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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 12, 2004 Registration No. 333-________ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ____________________ FORM SB-2 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 55 Access Road, Suite 700 DELAWARE 52-1412493
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886
(401) 738-7560
(Name, address and telephone number of Registrant)
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
W. Gerald Newmin
55 Access Road, Suite 700
Warwick, Rhode Island 02886
(401) 738-7560
With Copies To:
Mark R. Ziebell, Esq.
Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
1920 Main Street, Suite 1200
Irvine, California 92614
(949) 253-2700
Approximate date of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. [ ]
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $18,910,132 as of August 10, 2004, based upon the price at which such stock was last sold in the principal market for such stock as of such date.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title Of Each Class Of Securities To Be Registered |
Amount To Be Registered(2) |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share(2) |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount Of Registration Fee(78) |
Common stock, |
40,000,000 |
$0.22 |
$8,800,000 |
$1,114.96 |
Common stock, |
5,800,000 |
$0.22 |
$1,276,000 |
$ 161.67 |
Common stock, |
2,107,631 |
$0.22 |
$ 463,679 |
$ 58.75 |
Common stock, |
21,742,729 |
$0.22 |
$4,783,400 |
$ 606.06 |
Total |
69,650,360 |
$15,323,079 |
$1,941.43 |
(1) |
In the event of a stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction involving our common stock, in order to prevent dilution, the number of shares registered shall automatically be increased to cover the additional shares in accordance with Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). |
(2) |
In accordance with Rule 457(c), the aggregate offering price of shares of our common stock is estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee payable pursuant hereto, using the average of the bid and ask price reported by The Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board for our common stock on August 10, 2004, which was $0.22 per share and, with respect to shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants or conversion of loans, the higher of (i) such average sales price or (ii) the conversion price of the preferred stock, the exercise price of the warrants or the conversion price of the loans, as applicable. |
(3) |
Represents the maximum number of shares of our common stock to be sold issuable upon the conversion of outstanding shares of our Series I convertible preferred stock. |
(4) |
Represents the number of shares of our common stock to be sold issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants issued in connection with the issuance of the Series I convertible preferred stock. |
(5) |
Represents shares of our common stock to be sold that are currently issued and outstanding. |
(6) |
Represents the number of shares of our common stock to be sold issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants, other than warrants issued in connection with the issuance of Series I Convertible Preferred Stock, at exercise prices ranging from $0.06 to $0.12 per share. |
(7) |
Pursuant to Rule 457(p) of the Securities Act, the Registrant is offsetting against the filing fee for this Registration Statement the amount of $982.18, representing the filing fee paid by the Registrant in connection with its Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed on May 14, 2004, File No. 333-115564, which was subsequently withdrawn . |
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 10, 2004
PROSPECTUS
69,650,360
SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK
This prospectus relates to offer of up to 69,650,360 shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share, by the 38 selling stockholders identified on page 13-14 of this prospectus. Of these shares:
· |
2,107,631 are currently issued and outstanding, |
· |
a maximum of 40,000,000 are issuable upon conversion of outstanding shares of our Series I Convertible Preferred Stock, which are convertible pursuant to a formula, provided that the conversion price shall not be less than $0.05 nor more than $0.20 per share; |
· |
up to 5,800,000 are issuable upon exercise of warrants we issued in connection our issuance of the Series I Convertible Preferred Stock; and |
· |
up to 21,742,729 are issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants, at exercise prices ranging from $0.06 to $0.12 per share. |
All of the common shares, preferred shares and warrants were previously issued in private placement transactions.
Our common stock is registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is listed on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board Market under the symbol "MUCL". On August 10, 2004, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board Market was $0.22 per share.
INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES SIGNIFICANT RISKS. SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 3 FOR A DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN FACTORS THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING THE SHARES OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THIS PROSPECTUS IS INCLUDED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT WAS FILED BY MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS CANNOT SELL THEIR SHARES UNTIL THAT REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THE SHARES OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SHARES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
The date of this Prospectus is August 10, 2004
______________________________________________________________________________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT |
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DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES |
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You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this document may only be accurate on the date of this document. However, in the event of a material change, this prospectus will be amended or supplemented accordingly.
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SUMMARY INFORMATION
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information, financial statements and other data appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. At various places in this Prospectus, we may make reference to the "company" or "us" or "we." When we use those terms, unless the context otherwise requires, we mean MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
Company Overview
MultiCell Technologies, Inc., (MultiCell) was incorporated in Delaware on April 28, 1970 as "Exten Ventures, Inc". It operates two subsidiaries, MCT Rhode Island Corp. ("MCT") and Xenogenics Corporation ("Xenogenics"). As used herein, the "Company" refers to MultiCell, together with MCT and Xenogenics. Effective April 1, 2004, we changed our name from Exten Industries, Inc. to MultiCell Technologies, Inc. Our principal offices are at 55 Access Road, Suite 700, Warwick, RI 02886, (401) 738-7560.
We acquired MultiCell Associates, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation, in September 2001, for $2.2 million in cash and stock.
We are a global leader in producing immortalized human liver cells (hepatocytes). Our intellectual property portfolio positions us as a leader in the creation of highly functional, immortalized non-tumorigenic human hepatocyte cell lines. Our proprietary human cell lines are ideal for developing highly predictive, high throughput drug discovery assays and enable innovative clinical approaches for treating a variety of liver-related diseases. We are unique due to our understanding of the function, engineering and culturing of liver cells. Although our unique intellectual property and capabilities are applicable to other cell types, we have strategically chosen to focus on liver cells.
Hepatocytes are the most biochemically complex cells in the human body and play an important role in the synthesis and metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, and lipids. The hepatocyte is also the major player in the activation or inactivation of foreign toxic substances (xenobiotics). Understanding how the human body will react to foreign substances entering the body is a major part of all pharmaceutical and drug compound development. Indeed, hepatotoxicity is the major adverse drug reaction that leads to withdrawal of new drugs from the market. If a pharmaceutical company can understand how the liver metabolizes and reacts to a substance early in the new drug development cycle, millions of development dollars and years of time can potentially be saved.
Our immortalized liver cells have demonstrated the ability to replace primary cells from donated human livers which need continuous procurement and quality testing. Expanded from our cell banks, our cell lines have significant cost and quality control advantages over primary cell sources. Our proprietary human immortalized hepatic cell lines radically differ from other liver cell lines in that they are non-tumorigenic yet regenerate while maintaining liver function. A prolific cell without liver function is of little value. Our cell lines provide a consistent and functional resource for drug discovery and toxicology research, and can also be clinically utilized for cell-based therapies to supplement liver function and regeneration. Our cell lines also naturally produce therapeutic plasma proteins that may be used in new medicines or treatment.
In 2003 we signed an exclusive manufacturing and distribution license agreement for our cell lines with XenoTech, LLC, which is an unrelated party. The agreement is for seven years with minimum royalties of $18 million due the Company in order for XenoTech to maintain exclusivity. XenoTech was founded in 1994 by Andrew Parkinson, Ph.D. to study drug metabolism. XenoTech provides products and contract research services to optimize discovery, development and approval of new drugs and has an established sales and marketing organization to the global pharmaceutical industry. They offer one of the most extensive selections of products for drug metabolism-related research, including liver and pulmonary microsomes and S9, cryopreserved hepatocytes from humans as well as six other toxicologically relevant species, antibodies directed against CYP enzymes, and recombinant CYPs and bDNA probe sets. XenoTech also sells an exclusive culture media for optimum growth of the hepatocyt es.
We are differentiated by: 1) our understanding of the function and manipulation of the liver cell and 2) our understanding of cell therapy and cell transplantation. Our intellectual property portfolio positions us for use of immortalized mammalian hepatocytes for treating liver disease. We have established a worldwide reputation as a source of licensed immortalized liver cell lines.
One application for our hepatocytes is use in an artificial liver device. Xenogenics, our majority-owned (56.4%) subsidiary, owns all of the rights to the SybiolR synthetic bio-liver device, for which notice of allotment for a United States patent has been issued. The Sybiol "artificial liver" is intended to act as a substitute liver for a patient whose own liver is healing from injury or disease or for use as an artificial liver "bridge" for transplant patients awaiting a donor organ. This is accomplished by exposing the plasma portion of the blood to functioning liver cells, which perform the functions of the damaged liver of the patient. The key to our device, or other devices attempting to gain approval, is the functionality of the cells. The device may also be used to assist and improve the quality of life for patients with chronic liver disease or episodic liver trauma. Xenogenics has not generated any revenues. We estimate that we will need approximately $500,000 to $750, 000 to validate the Sybiol synthetic bio-liver device through large animal testing prior to the initiation of clinical trials.
Recent Developments
On July 13, 2004, we completed a $2 million financing through the sale of 20,000 shares of our Series I Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series I Preferred Stock") at $100 per share. The financing was completed in a private placement with the Mercator Advisory Group and its related funds. We received the first $1 million on July 13, 2004, and will receive the second $1 million on the day which is two days following our initial filing of this registration statement. Each share of our Series I Preferred Stock is convertible at any time into shares of our common stock at 80% of the average of the lowest three inter-day trading prices of our common stock during the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the conversion date, with a maximum conversion price of $0.20 per share and a minimum conversion price of $0.05 per share. The Series I Preferred Stock is non-voting, bears no dividend, and has a preference of priority in liquidation over common and prior or subsequent s eries of preferred stock, if any.
As part of this financing, we issued three-year warrants to the Mercator Advisory Group and its related funds entitling them to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of our common stock at the lower of $0.20 per share or the average of the ten closing prices of our common stock during the ten trading days immediately preceding the exercise date. We also paid to Mercator Advisory Group $100,000 as due diligence fees and $15,000 as reimbursement of legal expenses.
In connection with the financing, we also paid $160,000 to Ascendiant Securities, LLC, as placement agent, and issued to Ascendiant a three-year warrant to purchase up to 800,000 shares of our common stock at the lower of $0.20 per share or the average of the ten closing prices of our common stock during the ten trading days immediately preceding the exercise date.
About the Offering
We are registering the resale of our common stock by the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders and the specific number of shares that they each may resell through this prospectus are listed on page 29-30. The shares offered for resale by this prospectus include the following:
· |
2,107,631 common shares that are currently issued and outstanding, |
· |
40,000,000 common shares that represent the maximum number of shares that may be acquired by certain selling stockholders upon conversion of outstanding shares of our Series I Preferred Stock as of August 10, 2004, |
· |
27,542,729 common shares that represent the number of shares that may be acquired by the selling stockholders upon the exercise of outstanding warrants as of August 10, 2004. |
Information on Outstanding Shares
The number of shares of our common stock outstanding before and after this offering is set forth below:
· |
Common stock outstanding before this offering |
122,108,708 shares |
· |
Common stock outstanding after this offering |
189,651,437 shares |
The number set forth above for the shares of common stock outstanding before this offering is the number of shares of our common stock outstanding on August 10, 2004.
The numbers set forth above do not include 6,436,334 and 4,390,463 shares of our common stock that, as of the date of this prospectus, are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and conversion of convertible loans, respectively. The options are exercisable at prices ranging from $.06 to $.61 per share, with a weighted average exercise price of $.18 per share. The convertible loans are convertible at prices ranging from $.15 to $.20.
Use of Proceeds
We will not realize any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares offered by the selling stockholders. See "Use of Proceeds".
The shares of our common stock being offered for sale are highly speculative and involve a high degree of risk. Only those persons able to lose their entire investment should purchase these shares. Before purchasing any of these shares, you should carefully consider the following factors relating to our business and prospects. You should also understand that this prospectus contains "forward-looking statements." These statements appear throughout this prospectus and include statements as to our intent, belief or current expectations or projections with respect to our future operations, performance or position. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results, including the results of our operations, could differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth below and elsewhere in this prospectus.
We have incurred a net loss of $1,984,053 for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003 and $1,013,123 for the six months ended May 31, 2004, may incur future losses and may not achieve or sustain profitability.
Since we commenced operations on April 28, 1970, we have incurred an accumulated deficit of $18,240,105 as of May 31, 2004. For the fiscal year ending November 30, 2003 and the six months ended May 31, 2004, we incurred net losses of $1,984,053 and $1,013,123, respectively. Our losses for the past four years and six months
have primarily resulted from significant costs associated with the development of the Sybiol® Bio-synthetic liver device, research and development relating to our cell line and other operating costs. We expect that we will continue to incur net losses until we are able to generate sufficient operating revenues to support expenditures. However, we may never generate positive cash flow or sufficient revenue to fund our operations and we may never attain profitability.If we do not obtain adequate financing to fund our future research and development and operations, we may not be able to successfully implement our business plan.
We have in the past increased, and plan to increase further, our operating expenses in order to fund higher levels of product development, undertake and complete the regulatory approval process, and increase our administrative resources in anticipation of future growth. We will increase our administrative resources to support the hiring of additional employees which will enable us to expand our research and product development capacity. We intend to finance our operations with revenues from royalties generated from our license agreement with XenoTech, by selling capital stock to investors (such as our recently completed $2 million private placement with Mercator Advisory Group and its affiliated funds), through new strategic alliances, and by acquiring or merging with companies that generate revenues and positive cash flows and use such cash flows to cover our operating needs, and continuing to use our common stock to pay for consulting and professional services.
We also anticipate the need for additional financing in the future in order to fund continued research and development and to respond to competitive pressures. We anticipate that our future cash requirements may be fulfilled by product sales, the sale of additional equity securities, debt financing and/or the sale or licensing of our technologies. We cannot guarantee, however, that enough future funds will be generated from operations or from the aforementioned or other potential sources. Although we recently raised gross proceeds of $2 million in a private placement, we do not have any binding commitment with regard to future financing. If adequate funds are not available or not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to fund expansion, develop new or enhance existing products and services or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If we finance our operations by acquiring other companies using our common stock, the issuance of such shares could adversely affect our stock price and dilute your ownership percentage.
If we resort to the acquisition of profitable, revenue generating companies as a means of financing our operations, we will likely need to issue a substantial number of shares of our common stock to acquire a profitable company which would dilute the percentage ownership of our other shareholders any may adversely affect the price of our stock
If our ownership interest in Xenogenics continues to decline, the value of your investment in our company could be adversely affected.
During the past several years our ownership interest in Xenogenics has decreased from 100% in 1997 to the current 56.4%. The decrease in our ownership percentage is due to our having sold equity in Xenogenics in an effort to raise capital to fund Xenogenics' continuing research and development and operations. As part of the prior offering of Xenogenics' equity, there remains outstanding 211,566 options to purchase common stock of Xenogenics, which, assuming the exercise of all options, would reduce our ownership percentage in Xenogenics to 53.4%.
Although we do not have any future plans to sell any additional equity in Xenogenics, circumstances may arise in which the sale of equity in Xenogenics is the only way we can raise the capital necessary to keep Xenogenics operational. The sale of additional equity in Xenogenics could adversely affect the value of your investment in our common stock.
As of November 30, 2003, we had incurred an accumulated deficit of $17,226,982 as a result of recurring losses, had current liabilities that exceeded current assets by $596,404 and were in default on certain notes payable. Our independent registered public accounting firm, J.H. Cohn LLP, included an explanatory paragraph in the report on their audit of our 2003 consolidated financial statements which stated, in effect, that such matters raised substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. As of May 31, 2004, we had an unaudited accumulated deficit of $18,240,105 and had current liabilities that exceed current assets by $962,510. Current liabilities include $735,296 of deferred revenues on the XenoTech license agreement. We believe, but cannot assure, the recent placement of $2.0 million of new equity, combined with anticipated royalty payments from XenoTech and the exercise of stock options and warrants will provide sufficient working capital through at least August 1 0, 2005. Our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of the uncertainty related to our ability to continue as a going concern. Although, as explained above, we intend to finance our operations with revenues from royalties generated from our license agreement with XenoTech, by selling shares of our capital stock to investors, through new strategic alliances, and by acquiring or merging with companies that generate revenues and positive cash flows and using such cash flows to cover our operating needs, and continuing to use our common stock to pay for consulting and professional services, there can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully acquire the necessary capital to continue on-going research efforts and other operations through the year ending November 30, 2004 and thereafter.
We have not yet begun the regulatory approval process for our Sybiol® synthetic bio-liver device with the Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA"). We halted testing of the original device in early 2001 pending our development of a new design for the liver device to improve oxygen availability. Improved oxygen availability increases the viability of the hepatocytes which is critical to an efficacious liver-assist device. The redesign of a prototype device was completed in late 2002. When our financial position allows, we then plan to initiate the regulatory approval process with the FDA, which may take 3 to 5 years for completion and cost in excess of $5.0 million. These costs include both the work on the Sybiol device and the associated cell line. As a result of Xenogenics' failure to complete the development of any products, Xenogenics has not generated any revenues from the sale of products. As a result, we are dependent on the financial resources of third parties and we cannot give any assurances that we will ever successfully bring this product to market.
Under FDA rules, we are required to obtain scientific data to support any health claims regarding human use that we make concerning our products. We will not be able to commercialize certain products until we complete clinical testing, have acceptable clinical trial results and receive regulatory approval from the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities, as appropriate. The FDA and other regulatory authorities require that the safety and efficacy of a biologic product be supported by results from adequate and well-controlled clinical trials before approval for commercial sale with respect to use for humans. If the results of the clinical trials of our products do not demonstrate that they are safe and effective, we will not be able to submit to the FDA relevant applications for pre-market approval. Further, the results of pre-clinical testing and initial clinical trials do not necessarily predict how safe and effective a product will be when it is evaluated in large-scale advanced clini cal trials. It is possible that unacceptable side effects may be discovered at any time. A number of companies have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials, despite promising results in earlier trials. Even if we believe the clinical trials that we conduct demonstrate the safety and efficacy of a product, the FDA and other regulatory authorities may not accept our assessment of the results. The process of obtaining regulatory clearances or approvals is costly, uncertain and time-consuming.
We cannot predict the duration or success of any pre-clinical and clinical trials that we undertake. The rate of completion of the clinical trials for our products will depend on many factors, including obtaining adequate clinical supplies and the rate of patient recruitment. Patient recruitment is a function of many factors, including the size of the patient population, the proximity of patients to clinical sites, and the eligibility criteria for patients who may enroll in the trial. We may experience increased costs, program delays, or both, if there are delays in patient enrollment in the clinical trials.
The Sybiol synthetic bio-liver device, which is in an early stage of development, may not be completed in time to allow production or marketing due to the inherent risks of new product development, limitations on financing, competition, loss of key personnel and other factors. Unanticipated clinical or regulatory obstacles can arise at any time and result in lengthy and costly delays or in a determination that further development is not feasible. Furthermore, the development of the Sybiol device has taken longer than anticipated and could be additionally delayed. Therefore, there can be no assurance of timely completion and introduction of such product on a cost-effective basis, or that such product, if introduced, will achieve market acceptance such that it will sustain us or allow us to achieve profitable operations.
Because we are significantly smaller than many other medical technology companies, we may be at a competitive disadvantage if such companies introduce products that are similar to ours. Most of the other medical companies that could be potential competitors have greater capital resources, more significant research and development programs and facilities, and greater experience in the production, marketing and distribution of medical products than we do. There are a number of companies attempting to develop a liver assist device system as well as related cells. Our ability to compete effectively could be adversely affected if one of the more established companies that can devote significant resources to the development, sale and marketing of its products, develops a product that achieves commercial success.
If we do not successfully manage future growth, our ability to complete production of our products according to our current schedule may be adversely affected.
Currently, we have six full-time employees and one part-time employee. We have plans to expand our operations over the next 12 months by adding employees. If we are unable to manage our anticipated future growth effectively with its resulting increases in operating, administrative, financial, accounting and personnel systems, our ability to complete production of our products on schedule could be adversely affected.
Our highly volatile stock price and trading volume may adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock.
The market price of our common stock, as well as the market prices of securities of companies in the biotechnology sector generally, has been highly volatile and is likely to continue to be highly volatile. For example, the market price of our common stock traded as high as $1.16 per share during October of 2003 up from $0.06 six weeks earlier, and recently increased 150% in one day following the announcement of our agreement with Pfizer. While the reasons for the volatility of the market price of our common stock and its trading volume are sometimes unknown, in general the market price of our common stock may be significantly impacted by many factors, including, but not limited to:
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Announcements of technological innovations or new commercial products by us or our competitors; |
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Publicity regarding actual or potential clinical trial results relating to products under development by us or our competitors; |
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Our financial results or that of our competitors; |
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Announcements of licensing agreements, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and any other transaction that involves the sale or use of our technologies or competitive technologies; |
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Developments and/or disputes concerning our patent or proprietary rights; |
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Regulatory developments and product safety concerns; |
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General stock trends in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry sectors; |
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Economic trends and other external factors, including but not limited to, interest rate fluctuations, economic recession, inflation, foreign market trends, national crisis, and disasters; and |
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Health care reimbursement reform and cost-containment measures implemented by government agencies. |
These and other external factors have caused and may continue to cause the market price and demand for our common stock to fluctuate substantially, which may limit or prevent investors from readily selling their shares of common stock and may otherwise negatively affect the liquidity of our common stock. The volatility of our common stock could cause you to lose a substantial portion of your investment if you purchased your shares at the higher end of the volatility.
Our common stock is subject to penny stock regulation, which may affect its liquidity.
Our common stock is subject to regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") relating to the market for penny stocks. Penny stock, as defined by the Penny Stock Reform Act, is any equity security not traded on a national securities exchange or quoted on the NASDAQ National or Small Cap Market that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share. The penny stock regulations generally require that a disclosure schedule explaining the penny stock market and the risks associated therewith be delivered to purchasers of penny stocks and impose various sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell penny stocks to persons other than established customers and accredited investors. The broker-dealer must make a suitability determination for each purchaser and receive the purchaser's written agreement prior to the sale. In addition, the broker-dealer must make certain mandated disclosures, including the actual sale or purchase price and actual bid offer quotati ons, as well as the compensation to be received by the broker-dealer and certain associated persons. The regulations applicable to penny stocks may severely affect the market liquidity for our common stock and could limit your ability to sell your securities in the secondary market.
The exercise of outstanding options and warrants, the conversion of outstanding Series I convertible preferred stock and debt and the issuance of additional options, warrants, preferred stock and convertible debt may adversely affect our stock price and your percentage ownership.
At August 10, 2004, there are outstanding options to purchase 6,436,334 shares of our common stock, warrants to purchase 27,542,729 shares of our common stock, up to a maximum of 40,000,000 shares issuable upon conversion of outstanding Series I preferred stock and 4,390,463 shares issuable upon conversion of outstanding loans. As a result or our recurring net losses and limited liquid resources, we routinely issue stock or options to pay for services performed. In the future, we may grant more options under stock option plans, as compensation for services performed or otherwise. During 2000, we allocated 35 million shares of common stock for issuance as performance awards under our 2000 Employee Benefit Plan and 5.0 million shares of common stock reserved for issuance as options or restricted stock awards under our 2000 Stock Incentive Plan to employees, outside directors, consultants and vendors. The exercise of stock options and warrants and the conversion of preferred stock and not es that are presently outstanding or may be issued in the future will dilute the percentage ownership of our other stockholders.
The loss of W. Gerald Newmin, the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, and/or Ronald Faris, Ph.D., the Chief Science Officer of the Company, would adversely affect our ability to succeed.
We depend heavily on the contributions and efforts of W. Gerald Newmin, and Ronald Faris, Ph.D., who have over 50 years of cumulative experience in the health care industry. Their departures would deprive us of substantial experience, capability and vision which we need to successfully complete and market some of our products. We do not currently have an employment agreement with Mr. Newmin. We have no assurance, therefore, that either of them will remain in our employ. We do not maintain key man insurance on any of these individuals.
Our employment agreement with Ronald Faris, Ph.D., the Chief Science Officer of the Company, only requires him to devote 60% of his business time to us.
On September 13, 2001, we signed an Employment Agreement with Ronald Faris, Ph.D., the Chief Science Officer of the Company that requires him to devote 60% of his business time to our business. From the date of the Employment Agreement until March 31, 2004, Dr. Faris will continue to work at Rhode Island Hospital under a grant received from the National Institutes of Health. A new agreement with Dr. Faris is being finalized, pursuant to which, effective May 1, 2005, he will commence devoting 100% of his time to our Company.
Our limited ability to protect our intellectual property rights may adversely affect our ability to compete.
Our success depends significantly upon proprietary technology. We rely on a combination of intellectual property laws, licensing agreements, non-disclosure agreements and other contractual provisions to establish, maintain and protect our proprietary rights, all of which afford only limited protection. A notice of allowance for the patent for our liver assist device was issued by the United States Patent office in 2003. We also have a trademark for the name "Sybiol" registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The Company has exclusive rights to use several patents and one patent pending for various cell lines and one prosthetic device. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to infringe aspects of our products or services or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. We will monitor the situation and, if warranted, we are ready to file a complaint and take whatever action we deem necessary to protect our intellectu al property rights.
Except for historical information, the information contained in this prospectus and in our reports filed with the SEC are "forward looking" statements about our expected future business and financial performance. These statements involve known and unknown risks, including, among others, risks resulting from economic and market conditions, the regulatory environment in which we operate, pricing pressures, accurately forecasting operating and capital expenditures and clinical trial costs, competitive activities, uncertainties of litigation and other business conditions, and are subject to uncertainties and assumptions contained elsewhere in this prospectus. We base our forward-looking statements on information currently available to us, and, in accordance with the requirements of federal securities laws, we will disclose to you material developments affecting such statements. Our actual operating results and financial performance may prove to be very different from what we have predicted as of the date of this prospectus due to certain risks and uncertainties. The risks described above in the section entitled "Risk Factors" specifically address some of the factors that may affect our future operating results and financial performance
We will not receive any proceeds from the resale of our common stock by the selling stockholder. We may receive proceeds from the exercise of the warrants held by the selling stockholders, although some warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis. We intend to use any of the proceeds received from the exercise of warrants held by the selling stockholders for working capital purposes. Pending the use of any such proceeds, we intend to invest these funds in short-term, interest bearing investment-grade securities.
MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Our common stock is traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol MUCL.OB. Our stock is considered penny stock and is, therefore, subject to the Securities Enforcement Remedies and Penny Stock Reform Act of 1990. Penny stock is defined as any equity security not traded on a national stock exchange or quoted on NASDAQ and that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share. Additional disclosure is required in connection with any trades involving a stock defined as a penny stock (subject to certain exceptions), including the delivery, prior to any such transaction, of a disclosure schedule explaining the penny stock market and the associated risks. Broker-dealers who recommend such low-priced securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors satisfy special sales practice requirements, including a requirement that they make an individualized written suitability determination for the purchase and receive the purchaser's written consent prior to the tran saction.
The table below gives the range of high and low bid prices of our common stock for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2003 and November 30, 2002 based on information provided by the OTC Bulletin Board. Such over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without mark-up, mark-down or commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions or a liquid trading market.
Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2004 |
||
High |
Low |
|
First quarter |
$.74 |
$.49 |
Second quarter |
$.56 |
$.39 |
Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2003 |
||
High |
Low |
|
First quarter |
$.09 |
$.05 |
Second quarter |
$.08 |
$.05 |
Third quarter |
$.12 |
$.09 |
Fourth quarter |
$1.16 |
$.09 |
Fiscal Year Ended November 30, 2002 |
||
High |
Low |
|
First quarter |
$.14 |
$.08 |
Second quarter |
$.11 |
$.08 |
Third quarter |
$.08 |
$.04 |
Fourth quarter |
$.08 |
$.04 |
No cash dividends have been paid on our common stock for the 2002 and 2003 fiscal years, nor during the six month period ended May 31, 2004, and no change of this policy is under consideration by the Board of Directors.
The payment of cash dividends in the future will be determined by the Board of Directors in light of conditions then existing, including our Company's earnings, financial requirements, and opportunities for reinvesting earnings, business conditions, and other factors. There are otherwise no restrictions on the payment of dividends. The number of shareholders of record of our Company's Common Stock on August 10, 2004 was approximately 8,073.
Dividend Policy
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the expansion of our business. As a result, we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
About MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
MultiCell Technologies, Inc., (MultiCell) was incorporated in Delaware on April 28, 1970 as "Exten Ventures, Inc". It operates two subsidiaries, MCT Rhode Island Corp. ("MCT") and Xenogenics Corporation ("Xenogenics") As used herein, the "Company" refers to MultiCell, together with MCT and Xenogenics. Effective April 1, 2004, we changed our name from Exten Industries, Inc. to MultiCell Technologies, Inc. Our principal offices are at 55 Access Road, Suite 700, Warwick, RI 02886, (401) 738-7560.
We acquired MultiCell Associates, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation, in September 2001, for $2.2 million in cash and stock.
We are a global leader in producing immortalized human liver cells (hepatocytes). Our intellectual property portfolio positions us as a leader in the creation of highly functional, immortalized, non-tumorigenic human hepatocyte cell lines. Our proprietary human cell lines are ideal for developing highly predictive, high throughput drug discovery assays and enable innovative clinical approaches for treating a variety of liver-related diseases. We are unique due to our understanding of the function, engineering and culturing of liver cells. Although our unique intellectual property and capabilities are applicable to other cell types, we have strategically chosen to focus on liver cells.
Hepatocytes are the most biochemically complex cells in the human body and play an important role in the synthesis and metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, and lipids. The hepatocyte is also the major player in the activation or inactivation of foreign toxic substances (xenobiotics). Understanding how the human body will react to foreign substances entering the body is a major part of all pharmaceutical and drug compound development. Indeed, hepatotoxicity is the major adverse drug reaction that leads to withdrawal of new drugs from the market. If a pharmaceutical company can understand how the liver metabolizes and reacts to a substance early in the new drug development cycle, millions of development dollars and years of time can potentially be saved.
Our immortalized liver cells have demonstrated the ability to replace primary cells from donated human livers which need continuous procurement and quality testing. Expanded from our cell banks, our cell lines have significant cost and quality control advantages over primary cell sources. Our proprietary human immortalized hepatic cell lines radically differ from other liver cell lines in that they are non-tumorigenic yet regenerate while maintaining liver function. A prolific cell without liver function is of little value. Our cell lines provide a consistent and functional resource for drug discovery and toxicology research, and can also be clinically utilized for cell-based therapies to supplement liver function and regeneration. The Company's cell lines also naturally produce therapeutic plasma proteins that may be used in new medicines or treatment.
In 2003 we signed an exclusive manufacturing and distribution license agreement for two of our cell lines with XenoTech, LLC. The agreement is for seven years with minimum royalties of $18 million due the Company in order for XenoTech to maintain exclusivity. XenoTech was founded in 1994 by Andrew Parkinson, Ph.D. to study drug metabolism. XenoTech provides products and contract research services to optimize discovery, development and approval of new drugs and has an established sales and marketing organization to the global pharmaceutical industry. They offer one of the most extensive selections of products for drug metabolism-related research, including liver and pulmonary microsomes and S9, cryopreserved hepatocytes from humans as well as six other toxicologically relevant species, antibodies directed against CYP enzymes, and recombinant CYPs and bDNA probe sets.
We are differentiated by: 1) our understanding of the function and manipulation of the liver cell and 2) our understanding of cell therapy and cell transplantation. Our intellectual property portfolio positions us for use of immortalized mammalian hepatocytes for treating liver disease. We have established a worldwide reputation as a source of licensed immortalized liver cell lines.
One application for our hepatocytes is use in an artificial liver device. Xenogenics, our majority-owned (56.4%) subsidiary, owns all of the rights to the SybiolR synthetic bio-liver device, for which notice of allotment for a United States patent has been issued. The Sybiol "artificial liver" is intended to act as a substitute liver for a patient whose own liver is healing from injury or disease or for use as an artificial liver "bridge" for transplant patients awaiting a donor organ. This is accomplished by exposing the plasma portion of the blood to functioning liver cells, which perform the functions of the damaged liver of the patient. The key to our device, or other devices attempting to gain approval, is the functionality of the cells. The device may also be used to assist and improve the quality of life for patients with chronic liver disease or episodic liver trauma.
Xenogenics has not generated any revenues. We estimate that we will need approximately $500,000 to $750,000 to validate the Sybiol synthetic bio-liver device through large animal testing. Assuming we can establish that the Sybiol device can perform liver functions through testing, we plan to joint venture the future development of this product with a major dialysis or pharmaceutical company. After establishing such a partnership, our goal will be to seek and obtain regulatory approval and introduce the Sybiol device for general distribution.
Xenogenics is currently owned as follows:
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. |
56.4% |
Kestrel Equity Partners, Ltd. |
21.7% |
Jack Schaps |
12.5% |
W. Gerald Newmin |
8.0% |
Others |
1.4% |
Total |
100.0% |
Using our immortalized hepatocytes for drug discovery research does not require FDA approval. However, some of our products will be subject to regulation in the United States by the FDA and by comparable regulatory authorities in foreign jurisdictions. Future products including therapeutic plasma proteins, stem cell transplantation and the Sybiol device will be regulated under the Public Health Service Act and the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Using engineered liver cells generated by us for this application will also be regulated by the FDA. Development of a therapeutic product for human use is a multi-step process. After acceptance of a plan by the FDA, animal and human testing must be completed. Human clinical investigations typically involve three phases. Phase I is conducted to evaluate the safety of the experimental product in humans. If acceptable product safety is demonstrated, the Phase II and III studies are initiated. These trials are designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the product in the treatment of a given disease and, typically, are well controlled, closely monitored studies. As Phase II trials are successfully completed, Phase III studies will commence with expanded controlled and uncontrolled trials which are intended to gather additional information about safety and efficacy in order to evaluate the overall risk/benefit relationship of the experimental product and provide an adequate basis for physician labeling. These studies also may compare the safety and efficacy of the experimental device with currently available products. While it is not possible to estimate the amount of time that will be required to complete Phase I, II and III studies, this process, often dependant on the availability of patients, may last three to five years.
We have not yet begun human clinical trials for the Sybiol device. Once the device has demonstrated functionality, the Company intends to seek joint venture arrangements with major renal dialysis companies to complete the development and commercialization of this product.
Presently, our focus is on the generation of short-term revenue to stabilize our cash position. Most pharmaceutical companies in the world have a need for highly functional human liver cells. The engineered liver cells developed by the Company appear to meet many of these needs and we have begun to generate revenues from these cells through our exclusive sales and distribution agreement with XenoTech. In late 2003, we signed an exclusive sales and distribution agreement with XenoTech, LLC. XenoTech will pay a royalty to the Company on all sales of cells and cell products. The agreement is for seven years and calls for annual minimum royalty payments aggregating $18 million over a seven-year period in order to maintain the exclusive arrangement.
With respect to the Company's efforts on behalf of Xenogenics, before human studies may begin, the cells provided for the Sybiol system by the Company will be subjected to the same FDA scrutiny as the Sybiol device. The Company will need to demonstrate sufficient process controls to meet strict standards for a complex medical system. This means the cell production facility will need to meet the same standards as those pertaining to a pharmaceutical company. The cells may be produced in our own facility or by a manufacturing partner with the requisite skills and equipment that meet FDA requirements. Our plan is to partner with a major pharmaceutical company to bring our cells to market. The expertise of such a partner for such a complex endeavor would be invaluable in completing such a program.
About Our Revenues
The Company signed an exclusive agreement with XenoTech pursuant to which XenoTech will distribute two of our engineered cell lines. The agreement calls for XenoTech to make annual minimum royalty payments in order for it to retain the exclusive distribution rights to our cell lines The aggregate of the foregoing minimum payments over the seven year term is approximately $18 million.
In early 2003, Pfizer signed a 15-year non-exclusive license agreement for further research use of our two cell lines.
Patents and Proprietary Technology
Any proprietary protection that our Company can obtain and maintain will be important to our business. The Company has an exclusive, long-term license agreement with Rhode Island Hospital for use of the following patents owned by the Hospital related to liver cell lines and Liver Assist Devices (LADs):
US Patent #6,017,760, Isolation and Culture of Porcine Hepatocytes, expires October 9, 2015; |
|
US Patent #6,107,043, Immortalized Hepatocytes, expires February 8, 2019; |
|
US Patent #5,043,260, Perfusion Device for Hepatocytes, expires August 27, 2008; and |
|
US Patent #4,795,459, Implantable Prosthetic Device (Endothelial) expires January 3, 2006. |
|
US Patent #6129911, Liver Stem Cell, expires October 10, 2017 |
Once we have begun to generate revenues and pay royalties, the annual license fee structure does not apply. We will pay a 5% royalty until we pay Rhode Island Hospital an aggregate of $550,000. After that, the royalty percentage decreases to 2% for the life of the patents.
Xenogenics was notified by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on November 3, 2003 that its patent application for an "Artificial Liver Apparatus And Method", the Sybiol Synthetic Bio-Liver Device, will be allowed. The Sybiol trademark is registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, number 2,048,080.
In December of 2003, we acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to US Patent # 6129911, for Liver Stem Cells. We will pay an annual license fee of $20,000 for the first three years and $10,000 per annum thereafter until a product is developed. Once a product is developed, the annual license fee will end and we will pay Rhode Island Hospital a 5% royalty on net sales until we pay an aggregate of $550,000 in royalties and a 2% royalty thereafter until the expiration of the patent.
Need for Government Approval
The use of immortalized hepatocytes for drug discovery purposes does not require FDA approval. However, some of our products will be subject to regulation in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") and by comparable regulatory authorities in foreign jurisdictions. The Sybiol synthetic bio-liver device will be classified as a "biologic" regulated under the Public Health Service Act and the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The use of HepLiu cells for this application will also be regulated by the FDA. Development of a therapeutic product for human use is a multi-step process. First, animal and in vitro testing must establish the potential safety and efficacy of the experimental product for a given disease. Once the product is found to be reasonably safe and potentially efficacious in animals, suggesting that human testing would be appropriate, an Investigational New Drug ("IND") application is submitted to the FDA. FDA approval, which may in some circumstances involve substantial delays, is necessary before commencing clinical investigations.
Clinical investigations typically involve three phases. Phase I is conducted to evaluate the safety of the experimental product in humans, and if possible to obtain early evidence of effectiveness. Phase I studies also evaluate various routes, dosages and schedules of product administration. The demonstration of therapeutic benefit is not required in order to complete Phase I successfully. If acceptable product safety is demonstrated, the Phase II studies are initiated. The Phase II trials are designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the product in the treatment of a given disease and typically, are well controlled and closely monitored studies in a relatively small number of patients. The optimal routes and schedules of administration are determined in these studies.
As Phase II trials are successfully completed, Phase III studies will commence. Phase III studies are expanded controlled and uncontrolled trials which are intended to gather additional information about safety and efficacy in order to evaluate the overall risk/benefit relationship of the experimental product and provide an adequate basis for physician labeling.
These studies also may compare the safety and efficacy of the experimental device with currently available products. While it is not possible to estimate the amount of time that will be required to complete Phase I, II and III studies, this process often lasts several years.
Following the successful completion of these clinical investigations, the preclinical and clinical evidence that has been accumulated is submitted to the FDA as part of a product license application ("PLA"). Approval of the PLA or IND is necessary before a company may market the product. The approval process can be lengthy and depends upon the time it takes to review the submitted data and the FDA's comments on the application, and the time required to provide satisfactory answers or additional clinical data when requested.
In addition to the regulatory framework for product approvals, we are subject to regulation under state and federal law, including requirements regarding occupational safety, laboratory practices, the use, handling and disposition of radioactive materials, environmental protection and hazardous substance control, and may be subject to other present and possible future local, state, federal and foreign regulation, including future regulation of the biotechnology field.
We have not yet begun the regulatory approval process for our Sybiol Bio-synthetic liver device with the FDA. We halted testing of the original device in early 2001pending our development of a new design for the liver device to improve oxygen availability. Improved oxygen availability increases the viability of the hepatocytes that is critical to an efficacious liver-assist device. The redesign of a prototype device was completed in late 2002. We intend, as soon as adequate funding is available, to begin the approval process again. Upon validation of the device design, we will attempt to find a partner to take the project forward. Before human studies may begin, the cells provided for the system will be subjected to the same scrutiny as the Sybiol device. We will need to demonstrate sufficient process controls to meet strict standards for a complex medical system. This means the cell production facility will need to meet the same Good Manufacturing Practice ("GMP") standards as those p ertaining to a pharmaceutical company, for example.
Research and Development
In fiscal year 2003, our Company spent $482,309 on improving the function of our cell lines. Product development costs during fiscal year 2002 were $548,840. These efforts have been towards improving the functionality of our immortalized hepatocytes, introducing products utilizing these cells, and expanding our intellectual property base. Improvements in the function of our immortalized hepatocytes will open even more markets and expand the usage in the current markets for our cells. In November 2002 we were awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the production of therapeutic plasma proteins by immortalized, non-tumorigenic human hepatocytes. The aim of the SBIR award is to compare the function of MultiCell's hepatocyte-derived products to recombinant and plasma-derived therapeutic plasma proteins. A future phase of our therapeutic protein development program will be to validate the commercial application of our hepatocyte-derived proteins. Finally, when funding becomes available, we will begin a research program focused on adult liver stem cells. Dr. Ronald Faris, Chief Scientific Officer, holds a patent on adult stem cells that was obtained from Rhode Island Hospital in December of 2003.
Competition
We are engaged in businesses characterized by extensive research efforts, rapid technological change, and intense competition. A number of companies are pursuing artificial liver devices. However there appears to be only one real non-academic competitor in the immortalized hepatocyte business. Competitors in various stages of development of liver-related products or technologies include:
Amphioxis is focused on the sale of immortalized hepatocytes. The cells they are promoting are based on a cell line developed from a hepatoma (cancerous liver tumor) therefore the efficacy and functionality of the cells are suspect. |
|
Teraklin is a German based company developing a liver filtering system utilizing albumin to remove toxic substances. The system would appear to have use in critically ill patients to bridge them to transplantation. |
|
Hepalife, a Canadian firm, is developing, under a recently extended research contract, a porcine cell line that it believes will have application in a liver assist device. To our knowledge, they do not have an actual device so they would be many years from having a commercially available product. |
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VitaGen (formerly Hepatix) was acquired by Vital Therapies, Inc. after declaring bankruptcy. We believe they hope to restart their clinical trial program at some point in the future. |
|
In Europe, Braun Inc. has demonstrated interest in supporting the development of a complicated and sophisticated hollow fiber device, which has already been used to treat two patients. |
To our knowledge, there is no approved affordable mass produced live-cell bio-artificial liver device currently available on the global market. Our device is intended to closely replicate human liver functions and not just to function as a blood-cleaning device. We believe that the differences in design between existing products and the Sybiol device will result in the Sybiol device achieving commercial success that will ultimately benefit our stockholders.
Employees
As of August 10, 2004 we had had six full-time employees and one part-time employee.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
This Registration Statement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on certain assumptions that may prove to be erroneous and are subject to certain risks including, but not limited to, our ability to complete and fund our research and development. Our actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements.
Overview
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (the "MultiCell") (OTCBB-MUCL ) is a Rhode Island based medical products company whose focus is on the production and application of immortalized human liver cells in the treatment of liver disease. We are a global leader in producing immortalized human liver cells (hepatocytes). Xenogenics Corporation (Xenogenics) is a majority owned subsidiary that is developing a proprietary bio-artificial liver support device that utilizes our immortalized cells.
Hepatocytes are the most bio-chemically complex cells in the human body and play an important role in the use and creation of carbohydrates, amino acids, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids. The hepatocyte is also key to the activation or inactivation of foreign toxic substances (xenobiotics). Understanding how the human body will react to foreign substances entering the body is a major part of all pharmaceutical and chemical development. If a pharmaceutical company can understand how the liver reacts to a substance early in the new drug development cycle, potentially millions of development dollars and years of time can be saved.
Our immortalized liver cells have demonstrated the ability to replace the need for continuous procurement and quality testing of primary cells from donated human livers and the use of animal cells. Expanded from our cell banks, these cell lines have significant cost and quality control advantages over primary cell sources. Our proprietary human immortalized hepatic cell lines radically differ from other immortalized cell lines in that they regenerate while maintaining liver function. These cell lines provide a consistent and functional resource for drug discovery and toxicology research, and can also be applied to liver tissue regeneration. Additionally, our cell lines produce therapeutic proteins that we believe may ultimately be used in new medicines or treatment.
In August, 2003, we signed an exclusive, manufacturing and distribution agreement for two of our cell lines with XenoTech, LLC, which is an unrelated party. The agreement, which is for a term of seven years, required XenoTech to make an initial payment of $800,000 to us in August 2003 for the right to distribute the cells and requires XenoTech to make royalty payments to us of 17.5% of net sales for the direct sale of our cells and 34% for any license agreements signed with pharmaceutical companies. XenoTech must bear all the costs for our manufacturing and sales activities and make specified minimum periodic royalty payments which total $18 million during the contract to maintain distribution exclusivity. XenoTech also made a $700,000 royalty prepayment in August 2003 as an advance against the minimum royalty payment of $800,000 for the first royalty period which will be 16 months. The subsequent 5 royalty periods will be 12 months and the last royalty period is 8 months. We will o nly receive cash payments initially for 25% of the royalties we earn under the agreement with the balance applied against the $700,000 royalty prepayment.
XenoTech has distribution agreements with numerous companies for a variety of pharmaceutical and laboratory products and also performs contract research for pharmaceutical companies. These services position XenoTech to promote, market and distribute our cell lines. They utilize direct and group sales presentations, telemarketing, and direct mail to promote and sell our cells. Additionally, since they have a number of respected scientists and have developed compelling efficacy data for our cells, they frequently give presentations at conferences which help develop sales leads.
We are also developing cell-related platform technologies and products to treat a variety of liver diseases and have identified four clinically relevant applications for cell-based products:
Even with the new agreement with XenoTech, we have operated and will continue to operate by minimizing expenses. The largest expenses relate to personnel and to meeting the legal and reporting requirements of being a public company. By utilizing consultants whenever possible, and asking employees to manage multiple responsibilities, operating costs are kept low. Additionally, a number of employees and the board of directors receive shares of common stock in lieu of cash as all or part of their compensation to help in the effort to minimize monthly cash flow.
We intend to gradually add scientific and support personnel. We want to add specialists for our key research areas. These strategic additions will help us expand our product offerings leading us to additional revenues and profits. Of course as revenues increase, administrative personnel will be necessary to meet the added workload. Other expenses, such as sales and customer service, will increase commensurate with increased revenues.
The Application of Critical Accounting Policies
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 disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Research and Development - Company sponsored research and development costs related to future products and redesign of present products are expensed as incurred.
License Agreements - costs incurred to obtain license agreements are capitalized and amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective agreement.
Revenue Recognition - Through August 10, 2004, our revenues have been generated primarily from grants, contractual research activities and royalties on the license for the sale of cells through our sale and distribution agreement with XenoTech. Management believes such sources of revenue will be part of our ongoing operations. We apply the guidance provided by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements," ("SAB 104"). Under the provision of SAB 104, we recognize revenue from commercial and government research agreements as services are performed, provided a contractual agreement exists, the contract price is fixed or determinable and the collection of the contracted amounts is probable. In situations where we receive payment in advance of the performance of services, such amounts are deferred and recognized as revenue as the related services are performed. Deferred revenues associated with services expected to be performed within the next fiscal year are classified as a current liability. Deferred revenues associated with services expected to be performed at a later date are classified as non-current liabilities.
Stock-Based Compensation - Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 ("SFAS 123"), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" provides for the use of a fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation. However, SFAS 123 allows an entity to continue to measure compensation costs related to stock and stock options issued to employees using the intrinsic value method of accounting prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 ("APB 25"), "Accounting for Stock issued to Employees." Entities electing to continue to use the intrinsic value method must make pro forma disclosures of net income or loss and earnings or loss per share as if a fair value method of accounting had been applied. We have elected to continue to account for its stock-based compensation to employees under APB 25. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123, all other issuances of common stock, stock options, warrants or other equity instruments to employees and non-employees as the con sideration for goods or services received by us are accounted for based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued (unless the fair value of the consideration received can be more reliably measured). Generally, the fair value of any options, warrant or similar equity instruments issued will be estimated based on the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
Long-Lived Assets - Long-lived assets that do not have indefinite lives, such as property and equipment and license agreements, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Impairment losses are recognized when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by such assets are less than their carrying value and, accordingly, all or a portion of such carrying value may not be recoverable. Impairment losses for assets to be held and used are then measured based on the excess, if any, of the carrying amounts of the assets over their fair values. Long-lived assets to be disposed of in a manner that meets certain criteria are stated at the lower of their carrying amounts or fair values less costs to sell and are no longer depreciated.
In December 2002, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure - an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123" ("SFAS 148"). SFAS 148 amends FASB Statement No. 123 to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. However, management does not expect to make such a change. In addition, SFAS 148 amended the disclosure requirements of FASB Statement No. 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. We have included the disclosures required by SFAS 148 in Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
In May 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity" ("SFAS 150"). SFAS 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. SFAS 150 was effective for interim periods beginning after June 15, 2003.
In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities," ("FIN 46") which addresses the consolidation of certain entities ("variable interest entities") in which an enterprise has a controlling financial interest through other than voting interests. FIN 46 requires that a variable interest entity be consolidated by the holder of the majority of the expected risks and rewards associated with the activities of the variable interest entity. FIN 46 was effective for variable interest entities entered into prior to February 1, 2003 in periods beginning after June 15, 2003. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have a material impact on the Company's financial condition or results of operation. In January 2004, the FASB issued a revision to FIN 46, to clarify some requirements and add new scope exceptions. The revised guidance is effective for the first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2003.
The adoption of these new pronouncements did not have or is not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Results of Operations.
The following discussion is included to describe our consolidated financial position and results of operations. The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contain detailed information that should be referred to in conjunction with this discussion.
Year Ended November 30, 2003 Compared to Year Ended November 30, 2002
Revenues. Total revenues decreased to $365,166 for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003 compared to $804,538 for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2002. These revenues came primarily from the rights payment and pre-royalty payment from XenoTech. Although MultiCell received a total of $1,500,000 in cash as part of the XenoTech Agreement, $800,000 is recognized as revenue over the life of the seven-year agreement and $700,000 is recognized as revenue over the first sixteen months of the agreement. We have negotiated a license agreement with Pfizer allowing them to continue to use our cell lines for research now that the collaborative research project that took place in 2002 has been completed.
Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses decreased to $1,973,887 for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003 from $2,241,660 for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2002. The decrease is primarily due to the reduction of expenses associated with consolidating facilities and reducing personnel at the beginning of the fiscal year. These reduced expenses are reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses, product development costs and depreciation and amortization.
The decrease of $200,285 in selling, general and administrative expenses for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003 over the prior year is primarily attributable to reduced staff and operational expenses. The decrease of $66,531 in research and development compared to the prior year expenses is attributable primarily to lab personnel reductions. Depreciation and amortization did not change materially.
Other income/expense. Interest expense for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003, was $205,144, which represents an increase of $80,680 over the prior fiscal year. This increase is attributable to interest expense incurred on the funds borrowed for the acquisition and operation of MultiCell Associates, Inc. in September 2001, as well as other new notes payable which were not outstanding during the prior year. Interest income for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003, was $63,971, as compared to $74,731 for the prior year. This decrease is attributable to less interest paid on notes receivable from loans made in prior years and during the current fiscal year. The amortization of the discount on notes payable for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003, was $251,351, as compared to $132,142 for the prior year. The increase is due to acceleration of the discount due to note conversions during the fiscal year. Minority interest in loss of subsidiary for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2 003 was $1,067, as compared to $12,334 for the prior year.
Net loss. Net loss for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003, was $1,984,053, as compared to a net loss of $1,576,663 for the prior year, representing an increase in net loss of $407,390. This increase is attributable primarily to the lower revenues attained during the year as we transitioned into commercialization of our cell lines, which was only partially offset by greater expense reductions associated with consolidation and personnel reductions.
Six months Ended May 31, 2004 Compared to the Six Months Ended May 31, 2003
Revenue. Total revenue for the six months ended May 31, 2004 was $358,173 as compared to revenue of $179,024 for the same period in the prior fiscal year. The increase in revenue was attributable to the license fee and royalty revenue the Company is recognizing over the seven-year term of the sales and distribution agreement with XenoTech. The agreement and revenue recognition commenced late in the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003 and, accordingly, there was no comparable income included in the six months ended May 31, 2003.
Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses for the six months ended May 31, 2004 were $1,349,825 representing an increase of $577,390 as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year. This increase primarily results from an increase in expenditures on research projects and the issuance of stock purchase warrants valued at $413,300 for financial consulting services.
Other income/expense. Interest expense for the six months ended May 31, 2004 was $47,073, which represents a decrease of $47,340 from the same period in the prior fiscal year. Amortization of debt discount for the six months ended May 31, 2004 was $26,481, which represents a decrease of $63,163 from the same six month period in the prior fiscal year. These decreases were attributable to a reduction in the outstanding debt through payments and conversions of convertible notes and accrued interest into our common stock. Interest income for the period ended May 31, 2004, was $37,083, as compared to $30,504 in the prior fiscal year. This increase is attributable to maintaining higher cash balances.
Net Loss. Net loss for the six months ended May 31, 2004, was $1,013,123, as compared to a net loss of $732,419 for the same period in the prior fiscal year, representing an increase in net loss of $280,704. This increase is primarily attributable to the increase in research expenses and the issuance of stock purchase warrants for financial consulting services.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Through May 31, 2004, our cash needs have been managed primarily through the issuance of debt or equity instruments. During the six months ended May 31, 2004, we had a net loss of $1,013,123. As a result primarily of the inclusion in the loss of non-cash charges for consulting and other services paid through the issuance of common stock and warrants with a fair value of $544,881 and depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and a license agreement of $81,552, net of the effects of deferred income of $352,598 recognized in revenue, our cash used in operating activities totaled $822,603. During that period we were able to make net repayments of loans of $78,500, convert other notes and accrued interest of $302,000 to common stock and received proceeds of $215,710 from the exercise of options and warrants. During the year ended November 30, 2003, we had a net loss of $1,984,053. As a result of the inclusion of non-cash charges for consulting and o ther services paid through the issuance of common stock and warrants with a fair value of $554,205 and depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and a license agreement totaling $166,387, and amortization of discounted notes payable of $251,351, the receipt of $1,500,000 of cash for services to be rendered in the future, of which $160,532 was recognized as revenue in 2003, operating activities generated cash of $442,921 during the year ended November 30, 2003. During that year, we received a total of $325,481 from the issuance of thirteen convertible promissory notes and $270,763 from the exercise of incentive and non-qualified stock options for 2,443,166 shares of our common stock. Also during that year, thirty-five Promissory Notes, with a carrying value of $934,500 in principal and $128,155 of accrued interest were converted into 7,588,422 shares of our common stock.
During the last quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company received $1,500,000 in cash from XenoTech for the rights to distribute our cell lines and prepayment of royalties. XenoTech will also be responsible for any costs related to such sales. This cash along with royalties substantially improved the Company's liquidity position. The additional royalties we will now begin to receive from XenoTech may be sufficient to cover our cash requirements for ongoing operations. As of May 31, 2004, the Company had a cash balance of $380,288 and a working capital deficiency of $961,878. However, a substantial portion of the working capital deficiency was attributable to deferred income of $735,296 which is included in current liabilities that arose from prepayments made by XenoTech under the license agreement that will be recognized in revenue over the term of the agreement and will not require any cash payments by the Company.
On July 13, 2004, we completed a $2 million financing through the sale of 20,000 shares of our Series I Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series I Preferred Stock") at $100 per share. The financing was completed in a private placement with the Mercator Advisory Group and its related funds. Our net proceeds, after the payment of expenses of the private placement, were approximately $1,720,000. Although the receipt of these proceeds has substantially improved our liquidity position, we will continue to maintain our conservative fiscal policy in order to preserve our financial resources. While we expect that we now have enough cash on-hand to cover our current operations through September 2005, unless we raise additional capital and/or begin to receive royalties under our agreement with XenoTech (described below), we may not be able to continue our operations and fund our research efforts beyond that date or fully-implement our business plan. If we do not generate cash flow from our agreement with XenoTech, our ability to raise capital by selling additional equity will be dependent on the price of our stock and its trading volume. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully acquire the necessary capital to continue its ongoing research efforts.
Research Agreements
In October 2002, we were awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the production of therapeutic plasma proteins by immortalized, non-tumorigenic human hepatocytes. The aim of the SBIR award is to compare the function of our hepatocyte-derived products to recombinant and plasma-derived therapeutic plasma proteins. The grant is for $133,000 and will be paid over the grant period of one year as the work is performed.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSONS
The Directors and Executive Officers of the Company as of August 10, 2004 were:
Name |
Age |
Position |
Date elected |
W. Gerald Newmin |
67 |
Chairman, CEO, President, Treasurer, Secretary and Director |
May 17, 2000 |
Ronald Faris, Ph.D. |
51 |
Chief Science Officer |
January 27, 2004 |
Dr. Janice DiPietro |
47 |
Chief Financial Officer |
July 26, 2004 |
Edward Sigmond |
45 |
Director |
May 17, 2000 |
Ann Ryder Randolph |
57 |
Director |
June 21, 2002 |
Thomas A. Page |
70 |
Director |
September 11, 2003 |
W. Gerald Newmin began as a consultant to our Board of Directors in June 1995. On December 1, 1995, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, and President of MultiCell. He currently serves as our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Treasurer and Secretary. Mr. Newmin is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary and a director of Xenogenics and Chairman, Chief Executive officer and Secretary and a director of MCT. Mr. Newmin is past Chairman of the Board of the Corporate Directors Forum, a non-profit organization of over 250 California Board members, which promotes excellence in corporate governance. He serves on the Board of Directors of San Diego Defcomm, a not-for-profit consortium of defense companies based in San Diego and DefenseWeb Technologies, Inc., a privately owned software development company based in San Diego. From 1987 to 1995, Mr. Newmin owned a management consulting firm that provided senior manage ment services to both public and private companies. From 1984 to 1987, Mr. Newmin was President of HealthAmerica Corporation, then the nation's largest publicly held HMO management company. From 1977 to 1984, he was President of International Silver Company, a diversified multi-national manufacturing company that he restructured. From 1973 to 1977, Mr. Newmin was Vice President and Western Regional Director for American Medicorp, Inc., and managed 23 acute care hospitals in the Western United States. From 1962 to 1973, at Whittaker Corporation, Mr. Newmin held senior executive positions, including Chief Executive Officer of Production Steel Company, Whittaker Textiles Corporation, Bertram Yacht Corp., Narmco Materials Corp., and Anson Automotive Corp., and was instrumental in Whittaker's entry into the United States and international health care markets. Mr. Newmin has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Michigan State University.
Ronald Faris, Ph.D. has been our Chief Science Officer since January 27, 2004. Dr. Faris joined the Company in May 2001 and served as President and Chief Science Officer of the MCT subsidiary until Spring 2004. Dr. Faris is President and Treasurer of MCT. Prior to that, he consulted with the Company for two years. Dr. Faris recently worked as the Director of Pediatric Oncology Research at the Rhode Island Hospital, Providence Rhode Island and as an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology, Brown University. Dr. Faris received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and his Doctorate in Nutritional Toxicology/Biochemistry from Cornell University. He holds a patent on adult stem cells and has authored numerous publications related to hepatic research.
Dr. Janice D. DiPietro was appointed our Chief Financial Officer in July 2004. Dr. DiPietro is Managing Partner of Tatum Partners and is responsible for the firm's practice in Boston and the New England area. Prior to joining Tatum Partners, Dr. DiPietro was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NewDeal Inc, were she assisted it in securing in excess of $50 million of equity financing and positioning it for future growth by establishing critical financial and operational functions. Dr. DiPietro was also President of GreenPC, Inc., a subsidiary of NewDeal Inc engaged in high tech manufacturing, which began operations within 120 days of conception. Prior to this Dr. DiPietro founded JD Consulting and served as the firm's CEO for thirteen years, culminating in the successful sale of this practice. JD Consulting serviced early stage to mid-market clients in all aspects of financial, operational and strategic management and assisted clients in securing debt and equity financing, improving financial management and internal control, implementing state of the art information systems, restructuring operations as necessary and expanding into the global marketplace.. Dr. DiPietro began her career with the Boston office of Ernst & Young where she advanced to the position of Senior Manager. While at Ernst & Young, Dr. DiPietro served as a Practice Leader in the firm's health care and technology practice. She also was a SEC reporting specialist, servicing large multi national clients. Dr. DiPietro graduated with honors from Bentley College and holds an MBA and Doctoral degree in Accounting from Boston University
Edward Sigmond was elected to our Board of Directors in 1999. He has been in sales, marketing and operations management for the over 20 years. Mr. Sigmond served as president of Kestrel Holdings, Inc. from its inception in 1997 until October 2003. His duties include all executive functions from financial oversight to marketing and management of business services. Kestrel Holdings, Inc. is the general partner of Kestrel Equity Partners, Ltd., which was formed to fund MultiCell and Xenogenics. Mr. Sigmond served as president of Kestrel Development, a Texas based real estate development company, from 1993 to 1998 when it was dissolved. From 1992 to 1996, Mr. Sigmond was President of American Machine and Bearing of Dallas, Texas. Prior positions included Assistant to President of Alpha Aviation, Dallas, Texas, 1990-1992; Founder and President of Specialty Food Products, Arlington, Texas, 1987-1990; and Vice President/Regional Manager of Geodata Corporation, Houston, Texas 1981-1987 . He has varied negotiation, sales, marketing, managerial and operational skills with existing and startup operations. He studied Marketing and Chemistry at Duquesne University.
Ann Ryder Randolph, a respected San Diego executive and consultant to the life sciences industry, was elected to our Board of Directors on June 21, 2002. Ms. Randolph, as the first managing director (1995-1999) and charter board member of BIOCOM (1993-1999), the regional trade association for life sciences, was a public advocate for the 400 San Diego companies BIOCOM represented. While at BIOCOM, she developed a buying consortium for member companies and built BIOCOM into one of the largest regional biosciences trade associations in the world. Previously, she was principal of a medical strategic planning, business development and marketing firm (1985-1995) after leaving a similar position at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla, California. Randolph has served on the San Diego Regional Economic Prosperity Committee, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation's industrial land use committee, the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce public policy commit tee, the Airport Master Plan Public Working Committee, and was a founding member of the High Tech Steering Committee. Randolph earned Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in English from the University of Louisville, Kentucky. She also serves on the boards of Allylix, Inc.; the University of California, San Diego, Libraries; and the Corporate Directors Forum (CDF) and was named Director of the Year by the CDF board in 2001.
Thomas A. Page joined our Board of Directors on September 11, 2003. Mr. Page is Director Emeritus and former Chairman of the Board of Enova Corporation and San Diego Gas and Electric Company (now part of Sempra Energy). Mr. Page has been active in numerous industrial, community and governmental associations and has funded medical research. He is a director of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, a trustee of the Grossmont Union High School District Board of Education, chairman of Cuyamaca Bank, an advisory director of Sorrento Ventures, and a director of Leap Wireless International, Targeted Molecules Corp., Metallic Power and SYS Technologies, Inc. Page has also served on the boards of The Scripps Research Institute and The Burnham Institute, two La Jolla-based biomedical research institutes of note. In 1998, the Corporate Directors Forum in San Diego honored Mr. Page as Director of the Year for Lifetime Achievement in Corporate Governance. Mr. Page earned a Bac helor of Science degree in civil engineering, a masters in industrial administration and was awarded a doctorate in management, all from Purdue University. He has been licensed as an engineer and as a certified public accountant (CPA). Mr. Page also serves on the University of California Presidents Council on the National Laboratories.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation received for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2003, 2002, and 2001 for services rendered to the Company in all capacities by the Company Chief Executive Officer and any officer with salary over $100,000 per year.
Annual Compensation |
Long Term Compensation |
||||||
Name and principal position |
Year |
Salary |
Bonus |
Other annual |
Restricted |
Securities |
|
W. Gerald Newmin, |
2003 |
-0- |
-0- |
$45,625 |
-0- |
-0- |
|
Gregory F. Szabo (2) |
2003 |
$149,662 |
-0- |
$38,500 |
-0- |
-0- |
|
Ronald Faris, M.D. |
2003 |
$161,300 |
$66,500 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
( 1) |
Represents the fair market value of shares of our common stock paid in lieu of cash based on the closing market price of our common stock on the date of approval by our board of directors. A total of 958,754, 458,656, and 311,147 shares were issued to Mr. Newmin in fiscal 2003, 2002, and 2001 respectively, and a total of 812,011, 474,951, and 248,918 shares were issued to Mr. Szabo in fiscal 2003, 2002, and 2001 respectively. |
||||||
(2) |
Mr. Szabo resigned as an officer and Director of our company effective March 31, 2004. |
Stock Option Grants in Fiscal Year 2003
There were no stock options granted to Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003.
Stock Option Exercises and Fiscal Year-end Values
The following table presents information for the named Executive Officers with respect to stock options exercised during fiscal year 2003 and unexercised options held as of the end of the fiscal year.
Aggregated Option Exercises In Fiscal Year 2003 And Fiscal Year End Option Values
Name |
Shares |
Value |
Number of Securities |
Exercise Price |
W. Gerald Newmin |
250,000 |
$52,500.00 |
963,889/111,111 |
$165,472/19,075 |
Gregory F. Szabo |
200,000 |
$16,000.00 |
2,561,111/88,889 |
$248,278/8,617 |
Ronald Faris, Ph.D. |
750,000 |
$60,000 |
1,500,000/1,500,000 |
$127,600/0 |
Compensation of Directors
Our bylaws authorize our board of directors to fix the compensation of directors for services related to their membership in board committees and allow the reimbursement of expenses of directors for their attendance at each meeting of our board of directors. On February 15, 2000, the board of directors resolved that each board member would receive the equivalent of $2,000 in our common stock for each board meeting in which such director participates. On June 15, 2004, the board of directors resolved that each board member would receive the equivalent of $3,000 in our common stock for each board meeting in which such director participates. The number of shares issued for each meeting is based upon the closing price of our common stock on the date of the board meeting in question.
In addition to the per meeting stock grants, during fiscal year 2002, Gregory Szabo was granted options for 2,000,000 shares of common stock at $.08 per share. These options vest over a six month period from June 7, 2002 and January 2, 2003 and will expire on June 6, 2006. New members of our Board of Directors are granted 250,000 options at the then market price. As such, Ms. Randolph was granted 250,000 on June 19, 2002 at $.065 which vest over a three year period and expire June 19, 2006 and Mr. Page was granted 250,000 on September 11, 2003 at $.175 which vest over a three year period and expire September 11, 2007. There were no other option grants to directors during the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003. On June 16, 2004, Dr. Stephen Chang was granted an option to purchase 400,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $0.25 per shares. The option vests monthly over a period of three years, and the option expires on the fifth anniversary of the date of grant.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
JGS Management Group, Inc. (JGS), of which Jerry G. Simek, a former Director of the Company, is the President and sole shareholder, provided services to us pursuant to a Contractor/Management Consulting Agreement to assist the Company in specific projects such as acquisition analysis and due diligence and a Finders Fee Agreement. The agreement provided that JGS would be compensated for every hour of consulting work performed and pursuant to an established formula for the introduction of investors who actually invest in the Company or lent us money. During fiscal year 2002, we issued a total of 30,295 shares of our common stock to Mr. Simek pursuant to this agreement in consideration of 55 hours of service, which service consisted primarily of financial analysis. The remainder of the shares were issued for his Director role. The shares were issued to Mr. Simek's trust at the request of JGS Management. None of the shares issued to Mr. Simek were issued to him as finders fee compensation.
From August 2001 through November 2003, the Company borrowed an aggregate of $1,858,500 in order to finance the acquisition of MultiCell Associates, Inc. in September 2001 and for working capital. Of this amount, we borrowed $736,000 from Mr. Newmin, our chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and $50,000 from Mr. Szabo, our former President. The notes bear interest at the rate of 10% per annum, with all principal and accrued interest due and payable in August 2004 and various dates in 2005.
During the fiscal year ended November 30, 2003, Mr. Newmin converted $157,000 of his loans plus accrued interest and Mr. Szabo converted all of his loan plus accrued interest into common stock. Mr. Newmin received a total of 1,036,306 shares and Mr. Szabo received 304,658 shares of stock. Thus far, during fiscal year ending November 30, 2004, Mr. Newmin converted $66,000 of his loans plus accrued interest for a total of 519,178 shares of common stock.
Mr. Newmin may convert the remainder of his loans into shares of our common stock prior to the due date of the loan at the following conversion rates (i) $.10, if converted during the first twelve (12) months after the date of this Agreement; (ii) $.15, if converted after the twelfth (12th) and through the twenty-fourth (24th) month of this Agreement; and (iii) $.20, if converted after the twenty-fourth (24th) month and prior to the maturity date. In addition, Messrs. Newmin and Szabo received warrants to purchase 7,050,000 and 500,000 shares of our common stock, respectively, at an exercise price of $.10 per share.
The following description summarizes some of the terms of our capital stock and provisions of our amended Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, which have previously been filed with the Commission, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Our authorized capital stock consists of 200,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share. As of the date of this prospectus, there were 122,108,708 shares of our common stock outstanding and held of record by 8,073 holders. There is no preferred stock outstanding.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive such lawful dividends as may be declared by our board of directors. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of shares of our common stock shall be entitled to receive pro rata all of our remaining assets available for distribution to our stockholders. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable, and shares of common stock to be issued pursuant to this registration statement will be fully paid and non-assessable.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of these shares of preferred stock without any further vote or action by stockholders. These rights and preferences include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of the series. The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that the holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control.
Series I Convertible Preferred Stock
On July 13, 2004, we completed the sale in a private placement of 20,000 shares of Series I convertible preferred stock, at a price of $100 per share. The Series I shares are convertible at any time into common stock at 80% of the average trading price of the lowest three inter-day trading prices of the common stock for the ten trading days preceding the conversion date, but at an exercise price of no more than $0.20 per share and no less than $0.05 per share. The Series I preferred stock described does not have voting rights, but does have conversion rights which could adversely effect the voting power or dividend rights of the holders of common stock and may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth, as of August 10, 2004, certain information as to shares of our common stock owned by (i) each person known to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding common stock, (ii) each of our directors, and named executive officers, and (iii) all of our executive officers and directors as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each named beneficial owner is the same as that of our principal executive offices located at 55 Access Road, Suite 700, Warwick, RI, 02886.
Name and Address of |
Number of Shares |
Percentage of Class |
W. Gerald Newmin (3) |
29,585,356 |
22.25% |
Dr. Janice DiPietro |
0 |
* |
Edward Sigmond |
258,334 |
* |
Ronald Faris, Ph.D. (4) |
2,729,159 |
2.21% |
The Estate of Hugo O. Jauregui (5) |
7,175,845 |
5.88% |
Ann Ryder Randolph (6) |
341,216 |
* |
Thomas A. Page (7) |
3,239,498 |
2.59% |
Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd (8) |
6,529,477 |
5.08% |
David F. Firestone (9) |
14,915,000 |
10.88% |
All executive officers and directors as a group (six persons) |
36,153,563 |
26.3% |
(1) |
Beneficial ownership has been determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act. Pursuant to the rules of the Commission, shares of common stock that each named person and group has the right to acquire within 60 days pursuant to options, warrants, or other rights, are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing shares beneficially owned by and the percentage ownership of each such person and group. However, such shares are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the shares beneficially owned by or percentage ownership of any other person or group. Shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series I preferred stock are calculated assuming: (i) a market price equal to the closing price of the Company's common stock on August 10, 2004, or $0.23 per share; (ii) a floor price for Series I shares equal to $0.05 per share; (iii) a ceiling price for Series I shares equal to $0.20 per share. |
(2) |
Unless otherwise noted, all shares listed are owned of record and the record owner has sole voting and investment power, subject to community property laws where applicable. |
(3) |
Includes 4,017,295 shares of our common stock owned by Mr. Newmin's spouse, over which Mr. Newmin disclaims beneficial ownership. Includes 500,000 shares issuable under options which are exercisable on or within 60 days of August 10, 2004 and 10,342,582 shares in the form of convertible notes and warrants. |
(4) |
Includes 1,500,000 shares issuable under options which are exercisable on or within 60 days of August 10, 2004. |
(5) |
The trustees of the Estate are Candice L. Dyer, M.D. and Timothy Van Johnson. Does not include up to 613,345 shares of common stock which are issuable to Dr. Dyer under warrants and a convertible loan which are exercisable and convertible within 60 days of August 10, 2004 |
(6) |
Includes 83,333 shares issuable under options which are exercisable on or within 60 days of August 10, 2004 |
(7) |
Includes 1,750,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants and 1,239,498 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of outstanding loans. |
(8) |
Includes an estimated 4,665,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of outstanding shares of our Series I Preferred Stock, and 1,864,477 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of an outstanding warrant. Assumes a conversion price of $0.20 for the Series I Preferred Stock, which would be the applicable conversion price if the conversion occurred as of the date of this prospectus. The selling stockholder has agreed not to convert Series I shares or to exercise warrants to the extent such holder's beneficial ownership of common stock will exceed 9.99% of the common stock then outstanding. The address for the selling stockholder is c/o Mercator Advisory Group LLC, 555 South Flower Street, Suite 4500 Los Angeles, CA 90071. |
(9) |
David F. Firestone is the managing member of Mercator Advisory Group, LLC., a California limited liability company ("MAG"). Mercator Momentum Fund, L.P. and Mercator Momentum Fund III, L.P. are private investment limited partnerships organized under California law. The general partner of each fund is MAG. Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd. is a corporation organized under the laws of the British Virgin Island. MAG controls the investments of Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd. Assumes a conversion price of $0.20 for the Series I Preferred Stock, which would be the applicable conversion price if the conversion occurred as of the date of this prospectus. The selling stockholder has agreed not to convert Series I shares or to exercise warrants to the extent such holder's beneficial ownership of common stock will exceed 9.99% of the common stock then outstanding. The address for the selling stockholder is c/o Mercator Advisory Group LLC, 555 South Flower Street, Suite 4500 Los Angeles , CA 90071. |
* Represents less than 1%.
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
Delaware General Corporation Law, Section 102(b)(7), enables a corporation in its original certificate of incorporation, or an amendment thereto validly approved by stockholders, to eliminate or limit personal liability of members of its Board of Directors for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, the elimination or limitation shall not apply where there has been a breach of the duty of loyalty, failure to act in good faith, intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of a law, the payment of a dividend or approval of a stock repurchase which is deemed illegal or an improper personal benefit that is obtained. Article TENTH of our amended Certificate of Incorporation includes the following language limiting the liability of, and providing indemnification for, directors:
A Director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its Shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the Directors duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its Shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the Director derived on improper personal benefit (the "Director Liability Provision").
This provision in the Certificate of Incorporation does not eliminate the director' s fiduciary duty, and in appropriate circumstances equitable remedies such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief will remain available under Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to be subject to liability for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to our Company for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct, for knowing violations of law, for actions leading to improper personal benefit to the director, and for payment of dividends or approval of stock repurchases or redemptions that are unlawful under Delaware law. The provision also does not affect a director's responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.
To the extent that indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling our Company as discussed in the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933, and is therefore unenforceable. We believe that our Certificate of Incorporation provisions are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
The Selling Stockholders may offer all or a portion of their shares offered by this prospectus for sale, from time to time, pursuant to this prospectus, in one or more private negotiated transactions, in open market transactions in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise, or by a combination of these methods, at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale, at prices related to such market prices, at negotiated prices or otherwise. The Selling Stockholders may effect these transactions by selling shares directly to one or more purchasers or through broker-dealers or agents. The compensation to a particular broker-dealer or agent may be in excess of customary commissions.
To our knowledge, the Selling Stockholders have not made any arrangements with any brokerage firm for the sale of the shares. The Selling Stockholders have advised us that they presently intend to dispose of the shares through broker-dealers in ordinary brokerage transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of the sale. However, depending on market conditions and other factors, the Selling Stockholders may also dispose of the shares through one or more of the other methods described above.
The Selling Stockholders may be considered "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with the sale of their shares. Any broker-dealers or agents who act in connection with the sale of the shares may also be deemed to be underwriters. Profits on any resale of the shares by the Selling Stockholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by such broker-dealers or agents may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Because the Selling Stockholders may be considered to be underwriters within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, the Selling Stockholders may be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act for transactions involving the sale of our common stock.
We have informed the Selling Stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of the Commission, including Regulation M promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), may apply to their sales in the market. Regulation M may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares of our common stock by the Selling Stockholders and any other person distributing our common stock. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of shares of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular shares of common stock being distributed for a period beginning five business days prior to the commencement of such distribution and ending upon such person's completion of participation in the distribution. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. Rules 101 and 102 of Regulation M, among other things, generally prohibit certain participants in a distribution from bidding for, purchasing or inducing any person to bid for or purchase, any of the securities that are the subject of the distribution. Rule 104 of Regulation M governs bids and purchases made to stabilize the price of a security in connection with a distribution of the security. We have provided the Selling Stockholders with a copy of such rules and regulations. The shares offered hereby are being registered pursuant to our contractual obligations and we have agreed to pay the expenses of the preparation of this prospectus.
We are registering the resale of up to 69,650,360 shares of our common stock on behalf of the selling stockholders named below. Of this amount, 40,000,000 shares are issuable upon conversion of shares of our Series I convertible preferred stock and 5,000,000 shares are issuable upon exercise of common stock warrants, all of which were issued on July 13, 2004, in consideration for our receipt of $2 million in gross proceeds (the "Series I Financing"). The Series I preferred stock is convertible at any time, and have a floating conversion price equal to 80% of the three lowest inter-day trading prices of the common stock of the ten consecutive trading days preceding the conversion date, but at conversion price of no more than $0.20 per share and no less than $0.05 per share. As part of the financing, we issued three-year warrants to the purchasers of the Series I preferred stock, which entitle the holders to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of common stock at the lowe r of $.20 per share or the average of the ten closing prices of our common stock during the ten trading days preceding the exercise date.
Additionally, from August 2001 to February 2003 we borrowed an aggregate of $1,858,500 from 29 lenders in order to finance the cash portion of the purchase price in the acquisition of MCT (the "Loan Transaction") and provide working capital. Except as noted below, each loan bears interest at the rate of 10% per annum and may be converted at any time prior to maturity at conversion rates ranging from $0.10 per share (if the conversion occurs within 12 months following issuance) to $0.20 per share (if the conversion occurs after 24 months following issuance). In addition, each lender received a warrant to purchase a number of shares of our common stock equal to ten (10) shares for each dollar ($1.00) loaned to us, with an exercise price equal to $0.10 per share (except as otherwise noted below). In connection with the Loan Transaction, we agreed in the warrant to register the resale of the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrant. We have no formal obligation to register the resale o f the shares issuable upon the conversion of the loans.
The following table identifies the selling stockholders and indicates (i) the nature of any position, office or other material relationship that each selling stockholder has had with us during the past three years (or any of our predecessors or affiliates) and (ii) the number of shares and percentage of our outstanding shares of common stock owned by the selling stockholder prior to the offering, the number of shares to be offered for the selling stockholder's account and the number of shares and percentage of outstanding shares to be owned by the selling stockholder after completion of the offering.
Name of Selling Stockholder |
Shares Beneficially Owned Prior To Offering |
Percent of Class of Shares Owned Before the Offering (A) |
Maximum No. of Shares to be Sold in this Offering |
Shares Beneficially Owned After the Offering |
Percent of Class of Shares Owned After the Offering |
Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd. (1) |
6,529,477 |
5.08% |
6,529,477 |
0 |
* |
Mercator Momentum Fund, L.P. (2) |
4,377,829 |
3.46% |
4,377,829 |
0 |
* |
Mercator Momentum Fund III, L.P. (3) |
3,007,694 |
2.40% |
3,007,694 |
0 |
* |
Mercator Advisory Group, LLC (4) |
1,000,000 |
* |
1,000,000 |
0 |
* |
Ascendiant Securities, LLC (5) |
800,000 |
* |
800,000 |
0 |
* |
W. Gerald Newmin (i)(6) |
29,585,356 |
22.25% |
7,050,000 |
22,535,356 |
13.94% |
Thomas Page (i)(7) |
3,239,498 |
2.59% |
1,750,000 |
1,489,498 |
*% |
George Colin (8) |
4,025,286 |
3.19% |
3,964,286 |
61,000 |
* |
Candace Dyer (i)(9) |
7,789,190 |
6.35% |
613,345 |
7,175,845 |
4.47% |
Gregory F. Szabo (i)(10) |
2,356,353 |
1.92% |
500,000 |
1,856,353 |
1.16% |
Barbara Corbett (i)(11) |
4,017,295 |
3.28% |
310,000 |
3,707,295 |
2.31% |
Bathgate Capital Partners (12) |
166,667 |
* |
166,667 |
0 |
* |
Michael Henton (13) |
15,000 |
* |
15,000 |
0 |
* |
Jon Scott Grund (14) |
15,000 |
* |
15,000 |
0 |
* |
Robert Goldsmith (15) |
1,017,249 |
* |
600,000 |
417,249 |
* |
Jim Kalhorn (16) |
498,226 |
* |
337,500 |
160,726 |
* |
Scott Brassfield (i)(17) |
2,011,929 |
1.63% |
1,051,062 |
960,867 |
* |
Cliffton L. Cooke (18) |
1,000,000 |
* |
1,000,000 |
0 |
* |
Robert & Blake Shelton (19) |
2,561,520 |
2.07% |
1,612,500 |
949,020 |
* |
Sasha Corp. Profit Sharing (20) |
109,000 |
* |
50,000 |
59,000 |
* |
Sasha Corp. Pension Plan (21) |
250,000 |
* |
250,000 |
0 |
* |
Patsy Millard (22) |
80,502 |
* |
50,000 |
30,502 |
* |
Roger McDonald (23) |
200,000 |
* |
200,000 |
0 |
* |
Kurt Lesh (24) |
632,068 |
* |
425,000 |
207,068 |
* |
Larry Lake (25) |
174,502 |
* |
100,000 |
74,502 |
* |
First Regional Bank FBO G. Driver (26) |
100,000 |
* |
100,000 |
0 |
* |
First Regional Bank FBO J. Burns (27) |
101,205 |
* |
100,000 |
1,205 |
* |
Sharon Donahoo (i)(28) |
700,000 |
* |
200,000 |
500,000 |
* |
Larry Dillon (29) |
467,496 |
* |
290,000 |
177,496 |
* |
Shirley Corbett (30) |
1,400,000 |
1.14% |
1,000,000 |
400,000 |
* |
Paul Barich (31) |
100,000 |
* |
100,000 |
0 |
* |
Craig Greene (32) |
524,726 |
* |
250,000 |
274,726 |
* |
Robert Hinman (33) |
139,918 |
* |
50,000 |
89,918 |
* |
Chris Hinman (34) |
772,635 |
* |
250,000 |
522,635 |
* |
The Estate of Doug Egger (35) |
922,500 |
* |
300,000 |
622,500 |
* |
Diane Palley (36) |
50,000 |
* |
50,000 |
0 |
* |
W.F. Pittman (37) |
1,457,667 |
1.18% |
1,000,000 |
457,667 |
* |
Boand Automotive (38) |
174,228 |
* |
100,000 |
74,228 |
* |
* |
Represents less than 1%. |
(A) |
Based on 122,108,708 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of August 10, 2004. |
(1) |
Represents up to 4,665,000 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series I preferred stock and 1,864,477 shares of common stock to be issued upon exercise of common stock warrants. Mercator Advisory Group is the general partner of Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd. David Firestone, as managing member of Mercator Advisory Group, LLC, and as a member of Mercator Group LLC, has voting and investment control over the shares held by Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd. The selling stockholder has agreed not to convert shares of Series I preferred stock or to exercise warrants to the extent such stockholder's beneficial ownership of our common stock would exceed 9.99% of our common stock then outstanding. |
(2) |
Represents up to 3,125,000 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series I preferred stock and 1,252,829 shares of common stock to be issued upon exercise of common stock warrants. Mercator Advisory Group is the general partner of Mercator Momentum Fund, L.P. David Firestone, as managing member of Mercator Advisory Group, LLC, and as a member of Mercator Group LLC, has voting and investment control over the shares held by Mercator Momentum Fund, L.P. The selling stockholder has agreed not to convert shares of Series I preferred stock or to exercise warrants to the extent such stockholder's beneficial ownership of our common stock would exceed 9.99% of our common stock then outstanding. |
(3) |
Represents up to 2,125,000 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series I preferred stock and 882,694 shares of common stock to be issued upon exercise of common stock warrants. Mercator Advisory Group is the general partner of Mercator Momentum Fund III, L.P. David Firestone, as managing member of Mercator Advisory Group, LLC, and as a member of Mercator Group LLC, has voting and investment control over the shares held by Mercator Momentum Fund III, L.P. The selling stockholder has agreed not to convert shares of Series I preferred stock or to exercise warrants to the extent such stockholder's beneficial ownership of our common stock would exceed 9.99% of our common stock then outstanding. |
(4) |
Represents shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of an outstanding warrant. Mercator Advisory Group LLC is the general partner of Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd., Mercator Momentum Fund, LP, and Mercator Momentum Fund III, LP. David Firestone, as managing member of Mercator Advisory Group LLC, and as a member of Mercator Group LLC, has voting and investment control over the shares held by these entities. The selling stockholder has agreed not to exercise warrants to the extent such stockholder's beneficial ownership of our common stock would exceed 9.99% of our common stock then outstanding |
(5) |
Represents 800,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of a common stock warrant. |
(6) |
Includes (a) up to 3,292,582 shares which may be issued to Mr. Newmin upon his conversion of a $523,000 loan made to us in connection with the Loan Transaction, (b) up to 7,050,000 shares which may be issued to Mr. Newmin upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction, and (c) 4,017,352 shares of common stock owned by Mr. Newmin's spouse. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. (i) Mr. Newmin has been a director, and our chairman of the board and chief executive officer since 1995. Mr. Newmin disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by his spouse. |
(7) |
Represents (a) up to 1,239,498 shares which may be issued to Mr. Page upon his conversion of a $175,000 loan made to us in connection with the Loan Transaction, and (b) up to 1,750,000 shares which may be issued to Mr. Page upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. (i) Mr. Page serves as a director of the Company. |
(8) |
Includes up to (a) 2,000,000 shares that may be acquired upon exercise of a three-year warrant with an exercise price of $0.10 per share and (b) up to 1,250,000 shares which may be acquired upon exercise of a three-year warrant with an exercise price of $0.12 per share. The foregoing warrants were issued to Mr. Colin pursuant to the terms of a settlement agreement, in which the parties' dispute regarding the conversion price of Mr. Colin's loan was resolved. The warrant issued to Mr. Colin in the Loan Transaction for 715,000 shares with an exercise price of $0.10 per share was cancelled pursuant to the settlement agreement. |
(9) |
Includes up to 350,000 shares which may be issued to Dr. Dyer upon her exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to her in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(10) |
Includes up to 500,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. Szabo upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. (i) Mr. Szabo became president, treasurer and a director of our Company in April 2001, president and CEO of Xenogenics in June 2000 and the CEO of MCT in September 2001, and served in such capacities until March 31, 2004. |
(11) |
Represents up to 310,000 shares that may be issued to Ms. Corbett upon her exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to her in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. Does not include the shares of common stock owned by Ms. Corbett's husband, over which she disclaims beneficial ownership. (i) Ms. Corbett, an employee of the Company, serves as director of investor relations. |
(12) |
Represents up to 166,667 shares that may be issued to Bathgate Capital Partners upon their exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to them in connection with a consulting fee for arranging the Loan from Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.06 per share. |
(13) |
Represents 15,000 shares that were issued to Michael Henton, principal in North American Capital Partners upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with a consulting fee for arranging Loans totaling $30,000. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(14) |
Represents 15,000 shares that were issued to Jon Scott Grund, principal in North American Capital Partners upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with a consulting fee for arranging Loans totaling $30,000. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(15) |
Includes 600,000 shares that were issued to Mr. Goldsmith upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(16) |
Includes (a) up to 150,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. Kalhorn upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. (b) up to 187,500 shares which may be issued to Mr. Kalhorn upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.08 per share. |
(17) |
Includes (a) up to 870,000 shares that may be issued to Dr. Brassfield upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. (b) up to 106,250 shares which may be issued to Dr. Brassfield upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.08 per share. (c) up to 74,812 shares which may be issued to Dr. Brassfield upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.06 per share. (d) 74,812 shares issuable to Dr. Brassfield upon his conversion of a loan made to us in connection with the Loan Transaction. (i) Dr. Brassfield serves as a director for our Xenogenics subsidiary. |
(18) |
Includes up to 1,000,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. Cooke upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(19) |
Includes (a) up to 1,050,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. & Mrs. Shelton upon their exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to them in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. (b) up to 562,500 shares which may be issued to Mr. & Ms. Shelton upon their exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to them in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.08 per share. |
(20) |
Includes up to 50,000 shares that may be issued to Sasha Corporation Profit Sharing upon its exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to it in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(21) |
Includes up to 250,000 shares that may be issued to Sasha Corporation Pension Plan upon its exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to it in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(22) |
Includes 50,000 shares that were issued to Mrs. Millard upon her exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to her in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(23) |
Represents 200,000 shares that were issued to Mr. McDonald upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(24) |
Includes (a) up to 300,000 shares that may be issued to Dr. Lesh upon his exercise of outstanding warrants issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. (b) up to 125,000 shares which may be issued to Dr. Lesh upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.08 per share. |
(25) |
Includes up to 100,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. Lake upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(26) |
Represents 100,000 shares that were issued to First Regional Bank FBO G. Driver upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(27) |
Includes 100,000 shares which were issued to First Regional Bank FBO J. Burns upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(28) |
Includes up to 200,000 shares that may be issued to Ms. Donahoo upon her exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to her in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. (i) Ms. Donahoo is a former vice-president of the Company. |
(29) |
Includes up to 290,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. Dillon upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(30) |
Includes up to 1,000,000 shares that may be issued to Ms. S. Corbett upon her exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to her in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(31) |
Includes up to 100,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. Barich upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(32) |
Includes up to 250,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. Greene upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(33) |
Includes up to 50,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. R. Hinman upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(34) |
Includes up to 250,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. C. Hinman upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(35) |
Includes up to 300,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. Egger's estate upon its exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to Mr. Egger in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(36) |
Represents 50,000 shares that were issued to Ms. Palley upon her exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to her in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(37) |
Represents up to 1,000,000 shares that may be issued to Mr. Pittman upon his exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to him in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
(38) |
Includes up to 100,000 shares that may be issued to Boand Automotive upon its exercise of an outstanding warrant issued to it in connection with the Loan Transaction. The exercise price of the warrant is $0.10 per share. |
Unless noted otherwise, the individual or entity does not have a material relationship with the Company other than ownership of the securities indicated above.
We are not currently a party to any legal proceedings.
The validity of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Snell & Wilmer L.L.P., Irvine, California.
The consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002 included in this prospectus have been audited by J.H. Cohn LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report dated January 9, 2004 (except as noted therein), which is also included in this prospectus and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Such financial statements have been so included in reliance upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INTEREST OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
No expert or counsel named in this prospectus as having prepared or certified any part of this prospectus or having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being registered or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering of the common stock was employed on a contingency basis, or had, or is to receive, in connection with the offering, any interest, direct or indirect, in our company or any of our subsidiaries. Nor was any such person connected with us, or any of our subsidiaries, as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Law
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law. In general, the statute prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. For purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, a "business combination" includes a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An "interested stockholder" is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior, did own) 15% or more of the corporation's voting stock. The existence of this provision would be expected to have anti-takeover effects with respect to transactions not approved in advance by our board of directors, such as discourag ing takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price of our common stock.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation, 1745 Gardena Avenue, Glendale, CA 91204-2991.
- F 1 -
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Board of Directors and Stockholders
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (formerly, Exten Industries, Inc.) AND SUBSIDIARIES as of November 30, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with 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 consolidated 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 MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of November 30, 2003 and 2002, and their results of operations and cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has sustained recurring losses and it had a working capital deficiency and an accumulated deficit at November 30, 2003. These conditions 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 2. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of reported asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might result form the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ J. H. Cohn LLP
San Diego, California
January 9, 2004, except for Note 14
as to which date is April 1, 2004
- F 2 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
November 30, 2003 and 2002
2003 |
2002 |
||
ASSETS |
|||
Current assets: |
|||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$1,058,960 |
$43,892 |
|
Accounts receivable |
4,586 |
35,181 |
|
Current portion of notes receivable |
5,813 |
||
Other current assets |
18,544 |
26,026 |
|
Total current assets |
1,082,090 |
110,912 |
|
Property and equipment, net |
123,932 |
154,295 |
|
License agreement, net of accumulated amortization $292,404 and $159,232 |
2,140,939 |
2,273,371 |
|
Notes receivable, net of current portion |
260,000 |
237,949 |
|
Other assets |
123,692 |
111,835 |
|
Total assets |
$3,730,653 |
$2,888,362 |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|||
Current liabilities: |
|||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$625,002 |
$702,259 |
|
Current portion of notes payable, including $25,000 in default in 2003 and 2002 |
260,000 |
34,892 |
|
Current portion of related party notes payable |
21,000 |
||
Current portion of deferred income |
735,296 |
30,100 |
|
Other current liabilities |
37,196 |
34,467 |
|
Total current liabilities |
1,678,494 |
801,718 |
|
Non-current liabilities: |
|||
Notes payable, net of current portion |
786,113 |
1,423,281 |
|
Deferred income, net of current portion |
634,272 |
||
Other liabilities |
172,603 |
119,695 |
|
Total non-current liabilities |
1,592,988 |
1,542,976 |
|
Total liabilities |
3,271,482 |
2,344,694 |
|
Minority interest |
146,190 |
147,257 |
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|||
Stockholders' equity: |
|||
Common stock, $.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 117,816,411 and 101,024,904 shares issued and outstanding |
1,178,162 |
1,010,249 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
16,386,717 |
14,724,007 |
|
Stock subscriptions receivable |
(70,000) |
||
Deferred compensation costs |
(24,916) |
(24,916) |
|
Accumulated deficit |
(17,226,982) |
(15,242,929) |
|
Total stockholders' equity |
312,981 |
396,411 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
$3,730,653 |
$2,888,362 |
|
See accompanying notes on consolidated financial statements.
- F 3 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For The Years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
2003 |
2002 |
||
Revenue |
$365,166 |
$804,538 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|||
Selling, general and administrative |
1,325,191 |
1,525,476 |
|
Research and development |
482,309 |
548,840 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
166,387 |
167,344 |
|
Total operating expenses |
1,973,887 |
2,241,660 |
|
Operating loss |
(1,608,721) |
(1,437,122) |
|
Other income (expense): |
|||
Loss on sale of equipment |
(1,522) |
||
Interest expense |
(205,144) |
(124,464) |
|
Amortization of discount on notes payable |
(251,351) |
(132,142) |
|
Interest income |
63,971 |
74,731 |
|
Amortization of discount on notes receivable |
30,000 |
30,000 |
|
Write-off of note receivable |
(12,353) |
||
Minority interest in loss of subsidiary |
1,067 |
12,334 |
|
Total other income (expense) |
(375,332) |
(139,541) |
|
Net loss |
$(1,984,053) |
$(1,576,663) |
|
Basis loss per share |
$(0.02) |
$(0.02) |
|
Weighted average number of shares outstanding |
106,086,899 |
99,458,556 |
|
See accompanying notes on consolidated financial statements.
- F 4 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
For The Years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Common Stock |
Additional |
Stock |
Deferred |
Accumulated |
Total |
||
Shares |
Amount |
||||||
Balance, November 30, 2001 |
97,629,444 |
$976, 294 |
$14,269,569 |
$(85,000) |
$(8,250) |
$(13,666,266) |
$1,486,347 |
Issuance of stock for services |
3,395,460 |
33,955 |
287,364 |
- |
(16,666) |
304,653 |
|
Partial extinguishment of receivable |
- |
- |
- |
15,000 |
- |
- |
15,000 |
Warrants and beneficial conversion rights issued in connection with borrowings |
- |
- |
167,074 |
- |
- |
- |
167,074 |
Net loss |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(1,576,663) |
(1,576,663) |
Balance, November 30, 2002 |
101,024,904 |
1,010,249 |
14,724,007 |
(70,000) |
(24,916) |
(15,242,929) |
396,411 |
Issuance of stock for services |
7,329,919 |
73,298 |
480,907 |
- |
- |
- |
554,205 |
Partial extinguishment of receivable |
- |
- |
- |
13,000 |
- |
- |
13,000 |
Cancellation of stock subscriptions |
(570,000) |
(5,700) |
(51,300) |
57,000 |
- |
- |
- |
Conversion of convertible notes payable |
7,588,422 |
75,883 |
986,772 |
- |
- |
- |
1,062,655 |
Stock options exercised |
2,443,166 |
24,432 |
246,331 |
- |
- |
- |
270,763 |
Net loss |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
(1,984,053) |
(1,984,053) |
Balance November 30, 2003 |
117,816,411 |
$1,178,162 |
$16,386,717 |
$ - |
$(24,916) |
$(17,226,982) |
$312,981 |
See accompanying notes on consolidated financial statements.
- F 5 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For The Years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
2003 |
2002 |
||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|||
Net loss |
$(1,984,053) |
$(1,576,663) |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
|||
Depreciation and amortization |
166,387 |
167,344 |
|
Amortization of discount on notes receivable |
(30,000) |
(30,000) |
|
Amortization of discount on notes payable |
251,351 |
132,142 |
|
Write-off of note receivable |
12,353 |
||
Common stock issued for services |
554,205 |
304,653 |
|
Minority interest in loss of subsidiary |
(1,067) |
(12,334) |
|
Loss on sale of equipment |
1,522 |
||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|||
Accounts receivable |
30,595 |
4,819 |
|
Other current assets |
7,482 |
57,502 |
|
Other assets |
(11,857) |
(23,295) |
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
50,898 |
382,644 |
|
Other current liabilities |
2,729 |
||
Deferred income |
1,339,468 |
(387,025) |
|
Other liabilities |
52,908 |
106,261 |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
442,921 |
(873,952) |
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|||
Purchase of equipment |
(6,614) |
(13,758) |
|
Proceeds from sale of assets |
1,500 |
||
Principal payments on notes receivable |
1,409 |
1,238 |
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
(3,705) |
(12,520) |
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|||
Proceeds from notes payable |
325,481 |
547,500 |
|
Payments of notes payable |
(33,392) |
||
Proceeds from exercised options and warrants |
270,763 |
||
Proceeds from subscribed stock |
13,000 |
15,000 |
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
575,852 |
562,500 |
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
1,015,068 |
(323,972) |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
43,892 |
367,864 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year |
$1,058,960 |
$43,892 |
|
Supplemental disclosures: |
|||
Interest paid |
$205,144 |
$18,203 |
|
Non-cash Transactions: |
|||
Issuance of warrants and beneficial conversion rights in connection with borrowings |
$167,074 |
||
Conversion of convertible notes payable into common stock |
$1,062,655 |
||
Issuance of notes payable for accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
$16,608 |
$33,392 |
|
Cancellation of stock subscriptions |
$57,000 |
See accompanying notes on consolidated financial statements.
- F 6 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 1 - Summary of Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Organization - MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (formerly Exten Industries, Inc.) is a holding company for its two subsidiaries, Xenogenics Corporation and MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (together the "Company"). Xenogenics was incorporated in February 1997 to focus on the research and development of Sybiol technology. In September 2001, the Company purchased MultiCell Technologies, Inc. ("MultiCell"), which was previously named MultiCell Associates, Inc. (see Note 6). MultiCell is in the business of the development and commercialization of hepatic cells, cell lines and associated products to be used in diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Management considers the Company's activities to be in one segment related to liver disease/ liver cell bio-technology.
On November 1, 2001 MultiCell entered into a collaborative research agreement with Pfizer, Inc. ("Pfizer") pursuant to which Pfizer began the process of validating the efficacy of MultiCell's immortalized hepatic cells in four different experimental models. Pfizer demonstrated the efficacy of these cell lines to the scientific community in October of 2002 and MultiCell began to receive revenues from licensing fees and product sales that management expects will be part of a continuous revenue stream. Accordingly, as of November 30, 2002, the Company was no longer a development stage company for accounting purposes.
Basis of Consolidation - The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents - The Company considers all unrestricted highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments - The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued expenses and notes payable approximate fair market value because of the short maturity of those instruments.
Credit Risk - It is the Company's practice to place its cash equivalents in high quality money market securities with one major banking institution. Periodically, the Company maintains cash balances at this institution that exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit of $100,000 per bank. The Company considers its credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents to be minimal. The Company does not require collateral from its customers. The Company closely monitors the extension of credit to its customers while maintaining an allowance for potential credit losses. On a periodic basis, management evaluates its accounts receivable and, if warranted, adjusts its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical experience and current credit considerations. However, accounts receivable at November 30, 2003 and 2002 consist primarily of amounts due under contractual agreements. In the opinion of management, all accounts receivable related to contractual agreeme nts are collectible; accordingly, the Company recorded no allowance for doubtful accounts.
Revenue Recognition - Through November 30, 2003, the Company's revenues have been generated primarily from contractual research activities and royalties on the license for the sale of cells through its sale and distribution agreement with XenoTech, LLC ("XenoTech"). Management believes such sources of revenue will be part of the Company's ongoing operations. The Company applies the guidance provided by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements," ("SAB 104"). Under the provision of SAB 104, the Company recognizes revenue from commercial and government research agreements as services are performed, provided a contractual arrangement exists, the contract price is fixed or determinable and the collection of the contracted amounts is probable. In situations where the Company receives payment in advance of the performance of services, such amounts are deferred and recognized as revenue as the related services are performed. Deferred revenues associated with services expected to be performed within the next fiscal year are classified as a current liability. Deferred revenues associated with services expected to be performed at a later date are classified as non-current liabilities.
- F 7 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 1 - Summary of Organization and Significant Accounting Policies, continued
Property and Equipment - Property and equipment is valued at cost. Improvements to leased properties are amortized over their estimated useful lives or lease period, whichever is shorter. Depreciation for equipment and furniture is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the remaining life of the lease.
License Agreements - Costs incurred to obtain license agreements are capitalized. The Company amortizes these costs on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective license agreement. Amortization totaled $132,432 for each of the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002.
Impairment of long-lived assets - The impairment of long-lived assets that do not have indefinite lives, such as property and equipment and license agreements, is recognized when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by such assets are less than their carrying value and, accordingly, all or a portion of such carrying value may not be recoverable. Impairment losses are then measured by comparing the fair value of assets to their carrying amounts. The Company did not record any charges for the impairment of long-lived assets in 2003 or 2002.
Stock-Based Compensation - Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 ("SFAS 123"), "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", provides for the use of a fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation. However, SFAS 123 allows an entity to continue to measure compensation cost related to stock and stock options issued to employees using the intrinsic value method of accounting prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 ("APB 25"), "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees". Entities electing to continue to use the intrinsic value method must make pro forma disclosures of net income or loss and earnings or loss per share as if a fair value method of accounting had been applied. The Company has elected to continue to account for its stock-based compensation to employees under APB 25. The required pro forma information is included in Note 12.
In accordance with the provisions of SFAS 123, all other issuances of common stock, stock options, warrants or other equity instruments to employees and non-employees as the consideration for goods or services received by the Company are accounted for based on the fair value of the equity instruments issued (unless the fair value of the consideration received can be more reliably measured). Generally, the fair value of any options, warrants or similar equity instruments issued will be estimated based on the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
The Company issued 7,329,919 and 3,395,460 shares of common stock as consideration for consulting, professional and other services during the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The aggregate estimated fair value of the shares at the respective dates of issuance was $554,205 and $304,653 during the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, all of which was charged directly to expense.
Research and Development Costs - Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Income Taxes - Deferred income taxes are provided for the estimated tax effects of temporary differences between income for tax and financial reporting. A valuation allowance is provided against deferred tax assets, where realization is uncertain. The income tax provision is the tax payable for the period plus or minus the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.
Loss Per Share - The Company computed basic and diluted loss per share amounts for 2003 and 2002 pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share". The Company has incurred losses during the years ended 2003 and 2002. The assumed effects of the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants, and the conversion of convertible notes payable were anti-dilutive and, accordingly, diluted per share amounts equal basic loss per share amounts and have not been presented in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The total number of potential common shares excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share for the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002 was 35,385,430 and 25,001,556, respectively.
- F 8 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 1 - Summary of Organization and Significant Accounting Policies, continued
Use of Estimates - The preparation of consolidated 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 disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the dates of these financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Risks and Uncertainties - The Company is dependent on continued financing from investors and obtaining new research grants to sustain the development and other activities necessary to commercialize new products. Management is seeking additional financing in order to fund its future activities. There is no assurance, however, that such financing will be available, if and when needed, or if available, that such financing will be completed on commercially favorable terms, or that such development and other activities in connection with its planned products will be successful.
Environmental Remediation - Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations, and which do not contribute to current or future revenue generation, are expensed. Liabilities are recorded when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable, and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Generally, the timing of these accruals coincides with the Company's commitment to a formal plan of action. As of November 30, 2003, no amounts have been accrued for environmental liabilities.
Note 2 - Going Concern Uncertainty
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As of November 30, 2003, the Company has operating and liquidity concerns, has incurred an accumulated deficit of $7,226,982 as a result of recurring losses, has current liabilities that exceed current assets by $596,404 and is in default on certain notes payable (see Note 10). These factors, among others, create an uncertainty about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully acquire the necessary capital to continue its on-going research efforts and bring additional products to the commercial market. Management's plans to acquire future funding include sales of its proprietary media, immortalized cells and primary cells to the pharmaceutical industry through its sales and distribution agreement with XenoTech (see Note 7). Additionally, the Company continues to pursue research projects, gove rnment grants and capital investment. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue its operations as a going concern.
- F 9 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 3 - Notes Receivable
As of November 30, 2000, in connection with a letter of intent to purchase the outstanding common stock of Lexicor Medical Technology ("Lexicor"), the Company advanced a total of $600,000 for a note receivable from Lexicor and 83,333 common stock warrants. The Company allocated $17,500 to the warrants resulting in a discount on the note. The note has a stated interest rate of 10% per annum. Principal and interest were due and payable on May 31, 2001; however, according to its terms the note was automatically extended with principal and interest due January 2, 2005. As of November 30, 2001, the Company provided a valuation allowance of $305,000, thereby reducing the carrying amount of this long-term note receivable to $230,000. In the event of default, Lexicor must issue common shares to the Company equal to 51% of the issued and outstanding shares of Lexicor. Unpaid principal and accrued interest on this note receivable may be converted at any time until maturity into Lexicor common stock at a per share price of $6.00. All interest payments are current through November 30, 2003.
As of April 17, 2001, in connection with a letter of intent to purchase Armstrong Industries, Inc., ("Armstrong") the Company advanced $15,000 to Armstrong for a note receivable that was due May 1, 2002. On June 27, 2002, the Company informed Armstrong that it no longer had any intention of acquiring them. Interest is due from June 1, 2001 on the unpaid principal at the rate of 12% per annum. Armstrong was unable to repay the note in full. The Company agreed to a monthly payment schedule to repay the debt. Beginning June 15, 2002, Armstrong agreed to pay $558.67 per month for 33 months. On August 15, 2003, after not having received a payment for six months, the Company decided to declare the note in default and wrote off the $12,353 balance of the note as a bad debt.
Notes receivable at November 30, 2003 and 2002 are comprised as follows:
2003 |
2002 |
|
Notes receivable |
$600,000 |
$613,762 |
Less: discounts to net present value |
(35,000) |
(65,000) |
Less: valuation allowance |
(305,000) |
(305,000) |
Net notes receivable |
260,000 |
243,762 |
Less: current portion |
- |
(5,813) |
$260,000 |
$ 237,949 |
|
- F 10 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 4- Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is valued at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization is comprised as follows:
2003 |
2002 |
|
Lab equipment |
$193,720 |
$192,590 |
Furniture and fixtures |
27,109 |
30,585 |
Equipment |
15,183 |
13,490 |
Leasehold improvements |
42,625 |
40,995 |
278,637 |
277,660 |
|
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization |
154,705 |
123,365 |
Property and equipment, net |
$123,932 |
$154,295 |
Depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment totaled $33,955 in 2003 and $34,912 in 2002.
Note 5 - Real Estate Held for Sale
The Company owns a parcel of undeveloped land near the Grand Canyon. The land was originally purchased in February 1992 for $1,654,000. During the fiscal year ended November 30, 1995, the Company tested the land for impairment and expensed all but the remaining fair market value of $47,200. The Company is currently in arrears on property taxes and interest in the amount of $120,000. A tax sale for property taxes is pending and as management has been unable to obtain an appraisal of the fair market value of the land, no decision has been made as to whether to pay the taxes in arrears. Real estate held for sale is included in other assets and unpaid property taxes are included in accrued expenses.
Note 6 - License Agreement
In September 2001, the Company completed the purchase of MultiCell, one of its subsidiaries, and, as a result, it acquired MultiCell's exclusive license agreement with Rhode Island Hospital for the use of four patents owned by the hospital related to liver cell lines and liver assist devices. The primary patent acquired and being utilized is for immortalized hepatocytes (see Note 7). The license agreement had a net carrying value of $2,140,939 and $2,273,371 as of November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, which represented the original cost of $2,433,343 allocated in connection with the acquisition, net of accumulated amortization of $259,346 and $160,022 at November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The license agreement is being amortized over an estimated useful life of approximately 18 years. Amortization expense totaled $132,432 for each of the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002. The Company will pay the hospital a 5% royalty on net sales until it has paid a total of $550,000. As o f November 30, 2003, no significant payments had been made on the royalty. After royalties totaling $550,000 have been paid, the Company pays a 2% royalty instead of a 5% royalty for the life of the patent
- F 11 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 7- XenoTech Agreement
During August, 2003, MultiCell signed an exclusive sales, manufacture and distribution agreement for the use of its cell lines by XenoTech, which is an unrelated party. The agreement, which is for a term of seven years, required XenoTech to make an initial payment of $800,000 to MultiCell for the right to distribute the cells and requires XenoTech to make royalty payments to MultiCell of 17.5% of net sales for the direct sale of its cells and 34% for any license agreements signed with pharmaceutical companies. XenoTech must bear all of the costs for its manufacturing and sales activities and make specified minimum periodic royalty payments totaling $18,000,000 during the contract to maintain distribution exclusivity. XenoTech also made a $700,000 royalty pre-payment as an advance against the first period minimum royalty payment of $800,000. The first period of the agreement is sixteen months, the next five periods are twelve months and the last period is eight months. MultiCell will only r eceive cash payments initially for 25% of the royalties it earns under the agreement with the balance applied against this $700,000 royalty pre-payment.
Note 8 - Income Taxes
The Company provides for income taxes using an asset and liability based approach. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recorded to reflect the tax consequences of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The Company had net deferred tax assets of approximately $3,910,800 and $3,220,000 at November 30, 2003 and 2002 relating primarily to the net operating loss carry-forwards generated by its operations. For financial statement purposes, the deferred tax assets have been fully offset by valuation allowances due to the uncertainties related to the extent and timing of the Company's future taxable income.
A reconciliation of the expected income tax benefit at the U.S. Federal income tax rate to the income tax benefit actually recognized for the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002 is set forth below:
2003 |
2002 |
|
Expected income tax benefit |
$(588,000) |
$(536,065) |
State income benefit, net of federal tax |
(102,800) |
(92,235) |
Increase in valuation allowance |
690,800 |
628,300 |
Income tax benefit |
$0 |
$0 |
- F 12 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 8 - Income Taxes Continued
The Company's net operating loss carry-forwards expire as follows:
Year Loss Generated |
Balance of Loss Carry-forwards |
Year of Expiration |
November 30, 1999 and prior |
$5,264,158 |
2008 through 2019 |
November 30, 2000 |
1,025,963 |
2020 |
November 30, 2001 |
1,604,660 |
2021 |
November 30, 2002 |
1,516,313 |
2022 |
November 30, 2003 |
369,377 |
2023 |
$9,780,471 |
||
Note 9 - Lease Commitments
The Company and its two subsidiaries lease a Warwick, Rhode Island facility that houses administration, research, development and manufacturing of human cells and cell lines. The operating lease requires aggregate monthly payments of $4,863 and continues through July 31, 2004. The future rental commitments under all operating leases subsequent to November 30, 2003 total $38,904 all of which is payable in the year ending November 30, 2004.
Rent expense was $54,493 and $128,329 for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
- F 13 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 10 - Notes Payable
Notes payable at November 30, 2003 and 2002 consisted of the following:
2003 |
|
2002 |
||
Xenogenics convertible promissory note payable with interest at 10%, due on April 17, 2001, in default at November 30, 2003 and 2002 (A) (B) |
$ 10,000 |
|
$ 10,000 |
|
Xenogenics convertible promissory note payable to a related party with interest at 8%, due on November 10, 2000, in default at November 30, 2003 and 2002 (A) (B) |
15,000 |
|
15,000 |
|
Promissory note payable to a medical supplier with interest at 5.25%, due on or before February 9, 2004 |
125,000 |
|
125,000 |
|
Convertible promissory notes payable to investors with interest at 10%, due on varying dates in 2004, 2005 and 2006 (C) (H) |
127,481 |
|
684,000 |
|
Convertible promissory note payable with interest at 12%, originally due on October 15, 2002 (D) (H) |
50,000 |
|||
Convertible notes payable to a related party with interest at 10%, due in 2007 (E) (H) |
21,000 |
70,500 |
||
Convertible promissory notes payable to related parties with interest at 10%, due on varying dates in 2004 and 2005 (F) (H) |
689,000 |
|
782,000 |
|
Promissory note payable to the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation with interest at 10% due June 10, 2004 |
100,000 |
|
||
Advance payable to a related party (G) |
40,000 |
|
||
Promissory note payable for legal services with interest at 10% |
|
33,392 |
||
Totals |
1,127,481 |
|
1,769,892 |
|
Less: |
|
|||
Unamortized discounts attributable to warrants and beneficial conversion rights issued with certain promissory notes payable |
(60,368) |
|
(311,719) |
|
Current portion of notes payable |
(281,000) |
|
(34,892) |
|
Notes payable - long-term portion |
$ 786,113 |
$1,423,281 |
||
- F 14 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 10 - Notes Payable continued:
(A) |
The Company continues to accrue interest on all notes in default. |
(B) |
The Xenogenics convertible notes payable are convertible into a total of 13,333 shares of common stock of Xenogenics at $1.875 per share. |
(C) |
The notes are convertible into shares of the Company's common stock at prices that vary from $.10 to $.20 per share depending on when the notes are converted. The Company issued notes in the principal amount of $127,481 and $684,000 in the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In addition, the Company issued a total of 17,435,000 warrants to purchase common stock exercisable at $.10 per share to the lenders on the respective dates of the issuances of the notes including 2,116,250 and 5,170,000 in the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These warrants may only be exercised if the note is converted. The Company initially increased additional paid-in capital by $127,236 in 2002, based on the estimated fair value of the warrants (the fair market value of warrants issued in 2003 was not material) and reduced the carrying value of the convertible promissory notes payable by the same amount for the debt discount attributable to the fair value of the warrants. In addition, after the initial allocation of the loan proceeds to the relative fair values of the warrants and the notes in 2002, the fair value of the Company's common stock exceeded the effective conversion price of certain notes on their respective dates of issuance. Such excess, which represents beneficial conversion rights, totaled $39,837, which the Company recorded by increasing both debt discount and additional paid-in capital by that amount. The debt discount attributable to the warrants and the beneficial conversion rights is being amortized to interest expense over the term of the convertible notes. During 2003, $769,800 attributable to these notes ($678,000 of principal and $91,800 of accrued interest) was converted to 5,143,332 shares of common stock. |
(D) |
This note was issued in October 2001 and was originally convertible into shares of the Company's common stock at $.07 per share. In addition, the Company issued 715,000 common stock warrants to the lender at the date of the issuance of the note that were exercisable at $.10 per share. The Company initially increased additional paid-in capital by $21,450 based on the estimated fair value of the warrants and reduced the carrying value of the note by the same amount for the debt discount attributable to the fair value of the warrants. Such discount was fully amortized during the period from the issuance of the note to its original maturity date in October 2002. During 2002, the note went into default and the lender and the Company reached an agreement whereby (i) the note would be converted into 714,286 shares of common stock at the original conversion price of $.07 per share, (ii) the 715,000 warrants granted in 2001 would be cancelled and (iii) upon conversion of the note, the lender would receive warrants to purchase 2,000,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $.10 per share and 500,000 shares of common stock exercisable at $.12 per share through 2005. During 2003, the principal balance of $50,000 was converted to 714,286 shares of common stock, the old warrants were cancelled and the new warrants were issued. |
(E) |
In January, 2004, these notes will become convertible into shares of the Company's common stock at $.10 per share through December 31, 2004, $.15 per share through December 31, 2005 and $.20 per share through December 31, 2006. Should these notes be converted, 210,000 warrants to purchase shares at $.10 per share will be granted. During 2003, $60,918 attributable to these notes ($49,500 of principal and $11,418 of accrued interest) was converted to 304,589 shares of common stock. Due to the note conversion, 500,000 warrants to purchase shares at $.10 per share were granted. |
(F) |
Theses notes are convertible into shares of the Company's common stock from $.10 to $.20 per share. During 2003, $181,937 attributable to these notes ($157,000 of principal and $24,937 of accrued interest) was converted to 1,426,215 shares of common stock. |
- F 15 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 10 - Notes Payable Continued
(G) |
This advance from a related party will be converted in January 2004 into a promissory note bearing interest at 10% due and payable in January 2007. This note will be convertible into shares of the Company's common stock at $.10 per share through January 31, 2005, $.15 per share through January 31, 2006 and $.20 per share through January 31, 2007. Should the note be converted, 400,000 warrants to purchase shares at $.10 per share will be granted. |
(H) |
The Company is obliged to register for resale under the Securities Act of 1933 all of the shares issued upon conversion of these notes and the exercise of warrants issued in connection with these notes. |
Interest expense of $175,209 and $111,058 and amortization of debt discount of $251,351 and $132,142 were attributable to notes payable to related parties in the fiscal years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
The maturities of notes payable in years subsequent to November 30, 2003 are as follows:
Year Ending November 30 |
Amount |
2004 |
$281,000 |
2005 |
749,001 |
2006 |
97,481 |
Total |
$1,127,482 |
Note 11 - Common Stock Reserved for Future Issuance
At November 30, 2003, the Company had reserved 35,625,430 shares of common stock for potential future issuances upon exercise of outstanding warrants and options, and conversion of convertible notes payable outstanding as follows:
Warrants |
21,862,917 |
Stock options (Note 12) |
8,198,334 |
Convertible notes (Note 10) |
5,564,179 |
Total |
35,625,430 |
At November 30, 2003, warrants to purchase 18,045,000 shares will become exercisable when related convertible notes payable are converted. All of the other warrants are exercisable in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time on or before the expiration date. These warrants are or will be exercisable at $.10 per share and expire at various dates from November 2010 through 2013.
- F 16 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 12 - Stock Compensation Plans
Effective February 15, 2000, the Company adopted a 2000 Stock Incentive Plan and a 2000 Employee Benefit Plan which authorizes the granting of shares and options to employees, outside directors, consultants, and vendors. Under the Plans, awards are made in the form of restricted shares or options, which may constitute incentive stock options or nonstatutory stock options. Only employees of the Company are eligible for the grant of incentive stock options. The total number of options and restricted shares that could have been awarded under the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan initially was 5,000,000. As of the first day of each calendar year commencing January 1, 2001, this total will automatically increase by 2% of the total number of common shares then outstanding or 500,000 shares, whichever is less. The option price, number of shares, grant date, and vesting period are determined at the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. The exercise price of each ISO granted under the plan must e qual 100% of the market price of the Company's stock on the date of grant. The exercise price of each NSO grant under the plan cannot be less than 85% of the market price of the Company's stock on the date of grant. An option's maximum term is 10 years. As of November 30, 2003, the total number of options that were authorized for issuance under the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan had increased from 5,000,000 shares to 6,500,000. However, the Company has issued more options than were authorized under the 2000 Stock Incentive Plan. This was necessary to provide an incentive to key employees to stay with the Company or one of its subsidiaries. The Company intends to obtain stockholders' approval for an increase in the number of options authorized for issuance at its next stockholders' meeting.
On July 3, 2000, the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission an S-8 registration statement (the "Registration Statement") in respect of its 2000 Employee Benefit Plan to register 35,000,000 shares of the Company's common stock issuable under the plan. One or more Performance Awards may be granted under the plan to any eligible person providing services to or for the Company. The value of such awards may be linked to the market value, book value or other measure of the value of the common stock or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee (the "Committee"). The Board or the Committee may approve stock payments to eligible persons who elect to receive such payments in the manner determined by the Board or the Committee. The total number of shares that can be awarded under the 2000 Employee Benefit Plan is 35,000,000.
Prior to 2000, the Company had issued options with terms of up to 10 years and exercise prices of $.10 per share (the fair market value at the respective dates of grant) to various employees, officers and directors of the Company in return for various services rendered to the Company. Some of these options remained outstanding at November 30, 2003 and 2002.
- F 17 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 12 - Stock Compensation Plans Continued
Changes during the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002 in stock options outstanding for the Company were as follows:
2003 |
2002 |
||||||
Shares |
Weighted average exercise price |
Shares |
Weighted average exercise price |
||||
Options outstanding at beginning of year |
9,555,000 |
$0.12 |
4,400,000 |
$0.15 |
|||
Granted |
2,350,000 |
$0.09 |
5,300,000 |
$0.08 |
|||
Forfeited |
(1,263,500) |
$0.12 |
(145,000) |
$0.15 |
|||
Exercised |
(2,443,166) |
$0.11 |
- |
$0.00 |
|||
Options outstanding at end of year |
8,198,334 |
$0.14 |
9,555,000 |
$0.12 |
|||
Options exercisable at end of year |
5,768,890 |
6,518,889 |
|||||
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at November 30, 2003, all of which are at fixed prices:
Range of Exercise Prices |
Number Outstanding At 11/30/03 |
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Number Exercisable At 11/30/03 |
$.06 - $.08 |
5,275,000 |
2.56 yrs |
0.08 |
3,567,362 |
$.115 - $.20 |
1,598,334 |
1.94 yrs |
0.12 |
876,528 |
$.21 - $.50 |
1,325,000 |
.46 yrs |
0.28 |
1,325,000 |
8,198,334 |
5,768,890 |
|||
- F 18 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 12 - Stock Compensation Plans, continued
SFAS 123 provides for the use of a fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation. However, SFAS 123 allows an entity to continue to measure compensation cost related to stock and stock options issued to employees using the intrinsic value method of accounting prescribed by APB 25. Entities electing to continue to use the intrinsic value method must make pro forma disclosures of net income or loss and earnings or loss per share as if a fair value method of accounting had been applied. In accordance with SFAS 123 and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure."
The Company and Xenogenics, its subsidiary (see Note 13), have elected to continue to account for their stock-options issued to employees under APB 25. Since the exercise price of all of the options granted by the Company and its subsidiary to their employees has been equal to or greater than fair value, the Company has not recognized any earned or unearned compensation cost in its consolidated financial statements in connection with those options. The Company's historical net loss and basic net loss per share, and pro forma net loss and basic net loss per share, for the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002 assuming compensation cost had been determined based on the fair value of all options at the respective dates of grant determined using a pricing model consistent with the provisions of SFAS 123 are set forth below.
2003 |
2002 |
|
Net loss as reported |
$ (1,984,053) |
$ (1,576,663) |
Stock-based employee compensation expense assuming a fair value based method has been used for all awards |
248,082 |
932,750 |
Net loss - pro forma |
$(2,232,135) |
$(2,509,413) |
Basic loss per share as reported |
$(.02) |
$(.02) |
Basic loss per share - pro forma under SFAS 123 |
$(.02) |
$(.03) |
The fair value of each option granted by the Company was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, as permitted by SFAS 123, with the following weighted-average assumptions used for the years ended November 30, 2003 and 2002 as follows:
2003 |
2002 |
|
Dividend yield |
0% |
0% |
Expected volatility |
84% |
167% |
Risk-free interest rate |
2.9% |
2.9% |
Expected lives |
3.0 years |
2.3 years |
- F 19 -
MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
For the Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2002
Note 13 - Xenogenics Subsidiary and Minority Interest
As of November 30, 2003 and 2002, the Company owned 56.4% of the 2,659,004 outstanding common shares of Xenogenics, one of its subsidiaries.
Xenogenics had options to acquire 211,556 shares at $1.00 per share outstanding as of November 30, 2003 and 2002. The options had a weighted average contractual life of 2.5 years as of November 30, 2003.
Note 14 - Subsequent Event
On April 1, 2004, the name Exten Industries, Inc. was changed to MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
- F 20 -
MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Unaudited |
November 30, 2003 |
||
ASSETS |
|||
Current assets: |
|||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$380,288 |
$1,058,960 |
|
Accounts receivable |
4,586 |
||
Other current assets |
5,195 |
18,544 |
|
Total current assets |
385,483 |
1,082,090 |
|
Property and equipment, net |
112,875 |
123,932 |
|
License agreement, net of accumulated amortization $358,670 and $292,404 |
2,074,723 |
2,140,939 |
|
Notes receivable, net of current portion |
275,000 |
260,000 |
|
Other assets |
108,692 |
123,692 |
|
Total assets |
$2,956,773 |
$3,730,653 |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|||
Current liabilities: |
|||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$465,341 |
$625,002 |
|
Current portion of notes payable, including $25,000 |
125,000 |
260,000 |
|
Current portion of related party notes payable |
21,000 |
||
Current portion of deferred income |
735,296 |
735,296 |
|
Other current liabilities |
22,356 |
37,196 |
|
Total current liabilities |
1,347,993 |
1,678,494 |
|
Non-current liabilities: |
|||
Notes payable, net of current portion |
629,113 |
786,113 |
|
Deferred income, net of current portion |
281,674 |
634,272 |
|
Other liabilities |
164,184 |
172,603 |
|
Total non-current liabilities |
1,074,971 |
1,592,988 |
|
Total liabilities |
2,422,964 |
3,271,482 |
|
Minority interest |
146,190 |
146,190 |
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|||
Stockholders' equity: |
|||
Common stock, $.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized, |
1,221,085 |
1,178,162 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
17,406,639 |
16,386,717 |
|
Deferred compensation costs |
(24,916) |
||
Accumulated deficit |
(18,240,105) |
(17,226,982) |
|
Total stockholders' equity |
387,619 |
312,981 |
|
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity |
$2,956,773 |
$3,730,653 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
- F 21 -
MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
For the Three Months Ended May 31, 2004 and 2003
2004 |
2003 |
||
Revenue |
$176,299 |
$63,690 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|||
Selling, general and administrative |
358,207 |
259,875 |
|
Research and development |
117,328 |
104,429 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
40,777 |
41,871 |
|
Total operating expenses |
516,312 |
406,175 |
|
Operating loss |
(340,013) |
(342,485) |
|
Other income (expense): |
|||
Interest expense |
(24,560) |
(73,487) |
|
Amortization of discount on notes payable |
(12,926) |
(44,876) |
|
Interest income |
17,650 |
15,238 |
|
Amortization of discount on notes receivable |
7,500 |
7,500 |
|
Total other income (expense) |
(12,336) |
(95,625) |
|
Net loss |
$(352,349) |
$(438,110) |
|
Basic loss per share |
$(0.00) |
$(0.00) |
|
Weighted average number of shares outstanding |
121,474,216 |
105,760,783 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
- F 22 -
MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
For the Six Months Ended May 31, 2004 and 2003
2004 |
2003 |
||
Revenue |
$358,173 |
$179,024 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|||
Selling, general and administrative |
926,647 |
491,386 |
|
Research and development |
341,626 |
197,944 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
81,552 |
83,105 |
|
Total operating expenses |
1,349,825 |
772,435 |
|
Operating loss |
(991,652) |
(593,411) |
|
Other income (expense): |
|||
Loss on sale of equipment |
(1,522) |
||
Interest expense |
(47,073) |
(94,413) |
|
Amortization of discount on notes payable |
(26,481) |
(89,644) |
|
Interest income |
37,083 |
30,504 |
|
Amortization of discount on notes receivable |
15,000 |
15,000 |
|
Minority interest in loss of subsidiary |
1,067 |
||
Total other income (expense) |
(21,471) |
(139,008) |
|
Net loss |
$(1,013,123) |
$(732,419) |
|
Basic loss per share |
$ (.01) |
$ (.01) |
|
Weighted average number of shares outstanding |
120,062,735 |
104,236,118 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
- F 23 -
MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
For the Six Months Ended May 31, 2004 and 2003
2004 |
2003 |
||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|||
Net loss |
$(1,013,123) |
$(732,419) |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in |
|||
Depreciation and amortization |
81,552 |
83,105 |
|
Amortization of discount on notes receivable |
(15,000) |
(15,000) |
|
Amortization of discount on notes payable |
26,481 |
89,644 |
|
Amortization of deferred compensation |
24,916 |
||
Common stock issued for services |
131,581 |
537,692 |
|
Warrants issued for services |
413,300 |
||
Minority interest in loss of subsidiary |
(1,067) |
||
Loss on sale of equipment |
1,522 |
||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|||
Accounts receivable |
4,586 |
47,929 |
|
Other current assets |
13,349 |
3,143 |
|
Other assets |
15,000 |
||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
(129,388) |
(397,995) |
|
Other current liabilities |
(14,840) |
||
Deferred income |
(352,598) |
92,636 |
|
Other liabilities |
(8,419) |
79,086 |
|
Net cash used in operating activities |
(822,603) |
(211,724) |
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|||
Purchase of equipment and leasehold improvements |
(4,279) |
(9,017) |
|
Proceeds from sale of assets |
1,500 |
||
Principal payments on notes receivable |
1,253 |
||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(4,279) |
(6,264) |
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|||
Proceeds from notes payable |
78,500 |
188,500 |
|
Payments of notes payable |
(146,000) |
(12,000) |
|
Proceeds from exercised options and warrants |
215,710 |
||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
148,210 |
176,500 |
|
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
(678,672) |
(41,488) |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
1,058,960 |
43,892 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
$380,288 |
$2,404 |
|
Non-cash Transactions: |
|||
Issuance of warrants and beneficial conversion rights |
$34,296 |
||
Conversion of convertible notes payable into common stock |
$302,254 |
$42,856 |
|
Issuance of notes payable for accounts payable and accrued expenses |
$16,608 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.
- F 24 -
MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes of MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (Exten Industries, Inc. prior to April 1, 2004) and its subsidiaries (the "Company") have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for Form 10-QSB. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended November 30, 2003. The results of operations for the three- and six-month perio ds ended May 31, 2004 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results anticipated for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2004.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company's revenues have been generated primarily from contractual research activities and royalties on the license for the sale of cells through its sale and agreement with XenoTech LLC ("XenoTech") (see Note 7 in the November 30, 2003 consolidated financial statements). Management believes such sources of revenue will be part of the Company's ongoing operations. The Company applies the guidance provided by Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements" ("SAB 104"). Under the provisions of SAB 104, the Company recognizes revenue from commercial and government research agreements as services are performed, provided a contractual arrangement exists, the contract price is fixed or determinable and the collection of the contracted amounts is probable. In situations where the Company receives payment in advance of the performance of services, such amounts are deferred and recognized as revenue as the related services are performed. Deferred revenu es associated with services expected to be performed within the next fiscal year are classified as a current liability. Deferred revenues associated with services expected to be performed at a later date are classified as non-current liabilities.
RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain amounts in the 2003 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2004 classifications.
2. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid for interest totaled $33,413 and $13,699 for the six-month periods ended May 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
- F 25 -
MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
3. GOING CONCERN UNCERTAINTY
These condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As of May 31, 2004, the Company has operating and liquidity concerns, has incurred an accumulated deficit of $18,240,105 as a result of recurring losses, has current liabilities that exceed current assets by $962,510 and is in default on certain notes payable (see Note 10 in the November 30, 2003 consolidated financial statements). These factors, among others, create an uncertainty about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully acquire the necessary capital to continue its on-going research efforts and bring additional products to the commercial market. Management's plans to acquire future funding include sales of its proprietary media, immortalized cells and primary cells to the pharmaceutical industry through its sale and distribution agreement with XenoTech. Additionally, the Company continues to pursue research projects, government grants and capital investment. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue its operations as a going concern.
4. NOTES PAYABLE
During the year ended November 30, 2003 an investor, who is also a director of a subsidiary of the Company, assisted the Company by finding a group of investors that purchased 10% convertible notes from the Company in the principal amount of $78,500 and, as a result, obtained the right to purchase a 10% convertible note from the Company in an equivalent principal amount under the same terms at anytime for one year following the receipt of the group's investment. On February 20, 2004, the investor exercised that right, and the Company received proceeds of $78,500 from the sale of the 10% convertible note, which would have required the payment of principal and interest in February 2007. Immediately upon issuance, the investor exercised his right to convert the principal amount of the note into 785,000 shares of the Company's common stock at the stated conversion price of $0.10 per share. Pursuant to the agreement, the investor also received warrants to purchase 785,000 shares of the Company 's common stock, which are exercisable at $0.10 per share at anytime through February 2014.
During the six months ended , other convertible notes (see Note 10 in the November 30, 2003 consolidated financial statements) plus accrued interest were converted into 1,608,870 shares of the Company's common stock at conversion prices ranging from $.10 to $.15 per share. A description of the notes and the principal amount and accrued interest that were converted follows:
Convertible promissory notes payable to investors with interest at 10% due on varying dates in 2004, 2005 and 2006 |
$127,481 |
Convertible notes payable to related parties with interest at 10%, due on varying dates in 2004 and 2005 |
66,000 |
Accrued interest |
30,273 |
Total |
$223,754 |
- F 26 -
MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
4. NOTES PAYABLE CONTINUED
As a result of the transactions described above, the Company issued a total of 2,393,870 shares of common stock upon the conversion of notes payable and accrued interest with an aggregate carrying value of $302,254 during the six months ended May 31, 2004.
As of , the Company had reserved 4,324,732 shares of common stock for issuance upon conversion of notes payable with a carrying value of $629,113 and accrued interest of $171,224 at conversion prices ranging from $.10 to $.15 per share.
5. WARRANTS
In addition to the warrants to purchase 785,000 shares of the Company's common stock exercisable at $.10 per share issued to the investor described in Note 4 herein, the Company issued warrants to purchase 696,667 shares of common stock for financial consulting services rendered at exercise prices ranging from $.06 to $.12 per share during the six months ended May 31, 2004. These warrants will expire from January 2008 to January 2013. The Company recognized consulting fee expense of $413,300 for the fair value of these warrants determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. During the six months ended May 31, 2004, the Company received proceeds of $113,000 from the exercise of 1,130,000 warrants at $.10 per share. As of May 31, 2004, warrants to purchase 21,742,729 shares of common stock were outstanding and exercisable at $.08 to $.12 per share.
6. COMMON STOCK, STOCK OPTIONS AND LOSS PER SHARE
During the six months ended , the Company issued 256,427 shares of common stock for employee bonuses, professional and other services and recognized a charge to selling, general and administrative expenses of $131,581 for those services based on the market value of the shares at the dates of issuance.
Changes during the six months ended in shares subject to stock options were as follows:
Options outstanding at November 30, 2003 |
8,198,334 |
Granted to officer at $.61 per share |
500,000 |
Expired |
(300,000) |
Exercised at $.08 to $.21 per share resulting in proceeds of $102,710 |
(512,000) |
Options outstanding at exercisable at $.06 to $.21 per share |
7,886,334 |
- F 27 -
MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
6. COMMON STOCK, STOCK OPTIONS AND LOSS PER SHARE CONTINUED
The Company accounts for stock options granted to employees based on their intrinsic values under the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and Related Interpretations", and has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", and the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure-an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 123" (see Note 12 in the November 30, 2003 consolidated financial statements). Since the exercise price of all of the options granted by the Company and its subsidiary to their employees has been equal to or greater than fair value, the Company has not recognized any earned or unearned compensation costs in its consolidated financial statements in connection with those options. The Company's historical n et loss and basic net loss per share, and pro forma net loss and basic net loss per share, for the six months ended and 2003 assuming compensation cost had been determined based on the fair value of all options at the respective dates of grant using a pricing model consistent with the provisions of SFAS 123 are set forth below:
Three Months Ended May 31 |
Six Months Ended May 31 |
||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2004 |
2003 |
||||
Net loss as reported |
$(352,349) |
$(438,110) |
$(1,013,123) |
$(732,419) |
|||
Stock-based employee compensation Expense assuming a fair value based method had been used for all awards |
(42,773) |
(16,598) |
(85,546) |
(116,598) |
|||
Net loss - pro forma |
$(395,122) |
$(454,708) |
$(1,098,669) |
$(849,017) |
|||
Basic loss per share - as report |
$ (0.00) |
$ (.01) |
$ (.01) |
$ (0.00) |
|||
Basic loss per share - pro forma |
$ (.00) |
$ (0.00) |
$ (.01) |
$ (0.01) |
|||
The fair value of each option granted by the Company to employees for the pro forma computations described above and the fair value of each warrant issued by the Company charged to consulting services (see Note 5 herein) during the three and six months ended May 31, 2004 was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing method with the following weighted average assumptions: dividend yield at 0%, expected volatility at 84%, risk-free interest rate at 2.9%, and expected lives of 3.0 years.
The Company incurred losses during the three and six months ended May 31, 2004. The assumed effects of the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants and the conversion of convertible notes payable were anti-dilutive and, accordingly, diluted per share amounts equal basic loss per share amounts and have not been presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. The total number of common shares potentially issuable upon exercise or conversion excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share was 33,953,795 for the three and six months ended May 31, 2004.
- F 28 -
MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On July 13, 2004, we completed a $2 million financing through the sale of 20,000 shares of our Series I Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series I Preferred Stock") at $100 per share. The financing was completed in a private placement with the Mercator Advisory Group and its related funds. We received the first $1 million on July 13, 2004, and will receive the second $1 million on the day which is two days following our initial filing of this registration statement. Each share of our Series I Preferred Stock is convertible at any time into shares of our common stock at 80% of the average of the lowest three inter-day trading prices of our common stock during the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding the conversion date, with a maximum conversion price of $0.20 per share and a minimum conversion price of $0.05 per share.
As part of this financing, we issued three-year warrants to the Mercator Advisory Group and its related funds entitling them to purchase an aggregate of 5,000,000 shares of our common stock at the lower of $0.20 per share or the average of the ten closing prices of our common stock during the ten trading days immediately preceding the exercise date. We also paid to Mercator Advisory Group $100,000 as due diligence fees and $15,000 as reimbursement of legal expenses. The Series I Preferred Stock is non-voting, bears no dividend, and has a preference of priority in liquidation over common and prior or subsequent series of preferred stock, if any.
In connection with the financing, we also paid $160,000 to Ascendiant Securities, LLC, as placement agent, and issued to Ascendiant Securities, LLC a three-year warrant to purchase up to 800,000 shares of our common stock at the lower of $0.20 per share or the average of the ten closing prices of our common stock during the ten trading days immediately preceding the exercise date.
- F 29 -
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form SB-2 under the Securities Act of 1933, relating to the shares of our common stock being offered by this prospectus. For further information pertaining to our common stock and the shares of common stock being offering by this prospectus, reference is made to such registration statement. This prospectus constitutes the prospectus we filed as a part of the registration statement and it does not contain all information in the registration statement, certain portions of which have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. In addition, we are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and, in accordance with such requirements, we file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC relating to our business, financial statements and other matters. Reports and proxy and information statements filed under Section 14(a) and 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act o f 1934 and other information filed with the SEC as well as copies of the registration statement can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the SEC's Midwest Regional Offices at 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. Copies of such material can also be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at its principal office at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Such material may also be obtained electronically by visiting the SEC's web site on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. Our common stock is traded on The Over The Counter Bulletin Board Market under the symbol "MUCL."
You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this document may only be accurate on the date of this document. |
Common Stock |
||
__________________________________ |
|||
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
|||
SUMMARY INFORMATION |
6 |
_________________ _________________ Dated August 10, 2004 |
|
RISK FACTORS |
8 |
||
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS |
12 |
||
USE OF PROCEEDS |
12 |
||
MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
13 |
||
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS |
14 |
||
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS |
18 |
||
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS AND CONTROL PERSON |
23 |
||
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
24 |
||
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS |
26 |
||
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES |
26 |
||
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT |
27 |
||
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES |
28 |
||
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION |
28 |
||
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS |
29 |
||
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
33 |
||
EXPERTS |
33 |
||
INTEREST OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL |
33 |
||
AVAILABLE INFORMATION |
33 |
||
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
34 |
||
CHANGES AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES |
62 |
||
WHERE TO LEARN ABOUT US |
62 |
||
EXHIBITS |
|||
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
PART II. INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 24. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Delaware General Corporation Law, Section 102(b)(7), enables a corporation in its original certificate of incorporation, or an amendment thereto validly approved by stockholders, to eliminate or limit personal liability of members of its Board of Directors for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, the elimination or limitation shall not apply where there has been a breach of the duty of loyalty, failure to act in good faith, intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of a law, the payment of a dividend or approval of a stock repurchase which is deemed illegal or an improper personal benefit that is obtained. Article TENTH of our amended Certificate of Incorporation includes the following language limiting the liability of, and providing indemnification for, directors:
A Director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its Shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the Directors duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its Shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the Director derived on improper personal benefit (the "Director Liability Provision").
The Director Liability Provision does not affect a director's liability under the federal securities laws or the recovery of damages by third parties. Furthermore, under Delaware Law, the limitation liability afforded by the Director Liability Provision does not eliminate a director's personal liability for breach of the director's duty of due care. Although the directors would not be liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for negligent acts or omissions in exercising their duty of due care, the directors remain subject to equitable remedies, such as actions for injunction or rescission, although these remedies, whether as a result of timeliness or otherwise, may not be effective in all situations. With regard to directors who also are officers of our company, these persons would be insulated from liability only with respect to their conduct as directors and would not be insulated from liability for acts or omissions in their capacity as officers. These provisions may cove r actions undertaken by the Board of Directors, which may serve as the basis for a claim against us under the federal and state securities laws.
Delaware law provides a detailed statutory framework covering indemnification of our directors, officers, employees or agents against liabilities and expenses arising out of legal proceedings brought against them by reason of their status or service as directors, officers, employees or agents. Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("Section 145") provides that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation (i) shall be indemnified by the corporation for expenses actually and reasonably incurred in defense of any action or proceeding if such person is sued by reason of his service to the corporation, to the extent that such person has been successful in defense of such action or proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter raised in such litigation, (ii) may, in actions other than actions by or in the right of the corporation (such as derivative actions), be indemnified for expenses actually and reasonably incurred, judgments, fines and amounts paid in sett lement of such litigation, even if he is not successful on the merits, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation (and in a criminal proceeding, if he did not have reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful), and (iii) may be indemnified by the corporation for expenses actually and reasonably incurred (but not judgments or settlements) in any action by the corporation or of a derivative action (such as a suit by a stockholder alleging a breach by the director or officer of a duty owed to the corporation), even if he is not successful, provided that he acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, provided that no indemnification is permitted without court approval if the director has been adjudged liable to the corporation.
-II-1-
Delaware Law also permits a corporation to elect to indemnify its officers, directors, employees and agents under a broader range of circumstances than that provided under Section 145. We have entered into agreements to indemnify our directors and executive officers, in addition to the indemnification provided for in our Certificate (the "Indemnification Agreements"). We believe that the Indemnification Agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers. Pursuant to the Indemnification Agreements, an indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification to the extent permitted by Section 145 or other applicable law. In addition, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, an indemnitee will be entitled to indemnification for any amount or expense which the indemnitee actually and reasonably incurs as a result of or in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, preparing to be a witness, or otherwise partic ipating in any threatened, pending or completed claim, suit, arbitration, inquiry or other proceeding ("Proceeding") in which the indemnitee is threatened to be made or is made a party or participant as a result of his or her position with our company, provided that the indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests and had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. If the Proceeding is brought by or in the right of our company and applicable law so provides, the Indemnification Agreement provides that no indemnification against expenses shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter in the Proceeding as to which the indemnitee shall have been adjudged liable to us.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, may be permitted to our directors, officers or controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
ITEM 25. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCES AND DISTRIBUTION
The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection with the offering described in this registration statement:
SEC registration fee |
$ |
1,941 |
Printing and engraving expenses |
1,000 |
|
Legal fees and expenses |
10,000 |
|
Accounting fees and expenses |
5,000 |
|
Miscellaneous |
1,000 |
|
Total |
$ |
18,941 |
ITEM 26. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES.
1. |
During fiscal year 2003, we issued thirteen convertible notes in the aggregate principal amount of $184,981. The notes are convertible into shares of our common stock at the following conversion rates: |
|
(1) |
$.10, if converted during the first twelve (12) months after the date of the related agreement; |
|
(2) |
$.15, if converted after the twelfth (12th) and through the twenty-fourth (24th) month of the related agreement; and |
|
(3) |
$.20, if converted after the twenty-fourth (24th) month of the related agreement and prior to the maturity date. |
The above transactions were issued in reliance upon the exemption provided under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis that the securities were issued under circumstances not involving a public offering.
-II-2-
ITEM 27. EXHIBITS
3.1 |
Certificate of Designations of Preferences and Rights of Series I Convertible Preferred Sock * |
5.1 |
Opinion of Snell & Wilmer LLP * |
10.1 |
Subscription Agreement dated as of July 13, 2004, among the Registrant and Mercator Momentum Fund, L.P., Mercator Momentum Fund III, L.P., Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd., and Mercator Advisory Group, LLC * |
23.1 |
Consent of Snell & Wilmer LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1) * |
23.2 |
Consent of J. H. Cohn LLP * |
* |
Filed herewith. |
ITEM 28. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 (b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price present no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial BONA FIDE offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the small business issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
-II-3-
SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form SB-2 and has duly caused this registration statement on Form SB-2 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on August 10, 2004.
MULTICELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ W. Gerald Newmin
W. Gerald Newmin,
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer,
President, and Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints, W. Gerald Newmin, as his or her attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments), and any and all Registration Statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, in connection with or related to the Offering contemplated by this Registration Statement and its amendments, if any, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorney to any and all amendments to said Registration Statement.
SIGNATURE |
TITLE |
DATE |
/s/ W. Gerald Newmin |
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director |
August 10, 2004 |
/s/ Dr. Janice DiPietro |
Chief Financial Officer |
August 10, 2004 |
/s/ Stephen Chang |
Director |
August 10, 2004 |
/s/ Thomas A. Page Thomas A. Page |
Director |
August 10, 2004 |
/s/ Ann Ryder Randolph Ann Ryder Randolph |
Director |
August 10, 2004 |
/s/ Edward Sigmond |
Director |
August 10, 2004 |
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS OF PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS OF
SERIES I CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
OF
MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
a Delaware corporation
1. He is the duly acting President and Secretary of MultiCell Technologies, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"). |
||||||
2. Pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, and pursuant to the provisions the Corporations Code of the State of Delaware said Board of Directors, pursuant to a unanimous written consent dated July 8, 2004, adopted a resolution establishing the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of, and the number of shares comprising, the Corporation's Series I Convertible Preferred Stock, which resolution is as follows: |
||||||
RESOLVED, that a series of Preferred Stock in the Corporation, having the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, and the number of shares constituting such Series I and the designation of such series, set forth below be, and it hereby is, authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to authority given by the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation. |
||||||
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors hereby fixes and determines the Determinations of, the number of shares constituting, and the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions relating to, a new series of Preferred Stock as follows: |
||||||
(a) Determination. The series of Preferred Stock is hereby designated Series I Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series I Preferred Stock"). |
||||||
(b) Authorized Shares. The number of authorized shares constituting the Series I Preferred Stock shall be twenty thousand (20,000) shares of such series. |
||||||
(c) Dividends. The holder of the Series I Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of any assets of the Corporation legally available therefor, such dividends as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors. |
||||||
(i) Preference upon Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. In the event of any dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of each outstanding share of Series I Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be paid first out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to shareholders, whether such assets are capital, surplus or earnings, an amount equal to $100.00 (the "Series I Purchase Price") per share of Series I Preferred Stock held (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends or recapitalizations of the Series I Preferred Stock) and any declared but unpaid dividends on such share, before any payment shall be made to the holders of the Common Stock, or any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series I Preferred Stock with regard to any distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. The holders of the Series I Preferred Stock shall be entitled to share ratably, in accordance with the respective preferential amounts payable on such stock, in any distribution which is not sufficient to pay in full the aggregate of the amounts payable thereon. If, upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the assets to be distributed to the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to permit payment to such shareholders of the full preferential amounts aforesaid, then all of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to shareholders shall be distributed to the holders of Series I Preferred Stock. Each holder of the Series I Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive that portion of the assets available for distribution as the number of outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock held by such holder bears to the total number of shares of Series I Preferred Stock. Such payment s hall constitute payment in full to the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. After such payment shall have been made in full, or funds necessary for such payment shall have been set aside by the Corporation in trust for the account of the holders of Series I Preferred Stock, so as to be available for such payment, such holders of Series I Preferred Stock shall be entitled to no further participation in the distribution of the assets of the Corporation. |
||||||
(ii) Consolidation, Merger and Other Corporate Events. A consolidation or merger of the Corporation (except into or with a subsidiary corporation) or a sale, lease, mortgage, pledge, exchange, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation or any reclassification of the stock of the Corporation (other than a change in par value or from no par to par, or from par to no par or as the result of an event described in subsection (iv), (v), (vi) or (viii) of paragraph (f)), shall be regarded as a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation within the meaning of this paragraph (d), provided, however, in the case of a merger, if (a) the Corporation is the surviving entity, (b) the Corporation's shareholders hold a majority of the shares of the surviving entity, and (c) the Corporation's director s hold a majority of the seats on the board of directors of the surviving entity, then such merger shall not be regarded as a liquidation, dissolution or winding up within the meaning of this paragraph (d). In no event shall the issuance of new classes of stock, whether senior, junior or on a parity with the Series I Preferred Stock, or any stock splits, be deemed a "reclassification" under or otherwise limited by the terms hereof. |
||||||
(iii) Distribution of Cash and Other Assets. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation resulting in the availability of assets other than cash for distribution to the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock, the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock shall be entitled to a distribution of cash and/or assets equal to the value of the liquidation preference stated in subsection (i) of this paragraph (d), which valuation shall be made solely by the Board of Directors, and provided that such Board of Directors was acting in good faith, shall be conclusive. |
||||||
(iv) Distribution to Junior Security Holders. After the payment or distribution to the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock of the full preferential amounts aforesaid, the holders of Series I Preferred Stock shall have no further rights in respect at such Series I Stock which shall become null and void, and the holders of the Common Stock then outstanding, or any other stock of the Corporation ranking as to assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation junior to the Series I Preferred Stock, shall be entitled to receive ratably all of the remaining assets of the Corporation. |
||||||
(v) Preference; Priority. References to a stock that is "senior" to, on a "parity" with or "junior" to other stock as to liquidation shall refer, respectively, to rights of priority of one series or class of stock over another in the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation. The Series I Preferred Stock shall be senior to the Common Stock of the Corporation and senior to any subsequent series of Preferred Stock issued by the Corporation. |
||||||
(e) Voting Rights. Except as otherwise required by law, the holders of shares of Series I Preferred Stock shall not have the right to vote on matters that come before the shareholders. |
||||||
(f) Conversion Rights. The holders of Series I Preferred Stock will have the following conversion rights: |
||||||
(i) Right to Convert. Subject to and in compliance with the provisions of this paragraph (f), any issued and outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock may, at the option of the holder, be converted at any time or from time to time into fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock at the conversion rate in effect at the time of conversion, determined as provided herein; provided, that a holder of Series I Preferred Stock may at any given time convert only up to that number of shares of Series I Preferred Stock so that, upon conversion, the aggregate beneficial ownership of the Corporation's Common Stock (calculated pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of such holder and all persons affiliated with such holder is not more than 9.99% of the Corporation's Common Stock then outstanding. |
||||||
(ii) Mechanics of Conversion. Before any holder of Series I Preferred Stock shall be entitled to convert the same into shares of Common Stock, such holder shall surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for the Common Stock, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at such office that such holder elects to convert the same and shall state therein the number of shares of Series I Preferred Stock being converted. Thereupon, the Corporation shall promptly issue and deliver at such office to such holder of Series I Preferred Stock a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the shar es of Series I Preferred Stock to be converted, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock on such date. |
||||||
(iii) Conversion Price. The number of shares into which one share of Series I Preferred Stock shall be convertible shall be determined by dividing the Series I Purchase Price by the then existing Conversion Price (as set forth below) (the "Conversion Ratio"). The "Conversion Price" per share for the Series I Preferred Stock shall be equal to Eighty percent (80%) of the Market Price (as defined below and subject to adjustment as described below), rounded to the nearest penny; provided, however, that subject to the provisions of the next sentence, in no event shall the Conversion Price be less than $0.05 per share (the "Floor Price") or exceed the lesser of (a) $0.23 per share, or (b) the closing price per share of the Corporation's Common Stock on the date of t his Certificate (the "Ceiling Price"). The Floor Price and Ceiling Price shall be further adjusted upon the occurrence of any event in paragraph (f) (iv)-(vi). |
||||||
For purposes of determining the Conversion Price, the "Market Price" shall be the average of the lowest three inter-day trading prices of the Corporation's Common Stock (which need not occur on consecutive trading days) during the 10 trading days immediately preceding the conversion date (which may include trading days prior to the original issue date), provided, that such 10 trading day period shall be extended by the number of trading days during such period on which (i) trading in the Corporation's Common Stock is suspended by, or not traded on, the OTC Bulletin Board or a subsequent market on which the common stock is then traded, or (ii) after the date of Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") for the underlying shares of common stock of the Corporation into which the Series I Preferred Stock may be c onverted is declared effective by the SEC, the prospectus included in the Registration Statement may not be used by the holder for resale of underlying shares of common stock, is suspended by, or not traded on, the OTC Bulletin Board or a subsequent market on which the common stock is then listed, or (iii) after the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC, the prospectus included in the Registration Statement for the underlying shares may not be used by the holder for the resale of underlying shares of common stock (provided such inability to use the prospectus is not (a) caused by the holder or (b) as a result of the Company's filing of post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement.) |
||||||
For purposes of illustration only, assuming the Ceiling Price is $0.23 per share, if the Market Price is $0.25 at time of conversion, the Conversion Ratio will be $100.00/$0.20, allowing the 20,000 shares of Series I Preferred Stock to be converted into 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock. On the other hand, if the Market Price is $0.35 at time of conversion, the Conversion Ratio will be $100.00/$0.23, allowing the 20,000 shares of Preferred Stock to be converted into 8,695,652 shares of Common Stock. |
||||||
If an Event of Default occurs, as defined in the Subscription Agreement for the Series I Preferred Stock, the Conversion Price shall be reduced to Seventy percent (70%) of the Market Price, provided, however, in no event shall the Conversion Price be less than the Floor Price. |
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(iv) Adjustment for Stock Splits and Combinations. If the Corporation shall at any time, or from time to time after the date shares of the Series I Preferred Stock are first issued (the "Original Issue Date"), effect a subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock, the Floor Price and Ceiling Price in effect immediately prior thereto shall be proportionately decreased, and conversely, if the Corporation shall at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Floor Price and Ceiling Price then in effect immediately before the combination shall be proportionately increased. Any adjustment under this paragraph (f)(iv) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective. |
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(v) Adjustment for Certain Dividends and Distributions. In the event the Corporation at any time, or from time to time after the Original Issue Date, shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable in additional shares of Common Stock, then and in each such event the Floor Price and Ceiling Price then in effect shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance or, in the event such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, by multiplying the Floor Price and Ceiling Price then in effect by a fraction: |
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(A) the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date, and |
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(B) the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution; provided, however, if such record date shall have been fixed and such dividend is not fully paid or if such distribution is not fully made on the date fixed therefor, the Floor Price and Ceiling Price shall be recomputed accordingly as of the close of business on such record date and thereafter, the Floor Price and Ceiling Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this paragraph (f)(v) as of the time of actual payment of such dividends or distributions. |
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(vi) Adjustments for Other Dividends and Distributions. In the event the Corporation at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable in securities of the Corporation other than shares of Common Stock, then and in each such event provision shall be made so that the holders of such Series I Preferred Stock shall receive upon conversion thereof in addition to the number of shares of Common Stock receivable thereupon, the amount of securities of the Corporation that they would have received had their Series I Preferred Stock been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event and had thereafter, during the period from the date of such event to and including the conversion date, retained such securities receivable by them as aforesaid during such period giving application to all adjustments called for during such period under this paragraph (f) with respect to the rights of the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock. |
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(vii) Adjustment for Reclassification Exchange or Substitution. If the Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series I Preferred Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of any class or classes of stock, whether by capital reorganization, reclassification or otherwise (other than a subdivision or combination of shares or stock dividend provided for above, or a reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale of assets provided for elsewhere in this paragraph (f)), then and in each such event the holder of each share of Series I Preferred Stock shall have the right thereafter to convert such share into the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property receivable upon such reorganization, reclassification or other change, by holders of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Series I Preferred Stock might have been converted immediately prior to such reorganization, reclassification, or change, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein. |
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(viii) Reorganization, Mergers, Consolidations or Sales of Assets. If at any time or from time to time there shall be a capital reorganization of the Common Stock (other than a subdivision, combination, reclassification or exchange of shares provided for elsewhere in this paragraph (f)) or a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another corporation, or the sale of all or substantially all of the Corporation's properties and assets to any other person, then, as a part of such reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale, provision shall be made so that the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock shall thereafter be entitled to receive upon conversion of such Series I Preferred Stock, the number of shares of stock or other securities or property of the Corporation or of the successor corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation or sale, to which a holder of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion would have been entitled on such capital reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale. In any such case, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the application of the provisions of this paragraph (f) with respect to the rights of the holders of the Series I Preferred Stock after the reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale to the end that the provisions of this paragraph (f) (including adjustment of the Floor Price and Ceiling Price then in effect and the number of shares purchasable upon conversion of the Series I Preferred Stock) shall be applicable after that event as nearly equivalent as may be practicable. |
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(ix) Certificate of Adjustment. In each case of an adjustment or readjustment of the Floor Price and Ceiling Price or the securities issuable upon conversion of the Series I Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance herewith and the Corporation's Chief Financial Officer shall prepare and sign a certificate showing such adjustment or readjustment, and shall mail such certificate by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each registered holder of the Series I Preferred Stock at the holder's address as shown in the Corporation's books. The certificate shall set forth such adjustment or readjustment, showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. |
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(x) Notices of Record Date. In the event of (A) any taking by the Corporation of a record of the holders of any class or series of securities for the purpose of determining the holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend or other distribution or (B) any reclassification or recapitalization of the capital stock of the Corporation, any merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to any other corporation, entity or person, or any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, the Corporation shall mail to each holder of Series I Preferred Stock at least 10 days prior to the record date specified therein, a notice specifying (1) the date on which any such record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend or distribution and a descript ion of such dividend or distribution, (2) the date on which any such reorganization, reclassification, transfer, consolidation, merger, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective and (3) the time, if any is to be fixed, as to when the holders of record of Common Stock (or other securities) shall be entitled to exchange their shares, of Common Stock (or other securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification, transfer, consolidation, merger, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. |
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(xi) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of the Series I Preferred Stock. In lieu of any fractional shares to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Corporation shall pay cash equal to the product of such fraction multiplied by the fair market value of one share of the Corporation's Common Stock on the date of conversion, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors. |
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(xii) Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of the Series I Preferred Stock, Forty Million (40,000,000) shares of Common Stock, and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of Series I Preferred Stock, the Corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose. |
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(xiii) Notices. Any notice required by the provisions of this paragraph (f) to be given to the holders of shares of Series I Preferred Stock shall be deemed given (A) if deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or (B) if given by any other reliable or generally accepted means (including by facsimile or by a nationally recognized overnight courier service), in each case addressed to each holder of record at his address (or facsimile number) appearing on the books of the Corporation. |
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(xiv) Payment of Taxes. The Corporation will pay all transfer taxes and other governmental charges that may be imposed in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of shares of Series I Preferred Stock. |
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(xv) No Dilution or Impairment. The Corporation shall not amend its Articles of Incorporation or participate in any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, for the purpose of avoiding or seeking to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Corporation, without the approval of a majority of the then outstanding Series I Preferred Stock. |
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(g) No Re-issuance of Preferred Stock. Any shares of Series I Preferred Stock acquired by the Corporation by reason of purchase, conversion or otherwise shall be canceled, retired and eliminated from the shares of Series I Preferred Stock that the Corporation shall be authorized to issue. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth in the Articles of Incorporation or in any certificate of Determination creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law. |
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(h) Severability. If any right, preference or limitation of the Series I Preferred Stock set forth herein is invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule, law or public policy, all other rights, preferences and limitations set forth herein that can be given effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable right, preference or limitation shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect, and no right, preference or limitation herein shall be deemed dependent upon any other such right, preference or limitation unless so expressed herein. |
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3. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock of the Corporation is 1,000,000 and the number of shares of Series I Stock, none of which has been issued, is 20,000. |
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Each of the undersigned declares under penalty of perjury that the matters set out in the foregoing Certificate are true of his own knowledge. Executed at San Diego, California on this 12th day of July, 2004. |
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/s/ W. Gerald Newmin |
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Name: |
W. Gerald Newmin |
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Title: |
President and Secretary |
(Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. Letterhead)
August 10, 2004
MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
55 Access Road, Suite 700
Warrick, Rhode Island 02886
Re: |
Registration Statement on Form SB-2 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are counsel for MultiCell Technologies, Inc., (formerly known as Exten Industries, Inc.,), a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (the "Registration Statement") as to which this opinion is a part, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on August _, 2004 for the resale of up to 70,650,360 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Company by selling stockholders (the "Shares").
In connection with rendering our opinion as set forth below, we have reviewed and examined originals or copies of such corporate records and other documents and have satisfied ourselves as to such other matters as we have deemed necessary to enable us to express our opinion hereinafter set forth.
Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that:
The issued Shares covered by the Registration Statement have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. The Shares to be issued upon the conversion and exercise of certain loans and warrants, respectively, as covered by the Registration Statement, when issued in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Registration Statement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to this firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/S/ SNELL & WILMER L.L.P.
SNELL & WILMER L.L.P.
MultiCell Technologies, Inc.
Shares of Series I Convertible Preferred Stock and Common Stock Warrants
July 13, 2004
Mercator Advisory Group LLC
Mercator Momentum Fund, LP
Mercator Momentum Fund III, LP
Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd.
555 South Flower Street, Suite 4500
Los Angeles, California 90071
MultiCell Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby confirms its agreement with Mercator Momentum Fund, LP, Mercator Momentum Fund III, LP, and Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd. (collectively, the "Purchasers") and Mercator Advisory Group, LLC ("MAG"), as set forth below.
1. The Securities. Subject to the terms and conditions herein contained, the Company proposes to issue and sell to the Purchasers an aggregate of: (a) Twenty Thousand (20,000) shares of its Series I Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series I Stock") for a purchase price of $100 per share (the "Purchase Price per Share"), which shall be convertible into shares (the "Conversion Shares") of the Company's Common Stock (the "Common Stock") in accordance with the formula set forth in the Certificate of Designation further described below, and (b) Five Million (5,000,000) warrants, substantially in the form attached hereto at Exhibit A (the "Warrants"), to acquire up to Five Million (5,000,000) shares of Common Stock (the "Warrant Shares"). The rights, preferences and privileges of the Series I Stock are as set forth in the Certificate of Designation of Series I Preferred Stock as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Certificate of Designation") in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. The number of Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares that any Purchaser may acquire at any time are subject to limitation in the Certificate of Designation and in the Warrants, respectively, so that the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock of which such Purchaser and all persons affiliated with such Purchaser have beneficial ownership (calculated pursuant to Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) does not at any time exceed 9.99% of the Company's then outstanding Common Stock. The Series I Stock and the Warrants are sometimes herein collectively referred to as the "Securities." This Agreement and the Certificate of Designation are sometimes herein collectively referred to as the "Transaction Documents." The Securities will be offered and sold to the Purchasers without such offers and sales being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (together with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") promulgated thereunder, the "Securities Act"), in reliance on exemptions therefrom. In connection with the sale of the Securities, the Company has made available (including electronically via the SEC's EDGAR system) to Purchasers its periodic and current reports, forms, schedules, proxy statements and other documents (including exhibits and all other information incorporated by reference) filed with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). These reports, forms, schedules, statements, documents, filings and amendments, are collectively referred to as the "Disclosure Documents." All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the Disclosure Documents (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules, documents, exhibits and ot her information which is incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Documents. 2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth on the Disclosure Schedule (the "Disclosure Schedule") delivered by the Company to Purchasers on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 below), the Company represents and warrants to and agrees with Purchasers and MAG as follows: (a) The Disclosure Documents as of their respective dates did not, and will not (after giving effect to any updated disclosures therein) as of the Closing Date, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Disclosure Documents and the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, at the time they were filed or hereafter are filed with the SEC, complied and will comply, at the time of filing, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, as applicable. (b) Schedule A attached hereto sets forth a complete list of the subsidiaries of the Company (the "Subsidiaries"). Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is validly existing in good standing as a corporation under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, with the requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as now conducted as described in the Disclosure Documents and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, indi vidually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or other), properties, prospects or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (any such event, a "Material Adverse Effect"); as of the Closing Date, the Company will have the authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization set forth in on Schedule B attached hereto (the "Company Capitalization"); except as set forth in the Disclosure Documents or on Schedule A, the Company does not have any subsidiaries or own directly or indirectly any of the capital stock or other equity or long-term debt securities of or have any equity interest in any other person; all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights and were issued free and clear of all liens, e ncumbrances, equities, and restrictions on transferability (other than those imposed by the Securities Act and the state securities or "Blue Sky" laws) or voting; except as set forth in the Disclosure Documents, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company; except as set forth in the Disclosure Documents, no options, warrants or other rights to purchase from the Company or any Subsidiary, agreements or other obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to issue or other rights to convert any obligation into, or exchange any securities for, shares of capital stock of or ownership interests in the Company or any Subsidiary are outstanding; and except as set forth in the Disclosure Documents or on Schedule C, there is no agreement, understanding or arrangement among the Company or any Subsidiary and each of their respective stockholders or any other person relating to the ownership or disposition of any capital stock of the Company o r any Subsidiary or the election of directors of the Company or any Subsidiary or the governance of the Company's or any Subsidiary's affairs, and, if any, such agreements, understandings and arrangements will not be breached or violated as a result of the execution and delivery of, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by, the Transaction Documents. (c) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents. Each of the Transaction Documents has been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or (B) general principles of equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought (regardles s of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) (collectively, the "Enforceability Exceptions"). (d) The Series I Stock and the Warrants have been duly authorized and, when issued upon payment thereof in accordance with this Agreement, will have been validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Conversion Shares issuable have been duly authorized and validly reserved for issuance, and when issued upon conversion of the Series I Stock in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designation, will have been validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and validly reserved for issuance, and when issued upon exercise of the Warrants in accordance with the terms thereof, will have been validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Common Stock of the Company conforms to the description thereof contained in th e Disclosure Documents. The stockholders of the Company have no preemptive or similar rights with respect to the Common Stock. (e) No consent, approval, authorization, license, qualification, exemption or order of any court or governmental agency or body or third party is required for the performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company or for the consummation by the Company of any of the transactions contemplated thereby, or the application of the proceeds of the issuance of the Securities as described in this Agreement, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, licenses, qualifications, exemptions or orders (i) as have been obtained on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) as are not required to be obtained on or prior to the Closing Date that will be obtained when required, or (iii) the failure to obtain which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Mater ial Adverse Effect. (f) Except as set forth on Schedule D, none of the Company or the Subsidiaries is (i) in material violation of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational document), (ii) in breach or violation of any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to it or any of its properties or assets, which breach or violation would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) except as described in the Disclosure Documents, in default (nor has any event occurred which with notice or passage of time, or both, would constitute a default) in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, leas e, license, franchise agreement, permit, certificate or agreement or instrument to which it is a party or to which it is subject, which default would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (g) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated thereby and the fulfillment of the terms thereof will not (a) violate, conflict with or constitute or result in a breach of or a default under (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a breach of or a default under) any of (i) the terms or provisions of any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease, license, franchise agreement, permit, certificate or agreement or instrument to which any of the Company or the Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their respective properties or assets are subject, (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of any of the Company or the Subsidiaries (or similar organizational document) or (iii) any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or other body applicable to the Company or the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or (b) result in the imposition of any lien upon or with respect to any of the properties or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries; which violation, conflict, breach, default or lien would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (h) The audited consolidated financial statements included in the Disclosure Documents present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders' equity of the entities, at the dates and for the periods to which they relate and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis; the interim un-audited consolidated financial statements included in the Disclosure Documents present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the entities, at the dates and for the periods to which they relate subject to year-end audit adjustments and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a con sistent basis with the audited consolidated financial statements included therein; the selected financial and statistical data included in the Disclosure Documents present fairly the information shown therein and have been prepared and compiled on a basis consistent with the audited financial statements included therein, except as otherwise stated therein; and each of the auditors previously engaged by the Company or to be engaged in the future by the Company is an independent certified public accountant as required by the Securities Act for an offering registered thereunder. (i) Except as described in the Disclosure Documents, there is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, governmental or otherwise, to which any of the Company or the Subsidiaries is a party, or to which their respective properties or assets are subject, before or brought by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency or body, that, if determined adversely to the Company or any such Subsidiary, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or that seeks to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise challenge the issuance or sale of the Securities to be sold hereunder or the application of the proceeds therefrom or the other transactions described in the Disclos ure Documents. (j) The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess adequate licenses or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and know-how that are necessary to conduct their businesses as described in the Disclosure Documents. None of the Company or the Subsidiaries has received any written notice of infringement of (or knows of any such infringement of) asserted rights of others with respect to any patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights or know-how that, if such assertion of infringement or conflict were sustained, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (k) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries possesses all licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local and other governmental authorities, all self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals presently required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its respective properties and to carry on its respective businesses as now or proposed to be conducted as set forth in the Disclosure Documents ("Permits"), except where the failure to obtain such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and none of the Company or the Subsidiaries has received any notice of any p roceeding relating to revocation or modification of any such Permit, except as described in the Disclosure Documents and except where such revocation or modification would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (l) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Documents and except as described therein, (i) the Company and the Subsidiaries have not incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions not in the ordinary course of business or (ii) the Company and the Subsidiaries have not purchased any of their respective outstanding capital stock, or declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on any of their respective capital stock or otherwise (other than, with respect to any of such Subsidiaries, the purchase of capital stock by the Company), (iii) there has not been any material increase in the long-term indebtedness of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, (iv) there has not occurred any event or condition, individually or in the aggregate, that has a Material Adverse Effect, and (v) the Company and the Subsidiaries have not sustained any material loss or interference with respect to their respective businesses or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding. (m) There are no material legal or governmental proceedings nor are there any material contracts or other documents required by the Securities Act to be described in a prospectus that are not described in the Disclosure Documents. Except as described in the Disclosure Documents, none of the Company or the Subsidiaries is in default under any of the contracts described in the Disclosure Documents, has received a notice or claim of any such default or has knowledge of any breach of such contracts by the other party or parties thereto, except for such defaults or breaches as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (n) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all real property described in the Disclosure Documents as being owned by it and good and marketable title to the leasehold estate in the real property described therein as being leased by it, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except, in each case, as described in the Disclosure Documents or such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All material leases, contracts and agreements to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound are valid and enforceable against the Company or any such Subsidiary, are, to the knowledge of the Company, valid and enforceable against the other party or parties thereto and are in full force and effect. (o) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns, except where the failure to so file such returns would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes shown as due thereon; and other than tax deficiencies which the Company or any Subsidiary is contesting in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals, there is no tax deficiency that has been asserted against the Company or any Subsidiary that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. (p) None of the Company or the Subsidiaries is, or immediately after the Closing Date will be, required to register as an "investment company" or a company "controlled by" an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). (q) None of the Company or the Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of any of such entities' directors, officers, employees, agents or controlling persons, has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or that might reasonably be expected, to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock. (r) None of the Company, the Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) directly, or through any agent, engaged in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with the offering of the Securities or engaged in any other conduct that would cause such offering to be constituted a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers in Section 6 hereof, it is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Purchasers in the manner contemplated by this Agreement to register any of the Securities under the Securities Act. (s) There is no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or work stoppage with the employees of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries which is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, threatened. (t) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries carries general liability insurance coverage comparable to other companies of its size and similar business. (u) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries maintains internal accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management's authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its financial statements and to maintain accountability for its assets, (C) access to its material assets is permitted only in accordance with management's authorization and (D) the values and amounts reported for its material assets are compared with its existing assets at reasonable intervals. (v) Except for a due diligence fee payable to MAG and a broker fee payable to Ascendiant Securities, LLC, the Company does not know of any claims for services, either in the nature of a finder's fee or financial advisory fee, with respect to the offering of the Securities and the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. (w) The Common Stock is traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (the "OTC BB"). Except as described in the Disclosure Documents, the Company currently is not in violation of, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not violate, any rule of the National Association of Securities Dealers. (x) The Company is eligible to use SB-2 for the resale of the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares by Purchasers or their transferees and the Warrant Shares by Purchasers, MAG or their transferees. The Company has no reason to believe that it is not capable of satisfying the registration or qualification requirements (or an exemption therefrom) necessary to permit the resale of the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares under the securities or "blue sky" laws of any jurisdiction within the United States. 3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities. On the basis of the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Purchasers, and Purchasers agree to purchase from the Company, Twenty Thousand (20,000) shares of Series I Stock at $100.00 per share in the amounts shown on the signature page hereto. The aggregate purchase price (the "Purchase Price") shall equal Two Million Dollars (US$2,000,000). In connection with the purchase and sale of Series I Stock, for no additional consideration, the Purchasers and MAG will receive Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of Five Million (5,000,000) shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment as set forth in the Warrants. On the Closing Date, certificates in definitive form for the Series I Stock that the Purchasers have agreed to purchase, as well as the Warrants, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company. On the Closing, Purchasers shall pay Fifty Percent (50%) of the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Company previously designated by it in writing. Such delivery of and payment for the Series I Stock and the Warrants shall be made at the offices of MAG, 555 South Flower Street, Suite 4500, Los Angeles, California 90071, at not later than 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time) on July 16, 2004 (the "Closing"), or at such date as the Purchasers and the Company may agree upon, such time and date of delivery against payment being herein referred to as the "Closing Date." At the Closing or not later than thr ee (3) days after completion of the Closing, the Company agrees to pay to MAG a Due Diligence fee of $100,000, payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account of MAG previously designated by it in writing.Provided that Company is not in default under Paragraph 10(i) (iv) or (v) hereof, the Purchasers covenant and agree to pay, within two trading days after Company files the Registration Statement (as defined in Paragraph 9 below), the balance of the Purchase Price to Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Company previously designated by it in writing. 4. Certain Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Purchaser as follows: (a) None of the Company or any of its Affiliates will sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any "security" (as defined in the Securities Act) which could be integrated with the sale of the Securities in a manner which would require the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities. (b) The Company will not become, at any time prior to the expiration of three years after the Closing Date, an open-end investment company, unit investment trust, closed-end investment company or face-amount certificate company that is or is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. (c) None of the proceeds of the Series I Stock will be used to reduce or retire any insider note or convertible debt held by an officer or director of the Company. (d) Subject to Section 10 of this Agreement, the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares will be traded on the OTC BB or such market on which the Company's shares are subsequently listed or traded, immediately following their issuance. (e) The Company will use best efforts to do and perform all things required to be done and performed by it under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and to satisfy all conditions precedent on its part to the obligations of the Purchasers to purchase and accept delivery of the Securities.
(f) The Purchasers shall have a right of first refusal on any financing in which the Company is the issuer of debt or equity securities between the Closing Date and the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement. 5. Conditions of the Purchasers' Obligations. The obligation of each Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Securities is subject to the following conditions unless waived in writing by the Purchaser: (a) The representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties with a Material Adverse Effect qualifier, which shall be true and correct as written) on and as of the Closing Date; the Company shall have complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date. (b) None of the issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by any of the other Transaction Documents shall be enjoined (temporarily or permanently) and no restraining order or other injunctive order shall have been issued in respect thereof; and there shall not have been any legal action, order, decree or other administrative proceeding instituted or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened against the Company or against any Purchaser relating to the issuance of the Securities or any Purchaser's activities in connection therewith or any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or the Disclosure Documents. (c) The Purchasers shall have received certificates, dated the Closing Date and signed by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, to the effect of paragraphs 5(a) and (b). (d) The Purchasers shall have received an opinion of counsel from Snell & Wilmer LLP with respect to the authorization of the Series I Stock, the Conversion Shares, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares and other customary matters in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(e) The Company shall have retained a qualified Chief Financial Officer. 6. Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers. (a) Each Purchaser and MAG represents and warrants to the Company that the Securities to be acquired by it hereunder (including the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares that it may acquire upon conversion or exercise thereof, as the case may be) are being acquired for its own account for investment and with no intention of distributing or reselling such Securities (including the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares that it may acquire upon conversion or exercise thereof, as the case may be) or any part thereof or interest therein in any transaction which would be in violation of the securities laws of the United States of America or any State. Nothing in this Agreement, however, shall prejudice or otherwise limit a Purchaser's right to sell or otherwise dispose of a ll or any part of such Conversion Shares or Warrant Shares under an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with applicable state securities laws or under an exemption from such registration. By executing this Agreement, each Purchaser further represents that such Purchaser does not have any contract, undertaking, agreement or arrangement with any person to sell, transfer or grant participation to any Person with respect to any of the Securities. (b) Each Purchaser and MAG understands that the Securities (including the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares that it may acquire upon conversion or exercise thereof, as the case may be) have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered, resold, pledged or otherwise transferred except (a) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act (and, if requested by the Company, based upon an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company) or pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and (b) in accordance with all applicable securities laws of the states of the United States and other jurisdictions. Each Purchaser and MAG agrees to the imprinting, so long as appropriate, of the following legend on the Securities (including the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares that it may acquire upon conversion or exercise thereof, as the case may be):
8. Termination. (a) This Agreement may be terminated in the sole discretion of the Company by notice to each Purchaser if at the Closing Date: (i) the representations and warranties made by any Purchaser in Section 6 are not true and correct in all material respects; or (ii) as to the Company, the sale of the Securities hereunder (i) is prohibited or enjoined by any applicable law or governmental regulation or (ii) subjects the Company to any penalty, or in its reasonable judgment, other onerous condition under or pursuant to any applicable law or government regulation that would materially reduce the benefits to the Company of the sale of the Securities to such Purchaser, so long as such regulation, law or onerous condition was not in effect in such form at the date of this Agreement. (b) This Agreement may be terminated by any Purchaser or MAG by notice to the Company given in the event that the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable to satisfy all material conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or prior to the Closing Date, or if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and immediately prior to the Closing Date, trading in securities of the Company on the OTC BB shall have been suspended. (c) This Agreement may be terminated by mutual written consent of all parties. 9. Registration. Within 30 days after the Closing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") covering the resale of the maximum number of Conversion Shares issuable upon conversion of the Series I Stock and the Warrant Shares (collectively, the "Registrable Securities"), as set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit D. Company shall use its best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC within 70 days after the filing date. 10. Event of Default. If an Event of Default (as defined below) occurs and remains uncured for a period of 5 days, the Purchasers and MAG shall have the right to exercise any or all of the rights given to the Purchasers and MAG relating to the Securities, as further described in the Certificate of Designation. In addition, the price at which the shares of Series I Stock may be converted into Common Stock shall be reduced from 80% of the Market Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designation) to 70% of the Market Price, subject to the Ceiling Price and Floor Price as those terms are defined in the Certificate of Designation. If prior to filing the Registration Statement, Company is in default under Sections (i), (iv) or (v) below, and such default is not cured prior to filing of the Registrat ion Statement, then Purchasers shall have no obligation to pay the balance of the Purchase Price. The Holder need not provide and the Company hereby waives any presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, and the Holder may immediately and without expiration of any grace period enforce any and all of its rights and remedies hereunder and all other remedies available to it under applicable law. Such declaration may be rescinded and annulled by Holder at any time prior to payment hereunder. No such rescission or annulment shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. An "Event of Default" shall include the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws or the Company's failure to: (i) discharge or stay a bankruptcy proceeding within 60 days of such action being taken against the Company, (ii) file the Registration Statement with the SEC within 30 days after the Closing Date, (iii) have the Registration Statement deemed effective by the SEC within 120 days after the date of filing of the Registration Statement; (iv) maintain trading of the Company's Common Stock on the OTC BB except for any periods when the stock is listed on the NASDAQ Small Stock Market, the NASDAQ National Stock Market, the AMEX or the NYSE, (v) pay the expenses referred to below or the Due Diligence Fee within three (3) days after the Closing; or (vi) deliver to Purchasers, or Purchasers' broker, as direc ted, Common Stock that Purchasers have converted within three (3) business days after receipt of written notice of conversion.
IN THE EVENT THAT THE COMPANY FAILS TO FILE THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WITH THE SEC WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE CLOSING DATE, AS A REMEDY FOR SUCH AN EVENT OF DEFAULT, COMPANY SHALL PAY TO PURCHASERS, IN CASH, ONE PERCENT (1%) OF THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR EACH DAY THAT THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILING IS DELAYED. PURCHASERS AND COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THEY HAVE MUTUALLY DISCUSSED THE IMPRACTICALITY AND EXTREME DIFFICULTY OF FIXING THE ACTUAL DAMAGES PURCHASERS WOULD INCUR IN THE CASE OF SUCH AN EVENT OF DEFAULT, AND THAT AS A RESULT OF SUCH DISCUSSION THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ONE PERCENT (1%) OF THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR EACH DAY THAT THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILING IS DELAYED REPRESENTS A REASONABLE ESTIMATE OF THE ACTUAL DAMAGES WHICH PURCHASERS WOULD INCUR IN THE CASE OF SUCH AN EVENT OF DEFAULT. BY SIGNING IN THE SPACES WHICH FOLLOW, PURCHASERS AND COMPANY SPECIFICALLY AND EXPRESSLY AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH CONCERNING L IQUIDATED DAMAGES.
Purchasers: |
Company: |
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Mercator Momentum Fund, LP |
MultiCell Technologies, Inc., |
||
By: |
Mercator Advisory Group LLC |
By: |
/s/W. G. Newmin |
Its: |
General Partner |
Name: |
W. G. Newmin |
/s/ Harry Aharonian |
Title: |
Chair, CEO & President |
|
Mercator Momentum Fund III, LP |
Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd., |
||
Mercator Advisory Group LLC |
/s/ Harry Aharonian |
||
Its: |
General Partner |
By: |
Harry Aharonian |
/s/ Harry Aharonian |
Its: |
Portfolio Manager |
11. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be hand delivered, mailed by first-class mail, couriered by next-day air courier or by facsimile and confirmed in writing (i) if to the Company, at the addresses set forth below, or (ii) if to a Purchaser or MAG, to the address set forth for such party on the signature page hereto.
Very truly yours, |
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MultiCell Technologies, Inc. |
||
/s/ W. G. Newmin |
ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
Mercator Momentum Fund, LP |
Mercator Momentum Fund III, LP |
||
By: |
Mercator Advisory Group LLC |
By: |
Mercator Advisory Group LLC |
Its: |
General Partner |
Its: |
General Partner |
/s/ Harry Aharonian |
/s/ Harry Aharonian |
||
Shares of Series I Stock Purchased: 6,250 |
Shares of Series I Stock Purchased: 4,420 |
||
Purchase Price: $625,000 |
Purchase Price: $442,000 |
||
Mercator Advisory Group, LLC |
Monarch Pointe Fund, Ltd. |
||
By: |
/s/ Harry Aharonian |
/s/ Harry Aharonian |
|
By: |
Harry Aharonian |
||
Its: |
Portfolio Manager |
||
Shares of Series I Stock Purchased: 9,330 |
|||
Purchase Price: $933,000 |
|||
Addresses for Notice to Purchasers and MAG: |
|||
Mercator Advisory Group, LLC |
|||
with copy to: |
|||
David C. Ulich, Esq. |
EXHIBIT 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the inclusion in this registration statement of MultiCell Technologies, Inc. (formerly Exten Industries, Inc.) on Form SB-2 of our report, dated January 9, 2004 (except as noted therein), on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of MultiCell Technologies, Inc. and subsidiaries as of November 30, 2003 and 2002 and for the years then ended, which report contains an explanatory paragraph related to the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the caption "Experts" in the prospectus of this registration statement.
/s/J.H. Cohn LLP |
San Diego, California
August 10, 2004