UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

 

 

Form 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 20142016

Commission File Number 1-11460

 

NTN Buzztime, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware31-1103425

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

  

2231 Rutherford Road, Suite 200

Carlsbad, California

92008
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)(Zip Code)

(760) 438-7400

(Registrant’s (Registrant’s telephone number, including Area Code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Name of Each Exchange on

Which Registered

Common Stock, $.005 par value NYSE MKT

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes¨ [  ] Nox [X]

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes¨ [  ] Nox [X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yesx [X] No¨ [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceeding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yesx [X] No¨ [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.¨ [  ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨[  ]Accelerated filer ¨[  ]
Non accelerated filer ¨[  ] (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)Smaller reporting company x[X]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company. Yes¨ [  ] Nox [X]

 

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2014,2016, computed by reference to the closing sale price of the common stock on the NYSE MKT on June 30, 2014,2016, was approximately $37.5$12.1 million. Shares of common stock held by each executive officer and director and by each person who owns 10% or more of the outstanding common stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. The determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

As of March 24, 2015,7, 2017, the registrant had 92,380,9702,260,668 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference.

 

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to its 20152016 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report where indicated. Such proxy statement will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this report relates.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

   

Item 

 

Page

   
 Part I 
   
1.Business1
1A.Risk Factors4
1B.Unresolved Staff Comments10
2.Properties10
3.Legal Proceedings11
4.Mine Safety Disclosures11
   
 Part II 
   
5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities12
6.Selected Financial Data12
7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations12
7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk20
8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data21
9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure21
9A.Controls and Procedures21
9B.Other Information21
   
 Part III 
   
10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance22
11.Executive Compensation22
12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters22
13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence22
14.Principal Accounting Fees and Services22
   
 Part IV 
   
15.Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules23
 Signatures27
 Index to Financial Statements and ScheduleF-1

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item Page
   
 Part I 
   
1.Business1
1A.Risk Factors7
1B.Unresolved Staff Comments15
2.Properties15
3.Legal Proceedings15
4.Mine Safety Disclosures15
   
 Part II 
   
5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities16
6.Selected Financial Data16
7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations16
7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk26
8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data26
9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure26
9A.Controls and Procedures26
9B.Other Information26
   
 Part III 
   
10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance27
11.Executive Compensation27
12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters27
13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence27
14.Principal Accounting Fees and Services27
   
 Part IV 
   
15.Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules28
16.Form 10-K Summary28
 Signatures29
 Index to Financial Statements and ScheduleF-1

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated herein by reference contain “forward-looking statements” – that is statements related to future events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities, including statements related to our strategic plans and targets, revenue generation, product availability and offerings, capital needs, capital expenditures, industry trends and our financial position. Forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us, on our current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industries in which we operate and on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Forward looking statements often contain words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “could,” “targets,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to projections of our future financial performance, our anticipated growth and trends in our business, and other characterizations of future events or circumstances, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. For us, particular factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include (1) our ability to compete effectively within the highly competitive interactive games, entertainment and marketing services industries, (2) the impact of new products and technological change, especially in the mobile and wireless markets, on our operations and competitiveness, (3) our ability to maintain or improve our relationship with Buffalo Wild Wings, who together with its franchisees accounted for a significant portion of our revenues, (4) our ability to maintain an adequate supply of the tablet and related equipment used in our BEOND product line, (5) our ability to adequately protect our proprietary rights and intellectual property, (6) our ability to raise additional funds in the future if necessary, on favorable terms,terms; we have borrowed substantially all amounts available to us under existing credit facilities and, subject to limited exceptions, our loan and security agreement with East West Bank prohibits us from borrowing additional amounts from other lenders, (7) our ability to significantly grow our subscription revenue and implement our other business strategies, (8) our ability to successfully and (8)efficiently manage the design, manufacturing and assembly process of our BEOND tablet platform and (9) the other risks and uncertainties described in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this report and described in other documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this report or incorporated by reference herein, which speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect future events or circumstances.

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1.Business

 

About Our Business and How We Talk About It

 

We provide andeliver interactive entertainment and marketing servicesinnovative dining technology to bars and restaurants in North America. Our customers license our customizable solution to differentiate themselves via competitive fun by offering guests trivia, card, sports and single player games, nationwide competitions, and by offering self-service dining features including dynamic menus, touchscreen ordering and secure payment. Our platform for hospitalitycan improve operating efficiencies, create connections among the players and venues that offers games, events, and entertainment experiences to their patrons. Our interactive entertainment network helps our network subscribers to acquire, engage and retain patrons.amplify guests’ positive experiences. Built on an extended network platform, thisour interactive entertainment system has historically allowed multiple players to interact at the venue, and now also enables competition between venues, referred to as massively multiplayer gaming. Our current tablet platform, which we refer to as Buzztime Entertainment On Demand, or BEOND, was first introduced as a pilot program in December 2012, was expanded commercially during 2013, and the expansion was scaled during 2014. We continue to enhance our network architecture and the BEOND technologytablet platform and player engagement paradigms. We also continue to support our legacy network product line, which we refer to as Classic.

 

We currently generate revenue by charging subscription fees for our service to our network subscribers, by leasing equipment (including tablets used in our BEOND tablet platform and the cases and charging trays for the tablets) to certain network subscribers, by hosting live trivia events, and by selling advertising aired on in-venue screens and as part of customized games and directly from consumers who pay to play or use the premium productsgames. In 2014, we began offering viapay-to-play single player games to certain customers. During the second quarter of 2015, we made a strategic change in our BEOND platform in 2014. These premium products currently includecontent model by making single player games available on both a free-to-consumer (in exchange for an arcadeincreased subscription fee) and pay-to-play basis. This change required us to delay the general availability of pay-to-play games as we retooled its content, workflow and positioning. As a digital music jukebox.result, during 2015, we generated additional subscription fee revenue from those venues offering free-to-consumer single player games. We began rolling out the new pay-to-play single player games during the second quarter of 2016.

 

Currently, approximately 3,000 venues in the U.S. and Canada subscribe to our interactive entertainment network, of which approximately 37% are using our BEOND platform. We currently have over six million player registrations, and over 80Over 136 million games were played on our network during 2014. Additionally, our mobile application has been installed on over one million consumer mobile devices. Approximately 46%2016, and as of December 31, 2016, approximately 54% of our network subscriber venues are related toaffiliated with national and regional restaurants and includerestaurant brands, including Buffalo Wild Wings, Old Chicago, Aroogas, Buffalo Wings & Rings, Old Chicago, Native New Yorker,Grill & Wings, Houlihans, Beef O’Brady’s, Boston Pizza, and Boston Pizza.Arooga’s.

 

We own several trademarks and consider the Buzztime®, Playmaker®, Mobile Playmaker, and BEOND Powered by Buzztime and Play Along trademarks to be among our most valuable assets. These and our other registered and unregistered trademarks used in this document are our property. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Unless otherwise indicated, references in this report: (a) to “Buzztime,” “NTN,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to NTN Buzztime, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries; (b) to “network subscribers” or “customers” refer to hospitality venues that subscribe to our network service; (c) to “consumers” or “players” refer to the individuals that engage in our games, events, and entertainment experiences available at our customers’ venues and (d) to “hospitality locations,” “venues” or “sites” refer to locations (such as a bar or restaurant) of our customers at which our games, events, and entertainment experiences are available to consumers.

 

Recent Developments

 

Amendments to East West Bank Credit Facility

In April 2014,2015, we completed an underwritten public offering inentered into a loan and security agreement with East West Bank, pursuant to which, we issuedcould request advances in an aggregate outstanding amount at any time up to the lesser of $7,500,000, which we refer to as the revolving line, or an amount equal to our borrowing base, in each case, less the aggregate outstanding principal amount of prior advances. In March 2016, we entered into a totalfirst amendment to the loan and security agreement to allow us the ability to request advances in an aggregate outstanding amount at any time up to the lesser of 12,765,000(a) $7,500,000, which we refer to as the revolving line, or (b) the sum of $2,000,000 (which we refer to as the “sublimit”) plus the amount equal to our borrowing base, in each case, less the aggregate outstanding principal amount of prior advances. The first amendment also amended certain financial covenants. In December 2016, we entered into a second amendment to the loan and security agreement to extend the due date of all advances under the revolving line from December 31, 2017 to January 15, 2018. In February 2017, we entered into a third amendment to the loan and security agreement to extend the maturity date of the $2,000,000 sublimit from March 31, 2017 to June 15, 2017, to establish the minimum adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or adjusted EBITDA, targets for each of our 2017 fiscal quarters, to remove the monthly compliance check of churn rate targets and to amend when compliance with minimum deposit amounts is measured. For additional information regarding this credit facility, see “PART II—ITEM 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources,” below.

Registered Direct Offering

As previously reported, in a registered direct offering that closed on November 4, 2016, we sold 412,071 shares of our common stock (including shares issued upon exerciseand received net proceeds of approximately $2.7 million, after deducting estimated offering expenses. We are using and will continue to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures and implementation of our strategic priorities.

Reverse/forward split of our common stock

At our 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders approved an over-allotment option). amendment to our restated certificate of incorporation to give effect to, first, a reverse split of our outstanding common stock at an exchange ratio of 1-for-100 and, then, immediately following such reverse split, a forward split of our outstanding common stock at a ratio that is not less than 2-for-1 nor greater than 4-for-1, with the final ratio to be selected by our board of directors in its sole discretion. Our board of directors set the final ratio of the forward split at 2-for-1. We refer to the reverse split and to the forward split, together, as the “reverse/forward split.”

The public offering price for each shareeffective date of the reverse/forward split was June 16, 2016. As of immediately prior to the reverse/forward split, we had 92,439,174 of common stock outstanding, and subsequent to the reverse/forward split, we had 1,848,597 shares of common stock outstanding. Approximately $3,000 was $0.55,paid to cashed-out stockholders who owned less than 100 shares immediately prior to the reverse split.

Notice of non-compliance with NYSE MKT continued listing standard

As previously reported, in November 2015, we received a letter from the NYSE Regulation Inc. stating that we are not in compliance with Section 1003(a)(iii) of the NYSE MKT Company Guide because we reported stockholders’ equity of less than $6 million as of September 30, 2015 and had net losses in five of our most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2014. In December 2015, we submitted a plan to NYSE Regulation advising of actions we have taken or will take to regain compliance with Section 1003(a)(iii) by May 13, 2017. In January 2016, NYSE Regulation notified us that it has accepted our plan and granted us a plan period that extends through May 13, 2017 to regain compliance with Section 1003(a)(iii).

In April 2016, as previously reported, we received a second letter from NYSE Regulation stating that we are not in compliance with Section 1003(a)(ii) of the Company Guide because we reported stockholders’ equity of less than $4 million as of December 31, 2015 and had net losses in three of our four most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2015. As a result, we continue to be subject to the procedures and requirements of Section 1009 of the Company Guide. Because this instance of noncompliance is in addition to our noncompliance with Section 1003(a)(iii) of the Company Guide discussed above, we were not required to submit a new compliance plan.

Under Section 1003(a)(i) of the Company Guide, the NYSE MKT will normally consider suspending dealings in, or removing from the list, securities of an issuer which has stockholders’ equity of less than $2 million if such issuer has sustained losses from continuing operations and/or net losses in two of its three most recent fiscal years. We had net losses in two of our three most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2015. Our stockholders’ equity at September 30, 2016 was $1.8 million, and accordingly, we were below compliance with Section 1003(a)(i), as well. However, due to the offering discussed above, we raised approximately $2.7 million in that offering, and our stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2016 was approximately $4.1 million.

The listing of our common stock on the NYSE MKT is being continued during the plan period pursuant to an extension. The NYSE Regulation staff reviews us periodically for compliance with initiatives outlined in our plan. If we are not in compliance with the listing requirements with which we are currently not in compliance by May 13, 2017 or if we do not make progress consistent with our plan during the plan period, NYSE Regulation staff will initiate delisting proceedings as appropriate. See “ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS—Risks Relating to the Market for Our Common Stock—Our common stock could be delisted or suspended from trading on the NYSE MKT if we do not regain compliance with continued listing criteria with which we are currently not compliant or if we fail to meet any other continued listing criteria,” below. We have continued to make progress consistent with our plan during the plan period. Raising capital in the offering discussed above is consistent with the initiatives outlined in our plan to regain compliance, however, the amount raised in that offering did not increase our stockholders’ equity to the amount required to regain compliance with all of the listing requirements in Section 1003(a). We are continuing to explore options to address our non-compliance, including by raising additional capital through additional equity financings.

Our Strategy

Below is a discussion of our strategy and highlights of current accomplishments and milestones achieved during 2016 and year to date in 2017:

Scale digital menu and payment functionality.We are heavily focused on delivering digital menu and payment functionality on the tablet platform, which we believe will improve the operational and marketing value of our product offering. This expanded functionality will help us deliver an enhanced guest experience. After ensuring our tablet met the Payment Card Industry, or PCI, compliance standards applicable to our platform, we launched a digital menu and payment functionality pilot test at Buffalo Wild Wings at 15 sites, which was completed in October 2016. Subsequent to the pilot test, we received certification on our EMV functionality, which enables additional payment security and fraud protection for our restaurant partners. In March 2017, we announced that Buffalo Wild Wings chose us to be its provider of digital menu, order, and payment functionality. Rolling out this functionality will be a key focus for us in 2017.

Improve value and price for our “independent” customers.During 2016, we continued to focus on, and we received $7,020,750 in gross proceeds fromare continuing to focus on, entertainment, which is a key source of value to our independent customers. We entered into several partnerships during the offering. The net proceeds fromyear, which centered on driving guest traffic at our customer’s venues, increasing the offering were approximately $6,369,000, after deducting underwriting discounts of 7%guest community and offering expenses.improving loyalty. Such partnerships included the Washington Redskins, FanDuel, and Fandango.

 

With respect to price, we continued to make progress on our hardware design and quality in order to reduce expense and to give us the ability to offer flexibility in our pricing for quality independent customers. During the fourth quarter of 2016, we began deploying our own proprietary tablet. Building our own tablet gives us control over the product specifications and allows us to gain control over the supply chain, which should help ensure stability, all of which has resulted in reduced hardware expenses and allowed us to offer multiple pricing options for our independent customers. Our Strategy

We have historically operated under a subscription-based model whereproprietary tablet also gives us more flexibility to expand our primary sourceproduct offering and enter adjacent markets. During the fourth quarter of revenue was monthly subscription fees from network subscribers. Although2016, Harbor Retirement Associates, LLC, which manages the HarborChase senior care communities, agreed to install our BEOND platform offering in all of its new communities. During 2017, we expect that subscription fees will remaincontinue working on hardware design and costs and enhancing our primary source of revenue, we believe there are other transactional consumer revenue streams that could grow as a result ofproduct offering on our investment in the BEONDnew tablet platform, such as expanding the capabilities of our digital signage package and continuing to explore new adjacent markets.

Refine our commercial execution.We are focused on increasing our site count of both independent customers and chain customers. Receiving a reference from a national chain account, such as Buffalo Wild Wings, is critical to our chain efforts, and our ability to demonstrate Buffalo Wild Wings as a strategic user of the menu, order and pay functionality is critical to receiving that reference. For our independent customers, we continue to model and test our go-to-market efforts by improving our sales processes, technology and people. During 2016, we have made progress on ramping up our outbound sales team. We continue to make improvements in our demand generation programs and expect to see results from these programs in 2017. Additionally, we continue to work with our distribution partner Heartland Digital Dining. Through a dealer network, Digital Dining offers its own integrated restaurant management system as well as third-party offerings, such as our BEOND platform, to hospitality venues. During 2016, we became the only tableside menu, order, pay and entertainment platform that Digital Dining’s dealer network could offer to hospitality venues. During the fourth quarter of 2016, we sold our BEOND platform to a few hospitality venues through this channel.

Monetize the network.We intend to grow the consumer audience by engaging them more with improved entertainment experiences and providing premium content that we can monetize through direct payment. In addition to the free-to-consumer games we provide to certain customers, we launched a pay-to-play premium games lobby during the second quarter of 2016 and are in approximately 500 sites as of March 7, 2017. We expect to continue rolling out the games lobby at additional sites throughout 2017, which we expect to result in accretive revenue generated directly from the consumers who play or use our premium products. Our strategy for achieving revenue growth includes the following:

·Growth through the BEOND platform – Classic migration and new customer acquisition. We are focused on migrating our Classic installed customer base to our BEOND platform and adding new customers to the network. To continue to increase the value of our offering, we will continue to add features, functionality, and services to our BEOND platform that are designed to improve the entertainment, operational and marketing value, including more content, more games, self-ordering, payment and other unique programming such as advertising. We expect these steps to help us build the subscription base of our business.
·Consumer focus - grow players, game play, and premium engagement. We intend to build the consumer audience, engaging them more with improved entertainment experiences, and providing premium products that we can monetize through direct payment. We expect these steps to help drive organic growth within our existing customer base. We will continue to pilot test premium products at a limited number of venues before they are broadly distributed, and any broader distribution will depend on, among other things, successful pilot testing results.

·Customer service and retention. We intend to focus on growing our customer base by acquiring more chain accounts as well as increasing the discipline around qualifying prospective independent (i.e., non-chain) customers in an effort to ensure we are spending our resources on independent customers and potential customers that successfully cater to the demographic of consumers who enjoy the games, events, and entertainment experiences we offer.

Geographic Areason a pay-to-play basis.

 

The following table presentsAdditionally, we continued to leverage our network with on-tablet local and national advertising campaigns. Most recently, we completed a four-month Anheuser-Busch program called Let’s Go. This program was built around the geographic breakdownNFL season, and our BEOND tablet platform was used to provide a companion to the NFL season with scores and stats available for a consumer’s favorite team. Let’s Go also added an interactive bobble head feature, where consumers could build and customize their own bobble head, complete with NFL licensed jerseys and gear. We believe this program demonstrated the power of our revenuebrands connecting with target consumers and delivering great experiences for the last two fiscal years.consumers within the restaurant venues.

 

  Year Ended
December 31,
 
  2014  2013 
United States  96%  95%
Canada  4%  5%
         
Total  100%  100%

The following table presents the geographic breakdown of our long-term tangible assets for our last two fiscal years.

  Year Ended
December 31,
 
  2014  2013 
United States  99%  99%
Canada  1%  1%
         
Total  100%  100%

Competition

 

We face direct competition in venues and face competition for total entertainment and marketing dollars in the marketplace from other companies offering similar content and services. A relatively small number of direct competitors are active in the hospitality marketing services and entertainment markets, including Ziosk and E la Carte, Inc., Ziosk, Touchtunes Interactive Networks, The Answer Is . . . Productions Inc., AMI Rowe, and Livewire/Incredible Technologies, Inc. Competing forms of technology, entertainment, and marketing available in hospitality venues include on-table bar and restaurant entertainment systems, music and video-based systems, live entertainment and games, cable, satellite and pay-per-view programming, coin-operated single-player games/amusements, and traffic-building promotions like happy hour specials and buffets.

 

In addition, we are increasingly competing with games, apps and other forms of entertainment offerings available directly to consumers on their smart phones and tablets.

 

Buzztime Significant Customer

 

Our customers range from small independently operated bars and restaurants to bars and restaurants operated by national chains. This results in diverse venue sizes and locations. Currently, approximately 3,000As of December 31, 2016, 2,814 venues in the U.S. and Canada subscribesubscribed to our interactive entertainment network. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we generatednetwork, of which, approximately $11,438,000 and $7,648,000, respectively, of revenue from43% were Buffalo Wild Wings corporate-owned restaurants and its franchisees which represented 44%(collectively, “Buffalo Wild Wings”). For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 32% of our total2015, revenue for those years, respectively. generated from Buffalo Wild Wings was as follows:

  Year Ended
December 31,
 
  2016  2015 
Buffalo Wild Wings revenue $8,913,000  $10,889,000 
Percent of total revenue  40%  44%

As of December 31, 2014, approximately $1,558,000 was2016 and 2015, amounts included in accounts receivable from Buffalo Wild Wings corporate-owned restaurants and its franchisees, all of which was received by February 2015, compared to $259,000 as of December 31, 2013.follows:

 

  Year Ended
December 31,
 
  2016  2015 
Buffalo Wild Wings accounts receivable $261,000  $172,000 

Backlog

 

We historicallygenerally do not have not had a significant backlog at any time because we have been able tonormally can deliver and install new systems at venueshospitality locations within a 30 day period. Duringthe delivery schedule requested by customers (generally within three to four weeks). However, during 2014, we encountered challenges with the assembly of the cases for our BEOND tablet, which prevented us from delivering and installing new systems within the 30 day period, thereby creating a backlog. As of December 31, 2014, customer agreements worth approximately $1,416,000 were affected by the backlog. We determined the worth of such agreements based on the sum of the annualized amount of the subscription fees, which is recognized as revenue as the service is provided, and the amount of equipment lease revenue, if any, subject to such agreements, which is recognized as revenue upon installation. Asinstallation of March 24,the equipment leased. During 2015, the worth of agreements affected by the backlog was approximately $2,723,000. Although our current backlog has increased compared to our backlog at December 31, 2014, we believe we have resolved the case assembly issue, and as a result, we expectreturned to eliminate the backlog during 2015. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—A disruption in the supply of equipment could negatively impact our subscriptionsnormal delivery and revenue.”installation schedule with no significant backlog.

Licensing, Trademarks, Copyrights and Patents

A majority of the gaming content available on our BEOND platform is internally developed. The balance is licensed from third parties. We also license third party content for our pay-to-play and free-to-consumer games lobby. The amounts paid for such third party licensed content was not material during either 2016 or 2015. All of the gaming content available on our Classic platform is internally developed.

 

Our intellectual property assets, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights, are important to our business and, accordingly, we have programs in place designedactively seek to protect these assets.the proprietary technology that we consider important to our business. No single patent or copyright is solely responsible for protecting our products.

 

We keep confidential as trade secrets our technology, know-how and software. Some of the hardware we use in our operations is customized, and all of it is purchased from outside vendors. We enter into agreements with third parties with whom we conduct business, which contain provisions designed to protect our intellectual property and to limit access to, and disclosure of, our proprietary information. We also enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and contractors.

 

We believe the duration of our patents is adequate relative to the expected lives of our products. We consider the following United States patents to be important to the protection of our products and service:

Patent No.DescriptionExpiration Date
8,562,438System and method for television-based services4/21/2031
8,562,442Interactive gaming via mobile playmaker6/3/2031
8,790,186User-controlled entertainment system, apparatus and method2/6/2034
8,898,075Electronic menu system and method9/11/2032
9,044,681System and method for television-based services10/13/2033
9,358,463Interactive gaming via mobile playmaker10/16/2033
9,498,713User-controlled entertainment system, apparatus and method2/6/2034

We have trademark protection for the names of our key proprietary programming, products, and services to the extent that we believe trademark protection is appropriate. We are expanding our efforts to protect these investments. We consider the Buzztime, Playmaker, Mobile Playmaker, BEOND Powered by Buzztime and Play AlongPlayersPlus trademarks and our other related trademarks to be valuable assets, and we seek to protect them through a variety of actions. Our content, branding, and some of our game titles, such as Countdown, SIX, and Showdown are also protected by copyright and trademark law.

 

Geographic Markets

As of December 31, 2016, 2,814 venues in the U.S. and Canada subscribed to our interactive entertainment network. The following table presents the geographic breakdown of our revenue for the last two fiscal years.

  Year Ended
December 31,
 
  2016  2015 
United States  97%  97%
Canada  3%  3%
         
Total  100%  100%

The following table presents the geographic breakdown of our long-term tangible assets for our last two fiscal years.

  Year Ended
December 31,
 
  2016  2015 
United States  97%  97%
Canada  3%  3%
         
Total  100%  100%

Government Contracts

 

We provide our content distribution services through the Buzztime network to colleges, universities, and a small number of government agencies, typically military base recreation units. However, the number of government customers is small compared to our overall customer base. We provide our products and services to government agencies under contracts with substantially the same terms and conditions as are in place with non-government customers.

 

Government Regulations

 

The cost of compliance with federal, state, and local laws has not had a material effect on our capital expenditures, earnings, or competitive position to date. In June 1998,December 2012, we received approval from the Federal Communications Commission, orthe FCC,for our 900 MHz classic playmakers, and in December 2012, we received approval fromor the FCC, for our BEOND tablet charging trays.trays, and in September 2015, we received FCC approval for our third generation BEOND tablet cases with and without payment electronics. The BEOND tablets we currently use have been certified by its manufacturer.

 

In addition to laws and regulations applicable to businesses generally, we are also subject to laws and regulations that apply directly to the interactive entertainment and product marketing industries. Additionally, state and federal governments may adopt additional laws and regulations that address issues related to certain aspects of our business such as:

 

 ·user privacy;

 ·
copyrights;

 ·
gaming, lottery and alcohol beverage control regulations;

 ·
consumer protection;

 ·
the distribution of specific material or content; and

 ·
the characteristics and quality of interactive entertainment products and services.

 

As part of our service, we operate games of chance and games of skill. These games are subject to regulation in many jurisdictions. Our games are played just for fun and winner recognition. None of our games award anything of value to winners. Included in our offering are a number of interactive card games, such as Texas Hold’em poker. These card games are restricted in certain jurisdictions. The laws and regulations that govern these games, however, vary in formfrom jurisdiction to jurisdiction and are subject to legislative and regulatory change, as well as law enforcement discretion. We may find it necessary to eliminate, modify, or cancel certain components of our products in certain states or jurisdictions based on changes in law, regulations and law enforcement discretion, which could result in additional development costs and/or the possible loss of customers and revenue.

 

Web Site Access to SEC Filings

 

Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, and proxy statements and other information we file or furnish pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available on our website atwww.buzztime.com/business/investor-relations/ under the headingSEC Filings as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports with, or furnish them to, the SEC. In addition, we make available on that same website under the headingCorporate Governance our (i) our code of conduct and ethics; (ii) our corporate governance guidelines; and (iii) the charter of each active committee of our board of directors. We intend to disclose any amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of our code of conduct and ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in paragraph (b) of Item 406 of Regulation S-K by posting such information on that website.

 

Materials we file with the SEC may also be read and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website atwww.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding our company that we file electronically with the SEC.

 

Employees

 

As of March 24, 2015,7, 2017, we employed approximately 137109 people on a full-time basis and 238293 people on a part-time basis. We also utilize independent contractors for specific projects and hire as many as 6 seasonal employees as needed to produce our play-along sports games during various professional and collegiate sports seasons.projects. None of our employees are represented by a labor union, and we believe our employee relations are satisfactory.

 

Our Corporate History

 

NTN Buzztime, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 1984 as Alroy Industries and changed its corporate name to NTN Communications, Inc. in 1985. The name was changed to NTN Buzztime, Inc. in 2005 to better reflect the growing role of the Buzztime consumer brand.

ITEM 1A.      Risk Factors

Risk Factors That May Affect Our Business

 

Our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows are subject to various risks, many of which are not exclusively within our control. These risks may cause actual performance to differ materially from historical or projected future performance. We urge investors to carefully consider the risk factors described below in evaluating the information contained in this report:report.

 

We may not be able to compete effectively within the highly competitive and evolving interactive games, entertainment and marketing services industries.

 

We face intense competition in the markets in which we operate. We face significant competition for entertainment and marketing services in hospitality venues from other companies offering similar content and services. Our services also compete with games, apps and other forms of entertainment offerings available directly to consumers on their smart phones and tablets. See “Business—Competition.“ITEM 1. Business—Competition, above. Some of our current and potential competitors enjoy substantial competitive advantages, including greater financial resources for competitive activities, such as content development and programming, research and development, strategic acquisitions, alliances, joint ventures, and sales and marketing. As a result, our current and potential competitors may be able to respond more quickly and effectively than we can to new or changing opportunities, technologies, standards, or consumer preferences.

 

The increased availability of the internet and wireless networks provides consumers with an increasing number of alternatives to our entertainment offerings. With this increasing competition and the rapid pace of change in product and service offerings, we must be able to compete in terms of technology, content, and management strategy. If we fail to provide competitive, engaging, quality services and products, we will lose revenues to competing companies and technologies. Increased competition may also result in price reductions, fewer customer orders, reduced gross margins, longer sales cycles, reduced revenues, and loss of market share.

 

New products and rapid technological change, especially in the mobile and wireless markets, may render our operations obsolete or noncompetitive.

 

The emergence of new entertainment products and technologies, changes in consumer preferences, the adoption of new industry standards, and other factors may limit the life cycle and market penetration of our technologies, products, and services. In particular, the mobile and wireless device, content, applications, social media, and entertainment markets are highly competitive and rapidly changing. Accordingly, our future performance will depend on our ability to:

 

·identify emerging technological trends and industry standards in our market;

·
identify changing consumer needs, desires, or tastes;

·
develop and maintain competitive technology, including new hardware and content products and service offerings;

·
improve the performance, features, and reliability of our existing products and services, particularly in response to changes in consumer preferences, technological changes, and competitive offerings; and

·
bring technology to the market quickly at cost-effective prices.

 

If we do not compete successfully in developing new products and keep pace with rapid technological change, we will be unable to achieve profitability or sustain a meaningful market position.

 

We may not be successful in developing and marketing new products and services that respond to technological and competitive developments, changing customer needs, and consumer preferences. We may have to incur substantial costs to modify or adapt our products or services to respond to these developments, customer needs, and changing preferences. We must be able to incorporate new technologies into the products we design and develop in order to address the increasingly complex and varied needs of our customer base. Any significant delay or failure in developing new or enhanced technology, including new product and service offerings, could result in a loss of actual or potential market share and a decrease in revenues.

 

We receive a significant portion of our revenues from Buffalo Wild Wings, corporate-owned restaurants and its franchisees, and any decrease in the amount of their business could materially and adversely affect our cash flow and revenue.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2014,2016, Buffalo Wild Wings corporate-owned restaurants and its franchisees accounted for approximately 44%40%, or $11,438,000,$8,913,000, of our total revenue. As of that date, approximately $1,558,000$261,000 was included in accounts receivable, allreceivable. If a significant number of which was received by February 2015. Ifthe Buffalo Wild Wings a significant number ofcorporate-owned restaurants or its franchisees, or any other customer who may in the future represent a significant portion of our revenue, breach or terminate their subscriptions or otherwise decrease the amount of business they transact with us, we could lose a significant portion of our revenues and cash flow.

A disruption in the supply of equipment could negatively impact our subscriptions and revenue.

 

The BEOND tablet is currently manufactured by one

During the fourth quarter of 2016, we began having an unaffiliated third party manufacture an Android-based tablet built to our specifications. Other than a small amount of inventory of the third-party tablet we have historically used in our BEOND platform, we expect to use our own tablet on a going-forward basis. The third party manufacturing our own tablet also manufactures our tablet equipment—tablet charging trays and wetablet cases. We currently do not have an alternative manufacturing source for or an alternative device to, the tablet. We purchase the BEOND tablets from various unaffiliated third parties, and we purchase each piece of the BEONDour own tablet equipment (consisting of tablet case components and tablet charging trays) from a different unaffiliated third party with respect to each piece of equipment. A different third party assembles the tablet cases. We currently do not have an alternative supply source foror the tablet equipment or an alternativealternatives for the tablet case assembler.equipment.

 

If the sole manufacturer of our own tablet is delayed in delivering tablets to us, becomes unavailable, has product quality issues, or shortages occur, in addition to not realizing the benefits of having a tablet manufactured to our specifications, we would need to return to the historical third-party tablets or find an alternative device. Similarly, if the sole manufacturer of the tablet or any of our sole suppliers or our sole tablet case assemblerequipment is delayed in delivering the tablets and related equipment to us, becomebecomes unavailable, havehas product quality issues, or shortages occur, we may be unable to timely obtain replacement tablet equipment. For example, during 2014, we encountered challenges with the assembly of the cases for our BEOND tablet, which prevented us from delivering and installing new systems within the time frame requested by customers, thereby creating a backlog. Asbacklog of approximately $1,416,000 as of December 31, 2014, customer subscription agreements worth approximately $1,416,000 were affected by the backlog. We determined the worth of such agreements based on the sum of the annualized amount of the subscription fees, which is recognized as revenue as the service is provided, and the amount of equipment lease revenue, if any, subject to such agreements, which is recognized as revenue upon installation. As of March 24, 2015, the worth of agreements affected by the backlog was approximately $2,723,000.2014. See “ITEM 1. BUSINESS—Backlog,” above. Although our current backlog is higher than our backlog at December 31, 2014, we believe we will reduce or eliminate the backlog related tofixed our case assembly issues duringissue in 2015 however,and currently do not have any significant backlog, no assurances can be given in that regard and that challenge could continue or other challenges couldwill not arise, including challenges related to transitioning to new versionsour own tablet. Delays, unavailability of the tablet that may require different cases, charging trays or other equipment. Delays, unavailability oftablet equipment, product quality issues and shortages could hurtdamage our reputation and customer loyalty, cause subscription cancellations, increase our expense and reduce our revenue. See also “Our business could be adversely impacted if the sole manufacturer of our own tablet and tablet equipment is not able to meet our manufacturing quality standards,” below.

 

If our manufacturersmanufacturer and/or suppliers were to go out of business or otherwise become unable to meet our needs for reliable equipment, the process of locating and qualifying alternate sources could take months, during which time our production could be delayed, and may, in some cases, require us to redesign our products and systems. Such delays and potentially costly re-sourcing and redesign could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, and financial condition.

 

Our business could be adversely impacted if the sole manufacturer of our tablet and our tablet equipment is not able to meet our manufacturing quality standards.

As discussed above, one unaffiliated third party manufactures our own tablet and our tablet equipment. Continued improvement in supply-chain management and manufacturing of our own tablet and tablet equipment and manufacturing quality and product testing are important to our business. Flaws in the design and manufacturing of our own tablet or tablet equipment or both (by us or our supplier) could result in substantial delays in shipment and in substantial repair, replacement or service costs, could damage our reputation and customer loyalty, could cause subscription cancellations, and could increase our expense and reduce our revenue. Costs associated with tablet or tablet equipment defects due to, for example, problems in our design and manufacturing processes, could include: (a) writing off the value of inventory; (b) disposing of items that cannot be fixed; (c) recalling items that have been shipped; and (d) providing replacements or modifications. These costs could be significant and may increase expenses and lower gross margin.

As previously reported, in early 2014, we began to manufacture, design and manage the supply chain of the equipment related to our BEOND second generation tablet platform in-house and experienced problems with the design and manufacturing processes. As a result, during 2015, we recognized approximately $979,000 of repair expense related to the second generation in-house designed BEOND tablet equipment that we have had to repair or deem we will need to repair in the future. We can give no assurances that the amount of repair expense that we have accrued with respect to tablet equipment that we estimate will need repair in the future is adequate. If more equipment needs repair than the amount currently estimated, we may have to accrue for additional repair expense.

During 2015, due to our design and manufacturing process problems discussed above with the second generation tablet platform equipment, we re-evaluated the strategy of managing the manufacture, design and supply chain in-house. In connection with that re-evaluation, we determined to write off approximately $797,000 of tablet components that became obsolete due to upcoming changes in the tablet platform. Also during 2015, and as part of our re-evaluation, we out-sourced the supply-chain management and manufacturing of certain equipment related to our third generation BEOND tablet platform to an unaffiliated third party manufacturer. This relationship is in its early stages, and we are unable to predict if it will be successful. Among other things, the equipment manufactured by this manufacturer may not meet our quality standards. For example, during the fourth quarter of 2015, some of the tablet cases produced by this manufacturer had quality defects, and although we have not yet incurred any direct costs associated with addressing these defects, all of which have been or will be borne by the manufacturer, our tablet case inventory level may decrease as a result. See also “A disruption in the supply of equipment could negatively impact our subscriptions and revenue,” above.

There can be no assurance that our efforts to monitor, develop, modify and implement appropriate test and manufacturing processes for our equipment will be sufficient to permit us to avoid equipment quality issues. Significant equipment quality issues could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

If we do not adequately protect our proprietary rights and intellectual property or we are subjected to intellectual property claims by others, our business could be seriously damaged.

 

We rely on a combination of trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secret laws to protect our proprietary rights in our products. We have a small number of patents and patent applications pending in jurisdictions related to our business activities. Our pending patent applications and any future applications might not be approved. Moreover, our patents might not provide us with competitive advantages. Third parties might challenge our patents or trademarks or attempt to use infringing technologies or brands which could harm our ability to compete and reduce our revenues, as well as create significant litigation expense. In addition, patents and trademarks held by third parties might have an adverse effect on our ability to do business and could likewise result in significant litigation expense. Furthermore, third parties might independently develop similar products, duplicate our products or, to the extent patents are issued to us, design around those patents. Others may have filed and, in the future may file, patent applications that are similar or identical to ours. Such third-party patent applications might have priority over our patent applications. To determine the priority of inventions, we may have to participate in interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Such interference proceedings could result in substantial cost to us.

 

We believe that the success of our business also depends on such factors as the technical expertise and innovative capabilities of our employees. It is our policy that all employees and consultants sign non-disclosure agreements and assignment of invention agreements. Our competitors, former employees, and consultants may, however, misappropriate our technology or independently develop technologies that are as good as or better than ours. Our competitors may also challenge or circumvent our proprietary rights. If we have to initiate or defend against an infringement claim to protect our proprietary rights, the litigation over any such claim could be time-consuming and costly to us, adversely affecting our financial condition.

 

From time to time, we hire or retain employees or consultants who may have worked for other companies developing products similar to those that we offer. These other companies may claim that our products are based on their products and that we have misappropriated their intellectual property. Any such claim could cause us to incur substantial costs, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business.

 

We may be liable for the content and services we make available on our Buzztime network and the internet.

We make content and entertainment services available on our Buzztime network and the internet which includes games and game content, software, and a variety of other entertainment content. The availability of this content and services and our branding could result in claims against us based on a variety of theories, including defamation, obscenity, negligence, or copyright or trademark infringement. We could also be exposed to liability for third-party content accessed through the links from our websites to other websites. Federal laws may limit, but not eliminate, our liability for linking to third-party websites that include materials that infringe copyrights or other rights, so long as we comply with certain statutory requirements. We may incur costs to defend against claims related to either our own content or that of third parties, and our financial condition could be materially adversely affected if we are found liable for information that we make available. Implementing measures to reduce our exposure may require us to spend substantial resources and may limit the attractiveness of our services to users which would impair our profitability and harm our business operations.

 

Our cash flow may not cover our capital needs and we may need to raise additional funds in the future. Such funds may not be available on favorable terms or at all and, if available, may dilute current stockholders.

 

Our capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:

 

·our ability to generate cash from operating activities;

·
acceptance of, and demand for, our interactive games and entertainment;

·
the costs of continuing to develop and implement our BEOND technology platform and product line;

·
the costs of developing new entertainment content, products, or technology or expanding our offering to new media platforms such as the internet and mobile phones;

·
the extent to which we invest in the creation of new entertainment content and new technology; and

·
the number and timing of acquisitions and other strategic transactions, if any.

 

In addition, in order to fully execute on our long-term strategic initiatives discussed above under the section entitled “Our“ITEM 1. Business—Our Strategy,” we believe we will likely require additional funding.

 

If we need to raise additional funds in the future, such funds may not be available on favorable terms, or at all. Furthermore, if we issue equity or debt securities to raise additional funds, our existing stockholders may experience dilution, and the new equity or debt securities may have rights, preferences, and privileges senior to those of our existing stockholders. If we cannot raise funds on acceptable terms, or at all, we may not be able to continue to develop and implement our BEOND technology platform and product line, develop or enhance our other products and services, successfully execute our business plan or any or all of our strategic initiatives, take advantage of future opportunities, or respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated customer requirements.

We have experienced significant losses, and we may incur significant losses in the future.

 

We have a history of significant losses, including net losses of $5,030,000$2,923,000 and $1,053,000$7,226,000 for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively, and have an accumulated deficit of $117,845,000$128,026,000 as of December 31, 2014.2016. We may also incur future operating and net losses, due in part to expenditures required to continue to implement our business strategies, including the continued development and implementation of our BEOND technology platform and product line. Despite significant expenditures, we may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Moreover, even if we do achieve profitability, the level of any profitability cannot be predicted and may vary significantly from quarter to quarter and year to year. See also “—Risks Relating to the Market for Our Common Stock—Our common stock could be delisted or suspended from trading on the NYSE MKT if we do not regain compliance with continued listing criteria with which we are currently not compliant or if we fail to meet any other continued listing criteria,” below.

 

We may not be able to significantly grow our subscription revenue and implement our other business strategies.

Our success depends on our ability to increase market awareness and encourage the adoption of the Buzztime brand and our Buzztime network among hospitality venues such as restaurants, sports bars, taverns and pubs, and within the interactive game player community. Our success also depends on our ability to improve customer retention. We may not be able to leverage our resources to expand awareness of and demand for our Buzztime network. In addition, our efforts to improve our game platform and content may not succeed in generating additional demand for our products or in strengthening the loyalty and retention of our existing customers. The degree of market adoption of our Buzztime network will depend on many factors, including consumer preferences, the availability and quality of competing products and services, and our ability to leverage our brand.

 

Our success also depends on our ability to implement our other business strategies, which include developing our BEOND tablet platform that allows for consumer play across the digital platform, developing more premium productscontent that allow us to grow the revenue stream directly from consumers, developing dynamic menuing and point-of-sale, or POS, integration competency, and growing our marketing services and sponsorship revenues. Implementing these strategies will require us to dedicate significant resources to, among other things, fully developing and implementing our BEOND technology platform and product line, expanding our other product offerings, customizing our products and services to meet the unique needs of select accounts, and expanding and improving our marketing services and promotional efforts. We may be unable to implement these strategies as currently planned.

 

Our products and services are subject to government regulations that may restrict our operations or cause demand for our products to decline significantly.

 

In addition to laws and regulations applicable to businesses generally, we are also subject to laws and regulations that apply specifically to the the interactive entertainment and product marketing industries. In addition, we operate games of chance and, in some instances, award prizes. These games are regulated in many jurisdictions and the laws and regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. See “ITEM 1. BUSINESS—Government Regulations.”

 

We may find it necessary to eliminate, modify, suspend, or cancel certain features of our products (including the games we offer) in certain jurisdictions based on the adoptions of new laws and regulations or changes in law or regulations or the enforcement thereof, which could result in additional development costs and/or the loss of customers and revenue.

 

Communication or other system failures could result in the cancellation of subscribers and a decrease in our revenues.

 

We rely on continuous operation of our information technology and communications systems, and those of a variety of third parties, to communicate with and to distribute our services to the locations of our Buzztime network subscribers. We currently transmit our data to our customers via broadband internet connections including telephone and cable TV networks. Both our communications systems and those of third parties on which we rely are vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, terrorist attacks, floods, storms, fires, power loss, telecommunications and other network failures, equipment failures, computer viruses, computer denial of service or other attacks, and other causes. These systems are also subject to break-ins, sabotage, vandalism, and to other disruptions, for example if we or the operators of these systems and system facilities have financial difficulties. Some of our systems are not fully redundant, and our system protections and disaster recovery plans cannot prevent all outages, errors, or data losses. In addition, our services and systems are highly technical and complex and may contain errors or other vulnerabilities. Any errors or vulnerabilities in our products and services, damage to or failure of our systems, any natural or man-made disaster, a decision to close a facility we are using without adequate notice for financial or other reasons, or other unanticipated problems at our facilities or those of a third party, could result in lengthy interruptions in our service to our customers, which could reduce our revenues and cash flow, and damage our brand. Any interruption in communications or failure of proper hardware or software function at our or our customers’ venues could also decrease customer loyalty and satisfaction and result in a cancellation of our services.

Our management turnover creates uncertainties.

 

We have experienced significant changes in our senior management team over the past several years. For example, Ram Krishnan was appointed as our chief executive officer in September 2014 and, before he was appointed, we had three different individuals and an interim committee serve as our chief executive officer or perform the functions of a chief executive between February 2009 and September 2014. Allen Wolff was appointed as our chief financial officer in December 2014, and was appointed as our chief financial officer and executive vice president effective February 1, 2016 due to his expanded responsibilities following the departure of our former chief revenue officer, our former chief development officer, our former chief product officer and our former senior vice president of sales and marketing during 2014 and 2015. Because of our recent financial and stock performance, geographic location, and other business factors in a relatively small industry, we face substantial challenges in attracting and retaining experienced senior executives. Changes in senior management are inherently disruptive, and efforts to implement any new strategic or operating goals may not succeed in the absence of a long-term management team. Changes to strategic or operating goals with the appointment of new executives may themselves prove to be disruptive. Periods of transition in senior management leadership are often difficult as the new executives gain detailed knowledge of our operations and due to cultural differences and friction that may result from changes in strategy and style. Without consistent and experienced leadership, our employees, customers, creditors, stockholders, and others may lose confidence in us.

 

Our success dependson our ability to recruit and retain skilled professionals for our business.professionals.

 

Our business requires experienced programmers, creative designers, application developers, and sales and marketing personnel. Our success will depend on identifying, hiring, training, and retaining such experienced and knowledgeable professionals. We must recruit and retain talented professionals in order for our business to grow. There is significant competition for the individuals with the skills required to develop the products and perform the services we offer. We may be unable to attract a sufficient number of qualified individuals in the future to sustain and grow our business, and we may not be successful in motivating and retaining the individuals we are able to attract. If we cannot attract, motivate, and retain qualified technical and sales and marketing professionals, our business, financial condition, and results of operations will suffer.

 

We may face exposure on sales and use taxes in various states.

From time to time, state and provincial tax authorities have made inquiries as to whether or not a portion of our services might require the collection of sales and use taxes from customers in those jurisdictions. Many jurisdictions are expanding their interpretation of their sales and use tax statutes to subject more activities to tax. While in the past, the sales and use tax assessments we have paid have not had a significant adverse effect on our operations, such assessments may increase in the future and could adversely affect our operations.

We have incurred significant net operating loss carryforwards that we will likely be unable to use.

 

As of December 31, 2014,2016, we had federal income tax net operating loss or NOL,(“NOL”) carryforwards of approximately $59.7 million,$65,291,000, which will begin to expire in 2017. As of December 31, 2014,2016, we had state income tax NOL carryforwards of approximately $25.5 million,$35,969,000, portions of which will continue expiring in 2015.2017. We believe that our ability to utilize our NOL carryforwards may be substantially restricted by the passage of time and the limitations of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, which apply when there are certain changes in ownership of a corporation. To the extent we begin to realize significant taxable income, these Section 382 limitations may result in our incurring federal income tax liability notwithstanding the existence of otherwise available NOL carryforwards. We have established a full valuation allowance for substantially all of our deferred tax assets, including the NOL carryforwards, since we do not believe we are likely to generate future taxable income to realize these assets.

 

We are subject to cybersecurity risks and incidents.

 

Our business involves storing and transmitting payment information of our customers and certain personal information of consumers (such as their name, date of birth, and email address). In the future, we may store and transmit additional personal information of consumers, particularly as the services of the BEOND tablet platform become more advanced to include POS integration. While we have implemented measures designed to prevent security breaches and cyber incidents, any failure of these measures and/or any material security breaches, theft, misplaced or lost data, programming errors, employee errors and/or malfeasance could potentially lead to the compromising of sensitive, confidential or personal data or information, improper use of our systems, software solutions or networks, unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification or destruction of information, system downtimes and operational disruptions. In addition, a cyber-related attack could result in other negative consequences, including damage to our reputation or competitiveness, remediation or increased protection costs, litigation or regulatory action.

 

Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers and other risks associated with operating our business in foreign countries could harm our business.

We operate the Buzztime network in the U.S. and in Canada. Since service fees and operating expenses from our Canadian subsidiary are recognized in its local currency, our financial position and results of operations could be significantly affected by large fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates or by weak economic conditions in Canada. To the extent we attempt to expand our sales efforts in other international markets, we may also face difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, longer payment cycles, problems with collecting accounts receivable, increased risks of piracy, and limits on our ability to enforce our intellectual property rights. If we are unable to adequately address the risks of doing business abroad, our business, financial condition, and results of operations may be harmed.

We could become subject to additional regulations and compliance requirements as we introduce features in direct payments from patrons.

To the extent we expandIn preparation for expanding features and functionality to our BEOND tablet platform that involve us accepting credit card and other forms of payments directly from patrons, we anticipate that we could experience risks associated with becoming subject to additional regulations and compliance requirements (includingcertified our compliance with payment card association operating rules and certification requirements, including the Payment Card Industry (“PCI”) Data Security Standard v3.1 as a service provider, and rules governing electronic funds transfers) and fraud.will be required to do so annually. Compliance with additional regulations and requirements may be difficult for us or even impossible;us; thereby limiting or prohibiting our ability to grow the amount of revenue we receive directly from patrons. In addition if we become subject to these additional regulations and requirements, if we fail to comply with the rules or requirements of any provider of a payment method we accept, if the volume of fraud in our transactions limits or terminates our rights to use payment methods we accept, or if a data breach occurs relating to our payment systems, we may, among other things, be subject to fines or higher transaction fees and may lose, or face restrictions placed upon, our ability to accept credit card and debit card payments from patrons.

Risks Relating to the Market for Our Common Stock

 

Our common stock could be delisted or suspended from trading on the NYSE MKT if we fail to maintaindo not regain compliance with continued listing criteria with which we are currently not compliant or if we fail to meet any other continued listing criteria.

 

TheAs previously reported in November 2015, we are not in compliance with the continued listing standards of the NYSE MKT will normally consider suspending dealingsMKT. Specifically, we are not in or delisting, securities selling for a substantial periodcompliance with Section 1003(a)(iii) of time at a low price per share if the issuer fails to effect a reverse split of such stock within a reasonable time after being notified that NYSE MKT deems such action to be appropriate under the circumstances. While the NYSE MKT does not provide bright line minimum share price standards for continued listing,Company Guide (the “Company Guide���) because we believe that a pricereported stockholders’ equity of less than $1.00 per share for$6 million as of September 30, 2015 and had net losses in five of our most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2014. As a substantialresult, we became subject to the procedures and requirements of Section 1009 of the Company Guide. We were required to submit a plan to NYSE Regulation, Inc. advising of actions we have taken or will take to regain compliance with Section 1003(a)(iii) of the Company Guide by May 13, 2017. We submitted such a plan in December 2015. In January 2016, NYSE Regulation notified us that it has accepted our plan and granted us a plan period of time may be investigated. Our common stock has traded below $1.00 per share since July 2007.that extends through May 13, 2017 to regain compliance with Section 1003(a)(iii).

 

In April 2016, we received a letter from NYSE Regulation stating that we are not in compliance with Section 1003(a)(ii) of the Company Guide because we reported stockholders’ equity of less than $4 million as of December 31, 2015 and had net losses in three of our four most recent fiscal years ended December 31, 2015. As a result, we continue to be subject to the procedures and requirements of Section 1009 of the Company Guide. Because this instance of noncompliance was in addition to our noncompliance with Section 1003(a)(iii) of the Company Guide, we were not required to submit a new compliance plan.

Under Section 1003(a)(i) of the Company Guide, the NYSE MKT will normally consider suspending dealings in, or delisting,removing from the list, securities of an issuer which has stockholders'stockholders’ equity of less than $6,000,000$2 million if such issuer has sustained losses from continuing operations and/or net losses in two of its fivethree most recent fiscal years. Although our stockholders' equity was more than $6,000,000 as of December 31, 2014, weWe had losses from continuing operations and/or net losses in eachtwo of our fivethree most recent fiscal years.years ended December 31, 2015. Our stockholders’ equity at September 30, 2016 was $1.8 million, and accordingly, we were below compliance with Section 1003(a)(i), as well. However, due to the offering discussed above, we raised approximately $2.7 million in that offering, and our stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2016 was approximately $4.1 million.

 

The listing of our common stock on the NYSE MKT is being continued during the plan period pursuant to an extension. The NYSE Regulation staff reviews us periodically for compliance with initiatives outlined in our plan. If we are unablenot in compliance with the listing requirements with which we are currently not in compliance by May 13, 2017 or if we do not make progress consistent with our plan during the plan period, NYSE Regulation staff will initiate delisting proceedings as appropriate. We have continued to complymake progress consistent with our plan during the plan period. Raising capital in the offering discussed above is consistent with the initiatives outlined in our plan to regain compliance, however, the amount raised in that offering did not increase our stockholders’ equity to the amount required to regain compliance with all of the listing requirements in Section 1003(a). We are continuing to explore options to address our non-compliance, including by raising additional capital through additional equity financings. We can give no assurances that we will be able to address our non-compliance with the NYSE MKT continued listing requirementsstandards or, even if we do, that we will be able to maintain the listing of our common stock may be suspended from trading on and/or delisted from the NYSE MKT. Alternatively, in order to avoid delisting for having a low trading price for a substantialOur common stock could be delisted because we do not make progress consistent with our plan during the plan period, because we do not regain compliance with Sections 1003(a)(i), 1003(a)(ii) and 1003(a)(iii) by May 13, 2017, or because we fall below compliance with other NYSE MKT listing standards. In addition, we may bedetermine to pursue business opportunities or grow our business at levels or on timelines that reduces our stockholders’ equity below the level required to effect a reverse splitmaintain compliance with NYSE MKT continued listing standards. The delisting of our common stock. Thestock for whatever reason could, among other things, substantially impair our ability to raise additional capital; result in a loss of institutional investor interest and fewer financing opportunities for us; and/or result in potential breaches of representations or covenants of our warrants or other agreements pursuant to which we made representations or covenants relating to our compliance with applicable listing requirements. Claims related to any such breaches, with or without merit, could result in costly litigation, significant liabilities and diversion of our management’s time and attention and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, business and results of operations. In addition, the delisting of our common stock for whatever reason may materially impair our stockholders'stockholders’ ability to buy and sell shares of our common stock and could have an adverse effect on the market price of, and the efficiency of the trading market for, our common stock. In addition, the delisting

If our common stock were delisted and determined to be a “penny stock,” a broker-dealer may find it more difficult to trade our common stock and an investor may find it more difficult to acquire or dispose of our common stock in the secondary market.

If our common stock was delisted or suspended from trading on the NYSE MKT, it may be subject to the so-called “penny stock” rules. The SEC has adopted regulations that define a “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price per share of less than $5.00, subject to certain exceptions, such as any securities listed on a national securities exchange. For any transaction involving a “penny stock,” unless exempt, the rules impose additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers, subject to certain exceptions. If our common stock were delisted and determined to be a “penny stock,” a broker-dealer may find it more difficult to trade our common stock and an investor may find it more difficult to acquire or dispose of our common stock on the secondary market.

The market price of our common stock historically has been and likely will continue to be highly volatile and our common stock is thinly traded.

The market price for our common stock historically has been highly volatile, and the market for our common stock has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations, based both on our operating performance and for reasons that appear to us unrelated to our operating performance. Our stock is also thinly traded, which can affect market volatility, which could significantly impairaffect the market price of our abilitycommon stock without regard to raise capital.our operating performance. In addition, the market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, including:

the level of our financial resources;
announcements of entry into or consummation of a financing;
announcements of new products or technologies, commercial relationships or other events by us or our competitors;
announcements of difficulties or delays in entering into commercial relationships with our customers;
changes in securities analysts’ estimates of our financial performance or deviations in our business and the trading price of our common stock from the estimates of securities analysts;
fluctuations in stock market prices and trading volumes of similar companies;
sales of large blocks of our common stock, including sales by significant stockholders, our executive officers or our directors or pursuant to shelf or resale registration statements that register shares of our common stock that may be sold by us or certain of our current or future stockholders;
discussion of us or our stock price by the financial press and in online investor communities;
commencement of delisting proceedings by the NYSE MKT; and
additions or departures of key personnel.

The realization of any of the foregoing could have a dramatic and adverse impact on the market price of our common stock. 

 

Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market or the anticipation of such sales could have a material adverse effect on then-prevailing market prices.

In a private placement we completed in November 2013, we issued 6,000,000120,000 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase 3,600,00072,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.40$20.00 per share. A registration statement registering the resale of all of those shares is currently effective and we are obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such registration statement continuously effective until all such registered shares have been sold.

 

In addition, since 2009, in connection with acquisitions, we issued (directly or upon the exercise of warrants issued in connection with such acquisitions) an aggregate of approximately 2,798,00056,000 shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2014,2016, there were outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of 6,600,000132,000 shares of common stock at exercise prices ranging from $0.40$20.00 to $1.50$75.00 per share (including the warrants to purchase 3,600,00072,000 shares we issued in our November 2013 private placement). In addition, as of December 31, 2014,2016, there were approximately 156,000 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock outstanding. The holders of such shares may elect to convert them into shares of our common stock at any time. Based on the current conversion price, we would issue approximately 484,00011,000 shares of our common stock if all of the outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock were so converted. Generally, all of the shares of common stock we issued in connection with the acquisitions, the shares we may issue upon exercise of warrants and the shares of common stock we may issue upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock may be sold under Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933, subject to any applicable holding period with respect to the shares issued upon exercise of warrants the exercise price of which is paid with cash.

 

As of December 31, 2014,2016, there were also approximately 7,222,000165,000 shares of common stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding stock options at exercise prices ranging from $0.14$6.50 to $3.33$35.00 per share. A registration statementRegistration statements registering such shares of common stock isare currently effective.

 

Accordingly, a significant number of shares of our common stock could be sold at any time. Depending upon market liquidity at the time our common stock is resold by the holders thereof, such resales could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline. In addition, the sale of a substantial number of shares of our common stock, or anticipation of such sales, could make it more difficult for us to obtain future financing. To the extent the trading price of our common stock at the time of exercise of any of our outstanding options or warrants exceeds their exercise price, such exercise will have a dilutive effect on our stockholders.

Raising additional capital may cause dilution to our existing stockholders and may restrict our operations.

 

We may raise additional capital at any time and may do so through one or more financing alternatives, including public or private sales of equity or debt securities directly to investors or through underwriters or placement agents. For example,As discussed above, we are exploring options to address our non-compliance with the NYSE MKT continued listing standards, in April 2014, we sold 12,765,000 shares ofparticular, options to address our common stock in an underwritten public offering.low stockholders’ equity. We currently have a shelf registration statement on file under which we could sell up to approximately $18$25 million worth of securities. See also “Our ability to raise capital may be limited by applicable laws and regulations,” below. Raising capital through the issuance of common stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of our common stock) may depress the market price of our stock and may substantially dilute our existing stockholders. In addition, our board of directors may issue preferred stock with rights, preferences and privileges that are senior to those of the holders of our common stock. Debt financings could involve covenants that restrict our operations. These restrictive covenants may include limitations on additional borrowing and specific restrictions on the use of our assets, as well as prohibitions on our ability to create liens or make investments and may, among other things, preclude us from making distributions to stockholders (either by paying dividends or redeeming stock) and taking other actions beneficial to our stockholders. In addition, investors could impose more one-sided investment terms and conditions on companies that have or are perceived to have limited remaining funds or limited ability to raise additional funds. The lower our cash balance, the more difficult it is likely to be for us to raise additional capital on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.

 

Our ability to raise capital may be limited by applicable laws and regulations.

Over the past few years we have raised capital through the sale of our equity securities. The offerings we completed in April 2014 and November 2016 were equity offerings conducted under the “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3. Using a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 to raise additional capital generally takes less time and is less expensive than other means, such as conducting an offering under a Form S-1 registration statement. However, our ability to raise capital using a shelf registration statement may be limited by, among other things, current SEC rules and regulations. Under current SEC rules and regulations, we must meet certain requirements to use a Form S-3 registration statement to raise capital without restriction as to the amount of the market value of securities sold thereunder. One such requirement is that we periodically evaluate the market value of our outstanding shares of common stock held by non-affiliates, or public float, and if, at an evaluation date, our public float is less than $75.0 million, then the aggregate market value of securities sold by us or on our behalf under the Form S-3 in any 12-month period is limited to an aggregate of one-third of our public float. After taking into account the shares we sold in the offering that closed in November 2016, our public float is currently approximately $15.0 million and therefore we are currently subject to the one-third of our public float limitation. Assuming our public float remains the same amount the next time we are required to evaluate it, we will only be able to sell an additional approximately $2.3 million using the “shelf” registration statement. If our ability to utilize a Form S-3 registration statement for a primary offering of our securities is limited to one-third of our public float, we may conduct such an offering pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act or under a Form S-1 registration statement, and we would expect either of those alternatives to increase the cost of raising additional capital relative to utilizing a Form S-3 registration statement.

In addition, under current SEC rules and regulations, our common stock must be listed and registered on a national securities exchange in order to utilize a Form S-3 registration statement (i) for a primary offering, if our public float is not at least $75.0 million as of a date within 60 days prior to the date of filing the Form S-3 or a re-evaluation date, whichever is later, and (ii) to register the resale of our securities by persons other than us (i.e., a resale offering). While currently our common stock is listed on the NYSE MKT equities market, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain such listing. See also “Our common stock could be delisted or suspended from trading on the NYSE MKT if we do not regain compliance with continued listing criteria with which we are currently not compliant or if we fail to meet any other continued listing criteria,” above.

Our ability to timely raise sufficient additional capital also may be limited by the NYSE MKT’s stockholder approval requirements for transactions involving the issuance of our common stock or securities convertible into our common stock. For instance, the NYSE MKT requires that we obtain stockholder approval of any transaction involving the sale, issuance or potential issuance by us of our common stock (or securities convertible into our common stock) at a price less than the greater of book or market value, which (together with sales by our officers, directors and principal stockholders) equals 20% or more of our then outstanding common stock, unless the transaction is considered a “public offering” by the NYSE MKT staff. In addition, certain prior sales by us may be aggregated with any offering we may propose in the future, further limiting the amount we could raise in any future offering that is not considered a public offering by the NYSE MKT staff and involves the sale, issuance or potential issuance by us of our common stock (or securities convertible into our common stock) at a price less than the greater of book or market value. The NYSE MKT also requires that we obtain stockholder approval if the issuance or potential issuance of additional shares will be considered by the NYSE MKT staff to result in a change of control of our company.

Obtaining stockholder approval is a costly and time-consuming process. If we are required to obtain stockholder approval for a potential transaction, we would expect to spend substantial additional money and resources. In addition, seeking stockholder approval would delay our receipt of otherwise available capital, which may materially and adversely affect our ability to execute our business strategy, and there is no guarantee our stockholders ultimately would approve a proposed transaction. A public offering under the NYSE MKT rules typically involves broadly announcing the proposed transaction, which often times has the effect of depressing the issuer’s stock price. Accordingly, the price at which we could sell our securities in a public offering may be less, and the dilution existing stockholders experience may in turn be greater, than if we were able to raise capital through other means.

Our charter contains provisions that may hinder or prevent a change in control of our company, which could result in our inability to approve a change in control and potentially receive a premium over the current market value of your stock.

 

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if such a change in control would benefit our stockholders, or to make changes in our board of directors. For example, our certificate of incorporation (i) prohibits stockholders from filling vacancies on our board of directors, calling special stockholder meetings, or taking action by written consent, and (ii) requires a supermajority vote of at least 80% of the total voting power of our outstanding shares, voting together as a single class, to remove our directors from office or to amend provisions relating to stockholders taking action by written consent or calling special stockholder meetings.

 

Additionally, our certificate of incorporation and restated bylaws contain provisions that could delay or prevent a change of control of our company. Some of these provisions:

 

·authorize the issuance of preferred stock which can be created and issued by our board of directors without prior stockholder approval, with rights senior to those of the common stock;

·
prohibit our stockholders from making certain changes to our bylaws except with 66 2/3% stockholder approval; and

·
require advance written notice of stockholder proposals and director nominations.

 

These provisions could discourage third parties from taking control of our company. Such provisions may also impede a transaction in which you could receive a premium over then current market prices and your ability to approve a transaction that you consider in your best interest.

 

In addition, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporate Law, which may prohibit certain business combinations with stockholders owning 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. These and other provisions in our certificate of incorporation, restated bylaws and Delaware law could make it more difficult for stockholders or potential acquirers to obtain control of our board of directors or initiate actions that are opposed by the then-current board of directors, including delaying or impeding a merger, tender offer, or proxy contest involving our company. Any delay or prevention of a change of control transaction or changes in our board of directors could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.

 

ITEM 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments

ITEM 1B.      Unresolved Staff Comments

We do not have any unresolved comments issued by the SEC Staff.

 

ITEM 2.Properties

We lease approximately 28,000 square feet of office space in Carlsbad, California. The term of the lease is from June 2011 through November 2018, and we are entitledhave the option to renew the lease for an additional five-year extension. We also lease approximately 7,500 square feet of warehouse space in Hilliard, Ohio. The term of this lease is from May 2013 through April 2017.2018. The facilities that we lease are suitable for our current needs and are considered adequate to support expected growth.

 

ITEM 3.Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we become subject to legal proceedings and claims, both asserted and unasserted, that arise in the ordinary course of business. Litigation in general, and securities litigation in particular, can be expensive and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the results of legal proceedings are difficult to predict. An unfavorable resolution of one or more legal proceedings could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition. In addition, defending any claim requires resources, including cash to pay legal fees and expenses, and our limited financial resources could severely impact our ability to defend any such claim.

 

Also from time to time, state and provincial tax agencies have made, and we anticipate will make in the future, inquiries as to whether our service offerings are subject to taxation in their jurisdictions. Many states have expanded their interpretation of their sales and use tax statutes, which generally had the effect of increasing the scope of activities that may be subject to such statutes. We evaluate inquiries from state and provincial tax agencies on a case-by-case basis and have favorably resolved the majority of these inquiries in the past, though we can give no assurances as to our ability to favorably resolve such inquiries in the future. Any such inquiry could, if not resolved favorably to us, materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition.

 

We are currentlyIn the past, we have been involved in sales tax inquiries with certain states and provinces. As a result of those inquiries, we recorded a total net liability of $17,000 and $27,000$25,000 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively,2015 with respect to tax assessments to which we may be subject as a result of such inquiries. Based on the guidance set forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 450,Contingencies, we deemed the likelihood that we will be required to pay all or part of these assessments as reasonably possible. During the year ended December 31, 2014,2016, we prevailed in one provincial taxresolved all matters under inquiry, resulting in a receivable of approximately $108,000 and a reversal of a liability of approximately $25,000. We received the $108,000 in January 2015.previously recognized $25,000 was sufficient under the assessments.

 

ITEM 4.Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not Applicable.

 

15

PART II

 

ITEM 5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE MKT under the symbol “NTN.” Set forth below are the high and low sales prices (adjusted for the reverse/forward split effected on June 3, 2016) for our common stock forduring the two most recent fiscal years:years.

 

  High  Low 
Year Ended December 31, 2016        
First Quarter $9.45  $5.50 
Second Quarter $10.23  $4.89 
Third Quarter $8.31  $5.23 
Fourth Quarter $10.65  $5.92 

 High  Low  High  Low 
Year Ended December 31, 2014        
Year Ended December 31, 2015        
First Quarter $0.79  $0.55  $29.00  $20.78 
Second Quarter $0.85  $0.37  $21.50  $11.26 
Third Quarter $0.56  $0.31  $29.50  $8.00 
Fourth Quarter $0.48  $0.26  $17.00  $7.00 
        
        
  High   Low 
Year Ended December 31, 2013        
First Quarter $0.28  $0.19 
Second Quarter $0.43  $0.24 
Third Quarter $0.49  $0.33 
Fourth Quarter $0.84  $0.36 

 

On March 24, 2015,7, 2017, the closing price for our common stock as reported on the NYSE MKT was $0.52$7.20 and there were approximately 840672 holders of record.

 

To date, we have not declared or paid any cash dividends with respect to our common stock, and the current policy of our Board of Directors is to retain earnings, if any, after payment of dividends on the outstanding preferred stock to provide for our growth. In addition, our credit facility with East West Bank generally prohibits us from paying any dividends or making any other distribution or payment on account of or in redemption, retirement or purchase of our common stock. Consequently, no cash dividends are expected to be paid on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Any future determinations to pay cash dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors.

 

We have 156,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. The Series A Preferred Stock provides for a cumulative annual dividend of 10 cents per share, payable in semi-annual installments in June and December. Dividends may be paid in cash or in shares of our common stock. In 2014,2016, we issuedpaid approximately 35,000 shares of our common stock for payment of these dividends.$16,000 in cash dividends to the Series A Preferred Stockholders.

 

ITEM 6.Selected Financial Data

 

Under SEC rules and regulations, as a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information otherwise required by this item.

 

ITEM 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

You should read the following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this report. Please also see the section entitled “Forward Looking Statements” at the beginning of this report.

Overview

 

We provide andeliver interactive entertainment and marketing servicesinnovative dining technology to bars and restaurants in North America. Venues license our customizable solution to differentiate themselves via competitive fun by offering guests trivia, card, sports and single player games, nationwide competitions, and self-service dining features including dynamic menus, touchscreen ordering and secure payment. Our platform for hospitalitycan improve operating efficiencies, create connections among the players and venues that offers games, events, and entertainment experiences to their patrons. Our interactive entertainment network helps our network subscribers to acquire, engage and retain patrons.amplify guests’ positive experiences.

Results of Operations

 

Results of Operations

Year Ended December 31, 20142016 compared to the Year Ended December 31, 20132015

We generated a net loss of $5,030,000$2,923,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014,2016, compared to net loss of $1,053,000$7,226,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013.2015.

 

Revenue

 

We currently generate revenue by charging subscription fees for our service to our network subscriber,subscribers, by leasing equipment (including tablets used in our BEOND linetablet platform and the cases and charging trays for suchthe tablets) to certain network subscribers, by hosting live trivia events, and by selling advertising aired on in-venue screens and as part of customized games and directly from consumers who pay to play or use the premium productsgames. In 2014, we began offering viapay-to-play single player games to certain customers. During the second quarter of 2015, we made a strategic change in our BEOND platform in 2014.premium content model by making our single player games available on both a free-to-consumer (in exchange for an increased subscription fee) and pay-to-play basis. This change required us to delay the general availability of pay-to-play games as we retooled its content, workflow and positioning. As a result, during 2015, we generated additional subscription fee revenue from those venues offering free-to-consumer single player games. We began rolling out the new pay-to-play single player games during the second quarter of 2016. The table below summarizes the type of revenue we generated for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013:2015:

 

 Years ended December 31,  Years ended December 31,      
 2014  2013  2016  2015      
 $  % of Total
Revenue
  $  % of Total
Revenue
  $  % of Total
Revenue
  $  % of Total
Revenue
  Change $  %
Change
 
Subscription revenue  18,003,000   69.1%  19,807,000   83.4%  17,463,000   78.3%  17,062,000   69.6%  401,000   2.4%
Sales-type lease revenue  5,315,000   20.4%  1,724,000   7.3%  1,266,000   5.7%  4,202,000   17.1%  (2,936,000)  (69.9%)
Other revenue  2,728,000   10.5%  2,218,000   9.3%  3,583,000   16.0%  3,255,000   13.3%  328,000   10.1%
Total  26,046,000   100.0%  23,749,000   100.0%  22,312,000   100.0%  24,519,000   100.0%  (2,207,000)  (9.0%)

 

RevenueSubscription revenue increased $2,297,000, or 10%, to $26,046,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $23,749,000 for the year ended December 31, 20132016 primarily due primarily to increased equipmenta higher average revenue per site (which we refer to as ARPU), offset by lower average site count when compared to 2015. Equipment lease revenue recognized under sales-type lease arrangements of $3,591,000, and to a lesser extentin 2016 decreased due to increased other revenue of $510,000 primarily related to advertising and our hosted live trivia events. The increased revenue was offset by decreased subscription revenue of $1,804,000 resulting from lower average site countfewer installations of our Buzztime network subscribers.BEOND platform for certain customers under sales-type lease arrangements when compared to 2015. Equipment lease revenue (which has lower margins due to the cost we incur to purchase the equipment that we lease) is recognized when we lease BEONDthe equipment. The equipment lease revenue is a one-time payment that covers the lease of the equipment for three-years, after which the lessee may purchase the equipment for a nominal fee or lease new equipment. Accordingly, weWe expect this typethe amount of equipment lease revenue to fluctuate from period to period as certain network subscribers convert their venues from using the Classic playmakers to the BEOND tablets, and to decrease thereafter.

Comparative site count informationcontinue fluctuating in correlation with customer contracts under sales-type lease arrangements. Other revenue increased for the Buzztime network is as follows:year ended December 31, 2016 due primarily to an increase in advertising and other miscellaneous revenue, offset by a decrease in our revenue from pay-to-play single player games, which we began redeploying during the second quarter of 2016

  Network Subscriber Activity
as of December 31,
 
  2014  2013 
Site Count - Beginning of Period  3,204   3,638 
Installations  350   395 
Terminations  (598)  (829)
Site Count - End of Period  2,956   3,204 

 

Geographic breakdown of our ending site count for the Buzztime network is as follows:

 

  Network Subscribers
as of December 31,
 
  2016  2015 
United States  2,664   2,792 
Canada  150   168 
Total  2,814   2,960 

  Network Subscribers
as of December 31,
 
  2014  2013 
United States  2,781   3,015 
Canada  175   189 
Total  2,956   3,204 

 

Direct Costs and Gross Margin

 

The following table compares the direct costs and gross margin for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013:2015:

 

  For the years ended
December 31,
    
  2016  2015  Change 
Revenues $22,312,000  $24,519,000  $(2,207,000)
Direct Costs  7,710,000   12,570,000   (4,860,000)
Gross Margin $14,602,000  $11,949,000  $2,653,000 
             
Gross Margin Percentage  65.4%  48.7%    

  For the years ended
December 31,
 
  2014  2013 
Revenues $26,046,000  $23,749,000 
Direct Costs  11,148,000   7,686,000 
Gross Margin $14,898,000  $16,063,000 
         
Gross Margin Percentage  57%  68%

The $1,165,000 decrease in gross margin was primarily related to increased sales in lower margin sales-type lease arrangements of the BEOND tablet equipment. The $3,462,000, or 45%, increase in directDirect costs was primarily due to increased equipment expense of $3,184,000, which includes an accrual of $204,000 related to tablet cases deployed at sites that hawse have deemed probable we will need to repair. To a lesser extent, the increase was also due to increased revenue share expense, service provider fees and content license fees. The equipment expense, which is recognized as a one-time expense, primarily relates to BEOND equipment that we purchased to lease to certain network subscribers for approximately three years. We expect this type of equipment expense to fluctuate from period to period as certain network subscribers convert their sites from using the Classic playmakers to the BEOND tablets, and to decrease thereafter.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $2,148,000, or 13%, to $18,367,000decreased 39% for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $16,219,0002016, primarily due to decreased equipment expense of $4,787,000 as a result of fewer installations of our BEOND platform for certain customers under sales-type lease arrangements, a reduction in the cost of the BEOND platform equipment and reduced scrap and repair expense when compared to 2015.

During 2015, due to our design and manufacturing process problems with the second generation tablet platform, we re-evaluated the strategy of managing the manufacture, design and supply chain in-house. Also during 2015, and as part of our re-evaluation, we outsourced the supply-chain management and manufacturing of certain equipment related to our third generation BEOND tablet platform. The primary reasons for doing so were to reduce costs and exposure to repair and maintenance expense related to, and to increase the long-term stability of the quality of, such equipment. In the fourth quarter of 2015, we began deploying the third generation platform, and for the prior year period. ended December 31, 2016, we are recognizing a direct positive impact to our gross margins.

We may continue to experience challenges with our tablet platform equipment, and as a result, we may be required to recognize additional repair expense in the future. See also “ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS—Risk Factors That May Affect Our Business—Our business could be adversely impacted if the sole manufacturer of our own tablet and our tablet equipment is not able to meet our manufacturing quality standards,” above.

Operating Expenses

  For the years ended
December 31,
    
  2016  2015  Change 
Selling, general and administrative $16,458,000  $18,060,000  $(1,602,000)
             
Impairment of capitalized software $-  $295,000  $(295,000)
             
Depreciation and amortization (excluding depreciation and amortization included in direct operating costs) $422,000  $489,000  $(67,000)

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

The increasedecrease in selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015 was due primarily to higherlower headcount when compared to the same period in 2015, resulting in a $1,758,000 reduction in payroll and related expense of $1,811,000 resulting from increased headcount, increased severance expense, capitalizing less salary expense for software development activitiesexpenses, and increased stock compensation expense. Toto a lesser extent the increase was alsoto decreased marketing expenses of approximately $247,000 and decreased occupancy expense of approximately $163,000 due to improved cost management. These decreases were offset by increased hardware expenses of $236,000, increased franchise tax of $146,000 due to the reverse/forward split of our common stock and increased professional fees of $221,000, increased travel and entertainment expense of $143,000, increased marketing expense of $89,000 and increased bad debt expense of $85,000. These increases were offset by a decrease in sales tax expense of $200,000 primarily resulting from a credit recognized during 2014 from a non-recurring favorable outcome of a sales tax assessment.$108,000 when compared to 2015.

 

Impairment of Capitalized Software

 

Impairment of capitalized software increased $438,000 to $668,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $230,000 during 2013 as a2015 was the result of abandoning certain capitalized software development projects that we concluded were no longer a current strategic fit or for which we determined that the marketability of the content had decreased due to obtaining additional information regarding the specific purpose for which the content was intended.

Depreciation and Amortization

DepreciationThe decrease in depreciation and amortization expense (excluding depreciation and amortization included in direct costs) decreased $128,000, or 17%, to $605,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 from $733,000 for 20132016 compared to 2015 was primarily due to assets becoming fully depreciated and amortized.or amortized sooner than we are replenishing them with new assets.

 

Other (Expense) Income,Expense, Net

 

  For the years ended
December 31,
  Increase in 
  2016  2015  expense, net 
Interest expense, net $(576,000) $(481,000)    
Other (expense) income, net  (31,000)  162,000     
Total other expense, net $(607,000) $(319,000) $(288,000)

We had $204,000 ofThe increase in total other expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2014,2016 compared to other income, net of $112,000 for the same period in 2013. This $316,000 increase in expense was2015 is primarily due to increased interest expense due to higher notes payable balancesas a result of an increased amount of outstanding offset by increaseddebt as well as changes in foreign currency exchange gains and losses related to the operations oftransactions denominated in a currency other than our Canadian subsidiary and decreased losses from disposals of long-lived assets.functional currency.

Income Taxes

  For the years ended
December 31,
 
  2016  2015 
Provision for income taxes $(38,000) $(12,000)

 

We expect to incur state income tax liability in 20142016 related to our U.S. operations. We also expect to pay income taxes in Canada due to the profitability of NTN Canada. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we recorded a net tax provision of $84,000 and $46,000, respectively.

our Canadian subsidiary. At December 31, 2014,2016, we had net operating loss, oravailable NOL carryforwards of approximately $59,663,000 and $25,461,000$65,291,000 for federal and state income tax purposes, respectively.which will begin to expire in 2017. The NOL carryforwards for state purposes, which will continue expiring in 2017, are approximately $35,969,000. There can be no assurance that we will ever be able to realize the benefit of some or all of the federal and state loss carryforwards due to continued operating losses. Further, Section 382 of theunder Internal Revenue Code imposes limits onSection 382 and similar state provisions, ownership changes may limit the ability to useannual utilization of NOL carryforwards that existedexisting prior to a change in control that are available to offset future taxable income. Such limitations would reduce, potentially significantly, the gross deferred tax assets related to the NOL carryforwards. We completed a Section 382 analysis for the period from January 1, 1992 through December 31, 2013September 30, 2016 and determined that we do not expect to be limited in regards to utilizing the total NOL carryforwards that existed as of December 31, 2013,September 30, 2016, provided we generate sufficient future earnings prior to the expiration of the NOL,NOLs and that future changes in ownership do not trigger a Section 382 limitation. Such limitations would reduce, potentially significantly, gross deferred tax assets related to NOL carryforwards.  Based on our analysis of our stockholder activity for the yearthree months ended December 31, 2014,2016, there were nodoes not appear to be ownership changes that would have caused an annual limitation under the provisions of Section 382. We continue to disclose the NOL carryforwards at their original amount as no potential limitation has been quantified. We have also established a full valuation allowance for substantially all deferred tax assets, including the NOL carryforwards, since we could not conclude that we wereare more likely than not able to generate future taxable income to realize these assets. In addition, we have approximately $201,000$190,000 of state tax credit tax carryforwards that expire in the years 20152017 through 2026.

 

EBITDA—Consolidated Operations

 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, is not intended to represent a measure of performance in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP).GAAP. Nor should EBITDA be considered as an alternative to statements of cash flows as a measure of liquidity. EBITDA is included herein because we believe it is a measure of operating performance that financial analysts, lenders, investors and other interested parties find to be a useful tool for analyzing companies like us that carry significant levels of non-cash depreciation and amortization charges in comparison to their GAAP earningsnet income or loss.loss calculation in accordance with GAAP.

 

The following table reconcilesreconciliation of our consolidated net loss percalculated in accordance with GAAP to EBITDA:EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 is shown in the table below. EBITDA should not be considered as substitutes for, or superior to, net loss calculated in accordance with GAAP.

 

 For the years ended
December 31,
  For the years ended
December 31,
 
 2014  2013  2016  2015 
Net income (loss) per GAAP $(5,030,000) $(1,053,000)
Net loss per GAAP $(2,923,000) $(7,226,000)
Interest expense, net  215,000   23,000   576,000   481,000 
Income tax provision  84,000   46,000   38,000   12,000 
Depreciation and amortization  2,745,000   2,849,000   2,887,000   3,104,000 
EBITDA $(1,986,000) $1,865,000   578,000   (3,629,000)

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of December 31, 2014,2016, we had cash and cash equivalents of $7,185,000$5,686,000 compared to cash and cash equivalents of $5,455,000$3,223,000 as of December 31, 2013.2015.

 

In April 2014,a registered direct offering that closed on November 4, 2016, we completed an underwritten public offering in which we issued a total of 12,765,000sold 412,071 shares of our common stock (including shares issued upon exerciseand received net proceeds of approximately $2.7 million, after deducting estimated offering expenses. We are using and will continue to use the net proceeds of the offering for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures and implementation of our strategic priorities.

In April 2015, we entered into a loan and security agreement with East West Bank, or EWB, which was amended in March 2016, December 2016 and February 2017. We refer to the loan and security agreement as amended in March 2016, December 2016 and February 2017 as the EWB credit facility. Under the EWB credit facility, through June 15, 2017, we may request advances in an over-allotment option)aggregate outstanding amount at any time up to the lesser of (a) $7,500,000, which we refer to as the revolving line, or (b) the sum of $2,000,000 (which we refer to as the “sublimit”) plus the amount equal to our borrowing base, in each case, less the aggregate outstanding principal amount of prior advances. On June 15, 2017, the sublimit becomes zero. If the aggregate amount of advances as of June 15, 2017 exceeds the lesser of the revolving line or the amount equal to our borrowing base, then we must pay EWB the amount of such excess. Advances bear interest, at our option, at the rate of either (A) a variable rate per annum equal to the prime rate as set forth in The Wall Street Journal plus 3.25% (which decreases to 1.75% at the earlier of June 15, 2017 or such time we pay off in full in cash the $2.0 million sublimit), or (B) at a fixed rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Rate for the interest period for the advance plus 6.00% (which decreases to 4.50% at the earlier of June 15, 2017 or full repayment of the sublimit on all amounts then outstanding and on any subsequent borrowings). The public offering priceSo long as there is no event of default, we may make a one-time request to increase the revolving line by up to $2,500,000, which EWB may accept or decline. All advances on the revolving line are due on January 15, 2018. We use the proceeds available under this credit facility to fund strategic growth initiatives and for general working capital purposes.

Our borrowing base under the EWB credit facility is, as of the date of determination, an amount equal to the product of: (a) the average monthly recurring revenue for the immediately preceding three months; times (b) one plus our average churn rate for the immediately preceding three months (not to exceed zero); times (c) 300%. For this purpose, our monthly recurring revenue is limited to all recurring subscription revenue attributable to software that we sold or licensed and all recurring revenue relating to services we delivered and 50% of all revenue attributable to our “Stump” product line. Because the amount of our monthly recurring revenue and how much each sharesource contributes to it will change from month to month, our borrowing base will fluctuate accordingly.

Under the EWB credit facility, we are required to meet a minimum adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or adjusted EBITDA target and churn rate targets, in each case, as specified in the EWB credit facility. Adjusted EBITDA is the sum (a) net profit (or loss), after provision for taxes, plus (b) interest expense, plus (c) to the extent deducted in the calculation of commonnet profit (or loss), depreciation expense and amortization expense, plus (d) income tax expense, plus (e) non-cash stock was $0.55,compensation expenses, plus (f) other non-cash expenses and we received approximately $7,021,000 in gross proceedscharges, plus (g) to the extent approved by the Lender, other one-time charges, plus (h) to the extent approved by the Lender, any losses arising from the offering. The net proceeds fromsale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of assets not in the offering were approximately $6,369,000, after deducting underwriting discountsordinary course of 7%business. Compliance with the adjusted EBITDA target is measured as of the last day of each fiscal quarter with respect to the immediately prior three-month period. Through January 31, 2017, compliance with the churn rate target was measured on a monthly and offering expenses.trailing three-month basis. For measurements beginning in February 2017, compliance will be measured only on a trailing three-month basis. Under the March 2016 amendment, EWB waived an event of default that occurred because we did not achieve the monthly churn rate target for January 31, 2016.

 

In November 2013, we completedThe EWB credit facility also requires us to maintain, at June 15, 2017, or if earlier, at such time that the $2.0 million sublimit has been paid off, a private placementbalance on deposit with EWB equal to 100% of units (consisting of shares of common stock and warrants to purchase shares of common stock) to accredited investors. The purchase price of each unit was $0.40 for gross proceeds of $2,400,000. In the aggregate we issued 6,000,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 3,600,000 shares. The warrants have an exercise price of $0.40 per share and are exercisable beginning on the six-month anniversaryoutstanding principal amount of the issuanceadvances at the applicable measurement time.

As of December 31, 2016, we borrowed $6,500,000 in the aggregate under the EWB credit facility, all of which remained outstanding as of that date. As of that date and expirebased on the five-year anniversaryour borrowing base calculated as of that date, $97,000 was available to borrow. We used approximately $3,381,000 of the issuance date.total amount borrowed under the EWB credit facility to pay down existing indebtedness that was then owed to an equipment lender and to pay related prepayment fees. Under the EWB credit facility, the amount that we may owe under our current credit facility with that equipment lender is not limited to any specified amount. With EWB’s consent, we may incur additional indebtedness of up to $2,000,000 in the aggregate with other equipment lenders for equipment financing. Subject to the foregoing, the EWB credit facility prohibits us from borrowing additional amounts from other lenders.

 

We have a credit facilityanother financing arrangement with an equipment lender under which we may borrow uprequest funds to $9,853,000 forfinance the purchase of certain capital equipment. The lender determines whether to extend such funds on a case-by-case basis, taking into account such factors as the lender considers relevant, including the amount outstanding under this financing arrangement. Through December 31, 2014,2016, we borrowed $9,690,000. We used approximately $7,652,000.$3,381,000 of the total amount borrowed under the EWB credit facility to pay down existing indebtedness that was then owed under this financing arrangement and to pay related prepayment fees. As of December 31, 2014, $5,319,0002016, $1,611,000 remained outstanding, which reflects payments made throughoutstanding. We currently do not expect the lender to lend any additional funds under this financing arrangement.

In connection with preparing the financial statement as of and for the year ended December 31, 2014.

We2016, we evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that are known and reasonably knowable that would raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that such financial statements are issued. As a result of such evaluation, we believe our existingwe will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents and the remaining availability on our credit facility will be sufficient to meet our operating cash requirements and to fulfill our debt obligations for at least the next twelve months. In order tomonths from the issuance date of such financial statements. To increase the likelihood that we will be able to successfully execute our operating and strategic plan and to position the companyus to better take advantage of market opportunities and opportunities for growth, we are evaluatingcontinuing to evaluate additional financing alternatives.alternatives, including additional equity financings and alternative sources of debt. If our cash and cash equivalents are not sufficient to meet future cash requirements, we may be required to reduce planned capital expenses, reduce operational cash uses sell assets, or seek financing.raise capital on terms that are not as favorable to us as they otherwise might be. Any actions we may undertake to reduce planned capital purchases or reduce expenses or generate proceeds from the sale of assets may be insufficient to cover shortfalls in available funds. If we require additional capital, we may be unable to secure additional financing on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all.

Working Capital

As of December 31, 2014,2016, we had working capital (current assets in excess of current liabilities) of $7,779,000$4,019,000 compared to working capital of $4,310,000$3,988,000 as of December 31, 2013.2015. The following table shows our change in working capital from December 31, 20132015 to December 31, 2014.2016.

 

  Increase
(Decrease)
 
Working capital as of December 31, 2015 $3,988,000 
Changes in current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents  2,463,000 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance  9,000 
Site equipment to be installed  (992,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  72,000 
Total current assets  1,552,000 
Changes in current liabilities:    
Accounts payable  36,000 
Accrued compensation  36,000 
Accrued expenses  27,000 
Sales taxes payable  (50,000)
Income taxes payable  (18,000)
Current portion of long-term debt  1,916,000 
Current portion of obligations under capital leases  77,000 
Deferred revenue  (155,000)
Other current liabilities  (348,000)
Total current liabilities  1,521,000 
Net change in working capital  31,000 
Working capital as of December 31, 2016 $4,019,000 

  Increase
(Decrease)
 
Working capital as of December 31, 2013 $4,310,000 
Changes in current assets:    
Cash and cash equivalents  1,730,000 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance  1,549,000 
Site equipment to be installed  3,686,000 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  (11,000)
Total current assets  6,954,000 
Changes in current liabilities:    
Accounts payable  64,000 
Accrued compensation  102,000 
Accrued expenses  309,000 
Sales taxes payable  (48,000)
Income taxes payable  23,000 
Notes payable  1,545,000 
Obligations under capital lease  3,000 
Deferred revenue  1,243,000 
Other current liabilities  244,000 
Total current liabilities  3,485,000 
Net change in working capital  3,469,000 
Working capital as of December 31, 2014 $7,779,000 

Cash Flows

Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities, as reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows, are summarized as follows:

 

 For the years ended
December 31,
  For the years ended
December 31,
    
 2014  2013  2016  2015  Change 
Cash provided by (used in):                    
Operating activities $(6,385,000) $1,741,000  $23,000  $(4,180,000) $4,203,000 
Investing activities  (1,901,000)  (2,697,000)  (840,000)  (1,623,000)  783,000 
Financing activities  10,081,000   3,750,000   3,256,000   1,980,000   1,276,000 
Effect of exchange rates  (65,000)  (60,000)  24,000   (139,000)  163,000 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents $1,730,000  $2,734,000 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $2,463,000  $(3,962,000) $6,425,000 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operations. Net cash used in operations was $6,385,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to net cash provided by operations of $1,741,000 for the same period in 2013.(used in) operations. The $8,126,000 increase in cash used in operationsprovided by operating activities was primarily due to an increase ofa decrease in net loss of $3,216,000,$3,109,000, after giving effect to adjustments made for non-cash transactions and an increasea decrease in cash used in operating assets and liabilities of $4,910,000 primarily due to an increase in the amount of equipment used in our BEOND platform we purchased that had not yet been installed at sites and an increase in accounts receivable due to timing of payments$1,094,000 during the yearnine months ended December 31, 2014September 30, 2016 compared to the same period in 2013.

2015, primarily driven by fewer purchases of site equipment to be installed inventory, which decreased to $2,998,000 as of December 31, 2016 from $3,990,000 as of December 31, 2015.

Our largest use of cash is payroll and related costs. Cash used for payroll and related costs increased $1,125,000decreased $1,271,000 to $11,160,000$10,270,000 for the year ended December 31, 20142016 from $10,035,000 during the same period in 2013,$11,541,000 for 2015, primarily due to increased headcount during the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013.lower headcount.

 

Our primary source of cash is cash we generate from customers. Cash received from customers increased $1,676,000decreased $3,089,000 to $26,472,000$23,193,000 for the year ended December 31, 20142016 from $24,796,000$26,270,000 for 2015. This decrease was primarily a result of receiving a large past-due receivable during the same period in 2013, primarily2015, and to a lesser extent due to increased revenue and deferreddecreased revenue during the year ended December 31, 20142016 when compared to the same period in 2013.2015.

 

Net cash used in investing activities. We used $1,901,000The decrease in cash forused in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to a use of $2,697,000 during the same period in 2013. The $796,000 decrease was primarily due to a decrease in capitalizedcapital expenditures and software development activities of $672,000 and in capital expenditures of $274,000 primarily related to field equipment purchases, offset by an increase in software acquisition costs of $150,000.expenditures.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities. NetThe increase in cash provided by financing activities increased $6,331,000 from $3,750,000 for the year ended December 31, 2013 to $10,081,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014. Contributingis primarily attributable to the increase in net cash provided by financing activities was the $6,369,000 of net proceeds we received from a public offering in April 2014, a $4,442,000 increase year-over-year in proceeds from notes payable, a $75,000 decrease year-over-year in payments on capital lease obligations, and the $44,000 we received in 2014 from the exercise of stock options and we received no such proceeds in 2013. The foregoing items that contributed to the increase in net cash provided by financing activities was offset by a $2,239,000 increase year-over-year in cash used for payments on our notes payable and by a $17,000 increase year-over-year in tax withholdings related to net-share settlements of restricted stock units. Also contributing to the change was that in 2013 we received $2,342,000 of net proceeds from a private offering, and we did not conduct a private offering in 2014.following:

 

During 2016, we received net proceeds of $2,692,000 from our common stock offering in November 2016; there was no similar event during 2015;
During 2016, our payments on long-term debt decreased by $2,789,000 compared to 2015; and
During 2016, we borrowed $4,235,000 less in long-term debt compared to the amount borrowed during 2015.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to deferred costs and revenues, depreciation of broadcast equipment,fixed assets, allowance for doubtful accounts, site equipment to be installed, investments, intangible assets, and contingencies. We base our estimates on a combination of historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates. Critical accounting policies and estimates are defined as those that are both most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results and require management’s most subjective judgments.

 

We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from nonpayment by our customers. We reserve for all accounts that have been suspended or terminated from our Buzztime network services and for customers with balances that are greater than a predetermined number of days past due. We analyze historical collection trends, customer concentrations and creditworthiness, economic trends and anticipated changes in customer payment patterns when evaluating the adequacy of our allowance for doubtful accounts for specific and general risks. Additional reserves may also be established if specific customers’ balances are identified as potentially uncollectible. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

 

Site Equipment to be Installed—Site equipment to be installed consist of finished goods related to our BEOND product platform and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out method. Rapid technological change or new product development could result in an increase in the quantity of obsolete site equipment to be installed on hand, and we could recognize losses from disposal of excess or obsolete site equipment to be installed. Additionally, our carrying costs of our site equipment to be installed are dependent on accurate estimates of customer demand for our products. A significant increase in the demand for our products could result in a short-term increase in the cost of site equipment purchases, while a significant decrease in demand could result in an increase in the amount of excess site equipment quantities on hand. As a result, although we attempt to maximize the accuracy of our forecasts of future product demand, any significant unanticipated changes in demand or in technological developments could have a significant impact on the value of our site equipment to be installed and our reported operating results.

The BEOND tablet platform equipment remains in site equipment to be installed until it is installed at our customer sites. For BEOND tablet platform customers that are under sales-type lease arrangements, the cost of the equipment is recognized in direct costs upon installation. For all other BEOND tablet platform customers, the cost of the equipment is reclassified to fixed assets upon installation and depreciated over its useful life.

Fixed Assets—Fixed assets are recorded at cost. Equipment under capital leases is recorded at the present value of future minimum lease payments. Depreciation of fixed assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation of leasehold improvements and fixed assets under capital leases is computed using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease period.

We incur a relatively significant level of depreciation expense in relation to our operating income. The amount of depreciation expense in any fiscal year is largely related to the estimated life of handheld wirelessequipment located at our customers’ sites that are not under sales-type lease arrangements. Such equipment includes our Classic Playmaker, devices andour BEOND tablet, other associated electronics and the computers located at our customer’s sites. Our Classic Playmakers are depreciated over a five-year life, our BEOND Playmakers are depreciated over a three-year life and the associated electronics and computerssites (collectively, “Site Equipment”). The components within Site Equipment are depreciated over two to four years. The depreciable life of these assets was determinedfive years based on the shorter of the contractual capital lease period or theirthe estimated useful life, which considers anticipated technology changes. If our Playmakers and associated electronics and the computers turnSite Equipment turns out to have longer lives, on average, than estimated, then our depreciation expense would be significantly reduced in those future periods. Conversely, if the Playmakers and associated electronics and the computers turnSite Equipment turns out to have shorter lives, on average, than estimated, then our depreciation expense would be significantly increased in those future periods.

 

ASC No. 350 also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASC No. 360,Property, Plant and Equipment.In accordance with ASC No. 360, we assess potential impairments of our long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when the carrying amount of a long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group.Wegroup. We performed our annual reviewreviews as of December 31, 20142016 and 2015 of our other intangible assets and determined that certain fully amortized acquired intangible assets no longer had an economic benefit to us, and therefore, we disposed of these assets as of December 31, 2014. (See Note 4 to the accompanying financial statements.) Therethere were no indications of impairment for the year ended December 31, 2013.either period.

Purchase Accounting – We account for acquisitions pursuant to ASC No. 805,Business Combinations. We record all acquired tangible and intangible assets and all assumed liabilities based upon their estimated fair values. During the year ended December 31, 2014, we consummated one immaterial asset acquisition. The purchase price allocation for the asset purchase was final as of December 31, 2014. There were no acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2013.

Assessments of Functional Currencies—The United States dollar is our functional currency, except for our operations in Canada where the functional currency is the Canadian dollar. The financial position and results of operations of our foreign subsidiaries are measured using the foreign subsidiary’s local currency as the functional currency. In accordance with ASC No. 830,Foreign Currency Matters, revenues and expenses of our foreign subsidiaries have been translated into U.S. dollars at weighted average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Assets and liabilities have been translated at the rates of exchange on the balance sheet date. The resulting translation gain and loss adjustments are recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, unless there is a sale or complete liquidation of the underlying foreign investments. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, we recorded $47,000 and $24,000 of foreign currency transaction gains, respectively, due to settlements of intercompany transactions and re-measurement of intercompany balances with our Canadian subsidiary and other non-functional currency denominated transactions, which are included in other income in the accompanying statements of operations. Fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar may affect our results of operations and period-to-period comparisons of our operating results. We do not currently engage in hedging or similar transactions to reduce these risks. For the year ended December 31, 2014, the net impact to our results of operations from the effect of exchange rate fluctuations was immaterial.

 

Revenue Recognition—We recognize revenue from recurring subscription fees for our service earned from our network subscribers, from leasing equipment (including tablets used in our BEOND tablet platform and the cases and charging trays for such tablets) to certain network subscribers, from hosting live trivia events, from selling advertising aired on in-venue screens and as part of customized games from distribution and licensing fees from our Buzztime-branded content delivered primarily through our interactive consumer platforms and directly from consumers who pay to play or use the premium productscontent we began offering via our BEOND tablet platform in 2014.To the extent any of the foregoing contains multiple deliverables, we evaluate the criteria in ASC No. 605,Revenue Recognition, to determine whether such deliverables represent separate units of accounting. In order to be considered a separate unit of accounting, the delivered items in an arrangement must have stand-alone value to the customer and objective and reliable evidence of fair value must exist for any undelivered elements. Arrangements for the transmission of our Buzztime network contain two deliverables: the installation of equipment and the transmission of our network content for which we receive monthly subscription fees. As the installation deliverable does not have stand-alone value to the customer, it does not represent a separate unit of accounting. Therefore, for our Classic product, all installation fees received are deferred and recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the customer relationship. Because deployment of our BEOND tablet platform is sostill new, we have not yet established an estimated life of a BEOND customer, and therefore, we are deferring and recognizing installation fees as revenue on a straight-line basis over the customer contract term. All installation fees not recognized in revenue have been recorded as deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

In addition, the direct expenses of the installation, commissions, setup and training are being deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis and are classified as deferred costs on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. For these direct expenses that are associated with our Classic product, the amortization period approximates the estimated life of the customer relationship for deferred direct costs that are of an amount that is less than or equal to the deferred revenue for the related contract. For costs that exceed the deferred revenue, the amortization period is the initial term of the contract, in accordance with ASC No. 605, which is generally one year. For direct costs associated with our BEOND tablet platform, the amortization period approximates the life of the contract.

 

We evaluate our lease transactions in accordance with ASC No. 840,Leases, to determine classification of the leases against the following criteria:

 

·● The lease transfers ownership of the property to the lessee by the end of the lease term;
·There is a bargain purchase option;
·The lease term is equal to or greater than 75% of the economic life of the equipment; or
·The present value of the minimum payments is equal to or greater than 90% of the fair market value of the equipment at the inception of the lease.

 

Because our current leasing agreement meets at least one of the criteria above, because collectability of the minimum lease payments is reasonably assured and because there are no important uncertainties surrounding the amount of reimbursable costs yet to be incurred under the lease, we classify the lease as a sales-type lease, and we recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, product delivery has occurred or the services have been rendered, the price is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

 

We recognize revenues from selling advertising, from hosting live trivia events and from consumers who pay to play our premium products, and from royalties related to the licensing of our Buzztime-branded content when all material services or conditions relating to the transaction have been performed or satisfied.

We have arrangements with certain third parties to share the revenue generated from some of our products and services. We evaluate recognition of the associated revenue in accordance with ASC No. 605-45,Revenue Recognition, Principal Agent Considerations.When indicators suggest that we are functioning as a principal, we record revenue gross and the corresponding amounts paid to third parties are recorded as direct expense. Conversely, when indicators suggest that we are functioning as an agent, we record revenue net of amounts paid to third parties.

 

Software Development Costs—We capitalize costs related to the development of certain software products in accordance with ASC No. 350. Amortization of costs related to interactive programs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the programs’ estimated useful lives, generally two to three years. Amortization expense relating to capitalized software development costs totaled $912,000$386,000 and $864,000$993,000 for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively. As of December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, approximately $495,000$642,000 and $934,000,$421,000, respectively, of capitalized software costs were not subject to amortization as the development of various software projects was not complete.

 

We performed our annual review of software development projects for the yearsyear ended December 31, 2014 and 2013,2015 and determined to abandon various software development projects that we concluded were no longer a current strategic fit or for which we determined that the marketability of the content had decreased due to obtaining additional information regarding the specific industry for which the content was intended. As a result, an impairment of $668,000 and $230,000$295,000 was recognized for the yearsyear ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively,2015, which is separately stated on our consolidated statements of operations. We also performed our annual review for the year ended December 31, 2016 and determined that there were no indications of impairments during this period.

 

Stock Based Compensation—We estimate the fair value of our stock options using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, consistent with the provisions of ASC No. 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation and ASC No. 505-50,Equity – Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees.The fair value of stock options granted is recognized to expense over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense for share-based payment awards to employees is recognized using the straight-line single-option method. Stock-based compensation expense for share-based payment awards to non-employees is recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is periodically re-measured as the underlying awards vest.

 

We used the historical stock price volatility as an input to value our stock options under ASC No. 718. The expected term of our stock options represents the period of time options are expected to be outstanding, and is based on observed historical exercise patterns for our company, which we believe are indicative of future exercise behavior. For the risk-free interest rate, we use the observed interest rates appropriate for the term of time options are expected to be outstanding. The dividend yield assumption is based on our history and expectation of dividend payouts.

 

The following weighted average assumptions were used for grants issued during 20142016 and 20132015 under the ASC No. 718 requirements:

 

 2014  2013  2016  2015 
Weighted average risk-free rate  1.38%  0.60%  1.20%  1.20%
Weighted average volatility  80.37%  79.82%  111.02%  82.80%
Dividend yield  0.00%  0.00%  0.00%  0.00%
Expected life  4.87 years   4.80 years   6.17 years   4.31 years 

 

ASC No. 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised if necessary in subsequent periods if actual forfeiture rates differ from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical activity for our company. Stock-based compensation expense for employees for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 20132015 was $283,000$419,000 and $132,000,$456,000, respectively, and is included in selling, general and administrative expenses based upon the departments to which substantially all of the associated employees report and credited to additional paid-in-capital.

 

Income Taxes—Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

ASC No. 740,Income Taxes, defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax return positions in the financial statements as “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the taxing authority. A tax position that meets the “more-likely-than-not” criterion are measured at the largest amount of benefit that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. We have reviewed our tax positions and determined that an adjustment to the tax provision is not considered necessary nor is a reserve for income taxes required.

Earnings Per Share—Basic and diluted loss per common share have been computed by dividing the losses applicable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Our basic and fully diluted EPS calculation are the same since the increased number of shares that would be included in the diluted calculation from assumed exercise of common stock equivalents would be anti-dilutive to the net loss in each of the years shown in the consolidated financial statements.

 

Segment Reporting - In accordance with ASC No. 280,Segment Reporting, we have determined that we operate as one operating segment. Decisions regarding our overall operating performance and allocation of our resources are assessed on a consolidated basis.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2015,2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-01,(ASU) No 2017-04,Income Statement-ExtraordinaryIntangibles – Goodwill and Unusual ItemsOther (Topic 225).350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This update removes the requirement to perform step two of the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for an entity to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. This update is effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 (which is January 1, 2020 for us). Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. We do not anticipate that the adoption of this ASU updatedwill have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the accounting guidance related to extraordinaryFASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No 2016-18,Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. This update requires amounts generally described as restricted cash and unusual items by eliminatingrestricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the concepttotal beginning and ending amounts for the periods shown on the statement of extraordinary items. In addition, disclosure guidance for items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently will be retained and will be expanded to include items that are both unusual in nature and infrequently occurring.cash flows. This update is effective for fiscal years andbeginning after December 15, 2018 (which is January 1, 2019 for us), including interim periods within those periods, using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. We do not anticipate that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-16,Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. This update requires entities to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, which for us2017 (which is January 1, 2016.2018 for us), including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of a fiscal year. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition method, which is a cumulative-effective adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first effective reporting period. We do not anticipate that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15,Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This update is intended to add or clarify guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows and to eliminate the diversity in practice related to such classifications. This update is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (which is January 1, 2018 for us), with early adoption permitted. We do not anticipate that the adoption of this updateASU will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2014,March 2016, the FASB issued ASUNo. 2014-15,ASU No. 2016-09,Presentation of Financial StatementsCompensationGoing Concern (Subtopic 205-40)Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s AbilityImprovements to Continue as a Going Concern.Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This update provides guidance about management’s responsibilityis intended to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continuesimplify various aspects of accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Specifically,well as classification in the amendments (1) provide a definitionstatement of the term “substantial doubt,” (2) require an evaluation every reporting period, (3) provide principles for considering the mitigating effect of management’s plans, (4) require certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management’s plans, (5) require an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated, and (6) require an assessment for a period of one year after the date that financial statements are issued.cash flows. This update is effective for fiscal years endingperiods beginning after December 15, 2016 which(which is January 1, 2017 for us is December 31, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter.us), with early adoption permitted. We do not anticipate that the adoption of this updateASU will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2014,February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12,2016-02,Compensation – Stock CompensationLeases (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period.842). This update requires lessees to recognize at the lease commencement date a lease liability, which is the lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis, and a right-of-use assets, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a performance target that affects vesting and that couldspecified asset for the lease term. Lessees will no longer be achieved after the requisite service period be treated asprovided with a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair valuesource of the award. This update further clarifies that compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which the requisite service has already been rendered.off-balance sheet financing. This update is effective for annual reportingfiscal periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2015, which for us2018 (which is January 1, 2016; early2019 for us), including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Entities mayLessees and lessors must apply the amendments in this update either (a) prospectively to all awards granteda modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or modifiedentered into after, the effective date or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annualcomparative period presented in the financial statements and to all new orstatements. The modified awards thereafter.retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Applying a full retrospective transition approach is not allowed. We do not anticipate that the adoption of this updateASU will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This update outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This new guidanceIn August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09 is now effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (which is January 1, 2018 for us), including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted only as of annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2016, which for us is January 1, 2017; early adoption is not permitted.including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified approach to adopting the guidance. We havewill apply the full-retrospective transition method when adopting this guidance. We do not yet selected a transition approach and we are currently assessing the impact on our consolidated financial statements fromanticipate that the adoption of this new accounting guidance.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08,Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360). This update provides guidance on recognizing and disclosing discontinued operations. The update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2014, which for us was January 1, 2015. Adopting this update did notwill have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 7A.ITEM7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Under SEC rules and regulations, as a smaller reporting company we are not required to provide the information otherwise required by this item.

 

ITEM 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

See “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule” on page F-1 for a listing of the Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule filed with this report.

 

ITEM 9.Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

None

 

ITEM 9A.Controls and Procedures

ITEM 9A.      Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined under Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed, in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

 

In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, we recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and we were required to apply our judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. We have carried out an evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this report under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures.

 

Based on our evaluation and subject to the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that there were no material weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures and that such disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report in providing reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and therefore there were no corrective actions taken.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Overover Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014.2016. According to the guidelines established byInternal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, one or more material weaknesses renders a company’s internal control over financial reporting ineffective. Based on this evaluation, we have concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2014.2016.

 

Changes in Internal Control Overover Financial Reporting

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

ITEM 9B.Other Information

 

Not Applicable.

PART III

 

ITEM 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

Information responsive torequired by this Itemitem will be includedset forth under the headings “PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS,” “BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE,” “EXECUTIVE OFFICERS,” and “SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE” in our definitive proxy statement relating to our 20152017 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”), which we expect to be filed by us with the SEC no later than 120 days after the closeend of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 (the “Proxy Statement”)2016, and is incorporated hereinin this report by reference.

 

ITEM 11.Executive Compensation

Information responsive toThe information required by this Itemitem will be includedset forth under the heading "EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION" in the Definitive Proxy Statement and is incorporated hereinin this report by reference.

 

ITEM 12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Information responsive toThe information required by this Itemitem will be includedset forth under the headings “SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT” and “EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION” in the Definitive Proxy Statement and is incorporated hereinin this report by reference.

 

ITEM 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions,and Director Independence

 

Information concerning certain relationships and related transactionsThe information required by this item will be includedset forth under the headings “PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS,” “BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE” and “CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS” in the Definitive Proxy Statement under the captions entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Company Policy Regarding Related Party Transactions” and is incorporated herein by reference. Information concerning director independence will be included in the Proxy Statement under the heading “Election of Directors” and is incorporated hereinthis report by reference.

 

ITEM 14.Principal Accounting Fees and Services

Information responsive toThe information required by this Itemitem will be includedset forth under the headings “PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FIRM FEES” in the Definitive Proxy Statement and is incorporated hereinin this report by reference.

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.Exhibits, Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules

(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report:

 

Consolidated Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries are set forth in the “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements” on page F-1.

 

Financial Statement Schedules.None

Exhibits.The following exhibits are filed or furnished as a partinformation required by Section (a)(3) of Item 15 is set forth on the exhibit index that follows the signatures pages of this report:

INDEX TO EXHIBITSreport.

 

ExhibitITEM 16.DescriptionIncorporation By Reference
3.1Restated Certificate of IncorporationPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
3.3Bylaws of the Company, as amendedPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-K filed on March 26, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.1Specimen Common Stock CertificatePreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s registration statement on Form 8-A, File No. 0-19383, and incorporated by reference.
4.2Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued on May 11, 2009 by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and Instant Access Media, LLCPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference.
4.3Form of warrant issued on November 12, 2013Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.1(a)*2004 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as Appendix A to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed by the registrant on September 3, 2004 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.1(b)*Form of Executive Employee Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the 2004 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.1(c)*Form of Non-Executive Employee Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the 2004 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.1(d)*Form of Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2004 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.1(e)*Form of Initial Director Stock Option Agreement under the 2004 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.1(f)*Form of Annual Director Stock Option Agreement under the 2004 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference.Summary

None.

ExhibitDescriptionIncorporation By Reference
10.1(g)*Form of Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2004 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on March 24, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.2(a)*2010 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed by the registrant on April 29, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.2(b)*Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the 2010 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on May 14, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.2(c)*Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under the 2010 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on May 14, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.2(d)*Form of Stock Unit Agreement under the 2010 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.2(e)*Form of Restricted Stock Grant Agreement under the 2010 Performance Incentive PlanPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-K filed on March 29, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.3(a)Office Lease, dated February 24, 2011, by and between Beckman/Carlsbad I, LLC and the Company Filed herewith.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-K filed on March 25, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.3(b)Confirmation of Lease Term, dated June 24, 2011, by and between Beckman/Carlsbad I, LLC and the CompanyPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on August 12, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.4Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 2009 by and between the Company and Instant Access Media, LLC et al.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2009 and incorporated by reference.
10.5(a)*Consulting Agreement, dated July 2, 2012, between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and JABAM, Inc.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.5(b)*First Amendment to Consulting Agreement, dated July 2, 2012, between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and JABAM, Inc.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-K filed on March 29, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.5(c)*Second Amendment to Consulting Agreement, dated January 11, 2013, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and JABAM, Inc.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on May 13, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.5(d)*Third Amendment to Consulting Agreement, dated July 1, 2013, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and JABAM, Inc.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.5(e)*Fourth Amendment to Consulting Agreement, dated September 27, 2013, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and JABAM, Inc.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on November 14, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.28

ExhibitDescriptionIncorporation By Reference
10.5(f)*Fifth Amendment to Consulting Agreement, dated December 19, 2013, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and JABAM, Inc.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.5(g)*Sixth Amendment to Consulting Agreement, dated March 31, 2014, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and JABAM, Inc.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on May 15, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.5(h)*Seventh Amendment to Consulting Agreement, dated August 12, 2014, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and JABAM, Inc.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.6*Employment offer letter, dated January 10, 2014, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and Robert Cooney.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on May 15, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.7(a)*2014 Incentive Bonus Plan for Robert Cooney, Chief Operating Officer.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on May 15, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.7(b)*2014 Amended and Restated Incentive Bonus Plan Chief Operating Officer.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 8-K filed on June 10, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.8*Employment offer letter, dated May 6, 2014, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and William Thomas.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.9*Employment Agreement, dated August 21, 2014, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and Ram Krishnan.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.10*Transition Agreement, dated September 5, 2014, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and Kendra Berger.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.11*Separation Agreement and General Release, dated October 6, 2014, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and Kirk Nagamine.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.12*NTN Buzztime, Inc. 2014 Inducement Plan.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.13*Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under the NTN Buzztime, Inc. 2014 Inducement Plan.  Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.14*Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement.Previously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.15*Employment offer letter, dated December 16, 2014, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and Allen Wolff.Filed herewith.
10.16Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 12, 2013, by and among the registrant and the purchasers identified thereinPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.

ExhibitDescriptionIncorporation By Reference
10.17Registration Rights agreement dated November 12, 2013, by and among the registrant and the purchasers identified thereinPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference.
10.18*NTN Buzztime, Inc. 2014 Incentive Bonus Plan Chief Development OfficerPreviously filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s report on Form 8-K filed on January 6, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference.
21.1Subsidiaries of RegistrantFiled herewith.
23.1Consent of Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLPFiled herewith.
24.1Power of attorneyIncluded on the signatures page of this report.
31.1Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002Filed herewith.
31.2Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002Filed herewith.
32.1#Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002Furnished herewith.
32.2#Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002Furnished herewith.
101.INSXBRL Instance Document
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PREXBRL Presentation Linkbase Document 

 

*Management Contract or Compensatory Plan
#This certification is being furnished solely to accompany this report pursuant to U.S.C. § 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated herein by reference into any filing of the Company whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: March 27, 20159, 2017

 NTN BUZZTIME, INC.
   
 By:/s/Allen Wolff
  

Allen Wolff

Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President

(As Principal Financial Officer)

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ram Krishnan and Allen Wolff, and each of them acting individually, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power to act alone, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this annual report on Form 10-K, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their substitute or resubstitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

     

/s/Ram Krishnan

Ram Krishnan

 Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) March 27, 20159, 2017
     

/s/Allen Wolff

Allen Wolff

 Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President (Principal Financial Officer) March 27, 20159, 2017
     

/s/Sandra Gurrola

Sandra Gurrola

 Vice President of Finance (Principal Accounting Officer) March 27, 20159, 2017
     

/s/Jeff Berg

Jeff Berg

 Chairman of the Board of Directors March 27, 20159, 2017
     

/s/Mary Beth Lewis

Mary Beth Lewis

 Director March 27, 20159, 2017
     

/s/Steve Mitgang

Steve Mitgang

 Director March 27, 2015

/s/ Tony Uphoff

Tony Uphoff

DirectorMarch 27, 20159, 2017
     

/s/Paul YanoverTony Uphoff

Paul YanoverTony Uphoff

 Director March 27,9, 2017

/s/Paul Yanover

Paul Yanover

DirectorMarch 9, 2017

EXHIBIT INDEX

ExhibitDescriptionFiled or Furnished
Herewith
Incorporated By Reference From the Document Indicated Previously Filed by the Registrant
3.1Restated Certificate of IncorporationExhibit to Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2013
3.2Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of IncorporationExhibit to Form 8-K filed on June 17, 2016
3.3Bylaws of the Company, as amendedExhibit to Form 10-K filed on March 26, 2008
4.1Form of Certificate of Common Stock of NTN Buzztime, Inc.Exhibit to Form 8-K filed on June 17, 2016
4.2Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued on May 11, 2009 by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and Instant Access Media, LLCExhibit to Form 10-K filed on March 31, 2010
4.3Form of warrant issued on November 12, 2013Exhibit to Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2013
10.1(a)*Amended 2010 Performance Incentive PlanExhibit to Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 24, 2015
     
10.1(b)*Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the Amended 2010 Performance Incentive PlanExhibit to Form 10-Q filed on May 14, 2010
10.1(c)*Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under the Amended 2010 Performance Incentive PlanExhibit to Form 10-Q filed on May 14, 2010
10.1(d)*Form of Stock Unit Agreement under the Amended 2010 Performance Incentive PlanExhibit to Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2012
10.1(e)*Form of Restricted Stock Grant Agreement under the Amended 2010 Performance Incentive PlanExhibit to Form 10-K filed on March 29, 2013
10.2(a)Office Lease, dated February 24, 2011, by and between Beckman/Carlsbad I, LLC and the Company Filed herewith.Exhibit to Form 10-K filed on March 25, 2011
10.2(b)Confirmation of Lease Term, dated June 24, 2011, by and between Beckman/Carlsbad I, LLC and the CompanyExhibit to Form 10-Q filed on August 12, 2011
10.3Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 2009 by and between the Company and Instant Access Media, LLC et al.Exhibit to Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2009
10.4*Employment Agreement, dated August 21, 2014, by and between the registrant and Ram KrishnanExhibit to Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2014
10.5(a)*NTN Buzztime, Inc. 2014 Inducement Plan.Exhibit to Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2014
10.5(b)*Form of Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement under the NTN Buzztime, Inc. 2014 Inducement Plan.Exhibit to Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2014
10.6*Employment offer letter, dated May 2, 2016, by and between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and David Miller.Exhibit to Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2016
10.7*NTN Buzztime, Inc. Executive Incentive Plan for Eligible Employees of NTN Buzztime, Inc. Fiscal Year 2016.Exhibit to Form 10-Q filed on November 9, 2016
10.8Form of Director and Officer Indemnification AgreementExhibit to Form 10-Q filed on November 7, 2014
10.9Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 12, 2013, by and among the registrant and the purchasers identified thereinExhibit to Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2013
10.10Registration Rights agreement dated November 12, 2013, by and among the registrant and the purchasers identified thereinExhibit to Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2013
Exhibit Index-1

10.11(a)Loan and Security Agreement by and between East West Bank and the registrant dated April 14, 2015Exhibit to Form 8-K filed on April 16, 2015
10.11(b)First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement and Waiver by and between East West Bank and the registrant dated March 10, 2016.Exhibit to Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2016
10.11(c)Second Amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement by and between East West Bank and NTN Buzztime, Inc. dated December 30, 2016.Exhibit to Form 8-K filed on January 4, 2017
10.11(d)Third Amendment to the Loan and Security Agreement by and between East West Bank and NTN Buzztime, Inc. dated February 28, 2017.Exhibit to Form 8-K filed on March 3, 2017
10.12Subscription Agreement between NTN Buzztime, Inc. and the purchaser parties thereto.Exhibit to Form 8-K filed on November 1, 2016
21.1Subsidiaries of RegistrantX
23.1Consent of Squar Milner, LLPX
24.1Power of attorney (included on the signatures page of this report)X
31.1Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002X
31.2Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002X
32.1#Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002X
32.2#Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002X
101.INSXBRL Instance DocumentX
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema DocumentX
101.CALXBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase DocumentX
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase DocumentX
101.LABXBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase DocumentX

 

*Management Contract or Compensatory Plan
#Furnished herewith. This certification is being furnished solely to accompany this report pursuant to U.S.C. § 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated herein by reference into any filing of the Company whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

Exhibit Index-2

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

(Formerly NTN Communications, Inc. and Subsidiaries)

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

Page

Reports
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting FirmsFirmF-2
  
Consolidated Financial Statements: 
  
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20142016 and 20132015F-3
  
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 20132015F-4
  
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 20132015F-5
  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 20132015F-6
  
Notes to the Consolidated Financial StatementsF-7

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

NTN Buzztime, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Carlsbad, California

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets ofNTN Buzztime, Inc. and Subsidiaries (“the Company”) as of December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, and the related consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements,statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position ofNTN Buzztime, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principlesU.S. generally accepted in the United States of America.accounting principles.

 

/s/ Squar, Milner, Peterson, Miranda & Williamson, LLP

/s/ SQUAR MILNER LLP

 

Newport Beach, CA

March 27, 20159, 2017

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except par value amount)

 

 December 31,  December 31, 
 2014  2013  2016  2015 
ASSETS             
Current Assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents $7,185  $5,455  $5,686  $3,223 
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $214 and $184, respectively  2,190   641 
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $376 and $266, respectively  928   919 
Site equipment to be installed  4,755   1,069   2,998   3,990 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  742   753   1,050   978 
Total current assets  14,872   7,918   10,662   9,110 
Fixed assets, net (Note 3)  3,400   3,237   3,101   3,915 
Software development costs, net of accumulated amortization of $3,110 and $2,371, respectively  1,634   2,317 
Software development costs, net of accumulated amortization of $2,641 and $2,381, respectively  970   943 
Deferred costs  1,092   562   904   1,328 
Goodwill (Note 4)  1,084   1,179   937   909 
Intangible assets, net (Note 4)  129   160   29   79 
Other assets  57   84   92   124 
Total assets $22,268  $15,457  $16,695  $16,408 
                
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                
Current Liabilities:                
Accounts payable $617  $553  $247  $211 
Accrued compensation (Note 6)  749   647   1,060   1,024 
Accrued expenses  969   660   697   670 
Sales taxes payable  133   181   142   192 
Income taxes payable  104   81   4   22 
Notes payable - current portion (Note 11)  2,176   631 
Obligations under capital lease - current portion (Note 11)  28   25 
Deferred revenue  1,836   593 
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 11)  2,988   1,072 
Current portion of obligations under capital leases (Note 12)  155   78 
Current portion of deferred revenue  1,059   1,214 
Other current liabilities  481   237   291   639 
Total current liabilities  7,093   3,608   6,643   5,122 
Notes payable, excluding current portion  3,143   962 
Obligations under capital leases, excluding current portion  30   58 
Deferred revenue, excluding current portion  378   798 
Long-term debt (Note 11)  5,123   6,366 
Long-term obligations under capital leases (Note 12)  259   138 
Long-term deferred revenue  219   393 
Deferred rent  693   829   371   541 
Other liabilities  7      12   - 
Total liabilities  11,344   6,255   12,627   12,560 
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 11 and 12)        
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 12 and 13)        
                
Shareholders' Equity:                
Series A 10% cumulative convertible preferred stock, $.005 par value, $156 liquidation preference, 5,000 shares authorized; 156 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013.  1   1 
Common stock, $.005 par value, 168,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013; 92,370 and 78,649 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.  462   393 
Treasury stock, at cost, 503 shares at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively  (456)  (456)
Series A 10% cumulative convertible preferred stock, $.005 par value, $156 liquidation preference, 5,000 shares authorized; 156 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015  1   1 
Common stock, $.005 par value, 168,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2016 and 2015; 2,261 and 1,849 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively (Note 9)  11   9 
Treasury stock, at cost, 10 shares at December 31, 2016 and 2015  (456)  (456)
Additional paid-in capital  128,283   121,432   132,315   129,209 
Accumulated deficit  (117,845)  (112,799)  (128,026)  (125,087)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 13)  479   631 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 14)  223   172 
Total shareholders' equity  10,924   9,202   4,068   3,848 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $22,268  $15,457  $16,695  $16,408 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

  Years Ended December 31, 
  2016  2015 
       
Revenues        
Subscription revenue $17,463  $17,062 
Sales-type lease revenue  1,266   4,202 
Other revenue  3,583   3,255 
Total revenue  22,312   24,519 
Operating expenses:        
Direct operating costs (includes depreciation and amortization of $2,465 and $2,615, respectively)  7,710   12,570 
Selling, general and administrative  16,458   18,060 
Impairment of capitalized software  -   295 
Depreciation and amortization (excluding depreciation and amortization included in direct operating costs)  422   489 
Total operating expenses  24,590   31,414 
Operating loss  (2,278)  (6,895)
Other (expense) income:        
Interest income  -   3 
Interest expense  (576)  (484)
Other (expense) income  (31)  162 
Total other expense, net  (607)  (319)
Loss before income taxes  (2,885)  (7,214)
Provision for income taxes  (38)  (12)
Net loss $(2,923) $(7,226)
         
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted $(1.54) $(3.93)
         
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted  1,903   1,838 
         
Comprehensive loss        
Net loss $(2,923) $(7,226)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (Note 14)  51   (307)
Total comprehensive loss $(2,872) $(7,533)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015

(in thousands)

  Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock  Common Stock  Additional Paid-in  Treasury  Accumulated  Accumulated Other Comprehensive    
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Capital  Stock  Deficit  Income  Total 
                            
Balances at January 1, 2015  156  $1   1,847  $9  $128,736  $(456) $(117,845) $479  $10,924 
                                     
Foreign currency translation adjustment  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   (307)  (307)
Net loss  -   -   -   -   -   -   (7,226)  -   (7,226)
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options  -   -   1   -   -   -   -   -   - 
Issuance of common stock in lieu of payment to consultant  -   -   -   -   1   -   -   -   1 
Issuance of stock to Series A preferred stockholders in lieu of cash dividends  -   -   1   -   16   -   (16)  -   - 
Non-cash stock based compensation  -   -   -   -   456   -   -   -   456 
                                     
Balances at December 31, 2015  156  $1   1,849  $9  $129,209  $(456) $(125,087) $172  $3,848 
                                     
Foreign currency translation adjustment  -   -   -   -   -   -   -   51   51 
Net loss  -   -   -   -   -   -   (2,923)  -   (2,923)
Adjustment to common stock in connection with reverse/forward stock split  -   -   -   -   (3)  -   -   -   (3)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock related to registered direct offering  -   -   412   2   2,690   -   -   -   2,692 
Dividend paid to Series A preferred stockholders  -   -   -   -   -   -   (16)  -   (16)
Non-cash stock based compensation  -   -   -   -   419   -   -   -   419 
                                     
Balances at December 31, 2016  156  $1   2,261  $11  $132,315  $(456) $(128,026) $223  $4,068 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

  For the twelve months ended
December 31,
 
  2016  2015 
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:        
Net loss $(2,923) $(7,226)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provide by (used in) operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization  2,887   3,104 
Provision for doubtful accounts  74   12 
Excess and obsolete site equipment to be installed expense  63   797 
Transfer of fixed assets to sales-type lease  5   - 
Stock-based compensation  419   456 
Amortization of debit issuance costs  36   18 
Issuance of common stock to consultant in lieu of cash payment  -   1 
Impairment of capitalized software  -   295 
Loss from disposition of equipment and capitalized software  33   28 
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  (83)  1,250 
Site equipment to be installed  (217)  (1,394)
Prepaid expenses and other assets  121   (235)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  47   (372)
Income taxes payable  (19)  (72)
Deferred costs  425   (241)
Deferred revenue  (327)  (608)
Deferred rent  (170)  (152)
Other liabilities  (348)  159 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  23   (4,180)
Cash flows used in investing activities:        
Capital expenditures  (427)  (991)
Software development expenditures  (413)  (641)
Proceeds from the sales of equipment and other assets  -   9 
Net cash used in investing activities  (840)  (1,623)
Cash flows provided by financing activities:        
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock related to registered direct offering  2,692   - 
Proceeds from long-term debt  2,502   6,737 
Payments on long-term debt  (1,829)  (4,618)
Debt issuance costs on long-term debt  (9)  (81)
Principal payments on capital lease  (81)  (58)
Adjustments to common stock in connection with reverse/forward stock split  (3)  - 
Dividends paid to Series A preferred shareholders  (16)  - 
Net cash provided by financing activities  3,256   1,980 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents  2,439   (3,823)
Effect of exchange rate on cash  24   (139)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year  3,223   7,185 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $5,686  $3,223 
         
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:        
Cash paid during the period for:        
Interest $492  $330 
Income taxes $47  $69 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:        
Site equipment transferred to fixed assets $1,220  $1,354 
Site equipment transferred to other current assets $176  $- 
Equipment acquired under capital lease $279  $215 
Issuance of common stock in lieu of payment of dividends $-  $16 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

 

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

  Years Ended December 31, 
  2014  2013 
       
Revenues        
Subscription revenue $18,003  $19,807 
Sales-type lease revenue  5,315   1,724 
Other revenue  2,728   2,218 
Total Revenue  26,046   23,749 
Operating expenses:        
Direct operating costs (includes depreciation and amortization of $2,139 and $2,116, respectively)  11,148   7,686 
Selling, general and administrative  18,367   16,219 
Impairment of capitalized software  668   230 
Depreciation and amortization (excluding depreciation and amortization included in direct operating costs)  605   733 
Total operating expenses  30,788   24,868 
Operating loss  (4,742)  (1,119)
Other (expense) income:        
Interest income  8   3 
Interest expense  (223)  (26)
Other income  11   135 
Total other (expense) income, net  (204)  112 
Loss before income taxes  (4,946)  (1,007)
Provision for income taxes  (84)  (46)
Net loss $(5,030) $(1,053)
         
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted $(0.06) $(0.01)
         
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted  87,580   71,962 
         
Comprehensive loss        
Net loss $(5,030) $(1,053)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (Note 13)  (152)  (137)
Total comprehensive loss $(5,182) $(1,190)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

(in thousands)

  Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock  Common Stock  Additional Paid-in  Treasury  Accumulated  Accumulated Other Comprehensive    
  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount  Capital  Stock  Deficit  Income  Total 
Balances at January 1, 2013  156  $1   71,123  $355  $118,956  $(456) $(111,730) $768  $7,894 
                                     
Foreign currency translation adjustment                       (137)  (137)
Net loss                    (1,053)     (1,053)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock and warrants related to private placement        6,000   30   2,312            2,342 
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options        17      1            1 
Issuance of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units        326   2   (18)           (16)
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of warrants        798   4   (4)            
Issuance of common stock related to acquisition of Interactive Hospitality        250   1   (1)            
Issuance of common stock in lieu of payment to consultant        100   1   38            39 
Issuance of stock in lieu of dividends        35      16      (16)      
Non-cash stock based compensation              132            132 
                                     
Balances at December 31, 2013  156  $1   78,649  $393  $121,432  $(456) $(112,799) $631  $9,202 
                                     
Foreign currency translation adjustment                       (152)  (152)
Net loss                    (5,030)     (5,030)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock related to public offering        12,765   64   6,305            6,369 
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options        228   1   43            44 
Issuance of common stock upon vesting of restricted stock units        119   1   (34)           (33)
Issuance of common stock in lieu of payment to consultant        574   3   239            242 
Issuance of stock in lieu of dividends        35      16      (16)      
Non-cash stock based compensation              282            282 
                                     
Balances at December 31, 2014  156  $1   92,370  $462  $128,283  $(456) $(117,845) $479  $10,924 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements  

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

  For the years ended December 31, 
  2014  2013 
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities:        
Net loss $(5,030) $(1,053)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:        
Depreciation and amortization  2,745   2,849 
Provision for doubtful accounts  120   35 
Stock-based compensation  282   132 
Issuance of common stock to consultant in lieu of cash payment  242   39 
Impairment of capitalized software  668   230 
Loss from disposition of equipment and capitalized software  1   13 
Changes in assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable  (1,675)  (66)
Site equipment to be installed  (4,646)  (744)
Prepaid expenses and other assets  33   147 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities  692   (49)
Income taxes payable  30   7 
Deferred costs  (533)  37 
Deferred revenue  822   284 
Deferred rent  (136)  (120)
Net cash provided by operating activities  (6,385)  1,741 
Cash flows used in investing activities:        
Capital expenditures  (835)  (1,109)
Software development expenditures  (916)  (1,588)
Acquisition of software  (150)   
Net cash used in investing activities  (1,901)  (2,697)
Cash flows provided by financing activities:        
Principal payments on capital lease  (25)  (100)
Proceeds from notes payable  6,049   1,607 
Payments on notes payable  (2,323)  (84)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options  44   1 
Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net  6,369    
Proceeds from private placement of common stock, net     2,342 
Tax withholding related to net-share settlements of restricted stock units  (33)  (16)
Net cash provided by financing activities  10,081   3,750 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents  1,795   2,794 
Effect of exchange rate on cash  (65)  (60)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year  5,455   2,721 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $7,185  $5,455 
         
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:        
Cash paid during the period for:        
Interest $222  $26 
Income taxes $35  $26 
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:        
Site equipment transferred to fixed assets $959  $248 
Equipment acquired under capital lease $  $23 
Issuance of common stock in lieu of payment of dividends $16  $16 
Issuance of common stock in connection with net-share exercise of stock options and warrants $  $4 
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition $  $1 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

NTN BUZZTIME, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the Years Ended December 31, 20142016 and 20132015

 

1.Organization of Company

Description of Business

 

NTN Buzztime, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware in 1984 as Alroy Industries and changed its corporate name to NTN Communications, Inc. in 1985. The Company changed its name to NTN Buzztime, Inc. in 2005 to better reflect the growing role of the Buzztime consumer brand.

 

The Company provides andelivers interactive entertainment and marketing servicesinnovative dining technology to bars and restaurants in North America. Customers license the Company’s customizable solution to differentiate themselves via competitive fun by offering guests trivia, card, sports and single player games, nationwide competitions, and by offering self-service dining features including dynamic menus, touchscreen ordering and secure payment. The Company’s platform for hospitalitycan improve operating efficiencies, create connections among the players and venues that offers games, events, and entertainment experiences to their patrons. Theamplify guests’ positive experiences. Built on an extended network platform, the Company’s interactive entertainment network helpssystem has historically allowed multiple players to interact at the venue, and now also enables competition between venues, referred to as massively multiplayer gaming. The Company’s current platform, which it refers to as Buzztime Entertainment On Demand, or BEOND, was first introduced as a pilot program in December 2012, was expanded commercially during 2013, and the expansion was scaled during 2014. The Company continues to enhance its network subscribers to acquire, engagearchitecture and retain their patrons.the BEOND tablet platform and player engagement paradigms. The Company also continues to support its legacy network product line, which it refers to as Classic.

The Company currently generates revenuesrevenue by charging subscription fees for its service to its network subscribers, by leasing equipment (including tablets used in its BEOND tablet platform and the cases and charging trays for the tablets) to certain network subscribers, by hosting live trivia events, and by selling advertising aired on in-venue screens and as part of customized games and directly from consumers who pay to play or use the premium productsgames. In 2014, the Company began offering viapay-to-play single player games to certain customers. During the second quarter of 2015, the Company made a strategic change in its BEOND platform in 2014. These premium products currently includecontent model by making single player games available on both a free-to-consumer (in exchange for an arcadeincreased subscription fee) and pay-to-play basis. This change required the Company to delay the general availability of pay-to-play games as it retooled its content, workflow and positioning. As a digital music jukebox. Currently, approximately 3,000result, during 2015, the Company generated additional subscription fee revenue from those venues offering free-to-consumer single player games. The Company began rolling out the new pay-to-play single player games during the second quarter of 2016.

At December 31, 2016, 2,814 venues in the U.S. and Canada subscribesubscribed to the Company’s interactive entertainment network, of which approximately 37% are71% were using ourthe BEOND tablet platform.

 

Basis of Accounting Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of NTN Buzztime, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: IWN, Inc., IWN, L.P., Buzztime Entertainment, Inc., NTN Wireless Communications, Inc., NTN Software Solutions, Inc., NTN Canada, Inc., and NTN Buzztime, Ltd., all of which, other than NTN Canada, Inc., are dormant subsidiaries. Unless otherwise indicated, references to the Company include its consolidated subsidiaries.

Reclassifications

The Company reclassified the consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive loss, and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the period ended December 31, 2013 to conform to the 2014 presentation. Reclassifications had no impact on net loss or cash flows.

 

2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

Consolidation—The Company’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of Estimates—Preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements requires it to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to deferred costs and revenues; depreciation of broadcast equipment;fixed assets; allowance for doubtful accounts; site equipment to be installed; stock-based compensation assumptions; impairment of fixed assets, software development costs, intangible assets and goodwill, and broadcast equipment;goodwill; contingencies, including the reserve for sales tax inquiries; and the provision for income taxes, including the valuation allowance; and purchase price allocations related to acquisitions.allowance. The Company bases its estimates on a combination of historical experience and various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about significant carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents—Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 230,Statement of Cash Flows, defines “cash and cash equivalents” as any short-term, highly liquid investment that is both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. For the purpose of financial statement presentation, the Company has applied the provisions of ASC No. 230, as it considers all highly liquid investment instruments with original maturities of three months or less, or any investment redeemable without penalty or loss of interest, to be cash equivalents.

Capital Resources In April 2015, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement with East West Bank, or EWB, which was amended in March 2016, December 2016 and February 2017. The Company refers to the loan and security agreement as amended in March 2016, December 2016 and February 2017 as the EWB credit facility. Under the EWB credit facility, through June 15, 2017, the Company may request advances in an aggregate outstanding amount at any time up to the lesser of (a) $7,500,000, which the Company refers to as the revolving line, or (b) the sum of $2,000,000 (which the Company refers to as the “sublimit”) plus the amount equal to its borrowing base, in each case, less the aggregate outstanding principal amount of prior advances. On June 15, 2017, the sublimit becomes zero. If the aggregate amount of advances as of June 15, 2017 exceeds the lesser of the revolving line or the amount equal to our borrowing base, then the Company must pay EWB the amount of such excess. So long as there is no event of default, the Company may make a one-time request to increase the revolving line by up to $2,500,000, which EWB may accept or decline. All advances on the revolving line are due on January 15, 2018. The Company uses the proceeds available under this credit facility to fund strategic growth initiatives and for general working capital purposes. As of December 31, 2016, the Company borrowed $6,500,000 under this credit facility and approximately $97,000 is available. As discussed below, the Company used approximately $3,381,000 of the proceeds to pay down existing indebtedness and to pay related prepayment fees. The Company will continue use the proceeds available under this credit facility to fund strategic growth initiatives and for general working capital purposes.

The Company has a credit facilityfinancing arrangement with a lender under which the Company may borrow uprequest funds to $9,853,000 forfinance the purchase of certain capital equipment. The lender determines whether to extend such funds on a case-by-case basis, taking into account such factors as the lender considers relevant, including the amount outstanding under this financing arrangement. Through 2014,December 31, 2016, the Company borrowed approximately $7,652,000,$9,690,000, which is recorded in short-term and long-term notes payabledebt on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2014, $5,319,0002016, $1,611,000 remained outstanding. The Company currently does not expect the lender to lend any additional funds under this financing arrangement.

In connection with preparing the financial statement as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company evaluated whether there are conditions and events, considered in the aggregate, that are known and reasonably knowable that would raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued. As a result of such evaluation, the Company believes existingit will have sufficient cash and cash equivalents and the remaining availability on its credit facility will be sufficient to meet its operating cash requirements and to fulfill its debt obligations for at least the next twelve months.months from the issuance date of these financial statements. In order to increase the likelihood that the Company will be able to successfully execute its operating and strategic plan and to position the Company to better take advantage of market opportunities for growth, the Company is continuing to evaluate additional financing alternatives, including additional equity financings and alternative sources of debt. If net cash provided by operating activities and itsthe Company’s cash and cash equivalents on hand are not sufficient to meet future cash requirements, the Company may be required to reduce planned capital expenses, reduce operational cash uses sell assets or seek financing.raise capital on terms that are not as favorable to the Company as they otherwise might be. Any actions the Company may undertake to reduce planned capital purchases or reduce expenses or generate proceeds from the sale of assets may be insufficient to cover shortfalls in available funds. If the Company requires additional capital, it may be unable to secure additional financing on terms that are acceptable to the Company, or at all.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from nonpayment by its customers. The Company reserves for all accounts that have been suspended or terminated from its Buzztime network services and for customers with balances that are greater than a predetermined number of days past due. The Company analyzes historical collection trends, customer concentrations and creditworthiness, economic trends and anticipated changes in customer payment patterns when evaluating the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts for specific and general risks. Additional reserves may also be established if specific customers’ balances are identified as potentially uncollectible. If the financial condition of its customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

 

Site Equipment to be Installed –Site equipment to be installed consist of finished goods related to the Company’s BEOND product platform and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined by the first-in, first-out method. Rapid technological change or new product development could result in an increase in the quantity of obsolete site equipment to be installed on hand, and the Company could recognize losses from disposal of excess or obsolete site equipment to be installed. Additionally, the Company’s carrying costs of its site equipment to be installed are dependent on accurate estimates of customer demand for its products. A significant increase in the demand for the Company’s products could result in a short-term increase in the cost of site equipment purchases, while a significant decrease in demand could result in an increase in the amount of excess site equipment quantities on hand. As a result, although the Company attempts to maximize the accuracy of its forecasts of future product demand, any significant unanticipated changes in demand or technological developments could have a significant impact on the value of the Company’s site equipment to be installed and its reported operating results.

The BEOND tablet platform equipment remains in site equipment to be installed until it is installed in customer sites. For BEOND tablet platform customers that are under sales-type lease arrangements, the cost of the equipment is recognized in direct costs upon installation. For all other BEOND tablet platform customers, the cost of the equipment is reclassified to fixed assets upon installation and depreciated over its useful life.

Fixed Assets—Fixed assets are recorded at cost. Equipment under capital leases is recorded at the present value of future minimum lease payments. Depreciation of fixed assets is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation of leasehold improvements and fixed assets under capital leases is computed using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease period.

 

The Company incurs a relatively significant level of depreciation expense in relation to its operating income. The amount of depreciation expense in any fiscal year is largely related to the estimated life of handheld wirelessequipment located at the Company’s customers’ sites that are not under sales-type lease arrangements. Such equipment includes the Classic Playmaker, devices andBEOND tablet, other associated electronics and the computers located at its network subscribers’ sites.customer’s sites (collectively, “Site Equipment”). The Classic Playmakers are depreciated over a five-year life, the BEOND Playmakers are depreciated over a three-year life and the associated electronics and computerscomponents within Site Equipment are depreciated over two to four years. The depreciable life of these assets was determinedfive years based on the shorter of the contractual capital lease period or theirthe estimated useful life, which considers anticipated technology changes. If the Playmakers and associated electronics and the computers turnCompany’s Site Equipment turns out to have longer lives, on average, than estimated, then its depreciation expense would be significantly reduced in those future periods. Conversely, if the Playmakers and associated electronics and the computers turnSite Equipment turns out to have shorter lives, on average, than estimated, then its depreciation expense would be significantly increased in those future periods.

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets—Goodwill represents the excess of costs over fair value of assets of businesses acquired. Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase combination determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead are assessed quarterly for impairment based on qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the goodwill is less than its carrying amount. Such qualitative factors include macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance and other relevant events. If after assessing the totality of events or circumstances the Company determines it is not more likely than not that the goodwill is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test outlined in ASC No. 350 is unnecessary. During the year ended December 31, 2014,2016, the Company performed the annual assessment of its goodwill related to NTN Canada, Inc., and determined that there were no indications of impairment.

 

ASC No. 350 also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with ASC No. 360,Property, Plant and Equipment.In accordance with ASC No. 360, the Company assesses potential impairments of its long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset’s carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss would be recognized when the carrying amount of a long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount of a long-lived asset or asset group is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset or asset group.Thegroup. The Company performed its annual review as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 of its other intangible assets as of December 31, 2014 and determined that certain fully amortized acquired intangible assets no longer had an economic benefit to the Company and therefore, it disposed of these assets as of December 31, 2014. (See Note 4 to the accompanying consolidated financial statements). Therethere were no indications of impairment for the year ended December 31, 2013.either of those periods.

 

Assessments of Functional Currencies—The United States dollar is the Company’s functional currency, except for its operations in Canada where the functional currency is the Canadian dollar. The financial position and results of operations of the Canadian subsidiary is measured using the foreign subsidiary’s local currency as the functional currency. In accordance with ASC No. 830,Foreign Currency Matters, revenues and expenses of its foreign subsidiary have been translated into U.S. dollars at weighted average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Assets and liabilities have been translated at the rates of exchange on the balance sheet date. The resulting translation gain and loss adjustments are recorded as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, unless there is a sale or complete liquidation of the underlying foreign investments. Transaction gains and losses that arise from exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are included in the results of operations as incurred. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded $47,000 and $24,000 of foreign currency transaction gains, respectively, due to settlements of intercompany transactions, re-measurement of intercompany balances with its Canadian subsidiary and other non-functional currency denominated transactions, which are included in other income in the accompanying statements of operations. Fluctuations in the rate of exchange between the U.S. dollar and Canadian dollar may affect the Company’s results of operations and period-to-period comparisons of its operating results. The Company does not currently engage in hedging or similar transactions to reduce these risks. For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, the net impact to the Company’s results of operations from the effect of exchange rate fluctuations was immaterial.

Revenue Recognition—The Company recognizes revenue from recurring subscription fees for its service earned from its network subscribers, from leasing equipment (including tablets used in its BEOND tablet platform and the cases and charging trays for the tablets) to certain network subscribers, from hosting live trivia events, from selling advertising aired on in-venue screens and as part of customized games from distribution and licensing fees from its Buzztime-branded content delivered primarily through its interactive consumer platforms and directly from consumers who pay to play or use the premium productscontent the Company began offering via its BEOND tablet platform in 2014. To the extent any of the foregoing contain multiple deliverables, the Company evaluates the criteria in ASC No. 605,Revenue Recognition, to determine whether such deliverables represent separate units of accounting. In order to be considered a separate unit of accounting, the delivered items in an arrangement must have stand-alone value to the customer and objective and reliable evidence of fair value must exist for any undelivered elements. The Company’s arrangements for the transmission of the Buzztime network contain two deliverables: the installation of its equipment and the transmission of its network content for which the Company receives monthly subscription fees. As the installation deliverable does not have stand-alone value to the customer, it does not represent a separate unit of accounting. Therefore, for the Company’s Classic product, all installation fees received are deferred and recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the customer relationship. Because deployment of the Company’s BEOND tablet platform is so new, itthe Company has not yet established an estimated life of a BEOND customer, and therefore, it is deferring and recognizing installation fees as revenue on a straight-line basis over the customer contract term. All installation fees not recognized in revenue have been recorded as deferred revenue in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

In addition, the direct expenses of the installation, commissions, setup and training are deferred and amortized on a straight-line basis and are classified as deferred costs on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. For these direct expenses that are associated with the Classic product, the amortization period approximates the estimated life of the customer relationship for deferred direct costs that are of an amount that is less than or equal to the deferred revenue for the related contract. For costs that exceed the deferred revenue, the amortization period is the initial term of the contract, in accordance with ASC No. 605, which is generally one year. For direct costs associated with the BEOND tablet platform, the amortization period approximates the life of the contract.

 

The Company evaluated its lease transactions in accordance with ASC No. 840,Leases, to determine classification of the leases against the following criteria:

 

·● The lease transfers ownership of the property to the lessee by the end of the lease term;
·There is a bargain purchase option;
·The lease term is equal to or greater than 75% of the economic life of the equipment; or
·The present value of the minimum payments is equal to or greater than 90% of the fair market value of the equipment at the inception of the lease.

Because the Company’s current leasing agreement meets at least one of the criteria above because collectability of the minimum lease payments is reasonably assured and because there are no important uncertainties surrounding the amount of reimbursable costs yet to be incurred under the lease, the Company classifies the lease as a sales-type lease, and it recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, product delivery has occurred or the services have been rendered, the price is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

 

The Company recognizes revenues from selling advertising, from hosting live trivia events and from consumers who pay to play the Company’s premium products, and from royalties related to the licensing of its Buzztime-branded content when all material services or conditions relating to the transaction have been performed or satisfied.

 

The Company has arrangements with certain third parties to share in revenue generated from some of its products and services. The Company evaluates recognition of the associated revenue in accordance with ASC No. 605-45,Revenue Recognition, Principal Agent Considerations.When indicators suggest that the Company is functioning as a principal, it records revenue gross and the corresponding amounts paid to third parties are recorded as direct expense. Conversely, when indicators suggest that the Company is functioning as an agent, it records revenue net of amounts paid to third parties.

 

Software Development Costs—The Company capitalizes costs related to developing certain software products in accordance with ASC No. 350. Amortization of costs related to interactive programs is recognized on a straight-line basis over the programs’ estimated useful lives, generally two to three years. Amortization expense relating to capitalized software development costs totaled $912,000$386,000 and $864,000$993,000 for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively. As of December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, approximately $495,000$642,000 and $934,000,$421,000, respectively, of capitalized software costs were not subject to amortization as the development of various software projects was not complete.

 

The Company performed its annual review of software development projects for the yearsyear ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013, anddetermined there were no indications of impairment for that period. During its annual review for the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company determined to abandon various software development projects that it concluded were no longer a current strategic fit or for which the Company determined that the marketability of the content had decreased due to obtaining additional information regarding the specific industry for which the content was intended. As a result, an impairment of $668,000 and $230,000$295,000 was recognized for the yearsyear ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively,2015, which is separately stated on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

 

Advertising Costs –Marketing-relatedThere were no marketing-related advertising costs are expensed as incurred and amounted to $3,000 and $9,000 for the either of the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.2016 or 2015.

 

Shipping and Handling Costs—Shipping and handling costs are included in direct operating costs in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and are expensed as incurred.

 

Stock-Based Compensation— The Company estimates the fair value of its stock options using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, consistent with the provisions of ASC No. 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation and ASC No. 505-50,Equity – Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees.. The fair value of stock options granted is recognized to expense over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense for share-based payment awards to employees is recognized using the straight-line single-option method. Stock-based compensation expense for share-based payment awards to non-employees is recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is periodically re-measured as the underlying awards vest. Stock-based compensation expense is reported as selling, general and administrative based upon the departments to which substantially all of the associated employees report.

 

Income Taxes—Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

ASC No. 740,Income Taxes, defines the threshold for recognizing the benefits of tax return positions in the financial statements as “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained by the taxing authority. A tax position that meets the “more-likely-than-not” criterion are measured at the largest amount of benefit that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company reviewed its tax positions and determined that an adjustment to the tax provision is not considered necessary nor is a reserve for income taxes required.

 

Earnings Per Share—Basic and diluted loss per common share have been computed by dividing the losses applicable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. The Company’s basic and fully diluted EPS calculation are the same since the increased number of shares that would be included in the diluted calculation from assumed exercise of common stock equivalents would be anti-dilutive to the net loss in each of the years shown in the consolidated financial statements.

Segment Reporting—In accordance with ASC No. 280,Segment Reporting, the Company has determined that it operates as one operating segment. Decisions regarding the Company’s overall operating performance and allocation of its resources are assessed on a consolidated basis.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2015,2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-01,(ASU) No 2017-04,Income Statement-ExtraordinaryIntangibles – Goodwill and Unusual ItemsOther (Topic 225).350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This update removes the requirement to perform step two of the quantitative two-step goodwill impairment test. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for an entity to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. This update is effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 (which is January 1, 2020 for the Company). Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this ASU updatedwill have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the accounting guidance related to extraordinaryFASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No 2016-18,Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. This update requires amounts generally described as restricted cash and unusual items by eliminatingrestricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the concepttotal beginning and ending amounts for the periods shown on the statement of extraordinary items. In addition, disclosure guidance for items that are unusual in nature or occur infrequently will be retained and will be expanded to include items that are both unusual in nature and infrequently occurring.cash flows. This update is effective for fiscal years andbeginning after December 15, 2018 (which is January 1, 2019 for the Company), including interim periods within those periods, using a retrospective transition method to each period presented. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-16,Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory. This update requires entities to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, which for the Company2017 (which is January 1, 2016.2018 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of a fiscal year. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition method, which is a cumulative-effective adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first effective reporting period. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15,Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This update is intended to add or clarify guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows and to eliminate the diversity in practice related to such classifications. This update is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (which is January 1, 2018 for the Company), with early adoption permitted. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this updateASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In August 2014,March 2016, the FASB issued ASUNo. 2014-15,ASU No. 2016-09,Presentation of Financial StatementsCompensationGoing Concern (Subtopic 205-40)Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s AbilityImprovements to Continue as a Going Concern.Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This update provides guidance about management’s responsibilityis intended to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continuesimplify various aspects of accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. Specifically,well as classification in the amendments (1) provide a definitionstatement of the term “substantial doubt,” (2) require an evaluation every reporting period, (3) provide principles for considering the mitigating effect of management’s plans, (4) require certain disclosures when substantial doubt is alleviated as a result of consideration of management’s plans, (5) require an express statement and other disclosures when substantial doubt is not alleviated, and (6) require an assessment for a period of one year after the date that financial statements are issued.cash flows. This update is effective for fiscal years endingperiods beginning after December 15, 2016 which(which is January 1, 2017 for the Company is December 31, 2016, and for annual periods and interim periods thereafter.Company), with early adoption permitted. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this updateASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2014,February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12,2016-02,Compensation – Stock CompensationLeases (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide that a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period.842). This update requires lessees to recognize at the lease commencement date a lease liability, which is the lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis, and a right-of-use assets, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a performance target that affects vesting and that couldspecified asset for the lease term. Lessees will no longer be achieved after the requisite service period be treated asprovided with a performance condition. As such, the performance target should not be reflected in estimating the grant date fair valuesource of the award. This update further clarifies that compensation cost should be recognized in the period in which it becomes probable that the performance target will be achieved and should represent the compensation cost attributable to the periods for which the requisite service has already been rendered.off-balance sheet financing. This update is effective for annual reportingfiscal periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2015, which for the Company2018 (which is January 1, 2016; early2019 for the Company), including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Entities mayLessees and lessors must apply the amendments in this update either (a) prospectively to all awards granteda modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or modifiedentered into after, the effective date or (b) retrospectively to all awards with performance targets that are outstanding as of the beginning of the earliest annualcomparative period presented in the financial statements and to all new orstatements. The modified awards thereafter.retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Applying a full retrospective transition approach is not allowed. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this updateASU will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This update outlines a new, single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. This new revenue recognition model provides a five-step analysis in determining when and how revenue is recognized. The new model will require revenue recognition to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration a company expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. This new guidanceIn August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09 is now effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017 (which is January 1, 2018 for the Company), including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted only as of annual reporting periods (including interim reporting periods within those periods) beginning after December 15, 2016, which for the Company is January 1, 2017; early adoption is not permitted.including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or a modified approach to adopting the guidance. The Company haswill apply the full-retrospective transition method when adopting this guidance. The Company does not yet selectedanticipate that the adoption of this ASU will have a transition approach and is currently assessing thematerial impact on its consolidated financial statements from the adoption of this new accounting guidance.

In April 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-08,Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360). This update provides guidance on recognizing and disclosing discontinued operations. The update is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2014, which for the Company is January 1, 2015. Adopting this update did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3.Fixed Assets

 

Fixed assets are recorded at cost and consist of the following at December 31, 20142016 and 2013:2015:

 

 December 31,  December 31, 
 2014  2013  2016  2015 
Broadcast equipment $19,831,000  $18,699,000  $10,671,000  $13,001,000 
Machinery and equipment  2,085,000   1,940,000   2,523,000   2,479,000 
Furniture and fixtures  192,000   185,000   271,000   265,000 
Leasehold improvements  610,000   610,000   610,000   610,000 
Other equipment  24,000   24,000   15,000   16,000 
  22,742,000   21,458,000   14,090,000   16,371,000 
                
Accumulated depreciation  (19,342,000)  (18,221,000)  (10,989,000)  (12,456,000)
Total $3,400,000  $3,237,000  $3,101,000  $3,915,000 

 

Depreciation expense totaled $1,652,000$2,451,000 and $1,567,000$2,061,000 for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively.

 

4.Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

 

The Company’s goodwill balance of $1,084,000$937,000 and $1,179,000$909,000 as of December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively, primarily relates to the purchase of NTN Canada.Canada, Inc. Fluctuations in the amount of goodwill shown on the accompanying balance sheets are due to changes in the foreign currency exchange rates used when translating NTN Canada, Inc.’s financial statement from Canadian dollars to US dollars during consolidation. The Company performed its annual assessment of goodwill impairment for NTN Canada as of December 31, 2014,2016 and it was determined that there were no indications of impairment.

 

The Company also has other intangible assets comprised predominantly of developed technology, trivia databases, trademarks, and acquired customer relationships. The Company performed its annual review of its other intangible assets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and determined that certain fully amortized acquired intangible assets no longer had an economic benefit to the Company and therefore disposed of these assets during the year ended December 31, 2014. Therethere were no indications of impairment for either of the yearyears ended December 31, 2013.on those dates.

 

The weighted average remaining useful life for all intangible assets is 2.60.6 years as of December 31, 2014.2016. Amortization expense relating to all intangible assets totaled $181,000 and $418,000$50,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013, respectively.2015.

 

As of December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, intangible assets with estimable lives were comprised of the following:

 

 December 31, 2014  December 31, 2013  December 31, 2016  December 31, 2015 
 Gross Carrying
Value
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net Book
Value
  Gross Carrying
Value
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net Book
Value
  Gross Carrying
Value
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net Book
Value
  Gross Carrying
Value
  Accumulated
Amortization
  Net Book
Value
 
Acquired technology $150,000  $(21,000) $129,000  $599,000  $(559,000) $40,000  $150,000  $(121,000) $29,000  $150,000  $(71,000) $79,000 
Acquired customer lists  435,000   (435,000)     545,000   (425,000)  120,000   435,000   (435,000)  -   435,000   (435,000)  - 
Trivia database  384,000   (384,000)     417,000   (417,000)     332,000   (332,000)  -   332,000   (332,000)  - 
Trademarks and trademark licenses  67,000   (67,000)     67,000   (67,000)     67,000   (67,000)  -   67,000   (67,000)  - 
Acquired subscription customers           874,000   (874,000)   
Acquired advertising customers           302,000   (302,000)   
                                                
Total $1,036,000  $(907,000) $129,000  $2,804,000  $(2,644,000) $160,000  $984,000  $(955,000) $29,000  $984,000  $(905,000) $79,000 

 

The estimated aggregate amortization expense relating to the Company’s intangible assets for the succeeding yearsyear ending December 31, 2017 is as follows:$29,000 and zero thereafter.

Year Ending Estimated Aggregate
Amortization Expense
 
2015 $50,000 
2016  50,000 
2017  29,000 
Total $129,000 

 

5.Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued liabilities, long-term debt and obligations under capital leases approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.

 

ASC No. 820,Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, applies to certain assets and liabilities that are being measured and reported on a fair value basis. Broadly, the ASC No. 820 framework requires fair value to be determined based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. ASC No. 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. This hierarchy is as follows:

 

Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis:

 

The Company does not have assets or liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

 

Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis:

Certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and are subject to fair value adjustments only in certain circumstances. Included in this category are goodwill written down to fair value when determined to be impaired, acquired assets and long-lived assets including capitalized software that are written down to fair value when they are held for sale or determined to be impaired. The valuation methods for goodwill, assets and liabilities resulting from acquisitions, and long-lived assets involve assumptions concerning interest and discount rates, growth projections, and/or other assumptions of future business conditions. As all of the assumptions employed to measure these assets and liabilities on a nonrecurring basis are based on management’s judgment using internal and external data, these fair value determinations are classified in Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.

 

There were no transfers between fair value measurement levels during the year ended December 31, 2014.2016.

 

6.Accrued Compensation

 

Accrued compensation consisted of the following at December 31, 20142016 and 2013:2015:

 

 December 31,  December 31, 
 2014  2013  2016  2015 
Accrued bonuses $487,000  $340,000 
Accrued vacation $490,000  $439,000   291,000   423,000 
Accrued salaries  227,000   137,000   264,000   243,000 
Accrued bonuses  19,000   45,000 
Accrued commissions  13,000   26,000   18,000   18,000 
Total accrued compensation $749,000  $647,000  $1,060,000  $1,024,000 

 

7.Concentrations of Risk

 

Credit Risk

At times, the Company’s cash balances held in financial institutions are in excess of federally insured limits. The Company performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of financial institutions and seeks to limit the amount of risk by selecting financial institutions with a strong credit standing. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk with respect to its cash and cash equivalents.

 

The Buzztime network provides services to group viewing locations, generally restaurants, sports bars and lounges throughout North America. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade receivables is limited due to the large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base, and their dispersion across many different geographic locations. The Company performs credit evaluations of new customers and generally requires no collateral. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts to provide for credit losses.

 

Significant Customer

For the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, the Company generated approximately $11,438,000$8,913,000 and $7,648,000,$10,889,000, respectively, of total revenue from a national chain, Buffalo Wild Wings together withcorporate-owned restaurants and its franchisees.franchisees, which represented approximately 40% and 44% of total revenue in each of those years, respectively. As of December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, approximately $1,558,000$261,000 and $259,000,$172,000, respectively, was included in accounts receivable from this customer. The Company received all of the $1,558,000 in February 2015.Buffalo Wild Wings corporate-owned restaurants and its franchisees.

 

Sole Equipment SuppliersSupplier

The tablet used in the Company’s BEOND product line is manufactured by one unaffiliated third party. The Company currently purchases the BEOND tablets, from an unaffiliated third party. The Company also currently purchases each piece of the tablet equipment (consisting of cases and charging trays for the tablet)used in its BEOND platform from a differentone unaffiliated third party with respect to each piece of equipment. The Company currently purchases its Classic playmakers from an unaffiliated manufacturer located in Taiwan pursuant to a supply agreement, the term of which automatically renews for one year periods unless the agreement is terminated in advance of the automatic renewal by either party.third-party manufacturer. The Company currently does not have an alternative manufacturer of the tabletfor its tablets or an alternative manufacturer or device tofor the tablet cases or alternative manufacturing sourcestablet charging trays. The Company no longer purchases playmakers for its tablet equipment or Classic playmakers. The Company does not currently expect to purchase additional Classic playmakers.platform.

 

As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013,2015 approximately $423,000 and $32,000, respectively, were$127,000 was included in accounts payable or accrued expenses for the tablet equipment suppliers.purchased from its sole supplier. There were no amounts outstanding in accounts payable or accrued expenses as of December 31, 2016 related to the sole supplier.

 

8.Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Common Share

 

Basic earnings per share excludes the dilutive effects of options, warrants and other convertible securities. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilutions of securities that could share in the Company’s earnings. Options, warrants and convertible preferred stock and restricted stock units representing approximately 13,978,000453,000 and 9,607,000424,000 shares (after taking into account the proportion adjustments as a result of the reverse/forward split described in Note 9) were excluded from the computations of diluted net loss per common share for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, respectively, as their effect was anti-dilutive.

9.Stockholders’ Equity

Registered Direct Offering

 

Public Offering

In April 2014,On November 1, 2016, the Company entered into an underwritinga subscription agreement with Roth Capital Partners, LLC, as representative of several underwriters,certain investors relating to the issuance and sale of 11,100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at a public offeringpurchase price of $0.55$6.64 per share.share, which was the closing price of its common stock on October 31, 2016. The offering closed on November 4, 2016. The Company sold 412,071 shares of its common stock and received net proceeds of approximately $2.7 million, after deducting estimated offering expenses.

 

The Company also grantedintends to use the underwriters a 30-day over-allotment option to purchase up to an additional 1,665,000 sharesnet proceeds of common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts, to cover over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering.for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures and implementation of its strategic priorities.

 

The terms of the offering closedwere approved by a committee of the Company’s board of directors comprised solely of independent directors, none of whom invested in April 2014the offering. The Company’s board of directors gave that committee the power and authority to direct the process and procedures related to the review and evaluation of possible offerings, including the authority to determine not to proceed with any particular offering, to review, evaluate and negotiate, or designate officers of the Company to review, evaluate and negotiate, the terms of one or more offerings, and to authorize and approve one or more offerings and its terms. The investors in the offering included certain existing stockholders and the underwriters exercised their over-allotment option in full. In the aggregate, the Company issued 12,765,000Company’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer and senior vice president marketing, Ram Krishnan, Allen Wolff and Dave Miller, respectively.

The shares of common stockwere offered and received gross proceeds of $7,020,750. The net proceedssold pursuant to the Company were approximately $6,369,000, after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses.

Private Placement

In November 2013, the Company completed a private placement of units (consisting of shares of common stock and warrants to purchase shares of common stock) to accredited investors. The purchase price of each unit was $0.40 for gross proceeds of $2,400,000. In the aggregate, the Company issued 6,000,000 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase 3,600,000 shares. The warrants have an exercise price of $0.40 per share and are exercisable beginningCompany’s effective shelf registration statement on the six-month anniversary of the issuance date and expire on the five-year anniversary of the issuance date.

Pursuant to the registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the private placement, the CompanyForm S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-193012) filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 to register for resaleon December 20, 2013 and declared effective by the investorsSEC on January 9, 2014, and the base prospectus included therein, as supplemented by a prospectus supplement filed with the SEC in connection with the takedown relating to the offering.

Reverse/Forward Split of Common Stock

At the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders held on June 3, 2016, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s restated certificate of incorporation to give effect to, first, a reverse split of the Company’s outstanding common stock at an exchange ratio of 1-for-100 and, then, immediately following such reverse split, a forward split of its outstanding common stock at a ratio that is not less than 2-for-1 nor greater than 4-for-1, with the final ratio to be selected by the Company’s board of directors in its sole discretion. The board of directors set the final ratio of the forward split at 2-for-1. The Company refers to the reverse split and to the forward split, together, as the “reverse/forward split.”

On June 16, 2016 (the “Effective Date”), the Company filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware the amendment to its restated certificate of incorporation to effect the reverse/forward split. The 1-100 reverse split was effective at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date and the 2-for-1 forward split was effective at 6:01 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date. Any fractional share of common stock resulting from the forward split was rounded up to the nearest whole share. Any stockholder who, as of immediately prior to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date, held fewer than 100 shares of the Company’s common stock in one account and, subsequent to the reverse split, would otherwise have been entitled to less than one full share of common stock, received, instead of the fractional share, $0.12 in cash for each such share held in that account, which was equal to the average of the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on the NYSE MKT over the five trading days immediately before and including the Effective Date. As of immediately prior to the reverse split/forward split on the Effective Date, the Company had 92,439,174 of common stock outstanding, and subsequent to the reverse/forward split, it had 1,848,597 shares of common stock and theoutstanding. Approximately $3,000 was paid to cashed-out stockholders who owned less than 100 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, soldimmediately prior to the investors inreverse split on the private placement. The registration statement was declared effective on December 5, 2013. The Company is obligated to pay to each investor a monthly payment of 1% (not to exceed 10%) of the aggregate purchase price paid by such investor as liquidation damages if the registration statement ceases to be effective for more than a specified number of days. The Company has determined that the likelihood of the registration statement ceasing to be effective is remote. Accordingly, the Company did not record a loss contingency for the 1% liquidation damages payments.Effective Date.

 

The number of shares of the Company’s authorized common stock did not change in connection with the reverse/forward split. However, upon the effectiveness of the reverse/forward split, the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock that were not issued or outstanding increased due to the reduction in the number of shares of its common stock issued and outstanding as a result of the reverse/forward split.

The reverse/forward split did not affect the par value of a share of the Company’s common stock, which remains at $0.005 per share. As a result, the stated capital attributable to common stock on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet has been reduced proportionately based on the reverse/forward split exchange ratio, and the additional paid-in capital account was credited with the amount by which the stated capital was reduced. Comparative financial statements have been retroactively adjusted. There are no other accounting consequences arising from the reverse/forward split.

As provided for in the Company’s equity incentive plans and outstanding warrant agreements, the number of shares subject to the equity plans and warrant agreements along with any exercise prices of outstanding awards, were equitably and proportionately adjusted and are reflected. Additionally, the conversion rate for the Company’s Series A convertible preferred stock was also equitably and proportionately adjusted so that holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock would be entitled to receive, upon conversion, the number of shares of the Company’s common stock that such holders would have been entitled to receive immediately following the reverse/forward split, had such shares of the Series A convertible preferred stock been converted into shares of the Company’s common stock immediately prior to the reserve/forward split.

Equity Incentive Plans

All amounts reported below have been proportionately adjusted as a result of the reverse/forward split discussed above, when applicable.

2004 Performance Incentive Plan

 

In September 2004 at a Special Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2004 Performance Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”). The 2004 Plan provided for the issuance of up to 2,500,00050,000 shares of NTN common stock. In addition, all shares that remained unissued under the 1995 Employee Stock Option Plan (the “1995 Plan”) on the effective date of the 2004 Plan, and all shares issuable upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the 1995 Plan that expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, were available for issuance under the 2004 Plan. On the effective date, the 1995 Plan had approximately 77,000 options available for grant. Options under both the 1995 Plan and the 2004 Plan have a term of up to ten years, and are exercisable at a price per share not less than the fair market value on the date of grant. In September 2009, the 2004 Plan expired. All awards that were granted under the 2004 Plan will continue to be governed by the 2004 Plan until they are exercised or expire in accordance with that plan’s terms. As of December 31, 2014,2016, there were approximately 642,0001,000 options outstanding under the 2004 Plan.

 

2010 Amended Performance Incentive Plan

 

In June 2010, the Company’s shareholdersstockholders approved the 2010 Performance Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”). The 2010 Plan providesprovided for the issuance of up to 6,000,000120,000 shares of NTNthe Company’s common stock. UnderAt the Company’s 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Company’s stockholders approved the Amended 2010 Performance Plan (the “Amended 2010 Plan”), which, among other things, amended the 2010 Plan to increase the authorized shares to be issued thereunder from 120,000 to 240,000. The Amended 2010 Plan expires in February 2020. Under the Amended 2010 Plan, options forto the purchase of NTNthe Company’s common stock or other instruments such as restricted stock units may be granted to officers, directors, employees and consultants. The Company’s Board of Directors designated its Nominating and Corporate Governance/Compensation Committee as the Amended 2010 Plan Committee. Stock options granted under the Amended 2010 Plan may either be incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options. A stock option granted under the Amended 2010 Plan generally cannot be exercised until it becomes vested. The Amended 2010 Plan Committee establishes the vesting schedule of each stock option at the time of grant. At its discretion, the Amended 2010 Plan Committee can accelerate the vesting, extend the post-termination exercise term or waive restrictions of any stock options or other awards under the Amended 2010 Plan. Options under the Amended 2010 Plan have a term of up to ten years, and are exercisable at a price per share not less than the fair market value on the date of grant. As of December 31, 2014,2016, there were options to purchase approximately 3,080,000 options79,000 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding under the Amended 2010 Plan.

 

2014 Inducement Plan

 

In August 2014, the Nominating and Corporate Governance/Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Committee”) approved the 2014 Inducement Plan (the “2014 Plan”) in reliance on Section 771(a) of the NYSE MKT Company Guide as an inducement material to Ram Krishnan entering into employment with the Company as its Chief Executive Officer. The 2014 Plan provides for the issuance of up to 4,250,00085,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, of which, an option to purchase 3,500,00070,000 shares of common stock was issued to Mr. Krishnan in September 2014. Subject toIn accordance with the terms of his employment agreement, in April 2015, Mr. Krishnan’s continued employment and meeting performance objectives, he will beKrishnan was granted another performance-based option to purchase 750,00015,000 shares of common stock. Options under the 2014 Plan have a term of up to ten years and are exercisable at a price per share not less than the fair market value on the date of grant. Both of the option grants described above will, subject to Mr. Krishnan’s continued employment through the applicable vesting date and, with respect to the performance-based option granted in April 2015, subject to meeting performance goals, vest as to 25% of the total number of shares subject to the option on the first anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 75% of the total number of shares subject to the option will vest in 36 substantially equal monthly installments thereafter. There are no share-based awards available to be granted under the 2014 Plan. The 2014 Plan expires in September 2024.

 

Stock-Based Compensation Valuation Assumptions

The Company records stock-based compensation in accordance with ASC No. 718, Compensation – Stock Compensationand ASC No. 505-50,Equity – Equity-Based Payments to Non-Employees. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of stock options granted is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. Stock-based compensation expense for share-based payment awards to employees is recognized using the straight-line single-option method. Stock-based compensation expense for share-based payment awards to non-employees is recorded at its fair value on the grant date and is periodically re-measured as the underlying awards vest.

The Company uses the historical stock price volatility as an input to value its stock options under ASC No. 718. The expected term of stock options represents the period of time options are expected to be outstanding and is based on observed historical exercise patterns of the Company, which the Company believes are indicative of future exercise behavior. For the risk-free interest rate, the Company uses the observed interest rates appropriate for the term of time options are expected to be outstanding. The dividend yield assumption is based on the Company’s history and expectation of dividend payouts.

 

The following weighted-average assumptions were used for grants issued during 20142016 and 20132015 under the ASC No. 718 requirements:

 

 2014  2013  2016  2015 
Weighted average risk-free rate  1.38%  0.60%  1.20%  1.20%
Weighted average volatility  80.37%  79.82%  111.02%  82.80%
Dividend yield  0.00%  0.00%  0.00%  0.00%
Expected life  4.87 years   4.80 years   6.17 years   4.31 years 

 

ASC No. 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised if necessary in subsequent periods if actual forfeiture rates differ from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical activity for the Company. Stock-based compensation expense for employees in 20142016 and 20132015 was $282,000$419,000 and $132,000,$456,000, respectively, and is expensed in selling, general and administrative expenses and credited to the additional paid-in-capital account.

 

Stock Option Activity

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013:2015:

 

  Outstanding
Options
  Weighted
Average Exercise
Price per Share
  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (in years)
  Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
 
Outstanding January 1, 2013  1,814,000  $0.66   6.37  $25,000 
Granted  1,280,000   0.27       
Exercised  (30,000)  0.17       
Cancelled  (245,000)  0.49       
Forfeited  (102,000)  0.19       
Expired  (53,000)  1.09       
Outstanding December 31, 2013  2,664,000   0.50   7.14   706,000 
Granted  5,581,000   0.47       
Exercised  (291,000)  0.25       
Cancelled  (89,000)  1.11       
Forfeited  (642,000)  0.27       
Expired  (1,000)  3.15       
Outstanding December 31, 2014  7,222,000  $0.50   8.60  $285,000 
                 
Options vested and exercisable at December 31, 2014  1,562,000  $0.65   5.27  $99,000 

  Outstanding
Options
  Weighted
Average Exercise
Price per Share
  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (in years)
  Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
 
Outstanding January 1, 2015  144,000  $24.99   8.60  $285,000 
Granted  43,000   20.59   -   - 
Exercised  (2,000)  14.32   -   - 
Cancelled  (26,000)  37.56   -   - 
Forfeited  (23,000)  29.20   -   - 
Expired  -   -   -   - 
Outstanding December 31, 2015  136,000   20.38   8.67   2,000 
Granted  35,000   7.73   -   - 
Exercised  -   -   -   - 
Cancelled  (3,000)  21.49   -   - 
Forfeited  (3,000)  15.51   -   - 
Expired  -   -   -   - 
Outstanding December 31, 2016  165,000  $17.78   8.02  $36,000 
                 
Options vested and exercisable at December 31, 2016  75,000  $20.06   7.55  $4,000 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value of options at December 31, 20142016 is based on the Company’s closing stock price on that date of $0.44$8.50 per share as reported by the NYSE MKT. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 20142015 was $79,000. Pursuant toapproximately $7,000. Under the 2004 Plan and the Amended 2010 Plan, stock option exercises couldoptions may be madeexercised on a net-exercise arrangement, where shares of common stock are withheld in the amount ofwith a value equal to the exercise price are withheld as payment of the exercise price instead of cash.therefor. Under such net-exercise arrangements, options to purchase approximately 106,000 and 25,0002,000 shares of common stock were exercised and approximately 43,000 and 13,000360 shares of common stock were issued during the yearsyear ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.2015. The Company received approximately $44,000 and $1,400less than $1,000 in cash payments for the exercise of options to purchase approximately 185,000 and 4,00043 shares during the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.2015. No options were exercised during the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

The per share weighted average grant-date fair value of stock options granted during 2014the years ended December 31, 2016 and 20132015 was $0.30$6.48 and $0.18,$12.74, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2014,2016, the unamortized compensation expense related to outstanding unvested options was approximately $968,000$647,000 with a weighted average remaining requisite service period of 3.412.09 years. The Company expects to amortize this expense over the remaining requisite service period of these stock options. A deferred tax asset generally would be recorded related to the expected future tax benefit from the exercise of the non-qualified stock options. However, due to a history of net operating losses, a full valuation allowance has been recorded related to the tax benefit for non-qualified stock options.

Restricted Stock Unit Activity

Grants of restricted stock units are paid in an equal number of shares of common stock on the vesting date of the award, subject to any deferred payment date that the holder may elect. A stock unit award is paid only to the extent vested. Vesting generally requires the continued employment by the award recipient through the respective vesting date. Restricted stock units are not subject to accelerated vesting provisions. Since the restricted stock units are paid in an equal number of shares of common stock without any kind of offsetting payment by the employee, the measurement of cost is based on the quoted market price of the stock at the measurement date which is the date of grant.

The following table summarizes restricted stock unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013:

  Outstanding
Restricted Stock Units
  Weighted
Average Fair Value per Share
 
Outstanding January 1, 2013  560,000  $0.14 
Granted      
Released  (373,000)   
Canceled      
Outstanding December 31, 2013  187,000  $0.14 
Granted      
Released  (173,000)   
Cancelled  (14,000)   
Outstanding December 31, 2014    $ 
         
Balance exercisable at December 31, 2014      

Under the 2010 Plan, employees may elect to have shares of common stock withheld on the vesting date in lieu of the employees paying cash for withholding taxes. During the year ended December 31, 2014, approximately 173,000 restricted stock units vested and, as a result of employees making the election described in the preceding sentence, approximately 119,000 shares of common stock were issued.

Warrant Activity

 

The following summarizes warrant activity for the year ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013:2015:

 

 Outstanding
Warrants
  Weighted
Average Exercise
Price per Share
  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (in years)
  Outstanding
Warrants
  Weighted
Average Exercise
Price per Share
  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (in years)
 
Outstanding January 1, 2013  4,500,000  $0.79   4.35 
Outstanding January 1, 2015  132,000  $33.64   3.18 
Granted  3,600,000   0.40      -   -   - 
Exercised  (1,500,000)  0.37      -   -   - 
Forfeited           -   -   - 
Outstanding December 31, 2013  6,600,000  $0.67   4.18 
Outstanding December 31, 2015  132,000  $33.64   2.18 
Granted           -   -   - 
Exercised           -   -   - 
Forfeited           -   -   - 
Outstanding December 31, 2014  6,600,000  $0.67   3.18 
Outstanding December 31, 2016  132,000  $33.64   1.18 
                        
Balance exercisable at December 31, 2014  6,600,000  $0.67   3.18 
Balance exercisable at December 31, 2016  132,000  $33.64   1.18 

 

During 2009, the Company issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 4,500,00060,000 shares of common stock in connection with asset acquisitions of iSports and i-am TV. The fair valuesvalue of the warrants werewas approximately $908,000$537,000 in aggregate and were determined using the Black-Scholes model using the following weighted-average assumptions: risk-free interest rates of 2.79%; dividend yield of 0%; expected volatility of 78.1%; and a term of 8 years. During the year endedNone of these warrants were exercised as of December 31, 2013, the warrants issued in connection with the iSports acquisition (which were warrants to purchase 1,500,000 shares) were exercised on a net-exercise arrangement, resulting in the issuance of approximately 798,000 shares of common stock.2016.

 

During 2013, the Company issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 3,600,00072,000 shares of common stock in connection with a private placement. The fair value of the warrants was approximately $1,379,000 in aggregate and was determined using the Black-Scholes model using the following weighted-average assumptions: risk-free interest rates of 1.06%; dividend yield of 0%; expected volatility of 80.25%; and a term of 5 years. The Company has concluded that these warrants qualify as equity instruments and not liabilities. None of these warrants were exercised as of December 31, 2016.

 

Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock

The Company has authorized 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The preferred stock may be issued in one or more series. The only series currently designated is a series of 5,000,000 shares of Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (Series A Preferred Stock).

 

As of December 31, 20142016 and 2013,2015, there were 156,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. The Series A Preferred Stock provides for a cumulative annual dividend of $0.10 per share, payable in semi-annual installments in June and December. Dividends may be paid in cash or with shares of common stock. During the yearsyear ended December 31, 2014 and 2013,2016, the Company paid approximately $16,000 in cash for payment of dividends. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company issued approximately 35,0001,000 shares of common stock each year for payment of dividends.

 

The Series A Preferred Stock has no voting rights and has a $1.00 per share liquidation preference over common stock. The registered holder has the right at any time to convert shares of Series A Preferred Stock into that number of shares of common stock that equals the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock that are surrendered for conversion divided by the conversion rate. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment in certain events and is established at the time of each conversion. There were no conversions during either of the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 2013.2015. There is no mandatory conversion term, date or any redemption features associated with the Series A Preferred Stock.

10.Income Taxes

 

For each of the years 20142016 and 2013,2015, current tax provisions and current deferred tax provisions were recorded as follows:

 

 2014  2013  2016  2015 
Current Tax Provision                
Federal $  $  $-  $- 
State  (18,000)  (27,000)  (25,000)  (26,000)
Foreign  (43,000)  (2,000)  (1,000)  24,000 
  (61,000)  (29,000)  (26,000)  (2,000)
Deferred Tax Provision                
Federal        -   - 
State  (4,000)  (3,000)  (4,000)  (4,000)
Foreign  (19,000)  (14,000)  (8,000)  (6,000)
  (23,000)  (17,000)  (12,000)  (10,000)
Total Tax Provision        
Total Tax Provison        
Federal        -   - 
State  (22,000)  (30,000)  (29,000)  (30,000)
Foreign  (62,000)  (16,000)  (9,000)  18,000 
 $(84,000) $(46,000) $(38,000) $(12,000)

 

The net deferred tax assets and liabilities have been reported in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 20142016 and 20132015 as follows:

 

  2014  2013 
  Current  Noncurrent  Current  Noncurrent 
             
Deferred Tax Assets:                
NOL carryforwards $  $21,058,000  $  $19,406,000 
UK NOL carryforwards     728,000      772,000 
Capital loss     416,000      409,000 
Compensation and vacation accrual  135,000      150,000    
Operating accruals  38,000   257,000   37,000   302,000 
Deferred revenue  517,000      224,000    
Research and experimentation, AMT and foreign tax credits     156,000      156,000 
State Margin Tax Credit     133,000      137,000 
Fixed assets and intangibles     447,000      630,000 
Foreign  3,000      3,000    
Other  139,000   240,000   130,000   157,000 
Total gross deferred tax assets  832,000   23,274,000   544,000   21,969,000 
Valuation allowance  (806,000)  (22,762,000)  (515,000)  (21,042,000)
Net deferred tax assets  26,000   673,000   29,000   927,000 
                 
Deferred Tax Liabilities:                
Capitalized software     607,000      843,000 
Amortization      12,000       
Foreign     52,000      57,000 
Deferred revenue            
Other  21,000   8,000   40,000    
Total gross deferred liabilities  21,000   679,000   40,000   900,000 
Net deferred taxes $5,000  $(6,000) $(11,000) $27,000 

F-18

  2016  2015 
Deferred Tax Assets:        
NOL carryforwards $23,291,000  $21,462,000 
UK NOL carryforwards  516,000   693,000 
Capital loss  -   416,000 
Allowance for doubtful accounts  139,000   - 
Compensation and vacation accrual  92,000   221,000 
Operating accruals  147,000   213,000 
Deferred revenue  -   677,000 
Research and experimentation, AMT and foreign tax credits  147,000   156,000 
Texas Margin Tax Credit  126,000   129,000 
Fixed assets and intangibles  199,000   204,000 
Foreign  -   181,000 
Other  664,000   504,000 
Total gross deferred tax assets  25,321,000   24,856,000 
Valuation allowance  (24,880,000)  (24,441,000)
Net deferred tax assets  441,000   415,000 
         
Deferred Tax Liabilities:        
Capitalized software  359,000   349,000 
Amortization  -   18,000 
Foreign  45,000   42,000 
Deferred revenue  49,000   - 
Other  -   6,000 
Total gross deferred liabilities  453,000   415,000 
Net deferred taxes $(12,000) $- 

The reconciliation of computed expected income taxes to effective income taxes by applying the federal statutory rate of 34% is as follows:

 

  For the year ended
December 31,
 
  2016  2015 
Tax at federal income tax rate $962,000  $2,435,000 
State provision  (29,000)  (30,000)
Foreign tax differential  2,000   38,000 
Change in valuation allowance  (917,000)  (2,407,000)
Permanent items  (56,000)  (48,000)
Total Provision $(38,000) $(12,000)

  For the year ended
December 31,
 
  2014  2013 
Tax at federal income tax rate $1,682,000  $342,000 
State provision benefit  (22,000)  (30,000)
Foreign tax differential  18,000   2,000 
Change in valuation allowance  (1,733,000)  (303,000)
Permanent items  (32,000)  (61,000)
Other  3,000   4,000 
Total Provision $(84,000) $(46,000)

 

The net change in the total valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 20142016 was an increase of $1,733,000.$917,000. The net change in the total valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 20132015 was a decreasean increase of $303,000.$2,407,000. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or 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 periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and planning strategies in making this assessment. Based on the level of historical operating results and projections for the taxable income for the future, management has determined that it is more likely than not that the portion of deferred taxes not utilized through the reversal of deferred tax liabilities will not be realized. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

 

At December 31, 2014,2016, the Company has available net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of approximately $59,663,000$65,291,000 for federal income tax purposes, which will begin to expire in 2017. The NOL carryforwards for state purposes, which will continue expiring in 2015,2017, are approximately $25,461,000.$35,969,000. There can be no assurance that the Company will ever be able to realize the benefit of some or all of the federal and state loss carryforwards due to continued operating losses. Further, Section 382 of theunder Internal Revenue Code imposes limits onSection 382 and similar state provisions, ownership changes may limit the ability to useannual utilization of NOL carryforwards that existedexisting prior to a change in control that are available to offset future taxable income. Such limitations would reduce, potentially significantly, the gross deferred tax assets disclosed in the table above related to the NOL carryforwards. The Company completed a Section 382 analysis for the period from January 1, 1992 through December 31, 2013September 30, 2016 and determined that the Company does not expect to be limited in regards to utilizing the total NOL carryforwards that existed as of December 31, 2013,September 30, 2016, provided it generates sufficient future earnings prior to the expiration of the NOLs and that future changes in ownership do not trigger a Section 382 limitation. Based on the Company’s analysis of its stockholder activity for the yearthree months ended December 31, 2014,2016, there were nodoes not appear to be ownership changes that would have caused an annual limitation under the provisions of Section 382. The Company continues to disclose the NOL carryforwards at their original amount in the table above as no potential limitation has been quantified. The Company has also established a full valuation allowance for substantially all deferred tax assets, including the NOL carryforwards, since the Company could not conclude that it was more likely than not able to generate future taxable income to realize these assets. In addition, the Company has approximately $201,000$190,000 of state tax credit tax carryforwards that expire in the years 20152017 through 2026.

 

The deferred tax assets as of December 31, 20142016 include a deferred tax asset of $681,000$631,000 representing NOLs arising from the exercise of stock options by Company employees fromfor 2005 and prior years. To the extent the Company realizes any tax benefit for the NOLs attributable to the stock option exercises, such amount would be credited directly to stockholders' equity.

 

United States income taxes were not provided on unremitted earnings from non-United States subsidiaries. Such unremitted earnings are considered to be indefinitely reinvested and determination of the amount of taxes that might be paid on these undistributed earnings is not practicable.

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to federal income tax as well as income tax of multiple state jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax examination by tax authorities in major jurisdictions for years prior to 2010.2011. However, to the extent allowed by law, the taxing authorities may have the right to examine prior periods where NOLs were generated and carried forward, and make adjustments up to the amount of the carryforwards. The Company is not currently under examination by the IRS or state taxing authorities.

 

11.CommitmentsLong-term Debt

 

Operating LeasesRevolving Line of Credit

In April 2015, the Company entered into a loan and security agreement (the “Original Loan Agreement”) with East West Bank, or EWB, pursuant to which, the Company may request advances in an aggregate outstanding amount at any time up to the lesser of $7,500,000, which is referred to as the revolving line, or an amount equal to its borrowing base, in each case, less the aggregate outstanding principal amount of prior advances. So long as there is no event of default, the Company may make a one-time request to increase the revolving line by up to $2,500,000, which EWB may accept or decline. In March 2016, the Company and EWB entered into an amendment (the “First Amendment”) to the Original Loan Agreement. The Original Loan Agreement as amended by the First Amendment is referred to as the “Amended Loan Agreement.” Under the Amended Loan Agreement, through March 31, 2017, the Company may request advances in an aggregate outstanding amount at any time up to the lesser of (a) the revolving line (or $7,500,000) or (b) the sum of $2,000,000 (which the Company refers to as the “sublimit”) plus the amount equal to the Company’s borrowing base, in each case, less the aggregate outstanding principal amount of prior advances. On March 31, 2017, the sublimit becomes zero. If the aggregate amount of advances as of March 31, 2017 exceeds the lesser of the revolving line or the amount equal to the Company’s borrowing base, then it must pay EWB the amount of such excess.

Under the Original Loan Agreement, the Company’s borrowing base was, as of the date of determination, an amount equal to the product of: (a) the average monthly recurring revenue for the immediately preceding three months; times (b) one plus the average churn rate for the immediately preceding three months (not to exceed zero); times (c) 300%. The churn rate, with respect to any month, is the quotient of the Company’s monthly net revenue change calculated with respect to such month, divided by its monthly revenue from subscriptions for the month. The manner in which the borrowing base is determined is unchanged under the Amendment, except that the monthly recurring revenue is limited to all recurring subscription revenue attributable to software that the Company sold or licensed and all recurring revenue relating to services it delivered and 50% of all revenue attributable to the Company’s “Stump” product line.

In addition, under the Amended Loan Agreement, the Company is required to meet a minimum adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”), target and churn rate targets, in each case, as specified in the Amended Loan Agreement. Adjusted EBITDA is the sum (a) net profit (or loss), after provision for taxes, plus (b) interest expense, plus (c) to the extent deducted in the calculation of net profit (or loss), depreciation expense and amortization expense, plus (d) income tax expense, plus (e) non-cash stock compensation expenses, plus (f) other non-cash expenses and charges, plus (g) to the extent approved by the EWB, other one-time charges, plus (h) to the extent approved by the EWB, any losses arising from the sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition of assets not in the ordinary course of business. Under the Original Loan Agreement, the Adjusted EBITDA target was measured as of the last day of each fiscal quarter with respect to the immediately prior six-month period. Under the Amended Loan Agreement, the Adjusted EBITDA target is measured as of the last day of each fiscal quarter with respect to the immediately prior three-month period. The churn rate targets, which were unchanged in the Amendment, are measured on a monthly and trailing three-month basis. The Company met the Adjusted EBITDA and the trailing three-month churn rate targets as of the quarter ended March 31, 2016. The Company did not meet the monthly churn rate for the month ended January 31, 2016, which constituted an event of default under the Original Loan Agreement, however, EWB waived that event of default.

 

The Company leases office and production facilities and equipment under agreementsAmended Loan Agreement requires: (a) that expire at various dates through 2018. Certain leases contain renewal provisions and escalating rental clauses and generally require the Company maintain a balance on deposit with the EWB equal to pay utilities, insurance, taxes(i) on March 31, 2017, 100% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the advances at such time, and other operating expenses. Lease expense(ii) at all times after March 31, 2017, an amount determined by EWB based on the Company’s 2017 financial projections; and (b) that the sum of the following be not less than $2,000,000: (i) the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash that the Company holds in accounts maintained with EWB and (ii) the amount available to the Company under operating leases totaled $621,000 and $581,000 in 2014 and 2013, respectively.the Amended Loan Agreement.

 

Under the Amended Loan Agreement, all then-outstanding advances are due on December 31, 2017 (under the Original Loan Agreement, the due date was April 14, 2018). On or before March 31, 2017, advances will bear interest, at the Company’s option, at the rate of either (A) a variable rate per annum equal to the prime rate as set forth inThe estimated aggregate lease paymentsWall Street Journal plus 2.75%, up from 1.25% under operating leasesthe original terms, or (B) at a fixed rate per annum equal to the LIBOR rate for eachthe interest period for the advance plus 5.50%, up from 4.00% under the original terms. After March 31, 2017, the interest rates will revert to their original terms.

On December 30, 2016, the Company entered into a second amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the loan and security agreement with EWB. Under the terms of the five succeeding years is as follows:

Years Ending December 31, Lease
Payment
 
2015 $722,000 
2016  734,000 
2017  710,000 
2018  582,000 
Total $2,748,000 

Sublease

In February 2013,Second Amendment, the Company began subleasing approximately 2,700 square feetdue date of its office space. The termall advances under the revolving line was extended from December 31, 2017 to January 15, 2018. No other terms of the sublease expired in July 2014. The tenants did not renewLoan Agreement were changed under the sublease at the end of its term. Total sublease income for the year ended December 31, 2014 was approximately $31,000.

Capital LeasesSecond Amendment.

 

As of December 31, 20142016, the Company requested and 2013, property held under current capital leases was as follows:

  For the Years Ended 
  December 31, 
  2014  2013 
Office equipment $84,000  $84,000 
Accumulated depreciation  (41,000)  (21,000)
Total $43,000  $63,000 

Total depreciation expense under capital leases was $20,000 and $83,000 forreceived advances in the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

aggregate of $6,500,000, all of which were advanced at the LIBOR rate plus the applicable margin with a three-month interest period. Each time the interest period expired on these advances, the Company elected to renew the advance at the LIBOR rate plus the applicable margin with a three-month interest period. Prior to the Amendment, the interest rate on advances ranged from 4.313% to 4.688% per annum. The interest rate on advances since the Amendment have ranged from 6.125% to 6.50% per annum. As of December 31, 2014, future minimum payments2016, $6,500,000 remained outstanding under all capital leases arethis credit facility, of which, $2,000,000 is recorded in current portion of long-term debt on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The Company had approximately $97,000 available to borrow as follows:of December 31, 2016 based on its borrowing base calculated as of that date. The Company used approximately $3,381,000 of the total amount borrowed under this credit facility to pay down existing indebtedness that was owed to an equipment lender (see “—Equipment Notes Payable,” below). Under the Amended Loan Agreement, the amount that the Company may owe under its current financing arrangement with that equipment lender is not limited to any specified amount. In addition, with EWB’s consent, the Company may incur additional indebtedness with other equipment lenders of up to $2,000,000 in the aggregate for equipment financing.

 

Years Ending December 31, Lease
Payment
 
2015 $32,000 
2016  24,000 
2017  7,000 
Total minimum payments  63,000 
Less amounts representing interest  (5,000)
Present value of net minimum payments  58,000 
Less current portion  (28,000)
Long-term capital lease obligations $30,000 

Pursuant to the Amended Loan Agreement, the Company continues to grant and pledge to EWB a first-priority security interest in all the Company’s existing and future personal property.

The Company paid $37,500 to EWB as a facility fee at the time of closing in April 2014, and has incurred approximately $9,000 for fees associated with the amendments. An additional facility fee (equal to the product of (x) 0.50% of the increase in the revolving line times (y) the quotient of the number of days remaining between the effective date of such increase and January 15, 2018, divided by 1,095) will be due if the revolving line is increased pursuant to the Company’s request. The Company also pays an unused line fee equal to 0.50% per year of the difference between the amount of the revolving line as in effect from time to time and the average monthly balance in each month, which is payable monthly in arrears. The average monthly balance is calculated by adding the ending outstanding balance under the revolving line for each day in the month divided by the number of days in the month.

On February 28, 2017, the Company entered into a third amendment to the loan and security agreement with EWB. See Note 17 for more information.

Equipment Notes Payable

In May 2013, the Company entered into a financing agreementarrangement with a lender under which the Company may borrow up to $500,000funds to purchase certain equipment. Over time, the lender has increasedInitially, the maximum amount the Company maycould borrow under this financing arrangement was $500,000. Over time, the lender increased that maximum amount, and as of December 31, 2014,2016, the maximum amount was $9,853,000. $9,690,000, all of which has been borrowed.

In April 2015, the Company used approximately $3,381,000 of the proceeds received from the East West Bank credit facility to pay down a portion of the principal amount the Company had borrowed under this financing arrangement, accrued interest and a prepayment fee. As of December 31, 2016, approximately $1,611,000 of principal remained outstanding under this financing arrangement, of which $975,000 is recorded in current portion of long-term debt on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

The Company maywas able to borrow up to the maximum amount available under this financing arrangement in tranches as needed. Each tranche bearsborrowed through August 2015 incurred interest at 8.32% per annum; the interest for tranches borrowed thereafter was reduced to rates between 7.32% to 8.05% per annum. With respect to the first $1,000,000 in the aggregate borrowed, principal and interest payments are due in 36 equal monthly installments. With respect to amounts borrowed in excess of the first $1,000,000 in the aggregate, the first monthly payment will be equal to 24% of the principal amount outstanding, and the remaining principal and interest due areis payable in 35 equal monthly installments. The Company granted the lender a first security interest in the equipment purchased with the funds borrowed. Through December 31, 2014, the Company borrowed approximately $7,652,000 of the $9,853,000 maximum amount available. As of December 31, 2014, $5,319,000 remained outstanding, which reflects payments made through December 31, 2014.This equipment lender entered into a subordination agreement with East West Bank.

 

In July 2011, the Company entered into an equipment financing agreement with a bank in the amount of $123,000 plus 5.85% interest per annum, which was recorded in short-term and long-term notes payable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. The amounts borrowed were used to finance certain equipment purchases and other services related to the relocation of the Company’s Carlsbad, California office. The amount was collateralized by a first priority security interest in the equipment purchased. The amount borrowed was payable over a 36 month period in equal payments of $3,705, which included interest, until fully paid in August 2014. As of December 31, 2014, this note payable was paid in full.Long-Term Debt Principal Payments

Future minimum principal payments under notes payablelong-term debt as of December 31, 20142016 are as follows:

 

Years Ending December 31, Payment 
2015 $2,525,000 
2016  2,253,000 
2017  1,103,000 
2018  4,000 
Thereafter   
Total minimum payments  5,885,000 
Less amounts representing interest  (566,000)
Total notes payable  5,319,000 
Less current portion  (2,176,000)
Long-term portion $3,143,000 
Years Ending December 31, Principal
Payment
 
2017 $2,988,000 
2018  5,115,000 
2019  8,000 
Total $8,111,000 

 

Interest expense related to notes payablelong-term debt for the years ended December 31, 20142016 and 20132015 was $210,000$517,000 and $9,000,$283,000, respectively.

 

12.ContingenciesCommitments

Operating Leases

 

The Company leases office and production facilities and equipment under agreements that expire at various dates through 2018. Certain leases contain renewal provisions and escalating rental clauses and generally require the Company to pay utilities, insurance, taxes and other operating expenses. Lease expense under operating leases totaled $582,000 and $620,000 in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

As of December 31, 2016, future minimum lease payments under operating leases are as follows:

Years Ending December 31, Lease
Payment
 
2017 $659,000 
2018  586,000 
Total $1,245,000 

Capital Leases

As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, property held under current capital leases was as follows:

  For the Years Ended 
  December 31, 
  2016  2015 
Office equipment $328,000  $299,000 
Other  250,000   - 
Accumulated depreciation  (185,000)  (97,000)
Total $393,000  $202,000 

Total depreciation expense under capital leases was $88,000 and $56,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

As of December 31, 2016, future minimum principal payments under capital leases are as follows:

Years Ending December 31, Prinicipal
Payment
 
2017 $155,000 
2018  158,000 
2019  99,000 
2020  1,000 
2021  1,000 
Total $414,000 

13.Contingencies

Litigation

The Company is subject to litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of its business. There can be no assurance that any claims will be decided in the Company’s favor and the Company is not insured against all claims made. During the pendency of such claims, the Company will continue to incur the costs of its legal defense. Currently, there is no material litigation pending or threatened against the Company.

Equipment Repairs

DuringBeginning in the fourth quarter of 2014, the Company encountered challenges with assembling newly designedits second generation cases for its BEOND tablet. As a result, the Company accrued approximately $716,000 and $204,000 of expense during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, for cases deployed at customer sites that the Company has deemed probable it will need to repair. This expense was recognized in direct costs inon the accompanying consolidated statement of operations forand other current liabilities on the year endedconsolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2014.2016, approximately $175,000 remained in other current liabilities. The Company may continue to experience challenges with its cases,tablet equipment, and as a result, it may be required to recognize additional repair expense contingencies in the future.

 

Sales and Use Tax

From time to time, state tax authorities will make inquiries as to whether or not a portion of the Company’s services require the collection of sales and use taxes from customers in those states. Many states have expanded their interpretation of their sales and use tax statutes to subject more activities to tax. The Company evaluates such inquiries on a case-by-case basis and has favorably resolved the majority of these tax issues in the past without any material adverse consequences.

 

The Company ishas been involved in ongoing sales tax inquiries with certain states and provinces. As a result of those inquiries, the Company recorded a total net liability of $17,000 and $27,000$25,000 as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively,2015, which is included in the sales taxes payable balance in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Based on the guidance set forth by ASC No. 450,Contingencies, management has deemed the likelihood as reasonably possible that it will be required to pay all or part of these assessments.

In October 2014, During the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company received notice from a province that it prevailed onresolved all matters under inquiry, and the appealpreviously recognized $25,000 was sufficient under the assessments. Accordingly, there was no liability recorded as of a fully-paid sales tax assessment. As a result, the Company recognized a receivable of approximately $108,000, which was recorded in accounts receivable on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet, and reversed an accrued sales tax liability for a post-audit period assessment of approximately $25,000. The Company received the refund in January 2015.

December 31, 2016.

13.14.Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income includes the accumulated gains or losses from foreign currency translation adjustments. The Company translated the assets and liabilities of its Canadian statement of financial position into U.S. dollars using the period end exchange rate. Revenue and expenses were translated using the weighted-average exchange rates for the reporting period.Asperiod. As of December 31, 20142016 and 2013, $479,0002015, $223,000 and $631,000,$172,000, respectively, of accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments were recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, respectively.

 

14.15.Geographical Information

 

Geographic breakdown of the Company’s revenue for the last two fiscal years were as follows:

 

 For the years ended
December 31,
  For the years ended
December 31,
 
 2014  2013  2016  2015 
United States $24,917,000  $22,480,000  $21,559,000  $23,678,000 
Canada  1,129,000   1,269,000   753,000   841,000 
Total revenue $26,046,000  $23,749,000  $22,312,000  $24,519,000 

 

Geographic breakdown of the Company’s long-term tangible assets for the last two fiscal years were as follows:

 

 As of December 31,  As of December 31, 
 2014  2013  2016  2015 
United States $3,362,000  $3,220,000  $3,015,000  $3,799,000 
Canada  38,000   17,000   86,000   116,000 
Total assets $3,400,000  $3,237,000  $3,101,000  $3,915,000 

 

15.16.Retirement Savings Plan

 

In 1994, the Company established a defined contribution plan, organized under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, which allows employees who have completed at least three months of service, have worked a minimum of 250 hours in a quarter, and have reached age 18 to defer up to 50% of their pay on a pre-tax basis. The Company does not contribute a match to the employees’ contribution.

 

F-2217.Subsequent Event

On February 28, 2017, the Company entered into a third amendment to the loan and security agreement with EWB that provided for the following:

● The date on which the $2.0 million sublimit becomes zero was extended from March 31, 2017 to June 15, 2017. As was the case prior to the third amendment, if the aggregate amount of advances as of the date the sublimit becomes zero exceeds the lesser of the revolving line or the amount equal to our borrowing base, then the Company must pay EWB the amount of such excess.
The minimum adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or adjusted EBITDA, targets for each of the Company’s 2017 fiscal quarters were established. The manner in which adjusted EBITDA is calculated was not changed.
Compliance with the churn rate target is now measured only on trailing three-month basis; previously it was also measured monthly.
The amount the Company must maintain on deposit with EWB (which amount is equal to 100% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of advances) is now measured only at June 15, 2017, or if earlier, at such time that the $2.0 million sublimit has been paid off. Previously, compliance was going to be measured on March 31, 2017 and thereafter the Company was going to be required to maintain an amount determined by EWB based on the Company’s 2017 financial projections.
The interest rates on amounts advanced was increased by 0.50%, such that under the third amendment, advances bear interest, at the Company’s option, at the rate of either of the following: (A) for amounts advanced as a prime rate loan, a variable rate per annum equal to the prime rate as set forth in The Wall Street Journal plus 3.25% (was previously 2.75%), and (B) for amounts advanced as a LIBOR loan, at a fixed rate per annum equal to the LIBOR rate for the interest period for the advance plus 6.00% (was previously 5.50%). After the earlier of June 15, 2017 (was previously March 31, 2017) or such time as the Company pays off in full in cash the $2.0 million sublimit, the additional margins decrease to 1.75% for prime rate loans (was previously 1.25%) and to 4.50% for LIBOR loans (was previously 4.00%).