacity. Effective March 29, 2021, Jed
Kaplan resigned as Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer and was appointed as Chairman of the Board. In addition
to his equity grant, Mr. Kaplan receives $4,000 per month in exchange for his services as Chairman of the Board.
During
the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021, executive officers who are also directors do not receive any additional compensation for their services
as directors. Compensation for members of the Board is reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee may
not delegate its authority regarding director compensation, and, except as described above, no executive officer plays a role in determining
the amount of director compensation. The Compensation Committee considers the amount of time directors dedicate to Company matters and
the need to attract and retain qualified directors when determining Board compensation.
Fiscal
Year Ended May 31, 2021 Director Compensation Table
Name
|
|
Fees
earned or paid in cash
($)
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Option
Awards
($)
|
|
|
Non-equity
incentive
plan
compensation
($)
|
|
|
Nonqualified
deferred
compensation
earnings
($)
|
|
|
All Other
Compensation
($)
|
|
|
Total
($)
|
|
Donald R. Caldwell
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
30,938
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
30,938
|
|
Edward Leonard Jaroski
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
17,330
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
17,330
|
|
Frank Leavy
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
17,330
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
17,330
|
|
William H. Herrmann, Jr.
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
17,330
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
17,330
|
|
Max Hooper
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
17,330
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
17,330
|
|
Laila Cavalcanti Loss
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(1
|
)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Jed Kaplan (2)
|
|
$
|
8,000
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
8,000
|
|
|
(1)
|
Ms.
Loss received common stock valued at $55,366 for legal services provided to the Company. In addition, Ms. Loss earned $27,500 for
legal services provided to the Company. A portion of the $27,500 has not yet been paid to Ms. Loss.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Kaplan ceased to be an executive officer on March 29, 2021. On March 25, 2021, the Company’s board of directors appointed Mr.
Kaplan as Chairman of the Board, effective March 29, 2021. Mr. Kaplan resigned as Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial
Officer effective March 29, 2021.
|
|
|
|
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The
following table summarizes all compensation recorded by us in the past two fiscal years ended May 31, 2021 for:
|
●
|
our
principal executive officer or other individual serving in a similar capacity, and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
our
two most highly compensated executive officers, other than our principal executive officer, who were serving as corporate officers
at May 31, 2021.
|
For
definitional purposes, these individuals are sometimes referred to as the “named executive officers.”
2021
Summary Compensation Table
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended
|
|
Salary ($)
|
|
|
Bonus ($)
|
|
|
Stock Awards ($)
|
|
|
Option Awards ($)
|
|
|
All Other Compensation ($)
|
|
|
Total ($)
|
|
Roman Franklin,
|
|
5/31/2021
|
|
$
|
197,737
|
|
|
$
|
125,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,032,243
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
1,354,980
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and Former President (1)
|
|
5/31/2020
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
245,215
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
420,215
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jed Kaplan,
|
|
5/31/2021
|
|
$
|
85,308
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
125,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,201,465
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
1,411,773
|
|
Former Chief Executive Officer and former interim Chief Financial Officer (7)
|
|
5/31/2020
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
(8)
|
|
$
|
311,925
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
386,925
|
|
|
(1)
|
Mr.
Franklin was appointed Chief Executive Officer on March 29, 2021, and ceased to be President on March 29, 2021.
|
|
(2)
|
This
amount was accrued as of May 31, 2020. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021, Mr. Franklin received $40,000 of the accrued bonus
from the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020. As of May 31, 2021, the Company still owes Mr. Franklin $35,000 of this amount.
|
|
(3)
|
Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value for all restricted stock granted to Mr. Franklin vested in the current fiscal year, computed
in accordance with Topic 718. Assumptions used to determine the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted stock include per
share grant date fair values ranging from $6.56 to $19.75, based on the closing stock price of the Company’s common stock as
reported on OTC Markets on various dates.
|
|
(4)
|
Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value for all restricted stock granted to the named executive officer vested in the current fiscal
year, computed in accordance with Topic 718. Assumptions used to determine the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted
stock include a per share grant date fair values ranging from $6.96 to $11.20, based on the closing stock prices of the Company’s
common stock as reported on OTC Markets on various dates.
|
|
(5)
|
Of
this amount, $8,000 was paid for Mr. Kaplan’s services as Chairman of the Board.
|
|
(6)
|
Represents
the aggregate grant date fair value for all restricted stock granted to Mr. Kaplan vested in the current fiscal year, computed in
accordance with Topic 718. Assumptions used to determine the aggregate grant date fair value of the restricted stock include per
share grant date fair values ranging from $6.56 to $19.75, based on the closing stock price of the Company’s common stock as
reported on OTC Markets on various dates.
|
|
(7)
|
Mr.
Kaplan ceased to be an executive officer on March 29, 2021. On March 25, 2021, the Company’s board of directors appointed Mr.
Kaplan as Chairman of the Board, effective March 29, 2021. Mr. Kaplan resigned as Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial
Officer effective March 29, 2021. Beginning March 29, 2021, Mr. Kaplan is paid $4,000 per month for his services as Chairman of the
Board. In addition, Mr. Kaplan received a grant of 5,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for his services as Chairman
of the Board.
|
|
(8)
|
This
amount was accrued as of May 31, 2020. During the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021, Mr. Kaplan received $40,000 of the accrued bonus
from the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020. As of May 31, 2021, the Company still owes Mr. Kaplan $35,000 of this amount.
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards at 2021 Fiscal Year-End
The
following table sets forth information on outstanding options and stock awards held by the named executive officers as of May 31, 2021.
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Exercisable
|
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) Unexercisable
|
|
|
Option Exercise Price ($)
|
|
|
Option Expiration Date
|
|
|
Number of Shares or Units Of Stock that Have Not Vested (#) (1)
|
|
|
Market Value Of Shares Or Units of Stock That Have Not
Vested ($) (1)
|
|
Roman Franklin
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jed Kaplan
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
2021
Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table
The
following table sets forth the vesting of restricted stock during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021 for the named executive officers:
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number of Shares Acquired on
Vesting
|
|
|
Value Realized on Vesting
|
|
Roman Franklin
|
|
|
91,067
|
|
|
$
|
1,032,243
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jed Kaplan
|
|
|
106,875
|
|
|
$
|
1,201,465
|
|
Executive
Officer and Director Compensation
The
Company intends to develop an executive compensation program that is consistent with its existing compensation policies and philosophies,
which are designed to align compensation with our business objectives and the creation of stockholder value, while enabling us to attract,
motivate and retain individuals who contribute to the long-term success of the Company.
Decisions
on the executive compensation program will be made by the compensation committee. The following discussion is based on the present expectations
as to the executive compensation program to be adopted by the compensation committee. The executive compensation program actually adopted
will depend on the judgment of the members of the compensation committee and may differ from that set forth in the following discussion.
We
anticipate that decisions regarding executive compensation will reflect our belief that the executive compensation program must be competitive
in order to attract and retain our executive officers. We anticipate that the compensation committee will seek to implement our compensation
policies and philosophies by linking a significant portion of our executive officers’ cash compensation to performance objectives
and by providing a portion of their compensation as long-term incentive compensation in the form of equity awards.
We
anticipate that compensation for our executive officers will have three primary components: base salary, an annual cash incentive bonus
and long-term incentive compensation in the form of share-based awards, if any.
Base
Salary
Our
compensation committee will determine base salaries and manage the base salary review process, subject to existing employment agreements.
Annual
Bonuses
We
intend to use annual cash incentive bonuses for the executive officers to tie a portion of their compensation to financial and operational
objectives achievable within the applicable fiscal year. We expect that, near the beginning of each year, the compensation committee
will select the performance targets, target amounts, target award opportunities and other term and conditions of annual cash bonuses
for the executive officers, subject to the terms of any employment agreement. Following the end of each year, the compensation committee
will determine the extent to which the performance targets were achieved and the amount of the award that is payable to the executive
officers.
On
July 29, 2020, the board of directors approved a cash bonus to each of Messrs. Kaplan and Franklin in the amount of $75,000 in return
for services provided during the 2020 fiscal year. Such bonuses will be deferred and paid when the Company has sufficient funds available
to pay such bonuses, as to be reasonably determined by the board of directors and the respective executives. During the fiscal year ended
May 31, 2021, the Company paid $40,000 of such bonus amount to each of Messrs. Kaplan and Franklin. As of May 31, 2021, the Company owed
$35,000 to each of Messrs. Kaplan and Franklin for the bonus granted for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020.
In
December 2020, the board of directors approved a cash bonus to each of Messrs. Kaplan and Franklin in the amount of $125,000. Such bonuses
have been deferred and will be paid when the Company has sufficient funds available to pay such bonuses, to be reasonably determined
by the board of directors and the respective executives.
Stock-Based
Awards
We
intend to use stock-based awards to reward long-term performance of the executive officers. We believe that providing a meaningful portion
of the total compensation package in the form of stock-based awards will align the incentives of its executive officers with the interests
of its stockholders and serve to motivate and retain the individual executive officers. Stock-based awards will be awarded under the
Incentive Plan, which has been adopted by our Board of Directors and is being submitted to our shareholders for approval at the special
meeting in lieu of an annual meeting.
Restricted
Stock Awards
On
July 29, 2020, the Board issued 41,875 shares of common stock to Jed Kaplan, our then-Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial
Officer and a member of our board of directors. Of these shares, (i) 31,250 shares of common stock related to services provided by Mr.
Kaplan to the Company during the 2020 fiscal year, (ii) 8,750 shares of common stock related to grants that should have been, but were
not, made pursuant to the Kaplan 2018 Agreement (as hereinafter defined), and (iii) 1,875 shares of common stock related to grants made
pursuant to the Kaplan 2020 Agreement (as hereinafter defined). Mr. Kaplan currently serves as our Chairman of the Board. The Kaplan
2018 Agreement provided for the grant to Mr. Kaplan of 1,250 shares of common stock per month. For the months of January 2020 through
July 2020, however, such shares had not been granted. Accordingly, the July 29, 2020 grant included an aggregate of 8,750 shares of common
stock that should have been granted for the months of January 2020 through July 2020. The Kaplan 2020 Agreement provides for the grant
to Mr. Kaplan of 1,875 shares of common stock per month. Such shares were fully vested and earned as of the issuance thereof.
On
July 29, 2020, the Board also issued 34,813 shares of common stock to Roman Franklin, our then-President and a member of our board of
directors. Of these shares, (i) 31,250 shares of common stock related to services provided by Mr. Franklin to the Company during the
2020 fiscal year, (ii) 2,625 shares of common stock related to grants that should have been, but were not, made pursuant to the Franklin
2018 Agreement (as hereinafter defined), and (iii) 938 shares of common stock related to grants made pursuant to the Franklin 2020 Agreement
(as hereinafter defined). Mr. Franklin currently serves as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors. The Franklin
2018 Agreement provided for the grant to Mr. Franklin of 375 shares of common stock per month. For the months of January 2020 through
July 2020, however, such shares had not been granted. Accordingly, the July 29, 2020 grant included an aggregate of 2,625 shares of common
stock that should have been granted for the months of January 2020 through July 2020. The Franklin 2020 Agreement provides for the grant
to Mr. Franklin of 782 shares of common stock per month. Such shares were fully vested and earned as of the issuance thereof.
Executive
Employment Agreements
On
December 31, 2018, the Company entered into an employment agreement (the “Kaplan 2018 Agreement”) with Jed Kaplan, pursuant
to which the parties agreed that he will serve as the Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company until March 31, 2019, at which point
he automatically became the sole Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Under the terms of the Kaplan 2018 Agreement, Mr. Kaplan did
not receive a salary or other monetary compensation and in lieu thereof he will receive an equity grant of 1,250 shares of Common Stock
per month, which shares will be fully vested upon grant.
On
July 29, 2020, the Company entered into a new employment agreement (the “Kaplan 2020 Agreement”) with Mr. Kaplan. Such employment
agreement replaced the Kaplan 2018 Agreement. As a result, the Kaplan 2018 Agreement was terminated and is of no further force or effect.
Pursuant to the terms of the Kaplan 2020 Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Kaplan a monthly base salary of $5,000; provided, however,
that the parties agreed that such base salary will be deferred and will accumulate until the Company has sufficient cash available to
make such payments, to be reasonably determined by the Board of Directors and Mr. Kaplan, at which time all accrued and unpaid base salary
will be paid. In addition, Mr. Kaplan will receive an equity grant of 1,875 shares of common stock per month, which shares will be fully
vested upon grant. Mr. Kaplan will also be eligible to receive a quarterly bonus in the form of cash or an equity grant of shares and
will be entitled to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans. In addition, if, during the term of the Kaplan 2020 Agreement,
the Company’s shares are approved for listing on a U.S. national securities exchange, the Company will pay Mr. Kaplan a $50,000
cash bonus, to be paid upon such listing begin effective.
The
term of the Kaplan 2020 Agreement is for an initial one-year term, which shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms unless
either party provides 60 days’ advance written notice of its intention not to renew the Kaplan 2020 Agreement at the conclusion
of the then applicable term. The term of the Kaplan 2020 Agreement may be terminated by the Company with or without cause or by Mr. Kaplan
with or without good reason, as such terms are defined therein.
On
March 25, 2021, the board of directors appointed Mr. Kaplan as Chairman of the Board, effective March 29, 2021, and he ceased to be the
Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer.
On
December 31, 2018, the Company also entered into an employment agreement (the “Franklin 2018 Agreement”) with Roman Franklin,
pursuant to which the parties agreed that he will serve as the President of the Company. Pursuant to the terms of the Franklin 2018 Agreement,
the Company agreed to that Mr. Franklin will receive (i) a monthly base salary of $8,333.33 and (ii) an equity grant of 375 shares of
Common Stock per month, which shares will be fully vested upon grant.
On
July 29, 2020, the Company entered into a new employment agreement (the “Franklin 2020 Agreement”) with Mr. Franklin. Such
employment agreement replaced the Franklin 2018 Agreement. As a result, the Franklin 2018 Agreement was terminated and is of no further
force or effect. Pursuant to the terms of the Franklin 2020 Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Franklin a monthly base salary of
$12,500; provided, however, that the parties agreed that such base salary will be deferred and will accumulate until the Company has
sufficient cash available to make such payments, to be reasonably determined by the Board of Directors and Mr. Franklin, at which time
all accrued and unpaid base salary will be paid. In addition, Mr. Franklin will receive an equity grant of 782 shares of common stock
per month, which shares will be fully vested upon grant. Mr. Franklin will also be eligible to receive a quarterly bonus in the form
of cash or an equity grant of shares and will be entitled to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans. In addition,
if, during the term of the Franklin 2020 Agreement, the Company’s shares are approved for listing on a U.S. national securities
exchange, the Company will pay Mr. Franklin a $50,000 cash bonus, to be paid upon such listing begin effective.
Each
of the Kaplan 2020 Agreement and the Franklin 2020 Agreement contains customary non-competition and non-solicitation covenants for a
period of one year after the termination of the executive’s employment.
On
March 25, 2021, the board of directors appointed Mr. Franklin as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective March 29, 2021.
Mr. Kaplan ceased to be the Company’s President on such date. Mr. Franklin continues to be a member of our board of directors.
In connection with Mr. Franklin’s appointment, on March 25, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement, dated as of
March 29, 2021 by and between the Company and Mr. Franklin (the “2021 Franklin Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms
of the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement, in exchange for Mr. Franklin’s services, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Franklin an annual
base salary of $250,000. Mr. Franklin is also eligible to receive a quarterly bonus of up to $15,000 in the form of a cash bonus and/or
equity grant of shares of the Company’s common stock. Mr. Franklin’s eligibility for any bonus and the amount thereof will
be determined solely at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Mr.
Franklin’s employment and the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement may be terminated by the Company with or without Cause (as hereinafter
defined), or by Mr. Franklin with or without Good Reason (as hereinafter defined). In addition, in the event of Mr. Franklin’s
death or total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Disability”),
during the term of the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement, the term of the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement and Mr. Franklin’s
employment will terminate on the date of death or Disability.
For
purposes of the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement, “Cause” means, subject to the provisions of the 2021 Franklin Employment
Agreement:
|
(i)
|
Mr.
Franklin’s willful failure to perform his duties (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or
mental illness);
|
|
(ii)
|
Mr.
Franklin’s willful failure to comply with any valid and legal directive of the Board of Directors; or
|
|
(iii)
|
Mr.
Franklin’s willful engagement in gross misconduct, which is, in each case, materially injurious to the Company or its affiliates;
or
|
|
(iv)
|
Actions
by Mr. Franklin constituting embezzlement, misappropriation, or fraud, whether or not related to Mr. Franklin’s employment
with the Company; or
|
|
(v)
|
Mr.
Franklin’s conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime that constitutes a felony (or state law equivalent)
or a crime that constitutes a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; or
|
|
(vi)
|
Mr.
Franklin’s material breach of any material obligation under the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement, which Mr. Franklin fails
to correct within 10 days after Mr. Franklin receives written notice from the Board of Directors of such breach.
|
For
purposes of the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement, “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following, in each case
during the term of the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement:
|
(i)
|
A
material reduction in Mr. Franklin’s base salary;
|
|
(ii)
|
A
material reduction in Mr. Franklin’s target bonus opportunity;
|
|
(iii)
|
A
relocation of Mr. Franklin’s principal place of employment from that set forth in the Franklin Employment Agreement by more
than 35 miles;
|
|
(iv)
|
A
material breach by the Company of any material provision of the Franklin Employment Agreement;
|
|
(v)
|
At
any time following a Change of Control (as defined in the Franklin Employment Agreement), a material change in Mr. Franklin’s
title or responsibilities, or a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to Mr.
Franklin immediately prior to a Change of Control.
|
Mr.
Franklin may not terminate the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement for Good Reason pursuant to clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above unless
(x) Mr. Franklin, within 30 days following the occurrence of the such condition giving rise to Good Reason, notifies the Company in writing
of his intent to terminate with Good Reason; (y) the Company fails to cure such condition within 30 days after being so notified; and
(z) Mr. Franklin actually terminates no later than 30 days after the end of the cure period.
Solely
in the case of an event of Cause relating to Mr. Franklin’s willful failure to perform his duties (other than any such failure
resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), Mr. Franklin’s willful failure to comply with any valid and legal
directive of the Board of Directors; or Mr. Franklin’s material breach of any material obligation under the Franklin Employment
Agreement, which Mr. Franklin fails to correct within 10 days after Mr. Franklin receives written notice from the Board of Directors
of such breach (each, a “Cause Capable of Cure”), the Company may not and will not terminate the Franklin Employment Agreement
for Cause unless the Company has provided written notice to Mr. Franklin of the existence of the circumstances providing grounds for
termination for a Cause Capable of Cure, and Mr. Franklin has had at least 14 calendar days to cure such circumstances to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Company and has thereafter not cured such circumstance within such 14 calendar day period.
Pursuant
to the terms of the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement, upon (i) termination by the Company for Cause, (ii) termination by Mr. Franklin
without Good Reason, or (iii) a non-renewal by the Company, the Company will pay to Mr. Franklin the following amounts (the “Franklin
Accrued Amounts”):
|
(i)
|
Any
accrued but unpaid base salary;
|
|
(ii)
|
Any
bonus compensation awarded for the quarterly period preceding that in which termination occurs, but unpaid on the date of termination
(the “Prior Quarterly Period Bonus”);
|
|
(iii)
|
Reimbursement
for unreimbursed business expenses;
|
|
(iv)
|
Such
employee benefits, if any, to which Mr. Franklin may be entitled under the Company’s employee benefit plans as of the date
of termination; provided that, in no event shall Mr. Franklin be entitled to any payments in the nature of severance or termination
payments except as specifically provided in the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement; and
|
|
(v)
|
all
amounts otherwise required to be paid or provided by law.
|
Pursuant
to the terms of the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement, upon termination of the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement solely as a result
of Mr. Franklin’s death or Disability, Mr. Franklin or his estate will receive the 2021 Franklin Accrued Amounts and the pro-rated
bonus as provided in the 2021 Franklin Employment Agreement.
Upon
Mr. Franklin’s termination by the Company without or other than for Cause, or (ii) resignation by Mr. Franklin with Good Reason,
then:
|
(i)
|
the
Company will pay to Mr. Franklin the Franklin Accrued Amounts and a pro-rated bonus as provided in the Franklin Employment Agreement;
|
|
(ii)
|
the
Company will pay to Mr. Franklin $125,000 as a severance payment;
|
|
(iii)
|
the
Company will pay to Mr. Franklin any salary that Mr. Franklin would have earned through the end of the then-applicable initial term
or renewal term, as applicable; and
|
|
(iv)
|
any
unvested incentive awards then held by Mr. Franklin will immediately be vested in full.
|
Also
on March 25, 2021, the Board appointed Knicks Lau to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective March 29, 2021.
In connection with Mr. Lau’s appointment, on March 23, 2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement, dated as of March
29, 2021 by and between the Company and Mr. Lau (the “Lau Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Lau Employment
Agreement, in exchange for Mr. Lau’s services, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Lau an annual base salary of $140,000. In addition,
Mr. Lau was entitled to receive compensation in the form of an equity grant of $5,000 in the Company’s common stock for each quarter
during the term of the Lau Employment Agreement. On May 10, 2021, Knicks Lau resigned as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer
for personal reasons. Upon Mr. Lau’s resignation, the Lau Employment Agreement was terminated under mutual agreement of the parties
with no payouts made other than the salary paid for the time served.
In
connection with Nancy Hennessey’s appointment as the Company’s Chief Financial officer effective May 17, 2021, on May 11,
2021, the Company entered into an employment agreement, dated as of May 17, 2021 by and between the Company and Ms. Hennessey (the “Hennessey
Employment Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Hennessey Employment Agreement, in exchange for Ms. Hennessey’s services,
the Company agreed to pay Ms. Hennessey an annual base salary of $140,000. In addition, Ms. Hennessey is entitled to receive compensation
in the form of an equity grant of $5,000 in the Company’s common stock for each quarter during the term of the Hennessey Employment
Agreement, which runs for a period ending one year after May 17, 2021 and automatically renews for successive one year terms unless either
party gives 60 days’ advance written notice of its intention not to renew the Hennessey Employment Agreement. Ms. Hennessey is
also eligible to receive a quarterly bonus of up to $12,500 in the form of a cash bonus and/or equity grant of shares of the Company’s
common stock. Pursuant to the terms of the Hennessey Employment Agreement, Ms. Hennessey will also receive (i) 5,000 shares of common
stock upon filing of the 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, if completed before July 31, 2021, and (ii) 5,000 shares of common stock upon
completion of an uplisting to a national exchange, such as The Nasdaq Stock Market or the NYSE American. Ms. Hennessey’s eligibility
for any bonus and the amount thereof will be determined solely at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Ms.
Hennessey’s employment and the Hennessey Employment Agreement may be terminated by the Company with or without Cause (as hereinafter
defined), or by Ms. Hennessey with or without Good Reason (as hereinafter defined). In addition, in the event of Ms. Hennessey’s
death or total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Disability”),
during the term of the Hennessey Employment Agreement, the term of the Hennessey Employment Agreement and Ms. Hennessey’s employment
will terminate on the date of death or Disability.
For
purposes of the Hennessey Employment Agreement, “Cause” means, subject to the provisions of the Hennessey Employment Agreement:
|
(i)
|
Ms.
Hennessey’s willful failure to perform her duties (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or
mental illness);
|
|
(ii)
|
Ms.
Hennessey’s willful failure to comply with any valid and legal directive of the Board of Directors; or
|
|
(iii)
|
Ms.
Hennessey’s willful engagement in dishonesty, illegal conduct, or gross misconduct, which is, in each case, materially injurious
to the Company or its affiliates; or
|
|
(iv)
|
Actions
by Ms. Hennessey constituting embezzlement, misappropriation, or fraud, whether or not related to Ms. Hennessey’s employment
with the Company; or
|
|
(v)
|
Ms.
Hennessey’s conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime that constitutes a felony (or state law equivalent)
or a crime that constitutes a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; or
|
|
(vi)
|
Ms.
Hennessey’s material breach of any material obligation under the Hennessey Employment Agreement, which Ms. Hennessey fails
to correct within 10 days after Ms. Hennessey receives written notice from the Board of Directors of such breach.
|
For
purposes of the Hennessey Employment Agreement, “Good Reason” means the occurrence of any of the following, in each case
during the term of the Hennessey Employment Agreement:
|
(i)
|
A
material reduction in Ms. Hennessey’s base salary;
|
|
(ii)
|
A
material reduction in Ms. Hennessey’s target bonus opportunity;
|
|
(iii)
|
A
relocation of Ms. Hennessey’s principal place of employment from that set forth in the Hennessey Employment Agreement by more
than 35 miles;
|
|
(iv)
|
A
material breach by the Company of any material provision of the Hennessey Employment Agreement;
|
|
(v)
|
At
any time following a Change of Control (as defined in the Hennessey Employment Agreement), a material change in Ms. Hennessey’s
title or responsibilities, or a material diminution by the Company of compensation and benefits (taken as a whole) provided to Ms.
Hennessey immediately prior to a Change of Control.
|
Ms.
Hennessey may not terminate the Hennessey Employment Agreement for Good Reason pursuant to clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above unless
(x) Ms. Hennessey, within 30 days following the occurrence of the such condition giving rise to Good Reason, notifies the Company in
writing of her intent to terminate with Good Reason; (y) the Company fails to cure such condition within 30 days after being so notified;
and (z) Ms. Hennessey actually terminates no later than 30 days after the end of the cure period.
Solely
in the case of an event of Cause relating to Ms. Hennessey’s willful failure to perform her duties (other than any such failure
resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness), Ms. Hennessey’s willful failure to comply with any valid and legal
directive of the Board of Directors; or Ms. Hennessey’s material breach of any material obligation under the Hennessey Employment
Agreement, which Ms. Hennessey fails to correct within 10 days after Ms. Hennessey receives written notice from the Board of Directors
of such breach (each, a “Cause Capable of Cure”), the Company may not and will not terminate the Hennessey Employment Agreement
for Cause unless the Company has provided written notice to Ms. Hennessey of the existence of the circumstances providing grounds for
termination for a Cause Capable of Cure, and Ms. Hennessey has had at least 14 calendar days to cure such circumstances to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Company and has thereafter not cured such circumstance within such 14 calendar day period.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Hennessey Employment Agreement, upon (i) termination by the Company for Cause, (ii) termination by Ms. Hennessey
without Good Reason, or (iii) a non-renewal by the Company, the Company will pay to Ms. Hennessey the following amounts (the “Hennessey
Accrued Amounts”):
|
(i)
|
Any
accrued but unpaid base salary, any accrued but unpaid equity grants and accrued but unused vacation;
|
|
(ii)
|
Any
bonus compensation awarded for the quarterly period preceding that in which termination occurs, but unpaid on the date of termination
(the “Prior Quarterly Period Bonus”);
|
|
(iii)
|
Reimbursement
for unreimbursed business expenses;
|
|
(iv)
|
Such
employee benefits, if any, to which Ms. Hennessey may be entitled under the Company’s employee benefit plans as of the date
of termination; provided that, in no event shall Ms. Hennessey be entitled to any payments in the nature of severance or termination
payments except as specifically provided in the Hennessey Employment Agreement; and
|
|
(v)
|
all
amounts otherwise required to be paid or provided by law.
|
Pursuant
to the terms of the Hennessey Employment Agreement, upon termination of the Hennessey Employment Agreement solely as a result of Ms.
Hennessey’s death or Disability, Ms. Hennessey or her estate will receive the Hennessey Accrued Amounts and the pro-rated bonus
as provided in the Hennessey Employment Agreement.
Upon
Ms. Hennessey’s termination by the Company without or other than for Cause, or (ii) resignation by Ms. Hennessey with Good Reason,
then:
|
(i)
|
the
Company will pay to Ms. Hennessey the Hennessey Accrued Amounts and a pro-rated bonus as provided in the Hennessey Employment Agreement;
|
|
(ii)
|
the
Company will pay to Ms. Hennessey $35,000 as a severance payment;
|
|
(iii)
|
the
Company will pay to Ms. Hennessey any salary that Ms. Hennessey would have earned through the end of the then-applicable initial
term or renewal term, as applicable;
|
|
(iv)
|
any
unvested incentive awards then held by Ms. Hennessey will immediately be vested in full; and
|
|
(v)
|
any
additional equity grants to which Ms. Hennessey would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the Hennessey Employment Agreement
will be issued and paid in accordance with the terms of the Hennessey Employment Agreement.
|
2020
Omnibus Incentive Plan
The
board and shareholders of the Company approved of the Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2020
Plan”) on April 22, 2020 and June 23, 2020, respectively. We believe that the 2020 Plan serves as an essential element of our compensation
program and is critical to our ability to attract and retain the highly qualified employees essential for the execution of our business
strategy. We believe the 2020 Plan will (i) attract and retain key personnel, and (ii) provide a means whereby directors, officers, employees,
consultants, and advisors of the Company and its subsidiaries can acquire and maintain an equity interest in the Company, or be paid
incentive compensation, including incentive compensation measure by reference to the value of the Company’s common stock, thereby
strengthening their commitment to the welfare of the Company and its subsidiaries and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s
stockholders. The 2020 Plan provides for various stock-based incentive awards, including incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock
appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock and restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and other equity-based or
cash-based awards. On June 4, 2021, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-8 for the purpose of resale or reoffer thereof,
of 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2020 Plan.
2020
Plan Highlights
Highlights
of the 2020 Plan are as follows:
|
●
|
The
Compensation Committee, which is comprised solely of independent directors, administers the 2020 Plan.
|
|
●
|
The
total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2020 Plan is 125,000 shares, or approximately 8.6% of the
common stock outstanding at October 1, 2021.
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
No
non-employee director may be granted awards under the 2020 Plan during any calendar year if such awards, taken together with any
cash fees paid to such non-employee director would exceed a total value of $250,000 (calculated in accordance with the terms of the
2020 Plan).
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
The
exercise price of options and SARs may not be less than the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant.
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
In
addition to other vesting requirements, the Compensation Committee may condition the vesting of awards on the achievement of specific
performance targets.
|
Material
Features of the 2020 Plan
Term
The
2020 Plan was effective June 23, 2020. The 2020 Plan will terminate on June 23, 2030, unless the Board terminates it earlier.
Purpose
The
purpose of the 2020 Plan is to provide a means through with the Company and its subsidiaries may attract and retain key personnel, and
to provide a means whereby directors, officer, employees, consultants, and advisors of the Company and its subsidiaries can acquire and
maintain an equity interest in the Company, or be paid incentive compensation, thereby strengthening their commitment to the welfare
of the Company and its subsidiaries and aligning their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders.
Administration
Pursuant
to the terms of the 2020 Plan, a committee of the Board or any properly delegated subcommittee, or, if no such committee or subcommittee
thereof exists, the Board, shall administer the 2020 Plan. The Compensation Committee, which is comprised entirely of independent directors,
administers the 2020 Plan. The Compensation Committee will have the sole and plenary authority to (i) designate participants; (ii) determine
the type or types of awards; (iii) determine the number of shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other
matters are to be calculated in connection with, awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any award; (v) determine whether,
to what extent, and under what circumstances awards may be settled in, or exercised for, cash, shares of Company common stock, other
securities, other awards, or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which awards may be settled,
exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances the delivery of cash,
shares of Company common stock, other securities, other awards, or other property and other amounts payable with respect to an award
shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the participant or of the Compensation Committee; (vii) interpret, administer,
reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in, and/or supply any omission in the 2020 Plan and any instrument or agreement relating
to, or award granted under, the 2020 Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive any rules and regulations and appoint such agents
as the Compensation Committee shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the 2020 Plan; (ix) adopt sub-plans; and (x) make
any other determination and take any other action that the Compensation Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration
of the 2020 Plan.
The
Compensation Committee may delegate its authority to administer the 2020 Plan as permitted by law, except for award grants to non-employee
directors.
The
Compensation Committee will have the discretion to select particular performance targets in connection with awards under the 2020 Plan.
Under the 2020 Plan, performance targets are specific levels of performance of the Company (and/or subsidiaries, divisions or operational
and/or business units, product lines, brands, business segments, administrative departments, or any combination of the foregoing), which
may be determined in accordance with GAAP or on a non-GAAP basis on the specified measures, including, but not limited to:
|
●
|
debt
ratings;
|
|
●
|
share
price;
|
|
●
|
debt
to capital ratio;
|
|
●
|
total
stockholder return;
|
|
●
|
generation
of cash;
|
|
●
|
acquisition
or disposition of assets;
|
|
●
|
issuance
of new debt;
|
|
●
|
acquisition
or disposition of companies, entities or businesses;
|
|
●
|
establishment
of new credit facilities;
|
|
●
|
creation
of new performance and compensation criteria for key personnel;
|
|
●
|
retirement
of debt;
|
|
●
|
recruiting
and retaining key personnel;
|
|
●
|
return
measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, return on capital, return on equity);
|
|
●
|
customer
satisfaction;
|
|
●
|
attraction
of new capital;
|
|
●
|
employee
morale;
|
|
●
|
cash
flow;
|
|
●
|
hiring
of strategic personnel;
|
|
●
|
earnings
per share;
|
|
●
|
development
and implementation of Company policies, strategies and initiatives;
|
|
●
|
net
income;
|
|
●
|
creation
of new joint ventures;
|
|
●
|
pre-tax
income;
|
|
●
|
increasing
the Company’s public visibility and corporate reputation;
|
|
●
|
pre-tax
pre-bonus income;
|
|
●
|
development
of corporate brand name;
|
|
●
|
operating
income;
|
|
●
|
overhead
cost reductions; or
|
|
●
|
gross
revenue;
|
|
●
|
any
combination of or variations on the foregoing.
|
|
●
|
net
revenue;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
net
margin;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
pre-tax
margin;
|
|
|
|
Eligibility
Employees,
directors and independent contractors (except those performing services in connection with the offer or sale of the Company’s securities
in a capital raising transaction, or promoting or maintaining a market for the Company’s securities) of the Company or its subsidiaries
will be eligible to receive awards under the 2020 Plan.
Maximum
Shares Available
Awards
granted under the 2020 Plan are subject to the following limitations: (i) no more than 125,000 shares of common stock (the “Absolute
Share Limit”) will be available for awards under the 2020 Plan; (ii) no more than the number of shares of common stock equal to
the Absolute Share Limit may be issued in the aggregate pursuant to the exercise of incentive stock options granted under the 2020 Plan;
and (iii) the maximum number of shares of common stock subject to awards granted during a single calendar year to any non-employee director,
taken together with any cash fees paid to such non-employee director during such calendar year, shall not exceed a total value of $250,000
(calculating the value of any such awards based on the grant date fair value of such awards for financial reporting purposes).
When
(i) an option or SAR is granted under the 2020 Plan, the maximum number of shares subject to the option or SAR will be counted against
the Absolute Share Limit as one share for every share subject to such option or SAR, regardless of the actual number of shares (if any)
used to settle such option or SAR upon exercise; and (ii) an award other than an option or SAR is granted under the 2020 Plan, the maximum
number of shares subject to the award will be counted against the Absolute Share Limit as two shares for every share subject to such
award, regardless of the actual number of shares (if any) used to settle such award. The issuance of shares or the payment of cash upon
the exercise of an award or in consideration of the cancellation or termination of an award shall reduce the total number of shares available
under the 2020 Plan, as applicable. If shares are not issued or are withheld from payment of an award to satisfy tax obligations with
respect to the award, such shares will not be added back to the Absolute Share Limit, but rather will count against the Absolute Share
Limit.
To
the extent that an award granted under the 2020 Plan or a prior plan award expires or is canceled, forfeited or terminated, in whole
or in part without issuance to the holder thereof of shares of common stock to which the award or prior plan award related or cash or
other property in lieu thereof, the unissued shares of common stock will again be available for grant under the 2020 Plan; provided that,
in any such case, the number of shares again available for grant under the 2020 Plan shall be the number of shares previously counted
against the Absolute Share Limit (or, in the case of prior plan award, the number of shares that would have been counted against the
Absolute Share Limit if such prior plan award had been granted under this 2020 Plan) with respect to such unissued shares of common stock
to which such award or prior plan award related, as determined in accordance with the terms of the 2020 Plan.
Awards
may, in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee, be granted under the 2020 Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding
awards previously granted by an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“Substitute
Awards”). Substitute Awards will not be counted against the Absolute Share Limit; provided, that Substitute Awards issued in connection
with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding options intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) will be counted against the aggregate
number of shares of common stock available for awards of incentive stock options under the 2020 Plan. Subject to applicable stock exchange
requirements, available shares of common stock under a stockholder-approved plan of an entity directly or indirectly acquired by the
Company or with which the Company combines (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the acquisition or combination transaction) may be used
for awards under the 2020 Plan and will not reduce the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2020 Plan.
Adjustments
In
the event of a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reorganization, stock split or dividend, or similar event affecting
the common stock, the number (including limits on shares of common stock granted) and kind of shares granted under the 2020 Plan, the
Compensation Committee will make such proportionate substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems equitable, to any or all of the Absolute
Share Limit, the number of shares of common stock or other securities of the Company that may be issued in respect of awards or with
respect to which awards may be granted and the terms of any outstanding award.
Restricted
Stock
The
Compensation Committee will be authorized to award restricted stock under the 2020 Plan. Awards of restricted stock will be subject to
the terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee. Restricted stock is common stock that is subject to such restrictions
as may be determined by the Compensation Committee for a specified period.
RSU
Awards
The
Compensation Committee will be authorized to award RSUs in lieu of or in addition to any restricted stock awards. RSUs will be subject
to the terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee. Each RSU will have an initial value that is at least equal to
the fair market value of a share of Company common stock on the date of grant. RSUs may be paid at such time as the Compensation Committee
may determine in its discretion, and payments may be made in a lump sum or in installments, in cash, shares of common stock, or a combination
thereof, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.
Options
The
Compensation Committee will be authorized to grant options to purchase shares of common stock that are either “qualified,”
meaning they are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)
for incentive stock options, or “nonqualified,” meaning they are not intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422
of the Code. Options granted under the 2020 Plan will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the Compensation Committee.
Under the terms of the 2020 Plan, the exercise price of the options will not be less than the fair market value of our common stock at
the time of grant. Options granted under the 2020 Plan will be subject to such terms, including the exercise price and the conditions
and timing of exercise, as may be determined by the Compensation Committee and specified in the applicable award agreement. The maximum
term of an option granted under the 2020 Plan will be 10 years from the date of grant (or five years in the case of a qualified option
granted to a 10% stockholder). Payment in respect of the exercise of an option may be made in cash or by check, by surrender of unrestricted
shares (at their fair market value on the date of exercise), or through a “net exercise,” or the Compensation Committee may,
in its discretion and to the extent permitted by law, allow such payment to be made through a broker-assisted cashless exercise mechanism
or by such other method as the Compensation Committee may determine to be appropriate.
Stock
Appreciation Rights
The
Compensation Committee will be authorized to award SARs under the 2020 Plan. SARs will be subject to the terms and conditions established
by the Compensation Committee and reflected in the award agreement. A SAR is a contractual right that allows a participant to receive,
in the form of either cash, shares or any combination of cash and shares, the appreciation, if any, in the value of a share over a certain
period of time. An option granted under the 2020 Plan may include SARs, and SARs may also be awarded to a participant independent of
the grant of an option. SARs granted in connection with an option shall be subject to terms similar to the option corresponding to such
SARs.
Other
Stock-Based Awards
The
Compensation Committee will be authorized to award other stock-based awards having terms and conditions as determined by the Compensation
Committee. These awards may be granted either alone or in tandem with other awards.
Qualified
Performance-Based Awards
Restricted
stock and RSUs granted to officers and employees of the Company may depend on the degree of achievement of one or more performance goals
relative to a pre-established targeted level or levels using one or more identified performance targets. The applicable performance period
may not be less than three months nor more than 10 years.
Dividends
and Voting Rights
Participants
awarded stock options and SARs will not receive dividends or dividend equivalents or have any voting rights with respect to shares of
common stock underlying these awards prior to the issuance of any such shares. Participants that hold unearned awards subject to performance
vesting conditions (other than or in additional to the passage of time) will not receive dividends or dividend equivalents or have any
voting rights with respect to shares of common stock underlying these awards prior to the issuance of any such shares; provided, however,
that dividends and dividend equivalents may be accumulated in respect of unearned awards and paid within 30 days after such awards
are earned and become payable or distributable.
Transferability
Awards
granted under the 2020 Plan generally will be transferable only by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution. In certain
limited circumstances, the Compensation Committee may authorize stock options, other than incentive stock options, to be transferred
to family members or trusts controlled by family members of the participant. Restricted stock may not be sold, transferred, assigned,
pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of until the applicable restrictions lapse.
Change
in Control
In
the event of a Change in Control (as defined in the 2020 Plan), options become immediately exercisable in full. In addition, in such
event the Compensation Committee may accelerate the termination date of the option to a date no earlier than 30 days after notice of
such acceleration is given to the participant. Upon the giving of any such acceleration notice, the option shall become immediately exercisable
in full.
A
participant’s right to SARs under an SAR agreement immediately vest as to 100% of the total number of shares covered by the grant
(i) upon termination of the grantee’s employment on account of the grantee’s death or permanent disability; or (ii) upon
the occurrence of a Change in Control.
With
respect to restricted stock and RSUs, in the event that the grantee’s status as an employee is terminated following a Change in
Control, then all unvested shares of restricted stock and RSUs will immediately vest.
Clawback
All
awards under the 2020 Plan are subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture or recoupment to the extent necessary to comply with (i)
any clawback, forfeiture or other similar policy adopted by the Board or the Compensation Committee and as in effect from time to time;
and (ii) applicable law.
Amendment
and Termination
The
Board may terminate or amend the 2020 Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided, however, that the Board may not, without
stockholder approval, amend the 2020 Plan if:
|
●
|
Such
approval is necessary to comply with any regulatory requirement applicable to the 2020 Plan;
|
|
●
|
It
would materially increase the number of securities which may be issued under the 2020 Plan (except for increases expressly provided
for in the 2020 Plan; or
|
|
●
|
It
would materially modify the requirements for participation in the 2020 Plan.
|
In
addition, any such amendment that would materially and adversely affect an award holder’s rights with respect to a previously granted
and outstanding award will not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected holder of such award.
The
Compensation Committee may terminate or amend any award agreement, to the extent consistent with the terms of the 2020 Plan and any applicable
award agreement and so long as such termination or amendment would not materially and adversely affect an award holder’s rights
with respect to a previously granted and outstanding award (unless the affected holder consents thereto); provided, however that
the Compensation Committee may not, without stockholder approval, amend or terminate an award or award agreement to:
|
●
|
Reduce
the exercise price of any option or the strike price of any SAR,
|
|
●
|
To
cancel any outstanding option or SAR and replace it with a new option or SAR (with a lower exercise price or strike price, as the
case may be) or other award or cash payment that is greater than the intrinsic value (if any) of the canceled option or SAR; and
|
|
●
|
Take
any other action which is considered a “repricing” for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of any securities exchange
or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or quoted.
|
U.S.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The
following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to 2020 Plan participants and the Company of the
grant, vesting and exercise of awards under the 2020 Plan and the disposition of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such awards
and is based upon an interpretation of the current federal income tax laws and regulations and may be inapplicable if such laws and regulations
are changed. This summary is not intended to be a complete statement of applicable law or constitute tax advice, nor does it address
foreign, state, local and payroll tax considerations. Moreover, the U.S. federal income tax consequences to any particular participant
may differ from those described herein by reason of, among other things, the particular circumstances of such participant. To the extent
that any awards under the 2020 Plan are subject to Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”), the following discussion assumes
that such awards will be designed to conform to the requirements of Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereunder (or an exception
thereto). The 2020 Plan is not subject to the protective provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
and is not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code.
Incentive
Stock Options. Options issued under the 2020 Plan and designated as incentive stock options are intended to qualify as such under
Section 422 of the Code. Under the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the related regulations, holders of incentive stock options
will generally incur no federal income tax liability at the time of grant or upon exercise of those options, and the Company will not
be entitled to a deduction at the time of the grant or exercise of the option. However, the difference between the value of the common
stock received on the exercise date and the exercise price paid will be an “item of tax preference,” which may give rise
to “alternative minimum tax” liability to the holder for the taxable year in which the exercise occurs. The taxation of gain
or loss upon the sale of the common stock acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option depends, in part, on whether the holding
period of the shares of our common stock acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock option is at least (i) two years from the
date of grant of the option and (ii) one year from the date the option was exercised. If these holding period requirements are satisfied,
any gain or loss realized on a subsequent disposition of the shares will constitute long-term capital gain or loss, as the case may be.
Assuming both holding periods are satisfied, no deduction will be allowed to us for federal income tax purposes in connection with the
grant or exercise of the incentive stock option. If these holding periods requirements are not met, then, upon such “disqualifying
disposition” of the shares, the participant will generally realize compensation, taxable as ordinary income, at the time of such
disposition in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the share on the date of exercise over the exercise
price, limited to the gain on the sale, and that amount will generally be deductible by us for federal income tax purposes, subject to
the possible limitations on deductibility under Section 162(m)of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated thereunder.
Finally, if an otherwise qualified incentive stock option becomes first exercisable in any one year for shares having an aggregate value
in excess of $100,000 (based on the grant date value), the portion of the incentive stock option in respect of those excess shares will
be treated as a non-qualified stock option for federal income tax purposes.
Non-qualified
Stock Options. No income will generally be realized by a participant upon grant of a non-qualified stock option. Upon the exercise
of a non-qualified stock option, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income in an amount equal to the excess, if any,
of the fair market value of the underlying exercised shares over the option exercise price paid at the time of exercise. We will be able
to deduct this same amount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited under Section 162(m) of the Code for
compensation paid to certain executives designated thereunder. Upon a subsequent disposition of the shares acquired under a non-qualified
stock option, the participant will realize short-term or long-term capital gain (or loss) depending on the holding period. The capital
gain (or loss) will be short-term if the shares are disposed of within one year after the non-qualified stock option is exercised, and
long-term if shares were held more than 12 months as of the sale date.
Restricted
Stock. A participant will normally not be required to recognize income for federal income tax purposes upon the grant of an award
of restricted stock, nor is the Company entitled to any deduction, to the extent that the shares awarded have not vested (i.e., are no
longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture). On the date an award of restricted stock is no longer subject to a substantial risk
of forfeiture, the participant will compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market
value of the vested shares on that date and the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any, unless the participant made an election
under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed at the time of grant. The participant may, however, make an election under Section 83(b)
of the Code, within 30 days following the grant of the restricted stock award, to be taxed at the time of the grant of the award based
on the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant and the amount the participant paid for such shares,
if any. If the shares subject to such election are subsequently forfeited, the participant will not be entitled to any deduction, refund
or loss for tax purposes with respect to the forfeited shares. We will be able to deduct, at the same time as it is recognized by the
participant, the amount of taxable compensation to the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such deduction may be limited
under Section 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated thereunder. Upon the sale of the vested shares,
the participant will realize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending on the holding period. The holding period generally
begins when the restriction period expires. If the recipient timely made a Section 83(b) election, the holding period commences on the
date of the grant.
Deferred
Stock Units and Restricted Stock Units. A participant will not be subject to federal income tax upon the grant of a deferred stock
unit award or a restricted stock unit award, and the Company is not entitled to a deduction at the time of grant. Rather, upon the delivery
of shares or cash pursuant to a deferred stock unit award or a restricted stock unit award, the participant will generally have compensation
taxable at ordinary income rates in an amount equal to the fair market value of the number of shares (or the amount of cash) actually
received with respect to the settlement of the award of such units. We will generally be able to deduct the amount of the ordinary income
realized by the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but the deduction may be limited under Section 162(m) of the Code for
compensation paid to certain executives designated thereunder. If the participant receives shares upon settlement then, upon disposition
of such shares, appreciation or depreciation after the settlement date is treated as either short-term or long-term capital gain or loss,
depending on how long the shares have been held.
SARs.
SARs are treated very similarly to non-qualified options for tax purposes. No income will normally be realized by a participant upon
grant of a SAR. Upon the exercise of a SAR, the participant will recognize compensation taxable as ordinary income in an amount equal
to either: (i) the cash received upon exercise; or (ii) if shares are received upon the exercise of the SAR, the fair market value of
the shares received in respect of the SAR. We will be able to deduct this same amount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but such
deduction may be limited under Section 162(m) of the Code for compensation paid to certain executives designated thereunder.
Performance
Awards. A participant generally will not recognize income upon the grant of a performance award. Upon payment of the performance
award, the participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the cash received or, if the performance award is payable
in shares, the fair market value of the shares received. When the participant recognizes ordinary income upon payment of a performance
award, the Company generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in the same amount.
Other
Stock-Based Awards. A participant will generally have compensation taxable as ordinary income for federal income tax purposes in
an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date the award is settled (whether in shares or
cash, or both) over the amount the participant paid for such shares, if any. We will generally be able to deduct, at the same time as
it is recognized by the participant, the amount of taxable compensation to the participant for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but
such deduction may be limited under Section 162(m) for compensation paid to certain executives designated thereunder.
Consequences
of Change of Control. If a change of control of the Company causes awards under the 2020 Plan to accelerate vesting or is deemed
to result in the attainment of performance goals, certain participants could, in some cases, be considered to have received “excess
parachute payments,” which could subject certain participants to a 20% excise tax on the excess parachute payments and result in
a disallowance of the Company’s deductions under Section 280G of the Code.
Section
409A. Section 409A applies to compensation that individuals earn in one year but that is not paid until a future year. This is referred
to as non-qualified deferred compensation. Section 409A, however, does not apply to qualified plans (such as a Section 401(k) plan) and
certain welfare benefits. If deferred compensation covered by Section 409A meets the requirements of Section 409A, then Section 409A
has no effect on the individual’s taxes. The compensation is taxed in the same manner as it would be taxed if it were not covered
by Section 409A. If a deferred compensation arrangement does not meet the requirements of Section 409A, the compensation is subject to
accelerated taxation in the year in which such compensation is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and certain additional
taxes, interest and penalties, including a 20% additional income tax. Awards of stock options, SARs, restricted stock units and performance
awards under the 2020 Plan may, in some cases, result in the deferral of compensation that is subject to the requirements of Section
409A. Awards under the 2020 Plan are intended to comply with Section 409A, the regulations issued thereunder or an exception thereto.
Notwithstanding, Section 409A may impose upon a participant certain taxes or interest charges for which the participant is responsible.
Section 409A does not impose any penalties on the Company and does limit the Company’s deduction with respect to compensation paid
to a participant.
Section
162(m). The Company generally may deduct any compensation or ordinary income recognized by the recipient of an award under the 2020
Plan when recognized, subject to the limits of Section 162(m) of the Code (“Section 162(m)”). Prior to 2018, Section 162(m)
imposed a $1 million limit on the amount a public company may deduct for compensation paid to a Company’s Chief Executive Officer
or any of the Company’s three other most highly compensated executive officers (other than the Chief Financial Officer) who were
employed as of the end of the year. This limitation did not apply to compensation that met Code requirements for “qualified performance-based
compensation.” The performance-based compensation exemption, the last day of the year determination date, and the exemption of
the Chief Financial Officer from Code Section 162(m)’s deduction limit have all been repealed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of
2017 (“Tax Reform”), effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, such that awards paid under the 2020
Plan to our covered executive officers may not be deductible for such taxable years due to the application of the $1 million deduction
limitation. However, under Tax Reform transition relief, compensation provided under a written binding contract in effect on November
2, 2017 that is not materially modified after that date continues to be subject to the performance-based compensation exception. As in
prior years, while deductibility of executive compensation for federal income tax purposes is among the factors the Compensation Committee
considers when structuring our executive compensation, it is not the sole or primary factor considered. Our Board and the Compensation
Committee retain the flexibility to authorize compensation that may not be deductible if they believe it is in our best interests.
Tax
Withholding. The Company and its affiliates have the right to deduct or withhold, or require a participant to remit to the Company
and its affiliates, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state and local taxes (including employment taxes) required by law to be
withheld with respect to any exercise, lapse of restriction or other taxable event arising with respect to awards under the 2020 Plan.
Equity
Compensation Plan Information
The
table below sets forth information as of May 31, 2021.
Plan Category
|
|
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
|
|
|
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
|
|
|
Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
(b)
|
|
|
(c)
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
838,933
|
(1)
|
Total
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
838,933
|
|
(1)
This represents (i) 62,500 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”) (the
Company has not made, and does not intend to make, any future grants under the 2018 Plan), and (ii) 776,433 shares of common stock issuable
pursuant to the Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”).
The
Company’s stockholders approved the 2018 Plan on October 4, 2018. Under the 2018 Plan, 62,500 shares of common stock are authorized
for issuance to employees, officers, directors, consultants. The 2018 Plan authorizes the grant of nonqualified stock options and incentive
stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, other stock bonus awards, and performance
compensation awards. There were 62,500 shares available for award as of May 31, 2021 under the 2018 Plan. The Company has not made, and
does not intend to make, any grants under the 2018 Plan.
The
Board of Directors and stockholders of the Company approved the 2020 Plan on April 22, 2020 and June 23, 2020, respectively. Under the
2020 Plan, 1,000,000 shares of common stock are authorized for issuance to employees, directors and independent contractors (except those
performing services in connection with the offer or sale of the Company’s securities in a capital raising transaction, or promoting
or maintaining a market for the Company’s securities) of the Company or its subsidiaries. The 2020 Plan authorizes equity-based
and cash-based incentives for participants. There were 776,433 shares available for award as of May 31, 2021 under the 2020 Plan.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The
following table sets forth the number of shares of and percent of the Company’s common stock beneficially owned as of October 1,
2021, by all directors, our named executive officers, our directors and executive officers as a group, and persons or groups known by
us to own beneficially 5% or more of our common stock.
Except
as noted below, the business address of each of the beneficial owners listed below is c/o Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company, 7000
W. Palmetto Park Rd., Suite 505, Boca Raton, FL 33433.
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Amount
and
Nature of Beneficial Ownership
|
|
|
Percentage
of Class
(1)
|
|
Directors and Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jed Kaplan (2)
|
|
|
281,953
|
|
|
|
17.60
|
%
|
Roman Franklin (3)
|
|
|
148,133
|
|
|
|
9.30
|
%
|
Donald R. Caldwell (4)
|
|
|
24,625
|
|
|
|
1.50
|
%
|
Max Hooper (5)
|
|
|
11,188
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Frank Leavy (6)
|
|
|
10,954
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Edward Leonard Jaroski (7)
|
|
|
23,938
|
|
|
|
1.50
|
%
|
William H. Herrmann, Jr. (8)
|
|
|
14,790
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Nancy Hennessey
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
Laila Cavalcanti Loss
|
|
|
11,563
|
|
|
|
*
|
%
|
All directors and officers as a group (9 persons) (9)
|
|
|
542,144
|
|
|
|
33.60
|
%
|
Principal Shareholders (more than 5%):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AQR Capital Management, LLC (10)
|
|
|
101,605
|
|
|
|
6.00
|
%
|
Maxim Group, LLC (11)
|
|
|
385,000
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
Labrys Fund, LP (12)
|
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC (13)
|
|
|
871,685
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
GS Capital Partners, LLC (14)
|
|
|
192,708
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
Jefferson Street Capital, LLC (15)
|
|
|
192,708
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
Lucas Ventures, LLC (16)
|
|
|
211,229
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
LGH Investments, LLC (17)
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
1.20
|
%
|
Ionic Ventures, LLC (18)
|
|
|
899,306
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
(1)
|
The
percentages in the table have been calculated on the basis of treating as outstanding for a particular person, all shares of our
capital stock outstanding on October 1, 2021. On October 1, 2021, there were 1,593,428 shares of our common stock outstanding. To
calculate a stockholder’s percentage of beneficial ownership, we include in the numerator and denominator the common stock
outstanding and all shares of our common stock issuable to that person in the event of the exercise of outstanding warrants and other
derivative securities owned by that person which are exercisable within 60 days of October 1, 2021. Common stock warrants and derivative
securities held by other stockholders are disregarded in this calculation. Therefore, the denominator used in calculating beneficial
ownership among our stockholders may differ. Unless we have indicated otherwise, each person named in the table has sole voting power
and sole investment power for the shares listed opposite such person’s name
|
|
|
(2)
|
Includes
2,440 shares of Common Stock owned indirectly through Mr. Kaplan’s wife, Jamie Kaplan, and 6,250 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of 6,250 warrants with an exercise price of $92.00 which expire on May 22, 2024 that have vested or will vest within
60 days of October 1, 2021.
|
|
|
(3)
|
Includes
6,375 shares of Common Stock owned indirectly through Mr. Franklin’s wife, Alyssia Franklin.
|
(4)
|
Includes
2,500 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of 2,500 warrants with an exercise price of $92.00 which expire on May 22,
2024 that have vested or will vest within 60 days of October 1, 2021.
|
|
|
(5)
|
Includes
1,813 shares of Common Stock owned directly by Merging Traffic, Inc., 1,250 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
1,250 warrants owned directly by Merging Traffic, Inc. with an exercise price of $92.00 which expire on May 22, 2024 that have vested
or will vest within 60 days of October 1, 2021, and 3,125 shares of our Common Stock owned directly by Dr. Hooper. Dr. Hooper is
Managing Director of Merging Traffic, Inc.
|
|
|
(6)
|
Includes
938 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of 938 warrants with an exercise price of $92.00 which expire on May 22, 2024
that have vested or will vest within 60 days of October 1, 2021.
|
|
|
(7)
|
Includes
7,500 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of 7,500 warrants with an exercise price of $92.00 which expire on May 22,
2024 that have vested or will vest within 60 days of October 1, 2021.
|
|
|
(8)
|
Includes
1,250 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of 1,250 warrants with an exercise price of $92.00 which expire on May 22,
2024 that have vested or will vest within 60 days of October 1, 2021.
|
|
|
(9)
|
Includes
Jed Kaplan, Roman Franklin, Nancy Hennessey, Donald R. Caldwell, Max Hooper, Frank Leavy, Edward Leonard Jaroski, Laila Cavalcanti
Loss, and William H. Herrmann, Jr.
|
|
|
(10)
|
Represents
warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. AQR Capital Management, LLC (“AQR”) is a wholly owned
subsidiary of AQR Capital Management Holdings, LLC (“AQR Holdings”). CNH Partners, LLC (“CNH”) is deemed
to be controlled by AQR. AQR serves as the investment manager to the AQR Diversified Arbitrage Fund, an open-end registered investment
company. AQR, AQR Holdings and CNH share voting and dispositive power over such shares. The principal office of AQR, AQR Holdings
and CNH is Two Greenwich Plaza, Greenwich, CT 06830.
|
|
|
(11)
|
Includes
(a) 20,000 shares of Common Stock, representing shares issued in connection with the release of Convertible Notes and (b) 365,000
shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by Maxim Group, LLC, which Warrants are subject to, as applicable,
certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion
thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least 61 days’
prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding. Maxim Group, LLC is the record and beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. The address of Maxim
Group, LLC is 405 Lexington Avenue, 2nd FL, New York, NY 10174.
|
|
|
(12)
|
Includes
(a) 10,000 shares of Common Stock, representing commitment shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note
to Labrys Fund, LP (“Labrys”) and (b) 165,000 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible
Note held by Labrys, which Convertible Note is subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide
that a holder of such Convertible Note will not have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates,
would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after giving effect to such conversion, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or
decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Labrys is the record and beneficial
owner of the securities set forth in the table. Thomas Silverman, as Managing Member of Labrys, has voting control and investment
discretion over the securities reported herein that are held by Labrys. The address of Labrys is 48 Parker Road, Wellesley, MA 02482.
|
(13)
|
Includes
(a) 15,269 shares of Common Stock, representing commitment shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note
to FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC (“FirstFire”), (b) 182,666 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of the Convertible Note held by FirstFire, which Convertible Note is subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations,
which provide that a holder of such Convertible Note will not have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together
with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such
holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and
(c) 673,750 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by FirstFire, which Warrants are subject to, as
applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise
any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable,
of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least
61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding. FirstFire is the record and beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. Eli Fireman,
the Manager of FirstFire Capital Management, LLC, which is the manager of FirstFire, has voting control and investment discretion
over the securities reported herein that are held by FirstFire. The address of FirstFire is 1040 First Avenue, Suite 190, New York,
NY 10022.
|
|
|
(14)
|
Includes
(a) 3,125 shares of Common Stock, representing commitment shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note to
GS Capital Partners, LLC (“GS Capital”), (b) 33,333 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible
Note held by GS Capital, which Convertible Note is subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide
that a holder of such Convertible Note will not have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates,
would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after giving effect to such conversion, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or
decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and (c) 156,250 shares of
our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by GS Capital, which Warrants are subject to, as applicable, certain
beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion thereof
if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior
notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding. GS Capital is the record and beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. Gabe Sayegh, the President of
GS Capital, has voting control and investment discretion over the securities reported herein that are held by GS Capital. The address
of GS Capital is 30 Washington Street, Suite 5L, Brooklyn, New York 11201.
|
|
|
(15)
|
Includes
(a) 3,125 shares of Common Stock, representing commitment fee shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note
to Jefferson Street Capital, LLC (“Jefferson”), (b) 33,333 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
Convertible Note held by Jefferson, which Convertible Note is subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations,
which provide that a holder of such Convertible Note will not have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together
with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such
holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and
(c) 156,250 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by Jefferson, which Warrants are subject to, as
applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise
any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable,
of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least
61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding. Jefferson is the record and beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. Brian
Goldberg, as Managing Member of Jefferson, has voting control and investment discretion over the securities reported herein that
are held by Jefferson. The address of Jefferson is 720 Monroe Street, Suite 401B, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030.
|
(16)
|
Includes
(a) 3,749 shares of Common Stock, representing commitment fee shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note
to Lucas Ventures, LLC (“Lucas Ventures”), (b) 20,000 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible
Note held by Lucas Ventures, which Convertible Note is subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which
provide that a holder of such Convertible Note will not have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together with
its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after giving effect to such conversion, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may
increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and (c) 187,480
shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by Lucas Ventures, which Warrants are subject to, as applicable,
certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion
thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least 61 days’
prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding. Lucas Ventures is the record and beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. Lucas Hoppel, as Managing
Member of Lucas Ventures, has voting control and investment discretion over the securities reported herein that are held by Lucas
Ventures.
|
|
|
(17)
|
Includes
20,000 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note held by LGH Investments, LLC (“LGH Investments”),
which Convertible Note is subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such
Convertible Note will not have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially
own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect
to such conversion, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation
up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. LGH Investments is the record and beneficial owner
of the securities set forth in the table. Lucas Hoppel, as Managing Member of LGH Investments, has voting control and investment
discretion over the securities reported herein that are held by LGH Investments, LLC.
|
|
|
(18)
|
Includes
(a) 14,584 shares of Common Stock, representing commitment fee shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note
to Ionic Ventures, LLC (“Ionic”), (b) 155,555 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible
Note held by Ionic, which Convertible Note is subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide
that a holder of such Convertible Note will not have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates,
would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after giving effect to such conversion, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or
decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and (c) 729,167 shares of
our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by Ionic, which Warrants are subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial
ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion thereof if such
holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice
to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Ionic is the record and beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. Brendan O’Neil and Keith Coulston are the
managers of Ionic and may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares that it holds. Mr. O’Neil
and Mr. Coulston each disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.
The address of Ionic Ventures, LLC is 3053 Fillmore St, Suite 256, San Francisco, CA 94123.
|
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Our
audit committee must review and approve any related person transaction we propose to enter into. Our audit committee charter details
the policies and procedures relating to transactions that may present actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest and may raise
questions as to whether such transactions are consistent with the best interest of our company and our stockholders. A summary of such
policies and procedures is set forth below.
Any
potential related party transaction that is brought to the audit committee’s attention will be analyzed by the audit committee,
in consultation with outside counsel or members of management, as appropriate, to determine whether the transaction or relationship does,
in fact, constitute a related party transaction. At its meetings, the audit committee will be provided with the details of each new,
existing or proposed related party transaction, including the terms of the transaction, the business purpose of the transaction and the
benefits to us and to the relevant related party.
In
determining whether to approve a related party transaction, the audit committee must consider, among other factors, the following factors
to the extent relevant:
|
●
|
whether
the terms of the transaction are fair to us and on the same basis as would apply if the transaction did not involve a related party;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
whether
there are business reasons for us to enter into the transaction;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
whether
the transaction would impair the independence of an outside director; and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
whether
the transaction would present an improper conflict of interest for any director or executive officer.
|
Any
member of the audit committee who has an interest in the transaction under discussion must abstain from any voting regarding the transaction,
but may, if so requested by the chairman of the audit committee, participate in some or all of the audit committee’s discussions
of the transaction. Upon completion of its review of the transaction, the audit committee may determine to permit or to prohibit the
transaction.
Equity
Sales
On
May 7, 2020, we authorized the sale of 2,867 shares of our restricted Common Stock at $8.72 per share to William H. Herrmann, Jr. a member
of our board of directors for $25,000.
Restricted
Stock Awards to Certain Officers and Directors
On
July 29, 2020, the Board issued 41,875 shares of common stock to Jed Kaplan, our then-Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial
Officer and a member of our board of directors. Of these shares, (i) 31,250 shares of common stock related to services provided by Mr.
Kaplan to the Company during the 2020 fiscal year, (ii) 8,750 shares of common stock related to grants that should have been, but were
not, made pursuant to the Kaplan 2018 Agreement (as hereinafter defined), and (iii) 1,875 shares of common stock related to grants made
pursuant to the Kaplan 2020 Agreement (as hereinafter defined). The Kaplan 2018 Agreement provided for the grant to Mr. Kaplan of 1,250
shares of common stock per month. For the months of January 2020 through July 2020, however, such shares had not been granted. Accordingly,
the July 29, 2020 grant included an aggregate of 8,750 shares of common stock that should have been granted for the months of January
2020 through July 2020. The Kaplan 2020 Agreement provides for the grant to Mr. Kaplan of 3,000 shares of common stock per month. Such
shares were fully vested and earned as of the issuance thereof. These shares were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities
Act.
On
July 29, 2020, the Board also issued 34,813 shares of common stock to Roman Franklin, our then-President and a member of our board of
directors. Of these shares, (i) 31,250 shares of common stock related to services provided by Mr. Franklin to the Company during the
2020 fiscal year, (ii) 2,625 shares of common stock related to grants that should have been, but were not, made pursuant to the Franklin
2018 Agreement (as hereinafter defined), and (iii) 938 shares of common stock related to grants made pursuant to the Franklin 2020 Agreement
(as hereinafter defined). The Franklin 2018 Agreement provided for the grant to Mr. Franklin of 375 shares of common stock per month.
For the months of January 2020 through July 2020, however, such shares had not been granted. Accordingly, the July 29, 2020 grant included
an aggregate of 2,625 shares of common stock that should have been granted for the months of January 2020 through July 2020. The Franklin
2020 Agreement provides for the grant to Mr. Franklin of 782 shares of common stock per month. Such shares were fully vested and earned
as of the issuance thereof. These shares were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
On
July 29, 2020, we authorized the grant of an aggregate of 24,000 shares of common stock to an employee and the members of the Board of
Directors of the Company. These shares were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
On
September 16, 2020, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,813 restricted common shares of the Company to executive officers and employees
of the Company for services rendered. More specifically, the Company issued 1,875 of these shares to Jed Kaplan and issued 938 of these
shares to Roman Franklin. These shares were valued at $25,420, or $9.04 per share, based on the quoted trading price on the date of grant.
In connection with the issuance of these shares, during the nine months ended February 28, 2021, the Company recorded stock-based professional
fees of $25,420. These shares were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
During
the three months ended November 30, 2020, the Company issued an aggregate of 9,844 restricted common shares of the Company to executive
officers of the Company for services rendered. Of these shares, the Company issued 5,625 shares to Jed Kaplan and issued 2,344 shares
to Roman Franklin. These shares were valued at $119,632, or per share prices ranging from $9.04 per share to $11.44 per common share,
based on the quoted trading price on the date of grant. These shares were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
On
December 18, 2020, the Company issued an aggregate of 100,000 shares (50,000 each) to two executive officers as a bonus. More specifically,
the Company issued 50,000 of these shares to Jed Kaplan and issued 50,000 of these shares to Roman Franklin. These shares were valued
at $1,410,000, or $14.10 per share, based on the quoted trading price on the date of grant. In connection with the issuance of these
shares, the Company recorded stock-based compensation of $1,410,000. Additionally, these officers shall receive a cash bonus of $125,000
each to be paid when funds are available. These shares were issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
On
February 16, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,657 restricted common shares of the Company to executive officers and employees
of the Company for services rendered. More specifically, the Company issued 1,875 of these shares to Jed Kaplan and issued 782 of these
shares to Roman Franklin. These shares were valued at $39,191, or $14.75 per share, based on the quoted trading price on the date of
grant.
On
March 8, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,657 restricted common shares of the Company to executive officers and employees of
the Company for services rendered. More specifically, the Company issued 1,875 of these shares to Jed Kaplan and issued 782 of these
shares to Roman Franklin. These shares were valued at $35,604, or $13.40 per share, based on the quoted trading price on the date of
grant.
On
April 6, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 2,657 restricted common shares of the Company to executive officers and employees of
the Company for services rendered. More specifically, the Company issued 1,875 of these shares to Jed Kaplan and issued 782 of these
shares to Roman Franklin. These shares were valued at $34,488, or $12.98 per share, based on the quoted trading price on the date of
grant.
On
September 1, 2021, the Company issued an aggregate of 82,500 restricted common shares of the Company to executive officers and directors
of the Company for services rendered during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2021.
Kaplan
Promissory Note
On
May 12, 2020 (the “Issue Date”), the Company issued a promissory note (the “Kaplan Note”) in the principal sum
of $90,000 in favor of Jed Kaplan, the Company’s then-Chief Executive Officer, interim Chief Financial Officer, member of the Company’s
Board of Directors and greater than 5% stockholder of the Company. The Kaplan Note matures on the first business day following the 150-day
anniversary of the Issue Date.
As
of May 31, 2020, advances under the terms of this note were $64,728. On various dates subsequent to May 31, 2020, Mr. Kaplan funded $25,272
pursuant to the Kaplan Promissory Note. With the contributions subsequent to May 31, 2020, the principal balances outstanding and due
Mr. Kaplan amounted to $90,000. On June 22, 2020, Mr. Kaplan agreed to forgive the debt of the Kaplan Promissory Note with a principal
balance of $90,000 in exchange for the Company assigning to Mr. Kaplan a 10% equity interest in Simplicity One Brasil, Ltda, a subsidiary
of the Company. See “Description of Business—Recent Developments—Debt Obligations—Kaplan Promissory Note”
for a more complete description of the terms of the note.
Restructuring
the Ownership in Simplicity One Brasil, LTDA
In
June 2020, while Simplicity One Brasil Ltda (“Simplicity One Brasil”) was preparing its initial application for purchasing
a franchise in Campeonato Brasileiro de League of Legends, Simplicity One Brasil become aware that the 10%-ownership interest of Team
One E-Sports Ltda (“Team One E-Sports”) in Simplicity One Brasil was in contravention of Riot Games’ policy that only
one League of Legend esports team could be owned by an owner at one time because Team One had already submitted an application for purchasing
a franchise for another League of Legend esports team. Accordingly, Simplicity One Brasil needed Team One E-Sports to divest itself of
its 10%-equity interest in Simplicity One Brasil in order for Simplicity One Brasil to proceed with its franchise application. Therefore,
on June 22, 2020, Mr. Kaplan entered into a Quota Purchase Agreement with Team One E-Sports, pursuant to which Mr. Kaplan acquired Team
One Esports’ 10%-ownership equity interest for $45,000 in cash. In addition, the Company transferred a 2%-equity interest (an aggregate
of 4%) to each of Laila De Braga Cavalcanti Loss, who runs the operations of Simplicity One Brasil, and Frederico Tannure, who live in
Brazil , in order to comply with Riot Games’ policy requiring local ownership in Brazil in order to apply for a franchise of a
league of legends sports team. Furthermore, on June 22, 2020, Mr. Kaplan agreed to forgive the debt of the Kaplan Promissory Note with
a principal balance of $90,000 in exchange for the Company assigning to Mr. Kaplan a 10% equity interest in Simplicity One Brasil. In
light of the restructuring of the ownership interest in Simplicity One Brasil, as of July 7, 2021, the Company, Mr. Kaplan, Ms. Cavalcanti
Loss, and Mr. Tannure own a 76%, 20%, 2% and 2% equity interest in Simplicity One Brasil.
Cash
Balance
The
Company maintains its cash balance at a financial services company that is owned by an officer of the Company.
Director
Independence
For
a description of director independence of our board members, see “Management— Board Committees and Director Independence”
on page 82 of this prospectus.
DESCRIPTION
OF SECURITIES
The
following description of our capital stock is based upon our third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, our
bylaws and applicable provisions of law, in each case as currently in effect. This discussion does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to our third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, and our bylaws, copies
of which are filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Authorized
Capital Stock
On
August 17, 2020, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to increase the authorized shares of common stock from 20,000,000 to 36,000,000.
Accordingly, our authorized capital stock consists of (i) 36,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common
Stock”), and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Preferred Stock”). At October
1, 2021, we had 1,593,428 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding and no Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.
As
of September 28, 2021, there were 134 holders of record of our Common Stock.
Common
Stock
Common
stockholders of record are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. Unless specified in
our third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or bylaws, or as required by applicable provisions of the DGCL
or applicable stock exchange rules, the affirmative vote of a majority of our shares of Common Stock that are voted is required to approve
any such matter voted on by our stockholders. Our board of directors is divided into two classes, each of which will generally serve
for a term of two years with only one class of directors being elected in each year. There is no cumulative voting with respect to the
election of directors, with the result that the holders of more than 50% of the shares voted for the election of directors can elect
all of the directors. Our stockholders are entitled to receive ratable dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out
of funds legally available therefor.
Preferred
Stock
Our
third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time
to time in one or more series. Our board of directors will be authorized to fix the voting rights, if any, designations, powers, preferences,
the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable
to the shares of each series. Our board of directors will be able to, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting
and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of the common stock and could have anti-takeover
effects. The ability of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying,
deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management. We have no preferred stock outstanding at the
date hereof. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so
in the future.
Warrants
Public
Stockholders’ Warrants
In
August 2017, we issued 650,000 warrants (“Public Warrants”) forming a part of units which we originally issued in our initial
public offering. Each Public Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our Common Stock at a price of $92.00 per
share, subject to adjustment. The Public Warrants may be exercised at any time commencing on December 20, 2018 until November 19, 2023.
On September 30, 2019, the 650,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants became registered under the
Securities Act.
Notwithstanding
the above, if our Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it
satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require
holders of Public Warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9)
of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement or
register or qualify the shares under blue sky laws, and in the event we do not so elect, we will use our best efforts to register or
qualify the shares under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in certain states.
Once
the warrants become exercisable, we may call the warrants for redemption:
|
●
|
in
whole and not in part;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
at
a price of $0.01 per warrant;
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
upon
not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption (the “30-day redemption period”) to each warrant holder;
and
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
if,
and only if, the reported last sale price of the common stock equals or exceeds $168.00 per share for any 20 trading days within
a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date we send to the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.
|
If
and when the warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon
exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws and we are unable to effect
such registration or qualification, subject to our obligation in such case to use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares
of Common Stock under the blue sky laws of the state of residence in certain states.
We
have established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the
call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption
of the warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise his, her or its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However,
the price of the common stock may fall below the $168.00 redemption trigger price as well as the $92.00 warrant exercise price after
the redemption notice is issued.
If
we call the warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise
his, her or its warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants
on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that
are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of our warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, all holders of warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering
their warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of
shares of Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair
market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported
last sale price of the common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of
redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain
the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the warrants, including the
“fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued
and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a warrant redemption. We believe this feature is an attractive option to us if we do not need
the cash from the exercise of the warrants after our initial business combination. If we call our warrants for redemption and our management
does not take advantage of this option, the initial purchasers and their permitted transferees would still be entitled to exercise their
Private Placement Warrants contained in the Private Placement Units for cash or on a cashless basis using the same formula described
above that other warrant holders would have been required to use had all warrant holders been required to exercise their warrants on
a cashless basis, as described in more detail below.
A
holder of a warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the
right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s
affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as
a holder may specify) of the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
If
the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, or by a split-up
of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the
number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding
shares of Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of common stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Common Stock at a price
less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the
number of shares of Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights
offering that are convertible into or exercisable for common stock) multiplied by (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per
share of common stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering
is for securities convertible into or exercisable for common stock, in determining the price payable for common stock, there will be
taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and
(ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of common stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending
on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable
market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In
addition, if we, at any time while the warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities
or other assets to the holders of common stock on account of such shares of Common Stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which
the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends, (c) to satisfy the redemption
rights of the holders of common stock in connection with a proposed initial business combination, (d) as a result of the repurchase of
shares of Common Stock by the company if the proposed initial business combination is presented to the stockholders of the company for
approval, or (e) in connection with the redemption of our Public Shares upon our failure to complete our initial business combination,
then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash
and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of common stock in respect of such event. If the number
of outstanding shares of our Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares
of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification
or similar event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on exercise of each warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease
in outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Whenever
the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise
price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator
of which will be the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment,
and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In
case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than those described above or that solely
affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation
(other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or
reorganization of our outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity
of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders
of the warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in
the warrants and in lieu of the shares of our Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the
rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such
reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder
of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their warrants immediately prior to such event. However, if such holders
were entitled to exercise a right of election as to the kind or amount of securities, cash or other assets receivable upon such consolidation
or merger, then the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets for which each warrant will become exercisable will be deemed
to be the weighted average of the kind and amount received per share by such holders in such consolidation or merger that affirmatively
make such election, and if a tender, exchange or redemption offer has been made to and accepted by such holders (other than a tender,
exchange or redemption offer made by the company in connection with redemption rights held by stockholders of the company as provided
for in the company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation or as a result of the repurchase of shares of Common Stock
by the company if a proposed initial business combination is presented to the stockholders of the company for approval) under circumstances
in which, upon completion of such tender or exchange offer, the maker thereof, together with members of any group (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) of which such maker is a part, and together with any affiliate or associate of such maker
(within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) and any members of any such group of which any such affiliate or associate
is a part, own beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, the holder of a warrant will be entitled to receive the highest amount of cash, securities or other property to which such holder
would actually have been entitled as a stockholder if such warrant holder had exercised the warrant prior to the expiration of such tender
or exchange offer, accepted such offer and all of the common stock held by such holder had been purchased pursuant to such tender or
exchange offer, subject to adjustments (from and after the consummation of such tender or exchange offer) as nearly equivalent as possible
to the adjustments provided for in the warrant agreement. Additionally, if less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders
of common stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a
national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately
following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public
disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on the per share
consideration minus Black-Scholes Warrant Value (as defined in the warrant agreement) of the warrant in order to determine and realize
the option value component of the warrant. This formula is to compensate the warrant holder for the loss of the option value portion
of the warrant value due to the requirement that the warrant holder exercise the warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes
model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.
The
warrants have been issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant
agent, and us. You should review a copy of the warrant agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of
which this prospectus is a part, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the warrants. The warrant agreement
provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective
provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding Public Warrants to make any change that adversely
affects the interests of the registered holders of Public Warrants.
The
warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant
agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full
payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number
of warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of common stock and any voting rights
until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of
the warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. Warrants
may be exercised only for a whole number of shares of Common Stock. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the warrants.
If, upon exercise of the warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round
down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the warrant holder.
As
of October 1, 2021, 650,000 Public Warrants remain outstanding.
Private
Placement Warrants
In
August 2017, we issued 32,688 warrants (“Private Placement Warrants”) forming a part of units which we originally issued
in a private placement that closed simultaneously with the consummation of our initial public offering. Each Private Placement Warrant
entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our Common Stock at a price of $92.00 per share, subject to adjustment. The Private
Placement Warrants may be exercised at any time commencing on December 20, 2018 until November 19, 2023. On September 30, 2019, the 32,688
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants became registered under the Securities Act.
The
Private Placement Warrants (including the common stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Placement Warrants), will not be redeemable
by us so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. Otherwise, the Private Placement Warrants have
terms and provisions that are identical to those of the warrants being sold as part of the units in the IPO. If the Private Placement
Warrants are held by holders other than the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be
redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
If
holders of the Private Placement Warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering
his, her or its warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the
number of shares of Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and
the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the
average reported last sale price of the common stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which
the notice of warrant exercise is sent to the warrant agent. The reason that we have agreed that these warrants will be exercisable on
a cashless basis so long as they are held by the initial purchasers and their permitted transferees is because it is not known at this
time whether they will be affiliated with us following a business combination. If they remain affiliated with us, their ability to sell
our securities in the open market will be significantly limited. We expect to have policies in place that prohibit insiders from selling
our securities except during specific periods of time. Even during such periods of time when insiders will be permitted to sell our securities,
an insider cannot trade in our securities if he or she is in possession of material non-public information. Accordingly, unlike Public
Stockholders who could exercise their warrants and sell the shares of Common Stock received upon such exercise freely in the open market
in order to recoup the cost of such exercise, the insiders could be significantly restricted from selling such securities. As a result,
we believe that allowing the holders to exercise such warrants on a cashless basis is appropriate.
As
of October 1, 2021, 32,688 Private Placement Warrants remain outstanding.
2019
Warrants
During
the period from March 1, 2019 through July 1, 2019, the Company issued 123,438 warrants (“2019 Warrants”) which formed a
part of units privately placed in a units offering. The warrants expire 5-years from the date of issuance and are exercisable at a purchase
price of $32.00 per share. On September 30, 2019, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the 2019 Warrants became registered
under the Securities Act.
As
of October 1, 2021, 123,438 2019 Warrants remain outstanding.
2021
Warrants
During
the period from June 11, 2021 through October 1, 2021, in connection with the issuance of convertible promissory notes to various investors,
the Company issued an aggregate of 1,458,650 warrants (“2021 Warrants”) to such investors. The 2021 Warrants expire 3-years
from the date of issuance and are exercisable at a purchase price equal to (i) 110% of the per share offering price of the offering made
in connection with any uplisting of the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior to the determination of the per share offering price
of the offering made in connection with any uplisting of the common stock and following such time if the uplisting contemplated in clause
(i) is not completed by November 1, 2021, $10.73.
As
of October 1, 2021, 1,458,650 Warrants remain outstanding.
Dividends
We
have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock to date and do not intend to pay cash dividends. The payment of cash dividends in
the future will be dependent upon our revenues and earnings, if any, capital requirements and general financial condition subsequent
to completion of a business combination. The payment of any cash dividends will be within the discretion of our board of directors at
such time. In addition, our board of directors is not currently contemplating and does not anticipate declaring any stock dividends in
the foreseeable future, except if we increase the size of the offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, in which case
we will effect a stock dividend immediately prior to the consummation of the offering in such amount as to maintain the ownership of
our initial stockholders prior to this offering at 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of our Common Stock upon the consummation
of this offering (not including the Private Placement Shares and the shares of Common Stock issuable to Maxim upon the consummation of
this offering). Further, if we incur any indebtedness, our ability to declare dividends may be limited by restrictive covenants we may
agree to in connection therewith.
Certain
Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and our Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as Amended, and Bylaws
We
are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers. This statute prevents certain Delaware corporations,
under certain circumstances, from engaging in a “business combination” with:
|
●
|
a
stockholder who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock (otherwise known as an “interested stockholder”);
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
an
affiliate of an interested stockholder; or
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
an
associate of an interested stockholder, for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder.
|
A
“business combination” includes a merger or sale of more than 10% of our assets. However, the above provisions of Section
203 do not apply if:
|
●
|
our
board of directors approves the transaction that made the stockholder an “interested stockholder,” prior to the date
of the transaction;
|
|
●
|
after
the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at
least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, other than statutorily excluded shares of Common
Stock; or
|
|
|
|
|
●
|
on
or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at a
meeting of our stockholders, and not by written consent, by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting
stock not owned by the interested stockholder.
|
Our
third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, provides that our board of directors will be classified into two
classes of directors. As a result, in most circumstances, a person can gain control of our board only by successfully engaging in a proxy
contest at two or more annual meetings.
Our
authorized but unissued common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be
utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit
plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage
an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Exclusive
Forum for Certain Lawsuits
Our
third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, will require, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative
actions brought in our name, actions against directors, officers and employees for breach of fiduciary duty and other similar actions
may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware and, if brought outside of Delaware, the stockholder bringing such
suit will be deemed to have consented to service of process on such stockholder’s counsel. Although we believe this provision benefits
us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision
may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers.
Special
Meeting of Stockholders
Our
bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our board of directors, by our Chief
Executive Officer or by our Chairman.
Advance
Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our
bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election
as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s
notice will need to be received by the secretary to our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th
day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day prior to the scheduled date of the annual meeting of stockholders. If our
annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after such anniversary date, a stockholder’s notice will
need to be received not earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day before the meeting and not later than the later of (x)
the close of business on the 90th day before the meeting or (y) the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which we first
publicly announce the date of the annual meeting. Our bylaws also specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s
notice for an annual meeting. Specifically, a stockholder’s notice must include: (i) a brief description of the business desired
to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual
meeting, (ii) the name and record address of such stockholder and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf
the proposal is made, (iii) the class or series and number of shares of our capital stock owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder
and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between
such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made and any other person or persons (including their
names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, (v) any material interest of such stockholder and the beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made in such business and (vi) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear
in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before such meeting. These notice requirements will be deemed satisfied
by a stockholder as to any proposal (other than nominations) if the stockholder has notified us of such stockholder’s intention
to present such proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, and such stockholder has complied with
the requirements of such rule for inclusion of such proposal in the proxy statement we prepare to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.
Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods
contained therein. The foregoing provisions may limit our stockholders’ ability to bring matters before our annual meeting of stockholders
or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders.
Our
Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The
transfer agent for our Common Stock and warrant agent for our Warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed
to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent and warrant agent, its agents and each of
its stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all liabilities, including judgments, costs and reasonable counsel fees that
may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence,
willful misconduct or bad faith of the indemnified person or entity.
SELLING
SECURITYHOLDERS
The
Selling Securityholders may offer and sell, from time to time, any or all of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Convertible Notes
and Warrants and all the shares of Common Stock registered for resale covered by this prospectus.
Selling
Securityholders are offering for resale 69,852 shares of Common Stock under this prospectus. In addition, (i) the issuance by the Company
of 609,888 shares of Common Stock underlying the Convertible Notes, which entitle the holder to convert the principal and interest under
the Convertible Notes at a price of $11.50 per share; provided however, that upon failure to make any payment called for under the Convertible
Notes at any time after the issuance date, but prior to the conversion date, the conversion price shall be $10.00 per share and (ii)
the issuance by the Company of 2,267,897 shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants, which entitle the holder to purchase one share
of our Common Stock at an exercise price of (a) one hundred ten percent (110%) of the per share offering price of the offering made in
connection with any “up-listing” of the Common Stock or (b) prior to the determination of the per share offering price of
the offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of the Common Stock and following such time if the “up-listing”
contemplated is not completed by November 1, 2021, the exercise price shall be $10.73, are being registered by the registration statement
of which this prospectus forms a part pursuant to registration rights granted to the Selling Securityholders in connection with the issuances
of such Convertible Notes and Warrants. See the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” for further information regarding
the Selling Securityholders’ method of distributing these securities.
For
purposes of this prospectus, we have assumed a conversion price of the Convertible Notes of $10.00 per share of Common Stock. For purposes
of this prospectus, we have assumed an exercise price of the Warrants of $9.35 per share of Common Stock (calculated based on 110% of
the last reported sale price of our Common Stock ($8.50 per share) on the OTC Market Group, Inc.’s OTCQB tier on September 28,
2021).
The
following table provides, as of October 1, 2021, information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock, Warrants and Convertible
Notes held by each Selling Securityholder, the securities that may be sold by each Selling Securityholder under this prospectus and the
number and percentage of securities that each Selling Securityholder will beneficially own after this offering. Applicable percentages
are based on 69,852 shares of Common Stock offered for resale, 609,888 shares of Common Stock underlying the Convertible Notes and 2,267,897
shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants as of October 1, 2021.
The
Selling Securityholders are not making any representation that any shares of Common Stock covered by this prospectus will be offered
for sale. Because each Selling Securityholder may dispose of all, none or some portion of their securities, no estimate can be given
as to the number of securities that will be beneficially owned by a Selling Securityholder upon termination of this offering. For purposes
of the table below, however, we have assumed that after termination of this offering none of the securities covered by this prospectus
will be beneficially owned by the Selling Securityholders and further assumed that the Selling Securityholders will not acquire beneficial
ownership of any additional securities during the offering. In addition, the Selling Securityholders may have sold, transferred or otherwise
disposed of, or may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at any time and from time to time, our securities in transactions exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act after the date on which the information in the table is presented.
We
may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time in the future to update or change this Selling Securityholders list and the
securities that may be resold.
See
the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” for further information regarding the stockholders’ method of distributing
these shares.
|
|
Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering
|
|
|
Maximum Number of
Common Stock to be Offered Pursuant to this
|
|
|
Number of Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned after Offering
|
|
Name of Selling Stockholder
|
|
Number (1)
|
|
|
Percent (2)
|
|
|
Prospectus (3)
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Percent (2)
|
|
Maxim Group, LLC (4)
|
|
|
385,000
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
|
|
385,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Labrys Fund, LP (5)
|
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
|
|
175,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC (6)
|
|
|
871,685
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
|
|
871,685
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
GS Capital Partners, LLC (7)
|
|
|
192,708
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
|
|
192,708
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Jefferson Street Capital, LLC (8)
|
|
|
192,708
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
|
|
192,708
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Lucas Ventures, LLC (9)
|
|
|
211,229
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
|
|
211,229
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
LGH Investments, LLC (10)
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
1.2
|
%
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Ionic Ventures, LLC (11)
|
|
|
899,306
|
|
|
|
4.99
|
%
|
|
|
899,306
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
(1)
|
The
amounts and percentages of Common Stock beneficially owned are determined in accordance with the SEC’s rules, pursuant to which
a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares voting or investment power or
has the right to acquire such power within 60 days through exercise of any option, warrant or other right. Securities that can be
so acquired are deemed to be outstanding for purposes of computing such person’s ownership percentage, but not for purposes
of computing any other person’s percentage. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed beneficial owner of the same
securities, and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which such person has no economic interest. Except
as otherwise indicated in these footnotes, each of the beneficial owners has, to our knowledge, sole voting and investment power
with respect to the indicated shares of Common Stock.
|
|
|
|
|
(2)
|
Based
on 1,593,428 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
|
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
The
shares of Common Stock shown in this column includes shares of Common Stock that are offered for resale by the Selling Securityholders,
as well as shares of Common Stock that are offered for sale by us pursuant to this prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
The
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Maxim Group, LLC (“Maxim”) includes (a) 20,000 shares of Common
Stock, representing shares issued in connection with the release of Convertible Notes and (b) 365,000 shares of our Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by Maxim, which Warrants are subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership
limitations, which provide that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion thereof if such holder,
together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us,
such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Maxim Group, LLC is the record and beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. The address of Maxim Group, LLC is
405 Lexington Avenue, 2nd FL, New York, NY 10174.
|
|
(5)
|
The
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Labrys Fund, LP (“Labrys”) includes (a) 10,000 shares of Common
Stock, representing commitment shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note to Labrys and (b) 165,000 shares
of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Convertible Notes held by Labrys, which Convertible Note is subject to, as applicable,
certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such Convertible Note will not have the right to convert
any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable),
of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion, provided that upon at least
61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding. Thomas Silverman, as Managing Member of Labrys, has voting control and investment discretion
over the securities reported herein that are held by Labrys. The address of Labrys is 48 Parker Road, Wellesley, MA 02482.
|
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
The
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC (“FirstFire”) includes
(a) 15,269 shares of Common Stock, representing commitment shares issued in connection with the issuance of Convertible Notes to
FirstFire, (b) 182,666 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of Convertible Notes held by FirstFire, which Convertible
Notes are subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such Convertible Notes
will not have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess
of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion,
provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum
of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and (c) 673,750 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants held by FirstFire, which Warrants are subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide
that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates,
would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or
decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. FirstFire is the record and
beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. Eli Fireman, the Manager of FirstFire Capital Management, LLC, which is
the manager of FirstFire, has voting control and investment discretion over the securities reported herein that are held by FirstFire.
The address of FirstFire is 1040 First Avenue, Suite 190, New York, NY 10022.
|
|
|
|
|
(7)
|
The
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by GS Capital Partners, LLC (“GS Capital”) includes (a) 3,125 shares
of Common Stock, representing commitment shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note to GS Capital, (b)
33,333 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note held by GS Capital, which Convertible Note is
subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such Convertible Note will not
have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99%
(or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion,
provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum
of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and (c) 156,250 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants held by GS Capital, which Warrants are subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide
that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates,
would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or
decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. GS Capital is the record and
beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. Gabe Sayegh, the President of GS Capital, has voting control and investment
discretion over the securities reported herein that are held by GS Capital. The address of GS Capital is 30 Washington Street, Suite
5L, Brooklyn, New York 11201.
|
|
(8)
|
The
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Jefferson Street Capital, LLC (“Jefferson”) includes (a) 3,125
shares of Common Stock, representing commitment fee shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note to Jefferson,
(b) 33,333 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note held by Jefferson, which Convertible Note
is subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such Convertible Note will
not have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess
of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion,
provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum
of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and (c) 156,250 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants held by Jefferson, which Warrants are subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide
that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates,
would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or
decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Jefferson is the record and
beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. Brian Goldberg, as Managing Member of Jefferson, has voting control and
investment discretion over the securities reported herein that are held by Jefferson. The address of Jefferson is 720 Monroe Street,
Suite 401B, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030.
|
|
|
|
|
(9)
|
The
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Lucas Ventures, LLC (“Lucas”) includes (a) 3,749 shares of Common
Stock, representing commitment fee shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note to Lucas, (b) 20,000 shares
of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note held by Lucas, which Convertible Note is subject to, as applicable,
certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such Convertible Note will not have the right to convert
any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable),
of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion, provided that upon at least
61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding, and (c) 187,480 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants held by Lucas,
which Warrants are subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such warrants
will not have the right to exercise any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess
of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise,
provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum
of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Lucas Ventures is the record and beneficial owner of the securities
set forth in the table. Lucas Hoppel, as Managing Member of Lucas Ventures, has voting control and investment discretion over the
securities reported herein that are held by Lucas Ventures.
|
|
|
|
|
(10)
|
The
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by LGH Investments, LLC (“LGH”) includes 20,000 shares of our Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of Convertible Notes held by LGH Investments, LLC, which Convertible Note is subject to, as applicable,
certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such Convertible Note will not have the right to convert
any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable),
of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion, provided that upon at least
61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding. LGH Investments is the record and beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table.
Lucas Hoppel, as Managing Member of LGH Investments, has voting control and investment discretion over the securities reported herein
that are held by LGH Investments, LLC.
|
|
(11)
|
The
number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Ionic Ventures, LLC (“Ionic Ventures”) includes (a) 14,584 shares
of Common Stock, representing commitment fee shares issued in connection with the issuance of the Convertible Note to Ionic Ventures,
(b) 155,555 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Note held by Ionic Ventures, which Convertible
Note is subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which provide that a holder of such Convertible Note
will not have the right to convert any portion thereof if such holder, together with its affiliates, would beneficially own in excess
of 4.99% (or 9.99%, as applicable), of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion,
provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum
of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, and (c) 729,167 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants held by Ionic Ventures, which Warrants are subject to, as applicable, certain beneficial ownership limitations, which
provide that a holder of such warrants will not have the right to exercise any portion thereof if such holder, together with its
affiliates, would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% or 9.99%, as applicable, of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately after giving effect to such exercise, provided that upon at least 61 days’ prior notice to us, such holder may
increase or decrease such limitation up to a maximum of 9.99% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Ionic Ventures
is the record and beneficial owner of the securities set forth in the table. Brendan O’Neil and Keith Coulston are the managers
of Ionic Ventures and may also be deemed to have investment discretion and voting power over the shares that it holds. Mr. O’Neil
and Mr. Coulston each disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.
The address of Ionic Ventures is 3053 Fillmore St, Suite 256, San Francisco, CA 94123.
|
PLAN
OF DISTRIBUTION
Issuance
of Common Stock Underlying Convertible Notes
Pursuant
to the terms of the Convertible Notes, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes will be distributed
to those note holders to the extent the principal amount and interest of the Convertible Notes is being converted under the Notice of
Conversion submitted to the Company by holder.
The
Convertible Notes convert into Common Stock at the conversion rate of $11.50 per share; provided however, that upon failure to make any
payment called for under the convertible promissory note at any time after the issuance date, but prior to the conversion date, the conversion
price shall be $10.00 per share. For purposes of this prospectus, we have assumed a conversion price of $10.00 per share of Common Stock.
Issuance
of Common Stock Underlying Warrants
Pursuant
to the terms of the Warrants, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise thereof will be distributed to those Warrant holders
who surrender the certificates representing the Warrants and provide payment of the exercise price through their brokers to our warrant
agent, Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
With
respect to the exercise of the Warrants, (i) the exercise price is one hundred ten percent (110%) of the per share offering price of
the offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of the Common Stock or (ii) prior to the determination of the per share
offering price of the offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of the Common Stock and following such time if the
“up-listing” contemplated is not completed by November 1, 2021, the exercise price shall be $10.73. For purposes of this
prospectus, we have assumed an exercise price of $9.35 per share of Common Stock (calculated based on 110% of the last reported sale
price of our Common Stock ($8.50 per share) on the OTC Market Group, Inc.’s OTCQB tier on September 28, 2021).
Resale
of Common Stock by Selling Securityholders
We
are registering Common Stock offered by this prospectus on behalf of the Selling Securityholders. The Selling Securityholders, which
as used herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling Common Stock received after the date of
this prospectus from a Selling Securityholder as a gift, pledge, limited liability company or partnership distribution or other transfer,
may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their securities on the OTCQB (in the case of our Common
Stock) or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which such securities are traded or in private transactions. The shares
registered for resale in this prospectus being offered by the Selling Securityholders will be sold at fixed prices, at prevailing market
prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at
negotiated prices.
The
Selling Securityholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of their Common Stock or interests therein:
●
in market transactions, including transactions on a national securities exchange or quotations service or over-the-counter market;
●
in privately negotiated transactions;
●
through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;
●
in a block trade in which a broker-dealer will attempt to sell a block of securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of
the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
●
through the settlement of short sales (including short sales “against the box”), in each case subject to compliance with
the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws;
●
through one or more underwriters in a public offering on a firm commitment or best-efforts basis;
●
an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange, if any;
●
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;
●
purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;
●
broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Securityholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;
●
directly to one or more purchasers;
●
in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets;
●
by pledge to secure debts and other obligations;
●
through agents; or
●
in any combination of the above or by any other legally available means.
The
Selling Securityholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the securities owned by them and,
if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell their securities,
from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision
of the Securities Act amending the list of Selling Securityholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest
as Selling Securityholders under this prospectus. The Selling Securityholders also may transfer their securities in other circumstances,
in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
In
connection with the sale of our securities or interests therein, the Selling Securityholders may enter into hedging transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of our securities in the course of hedging the
positions they assume. The Selling Securityholders may also sell their securities short and deliver these securities to close out their
short positions, or loan or pledge such securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling Securityholders
may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative
securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealers or other financial institutions of securities offered by this prospectus,
which securities such broker-dealers or other financial institutions may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended
to reflect such transaction).
The
aggregate proceeds to the Selling Securityholders from the sale of the securities offered by them will be the purchase price of the security
less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the Selling Securityholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents
from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of their securities to be made directly or through agents. We
will not receive any of the proceeds from the resale of securities being offered by the Selling Securityholders named herein. However,
we will receive proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants if they are exercised by a holder thereof.
The
Selling Securityholders also may resell all or a portion of their securities in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under
the Securities Act, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.
To
the extent required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, the Selling Securityholders and any broker-dealer
participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities
Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions
or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the securities is made, a prospectus supplement, if required,
will be distributed, which will set forth the aggregate amount of securities being offered and the terms of the offering, including the
name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the Selling
Securityholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to broker-dealers.
Blue
Sky Restrictions on Resale
In
order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, our securities may be sold in these jurisdictions only through
registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states our securities may not be sold unless they have been registered
or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
If
a Selling Securityholder wants to sell its securities under this prospectus in the United States, the Selling Securityholder will also
need to comply with state securities laws, also known as “Blue Sky laws,” with regard to secondary sales. All states offer
a variety of exemptions from registration for secondary sales. Many states, for example, have an exemption for secondary trading of securities
registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, or for securities of issuers that publish continuous disclosure of financial and
non-financial information in a recognized securities manual, such as Standard & Poor’s. The broker for a Selling Securityholder
will be able to advise a Selling Securityholder in which states our securities are exempt from registration with that state for secondary
sales.
Any
person who purchases our securities from a Selling Securityholder offered by this prospectus who then wants to sell such securities will
also have to comply with Blue Sky laws regarding secondary sales.
When
the registration statement that includes this prospectus becomes effective, and a Selling Securityholder indicates in which state(s)
such Selling Securityholder desires to sell such Selling Securityholder’s securities, we will be able to identify whether such
Selling Securityholder will need to register or will be able to rely on an exemption therefrom.
We
have advised the Selling Securityholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of
securities in the market and to the activities of the Selling Securityholders and their affiliates. In addition, we will make copies
of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the Selling Securityholders for the purpose
of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The Selling Securityholders may indemnify any broker-dealer
that participates in transactions involving the sale of their securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under
the Securities Act.
We
have agreed to indemnify the Selling Securityholders against liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act and
state securities laws, relating to the registration of the securities offered by this prospectus.
We
are required to pay all of our fees and expenses incident to the registration of the securities covered by this prospectus, including
with regard to compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws. The registration expenses of any registration effected
by preparing and filing a registration statement or similar document in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the
applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and such registration statement becoming effective, will be borne by the Company.
SHARES
ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
We
cannot predict the effect, if any, that market sales of shares of our common stock or the availability of shares of our common stock
for sale will have on the market price of our common stock prevailing from time to time. Future sales of our common stock in the public
market, or the availability of such shares for sale in the public market, could adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to
time. The availability for sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock acquired through the exercise of outstanding warrants
could materially adversely affect the market price of our common stock. In addition, sales of our common stock in the public market after
the restrictions lapse as described below, or the perception that those sales may occur, could cause the prevailing market price to decrease
or to be lower than it might be in the absence of those sales or perceptions.
Sale
of Restricted Shares
As
of October 1, 2021, there were 1,593,428 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding. Of the approximately 1,593,428 shares of our
common stock outstanding as of October 1, 2021, approximately 817,328 shares are tradable without restriction. These remaining shares
are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
Rule
144
In
general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, a person (or persons whose shares are required to be aggregated), including a person
who may be deemed an “affiliate” of a company, who has beneficially owned restricted securities for at least six months may
sell, within any three-month period, a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of: (1) 1% of the then-outstanding shares of
common stock, or (2) if and when the common stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the average weekly trading volume of the
common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the date on which notice of such sale was filed under Rule 144. Sales under Rule
144 are also subject to certain requirements as to the manner of sale, notice, and availability of current public information about our
company. A person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of us at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale by such person, and
who has beneficially owned the restricted shares for at least one year, is entitled to sell such shares under Rule 144 without regard
to any of the restrictions described above.
We
cannot estimate the number of shares of our common stock that our existing stockholders will elect to sell under Rule 144.
Transfer
Agent
The
transfer agent and registrar, for our Common Stock is Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company. The transfer agent and registrar’s
address is at 1 State Street, New York, New York 10004-1561. The transfer agent’s telephone (212) 509-4000.
MATERIAL
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The
following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations generally applicable to the acquisition, ownership and
disposition of our Common Stock and Warrants. This discussion is limited to certain U.S. federal income tax considerations to beneficial
owners of our securities who hold the securities as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to you
in light of your particular circumstances, including the alternative minimum tax, the Medicare contribution tax on certain investment
income and the different consequences that may apply if you are subject to special rules that apply to certain types of investors, such
as:
|
●
|
financial
institutions or financial services entities;
|
|
●
|
broker-dealers;
|
|
●
|
insurance
companies;
|
|
●
|
governments
or agencies or instrumentalities thereof;
|
|
●
|
regulated
investment companies;
|
|
●
|
real
estate investment trusts;
|
|
●
|
expatriates
or former long-term residents of the United States;
|
|
●
|
persons
that actually or constructively own five percent or more of our voting shares;
|
|
●
|
persons
that acquired our securities pursuant to an exercise of employee share options, in connection with employee share incentive plans
or otherwise as compensation;
|
|
●
|
dealers
or traders subject to a mark to market method of accounting with respect to the securities;
|
|
●
|
persons
holding the securities as part of a “straddle,” hedge, constructive sale, conversion or other integrated or similar transaction;
|
|
●
|
U.S.
holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;
|
|
●
|
partnerships
or other pass through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and
|
|
●
|
tax
exempt entities.
|
If
you are a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of your partners will generally depend
on the status of the partners and your activities.
This
discussion is based on the Code and administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations
as of the date hereof, changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus may affect the tax consequences described herein.
This discussion does not address any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. taxation, or any U.S. tax law other than the U.S. federal income
tax (such as gift, estate or Medicare contribution taxes) or except as discussed below, any tax reporting obligations of a holder of
our securities. This discussion also assumes that any distribution made (or deemed made on our securities and any consideration received
(or deemed received) by a holder from the sale or other disposition of our securities will be in U.S. dollars.
We
have not sought, and will not seek, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) as to any U.S. federal income
tax consequence described herein. The IRS may disagree with the discussion herein, and its determination may be upheld by a court. Moreover,
there can be no assurance that future legislation, regulations, administrative rulings or court decisions will not adversely affect the
accuracy of the statements in this discussion.
THIS
DISCUSSION IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES.
EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IN OUR SECURITIES IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO
SUCH INVESTOR OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL,
AND NON-U.S. TAX LAWS, AS WELL AS U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATIES.
Personal
Holding Company Status
We
could be subject to a second level of U.S. federal income tax on a portion of our income if we are determined to be a personal holding
company, or PHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. corporation generally will be classified as a PHC for U.S. federal income
tax purposes in a given taxable year if (i) at any time during the last half of such taxable year, five or fewer individuals (without
regard to their citizenship or residency and including as individuals for this purpose certain entities such as certain tax-exempt organizations,
pension funds and charitable trusts) own or are deemed to own (pursuant to certain constructive ownership rules) more than 50% of the
stock of the corporation by value and (ii) at least 60% of the corporation’s adjusted ordinary gross income, as determined for
U.S. federal income tax purposes, for such taxable year consists of PHC income (which includes, among other things, dividends, interest,
certain royalties, annuities and, under certain circumstances, rents).
Depending
on the date and size of our transactions, at least 60% of our adjusted ordinary gross income may consist of PHC income as discussed above.
In addition, depending on the concentration of our stock in the hands of individuals, including the members of our sponsor and certain
tax-exempt organizations, pension funds and charitable trusts, more than 50% of our stock may be owned or deemed owned (pursuant to the
constructive ownership rules) by such persons during the last half of a taxable year. Thus, no assurance can be given that we will not
become a PHC following this offering or in the future. If we are or were to become a PHC in a given taxable year, we would be subject
to an additional PHC tax, currently 20%, on our undistributed PHC income, which generally includes our taxable income, subject to certain
adjustments. The PHC requirements may apply to us in the taxable year of the offering and/or future taxable years.
U.S.
Holders
This
section applies to you if you are a “U.S. holder.” A U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of our securities who or that is,
for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
●
an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
●
a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) organized in or under the laws of the United
States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
●
an estate the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or
●
a trust if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one
or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) it has in effect a valid election
to be treated as a U.S. person.
Taxation
of Distributions. If we pay cash distributions to U.S. holders of shares of our Common Stock, such distributions generally will
be treated as a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent the distribution is paid out of our current or accumulated
earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of current and accumulated earnings
and profits will constitute a return of capital that will be applied against and reduce (but not below zero) the U.S. holder’s
adjusted tax basis in our Common Stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as gain realized on the sale or other disposition of the
common stock and will be treated as described under “U.S. holders — Gain or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable
Disposition of Our Securities” below.
Dividends
we pay to a U.S. holder that is a taxable corporation generally will qualify for the dividends received deduction if the requisite holding
period is satisfied. With certain exceptions (including, but not limited to, dividends treated as investment income for purposes of investment
interest deduction limitations), and provided certain holding period requirements are met, dividends we pay to a non-corporate U.S. holder
generally will constitute “qualified dividends” that will be subject to tax at the maximum tax rate accorded to long-term
capital gains.
Gain
or Loss on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities. Upon a sale or other taxable disposition of
our securities which, in general, would include a redemption of common stock or warrants, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital
gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in such
securities. Any such capital gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period
for the securities so disposed of exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains recognized by non-corporate U.S. holders will be eligible
to be taxed at reduced rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to various limitations that are not described herein because
a discussion of such limitations depends on each U.S. holder’s particular facts and circumstances.
Generally,
the amount of gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder is an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the amount of cash
and the fair market value of any property received in such disposition and (ii) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its securities
so disposed of. A U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock or warrants generally will equal the U.S. holder’s
acquisition cost less, in the case of a share of common stock, any prior distributions treated as a return of capital.
Exercise
or Lapse of a Warrant. Except as discussed below with respect to the cashless exercise of a warrant, a U.S. holder generally
will not recognize taxable gain or loss from the acquisition of common stock upon exercise of a warrant for cash. The U.S. holder’s
tax basis in the share of our Common Stock received upon exercise of the warrant generally will be an amount equal to the sum of the
U.S. holder’s initial investment in the warrant and the exercise price. It is unclear whether a U.S. holder’s holding period
for the shares of Common Stock received upon exercise of the warrants will commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day
following the date of exercise of the warrants; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S.
holder held the warrants. If a warrant is allowed to lapse unexercised, a U.S. holder generally will recognize a capital loss equal to
such holder’s tax basis in the warrant.
The
tax consequences of a cashless exercise of a warrant are not clear under current tax law. A cashless exercise may be tax-free, either
because the exercise is not a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. In either tax-free situation, a U.S. holder’s basis in the common stock received would equal the holder’s basis
in the warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as not being a realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. holder’s holding
period for the shares of Common Stock would be treated as commencing on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the
date of exercise of the warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the common stock
would include the holding period of the warrant.
It
is also possible that a cashless exercise could be treated in part as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In
such event, a U.S. holder could be deemed to have surrendered warrants equal to the number of common shares having a value equal to the
exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. The U.S. holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal
to the difference between the fair market value the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the warrants
deemed surrendered. In this case, a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the common stock received would equal the sum of the fair market
value of the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the warrants exercised. It is unclear whether a U.S.
holder’s holding period for the shares of Common Stock would commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following
the date of exercise of the warrant.
Due
to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, there can be no assurance which, if any,
of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Accordingly, U.S.
holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of a cashless exercise.
Possible
Constructive Distributions. The terms of each warrant provide for an adjustment to the number of shares of Common Stock for
which the warrant may be exercised or to the exercise price of the warrant in certain events, as discussed in the section of this prospectus
captioned “Description of Securities — Warrants — Public Stockholders’ Warrants.” An adjustment which has
the effect of preventing dilution generally is not taxable. The U.S. holders of the warrants would, however, be treated as receiving
a constructive distribution from us if, for example, the adjustment increases the warrant holders’ proportionate interest in our
assets or earnings and profits (e.g., through an increase in the number of shares of Common Stock that would be obtained upon exercise)
as a result of a distribution of cash to the holders of shares of our Common Stock which is taxable to the U.S. holders of such shares
as described under “U.S. holders — Taxation of Distributions” above. For example, if the exercise price of the warrants
is decreased as a result of certain taxable dividends paid to holders of the common stock (as contemplated by the terms of the warrant
in certain circumstances), then the amount by which such exercise was decreased could be considered an increase in the warrant holder’s
proportionate interest in our assets or earnings and profits, which may result in a constructive distribution to holders of the warrants.
Such constructive distribution would be subject to tax as described under that section in the same manner as if the U.S. holders of the
warrants received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest. For certain information reporting
purposes, we are required to determine the date and amount of any such constructive distributions. Recently proposed Treasury regulations,
which we may rely on prior to the issuance of final regulations, specify how the date and amount of constructive distributions are determined.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding. In general, information reporting requirements may apply to dividends paid to a U.S. holder and
to the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of our securities, unless the U.S. holder is an exempt recipient. Backup withholding
may apply to such payments if the U.S. holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number, a certification of exempt status or
has been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding (and such notification has not been withdrawn).
Any
amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s U.S. federal
income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Non-U.S.
Holders
This
section applies to you if you are a “Non-U.S. holder.” A Non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of our securities who or that
is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
●
a non resident alien individual, other than certain former citizens and residents of the United States subject to U.S. tax as expatriates;
●
a foreign corporation; or
●
an estate or trust that is not a U.S. holder;
but
does not include an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition. If you are
such an individual, you should consult your tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the sale or other disposition
of a security.
Taxation
of Distributions. In general, any distributions we make to a Non-U.S. holder of shares of our Common Stock, to the extent paid
out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), will constitute dividends
for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, provided such dividends are not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct
of a trade or business within the United States, we will be required to withhold tax from the gross amount of the dividend at a rate
of 30%, unless such Non-U.S. holder is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty and provides
proper certification of its eligibility for such reduced rate (usually on an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E). Any distribution not constituting
a dividend will be treated first as reducing (but not below zero) the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in its shares of our
Common Stock and, to the extent such distribution exceeds the Non-U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis, as gain realized from the sale
or other disposition of the common stock, which will be treated as described under “Non-U.S. holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable
Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities” below. In addition, if we determine that we are classified as a “United
States real property holding corporation” (see “Non-U.S. holders — Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable
Disposition of Our Securities” below), we will withhold 15% of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings
and profits.
The
withholding tax does not apply to dividends paid to a Non-U.S. holder who provides a Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively
connected with the Non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States. Instead, the effectively connected
dividends will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax as if the Non-U.S. holder were a U.S. resident, subject to an applicable
income tax treaty providing otherwise. A Non-U.S. corporation receiving effectively connected dividends may also be subject to an additional
“branch profits tax” imposed at a rate of 30% (or a lower treaty rate).
Exercise
of a Warrant. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a Non-U.S. holder’s exercise of a warrant, or the lapse of a warrant
held by a Non-U.S. holder, generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the exercise or lapse of a warrant by
a U.S. holder, as described under “U.S. holders — Exercise or Lapse of a Warrant” above, although to the extent a cashless
exercise results in a taxable exchange, the consequences would be similar to those described below in “Non-U.S. holders —
Gain on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities.”
Gain
on Sale, Taxable Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Securities. A Non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to
U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of gain recognized on a sale, taxable exchange or other taxable disposition of our
securities unless:
●
the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by the Non-U.S. holder within the United States (and, under
certain income tax treaties, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the Non-U.S. holder);
or
●we
are or have been a “U.S. real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter
of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the Non-U.S. holder held our securities, and, in the case
where shares of our Common Stock are regularly traded on an established securities market, the Non-U.S. holder has owned, directly or
constructively, more than 5% of our Common Stock at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or
such Non-U.S. holder’s holding period for the shares of our Common Stock. There can be no assurance that our Common Stock will
be treated as regularly traded on an established securities market for this purpose.
Unless
an applicable treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to tax at generally applicable
U.S. federal income tax rates as if the Non-U.S. holder were a U.S. resident. Any gains described in the first bullet point above of
a Non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or
lower treaty rate).
If
the second bullet point above applies to a Non-U.S. holder, gain recognized by such holder on the sale, exchange or other disposition
of our securities will be subject to tax at generally applicable U.S. federal income tax rates. In addition, a buyer of our securities
from such holder may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 15% of the amount realized upon such disposition. We
will be classified as a U.S. real property holding corporation if the fair market value of our “U.S. real property interests”
equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests plus our other assets used or held
for use in a trade or business, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Information
Reporting and Backup Withholding. Information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of dividends and
the proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our securities. A Non-U.S. holder may have to comply with certification procedures to
establish that it is not a United States person in order to avoid information reporting and backup withholding requirements. The certification
procedures required to claim a reduced rate of withholding under a treaty will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid
the backup withholding as well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. holder will be allowed as a credit
against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information
is timely furnished to the IRS.
FATCA
Withholding Taxes. Provisions commonly referred to as “FATCA” impose withholding of 30% on payments of dividends
(including constructive dividends) on our securities, and, beginning January 1, 2019, sales or other disposition proceeds from our securities
to “foreign financial institutions” (which is broadly defined for this purpose and in general includes investment vehicles)
and certain other Non-U.S. entities unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements (generally relating to ownership
by U.S. persons of interests in or accounts with those entities) have been satisfied, or an exemption applies (typically certified as
to by the delivery of a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN-E). If FATCA withholding is imposed, a beneficial owner of the payment that
is not a foreign financial institution (or that is a foreign financial institution entitled to a reduced rate of withholding tax with
respect to such payment under an income tax treaty) generally may be entitled to a refund or credit of any amounts withheld by filing
a U.S. federal income tax return and providing certain other information to the IRS (which may entail significant administrative burden).
Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA
may be subject to different rules. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the effects of FATCA on their investment
in our securities.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The
validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Anthony L.G., PLLC, 625 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 600,
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401.
EXPERTS
Our
balance sheets as of May 31, 2021 and 2020 and the related statement of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows
for the year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020 included in this registration statement and prospectus have been audited by Prager Metis, independent
registered public accounting firm, as indicated in their report (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory
paragraph related to Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company’s ability to continue as a going concern) with respect thereto,
and have been so included in reliance upon the report of such firm given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
DISCLOSURE
OF COMMISSION’S POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
Our
directors and officers are indemnified as provided by Delaware law, our third amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended,
and our bylaws. We have agreed to indemnify each of our directors and certain officers against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors,
officers and controlling persons pursuant to the provisions described above, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of
the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than our payment of expenses incurred or paid by our director, officer
or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled
by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We
have filed with the SEC the registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act for the common stock offered for resale by this
prospectus. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information in the registration
statement and the exhibits filed with it, portions of which have been omitted as permitted by SEC rules and regulations. For further
information relating to us and our common stock, reference is made to the registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules.
Statements made in this prospectus relating to any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and you should refer to the
exhibits attached to or incorporated by reference into the registration statement for copies of the actual contract or document.
The
registration statement on Form S-1, of which this prospectus forms a part, including exhibits, is available at the SEC’s website
at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file with, or furnish to, the SEC at its public reference facilities:
Public
Reference Room Office
100
F Street, N.E.
Room
1580
Washington,
D.C. 20549
You
may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Callers in the United States can also call (202) 551-8090 for further information on the operations
of the public reference facilities.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
INDEX
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
REPORT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To
the shareholders and the Board of Directors of Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company and Subsidiaries
Opinion
on the Financial Statements
We
have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Simplicity Esports and Gaming Co. (the “Company”) as of May 31, 2021 and 2020,
and the related statements of operations, stockholders’ (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period
ended May 31, 2021, and the related notes and schedules (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our
opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of May 31, 2021
and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended May 31, 2021, in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Going
Concern Matter
The
accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note
2 to the financial statements, the Company has an accumulated deficit and a net loss as of May 31, 2021. The Company’s cash may
not be sufficient to support the Company’s daily operations in the next twelve months, which raises substantial doubt about its
ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans concerning these matters are also described in Note 2. The financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
Basis
for Opinion
These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s
financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
(United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities
laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company
is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits,
we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion
on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our
audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error
or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical
Audit Matters
Critical
audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be
communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and
(2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.
/s/
Prager Metis CPAs, LLP
We
have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.
El
Segundo, CA
August
30, 2021
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
May
31,
|
|
|
May
31,
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
414,257
|
|
|
$
|
160,208
|
|
Accounts
receivable, net
|
|
|
160,101
|
|
|
|
127,653
|
|
Inventory
|
|
|
206,974
|
|
|
|
15,787
|
|
Other
current assets
|
|
|
52,643
|
|
|
|
5,588
|
|
Total
Current Assets
|
|
|
833,975
|
|
|
|
309,236
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non
Current Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
5,180,141
|
|
|
|
5,155,141
|
|
Intangible
assets, net
|
|
|
1,635,227
|
|
|
|
2,141,374
|
|
Deferred
brokerage fees
|
|
|
79,943
|
|
|
|
149,223
|
|
Property
and equipment, net
|
|
|
574,308
|
|
|
|
232,733
|
|
Right
of use asset, operating leases, net
|
|
|
1,533,010
|
|
|
|
490,984
|
|
Security
deposits
|
|
|
40,307
|
|
|
|
14,885
|
|
Due
from franchisees
|
|
|
23,007
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deferred
financing costs
|
|
|
307,494
|
|
|
|
98,198
|
|
Total
Non Current Assets
|
|
|
9,373,437
|
|
|
|
8,282,538
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
|
$
|
10,207,412
|
|
|
$
|
8,591,774
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
$
|
438,466
|
|
|
$
|
126,716
|
|
Accrued
expenses
|
|
|
1,166,433
|
|
|
|
1,381,342
|
|
Convertible
note payable
|
|
|
2,211,097
|
|
|
|
1,127,320
|
|
Loan
payable
|
|
|
82,235
|
|
|
|
40,500
|
|
Note
payable - related party
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
64,728
|
|
Operating
lease obligation, current
|
|
|
307,013
|
|
|
|
151,867
|
|
Current
portion of deferred revenues
|
|
|
30,034
|
|
|
|
3,795
|
|
Stock
payable
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
Total
Current Liabilities
|
|
|
4,235,278
|
|
|
|
2,971,268
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
lease obligation, net of current portion
|
|
|
1,199,748
|
|
|
|
339,116
|
|
Deferred
revenues, net of current portion
|
|
|
182,342
|
|
|
|
365,718
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Liabilities
|
|
|
5,617,368
|
|
|
|
3,676,102
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
and Contingencies - Note 9
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock - $0.0001 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Common
stock - $0.0001 par value; 36,000,000 shares authorized; 1,427,124 and 998,622 shares issued and outstanding as of May 31, 2021 and
2020, respectively
|
|
|
142
|
|
|
|
100
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
16,708,762
|
|
|
|
11,132,103
|
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
(12,291,899
|
)
|
|
|
(6,195,044
|
)
|
Total
Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company Stockholders’ Equity
|
|
|
4,417,005
|
|
|
|
4,937,159
|
|
Non-Controlling
Interest
|
|
|
173,039
|
|
|
|
(21,487
|
)
|
Total
Stockholders’ Equity
|
|
|
4,590,044
|
|
|
|
4,915,672
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
$
|
10,207,412
|
|
|
$
|
8,591,774
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
For
the Year Ended
|
|
|
|
May
31, 2021
|
|
|
May
31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Franchise
royalties and license fees
|
|
|
305,925
|
|
|
|
523,007
|
|
Company-owned
stores sales
|
|
|
1,053,226
|
|
|
|
174,042
|
|
Esports
revenue
|
|
|
192,772
|
|
|
|
164,361
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Revenues
|
|
|
1,551,923
|
|
|
|
861,410
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
of Goods Sold
|
|
|
1,014,310
|
|
|
|
591,541
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross
Profit
|
|
|
537,613
|
|
|
|
269,869
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation
and related benefits
|
|
|
2,804,177
|
|
|
|
1,577,245
|
|
Professional
fees
|
|
|
771,859
|
|
|
|
499,568
|
|
General
and administrative expenses
|
|
|
1,399,947
|
|
|
|
925,177
|
|
Impairment
loss
|
|
|
359,129
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Operating Expenses
|
|
|
5,335,112
|
|
|
|
3,001,990
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
from Operations
|
|
|
(4,797,499
|
)
|
|
|
(2,732,121
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Income (Expense):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debt
forgiveness Income
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
93,761
|
|
Interest
expense
|
|
|
(1,399,598
|
)
|
|
|
(32,472
|
)
|
Interest
income
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
3,034
|
|
Gain
on bargain acquisition
|
|
|
21,812
|
|
|
|
2,019
|
|
Foreign
exchange gain/(loss)
|
|
|
(19,572
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Other Income (Expense)
|
|
|
(1,397,329
|
)
|
|
|
66,342
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss Before Provision for
Income Taxes
|
|
|
(6,194,828
|
)
|
|
|
(2,665,779
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Provision
for Income Taxes
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Loss
|
|
|
(6,194,828
|
)
|
|
|
(2,665,779
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
|
|
|
97,973
|
|
|
|
45,541
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss attributable to common shareholders
|
|
$
|
(6,096,855
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,620,238
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
and Diluted Net Loss per share
|
|
$
|
(4.91
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2.71
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
and diluted Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding
|
|
|
1,242,981
|
|
|
|
965,371
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR
THE YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2021 AND 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
Non-
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
|
Paid-In
|
|
|
Controlling
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
Stockholders’
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Interest
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance -
May 31, 2019
|
|
|
875,497
|
|
|
$
|
88
|
|
|
$
|
9,442,027
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
(3,574,806
|
)
|
|
$
|
5,867,309
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued for PLAYlive
Nation acquisition
|
|
|
93,750
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
1,439,991
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,440,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued for vesting
of employment agreement awards
|
|
|
13,125
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
153,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
153,001
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued for cash
|
|
|
15,625
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
87,698
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
87,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued as compensation
|
|
|
625
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,900
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,900
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued in connection
with note payable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,487
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,487
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-controlling interest
of original investment in subsidiaries
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
24,054
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
24,054
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss attributable to
noncontrolling interest
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(45,541
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(45,541
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,620,238
|
)
|
|
|
(2,620,238
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
- May 31, 2020
|
|
|
998,622
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
$
|
11,132,103
|
|
|
$
|
(21,487
|
)
|
|
$
|
(6,195,044
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,915,672
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued to directors,
officers and employees as compensation
|
|
|
219,535
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
2,359,379
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,359,401
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued in connection
with franchise acquisition
|
|
|
64,714
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
703,860
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
703,867
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued in connection
with issuance and amendment of notes payable
|
|
|
42,040
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
1,313,554
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,313,558
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued for contracted
services
|
|
|
53,817
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
624,870
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
624,875
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued for cash
|
|
|
48,396
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
574,996
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
575,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-controlling interest
of investment in subsidiaries
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
292,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
292,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss attributable to
noncontrolling interest
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(97,974
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(97,974
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Loss
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(6,096,855
|
)
|
|
|
(6,096,855
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
- May 31, 2021
|
|
|
1,427,124
|
|
|
$
|
142
|
|
|
$
|
16,708,762
|
|
|
$
|
173,039
|
|
|
$
|
(12,291,899
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,590,044
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
For
the Year Ended
|
|
|
|
May
31, 2021
|
|
|
May
31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
loss
|
|
$
|
(6,194,829
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,665,779
|
)
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash
interest expense
|
|
|
1,117,667
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Depreciation
expense
|
|
|
229,513
|
|
|
|
57,473
|
|
Amortization
expense
|
|
|
295,709
|
|
|
|
211,067
|
|
Impairment
loss
|
|
|
359,129
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Deferred
lease expense
|
|
|
(26,248
|
)
|
|
|
(776
|
)
|
Debt
forgiveness income
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(93,761
|
)
|
Issuance of shares for
services
|
|
|
2,984,271
|
|
|
|
161,776
|
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
(32,448
|
)
|
|
|
(127,653
|
)
|
Inventory
|
|
|
(63,474
|
)
|
|
|
(15,787
|
)
|
Prepaid
expenses
|
|
|
(16,500
|
)
|
|
|
(5,588
|
)
|
Security
deposits
|
|
|
(25,422
|
)
|
|
|
(2,568
|
)
|
Deferred
brokerage fees
|
|
|
69,280
|
|
|
|
(18,592
|
)
|
Deferred
revenues
|
|
|
(157,137
|
)
|
|
|
123,882
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
337,022
|
|
|
|
123,142
|
|
Accrued
expenses
|
|
|
(245,464
|
)
|
|
|
729,902
|
|
Due
from franchisee
|
|
|
(23,007
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(1,391,938
|
)
|
|
|
(1,523,262
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
(used in)/acquired from acquisition
|
|
|
(150,000)
|
|
|
|
26,180
|
|
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
|
|
(1,949
|
)
|
|
|
(163,472
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
(151,949
|
)
|
|
|
(137,292
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment
of note payable
|
|
|
(2,137,753
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
Proceeds
from note payable
|
|
|
3,417,430
|
|
|
|
192,048
|
|
Proceeds
from sale of Private Units
|
|
|
500,000
|
|
|
|
87,700
|
|
Deferred
financing costs
|
|
|
(209,296
|
)
|
|
|
(98,198
|
)
|
Non-controlling
interest of original investment in subsidiaries
|
|
|
202,500
|
|
|
|
24,054
|
|
Private
placement funds received
|
|
|
41,735
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
1,814,616
|
|
|
|
280,604
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net change in cash
|
|
|
254,049
|
|
|
|
(1,379,950
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash - beginning of
period
|
|
|
160,208
|
|
|
|
1,540,158
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash - end of period
|
|
$
|
414,257
|
|
|
$
|
160,208
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
paid for interest
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Cash
paid for income taxes
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
stock issued for consideration in an acquisition of assets
|
|
$
|
871,852
|
|
|
$
|
1,440,000
|
|
Conversion
of debt to common shares
|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Increase
in prepaid expenses and accrued expenses
|
|
$
|
30,555
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Warrants
issued for debt discount
|
|
$
|
(1,521,754
|
)
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquisition of PLAYlive:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
2,226,166
|
|
Property
and equipment
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
9,503
|
|
Deferred
brokerage fees
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
805,975
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
(3,574
|
)
|
Deferred
revenue
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
(1,624,250
|
)
|
The
accompanying unaudited notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
NOTE
1 — ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Simplicity
Esports and Gaming Company F/K/A Smaaash Entertainment Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” or “our”), was
an organized as a blank check company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware on April 17, 2017. The Company was formed under
the name I-AM Capital Acquisition Company for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization
or similar business combination with one or more businesses (“Business Combination”). On November 20, 2018, the Company changed
its name from I-AM Capital Acquisition Company to Smaaash Entertainment Inc. On January 2, 2019, the Company changed its name from Smaaash
Entertainment Inc. to Simplicity Esports and Gaming Company.
Through
our wholly subsidiary, Simplicity Esports, LLC, acquired on January 2, 2019 (see Note 6). The Company has begun to implement a unique
approach to ensure the ultimate fan friendly esports experience. Our intention is to have gamers involved at the grassroots level and
feel a sense of unity as we compete with top class talent. Our management and players are known within the esports community and we plan
to use their skills to create a seamless content creation plan helping gamers feel closer to our brand than any other in the industry.
Simplicity is an established brand in the Esports industry with an engaged fan base competing in popular games across different genres,
including PUBG, Gears of War, Smite, Guns of Boom, and multiple EA Sports titles. Additionally, the Simplicity stream team encompasses
a unique group of casters, influencers, and personalities all of whom connect to Simplicity’s dedicated fan base. Simplicity also
has begun to open and operate esports gaming centers that will provide the public an opportunity to experience and enjoy gaming and Esports
in a social setting, regardless of skill or experience.
Through
our wholly owned subsidiary, PLAYlive Nation, Inc. (“PLAYlive”), acquired on July 29, 2019 (see Note 6), the Company has
a network of franchised Gaming Centers. As May 31, 2020, approximately 43 locations were open and operating, in various states including
Arizona, California, Idaho, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington. PLAYlive
offers a video gaming lounge concept to qualified franchisees. PLAYlive currently offers single-unit location franchises as well as agreements
to develop multiple locations. This PLAYlive model is being interlaced with the esports gaming centers mentioned above to create the
ultimate gaming center.
The
Company’s sponsor was I-AM Capital Partners LLC (the “Sponsor”). The Company selected May 31 as its fiscal year end.
Initial
Business Combination
The
Company’s management had broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
On
August 21, 2018, the Company deposited into the Trust Account an aggregate of $303,610 (including interest earned on the funds in the
Trust Account available for withdrawal), representing $0.058 per public share. As a result of such payment, the Company extended the
period of time it had to consummate a Business Combination by three months to November 21, 2018.
On
November 20, 2018, the parties consummated the initial Business Combination.
Upon
consummation of the Business Combination, the Company issued 208,000 restricted shares to Chardan Capital Markets in consideration for
advisory services provided. These restricted shares are valued at $10.21 per share totaling $2,125,000 and are on the statement of operations
included in general and administrative expenses.
At
the special meeting of stockholders held on November 9, 2018, holders of 4,448,260 shares of the Company’s common stock sold in
its Initial Public Offering (“Public Shares”) exercised their right to redeem those shares for cash at a price of
$10.2187363 per share, for an aggregate of approximately $45,455,596. Immediately after giving effect to the initial Business Combination
(including as a result of the redemptions described above) the issuance of 2,000,000 shares of common stock to the Smaaash founders,
the issuance of 520,000 shares of common stock upon conversion of the rights at the Closing and the issuance of 208,000 shares of common
stock to Chardan Capital Markets as consideration for services), there were 5,119,390 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase
approximately 5,461,500 shares of common stock issued and outstanding. Upon the Closing, the Company’s rights ceased to exist,
and its common stock and warrants began trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”).
On
the Closing Date, the Company entered into a master franchise agreement (“Master Franchise Agreement”) and a master license
and distribution agreement (“Master Distribution Agreement”) with Smaaash. As of May 31, 2020, the Master Franchise Agreement
and Master Distribution Agreement continue to be in effect.
NOTE
2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis
of Presentation
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”). The Company views its operations as one reporting entity and accordingly does not report on segments.
Emerging
Growth Company
Section
102(b)(1) of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) exempts emerging growth companies from being
required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), declared effective or do not have a class
of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are required to comply
with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition
period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable.
The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it
has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised
standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard.
Basis
of Consolidation
The
consolidated financial statements include the operations of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Simplicity Esports, LLC, PLAYlive
Nation, Inc., and PLAYlive Nation Holdings, LLC, its 76% owned subsidiary Simplicity One Brasil Ltd, and its 79% owned subsidiaries
Simplicity Happy Valley, LLC and Simplicity Redmond, LLC and its 51% owned subsidiary Simplicity El Paso.
All
significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Cash
and cash equivalents
The
Company considers short-term interest-bearing investments with initial maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The
Company has no cash equivalents.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Concentration
of Credit Risk
Financial
instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution,
which at times, may exceed the Federal depository insurance coverage of $250,000. The Company has not experienced losses on these accounts
and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.
Financial
Instruments
The
fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, which qualify as financial instruments under Financial Accounting Standards
Board’s (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,”
approximates the carrying amounts represented in the consolidated balance sheet.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company’s management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue
Recognition
As
of January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) (“ASC 606”). The new guidance sets
forth a new five-step revenue recognition model which replaces the prior revenue recognition guidance in its entirety and is intended
to eliminate numerous industry-specific pieces of revenue recognition guidance that have historically existed in GAAP. The underlying
principle of the new standard is that a business or other organization will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods
or services to customers in an amount that reflects what it expects to receive in exchange for the goods or services. The standard also
requires more detailed disclosures and provides additional guidance for transactions that were not addressed completely in the prior
accounting guidance. The Company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method and the adoption did not have a material
impact on its financial statements.
The
Company recognizes revenue when performance obligations under the terms of a contract with the customer are satisfied. Product sales
occur once control is transferred upon delivery to the customer. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects
to receive in exchange for transferring goods and services.
The
following describes principal activities, separated by major product or service, from which the Company generates its revenues.
Company-owned
Stores Sales
The
Company-owned stores principally generate revenue from retail esports gaming centers. Revenues from Company-owned stores are recognized
when the products are delivered, or the service is provided.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Franchise
Royalties and Fees
Franchise
royalties which are based on six percent of franchise store sales after a minimum level of sales occur and are recognized as sales
occur. Any royalty reductions, including waivers or those offered as part of a new store development incentive or as incentive for other
behaviors are recognized at the same time as the related royalty as they are not separately distinguishable from the full royalty rate.
Franchise royalties are billed on a monthly basis.
The
Company recognizes initial franchise license fee revenue, when the Company has performed substantially all the services required in the
franchise agreement. Fees received that do not meet these criteria are recorded as deferred revenues until earned. The pre-opening services
provided to franchisees do not contain separate and distinct performance obligations from the franchise right; thus, the fees collected
will be amortized on a straight-line basis beginning at the store opening date through the term of the franchise agreement, which is
typically 10 years. Franchise license renewal fees, which generally occur every 10 years, are billed before the renewal date. Fees received
for future license renewal periods are amortized over the life of the renewal period.
The
Company offers various incentive programs for franchisees including royalty incentives, new store opening incentives (i.e. development
incentives) and other support initiatives. Royalties and franchise fees sales are reduced to reflect any royalty incentives earned or
granted under these programs that are in the form of discounts.
Commissary
sales are comprised of food and supplies sold to franchised stores and are recognized as revenue upon shipment or delivery of the related
products to the franchisees. Payments are generally due within 30 days.
Fees
for information services, including software maintenance fees, marketing fees and website maintenance, graphic and promotion fees are
recognized as revenue as such services are provided.
Esports
Revenue
Esports
revenue is a form of competition using video games. Most commonly, esports takes the form of organized, single player and multiplayer
video game competitions, particularly between professional players, individually or as teams. Revenues from Esports revenue are recognized
when the competition is completed, and prize money is awarded. Revenues earned from league sponsorships from the Company’s share
of league revenues including domestic esports teams competing in games such as Overwatch, Apex Legends, PUBG and more are included here.
Revenue from international esports teams including Flamengo esports are included here. League revenues are earned through sponsorship
fees on a per tournament, or per season basis. As of March 22, 2020, the Company commenced online esports tournaments promoted directly
to its existing customer base. Revenue from these tournaments, comprised of registration fees on a per player basis, is included here.
Deferred
Revenues
Deferred
revenues are classified as current or long-term based on when management estimates the revenues will be recognized.
The
Company receives payments from franchisees in advance of all performance obligations having been met, including but not limited to franchise
locations being opened. As certain conditions agreed to in these franchise agreements are performed, revenues are recognized.
Deferred
costs include commissions paid to brokers related to the sale of specific new franchises which have not met revenue recognition criteria
as of May 31, 2021 and 2020. These costs are recognized in the same period as the initial franchise fee revenue is recognized.
Accounts
Receivable
The
Company estimates the allowance for doubtful accounts based on an analysis of specific customers (i.e. franchisees), taking into consideration
the age of past due accounts and an assessment of the customer’s ability to pay. Accounts receivable are written off against the
allowance when management determines it is probable the receivable is worthless. Customer account balances with invoices dated over 90
days old are considered delinquent and considered in the allowance assessment. The Company performs credit evaluations of its customers
and, generally, requires no collateral. Management has assessed accounts receivable as of May 31, 2021 and 2020, and an allowance for
doubtful accounts of approximately $38,000 and $52,400, respectively has been recorded
Property
and equipment
Property
and equipment and leasehold improvements are recorded at its historical cost. The cost of property and equipment is depreciated over
the estimated useful lives, when placed in service, (ranging from 3 -5 years) of the related assets utilizing the straight-line method
of depreciation. The cost of leasehold improvements is depreciated (amortized) over the lesser of the length of the related leases or
the estimated useful lives of the assets. Ordinary repairs and maintenance are expensed when incurred and major repairs will be capitalized
and expensed if it benefits future periods.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Intangible
Assets and impairment
Intangible
assets that are subject to amortization are reviewed for potential impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that carrying
amounts may not be recoverable. Assets not subject to amortization are tested for impairment at least annually. These costs were included
in intangible assets on our balance sheet and amortized on a straight-line basis when placed into service over the estimated useful lives
of the costs, which is 3 to 5 years.
The
Company periodically reviews its intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. The Company recognizes an impairment loss when the sum of expected undiscounted future
cash flows is less that the carrying amount of the asset. The amount of impairment is measured as the difference between the asset’s
estimated fair value and its book value. For the year ended May 31, 2021, we performed a third-party evaluation of the intangible
assets which indicated no impairment was required.
Goodwill
Goodwill
is the excess of our purchase cost over the fair value of the net assets of acquired businesses. We do not amortize goodwill, but we
assess our goodwill for impairment at least annually. Our assessment date was May 31, 2020, and we performed a third-party evaluation
of the goodwill value at May 31, 2021 which quantitative and qualitative considerations indicated no impairment.
Franchise
Locations
Through
PLAYlive, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, the Company has entered into franchise agreements with third parties. As May 31,
2021, approximately 12 locations were open and operating, in various states including Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Maryland,
Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington.
Stock-based
compensation
The
Company records stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation and ASC 505-50, Equity-Based
Payments to Non-Employees. All transactions in which goods or services are the consideration received for the issuance of equity
instruments are accounted for based on the fair value of the consideration received or the fair value of the equity instrument issued,
whichever is more reliably measurable. Equity instruments issued to employees and the cost of the services received as consideration
are measured and recognized based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued and are recognized over the employees required service
period, which is generally the vesting period.
Non
employee stock-based payments
The
Company records stock based payments made to non-employees in accordance with ASU 2018-07, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic
718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which aligns accounting for share-based payments issued to nonemployees
to that of employees under the existing guidance of Topic 718, with certain exceptions.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Leases
In
February of 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02-Leases (Topic 842), which significantly
amends the way companies are required to account for leases. Under the updated leasing guidance, some leases that did not have to be
reported previously are now required to be presented as an asset and liability on the balance sheet. In addition, for certain leases,
what was previously classified as an operating expense must now be allocated between amortization expense and interest expense. The Company
adopted this update as of January l, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method and prior periods have not been restated.
Upon implementation, the Company recognized initial operating lease right-of-use assets of $110,003 and operating lease liabilities of
$107,678. Due to the simplistic nature of the Company’s leases, no retained earnings adjustment was required. See Note 9 for further
details.
Deferred
Financing Costs
The
Company complies with the requirements of ASC 340-10-S99-1 and SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) Topic 5A — “Expenses of
Offering”. Offering costs of $307,494 and $98,198 consisting principally of legal and professional fees have been recorded as an
asset as of May 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively. These amounts will be charged to additional paid in capital upon the completion of
the Company’s ongoing Public Offering.
Basic
Income (Loss) per share
The
Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share.” Net income (loss) per share
is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted
earnings or loss per common share is calculated by dividing net income or loss available to common stockholders by the diluted weighted-average
number of common shares outstanding, which includes the effect of potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities for
this calculation consist primarily of warrants, outstanding options, and shares into which the convertible notes are convertible.
When
the Company records a loss from operations, all potentially dilutive shares are anti-dilutive and are consequently excluded from the
calculation of diluted net loss per common share.
Income
Taxes
The
Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires an
asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed
for differences between the financial statements and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible
amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income.
Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
ASC
Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax
positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not
to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting
standards promulgated by the FASB are subject to change. Changes in such standards may have an impact on the Company’s future financial
statements. The following are a summary of recent accounting developments.
The
Company periodically reviews new accounting standards that are issued. Although some of these accounting standards may be applicable
to the Company, the Company has not identified any other new standards that it believes merit further discussion, and the Company expects
that none would have a significant impact on its financial statements.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
In
February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), followed by other related ASUs that provided targeted improvements
and additional practical expedient options (collectively “ASC 842”). ASC 842 requires lessees to recognize right-of-use (“ROU”)
assets and lease payment liabilities on the balance sheet for leases representing the Company’s right to use the underlying assets
over the lease term. Each lease that is recognized on the balance sheet is classified as either finance or operating, with such classification
affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the Statements of Operations and presentation within the Statements
of Cash Flows.
The
Company adopted ASC 842 on January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method. The Company elected as part of its adoption to also
use the optional transition methodology whereby previously reported periods continue to be reported in accordance with historical accounting
guidance for leases that were in effect for those prior periods. Policy elections and practical expedients that the Company has implemented
as part of adopting ASC 842 include (a) excluding from the balance sheet leases with terms that are less than or equal to one year, (b)
for all existing asset classes that contain both lease and non-lease components, combining these components together and accounting for
them as a single lease component, (c) the package of practical expedients, which among other things, allows the Company to avoid reassessing
contracts that commenced prior to adoption that were properly evaluated under legacy GAAP, and (d) excluding land easements, which were
not accounted for under the previous leasing guidance, that existed or expired before adoption of ASC 842. The scope of ASC 842 does
not apply to leases used in the exploration for minerals or use thereof, including oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids.
The
Company’s adoption of ASC 842 resulted in an increase in other assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, and other liabilities
line items on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as a result of the additional ROU assets and related lease liabilities.
Upon adoption on January 1, 2019, the Company recognized approximately $0.5 million in ROU assets and liabilities for its operating leases.
There was no cumulative effect to accumulated deficit upon the adoption of this guidance.
Going
Concern, Liquidity and Management’s Plan
The
Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that it will continue as a going concern, which contemplates
continuity of operations, realization of assets, and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business.
As
reflected in the consolidated financial statements, the Company has an accumulated deficit as of May 31, 2021 and 2020 of $12,291,899
and $6,195,044 respectively. The Company also has a net loss for the year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020 of $6,096,855 and $2,620,238, respectively.
Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020 was $1,408,609 and $1,523,262, respectively. These factors
raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year from the of the date that the
financial statements are issued.
The
Company’s cash position may not be sufficient to support the Company’s daily operations. Management plans to raise additional
funds by way of a private or ongoing public offering. While the Company believes in the viability of its strategy and its ability to
generate sufficient revenue and to raise additional funds, there can be no assurances to that effect. Should the Company fail to raise
additional capital, it may be compelled to reduce the scope of its planned future business activities.
The
ability of the Company to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the Company’s ability to further implement its business
plan, to generate sufficient revenue and to raise additional funds by way of public and/or private offerings.
The
consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts
or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.
In
December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. While initially the outbreak was largely
concentrated in China and caused significant disruptions to its economy, it has now spread to several other countries and infections
have been reported globally.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Because
COVID-19 infections have been reported throughout the United States, certain federal, state and local governmental authorities have issued
stay-at-home orders, proclamations and/or directives aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Additional, more restrictive proclamations
and/or directives may be issued in the future. As a result, all of our corporate and franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers had been closed
effective April 1, 2020. Although our franchise agreements with franchisees of Simplicity Gaming Centers require a minimum monthly royalty
payment to us from the franchisees regardless of whether the franchised Simplicity Gaming Centers are operating, there is a potential
risk that franchisees of Simplicity Gaming Centers will default in their obligations to pay their minimum monthly royalty payment to
us. As of May 31, 2021 all but one company owned store and a few franchise stores have begun to re-open in conformity with local and
state COVID-19 regulations.
The
ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s operations is unknown and will depend on future developments, which are
highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, new information which may
emerge concerning the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, and any additional preventative and protective actions that governments, or
the Company, may direct, which may result in an extended period of continued business disruption, reduced customer traffic and reduced
operations. Any resulting financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time but is anticipated to have a material adverse
impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The
measures taken to date impacted the Company’s business for the fiscal year and potentially beyond. Management expects that
all of its business segments, across all of its geographies, will be impacted to some degree, but the significance of the impact of the
COVID-19 outbreak on the Company’s business and the duration for which it may have an impact cannot be determined at this time.
NOTE
3 — INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING AND PRIVATE PLACEMENT
Initial
Public Offering
On
August 22, 2017, the Company sold 625,000 Public Units at a purchase price of $80.00 per Public Unit, on a pre reverse-split basis,
in the Initial Public Offering, generating gross proceeds of $50.0 million. The Company incurred offering costs of approximately
$3.7 million, inclusive of approximately $3.2 million of underwriting fees. The Company paid $1 million of underwriting fees upon the
closing of the Initial Public Offering, issued 50,000 shares of common stock, on a pre reverse-split basis, for underwriting fees,
and deferred $1.82 million of underwriting fees until the consummation of the initial Business Combination.
Each
Unit consisted of one share of the Company’s common stock, one right to receive one-tenth of one share of the Company’s common
stock upon consummation of the Company’s initial Business Combination (“Right”), and one redeemable warrant (“Warrant”).
Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $92.00 on a pre reverse-split basis,
per share, subject to adjustment. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Warrants. The Warrants became exercisable
30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination and will expire five years after the completion of the initial Business
Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
The
Company may redeem the Warrants, in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Warrant upon 30 days’ notice (“30-day
redemption period”), only in the event that the last sale price of the common stock equals or exceeds $21.00 per share for any
20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given,
provided there is an effective registration statement with respect to the shares of common stock underlying such Warrants and a current
prospectus relating to those shares of common stock is available throughout the 30-day redemption period. If the Company calls the Warrants
for redemption as described above, the Company’s management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise Warrants
to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless
basis,” management will consider, among other factors, the Company’s cash position, the number of Warrants that are outstanding
and the dilutive effect on the Company’s stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable upon the
exercise of the Warrants.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Each
holder of a Right received one-tenth (1/10) of one share of common stock upon consummation of the Business Combination. No fractional
shares were issued upon exchange of the Rights. No additional consideration was paid by a holder of Rights in order to receive its additional
shares upon consummation of the Business Combination as the consideration related thereto has been included in the Unit purchase price
paid for by investors in the Initial Public Offering.
The
Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 93,750 additional Public Units to cover any over-allotment, at the
initial public offering price less any underwriting discounts and commissions. On September 13, 2017, the underwriters purchased 25,000
additional Public Units for gross proceeds of $2,000,000, less commissions of $110,000, of which $70,000 are deferred.
The
Company issued Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”), as compensation for the Initial Public Offering, an aggregate of 6,500 shares,
including 250 shares issued in connection with the partial exercise of the over-allotment option. The Company accounted for the fair
value of these shares as an expense of the Initial Public Offering resulting in a charge directly to stockholders’ equity.
Settlement
Agreement
On
November 20, 2018, the Company entered into a settlement and release agreement (“Settlement Agreement”) with Maxim. Pursuant
to the Settlement Agreement, the Company made a cash payment of $20,000 to Maxim and issued the Note in favor of Maxim in order to settle
the payment obligations of the Company under the underwriting agreement dated August 16, 2017, by and between the Company and Maxim.
The Company also agreed to remove the restrictive legends on an aggregate of 6,500 shares of its common stock held by Maxim and its affiliate.
See “Note Payable” under Note 8 below.
Unit
Purchase Option
At
the time of the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company sold to Maxim, for an aggregate of $100, an option (the “UPO”)
to purchase 31,250 Units (which increased to 32,500 units upon the partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option).
The Company has accounted for the fair value of the UPO, inclusive of the receipt of the $100 cash payment, as an expense of the Initial
Public Offering resulting in a charge directly to shareholders’ equity. The Company estimates that the fair value of this UPO is
approximately $743,600 (or $2.86 per Unit) using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of the UPO is estimated as of
the date of grant using the following assumptions: (1) expected volatility of 35%, (2) risk-free interest rate of 1.73% and (3) expected
life of five years. The UPO may be exercised for cash or on a “cashless” basis, at the holder’s option (except in the
case of a forced cashless exercise upon the Company’s redemption of the Warrants, as described above), such that the holder may
use the appreciated value of the UPO (the difference between the exercise prices of the UPO and the underlying Warrants and Rights, and
the market price of the Units and underlying shares of common stock) to exercise the UPO without the payment of any cash. The Company
will have no obligation to net cash settle the exercise of the UPO or the Warrants or Rights underlying the UPO. The holder of the UPO
will not be entitled to exercise the UPO or the Warrants or Rights underlying the UPO unless a registration statement covering the securities
underlying the UPO is effective or an exemption from registration is available. If the holder is unable to exercise the UPO or underlying
Warrants or Rights, the UPO, Warrants or Rights, as applicable, will expire worthless.
The
Company granted the holders of the UPO, demand and “piggy back” registration rights for periods of five and seven years,
respectively, from the effective date of the registration statement relating to the Initial Public Offering, including securities directly
and indirectly issuable upon exercise of the UPO.
Private
Placement
Concurrently
with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 31,812 Private Units at $80.00 per Private Unit,
generated gross proceeds of $2,545,000 in a Private Placement all on a pre reverse-split basis. The proceeds from the Private
Units were added to the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. The Private Units (including their component
securities) were not transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of the initial Business Combination and the
warrants included in the Private Units (the “Private Placement Warrants”) will be non-redeemable so long as they are held
by the Sponsor or their permitted transferees. If the Private Placement Warrants are held by someone other than the Sponsor or their
permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis
as the Warrants included in the Public Units sold in the Initial Public Offering. Otherwise, the Private Placement Warrants and the Rights
underlying the Private Units have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the Warrants and Rights, respectively, sold as
part of the Public Units in the Initial Public Offering and have no net cash settlement provisions.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
On
September 13, 2017, the Sponsor purchased 875 additional Private Units for gross proceeds of $70,000 upon the partial exercise of the
over-allotment option.
NOTE
4 - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
The
following is a summary of property, plant, and equipment—at cost, less accumulated depreciation:
|
|
May 31,
|
|
|
May 31,
|
|
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
Leasehold improvements
|
|
|
110,849
|
|
|
|
52,189
|
|
Property and equipment
|
|
|
755,741
|
|
|
|
243,314
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total cost
|
|
|
866,590
|
|
|
|
295,503
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
(292,282
|
)
|
|
|
(62,771
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net, property plant
and equipment
|
|
$
|
574,308
|
|
|
$
|
232,733
|
|
Depreciation
expense for the years ended May 31, 2021, and 2020 was $229,511 and $57,473, respectively.
NOTE
5 - INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The
following tables set forth the intangible assets, including accumulated amortization at May 31, 2021 and 2020:
|
|
May
31, 2021
|
|
|
|
Remaining
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
Net
Carrying
|
|
|
|
Useful
Life
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
Amortization
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Non-Competes
|
|
4.50
years
|
|
$
|
1,023,118
|
|
|
$
|
498,799
|
|
|
$
|
524,319
|
|
Trademarks
|
|
Indefinite
|
|
|
866,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
866,000
|
|
Customer
Contracts
|
|
10
years
|
|
|
546,000
|
|
|
|
301,675
|
|
|
|
244,325
|
|
Internet
domain
|
|
2.50
years
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
|
|
2,417
|
|
|
|
583
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,438,118
|
|
|
$
|
802,891
|
|
|
$
|
1,635,227
|
|
|
|
May
31, 2020
|
|
|
|
Remaining
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
Net Carrying
|
|
|
|
Useful
Life
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
Amortization
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Non-Competes
|
|
4.50 years
|
|
$
|
1,023,118
|
|
|
$
|
289,884
|
|
|
$
|
733,234
|
|
Trademarks
|
|
Indefinite
|
|
|
866,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
866,000
|
|
Customer Contracts
|
|
10 years
|
|
|
546,000
|
|
|
|
5,443
|
|
|
|
540,557
|
|
Internet domain
|
|
2.50 years
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
|
|
1,417
|
|
|
|
1,583
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,438,118
|
|
|
$
|
296,744
|
|
|
$
|
2,141,374
|
|
The
following table sets forth the future amortization of the Company’s intangible assets at May 31, 2021:
|
|
2022
|
|
|
2023
|
|
|
2024
|
|
|
2025
|
|
|
2026
|
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Non-Competes
|
|
$
|
204,624
|
|
|
$
|
204,624
|
|
|
$
|
119,363
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
528,611
|
|
Customer contracts
|
|
|
89,647
|
|
|
|
20,897
|
|
|
|
14,647
|
|
|
|
14,647
|
|
|
|
14,647
|
|
|
|
89,840
|
|
|
|
244,325
|
|
Internet
domain
|
|
|
583
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
583
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
260,224
|
|
|
$
|
259,807
|
|
|
$
|
259,224
|
|
|
$
|
173,962
|
|
|
$
|
54,600
|
|
|
$
|
267,557
|
|
|
$
|
1,275,374
|
|
Amortization
expense for the years ended May 31, 2021, and 2020 was $295,709 and $211,067, respectively.
Goodwill
The
Company’s goodwill carrying amounts relate to the acquisitions of Simplicity Esports LLC and PLAYlive Nation Inc. The composition
of the goodwill balance, is as follows:
|
|
Fiscal
Year
Ended
May 31, 2021
|
|
|
Fiscal
Year
Ended
May 31, 2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Simplicity Esports LLC
|
|
$
|
4,456,250
|
|
|
$
|
4,456,250
|
|
PLAYlive Nation Inc.
|
|
|
698,891
|
|
|
|
698,891
|
|
Ft. Bliss
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
Total
Goodwill
|
|
$
|
5,180,141
|
|
|
$
|
5,180,141
|
|
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
NOTE
6 - ACQUISITIONS
The
Simplicity Esports, LLC Acquisition
On
January 4, 2019, the Company consummated the transactions contemplated by the share exchange agreement, dated December 21, 2018 (as amended
by Amendment No. 1 to Share Exchange Agreement, dated December 28, 2018 and by Amendment No. 2 to Share Exchange Agreement, dated December
30, 2018, the “Share Exchange Agreement”) by and among the Company, Smaaash Entertainment, Inc. (“Smaaash”),
each of the equity holders of Simplicity (“Simplicity Owners”) and Jed Kaplan, in the capacity as the representative of the
Simplicity Owners (the “Representative”). Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement the Simplicity Owners transferred all
the issued and outstanding equity interests of Simplicity to the Company in exchange for newly issued shares of common stock of the Company
(the “Acquisition”).
The
Simplicity Owners received an aggregate of 37,500 shares of common stock at the closing of the Acquisition and an additional aggregate
of 87,500 shares of common stock on January 7, 2019 and the remaining 250,000 shares in March of 2019.
The
acquisition of Simplicity, in an all-stock deal, creates a pure play esports team and entertainment platform opportunity, which we believe
will increase shareholder value and boost our growth strategy as we endeavor the build out of our brick and mortar esports centers.
The
acquisition was accounted for by the Company using the acquisition method under business combination accounting. Under this method, the
purchase price paid by the acquirer is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date based on the
fair value. Determining the fair value of certain assets and liabilities assumed is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of
significant estimates and assumptions. All fair value measurements of acquired assets and liabilities assumed are non-recurring in nature
and classified as level 3 on the fair value hierarchy.
The
aggregate purchase price consisted of the following:
Restricted
stock consideration
|
|
|
6,090,000
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
6,090,000
|
|
As
noted in the table above, the Company issued 375,000 restricted shares of common stock as consideration which was valued at market at
the date of the closing, fair value of approximately $6,090,000.
The
following table summarizes the estimated fair value of The Simplicity Esports, LLC assets acquired, and liabilities assumed at the date
of acquisition:
Cash
|
|
|
76,000
|
|
Internet Domain
|
|
|
3,000
|
|
Trade names and trademarks
|
|
|
588,000
|
|
Non-Competes
|
|
|
1,023,118
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
|
(56,000
|
)
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
4,455,882
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
6,090,000
|
|
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
PLAYlive
Nation Acquisition
On
July 29, 2019, the Company entered into a definitive agreement to acquire PLAYlive for total consideration of 93,750 shares of common
stock. The PLAYlive acquisition closed on July 30, 2019.
The
acquisition was accounted for by the Company using the acquisition method under business combination accounting. Under this method, the
purchase price paid by the acquirer is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date based on the
fair value. Determining the fair value of certain assets and liabilities assumed is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of
significant estimates and assumptions. All fair value measurements of acquired assets and liabilities assumed are non-recurring in nature
and classified as level 3 on the fair value hierarchy.
The
aggregate purchase price consisted of the following:
Restricted
stock consideration
|
|
|
1,440,000
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
1,440,000
|
|
As
noted in the table above, the Company issued 93,750 restricted shares of common stock as consideration which was valued at market at
the date of the closing, fair value of approximately $1,440,000.
The
following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the PLAYlive assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition:
Cash
|
|
|
26,000
|
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
Net deferred revenue
|
|
|
(115,000
|
)
|
Customer relationships
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
|
(4,000
|
)
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
699,000
|
|
Trademarks
|
|
|
278,000
|
|
Customer contracts
|
|
|
546,000
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
1,440,000
|
|
Revenue
and net loss included in the year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020, consolidated financial statements attributable to PLAYlive is approximately
$306,000 and $301,000_ and $523,000 and $124,000, respectively.
Company
owned store acquisitions
During
the year, the Company acquired thirteen gaming centers from prior franchisees in various locations throughout the United States. On a
consolidated basis, the Company paid for these acquisitions by issuing 64,714 shares of stock to former franchise owners in return for
the property, plant and equipment, the inventory on hand at the time of the acquisition and the leasehold improvements of the leased
spaces. As part of the acquisition effort, the Company was able to renegotiate the lease terms with the landlords in order to provide
more favorable operating terms to the Company.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
NOTE
7 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Private
Units
In
addition, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 31,812 Private Units, on a pre reverse-split asis, at $80.00 per Private Unit
on a pre reverse-split basis for proceeds of $2,545,000 in the aggregate in the Private Placement. This purchase took place on
a private placement basis simultaneously with the completion of the Initial Public Offering. This issuance was be made pursuant to the
exemption from registration contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
The
Sponsor committed to purchase from the Company up to an additional 3,281 Private Units if the underwriters’ over-allotment option
was exercised in full.
On
September 13, 2017, 7,000 additional Private Units, on a pre reverse-split basis were purchased by the Sponsor at $80.00 per Private
Unit on a pre reverse-split basis upon the partial exercise of the over-allotment option.
Kaplan
Promissory Note
On
May 12, 2020 (the “Issue Date”), the Company issued a promissory note (the “Kaplan Note”) in the principal sum
of $90,000 in favor of Jed Kaplan, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, interim Chief Financial Officer, member of the Company’s
Board of Directors and greater than 5% stockholder of the Company. The Kaplan Note matures on the first business day following the 150-day
anniversary of the Issue Date (the “Maturity Date”). The Company will use the proceeds of the Kaplan Note to fund the operations
of Simplicity One Brasil Ltda, the Company’s majority owned subsidiary (“Simplicity Brasil”). As of May 31, 2020, advances
under the terms of this note were $64,728 (Note 8). Inconsideration for a 10% equity stake in Brasil Ltda., the Kaplan Note was retired
during the year ended May 31, 2021.
Equity
Sales
On
May 7, 2020, we authorized the sale of 2,867 shares of our restricted Common Stock at $8.72 per share to William H. Herrmann, Jr. a member
of our board of directors for $25,000 (Note 10).
The
Company maintains its cash balance at a financial services company that is owned by an officer of the Company.
NOTE
8 – DEBT
The
table below presents outstanding debt instruments as of May 31:
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
Convertible Promissory Notes
|
|
|
3,157,970
|
|
|
|
152,500
|
|
Less: Related
Discount
|
|
|
(946,873
|
)
|
|
|
(25,180
|
)
|
Related Party Note
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
64,728
|
|
Convertible Note
Payable
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
2,211,097
|
|
|
$
|
1,192,048
|
|
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
10%
Fixed Convertible Promissory Note
On
April 29, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), the Company issued a 10% Fixed Convertible Promissory Note (the “Harbor Gates
Note”), with a maturity date of October 29, 2020 (the “Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $152,000 in favor of
Harbor Gates Capital, LLC (“Harbor Gates”). Pursuant to the terms of the Harbor Gates Note, the Company agreed to pay to
Harbor Gates $152,500 (the “Principal Sum”) and to pay “guaranteed” interest on the principal balance at an amount
equivalent to 10% of the Principal Sum, to the extent such Principal Sum and “guaranteed” interest and any other interest,
fees, liquidated damages and/or items due to Harbor Gates have not been repaid or converted into Company common stock in accordance with
the terms of the Harbor Gates Note. The Harbor Gates Note carries an original issue discount (“OID”) of $2,500. Accordingly,
on the Effective Date, Harbor Gates delivered $150,000 to the Company in exchange for the Harbor Gates Note.
In
addition to the “guaranteed” interest, and upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as hereinafter defined), additional
interest will accrue from the date of the Event of Default at the rate equal to the lower of 20% per annum or the highest rate permitted
by law.
The
Company may prepay the Harbor Gates Note according to the following schedule:
Days
Since
Effective Date
|
|
Payment
Amount
|
Under
30
|
|
115%
of Principal Amount (as hereinafter defined) so paid
|
31-60
|
|
120%
of Principal Amount so paid
|
61-90
|
|
125%
of Principal Amount so paid
|
91-180
|
|
135%
of Principal Amount so paid
|
135%
of the remaining unpaid and unconverted Principal Amount, plus all accrued and unpaid interest will be due and payable on the Maturity
Date. “Principal Amount” refers to the sum of (i) the original principal amount of the Harbor Gates Note (including the OID,
prorated if the Harbor Gates Note has not been funded in full); (ii) all guaranteed and other accrued but unpaid interest under the Harbor
Gates Note; (iii) any fees due under the Harbor Gates Notes; (iv) liquidated damages; and (v) any default payments owing under the Harbor
Gates Note, in each case previously paid or added to the Principal Amount.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Harbor Gates Note, the Company agreed to issue Harbor Gates shares of Company common stock in two tranches as follows:
|
(i)
|
1,250
shares of common stock within three trading days of the Effective Date; and
|
|
(ii)
|
In
the event the average of the three volume weighted average prices for the Company’s common stock during the three consecutive
trading days immediately preceding the date which is the 180th day following the Effective Date is less than $1.00 per
share, then Harbor Gates will be entitled, and the Company will issue to Harbor Gates additional shares of common stock as set forth
in the Harbor Gates Note.
|
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
If
an Event of Default (as defined in the Promissory Note) occurs, the outstanding Principal Amount of the Harbor Gates Note owing in respect
thereof through the date of acceleration, shall become, at Harbor Gates’ election, immediately due and payable in cash at the “Mandatory
Default Amount”. The Mandatory Default Amount means 35% of the outstanding Principal Amount of the Harbor Gates Note will be automatically
added to the Principal Sum of the Harbor Gates Note and tack back to the Effective Date for purposes of Rule 144 promulgated under the
1934 Act. Commencing five days after the occurrence of any Event of Default that results in the eventual acceleration of the Harbor Gates
Note, the Harbor Gates Note will accrue additional interest, in addition to the Harbor Gates Note’s “guaranteed” interest,
at a rate equal to the lesser of 20% per annum or the maximum rate permitted under applicable law.
If
the Harbor Gates Note is not retired on or before the Maturity Date, then at any time and from time to time after the Maturity Date,
and subject to the terms hereof and restrictions and limitations contained in the Harbor Gates Note, Harbor Gates has the right, at Harbor
Gates’ sole option, to convert in whole or in part the outstanding and unpaid Principal Amount under the Harbor Gates Note into
shares of the Company’s common stock at the Variable Conversion Price. The “Variable Conversion Price” will be equal
to the lower of: (a) $1.00, or (b) 70% of the lowest volume weighted average price of the Company’s common stock during the 15
consecutive trading days prior to the date on Harbor Gates elects to convert all or part of the Harbor Gates Note. The Company intends
to prepay the Harbor Gates Note in accordance with its terms so that no amount under the Harbor Gates Note is converted into shares of
the Company’s common stock.
This
note along with guaranteed interest of $15,000 was repaid on July 2, 2020.
Kaplan
Promissory Note
On
May 12, 2020 (the “Issue Date”), the Company issued a promissory note (the “Kaplan Note”) in the principal sum
of $90,000 in favor of Jed Kaplan, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, interim Chief Financial Officer, member of the Company’s
Board of Directors and greater than 5% stockholder of the Company. The Kaplan Note matures on the first business day following the 150-day
anniversary of the Issue Date (the “Maturity Date”). The Company will use the proceeds of the Kaplan Note to fund the operations
of Simplicity One Brasil Ltda, the Company’s majority owned subsidiary (“Simplicity Brasil”).
Pursuant
to the terms of the Kaplan Note, the Company agreed to pay to Mr. Kaplan the lesser of (i) the principal sum of $90,000 (the “Maximum
Commitment”), or (ii) the aggregate principal amount of all direct advances of the proceeds of the Kaplan Note (each, an “Advance”),
together with any interest thereon, and any and all other amounts which may be due and payable thereunder from time to time.
Subject
to the terms of the Kaplan Note, Mr. Kaplan agreed to make one direct Advance to and for the benefit of the Company on the Issue Date
in the amount of $45,000, and one additional Advance to and for the benefit of the Company at such time as the Company may request during
the two month period following the Issue Date. The total of the aggregate principal balance of all Advances (collectively referred to
herein as the “Principal Amount”) outstanding at any time shall not exceed the Maximum Commitment. Advances made by Mr. Kaplan
to the Company under the Kaplan Note which have been repaid may not be borrowed again.
Prior
to the Maturity Date or an Event of Default (as hereinafter defined), the Principal Amount outstanding under the Kaplan Note will bear
interest at a rate of 3% (the “Interest Rate”). From and after the Maturity Date or upon and during the continuance of an
Event of Default, interest will accrue on the unpaid Principal Amount during any such period at an annual rate (the “Default Rate”)
equal to 10% plus the Interest Rate; provided, however, that in no event will the Default Rate exceed the maximum rate permitted by law.
The
Company may prepay the Kaplan Note, in whole or in part, without a prepayment penalty, at any time provided that an Event of Default
has not then occurred.
During
the year ended May 31, 2021, the Kaplan Note was retired in exchange for a 10% equity stake in Simplicity Brasil.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Self-Amortization
Promissory Note
On
June 18, 2020 (the “Issue Date”), the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “SPA”) with an
accredited investor (the “Holder”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% self-amortization promissory note (the “Amortization
Note”) with a maturity date of June 18, 2021 (the “Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $550,000. Pursuant to the
terms of the Amortization Note, the Company agreed to pay to $550,000 (the “Principal Sum”) to the Holder and to pay interest
on the Principal Sum at the rate of 12% per annum. The Amortization Note carries an original issue discount (“OID”) of $55,000.
Accordingly, on the Closing Date (as defined in the SPA), the Holder paid the purchase price of $495,000 in exchange for the Amortization
Note. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the SPA, the Company agreed to issue 6,875 shares of the Company’s common stock to
the Holder as additional consideration.
The
Company may prepay the Amortization Note at any time prior to the date that an Event of Default (as defined in the Amortization Note)
(each an “Event of Default”) occurs at an amount equal to 100% of the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid
interest with no prepayment premium. The Amortization Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment
defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of provisions of the Amortization Note or SPA.
The
Company is required to make amortization payments to the Holder according to the following schedule:
Payment
Date
|
|
|
Payment
Amount
|
|
10/16/2020
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
11/16/2020
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
12/16/2020
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
01/18/2021
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
02/18/2021
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
03/18/2021
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
04/16/2021
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
05/18/2021
|
|
$
|
66,125.00
|
|
06/18/2021
|
|
$
|
65,921.26
|
|
Total:
|
|
$
|
594,921.26
|
|
In
connection with the November 23, 2020 SPA discussed below, we repaid principal and interest of $198,375 on this June 18, 2020 Note.
Upon
the Holder’s provision of notice to the Company of the occurrence of any Event of Default, which has not been cured within five
calendar days as provided in the Amortization Note, the Amortization Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall
pay to the Holder, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued
interest multiplied by 125% (the “Default Amount”). Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, additional interest will
accrue from the date of the Event of Default at the rate equal to the lower of 15% per annum or the highest rate permitted by law. The
Company shall have the right to pay the Default Amount in cash at any time, provided, however that the Holder may convert the Amortization
Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% contained in the Amortization Note)
at any time after the date that is five calendar days after the Amortization Note becomes immediately due and payable as a result of
an Event of Default until the Company has repaid the Amortization Note in cash. If the aforementioned event occurs, the conversion price
will be equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the respective
conversion. The Company intends to repay the Amortization Note in accordance with its terms so that no amount under the Amortization
Note is converted into shares of the Company’s common stock.
While
any portion of this Note is outstanding, if the Company receives cash proceeds of more than $2,000,000.00 (the “Minimum Threshold”)
in the aggregate from public offerings or private placements to investors, the Company shall, within two business days of Company’s
receipt of such proceeds, inform the Holder of such receipt, following which the Holder shall have the right in its sole discretion to
require the Company to immediately apply up to 50% of all proceeds received by the Company after the Minimum Threshold is reached to
repay the outstanding amounts owed under this Note. As of November, 2020, we repaid the entire amount of principal and interest.
August
7, 2020 Self-Amortization Promissory Note
On
August 7, 2020 (the “Issue Date”), the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “SPA”) with
FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC, an accredited investor (the “Holder”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12%
self-amortization promissory note (the “Self-Amortization Note”) with a maturity date of August 7, 2021 (the “Maturity
Date”), in the principal sum of $333,333. Pursuant to the terms of the Self-Amortization Note, the Company agreed to pay $333,333
(the “Principal Sum”) to the Holder and to pay interest on the principal balance at the rate of 12% per annum. The Amortization
Note carries an original issue discount of $33,333. Accordingly, on the Closing Date (as defined in the SPA), the Holder paid the purchase
price of $300,000 in exchange for the Self-Amortization Note. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the SPA, the Company agreed to issue
4,167 shares of the Company’s common stock to the Holder as additional consideration.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
The
Company may prepay the Self-Amortization Note at any time prior to the date that an Event of Default (as defined in the Amortization
Note) (each an “Event of Default”) occurs at an amount equal to 100% of the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued and
unpaid interest with no prepayment premium. The Self-Amortization Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other
things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of provisions of the Self-Amortization Note or SPA.
The
Company is required to make amortization payments to the Holder according to the following schedule:
Payment
Date
|
|
|
Payment
Amount
|
|
12/07/2020
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
01/07/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
02/08/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
03/08/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
04/07/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
05/07/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
06/07/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
07/07/2021
|
|
$
|
40,075.75
|
|
08/07/2021
|
|
$
|
39,952.34
|
|
Total:
|
|
$
|
360,558.34
|
|
On
March 10, 2021, we repaid the outstanding principal and interest on the Self-Amortization Note.
Upon
the Holder’s provision of notice to the Company of the occurrence of any Event of Default, which has not been cured within five
calendar days as provided in the Amortization Note, the Amortization Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall
pay to the Holder, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued
interest multiplied by 125% (the “Default Amount”). Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, additional interest will
accrue from the date of the Event of Default at the rate equal to the lower of 15% per annum or the highest rate permitted by law. The
Company shall have the right to pay the Default Amount in cash at any time, provided, however that the Holder may convert the Amortization
Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% contained in the Amortization Note)
at any time after the date that is five calendar days after the Amortization Note becomes immediately due and payable as a result of
an Event of Default until the Company has repaid the Amortization Note in cash. If the aforementioned event occurs, the conversion price
will be equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the date of the respective
conversion. The Company intends to repay the Amortization Note in accordance with its terms so that no amount under the Amortization
Note is converted into shares of the Company’s common stock.
While
any portion of this Note is outstanding, if the Company receives cash proceeds of more than $2,000,000.00 (the “Minimum Threshold”)
in the aggregate from public offerings or private placements to investors, the Company shall, within two business days of Company’s
receipt of such proceeds, inform the Holder of such receipt, following which the Holder shall have the right in its sole discretion to
require the Company to immediately apply up to 50% of all proceeds received by the Company after the Minimum Threshold is reached to
repay the outstanding amounts owed under this Note.
November
23, 2020 Self-Amortization Promissory Note
On
November 25, 2020, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “November 2020 SPA”), dated as of November
23, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), with an accredited investor (the “Holder”) pursuant to which the Company issued
a 12% self-amortization promissory note (the “November Amortization Note”) with a maturity date of November 23, 2021 (the
“Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $750,000. Pursuant to the terms of the November Amortization Note, the Company
agreed to pay to $750,000 (the “Principal Sum”) to the Holder and to pay interest on the principal balance at the rate of
12% per annum. The Company received net proceeds of $441,375, net of original issue discount of $75,000, origination fees of $35,250,
and the partial repayment of principal and interest of $198,375 on the June 18, 2020 Note. In connection with the November Amortization
Note, during the first twelve months of this note, interest equal to $90,000 shall be guaranteed and earned in full as of the Effective
Date, provided, however, that if the November Amortization Note is repaid in its entirety on or prior to February 23, 2021, then the
interest shall be accrued on a per annum basis based on the number of days elapsed as of the repayment date from the Effective Date.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
In
connection with the November 23, 2020 SPA, the Company is required to issue warrants equal to 375,000 divided by the Exercise Price (as
defined below) (the “Warrant Shares”) (whereby such number may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the terms and conditions
of this Warrant) at the Exercise Price per share then in effect. For purposes of this Warrant, the term “Exercise Price”
shall mean 110% of the public offering price of the Company’s common stock under the public offering contemplated by the registration
statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company on October 23, 2020 (the “Uplist Offering”), provided, however, that if the Uplist
Offering has not been consummated on or before May 23, 2021, then the Exercise Price shall mean the closing bid price of the Company’s
common stock on December 23, 2020, subject to adjustment as provided in the warrant (including but not limited to cashless exercise),
and the term “Exercise Period” shall mean the period commencing on the earlier of (i) the date of the Company’s consummation
of the Uplist Offering or (ii) May 23, 2021, and ending on the five-year anniversary thereof. In connection with the issuance of these
warrants, on the initial measurement date, the relative fair value of the warrants of $157,438 was recorded as a debt discount and an
increase in paid-in capital.
The
Company may prepay the Amortization Note at any time prior to the date that an Event of Default (as defined in the Amortization Note)
(each an “Event of Default”) occurs at an amount equal to 100% of the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid
interest (no prepayment premium). The Amortization Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment
defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of provisions of the November Amortization Note or the November 2020 SPA.
The
Company is required to make amortization payments to the Holder according to the following schedule:
Payment
Date
|
|
|
Payment
Amount
|
|
2/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
3/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
4/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
5/21/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
6/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
7/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
8/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
9/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
10/22/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
11/23/2021
|
|
$
|
84,000.00
|
|
Total:
|
|
$
|
840,000.00
|
|
On
February 19, 2021, we repaid the outstanding principal and interest on the November Amortization Note.
Upon
the Holder’s provision of notice to the Company of the occurrence of any Event of Default, which has not been cured within five
(5) calendar days (provided, however, that this cure period shall not apply to certain events of default as set forth in the November
Amortization Note), the November Amortization Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to the Holder,
in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied
by 125% (the “Default Amount”). Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (as hereinafter defined), additional interest
will accrue from the date of the Event of Default at the rate equal to the lower of 15% per annum or the highest rate permitted by law.
The Company shall have the right to pay the Default Amount in cash at any time, provided, however that the Holder may convert the November
Amortization Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% contained in the Amortization
Note) at any time after the date that is five (5) calendar days after the November Amortization Note becomes immediately due and payable
as a result of an Event of Default until the Company has repaid the Amortization Note in cash. If the aforementioned event occurs, the
conversion price will be equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding
the date of the respective conversion.
The
Holder shall have the right, at any time following an Uncured Default Date (as defined in this Note), to convert all or any portion of
the then outstanding and unpaid principal amount and interest (including any default interest) into shares of the Company’s common
stock at the Conversion Price. Following the Uncured Default Date, the Conversion Price shall equal the lesser of (i) 105% multiplied
by the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock or (ii) the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock immediately
preceding the date of the respective conversion (the “Conversion Price”).
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Amendments
to the Series A-2 Exchange Convertible Note
On
or about December 20, 2018, the Company issued that certain Series A-2 exchange convertible note in the original principal amount of
$1,000,000 (the “Series A-2 Note”) to Maxim.
On
June 18, 2020, the Company and Maxim entered into that certain first amendment to the Series A-2 Note (the “First Amendment”),
pursuant to which such parties agreed to the following: (i) Maxim’s resale of the Company’s common stock (the “Common
Stock”) underlying the Series A-2 Note shall be limited to 10% of the daily volume of the Common Stock on each respective trading
day, (ii) the maturity date of the Series A-2 Note was extended to December 31, 2020, (iii) the principal amount of the Series A-2 Note
was increased by $100,000 and (iv) the conversion price was reduced from $15.44 ($1.93 pre-reverse split) to $9.20 ($1.15 pre-reverse
split).
On
December 31, 2020, the Company and Maxim entered into a second amendment to the Series A-2 Note to extend the maturity date of Series
A-2 Note to February 15, 2021.
On
April 14, 2021, the Company and Maxim entered into the third amendment to the Series A-2 Note with Maxim pursuant to which the Company
and Maxim agreed to the following:
(i)
|
The maturity date of
the Series A-2 Note is extended to October 15, 2021.
|
|
|
(ii)
|
The principal balance
of the Series A-2 Note is increased by $50,000 as of April 14, 2021.
|
|
|
(iii)
|
The Series A-2 Note
was not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s) of the Series
A-2 Note) on or before April 30, 2021, and accordingly, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note increased by an additional $50,000.
|
|
|
(iv)
|
The Series A-2 Note
was not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s) of the Series
A-2 Note) on or before May 15, 2021, and accordingly, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note increased by an additional $50,000.
|
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
(v)
|
If the Series A-2 Note
is not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s) of the Series
A-2 Note) on or before July 15, 2021, the principal balance
of the Series A-2 Note will increase by an additional $100,000.
|
|
|
(vi)
|
If the Series A-2 Note
is not repaid in its entirety (in cash and/or shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to conversion(s) of the Series
A-2 Note) on or before September 15, 2021, the principal balance of the Series A-2 Note will increase by an additional $100,000,
representing a total cumulative increase in the principal balance of $350,000 if the Series A-2 Note is not repaid in its entirety
on or before September 15, 2021.
|
|
|
(vii)
|
The Company will, within
five business days after the Company’s receipt of the Second Tranche Purchase Price of $999,996, pay $500,000 to Maxim, which
will reduce the principal owed under the Series A-2 Note by $500,000.
|
While
any portion of the Series A-2 Note is outstanding, if the Company receives cash proceeds from public offerings or private placements
of the Company’s common stock to investors (except with respect to proceeds from officers and directors of the Company), the Company
will, within five business days of the Company’s receipt of such proceeds, inform Maxim or such receipt, following which Maxim
will have the right in its sole discretion to require the Company to immediately apply up to 25% of such proceeds received by the Company
to repay the outstanding amounts owed under the Series A-2 Note. The parties understand that (a) each dollar applied toward repayment
pursuant to this clause (viii) will reduce the balance owed under the Series A-2 Note by one dollar, and (b) this clause (viii) will
not apply to the Tiger Trout transaction.
On August 19, 2021, the Company and Maxim entered
into the fourth amendment (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the Series A-2 Maxim Note, as amended, pursuant to which the Company
and Maxim agreed that all obligations under the Series A-2 Maxim Note, as amended, shall be extinguished, and the Series A-2 Maxim Note,
as amended, shall be deemed repaid in its entirety, upon the satisfaction of the following obligations: (i) the Company’s payment
of $500,000 to Maxim within three business days of August 19, 2021, (ii) the Company’s issuance of 20,000 restricted shares of
the Company’s common stock to Maxim within seven business days of August 19, 2021, and (iii) the Company’s issuance of a
common stock purchase warrant to Maxim on August 19, 2021 for the purchase of 365,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The
Company also granted Maxim an irrevocable right of first refusal superseding all others to act as Company’s sole managing underwriter
and sole bookrunner or exclusive placement agent or financial advisor, or finder in connection with any public or private offering by
the Company or any subsidiary of or successor to the Company (if applicable) of its equity, equity linked or debt securities (including
convertible securities) while the Company’s common stock is listed on any of the NYSE American, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the
Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors to any of the foregoing, each,
a “National Exchange”), within the period beginning on August 19, 2021 and ending on the close of business on January 1,
2023.
On August 19, 2021, the Company issued to Maxim
a common stock purchase warrant (the “Warrant”) for the purchase of 365,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the
“Warrant Shares”) at an exercise price of $13.00, subject to adjustment as provided in the Warrant. The Warrant is exercisable
during the period commencing on August 19, 2021 and ending at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on the date that is the earlier of (i)
three years from the effective date of a registration statement registering for resale by Maxim or its assigns the Warrant Shares (provided
that such registration statement remains in effect at the end of the exercise period) and (ii) the 42 month anniversary after August
19, 2021.
The Company has paid the Maxim note, in its entirety by August 24,
2021
February
19, 2021 12% Promissory Note and Securities Purchase Agreement
On
February 19, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “SPA”) dated as of February 19, 2021, with
an accredited investor (the “Holder”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% promissory note (the “Note”)
with a maturity date of February 19, 2022 (the “Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $1,650,000. In addition, the Company
issued 10,000 shares of its common stock to the Holder as a commitment fee pursuant to the SPA. Pursuant to the terms of the Note, the
Company agreed to pay to $1,650,000 (the “Principal Sum”) to the Holder and to pay interest on the principal balance at the
rate of 12% per annum (provided that the first twelve months of interest shall be guaranteed). The Note carries an original issue discount
(“OID”) of $165,000. Accordingly, on the Closing Date (as defined in the SPA), the Holder paid the purchase price of $1,485,000
in exchange for the Note. The Company intends to use the proceeds for its operational expenses, the repayment of those certain self-amortization
promissory notes previously issued to the Holder on June 18, 2020 and November 23, 2020, and the repayment of certain other existing
debt obligations. The Holder may convert the Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations
of 4.99% in the Note) at any time at a conversion price equal to $11.50 per share.
The
Company may prepay the Note at any time prior to the date that an Event of Default (as defined in the Note) (each an “Event of
Default”) occurs at an amount equal to 100% of the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest (no prepayment
premium). The Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations
and warranties, and breach of provisions of the Note or SPA.
The
Company is required to make an interim payment to the Holder in the amount of $363,000, on or
before August 19, 2021, towards the repayment of the balance of the Note. Currently the Company and the Holder have agreed to extend
the terms of this payment. The extension provides that the Company paid $100,000 to the Holder by the interim payment date and has agreed
to pay an additional $100,000 upon the completion of a new debt deal that is anticipated to close by September 1, 2021 and the Company
has agreed to pay $163,000 to the Holder at the earlier of the Company stock uplist or September 30, 2021,
Upon
the Holder’s provision of notice to the Company of the occurrence of any Event of Default, which has not been cured within five
(5) calendar days (provided, however, that this five (5) calendar day cure period shall not apply to any event of default under Sections
3.1, 3.2, and 3.19 of the Note), the Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to the Holder, in full satisfaction
of its obligations hereunder, an amount equal to the Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied by 125% (the “Default
Amount”). Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, additional interest will accrue from the date of the Event of Default at
the rate equal to the lower of 15% per annum or the highest rate permitted by law.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Note
Payable
On
November 20, 2018, the Company paid its underwriter $20,000 and issued its underwriter a secured demand promissory note (the “Note”)
in the amount of $1,800,000. The Note accrued interest at 8% per annum from the date of the Note through and including May 20, 2019,
12% per annum from and including May 21, 2019, through and including August 20, 2019, and 15% per annum from and including August 21,
2019, through and including November 20, 2019. If a late payment had occurred and continued, the interest rate would have increased to
12% per annum from the date of the Note through and including August 20, 2019 and 18% per annum from after August 21, 2019. If a late
payment had remained outstanding for over 48 hours, Maxim could have required the Company to redeem all or any part of the Note at a
redemption price equal to 125% of the Alternate Payment Amount.
The
principal and interest of the Note was payable upon demand by Maxim or from time to time, in accordance the following schedule:
|
(i)
|
one
third of the principal, accrued and unpaid interest and any late charges on May 20, 2019;
|
|
(ii)
|
one
third of the principal, accrued and unpaid interest and any late charges on August 20, 2019; and
|
|
(iii)
|
one
third of the principal, accrued and unpaid interest and any late charges on November 20, 2019.
|
The
Note was secured by a first priority security interest in all personal property and assets of the Company excluding the assets held in
escrow with respect to (i) that certain stock purchase agreement with Polar, pursuant to which Polar agreed to sell up to 490,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock to the Company thirty days after the consummation of the Business Combination and (ii) that certain
stock purchase agreement with K2, pursuant to which K2 agreed to sell up to 220,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to the
Company thirty days after the consummation of the Business Combination.
The
amount payable under the Note could also have been paid in shares of common stock of the Company or securities convertible or exercisable
into shares of common stock of the Company (the “Alternate Equity Payment”) if and only if the Company and Maxim mutually
agree on both the purchase price and, if applicable, the conversion and/or exercise price of each security of the Company issued in such
Alternative Equity Payment. Otherwise, the payment should be made in cash only.
So
long as any amount under the Note remained outstanding, all cash proceeds received by the Company from any sales of its securities was
to be used to repay this Note.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
NOTE
9 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Unit
Purchase Option
The
Company sold to the underwriters (and/or their designees), for $100, an option to purchase up to a total of 250,000 Units (which increased
to 260,000 Units upon the partial exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option), exercisable at $11.50 per Unit (or an aggregate
exercise price of $2,990,000) upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The UPO may be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis,
at the holder’s option, at any time during the period commencing on the later of the first anniversary of the effective date of
the registration statement relating to the Initial Public Offering and the closing of the Company’s initial Business Combination
and terminating on the fifth anniversary of such effectiveness date. The Units issuable upon exercise of this UPO are identical to those
offered in the Initial Public Offering, except that the exercise price of the warrants underlying the Units sold to the underwriters
is $13.00 per share.
Operating
Lease Right of Use Obligation
The
Company adopted Topic 842 on January 1, 2019. The Company elected to adopt this standard using the optional modified retrospective transition
method and recognized a cumulative-effect adjustment to the consolidated balance sheet on the date of adoption. Comparative periods have
not been restated. With the adoption of Topic 842, the Company’s consolidated balance sheet now contains the following line items:
Operating lease right-of-use assets, Current portion of operating lease liabilities and Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion.
As
all the existing leases subject to the new lease standard were previously classified as operating leases by the Company, they were similarly
classified as operating leases under the new standard. The Company has determined that the identified operating leases did not contain
non-lease components and require no further allocation of the total lease cost. Additionally, the agreements in place did not contain
information to determine the rate implicit in the leases, so we used our incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate. Our weighted
average discount rate is 10.4% and the weighted average remaining lease terms are 41 months.
As
of May 31, 2021, operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities arising from operating leases was $1,527,286 and $1,527,967, respectively.
As of May 31, 2020, operating lease right-of-use assets and liabilities
arising from operating leases was $490,984 and $490,983, respectively. During the year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company
recorded operating lease expense of approximately $353,000 and $147,000, respectively.
The
following is a schedule showing the future minimum lease payments under operating leases by years and the present value of the minimum
payments as of May 31, 2021.
2022
|
|
$
|
471,063
|
|
2023
|
|
$
|
450,377
|
|
2024
|
|
$
|
452,511
|
|
2025
|
|
$
|
405,795
|
|
2026
|
|
$
|
153,601
|
|
Total Operating Lease Obligations
|
|
$
|
1,945,347
|
|
Less: Amount representing
interest
|
|
$
|
(418,061
|
)
|
Present
Value of minimum lease payments
|
|
$
|
1,527,286
|
|
Employment
Agreements, Board Compensation and Bonuses
On
July 29, 2020, the Company entered into a new employment agreement (the “Kaplan 2020 Agreement”) with Mr. Kaplan. Such employment
agreement replaced the Kaplan 2018 Agreement. As a result, the Kaplan 2018 Agreement was terminated and is of no further force or effect.
Pursuant to the terms of the Kaplan 2020 Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Kaplan a monthly base salary of $5,000; provided, however,
that the parties agreed that such base salary will be deferred and will accumulate until the Company has sufficient cash available to
make such payments, to be reasonably determined by the Board of Directors and Mr. Kaplan, at which time all accrued and unpaid base salary
will be paid. In addition, Mr. Kaplan will receive an equity grant of 15,000 shares of common stock per month, which shares will be fully
vested upon grant. Mr. Kaplan will also be eligible to receive a quarterly bonus in the form of cash or equity shares and will be entitled
to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans. In addition, if, during the term of the Kaplan 2020 Agreement, the Company’s
shares are approved for listing on a U.S. national securities exchange, the Company will pay Mr. Kaplan a $50,000 cash bonus, to be paid
upon such listing begin effective.
The
term of the Kaplan 2020 Agreement is for an initial one-year term, which shall automatically renew for successive one-year terms unless
either party provides 60 days’ advance written notice of its intention not to renew the Kaplan 2020 Agreement at the conclusion
of the then applicable term. The term of the Kaplan 2020 Agreement may be terminated by the Company with or without cause or by Mr. Kaplan
with or without good reason, as such terms are defined therein.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
On
July 29, 2020, the Board of Directors approved for Mr. Kaplan a $75,000 cash bonus and authorized the issuance of 250,000 shares of the
Company’s common stock both related to his performance during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020. As of May 31, 2020, the Company
has accrued $75,000 related to Mr. Kaplans cash bonus and $216,625 related to the Common Shares to be issued to Mr. Kaplan.
On
July 29, 2020, the Company entered into a new employment agreement (the “Franklin 2020 Agreement”) with Mr. Franklin. Such
employment agreement replaced the Franklin 2018 Agreement. As a result, the Franklin 2018 Agreement was terminated and is of no further
force or effect. Pursuant to the terms of the Franklin 2020 Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Franklin a monthly base salary of
$12,500; provided, however, that the parties agreed that such base salary will be deferred and will accumulate until the Company has
sufficient cash available to make such payments, to be reasonably determined by the Board of Directors and Mr. Franklin, at which time
all accrued and unpaid base salary will be paid. In addition, Mr. Franklin will receive an equity grant of 6,250 shares of common stock
per month, which shares will be fully vested upon grant. Mr. Franklin will also be eligible to receive a quarterly bonus in the form
of cash or equity shares and will be entitled to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans. In addition, if, during the
term of the Franklin 2020 Agreement, the Company’s shares are approved for listing on a U.S. national securities exchange, the
Company will pay Mr. Franklin a $50,000 cash bonus, to be paid upon such listing begin effective.
On
July 29, 2020, the Board of Directors approved for Mr. Franklin a $75,000 cash bonus and authorized the issuance of 250,000 fully vested
shares of the Company’s common stock both related to his performance during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020. As of May 31, 2020,
the Company has accrued $75,000 related to Mr. Franklins cash bonus and $216,625 related to the Common Shares to be issued to Mr. Franklin.
On
July 29, 2020, the Board of Directors approved the issuance of 192,000 shares of common stock to an employee and the Directors of the
Company for services provided during the fiscal year ended May 31, 2020. As of May 31, 2020, the Company has accrued $166,675 related
to the authorized issuance of these shares.
During
the year ended May 31, 2021, the Board of Directors approved the issuance of 17,125 shares of common stock for the Company’s Directors.
These shares were issued during the year. The Board of Directors has not issued any year end stock awards for the year ended May 31,
2021 and there is no guarantee that they will issue any of this stock.
Litigation
On
August 5, 2020, a lawsuit styled Duncan Wood v. PLAYlive Nation, Inc. and Simplicity eSports and Gaming Company (Case No. 20-1043) was
filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The complaint alleges unlawful failure to make timely and reasonable payment
of wages, breach of contract, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing and unjust enrichment. The plaintiff seeks monetary damages
for compensation alleged to be owed, treble damages, interest on all wage compensation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and other relief
as the Court deems just and proper. Defendants’ responsive pleading is not yet due and has not been filed. The litigation is in
its initial stages and the Company is unable to reasonably predict its potential outcome. The Company, however, believes that the lawsuit
is without merit and intends to vigorously defend the claims. On SOME DATE the lawsuit was withdrawn without prejudice.
NOTE
10 — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Preferred
Stock
The
Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. At May 31, 2021 and 2020, there
were no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding.
Common
Stock
The
Company is authorized to issue 36,000,000 shares of common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of the shares of the
Company’s common stock are entitled to one vote for each share. At May 31, 2021, and May 31, 2020, there were 1,427,124 and 988,622
shares of common stock issued and outstanding respectively.
2020
Transactions
During
the year ended May 31, 2020, the Company issued 123,000 shares of its common stock on a post reverse split basis. Shares were issued
in conjunction with the acquisition of Playlive Nation of 94,000, for compensation for employees, officers and directors in the amount
of 14,000 shares, and 15,000 shares were issued for cash.
2021
Transactions
During
the year ended May 31, 2021, the Company issued 429,000 shares of its common stock. Shares were issued for compensation for employees,
officers and directors in the amount of 240,000 shares, 84,000 shares in connection with notes payable, 65,000 shares for the acquisition
of company owned stores from prior franchisees, 37,000 shares as satisfaction to vendors for services rendered and 3,000 shares were
issued for cash.
Common
Shares Issued subsequent May 31, 2021
From
June 1, 2021 through August 27, 2021 the Company has issued 42,000 shares of its common stock. Of this, 21,000 shares were issued in
satisfaction to vendors for services rendered, 15,000 shares were issued in connection with notes payable and 6,000 shares were issued
for the acquisition of a company owned store from a prior franchisee.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Private
Placement
Beginning
in February of 2019 and closing in May of 2019, the Company sold units in connection with a private offering by the Company to raise
working capital of up to $2,000,000 (the “Offering Amount”) through the sale to accredited investors only of up to up to
1,000,000 “Units” of the Company’s securities, at a purchase price of $2.00 per Unit, with each Unit consisting of
(i) one share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share of the Company (the “Common Stock”) and (ii) a warrant to purchase
one share of Common Stock, exercisable at a price of $4.00 per share, exercisable at any time within five years of issuance (each, a
“Warrant”) as provided for in the Company’s Term Sheet for Unit Offering dated February 6, 2019 (the “Term Sheet”).
The
Company sold 962,500 units for gross proceeds of $1,925,000.
Stock
Based Compensation
For
the year ended May 31, 2020 the Company authorized the issuance of
95,000 shares of common stock to employees, officers and directors of the Company. The shares were issued in conjunction
with their employment agreements or services such individuals provided to the Company and vested ratably through May 31, 2020.
For
the year ended May 31, 2021, the Company authorized the issuance of 240,000 shares of common stock to employees, officers and directors
of the Company. The shares were issued in conjunction with their employment agreements or services such individuals provided to the Company
and vested ratably through May 31, 2021.
For
the years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020, in connection
with these issuances the Company recorded share-based compensation expense of $1,690,000 and $828,000 respectively. At May 31,
2021 and 2020, the Company has no unrecognized share-based compensation.
Warrants
During
the year ended May 31, 2021, we issued 3,116 shares of common stock to an accredited investor upon the exercise of previously issued
warrants. The warrants were exercised on a cashless or “net” basis. Accordingly, we did not receive any proceeds from such
exercises. The cashless exercise of such warrants resulted in the cancellation of previously issued warrants. During the year ended May
31, 2020, there was no warrant activity.
A
summary of the status of the Company’s outstanding stock warrants for the years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
|
|
Number
of
Shares
|
|
|
Average
Exercise
Price
|
|
Outstanding – May 31, 2019
|
|
|
803,001
|
|
|
$
|
83.01
|
|
Outstanding – May 31, 2020
|
|
|
803,001
|
|
|
|
83.01
|
|
Granted – May 31, 2020
|
|
|
17,063
|
|
|
|
20.66
|
|
Outstanding – May 31, 2021
|
|
|
820,064
|
|
|
$
|
81.71
|
|
NOTE
11 - INCOME TAXES
For
the year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020, the income tax provisions for current taxes were $0.
Deferred
income taxes reflect the net tax effects of permanent and temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities
for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The temporary differences that result in deferred tax
assets and liabilities are the results of carry forward tax losses, amortization and impairment expense.
The
components of the net deferred tax assets for the year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:
|
|
Year
ended
May 31, 2021
|
|
|
Year
ended
May 31, 2020
|
|
Net Operating Loss
|
|
$
|
1,926,000
|
|
|
$
|
770,000
|
|
Impairment of cost
method investment
|
|
|
129,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Accrued Expenses
|
|
|
98,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allowance for
Doubtful Accounts
|
|
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross deferred tax asset
|
|
|
2,163,000
|
|
|
|
770,000
|
|
Less: Valuation allowance
|
|
|
(1,972,000
|
)
|
|
|
(825,000
|
)
|
Net deferred tax asset
|
|
$
|
191,000
|
|
|
$
|
55,000
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of intangible
assets
|
|
|
(98,000
|
)
|
|
|
(55,000
|
)
|
Depreciation
|
|
|
(93,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred assets/liabilities
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
In
assessing the realization of the deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of all
of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of
future taxable income during the periods in which temporary differences representing net future deductible amounts become deductible.
Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies
in making this assessment. After consideration of all of the information available, management believes that significant uncertainty
exists with respect to future realization of the deferred tax assets and has therefore established a valuation allowance, in an amount
equal to gross deferred tax assets less deferred tax liabilities. For the years ended May 31, 2021 and 2020, the change
in the valuation allowance was $1,257,000 and $444,000, respectively.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
The
table below summarizes the reconciliation of our income tax provision computed at the federal statutory rate of 21% for the years ended
May 31, 2021 and 2020 and the actual tax provisions for the year ended May 31, 2021 and 2020.
|
|
2021
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expected provision (benefit) at
statutory rate
|
|
|
(21.0
|
)%
|
|
|
(21.0
|
)%
|
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit
|
|
|
(4.4
|
)%
|
|
|
(4.4
|
)%
|
Permanent differences-stock based compensation
|
|
|
9.0
|
|
|
|
15.0
|
|
Increase in valuation
allowance
|
|
|
16.4
|
%
|
|
|
10.4
|
%
|
Total provision (benefit)
for income taxes
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
At
May 31, 2021 and May 31, 2020, the Company had Federal net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $7,600,000 and $3,800,000,
respectively. The net operating loss of approximately $7,600,000 can be carried forward indefinitely subject to annual usage
limitations. In accordance with Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, deductibility of the Company’s NOLs may be subject to
an annual limitation in the event of a change in control as defined under the regulations.
The
Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and local jurisdictions and is subject to examination
by the various taxing authorities.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
NOTE
12 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Acquisitions
Simplicity
Salinas, LLC:
On
July 22, 2021, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Simplicity Salinas, LLC (“Simplicity Salinas”) entered into an
Asset Purchase Agreement (“Simplicity Salinas APA”) with an existing franchisee (“”), to acquire the franchisee’s
assets in exchange for 6,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with fair value of $65,100, or $10.85 per share, based on the
fair value of assets acquired.
Debt
Instruments Issued
June
11 FirstFire Global 12% Promissory Note and Securities Purchase Agreement
On
June 11, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “FirstFire SPA”) dated as of June 10, 2021,
with FirstFire Global Opportunities Fund, LLC (“FirstFire”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% promissory note (the
“FirstFire Note”) with a maturity date of June 10, 2023 (the “FirstFire Maturity Date”), in the principal sum
of $1,266,666. In addition, the Company issued 11,875 shares of its common stock to FirstFire as a commitment fee pursuant to the FirstFire
SPA. Pursuant to the terms of the FirstFire Note, the Company agreed to pay to $1,266,666 (the “FirstFire Principal Sum”)
to FirstFire and to pay interest on the principal balance at the rate of 12% per annum (provided that the first six months of interest
shall be guaranteed and the remaining 18 months of interest shall be deemed earned in full if any amount is outstanding under the FirstFire
Note after 180 days from June 10, 2021). The FirstFire Note carries an original issue discount (“OID”) of $126,666. Accordingly,
FirstFire paid the purchase price of $1,140,000 in exchange for the FirstFire Note. The Company intends to use the proceeds for working
capital and to pay off an existing promissory note issued by the Company in favor of Maxim. FirstFire may convert the FirstFire Note
into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% in the FirstFire Note; provided however,
that the limitation on conversion may be waived (up to 9.99%) by FirstFire upon, at the election of FirstFire, not less than 61 days’
prior notice to the Company) at any time at a conversion price equal to $11.50 per share, as the same may be adjusted as provided in
the FirstFire Note.
The
Company may prepay the FirstFire Note at any time prior to maturity in accordance with the terms of the FirstFire Note. The FirstFire
Note contains customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties,
and breach of provisions of the FirstFire Note or the FirstFire SPA.
Upon
the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the FirstFire Note), which has not been cured within three calendar days, the FirstFire
Note shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to FirstFire, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder,
an amount equal to the FirstFire Principal Sum then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied by 125%.
Pursuant
to the terms of the FirstFire SPA, the Company also issued to FirstFire a three-year warrant (the “FirstFire Warrant”) to
purchase 593,750 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to (i) 110% of the per share offering price of
the offering made in connection with any uplisting of the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior to the determination of the per
share offering price of the offering made in connection with any uplisting of the common stock and following such time if the uplisting
contemplated in clause (i) is not completed by November 1, 2021, $10.73.
The
Company also agreed to prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement covering the resale of all
shares issued or issuable pursuant to the FirstFire SPA, including shares issued upon conversion of the FirstFire Note or exercise of
the FirstFire Warrant. The Company agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement filed with the
SEC within 90 days following June 10, 2021 and to have the registration statement declared effective by the SEC within 120 days following
June 10, 2021.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
GS
Capital Securities Purchase Agreement & Note
On
June 16, 2021, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the “GS SPA”) dated as of June 10, 2021, with GS
Capital Partners, LLC (“GS Capital”), pursuant to which the Company issued a 12% promissory note (the “GS Note”)
with a maturity date of June 10, 2023 (the “GS Maturity Date”), in the principal sum of $333,333. In addition, the Company
issued 3,125 shares of its common stock to GS as a commitment fee pursuant to the GS SPA. Pursuant to the terms of the GS Note, the Company
agreed to pay to $300,000.00 (the “GS Principal Sum”) to GS and to pay interest on the principal balance at the rate of 12%
per annum (provided that the first six months of interest shall be guaranteed and the remaining 18 months of interest shall be deemed
earned in full if any amount is outstanding under the GS Note after 180 days from June 10, 2021). The GS Note carries an original issue
discount (“OID”) of $33,333. Accordingly, GS paid the purchase price of $300,000.00 in exchange for the GS Note. The Company
intends to use the proceeds for working capital and to pay off an existing promissory note issued by the Company in favor of Maxim. GS
may convert the GS Note into the Company’s common stock (subject to the beneficial ownership limitations of 4.99% in the GS Note;
provided however, that the limitation on conversion may be waived (up to 9.99%) by GS upon, at the election of GS, not less than 61 days’
prior notice to the Company) at any time at a conversion price equal to $11.50 per share, as the same may be adjusted as provided in
the GS Note.
The
Company may prepay the GS Note at any time prior to maturity in accordance with the terms of the GS Note. The GS Note contains customary
events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, and breach of provisions
of the GS Note or the GS SPA.
Upon
the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the GS Note), which has not been cured within three calendar days, the GS Note
shall become immediately due and payable and the Company shall pay to GS, in full satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, an amount
equal to the principal amount then outstanding plus accrued interest multiplied by 125%.
Pursuant
to the terms of the GS SPA, the Company also issued to GS a three-year warrant to purchase 156,250 shares of the Company’s common
stock at an exercise price equal to (i) 110% of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any uplisting of
the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior to the determination of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection
with any uplisting of the common stock and following such time if the uplisting contemplated in clause (i) is not completed by November
1, 2021, $10.73.
The
Company also agreed to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement covering the resale of all shares issued or issuable pursuant
to the GS SPA, including shares issued upon conversion of the GS Note or exercise of the GS Warrant. The Company agreed to use its commercially
reasonable efforts to have the registration statement filed with the SEC within 90 days following June 10, 2021, and to have the registration
statement declared effective by the SEC within 120 days following June 10, 2021.
Pursuant
to the terms of the Series A-2 Maxim Note Amendments, on July 15, 2021 the Company was required to either pay the Maxim Series A-2 Note
in its entirety or the Company would increase the Maxim Note to include an additional $100,000 in principal to Maxim. On July 15, 2021
the Company increased the Maxim Note by $100,000.
Fourth
Amendment to Series A-2 Maxim Note
On
August 19, 2021, the Company and Maxim entered into the fourth amendment (the “Fourth Amendment”) to the Series A-2 Maxim
Note, as amended, pursuant to which the Company and Maxim agreed that all obligations under the Series A-2 Maxim Note, as amended, shall
be extinguished, and the Series A-2 Maxim Note, as amended, shall be deemed repaid in its entirety, upon the satisfaction of the following
obligations: (i) the Company’s payment of $500,000 to Maxim within three business days of August 19, 2021, (ii) the Company’s
issuance of 20,000 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock to Maxim within seven business days of August 19, 2021, and
(iii) the Company’s issuance of a common stock purchase warrant to Maxim on August 19, 2021 for the purchase of 365,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock. The Company also granted Maxim an irrevocable right of first refusal superseding all others to act
as Company’s sole managing underwriter and sole bookrunner or exclusive placement agent or financial advisor, or finder in connection
with any public or private offering by the Company or any subsidiary of or successor to the Company (if applicable) of its equity, equity
linked or debt securities (including convertible securities) while the Company’s common stock is listed on any of the NYSE American,
the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or the New York Stock Exchange (or any successors
to any of the foregoing, each, a “National Exchange”), within the period beginning on August 19, 2021 and ending on the close
of business on January 1, 2023.
On
August 19, 2021, the Company issued to Maxim a common stock purchase warrant (the “Warrant”) for the purchase of 365,000
shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrant Shares”) at an exercise price of $13.00, subject to adjustment as
provided in the Warrant. The Warrant is exercisable during the period commencing on August 19, 2021 and ending at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard
time on the date that is the earlier of (i) three years from the effective date of a registration statement registering for resale by
Maxim or its assigns the Warrant Shares (provided that such registration statement remains in effect at the end of the exercise period)
and (ii) the 42 month anniversary after August 19, 2021.
The Company
is expected to pay the Maxim note, in its entirety by the end of August, 2021.
Jefferson
Street Capital Stock Purchase Agreement & 12% Convertible Promissory Jefferson Note
On
August 23, 2021, the Company entered into that certain securities purchase agreement (the “Jefferson SPA”), dated as of August
23, 2021, by and between the Company and Jefferson Street Capital LLC (“Jefferson”). Pursuant to the terms of the Jefferson
SPA, (i) the Company agreed to issue and sell to Jefferson the Jefferson Note (as hereinafter defined); (ii) the Company agreed to issue
to Jefferson the Warrant (as hereinafter defined); and (iii) the Company agreed to issue to Jefferson 3,125 commitment shares; and (iv)
Jefferson agreed to pay to the Company $300,000.00 (the “Purchase Price”).
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
NOTES
TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MAY
31, 2021
Pursuant
to the terms of the Jefferson SPA, on August 23, 2021, the Company issued a 12% convertible promissory Jefferson Note (the “Jefferson
Note”) with a maturity date of August 23, 2023 (the “Maturity Date”), in the principal amount of $333,333.33. Pursuant
to the terms of the Jefferson Note, the Company agreed to pay to Jefferson $333,333.33 (the “Principal Amount”), with a purchase
price of $300,000 plus an original issue discount in the amount of $333,333.33 (the “OID”), and to pay interest on the Principal
Amount at the rate of 12% per annum, with the understanding that the first six months of interest is guaranteed and the remaining 18
months of interest is deemed earned in full if any amount is outstanding under the Jefferson Note after 180 days from August 23, 2021.
Any
Principal Amount or interest on the Jefferson Note that is not paid when due will bear interest at the rate of the lesser of (i) 20%,
or (b) the maximum rate allowed by law.
Jefferson
may, at any time while the shares issuable upon conversion of the Jefferson Note are subject to an effective registration statement,
or if no registration statement covering such shares is effective, at any time after 180 days from August 23, 2021, so long as there
are amounts outstanding under the Jefferson Note, convert all or any portion of the then outstanding and unpaid Principal Amount and
interest into shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $11.50 per share; provided, however, that upon failure
to make any payment under the Jefferson Note, the conversion price will be $10.00 per share, as the same may be adjusted as provided
in the Jefferson Note. The Jefferson Note has a 4.99% equity blocker; provided, however, that the 4.99% equity blocker may be waived
(up to 9.99%) by Jefferson, at Jefferson’s election, on not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company.
On
August 23, 2021, Jefferson paid the purchase price of $300,000 in exchange for the Jefferson Note. The Company intends to use the proceeds
for its operational expenses and to pay off certain debt.
The
Company may prepay the Jefferson Note at any time in accordance with the terms of the Jefferson Note. While any portion of the outstanding
Principal Amount and interest are due and owing, if the Company receives cash proceeds from any source or series of related or unrelated
sources, including but not limited to, the issuance of equity or debt, the conversion of outstanding warrants of the Company, the issuance
of securities pursuant to an equity line of credit of the Company or the sale of assets, the Company must inform Jefferson of such receipt,
following which Jefferson may, in its sole discretion, require the Company to immediately apply up to 50% of the proceeds therefrom to
repay all or any portion of the outstanding Principal Amount and interest then due under the Jefferson Note; provided, however, that
the first $3,000,000 of equity financing received by the Company will be excepted from this requirement.
The
Jefferson SPA and the Jefferson Note contain customary events of default relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of
representations and warranties, and breach of provisions of the Jefferson Note or Jefferson SPA.
Jefferson
Street Capital Registration Rights Agreement
On
August 23, 2021, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Jefferson Registration Rights Agreement”)
with Jefferson pursuant to which the Company is obligated to file a registration statement to register the resale of the shares issuable
pursuant to the Jefferson SPA. Pursuant to the Jefferson Registration Rights Agreement, the Company must (i) file the registration statement
within 90 calendar days from August 23, 2021, and (ii) use reasonable best efforts to cause the registration statement to be declared
effective under the Securities within 120 calendar days after August 23, 2021.
The Company also agreed that it would not file any other registration statement, including those on Form S-8 or Form S-4, for other securities,
for a period of 12 months from August 23, 2021, unless it has the prior written approval from Jefferson.
The
Jefferson Registration Rights Agreement contains customary indemnification provisions.
Jefferson
Street Capital Common Stock Purchase Warrant
Also
on August 23, 2021, pursuant to the terms of the Jefferson SPA, the Company issued to Jefferson a common stock purchase warrant (the
“Jefferson Warrant”) for the purchase of 156,250 shares of the Company’s common stock. The per share exercise price
under the Jefferson Warrant is, subject to adjustment as described therein, as follows: (i) 110% of the per share offering price of the
offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of the Company’s common stock; or (ii) prior to the determination
of the per share offering price of the offering made in connection with any “up-listing” of the common stock and following
such time if the “up-listing” contemplated in the Jefferson Warrant is not completed by November 1, 2021, the exercise price
shall be $10.73. The Jefferson Warrant is exercisable during the period commencing on August 23, 2021 and ending at the close of business
on August 23, 2024.
SIMPLICITY
ESPORTS AND GAMING COMPANY
609,888
Shares of Common Stock Underlying Convertible Promissory Notes
2,267,897
Shares of Common Stock Underlying Warrants
69,852
Shares of Common Stock for Resale by Selling Securityholders
PROSPECTUS
October
12, 2021
Through
and including November 21, 2021 (the 40th day after the date of this offering), all dealers effecting transactions
in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to a
dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.
Simplicity Esports and G... (CE) (USOTC:WINR)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Fév 2025 à Mar 2025
Simplicity Esports and G... (CE) (USOTC:WINR)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Mar 2024 à Mar 2025