DEFM14A
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant o
Filed by the Registrant þ
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary Proxy Statement |
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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
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Definitive Additional Materials |
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Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
Atari, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): |
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0–11. |
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies: |
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Atari, Inc. common stock, par value US$0.10 per share |
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies: |
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(a) 13,477,920 shares of common stock, (b) 957,889 shares of common
stock issuable pursuant to outstanding options and (c) 2,499 shares of
common stock issuable pursuant to outstanding warrants. |
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0–11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
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Calculated solely for purposes of determining the filing fee. The
transaction value was based on the sum of (a) the product of the
6,525,672 shares of common stock that will be exchanged for cash in
the transaction multiplied by the merger consideration of US$1.68 per
share, (b) the consideration expected to be paid to the holders of
each of the 957,889 shares of common stock options outstanding in
which the exercise price per share is less than US$1.68 per share, and
(c) the consideration expected to be paid to the holders of each of
the 24,999 shares of common stock warrants outstanding in which the
exercise price per share is less than US$1.68 per share. |
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
US$10,973,006.68 |
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Total fee paid:
US$431.24 |
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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify
the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the
date of its filing. |
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Amount Previously Paid: |
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.: |
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Filing Party: |
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Date Filed: |
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417 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10016
To the
stockholders of Atari, Inc.:
You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of the
stockholders of Atari, Inc. (“Atari”) to be held at
Atari’s offices, 417 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York
10016, on October 8, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., local time.
At the special meeting Atari is asking its stockholders to
consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the Agreement and
Plan of Merger, dated as of April 30, 2008, by and among
Atari, Infogrames Entertainment S.A. (“Infogrames”),
and Irata Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned indirect subsidiary
of Infogrames (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which Merger
Sub will be merged with and into Atari, with Atari continuing as
the surviving corporation in the merger as a wholly owned
indirect subsidiary of Infogrames. If the merger is completed,
each share of Atari common stock outstanding at the effective
time of the merger (other than shares held by holders who have
perfected and not withdrawn a demand for appraisal rights, and
shares beneficially owned by Infogrames) will be cancelled and
converted into the right to receive US$1.68 in cash, without
interest. Shares beneficially owned by Infogrames will be
cancelled with no consideration paid therefor.
The Special Committee of the board of directors of Atari, which
was established to evaluate transactions between Atari and
Infogrames and its affiliates, reviewed and negotiated the
proposed transaction. Atari’s board of directors, acting on
the recommendation of the Special Committee, has approved the
merger agreement. Both the Special Committee and Atari’s
board of directors have determined that the merger and the
merger agreement are fair and advisable to and in the best
interests of Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders. Therefore,
acting on the recommendation of the Special Committee, the board
of directors of Atari recommends that you vote “FOR”
the adoption and approval of the merger agreement.
Approval of the merger requires the affirmative vote of at least
a majority of Atari’s outstanding common stock entitled to
vote on the merger. As of August 22, 2008, the record date
for the special meeting, Infogrames directly or indirectly
controlled approximately 51.6% of the voting securities of
Atari, which is sufficient to adopt and approve the merger
agreement. As a result, approval of the merger agreement will
occur upon the vote in favor of the merger agreement by
Infogrames, regardless of the vote of any other stockholder of
Atari.
Regardless of the number of shares you own, and whether or not
you plan to attend the meeting, please complete, sign, date and
return the enclosed proxy card or submit a proxy over the
Internet or by phone as described on the proxy card (or, if your
shares are held in “street name”, follow the
directions given by the broker, nominee, fiduciary or other
custodian regarding how to instruct it to vote your shares). You
retain the right to revoke the proxy at any time before it is
actually voted by giving notice in writing to the Secretary of
Atari, by giving notice at the special meeting, or by submitting
a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. If you have
instructed a broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian to
vote your shares, you must follow its directions to change or
revoke your voting instructions. The failure to vote will
have the same effect as a vote against the merger agreement.
Finally, if you do not vote in favor of approval of the merger
agreement and you fulfill other procedural requirements,
which are summarized in the accompanying proxy statement,
Delaware law entitles you to a judicial appraisal of the fair
value of your shares.
The enclosed proxy statement provides you with information about
the proposed merger, the merger agreement and the special
meeting. Atari urges you to read it and its annexes carefully.
Very truly yours,
Eugene I. Davis
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of this
transaction or passed upon the merits or fairness of this
transaction or the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in the
enclosed proxy statement. Any representation to the contrary is
a criminal offense.
The enclosed proxy statement is dated September 5, 2008 and
is first being mailed to stockholders on or about
September 5, 2008.
417 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10016
NOTICE OF
SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
OF
ATARI, INC.
TO BE HELD OCTOBER 8, 2008
To the
stockholders of Atari, Inc.:
Atari will hold a special meeting of stockholders of Atari, Inc.
(“Atari”) on October 8 , 2008 at 10:00 a.m.,
local time, at Atari’s offices, 417 Fifth Avenue, New
York, New York 10016. The purpose of the meeting is:
1. to consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt and
approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
April 30, 2008, by and among Atari, Infogrames
Entertainment S.A. (“Infogrames”) and Irata
Acquisition Corp. (“Merger Sub”); and
2. to transact such other business as may properly come
before the special meeting or any adjournments or postponements
of the special meeting.
Atari has described the merger agreement and the related merger
in the accompanying proxy statement and annexes, which you
should read in their entirety before voting. A copy of the
merger agreement is attached as Annex A to the proxy
statement. The record date to determine stockholders entitled to
vote at the special meeting is August 22, 2008. Only
holders of Atari common stock at the close of business on the
record date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
special meeting.
To make sure your shares are represented at the special meeting,
you should, as soon as possible, complete, sign, date and return
the enclosed proxy card or submit a proxy over the Internet or
by phone as described on the proxy card (or, if your shares are
held in “street name”, follow the directions given by
the broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian regarding how
to instruct it to vote your shares). You retain the right to
revoke the proxy at any time before it is actually voted by
giving notice in writing to the Secretary of Atari, by giving
notice in open meeting at the special meeting or by submitting a
duly executed proxy bearing a later date. If you have instructed
a broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian to vote your
shares, you must follow its directions to change or revoke your
voting instructions. The failure to vote will have the same
effect as a vote against the merger agreement. If you do not
vote in favor of approval of the merger agreement and you
fulfill other procedural requirements, which are summarized in
the accompanying proxy statement, Delaware law entitles you to a
judicial appraisal of the fair value of your shares.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Kristina K. Pappa
Secretary
Dated: September 5, 2008
Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting in
person, please complete, sign, date and return the enclosed
proxy in the accompanying self-addressed postage pre-paid
envelope or submit a proxy over the Internet or by phone as
described on the proxy card (or, if your shares are held in
“street name”, follow the directions given by the
broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian regarding how to
instruct it to vote your shares) as soon as possible.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Annexes
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Annex A — Agreement and Plan of Merger
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A-1
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Annex B — Opinion of Duff & Phelps LLC
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B-1
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Annex C — Section 262 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
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C-1
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Annex D — Atari, Inc. Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008
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D-1
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Annex E — Atari, Inc. Amendment to Annual Report
on
Form 10-K/A
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008
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E-1
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Annex F — Atari, Inc. Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008
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F-1
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ii
SUMMARY
TERM SHEET
You are being asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to
approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
April 30, 2008, by and among Atari, Inc.
(“Atari”), Infogrames Entertainment S.A.
(“Infogrames”) and Irata Acquisition Corp.
(“Merger Sub”), which is referred to in this proxy
statement as the merger agreement. The merger agreement provides
for the merger of Merger Sub with and into Atari, which would be
the surviving corporation in the merger, and, immediately
following the merger, Infogrames would have beneficial ownership
of all of the outstanding capital stock of Atari. This summary
term sheet briefly describes the material terms of the proposed
merger and may not contain all of the information that is
important to you. Atari urges you to read carefully the entire
proxy statement, including the annexes hereto. Each item in this
summary term sheet includes a page reference directing you to a
more complete description of that item.
Persons
Involved in the Proposed Transaction (page 60)
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Atari. Atari publishes and distributes
interactive entertainment software in North America. The 1,000+
published titles distributed by Atari include hard-core,
genre-defining franchises such as Test
Drive®
and mass-market and children’s franchises such as Dragon
Ball
Z®.
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Infogrames and CUSH. Infogrames Entertainment
S.A. (“Infogrames”) is a société anonyme
(S.A.) corporation organized under the laws of France.
Infogrames, the parent company of the Atari Group, is listed on
the Paris Euronext stock exchange (Euronext — ISIN:
FR-0010478248) and has two principal subsidiaries: Atari and
Atari Europe. The Atari Group is a producer, publisher and
distributor of interactive entertainment software for all market
segments and in all major existing game formats (Microsoft,
Nintendo and Sony) and on CD-ROM for PC. Its games are sold in
more than 60 countries. For the fiscal year ended March 31,
2008, Infogrames had consolidated net revenues (including Atari
results) of €290.7 million. Infogrames
beneficially owns approximately 51.6% of Atari’s common
stock through its wholly owned subsidiary, California
U.S. Holdings, Inc., a California corporation
(“CUSH”). If the merger is completed, Atari will
become a direct wholly owned subsidiary of CUSH and an indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames.
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Merger Sub. Irata Acquisition Corp
(“Merger Sub”) is a newly formed Delaware corporation
that is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of CUSH. Merger
Sub’s sole purpose is to effect the merger. Merger
Sub’s corporate existence will terminate upon consummation
of the merger. Infogrames, Merger Sub and CUSH are collectively
referred to in this proxy statement as the “Infogrames
Parties.”
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BlueBay High Yield. BlueBay High Yield
Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. (“BlueBay High
Yield”) is a lender to Atari under the BlueBay Credit
Facility. See “Certain Transactions with Directors,
Executive Officers and Affiliates”. BlueBay High Yield is
an affiliate of the BlueBay Value Recovery (Master)
Fund Limited (“BVRF”) and the BlueBay
Multi-Strategy (Master) Fund Limited (“BMSF”, and
together with BVRF, the “BlueBay Funds”). The BlueBay
Funds, as disclosed in the Schedule 13D/A dated May 8, 2008
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”), collectively hold approximately 31.5% of the
outstanding shares of common stock of Infogrames. The BlueBay
Funds also are eligible to redeem certain warrants and convert
convertible bonds into shares of Infogrames, whereby, upon
redemption and exercise of such stock warrants, the BlueBay
Funds would collectively hold approximately 54.9% of the
outstanding stock of Infogrames (on a fully diluted basis). The
BlueBay Funds are deemed by
Rule 13d-3(d)(1)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange
Act”) to be beneficial owners of Atari stock held by
Infogrames for beneficial ownership reporting purposes. See
“Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management”. The principal business of each of the BlueBay
Funds is, as an investment company, the investment of its assets
across a number of asset classes, employing different investment
strategies, in order to achieve returns for its investors.
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The
Special Meeting (page 62)
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Date, Time, Place (page 62). The special
meeting will be held on October 8, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.,
local time, at Atari’s offices, 417 Fifth Avenue, New
York, New York 10016.
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Matters to be Considered (page 62). At
the special meeting, Atari stockholders will consider and vote
upon a proposal to adopt and approve the merger agreement.
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Record Date and Quorum (page 62). Atari
has fixed August 22, 2008 as the record date for the
special meeting. Only holders of record of Atari’s common
stock as of the close of business on the record date are
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting and
any adjournment or postponement thereof. The presence at the
special meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a
majority of shares of common stock outstanding on the record
date will constitute a quorum, permitting Atari to conduct its
business at the special meeting.
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Required Vote and Voting Rights
(page 62). Stockholder adoption and approval
of the merger agreement requires the affirmative vote of at
least a majority of Atari’s outstanding common stock
entitled to vote on the merger. Each share of Atari’s
common stock is entitled to one vote. As of the record date,
Infogrames directly or indirectly controlled approximately 51.6%
of the voting securities of Atari, which is sufficient to adopt
and approve the merger agreement. Therefore, approval of the
merger agreement will occur as a result of the vote in favor of
the merger agreement by Infogrames, regardless of the vote of
any other stockholder of Atari.
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How Shares are Voted (page 62). You may
vote by attending the special meeting and voting in person, by
submitting a ballot or by completing the enclosed proxy card and
then signing, dating and returning it in the self-addressed
postage pre-paid envelope provided. You may also vote over the
internet or by telephone. For more information on voting by
mail, over the internet or by telephone, see “Questions and
Answers About the Special Meeting and Merger” beginning on
page 10. Submitting a proxy now will not limit your right
to vote at the special meeting if you decide to attend in person
and vote. If your shares are held of record in “street
name” by a broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian
and you wish to vote in person at the special meeting, you must
obtain from the record holder a proxy issued in your name. Your
broker will not be able to vote your shares without instructions
from you. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares,
following the procedures provided by your broker. Failure to
instruct your broker to vote your shares will have the same
effect as a vote AGAINST the merger agreement.
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Revocation of Proxies (page 62). You may
revoke your proxy at any time before it is actually voted by
giving notice in writing to the Secretary of Atari, by giving
notice of the revocation at the special meeting or by submitting
a duly executed proxy bearing a later date. Attendance at the
special meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. If you have
given voting instructions to a broker, nominee, fiduciary or
other custodian that holds your shares in “street
name”, you may revoke those instructions by following the
directions given by the broker, nominee, fiduciary or other
custodian.
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Structure
of the Transaction (page 15)
Pursuant to the merger agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with
and into Atari. Atari will continue its corporate existence
under Delaware law as the surviving corporation in the merger
and Atari will become a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of
Infogrames.
At the effective time of the merger, pursuant to the merger
agreement and Delaware law:
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all shares of Atari common stock that are held by Infogrames,
Atari or any of their wholly owned subsidiaries will be
cancelled and retired without any consideration payable therefor;
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each other share of Atari common stock issued and outstanding
immediately before the effective time of the merger (other than
any share as to which a dissenting stockholder has perfected and
not withdrawn appraisal rights under Delaware law) will be
converted into the right to receive US$1.68 in cash without
interest;
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each option holder will be entitled to receive an amount in cash
equal to the product of (x) the number of shares into which
each option was exercisable prior to the effective time subject
to such stock option, multiplied by (y) the excess, if any,
of the per share merger consideration of US$1.68 over the per
share exercise price of such stock option, less applicable taxes
required to be withheld with respect to such payment and, to the
extent permitted under the applicable option plans, each
outstanding and unexercised
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option to purchase shares of Atari common stock granted under
Atari’s stock incentive plans (whether vested or unvested)
at the effective time of the merger will be cancelled;
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Atari will use its reasonable best efforts to effect a tender
offer to purchase all outstanding options to acquire shares of
Atari common stock granted under Atari’s employee stock
incentive plans (whether or not vested or exercisable) that
Atari does not have the right to cancel and that have exercise
prices that exceed US$1.68 per share;
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each outstanding share of Merger Sub common stock will be
converted into one share of common stock of Atari, the surviving
corporation in the merger; and
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shares of Atari common stock, the holders of which perfect their
appraisal rights in the manner prescribed by Section 262 of
the Delaware General Corporate Law (“DGCL”), will be
cancelled and each holder of such shares will be entitled to
receive a cash payment equal to the fair value of such shares,
as determined pursuant to court appraisal proceedings.
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For the purposes of this proxy statement, shares of common stock
of Atari beneficially owned by Infogrames and holders who have
perfected and not withdrawn a demand for appraisal rights are
collectively referred to as “excluded shares”.
Purposes
for the Merger (page 24)
Atari’s purpose in undertaking the merger is to allow its
stockholders (other than Infogrames and its affiliates) to
realize the value of their investment in Atari in cash at a
price that represents a 6.3% premium to the
5-day
trading price prior to the date of Infogrames’ announcement
of its offer, and a 58.5% premium to the
30-day
trading price prior to the date of Infogrames’ announcement
of its offer, of Atari’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock
Market.
The Infogrames Parties’ purpose for engaging in the merger
is to acquire all of the shares of common stock (approximately
49.4%) not already beneficially owned by Infogrames. In reaching
its decision to effect the merger, the Infogrames board, in
consultation with its management, focused primarily on the
benefits and synergies of having its products distributed in the
United States by a wholly owned company that would no longer be
incurring the costs involved with being a public company, and
the ability of Infogrames to rebuild and develop Atari for the
long term without immediate concerns about its potential
liquidation or bankruptcy. See “Special Factors —
Purposes for the Merger — Infogrames’ Purpose for
the Merger”.
Certain
Effects of the Merger (page 47)
Among other results of the merger, the stockholders of Atari
(other than Infogrames and its affiliates) will no longer have
any interest in, and will no longer be stockholders of, Atari
and will not participate in any future earnings or growth of
Atari, and Infogrames will beneficially own all of the
outstanding shares of Atari. Following the merger, Atari will no
longer file periodic reports and other information with the SEC.
Furthermore, Atari’s common stock will no longer be
publicly traded and price quotations with respect to sales of
shares of Atari’s common stock on the public market will no
longer be available. Currently, Atari’s common stock is
quoted on the “Pink Sheets” as a consequence of being
delisted from the Nasdaq Global Market on May 9, 2008 after
a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel determined to delist
Atari’s securities because Atari had failed to regain
compliance with the requirements of Nasdaq Marketplace
Rule 4450(b)(3) regarding the aggregate market value of
Atari’s publicly held shares. The merger is considered a
“going private” transaction under applicable SEC
regulations.
Atari’s
Reasons for the Merger; Recommendations of the Special Committee
and the Atari Board of Directors (page 25)
Prior to and at the time of Infogrames’ proposal, three of
Atari’s directors had certain conflicts of interest in
evaluating the merger. Atari’s special committee of
independent directors, consisting of Eugene Davis, Wendell
Adair, Bradley Scher and James Shein (the “Special
Committee”), was therefore charged with negotiating and
evaluating a potential transaction with Infogrames and, if
appropriate, recommending the transaction to Atari’s board.
3
Both the Special Committee and the board of directors of Atari
(other than Mr. Coppee, who did not participate in the
decision), after careful consideration of numerous factors, have
determined that the merger agreement and the merger are fair and
advisable to and in the best interests of Atari’s
unaffiliated stockholders. For further information regarding
Atari’s reasons for entering into the merger, see
“Special Factors — Atari’s Reasons For the
Merger; Recommendations of the Special Committee and the Atari
Board of Directors”.
Acting with the recommendation of the Special Committee, the
board of directors approved the merger agreement. The board of
directors, based in part on the recommendation of the Special
Committee, recommends that Atari’s stockholders vote for
the adoption and approval of the merger agreement.
Opinion
of the Financial Advisor to the Special Committee of the Board
of Directors (page 31)
In connection with the merger, Duff & Phelps LLC
(“Duff & Phelps”) rendered its opinion on
April 28, 2008 to the Special Committee that, subject to
the qualifications and limitations set forth therein, as of that
date, the per share merger consideration of US$1.68 in cash to
be paid to Atari’s public stockholders (other than
Infogrames and its affiliates) in the merger was fair to such
holders from a financial point of view.
The full text of the Duff & Phelps opinion, which sets
forth, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures
followed, matters considered and limitations on the review
undertaken by Duff & Phelps in connection with the
opinion, is attached as Annex B to this proxy
statement and is incorporated into this proxy statement by
reference. You are urged to read Duff & Phelps’
opinion carefully in its entirety. Duff & Phelps’
opinion was provided to the Special Committee in connection with
its evaluation of the per share merger consideration to be paid
in the merger, did not address any other aspect of the merger
and did not constitute a recommendation to any holder of Atari
common stock as to how such holder should vote or act with
respect to any matters relating to the merger.
Position
of the Infogrames Parties as to the Fairness of the Merger to
Atari’s Unaffiliated Stockholders (page 29)
Each of Infogrames, Merger Sub and CUSH believes that the merger
is financially and procedurally fair to Atari’s
unaffiliated stockholders for the reasons described under
“Position of the Infogrames Parties as to the Fairness of
the Merger to Atari’s Unaffiliated Stockholders; Intent of
Infogrames to Vote in Favor of the Merger Transaction”.
Interests
of Certain Persons in the Merger (page 49)
In considering the recommendation of the board of directors, you
should be aware that certain of Atari’s executive officers
and directors, and the Infogrames Parties have interests in the
transaction that are different from, or are in addition to, the
interests of Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders generally.
The Special Committee and the board of directors were aware of
these conflicts of interest and considered them along with other
matters when they determined to recommend the merger. These
interests, which are discussed in detail in the section entitled
“Special Factors — Interests of Certain Persons
in the Merger”, include the following:
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The Infogrames Parties directly or indirectly control 51.6% of
the outstanding voting securities of Atari, which is sufficient
to adopt and approve the merger and the merger agreement.
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The BlueBay Funds, as disclosed in the Schedule 13D/A dated
May 8, 2008 filed with the SEC, collectively hold
approximately 31.5% of the outstanding shares of common stock of
Infogrames. The BlueBay Funds are also eligible to redeem
certain warrants and convert convertible bonds into shares of
Infogrames, and, upon such redemption and exercise of such stock
warrants, the BlueBay Funds would collectively hold
approximately 54.9% of the outstanding stock of Infogrames (on a
fully diluted basis). The BlueBay Funds are deemed by
Rule 13d-3(d)(1)
of the Exchange Act to be beneficial owners of Atari stock held
by Infogrames for beneficial ownership reporting purposes. See
“Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management”.
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Infogrames has provided Atari a credit facility for the
aggregate principal amount of US$20 million. Such loan is
secured by substantially all the assets of Atari (subject to
certain obligations under an intercreditor
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agreement among Infogrames, Blue Bay High Yield and Atari). For
additional information regarding the Infogrames credit facility,
see “Certain Transactions with Directors, Executive
Officers and Affiliates”.
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BlueBay High Yield has provided Atari a credit facility for the
aggregate principal loan amount of US$14 million, plus
accrued and unpaid and accruing interest and fees. Such loan is
secured by substantially all the assets of Atari (subject to
certain obligations under an intercreditor agreement among
Infogrames, BlueBay High Yield and Atari). BlueBay High Yield
and Atari entered into a Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment,
dated as of April 30, 2008 (the “Fourth Credit
Facility Amendment”), pursuant to which BlueBay High Yield
agreed to, among other things, waive Atari’s non-
compliance with certain representations and covenants under the
credit facility and consent to the merger. If any party elects
to terminate the merger agreement, it would constitute an event
of default under the credit facility. For additional information
regarding the Blue Bay High Yield credit facility, see
“Certain Transactions with Directors, Executive Officers
and Affiliates”.
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Each executive officer and director of Atari holding Atari stock
options (whether vested or unvested) will be entitled to receive
an amount in cash equal to the excess, if any, of the per share
merger consideration of US$1.68 over the applicable exercise
price per share of Atari common stock subject to such Atari
stock option, and such stock options will be cancelled. All
outstanding options (other than those granted to Jim Wilson and
Timothy Flynn) have exercise prices above US$1.68 per share.
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It is expected that certain of the persons serving as executive
officers of Atari immediately prior to the effective time of the
merger will remain executive officers of the surviving
corporation and will be eligible to participate in the global
stock option plan of Infogrames.
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The merger agreement provides that, following the merger,
indemnification and insurance arrangements will be maintained
for the persons serving as Atari’s directors and officers.
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In consideration of the expected time and effort that would be
required of Special Committee members in evaluating and
approving transactions with Infogrames, including a merger
proposal, on November 4, 2007 the board of directors
determined that each member of the Special Committee shall
receive a retainer of US$10,000 (with the exception of the
Chairman of the Special Committee, who receives US$25,000). In
addition, each member of the Special Committee receives US$2,000
for each Special Committee meeting attended in person and
US$1,000 for each Special Committee meeting attended by
telephone. The members of the Special Committee will also be
reimbursed for their reasonable out-of-pocket travel and other
expenses in connection with their service on the Special
Committee.
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No
Solicitation of Takeover Proposals (page 70)
The merger agreement contains restrictions on Atari’s and
the board’s ability to (i) initiate, solicit,
knowingly encourage or facilitate any inquiries, offers or
proposals relating to a takeover proposal, or (ii) engage
in or continue discussions or negotiations with, or provide any
non-public information relating to Atari or any of its
subsidiaries, to any person who has made or indicated an
intention to make a takeover proposal.
Atari and its board of directors may, however, if specified
conditions are satisfied and the board of directors determines
in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel that
the failure to take such action could constitute a breach of its
fiduciary duties to Atari’s stockholders under applicable
law, engage in negotiations or discussions with, and provide
information about Atari to, any third party that makes an
unsolicited bona fide written takeover proposal that the board
of directors determines, in good faith, constitutes a superior
proposal (as defined in the merger agreement) or is reasonably
likely to result in a superior proposal. However, nothing in the
merger agreement obligates Infogrames in any way to vote in
favor of a superior proposal.
The merger agreement also provides that Atari’s board of
directors shall not directly or indirectly withdraw, modify or
amend (or propose or resolve to withdraw, modify or amend), in a
manner adverse to Infogrames, its recommendation with respect to
the merger or approve, endorse or recommend (or propose to
approve, endorse or recommend) any takeover proposal other than
the merger, except that before the stockholders approve the
merger, Atari’s board of directors may withhold or withdraw
its recommendation if Atari’s board of directors determines
in good faith, after consultation with its legal and financial
advisors, that the failure to do so would reasonably be
5
expected to result in a violation of the directors’
fiduciary duties to Atari’s stockholders under applicable
law, provided that Atari’s board of directors has provided
Infogrames with at least three business days’ prior notice
of its intention to change its recommendation. In the event of a
change of recommendation due to the existence of a superior
proposal, Atari’s board of directors shall give Infogrames
written notice of its intention to change its recommendation at
least five business days prior to making a change of
recommendation. At any time Infogrames will be permitted to
propose to Atari’s board of directors, revisions to the
terms of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement,
and the board of directors is required to negotiate in good
faith regarding any such revisions, and Atari’s board of
directors may withhold or withdraw its recommendation on the
basis of the superior proposal only in the event that it
continues to be a superior proposal in light of any revisions to
the terms of the transaction contemplated by the merger
agreement to which Infogrames and Atari’s board of
directors have agreed.
Conditions
to the Merger (page 73)
The respective obligation of each party to complete the merger
is subject to the merger agreement being adopted by the
requisite Atari stockholder vote.
The obligation of Infogrames to complete the merger is subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of various conditions specified in
the merger agreement, including conditions relating to, among
other things:
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the absence of any event or circumstance that has or is
reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect (as defined
in the merger agreement) on Atari;
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performance by Atari of its obligations under the merger
agreement;
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the accuracy of the Atari’s representations and warranties
under the merger agreement;
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the absence of any court or governmental entity enacting,
issuing, promulgating, enforcing or entering any order or law
that is in effect which restrains, enjoins or otherwise
prohibits consummation of the merger;
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obtaining necessary governmental and certain other consents and
approvals for the transactions contemplated under the merger
agreement;
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the absence of any breach of certain company material contracts;
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less than 15% of the outstanding Atari common stock validly
exercising appraisal rights prior to the effective time; and
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No default has been declared by the lender under the credit
facility provided by BlueBay High Yield.
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The obligation of Atari to complete the merger is subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of conditions relating to, among other
things:
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the absence of any event or circumstance that has or is
reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect (as defined
in the merger agreement) on Infogrames;
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performance by Infogrames of its obligations under the merger
agreement; and
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the accuracy of Infogrames’ representations and warranties
under the merger agreement.
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Termination
of the Merger Agreement (page 74)
The merger agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
effective time of the merger by mutual written consent of
Infogrames and Atari (through action by, or with approval of,
the Special Committee).
The merger agreement may be terminated by either Atari (through
action by, or with approval of, the Special Committee) or
Infogrames at any time prior to the effective time if:
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the closing does not occur by August 31, 2008, with certain
extensions if (i) the Securities and Exchange Commission
(“SEC”) has reviewed the Atari proxy statement and the
special meeting has not been held by August 31, 2008 and
(ii) after August 31, 2008 but prior to
October 31, 2008, any governmental entity has entered an
order that enjoins the merger and a party to the merger
agreement commenced an appeal thereof,
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the merger agreement may be extended by written notice to the
other party to the date that is 30 days following the
issuance of a decision by the applicable appeals court with
respect to the appeal (but in no event beyond October 31,
2008);
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the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Atari’s common stock is not obtained;
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Atari’s board changes its recommendation to Atari’s
stockholders of the merger and merger agreement in any manner
adverse to Infogrames due to the existence of a superior
proposal;
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any law is enacted that prohibits the consummation of the
merger; or
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any order is entered that prohibits consummation of the merger,
and such order is final and nonappealable.
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The merger agreement may be terminated by Infogrames at any time
prior to the effective time if:
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Atari’s board of directors withdraws, modifies or amends
its recommendation to Atari’s stockholders of the merger
and merger agreement in any manner adverse to Infogrames;
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a tender offer or exchange offer for any outstanding shares of
Atari common stock is commenced and Atari’s board of
directors fails to recommend against acceptance of the tender
offer or exchange offer by Atari’s stockholders within ten
business days after the offer’s commencement, or the board
of directors or Atari publicly announces its intention not to do
so;
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Atari’s board of directors exempts any person other than
Infogrames or any of its affiliates from §203 of the DGCL
(relating to business combinations with interested stockholders);
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Atari breaches any of its representations or warranties
contained in the merger agreement, if such breach would have a
material adverse effect on Atari, or if Atari fails to
materially perform its obligations under the merger agreement,
and in either case such breach is not cured within 20 business
days; provided that Infogrames cannot terminate the merger
agreement by reason of Atari’s breach of the credit
facility provided by Infogrames unless BlueBay High Yield has
declared a default under the credit facility it provides Atari
and has accelerated Atari’s obligations thereunder. For
further information regarding Atari’s credit facility with
BlueBay High Yield, see “Certain Transactions with
Directors, Executive Officers and Affiliates”;
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a material adverse effect on Atari occurs;
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one or more key intellectual property assets (as defined in the
merger agreement) of Atari become materially impaired as a
result of the acts or omissions of Atari;
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BlueBay High Yield has declared a default under the credit
facility it provides Atari and has accelerated the obligations
thereunder; or
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Atari or any of its subsidiaries has commenced certain
bankruptcy-related actions.
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The merger agreement may be terminated by Atari (through action
by, or with approval of, the Special Committee) at any time
prior to the effective time of the merger if Infogrames breaches
any of its representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements
contained in the merger agreement, if such breach would have a
material adverse effect on Infogrames, or if Infogrames fails to
materially perform its obligations under the merger agreement,
and in either case such breach is not cured within 20 business
days.
Termination
Fee (page 75)
Atari will pay Infogrames a termination fee of US$450,000 if the
agreement is terminated:
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by Infogrames because (i) Atari’s board withdraws,
modifies or amends its recommendation to Atari’s
stockholders of the merger and merger agreement in any manner
adverse to Infogrames; (ii) Atari’s board of directors
fails to recommend against acceptance of a tender offer or
exchange offer for outstanding shares of Atari common stock
within ten business days of the offer’s commencement, or
publicly announces its intention not to do so;
(iii) Atari’s board of directors exempts any person
other than Infogrames or any of its affiliates from the
provisions of §203 of the DGCL (regarding business
combinations with interested
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stockholders); (iv) Atari willfully breaches any of its
representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements contained
in the merger agreement, if such breach would have a material
adverse effect on Atari, and such breach is not cured within 20
business days;
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By Atari because Atari’s board changes its recommendation
of the merger and merger agreement in favor of a superior
proposal, or if Atari enters into an agreement relating to a
superior proposal; or
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By either Infogrames or Atari because (i) the closing did
not occur by the latest date permitted under the merger
agreement, (ii) the requisite vote of the Atari
stockholders is not yet obtained or (iii) Atari’s
board changes its recommendation to Atari stockholders of the
merger and merger agreement in favor of a superior proposal, but
a takeover proposal had been proposed during the term of the
Agreement and, within 18 months of the termination of the
merger agreement, Atari or its subsidiaries enters into an
agreement for the implementation of a takeover proposal (whether
or not it is the same takeover proposal that had been previously
proposed).
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Litigation
Related to the Merger (page 53)
Stanley v.
IESA, Atari, Inc. and Atari, Inc. Board of
Directors
On April 18, 2008, attorneys representing Christian M.
Stanley, a purported stockholder of Atari
(“Plaintiff”), filed a Verified Class Action
Complaint against Atari, certain of its directors and former
directors, and Infogrames, in the Delaware Court of Chancery. In
summary, the complaint alleges that the director defendants
breached their fiduciary duties to Atari’s unaffiliated
stockholders by entering into an agreement that allows
Infogrames to acquire the outstanding shares of Atari’s
common stock at an allegedly unfairly low price. An Amended
Complaint was filed on May 20, 2008, updating the
allegations of the initial complaint to challenge certain
provisions of the definitive merger agreement. On the same day,
Plaintiff filed motions to expedite the suit and to
preliminarily enjoin the merger. Plaintiff filed a Second
Amended Complaint on June 30, 2008, further amending the
complaint to challenge the adequacy of the disclosures contained
in the Preliminary Proxy Statement on Form PREM 14A (the
“Preliminary Proxy”) submitted in support of the
proposed merger and asserting a claim against Atari and
Infogrames for aiding and abetting the directors’ and
former directors’ breach of their fiduciary duties.
Plaintiff alleges that the US$1.68 per share offering price
represents no premium over the closing price of Atari stock on
March 5, 2008, the last day of trading before Atari
announced the proposed merger transaction. Plaintiff alleges
that in light of Infogrames’ approximately 51.6% ownership
of Atari, Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders have no voice
in deciding whether to accept the proposed merger transaction,
and Plaintiff challenges certain of the “no shop” and
termination fee provisions of the merger agreement. Plaintiff
claims that the named directors are engaging in self-dealing and
acting in furtherance of their own interests at the expense of
those of Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders. Plaintiff also
alleges that the disclosures in the Preliminary Proxy are
deficient in that they fail to disclose material financial
information and the information presented to and considered by
the Board and its advisors. Plaintiff asks the court to enjoin
the proposed merger transaction, or alternatively, to rescind it
in the event that it is consummated. In addition, Plaintiff
seeks damages suffered as a result of the directors’
violation of their fiduciary duties.
The parties have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding,
dated as of August 1, 2008, in which the parties agreed in
principle to settle the case by making certain additional
disclosures. The settlement is subject to confirmatory discovery
and final approval of the court after notice is given to
stockholders and a hearing is held on the fairness of the
settlement.
Letter
from Coghill Capital Management, LLC
On June 18, 2008 Coghill Capital Management LLC
(“CCM”), which claimed to beneficially own
approximately 9.4% of the outstanding shares of the Company,
submitted a letter asserting that alleged past wrongdoing by
Infogrames and certain of its former and current executive
officers and directors had depressed the value of the Company,
and that the merger consideration did not adequately reflect the
value of those claims. CCM demanded that the board commence an
action against Infogrames to recover $72 million. The
Company appointed a special committee to investigate and report
to the Board of Directors concerning CCM’s claims. By
letter dated July 18, 2008, CCM advised the Company of its
view that the Company’s statement in its
Form 10-K
for fiscal 2008, filed on
8
July 1, 2008, that it believed the stockholder suit to be
“entirely without merit,” made clear that CCM’s
prior demand was “moot” and that any demand would be
futile. On July 23, the special committee advised CCM that
it did not believe that a demand was futile. After consultation
with its counsel, the special committee determined that further
investigation of CCM’s allegations is not appropriate at
this time.
Material
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
(page 54)
The receipt of the cash merger consideration pursuant to the
merger by Atari’s unaffiliated U.S. stockholders will
be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. A U.S. stockholder whose shares of Atari common
stock are converted to cash in the merger will recognize capital
gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes equal
to the excess, if any, of the cash received in the merger over
the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares
converted into the merger consideration. Such gain or loss will
be long-term capital gain or loss provided that the
U.S. holder’s holding period for such shares is more
than one year at the time the merger is completed. The
deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
The receipt of the cash merger consideration pursuant to the
merger by Atari’s unaffiliated
non-U.S. stockholders
generally will not be subject to United Stated federal income
tax except under certain circumstances.
Tax matters are very complex, and the tax consequences of the
merger to you will depend on the facts of your own situation. We
recommend that you consult your tax advisor for a full
understanding of the tax consequences of the merger to you,
including the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences
of the merger. See “Special Factors — Material
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”.
Appraisal
Rights (page 56)
Stockholders who do not vote in favor of approval of the merger
agreement and who comply with the procedures for perfecting
appraisal rights under the applicable statutory provisions of
Delaware law summarized elsewhere in this proxy statement may be
entitled to payment of the “fair value” of their
shares in cash determined in accordance with Delaware law. See
“Special Factors — Appraisal Rights”.
9
QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND MERGER
The following questions and answers, presented for your
convenience only, briefly address some commonly asked questions
about the special meeting and the merger. You should still
carefully read the entire proxy statement, including the annexes
hereto.
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Why am I receiving these materials? |
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The board of directors is providing these proxy materials to
give you information for use in determining how to vote on the
merger agreement in connection with the special meeting. |
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When and where is the special meeting? |
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The special meeting will be held on October 8, 2008, at
10:00 a.m., local time, at Atari’s offices,
417 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016. |
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Will Atari still conduct its 2008 Annual Meeting? |
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If stockholders adopt and approve the merger agreement and
approve the merger at the special meeting, and the merger is
completed on a timely basis, Atari will not hold its 2008 Annual
Meeting. |
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What am I being asked to vote upon? |
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You are being asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to
adopt and approve the merger agreement. Pursuant to the merger
agreement, Merger Sub will merge into Atari, and Atari will
continue its corporate existence under Delaware law as the
surviving corporation in the merger and Atari will become a
wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Infogrames. |
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Who can vote on the proposal to adopt and approve the
merger agreement? |
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All holders of Atari common stock at the close of business on
August 22, 2008, the record date for the special meeting,
may vote in person or by proxy on the proposal to adopt and
approve the merger agreement at the special meeting. |
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How many shares of Atari common stock need to be
represented at the special meeting? |
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The holders of shares of voting stock representing a majority of
the voting power of the shares of voting stock issued,
outstanding and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders,
must be represented in person or by proxy at such meeting to
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If you vote
by proxy card, over the internet or by telephone, or in person
at the special meeting, your shares will be considered present
for the purpose of determining whether the quorum requirement
has been satisfied. |
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Q: |
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What vote is required to adopt and approve the merger
agreement? |
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A: |
|
Stockholder adoption and approval of the merger agreement
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of Atari’s
outstanding common stock entitled to vote on the merger of
Atari. As of the record date, Infogrames directly or indirectly
controlled approximately 51.6% of the voting securities of
Atari, which is sufficient to adopt and approve the merger
agreement. As a result, approval of the merger agreement will
occur upon the vote in favor of the merger agreement by
Infogrames, regardless of the vote of any other stockholder of
Atari. |
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Q: |
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What will happen in the merger? |
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A: |
|
The proposed transaction is a merger of Merger Sub with and into
Atari. Atari will continue its corporate existence under
Delaware law as the surviving corporation in the merger and
Atari will become a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of
Infogrames. |
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Q: |
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What will each holder of Atari common stock receive in the
merger? |
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A: |
|
At the effective time of the merger, each share of Atari common
stock outstanding at the effective time of the merger (other
than excluded shares) that you hold will be cancelled and
converted into the right to receive US$1.68 in cash, without
interest. Shares beneficially owned by Infogrames will be
cancelled with no consideration paid therefor. Shares held by
stockholders who vote against adoption of the merger agreement |
10
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and perfect a demand for appraisal rights under Delaware law
will be cancelled and the dissenting shares will receive only
the payment provided for pursuant to Section 267 of the
DGCL. See Annex C. |
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Q: |
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What will an option holder receive in the merger? |
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A: |
|
At the effective time of the merger, all outstanding options to
acquire shares of Atari’s common stock granted under Atari
stock incentive plans, whether or not vested or exercisable,
that you hold will be converted into the right to receive an
amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product of the
number of shares of Atari common stock subject to such option
multiplied by the excess, if any, of US$1.68 over the exercise
price per share of each such option. Furthermore, prior to the
effective time of the merger, Atari has agreed to use its
reasonable best efforts to effect a tender offer to purchase all
outstanding options to acquire shares of Atari common stock
granted under Atari’s employee stock incentive plans
(whether or not vested or exercisable) that Atari does not have
the right to cancel and that have exercise prices that exceed
US$1.68 per share. Documents regarding the tender offer will be
mailed to option holders at or about the time this proxy
statement is sent to Atari stockholders. Any payments to the
option holder will be reduced by applicable withholding taxes. |
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Q: |
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What consideration will management participants receive in
the merger? |
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A: |
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To the extent they hold shares of Atari’s common stock or
options to acquire Atari’s common stock, management
participants will receive the same consideration as all other
stock and option holders. Other than such merger consideration,
no officers or directors of Atari will receive any consideration
or other remuneration in connection with the merger. See
“Special Factors — Interests of Certain Persons
in the Merger — Other Consideration in Connection with
the Merger” and “Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management”. |
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Q: |
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What are the reasons for the merger? |
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A: |
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Atari’s purpose in undertaking the merger is to allow its
stockholders (other than Infogrames and its affiliates) to
realize the value of their investment in Atari in cash at a
price that represents a 6.3% premium to the
5-day
trading price prior to the date of Infogrames’ announcement
of its offer, and a 58.5% premium to the
30-day
trading price prior to the date of Infogrames’ announcement
of its offer, of Atari’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock
Market. Infogrames’ purpose for engaging in the merger is
to acquire all of the shares of common stock (approximately
49.4%) not already beneficially owned by Infogrames. In reaching
its decision to effect the merger, the Infogrames board, in
consultation with its management, focused primarily on the
benefits and synergies of having its products distributed in the
United States by a wholly owned company that would no longer be
incurring the costs involved with being a public company, and
the ability of Infogrames to rebuild and develop Atari for the
long term without immediate concerns about its potential
liquidation or bankruptcy. See “Special Factors —
Purposes for the Merger — Infogrames’ Purpose for
the Merger”. |
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Q: |
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What was the role of the Special Committee? |
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A: |
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The Special Committee of Atari’s board of directors was
established in May 2006 to evaluate transactions between Atari
and Infogrames and its affiliates. Prior to and at the time of
Infogrames’ proposal, three of Atari’s directors also
served as directors of Infogrames or its direct or indirect
subsidiaries. Because these directors had financial and other
interests that could be different from, and in addition to, the
interests of Atari stockholders (other than Infogrames and its
affiliates) in transactions with Infogrames and its affiliates,
including the proposed merger transaction, Atari’s board of
directors decided that, in order to protect the interests of
Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders, the Special Committee of
independent directors who are not affiliated with Infogrames,
should evaluate and negotiate the merger agreement and, if
appropriate, recommend the merger and the terms of the merger
agreement to Atari’s board. See “ Special
Factors — Interests of Certain Persons in the
Merger — Atari Directors”. |
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Q: |
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What was the recommendation of the Special Committee to
the Atari board of directors? |
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A: |
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The Special Committee has determined that the merger agreement
and the merger are fair and advisable to and in the best
interests of the unaffiliated stockholders of Atari. The Special
Committee has unanimously recommended that the board of
directors: (a) approve and adopt the merger agreement; (
b) approve the merger; and (c) recommend that the
stockholders of Atari vote for the adoption and approval of the
merger agreement. |
11
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Q: |
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What is the recommendation of the board of directors to
the holders of common stock of Atari? |
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A: |
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The board of directors, based on the recommendation of the
Special Committee, recommends that Atari’s stockholders
vote FOR the adoption and approval of the merger agreement. The
recommendation of the board of directors was made after
consideration of all the material factors, both positive and
negative. See “Special Factors — Atari’s
Reasons for the Merger; Recommendations of the Special Committee
and the Atari Board of Directors”. |
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Q: |
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What are the consequences of the merger to current Atari
officers and directors? |
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A: |
|
At the effective time of the merger, the directors of Merger Sub
will become the directors of the surviving corporation in the
merger. It is expected that, immediately following the effective
time of the merger, the officers of Atari immediately prior to
the effective time of the merger will remain officers of the
surviving corporation. |
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Q: |
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Is the merger subject to the satisfaction of any
conditions? |
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A: |
|
Yes. Before completion of the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement, a number of closing conditions must be
satisfied or waived. These conditions are described in this
proxy statement in the section entitled “The Merger
Agreement — Conditions to the Merger”. If these
conditions are not satisfied or waived, the merger will not be
completed even if Atari’s stockholders vote to adopt and
approve the merger agreement. |
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Q: |
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When do you expect the merger to be completed? |
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A: |
|
If the merger and the merger agreement are approved and adopted
at the special meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of
Atari’s outstanding common stock entitled to vote on the
merger, and if the other conditions to the merger agreement are
satisfied or waived, Atari and Infogrames expect to complete the
merger promptly after the special meeting. |
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Q: |
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What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the
merger to Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders? |
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A: |
|
The receipt of the cash merger consideration pursuant to the
merger by Atari’s unaffiliated U.S. stockholders will be a
taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S.
stockholder whose shares of Atari common stock are converted to
cash in the merger will recognize capital gain or loss for
United States federal income tax purposes equal to the excess,
if any, of the cash received in the merger over the U.S.
holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares converted into
the merger consideration. Such gain or loss will be long-term
capital gain or loss provided that the U.S. holder’s
holding period for such shares is more than one year at the time
the merger is completed. The deductibility of capital losses is
subject to limitations. |
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The receipt of the cash merger consideration pursuant to the
merger by Atari’s unaffiliated
non-U.S.
stockholders generally will not be subject to United Stated
federal income tax except under certain circumstances. |
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Tax matters are very complex, and the tax consequences of the
merger to you will depend on the facts of your own situation. We
recommend that you consult your tax advisor for a full
understanding of the tax consequences of the merger to you,
including the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences
of the merger. See “Special Factors — Material
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”. |
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Q: |
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How do I vote my shares of Atari common stock? |
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A: |
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You may vote by mail, over the internet, by telephone or in
person. |
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To vote by mail: |
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• Complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy card.
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• Return it in the postage pre-paid envelope Atari has
provided.
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To vote over the internet: |
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• Have your proxy card available.
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• Log on to the internet and visit www.proxyvote.com.
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• Follow the instructions that are provided.
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• Do not mail in your proxy card.
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To vote by telephone: |
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• Have your proxy card available.
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• Call the toll free number shown on your proxy card.
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• Follow the recorded instructions.
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• Do not mail in your proxy card.
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To vote in person if you are the record owner of your
shares: |
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• Attend the special meeting.
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• Vote by ballot or deliver your proxy in person.
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To vote in person if your shares are held in street name
(i.e., your shares are held in an account with a bank or broker
or by another nominee): |
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• Obtain a proxy from the institution that holds your
shares.
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• Attend the special meeting.
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• Vote by ballot, attaching the proxy from the
institution that holds your shares.
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If you vote by proxy and mark voting instructions on the proxy
card or give voting instructions on an internet or telephone
proxy, your shares will be voted as you instruct. If you do not
give voting instructions, the persons named as proxies on the
proxy card will vote your shares FOR the approval of the merger
agreement. If any other matters properly come before the
meeting, the people you appoint as your proxies will vote your
shares with regard to those matters in accordance with their
best judgment. |
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Q: |
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What happens if I do not return a proxy card? |
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A: |
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If you neither vote at the meeting nor grant your proxy as
described in this proxy statement, your shares will not be
voted, which will have the effect of voting AGAINST the adoption
and approval of the merger agreement. |
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Q: |
|
May I change my vote after I have mailed my signed proxy
card or otherwise voted? |
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A: |
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Yes. You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is actually
voted by sending a signed statement to the Secretary of Atari
that the proxy is revoked, by submitting a duly executed proxy
bearing a later date, or by voting in person at the special
meeting. Attendance at the special meeting will not, by itself,
revoke a proxy. If you have given voting instructions to a
broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian that holds your
shares in “street name”, you may revoke those
instructions by following the directions given by the broker,
nominee, fiduciary or other custodian. |
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Q: |
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If my shares are held in “street name” by my
broker, will my broker vote my shares for me? |
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A: |
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Your broker will not be able to vote your shares without
instructions from you. You should instruct your broker to vote
your shares, following the procedures provided by your broker.
Failure to instruct your broker to vote your shares will have
the same effect as a vote AGAINST the merger agreement. |
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Q: |
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What does it mean if I receive more than one set of
materials? |
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A: |
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This means you own shares of Atari common stock that are
registered under different names. For example, you may own some
shares directly as a stockholder of record and other shares
through a broker; or you may own shares through more than one
broker. In these situations, you will receive multiple sets of
proxy materials. You must complete, sign, date and return all
of the proxy cards or follow the instructions for any
alternative voting procedure on each of the proxy cards that you
receive in order to vote all of the shares you own. Each proxy
card |
13
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you receive comes with its own postage pre-paid return envelope;
if you vote by mail, make sure you return each proxy card in the
return envelope that accompanies that proxy card. |
|
Q: |
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If the merger is completed, how will I receive the cash
for my shares? |
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A: |
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Infogrames has selected American Stock Transfer and
Trust Company to act as the paying agent. Infogrames will
provide funds necessary for the payment of the aggregate merger
consideration to the paying agent, no later than close of
business on the business day immediately preceding the closing
date. Promptly after the effective time, the paying agent will
mail a letter of transmittal that will contain instructions
concerning the procedure for surrendering stock certificates.
Upon surrender of the stock certificates to the paying agent,
together with a properly completed letter of transmittal and any
other documents the paying agent may require, the holder will
receive the appropriate merger consideration, less any
applicable withholding taxes. No interest will be paid or will
accrue on any amount payable upon surrender of stock
certificates. |
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Q: |
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Should I send in my stock certificates now? |
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A: |
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No. If the merger is completed, you will receive written
instructions for exchanging your Atari stock certificates for
the applicable per share cash amount. You must return your Atari
stock certificates as described in the instructions. |
|
Q: |
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What if I have lost a stock certificate? |
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A: |
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If any certificate is lost, stolen or destroyed, upon making an
affidavit of that fact and posting a bond in the form required
by Infogrames as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against Infogrames on account of the alleged loss, theft or
destruction of such certificate, the paying agent will pay you
the merger consideration in exchange for such lost, stolen or
destroyed certificate. |
|
Q: |
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What rights do I have to seek appraisal of my
shares? |
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A: |
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Shares of Atari common stock that are held by a stockholder who
has perfected a demand for appraisal rights pursuant to
Section 262 of the DGCL will not be converted into the
right to receive the merger consideration, unless and until the
dissenting holder effectively withdraws his or her request for,
or loses his or her right to, appraisal under the DGCL. Each
such dissenting stockholder will be entitled to receive only the
payment provided by Section 262 of the DGCL with respect to
shares owned by such dissenting stockholder. See “Special
Factors — Appraisal Rights” for a description of
the procedures that you must follow if you desire to exercise
your appraisal rights under Delaware law. |
|
Q: |
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Where can I get additional copies of this proxy statement
and who can help answer my questions? |
|
A: |
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If you would like additional copies, without charge, of this
proxy statement, or if you have questions about the merger
agreement or the merger, including the procedures for voting
your shares, you may contact Atari by telephone at
(212) 726-6500
or in writing at Atari, Inc., 417 Fifth Avenue, New York,
New York 10016, Attention: Arturo Rodriguez. |
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Q: |
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Who is soliciting my vote? |
|
A: |
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Atari is soliciting your vote. |
|
Q: |
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Who will act as inspector of election at the special
meeting ? |
|
A: |
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A representative of Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. has
been chosen to act as the inspector of election at the special
meeting. |
|
Q: |
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Who will pay the costs relating to the solicitation of
proxies from Atari stockholders? |
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A: |
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Atari and Infogrames will share all costs relating to the
solicitation equally. |
14
SPECIAL
FACTORS
Structure
of the Transaction
The proposed transaction is a merger of Merger Sub with and into
Atari. Atari will continue its corporate existence under
Delaware law as the surviving corporation in the merger and
Atari will become a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of
Infogrames.
The principal steps that will accomplish the merger are as
follows:
The Merger. Following the satisfaction or
waiver of all conditions to the merger, the following will occur
in connection with the merger:
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•
|
all shares of Atari common stock that are held by Infogrames,
Atari or any of their wholly owned subsidiaries will be
cancelled and retired without any consideration payable therefor;
|
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•
|
each other share of Atari common stock issued and outstanding
immediately before the effective time of the merger (other than
any share as to which a dissenting stockholder has perfected and
not withdrawn appraisal rights under Delaware law) will be
converted into the right to receive US$1.68 in cash without
interest;
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•
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each option holder will be entitled to receive an amount in cash
equal to the product of (x) the number of shares into which
each option was exercisable prior to the effective time subject
to such stock option, multiplied by (y) the excess, if any,
of the per share merger consideration of US$1.68 over the per
share exercise price of such stock option, less applicable taxes
required to be withheld with respect to such payment, and, to
the extent permitted under the applicable option plans, each
outstanding and unexercised option to purchase shares of Atari
common stock granted under Atari’s stock incentive plans
(whether vested or unvested) at the effective time of the merger
will be cancelled;
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•
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Atari will use its reasonable best efforts to effect a tender
offer to purchase all outstanding options to acquire shares of
Atari common stock granted under Atari’s employee stock
incentive plans (whether or not vested or exercisable) that
Atari does not have the right to cancel and that have exercise
prices that exceed US$1.68 per share;
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•
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each share of Merger Sub common stock will be converted into one
share of common stock of Atari, the surviving corporation in the
merger; and
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•
|
shares of Atari common stock, the holders of which perfect their
appraisal rights in the manner prescribed by Section 262 of
the DGCL, will be cancelled and each holder of such shares will
be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the fair value of
such shares, as determined pursuant to court appraisal
proceedings.
|
See “The Merger Agreement”.
As a result of the merger:
|
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•
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the stockholders of Atari (other than Infogrames and its
affiliates) will no longer have any interest in, and will no
longer be stockholders of, Atari and will not participate in any
future earnings or growth of Atari;
|
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•
|
Infogrames will beneficially own all of the outstanding shares
of Atari;
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•
|
shares of Atari common stock will no longer be listed on any
exchange or quotation service, and price quotations with respect
to sales of shares of Atari common stock in the public market
will no longer be available; and
|
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•
|
the registration of Atari’s common stock under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), will be terminated, and Atari will cease filing
reports and other information with the SEC.
|
Board of Directors of Atari. The board of
directors of Atari after the completion of the merger will
consist of the directors of Merger Sub at the effective time of
the merger, until their successors have been duly elected or
appointed and qualified or until their earlier death,
resignation or removal.
15
For additional details regarding the merger and interests of
Infogrames in the transaction, see “Special
Factors — Interests of Certain Persons in the
Merger” and “The Merger Agreement”.
Background
of the Merger
Prior to Infogrames’ acquisition of an interest in Atari in
1999, Infogrames and Atari completed a series of transactions
that were intended to provide Infogrames with a distribution
platform for Infogrames’ products in North America and to
strengthen the respective businesses of Infogrames and Atari.
On December 16, 1999, GT Interactive Software Corp.
(Atari’s predecessor) (“GTI”) entered into an
exclusive distribution agreement with Infogrames. Shortly
thereafter, Infogrames, through its wholly owned subsidiary
CUSH, became the majority stockholder of GTI by purchasing via
various transactions common stock and convertible securities of
GTI. As of May 15, 2000, Infogrames beneficially held 71.8%
of the voting securities of GTI.
On February 11, 2000, Bruno Bonnell, chairman of the board
of directors and Chief Executive Officer of Infogrames, also
became the chairman of the board of directors and Chief
Executive Officer of GTI.
In May 2000, in connection with Infogrames’ acquisition of
its majority stake, GTI changed its name to Infogrames, Inc. and
announced that all of its products would be marketed under the
Infogrames brand. Infogrames’ European presence allowed
Infogrames, Inc. to begin the process of closing its European
operations. Infogrames, Inc. also amended its exclusive
distribution agreement with Infogrames, expanding
Infogrames’ distribution territories to include Asia, South
America and other regions. Infogrames, Inc. also entered into an
agreement with Infogrames North America, Inc. (“INA”),
a wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames, to act as sales agent
for INA’s products in North America.
On October 2, 2000, INA merged with and into Infogrames,
Inc., with Infogrames, Inc. the surviving corporation. In
connection with this merger, Infogrames, Inc. and Infogrames
entered into a new distribution agreement that provided for the
distribution by Infogrames, Inc. of Infogrames’ products in
North America. Under the agreement, Infogrames, Inc. was
entitled to retain 70% of the gross profit for the distribution
of the products by it, subject to certain adjustments.
In December 2000, Infogrames acquired Hasbro Interactive and the
rights to the “Atari” name. In May 2003, Infogrames
licensed the rights to use the “Atari” name to
Infogrames, Inc., which then changed its name to Atari, Inc. and
its trading symbol on the Nasdaq National Market to
“ATAR”. Subsequently, in September 2003, Infogrames
and Atari extended the term and expanded the scope of the
trademark license.
Between 2000 and 2006, Infogrames and Atari amended their
distribution agreements with each other and entered into various
intercompany management and services agreements.
By 2001, Infogrames, through CUSH’s acquisitions of
additional common stock and convertible securities, beneficially
held 89.8% of Atari’s outstanding voting securities.
In September 2003, Atari completed a recapitalization through
the issuance of new shares pursuant to an agreement with
Infogrames and a secondary public offering. On
September 18, 2003, Atari converted certain outstanding
indebtedness to Infogrames into shares of common stock, and on
September 24, 2003, Infogrames sold shares of Atari common
stock in the secondary offering, which reduced its beneficial
ownership percentage to approximately 67.6% of Atari’s
outstanding voting securities immediately following the
completion of the offering. From time to time thereafter,
Infogrames sold additional shares of Atari common stock, until
its beneficial ownership interest was reduced in September 2005
to approximately 51.6% of the outstanding voting securities of
Atari.
Between 2004 and 2007, Atari experienced significant declines in
annual net revenue and operating income due to, among other
reasons, underperformance from new product launches, product
launch delays and reduced revenue after discontinued product
development and sales of intellectual property assets. As a
result of these declines and its limited ability to raise
additional capital, Atari experienced significant financial
difficulties.
16
Until 2005, Atari was actively involved in developing video
games and in financing development of video games by independent
developers, which Atari and Infogrames would publish and
distribute under licenses from the developers. In 2005,
Atari’s board determined that because of cash constraints,
Atari should substantially reduce its involvement in development
of video games and to divest itself of internal development
studios. Other than the participation on Atari’s board by
directors affiliated with Infogrames, Infogrames did not play a
role in Atari’s strategy for the development studio
divestments. During fiscal 2006 and 2007, Atari sold a number of
intellectual properties and development facilities in order to
obtain cash to fund its operations. During fiscal 2006, Atari
sold the Humongous Entertainment Studio to Infogrames. The sale
of Humongous followed significant marketing efforts by Atari,
including the retention of Morgan Joseph & Co., Inc.
as a broker. The consideration received for the sale,
approximately 4.7 million shares of Infogrames stock, was
valued at $8.3 million at the time of the transaction and
was sold in the open market for $10.1 million the following
month. The consideration offered by Infogrames was significantly
higher than any price offered by any other potential buyer.
Furthermore, in connection with the transaction, Atari entered
into a distribution agreement with respect to Humongous, which
provided that Atari would be the exclusive North American
distributor of Humongous’ products. Other than Humongous,
Infogrames did not purchase any Atari assets during this period.
During fiscal 2007, Atari sold the rights to its
“Driver” game franchise and certain other intellectual
property, and sold its Reflections Interactive and Shiny
Entertainment studios. By the end of fiscal 2007, Atari did not
own any development studios.
On May 9, 2006, Atari’s board established the Special
Committee of directors unaffiliated with Infogrames and
empowered it to review and approve any transaction outside the
ordinary course of business, including any proposal by
Infogrames
and/or its
affiliated entities to acquire Atari or any of its material
assets, any other transactions with Infogrames or in which
Infogrames may have different interests and any other related
party transactions.
On November 3, 2006, Atari established a secured credit
facility for which Guggenheim Corporate Funding LLC
(“Guggenheim”) was the administrative agent. The
credit facility consisted of a secured, committed, revolving
line of credit in the initial amount of up to
US$15 million. As of June 30, 2007, Atari was not in
compliance with the financial covenants of the credit facility.
On October 1, 2007, Guggenheim provided a waiver of
covenants of default as of June 30, 2007 but reduced the
aggregate loan availability under the credit facility to
US$3 million, representing the then-current outstanding
balance. As a result of these events and restrictions in the
credit agreement, Atari did not have the liquidity necessary to
sustain its operations over the long term and had limited
prospects for raising additional capital.
In May 2007, Atari undertook a plan to reduce its total
workforce by approximately 20%, primarily from general and
administrative functions. Also in May 2007, Infogrames engaged
Lazard Frères SAS (“Lazard”) to provide it advice
regarding its strategic alternatives, including, among other
things, with respect to its majority interest in Atari. On
September 18, 2007, Atari filed its Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007, in which
Atari’s auditor, Deloitte & Touche LLP, gave a
qualified opinion expressing doubt that Atari could continue as
a going concern.
On October 5, 2007, Infogrames, through its wholly owned
subsidiary CUSH, executed a stockholder action by written
consent removing the five directors of Atari unaffiliated with
Infogrames. In a letter dated October 5, 2007 (attached as
an exhibit to its amended Schedule 13D filed with the SEC
on October 9, 2007), Infogrames stated that it was taking
this action in order to preserve the value of Atari for all
stockholders and to take immediate action to implement necessary
restructuring of Atari’s operations.
Between October 10, 2007 and October 12, 2007, Wendell
Adair, Eugene Davis, Bradley Scher and James Shein were
appointed by the remaining members of Atari’s board as new
independent directors to fill four of the five vacancies on
Atari’s board of directors created after removal of the
previous directors. None of Messrs. Adair, Davis, Scher or
Schein has a relationship with BlueBay or Infogrames, except
that Mr. Davis is a director of Cherry Luxembourg S.A., a
company in which entities affiliated with the BlueBay Funds hold
43% of the common stock, 50.4% of the preferred shares and 55.6%
of the debt.
On October 10, 2007, Atari retained AlixPartners LLP, a
restructuring consulting firm, to assist Atari in evaluating and
implementing strategic and tactical options through Atari’s
restructuring process. Also on October 10, 2007, Curtis G.
Solsvig III, a managing director at AlixPartners LLP, was
appointed Atari’s Chief
17
Restructuring Officer. Between October 2007 and April 2008,
AlixPartners LLP and Mr. Solsvig worked with Atari
management to create and implement a restructuring plan, which
included refocusing Atari’s operations on its distribution
business and phasing out development of new titles.
On October 11, 2007, Atari’s board of directors
appointed Messrs. Wendell Adair, Eugene Davis, Bradley
Scher and James Shein, the four independent members of the board
of directors, to Atari’s Special Committee to make
recommendations regarding and to approve transactions with
related parties, particularly Infogrames and its affiliates.
On October 18, 2007, Guggenheim, with the consent of Atari,
transferred the US$3 million in outstanding loans under the
credit facility to BlueBay High Yield and agreed to the
appointment of BlueBay High Yield as successor administrative
agent. The BlueBay Funds, investment funds affiliated with
BlueBay High Yield, are stockholders of Infogrames. See
“Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management”. On October 23, 2007, BlueBay High Yield
and Atari entered into a waiver and amendment agreement to waive
the existing defaults, amend the financial and other covenants,
amend the conditions to availability of loans under the credit
facility and increase the credit facility to US$10 million.
On October 18, 2007, FUNimation Productions, Ltd.
(“FUNimation”) delivered a notice purporting to
terminate its license agreements with Atari, under which Atari
distributes the Dragonball Z software titles, based on alleged
breaches of the license agreements. From October 2007 to
December 2007, Atari and FUNimation discussed the terms of a
resolution of the dispute.
On October 30, 2007, David Pierce informed Atari that he
was resigning from his position as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Atari. In his resignation notice, Mr. Pierce
cited provisions in his employment agreement regarding the
termination of his employment under certain circumstances, and
referred specifically to the provisions regarding (i) a
material diminution or adverse change in his position, office or
duties, which he believed would be caused by the
October 10, 2007 appointment of Mr. Solsvig as
Atari’s Chief Restructuring Officer, and (ii) the
replacement of a majority of Atari’s board of directors in
a given year, where such replacement was not approved by the
board of directors as constituted at the beginning of such year,
which replacement he noted Infogrames had effected earlier in
the month. To Atari’s and Infogrames’ knowledge,
Mr. Pierce did not have any other specific objections to
the change in the board’s composition. Later that day,
members of the board and Mr. Pierce discussed, among other
things, the need to ensure a smooth transition to the newly
composed board and the development and implementation of
Atari’s restructuring plan. As a result of the discussion,
Mr. Pierce rescinded any purported resignation but reserved
his rights to take subsequent action. Two weeks later, Atari and
Mr. Pierce entered into a separation agreement that
substantively memorialized the terms of Mr. Pierce’s
employment agreement in connection with his resignation,
including: (i) severance payments of $43,611 per month for
the first six months after termination and $50,000 per month for
up to two three month periods thereafter should Mr. Pierce
be unable to find substitute employment; and (ii) medical
benefits for each month during which Mr. Pierce is entitled
to receive a severance payment. Further, Mr. Pierce agreed
that he was not entitled to any bonus and agreed to a general
release and other terms.
In November 2007, Atari undertook a plan to lower operating
expenses by, among other things, reducing headcount. The plan
included (i) a reduction in force to consolidate certain
operations, eliminate certain non-critical functions, and
refocus certain engineering and support functions, and
(ii) the transfer of certain product development and
business development employees to Infogrames in connection with
the termination of a production services agreement between Atari
and Infogrames. The plan, when completed, is expected to reduce
headcount by 30%.
On November 4, 2007, the board of directors of Atari
determined that each member of the Special Committee shall
receive a retainer of US$10,000 (with the exception of the
Chairman of the Special Committee, who shall receive US$25,000).
In addition, each member of the Special Committee will receive
US$2,000 for each Special Committee meeting attended in person
and US$1,000 for each Special Committee meeting attended by
telephone. Such fees are payable whether or not the merger is
completed, and were approved prior to the receipt of
Infogrames’ proposal and were not changed by the board of
directors thereafter.
Also on November 4, 2007, the Special Committee received
the preliminary results of AlixPartners LLP’s evaluation of
Atari’s operations, prospects and capital resources and its
recommendations of changes to Atari’s business strategy in
order to provide additional value to stockholders. AlixPartners
LLP observed that Atari’s
18
relationship with Infogrames was complex, because of
Infogrames’ ownership interests and Atari’s reliance
on Infogrames for a large proportion of the products Atari
distributes and as the owner of Atari’s material
trademarks. AlixPartners LLP also observed that the relationship
had not historically functioned well, particularly with respect
to coordination and communication between them, which was
necessary given the distribution relationship and the fact that
both were reporting companies required to prepare public reports
in their respective home jurisdictions. AlixPartners LLP’s
recommendations included a recommendation that Atari focus on
its distribution business and reduce its production operations,
which would require renegotiation of key agreements between
Atari and Infogrames. The Special Committee discussed the
near-term and long-term goals of Atari and directed AlixPartners
LLP and Atari management to continue its analysis and engage in
preliminary discussions with Infogrames regarding the changes in
Atari’s strategy and the renegotiation of key agreements.
In light of its extremely limited liquidity and its need to
raise additional capital, on November 8, 2007, Atari and
Infogrames entered into exclusive licensing agreements under
which Atari granted Infogrames the exclusive right to develop
and distribute licensed products derived from Atari’s
“Test Drive” video game franchise for a term of seven
years. Atari also granted Infogrames the exclusive right to
distribute any versions of the “Test Drive” and
“Test Drive Unlimited” games throughout the world
(except in North America). Infogrames paid Atari a
non-refundable advance royalty of US$5 million and
Infogrames agreed to develop and commercially release at least
two games based on the franchise during the five years following
the licensing agreements. The transaction was reviewed and
approved by the Special Committee.
Also on November 8, 2007, Atari entered into a Waiver and
Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement between Atari and
BlueBay High Yield in order to obtain the waiver of its
violations of certain operating covenants under its credit
facility that had occurred and were existing as of that date and
to obtain BlueBay High Yield’s consent to Atari’s
entering into the licensing agreements with Infogrames.
On November 13, 2007, Mr. Pierce’s resignation
and separation agreement became effective. Atari’s board of
directors began an executive search for Mr. Pierce’s
replacement.
During the period from November 2007 to early December 2007,
representatives of Atari together with AlixPartners LLP had
discussions regarding the terms of new intercompany arrangements
and the repositioning of Atari’s business strategy to focus
on its distribution business and reduce its production
operations.
At the end of November 2007, Atari and FUNimation had agreed in
principle to the settlement of the outstanding dispute regarding
the license agreements with FUNimation. As part of the proposed
settlement, FUNimation required a guarantee of Atari’s
obligations under the settlement by Infogrames in the event of
Atari’s inability to fulfill its obligations. Infogrames
agreed to provide such guarantee, so long as Atari developed a
business plan to achieve profitability in fiscal 2009 and
Infogrames and Atari reached an agreement, at least in
principle, on the changes to key agreements that were being
discussed. On November 25, 2007, the Special Committee
reviewed with AlixPartners LLP the proposed terms of the
arrangement with Infogrames and approved the material terms of
the arrangement subject to finalization of the negotiations and
certain additional information. Thereafter, Atari management,
with outside counsel, worked with Infogrames and its counsel to
memorialize the proposed arrangement in a series of agreements.
On November 30, 2007, the Special Committee reviewed,
discussed and approved the terms of a Global Memorandum of
Understanding Regarding Restructuring (“GMU”) with
Infogrames. The Special Committee considered, among other
things, the need to obtain additional financing for Atari’s
operations, the terms of the existing and new distribution
agreements, the need to obtain the guarantee of the FUNimation
settlement and the current financial position of Atari. Pursuant
to the GMU and its underlying agreements, Atari agreed to
terminate its existing distribution agreements with respect to
new products as well as other intercompany agreements that it
had previously entered into with Infogrames. Atari and
Infogrames would then enter into a new distribution agreement
under which Atari would be given the exclusive right to contract
with Infogrames for distribution rights in North America
and Mexico for all interactive software games developed by or on
behalf of Infogrames that are released in packaged media format.
The GMU also contemplated the execution of a Waiver, Consent and
Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement between Atari and
BlueBay High Yield. Under the Waiver, Consent and Third
Amendment, BlueBay High Yield increased the availability under
Atari’s credit facility to US$14 million and again
waived Atari’s violations of certain operating covenants
that had occurred and were existing as of that date,
19
conditioned on the entry into the new agreements. Furthermore,
the GMU contemplated Atari’s entering into settlement
agreements with FUNimation regarding the outstanding disputes
that provided for the continuation of the license agreements at
issue. Upon execution of the GMU, the settlement agreements
would become effective.
On December 4, 2007, Atari entered into the GMU and related
agreements with Infogrames, BlueBay High Yield and FUNimation.
On December 21, 2007, Atari received a notice from The
Nasdaq Stock Market advising that Atari was not in compliance
with Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4450(b)(3) because the
aggregate market value of Atari’s publicly held shares was
less than US$15 million for 30 consecutive business days
prior to such date.
As of December 31, 2007, Atari was in violation of certain
weekly cash flow covenants contained in its credit facility with
BlueBay High Yield. These violations continued until
April 30, 2008. BlueBay High Yield entered into two
forbearance agreements with Atari and on April 30, 2008, as
further discussed below, entered into the Fourth Credit Facility
Amendment.
Between 2000 and 2007, in addition to credit facilities with,
among others, Guggenheim and BlueBay High Yield, Atari has
relied on Infogrames to provide it financial support through
loans or purchases of Atari assets. In order to explore
opportunities that might provide value for Atari’s
stockholders, Atari’s management engaged from time to time
in discussions with representatives of Infogrames regarding
possible strategic relationships and other transactions.
Representatives from Atari met with representatives from
Infogrames and Blue Bay from time to time between December 2007
and February 2008.
On March 2, 2008, Lazard made a presentation to the board
of directors of Infogrames, as described below under
“Special Factors — Summary of Presentation by the
Financial Advisor to Infogrames”.
On March 5, 2008, Atari received the following letter from
Infogrames:
March 5, 2008
Board of Directors
Atari, Inc.
417 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Gentlemen:
We are pleased to submit this letter summarizing the principal
terms upon which Infogrames Entertainment S.A.
(“IESA”)
and/or our
affiliates would potentially acquire the remaining equity
interests in Atari, Inc. (“Atari”)). As Atari’s
largest single shareholder, IESA is prepared to work
expeditiously on the Acquisition (defined below) which we
believe will be in the best interests of Atari and its public
shareholders.
1. Proposed Terms. We are
proposing to acquire all of the remaining outstanding shares of
common stock of Atari, other than the shares held IESA and its
affiliates (which would be cancelled), for a cash amount per
share of US$1.68 (the “Acquisition”). The Acquisition
would not be subject to any financing condition.
2. Due Diligence. IESA would only
require a limited amount of due diligence. IESA intends to have
its due diligence investigation completed prior to entering into
a definitive agreement regarding the Acquisition.
THIS LETTER IS A NON-BINDING EXPRESSION OF INTENT. IESA RESERVES
THE RIGHT, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, TO REVISE OR WITHDRAW THE
PROPOSAL CONTAINED IN THIS LETTER AT ANY TIME AND FOR ANY
REASON PRIOR TO THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A SEPARATE
DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT REGARDING THE ACQUISITION. THE PARTIES
SHALL HAVE NO OBLIGATION TO CONSUMMATE THE ACQUISITION UNLESS
AND UNTIL A SEPARATE DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT IS EXECUTED AND
DELIVERED BY EACH PARTY HERETO AND SUBJECT IN ALL RESPECTS TO
THE SATISFACTION OF THE CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN SUCH AGREEMENT.
IESA and its advisors are prepared to work diligently on the
Acquisition. We would appreciate a response prior to 5:00 pm EST
on March 11, 2008.
20
Please contact me at * * * if you have any questions regarding
the contents of this letter. I look forward to the successful
completion of the discussions contemplated by this letter.
Very truly yours,
David Gardner
Chief Executive Officer
Infogrames Entertainment S.A.
The closing price per share of the Atari common stock on
March 5, 2008 was US$1.68. On March 6, 2008, Atari
issued a press release announcing Atari’s receipt of
Infogrames’ non-binding indication of intent and that it
intended a thorough evaluation of the proposal.
At a meeting of the Special Committee held on March 6,
2008, Mr. Davis conveyed Infogrames’ offer to the
Special Committee, and with Atari’s outside counsel,
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
(“Milbank”), discussed a possible timeline for the
transaction and retaining a financial advisor to assist the
Special Committee’s evaluation of the offer. Between
March 6, 2008 and March 8, 2008, the Special Committee
requested and received proposals from various financial advisors
to assist Atari’s evaluation and to issue a fairness
opinion to the Special Committee.
At a meeting of the Special Committee held on March 9,
2008, the Special Committee discussed the proposals it had
received from Duff & Phelps LLC
(“Duff & Phelps”) and another financial
advisor. After considering, among other things, the services
offered by each advisor, the fees for such services and the
backgrounds and capabilities of the members of the
advisors’ teams, the Special Committee determined to engage
Duff & Phelps.
On March 11, 2008, the Special Committee engaged
Duff & Phelps as its financial advisor to provide an
opinion to the Special Committee as to the fairness, from a
financial point of view, of the merger consideration to the
unaffiliated stockholders of Atari.
Between March 11, 2008 and March 18, 2008,
Duff & Phelps held meetings and discussions with Atari
management, evaluated the Company and reached preliminary
valuation findings. At the direction of the Special Committee,
Duff & Phelps engaged in informal discussions with
Lazard, Infogrames’ financial advisor with respect to the
proposed transaction, regarding the US$1.68 per share
consideration. On March 18, 2008, Lazard informed
Duff & Phelps that Infogrames was not willing to
increase the per share consideration. Lazard communicated on
behalf of Infogrames their view that the per share
consideration, while not at a premium to the March 5, 2008
closing price of Atari common stock, provided a premium to
(i) Atari’s trading price five days and thirty days
prior to the announcement and (ii) Atari’s net asset
value per share at that date.
On March 17, 2008, BlueBay High Yield’s then current
forbearance agreement with Atari expired.
On March 19, 2008, the Special Committee held a telephonic
meeting, with all members present, in which Milbank and
Duff & Phelps discussed with the Special Committee the
Infogrames offer. Duff & Phelps also provided the
Special Committee with its preliminary analysis of Atari’s
valuation and Infogrames’ proposal. The March 19, 2008
presentation included Duff & Phelps’ preliminary
analysis of Atari’s historical (between March 31, 2003
and March 31, 2007) and projected (Atari
management’s projections through March 31,
2009) financial information; current and historical common
stock trading statistics during the period March 19, 2007
through March 18, 2008; and analysis of selected mergers
and acquisition transactions with respect to both multiples of
revenue and EBITDA and premiums paid by buyer. Furthermore,
Duff & Phelps conveyed the results of its previous
discussions with Lazard regarding a potential increase in the
purchase price. The Special Committee then discussed
Infogrames’ position that it would not increase the per
share purchase price and possible responses. In light of, among
other things, Atari’s cash on hand and near-term cash
needs, the Special Committee determined to seek additional
financial concessions from Infogrames by requiring Infogrames to
provide Atari with required funding until the closing of the
proposed transaction. The Special Committee then discussed the
basic terms of such a
21
proposal. The Special Committee then directed Milbank to engage
in discussions with Infogrames’ legal counsel,
Morrison & Foerster LLP
(“Morrison & Foerster”), to request
clarification on: (i) Infogrames’ intention with
respect to funding the Company’s operating losses and
working capital needs through the completion of the transaction;
(ii) Infogrames’ intention with respect to obtaining
an extension of the forbearance agreements with BlueBay High
Yield; and (iii) the Atari stockholder approval Infogrames
was contemplating in order to approve the transaction.
Milbank subsequently discussed with Morrison &
Foerster Atari’s need for funding between signing and
closing the transaction, the legal form of the transaction, the
closing conditions Infogrames would require (including the
required stockholder vote), the proposed timeline for the
transaction, any necessary regulatory approvals and any due
diligence on Atari that Infogrames would require.
Effective March 21, 2008, Thomas Schmider, deputy managing
director of Infogrames, resigned as a member of Atari’s
board of directors.
From mid-March to mid-April 2008, Infogrames and its legal
counsel conducted due diligence on areas identified by
Infogrames, particularly Atari’s intellectual property
assets.
On March 24, 2008, Mr. Davis, Milbank and members of
Atari management discussed the need for a meeting among Atari,
Infogrames and BlueBay High Yield to discuss major outstanding
points regarding the primary terms of the merger transaction.
Also on March 24, 2008, Atari received a Staff
Determination Letter from the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications
Department stating that Atari had not gained compliance with the
requirements of Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4450(b)(3) and that
its securities were subject to delisting from The Nasdaq Global
Market.
On March 25, 2008, representatives of the Special
Committee, Infogrames and BlueBay High Yield, and their
respective legal counsel, held a telephonic conference call to
discuss open issues regarding the primary terms of the merger
transaction, including Atari’s need for funding, the legal
form of the transaction, the closing conditions Infogrames would
require (including the required stockholder vote), and required
due diligence. BlueBay High Yield agreed to discuss extending
further credit to Atari and committed to work with Atari
management to analyze Atari’s cash needs. Infogrames’
counsel indicated that the intended form of transaction would be
by reverse triangular merger, wherein a wholly owned subsidiary
of Infogrames would be merged with and into Atari, with Atari
surviving the merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of
Infogrames. Infogrames’ counsel further indicated that
Infogrames was requiring that the only vote required to approve
the transaction was the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of Atari’s outstanding voting securities.
On March 31, 2008, Jim Wilson was appointed as Atari’s
Chief Executive Officer and President.
Between March 25, 2008 and April 7, 2008, BlueBay High
Yield and Atari management had numerous discussions regarding
Atari’s cash disbursement projections and near-term cash
needs. During that time, BlueBay High Yield approached
Infogrames regarding Infogrames’ providing funding to
Atari, as opposed to BlueBay High Yield’s increasing the
availability under existing credit facility.
On April 7, 2008, the Special Committee and Infogrames,
with the Special Committee’s and Infogrames’
respective legal counsel, held a telephonic meeting to discuss
Infogrames’ offer, Infogrames’ interim funding to
Atari and the parties’ next steps. It was agreed that
Milbank would discuss with BlueBay High Yield’s counsel
terms of a waiver or forbearance of Atari’s continuing
violations of its financial and operational covenants under the
BlueBay High Yield credit facility, as well as coordinate with
Morrison & Foerster any required amendments to the
BlueBay High Yield credit facility and any intercreditor
agreements between BlueBay High Yield and Infogrames.
Infogrames’ counsel also indicated that a draft merger
agreement was forthcoming.
On April 11, 2008, Atari received the first draft of the
merger agreement from Infogrames.
Between April 11 and April 30, 2008, Atari, Infogrames,
BlueBay High Yield, the Special Committee and their respective
legal counsel engaged in numerous discussions and draft
revisions of the transaction documents.
At a meeting of the Special Committee held on April 16,
2008, the Special Committee discussed with Milbank the remaining
major open points on the merger agreement. After further
discussion, the Special Committee
22
determined, among other things, to seek: (i) broader
exceptions to and qualifications of Atari’s representations
and warranties; (ii) limitations on Atari’s
pre-closing covenants, in order to effectively narrow
Atari’s obligations to performance of the covenants already
made under the existing credit agreement with BlueBay;
(iii) limitations on the ability of Infogrames to terminate
the merger agreement, including elimination of Infogrames’
right to terminate the merger agreement based on
(a) breaches of the BlueBay or Infogrames credit facilities
or any other material contract, (b) failure to obtain third
party consents, (c) the acquisition by a third party of 15%
or more of Atari’s outstanding shares, (d) the
impairment of key Atari intellectual property assets, and
(e) the occurrence of an event having a “material
adverse effect” on Atari’s business or financial
condition; (iv) changes to the “no shop”
provision in order to clearly give Atari’s board the
ability to change its recommendation of the transaction and to
terminate the merger agreement based on such a change and
(v) the elimination of the termination fee. The Special
Committee also discussed timing of the closing of the
transaction and the need for more flexibility with respect to
the pre-closing covenants regarding filing the merger proxy
statement and
Schedule 13E-3,
as well as the outside termination date of the merger agreement
if the transaction is not closed by such date.
Also on April 16, 2008, Jean-Michel Perbet resigned as a
member of Atari’s board of directors.
On April 19, 2008, Mr. Davis and Mr. Gardner,
together with the Special Committee’s and Infogrames’
respective legal counsel, conducted a telephonic meeting at
which the material terms of the merger agreement were discussed.
Mr. Davis conveyed to Infogrames and its counsel the
position of the Special Committee on such material terms, as
determined at the April 16, 2008 Special Committee meeting.
Infogrames agreed in principle to (i) generally limit in
certain respects Atari’s representations and warranties,
(ii) limit in certain respects Atari’s pre-closing
covenants to those given in the credit agreements,
(iii) changes to the “no shop” provision giving
Atari a termination right based on an adverse recommendation of
the board, (iv) eliminate the termination right with
respect to the acquisition by a third party of 15% or more of
Atari’s outstanding shares, (v) eliminate rigid
deadlines in the pre-closing covenants regarding filing the
merger proxy statement and
Schedule 13E-3
and (vi) extend the outside termination date of the merger
agreement. Infogrames also agreed to limit third party consents
required for closing to those specifically identified by
Infogrames and Atari. The parties did not come to an agreement,
however, regarding the ability of Infogrames to accelerate
Atari’s obligations under the proposed credit agreement,
Infogrames’ termination rights relating to breaches of
material contracts, impairment of key intellectual property
assets and the occurrence of events having a “material
adverse effect” on Atari and the elimination of the
termination fee. The parties also discussed the treatment of
outstanding options to acquire Atari common stock granted under
Atari’s stock incentive plans and the assumption of
indemnification obligations and maintenance of the
“tail” in Atari’s directors and officers
liability insurance policy. Atari agreed to conduct a tender
offer for outstanding options to acquire Atari common stock that
were not terminable by Atari and had exercise prices below the
merger consideration, so long as Infogrames paid expenses
incurred. Infogrames agreed to assume all director and officer
indemnification obligations and to maintain the “tail”
of Atari’s directors and officers liability insurance
policy. Finally, Milbank and Mr. Davis discussed with
Infogrames Atari’s need for additional financing and
requested that the proposed terms of interim financing to be
provided by Infogrames be provided to Atari and its advisors as
soon as possible.
On April 21, 2008, Infogrames’ counsel communicated
that Infogrames insisted on a termination fee but would be
willing to reduce it from approximately 15% to approximately 5%
of the aggregate purchase price. Milbank agreed to convey
Infogrames’ position to the Special Committee. Later that
day, Atari received the first draft of the credit agreement from
Infogrames.
On April 22, 2008, Milbank and Morrison &
Foerster discussed issues regarding the draft credit agreement,
including the restrictiveness of the representations,
warranties, covenants and conditions, the required use of
proceeds and the proposed terms of the intercreditor agreement
between Infogrames and BlueBay High Yield.
Later that day, Atari delivered a revised draft merger agreement
to Infogrames, in which Atari proposed, among other things, to
(i) significantly narrow the definition of “material
adverse effect,” in order to make it applicable only in
very adverse circumstances, and to qualify many of Atari’s
representations and warranties with such definition;
(ii) eliminate the termination rights based on the
occurrence of an event having a “material adverse
effect” on Atari, breaches of material contracts and
impairment of key intellectual property assets;
(iii) remove the requirement that Atari hold a stockholder
meeting regardless of whether Atari’s board gives an
adverse recommendation of the
23
transaction and require Infogrames to take action with respect
to the transaction only at the stockholder meeting called for
such purpose; and (iv) give Atari the ability to terminate
the merger agreement based on an adverse recommendation of
Atari’s board regarding the transaction.
On April 23, 2008, Atari received a draft intercreditor
agreement from BlueBay High Yield.
Later that day, Morrison & Foerster conveyed
Infogrames’ positions on material open issues on the latest
draft merger agreement. Among other things, Infogrames continued
to resist elimination of the termination rights proposed by
Atari in its revised draft merger agreement. Furthermore,
Morrison & Foerster expressed Infogrames’ view
that Atari’s right to terminate the agreement based on an
adverse recommendation of the board should be limited to
recommendations of superior proposals. Also, Infogrames was not
willing to accept the elimination of the obligation to hold a
stockholders meeting, but would agree to withhold taking any
action except at a stockholders meeting held to approve the
transaction.
On April 24, 2008, Infogrames’ management made a
presentation to its board of directors about the current status
of the proposed merger and merger agreement, which included an
update to Lazard’s valuation analysis presented to the
board on March 2, 2008, as described below under
“Special Factors — Summary of Presentation by the
Financial Advisor to Infogrames”.
Between April 24, 2008 and April 27, 2008, the parties
exchanged several further drafts of the merger agreement,
narrowing the set of material open issues to the breadth of
Infogrames’ conditions to closing and termination rights
and Atari’s ability to terminate the agreement based on an
adverse recommendation of the board.
During the same period, the parties also exchanged several
drafts of the credit agreement and intercreditor agreement and
continued to negotiate the material terms of such transaction
documents. In particular, the parties discussed the breadth of
Atari’s representations, warranties and covenants, the
covenant regarding Atari’s budget during the period before
closing, the ability of Infogrames to declare a default under
certain circumstances and accelerate Atari’s obligations
under the credit agreement and the mechanism followed by
Infogrames and BlueBay with respect to payment of amounts owed
after all obligations have been accelerated under their
respective credit agreements.
On April 28, 2008, the Special Committee held a meeting to
evaluate the transaction documents and the terms of the
transaction. Milbank summarized for the Special Committee the
principal terms of each of the transaction documents.
Duff & Phelps presented its fairness opinion to the
Special Committee, which is summarized under “Special
Factors — Opinion of the Financial Advisor to the
Special Committee”, that, subject to the qualifications and
limitations set forth therein, as of April 28, 2008, the
per share merger consideration was fair from a financial point
of view to the public stockholders of Atari, other than
Infogrames and its affiliates.
Following Milbank’s and Duff & Phelps’
presentations, the Special Committee discussed the benefits and
risks associated with the proposed transaction to Atari’s
unaffiliated stockholders and the Special Committee’s
reasons for entering into the proposed transactions. After due
deliberation, the Special Committee determined that the
transaction was fair to the Atari stockholders (other than
Infogrames and its affiliates) and recommended to the Board of
Directors that the transaction be consummated. Also on
April 28, 2008, the Board of Directors (with
Mr. Coppee absent), following the recommendation of the
Special Committee, approved the transaction.
On April 30, 2008, Atari, Infogrames, and BlueBay High
Yield executed the transaction documents and on May 1,
2008, Atari and Infogrames issued press releases announcing the
execution of the merger agreement. See “Certain
Transactions with Directors, Executive Officers and
Affiliates — Agreements Related to the Merger”.
Purposes
for the Merger
Atari’s
Purpose for the Merger
Atari’s purpose in undertaking the merger is to allow its
stockholders (other than Infogrames and its affiliates) to
realize the value of their investment in Atari in cash at a
price that represents a 6.3% premium to the
5-day
trading price prior to the date of Infogrames’ announcement
of its offer, and a 58.5% premium to the
30-day
trading price prior to the date of Infogrames’ announcement
of its offer, of Atari’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock
Market.
24
The
Infogrames Parties’ Purpose for the Merger
The Infogrames Parties’ purpose for engaging in the merger
is to acquire all of the shares of common stock not already
beneficially owned by Infogrames. In reaching its decision to
effect the merger, the Infogrames board, in consultation with
its management, focused on the following material factors:
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that a combination of the businesses of Infogrames and Atari
would result in substantial savings of operating costs that
currently burden Atari;
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that the combined businesses of Infogrames and Atari would
benefit from synergies in marketing, technology, and research
and development opportunities, and savings on public company
costs such as legal, auditing, accounting and other expenses
involved in the preparation, filing, and dissemination of annual
and other periodic reports, as well as compliance with the
provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the regulations
resulting from that law;
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the ability of Infogrames to rebuild and develop Atari for the
long term without immediate concerns about its potential
liquidation or bankruptcy; and
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the matters described under “Special Factors —
Position of Infogrames as to the Fairness of the Merger to
Atari’s Unaffiliated Stockholders; Intent of Infogrames to
Vote in Favor of the Merger Transaction”.
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Atari’s
Reasons for the Merger; Recommendations of the Special Committee
and the Atari Board of Directors
Prior to and at the time of Infogrames’ proposal, three of
Atari’s directors also served as directors of Infogrames or
its direct or indirect subsidiaries. Because these directors had
financial and other interests that could be different from, and
in addition to, the interests of Atari stockholders (other than
Infogrames and its affiliates) in transactions with Infogrames
and its affiliates, including the proposed merger transaction,
Atari’s board of directors decided that, in order to
protect the interests of Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders
in evaluating and negotiating the merger agreement, the Special
Committee of independent directors who are not affiliated with
Infogrames should evaluate and negotiate the merger agreement
and, if appropriate, to recommend the merger and the terms of
the merger agreement to Atari’s board. See “Special
Factors — Interests of Certain Persons in the
Merger — Atari Directors”.
Both the Special Committee and the board of directors of Atari
(with Mr. Coppee absent) have determined that the merger
agreement and the merger are fair and advisable to and in the
best interests of the stockholders of Atari other than
Infogrames and its affiliates. The Special Committee unanimously
recommended that the board of directors:
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approve and adopt the merger agreement;
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approve the merger; and
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recommend that the stockholders of Atari vote for the adoption
and approval of the merger agreement.
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Based on the recommendation of the Special Committee, the board
of directors (of which the directors present were the same as
the Special Committee because of Mr. Coppee’s absence)
approved and adopted the merger agreement, approved the merger
and resolved to recommend to Atari’s stockholders that they
vote for the adoption and approval of the merger agreement.
In reaching their determinations and making their
recommendations, the Special Committee and the board of
directors relied on Atari’s management including the Chief
Restructuring Officer to provide financial information,
projections and assumptions (based on the best information
available to management at that time).
In reaching its determination and making its recommendation, the
Special Committee considered factors including:
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the terms of the merger agreement, pursuant to which the
stockholders will have the right to receive US$1.68 per share as
merger consideration;
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the fact that since the merger consideration consists entirely
of cash, Atari stockholders will not be subject to uncertainty
as to the value of the merger consideration to be received;
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the opinion of Duff & Phelps to the effect that, as of
the date such opinion was delivered and based upon and subject
to the assumptions, factors, limitations and qualifications set
forth in the opinion, the merger consideration is fair, from a
financial point of view, to the holders of the common stock of
Atari (other than Infogrames and its affiliates), of which the
conclusions and analyses underlying such opinion were expressly
adopted by the Special Committee;
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the Special Committee’s belief, based on, among other
things, the detailed financial and valuation advice provided by
Duff & Phelps described below under “Special
Factors — Opinion of the Financial Advisors to the
Special Committee”, which included that the merger
consideration:
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represented a 6.3% premium to the
5-day
trading price prior to the date of Infogrames’ announcement
of its offer, and a 58.5% premium to the
30-day
trading price prior to the date of Infogrames’ announcement
of its offer, of Atari’s common stock on the Nasdaq Stock
Market;
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was within the range of implied valuation multiples for selected
packaged media distributors; and
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was significantly above Atari’s per share liquidation
value, assuming an orderly liquidation of Atari’s assets in
a Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 proceeding;
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the historical trading prices and other trading characteristics
of Atari’s common stock, including Atari’s small
public float and the very low average trading volumes;
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Atari’s current financial condition and recent results of
operations, which raise substantial doubt as to Atari’s
ability to continue as a going concern, and which the Special
Committee believed would not be likely to improve, and may in
fact worsen based on the availability, or lack thereof, of third
party financing, in the foreseeable future;
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the risks of implementing a business plan to provide any growth
opportunities;
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Atari’s dependence on third parties, including Infogrames,
for products to distribute;
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the limited funds available to Atari to continue its operations
and implement its business plan;
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the lack of available financing from parties other than
affiliates of Atari;
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the fact that Atari’s existing senior lender was unwilling
to extend additional credit to Atari and had the right to
accelerate amounts then outstanding, which right is being waived
as a result of the transaction;
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the fact that, without additional financing, Atari would likely
be required to either liquidate or seek protection under
bankruptcy laws, which would likely lead to little, if any,
recovery by the holders of Atari’s common stock;
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conditions generally in the game development and distribution
industry;
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the ability of Atari to compete successfully in its industry
given its size and the size and resulting financial resources of
its competitors;
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trends towards consolidation in the industry, which make it
increasingly difficult for Atari to compete successfully;
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the fact that at that time Atari’s common stock was subject
to delisting from the Nasdaq Stock Market, and the lack of
realistic alternatives to avoid delisting, including the
anticipated negative effects on the liquidity and trading prices
of Atari’s common stock that would likely occur as a result
of delisting;
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that Atari stockholders who do not vote in favor of the merger
or otherwise waive their rights will have the right under
Delaware law to seek court appraisal of the fair value of their
shares;
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the fact that the merger agreement and the terms of the merger
were negotiated by a Special Committee of the Board that was
comprised entirely of independent directors;
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the fact that Infogrames has indicated it was not willing to
consider a sale to another third party of its position, which
makes it unlikely that third parties would make competing offers
and makes it very difficult for the Special Committee to seek
alternatives;
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the fact that, despite wide-spread publicity about
Infogrames’ offer, no third parties made any other proposal
to acquire Atari or any interest therein or to extend financing
to Atari;
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the terms of the merger agreement that, among other things:
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permit the Special Committee to respond to unsolicited offers
and to terminate the merger agreement in the event that the
Special Committee determines that an alternative proposal is
superior to the Infogrames proposal, subject to certain match
rights;
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limit the ability of Infogrames to terminate the merger
agreement; and
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permit the Special Committee to withdraw or change its
recommendation under certain circumstances; and
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the fact that, in conjunction with the entry into the merger
agreement, Infogrames has agreed to extend a loan of up to
US$20 million to Atari to cover expected capital
requirements.
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The Special Committee believes that each of these factors
supported its conclusion that the merger is fair and advisable
to and in the best interests of Atari’s stockholders (other
than Infogrames and its affiliates). The Special Committee
considered the valuation analyses presented by Duff &
Phelps, some of which represented the sale of Atari as a
continuing business and some of which represented Atari
remaining as a stand-alone entity, and which included
Duff & Phelps’ determination of Atari’s
liquidation value, assuming an orderly liquidation of Atari.
While the Special Committee did not believe that there is a
single method for determining “going concern value”,
the Special Committee believed that most of Duff &
Phelps’ valuation methodologies represented a valuation of
Atari as it continues to operate its business, and, to that
extent, such analyses could be collectively characterized as
forms of going concern valuations. For example, the Special
Committee considered the public market trading analysis, which
could be considered to represent the “stand-alone”
valuation of Atari if it traded at the multiples calculated for
the comparable companies. In addition, the net asset value
analysis could be considered a “stand-alone” valuation
of Atari based on Atari’s December 31, 2007 unaudited
balance sheet and Atari’s estimated internal March 31,
2008 balance sheet. The Special Committee considered these
analyses in the context of the other valuation analyses
performed by Duff & Phelps in the preparation of its
opinion, and, in that regard, such analyses factored into the
Special Committee’s conclusions as to the fairness of the
merger to the unaffiliated stockholders.
The Special Committee also considered a variety of risks and
other potentially negative factors concerning the merger
agreement and the transactions contemplated by it, including the
merger. These factors included:
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Atari’s stockholders (other than Infogrames and its
affiliates) will no longer have an equity interest in Atari and
will therefore lose any rights to participate in Atari’s
future growth;
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that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the merger will
be taxable to Atari stockholders receiving merger consideration;
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that the merger consideration does not reflect a premium over
the trading price on the day preceding the delivery and
announcement of Infogrames’ offer;
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that Infogrames was unwilling to increase the merger
consideration;
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that the merger agreement does not include a “majority of
the minority” stockholder approval provision, and therefore
the merger can be approved by Infogrames regardless of the vote
of any other Atari stockholders;
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that Infogrames’ controlling interest made competing third
party proposals unlikely; and
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the risk that the merger would not be consummated.
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This discussion of the information and factors considered by the
Special Committee in reaching its conclusions and recommendation
includes the material factors considered by the Special
Committee, but is not intended to be exhaustive. In view of the
wide variety of factors considered by the Special Committee in
evaluating the merger agreement and the
27
transactions contemplated by it, including the merger, and the
complexity of these matters, the Special Committee did not find
it practicable, and did not attempt, to quantify, rank or
otherwise assign relative weight to those factors. In addition,
different members of the Special Committee may have given
different weight to different factors.
The Special Committee believes that sufficient procedural
safeguards were and are present to ensure the fairness of the
merger and to permit the Special Committee to represent
effectively the interests of Atari’s unaffiliated
stockholders, without the retention of an unaffiliated
representative, even though (x) the merger does not require
approval of Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders and
(y) Infogrames holds approximately 51.6% of Atari’s
common stock, has the power to control Atari and has indicated
its intention not to sell any portion of those shares. These
procedural safeguards include the following:
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the Special Committee was established by the board of directors
to consider and approve transactions with Infogrames, including
the merger agreement, and given full authority to evaluate the
proposed transaction and any alternative transactions;
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the Special Committee is comprised of four directors who are not
affiliated with Infogrames and are not current employees of
Atari or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates;
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the Special Committee’s active negotiations with
representatives of Infogrames regarding the merger consideration
and the other terms of the merger and the merger agreement;
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other than their receipt of fees paid to members of the board of
directors and the Special Committee (which were agreed upon
prior to Atari’s receipt of Infogrames’ proposal, and
are not contingent upon consummation of the merger and were not
contingent upon the Special Committee recommending the merger
agreement) and their indemnification and liability insurance
rights under existing agreements, policies and the merger
agreement, members of the Special Committee do not have an
interest in the merger different from that of Atari’s
unaffiliated stockholders;
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the Special Committee retained and received the advice and
assistance of Duff & Phelps as its financial advisor
and requested and received from Duff & Phelps, on
April 28, 2008, an opinion that, as of that date and based
upon and subject to the assumptions, factors, limitations and
qualifications set forth therein, the per share merger
consideration to be paid to the holders of shares of
Atari’s common stock (other than Infogrames and its
affiliates) in the merger is fair to such holders from a
financial point of view;
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the recognition by the Special Committee that it had no
obligation to recommend the approval of the merger proposal or
any other transaction;
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the recognition by the Special Committee that it could consider
and recommend a superior proposal and terminate the merger
agreement; and
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the availability of appraisal rights under Delaware law for
Atari’s stockholders who oppose the merger.
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In light of the procedural safeguards described above, the
Special Committee did not consider it necessary to retain an
unaffiliated representative to act solely on behalf of the
Company’s unaffiliated stockholders for purposes of
negotiating the terms of the merger agreement or preparing a
report concerning the fairness of the merger agreement and the
merger, or to require a separate affirmative vote of a majority
of the Company’s unaffiliated stockholders.
In reaching its determination that the merger agreement and the
merger are advisable, substantively and procedurally fair to and
in the best interests of Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders,
the board of directors (whose members in attendance were
identical to the Special Committee because of
Mr. Coppee’s absence) determined that the analysis of
the Special Committee was reasonable and expressly adopted the
analysis of the Special Committee as to the fairness to
Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders of the merger
consideration of US$1.68 per share and the other matters
discussed above.
In view of the wide variety of factors considered by the board
of directors in evaluating the merger and the complexity of
these matters, the board of directors did not find it
practicable, and did not attempt, to quantify, rank or otherwise
assign relative weight to those factors. In addition, different
members of the board of directors may have given different
weight to different factors.
28
Based in part upon the recommendation of the Special Committee,
the board of directors (with Mr. Coppee absent) voted to
approve and adopt the merger agreement and resolved to recommend
that you vote FOR the adoption and approval of the merger
agreement.
The members of the Special Committee and the Board do not own
any shares of Atari common stock, and, accordingly, will not
receive any consideration in the merger. Members of the Special
Committee and the Board own, in the aggregate, 11,000 options to
purchase Atari common stock. If the merger is consummated,
members of the board of directors of Atari, based on their
ownership of options to acquire Atari common stock, will be
entitled to receive an aggregate of US$1,100 if such members
choose to tender their options pursuant to the tender offer
described in “The Merger Agreement — Stock
Options”, but will not otherwise receive any merger
consideration in respect of such options since the per share
exercise price of such options exceeds US$1.68.
The board of directors, based on the recommendation of the
Special Committee, recommends that Atari’s stockholders
vote FOR the adoption and approval of the merger agreement.
The recommendation of the board of directors was made after
consideration of all the material factors, both positive and
negative, as described above.
Position
of the Infogrames Parties as to the Fairness of the Merger to
Atari’s Unaffiliated Stockholders; Intent of Infogrames to
Vote in Favor of the Merger Transaction
Each of the Infogrames Parties believes and has determined that
the merger is financially and procedurally fair to Atari’s
unaffiliated stockholders. In reaching its determination
regarding the substantive fairness of the merger, The Infogrames
Parties considered the following factors:
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the merger does not involve a change of control of Atari and
Infogrames is not willing to sell its stake in Atari to a third
party or allow Atari to merge with or be acquired by another
entity. However, Infogrames has not applied a minority discount
to the merger consideration even though Infogrames believes that
the possibility of a competing bid by another party is highly
unlikely;
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the merger consideration represents a premium of approximately
6.3% over the
five-day
average trading price per share of Atari common stock reported
by the Nasdaq Stock Market prior to March 5, 2008, the date
Infogrames delivered its offer letter to Atari. The merger
consideration also represents a premium of approximately 58.5%
over the
30-day
average trading price reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market for
Atari common stock prior to such date;
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the merger consideration represents a premium over Atari’s
negative book value of US$1.25 per share as of December 31,
2007;
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the merger consideration represents a significant premium over
the range of values calculated by Infogrames management for
Atari of between US$0.25 and US$0.62 per share or even a
negative value per share if Infogrames were to lose the tax
benefit of Atari’s net operating loss, as discussed below
under “Special Factors — Summary of Presentation
by the Financial Advisor to Infogrames”.
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the continuing decline in the market price of Atari’s
common stock in accordance with its continuing weak financial
results. For the nine months ended December 31, 2007,
Atari’s net revenues declined approximately 32% over the
prior year period, its net loss increased nearly 15% and its
cash position declined by approximately 29%;
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the merger provides the unaffiliated stockholders with certainty
of value and eliminates their exposure to further fluctuations
in the market price of shares of common stock, given the
recently declining fundamentals and valuation of Atari;
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the merger allows stockholders to receive value for their stock,
which would likely not be available if Atari voluntarily or
involuntarily liquidated;
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the merger shifts the risks relating to Atari’s ability to
continue as a going concern from the unaffiliated stockholders
to Infogrames;
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the merger shifts the risk of future financial performance from
the unaffiliated stockholders to Infogrames;
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the merger can be accomplished quickly and carries very limited
execution risk, as it will be fully financed by Infogrames’
cash on hand;
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Atari has not declared a dividend to its stockholders since
becoming a public company, and it is expected that no such
dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future; and
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the strong likelihood at the time of the offer and at the time
the merger agreement was executed that Atari’s stock would
be delisted from Nasdaq, leading to less liquidity in the market
for the shares, as certain institutional investors are no longer
permitted to hold such shares, which event occurred on
May 9, 2008.
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In addition to the factors listed above, the Infogrames Parties
also considered certain negative factors, including:
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the consummation of the merger will eliminate the opportunity
for unaffiliated stockholders to participate in any potential
future growth in the value of Atari;
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the receipt of the US$1.68 net per share in cash by the
unaffiliated stockholders in the merger is generally taxable to
Atari’ s stockholders; and
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the risk that conditions to the merger may not be satisfied and,
therefore, that the merger may not be consummated.
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The Infogrames Parties also considered various factors in
determining the procedural fairness of the merger. The
Infogrames Parties believe that the merger is procedurally fair
to the unaffiliated stockholders because:
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the Special Committee acted on behalf of Atari in considering
and negotiating the terms and conditions of the merger and the
merger agreement, and recommended to the full board of directors
of Atari that it approve the merger;
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the Special Committee consists of Company directors who are not
officers or employees of Atari or Infogrames and who are
independent of Atari and Infogrames;
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the Special Committee retained its own legal and financial
advisors in evaluating and negotiating the terms and conditions
of the merger and the merger agreement;
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Infogrames did not participate in, or have any influence over,
the deliberative process of, or the conclusions reached by, the
Special Committee;
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pursuant to the merger agreement, prior to the approval and
adoption of the merger and the merger agreement by Atari’s
stockholders, the Special Committee is not prohibited from
agreeing to a proposal to acquire the shares of capital stock of
Atari that it determines is a “superior proposal” to
that of Infogrames; and
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pursuant to Delaware law, those stockholders of Atari who do not
wish to consent to the merger may demand appraisal of their
shares.
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In making their respective determinations regarding the
financial and procedural fairness of the merger to Atari’s
unaffiliated stockholders, each of Merger Sub and CUSH, as
wholly owned subsidiaries of Infogrames, did not retain a
separate financial advisor from Lazard nor did they perform any
separate valuation or other analyses. Each of Merger Sub and
CUSH has reviewed the presentation by Lazard on March 2,
2008 and the presentation by Infogrames’ management on
April 24, 2008, and expressly adopts the reasons and
analyses of Infogrames as set forth above. Each of Merger Sub
and CUSH are making the statements included in this section
solely for the purpose of complying with the requirements of
Rule 13e-3
and related rules under the Exchange Act.
Based on the foregoing and the factors described in
“Special Factors — Summary of Presentation by the
Financial Advisor to Infogrames”, as the beneficial owner
of 51.6% of the outstanding voting securities of Atari,
Infogrames has advised Atari that it intends to vote in favor of
adopting the merger and the merger agreement at the Special
Meeting. However, none of the Infogrames Parties is making any
recommendation to any Atari stockholder as to how such
stockholder should vote on the proposal to adopt the merger and
the merger agreement at the Special Meeting.
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Opinion
of the Financial Advisor to the Special Committee of the Board
of Directors
The Special Committee retained Duff & Phelps LLC to
act as its financial advisor to provide an opinion to the
Special Committee regarding the fairness, from a financial point
of view, to the public stockholders of Atari (other than
Infogrames and its affiliates) of the US$1.68 per share
consideration to be received by such public stockholders in the
proposed merger (without giving effect to any impact of the
proposed merger on any particular stockholder other than in its
capacity as a stockholder). Duff & Phelps, a New York
Stock Exchange listed company, is an internationally recognized
independent financial advisory firm serving client needs in the
areas of valuation, investment banking, transaction advice and
dispute consulting.
On March 19, 2008, Duff & Phelps met with the
Special Committee to give an initial presentation regarding its
preliminary financial analysis with respect to the proposed
consideration that would be payable to Atari’s public
stockholders (other than Infogrames and its affiliates) in the
proposed merger. The initial presentation given by
Duff & Phelps on March 19, 2008 contained a
preliminary analysis in which Duff & Phelps employed
valuation methodologies substantially similar to those that
Duff & Phelps later utilized in its final analysis
presented to the Special Committee on April 28, 2008.
On April 28, 2008, the Special Committee met again with
Duff & Phelps to review the proposed merger. During
this meeting, Duff & Phelps reviewed with the Special
Committee its financial analyses, as described below, and
rendered its oral opinion to the Special Committee, which was
subsequently confirmed in writing, that, as of April 28,
2008, and based upon and subject to the various considerations
and assumptions described in the opinion, the consideration to
be received by Atari’s public stockholders (other than
Infogrames and its affiliates) in the proposed merger was fair,
from a financial point of view, to such public stockholders
(without giving effect to any impact of the proposed merger on
any particular stockholder other than in its capacity as a
stockholder). The presentation given by Duff & Phelps
at the April 28, 2008 meeting was a more detailed version
of the presentation given by Duff & Phelps at the
March 19, 2008 meeting of the Special Committee and was
consistent with that earlier presentation.
The full text of the written opinion of Duff &
Phelps, dated April 28, 2008, is attached to this proxy
statement as Annex B, and should be read carefully
in its entirety for a description of the procedures followed,
assumptions made, matters considered and limitations on the
review undertaken. The opinion of Duff & Phelps was
directed to the Special Committee and addressed only the
fairness, from a financial point of view, to Atari’s
unaffiliated stockholders of the consideration to be received by
such unaffiliated stockholders in the proposed merger (without
giving effect to any impact of the proposed merger on any
particular stockholder other than in its capacity as a
stockholder), and did not constitute a recommendation as to how
any stockholder should vote or act with respect to any matter
relating to the proposed merger. Duff & Phelps’
opinion did not address any other aspect or implication of the
proposed merger or any other agreement, arrangement or
understanding entered into in connection with the proposed
merger or otherwise. Furthermore, Duff & Phelps did
not address the relative merits of the proposed merger as
compared with any alternative transactions or business
strategies that may have been considered by the Special
Committee as alternatives to the proposed merger, nor did it
address the underlying business decision of the Special
Committee to proceed with the merger.
In connection with its fairness opinion, Duff & Phelps
made such reviews, analyses and inquiries as Duff &
Phelps deemed necessary and appropriate under the circumstances.
No limits were placed on Duff & Phelps by Atari or the
Special Committee with respect to the information to which
Duff & Phelps had access or the matters
Duff & Phelps could consider. Duff &
Phelps’ due diligence with respect to the proposed merger
included, but was not limited to, the items summarized below.
1. Discussed the operations, financial conditions, future
prospects and projected operations and performance of Atari and
regarding the proposed merger with the management of Atari;
2. Reviewed a draft dated April 23, 2008 of the merger
agreement;
3. Reviewed a draft dated April 22, 2008 of the
proposed credit agreement between Atari and Infogrames;
31
4. Reviewed certain publicly available financial statements
and other business and financial information regarding Atari and
Infogrames, respectively, and the industries in which they
operate;
5. Reviewed certain internal financial statements and other
financial and operating data concerning Atari, which Atari had
identified as being the most current financial statements
available;
6. Reviewed certain financial forecasts for fiscal year
2009 as well as information relating to certain strategic,
financial and operational benefits anticipated from the proposed
merger, all as prepared by the management of Atari;
7. Reviewed the historical trading price and trading volume
of Atari common stock, and the publicly traded securities of
certain other companies that Duff & Phelps deemed
relevant;
8. Compared the financial performance of Atari and the
recent prices and trading activity of Atari common stock with
those of certain other publicly traded companies that
Duff & Phelps deemed relevant;
9. Compared certain financial terms of the proposed merger
to financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain
other business combination transactions that Duff &
Phelps deemed relevant; and
10. Reviewed such other information and conducted such
other analyses and considered such other factors as
Duff & Phelps deemed appropriate.
In connection with its review, Duff & Phelps did not
independently verify any of the foregoing information and
assumed that all information reviewed by it with respect to
Atari and the proposed merger, whether supplied by Atari or its
advisors or obtained by Duff & Phelps from publicly
available sources, was true, correct and complete in all
material respects and did not contain any untrue statements of
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the information supplied to Duff & Phelps not
misleading. Any inaccuracies in or omissions from the
information on which Duff & Phelps relied could
materially affect the conclusions reached by Duff &
Phelps. In performing its analyses, Duff & Phelps made
numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance and
general business, market and economic conditions and other
matters, many of which are beyond the control of any party to
the proposed merger.
In advising the Special Committee, Duff & Phelps was
not requested to make, and did not make, an independent
evaluation of Atari’s solvency or an evaluation, appraisal
or physical inspection of any of Atari’s specific assets or
liabilities (contingent or otherwise). In addition,
Duff & Phelps was not requested to, and did not,
provide a valuation opinion, credit rating or solvency opinion,
nor did Duff & Phelps undertake an analysis of
Atari’s or Infogrames’ creditworthiness or provide any
tax advice or accounting advice.
With respect to the financial forecasts for Atari that
Duff & Phelps reviewed, with respect to fiscal year
2009, Duff & Phelps was advised by management of
Atari, and assumed, that such forecasts were reasonably prepared
on a basis reflecting the best currently available estimates and
judgments of Atari’s management as to the future financial
performance of Atari. Duff & Phelps assumed that the
final merger agreement would conform to the draft dated
April 23, 2008 of the proposed merger agreement reviewed by
Duff & Phelps in all respects material to its
analyses. Duff & Phelps also assumed that in the
course of obtaining any regulatory or third party consents,
approvals or agreements in connection with the merger, no
modification, delay, limitation, restriction or condition would
be imposed that would have an adverse effect on Atari or the
proposed merger.
The Duff & Phelps opinion was necessarily based upon
information available to Duff & Phelps as of the date
of the opinion and upon financial, economic, market and other
conditions as they existed and could be evaluated on the date of
the opinion. It should be understood that developments
subsequent to the date of the Duff & Phelps opinion
may affect the conclusion expressed in the Duff &
Phelps opinion, and that Duff & Phelps assumed no
undertaking or obligation to update, revise or reaffirm its
opinion or to advise any person of any change in any fact or
matter affecting its opinion. Additionally, the Duff &
Phelps opinion was not intended to confer any rights or remedies
upon any employee, stockholder or creditor of Atari.
The Special Committee selected Duff & Phelps to act as
its financial advisor in connection with the merger based on
Duff & Phelps’ qualifications, experience and
reputation. During the past two years, Duff & Phelps
has not provided financial advisory or financing services to
Atari, Infogrames or Blue Bay High Yield or their respective
32
affiliates other than with respect to the services
Duff & Phelps rendered to the Special Committee in
connection with the delivery of its fairness opinion.
Atari agreed to pay Duff & Phelps, for its financial
advisory services in connection with the proposed merger, an
aggregate fee of US$290,000, US$145,000 of which was paid in
cash upon execution of the engagement letter and the remaining
US$145,000 of which was paid in cash upon Duff &
Phelps’ informing the Special Committee that it was
prepared to deliver its opinion. Furthermore, Duff &
Phelps is to be paid additional fees at Duff &
Phelps’ standard hourly rates for any time incurred
reviewing or assisting in the preparation of any proxy materials
or other SEC filings or documents associated with the proposed
merger. Atari has also agreed to reimburse Duff &
Phelps for its out-of-pocket expenses and to indemnify and hold
harmless Duff & Phelps and its affiliates and any
other person, director, employee or agent of Duff &
Phelps or any of its affiliates, or any person controlling
Duff & Phelps or its affiliates, for certain losses,
claims, damages, expenses and liabilities relating to or arising
out of services provided by Duff & Phelps as financial
advisor to the Special Committee. The terms of the fee
arrangement with Duff & Phelps, which the Special
Committee and Duff & Phelps believe are customary for
transactions of this nature, were negotiated at arm’s
length between the Special Committee and Duff & Phelps.
Financial
Projections
In conducting its analysis, Duff & Phelps reviewed
certain financial projections provided by Atari’s
management for fiscal year 2009 (ending March 31, 2009).
Atari management advised Duff & Phelps that these
projections were reflected in the fiscal 2009 budget that was
prepared in March 2008 and assumed the timely release and
success of new games as well as Atari’s ability to secure
additional financing beyond the financing BlueBay High Yield had
previously provided to Atari. Atari’s budget for fiscal
year 2009 projected net revenue of $126.5 million and
EBITDA of $0.2 million, as reflected in the following table:
Atari,
Inc.
Historical and Projected Financial Performance
Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
($ in millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FY 2003A
|
|
|
FY 2004A
|
|
|
FY 2005A
|
|
|
FY 2006A
|
|
|
FY 2007A
|
|
|
LTM(U)
|
|
|
FY 2008E
|
|
|
FY 2009B
|
|
|
Net Revenue
|
|
$
|
506.5
|
|
|
$
|
468.9
|
|
|
$
|
343.8
|
|
|
$
|
206.8
|
|
|
$
|
122.3
|
|
|
$
|
91.8
|
|
|
$
|
79.2
|
|
|
$
|
124.2
|
|
Growth
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
(7.4
|
%)
|
|
|
(26.7
|
)%
|
|
|
(39.8
|
%)
|
|
|
(40.9
|
%)
|
|
|
(24.9
|
%)
|
|
|
(35.2
|
%)
|
|
|
35.3
|
%
|
Cost of Goods Sold
|
|
|
257.6
|
|
|
|
260.1
|
|
|
|
203.6
|
|
|
|
136.7
|
|
|
|
74.8
|
|
|
|
52.7
|
|
|
|
41.4
|
|
|
|
80.4
|
|
Gross Profit
|
|
|
248.9
|
|
|
|
208.8
|
|
|
|
140.2
|
|
|
|
70.1
|
|
|
|
47.5
|
|
|
|
39.1
|
|
|
|
37.9
|
|
|
|
43.8
|
|
Gross Margin
|
|
|
49.1
|
%
|
|
|
44.5
|
%
|
|
|
40.8
|
%
|
|
|
33.9
|
%
|
|
|
38.8
|
%
|
|
|
42.6
|
%
|
|
|
47.8
|
%
|
|
|
35.2
|
%
|
S,G&A
|
|
|
129.5
|
|
|
|
117.7
|
|
|
|
94.0
|
|
|
|
73.4
|
|
|
|
47.1
|
|
|
|
39.7
|
|
|
|
39.2
|
|
|
|
43.2
|
|
R&D
|
|
|
75.4
|
|
|
|
78.2
|
|
|
|
58.3
|
|
|
|
51.9
|
|
|
|
27.7
|
|
|
|
20.1
|
|
|
|
9.4
|
|
|
|
0.5
|
|
D& A
|
|
|
7.5
|
|
|
|
9.2
|
|
|
|
7.0
|
|
|
|
5.2
|
|
|
|
3.0
|
|
|
|
1.9
|
|
|
|
3.8
|
|
|
|
2.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Operating Expenses
|
|
|
212.4
|
|
|
|
205.1
|
|
|
|
159.3
|
|
|
|
130.5
|
|
|
|
77.8
|
|
|
|
61.7
|
|
|
|
52.4
|
|
|
|
46.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBIT
|
|
|
36.5
|
|
|
|
3.7
|
|
|
|
(19.1
|
)
|
|
|
(60.4
|
)
|
|
|
(30.3
|
)
|
|
|
(22.6
|
)
|
|
|
(14.5
|
)
|
|
|
(2.7
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBIT Margin
|
|
|
7.2
|
%
|
|
|
0.8
|
%
|
|
|
(5.6
|
%)
|
|
|
(29.2
|
%)
|
|
|
(24.8
|
%)
|
|
|
(24.0
|
%)
|
|
|
(18.4
|
%)
|
|
|
(2.2
|
%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA
|
|
$
|
44.0
|
|
|
$
|
13.0
|
|
|
$
|
(12.1
|
)
|
|
$
|
(55.1
|
)
|
|
$
|
(27.3
|
)
|
|
$
|
(20.8
|
)
|
|
$
|
(12.3
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA Margin
|
|
|
8.7
|
%
|
|
|
2.8
|
%
|
|
|
(3.5
|
)%
|
|
|
(26.6
|
%)
|
|
|
(22.3
|
%)
|
|
|
(22.7
|
%)
|
|
|
(15.6
|
%)
|
|
|
0.2
|
%
|
LTM = As of December 31, 2007 (3rd Quarter FY 2008)
EBITDA = Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization, adjusted for one-time gains or losses on the sale
of assets and investments, discontinued operations,
restructuring expenses and goodwill write-downs. In FY2007, the
Company incurred a $54.1 million goodwill write-down.
Source: Company SEC Filings and Company Management projections.
In addition, Duff & Phelps reviewed Atari’s
projected fiscal year 2009 monthly budget, which projection
was based upon, and dependent upon, (i) Atari’s
development partners (principally Infogrames) releasing their
33
respective game titles on time and the performance of these
titles, (ii) Atari’s ability to streamline its
operations, (iii) Atari’s ability to achieve stability
in many senior management roles and (iv) Atari’s
ability to secure additional financing. Finally,
Duff & Phelps also reviewed an analysis of projected
cash receipts and disbursements for fiscal year 2009 through
September 2008, prepared by Atari, which indicated that
Atari’s cash funding requirements would be highest in June
2008 ($19 million).
Opinion
and Analyses by Duff & Phelps
The discussion below summarizes the analyses and factors that
Duff & Phelps deemed material in its presentation to
the Special Committee. This discussion does not contain a
comprehensive description of all analyses and factors considered
by Duff & Phelps. The preparation of a fairness
opinion is a complex process that involves various
determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods
of financial analysis and the application of these methods to
the particular circumstances. Therefore, a fairness opinion is
not readily susceptible to partial analysis or a summary
description. The process of rendering a fairness opinion
involves judgments concerning financial and operating
characteristics and other factors that could affect the
acquisition, public trading or other values of the companies,
business segments or transactions analyzed. To evaluate the
fairness of the proposed merger consideration, Duff &
Phelps employed several different analytical methodologies and
no one methodology should be regarded as critical to the overall
conclusion reached by Duff & Phelps. In arriving at
its opinion, Duff & Phelps did not attribute any
particular weight to any particular analysis or factor
considered by it, but rather made qualitative judgments as to
the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor that
it considered. Accordingly, Duff & Phelps believes
that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that
selecting portions of its analyses and of the factors considered
by it, without considering all analyses and factors may not
provide a complete or accurate understanding of the evaluation
process underlying its opinion.
Each analytical methodology has inherent strengths and
weaknesses, and the nature of the available information may
further affect the value of particular methodologies. The
conclusion reached by Duff & Phelps was based on all
analyses and factors, taken as a whole, and also on application
of Duff & Phelps’ own experience and judgment.
This conclusion inherently involved significant elements of
subjective judgment and qualitative analysis. Duff &
Phelps gave no opinion as to the value or merit standing alone
of any one or more parts of the analysis it performed. The
estimates contained in the analyses of Duff & Phelps
and the range of valuations resulting from any particular
analysis are not necessarily indicative of actual values or
predictive of future results or values, which may be
significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by the
analyses. In addition, analyses relating to the value of
businesses or securities do not purport to be appraisals or to
reflect the prices at which businesses or securities actually
may be sold in the future. Accordingly, the estimates used in,
and the results derived from, Duff & Phelps’
analyses are inherently subject to uncertainty.
Financial
Analyses
Set forth below is a summary of the material financial analyses
performed by Duff & Phelps in reaching its fairness
conclusions as of April 28, 2008, which were reviewed with
the Special Committee on April 28, 2008. The financial
analyses summarized below include information in tabular format.
In order to fully understand Duff & Phelps’
analyses, the tables must be read together with the text of each
summary. The tables alone do not constitute a complete
description of the financial analyses. Considering the data in
the tables below without considering the full narrative
description of the financial analyses, including the
methodologies and assumptions underlying the methodologies, may
not provide a complete or accurate understanding of
Duff & Phelps’ financial analyses.
In determining whether the merger consideration to be received
in the proposed merger would be fair, from a financial point of
view, to Atari’s public stockholders (other than Infogrames
and its affiliates), Duff & Phelps considered, among
other factors, the current, historical and projected financial
performance of Atari based on a review of information relating
to Atari, as well as Duff & Phelps’ discussions
with Atari’s management and Atari’s advisors.
No company, transaction or business used for comparative
purposes in Duff & Phelps’ analyses is identical
to Atari, its business or the proposed merger, and therefore an
evaluation of the results of those analyses is not entirely
mathematical.
34
Duff & Phelps considered several generally accepted
valuation approaches to establish valuation benchmarks against
which to compare the proposed merger. A discounted cash-flow
analysis was not utilized, as Atari’s management does not
prepare projections past one year. The valuation approaches used
by Duff & Phelps are discussed below.
Public Market Valuation — Duff &
Phelps analyzed the closing price and trading volume of Atari
common stock over the past 12 months. This analysis was
used to determine the fair market value ascribed to Atari’s
common stock by the public market prior to and on the date of
the announcement of the proposed merger.
Duff & Phelps noted that Atari, a NASDAQ listed
company, had 13,477,920 shares outstanding. Atari’s
shares had been thinly traded, with average daily trading volume
of 27,424 shares in the three months preceding
April 25, 2008. In the twelve months preceding the
execution of the merger agreement, Atari’s shares had
traded above and below the proposed merger consideration and
Atari’s volume weighted share price was US$1.45. On
April 22, 2008, Atari’s common stock closed at
US$1.50, below the merger consideration and down approximately
61% from its 52-week high of US$3.84.
Duff & Phelps noted that during the period from the
release of Atari’s most recent quarterly report on
Form 10-Q
on February 13, 2008 (covering the quarter ended
December 31, 2007) through April 22, 2008,
Atari’s volume-weighted share price was US$1.55.
Duff & Phelps observed that the proposed merger
consideration was in excess of this amount.
Selected Public Company Analysis —
Duff & Phelps reviewed valuation multiples of selected
publicly traded companies that were similar to Atari and applied
these valuation multiples to selected recent operating results
of Atari. Duff & Phelps noted that, unlike most of the
peer group companies, Atari had experienced negative earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
(“EBITDA”), so that the selected public company
analysis, which involves the application of enterprise value to
revenue multiples for the selected companies, was of limited
relevance to Atari.
The companies selected by Duff & Phelps consisted of
six publicly traded entities that Duff & Phelps
determined to be relevant to its analysis, falling under two
categories: small-cap video game developers, publishers and
distributors and packaged media distributors. Duff &
Phelps used certain methodologies to select companies, including
the following Primary and Secondary SIC Codes: 7372 (prepackaged
software), 5045 (computers and computer peripheral equipment and
software) and 7822 (motion picture and video tape distribution.
Duff & Phelps reviewed various SEC documents and
equity research reports for details regarding the nature of each
selected company’s business and financial performance.
Duff & Phelps excluded companies with a market
capitalization equal to or greater than US$1 billion. In
view of Atari’s decision to reduce its involvement in the
development of games, Duff & Phelps deemed the
analysis of selected video game developers, publishers and
distributors to be of less relevance than the analysis of
packaged media distributors.
The public companies selected by Duff & Phelps were as
follows:
Small-Cap Video Game Developers, Publishers and Distributors:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Majesco Entertainment Co.
|
|
|
•
|
Midway Games Inc.
|
Packaged Media Distributors:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Handleman Co.
|
|
|
•
|
Image Entertainment Inc.
|
|
|
•
|
Navarre Corp.
|
|
|
•
|
Source Interlink Companies, Inc.
|
None of the companies utilized for comparative purposes, as
reflected in Duff & Phelps’ analysis, is
identical to Atari. Accordingly, Duff & Phelps
concluded that a complete valuation analysis cannot be limited
to a quantitative review of the selected companies and involves
complex considerations and judgments concerning
35
differences in financial and operating characteristics of such
companies, as well as other factors that could affect their
values relative to that of Atari.
Duff & Phelps analyzed the last twelve months
(“LTM”) revenues and EBITDA for each of these six
publicly traded companies as well as their projected revenues
and EBITDA. For each peer group company, Duff & Phelps
calculated the enterprise value as the sum of the company’s
equity market value (diluted shares outstanding multiplied by
the current stock price) and net indebtedness. Duff &
Phelps then computed each peer group member’s enterprise
value as a multiple of its respective LTM and projected revenues
and of its EBITDA. (Although Duff & Phelps recognized
that revenue multiples may have limited relevance as a valuation
metric, Duff & Phelps believed that EBITDA multiples
were not applicable to Atari as Atari had experienced negative
EBITDA over the preceding twelve-month period.) The following
table summarizes the enterprise values calculated for each of
the public companies used in Duff & Phelps’
analysis:
Selected
Public Company Analysis
Publicly Traded Company Analysis
($ in millions except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23-Apr-08
|
|
|
% of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enterprise Value as a Multiple of
|
|
|
LTM
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
52 Wk
|
|
|
Market
|
|
|
Enterprise
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
|
EBITDA
|
|
|
EBITDA
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
Company
|
|
Price
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
2007A
|
|
|
2008E
|
|
|
2009E
|
|
|
2007A
|
|
|
2008E
|
|
|
2009E
|
|
|
Margin
|
|
|
Growth
|
|
|
Small Cap Video Game Developers, Publishers and
Distributors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Majesco Entertainment Co.
|
|
$
|
1.11
|
|
|
|
43.2
|
%
|
|
$
|
31.9
|
|
|
$
|
23.7
|
|
|
|
0.43
|
x
|
|
|
0.36
|
x.
|
|
|
0.34
|
x
|
|
|
4.6
|
x
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
9.3
|
%
|
|
|
(7.4
|
)%
|
Midway Games Inc.
|
|
|
2.39
|
|
|
|
31.7
|
%
|
|
|
220.0
|
|
|
|
293.9
|
|
|
|
1.87
|
x
|
|
|
1.29
|
x
|
|
|
1.16
|
x
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
(5.1
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43.2x
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.87
|
x
|
|
|
1.29
|
x
|
|
|
1.16
|
x
|
|
|
4.6
|
x
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
9.3
|
%
|
|
|
(5.1
|
)%
|
Median
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.15
|
x
|
|
|
0.83
|
x
|
|
|
0.75
|
x
|
|
|
4.6
|
x
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
9.3
|
%
|
|
|
(6.2
|
)%
|
Mean
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.15
|
x
|
|
|
0.83
|
x
|
|
|
0.75
|
x
|
|
|
4.6
|
x
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
9.3
|
%
|
|
|
(6.2
|
)%
|
Low
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.43
|
x
|
|
|
0.36
|
x
|
|
|
0.34
|
x
|
|
|
4.6
|
x
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
9.3
|
%
|
|
|
(7.4
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Packaged Media Distributors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Handleman Co.
|
|
$
|
0.44
|
|
|
|
5.8
|
%
|
|
$
|
9.0
|
|
|
$
|
66.6
|
|
|
|
0.06
|
x
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
9.7
|
x
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
0.6
|
%
|
|
|
(10.1
|
)%
|
Image Entertainment Inc.
|
|
|
1.31
|
|
|
|
29.1
|
%
|
|
|
28.5
|
|
|
|
54.3
|
|
|
|
0.54
|
x
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
1.1
|
%
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
Navarre Corp.
|
|
|
1.62
|
|
|
|
36.0
|
%
|
|
|
58.7
|
|
|
|
111.8
|
|
|
|
0.16
|
x
|
|
|
0.17
|
x
|
|
|
0.17
|
x
|
|
|
3.4
|
x
|
|
|
3.8
|
x
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
4.6
|
%
|
|
|
7.9
|
%
|
Source Interlink Companies, Inc.
|
|
|
1.44
|
|
|
|
19.5
|
%
|
|
|
75.3
|
|
|
|
1,444.5
|
|
|
|
0.64
|
x
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
10.6
|
x
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
|
23.3
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.64
|
x
|
|
|
0.17
|
x
|
|
|
0.17
|
x
|
|
|
10.6
|
x
|
|
|
3.8
|
x
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
6.0
|
%
|
|
|
23.3
|
%
|
Median
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24.3
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.35
|
x
|
|
|
0.17
|
x
|
|
|
0.17
|
x
|
|
|
9.7
|
x
|
|
|
3.8
|
x
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
2.8
|
%
|
|
|
4.0
|
%
|
Mean
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.35
|
x
|
|
|
0.17
|
x
|
|
|
0.17
|
x
|
|
|
7.9
|
x
|
|
|
3.8
|
x
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
3.1
|
%
|
|
|
5.3
|
%
|
Low
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.8
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.06
|
x
|
|
|
0.17
|
x
|
|
|
0.17
|
x
|
|
|
3.4
|
x
|
|
|
3.8
|
x
|
|
|
NA
|
|
|
|
0.6
|
%
|
|
|
(10.1
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atari, Inc.
|
|
$
|
1.50
|
|
|
|
39.2
|
%
|
|
$
|
20.2
|
|
|
$
|
28.8
|
|
|
|
0.31x
|
|
|
|
0.38x
|
|
|
|
0.40x
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
(34.4
|
)%
|
36
Duff & Phelps then used this information to determine
an implied enterprise value of Atari by considering the
enterprise value to LTM revenue multiples of the packaged media
distributors included in the peer group. In determining
Atari’s enterprise value under this methodology,
Duff & Phelps applied a range of LTM revenue multiples
for Atari, which represented a lower portion of the range of
revenue multiples observed for the peer group companies.
Duff & Phelps selected this range of multiples for
Atari based upon Atari’s financial and operating
performance in comparison to the peer group companies. These
steps yielded a per share equity value range for Atari of
US$0.38 to US$1.75, as indicated in the following table.
Duff & Phelps noted that the proposed merger
consideration was at the high end of this range.
Atari,
Inc.
Selected Public Company Analysis
($ in 000s except Equity Value Per Share Outstanding)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiples
|
|
|
Selected
|
|
|
Enterprise Value
|
|
Performance Measure
|
|
Atari
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Median
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Multiple Range
|
|
|
Range
|
|
|
Packaged Media Distributor — LTM
Revenue(1)
|
|
$
|
91.8
|
|
|
|
0.06
|
x
|
|
|
0.35
|
x
|
|
|
0.64
|
x
|
|
|
0.15
|
x
|
|
|
0.35
|
x
|
|
$
|
13.8 - $32.1
|
|
Enterprise Value Range
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
13.8 - $32.1
|
|
Less: Net
Debt(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
8.6 - $ 8.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Equity Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
5.2 - $23.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Value Per Share
Outstanding(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.38 - $1.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Latest twelve months as of December 31, 2007 |
|
(2) |
|
Net debt calculated by deducting cash and equivalents
($5.4 million) from the $14 million credit facility on
Atari’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2007 |
|
(3) |
|
As of December 31, 2007, Atari had 13,447,920 shares
outstanding |
Selected M&A Transaction Analysis (Multiples
Valuation) — Duff & Phelps reviewed
valuation multiples of selected merger and acquisition
transactions involving target companies that Duff &
Phelps determined to be relevant to its analysis and applied
these valuation multiples to selected recent operating results
of Atari. Duff & Phelps identified eight relevant
transactions in the video game development, publishing and
distribution and packaged media distribution industries that had
been announced since January 1, 2002 and for which adequate
information was available to derive meaningful valuation
multiples. Duff & Phelps restricted the search to
include only transactions with enterprise values less than
US$500 million.
In determining the relevant comparable transactions,
Duff & Phelps considered the Primary and Secondary SIC
Codes: 7372 (prepackaged software), 5045 (computers and computer
peripheral equipment and software) and 7822 (motion picture and
video tape distribution). Duff & Phelps reviewed the
transaction histories of the relevant comparable companies.
Because of a limited sample size, Duff & Phelps
included transactions involving foreign targets as well as
U.S.-based
targets. In view of Atari’s decision to reduce its
involvement in the development of games, Duff & Phelps
deemed the analysis of selected video game developers,
publishers and distributors to be of less relevance than the
analysis of packaged media distributors. Duff & Phelps
included all transactions that fit these criteria. The eight
relevant transactions considered by Duff & Phelps were
as follows: (i) Entertainment One Ltd./Contender
Entertainment Group, (ii) Mattel Inc./Radica Games Ltd.,
(iii) Electronic Arts Inc./Digital Illusions CE AB,
(iv) Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc./TDK Mediactive,
Inc., (v) Atari, Inc./Shiny Entertainment, Inc.,
(vi) Peace Arch Entertainment/Trinity Home Entertainment,
LLC, (vii) Marwyn Investment Management LLP/Entertainment
One Ltd., and (viii) Handleman Co./Crave Entertainment
Group, Inc.
None of the transactions utilized for comparative purposes in
the following analysis is, of course, identical to the proposed
merger. Accordingly, a complete valuation analysis cannot be
limited to a quantitative review of the selected transactions
and involves complex considerations and judgments.
Duff & Phelps computed the LTM revenues and EBITDA for
each of the eight target companies. Duff & Phelps then
calculated the implied enterprise value for each transaction as
a multiple of the target’s LTM revenue
37
and of its EBITDA. Duff & Phelps calculated an implied
enterprise value of Atari by considering the enterprise value to
LTM revenue multiples of the selected transactions in which the
target was a packaged media distributor. (Although
Duff & Phelps recognized that revenue multiples may
have limited relevance as a valuation metric, EBITDA multiples
were considered inapplicable to Atari as Atari had experienced
negative EBITDA over the prior twelve-month period.) In
determining Atari’s enterprise value under his methodology,
Duff & Phelps applied a range of LTM revenue multiples
for Atari which was below the range of revenue multiples
observed for the peer group companies. Duff & Phelps
selected this range of multiples for Atari based upon
Atari’s financial and operating performance in comparison
to the peer group companies. These steps yielded a per share
equity value range of US$0.72 to US$1.41, as shown in the
following table. Duff & Phelps noted that the proposed
merger consideration was above this range.
Atari,
Inc.
Selected M&A Transaction Analysis
($ in 000s except Equity Value Per Share Outstanding)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiples
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enterprise Value
|
|
Performance Measure
|
|
Atari, Inc.
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Median
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Selected Multiple Range
|
|
|
Range
|
|
|
Packaged Media Distributors — LTM
Revenue(1)
|
|
$
|
91.8
|
|
|
|
0.33
|
x
|
|
|
0.43
|
x
|
|
|
0.53
|
x
|
|
|
0.20
|
x
|
|
|
0.30
|
x
|
|
$
|
18.4 - $27.5
|
|
Enterprise Value Range
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
18.4 - $27.5
|
|
Less: Net
Debt(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
8.6 - $ 8.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Equity Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
9.8 - $18.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity Value Per Share
Outstanding(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.72 - $1.41
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Latest twelve months as of December 31, 2007 |
|
(2) |
|
Net debt calculated by deducting cash and equivalents
($5.4 million) from the $14 million credit facility on
Atari’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2007 |
|
(3) |
|
As of December 31, 2007, Atari had 13,477,920 shares
outstanding |
Selected M&A Transaction Analysis (Premiums
Paid) — Duff & Phelps reviewed the
premiums paid over market price for 26 public-to-private
transactions announced from January 1, 2003 through
April 22, 2008 in which the majority stockholder acquired
the remaining outstanding minority shares in a
U.S. publicly traded company. In each case, the transaction
involved at least 10% of the outstanding shares. The 26
transactions of this type that were considered by
Duff & Phelps were the acquisitions of: Cox
Communications, Inc.; Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.;
Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.; Alfa Corp.; William Lyon Homes;
Case Pomeroy & Co.; Foodarama Supermarkets, Inc.;
Dominion Homes, Inc.; Cruzan International, Inc.; Moscow Cable
Corp.; TIMCO Aviation Services, Inc.; Atalanta Sosnoff Capital
LLC; Semele Group, Inc.; Janus Homes & Resorts, Inc.;
Obsidian Enterprises, Inc.; Minuteman International, Inc.; OAO
Technology Solutions, Inc.; Boyd Bros. Transportation, Inc.;
Hanover Direct, Inc.; Rag Shops, Inc.; Dover Investments Corp.;
Reeds Jewelers, Inc.; Elmer’s Restaurants, Inc.; Riverside
Group, Inc.; Kontron Mobile Computing, Inc.; and Chefs
International, Inc.
Duff & Phelps also reviewed the transaction premiums
paid over market price for 36 public-to-private transactions of
a U.S. publicly traded company announced from
October 1, 2007 through April 22, 2008. These
transactions involved an acquisition of 100% of the outstanding
shares or situations in which the acquirer held a minority and
acquired the majority of the outstanding shares. The 36
transactions of this type that were considered by
Duff & Phelps were the acquisitions of: Puget Energy,
Inc.; Post Properties, Inc.; Goodman Global, Inc.; Getty Images,
Inc.; Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Inc.; Performance Food
Group Co.; Radiation Therapy Services, Inc.; Transmeridian
Exploration, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Co.; NuCo2, Inc.; Covad
Communications Group, Inc.; Rentech, Inc.; CollaGenex
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; DHB Industries, Inc.;
E-Z-EM,
Inc.; Lifecore Biomedial, Inc.; Transmeta Corp.; Packeteer,
Inc.; Overhill Farms, Inc.; Nuclear Solutions, Inc.; Industrial
Distribution Group, Inc.; SCPIE Holdings, Inc.; Printronix,
Inc.; SigmaTel, Inc.; SunLink Health Systems, Inc.; Manatron,
Inc.; Financial Industries Corp.; Analysts International Corp.;
Carrier Access Corp.; ESS Technology, Inc.; Community First
Bancorp, Inc. (Kentucky); The TriZetto Group, Inc.; Clayton
Holdings, Inc.; Production Enhancement Group, Inc.; Merisel,
Inc.; and AirNet Systems, Inc.
38
In addition, Duff & Phelps analyzed premiums paid in
eleven situations in which the target business was deemed to be
distressed (defined as situations in which the target company
had a negative EBITDA margin) and the majority shareholder
acquired the remaining outstanding shares. The eleven situations
of this type that were considered by Duff & Phelps
were the acquisitions of: Foodarama Supermarkets, Inc.; Dominion
Homes, Inc.; Cruzan International, Inc.; Moscow Cable Corp.;
TIMCO Aviation Services, Inc.; Atalanta Sosnoff Capital LLC;
Semele Group, Inc.; Obsidian Enterprises, Inc.; Hanover Direct,
Inc.; Rag Shops, Inc.; and Reeds Jewelers, Inc.
Duff & Phelps compared the premiums over the
1-day,
5-day, and
30-day
trading prices prior to the announcement of such
public-to-private transaction to the implied premium associated
with the proposed merger. In reviewing the 26 transactions in
which the majority stockholder purchased the remaining
outstanding shares of a publicly traded subsidiary,
Duff & Phelps observed the mean and median of the
premiums paid over the
1-day,
5-day and
30-day
trading prices prior to announcement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1-Day Premium
|
|
5-Day Premium
|
|
30-Day Premium
|
Median
|
|
|
25.8
|
%
|
|
|
23.7
|
%
|
|
|
34.1
|
%
|
Mean
|
|
|
28.4
|
%
|
|
|
29.1
|
%
|
|
|
34.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1-Day Premium
|
|
5-Day Premium
|
|
30-Day Premium
|
Median
|
|
|
29.1
|
%
|
|
|
25.9
|
%
|
|
|
41.3
|
%
|
Mean
|
|
|
25.0
|
%
|
|
|
26.7
|
%
|
|
|
38.1
|
%
|
Duff & Phelps observed that the merger consideration
in the proposed Atari merger represented premiums paid of 0.0%,
6.3% and 58.5% over the
1-day,
5-day and
30-day
trading prices of Atari’s common stock, respectively,
preceding Infogrames’ announcement of the proposed
transaction on March 6, 2008.
Duff & Phelps noted that the premiums paid analysis
was of limited relevance for Atari because of Atari’s
dependence on Infogrames, its majority stockholder, for new
product releases. Duff & Phelps noted that most of the
other transactions that Duff & Phelps considered did
not involve a similar degree of dependence by the target company
on the acquiring party.
Net Asset Value Analysis — Duff &
Phelps reviewed Atari’s audited balance sheet as of
December 31, 2007 and Atari’s preliminary estimated
internal balance sheet as of March 31, 2008 to determine
the net asset value (“NAV”) of Atari and added the
fair market value of Atari’s intellectual property. In
determining the fair market value of the intellectual property,
Duff & Phelps relied, without independent
verification, on information provided by management, including
third party appraisals.
In conducting its net asset value analysis and its liquidation
analysis, Duff & Phelps took into account that Atari
had certain net operating loss carryforwards for income tax
purposes. However, based on the information provided by Atari,
Duff & Phelps believed there was no assurance that
these net operating losses would have any value to a potential
buyer of Atari. Accordingly, Duff & Phelps did not
ascribe any specific value to Atari’s net operating losses
in its analysis.
For purposes of its net asset value analysis and liquidation
analysis, Duff & Phelps believed that the value of
Atari’s distribution agreement with Infogrames was
reflected in the Atari financial information that
Duff & Phelps considered and relied upon. As a result,
Duff & Phelps did not value the distribution agreement
separate and apart from Atari’s other assets.
As of December 31, 2007, Atari’s total assets and
total liabilities were US$43.5 million and
US$60.3 million, respectively, resulting in a negative NAV
of US$16.8 million. Estimated as of March 31, 2008,
Atari’s total assets and total liabilities were
US$32.6 million and US$52.9 million, respectively,
resulting in a negative NAV of US$20.3 million.
Liquidation Analysis — Duff & Phelps
also considered Atari’s current liquidity position and its
prospects for obtaining additional cash infusions from persons
other than its affiliate, Infogrames. Duff & Phelps
observed that, as a result of substantial operating losses and
significant cash requirements to fund working capital, Atari was
liquidity constrained and its ability to secure additional
financing from sources other than Infogrames was uncertain.
Since Atari was in violation of its weekly cash flow covenants
on its BlueBay credit facility, Duff & Phelps analyzed
the potential recoveries by holders of Atari’s common stock
in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Duff & Phelps
39
prepared its liquidation analysis assuming an orderly
liquidation in which Atari would realize 70% of book value for
accounts receivable, 50% of book value for inventory and 70% of
book value for property, plant and equipment. These discount
percentages were determined based upon Duff &
Phelps’ experience in connection with other liquidation
scenarios. To this amount, Duff & Phelps added the
book value of cash and marketable securities. Additionally,
Atari owns certain intellectual property, consisting primarily
of rights to videogame software and trademarks, that is not
reflected on the balance sheet. In a liquidation scenario,
Duff & Phelps assumed that Atari would realize 100% of
the estimated fair market value of the intellectual property.
Duff & Phelps utilized estimated values for
Atari’s intellectual property that were derived from a
third party’s analysis dated January 1, 2007, as
adjusted by Duff & Phelps to take account of sales of
intellectual property made since January 1, 2007. Atari
management advised Duff & Phelps that this third-party
analysis represented the best available information about
Atari’s intellectual property.
In determining the anticipated recoveries for Atari’s
assets of various types, Duff & Phelps applied a 25%
discount for bankruptcy costs. The resulting value was
discounted back one and one-half years to present value at a 20%
discount rate to adjust for the time period required to complete
the liquidation. Based on its experience in other liquidations,
Duff & Phelps believed the various recovery and
discount percentages it used were reasonable estimates. As
indicated in the following table, as a result of its liquidation
analysis, Duff & Phelps determined that Atari’s
common stock would have no value in a liquidation scenario.
Atari,
Inc.
Liquidation Analysis ($ in million)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eastimated
|
|
|
Liquidation
|
|
|
|
Book Value
|
|
|
Recovery
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
5.4
|
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
$
|
5.4
|
|
Accounts Receivable
|
|
|
16.8
|
|
|
|
70
|
%
|
|
|
11.8
|
|
Inventory
|
|
|
7.4
|
|
|
|
50
|
%
|
|
|
3.7
|
|
Net PP&E
|
|
|
6.3
|
|
|
|
70
|
%
|
|
|
4.4
|
|
Intellectual
Property(1)
|
|
|
13.3
|
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
|
13.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: Bankruptcy Costs @
25%(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9.6
|
|
Net Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28.9
|
|
Less: Discount
Factor(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.7607
|
|
Total Liquidation Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22.0
|
|
Atari Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidation Value Available to Common Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(38.3
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Estimated value of Atari’s intellectual property, based on
Ocean Tomo analysis as of January 1, 2007. Applied the
midpoint of the range of value ($17.0 million to
$29.9 million) indicated. The rights to Test Drive were
licensed to IESA for $5.0 million in November 2007,
therefore, the estimated value of Test Drive ($10 million
to $15 million) was subtracted. The license agreement is
for a seven year term, therefore, it was assumed that no
residual value related to the Test Drive IP exists. |
|
(2) |
|
Estimated liquidation/bankruptcy costs. |
|
(3) |
|
Discount factor of 20% over a 1.5 year period. |
Summary
Analysis
Based on its analyses, and subject to the factors discussed
above, Duff & Phelps concluded that the consideration
to be received by Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders in the
proposed merger was fair, as of April 28, 2008, from a
financial point of view, to such unaffiliated stockholders
(without giving effect to any impact of the proposed merger on
any particular stockholder other than in its capacity as a
stockholder).
40
The Duff & Phelps fairness opinion to the Special
Committee was one of many factors taken into consideration by
the Special Committee in making its determination to approve the
proposed merger. Consequently, the analyses described above
should not be viewed as determinative of the opinion of the
Special Committee with respect to the merger consideration or of
whether the Special Committee would have been willing to
recommend a merger transaction with different merger
consideration.
Ocean
Tomo Report Referenced by Duff & Phelps
In 2006, Ocean Tomo, Inc. (“Ocean Tomo”) was retained
by Guggenheim, Atari’s lender at the time, to provide
Guggenheim with an opinion as to the estimated fair market value
of certain Atari intellectual property (“IP”) in
connection with Atari’s application for a term loan and an
increase to its line of credit with Guggenheim, as well as the
line of credit’s related security agreement. Ocean Tomo is
a consulting firm that provides financial products and services
related to intellectual property expert testimony, valuation,
investments, risk management and transactions. In December 2006,
Ocean Tomo delivered a draft report (the “Ocean Tomo
Report”) to Guggenheim summarizing its findings. Atari also
received a copy of such draft report. To the knowledge of Atari,
the Ocean Tomo Report was never finalized by Ocean Tomo. The
summary of the Ocean Tomo Report set forth below is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the full text of the Ocean Tomo
Report, which is attached as an exhibit to the
Schedule 13E-3
filed with the SEC.
The Ocean Tomo Report was prepared for Guggenheim in its
capacity as a lender for its own purposes and Atari did not
provide any instructions to Ocean Tomo regarding the preparation
of such report or the scope, methodologies, or objectives of
such report. In addition, Ocean Tomo was not engaged to, and did
not, provide any opinion to Infogrames, Atari or to Atari’s
stockholders as to the fairness of the merger consideration or
any valuation of Atari or Atari’s assets for the purpose of
assessing the fairness of the merger consideration.
Duff & Phelps did not rely on the Ocean Tomo Report
other than for the limited purpose of providing an estimate of
the book value of certain Atari IP for purposes of
Duff & Phelps’ liquidation analysis. Other than
Guggenheim’s retention of Ocean Tomo as described above, no
other material relationship has existed during the past two
years between Ocean Tomo or its affiliates and Atari or its
affiliates.
Ocean Tomo’s opinions at the time of the draft report were
based on an independent examination of documents produced,
discussions with certain representatives of Atari and
Guggenheim, and certain third-party documents. Ocean Tomo’s
analysis and conclusions were based, in part, on information,
data and assertions provided by Atari personnel. For the
purposes of this report, Ocean Tomo assumed the information and
data provided by Atari was an accurate reflection of the facts
to which such data relate. Ocean Tomo did not perform due
diligence associated with the subject IP, except as explicitly
described in the Ocean Tomo Report. Within the analysis, Ocean
Tomo assumed there were no due diligence issues associated with
the IP. The Ocean Tomo Report is considered a Restricted Use
Appraisal Report, as described in the Uniform Standards of
Professional Appraisal Practice.
41
In performing its analysis, Ocean Tomo used three primary
valuation methods: (i) the Market Approach, which values
assets based on comparable transactions between unrelated
parties; (ii) the Income Approach, which values assets
based on the present value of the future income streams expected
from the asset under consideration, and which included the
Relief from Royalty Approach, which is based on the premise that
an asset’s value can be measured by what the asset owner
would pay in royalties if it did not own the asset and had to
license it from a third party; and (iii) the Cost Approach,
which values assets based on the cost necessary to create and
develop the IP. Ocean Tomo concluded that the most appropriate
valuation methodologies were the Market Approach (because it
considers recent market transactions for various videogames) and
the Income Approach (because it considers the economics
associated with the specific videogames). The following table
presents Ocean Tomo’s conclusions of value regarding the
material IP owned by Atari taken into account by
Duff & Phelps in conducting its liquidation analysis:
Estimates
of Fair Market Value of Certain Atari IP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ocean Tomo Expectations
|
|
|
FMV of Owned IP Packages
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deer Hunter
|
|
$
|
3 million
|
|
|
to
|
|
$
|
6 million
|
|
Total Annihilation
|
|
$
|
1 million
|
|
|
to
|
|
$
|
3 million
|
|
Other
|
|
$
|
2.5 million
|
|
|
to
|
|
$
|
5 million
|
|
FMV of Owned Trademarks
|
|
|
|
|
|
<$500,000
|
|
|
|
|
FMV of Owned Company Names
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assigned Zero Value
|
|
|
|
|
FMV of In-Licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assigned Zero Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
7.0 million
|
|
|
to
|
|
$
|
19.5 million
|
|
Summary
of Presentation by the Financial Advisor to Infogrames
In May 2007, Infogrames engaged Lazard to act as its financial
advisor to advise it on its strategic alternatives, including,
among other things, with respect to its majority interest in
Atari.
Prior to discussing the offer and the merger agreement with
Atari, the board of directors of Infogrames had discussions with
Lazard with respect to a potential transaction and Lazard
provided a presentation to Infogrames’ board of directors.
The following is a summary of the material financial analyses
contained in Lazard’s presentation. However, it does not
purport to be a complete description of the analyses performed
by Lazard or of its discussions with the board of directors of
Infogrames. Infogrames did not request, and Lazard did not
provide, any opinion to Infogrames, to Atari or to Atari’s
stockholders as to the fairness of the merger consideration or
any valuation of Atari for the purpose of assessing the fairness
of the merger consideration. Had Lazard been requested to
provide an opinion or recommend or provide support for a fair or
appropriate valuation of the shares of Atari common stock not
held by Infogrames and its affiliates, the information,
comparisons and analyses presented by Lazard in the presentation
to Infogrames’ board of directors may have been different.
The following summary is included here only for informational
purposes and to comply with applicable disclosure requirements.
The analyses described herein and the order in which they are
presented and the results of the analyses do not represent
relative importance or weight given to these analyses by Lazard.
The summary of the presentation set forth below is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the full text of the presentation
materials, which are attached as an exhibit to the
Schedule 13E-3
filed with the SEC in connection with the merger. Holders of
shares of Atari common stock are urged to, and should, read such
presentation materials in their entirety. Lazard’s
advisory services were provided solely for the information of
the board of directors of Infogrames in its evaluation of the
merger and neither the presentation materials nor this summary
constitutes a recommendation as to how holders of shares of
Atari common stock should vote their shares at the special
meeting or as to any other action any holder should take or
refrain from taking in connection with the merger.
Lazard made a presentation to Infogrames’ board of
directors on March 2, 2008 (the “Lazard
Presentation”). On April 24, 2008, as part of a
presentation by Infogrames’ management to its board of
directors, Lazard confirmed and updated its valuation analysis
from the March Presentation (the “April Infogrames
Presentation”). Lazard’s valuation analysis contained
in the April Infogrames Presentation was not materially
different than the valuation analysis contained in the Lazard
Presentation. The figures and analyses described below are based
on the Lazard Presentation.
42
Lazard believes that its analysis and the summary set forth
above must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions
of its analysis, without considering all factors and analyses,
could create an incomplete view of the process underlying the
analyses set forth in the Lazard Presentation. The Lazard
Presentation was prepared solely for the purposes discussed
above and is not an appraisal or reflection of the prices at
which businesses or securities actually may be sold. Analyses
based upon projected future results are not necessarily
indicative of actual future results, which may be significantly
more or less favorable than suggested by such analyses. Because
such analyses are inherently subject to uncertainty, as they are
based upon numerous factors or events beyond the control of the
parties or their respective advisors, none of Infogrames’
personnel or any other person assumes responsibility if the
future results are materially different from those projected.
In preparing the Lazard Presentation, Lazard assumed and relied
on the accuracy and completeness of all information supplied or
otherwise made available to it, discussed with or reviewed by or
for it, or publicly available, and did not independently verify
the information or independently evaluate or appraise any of the
assets or liabilities of Atari. In addition, Lazard was not
provided with such evaluation or appraisal and it did not assume
any obligation to conduct any physical inspection of the
properties or facilities of Atari.
The Lazard Presentation is necessarily based upon market,
economic and other conditions as they exist and can be based on
the information made available to it as of the date of the
Lazard Presentation. Lazard assumed that in the course of
obtaining any necessary regulatory or other consents or
approvals (contractual or otherwise) for the merger and the
merger agreement, no restrictions, including any divestiture
requirements or amendments or modifications, will be imposed
that will have a material adverse effect on the contemplated
benefits of the merger. Lazard’s analyses were prepared
solely as part of Lazard’s presentation in connection with
Infogrames’ consideration of the merger.
Lazard also assumed that there have been no material changes in
Atari’s condition, results of operations, business or
prospects since the date of the most recent financial statements
made available to Lazard and Lazard does not have any obligation
to update, revise or reaffirm the materials presented by it to
Infogrames. Lazard based its analyses on assumptions that it
deemed reasonable, including assumptions concerning general
business and economic conditions and industry-specific factors.
Lazard’s analyses are not necessarily indicative of actual
values or actual future results that might be achieved, which
values may be higher or lower than those indicated.
Some of the summaries of financial analyses described below
include information presented in tabular format. In order to
understand fully the financial analyses performed by Lazard, the
tables must be read together with the text of each summary. The
tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the
financial analyses performed by Lazard. The following
quantitative information, to the extent is it based on market
data, is based on market data as it existed at or prior to
February 29, 2008 and is not necessarily indicative of
current or future market conditions.
In providing financial advice and preparing financial analysis,
Lazard, among other things:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Reviewed the publicly available business and financial
information relating to Atari that Lazard deemed relevant;
|
|
|
•
|
Reviewed selected information, including financial forecasts,
relating to the business, earnings, cash flow, assets,
liabilities and prospects of Atari, furnished to Lazard by
Infogrames;
|
|
|
•
|
Conducted discussions with members of senior management and
representatives of Infogrames concerning the matters described
above, as well as Atari’s business and prospects;
|
|
|
•
|
Reviewed the market prices and valuation multiples for the
common stock of Atari and compared them with those of selected
publicly traded companies;
|
|
|
•
|
Participated occasionally in discussions and negotiations among
representatives of Atari and its financial and legal advisors
and Infogrames and its legal advisors; and
|
|
|
•
|
Assisted Infogrames in reviewing the financial terms of the
executed merger agreement.
|
Lazard noted that although various valuation methodologies could
theoretically be used, the specific situation of Atari (recovery
situation) and the absence of a management business plan or
analyst’s projections led to an analysis based on
(i) two net asset value (NAV) analyses, (ii) trading
comparable companies multiples and (iii) buy-out offer
premia observed in minority buy-out transactions in the United
States.
43
The following analyses were not used for the following reasons:
|
|
|
|
•
|
A liquidation analysis was not used because the main purpose of
the buy-out of Atari’s minority shareholders was to permit
Atari to pursue its operations in the United States (and, in any
event, such an analysis would in all likelihood have resulted in
a lower valuation than the net asset value analysis);
|
|
|
•
|
A discounted cash flow analysis would not have produced
meaningful results due to the high risk embedded in Atari’s
recovery plan, the absence of a publicly available business plan
or a management business plan, the difficulty of determining an
appropriate discount rate, the extreme sensitivity of the
results of a discounted cash flow analysis to the discount rate,
a terminal value being difficult to assess, and the two main
contracts of Atari being potentially terminated within a few
years; and
|
|
|
•
|
The comparable transaction multiples methodology was not used
because of the absence of recent transactions involving similar
businesses to that of Atari and in a similar recovery situation.
|
Lazard did not specifically factor a control premium into its
analyses as Infogrames already controlled approximately 52% of
Atari’s common stock.
Lazard observed that the methodologies it used led to
significant variations in its results notably compared to those
of the buy-out premium approach because of the trading multiples
levels of Atari, which are well above its peers. Many results
did not reflect Atari’s intrinsic value. Possible
explanations for this noted by Lazard were: (i) speculation
on a possible buy — out of minority shareholders;
(ii) lack of liquidity of Atari common stock; (iii) an
implicit valuation of Atari net operating losses (NOLs) by the
market; and (iv) a misunderstanding of Atari’s
activity and assets (distribution vs. publishing) by the market.
Net
Asset Value
Lazard performed a net asset value analysis, based on
Atari’s December 31, 2007 balance sheet. Two scenarios
were presented to Infogrames’ board of directors:
a. “Going concern” scenario: All tangible
assets were taken into account at their book value of
US$41 million. The value of Atari’s intangible assets
(Intellectual Property portfolio, Atari brand license and
Infogrames distribution agreement) was estimated by Infogrames
management to be US$17.3 million, of which
US$8.1 million was for the distribution agreement based on
Infogrames’ assumptions. The value of the distribution
agreement depends on Atari’s capacity to generate cash
flows from the distribution of Infogrames’ products.
Deferred tax assets were estimated, based on Infogrames’
assumptions and on Infogrames’ tax advisors’ analyses,
to be US$11.5 million, assuming no change of control under
applicable U.S. tax regulations. The value of Atari’s
deferred tax assets mainly depends on the ability of Atari to
generate positive pre-tax income. Atari’s total asset value
was thus estimated at US$70.0 million, or US$5.20 per share
of Atari common stock. All liabilities on Atari’s balance
sheet were taken into account at their book value of
US$65.2 million, or US$4.80 per share of Atari common
stock. The implied equity value of Atari obtained by deducting
total liabilities from total assets was therefore
US$4.8 million or US$0.40 per share of Atari common stock.
An analysis of the sensitivity of Atari common stock value to
(i) the value of the deferred tax assets and (ii) the
value of the distribution agreement was performed using the
following values:
|
|
|
|
•
|
US$10.0 million, US$11.5 million and
US$15.0 million for the value of the deferred tax assets,
US$11.5 million being the value derived from the discounted
value of future tax gains; and
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
US$7.5 million, US$8.1 million and
US$10.0 million for the value of the distribution
agreement, US$8.1 million being the value obtained by
discounting the future free cash flows generated by the
distribution agreement using a 15% discount rate (in line with
the pricing assumptions used for the issuance by Infogrames of
its mandatory convertible debt in January 2008).
|
These sensitivity analyses led to a valuation range of US$0.25
to US$0.62 per share of Atari common stock.
b. “Significant loss of NOLs” scenario:
This scenario was assumed as the most likely as, according to
Infogrames’ tax advisors, a buy-out of Atari’s
minority shareholders by Infogrames would be considered as a
change of control under applicable U.S. tax regulations,
leading to the loss of the largest part of the existing tax
assets (NOLs) of Atari. The deferred tax assets were therefore
estimated, based on Infogrames’ assumptions and on
Infogrames’ tax advisors’ analyses, to be
US$2.0 million.
44
Based on the same assumptions as in the “Going
concern” scenario, except for the value of Atari’s
tax assets, the implied equity value of Atari was negative and
estimated to be US$-4.6 million or US$-0.34 per share of
Atari common stock.
An analysis of the sensitivity of Atari common stock value to
(i) the value of the deferred tax assets and (ii) the
value of the distribution agreement was performed using the
following values:
|
|
|
|
•
|
US$0.0 million, US$2.0 million and US$5.0 million
for the value of the deferred tax assets; and
|
|
|
•
|
US$7.5 million, US$8.1 million and
US$10.0 million for the value of the distribution agreement.
|
These sensitivity analyses led to a valuation range of US$-0.50
to US$-0.12 per share of Atari common stock.
Comparable
Minority Buy-Outs
Lazard reviewed publicly available information relating to 20
selected all-cash minority buy-out transactions in the United
States from June 2004 to March 2008. For each of the precedent
transactions, Lazard calculated the premium paid over the last
trading price before the transaction announcement. Premium over
average prices over various periods were also provided in the
April Presentation. The following table presents the results of
this analysis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent
|
|
|
(US$
|
|
|
Offered
|
|
Target
|
|
Acquiror
|
|
Acquired
|
|
|
millions)
|
|
|
Premium
|
|
|
Cagle’s Inc.
|
|
Existing Management
|
|
|
36
|
%
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
22
|
%
|
Waste Industries USA Inc.
|
|
Macquarie IP; Goldman Sachs
|
|
|
49
|
%
|
|
|
514
|
|
|
|
29
|
%
|
Alfa Corp.
|
|
Alfa Mutual Insurance Co.
|
|
|
45
|
%
|
|
|
1,760
|
|
|
|
16
|
%
|
Great American Financial Resources Inc.
|
|
American Financial Group Inc.
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
|
|
1,105
|
|
|
|
12
|
%
|
21st Century Insurance Group
|
|
American International Group
|
|
|
39
|
%
|
|
|
1,847
|
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
TD Banknorth Inc.
|
|
TD Bank Financial Group
|
|
|
42
|
%
|
|
|
7,603
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Sport Supply Group Inc.
|
|
Collegiate Pacific Inc.
|
|
|
27
|
%
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
NetRatings
|
|
VNU Group B.V.
|
|
|
40
|
%
|
|
|
571
|
|
|
|
10
|
%
|
LUKoil OAO
|
|
Chaparral Resources Inc.
|
|
|
40
|
%
|
|
|
222
|
|
|
|
13
|
%
|
Lafarge North America Inc.
|
|
Lafarge S.A.
|
|
|
47
|
%
|
|
|
6,295
|
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
Virbac Corp.
|
|
Virbac S.A.
|
|
|
40
|
%
|
|
|
93
|
|
|
|
13
|
%
|
Swisher International Inc.
|
|
HB Fairview Holdings
|
|
|
33
|
%
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
2
|
%
|
Black Rock Acquisition Corp.
|
|
Obsidian Enterprises Inc.
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
5
|
%
|
Vestin Group Inc.
|
|
Management Group (Michael Shustek)
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
2
|
%
|
Eon Labs Inc.
|
|
Novartis AG
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
2,858
|
|
|
|
18
|
%
|
UnitedGlobalCom Inc.
|
|
Liberty Media International Inc.
|
|
|
47
|
%
|
|
|
7,596
|
|
|
|
3
|
%
|
Rag Shops Inc.
|
|
Sun Capital Partners Inc.
|
|
|
44
|
%
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
1
|
%
|
Southern Security Life Insurance
|
|
Security National Financial Corp.
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
14
|
%
|
Cox Communications Inc.
|
|
Cox Enterprises Inc.
|
|
|
38
|
%
|
|
|
20,213
|
|
|
|
16
|
%
|
Edelbrock Corp.
|
|
Management Group
|
|
|
49
|
%
|
|
|
92
|
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
Mean
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
%
|
Median
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14
|
%
|
Minimum
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Maximum
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29
|
%
|
Source: Dealogic; Datastream; Factiva.
By applying the observed minimum and maximum premiums to
Atari’s spot share price of US$1.67 on February 29,
2008, Lazard derived a possible range of prices for Atari’s
equity value per share of US$1.67 to US$2.15.
45
Comparable
Companies’ Trading Multiples
Lazard identified a small peers group, with only two
distribution-oriented U.S. comparable companies identified.
Lazard analyzed historical financial information and market
forecasts for these peers, which were considered to some extent
to be similar to Atari.
The forecasted information used by Lazard for the selected
companies was based on equity research reports. The forecasted
financial information for Atari was based on the estimates of
its management provided to Lazard by Infogrames. The historical
financial information for the comparable companies and Atari
used by Lazard in the course of its analysis was based on
publicly available historical information.
Based on the one-month average share prices as of
February 29, 2008, Lazard calculated the enterprise
value / revenues ratios for the years 2007, 2008E and
2009E for Atari and each of the comparable companies. The
enterprise value / earnings before interest expense,
taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) ratio and the
enterprise value / earnings before interest expense
and taxes (EBIT) ratio were not considered meaningful as Atari
had negative EBITDA and EBIT in 2007, and is expected to have
negative EBITDA and EBIT in 2008 (based on Infogrames management
estimates).
The following table presents the results of the relevant parts
of Lazard’s analysis:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enterprise Value/Revenues
|
|
Distributor
|
|
2007A
|
|
|
2008E
|
|
|
2009E
|
|
|
Alliance
Distributors(1)
|
|
|
0.20x
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
Navarre
|
|
|
0.17x
|
|
|
|
0.18x
|
|
|
|
0.16x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mean
|
|
|
0.19x
|
|
|
|
0.18x
|
|
|
|
0.16x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
2008E and 2009E figures were not available as there are no
research analysts covering this company. |
Using this sample and based on 2007 and 2008 enterprise
value / revenues multiples, Lazard calculated that a
representative range of Atari’s equity value would be
US$0.45 to US$0.59 per share of common stock. A 2009 enterprise
value / revenues multiple was not used because the
implied valuation was not consistent with the results implied by
the 2007 and 2008 enterprise value / revenues
multiples. In any case, had a 2009 enterprise
value / revenues multiple been used, the implied
valuation obtained would have been significantly lower than that
obtained using the 2007 and 2008 enterprise
value / revenues multiples.
With regard to the comparable companies and minority buy-outs
analyses summarized above, Lazard selected comparable public
companies and minority buy-outs on the basis of various factors,
including similarity of the transactions; however, no company
utilized in this analysis is identical to Atari and no previous
minority buy-out is identical to the current merger. As a
result, these analyses are not purely mathematical, but also
take into account differences in financial and operating
characteristics of the subject companies and other factors that
could affect the transaction or the public trading value of the
subject companies to which Atari is being compared.
Lazard
Lazard is an internationally recognized investment banking firm
engaged in, among other things, the valuation of businesses and
their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions,
restructurings, leveraged buyouts, negotiated underwritings,
competitive biddings, secondary distributions of listed and
unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for
estate, corporate and other purposes. Infogrames selected Lazard
to act as its financial advisor in connection with the merger on
the basis of Lazard’s international reputation.
Pursuant to its engagement letter with Infogrames, dated
May 25, 2007 and amended on December 24, 2007, April
2008 and June 2008, Lazard is acting as financial advisor to
Infogrames in connection with the merger. Lazard receives a
retainer for its ongoing role as financial advisor to Infogrames
on several matters, including the merger. Infogrames has agreed
to pay Lazard a customary fee for its services in connection
with the merger, €1.1 million (approximately
US$1.96 million based on the exchange rate of US$1.7853 to
€1 at market close on September 2, 2008), which is
payable upon the consummation of the merger.
46
Alternatives
to the Merger
The Infogrames Parties believed that there were very limited
alternatives to a merger transaction between Infogrames and
Atari, none of which were acceptable to them. One alternative
would have been to continue as currently owned and operated,
which would likely have resulted in continuing losses without
any assurance that Atari could have returned to profitability or
financial stability. As Infogrames had (and continues to have)
no intention to sell its interests in Atari, a sale to a third
party was not considered. Further, as Atari was still able to
satisfy its payment obligations under its indebtedness (although
not its financial covenants), at least in the short term, a
declaration of bankruptcy, in which Infogrames may have been
able to purchase the Atari assets, was not seen as strategically
beneficial.
The Infogrames Parties therefore decided to structure the
transaction as a one-step cash merger, which provides a prompt
and orderly transfer of complete ownership of Atari to
Infogrames with reduced transaction costs and minimal risk that
the contemplated transaction will not be finalized. The
transaction has been structured as a merger of Merger Sub with
and into Atari in order to permit the acquisition of Atari by
Infogrames in a single step and to preserve Atari’s
identity. In choosing this structure, the Infogrames Parties
also considered the factors described under “Special
Factors — Position of the Infogrames Parties as to the
Fairness of the Merger to Atari’s Unaffiliated
Stockholders; Intent of Infogrames to Vote in Favor of the
Merger Transaction”. For those reasons, Infogrames also
determined not to commence any acquisition with a cash tender
offer.
Certain
Effects of the Merger
Conversion
of Outstanding Atari Common Stock
Upon the merger agreement being approved by Atari’s
stockholders and the other conditions to the closing of the
merger being satisfied or waived, Merger Sub will be merged with
and into Atari, with Atari continuing as the surviving
corporation in the merger. After the merger, Infogrames through
CUSH will beneficially own all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of Atari.
When the merger is completed, each share of Atari common stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time
of the merger (other than excluded shares) will be converted
into the right to receive US$1.68 in cash, without interest.
Shares beneficially owned by Infogrames will be cancelled with
no consideration paid therefor.
Stock
Options
To the extent permitted under the applicable option plans, each
outstanding and unexercised option to purchase shares of Atari
common stock granted under Atari’s stock incentive plans
(whether or not vested or exercisable) at the effective time of
the merger will be cancelled, and each option holder will be
entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of
(x) the number of shares subject to such stock option,
multiplied by (y) the excess of the per share merger
consideration of US$1.68 over the per share exercise price of
such stock option, less applicable taxes required to be withheld
with respect to such payment.
Furthermore, under the merger agreement, prior to the effective
time, Atari has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to
commence a tender offer to purchase all outstanding options to
purchase shares of Atari common stock granted under Atari’s
employee stock incentive plans (whether or not vested or
exercisable) that Atari does not have the right to cancel and
that have exercise prices that exceed the merger consideration.
Stock options that Atari accepts pursuant to the tender offer
will be cancelled and will no longer be outstanding and the
tendering option holder will thereafter only have the right to
receive at the effective time the consideration payable pursuant
to the tender offer.
Effect
on Ownership Structure of Atari
At the effective time of the merger, Atari’s current
stockholders (other than Infogrames and its affiliates) will
cease to have ownership interests in Atari or rights as Atari
stockholders. Therefore, Atari’s current stockholders
(other than Infogrames and its affiliates) will not participate
in any earnings or growth of Atari following the merger and will
not benefit from any increase in the value of Atari following
the merger.
47
Effect
on Listing, Registration and Status of Atari Common
Stock
Atari’s common stock is currently registered under the
Exchange Act and is traded on the “Pink Sheets”, an
electronic quotation service maintained by Pink Sheets LLC,
under the symbol “ATAR.PK”. As a result of the merger,
Atari will be a privately held company, and there will be no
public market for its common stock. After the merger,
Atari’s common stock will cease to be listed on any
exchange or quotation service, and price quotations with respect
to sales of shares of Atari’s common stock in the public
market will no longer be available. In addition, registration of
the common stock under the Exchange Act will be terminated. This
termination will make certain provisions of the Exchange Act,
such as the requirement of furnishing a proxy or information
statement in connection with stockholders’ meetings, no
longer applicable to Atari. After the effective time of the
merger, Atari will also no longer be required to file periodic
reports or other information with the SEC.
Effect
on Organization and Management of Atari
At the effective time of the merger, the directors of Merger Sub
will become the directors of the surviving corporation in the
merger. It is expected that, immediately following the effective
time of the merger, the officers of Atari immediately prior to
the effective time of the merger will remain officers of the
surviving corporation. The certificate of incorporation and the
bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the
effective time of the merger shall, from and after the effective
time of the merger, be the certificate of incorporation and the
bylaws of the surviving corporation, until each is duly amended.
It is expected that, upon consummation of the merger, and
subject to the discussion above, Atari will continue
implementing its restructuring plans and make further changes,
as Atari’s management and Infogrames deem appropriate, to
Atari’s operations. Atari will not, however, be subject to
the obligations and constraints, and the related direct and
indirect costs and personnel requirements, associated with being
a public company.
Beneficial
and Detrimental Effects
Benefits of the merger to the Infogrames Parties include that,
after the merger, Infogrames will be entitled to 100% of the
future earnings and growth of Atari, if any, and
Infogrames’ interests in the net book value and net
earnings of Atari will be 100% based on its holdings of
Atari’s outstanding capital stock. See “Special
Factors — Purposes for the Merger — The
Infogrames Parties’ Purpose for the Merger”.
Detriments of the merger to the Infogrames Parties include the
lack of liquidity for Atari common stock following the merger,
the risk that Atari will decrease in value following the merger,
and the payment by Atari of approximately US$700,000 to
US$1.1 million in transaction costs and estimated fees and
expenses related to the merger. In addition, while Atari’s
federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) were
approximately US$544.6 million as of March 31, 2007
(US$574.7 million as of March 31, 2008), under
U.S. GAAP, Atari has already taken a valuation allowance
for the full value of the NOLs because there is no certainty
regarding Atari’s ability to generate taxable income that
could be offset by the NOLs. Further, these NOLs will expire
beginning in 2012 through 2028 and Infogrames believes, based on
its preliminary analysis of the impact of Section 382 of
the Internal Revenue Code and the related regulations, that a
“change in ownership” will occur as a result of the
merger, which will substantially limit the ability to utilize
the NOLs. See “Special Factors — Position of the
Infogrames Parties as to the Fairness of the Merger to
Atari’s Unaffiliated Stockholders; Intent of Infogrames to
Vote in Favor of the Merger Transaction” and “Special
Factors — Estimated Fees and Expenses of the
Merger”. See also, paragraph b, “Significant loss of
NOLs scenario”, under “Summary of Presentation by the
Financial Advisor to Infogrames — Net Asset
Value”.
The benefits of the merger to Atari’s unaffiliated
stockholders are the right to receive US$1.68 per share in cash
for their shares of Atari common stock and not bearing the risk
of continuing their investment in Atari. The detriments of the
merger to such stockholders are that they will cease to
participate in Atari’s future earnings and growth, if any,
will no longer own any interest in Atari’s net book value
or net earnings, and that the receipt of the payment for their
shares in the merger will be a taxable event for federal income
tax purposes. See “Special Factors — Federal
Income Tax Consequences”.
48
The
Infogrames Parties’ Plans for Atari
It is expected that, following the completion of the merger,
Atari’s operations and business will be conducted
substantially as they are being conducted currently. Except as
otherwise described in this Proxy Statement, or as may be
effected in connection with the integration of the operations of
the Infogrames Parties and Atari, Infogrames has informed Atari
that it has no current plans or proposals or negotiations that
relate to or would result in:
|
|
|
|
•
|
an extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger (other
than the merger described in this Proxy Statement),
reorganization or liquidation involving Atari;
|
|
|
•
|
any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of Atari
assets;
|
|
|
•
|
any material change in Atari’s present dividend policy,
indebtedness or capitalization (other than a possible capital
contribution prior to or following consummation of the merger);
|
|
|
•
|
any change in Atari’s management or any change in any
material term of the employment contract of any of Atari’s
executive officers; or
|
|
|
•
|
any other material change in Atari’s business or structure.
|
It is expected that, following the completion of the merger,
Atari’s board of directors will consist of Frederic
Armitano-Grivel, Mathias Hautefort and Pierre Lansonneur, James
Wilson will continue as Atari’s Chief Executive Officer,
and the other officers of Atari will remain as executive
officers.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Infogrames has informed Atari
that, following the completion of the merger, it expects to
review Atari’s assets, corporate structure, capitalization,
operations, properties, policies, management and personnel to
determine what changes may be necessary to best organize and
integrate the activities of Atari and Infogrames.
Interests
of Certain Persons in the Merger
In considering the recommendation of the board of directors, you
should be aware that certain of Atari’s executive officers
and directors, the Infogrames Parties may have interests in the
transaction that are different from, or are in addition to, the
interests of Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders generally.
The Special Committee and the board of directors were aware of
these actual and potential conflicts of interests and considered
them along with other matters when they determined to recommend
the merger. See “Special Factors — Background of
the Merger”.
Infogrames/CUSH
Stock Ownership; BlueBay Beneficial Ownership of Infogrames
Stock
Infogrames currently indirectly controls through CUSH 51.6% of
the outstanding voting securities of Atari, which is sufficient
to adopt and approve the merger and the merger agreement. The
BlueBay Funds, as disclosed in the Schedule 13D/A dated
May 8, 2008 filed with the SEC, collectively hold
approximately 31.5% of shares of common stock of Infogrames. The
BlueBay Funds are also eligible to redeem certain warrants and
convert convertible bonds into shares of Infogrames, whereby,
upon redemption and exercise of such stock warrants, the BlueBay
Funds would collectively hold approximately 54.9% of the
outstanding stock of Infogrames (on a fully diluted basis). The
BlueBay Funds are deemed by
Rule 13d-3(d)(1)
of the Exchange Act to be beneficial owners of Atari stock held
by Infogrames for beneficial ownership reporting purposes. See
“Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management”.
Infogrames
and BlueBay Secured Credit Facilities
Infogrames has provided Atari a credit facility for the
aggregate principal amount of US$20 million. Such loan is
secured by substantially all the assets of Atari. For additional
information regarding such credit facility, see “Certain
Transactions with Directors, Executive Officers and
Affiliates”.
BlueBay High Yield has provided Atari a credit facility for the
aggregate principal loan amount of US$14 million, plus
accrued and unpaid and accruing interest and fees. Such loan is
secured by substantially all the assets of Atari. BlueBay High
Yield and Atari entered into a Waiver, Consent and Fourth
Amendment, dated
49
as of April 30, 2008 (the “Fourth Credit Facility
Amendment”) pursuant to which BlueBay High Yield agreed to,
among other things, waiver of Atari’s non-compliance with
certain representations and covenants under the credit facility.
If any party elects to terminate the merger agreement, it would
constitute an event of default under the credit facility. For
additional information regarding such credit facility, see
“Certain Transactions with Directors, Executive Officers
and Affiliates”.
Atari
Directors
Evence-Charles Coppee was until recently a director and
executive officer of Infogrames and may potentially have a
conflict of interest in evaluating the merger. Mr. Coppee
did not participate in the board meeting at which the merger was
approved. For additional information on Mr. Coppee, see
“Directors and Executive Officers of Atari and the
Infogrames Parties”.
Eugene I. Davis is the chair of the Special Committee that
evaluated the merger and the merger agreement and Chairman of
the Board of Directors. Mr. Davis is a director of Cherry
Luxembourg S.A., a company in which entities affiliated with the
BlueBay Funds hold 43% of the common stock, 50.4% of the
preferred shares and 55.6% of the debt. The Special Committee,
comprised of four members, including Mr. Davis, voted
unanimously for the merger and the merger agreement. For
additional information on Mr. Davis, see “Directors
and Executive Officers of Atari, Infogrames and Merger Sub”.
Treatment
of Shares Subject to Options Granted under Atari Stock Incentive
Plans
To the extent permitted under the applicable option plans, each
outstanding and unexercised option to purchase shares of Atari
common stock granted under Atari’s stock incentive plans
(whether or not vested or exercisable) at the effective time of
the merger will be cancelled, and each option holder (including
directors and executive officers of Atari) will be entitled to
receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (x) the
number of shares subject to such stock option, multiplied by
(y) the excess of the per share merger consideration of
US$1.68 over the per share exercise price of such stock option,
less applicable taxes required to be withheld with respect to
such payment. All vested and unvested options to acquire shares
of Atari common stock held by the executive officers of Atari
were issued under Atari’s 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (as
amended), 2000 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended) and 2005 Stock
Incentive Plan. From and after the effective time of the merger,
no additional options will be issued under any of Atari’s
stock incentive plans. If the merger does not close, the plans
will operate as they did prior to the date the merger agreement
was signed.
All outstanding options (other than those granted to Jim Wilson
and Timothy Flynn pursuant to their respective employment
agreements, as further discussed below) have exercise prices
above US$1.68 per share. Under the merger agreement, prior to
the effective time, Atari has agreed to use its reasonable best
efforts to commence a tender offer to purchase all outstanding
options to purchase shares of Atari common stock granted under
Atari’s employee stock incentive plans (whether or not
vested or exercisable) that Atari does not have the right to
cancel and that have exercise prices that exceed the merger
consideration. Directors and officers of Atari (other than Jim
Wilson and Timothy Flynn, as further discussed below) will
receive, in the aggregate, US$2,225 if such directors and
officers choose to tender their options pursuant to the tender
offer described in “The Merger Agreement — Stock
Options”, but will not otherwise receive any merger
consideration in respect of such options since the per share
exercise price of such options exceeds US$1.68.
50
The following table sets forth, as of the record date, the
number of shares of Atari common stock subject to vested and
unvested (as of the record date) options held by Atari directors
and executive officers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Number of Shares of
|
|
|
Number of Shares of
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atari Common Stock
|
|
|
Atari Common Stock
|
|
Executive Officers and
|
|
|
|
Subject to Vested and
|
|
|
Subject to Vested
|
|
Directors of Atari
|
|
Position
|
|
Unvested Options
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Eugene I. Davis
|
|
Director
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Wendell H. Adair, Jr.
|
|
Director
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Evence-Charles Coppee
|
|
Director
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
250
|
|
Bradley E. Scher
|
|
Director
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
James B. Shein
|
|
Director
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Jim Wilson
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
|
|
687,146
|
|
|
|
42,947
|
|
Arturo Rodriguez
|
|
Vice President, Controller and Acting Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
11,650
|
|
|
|
5,272
|
|
Timothy J. Flynn
|
|
Senior Vice President of Sales
|
|
|
20,000
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
For further information regarding the beneficial ownership of
Atari common stock by the directors and executive officers of
Atari, see “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and Management”.
Other
Consideration in Connection with the Merger
Other than the merger consideration to be paid in connection
with shares of Atari’s common stock or options to purchase
thereof, no officers or directors of Atari will receive any
consideration or other remuneration in connection with the
merger. For further information regarding the beneficial
ownership of Atari common stock by the directors and executive
officers of Atari, see “Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management”.
Employment
with the Surviving Corporation Post-Merger
It is expected that, immediately following the effective time of
the merger, the executive officers of Atari immediately prior to
the effective time of the merger will remain executive officers
of the surviving corporation. From and after the effective time
of the merger, the executive officers of the surviving
corporation will be eligible to participate in the global stock
option plan of Infogrames.
Jim
Wilson and Timothy Flynn Stock Options
Under Messrs. Wilson’s and Flynn’s respective
employment agreements, Atari has agreed to use its best efforts
to cause Infogrames to agree to grant to each of
Messrs. Wilson and Flynn a stock option with respect to
shares of Infogrames in substitution of their currently
outstanding options to acquire Atari stock. Such options to
acquire shares of Infogrames shall have a present value
approximately equal to the present value of each of
Messrs. Wilson’s and Flynn’s options to acquire
Atari stock using Black-Scholes or another reasonable option
valuation methodology.
Directors
of the Surviving Corporation Post-Merger
The board of directors of Merger Sub at the effective time of
the merger shall, from and after the effective time of the
merger, be the directors of the surviving corporation, until
their successors are duly elected and qualified or until their
earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the
certificate of incorporation and by-laws.
51
Indemnification
and Insurance
Pursuant to the merger agreement, Infogrames and Atari, as the
surviving corporation, shall be jointly and severally
responsible for maintaining in full force and effect all
existing rights to indemnification in favor of Atari’s
directors and officers for at least six years after the
effective time. Under Atari’s certificate of incorporation
and bylaws, as well as the indemnifications agreements entered
into between Atari and each director, Atari will indemnify and
hold harmless each present and former director and officer of
Atari (in each case, when acting in such capacity) against all
costs and expenses incurred in connection with any proceeding
arising out of matters existing or occurring at or prior to the
effective time of the merger, to the fullest extent permitted.
Infogrames
and/or the
surviving corporation will also advance expenses as incurred to
the fullest extent permitted under and in accordance with the
provisions of Atari’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws
and outstanding indemnification agreements in effect on the date
of the merger agreement.
In addition, pursuant to the merger agreement, the surviving
corporation after the merger and Infogrames shall maintain in
effect the “tail” insurance policy provided with
Atari’s current directors’ and officers’
liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance, which
will automatically come into effect upon the consummation of the
merger.
Compensation
of the Special Committee
In consideration of the expected time and effort that would be
required of Special Committee members in evaluating and
approving transactions with Infogrames, including a merger
proposal, on November 4, 2007, the board of directors
determined that each member of the Special Committee shall
receive a retainer of US$10,000 (with the exception of the
Chairman of the Special Committee, who receives US$25,000). In
addition, each member of the Special Committee receives US$2,000
for each Special Committee meeting attended in person and
US$1,000 for each Special Committee meeting attended by
telephone. Such fees are payable whether or not the merger is
completed, and were approved prior to the receipt of
Infogrames’ proposal and were not changed by the board of
directors thereafter.
Appraisal
Rights Condition
Pursuant to the merger agreement, the obligation of Infogrames
and Merger Sub to effect the merger is subject to the condition
that the holders of less than 15% of the outstanding shares of
Atari’s common stock shall have exercised their appraisal
rights. As a result, if holders of more than 15% of the
outstanding shares of Atari’s common stock exercise their
appraisal rights, then Infogrames and Merger Sub will not be
obligated to complete the merger.
Plans for
Atari if the Merger is Not Completed
It is expected that if the merger is not completed, the current
management of Atari, under the direction of the board of
directors, would continue to manage Atari as an ongoing
business. It is likely, however, that Atari would not be able to
obtain adequate financing to fund its operations, which would
adversely affect Atari’s business and operations, and the
board of directors would be required to seek alternative
transactions and consider entering liquidation or bankruptcy
proceedings. In addition, if the circumstances described under
“The Merger Agreement — Termination Fee”
occur, Atari would be required to pay Infogrames US$450,000 if
the merger agreement were terminated. Furthermore, Atari would
need to seek appropriate arrangements with respect to
Atari’s credit facilities with BlueBay High Yield and
Infogrames (including, as necessary, amendments, waivers and
forbearances of remedies regarding any then-existing defaults,
which include the termination of the merger agreement). There
can be no assurance that (i) Atari would be able to obtain
financing, (ii) any other transaction acceptable to Atari
will be offered, and (iii) Atari would be able to obtain
the necessary amendments, waivers or forbearances of defaults
(including the termination of the merger agreement) under the
credit facilities with BlueBay High Yield and Infogrames, which
are secured by substantially all of the assets of Atari.
Infogrames and Atari would also continue to perform their
respective obligations under outstanding intercompany
agreements. Infogrames and Atari would continue to reevaluate
its current operational arrangements and, as appropriate,
renegotiate the terms of any underlying agreements.
52
Estimated
Fees and Expenses of the Merger
Atari expects to incur approximately US$700,000 to
US$1.1 million in fees and expenses in connection with the
consummation of the merger and the related transactions. In
addition, the Infogrames Parties will incur filing fees related
to compliance with state and federal law and financial, legal
and other advisory fees, in each case, as set forth below:
|
|
|
Fees
|
|
Amount
|
|
Atari
|
|
|
Legal Fees
|
|
US$300,000 to US$500,000
|
Accounting and Advisory
|
|
US$300,000 to US$400,000
|
Printing, filings and other
|
|
US$100,000 to US$200,000
|
Total Atari Fees
|
|
US$700,000 to US$1.1 million
|
The Infogrames Parties
|
|
|
Legal Fees**
|
|
€1.1 million (approximately US$1.96 million*)
|
Financial Advisors
|
|
€1.4 million (approximately US$2.50 million*)
|
Printing, filings and other
|
|
€200,000 (approximately US$357,000*)
|
Total Infogrames Fees
|
|
€2.7 million (approximately US$4.80 million*)
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Based on the exchange rate of US$1.7853 to €1 at market
close on September 2, 2008. |
|
|
|
** |
|
Includes legal fees relating to negotiation of the Infogrames
Credit Agreement and the Intercreditor Agreement. |
In general, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with
the merger agreement and the merger and the other transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement will be paid by the party
incurring such expense.
Financing
of the Merger
Infogrames estimates that the total amount of funds required
(i) to purchase all of the outstanding Atari common stock
not currently beneficially owned by it, (ii) to pay amounts
to the holders of options that Atari does not have the right to
cancel and that have exercise prices that exceed the merger
consideration, and (iii) to pay the estimated fees and
expenses of the merger, will be in aggregate
approximately €2.7 million (approximately
US$4.8 million based on the exchange rate of US$1.7853 to
€1 at market close on September 2, 2008). Infogrames
has sufficient cash on hand available to pay these expenses. The
merger is not conditioned on any financing arrangements.
Regulatory
Approvals and Requirements
The size of the merger transaction does not require federal
antitrust filings. In connection with the merger and its
financing, Atari and Infogrames are only required to:
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|
|
•
|
file a certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware in accordance with Delaware law after the
approval and adoption of the merger agreement by Atari’s
stockholders; and
|
|
|
•
|
deregister Atari’s common stock under Section 12 of
the Securities Exchange Act.
|
Litigation
Related to the Merger
Stanley v.
IESA, Atari, Inc. and Atari, Inc. Board of
Directors
On April 18, 2008, attorneys representing Christian M.
Stanley, a purported stockholder of Atari
(“Plaintiff”), filed a Verified Class Action
Complaint against Atari, certain of its directors and former
directors, and Infogrames, in the Delaware Court of Chancery. In
summary, the complaint alleges that the director defendants
breached their fiduciary duties to Atari’s unaffiliated
stockholders by entering into an agreement that allows
Infogrames to acquire the outstanding shares of Atari’s
common stock at an allegedly unfairly low price. An Amended
Complaint was filed on May 20, 2008, updating the
allegations of the initial complaint to challenge certain
provisions of the definitive merger agreement. On the same day,
Plaintiff filed motions to expedite the suit and to
preliminarily enjoin
53
the merger. Plaintiff filed a Second Amended Complaint on
June 30, 2008, further amending the complaint to challenge
the adequacy of the disclosures contained in the Preliminary
Proxy Statement on Form PREM 14A (the “Preliminary
Proxy”) submitted in support of the proposed merger and
asserting a claim against Atari and Infogrames for aiding and
abetting the directors’ and former directors’ breach
of their fiduciary duties.
Plaintiff alleges that the US$1.68 per share offering price
represents no premium over the closing price of Atari stock on
March 5, 2008, the last day of trading before Atari
announced the proposed merger transaction. Plaintiff alleges
that in light of Infogrames’ approximately 51.6% ownership
of Atari, Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders have no voice
in deciding whether to accept the proposed merger transaction,
and Plaintiff challenges certain of the “no shop” and
termination fee provisions of the merger agreement. Plaintiff
claims that the named directors are engaging in self-dealing and
acting in furtherance of their own interests at the expense of
those of Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders. Specifically,
Plaintiff asserts that the directors’ fiduciary duties
require the directors: (i) to undertake an extensive
evaluation of Atari’s net worth as a merger candidate,
(ii) to attempt to auction Atari to third parties to obtain
the best value for Atari’s stockholders, (iii) to
structure the proposed merger transaction in a manner that is
fair and noncoercive to unaffiliated stockholders, (iv) to
refrain from favoring the directors’ interests over those
of Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders, and (v) to
disclose all material facts necessary for Atari’s
unaffiliated stockholders to make an informed decision as to
whether they should vote for or against the proposed merger
transaction. Plaintiff also alleges that the disclosures in the
Preliminary Proxy are deficient in that they fail to disclose
material financial information and the information presented to
and considered by the Board and its advisors. Plaintiff asks the
court to enjoin the proposed merger transaction, or
alternatively, to rescind it in the event that it is
consummated. In addition, Plaintiff seeks damages suffered as a
result of the directors’ violation of their fiduciary
duties.
The parties have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding,
dated as of August 1, 2008, in which the parties agreed in
principle to settle the case by making certain additional
disclosures. The settlement is subject to confirmatory discovery
and final approval of the court after notice is given to
stockholders and a hearing is held on the fairness of the
settlement.
Letter
from Coghill Capital Management, LLC
On June 18, 2008 Coghill Capital Management LLC
(“CCM”), which claimed to beneficially own
approximately 9.4% of the outstanding shares of the Company,
submitted a letter asserting that alleged past wrongdoing by
Infogrames and certain of its former and current executive
officers and directors had depressed the value of the Company,
and that the merger consideration did not adequately reflect the
value of those claims. CCM demanded that the board commence an
action against Infogrames to recover $72 million. The
Company appointed a special committee to investigate and report
to the Board of Directors concerning CCM’s claims. By
letter dated July 18, 2008, CCM advised the Company of its
view that the Company’s statement in its
Form 10-K
for fiscal 2008, filed on July 1, 2008, that it believed
the stockholder suit to be “entirely without merit,”
made clear that CCM’s prior demand was “moot” and
that any demand would be futile. On July 23, the special
committee advised CCM that it did not believe that a demand was
futile. After consultation with its counsel, the special
committee determined that further investigation of CCM’s
allegations is not appropriate at this time.
Material
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following is a summary of the material United States federal
income tax consequences of the merger to
“U.S. holders” and
“non-U.S. holders”
(each, as defined below) of Atari common stock. The merger will
not be a taxable transaction for Atari or Infogrames. The
discussion does not purport to consider all aspects of United
States federal income taxation that might be relevant to holders
of Atari common stock in light of their particular
circumstances. The discussion is based on the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable
current and proposed United States Treasury regulations,
judicial authority and administrative rulings and practice, all
of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive
effect. Any change could alter the tax consequences of the
merger to the holders of common stock.
This discussion applies only to holders who hold shares of Atari
common stock as capital assets within the meaning of
Section 1221 of the Code. This discussion does not address
all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be
relevant to holders of Atari common stock in light of their
particular circumstances, or that may
54
apply to holders that are subject to special treatment under
United States federal income tax laws (including, for example,
insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial
institutions, broker-dealers, cooperatives, traders in
securities who elect to mark their securities to market, mutual
funds, real estate investment trusts, S corporations,
holders subject to the alternative minimum tax, partnerships or
other pass-through entities and persons holding shares of Atari
common stock through a partnership or other pass-through entity,
persons who acquired shares of Atari common stock in connection
with the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as
compensation, United States expatriates, and persons who hold
shares of Atari common stock as part of a hedge, straddle,
constructive sale or conversion transaction). This discussion
does not address any aspect of state, local or foreign tax laws
or United States federal tax laws other than United States
federal income tax laws.
This summary is not intended to constitute a complete
description of all tax consequences relating to the merger. No
rulings have been sought or will be sought from the United
States Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), with respect
to any of the United States federal income tax considerations
discussed below. As a result, Atari cannot assure you that the
IRS will agree with the tax characterizations and the tax
consequences described below. Because individual circumstances
may differ, each holder should consult its tax advisor regarding
the applicability of the rules discussed below to the holder and
the particular tax effects of the merger to the holder,
including the application of state, local and foreign tax laws.
For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. holder” is
a holder of shares of Atari common stock, who or that is, for
United States federal income tax purposes (i) an individual
who is a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a
corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for United
States federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or
under the laws of the United States, any state of the United
States or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate, the
income of which is subject to United States federal income tax
regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust if (1) a
United States court is able to exercise primary supervision over
the trust’s administration and one or more United States
persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of
the trust; or (2) it has a valid election in place to be
treated as a domestic trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.
A
“non-U.S. holder”
is a person (other than a partnership) that is not a
U.S. holder.
Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders. The
receipt of the cash merger consideration pursuant to the merger
will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income
tax purposes. In general, a U.S. holder whose shares of
Atari common stock are converted to cash in the merger will
recognize capital gain or loss for United States federal income
tax purposes equal to the excess, if any, of the cash received
in the merger over the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax
basis in the shares converted into the merger consideration.
Such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss
provided that the U.S. holder’s holding period for
such shares is more than one year at the time the merger is
completed. Under current law, long-term capital gains recognized
by U.S. holders that are individuals generally should be
subject to a maximum United States federal income tax rate of
15%. There are limitations on the deductibility of capital
losses. If a U.S. holder acquired different blocks of Atari
common stock at different times or different prices, such holder
must determine its tax basis and holding period separately with
respect to each block of Atari common stock.
Under the Code, a U.S. holder of Atari common stock (other
than a corporation or other exempt recipient) may be subject,
under certain circumstances, to information reporting on the
cash received in the merger. A U.S. holder, who is not
otherwise exempt, who fails to supply a correct taxpayer
identification number, under-reports tax liability, or otherwise
fails to comply with United States information reporting or
certification requirements, may be subject to backup withholding
of tax at a rate of 28% with respect to the amount of cash
received in the merger.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts
withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a
refund or a credit against a U.S. holder’s United
States federal income tax liability provided the required
information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Tax Consequences to
Non-U.S. Holders. A
non-U.S. holder’s
receipt of the cash merger consideration pursuant to the merger
generally will not be subject to United States federal income
tax unless:
|
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|
|
•
|
the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of
the
non-U.S. holder
in the United States (and, if required by an applicable United
States income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States
permanent establishment of the
non-U.S. holder);
|
55
|
|
|
|
•
|
the
non-U.S. holder
is an individual who is present in the United States for
183 days or more in the taxable year in which the merger is
completed, and certain other conditions are met; or
|
|
|
•
|
Atari is or has been a “United States real property holding
corporation” for United States federal income tax purposes
at any time during the shorter of (i) the holder’s
holding period with respect to their Atari shares and
(ii) the five year period ending on the merger closing
date. Atari does not believe it is or has been a United States
real property holding corporation within the preceding five
years.
|
A
non-U.S. holder
whose gain is associated with a U.S. trade or business will
be subject to United States federal income tax on its net gain
in the same manner as if it were a U.S. holder. In
addition, such a
non-U.S. holder
that is a corporation may be subject to a branch profits tax
equal to 30% of its effectively connected earnings and profits
(including such gain) or at such lower rate as may be specified
by an applicable income tax treaty. An individual
non-U.S. holder
described in the second bullet point above will be subject to
tax at a 30% flat rate on the gain recognized with respect to
their shares of Atari common stock, which gain will equal to the
excess, if any, of the cash received in the merger over the
non-U.S. holder’s
adjusted tax basis in such shares, which may be offset by United
States source capital losses even though the individual is not
considered a resident of the United States.
Non-U.S. holders
that have shares of Atari common stock converted into the merger
consideration pursuant to the merger generally will not be
subject to information reporting and backup withholding,
provided that Atari does not have actual knowledge or reason to
know that the
non-U.S. holder
is a United States person, as defined under the Code, and the
non-U.S. holder
provides Atari a certification, under penalty of perjury, that
it is not a United States person (such certification may be made
on an IRS
Form W-8BEN,
or successor form, or by satisfying other certification
requirements of applicable United States Treasury regulations).
Backup withholding of tax may apply (at a rate of 28%) for any
non-U.S. holder
who does not provide adequate certification.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts
withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a
refund or a credit against a
non-U.S. holder’s
United States federal income tax liability provided that the
required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX SUMMARY ABOVE MAY NOT BE
APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON A HOLDER’S PARTICULAR SITUATION.
THE SUMMARY DOES NOT ADDRESS EVERY U.S. FEDERAL
INCOME TAX CONCERN WHICH MAY BE APPLICABLE TO A PARTICULAR
HOLDER OF ATARI’S COMMON STOCK. WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU
CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR TO DETERMINE THE TAX CONSEQUENCES
TO YOU, IN LIGHT OF YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES, OF THE
DISPOSITION OF SHARES OF ATARI COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO THE
MERGER, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE,
LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
Anticipated
Accounting Treatment of the Merger
Infogrames intends to account for this transaction as a step
acquisition using the purchase method of accounting. The excess
of the purchase price over the net identifiable assets acquired
will be allocated to goodwill. Subsequent to completion of the
transaction, 100% of the results of operations of Merger Sub
will be included in Infogrames consolidated results of
operations.
Appraisal
Rights
Holders of Atari common stock who dissent and do not vote in
favor of the merger are entitled to certain appraisal rights
under Delaware law in connection with the merger, as described
below and in Annex C hereto. Such holders who
perfect their appraisal rights and strictly follow certain
procedures in the manner prescribed by Section 262 of the
DGCL will be entitled to receive payment of the fair value of
their shares, as determined by appraisal proceedings, in cash
from Atari, as the surviving corporation in the merger.
ANY ATARI STOCKHOLDER WHO WISHES TO EXERCISE APPRAISAL RIGHTS
OR WHO WISHES TO PRESERVE HIS OR HER RIGHT TO DO SO SHOULD
REVIEW ANNEX C CAREFULLY AND SHOULD CONSULT HIS OR
HER LEGAL ADVISOR, SINCE FAILURE TO COMPLY STRICTLY
56
AND TIMELY WITH THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH THEREIN WILL RESULT
IN THE LOSS OF SUCH RIGHTS.
The record holders of the shares of Atari common stock that
elect to exercise their appraisal rights with respect to the
merger are referred to herein as “Dissenting
Stockholders”, and the shares of Atari common stock with
respect to which they exercise appraisal rights are referred to
herein as “Dissenting Shares”. If an Atari stockholder
has a beneficial interest in shares of Atari common stock that
are held of record in the name of another person, such as a
broker or nominee, and such Atari stockholder desires to perfect
whatever appraisal rights such beneficial Atari stockholder may
have, such beneficial Atari stockholder must act promptly to
cause the holder of record timely and properly to follow the
steps summarized below.
A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MERGER BY AN ATARI STOCKHOLDER WILL
RESULT IN A WAIVER OF SUCH HOLDER’S RIGHT TO APPRAISAL
RIGHTS.
When the merger becomes effective, Atari stockholders who
strictly comply with the procedures prescribed in
Section 262 of the DGCL will be entitled to a judicial
appraisal of the fair value of their shares, exclusive of any
element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation
of the merger, and to receive payment of the fair value of their
shares in cash from Atari, as the surviving corporation in the
merger. The following is a summary of the statutory procedures
that must be followed by a common stockholder of Atari in order
to perfect appraisal rights under the DGCL. This summary is not
intended to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to Section 262 of the DGCL, the text of which is
included as Annex C to this proxy statement.
Atari advises any Atari stockholder considering demanding
appraisal to consult legal counsel.
In order to exercise appraisal rights under Delaware law, a
stockholder must be the stockholder of record of the shares of
Atari common stock as to which appraisal rights are to be
exercised on the date that the written demand for appraisal
described below is made, and the stockholder must continuously
hold such shares through the effective date of the merger.
While Atari stockholders electing to exercise their appraisal
rights under Section 262 of the DGCL are not required to
vote against the approval of the merger, a vote in favor of
approval of the merger will result in a waiver of the
holder’s right to appraisal rights. Atari stockholders
electing to demand the appraisal of such stockholder’s
shares shall deliver to Atari, before the taking of the vote on
the merger, a written demand for appraisal of such
stockholder’s shares. Such demand will be sufficient if it
reasonably informs Atari of the identity of the stockholder and
that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of
such stockholder’s shares. A proxy or vote against the
merger shall not constitute such a demand. Please see the
discussion below under the heading “Written Demand”
for additional information regarding written demand requirements.
Within ten days after the effective time of the merger, Atari,
as the surviving corporation, must provide notice of the date of
effectiveness of the merger to all Atari stockholders who have
not voted for approval of the merger agreement and who have
otherwise complied with the requirements of Section 262 of
the DGCL.
An Atari stockholder who elects to exercise appraisal rights
must mail or deliver the written demand for appraisal to:
Atari,
Inc.
417 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Attn: Kristina K. Pappa, Secretary
Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger, any
Dissenting Stockholder, and any beneficial owner of shares of
Atari stock held either in a voting trust or by a nominee on
behalf of such beneficial owner, that has strictly complied, or
has caused the applicable Dissenting Stockholder to strictly
comply, with the procedures prescribed in Section 262 of
the DGCL will be entitled, upon written request, to receive from
Atari, as the surviving corporation, a statement of the
aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of the merger and
with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received
by Atari, and the aggregate number of holders of those shares.
This statement must be mailed to the requesting stockholder
within ten days after the stockholder’s written request has
been received by Atari, as the surviving corporation, or within
ten days after the date of the effective date of the merger,
whichever is later.
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Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger,
(i) Atari, as the surviving corporation, (ii) any
Dissenting Stockholder that has strictly complied with the
procedures prescribed in Section 262 of the DGCL or
(iii) any beneficial owner of shares of Atari stock held
either in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such
beneficial owner that has caused the applicable Dissenting
Stockholder to strictly comply with the procedures prescribed in
Section 262 of the DGCL may file a petition in the Delaware
Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the fair value of
each share of Atari stock of all Dissenting Stockholders. If a
petition for an appraisal is timely filed, then after a hearing
on the petition, the Delaware Court of Chancery will determine
which Atari stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights and
then will appraise the shares of Atari common stock owned by
those stockholders by determining the fair value of the shares
exclusive of any element of value arising from the
accomplishment or expectation of the merger, together with the
interest to be paid, if any, on the amount determined to be the
fair value. If no petition for appraisal is filed with the
Delaware Court of Chancery by Atari, as the surviving
corporation, any Dissenting Stockholder or any beneficial holder
described above within 120 days after the effective time of
the merger, then the Dissenting Stockholders’ rights to
appraisal will cease, and they will be entitled only to receive
merger consideration paid in the merger on the same basis as
other Atari unaffiliated stockholders. Inasmuch as Atari, as the
surviving corporation, has no obligation to file a petition, any
Atari stockholder who desires a petition to be filed is advised
to file it on a timely basis. Unless the Delaware Court of
Chancery in its discretion determines otherwise for good cause
shown, interest from the effective time of the merger through
the date of payment of the judgment shall be compounded
quarterly and shall accrue at the rate that is 5% over the
Federal Reserve discount rate (including any surcharges) as
established from time to time during the period between the
effective time of the merger and the date of payment of the
judgment.
The cost of the appraisal proceeding may be determined by the
Delaware Court of Chancery and taxed upon the parties as the
court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon application of
a Dissenting Stockholder that has strictly complied with the
procedures prescribed in Section 262 of the DGCL, the court
may order that all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any
Dissenting Stockholder in connection with the appraisal
proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys’ fees, and the fees and expenses of experts, be
charged pro rata against the value of all shares entitled to
appraisal. In the absence of this determination or assessment,
each party bears its own expenses. A Dissenting Stockholder who
has timely demanded appraisal in compliance with
Section 262 of the DGCL will not, after the effective time
of the merger, be entitled to vote Atari common stock subject to
such demand for any purpose or to receive payment of dividends
or other distributions on Atari common stock, except for
dividends or other distributions payable to stockholders of
record at a date prior to the effective time of the merger.
At any time within sixty days after the effective time of the
merger, any Dissenting Stockholder will have the right to
withdraw the stockholder’s demand for appraisal and to
accept the right to receive merger consideration in the merger
on the same basis on which Atari common stock is converted in
the merger. After this sixty day period, a Dissenting
Stockholder that has strictly complied with the procedures
prescribed in Section 262 of the DGCL may withdraw his or
her demand for appraisal only with the written consent of Atari
or Infogrames. If a petition has been timely filed in the
Delaware Court of Chancery demanding appraisal, such petition
will not be dismissed as to any Atari stockholder without the
approval of the Delaware Court of Chancery, which may be
conditioned on any terms the Delaware Court of Chancery deems
just. However, such approval is not required for any stockholder
who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that
proceeding as a named party to withdraw such stockholder’s
demand for appraisal and to accept the merger consideration
within sixty days after the effective date of the merger.
Written
Demand
When submitting a written demand for appraisal under Delaware
law, the written demand for appraisal must reasonably inform
Atari of the identity of the stockholder of record making the
demand and indicate that the stockholder intends to demand
appraisal of the stockholder’s shares. A demand for
appraisal must be executed by or for an Atari common stockholder
of record, fully and correctly, as that stockholder’s name
appears on the stockholder’s stock certificate. If Atari
common stock is owned of record in a fiduciary capacity, such as
by a trustee, guardian or custodian, the demand must be executed
by the fiduciary. If Atari common stock is owned of record by
more than one person, as in a joint tenancy or tenancy in
common, the demand must be executed by or for all joint owners.
An authorized agent, including an agent for two or more joint
owners, must execute the demand for appraisal for a stockholder
of record; however, the agent must identify the record owner and
expressly disclose the fact that, in exercising the demand, he,
she or it is acting as agent for the record owner.
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A record owner who holds Atari common stock as a nominee for
other beneficial owners of the shares may exercise appraisal
rights with respect to Atari common stock held for all or less
than all beneficial owners of Atari stock for which the holder
is the record owner. In that case, the written demand must state
the number of shares of Atari common stock covered by the
demand. Where the number of shares of Atari common stock is not
expressly stated, the demand will be presumed to cover all
shares of Atari common stock outstanding in the name of that
record owner. Beneficial owners who are not record owners and
who intend to exercise appraisal rights should instruct the
record owner to comply strictly with the statutory requirements
with respect to the delivery of written demand prior to the
taking of the vote on the merger.
Atari stockholders considering whether to seek appraisal should
bear in mind that the fair value of their Atari common stock
determined under Section 262 of the DGCL could be more
than, the same as or less than the value of the right to receive
merger consideration in the merger. Also, Atari and Infogrames
reserve the right to assert in any appraisal proceeding that,
for purposes thereof, the “fair value” of Atari common
stock is less than the value of the merger consideration to be
issued in the merger.
The process of dissenting and exercising appraisal rights
requires strict compliance with technical prerequisites. Atari
stockholders wishing to dissent and to exercise their appraisal
rights should consult with their own legal counsel in connection
with compliance with Section 262 of the DGCL.
Any stockholder who fails to strictly comply with the
requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL, attached as
Annex C to this proxy statement will forfeit his,
her or its rights to dissent from the merger and to exercise
appraisal rights and will receive merger consideration on the
same basis as all other stockholders.
THE PROCESS OF DISSENTING REQUIRES STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH
TECHNICAL PREREQUISITES. THOSE INDIVIDUALS OR ENTITIES WISHING
TO DISSENT AND TO EXERCISE THEIR APPRAISAL RIGHTS SHOULD CONSULT
WITH THEIR OWN LEGAL COUNSEL IN CONNECTION WITH COMPLIANCE UNDER
SECTION 262 OF THE DGCL. TO THE EXTENT THERE ARE ANY
INCONSISTENCIES BETWEEN THE FOREGOING SUMMARY AND
SECTION 262 OF THE DGCL, THE DGCL SHALL CONTROL.
59
PERSONS
INVOLVED IN THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION
Atari
Atari, Inc.
417 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Telephone:
(212) 726-6500
Atari publishes and distributes interactive entertainment
software in North America. The 1,000+ published titles
distributed by Atari include hard-core, genre-defining
franchises such as Test Drive, and mass-market and
children’s franchises such as Dragon Ball Z .
Infogrames beneficially owns approximately 51.6% of Atari’s
common stock through its wholly owned subsidiary, California U.S
Holdings, Inc., a California corporation (“CUSH”).
CUSH’s executive offices are located at 417 Fifth
Avenue, New York, NY 10016,
c/o Atari,
Inc. Atari is a Delaware corporation. Atari’s fiscal year
end is March 31.
Additional information about Atari is contained in its Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, which is attached
hereto as Annex D and its Amendment to Annual Report
on
Form 10-K/A
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, which is attached
hereto as Annex E. See “Where You Can Find More
Information” on page 91.
Infogrames
Infogrames Entertainment S.A.
1 place Verrazzano
69252 Lyon Cedex 09 France
Telephone: +33 (0) 4 37 64 30 00
Infogrames Entertainment S.A., the parent company of the Atari
Group, is listed on the Paris Euronext stock exchange
(Euronext — ISIN: FR-0010478248) and has two principal
subsidiaries: Atari and Atari Europe, a privately held company.
The Atari Group is a major international producer, publisher and
distributor of interactive games for consoles (Microsoft,
Nintendo and Sony), and PC CD-ROMs. The Atari Group is a global
publisher of interactive games for the whole family, with a
catalog that includes popular franchises, including Alone in
the Dark, V-Rally , Test Drive and
Backyard, and international licenses, including Dragon
Ball Z and Dungeons & Dragons. The Atari
Group develops, publishes and distributes interactive
entertainment software for all existing platforms such as
Sony’s PSP, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Microsoft’s
Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s DS, Wii and GameBoy Advance, as
well as for personal computers.
The Atari Group sells interactive games in more than 60
countries through a worldwide network of 27 subsidiaries,
branches and offices. Atari games are sold by major
international retailers, including Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, Auchan,
Metro and Carrefour, as well as by large national or regional
retail chains, discount stores, specialized retailers and
convenience stores.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, Infogrames had
consolidated net revenues (including Atari’s results)
of €290.7 million. Of such consolidated net
revenues, the Atari Group’s European operations accounted
for 71%, U.S. operations of Atari, Inc. accounted for 18%
and Infogrames’ Asian operations accounted for 11% of sales.
Games published by the Atari Group are developed and produced by
its own staff located in Europe (France) or by independent
studios. The Atari Group also contracts with third-party
publishers for the distribution or joint publishing of their
products, either worldwide or in a specific region.
Other than entities affiliated with BlueBay High Yield, which
collectively hold approximately 31.5% of the outstanding common
stock of Infogrames and are also eligible to redeem certain
warrants and convert convertible bonds to hold 54.9% of
Infogrames, no other shareholder of Infogrames owns more than
approximately 5% of its shares.
60
Infogrames beneficially owns approximately 51.6% of Atari’s
common stock. As a result of the merger, Infogrames will
beneficially own 100% of Atari.
CUSH
California U.S. Holdings, Inc.
417 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Telephone:
(212) 726-6500
CUSH is a California corporation wholly owned by Infogrames.
Infogrames. beneficially owns 51.6% of Atari’s common stock
through CUSH.
Merger
Sub
Irata Acquisition Corp.
1 place Verrazzano
69252 Lyon Cedex 09 France
Telephone: +33 (0) 4 37 64 30 00
Irata Acquisition Corp. (“Merger Sub”) is a newly
formed Delaware corporation that is a direct, wholly owned
subsidiary of CUSH. Merger Sub’s sole purpose is to effect
the merger. Merger Sub’s corporate existence will terminate
upon consummation of the merger.
BlueBay
BlueBay High Yield Investments (Luxembourg S.A.R.L.)
c/o BlueBay
Asset Management plc
77 Grosvenor Street
London, W1K 3JR, United Kingdom
+44 (0)20 7389 3700
BlueBay High Yield is a lender to Atari under a credit facility.
The BlueBay Funds, as disclosed in the Schedule 13D/A dated
May 8, 2008 filed with the SEC, collectively hold
approximately 31.5% of shares of common stock of Infogrames. The
BlueBay Funds are also eligible to redeem certain warrants and
convert convertible bonds into shares of Infogrames, whereby,
upon redemption and exercise of such stock warrants, the BlueBay
Funds would collectively hold approximately 54.9% of the
outstanding stock of Infogrames (on a fully diluted basis). The
BlueBay Funds may be deemed by
Rule 13d-3(d)(1)
of the Exchange Act to be beneficial owners of Atari stock held
by Infogrames.
61
THE
SPECIAL MEETING
Date,
Time and Place
The special meeting will be held on October 8, 2008, at
10:00 a.m., local time, at Atari’s offices,
417 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016.
Matters
to be Considered
At the special meeting Atari is asking stockholders to consider
and vote upon a proposal to approve the merger agreement.
Record
Date; Voting Rights
Atari has fixed August 22, 2008, as the record date for the
special meeting. Only holders of record of Atari common stock as
of the close of business on the record date are entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting and any
adjournment or postponement thereof. As of the close of business
on the record date, there were 13,477,920 shares of Atari
common stock issued and outstanding held by approximately 79
holders of record. Each share of Atari common stock is entitled
to one vote.
Quorum
The holders of shares of voting stock representing a majority of
the voting power of the outstanding shares of voting stock
issued, outstanding and entitled to vote at a meeting of
stockholders, represented in person or by proxy at such meeting,
will constitute a quorum at the special meeting.
Required
Vote and Voting Rights
Stockholder adoption and approval of the merger agreement
requires the affirmative vote of a majority of Atari outstanding
common stock entitled to vote on the merger. Since Infogrames
beneficially owns approximately 51.6% of Atari’s common
stock, Infogrames has the ability to ensure that the merger
agreement will be adopted and approved by the holders of a
majority of Atari’s outstanding common stock entitled to
vote on the merger, as required by Delaware law.
A failure to vote, a vote to abstain or a “broker
non-vote” will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the
proposal to adopt and approve the merger agreement.
If the special meeting is adjourned or postponed for any reason,
at any subsequent reconvening of the special meeting, all
proxies that have not been revoked or withdrawn will be voted in
the same manner as they would have been voted at the original
convening of the meeting.
How
Shares are Voted; Proxies; Revocation of Proxies
You may vote by (i) attending the special meeting and
voting in person by ballot, (ii) by completing the enclosed
proxy card and then signing, dating and returning it in the
postage pre-paid envelope provided, (iii) by telephone by
following the directions listed on the enclosed proxy card, or
(iv) over the internet by logging onto www.proxyvote.com
and following the instructions on the website using the
information provided on the enclosed proxy card. Submitting a
proxy now will not limit your right to vote at the special
meeting if you decide to attend the special meeting in person.
If your shares are held of record in “street name” by
a broker, nominee, fiduciary or other custodian and you wish to
vote in person at the special meeting, you must obtain from the
record holder a proxy issued in your name.
Shares represented by a properly executed proxy on the
accompanying proxy card will be voted at the special meeting
and, when instructions have been given by the stockholder, will
be voted in accordance with those instructions. If you submit a
proxy without giving voting instructions, the persons named as
proxies on the proxy card will vote your shares FOR the approval
of the merger agreement.
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As of the date of this proxy statement, Atari does not expect a
vote to be taken on any matters at the special meeting other
than the proposal to adopt and approve the merger agreement. The
accompanying proxy card gives the persons named as proxies on
the proxy card authority to vote in their discretion with
respect to any other matters that properly come before the
special meeting.
You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is actually
voted by giving notice in writing to the Secretary of Atari, by
giving notice in open meeting at the special meeting or by
submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later date.
Attendance at the special meeting will not, by itself, revoke a
proxy. If you have given voting instructions to a broker,
nominee, fiduciary or other custodian that holds your shares in
“street name”, you may revoke those instructions by
following the directions given by the broker, nominee, fiduciary
or other custodian.
Solicitation
of Proxies
This proxy statement is being furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by Atari’s board of directors.
Atari and Infogrames will share the costs of soliciting proxies
equally. These costs include the preparation, assembly and
mailing of the proxy statement, the notice of the special
meeting of stockholders and the enclosed proxy, as well as the
cost of forwarding these materials to the beneficial owners of
Atari common stock and third party solicitation efforts, if any.
Atari’s directors, officers and regular employees may,
without compensation other than their regular compensation,
solicit proxies by mail,
e-mail or
telephone, in person or via the Internet.
Appraisal
Rights
Stockholders who do not vote in favor of approval of the merger
agreement and who comply with the procedures for perfecting
appraisal rights under the applicable statutory provisions of
Delaware law summarized elsewhere in this proxy statement may be
entitled to payment of the “fair value” of their
shares in cash determined in accordance with Delaware law. See
“Special Factors — Appraisal Rights”.
Adjournment
If the special meeting is adjourned to a different place, date
or time, Atari need not give notice of the adjourned meeting
other than an announcement at the meeting at which the
adjournment is taken of the hour, date and place to which the
meeting is adjourned, provided, however, that if the adjournment
is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new
record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the
adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record
entitled to vote thereat and each stockholder entitled to such
notice.
Attending
the Special Meeting
In order to attend the special meeting in person, you must be a
stockholder of record on the record date, hold a valid proxy
from a record holder or be an invited guest of Atari. You will
be asked to provide proper identification at the registration
desk on the day of the meeting or any adjournment of the meeting.
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FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
Any statement in this proxy statement which is not historical
fact, or which might otherwise be considered an opinion,
projection, future expectation, plan or prospect, including
statements regarding consummation of the proposed merger,
constitute forward-looking statements. In some cases,
forward-looking statements may be identified by their
incorporation of forward-looking terminology such as
“anticipate”, “believe”,
“continue”, “estimate”, “expect”,
“intend”, “should” or “will” and
other comparable expressions. Forward-looking statements are
based on assumptions and opinions concerning a variety of known
and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements as a result of various important factors, including
the matters discussed under “Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations” in Atari’s most recent quarterly or annual
report filed with the SEC, as well as factors relating to the
proposed merger, including (i) diversion of management
attention from the operations of the business as a result of
preparations for the proposed merger and the defense of
litigation in connection with the proposed merger and
(ii) the cost of litigation and other transaction related
expenses that are expected to be incurred regardless of whether
the proposed merger is consummated. Stockholders, potential
investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors
in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements included herein are made only as
of the date of this proxy statement, and Atari undertakes no
obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to
reflect subsequent events or circumstances except to the extent
required by law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of
any material change in any of the information previously
disclosed, Atari will, where relevant and if required by
applicable law, (i) update such information through a
supplement to this proxy statement and (ii) amend the
Transaction Statement on
Schedule 13E-3
filed in connection with the merger, in each case, to the extent
necessary.
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THE
MERGER AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of certain material provisions of
the merger agreement, a copy of which is attached to this proxy
statement as Annex A, and which is incorporated by
reference into this proxy statement. This summary does not
purport to be complete and may not contain all of the
information about the merger agreement that is important to you.
Atari encourages you to carefully read the merger agreement in
its entirety, as the rights and obligations of the parties are
governed by the express terms of the merger agreement and not by
this summary or any other information contained in this proxy
statement.
Effective
Time
The effective time of the merger will occur at the time that
Atari duly files the certificate of merger with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware immediately following the closing
of the merger or at such later time as Infogrames and Atari may
agree and specify in the certificate of merger in accordance
with the DGCL. The closing will occur no later than the second
business day after the day on which the last of the conditions
to the merger set forth in the merger agreement are satisfied or
waived or such other time or such other date as Infogrames and
Atari may agree in writing. The date on which the closing occurs
is referred to as the closing date. The time at which the merger
is complete is referred to as the effective time.
The
Merger
At the effective time, Merger Sub will merge with and into Atari
and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease.
Atari will continue its corporate existence under Delaware law
as the surviving corporation in the merger and Atari will become
a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Infogrames.
Merger
Consideration
Following completion of the merger, each share of Atari common
stock outstanding at the effective time of the merger, other
than shares held by holders who have perfected and not withdrawn
a demand for appraisal rights, and shares beneficially owned by
Infogrames, will be cancelled and converted into the right to
receive US$1.68 in cash, without interest. Shares beneficially
owned by Infogrames will be cancelled with no consideration paid
therefor. The holders of certificates which, prior to the
effective time, represented Atari shares will no longer have any
rights with respect to those shares, other than the right to
receive the merger consideration upon the surrender of their
certificates.
Stock
Options
At the effective time of the merger, each outstanding option to
purchase shares of Atari’s common stock, whether or not
vested or exercisable, will be converted into the right to
receive an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the
product of the number of shares of Atari’s common stock
into which each option was exercisable immediately prior to the
effective time, multiplied by the excess, if any, of US$1.68
over the exercise price per share of each such option. The
payment to the option holder will be reduced by applicable
withholding taxes.
Furthermore, prior to the effective time, Atari has agreed to
use its reasonable best efforts to commence a tender offer to
purchase all outstanding options to purchase shares of
Atari’s common stock granted under Atari’s employee
stock incentive plans (whether or not vested or exercisable)
that Atari does not have the right to cancel and that have
exercise prices that exceed the merger consideration. Stock
options that Atari accepts pursuant to the tender offer will be
cancelled and will no longer be outstanding and the tendering
option holder will thereafter only have the right to receive at
the effective time the consideration payable pursuant to the
tender offer.
Surrender
of Certificates and Payment Procedures
Infogrames has selected American Stock Transfer and
Trust Company to act as the paying agent. Infogrames will
provide funds necessary for the payment of the aggregate merger
consideration to the paying agent, no later than close of
business on the business day immediately preceding the closing
date. Promptly after the effective time, the paying agent will
mail a letter of transmittal that will contain instructions
concerning the procedure for
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surrendering stock certificates. Upon surrender of the stock
certificates to the paying agent, together with a properly
completed letter of transmittal and any other documents the
paying agent may require, the holder will receive the
appropriate merger consideration, less any applicable
withholding taxes. No interest will be paid or will accrue on
any amount payable upon surrender of stock certificates.
You should not return your certificates with the enclosed
proxy card, and you should not forward your stock certificates
to the paying agent without a properly completed letter of
transmittal.
If any merger consideration is to be paid to a person other than
the person in whose name the surrendered certificate is
registered, then the merger consideration may be paid to such a
transferee so long as (i) the surrendered certificate is
accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect
that transfer and (ii) the person requesting such payment
(a) pays any applicable transfer taxes or
(b) establishes to the satisfaction of Infogrames and the
paying agent that any such taxes have already been paid or are
not applicable.
Until surrendered, each certificate, from the effective time
forward, will only represent the right to receive the applicable
merger consideration. At the completion of the merger,
Atari’s stock transfer book will be closed and there will
be no further registration of transfers of Atari shares. If any
certificate is lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an
affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such certificate
to be lost, stolen or destroyed and the posting by such person
of a bond in the form required by Infogrames as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against Infogrames on account
of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate,
the paying agent shall pay the merger consideration to such
person in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed
certificate.
Appraisal
Rights
Shares of Atari common stock that are held by a stockholder who
has perfected a demand for appraisal rights pursuant to
Section 262 of the DGCL will not be converted into the
right to receive the merger consideration, unless and until the
dissenting holder effectively withdraws his or her request for,
or loses his or her right to, appraisal under the DGCL. Each
such dissenting stockholder will be entitled to receive only the
payment provided by Section 262 of the DGCL with respect to
shares owned by such dissenting stockholder. See “Special
Factors — Appraisal Rights” for a description of
the procedures that you must follow if you desire to exercise
your appraisal rights under Delaware law.
Representations
and Warranties
The merger agreement contains representations and warranties
made only for purposes of the merger agreement. They may have
been made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk
between the parties to the agreement instead of establishing
these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of
materiality agreed upon by the contracting parties that differ
from those applicable to investors. The representations and
warranties expire at the effective time of the merger. The
assertions embodied in those representations and warranties are
qualified by information in confidential disclosure schedules
that Atari delivered to Infogrames in connection with signing
the merger agreement. These disclosure schedules contain
information that has been included in Atari’s general prior
public disclosures, as well as additional nonpublic information.
Accordingly, Atari stockholders should not rely on the
representations and warranties as characterizations of the
actual state of facts, since they were only made as of the date
of the merger agreement and are modified in important part by
the underlying disclosure schedules. Moreover, information
concerning the subject matter of the representations and
warranties may have changed since the date of the merger
agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully
reflected in Atari’s public disclosures.
Atari’s representations and warranties relate to, among
other things:
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the due organization, valid existence and good standing of Atari
and Atari’s power and authority to carry on its business;
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Atari’s foreign qualifications to do business;
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Atari’s corporate authority to enter into the merger
agreement and, subject to the approval of the merger agreement
by the required vote of its stockholders, to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;
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the recommendation of Atari’s board of directors and the
recommendation of the Special Committee concerning the merger
and the adoption of the merger agreement by Atari stockholders;
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the enforceability of the merger agreement against Atari;
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Atari’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws;
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Atari’s subsidiaries;
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the required consents and approvals of governmental entities in
connection with the merger and the other transactions
contemplated in the merger agreement;
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the absence of contravention or conflicts with, or violations or
breaches of organizational documents, laws, orders and company
material contracts as a result of consummation of the merger;
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Atari’s capitalization, including options to purchase Atari
common stock granted under Atari’s stock incentive plans;
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the required stockholder vote to approve the merger and the
absence of any voting arrangements;
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Atari’s filing of all required SEC reports since
January 1, 2006;
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that Atari has no undisclosed outstanding executive and director
loans;
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Atari’s maintenance of reasonable accounting and disclosure
controls;
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•
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the compliance of Atari’s financial statements with GAAP
(as defined in the merger agreement) and SEC rules and
regulations;
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•
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the absence of undisclosed liabilities;
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•
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the absence of certain changes to Atari’s business since
March 31, 2007;
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•
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litigation against Atari or any Atari employee;
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•
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the disclosure and validity of Atari’s material contracts;
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•
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Atari’s employee benefit plans;
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•
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labor relations and employment matters;
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•
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tax matters;
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•
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environmental matters;
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•
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Atari’s ownership and maintenance of intellectual property;
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•
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Atari’s privacy policy;
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•
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Atari’s leasehold interests in real property;
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•
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Atari’s compliance with laws and permits;
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•
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Atari’s title to or leasehold interest in personal property;
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•
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the disclosure and maintenance of Atari’s insurance
policies;
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•
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the applicability of Section 203 of the DGCL and other
state anti-takeover statutes;
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•
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the delivery of the fairness opinion from Duff &
Phelps; and
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•
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the use of brokers or finders.
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67
Many of Atari’s representations and warranties are
qualified by a “material adverse effect” standard. For
purposes of the merger agreement a “material adverse
effect” with respect to Atari means any event that
individually or together with another event has had or is likely
to have a material adverse effect on: (i) the financial
condition, assets, liabilities, business or results of
operations of Atari and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ii) Atari’s key intellectual property assets; or
(iii) the ability of Atari to perform its obligations or to
consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
However, the following will not be taken into account in
determining whether there has been or will be a material adverse
effect on Atari:
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•
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changes in general economic, regulatory or political conditions
or changes generally affecting the securities or financial
markets, provided that such changes do not disproportionately
affect Atari compared to other companies in the same industry;
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•
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any action required to be taken by Atari in connection with the
merger agreement, the credit facility provided by BlueBay High
Yield, the credit facility provided by Infogrames or at the
request of Infogrames or its affiliates;
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•
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any actions, suits, claims, hearings, arbitrations,
investigations or other proceedings resulting from the merger by
or before any governmental entity;
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•
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any change in the market price or trading volume of the
securities of Atari;
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•
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changes generally affecting video game publishers or
distributors, provided that those changes do not
disproportionately affect Atari compared to other videogame
publishers or distributors;
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•
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any matters set forth or contemplated by SEC reports filed by
Atari prior to the merger agreement;
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•
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any actions taken by Infogrames or its affiliates on behalf of
Atari that were not approved by Atari;
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•
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departures of any employees;
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•
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delisting of Atari stock from the Nasdaq Stock Market;
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•
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seasonal fluctuations in the revenues, earnings, or other
financial performance of Atari to the extent generally
consistent in magnitude with prior years;
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•
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failure of Infogrames or its subsidiaries (other than Atari) or
any other game publisher to meet its respective delivery
schedules, provided that such failure is not caused by Atari or
its subsidiaries;
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•
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market acceptance of games or reduction in sales of any existing
games;
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•
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expenses, fees and other costs relating to the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement;
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•
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failure to collect accounts receivable or other amounts owed to
Atari after Atari has used commercially reasonable efforts to
collect them;
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•
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any matter of which Frederic Armitano-Grivel, Yves Blehaut,
David Gardner, Yves Hannebelle, Phil Harrison, Mathias
Hautefort or Pierre Lansonneur have actual knowledge prior to
the date of the merger agreement;
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•
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any breaches of Atari contracts by Atari (other than under the
credit facility provided by BlueBay High Yield, to the extent
such breaches have resulted in the obligations thereunder being
accelerated);
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•
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any effects related to the pendency or announcement of the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;
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•
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failure of Atari to meet any internal or published projections,
forecasts or revenue or earnings predictions; and
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•
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changes in GAAP or applicable law after the signing of the
merger agreement.
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68
The representations and warranties made by Infogrames relate to,
among other things:
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•
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the due organization, valid existence and good standing of
Infogrames and Infogrames’ power and authority to carry on
its business;
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•
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Infogrames’ corporate authority to enter into the merger
agreement;
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•
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the enforceability of the merger agreement against Infogrames
and Merger Sub; and
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•
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the capital resources to fund the transaction.
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Conduct
of Atari’s Business Pending the Merger
Under the merger agreement, Atari, Infogrames and Merger Sub
have agreed that after April 30, 2008 and prior to the
earlier of the termination of the merger agreement or the
effective time of the merger:
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•
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the business of Atari will be conducted in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice;
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•
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Atari will use commercially reasonable efforts to make all
required fillings under the Exchange Act;
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•
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Atari will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its
business organization, to retain its officers and key employees
and preserve the good will of its customers and suppliers;
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•
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Atari will use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with
financial and operating performance covenants contained in the
credit facility provided by BlueBay High Yield and the credit
facility provided by Infogrames; and
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•
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Atari will act in the ordinary course consistent with past
practice with respect to its rights and obligations under the
Atari trademark license.
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Furthermore, Atari may not:
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•
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amend Atari’s organizational documents;
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•
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pay dividends or make distributions on its shares of capital
stock;
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•
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take certain actions with respect to Atari’s capital stock;
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•
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increase the compensation or benefits of Atari employees, make
non-required compensation or benefit payments to Atari
employees, grant any severance or termination pay to any Atari
employees (except pursuant to existing agreements, plans or
policies), enter into new severance or employment agreements,
take any action to accelerate rights under Atari’s benefit
plan (except if such acceleration is required by law or
collective bargaining agreements), or extend offers of
employment or hire any employees not employed by Atari as of the
date of the merger agreement;
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•
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enter into a material contract other than in the ordinary course
of business;
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•
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enter into a contract that would restrict Atari, Infogrames or
any of its subsidiaries or any of their successors from engaging
or competing in any line of business or in any geographic area;
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•
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terminate, cancel or request any material change in any Atari
material contract;
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•
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enter into an agreement with any consultants or advisors that
either individually or in the aggregate would cost Atari over
US$100,000;
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•
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change its accounting policies other than as required under GAAP;
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•
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waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any material legal
actions;
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•
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take any action that invalidates or materially impairs key
company intellectual property assets;
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•
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transfer Atari’s accounts receivables or conduct
collections other than in the ordinary course, consistent with
past practice;
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69
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•
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form any new subsidiaries or cause any existing subsidiaries to
enter into any transaction or otherwise engage in any
activities; or
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•
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authorize, propose, commit or agree to do any of the foregoing.
|
No
Solicitation of Takeover Proposals
Except as expressly permitted under the merger agreement, Atari
has agreed that it will not, and it will not instruct or cause
its subsidiaries or representatives to, directly or indirectly:
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•
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initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or facilitate any
inquiries, offers or proposals relating to a takeover proposal;
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•
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subject to certain exceptions described below, engage in
discussions or negotiations with, or provide any non-public
information relating to Atari or any of its subsidiaries, to any
person that has made or indicated an intention to make a
takeover proposal;
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•
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subject to certain exceptions described below, withdraw, modify
or amend the Atari board recommendation in a manner adverse to
Infogrames;
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•
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subject to certain exceptions described below, approve, endorse
or recommend any takeover proposal; or
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•
|
subject to certain exceptions described below, enter into any
agreement with respect to a takeover proposal.
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Atari must notify Infogrames promptly upon the receipt of
(i) a takeover proposal or any written notice stating that
a person is considering a takeover proposal or (ii) any
request for non-public information relating to Atari or any of
its subsidiaries.
For the purposes of the merger agreement, a “takeover
proposal” means any proposal or offer, other than those
contemplated by the merger agreement, relating to:
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•
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a merger, consolidation, share exchange or business combination
involving Atari or any of its subsidiaries;
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•
|
a sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, transfer or other disposition
(other than in the ordinary course of business), in a single
transaction or series of related transactions, of 20% or more of
the assets of Atari and its subsidiaries;
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•
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a purchase or sale of shares of capital stock or other
securities, in a single transaction or series of related
transactions, representing 20% or more of the voting power of
the capital stock of Atari or any of its subsidiaries, including
by way of a tender offer or exchange offer;
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•
|
a reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation or dissolution
of Atari or any of its subsidiaries; or
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•
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any other transaction having a similar effect as the above
transactions.
|
Notwithstanding the restrictions described above, the merger
agreement provides that, prior to Atari’s stockholder
meeting to approve the transaction, Atari and its board may:
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•
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engage in discussions with persons, entities or groups that have
made a bona fide, written and unsolicited takeover
proposal, if Atari’s board determines in good faith that
the proposal is reasonably likely to result in a superior
proposal, but only if Atari’s board has determined after
consultation with outside legal advisors that (i) the
proposal is reasonably likely to result in a superior proposal
and (ii) failure to take action would result in a breach of
the board’s fiduciary obligations to the Atari
stockholders; and
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•
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disclose non-public information relating to Atari or its
subsidiaries to persons, entities or groups who have made a
bona fide, written and unsolicited takeover proposal if
Atari’s board determines in good faith that the proposal is
reasonably likely to result in a superior proposal but only if
Atari (i) has caused the person to enter into a
confidentiality agreement on terms similar to those in the
confidentiality agreement Atari entered into with Infogrames and
(ii) concurrently discloses the same information to
Infogrames.
|
For the purposes of the merger agreement, a “superior
proposal” means a takeover proposal involving a merger or
consolidation of Atari, the acquisition of all or a majority of
Atari common stock or the acquisition of all or
70
substantially all of Atari’s assets, that the Atari board,
after consulting with outside financial and legal advisors, has
determined (i) is on terms and conditions more favorable
from a financial point of view to Atari’s stockholders than
the terms of the merger agreement, (ii) is reasonably
capable of being completed on the terms proposed and
(iii) for which financing is then committed or reasonably
likely to be available; provided that a proposal to provide
financing or to refinance Atari’s outstanding indebtedness
will not constitute a superior proposal.
Change of
Board Recommendation
Prior to the stockholder meeting approving the merger, Atari may
withdraw, modify or amend its recommendation in a manner adverse
to Infogrames if the board has:
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•
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made a good faith determination, after consultation with outside
legal counsel, that failure to take such action could constitute
a breach of its fiduciary obligations to Atari stockholders
under applicable law; and
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•
|
provided Infogrames with at least three business days’
prior written notice of its intention to change its
recommendation.
|
If the board’s recommendation change is due to a superior
proposal, the board must give Infogrames five business
days’ written notice of its intention to change its
recommendation. At any time Infogrames may propose revisions to
the terms of the transaction contemplated by the merger
agreement and the board is required to negotiate in good faith
with Infogrames regarding any such revisions. In this situation,
the board may only make a change of recommendation if the third
party’s offer continues to be superior in light of any
revisions to the terms of the transaction proposed by Infogrames.
Stockholders
Meeting
The merger agreement requires Atari, as promptly as practicable
after the Atari proxy statement and
Schedule 13E-3
are cleared by the SEC, to call and hold a special meeting of
its stockholders to vote upon the adoption of the merger
agreement. Except in certain circumstances described above under
“No Solicitation of Takeover Proposals”, Atari is
required to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit proxies
in favor of the merger agreement from Atari stockholders.
Infogrames has agreed that neither it nor any of its
subsidiaries will take any action by written consent or
otherwise to obtain the requisite company vote other than at the
stockholder special meeting called for that purpose. Unless the
merger agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms
described below under “Termination of the Merger
Agreement”, Atari must submit a proposal for the adoption
of the merger agreement to its stockholders at a stockholder
meeting held for that purpose, whether or not the board
withdraws, modifies or amends its recommendation in a manner
adverse to Infogrames.
Reasonable
Commercial Efforts to Obtain Consents, Filings and Taking
Further Action
Infogrames and Atari will (i) use its reasonable commercial
efforts to obtain any consents, approvals or other
authorization, and make any filings and notifications required
in connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement and (ii) make any other submissions required or
deemed appropriate by either party in connection with the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement under:
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•
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the Securities Act and Exchange Act;
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•
|
the DGCL;
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•
|
other applicable laws; and
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|
•
|
the rule and regulations of the NASDAQ Global Market and
Euronext Paris.
|
Atari and Infogrames will cooperate and consult each other with
the making of all such filings and notifications. Atari and
Infogrames will promptly inform the other party of its receipt
of any communication from any governmental entity regarding any
of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. If
such party receives a request for information from a
governmental entity regarding the transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement, then such party, after consultation with
the other party, will, as soon as reasonably practicable,
respond to such governmental entity’s request. Infogrames
agrees that it will advise Atari of any agreements it
71
proposes to enter into with any governmental entity in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement and will use its reasonable commercial efforts to
resolve any objections that may be asserted with respect to the
transactions contemplated by the merger agreement under any
competition or trade regulation laws.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, Infogrames is not
required to agree to (i) sell, hold, separate, divest,
discontinue or limit, any assets, businesses, or interest in any
assets or businesses of Infogrames, Atari or their respective
affiliates or (ii) any conditions relating to, or changes
or restriction in, the operations of any such assets or
businesses which, in either case, could reasonably be expected
to:
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|
•
|
result in a material adverse effect on Infogrames or on
Atari; or
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|
•
|
materially and adversely impact the economic or business
benefits to Infogrames of the transactions contemplated by the
merger agreement.
|
For purposes of the merger agreement, a “material adverse
effect” on Infogrames means any event that individually or
together with other events has had a material adverse effect on
the business, assets, properties, liabilities, financial
condition or results of operations of Infogrames and its
subsidiaries, taken on the whole, or on the ability of
Infogrames to perform its obligations under the merger agreement
or consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement.
Other
Covenants and Agreements
The parties have agreed that each will use its reasonable
commercial efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions
and to do, or cause to be done, everything necessary, proper or
advisable to ensure that the conditions of the merger agreement
are satisfied, and to consummate the transactions contemplated
by the merger agreement as promptly as practicable. The merger
agreement also contains additional agreements among Atari,
Infogrames and Merger Sub relating to, among other things:
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•
|
Infogrames’ access to Atari information;
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•
|
status of matters relating to the completion of the transactions
contemplated by the merger agreement and notices of certain
events;
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•
|
the preparation and filing of this proxy statement and the
required
Schedule 13E-3
with the SEC and responding to any comments received from the
SEC on such documents;
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•
|
the maintenance in full force and effect of all existing rights
to indemnification in favor of Atari’s directors and
officers for at least six years after the effective time,
jointly and severally by the surviving corporation and
Infogrames, and the maintenance of the “tail”
insurance policy provided with Atari’s current
directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and
fiduciary liability insurance;
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•
|
coordination of any press releases and other public statements
about the merger and the merger agreement;
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•
|
the de-listing of Atari’s common stock from the Nasdaq
Global Market and deregistration of Atari’s securities
under the Exchange Act;
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•
|
the payment by each party of its own expenses incurred in
connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement, except for (i) expenses incurred in connection
with the Atari proxy statement and the
Schedule 13E-3
filing, which will be shared equally by Atari and Infogrames,
(ii) any expenses incurred in connection with the
termination of Atari option plans and the tender and
cancellation of Atari stock options, which will be paid by
Infogrames, provided that expenditures in excess of US$50,000
require prior Infogrames approval, and (iii) the
termination fee described below under “The Merger
Agreement — Termination Fee”;
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•
|
actions to eliminate or minimize the effects of any applicable
takeover statutes;
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•
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the settlement of legal actions against Atari and the avoidance
of or resistance to any restraint, injunction, prohibition or
opposition to the transactions contemplated by the merger
agreement;
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•
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tax matters;
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72
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•
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maintenance and prosecution of Atari intellectual
property; and
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•
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performance of Atari’s restructuring plan.
|
Conditions
to the Merger
The respective obligation of each party to complete the merger
is subject to the merger agreement being adopted by the
requisite Atari stockholder vote.
Furthermore, the obligations of each of Infogrames and Merger
Sub to complete the merger are subject to the satisfaction or
waiver of the following additional conditions:
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•
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Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of Atari in the merger agreement
regarding its capitalization must be true and correct in all
respects at the date of the merger agreement and on and as of
the closing date of the merger. Atari’s remaining
representations and warranties in the merger agreement must be
true and correct in all respects, without regard to any
“materiality” qualifications contained in them, as of
the closing date of the merger, as though they were made on and
as of such date and time (except to the extent that any such
representation and warranty relates to a specified date, in
which case as of such specified date), unless the failure of any
such representations or warranties to be true and correct would
not have a material adverse effect on Atari.
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•
|
Performance of Obligations of Atari. Atari
must have performed, in all material respects, all obligations
required to be performed by it under the merger agreement at or
prior to the closing date.
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•
|
Company Adverse Effect. Since the date of the
merger agreement there has been no material adverse effect on
Atari.
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•
|
No Impairment of Key Company Intellectual Property
Assets. None of the key Atari intellectual
property assets have been impaired or otherwise compromised and
Atari has not granted an exclusive right in any of these assets.
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•
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No Breach of Specified Material
Contracts. Atari will not be in breach of certain
specified contracts. However, a breach of the credit facility
provided by Infogrames shall not cause the failure of this
condition unless BlueBay High Yield declares a default under the
credit facility it provides to Atari and accelerates
Atari’s obligations under such credit facility.
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•
|
Consent and Approvals. Atari has obtained the
consents, approvals and authorizations of certain specified
persons, entities or groups.
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•
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Director Resignations. Infogrames has received
a written letter of resignation from each of the members of
Atari’s board and each of its subsidiaries’ boards as
of the effective time.
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•
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Dissenting Shares. Less than 15% of the number
of shares of Atari stock outstanding prior to the effective time
have validly exercised appraisal rights under the DGCL.
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•
|
No Injunctions or Restraints. No governmental
entity has instituted any laws or orders that prohibit
consummation of the merger or other transactions contemplated by
the merger agreement.
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•
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Financing Default. BlueBay High Yield has not
declared a default and accelerated Atari’s obligations
under the credit facility it provides to Atari.
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•
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Bankruptcy. Neither Atari nor its subsidiaries
has taken certain bankruptcy-related actions.
|
Atari’s obligation to complete the merger is subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:
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•
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Representations and Warranties. The
representations and warranties of Infogrames in the merger
agreement must be true and correct in all respects, without
regard to any “materiality” qualifications contained
in them, as of the closing date of the merger, as though they
were made on and as of such date and time (except to the extent
that any such representation and warranty relates to a specified
date, in which case as of such
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73
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specified date), unless the failure of any such representations
or warranties to be true and correct would not have a material
adverse effect on Infogrames.
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•
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Performance of Obligations. Each of Infogrames
and Merger Sub must have performed, in all material respects,
its obligations under the merger agreement at or prior to the
closing date.
|
Termination
of Merger Agreement
The merger agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
effective time of the merger by mutual written consent of
Infogrames and Atari (through action by, or with approval of,
the Special Committee).
The merger agreement may be terminated by either Infogrames or
Atari (through action by, or with approval of, the Special
Committee) at any time prior to the effective time if:
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•
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the closing does not occur by August 31, 2008, provided
that:
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•
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the party seeking to terminate the transaction may not do so if
such party’s failure to fulfill any of its obligations was
the principal cause of, or resulted in, the failure to
consummate the merger by August 31, 2008 (or such later
date as described below);
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•
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if the SEC has reviewed Atari’s proxy statement and the
special stockholders’ meeting has not been held by
August 31, 2008, then either party may, by notice to the
other party, extend the date to the earlier of ten days after
the date on which the special stockholders meeting is scheduled
to be held or to October 31, 2008; and
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•
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if, after August 31, 2008 but prior to October 31,
2008, any governmental entity enters an order that enjoins the
consummation of the merger, and a party has commenced an appeal,
this merger agreement and the date may be extended to the date
that is 30 days following the issuance of the applicable
court’s decision with respect to such appeal (but in no
event beyond October 31, 2008);
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•
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the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Atari’s common stock is not obtained;
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•
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the board changes its recommendation to Atari’s
stockholders of the merger and merger agreement due to the
existence of a superior proposal;
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•
|
any law is enacted that prohibits the consummation of the
merger; or
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•
|
any order is entered that prohibits consummation of the merger,
and such order is final and nonappealable.
|
The merger agreement may be terminated by Infogrames at any time
prior to the effective time if:
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•
|
Atari’s board withdraws, modifies or amends its
recommendation to Atari’s stockholders of the merger and
merger agreement in any manner adverse to Infogrames;
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•
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a tender offer or exchange offer for any outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company is commenced and the board of
directors fails to recommend against acceptance of the tender
offer or exchange offer by Atari stockholders within ten
business days after the offer’s commencement, or
Atari’s board of directors or Atari publicly announces its
intention not to do so;
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•
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Atari’s board exempts any person other than Infogrames or
any of its affiliates from §203 of the DGCL (relating to
business combinations with interested stockholders);
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•
|
Atari breaches any of its representations or warranties
contained in the merger agreement, which breach would have a
material adverse effect on Atari, or if Atari fails to
materially perform its obligations under the merger agreement,
and in either case such breach is not cured within 20 business
days; provided that Infogrames cannot terminate the merger
agreement by reason of Atari’s breach of the credit
facility provided by Infogrames unless BlueBay High Yield has
declared a default under the credit facility it provides Atari
and has accelerated Atari’s obligations thereunder;
|
|
|
•
|
a material adverse effect on Atari occurs;
|
74
|
|
|
|
•
|
one or more key intellectual property assets of Atari become
materially impaired as a result of the acts or omissions of
Atari;
|
|
|
•
|
BlueBay High Yield has declared a default under the credit
facility it provides Atari and has accelerated the obligations
thereunder; or
|
|
|
•
|
Atari or any of its subsidiaries has commenced certain
bankruptcy-related actions.
|
The merger agreement may be terminated by Atari (through action
by, or approval of, the Special Committee) at any time prior to
the effective time if Infogrames breaches any of its
representations, warranties, covenants, or agreements contained
in the merger agreement, which breach would (i) have a
material adverse effect on Infogrames, or (ii) cause
Infogrames to fail to materially perform its obligations under
the merger agreement, and in either case if such breach is not
cured within 20 business days.
Termination
Fee
Atari will pay Infogrames a termination fee of US$450,000 if the
agreement is terminated:
|
|
|
|
•
|
by Infogrames because (i) Atari’s board withdraws,
modifies or amends its recommendation to Atari’s
stockholders of the merger and merger agreement in any manner
adverse to Infogrames; (ii) Atari’s board fails to
recommend against acceptance of a tender offer or exchange offer
for outstanding shares of Atari common stock by Atari’s
stockholders within ten business days after the offer’s
commencement, or Atari’s board publicly announces its
intention not to do so; (iii) the Board exempts any person
other than Infogrames or any of its affiliates from the
provisions of §203 of the DGCL (regarding business
combinations with interested stockholders); (iv) Atari
willfully breaches any of its representations, warranties,
covenants, or agreements contained in the merger agreement, if
such breach would have a material adverse effect on Atari, and
such breach is not cured within 20 business days;
|
|
|
•
|
by Atari because Atari’s board changes its recommendation
of the merger and merger agreement in favor of a superior
proposal, or if Atari enters into an agreement relating to a
superior proposal; or
|
|
|
•
|
by either Infogrames or Atari because of (i) the closing
did not occur by the latest date described above under
“Termination of the Merger Agreement”, (ii) a
failure to obtain the requisite stockholder vote or
(iii) Atari’s board changes its recommendation to
Atari stockholders of the merger and merger agreement in favor
of a superior proposal, but a takeover proposal had been
proposed during the term of the Agreement and, within
18 months of the termination of the merger agreement, Atari
or its subsidiaries enters into an agreement for the
implementation of a takeover proposal (whether or not it is the
same takeover proposal that had been previously proposed).
|
Infogrames
Secured Credit Facility
Infogrames has provided Atari a credit facility for the
aggregate principal amount of US$20 million. Such loan is
secured by substantially all the assets of Atari. For additional
information regarding such credit facility, see “Certain
Transactions with Directors, Executive Officers and
Affiliates”.
75
SELECTED
HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth selected historical consolidated
financial data for Atari and its subsidiaries. The selected
historical consolidated financial data as of and for each of the
fiscal years ended March 31, 2004 through 2008 have been
derived from Atari’s audited consolidated financial
statements in Atari’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, which is attached
to this proxy statement as Annex D. The selected historical
consolidated financial data as of and for the three months ended
June 30, 2008 have been derived from Atari’s unaudited
consolidated financial statements in Atari’s Quarterly
Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008, which is
attached to this proxy statement as Annex F. The historical
results of Atari included below are not necessarily indicative
of Atari’s future performance. The unaudited selected
historical consolidated financial data reflect, in the opinion
of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal, recurring
accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of Atari’s
financial position and results of operations at the end of and
for the period presented.
The information contained in this section should be read in
conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and
Atari’s consolidated financial statements, including the
related notes, appearing in Atari’s Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 and Atari’s
Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2008, which are
attached to this proxy statement as Annexes D and F,
respectively. See “Where You Can Find More
Information”.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005(1)
|
|
|
2006(1)(2)
|
|
|
2007(1)(2)(3)
|
|
|
2008(1)
|
|
|
2008(1)
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Statement of Operations Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
465,639
|
|
|
$
|
343,837
|
|
|
$
|
206,796
|
|
|
$
|
122,285
|
|
|
$
|
80,131
|
|
|
$
|
40,285
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
20,840
|
|
|
|
(23,970
|
)
|
|
|
(62,977
|
)
|
|
|
(77,644
|
)
|
|
|
(21,862
|
)
|
|
|
4,076
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations
|
|
|
13,606
|
|
|
|
(14,855
|
)
|
|
|
(63,375
|
)
|
|
|
(66,586
|
)
|
|
|
(23,334
|
)
|
|
|
3,475
|
|
(Loss) income from discontinued operations of Reflections
Interactive Ltd, net of tax provision of $0, $0, $9,352, $0,
$7,559, and $0, respectively
|
|
|
(12,840
|
)
|
|
|
20,547
|
|
|
|
(5,611
|
)
|
|
|
(3,125
|
)
|
|
|
(312
|
)
|
|
|
(20
|
)
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
5,692
|
|
|
|
(68,986
|
)
|
|
|
(69,711
|
)
|
|
|
(23,646
|
)
|
|
|
3,455
|
|
Dividend to parent
|
|
|
(39,351
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
(Loss) income attributable to common stockholders
|
|
$
|
(38,585
|
)
|
|
$
|
5,692
|
|
|
$
|
(68,986
|
)
|
|
$
|
(69,711
|
)
|
|
$
|
(23,646
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,455
|
|
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common
stockholders(4):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
|
$
|
(1.22
|
)
|
|
$
|
(4.93
|
)
|
|
$
|
(4.94
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.73
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.26
|
|
(Loss) income from discontinued operations of Reflections
Interactive Ltd, net of tax
|
|
|
(1.32
|
)
|
|
|
1.69
|
|
|
|
(0.43
|
)
|
|
|
(0.23
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
0.08
|
|
|
|
0.47
|
|
|
|
(5.36
|
)
|
|
|
(5.17
|
)
|
|
|
(1.75
|
)
|
|
|
0.26
|
|
Dividend to parent
|
|
|
(4.06
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss) income attributable to common stockholders
|
|
$
|
(3.98
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.47
|
|
|
$
|
(5.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(5.17
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.75
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic weighted average shares
outstanding(4)
|
|
|
9,699
|
|
|
|
12,128
|
|
|
|
12,863
|
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
Diluted weighted average shares
outstanding(4)
|
|
|
9,699
|
|
|
|
12,159
|
|
|
|
12,863
|
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
13,546
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
During fiscal 2005, 2006, 2007 and
2008, Atari recorded restructuring expenses of
$4.9 million, $8.9 million, $0.7 million, and
$6.5 million, respectively. For the three months ended
Atari recorded restructuring expenses of $0.8 million.
|
76
|
|
|
(2)
|
|
During fiscal 2006, Atari recorded
a gain on sale of intellectual property of $6.2 million and
in fiscal 2007, Atari recorded a gain on sale of intellectual
property of $9.0 million and a gain on sale of development
studio assets of $0.9 million. Additionally, in fiscal 2007
the gain on sale of Reflections of $11.5 million is
included as a reduction of the loss from discontinued operations.
|
|
|
|
(3)
|
|
During fiscal 2007, Atari recorded
an impairment loss on our goodwill of $54.1 million, which
is included in the loss from continuing operations.
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
|
Reflects the one-for-ten reverse
stock split effected on January 3, 2007. All periods have
been restated retroactively to reflect the reverse stock split.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
8,858
|
|
|
$
|
9,988
|
|
|
$
|
14,948
|
|
|
$
|
7,603
|
|
|
$
|
11,087
|
|
|
$
|
12,354
|
|
Working capital (deficit)
|
|
|
25,844
|
|
|
|
34,467
|
|
|
|
(2,996
|
)
|
|
|
1,213
|
|
|
|
(12,796
|
)
|
|
|
(8,211
|
)
|
Current assets
|
|
|
103,514
|
|
|
|
102,780
|
|
|
|
66,793
|
|
|
|
35,591
|
|
|
|
25,076
|
|
|
|
45,481
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
193,956
|
|
|
|
190,039
|
|
|
|
143,670
|
|
|
|
42,819
|
|
|
|
33,433
|
|
|
|
53,409
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
77,670
|
|
|
|
68,313
|
|
|
|
69,789
|
|
|
|
34,378
|
|
|
|
37,872
|
|
|
|
53,692
|
|
Total debt
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
14,000
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
Stockholders’ equity (deficit)
|
|
|
115,063
|
|
|
|
120,667
|
|
|
|
73,212
|
|
|
|
3,094
|
|
|
|
(20,412
|
)
|
|
|
(16,889
|
)
|
Book value per share
|
|
$
|
9.49
|
|
|
$
|
9.94
|
|
|
$
|
5.43
|
|
|
$
|
0.23
|
|
|
$
|
(1.51
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.25
|
)
|
Common stock outstanding
|
|
|
12,123
|
|
|
|
12,129
|
|
|
|
13,476
|
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
Atari has not provided any pro forma data giving effect to the
merger as Atari does not believe that such information is
material to Atari stockholders in evaluating the merger and the
merger agreement. The merger consideration consists solely of
cash and, if the merger is consummated, Atari common stock will
cease to be publicly traded. As a result, Atari does not believe
that the changes to Atari’s financial condition resulting
from the merger would provide meaningful or relevant information
in evaluating the merger and the merger agreement since Atari
stockholders (other than Infogrames and its affiliates) will not
be stockholders of, and will have no interest in, Atari
following the merger.
77
MARKET
PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION
Atari’s common stock trades on the “Pink Sheets”,
an electronic quotation service maintained by Pink Sheets LLC,
under the symbol “ATAR.PK”.
Prior to May 9, 2008, Atari’s common stock traded on
the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “ATAR”. On
May 9, 2008, Atari’s common stock was delisted from
the Nasdaq Global Market after a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications
Panel (the “Panel”) determined to delist Atari’s
securities because Atari had failed to regain compliance with
the requirements of Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4450(b)(3) regarding
the aggregate market value of Atari’s publicly held shares.
On May 19, 2008, Atari requested that the Nasdaq Listing
and Hearing Review Council (the “Listing Council”)
review the Panel’s decision. On August 18, 2008, the
Listing Council affirmed the Panel’s decision.
The following table shows, for the periods indicated, the
reported high and low sale prices per share of the common stock
on the Nasdaq Global Market through May 8, 2008, and from
May 9, 2008 through September 2, 2008 the high and low
bid quotations through March for Atari’s common stock on
the “Pink Sheets” based on information received from
pinksheets.com for such period. Such over-the-counter market
quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail
mark-up,
mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual
transactions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
Low
|
|
Fiscal 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
US$
|
31.80
|
|
|
US$
|
23.00
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
US$
|
29.40
|
|
|
US$
|
11.50
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
US$
|
14.60
|
|
|
US$
|
9.79
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
US$
|
11.80
|
|
|
US$
|
5.61
|
|
Fiscal 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
US$
|
9.70
|
|
|
US$
|
4.70
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
US$
|
7.90
|
|
|
US$
|
4.75
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
US$
|
6.00
|
|
|
US$
|
4.60
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
US$
|
6.50
|
|
|
US$
|
2.94
|
|
Fiscal 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
US$
|
4.00
|
|
|
US$
|
2.73
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
US$
|
2.85
|
|
|
US$
|
2.00
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
US$
|
3.04
|
|
|
US$
|
1.27
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
US$
|
1.68
|
|
|
US$
|
0.98
|
|
Fiscal 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter (through May 8, 2008)
|
|
US$
|
1.65
|
|
|
US$
|
1.50
|
|
First Quarter (from May 9, 2008 through June 30, 2008
|
|
US$
|
1.65
|
|
|
US$
|
1.61
|
|
Second Quarter (through September 2, 2008)
|
|
US$
|
1.67
|
|
|
US$
|
1.50
|
|
As of the record date, there were 13,477,920 shares of
common stock outstanding and approximately 79 stockholders of
record.
The closing sale price of Atari common stock on the Nasdaq
Global Market on March 5, 2008, the last trading day before
Atari received Infogrames’ merger proposal, was US$1.68 per
share. On April 29, 2008, the last full trading day before
the public announcement of approval of the merger agreement by
Atari, the closing sale price of the common stock on the Nasdaq
Global Market was US$1.58 per share. On September 2, 2008,
the last trading day prior to the date of the first mailing of
this proxy statement for which a closing bid price quotation was
available, the closing bid quotation of Atari’s common
stock on the Pink Sheets was US$1.66 per share. Stockholders
should obtain a current market quotation for the common stock
before making any decision with respect to the merger.
Atari does not currently pay dividends on its common stock, and
Atari is restricted from paying any dividends under the merger
agreement pending the merger. See “The Merger
Agreement — Conduct of Atari’s Business Pending
the Merger”.
78
CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS WITH DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND
AFFILIATES
Transactions
Between Atari, the Infogrames Parties and Affiliates
Atari has entered into several agreements with Infogrames and
its affiliates, including BlueBay High Yield.
Agreements
Related to the Merger
In connection with the merger agreement, Atari, Infogrames and
BlueBay High Yield have entered into the following agreements:
Credit Agreement. In connection with the
merger, Atari entered into a Credit Agreement with Infogrames
(the “Infogrames Credit Agreement”), dated
April 30, 2008, under which Infogrames committed to provide
up to an aggregate of US$20 million in loan availability at
an interest rate equal to the applicable LIBOR rate plus 7% per
year, subject to the terms and conditions of the Infogrames
Credit Agreement (the “New Financing Facility”). Atari
will use borrowings under the New Financing Facility to fund its
operational cash requirements during the period between the date
of the merger agreement and the closing of the merger. The
obligations under the New Financing Facility are secured by
liens on substantially all of Atari’s present and future
assets, including accounts receivable, inventory, general
intangibles, fixtures, and equipment. Atari will be able to draw
from the New Financing Facility from time to time until the
earlier of December 31, 2008 or the date the New Financing
Facility is terminated. Atari has agreed that it will make
monthly prepayments on amounts borrowed under the New Financing
Facility of its excess cash. Atari will not be able to reborrow
any loan amounts paid back under the New Financing Facility
other than loan amounts prepaid from excess cash.
Under the Infogrames Credit Agreement, Atari made certain
representations and warranties regarding its corporate
existence, operations, assets and legal matters affecting Atari
and its business. Such representations and warranties must also
be made prior to each draw on the New Financing Facility. Atari
also agreed to certain affirmative covenants, including the
delivery to Infogrames of a budget, which is subject to approval
by Infogrames in its commercially reasonable discretion and
which shall be supplemented from time to time, financial
statements and variance reports thereon. Atari also agreed to
certain negative covenants restricting it from entering into
certain major transactions or taking certain actions affecting
its financial condition.
The occurrence of an event of default under the Infogrames
Credit Agreement gives Infogrames the right, subject to the
terms of the Intercreditor Agreement described below, to
(i) terminate the New Financing Facility, immediately
ending the commitments thereunder;
and/or
(ii) declare the outstanding loans thereunder to be
immediately due and payable in whole or part. Events of default
include:
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•
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Atari’s failure to pay principal on the outstanding loans
when due and payable;
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•
|
Atari’s failure to pay interest on the outstanding loans or
fees when due and payable and such failure is unremedied for
five days;
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•
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if any Atari’s or Atari’s subsidiaries’
representations or warranties is proven to be incorrect in any
material respect when made;
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•
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the failure of Atari or any of its subsidiaries to uphold
certain affirmative covenants or any of the negative covenants
made in the Infogrames Credit Agreement, or the failure of Atari
or any of its subsidiaries to uphold any other covenant or
agreement made in connection with the New Financing Facility,
and such failure is unremedied for 30 days;
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•
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if any New Financing Facility document ceases to be in full
force and effect or Atari takes any action for the purpose of
terminating any such document;
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•
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the failure of Atari or any of its subsidiaries to make payments
with respect to certain material indebtedness when due and
payable;
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•
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the occurrence of events or conditions resulting in any material
indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity;
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79
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•
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the occurrence of a bankruptcy event;
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•
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if Atari or any of its subsidiaries become unable to pay its
debts when due;
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•
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the rendering of a judgment in excess of US$1 million net
of insurance against Atari or any of its subsidiaries;
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•
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the occurrence of a reportable event within the meaning of ERISA
that could result in liability exceeding US$5 million;
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•
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the occurrence of a change of control (other than the merger) or
a material adverse deviation from Atari’s budget; or
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•
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the occurrence of a default under the agreements regarding the
“Test Drive” and “Test Drive Unlimited”
intellectual property assets, which agreements are further
described below, the merger agreement or the credit agreement
with BlueBay High Yield, which agreement is further described
below.
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Intercreditor Agreement. Under an
intercreditor agreement among Infogrames, BlueBay High Yield and
Atari (the “Intercreditor Agreement”), dated
April 30, 2008, Infogrames has agreed that for so long as
obligations under the BlueBay Credit Facility (as defined below)
are not discharged, it will (i) not seek to exercise any
rights or remedies with respect to the shared collateral for a
period of 270 days (provided that, in any event, Infogrames
may not exercise such rights or remedies while BlueBay High
Yield is exercising its rights and remedies as to the
collateral), (ii) not take action to hinder the exercise of
remedies under the BlueBay Credit Facility (as defined below)
and (iii) waive any rights as a junior lien creditor to
object to the manner in which BlueBay High Yield may enforce or
collect obligations under the BlueBay Credit Facility (as
defined below).
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to BlueBay Credit
Facility. In order to permit the signing of the
merger agreement and the establishment of the New Financing
Facility with Infogrames, Atari entered into a Waiver, Consent
and Fourth Amendment to its credit facility with BlueBay High
Yield, dated April 30, 2008, under which, among other
things, (i) BlueBay High Yield waived the Company’s
non-compliance with certain representations and covenants under
the Credit Agreement, (ii) BlueBay High Yield consented to
the Company’s entering into the credit facility with
Infogrames, (iii) BlueBay High Yield consented to the
Company’s entering into the merger agreement, and
(iv) BlueBay High Yield and Atari agreed to certain
amendments to the credit facility with BlueBay High Yield with
respect to the Intercreditor Agreement referenced above
regarding the parties’ respective security interests in the
Company’s assets, Atari’s operational covenants and
events of default. Termination of the merger agreement by any
party would constitute an event of default under the credit
facility with BlueBay High Yield.
Intercompany
Transactions Between Atari and Infogrames
Management Services. Infogrames renders
management services to Atari (systems and administrative
support) and Atari renders management services and production
services to Atari Interactive, a subsidiary of Infogrames, and
other subsidiaries of Infogrames. In the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2007, related party net revenues from providing
management services to Infogrames were US$3.0 million, and
related party expenses from receiving services from Infogrames
were US$3.0 million. In fiscal 2006, related party net
revenues from providing management services to Infogrames were
US$3.1 million, and related party expenses from receiving
services from Infogrames were US$3.0 million. Agreements
governing the provision of management and production services
were modified pursuant to the Global MOU described below.
Distribution Agreements. Atari Interactive
develops video games and owns the name “Atari” and the
Atari logo, which Atari uses under a license (as further
described below). Furthermore, Infogrames distributes
Atari’s products in Europe, Asia, and certain other
regions, and pays Atari royalties in this respect. Infogrames
also develops (through its subsidiaries) products which Atari
distributes in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and for
which Atari pays royalties to Infogrames. Both Infogrames and
Atari Interactive are material sources of products which Atari
brings to market in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In
fiscal 2007, related party net expenses from Atari distribution
activities were US$16.7 million and related party revenues
from Infogrames distribution activities were
US$7.7 million. In fiscal 2006, related party net expenses
from Atari distribution activities were
80
US$20.7 million and related party revenues from Infogrames
distribution activities were US$13.9 million. Agreements
governing distribution of products were modified pursuant to the
Global MOU described below.
Global Memorandum of Understanding. On
December 4, 2007, Atari entered into a Global Memorandum of
Understanding Regarding Restructuring of Atari, Inc.
(“Global MOU”) with Infogrames, pursuant to which
Atari agreed, in furtherance of Atari’s restructuring plan,
to the supersession or termination of certain existing
agreements and the entry into certain new agreements between
Infogrames
and/or its
affiliates and Atari, as briefly described below. Furthermore,
Atari agreed to discuss with Infogrames an extension of the
termination date beyond 2013 of the Trademark License Agreement,
dated September 4, 2003, as amended, between Atari and
Atari Interactive (as described below).
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•
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Short Form Distribution
Agreement. Atari entered into a Short Form
Distribution Agreement with Infogrames (together with two of its
affiliates) that superseded, with respect to games to be
distributed on or after the effective date of the Short
Form Distribution Agreement, the two prior distribution
agreements between Atari and Infogrames dated December 16,
1999 and October 2, 2000. Subject to certain limitations,
Infogrames granted Atari the exclusive right for the term of the
Short Form Distribution Agreement to contract with
Infogrames for distribution rights in United States, Canada and
Mexico to all interactive entertainment software games developed
by or on behalf of Infogrames that are released in packaged
media format. The distribution of each game would be subject to
a sales plan and specific commitments by Atari and Infogrames,
and the royalties to be paid shall equal (x) a flat
per-unit fee
per manufactured unit or (y) a percentage of net receipts
less a distribution fee paid to us equal to 30% of net receipts.
Infogrames also agreed to pay Atari a royalty equal to 8% of the
online net revenues that Infogrames receives via the online
platform attributable to such games in exchange for the grant of
a trademark license for Atari.com, which Infogrames was given
the right to operate. The term of exclusivity rights under the
Short Form Distribution Agreement is three years, unless
shortened or terminated earlier in accordance with the agreement.
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•
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Termination and Transfer of Assets
Agreement. Atari entered into a Termination
and Transfer of Assets Agreement (the “Termination and
Transfer Agreement”) with Infogrames (together with its
affiliate) that terminated the Production Services Agreement,
between Atari and Infogrames, dated as of March 31, 2006.
Under the Termination and Transfer Agreement, Infogrames agreed
to hire a significant part of Atari’s Production Department
team and certain related assets were transferred to Infogrames.
In consideration of the transfer, Infogrames agreed to pay Atari
approximately US$0.1 million, representing, in aggregate,
the agreed upon current net book value for the fixed assets
being transferred and the replacement cost for the development
assets being transferred. Certain team members hired by
Infogrames are permitted to continue providing oversight and
supervisory services to Atari until January 31, 2008 at
either no cost or at a discounted cost plus a fee.
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•
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QA Services Agreement. Atari entered
into a QA Services Agreement with Infogrames (together with two
of its affiliates), dated March 31, 2006, pursuant to which
Atari would either directly or indirectly through third party
vendors provide Infogrames with certain quality assurance
services until March 31, 2008 and for which Infogrames
agreed to pay Atari the cost of the quality assurance services
plus a 10% premium. In addition, Infogrames agreed to pay
certain retention bonuses payable to employees providing the
services to Infogrames or its affiliates who work directly on
Infogrames projects or are otherwise general QA support staff.
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•
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Intercompany Services Agreement. Atari
entered into an Intercompany Services Agreement with Infogrames
(together with two of its affiliates) that supersedes the
Management and Services Agreement and the Services Agreement,
each between Atari and Infogrames dated March 31, 2006.
Under the Intercompany Services Agreement, Atari provides to
Infogrames and its affiliates certain intercompany services,
including legal, human resources and payroll, finance, IT and
management information systems (MIS), and facilities management
services, at the costs set forth therein. The annualized fee is
approximately US$2.6 million.
|
Test Drive Intellectual Property License. On
November 8, 2007, Atari entered into two separate license
agreements with Infogrames pursuant to which Atari granted
Infogrames the exclusive right and license to create, develop,
distribute and otherwise exploit licensed products derived from
Atari’s series of interactive computer and video games
franchise known as “Test Drive” and “Test Drive
Unlimited” for a term of seven years. Infogrames paid
81
Atari a non-refundable advance, fully recoupable against
royalties to be paid under each of the license agreements, of
(i) US$4 million under a trademark agreement (the
“Trademark Agreement”) and (ii) US$1 million
under an intellectual property agreement (the “IP
Agreement”), both advances of which shall accrue interest
at a yearly rate of 15% throughout the term of the applicable
agreement (collectively, the “Advance Royalty”). Under
the Trademark Agreement, the base royalty rate is 7.2% of net
revenue actually received by Infogrames from the sale of
licensed products, or, in lieu of the foregoing royalties, 40%
of net revenue actually received by Infogrames from the
exploitation of licensed products on the wireless platform.
Under the IP Agreement, the base royalty rate is 1.8% of net
revenue actually received by Infogrames from the sale of
licensed products, or, in lieu of the foregoing royalties, 10%
of net revenue actually received by Infogrames from the
exploitation of licensed products on the wireless platform.
Atari Trademark License. In May 2003, Atari
licensed the Atari name and trademark rights from Infogrames,
which license, as extended in September 2003, expires on
December 31, 2013. Atari issued 200,000 shares of
common stock to Atari Interactive for the September 2003
extension to the license and will pay a royalty equal to 1% of
Atari’s net revenues from 2008 through 2013. Atari recorded
a deferred charge of US$8.5 million, which was being
amortized monthly and which became fully amortized during the
first quarter of fiscal 2007. The monthly amortization was based
on the total estimated cost to be incurred by Atari over the
ten-year license period. In fiscal 2006, Atari recorded expense
of US$3.1 million. In fiscal 2007, Atari recorded expense
of US$2.2 million.
Sale of Hasbro Licensing Rights. On
July 18, 2007, Infogrames agreed to terminate a license
under which it and Atari, and their sublicensees, had developed,
published and distributed video games using intellectual
property owned by Hasbro, Inc. In connection with that
termination, Infogrames agreed to pay Atari US$4.0 million.
Transactions
Between Atari and BlueBay High Yield
Atari and BlueBay High Yield have entered into the following
agreements:
Credit Agreement with BlueBay High Yield and Subsequent
Amendments and Forbearances. On October 18,
2007, Atari consented to the transfer of the loans outstanding
under the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2006,
among Atari, the lenders party thereto and Guggenheim Corporate
Funding, LLC, as Administrative Agent, providing for a senior
secured credit facility under funds affiliated with BlueBay High
Yield and to the appointment of BlueBay High Yield, as successor
administrative agent (the “BlueBay Credit Facility”).
Subsequently, Atari and BlueBay have entered into amendments,
dated November 6, 2007 and December 4, 2007, regarding
the loan availability under the credit facility, which is
currently US$14 million and fully drawn, and waivers and
forbearances regarding the entry by Atari into material
agreements with Infogrames and the failure of Atari to meet
certain operational and financial covenants. In addition, please
see “— Agreements Related to the Merger” for
the fourth amendment to the credit agreement with BlueBay High
Yield, entered into on April 30, 2008.
Agreements
with Executive Officers
Employment Agreement with Jim Wilson. On
March 31, 2008, Atari entered into an employment letter
agreement with Mr. Wilson, under which Mr. Wilson is
to serve as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Atari.
Under the Agreement, Mr. Wilson will receive an annual base
salary of US$400,000. Mr. Wilson will be eligible to
receive an annual bonus of up to 200% of his then-current annual
base salary, depending on the attainment of certain individual
and Atari performance goals established by Atari’s board of
directors for the applicable fiscal year. For the fiscal year
ending March 31, 2009, Mr. Wilson is guaranteed
US$120,000 of his annual bonus for such fiscal year provided
that he is actively employed on March 31, 2009. Under the
Agreement, Mr. Wilson has been granted options to purchase
687,146 shares of common stock of Atari, with an exercise
price per share equal to US$1.4507. Unless vesting is otherwise
accelerated, such options shall vest 6.25% per quarter
(commencing with the quarter ending June 30, 2008). Any
unvested options shall become fully vested and exercisable in
the event of a change of control (other than with respect to the
merger). If the merger is completed, Atari has agreed to use its
best efforts to cause Infogrames to agree to grant to
Mr. Wilson a stock option with respect to shares of
Infogrames in substitution of his currently outstanding option
to acquire Atari common stock. Such option to acquire shares of
Infogrames shall have a present value approximately equal to the
present value of the option to acquire Atari stock using
Black-Scholes or another reasonable option valuation methodology.
82
Letter Agreement with Arturo Rodriguez. On
January 29, 2008, Atari entered into a letter agreement
with Arturo Rodriguez regarding his employment with Atari and
his compensation. Mr. Rodriguez is Atari’s Vice
President — Controller and has served as Atari’s
acting Chief Financial Officer since May 16, 2007. Under
the terms of the letter agreement, Mr. Rodriguez is
entitled to a retention bonus equal to three months his current
base salary (the “Retention Bonus”) in exchange for
his commitment to continued employment with Atari through the
filing of Atari’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. The Retention
Bonus would be paid within ten business days following the
earliest of (i) the termination of his employment by Atari,
(ii) the filing of the March 31, 2008
Form 10-K
and (iii) July 31, 2008 (the earliest such date, the
“Trigger Date”). After the Trigger Date,
Mr. Rodriguez may separate his employment from Atari with
no less than fifteen days’ notice, after which he would be
entitled to receive severance of twenty-six weeks of his current
base salary and current elected benefits.
Letter Agreement with Timothy Flynn. On
May 17, 2008, Atari entered into a letter agreement with
Timothy Flynn, under which Mr. Flynn is to serve as
Atari’s Senior Vice President of Sales. Under the terms of
the letter agreement, Mr. Flynn will receive an annual base
salary of US$250,000. Mr. Flynn will be eligible to receive
an annual bonus of up to 40% of his then-current annual base
salary, depending on the attainment of certain individual and
Atari performance goals established by Atari’s board of
directors for the applicable fiscal year Under the terms of the
letter agreement, Mr. Flynn is entitled to a sign on bonus
equal to 10% of his current base salary (the “Sign On
Bonus”) that is payable once he completes 60 days of
continuous employment with Atari. Should Mr. Flynn
voluntarily terminate his employment with Atari or be terminated
for cause by Atari within on year of his hire date,
Mr. Flynn would be required to repay the total gross amount
of the Sign On Bonus. Under the letter agreement, Mr. Flynn
has been granted options to purchase 20,000 shares of
common stock of Atari, with an exercise price per share
equal to US$1.64. Unless vesting is otherwise accelerated, 25%
of such options shall vest upon the first anniversary of his
hire date and thereafter vest 6.25% per quarter (commencing with
the quarter ending June 30, 2009). Any unvested options
shall become fully vested and exercisable in the event of a
change of control (other than with respect to the merger). If
the merger is completed, Atari has agreed to use its best
efforts to cause Infogrames to agree to grant to Mr. Flynn
a stock option with respect to shares of Infogrames in
substitution of his currently outstanding option to acquire
Atari common stock. Such option to acquire shares of Infogrames
shall have a present value approximately equal to the present
value of the option to acquire Atari stock using Black-Scholes
or another reasonable option valuation methodology.
Contacts
Regarding Significant Corporation Events
Other than as described in this proxy statement, there have been
no other negotiations, transactions or material contacts
concerning any merger, consolidation, acquisition, tender offer,
election of directors or sale or transfer of a material amount
of Atari’s assets other than on October 5, 2007,
Infogrames caused California U.S. Holdings, Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Infogrames that directly holds all of the
Atari common stock that Infogrames beneficially owns, to execute
a written stockholder consent to remove James Ackerly, Ronald C.
Bernard, Michael G. Corrigan, Denis Guyennot, and Ann
E. Kronen from Atari’s board of directors. The remaining
directors (who were all affiliated with Infogrames) subsequently
appointed Messrs. Wendell H. Adair, Jr.,
Eugene I. Davis, James B. Shein and Bradley E. Scher
to Atari’s board of directors in order to fill the
resulting vacancies.
Agreements
Involving Atari’s Securities
Infogrames beneficially owns its Atari shares via the direct
ownership of such shares by CUSH, Infogrames’ wholly owned
subsidiary.
In connection with Infogrames’ purchase of shares of GT
Interactive Software Corp., Atari’s predecessor, Infogrames
entered into certain Equity Purchase and Voting Agreements, each
dated as of November 15, 1999, with Joseph Cayre, Kenneth
Cayre, Stanley Cayre and Jack J. Cayre, their children and
various associated trusts (collectively, the “Cayre
Group”). Pursuant to such agreements, the Cayre Group
agreed to grant Infogrames a proxy to vote any shares held by
the Cayre Group in any action to elect or remove directors, in
the sole discretion of Infogrames. The Cayre Group currently
controls 26,000 shares of Atari.
83
In connection with a private placement of shares of Atari common
stock, Atari entered into certain Securities Purchase
Agreements, each dated September 15, 2005, with CCM Master
Qualified Fund, Ltd. and Sark Master Fund Ltd. Pursuant to
such agreements, Atari agreed to sell shares of Atari common
stock to such purchasers (the “Private Placement
Shares”) and maintain in effect a “shelf”
registration statement registering the resale of such Private
Placement Shares (the “Resale Registration
Statement”). Atari also agreed that it will pay to each of
the purchasers a cash amount equal to 1% of the product of
(x) the number of shares of Private Placement Shares that
such purchaser then holds multiplied by (y) $1.30 per share
(the purchase price of such shares) if one or more of the
following events occurs: (i) the Resale Registration
Statement is not declared effective on or before a certain date;
(ii) Atari common stock is not eligible for trading on
Nasdaq or on the New York or American Stock Exchanges;
(iii) the effectiveness of the Resale Registration
Statement is suspended; or (iv) if a suspension of the
Resale Registration Statement permitted under the Securities
Purchase Agreements lasts longer than 20 days. As of
May 9, 2008, Atari’s common stock was delisted from
and no longer eligible for trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market.
Sark Master Fund Ltd. does not currently hold any shares of
Atari. CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd. beneficially owns the
number of shares of Atari common stock set forth under
“Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management”. Atari expects to accrue approximately
US$0.2 million with respect to its liability to CCM Master
Qualified Fund, Ltd. through the closing of the merger
transaction.
See also “Special Factors — Interests of Certain
Persons in the Merger”.
PRIOR
PUBLIC OFFERINGS AND STOCK PURCHASES
None of Atari or any of the Infogrames Parties has made an
underwritten public offering of Atari’s common stock for
cash during the past three years that was registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 or exempt from registration under
Regulation A. None of Atari or any of the Infogrames
Parties has purchased any common stock of Atari during the past
two years.
84
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The table below contains information regarding the beneficial
ownership of shares of Atari common stock by each person or
entity known by Atari to beneficially own 5% or more of the
total number of outstanding shares of Atari common stock as of
the Record Date. The table below also contains information
regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of Atari common
stock as of the Record Date by executive officers and directors
of Atari. None of the directors or executive officers of
Infogrames, Merger Sub or any “Associates” (as such
term is defined under the Exchange Act) of any of the Infogrames
Parties beneficially owns Atari common stock, except for the
shares owned by CUSH and the shares deemed to be beneficially
owned by the BlueBay Funds, as set forth in the table below.
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Amount and Nature
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of Beneficial
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Ownership of Shares
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Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner(1)
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of Common
Stock(2)
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Percentage**
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Greater Than 5% Holders
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Infogrames Entertainment S.A.
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6,952,248
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(3)
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51.58
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%
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California U.S. Holdings, Inc.
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6,952,248
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(4)
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51.58
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%
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The BlueBay Multi-Strategy (Master) Fund Limited
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6,952,248
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(5)
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51.58
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%
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The BlueBay Value Recovery (Master) Fund Limited
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6,952,248
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(5)
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51.58
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%
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CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd.
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1,264,145
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(6)
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9.40
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%
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Morgan Stanley
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1,124,282
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(7)
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8.30
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%
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Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
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724,098
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(7)
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5.40
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%
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Executive Officers and Directors of Atari
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Wendell H. Adair, Jr.
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—
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*
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Evence-Charles Coppee
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250
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(8)
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*
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Eugene I. Davis
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—
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*
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Timothy J. Flynn
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—
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*
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Arturo Rodriguez
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5,272
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(8)
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*
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Bradley E. Scher
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—
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*
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James B. Shein
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—
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*
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Jim Wilson
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42,947
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(8)
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*
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All executive officers and directors of Atari as a group
(8 persons)
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48,469
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(9)
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*
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** |
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As of the Record Date, 13,477,920 shares of Common Stock
were outstanding, not including shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding options. |
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(1) |
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Unless otherwise stated in the applicable footnote, the address
for each beneficial owner is
c/o Atari,
Inc., 417 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016. |
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(2) |
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For purposes of this table, beneficial ownership of securities
is defined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and means
generally the power to vote or exercise investment discretion
with respect to securities, regardless of any economic interests
therein. Except as otherwise indicated, to the best of the
Company’s knowledge, the beneficial owners of shares of
Common Stock listed above have sole investment and voting power
with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws
where applicable. In addition, for purposes of this table, a
person or group is deemed to have “beneficial
ownership” of any shares that such person has the right to
acquire within 60 days following the Record Date. Shares a
person has the right to acquire within 60 days after the
record date are included in the total outstanding shares for the
purpose of determining the percentage of the outstanding shares
that person owns, but not for the purpose of calculating the
percentage ownership of any other person. |
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(3) |
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Information is based on a Schedule 13D dated May 6,
2008, filed with the SEC. The shares are owned of record by
CUSH, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Infogrames. Infogrames
may be deemed to beneficially |
85
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own the shares because they are held by a subsidiary. The
address of Infogrames is 1, Place Verrazzano, 69252 Lyon
Cedex 09, France. |
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(4) |
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Includes 26,000 shares of Common Stock which Infogrames has
the power to vote under a proxy from the Cayre family. |
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(5) |
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Information is based on a Schedule 13D/A dated May 8,
2008, filed with the SEC. The BlueBay Funds collectively hold
approximately 31.5% of shares of common stock of Infogrames. The
BlueBay Funds are also eligible to redeem certain warrants and
convert convertible bonds into shares of Infogrames, whereby,
upon redemption and exercise of such stock warrants, the BlueBay
Funds would collectively hold approximately 54.9% of the
outstanding stock of Infogrames (on a fully diluted basis). The
BlueBay Funds may be deemed by Rule 13d-3(d)(1) of the Exchange
Act to be beneficial owners of Atari stock held by Infogrames.
The address of The BlueBay Value Recovery (Master)
Fund Limited and The BlueBay Multi-Strategy (Master) Fund
Limited is 77 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JR, United Kingdom.
See footnotes 2 and 3. |
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(6) |
|
Information is based on a Schedule 13D dated
October 12, 2007, filed with the SEC. Each of CCM Master
Qualified Fund, Ltd., Coghill Capital Management, L.L.C., and
Clint D. Coghill beneficially owns 1,264,145 shares of
Common Stock and has shared voting power with respect to that
Common Stock. Coghill Capital Management, L.L.C. serves as the
investment manager of CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd. and
Mr. Coghill is the managing partner of Coghill Capital
Management, L.L.C. The address of CCM Master Qualified Fund,
Ltd. is One North Wacker Drive, Suite 4350, Chicago, IL
60606. |
|
(7) |
|
Information is based on a Schedule 13D dated
February 14, 2008, filed with the SEC. The address of
Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
is 1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. |
|
(8) |
|
Consists of shares that can be acquired through stock option
exercises within 60 days following the record date. |
|
(9) |
|
See footnote 2. |
|
(10) |
|
Consists of shares that can be acquired through stock option
exercises within 60 days following the record date with a
current exercise price of $1.45. |
86
DIRECTORS
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF ATARI AND THE INFOGRAMES
PARTIES
Atari’s board of directors consists of five members,
Infogrames’ board of directors consists of eight members,
CUSH’s board of directors consists of two members and
Merger Sub’s board of directors consists of two members.
Set forth below are lists of Atari’s, Infogrames’, and
Merger Sub’s directors and executive officers as of the
date of this proxy statement. Each executive officer will serve
until a successor is elected by the board of directors or until
the earlier of his resignation or removal. None of these
persons, Atari or any of the Infogrames Parties has been
convicted in a criminal proceeding during the past five years
(excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors), and none
of these persons has been a party to any judicial or
administrative proceeding during the past five years (except for
matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement) that
resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining the
person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities
subject to, federal or state securities laws or a finding of any
violation of federal or state securities laws. The following
information about the directors and executive officers of Atari
is based, in part, upon information provided by such persons.
Except as noted below, each director and executive officer has
occupied an executive position with the company or organization
listed for his current occupation for at least five years.
Directors
and Executive Officers of Atari
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Position
|
|
Eugene I. Davis
|
|
Chairman of the Board and Director
|
Jim Wilson
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and President
|
Arturo Rodriguez
|
|
Acting Chief Financial Officer, Controller and Vice President
|
Timothy J. Flynn
|
|
Senior Vice President of Sales
|
Wendell H. Adair, Jr.
|
|
Director
|
Evence-Charles Coppee
|
|
Director
|
Bradley E. Scher
|
|
Director
|
James B. Shein
|
|
Director
|
Eugene I. Davis has served as an Atari director
since October 2007. He is the founder and chairman of consulting
group Pirinate, which is focused on restructuring middle market
companies, located at 5 Canoe Brook Drive, Livingston, NJ 07039.
He has held this position since 1999. Prior to this,
Mr. Davis was Chief Operating Officer at Total-Tele USA
from 1998 to 1999 and held several positions, including Chief
Financial Officer, at Emerson Radio from 1990 to 1997.
Mr. Davis is a qualified lawyer and was previously a
partner at Arter & Hadden LLP. Over the last
10 years he has worked on several restructuring matters
including high profile matters such as Tower Automotive and
Exide. He has served as independent chairman of the board or
chairman of the audit committee of the board for over fifteen
companies. He presently serves as a director of Atlas Air
Worldwide Holdings, Inc., Foamex International, Inc., American
Commercial Lines, Inc., Footstar, Inc., Haights Cross
Communication, Knology, Inc., Delta Airlines, Inc., Medicor
Ltd., Viskase Companies Inc., Solutia Inc. and Silicon Graphics,
Inc. Mr. Davis is a U.S. citizen.
Jim Wilson has been Atari’s Chief Executive
Officer and President since March 31, 2008. From 2007 to
2008, Mr. Wilson served as the President of Rolo Media,
LLC. From 2005 to 2007, Mr. Wilson served as Executive Vice
President and General Manager of Sony Wonder, Sony BMG’s
home entertainment business. From 1996 to 2003, Mr. Wilson
served as President of Universal Interactive, Inc. and, after
the acquisition of Universal Interactive, Inc. by Vivendi, as
Executive Vice President of Worldwide Studios for Vivendi
Universal Games. Mr. Wilson is a U.S. citizen.
Arturo Rodriguez has been Atari’s Vice
President — Controller since February 21, 2006
and has served as Atari’s acting Chief Financial Officer
since May 16, 2007. Mr. Rodriguez joined Atari in June
2000 as Senior Manager of Financial Reporting. Since then, he
has held the positions of Senior Manager of Accounting and
Financial Reporting, Director of Accounting and Financial
Reporting, Assistant Controller — Accounting and
Financial Reporting and Vice President of Accounting and
Financial Reporting. Prior to joining Atari, Mr. Rodriguez
worked for Arthur Anderson LLP. Mr. Rodriguez is a New York
State Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Rodriguez is a
U.S. citizen.
87
Timothy J. Flynn has been Atari’s Senior Vice
President of Sales since June 9, 2008. From 2005 to 2008,
Mr. Flynn served as Vice-President of Sales — The
Americas for Capcom U.S.A., Inc.. From 2004 to 2005,
Mr. Flynn served as Vice-President of U.S. Sales at
Hip Interactive, Inc. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Flynn served
as Director of North American Sales for Sega of America, Inc.
From March to December 1999, Mr. Flynn served as Eastern
Regional Sales Director for Sega of America, Inc. Mr. Flynn
is a U.S. citizen.
Wendell H. Adair, Jr. has served as an Atari
director since October 2007. He is a member of M&A
Development Company LLC, a real estate development firm located
at 5682 Sawyer Road, Sawyer, Michigan 49125. He is a senior
lawyer with 35 years of experience specializing in
restructuring and corporate finance. Until April 2006, he held
Senior Partner positions at leading US law firms, including
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP from September
1999 to April 2006 and McDermott, Will & Emery from
September 1989 to September 1999. He has previously served on
the boards of private companies and has advised corporate boards
with respect to governance, fiduciary duty and financing
matters. Mr. Adair is a U.S. Citizen.
Evence-Charles Coppee has served as an Atari
director since November 2005. Mr. Coppee was a director of
Infogrames until the beginning of March 2008 and served as a
Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Infogrames until May 2007.
From 1996 to 2005, he served as Executive Vice President and
joint Managing Director of the daily “Liberation”.
From 1987 to 1996, Mr. Coppee held various positions with
the French conglomerate Chargeurs (and Pathe). Prior to that,
Mr. Coppee was a Manager with the Boston Consulting Group.
Mr. Coppee also is currently a director of Lafarge Ciment.
Mr. Coppee is a Belgian citizen.
Bradley E. Scher has served as an Atari director
since October 2007. He is the managing member of Ocean Ridge
Capital Advisors, LLC, a financial advisory company established
to assist investors, managements and boards of directors of
financially
and/or
operationally underperforming companies, located at 56 Harrison
Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801. He has held this position since
2002. From 1990 to 1996 and 1996 to 2002, he managed portfolios
of distressed investments at Teachers Insurance and Annuity
Association of America and PPM America, Inc., respectively. He
currently and has previously served on the boards of several
private companies. Mr. Scher is a U.S. citizen.
James B. Shein has served as an Atari director
since October 2007. He is Professor of Management &
Strategy at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of
Management located at 2001 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208. He
has held this position since 2002. Since 1997, Mr. Shein
has also been counsel at McDermott, Will & Emery, with
primary areas of practice including corporate financial and
operating restructurings, business startups and acquisitions,
and fiduciary duties of officers and directors. From 1994 to
1997, he was president of J.S. Associates, a consulting firm
providing turnaround advice to public and private manufacturing
and service companies. Between 1990 and 1994, he was the
president and chief executive officer of R.C. Manufacturing.
Mr. Shein is a U.S. citizen.
Directors
and Executive Officers of the Infogrames Parties
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Position
|
|
David Gardner
|
|
Chief Executive Officer and Director of Infogrames, President
and director of Merger Sub and Chief Executive Officer and
Director of CUSH
|
Phil Harrison
|
|
Chief Operating Officer and Director of Infogrames
|
Fabrice Hamaide
|
|
Chief Financial Officer of Infogrames and Secretary and
Treasurer of Merger Sub
|
Michel Combes
|
|
Director of Infogrames
|
Dominique D’Hinnin
|
|
Director of Infogrames
|
Gina Germano
|
|
Director of Infogrames
|
Didier Lamouche
|
|
Director of Infogrames
|
Jeffrey Lapin
|
|
Director of Infogrames
|
Eli Muraidekh
|
|
Director of Infogrames
|
Mathias Hautefort
|
|
Director of Merger Sub and President and Director of CUSH
|
88
David Gardner has served as Chief Executive
Officer and a director of Infogrames since January 2008. Prior
to that, Mr. Gardner served in several positions at
Electronic Arts (“EA”), an American developer,
marketer, publisher, and distributor of computer and video games
located at 209 Redwood Shores Parkway, Redwood City, California
94065, USA. Mr. Gardner joined EA in 1983, focused on sales
and marketing early in his career, and then became responsible
for starting EA in the United Kingdom in 1986. From 1992 to
2004, Mr. Gardner served as the Managing Director for EA in
Europe. In 2004, Mr. Gardner was promoted to Senior Vice
President of International Publishing; shortly, thereafter, he
was appointed to Executive Vice President, Chief Operating
Officer of Worldwide Studios. He served in this capacity at EA
until August 2007. Mr. Gardner is a British citizen.
Phil Harrison has served as the Chief Operating
Officer and a director of Infogrames since March 2008. Prior to
that, Mr. Harrison held various executive management
positions for Sony Computer Entertainment in Europe and North
America, where he most recently was the President of Worldwide
Studios and headed the PlayStation video games software
development business unit. Sony Computer Entertainment is a
video game company located at 2.6.21, Minami-Aoyama, Mianato-ku,
Tokyo,
107-0062,
Japan. Mr. Harrison is a British citizen.
Fabrice Hamaide joined Infogrames as Chief
Financial Officer in May 2008. Prior to joining Infogrames,
Mr. Hamaide worked at Parrot, a company developing wireless
mobile telephone accessories located at
174-178 quai
de Jemmapes, 75010 Paris, France, where he was Chief Financial
Officer of the company since 2005. From 1998 to 2005,
Mr. Hamaide was the Vice President of Finance and
Operations and then the President and CEO of Talkway
Communications, a multimedia delivery content service provider
company located at 2275 Bayshore Road, Suite 150, Palo
Alto, CA 94303, USA. Mr. Hamaide is a French citizen.
Michel Combes has served as an Infogrames director
since October 2007. Since May 2006, Mr. Combes has served
as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Télé
Diffusion de France, a television broadcasting company, located
at 106 avenue Marx Dormoy, 92541 Montrouge cedex, France. From
January 2003 to December 2005, Mr. Combes was the executive
director in charge of group finance at France Télécom.
Mr. Combes is a French citizen.
Dominique D’Hinnin has served as an
Infogrames director since November 2005. Mr. D’Hinnin
has been the Lagardère Group’s Chief Financial Officer
since 1998. Lagardère Group is a media group located at 4
rue de Presbourg — 75016 Paris, France.
Mr. D’Hinnin is a French citizen.
Gina Germano has served as an Infogrames director
since November 2006. Ms. Germano is a Principal at BlueBay
Asset Management since April 2002. BlueBay Asset Management is a
company providing investment management services, located at 77
Grosvenor Street, London W1Y 3JR, UK. BlueBay Asset Management
is the investment manager of the BlueBay Funds. Prior to joining
BlueBay Asset Management, from 1998 to 2002, she was a portfolio
manager with Lazard Asset Management, where she was responsible
for European high yield. Ms. Germano is a U.S. citizen.
Didier Lamouche has served as an Infogrames
director since November 2007. Mr. Lamouche has been the
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Group Bull, an
information technology company located at rue Jean Jaurès,
BP 68, 78340 Les Clayes sous Bois, France, since January 2005.
From 2003 until December 2004, Didier Lamouche served in the
United States as IBM’s vice president for worldwide
semiconductor manufacturing. IBM is a computer technology and
consulting company located at 1 New Orchard Road, Armonk, New
York 10504, USA. Mr. Lamouche is a French citizen.
Jeffrey Lapin has served as the representative of
Blue Bay Asset Management on the Infogrames board of directors
since November 2007. BlueBay Asset Management is the investment
manager of the BlueBay Funds. In April 2007, Mr. Lapin was
appointed Chief Executive Officer of RazorGator Interactive
Group, a U.S. internet ticket distributor located at 11150
Santa Monica Blvd., suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA.
Prior to this appointment, from 2004 to 2006, Mr. Lapin was
a private consultant for a number of entertainment and media
companies. Prior to that, from 2002 to 2004, Mr. Lapin
served as Chief Executive Officer of Take-Two Interactive
Software, a video game business located at 622 Broadway, New
York, NY 10012, USA. Mr. Lapin is a U.S. citizen.
Eli Muraidekh has served as the representative of
BlueBay High Yield Investments (Luxembourg) SARL on the
Infogrames board of directors since January 2008, and prior to
that, served as the representative of Blue Bay Asset Management
on the Infogrames board of directors from November 2006 to
November 2007. BlueBay Asset
89
Management is the investment manager of the BlueBay Funds.
Mr. Muraidekh has the title of director at BlueBay Asset
Management. Before joining BlueBay Asset Management,
Mr. Muraidekh was a Partner of Elwin Capital Partners, a
private investment fund located at 95 Chancery Lane, London,
WC2A IDT, UK, which he formed in 2000. Prior to that, from 1994
to 200, Mr. Muraidekh was an Executive Director at Goldman
Sachs. Mr. Muraidekh is a dual US and British citizen.
Mathias Hautefort has served as the Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer of Infogrames since June
2007. Prior to joining Infogrames, from March 2005 to May 2007,
Mr. Hautefort served as the Chief Executive Officer of
Viaccess S.A., a France Telecom Content Division company. From
June 2002 to September 2004, Mr. Hautefort was the Chief
Financial Officer and then the Chief Operating Officer of Noos,
the leading French cable operator. Prior to that, from June 2000
to June 2002, Mr. Hautefort was the Director of Media
Activities for the Suez Group in the communication division.
Prior to that, from June 1997 to May 2000 Mr. Hautefort was
a technical advisor in the cabinets of Christian Pierret, French
Secretary of State for Industry, and Technical Advisor to
Dominque Strauss-Kahn and Christian Sautter, French Ministers of
Economy, Finance and Industry. Mr. Hautefort is a French
citizen.
90
FUTURE
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
In addition to the special meeting, depending upon whether the
merger is consummated, Atari anticipates holding its annual
meeting of Atari stockholders in 2008. If the merger is
consummated, we will not have public stockholders and there will
be no public participation in any future meeting of stockholders
after the consummation of the merger.
In order for proposals by stockholders to have been considered
for inclusion in the proxy card and proxy statement relating to
the 2008 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, such proposals must
have been received on or before May 29, 2008 at
Atari’s principal executive offices at 417 Fifth
Avenue, New York, NY 10016, attention: Kristina K. Pappa,
Secretary.
In addition, Atari’s amended and restated by-laws provide
that stockholders seeking to bring business before an annual
meeting must provide timely notice. A stockholder’s notice
shall be timely if delivered to, or mailed to and received by,
Atari at its principal executive office not less than
75 days nor more than 120 days prior to the
anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting;
provided, however, that in the event the annual meeting is
scheduled to be held on a date more than 30 days before the
anniversary date or more than 60 days after the anniversary
date, a stockholder’s notice shall be timely if delivered
to, or mailed to and received by, Atari at its principal
executive office not later than the close of business on the
later of (A) the 75th day prior to the scheduled date
of such annual meeting, or (B) the 15th day following
the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual
meeting is first made by Atari.
INDEPENDENT
ACCOUNTANTS
The financial statements as of March 31, 2008 have been
audited by J. H. Cohn LLP as stated in their report included in
Atari’s Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, which is attached
to this proxy statement as Annex D.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Atari files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy
statements and other documents with the SEC under the Exchange
Act. Atari’s SEC filings made electronically through the
SEC EDGAR system are available to the public at the SEC website
at
http://www.sec.gov.
You may also read and copy any document Atari files with the SEC
at the SEC public reference room located at
100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
(800) SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of
the public reference room. Stockholders can also find this
information in the Investor Relations section of Atari’s
website, www.atari.com.
Atari and Infogrames have filed with the SEC a
Schedule 13E-3 with respect to the proposed merger. The
Schedule 13E-3,
including any amendments and exhibits, is available for
inspection as set forth above.
Atari intends to file a tender offer statement and other
relevant materials with the SEC. Before making any voting
or investment decisions, security holders of Atari should, if
applicable, read the tender offer materials regarding the tender
offer described on page 50 and elsewhere in this proxy
statement carefully in their entirety when they become
available, because they will contain important
information.
You may obtain additional copies of the documents related to
this transaction, including the Atari
Form 10-K,
Form 10-K/A
and
Form 10-Q
attached hereto and the tender offer statements and other
relevant materials, and any amendments or supplements thereto,
without charge, by requesting them in writing or by telephone
from:
Arturo Rodriguez
Atari, Inc.
417 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Telephone:
(212) 726-6500
Any request for copies of documents should be made by Friday,
September 26, 2008 in order to ensure receipt of the
documents before the special meeting.
91
This proxy statement does not constitute an offer to sell, or
a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, or the
solicitation of a proxy, in any jurisdiction to or from any
person to whom it is not lawful to make any offer or
solicitation in that jurisdiction. The delivery of this proxy
statement should not create an implication that there has been
no change in the affairs of Atari since the date of this proxy
statement or that the information herein is correct as of any
later date.
Stockholders should not rely on information other than that
contained in this proxy statement. Atari has not authorized
anyone to provide information that is different from that
contained in this proxy statement. This proxy statement is dated
September 5, 2008. No assumption should be made that the
information contained in this proxy statement is accurate as of
any date other than that date, and the mailing of this proxy
statement will not create any implication to the contrary.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any material
change in any of the information previously disclosed, Atari
will, where relevant and if required by applicable law,
(i) update such information through a supplement to this
proxy statement and (ii) amend the Transaction Statement on
Schedule 13E-3 filed in connection with the merger, in each
case, to the extent necessary.
92
ANNEX A
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
INFOGRAMES ENTERTAINMENT S.A.
IRATA ACQUISITION CORP.
and
ATARI, INC.
Dated as of April 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE I THE
MERGER
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
Section 1.1
|
|
The Merger
|
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A-1
|
|
Section 1.2
|
|
Closing
|
|
|
A-1
|
|
Section 1.3
|
|
Effective Time
|
|
|
A-1
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|
Section 1.4
|
|
Effects of the Merger
|
|
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A-2
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Section 1.5
|
|
Certificate of Incorporation
|
|
|
A-2
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Section 1.6
|
|
Bylaws
|
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A-2
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Section 1.7
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Directors
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A-2
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ARTICLE
II EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK
|
|
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A-2
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Section 2.1
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Conversion of Capital Stock
|
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A-2
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Section 2.2
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Surrender of Certificates
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A-3
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Section 2.3
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Stock Options
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A-4
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Section 2.4
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Dissenting Shares
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A-4
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Section 2.5
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Tax Consequences
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A-5
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Section 2.6
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Additional Actions
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A-5
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ARTICLE
III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
|
|
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A-5
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Section 3.1
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Organization and Power
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A-5
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Section 3.2
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Foreign Qualifications
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A-5
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Section 3.3
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Corporate Authorization
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A-5
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Section 3.4
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Enforceability
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A-5
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Section 3.5
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Organizational Documents
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A-6
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Section 3.6
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Subsidiaries
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A-6
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Section 3.7
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Governmental Authorizations
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A-6
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Section 3.8
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Non-Contravention
|
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A-6
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Section 3.9
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Capitalization
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A-7
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Section 3.10
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Options
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A-7
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Section 3.11
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Voting.
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A-8
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Section 3.12
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Company SEC Reports
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A-8
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Section 3.13
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Executive and Director Loans
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A-8
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Section 3.14
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Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls
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A-8
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Section 3.15
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Financial Statements
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A-9
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Section 3.16
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Liabilities
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A-9
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Section 3.17
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Absence of Certain Changes
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A-9
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Section 3.18
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Litigation
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A-9
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Section 3.19
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Contracts
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A-10
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Section 3.20
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Employee Benefit Plans
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A-10
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Section 3.21
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Labor Relations and Employment Matters
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A-11
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Section 3.22
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Taxes
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A-12
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Section 3.23
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Environmental Matters
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A-13
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Section 3.24
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Intellectual Property
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A-13
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Section 3.25
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Privacy Policy
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A-15
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Section 3.26
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Real Property
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A-15
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Section 3.27
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Permits; Compliance with Laws
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A-15
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Section 3.28
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Personal Property
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A-15
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Section 3.29
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Insurance
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A-15
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A-i
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Section 3.30
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|
Takeover Statutes
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A-16
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Section 3.31
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|
Opinion of Financial Advisor
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A-16
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Section 3.32
|
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Brokers and Finders
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A-16
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ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
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A-16
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Section 4.1
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Organization and Power
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A-16
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Section 4.2
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Corporate Authorization
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A-16
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Section 4.3
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Enforceability
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A-16
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Section 4.4
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Capital Resources
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A-16
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ARTICLE V COVENANTS
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A-16
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Section 5.1
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Conduct of Business of the Company
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A-16
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Section 5.2
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Other Actions
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A-18
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Section 5.3
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Access to Information; Confidentiality
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A-18
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Section 5.4
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No Solicitation
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A-18
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Section 5.5
|
|
Notices of Certain Events
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A-20
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Section 5.6
|
|
Company Proxy Statement and Other SEC Filings
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|
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A-20
|
|
Section 5.7
|
|
Company Stockholders Meeting
|
|
|
A-21
|
|
Section 5.8
|
|
Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance
|
|
|
A-21
|
|
Section 5.9
|
|
Commercially Reasonable Efforts
|
|
|
A-21
|
|
Section 5.10
|
|
Consents; Filings; Further Action
|
|
|
A-21
|
|
Section 5.11
|
|
Public Announcements
|
|
|
A-22
|
|
Section 5.12
|
|
Stock Exchange De-listing
|
|
|
A-22
|
|
Section 5.13
|
|
Fees, Costs and Expenses
|
|
|
A-22
|
|
Section 5.14
|
|
Takeover Statutes
|
|
|
A-22
|
|
Section 5.15
|
|
Defense of Litigation
|
|
|
A-23
|
|
Section 5.16
|
|
Tax Matters
|
|
|
A-23
|
|
Section 5.17
|
|
Maintenance and Prosecution of Intellectual Property
|
|
|
A-23
|
|
Section 5.18
|
|
Performance of Restructuring Plan
|
|
|
A-23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS
|
|
|
A-24
|
|
Section 6.1
|
|
Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger
|
|
|
A-24
|
|
Section 6.2
|
|
Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
|
|
|
A-24
|
|
Section 6.3
|
|
Conditions to Obligation of the Company
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
Section 6.4
|
|
Frustration of Closing Conditions
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
Section 7.1
|
|
Termination by Mutual Consent
|
|
|
A-25
|
|
Section 7.2
|
|
Termination by Either Parent or the Company
|
|
|
A-26
|
|
Section 7.3
|
|
Termination by Parent
|
|
|
A-26
|
|
Section 7.4
|
|
Termination by the Company
|
|
|
A-27
|
|
Section 7.5
|
|
Effect of Termination
|
|
|
A-27
|
|
Section 7.6
|
|
Expenses Following Termination
|
|
|
A-27
|
|
Section 7.7
|
|
Amendment
|
|
|
A-28
|
|
Section 7.8
|
|
Extension; Waiver
|
|
|
A-28
|
|
Section 7.9
|
|
Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or Waiver
|
|
|
A-28
|
|
A-ii
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
|
A-28
|
|
Section 8.1
|
|
Certain Definitions
|
|
|
A-28
|
|
Section 8.2
|
|
Interpretation
|
|
|
A-32
|
|
Section 8.3
|
|
Survival
|
|
|
A-32
|
|
Section 8.4
|
|
Governing Law
|
|
|
A-32
|
|
Section 8.5
|
|
Submission to Jurisdiction
|
|
|
A-32
|
|
Section 8.6
|
|
Notices
|
|
|
A-32
|
|
Section 8.7
|
|
Entire Agreement
|
|
|
A-33
|
|
Section 8.8
|
|
No Third-Party Beneficiaries
|
|
|
A-33
|
|
Section 8.9
|
|
Severability
|
|
|
A-33
|
|
Section 8.10
|
|
Rules of Construction
|
|
|
A-33
|
|
Section 8.11
|
|
Assignment
|
|
|
A-33
|
|
Section 8.12
|
|
Remedies
|
|
|
A-33
|
|
Section 8.13
|
|
Specific Performance
|
|
|
A-34
|
|
Section 8.14
|
|
Counterparts; Effectiveness
|
|
|
A-34
|
|
A-iii
INDEX
OF DEFINED TERMS
|
|
|
Term
|
|
Section
|
|
Affiliate
|
|
8.1(a)
|
Agreement
|
|
Preamble
|
Bankruptcy Event
|
|
6.2(l)(i)
|
Bankruptcy Law
|
|
8.1(b)
|
Business Day
|
|
8.1(c)
|
Certificate of Merger
|
|
1.3
|
Certificates
|
|
2.1(c)
|
Change of Recommendation
|
|
5.4(e)(i)
|
Closing
|
|
1.2
|
Closing Date
|
|
1.2
|
Code
|
|
2.2(d)
|
Company
|
|
Preamble
|
Company Assets
|
|
3.8(b)
|
Company Benefit Plan
|
|
3.20(a)
|
Company Board
|
|
Recitals
|
Company Board Recommendation
|
|
3.3
|
Company Common Stock
|
|
Recitals
|
Company Conditions
|
|
5.2
|
Company Contracts
|
|
3.8(c)
|
Company Disclosure Schedule
|
|
Article III
|
Company Financial Advisor
|
|
3.31
|
Company Intellectual Property
|
|
8.1(d)
|
Company Material Adverse Effect
|
|
8.1(e)
|
Company Material Contracts
|
|
8.1(f)
|
Company Option Plans
|
|
3.10(a)
|
Company Organizational Documents
|
|
3.5
|
Company Permits
|
|
3.27(a)
|
Company Preferred Stock
|
|
3.9(a)
|
Company Proxy Statement
|
|
3.7(b)
|
Company SEC Reports
|
|
3.12(a)
|
Company Stock Option
|
|
2.3(a)
|
Company Stockholders Meeting
|
|
3.7(b)
|
Company Warrants
|
|
3.9(b)
|
Confidentiality Agreement
|
|
5.3(b)
|
Contracts
|
|
8.1(g)
|
Copyright Office
|
|
5.18(b)
|
Copyrights
|
|
8.1(k)
|
Credit Facility
|
|
8.1(h)
|
Custodian
|
|
8.1(i)
|
Customer Information
|
|
3.25
|
DGCL
|
|
1.1
|
Dissenting Shares
|
|
2.4(a)
|
Effective Time
|
|
1.3
|
A-iv
|
|
|
Term
|
|
Section
|
|
Environmental Costs
|
|
3.23(b)(i)
|
Environmental Laws
|
|
3.23(a)(ii)
|
Environmental Matters
|
|
3.23(a)(i)
|
Exchange Act
|
|
3.7(b)
|
Excluded Shares
|
|
2.1(b)
|
Expenses Payee
|
|
7.6(c)
|
Expenses Payor
|
|
7.6(c)
|
Expenses
|
|
5.14
|
GAAP
|
|
3.15(b)
|
Governmental Entity
|
|
3.7
|
Hazardous Substances
|
|
8.1(j)
|
Indemnified Parties
|
|
5.9(a)
|
Intellectual Property
|
|
8.1(k)
|
Internet Assets
|
|
8.1(k)
|
IP Licenses
|
|
3.24(d)
|
Key Company Intellectual Property Assets
|
|
8.1(l)
|
Knowledge
|
|
8.1(m)
|
Laws
|
|
8.1(n)
|
Legal Actions
|
|
3.18
|
Liabilities
|
|
3.16
|
Lien
|
|
8.1(o)
|
Maximum Premium
|
|
5.9(b)
|
Merger
|
|
Recitals
|
Merger Consideration
|
|
2.1(c)
|
Merger Sub
|
|
Preamble
|
New Financing Facility
|
|
Recitals
|
NOLs
|
|
3.22(m)
|
Option Merger Consideration
|
|
2.3(a)
|
Orders
|
|
8.1(p)
|
Outside Date
|
|
7.2(a)
|
Parent
|
|
Preamble
|
Parent Board
|
|
Recitals
|
Parent Conditions
|
|
5.2
|
Parent Material Adverse Effect
|
|
8.1(q)
|
Patents
|
|
8.1(k)
|
Paying Agent
|
|
2.2(a)
|
Payment Fund
|
|
2.2(a
|
Permits
|
|
8.1(r)
|
Permitted Lien
|
|
8.1(s)
|
Person
|
|
8.1(t)
|
Post-Signing Returns
|
|
5.17(a)
|
Privacy Policy
|
|
3.25
|
Public Software
|
|
8.1(u)
|
Representatives
|
|
8.1(v)
|
A-v
|
|
|
Term
|
|
Section
|
|
Requisite Company Vote
|
|
3.3
|
SEC
|
|
3.7(b)
|
Securities Act
|
|
3.12(a)
|
Software
|
|
8.1(k)
|
SOX
|
|
3.13
|
Special Committee
|
|
Recitals
|
Subsidiary
|
|
8.1(w)
|
Superior Proposal
|
|
8.1(x)
|
Superior Proposal Change of Recommendation
|
|
5.4(e)(i)
|
Surviving Bylaws
|
|
1.6
|
Surviving Charter
|
|
1.5
|
Surviving Corporation
|
|
1.1
|
Takeover Proposal
|
|
8.1(y)
|
Takeover Statutes
|
|
3.30
|
Tax Returns
|
|
8.1(z)
|
Tax Sharing Agreements
|
|
3.22(f)
|
Taxes
|
|
8.1(aa)
|
Termination Fee
|
|
7.6(b)
|
Trade Secrets
|
|
8.1(k)
|
Trademarks
|
|
8.1(k)
|
Treasury Regulations
|
|
8.1(bb)
|
USPTO
|
|
5.18(b)
|
A-vi
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of April 30, 2008
(this “Agreement”), by and among INFOGRAMES
ENTERTAINMENT S.A., a French corporation
(“Parent”), IRATA ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent
(“Merger Sub”), and ATARI, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the
“Company Board”), upon unanimous recommendation
of a special transaction committee of the Company Board
consisting solely of disinterested directors of the Company (the
“Special Committee”), has unanimously
(i) approved and declared advisable and in the best
interests of the holders of Company Common Stock (other than
Parent and its Affiliates) that the Company enter into this
Agreement and consummate the merger of Merger Sub with and into
the Company (the “Merger”), this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein; (ii) directed
that adoption of this Agreement be submitted to a vote at a
meeting of the holders of Company Common Stock; and
(iii) recommended to the holders of Company Common Stock
that they adopt this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Merger Sub has approved and
declared advisable, and the Board of Directors of Parent (the
“Parent Board”) has approved, this Agreement
and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement;
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement,
the Company and Parent are entering into the Credit Agreement
among the Company, with Parent as the lender thereunder (the
“New Financing Facility”) pursuant to which
Parent has agreed to make available to the Company additional
financing on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in the New Financing Facility;
WHEREAS, subject to certain exceptions, by virtue of the Merger,
all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par
value $0.10 per share, of the Company (the “Company
Common Stock”), will be converted into the right to
receive $1.68 in cash; and
WHEREAS, certain capitalized terms used in this Agreement have
the meanings specified in Section 8.1.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement, the parties to this Agreement, intending to be
legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section 1.1 The
Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the
“DGCL”), at the Effective Time, (a) Merger
Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, (b) the
separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the
Company shall continue its corporate existence under Delaware
law as the surviving corporation in the Merger (the
“Surviving Corporation”) and (c) the
Surviving Corporation shall become a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent.
Section 1.2 Closing. Subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to
closing contained in ARTICLE VI, the closing of the Merger
(the “Closing”) shall take place (a) at
the offices of Morrison & Foerster LLP, 1290 Avenue of
the Americas, New York, New York, at 10:00 a.m. on a date
determined by the parties but not later than the second Business
Day after the day on which the last of those conditions (other
than any conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at
the Closing) is satisfied or waived in accordance with this
Agreement or (b) at such other place and time or on such
other date as Parent and the Company may agree in writing. The
date on which the Closing occurs is referred to as the
“Closing Date.”
Section 1.3 Effective
Time. Immediately following the Closing,
Parent and the Company shall cause a certificate of merger (the
“Certificate of Merger”) to be executed,
signed, acknowledged and filed with the
A-1
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as provided in
Section 251 of the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective
when the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such other
subsequent date or time as Parent and the Company may agree and
specify in the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the DGCL
(the “Effective Time”).
Section 1.4 Effects
of the Merger. The Merger shall have the
effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto,
at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges,
powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest
in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities,
obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of the
Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities,
obligations, restrictions, disabilities and duties of the
Surviving Corporation.
Section 1.5 Certificate
of Incorporation. The certificate of
incorporation of the Merger Sub in effect immediately prior to
the Effective Time shall be, from and after the Effective Time,
the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
(the “Surviving Charter”) until amended as
provided in the Surviving Charter or by applicable Laws.
Section 1.6 Bylaws. The
Company shall take all requisite action so that the bylaws of
Merger Sub in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be, from and after the Effective Time, the bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation (the “Surviving Bylaws”)
until amended as provided in the Surviving Charter, in the
Surviving Bylaws or by applicable Laws.
Section 1.7 Directors. The
directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall submit their resignations to be
effective as of the Effective Time. The Company shall take all
requisite action so that the directors of Merger Sub immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be, from and after the
Effective Time, the directors of the Surviving Corporation until
their successors are duly elected and qualified or until their
earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the
Surviving Charter, the Surviving Bylaws and the DGCL.
ARTICLE II
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK
Section 2.1 Conversion
of Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or the holder of any shares of
capital stock of Merger Sub or the Company:
(a) Conversion of Merger Sub Capital
Stock. Each share of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into
and become one fully paid and non-assessable share of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned
Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock
owned by the Company or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries or
by Parent or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries immediately
prior to the Effective Time (collectively, the “Excluded
Shares”) shall be canceled automatically and shall
cease to exist, and no consideration shall be paid for those
Excluded Shares.
(c) Conversion of Company Common
Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than Excluded Shares and Dissenting Shares) shall be
converted into the right to receive $1.68 in cash, without
interest (the “Merger Consideration”). All
shares of Company Common Stock that have been so converted shall
be canceled automatically and shall cease to exist, and the
holders of certificates which immediately prior to the Effective
Time represented those shares (together with any book-entry
shares, the “Certificates”) shall cease to have
any rights with respect to those shares, other than the right to
receive the Merger Consideration upon surrender of their
Certificates in accordance with Section 2.2.
(d) Adjustments. If, between the
date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, the outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock are changed into a different
number or class of shares by reason of any stock split,
A-2
division or subdivision of shares, stock dividend, reverse stock
split, consolidation of shares, reclassification or other
similar transaction, then the Merger Consideration shall be
adjusted to the extent appropriate.
Section 2.2 Surrender
of Certificates.
(a) Payment Fund. Prior to the
Effective Time, Parent shall select a bank or trust company,
satisfactory to the Company in its reasonable discretion to act
as the paying agent in the Merger (the “Paying
Agent”), and not later than the close of business on
the Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, shall
provide funds to the Paying Agent in amounts necessary for the
payment of the aggregate Merger Consideration payable under
Section 2.1(c) upon surrender of Certificates. Such funds
provided to the Paying Agent are referred to as the
“Payment Fund.”
(b) Payment Procedures.
(i) Letter of
Transmittal. Promptly after the Effective
Time, Parent shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder
of record of a Certificate (A) a letter of transmittal in
customary form, specifying that delivery shall be effected, and
risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon
proper delivery of Certificates to the Paying Agent and
(B) instructions for surrendering Certificates.
(ii) Surrender of
Certificates. Upon surrender of a Certificate
for cancellation to the Paying Agent, together with a duly
executed letter of transmittal and any other documents required
by the Paying Agent, the holder of that Certificate shall be
entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Merger
Consideration payable in respect of that Certificate less any
required withholding of Taxes as provided in
Section 2.2(d). Any Certificates so surrendered shall be
canceled immediately. No interest shall accrue or be paid on any
amount payable upon surrender of Certificates.
(iii) Unregistered Transferees. If
any Merger Consideration is to be paid to a Person other than
the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate is
registered, then the Merger Consideration may be paid to such a
transferee so long as (A) the surrendered Certificate is
accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect
that transfer and (B) the Person requesting such payment
(1) pays any applicable transfer Taxes or
(2) establishes to the satisfaction of Parent and the
Paying Agent that any such Taxes have already been paid or are
not applicable.
(iv) No Other Rights. Until
surrendered in accordance with this Section 2.2(c), each
Certificate shall be deemed, from and after the Effective Time,
to represent only the right to receive the applicable Merger
Consideration. Payment of the full Merger Consideration upon the
surrender of any Certificate shall be deemed to be payment in
full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to that Certificate
and the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented
by it.
(c) No Further Transfers. At the
Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be
closed and there shall be no further registration of transfers
of the shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(d) Required Withholding. Parent,
the Surviving Corporation and the Paying Agent shall be entitled
to deduct and withhold from any Merger Consideration payable
under this Agreement such amounts as are required to be deducted
or withheld therefrom under (i) the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (the “Code”), (ii) any applicable
state, local or foreign Tax Laws or (iii) any other
applicable Laws. To the extent that any amounts are so deducted
and withheld, those amounts shall be treated as having been paid
to the Person in respect of whom such deduction or withholding
was made for all purposes under this Agreement.
(e) No Liability. None of Parent,
the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent shall be liable to
any holder of Certificates for any amount properly paid to a
public official under any applicable abandoned property, escheat
or similar Laws.
(f) Investment of Payment
Fund. The Paying Agent shall invest the
Payment Fund as directed by Parent. Any interest and other
income resulting from such investment shall become a part of the
Payment Fund, and any amounts in excess of the amounts payable
under Section 2.1(c) shall be paid promptly to Parent.
A-3
(g) Termination of Payment
Fund. Any portion of the Payment Fund that
remains unclaimed by the holders of Certificates 270 days
after the Effective Time shall be delivered by the Paying Agent
to Parent upon demand. Thereafter, any holder of Certificates
who has not complied with this ARTICLE II shall look only
to Parent for payment of the applicable Merger Consideration.
(h) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed
Certificates. If any Certificate is lost,
stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that
fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen
or destroyed and the posting by such Person of a bond in the
form required by Parent as indemnity against any claim that may
be made against Parent on account of the alleged loss, theft or
destruction of such Certificate, the Paying Agent shall pay the
Merger Consideration to such Person in exchange for such lost,
stolen or destroyed Certificate.
Section 2.3 Stock
Options.
(a) Except as otherwise agreed prior to the Effective Time
by Parent and the Company, the Company shall take all requisite
action so that, as of the Effective Time, each option to acquire
shares of Company Common Stock (each, a “Company Stock
Option”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time, whether or not then exercisable or vested, by virtue of
the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger
Sub, the Company or the holder of that Company Stock Option,
shall be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash,
without interest, equal to (a) the Option Merger
Consideration multiplied by (b) the aggregate number of
shares of Company Common Stock into which the applicable Company
Stock Option was exercisable immediately prior to the Effective
Time. “Option Merger Consideration” means the
excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the per share
exercise or purchase price of the applicable Company Stock
Option. The payment of the Option Merger Consideration to the
holder of a Company Stock Option shall be reduced by any income
or employment Tax withholding required under (i) the Code,
(ii) any applicable state, local or foreign Tax Laws or
(iii) any other applicable Laws. To the extent that any
amounts are so withheld, those amounts shall be treated as
having been paid to the holder of that Company Stock Option for
all purposes under this Agreement.
(b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall use its
reasonable best efforts to commence and maintain in effect, at
least until the Effective Time, a tender offer (the “Tender
Offer”) to purchase all outstanding Company Stock Options,
whether or not vested and exercisable, that the Company does not
have the right to cancel and that have exercise prices that
exceed the Merger Consideration. Upon acceptance of any Company
Stock Option pursuant to the Tender Offer, such Company Stock
Option shall be cancelled and shall no longer be outstanding,
and the holder that so tendered shall only have the right to
receive the consideration, if any, payable pursuant to the
Tender Offer for such Company Stock Option.
Section 2.4 Dissenting
Shares.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary, any shares of Company Common Stock for which the
holder thereof (i) has not voted in favor of the Merger or
consented to it in writing and (ii) has demanded the
appraisal of such shares in accordance with, and has complied in
all respects with, Section 262 of the DGCL (collectively,
the “Dissenting Shares”) shall not be converted
into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance
with Section 2.1(c). At the Effective Time, (x) all
Dissenting Shares shall be cancelled and cease to exist and
(y) the holder or holders of Dissenting Shares shall be
entitled only to such rights as may be granted to them under
Section 262 of the DGCL.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.4(a),
if any holder of Dissenting Shares effectively withdraws or
loses such appraisal rights (through failure to perfect such
appraisal rights or otherwise), then that holder’s shares
(i) shall no longer be deemed to be Dissenting Shares and
(ii) shall be treated as if they had been converted
automatically at the Effective Time into the right to receive
the Merger Consideration upon surrender of the Certificate
representing such shares in accordance with Section 2.2.
(c) The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of
any demands for appraisal of any shares of Company Common Stock,
the withdrawals of such demands, and any other instrument served
on the Company under the provisions of Section 262 of the
DGCL and (ii) the right to direct all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal under the
DGCL. The Company shall not offer to make or make any payment
with respect to any demands for appraisal without the prior
written consent of Parent.
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Section 2.5 Tax
Consequences. The parties intend the Merger
to be a taxable sale of the Company Common Stock by the holders
of shares of Company Common Stock and of Company Stock Options.
Parent makes no representations or warranties to the Company or
to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock or Company Stock
Options, and the Company makes no representations or warranties
to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock or Company Stock
Options, regarding the Tax treatment of the Merger, or any of
the Tax consequences to the Company or any holder of shares of
Company Common Stock or Company Stock Options of this Agreement,
the Merger or any of the other transactions or agreements
contemplated hereby.
Section 2.6 Additional
Actions. If, at any time after the Effective
Time, the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised
that any further deeds, assignments or assurances in law or any
other acts are necessary or desirable to (i) vest, perfect
or confirm, or record or otherwise, in the Surviving Corporation
its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights,
properties or assets of the Company or (ii) otherwise carry
out the provisions of this Agreement, the officers and directors
of the Surviving Corporation are hereby fully authorized, in the
name and on behalf of the Company, to take all such lawful
actions as are necessary, proper or desirable to vest, perfect
or confirm title to and possession of such rights, properties or
assets in the Surviving Corporation and otherwise to carry out
the provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub
that except as set forth in the disclosure schedule, dated as of
the date of this Agreement, delivered by the Company to Parent
contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement (the
“Company Disclosure Schedule”) or as set forth
in the Company SEC Reports filed on or after January 1,
2006 and on or prior to the date of this Agreement::
Section 3.1 Organization
and Power. The Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Delaware and has the requisite power and
authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties
and to carry on its business as now conducted.
Section 3.2 Foreign
Qualifications. The Company is duly qualified
or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction where the character of the
assets and properties owned, leased or operated by it or the
nature of its business makes such qualification or license
necessary, except where failures to be so qualified or licensed
or in good standing would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
Section 3.3 Corporate
Authorization. The Company has all necessary
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and,
subject to adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock (the “Requisite Company Vote”), to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
Company Board, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special
Committee, has unanimously (i) approved and declared
advisable and in the best interests of the holders of Company
Common Stock (other than Parent and its Affiliates) that the
Company enter into this Agreement and consummate the Merger,
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein; (ii) directed that adoption of this Agreement be
submitted to a vote at a meeting of the holders of Company
Common Stock; and (iii) recommended to the holders of
Company Common Stock that they adopt this Agreement (the
“Company Board Recommendation”). The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and
the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, subject
to the Requisite Company Vote.
Section 3.4 Enforceability. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company
and constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar Law affecting or
relating to creditors’ rights generally and the
availability of specific performance or injunctive relief and
other equitable remedies.
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Section 3.5 Organizational
Documents. The Company has previously filed
with the SEC as exhibits to its Annual Report on
Form 10-K
correct and complete copies of the certificate of incorporation
and bylaws of the Company as in effect on the date of this
Agreement (collectively, the “Company Organizational
Documents”).
Section 3.6 Subsidiaries. A
correct and complete list of all Subsidiaries of the Company and
their respective jurisdictions of organization is set forth in
Section 3.6 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. Except as
set forth in Section 3.6 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, to the Knowledge of the Company, (a) each of the
Subsidiaries of the Company is wholly owned by the Company,
directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Liens,
(b) the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any
capital stock of, or any other securities convertible or
exchangeable into or exercisable for capital stock of, any
Person other than the Subsidiaries of the Company, and
(c) the Subsidiaries, individually and in the aggregate,
are inactive, do not conduct any business or other activities,
are not parties to any Contracts and have no employees, minimal
assets and no liabilities.
Section 3.7 Governmental
Authorizations. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the Company and the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement do not and will not require any consent, approval
or other authorization of, or filing with or notification to,
any international, national, federal, state, provincial or local
governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency,
commission, court, tribunal, arbitral body or self-regulated
entity, whether domestic or foreign (each, a
“Governmental Entity”), other than:
(a) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware;
(b) the filing with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) of (i) a
proxy statement (the “Company Proxy Statement”)
relating to the special meeting of the stockholders of the
Company to be held to consider the adoption of this Agreement
(the “Company Stockholders Meeting”) and
(ii) any other filings and reports that may be required in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (including the rules and regulations thereunder, the
“Exchange Act”); and
(c) compliance with the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ
Global Market.
Section 3.8 Non-Contravention. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement do not and will not:
(a) contravene or conflict with, or result in any violation
or breach of, any provision of the Company Organizational
Documents;
(b) contravene or conflict with, or result in any violation
or breach of, any Laws or Orders applicable to the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or by which any assets of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries (“Company Assets”) are
bound, assuming that the Requisite Company Vote has been
obtained and all consents, approvals, authorizations, filings
and notifications described in Section 3.7 have been
obtained or made except for such violations and breaches that
would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(c) result in any violation or breach of, or constitute a
default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under,
any Contracts to which the Company is a party or by which any
Company Assets are bound (collectively, “Company
Contracts”), other than as set forth in
Section 3.8(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or any
violations, breaches or defaults that would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect;
(d) require any consent, approval or other authorization
of, or filing with or notification to, any Person under any
Company Material Contracts, other than as set forth in
Section 3.8(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or where
the failure to obtain such consent, approval or authorization or
make such filings or notifications would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect;
(e) give rise to any termination, cancellation, amendment,
modification or acceleration of any rights or obligations under
any Company Material Contracts, other than as set forth in
Section 3.8(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule or that
would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect; or
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(f) cause or result in the creation or imposition of any
Liens on any Company Assets, other than as set forth in
Section 3.8(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and such
Liens the creation or imposition of which would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.9 Capitalization.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists
solely of (i) 30,000,000 shares of Company Common
Stock, par value $0.10 per share, and
(ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share (“Company Preferred Stock”).
(b) As of the close of business on April 28, 2008,
(i) 13,477,920 shares of Company Common Stock were
issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of Company Common
Stock were held in treasury by the Company,
(iii) 1,500,000 shares of Company Common Stock were
reserved for issuance under the Company Option Plans, including
with respect to outstanding Company Stock Options,
(iv) 2,499 shares of Company Common Stock were
reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants to
purchase shares of Company Common Stock (“Company
Warrants”), and (v) no shares of Company Preferred
Stock were outstanding. Since that date, no shares of capital
stock of the Company, or securities convertible or exchangeable
into or exercisable for shares of capital stock of the Company,
have been issued other than upon exercise of the Company Stock
Options or the Company Warrants outstanding on that date. The
Company has delivered true and complete copies of the
outstanding Company Warrants or form thereof to Parent.
(c) All issued shares of Company Common Stock are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and
not subject to any pre-emptive rights. All shares of Company
Common Stock that are subject to issuance upon the exercise of
outstanding Company Stock Options or the Company Warrants, upon
issuance prior to the Effective Time upon the terms and subject
to the conditions specified in the instruments under which they
are issuable, (i) will be duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable and (ii) will not be subject
to any pre-emptive rights.
(d) There are no outstanding contractual obligations of the
Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of
Company Common Stock or Company Preferred Stock and other than
the outstanding Company Stock Options and the Company Warrants,
there are no options, warrants or other rights, agreements,
rights plans, arrangements or commitments obligating the Company
to issue or sell any shares of capital stock of, or other equity
interests in, the Company.
(e) To the Company’s Knowledge, each outstanding share
of capital stock of each Subsidiary of the Company is duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and
not subject to any pre-emptive rights.
Section 3.10 Options.
(a) As of the date of this Agreement, there are outstanding
Company Stock Options to acquire an aggregate of
926,550 shares of Company Common Stock under the 1997 Stock
Incentive Plan, as amended, the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, as
amended, and the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (collectively, the
“Company Option Plans”). Except for
(i) outstanding Company Stock Options to purchase an
aggregate of 926,550 shares of Company Common Stock,
(ii) an aggregate of 573,450 shares of Company Common
Stock available for issuance pursuant to future grants of
Company Stock Options under the Company Option Plans and
(iii) the Company Warrants, there are no options, warrants,
calls, conversion rights, stock appreciation rights, redemption
rights, repurchase rights or other rights, agreements,
arrangements or commitments to which the Company is a party
obligating the Company to issue or sell any shares of their
capital stock or other securities.
(b) The Company has filed with the SEC correct and complete
copies of all Company Option Plans and has provided to Parent
copies of all forms of outstanding Company Stock Option award
agreements the forms of which are not filed with the SEC.
Section 3.10(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a correct and complete list of the following information,
as of the date of this Agreement, with respect to each Company
Stock Option: (i) name of the holder; (ii) exercise
price; (iii) number of shares of Company Common Stock
issuable upon exercise; (iv) Company Option Plan under
which the option was granted; (v) date of grant;
(vi) vesting schedule; and (vii) expiration date.
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Section 3.11 Voting.
(a) The Requisite Company Vote is the only vote of the
holders of any class or series of the capital stock of the
Company necessary (under the Company Organizational Documents or
the DGCL) to approve and adopt this Agreement, the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) There are no voting trusts, proxies or similar
agreements, arrangements or commitments to which the Company is
a party with respect to the voting of any shares of capital
stock of the Company, other than proxies held by Parent or any
of its subsidiaries. There are no bonds, debentures, notes or
other instruments of indebtedness of the Company that have the
right to vote, or that are convertible or exchangeable into or
exercisable for securities having the right to vote, on any
matters on which stockholders of the Company may vote.
Section 3.12 Company
SEC Reports.
(a) The Company has filed with the SEC all reports,
schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be
filed with the SEC since January 1, 2006 (collectively, the
“Company SEC Reports”), and has made available
to Parent correct and complete copies of any exhibits to such
Company SEC Reports for which confidential treatment was granted
by the SEC. As of the respective dates that they were filed, the
Company SEC Reports complied as to form in all material respects
with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (together with the rules and regulations thereunder,
the “Securities Act”), and the Exchange Act, as
applicable. Except to the extent that information contained in
any Company SEC Report has been revised or superseded by a later
filed Company SEC Report, none of the Company SEC Reports, at
the time filed, contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated
in or necessary in order to make the statements in the Company
SEC Reports, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(b) The Company has heretofore furnished to Parent complete
and correct copies of all material amendments and modifications
that have not been filed by the Company with the SEC to all
agreements, documents and other instruments that previously had
been filed by the Company with the SEC and are currently in
effect.
(c) The Company has furnished Parent with copies of all
comment letters received by the Company from the SEC with
respect to the Company SEC Reports or received since
January 1, 2006 and all responses of the Company thereto.
There are no outstanding unresolved issues with respect to the
Company or the Company SEC Reports noted in comment letters or
other correspondence received by the Company or its attorneys
from the SEC, and there are no pending formal or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, informal investigations of the Company
by the SEC.
Section 3.13 Executive
and Director Loans. There are no outstanding
loans made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any
executive officer (within the meaning of
Rule 3b-7
under the Exchange Act) or director of the Company. Since the
enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(“SOX”), except as set forth in
Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
Company has not made any loans to any such Company executive
officers or directors.
Section 3.14 Accounting
Controls and Disclosure Controls.
(a) The Company maintains an accounting system designed to
provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management’s general or
specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability;
(iii) access to assets that could have a material effect on
the Company’s financial statements is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific
authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for
assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable
intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(b) The Company maintains “disclosure controls and
procedures” (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(e)
and
15d-15(e) of
the Exchange Act) required in order for the Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company to engage in
the review and evaluation process mandated by Section 302
of SOX. The Company’s “disclosure controls and
procedures” are reasonably designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Company in the
reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time
periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that
all such information is
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accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as
appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure. The Company is not a party to any off-balance sheet
arrangements (as defined in Item 303(c) of
Regulation S-K
promulgated under the Exchange Act).
(c) To the Knowledge of the Company, since January 1,
2006, (i) there has been no material complaint, allegation,
assertion or claim that the Company or any Company Subsidiary
has engaged in improper or illegal accounting or auditing
practices or maintains improper or inadequate internal
accounting controls and (ii) no current or former attorney
representing the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries has
reported evidence of a material violation of securities laws,
breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company or
any of its officers, directors, employees or agents to the
Company Board or any committee thereof or to any director or
executive officer of the Company.
Section 3.15 Financial
Statements. The audited consolidated
financial statements and unaudited consolidated interim
financial statements of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the
Company SEC Reports:
(a) complied in all material respects with applicable
accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC;
(b) were prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a
consistent basis (except as may be indicated in the notes to
those financial statements) and, in the case of unaudited
financial statements, as permitted by the applicable
instructions and regulations of the SEC relating to the
preparation of quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q); and
(c) fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their
consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the
periods then ended , or, as set forth in the Company SEC
Reports, were restated to do so (subject, in the case of any
unaudited interim financial statements, to normal year-end
adjustments).
Section 3.16 Liabilities. There
are no liabilities or obligations of any kind, whether accrued,
contingent, absolute, inchoate or otherwise (collectively,
“Liabilities”) of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, other than:
(a) Liabilities disclosed in the consolidated balance sheet
of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of
December 31, 2007, set forth in the Company’s
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007;
(b) Liabilities pursuant to the New Financing
Facility; and
(c) Liabilities incurred since December 31, 2007 in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;
(d) Liabilities that do not exceed, individually or in the
aggregate, US$500,000; and
(e) Liabilities set forth in Section 3.16(c) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule.
Section 3.17 Absence
of Certain Changes. Since March 31,
2007, the Company has conducted its business in the ordinary
course consistent with past practices and, except as described
in the Company SEC Reports, to the Company’s Knowledge:
(a) there has not been any Company Material Adverse
Effect; and
(b) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
taken any action that, if taken after the date of this
Agreement, would be prohibited by Section 5.1, other than
as set forth in Section 3.17 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule.
Section 3.18 Litigation. Other
than as set forth in Section 3.18 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, there are no legal actions, claims, demands,
arbitrations, hearings, charges, complaints, investigations,
examinations, indictments, litigations, suits or other civil,
criminal, administrative (including, but not limited to, NASDAQ
or other self regulatory organization) or investigative
proceedings (collectively, “Legal Actions”)
pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, against
(a) the Company or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of
its
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Subsidiaries or (b) any director, officer or employee of
the Company or other Person for whom the Company may be liable,
in each case other than Legal Actions that would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the
Company, there are no Orders outstanding against the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries.
Section 3.19 Contracts.
(a) There are no Company Contracts required to be described
in, or filed as an exhibit to, any Company SEC Report that are
not so described or filed as required by the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act, as the case may be. The Company has made
available to Parent correct and complete copies of all Company
Contracts filed with the SEC that are not otherwise publicly
available in complete form.
(b) Except as would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, (i) all Company Contracts are valid and binding
obligations of the Company and, to the Knowledge of the Company,
each counterparty thereto, are in full force and effect and are
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms,
(ii) the Company is not in violation or breach of, or in
default (with or without notice or the lapse of time or both)
under, any Company Material Contract and, (iii) to the
Knowledge of the Company, no other Person is in violation or
breach of, or in default (with or without notice or the lapse of
time or both) under, any Company Material Contracts.
(c) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(c) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no Company Contracts that
restrict the ability of the Company to develop, publish or
otherwise distribute interactive entertainment software products
in any geographic area.
(d) Except as set forth in Section 3.19(d)
Section 3.19(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
Company is not a party to or bound by any financial derivatives
master agreements or engaged in any financial hedging activities.
Section 3.20 Employee
Benefit Plans.
(a) Section 3.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
contains a complete list of each material employee benefit plan,
program, policy, practice, agreement, or arrangement, whether or
not subject to ERISA, (i) maintained, sponsored or
contributed to by the Company, or (ii) to which any of them
could incur any direct or indirect material liability (each, a
“Company Benefit Plan”).
(b) The Company has provided to Parent with respect to each
applicable Company Benefit Plan correct and complete copies of:
(i) a copy of the most recent annual report (if required
under ERISA) with respect to each such Company Benefit Plan
(including all schedules and attachments); (ii) a copy of
the summary plan description, together with each summary of
material modification required under ERISA with respect to such
Company Benefit Plan; (iii) a true and complete copy of
each written Company Benefit Plan (including all amendments not
incorporated into the documentation for each such plan);
(iv) all trust agreements, insurance contracts, and similar
instruments with respect to each funded or insured Company
Benefit Plan; and (v) any investment management agreements,
administrative services contracts or similar agreements that are
in effect as of the date hereof relating to the ongoing
administration and investment of any Company Benefit Plan.
(c) No Company Benefit Plan is, and the Company has no
obligation to maintain, contribute to or otherwise participate
in, and has no liability or other obligation (whether accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise) under, a
(i) “multiemployer plan” (within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of ERISA), (ii) multiple employer
plan” (within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the
Code), (iii) multiple employer welfare arrangement”
(within the meaning of Section 3(40) of ERISA), or
(iv) plan that is subject to the provisions of
Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. No
Company Benefit Plan is maintained through a human resources and
benefits outsourcing entity, professional employer organization,
or other similar vendor or provider.
(d) No Company Benefit Plan provides health, life or other
coverage for former directors, officers or employees (or any
spouse or former spouse or other dependent thereof), other than
benefits required by Section 4980B of the Code, Part 6
of Title I of ERISA, or similar provisions of state law.
(e) Each Company Benefit Plan (and each related trust,
insurance contract or fund) has been maintained, funded and
administered in all material respects in accordance with its
governing instruments and all applicable laws including ERISA
and the Code.
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(f) Each Company Benefit Plan intended to qualify under
Section 401(a) of the Code and each trust intended to
qualify under Section 501(a) of the Code has either
received or is entitled to rely upon, a favorable determination
letter or opinion letter from the IRS with respect to such
Company Benefit Plan as to its qualified status under the Code,
and, to the Knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred that
would reasonably expected to adversely affect such determination
or opinion.
(g) All reports, forms and other documents required to be
filed with any government authority or furnished to employees
with respect to any Company Benefit Plan (including summary plan
descriptions, Forms 5500 and summary annual reports) have
been timely filed or furnished and, to the Knowledge of the
Company, are accurate in all material respects.
(h) Each Company Benefit Plan, employment agreement, or
other contract, plan, program, agreement, or arrangement that is
a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (within
the meaning of Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code) has been
operated in good faith compliance with Section 409A of the
Code, its Treasury regulations, and any administrative guidance
relating thereto; and no additional tax under
Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code has been or is reasonably
expected to be incurred by a participant in any such Company
Benefit Plan, employment agreement, or other contract, plan,
program, agreement, or arrangement. The Company is not a party
to, or otherwise obligated under, any contract, agreement, plan
or arrangement that provides for the
gross-up of
taxes imposed by Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code. No
Company Stock Option or other right to acquire Company Stock or
other equity of the Company (i) has an exercise price that
was less than the fair market value of the underlying equity as
of the date such Option or other right was granted,
(ii) has any feature for the deferral of compensation other
than the deferral of recognition of income until the later of
exercise of disposition of such stock Option or right, or
(iii) has been granted after December 31, 2004, with
respect to any class of stock of the Company that is not
“service recipient stock” (within the meaning of
applicable regulations under Section 409A of the Code).
(i) The Company has no material Liabilities with respect to
any misclassification of any Person as an independent contractor
rather than as an employee.
(j) With respect to each applicable Company Benefit Plan,
to the Knowledge of the Company, (i) no non-exempt
“prohibited transaction,” within the meaning of
Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA, has
occurred; (ii) there are no actions, suits or claims
pending, threatened or anticipated (other than routine claims
for benefits) against any such Company Benefit Plan or fiduciary
thereto or against the assets of any such Company Benefit Plan;
(iii) there are no audits, inquiries or proceedings pending
or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened by any
governmental authority with respect to any Company Benefit Plan;
and (iv) there has been no breach of fiduciary duty
(including violations under Part 4 of Title I of
ERISA) which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to
result in material liability to the Company.
(k) No capital stock or other securities of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries forms or has formed a material part of
the assets held in trust by any Company Benefit Plan.
Section 3.21 Labor
Relations and Employment Matters.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, the Company is not a party to, bound by or
subject to, or currently negotiating in connection with entering
into, any collective bargaining agreement or other labor
contract. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the employees of the
Company is represented by any union with respect to his or her
employment by the Company. There is no (i) unfair labor
practice, labor dispute (other than individual grievances) or
labor arbitration proceeding pending or to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company relating to its
business, (ii) activity or proceeding by a labor union or
representative thereof to the Company’s Knowledge to
organize any employees of the Company, or (iii) lockout,
strike, slowdown, work stoppage or threat thereof by or with
respect to such employees, and during the last three
(3) years there has not been any such action.
(b) Except as would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, the Company is in compliance with all applicable Laws
relating to the employment of labor, including all applicable
Laws relating to wages, hours, collective bargaining, employment
discrimination, civil rights, safety and health, workers’
compensation, pay equity and the collection and payment of
withholding
and/or
social security taxes.
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Section 3.22 Taxes. Except
as set forth in Section 3.23 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) All material Tax Returns required to be filed by or
with respect to the Company have been properly prepared and
timely filed, and all such Tax Returns (including information
provided therewith or with respect thereto) are correct and
complete in all material respects.
(b) The Company has fully and timely paid all material
Taxes owed by them (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) and
have made adequate provision for any Taxes that are not yet due
and payable for all taxable periods, or portions thereof, ending
on or before the date of this Agreement.
(c) There are no outstanding agreements extending or
waiving the statutory period of limitations applicable to any
claim for, or the period for the collection, assessment or
reassessment of, Taxes due from the Company for any taxable
period and no request for any such waiver or extension is
currently pending.
(d) No audit or other proceeding by any Governmental Entity
is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with
respect to any Taxes due from or with respect to the Company. No
Governmental Entity has given written notice of its intention to
assert any deficiency or claim for additional Taxes against the
Company. Since January 1, 2006, no claim has been made
against the Company by any Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction
where the Company does not file Tax Returns that the Company is
or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. All
deficiencies for Taxes assessed against the Company have been
fully and timely paid, settled or properly reflected in the most
recent financial statements contained in the Company SEC Reports.
(e) There are no Liens for Taxes upon the Company Assets,
except for statutory Liens for current Taxes not yet due.
(f) The Company is not a party to any Contract (other than
any Contract to which Parent or Parent’s Affiliates are
party) relating to the sharing, allocation or indemnification of
Taxes (collectively, “Tax Sharing Agreements”)
or has any liability for Taxes of any Person (other than members
of the affiliated group, within the meaning of
Section 1504(a) of the Code, filing consolidated federal
income tax returns of which the Company is the common parent)
under Treasury Regulation § 1.1502-6, Treasury
Regulation § 1.1502-78 or any similar state, local or
foreign Laws, as a transferee or successor, or otherwise.
(g) The Company has withheld (or will withhold) from its
employees, independent contractors, creditors, stockholders and
third parties, and timely paid to the appropriate taxing
authority, proper and accurate amounts in all material respects
for all periods ending on or before the Closing Date in
compliance with all Tax withholding and remitting provisions of
applicable Laws. The Company has complied in all material
respects with all Tax information reporting provisions under
applicable Laws.
(h) The Company has not constituted a “distributing
corporation” or a “controlled corporation”
(within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in
a distribution of stock intended to qualify for tax-free
treatment under Section 355 of the Code (i) in the two
years prior to the date of this Agreement (or will constitute
such a corporation in the two years prior to the Closing Date)
or (ii) in a distribution that could otherwise constitute
part of a “plan” or “series of related
transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of
the Code) in conjunction with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(i) Any adjustment of Taxes of the Company made by the IRS,
which adjustment is required to be reported to the appropriate
state, local, or foreign Taxing authorities, has been so
reported.
(j) The Company has not executed or entered into a closing
agreement under Section 7121 of the Code or any similar
provision of state, local or foreign Laws, and the Company is
not subject to any private letter ruling of the IRS or
comparable ruling of any other taxing authority.
(k) The Company is not, nor has been, a United States real
property holding corporation within the meaning of
Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period
specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.
(l) The Company has not entered into any “listed
transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation
§ 1.6011-4(b).
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(m) The net operating loss carryforwards of the Company
(the “NOLs”), as set forth in
Section 3.22(m) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, are not
subject to any limitation under Section 382 or 384 of the
Code or otherwise. There are no Legal Actions pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened against, with respect to or
in limitation of the NOLs, including any limitations under
Sections 382 or 384 of the Code (other than limitations
incurred in connection with transactions contemplated by this
Agreement).
Section 3.23 Environmental
Matters.
(a) Except as would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, the Company and, to the Knowledge of the Company, its
predecessors are and have for the past three years been in
compliance with:
(i) all applicable Laws relating to (A) pollution,
contamination, protection of the environment,
(B) emissions, discharges, disseminations, releases or
threatened releases of Hazardous Substances into the air (indoor
or outdoor), surface water, groundwater, soil, land surface or
subsurface, buildings, facilities, real or personal property or
fixtures or (C) the manufacture, processing, distribution,
use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of
Hazardous Substances (collectively, “Environmental
Matters”); and
(ii) all applicable Orders relating to Environmental
Matters (collectively, “Environmental Laws”).
(b) Except as would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no past or
present conditions or events:
(i) that have required or would reasonably be expected to
require the Company to incur any actual or potential cleanup,
remediation, removal or other response costs (including the cost
of coming into compliance with Environmental Laws),
investigation costs (including fees of consultants, counsel and
other experts in connection with any environmental
investigation, testing, audits or studies), losses, Liabilities,
payments, damages (including any actual, punitive or
consequential damages (A) under any Environmental Laws,
contractual obligations or otherwise or (B) to third
parties for personal injury or property damage), civil or
criminal fines or penalties, judgments or amounts paid in
settlement, in each case arising out of or relating to any
Environmental Matters (collectively, “Environmental
Costs”); or
(ii) that have formed or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any Legal
Action against or involving the Company arising out of or
relating to any Environmental Matters.
(c) To the Knowledge of the Company, the Company has not
received any written notice or other written communication in
the past three (3) years: (i) that it is or may be a
potentially responsible Person or otherwise liable in connection
with any waste disposal site or other location allegedly
containing any Hazardous Substances; (ii) of any failure by
it to comply with any Environmental Laws or the requirements of
any environmental Permits; or (iii) that it is requested or
required by any Governmental Entity to perform any investigatory
or remedial activity or other action in connection with any
actual or alleged release of Hazardous Substances or any other
Environmental Matters.
(d) This Section 3.23 contains the sole and exclusive
representations and warranties of the Company with respect to
Environmental Matters, Environmental Costs, Hazardous Substances
or other matters arising under Environmental Laws.
Section 3.24 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.24(a) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company exclusively owns the
Company Intellectual Property owned by Company free and clear of
any Liens other than any Liens created in connection with the
Credit Facility, the Trademark License of the Test Drive
Franchise between the Company and Parent dated November 8,
2007 and the General Intellectual Property and Proprietary
Rights (Other than Trademark Rights) between the Company and
Parent dated November 8, 2007. Except as set forth in
Section 3.24(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
Company has the exclusive right to use the Company Intellectual
Property that is exclusively licensed to Company pursuant to
valid IP Licenses free and clear of any Liens other than
(i) any Permitted Liens and (ii) any licenses that the
licensor of such Company Intellectual Property granted to third
parties to which the Company does not have any Knowledge.
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(b) Except as set forth in Section 3.24(b) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, all Company Intellectual Property
owned by the Company (i) is subsisting and (ii) all
registrations and applications for Company Intellectual Property
owned by the Company have been duly maintained and not
abandoned, except for such registrations or applications that
the Company has permitted to expire or lapse or has cancelled or
abandoned in its reasonable business judgment and subject to the
vulnerability of a registration for trademarks to cancellation
for lack of use in accordance with applicable laws. Except as
set forth in Section 3.24(b) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, to the Knowledge of the Company, all Company
Intellectual Property that is exclusively licensed to Company
pursuant to valid IP Licenses (i) is subsisting and
(ii) all registrations and applications for Company
Intellectual Property exclusively licensed to the Company
pursuant to valid IP Licenses have been duly maintained and not
abandoned, except for such registrations or applications that
the licensor has permitted to expire or lapse or has cancelled
or abandoned in its reasonable business judgment and subject to
the vulnerability of a registration for trademarks to
cancellation for lack of use in accordance with applicable laws.
(c) Except for such issuances, registrations or
applications that Company has permitted to expire or lapse or
has cancelled or abandoned in its reasonable business judgment
and subject to the vulnerability of a registration for
trademarks to cancellation for lack of use in accordance with
applicable laws, Section 3.24(c) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a correct and complete list of all
registrations, issuances, and applications for any Company
Intellectual Property as well as, to the Knowledge of the
Company, all unregistered Trademarks and Copyrights that are
Company Intellectual Property and that are material to the
operation of the business as presently conducted, specifying as
to each item, as applicable and known at the time of the
Effective Date: (i) the nature of the item, including the
title; (ii) the owner of the item; (iii) the
jurisdictions in which the item is issued or registered or in
which an application for issuance or registration has been
filed; and (iv) the issuance, registration or application
numbers and dates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect
to Company Intellectual Property, limited in this case only to
trademarks and copyrights that are exclusively licensed by the
Company, the Company shall provide the information required
pursuant to clause (i) through clause (iv) of this
Section 3.24(c): (a) within 10 business days of the
date of this Agreement; and (b) with respect only to such
Company Intellectual Property that is material to the business
of the Company and that is exclusively licensed to the Company
for the Company’s distribution in the U.S. and Canada
only. Further, the Company shall be required to list only such
trademarks and copyrights that are set forth on the databases
listed in Schedule 3.24(c) and the Company makes no
representations as to accuracy or completeness beyond what such
database searches disclose.
(d) Section 3.24(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a correct and complete list of all written Contracts,
other than any Contracts to which Parent or Parent’s
Affiliates are a party, that are material to the business of the
Company as presently conducted and under which the Company is a
licensor or licensee of the Company Intellectual Property (other
than “click-wrap,” “shrink-wrap” licenses or
licenses of Public Software)
(“IP Licenses”). Except as set forth in
Section 3.24(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, in the
two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement, the
Company has not received any written notice that Company has
breached any of the obligations imposed on Company under the IP
Licenses and, to the Knowledge of the Company, Company has
timely performed all obligations imposed on Company under the IP
Licenses.
(e) Except as set forth in Section 3.24(e) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of the Company, no
present or past employee who developed any part of the Company
Intellectual Property that is owned by the Company, owns any
rights in or to any such Company Intellectual Property. To the
Knowledge of the Company, no employee of the Company is in
violation of any term of any employment agreement,
confidentiality agreement, or patent or invention disclosure
agreement between such employee and the Company.
(f) To the Knowledge of Company, no former employer or
client of any employee of the Company has made a written claim
against the Company in the two (2) years prior to the date
of this Agreement that the Company Intellectual Property owned
by the Company infringes such employer’s Intellectual
Property.
(g) Except to the extent caused by the acts or omissions of
Parent or its Affiliates (other than the Company) or their
agents, representatives or contractors and except as set forth
in Section 3.24(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
operation of the business of the Company as presently conducted
does not infringe or misappropriate any Intellectual Property
rights of any Person or constitute unfair competition or unfair
trade practices under the law of any jurisdiction and the
Company has not received written notice from any Person claiming
that such operation
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infringes or misappropriates any Intellectual Property of any
Person or constitutes unfair competition or unfair trade
practices under the law of any jurisdiction.
(h) Except as set forth in Section 3.24(h) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of the Company, no
Person is infringing upon or otherwise violating the Company
Intellectual Property.
(i) Except as set forth and quantified in
Section 3.24(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
Company is not a party to any IP License requiring the payment
of royalties, honoraria, fees, or other payments in an amount
that is equal to or greater than ten thousand United States
dollars (US$10,000) payable by the Company to any Person in
consideration for the Company’s ownership, use, license,
sale, disposition
and/or other
exploitation of any Company Intellectual Property other than
royalties, honoraria, fees or other payments that have already
been paid.
(j) Except to the extent such products were developed by
Parent or its Affiliates (other than the Company) or their
agents, representatives or contractors, Section 3.24(j) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of the
Company, lists all products developed and currently owned by the
Company and initially released in the two (2) years prior
to the date of this Agreement that have Public Software embedded
in them. Further, Section 3.24(j) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule describes the manner in which such Public Software is
used (such description shall include whether (and, if so, how)
the Public Software was modified
and/or
distributed by the Company). Company has not received any
written notice that Company has breached any of the obligations
imposed on Company under the licenses for such Public Software.
Section 3.25 Privacy
Policy. A true and complete copy of the
Company’s privacy policy (a “Privacy
Policy”) regarding the collection and use of
information from website visitors or other parties
(“Customer Information”), is available on the
Company’s website. The Company has not collected or used
any Customer Information in violation of the Privacy Policy or,
to the Company’s Knowledge, applicable Laws.
Section 3.26 Real
Property. The Company owns no real property.
All material real property leased by the Company is disclosed in
the Company SEC Reports. The Company has a valid and enforceable
leasehold interest in, all real property (including all
buildings, fixtures and other improvements) used or held for use
by it, except as would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. The Company’s leasehold interest in any such real
property is not subject to any Liens, except for Permitted Liens
and any Liens that would not have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
Section 3.27 Permits;
Compliance with Laws.
(a) The Company is in possession of all Permits necessary
for it to own, lease and operate its properties and assets or to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted
(collectively, the “Company Permits”), and all
such Company Permits are in full force and effect, except as
would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. No suspension
or cancellation of any of the Company Permits is pending or, to
the Company’s Knowledge, threatened, and no such suspension
or cancellation will result from the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, except as would not have a Company Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) The Company is not, and has not been during the prior
three (3) years, in conflict with, or in default or
violation of, (i) any Laws applicable to the Company or by
which any of the Company Assets is bound or (ii) any
Company Permits except for such conflicts, defaults or
violations as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.28 Personal
Property. The Company has good and marketable
title to, or a valid and enforceable leasehold interest in, all
personal Company Assets owned, used or held for use by them,
except as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The
Company’s ownership of or leasehold interest in any such
personal Company Assets is not subject to any Liens, except for
as set forth on Section 3.28 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule and for Permitted Liens and Liens that would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.29 Insurance. Section 3.29
of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete list of
all insurance policies owned or held by the Company. The Company
maintains policies or binders of insurance covering risks and
events and in amounts adequate for its business and operations
and customary in the industry in which it operates. Except as
set forth in Section 3.29 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, such policies will not terminate as a result of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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Section 3.30 Takeover
Statutes. The Company Board has taken all
necessary action to ensure that the restrictions on business
combinations contained in Section 203 of the DGCL will not
apply to this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including by approving this
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. To the Knowledge of the Company, no other
“fair price,” “moratorium,” “control
share acquisition” or other similar state anti-takeover
laws (“Takeover Statutes”) apply or purport to
apply to this Agreement, the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Section 3.31 Opinion
of Financial Advisor. Duff & Phelps
LLC (the “Company Financial Advisor”) has
delivered to the Special Committee and the Company Board its
written opinion to the effect that, as of the date of this
Agreement, the Merger Consideration is fair to the stockholders
of the Company (other than Parent and its Affiliates) from a
financial point of view. The Company has made available to
Parent a complete and correct copy of such opinion. The Company
has obtained the authorization of the Company Financial Advisor
to include a copy of such opinion in the Company Proxy Statement
and the
Schedule 13E-3.
Section 3.32 Brokers
and Finders. No broker, finder or investment
banker other than the Company Financial Advisor is entitled to
any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in
connection with the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by
or on behalf of the Company. The Company has made available to
Parent a correct and complete copy of all agreements between the
Company and the Company Financial Advisor under which the
Company Financial Advisor would be entitled to any payment
relating to the Merger or such other transactions.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
Parent represents and warrants to the Company that:
Section 4.1 Organization
and Power. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.
Each of Parent and Merger Sub has the requisite power and
authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties
and to carry on its business as now conducted.
Section 4.2 Corporate
Authorization. Each of Parent and Merger Sub
has all necessary corporate power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. The board of directors of Parent has
unanimously adopted resolutions approving this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The board of
directors of Merger Sub has unanimously adopted resolutions
approving and declaring advisable this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and
delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of Parent and
Merger Sub and the consummation by each of Parent and Merger Sub
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been
duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of Parent and Merger Sub.
Section 4.3 Enforceability. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Parent
and Merger Sub and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
agreement of each of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against
each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar Law affecting or relating to creditors’ rights
generally and the availability of specific performance or
injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.
Section 4.4 Capital
Resources. Parent has, and will have at the
Effective Time, sufficient cash, or committed funds capable of
being used, to pay the full amount of the Merger Consideration.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS
Section 5.1 Conduct
of Business of the Company. Except as
contemplated by this Agreement, (i) the officers and
employees of the Company shall conduct the Company’s
operations in the ordinary course of business
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consistent with past practice; (ii) the Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to make all required filings
under the Exchange Act in compliance with all applicable
requirements and deadlines, including but not limited to the
filing of its Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the Company’s fiscal year ended March 31, 2008;
(iii) the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to maintain and preserve intact its business organization, to
retain the services of its current officers and key employees,
and to preserve the good will of its customers, suppliers and
other Persons with whom it has business relationships;
(iv) the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to comply with the financial and operating performance covenants
set forth in the Credit Facility and the New Financing Facility;
and (v) the Company shall act in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice with respect to its rights and
obligations under the Atari Trademark License. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, and except as otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement or set forth in Section 5.1
of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company shall not take
any of the following actions, without the prior written consent
of Parent:
(a) Organization Documents. Amend
any of the Company Organizational Documents;
(b) Dividends. Except as set forth
in Section 5.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, make,
declare or pay any dividend or distribution on any shares of its
capital stock;
(c) Capital
Stock. (i) Adjust, split, combine or
reclassify its capital stock, (ii) redeem, purchase or
otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its
capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable into
or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock,
(iii) grant any Person any right or option to acquire any
shares of its capital stock, (iv) issue, deliver or sell
any additional shares of its capital stock or any securities
convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any shares
of its capital stock or such securities (other than pursuant to
the exercise of the Company Stock Options that are outstanding
as of the date of this Agreement) or (v) enter into any
Contract, understanding or arrangement with respect to the sale,
voting, registration or repurchase of its capital stock;
(d) Compensation and
Benefits. Except as required by the existing
agreements set forth in Section 5.1(d) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, (i) increase the compensation or
benefits payable or to become payable to any of its directors,
executive officers or employees, (ii) pay any compensation
or benefits not required by any existing plan or arrangement
(including the granting of stock options, stock appreciation
rights, shares of restricted stock or performance units) to its
directors, officers or employees, (iii) grant any severance
or termination pay to any of its directors, officers or
employees (except pursuant to existing agreements, plans or
policies), (iv) enter into any new employment or severance
agreement with any of its directors, officers or employees,
(v) establish, adopt, enter into, amend or take any action
to accelerate rights under any Company Benefit Plans, except in
each case (A) to the extent required by applicable Laws or
(B) pursuant to existing collective bargaining agreements,
or (vi) extend offers of employment or hire any employees
not employed by the Company on the date of this Agreement;
(e) Contracts. (i) Enter into
any material Contract, other than in the ordinary course of
business, (ii) enter into any Contract that would limit or
otherwise restrict the Company or any successor, or that would,
after the Effective Time, limit or otherwise restrict Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries or any of their successors, from
engaging or competing in any line of business or in any
geographic area, or (iii) terminate, cancel or request any
material change in any Company Material Contract;
(f) Consultants. Except as set
forth in Section 5.1(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
engage any consultants or advisors, or pay or agree to pay an
amount in excess of US$100,000, individually or in the in
aggregate, to consultants or advisors not engaged by the Company
on or prior to the date of this Agreement;
(g) Accounting. Change its
accounting policies or procedures, other than as required by
GAAP;
(h) Legal Actions. Waive, release,
assign, settle or compromise any material Legal Actions;
(i) Intellectual Property. Take
any action or omit to take any action that causes any Key
Company Intellectual Property Assets to become invalidated,
abandoned, dedicated to the public domain
and/or that
materially impairs the ability to exploit any Key Company
Intellectual Property Assets;
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(j) Accounts Receivables. Take any
action
(i) to sell, factor or otherwise transfer the
Company’s accounts receivables; or
(ii) to conduct collections other than in the ordinary
course, consistent with past practice;
(k) Subsidiaries. Form any new
Subsidiary or cause any existing Subsidiary to enter into any
transaction of any kind or otherwise engage in any activities.
(l) Related Actions. Authorize,
propose, commit or agree to do any of the foregoing.
Section 5.2 Other
Actions. Parent, in the case of conditions
specified in Section 6.2 (“Parent
Conditions”), and the Company, in the case of
conditions specified in Section 6.1 or Section 6.3
(“Company Conditions”), shall not and shall not
cause any of their respective Subsidiaries to, take any action
that could reasonably be expected to result in the respectively
identified conditions to the Merger not being satisfied or
satisfaction of those conditions being delayed, except, in the
case of the Company, to the extent the Company Board of
directors withdraws, modifies or amends the Company Board
Recommendation in accordance with Section 5.4(d).
Section 5.3 Access
to Information; Confidentiality.
(a) The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries,
to: (i) provide to Parent and its Representatives access at
reasonable times upon prior notice to the officers, employees,
agents, properties, books and records of the Company and its
Subsidiaries; and (ii) furnish promptly such information
concerning the Company and its Subsidiaries as Parent or its
Representatives may reasonably request. No investigation
conducted under this Section 5.3(a), however, will affect
or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty made in
this Agreement.
(b) Parent and the Company shall comply with, and shall
cause their respective Representatives to comply with, all of
their respective obligations under the Confidentiality
Agreement, dated January 11, 2008 (the
“Confidentiality Agreement”), between Parent
and the Company with respect to the information disclosed under
this Section 5.3.
Section 5.4 No
Solicitation.
(a) From the date of this Agreement until the Effective
Time, except as specifically permitted in Section 5.4(d),
the Company shall not, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries
and Representatives not to, directly or indirectly:
(i) solicit, initiate, facilitate or knowingly encourage
any inquiries, offers or proposals relating to a Takeover
Proposal;
(ii) engage in discussions or negotiations with, or furnish
or disclose any non-public information relating to the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to, any Person that has made or
indicated an intention to make a Takeover Proposal;
(iii) withdraw, modify or amend the Company Board
Recommendation in any manner adverse to Parent;
(iv) approve, endorse or recommend any Takeover Proposal;
(v) enter into any agreement in principle, arrangement,
understanding or Contract with respect to a Takeover
Proposal; or
(vi) propose to do any of the foregoing or take any other
action inconsistent with the obligations of the Company under
this Section 5.4.
(b) The Company shall, and shall cause each of its
Representatives to, immediately cease any existing
solicitations, discussions or negotiations with any Person that
has made or indicated an intention to make a Takeover Proposal.
The Company shall promptly request that each Person who has
executed a confidentiality agreement with the Company in
connection with that Person’s consideration of a Takeover
Proposal return or destroy all non-public information furnished
to that Person by or on behalf of the Company. The Company shall
promptly inform its Representatives of the Company’s
obligations under this Section 5.4. The Company agrees that
any violation of the provisions of this Section 5.4 by any
Representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at the
direction or
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with the consent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall
be deemed to be a breach of this Section 5.4 by the Company.
(c) The Company shall notify Parent promptly upon receipt
of (i) any Takeover Proposal or any written notice that any
Person is considering making any Takeover Proposal or
(ii) any request for non-public information relating to the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company shall provide
Parent promptly with the identity of such Person and a copy of
such Takeover Proposal, indication or request (or, where no such
copy is available, a description of such Takeover Proposal). The
Company shall keep Parent fully informed on a current basis of
the status and details of any such Takeover Proposal, indication
or request, and any related communications to or by the Company
or its Representatives.
(d) Subject to the Company’s compliance with the
provisions of this Section 5.4, but only until the Company
Stockholders Meeting is held, including any postponement or
adjournment thereof, the Company and the Company Board shall be
permitted to:
(i) engage in discussions or negotiations with a Person who
has made a bona fide, written and unsolicited Takeover
Proposal if the Company Board determines in good faith that such
Takeover Proposal, if accepted, is reasonably likely to result
in a Superior Proposal, but only so long as the Company Board
has (A) determined, after consultation with outside legal
counsel and financial advisors, that such Takeover Proposal is
reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal and
(B) determined, after consultation with outside legal
counsel, that the failure to take such action could constitute a
breach of its fiduciary obligations to the stockholders of the
Company under applicable Laws; and
(ii) furnish or disclose any non-public information
relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to a Person
who has made a bona fide, written and unsolicited
Takeover Proposal if the Company Board determines in good faith
that such Takeover Proposal is reasonably likely to result in a
Superior Proposal, but only so long as the Company (A) has
caused such Person to enter into a confidentiality agreement
with the Company on terms and conditions substantially the same
as those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement and
(B) concurrently discloses the same such non-public
information to Parent.
(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:
(i) Prior to the Company Stockholders Meeting, the Company
Board may withdraw, modify or amend the Company Board
Recommendation in a manner adverse to Parent, if the Company
Board has (A) determined in good faith, after consultation
with outside legal counsel, that failure to take such action
could constitute a breach of its fiduciary obligations to the
stockholders of the Company under applicable Laws and
(B) provided Parent with at least three (3) Business
Days’ prior written notice of its intention to take such
action (a “Change of Recommendation”). If the
Change of Recommendation is due to the existence of a Superior
Proposal (a “Superior Proposal Change of
Recommendation”), the Company Board shall not make such
a Superior Proposal Change of Recommendation unless the
Company Board has given Parent written notice of its intention
to take this action at least five (5) Business Days prior
to its taking this action (it being understood that this
intention or notice or the disclosure of either will not
constitute a Superior Proposal Change of Recommendation
entitling Parent or the Company Board, as applicable, to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.2(c)). At
any time, Parent may propose to the Company Board revisions to
the terms of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
and the Company Board and its Representatives will, if requested
by Parent, negotiate in good faith with Parent and its
Representatives regarding any revisions to the terms of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement proposed by Parent.
The Company Board may make a Superior Proposal Change of
Recommendation in the case of a Takeover Proposal that was a
Superior Proposal only if it continues to be a Superior Proposal
in light of any revisions to the terms of the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement that Parent has proposed prior to
the Company Board making such Superior Proposal Change of
Recommendation.
(ii) The Special Committee of the Company shall be
permitted to (i) disclose to the stockholders of the
Company a position contemplated by
Rule 14e-2(a)
and
Rule 14d-9
promulgated under the Exchange Act and (ii) make such other
public disclosure that it determines in good faith, after
consultation with outside legal counsel, is required under
applicable Laws.
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Section 5.5 Notices
of Certain Events.
(a) The Company shall notify Parent promptly of
(i) any communication from any Person alleging that the
consent of such Person (or another Person) is or may be required
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (ii) any communication from any Governmental
Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, or (iii) any material Legal Actions commenced
against or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against
or otherwise affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) Parent shall notify the Company promptly of
(i) any communication from any Person alleging that the
consent of such Person (or other Person) is or may be required
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, or (ii) any communication from any Governmental
Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section 5.6 Company
Proxy Statement and Other SEC Filings.
(a) The Company shall prepare, promptly as reasonably
practicable after the date of this Agreement, a draft of the
Company Proxy Statement. The Company shall provide Parent with a
reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such draft, and
once such draft is in a form reasonably acceptable to each of
Parent and the Company, the Company shall file the Company Proxy
Statement with the SEC.
(b) The Company and Parent shall prepare and file with the
SEC, a joint
Rule 13e-3
Transaction Statement on
Schedule 13E-3
(the
“Schedule 13E-3”)
as promptly as reasonably practicable after the date of this
Agreement.
(c) Each party hereto shall, and shall cause their
respective counsel, accountants and others advisors to, use
reasonable best efforts to cooperate with each other in
connection with the preparation and filing of the Company Proxy
Statement and the
Schedule 13E-3.
(d) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
(i) respond to any comments on the Company Proxy Statement
or requests for additional information from the SEC as soon as
practicable after receipt of any such comments or requests, and
(ii) cause the Company Proxy Statement to be mailed to the
stockholders of the Company as promptly as practicable after the
Company Proxy Statement is cleared by the SEC.
(e) Each party shall use its reasonable best efforts to
(i) respond to any comments on the
Schedule 13E-3
or requests for additional information from the SEC as soon as
practicable after receipt of any such comments or requests, and
(ii) cause the
Schedule 13E-3
to be cleared by the SEC.
(f) Each party shall promptly (A) notify the other
party upon the receipt of any such comments or requests and
(B) provide the other party with copies of all
correspondence between the party and its Representatives, on the
one hand, and the SEC and its staff, on the other hand, with
respect to the Company Proxy Statement or
Schedule 13E-3.
Prior to responding to any such comments or requests, filing the
Company Proxy Statement or
Schedule 13E-3,
or in the case of the Company, the mailing of the Company Proxy
Statement, each party (x) shall provide the other party
with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any
drafts of the Company Proxy Statement and related correspondence
and filings or
Schedule 13E-3
and (y) shall include in such drafts, correspondence and
filings all comments reasonably proposed by the other party.
(g) The Company Proxy Statement shall include the Company
Board Recommendation unless the Company Board has withdrawn,
modified or amended the Company Board Recommendation in
accordance with Section 5.4(e).
(h) For purposes of this Section 5.6, if the Company
or Parent, as applicable, believes in good faith that the other
party has not timely performed its obligations under this
Section 5.6, the Company or Parent, as applicable, shall
notify the other party of such event, specifying in reasonable
detail that the other party has failed to timely comply with its
obligations. Upon receipt of such notice, the other party shall
have ten (10) days after the receipt of such notice either
to perform such obligations or to dispute the allegations set
forth in such notice.
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Section 5.7 Company
Stockholders Meeting.
(a) The Company shall call and hold the Company
Stockholders Meeting for the sole purpose of voting on adoption
of this Agreement as promptly as practicable, in compliance with
applicable law, after the Company Proxy Statement and
Schedule 13E-3
are cleared by the SEC.
(b) Subject to Section 5.4(d) and (e), the Company
shall (a) use its reasonable best efforts to solicit or
cause to be solicited from its stockholders proxies in favor of
adoption of this Agreement and (b) take all other action
necessary or advisable to secure the Requisite Company Vote.
(c) Parent agrees that neither it nor any of its
Subsidiaries will take any action to act by written consent or
otherwise to obtain the Requisite Company Vote other than at the
Company Stockholder Meeting called for that purpose pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless the Company has
terminated this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.2(c), the
Company shall submit the proposal for adoption of this Agreement
to its stockholders at the Company Stockholders Meeting for the
purpose of acting upon such proposal whether or not the Company
Board withdraws, modifies or amends the Company Board
Recommendation.
Section 5.8 Directors’
and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.
(a) All rights to indemnification now existing in favor of
each present and former director or officer of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries (the “Indemnified
Parties”) as provided in the Company Organizational
Documents, in agreements between an Indemnified Party and the
Company or one of its Subsidiaries or otherwise in effect on the
date of this Agreement or provided under Delaware Law from time
to time shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full
force and effect for a period of not less than six years after
the Effective Time, and Parent and Surviving Corporation shall
be jointly and severally responsible for fulfilling all such
indemnification obligations to the Indemnified Parties.
(b) After the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation
shall, and if the Surviving Corporation is unable to, Parent
shall, maintain in effect the “tail” insurance policy
provided with the Company’s current directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability
insurance, which automatically will become effective as of the
Effective Time.
(c) This Section 5.8 shall survive the consummation of
the Merger and is intended to be for the benefit of, and shall
be enforceable by, present or former directors or officers of
the Company or its Subsidiaries, their respective heirs and
personal representatives, and shall be binding on the Surviving
Corporation, Parent and their respective successors and assigns.
In the event that the Surviving Corporation or any of its
successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into
any other Person and is not the continuing or surviving
corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger,
(ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all its
properties and assets to any person (including by dissolution)
or (iii) is unable to fund any indemnification obligation
in excess of the benefits payable pursuant to the
directors’ and officers liability insurance provided
pursuant to Section 5.8(b), then, and in each such case,
Parent shall cause proper provision to be made so that either
Parent or such successors and assigns of the Surviving
Corporation assumes and honors the obligations set forth in this
Section 5.8.
Section 5.9 Commercially
Reasonable Efforts. Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in
accordance with applicable Laws, each of the parties to this
Agreement shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to take,
or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be
done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to ensure that
the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VI are satisfied and to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as
promptly as practicable.
Section 5.10 Consents;
Filings; Further Action.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement and in accordance with applicable Laws, each of Parent
and the Company shall (i) use its reasonable commercial
efforts to obtain any consents, approvals or other
authorizations, and make any filings and notifications required
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and (ii) thereafter make any other submissions
either required or deemed appropriate by either Parent or the
Company, in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement under (A) the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act, (B) the DGCL, (C) any other applicable
Laws and (D) the rules and
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regulations of the NASDAQ Global Market and Euronext Paris.
Parent and the Company shall cooperate and consult with each
other in connection with the making of all such filings and
notifications, including by providing copies of all relevant
documents to the non-filing party and its advisors prior to
filing. Neither Parent nor the Company shall file any such
document if the other party has reasonably objected to the
filing of such document. Neither Parent nor the Company shall
consent to any voluntary extension of any statutory deadline or
waiting period or to any voluntary delay of the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement at the behest of
any Governmental Entity without the consent of the other party,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(b) Each of Parent and the Company shall promptly inform
the other party upon receipt of any communication from any
Governmental Entity regarding any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. If Parent or the Company (or any
of their respective Affiliates) receives a request for
information from any Governmental Entity that is related to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, then such party
will endeavor in good faith to make, or cause to be made, as
soon as reasonably practicable and after consultation with the
other party, an appropriate response to such request. Parent
shall advise the Company promptly of any understandings,
undertakings or agreements (oral or written) that Parent
proposes to make or enter into with any Governmental Entity in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, Parent
shall use its reasonable commercial efforts to resolve any
objections that may be asserted with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement under any antitrust, competition
or trade regulatory Laws.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this
Section 5.10 shall require, or be construed to require,
Parent to agree to (i) sell, hold separate, divest,
discontinue or limit, before or after the Effective Time, any
assets, businesses or interest in any assets or businesses of
Parent, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates or
(ii) any conditions relating to, or changes or restriction
in, the operations of any such assets or businesses which, in
either case, could reasonably be expected to (x) result in
a Parent Material Adverse Effect or a Company Material Adverse
Effect or (y) materially and adversely impact the economic
or business benefits to Parent of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
Section 5.11 Public
Announcements. Parent and the Company shall
consult with each other before issuing any press release or
otherwise making any public statements about this Agreement or
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither
Parent nor the Company shall issue any such press release or
make any such public statement prior to such consultation,
except to the extent required to fulfill the fiduciary duties of
the Company Board or the Special Committee, by applicable Laws
or the requirements of the NASDAQ Global Market, in which case
that party shall use its reasonable best efforts to consult with
the other party before issuing any such release or making any
such public statement.
Section 5.12 Stock
Exchange De-listing. Parent and the Company
shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause the Company
Common Stock to be de-listed from the NASDAQ Global Market and
de-registered under the Exchange Act promptly following the
Effective Time.
Section 5.13 Fees,
Costs and Expenses. Whether or not the Merger
is consummated, all expenses (including those payable to
Representatives) incurred by any party to this Agreement or on
its behalf in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(“Expenses”) shall be paid by the party
incurring those Expenses, except (a) that Expenses incurred
in connection with the filing, printing and mailing of the
Company Proxy Statement and the filing of the
Schedule 13E-3
shall be shared equally by Parent and the Company, (b) any
Expenses incurred (in the reasonable estimate of the Company) in
connection with the termination of the Company Option Plans and
the tender and cancellation of Company Stock Options, shall be
paid by the Parent; provided that any expenditures in excess of
aggregate expenditures of $50,000 shall require the prior
approval of Parent, and (c) as otherwise provided in
Section 7.6.
Section 5.14 Takeover
Statutes. If any Takeover Statute is or
becomes applicable to this Agreement, the Merger or the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each of Parent and
the Company and their respective boards of directors shall
(a) take all necessary action to ensure that such
transactions may be consummated as promptly as practicable upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement and (b) otherwise act to eliminate or minimize
the effects of such Takeover Statute.
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Section 5.15 Defense
of Litigation. The Company shall not settle
or offer to settle any Legal Action against the Company, any of
its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors or
officers by any stockholder of the Company arising out of or
relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement without the prior written consent of Parent. The
Company shall not cooperate with any Person that may seek to
restrain, enjoin, prohibit or otherwise oppose the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, and the Company shall cooperate
with Parent and Merger Sub in resisting any such effort to
restrain, enjoin, prohibit or otherwise oppose such transactions.
Section 5.16 Tax
Matters. During the period from the date of
this Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company and its
Subsidiaries shall:
(a) prepare and timely file all Tax Returns required to be
filed by them on or before the Closing Date after taking into
account any permitted extensions (“Post-Signing
Returns”) in a manner consistent with past practice,
except as otherwise required by applicable Laws;
(b) consult with Parent with respect to all Post-Signing
Returns and deliver drafts of such Post-Signing Returns to
Parent no later than ten Business Days prior to the date on
which such Post-Signing Returns are required to be filed;
(c) fully and timely pay all Taxes due and payable in
respect of such Post-Signing Returns that are so filed;
(d) promptly notify Parent of any material Legal Action or
audit pending or threatened against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries in respect of any Tax matter, and not settle or
compromise any such Legal Action or audit without Parent’s
prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld;
(e) not make or revoke any material Tax election or adopt
or change a Tax accounting method without Parent’s prior
written consent; and
(f) terminate all Tax Sharing Agreements (other than any
such agreements of which the sole parties are the Company
and/or
Subsidiaries of the Company) to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party.
Section 5.17 Maintenance
and Prosecution of Intellectual Property.
(a) The Company shall take all commercially reasonable
actions to protect and maintain the Company Intellectual
Property, including (i) prosecuting all pending
applications for Patents or Trademarks or registration of
Copyrights and (ii) maintaining each Patent, Trademark and
Copyright registrations and applications owned by the Company,
except for such applications or registrations that the Company
has permitted to expire or has cancelled or abandoned in its
reasonable business judgment and subject to the vulnerability of
a registration for Trademarks to cancellation for lack of use in
accordance with applicable laws.
(b) The Company shall promptly notify Parent, (i) upon
receiving notice of any adverse determination or development
(including the institution of, or any such determination or
development in, any proceeding in the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office (the “USPTO”) or the
U.S. Copyright Office (the “Copyright
Office”) or equivalent office in any foreign
jurisdiction, any court or tribunal in the United States or any
political sub-division thereof, or any court or tribunal in any
foreign jurisdiction), other than non-final determinations of
the USPTO or the Copyright Office, regarding its ownership
and/or use
of any Company Intellectual Property,
and/or
(ii) upon receiving any Legal Actions from any Person that
the Company Intellectual Property infringes or misappropriates
any Intellectual Property of any Person.
(c) The Company shall promptly notify Parent of any
material infringement of any Company Intellectual Property by a
third party of which the Company has Knowledge and shall consult
with Parent regarding the actions to take to protect such
Company Intellectual Property.
Section 5.18 Performance
of Restructuring Plan. The Company and its
Subsidiaries shall continue to implement the restructuring plan,
as attached as Appendix A, consistent with its terms,
timing and scope.
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ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS
Section 6.1 Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the
Merger. The respective obligation of each
party to this Agreement to effect the Merger is subject to this
Agreement having been duly adopted by the Requisite Company Vote.
Section 6.2 Conditions
to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The
obligations of each of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the
Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Parent
on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. (i) Each representation or
warranty of the Company contained in Section 3.9 shall be
true and correct in all respects in each case at the date of
this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date, (ii) the
remaining representations and warranties of the Company set
forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all
respects, without regard to any “materiality”,
“in all material respects” or “Company Material
Adverse Effect” qualifications contained in them, as of the
Closing Date as though made on and as of such date and time
(except for representations and warranties expressly made as of
a specified date, the accuracy of which shall be determined as
of that specified date), unless the failure or failures of any
such representations and warranties to be so true and correct in
all respects would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Performance of
Obligations. The Company shall have performed
in all material respects all obligations required to be
performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing
Date.
(c) Company Material Adverse
Effect. Since the date of this Agreement,
there shall have been no Company Material Adverse Effect,
whether or not as a result of the announcement or consummation
of the Merger.
(d) No Impairment of Key Company Intellectual
Property Assets. None of the Key Company
Intellectual Property Assets shall have been impaired or
otherwise compromised by any Lien or Legal Actions and the
Company shall not have granted any Person any exclusive license
and/or other
exclusive right in or to any Key Company Intellectual Property
Asset(s), in each case, whether or not as a result of the
announcement or consummation of the Merger.
(e) No Breach of Specified Company Material
Contracts. The Company shall not be in breach
of any Company Material Contracts set forth on
Schedule 6.2(e) of the Disclosure Schedule, whether or not
as a result of the announcement or consummation of the Merger;
notwithstanding the foregoing, it shall not be a failure of the
condition specified in this Section 6.2(e) if the Company
has breached or been notified of a breach by it of the New
Financing Facility unless and until the lender under the Credit
Facility has declared a default under the Credit Facility and
accelerated the Company’s obligations thereunder.
(f) Consents, Approval and
Authorizations. The Company shall have
obtained the consent, approval or other authorization of each
Person specified in Section 6.2(f) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule (other than the filing of the Certificate of
Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware).
(g) Director Resignations. Parent
shall have received written resignation letters from each of the
members of the Company Board and each of its Subsidiaries
effective as of the Effective Time.
(h) Dissenting Shares. Less than
15% of the number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding
prior to the Effective Time shall have validly exercised
appraisal rights pursuant to Section 262(d) of the DGCL.
(i) No Injunctions or
Restraints. No Governmental Entity shall have
enacted any Laws or Orders (whether temporary, preliminary or
permanent) that restrain, enjoin or otherwise prohibit
consummation of the Merger or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(j) Financing Default. The lender
under the Credit Facility shall not have declared a default and
accelerated the Company’s obligations thereunder.
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(k) Bankruptcy.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall
have taken any of the following actions pursuant to or within
the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (each a “Bankruptcy
Event”):
(1) Commenced a voluntary case;
(2) Consented to the entry of an order for relief against
it in an involuntary case;
(3) Consented to the appointment of a Custodian of it or
for any substantial part of its property;
(4) Made a general assignment for the benefit of its
creditors; or
(5) Taken any comparable action under any foreign laws
relating to insolvency.
(ii) No court of competent jurisdiction shall have entered
an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(1) Is for relief against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries in an involuntary case;
(2) Appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or for any substantial part of its property; or
(3) Orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries.
(iii) No involuntary petition shall have been filed against
Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to or within the
meaning of any Bankruptcy Law, which has not been dismissed or
withdrawn.
(l) Officer’s
Certificate. Parent shall have received a
certificate, signed by the chief executive officer or chief
financial officer of the Company, certifying as to the matters
set forth in Section 6.2(a), Section 6.2(b) and
Section 6.2(f).
Section 6.3 Conditions
to Obligation of the Company. The obligation
of the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the
satisfaction or waiver by the Company on or prior to the Closing
Date of the following conditions:
(a) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and
warranties of Parent set forth in this Agreement shall be true
and correct in all respects, without regard to any
“materiality”, “in all material respects” or
“Parent Material Adverse Effect” qualifications
contained in them, as of the Closing Date as though made on and
as of such date and time (except for representations and
warranties expressly made as of a specified date, the accuracy
of which shall be determined as of that specified date), unless
the failure or failures of any such representations and
warranties to be so true and correct in all respects would not
have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Performance of
Obligations. Each of Parent and Merger Sub
shall have performed in all material respects all obligations
required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior
to the Closing Date.
(c) Officer’s
Certificate. The Company shall have received
a certificate, signed by a senior executive officer of Parent,
certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 6.3(a)
and Section 6.3(b).
Section 6.4 Frustration
of Closing Conditions. None of the parties to
this Agreement may rely on the failure of any condition set
forth in this ARTICLE VI to be satisfied if such failure
was caused by such party’s failure to use commercially
reasonable efforts to consummate the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
Section 7.1 Termination
by Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be
terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time by mutual
written consent of Parent and the Company (through action by, or
with the approval of, the Special Committee).
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Section 7.2 Termination
by Either Parent or the Company. This
Agreement may be terminated by either Parent or the Company
(through action by, or with the approval of the Special
Committee) at any time prior to the Effective Time:
(a) if the Merger has not been consummated by
August 31, 2008 (the “Outside Date”),
except that (i) the right to terminate this Agreement under
this clause (a) shall not be available to any party to this
Agreement whose failure to fulfill any of its obligations has
been a principal cause of, or resulted in, the failure to
consummate the Merger by such date; (ii) if the SEC has
reviewed the Company Proxy Statement and the Company
Stockholders Meeting has not been held by August 31, 2008,
then either party may by notice to the other party extend the
Outside Date to the earlier of ten (10) days after the date
on which the Company Stockholders Meeting is scheduled to be
held or October 31, 2008; and (iii) if, after
August 31, 2008 but prior to October 31, 2008, any
Governmental Entity shall have entered an Order that has the
effect of enjoining the consummation of the Merger and any party
to this Agreement shall have commenced an appeal thereof, this
Agreement and the Outside Date may be extended by written notice
of either Parent or the Company to the other party to the date
that is 30 days following the issuance of a decision by the
applicable appeals court with respect to such an appeal, but in
no event beyond October 31, 2008;
(b) if this Agreement has been submitted to the
stockholders of the Company for adoption at a duly convened
Company Stockholders Meeting (or adjournment or postponement
thereof) and the Requisite Company Vote is not obtained;
(c) if (i) the Company Board makes or issues a
Superior Proposal Change of Recommendation, (ii) the
Company enters into an agreement in principle, arrangement,
understanding or a Contract relating to a Superior Proposal or
(iii) the Company or the Company Board publicly announces
its intention to do either of the foregoing;
(d) if any Law is enacted that prohibits consummation of
the Merger; or
(e) if any Order restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits
consummation of the Merger, and such Order has become final and
nonappealable.
Section 7.3 Termination
by Parent. This Agreement may be terminated
by Parent at any time prior to the Effective Time:
(a) if the Company Board withdraws, modifies or amends the
Company Board Recommendation in any manner adverse to Parent;
(b) if (i) a tender offer or exchange offer for any
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company is commenced
and the Company Board fails to recommend against acceptance of
such tender offer or exchange offer by its stockholders
(including, for these purposes, by taking no position with
respect to the acceptance of such tender offer or exchange offer
by its stockholders, which shall constitute a failure to
recommend against acceptance of such tender offer or exchange
offer) within ten Business Days after commencement, or
(ii) the Company or Company Board publicly announces its
intention to not do so;
(c) if the Company Board exempts any Person other than
Parent or any of its Affiliates from the provisions of
Section 203 of the DGCL;
(d) if the Company breaches any of its representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement,
which breach (i) would give rise to the failure of a
condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) through
Section 6.2(c) and (ii) has not been cured by the
Company within 20 Business Days after the Company’s receipt
of written notice of such breach from Parent; provided, however,
that Parent shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement
if the Company has breached or been notified of a breach by it
of the New Financing Facility unless and until the lender under
the Credit Facility has declared a default under the Credit
Facility and accelerated the Company’s obligations
thereunder;
(e) if a Company Material Adverse Effect occurs;
(f) if one or more Key Company Intellectual Property Assets
become materially impaired as a result of one or more acts
and/or
omissions of Company;
A-26
(g) if the lender under the Credit Facility shall have
declared a default and accelerated the obligations
thereunder; or
(h) a Company Bankruptcy Event occurs.
Section 7.4 Termination
by the Company. This Agreement may be
terminated by the Company (through action by or with the
approval of the Special Committee) at any time prior to the
Effective Time if Parent breaches any of its representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement,
which breach (i) would give rise to the failure of a
condition set forth in Section 6.3(a) or
Section 6.3(b) and (ii) has not been cured by Parent
within 20 Business Days after Parent’s receipt of written
notice of such breach from the Company.
Section 7.5 Effect
of Termination. If this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to this ARTICLE VII, it shall become
void and of no further force and effect, with no liability on
the part of any party to this Agreement (or any stockholder,
director, officer, employee, agent or representative of such
party), except that if such termination results from the willful
(a) failure of any party to perform its obligations or
(b) breach by any party of its representations or
warranties contained in this Agreement, then such party shall be
fully liable for any Liabilities incurred or suffered by the
other parties as a result of such failure or breach. The
provisions of Section 5.13, Section 7.5 and
Section 7.6 and ARTICLE VIII shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
Section 7.6 Expenses
Following Termination.
(a) Except as set forth in this Section 7.6, all
Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid in accordance
with the provisions of Section 5.13.
(b) The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Parent
by wire transfer of immediately available funds an amount equal
to $450,000 (the “Termination Fee”):
(i) if this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to
Section 7.3(a), Section 7.3(b) or Section 7.3(c)
or pursuant to Section 7.3(d) as a result of a willful
breach by the Company or if this Agreement is terminated by the
Company pursuant to Section 7.2(c), in which case payment
shall be made within two Business Days of such
termination; or
(ii) if (A) a Takeover Proposal shall have been made
or proposed to the Company or its stockholders or otherwise
publicly announced (whether or not conditional), (B) this
Agreement is terminated by either Parent or the Company pursuant
to Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(c) and
(C) within 18 months following the date of such
termination, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries enters into
any agreement in principle, arrangement, understanding or
Contract providing for the implementation of a Takeover Proposal
or shall consummate any Takeover Proposal (whether or not such
Takeover Proposal was the same Takeover Proposal referred to in
the foregoing clause (A)), in which case payment shall be made
within two Business Days of the date on which the Company or
such Subsidiary enters into such agreement in principle,
arrangement, understanding or Contract or consummates such
Takeover Proposal, as applicable. For purposes of the foregoing
clause (C) only, references in the definition of the term
“Takeover Proposal” to the figure “20%”
shall be deemed to be replaced by the figure “40%”.
(c) Each of the Company and Parent acknowledges that
(i) the agreements contained in this Section 7.6 are
an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and (ii) without these agreements, neither party
would have entered into this Agreement. Accordingly, if either
the Company or Parent fails to pay when due any amounts required
to be paid by it pursuant to this Section 7.6 (the
“Expense Payor”) and, in order to obtain such
payment, the party seeking payment of Expenses (the
“Expense Payee”) commences a Legal Action which
results in a judgment against the Expense Payor for such
amounts, then in addition to the amount of such judgment, the
Expense Payee shall be entitled to an amount from the Expense
Payor equal to the fees, costs and expenses (including
attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses) incurred by the
Expense Payee in connection with such Legal Action, together
with interest from the date of termination of this Agreement on
all amounts so owed at the prime rate per annum in effect from
time to time during such period (as published for each Business
Day (or if such a day is not a Business Day, the immediately
preceding Business Day) in the Wall Street Journal under the
caption “Money Rates, Prime Rate”) plus 3%.
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Section 7.7 Amendment. This
Agreement may be amended by the parties to this Agreement at any
time prior to the Effective Time, so long as (a) no
amendment that requires stockholder approval under applicable
Laws shall be made without such required approval and
(b) such amendment has been duly approved by the board of
directors of each of Merger Sub and the Parent and of the
Company Board with the affirmative recommendation of the Special
Committee. This Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed by each of the parties to this
Agreement.
Section 7.8 Extension;
Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective
Time, Parent and Merger Sub, on the one hand, and the Company
(through action by, or with the approval of, the Special
Committee), on the other hand, may (a) extend the time for
the performance of any of the obligations of the other party,
(b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties of the other party contained in this Agreement or in
any document delivered under this Agreement or, (c) subject
to applicable Laws, waive compliance with any of the covenants
or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the
part of a party to any extension or waiver shall be valid only
if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by such party.
The failure of any part to assert any of its rights under this
Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such
rights.
Section 7.9 Procedure
for Termination, Amendment, Extension or
Waiver. In order to be effective,
(a) any termination or amendment of this Agreement shall
require the prior approval of that action by the board of
directors of each party seeking to terminate or amend this
Agreement (and of the Special Committee, in the case of the
Company) and (b) any extension or waiver of any obligation
under this Agreement or condition to the consummation of this
Agreement shall require the prior approval of a duly authorized
designee of the board of directors of the party or parties
entitled to extend or waive that obligation or condition (and of
the Special Committee, in the case of the Company).
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1 Certain
Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) “Affiliate” means, with respect
to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such
first Person. For the purposes of this definition,
“control” (including, with correlative meanings, the
terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and
“under common control with”), as applied to any
Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
(b) “Bankruptcy Law” means
Title 11, United States Code, or any similar federal or
state law of the relief of debtors.
(c) “Business Day” means any day,
other than Saturday, Sunday or a U.S. federal holiday, and
shall consist of the time period from 12:01 a.m. through
12:00 midnight Eastern time.
(d) “Company Intellectual Property”
shall mean the Intellectual Property that is exclusively owned
by or exclusively licensed pursuant to valid IP Licenses to
Company and used in its business as presently conducted.
(e) “Company Material Adverse
Effect” means any event, change, occurrence,
circumstance or development that, individually or together with
any one or more other events, changes, occurrences,
circumstances or developments has had or is likely to have a
material adverse effect on (A) the business, assets,
liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (B) the Key
Company Intellectual Property Assets or (C) the ability of
the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
provided, however, that any effect to the extent
A-28
resulting from any of the following, in and of itself or
themselves, shall not constitute, and shall not be taken into
account in determining whether there has been or will be, a
Company Material Adverse Effect:
(i) changes in general economic, regulatory or political
conditions or changes generally affecting the securities or
financial markets, provided that such changes do not
disproportionately adversely affect the Company or its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole compared to other companies in the
same industry;
(ii) any action required to be taken by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, the Credit
Facility or the New Financing Facility or otherwise taken by the
Company at the written request of Parent or its Affiliates
(other than the Company);
(iii) any actions, suits, claims, hearings, arbitrations,
investigations or other proceedings resulting from this
Agreement or the Merger by or before any Governmental Entity;
(iv) any change in the market price or trading volume of
securities of the Company, provided that this clause will
not exclude any underlying change, event, circumstance,
development or effect that may have resulted in, or contributed
to, a decline in trading price or change in trading volume;
(v) changes generally affecting video game publishers or
distributors, provided that such changes do not
disproportionately adversely affect the Company or its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole compared to other videogame
publishers or distributors;
(vi) any matters (including the beginning of any events or
the worsening of any events or conditions) set forth in or
contemplated by the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date
of this Agreement;
(vii) effects relating to any actions taken by Parent or
its Affiliates on behalf of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries that were not previously approved or subsequently
ratified by the Company;
(viii) departures of any employees;
(ix) delisting of Company Common Stock from the Nasdaq
Stock Market;
(x) seasonal fluctuations in the revenues, earnings, or
other financial performance of the Company to the extent
generally consistent in magnitude with prior years;
(xi) failure of Parent or its Subsidiaries (other than the
Company) or any other game publisher, to meet its respective
delivery schedules; provided that such failure is not
caused by the Company
and/or its
Subsidiaries;
(xii) market acceptance of games or reduction in sales of
any existing games;
(xiii) expenses, fees and other costs relating to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(xiv) failure to collect accounts receivable or other
amounts owing to the Company after the Company has used its
commercially reasonable efforts to collect the same;
(xv) any matter of which Frederic Armitano-Grivel, Yves
Blehaut, David Gardner, Yves Hannebelle, Phil Harrison, Mathias
Hautefort or Pierre Lansonneur have actual knowledge prior to
the date hereof;
(xvi) any breaches of any Company Contracts by the Company
(other than under the Credit Facility to the extent such
breaches have resulted in the obligations thereunder being
accelerated);
(xvii) any effects relating to the pendency or the
announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(xviii) any failure by the Company to meet any internal or
published projections, forecasts or revenue or earnings
predictions, provided that this clause will not exclude
any underlying change, event, circumstance, development or
effect that may have resulted in, or contributed to, any failure
by the Company to meet such projections, forecasts or revenue or
earnings predictions; and
(xix) changes in GAAP or applicable Law after the date
hereof.
(f) “Company Material Contracts”
shall mean the Company Contracts listed on Section 8.1(f)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
A-29
(g) “Contracts” means any
contracts, agreements, licenses, notes, bonds, mortgages,
indentures, commitments, leases or other instruments or
obligations.
(h) “Credit Facility” means the
revolving line of credit provided under the Credit Agreement
between the Company, the lenders thereunder, and BlueBay High
Yield Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. as administrative agent,
as amended from time to time.
(i) “Custodian” means any receiver,
trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official
under any Bankruptcy Law.
(j) “Hazardous Substances” means:
(i) any substance that is listed, classified or regulated
as hazardous or toxic under any Environmental Laws;
(ii) any petroleum product or by-product,
asbestos-containing material,
lead-containing
paint or plumbing, polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive
material or radon; or (iii) any other hazardous or toxic
substance that is or may become the subject of regulatory action
under any Environmental Laws.
(k) “Intellectual Property” shall
mean all of the following, as they exist anywhere in the world:
(i) patents, patent applications and other patent rights
(including any divisions, continuations,
continuations-in-part,
reissues, reexaminations, or interferences thereof)
(“Patents”); (ii) trademarks, service
marks, trade dress, trade names, brand names, logos and
corporate names whether registered or unregistered, and all
registrations and pending applications for registration thereof,
and all goodwill related thereto
(“Trademarks”); (iii) copyrights,
including all renewals and extensions thereof, copyright
registrations and pending applications for registration thereof,
and non-registered copyrights (“Copyrights”);
(iv) trade secrets, confidential business information,
concepts, ideas, designs, research or development information,
techniques, technical information, specifications, operating and
maintenance manuals, engineering drawings, methods, technical
data, discoveries, modifications, extensions, improvements, and
other proprietary information and rights, that, in each of the
foregoing cases, is confidential and would derive independent
economic value from not being known to the public or to other
persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use
(“Trade Secrets”); (v) computer software
programs, including all source code, object code, and
documentation related thereto (other than “click
wrap”, “shrink wrap” or “off the shelf”
software or Public Software that is commercially available for
US$10,000 or less per user (“Software”);
(vi) domain names and Internet addresses (“Internet
Assets”); and (vii) any and all causes of action
arising from or related to any of the items described in clauses
(i) — (vi).
(l) “Key Company Intellectual Property
Assets” means the Company Intellectual Property
listed on Section 8.1(l) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
(m) “Knowledge” means, when used
with respect to the Company, the actual Knowledge of Jim Wilson,
Kristina Pappa, Arturo Rodriguez, John Belcasto and Jennifer
Langton.
(n) “Laws” means any domestic or
foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, codes or
executive orders enacted, issued, adopted, promulgated or
applied by any Governmental Entity.
(o) “Lien” means any lien, pledge,
hypothecation, charge, mortgage, security interest, encumbrance,
equity, trust, equitable interest, claim, preference, right of
possession, lease, tenancy, license, encroachment, covenant,
infringement, interference, Order, proxy, option, right of first
refusal, preemptive right, community property interest, legend,
defect, impediment, exception, reservation, limitation,
impairment, imperfection of title, condition or restriction of
any nature (including any restriction on the voting of any
security, any restriction on the transfer of any security or
other asset, any restriction on the receipt of any income
derived from any asset, any restriction on the use of any asset
and any restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of
any other attribute of ownership of any asset).
(p) “Orders” means any orders,
judgments, injunctions, awards, decrees or writs handed down,
adopted or imposed by any Governmental Entity.
(q) “Parent Material Adverse
Effect” means any event, change, occurrence,
circumstance or development that, individually or together with
any one or more other events, changes, occurrences,
circumstances or developments has had a material adverse effect
on the business, assets, properties, liabilities, financial
condition or results of operations of Parent and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the ability of Parent to
perform its obligations under this Agreement or consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
A-30
(r) “Permits” means franchises,
grants, authorizations, licenses, easements, variances,
exceptions, consents, certificates, approvals and other permits
of any Governmental Entity.
(s) “Permitted Lien” means
(i) any Lien for Taxes not yet due or delinquent or being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings,
(ii) any statutory Lien arising in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice by operation of Law with
respect to a Liability that is not yet due or delinquent, and
(iii) any Liens outstanding as of the date of this
Agreement created in connection with the Credit Facility, the
New Financing Facility, the Trademark License of the Test Drive
Franchise between the Company and Parent dated November 8,
2007 and the General Intellectual Property and Proprietary
Rights (Other than Trademark Rights) between the Company and
Parent dated November 8, 2007.
(t) “Person” means any individual,
corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability
company, limited liability partnership, trust, association,
joint venture, Governmental Entity and other entity and group
(which term shall include a “group” as such term is
defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act).
(u) “Public Software” means any
software that contains, or is derived in any manner (in whole or
in part) from, any software that is distributed as free
software, open source software (e.g., Linux) or similar
licensing or distribution models, including, without limitation,
software licensed or distributed under any of the following
licenses or distribution models, or licenses or distribution
models similar to any of the following: (i) GNU’s
General Public License (GPL) or Lesser/Library GPL (LGPL),
(ii) the Artistic License (e.g., PERL), (iii) the
Mozilla Public License, (iv) the Netscape Public License,
(v) the Sun Community Source License (SCSL), (vi) the
Sun Industry Standards License (SISL), (vii) the BSD
License or (viii) the Apache License.
(v) “Representatives” means, when
used with respect to Parent or the Company, the directors,
officers, employees, consultants, accountants, legal counsel,
investment bankers, agents and other representatives of Parent
or the Company, as applicable, and its Subsidiaries.
(w) Subsidiary” means, when used with
respect to Parent or the Company, any other Person that Parent
or the Company, as the case may be, directly or indirectly owns
or has the power to vote or control capital stock of such Person
representing, in aggregate, 50% or more of the voting power for
the election of directors of such Person.
(x) “Superior Proposal” means a
Takeover Proposal involving a merger or consolidation of the
Company, the acquisition of all or a majority of the Company
Common Stock or the acquisition of all or substantially all of
the Company Assets that the Company Board, after consultation
with financial and outside legal advisors, has determined in
good faith, taking into account the identity of the Person
making such Takeover Proposal, and all financial, legal,
regulatory and other aspects of such Takeover Proposal,
(i) is on terms and conditions more favorable from a
financial point of view to the stockholders of the Company than
those contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) is reasonably
capable of being completed on the terms proposed, and
(iii) for which financing, to the extent required, is then
committed or reasonably likely to be available; provided,
however, that a proposal to provide financing to the Company
and/or to
refinance the Company’s outstanding indebtedness shall not
constitute a Superior Proposal.
(y) “Takeover Proposal” means any
proposal or offer relating to (i) a merger, consolidation,
share exchange or business combination involving the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) a sale, lease, exchange,
mortgage, transfer or other disposition (other than in the
ordinary course of business), in a single transaction or series
of related transactions, of 20% or more of the assets of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iii) a
purchase or sale of shares of capital stock or other securities,
in a single transaction or series of related transactions,
representing 20% or more of the voting power of the capital
stock of Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including by way of
a tender offer or exchange offer, (iv) a reorganization,
recapitalization, liquidation or dissolution of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or (v) any other transaction having
a similar effect to those described in clauses (i) —
(iv), in each case other than the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
(z) “Tax Returns” means any and all
reports, returns, declarations, claims for refund, elections,
disclosures, estimates, information reports or returns or
statements required to be supplied to a taxing authority in
connection with Taxes, including any schedule or attachment
thereto or amendment thereof.
A-31
(aa) “Taxes” means (i) any and
all federal, state, provincial, local, foreign and other taxes,
levies, fees, imposts, duties, and similar governmental charges
(including any interest, fines, assessments, penalties or
additions to tax imposed in connection therewith or with respect
thereto) including (x) taxes imposed on, or measured by,
income, franchise, profits or gross receipts, and (y) ad
valorem, value added, capital gains, sales, goods and services,
use, real or personal property, capital stock, license, branch,
payroll, estimated withholding, employment, social security (or
similar), unemployment, compensation, utility, severance,
production, excise, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall
profits, transfer and gains taxes, and customs duties, and
(ii) any transferee liability in respect of any items
described in the foregoing clause (i).
(bb) “Treasury Regulations” means
the Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.
Section 8.2 Interpretation. The
table of contents and headings in this Agreement are for
reference only and shall not affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. Definitions shall apply
equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms
defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall
include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.
All references in this Agreement to Articles, Sections and
Exhibits shall refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits
to, this Agreement unless the context shall require otherwise.
The words “include,” “includes” and
“including” shall not be limiting and shall be deemed
to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.”
Unless the context shall require otherwise, any agreements,
documents, instruments or Laws defined or referred to in this
Agreement shall be deemed to mean or refer to such agreements,
documents, instruments or Laws as from time to time amended,
modified or supplemented, including (a) in the case of
agreements, documents or instruments, by waiver or consent and
(b) in the case of Laws, by succession of comparable
successor statutes. All references in this Agreement to any
particular Law shall be deemed to refer also to any rules and
regulations promulgated under that Law. References to a Person
also refer to its predecessors and permitted successors and
assigns.
Section 8.3 Survival. None
of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement or in any instrument delivered under this Agreement
shall survive the Effective Time. This Section 8.3 shall
not limit any covenant or agreement of the parties to this
Agreement which, by its terms, contemplates performance after
the Effective Time.
Section 8.4 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware,
without regard to the laws that might otherwise govern under
applicable principles of conflicts of law.
Section 8.5 Submission
to Jurisdiction. The parties to this
Agreement (a) irrevocably submit to the personal
jurisdiction of the federal courts of the United States of
America located in the State of Delaware and the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware and (b) waive any claim
of improper venue or any claim that those courts are an
inconvenient forum. The parties to this Agreement agree that
mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such
action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 8.6
or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable Laws,
shall be valid and sufficient service thereof.
Section 8.6 Notices. Any
notice, request, instruction or other communication under this
Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by hand or overnight
courier service or by facsimile:
If to Parent or Merger Sub, to:
Infogrames Entertainment, S.A.
1 Place Verrazzano
69252 Lyon Cedex 09 France
Facsimile: +33.1.43.12.54.30
Attention: David Gardner, CEO
with a copy to:
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Facsimile: +1
(213) 892-5454
Attention: Russell G. Weiss, Esq.
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If to the Company, to:
Atari, Inc.
417 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Facsimile: +1
(212) 726-4214
Attention: Jim Wilson, Chief Executive Officer and President
with a copy to:
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
New York, New York 10005
Facsimile: +1
(212) 822-5921
Attention: Thomas C. Janson, Esq.
or to such other Persons, addresses or facsimile numbers as may
be designated in writing by the Person entitled to receive such
communication as provided above. Each such communication shall
be effective (a) if delivered by hand, when such delivery
is made at the address specified in this Section 8.6,
(b) if delivered by overnight courier service, the next
Business Day after such communication is sent to the address
specified in this Section 8.6, or (c) if delivered by
facsimile, when such facsimile is transmitted to the facsimile
number specified in this Section 8.6 and appropriate
confirmation is received.
Section 8.7 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement (including the
Exhibits to this Agreement), the Company Disclosure Schedule,
the Parent Disclosure Schedule and the Confidentiality Agreement
constitute the entire agreement and supersede all other prior
agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both
written and oral, among the parties to this Agreement with
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. No
representation, warranty, inducement, promise, understanding or
condition not set forth in this Agreement has been made or
relied upon by any of the parties to this Agreement.
Section 8.8 No
Third-Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided
in Section 5.8, this Agreement is not intended to confer
any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties to
this Agreement.
Section 8.9 Severability. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this
Agreement. If any provision of this Agreement, or the
application of that provision to any Person or any circumstance,
is invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable
provision shall be substituted for that provision in order to
carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable, the intent
and purpose of the invalid or unenforceable provision and
(b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of
that provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be
affected by such invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such
invalidity or unenforceability affect the validity or
enforceability of that provision, or the application of that
provision, in any other jurisdiction.
Section 8.10 Rules
of Construction. The parties to this
Agreement have been represented by counsel during the
negotiation and execution of this Agreement and waive the
application of any Laws or rule of construction providing that
ambiguities in any agreement or other document shall be
construed against the party drafting such agreement or other
document.
Section 8.11 Assignment. This
Agreement shall not be assignable by operation of law or
otherwise, except that Parent may designate, by written notice
to the Company, a Subsidiary that is wholly-owned by Parent to
be merged with and into the Company in lieu of Merger Sub, in
which event all references in this Agreement to Merger Sub shall
be deemed references to such Subsidiary, and in that case, all
representations and warranties made in this Agreement with
respect to Merger Sub as of the date of this Agreement shall be
deemed representations and warranties made with respect to such
Subsidiary as of the date of such designation.
Section 8.12 Remedies. Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any and all remedies
expressly conferred upon a party to this Agreement shall be
cumulative with, and not exclusive of, any other remedy
contained
A-33
in this Agreement, at law or in equity. The exercise by a party
to this Agreement of any one remedy shall not preclude the
exercise by it of any other remedy.
Section 8.13 Specific
Performance. The parties to this Agreement
agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any
of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.
It is accordingly agreed that the parties to this Agreement
shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent
breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms
and provisions of this Agreement in any court of the United
States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in addition
to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in
equity.
Section 8.14 Counterparts;
Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed
in any number of counterparts, all of which shall be one and the
same agreement. This Agreement shall become effective when each
party to this Agreement shall have received counterparts signed
by all of the other parties.
[Signature
page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement and Plan of Merger has been
duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of
the parties to this Agreement and Plan of Merger as of the date
first written above.
INFOGRAMES ENTERTAINMENT, S.A.
Name: David Gardner
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|
|
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
|
IRATA ACQUISITION CORP.
Name: David Gardner
ATARI, INC.
Name: Eugene I. Davis
|
|
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Title:
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Chairman of the Board of Directors
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A-35
ANNEX B
April 28, 2008
CONFIDENTIAL
Special Committee of the Board of Directors
Atari, Inc.
417 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10016
Dear Members of the Special Committee:
The Special Committee of the Board of Directors (the
“Special Committee”) of Atari, Inc. (“Atari”
or the “Company”) has engaged Duff & Phelps,
LLC (“Duff & Phelps”) as its independent
financial advisor to provide an opinion (the
“Opinion”) as of the date hereof as to the fairness,
from a financial point of view, to the public stockholders of
Atari other than Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and its
affiliates (“IESA” or the “Majority
Stockholder”) of the consideration to be received by such
holders in the contemplated transaction described below (the
“Proposed Transaction”) (without giving effect to any
impact of the Proposed Transaction on any particular stockholder
other than in its capacity as a stockholder).
Description
of the Proposed Transaction
The Proposed Transaction involves the proposed acquisition by
IESA, who are the beneficial owners of approximately 51.6% of
the outstanding common stock of Atari, of the remaining
outstanding common stock of the Company not owned by IESA for a
per share cash amount of $1.68. The terms and conditions of the
Proposed Transaction are set forth in more detail in the
Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”)
among IESA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA, and Atari.
Contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement,
the Company and IESA are entering into a credit agreement (the
“Credit Agreement”) among the Company, the lenders
thereto and IESA, as administrative agent, pursuant to which
Parent has agreed to make available to the Company additional
financing on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in the Credit Agreement.
Scope
of Analysis
In connection with this Opinion, Duff & Phelps has
made such reviews, analyses and inquiries as we have deemed
necessary and appropriate under the circumstances.
Duff & Phelps also took into account its assessment of
general economic, market and financial conditions, as well as
its experience in securities and business valuation, in general,
and with respect to similar transactions, in particular.
Duff & Phelps’ procedures, investigations, and
financial analysis with respect to the preparation of our
Opinion included, but were not limited to, the items summarized
below:
1. Discussed the operations, financial conditions, future
prospects and projected operations and performance of the
Company and regarding the Proposed Transaction with the
management of the Company;
2. Reviewed a draft of the Merger Agreement dated
April 23, 2008;
3. Reviewed a draft of the Credit Agreement dated
April 22, 2008;
4. Reviewed certain publicly available financial statements
and other business and financial information of the Company and
IESA, respectively, and the industries in which they operate;
5. Reviewed certain internal financial statements and other
financial and operating data concerning the Company, which the
Company has respectively identified as being the most current
financial statements available;
6. Reviewed certain financial forecasts, as well as
information relating to certain strategic, financial and
operational benefits anticipated from the Proposed Transaction,
all as prepared by the management of the Company;
7. Reviewed the historical trading price and trading volume
of the Company Common Stock, and the publicly traded securities
of certain other companies that we deemed relevant;
B-1
8. Compared the financial performance of the Company and
the prices and trading activity of the Company Common Stock with
those of certain other publicly traded companies that we deemed
relevant;
9. Compared certain financial terms of the Proposed
Transaction to financial terms, to the extent publicly
available, of certain other business combination transactions
that we deemed relevant; and
10. Reviewed such other information and conducted such
other analyses and considered such other factors as we deemed
appropriate.
Assumptions,
Qualifications and Limiting Conditions
In performing its analyses and rendering this Opinion with
respect to the Proposed Transaction, Duff & Phelps,
with your consent:
1. Relied upon the accuracy, completeness, and fair
presentation of all information, data, advice, opinions and
representations obtained from public sources or provided to it
from private sources, including Company management, and did not
independently verify such information;
2. Assumed that any estimates, evaluations, forecasts and
projections furnished to Duff & Phelps were reasonably
prepared and based upon the best currently available information
and good faith judgment of the person furnishing the same;
3. Assumed that the final versions of all documents
reviewed by Duff & Phelps in draft form conform in all
material respects to the drafts reviewed;
4. Assumed that information supplied to Duff &
Phelps and representations and warranties made in the Merger
Agreement and the Credit Agreement are substantially accurate;
5. Assumed that all of the conditions required to implement
the Proposed Transaction will be satisfied and that the Proposed
Transaction will be completed in accordance with the Merger
Agreement without any amendments thereto or any waivers of any
terms or conditions thereof;
6. Relied upon the fact that the Special Committee and the
Company have been advised by counsel as to all legal matters
with respect to the Proposed Transaction, including whether all
procedures required by law to be taken in connection with the
Proposed Transaction have been duly, validly and timely
taken; and
7. Assumed that all governmental, regulatory or other
consents and approvals necessary for the consummation of the
Proposed Transaction will be obtained without any adverse effect
on the Company or the contemplated benefits expected to be
derived in the Proposed Transaction.
In our analysis and in connection with the preparation of this
Opinion, Duff & Phelps has made numerous assumptions
with respect to industry performance, general business, market
and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are
beyond the control of any party involved in the Proposed
Transaction. To the extent that any of the foregoing assumptions
or any of the facts on which this Opinion is based prove to be
untrue in any material respect, this Opinion cannot and should
not be relied upon.
the consideration to be received by the public shareholders of
the Company in the Proposed Transaction, or with respect to the
fairness of any such compensation.
Duff & Phelps did not make any independent evaluation,
appraisal or physical inspection of the Company’s solvency
or of any specific assets or liabilities (contingent or
otherwise). This Opinion should not be construed as a valuation
opinion, credit rating, solvency opinion, an analysis of the
Company’s credit worthiness, as tax advice, or as
accounting advice. Duff & Phelps has not been
requested to, and did not, (a) initiate any discussions
with, or solicit any indications of interest from, third parties
with respect to the Proposed Transaction, the assets, businesses
or operations of the Company, or any alternatives to the
Proposed Transaction, (b) negotiate the terms of the
Proposed Transaction, and therefore, Duff & Phelps has
assumed that such terms are the most beneficial terms, from the
Company’s perspective, that could, under the circumstances,
be negotiated among the parties to the Agreement and the
Transaction, or (c) advise the Special Committee, the Board
of Directors or any other party with respect to alternatives to
the Proposed Transaction. In addition, Duff & Phelps
is not expressing any opinion as to the market price or value of
the Company Common Stock after announcement of the Proposed
Transaction. Duff & Phelps has not made, and assumes
no responsibility to make, any representation, or render any
opinion, as to any legal matter.
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In rendering this Opinion, Duff & Phelps is not
expressing any opinion with respect to the amount or nature of
any compensation to any of the Company’s officers,
directors, or employees, or any class of such persons, relative
to the consideration to be received by the public shareholders
of the Company in the Proposed Transaction, or with respect to
the fairness of any such compensation.
The basis and methodology for this Opinion have been designed
specifically for the express purposes of the Special Committee
and may not translate to any other purposes. This Opinion
(a) does not address the merits of the underlying business
decision to enter into the Proposed Transaction versus any
alternative strategy or transaction; (b) is not a
recommendation as to how the Board of Directors or any
stockholder should vote or act with respect to any matters
relating to the Proposed Transaction, or whether to proceed with
the Proposed Transaction or any related transaction, and
(c) does not indicate that the consideration received is
the best possibly attainable under any circumstances; instead,
it merely states whether the consideration in the Proposed
Transaction is within a range suggested by certain financial
analyses. The decision as to whether to proceed with the
Proposed Transaction or any related transaction may depend on an
assessment of factors unrelated to the financial analysis on
which this Opinion is based. This letter should not be construed
as creating any fiduciary duty on the part of Duff &
Phelps to any party.
Duff & Phelps has prepared this Opinion effective as
of the date hereof. This Opinion is necessarily based upon
market, economic, financial and other conditions as they exist
and can be evaluated as of the date hereof, and Duff &
Phelps disclaims any undertaking or obligation to advise any
person of any change in any fact or matter affecting this
Opinion which may come or be brought to the attention of
Duff & Phelps after the date hereof. Notwithstanding
and without limiting the foregoing, in the event that there is
any change in any fact or matter affecting this Opinion after
the date hereof and prior to the completion of the Proposed
Transaction, Duff & Phelps reserves the right to
change, modify or withdraw this Opinion.
Subject to the prior written approval of Duff &
Phelps, this Opinion may be included in its entirety in any
proxy statement distributed to stockholders of the Company in
connection with the Proposed Transaction or other document
required by law or regulation to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, and you may summarize or otherwise
reference the existence of this Opinion in such documents,
provided that any such summary or reference language shall also
be subject to the prior written approval by Duff &
Phelps. Except as described above, without our prior consent,
this Opinion may not be quoted from or referred to, in whole or
in part, in any written document or used for any other purpose.
Duff & Phelps has acted as financial advisor to the
Special Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, and
will receive a fee for its services and reimbursement of its
out-of-pocket expenses. No portion of Duff &
Phelps’ fee is contingent upon either the conclusion
expressed in the Opinion or whether or not the Proposed
Transaction is successfully consummated. Pursuant to the terms
of the engagement letter between the Company and
Duff & Phelps, a portion of Duff &
Phelps’ fee is payable upon Duff & Phelps’
stating to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Company that it is prepared to deliver its Opinion. Other
than this engagement, during the two years preceding the date of
this Opinion, Duff & Phelps has not had any material
relationship with any party to the Proposed Transaction for
which compensation has been received or is intended to be
received, nor is any such material relationship or related
compensation mutually understood to be contemplated. This
Opinion has been approved by the internal opinion committee of
Duff & Phelps.
Conclusion
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, Duff & Phelps
is of the opinion that as of the date hereof the consideration
to be received by the public stockholders of the Company (other
than IESA) in the Proposed Transaction is fair, from a financial
point of view, to such public stockholders (without giving
effect to any impact of the Proposed Transaction on any
particular stockholder other than in its capacity as a
stockholder).
Respectfully submitted,
B-3
ANNEX C
Section 262
of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware
§
262. Appraisal Rights
(a) Any stockholder of a corporation of this State who
holds shares of stock on the date of the making of a demand
pursuant to subsection (d) of this section with respect to
such shares, who continuously holds such shares through the
effective date of the merger or consolidation, who has otherwise
complied with subsection (d) of this section and who has
neither voted in favor of the merger or consolidation nor
consented thereto in writing pursuant to § 228 of this
title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the Court of Chancery
of the fair value of the stockholder’s shares of stock
under the circumstances described in subsections (b) and
(c) of this section. As used in this section, the word
“stockholder” means a holder of record of stock in a
stock corporation and also a member of record of a nonstock
corporation; the words “stock” and “share”
mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words and
also membership or membership interest of a member of a nonstock
corporation; and the words “depository receipt” mean a
receipt or other instrument issued by a depository representing
an interest in one or more shares, or fractions thereof, solely
of stock of a corporation, which stock is deposited with the
depository.
(b) Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of
any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation in a
merger or consolidation to be effected pursuant to
§ 251 (other than a merger effected pursuant to
§ 251(g) of this title), § 252,
§ 254, § 257, § 258,
§ 263 or § 264 of this title:
(1) Provided, however, that no appraisal rights under this
section shall be available for the shares of any class or series
of stock, which stock, or depository receipts in respect
thereof, at the record date fixed to determine the stockholders
entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting of
stockholders to act upon the agreement of merger or
consolidation, were either (i) listed on a national
securities exchange or (ii) held of record by more than
2,000 holders; and further provided that no appraisal rights
shall be available for any shares of stock of the constituent
corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require for
its approval the vote of the stockholders of the surviving
corporation as provided in subsection (f) of
§ 251 of this title.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection,
appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the
shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent
corporation if the holders thereof are required by the terms of
an agreement of merger or consolidation pursuant to
§§ 251, 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 and 264 of this
title to accept for such stock anything except:
a. Shares of stock of the corporation surviving or
resulting from such merger or consolidation, or depository
receipts in respect thereof;
b. Shares of stock of any other corporation, or depository
receipts in respect thereof, which shares of stock (or
depository receipts in respect thereof) or depository receipts
at the effective date of the merger or consolidation will be
either listed on a national securities exchange or held of
record by more than 2,000 holders;
c. Cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional
depository receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs a.
and b. of this paragraph; or
d. Any combination of the shares of stock, depository
receipts and cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional
depository receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs a.,
b. and c. of this paragraph.
(3) In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware
corporation party to a merger effected under § 253 of
this title is not owned by the parent corporation immediately
prior to the merger, appraisal rights shall be available for the
shares of the subsidiary Delaware corporation.
(c) Any corporation may provide in its certificate of
incorporation that appraisal rights under this section shall be
available for the shares of any class or series of its stock as
a result of an amendment to its certificate of incorporation,
any merger or consolidation in which the corporation is a
constituent corporation or the sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the corporation. If the certificate of
incorporation contains such a provision, the
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procedures of this section, including those set forth in
subsections (d) and (e) of this section, shall apply
as nearly as is practicable.
(d) Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows:
(1) If a proposed merger or consolidation for which
appraisal rights are provided under this section is to be
submitted for approval at a meeting of stockholders, the
corporation, not less than 20 days prior to the meeting,
shall notify each of its stockholders who was such on the record
date for such meeting with respect to shares for which appraisal
rights are available pursuant to subsection (b) or
(c) hereof that appraisal rights are available for any or
all of the shares of the constituent corporations, and shall
include in such notice a copy of this section. Each stockholder
electing to demand the appraisal of such stockholder’s
shares shall deliver to the corporation, before the taking of
the vote on the merger or consolidation, a written demand for
appraisal of such stockholder’s shares. Such demand will be
sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the
identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends
thereby to demand the appraisal of such stockholder’s
shares. A proxy or vote against the merger or consolidation
shall not constitute such a demand. A stockholder electing to
take such action must do so by a separate written demand as
herein provided. Within 10 days after the effective date of
such merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting
corporation shall notify each stockholder of each constituent
corporation who has complied with this subsection and has not
voted in favor of or consented to the merger or consolidation of
the date that the merger or consolidation has become
effective; or
(2) If the merger or consolidation was approved pursuant to
§ 228 or § 253 of this title, then either a
constituent corporation before the effective date of the merger
or consolidation or the surviving or resulting corporation
within 10 days thereafter shall notify each of the holders
of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation
who are entitled to appraisal rights of the approval of the
merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights are available
for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of such
constituent corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy
of this section. Such notice may, and, if given on or after the
effective date of the merger or consolidation, shall, also
notify such stockholders of the effective date of the merger or
consolidation. Any stockholder entitled to appraisal rights may,
within 20 days after the date of mailing of such notice,
demand in writing from the surviving or resulting corporation
the appraisal of such holder’s shares. Such demand will be
sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the
identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends
thereby to demand the appraisal of such holder’s shares. If
such notice did not notify stockholders of the effective date of
the merger or consolidation, either (i) each such
constituent corporation shall send a second notice before the
effective date of the merger or consolidation notifying each of
the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent
corporation that are entitled to appraisal rights of the
effective date of the merger or consolidation or (ii) the
surviving or resulting corporation shall send such a second
notice to all such holders on or within 10 days after such
effective date; provided, however, that if such second notice is
sent more than 20 days following the sending of the first
notice, such second notice need only be sent to each stockholder
who is entitled to appraisal rights and who has demanded
appraisal of such holder’s shares in accordance with this
subsection. An affidavit of the secretary or assistant secretary
or of the transfer agent of the corporation that is required to
give either notice that such notice has been given shall, in the
absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated
therein. For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled
to receive either notice, each constituent corporation may fix,
in advance, a record date that shall be not more than
10 days prior to the date the notice is given, provided,
that if the notice is given on or after the effective date of
the merger or consolidation, the record date shall be such
effective date. If no record date is fixed and the notice is
given prior to the effective date, the record date shall be the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the
notice is given.
(e) Within 120 days after the effective date of the
merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation
or any stockholder who has complied with subsections (a)
and (d) hereof and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal
rights, may commence an appraisal proceeding by filing a
petition in the Court of Chancery demanding a determination of
the value of the stock of all such stockholders. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, at any time within 60 days after the
effective date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder
who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that
proceeding as a named party shall have the right to withdraw
such stockholder’s demand for appraisal and to accept the
terms offered upon the merger or consolidation. Within
120 days after the effective
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date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder who has
complied with the requirements of subsections (a) and
(d) hereof, upon written request, shall be entitled to
receive from the corporation surviving the merger or resulting
from the consolidation a statement setting forth the aggregate
number of shares not voted in favor of the merger or
consolidation and with respect to which demands for appraisal
have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such
shares. Such written statement shall be mailed to the
stockholder within 10 days after such stockholder’s
written request for such a statement is received by the
surviving or resulting corporation or within 10 days after
expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal
under subsection (d) hereof, whichever is later.
Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a person
who is the beneficial owner of shares of such stock held either
in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person may,
in such person’s own name, file a petition or request from
the corporation the statement described in this subsection.
(f) Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder,
service of a copy thereof shall be made upon the surviving or
resulting corporation, which shall within 20 days after
such service file in the office of the Register in Chancery in
which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the
names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded
payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the
value of their shares have not been reached by the surviving or
resulting corporation. If the petition shall be filed by the
surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be
accompanied by such a duly verified list. The Register in
Chancery, if so ordered by the Court, shall give notice of the
time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition by
registered or certified mail to the surviving or resulting
corporation and to the stockholders shown on the list at the
addresses therein stated. Such notice shall also be given by 1
or more publications at least 1 week before the day of the
hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the
City of Wilmington, Delaware or such publication as the Court
deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by
publication shall be approved by the Court, and the costs
thereof shall be borne by the surviving or resulting corporation.
(g) At the hearing on such petition, the Court shall
determine the stockholders who have complied with this section
and who have become entitled to appraisal rights. The Court may
require the stockholders who have demanded an appraisal for
their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to
submit their certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery
for notation thereon of the pendency of the appraisal
proceedings; and if any stockholder fails to comply with such
direction, the Court may dismiss the proceedings as to such
stockholder.
(h) After the Court determines the stockholders entitled to
an appraisal, the appraisal proceeding shall be conducted in
accordance with the rules of the Court of Chancery, including
any rules specifically governing appraisal proceedings. Through
such proceeding the Court shall determine the fair value of the
shares exclusive of any element of value arising from the
accomplishment or expectation of the merger or consolidation,
together with interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount
determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value,
the Court shall take into account all relevant factors. Unless
the Court in its discretion determines otherwise for good cause
shown, interest from the effective date of the merger through
the date of payment of the judgment shall be compounded
quarterly and shall accrue at 5% over the Federal Reserve
discount rate (including any surcharge) as established from time
to time during the period between the effective date of the
merger and the date of payment of the judgment. Upon application
by the surviving or resulting corporation or by any stockholder
entitled to participate in the appraisal proceeding, the Court
may, in its discretion, proceed to trial upon the appraisal
prior to the final determination of the stockholders entitled to
an appraisal. Any stockholder whose name appears on the list
filed by the surviving or resulting corporation pursuant to
subsection (f) of this section and who has submitted such
stockholder’s certificates of stock to the Register in
Chancery, if such is required, may participate fully in all
proceedings until it is finally determined that such stockholder
is not entitled to appraisal rights under this section.
(i) The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of
the shares, together with interest, if any, by the surviving or
resulting corporation to the stockholders entitled thereto.
Payment shall be so made to each such stockholder, in the case
of holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and the case of
holders of shares represented by certificates upon the surrender
to the corporation of the certificates representing such stock.
The Court’s decree may be enforced as other decrees in the
Court of Chancery may be enforced, whether such surviving or
resulting corporation be a corporation of this State or of any
state.
(j) The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the
Court and taxed upon the parties as the Court deems equitable in
the circumstances. Upon application of a stockholder, the Court
may order all or a portion of the
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expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the
appraisal proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable
attorney’s fees and the fees and expenses of experts, to be
charged pro rata against the value of all the shares entitled to
an appraisal.
(k) From and after the effective date of the merger or
consolidation, no stockholder who has demanded appraisal rights
as provided in subsection (d) of this section shall be
entitled to vote such stock for any purpose or to receive
payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock (except
dividends or other distributions payable to stockholders of
record at a date which is prior to the effective date of the
merger or consolidation); provided, however, that if no petition
for an appraisal shall be filed within the time provided in
subsection (e) of this section, or if such stockholder
shall deliver to the surviving or resulting corporation a
written withdrawal of such stockholder’s demand for an
appraisal and an acceptance of the merger or consolidation,
either within 60 days after the effective date of the
merger or consolidation as provided in subsection (e) of
this section or thereafter with the written approval of the
corporation, then the right of such stockholder to an appraisal
shall cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal
proceeding in the Court of Chancery shall be dismissed as to any
stockholder without the approval of the Court, and such approval
may be conditioned upon such terms as the Court deems just;
provided, however that this provision shall not affect the right
of any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding
or joined that proceeding as a named party to withdraw such
stockholder’s demand for appraisal and to accept the terms
offered upon the merger or consolidation within 60 days
after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, as set
forth in subsection (e) of this section.
(l) The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation to
which the shares of such objecting stockholders would have been
converted had they assented to the merger or consolidation shall
have the status of authorized and unissued shares of the
surviving or resulting corporation.
(8 Del. C. 1953, § 262; 56 Del. Laws, c. 50; 56
Del. Laws, c. 186, § 24; 57 Del. Laws, c. 148,
§§ 27-29;
59 Del. Laws, c. 106, § 12; 60 Del. Laws, c. 371,
§§ 3-12; 63 Del. Laws, c. 25, § 14; 63
Del. Laws, c. 152, §§ 1, 2; 64 Del. Laws, c. 112,
§§ 46-54;
66 Del. Laws, c. 136,
§§ 30-32;
66 Del. Laws, c. 352, § 9; 67 Del. Laws, c. 376,
§§ 19, 20; 68 Del. Laws, c. 337,
§§ 3, 4; 69 Del. Laws, c. 61, § 10; 69
Del. Laws, c. 262, §§ 1-9; 70 Del. Laws, c. 79,
§ 16; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 70 Del.
Laws, c. 299, §§ 2, 3; 70 Del. Laws, c. 349,
§ 22; 71 Del. Laws, c. 120, § 15; 71 Del.
Laws, c. 339,
§§ 49-52;
73 Del. Laws, c. 82, § 21.)
C-4
ANNEX D
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
Form 10-K
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þ
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2008
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OR
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o
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the transition period
from to
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Commission File No.: 0-27338
ATARI, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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13-3689915
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(State or Other Jurisdiction
of
Incorporation or Organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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417 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
(Address of principal executive
offices, including zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(212) 726-6500
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act:
Common Stock, $0.10 par value
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known
seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of
1934. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. Yes þ No
o
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. o
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. (Check one):
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Large
accelerated
filer o
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Accelerated
filer o
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Non-accelerated
filer o
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Smaller
reporting
company þ
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in
Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange
Act). Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock
held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the $2.56
closing sale price of the Common Stock on September 28,
2007 as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market was approximately
$16.8 million. As of June 27, 2008, a total of
13,477,920 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock
were outstanding.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Portions of Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2008 are
incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
March 31, 2008 Annual Report on
Form 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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PART I
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ITEM 1.
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Business
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D-2
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ITEM 1A.
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Risk Factors
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D-13
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ITEM 1B.
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Unresolved Staff Comments
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D-18
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ITEM 2.
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Properties
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D-18
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ITEM 3.
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Legal Proceedings
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D-19
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ITEM 4.
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Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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D-20
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PART II
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ITEM 5.
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Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder
Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
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D-21
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ITEM 6.
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Selected Financial Data
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D-23
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ITEM 7.
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations
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ITEM 7A.
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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D-39
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ITEM 8.
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Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
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D-40
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ITEM 9.
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Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure
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ITEM 9A.
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Controls and Procedures
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ITEM 9B.
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Other Matters
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PART III
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ITEM 10.
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Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance
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ITEM 11.
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Executive Compensation
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ITEM 12.
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
and Related Stockholder Matters
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D-43
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ITEM 13.
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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence
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ITEM 14.
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Principal Accounting Fees and Services
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PART IV
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ITEM 15.
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Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
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SIGNATURES
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CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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D-51
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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D-i
This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements, as
that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. We caution readers regarding forward-looking
statements in this Report, press releases, securities filings,
and other documents and communications. All statements, other
than statements of historical fact, including statements
regarding industry prospects and expected future results of
operations or financial position, made in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K
are forward looking. The words “believe”,
“expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”
and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are necessarily
based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered
reasonable by us, are inherently subject to significant
business, economic and competitive uncertainties and
contingencies and known and unknown risks. As a result of such
risks, our actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated by any forward-looking statements made by, or on
behalf of, us. We will not necessarily update information if it
later turns out that what occurs is different from what was
anticipated in a forward-looking statement. For a discussion of
some factors that could cause our operating results or other
matters not to be as anticipated by forward-looking statements
in this document, please see Item 1A entitled “Risk
Factors” on pages 13 to 18 .
D-1
PART I
OVERVIEW
We are a publisher of video game software that is distributed
throughout the world and a distributor of video game software in
North America. Most of the products we publish and distribute
are games developed by or for Infogrames Entertainment S.A., or
IESA, a French corporation listed on Euronext, which owns
approximately 51% of our stock. However, we also publish and
distribute in North America games developed or published by
unrelated developers or publishers. IESA is the largest
distributor of video games in Europe, and distributes the video
games that we publish throughout the world, other than in North
America.
On April 30, 2008, IESA and we entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger under which a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA
will be merged into us in a transaction in which IESA, as the
sole shareholder of the merger subsidiary, will acquire all the
shares of the merged company, and our stockholders (other than
IESA and its subsidiaries) will receive $1.68 per share in cash.
That transaction must be approved by our stockholders. Because a
wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA owns 51% of our shares, if it
votes in favor of the merger, the merger will be approved even
if no other stockholders vote in favor of it. The IESA
subsidiary is not contractually obligated to vote in favor of
the merger, however, it has stated that intends to vote in favor
of the merger.
Until 2005, we were actively involved in developing video games
and in financing development of video games by independent
developers, which we would publish and distribute under licenses
from the developers. However, beginning in 2005, because of cash
constraints, we substantially reduced our involvement in
development of video games, and announced plans to divest
ourselves of our internal development studios.
During fiscal 2006 and 2007, we sold a number of intellectual
properties and development facilities in order to obtain cash to
fund our operations. By the end of fiscal 2007, we did not own
any development studios.
During fiscal 2008, we stopped developing games, even through
independent developers. During that year, we also focused an
increasing percentage of our activities on marketing and
distributing in North America products published by IESA. This
included licensing IESA to develop and distribute for seven
years games using the Test Drive and Test Drive
Unlimited franchise and to distribute any versions of those
games that we publish everyplace in the world except the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico and their possessions.
The steps described above significantly reduced the number of
games we publish. During fiscal 2008, our revenues from
publishing activities were $69.8 million, compared with
$104.7 million during fiscal 2007, and $153.6 million
during fiscal 2006 and $289.6 million during fiscal 2005.
However, we continue to have a significant library of well-known
properties that we license from IESA (directly or through its
wholly-owned subsidiary Atari Interactive, Inc., or Atari,
Interactive,) or unrelated companies, including:
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Dragon Ball Z (FUNimation),
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Alone in the Dark (IESA),
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Asteroids, PONG, Missile Command and Centipede (Atari
Interactive),
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Dungeons and Dragons (Hasbro and Atari Interactive),
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Earthworm Jim (Interplay),
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RollerCoaster Tycoon (Chris Sawyer and Atari
Interactive), and
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Godzilla (Sony Pictures).
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We maintain in North America distribution operations and systems
that reach in excess of approximately 30,000 retail outlets
throughout the United States.
Our annual cash expenditures have for the last several years
exceeded our cash revenues. Until 2008, we funded our cash
shortfalls primarily with proceeds of sales of assets,
supplemented by seasonal borrowings. By 2008, we had few salable
assets, other than the Test Drive and Test Drive
Unlimited franchise and possibly, licenses
D-2
to distribute a few specific games under term license agreements
with unrelated developers or publishers. When we licensed IESA
to develop and publish games under the Test Drive and
Test Drive Unlimited franchise, we became almost entirely
reliant on borrowings to fund cash shortfalls or seasonal cash
needs. At March 31, 2008, our only borrowing lines were a
$14.0 million line from Bluebay High Yield Investments
(Luxembourg) S.A.R.L., or Bluebay”, a subsidiary of the
largest shareholder of IESA. At March 31, 2008, we had
borrowed the entire $14.0 million that was available under
the Bluebay credit line. On April 30, 2008, we obtained a
$20 million interim credit line granted by IESA when it
entered into the Merger Agreement relating to its acquisition of
us, which will terminate when the merger takes place or when the
Merger Agreement terminates without the merger taking place. As
of June 12, 2008, we continue to have $14.0 million
outstanding under the Bluebay credit line and have borrowed
approximately $6.0 million from the IESA credit line. The
funds available under the two credit lines may not be sufficient
to enable us to meet anticipated seasonal cash needs if the
merger does not take place before the fall 2008 holiday season
inventory buildup.
The uncertainty caused by the conditions described above and
existing historically raise substantial doubt about our ability
to continue as a going concern, unless the merger with a
subsidiary of IESA is completed. Our consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from
the outcome of this uncertainty.
Atari, Inc. (formerly known as Infogrames, Inc. and GT
Interactive Software Corp.) was organized as a corporation in
Delaware in 1992. In May 2003, we changed our name to Atari,
Inc. Effective as of May 9, 2008 our Common Stock was
delisted from the NASDAQ Global Market because the total market
value of our shares that were not owned by an affiliate (i.e.,
IESA) was less than $15 million. Our common stock is now
listed on the Pink Sheets. Our corporate office and
U.S. headquarters is located at 417 Fifth Avenue, New
York, New York 10016 (main telephone:
(212) 726-6500).
We maintain a worldwide website at www.atari.com.
Information contained on the website is not part of this Annual
Report.
INDUSTRY
OVERVIEW
The video game industry primarily comprises software for
dedicated game consoles or platforms (such as PlayStation 2,
PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360, and Wii), handhelds (such as
Nintendo DS and Sony PSP) and PCs. Publishers of video game
software include the console manufacturers, or “first-party
publishers,” and third-party publishers, such as ourselves,
whose primary role is the development, publishing
and/or
distribution of video game software. According to International
Data Group (IDG), an independent technology, media, research,
and event company, sales of PC, console, and handheld games
(excluding wireless) in North America and Europe in calendar
2007 reached $19.9 billion. We anticipate an expanding
market for interactive entertainment software over the next
several years as a result of the success of the
current/connected generation console platforms. We believe that
greater online functionality and the expanded artificial
intelligence capabilities of the new platforms improve game play
and game accessibility, and will help our industry grow.
Additionally, the use of wireless devices (such as mobile phones
and personal digital assistants) as a gaming platform, known as
“mobile gaming,” is growing rapidly, as is online
gaming such as casual gaming and massively multiplayer online
games.
The
Console and Handheld Market
Console platforms as they exist today have made significant
technological advances since the introduction of the first
generation of modern consoles by Nintendo in 1985. Hardware
manufacturers have historically introduced a new and more
technologically advanced gaming console platform every four to
five years. Handhelds have also made advances since their
introduction. However, handhelds have typically experienced
longer product cycles. With each new cycle, the customer base
for video game software has expanded as gaming enthusiasts
mature and advances in video game hardware and software
technology engage new participants, generating greater numbers
of console units purchased than the prior cycle. The beginning
of each cycle is largely dominated by console sales as consumers
upgrade to the current-generation technology. As the cycle
matures, consumers’ focus shifts to software, resulting in
a period of rapid growth for the video game software industry.
D-3
Sony was the first manufacturer to introduce the previous
generation of console hardware with the introduction of the
PlayStation 2 platform in 2000. Nintendo introduced its current
generation platforms a year later, launching the GameCube and
Game Boy Advance in 2001. This generation also saw the entrance
of Microsoft into the industry with the introduction of the Xbox
console.
In 2005, Microsoft initiated a new generation of console
hardware when it introduced Xbox 360. Both Sony and Nintendo
followed suit by launching PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii,
respectively, in November 2006. The calendar 2006 year also saw
the rapid expansion of the Nintendo DS in the handheld market,
and the continuing longevity of the PlayStation 2 (Sony’s
previous generation console).
Innovation also continues in the handheld market with
manufacturers offering more sophisticated units, such as
Sony’s PSP and Nintendo’s DS, each of which offer
multiple features and capabilities in addition to game play
functionality and wi-fi connectivity.
Personal
Computers
Advances in personal computer technology outpace advances in
console and handheld technology. Advances in microprocessors,
graphics chips, hard-drive capacity, operating systems and
memory capacity have greatly enhanced the ability of the PC to
serve as a video game platform. These technological advances
have enabled developers to introduce video games for PCs with
enhanced game play technology and superior graphics. The PC
growth in the past two years has been due to the success of
massively multiplayer online, or MMO, role playing games.
However, PC shelf space has been declining in retail stores, and
the demand for catalogue PC titles in jewel case format has
drastically diminished in many retail environments.
ESRB
Ratings and Litigation
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board, or ESRB, through its
ratings system, requires game publishers to provide consumers
with information relating to material that includes, but is not
limited to, graphic violence, profanity or sexually explicit
material contained in software titles. Consumer advocacy groups
have opposed sales of interactive entertainment software
containing graphic violence or sexually explicit material by
pressing for legislation in these areas and by engaging in
public demonstrations and media campaigns, and various
governmental bodies have proposed regulation aimed at our
industry to prohibit the sale of software containing such
material to minors. Additionally, retailers may decline to sell
interactive entertainment software containing graphic violence,
sexually explicit, or other material that they deem
inappropriate for their businesses. For example, if retailers
decline to sell a publisher’s “M” rated
(age 17 and over) products or if the “M” rated
products are re-rated “AO” (age 18 and over), the
publisher might be required to significantly change or
discontinue particular titles.
Consolidation
Economies of scale have become increasingly important as the
complexity and costs associated with video game development
continue to increase, and we expect this trend to continue. In
addition, the acquisition of proven intellectual properties has
become increasingly important as publishers seek to diversify
and expand their product portfolios, while limiting exposure to
unsuccessful product development efforts. Acquisitions have also
been used as a means of vertically integrating functions that
are key to the business process. We expect consolidation within
the video game software industry to continue. Recently, Atari
has been a seller, not a buyer.
PRODUCTS
The following identifies games and franchises that generated the
most significant portion of our publishing net product revenues
during the years ended March 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
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Fiscal 2006 — the Dragon Ball Z franchise
generated 28.6% of our publishing net product revenues, driven
by the October 2005 release of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai
Tenkaichi (PlayStation 2). Additionally, the Matrix
franchise generated 14.4% of our publishing net revenues,
led by the November 2005 release of Matrix: Path of Neo
(PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC). Other new releases in fiscal
2006 included Atari Flashback 2.0 (plug and play),
Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure (PlayStation 2, Xbox,
and PC), Dungeons & Dragons
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Online: Stormreach (PC), Driver: Parallel Lines
(PlayStation 2, and Xbox), and Indigo Prophecy (PC,
PlayStation 2, and Xbox).
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Fiscal 2007 — the Dragon Ball Z franchise
generated 45.7% of our publishing net product revenues, driven
by the November 2006 release of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai
Tenkaichi 2 (PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii). Additionally,
the Neverwinter Nights franchise generated 13.9% of our
publishing net product revenues, led by the October 2006 release
of Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC). Furthermore, the Test
Drive franchise generated 13.4% of our publishing net
product revenues, led by the September 2006 release of Test
Drive Unlimited on the Xbox 360 platform, followed by its
March 2007 release on the PlayStation 2, PSP, and PC platforms.
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Fiscal 2008 — the Dragon Ball Z franchise
generated 49.1% of our publishing net product revenues, driven
by the November 2007 release of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai
Tenkaichi 3 (PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii). Additionally,
the Godzilla franchise generated 9.2% of our publishing
net product revenues, led by the November 2007 release of
Godzilla Unleashed (Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2 and
Nintendo DS). Furthermore, the Neverwinter Nights
franchise generated 9.1% of our publishing net product
revenues, led by the October 2007 release of Neverwinter
Nights 2 Mask of the Betrayer (PC) and continued sales of
Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC) originally released in October
2006.
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DEVELOPMENT
During fiscal 2007, we sold all of our internal development
studios. By December 2007, we ceased developing any products or
having any products developed for us by independent developers.
Since then, our activities have consisted entirely of publishing
and distributing in North America, products developed by or for
IESA or unrelated developers or publishers.
PUBLISHING
Our publishing activities include the management of business
development, strategic alliances, product development,
marketing, packaging and sales of video game software for all
platforms, including Sony PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and
PSP; Nintendo DS, Wii, Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360; and PC.
During the year ended March 31, 2008, an increased
percentage of our publishing activities related to products
developed by or for IESA. However, we continued to publish some
products developed by independent developers. Our publication
activities with regard to products developed by or for IESA
involve primarily marketing and sales, although in some
instances we also arrange the manufacture and packaging of
products that will be distributed in North America. We then
distribute those products in North America, as described below
under the subcaption “Distribution.” Under a new
Distribution Agreement entered into in December 2007, IESA
reimburses us for our costs of marketing, and where applicable
manufacturing and packaging, products published by IESA. When we
publish independently developed products, we generally arrange,
and pay for, the manufacturing, packaging and marketing of the
products, and charge a distribution fee intended to, among other
things, compensate us for bearing those costs.
The video game software we publish, or have contracts to publish
in North America includes video game software developed by some
of the industry’s most highly regarded independent external
developers. These developers include, among others:
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Dimps (Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai Another Road);
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CD Projekt (The Witcher);
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Kuju Entertainment (Dungeons & Dragons Tactics);
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Obsidian (Neverwinter Nights 2); and
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Spike (Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3).
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Products which are acquired from these external developers are
marketed under the Atari name, as well as the name of the
external developer. The agreements with external developers
typically provide us with exclusive publishing and distribution
rights for a specific period of time for specified platforms and
territories. The
D-5
agreements may grant us the right to publish sequels,
enhancements and add-ons to the products originally developed
and produced by the external developer. We pay the external
developer a royalty based on sales of its products. A portion of
this royalty may be in the form of advances against future
royalties payable at the time of execution of the development
agreement, with additional payments tied to the completion of
detailed performance and development milestones by the developer.
With a lineup that spans from games for hardcore enthusiasts
through mass market titles, we publish games at various price
points, ranging from value-priced titles to premium-priced
products. Appropriate branding is selected and used to provide
consumers with distinct offerings and different tiers. Pricing
is affected by a variety of factors, including but not limited
to: licensed or franchise property; single or multiple platform
development; production costs and volumes; target audience; the
distribution territory; quality level; and consumer trends.
SALES AND
MARKETING
The sales team presently comprises 10
positions: sales management, senior sales executives,
associate account managers, and customer service
representatives. The sales team manages direct relationships
with key accounts in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Accounts are
assigned to sales team members by retailer and industry
expertise.
The sell-in of new properties begins with research and marketing
materials, and product specific meetings at which we present
trailers, gameplay, and product highlights, among other things.
The team manages and coordinates all MDF (Marketing Development
Fund) decisions, secures the order, and is responsible for all
day-to-day account management, and utilizes existing
relationships to develop exclusive title programs and catalog
opportunities.
At the store level, we utilize professional merchandising
companies to promote hit releases, facilitate compliance of
pricing, pre-sell programs, and stock. Our merchandising
partners ensure compliance in over 10,000 retail locations to
assure a quality and consistent consumer experience. The sales
department manages reporting, forecasting, and analysis with
state-of-the-art software.
The sales and marketing teams are aligned to ensure the
development of programs with the interests of the customers
(retailers) and consumers (gamers) in mind. The core functions
of the product management team includes:
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Managing the life cycle of a catalog of new and existing
products;
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Researching industry trends and customer needs to inform the
production process, advertising generation, forecasting, retail
distribution, and pricing;
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Working with physical retail partners to maximize sales;
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Establishing online sales distribution systems for both boxed
products and digitally distributed products;
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Fostering media and online community interest in products and
properties;
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Leveraging and strengthening the Atari brand; and
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Exploiting the marketability of our intellectual property and
products through licensing arrangements that expand application
into other gaming platforms and consumer product categories and
bring in new revenue streams such as advertising and product
placement.
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To achieve maximum benefit from our coordinated sales and
marketing programs, we employ a wide range of marketing
techniques, including:
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Understanding our consumers through professional qualitative and
quantitative research;
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Examining competitive product launches to help determine optimal
marketing budgets;
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Promoting product publicity via enthusiast and mass market
outlets, including broadcast television, internet, newspapers,
specialty magazines, and theater;
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Retail marketing and in-store promotions and displays;
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Online marketing and two way online “conversations”
with gamers;
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“Underground” marketing techniques, in which marketing
materials are placed in physical and online locations which are
frequented by targeted groups of consumers;
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Strategic partnerships and cross-promotions with other consumer
product companies and third-parties; and
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Working with “first-party” console manufacturers to
exploit their marketing opportunities, including presence on
their websites, retail exposure and public relations events.
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Our marketing approach uses a product management system to
evaluate, position, and try to improve our brands based on
analyses of market trends, consumers, competition, core
competencies, retail and “first-party” partner
support, and other key factors. Actionable results of our
analyses are provided to the product development team, which, in
turn and when reasonable, adjusts product to maximize consumer
appeal. This system is combined with entertainment marketing
approaches and techniques to create consumer and trade
anticipation, as well as demand for our products.
We monitor and measure the effectiveness of our marketing
strategies throughout the life cycle of each product. To
maximize our marketing efforts, we may deploy an integrated
marketing program for a product more than a year in advance of
its release. Historically, we have expended a substantial
portion of the marketing resources we will devote to a game
prior to the game’s retail availability, and we intend to
do so in the future.
The Internet is an integral element of our marketing efforts. We
use it, in part, to generate awareness of and “buzz”
about titles months prior to their market debut. We incorporate
the Internet into our marketing programs via video, screenshot,
and other game asset distribution; product-dedicated mini-sites;
and online promotions. We also use the Internet to establish
ongoing communication with gamers to translate their commitment
and interest in our products into word of mouth sales.
In the months leading up to the release of a new product, we
provide extensive editorial material to publications that reach
the product’s expected audience as a part of executing
customized public relations programs designed to create
awareness of our products with all relevant audiences, including
core gamers and mass entertainment consumers. These public
relations efforts have resulted in coverage in key computer and
video gaming publications and websites, as well as major
consumer sites, newspapers, magazines and broadcast outlets.
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
Licenses
Licensed
properties
We have entered into licensing agreements with a number of
licensors, including FUNimation.
We pay royalties to licensors at various rates based on our net
sales of the corresponding titles. We frequently make advance
payments against minimum guaranteed royalties over the license
term. License fees tend to be higher for properties with proven
popularity and less perceived risk of commercial failure.
Licenses are of various durations and may in some instances be
renewable upon payment of minimum royalties or the attainment of
specified sales levels. Other licenses are not renewable upon
expiration, and we cannot be sure that we will reach agreement
with the licensor to extend the term of any particular license.
Our property licenses usually grant us exclusive use of the
property for the specified titles on specified platforms,
worldwide or within a defined territory, during the license
term. Licensors typically retain the right to exploit the
property for all other purposes and to license to other
developers with regard to other properties.
In-Game
Advertising
Working with external development teams and software providers,
we incorporate two methods of advertising in certain of our
games: static advertising (fixed content within our code
executed during the product development stage) and dynamic
advertising (real time messages executed on an on-going basis).
In addition, we work with other
D-7
brands to develop “advergames,” which are original,
unique game experiences with highly customized brand
integration. Advertisers are increasingly interested in reaching
and engaging consumers, and interactive entertainment provides a
unique medium in which to do so. As such, this is a line of
business to which we plan to give increasing focus.
Hardware
licenses
We currently publish software that is developed for use with
PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PSP; Wii, and DS; and Xbox and
Xbox 360 hardware, pursuant to licensing agreements (some in
negotiation) with each of the respective hardware developers.
Each license allows us to create one or more products for the
applicable system, subject to certain approval rights, which are
reserved by each hardware licensor. Each license also requires
us to pay the hardware licensor a
per-unit
license fee for the product produced.
The following table sets forth information with respect to our
platform licenses:
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Manufacturer
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Platform
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Agreement
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Territory
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Expiration Date
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Microsoft
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Xbox
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Publisher License Agreement, dated April 18, 2000
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Determined on a title-by-title basis
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November 15, 2008
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Microsoft
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Xbox 360
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Publisher License Agreement, dated February 17, 2006
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Determined on a title-by-title basis
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November 21, 2008, with automatic one year renewals
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Nintendo
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DS
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License Agreement, dated October 14, 2005
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Western Hemisphere
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February 17, 2011
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Nintendo
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Wii
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License Agreement, dated October 17, 2006
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Western Hemisphere
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October 16, 2009
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Sony
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PlayStation 2
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Licensed Publisher Agreement, dated June 6, 2000
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US and Canada
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March 31, 2009, with automatic one year renewals
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Sony
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PlayStation Portable
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Licensed Publisher Agreement, dated March 23, 2005
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US and Canada
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March 31, 2009, with automatic one year renewals
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Sony
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PlayStation 3
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In negotiation
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US and Canada
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IESA, our majority stockholder and the distributor of the
products we publish throughout the world, other than in North
America, has entered into similar agreements (directly or
through its subsidiaries) with each of the manufacturers for
applicable territories outside North America.
We currently are not required to obtain any license for the
publishing of video game software for PCs. Accordingly, our
per-unit
manufacturing cost for such software products is less than the
per-unit
manufacturing cost for console products.
Protection
We develop proprietary software titles and have obtained the
rights to publish and distribute software titles developed by
third parties. Our products are susceptible to unauthorized
copying. Unauthorized third parties may be able to copy or to
reverse engineer our titles to obtain and use programming or
production techniques that we regard as proprietary. In
addition, our competitors could independently develop
technologies substantially equivalent or superior to our
technologies. We attempt to protect our software and production
techniques under copyright, trademark and trade secret laws as
well as through contractual restrictions on disclosure, copying
and distribution. Although we generally do not hold any patents,
we seek to obtain trademark and copyright registrations for our
products. In addition, each manufacturer incorporates security
devices in its platform to prevent unlicensed use.
D-8
DISTRIBUTION
United
States, Canada, and Mexico
Throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, we distribute
our own products, as well as the products of other publishers,
to retail outlets, utilizing our distribution operations and
systems. We are the exclusive distributor for the products of
IESA and its subsidiaries, including Atari Interactive, in the
United States and Canada for which we are paid 30% of net
revenues, under our new distribution agreement for new product.
Furthermore, we distribute product in Mexico through various
non-exclusive agreements. Utilizing point-of-sale replenishment
systems and electronic data interchange links with our largest
customers, we are able to handle high sales volume and manage
and replenish inventory on a
store-by-store
basis. We also utilize systems for our entire supply chain
management, including manufacturing, EDI/order processing,
inventory management, purchasing, and tracking of shipments. We
believe these systems accomplish:
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efficient and accurate processing of orders and payments;
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expedited order turnaround time; and
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prompt delivery.
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We distribute products we publish to a variety of outlets,
including mass-merchant retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target;
major retailers, such as Best Buy and Toys ’R’ Us;
specialty stores such as GameStop; rental chains such as
Blockbuster and Hollywood Video; and warehouse clubs such as
Sam’s Club and Costco. GameStop, Wal-Mart and Best Buy
accounted for 26.8%, 19.8%, and 11.9%, respectively, of our net
revenues for the year ended March 31, 2008 (although
Wal-Mart has announced it intends to reduce the shelf space
available for packaged video games, and to focus more attention
on online distribution of games). Additionally, our games are
made available through various online retail and
“e-tail”
companies (e.g. Amazon.com), on our website atari.com,
and through the emerging digital distribution/electronic
software download marketplace. We believe that during the coming
years, there will be a significant increase in digitally
distributed titles and we have been trying to position ourselves
to exploit this expansion of the marketplace.
Other publishers also utilize our distribution capabilities.
Generally, we acquire their products and distribute them under
the publishers’ names. Our agreements with these publishers
typically grant us retail distribution rights in designated
territories for specific periods of time, and typically are
renewable. Under such agreements, the third party publisher is
typically responsible for the publishing, packaging, marketing
and customer support of the products.
We outsource our warehouse operations in the United States to
Ditan Distribution, which is located in Plainfield, Indiana. The
warehouse operations include the receipt and storage of
inventory as well as the distribution of inventory to mass
market and other retailing customers.
Europe,
Asia and Other Regions
IESA distributes products we publish in Europe, Asia, and
elsewhere outside of North America pursuant to a distribution
arrangement we entered into in December 2007 (which replaced a
prior agreement we had entered into in 1999 as to all product
except back catalog product). IESA’s strong presence in
Europe, Asia and certain other regions provides effective
distribution in these regions of our titles while allowing us to
focus our distribution efforts in the United States, Canada, and
Mexico. IESA distributes our products to several major retailers
in Europe, Asia and certain other regions; including Auchan,
Carrefour, Mediamarket and Tesco. IESA has extensive access to
retail outlets in these regions. Under our new distribution
arrangement with IESA, we are entitled to receive 70.0% of the
net revenues on our products that are distributed by IESA.
Backlog
We typically ship products within three days of receipt of
orders. As a result, backlog is not material to our business.
D-9
MANUFACTURING
AND PACKAGING
Disk duplication and the printing of user manuals and packaging
materials with regard to games we publish are performed to our
specifications by outside sources. To date, we have not
experienced any material difficulties or delays in the
manufacture and assembly of our products, or material returns
due to product defects. There is some concentration of the
manufacture and packaging of games we publish, but a number of
other outside vendors are also available as sources for these
manufacturing and packaging services.
Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, either directly or through an
authorized third party, control the manufacture of our products
that are compatible with their respective video game consoles,
as well as the manuals and packaging for these products, and
ship the finished products to us, either directly or through
third party vendors, for distribution. Sony PlayStation 2,
PlayStation 3, and PSP, Nintendo Wii, and Microsoft Xbox and
Xbox 360 products consist of proprietary format CD- or DVD-ROMs
and are typically delivered to us within a relatively short lead
time (approximately 3-4 weeks). Manufacturers of other
Nintendo products, which use a cartridge format, typically
deliver these products to us within 45 to 60 days after
receipt of a purchase order. To date, we have not experienced
any material difficulties or delays in the manufacture and
assembly of products we distribute. However, manufacturers’
difficulties, which are beyond our control, could impair our
ability to bring products to the marketplace in a timely manner.
ONLINE
The online department had three approaches in fiscal 2008. The
purpose of these approaches was to monetize out online efforts;
turning online into a revenue generating channel for us. The
approaches were intended to ensure that we reach consumers where
they are online both now and into the future. The three
approaches were:
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Digital Sales/eCommerce. In fiscal 2008,
online revenue was derived through digital distribution of games
through both the Atari.com/us website and third party
sites. The focus for the year was to increase back catalogue
presence online through the Atari.com/us website and then
make these titles available to third party partner sites. Our
presence was increased on major partner sites such as
Direct2Drive and new partnerships were formed with sites such as
GamersGate and Steam.
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Online Marketing. We attempted to drive the
promotion of packaged media goods through the creation and
implementation of targeted cost-effective online advertising
campaigns and the development of innovative contests and
promotions. These complementary initiatives were carried out via
the tactical execution of
pay-per-click
campaigns, the design and development of product landing pages
and newsletters, and the nurturing of our online communities
based around specific product lines and titles.
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Consumer Interaction with Atari brand and Atari
products. We maintained and drove the growth of
our key website properties - Atari.com/us, Atari Play
(games.atari.com), and Atari Community
(ataricommunity.com) through digital distribution
partnerships, advertising, promotions, community management and
content creation.
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EMPLOYEES
As of the end of fiscal 2008, we had 66 employees
domestically, with 14 in publishing and product testing,
18 in administration (i.e., senior management, human
resources, legal, IT and facilities), 12 in finance, 10 in sales
and operations, and 12 in marketing. During the fiscal year, we
had domestic operations in New York, New York, and
Santa Clara, California.
RELATIONSHIP
WITH IESA
Throughout fiscal 2008, IESA owned, through a wholly-owned
subsidiary, approximately 51% of our common stock. IESA rendered
management services to us (systems and administrative support)
and we rendered management services and production services to
Atari Interactive and other subsidiaries of IESA. Atari
Interactive develops video games, and owns the name
“Atari” and the Atari logo, which we use under a
license. IESA distributes our products in Europe, Asia, and
certain other regions, and pays us royalties with regard to its
sales of our products. IESA also develops (through its
subsidiaries) products which we distribute in the U.S., Canada,
and
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Mexico and for which we pay royalties to IESA. Both IESA and
Atari Interactive have historically been a material source of
products which we bring to market in the United States, Canada,
and Mexico, and their importance increased during fiscal 2008.
IESA and its subsidiaries (primarily Atari Interactive) were the
source of approximately 26% of our net publishing product
revenue.
Prior to December 4, 2007, IESA and we had been parties to
a number of agreements under which, among other things,
(a) we were the exclusive distributor in North America of
products developed or published by IESA or its subsidiaries,
including Atari Interactive, (b) IESA was the exclusive
distributor outside of North America of products we developed or
published, (c) we paid an annual fee of $3 million to
IESA for management services it was to render to us, and
(d) IESA paid an annual fee of $3 million to us for
management and other services we rendered to its subsidiaries,
including Atari Interactive. In addition, in October 2007,
BlueBay High Yield Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. assumed the
rights and obligations of the lenders under a Credit Agreement
between us and Guggenheim Corporate Funding LLC , or Guggenheim.
Affiliates of BlueBay High Yield Investments own approximately
31.5% of the outstanding shares of IESA and hold options that,
if exercised, would increase that ownership to approximately
54.9%.
On December 4, 2007, we entered into a group of agreements
with IESA that replaced or modified then existing agreements, as
follows:
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We entered into a new Distribution Agreement that replaced the
prior Distributions Agreements (except as to back catalogue),
under which IESA granted us the exclusive right to contract with
IESA for distribution rights in the U.S., Canada and Mexico
(subject, with regard to Mexico, to our meeting volume
requirements) to all interactive entertainment software games
developed by or on behalf of IESA that are released in packaged
media format, and contemplates that IESA might grant us
distribution rights with regard to the games in digital download
format, subject to our receiving targeted annual gross revenues.
The term of the agreement is three years (or two years if
revenues are not at least 80% of targeted amounts), and it will
automatically be renewed for additional one year periods unless
either IESA or we terminates it. We pay a royalty for products
we distribute and receive a distribution fee equal to 30% of net
revenues.
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We terminated the prior agreement under which we had been
rendering production services to IESA, and agreed to transfer to
IESA substantially all the equipment that was being used by our
production team for its nominal book value, and IESA agreed to
offer employment to selected members of our production team.
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We entered into an agreement to provide quality assurance
services to IESA and two of its affiliates directly or through
third party vendors until March 31, 2008, and IESA agreed
to pay us our costs plus a 10% premium which we are currently in
process of negotiating an extension.
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We entered into an intercompany services agreement with IESA and
two affiliates that superseded the prior services agreements,
under which we agreed to provide legal, human resources,
payroll, finance, IT, management information services and
facilities management services until June 30, 2008
(extendable for three month periods) at specified costs.
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The Credit Agreement that BlueBay High Yield Investments assumed
from Guggenheim was amended to, among other things, waive prior
defaults and increase the available credit from approximately
$3.0 million to $14.0 million.
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The transactions in December 2007 followed our sale or other
disposition of all our product development assets and a license
we granted to IESA in October 2007 to develop and publish games
under the Test Drive and Test Drive Unlimited
franchise in return for the payment by IESA of royalties
based on product sales, including a $5 million prepaid
royalty to be applied, together with interest at 15% per annum,
against royalties that become due.
Matters
related to our governance
Prior to April 4, 2007, Bruno Bonnell, who was one of the
founders of IESA, was the Chief Executive Officer and the
Chairman of the Board of IESA and held various positions with
us, including being the Chairman of our Board and at times being
our Chief Executive Officer, our acting Chief Financial Officer
and our Chief Creative Officer. On April 4, 2007, IESA
entered into an agreement with Mr. Bonnell, under which
Mr. Bonnell agreed to
D-11
resign from his duties as a Director and CEO of IESA and from
all the offices he holds with subsidiaries of IESA, including
Atari and its subsidiaries. IESA agreed to pay Mr. Bonnell
a total of approximately 3.0 million Euros, including
applicable foreign taxes. Neither our Board of Directors nor any
member of our management was consulted about the agreement
between IESA and Mr. Bonnell and our management was not
provided with a copy of the agreement until more than two months
after it was signed. Mr. Bonnell resigned as a director and
officer of Atari, Inc. and of our subsidiaries on April 4,
2007.
On October 5, 2007, the IESA subsidiary that owns
approximately 51% of our shares delivered a written stockholder
consent in which it removed five of our then seven directors,
effective immediately. The two directors who were not removed
were both employees of IESA or a subsidiary.
On October 10, 11 and 12, 2007, our Board of Directors
elected Wendell H. Adair, Jr., Eugene I. Davis,
James B. Schein and Bradley E. Scher to our Board of
Directors. None of those four persons had or has any
relationship with IESA.
On October 10, 2007, our Board of Directors also elected
Curtis G. Solsvig III as our Chief Restructuring Officer.
Mr. Solsvig was a Managing Director at AlixPartners, which
we retained to assist us in evaluating and implementing
strategic and tactical operations through a restructuring
process. Mr. Solsvig continued in that position until
April 2, 2008, shortly after Jim Wilson was elected to be
our President and Chief Executive Officer.
IESA’s
Proposed Acquisition of Us.
On April 30, 2008, IESA and we entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger under which a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA
will be merged into us in a transaction in which IESA, as the
sole shareholder of the merger subsidiary, will acquire all the
shares of the merged company, and our stockholders (other than
IESA and its subsidiaries) will receive $1.68 per share in cash.
That transaction must be approved by our stockholders. Because a
wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA owns 51% of our shares, if it
votes in favor of the merger, the merger will be approved even
if no other stockholders vote in favor of it. The IESA
subsidiary is not contractually obligated to vote in favor of
the merger, however, it has stated that it intends to vote in
favor of the merger. Either IESA or we will have the right to
terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger Agreement is
submitted to our stockholders and is not approved by them, or if
the transaction is not completed by October 31, 2008. The
transaction was negotiated and approved by a Special Committee
of our Board of Directors, consisting entirely of directors who
are independent of IESA, after the Special Committee received an
opinion from Duff & Phelps that the transaction would
be fair to our stockholders, other than IESA and its
subsidiaries, from a financial point of view.
In connection with the proposed merger, IESA entered into a new
Credit Agreement with us under which it committed to provide up
to an aggregate of $20 million in loan availability, which
we could use to fund our operational cash requirements during
the period between the date of the Merger Agreement and
completion of the merger. Our obligations under that Credit
Agreement are secured by liens on substantially all of our
present and future assets. These liens are junior to liens on
essentially the same collateral that secure our obligations to
BlueBay High Yield Investments under the Credit Agreement that
it assumed in October 2007. IESA has agreed that, so long as we
have any continuing obligations to BlueBay High Yield
Investments under the BlueBay Credit Agreement, IESA will not
seek to exercise any rights or remedies with regard to the
shared collateral for a period of 270 days and will not
take action to hinder the exercise of remedies under the BlueBay
Credit Facility or object to any steps BlueBay High Yield
Investments may take to enforce or collect obligations under the
BlueBay Credit Facility. BlueBay High Yield Investments
consented to our entering into the new Credit Facility with IESA
and gave waivers under, and agreed to amendments of, the BlueBay
Credit Facility to permit the Merger Agreement to be signed.
COMPETITION
The video game software publishing industry is intensely
competitive, and relatively few products achieve market
acceptance. The availability of significant financial resources
has become a major competitive factor in the industry primarily
as a result of the increasing development, acquisition,
production and marketing, as well as potential licensing, costs
required to publish quality titles. We compete with other
third-party publishers of video game software, including
Electronic Arts, Inc., THQ, Inc., Activision, Inc., Take Two
Interactive, Inc., Midway Games, Inc., Sega Corporation, Ubisoft
Entertainment, SA, and Vivendi SA, among others. Most of these
D-12
companies are substantially larger than we are, and at least
some of them have far greater financial resources than we
currently have. In addition, we compete with first-party
publishers such as Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, which in some
instances publish their own products in competition with
third-party publishers.
Atari Interactive has granted us a license to use the name
“Atari” until 2013 for software video games in the
United States, Canada, and Mexico. We believe that the Atari
brand, which has a heritage deeply rooted in innovation and is
largely credited with launching the video game industry,
continues to carry a level of recognition that can provide a
competitive advantage. Unlike many of our competitors, our Atari
brand can be seen as three separate entities — a pop
icon, a classic gaming original and a modern interactive
entertainment company. This enhances our opportunities to
attract partnerships, talent and other vehicles, providing a
distinct advantage against our competitors.
We believe that a number of additional factors provide us with
competitive opportunities in the industry, including our
catalogue of multi-platform products, strength in the
mass-market, and strong sales forces in the United States,
Canada, and Mexico and, through IESA, in Europe, Asia and other
regions. We believe that popular franchises such as Test
Drive and RollerCoaster Tycoon, along with the
catalog of classic Atari Games, as well as attractive licenses,
such as Dragon Ball Z and Dungeons &
Dragons, provide us with a solid competitive position in the
marketing of our products.
In our distribution business, we compete with both large
national distributors and smaller regional distributors. We also
compete with the major entertainment software companies that
distribute over the internet or directly to retailers. Most of
our competitors have greater financial and other resources than
we do, and are able to carry larger inventories and provide more
comprehensive product selection than we can.
SEASONALITY
Our business is highly seasonal with sales typically
significantly higher during the calendar year-end holiday season.
SEGMENT
REPORTING AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
We operate in three reportable segments: publishing,
distribution and corporate. Please see the discussion regarding
segment reporting in Note 21 of the Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements, included in Items 7 and 8 of this
Report.
Please see Note 21 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements, included in Items 7 and 8 of this Report, for
geographic information with respect to our revenues from
external customers and our long-lived assets.
RISKS
RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
Our
business has contracted significantly.
Due primarily to our limited funds, during fiscal 2006 and 2007,
we reduced substantially our expenditures on product development
and sold the intellectual property related to some game
franchises that have generated substantial revenues for us in
the past. During fiscal 2008, we completely terminated our
product development activities and we granted IESA a seven year
license to exploit our last remaining valuable game franchise.
Further, we increasingly focused our efforts on distributing
products published by IESA. These steps substantially reduced
our revenues. In fiscal 2008, our net revenues were only
$80.1 million, compared with net revenues of
$122.3 million in fiscal 2007, $206.8 million in
fiscal 2006 and $343.8 million in fiscal 2005. Because of
this decrease in revenues, we have had significant operating
losses in each of the past several years, and in fiscal 2007, we
were required to take a $54.1 million charge for impairment
of goodwill.
We
rely on borrowings to meet our operating needs.
Prior to fiscal 2008, we financed our operating losses by
selling assets. However, by fiscal 2008, we had few salable
assets, other than the Test Drive and Test Drive
Unlimited franchise, and in October 2007, we granted IESA a
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seven year license to develop and publish games under these
franchises in exchange for a $5 million prepaid royalty
that would be credited, together with interest at 15% per annum,
against future royalties due to us under the license agreement.
This made us almost entirely reliant on borrowings to fund our
cash shortfalls. Currently, we have a $14 million Credit
Facility from BlueBay High Yield Investments, an affiliate of
the principal shareholder of IESA, which was fully borrowed at
March 31, 2008, and a $20 million Credit Agreement
with IESA to provide funds we can use for operational needs
until a proposed merger of us with a wholly-owned subsidiary of
IESA takes place or the related Merger Agreement is terminated.
If that merger does not take place, unless we can obtain new
sources of equity or debt, we will not have the cash we need to
fund our operations, even at their current reduced level.
Our
revenues are dependant to a substantial extent on the ability of
IESA to develop, or obtain the right to publish, successful
video game products.
Because we are no longer involved in the development of new
video game products, and we are focusing a substantial portion
of our efforts on distribution in North America of products
developed or published by IESA, our business will depend to a
great extent on IESA’s developing or obtaining access to
products that are popular in the North American markets. Among
other things, it is possible that some IESA products that do
well globally will not be well accepted in the North American
markets. While we will be distributing products developed or
published by companies other than IESA, as our business
currently is being conducted, it is unlikely that we could be
successful if IESA does not provide products that are popular in
North America.
Our
rights to use the “Atari” name are
limited.
The “Atari” name has been an important part of our
branding strategy, and we believe it provides us with an
important competitive advantage in dealing with video game
developers and in distributing our products. However, the
“Atari” name is owned by a subsidiary of IESA, which
has licensed us to use the name with regard to video games in
the United States, Canada, and Mexico until 2013. Therefore, we
are limited both in how we can exploit the “Atari”
name and how long we will be able to use it. We have no
agreements or understandings that assure us that we will be able
to expand the purposes for which we can use the
“Atari” name or extend the period during which we will
be able to use it.
Our
success depends on continued popularity of packaged
games.
We distribute packaged video game software. Currently, we are
not significantly involved in online distribution of games.
Among other things, IESA plans to control online distribution of
the video games it publishes. To date, despite the convenience
of acquiring games by downloading them electronically, there has
been a substantial continuing market for packaged games sold
through retail outlets. However, this may not continue to be the
case indefinitely, particularly as internet download speeds
increase. Unless we are able to become heavily involved in
online distribution, our business may be seriously injured by a
movement of purchasing preference from packaged games to online
distribution.
The
loss of GameStop, Wal-Mart, or Best Buy as key customers could
negatively affect our business.
Our sales to GameStop, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy accounted for
approximately 26.8%, 19.8%, and 11.9%, respectively, of net
revenues (excluding international royalty, licensing, and other
income) for the year ended March 31, 2008. Our business,
results of operations and financial condition would be adversely
affected if:
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we lost any of these retailers as a customer;
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any of these retailers purchased significantly fewer products
from us;
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we were unable to collect receivables from any of these
retailers on a timely basis or at all; or
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we experienced any other adverse change in our relationship with
any of these retailers.
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Wal-Mart has announced that it intends to reduce the shelf space
it devotes to packaged video games, and to focus more of its
efforts on marketing video games through its online store. That
alone could have a substantial adverse effect on our revenues.
D-14
Termination
or modification of our agreements with hardware manufacturers
will adversely affect our business.
We are required to obtain a license to develop and distribute
software for each of the video game consoles. We currently have
licenses from Sony to develop products for PlayStation 2 and
PSP, from Nintendo to develop products for Wii and DS and from
Microsoft to develop products for Xbox and Xbox 360. We are
currently negotiating a license for Sony PlayStation 3. These
licenses are non-exclusive, and as a result, many of our
competitors also have licenses to develop and distribute video
game software for these systems. These licenses must be
periodically renewed, and if they are not, or if any of our
licenses are terminated or adversely modified, we may not be
able to publish games for the applicable platforms or we may be
required to do so on less attractive terms. In addition, our
contracts with these manufacturers often grant them approval
rights over new products and control over the manufacturing of
our products. In some circumstances, this could adversely affect
our business, results of operations or financial condition by:
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terminating a project for which we have expended significant
resources;
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leaving us unable to have our products manufactured and shipped
to customers;
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increasing manufacturing lead times and expense to us over the
lead times and costs we could achieve if we were able to
manufacture our products independently;
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delaying the manufacture and, in turn, the shipment of
products; and
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requiring us to take significant risks in prepaying for and
holding an inventory of products.
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If
returns and other concessions given to our customers exceed our
reserves, our business may be negatively affected.
To cover returns and other concessions, we establish reserves at
the time we ship our products. We estimate the potential for
future returns and other concessions based on, among other
factors, management’s evaluation of historical experience,
market acceptance of products produced, retailer inventory
levels, budgeted customer allowances, the nature of the title
and existing commitments to customers. While we are able to
recover the majority of our costs when third-party products we
distribute are returned, we bear the full financial risk when
our own products are returned. In addition, the license fees we
pay Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are non-refundable and we
cannot recover these fees when our products are returned.
Although we believe we maintain adequate reserves with respect
to product returns and other concessions, we cannot be certain
that actual returns and other concessions will not exceed our
reserves, which could adversely affect our business, results of
operations and financial condition.
Significant
competition in our industry could adversely affect our
business.
The video game software market is highly competitive and
relatively few products achieve significant market acceptance.
Currently, we compete primarily with other publishers of video
game software for both video game consoles and PCs. Our
competitors include Activision, Inc., Electronic Arts, Inc.,
Midway Games, Inc., Take Two Interactive, Inc., THQ, Inc., Sega
Corporation, Ubisoft Entertainment, SA, and Vivendi SA, among
others. Most of these companies are substantially larger and
have better access to funds than us. In addition, console
manufacturers including Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony publish
products for their respective platforms. Media companies and
film studios, such as Warner Bros., are increasing their focus
on the video game software market and may become significant
competitors
and/or may
increase the price of their outbound licenses. Current and
future competitors may also gain access to wider distribution
channels than we do. As a result, these current and future
competitors may be able to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
respond more quickly than we can to new or emerging technologies
or changes in customer preferences;
|
|
|
•
|
carry larger inventories than we do;
|
|
|
•
|
undertake more extensive marketing campaigns than we do;
|
|
|
•
|
adopt more aggressive pricing policies than we can; and
|
|
|
•
|
make higher offers or guarantees to software developers and
licensors than we can.
|
D-15
We may not have the resources required for us to respond
effectively to market or technological changes or to compete
successfully with current and future competitors. Increased
competition may also result in price reductions, reduced gross
margins and loss of market share, any of which could have a
material adverse effect on our business, results of operations
or financial condition.
Retailers of our products typically have a limited amount of
shelf space and promotional resources. Therefore, there is
increased competition amongst the publishers to deliver a high
quality product that merits retail acceptance. To the extent
that the number of products and platforms increases, competition
for shelf space may intensify and may require us to increase our
marketing expenditures. Due to increased competition for limited
shelf space, retailers are in a strong position to negotiate
favorable terms of sale, including price discounts, price
protection, marketing and display fees and product return
policies. We cannot be certain that retailers will continue to
purchase our products or to provide our products with adequate
levels of shelf space and promotional support on acceptable
terms. A prolonged failure in this regard may significantly harm
our business and financial results.
We may
face increased competition and downward price pressure if we are
unable to protect our intellectual property
rights.
Our business is heavily dependent upon our confidential and
proprietary intellectual property. We sell a significant portion
of our published software under licenses from independent
software developers, and, in these cases, we do not acquire the
copyrights for the underlying work. We rely primarily on a
combination of confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements,
patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, as well as
other proprietary rights laws and legal methods, to protect our
proprietary rights and the intellectual property rights of our
developers. However, current U.S. and international laws
afford us only limited protection and amendments to such laws or
newly enacted laws may weaken existing protections. Despite our
efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties
may attempt to copy our products or franchises, or obtain and
use information that we regard as proprietary. Software piracy
is also a persistent problem in the video game software
industry. Policing unauthorized use of our products is extremely
difficult because video game software can be easily duplicated
and disseminated. Furthermore, the laws of some foreign
countries may not protect our proprietary rights to as great an
extent as U.S. law. Our business, results of operations and
financial condition could be adversely affected if a significant
amount of unauthorized copying of our products were to occur or
if other parties develop products substantially similar to our
products. We cannot assure you that our attempts to protect our
proprietary rights will be adequate or that our competitors will
not independently develop similar or competitive products.
We may
face intellectual property infringement claims which would be
costly to resolve.
As the number of available video game software products
increases, and their functionality overlaps, software developers
and publishers may increasingly become subject to infringement
claims. We are not aware that any of our products infringe on
the proprietary rights of third parties. However, we cannot
provide any assurance that third parties will not assert
infringement claims against us in the future with respect to
past, current or future products. There has been substantial
litigation in the industry regarding copyright, trademark and
other intellectual property rights. We have sometimes initiated
litigation to assert our intellectual property rights. Whether
brought by or against us, these claims can be time consuming,
result in costly litigation and divert management’s
attention from our day-to-day operations, which can have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and
financial condition.
We may
be burdened with payment defaults and uncollectible accounts if
our customers do not or cannot satisfy their payment
obligations.
Distributors and retailers in the video game software industry
have, from time to time, experienced significant fluctuations in
their businesses, and a number of them have become insolvent.
The insolvency or business failure of any significant retailer
or distributor of our products could materially harm our
business, results of operations and financial condition. We
typically make sales to most of our retailers and some
distributors on unsecured credit, with terms that vary depending
upon the customer’s credit history, solvency, credit limits
and sales history. In addition, while we maintain a reserve for
uncollectible receivables, the reserve may not be sufficient in
every circumstance. As a result, a payment default by a
significant customer could significantly harm our business and
results of operations.
D-16
Our
software is subject to governmental restrictions or rating
systems.
Legislation is periodically introduced at the local, state and
federal levels in the United States and in foreign countries to
establish systems for providing consumers with information about
graphic violence and sexually explicit material contained in
video game software. In addition, many foreign countries have
laws that permit governmental entities to censor the content and
advertising of video game software. We believe that mandatory
government-run rating systems may eventually be adopted in many
countries that are potential markets for our products. We may be
required to modify our products or alter our marketing
strategies to comply with new regulations, which could increase
development costs and delay the release of our products in those
countries. Due to the uncertainties regarding such rating
systems, confusion in the marketplace may occur, and we are
unable to predict what effect, if any, such rating systems would
have on our business.
In addition to such regulations, certain retailers have in the
past declined to stock some of our and our competitors’
video game products because they believed that the content of
the packaging artwork or the products would be offensive to the
retailer’s customer base. Although to date these actions
have not impacted our business, we cannot assure you that
similar actions by our distributors or retailers in the future
would not cause material harm to our business.
We may
become subject to litigation which could be expensive or
disruptive.
Similar to our competitors in the video game software industry,
we have been and will likely become subject to litigation. Such
litigation may be costly and time consuming and may divert
management’s attention from our day-to-day operations. In
addition, we cannot assure you that such litigation will be
ultimately resolved in our favor or that an adverse outcome will
not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations and financial condition.
RISKS
RELATED TO OUR CORPORATE STRUCTURE AND FINANCING
ARRANGEMENTS
IESA
controls us and could prevent a transaction favorable to our
other stockholders.
IESA beneficially owns approximately 51% of our common stock,
which gives it sufficient voting power to prevent any
transaction that it finds unfavorable, including an acquisition,
consolidation or sale of shares or assets that might be
desirable to our other stockholders. Additionally, IESA could
unilaterally approve certain transactions as a result of its
majority position. IESA also has sufficient voting power to
elect all of the members of our Board of Directors. On
April 30, 2008, IESA and we entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger under which a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA
will be merged into us in a transaction in which IESA, as the
sole shareholder of the merger subsidiary, will acquire all the
shares of the merged company, and our stockholders (other than
IESA and its subsidiaries) will receive $1.68 per share in cash.
That transaction must be approved by our stockholders. Because a
wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA owns 51% of our shares, if it
votes in favor of the merger, the merger will be approved even
if no other stockholders vote in favor of it. The IESA
subsidiary is not contractually obligated to vote in favor of
the merger, however, it has stated that it intends to vote in
favor of the merger. This concentration of control could be
disadvantageous to other stockholders whose interests differ
from those of IESA.
Our
affiliates retain considerable control over the Atari
trademarks, and their oversight or exploitation of such
trademarks could affect our business.
Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of IESA, has
granted us the right to use the Atari name for software video
games in the United States, Canada, and Mexico until 2013.
However, in addition to an initial upfront payment we made in
2003, we must pay a royalty equal to 1% of our net revenues
during each of 2009 through 2013. We are subject to quality
control oversight for our use of the Atari name. Any disputes
over our performance under the trademark license agreement could
materially affect our business. Furthermore, the use of the
Atari mark by Atari Interactive or other subsidiaries of IESA
could affect the reputation or value associated with the Atari
mark, and therefore materially affect our business.
D-17
RISKS
RELATED TO OUR COMMON STOCK
Our
Common Stock has been delisted from the NASDAQ Global
Market.
Effective May 9, 2008, our Common Stock was delisted from
the NASDAQ Global Market because the total market value of our
shares that were not owned by an affiliate (i.e., IESA) was less
than $15 million. Since then, our Common Stock has been
quoted on the Pink Sheets. One of the consequences of our Common
Stock not being listed on the NASDAQ Global Market or a national
stock exchange is that we are not subject to securities exchange
rules regarding corporate governance and other matters. While we
continue to maintain governance practices we adopted when we
were subject to the rules of the NASDAQ Global Market, we are
not required to do so. We have appealed the delisting of our
Common Stock, but there is a strong likelihood that the
delisting will not be reversed.
The
price of our Common Stock is substantially affected by our
Merger Agreement with IESA.
On March 5, 2008, we announced that we received a letter of
intent from IESA expressing their nonbinding intent to enter
into a transaction in which our shareholders, other than IESA
and its subsidiaries, would receive $1.68 per share in cash with
regard to their shares of our Common Stock. On April 30,
2008, we announced that we had entered into a Plan and Agreement
of Merger with IESA under which our shareholders, other than
IESA and its subsidiaries, would receive $1.68 per share in cash
with regard to their shares of our stock. Since March 5,
2008, the price of our shares has ranged between $1.68 and
$1.43. It is likely that the price of our shares during that
period has been influenced by the announced transaction with
IESA, and that price may not reflect what the price of our
shares would have been in the absence of the proposed IESA
transaction.
AVAILABLE
INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings, including
our annual report on
Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q,
current reports on
Form 8-K,
and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant
to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act, are available to the
public free of charge over the Internet at our website at
http://www.atari.com
or at the SEC’s web site at
http://www.sec.gov.
Our SEC filings will be available on our website as soon as
reasonably practicable after we have electronically filed or
furnished them to the SEC. You may also read and copy any
document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You
may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
|
|
ITEM 1B.
|
UNRESOLVED
STAFF COMMENTS
|
None.
The following table contains the detail of the square footage of
our leased properties by geographic location as of
March 31, 2008:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
North
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
America
|
|
|
Europe
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
New York
|
|
|
35,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
35,000
|
|
California
|
|
|
20,476
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
20,476
|
|
Washington
|
|
|
65,500
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
65,500
|
|
Newcastle, UK
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
14,576
|
|
|
|
14,576
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
120,976
|
|
|
|
14,576
|
|
|
|
135,552
|
|
New York. In fiscal 2008, our principal
offices were located in approximately 70,000 square feet of
office space at 417 Fifth Avenue in New York City. The term
of this lease commenced on July 1, 2006 and is to expire on
June 30, 2021. In August 2007, we agreed to surrender,
effective December 31, 2007, one-half of the square feet of
the space we are leasing. During fiscal 2008, we also leased
corporate residences in the greater New York City area for use
by our executive officers, directors, and consultants. All such
leases have expired.
D-18
California. During a portion of fiscal
2008, we leased approximately 16,460 square feet of office
space in Newport Beach, California for use by Shiny, an internal
development studio which was sold in September 2006 (see
Development). This lease had been subleased to the
purchaser of Shiny; the lease expired in August 2007. Since
December 2006, we have leased approximately 4,016 square
feet of office space in Santa Clara, California, which
expires in December 2009. A portion of the rent is being billed
back to IESA.
Washington. During fiscal 2008, we
leased approximately 65,500 square feet of office space in
Bothell, Washington, under a lease which expired in May 2008.
Massachusetts. For a portion of fiscal
2008, we subleased a portion of the 53,184 square feet of
the office space leased by Atari Interactive in Beverly,
Massachusetts. Our sublease expired in June 2007.
Europe. In Newcastle upon Tyne, United
Kingdom, we lease 14,576 square feet of office space, that
was occupied by our formerly wholly-owned Reflections studio,
which was sold in August 2006. This lease expires in August
2011. The purchaser of Reflections currently subleases this
space from us in a sublease which expires in September 2008.
|
|
ITEM 3.
|
LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
|
Our management believes that the ultimate resolution of any of
the matters summarized below
and/or any
other claims which are not stated herein, if any, will not have
a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition
or results of operations. With respect to matters in which we
are the defendant, we believe that the underlying complaints are
without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.
Bouchat v.
Champion Products, et al. (Accolade)
This suit involving Accolade, Inc. (a predecessor entity of
Atari, Inc.) was filed in 1999 in the District Court of
Maryland. The plaintiff originally sued the NFL claiming
copyright infringement of a logo being used by the Baltimore
Ravens that plaintiff allegedly designed. The plaintiff then
also sued nearly 500 other defendants, licensees of the NFL, on
the same basis. The NFL hired White & Case to
represent all the defendants. Plaintiff filed an amended
complaint in 2002. In 2003, the District Court held that
plaintiff was precluded from recovering actual damages, profits
or statutory damages against the defendants, including Accolade.
Plaintiff has appealed the District Court’s ruling to the
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. White & Case
continues to represent Accolade and the NFL continues to bear
the cost of the defense.
Ernst &
Young, Inc. v. Atari, Inc.
On July 21, 2006 we were served with a complaint filed by
Ernst & Young as Interim Receiver for HIP Interactive,
Inc. This suit was filed in New York State Supreme Court, New
York County. HIP is a Canadian company that has gone into
bankruptcy. HIP contracted with us to have us act as its
distributor for various software products in the U.S. HIP
is alleging breach of contract claims; to wit, that we failed to
pay HIP for product in the amount of $0.7 million. We will
investigate filing counter claims against HIP, as HIP owes us,
via our Canadian Agent, Hyperactive, for our product distributed
in Canada. Atari Inc.’s answer and counterclaim was filed
in August of 2006 and Atari, Inc. initiated discovery against
Ernst & Young at the same time. The parties are
currently in settlement discussions.
Research
in Motion Limited v. Atari, Inc. and Atari Interactive,
Inc.
On October 26, 2006 Research in Motion Limited
(“RIM”) filed a claim against Atari, Inc. and Atari
Interactive, Inc. in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. RIM
is seeking a declaration that (i) the game BrickBreaker, as
well as the copyright, distribution, sale and communication to
the public of copies of the game in Canada and the United
States, does not infringe any Atari copyright for Breakout or
Super Breakout (together “Breakout”) in Canada or the
United States, (ii) the audio-visual displays of Breakout
do not constitute a work protected by copyright under Canadian
law, and (iii) Atari holds no right, title or interest in
Breakout under US or Canadian law. RIM is also requesting the
costs of the action and such other relief as the court deems.
Breakout and Super Breakout are games owned by Atari
Interactive, Inc. On January 19, 2007, RIM added claims to
its case
D-19
requesting a declaration that (i) its game Meteor Crusher
does not infringe Atari copyright for its game Asteroids in
Canada, (ii) the audio-visual displays of Asteroids do not
constitute a work protected under Canadian law, and
(iii) Atari holds no right, title or interest in Asteroids
under Canadian law. In August 2007, the Court ruled against
Atari’s December 2006 motion to have the RIM claims
dismissed on the grounds that there is no statutory relief
available to RIM under Canadian law. Each party will now be
required to deliver an affidavit of documents specifying all
documents in their possession, power and control relevant to the
issues in the Ontario action. Following the exchange of
documents, examinations for discovery will be scheduled.
Stanley v.
IESA, Atari, Inc. and Atari, Inc. Board of Directors
On April 18, 2008, Christian M. Stanley, a purported
stockholder of Atari (“Plaintiff”), filed a Verified
Class Action Complaint against us, certain of our directors
and former directors, and Infogrames, in the Delaware Court of
Chancery. In summary, the complaint alleges that our directors
breached their fiduciary duties to our unaffiliated stockholders
by entering into an agreement that allows Infogrames to acquire
the outstanding shares of our common stock at an unfairly low
price. An Amended Complaint was filed on May 20, 2008,
updating the allegations of the initial complaint to challenge
certain provisions of the definitive merger agreement. On the
same day, Plaintiff filed motions to expedite the suit and to
preliminarily enjoin the merger. Plaintiff filed a Second
Amended Complaint on June 30, 2008, further amending the
complaint to challenge the adequacy of the disclosures contained
in the Preliminary Proxy Statement on Form PREM 14A
submitted in support of the proposed merger and asserting a
claim against us and Infogrames for aiding and abetting the
directors’ and former directors’ breach of their
fiduciary duties.
The Plaintiff alleges that the $1.68 per share offering price
represents no premium over the closing price of our stock on
March 5, 2008, the last day of trading before we announced
the proposed merger transaction. Plaintiff alleges that in light
of Infogrames’ approximately 51.6% ownership of us, our
unaffiliated stockholders have no voice in deciding whether to
accept the proposed merger transaction, and Plaintiff challenges
certain of the “no shop” and termination fee
provisions of the merger agreement. Plaintiff claims that the
named directors are engaging in self-dealing and acting in
furtherance of their own interests at the expense of those of
our unaffiliated stockholders. Plaintiff also alleges that the
disclosures in the Preliminary Proxy are deficient in that they
fail to disclose material financial information and the
information presented to and considered by the Board and its
advisors. Plaintiff asks the court to enjoin the proposed merger
transaction, or alternatively, to rescind it in the event that
it is consummated. In addition, Plaintiff seeks damages suffered
as a result of the directors’ alleged violation of their
fiduciary duties. The parties have agreed to expedited
proceedings contemplating a hearing in mid-August on
Plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction.
We believe the suit to be entirely without merit and intend to
oppose the action vigorously.
|
|
ITEM 4.
|
SUBMISSION
OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
|
None.
D-20
PART II
|
|
ITEM 5.
|
MARKET
FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED
STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY
SECURITIES
|
Until May 8, 2008, our Common Stock was quoted on the
NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “ATAR.” Since
May 9, 2008, it has been quoted on the Pink Sheets under
the symbol “ATAR.PK.” The high and low sale prices for
our Common Stock as reported by the NASDAQ Global Market for the
fiscal years ended March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008
(adjusted to give effect to a one-for-ten reverse stock split
that was effective on January 3, 2007) are summarized
below.
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High
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Low
|
|
|
Fiscal 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
9.70
|
|
|
$
|
4.70
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$
|
7.90
|
|
|
$
|
4.75
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$
|
6.00
|
|
|
$
|
4.60
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$
|
6.50
|
|
|
$
|
2.94
|
|
Fiscal 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter
|
|
$
|
4.11
|
|
|
$
|
2.67
|
|
Second Quarter
|
|
$
|
2.97
|
|
|
$
|
1.96
|
|
Third Quarter
|
|
$
|
3.09
|
|
|
$
|
1.25
|
|
Fourth Quarter
|
|
$
|
1.81
|
|
|
$
|
0.86
|
|
On June 27, 2008, the last sale price of our Common Stock
reported on the Pink Sheets was $1.64. On March 4, 2008,
the last trading day before we announced a letter of intent
regarding our being acquired by IESA in a transaction in which
our shareholders other than IESA and its subsidiaries would
receive $1.68 per share in cash, the last sale price of our
Common Stock reported on the NASDAQ Global Market was $1.68. On
April 29, 2008, the last trading day before we announced
that we had entered into a Plan and Agreement of Merger under
which we would become a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA and our
stockholders other than IESA and its subsidiaries would receive
$1.68 per share in cash, the last sale price of our Common Stock
reported on the NASDAQ Global Market was $1.58. As of
June 27, 2008, there were approximately 362 record
owners of our Common Stock.
We currently anticipate that we will retain all of our future
earnings for use in the expansion and operation of our business.
We have not paid any cash dividends nor do we anticipate paying
any cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable
future. In addition, the payment of cash dividends may be
limited by financing agreements entered into by us.
D-21
Performance
Graph
The following graph compares total shareholder return for the
company at March 31, 2008 to the RDG Technology Composite,
the NASDAQ Composite index and a peer group consisting of
Electronic Arts Inc., Activision, Inc., THQ, Inc., TakeTwo
Interactive Software, Inc., and Midway Games, Inc. We selected
the RDG Technology Composite because it is a broad based index
that includes companies with product mixes similar to ours
(although it also includes companies with very different product
offerings). We selected companies for inclusion in what we view
as a peer group because they have offer products similar to
those we offer. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on
March 31, 2003.
COMPARISON
OF 5 YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Atari, Inc., The NASDAQ Composite Index,
The RDG Technology Composite Index And A Peer Group
|
|
|
* |
|
$100 invested on 3/31/03 in stock or index-including
reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending March 31. |
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
|
Comparative Total Return Analysis
|
|
|
2003
|
|
2004
|
|
2005
|
|
2006
|
|
2007
|
|
2008
|
Atari, Inc.
|
|
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
191.57
|
|
|
|
177.53
|
|
|
|
35.96
|
|
|
|
18.60
|
|
|
|
8.15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
NASDAQ Composite
|
|
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
151.41
|
|
|
|
152.88
|
|
|
|
181.51
|
|
|
|
190.24
|
|
|
|
177.63
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
RDG Technology Composite
|
|
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
144.19
|
|
|
|
138.29
|
|
|
|
160.94
|
|
|
|
171.12
|
|
|
|
169.78
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Peer Group
|
|
|
100.00
|
|
|
|
186.50
|
|
|
|
191.05
|
|
|
|
202.86
|
|
|
|
206.74
|
|
|
|
218.75
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Securities
Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation
Plans
The table setting forth this information is included in
Part III — Item 12. Security Ownership of
Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.
Recent
Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Purchase
of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated
Purchases.
None.
D-22
|
|
ITEM 6.
|
SELECTED
FINANCIAL DATA
|
The following tables set forth selected consolidated financial
information which the years ended March 31, 2004, 2005,
2006, 2007, and 2008, is derived from our audited consolidated
financial statements.
In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, management committed to a
plan to divest of our previously wholly-owned Reflections studio
and its related Driver intellectual property, and in
August 2006, we sold to a third party the Driver
intellectual property as well as certain assets of Reflections.
Therefore, beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2007, we
began to classify the results of Reflections as results of
discontinued operations, and all prior period financial
statements have been restated retroactively to reflect this
classification.
These tables should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated
Financial Statements, including the notes thereto, appearing
elsewhere in this
Form 10-K.
See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005(1)
|
|
|
2006(1)(2)
|
|
|
2007(1)(2)(3)
|
|
|
2008(1)
|
|
|
Statement of Operations Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
465,639
|
|
|
$
|
343,837
|
|
|
$
|
206,796
|
|
|
$
|
122,285
|
|
|
$
|
80,131
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
20,840
|
|
|
|
(23,970
|
)
|
|
|
(62,977
|
)
|
|
|
(77,644
|
)
|
|
|
(21,862
|
)
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations
|
|
|
13,606
|
|
|
|
(14,855
|
)
|
|
|
(63,375
|
)
|
|
|
(66,586
|
)
|
|
|
(23,334
|
)
|
(Loss) income from discontinued operations of Reflections
Interactive Ltd, net of tax provision of $0, $9,352, $7,559, and
$0 respectively
|
|
|
(12,840
|
)
|
|
|
20,547
|
|
|
|
(5,611
|
)
|
|
|
(3,125
|
)
|
|
|
(312
|
)
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
5,692
|
|
|
|
(68,986
|
)
|
|
|
(69,711
|
)
|
|
|
(23,646
|
)
|
Dividend to parent
|
|
|
(39,351
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Income (loss) attributable to common stockholders
|
|
$
|
(38,585
|
)
|
|
$
|
5,692
|
|
|
$
|
(68,986
|
)
|
|
$
|
(69,711
|
)
|
|
$
|
(23,646
|
)
|
Basic and diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common
stockholders(4):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
|
$
|
(1.22
|
)
|
|
$
|
(4.93
|
)
|
|
$
|
(4.94
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.73
|
)
|
(Loss) income from discontinued operations of Reflections
Interactive Ltd, net of tax
|
|
|
(1.32
|
)
|
|
|
1.69
|
|
|
|
(0.43
|
)
|
|
|
(0.23
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
0.08
|
|
|
|
0.47
|
|
|
|
(5.36
|
)
|
|
|
(5.17
|
)
|
|
|
(1.75
|
)
|
Dividend to parent
|
|
|
(4.06
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) attributable to common stockholders
|
|
$
|
(3.98
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.47
|
|
|
$
|
(5.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(5.17
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.75
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic weighted average shares outstanding(4)
|
|
|
9,699
|
|
|
|
12,128
|
|
|
|
12,863
|
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding(4)
|
|
|
9,699
|
|
|
|
12,159
|
|
|
|
12,863
|
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
During fiscal 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, we recorded
restructuring expenses of $4.9 million, $8.9 million,
$0.7 million and $6.5 million, respectively. |
|
(2) |
|
During fiscal 2006, we recorded a gain on sale of intellectual
property of $6.2 million and in fiscal 2007, we recorded a
gain on sale of intellectual property of $9.0 million and a
gain on sale of development studio assets of $0.9 million.
Additionally, in fiscal 2007 the gain on sale of Reflections of
$11.5 million is included as a reduction of the loss from
discontinued operations. |
|
(3) |
|
During fiscal 2007, we recorded an impairment loss on our
goodwill of $54.1 million, which is included in the loss
from continuing operations. |
D-23
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Reflects the one-for-ten reverse stock split effected on
January 3, 2007. All periods have been restated
retroactively to reflect the reverse stock split. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
8,858
|
|
|
$
|
9,988
|
|
|
$
|
14,948
|
|
|
$
|
7,603
|
|
|
$
|
11,087
|
|
Working capital (deficiency)
|
|
|
25,844
|
|
|
|
34,467
|
|
|
|
(2,996
|
)
|
|
|
1,213
|
|
|
|
(12,796
|
)
|
Total assets
|
|
|
193,956
|
|
|
|
190,039
|
|
|
|
143,670
|
|
|
|
42,819
|
|
|
|
33,433
|
|
Total debt
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
14,000
|
|
Stockholders’ equity (deficiency)
|
|
|
115,063
|
|
|
|
120,667
|
|
|
|
73,212
|
|
|
|
3,094
|
|
|
|
(20,412
|
)
|
|
|
ITEM 7.
|
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
|
Overview
Until 2005, we were actively involved in developing video games
and in financing development of video games by independent
developers, which we would publish and distribute under licenses
from the developers. However, beginning in 2005, because of cash
constraints, we substantially reduced our involvement in
development of video games, and announced plans to divest
ourselves of our internal development studios.
During fiscal 2007, we sold a number of intellectual properties
and development facilities in order to obtain cash to fund our
operations. During 2007, we raised approximately
$35.0 million through the sale of the rights to the
Driver games and certain other intellectual property, and
the sale of our Reflections Interactive Ltd
(“Reflections”) and Shiny Entertainment
(“Shiny”) studios. By the end of fiscal 2007, we did
not own any development studios.
The reduction in our development activities has significantly
reduced the number of games we publish. During fiscal 2008, our
revenues from publishing activities were $69.8 million,
compared with $104.7 million during fiscal 2007.
For the year ended March 31, 2007, we had an operating loss
of $77.6 million, which included a charge of
$54.1 million for the impairment of our goodwill, which is
related to our publishing unit. For the year ended
March 31, 2008, we incurred an operating loss of
approximately $21.9 million. We have taken significant
steps to reduce our costs such as our May 2007 and November 2007
workforce reduction of approximately 20% and 30%, respectively.
Our ability to deliver products on time depends in good part on
developers’ ability to meet completion schedules. Further,
our expected releases in fiscal 2008 were even fewer than our
releases in fiscal 2007. In addition, most of our releases for
fiscal 2008 were focused on the holiday season. As a result our
cash needs have become more seasonal and we face significant
cash requirements to fund our working capital needs.
The following series of events and transactions which have
occurred since September 30, 2007, have caused or are part
of our current restructuring initiatives intended to allow us to
devote more resources to focusing on our distribution business
strategy, provide liquidity, and to mitigate our future cash
requirements (for further description see Note 1 in our
financial statement footnotes included in this Annual Report):
|
|
|
|
•
|
Guggenheim Corporate Funding LLC Covenant Default;
|
|
|
•
|
Removal of the Atari, Inc. Board of Directors;
|
|
|
•
|
Transfer of the Guggenheim credit facility to BlueBay High
Yield Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L.;
|
|
|
•
|
Test Drive Intellectual Property License;
|
|
|
•
|
Overhead Reduction;
|
|
|
•
|
Global Memorandum of Understanding;
|
|
|
•
|
Short Form Distribution Agreement;
|
|
|
•
|
Termination and Transfer of Assets Agreement;
|
D-24
|
|
|
|
•
|
QA Services Agreement;
|
|
|
•
|
Intercompany Services Agreement;
|
|
|
•
|
Agreement and Plan of Merger;
|
|
|
•
|
Credit Agreement; and
|
|
|
•
|
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment.
|
Although, the above transactions provided cash financing that
should meet our need through our fiscal 2009 second quarter (the
quarter ending September 30, 2008), management continues to
pursue other options to meet our working capital cash
requirements but there is no guarantee that we will be able to
do so if the proposed transaction in which IESA would acquire us
is not completed.
Historically, we have relied on IESA to provide limited
financial support to us, through loans or, in recent years,
through purchases of assets. However, IESA has its own financial
needs, and its ability to fund its subsidiaries’
operations, including ours, is limited. Therefore, there can be
no assurance we will ultimately receive any funding from IESA,
if the proposed transaction in which IESA would acquire us is
not completed.
The uncertainty caused by these above conditions raises
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going
concern, unless the proposed transaction in which IESA would
acquire us is completed promptly. Our consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from
the outcome of this uncertainty.
We continue to explore various alternatives to improve our
financial position and secure sources of financing which could
include forming both operational and financial strategic
partnerships, entering into new arrangements to license
intellectual property, and selling, licensing or sub-licensing
selected owned intellectual property and licensed rights. We
continue to examine the reduction of working capital
requirements to further conserve cash and may need to take
additional actions in the near-term, which may include
additional personnel reductions.
The above actions may or may not prove to be consistent with our
long-term strategic objectives, which have been shifted in the
last fiscal year, as we have discontinued our internal and
external development activities. We cannot guarantee the
completion of these actions or that such actions will generate
sufficient resources to fully address the uncertainties of our
financial position.
Business
and Operating Segments
We are a global publisher of video game software for gaming
enthusiasts and the mass-market audience, and a distributor of
video game software in North America.
We publish and distribute (both retail and digital) games for
all platforms, including Sony PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and
PSP; Nintendo, DS, and Wii; Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360; and
personal computers, referred to as PCs. We also publish and
sublicense games for the wireless, internet (casual games,
MMOGs), and other evolving platforms. Our diverse portfolio of
products extends across most major video game genres, including
action, adventure, strategy, role-playing, and racing. Our
products are based on intellectual properties that we have
created internally and own or that have been licensed to us by
third parties. During fiscal 2007 we sold our remaining internal
development studios and during fiscal 2008, we stopped financing
development of games by independent developers which we would
publish and distribute. Through our relationship with IESA, our
products are distributed exclusively by IESA throughout Europe,
Asia and other regions. Through our distribution agreement with
IESA, we publish and sublicense in North America games owned or
licensed by IESA or its subsidiaries, including Atari
Interactive. In 2009, we plan to increase our focus on North
American publishing and distribution of IESA product.
In addition to our publishing, we also distribute video game
software in North America for titles developed by third-party
publishers with whom we have contracts. As a distributor of
video game software throughout the U.S., we maintain
distribution operations and systems that reach in excess of
30,000 retail outlets nationwide. Consumers have access to
interactive software through a variety of outlets, including
mass-merchant retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target; major
retailers, such as Best Buy and Toys ’R’ Us; and
specialty stores such as GameStop. Our sales to
D-25
key customers GameStop, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy accounted for
approximately 26.8%, 19.8%, and 11.9%, respectively, of net
revenues (excluding international royalty, licensing, and other
income) for the year ended March 31, 2008. No other
customers had sales in excess of 10% of net product revenues.
Additionally, our games are made available through various
internet, online, and wireless networks.
Key
Challenges
The video game software industry has experienced an increased
rate of change and complexity in the technological innovations
of video game hardware and software. In addition to these
technological innovations, there has been greater competition
for shelf space as well as increased buyer selectivity. There is
also increased competition for creative and executive talent. As
a result, the video game industry has become increasingly
hit-driven, which has led to higher per game production budgets,
longer and more complex development processes, and generally
shorter product life cycles. The importance of the timely
release of hit titles, as well as the increased scope and
complexity of the product development process, have increased
the need for disciplined product development processes that
limit costs and overruns. This, in turn, has increased the
importance of leveraging the technologies, characters or
storylines of existing hit titles into additional video game
software franchises in order to spread development costs among
multiple products.
We suffered large operating losses during fiscal 2006, 2007 and
2008. To fund these losses, we sold assets, including
intellectual property rights related to game franchises that had
generated substantial revenues for us and including our
development studios. During 2008, we granted IESA an exclusive
license with regard to the Test Drive franchise in
consideration for a $5 million related party advance which
shall accrue interest at a yearly rate of 15% throughout the
term. We do not have significant additional assets we could
sell, if we are going to continue to engage in our current
activities. However, we have both short and long term need for
funds. As of March 31, 2008, our only credit line was our
$14.0 million Bluebay Credit Facility and it was fully
drawn. In connection with the Merger Agreement with IESA, we
obtained a $20 million interim credit line granted from
IESA, which will terminate when the merger takes place or when
the Merger Agreement terminates without the merger taking place.
At June 12, 2008, we had borrowed $6.0 million under
the IESA credit line. The funds available under the two credit
lines may not be sufficient to enable us to meet anticipated
seasonal cash needs if the merger does not take place before the
fall 2008 holiday season inventory buildup. Management continues
to pursue other options to meet the cash requirements for
funding to meet our working capital cash requirements but there
is no guarantee that we will be able to do so.
The “Atari” name, which we do not own, but license
from an IESA subsidiary, has been an important part of our
branding strategy, and we believe it provides us with an
important competitive advantage in dealing with video game
developers and in distributing products. Further, our management
at times worked on a strategic plan to replace part of the
revenues we lost in recent years by expanding into new emerging
aspects of the video game industry, including casual games,
on-line sites, and digital downloading. Among other things, we
have considered licensing the “Atari” name for use in
products other than video games. However, our ability to do at
least some of those things would require expansion and extension
of our rights to use and sublicense others to use the
“Atari” name. IESA has indicated a reluctance to
expand our rights with regard to the “Atari” name.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results
of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated
financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America. 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 on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those
related to accounts receivable, inventories, intangible assets,
investments, income taxes and contingencies. We base our
estimates on historical experience and on various other
assumptions that we believe 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
could differ materially from these estimates under different
assumptions or conditions.
D-26
We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our
more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation
of our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Revenue
recognition, sales returns, price protection, other customer
related allowances and allowance for doubtful
accounts
Revenue is recognized when title and risk of loss transfer to
the customer, provided that collection of the resulting
receivable is deemed probable by management.
Sales are recorded net of estimated future returns, price
protection and other customer related allowances. We are not
contractually obligated to accept returns; however, based on
facts and circumstances at the time a customer may request
approval for a return, we may permit the return or exchange of
products sold to certain customers. In addition, we may provide
price protection, co-operative advertising and other allowances
to certain customers in accordance with industry practice. These
reserves are determined based on historical experience, market
acceptance of products produced, retailer inventory levels,
budgeted customer allowances, the nature of the title and
existing commitments to customers. Although management believes
it provides adequate reserves with respect to these items,
actual activity could vary from management’s estimates and
such variances could have a material impact on reported results.
We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated
losses resulting from the failure of our customers to make
payments when due or within a reasonable period of time
thereafter. If the financial condition of our customers were to
deteriorate, resulting in an inability to make required
payments, additional allowances may be required.
For the years ended March 31, 2007 and 2008, we recorded
allowances for bad debts, returns, price protection and other
customer promotional programs of approximately
$22.7 million and $15.7 million, respectively. As of
March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008, the aggregate
reserves against accounts receivable for bad debts, returns,
price protection and other customer promotional programs were
approximately $14.1 million and $1.9 million,
respectively.
Inventories
We write down our inventories for estimated slow-moving or
obsolete inventories by the amount equal to the difference
between the cost of inventories and estimated market value based
upon assumed market conditions. If actual market conditions are
less favorable than those assumed by management, additional
inventory write-downs may be required. For the years ended
March 31, 2007 and 2008 we recorded obsolescence expense of
approximately $2.5 million and $1.5 million,
respectively.
Research
and product development costs
Research and product development costs related to the design,
development, and testing of newly developed software products,
both internal and external, are charged to expense as incurred.
Research and product development costs also include royalty
payments (milestone payments) to third party developers for
products that are currently in development. Once a product is
sold, we may be obligated to make additional payments in the
form of backend royalties to developers which are calculated
based on contractual terms, typically a percentage of sales.
Such payments are expensed and included in cost of goods sold in
the period the sales are recorded.
Rapid technological innovation, shelf-space competition, shorter
product life cycles and buyer selectivity have made it difficult
to determine the likelihood of individual product acceptance and
success. As a result, we follow the policy of expensing
milestone payments as incurred, treating such costs as research
and product development expenses.
Licenses
Licenses for intellectual property are capitalized as assets
upon the execution of the contract when no significant
obligation of performance remains with us or the third party. If
significant obligations remain, the asset is capitalized when
payments are due or when performance is completed as opposed to
when the contract is executed.
D-27
These licenses are amortized at the licensor’s royalty rate
over unit sales to cost of goods sold. Management evaluates the
carrying value of these capitalized licenses and records an
impairment charge in the period management determines that such
capitalized amounts are not expected to be realized. Such
impairments are charged to cost of goods sold if the product has
released or previously sold, and if the product has never
released, these impairments are charged to research and product
development.
Atari
Trademark License
In connection with a recapitalization completed in fiscal 2004,
Atari Interactive, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA, extended
the term of the license under which we use the Atari trademark
to ten years expiring on December 31, 2013. We issued
200,000 shares of our common stock to Atari Interactive for
the extended license and will pay a royalty equal to 1% of our
net revenues during years six through ten of the extended
license. We recorded a deferred charge of $8.5 million,
representing the fair value of the shares issued, which was
expensed monthly until it became fully expensed in the first
quarter of fiscal 2007 ($8.5 million plus estimated royalty
of 1% for years six through ten). The monthly expense was based
on the total estimated cost to be incurred by us over the
ten-year license period; upon the full expensing of the deferred
charge, this expense is being recorded as a deferred liability
owed to Atari Interactive, to be paid beginning in year six of
the license.
Test
Drive Intellectual Property License
On November 8, 2007, we entered into two separate license
agreements with IESA pursuant to which we granted IESA the
exclusive right and license, under its trademark and
intellectual and property rights, to create, develop, distribute
and otherwise exploit licensed products derived from the Test
Drive Franchise for a term of seven years. IESA paid us a
non-refundable advance, fully recoupable against royalties to be
paid under each of the TDU Agreements, of
(i) $4 million under the Trademark Agreement and
(ii) $1 million under the IP Agreement, both advances
accrue interest at a yearly rate of 15% throughout the term of
the applicable agreement. As of March 31, 2008, the balance
of this related party license advance is approximately
$5.3 million of which $0.3 million relates to accrued
interest.
D-28
Results
of Operations
Year
ended March 31, 2007 versus year ended March 31,
2008
Consolidated Statement of Operations (dollars in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
% of
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
% of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
(Decrease)/Increase
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
122,285
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
80,131
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
(42,154
|
)
|
|
|
(34.5
|
)%
|
Costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
72,629
|
|
|
|
59.4
|
%
|
|
|
40,989
|
|
|
|
51.2
|
%
|
|
|
(31,640
|
)
|
|
|
(43.6
|
)%
|
Research and product development expenses
|
|
|
30,077
|
|
|
|
24.6
|
%
|
|
|
13,599
|
|
|
|
17.0
|
%
|
|
|
(16,478
|
)
|
|
|
(54.8
|
)%
|
Selling and distribution expenses
|
|
|
25,296
|
|
|
|
20.7
|
%
|
|
|
19,411
|
|
|
|
24.2
|
%
|
|
|
(5,885
|
)
|
|
|
(23.3
|
)%
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
21,788
|
|
|
|
17.8
|
%
|
|
|
17,672
|
|
|
|
22.0
|
%
|
|
|
(4,116
|
)
|
|
|
(18.9
|
)%
|
Restructuring expenses
|
|
|
709
|
|
|
|
0.6
|
%
|
|
|
6,541
|
|
|
|
8.2
|
%
|
|
|
5,832
|
|
|
|
822.0
|
%
|
Impairment of goodwill
|
|
|
54,129
|
|
|
|
44.3
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
(54,129
|
)
|
|
|
(100.0
|
)%
|
Gain on sale of intellectual property
|
|
|
(9,000
|
)
|
|
|
(7.4
|
)%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
(100.0
|
)%
|
Gain on sale of development studio assets
|
|
|
(885
|
)
|
|
|
(0.7
|
)%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
885
|
|
|
|
(100.0
|
)%
|
Atari trademark license expense
|
|
|
2,218
|
|
|
|
1.8
|
%
|
|
|
2,218
|
|
|
|
2.7
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
2,968
|
|
|
|
2.4
|
%
|
|
|
1,563
|
|
|
|
2.0
|
%
|
|
|
(1,405
|
)
|
|
|
(47.3
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs and expenses
|
|
|
199,929
|
|
|
|
163.5
|
%
|
|
|
101,993
|
|
|
|
127.3
|
%
|
|
|
(97,936
|
)
|
|
|
(48.9
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(77,644
|
)
|
|
|
(63.5
|
)%
|
|
|
(21,862
|
)
|
|
|
(27.3
|
)%
|
|
|
55,782
|
|
|
|
71.8
|
%
|
Interest income (expense), net
|
|
|
301
|
|
|
|
0.2
|
%
|
|
|
(1,452
|
)
|
|
|
(1.8
|
)%
|
|
|
(1,753
|
)
|
|
|
(582.4
|
)%
|
Other income
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
(24
|
)
|
|
|
(31.2
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before (benefit from) provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(77,266
|
)
|
|
|
(63.2
|
)%
|
|
|
(23,261
|
)
|
|
|
(29.1
|
)%
|
|
|
54,005
|
|
|
|
(69.8
|
)%
|
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(10,680
|
)
|
|
|
(8.8
|
)%
|
|
|
73
|
|
|
|
(0.1
|
)%
|
|
|
(10,607
|
)
|
|
|
(99.3
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from continuing operations
|
|
|
(66,586
|
)
|
|
|
(54.4
|
)%
|
|
|
(23,334
|
)
|
|
|
(29.2
|
)%
|
|
|
43,252
|
|
|
|
(64.9
|
)%
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd, net of tax provision of $7,559 and $0, respectively
|
|
|
(3,125
|
)
|
|
|
(2.6
|
)%
|
|
|
(312
|
)
|
|
|
(0.4
|
)%
|
|
|
(2,813
|
)
|
|
|
(90.0
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(69,711
|
)
|
|
|
(57.0
|
)%
|
|
$
|
(23,646
|
)
|
|
|
(29.6
|
)%
|
|
$
|
46,065
|
|
|
|
(66.0
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Revenues
Net revenues by segment for the years ended March 31, 2007
and 2008 are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
(Decrease)
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
Publishing
|
|
$
|
104,650
|
|
|
$
|
69,755
|
|
|
$
|
(34,895
|
)
|
Distribution
|
|
|
17,635
|
|
|
|
10,376
|
|
|
|
(7,259
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
122,285
|
|
|
$
|
80,131
|
|
|
$
|
(42,154
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D-29
The platform mix for the years ended March 31, 2007 and
2008 for net publishing revenues from product sales is as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Publishing Platform Mix
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
PlayStation 2
|
|
|
35.5
|
%
|
|
|
33.2
|
%
|
PC
|
|
|
27.2
|
%
|
|
|
28.3
|
%
|
Xbox 360
|
|
|
12.1
|
%
|
|
|
0.8
|
%
|
Nintendo Wii
|
|
|
8.4
|
%
|
|
|
18.6
|
%
|
PlayStation Portable
|
|
|
7.6
|
%
|
|
|
11.9
|
%
|
Game Boy Advance
|
|
|
3.9
|
%
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
Plug and Play
|
|
|
2.8
|
%
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
Nintendo DS
|
|
|
2.0
|
%
|
|
|
6.8
|
%
|
Xbox
|
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
|
|
0.4
|
%
|
Game Cube
|
|
|
0.2
|
%
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
As anticipated our overall revenue was down from
$122.3 million to $80.1 million. This decrease is
primarily driven by fewer new releases in our publishing
business due to cash restrictions and our elimination of our
internal studios. The year over year comparison includes the
following trends:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Net publishing product sales for the fiscal 2008 year end
were driven by new releases of Dragon Ball Z Tenkaichi 3 (Wii
and PS2), Godzilla Unleashed (Wii, PS2, and DS), Jenga
(Wii and DS) and The Witcher (PC). These titles
comprised approximately 50.7% of our net publishing product
sales. Fiscal 2007 sales were driven by the new releases of
Test Drive Unlimited (Xbox 360), Neverwinter Nights 2 (PC)
and DragonBall Z Tenkaichi 2 (PS2 and Wii).
|
|
|
•
|
International royalty income decreased by $2.6 million as
fiscal 2008 had few releases which sold internationally as
compared to the prior period which contained the majority of its
income from the release of Test Drive Unlimited in
September 2006.
|
|
|
•
|
The year ended March 31, 2008 contains a one-time license
payment of $4.0 million related to the sale of Hasbro, Inc.
publishing and licensing rights which IESA sold back to Hasbro
in July 2007. We anticipate the sale of these rights will reduce
the amount of immediate license opportunities we have.
|
|
|
•
|
The overall average unit sales price (“ASP”) of the
publishing business increased from $20.80 in the prior
comparable year versus $22.08 in the current year as the current
period contained a larger percentage of higher priced next
generation console releases.
|
Total distribution net revenues for the year ended
March 31, 2008 decreased by 41.2% from the prior comparable
period due to the overall decrease in product sales of third
party publishers as a result of management’s decision to
reduce our third party distribution operations in efforts to
move away from lower margin products in fiscal 2006. Due to our
financial constraints related to fully funding our product
development program, we will attempt to increase our focus on
higher-margin distribution in the future.
Cost of
Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net revenues can vary
primarily due to segment mix, platform mix within the publishing
business, average unit sales prices, mix of royalty bearing
products and the mix of licensed product. These expenses for the
year ended March 31, 2008 decreased by 43.6%. As a
percentage of net revenues, cost of goods sold decreased from
59.4% to 51.2% due to the following:
|
|
|
|
•
|
a lower mix of higher cost third-party distributed product sales
as a percentage of net revenues (12.9% in fiscal 2008 compared
with 14.4% in fiscal 2007), and
|
D-30
|
|
|
|
•
|
a higher average sales price on our publishing products in the
current period driven by new release sales on next generation
hardware, offset by
|
|
|
•
|
an additional $1.2 million royalty reserve related to the
FUNimation dispute.
|
We expect our cost of goods sold to increase in the future as
our reliance on IESA product grows as their product carries a
higher distribution cost as compared to our current product mix.
Research
and Product Development Expenses
Research and product development expenses consist of development
costs relating to the design, development, and testing of new
software products whether internally or externally developed,
including the payment of royalty advances to third party
developers on products that are currently in development and
billings from related party developers. We expect to increase
the use of external developers as we have sold all of our
internal development studios. By leveraging external developers,
we anticipate improvements in liquidity as we will no longer
carry fixed studio overhead to support our development efforts.
However, due to our cash constraints we have not been able to
fully fund our development efforts. These expenses for the year
ended March 31, 2008 decreased approximately 54.8%, due
primarily to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
decreased spending of $7.1 million at our related party
development studios as we had nominal spend in development at
related party studios, and
|
|
|
•
|
decreased salaries and other overhead of $6.9 million as we
no longer own internal development studios, offset by
|
|
|
•
|
a write-off of licenses which will no longer be exploited of
approximately $2.0 million, and
|
|
|
•
|
increased spending of $1.1 million for projects with
external developers, as we completed certain development
projects.
|
Selling
and Distribution Expenses
Selling and distribution expenses primarily include shipping,
personnel, advertising, promotions and distribution expenses.
During the year ended March 31, 2008, selling and
distribution expenses decreased $5.9 million or
approximately 23.3%, due to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
decreased spending on advertising of $2.7 million, and
|
|
|
•
|
savings in salaries and related overhead costs due to reduced
headcount resulting from studio closure and personnel
reductions, offset by
|
|
|
•
|
an additional $1.6 million expense related to minimum
advertising commitment shortfalls to be paid to FUNimation.
|
General
and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses primarily include personnel
expenses, facilities costs, professional expenses and other
overhead charges. As a percentage of net revenues, these
expenses decreased to 22.0% due to the decreased sales volume in
the year ended March 31, 2008. During the year ended
March 31, 2008, general and administrative expenses
decreased by $4.1 million. Trends within general and
administrative expenses related to the following:
|
|
|
|
•
|
a reduction in salaries and other overhead costs of
$2.4 million due to studio closures and other personnel
reductions.
|
Restructuring
Expenses
In the first quarter of fiscal 2008, management announced a plan
to reduce our total workforce by 20%, primarily in general and
administrative functions. This restructuring resulted in
restructuring charges of
D-31
approximately $0.8 million. The first two quarters of
fiscal 2007 contains $0.3 million of additional
restructuring expense from the fiscal 2006 restructuring plan.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2008, the Board of Directors
announced a further reduction of our total workforce totaling an
additional 30% primarily in the production and general and
administrative functions. This resulted in a charge of
approximately $5.5 million for the remainder of fiscal 2008
of which $1.2 million related to severance arrangements.
The remaining charge relates to restructuring consulting and
legal fees.
Gain on
Sale of Intellectual Property
In the fiscal 2007 first quarter, we sold the Stuntman
intellectual property to a third party for
$9.0 million, which was recorded as a gain. No such gain
was recorded in the current period.
Gain on
Sale of Development Studio Assets
During the year ended March 31, 2007, we sold certain
development studio assets of Shiny to a third party for a gain
of $0.9 million. The gain represents the proceeds of
$1.8 million (of which $0.2 million is held in escrow
for nine months), less the net book value of the development
studio assets sold of $0.9 million.
Depreciation
and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization for the year ended March 31,
2008 decreased 47.3% due to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
savings in depreciation related to the closure of offices and
reduction of staffing and associated overhead.
|
Interest
Income (Expense), net
Interest income (expense), net, decreased from income of
$0.3 million to expense of $1.5 million. The increase
in expense relates to our use and outstanding borrowings
through-out the period of our credit facilities. In fiscal 2007,
we borrowed and repaid approximately $15.0 million from our
credit facilities and had no outstanding balance as of
March 31, 2007. As of March 31, 2008, we have
approximately $14.0 million outstanding of which the
majority has been outstanding since October 2007.
(Benefit
from) Provision for Income Taxes
During the year ended March 31, 2007, a $4.2 million
benefit from income taxes primarily results from a noncash tax
benefit of $4.7 million, which offsets a noncash tax
provision of the same amount included in loss from discontinued
operations, recorded in accordance with FASB Statement No, 109,
“Accounting for Income Taxes,” paragraph 140,
which states that all items should be considered for purposes of
determining the amount of tax benefit that results from a loss
from continuing operations and that should be allocated to
continuing operations. The recording of a benefit is appropriate
in this instance, under the guidance of Paragraph 140,
because such domestic loss offsets the domestic gain generated
in discontinued operations. The effect of this transaction on
net loss for fiscal 2007 is zero, and it does not result in the
receipt or payment of any cash. This noncash tax benefit is
offset by $0.5 million of deferred tax liability recorded
due to a temporary difference that arose from a difference in
the book and tax basis of goodwill.
During the year ended March 31, 2008, we recorded
$0.1 million of tax expense due to certain state and local
minimum income tax requirements.
(Loss)
from Discontinued Operations of Reflections Interactive Ltd.,
net of tax
(Loss) from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd. decreased $2.8 million from $3.1 million during
the year ended March 31, 2007 to $0.3 million in
fiscal 2008, which relates to remaining lease costs. The fiscal
2007 gain was driven by the gain of sale of Reflections of
$11.4 million (sold in August 2006) offset by the
operating costs of the Reflections studio of $6.6 million
and a tax provision associated with discontinued operations of
$4.7 million, recorded in accordance with FASB Statement
No, 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,”
paragraph 140, and offset by a tax benefit of an equal
amount in continuing operations (see Benefit from Income
Taxes above).
D-32
Liquidity
and Capital Resource
Overview
A need for increased investment in development and increased
need to spend advertising dollars to support product launches,
caused in part by “hit-driven” consumer taste, have
created a significant increase in the amount of financing
required to sustain operations, while negatively impacting
margins. Further, our business continues to be more seasonal,
which creates a need for significant financing to fund
manufacturing activities for our working capital requirements.
Our Bluebay Credit Facility is limited to $14.0 million and
is fully drawn. Further, at March 31, 2008, the lender had
the right to cancel the credit facility as we failed to meet
financial and other covenants, the violation of which was waived
on April 30, 2008. On April 30, 2008, we obtained a
$20 million interim credit line granted by IESA when we
entered into the Merger Agreement relating to its acquisition of
us, which will terminate when the merger takes place or when the
Merger Agreement terminates without the merger taking place. As
of June 12, 2008, we continue to have $14.0 million
outstanding under the Bluebay credit line and have borrowed
approximately $6.0 million from the IESA credit line. The
funds available under the two credit lines may not be sufficient
to enable us to meet anticipated seasonal cash needs if IESA
does not acquire us before the fall 2008 holiday season
inventory buildup. Historically, IESA has sometimes provided
funds we needed for our operations, but it is not certain that
it will be able, or willing to provide the funding we will need
for our working capital requirements if IESA does not acquire us.
Because of our funding difficulties, we have sharply reduced our
expenditures for research and product development. During the
year ended March 31, 2008, our expenditures on research and
product development decreased by 54.8%, to $13.6 million,
compared with $30.1 million in fiscal 2007. This will
reduce the flow of new games that will be available to us in
fiscal 2009, and possibly after that. Our lack of financial
resources to fund a full product development program has led us
to focus on distribution and acquisition of finished goods. As
such, we have exited all internal development activities and
have stopped investing in development by independent developers.
During fiscal 2007, we raised approximately $35.0 million
through the sale of certain intellectual property and the
divestiture of our internal development studios. In May 2007, we
announced a plan to reduce our total workforce by approximately
20% as a cost cutting initiative. Further in November 2007, we
announced a plan to reduce our total workforce by an additional
30%. To reduce working capital requirements and further conserve
cash we will need to take additional actions in the near-term,
which may include additional personnel reductions and suspension
of additional development projects. However, these steps may not
fully resolve the problems with our financial position. Also,
lack of funds will make it difficult for us to undertake a
strategic plan to generate new sources of revenues and otherwise
enable us to attain long-term strategic objectives. Management
continues to pursue other options to meet our working capital
cash requirements but there is no guarantee that we will be able
to do so.
Cash
Flows
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
7,603
|
|
|
$
|
11,087
|
|
Working capital (deficit)
|
|
$
|
1,213
|
|
|
$
|
(12,796
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
Cash (used in) operating activities
|
|
$
|
(36,939
|
)
|
|
$
|
(15,908
|
)
|
Cash provided by investing activities
|
|
|
29,757
|
|
|
|
452
|
|
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
|
|
(216
|
)
|
|
|
18,928
|
|
Effect of exchange rates on cash
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash
|
|
$
|
(7,345
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,484
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D-33
During the year ended March 31, 2008, our operations used
cash of approximately $15.9 million to support our net loss
of $23.6 million for the period. During the year ended
March 31, 2007, our operations used cash of approximately
$36.9 million driven by the net loss of $69.7 million
for the period, compounded by increased payments of trade
payables and royalties payable and timing of accounts receivable
collections.
During the year ended March 31, 2008, cash provided by
investing activities of $0.5 million was due to a refund
from our New York office security deposit of $0.9 million
offset by purchases of property and equipment. During the year
ended March 31, 2007, investing activities provided cash of
$29.8 million due to several sale transactions completed
during the period:
|
|
|
|
•
|
proceeds of $21.6 million received in connection with the
sale of our Reflections studio,
|
|
|
•
|
proceeds of $9.0 million from the sale of the Stuntman
intellectual property,
|
|
|
•
|
and proceeds of $1.6 million from the sale of our Shiny
studio in the current period
|
The cash proceeds are partially offset by the increase in
restricted cash of $1.8 million for the collateralizing of
a letter of credit related to our new office lease and the
purchase of assets (intangibles and property and equipment) of
$2.1 million.
During the year ended March 31, 2007 and 2008, our
financing activities provided cash primarily from borrowings
from our credit facilities. During the year ended March 31,
2008, we also received $5.0 million in cash proceeds from
the related party license advance. During fiscal 2007, we paid
down all outstanding borrowings and had no outstanding balance
at March 31, 2007.
Our Senior Credit Facility with BlueBay matures on
December 31, 2009, charges an interest rate of the
applicable LIBOR rate plus 7% per year. In connection with the
Global Memorandum of Understanding regarding our relationship
with IESA, which we entered into on December 4, 2007, we
signed a Waiver Consent and Third Amendment to the Credit
Facility in which BlueBay raised the maximum borrowings of the
Senior Credit Facility to $14.0 million.
The maximum borrowings we can make under the Senior Credit
Facility will not by themselves provide all the funding we will
need for our working capital needs. Further, the Senior Credit
Facility may be terminated if we do not comply with financial
and other covenants.
As of March 31, 2008, we were in violation of our
covenants. In conjunction with the Merger Agreement, we entered
into a Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to our BlueBay
Credit Facility under which, among other things,
(i) BlueBay agreed to waive our non-compliance with certain
representations and covenants under the Credit Agreement,
(ii) BlueBay agreed to consent to us entering into the a
credit facility with IESA, (iii) BlueBay agreed to provide
us consent in entering into the Merger Agreement with IESA, and
(iv) BlueBay and we agreed to certain amendments to the
Existing Credit Facility.
Management continues to pursue other options to meet the cash
requirements for funding our working capital cash requirements
but there is no guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Our outstanding accounts receivable balance varies significantly
on a quarterly basis due to the seasonality of our business and
the timing of new product releases. There were no significant
changes in the credit terms with customers during the twelve
month period ended on March 31, 2008.
Due to our reduced product releases, our business has become
increasingly seasonal. This increased seasonality has put
significant pressure on our liquidity prior to our holiday
season as financing requirements to build inventory are high.
During fiscal 2007, our third quarter (which includes the
holiday season) represented approximately 38.7% of our net
revenues for the entire year. In fiscal 2008, our third quarter
represented approximately 51.3% of our net revenues for the year.
We do not currently have any material commitments with respect
to any capital expenditures. However, we do have commitments to
pay royalty and license advances, milestone payments, and
operating and capital lease obligations.
D-34
Our ability to maintain sufficient levels of cash could be
affected by various risks and uncertainties including, but not
limited to, customer demand and acceptance of our new versions
of our titles on existing platforms and our titles on new
platforms, our ability to collect our receivables as they become
due, risks of product returns, successfully achieving our
product release schedules and attaining our forecasted sales
goals, seasonality in operating results, fluctuations in market
conditions and the other risks described in the “Risk
Factors” as noted in this Annual Report.
We are also party to various litigations arising in the normal
course of our business. Management believes that the ultimate
resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse
effect on our liquidity, financial condition or results of
operations.
Selected
Balance Sheet Accounts
Accounts
Receivable, net
Accounts receivable, net, decreased by $5.9 million from
$6.5 million at March 31, 2007 to $0.6 million at
March 31, 2008, driven by fewer new releases and the timing
of our release schedule and retail payment terms.
Inventories,
net
Inventories, net, decreased by $4.5 million from
$8.8 million at March 31, 2007 to $4.3 million at
March 31, 2008, driven by an overall decrease in the
distribution business as well as fewer planned new releases.
Due
from Related Parties/Due to Related Parties
Due from related parties decreased by $0.9 million and due
to related parties decreased by $4.5 million from
March 31, 2007 to March 31, 2008 driven by balances
between parties being settled by netting during the year.
Prepaid
and other current asset
Prepaid and other current assets decreased approximately
$2.0 million from March 31, 2007 to March 31,
2008 primarily from the amortization of licenses at the
licensor’s royalty rate over unit sales. This decrease is
primarily due to the write-off of licenses which we will no
longer exploit and have been charged to research and development
expense during the year ended March 31, 2008.
Accounts
Payable
Accounts payable decreased by $5.6 million from
March 31, 2007 to March 31, 2008. The decreases were
driven by an overall decrease in the distribution business, a
lower volume of transactions in the current period, and fewer
planned unit sales which resulted in lower total manufacturing
liabilities.
Long-term
liabilities and Property and Equipment
Long-term liabilities and property and equipment increased
during the year ended March 31, 2008 approximately
$3.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively, primarily
due to the capitalization of assets and deferred effect of
landlord contributions related to our corporate headquarters
located at 417 5th Avenue, New York, New York.
NASDAQ
Delisting Notice
On December 21, 2007, we received a notice from NASDAQ
advising that in accordance with NASDAQ Marketplace
Rule 4450(e)(1), we had 90 calendar days, or until
March 20, 2008, to regain compliance with the minimum
market value of our publicly held shares required for continued
listing on the NASDAQ Global Market, as set forth in NASDAQ
Marketplace Rule 4450(b)(3). We received this notice
because the market value of our publicly held shares (which is
calculated by reference to our total shares outstanding, less
any shares held by officers, directors or beneficial owners of
10% or more) was less than $15.0 million for 30 consecutive
business days prior to December 21, 2007.
D-35
On March 24, 2008, we received a NASDAQ Staff Determination
Letter from the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Department stating
that we had failed to regain compliance with the Rule during the
required period, and that the NASDAQ Staff had therefore
determined that our securities were subject to delisting, with
trading in our securities to be suspended on April 2, 2008
unless we requested a hearing before a NASDAQ Listing
Qualifications Panel (the “Panel”).
On March 27, 2008, we requested a hearing, which stayed the
suspension of trading and delisting until the Panel issued a
decision following the hearing. The hearing was held on
May 1, 2008.
On May 7, 2008, we received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock
Market advising us that the Panel had determined to delist our
securities from The NASDAQ Stock Market, and had suspended
trading in our securities effective with the open of business on
Friday, May 9, 2008. We have to request that the NASDAQ
Listing and Hearing Review Council review the Panel’s
decision. Requesting a review does not by itself stay the
trading suspension action.
Following the delisting of our securities, our Common Stock
beginning trading on the Pink
Sheets®,
a real-time quotation service maintained by Pink Sheets LLC.
Credit
Facilities
On November 3, 2006, we established a secured credit
facility with several lenders for which Guggenheim was the
administrative agent. The Guggenheim credit facility was to
terminate and be payable in full on November 3, 2009. The
credit facility consisted of a secured, committed, revolving
line of credit in an initial amount up to $15.0 million,
which included a $10.0 million sublimit for the issuance of
letters of credit. Availability under the credit facility was
determined by a formula based on a percentage of our eligible
receivables. The proceeds could be used for general corporate
purposes and working capital needs in the ordinary course of
business and to finance acquisitions subject to limitations in
the Credit Agreement. The credit facility bore interest at our
choice of (i) LIBOR plus 5% per year, or (ii) the
greater of (a) the prime rate in effect, or (b) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect plus 2.25% per year.
Additionally, we were required to pay a commitment fee on the
undrawn portions of the credit facility at the rate of 0.75% per
year and we paid to Guggenheim a closing fee of
$0.2 million. Obligations under the credit facility were
secured by liens on substantially all of our present and future
assets, including accounts receivable, inventory, general
intangibles, fixtures, and equipment, but excluding the stock of
our subsidiaries and certain assets located outside of the U.S.
The credit facility included provisions for a possible term loan
facility and an increased revolving credit facility line in the
future. The credit facility also contained financial covenants
that required us to maintain enumerated EBITDA, liquidity, and
net debt minimums, and a capital expenditure maximum. As of
June 30, 2007, we were not in compliance with all financial
covenants. On October 1, 2007, the lenders provided a
waiver of covenant defaults as of June 30, 2007 and reduced
the aggregate availability under the revolving line of credit to
$3.0 million.
On October 18, 2007, we consented to the transfer of the
loans outstanding ($3.0 million) under the Guggenheim
credit facility to funds affiliated with BlueBay Asset
Management plc and to the appointment of BlueBay High Yield
Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. (“BlueBay”), as
successor administrative agent. BlueBay Asset Management plc is
a significant shareholder of IESA. On October 23, 2007, we
entered into a waiver and amendment with BlueBay which created a
$10.0 million Senior Secured Credit Facility (“Senior
Credit Facility”). The Senior Credit Facility matures on
December 31, 2009, and bears interest at the applicable
LIBOR rate plus 7% per year, and eliminates certain financial
covenants. On December 4, 2007, under the Waiver Consent
and Third Amendment to the Credit Facility, as part of entering
the Global Memorandum of Understanding, BlueBay raised the
maximum borrowings of the Senior Credit Facility to
$14.0 million. The maximum borrowings we can make under the
Senior Credit Facility will not by themselves provide all the
funding we will need. As of March 31, 2008, we were in
violation of our weekly cash flow covenants (see Waiver, Consent
and Fourth Amendment below). Management continues to seek
additional financing and is pursuing other options to meet the
cash requirements for funding our working capital cash
requirements but there is no guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
As of March 31, 2008, we have drawn the full
$14.0 million on the Senior Credit Facility.
D-36
Waiver,
Consent and Fourth Amendment
In conjunction with the Merger Agreement, we entered into a
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to our BlueBay Credit
Facility under which, among other things, (i) BlueBay
agreed to waive our non-compliance with certain representations
and covenants under the Credit Agreement, (ii) BlueBay
agreed to consent to us entering into the a credit facility with
IESA, (iii) BlueBay agreed to provide us consent in
entering into the Merger Agreement with IESA, and
(iv) BlueBay and us agreed to certain amendments to the
Existing Credit Facility.
With the Fourth Amendment, as of April 30, 2008 and through
June 24, 2008, we are in compliance with our BlueBay credit
facility.
IESA
Credit Agreement
On April 30, 2008, we entered into the IESA Credit
Agreement under which IESA committed to provide up to an
aggregate of $20 million in loan availability at an
interest rate equal to the applicable LIBOR rate plus 7% per
year, subject to the terms and conditions of the IESA Credit
Agreement (the “New Financing Facility”). The New
Financing Facility will terminate when we are acquired by IESA
or when the Merger Agreement terminates without the
transaction’s taking place. We will use borrowings under
the New Financing Facility to fund our operational cash
requirements during the period between the date of the Merger
Agreement and the closing of the Merger. The obligations under
the New Financing Facility are secured by second liens (Bluebay
secured the first liens) on substantially all of our present and
future assets, including accounts receivable, inventory, general
intangibles, fixtures, and equipment. We have agreed that we
will make monthly prepayments on amounts borrowed under the New
Financing Facility of our excess cash. We will not be able to
reborrow any loan amounts paid back under the New Financing
Facility other than loan amounts prepaid from excess cash. Also,
we are required to deliver to IESA a budget, which is subject to
approval by IESA in its commercially reasonable discretion, and
which we must supplement from time to time.
Effect of
Relationship with IESA on Liquidity
Without the New Financing Facility from IESA, we would not be
able to finance our current operations. Even with that facility,
we will probably not have the funds we will need for the holiday
season inventory buildup if IESA does not acquire us before that
buildup has to take place. The New Financing Facility will
terminate if the Merger Agreement terminates without the
transaction taking place. An IESA subsidiary owns 51% of our
common stock. If votes in favor of the transaction, it will be
approved. However, the IESA subsidiary is not contractually
obligated to vote in favor of the transaction. Also see
Item 1 for a discussion of our relationship with IESA, as
well as our risk factors on page 13.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157,
“Fair Value Measurements,” (“Statement
No. 157”) which provides a single definition of fair
value, together with a framework for measuring it, and requires
additional disclosure about the use of fair value to measure
assets and liabilities. Furthermore, in February 2007, the FASB
issued FASB Statement No. 159, “The Fair Value Option
for Financial Assets and Liabilities,’’
(“Statement No. 159’’) which permits an
entity to measure certain financial assets and financial
liabilities at fair value, and report unrealized gains and
losses in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. Its
objective is to improve financial reporting by allowing entities
to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by the
measurement of related assets and liabilities using different
attributes without having to apply complex hedge accounting
provisions. Statement No. 159 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007, but early application is
encouraged. The requirements of Statement No. 157 are
adopted concurrently with or prior to the adoption of Statement
No. 159. We do not anticipate the adoption of these
statements to have a material effect on our financial statements.
See Note 12 of our financial statements for the year-ended
March 31, 2008, included in this Annual Report, regarding
the Company’s adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 48
“Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (an
interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109)” which is
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2006.
D-37
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R,
“Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”).
SFAS 141R retains the fundamental requirements in
SFAS 141 that the acquisition method of accounting (which
SFAS 141 called the purchase method) be used for all
business combinations and for an acquirer to be identified for
each business combination. SFAS 141R defines the acquirer
as the entity that obtains control of one or more businesses in
the business combination and establishes the acquisition date as
the date that the acquirer achieves control. SFAS 141R is
effective for business combination transactions for which the
acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first
annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15,
2008. We are evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of this
statement will have on our results of operations, financial
position or cash flows.
In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP
FAS 142-3,
“Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible
Assets”
(“FSP 142-3”).
FSP 142-3
amends the factors that should be considered in developing
renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful
life of a recognized intangible asset under
SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets” (“SFAS 142”). This change is
intended to improve the consistency between the useful life of a
recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142 and the period
of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the
asset under SFAS 141R and other GAAP.
FSP 142-3
is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods
within those fiscal years. The requirement for determining
useful lives must be applied prospectively to intangible assets
acquired after the effective date and the disclosure
requirements must be applied prospectively to all intangible
assets recognized as of, and subsequent to, the effective date.
We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a
material impact on our results of operations, financial position
or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160,
“Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements” (“SFAS 160”). This Statement
amends ARB 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards
for the non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the
deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It clarifies that a
non-controlling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership
interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as
equity in the consolidated financial statements. SFAS 160
is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those
fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We
are evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of this
statement will have on our results of operations, financial
position or cash flows.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161,
“Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities — an amendment of FASB Statement
No. 133” (“SFAS 161”). This Statement
changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments
and hedging activities. Under SFAS 161, entities are
required to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and
why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how
derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted
for under Statement 133 and its related interpretations, and
(c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items
affect an entity’s financial position, financial
performance and cash flows. SFAS 161 is effective for
financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods
beginning after November 15, 2008. We are evaluating the
impact, if any, the adoption of this statement will have on our
results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The
Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”
(“SFAS 162”). SFAS 162 is intended to
improve financial reporting by identifying a consistent
framework, or hierarchy, for selecting accounting principles to
be used in preparing financial statements that are presented in
conformity with GAAP for nongovernmental entities. SFAS 162
is effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU
Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in
Conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.”
We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a
material impact on our results of operations, financial position
or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB ratified the Emerging Issues Task
Force’s (“EITF”) consensus on EITF Issue No
07-1,
“Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements” that
discusses how parties to a collaborative arrangement (which does
not establish a legal entity within such arrangement) should
account for various activities. The consensus indicates that
costs incurred and revenues generated from transactions with
third parties (i.e. parties outside of the collaborative
arrangement) should be reported by the collaborators on the
respective line items in their income statements pursuant to
EITF Issue
No. 99-19,
“Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal Versus Net as an
Agent”. Additionally, the consensus provides that income
statement characterization of payments between the participation
in a collaborative arrangement should be based upon existing
authoritative pronouncements; analogy
D-38
to such pronouncements if not within their scope; or a
reasonable, rational, and consistently applied accounting policy
election. EITF Issue
No. 07-1
is effective for interim or annual reporting periods in fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2008, and is to be
applied retrospectively to all periods presented for
collaborative arrangements existing as of the date of adoption.
We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of
this standard will have on our results of operations, financial
position or cash flows.
|
|
ITEM 7A.
|
QUANTITATIVE
AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
|
Our carrying values of cash, accounts receivable, inventories,
prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable,
accrued liabilities, royalties payable, assets and liabilities
of discontinued operations, and amounts due to and from related
parties are a reasonable approximation of their fair value.
Foreign
Currency Exchange Rates
We earn royalties on sales of our product sold internationally.
These revenues, which are based on various foreign currencies
and are billed and paid in U.S. dollars, represented
$2.6 million of our revenue for the year ended
March 31, 2008. We also purchase certain of our inventories
from foreign developers and pay royalties primarily denominated
in euros to IESA with regards to the sales of IESA products in
North America. We do not hedge against foreign exchange rate
fluctuations. Therefore, our business in this regard is subject
to certain risks, including, but not limited to, differing
economic conditions, changes in political climate, differing tax
structures, other regulations and restrictions and foreign
exchange rate volatility. Our future results could be materially
and adversely impacted by changes in these or other factors. As
of March 31, 2008, we did not have any net revenues earned
by our foreign subsidiaries. These subsidiaries represented 1.3%
of total assets; of these foreign assets, $0.6 million was
associated with the Reflections development studio located
outside the United States, which was sold in fiscal 2007. We
also recorded approximately $0.3 million in operating
expenses attributed to the foreign operations, of which
$0.3 million related to remaining operations related to the
closing of Reflections, which is included in (loss) from
discontinued operations on our consolidated statements of
operations. Currently, substantially all of our business is
conducted in the United States where revenues and expenses are
transacted in U.S. dollars. As a result, the majority of
our results of operations are not subject to foreign exchange
rate fluctuations.
D-39
|
|
ITEM 8.
|
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
|
Our Consolidated Financial Statements, and notes thereto, and
our Financial Statement Schedule, are presented on pages F-1
through F-45 hereof as set forth below:
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Page
|
|
ATARI, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
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|
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
|
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|
D-51
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2007 and
March 31, 2008
|
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|
D-53
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended
March 31, 2007, and 2008
|
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|
D-54
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
March 31, 2007, and 2008
|
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|
D-55
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and
Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended March 31,
2007, and 2008
|
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D-57
|
|
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
|
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D-58 to D-94
|
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
|
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|
Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
for the Years Ended March 31, 2007, and 2008
|
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D-95
|
|
D-40
|
|
ITEM 9.
|
CHANGES
IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
|
None.
|
|
ITEM 9A.
|
CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
|
Conclusion
Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and
Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive
Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the
effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of
March 31, 2008. The term “disclosure controls and
procedures,” as defined in
Rules 13a-15(e)
and
15d-15(e)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange
Act”), means controls and other procedures of a company
that are designed to ensure that information required to be
disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits
under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s
rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include,
without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure
that information required to be disclosed by a company in the
reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is
accumulated and communicated to the company’s management,
including its principal executive and principal financial
officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure. As described below under Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, we did not
identify any material weaknesses in our internal control over
financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(f)
and
15d-15(f))
as of March 31, 2008. As a result, management has concluded
that disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Management’s
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term
is defined in
Rule 13a-15(f)
under the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial
reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of,
our principal executive and principal financial officers and
effected by our Board of Directors, management and other
personnel, 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. Internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
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•
|
Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions
of our assets;
|
|
|
•
|
Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and
that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in
accordance with authorizations of our management and
directors; and
|
|
|
•
|
Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our
assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
|
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control
over financial reporting as of March 31, 2008. In making
this assessment, management used the criteria set forth in
Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued
by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (the “COSO”).
A material weakness is a control deficiency, or a combination of
control deficiencies, that result in a reasonable possibility
that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial
statements will not be prevented or detected.
Management has concluded that, we did maintain an effective
internal control over financial reporting as of March 31,
2008, based on the criteria in Internal Control —
Integrated Framework issued by COSO.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
As previously reported in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, management
determined that, as of March 31, 2007, there were material
weaknesses in our internal control over
D-41
financial reporting relating to (i) income tax accounts and
related disclosures (ii) preparation and review of
financial information during our year-end closing process and
(iii) controls over related party transactions. As reported
in the Annual Report for fiscal 2007, we initiated a number of
changes in its internal controls to remediate these material
weaknesses. As of March 31, 2008, the following measures to
remediate the control deficiencies have been implemented:
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•
|
We implemented a formal communication procedure between us and
IESA. This procedure provides a formal communication on a
quarterly basis between IESA and us disclosing any transactions
that may have an effect on our financial statements.
|
|
|
•
|
We continued to expand our outsourcing of income tax work and
have centralized all work to one firm with both income tax and
FASB 109 expertise.
|
Based on the implementation of the additional internal controls
discussed above and the subsequent testing of those internal
controls for a sufficient period of time, management has
concluded that items (i), (ii) and (iii) material
weaknesses identified at March 31, 2008 and discussed above
have been remediated.
There have been no other changes in our internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of
the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 that have materially
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our
internal control over financial reporting.
On May 17, 2008 we entered into an Employment Agreement
with Timothy J. Flynn (the “Agreement”). Pursuant to
the Agreement, commencing on June 9, 2008, Mr. Flynn
is to serve as the Senior Vice President of Sales, reporting to
our President and Chief Executive Officer. The Agreement may be
terminated at any time by either party with or without cause.
Under the Agreement, Mr. Flynn receives an annual salary of
$250,000 with a one-time sign-on bonus of $25,000 which must be
repaid if Mr. Flynn terminates his employment within one
year of the date of hire. Mr. Flynn is eligible to receive
an annual bonus with a target amount of 40% of his base salary,
which will be based both upon achievements by us of specified
financial objectives and his attainment of individual objectives.
Effective June 9, 2008, Mr. Flynn was granted stock
options to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock with
an exercise price equal to the last sales price of our common
stock on the Pink Sheets on such date. The options vest 25% on
June 9, 2009 and 6.25% each calendar quarter end thereafter
commencing with the calendar quarter ending June 30, 2009,
subject to his continued employment with us as of each
applicable vesting date. All stock options expire on the tenth
anniversary of the grant date.
Under the Agreement, if IESA successfully completes the merger
with us, our Board of Directors has agreed to use its best
efforts to cause IESA to agree to grant to Mr. Flynn a
stock option with respect to the stock of IESA, in substitution
for and cancellation of our option as described in the previous
paragraph.
PART III
|
|
ITEM 10.
|
DIRECTORS,
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
|
The information required by this Item is incorporated by
reference to the sections of our definitive Proxy Statement for
our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2008, entitled
“Election of Directors” and “Executive
Officers,” to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year
covered by this
Form 10-K.
|
|
ITEM 11.
|
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
|
The information required by this Item is incorporated by
reference to the sections of our definitive Proxy Statement for
our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2008, entitled
“Executive Compensation,” to be
D-42
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within
120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this
Form 10-K.
|
|
ITEM 12.
|
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND
RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
|
The information required by this Item is incorporated by
reference to the sections of our definitive Proxy Statement for
our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2008, entitled
“Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management and Related Stockholder Matters,” to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days
after the end of the fiscal year covered by this
Form 10-K.
|
|
ITEM 13.
|
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE.
|
The information required by this Item is incorporated by
reference to the sections of our definitive Proxy Statement for
our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2008, entitled
“Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and
Director Independence,” to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the
fiscal year covered by this
Form 10-K.
|
|
ITEM 14.
|
PRINCIPAL
ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
|
The information required by this Item is incorporated by
reference to the sections of our definitive Proxy Statement for
our Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in 2008, entitled
“Principal Accountant Fees and Services,” to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days
after the end of the fiscal year covered by this
Form 10-K.
PART IV
|
|
ITEM 15.
|
EXHIBITS AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
|
The following documents are filed as part of this Report:
|
|
|
|
|
(i) Financial Statements. See Index to Financial
Statements at Item 8 of this Report.
|
|
|
|
|
(ii) Financial Statement Schedule. See Index to Financial
Statements at Item 8 of this Report.
|
|
|
|
|
(iii) Exhibits
|
|
2
|
.1
|
|
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 30, 2008, among us,
Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and Irata Acquisition Corp. is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to our Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2008.
|
|
3
|
.1
|
|
Restated Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended March 31, 2006.
|
|
3
|
.2
|
|
Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
Incorporation as filed with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware on January 3, 2007 is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on January 9, 2007.
|
|
3
|
.3
|
|
Amended and Restated By-laws are incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 1998.
|
|
3
|
.4
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated By-laws is incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended December 31, 2003.
|
|
3
|
.5
|
|
Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated By-laws is incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on July 28, 2005.
|
|
3
|
.6
|
|
Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated By-laws is incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended December 31, 2007.
|
|
4
|
.1
|
|
Specimen form of stock certificate of Common Stock is
incorporated herein by reference to our Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (File No. 333-14441) initially filed with the SEC on
October 20, 1995, and all amendments thereto.
|
D-43
|
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
.2
|
|
Registration Rights Agreement by and among Joseph J. Cayre,
Kenneth Cayre, Stanley Cayre, Jack J. Cayre, the Trusts listed
on Schedule I attached thereto and us is incorporated herein by
reference to an exhibit filed as a part of our Registration
Statement on Form S-1 filed October 20, 1995.
|
|
4
|
.3
|
|
Second Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated
as of October 2, 2000, between California U.S. Holdings, Inc.
and us is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of our
Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 333-107819)
initially filed with the SEC on August 8, 2003, and all
amendments thereto.
|
|
10
|
.1
|
|
Global Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Restructuring of
Atari, Inc., dated December 2007, by and between us and
Infogrames Entertainment S.A. is incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December
10, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.2
|
|
Distribution Agreement between Infogrames Entertainment SA,
Infogrames Multimedia SA and us, dated as of December 16, 1999,
is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 7 to the Schedule
13D filed by Infogrames Entertainment SA and California U.S.
Holdings, Inc. on January 10, 2000.
|
|
10
|
.3
|
|
Addendum to Distribution Agreement between Infogrames
Entertainment SA and us, dated as of December 16, 1999, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.26a to our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2001.
|
|
10
|
.4
|
|
Amendment to Distribution Agreement between Infogrames
Entertainment SA and us dated as of July 1, 2000, is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24a to our Transitional
Report on Form 10-K for the transition period March 31, 2000 to
June 30, 2000.
|
|
10
|
.5
|
|
Distribution Agreement between Infogrames Entertainment SA and
us, dated October 2, 2000, as supplemented on November 12, 2002
is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.6
|
|
Short Form Distribution Agreement, dated December 2007, by and
among us, Infogrames Entertainment S.A., Atari Europe SAS and
Atari Interactive Inc., is incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.2 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 10,
2007.
|
|
10
|
.7
|
|
Agreement for Purchase and Sale of Assets, dated August 22,
2005, between us and Humongous, Inc. is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.8
|
|
Letter Agreement, dated March 5, 2008, submitted to our Board of
Directors summarizing the principal terms upon which Infogrames
Entertainment S.A. and/or our affiliates would potentially
acquire the remaining equity interests in us is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to our Current Report on
Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2008.
|
|
10
|
.9
|
|
Stock Transfer Agreement, dated August 22, 2005, among us,
Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and Atari Interactive, Inc.
(English Translation) is incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.3 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended September 30, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.10
|
|
Termination and Transfer of Assets Agreement, dated December 4,
2007, by and among us, Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and Atari
Interactive Inc. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 10, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.11
|
|
Liquidity Agreement, dated August 22, 2005, between us and
Infogrames Entertainment S.A. incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.4 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended September 30, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.12
|
|
Temporary Liquidity Facility Intercreditor Agreement, dated
April 30, 2008, among us, Bluebay High Yield Investments
(Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. and Infogrames Entertainment, S.A. is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2008.
|
|
10
|
.13
|
|
Distribution Agreement, dated August 22, 2005, between us and
Humongous, Inc. incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.14
|
|
Management and Services Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2006,
between Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and us, is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended March 31, 2006.
|
|
10
|
.15
|
|
Services Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2006, between us and
Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and its subsidiaries, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2006.
|
D-44
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
.16
|
|
QA Services Agreement, dated December 2007, by and among us,
Infogrames Entertainment S.A., Atari Interactive, Inc. and
Humongous, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of
our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 10, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.17
|
|
Intercompany Services Agreements, dated December 2007, by and
among us, Infogrames Entertainment S.A., Atari Interactive, Inc.
and Humongous, Inc. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5
of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 10, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.18
|
|
Production Services Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2006,
between us and Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and its
subsidiaries, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.11 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March
31, 2006.
|
|
10
|
.19
|
|
Warehouse Services Contract, dated March 2, 1999, by and between
us and Arnold Transportation Services, Inc. t/d/b/a Arnold
Logistics is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.50
to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 1999.
|
|
10
|
.20
|
|
Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2005, among us,
as Borrower, and HSBC Business Credit (USA) Inc., as Lender is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.21
|
|
First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of June
30, 2005, between us and HSBC Business Credit (USA) Inc. is
incorporated herein by reference Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.22*
|
|
The 1995 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended on October 31, 1996)
is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Amendment
No. 2 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed December
6, 1996.
|
|
10
|
.23*
|
|
The 1997 Stock Incentive Plan is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 1997.
|
|
10
|
.24*
|
|
The 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended on June 17, 1998) is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
1998.
|
|
10
|
.25*
|
|
The 2000 Stock Incentive Plan is incorporated herein by
reference to Appendix B to our proxy statement dated June 29,
2000.
|
|
10
|
.26*
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to 2000 Stock Incentive Plan is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit A to our Information Statement
dated November 27, 2000.
|
|
10
|
.27*
|
|
Third Amendment to the Atari, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended
September 30, 2004.
|
|
10
|
.28*
|
|
Atari, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan is incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.10 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.29*
|
|
Form of 2005 Stock Incentive Plan Option Award Agreement is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31,
2005.
|
|
10
|
.30*
|
|
Form of 2005 Stock Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Award
Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to
our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December
31, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.31*
|
|
The 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.6 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 1998.
|
|
10
|
.32*
|
|
Description of Registrant’s Annual Incentive Plan for
fiscal 2008.**
|
|
10
|
.33*
|
|
Employment Agreement with Bruno Bonnell, dated as of July 1,
2004 and effective as of April 1, 2004, is incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2004.
|
|
10
|
.34*
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated as of November
23, 2005, between us and Bruno Bonnell is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended December 31, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.35*‡
|
|
Termination and General Release Agreement, dated October 15,
2004, by and between us and Denis Guyennot is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2004.
|
|
10
|
.36*
|
|
Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 2006, by and between us
and David R. Pierce is incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended September 30, 2006.
|
D-45
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
.37*
|
|
Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated May 1, 2007, between
David Pierce and Atari, Inc., is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on May 2, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.38*
|
|
Employment Agreement, dated March 31, 2008, between us and Jim
Wilson is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 1, 2008.
|
|
10
|
.39*
|
|
Letter Agreement, dated January 29, 2008, between us and Arturo
Rodriguez is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to our
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 4, 2008.
|
|
10
|
.40*
|
|
Consulting Agreement between us and Ann Kronen, dated as of
November 8, 2006, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
10.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
December 31, 2006.
|
|
10
|
.41
|
|
Compromise Agreement, dated August 12, 2005, by and among us,
Reflections Interactive Limited and Martin Lee Edmondson is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our
Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No.
333-129099).
|
|
10
|
.42‡
|
|
Licensed Publisher Agreement between us and Sony Computer
Entertainment America, Inc., dated January 19, 2003, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.62 to our
Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 333-107819)
initially filed with the SEC on August 8, 2003, and all
amendments thereto.
|
|
10
|
.43‡
|
|
PlayStation®
2 Licensed Publisher Agreement between us and Sony Computer
Entertainment America, Inc., dated April 1, 2000, as amended is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.44‡
|
|
Xbox®
Publisher License Agreement between us and Microsoft
Corporation, dated April 18, 2000, is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.63 to our Registration Statement on Form
S-2 (File No. 333-107819) initially filed with the SEC
on August 8, 2003, and all amendments thereto.***
|
|
10
|
.45
|
|
Sublicense Agreement between us and Funimation Productions,
Ltd., dated October 27, 1999, is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.64 to our Registration Statement on Form
S-2 (File No. 333-107819) initially filed with the SEC
on August 8, 2003, and all amendments thereto.***
|
|
10
|
.46
|
|
Amendment One to the Sublicense Agreement between us and
Funimation Productions, Ltd., dated April 20, 2002, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.65 to our
Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 333-107819)
initially filed with the SEC on August 8, 2003, and all
amendments thereto.
|
|
10
|
.47
|
|
Amendment Two to the Sublicense Agreement between us and
Funimation Productions, Ltd., dated June 15, 2002, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.66 to our
Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 333-107819)
initially filed with the SEC on August 8, 2003, and all
amendments thereto.
|
|
10
|
.48
|
|
Amendment Three to the Sublicense Agreement between us and
Funimation Productions, Ltd., dated October 15, 2002, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.67 to our
Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 333-107819)
initially filed with the SEC on August 8, 2003, and all
amendments thereto.
|
|
10
|
.49
|
|
Amendment Four to the Sublicense Agreement between us and
Funimation Productions, Ltd., dated November 13, 2002, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.68 to our
Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 333-107819)
initially filed with the SEC on August 8, 2003, and all
amendments thereto.
|
|
10
|
.50
|
|
Amendment Five to the Sublicense Agreement between us and
Funimation Productions, Ltd., dated February 21, 2003, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.69 to our
Registration Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 333-107819)
initially filed with the SEC on August 8, 2003, and all
amendments thereto.
|
|
10
|
.51
|
|
Amendment Six to the Sublicense Agreement between us and
Funimation Productions, Ltd., dated August 11, 2003, is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.83 to our Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended March 31, 2004.
|
|
10
|
.52
|
|
Agreement Regarding Satisfaction of Debt and License Amendment
among us, Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and California U.S.
Holdings, Inc., dated September 4, 2003, is incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.70 to our Registration Statement on
Form S-2 (File No. 333-107819) initially filed with the SEC on
August 8, 2003, and all amendments thereto.
|
D-46
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
.53
|
|
Amended Trademark License Agreement between us and Infogrames
Entertainment S.A., dated September 4, 2003, is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.71 to our Registration
Statement on Form S-2 (File No. 333-107819) initially filed with
the SEC on August 8, 2003, and all amendments thereto.
|
|
10
|
.54
|
|
Amendment No. 1 Trademark License Agreement between us, Atari
Interactive, Inc. and Infogrames Entertainment S.A. is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.55
|
|
Trademark License Of The Test Drive Franchise, dated November 8,
2007, between us and Infogrames Entertainment S.A. is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.56
|
|
General Intellectual Property and Proprietary Rights (Other Than
Trademark Rights) License Of The Test Drive Franchise, dated
November 8, 2007, between us and Infogrames Entertainment S.A.
is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of our Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on November 13, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.57
|
|
Letter Agreement, dated July 18, 2007, between us and Infogrames
Europe SA is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.61 to our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31,
2007.
|
|
10
|
.58
|
|
Letter Agreement, dated October 1, 2007, between us, Midland
National Life Insurance Company, North American Company for
Life and Health Insurance and Guggenheim Corporate Funding, LLC
is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Current
Report on Form 8-K filed on October 25, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.59
|
|
Obligation Assignment and Securing Agreement, dated as of
November 3, 2004, by and among us, Infogrames Entertainment SA,
Atari Interactive, Inc., Atari Europe SAS, and Paradigm
Entertainment, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended December 31, 2004.
|
|
10
|
.60
|
|
Secured Promissory Note of Atari Interactive, Inc. in the
aggregate amount of $23,058,997.19 payable us is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2004.
|
|
10
|
.61‡
|
|
Promissory Note of Atari Interactive, Inc., in the aggregate
amount of $5,122,625 payable to us, is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.86 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 2004.
|
|
10
|
.62‡
|
|
Promissory Note of Atari Interactive, Inc., in the aggregate
amount of $2,620,280 payable to us, is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.87 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31, 2004.
|
|
10
|
.63‡
|
|
Promissory Note of Paradigm Entertainment, Inc., in the
aggregate amount of $828,870 payable to us, is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.88 to our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2004.
|
|
10
|
.64
|
|
Agreement Regarding Issuance of Shares, dated September 15,
2005, between us and Infogrames Entertainment S.A. is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.65
|
|
GT Interactive UK Settlement of Indebtedness Agreement, dated as
of September 15, 2005, between us and Atari UK, Infogrames
Entertainment S.A. and all of its subsidiaries is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.66
|
|
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated September 15, 2005, between
us and CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd. is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Amendment No. 1 to Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-129098) filed on November
18, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.67
|
|
Securities Purchase Agreement, dated September 15, 2005, between
us and Sark Master Fund, Ltd. is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 to our Amendment No. 1 to Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-129098) filed on November
18, 2005.
|
|
10
|
.68
|
|
Asset Purchase Agreement, dated July 13, 2006, between us and
Reflections Interactive Ltd as the sellers and Ubisoft Holdings,
Inc. and Ubisoft Entertainment Ltd as the purchasers, as amended
by Amendment No. 1 dated August 3, 2006 is incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.
|
D-47
|
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
.69
|
|
Credit Agreement, dated November 3, 2006, among Atari, Inc, the
Lenders Party Hereto, and Guggenheim Corporate Funding, LLC, as
Administrative Agent is incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended December 31, 2006.
|
|
10
|
.70
|
|
Credit Agreement, dated April 30, 2008, between us and
Infogrames Entertainment S.A., as Lender, is incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on May 5, 2008.
|
|
10
|
.71
|
|
Waiver and Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated October 23,
2007, between us and Bluebay High Yield Investments (Luxembourg)
S.A.R.L. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of our
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 25, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.72
|
|
Waiver, Consent and Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated
November 6, 2007, between us and Bluebay High Yield Investments
(Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.1 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 13,
2007.
|
|
10
|
.73
|
|
Waiver, Consent and Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated
December 4, 2007, between us and Bluebay High Yield Investments
(Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. is incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.6 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 10,
2007.
|
|
10
|
.74
|
|
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated
April 30, 2008, between us and Bluebay High Yield Investments
(Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. is incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.3 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 5,
2008.
|
|
10
|
.75
|
|
Agreement of Lease, dated June 21, 2006, between us and Fifth
and 38th LLC is incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.58 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended March 31,2007.
|
|
10
|
.76
|
|
Partial Surrender of Lease Agreement and Modification Agreement,
dated August 14, 2007, between us and W2007 417 Fifth
Realty, LLC is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.59 to our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31,
2007.
|
|
10
|
.77
|
|
Amendment to Partial Surrender of Lease Agreement and
Modification Agreement, dated November 27, 2007, between us and
W2007 417 Fifth Realty, LLC is incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.60 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended December 31, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.78
|
|
Written Consent of the Majority Stockholder of Atari, Inc.,
dated October 5, 2007, by California U.S. Holdings, Inc. is
incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of our Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on October 9, 2007.
|
|
10
|
.79*
|
|
Employment Agreement, dated May 17, 2008, between Timothy
J. Flynn and us.**
|
|
21
|
.1
|
|
List of Subsidiaries.**
|
|
31
|
.1
|
|
Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
|
|
31
|
.2
|
|
Acting Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
|
|
32
|
.1
|
|
Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.‡‡
|
|
32
|
.2
|
|
Certification by the Acting Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.‡‡
|
|
99
|
.1‡
|
|
Licensed PSP Publisher Agreement by and between us and Sony
Computer Entertainment America, Inc., dated March 23, 2005, for
PlayStation®
Portable is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005.
|
|
99
|
.2‡
|
|
Amendment to the
Xbox®
Publisher Licensing Agreement, dated March 1, 2005 is
incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 2 to our Annual
Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended March 31, 2005.
|
|
99
|
.3‡
|
|
Confidential License Agreement for Nintendo
GameCubetm,
by and between Nintendo of America, Inc. and us effective March
29, 2002 is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2005.
|
|
99
|
.4
|
|
First Amendment to Confidential License Agreement for Nintendo
GameCubetm,
by and between Nintendo of America, Inc. and us effective March
29, 2002 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to
our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2005.
|
D-48
|
|
|
|
|
|
99
|
.5‡
|
|
Xbox®
360 Publisher License Agreement between us and Microsoft
Licensing GP, effective February 17, 2006, is incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 99.5 to our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended March 31, 2006.
|
|
99
|
.6‡
|
|
Confidential License Agreement for Nintendo DS (Western
Hemisphere), by and between Nintendo of America, Inc. and us
effective October 14, 2005, is incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 99.6 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended March 31, 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit indicated with an * symbol is a management contract or
compensatory plan or arrangement. |
|
** |
|
Exhibit indicated with an ** symbol is filed herewith. |
|
*** |
|
All immaterial amendments/extensions to this agreement were
filed as an exhibit 99 in our Quarterly Report for the
respective period. |
|
‡ |
|
Portions of this exhibit have been redacted pursuant to a
confidential treatment request filed with the SEC. |
|
|
|
Exhibit indicated with a ‡‡ is furnished herewith. |
|
|
|
A copy of any of the exhibits included in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K
as amended, may be obtained by written request to Atari, Inc.
upon payment of a fee of $0.10 per page to cover costs. Requests
should be sent to Atari, Inc. at the address set forth on the
front cover, attention Director, Investor Relations. |
D-49
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the 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.
ATARI, INC.
Name: James Wilson
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
|
Date: June 30, 2008
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 in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Signature
|
|
Title(s)
|
|
Date
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ JAMES
WILSON
James
Wilson
|
|
President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
|
|
June 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Arturo
Rodriguez
Arturo
Rodriguez
|
|
Acting Chief Financial Officer,
Vice President and Controller
(principal financial and accounting officer)
|
|
June 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Eugene
I. Davis
Eugene
I. Davis
|
|
Chairman of the
Board of Directors
|
|
June 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evence-Charles
Coppee
|
|
Director
|
|
June 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Wendell
H. Adair, Jr.
Wendell
H. Adair, Jr.
|
|
Director
|
|
June 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Bradley
E. Scher
Bradley
E. Scher
|
|
Director
|
|
June 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ James
B. Shein
James
B. Shein
|
|
Director
|
|
June 30, 2008
|
D-50
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
REPORT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Atari, Inc.
New York, New York
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of
Atari, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of
March 31, 2008, and the related consolidated statement of
operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income
(loss) and cash flows for the year then ended. Our audit also
included the consolidated financial statement schedule listed at
Item 15. These consolidated financial statements and the
consolidated financial statement schedule are the responsibility
of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements
and the consolidated financial statement schedule based on our
audit.
We conducted our audit 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. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial 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 audit provides a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred
to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of the Company at March 31, 2008, and the results
of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such
consolidated financial statement schedule, when considered in
relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as
a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the
information set forth as of March 31, 2008 and for the year
then ended therein.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As
discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial
statements, the Company has experienced significant operating
losses. These matters raise substantial doubt about the
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also
described in Note 1. The financial statements do not
include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of
this uncertainty.
J.H. Cohn LLP
Roseland, New Jersey
June 30, 2008
D-51
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Atari, Inc.
New York, New York
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of
Atari, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of
March 31, 2007, and the related consolidated statement of
operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income
(loss) and cash flows for the year in the period ended
March 31, 2007. Our audits also included the consolidated
financial statement schedule listed at Item 15. These
consolidated financial statements and the consolidated financial
statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company’s
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
consolidated financial statements and the consolidated financial
statement schedule 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. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial 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 financial
position of the Company at March 31, 2007, and the results
of its operations and its cash flows for the year in the period
ended March 31, 2007 in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of
America. Also, in our opinion, such consolidated financial
statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents
fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth
therein.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As
discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial
statements, the Company has experienced significant operating
losses. These matters raise substantial doubt about the
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also
described in Note 1. The financial statements do not
include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of
this uncertainty.
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial
statements, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards
Board Statement No. 123(R), “Share Based
Payment”, as revised, effective April 1, 2006. As
discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial
statements, effective March 31, 2007, the Company elected
application of Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108,
“Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when
Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial
Statements”.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
New York, New York
September 18, 2007
D-52
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(in thousands,
|
|
|
|
except share data)
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
7,603
|
|
|
$
|
11,087
|
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $14,148 and $1,912 at
March 31,2007 and March 31, 2008, respectively
|
|
|
6,473
|
|
|
|
640
|
|
Inventories, net
|
|
|
8,843
|
|
|
|
4,276
|
|
Due from related parties (Note 13)
|
|
|
1,799
|
|
|
|
885
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
10,229
|
|
|
|
8,188
|
|
Assets of discontinued operations (Note 19)
|
|
|
645
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
35,592
|
|
|
|
25,076
|
|
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of
$30,945 and $21,813 at March 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively
|
|
|
4,217
|
|
|
|
6,313
|
|
Security deposits
|
|
|
1,940
|
|
|
|
1,373
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
1,070
|
|
|
|
671
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
42,819
|
|
|
$
|
33,433
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
$
|
11,013
|
|
|
$
|
5,378
|
|
Accrued liabilities
|
|
|
13,381
|
|
|
|
14,472
|
|
Royalties payable
|
|
|
4,282
|
|
|
|
2,825
|
|
Due to related parties (Note 13)
|
|
|
5,703
|
|
|
|
1,197
|
|
Credit facility (Note 14)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
14,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
34,379
|
|
|
|
37,872
|
|
Due to related parties — long term (Note 13)
|
|
|
1,912
|
|
|
|
3,576
|
|
Related party license advance
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
5,296
|
|
Long-term liabilities
|
|
|
3,434
|
|
|
|
7,101
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
39,725
|
|
|
|
53,845
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity (deficiency):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares
authorized, none issued or outstanding
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Common stock, $0.10 par value, 30,000,000 shares
authorized, 13,477,920 shares issued and outstanding at
March 31, 2007 and 2008
|
|
|
1,348
|
|
|
|
1,348
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
760,527
|
|
|
|
760,712
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(761,299
|
)
|
|
|
(784,945
|
)
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
|
|
2,518
|
|
|
|
2,473
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity (deficiency)
|
|
|
3,094
|
|
|
|
(20,412
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficiency)
|
|
$
|
42,819
|
|
|
$
|
33,433
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
D-53
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(in thousands,
|
|
|
|
except per share data)
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
122,285
|
|
|
$
|
80,131
|
|
Costs, expenses, and income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
72,629
|
|
|
|
40,989
|
|
Research and product development expenses
|
|
|
30,077
|
|
|
|
13,599
|
|
Selling and distribution expenses
|
|
|
25,296
|
|
|
|
19,411
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
21,788
|
|
|
|
17,672
|
|
Restructuring expenses
|
|
|
709
|
|
|
|
6,541
|
|
Impairment of goodwill
|
|
|
54,129
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Gain on sale of intellectual property
|
|
|
(9,000
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Gain on sale of development studio assets
|
|
|
(885
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Atari trademark license expense
|
|
|
2,218
|
|
|
|
2,218
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
2,968
|
|
|
|
1,563
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs, expenses, and income
|
|
|
199,929
|
|
|
|
101,993
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss
|
|
|
(77,644
|
)
|
|
|
(21,862
|
)
|
Interest income (expense), net
|
|
|
301
|
|
|
|
(1,452
|
)
|
Other income
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from continuing operations before (benefit from) provision
for income taxes
|
|
|
(77,266
|
)
|
|
|
(23,261
|
)
|
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(10,680
|
)
|
|
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from continuing operations
|
|
|
(66,586
|
)
|
|
|
(23,334
|
)
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd, net of tax provision of $7,559 and $0, respectively
|
|
|
(3,125
|
)
|
|
|
(312
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss)
|
|
$
|
(69,711
|
)
|
|
$
|
(23,646
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
(4.94
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.73
|
)
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd, net of tax
|
|
|
(0.23
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(5.17
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.75
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Note 13 for detail of related party amounts included
within the line items above.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
D-54
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(69,711
|
)
|
|
$
|
(23,646
|
)
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in)
operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive Ltd
|
|
|
3,125
|
|
|
|
312
|
|
Noncash tax benefit included in continuing operations associated
with tax provision of discontinued operations of Reflections
Interactive Ltd
|
|
|
(7,559
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Escrow receivable associated with sale of Reflections
Interactive Ltd
|
|
|
626
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Impairment of goodwill
|
|
|
54,129
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Write-off of acquired intangible and other web-related assets
|
|
|
2,401
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Gain on sale of intellectual property
|
|
|
(9,000
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Gain on sale of development studio assets
|
|
|
(885
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Adjustment for noncash gain on sale of development studio assets
|
|
|
200
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
1,587
|
|
|
|
185
|
|
Atari trademark license expense
|
|
|
2,218
|
|
|
|
2,218
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
2,968
|
|
|
|
1,563
|
|
Related party allocation of executive resignation agreement
|
|
|
771
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Accrued interest on related party license
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
296
|
|
Accrued interest
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
192
|
|
Amortization of deferred financing fees
|
|
|
202
|
|
|
|
705
|
|
Recognition of deferred income
|
|
|
(328
|
)
|
|
|
(77
|
)
|
Write-off of property and equipment
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
Gain on sale of property and equipment
|
|
|
(74
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Noncash income on cash collateralized security deposit
|
|
|
(11
|
)
|
|
|
(5
|
)
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Receivables, net
|
|
|
5,616
|
|
|
|
5,832
|
|
Inventories, net
|
|
|
11,243
|
|
|
|
4,566
|
|
Due from related parties
|
|
|
2,893
|
|
|
|
914
|
|
Due to related parties
|
|
|
(4,561
|
)
|
|
|
(5,062
|
)
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
2,532
|
|
|
|
2,113
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
|
(13,672
|
)
|
|
|
(5,639
|
)
|
Accrued liabilities
|
|
|
(7,316
|
)
|
|
|
673
|
|
Royalties payable
|
|
|
(9,186
|
)
|
|
|
(1,457
|
)
|
Long-term deferred tax liability
|
|
|
(2,123
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
1,852
|
|
|
|
719
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
2,949
|
|
|
|
(655
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) continuing operating activities
|
|
|
(29,113
|
)
|
|
|
(16,242
|
)
|
Net cash (used in) provided by discontinued operations
|
|
|
(7,826
|
)
|
|
|
334
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) operating activities
|
|
|
(36,939
|
)
|
|
|
(15,908
|
)
|
D-55
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS — (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from sale of intellectual property
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Proceeds from sale of development studio assets
|
|
|
1,550
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Purchase of acquired intangible assets
|
|
|
(1,737
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
(Increase) decrease in restricted security deposit
collateralizing letter of credit
|
|
|
(1,764
|
)
|
|
|
859
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment
|
|
|
(837
|
)
|
|
|
(407
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
|
|
|
179
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by continuing investing activities
|
|
|
6,391
|
|
|
|
452
|
|
Net cash provided by discontinued operations
|
|
|
23,366
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by investing activities
|
|
|
29,757
|
|
|
|
452
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Borrowings under third party credit facility
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
14,000
|
|
Payments under third party credit facility
|
|
|
(15,000
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Proceeds from related party license advance
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
5,000
|
|
Payments under capitalized lease obligation
|
|
|
(220
|
)
|
|
|
(72
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing financing activities
|
|
|
(216
|
)
|
|
|
18,928
|
|
Net cash provided by discontinued operations
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
|
|
(216
|
)
|
|
|
18,928
|
|
Effect of exchange rates on cash
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash
|
|
|
(7,345
|
)
|
|
|
3,484
|
|
Cash — beginning of fiscal year
|
|
|
14,948
|
|
|
|
7,603
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash — end of fiscal year
|
|
$
|
7,603
|
|
|
$
|
11,087
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest
|
|
$
|
249
|
|
|
$
|
552
|
|
Cash paid for taxes
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
72
|
|
Income tax refunds
|
|
$
|
1,047
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING
ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consideration accrued for purchase of capitalized licenses
|
|
$
|
1,816
|
|
|
$
|
3,400
|
|
Consideration accrued for purchase of acquired intangible assets
|
|
$
|
554
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Capitalization of leasehold improvements funded by landlord
|
|
$
|
1,217
|
|
|
$
|
3,263
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
D-56
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(DEFICIENCY) AND
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
For the Years Ended March 31, 2007 and 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Paid-In
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
Income
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, March 31, 2006
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
$
|
1,348
|
|
|
$
|
758,165
|
|
|
$
|
(688,730
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,429
|
|
|
$
|
73,212
|
|
Adjustment to opening stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(2,858
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(2,858
|
)
|
Comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(69,711
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(69,711
|
)
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(69,622
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party allocation of executive resignation agreement
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
771
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
771
|
|
Exercise of stock options
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,587
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,587
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, March 31, 2007
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
1,348
|
|
|
|
760,527
|
|
|
|
(761,299
|
)
|
|
|
2,518
|
|
|
|
3,094
|
|
Comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(23,646
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(23,646
|
)
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(45
|
)
|
|
|
(45
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(23,691
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
185
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
185
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, March 31, 2008
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
$
|
1,348
|
|
|
$
|
760,712
|
|
|
$
|
(784,945
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,473
|
|
|
$
|
(20,412
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
D-57
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
|
|
NOTE 1 —
|
OPERATIONS
AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
|
Nature
of Business
We are a publisher of video game software that is distributed
throughout the world and a distributor of video game software in
North America. We publish and distribute video games for all
platforms, including Sony PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PSP,
Nintendo Wii and DS, and Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360, as well as
for personal computers, or PCs. The products we publish or
distribute extend across most major video game genres, including
action, adventure, strategy, role playing and racing.
Through our relationship with our majority stockholder,
Infogrames Entertainment S.A., a French corporation
(“IESA”), listed on Euronext, our products are
distributed exclusively by IESA throughout Europe, Asia and
certain other regions. Similarly, we exclusively distribute
IESA’s products in the United States and Canada.
Furthermore, we distribute product in Mexico through various
non-exclusive agreements. At March 31, 2008, IESA owns
approximately 51% of us, through its wholly owned subsidiary
California U.S. Holdings, Inc. (“CUSH”). As a
result of this relationship, we have significant related party
transactions (Note 13).
Going
Concern
Until 2005, we were actively involved in developing video games
and in financing development of video games by independent
developers, which we would publish and distribute under licenses
from the developers. However, beginning in 2005, because of cash
constraints, we substantially reduced our involvement in
development of video games, and announced plans to divest
ourselves of our internal development studios.
During fiscal 2007, we sold a number of intellectual properties
and development facilities in order to obtain cash to fund our
operations. During 2007, we raised approximately
$35.0 million through the sale of the rights to the
Driver games and certain other intellectual property, and
the sale of our Reflections Interactive Ltd
(“Reflections”) and Shiny Entertainment
(“Shiny”) studios. By the end of fiscal 2007, we did
not own any development studios.
The reduction in our development activities has significantly
reduced the number of games we publish. During fiscal 2008, our
revenues from publishing activities were $69.8 million,
compared with $104.7 million during fiscal 2007.
For the year ended March 31, 2007, we had an operating loss
of $77.6 million, which included a charge of
$54.1 million for the impairment of our goodwill, which is
related to our publishing unit. For the year ended
March 31, 2008, we incurred an operating loss of
approximately $21.9 million. We have taken significant
steps to reduce our costs such as our May 2007 and November 2007
workforce reduction of approximately 20% and 30%, respectively.
Our ability to deliver products on time depends in good part on
developers’ ability to meet completion schedules. Further,
our releases in fiscal 2008 were even fewer than our releases in
fiscal 2007. In addition, most of our releases for fiscal 2008
were focused on the holiday season. As a result our cash needs
have become more seasonal and we face significant cash
requirements to fund our working capital needs.
The following series of events and transactions which have
occurred since September 30, 2007, have caused or are part
of our current restructuring initiatives intended to allow us to
devote more resources to focusing on our distribution business
strategy, provide liquidity, and to mitigate our future cash
requirements:
Guggenheim
Corporate Funding LLC Covenant Default
As of September 30, 2007, our only borrowing facility was
an asset-based secured credit facility that we established in
November 2006 with a group of lenders for which Guggenheim
Corporate Funding LLC (“Guggenheim”) was the
administrative agent. The credit facility consisted of a
secured, committed, revolving line of credit in an initial
amount up to $15.0 million (subject to a borrowing base
calculation), which initially included a $10.0 million
sublimit for the issuance of letters of credit. On
October 1, 2007, the lenders provided a
D-58
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
waiver of covenant defaults as of June 30, 2007 and reduced
the aggregate borrowing commitment of the revolving line of
credit to $3.0 million.
Removal
of the Atari, Inc. Board of Directors
On October 5, 2007, CUSH, via a written consent, removed
James Ackerly, Ronald C. Bernard, Michael G. Corrigan,
Denis Guyennot, and Ann E. Kronen from the Board of Directors of
Atari. On October 15, 2007, we announced the appointment of
Wendell Adair, Eugene I. Davis, James B. Shein, and Bradley E.
Scher as independent directors of our Board. Further, we have
also appointed Curtis G. Solsvig III, as our Chief Restructuring
Officer and have retained AlixPartners (of which
Mr. Solsvig is a Managing Director) to assist us in
evaluating and implementing strategic and tactical options
through our restructuring process.
Transfer
of the Guggenheim credit facility to BlueBay High Yield
Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L.
On October 18, 2007, we consented to the transfer of the
loans outstanding ($3.0 million) under the Guggenheim
credit facility to funds affiliated with BlueBay Asset
Management plc and to the appointment of BlueBay High Yield
Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. , or BlueBay, as successor
administrative agent. BlueBay Asset Management plc is a
significant shareholder of IESA. On October 23, 2007, we
entered into a waiver and amendment with BlueBay for, as
amended, a $10.0 million Senior Secured Credit Facility
(“Senior Credit Facility”). The Senior Credit Facility
matures on December 31, 2009, charges an interest rate of
the applicable LIBOR rate plus 7% per year, and eliminates
certain financial covenants.
As of December 31, 2007, we are in violation of our weekly
cash flow covenants. BlueBay our lender has not waived this
violation and we have entered into a forbearance agreement which
states our lender will not exercise its rights on our facility
until the earlier of (i) March 14, 2008,
(ii) additional covenant defaults except for the ones
existing as the date of this report or (iii) if any action
transpires which is viewed to be adverse to the position of the
lender (See Note 8). As of March 31, 2008, we
continued to be in violation of our BlueBay covenants (See
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment Below).
Test
Drive Intellectual Property License
On November 8, 2007, we entered into two separate license
agreements with IESA pursuant to which we granted IESA the
exclusive right and license, under its trademark and
intellectual property rights, to create, develop, distribute and
otherwise exploit licensed products derived from our series of
interactive computer and video games franchise known as
“Test Drive” and “Test Drive Unlimited” (the
“Franchise”) for a term of seven years (collectively,
the “TDU Agreements”).
IESA paid us a non-refundable advance, fully recoupable against
royalties to be paid under each of the TDU Agreements, of
(i) $4 million under a trademark agreement
(“Trademark Agreement”) and (ii) $1 million
under an intellectual property agreement (“IP
Agreement”), both advances of which shall accrue interest
at a yearly rate of 15% throughout the term of the applicable
agreement (collectively, the “Advance Royalty”). Under
the Trademark Agreement, the base royalty rate is 7.2% of net
revenue actually received by IESA from the sale of licensed
products, or, in lieu of the foregoing royalties, 40% of net
revenue actually received by IESA from the exploitation of
licensed products on the wireless platform. Under the IP
Agreement, the base royalty rate is 1.8% of net revenue actually
received by IESA from the sale of licensed products, or, in lieu
of the foregoing royalties, 10% of net revenue actually received
by IESA from the exploitation of licensed products on the
wireless platform.
Overhead
Reduction
On November 13, 2007, we announced a plan to lower
operating expenses by, among other things, reducing headcount.
The plan included (i) a reduction in force to consolidate
certain operations, eliminate certain non-critical functions,
and refocus certain engineering and support functions, and
(ii) transfer of certain product development
D-59
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
and business development employees to IESA in connection with
the termination of a production services agreement between us
and IESA. We expect that, after completion of the plan during
fiscal 2009, total headcount will be reduced by approximately
30.0%. See Note 20.
Global
Memorandum of Understanding
On December 4, 2007, we entered into a Global Memorandum of
Understanding Regarding Restructuring of Atari, Inc.
(“Global MOU”) with IESA, pursuant to which we agreed,
in furtherance of our restructuring plan, to the supersession or
termination of certain existing agreements and the entry into
certain new agreements between IESA
and/or its
affiliates and us. See the Short Form Distribution
Agreement, Termination and Transfer of Assets Agreement, QA
Service Agreement and the Intercompany Service Agreement
described below.
The Global MOU also contemplated the execution of a Waiver,
Consent and Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement, as amended,
among us and BlueBay. This Third Amendment to the Credit
Agreement raised our credit limit with BlueBay to
$14.0 million (See Note 14).
Furthermore, we agreed with IESA that during the third fiscal
quarter of 2008, IESA and us shall discuss an extension of the
termination date of the Trademark License Agreement, dated
September 4, 2003, as amended, between us and Atari
Interactive, Inc., a majority owned subsidiary of IESA,
(“Atari Interactive”).
Short
Form Distribution Agreement
We entered into a Short Form Distribution Agreement with
IESA (together with two of its affiliates) that supersedes, with
respect to games to be distributed on or after the effective
date of the Short Form Distribution Agreement, the two
prior Distribution Agreements between us and IESA dated
December 16, 1999 and October 2, 2000. The Short
Form Distribution Agreement is a binding agreement between
the parties that sets forth the principal terms of a Long
Form Distribution Agreement to be negotiated and entered
into by the parties, as consented by BlueBay, on or before
March 14, 2008. Pursuant to the Short
Form Distribution Agreement, IESA granted us the exclusive
right for the term of the Short Form Distribution Agreement
to contract with IESA for distribution rights in the
contemplated territory to all interactive entertainment software
games developed by or on behalf of IESA that are released in
packaged media format. For any game, IESA may also grant us the
distribution rights to the game’s digital download format
in the contemplated territory, which will automatically revert
to IESA if the annual gross revenues received by us with respect
to such game is less than the agreed upon target. With respect
to massively multiplayer online games, casual games and games
played through an Internet browser, IESA granted us the
exclusive right to distribute and sell such games in both the
packaged media format and digital download format, if IESA makes
such games available in the packaged media format.
Our exclusive distribution territory is the region covered by
the United States, Canada and Mexico. However, if net receipts
for games distributed in Mexico are less than the agreed upon
target during a given year, the distribution rights in Mexico
shall automatically revert to IESA at the end of the relevant
year (two years from the effective date) of the term of
exclusivity.
The distribution of each game would be subject to a sales plan
and specific commitments (i) by us, regarding the amount of
the initial order, minimum number of units to be manufactured,
minimum amount required to be invested by us for marketing and
promotion of such game, and the royalties to be paid, which
shall equal (x) a flat
per-unit fee
per manufactured unit or (y) a percentage of net receipts
less a distribution fee paid to us equal to 70% of net receipts;
and (ii) by IESA, regarding the anticipated delivery date
and expected quality and rating of the game. In the event we and
IESA do not initially agree to the terms of such commitments for
a particular game, IESA may negotiate with third parties
regarding the distribution of such game, but IESA cannot accept
a third party offer for distribution rights without first giving
us ten days to match the offer.
The term of exclusivity rights under the Short
Form Distribution Agreement is three years, unless
terminated earlier in accordance with the agreement. The term
may automatically be shortened to two years if the net receipts
D-60
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
from the games distributed thereunder after the first year is
less than 80% of a target to be mutually determined. Thereafter,
the term shall automatically extend for consecutive one year
periods unless written notice of non-extension is delivered
within one-year of the expiration date.
IESA retains the rights to distribute games in the digital
download format for which IESA and we have not agreed to
distribution commitments. IESA agreed to pay the Company a
royalty equal to 8% of the online net revenues that IESA
receives via the online platform attributable to such games in
exchange for the grant of a trademark license for Atari.com.
Furthermore, IESA shall have the sole and exclusive right to
operate the Atari.com Internet site, for which the terms will be
subject to a separate agreement to be entered into on or before
March 14, 2008, which has been postponed (see
“Agreement and Plan of Merger” in this Note 1
below). IESA agreed to place a link from the Atari.com Internet
site to the Company’s Internet site where we distribute
games in the digital download format for which IESA and us have
agreed to distribution commitments.
Termination
and Transfer of Assets Agreement
We have entered into a Termination and Transfer of Assets
Agreement (the “Termination and Transfer Agreement”)
with IESA (together with its affiliate), pursuant to which the
parties terminated the Production Services Agreement, between us
and IESA, dated as of March 31, 2006, IESA agreed to hire a
significant part of our Production Department team and certain
related assets were transferred to IESA.
Pursuant to the Termination and Transfer Agreement, we agreed to
transfer to IESA substantially all of the computer,
telecommunications and other office equipment currently being
used by the transferred Production team personnel to perform
production services. In consideration of the transfer, IESA
agreed to pay us approximately $0.1 million, representing,
in aggregate, the agreed upon current net book value for the
fixed assets being transferred and the replacement cost for the
development assets being transferred.
Furthermore, IESA agreed to offer employment to certain of our
Production team personnel identified to be transitioned. Certain
of those employees are permitted to continue providing oversight
and supervisory services to us until January 31, 2008 at
either no cost or at a discounted cost plus a fee.
QA
Services Agreement
We entered into the QA Services Agreement (“QA
Agreement”) with IESA (together with two of its
affiliates), pursuant to which we would either directly or
indirectly through third party vendors provide IESA with certain
quality assurance services until March 31, 2008.
Pursuant to the QA Agreement, IESA agreed to pay us the cost of
the quality assurance services plus a 10% premium. In addition,
IESA agreed to pay certain retention bonuses payable to
employees providing the services to IESA or its affiliates who
work directly on IESA projects or are otherwise general QA
support staff.
Intercompany
Services Agreement
We entered into an Intercompany Services Agreement with IESA
(together with two of its affiliates) that supersedes the
Management and Services Agreement and the Services Agreement,
each between us and IESA dated March 31, 2006.
Under the Intercompany Services Agreement, we will provide to
IESA and its affiliates certain intercompany services, including
legal, human resources and payroll, finance, IT and management
information systems (MIS), and facilities management services,
at the costs set forth therein. The annualized fee is
approximately $2.6 million. The term of the Intercompany
Services Agreement shall continue through June 30, 2008,
with three-month renewal periods.
D-61
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Agreement
and Plan of Merger
On April 30, 2008, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with IESA and Irata
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of IESA (“Merger Sub”). Under the terms of
the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into
us, with Atari continuing as the surviving corporation after the
Merger, and each outstanding share of Atari common stock, par
value $0.10 per share, other than shares held by IESA and its
subsidiaries and shares held by Atari stockholders who are
entitled to and who properly exercise appraisal rights under
Delaware law, will be cancelled and converted into the right to
receive $1.68 per share in cash (the “Merger
Consideration”). As a result of the Merger Agreement, we
will become a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of IESA.
IESA and us have made customary representations, warranties and
covenants in the Merger Agreement, including covenants
restricting the solicitation of competing acquisition proposals,
subject to certain exceptions which permit our board of
directors to comply with its fiduciary duties.
Under the Merger Agreement, IESA and us has certain rights to
terminate the Merger Agreement and the Merger. Upon the
termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances,
we must pay IESA a termination fee of $0.5 million.
The transaction was negotiated and approved by the Special
Committee of the Company’s board of directors, which
consists entirely of directors who are independent of IESA.
Based on such negotiation and approval, our board of directors
approved the Merger Agreement and recommended that our
stockholders vote in favor of the Merger Agreement. We expect to
call a special meeting of stockholders to consider the Merger in
the third quarter of calendar 2008. Since IESA controls a
majority of our outstanding shares, IESA has the power to
approve the transaction without the approval of our other
stockholders.
Credit
Agreement
In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company also
entered into a Credit Agreement with IESA under which IESA
committed to provide up to an aggregate of $20 million in
loan availability. The Credit Agreement with IESA will terminate
when the merger takes place or when the Merger Agreement
terminates without the merger taking place. See Note 14.
Waiver,
Consent and Fourth Amendment
In conjunction with the Merger Agreement, we entered into a
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to our BlueBay Credit
Facility under which, among other things, (i) BlueBay
agreed to waive our non-compliance with certain representations
and covenants under the Credit Agreement, (ii) BlueBay
agreed to consent to us entering into the a credit facility with
IESA, (iii) BlueBay agreed to provide us consent in
entering into the Merger Agreement with IESA, and
(iv) BlueBay and us agreed to certain amendments to the
Existing Credit Facility.
With the Fourth Amendment, as of April 30, 2008 and through
June 24, 2008, we are in compliance with our BlueBay credit
facility.
Although, the above transactions provided cash financing that
should meet our need through our fiscal 2009 second quarter
(i.e., the quarter ending September 30, 2008), management
continues to pursue other options to meet our working capital
cash requirements but there is no guarantee that we will be able
to do so, if the proposed transaction in which IESA would
acquire us is not completed.
Historically, we have relied on IESA to provide limited
financial support to us, through loans or, in recent years,
through purchases of assets. However, IESA has its own financial
needs, and its ability to fund its subsidiaries’
operations, including ours, is limited. Therefore, there can be
no assurance we will ultimately receive any funding from IESA,
if the proposed transaction in which IESA would acquire us is
not completed.
D-62
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The uncertainty caused by these above conditions raises
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going
concern, unless the merger with a subsidiary of IESA is
completed. Our consolidated financial statements do not include
any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
We continue to explore various alternatives to improve our
financial position and secure other sources of financing which
could include raising equity, forming both operational and
financial strategic partnerships, entering into new arrangements
to license intellectual property, and selling, licensing or
sub-licensing selected owned intellectual property and licensed
rights. We continue to examine the reduction of working capital
requirements to further conserve cash and may need to take
additional actions in the near-term, which may include
additional personnel reductions.
The above actions may or may not prove to be consistent with our
long-term strategic objectives, which have been shifted in the
last fiscal year, as we have discontinued our internal and
external development activities. We cannot guarantee the
completion of these actions or that such actions will generate
sufficient resources to fully address the uncertainties of our
financial position.
NASDAQ
Delisting
On December 21, 2007, we received a notice from NASDAQ
advising that in accordance with NASDAQ Marketplace
Rule 4450(e)(1), we had 90 calendar days, or until
March 20, 2008, to regain compliance with the minimum
market value of our publicly held shares required for continued
listing on the NASDAQ Global Market, as set forth in NASDAQ
Marketplace Rule 4450(b)(3). We received this notice
because the market value of our publicly held shares (which is
calculated by reference to our total shares outstanding, less
any shares held by officers, directors or beneficial owners of
10% or more) was less than $15.0 million for 30 consecutive
business days prior to December 21, 2007.
On March 24, 2008, we received a NASDAQ Staff Determination
Letter from the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Department stating
that we had failed to regain compliance with the Rule during the
required period, and that the NASDAQ Staff had therefore
determined that our securities were subject to delisting, with
trading in our securities to be suspended on April 2, 2008
unless we requested a hearing before a NASDAQ Listing
Qualifications Panel (the “Panel”).
On March 27, 2008, we requested a hearing, which stayed the
suspension of trading and delisting until the Panel issued a
decision following the hearing. The hearing was held on
May 1, 2008.
On May 7, 2008, we received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock
Market advising us that the Panel had determined to delist our
securities from The NASDAQ Stock Market, and suspended trading
in our securities effective with the open of business on Friday,
May 9, 2008. We have 15 calendar days from May 7, 2008
to request that the NASDAQ Listing and Hearing Review Council
review the Panel’s decision. We have requested such review.
Requesting a review does not by itself stay the trading
suspension action.
Following the delisting of our securities, our common stock
beginning trading on the Pink
Sheets®,
a real-time quotation service maintained by Pink Sheets LLC.
Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 108
In September 2006, the SEC released SAB No. 108,
“Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when
Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial
Statements.” SAB No. 108 permits us to adjust for
the cumulative effect of errors relating to prior years, not
previously identified, in the carrying amount of assets and
liabilities as of the beginning of the current fiscal year, with
an offsetting adjustment to the opening balance of retained
earnings in the year of implementation. SAB No. 108
also permits us to correct the immaterial effects of these
errors on fiscal 2007 quarters the next time we file these prior
period interim financial statements on
Form 10-Q.
As such, we do not intend to amend previously filed reports with
the SEC. During the March 31, 2007
D-63
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
audit, in accordance with SAB No. 108, we have
adjusted our opening retained earnings for fiscal 2007 and the
unaudited quarterly financial data for the first three quarters
of fiscal 2007 for the effects of the errors described below. We
consider these errors to be individually and collectively
immaterial to prior periods.
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•
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Inventory Write-off related to the lower-of-cost or market
adjustment
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During our year end financial closing, we determined that in
previous periods we did not properly record a
lower-of-cost-or-market adjustment to our inventory. As such, we
have written off inventory based on facts and circumstances
known and available at March 31, 2006 and prior. This
inventory write-off of $0.7 million decreases the balances
in opening retained earnings and inventory as of April 1,
2006, as presented in the table below.
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During our year end financial closing, we determined that we had
not established a deferred tax liability for the deferred tax
consequences of a temporary difference that arose from a
difference in the book and tax basis of goodwill. As such, we
have adjusted our opening retained earnings for fiscal 2007.
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Inventory
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Deferred Tax
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Write-off
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Liability
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Total
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Cumulative effect on inventory as of April 1, 2006
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$
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(735
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)
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$
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—
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$
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(735
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)
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Cumulative effect on long-term deferred tax liability as of
April 1, 2006
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$
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—
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$
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(2,123
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)
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$
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(2,123
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)
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Cumulative effect on retained earnings as of April 1, 2006
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$
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(735
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)
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$
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(2,123
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)
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$
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(2,858
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)
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Principles
of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
Atari, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant
intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
Revenue
recognition, sales returns, price protection, other customer
related allowances and allowance for doubtful
accounts
Revenue is recognized when title and risk of loss transfer to
the customer, provided that collection of the resulting
receivable is deemed probable by management.
Sales are recorded net of estimated future returns, price
protection and other customer related allowances. We are not
contractually obligated to accept returns; however, based on
facts and circumstances at the time a customer may request
approval for a return, we may permit the return or exchange of
products sold to certain customers. In addition, we may provide
price protection, co-operative advertising and other allowances
to certain customers in accordance with industry practice. These
reserves are determined based on historical experience, market
acceptance of products produced, retailer inventory levels,
budgeted customer allowances, the nature of the title and
existing commitments to customers. Although management believes
it provides adequate reserves with respect to these items,
actual activity could vary from management’s estimates and
such variances could have a material impact on reported results.
We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated
losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make
payments when due or within a reasonable period of time
thereafter. If the financial condition of our customers were to
deteriorate, resulting in an inability to make required
payments, additional allowances may be required.
D-64
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Concentration
of Credit Risk
We extend credit to various companies in the retail and mass
merchandising industry for the purchase of our merchandise which
results in a concentration of credit risk. This concentration of
credit risk may be affected by changes in economic or other
industry conditions and may, accordingly, impact our overall
credit risk. Although we generally do not require collateral, we
perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and reserves
for potential losses are maintained.
Use of
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of
America requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting period. Such estimates include
allowances for bad debts, returns, price protection and other
customer promotional programs, obsolescence expense, and
goodwill impairment. Actual results could materially differ from
those estimates. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, we
recorded an impairment charge in the amount of
$54.1 million, and as of March 31, 2007, our goodwill
balance is zero (see Note 6).
Cash
Cash consists of cash in banks. As of March 31, 2007 and
March 31, 2008, we have no cash equivalents.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (average cost
method) or market. Allowances are established to reduce the
recorded cost of obsolete inventory and slow moving inventory to
its net realizable value.
Property
and Equipment
Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation is
computed using the straight-line method over the estimated
useful lives of the assets, as follows:
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Useful Lives
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Computer equipment
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3 years
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Capitalized computer software
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3-5 years
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Furniture and fixtures
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7 years
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Machinery and equipment
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5 years
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Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line
method over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated
useful lives of the related assets.
Fair
Values of Financial Instruments
Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
Statement No. 107, “Disclosures About Fair Value of
Financial Instruments,” requires disclosure of the fair
value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to
estimate. We believe that the carrying amounts of our financial
instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, inventories,
prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable,
accrued liabilities, royalties payable, assets of discontinued
operations, and amounts due to and from related parties,
reflected in the consolidated financial statements approximate
fair value due to the short-term maturity and the denomination
in U.S. dollars of these instruments.
D-65
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Long-Lived
Assets
We review long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, for
impairment annually or whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may
not be fully recoverable. If the estimated fair value of the
asset is less than the carrying amount of the asset plus the
cost to dispose, an impairment loss is recognized as the amount
by which the carrying amount of the asset plus the cost to
dispose exceeds its fair value, as defined in FASB Statement
No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of
Long-Lived Assets.”
Research
and Product Development Expenses
Research and product development expenses related to the design,
development, and testing of newly developed software products,
both internal and external, are charged to expense as incurred.
Research and product development expenses also include royalty
payments (milestone payments) to third-party developers for
products that are currently in development. Once a product is
sold, we may be obligated to make additional payments in the
form of backend royalties to developers which are calculated
based on contractual terms, typically a percentage of sales.
Such payments are expensed and included in cost of goods sold in
the period the sales are recorded.
Rapid technological innovation, shelf-space competition, shorter
product life cycles and buyer selectivity have made it difficult
to determine the likelihood of individual product acceptance and
success. As a result, we follow the policy of expensing
milestone payments as incurred, treating such costs as research
and product development expenses.
Licenses
Licenses for intellectual property are capitalized as assets
upon the execution of the contract when no significant
obligation of performance remains with us or the third party. If
significant obligations remain, the asset is capitalized when
payments are due or when performance is completed as opposed to
when the contract is executed. These licenses are amortized at
the licensor’s royalty rate over unit sales to cost of
goods sold. Management evaluates the carrying value of these
capitalized licenses and records an impairment charge in the
period management determines that such capitalized amounts are
not expected to be realized. Such impairments are charged to
cost of goods sold if the product has released or previously
sold, and if the product has never released, these impairments
are charged to research and product development expenses.
Atari
Trademark License
In connection with a recapitalization completed in fiscal 2004,
Atari Interactive, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA, extended
the term of the license under which we use the Atari trademark
to ten years expiring on December 31, 2013. We issued
200,000 shares of our common stock to Atari Interactive for
the extended license and will pay a royalty equal to 1% of our
net revenues during years six through ten of the extended
license. We recorded a deferred charge of $8.5 million,
representing the fair value of the shares issued, which was
expensed monthly until it became fully expensed in the first
quarter of fiscal 2007. The monthly expense was based on the
total estimated cost to be incurred by us over the ten-year
license period; upon the full expensing of the deferred charge,
this expense is being recorded as a deferred liability owed to
Atari Interactive, to be paid beginning in year six of the
license.
Goodwill
and Acquired Intangible Assets
Goodwill is the excess purchase price paid over identified
intangible and tangible net assets of acquired companies.
Goodwill is not amortized, and is tested for impairment at the
reporting unit level annually or when there are any indications
of impairment, as required by FASB Statement No. 142,
“Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” A reporting
unit is an operating segment for which discrete financial
information is available and is
D-66
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
regularly reviewed by management. We only have one reporting
unit, our publishing business, to which goodwill is assigned.
A two-step approach is required to test goodwill for impairment
for each reporting unit. The first step tests for impairment by
applying fair value-based tests (described below) to a reporting
unit. The second step, if deemed necessary, measures the
impairment by applying fair value-based tests to specific assets
and liabilities within the reporting unit. Application of the
goodwill impairment tests require judgment, including
identification of reporting units, assignment of assets and
liabilities to each reporting unit, assignment of goodwill to
each reporting unit, and determination of the fair value of each
reporting unit. The determination of fair value for each
reporting unit could be materially affected by changes in these
estimates and assumptions. Such changes could trigger
impairment. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, we
recorded an impairment charge in the amount of
$54.1 million, and as of March 31, 2007, our goodwill
balance is zero (see Note 6).
Intangible assets are assets that lack physical substance.
During fiscal 2007, we recorded acquired intangible assets for
website development costs (related to the Atari Online website,
including a URL), which are accounted for in accordance with
Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”)
00-02,
“Accounting for Web Site Development Costs.”
EITF 00-02
requires that web site development costs be treated as computer
software developed for internal use, and that costs incurred in
the application and development stages be capitalized in
accordance with AICPA Statement of Position (“SOP”)
98-1,
“Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or
Obtained for Internal Use.” As of March 31, 2007, we
determined that certain of the acquired intangible assets
previously capitalized no longer provided a future benefit to
the company, as management decided at the end of the fourth
quarter to move to an outsourced technology model; these costs
were written off, and the charge of $2.4 million is
included in research and product development expenses for the
year ended March 31, 2007 (Note 6).
Advertising
Expenses
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses
for the years ended March 31, 2007 and 2008 amounted to
approximately $12.9 million and $10.3 million,
respectively.
Income
Taxes
We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method
of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax
assets and liabilities are determined based on differences
between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and
liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates in
effect for the years in which the differences are expected to
reverse. We record an allowance to reduce tax assets to an
estimated realizable amount. We monitor our tax liability on a
quarterly basis and record the estimated tax obligation based on
our current year-to-date results and expectations of the full
year results.
Foreign
Currency Translation and Foreign Exchange Gains
(Losses)
Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries have been
translated at year-end exchange rates, while revenues and
expenses have been translated at average exchange rates in
effect during the year. Cumulative translation adjustments have
been reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive
income.
Foreign exchange gains or losses arise from exchange rate
fluctuations on transactions denominated in currencies other
than the functional currency. For the years ended March 31,
2007 and 2008, foreign exchange losses were $0.4 million
and $0.3 million, respectively.
Shipping,
Handling and Warehousing Costs
Shipping, handling and warehousing costs incurred to move
product to the customer are charged to selling and distribution
expense. For the years ended March 31, 2007 and 2008, these
charges were approximately $5.0 million and
$3.6 million, respectively.
D-67
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157,
“Fair Value Measurements,” (“Statement
No. 157”) which provides a single definition of fair
value, together with a framework for measuring it, and requires
additional disclosure about the use of fair value to measure
assets and liabilities. Furthermore, in February 2007, the FASB
issued FASB Statement No. 159, “The Fair Value Option
for Financial Assets and Liabilities,” (“Statement
No. 159”) which permits an entity to measure certain
financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value, and
report unrealized gains and losses in earnings at each
subsequent reporting date. Its objective is to improve financial
reporting by allowing entities to mitigate volatility in
reported earnings caused by the measurement of related assets
and liabilities using different attributes without having to
apply complex hedge accounting provisions. Statement
No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007, but early application is encouraged. The
requirements of Statement No. 157 are adopted concurrently
with or prior to the adoption of Statement No. 159. We do
not anticipate the adoption of these statements to have a
material effect on our financial statements.
See Note 12 regarding the Company’s adoption of FASB
Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes (an interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 109)” which is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2006.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R,
“Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141R”).
SFAS 141R retains the fundamental requirements in
SFAS 141 that the acquisition method of accounting (which
SFAS 141 called the purchase method) be used for all
business combinations and for an acquirer to be identified for
each business combination. SFAS 141R defines the acquirer
as the entity that obtains control of one or more businesses in
the business combination and establishes the acquisition date as
the date that the acquirer achieves control. SFAS 141R is
effective for business combination transactions for which the
acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first
annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15,
2008. We are evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of this
statement will have on our results of operations, financial
position or cash flows.
In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP
FAS 142-3,
“Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible
Assets”
(“FSP 142-3”).
FSP 142-3
amends the factors that should be considered in developing
renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful
life of a recognized intangible asset under
SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets” (“SFAS 142”). This change is
intended to improve the consistency between the useful life of a
recognized intangible asset under SFAS 142 and the period
of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the
asset under SFAS 141R and other GAAP.
FSP 142-3
is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods
within those fiscal years. The requirement for determining
useful lives must be applied prospectively to intangible assets
acquired after the effective date and the disclosure
requirements must be applied prospectively to all intangible
assets recognized as of, and subsequent to, the effective date.
We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a
material impact on our results of operations, financial position
or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160,
“Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements” (“SFAS 160”). This Statement
amends ARB 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards
for the non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the
deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It clarifies that a
non-controlling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership
interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as
equity in the consolidated financial statements. SFAS 160
is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those
fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We
are evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of this
statement will have on our results of operations, financial
position or cash flows.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161,
“Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities — an amendment of FASB Statement
No. 133” (“SFAS 161”). This Statement
changes the disclosure requirements for derivative instruments
and hedging activities. Under SFAS 161, entities are
required to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and
why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how
derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted
for under Statement 133 and its related interpretations, and
(c) how
D-68
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an
entity’s financial position, financial performance, and
cash flows. SFAS 161 is effective for financial statements
issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after
November 15, 2008. We are evaluating the impact, if any,
the adoption of this statement will have on our results of
operations, financial position or cash flows.
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The
Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”
(“SFAS 162”). SFAS 162 is intended to
improve financial reporting by identifying a consistent
framework, or hierarchy, for selecting accounting principles to
be used in preparing financial statements that are presented in
conformity with GAAP for nongovernmental entities. SFAS 162
is effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU
Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in
Conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.”
We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a
material impact on our results of operations, financial position
or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB ratified the Emerging Issues Task
Force’s (“EITF”) consensus on EITF Issue No
07-1,
“Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements” that
discusses how parties to a collaborative arrangement (which does
not establish a legal entity within such arrangement) should
account for various activities. The consensus indicates that
costs incurred and revenues generated from transactions with
third parties (i.e. parties outside of the collaborative
arrangement) should be reported by the collaborators on the
respective line items in their income statements pursuant to
EITF Issue
No. 99-19,
“Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal Versus Net as an
Agent”. Additionally, the consensus provides that income
statement characterization of payments between the participation
in a collaborative arrangement should be based upon existing
authoritative pronouncements; analogy to such pronouncements if
not within their scope; or a reasonable, rational, and
consistently applied accounting policy election. EITF Issue
No. 07-1
is effective for interim or annual reporting periods in fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2008, and is to be
applied retrospectively to all periods presented for
collaborative arrangements existing as of the date of adoption.
We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of
this standard will have on our results of operations, financial
position or cash flows.
|
|
NOTE 2 —
|
STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION
|
Effective April 1, 2006, we adopted FASB Statement
No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” which requires
the measurement and recognition of compensation expense at fair
value for employee stock awards. Through March 31, 2006, we
accounted for employee stock option plans under the intrinsic
value method prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25,
“Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and related
interpretations. Any equity instruments issued, other than to
employees, for acquiring goods and services were accounted for
using fair value at the date of grant. We also previously
adopted the disclosure provisions of FASB Statement
No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation,” as amended by FASB Statement No. 148,
“Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation —
Transition and Disclosure — an Amendment of FASB
Statement No. 123,” which required us to disclose pro
forma information as if we had applied fair value recognition
provisions.
We have adopted FASB Statement No. 123(R) using the
modified prospective method in which we are recognizing
compensation expense for all awards granted after the required
effective date and for the unvested portion of previously
granted awards that remained outstanding at the date of
adoption. Under this transition method, the measurement as well
as our method of amortization of costs for share-based payments
granted prior to, but not vested as of, April 1, 2006 would
be based on the same estimate of the grant-date fair value and
the same amortization method that was previously used in our
FASB Statement No. 123 pro forma disclosure. Prior period
results have not been restated, as provided for under the
modified prospective method.
At March 31, 2008, we had one stock incentive plan, under
which we could issue a total of 1,500,000 shares of common
stock as stock options or restricted stock, of which
approximately 574,000 were still available for grant as of
March 31, 2008. Upon approval of this plan, our previous
stock option plans were terminated, and we were no longer able
to issue options under those plans; however, options originally
issued under the previous plans continue to be outstanding. All
options granted under our current or previous plans have an
exercise price equal to or greater
D-69
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
than the market value of the underlying common stock on the date
of grant; options vest over four years and expire in ten years.
The recognition of stock-based compensation expense increased
our loss from continuing operations before income tax benefit,
our loss from continuing operations, and our net loss by
$1.6 million for the year ended March 31, 2007, and
increased our basic and diluted loss per share amount by $0.12
for the year ended March 31, 2007. For the year ended
March 31, 2008, stock-based compensation expense increased
our net loss by $0.2 million and increased our basic and
diluted loss per share amount by $0.01.
We have recorded a full valuation allowance against our net
deferred tax asset, so the settlement of stock-based
compensation awards will not result in tax deficiencies that
could impact our consolidated statement of operations. Because
the tax deduction from current period settlement of awards has
not reduced taxes payable, the settlement of awards has no
effect on our cash flow from operating and financing activities.
The following table summarizes the classification of stock-based
compensation expense in our consolidated statement of operations
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Research and product development expenses
|
|
$
|
865
|
|
|
$
|
9
|
|
Selling and distribution expenses
|
|
$
|
88
|
|
|
$
|
(25
|
)
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
$
|
634
|
|
|
$
|
201
|
|
The weighted average fair value of options granted during the
years ended March 31, 2007 and 2008 was $4.62 and $0.87,
respectively. The fair value of our options is estimated using
the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This model requires
assumptions regarding subjective variables that impact the
estimate of fair value. Our policy for attributing the value of
graded vest share-based payment is a single option straight-line
approach. The following table summarizes the assumptions used to
compute the weighted average fair value of option grants:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Anticipated volatility
|
|
|
81
|
%
|
|
|
74
|
%
|
Dividend yield
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
%
|
Expected term
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
The weighted average risk-free interest rate for the years ended
March 31, 2007 and 2008 was 4.78% and 2.46%, respectively.
FASB Statement No. 123(R) requires that the Company
recognize stock-based compensation expense for the number of
awards that are ultimately expected to vest. As a result, the
expense recognized must be reduced for estimated forfeitures
prior to vesting, based on a historical annual forfeiture rate,
which is 10.1% for March 31, 2007 and 12.0% for
March 31, 2008. Estimated forfeitures shall be assessed at
each balance sheet date and may change based on new facts and
circumstances. Prior to the adoption of FASB Statement
No. 123(R), forfeitures were accounted for as they occurred
when included in required pro forma stock compensation
disclosures.
D-70
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The following table summarizes our option activity under our
stock-based compensation plans for the years ended
March 31, 2007 and 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options outstanding at March 31, 2006
|
|
|
752
|
|
|
$
|
77.97
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
628
|
|
|
$
|
7.28
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
$
|
3.40
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(110
|
)
|
|
$
|
13.57
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
(156
|
)
|
|
$
|
157.27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options outstanding at March 31, 2007
|
|
|
1,112
|
|
|
$
|
33.45
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
737
|
|
|
$
|
1.55
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(465
|
)
|
|
$
|
10.07
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
(457
|
)
|
|
$
|
59.12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options outstanding at March 31, 2008
|
|
|
927
|
|
|
$
|
7.18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercisable at March 31, 2008
|
|
|
126
|
|
|
$
|
39.45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2008, the weighted average remaining
contractual term of options outstanding and exercisable was
9.2 years and 5.0 years, respectively, and there was
no aggregate intrinsic value related to options outstanding and
exercisable due to a market price lower than the exercise price
of all options as of that date. As of March 31, 2008, the
total future unrecognized compensation cost related to
outstanding unvested options is $2.2 million, which will be
recognized as compensation expense over the remaining weighted
average vesting period of 3.8 years.
The following table summarizes information concerning currently
outstanding and exercisable options (shares in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Number
|
|
|
Average
|
|
Range of Exercise Price
|
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Remaining Life
|
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
|
$1.45 - 7.40
|
|
|
848
|
|
|
|
9.7
|
|
|
$
|
2.37
|
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
$
|
7.33
|
|
$18.40 - 76.00
|
|
|
59
|
|
|
|
4.5
|
|
|
$
|
46.10
|
|
|
|
58
|
|
|
$
|
46.27
|
|
$78.00 - 365.63
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
|
|
$
|
95.84
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
$
|
95.84
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
927
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
126
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D-71
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
NOTE 3 —
|
NET
INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
|
Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net
income (loss) by the weighted average number of shares of common
stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net income (loss) per
share reflects the potential dilution that could occur from
shares of common stock issuable through stock-based compensation
plans including stock options and warrants using the treasury
stock method. The following is a reconciliation of basic and
diluted loss from continuing operations and income (loss) per
share (in thousands, except per share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Basic and diluted earnings per share calculation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
(66,586
|
)
|
|
$
|
(23,334
|
)
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd, net of tax provision of $7,559 and $0, respectively
|
|
|
(3,125
|
)
|
|
|
(312
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(69,711
|
)
|
|
$
|
(23,646
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
Dilutive effect of stock options and warrants
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
(4.94
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.73
|
)
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd, net of tax
|
|
|
(0.23
|
)
|
|
|
(0.02
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(5.17
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.75
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The number of antidilutive shares that was excluded from the
diluted earnings per share calculation for the years ended
March 31, 2007 and 2008 was approximately 924,000 and
929,000, respectively. For the years ended March 31, 2007
and 2008, the shares were antidilutive due to the net loss for
the year.
|
|
NOTE 4 —
|
STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
|
Warrants
As of March 31, 2008, we had warrants outstanding to
purchase an aggregate of approximately 2,499 shares of our
common stock. The warrants have an expiration date of November
2012 and an exercise price of $24.20.
CCM
Master Qualified Fund, Ltd.
Pursuant to a Securities Purchase Agreement with CCM Master
Qualified Fund, Ltd. (“CCM”), dated September 15,
2005, CCM purchased approximately 380,000 shares (post-
reverse split) for $13.00 per share, or $4.94 million in
aggregate. Pursuant to such agreement, if our common stock is
delisted from the NASDAQ Global Market, CCM is entitled to a
monthly cash payment equal to 1% of the number of shares that
CCM then holds (of the 380,000) times the $13.00 per share
purchase price paid therefor. We have accrued the amount of this
penalty starting from the date of delisting through the
anticipated time of completion of the merger with IESA, which
equals approximately $0.2 million and is included as part
of our accrued liabilities.
D-72
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
NOTE 5 —
|
CONCENTRATION
OF CREDIT RISK
|
As of March 31, 2007, we had two customers whose accounts
receivable exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2007
|
|
|
March 31, 2007
|
|
|
|
% of Accounts
|
|
|
% of Net
|
|
|
|
Receivable
|
|
|
Revenues(1)
|
|
|
Customer 1
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
Customer 2
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
|
9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
54
|
%
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2008, we had four customers whose accounts
receivable exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2008
|
|
|
March 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
% of Accounts
|
|
|
% of Net
|
|
|
|
Receivable
|
|
|
Revenues(1)
|
|
|
Customer 1
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
27
|
%
|
Customer 2
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
|
|
7
|
%
|
Customer 3
|
|
|
13
|
%
|
|
|
12
|
%
|
Customer 4
|
|
|
11
|
%
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
71
|
%
|
|
|
65
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Excluding international royalty, licensing, and other income. |
Due to the timing of cash receipts, field inventory levels along
with anticipated price protection reserves and lower sales in
the final quarter of the year, certain customers were in net
credit balance positions within our accounts receivable at
March 31, 2007 and 2008. As a result, $0.8 million
and $2.6 million was reclassified to accrued liabilities to
properly state our assets and liabilities as of March 31,
2007 and 2008, respectively.
With the exception of the largest customers noted above,
accounts receivable balances from all remaining individual
customers were less than 10% of our total accounts receivable
balance.
|
|
NOTE 6 —
|
GOODWILL
AND ACQUIRED INTANGIBLE ASSETS
|
The change in goodwill for the year ended March 31, 2007 is
as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2007
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
|
$
|
66,398
|
|
Sale of Humongous Entertainment studio
|
|
|
—
|
|
Sale of Reflections Interactive Ltd development studio
|
|
|
(12,269
|
)
|
Impairment of goodwill
|
|
|
(54,129
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ending balance
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During the year ended March 31, 2007, we allocated
$12.3 million of the goodwill associated with our
publishing business to the sale of our previously wholly-owned
development studio Reflections and related Driver
intellectual property. See Note 19.
D-73
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
A two-step approach is required to test goodwill for impairment
for each reporting unit (see Note 1). In fiscal 2007, we
completed the first step of the annual goodwill impairment
testing as of December 31, 2006 with regard to the goodwill
associated with our publishing business. As part of step one, we
considered three methodologies to determine the fair-value of
our reporting unit. The first, which we believe is our primary
and most reliable approach, is a market capitalization approach.
This aligns our market capitalization at the balance sheet date
to our publishing business, as we believe this measure is a good
indication of third-party determination of fair value. The
second approach entails determining the fair value of the
reporting unit using a discounted cash flow methodology, which
requires significant judgment to estimate the future cash flows
and to determine the appropriate discount rates, growth rates,
and other assumptions. The third approach is an orderly sale of
assets process, which values the publishing unit based on
estimated sale price of assets and intellectual property, less
any related liabilities. Due to our history of operating losses
and diminishing financial performance, we do not place heavy
reliance on the second approach. The third approach is not a
commonly used analysis; therefore, we place minimal reliance on
that approach as well.
However, during the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2007,
our market capitalization declined significantly. As this
measure is our primary indicator of the fair value of our
publishing unit, management considered this decline to be a
triggering event, requiring us to perform an impairment
analysis. As of March 31, 2007, we completed this analysis
and our management, with the concurrence of the Audit Committee
of our Board of Directors, has concluded that an impairment
charge of $54.1 million should be recognized. This is a
noncash charge and has been recorded in the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2007.
The change in acquired intangible assets (included in other
assets) for the years ended March 31, 2007 and
March 31, 2008 is as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
140
|
|
Additions
|
|
|
2,291
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Write-off
|
|
|
(2,151
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ending balance
|
|
$
|
140
|
|
|
$
|
140
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During the year ended March 31, 2007, we capitalized as
acquired intangible assets $2.3 million of costs incurred
with several third party contractors in connection with the
development of our Atari Online website, as well as costs
incurred to purchase a URL. During the fourth quarter of fiscal
2007, it was determined that certain of the acquired intangible
assets previously capitalized no longer provided a future
benefit to the company, as management decided at the end of the
fourth quarter to move to an outsourced technology model; these
costs were written off, and the charge is included in research
and product development expenses within our publishing segment.
The remaining asset is related to the purchased URL and will not
be amortized until the website is operational, which will occur
in fiscal 2009. The balance is included in other assets on our
consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2008.
|
|
NOTE 7 —
|
INVENTORIES,
NET
|
Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Finished goods
|
|
$
|
8,226
|
|
|
$
|
3,847
|
|
Return inventory
|
|
|
615
|
|
|
|
424
|
|
Raw materials
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
8,843
|
|
|
$
|
4,276
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D-74
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
NOTE 8 —
|
PREPAID
EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the
following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Licenses short-term
|
|
$
|
7,054
|
|
|
$
|
4,361
|
|
Prepaid insurance
|
|
|
802
|
|
|
|
911
|
|
Reflections escrow receivable
|
|
|
626
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
Royalties receivable
|
|
|
495
|
|
|
|
494
|
|
Deferred financing fees
|
|
|
209
|
|
|
|
380
|
|
Taxes receivable
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
|
156
|
|
Receivable from landlord
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
448
|
|
Trade deposits and other professional retainers
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
997
|
|
Other prepaid expenses and current assets
|
|
|
953
|
|
|
|
413
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
10,229
|
|
|
$
|
8,188
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTE 9 —
|
PROPERTY
AND EQUIPMENT, NET
|
Property and equipment consists of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Capitalized computer software
|
|
$
|
18,242
|
|
|
$
|
18,409
|
|
Computer equipment
|
|
|
9,243
|
|
|
|
4,395
|
|
Leasehold improvements
|
|
|
5,241
|
|
|
|
4,493
|
|
Furniture and fixtures
|
|
|
2,195
|
|
|
|
587
|
|
Machinery and equipment
|
|
|
241
|
|
|
|
242
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,162
|
|
|
|
28,126
|
|
Less: accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
(30,945
|
)
|
|
|
(21,813
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,217
|
|
|
$
|
6,313
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation expense for the years ended March 31, 2007 and
2008 amounted to approximately $3.0 million and
$1.6 million, respectively.
D-75
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
NOTE 10 —
|
ACCRUED
LIABILITIES
|
Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Accrued third-party development expenses
|
|
$
|
2,660
|
|
|
$
|
4,122
|
|
Accrued professional fees and other services
|
|
|
2,578
|
|
|
|
1,991
|
|
Accrued distribution services
|
|
|
2,061
|
|
|
|
247
|
|
Accrued salary and related costs
|
|
|
1,581
|
|
|
|
743
|
|
Accrued advertising
|
|
|
1,222
|
|
|
|
629
|
|
Accounts receivable credit balances
|
|
|
828
|
|
|
|
2,619
|
|
Taxes payable
|
|
|
299
|
|
|
|
453
|
|
Deferred income
|
|
|
231
|
|
|
|
277
|
|
Accrued freight and handling fees
|
|
|
193
|
|
|
|
136
|
|
Delisting penalty owed to shareholder
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
200
|
|
Restructuring reserve (Note 20)
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
|
1,759
|
|
Other
|
|
|
1,674
|
|
|
|
1,296
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
13,381
|
|
|
$
|
14,472
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTE 11 —
|
LONG-TERM
LIABILITIES
|
Long-term liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Deferred rent
|
|
$
|
1,880
|
|
|
$
|
2,624
|
|
Landlord allowance
|
|
|
1,213
|
|
|
|
4,228
|
|
Deferred income — long-term
|
|
|
325
|
|
|
|
249
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,434
|
|
|
$
|
7,101
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from continuing operations before (benefit from) provision
for income taxes consisted of (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
United States
|
|
$
|
(77,307
|
)
|
|
$
|
(23,297
|
)
|
Foreign
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before (benefit from) provision for income taxes
|
|
$
|
(77,266
|
)
|
|
$
|
(23,261
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D-76
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The components of the (benefit from) provision for income taxes
are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Current:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
State and local
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
73
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
(998
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
(998
|
)
|
|
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
|
(8,216
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
State and Local
|
|
|
(1,466
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
(9,682
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
|
|
$
|
(10,680
|
)
|
|
$
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We allocate income taxes between continuing and discontinued
operations in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109,
“Accounting for Income Taxes,” particularly
paragraph 140, which states that all items, including
discontinued operations, should be considered for purposes of
determining the amount of tax benefit that results from a loss
from continuing operations and that should be allocated to
continuing operations. FASB Statement No. 109 is applied by
tax jurisdiction, and in periods in which there is a pre-tax
loss from continuing operations and pre-tax income in another
category, such as discontinued operations, tax expense is first
allocated to the other sources of income, with a related benefit
recorded in continuing operations.
During the year ended March 31, 2007, we recorded a tax
benefit of $7.6 million in accordance with
paragraph 140 of FASB Statement No. 109 (see above),
as well as a tax benefit from the reversal of a deferred tax
liability of $2.1 million, associated with the impairment
of our goodwill, compounded by a tax benefit of approximately
$1.0 million primarily from the favorable outcome of a tax
examination of our dormant UK subsidiary.
A reconciliation of the benefit from provision for income taxes
from continuing operations computed at the federal statutory
rate to the reported benefit from provision for income taxes is
as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes computed at the
federal statutory rate
|
|
$
|
(27,043
|
)
|
|
$
|
(8,143
|
)
|
Income taxes (benefit) expense income taxes resulting from:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Permanent differences and other
|
|
|
4,273
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
State and local taxes, net of federal tax effect
|
|
|
(952
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Difference between U.S. and foreign income tax rates
|
|
|
(4
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Reversal of reserves and settlement of tax examinations
|
|
|
(999
|
)
|
|
|
73
|
|
Loss for which no benefit was received
|
|
|
14,045
|
|
|
|
8,122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
|
|
$
|
(10,680
|
)
|
|
$
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D-77
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary
differences between the carrying amount of assets and
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts
used for income tax purposes. The components of our net deferred
tax asset are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Deferred tax asset:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventory valuation
|
|
$
|
843
|
|
|
$
|
1,517
|
|
Deferred income
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
77
|
|
Net operating loss carryforwards
|
|
|
209,659
|
|
|
|
221,262
|
|
Restructuring reserve
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
831
|
|
Allowances for bad debts, returns, price protection and other
customer promotional programs
|
|
|
5,471
|
|
|
|
1,815
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
15,229
|
|
|
|
13,792
|
|
Atari trademark license expense
|
|
|
736
|
|
|
|
1,590
|
|
Research and development credit carryforwards
|
|
|
8,069
|
|
|
|
7,972
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sub-total
|
|
|
240,049
|
|
|
|
248,856
|
|
Less: valuation allowance
|
|
|
(240,049
|
)
|
|
|
(248,856
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax asset
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The valuation allowance increased by approximately
$8.8 million, primarily related to current year losses for
which no benefit was provided.
As of March 31, 2008, we had federal net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $574.7 million. The net
operating loss carryforwards will expire beginning in 2012
through 2028 and may be subject to annual limitations provided
by Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.
As of March 31, 2008, we have federal research and
development credits of approximately $6.7 million and state
research and development credits of approximately
$1.6 million. These credits will expire beginning in 2011.
We also have $0.2 million in federal alternative minimum
tax credits which can be carried forward indefinitely.
As of March 31, 2008, there were no undistributed earnings
for our 100% owned foreign subsidiaries.
The Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation
No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes” (“FIN 48”), on April 1, 2007. A
reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of
unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at March 31, 2007
|
|
$
|
340
|
|
Increases in tax positions for prior years
|
|
|
3
|
|
Decreases in tax positions for prior years
|
|
|
—
|
|
Increases in tax positions for current year
|
|
|
44
|
|
Settlements
|
|
|
(53
|
)
|
Lapse in statute of limitations
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at March 31, 2008
|
|
$
|
334
|
|
The amount of unrecognized tax benefits if recognized that would
reduce the annual effective tax rate is $0.4 million. As of
April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008 the Company had
approximately $0.1 million of accrued interest and
penalties, respectively. The Company expects $0.1 million
of its unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalty to
reverse over the next 12 months.
D-78
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and various
state jurisdictions. The Company was previously subject to
taxation in the United Kingdom. The Company’s federal tax
returns for tax years ended March 31, 2005 through
March 31, 2007 remain subject to examination. The Company
files in numerous state jurisdictions with varying statues of
limitations. During fiscal 2007, the Company completed a tax
examination in the United Kingdom (“UK”) through
the period ended March 31, 2004 and has terminated its UK
business activities.
|
|
NOTE 13 —
|
RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS
|
Relationship
with IESA
As of March 31, 2008, IESA beneficially owned approximately
51% of our common stock. IESA renders management services to us
(systems and administrative support) and we render management
services and production services to Atari Interactive and other
subsidiaries of IESA. Atari Interactive develops video games,
and owns the name “Atari” and the Atari logo, which we
use under a license. IESA distributes our products in Europe,
Asia, and certain other regions, and pays us royalties in this
respect. IESA also develops (through its subsidiaries) products
which we distribute in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and for
which we pay royalties to IESA (Note 1). Both IESA and
Atari Interactive are material sources of products which we
bring to market in the United States, Canada and Mexico. During
fiscal 2008, international royalties earned from IESA were the
source of 3.2% of our net revenues. Additionally, during the
year ended March 31, 2008, IESA and its subsidiaries
(primarily Atari Interactive) were the source of approximately
25.6%, respectively, of our net publishing product revenue.
Historically, IESA has incurred significant continuing operating
losses and has been highly leveraged. On September 12,
2006, IESA announced a multi-step debt restructuring plan,
subject to its shareholders’ approval, which would
significantly reduce its debt and provide liquidity to meet its
operating needs. On November 15, 2006, IESA shareholders
approved the debt restructuring plan, permitting IESA to execute
on this plan. As of March 31, 2008, IESA has raised
150 million Euros, of which approximately 40 million
Euros has paid down outstanding short-term and long-term debt.
The remaining 100 million euros (less approximately
6 million Euro in fees) will be committed to
fund IESA’s development program. Although this recent
transaction has brought in additional financing, IESA’s
ability to fund, among other things, its subsidiaries’
operations remains limited. Our results of operations could be
materially impaired if IESA fails to fund Atari
Interactive, as any delay or cessation in product development
could materially decrease our revenue from the distribution of
Atari Interactive and IESA products. If the above contingencies
occurred, we probably would be forced to take actions that could
result in a significant reduction in the size of our operations
and could have a material adverse effect on our revenue and cash
flows.
Additionally, although Atari is a separate and independent legal
entity and we are not a party to, or a guarantor of, and have no
obligations or liability in respect of IESA’s indebtedness
(except that we have guaranteed the Beverly, MA lease obligation
of Atari Interactive), because IESA owns the majority of our
common stock, potential investors and current and potential
business/trade partners may view IESA’s financial situation
as relevant to an assessment of Atari. Therefore, if IESA is
unable to address its financial issues, it may taint our
relationship with our suppliers and distributors, damage our
business reputation, affect our ability to generate business and
enter into agreements on financially favorable terms, and
otherwise impair our ability to raise and generate capital.
See Agreement and Plan of Merger under Note 1.
D-79
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Summary
of Related Party Transactions
The following table provides a detailed break out of related
party amounts within each line of our consolidated statements of
operations (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
Income (Expense)
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
122,285
|
|
|
$
|
80,131
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Royalty income(1)
|
|
|
5,243
|
|
|
|
2,599
|
|
License income(1)
|
|
|
2,464
|
|
|
|
6,522
|
|
Sale of goods
|
|
|
972
|
|
|
|
953
|
|
Production, quality and assurance testing and other services
|
|
|
3,576
|
|
|
|
2,308
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party net revenues
|
|
|
12,255
|
|
|
|
12,382
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(72,629
|
)
|
|
|
(40,989
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution fee for Humongous, Inc. products
|
|
|
(5,318
|
)
|
|
|
(7,885
|
)
|
Royalty expense(2)
|
|
|
(11,365
|
)
|
|
|
(4,619
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(16,683
|
)
|
|
|
(12,504
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and product development expenses
|
|
|
(30,077
|
)
|
|
|
(13,599
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Development expenses(3)
|
|
|
(7,224
|
)
|
|
|
(294
|
)
|
Related party allocation of executive resignation agreement
|
|
|
(771
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Other miscellaneous development expenses
|
|
|
(229
|
)
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party research and product development
Expenses
|
|
|
(8,224
|
)
|
|
|
(288
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling and distribution expenses
|
|
|
(25,296
|
)
|
|
|
(19,411
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miscellaneous purchase of services
|
|
|
(151
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party selling and distribution expenses
|
|
|
(151
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
(21,788
|
)
|
|
|
(17,672
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management fee revenue
|
|
|
3,020
|
|
|
|
3,056
|
|
Management fee expense
|
|
|
(3,000
|
)
|
|
|
(2,030
|
)
|
Office rental and other services(4)
|
|
|
184
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
204
|
|
|
|
1,026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restructuring expenses
|
|
|
(709
|
)
|
|
|
(6,541
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Office rental(4)
|
|
|
(467
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party restructuring expenses
|
|
|
(467
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income (expense), net
|
|
|
301
|
|
|
|
(1,452
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party interest on license advance(5)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(296
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party interest income, net
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(296
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss) from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd, net of tax provision of $7,559 and $0, respectively
|
|
|
(3,125
|
)
|
|
|
(312
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Royalty income(1)
|
|
|
(1,871
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
License income(1)
|
|
|
556
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party (loss) from discontinued operations of
Reflections Interactive Ltd, net of tax
|
|
|
(1,315
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
D-80
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
|
(1) |
|
We have entered into a distribution agreement with IESA and
Atari Europe which provides for IESA’s and Atari
Europe’s distribution of our products across Europe, Asia,
and certain other regions pursuant to which IESA, Atari Europe,
or any of their subsidiaries, as applicable, will pay us 30.0%
of the gross margin on such products or 130.0% of the royalty
rate due to the developer, whichever is greater. We recognize
this amount as royalty income as part of net revenues, net of
returns. Additionally, we earn license income from related
parties Glu Mobile (see below). |
|
(2) |
|
We have also entered into a distribution agreement with IESA and
Atari Europe, which provides for our distribution of IESA’s
(or any of its subsidiaries’) products in the United
States, Canada, and Mexico, pursuant to which we will pay IESA
either 30.0% of the gross margin on such products or 130.0% of
the royalty rate due to the developer, whichever is greater. We
recognize this amount as royalty expense as part of cost of
goods sold, net of returns. |
|
(3) |
|
We engage certain related party development studios to provide
services such as product development, design, and testing. |
|
(4) |
|
In July 2002, we negotiated a sale-leaseback transaction between
Atari Interactive and an unrelated party. As part of this
transaction, we guaranteed the lease obligation of Atari
Interactive. The lease provides for minimum monthly rental
payments of approximately $0.1 million escalating nominally
over the ten year term of the lease. During fiscal 2006, when
the Beverly studio (which held the office space for Atari
Interactive) was closed, rental payments were recorded to
restructuring expense. We also received indemnification from
IESA from costs, if any, that may be incurred by us as a result
of the full guaranty. |
|
|
|
We received a $1.3 million payment for our efforts in
connection with the sale-leaseback transaction. Approximately
$0.6 million, an amount equivalent to a third-party
broker’s commission, was recognized during fiscal 2003 as
other income, while the remaining balance of $0.7 million
was deferred and is being recognized over the life of the
sub-lease. Accordingly, during the years ended March 31,
2007 and 2008, approximately $0.1 million of income was
recognized in each period. As of March 31, 2007 and
March 31, 2008, the remaining balance of approximately
$0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively, is
deferred and is being recognized over the life of the sub-lease.
Although the Beverly studio was closed in fiscal 2006 as part of
a restructuring plan, the space was not sublet; the lease
expired June 30, 2007. |
|
|
|
Additionally, we provide management information systems services
to Atari Australia for which we are reimbursed. The charge is
calculated as a percentage of our costs, based on usage, which
is agreed upon by the parties. |
|
(5) |
|
Represents interest charged to us from the license advance from
the Test Drive license. See Note 1 and Test Drive
Intellectual Property License below. |
D-81
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Balance
Sheet
The following amounts are outstanding with respect to the
related party activities described above (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Due from/(Due to) — current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IESA(1)
|
|
$
|
(1,494
|
)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Atari Europe(2)
|
|
|
280
|
|
|
|
94
|
|
Eden Studios(3)
|
|
|
(595
|
)
|
|
|
125
|
|
Atari Studio Asia(3)
|
|
|
(401
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Humongous, Inc.(4)
|
|
|
(2,218
|
)
|
|
|
(537
|
)
|
Atari Interactive(5)
|
|
|
(992
|
)
|
|
|
(79
|
)
|
Other miscellaneous net receivables
|
|
|
1,516
|
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net due to related parties — current
|
|
$
|
(3,904
|
)
|
|
$
|
(312
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due from/(Due to) — long-term
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atari Interactive (see Atari Trademark License below)
|
|
|
(1,912
|
)
|
|
|
(3,576
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net due to related parties
|
|
$
|
(5,816
|
)
|
|
$
|
(3,888
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The current balances reconcile to the balance sheet as follows
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Due from related parties
|
|
$
|
1,799
|
|
|
$
|
885
|
|
Due to related parties
|
|
|
(5,703
|
)
|
|
|
(1,197
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net due to related parties — current
|
|
$
|
(3,904
|
)
|
|
$
|
(312
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Balances comprised primarily from the management fees charged to
us by IESA and other recharges of cost incurred on our behalf. |
|
(2) |
|
Balances comprised of royalty income or expense from our
distribution agreements with IESA and Atari Europe relating to
properties owned or licensed by Atari Europe. |
|
(3) |
|
Represents net payables related to related party development
activities. |
|
(4) |
|
Represents distribution fees owed to Humongous, Inc., a related
party, related to sale of their product, as well as liabilities
for inventory purchased. |
|
(5) |
|
Comprised primarily of royalties owed to Atari Interactive,
offset by receivables related to management fee revenue and
production and quality and assurance testing services revenue
earned from Atari Interactive. |
Atari
Name License
In May 2003, we changed our name to Atari, Inc. upon obtaining
rights to use the Atari name through a license from IESA, which
IESA acquired as a part of the acquisition of Hasbro Interactive
Inc. (“Hasbro Interactive”). In connection with a debt
recapitalization in September 2003, Atari Interactive extended
the term of the license under which we use the Atari name to ten
years expiring on December 31, 2013. We issued
200,000 shares of our common stock to Atari Interactive for
the extended license and will pay a royalty equal to 1% of our
net revenues during years six through ten of the extended
license. We recorded a deferred charge of $8.5 million,
which was being amortized monthly and which became fully
amortized during the first quarter of fiscal 2007. The monthly
amortization was
D-82
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
based on the total estimated cost to be incurred by us over the
ten-year license period. Upon full amortization of the deferred
charge, we began recording a long-term liability at
$0.2 million per month, to be paid to Atari Interactive
beginning in year six of the term of the license. During the
year ended March 31, 2007, we recorded expense of
$2.2 million, with $0.3 million expensed against the
deferred charge that remained at March 31, 2006, and the
remainder of the expense recorded in due to related
party — long term. As of March 31, 2007,
$1.9 million relating to this obligation is included in due
to related party — long term. During the year ended
March 31, 2008, we recorded expense of $1.7 million
against due to related party — long term. As of
March 31, 2008, $3.6 million relating to this
obligation is included in long-term liabilities and
approximately $0.6 is in short-term liabilities.
Sale of
Hasbro Licensing Rights
On July 18, 2007, IESA, agreed to terminate a license under
which it and we, and our sublicensees, had developed, published
and distributed video games using intellectual property owned by
Hasbro, Inc. In connection with that termination, on the same
date, we and IESA entered into an agreement whereby IESA agreed
to pay us $4.0 million. In addition, pursuant to the
agreements between IESA and Hasbro, Hasbro agreed to assume our
obligations under any sublicenses that we had the right to
assign to it. As of March 31, 2008, we have received full
payment of the $4.0 million and have recorded the same
amount as other income as part of our publishing net revenues
for the year ended March 31, 2008.
Test
Drive Intellectual Property License
On November 8, 2007, we entered into two separate license
agreements with IESA pursuant to which we granted IESA the
exclusive right and license, under its trademark and
intellectual and property rights, to create, develop, distribute
and otherwise exploit licensed products derived from the Test
Drive Franchise for a term of seven years. IESA paid us a
non-refundable advance, fully recoupable against royalties to be
paid under each of the TDU Agreements, of
(i) $4 million under the Trademark Agreement and
(ii) $1 million under the IP Agreement, both advances
accrue interest at a yearly rate of 15% throughout the term of
the applicable agreement (See Note 1). As of March 31,
2008, the balance of this related party license advance is
approximately $5.3 million of which $0.3 million
relates to accrued interest.
Related
Party Transactions with Employees or Former Employees
• License
Revenue from Glu Mobile
We record license income from Glu Mobile, for which a member of
our Board of Directors, until October 5, 2007, Denis
Guyennot, is the Chief Executive Officer of activities in
Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This results in treatment
of Glu Mobile as a related party. During the year ended
March 31, 2007, license income recorded from Glu Mobile was
$3.0 million of which $0.6 million is included in loss
for discontinued operations. As of March 31, 2007,
receivables from Glu Mobile were $1.3 million. For the year
ended March 31, 2008, we recorded $1.2 million of
related party income related to Glu Mobile as a related party.
As of March 31, 2008, we had no related party receivables
from Glu Mobile. Upon the removal of Mr. Guyennot from our
Board of Directors on October 5, 2007, Glu Mobile no longer
is a related party.
• Compromise
Agreement with Martin Lee Edmondson
On August 31, 2005, pursuant to a Compromise Agreement
executed on August 12, 2005 between us, Reflections, and
Martin Lee Edmondson, a former employee of Reflections, we
issued 155,766 shares to Mr. Edmondson as part of the
full and final settlement of a dismissal claim and any and all
other claims that Mr. Edmondson had or may have had against
us and Reflections, except for personal injury claims, accrued
pension rights, non-waivable claims, claims to enforce rights
under the Compromise Agreement, and claims for financial
compensation for services rendered (if any) in connection with
our game Driver: Parallel Lines. The share issuance was
valued at $2.1 million and the issuance was recorded as a
reduction of royalties payable. The Compromise
D-83
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Agreement also included a cash payment of $2.2 million paid
in twelve equal installments beginning on September 1,
2005, as well as a one time payment of $0.4 million payable
on September 1, 2005. The expense related to this
settlement was fully recorded during fiscal 2005. As of
March 31, 2006, the remaining liability due to
Mr. Edmondson was $0.9 million and was included in
liabilities of discontinued operations. During fiscal 2007, the
remaining balance was fully paid, and Reflections was sold to a
third party (Note 19). As of March 31, 2007, no
balance remains outstanding related to this liability.
• Consultation
Agreement with Ann Kronen
On November 8, 2006, we entered into a Consulting Agreement
with Ann E. Kronen, then a member of our Board of Directors (the
“Kronen Agreement”) until October 5, 2007 in
which Ms. Kronen was removed from our board (Note 1).
The term of the Kronen Agreement commenced effective
August 1, 2006 and ends on March 31, 2007, with
automatic one year extensions unless terminated on thirty days
notice prior to the end of the current term. Pursuant to the
Consulting Agreement, Ms. Kronen will provide
(i) product development, and (ii) business development
and relationship management services on behalf of us, for which
she will be compensated in monthly payments, and reimbursement
for any reasonable and pre-approved expenses incurred in
connection with such services. During fiscal 2007, we recorded
approximately $0.1 million of expense related to this
agreement. During fiscal 2008, we recorded and expense a
settlement payment ending our contract with Ms. Kronen for
a nominal amount. Including that payment, we expensed
approximately $0.2 million during fiscal 2008.
• Related
Party Allocation of Executive Resignation Agreement
On April 4, 2007, IESA entered into an agreement with Bruno
Bonnell, its founder, CEO, and the Chairman of its Board, under
which Mr. Bonnell agreed to resign from his duties as a
Director and CEO of IESA and from all the offices he holds with
subsidiaries of IESA, including Atari and its subsidiaries.
Mr. Bonnell was also the Chairman of our Board, our Chief
Creative Officer and our Acting Chief Financial Officer, and
previously had been our Chief Executive Officer. IESA agreed to
pay Mr. Bonnell a total of approximately 3.0 million
Euros ($4.0 million), including applicable foreign taxes.
Management has determined that we have benefited from this
separation, and that approximately $0.8 million of the
payments IESA made should be allocated to the benefit we
received. Our consolidated statement of operations for the year
ended March 31, 2007 reflects a charge in this amount. As
we are not obligated to make any payments, this amount has been
recorded as a capital contribution as of March 31, 2007.
Credit
Facilities
On November 3, 2006, we established a secured credit
facility with several lenders for which Guggenheim was the
administrative agent. The Guggenheim credit facility was to
terminate and be payable in full on November 3, 2009. The
credit facility consisted of a secured, committed, revolving
line of credit in an initial amount up to $15.0 million,
which included a $10.0 million sublimit for the issuance of
letters of credit. Availability under the credit facility was
determined by a formula based on a percentage of our eligible
receivables. The proceeds could be used for general corporate
purposes and working capital needs in the ordinary course of
business and to finance acquisitions subject to limitations in
the Credit Agreement. The credit facility bore interest at our
choice of (i) LIBOR plus 5% per year, or (ii) the
greater of (a) the prime rate in effect, or (b) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect plus 2.25% per year.
Additionally, we were required to pay a commitment fee on the
undrawn portions of the credit facility at the rate of 0.75% per
year and we paid to Guggenheim a closing fee of
$0.2 million. Obligations under the credit facility were
secured by liens on substantially all of our present and future
assets, including accounts receivable, inventory, general
intangibles, fixtures, and equipment, but excluding the stock of
our subsidiaries and certain assets located outside of the U.S.
The credit facility included provisions for a possible term loan
facility and an increased revolving credit facility line in the
future. The credit facility also contained financial covenants
that required us to maintain
D-84
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
enumerated EBITDA, liquidity, and net debt minimums, and a
capital expenditure maximum. As of June 30, 2007, we were
not in compliance with all financial covenants. On
October 1, 2007, the lenders provided a waiver of covenant
defaults as of June 30, 2007 and reduced the aggregate
availability under the revolving line of credit to
$3.0 million.
On October 18, 2007, we consented to the transfer of the
loans outstanding ($3.0 million) under the Guggenheim
credit facility to funds affiliated with BlueBay Asset
Management plc and to the appointment of BlueBay High Yield
Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. (“BlueBay”), as
successor administrative agent. BlueBay Asset Management plc is
a significant shareholder of IESA. On October 23, 2007, we
entered into a waiver and amendment with BlueBay for, as
amended, a $10.0 million Senior Secured Credit Facility
(“Senior Credit Facility”). The Senior Credit Facility
matures on December 31, 2009, charges an interest rate of
the applicable LIBOR rate plus 7% per year, and eliminates
certain financial covenants. On December 4, 2007, under the
Waiver Consent and Third Amendment to the Credit Facility, as
part of entering the Global MOU, BlueBay raised the maximum
borrowings of the Senior Credit Facility to $14.0 million.
The maximum borrowings we can make under the Senior Credit
Facility will not by themselves provide all the funding we will
need. As of March 31, 2008, we are in violation of our
weekly cash flow covenants (see Waiver, Consent and Fourth
Amendment in this Note 14 below). Management continues to
seek additional financing and is pursuing other options to meet
the cash requirements for funding our working capital cash
requirements but there is no guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
As of March 31, 2008, we have drawn the full
$14.0 million on the Senior Credit Facility.
Waiver,
Consent and Fourth Amendment
In conjunction with the Merger Agreement, we entered into a
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to our BlueBay Credit
Facility under which, among other things, (i) BlueBay
agreed to waive our non-compliance with certain representations
and covenants under the Credit Agreement, (ii) BlueBay
agreed to consent to us entering into the a credit facility with
IESA, (iii) BlueBay agreed to provide us consent in
entering into the Merger Agreement with IESA, and
(iv) BlueBay and us agreed to certain amendments to the
Existing Credit Facility.
With the Fourth Amendment, as of April 30, 2008 and through
June 24, 2008, we are in compliance with our BlueBay credit
facility.
IESA
Credit Agreement
On April 30, 2008, we entered into a Credit Agreement with
IESA (the “IESA Credit Agreement”), under which IESA
committed to provide up to an aggregate of $20 million in
loan availability at an interest rate equal to the applicable
LIBOR rate plus 7% per year, subject to the terms and conditions
of the IESA Credit Agreement (the “New Financing
Facility”). The New Financing Facility will terminate when
the merger takes place or when the Merger Agreement terminates
without the merger taking place. We will use borrowings under
the New Financing Facility to fund our operational cash
requirements during the period between the date of the Merger
Agreement and the closing of the Merger. The obligations under
the New Financing Facility are secured by liens on substantially
all of our present and future assets, including accounts
receivable, inventory, general intangibles, fixtures, and
equipment. We have agreed that we will make monthly prepayments
on amounts borrowed under the New Financing Facility of its
excess cash. We will not be able to reborrow any loan amounts
paid back under the New Financing Facility other than loan
amounts prepaid from excess cash. Also, we are required to
deliver to IESA a budget, which is subject to approval by IESA
in its commercially reasonable discretion, and which shall be
supplemented from time to time.
D-85
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
NOTE 15 —
|
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
|
Contractual
Obligations
As of March 31, 2008, royalty and license advance
obligations, milestone payments and future minimum lease
obligations under non-cancelable operating and capital lease
obligations were as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contractual Obligations
|
|
|
|
Royalty and
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
License
|
|
|
Milestone
|
|
|
Lease
|
|
|
Lease
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year
|
|
Advances(1)
|
|
|
Payments(2)
|
|
|
Obligations(3)
|
|
|
Obligations(4)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
$
|
500
|
|
|
$
|
1,567
|
|
|
$
|
12
|
|
|
$
|
2,179
|
|
2010
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,827
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,827
|
|
2011
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,768
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,768
|
|
2012
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,178
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,178
|
|
2013
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,329
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,329
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
12,301
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
12,301
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
$
|
500
|
|
|
$
|
19,970
|
|
|
$
|
12
|
|
|
$
|
20,582
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
We have committed to pay advance payments under certain royalty
and license agreements. The payments of these obligations are
dependent on the delivery of the contracted services by the
developers. |
|
(2) |
|
Milestone payments represent royalty advances to developers for
products that are currently in development. Although milestone
payments are not guaranteed, we expect to make these payments if
all deliverables and milestones are met timely and accurately. |
|
(3) |
|
We account for our office leases as operating leases, with
expiration dates ranging from fiscal 2009 through fiscal 2022.
Rent expense and sublease income for the years ended
March 31, 2007 and 2008, is as follows (in thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Rent expense
|
|
$
|
3,760
|
|
|
$
|
3,889
|
|
Sublease income
|
|
$
|
(653
|
)
|
|
$
|
(967
|
)
|
Renewal
of New York Lease
|
|
|
|
|
During June 2006, we entered into a new lease with our current
landlord at our New York headquarters for approximately
70,000 square feet of office space for our principal
offices. The term of this lease commenced on July 1, 2006
and is to expire on June 30, 2021. Upon entering into the
new lease, our prior lease, which was set to expire in December
2006, was terminated. The rent under the new lease for the
office space is approximately $2.4 million per year for the
first five years, increases to approximately $2.7 million
per year for the next five years, and increases to
$2.9 million per year for the last five years of the term.
In addition, we must pay for electricity, increases in real
estate taxes and increases in porter wage rates over the term.
The landlord is providing us with a one year rent credit of
$2.4 million and an allowance of $4.5 million to be
used for building out and furnishing the premises, of which
$1.2 million has been recorded as a deferred credit as of
March 31, 2007; the remainder of the deferred credit will
be recorded as the improvements are completed, and will be
amortized against rent expense over the life of the lease. A
nominal amount of amortization was recorded during the year
ended March 31, 2007. For the year ended March 31,
2008, we recorded an additional deferred credit of
$3.3 million and amortization against the total deferred
credits of approximately $0.3 million. Shortly after
signing the new lease, we provided the landlord with a security
deposit under the new lease in the form of a letter of credit in
the initial amount of $1.7 million, which has been cash
collateralized and is included in |
D-86
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
security deposits on our consolidated balance sheet (reduced by
$0.8 million in August 2007). On August 14, 2007, we
and our new landlord, W2007 Fifth Realty, LLC, amended the
lease under which we occupy space in 417 Fifth Avenue, New
York City, to reduce the space we occupy by approximately
one-half, effective December 31, 2007. As a result, our
rent under the amended lease will be reduced from its current
approximately $2.4 million per year to approximately
$1.2 million per year from January 1, 2008 through
June 30, 2011, approximately $1.3 million per year for
the five years thereafter, and approximately $1.5 million
per year for the last five years of the term. |
|
(4) |
|
We maintain several capital leases for computer equipment. Per
FASB Statement No. 13, “Accounting for Leases,”
we account for capital leases by recording them at the present
value of the total future lease payments. They are amortized
using the straight-line method over the minimum lease term. As
of March 31, 2007, the net book value of the assets,
included within property and equipment on the balance sheet, was
$0.1 million, net of accumulated depreciation of
$0.5 million. As of March 31, 2008, the net book value
of the assets was approximately $0.1 million, net of
accumulated depreciation of approximately $0.6 million. |
Litigation
As of March 31, 2008, our management believes that the
ultimate resolution of any of the matters summarized below
and/or any
other claims which are not stated herein, if any, will not have
a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition
or results of operations. With respect to matters in which we
are the defendant, we believe that the underlying complaints are
without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.
Bouchat v.
Champion Products, et al. (Accolade)
This suit involving Accolade, Inc. (a predecessor entity of
Atari) was filed in 1999 in the District Court of Maryland. The
plaintiff originally sued the NFL claiming copyright
infringement of a logo being used by the Baltimore Ravens that
plaintiff allegedly designed. The plaintiff then also sued
nearly 500 other defendants, licensees of the NFL, on the same
basis. The NFL hired White & Case to represent all the
defendants. Plaintiff filed an amended complaint in 2002. In
2003, the District Court held that plaintiff was precluded from
recovering actual damages, profits or statutory damages against
the defendants, including Accolade. Plaintiff has appealed the
District Court’s ruling to the Fourth Circuit Court of
Appeals. White & Case continues to represent Accolade
and the NFL continues to bear the cost of the defense.
Ernst &
Young, Inc. v. Atari, Inc.
On July 21, 2006 we were served with a complaint filed by
Ernst & Young as Interim Receiver for HIP Interactive,
Inc. This suit was filed in New York State Supreme Court, New
York County. HIP is a Canadian company that has gone into
bankruptcy. HIP contracted with us to have us act as its
distributor for various software products in the U.S. HIP
is alleging breach of contract claims; to wit, that we failed to
pay HIP for product in the amount of $0.7 million. We will
investigate filing counter claims against HIP, as HIP owes us,
via our Canadian Agent, Hyperactive, for our product distributed
in Canada. Our answer and counterclaim were filed in August of
2006 and we initiated discovery against Ernst & Young
at the same time. Settlement discussions commenced in September
2006 and are currently on-going.
Research
in Motion Limited v. Atari, Inc. and Atari Interactive,
Inc.
On October 26, 2006 Research in Motion Limited
(“RIM”) filed a claim against Atari, Inc. and Atari
Interactive, Inc. (“Interactive”) (together
“Atari”) in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. RIM
is seeking a declaration that (i) the game BrickBreaker, as
well as the copyright, distribution, sale and communication to
the public of copies of the game in Canada and the United
States, does not infringe any Atari copyright for Breakout or
Super Breakout (together “Breakout”) in Canada or the
United States, (ii) the audio-visual displays of Breakout
do not constitute a work protected by copyright under Canadian
law, and (iii) Atari holds no right, title or interest in
D-87
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Breakout under US or Canadian law. RIM is also requesting the
costs of the action and such other relief as the court deems.
Breakout and Super Breakout are games owned by Atari
Interactive, Inc. On January 19, 2007, RIM added claims to
its case requesting a declaration that (i) its game Meteor
Crusher does not infringe Atari copyright for its game Asteroids
in Canada, (ii) the audio-visual displays of Asteroids do
not constitute a work protected under Canadian law, and
(iii) Atari holds no right, title or interest in Asteroids
under Canadian law. In August 2007, the Court ruled against
Atari’s December 2006 motion to have the RIM claims
dismissed on the grounds that there is no statutory relief
available to RIM under Canadian law. Each party will now be
required to deliver an affidavit of documents specifying all
documents in their possession, power and control relevant to the
issues in the Ontario action. Following the exchange of
documents, examinations for discovery will be scheduled.
FUNimation
License Agreement
We are a party to two license agreements with FUNimation
Productions, Ltd. (“FUNimation”) pursuant to which we
distribute the Dragonball Z software titles. On October 18,
2007, FUNimation delivered a notice purporting to terminate the
license agreements based on alleged breaches of the license
agreements. We disputed the validity of the termination notices
and continued to distribute the titles covered by the license
agreements. We and FUNimation settled this dispute for
approximately $3.3 million which is comprised of royalty
expense of $1.7 million and $1.6 million related to
minimum advertising commitment shortfalls. This resulted in an
additional charge of $2.8 million during the year ended
March 31, 2008, recorded during the second quarter of
fiscal 2008. The settlement was paid for with $2.5 million
in cash during the third quarter of fiscal 2008 and a reduction
of our Funimation prepaid license advance by approximately
$0.8 million.
Stanley
v. IESA, Atari, Inc and Atari, Inc Board of Directors
On April 18, 2008, Christian M. Stanley, a purported
stockholder of Atari (“Plaintiff”), filed a Verified
Class Action Complaint against us, certain of our directors
and former directors, and Infogrames, in the Delaware Court of
Chancery. In summary, the complaint alleges that our directors
breached their fiduciary duties to our unaffiliated stockholders
by entering into an agreement that allows Infogrames to acquire
the outstanding shares of our common stock at an unfairly low
price. An Amended Complaint was filed on May 20, 2008,
updating the allegations of the initial complaint to challenge
certain provisions of the definitive merger agreement. On the
same day, Plaintiff filed motions to expedite the suit and to
preliminarily enjoin the merger.
The Plaintiff alleges that the $1.68 per share offering price
represents no premium over the closing price of our stock on
March 5, 2008, the last day of trading before we announced
the proposed merger transaction. Plaintiff alleges that in light
of Infogrames’ approximately 51.6% ownership of us, our
unaffiliated stockholders have no voice in deciding whether to
accept the proposed merger transaction, and Plaintiff challenges
certain of the “no shop” and termination fee
provisions of the merger agreement. Plaintiff claims that the
named directors are engaging in self-dealing and acting in
furtherance of their own interests at the expense of those of
our unaffiliated stockholders. Plaintiff asks the court to
enjoin the proposed merger transaction, or alternatively, to
rescind it in the event that it is consummated. In addition,
Plaintiff seeks damages suffered as a result of the
directors’ alleged violation of their fiduciary duties. The
parties have agreed to expedited proceedings contemplating a
hearing in mid-August on Plaintiff’s motion for a
preliminary injunction.
We believe the suit to be entirely without merit and intend to
oppose the action vigorously.
|
|
NOTE 16 —
|
EMPLOYEE
SAVINGS PLAN
|
We maintain an Employee Savings Plan (the “Plan”)
which qualifies as a deferred salary arrangement under
Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan is
available to all United States employees who meet the
eligibility requirements. Under the Plan, participating
employees may elect to defer a portion of their pretax earnings,
up to the maximum allowed by the Internal Revenue Service with
matching of 100% of the first 3% and 50% of the next 6% of the
employee’s contribution provided by us. Generally, the
Plan’s assets in a participant’s account will be
D-88
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
distributed to a participant or his or her beneficiaries upon
termination of employment, retirement, disability or death. All
Plan administrative fees are paid by us. Generally, we do not
provide our employees any other post-retirement or
post-employment benefits, except discretionary severance
payments upon termination of employment. Plan expense
approximated $0.2 million and $0.4 million, for the
years ended March 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
|
|
NOTE 17 —
|
GAIN ON
SALE OF DEVELOPMENT STUDIO ASSETS
|
Sale
of Shiny Entertainment
In September 2006, we sold to a third party certain development
assets of our Shiny studio for $1.8 million. We recorded a
gain of $0.9 million, which represented the difference
between the proceeds from the sale and the net book value of the
property and equipment sold. There was no allocation of goodwill
to Shiny as a result of this sale, as it has been determined
that the Shiny studio did not constitute a business in
accordance with FASB Statement No. 142, “Goodwill and
Other Intangible Assets.” The gain on sale is reflected in
our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended
March 31, 2007.
|
|
NOTE 18 —
|
SALE OF
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
|
In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, we entered into a Purchase
and Sale Agreement with a third party to sell and assign all
rights, title, and interest in the Stuntman franchise,
along with a development agreement with the current developer
for the creation of this game. The cash proceeds from the sale
were $9.0 million, which was recorded as a gain on sale of
intellectual property during the year ended March 31, 2007.
|
|
NOTE 19 —
|
DISCONTINUED
OPERATIONS
|
Sale
of Reflections
In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, following the guidance
established under FASB Statement No. 144, “Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,”
management committed to a plan to sell Reflections.
In August 2006, we sold to a third party the Driver
intellectual property and certain assets of Reflections for
$24.0 million. We maintained sell-off rights for three
months for all Driver products, excluding Driver:
Parallel Lines, which we maintained until the end of the
third quarter of fiscal 2007. The tangible assets included in
the sale were property and equipment only. Goodwill allocated to
Reflections was $12.3 million. During the second quarter of
fiscal 2007, we recorded a gain in the amount of the difference
between the proceeds from the sale and the book value of
Reflections’ property and equipment and the goodwill
allocation. The gain recorded was approximately
$11.5 million, and was included in loss from discontinued
operations of Reflections in the second quarter of fiscal
2007.
• Balance
Sheets
At March 31, 2007, the assets of Reflections are presented
separately on our consolidated balance sheet. The balances at
March 31, 2007 represent assets associated with Reflections
and the Driver franchise that were not included in the
sale. The components of the assets of discontinued operations
are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2007
|
|
|
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
$
|
310
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
335
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
645
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2008, no assets are presented as
discontinued operations.
D-89
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
• Results
of Operations
As Reflections represented a component of our business and its
results of operations and cash flows can be separated from the
rest of our operations, the results for the periods presented
are disclosed as discontinued operations on the face of the
consolidated statements of operations. Net revenues and (loss)
from discontinued operations, net of tax, for the year ended
March 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively, are as follows (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
(630
|
)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Loss from operations of Reflections Interactive Ltd
|
|
|
(7,038
|
)
|
|
|
(312
|
)
|
Gain on sale of Reflections Interactive Ltd
|
|
|
11,472
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for income taxes from discontinued
operations of Reflections Interactive Ltd
|
|
|
4,434
|
|
|
|
(312
|
)
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
7,559
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive Ltd
|
|
$
|
(3,125
|
)
|
|
$
|
(312
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In fiscal 2007, restructuring expenses of $0.7 million
consisted primarily of true ups to the present value of all
future lease payments and sublease income recorded in fiscal
2006, as required by FASB Statement No. 146,
“Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal
Activities,” as well as additional severance and
miscellaneous charges.
In fiscal 2008, we announced a plan to lower operating expenses
by, among other things, reducing headcount in phases. The first
reduced our workforce by 20% in May 2007 and the second in
November 2007 which reduced our workforce an additional 30%. The
November 2007 plan included (i) a reduction in force to
consolidate certain operations, eliminate certain non-critical
functions, and refocus certain engineering and support
functions, and (ii) transfer of certain product development
and business development employees to IESA in connection with
the termination of a production services agreement between us
and IESA.
The charge for restructuring is comprised of the following (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Restructuring consultants and legal fees (2)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
4,237
|
|
Previous periods severance expenses
|
|
|
87
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
May severance and retention expenses (1)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
787
|
|
November severance and retention expenses (2)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,223
|
|
Lease related costs (3)
|
|
|
595
|
|
|
|
294
|
|
Miscellaneous costs
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
709
|
|
|
$
|
6,541
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D-90
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The following is a reconciliation of our restructuring reserve
for March 31, 2007 and 2008 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
|
Balance at
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
Accrued
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Amounts
|
|
|
Reclasses
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Short term
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance and retention expenses (1) and (2)
|
|
$
|
1,886
|
|
|
$
|
87
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(1,973
|
)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
Lease related costs (3)
|
|
|
245
|
|
|
|
595
|
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
(839
|
)
|
|
|
54
|
|
Miscellaneous costs
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(59
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
2,163
|
|
|
|
709
|
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
(2,871
|
)
|
|
|
54
|
|
Long term
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease related costs (3)
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(53
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(53
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
2,219
|
|
|
$
|
709
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(2,871
|
)
|
|
$
|
57
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
|
Balance at
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
Accrued
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Amounts
|
|
|
Reclasses
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Short term
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance and retention expenses (1) and (2)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
2,010
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(1,341
|
)
|
|
$
|
669
|
|
Restructuring consultants and legal fees (2)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
4,237
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(3,147
|
)
|
|
|
1,090
|
|
Lease related costs (3)
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
(57
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
|
6,247
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
(4,545
|
)
|
|
|
1,759
|
|
Long term
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lease related costs (3)
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
57
|
|
|
$
|
6,247
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(4,545
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,759
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
In the first quarter of fiscal 2008, management announced a plan
to reduce our total workforce by 20%, primarily in general and
administrative functions. |
|
(2) |
|
In the third quarter of fiscal 2008, as part of the removal of
the Board of Directors and the hiring of a restructuring firm,
management announced an additional workforce reduction of 30%,
primarily in research and development and general and
administrative functions. This restructuring is anticipated to
cost us approximately $5.0 to $6.0 million dollars of which
$1.0 to $1.5 million would relate to severance arrangements
(See Note 1). |
|
(3) |
|
As part of a restructuring plan implemented in fiscal 2005, we
recorded the present value of all future lease payments, less
the present value of expected sublease income to be recorded,
primarily for the Beverly and Santa Monica offices, in
accordance with FASB Statement No. 146. Through the
remainder of the related leases, FASB Statement No. 146
requires us to record expense to adjust the present value
recorded in 2005 to the actual expense and income recorded for
the month. |
|
|
NOTE 21 —
|
OPERATIONS
BY REPORTABLE SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
|
We have three reportable segments: publishing, distribution and
corporate. Our publishing segment is comprised of business
development, strategic alliances, product development,
marketing, packaging, and sales of video game software for all
platforms. Distribution constitutes the sale of other
publishers’ titles to various mass
D-91
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
merchants and other retailers. Corporate includes the costs of
senior executive management, legal, finance, and administration.
The majority of depreciation expense for fixed assets is charged
to the corporate segment and a portion is recorded in the
publishing segment. This amount consists of depreciation on
computers and office furniture in the publishing unit.
Historically, we do not separately track or maintain records,
other than those for goodwill (all historically attributable to
the publishing segment, and fully impaired as of March 31,
2007) and a nominal amount of fixed assets, which identify
assets by segment and, accordingly, such information is not
available.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those
described in the summary of significant accounting policies. We
evaluate performance based on operating results of these
segments. There are no intersegment revenues.
The results of operations for Reflections are not included in
our segment reporting below as they are classified as
discontinued operations in our condensed consolidated financial
statements. Prior to its classification as discontinued
operations, the results for Reflections were part of the
publishing segment.
Our reportable segments are strategic business units with
different associated costs and profit margins. They are managed
separately because each business unit requires different
planning, and where appropriate, merchandising and marketing
strategies.
The following summary represents the consolidated net revenues,
operating (loss) income, depreciation and amortization, and
interest expense, net, by reportable segment for the years ended
March 31, 2007 and 2008 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Publishing
|
|
|
Distribution
|
|
|
Corporate
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Year ended March 31, 2007:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
104,650
|
|
|
$
|
17,635
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
122,285
|
|
Operating (loss) income (1) (2) (3)
|
|
|
(52,003
|
)
|
|
|
1,145
|
|
|
|
(26,077
|
)
|
|
|
(76,935
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(517
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(2,451
|
)
|
|
|
(2,968
|
)
|
Interest income, net
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
139
|
|
|
|
162
|
|
|
|
301
|
|
Year ended March 31, 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
69,755
|
|
|
$
|
10,376
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
80,131
|
|
Operating income (loss) (1)
|
|
|
3,423
|
|
|
|
2,403
|
|
|
|
(21,147
|
)
|
|
|
(15,321
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(173
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(1,390
|
)
|
|
|
(1,563
|
)
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(1,452
|
)
|
|
|
(1,452
|
)
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Operating (loss) for the Corporate segment for the years ended
March 31, 2007 and 2008 excludes restructuring charges of
$0.7 million and $6.5 million, respectively. Including
restructuring charges, total operating loss for the years ended
March 31, 2007 and 2008 is $77.6 million and
$21.9 million, respectively. |
|
(2) |
|
Operating (loss) for the publishing segment for the year ended
March 31, 2007 includes a gain on the sale of intellectual
property of $9.0 million and a gain on the sale of
development studio assets of $0.9 million. |
|
(3) |
|
Operating (loss) for the publishing segment for the year ended
March 31, 2007 includes impairment of goodwill of
$54.1 million. |
D-92
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Net revenues by product are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Publishing net product revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Console
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PlayStation 2
|
|
$
|
31,047
|
|
|
$
|
17,475
|
|
Xbox 360
|
|
|
10,582
|
|
|
|
431
|
|
Nintendo Wii
|
|
|
7,346
|
|
|
|
9,822
|
|
Plug and play
|
|
|
2,449
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
Xbox
|
|
|
262
|
|
|
|
208
|
|
Game Cube
|
|
|
175
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total console
|
|
|
51,861
|
|
|
|
27,958
|
|
Handheld
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PlayStation Portable
|
|
|
6,647
|
|
|
|
6,290
|
|
Game Boy Advance
|
|
|
3,410
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
Nintendo DS
|
|
|
1,749
|
|
|
|
3,599
|
|
Game Boy Color
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total handheld
|
|
|
11,806
|
|
|
|
9,918
|
|
PC
|
|
|
23,788
|
|
|
|
14,888
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total publishing net product revenues
|
|
|
87,455
|
|
|
|
52,764
|
|
International royalty income (Note 13)
|
|
|
5,243
|
|
|
|
2,599
|
|
Licensing and other income
|
|
|
11,952
|
|
|
|
14,392
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total publishing net revenues
|
|
|
104,650
|
|
|
|
69,755
|
|
Distribution net revenues
|
|
|
17,635
|
|
|
|
10,376
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total net revenues
|
|
$
|
122,285
|
|
|
$
|
80,131
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Information about our operations in the United States and Europe
(revenue based on location product is shipped from) for the
years ended March 31, 2007 and 2008 are presented below (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United States
|
|
|
Europe
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Year ended March 31, 2007:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenues(1)
|
|
$
|
122,285
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
122,285
|
|
Operating (loss)(2)
|
|
|
(74,873
|
)
|
|
|
(2,771
|
)
|
|
|
(77,644
|
)
|
Capital expenditures(3)
|
|
|
837
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
845
|
|
Total assets(4)
|
|
|
42,049
|
|
|
|
770
|
|
|
|
42,819
|
|
Year ended March 31, 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenues(1)
|
|
$
|
80,131
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
80,131
|
|
Operating (loss) income(2)
|
|
|
(21,899
|
)
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
(21,862
|
)
|
Capital expenditures(3)
|
|
|
407
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
407
|
|
Total assets(4)
|
|
|
32,774
|
|
|
|
659
|
|
|
|
33,433
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
United States net revenues include royalties on sales of our
product sold internationally. For the years ended March 31,
2007 and 2008 the royalties were $5.2 million and
$2.6 million, respectively. |
D-93
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Operating income (loss) for Europe for the years ended
March 31, 2007 and 2008 includes operating expenses of
$4.7 million and $0.3 million, respectively, for the
Reflections studio, which was sold to a third party in the
second quarter of fiscal 2007 (Note 19). These expenses are
included in (loss) from discontinued operations for each period
presented. |
|
(3) |
|
Capital expenditures for Europe for all periods presented are
property and equipment purchases for the Reflections studio,
which is presented as a discontinued operation for the year
ended March 31, 2007, and was sold to a third party in the
second quarter of fiscal 2007 (Note 19). |
|
(4) |
|
Total assets for Europe for the years ended March 31, 2007
and 2008 include assets of $0.6 million and
$0.5 million, respectively, for the Reflections studio,
which was sold to a third party in the second quarter of fiscal
2007 (Note 19). The assets are included in assets of
discontinued operations for the year ended March 31, 2007. |
|
|
NOTE 22 —
|
UNAUDITED
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA
|
Summarized unaudited quarterly financial data for the fiscal
year ended March 31, 2007 is as follows (in thousands,
except per share amounts):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
19,474
|
|
|
$
|
28,588
|
|
|
$
|
47,277
|
|
|
$
|
26,946
|
|
Operating (loss) income
|
|
|
(4,713
|
)
|
|
|
(9,623
|
)
|
|
|
1,711
|
|
|
|
(65,019
|
)
|
(Loss) income from continuing operations
|
|
|
(4,759
|
)
|
|
|
(4,477
|
)
|
|
|
1,082
|
|
|
|
(58,432
|
)
|
(Loss) income from discontinued operations of Reflections
Interactive Ltd, net of tax
|
|
|
(2,537
|
)
|
|
|
4,410
|
|
|
|
(1,727
|
)
|
|
|
(3,271
|
)
|
Net (loss)
|
|
|
(7,296
|
)
|
|
|
(67
|
)
|
|
|
(645
|
)
|
|
|
(61,703
|
)
|
Basic and diluted (loss) income from continuing operations per
share
|
|
$
|
(0.35
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.33
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.08
|
|
|
$
|
(4.33
|
)
|
Basic and diluted (loss) income from discontinued operations of
Reflections Interactive Ltd, net of tax, per share
|
|
$
|
(0.19
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.32
|
|
|
$
|
(0.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.24
|
)
|
Basic and diluted net (loss) per share
|
|
$
|
(0.54
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.05
|
)
|
|
$
|
(4.57
|
)
|
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic and diluted
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
D-94
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE II —
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS (in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions
|
|
|
Additions
|
|
|
Deductions/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
|
|
|
Charged to
|
|
|
Charged to
|
|
|
or Reclasses
|
|
|
Balance
|
|
|
|
Beginning
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
|
to Accrued
|
|
|
End
|
|
Description
|
|
of Period
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
of Period
|
|
|
Allowance for bad debts, returns, price protection and
other customer promotional programs:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended March 31, 2008
|
|
$
|
14,148
|
|
|
$
|
15,571
|
|
|
$
|
168
|
|
|
$
|
(27,975
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,912
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended March 31, 2007
|
|
$
|
30,918
|
|
|
$
|
22,428
|
|
|
$
|
269
|
|
|
$
|
(39,467
|
)
|
|
$
|
14,148
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additions
|
|
|
Additions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
|
|
|
Charged to
|
|
|
Charged to
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance
|
|
|
|
Beginning
|
|
|
Cost of
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
|
|
|
|
End
|
|
Description
|
|
of Period
|
|
|
Goods Sold
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|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
Deductions
|
|
|
of Period
|
|
|
Reserve for obsolescence:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended March 31, 2008
|
|
$
|
1,859
|
|
|
$
|
2,511
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(656
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,714
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended March 31, 2007
|
|
$
|
2,427
|
|
|
$
|
2,486
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(3,054
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,859
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D-95
ANNEX E
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM 10-K/A
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þ
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the fiscal year ended March
31, 2008
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OR
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o
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the transition period
from to
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Commission File No.: 0-27338
ATARI, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
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DELAWARE
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13-3689915
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(State or Other Jurisdiction
of
Incorporation or Organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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417 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10016
(Address of principal executive
offices, including zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(212) 726-6500
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act:
Common Stock, $0.10 par value
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known
seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file
reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ No o
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. þ
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. (Check one):
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Large
accelerated
filer o
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Accelerated
filer o
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Non-accelerated
filer o
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Smaller
reporting
company þ
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in
Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange Act).
Yes o No þ
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock
held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the $2.56
closing sale price of the Common Stock on September 28,
2007 as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market was approximately
$16.8 million. As of June 27, 2008, a total of
13,477,920 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock
were outstanding.
Documents Incorporated by Reference
None.
EXPLANATORY
PARAGRAPH
This Amendment No. 1 on
Form 10-K/A
for the year ended March 31, 2008 is being filed to provide
the information required by Part III of
Form 10-K.
This Amendment No. 1 on
Form 10-K/A
has not been updated for events or information subsequent to the
date of filing of the original
Form 10-K
except in connection with the foregoing. Accordingly, this
Amendment No. 1 on
Form 10-K/A
should be read in conjunction with the Company’s filings
made with the SEC subsequent to the filing of the original
Form 10-K.
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
MARCH 31,
2008 ANNUAL REPORT ON
FORM 10-K/A
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
E-i
This Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report contains
forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution
readers regarding forward-looking statements in this Report,
press releases, securities filings, and other documents and
communications. All statements, other than statements of
historical fact, including statements regarding industry
prospects and expected future results of operations or financial
position, made in this Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report
on
Form 10-K/A
are forward looking. The words “believe”,
“expect”, “anticipate”, “intend”
and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements are necessarily
based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered
reasonable by us, are inherently subject to significant
business, economic and competitive uncertainties and
contingencies and known and unknown risks. As a result of such
risks, our actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated by any forward-looking statements made by, or on
behalf of, us. We will not necessarily update information if it
later turns out that what occurs is different from what was
anticipated in a forward-looking statement. For a discussion of
some factors that could cause our operating results or other
matters not to be as anticipated by forward-looking statements
in this document, please see Item 1A entitled “Risk
Factors” on pages 13 to 18 of our 2008 Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
E-ii
PART III
Item 10. Directors,
Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance
Our board of directors consists of five members, who have been
elected to serve until our next Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Each executive officer will serve until his resignation or his
replacement or removal by our Board of Directors. None of these
persons has been convicted in a criminal proceeding during the
past five years (excluding traffic violations or similar
misdemeanors), and none of these persons has been a party to any
judicial or administrative proceeding during the past five years
(except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or
settlement) that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order
enjoining the person from future violations of, or prohibiting
activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or a
finding of any violation of federal or state securities laws. No
petition under the Federal bankruptcy laws or any state
insolvency law was filed by or against, or a receiver, fiscal
agent or similar officer was appointed by a court for the
business or property of, any of our directors or officers, or
any partnership in which any of our directors or officers was a
general partner at or within two years before the time of such
filing, or any corporation or business association of which any
of our directors or officers was an executive officer at or
within two years before the time of such filing. There are no
family relationships among our directors or officers. The
following information about the directors and executive officers
of us is based, in part, upon information provided by such
persons.
Directors
Eugene I. Davis (53) has served as a director on our
Board since October 2007. Mr. Davis has served as Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of PIRINATE Consulting Group, LLC, a
privately held consulting firm, since 1997. PIRINATE specializes
in turnaround management, merger and acquisition consulting and
strategic planning advisory services for public and private
business entities. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Davis served in
various executive positions at RBX Industries, Inc., including
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. RBX Industries,
Inc. filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under
Chapter 11 in March 2004. He presently serves as a director
of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., Foamex International,
Inc., American Commercial Lines, Inc., Footstar, Inc., Haights
Cross Communication, Knology, Inc., Delta Airlines, Inc.,
Viskase Companies Inc., Solutia Inc. and Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Mr. Davis is a U.S. citizen.
Wendell H. Adair, Jr. (64) has served as a
director on our Board since October 2007. He is a member of
M&A Development Company LLC, a real estate development firm
located at 5682 Sawyer Road, Sawyer, Michigan 49125. He is a
senior lawyer with 35 years of experience specializing in
restructuring and corporate finance. Until April 2006, he held
Senior Partner positions at leading US law firms, including
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP from September
1999 to April 2006 and McDermott, Will & Emery from
September 1989 to September 1999. He has previously served on
the boards of private companies and has advised corporate boards
with respect to governance, fiduciary duty and financing
matters. Mr. Adair is a U.S. Citizen.
Evence-Charles Coppee (55) has served as a director
on our Board since November 2005. Mr. Coppee was a director
of our majority stockholder, Infogrames Entertainment S.A., or
IESA, until March 2008 and served as a Deputy Chief Operating
Officer of IESA until May 2007. From 1996 to 2005, he served as
Executive Vice President and joint Managing Director of the
daily “Liberation”. From 1987 to 1996, Mr. Coppee
held various positions with the French conglomerate Chargeurs
(and Pathe). Prior to that, Mr. Coppee was a Manager with
the Boston Consulting Group. Mr. Coppee also is currently a
director of Lafarge Ciment. Mr. Coppee is a Belgian citizen.
Bradley E. Scher (47) has served as a director on
our Board since October 2007. He is the managing member of Ocean
Ridge Capital Advisors, LLC, a financial advisory company
established to assist investors, managements and boards of
directors of financially
and/or
operationally underperforming companies, located at 56 Harrison
Street, New Rochelle, NY 10801. He has held this position since
2002. From 1990 to 1996 and 1996 to 2002, he managed portfolios
of distressed investments at Teachers Insurance and Annuity
Association of America and PPM America, Inc., respectively. He
currently and has previously served on the boards of several
private companies. Mr. Scher is a U.S. citizen.
James B. Shein (65) has served as a director on our
Board since October 2007. He is Professor of
Management & Strategy at Northwestern
University’s Kellogg School of Management located at 2001
Sheridan
E-1
Road, Evanston, IL 60208. He has held this position since 2002.
Since 1997, Mr. Shein has also been counsel at McDermott,
Will & Emery, with primary areas of practice including
corporate financial and operating restructurings, business
startups and acquisitions, and fiduciary duties of officers and
directors. From 1994 to 1997, he was president of J.S.
Associates, a consulting firm providing turnaround advice to
public and private manufacturing and service companies. Between
1990 and 1994, he was the president and chief executive officer
of R.C. Manufacturing. Mr. Shein is a U.S. citizen.
Changes
in Directors During Fiscal 2008
On October 5, 2007, California U.S. Holdings, Inc.,
our majority stockholder and a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA,
removed James Ackerly, Ronald C. Bernard, Michael G. Corrigan,
Denis Guyennot, and Ann E. Kronen from our Board of Directors
via written stockholder consent.
On October 10, 2007, Wendell H. Adair, Jr. and Eugene
I. Davis were elected to our Board of Directors. On
October 11, 2007 and October 12, 2007, James B. Shein
and Bradley E. Scher, respectively, were elected to our Board of
Directors.
Effective as of March 21, 2008 and April 16, 2008,
Thomas Schmider and Jean-Michael Perbet, respectively, resigned
as members of our Board of Directors.
Executive
Officers
Jim Wilson, Arturo Rodriguez and Timothy Flynn were our only
executive officers at July 28, 2008. Set forth below is
information about Messrs. Wilson, Rodriguez and Flynn.
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Name
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Age
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Position
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Jim Wilson
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43
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Chief Executive Officer and President
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Arturo Rodriguez
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33
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Chief Financial Officer (Acting), Vice President and
Controller
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Timothy Flynn
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54
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Senior Vice President of Sales
|
Jim Wilson has been our Chief Executive Officer and
President since March 31, 2008. From 2007 to 2008,
Mr. Wilson served as the President of Rolo Media, LLC. From
2005 to 2007, Mr. Wilson served as Executive
Vice President and General Manager of Sony Wonder, Sony
BMG’s home entertainment business. From 1996 to 2003,
Mr. Wilson served as President of Universal Interactive,
Inc. and, after the acquisition of Universal Interactive, Inc.
by Vivendi, as Executive Vice President of Worldwide Studios for
Vivendi Universal Games.
Arturo Rodriguez has been our Vice President —
Controller since February 21, 2006 and has served as our
acting Chief Financial Officer since May 16, 2007.
Mr. Rodriguez joined us in June 2000 as Senior Manager of
Financial Reporting. Since then, he has held the positions of
Senior Manager of Accounting and Financial Reporting, Director
of Accounting and Financial Reporting, Assistant
Controller — Accounting and Financial Reporting and
Vice President of Accounting and Financial Reporting. Prior to
joining us, Mr. Rodriguez worked for Arthur Andersen LLP.
Mr. Rodriguez is a New York State Certified Public
Accountant.
Timothy Flynn has been our Senior Vice President of Sales
since June 9, 2008. Prior to joining us, Mr. Flynn
served as Vice President of Sales — The Americas for
Capcom U.S.A., Inc., where he helped restructure and grow the
third-party video game publisher. Prior to joining Capcom,
Mr. Flynn was Vice President of U.S. Sales at
Hip Interactive, Inc. Before that he spent four years at
Sega of America, Inc., most recently as Director of
North American Sales and two years at Psygnosis, Inc.,
where he served as Eastern Regional Sales Director.
Employment
Agreements
Employment Agreement with Jim Wilson. On
March 31, 2008, we entered into an employment letter
agreement with Mr. Wilson, under which Mr. Wilson is
to serve as our Chief Executive Officer and President. Under the
Agreement, Mr. Wilson will receive an annual base salary of
$400,000. Mr. Wilson will be eligible to receive an annual
bonus of up to 200% of his then-current annual base salary,
depending on the attainment of certain individual and our
performance goals established by our board of directors for the
applicable fiscal year. For the fiscal year
E-2
ending March 31, 2009, Mr. Wilson is guaranteed
$120,000 of his annual bonus for such fiscal year provided that
he is actively employed on March 31, 2009. Under the
Agreement, Mr. Wilson has been granted options to purchase
687,146 shares of our common stock, with an exercise price
per share equal to $1.4507. Unless vesting is otherwise
accelerated, such options shall vest 6.25% per quarter
(commencing with the quarter ending June 30, 2008). Any
unvested options shall become fully vested and exercisable in
the event of a change of control (other than with respect to the
merger). If the merger is completed, we have agreed to use our
best efforts to cause IESA to agree to grant to Mr. Wilson
a stock option with respect to shares of IESA in substitution of
his currently outstanding option to acquire our common stock.
Such option to acquire shares of IESA shall have a present value
approximately equal to the present value of the option to
acquire our stock using Black-Scholes or another reasonable
option valuation methodology.
Letter Agreement with Arturo Rodriguez. On
January 29, 2008, we entered into a letter agreement with
Arturo Rodriguez regarding his employment with us and his
compensation. Mr. Rodriguez is our Vice
President — Controller and has served as our acting
Chief Financial Officer since May 16, 2007. Under the terms
of the letter agreement, Mr. Rodriguez is entitled to a
retention bonus equal to three months his current base salary
(the “Retention Bonus”) in exchange for his commitment
to continued employment with us through the filing of our Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. The Retention
Bonus would be paid within ten business days following the
earliest of (i) the termination of his employment by us,
(ii) the filing of the March 31, 2008
Form 10-K
and (iii) July 31, 2008 (the earliest such date, the
“Trigger Date”). After the Trigger Date,
Mr. Rodriguez may separate his employment from us with no
less than fifteen days’ notice, after which he would be
entitled to receive severance of twenty-six weeks of his current
base salary and current elected benefits.
Letter Agreement with Timothy Flynn. On
May 17, 2008, we entered into a letter agreement with
Timothy Flynn, under which Mr. Flynn is to serve as our
Senior Vice President of Sales. Under the terms of the letter
agreement, Mr. Flynn will receive an annual base salary of
$250,000. Mr. Flynn will be eligible to receive an annual
bonus of up to 40% of his then-current annual base salary,
depending on the attainment of certain individual and our
performance goals established by our board of directors for the
applicable fiscal year. Under the terms of the letter agreement,
Mr. Flynn is entitled to a sign on bonus equal to 10% of
his current base salary (the “Sign On Bonus”) that is
payable once he completes 60 days of continuous employment
with us. Should Mr. Flynn voluntarily terminate his
employment with us or be terminated for cause by us within on
year of his hire date, Mr. Flynn would be required to repay
the total gross amount of the Sign On Bonus. Under the letter
agreement, Mr. Flynn has been granted options to purchase
20,000 shares of our common stock, with an exercise price
per share equal to $1.64. Unless vesting is otherwise
accelerated, 25% of such options shall vest upon the first
anniversary of his hire date and thereafter vest 6.25% per
quarter (commencing with the quarter ending June 30, 2009).
Any unvested options shall become fully vested and exercisable
in the event of a change of control (other than with respect to
the merger). If the merger is completed, we have agreed to use
its best efforts to cause IESA to agree to grant to
Mr. Flynn a stock option with respect to shares of IESA in
substitution of his currently outstanding option to acquire our
common stock. Such option to acquire shares of IESA shall have a
present value approximately equal to the present value of the
option to acquire our stock using Black-Scholes or another
reasonable option valuation methodology.
Changes
in Executive Officers During Fiscal 2008
Until November 13, 2007, when he resigned, David Pierce was
our Chief Executive Officer and President. Jean-Marcel Nicolai
was a Senior Vice President until he terminated his employment
with us, and became an employee of Atari Interactive (a wholly
owned subsidiary of IESA) when his Employment Agreement with us
terminated on August 31, 2007. Mr. Nicolai has since
terminated his employment with Atari Interactive.
From October 10, 2007 to April 2, 2008, Curtis G.
Solsvig III, served as our Chief Restructuring Officer.
Mr. Solsvig works at AlixPartners LLC, which was retained
to assist us in evaluating and implementing strategic and
tactical options through our restructuring process.
Mr. Solsvig did not receive any compensation as an employee
of us, but rather we paid AlixPartners for services rendered by
Mr. Solsvig.
E-3
Committees
Our Board of Directors directs the management of our business
and affairs, but it has delegated some of its functions to an
Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Special
Committee. In addition, from time to time, our Board may
establish special committees to address specific transactions or
issues.
Audit
Committee and “Audit Committee Financial
Expert”
Our Audit Committee reviews the adequacy of our internal
controls. It is responsible for appointing and determining the
compensation of the independent registered accounting firm that
audits our financial statements and it reviews the scope and
results of annual audits and other services provided by our
independent public accountants. The Audit Committee also
performs certain other functions that are required under the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, SEC rules or Nasdaq Marketplace
Rules. One of its functions is to review all transactions
between IESA (our indirect 51% shareholder) or its subsidiaries
and us or our subsidiaries, other than day to day transactions
pursuant to Distribution Agreements that already have been
approved by the Committee and by our entire Board of Directors.
Our Audit Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Adair,
Scher, Shein, and Davis, each an independent director, as
required by the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules and SEC rules.
Mr. Adair serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee and our Board have determined that
Mr. Davis is an “audit committee financial
expert,” as that term is defined in SEC rules.
Compensation
Committee
Our Compensation Committee (i) oversees our compensation
plans, employee stock option plans, employee stock purchase
plans, and programs and policies for executive officers,
(ii) monitors the performance and compensation of executive
officers and other key employees, and (iii) monitors
related decisions concerning matters of executive compensation.
During fiscal 2008, the Compensation Committee was initially
composed of James Ackerly, Bruno Bonnell and Michael Corrigan,
with Ann Kronen serving in a non-voting capacity.
Mr. Bonnell resigned from the Board effective as of
April 4, 2007 and each of Mr. Ackerly,
Mr. Corrigan and Ms. Kronen were removed from the
Board effective as of October 5, 2007. Effective as of
October 2007, our Compensation Committee is composed of
Messrs. Adair, Shein, and Scher and Mr. Shein serves
as Chairman of the Compensation Committee. All of the directors
currently serving as members of the Committee are independent.
Our Board of Directors adopted an amended Compensation Committee
Charter during fiscal 2004, which was filed as an exhibit to our
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended March 31, 2004.
Special
Committee
Our Special Committee was formed in May 2006 to review and
approve any transaction that is outside the ordinary course of
business and would materially impact stockholder value,
including (i) evaluating and responding to proposals
(including any proposal by IESA or its affiliated entities to
acquire us or any of our material assets, (ii) reviewing
all other material transactions outside the ordinary course of
our business to the extent they may affect IESA or its
affiliated entities differently from the way the affect us, and
(iii) reviewing all transactions or contracts (including
modifications of existing contracts, relationships or
understandings) with IESA and any other related party
transactions.
Our Special Committee is currently composed of
Messrs. Davis, Adair, Shein, and Scher, all of whom are
independent.
Director
Nominations
Our Board does not delegate the responsibility of nominating
potential new directors to a separate nominating committee
because our Board believes that all directors should be involved
in this process.
E-4
Our Board believes that potential nominees should be individuals
with high standards of ethics and integrity who are committed to
representing the interests of the stockholders through the
exercise of sound judgment. They should have broad business or
professional experience that will allow them to contribute to
our Board’s discussions and decisions, and they should be
able to devote sufficient time and energy to the performance of
the duties of a director. Because IESA owns a majority of our
outstanding shares, for a number of years some (but not a
majority) of our directors have been officers of IESA. We
believe that the backgrounds and qualifications of our
directors, considered as a group, should provide a composite mix
of experience, knowledge, and abilities that will enable our
Board of Directors to fulfill effectively all its
responsibilities. Board candidates who may become members of the
Audit Committee must also have the financial experience
necessary to perform their duties and to satisfy the
requirements of the SEC rules and NASDAQ rules relating to Audit
Committees. In the event there is a vacancy on our Board of
Directors, our Board considers candidates recommended by current
directors, officers, professional advisors, employees and others.
Our By-Laws contain procedures and requirements for stockholder
nominations of directors.
Stockholder
Communications with our Board
Our Board of Directors will give appropriate attention to
written communications that are submitted by stockholders, and
will respond if and as appropriate. Under procedures approved by
a majority of our independent directors, communications are
forwarded to all directors if they relate to important
substantive matters and include suggestions or comments that the
Chairman of our Board of Directors (or in the absence of a
Chairman of our Board, any of our directors) considers to be
important for the directors to know. In general, communications
relating to corporate governance and long-term corporate
strategy are more likely to be forwarded than communications
relating to ordinary business affairs, personal grievances or
matters as to which we tend to receive repetitive or duplicative
communications.
Our Audit Committee has adopted Procedures for Complaints. They
provide for confidential communications on either an identified
or anonymous basis to be made to the Audit Committee, via email,
our complaint hotline or through our Vice President and General
Counsel who will forward all communications to the Audit
Committee.
Atari stockholders may send communications to our Board of
Directors as a whole, to the independent directors as a group,
to any Board committee, or to any individual member of the Board
by writing
c/o Kristina K. Pappa,
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, Atari, Inc.,
417 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016 and specifying
the intended recipients. Inquiries sent by mail will be
reviewed, sorted and summarized by Ms. Pappa or her
designee before they are forwarded to our Board or the
applicable committee or individual director(s).
Code of
Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics, Standards of Conduct and
Confidentiality that applies to directors, executive officers,
and all other employees, including senior financial personnel.
We will make copies of our Code of Ethics available to
stockholders upon request. Any such request should be either
sent by mail to Atari, Inc., 417 Fifth Avenue, New York,
New York 10016, Attn: General Counsel or made by telephone by
calling our General Counsel at
(212) 726-6500.
Section 16(a)
Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, our directors, officers and stockholders who
beneficially own more than 10% of our Common Stock are required
to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of
changes in ownership with respect to our equity securities and
to furnish us with copies of all reports they file.
Based solely on our review of the copies of such reports that we
received, we believe that during our 2008 fiscal year, each such
reporting person filed all the required reports in a timely
manner.
E-5
Item 11. Executive
Compensation
Summary
Compensation Table for Fiscal 2008
The following table summarizes the compensation we paid during
fiscal 2008 to David Pierce, who was our principal executive
officer during part of the fiscal year until his resignation on
November 13, 2007, Jim Wilson, who was our principal
executive officer during part of the fiscal year when he became
our Chief Executive Officer and President as of March 31,
2008, Jean-Marcel Nicolai, who was our senior vice president and
chief technology officer during part of the fiscal year until
his resignation on August 31, 2007, to Bruno Bonnell, who
was our chief creative officer and acting chief financial
officer during part of the fiscal year until his resignation on
April 4, 2007, and Arturo Rodriguez, who was acting
principal financial officer during part of the fiscal year when
he became our Chief Financial Officer as of May 16, 2007
(these people together being referred to as the Named Executive
Officers).
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Change in
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Value and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonqualified
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non Equity
|
|
Deferred
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
Option
|
|
Incentive Plan
|
|
Compensation
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary
|
|
Bonus
|
|
Awards
|
|
Awards
|
|
Compensation
|
|
Earnings
|
|
Compensation
|
|
Total
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
(S)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
($)
|
|
David Pierce
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
316,364
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
48,449
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
218,444
|
(1)
|
|
|
583,257
|
|
President and CEO (former)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
345,455
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
63,475
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
6,875
|
(2)
|
|
|
415,805
|
|
Jim Wilson
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
1,538
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
382
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,520
|
|
President and CEO
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Jean-Marcel Nicolai
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
70,861
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
26,558
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
88,693
|
(3)
|
|
|
186,112
|
|
SVP, Chief Technology Officer (former)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
280,000
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
90,863
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
194,242
|
(4)
|
|
|
565,105
|
|
Bruno Bonnell
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
8,446
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
114,817
|
(5)
|
|
|
123,263
|
|
Acting CFO and Chief Creative Officer (former)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
640,951
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
991,875
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
236,567
|
(5)
|
|
|
1,869,393
|
|
Arturo Rodriguez
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
177,448
|
|
|
|
18,800
|
(6)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
11,958
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3,441
|
(7)
|
|
|
211,647
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
(Acting), Vice President and Controller
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Consists of vacation payout of $18,230 and severance payment of
$200,214. |
|
(2) |
|
Consists of a Section 401(k) match of $6,000 and life
insurance premiums of $875. |
|
(3) |
|
Consists of housing costs borne by us and related tax gross up
of $76,932, vacation payout of $9,961 and 401(k) match of $1,800. |
|
(4) |
|
Consists of housing costs borne by us and related tax gross up
of $136,261, children’s education costs borne by us and
related tax gross up of $51,982 and Section 401(k) match of
$6,000. |
|
(5) |
|
Consists of housing costs borne by us and related tax gross up. |
|
(6) |
|
Consists of a discretionary bonus that was granted in fiscal
2007 and paid in fiscal 2008. |
|
(7) |
|
Consists of a Section 401(k) match of $3,441. |
E-6
Grants of
Plan-Based Awards
The following table summarizes the Plan-Based Awards made to the
Named Executive Officers during fiscal 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Awards:
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards:
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
or Base
|
|
|
Grant
|
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Price of
|
|
|
Date Fair
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards
|
|
|
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan
Awards
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Value of
|
|
|
|
Grant
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
of Stock
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Stock and
|
|
Name
|
|
Date
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($/Sh)
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
David Pierce
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Jim Wilson
|
|
|
3/31/08
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
687,146
|
|
|
$
|
1.45
|
|
|
$
|
562,429
|
|
Jean-Marcel Nicolai
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Bruno Bonnell
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Arturo Rodriguez
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Outstanding
Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table summarizes the equity awards held by the
Named Executives on March 31, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
Market or
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Plan
|
|
|
Payout
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plan
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Awards:
|
|
|
Value of
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Awards:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Unearned
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unearned
|
|
|
Shares,
|
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares or
|
|
|
Market Value
|
|
|
Shares, Units
|
|
|
Units or
|
|
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
|
|
|
Units of Stock
|
|
|
of Shares or
|
|
|
or Other
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Unearned
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
that Have Not
|
|
|
Units of Stock
|
|
|
Rights that
|
|
|
Rights that
|
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
Expiration
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
that Have Not
|
|
|
Have Not
|
|
|
Have Not
|
|
Name
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
Date
|
|
|
(#)
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
Vested
|
|
|
Vested ($)
|
|
|
David Pierce
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Jim Wilson
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
687,146
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1.45
|
|
|
|
3/31/2018
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Jean-Marcel Nicolai
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Bruno Bonnell
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Arturo Rodriguez
|
|
|
200
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
51.875
|
|
|
|
9/22/2010
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
138
|
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
29.4
|
|
|
|
6/17/2015
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
3,744
|
|
|
|
6,256
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
7.4
|
|
|
|
7/25/2016
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
469
|
|
|
|
781
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
7.4
|
|
|
|
7/25/2016
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Option
Exercises and Stock Vested
No stock options were exercised, and no stock awards vested,
with regard to any of the Named Executive Officers during fiscal
2008.
Pension
Benefits
We do not have any pension plans, and therefore, no pension
benefits provided by us or any of our subsidiaries were received
by, or accrued for, any of the Named Executive Officers during
fiscal 2008. We have a Section 401(k) plan under which we
will match 100% of an employee’s contributions up to 3% of
the employee’s eligible compensation and will match 50% of
an employee’s contributions between 3% and 9% of the
employee’s eligible compensation, up to a total of $6,000
for an employee in a calendar year. During fiscal 2008, we made
matching payments of $1,800 and $3,441 with regard to each of
Jean-Marcel Nicolai and Arturo Rodriguez, respectively.
E-7
Nonqualified
Deferred Compensation
None of the Named Executive Officers received during fiscal
2008, or became entitled during fiscal 2008 to receive in the
future, any deferred compensation.
Director
Compensation
Directors who are also employed by us, IESA or any of their
respective subsidiaries do not receive any compensation for
their service on our Board of Directors. Currently, the
non-employee directors are Mr. Adair, Mr. Coppee,
Mr. Davis, Mr. Shein, and Mr. Scher. During
fiscal 2008, each non-employee director serving on our Board of
Directors received the following:
|
|
|
|
•
|
an annual retainer of $25,000;
|
|
|
•
|
an additional annual retainer of $25,000 for the chairman of the
Board of Directors;
|
|
|
•
|
an additional annual retainer of $7,500 for the chairman of each
of the audit committee, compensation committee and chief
executive officer search committee of the Board of Directors;
|
|
|
•
|
an additional annual retainer of $25,000 for the chairman of the
special committee of the Board of Directors;
|
|
|
•
|
an additional annual retainer of $10,000 for all members of the
special committee of the Board of Directors;
|
|
|
•
|
a fee for each Board meeting attended ($2,000 for attending in
person and $1,000 for attending via phone);
|
|
|
•
|
a fee for each committee meeting attended ($2,000 for attending
in person and $1,000 for attending via phone);
|
|
|
•
|
an annual stock option grant for 1,000 shares of our Common
Stock; and
|
|
|
•
|
upon joining the Board of Directors, a one-time stock option
grant for 2,500 shares of our Common Stock.
|
The following table summarizes the compensation we provided
during fiscal 2008 to our directors who were not employed by us
or by IESA:
Non-Employee
Director Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity
|
|
|
Nonqualified
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned or
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Incentive Plan
|
|
|
Deferred
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid in Cash
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Name
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
Earnings
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
James Ackerly
|
|
|
63,697
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
10,106
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
73,803
|
|
Ronald C. Bernard
|
|
|
62,362
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
391
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
615
|
(1)
|
|
|
63,368
|
|
Michael G. Corrigan
|
|
|
64,029
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
391
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
6,043
|
(1)
|
|
|
70,463
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Change in
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Value and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity
|
|
|
Nonqualified
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees Earned or
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Incentive Plan
|
|
|
Deferred
|
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paid in Cash
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Awards
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
Name
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
Earnings
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
($)
|
|
|
Denis Guyennot
|
|
|
21,843
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
382
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
22,225
|
|
Ann E. Kronen
|
|
|
32,842
|
(2)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
8,958
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
41,800
|
|
Evence Charles Coppee
|
|
|
18,500
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
256
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
18,756
|
|
Wendell H. Adair, Jr.
|
|
|
39,250
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3,067
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3,407
|
(1)
|
|
|
45,724
|
|
Eugene I. Davis
|
|
|
56,375
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3,067
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
10,373
|
(1)
|
|
|
69,815
|
|
James B. Shein
|
|
|
38,125
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3,067
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
41,192
|
|
Bradley E. Scher
|
|
|
34,500
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3,067
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
37,567
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Consists of travel expenses. |
|
(2) |
|
Does not include the consulting fees described under
“Consulting Agreement with Ann E. Kronen.” |
E-8
Consulting
Agreement with Ann E. Kronen
We had a consulting agreement with Ann E. Kronen (the
“Kronen Agreement”) under which we engaged
Ms. Kronen to provide product consultation services,
business development and relationship management services with
potential and existing business partners that are located on the
West Coast. That agreement was terminated in January 2008. In
fiscal 2008, Ms. Kronen received $165,000 for services
under the Kronen Agreement. In addition, Ms. Kronen was
reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in connection with her
rendering of those services.
Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During fiscal 2008, the Compensation Committee of our Board of
Directors was composed of Mr. Adair, Mr. Davis, and
Mr. Shein, with Mr. Shein as the Chairman. No member
of the Compensation Committee is or was formerly an officer or
an employee of us. No executive officer serves as a member of
our board of directors or compensation committee of any entity
that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of
our Board, nor has such interlocking relationship existed in the
past.
|
|
Item 12.
|
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
and
Related Stockholder Matters.
|
The table below contains information regarding the beneficial
ownership of shares of our common stock by each person or entity
known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of the total number
of outstanding shares of our common stock as of June 13,
2008. The table below also contains information regarding the
beneficial ownership of shares of our common stock as of
June 13, 2008 by all executive officers and directors of us.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount and Nature of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beneficial Ownership of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares of Common
|
|
|
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial
Owner(1)
|
|
Stock(2)
|
|
|
Percentage**
|
|
|
Geater Than 5% Holders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Infogrames Entertainment S.A.
|
|
|
6,952,248
|
(3)
|
|
|
51.58
|
%
|
California U.S. Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
6,952,248
|
(4)
|
|
|
51.58
|
%
|
The BlueBay Multi-Strategy (Master) Fund Limited
|
|
|
6,952,248
|
(5)
|
|
|
51.58
|
%
|
The BlueBay Value Recovery (Master) Fund Limited
|
|
|
6,952,248
|
(5)
|
|
|
51.58
|
%
|
CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd.
|
|
|
1,264,145
|
(6)
|
|
|
9.40
|
%
|
Morgan Stanley
|
|
|
1,124,282
|
(7)
|
|
|
8.30
|
%
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
|
|
|
724,098
|
(7)
|
|
|
5.40
|
%
|
Our Executive Officers and Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wendell H. Adair, Jr.
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Evence-Charles Coppee
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Eugene I. Davis
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Timothy J. Flynn
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Arturo Rodriguez
|
|
|
4,551
|
(8)
|
|
|
*
|
|
Bradley E. Scher
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
James B. Shein
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Jim Wilson
|
|
|
42,946
|
(8)
|
|
|
*
|
|
All our named executive officers and directors of as a group
(14 persons)
|
|
|
47,947
|
(9)
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Less than 1%. |
|
** |
|
As of June 13, 2008, 13,477,920 shares of Common Stock
were outstanding, not including shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding options. |
|
(1) |
|
Unless otherwise stated in the applicable footnote, the address
for each beneficial owner is
c/o Atari,
Inc., 417 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10016. |
E-9
|
|
|
(2) |
|
For purposes of this table, beneficial ownership of securities
is defined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and means
generally the power to vote or exercise investment discretion
with respect to securities, regardless of any economic interests
therein. Except as otherwise indicated, to the best of the
Company’s knowledge, the beneficial owners of shares of
Common Stock listed above have sole investment and voting power
with respect to such shares, subject to community property laws
where applicable. In addition, for purposes of this table, a
person or group is deemed to have “beneficial
ownership” of any shares that such person has the right to
acquire within 60 days following June 13, 2008. Shares
a person has the right to acquire within 60 days after
June 13, 2008 date are included in the total
outstanding shares for the purpose of determining the percentage
of the outstanding shares that person owns, but not for the
purpose of calculating the percentage ownership of any other
person. |
|
(3) |
|
Information is based on a Schedule 13D dated May 6,
2008, filed with the SEC. The shares are owned of record by
CUSH, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of IESA. IESA may be
deemed to beneficially own the shares because they are held by a
subsidiary. The address of IESA is 1, Place Verrazzano, 69252
Lyon Cedex 09, France. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes 26,000 shares of Common Stock which IESA has the
power to vote under a proxy from the Cayre family. |
|
(5) |
|
Information is based on a Schedule 13D/A dated May 8,
2008, filed with the SEC. The BlueBay Funds collectively hold
approximately 31.5% of shares of common stock of IESA. The
BlueBay Funds are also eligible to redeem certain warrants and
convert convertible bonds into shares of IESA, whereby, upon
redemption and exercise of such stock warrants, the BlueBay
Funds would collectively hold approximately 54.9% of the
outstanding stock of IESA (on a fully diluted basis). The
BlueBay Funds may be deemed by
Rule 13d-3(d)(1)
of the Exchange Act to be beneficial owners of Atari stock held
by IESA. The address of The BlueBay Value Recovery (Master)
Fund Limited and The BlueBay Multi-Strategy (Master)
Fund Limited is 77 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 3JR,
United Kingdom. See footnotes 2 and 3. |
|
(6) |
|
Information is based on a Schedule 13D dated
October 12, 2007, filed with the SEC. Each of CCM Master
Qualified Fund, Ltd., Coghill Capital Management, L.L.C., and
Clint D. Coghill beneficially owns 1,264,145 shares of
Common Stock and has shared voting power with respect to that
Common Stock. Coghill Capital Management, L.L.C. serves as the
investment manager of CCM Master Qualified Fund, Ltd. and
Mr. Coghill is the managing partner of Coghill Capital
Management, L.L.C. The address of CCM Master Qualified Fund,
Ltd. is One North Wacker Drive, Suite 4350, Chicago, IL
60606. |
|
(7) |
|
Information is based on a Schedule 13D dated
February 14, 2008, filed with the SEC. The address of
Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
is 1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036. |
|
(8) |
|
Consists of shares that can be acquired through stock option
exercises within 60 days following June 13, 2008. |
|
(9) |
|
See footnote 2. |
Changes
in Control
Under the terms of the employment agreement with Jim Wilson,
Mr. Wilson was granted options to purchase
687,146 shares of our common stock, with an exercise price
per share equal to $1.4507. Unless vesting is otherwise
accelerated, such options vest 6.25% per quarter (commencing
with the quarter ending June 30, 2008). Any unvested
options will become fully vested and exercisable in the event of
a change of control (other than with respect to the merger with
IESA). If the merger is completed, we have agreed to use our
best efforts to cause IESA to agree to grant to Mr. Wilson
a stock option with respect to shares of IESA in substitution of
his currently outstanding option to acquire our common stock.
Such option to acquire shares of IESA shall have a present value
approximately equal to the present value of the option to
acquire our stock using Black-Scholes or another reasonable
option valuation methodology.
Under the terms of the letter agreement with Timothy Flynn,
Mr. Flynn was granted options to purchase
20,000 shares of our common stock, with an exercise price
per share equal to $1.64. Unless vesting is otherwise
accelerated, 25% of such options shall vest upon the first
anniversary of his hire date and thereafter vest 6.25% per
quarter (commencing with the quarter ending June 30, 2009).
Any unvested options shall become fully vested and exercisable
in the event of a change of control (other than with respect to
the merger with IESA). If the merger is
E-10
completed, we have agreed to use our best efforts to cause IESA
to agree to grant to Mr. Flynn a stock option with respect
to shares of IESA in substitution of his currently outstanding
option to acquire our common stock. Such option to acquire
shares of IESA shall have a present value approximately equal to
the present value of the option to acquire our stock using
Black-Scholes or another reasonable option valuation methodology.
|
|
Item 13.
|
Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence.
|
Transactions
Between Us and IESA and Affiliates
We have entered into several agreements with IESA and its
affiliates, including BlueBay High Yield.
Agreements
Related to the Merger
In connection with the merger agreement described under the
caption “Agreement and Plan of Merger” of our 2008
Annual Report on
Form 10-K,
IESA, BlueBay High Yield and we have entered into the following
agreements:
Credit Agreement. In connection with the
merger, we entered into a Credit Agreement with IESA (the
“IESA Credit Agreement”), dated April 30, 2008,
under which IESA committed to provide up to an aggregate of
$20 million in loan availability at an interest rate equal
to the applicable LIBOR rate plus 7% per year, subject to the
terms and conditions of the IESA Credit Agreement (the “New
Financing Facility”). We will use borrowings under the New
Financing Facility to fund its operational cash requirements
during the period between the date of the merger agreement and
the closing of the merger. The obligations under the
New Financing Facility are secured by liens on
substantially all of our present and future assets, including
accounts receivable, inventory, general intangibles, fixtures,
and equipment. We will be able to draw from the New Financing
Facility from time to time until the earlier of
December 31, 2008 or the date the New Financing Facility is
terminated. We have agreed that it will make monthly prepayments
on amounts borrowed under the New Financing Facility of its
excess cash. We will not be able to reborrow any loan amounts
paid back under the New Financing Facility other than loan
amounts prepaid from excess cash.
Under the IESA Credit Agreement, we made certain representations
and warranties regarding its corporate existence, operations,
assets and legal matters affecting us and our business. Such
representations and warranties must also be made prior to each
draw on the New Financing Facility. We also agreed to certain
affirmative covenants, including the delivery to IESA of a
budget, which is subject to approval by IESA in its commercially
reasonable discretion and which shall be supplemented from time
to time, financial statements and variance reports thereon. We
also agreed to certain negative covenants restricting it from
entering into certain major transactions or taking certain
actions affecting its financial condition.
The occurrence of an event of default under the IESA Credit
Agreement gives IESA the right, subject to the terms of the
Intercreditor Agreement described below, to (i) terminate
the New Financing Facility, immediately ending the commitments
thereunder;
and/or
(ii) declare the outstanding loans thereunder to be
immediately due and payable in whole or part. Events of default
include:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Our failure to pay principal on the outstanding loans when due
and payable;
|
|
|
•
|
Our failure to pay interest on the outstanding loans or fees
when due and payable and such failure is unremedied for five
days;
|
|
|
•
|
if any of our or our subsidiaries’ representations or
warranties is proven to be incorrect in any material respect
when made;
|
|
|
•
|
the failure of us or any of our subsidiaries to uphold certain
affirmative covenants or any of the negative covenants made in
the IESA Credit Agreement, or the failure of us or any of our
subsidiaries to uphold any other covenant or agreement made in
connection with the New Financing Facility, and such failure is
unremedied for 30 days;
|
|
|
•
|
if any New Financing Facility document ceases to be in full
force and effect or we take any action for the purpose of
terminating any such document;
|
E-11
|
|
|
|
•
|
the failure of us or any of our subsidiaries to make payments
with respect to certain material indebtedness when due and
payable;
|
|
|
•
|
the occurrence of events or conditions resulting in any material
indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity;
|
|
|
•
|
the occurrence of a bankruptcy event;
|
|
|
•
|
if we or any of our subsidiaries become unable to pay its debts
when due;
|
|
|
•
|
the rendering of a judgment in excess of $1 million net of
insurance against us or any of our subsidiaries;
|
|
|
•
|
the occurrence of a reportable event within the meaning of ERISA
that could result in liability exceeding $5 million;
|
|
|
•
|
the occurrence of a change of control (other than the merger) or
a material adverse deviation from our budget; or
|
|
|
•
|
the occurrence of a default under the agreements regarding the
“Test Drive” and “Test Drive Unlimited”
intellectual property assets, which agreements are further
described below, the merger agreement or the credit agreement
with BlueBay High Yield, which agreement is further described
below.
|
Intercreditor Agreement. Under an
intercreditor agreement among IESA, BlueBay High Yield and us
(the “Intercreditor Agreement”), dated April 30,
2008, IESA has agreed that for so long as obligations under the
BlueBay Credit Facility (as defined below) are not discharged,
it will (i) not seek to exercise any rights or remedies
with respect to the shared collateral for a period of
270 days (provided that, in any event, IESA may not
exercise such rights or remedies while BlueBay High Yield is
exercising its rights and remedies as to the collateral),
(ii) not take action to hinder the exercise of remedies
under the BlueBay Credit Facility (as defined below) and
(iii) waive any rights as a junior lien creditor to object
to the manner in which BlueBay High Yield may enforce or collect
obligations under the BlueBay Credit Facility (as defined below).
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to BlueBay Credit
Facility. In order to permit the signing of the
merger agreement and the establishment of the New Financing
Facility with IESA, we entered into a Waiver, Consent and Fourth
Amendment to its credit facility with BlueBay High Yield, dated
April 30, 2008, under which, among other things,
(i) BlueBay High Yield waived our non-compliance with
certain representations and covenants under the Credit
Agreement, (ii) BlueBay High Yield consented to our
entering into the credit facility with IESA, (iii) BlueBay
High Yield consented to our entering into the merger agreement,
and (iv) BlueBay High Yield and us agreed to certain
amendments to the credit facility with BlueBay High Yield with
respect to the Intercreditor Agreement referenced above
regarding the parties’ respective security interests in our
assets, our operational covenants and events of default.
Termination of the merger agreement by any party would
constitute an event of default under the credit facility with
BlueBay High Yield.
Intercompany
Transactions Between Us and IESA
Management Services. IESA renders management
services to us (systems and administrative support) and we
render management services and production services to Atari
Interactive, a subsidiary of IESA, and other subsidiaries of
IESA. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007, related
party net revenues from providing management services to IESA
were $3.0 million, and related party expenses from
receiving services from IESA were $3.0 million. In fiscal
2006, related party net revenues from providing management
services to IESA were $3.1 million, and related party
expenses from receiving services from IESA were
$3.0 million. Agreements governing the provision of
management and production services were modified pursuant to the
Global MOU described below.
Distribution Agreements. Atari Interactive
develops video games and owns the name “Atari” and the
Atari logo, which we use under a license (as further described
below). Furthermore, IESA distributes our products in Europe,
Asia, and certain other regions, and pays us royalties in this
respect. IESA also develops (through its subsidiaries) products
which we distribute in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and
for which we pay royalties to IESA. Both IESA and Atari
Interactive are material sources of products which we bring to
market in the
E-12
United States, Canada, and Mexico. In fiscal 2007, related
party net expenses from our distribution activities were
$16.7 million and related party revenues from IESA
distribution activities were $7.7 million. In fiscal 2006,
related party net expenses from our distribution activities were
$20.7 million and related party revenues from IESA
distribution activities were $13.9 million. Agreements
governing distribution of products were modified pursuant to the
Global MOU described below.
Global Memorandum of Understanding. On
December 4, 2007, we entered into a Global Memorandum of
Understanding Regarding Restructuring of Atari, Inc.
(“Global MOU”) with IESA, pursuant to which we agreed,
in furtherance of our restructuring plan, to the supersession or
termination of certain existing agreements and the entry into
certain new agreements between IESA
and/or its
affiliates and us, as briefly described below. Furthermore, we
agreed to discuss with IESA an extension of the termination date
beyond 2013 of the Trademark License Agreement, dated
September 4, 2003, as amended, between us and Atari
Interactive (as described below).
|
|
|
|
•
|
Short Form Distribution Agreement. We
entered into a Short Form Distribution Agreement with IESA
(together with two of its affiliates) that superseded, with
respect to games to be distributed on or after the effective
date of the Short Form Distribution Agreement, the two
prior distribution agreements between us and IESA dated
December 16, 1999 and October 2, 2000. Subject to
certain limitations, IESA granted us the exclusive right for the
term of the Short Form Distribution Agreement to contract
with IESA for distribution rights in United States, Canada and
Mexico to all interactive entertainment software games developed
by or on behalf of IESA that are released in packaged media
format. The distribution of each game would be subject to a
sales plan and specific commitments by us and IESA, and the
royalties to be paid shall equal (x) a flat
per-unit fee
per manufactured unit or (y) a percentage of net receipts
less a distribution fee paid to us equal to 30% of net receipts.
IESA also agreed to pay us a royalty equal to 8% of the online
net revenues that IESA receives via the online platform
attributable to such games in exchange for the grant of a
trademark license for Atari.com, which IESA was given the right
to operate. The term of exclusivity rights under the Short
Form Distribution Agreement is three years, unless
shortened or terminated earlier in accordance with the agreement.
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•
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Termination and Transfer of Assets
Agreement. We entered into a Termination and
Transfer of Assets Agreement (the “Termination and Transfer
Agreement”) with IESA (together with its affiliate) that
terminated the Production Services Agreement, between us and
IESA, dated as of March 31, 2006. Under the Termination and
Transfer Agreement, IESA agreed to hire a significant part of
our Production Department team and certain related assets were
transferred to IESA. In consideration of the transfer, IESA
agreed to pay us approximately $0.1 million, representing,
in aggregate, the agreed upon current net book value for the
fixed assets being transferred and the replacement cost for the
development assets being transferred. Certain team members hired
by IESA are permitted to continue providing oversight and
supervisory services to us until January 31, 2008 at either
no cost or at a discounted cost plus a fee.
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•
|
QA Services Agreement. We entered into a QA
Services Agreement with IESA (together with two of its
affiliates), dated March 31, 2006, pursuant to which we
would either directly or indirectly through third party vendors
provide IESA with certain quality assurance services until
March 31, 2008 and for which IESA agreed to pay us the cost
of the quality assurance services plus a 10% premium. In
addition, IESA agreed to pay certain retention bonuses payable
to employees providing the services to IESA or its affiliates
who work directly on IESA projects or are otherwise general QA
support staff.
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•
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Intercompany Services Agreement. We entered
into an Intercompany Services Agreement with IESA (together with
two of its affiliates) that supersedes the Management and
Services Agreement and the Services Agreement, each between us
and IESA dated March 31, 2006. Under the Intercompany
Services Agreement, we provide to IESA and its affiliates
certain intercompany services, including legal, human resources
and payroll, finance, IT and management information systems
(MIS), and facilities management services, at the costs set
forth therein. The annualized fee is approximately
$2.6 million.
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Test Drive Intellectual Property License. On
November 8, 2007, we entered into two separate license
agreements with IESA pursuant to which we granted IESA the
exclusive right and license to create, develop, distribute and
otherwise exploit licensed products derived from our series of
interactive computer and video games franchise known as
“Test Drive” and “Test Drive Unlimited” for
a term of seven years. IESA paid us a non-
E-13
refundable advance, fully recoupable against royalties to be
paid under each of the license agreements, of
(i) $4 million under a trademark agreement (the
“Trademark Agreement”) and (ii) $1 million
under an intellectual property agreement (the “IP
Agreement”), both advances of which shall accrue interest
at a yearly rate of 15% throughout the term of the applicable
agreement (collectively, the “Advance Royalty”). Under
the Trademark Agreement, the base royalty rate is 7.2% of net
revenue actually received by IESA from the sale of licensed
products, or, in lieu of the foregoing royalties, 40% of net
revenue actually received by IESA from the exploitation of
licensed products on the wireless platform. Under the IP
Agreement, the base royalty rate is 1.8% of net revenue actually
received by IESA from the sale of licensed products, or, in lieu
of the foregoing royalties, 10% of net revenue actually received
by IESA from the exploitation of licensed products on the
wireless platform.
Atari Trademark License. In May 2003, we
licensed the Atari name and trademark rights from IESA, which
license, as extended in September 2003, expires on
December 31, 2013. We issued 200,000 shares of common
stock to Atari Interactive for the September 2003 extension to
the license and will pay a royalty equal to 1% of our net
revenues from 2008 through 2013. We recorded a deferred charge
of $8.5 million, which was being amortized monthly and
which became fully amortized during the first quarter of fiscal
2007. The monthly amortization was based on the total estimated
cost to be incurred by us over the ten-year license period. In
fiscal 2006, we recorded expense of $3.1 million. In fiscal
2007, we recorded expense of $2.2 million.
Sale of Hasbro Licensing Rights. On
July 18, 2007, IESA agreed to terminate a license under
which it and Atari, and their sublicensees, had developed,
published and distributed video games using intellectual
property owned by Hasbro, Inc. In connection with that
termination, IESA agreed to pay us $4.0 million.
Transactions
Between Us and BlueBay High Yield
We and BlueBay High Yield have entered into the following
agreements:
Credit Agreement with BlueBay High Yield and Subsequent
Amendments and Forbearances. On October 18,
2007, we consented to the transfer of the loans outstanding
under the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2006,
among us, the lenders party thereto and Guggenheim Corporate
Funding, LLC, as Administrative Agent, providing for a senior
secured credit facility under funds affiliated with BlueBay High
Yield and to the appointment of BlueBay High Yield, as successor
administrative agent (the “BlueBay Credit Facility”).
Subsequently, we and BlueBay have entered into amendments, dated
November 6, 2007 and December 4, 2007, regarding the
loan availability under the credit facility, which is currently
$14 million and fully drawn, and waivers and forbearances
regarding the entry by us into material agreements with IESA and
the failure by us to meet certain operational and financial
covenants. In addition, please see “— Agreements
Related to the Merger” for the fourth amendment to the
credit agreement with BlueBay High Yield, entered into on
April 30, 2008.
Agreements
with Executive Officers
Employment Agreement with Bruno Bonnell. In
addition to being a former executive officer of us,
Bruno Bonnell was the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of the Board of Directors of IESA until April 4, 2007.
Mr. Bonnell had separate employment agreements with us and
IESA, from both of which he derived compensation. The
compensation derived from his employment with us is as follows.
Under the Bonnell Employment Agreement, which became effective
on April 1, 2004, Mr. Bonnell was to serve as the
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Creative Officer and Chairman of
the Board of our Company, reporting directly to the Board of
Directors. The Bonnell Employment Agreement permitted
Mr. Bonnell and our Board to agree that an additional
senior executive should be appointed as our Chief Executive
Officer to assume some of the day-to-day duties theretofore
undertaken by Mr. Bonnell, in order to enable
Mr. Bonnell to devote more of his time to his creative role
for us. In accordance with the Bonnell Employment Agreement, in
November 2004, the Board elected James Caparro to be our
President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Caparro served
in those capacities until June 2005. Upon
Mr. Caparro’s resignation, Mr. Bonnell again
assumed the Chief Executive Officer position, and he held that
position until September 2006, when David Pierce became Chief
Executive Officer. The term of the Bonnell Employment Agreement
was to continue through March 31, 2009, and was subject to
renewal. However, on
E-14
April 4, 2007, Mr. Bonnell resigned from all positions
he holds as an officer or director of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.
Under the Bonnell Employment Agreement, Mr. Bonnell
received an annual salary of €500,000 retroactive to
April 1, 2004, such salary to be reviewed annually for
increase in the Compensation Committee’s sole discretion.
Additionally, Mr. Bonnell was eligible to receive an annual
bonus of up to 100% of his base salary (30% based upon the
creative performance of the Company and 70% based on the overall
financial performance of the Company). Upon execution of the
Bonnell Employment Agreement, Mr. Bonnell received a grant
of stock options to purchase 200,000 shares of our Common
Stock at the then per share market price of $22.40 (both after
giving effect to a subsequent one-for-ten reverse split of our
common stock).
Mr. Bonnell also was to receive a housing allowance that
provided reimbursement for Mr. Bonnell’s actual and
documented rent, security deposit and broker commissions or fees
of up to $7,600 per month through December 31, 2004, $8,360
per month in calendar 2005, $12,200 per month in calendar 2006
and thereafter, an amount that is equal to or above $12,200 per
month in accordance with reasonable market standards. Instead of
reimbursing Mr. Bonnell for rent, we leased apartments in
New York City that Mr. Bonnell occupied.
If Mr. Bonnell’s employment was terminated without
cause or he resigned for good reason without there being a
change in control event, Mr. Bonnell was to receive
(i) his base salary for 12 months, (ii) a bonus
payment equal to the target bonus amount for the year of
termination, and (iii) 100% vesting of options which remain
exercisable for a period of one year thereafter or, if less, the
remainder of the term of the grant. If Mr. Bonnell’s
employment was terminated without cause or he resigned for good
reason within 24 months after a change in control event,
Mr. Bonnell was to receive (i) two times the sum of
his then current base salary and bonus for the immediately
preceding bonus year (or if higher, the bonus payment made to
Mr. Bonnell with respect to the full fiscal year
immediately preceding the change of control event), in
24 monthly installments, (ii) payment of any accrued
amounts and the pro rata portion of his bonus for the
termination year, and (iii) 100% vesting of options, which
would remain exercisable for a period of one year thereafter or,
if less, the remainder of their specified terms.
Termination of Mr. Bonnell’s
Employment. On April 4, 2007, after
Mr. Bonnell was informed by IESA that termination of his
officership as CEO and Chairman of the Board of IESA and of his
offices with the other IESA group companies was under
consideration due to material divergences regarding the business
plan of IESA and its group, Mr. Bonnell and IESA entered
into an agreement under which Mr. Bonnell agreed to resign
from his duties as a Director and CEO of IESA and from all the
offices he held with subsidiaries of IESA, including us and our
subsidiaries, and IESA agreed to pay Mr. Bonnell
(a) €350,000 for the work he did in restructuring
IESA’s indebtedness, (b) €900,000 as severance
indemnity, (c) a housing allowance of €300,000,
(d) €350,000 for an agreement not to compete in the
European Union (other than through a new U.S. company that
would be engaging in a business in which we were proposing to
engage), (e) €300,000 for agreeing not to solicit
employees of IESA or any of its subsidiaries,
(f) €100,000 for agreeing that for two years he would
not purchase equity or debt of IESA or any of its subsidiaries,
including us, other than through exercise of stock options,
(g) €100,000 (as well as an agreement that IESA’s
board of directors would not disparage Mr. Bonnell) for
agreeing not to make any comment regarding IESA, its
subsidiaries, their managers, directors, officers or
shareholders which may discredit or prejudice them, and
(h) up to €25,000 as reimbursement for legal
expenses in connection with the agreement.
Neither our Board of Directors nor any member of our management
was consulted about the agreement between IESA and
Mr. Bonnell or at any time requested any of the things to
which Mr. Bonnell agreed, and our management was not
provided with a copy of the agreement until more than two months
after it was signed. Mr. Bonnell resigned as a director and
officer of us and of our subsidiaries on April 4, 2007, and
shortly after that he and we agreed (subject to approval of our
Board, which was subsequently given) that his resignation was a
voluntary termination that did not involve good reason, and that
we would permit Mr. Bonnell to continue to occupy
apartments we were renting until December 31, 2007. Despite
the fact that we did not participate in the preparation of, or
know the terms of, the agreement between Mr. Bonnell and
IESA, and that IESA, not we, made all the payments under that
agreement, to the extent that we benefited from the payments
made by IESA to Mr. Bonnell, we are required to treat the
payments on our financial statements as an expense which was
offset by a contribution to our capital by IESA. Our Board
approved a determination that $770,540 of the payments IESA made
should be
E-15
allocated to benefit we received, and our income statement for
the year ended March 31, 2007 reflects a charge for that
amount.
In addition to entering into the termination agreement, IESA
agreed to invest €1 million in
Mr. Bonnell’s new U.S. company, which was formed
to engage in a business in which we are proposing to engage.
Employment Agreement with Jean-Marcel
Nicolai. Jean-Marcel Nicolai was an employee of
IESA until he became our Senior Vice President and Chief
Technology Officer. We assumed Mr. Nicolai’s
employment agreement with IESA, which ran until June 2006. In
June 2006, we entered into a letter agreement with
Mr. Nicolai to extend the terms of his employment with us
in the United States for one year according to the same terms
and conditions as outlined in the terms of employment contract,
dated October 25, 2004, between us and
Jean-Marcel Nicolai.
Under the agreement, Mr. Nicolai served as our Senior Vice
President, Product Development Operations and Chief Technology
Officer. Mr. Nicolai received an annual base salary of
$280,000 and was eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to
40% of his then-current base salary. Under the agreement,
Mr. Nicolai was granted options to purchase
150,000 shares of our common stock at fair market value.
If Mr. Nicolai’s employment was terminated without
cause, for good reason due to disability, Mr. Nicolai would
receive: (i) his annual base salary for a period of
12 months, (ii) his housing allowance through the
completion of the lease and school allowance through the
completion of the school term in which the termination occurred,
and (iii) relocation expenses back to France. If.
Mr. Nicolai’s employment terminated for any other
reason, Mr. Nicolai would not receive any further payment
or benefits.
Mr. Nicolai terminated his employment with us, and became
an employee of Atari Interactive (a wholly owned subsidiary of
IESA) when his Employment Agreement with us terminated on
August 31, 2007. Mr. Nicolai has since terminated his
employment with Atari Interactive.
Employment Agreement with David Pierce. We
entered into an Employment Agreement with David Pierce on
September 1, 2006. Under the Pierce Employment Agreement,
we agreed to employ Mr. Pierce as our President and Chief
Executive Officer for a term running from September 5, 2006
until August 31, 2009. We also agreed to enter into good
faith discussions regarding an extension or renewal of that
agreement at least 180 days before the end of its term,
although we are not obligated to renew the agreement.
During the term of his Employment Agreement, Mr. Pierce
received a base salary at the rate of $600,000 per year, and was
eligible to receive a bonus equal to 50% of his base salary if
agreed upon revenue and profit targets were met or exceeded,
plus an additional 50% of his base salary if the Compensation
Committee determined that agreed upon strategic objectives had
been met or exceeded (or lesser percentages to the extent
revenue and profit targets or strategic objectives were not
fully met).
If the Employment Agreement terminated because of
Mr. Pierce’s death or disability, he (or his estate)
would receive the base salary to which he would have been
entitled during the remainder of the term of the agreement plus
a pro rata portion of the bonus to which he would have been
entitled with regard to the year during which the Employment
Agreement terminated. In addition, all stock options that
Mr. Pierce held when the Employment Agreement terminated
would vest and be exercisable for a year after the Employment
Agreement terminated or until any earlier dates on which they
would have terminated if the Employment Agreement had not
terminated. If we terminated Mr. Pierce’s employment
during the term of the Employment Agreement without cause, or
Mr. Pierce terminated the Employment Agreement during its
term for good reason, Mr. Pierce would be entitled to his
base salary for six months whether or not he obtains other
employment, and would be entitled to his base salary for two
additional three month periods if he has not obtained alternate
employment. In addition, all stock options he held would vest
and be exercisable for three months (or after he has been
employed for a year, six months) after the Employment Agreement
was terminated, or until any earlier dates on which they would
have expired if the Employment Agreement had not terminated. If
Mr. Pierce terminated the Employment Agreement without good
reason, or we terminated the Employment Agreement for cause,
Mr. Pierce would not be entitled to anything other than his
accrued salary and benefits up to the date of termination, and
all his stock options would terminate. If there was a change of
control of us, all Mr. Pierce’s stock options would
immediately vest and any restricted stock he held would
immediately become non-forfeitable.
E-16
On April 10, 2007, Mr. Pierce’s Employment
Agreement was amended, at his suggestion, to state that if
before April 30, 2007 we paid bonuses totaling at least
$250,000 to our employees and our subsidiaries in accordance
with recommendations he had made to the Compensation Committee
of our Board of Directors, Mr. Pierce’s base salary
would be reduced during the year ending March 31, 2008 from
$600,000 to $500,000. The bonuses were paid and
Mr. Pierce’s base salary was reduced in accordance
with the amendment.
Mr. Pierce resigned as our Chief Executive Officer and
President on November 13, 2007.
Parent
Company and Basis of Control
Throughout fiscal 2008, IESA owned, through California
U.S. Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary,
approximately 51% of our common stock.
Director
Independence
Under applicable SEC and NASDAQ rules, a director will only
qualify as an “independent director” if (a) the
director meets certain objective tests of independence
(including not having been an employee within the past three
years and not controlling us) and (b) in the opinion of our
Board of Directors, that person does not have a relationship
which would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment
in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our Board
has recently evaluated all relationships between each director
and us and has determined that Messrs. Adair, Davis, Shein
and Scher are “independent directors” as that term is
defined in the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules.
Item 14. Principal
Accounting Fees and Services
J.H. Cohn LLP audited our and our subsidiaries’
consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2008. Deloitte & Touche LLP audited our
and our subsidiaries’ consolidated financial statements for
the fiscal years 2000 through 2007. The reports of J.H. Cohn LLP
and Deloitte & Touche LLP, respectively, for the past
two fiscal years contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of
opinion and were not qualified or modified as to audit scope or
accounting principles, other than an additional paragraph in
each of the reports regarding uncertainty about our continuing
as a “going concern.” During the fiscal years ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007, there were no disagreements with
either J.H. Cohn LLP or Deloitte & Touche LLP on any
matter of accounting principles or practices, financial
statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which
disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of either
J.H. Cohn LLP or Deloitte & Touche LLP, respectively,
would have caused them to make reference to the subject matter
of the disagreements in connection with either of their reports,
nor were there any “reportable events,” as that term
is described in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of
Regulation S-K
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except for the
material weaknesses identified and described in this Report on
Form 10-K
and our Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
Fees of
Independent Auditors
The aggregate fees billed by J.H. Cohn LLP for fiscal 2008 and
Deloitte & Touche LLP for fiscal 2007 with regard to
various categories of services are set forth below:
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Year Ended
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Year Ended
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March 31,
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March 31,
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Category of Fees
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2008
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2007
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Audit Fees
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$
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550,000
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$
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2,400,000
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Audit Related Fees
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—
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50,000
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Tax Fees
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—
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—
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All Other Fees
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—
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—
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Total All Fees
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$
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550,000
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$
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2,450,000
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E-17
Services
Provided by Independent Auditors
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors pre-approves the
engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm
to perform audit and other services for us and for our
subsidiaries. The Audit Committee’s procedures for
pre-approval are intended to comply with SEC regulations
regarding pre-approval of services. Services subject to these
SEC requirements include audit services, audit related services,
tax services and other services. The audit engagement is
specifically approved, and the auditors are appointed and
retained, by the Audit Committee. In some instances, the Audit
Committee pre-approves a particular category or group of
services for up to a year, subject to budget limitations and to
regular management reporting. The Audit Committee authorized the
engagement of J. H. Cohn LLP to provide auditing services for
fiscal 2008 and has given its approval for up to a year in
advance for J. H. Cohn LLP to provide particular categories or
types of audit-related, tax and permitted non-audit services, in
each case subject to budget limitations. For fiscal 2007 and
2008, the Audit Committee approved 100% of the audit-related
fees, tax fees and other fees billed by either J.H. Cohn LLP or
Deloitte & Touche LLP.
The Audit Committee considered and determined that the fees of
Deloitte & Touche LLP for services other than audit
and audit related services that it provided were compatible with
maintaining Deloitte & Touche LLP’s independence.
Deloitte & Touche LLP also served as IESA’s
independent auditors.
PART IV
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Item 15.
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Exhibits and
Financial Statement Schedules
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See accompanying Exhibit Index.
E-18
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly
caused this Amendment No. 1 on
Form 10-K/A
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.
ATARI, INC.
Name: James Wilson
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Title:
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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Date: July 29, 2008
E-19
EXHIBIT INDEX
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31
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.1
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Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
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31
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.2
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Acting Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
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32
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.1
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Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
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32
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.2
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Certification by the Acting Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
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* |
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Exhibit indicated with an * symbol is filed herewith. |
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Exhibit indicated with a ** is furnished herewith. |
E-20
EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, James Wilson, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Amendment No. 1 to the Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the period ending March 31, 2008, of Atari,
Inc.; and
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.
Name: James Wilson
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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Date: July 29, 2008
E-21
EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Arturo Rodriguez, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this Amendment No. 1 to the Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the period ending March 31, 2008, of Atari,
Inc.; and
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report.
Name: Arturo Rodriguez
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Title:
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Acting Chief Financial Officer
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Date: July 29, 2008
E-22
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION
OF THE CEO OF ATARI, INC. PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C.
SECTION 1350, AS
ADOPTED PURSUANT TO 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF
2002
In connection with the Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report
of Atari, Inc. (the “Company”) on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
“Report”), I, James Wilson, Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly
presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and
result of operations of the Company.
Name: James Wilson
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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Date: July 29, 2008
E-23
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION
OF THE ACTING CFO OF ATARI, INC. PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C.
SECTION
1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF
2002
In connection with the Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report
of Atari, Inc. (the “Company”) on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
“Report”), I, Arturo Rodriguez, Acting Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to
18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly
presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and
result of operations of the Company.
Name: Arturo Rodriguez
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Title:
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Acting Chief Financial Officer
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Date: July 29, 2008
E-24
ANNEX F
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM 10-Q
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þ
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
|
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For the quarterly period ended
June 30, 2008
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OR
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o
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the transition period from
to
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Commission File
No. 0-27338
ATARI, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
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DELAWARE
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13-3689915
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(State or Other Jurisdiction
of
Incorporation or Organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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417 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10016
(Address of principal executive
offices) (Zip code)
(212) 726-6500
(Registrant’s telephone
number, including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. Yes þ No o
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. (Check one):
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Large accelerated
filer o
|
|
Accelerated filer
o
|
|
Non-accelerated
filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
|
|
Smaller Reporting
company þ
|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in
Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange
Act). Yes o No þ
As of a August 13, 2008, there were 13,477,920 shares
of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
JUNE 30,
2008 QUARTERLY REPORT ON
FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
F-1
PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
|
Item 1.
|
Financial
Statements
|
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except
|
|
|
|
share data)
|
|
|
|
Note 1
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
Current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
11,087
|
|
|
$
|
12,354
|
|
Receivables, net of allowances of $1,912 and $15,409 at
March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, respectively
|
|
|
640
|
|
|
|
23,257
|
|
Inventories, net (Note 4)
|
|
|
4,276
|
|
|
|
3,869
|
|
Due from related parties (Note 6)
|
|
|
885
|
|
|
|
1,132
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Note 4)
|
|
|
8,188
|
|
|
|
4,869
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
25,076
|
|
|
|
45,481
|
|
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of
$21,813 and $22,100 at March 31, 2008 and June 30,
2008, respectively
|
|
|
6,313
|
|
|
|
6,015
|
|
Security deposits
|
|
|
1,373
|
|
|
|
1,379
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
671
|
|
|
|
534
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
33,433
|
|
|
$
|
53,409
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIENCY
|
Current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
$
|
5,378
|
|
|
$
|
7,063
|
|
Accrued liabilities (Note 4)
|
|
|
14,472
|
|
|
|
10,417
|
|
Royalties payable
|
|
|
2,825
|
|
|
|
4,429
|
|
Credit facility (Note 8)
|
|
|
14,000
|
|
|
|
14,000
|
|
Related Party Credit facility (Note 8)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
16,000
|
|
Due to related parties (Note 6)
|
|
|
1,197
|
|
|
|
1,783
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
37,872
|
|
|
|
53,692
|
|
Due to related parties — long-term (Note 6)
|
|
|
3,576
|
|
|
|
4,130
|
|
Related party license advance (Note 1, 6)
|
|
|
5,296
|
|
|
|
5,483
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
7,101
|
|
|
|
6,993
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
53,845
|
|
|
|
70,298
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ deficiency:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares
authorized, none issued or outstanding
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Common stock, $0.10 par value, 30,000,000 shares
authorized, 13,477,920 shares issued and outstanding at
March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008
|
|
|
1,348
|
|
|
|
1,348
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
760,712
|
|
|
|
760,790
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(784,945
|
)
|
|
|
(781,490
|
)
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income
|
|
|
2,473
|
|
|
|
2,463
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders’ deficiency
|
|
|
(20,412
|
)
|
|
|
(16,889
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficiency
|
|
$
|
33,433
|
|
|
$
|
53,409
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed
consolidated financial statements.
F-2
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
10,420
|
|
|
$
|
40,285
|
|
Costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
6,766
|
|
|
|
24,388
|
|
Research and product development
|
|
|
4,411
|
|
|
|
1,225
|
|
Selling and distribution expenses
|
|
|
3,550
|
|
|
|
6,327
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
5,701
|
|
|
|
2,671
|
|
Restructuring expenses
|
|
|
949
|
|
|
|
738
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
414
|
|
|
|
305
|
|
Atari trademark license expense
|
|
|
555
|
|
|
|
555
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs and expenses
|
|
|
22,346
|
|
|
|
36,209
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating (loss) income
|
|
|
(11,926
|
)
|
|
|
4,076
|
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
(13
|
)
|
|
|
(620
|
)
|
Other income
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes
|
|
|
(11,920
|
)
|
|
|
3,475
|
|
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss) income from continuing operations
|
|
|
(11,920
|
)
|
|
|
3,475
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd., net of tax
|
|
|
(21
|
)
|
|
|
(20
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss) income
|
|
$
|
(11,941
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,455
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic net (loss) income per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss) income from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
(0.88
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.26
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd., net of tax
|
|
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss) income
|
|
$
|
(0.89
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net (loss) income per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Loss) income from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
(0.88
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.26
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd., net of tax
|
|
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss) income
|
|
$
|
(0.89
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average basic shares outstanding
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average diluted shares outstanding
|
|
|
13,477
|
|
|
|
13,546
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Note 6 for detail of related party amounts included
within the line items above.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed
consolidated financial statements.
F-3
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss) income
|
|
$
|
(11,920
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,475
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in
operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from discontinued operations of Reflections, net of tax
|
|
|
(21
|
)
|
|
|
(20
|
)
|
Recognition of deferred income
|
|
|
(19
|
)
|
|
|
(19
|
)
|
Stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
205
|
|
|
|
78
|
|
Non-cash expense on cash collateralized security deposit
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Atari name license expense
|
|
|
555
|
|
|
|
555
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
414
|
|
|
|
305
|
|
Amortization of deferred financing fees
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
95
|
|
Accrued interest
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
211
|
|
Accrued interest on related party license
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
188
|
|
Write-off of fixed assets
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Receivables, net
|
|
|
5,901
|
|
|
|
(22,620
|
)
|
Inventories, net
|
|
|
815
|
|
|
|
405
|
|
Due from related parties
|
|
|
(3,543
|
)
|
|
|
(248
|
)
|
Due to related parties
|
|
|
(908
|
)
|
|
|
546
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
1,514
|
|
|
|
3,317
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
|
(269
|
)
|
|
|
1,685
|
|
Accrued liabilities
|
|
|
1,772
|
|
|
|
(4,053
|
)
|
Royalties payable
|
|
|
274
|
|
|
|
1,604
|
|
Restructuring
|
|
|
531
|
|
|
|
(163
|
)
|
Long-term liabilities
|
|
|
823
|
|
|
|
(90
|
)
|
Other assets
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
33
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in continuing operating activities
|
|
|
(3,783
|
)
|
|
|
(14,707
|
)
|
Net cash used in discontinued operations
|
|
|
(50
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(3,833
|
)
|
|
|
(14,707
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment
|
|
|
(261
|
)
|
|
|
(16
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in continuing investing activities
|
|
|
(261
|
)
|
|
|
(16
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Borrowings under related party credit facility
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
16,000
|
|
Payments under capitalized lease obligation
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) provided by continuing financing activities
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
|
|
15,992
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash
|
|
|
(4,123
|
)
|
|
|
1,267
|
|
Cash — beginning of fiscal period
|
|
|
7,603
|
|
|
|
11,087
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash — end of fiscal period
|
|
$
|
3,480
|
|
|
$
|
12,354
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
369
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH OPERATING, INVESTING, AND
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consideration accrued for purchase of capitalized licenses
|
|
|
1,005
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Capitalization of leasehold improvements funded by landlord
|
|
|
2,792
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed
consolidated financial statements.
F-4
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Common
|
|
|
Paid-In
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Deficit
|
|
|
Income
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Balance, March 31, 2008
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
$
|
1,348
|
|
|
$
|
760,712
|
|
|
$
|
(784,945
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,473
|
|
|
$
|
(20,412
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive Income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3,455
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
3,455
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(10
|
)
|
|
|
(10
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,445
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
78
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
78
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance, June 30, 2008
|
|
|
13,478
|
|
|
$
|
1,348
|
|
|
$
|
760,790
|
|
|
$
|
(781,490
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,463
|
|
|
$
|
(16,889
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed
consolidated financial statements.
F-5
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(unaudited)
|
|
NOTE 1 —
|
SUMMARY
OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND BASIS OF
PRESENTATION
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Nature
of Business
We are a publisher of video game software that is distributed
throughout the world and a distributor of video game software in
North America. We publish, develop (through external resources),
and distribute video games for all platforms, including Sony
PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PSP; Nintendo Game Boy
Advance, GameCube, Wii, and DS; and Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360,
as well as for personal computers, or PCs. The products we
publish or distribute extend across every major video game
genre, including action, adventure, strategy, role-playing, and
racing.
Through our relationship with our majority stockholder,
Infogrames Entertainment S.A., a French corporation
(“IESA”), listed on Euronext, our products are
distributed exclusively by IESA throughout Europe, Asia and
certain other regions. Similarly, we exclusively distribute
IESA’s products in the United States and Canada.
Furthermore, we distribute product in Mexico through various
non-exclusive agreements. At June 30, 2008, IESA owns
approximately 51% of us through its wholly-owned subsidiary
California U.S. Holdings, Inc. (“CUSH”). As a
result of this relationship, we have significant related party
transactions (Note 6).
Going
Concern
Since 2005, due to cash constraints, we have substantially
reduced our involvement in development of video games, and have
sold a number of intellectual properties and development
facilities in order to obtain cash to fund our operations. The
reduction in our development activities has significantly
reduced the number of games we publish. During fiscal 2008, our
revenues from publishing activities were $69.8 million,
compared with $104.7 million during fiscal 2007.
For the year ended March 31, 2007, we had an operating loss
of $77.6 million, which included a charge of
$54.1 million for the impairment of our goodwill, which is
related to our publishing unit. For the year ended
March 31, 2008, we have incurred an operating loss of
approximately $21.9 million, although an improvement from
prior fiscal year losses, we still face significant cash
requirements to fund our working capital needs. We have taken
significant steps to reduce our costs such as our May 2007 and
November 2007 workforce reduction of approximately 20% and 30%,
respectively. Further in June 2008, we continued to reduce cost
as part of our refocus on sales, marketing and distribution by
reducing our workforce an additional 20%. Our ability to deliver
products on time depends in good part on developers’
ability to meet completion schedules. Further, our expected
releases in fiscal 2008 were even fewer than our releases in
fiscal 2007. In addition, most of our releases for fiscal 2008
were focused on the holiday season. As a result our cash needs
have become more seasonal and we face significant cash
requirements to fund our working capital needs.
Prior to March 31, 2008, we entered into a number of
transactions with our majority shareholder IESA and Bluebay High
Yield Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L., or “Bluebay”,
a subsidiary of the largest shareholder of IESA. These
transactions have caused or are part of our current
restructuring initiatives intended to allow us to devote more
resources to focusing on our distribution business strategy,
provide liquidity, and to mitigate our future cash requirements
(See Note 1 of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.) As of
June 30, 2008, we entered into the following agreements to
further provide liquidity:
Agreement
and Plan of Merger
On April 30, 2008, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with IESA and Irata
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of IESA (“Merger Sub”). Under the terms of
the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into
us, with Atari continuing as the surviving corporation after the
Merger, and each outstanding share of Atari common stock, par
value $0.10 per share, other than shares held by IESA and its
subsidiaries and shares held by Atari stockholders who are
entitled to and who properly exercise appraisal rights under
Delaware law, will be cancelled and converted into the right to
receive $1.68 per share in
F-6
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
cash (the “Merger Consideration”). As a result of the
Merger Agreement, we will become a wholly-owned indirect
subsidiary of IESA.
IESA and us have made customary representations, warranties and
covenants in the Merger Agreement, including covenants
restricting the solicitation of competing acquisition proposals,
subject to certain exceptions which permit our board of
directors to comply with its fiduciary duties.
Under the Merger Agreement, IESA and us has certain rights to
terminate the Merger Agreement and the Merger. Upon the
termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances,
we must pay IESA a termination fee of $0.5 million.
The transaction was negotiated and approved by the Special
Committee of the Company’s board of directors, which
consists entirely of directors who are independent of IESA.
Based on such negotiation and approval, our board of directors
approved the Merger Agreement and recommended that our
stockholders vote in favor of the Merger Agreement. We expect to
call a special meeting of stockholders to consider the Merger in
the third quarter of calendar 2008. Since IESA controls a
majority of our outstanding shares, IESA has the power to
approve the transaction without the approval of our other
stockholders.
Credit
Agreement
In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company also
entered into a Credit Agreement with IESA under which IESA
committed to provide up to an aggregate of $20 million in
loan availability. The Credit Agreement with IESA will terminate
when the merger takes place or when the Merger Agreement
terminates without the merger taking place. See Note 8.
Waiver,
Consent and Fourth Amendment
In conjunction with the Merger Agreement, we entered into a
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to our BlueBay Credit
Facility under which, among other things, (i) BlueBay
agreed to waive our non-compliance with certain representations
and covenants under the Credit Agreement, (ii) BlueBay
agreed to consent to us entering into the a credit facility with
IESA, (iii) BlueBay agreed to provide us consent in
entering into the Merger Agreement with IESA, and
(iv) BlueBay and us agreed to certain amendments to the
Existing Credit Facility.
With the Fourth Amendment, as of April 30, 2008 and through
August 13, 2008, we are in compliance with our BlueBay
credit facility.
Although, the above transactions provided cash financing that
should meet our need through our fiscal 2009 second quarter
(i.e., the quarter ending September 30, 2008), management
continues to pursue other options to meet our working capital
cash requirements but there is no guarantee that we will be able
to do so if the proposed transaction in which IESA would acquire
us is not completed.
Historically, we have relied on IESA to provide limited
financial support to us, through loans or, in recent years,
through purchases of assets. However, IESA has its own financial
needs, and its ability to fund its subsidiaries’
operations, including ours, is limited. Therefore, there can be
no assurance we will ultimately receive any funding from IESA,
if the proposed transaction in which IESA would acquire us is
not completed.
The uncertainty caused by these above conditions raises
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going
concern, unless the merger with a subsidiary of IESA is
completed. Our condensed consolidated financial statements do
not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome
of this uncertainty.
We continue to explore various alternatives to improve our
financial position and secure other sources of financing which
could include raising equity, forming both operational and
financial strategic partnerships, entering into new arrangements
to license intellectual property, and selling, licensing or
sub-licensing selected owned intellectual property and licensed
rights. We continue to examine the reduction of working capital
requirements to
F-7
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
further conserve cash and may need to take additional actions in
the near-term, which may include additional personnel reductions.
The above actions may or may not prove to be consistent with our
long-term strategic objectives, which have been shifted in the
last fiscal year, as we have discontinued our internal and
external development activities. We cannot guarantee the
completion of these actions or that such actions will generate
sufficient resources to fully address the uncertainties of our
financial position.
NASDAQ
Delisting Notice
On December 21, 2007, we received a notice from Nasdaq
advising that in accordance with Nasdaq Marketplace
Rule 4450(e)(1), we had 90 calendar days, or until
March 20, 2008, to regain compliance with the minimum
market value of our publicly held shares required for continued
listing on the Nasdaq Global Market, as set forth in Nasdaq
Marketplace Rule 4450(b)(3). We received this notice
because the market value of our publicly held shares (which is
calculated by reference to our total shares outstanding, less
any shares held by officers, directors or beneficial owners of
10% or more) was less than $15.0 million for 30 consecutive
business days prior to December 21, 2007. This notification
had no effect on the listing of our common stock at that time.
The notice letter also states that if, at any time before
March 20, 2008, the market value of our publicly held
shares is $15.0 million or more for a minimum of 10
consecutive trading days, the Nasdaq staff will provide us with
written notification that we have achieved compliance with the
minimum market value of publicly held shares rule. However, the
notice states that if we cannot demonstrate compliance with such
rule by March 20, 2008, the Nasdaq staff will provide us
with written notification that our common stock will be delisted.
In the event that we receive notice that our common stock will
be delisted, Nasdaq rules permit us to appeal any delisting
determination by the Nasdaq staff to a Nasdaq Listings
Qualifications Panel.
On March 24, 2008, we received a NASDAQ Staff Determination
Letter from the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Department stating
that we had failed to regain compliance with the Rule during the
required period, and that the NASDAQ Staff had therefore
determined that our securities were subject to delisting, with
trading in our securities to be suspended on April 2, 2008
unless we requested a hearing before a NASDAQ Listing
Qualifications Panel (the “Panel”).
On March 27, 2008, we requested a hearing, which stayed the
suspension of trading and delisting until the Panel issued a
decision following the hearing. The hearing was held on
May 1, 2008.
On May 7, 2008, we received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock
Market advising us that the Panel had determined to delist our
securities from The NASDAQ Stock Market, and suspend trading in
our securities effective with the open of business day on
Friday, May 9, 2008. We had 15 calendar days from
May 7, 2008 to request that the NASDAQ Listing and Hearing
Review Council review the Panel’s decision. We have
requested such review and are awaiting further notice.
Requesting a review does not by itself stay the trading
suspension action.
Following the delisting of our securities, our common stock
began trading on the Pink Sheets, a real-time quotation service
maintained by Pink Sheets LLC.
Basis
of Presentation
Our accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial
statements are unaudited, but in the opinion of management,
reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring
accruals, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for
the interim periods presented in accordance with the
instructions for
Form 10-Q.
Accordingly, they do not include all information and notes
required by accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America for complete financial statements.
These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should
be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.
F-8
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Principles
of Consolidation
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of Atari, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All
significant intercompany transactions and balances have been
eliminated.
Revenue
recognition, sales returns, price protection, other customer
related allowances and allowance for doubtful
accounts
Revenue is recognized when title and risk of loss transfer to
the customer, provided that collection of the resulting
receivable is deemed reasonably probable by management.
Sales are recorded net of estimated future returns, price
protection and other customer related allowances. We are not
contractually obligated to accept returns; however, based on
facts and circumstances at the time a customer may request
approval for a return, we may permit the return or exchange of
products sold to certain customers. In addition, we may provide
price protection, co-operative advertising and other allowances
to certain customers in accordance with industry practice. These
reserves are determined based on historical experience, market
acceptance of products produced, retailer inventory levels,
budgeted customer allowances, the nature of the title and
existing commitments to customers. Although management believes
it provides adequate reserves with respect to these items,
actual activity could vary from management’s estimates and
such variances could have a material impact on reported results.
We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated
losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make
payments when due or within a reasonable period of time
thereafter. If the financial condition of our customers were to
deteriorate, resulting in an inability to make required
payments, additional allowances may be required.
Concentration
of Credit Risk
We extend credit to various companies in the retail and mass
merchandising industry for the purchase of our merchandise which
results in a concentration of credit risk. This concentration of
credit risk may be affected by changes in economic or other
industry conditions and may, accordingly, impact our overall
credit risk. Although we generally do not require collateral, we
perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers and reserves
for potential losses are maintained.
Use of
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America requires management to make estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
materially differ from those estimates.
Fair
Values of Financial Instruments
Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
Statement No. 107, “Disclosures About Fair Value of
Financial Instruments,” requires disclosure of the fair
value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to
estimate. We believe that the carrying amounts of our financial
instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, accounts
payable, accrued liabilities, royalties payable, our third party
credit facility, assets and liabilities of discontinued
operations, and amounts due to and from related parties,
reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements
approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity and the
denomination in U.S. dollars of these instruments.
F-9
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Long-Lived
Assets
We review long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, for
impairment annually or whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may
not be fully recoverable. If the estimated fair value of the
asset is less than the carrying amount of the asset plus the
cost to dispose, an impairment loss is recognized as the amount
by which the carrying amount of the asset plus the cost to
dispose exceeds its fair value, as defined in FASB Statement
No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of
Long-Lived Assets.”
Research
and Product Development Expenses
Research and product development expenses related to the design,
development and testing of newly developed software products are
charged to expense as incurred. Research and product development
expenses also include payments for royalty advances (milestone
payments) to third party developers for products that are
currently in development. Once a product is sold, we may be
obligated to make additional payments in the form of backend
royalties to developers which are calculated based on
contractual terms, typically a percentage of sales. Such
payments are expensed and included in cost of goods sold in the
period the sales are recorded.
Rapid technological innovation, shelf-space competition, shorter
product life cycles and buyer selectivity have made it difficult
to determine the likelihood of individual product acceptance and
success. As a result, we follow the policy of expensing
milestone payments as incurred, treating such costs as research
and product development expenses.
Licenses
Licenses for intellectual property are capitalized as assets
upon the execution of the contract when no significant
obligation of performance remains with us or the third party. If
significant obligations remain, the asset is capitalized when
payments are due or when performance is completed as opposed to
when the contract is executed. These licenses are amortized at
the licensor’s royalty rate over unit sales to cost of
goods sold. Management evaluates the carrying value of these
capitalized licenses and records an impairment charge in the
period management determines that such capitalized amounts are
not expected to be realized. Such impairments are charged to
cost of goods sold if the product has released or previously
sold, and if the product has never released, these impairments
are charged to research and product development expenses.
Atari
Trademark License
In connection with a recapitalization completed in fiscal 2004,
Atari Interactive, a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA, extended
the term of the license under which we use the Atari trademark
to ten years expiring on December 31, 2013. We issued
200,000 shares of our common stock to Atari Interactive for
the extended license and will pay a royalty equal to 1% of our
net revenues during years six through ten of the extended
license. We recorded a deferred charge of $8.5 million,
representing the fair value of the shares issued, which was
expensed monthly until it became fully expensed in the first
quarter of fiscal 2007. The monthly expense was based on the
total estimated cost to be incurred by us over the ten-year
license period ($8.5 million plus estimated royalty of 1%
for years six through ten); upon the full expensing of the
deferred charge, this expense is being recorded as a deferred
liability owed to Atari Interactive, to be paid beginning in
year six of the license.
Net
Income (Loss) Per Share
Basic net income (loss) per share is computed by dividing net
income loss by the weighted average number of shares of common
stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net income loss per
share reflects the potential dilution that could occur from
shares of common stock issuable through stock-based compensation
plans, including stock options and warrants, using the treasury
stock method. The number of antidilutive shares that was
excluded from the diluted earnings per share calculation for the
three months ended June 30, 2007 was approximately
0.5 million. The
F-10
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
three months ended June 30, 2008 had approximately
0.7 million shares considered dilutive which added
approximately 68,000 weighted-average shares to the dilutive
shares outstanding. We had approximately 0.2 million shares
remaining considered anti-dilutive as the strike price was above
the average stock price for the three months ended June 30,
2008.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 157,
“Fair Value Measurements,” (“Statement
No. 157”) which provides a single definition of fair
value, together with a framework for measuring it, and requires
additional disclosure about the use of fair value to measure
assets and liabilities. Furthermore, in February 2007, the FASB
issued FASB Statement No. 159, “The Fair Value Option
for Financial Assets and Liabilities,” (“Statement
No. 159”) which permits an entity to measure certain
financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value, and
report unrealized gains and losses in earnings at each
subsequent reporting date. Its objective is to improve financial
reporting by allowing entities to mitigate volatility in
reported earnings caused by the measurement of related assets
and liabilities using different attributes without having to
apply complex hedge accounting provisions. Statement
No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007, but early application is encouraged. The
requirements of Statement No. 157 are adopted concurrently
with or prior to the adoption of Statement No. 159. The
adoption of these statements do not have a material effect on
our financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R,
“Business Combinations” (“FAS 141R”).
FAS 141R retains the fundamental requirements in
FAS 141 that the acquisition method of accounting (which
FAS 141 called the purchase method) be used for all
business combinations and for an acquirer to be identified for
each business combination. FAS 141R defines the acquirer as
the entity that obtains control of one or more businesses in the
business combination and establishes the acquisition date as the
date that the acquirer achieves control. FAS 141R is
effective for business combination transactions for which the
acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first
annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15,
2008. We are evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of this
statement will have on our results of operations, financial
position or cash flows.
In April 2008, the FASB issued FSP
FAS 142-3,
“Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible
Assets”
(“FSP 142-3”).
FSP 142-3
amends the factors that should be considered in developing
renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful
life of a recognized intangible asset under
SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets” (“FAS 142”). This change is intended
to improve the consistency between the useful life of a
recognized intangible asset under FAS 142 and the period of
expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset
under FAS 141R and other GAAP.
FSP 142-3
is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2008, and interim periods
within those fiscal years. The requirement for determining
useful lives must be applied prospectively to intangible assets
acquired after the effective date and the disclosure
requirements must be applied prospectively to all intangible
assets recognized as of, and subsequent to, the effective date.
We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a
material impact on our results of operations, financial position
or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160,
“Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements” (“FAS 160”). This Statement
amends ARB 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards
for the non-controlling interest in a subsidiary and for the
deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It clarifies that a
non-controlling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership
interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as
equity in the consolidated financial statements. FAS 160 is
effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those
fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. We
are evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of this
statement will have on our consolidated results of operations,
financial position or cash flows.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161,
“Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities-an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133”
(“FAS 161”). This Statement changes the
disclosure requirements for derivative instruments and hedging
activities. Under FAS 161, entities are required to provide
enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses
derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments
F-11
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
and related hedged items are accounted for under Statement 133
and its related interpretations, and (c) how derivative
instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s
financial position, financial performance, and cash flows.
FAS 161 is effective for financial statements issued for
fiscal years and interim periods beginning after
November 15, 2008. We are evaluating the impact, if any,
the adoption of this statement will have on our consolidated
results of operations, financial position or cash flows.
In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 162, “The
Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles”
(“FAS 162”). FAS 162 is intended to improve
financial reporting by identifying a consistent framework, or
hierarchy, for selecting accounting principles to be used in
preparing financial statements that are presented in conformity
with GAAP for nongovernmental entities. FAS 162 is
effective 60 days following the SEC’s approval of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board amendments to AU
Section 411, “The Meaning of Present Fairly in
Conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.”
We do not expect the adoption of this statement to have a
material impact on our consolidated results of operations,
financial position or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB ratified the Emerging Issues Task
Force’s (“EITF”) consensus on EITF Issue
No 07-1,
“Accounting for Collaborative Arrangements” that
discusses how parties to a collaborative arrangement (which does
not establish a legal entity within such arrangement) should
account for various activities. The consensus indicates that
costs incurred and revenues generated from transactions with
third parties (i.e. parties outside of the collaborative
arrangement) should be reported by the collaborators on the
respective line items in their income statements pursuant to
EITF Issue
No. 99-19,
“Reporting Revenue Gross as a Principal Versus Net as an
Agent”. Additionally, the consensus provides that income
statement characterization of payments between the participation
in a collaborative arrangement should be based upon existing
authoritative pronouncements; analogy to such pronouncements if
not within their scope; or a reasonable, rational, and
consistently applied accounting policy election. EITF Issue
No. 07-1
is effective for interim or annual reporting periods in fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2008, and is to be
applied retrospectively to all periods presented for
collaborative arrangements existing as of the date of adoption.
We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, the adoption of
this standard will have on our consolidated results of
operations, financial position or cash flows.
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NOTE 2 —
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STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION
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Effective April 1, 2006, we adopted FASB Statement
No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” which requires
the measurement and recognition of compensation expense at fair
value for employee stock awards. We adopted FASB Statement
No. 123(R) using the modified prospective method in which
we are recognizing compensation expense for all awards granted
after the required effective date and for the unvested portion
of previously granted awards that remain outstanding at the date
of adoption.
At June 30, 2008, we have one stock incentive plan, under
which we could issue a total of 1,500,000 shares of common
stock as stock options or restricted stock, of which 657,000
were still available for grant as of June 30, 2008. Upon
approval of this plan, our previous stock option plans were
terminated, and we were no longer able to issue options under
those plans; however, options originally issued under the
previous plans continue to be outstanding. All options granted
under our current or previous plans have an exercise price equal
to or greater than the market value of the underlying common
stock on the date of grant; options vest over four years and
expire in ten years.
The recognition of stock-based compensation expense increased
our net loss by $0.2 million for the three months ended
June 30, 2007 and decreased our net income for the three
months ended June 30, 2008 by $0.1 million, and
increased our basic and diluted loss per share amount by $0.02
and $0.01 for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and
2008, respectively.
We have recorded a full valuation allowance against our net
deferred tax asset, so the settlement of stock-based
compensation awards will not result in tax benefits that could
impact our consolidated statement of operations.
F-12
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Because the tax deduction from current period settlement of
awards has not reduced taxes payable, the settlement of awards
has no effect on our cash flow from operating and financing
activities.
The following table summarizes the classification of stock-based
compensation expense in our condensed consolidated statements of
operations for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and
2008 (in thousands):
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Three Months
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Ended
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June, 30
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2007
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2008
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Research and product development
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$
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85
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5
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Selling and distribution expenses
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$
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29
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8
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General and administrative expenses
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$
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91
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65
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The weighted average fair value of options granted during the
three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2008 was $2.13 and
$0.93, respectively. The fair value of our options is estimated
using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This model
requires assumptions regarding subjective variables that impact
the estimate of fair value.
Our policy for attributing the value of graded vest share-based
payment is a single option straight-line approach. The following
table summarizes the assumptions used to compute the weighted
average fair value of option grants:
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Three Months
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Ended
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June 30,
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2007
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2008
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Expected volatility
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68
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%
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74
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%
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Expected dividend yield
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0
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%
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0
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%
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Expected term
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4
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4
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The weighted average risk-free interest rate (based on the three
year and five year US Treasury Bond average) for the three
months ended June 30, 2007 was 4.55% and for the three
months ended June 30, 2008 was 3.13%.
FASB Statement No. 123(R) requires that we recognize
stock-based compensation expense for the number of awards that
are ultimately expected to vest. As a result, the expense
recognized must be reduced for estimated forfeitures prior to
vesting, based on a historical annual forfeiture rate, which is
approximately 12% for both quarters ended June 30, 2007 and
2008. Estimated forfeitures shall be assessed at each balance
sheet date and may change based on new facts and circumstances.
Prior to the adoption of FASB Statement No. 123(R),
forfeitures were accounted for as they occurred when included in
required pro forma stock compensation disclosures.
The following table summarizes our option activity under our
stock-based compensation plan for the three month ended
June 30, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted Average
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options outstanding at March 31, 2008
|
|
|
927
|
|
|
$
|
7.18
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
1.64
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
(22
|
)
|
|
|
3.73
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
(24
|
)
|
|
|
81.92
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options outstanding at June 30, 2008
|
|
|
901
|
|
|
$
|
5.19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercisable at June 30, 2008
|
|
|
158
|
|
|
$
|
20.19
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-13
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
As of June 30, 2008, the weighted average remaining
contractual term of options outstanding and exercisable were
9.1 years and 6.9 years, respectively, and there were
no aggregate intrinsic value related to options outstanding and
exercisable due to market price lower than the exercise price of
all options as of that date. As of June 30, 2008, the total
future unrecognized compensation cost related to outstanding
unvested options is $1.9 million, which will be recognized
as compensation expense over the remaining weighted average
vesting period of 3.6 years.
|
|
NOTE 3 —
|
CONCENTRATION
OF CREDIT RISK
|
As of March 31, 2008, we had four customers whose accounts
receivable exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
% of Accounts Receivable
|
|
|
% of Net Revenues(1)
|
|
|
Customer 1
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
27
|
%
|
Customer 2
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
|
|
7
|
%
|
Customer 3
|
|
|
13
|
%
|
|
|
12
|
%
|
Customer 4
|
|
|
11
|
%
|
|
|
19
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
71
|
%
|
|
|
65
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of June 30, 2008, we had three customers whose accounts
receivable exceeded 10% of total accounts receivable:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
% of Accounts Receivable
|
|
|
% of Net Revenues(1)
|
|
|
Customer 1
|
|
|
37
|
%
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
Customer 2
|
|
|
14
|
%
|
|
|
15
|
%
|
Customer 3
|
|
|
11
|
%
|
|
|
9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
62
|
%
|
|
|
56
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Excluding international royalty, licensing, and other income. |
With the exception of the largest customers noted above,
accounts receivable balances from all remaining individual
customers were less than 10% of our total accounts receivable
balance. Due to the timing of cash receipt, field inventory
levels along with anticipated price protection reserves and
lower sales in the final quarter of the year, certain customers
were in net credit balance positions within our accounts
receivable at March 31, 2008. As a result,
$2.6 million was reclassified to accrued liabilities to
properly state our assets and liabilities as of March 31,
2008. Not such credit balance exists as of June 30, 2008.
F-14
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
NOTE 4 —
|
BALANCE
SHEET DETAILS
|
Inventories
Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Finished goods, net
|
|
$
|
3,847
|
|
|
$
|
3,490
|
|
Return inventory, net
|
|
|
424
|
|
|
|
372
|
|
Raw materials, net
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,276
|
|
|
$
|
3,869
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaid
Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist of the
following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Licenses short-term
|
|
$
|
4,361
|
|
|
|
1,326
|
|
Royalties receivable
|
|
|
494
|
|
|
|
383
|
|
Reflections escrow receivable
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
Deferred financing fees
|
|
|
380
|
|
|
|
380
|
|
Taxes receivable
|
|
|
156
|
|
|
|
156
|
|
Prepaid insurance
|
|
|
911
|
|
|
|
761
|
|
Receivable from landlord
|
|
|
448
|
|
|
|
448
|
|
Trade deposits and other professional retainers
|
|
|
997
|
|
|
|
707
|
|
Other prepaid expenses and current assets
|
|
|
413
|
|
|
|
680
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
8,188
|
|
|
$
|
4,869
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued
Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Accrued third party development expenses
|
|
$
|
4,122
|
|
|
$
|
769
|
|
Accrued advertising
|
|
|
629
|
|
|
|
3,152
|
|
Accounts receivable credit balances (See Note 3)
|
|
|
2,619
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Accrued distribution services
|
|
|
247
|
|
|
|
119
|
|
Accrued salary and related costs
|
|
|
743
|
|
|
|
843
|
|
Accrued professional fees and other services
|
|
|
1,991
|
|
|
|
1,153
|
|
Restructuring reserve (Note 10)
|
|
|
1,759
|
|
|
|
1,596
|
|
Taxes payable
|
|
|
453
|
|
|
|
453
|
|
Accrued freight and handling fees
|
|
|
136
|
|
|
|
327
|
|
Delisting penalty owed to shareholder
|
|
|
200
|
|
|
|
151
|
|
Deferred income
|
|
|
277
|
|
|
|
277
|
|
Other
|
|
|
1,296
|
|
|
|
1,577
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
14,472
|
|
|
$
|
10,417
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-15
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
As of March 31, 2008, we had net operating loss
carryforwards of $574.7 million for federal tax purposes.
These tax loss carryforwards expire beginning in the years 2012
through 2028, if not utilized. Utilization of the net operating
loss carryforwards may be subject to a restrictive annual
limitation pursuant to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue
Code which may mechanically prevent the Company from utilizing
its entire loss carryforward.
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 be realized.
The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent
upon the generation of future taxable income prior to the
expiration of any net operating loss carryforwards. Due to the
uncertainty regarding our ability to realize our net deferred
tax assets in the future, we have provided a full valuation
allowance against our net deferred tax assets. Management
reassesses its position with regard to the valuation allowance
on a quarterly basis.
During the three months ended June 30, 2007, no net tax
provision was recorded due to the taxable loss recorded for the
respective quarter. During the three months ended June 30,
2008, no net tax provision was recorded due to the taxable loss
recorded for the respective quarter based on anticipated taxable
loss at year-end.
In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48,
“Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”
(“FIN 48”). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting
for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an
enterprise’s financial statement in accordance with FASB
Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”.
This interpretation prescribes a comprehensive model for the
financial statement recognition, measurement, presentation and
disclosure of uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be
taken in an income tax return. FIN 48 also provides
guidance on derecognition of tax benefits, classification on the
balance sheet, interest and penalties, accounting in interim
periods, disclosure and transition.
The Company adopted FIN 48 effective April 1, 2007 and
had approximately $0.4 million of unrecognized tax benefits
as of the adoption date and as of June 30, 2008. The
Company has decided to classify interest and penalties as a
component of tax expense.
The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and various
state jurisdictions. The Company files in numerous state
jurisdictions with varying statues of limitations.
|
|
NOTE 6 —
|
RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS
|
Relationship
with IESA
As of June 30, 2008, IESA beneficially owned approximately
51% of our common stock. IESA renders management services to us
(systems and administrative support) and we render management
services and production services to Atari Interactive and other
subsidiaries of IESA. Atari Interactive develops video games,
and owns the name “Atari” and the Atari logo, which we
use under a license. IESA distributes our products in Europe,
Asia, and certain other regions, and pays us royalties in this
respect. IESA also develops (through its subsidiaries) products
which we distribute in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico and for
which we pay royalties to IESA (Note 1). Both IESA and
Atari Interactive are material sources of products which we
bring to market in the United States, Canada and Mexico. During
the three months ended June 30, 2008, international
royalties earned from IESA were the source of approximately 1.0%
of our net revenues. Additionally, during three months ended
June 30, 2008, IESA and its subsidiaries (primarily Atari
Interactive) were the source of approximately 44%, respectively,
of our net publishing product revenue.
Historically, IESA has incurred significant continuing operating
losses and has been highly leveraged. On September 12,
2006, IESA announced a multi-step debt restructuring plan,
subject to its shareholders’ approval, which would
significantly reduce its debt and provide liquidity to meet its
operating needs. On November 15, 2006, IESA shareholders
approved the debt restructuring plan, permitting IESA to execute
on this plan. As of December 31, 2007, IESA has raised
150 million Euros, of which approximately 40 million
Euros has paid down outstanding short-term
F-16
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
and long-term debt. The remaining 100 million euros (less
approximately 6 million Euro in fees) will be committed to
fund IESA’s development program. Although this recent
transaction has brought in additional financing, IESA’s
ability to fund its subsidiaries’ operations, including
ours, may be limited. If the merger is not concluded and we do
not become a wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA; any material delay
or cessation in product development from IESA or if the
distribution agreements between us and IESA are terminated, our
revenues will materially decrease. If the above contingencies
occurred, we probably would be forced to take actions that could
result in a significant reduction in the size of our operations
and could have a material adverse effect on our revenue and cash
flows and raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue
as a going concern.
Additionally, although Atari is a separate and independent legal
entity and we are not a party to, or a guarantor of, and have no
obligations or liability in respect of IESA’s indebtedness
(except that we have guaranteed the Beverly, MA lease obligation
of Atari Interactive), because IESA owns the majority of our
common stock, potential investors and current and potential
business/trade partners may view IESA’s financial situation
as relevant to an assessment of Atari. Therefore, if IESA is
unable to address its financial issues, it may taint our
relationship with our suppliers and distributors, damage our
business reputation, affect our ability to generate business and
enter into agreements on financially favorable terms, and
otherwise impair our ability to raise and generate capital.
F-17
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Summary
of Related Party Transactions
The following table provides the details of related party
amounts within each line of our condensed consolidated
statements of operations (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
Income (Expense)
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
10,420
|
|
|
$
|
40,285
|
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Royalty income(1)
|
|
|
1,635
|
|
|
|
386
|
|
Sale of goods
|
|
|
144
|
|
|
|
408
|
|
Production and quality and assurance testing Services
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
427
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party net revenues
|
|
|
2,545
|
|
|
|
1,221
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(6,766
|
)
|
|
|
(24,388
|
)
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution fee for Humongous, Inc. product
|
|
|
(164
|
)
|
|
|
(2,806
|
)
|
Royalty expense(2)
|
|
|
(865
|
)
|
|
|
(5,523
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party cost of goods sold
|
|
|
(1,029
|
)
|
|
|
(8,329
|
)
|
Research and product development
|
|
|
(4,411
|
)
|
|
|
(1,225
|
)
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Development expenses(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Other miscellaneous development services
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
(58
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party research and product Development
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
(58
|
)
|
Selling and distribution expenses
|
|
|
(3,550
|
)
|
|
|
(6,327
|
)
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miscellaneous purchase of services
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party selling and distribution Expenses
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
(5,701
|
)
|
|
|
(2,671
|
)
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management fee revenue
|
|
|
750
|
|
|
|
652
|
|
Management fee expense
|
|
|
(750
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
Office rental and other services(4)
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party general and administrative Expenses
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
650
|
|
Restructuring expenses
|
|
|
(949
|
)
|
|
|
(738
|
)
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party rent expense(4)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party restructuring expenses
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Interest expenses, net
|
|
|
(13
|
)
|
|
|
(620
|
)
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related party interest on Credit Facility
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(40
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party interest expense
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(40
|
)
|
(Loss) income from discontinued operations of Reflections
Interactive Ltd., net of tax
|
|
|
(21
|
)
|
|
|
(20
|
)
|
Related party activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Royalty income(1)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
License income(1)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total related party loss from discontinued operations
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
We have entered into a distribution agreement with IESA and
Atari Europe which provides for IESA’s and Atari
Europe’s distribution of our products across Europe, Asia,
and certain other regions pursuant to which IESA, |
F-18
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
Atari Europe, or any of their subsidiaries, as applicable, will
pay us 30.0% of the gross margin on such products or 130.0% of
the royalty rate due to the developer, whichever is greater. We
recognize this amount as royalty income as part of net revenues,
net of returns. Additionally, we earn license income from
related parties Glu Mobile (see below). |
|
|
|
(2) |
|
We have also entered into a distribution agreement with IESA and
Atari Europe, which provides for our distribution of IESA’s
(or any of its subsidiaries’) products in the United
States, Canada and Mexico, pursuant to which we will pay IESA
either 30.0% of the gross margin on such products or 130.0% of
the royalty rate due to the developer, whichever is greater. We
recognize this amount as royalty expense as part of cost of
goods sold, net of returns. |
|
|
|
(3) |
|
We engage certain related party development studios to provide
services such as product development, design, and testing. |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
In July 2002, we negotiated a sale-leaseback transaction between
Atari Interactive and an unrelated party. As part of this
transaction, we guaranteed the lease obligation of Atari
Interactive. The lease provides for minimum monthly rental
payments of approximately $0.1 million escalating nominally
over the ten-year term of the lease. During fiscal 2006, when
the Beverly studio (which held the office space for Atari
Interactive) was closed, rental payments were recorded to
restructuring expense. We also received indemnification from
IESA from costs, if any, that may be incurred by us as a result
of the full guarantee. |
|
|
|
|
|
We received a $1.3 million payment for our efforts in
connection with the sale-leaseback transaction. Approximately
$0.6 million, an amount equivalent to a third party
broker’s commission, was recognized during fiscal 2003 as
other income, while the remaining balance of $0.7 million
was deferred and is being recognized over the life of the
sub-lease. Accordingly, during the nine months ended
December 31, 2006 and 2007, a nominal amount of income was
recognized in each period. As of December 31, 2007, the
remaining balance of approximately $0.3 million is deferred
and is being recognized over the life of the sub-lease. Although
the Beverly studio was closed in fiscal 2006 as part of a
restructuring plan, the space was not sublet; the lease expired
June 30, 2007. |
|
|
|
|
|
Additionally, we provide management information systems services
to Atari Australia for which we are reimbursed. The charge is
calculated as a percentage of our costs, based on usage, which
is agreed upon by the parties. |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
Represents interest charged to us from the license advance from
the Test Drive license. See Note 1 and Test Drive
Intellectual Property License below. |
F-19
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The following amounts are outstanding with respect to the
related party activities described above (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Due from/(Due to) — current
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IESA(1)
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(40
|
)
|
Atari Europe(2)
|
|
|
94
|
|
|
|
747
|
|
Eden Studios(3)
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
|
125
|
|
Humongous, Inc.(4)
|
|
|
(537
|
)
|
|
|
(1,103
|
)
|
Atari Interactive(5)
|
|
|
(79
|
)
|
|
|
(609
|
)
|
Other miscellaneous net receivables
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
|
229
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net due to related parties — current
|
|
$
|
(312
|
)
|
|
$
|
(651
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Due from/(Due to) — long-term
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred related party license advance
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
Atari Interactive (see Atari License below)
|
|
|
(3,576
|
)
|
|
|
(4,130
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net due to related parties
|
|
$
|
(3,888
|
)
|
|
$
|
(4,781
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The current balances reconcile to the balance sheet as follows
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Due from related parties
|
|
$
|
885
|
|
|
$
|
1,132
|
|
Due to related parties
|
|
|
(1,197
|
)
|
|
|
(1,783
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (due to) due from related parties — current
|
|
$
|
(312
|
)
|
|
$
|
(651
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Balances comprised primarily of the management fees charged to
us by IESA and other charges of cost incurred on our behalf. |
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Balances comprised of royalty income or expense from our
distribution agreements with IESA and Atari Europe relating to
properties owned or licensed by Atari Europe. |
|
|
|
(3) |
|
Represents net payables for related party development activities. |
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Represents primarily distribution fees owed to Humongous, Inc.,
a related party, related to sale of their product, as well as
liabilities for inventory purchased. |
|
|
|
(5) |
|
Comprised primarily of royalties owed to Atari Interactive,
offset by receivables related to management fee revenue and
production and quality and assurance testing services revenue
earned from Atari Interactive. |
Atari
Name License
In May 2003, we changed our name to Atari, Inc. upon obtaining
rights to use the Atari name through a license from IESA, which
IESA acquired as a part of the acquisition of Hasbro Interactive
Inc. (“Hasbro Interactive”). In connection with a debt
recapitalization in September 2003, Atari Interactive extended
the term of the license under which we use the Atari name to ten
years expiring on December 31, 2013. We issued
200,000 shares of our common stock to Atari Interactive for
the extended license and will pay a royalty equal to 1% of our
net revenues during years six through ten of the extended
license. We recorded a deferred charge of $8.5 million,
which was being amortized monthly and which became fully
amortized during the first quarter of fiscal 2007. The monthly
amortization was based on the total estimated cost to be
incurred by us over the ten-year license period. Upon full
amortization of the deferred charge, we began recording a
long-term liability at $0.2 million per month, to be paid
to Atari Interactive
F-20
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
beginning in year six of the term of the license. During the
quarters ended June 30, 2007 and 2008, we recorded expense
of $0.6 million and $0.6 million in both periods,
$4.0 million relating to this obligation is included in
long-term liabilities.
Sale
of Hasbro Licensing Rights
On July 18, 2007, IESA, agreed to terminate a license under
which it and we, and our sublicensees, had developed, published
and distributed video games using intellectual property owned by
Hasbro, Inc. In connection with that termination, on the same
date, we and IESA entered into an agreement whereby IESA agreed
to pay us $4.0 million. In addition, pursuant to the
agreements between IESA and Hasbro, Hasbro agreed to assume our
obligations under any sublicenses that we had the right to
assign to it. As of March 31, 2008, we have received full
payment of the $4.0 million and have recorded the same
amount as other income as part of our publishing net revenues
for the year ended March 31, 2008.
Test
Drive Intellectual Property License
On November 8, 2007, we entered into two separate license
agreements with IESA pursuant to which we granted IESA the
exclusive right and license, under its trademark and
intellectual and property rights, to create, develop, distribute
and otherwise exploit licensed products derived from the Test
Drive Franchise for a term of seven years. IESA paid us a
non-refundable advance, fully recoupable against royalties to be
paid under each of the TDU Agreements, of
(i) $4 million under the Trademark Agreement and
(ii) $1 million under the IP Agreement, both advances
accrue interest at a yearly rate of 15% throughout the term of
the applicable agreement.
|
|
NOTE 7 —
|
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
|
Contractual
Obligations
As of June 30, 2008, royalty and license advance
obligations, milestone payments and future minimum lease
obligations under non-cancelable operating and capital lease
obligations were as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contractual Obligations
|
|
|
|
Royalty and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
License
|
|
|
Milestone
|
|
|
Operating Lease
|
|
|
Capital Lease
|
|
|
|
|
Through
|
|
Advances(1)
|
|
|
Payments(2)
|
|
|
Obligations(3)
|
|
|
Obligations
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
June 30, 2009
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
300
|
|
|
$
|
1,561
|
|
|
$
|
5
|
|
|
$
|
1,866
|
|
June 30, 2010
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,794
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,794
|
|
June 30, 2011
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,756
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,756
|
|
June 30, 2012
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,406
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,406
|
|
June 30, 2013
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,329
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
1,329
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
11,340
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
11,340
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
300
|
|
|
$
|
19,186
|
|
|
$
|
5
|
|
|
$
|
19,491
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
We have committed to pay advance payments under certain royalty
and license agreements. The payments of these obligations are
dependent on the delivery of the contracted services by the
developers. |
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Milestone payments represent royalty advances to developers for
products that are currently in development. Although milestone
payments are not guaranteed, we expect to make these payments if
all deliverables and milestones are met timely and accurately. |
|
|
|
(3) |
|
We account for our office leases as operating leases, with
expiration dates ranging from fiscal 2008 through fiscal 2022.
These are future minimum annual rental payments required under
the leases net of $0.6 million of |
F-21
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
sublease income to be received in fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2009.
Rent expense and sublease income for the three months ended
June 30, 2007 and 2008 is as follows (in thousands): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2008
|
|
Rent expense
|
|
$
|
1,107
|
|
|
|
825
|
|
Sublease income
|
|
|
(281
|
)
|
|
|
(317
|
)
|
• Renewal
of New York lease
During June 2006, we entered into a new lease with our current
landlord at our New York headquarters for approximately
70,000 square feet of office space for our principal
offices. The term of this lease commenced on July 1, 2006
and is to expire on June 30, 2021. Upon entering into the
new lease, our prior lease, which was set to expire in December
2006, was terminated. The rent under the new lease for the
office space was approximately $2.4 million per year for
the first five years, increased to approximately
$2.7 million per year for the next five years, and
increased to $2.9 million for the last five years of the
term. In addition, we must pay for electricity, increases in
real estate taxes and increases in porter wage rates over the
term. The landlord is providing us with a one year rent credit
of $2.4 million and an allowance of $4.5 million to be
used for building out and furnishing the premises, of which
$1.2 million has been recorded as a deferred credit as of
March 31, 2007; the remainder of the deferred credit will
be recorded as the improvements are completed, and will be
amortized against rent expense over the life of the lease. A
nominal amount of amortization was recorded during the year
ended March 31, 2007. For the nine months ended
December 31, 2007, we recorded an additional deferred
credit of $2.8 million and amortization against the total
deferred credits of approximately $0.2 million. Shortly
after signing the new lease, we provided the landlord with a
security deposit under the new lease in the form of a letter of
credit in the initial amount of $1.7 million, which has
been cash collateralized and is included in security deposits on
our condensed consolidated balance sheet. On August 14,
2007, we and our new landlord, W2007 Fifth Realty, LLC,
amended the lease under which we occupy space in 417 Fifth
Avenue, New York City, to reduce the space we occupy by
approximately one-half, effective December 31, 2007. As a
result, our rent under the amended lease will be reduced from
its current approximately $2.4 million per year to
approximately $1.2 million per year from January 1,
2008 through June 30, 2011, approximately $1.3 million
per year for the five years thereafter, and approximately
$1.5 million per year for the last five years of the term.
Litigation
As of June 30,2008, our management believes that the
ultimate resolution of any of the matters summarized below
and/or any
other claims which are not stated herein, if any, will not have
a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition
or results of operations. With respect to matters in which we
are the defendant, we believe that the underlying complaints are
without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.
Bouchat v.
Champion Products, et al. (Accolade)
This suit involving Accolade, Inc. (a predecessor entity of
Atari, Inc.) was filed in 1999 in the District Court of
Maryland. The plaintiff originally sued the NFL claiming
copyright infringement of a logo being used by the Baltimore
Ravens that plaintiff allegedly designed. The plaintiff then
also sued nearly 500 other defendants, licensees of the NFL, on
the same basis. The NFL hired White & Case to
represent all the defendants. Plaintiff filed an amended
complaint in 2002. In 2003, the District Court held that
plaintiff was precluded from recovering actual damages, profits
or statutory damages against the defendants, including Accolade.
Plaintiff has appealed the District Court’s ruling to the
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. White & Case
continues to represent Accolade and the NFL continues to bear
the cost of the defense.
F-22
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
Ernst &
Young, Inc. v. Atari, Inc.
On July 21, 2006 we were served with a complaint filed by
Ernst & Young as Interim Receiver for HIP Interactive,
Inc. This suit was filed in New York State Supreme Court, New
York County. HIP is a Canadian company that has gone into
bankruptcy. HIP contracted with us to have us act as its
distributor for various software products in the U.S. HIP
is alleging breach of contract claims; to wit, that we failed to
pay HIP for product in the amount of $0.7 million. We will
investigate filing counter claims against HIP, as HIP owes us,
via our Canadian Agent, Hyperactive, for our product distributed
in Canada. Atari Inc.’s answer and counterclaim was filed
in August of 2006 and Atari, Inc. initiated discovery against
Ernst & Young at the same time. The parties have
executed a settlement agreement and Atari paid $60,000 to
Ernst & Young in exchange for a release of claims.
This settlement was paid as of June 30, 2008 and has been
expensed as part of the three months ended June 30, 2008.
Research
in Motion Limited v. Atari, Inc. and Atari Interactive,
Inc.
On October 26, 2006 Research in Motion Limited
(“RIM”) filed a claim against Atari, Inc. and Atari
Interactive, Inc. (“Interactive”) (together
“Atari”) in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. RIM
is seeking a declaration that (i) the game BrickBreaker, as
well as the copyright, distribution, sale and communication to
the public of copies of the game in Canada and the United
States, does not infringe any Atari copyright for Breakout or
Super Breakout (together “Breakout”) in Canada or the
United States, (ii) the audio-visual displays of Breakout
do not constitute a work protected by copyright under Canadian
law, and (iii) Atari holds no right, title or interest in
Breakout under US or Canadian law. RIM is also requesting the
costs of the action and such other relief as the court deems.
Breakout and Super Breakout are games owned by Atari
Interactive, Inc. On January 19, 2007, RIM added claims to
its case requesting a declaration that (i) its game Meteor
Crusher does not infringe Atari copyright for its game Asteroids
in Canada, (ii) the audio-visual displays of Asteroids do
not constitute a work protected under Canadian law, and
(iii) Atari holds no right, title or interest in Asteroids
under Canadian law. In August 2007, the Court ruled against
Atari’s December 2006 motion to have the RIM claims
dismissed on the grounds that there is no statutory relief
available to RIM under Canadian law. Each party will now be
required to deliver an affidavit of documents specifying all
documents in their possession, power and control relevant to the
issues in the Ontario action. Following the exchange of
documents, examination for discovery will be scheduled and the
parties have recently commenced settlement discussions.
Stanley v.
IESA, Atari, Inc. and Atari, Inc. Board of
Directors
On April 18, 2008, attorneys representing Christian M.
Stanley, a purported stockholder of Atari
(“Plaintiff”), filed a Verified Class Action
Complaint against Atari, certain of its directors and former
directors, and Infogrames, in the Delaware Court of Chancery. In
summary, the complaint alleges that the director defendants
breached their fiduciary duties to Atari’s unaffiliated
stockholders by entering into an agreement that allows
Infogrames to acquire the outstanding shares of Atari’s
common stock at an allegedly unfairly low price. An Amended
Complaint was filed on May 20, 2008, updating the
allegations of the initial complaint to challenge certain
provisions of the definitive merger agreement. On the same day,
Plaintiff filed motions to expedite the suit and to
preliminarily enjoin the merger. Plaintiff filed a Second
Amended Complaint on June 30, 2008, further amending the
complaint to challenge the adequacy of the disclosures contained
in the Preliminary Proxy Statement on Form PREM 14A (the
“Preliminary Proxy”) submitted in support of the
proposed merger and asserting a claim against Atari and
Infogrames for aiding and abetting the directors’ and
former directors’ breach of their fiduciary duties.
Plaintiff alleges that the US$1.68 per share offering price
represents no premium over the closing price of Atari stock on
March 5, 2008, the last day of trading before Atari
announced the proposed merger transaction. Plaintiff alleges
that in light of Infogrames’ approximately 51.6% ownership
of Atari, Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders have no voice
in deciding whether to accept the proposed merger transaction,
and Plaintiff challenges certain of the “no shop”
and termination fee provisions of the merger agreement.
Plaintiff claims that the named directors are engaging in
self-dealing and acting in furtherance of their own interests at
the expense of those of Atari’s
F-23
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
unaffiliated stockholders. Plaintiff also alleges that the
disclosures in the Preliminary Proxy are deficient in that they
fail to disclose material financial information and the
information presented to and considered by the Board and its
advisors. Plaintiff asks the court to enjoin the proposed merger
transaction, or alternatively, to rescind it in the event that
it is consummated. In addition, Plaintiff seeks damages suffered
as a result of the directors’ violation of their fiduciary
duties.
The parties have been in discussions regarding a resolution of
the action and are negotiating the terms of such resolution.
Letter
from Coghill Capital Management, LLC
On June 18, 2008, attorneys representing an individual
shareholder, Coghill Capital Management, LLC (“CCM”),
delivered a letter to Infogrames and Atari’s Board alleging
that Atari had sustained damages as a result of entering into
certain contractual arrangements between Atari and Infogrames
and that, as a result, the proposed merger consideration was
inadequate. CCM further alleged that Infogrames prevented Atari
from properly discharging the duties it owed to shareholders and
that certain former and current executive officers and directors
of Infogrames derived improper personal benefits from Atari. CCM
demanded that the Atari Board commence an action against
Infogrames to recover the alleged damages if Infogrames does not
agree to increase the merger consideration to at least $7.00 per
share.
Credit
Facilities
Guggenheim
Credit Facility
On November 3, 2006, we established a secured credit
facility with several lenders for which Guggenheim was the
administrative agent. The Guggenheim credit facility was to
terminate and be payable in full on November 3, 2009. The
credit facility consisted of a secured, committed, revolving
line of credit in an initial amount up to $15.0 million,
which included a $10.0 million sublimit for the issuance of
letters of credit. Availability under the credit facility was
determined by a formula based on a percentage of our eligible
receivables. The proceeds could be used for general corporate
purposes and working capital needs in the ordinary course of
business and to finance acquisitions subject to limitations in
the Credit Agreement. The credit facility bore interest at our
choice of (i) LIBOR plus 5% per year, or (ii) the
greater of (a) the prime rate in effect, or (b) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect plus 2.25% per year.
Additionally, we were required to pay a commitment fee on the
undrawn portions of the credit facility at the rate of 0.75% per
year and we paid to Guggenheim a closing fee of
$0.2 million. Obligations under the credit facility were
secured by liens on substantially all of our present and future
assets, including accounts receivable, inventory, general
intangibles, fixtures, and equipment, but excluding the stock of
our subsidiaries and certain assets located outside of the U.S.
The credit facility included provisions for a possible term loan
facility and an increased revolving credit facility line in the
future. The credit facility also contained financial covenants
that required us to maintain enumerated EBITDA, liquidity, and
net debt minimums, and a capital expenditure maximum. As of
June 30, 2007, we were not in compliance with all financial
covenants. On October 1, 2007, the lenders provided a
waiver of covenant defaults as of June 30, 2007 and reduced
the aggregate borrowing commitment of the revolving line of
credit to $3.0 million.
The credit facility included provisions for a possible term loan
facility and an increased revolving credit facility line in the
future. The credit facility also contained financial covenants
that required us to maintain enumerated EBITDA, liquidity, and
net debt minimums, and a capital expenditure maximum. As of
June 30, 2007, we were not in compliance with all financial
covenants. On October 1, 2007, the lenders provided a
waiver of covenant defaults as of June 30, 2007 and reduced
the aggregate availability under the revolving line of credit to
$3.0 million.
F-24
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
On October 18, 2007, we consented to the transfer of the
loans outstanding ($3.0 million) under the Guggenheim
credit facility to funds affiliated with BlueBay Asset
Management plc and to the appointment of BlueBay High Yield
Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. (“BlueBay”), as
successor administrative agent. BlueBay Asset Management plc is
a significant shareholder of IESA. On October 23, 2007, we
entered into a waiver and amendment with BlueBay for, as
amended, a $10.0 million Senior Secured Credit Facility
(“Senior Credit Facility”). The Senior Credit Facility
matures on December 31, 2009, charges an interest rate of
the applicable LIBOR rate plus 7% per year, and eliminates
certain financial covenants. On December 4, 2007, under the
Waiver Consent and Third Amendment to the Credit Facility, as
part of entering the Global MOU, BlueBay raised the maximum
borrowings of the Senior Credit Facility to $14.0 million.
The maximum borrowings we can make under the Senior Credit
Facility will not by themselves provide all the funding we will
need. As of March 31, 2008, we are in violation of our
weekly cash flow covenants (see Waiver, Consent and Fourth
Amendment in this Note below). Management continues to seek
additional financing and is pursuing other options to meet the
cash requirements for funding our working capital cash
requirements but there is no guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
As of June 30, 2008, we have drawn the full
$14.0 million on the Senior Credit Facility.
Waiver,
Consent and Fourth Amendment
In conjunction with the Merger Agreement, we entered into a
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to our BlueBay Credit
Facility under which, among other things, (i) BlueBay
agreed to waive our non-compliance with certain representations
and covenants under the Credit Agreement, (ii) BlueBay
agreed to consent to us entering into the a credit facility with
IESA, (iii) BlueBay agreed to provide us consent in
entering into the Merger Agreement with IESA, and
(iv) BlueBay and us agreed to certain amendments to the
Existing Credit Facility.
With the Fourth Amendment, as of April 30, 2008 and through
August 13, 2008, we are in compliance with our BlueBay
credit facility.
IESA
Credit Agreement
On April 30, 2008, we entered into a Credit Agreement with
IESA (the “IESA Credit Agreement”), under which IESA
committed to provide up to an aggregate of $20 million in
loan availability at an interest rate equal to the applicable
LIBOR rate plus 7% per year, subject to the terms and conditions
of the IESA Credit Agreement (the “New Financing
Facility”). The New Financing Facility will terminate when
the merger takes place or when the Merger Agreement terminates
without the merger taking place. We will use borrowings under
the New Financing Facility to fund our operational cash
requirements during the period between the date of the Merger
Agreement and the closing of the Merger. The obligations under
the New Financing Facility are secured by liens on substantially
all of our present and future assets, including accounts
receivable, inventory, general intangibles, fixtures, and
equipment. We have agreed that we will make monthly prepayments
on amounts borrowed under the New Financing Facility of its
excess cash. We will not be able to reborrow any loan amounts
paid back under the New Financing Facility other than loan
amounts prepaid from excess cash. Also, we are required to
deliver to IESA a budget, which is subject to approval by IESA
in its commercially reasonable discretion, and which shall be
supplemented from time to time.
As of June 30, 2008, we have drawn the $16.0 million
on the Senior Credit Facility and are compliance with our IESA
credit agreement.
F-25
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
The charge for restructuring is comprised of the following (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
May 2007 severance and retention expenses(1)
|
|
$
|
787
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
November 2007 severance and retention expenses(2)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
June 2008 severance and retention expenses(3)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
322
|
|
Restructuring consultants and legal fees(2)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
386
|
|
Lease related costs
|
|
|
162
|
|
|
|
30
|
|
Miscellaneous costs
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
949
|
|
|
$
|
738
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
In the first quarter of fiscal 2008, management announced a plan
to reduce our total workforce by 20%, primarily in general and
administrative functions. |
|
|
|
(2) |
|
In the third quarter of fiscal 2008, as part of the removal of
the Board of Directors and the hiring of a restructuring firm,
management announced an additional workforce reduction of 30%,
primarily in research and development and general and
administrative functions. This restructuring is anticipated to
cost us approximately $5.0 to $6.0 million dollars of which
$1.0 to $1.5 million would relate to severance arrangements
(See Note 1). |
|
|
|
(3) |
|
In the first quarter of fiscal 2009, as part of our continual
refocus and as part of reducing our cost structure as previously
announced in November 2007, we reduced our workforce by an
additional 30%, primarily in general and administrative
functions. This restructuring is anticipated to cost us
approximately $0.8 to $1.2 million dollars all of which
would relate to severance arrangements. |
The following is a reconciliation of our restructuring reserve
from March 31, 2008 to June 30, 2008
(in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
|
Balance at
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
Accrued
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Amounts
|
|
|
Reclasses
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Short term
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance and retention expenses (1) (2) (4)
|
|
$
|
669
|
|
|
$
|
322
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
(482
|
)
|
|
$
|
509
|
|
Restructuring consultants and legal fees (2)
|
|
|
1,090
|
|
|
|
386
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(389
|
)
|
|
|
1,087
|
|
Lease related costs
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(30
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
1,759
|
|
|
|
738
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(901
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,596
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOTE 10 —
|
OPERATIONS
BY REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
|
We have three reportable segments: publishing, distribution and
corporate. Our publishing segment is comprised of business
development, strategic alliances, product development,
marketing, packaging, and sales of video game software for all
platforms. Distribution constitutes the sale of other
publishers’ titles to various mass merchants and other
retailers. Corporate includes the costs of senior executive
management, legal, finance, and administration. The majority of
depreciation expense for fixed assets is charged to the
corporate segment and a portion is recorded in the publishing
segment. This amount consists of depreciation on computers and
office furniture in the publishing unit. Historically, we do not
separately track or maintain records of balance sheet
F-26
ATARI,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS — (Continued)
information by segment, other than a nominal amount of fixed
assets, which identify assets by segment and, accordingly, such
information is not available.
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those
described in the summary of significant accounting policies. We
evaluate performance based on operating results of these
segments. There are no intersegment revenues.
The results of operations for Reflections are not included in
our segment reporting below as they are classified as
discontinued operations in our condensed consolidated financial
statements. Prior to its classification as discontinued
operations, the results for Reflections were part of the
publishing segment.
Our reportable segments are strategic business units with
different associated costs and profit margins. They are managed
separately because each business unit requires different
planning, and where appropriate, merchandising and marketing
strategies.
The following summary represents the consolidated net revenues,
operating income (loss), depreciation and amortization, and
interest (expense) income by reportable segment for the three
months ended June 30, 2007 and 2008 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Publishing
|
|
|
Distribution
|
|
|
Corporate
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Three months ended June 30, 2007:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
9,733
|
|
|
$
|
687
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
10,420
|
|
Operating income (loss)(1)
|
|
|
(4,500
|
)
|
|
|
72
|
|
|
|
(6,549
|
)
|
|
|
(10,977
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(70
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(344
|
)
|
|
|
(414
|
)
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(13
|
)
|
|
|
(13
|
)
|
Three months ended June 30, 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
36,659
|
|
|
$
|
3,626
|
|
|
$
|
—
|
|
|
$
|
40,285
|
|
Operating income (loss)(1)
|
|
|
7,675
|
|
|
|
509
|
|
|
|
(3,370
|
)
|
|
|
4,814
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(42
|
)
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(263
|
)
|
|
|
(305
|
)
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
(646
|
)
|
|
|
(620
|
)
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Operating loss for the Corporate segment for the three months
ended June 30, 2007 and 2008, excludes restructuring
charges of $0.9 million and $0.7 million,
respectively. Including restructuring charges, total operating
income for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2008 is
$11.9 million and $4.1 million, respectively. |
F-27
|
|
Item 2.
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
This document includes statements that may constitute
forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Safe Harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. We caution readers regarding certain forward-looking
statements in this document, press releases, securities filings,
and all other documents and communications. All statements,
other than statements of historical fact, including statements
regarding industry prospects and expected future results of
operations or financial position, made in this Quarterly Report
on
Form 10-Q
are forward looking. The words “believe,”
“expect,” “anticipate,” “intend”
and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based
upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while
considered reasonable by us, are inherently subject to
significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and
contingencies and known and unknown risks. As a result of such
risks, our actual results could differ materially from those
expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on
behalf of, us. Some of the factors which could cause our results
to differ materially include the following: the loss of key
customers, such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, and GameStop;
delays in product development and related product release
schedules; inability to secure capital; loss of our credit
facility; inability to adapt to the rapidly changing industry
technology, including new console technology; inability to
maintain relationships with leading independent video game
software developers; inability to maintain or acquire licenses
to intellectual property; fluctuations in our quarterly net
revenues or results of operations based on the seasonality of
our industry; and the termination or modification of our
agreements with hardware manufacturers. Please see the
“Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended March 31, 2007, or in our other filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
for a description of some, but not all, risks, uncertainties and
contingencies. Except as otherwise required by the applicable
securities laws, we disclaim any intention or obligation
publicly to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Going
Concern
Since 2005, due to cash constraints, we have substantially
reduced our involvement in development of video games, and have
sold a number of intellectual properties and development
facilities in order to obtain cash to fund our operations. The
reduction in our development activities has significantly
reduced the number of games we publish. During fiscal 2008, our
revenues from publishing activities were $69.8 million,
compared with $104.7 million during fiscal 2007.
For the year ended March 31, 2007, we had an operating loss
of $77.6 million, which included a charge of
$54.1 million for the impairment of our goodwill, which is
related to our publishing unit. For the year ended
March 31, 2008, we had incurred an operating loss of
approximately $21.9 million, although an improvement from
prior fiscal year losses, we still face significant cash
requirements to fund our working capital needs. We have taken
significant steps to reduce our costs such as our May 2007 and
November 2007 workforce reduction of approximately 20% and 30%,
respectively. Further in June 2008, we continued to reduce cost
as part of our refocus on sales, marketing and distribution by
reducing our workforce an additional 20%. Our ability to deliver
products on time depends in good part on developers’
ability to meet completion schedules. Further, our expected
releases in fiscal 2008 were even fewer than our releases in
fiscal 2007. In addition, most of our releases for fiscal 2008
were focused on the holiday season. As a result our cash needs
have become more seasonal and we face significant cash
requirements to fund our working capital needs.
Prior to March 31 2008, we entered into a number of transactions
with our majority shareholder IESA and Bluebay High Yield
Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L., or “Bluebay”, a
subsidiary of the largest shareholder of IESA. These
transactions have caused or are part of our current
restructuring initiatives intended to allow us to devote more
resources to focusing on our distribution business strategy,
provide liquidity, and to mitigate our future cash requirements
(See Note 1 of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.) As of
June 30, 2008, we entered into the following agreements to
further provide liquidity:
Agreement
and Plan of Merger
On April 30, 2008, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with IESA and Irata
Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of IESA (“Merger Sub”). Under the terms of
the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into
us, with Atari continuing as the surviving corporation after the
Merger, and each outstanding share of Atari common stock, par
value $0.10 per share, other than
F-28
shares held by IESA and its subsidiaries and shares held by
Atari stockholders who are entitled to and who properly exercise
appraisal rights under Delaware law, will be cancelled and
converted into the right to receive $1.68 per share in cash (the
“Merger Consideration”). As a result of the Merger
Agreement, we will become a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of
IESA.
IESA and us have made customary representations, warranties and
covenants in the Merger Agreement, including covenants
restricting the solicitation of competing acquisition proposals,
subject to certain exceptions which permit our board of
directors to comply with its fiduciary duties.
Under the Merger Agreement, IESA and us have certain rights to
terminate the Merger Agreement and the Merger. Upon the
termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances,
we must pay IESA a termination fee of $0.5 million.
The transaction was negotiated and approved by the Special
Committee of the Company’s board of directors, which
consists entirely of directors who are independent of IESA.
Based on such negotiation and approval, our board of directors
approved the Merger Agreement and recommended that our
stockholders vote in favor of the Merger Agreement. We expect to
call a special meeting of stockholders to consider the Merger in
the third quarter of calendar 2008. Since IESA controls a
majority of our outstanding shares, IESA has the power to
approve the transaction without the approval of our other
stockholders.
Credit
Agreement
In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company also
entered into a Credit Agreement with IESA under which IESA
committed to provide up to an aggregate of $20 million in
loan availability. The Credit Agreement with IESA will terminate
when the merger takes place or when the Merger Agreement
terminates without the merger taking place. See Note 8.
Waiver,
Consent and Fourth Amendment
In conjunction with the Merger Agreement, we entered into a
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to our BlueBay Credit
Facility under which, among other things, (i) BlueBay
agreed to waive our non-compliance with certain representations
and covenants under the Credit Agreement, (ii) BlueBay
agreed to consent to us entering into the a credit facility with
IESA, (iii) BlueBay agreed to provide us consent in
entering into the Merger Agreement with IESA, and
(iv) BlueBay and us agreed to certain amendments to the
Existing Credit Facility.
With the Fourth Amendment, as of April 30, 2008 and through
August 13, 2008, we are in compliance with our BlueBay
credit facility.
Although, the above transactions provided cash financing that
should meet our need through our fiscal 2009 second quarter
(i.e., the quarter ending September 30, 2008), management
continues to pursue other options to meet our working capital
cash requirements but there is no guarantee that we will be able
to do so if the proposed transaction in which IESA would acquire
us is not completed.
Historically, we have relied on IESA to provide limited
financial support to us, through loans or, in recent years,
through purchases of assets. However, IESA has its own financial
needs, and its ability to fund its subsidiaries’
operations, including ours, is limited. Therefore, there can be
no assurance we will ultimately receive any funding from IESA,
if the proposed transaction in which IESA would acquire us is
not completed.
The uncertainty caused by these above conditions raises
substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going
concern, unless the merger with a subsidiary of IESA is
completed. Our consolidated financial statements do not include
any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty.
We continue to explore various alternatives to improve our
financial position and secure other sources of financing which
could include raising equity, forming both operational and
financial strategic partnerships, entering into new arrangements
to license intellectual property, and selling, licensing or
sub-licensing selected owned intellectual property and licensed
rights. We continue to examine the reduction of working capital
requirements to further conserve cash and may need to take
additional actions in the near-term, which may include
additional personnel reductions.
F-29
The above actions may or may not prove to be consistent with our
long-term strategic objectives, which have been shifted in the
last fiscal year, as we have discontinued our internal and
external development activities. We cannot guarantee the
completion of these actions or that such actions will generate
sufficient resources to fully address the uncertainties of our
financial position.
Related
party transactions
We are involved in numerous related party transactions with IESA
and its subsidiaries. These related party transactions include,
but are not limited to, the purchase and sale of product, game
development, administrative and support services and
distribution agreements. In addition, we use the name
“Atari” under a license from Atari Interactive (a
wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA) that expires in 2013. See
Note 6 to the condensed consolidated financial statements
for details.
Business
and Operating Segments
We are a global publisher and developer of video game software
for gaming enthusiasts and the mass-market audience, and a
distributor of video game software in North America. We develop,
publish, and distribute (both retail and digital) games for all
platforms, including Sony PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PSP;
Nintendo Game Boy Advance, GameCube, DS, and Wii; Microsoft Xbox
and Xbox 360; and personal computers, referred to as PCs. We
also publish and sublicense games for the wireless, internet
(including casual games and MMOGs), and other evolving
platforms, areas to which we expect to devote increasing
attention. Our diverse portfolio of products extends across most
major video game genres, including action, adventure, strategy,
role-playing, and racing. Our products are based on intellectual
properties that we have created internally and own or that have
been licensed to us by third parties. We leverage external
resources in the development of our games, assessing each
project independently to determine which development team is
best suited to handle the product based on technical expertise
and historical development experience, among other factors.
During fiscal 2007, we sold our remaining internal development
studios; we believe that through the use of independent
developers it will be more cost efficient to publish certain of
our games. Additionally, through our relationship with IESA, our
products are distributed exclusively by IESA throughout Europe,
Asia and other regions. Through our distribution agreement with
IESA, we have the rights to publish and sublicense in North
America certain intellectual properties either owned or licensed
by IESA or its subsidiaries, including Atari Interactive. We
also manage the development of product at studios owned by IESA
that focus solely on game development.
In addition to our publishing and development activities, we
also distribute video game software in North America for
titles developed by third party publishers with whom we have
contracts. As a distributor of video game software throughout
the U.S., we maintain distribution operations and systems,
reaching well in excess of 30,000 retail outlets nationwide.
Consumers have access to interactive software through a variety
of outlets, including mass-merchant retailers such as Wal-Mart
and Target; major retailers, such as Best Buy and Toys
‘R’ Us; and specialty stores such as GameStop. Our
sales to key customers GameStop, Wal-Mart, and Best Buy
accounted for approximately 32%, 15%, and 9%, respectively, of
net revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2008. No
other customers had sales in excess of 10% of net product
revenues. Additionally, our games are made available through
various internet, online, and wireless networks.
Key
Challenges
The video game software industry has experienced an increased
rate of change and complexity in the technological innovations
of video game hardware and software. In addition to these
technological innovations, there has been greater competition
for shelf space as well as increased buyer selectivity. There is
also increased competition for creative and executive talent. As
a result, the video game industry has become increasingly
hit-driven, which has led to higher per game production budgets,
longer and more complex development processes, and generally
shorter product life cycles. The importance of the timely
release of hit titles, as well as the increased scope and
complexity of the product development process, have increased
the need for disciplined product development processes that
limit costs and overruns. This, in turn, has increased the
importance of leveraging the technologies, characters or
storylines of existing hit titles into additional video game
software franchises in order to spread development costs among
multiple products.
F-30
We suffered large operating losses during fiscal 2006, 2007 and
2008. To fund these losses, we sold assets, including
intellectual property rights related to game franchises that had
generated substantial revenues for us and including our
development studios. During 2008, we granted IESA an exclusive
license with regard to the Test Drive franchise in
consideration for a $5 million related party advance which
shall accrue interest at a yearly rate of 15% throughout the
term. We do not have significant additional assets we could
sell, if we are going to continue to engage in our current
activities. However, we have both short and long term need for
funds. As of June 30, 2008, our $14.0 million Bluebay
Credit Facility was fully drawn. In connection with the Merger
Agreement with IESA, we obtained a $20 million interim
credit line granted from IESA, which will terminate when the
merger takes place or when the Merger Agreement terminates
without the merger taking place. At June 30, 2008, we had
borrowed $16.0 million under the IESA credit line. The
funds available under the two credit lines may not be sufficient
to enable us to meet anticipated seasonal cash needs if the
merger does not take place before the fall 2008 holiday season
inventory buildup. Management continues to pursue other options
to meet the cash requirements for funding to meet our working
capital cash requirements but there is no guarantee that we will
be able to do so.
The “Atari” name, which we do not own, but license
from an IESA subsidiary, has been an important part of our
branding strategy, and we believe it provides us with an
important competitive advantage in dealing with video game
developers and in distributing products. Further, our management
at times worked on a strategic plan to replace part of the
revenues we lost in recent years by expanding into new emerging
aspects of the video game industry, including casual games,
on-line sites, and digital downloading. Among other things, we
have considered licensing the “Atari” name for use in
products other than video games. However, our ability to do at
least some of those things would require expansion and extension
of our rights to use and sublicense others to use the
“Atari” name. IESA has indicated a reluctance to
expand our rights with regard to the “Atari” name.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results
of operations are based upon our condensed consolidated
financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America. 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 on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those
related to accounts receivable, inventories, intangible assets,
investments, income taxes and contingencies. We base our
estimates on historical experience and on various other
assumptions that we believe 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
could differ materially from these estimates under different
assumptions or conditions.
We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our
more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation
of our condensed consolidated financial statements.
Revenue
recognition, sales returns, price protection, other customer
related allowances and allowance for doubtful
accounts
Revenue is recognized when title and risk of loss transfer to
the customer, provided that collection of the resulting
receivable is deemed probable by management.
Sales are recorded net of estimated future returns, price
protection and other customer related allowances. We are not
contractually obligated to accept returns; however, based on
facts and circumstances at the time a customer may request
approval for a return, we may permit the return or exchange of
products sold to certain customers. In addition, we may provide
price protection, co-operative advertising and other allowances
to certain customers in accordance with industry practice. These
reserves are determined based on historical experience, market
acceptance of products produced, retailer inventory levels,
budgeted customer allowances, the nature of the title and
existing commitments to customers. Although management believes
it provides adequate reserves with respect to these items,
actual activity could vary from management’s estimates and
such variances could have a material impact on reported results.
F-31
We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated
losses resulting from the failure of our customers to make
payments when due or within a reasonable period of time
thereafter. If the financial condition of our customers were to
deteriorate, resulting in an inability to make required
payments, additional allowances may be required.
For the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2008, we
recorded allowances for bad debts, returns, price protection and
other customer promotional programs of approximately
$4.0 million and $7.2 million, respectively. As of
March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, the aggregate
reserves against accounts receivable for bad debts, returns,
price protection and other customer promotional programs were
approximately $1.9 million and $15.4 million,
respectively.
Inventories
We write down our inventories for estimated slow-moving or
obsolete inventories equal to the difference between the cost of
inventories and estimated market value based upon assumed market
conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than
those assumed by management, additional inventory write-downs
may be required. For the three months ended June 30, 2007
and 2008, we recorded obsolescence expense of approximately
$0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively. As of
March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008, the aggregate
reserve against inventories was approximately $3.7 million
and $1.5 million, respectively.
Research
and product development costs
Research and product development costs related to the design,
development, and testing of newly developed software products,
both internal and external, are charged to expense as incurred.
Research and product development costs also include royalty
payments (milestone payments) to third party developers for
products that are currently in development. Once a product is
sold, we may be obligated to make additional payments in the
form of backend royalties to developers which are calculated
based on contractual terms, typically a percentage of sales.
Such payments are expensed and included in cost of goods sold in
the period the sales are recorded.
Rapid technological innovation, shelf-space competition, shorter
product life cycles and buyer selectivity have made it difficult
to determine the likelihood of individual product acceptance and
success. As a result, we follow the policy of expensing
milestone payments as incurred, treating such costs as research
and product development expenses.
Licenses
Licenses for intellectual property are capitalized as assets
upon the execution of the contract when no significant
obligation of performance remains with us or the third party. If
significant obligations remain, the asset is capitalized when
payments are due or when performance is completed as opposed to
when the contract is executed. These licenses are amortized at
the licensor’s royalty rate over unit sales to cost of
goods sold. Management evaluates the carrying value of these
capitalized licenses and records an impairment charge in the
period management determines that such capitalized amounts are
not expected to be realized. Such impairments are charged to
cost of goods sold if the product has released or previously
sold, and if the product has never released, these impairments
are charged to research and product development.
Atari
Trademark License
In connection with a recapitalization completed in fiscal 2004,
Atari Interactive, Inc. (“Atari Interactive”), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of IESA, extended the term of the
license under which we use the Atari trademark to ten years
expiring on December 31, 2013. We issued
200,000 shares of our common stock to Atari Interactive for
the extended license and will pay a royalty equal to 1% of our
net revenues during years six through ten of the extended
license. We recorded a deferred charge of $8.5 million,
representing the fair value of the shares issued, which was
expensed monthly until it became fully expensed in the first
quarter of fiscal 2007 ($8.5 million plus estimated royalty
of 1% for years six through ten). The monthly expense was based
on the total estimated cost to be incurred by us over the
ten-year license period; upon the full expensing of the deferred
charge, this expense is being recorded as a deferred liability
owed to Atari Interactive, to be paid beginning in year six of
the license.
F-32
Results
of operations
Three
months ended June 30, 2007 versus the three months ended
June 30, 2008
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations (dollars in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
% of
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
% of
|
|
|
(Decrease)/
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
Net
|
|
|
Increase
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
%
|
|
|
Net revenues
|
|
$
|
10,420
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
40,285
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
$
|
29,865
|
|
|
|
286.6
|
%
|
Costs and expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
6,766
|
|
|
|
64.9
|
%
|
|
|
24,388
|
|
|
|
60.5
|
%
|
|
|
17,622
|
|
|
|
260.5
|
%
|
Research and product development
|
|
|
4,411
|
|
|
|
42.3
|
%
|
|
|
1,225
|
|
|
|
3.1
|
%
|
|
|
(3,186
|
)
|
|
|
(72.2
|
)%
|
Selling and distribution expenses
|
|
|
3,550
|
|
|
|
34.1
|
%
|
|
|
6,327
|
|
|
|
15.7
|
%
|
|
|
2,777
|
|
|
|
78.2
|
%
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
5,701
|
|
|
|
54.8
|
%
|
|
|
2,671
|
|
|
|
6.6
|
%
|
|
|
(3,030
|
)
|
|
|
(53.2
|
)%
|
Restructuring expenses
|
|
|
949
|
|
|
|
9.1
|
%
|
|
|
738
|
|
|
|
1.8
|
%
|
|
|
(211
|
)
|
|
|
(22.2
|
)%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
414
|
|
|
|
4.0
|
%
|
|
|
305
|
|
|
|
0.8
|
%
|
|
|
(109
|
)
|
|
|
(26.3
|
)%
|
Atari trademark license expense
|
|
|
555
|
|
|
|
5.3
|
%
|
|
|
555
|
|
|
|
1.4
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
(0.0
|
)%
|
Total costs and expenses
|
|
|
22,346
|
|
|
|
214.5
|
%
|
|
|
36,209
|
|
|
|
89.9
|
%
|
|
|
13,863
|
|
|
|
62.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating (loss) income
|
|
|
(11,926
|
)
|
|
|
(114.5
|
)%
|
|
|
4,076
|
|
|
|
10.1
|
%
|
|
|
16,002
|
|
|
|
134.2
|
%
|
Interest expense, net
|
|
|
(13
|
)
|
|
|
(0.1
|
)%
|
|
|
(620
|
)
|
|
|
(1.6
|
)%
|
|
|
(607
|
)
|
|
|
(4,469.2
|
)%
|
Other income
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
0.2
|
%
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(11,920
|
)
|
|
|
(114.4
|
)%
|
|
|
3,475
|
|
|
|
8.6
|
%
|
|
|
15,395
|
|
|
|
129.2
|
%
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations
|
|
|
(11,920
|
)
|
|
|
(114.4
|
)%
|
|
|
3,475
|
|
|
|
8.6
|
%
|
|
|
15,395
|
|
|
|
129.2
|
%
|
(Loss) from discontinued operations of Reflections Interactive
Ltd., net of tax
|
|
|
(21
|
)
|
|
|
(0.2
|
)%
|
|
|
(20
|
)
|
|
|
(0.1
|
)%
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
4.8
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss) income
|
|
$
|
(11,941
|
)
|
|
|
(114.6
|
)%
|
|
$
|
3,455
|
|
|
|
8.6
|
%
|
|
$
|
15,396
|
|
|
|
128.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
Revenues
Net
Revenues by Segment (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
(Decrease)/
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Increase
|
|
|
Publishing
|
|
$
|
9,733
|
|
|
$
|
36,659
|
|
|
$
|
26,926
|
|
Distribution
|
|
|
687
|
|
|
|
3,626
|
|
|
|
2,939
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
10,420
|
|
|
$
|
40,285
|
|
|
$
|
29,865
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-33
Publishing
Sales Platform Mix
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Xbox 360
|
|
|
3.4
|
%
|
|
|
42.4
|
%
|
PlayStation 3
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
20.0
|
%
|
PC
|
|
|
36.2
|
%
|
|
|
13.1
|
%
|
PlayStation 2
|
|
|
14.0
|
%
|
|
|
12.0
|
%
|
Wii
|
|
|
2.8
|
%
|
|
|
8.9
|
%
|
PSP
|
|
|
26.5
|
%
|
|
|
2.2
|
%
|
Nintendo DS
|
|
|
17.0
|
%
|
|
|
1.1
|
%
|
Other miscallenous platforms
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
0. 3
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As anticipated, we recognized a substantial increase in our
publishing net revenues in our first quarter of fiscal 2009, as
compared to fiscal 2008. During our first quarter of fiscal
2008, we released two major new releases of which comprised 79%
of our quarter’s publishing net revenues. The quarter over
quarter comparison includes the following trends:
|
|
|
|
•
|
Net publishing product sales during the three months ended
June 30, 2008 were driven by new releases of Dragon Ball
Z Burst Limit (Xbox 360 and PS3) and Alone in the Dark
(Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, and PC). These titles comprised
approximately 79% of our net publishing product sales. The three
months ended June 30, 2007 sales were driven by back
catalogue sales (approximately 86% of all publishing net product
sales).
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
International royalty income decreased slightly by
$0.1 million as we have less titles being developed and
sold internationally.
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
The overall average unit sales price (“ASP”) of the
publishing business has increased from $18.19 in the prior
comparable quarter to $27.66 in the current period due to a
higher percentage of next generation product sales as compared
to the prior year’s comparable quarter.
|
Total distribution net revenues for the three months ended
June 30, 2008 more than quadrupled from the prior
comparable period due to new releases from our Humongous
distribution business (primarily Backyard Baseball 2008
on Wii, PS2 and PC).
Cost of
Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold as a percentage of net revenues can vary
primarily due to segment mix, platform mix within the publishing
business, average unit sales prices, mix of royalty bearing
products and the mix of licensed product. These expenses for the
three months ended June 30, 2008 increased by
$17.6 million primarily due to sales volume. As a
percentage of net revenues, cost of goods sold decreased from
64.9% to 60.5% due to the following:
|
|
|
|
•
|
the majority of revenue during the period were comprised of next
generation product carrying a better margin than back catalogue
product (which comprised the majority of prior comparable period
sales), offset by
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
a higher mix of higher cost IESA product under the new
distribution agreement which accounted for approximately 34% of
the sales in the period.
|
Research
and Product Development Expenses
Research and product development expenses consist of development
costs relating to the design, development, and testing of new
software products whether internally or externally developed,
including the payment of royalty advances to third party
developers on products that are currently in development and
billings from related party developers. Due to cash constraints
and our focus on sales, marketing and distribution, we no longer
fund or fully
F-34
invest in development efforts. As a result expenses for the
three months ended June 30, 2008 decreased approximately
$3.2 million or 72.2%.
Selling
and Distribution Expenses
Selling and distribution expenses primarily include shipping,
personnel, advertising, promotions and distribution expenses.
During the three months ended June 30, 2008, selling and
distribution expenses increased $2.8 million or
approximately 78.2%, due to:
|
|
|
|
•
|
increased spending on advertising of $2.8 million to
support the period’s new releases (Dragon Ball Z: Burst
Limit and Alone in the Dark), offset by
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
savings in salaries and related overhead costs due to reduced
headcount resulting from personnel reductions.
|
General
and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses primarily include personnel
expenses, facilities costs, professional expenses and other
overhead charges. During the three months ended June 30,
2008, general and administrative expenses decreased by
$3.0 million. As a percentage of net revenues, general and
administrative expense decreased from 54.7% to 6.6%. Trends
within general and administrative expenses related to the
following:
|
|
|
|
•
|
a reduction in salaries and other overhead costs of
$0.9 million due to personnel and facility
reductions, and
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
savings in legal, audit fees and other professional fees of
approximately $2.0 million.
|
Restructuring
Expenses
In the first quarter of fiscal 2008, the Board of Directors
approved a plan to reduce our total workforce by an additional
20%, primarily in production and general and administrative
functions. This plan resulted in restructuring charges of
approximately $0.9 million. During the first quarter of
fiscal 2009, the Board of Directors approved a plan to reduce
our total workforce by an additional 20% (based on current
headcount), primarily in the general and administrative
functions. This plan resulted in restructuring charges of
approximately $0.7 million of which the majority of the
cost related to severance.
Interest
expense, net
During the three months ended June 30, 2008, we incurred
additional interest expense of approximately $0.6 million
as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2007. The
increase relates to the amount of borrowings outstanding during
the the comparable period. At the end of June 2008 we had
$30.0 million in borrowings under our current credit
facilities ($14.0 million through out the period and the
remaining $16.0 million during the month of June) as
compared $0.0 million outstanding at the end of June 2007
(minimal borrowings through out the three month June 30,
2007 period).
Liquidity
and Capital Resource
Overview
A need for increased investment in development and increased
need to spend advertising dollars to support product launches,
caused in part by “hit-driven” consumer taste, have
created a significant increase in the amount of financing
required to sustain operations, while negatively impacting
margins. Further, our business continues to be more seasonal,
which creates a need for significant financing to fund
manufacturing activities for our working capital requirements.
Our Bluebay Credit Facility is limited to $14.0 million and
is fully drawn. Further, at March 31, 2008, the lender had
the right to cancel the credit facility as we failed to meet
financial and other covenants, the violation of which was waived
on April 30, 2008. On April 30, 2008, we obtained a
$20 million interim credit line granted by IESA when we
entered into the Merger Agreement relating to its acquisition of
us, which will terminate when the merger takes place or when the
Merger Agreement terminates without the merger taking place. As
of June 30, 2008, we continue to have $14.0 million
outstanding under the Bluebay credit line and have borrowed
approximately $16.0 million from the IESA credit line. The
funds available under the two credit
F-35
lines may not be sufficient to enable us to meet anticipated
seasonal cash needs if IESA does not acquire us before the fall
2008 holiday season inventory buildup. Historically, IESA has
sometimes provided funds we needed for our operations, but it is
not certain that it will be able, or willing to provide the
funding we will need for our working capital requirements if
IESA does not acquire us.
Because of our funding difficulties, we have sharply reduced our
expenditures for research and product development. During the
year ended March 31, 2008, our expenditures on research and
product development decreased by 54.8%, to $13.6 million,
compared with $30.1 million in fiscal 2007. This will
reduce the flow of new games that will be available to us in
fiscal 2009, and possibly after that. Our lack of financial
resources to fund a full product development program has led us
to focus on distribution and acquisition of finished goods. As
such, we have exited all internal development activities and
have stopped investing in development by independent developers.
In May 2007, we announced a plan to reduce our total workforce
by approximately 20% as a cost cutting initiative. Further in
November 2007 and June 2008, we announced a plan to reduce our
total workforce by more than 50% combined. To reduce working
capital requirements and further conserve cash we will need to
take additional actions in the near-term, which may include
additional personnel reductions and suspension of additional
development projects. However, these steps may not fully resolve
the problems with our financial position. Also, lack of funds
will make it difficult for us to undertake a strategic plan to
generate new sources of revenues and otherwise enable us to
attain long-term strategic objectives. Management continues to
pursue other options to meet our working capital cash
requirements but there is no guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Cash
Flows
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Cash
|
|
$
|
11,087
|
|
|
$
|
12,354
|
|
Working capital deficiency
|
|
$
|
(12,796
|
)
|
|
$
|
(8,211
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Cash used in operating activities
|
|
$
|
(3,833
|
)
|
|
$
|
(14,711
|
)
|
Cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(261
|
)
|
|
|
(16
|
)
|
Cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
|
|
15,992
|
|
Effect of exchange rates on cash
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash
|
|
$
|
(4,123
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,267
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During the three months ended June 30, 2008, our operations
used cash of approximately $14.7 million to support the
building of inventory for June 2008 sales that accounted for
approximately 85% of the quarter’s net revenue. The
majority accounts receivable collections for June 2008 sales
will take place in July and August. During the three months
ended June 30, 2007, our operations used cash of
approximately $3.8 million driven by the net loss of
$11.9 million for the period offset by collections of
accounts receivable from sales of the quarter prior (March
2007) and current sales early in the June 2007 quarter.
During the three months ended June 30, 2008, cash used by
investing activities of $0.1 million was due to purchases
of property and equipment. During the three months ended
June 30, 2007, investing activities used cash of
$0.3 million due to purchases of property and equipment.
During the three months ended June 30, 2008, our financing
activities provided cash of $16.0 million primarily from
borrowings from our credit facilities. During the three months
ended June 30, 2007, no borrowings were made under our
credit facility.
Our $14.0 million Senior Credit Facility with BlueBay
matures on December 31, 2009, charges an interest rate of
the applicable LIBOR rate plus 7% per year.
F-36
Our IESA Credit Agreement provides an aggregate of
$20 million in loan availability at an interest rate equal
to the applicable LIBOR rate plus 7% per year. The IESA Credit
Agreement will terminate when we are acquired by IESA or when
the Merger Agreement terminates without the transaction’s
taking place.
The maximum borrowings we can make under the Senior Credit
Facility or our IESA Credit facility may not by themselves
provide all the funding we will need for our working capital
needs.
Management continues to pursue other options to meet the cash
requirements for funding our working capital cash requirements
but there is no guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Our outstanding accounts receivable balance varies significantly
on a quarterly basis due to the seasonality of our business and
the timing of new product releases. There were no significant
changes in the credit terms with customers during the three
month period ended on June 30, 2008.
Due to our reduced product releases, our business has become
increasingly seasonal. This increased seasonality has put
significant pressure on our liquidity prior to our holiday
season as financing requirements to build inventory are high.
During fiscal 2007, our third quarter (which includes the
holiday season) represented approximately 38.7% of our net
revenues for the entire year. In fiscal 2008, our third quarter
represented approximately 51.3% of our net revenues for the
year. We expect a similar trend in fiscal 2009.
We do not currently have any material commitments with respect
to any capital expenditures. However, we do have commitments to
pay royalty and license advances, milestone payments, and
operating and capital lease obligations.
Our ability to maintain sufficient levels of cash could be
affected by various risks and uncertainties including, but not
limited to, customer demand and acceptance of our new versions
of our titles on existing platforms and our titles on new
platforms, our ability to collect our receivables as they become
due, risks of product returns, successfully achieving our
product release schedules and attaining our forecasted sales
goals, seasonality in operating results, fluctuations in market
conditions and the other risks described in the “Risk
Factors” as noted in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.
We are also party to various litigations arising in the normal
course of our business. Management believes that the ultimate
resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse
effect on our liquidity, financial condition or results of
operations.
Selected
Balance Sheet Accounts
Receivables,
net
Receivables, net, increased by $22.6 million from
$0.6 million at March 31, 2008 to $23.3 million
at June 30, 2008. This increase is due to the majority
(85%) of our quarter-ended June 2008 season sales occurring in
the month of June 2008 leading to a higher ending quarter
accounts receivable balance as compared to the lower sales
recorded in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2007.
Due from
Related Parties/Due to Related Parties
Due from related parties increased by $0.3 million and due
to related parties increased by $0.6 million from
March 31, 2008 to June 30, 2008 driven by balances
between parties settled by netting during the quarter.
Prepaid
and other current assets
Prepaid and other current assets decreased approximately
$3.2 million from March 31, 2008 to June 30, 2008
primarily from the amortization of licenses at the
licensor’s royalty rate over unit sales.
NASDAQ
Delisting Notice
On December 21, 2007, we received a notice from Nasdaq
advising that in accordance with Nasdaq Marketplace
Rule 4450(e)(1), we had 90 calendar days, or until
March 20, 2008, to regain compliance with the minimum
market value of our publicly held shares required for continued
listing on the Nasdaq Global Market,
F-37
as set forth in Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4450(b)(3). We
received this notice because the market value of our publicly
held shares (which is calculated by reference to our total
shares outstanding, less any shares held by officers, directors
or beneficial owners of 10% or more) was less than
$15.0 million for 30 consecutive business days prior to
December 21, 2007. This notification had no effect on the
listing of our common stock at that time.
The notice letter also states that if, at any time before
March 20, 2008, the market value of our publicly held
shares is $15.0 million or more for a minimum of 10
consecutive trading days, the Nasdaq staff will provide us with
written notification that we have achieved compliance with the
minimum market value of publicly held shares rule. However, the
notice states that if we cannot demonstrate compliance with such
rule by March 20, 2008, the Nasdaq staff will provide us
with written notification that our common stock will be delisted.
In the event that we receive notice that our common stock will
be delisted, Nasdaq rules permit us to appeal any delisting
determination by the Nasdaq staff to a Nasdaq Listings
Qualifications Panel.
On March 24, 2008, we received a NASDAQ Staff Determination
Letter from the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Department stating
that we had failed to regain compliance with the Rule during the
required period, and that the NASDAQ Staff had therefore
determined that our securities were subject to delisting, with
trading in our securities to be suspended on April 2, 2008
unless we requested a hearing before a NASDAQ Listing
Qualifications Panel (the “Panel”).
On March 27, 2008, we requested a hearing, which stayed the
suspension of trading and delisting until the Panel issued a
decision following the hearing. The hearing was held on
May 1, 2008.
On May 7, 2008, we received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock
Market advising us that the Panel had determined to delist our
securities from The NASDAQ Stock Market, and suspend trading in
our securities effective with the open of business day on
Friday, May 9, 2008. We had 15 calendar days from
May 7, 2008 to request that the NASDAQ Listing and Hearing
Review Council review the Panel’s decision. We have
requested such review and are awaiting further notice.
Requesting a review does not by itself stay the trading
suspension action.
Following the delisting of our securities, our common stock
began trading on the Pink Sheets, a real-time quotation service
maintained by Pink Sheets LLC.
Credit
Facilities
Guggenheim
Credit Facility
On November 3, 2006, we established a secured credit
facility with several lenders for which Guggenheim was the
administrative agent. The Guggenheim credit facility was to
terminate and be payable in full on November 3, 2009. The
credit facility consisted of a secured, committed, revolving
line of credit in an initial amount up to $15.0 million,
which included a $10.0 million sublimit for the issuance of
letters of credit. Availability under the credit facility was
determined by a formula based on a percentage of our eligible
receivables. The proceeds could be used for general corporate
purposes and working capital needs in the ordinary course of
business and to finance acquisitions subject to limitations in
the Credit Agreement. The credit facility bore interest at our
choice of (i) LIBOR plus 5% per year, or (ii) the
greater of (a) the prime rate in effect, or (b) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect plus 2.25% per year.
Additionally, we were required to pay a commitment fee on the
undrawn portions of the credit facility at the rate of 0.75% per
year and we paid to Guggenheim a closing fee of
$0.2 million. Obligations under the credit facility were
secured by liens on substantially all of our present and future
assets, including accounts receivable, inventory, general
intangibles, fixtures, and equipment, but excluding the stock of
our subsidiaries and certain assets located outside of the U.S.
The credit facility included provisions for a possible term loan
facility and an increased revolving credit facility line in the
future. The credit facility also contained financial covenants
that required us to maintain enumerated EBITDA, liquidity, and
net debt minimums, and a capital expenditure maximum. As of
June 30, 2007, we were not in compliance with all financial
covenants. On October 1, 2007, the lenders provided a
waiver of covenant defaults as of June 30, 2007 and reduced
the aggregate borrowing commitment of the revolving line of
credit to $3.0 million.
F-38
The credit facility included provisions for a possible term loan
facility and an increased revolving credit facility line in the
future. The credit facility also contained financial covenants
that required us to maintain enumerated EBITDA, liquidity, and
net debt minimums, and a capital expenditure maximum. As of
June 30, 2007, we were not in compliance with all financial
covenants. On October 1, 2007, the lenders provided a
waiver of covenant defaults as of June 30, 2007 and reduced
the aggregate availability under the revolving line of credit to
$3.0 million.
On October 18, 2007, we consented to the transfer of the
loans outstanding ($3.0 million) under the Guggenheim
credit facility to funds affiliated with BlueBay Asset
Management plc and to the appointment of BlueBay High Yield
Investments (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L. (“BlueBay”), as
successor administrative agent. BlueBay Asset Management plc is
a significant shareholder of IESA. On October 23, 2007, we
entered into a waiver and amendment with BlueBay for, as
amended, a $10.0 million Senior Secured Credit Facility
(“Senior Credit Facility”). The Senior Credit Facility
matures on December 31, 2009, charges an interest rate of
the applicable LIBOR rate plus 7% per year, and eliminates
certain financial covenants. On December 4, 2007, under the
Waiver Consent and Third Amendment to the Credit Facility, as
part of entering the Global MOU, BlueBay raised the maximum
borrowings of the Senior Credit Facility to $14.0 million.
The maximum borrowings we can make under the Senior Credit
Facility will not by themselves provide all the funding we will
need. As of March 31, 2008, we are in violation of our
weekly cash flow covenants (see Waiver, Consent and Fourth
Amendment in this Note 14 below). Management continues to
seek additional financing and is pursuing other options to meet
the cash requirements for funding our working capital cash
requirements but there is no guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
As of June 30, 2008, we have drawn the full
$14.0 million on the Senior Credit Facility.
Waiver,
Consent and Fourth Amendment
In conjunction with the Merger Agreement, we entered into a
Waiver, Consent and Fourth Amendment to our BlueBay Credit
Facility under which, among other things, (i) BlueBay
agreed to waive our non-compliance with certain representations
and covenants under the Credit Agreement, (ii) BlueBay
agreed to consent to us entering into the a credit facility with
IESA, (iii) BlueBay agreed to provide us consent in
entering into the Merger Agreement with IESA, and
(iv) BlueBay and us agreed to certain amendments to the
Existing Credit Facility.
With the Fourth Amendment, as of April 30, 2008 and through
August 13, 2008, we are in compliance with our BlueBay
credit facility.
IESA
Credit Agreement
On April 30, 2008, we entered into a Credit Agreement with
IESA (the “IESA Credit Agreement”), under which IESA
committed to provide up to an aggregate of $20 million in
loan availability at an interest rate equal to the applicable
LIBOR rate plus 7% per year, subject to the terms and conditions
of the IESA Credit Agreement (the “New Financing
Facility”). The New Financing Facility will terminate when
the merger takes place or when the Merger Agreement terminates
without the merger taking place. We will use borrowings under
the New Financing Facility to fund our operational cash
requirements during the period between the date of the Merger
Agreement and the closing of the Merger. The obligations under
the New Financing Facility are secured by liens on substantially
all of our present and future assets, including accounts
receivable, inventory, general intangibles, fixtures, and
equipment. We have agreed that we will make monthly prepayments
on amounts borrowed under the New Financing Facility of its
excess cash. We will not be able to reborrow any loan amounts
paid back under the New Financing Facility other than loan
amounts prepaid from excess cash. Also, we are required to
deliver to IESA a budget, which is subject to approval by IESA
in its commercially reasonable discretion, and which shall be
supplemented from time to time.
As of June 30, 2008, we have drawn the $16.0 million
on the Senior Credit Facility and are compliance with our IESA
credit agreement.
F-39
Effect
of Relationship with IESA on Liquidity
Historically, we have relied on IESA to provide limited
financial support to us; however, IESA has its own financial
needs and, as it assesses its business operations/plan, its
ability and willingness to fund its subsidiaries’
operations, including ours, is uncertain. See Note 6 for a
discussion of our relationship with IESA.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial
statements.
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Item 3.
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
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Our carrying values of cash, trade accounts receivable,
inventories, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts
payable, accrued liabilities, royalties payable, assets of
discontinued operations, and amounts due to and from related
parties are a reasonable approximation of their fair value.
Foreign
Currency Exchange Rates
We earn royalties on sales of our product sold internationally.
These revenues, which are based on various foreign currencies
and are billed and paid in U.S. dollars, represented a
$0.4 million of our revenues for the three months ended
June 30, 2008. We also purchase certain of our inventories
from foreign developers and pay royalties primarily denominated
in euros to IESA from the sale of IESA products in North
America. While we do not hedge against foreign exchange rate
fluctuations, our business in this regard is subject to certain
risks, including, but not limited to, differing economic
conditions, changes in political climate, differing tax
structures, other regulations and restrictions and foreign
exchange rate volatility. Our future results could be materially
and adversely impacted by changes in these or other factors. For
the three months ended June 30, 2008, we did not have any
net revenues from our foreign subsidiaries; these subsidiaries
represent $0.5 million, or 1.0%, of our total assets. We
also recorded a nominal amount of operating expenses attributed
to foreign operations of Reflections, included in loss from
discontinued operations on our condensed consolidated statement
of operations. Currently, substantially all of our business is
conducted in the United States where revenues and expenses are
transacted in U.S. dollars. As a result, the majority of
our results of operations are not subject to foreign exchange
rate fluctuations.
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Item 4T.
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Controls
and Procedures
|
Evaluation
of disclosure controls and procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed
to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our
reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 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 management, as
appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure. Management, with participation of our Chief
Restructuring Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer, has
conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Rules 13a-15(e)
and
15d-15(e))
as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on
Form 10-Q.
We determined that, as of June 30, 2008, there were no
material weaknesses affecting our internal control over
financial reporting and our disclosure controls and procedures
were effective.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended
June 30, 2008 that have materially affected, or are
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control
over financial reporting.
F-40
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
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Item 1.
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Legal
Proceedings
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Litigation
As of June 30, 2008, our management believes that the
ultimate resolution of any of the matters summarized below
and/or any
other claims which are not stated herein, if any, will not have
a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition
or results of operations. With respect to matters in which we
are the defendant, we believe that the underlying complaints are
without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.
Bouchat v.
Champion Products, et al. (Accolade)
This suit involving Accolade, Inc. (a predecessor entity of
Atari, Inc.) was filed in 1999 in the District Court of
Maryland. The plaintiff originally sued the NFL claiming
copyright infringement of a logo being used by the Baltimore
Ravens that plaintiff allegedly designed. The plaintiff then
also sued nearly 500 other defendants, licensees of the NFL, on
the same basis. The NFL hired White & Case to
represent all the defendants. Plaintiff filed an amended
complaint in 2002. In 2003, the District Court held that
plaintiff was precluded from recovering actual damages, profits
or statutory damages against the defendants, including Accolade.
Plaintiff has appealed the District Court’s ruling to the
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. White & Case
continues to represent Accolade and the NFL continues to bear
the cost of the defense.
Ernst &
Young, Inc. v. Atari, Inc.
On July 21, 2006 we were served with a complaint filed by
Ernst & Young as Interim Receiver for HIP Interactive,
Inc. This suit was filed in New York State Supreme Court, New
York County. HIP is a Canadian company that has gone into
bankruptcy. HIP contracted with us to have us act as its
distributor for various software products in the U.S. HIP
is alleging breach of contract claims; to wit, that we failed to
pay HIP for product in the amount of $0.7 million. We will
investigate filing counter claims against HIP, as HIP owes us,
via our Canadian Agent, Hyperactive, for our product distributed
in Canada. Atari Inc.’s answer and counterclaim was filed
in August of 2006 and Atari, Inc. initiated discovery against
Ernst & Young at the same time. The parties have
executed a settlement agreement and Atari paid $60K to
Ernst & Young in exchange for a release of claims.
This settlement was paid as of June 30, 2008 and has been
expensed as part of results of the three months ended
June 30, 2008.
Research
in Motion Limited v. Atari, Inc. and Atari Interactive,
Inc.
On October 26, 2006 Research in Motion Limited
(“RIM”) filed a claim against Atari, Inc. and Atari
Interactive, Inc. (“Interactive”) (together
“Atari”) in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. RIM
is seeking a declaration that (i) the game BrickBreaker, as
well as the copyright, distribution, sale and communication to
the public of copies of the game in Canada and the United
States, does not infringe any Atari copyright for Breakout or
Super Breakout (together “Breakout”) in Canada or the
United States, (ii) the audio-visual displays of Breakout
do not constitute a work protected by copyright under Canadian
law, and (iii) Atari holds no right, title or interest in
Breakout under US or Canadian law. RIM is also requesting the
costs of the action and such other relief as the court deems.
Breakout and Super Breakout are games owned by Atari
Interactive, Inc. On January 19, 2007, RIM added claims to
its case requesting a declaration that (i) its game Meteor
Crusher does not infringe Atari copyright for its game Asteroids
in Canada, (ii) the audio-visual displays of Asteroids do
not constitute a work protected under Canadian law, and
(iii) Atari holds no right, title or interest in Asteroids
under Canadian law. In August 2007, the Court ruled against
Atari’s December 2006 motion to have the RIM claims
dismissed on the grounds that there is no statutory relief
available to RIM under Canadian law. Each party will now be
required to deliver an affidavit of documents specifying all
documents in their possession, power and control relevant to the
issues in the Ontario action. Following the exchange of
documents, examinations for discovery will be scheduled and the
parties have recently commenced settlement discussions.
F-41
Stanley v.
IESA, Atari, Inc. and Atari, Inc. Board of
Directors
On April 18, 2008, attorneys representing Christian M.
Stanley, a purported stockholder of Atari
(“Plaintiff”), filed a Verified Class Action
Complaint against Atari, certain of its directors and former
directors, and Infogrames, in the Delaware Court of Chancery. In
summary, the complaint alleges that the director defendants
breached their fiduciary duties to Atari’s unaffiliated
stockholders by entering into an agreement that allows
Infogrames to acquire the outstanding shares of Atari’s
common stock at an allegedly unfairly low price. An Amended
Complaint was filed on May 20, 2008, updating the
allegations of the initial complaint to challenge certain
provisions of the definitive merger agreement. On the same day,
Plaintiff filed motions to expedite the suit and to
preliminarily enjoin the merger. Plaintiff filed a Second
Amended Complaint on June 30, 2008, further amending the
complaint to challenge the adequacy of the disclosures contained
in the Preliminary Proxy Statement on Form PREM 14A (the
“Preliminary Proxy”) submitted in support of the
proposed merger and asserting a claim against Atari and
Infogrames for aiding and abetting the directors’ and
former directors’ breach of their fiduciary duties.
Plaintiff alleges that the $1.68 per share offering price
represents no premium over the closing price of Atari stock on
March 5, 2008, the last day of trading before Atari
announced the proposed merger transaction. Plaintiff alleges
that in light of Infogrames’ approximately 51.6% ownership
of Atari, Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders have no voice
in deciding whether to accept the proposed merger transaction,
and Plaintiff challenges certain of the “no shop” and
termination fee provisions of the merger agreement. Plaintiff
claims that the named directors are engaging in self-dealing and
acting in furtherance of their own interests at the expense of
those of Atari’s unaffiliated stockholders. Plaintiff also
alleges that the disclosures in the Preliminary Proxy are
deficient in that they fail to disclose material financial
information and the information presented to and considered by
the Board and its advisors. Plaintiff asks the court to enjoin
the proposed merger transaction, or alternatively, to rescind it
in the event that it is consummated. In addition, Plaintiff
seeks damages suffered as a result of the directors’
violation of their fiduciary duties.
The parties have been in discussions regarding a resolution of
the action and are negotiating the terms of such resolution.
Letter
from Coghill Capital Management, LLC
On June 18, 2008, attorneys representing an individual
shareholder, Coghill Capital Management, LLC (“CCM”),
delivered a letter to Infogrames and Atari’s Board alleging
that Atari had sustained damages as a result of entering into
certain contractual arrangements between Atari and Infogrames
and that, as a result, the proposed merger consideration was
inadequate. CCM further alleged that Infogrames prevented Atari
from properly discharging the duties it owed to shareholders and
that certain former and current executive officers and directors
of Infogrames derived improper personal benefits from Atari. CCM
demanded that the Atari Board commence an action against
Infogrames to recover the alleged damages if Infogrames does not
agree to increase the merger consideration to at least $7.00 per
share.
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Item 4.
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Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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None
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(a)
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Exhibits
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31
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.1
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Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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31
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.2
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Acting Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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32
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.1
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Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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32
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.2
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Acting Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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F-42
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the 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.
ATARI, INC.
Name: James Wilson
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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Date: August 13, 2008
Name: Arturo Rodriguez
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Title:
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Acting Chief Financial Officer
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Date: August 13, 2008
F-43
INDEX TO
EXHIBITS
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Exhibit No.
|
|
Description
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|
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31
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.1
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Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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31
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.2
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Acting Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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32
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.1
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Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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32
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.2
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Acting Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
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F-44
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, James Wilson, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on
Form 10-Q
for the period ended June 30, 2008, of Atari, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and
other financial information included in this report, fairly
present in all material respects the financial condition,
results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of,
and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(e)
and
15d-15(e))
and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(f)
and
15d-15(f))
for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or
caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed
under my supervision, to ensure that material information
relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to me by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is
being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting,
or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
designed under our supervision, 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;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s
disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report
my conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure
controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by
this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that
occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter
(the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an
annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably
likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal
control over financial reporting.
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I
have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal
control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s
auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in
the design or operation of internal control over financial
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the
registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and
report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Name: James Wilson
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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Date: August 13, 2008
F-45
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Arturo Rodriguez, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on
Form 10-Q
for the period ended June 30, 2008, of Atari, Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not
misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and
other financial information included in this report, fairly
present in all material respects the financial condition,
results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of,
and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are
responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls
and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(e)
and
15d-15(e))
and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(f)
and
15d-15(f))
for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or
caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed
under my supervision, to ensure that material information
relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to me by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this report is
being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting,
or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
designed under our supervision, 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;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s
disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report
my conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure
controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by
this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that
occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter
(the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an
annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably
likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal
control over financial reporting.
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I
have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal
control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s
auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of
directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in
the design or operation of internal control over financial
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the
registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and
report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Name: Arturo Rodriguez
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Title:
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Acting Chief Financial Officer
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Date: August 13, 2008
F-46
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION
OF THE CEO AND ACTING CFO OF ATARI, INC.
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Atari, Inc. (the
“Company”) on
Form 10-Q
for the period ended June 30, 2008 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
“Report”), I, James Wilson, Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of
section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly
presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and
result of operations of the Company.
Name: James Wilson
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Title:
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Chief Executive Officer
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Date: August 13, 2008
F-47
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION
OF THE CEO AND ACTING CFO OF ATARI, INC.
PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Atari, Inc. (the
“Company”) on
Form 10-Q
for the period ended June 30, 2008 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
“Report”), I, Arturo Rodriguez, Acting Chief
Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to
18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of
section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly
presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and
result of operations of the Company.
Name: Arturo Rodriguez
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Title:
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Acting Chief Financial Officer
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Date: August 13, 2008
F-48
SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
ATARI, INC.
October 8,
2008
Please date, sign and mail
your proxy card in the
envelope provided,
or deliver a proxy
by internet or telephone,
as soon
as possible.
ê Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. ê
ATARI, INC.
Special Meeting of Stockholders
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned stockholder of ATARI, INC. (the “Company”) hereby appoints Jim Wilson, Arturo
Rodriguez and Kristina Pappa, and each of them, proxies of the undersigned, with full power of
substitution to each of them, to vote all shares of the Company which the undersigned is entitled
to vote at the Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the offices of Atari, Inc., 417 Fifth
Avenue, New York, New York 10016, on October 8, 2008 at
10:00 am, local time, and at any adjournment or postponement of that meeting, and the undersigned
authorizes and instructs the proxies or their substitutes to vote as provided on the reverse side.
SEE REVERSE
SIDE
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
THE PROPOSAL SET FORTH ON THE REVERSE SIDE.
(Continued and to be dated and signed on the other side.)
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ATARI, INC.
417 5TH AVE.
NEW YORK, NY 10016
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VOTE BY
INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for
electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time
the day before the cut-off date or meeting date. Have your
proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the
instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic
voting instruction form.
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions
up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the cut-off date
or meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call
and then follow the instructions.
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to ATARI, INC.,
c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
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ATARI1
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KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR PROPOSAL 1. |
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Vote On Proposals |
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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1.
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To adopt and approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 30, 2008, by and among Atari, Inc., Infogrames Entertainment S.A. and Irata Acquisition Corp. |
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¨
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¨ |
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In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon any other matters that may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. |
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THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED. IN THE ABSENCE OF DIRECTION THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSAL ABOVE. |
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Receipt of the Notice of Special Meeting and the Proxy Statement and the annexes thereto is acknowledged.
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Note:
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Please sign exactly as your name or names appear(s) on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder must sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, include the corporate name and the title of the duly authorized officer who signs for it. If the signer is a partnership, sign in partnership name by an authorized person.
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Signature
[PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]
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Date
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Signature (Joint Owners)
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Date |
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