ITEM 1.	DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Unless otherwise noted, the terms "GTX Corp", the "Company", "we", "us", and "our" refer to the ongoing business operations of GTX Corp and our wholly-owned subsidiaries, Global Trek Xploration, LOCiMOBILE, Inc., and Code Amber News Service, Inc.
Overview of the Business and Recent Developments
GTX Corp utilizes miniaturized, low power consumption technology and offers a robust global positioning system (“GPS”) and cellular location platform that answers the “where is” question. If you want to know where your grandmother, child, spouse, pet, bike, motorcycle or any other high valued assets are located, GTX Corp has a solution that answers that question and enables subscribers to track the whereabouts in real time through a complete end to end, customizable GPS/GPRS transceiver module, wireless connectivity gateway, smartphone mobile applications (“Apps”), middleware, and viewing portal. GTX Corp provides various interrelated and complimentary products and services in the Personal Location Services marketplace and integrates two-way GPS tracking technologies that seamlessly integrate with consumer products and enterprise applications. Utilizing its growing global distribution channel network, the Company provides personal location solutions through hardware devices, software platform licensing and smartphone applications, with over 1.2 million downloads in 145 countries and distributors in Mexico, Australia and Nepal.
GTX Corp has developed and has commercially released an award winning, patented GPS tracking shoe that can locate the wearer in real time. The Company has an extensive portfolio of patents, patents pending, registered trademarks, copyrights and URL's to protect its products and strategies. This is supported by a scalable pipeline of two-way GPS products and services, which is creating new recurring revenue streams that are ready for license and distribution to the global community.
GTX Corp’s goal is to differentiate itself from other providers of personal location solutions through the quality and diversity of its products (such as the new GPS tracking shoe and its various GPS tracking smartphone Apps), its brand, its media and social media recognition, its renowned strategic partners, its developing international channels of distribution, a robust and scalable platform, a large intellectual property portfolio, and its custom tailored licensing models. The Company’s plan is to integrate customizable form factors that it can provide with dedicated functionality and personalized interfaces to offer consumers and businesses a broad array of localized personal location solutions.
We currently conduct our operations through three wholly-owned subsidiaries that operate in various interrelated sectors of the emerging Location-Based Services and Proximity Marketing industry (the emerging industry for localized wireless distribution of advertising associated with a particular place based on the specific location of the person carrying the smartphone) Our subsidiaries are summarized as follows:
·Global Trek Xploration ( “GTX California”) focuses on hardware and software design and development of GPS monitoring products by offering a GPS and cellular location platform that enables subscribers to track in real time the whereabouts of people, pets or high valued assets. Our GPS device, which consists of a miniature transceiver, antenna, circuitry and battery, can be customized and integrated into numerous products whose location and movement can be monitored in real time over the Internet through our 24x7 location data center (“Location Data Center”) tracking portal or on a web enabled cellular telephone. The GTX California business model is to license its technology platforms to branded partners who desire to deliver their own innovative tracking solutions to consumers or their customers in a wide variety of wearable and portable location devices. The GTX California value proposition is its ability to customize, localize and optimize an embedded approach to the tracking and monitoring market. GTX California believes that its ability to customize its products to different form factors for the specific needs of its branded partners sets it apart from its competitors. To date, the Company has created two custom solutions in two separate vertical markets ( the monitoring of seniors and the monitoring of high value assets) and has on-going initiatives to develop and deploy additional custom hardware, software, monitoring and connectivity solutions in other vertical markets.
In 2010, GTX California entered into a four-year agreement with Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. (“Aetrex”) pursuant to which we granted Aetrex the licensing rights to our end-to-end patented two- way GPS platform and to embed our GPS tracking device into certain footwear products manufactured and sold by Aetrex. Aetrex, a global leader in pedorthic footwear and foot orthotics, manufactures and sells GPS-enabled shoes based on our technology. Aetrex has certain exclusive and non-exclusive rights under this license agreement. In order to retain its exclusive rights to use our technology in shoes, Aetrex must purchase 156,000 devices from us over a four-year period that commenced in August 2011, as follows: 6,000 GPS tracking devices in the first year, 25,000 devices during the second year, 50,000 during the third year, and 75,000 devices during the fourth year. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have shipped 4,500 devices to Aetrex for use in the GPS-enabled tracking shoes (the “GPS Shoes”). The shoes are currently targeted at senior citizens afflicted with dementia. The principal source of revenues from these shoes is expected to be realized from the monthly service fees (a portion of which will be shared with Aetrex) that the owners of the GPS Shoes are required to pay.
In May 2010, we entered into a three-year agreement with Midnite Air Corp (“MNX”) granting MNX the exclusive rights to the GPS tracking platform for use in the transportation of high valued assets. In order to retain exclusive rights, MNX must purchase a minimum of 15,000 devices over the three year term at 5,000 per year and activate each device with a monthly monitoring subscription. Each device shipped will automatically be activated within 90 days of receipt with a monthly data monitoring and connectivity subscription fee. We have completed the integration process between the GTX tracking platform and the MNX backend customer service portal, delivered 50 devices to MNX and activated the monthly monitoring. MNX must purchase an additional 4,950 devices before May 3, 2012 in order to retain their exclusive rights.
·LOCiMOBILE, Inc., our mobile application subsidiary, has developed and owns LOCiMOBILE® a suite of mobile tracking applications that turn the latest smartphones and tablets such as iPhone®, iPad, Blackberry, Google Android and other GPS enabled handsets into a tracking and location based social networking device which can then be viewed through our Location Data Center tracking portal or on any connected device with internet access. With an early to market advantage, LOCiMOBILE® applications were first released in the U.S. in the second half of 2009 for use with the Apple iPhone®. As of March 28, 2012, our 17 Apps have experienced over 1.2 million downloads in 145 countries with two of our Apps making the iTunes top 25 social networking category (reaching number seven on the downloads list, number two on the highest grossing list and iTunes “What’s Hot” list). There are currently several new Apps in development and scheduled for release in 2012. These include a series of applications that will be geared for the enterprise user, by offering “private label” versions of our popular consumer apps to companies looking for a more personalized and secure method of keeping track of their employees. In addition, our goal is to expand into the proximity marketing business and begin to leverage our global user base. Our roadmap also consists of additional applications for the iPad, other tablets, TV’s, and more applications for the iPhone, BlackBerry and Google Android operating systems, all of which are expected to contribute to our user base community, the value of our brand, and revenues from App sales, monthly subscriptions and advertising.
·Code Amber News Service, Inc. (“CANS”) is our wholly-owned subsidiary that is the U.S. and Canadian syndicator and content provider of all state Amber Alerts (public notifications of child abductions) and missing person alerts. CANS, is the largest online distributor of missing persons alerts reaching close to 475,000 eyeballs a day through its widely distributed Code Amber ticker, support of over 500 local and federal law enforcement agencies and alliance with 6,000 Walgreens stores nationwide. To date, our CANS operations has primarily been used to generate goodwill for our products through its public service announcements. Our goal is to position CANS to generate revenues from brand licensing, sponsorships, and data feeds. In addition CANS plays a significant part in our overall outreach campaign, primarily used to generate awareness of our GPS products and applications. CANS provides website tickers and news feeds to merchants, internet service providers, affiliate partners, corporate sponsors and local, state and federal agencies.
Additionally, CANS markets and sells the patent pending electronic medical Code Amber Alertag and has recently signed up dozens of online affiliates and channel partners with a current total of 292 affiliates in 61 countries and 25 active fundraising organizations throughout the United States that are selling the Alertag. Mark Klaas has produced a video encouraging the support of Code Amber and the Alertag and offers the Alertags through his non-profit organization. The Alertag comes with an annual $19.95 subscription based model and compliments the overall GTX business model of providing peace of mind and personal location solutions.
General. We maintain several Internet websites including; http://www.gtxcorp.com, www.gpsshoe.com, www.codeamberalertag.com and www.gpstrackingapps.com. Our annual reports, quarterly reports, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and other information related to this company, are available, free of charge, on our website as soon as we electronically file those documents with, or otherwise furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company’s Internet website and the information contained therein, or connected thereto, are not, and are not intended, to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
GTX CALIFORNIA BUSINESS
GTX California was incorporated in California on September 10, 2002. GTX California developed its business as follows:
·In 2002, GTX California conducted technical feasibility studies and analyzed market data, filed patents and began developing its customizable imbedded technology business model.
·In 2004, GTX California built its first prototypes and began developing partnerships with wireless carriers, contract manufactures and topology partners in order to build out its proof of concepts.
·In 2006 and 2007, GTX California developed pre-production personal location devices, completed the proof of concept website development (i.e., mapping interfaces and back office support), and obtained Federal Communication Commission (“FCC”), Industry Canada (“IC”), and Conformite Europeenne (“CE”) approvals.
·In September 2007, GTX California entered into its first license agreement and in September 2008, GTX California delivered its first commercial order of GPS devices.
·In 2008/2009 GTX California began rolling out additional product lines, for both the business-to-business and the business-to-consumer markets. Also, in 2009 we began the international sale of GPS devices and evaluation kits, entered into a number of platform test agreements, and expanded our intellectual property portfolio with the addition of four new approved patents and several additional trademarks.
·In 2010 GTX California, increased revenues, signed two significant licensing agreements (with Aetrex and with MNX), added two international distributors, launched its portal in Spanish for the Latin market, received the prestigious People’s Choice award for the most innovative connected device, was granted several new patents, added new portable two way GPS devices to its product line, reduced the size of the GPS shoe module by 25%, and continued to expand its brand recognition through traditional and social media outreach campaigns.
·In 2011 GTX California began delivering GPS devices on its existing two contracts with Aetrex and MNX, was issued another patent and continued its international expansion through alliances and partnerships.
GTX California has developed and owns a comprehensive, end-to-end scalable and licensable two-way GPS location enterprise platform. Unlike a one-way GPS location system (such as the standard automobile GPS systems or personal navigation devices) that informs the user of the users location, a 2-way GPS location system allows other parties to locate and track the whereabouts of the user. The tested and proven two-way GPS location system enables subscribers to obtain accurate, real-time location information of persons or property through our secure, robust consumer and enterprise portal.
GTX California provides real-time location and tracking information to customers using GPS devices for both routine and emergency situations through GTX California's Location Data Center and Internet infrastructures. Following the purchase of a module and the activation of the service, a subscriber can determine the location of any person or product that carries the locator module by accessing the Internet either by computer or by a web-enabled cellular telephone.
The Location Data Center tracking portal is fully scalable and has been licensed to several partners both in the U.S. and internationally. It is a secure platform equipped with a database, application-programming interface (API) for custom integration and communication SMS gateway software and hardware. Subscriber internet communications are routed through GTX California’s proprietary, fault-tolerant, carrier-class, and application-specific interface software.
GTX California’s goal is to establish a large subscriber base for products that use the Location Data Center and then generate high margin, recurring revenues for providing monitoring services.
GTX California’s objective is to be a leading provider of wireless location services through the convergence of state-of-the-art enhanced global positioning, wireless communications and other technologies that empower people and businesses with the ability to locate other people or property, whenever and wherever they choose. GTX California’s multi-pronged strategy is to penetrate vertical target markets by offering exclusive licenses of our technology to enterprises looking to enhance their brand and product offerings. Potential target markets that GTX California is currently in, or is exploring, include:
·Parents of young children (primarily 4 to 12 years of age) who desire to know the whereabouts of their children;
·Families with members who have Alzheimer’s disease and developmentally challenged adults;
·Elder care support and applications;
·Adults and children with cognitive disorders;
·Pet care;
·Field workers, first responders and law enforcement;
·Military Personnel;
·High value asset tracking and location capability of bikes, motorcycles, containers, luggage, and other assets that require monitoring or tracking; and
·Competitive non-motorized athletes.
GTX California also offers its Location Data Center services to non-GTX California products and hardware systems (i.e. handsets and personal electronics) of major electronics manufacturers through the offer and sale of exclusive licenses (either geographical, regional or product categories).
Products - Hardware; Location Data Center
GTX California’s location based products consist of (i) certain hardware and (ii) a suite of subscription-based internet data-monitoring software and services (tracking portal). Our hardware products include patented, interchangeable GPS satellite tracking and location reporting modules that can be embedded into wearable consumer items (such as footwear, clothes, backpacks, life preservers) or can be integrated into other portable carriers. For example, our GPS devices can be embedded into the sole of a shoe to track and report the location of the wearer of the shoe (See discussion regarding our license with Aetrex below). In addition, we also offer a wearable caddy that houses a miniaturized, ruggedized, portable GPS tracking device enclosed in a buoyant, waterproof, shockproof, clip-on housing. The module can be affixed to, or embedded in other products and items that need to be located, such as trucks, automobiles, delivery vehicles, and high value parcels.
GTX California’s data tracking portal consists of its proprietary Location Data Center that provides a complete array of back-end services to subscribers. Upon purchase of a product that contains our GPS devices from a licensee and the subscription by the purchaser of a service plan and activation of service, the subscriber/purchaser can establish his own personal pass code and configure his account services. A subscriber can have more than one product included on his account, and can set up individual profiles for each product.
The subscriber initiates requests for location information on the GPS device through the Internet via the GTX California licensee’s web site. The Location Data Center automatically contacts the module via the local cellular communications infrastructure, requesting the module's location. The embedded module utilizes GSM/GPRS technology and transmits its location data on a GSM network. The GTX California locator utilizes quad-band GSM technology.
The module’s GPS electronics, utilizing advanced "weak signal server-enhanced" technology, provides rapid location identification. With this technology, the most current satellite data (“Ephemeris data”) is delivered to the module during the request for location. This greatly enhances GPS performance in less-than-ideal circumstances (i.e. urban canyons, deep building interiors, tunnels and other difficult areas), enabling the product to get a location from GPS satellites ten times faster than with standard GPS (10 seconds versus 100 seconds). The cellular tower information is also used to augment the location information provided.
Having determined its location, the module then communicates the location information to the Location Data Center. The location information is then passed to the subscriber via the Internet (with a map and closest street address). In most cases, the entire process takes less than 30 seconds. A copy of the event is stored in the customer's files. The Location Data Centers use GTX California’s proprietary application-specific interface "thin-client" software (protected under our existing IP portfolio) equipment that is connected to existing telephone and Internet infrastructures.
The accuracy of the location information provided by GTX California’s products is within 37 feet in optimum conditions, which is significantly better than that required by the FCC (150 feet).
In addition to these basic location reporting capabilities, our GPS devices and location tracking services also offers several additional features and capabilities to our subscribers, including:
·Bread-crumbing. The subscriber is able to get a report on a series of location events through “bread-crumbing”. With this feature, the user can see the location history mapping the route of the user with the exact location of the user noted at various times based on whatever reporting interval is selected (30-seconds, 1 minute, etc.). Parents may want to use this feature to confirm the whereabouts of their child if he or she is in the care of a guardian and/or has several appointments throughout the day. To utilize this feature, the subscriber predetermines the number of locations he or she wishes to track, as well as the desired time interval between locations (i.e. identify a total of 12 locations, once every 15 minutes). Once all locations are identified, a report will be automatically issued. The subscriber can then request a mapping of the desired locations.
·Temporary Guardians. Through the Location Data Center, subscribers can set-up a “temporary guardian” which will have access to location features only (no account management functions). Parents may want to use this feature when their child is visiting a relative and they want that person to be able to determine the child's location.
·GeoFencings. Subscribers can establish geographic limits for each user that will be programmed in place through the Internet access provided by the licensee to their customers. Once these limits have been programmed into the account, when the user crosses these boundaries, alerts are sent out to the subscriber over the Internet through email or to a wireless cellular device by SMS or text messaging.
Technology
The current product design utilizes quad-band GSM telephony chip sets and can be adapted in the future to the then-prevalent wireless technology, be it 3G or 4G. Our module’s GPS electronics, utilizing advanced “weak signal server-enhanced” technology will provide rapid location identification.
Each module is programmed with a unique identification number and uses standard cellular frequencies to communicate its location. The module is also programmed with a unique subscriber identification number allowing each owner to subscribe to different services.
GTX California has developed a “carrier-class” architecture and facility to create and manage the proprietary Location Data Center (reliable to 99.999%). The local service center runs on redundant off-the-shelf servers. This enables cost-efficient expansion, without the need for application code changes.
The products are supported by the existing infrastructure for the worldwide cell network that provides coverage throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and numerous other countries that operate on the global GSM Wireless networks. In addition, the personal locators will have the ability to roam seamlessly on the networks of 290 partners in over 210 countries.
As part of the our expansion strategy/roadmap, the Company is currently exploring the development of a CDMA module, that should open up new carrier relationships and territories that are predominantly CDMA, such as Japan and Korea.
Multiple Applications
GTX California’s planned GPS Personal Locator licenses are targeted to address multiple major markets, including tracking or locating adults with Alzheimer’s disease, automotive/commercial/payloads, children, pets, institutional living and life science assets.
Adults. We believe the demographic segments offering the greatest opportunities are Alzheimer's patients, seniors (65+ years of age), and active adults and teens. A primary application is for "active adults": those who participate in outdoor recreational activities (such as jogging, hiking and camping) that could put them at risk of getting lost, being injured or becoming a victim to a violent crime. Other potential users include Alzheimer's patients along with the approximate 9 million US adults and children that have cognitive disorders. We believe caregivers of these people would be very interested in using the location service during an emergency situation, as a combination location service/notification and informing law enforcement if a crime is in process where a subscriber is the victim, and simply as a means of communicating one's location to a friend or a loved-one.
Vehicular/Commercial/Payload Tracking. As competitive forces continue, we believe that bicycle, truck and motorcycle dealers will continue to look for ways of increasing their profitability through value-added services and after-market sales. We believe that GTX California’s products and services would offer a new profit-building opportunity to prospective licensees now doing business with dealers. Permanent installation for theft recovery applications would be simplified due to the miniaturized nature of the hardware and the embedded antenna technology. Its small size would allow it to be placed in any car, truck or motorcycle the dealer sells. GTX California is also targeting businesses and organizations that use fleets of vehicles. We believe GTX California’s products would be attractive to any business owner who needs to know the location of their vehicles and/or payload(s).
Children. Due to the emotional nature of the benefit GTX California is offering, we view this segment as having a big market potential. The GPS Personal Locator license for children will target prospective licensees currently marketing their existing products to dual-income and single parents of 4-12 year old children. At the lower end of this age range, children are starting to gain more independence from their parents and are more likely to be "out of the parent's sight" for a variety of reasons (such as day care, school, playing with friends, and field trips). We believe that both parent and child interest in the product would level off after age 12, when a child's range of freedom and desire for privacy increases dramatically. The service is positioned as "complementary" to parent supervision, not a replacement for it. This market is especially significant in Latin America due to the growing numbers of kidnapping and abductions for ransom.
Pet Owners. This market segment would utilize GTX California’s technology to locate pets that have run away, been stolen or become lost. The pet collar device can be attached to a collar or by similar means and will utilize the same location (GPS) and communication (cellular) technologies as the GPS Personal Locator; however, since it will not need many of the added features (such as watch display, paging, and wearer-triggered alarm), we anticipate that GTX California will be able to produce it at a lower unit cost.
Institutional Living. Current technologies used to monitor individuals with movement-restrictions often do not meet the needs of law enforcement officials. For example, house arrest systems that utilize an "RF tether" to monitor an individual's presence in his or her home will alert officials if the person leaves the house, but will not provide information on where the person has gone. We believe the increase in overcrowding in jails and prisons provides a further incentive to utilize location and tracking products.
Life Science, Medical and Pharmaceutical Transportation. The amount of important and/or time sensitive medical, life science and pharmaceutical products being transported appears to be on the rise, increasing the need to connect globally outsourced service providers with medical and clinical research facilities. We believe that there is an increasing desire to be able to track these important medical, life science and pharmaceutical products.
Strategic Relationships and Licensing Arrangements
The goal of GTX California is to offer location based hardware and/or its data monitoring platform to third parties for the sale and distribution of location based products/services in various markets. We begin the process by entering a platform test agreement with a potential partner with the intent to transition into a long term relationship. By establishing and building partnerships, both domestic and international, through licensing agreements, OEM, and carrier relationships, technologies we facilitate efficient entry into new markets leveraging each company’s core competencies. We enhance the value of our distribution channels by aligning our sales and marketing efforts with strategic partners, including co-branding, distribution and marketing with telecommunication companies, wireless carriers, national retailers and major consumer branded companies.
We are currently a party to one platform test agreement for the future release of consumer and enterprise products using our GPS tracking technology. In July of 2010 we entered into a platform test agreements, with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc. (dba Alzheimer Association) to test the patented GPS Shoe and middleware platform. We successfully completed the first phase of technical testing and have begun outlining the business terms for AA.org to participate in the sales and support of the Aetrex GPS-enabled shoes.
Two of our prior platform tests have been converted into definitive licensing agreements consisting of the following:
Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. On March 18, 2010, GTX California entered into a license agreement with Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. under which we granted Aetrex the right to embed our GPS tracking device into certain footwear products manufactured and sold by Aetrex (the “License Agreement”). Aetrex is a global leader in pedorthic footwear and foot orthotics, and the new product to be introduced is intended to monitor the locations of “wandering” seniors afflicted with dementia by embedding our patented location technology in Aetrex footwear.
Under the License Agreement, we granted Aetrex certain exclusive and non-exclusive rights to (i) embed our portable GPS tracking system device into footwear, and (ii) manufacture, sell and distribute in the “Territory” certain footwear containing the GPS tracking system device. Aetrex was granted (a) the exclusive rights to embed our GPS tracking devices into all adult (male and female) footwear and into insoles, and (b) the non-exclusive rights to embed the tracking devices into athletic footwear and military footwear. The “Territory” consists of the following: Aetrex has the exclusive rights to North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), the Middle East (Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Cyprus, and Egypt), the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Greece, and the non-exclusive rights to all other countries. To the extent that Aetrex is required to possess a license to any of our patent rights and know-how that are included in the GPS tracking devices for the purpose of commercializing Aetrex’s footwear products, we also granted Aetrex a license to our patent rights and know-how for this limited purpose.
The rights granted to Aetrex under the License Agreement will remain in effect for four years, commencing on the date that we ship the first GPS tracking device to Aetrex for use in Aetrex’s footwear. Aetrex has agreed to purchase a substantial number of GPS tracking devices from GTX California for use with certain of its footwear products. In order to retain its exclusive rights, Aetrex has agreed to purchase 6,000 GPS tracking devices from us during the first year of the four-year period, 25,000 devices during the second year, 50,000 during the third year, and 75,000 devices during the fourth year. The agreement will automatically renew for an additional year if Aetrex’s annual purchase of the number of the GPS tracking devices in the preceding year was at least one hundred and fifteen percent (115%) of the prior year’s minimum purchase requirement. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have shipped 4,500 devices to Aetrex for use in the GPS Shoe. Subsequent downstream revenue will be realized through the end-users of the GPS enabled Aetrex shoes (expected to predominately be seniors afflicted with dementia) from whom we will receive a monthly service fee, a portion of which will be shared with Aetrex. Aetrex soft launched the GPS Shoe in December 2011.
In order to activate the tracking features of the GPS Shoe, the user of the shoes will have to purchase a monthly cellular connection plan from GTX California. The Company will be responsible for the cellular/GPS activation, for arranging and providing cellular connection services and for collecting the monthly fees. We will receive and retain the recurring monthly cellular fees received from users of the Aetrex embed tracking footwear, although we have agreed to remit a varying portion of those monthly fees to Aetrex. GTX California will also be solely responsible for the manufacture, production and supply/sale to Aetrex of the licensed GPS tracking devices, and for repairs, replacements, after-service, and warranties pursuant to its product and services warranties.
Midnite Air Corp. In October 2009, we entered into an exclusive product test agreement with Midnite Air Corp D/B/A MNX to develop an industry first, proprietary GPS enabled transport container. MNX is a worldwide provider of specialty critical and security sensitive global transportation and logistics services. MNX has successfully concluded various tests throughout the globe including Great Britain, Australia and China. We successfully completed the testing in May 2010 and entered into a three year License Agreement with MNX under which we granted MNX the right to embed our GPS tracking device into certain freight/cargo used by MNX to transport vital organs and certain other high valued assets. MNX will also use our middleware platform and viewing portal as its complete end-to-end tracking and monitoring solution for tracking the vital organs and other high valued assets that they transport. In order to retain exclusive rights, MNX must purchase a minimum of 15,000 devices over the three year term at 5,000 per year and activate each device with a monthly monitoring subscription. Each device shipped will automatically be activated within 90 days of receipt with a monthly data monitoring and connectivity subscription fee. We have completed the integration process between the GTX tracking platform and the MNX backend customer service portal, delivered 50 devices to MNX and activated the monthly monitoring. MNX must purchase an additional 4,950 devices before May 3, 2012 in order to retain their exclusive rights.
In connection with the launch of the MNX package tracking device, the Company is planning to expand into Europe and has secured office space in the United Kingdom to better support the global expansion needs of MNX and Aetrex. We also have engaged three advisors in the region to advance our wireless carrier relationships, expand our mobile apps presence in the European app stores, and to establish licensing partners for the GTX backend monitoring platform. Currently, we are exploring potential launch markets for 2012 in the following regions: EMEA (United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Spain and Israel), AsiaPac (New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan), Canada and Mexico.
Intellectual Property Investment
GTX California has invested, and continues to invest, significantly in intellectual properties, which consist of apparatus patents and applications and system and method patents and applications. GTX California has filed claims that cover all aspects of the personal locator, its operating system and user interface. Set forth below is a list of our patents and pending patent applications.
U.S. Patent Holdings
1.U.S. Patent No. 6,788,200 title: “Footwear With GPS,” filed October 21, 2002, issued September 7, 2004, expires approximately October 21, 2022
2.U.S. Patent No. 7,474,206 title: “Footwear With Embedded Tracking Device And Method Of Manufacture,” filed February 6, 2006, issued January 9, 2009, expires approximately July 23, 2027
3.U.S. Patent No. 8,077,030 title: “Tracking System With Separated Tracking Device,” filed August 8, 2008, issued December 13, 2011, expires approximately August 8, 2029
4.U.S. Patent No. RE40,879 title: “Footwear With GPS,” filed July 27, 2006, reissued August 25, 2009, expires approximately October 21, 2022
5.U.S. Patent No. RE41,087 title: “Footwear With GPS,” filed September 6, 2006,reissued January 26, 2010, expires approximately October 21, 2022
6.U.S. Patent No. RE41,102 title: “Footwear With GPS,” filed September 7, 2006, reissued February 9, 2010, expires approximately October 21, 2022
7.U.S. Patent No. RE41,122 title: “Footwear With GPS,” filed August 17, 2006, reissued February 16, 2010, expires approximately October 21, 2022
8.U.S. Patent No. D595,484 title: “Footwear With Antenna,” filed February 7, 2008, issued July 7, 2009, expires approximately July 7, 2023
9.U.S. Patent No. D599,102 title: “Footwear Sole With Antenna,” filed February 7, 2008, issued September 1, 2009, expires approximately September 1, 2023
10.U.S. Patent No. 7,920,059 title: “Footwear With Embedded Tracking Device and Method Of Manufacture,” Issued April 5, 2011, expires approximately February 6, 2026
11.U.S. Patent Application, Serial No.13/323,382 title: “Tracking System With Separated Tracking Device,” filed December 12, 2011. Pending
12.U.S. Patent Application, Serial No. 12/012,088 title: “System And Method For Monitoring The Location Of A Tracking Device,” filed January 31, 2008. Pending
13.U.S. Patent Application, Serial No. 12/378,153 title: “System And Method For Processing Location Data,” filed February 11, 2009. Pending
14.U.S. Patent Application, Serial No. is CONFIDENTIAL - Not Published by the USPTO) title: “System And Method For Communication with a Tracking Device,” filed February 9, 2009. Pending
Foreign Patent Holdings
1.Canadian Patent Application, Serial No. 2,641,469 title: “Footwear With Embedded Tracking Device and Method of Manufacture,” filed August 5, 2008. Pending
2.Mexican Patent Application, Serial No. MX/A/2008/010160 title: “Footwear With Embedded Tracking Device and Method of Manufacture,” filed August 6, 2008. Pending
As part of the ongoing building of our intellectual property portfolio, the Company owns approximately 50 Internet domain names, producing over 100,000 visitors per month. Our primary domain, www.GTXCorp.com, as well as our other related domains, provide IP protection for current and future business and vertical marketing initiatives. Both our flagship products have their own URL (www.gpsshoe.com and www.gpstrackingapps.com). Under current domain name registration practices, no one else can obtain an identical domain name, but someone might obtain a similar name, or the identical name with a different suffix, such as “.org” or with a country designation. The regulation of domain names in the United States and in foreign countries is subject to change, and we could be unable to prevent third parties from acquiring domain names that infringe or otherwise decrease the value of our domain names. The Company has also secured corporate social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.
On December 5, 2011, we entered into a multi-patent licensing agreement with a third-party for the rights to an additional 62 domestic and international patents. This license was entered into in order to eliminate actual or potential conflicts between our patented technologies and the licensed patents.
The Industry
Location-based services are once again central to the wireless industry. Technological challenges have been resolved with 3G and 4G network speeds now consistent with higher-speed coverage that is widely available. In our ever-mobile society, it helps to know where we are and where we are going. Many parents desire to have the ability to know where their children are and where they are going. Having such information is now possible with access to real-time information delivered on-demand through locator systems and technologies such as ours.
Since 2002, IDC research has consistently shown very high levels of consumer interest in other location based services - especially in family/friend locator devices. Access, controlled by the parent and permission-based among other adults, gives the parents the means to stay connected to their children as well as the opportunity to use the geofencing technology to control access to particular areas. We believe that the results of this study indicate that there is significant opportunity for GPS manufacturers and marketers throughout multiple industries.
In a recent report, Cisco Systems, Inc. predicted that by 2015 there will be 5.6 billion mobile devices and 1.5 billion separate machine-to-machine nodes. Coincidentally, global mobile data traffic will grow 26 times between 2010 and 2015, to 6.3 exabytes per month (an exabyte is a billion gigabytes), according to the latest report from Cisco’s Visual Networking Index Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast.
ABI Research estimates the industry to reach $11 billion in 2010 with 300 million worldwide users and growing to $14 billion by 2014.
The rising need for two-way GPS and location based services is influenced by several factors, among them:
•Ubiquitous awareness and expanding penetration of GPS enabled mobile smartphone & tablets (Estimated 5.5 Billion by 2013).
•Personal and asset security concerns affecting a greater portion of the population.
•Increasing numbers of elderly or memory impaired (Alzheimer’s, Autism, etc. 6 million in U.S. and growing to 100 million worldwide).
•Corporations needing to manage worker productivity and logistics.
•Government agencies, law enforcement and military personnel monitoring.
•Massive life style adoption of Location Based Social Networking.
•Proximity Advertising - the new paradigm.
Target Markets and Marketing Strategy
We believe that the primary target market for GTX California’s products and systems consists of prospective licensees who currently sell related products or technology services to numerous markets including home security, child safety, medical and elder care providers, campers, hikers, backpackers, adventure seekers, extreme sports enthusiasts, freight and cargo carriers, delivery services, pet owners, vehicle finance companies, auto dealerships, law enforcement agencies, military organizations and individuals wishing to track valuable items. In order to address these target markets, our marketing initiatives include:
·National and international media coverage;
·Industry and consumer speaking engagements including; television, radio, news outlets and conferences;
·Email campaigns to our 1.2 million consumer subscriber base and over 10,000 business contacts;
·Endorsements from leading industry advocates and analysts including; Universities, non-profit organizations, and research firms;
·Cause marketing through social media and affinity groups;
·Exposure through our YouTube channel;
·Trade shows;
·Establishing licensing relationships with key industry partners;
·Utilizing social media and public relations outreach in special interest magazines and newsletters;
·Affiliate group marketing and outreach;
·“White label” affiliates which will target niche markets such as the Alzheimer’s Association for seniors afflicted with dementia; and
·Establishing licensing relationships with large partners who sell every-day consumer goods like shoes, helmets, bicycles, etc.
Our marketing strategy has resulted in an unprecedented amount of free coverage by National and International news agencies and television programs.
Growth Strategy
Approaching the market place with a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) strategy through our three business units, our goal is to become one of the major providers of personal and asset location services to specific niche business channel partners and once we hit critical mass in pricing, to the mass consumer markets. The strategy is to establish licensing relationships with key industry partners who will embed our technology into their products to sell to their established customer base. Key elements of our strategy include:
·Providing our Personal Locator embedded module to licensees to empower their products with two-way GPS tracking capabilities;
·A mass market retail price under $199.00 for Personal Location devices;
·A monthly service fee structure, under $20.00, as to the needs of the end user and having multiple convenient access points (mobile phone, land line, or via the Internet);
·Ease of use at the location interface point as well as with the device; and
·Rugged design that meets the rigors of use. Our goal is to utilize our modules in products that are waterproof and can handle weather extremes of heat and cold.
Competition
Personal location and property tracking devices are just beginning to significantly penetrate the marketplace. We believe this condition represents a tremendous opportunity as customers will be attracted in large numbers once the intrinsic value of the device is recognized and mass market adoption begins.
Competitors for our GPS products, and often also for our LOCiMOBILE® smart phone applications, include Location Based Technologies, Inc., Zoombak, Inc., Google Latitude, Foursquare, Loopt, Trimble Navigation, Inc., Brick House Security and SOS Gps, Inc. Our competitors may be better financed, or have greater marketing and scientific resources than we can provide. We are also aware of a number of foreign competitors that offer personal location tracking products similar to ours, which may impact our ability to expand our products abroad. Our smart phone locator apps also compete against a number of other smart phone apps, some of which have features similar to our apps.
In related markets, GPS devices have become widely used for automotive and marine applications where line-of-sight to GPS satellites is not a significant issue. Manufacturers such as Garmin, Navman, Magellan, TomTom, Pharos, NovAtel and DeLorne are finding a market interested in using these products for both business and leisure purposes. Location devices are gaining significant market acceptance and commercialization in part due to the use of GPS technology in devices such as chart plotters, fitness and training devices, fish finders, laptop computers, PDAs, etc. Prices range from less than $100 to over a thousand dollars for such items. We expect that increasing consumer demand in these markets will drive additional applications and lower price points.
Government Regulation
GTX California is subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations applied to businesses generally as well as FCC, IC and CE wireless device regulations and controls. We believe that GTX California is in conformity with all applicable laws in all relevant jurisdictions. We do not believe that GTX California’s operations are subject to any environmental laws and regulations of the United States nor the states in which they operate.
Research and Development
GTX California shifted from a research and development mode in the third quarter of 2008 with the completion of the athletic locator device. Prototype testing was successfully completed and the first shipment of products was made in September 2008. Additionally, GTX California is working with several other entities that are conducting research on key areas to improve the device (including expanded antennae capability, battery capacity, and enhanced location reliability and accuracy). We anticipate GTX California will continue its ongoing involvement with such improvement activities for the foreseeable future. During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, we spent $10,000 and $68,000, respectively, on research and development. Most of the foregoing research and development expenditures involved the development of new smart phone apps and the GPS shoe device.
Other Location Products
In addition to marketing our own proprietary products, we also market and sell the “miniMT”, the GTX AVL, the Triton, and the “Micro LOCi”, tracking devices that are manufactured by a third party. The miniMT is a compact, fully certified quad-band integrated device that provides complete GSM/GPRS functionality for mobile tracking applications. The micro LOCi a more compact, fully certified quad-band integrated device that provides complete GSM/GPRS functionality for mobile tracking applications. The GTX AVL is a low cost vehicle tracking device and the Triton is a very robust highly specific shipping container monitoring and tracking device. These products are sold under our GTX brand, and they can be branded with other companies’ names. All these devices operate through, and use our middleware platform and viewing portal. These devices can be sold individually or as a complete solution including platform and wireless connectivity providing us with product sales revenues and subsequent recurring monthly service revenues. In addition to hardware device sales, as part of our international expansion plans, we are also licensing our enterprise portal and middleware platform which is contributing to an increase in monthly subscription revenues. The Company currently has three (3) international licensed distributors and anticipates signing on another three this year.
LOCiMobile® BUSINESS
LOCiMobile® has a suite of consumer and enterprise mobile tracking applications, social networking and proximity alerting applications that turn the latest GPS enabled smartphones and tablets into tracking devices and mobile social networking devices capable of being viewed on other handsets or our tracking portal. LOCiMOBILE® can be deployed both business to business, through a private label interface and as a direct to consumer offering. Selling mobile tracking applications for use on mobile handsets (“Apps”) allows us to enter into new markets supported by the growing number of worldwide GPS handsets, estimated to reach 5.5 billion by 2013, and tap into these markets without the traditional capital requirements and long lead times associated with manufacturing, selling and shipping hardware. Our mobile strategy complements our overall location based product offering by allowing us to leverage the rapid penetration and adoption of smartphones, including the use of their data plans and distribution capabilities (such as the Apple App Store, Blackberry App Store and the Android Marketplace), with our existing platform architecture. Our middleware is now a complete offering able to support applications on handsets along with hardware we make or buy for those specialized vertical markets.
We have experienced success with a number of our Apps. Beginning in 2010, we launched our very popular GPS Tracking App, which hit the Apple App Store top charts in its second week and remains one year later on the App Store’s top downloaded and top grossing list. By the end of 2011, we had 17 Apps on five platforms with over 1.2 million downloads in 145 countries.
The success of the LOCiMOBILE Tracking Apps in the consumer market prompted us to launch an enterprise version of our GPS Tracking and Tracking Pro Apps. A soft launch officially kicked off on March 1, 2011, with a community grassroots announcement. We have engaged a number of multinational companies across various industries who have confirmed the demand for this enterprise white label solution.
The rapid acceptance of Internet connected TV platforms, such as Google TV, have provided this company with the opportunity to offer (either as a free preload or as a marketplace download) our app portfolio to these platforms. Our goal is to make the LOCiMOBILE Tracking Apps and the Code Amber News Service App available to internet ready TV’s to provide greater coverage of this valuable public service, thereby contributing to our overall company brand extension and visibility.
The mobile phone has quickly become the conduit for consumers to find retail promotions, coupons, store locations and when possible, make the final purchase. With that, the proximity marketing industry is exploding with expected revenues to reach nearly $13 billion over the next several years.
As the industry evolves from an advanced purchase (i.e. Groupon), to daily specials (i.e. City Search), to real-time proximity promotions, LOCiMOBILE is uniquely positioned with its database of over 1.2 million global users and can benefit due to its core strength in location based services and push notification capabilities. The Company recently announced its first entrée into proximity marketing with its newly developed LOCiDEALS app. The app will be launched in partnership with the MyChamberApp, which offers daily promotions from over 100,000 Chamber of Commerce member businesses nationwide. LOCiDEALS is only the beginning, as the Company is preparing to launch other similar apps, including a web-based dashboard, BAM™, which will enable business owners to take total control of their promotional efforts in real-time. LOCiDEALS and BAM™ were Beta released in the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2011, respectively.
Currently, approximately 1,000 LOCiMOBILE® Apps are being downloaded daily, of which 15% are paid Apps and 85% are free Apps. Revenue from the free Apps is derived from advertising and sponsorships. With an extensive product roadmap and two new Apps scheduled for release in 2012, the LOCiMOBILE® suite of Apps are expected to continue to penetrate more countries and increase downloads as the product line expands and becomes available on additional handset platforms and in additional countries.
In 2009, people worldwide spent $4.2 billion to download more than 2.5 billion apps for smart phones, according to a study by research firm Gartner Inc. By 2013, those numbers are projected to grow to $29.5 billion and 21.6 billion downloads according to Gartner Inc. Current market conditions validate Gartner’s study. Accordingly, LOCiMOBILE® is focusing its development on enterprise and off-deck location based service application activations. We believe that our LOCiMOBILE® product offering will benefit from these dynamic global market conditions that are currently driving growth in the smartphone and LBS application downloads. The popularity enjoyed by affordable off-deck location based service applications is creating new momentum, a more open environment, and increased competition in a location industry that has long been dominated by carriers offering expensive subscription-based on-deck services. By creating an indispensable and perhaps transparent location-based social networking (LBSN) product line LOCiMOBILE® is positioned, via product extension, to participate in this value creation landscape.
The LOCiMOBILE® Apps can be downloaded to the user’s smartphone from the company’s www.locimobile.com website, the Apple iTunes online store, the Android Marketplace and on the RIM platform for Blackberry. Part of the future evolution of the LOCiMobile® future products development may include the implementation of Cloud Architecture, which is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a service over the Internet. This type of architecture will allow our subscribers to take location data and augment that data with other pertinent information providing a content rich solution. This will not only enhance the user experience but also create value to the viewers and subscribers. Knowing the whereabouts of a loved one, friend or co -worker has value, but knowing particulars about those whereabouts and if there are any other friends or loved ones in the area, or if there are any potential dangers in the area, increases the value of the information. For example, knowing the location of a child and then augmenting that information with the known whereabouts of registered sex offenders increases the value of the information and ultimately empowers the user. More and more people use their smart phones to text, e-mail, search the Internet or listen to music. Because these devices are becoming smarter, growing in use and numbers and are proliferating worldwide, they create the perfect long term environment for developing geo spatial, dynamic in real time solutions that interact not only with each other but with other widely adopted platforms and data bases. This in turn will create value when intersecting information with location and proximity. Seamlessly adding location and proximity to a common exchange of text messaging significantly change the dynamics of text messaging.
CODE AMBER NEWS SERVICE, INC.
Our Code Amber News Service, Inc. (“CANS”) subsidiary is a member of ONA-Online News Association, the leading U.S. and Canadian syndicator of online Amber Alerts and the primary content provider for non amber alert missing persons. An Amber Alert is a public notification of a child abduction. On December 5, 2008, we acquired the assets of Code Amber, LLC, which assets are now held and used by CANS. To date CANS has reached an audience of 2.1 billion through its website tickers and point of display feeds presented by other media outlets, retail merchants, internet service providers, corporate sponsors, affiliate partners, federal, state and local agencies and concerned citizens. The size of the potential audience for Amber Alerts was increased with the launch during 2009 of Code Mobile alerts that are now available on iPhone, Blackberry and Google smart phones. CANS is designed to support law enforcement efforts in the recovery of missing persons across the United States and Canada by directly distributing missing people notifications to millions of subscribers and viewers. CANS maintains a website at www.codeamber.com and www.codeamberalertag.com.
Currently CANS serves the Code Amber ticker to over 475,000 websites and desktops, which includes hundreds of law enforcement agencies, members of Congress and a list of corporate sponsors. In addition to the pre-packaged consumer ticker, Code Amber provides a commercial news feed to many media outlets and hundreds of additional corporate and private news and information distribution services. Code Amber has cultivated relationships with organizations such as CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, CNN, Google, O’Reilly and Facebook, as well as many smaller broadcasters, all of which receive information about missing persons from CANS. Enterprises such as Walgreens display CANS alerts on over 3,000 changeable message signs. Perftech, provides alerts to over 350,000 customers of participating internet service providers in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
The monthly reach of the CANS news stream through its wide and diverse network reaches an audience of over 21,000,000 and increases to an even higher level during an alert state. During fiscal 2010 we increased the scope of viewers with the addition of new affiliates; WildFireWeb and Neighborhoodlink.com. WildFireWeb offers WebSchoolPro free websites to all 130,000 public and private K-12 schools nationwide. Neighborhoodlink.com connects Code Amber to 37,000 more neighborhoods in 2,000 cities across the country generating an additional two million page views to our alerts.
In November 2009, we entered into a licensing agreement for a digital identification tag that we now offer as a product with an annual subscription service under the name “Code Amber Alertag.” Code Amber Alertag is a patent pending secure digital identification tag and service that provides worldwide access to critical personal information in emergency situations for children, elderly, field workers, pets, and others that subscribe to the product and service. The digital identification tag fits onto a key chain and contains vital personal information of the subscriber such as identification, allergy, chronic conditions and other insights that are needed to adequately assess emergency victim treatment protocols. The digital tag can also contain a second or "private" Alertag level that can only be accessed with an additional key code that first responders can access, which contains a full medical history, or as much as the Alertag subscriber elects to store on the device. This new product and annual subscription model further augments and contributes to the multi prong revenue streams we have implemented. We commercially launched the Code Amber Alertag in 2010 at a one-year subscription price of $19.95 for a single Alertag device, and $69.95 for a family package of 5 tags.
The tags and service are sold both direct to the consumer and wholesale through different channel partners. Several major retailers and insurance companies are currently evaluating the product for possible sales through their channels. As part of our cross promotion campaign the Code Amber Alertags are also being offered by Aetrex Worldwide, our GPS Smart Shoe licensee. As of March 28, 2012 Code Amber Alertag has established 292 affiliates in 61 countries and has signed up 25 organizations to sell the Alertag in fundraising events. The Code Amber Alertag portal was recently localized in Spanish and Portuguese for the Latin market and the Company is currently in discussions with distributors and government agencies in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.
We acquired and intend to operate the Code Amber Alert business (i) to raise awareness of our company’s other technologies for locating persons, and (ii) to create a new source of revenues. We believe that the strong media presence of Code Amber Alerts and large viewing audience gives us a platform to communicate with a large audience having specific interest in our core business of personal location solutions. Persons who access the Code Amber Alert announcements and information have an interest in locating and knowing the whereabouts of someone…a child, a parent, a spouse, etc. Since the location products offered by our other two subsidiaries (i.e. our GPS and LOCiMOBILE® products) can be used by anyone to monitor the whereabouts of anyone or anything, we believe that the Code Amber Alert platform gives us an opportunity to introduce our products to users of the Code Amber Alert system. In addition, the operations of CANS supplement the GTX brand as a company that provides technology for monitoring and assisting in the recovery of missing persons. We also have structured the operations to become a new revenue source. We intend to generate future revenues from sales of information distributed by CANS and by revenues from sponsors/advertisers who want to address the target audiences that view the CANS information.
Our expansion plans for CANS intersects with our mobile platform strategy. With the introduction of LOCiMOBILE® products for use with the iPhone and Android phones, we can now offer CANS Mobile on the iPhone, Blackberry and Google web enabled smartphones, thereby significantly increasing our footprint and viewing audience. This new mobile capability will help expand CANS into a dynamic, real time, intelligent, geo-location aware, altruistic disseminator of vital information. Leveraging our relationships and two-way GPS technology, we plan to introduce our patent pending data augmentation platform that will cross reference data located at sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Code Amber Alertag etc., allowing CANS to distribute in real time, including photos, pertinent geo specific information to web enabled phones. A subscriber is now able to view on their phone all relevant data and a picture of a missing person that was last seen near their current location. Moreover, cell phone cameras and Geo-Tagged photos captured by participating subscribers will assist in the information gathering process and hence allow the user to become active participants in the news as opposed to passive observers of events that affect our lives. We believe CANS Mobile will become the digital milk carton, giving every viewer the sum of all known knowledge at the right time and right place, all at the tip of their fingers. CANS along with LOCiMOBILE® helps synthesize our overall mobile platform strategy.
OVERVIEW-REVENUE SOURCES FROM ALL LINES OF BUSINESS
We currently generate revenues from all three of our subsidiaries, from multiple channels, both domestic and international, and from both enterprise customers and consumers. We expect that future revenues can be generated from the following sales sources:
·License fees derived from exclusive and non exclusive grants for territories and specific vertical markets and for use of our enterprise portal;
·Product sales, such as the sale of our GPS tracking device in certain footwear applications. For example, in order to retain the exclusive license to use our products in GPS-enabled shoes, Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. is required to purchase a minimum of 156,000 of our GPS devices from us over a four-year period;
·Non-recurring engineering fees and custom programming services;
·Professional services and data hosting. For example, users of the Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. GPS enable footwear will have to purchase a monthly subscription from us to use the location services;
·Monthly recurring wireless data and portal service fees. For example, in order to activate the tracking features of the Aetrex shoes, the user of the shoes will have to purchase a monthly cellular connection plan from GTX California;
·Sales of our LOCiMOBILE® applications to individual consumers that download our Apps;
·Device accessory sales, such as adaptors, portable chargers, cases, etc.;
·Advertising, corporate sponsorships and news feed license fees; and
·Other advertising revenues, derived from our proprietary content and web services.
EMPLOYEES AND CONSULTANTS
As of December 31, 2011, GTX Corp and its subsidiaries collectively had six (6) employees, two (2) full-time consultants and ten (10) part-time consultants. The employees are not represented by a labor union. We believe that our employee relations are good. We anticipate that we will hire additional key employees in 2012, with selective and controlled growth commensurate with significant increases in revenues. We anticipate that our subsidiaries will continue to extensively use the services of independent contractors and consultants to support expansion, customer service, and business development activities.
ITEM 1A:
ITEM 1A: RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk. Any potential investor should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below before purchasing any shares of our common stock. The risks described below are those we currently believe may materially affect us. If any of them occur, our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flow could be materially harmed. As a result, the trading price of our stock could decline, and you might lose all or part of your investment. Our business, financial condition and operating results, or the value of any investment you make in the stock of our company, or both, could be adversely affected by any of the factors listed and described below. These risks and uncertainties, however, are not the only ones that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently think are immaterial, may also impair our business operations or the value of your investment.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
We will need additional funding in the near future to continue to fund our current level of operations.
As of December 31, 2011, we had a working capital deficit of approximately $110,000 and an accumulated deficit of approximately $12,713,000. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2011, we had a loss of approximately $1,467,000 and negative cash flow from operating activities of approximately $694,000. Therefore, we will have to obtain additional funding from the sale of our securities or from strategic transactions in order to fund our current level of operations. In November 2009 we entered into an Investment Agreement (the "Investment Agreement") with Dutchess Equity Fund, L.P. (now known as Dutchess Opportunity Fund, II, LP)(“Dutchess”). Under the Investment Agreement, we have the right to put (sell) to Dutchess shares of our common stock until November 2012 (this facility is herein referred to as the "Equity Line"). We have periodically used this facility to provide us with additional working capital. Aside from our Equity Line with Dutchess, we have not identified the sources for additional financing that we may require, and we do not have commitments from third parties to provide this financing. Certain investors may be unwilling to invest in our securities since we are traded on the OTC Bulletin Board and not on a national securities exchange, particularly if there is only limited trading in our common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board at the time we seek financing. There is no assurance that sufficient funding through a financing will be available to us at acceptable terms or at all. Historically, we have raised capital through the issuance of our equity securities. However, given the risks associated with our business, the risks associated with our common stock, the worldwide financial crisis that has severely affected the capital markets, and our status as a small, unknown public company, we expect in the near future, we will have a great deal of difficulty raising capital through traditional financing sources. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to raise capital, or if we are able to raise capital, that such capital will be in the amounts needed. Our failure to raise capital, when needed, and in sufficient amounts, will severely impact our ability to continue to develop our business as planned. Any additional funding that we obtain in an equity or convertible debt financing is likely to reduce the percentage ownership of the company held by our existing security holders.
Based on the above factors our auditors have concluded that there is a substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.
We have had operating losses since formation and expect to continue to incur net losses for the near term.
Although we were formed in 2002, we have only recently commenced selling our products and, accordingly, have a limited operating history. As of December 31, 2011, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $12,713,000. We have reported net losses of approximately $1,467,000 and $1,679,000 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. We received the first order for our products in September 2008, and we have only generated total revenues of approximately $1,342,000 during the past three fiscal years. Unless our sales increase substantially in the near future, we anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses in the near term, and we may never be able to achieve profitability. In order to achieve profitable operations we need to significantly increase our revenues from the sales of product and licensing fees. We cannot be certain that our business will ever be successful or that we will generate significant revenues and become profitable.
We have limited experience and not an extensive history of operations or sales.
Aetrex Worldwide, Inc., a global leader in pedorthic footwear and foot orthotics, recently introduced a GPS tracking and location shoe for use with senior citizens. Although we believe that the market for this type of location tracking product is significant, the GPS Shoe has only been on the market for a short period of time and is a new technology and has never been on the market. We are unable to estimate what the actual demand will be for the shoe product until it has been on the market for a longer period. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have sold approximately 4,500 tracking devices to Aetrex for use in the shoes, but the actual number of shoes in use is currently still small. In addition, we are also continuously developing and offering other location products in new and rapidly evolving markets (such as our Apps for smartphones). Accordingly, many parts of our business model have not yet been fully tested in the market, and we have limited operating or sales history on which an investor can evaluate our operations and prospects. To date, we only have preliminary data to support our belief that our products will be accepted by the market and will be able to sustain our business. Accordingly, we are unable to accurately forecast the market acceptance of our existing and future products. As a result, an investment in our company is highly speculative and no assurance can be given that our business model will be successful and, therefore, that our stockholders will realize any return on their investment or that they will not lose their entire investment.
Our current sources of funding may no longer be available to use, and if additional funding is not available in the future, we will have to limit, scale-back or cease operations.
We currently have limited funds available from which we can fund our current and proposed operating activities. We have periodically used our Equity Line to provide us with additional working capital. However, we have less than 650,000 shares left to sell to Dutchess and the Equity Line will expire later this year. Accordingly, if we are not able to renew the Equity Line, we will not be able to utilize it to supplement our working capital needs for much longer. The amount of funds currently available to us, the limited availability of the Equity Line, and the amount of revenues that we currently generate collectively are not sufficient to fund our operating expenses. As a result, unless our revenues increase significantly in the near future (such as due to a significant increase in the sale of the Aetrex GPS Shoe), we will have to obtain additional public or private equity financings or debt financings in order to continue our operations. In addition to raising capital in a future public offering or in private placements, if our stock price increases, we may receive proceeds from the exercise of some of the currently outstanding warrants. During October 2011, we registered the public resale of 5,720,000 shares that are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase shares of our common stock at $0.08 per share. There is no assurance that sufficient funding through a financing (or the exercise of warrants) will be available to us at acceptable terms or at all. Any additional funding that we obtain in a financing is likely to reduce the percentage ownership of the company held by our existing security-holders. The amount of this dilution may be substantial based on our current stock price, and could increase if the trading price of our common stock declines at the time of any financing from its current levels. We may also attempt to raise funds through corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements. To the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our stockholders will experience further dilution. If we raise funds through debt financings, we may become subject to restrictive covenants. To the extent that we raise additional funds through collaboration and licensing arrangements, we may be required to relinquish some rights to our technologies or products, or grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us. There can be no assurance that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. If we are unable to obtain the needed additional funding, we will have to reduce or even totally discontinue our operations, which would have a significant negative impact on our stockholders and could result in a total loss of their investment in our stock.
Our future capital requirements, and our currently projected operating and liquidity requirements, will depend on many factors, including:
·The commercial success of the recently introduced Aetrex GPS Shoe;
·Our ongoing general and administrative expenses related to our being a reporting company;
·Market acceptance of our LOCiMOBILE® products that are downloaded onto the iPhone, Blackberry, Android and other smartphones, and the revenues generated from users of our smartphone products;
·Sales revenues generated from the sale of our GPS devices to MNX under our license agreement;
·The cost of developing and improving our products and technologies;
·The consummation of one or more licensing agreements with the parties currently considering the release of products based on our technologies; and
·The sale of devices to our International partners and the corresponding monthly subscription fees.
Funding, especially on terms acceptable to us, may not be available to meet our future capital needs because of the state of the credit and capital markets. Global market and economic conditions have been, and continue to be, disruptive and volatile. The cost of raising money in the debt and equity capital markets for smaller companies like ours has increased substantially while the availability of funds from those markets has diminished significantly. Also, low valuations and decreased appetite for equity investments, among other factors, may make the equity markets difficult to access on acceptable terms or unavailable altogether.
If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to delay, scale-back or eliminate our product enhancement and new product development programs. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on acceptable terms or at all, if and when required.
We may not be able to access sufficient funds under our Equity Line with Dutchess when needed.
We entered into the Equity Line with Dutchess in November 2009 in order to enable us to obtain funding from Dutchess if and when we need additional capital. Our ability to put (sell) shares to Dutchess and obtain funds under our Equity Line is limited by the terms and conditions in the Investment Agreement with Dutchess, including restrictions on our ability to put shares to Dutchess to the extent that it would cause Dutchess to beneficially own more than 4.99% of our outstanding shares. As of March 28, 2012, we have sold approximately 11,359,000 shares of the 12,000,000 shares of common stock that are available to us under the Equity Line. In addition, the Equity Line expires in November 2012. Accordingly, we may no longer have the Dutchess Equity Line available to us to supplement our cash needs.
The nature of our business is speculative and dependent on a number of variables beyond our control that cannot be reliably ascertained in advance.
The revenues and profits of an enterprise involved in the location based business are generally dependent upon many variables. Our customer appeal depends upon factors which cannot be reliably ascertained in advance and over which we have no control, such as unpredictable critic reviews and appeal to the public. As with any relatively new business enterprise operating in a specialized and intensely competitive market, we are subject to many business risks which include, but are not limited to, unforeseen marketing difficulties, excessive research and development expenses, unforeseen negative publicity, competition, product liability issues, manufacturing and logistical difficulties, and lack of operating experience. Many of the risks may be unforeseeable or beyond our control. There can be no assurance that we will successfully implement our business plan in a timely or effective manner, that we will be able to generate sufficient interest in our products, or that we will be able to market and sell enough products and services to generate sufficient revenues to continue as a going concern.
Our wireless location products and technologies are new and may not be accepted in the market, which would dramatically alter our financial results.
We have had only a limited release of our planned wireless locator products and GPS enabled shoe products in their respective markets. In addition, while we are currently a party to certain product development and test agreements to determine if our products can successfully be sold in other territories (i.e. Mexico, Australia, India, Pakistan, Israel, Germany, Canada, etc.) and incorporated into other consumer and commercial products (such as in proprietary GPS enabled transport containers), these agreements are still in the testing phase. There can be no assurances that consumer or commercial demand will meet, or even approach, our expectations. In addition, our pricing and marketing strategies may not be successful. Lack of customer demand, a change in marketing strategy and changes to our pricing models could dramatically alter our financial results.
In order for our products to be successful, we need to establish market recognition quickly, following the introduction of our products.
We believe it is imperative to our success that we obtain significant market recognition in order to compete in our various markets. We have numerous competitors in all of our markets, many of whom have products that directly compete with our existing and proposed products and services. Accordingly, it is important that we establish market recognition for our brands in order to be able to continue to be a material participant in the large markets that we are addressing. To date, we have utilized various marketing and promotional programs and have tried to build market recognition both directly for our products and also by tying our products to the well known Code Amber brand that we own. However, we have limited experience conducting marketing campaigns, and we may fail to generate significant interest. We cannot be certain that we will be able to expand our brand and name recognition sufficiently to capitalize on the market acceptance of our name and brand.
We may encounter manufacturing or assembly problems for our products, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
To date, we have only manufactured a limited number of products. In addition, we are continually redesigning and enhancing our products and we are designing new products based on that technology that we hope to manufacture and market in the near future. The manufacture and assembly of our products involves complex and precise processes, some of which have subcontracted to other companies and consultants. To date, we have manufactured a limited quantity of products and so we do not yet know whether we will encounter any serious problems in the production of larger quantities of our existing or new products. Any significant problems in manufacturing, assembling or testing our products could delay the sales of our products and have an adverse impact on our business and prospects. The willingness of manufacturers to make the product, or lack of availability of manufacturing capacity, may have an adverse impact on the availability of our products and on our ability sell our products. Manufacturing difficulties will harm our ability to compete and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, and may hinder our ability to grow our business as we expect.
We currently depend upon one manufacturer for some of the components of our principal products, and if we encounter problems with this manufacturer there is no assurance that we could obtain products from other manufacturers without significant disruptions to our business.
We expect that most of the components and subassemblies of our products will be initially manufactured for us by only one manufacturer. Although we could arrange for other manufacturers to supply these components and subassemblies, there is no assurance that we could do so without undue cost, expense and delay. If our sole manufacturers are unable to provide us with adequate supplies of high-quality components on a timely and cost-efficient basis, our operations will be disrupted and our net revenue and profitability will suffer. Moreover, if those manufacturers cannot consistently produce high-quality products that are free of defects, we may experience a high rate of product returns, which would also reduce our profitability and may harm our reputation and brand. Although we believe that we could locate alternate contract manufacturers, our operations would be impacted until alternate manufacturers are found.
Our markets are highly competitive, and our failure to compete successfully would limit our ability to sell our products, attract and retain customers and grow our business.
Competition in the wireless location services market in the U.S. and abroad is intense. The adoption of new technology in the communications industry likely will intensify the competition for improved wireless location technologies. The wireless location services market has historically been dominated by large companies, such as Siemens AG, AT&T and LoJack Corporation. In addition, a number of other companies such as Trimble Navigation, Zoomback, Verizon, FireFly, Disney, Mattel, Digital Angel Corporation, Location-Based Technologies, Inc. and WebTech Wireless Inc. either have announced plans for new products or have commenced selling products that are similar to our wireless location products, and new competitors are emerging both in the U.S. and abroad to compete with our wireless location services products. Due to the rapidly evolving markets in which we compete, additional competitors with significant market presence and financial resources may enter those markets, thereby further intensifying competition, adversely affecting our sales, and adversely affecting our business and prospects.
We expect to rely heavily on a few licensees of our technology. The loss of, or a significant reduction in, orders from these major customers could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our current business model assumes that GTX California will license its technologies to only a few companies who will incorporate our technologies into products that they manufacture and market. Therefore, our revenues in the next several years could be heavily dependent on licenses that we may grant to a limited number of major customers in a few business segments. Accordingly, the loss of, or a significant reduction in, orders from these major customers could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may not be successful in developing our new products and services.
The market for telecommunications based products and services is characterized by rapid technological change, changing customer needs, frequent new product introductions and evolving industry standards. These market characteristics are exacerbated by the emerging nature of this market and the fact that many companies are expected to introduce continually new and innovative products and services. Our success will depend partially on our ability to introduce new products, services and technologies continually and on a timely basis and to continue to improve the performance, features and reliability of our products and services in response to both evolving demands of prospective customers and competitive products.
There can be no assurance that any of our new or proposed products or services will maintain the market acceptance already established. Our failure to design, develop, test, market and introduce new and enhanced products, technologies and services successfully so as to achieve market acceptance could have a material adverse effect upon our business, operating results and financial condition.
There can be no assurance that we will not experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful development, introduction or marketing of new or enhanced products and services, or that our new products and services will adequately satisfy the requirements of prospective customers and achieve significant acceptance by those customers. Because of certain market characteristics, including technological change, changing customer needs, frequent new product and service introductions and evolving industry standards, the continued introduction of new products and services is critical. Delays in the introduction of new products and services may result in customer dissatisfaction and may delay or cause a loss of revenue. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in developing new products or services or improving existing products and services that respond to technological changes or evolving industry standards.
Additionally, there can be no assurance that we will not experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful development, introduction and marketing of new or improved products and services, or that our new products and services will adequately satisfy the requirements of prospective customers and achieve acceptance by those customers. In addition, new or enhanced products and services introduced by us may contain undetected errors that require significant design modifications. This could result in a loss of customer confidence which could adversely affect the use of our products, which in turn, could have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations or financial condition. If we are unable to develop and introduce new or improved products or services in a timely manner in response to changing market conditions or customer requirements, our business, operating results and financial condition will be materially adversely affected.
Our software products are complex and may contain unknown defects that could result in numerous adverse consequences, resulting in costly litigation or diverting management's attention and resources.
Complex software products such as those associated with our products often contain latent errors or defects, particularly when first introduced, or when new versions or enhancements are released. We have experienced and addressed errors and defects in the software associated with our products, but do not believe these errors will have a material negative effect in the future on the functionality of the products. However, there can be no assurance that, despite testing, additional defects and errors will not be found in the current version, or in any new versions or enhancements of this software or any of our products, any of which could result in damage to our reputation, the loss of sales, a diversion of our product development resources, and/or a delay in market acceptance, and thereby materially adversely affecting our business, operating results and financial condition. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that our products will meet all of the expectations and demands of our customers. The failure of our products to perform to customer expectations could give rise to warranty claims. Any of these claims, even if not meritorious, could result in costly litigation or divert management's attention and resources. Any product liability insurance that we may carry could be insufficient to protect us from all liability that may be imposed under any asserted claims.
We have only recently transitioned from being a research and development company to an operating company, making it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and results of operations.
Although GTX California was formed in 2002, until 2009 it was dedicated to the research and development of our products and platform. Also, since the end of 2009, we have dedicated a significant amount of our resources and energies to the development and release of our LOCiMOBILE® applications. Accordingly, you should consider our future prospects in light of the risks and uncertainties experienced by early stage companies in evolving industries. Some of these risks and uncertainties relate to our ability to:
·offer new and innovative products to attract and retain a larger customer base;
·increase awareness of our brand and continue to develop user and customer loyalty;
·respond to competitive market conditions;
·manage risks associated with intellectual property rights;
·maintain effective control of our costs and expenses;
·raise sufficient capital to sustain and expand our business;
·attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; and
·upgrade our technology to support additional research and development of new products.
If we are unsuccessful in addressing any of these risks and uncertainties, our business may be materially and adversely affected.
We expect continued fluctuations in revenues and expenses.
We have had relatively minor sales to date. We rely heavily on channel partners,a few licensees and telecommunications carriers to sell our products. If any of these relationships change or disrupted, we could lose a significant portion of anticipated revenue.
Our sales will continue to be uncertain and we expect fluctuation in revenues and expenses until we commercially scale our existing contracts, enter into other license agreements that provide us with regular royalties or subscription revenues, or our LOCiMOBILE® applications are continually downloaded by a significant number of users who pay our download fees.
As such, the amount of revenues we receive, if any, from licensing agreements, downloads, etc. will fluctuate and depend upon our customer’s willingness to buy or products, and for our partner’s abilities to sell the products that contain our technology. Accordingly, it is uncertain if and when we will receive future orders from our current and potential future customers.
As with any relatively new business enterprise operating in a specialized and intensely competitive market, we are subject to many business risks which include, but are not limited to, unforeseen negative publicity, competition, product liability and lack of operating experience. Many of the risks may be unforeseeable or beyond our control. There can be no assurance that we will successfully implement our business plan in a timely manner, or generate sufficient interest in our products or services, or that we will be able to market and sell enough products and services to generate sufficient revenues to continue as a going concern.
Our expense levels in the future will be based, in large part, on our expectations regarding future revenue, and as a result net income/loss for any quarterly period in which material orders are delayed could vary significantly. In addition, our costs and expenses may vary from period to period because of a variety of factors, including our research and development costs, our introduction of new products and services, cost increases from third-party service providers or product manufacturers, production interruptions, changes in marketing and sales expenditures, and competitive pricing pressures.
Fluctuations in operating results could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Because our revenues and costs may fluctuate significantly, investors should not rely on quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our results of operations or any pro forma financial information that may be released as an indication of future performance. It is possible that, in future periods, results of operations will differ from the estimates of public market analysts and investors. Such a discrepancy could cause the market price of our common stock to decline significantly.
There are risks of international sales and operations.
We anticipate that a substantial portion of our future revenue from the sale of our products and services may be derived from customers located outside the United States. As such, a portion of our sales and operations could be subject to tariffs and other import-export barriers, currency exchange risks and exchange controls, foreign product standards, potentially adverse tax consequences, longer payment cycles, problems in collecting accounts receivable, political instability, and difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations. Although we intend to monitor our exposure to currency fluctuations, there can be no assurance that exchange rate fluctuations will not have an adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. In the future, we could be required to sell our products and services in other currencies, which would make the management of currency fluctuations more difficult and expose our business to greater risks in this regard.
Our products may be subject to numerous foreign government standards and regulations that are continually being amended. Although we will endeavor to satisfy foreign technical and regulatory standards, there can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with foreign government standards and regulations, or changes thereto, or that it will be cost effective for us to redesign our products to comply with such standards or regulations. Our inability to design or redesign products to comply with foreign standards could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Because of the global nature of the telecommunications business, it is possible that the governments of other states and foreign countries might attempt to regulate our transmissions or prosecute us for violations of their laws. There can be no assurance that violations of local laws will not be alleged by state or foreign governments, that we might not unintentionally violate such law, or that such laws will not be modified, or new laws enacted, in the future.
Any of the foregoing factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
If we fail to develop and maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, our current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reports, which could harm our business and the trading price of our common stock.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires us to evaluate and report on our internal controls over financial reporting and, depending on our future growth, may require our independent registered public accounting firm to annually attest to our evaluation, as well as issue their own opinion on our internal controls over financial reporting. The process of implementing and maintaining proper internal controls and complying with Section 404 is expensive and time consuming. We cannot be certain that the measures we will undertake will ensure that we will maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future. Furthermore, if we are able to rapidly grow our business, the internal controls that we will need will become more complex, and significantly more resources will be required to ensure our internal controls remain effective. Failure to implement required controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. If we or our auditors discover a material weakness in our internal controls, the disclosure of that fact, even if the weakness is quickly remedied, could diminish investors’ confidence in our financial statements and harm our stock price. In addition, non-compliance with Section 404 could subject us to a variety of administrative sanctions, including the suspension of trading, ineligibility for future listing on one of the Nasdaq Stock Markets or national securities exchanges, and the inability of registered broker-dealers to make a market in our common stock, which may reduce our stock price.
We may suffer from product liability claims.
Faulty operation of our products may result in product liability claims brought against us. Regardless of the merit or eventual outcome, product liability claims may materially adversely affect our business and further result in:
·decreased demand for our products or withdrawal of the products from the market;
·injury to our reputation and significant media attention;
·costs of litigation; and
·substantial monetary awards to plaintiffs.
We have purchased annual product liability insurance with liability limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate. This coverage may not be sufficient to fully protect us against product liability claims. We intend to expand our product liability insurance coverage as sales of our products expand. Our inability to obtain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost to protect against product liability claims could prevent or limit the commercialization of our products and expose us to liability in excess of our coverage.
Our ability to compete could be jeopardized and our business seriously compromised if we are unable to protect ourselves from third-party challenges or infringement of the proprietary aspects of the wireless location products and technology we develop.
Our products utilize a variety of proprietary rights that are critical to our competitive position. Because the technology and intellectual property associated with our wireless location products are evolving and rapidly changing, our current intellectual property rights may not adequately protect us in the future. We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and contractual restrictions to protect the intellectual property utilized in our products. Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain and use our products or technology. In addition, monitoring unauthorized use of our products is difficult and we cannot be certain the steps we have taken will prevent unauthorized use of our technology. Also, it is possible that no additional patents or trademarks will be issued from our currently pending or future patent or trademark applications. Because legal standards relating to the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of patent and intellectual property rights are uncertain and still evolving, the future viability or value of our intellectual property rights is uncertain. Moreover, effective patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret protection may not be available in some countries in which we distribute or anticipate distributing our products. Furthermore, our competitors may independently develop similar technologies that limit the value of our intellectual property, design or patents. In addition, third parties may at some point claim certain aspects of our business infringe their intellectual property rights. While we are not currently subject to nor aware of any such claim, any future claim (with or without merit) could result in one or more of the following:
·Significant litigation costs;
·Diversion of resources, including the attention of management;
·Our agreement to pay certain royalty and/or licensing fees;
·Cause us to redesign those products that use such technology; or
·Cessation of our rights to use, market, or distribute such technology.
Any of these developments could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In the future, we may also need to file lawsuits to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect our trade secrets, or to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Whether successful or unsuccessful, such litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources. Such costs and diversion could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We depend on our key personnel to manage our business effectively in a rapidly changing market. If we are unable to retain our key employees, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.
Our future success depends to a significant degree on the skills, efforts and continued services of our executive officers and other key engineering, manufacturing, operations, sales, marketing and support personnel. If we were to lose the services of one or more of our key executive officers or other key engineering, manufacturing, operations, sales, marketing and support personnel, we may not be able to grow our business as we expect, and our ability to compete could be harmed, adversely affecting our business and prospects.
Our products depend on continued availability of GPS and cellular wireless telecommunications systems.
Our products use existing GPS and cellular wireless telecommunications systems to identify the position of our products. Any temporary or permanent change in the availability of these systems, or any material change in the existing infrastructure and our ability to access those systems, would materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
Rapid technological change in our market and/or changes in customer requirements could cause our products to become obsolete or require us to redesign our products, which would have a material adverse affect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
The market for our products is characterized by rapid technological change, frequent new product introductions and enhancements, uncertain product life cycles, changing customer demands and evolving industry standards, any of which can render existing products obsolete. We believe that our future success will depend in large part on our ability to develop new and effective products in a timely manner and on a cost effective basis. As a result of the complexities inherent in our products, major new products and product enhancements can require long development and testing periods, which may result in significant delays in the general availability of new releases or significant problems in the implementation of new releases. In addition, if we or our competitors announce or introduce new products our current or future customers may defer or cancel purchases of our products, which could materially adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. Our failure to develop successfully, on a timely and cost effective basis, new products or new product enhancements that respond to technological change, evolving industry standards or customer requirements would have a material adverse affect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
Changes in the government regulation of our wireless location products or wireless carriers could harm our business.
Our products, wireless carriers and other components of the communications industry are subject to domestic government regulation by the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) and international regulatory bodies. If we are unable to satisfy all of the regulations of the FCC or any other regulatory body, we could be prevented from releasing one or more of our products, which could materially and adversely affect our future revenues. In addition, any delay in obtaining FCC and other regulatory approval could likewise have a negative impact on our business and on our relationships with our customers. These regulatory bodies could enact regulations that affect our products or the service providers which distribute our products, such as limiting the scope of the service providers' market, capping fees for services provided by them or imposing communication technology standards which impact our products. Changes in these regulations could affect our products and, thereby, adversely affect our business and operations.
Future acquisitions or strategic investments may not be successful and may harm our operating results.
As part of our strategy, we have acquired or established smaller businesses, and we may do so in the future. For example, in the past we established our LOCiMOBILE, Inc. subsidiary and purchased our Code Amber News Service, Inc. subsidiary. Future acquisitions or strategic investments could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results because of:
•The assumption of unknown liabilities, including employee obligations. Although we normally conduct extensive legal and accounting due diligence in connection with our acquisitions, there are many liabilities that cannot be discovered, and which liabilities could be material.
•We may become subject to significant expenses related to bringing the financial, accounting and internal control procedures of the acquired business into compliance with U.S. GAAP financial accounting standards and the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002.
•Our operating results could be impaired as a result of restructuring or impairment charges related to amortization expenses associated with intangible assets.
•We could experience significant difficulties in successfully integrating any acquired operations, technologies, customers’ products and businesses with our existing operations.
•Future acquisitions could divert substantial capital and our management’s attention.
•We may not be able to hire the key employees necessary to manage or staff the acquired enterprise operations.
Our executive officers and directors have the ability to significantly influence matters submitted to our stockholders for approval.
As of March 28, 2012 our executive officers and directors, in the aggregate, beneficially own shares representing approximately 17.56% of our common stock. Beneficial ownership includes shares over which an individual or entity has investment or voting power and includes shares that could be issued upon the exercise of options and warrants within 60 days after the date of determination. On matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share. If our executive officers and directors choose to act together, they would have significant influence over all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, as well as our management and affairs. For example, these individuals, if they chose to act together, would have significant influence on the election of directors and approval of any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. This concentration of voting power could delay or prevent an acquisition of our company on terms that other stockholders may desire.
Failure to manage growth effectively could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
The success of our future operating activities will depend upon our ability to expand our support system to meet the demands of our growing business. Any failure by our management to effectively anticipate, implement, and manage changes required to sustain our growth would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully operate acquired businesses, become profitable in the future, or effectively manage any other change.
RISKS RELATED TO AN INVESTMENT IN OUR SECURITIES
The resale of registered shares by Dutchess under the Equity Line and by our other investors could depress the market price of our common stock.
We still have the right to sell approximately 640,000 registered shares to Dutchess under the Equity Line. In addition, in October 2011, we registered 11,670,000 shares of our common stock for resale, of which 5,950,000 shares are currently outstanding and were issued to certain of the investors in a private placement. The remaining 5,720,000 shares included in the foregoing registration represent the estimated maximum number of shares that may be issued to the investors upon the exercise of the warrants. The resale of these shares into the public market by Dutchess or the investors could depress the market price of our common stock.
Existing stockholders could experience additional dilution upon the issuance of the remaining shares of common stock pursuant to the Equity Line.
Our Equity Line with Dutchess permits us to sell approximately 640,000 additional shares our common stock to Dutchess this year. If we choose to exercise our put rights to the fullest extent permitted and sell the 640,000 shares of our common stock to Dutchess, our existing stockholders’ ownership will be diluted by such sales.
Dutchess will pay less than the then-prevailing market price for our common stock under the Equity Line.
The common stock issued to Dutchess pursuant to the Investment Agreement will be purchased at a 6% discount to the lowest daily volume weighted average price (VWAP) of our common stock during the five consecutive trading day period beginning on the trading day immediately following the date of delivery of a put notice by us to Dutchess, subject to certain exceptions. Dutchess has a financial incentive to sell our common stock upon receiving the shares to realize the profit equal to the difference between the discounted price and the market price. If Dutchess sells the shares, the price of our common stock could decrease.
Our common stock is thinly traded and the price of our common stock may be negatively impacted by factors that are unrelated to our operations.
Our common stock is currently quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board. Trading of our stock through the OTC Bulletin Board is frequently thin and highly volatile. The market price of our common stock could fluctuate substantially due to a variety of factors, including market perception of our ability to achieve our business objectives, the results of our clinical trials, trading volume in our common stock, changes in general conditions in the economy and the financial markets, or other developments which affect us or our industry. In addition, the stock market is subject to extreme price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant effect on the market price of securities issued by many companies for reasons unrelated to their operating performance and could have the same effect on our common stock.
When we issue additional shares in the future, it will likely result in the dilution of our existing stockholders.
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 2,071,000,000 shares of common stock with a $0.001 par value and 10,000,000 preferred shares with a par value of $0.001, of which 75,404,477 common shares were issued and outstanding as of March 28, 2012. From time to time we may increase the number of shares available for issuance in connection with our equity compensation plans. Our board of directors may fix and determine the designations, rights, preferences or other variations of each class or series within each class of preferred stock and may choose to issue some or all of such shares to provide additional financing or acquire more businesses in the future.
Moreover, as of March 28, 2012, we had warrants and options outstanding to purchase an aggregate of 9.2 million shares of our common stock, the exercise of which will further increase the number of outstanding shares. The issuance of any shares for acquisition, licensing or financing efforts, upon conversion of any preferred stock or exercise of warrants and options, pursuant to our equity compensation plans, or otherwise may result in a reduction of the book value and market price of the outstanding shares of our common stock. If we issue any such additional shares, such issuance will cause a reduction in the proportionate ownership and voting power of all current stockholders.
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) sales practice requirements may also limit a stockholder’s ability to buy and sell our common stock.
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives and other information. Under interpretations of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common stock, which may limit your ability to buy and sell our stock and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.
We have never paid dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any in the foreseeable future.
We have never declared or paid a cash dividend on our common stock and we do not expect to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. If we do have available cash, we intend to use it to grow our business. Our payment of any future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various factors, including but not limited to our financial condition, operating results, cash needs, growth plans and the terms of any credit agreements that we may be a party to at that time. In addition, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock may be limited by Nevada corporate law. Accordingly, investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize a return on their investment. Investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.
The elimination of monetary liability against our directors, officers and employees under Nevada law and the existence of indemnification rights to our directors, officers and employees may result in substantial expenditures by us and may discourage lawsuits against our directors, officers and employees.
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws contain specific provisions that eliminate the liability of our directors for monetary damages to our company and stockholders, and permit indemnification of our directors and officers to the extent provided by Nevada law. We may also have contractual indemnification obligations under our employment agreements with our officers. The foregoing indemnification obligations could result in our company incurring substantial expenditures to cover the cost of settlement or damage awards against directors and officers, which we may be unable to recoup. These provisions and resultant costs may also discourage our company from bringing a lawsuit against directors and officers for breaches of their fiduciary duties, and may similarly discourage the filing of derivative litigation by our stockholders against our directors and officers even though such actions, if successful, might otherwise benefit our company and stockholders.
You may have difficulty selling our shares because they are deemed “penny stocks.”
Our common stock is currently quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “GTXO.” Since our common stock is not listed on a national securities exchange, if the trading price of our common stock remains below $5.00 per share, trading in our common stock will be subject to the requirements of certain rules promulgated under the Exchange Act, which require additional disclosure by broker-dealers in connection with any trades involving a stock defined as a penny stock (generally, any non-national securities exchange equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions). The additional burdens imposed upon broker-dealers could discourage broker-dealers from effecting transactions in our common stock, which could severely limit the market liquidity of the common stock and the ability of holders of the common stock to sell their shares.
Stockholders should be aware that, according to SEC Release No. 34-29093, the market for penny stocks has suffered in recent years from patterns of fraud and abuse. Such patterns include (1) control of the market for the security by one or a few broker-dealers that are often related to the promoter or issuer; (2) manipulation of prices through pre-arranged matching of purchases and sales and false and misleading press releases; (3) boiler room practices involving high-pressure sales tactics and unrealistic price projections by inexperienced sales persons; (4) excessive and undisclosed bid-ask differential and markups by selling broker-dealers; and (5) the wholesale dumping of the same securities by promoters and broker-dealers after prices have been manipulated to a desired level, along with the resulting inevitable collapse of those prices and with consequent investor losses. Our management is aware of the abuses that have occurred historically in the penny stock market. Although we do not expect to be in a position to dictate the behavior of the market or of broker-dealers who participate in the market, management will strive within the confines of practical limitations to prevent the described patterns from being established with respect to our securities. The occurrence of these patterns or practices could increase the volatility of our share price.
Exchange transactions of the type we completed with GTX California in March of 2008 are often heavily scrutinized by the SEC and we may encounter difficulties or delays in obtaining future regulatory approvals which would negatively impact our financial condition and the value and liquidity of your shares of common stock.
Historically, the SEC and Nasdaq have not generally favored transactions in which a privately-held company merges into, or is acquired by a largely inactive company with publicly traded stock, and there is a significant risk that we may encounter difficulties in obtaining the regulatory approvals necessary to conduct future financing or acquisition transactions, or to eventually achieve a listing of shares on one of the Nasdaq stock markets or other national securities exchanges. On June 29, 2005, the SEC adopted rules dealing with private company mergers into dormant or inactive public companies. As a result, it is likely that we will be scrutinized carefully by the SEC and possibly by FINRA or Nasdaq, which could result in difficulties or delays in achieving SEC clearance of any future registration statements or other SEC filings that we may pursue, in attracting FINRA-member broker-dealers to serve as market-makers in our common stock, or in achieving admission to one of the Nasdaq stock markets or any other national securities market. As a consequence, our financial condition and the value and liquidity of your shares of our common stock may be negatively impacted.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES
Our executive, administrative and operating offices are located at 117 W 9th Street, Suite 1214, Los Angeles, California 90015. Our office space is approximately 1,230 square feet and consists of administrative work space for a base rent of $1,265 per month. The lease is currently on a month-to-month basis.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we may be involved in routine legal proceedings, as well as demands, claims and threatened litigation that arise in the normal course of our business. The ultimate amount of liability, if any, for any claims of any type (either alone or in the aggregate) may materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. In addition, the ultimate outcome of any litigation is uncertain. Any outcome, whether favorable or unfavorable, may materially and adversely affect us due to legal costs and expenses, diversion of management attention and other factors. We expense legal costs in the period incurred. We cannot assure you that additional contingencies of a legal nature or contingencies having legal aspects will not be asserted against us in the future, and these matters could relate to prior, current or future transactions or events. Except as described below, we are not currently a party to any material litigation.
A lawsuit was filed against us in October 2009 by a former consultant who claimed we owed approximately $24,000 plus interest and attorney fees for services rendered during 2009 and was dismissed at the request of the plaintiff’s attorney on September 26, 2011.
In January 2011, a lawsuit was filed against the Company by a former independent contractor who claims we owe him $16,250 for services rendered during 2008 and 2009. In February 2012, the courts granted our motion to strike the former independent contractor’s 2nd Amended Complaint as a result of his failing to timely amend after demurrer.
On September 8, 2011, a third-party filed a suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Company alleging that certain of the Company’s patents infringed on their patents. The suit was subsequently voluntarily dismissed, and on December 5, 2011 all parties amicably have entered into a multi-patent licensing agreement.
We are not a party to any material legal proceedings. We are not aware of any pending or threatened litigation against us that we expect will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, or operating results. However, legal claims are inherently uncertain, and we cannot assure you that we will not be adversely affected in the future by legal proceedings.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information. Our common stock is quoted on the over-the-counter market on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “GTXO.” The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices for our common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board for the periods indicated:
As of March 27, 2012 the last reported sales price or our common stock on the OTC Bulletin Board was $.09.
Holders of Record. As of March 28, 2012, an aggregate of 75,404,477 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding and were owned by approximately 140 holders of record, based on information provided by our transfer agent. The foregoing number of record holders does not include any persons who hold their stock in “street name.”
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, we issued the following shares that were not previously reported on a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or in a current report on Form 8-K: During the fourth quarter of 2011, we issued 1,120,000 shares of common stock to a total of 22 members of management, employees, contractors and consultants, at prices ranging from $0.06 to $0.08 per share, as compensation for services rendered. The foregoing shares were issued in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Re-Purchase of Equity Securities.
None
Dividends.
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock and we do not anticipate declaring or paying cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. Any payments of cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors, and will depend upon our results of operations, earnings, capital requirements, legal and contractual restrictions, and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors.
Equity Compensation Plan Information.
On March 14, 2008, we adopted the 2008 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2008 Plan”) pursuant to which we are authorized to grant stock options, stock awards and stock appreciation rights of up to 7,000,000 shares of common stock to our employees, officers, directors and consultants. The 2008 Plan is administered by the Board of Directors of the Company. The following table provides information with respect to outstanding options as of December 31, 2011 pursuant to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which equity securities are authorized for issuance.
As a result of the cancellation and expiration of options subsequent to December 31, 2011, there are approximately 523,000 options available for issuance under the 2008 Plan as of March 28, 2012.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
Not applicable to a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of SEC Regulation S-K.
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
Business. GTX Corp designs, develops and sells various interrelated and complimentary products and services in the Personal Location Services marketplace, through its three wholly-owned subsidiaries. The company develops and integrates two-way global positioning system (“GPS”) technologies that seamlessly integrate with consumer products and enterprise applications. During the second half of 2011, we commenced delivery of our GPS tracking devices to Aetrex Worldwide, Inc., and we continued to expand our international Apps business. Our personal location services include the location of missing children through our Code Amber Alerts and location and identification products that we have marketed as part of the Amber Alert platform.
Financial. Revenues from operations have not been sufficient to fund our operating and other expenses. In order to provide us with the funds necessary, from time to time, to cover our operating expenses, on November 16, 2009, we entered into an Investment Agreement with Dutchess Equity Fund, L.P. (now known as Dutchess Opportunity Fund, II, LP). Under that Investment Agreement, we have an Equity Line with the right to put (sell) to Dutchess shares of our common stock until November 2012 (this facility is herein referred to as the "Equity Line"). The aggregate maximum number of shares that we are entitled to sell to Dutchess during the three year term of the Investment agreement is 12,000,000. Certain of the terms of the Investment Agreement were amended on March 11, 2010.
Under the Equity Line, as currently in effect, we may draw on the facility from time to time at our option over a three year period by selling to Dutchess either (a) 200% of the average daily volume (U.S. market only) of the common stock for the three (3) trading days prior to the date of delivery of the applicable put notice, multiplied by the average of the closing prices for such trading days, or (b) any other specified amount, up to $500,000. The purchase price that Dutchess will pay us for the shares that we put (sell) to Dutchess is equal to 94% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price (VWAP) of our common stock during the five consecutive trading day period beginning on the trading day immediately following the date of delivery of the applicable put notice. Our ability to put shares to Dutchess is dependent upon our compliance with certain covenants and a limit that we may not sell to Dutchess any additional shares if Dutchess’ total number of shares beneficially held at that time would exceed 4.99% of our then outstanding number of shares, as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). We have registered the shares that we may sell to Dutchess with the SEC. We are not permitted to draw on the facility unless the registration statement that covers the resale by Dutchess of the shares is then effective. As of the date of this Annual Report we had approximately 640,000 shares available to sell to Dutchess under the Equity Line.
To provide additional funding for our operations, in June 2011, we received proceeds totaling $297,500 from seven accredited investors in a private placement of an aggregate of 5,950,000 units. The foregoing units consisted of 5,950,000 shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase additional shares of common stock. On October 28, 2011, we registered 11,670,000 shares of our common stock for resale by the investors, of which 5,950,000 shares are currently outstanding and were issued to certain of the investors in the private placement. The remaining 5,720,000 shares included in the foregoing registration represent the estimated maximum number of shares that may be issued to the investors upon the exercise of the warrants. The warrants are exercisable at $0.08 per share. The warrants were also issued in private transactions.
Results of Operations
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes that appear elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (“fiscal 2011”) increased by 56% compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 (“fiscal 2010”), while operating expenses in fiscal 2011 decreased by 17%. Our fiscal 2011 Net Loss is approximately 13% lower than it was in fiscal 2010 and our fiscal 2011 Net Loss is approximately 31% lower than it was in fiscal 2009.
The following table represents our statement of operations for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:
Revenues
Revenues increased 56% during fiscal 2011 over last year. Revenues were generated by each of our three subsidiaries, from multiple channels, both domestic and international, and from both enterprise customers and consumers. The increase is primarily due to revenues generated from the shipment of approximately 3,000 of our GPS devices to Aetrex for use in Aetrex’s shoes (the “GPS Shoe”). The end-users of the GPS Shoe will be required to pay us a monthly service fee, a portion of which will be shared with Aetrex and Omnilink, the company we retained to provide customer service fulfillment for the GPS Shoes purchased. The GPS Shoe was released for commercial sale by Aetrex in the December 2011, but we did not generate any material monthly service fees in the period ended December 31, 2011. The increase in GPS device sales was offset by a decrease in our Apps revenues which decreased approximately $123,000 or 38% when comparing fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2010. A large portion of subscriber downloads of our Apps in 2011 relate to upgrades by current subscribers, and upgrades are provided free of charge. In addition to revenues generated through the shipment of the Aetrex shoes and from the sale of our Apps, we generate smaller amounts of revenues from the sales of our portal services, hardware product, portal software licensing, platform testing, monthly subscriptions, online advertising revenue, Code Amber annual news feed subscriptions, points of display sponsorships and the sale of Code Amber Alertags.
Cost of goods sold
Cost of goods sold as a percentage of revenues increased from 52% in fiscal 2010 to 85% in fiscal 2011. The increase in cost of goods sold as a percentage of revenues during the year ended 2011 is primarily attributable to the cost of the GPS devices we shipped to Aetrex, as well as costs incurred in generating new business for our portal services. Included in cost of goods sold is the depreciation on the capitalized costs of the Apps, which represents approximately 26% of cost of goods sold during fiscal 2011. Cost of goods sold during fiscal 2010 consisted primarily of the cost to sell the LOCiMOBILE® Apps (approximately 30% of the App revenue generated), as well as depreciation on the capitalized costs of the Apps and the cost of the miniMT and microLOCi devices.
Wages and benefits
Wages and benefits decreased nearly 30% in comparison to 2010 due to our cost cutting efforts, including reductions in staff and management positions, in response to the downturn in the U.S. and global economy. These reductions in overhead will remain in place as we maintain a low-overhead approach to operations that will scale as operations require.
Professional fees
Professional fees consist of costs attributable to consultants and contractors who primarily spend their time on sales, marketing and the development of technology; investor relations; legal fees relating to general corporate matters and our patent applications; and accounting expenses. Such costs increased 12% in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 due primarily to continued marketing efforts of our various products and legal and accounting fees incurred in conjunction with filing a Registration Statement with the SEC in October 2011.
Research and development
Research and development expense consists of costs attributable to consultants and contractors who primarily spend their time on the design, engineering and process development of our personal location services platform, GPS Shoe and LOCiMOBILE® applications for smartphones and the iPad. Research and development expense decreased 85% in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 due to our platform being substantially completed during April 2010. Upon completion of the platform we no longer recorded the costs to research and development. Likewise, upon reaching technological feasibility on our LOCiMOBILE® applications, we no longer recorded the costs to research and development and instead began capitalizing the applicable costs as software development and we expense the related depreciation as cost of goods sold.
General and administrative
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of corporate administrative costs, depreciation, occupancy costs, insurance, legal, website development, accounting, trade shows and travel. General and administrative expense decreased 12% in fiscal 2011 compared to fiscal 2010 due to reductions in insurance, depreciation, and occupancy costs, as well as, overall cost cutting efforts throughout the Company.
Other income (expense), net
Other income (expense), net for fiscal 2011 is primarily attributable to discount amortization, derivative income and the gain on conversion of our convertible promissory notes. The derivative income represents the net unrealized (non-cash) change during the period in the fair value of our derivative liabilities related to embedded derivatives in our convertible promissory notes that have been bifurcated and accounted for separately. Additionally, during fiscal 2011, a total of $97,000 of our convertible promissory notes (plus interest of approximately $4,000) were converted, resulting in a gain on conversion of approximately $10,000. The financial instruments that resulted in the derivative liability and debt discounts were not in place during the majority of fiscal 2010. Interest income generated during the same period in 2010 was minor and related to interest earned on money market accounts. As of December 31, 2011, all the convertible promissory notes were extinguished in full, leaving the Company with no outstanding debt.
Net loss
Net loss during fiscal 2011 decreased approximately 13% in comparison to the net loss incurred during fiscal 2010. The decrease is primarily due to efforts to maintain and/or cut costs in regards to wages, professional fees and general and administrative expenses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2011, we had approximately $92,000 in cash, $281,000 of other current assets, and current liabilities of approximately $563,000, resulting in a working capital deficit of approximately $190,000 compared to approximately $66,000 in cash and a working capital deficit of approximately $335,000 as of December 31, 2010.
Our net loss decreased to $1,467,000 for fiscal 2011 compared to a net loss of $1,679,000 for fiscal 2010. Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $666,000 for fiscal 2011 compared to approximately $843,000 for fiscal 2010. Net cash used in operating activities was substantially less than our net loss primarily due to $515,000 of stock based compensation, consisting of option and warrant expense and common stock, rather than cash, that was used to pay consultants and employees, $196,000 of depreciation and amortization, the accrual of management’s salaries, an increase in accounts payable, a reduction in both management and support staff.
Net cash used in investing activities during fiscal 2011 and 2010 was approximately $68,000 and $157,000, respectively and consisted primarily of payments for the development of our LOCiMOBILE® products and the purchase of equipment.
Net cash provided by financing activities during fiscal 2011 and 2010 was approximately $759,000 and $612,000, respectively and primarily consists of proceeds received from the sale of shares from the Equity Line financing agreement that we have established with Dutchess Equity Fund, L.P. (now known as Dutchess Opportunity Fund, II, L.P.). During fiscal 2011, we sold 6,905,022 shares of common stock to Dutchess at prices ranging from $0.05 - $0.08 per share in connection with our Equity Line, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $471,000. During fiscal 2010, we sold 2,338,836 shares of common stock to Dutchess at prices ranging from $0.176 - $0.100 per share in connection with our Equity Line, resulting in net proceeds of approximately $298,000. Since December 31, 2011, we have sold to Dutchess 2,115,497 additional shares of our common stock at prices ranging from $ 0.07 - $.0749 per share for net proceeds of approximately $152,000. Additionally, during June 2011 we received proceeds totaling $297,500 from the sale of 5,950,000 units in a private placement. The units consisted of 5,950,000 shares of our common stock and 5,720,000 warrants to purchase additional shares of common stock, exercisable at $0.08 per warrant. In October 2011, we registered the resale by the investors of the foregoing securities that were sold in the private placement. If these warrants are exercised, we will receive additional capital from the sale of the underlying shares.
Because revenues from our operations have, to date, been insufficient to fund our working capital needs, we currently rely on the cash we receive from our financing activities as well as the Equity Line with Dutchess to fund our capital expenditures and to support our working capital requirements. Although we anticipate that revenues from the GPS Shoe that was released at the end of fiscal 2011 will increase substantially in 2012 and that we will receive additional revenues under our other licenses, the amount and timing of such revenues is unknown. For our internal budgeting purposes, we have assumed that such revenues will not be sufficient to fund all of our planned operating and other expenditure. In addition, our actual cash expenditures may exceed our planned expenditures, particularly if we invest in the development of improved versions of our existing products and technologies, and if we increase our marketing expenses. Accordingly, we anticipate that we will have to raise additional capital in order to fund our operations in 2012. Because the Company does not have binding commitments for such financing, our auditors have concluded that there is substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.
Since we entered into the Investment Agreement with Dutchess in November 2009 in connection with the Equity Line, we have sold to Dutchess 11,359,355 shares of our common stock (at prices ranging from $0.176 - $0.050 per share) for net proceeds of approximately $919,000. We anticipate that we will continue to, from time to time, draw on the Equity Line to provide additional funding, although the amount of such additional funding will be limited since we can only sell up to approximately 640,000 additional shares under the Equity Line. Accordingly, the amount of funds we will be able to obtain under the Equity Line is not expected to be sufficient to fund our anticipated working capital deficits.
We are currently a party to two licensing agreements (Aetrex and MNX) and three international distributor agreements. During 2012, we anticipate that we will generate increased revenues from these licensing agreements and from our current and potential international distributors that are currently evaluating our platform. However, we expect to incur continued losses until these and our other revenue initiatives collectively generate substantial revenues. No assurance can be given that our current contractual arrangements and the revenues from our GPS Shoes, device sales, subscriptions, Alertags, software licensing, or our smart phone or tablet Apps will be sufficient to fund our anticipated working capital needs by the end of calendar year 2012.
In addition to continuing to incur normal operating expenses, we intend to continue our research and development efforts for our various technologies and products, including hardware, software, interface customization, and website development, and we also expect to further develop our sales, marketing and manufacturing programs associated with the commercialization, licensing and sales of our GPS devices and technology, and the commercialization of the LOCiMOBILE® applications for GPS enabled handsets.
Our funding requirements will depend on numerous factors, including:
·Costs involved in the completion of the hardware, software, interface customization and website development necessary to continue the commercialization of our products;
·The costs of outsourced manufacturing;
·The costs of licensing activities, including product marketing and advertising; and
·Revenues derived from product sales and the licensing of our technology, the sale of GPS enabled shoes in conjunction with the Aetrex Licensing Agreement, the sales of the LOCiMobile® applications for GPS enabled handsets, the sale of Alertags and advertising sales from CANS.
As noted above, based on budgeted revenues and expenditures, planned sales of stock via potential private placements or the exercise of outstanding stock warrants, proceeds from the Equity Line, the use of stock to pay for services and other measures to preserve cash, we believe that we will have sufficient liquidity to satisfy our cash requirements for the next twelve months. However, if our actual expenses increase beyond our existing financial resources, we will have to access funding through the sale of additional equity or debt securities. In any event, we expect that unless our sales increase significantly, we will need to raise additional funds during 2012, either through the Equity Line or otherwise. The sale of additional equity securities will result in additional dilution to our existing stockholders. Sale of debt securities could involve substantial operational and financial covenants that might inhibit our ability to follow our business plan. We have not identified the sources for the additional financing that we will require, and there is no assurance that sufficient funding through a financing will be available to us at acceptable terms or at all. Any additional funding that we obtain in a financing is likely to reduce the percentage ownership of the company held by our existing security-holders. The amount of this dilution may be substantial based on our current stock price, and could increase if the trading price of our common stock declines at the time of any financing from its current levels. We may also attempt to raise funds through corporate collaboration and licensing arrangements. To the extent that we raise additional funds through collaboration and licensing arrangements, we may be required to grant licenses on terms that are not favorable to us. There can be no assurance that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. If we are unable to obtain the needed additional funding, we may have to further reduce our current level of operations, or may even have to totally discontinue our operations.
We are subject to many risks associated with early stage businesses, including the above discussed risks associated with the ability to raise capital. Please see the section entitled “Risk Factors” for more information regarding risks associated with our business.
Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
The following table sets forth our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2011:
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
There are no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.
Inflation
Inflation and changing prices have had no effect on our net sales and revenues or on our income from continuing operations over our two most recent fiscal years.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. Because a precise determination of many assets and liabilities is dependent upon future events, the preparation of financial statements for a period necessarily involves the use of estimates which have been made using careful judgment.
The financial statements have, in management’s opinion, been properly prepared within reasonable limits of materiality and within the framework of the significant accounting policies summarized below.
We have identified the following critical accounting policies that are most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. The following is a review of the more critical accounting policies and methods used by us:
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from product sales is recognized when the product is shipped to the customer and title has transferred. The Company recognizes application revenue when the application is purchased by the customer. The Company assumes no remaining significant obligations associated with the product sale other than that related to its warranty program discussed below. Revenue related to monthly service fees, licensing agreements and annual subscriptions are recognized over the respective terms of the agreements.
Revenue from multiple-element arrangements is allocated to the elements based on the relative fair value of each element, which is generally based on the relative sales price of each element when sold separately. Each element’s allocated revenue is recognized when the revenue recognition criteria for that element have been met. If the Company cannot objectively determine the fair value of any undelivered element included in a multiple-element arrangement, the Company defers revenue until all elements are delivered and services have been performed, or until fair value can objectively be determined for any remaining undelivered elements.
Product Warranty
The Company’s warranty policy provides repair or replacement of products (excluding GPS Shoe devices) returned within ninety days of purchase. Warranty liabilities are recorded at the time of sale for the estimated costs that may be incurred under our standard warranty. As of December 31, 2011, products returned for repair or replacement have been immaterial. Accordingly, a warranty liability has not been deemed necessary. The GPS Shoe devices are covered under the manufacturer’s standard limited warranty which covers any defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 12 months following the purchase of the device by the customer.
Inventory
Inventory consists of raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods and is valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value. The Company evaluates its inventory for excess and obsolescence on a regular basis. In preparing the evaluation the Company looks at the expected demand for the product, as well as changes in technology, in order to determine whether or not a reserve is necessary to record the inventory at net realizable value.
Intangible Assets
The Company records identifiable intangible assets acquired from other enterprises or individuals in an “arm’s length” transaction at cost. Intangible assets consist primarily of a licensing agreement enabling the Company to sell its GPS-related vehicle tracking software and services and the purchase price of Code Amber, LLC in 2008. The Company evaluates its intangible assets for impairment on a regular basis and writes down the assets to net realizable value as deemed necessary.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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.
Income Taxes
The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized by applying the statutory tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences between the financial reporting and tax filing bases of existing assets and liabilities are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.
Stock-based Compensation
Stock based compensation expense is recorded for stock and stock options awarded in return for services rendered. The expense is measured at the grant-date fair value of the award and recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis, which is generally commensurate with the vesting period. The Company estimates forfeitures that it expects will occur and records expense based upon the number of awards expected to vest.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued amended guidance on fair value measurement and related disclosures. The new guidance clarified the concepts applicable for fair value measurement of non-financial assets and requires the disclosure of quantitative information about the unobservable inputs used in a fair value measurement. This guidance will be effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and will be applied prospectively. We do not anticipate a material impact on our consolidated financial statements as a result of the adoption of this amended guidance.
Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the SEC did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s present or future financial statements.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not applicable to a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of SEC Regulation.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements required by Item 8 are submitted in a separate section of this report, beginning on, and are incorporated herein and made a part hereof.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file with the SEC under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and financial officers, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. As required by SEC Rule 15d-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive and financial officers, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on the foregoing, our principal executive and financial officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure the information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rule 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, and for assessing the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.
Internal control over financial reporting is intended to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets, (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisitions, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
Management, with the participation of our principal executive and financial officers, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as of December 31, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on that evaluation, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2011, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only management’s report in this annual report.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
During 2011, we strengthened our internal procedures relating to cash disbursements and reporting. Such procedures include (1) increased review and approval of payables and cash disbursements by our Chief Executive Officer and head of the Audit Committee on the Board of Directors, and (2) review of cash flow projections, profit and loss reports and the balance sheet by the Chief Executive Officer and the head of the Audit Committee on the Board of Directors, in addition to the Chief Financial Officer. Implementation of these new procedures resulted in improvements in our internal controls over financial reporting by providing greater oversight of our financial position on a timelier basis.
Except as referred to above, there have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the annual reporting period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Executive Officers and Directors. Each of our directors was elected by the stockholders and serves until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
The board of directors currently has no nominating or compensation committee at this time.
Our Chief Executive Officer serves pursuant to an employment agreement that was extended for one year on March 14, 2011, and that will automatically be extended for successive one-year periods if not cancelled by either party. See “Item 10, Executive Compensation - Employment Agreements.”
The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and directors.
Name
Position Held
Age
Date First Appointed
Patrick E. Bertagna
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
March 14, 2008
Alex McKean
Interim Chief Financial Officer
October 3, 2011
Christopher M. Walsh
Chief Operating Officer
March 14, 2008
Louis Rosenbaum
Director
March 14, 2008
Andrew Duncan
Director, Audit Committee Member, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer
April 2, 2010
Greg Provenzano
Director, Audit Committee Member
April 2, 2010
Patrick Aroff
Director
March 14, 2008
Biographical Information
The following describes the backgrounds of current executive officers and directors. Our Board of Directors has determined that all of our directors other than Mr. Bertagna are independent directors as defined in the Nasdaq rules governing members of boards of directors.
Mr. Bertagna is the sole director and the Chief Executive Officer of GTX California, LOCiMOBILE, Inc. and Code Amber News Service, Inc., and Mr. McKean is the Interim Chief Financial Officer of each of those subsidiaries.
Patrick E. Bertagna - Director, Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board
Mr. Bertagna was the founder of GTX California in September 2002 and has since served as its Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of GTX. He is co-inventor of the company’s patented GPS footwear technology. His career spans over 30 years in building companies in both technology and consumer branded products.
Mr. Bertagna began his career in consumer products importing apparel from Europe and later went on to import and manufacture apparel, accessories and footwear in over 20 countries. In 1993, Mr. Bertagna transitioned into technology and founded Barcode World, Inc. a supply chain software company, enabling accurate tracking of consumer products from design to retail. In June 2002 after selling this company, Mr. Bertagna combined his two past careers in consumer products and tracking technology and founded GTX.
Mr. Bertagna was born in the South of France and is fluent in French and Spanish, has formed alliances with Fortune 500 companies such as IBM, AT&T, Sports Authority, Federated Stores, Netscape and GE. He has been a keynote speaker and has been awarded several patents.
Mr. Bertagna has extensive knowledge of: the manufacturing industry, internet software development, building intellectual property and overall experience in growing early stage high-tech companies. As a founder of GTX California and co-inventor of the GPS Shoe, this knowledge enables Mr. Bertagna to be uniquely qualified to be on the Board of Directors.
Alex McKean - Interim Chief Financial Officer
Mr. McKean became Interim Chief Financial Officer in October 2011. He is currently also the Chief Financial Officer of Encore Brands, Inc., a position he has held since October 2009. Previous to that, he acted as an independent management consultant under his own firm, McKean Financial Consulting as well as an independent contractor with Robert Half International and Ajilon Finance. Prior to establishing his own firm, during 2004-2007 Mr. McKean was with Parson Consulting working in such areas as: strategy, financial modeling, SEC filings, process management and Sarbanes Oxley. Mr. McKean has held positions as a Controller and VP of Finance at 24:7 Film from 2002-2004, VP of Finance at InternetStudios.com from 2000-2002, Director of FP&A/SVP at Franchise Mortgage Acceptance Company from 1998-2000, as Corporate Accounting Manager/Treasurer of Polygram Filmed Entertainment from 1996-1998 and Assistant Treasurer/Controller for State Street Bank from 1989-1996.
Mr. McKean holds an International MBA from Thunderbird's School of Global Management and undergraduate degrees in Finance and Political Science from Trinity University.
Christopher M. Walsh - Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Walsh joined this company as its Chief Operating Officer in March 2008. Mr. Walsh began his career with Nike in 1974 and subsequently established and implemented Nike’s first manufacturing operation in the Far East. In 1989, Mr. Walsh joined Reebok International as Vice President of Production. In that role he established the Company's inaugural Asian organization headquartered in Hong Kong with satellite organizations across Asia, and also played a critical role on the Reebok Pump Task Force directing the manufacturing initiatives associated with the unique components of the Pump system. After Reebok, Mr. Walsh moved to LA Gear in 1992 and, as Chief Operating Officer, became a critical figure in the turnaround team assembled by LA Gear and was responsible for all research and development, design, manufacturing, sourcing, quality control, distribution and logistics.
Upon leaving LA Gear in 1995, Mr. Walsh founded CW Resources, a Los Angeles based firm providing design, development, manufacturing and licensing consulting services to an extensive client base, both domestic and international, within the footwear, apparel, textile, sporting goods and action sports industries. Since January 2005, he has served as an advisor to GTX California spearheading their footwear research and development and marketing practices.
Mr. Walsh received a B.S. in Marketing from Boston College in 1973 and previously served on numerous organizational boards within the footwear and textile industries including The Two Ten International Footwear Foundation and The Footwear Distributors and Retail Association.
Louis Rosenbaum - Director
Mr. Rosenbaum served as a member of GTX California’s Board of Directors from September 2002 until June 2005 and then again from October 2007 until March 2008, at which time he became a director of GTX Corp. Mr. Rosenbaum was a founder of GTX California and an early investor in GTX California.
Mr. Rosenbaum has been the President of Advanced Environmental Services since July 1997. His responsibilities at Advanced Environmental Services encompass supervising all administrative and financial activities, including all contractual aspects of the business. Mr. Rosenbaum has been working in the environmental and waste disposal industry for the past eighteen years. He started with Allied Waste Services, a division of Eastern Environmental (purchased by Waste Management Inc. in 1998) in 1990.
Mr. Rosenbaum founded and was President of Elements, a successful clothing manufacturer that produced a line of upscale women’s clothing in Hong Kong, China, Korea and Italy, from 1978 to 1987.
Mr. Rosenbaum has a long history in the consumer products industry, electronics and software sales and development. Mr. Rosenbaum is a co-founder of GTX Corp, was the first large investor and has assisted in the overall vision and development of the Company since inception. Mr. Rosenbaum has served on numerous private and community public boards and this unique blend of experience and history, combined with his strategic and tactical insight, makes Mr. Rosenbaum an asset to the GTX Corp Board.
Andrew Duncan - Director, Member of Audit Committee, Corporate Secretary and Treasurer
Mr. Duncan has been working in the consumer electronics and technology licensing business for over 20 years. Since 2006 he has been the CEO of ClearPlay International, a software licensing company. Prior thereto, he founded Global TechLink Consultants Inc., a technology consultancy company, specializing in technology licensing, multimedia, communication and application technology on a global basis, including Interactive TV, Digital downloads/streaming and Consumer Electronics. From 1994 to 2001, Mr. Duncan worked as Vice President Consumer Electronics for Gemstar TV Guide International (Los Angeles USA).
Mr. Duncan earned his honors degree in Chemistry from Nottingham University and postgraduate qualifications in Marketing and Direct Marketing from London University (Kings College). He also has a Certificate of Business Management from the Anderson School of Business UCLA.
Mr. Duncan’s experience in global intellectual property, branding and licensing, uniquely qualifies him to serve on our Board. Mr. Duncan’s long involvement in global business development, with an extensive background working in both Europe and Asia as a business strategist for major corporations, directly assists the Board in its international strategic planning objectives and activities.
Greg Provenzano - Director, Member of Audit Committee
Mr. Provenzano has spent over 25 years in the electronic components and design solutions business. He currently is the President at WPG Americas, the North American division of WPG Holdings. Prior to his current position, from July 2002 until July 2005, Mr. Provenzano served as Senior Vice President and Regional President of Memec Americas (now AVNET Electronics Company). From 1997 until 2002, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Memec Insight, Inc.
Mr. Provenzano holds a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.
Mr. Provenzano is currently working in the hardware, computer and electronics industry and brings to the board a long career and deep knowledge of the electronics hardware business, sourcing, manufacturing and finance. Mr. Provenzano is a valuable and strategic member of the GTX Board and brings direct expertise in operations, contract negotiations, human resource recruiting and management.
Patrick Aroff - Director
Mr. Aroff was an initial investor in GTX California and has been an advisor to GTX California since September 2002. He served as a member of GTX California’s Board of Directors from October 2007 until March 14, 2008, at which time he became a director of GTX Corp. Mr. Aroff has worked and held positions in most every facet of marketing and advertising, including producing and directing commercials for television and radio. Mr. Aroff has won numerous awards nationally and internationally for marketing, design, advertising and art direction.
After leaving a successful advertising career of 18 years in June 2003, Mr. Aroff started a residential and commercial real estate development company. In June 2004, Mr. Aroff co-founded Encore Brands, LLC, a beverage company, where he served as its Chief Executive Officer and a Managing Member until October 2008. Since 2008 Mr. Aroff has been providing brand consulting and development services to the beverage industry including formula concepts, brand names, packaging and marketing.
Mr. Aroff received his education at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and has garnered numerous awards during his career, including: Clio, Belding, New York Ad Club, Best in the West, Cannes International Ad Festival, and an OBIE.
Mr. Aroff has experience in both small entrepreneurial start-up companies and large corporations. He has founded several companies and has over 18 years of marketing and advertising experience in large companies, which assists the board as the company commercialized its current and future products.
Director Qualifications and Diversity
Our Board of Directors has not adopted a formal policy with regard to the consideration of diversity when evaluating candidates for election to the Board. However, our Board believes that membership should reflect diversity in its broadest sense, but should not be chosen nor excluded based on race, color, gender, national origin or sexual orientation. In this context, the Board does consider a candidate’s experience, education, industry knowledge, history with the Company, and differences of viewpoint when evaluating his or her qualifications for election to the Board. Whenever our Board evaluates a potential candidate, the Board considers that individual in the context of the composition of the Board as a whole.
The standards that our Board considers in selecting candidates (although candidates need not possess all of the following characteristics, and not all factors are weighted equally) include the director’s or nominee’s, Industry knowledge and contacts in industries served by the Company, independent judgment, ability to broadly represent the interests of all stockholders and other constituencies, maturity and experience in policy making decisions, business skills, background and relevant expertise that are useful to the company and its future needs, and other factors determined to be relevant by the Board.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships among the Company’s directors, executive officers, or persons nominated or chosen by the Company to become directors or executive officers.
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer and principal financial and accounting officer. A copy of our code of ethics will be furnished without charge to any person upon written request. Requests should be sent to: Secretary, GTX Corp, 117 W. 9th Street, #1214 Los Angeles, California 90015.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the company’s equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on its review of the copies of reporting forms received by the company, the company believes that the following Forms 3 and 4 were filed later than is required under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
·On January 24, 2011, several of our directors and officers were granted shares for services, however none of them timely filed a Form 4 for the issuance. On March 25, 2011, Form 4s were filed for each officer and director for the issuances: Christopher Walsh - 250,000 shares, Murray Williams (former CFO) - 250,000 shares, Andrew Duncan - 200,000 shares, Patrick Bertagna - 250,000 shares, Louis Rosenbaum - 130,000 shares and Patrick Aroff - 100,000 shares.
·On August 17, 2011, Murray Williams, our former CFO, purchased 200,000 shares of our common stock in connection with our June 2011 private placement, however a Form 4 was not timely filed. On August 31, 2011 a Form 4 was filed for Mr. Williams.
·On August 26, 2011, Andrew Duncan was granted 350,000 shares of our common stock for services rendered, however a Form 4 was not timely filed. On September 23, 2011 a Form 4 was filed for Mr. Duncan.
·Alex McKean became our Interim Chief Financial Officer in October 2011. On December 2, 2011, Mr. McKean was granted 100,000 shares of our common stock as a signing bonus for being the Company’s Interim Chief Financial Officer. On January 20, 2012 a Form 3 was filed for Mr. McKean to report the foregoing events.
·On December 23, 2011, several of our directors and officers were granted shares for services, however none of them timely filed a Form 4 for the issuance. On January 10, 2012, Form 4s were filed for each officer and director for the issuances: Christopher Walsh -15,000 shares, Gregory Provenzano - 15,000 shares, Andrew Duncan - 15,000 shares, Patrick Bertagna - 15,000 shares, Louis Rosenbaum - 15,000 shares and Patrick Aroff - 15,000 shares.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table. The following table sets forth the compensation for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 for services rendered to us by all persons who served as our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer in 2011 and most highly compensated executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer during 2011 (collectively, the “Named Executive Officers”) who received compensation in excess of $100,000 in either 2010 or 2011.
Summary Compensation Table
(1)Mr. Bertagna, our Chief Executive Officer was granted 250,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.0561 per share on January 25, 2011, 509,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.0575 per share on April 1, 2011, 1,200,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.05 per share on June 23, 2011 and 15, 000 shares of common stock valued at $0.08 per shares on December 23, 2011. During 2010, Mr. Bertagna was granted 150,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.17 per share on March 24, 2010, 250,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.14 per share on July 7, 2010 and 195,000 options with a strike price of $0.17 per option on March 24, 2010 (which vest at a rate of 16,250 shares per monthly beginning April 1, 2010 through March 1, 2011). As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, $51,250 and $46,600, respectively of Mr. Bertagna’s salary was accrued to preserve cash for other working capital needs. The 1,200,000 shares of common stock granted on June 23, 2011 noted above was issued as payment for accrued wages valued at $60,000.
(2)Mr. McKean was named our Interim Chief Financial Officer on October 3, 2011. Mr. McKean was granted 100,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.08 per share on December 2, 2011.
(3)Mr. Walsh, our Chief Operating Officer was granted 250,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.0561 per share on January 25, 2011, 1,200,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.05 per share on June 23, 2011 and 15, 000 shares of common stock valued at $0.08 per shares on December 23, 2011. During 2010, Mr. Walsh was granted100,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.17 per share on March 24, 2010, 100,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.14 per share on July 7, 2010 and 120,000 options with a strike price of $0.17 per option on March 24, 2010 (which vest at a rate of 10,000 shares per month beginning April 1, 2010 through March 1, 2011). As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, $43,500 and $47,125, respectively of Mr. Walsh’s salary was accrued to preserve cash for other working capital needs. The 1,200,000 shares of common stock granted on June 23, 2011 noted above was issued as payment for accrued wages valued at $60,000.
(4)Mr. Williams was our Chief Financial Officer in 2010 and in 2011 until October 3, 2011. During 2011 Mr. Williams was granted 250,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.0561 per share on January 25, 2011 and 409,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.0575 per share on April 1, 2011. During 2010, Mr. Williams was granted 100,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.17 per share on March 24, 2010, 100,000 shares of common stock valued at $0.14 per share on July 7, 2010 and 120,000 options with a strike price of $0.17 per option on March 24, 2010 (which vest at a rate of 10,000 shares per month beginning April 1, 2010 through March 1, 2011).
(5)The values shown in this column represent the aggregate grant date fair value of equity-based awards granted during the fiscal year, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For additional information on the valuation assumptions with respect to the option grants, refer to Notes 2 and 8 of our financial statements in this Annual Report. These amounts reflect our accounting expense for these awards, which is being expensed over the one-year vesting period of the option awards, and do not correspond to the actual value that may be recognized by the named executive from these awards.
(6)The values shown in this column include additional employee benefits paid including travel, health insurance, auto lease payments and cellular phone service.
Outstanding Equity Awards
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2011 concerning unexercised options, unvested stock and equity incentive plan awards for the Named Executive Officers.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
(1)For his services as a member of the board of directors, on March 16, 2008 Patrick Bertagna received an option to purchase up to 150,000 shares of common stock at $0.75 per share. Options to purchase 50,000 shares vested on March 16, 2009, and the remaining options to purchase 100,000 vest at a rate of 4,167 each month for the 23 months beginning on April 16, 2009 and the remaining 4,159 Options vested on March 16, 2011. The options expire on the third anniversary of the vesting date.
(2)On November 17, 2009, each officer received an option to purchase up to 54,000 shares of common stock at $0.18 per share. The 54,000 options vested at a rate of 4,500 each month for the 12 months beginning on January 1, 2010. The options expire on the third anniversary of the vesting date.
(3)On March 24, 2010, each officer received an option to purchase up to 120,000 shares of common stock at $0.17 per share. The 120,000 options vested at a rate of 10,000 each month for the 12 months beginning on April 1, 2010. The options expire on the third anniversary of the vesting date.
(4)For his services as a member of the board of directors, on March 24, 2010 Patrick Bertagna received an option to purchase up to 75,000 shares of common stock at $0.17 per share. The 75,000 options vest at a rate of 6,250 each month for the 12 months beginning on April 1, 2010. The options expire on the third anniversary of the vesting date.
(5)Mr. Williams was our Chief Financial Officer until October 3, 2011. In accordance with his stock option agreements, all of his options expired unexercised and were cancelled on January 3, 2012.
Long-Term Incentive Plans
There are no arrangements or plans in which we provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors or executive officers.
Director Compensation
We have no formal plan for compensating our directors for their service in their capacity as directors although such directors are expected to receive shares of common stock and/or options in the future to purchase common shares as awarded by our Board of Directors or (as to future options) a Compensation Committee which may be established in the future. Directors are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors may award special remuneration to any director undertaking any special services on behalf of our company other than services ordinarily required of a director.
The following table summarizes the compensation of each of our directors who is not also a named executive officer for their service as a director for the year ended December 31, 2011. The compensation of Mr. Bertagna, who serves as a director and as our Chief Executive Officer, is described above in the Summary Compensation Table.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
(1)Reflects compensation earned for special services rendered to the company.
(2)Mr. Rosenbaum had 2,390,165 shares of common stock and 315,000 options outstanding as of December 31, 2011.
(3)Mr. Duncan had 770,329 shares of common stock and 75,000 options outstanding as of December 31, 2011.
(4)Mr. Provenzano had 250,658 shares of common stock and 82,500 options outstanding as of December 31, 2011.
(5)Mr. Aroff had 496,575 shares of common stock and 255,000 options outstanding as of December 31, 2011.
Employment Agreements
The following are summaries of the employment agreements with the Company’s executive officers:
Patrick E. Bertagna, our Chief Executive Officer and President, is employed pursuant to a written agreement dated as of March 14, 2008. The agreement has a term of two years; provided however, that it is automatically extended for additional one-year periods unless either party provides written notice to the contrary at least 60 days prior to the end of the term then in effect. Mr. Bertagna has requested that his employment agreement be reviewed and revised by the Board of Directors. Until his new employment agreement is completed, Mr. Bertagna will remain employed under the current agreement. As such, Mr. Bertagna receives a base salary of $150,000 per year, however, in order to preserve cash for other working capital needs, Mr. Bertagna has agreed to accrue portions of his salary in the past and he is continuing to do so in 2012. During June 2011, Mr. Bertagna was issued 1,200,000 shares (valued at $60,000) of the Company’s common stock as payment for a portion of his salary that had been accrued since 2009. He is entitled to adjustments to his base salary based on certain performance standards, at the Company’s discretion, as follows: (i) a bonus in an amount not less than fifteen percent (15%) of yearly salary, to be paid in cash or stock, if the Company has an increase in annual revenues and Mr. Bertagna performs his duties within the time frame budgeted for such duties at or below the cost budgeted for such duties and (ii) a bonus, to be paid in cash or stock at the Company’s sole discretion, equal to $12,500 for every one million of the Company’s outstanding common stock purchase warrants that are exercised.
As a signing bonus, Mr. Bertagna was granted 150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Company’s 2008 Equity Compensation Plan. In addition, he was granted Incentive Stock Options to purchase up to 750,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to the 2008 Equity Compensation Plan. Mr. Bertagna agreed to cancel the 750,000 options on September 1, 2010. Incentive Stock Options granted in December 2008 to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock expired in December 2011.
Mr. Bertagna may also participate in any and all benefits and perquisites as are generally provided for the benefit of executive employees. The agreement terminates on his death, incapacity (after 180 days), resignation or cause as defined in the agreement. If he is terminated without cause, he is entitled to base salary, all bonuses otherwise applicable, and medical benefits for twelve months.
Alex McKean, became the Company’s Interim Chief Financial Officer on October 3, 2011 and is not employed pursuant to a formal employment agreement. As a signing bonus, Mr. McKean was granted 100,000 shares of our common stock. Said shares are subject to restrictions upon transfer pursuant to Rule 144, as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Christopher M. Walsh, our Chief Operating Officer, is employed pursuant to a written agreement dated as of March 14, 2008. The agreement has a term of two years; provided however, that it is automatically extended for additional one-year periods unless either party provides written notice to the contrary at least 60 days prior to the end of the term then in effect. Mr. Walsh shall receive a base salary of $120,000 per year during the first year of employment and $150,000 per year during the second year of employment, however, in order to preserve cash for other working capital needs, Mr. Walsh agreed to accrue portions of his salary in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and he is continuing to do so in 2012. During June 2011, Mr. Walsh was issued 1,200,000 shares (valued at $60,000) of the Company’s common stock as payment for a portion of his salary that had been accrued since 2009. He is entitled to adjustments to his base salary based on certain performance standards, at the Company’s discretion, as follows: (i) a bonus in an amount not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of yearly salary, to be paid in cash or stock, if the Company has in increase in annual revenues and Mr. Walsh performs his duties within the time frame budgeted for such duties at or below the cost budgeted for such duties and (ii) a bonus, to be paid in cash or stock at the Company’s sole discretion, equal to $10,000 for every one million of the Company’s outstanding common stock purchase warrants that are exercised.
As a signing bonus, Mr. Walsh was granted 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Company’s 2008 Equity Compensation Plan. In addition, he was granted Incentive Stock Options to purchase up to 750,000 shares of our common stock pursuant to the 2008 Equity Compensation Plan. Mr. Walsh agreed to cancel the 750,000 options on September 1, 2010. Incentive Stock Options granted in December 2008 to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock expired in December 2011.
Mr. Walsh may also participate in any and all benefits and perquisites as are generally provided for the benefit of executive employees. The agreement terminates on his death, incapacity (after 180 days), resignation or cause as defined in the Agreement. If he is terminated without cause, he is entitled to base salary, all bonuses otherwise applicable, and medical benefits for twelve months.
2008 Equity Compensation Plan
We have adopted an equity incentive plan, the 2008 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2008 Plan”), pursuant to which we are authorized to grant options, restricted stock, unrestricted stock, and stock appreciation rights to purchase up to 7,000,000 shares of common stock to our employees (as such term is defined in the 2008 Plan), officers, directors and consultants. Awards under the 2008 Plan may consist of stock options (both non-qualified options and options intended to qualify as “Incentive Stock Options” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended), restricted and unrestricted stock awards and stock appreciation rights.
The 2008 Plan is administered by our Board of Directors or a committee appointed by the Board (the “Committee”). If appointed by the Board, the committee would consist of at least two members of the Board whose members shall, from time to time, be appointed by the Board. The Committee has the authority to interpret the 2008 Plan, to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to it, to determine the persons to whom awards will be granted, the type of award to be granted, the number of awards to be granted, and the terms and provisions of stock options granted pursuant to the 2008 Plan, including the vesting thereof, subject to the provisions of the 2008 Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2008 Plan.
The 2008 Plan provides that the purchase price of each share of common stock subject to an incentive stock option may not be less than 100% of the fair market value (as such term is defined in the 2008 Plan) of a share of our common stock on the date of grant (or not less than 110% of the fair market value in the case of a grantee holding more than 10% of our outstanding common stock). The aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the option is granted) of the common stock with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time by the employee during any calendar year (under all such plans of the grantee’s employer corporation and its parent and subsidiary corporation) shall not exceed $100,000. No incentive stock option shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of its grant; provided, however, that an incentive stock option granted to an employee holding more than 10% of our outstanding common stock shall not be exercisable later than the fifth anniversary of its grant.
The Committee shall determine the purchase price of each share of common stock subject to a non-qualified stock option. Such purchase price, however, shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. No non-qualified stock option shall be exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of its grant.
The plan also permits the grant of stock appreciation rights in connection with the grant of an incentive stock option or a non-qualified stock option, or unexercised portion thereof held by the grantee. The grant price of a stock appreciation right shall be at least at the fair market value of a share on the date of grant of the stock appreciation right, and be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the 2008 Plan, as shall be determined by the Committee. Each stock appreciation right may include limitations as to the time when such stock appreciation right becomes exercisable and when it ceases to be exercisable, which may be more restrictive than the limitations on the exercise of the stock option to which it relates. No stock appreciation right shall be exercisable with respect to such related stock option or portion thereof unless such stock option or portion shall itself be exercisable at that time. A stock appreciation right shall be exercised only upon surrender of the related stock option or portion thereof in respect of which the stock appreciation right is then being exercised. Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, a grantee shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the product of (i) the amount by which the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of exercise of the stock appreciation right exceeds the option price per share specified in the related incentive or non-qualified stock option and (ii) the number of shares of common stock in respect of which the stock appreciation right shall have been exercised. Further, a stock appreciation right shall be exercisable during the grantee’s lifetime only by the grantee.
The 2008 Plan also provides us with the ability to grant shares of common stock that are subject to certain transferability, forfeiture or other restrictions. The recipient of restricted stock grants, the type of restriction, the number of shares of restricted stock granted and other such provisions shall be determined by the Committee. The Board, in good faith and in its sole discretion, shall determine the fair market value with regards to awards of restricted stock.
The 2008 Plan also provides us with the ability to grant shares of unrestricted stock. The Committee shall determine and designate from time to time those persons who are to be granted unrestricted stock and number of shares of common stock subject to such grant. The Board, in good faith and in its sole discretion, shall determine the fair market value with regards to awards of unrestricted stock. The grantee shall hold common stock issued pursuant to an unrestricted stock award free and clear of all restrictions, except as otherwise provided in the 2008 Plan.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, awards granted under the 2008 Plan are not transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
The 2008 Plan provides that in the event of a merger or change of control, the Committee may substitute stock options, stock awards and stock appreciation rights of the acquired company. Alternatively, the Committee may provide that the stock options, stock awards and stock appreciation rights shall terminate following notice by the Committee.
The Board may, at any time, alter, amend, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the 2008 Plan; provided, however, that such action shall not adversely affect the right of grantees to stock awards or stock options previously granted and no amendment, without the approval of the stockholders of the Corporation, shall increase the maximum number of shares which may be awarded under the 2008 Plan in the aggregate, materially increase the benefits accruing to grantees under the 2008 Plan, change the class of employees eligible to receive options under the 2008 Plan, or materially modify the eligibility requirements for participation in the 2008 Plan.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The following table sets forth certain information as of March 28, 2012, regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by (i) each stockholder known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our common stock, (ii) by each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table and our directors and (iii) by all of our executive officers and directors as a group. Each of the persons named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to common stock beneficially owned. Unless otherwise noted in the table, the address for each of the persons identified is 117 W 9th Street; Suite 1214, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Beneficial ownership is calculated based upon 75,404,477 shares of common stock issued and outstanding as of March 28, 2012.
(1)Under Rule 13d-3, a beneficial owner of a security includes any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship, or otherwise has or shares: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of shares; and (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose or direct the disposition of shares. Certain shares may be deemed to be beneficially owned by more than one person (if, for example, persons share the power to vote or the power to dispose of the shares). In addition, shares are deemed to be beneficially owned by a person if the person has the right to acquire the shares (for example, upon exercise of an option) within 60 days of the date as of which the information is provided. In computing the percentage ownership of any person, the amount of shares outstanding is deemed to include the amount of shares beneficially owned by such person (and only such person) by reason of these acquisition rights. As a result, the percentage of outstanding shares of any person as shown in this table does not necessarily reflect the person's actual ownership or voting power with respect to the number of shares of common stock actually outstanding.
(2)The 5,388,128 shares beneficially owned include 5,039,128 shares of common stock, and 349,000 stock options.
(3)The 120,000 shares beneficially owned consist solely of common stock.
(4)The 1,885,836 shares beneficially owned include 1,711,836 shares of common stock and 174,000 stock options.
(5)The 2,655,165 shares beneficially owned include 2,390,165 shares of common stock and 265,000 stock options.
(6)The 845,329 shares beneficially owned include 770,329 shares of common stock and 75,000 stock options.
(7)The 333,158 shares beneficially owned include 250,658 shares of common stock and 82,500 stock options.
(8)The 701,575 shares beneficially owned include 496,575 shares of common stock and 205,000 stock options.
(9)The 1,376,500 shares beneficially owned include 1,176,500 shares of common stock and 200,000 warrants to purchase our common stock at $0.08 per share. The warrants are exercisable until February 14, 2014.
(10)Includes 1,150,500 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of options.
Changes in Control. We are not aware of any arrangements which may result in “changes in control” as that term is defined by the provisions of Item 403 of Regulation S-K.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Director Independence. Four of our five directors are independent within the definition of “independence” as defined in the Nasdaq rules governing members of boards of directors.
Related Party Transactions. There have been no related party transactions, or any other transactions or relationships required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K., other than as follows: During January 2011, we entered into a $30,000 short-term loan payable agreement with Louis Rosenbaum, a member of our board of directors. The loan bore interest at 8% per annum and was due on April 25, 2011. The loan was repaid in full during May 2011. During August 2011, the Company borrowed $30,000 and $5,000 from Louis Rosenbaum, a director, and Murray Williams, the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer, respectively. The loans bore interest at 8% per annum and were repaid in full during November 2011.
With regard to any future related party transaction, we plan to fully disclose any and all related party transactions in the following manner:
·disclosing such transactions in reports where required;
·disclosing in any and all filings with the SEC, where required;
·obtaining disinterested directors consent; and
·obtaining stockholder consent where required.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES.
The Audit Committee has appointed LBB & Associates Ltd., LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. The following table shows the fees that were paid or accrued by us for audit and other services provided by LBB & Associates Ltd., LLP:
(1)Audit fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of our annual financial statements and the review of our quarterly financial statements and those services normally provided in connection with statutory or regulatory filings or engagements including comfort letters, consents and other services related to SEC matters. This information is presented as of the latest practicable date for this annual report.
(2)Audit-related fees represent fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and not reported above under “Audit Fees.” This category primarily includes services relating to our Registration Statement filed with the Securities Exchange Commission during 2011.
(3)LBB & Associates Ltd., LLP does not provide us with tax compliance, tax advice or tax planning services.
All audit related services, tax services and other services rendered by LBB & Associates Ltd., LLP were pre-approved by our Board of Directors or Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has adopted a pre-approval policy that provides for the pre-approval of all services performed for us by LBB & Associates Ltd., LLP. The policy authorizes the Audit Committee to delegate to one or more of its members pre-approval authority with respect to permitted services. Pursuant to this policy, the Board delegated such authority to the Chairman of the Audit Committee.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15.EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
EXHIBIT INDEX
The Company’s financial statements and related notes thereto are listed and included in this Annual Report beginning on page. The following exhibits are filed with, or are incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report.
Exhibit
Number
Description
3.1
Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant filed with the State of Nevada on April 7, 2006 (2)
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant(3)
4.1
2008 Equity Compensation Plan(7)
10.1
Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Patrick E. Bertagna dated March 14, 2008(3)
10.2
Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Christopher M. Walsh dated March 14, 2008(3)
10.3
Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Murray Williams dated March 14, 2008(3)
10.4
Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 16, 2009, between the Registrant and Dutchess Equity Fund, LP. (6)
10.5
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement (August 2011 Private Placement)(8)
10.6
Form of Warrant Agreement (August 2011 Private Placement)(8)
10.7
Form of Subscription Application (August 2011 Private Placement)(8)
14.1
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics(3)
21.1
Subsidiaries (4)
23.1
Consent of LBB & Associates Ltd., LLP(1)
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act*
32.1
Certification Pursuant To Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document(2)
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema(2)
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation(2)
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition(2)
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label(2)
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation(2)
* Filed herewith.
(1)Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 30, 2010.
(2)Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form SB-2 as filed December 12, 2006.
(3)Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8K dated March 20, 2008.
(4)Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 20, 2009.
(5)Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8K dated November 18, 2009.
(6)Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8K dated March 17, 2010.
(7)Previously filed on May 22, 2008 as an exhibit to our Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-151114 and incorporated herein by reference.
(8)Previously filed on October 3, 2011 as part of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-177146) and incorporated herein by reference.
(2)In accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the XBRL related information in Exhibit 101 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be part of any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Signatures
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the company caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name
Title
Date
/s/ Patrick E. Bertagna
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
March 28, 2012
/s/ Alex McKean
Interim Chief Financial Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
March 28, 2012
/s/ Patrick Aroff
Director
March 28, 2012
/s/ Louis Rosenbaum
Director
March 28, 2012
/s/ Greg Provenzano
Director
March 28, 2012
/s/ Andrew Duncan
Director , Treasurer, Secretary
March 28, 2012
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors of
GTX Corp
Los Angeles, CA
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of GTX Corp (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the two years then ended. These 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 the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, 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 financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of GTX Corp as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
As discussed in Note2 to the financial statements, the Company’s recurring losses from operations and its likely need for additional financing in order to meet its financial obligations for 2012 raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. The 2011 financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ LBB & Associates Ltd., LLP
LBB & Associates Ltd., LLP
Houston, Texas
March 27, 2012
GTX CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
GTX CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
GTX CORP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
GTX CORP AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
GTX CORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2011
1.ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS
GTX Corp and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “GTX”) is engaged in several businesses that all operate in unison to design, develop and sell various interrelated and complimentary products and services in the projected $13 billion location based services marketplace. GTX owns 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Global Trek Xploration (“GTX California”), LOCiMOBILE, Inc., and Code Amber News Service, Inc. (“CANS”).
Global Trek Xploration (“GTX California”), focuses on hardware and software design and development of products by offering a Global Positioning System (“GPS”) and cellular location platform that enables subscribers to track in real time the whereabouts of people, pets or high valued assets through a miniaturized transceiver module, wireless connectivity gateway, middleware and viewing portal. LOCiMOBILE, Inc. has developed and owns LOCiMobileTM, a suite of mobile tracking applications that turn the iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and other GPS enabled handsets into a tracking device which can then be tracked from handset to handset or through our Location Data Center tracking portal and which allows the user to send a map to the recipient’s phone showing the user’s location. CANS is a U.S. and Canadian syndicator of all state Amber Alerts providing website tickers and news feeds to merchants, internet service providers, affiliate partners, corporate sponsors and local, state and federal agencies, as well as, marketing and selling the patent pending electronic medical Code Amber Alertag.
2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect the accounts of GTX Corp and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated.
Revenue Recognition
Revenues consist primarily of the sale of our GPS device to Aetrex International Worldwide, Inc. “Aetrex” for use in the Aetrex GPS Shoe (the “GPS Shoe”), our mobile tracking applications sold via the Apple iTunes Store and the Google Marketplace, the sale of GPS tracking devices and the related monthly service fees, licensing agreements, CANS annual subscriptions and points of display and the sale of Code Amber Alertags.
The Company recognizes revenue from product sales when the product is shipped to the customer and title has transferred. The Company recognizes application revenue when the application is purchased by the customer. The Company assumes no remaining significant obligations associated with the product sale other than that related to its warranty program discussed below. Revenue related to monthly service fees, licensing agreements and annual subscriptions are recognized over the respective terms of the agreements.
Revenue from multiple-element arrangements is allocated to the elements based on the relative fair value of each element, which is generally based on the relative sales price of each element when sold separately. Each element’s allocated revenue is recognized when the revenue recognition criteria for that element have been met. If the Company cannot objectively determine the fair value of any undelivered element included in a multiple-element arrangement, the Company defers revenue until all elements are delivered and services have been performed, or until fair value can objectively be determined for any remaining undelivered elements.
Going Concern
GTX Corp has increased equity by approximately $93,000 during 2011, during which time we raised $297,500 from the sale of common shares through a private placement, received $471,820 from the sale of common stock through the Equity Line, issued common stock valued at $637,000 as consideration for services received and began selling our GPS devices to Aetrex for use in the GPS Shoes (see further discussion at Note 5). We have incurred losses of approximately $1,467,000 and $1,679,000 in the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and have negative working capital of approximately $190,000 at December 31, 2011. A significant part of our negative working capital position at December 31, 2011consisted of $103,000 of amounts due to officers and management of the Company for accrued wages. Additionally, deferred revenue related to a purchase order from Aetrex for an additional 1,500 GPS devices and related parts, totaling $158,000, was recorded at December 31, 2011. The GPS devices were shipped to Aetrex during January 2012 and the corresponding revenue was recognized. In addition to revenues recognized from the sale of GPS tracking devices to Aetrex in accordance with the License Agreement and the monthly service fees that the owners of the GPS Shoe are required to pay, the Company has the following options available to meet its current obligations and continue to grow in accordance with its business plan:
·The Company will evaluate the possibility of settlement of current and future obligations with the issuance of additional shares of common stock; or
·The Company sold 5.72 million warrants during 2011 which are exercisable at $0.08 per share. Based on the current stock price trend, it is anticipated that at least a third of these warrants will be exercised during 2012; or
·The Company may consider renewing its Equity Line with Dutchess (see Note 8) thereby making available additional funds for operations; or
·Officers and management of the Company may continue to defer their wages in order to preserve cash for other working capital needs.
However, the uncertainty of the availability of these options raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The Company’s financial statements have been presented on the basis that is a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets, and the satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
We extend credit based on our evaluation of the customer’s financial condition. We carry our accounts receivable at net realizable value. We monitor our exposure to losses on receivables and maintain allowances for potential losses or adjustments. We determine these allowances by (1) evaluating the aging of our receivables; and (2) reviewing high-risk customers financial condition. Past due receivable balances are written off when our internal collection efforts have been unsuccessful in collecting the amount due. Our allowance for doubtful accounts was $116,180 and $110,600 as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.
Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.
Product Warranty
The Company’s warranty policy provides repair or replacement of products (excluding GPS Shoe devices) returned for defects within ninety days of purchase. Warranty liabilities are recorded at the time of sale for the estimated costs that may be incurred under our standard warranty. As of December 31, 2011, products returned for repair or replacement have been immaterial. Accordingly, a warranty liability has not been deemed necessary. The GPS Shoe devices are covered under the manufacturer’s standard limited warranty which covers any defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 12 months following the purchase of the device by the customer.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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.
Fair Value Estimates
Pursuant to the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) No. 820, “Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments”, the Company records its financial assets and liabilities at fair value. ASC No. 820 provides a framework for measuring fair value, clarifies the definition of fair value and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the reporting date. ASC No. 820 establishes a three-tier hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value:
Level 1-Inputs are unadjusted, quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date. 	
Level 2-Inputs (other than quoted prices included in Level 1) are either directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability through correlation with market data at the measurement date and for the duration of the asset/liability’s anticipated life.
Level 3-Inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Consideration is given to the risk inherent in the valuation technique and the risk inherent in the inputs to the model.
The carrying values for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, prepaid assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair value due to their short maturities.
Related Party Transactions
In order to preserve cash for other working capital needs various members of management and Board Members agreed to accrue portions of their salary since 2009. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company owed $103,321 and $150,951 for such accrued wages.
During January 2011, the Company entered into a $30,000 short-term loan payable agreement with one of its board members. The loan carried an interest rate of 8% per annum and was due on April 25, 2011. The loan was repaid in full on May 6, 2011.
During August 2011, the Company entered into two separate short-term loan payable agreements for $30,000 and $5,000 each, with one of its board members and the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer, respectively. The loans bear interest at 8% per annum and are due on November 25, 2011. Both loans were repaid in full as of November 25, 2011.
In connection with a private placement in which we received proceeds totaling $297,500 (see Note 8) our former Chief Financial Officer invested $10,000 to purchase 200,000 units (consisting of 200,000 shares of common stock and 200,000 warrants) of the Company.
Reclassifications
For comparability, certain prior period amounts have been reclassified, where appropriate, to conform to the financial statement presentation used in 2011.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid investments with insignificant rate risk and with original maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.
Inventory
Inventory consists of raw materials, work in process and finished goods and is valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value. The Company evaluates its inventory for excess and obsolescence on a regular basis. In preparing the evaluation the Company looks at the expected demand for the product, as well as changes in technology, in order to determine whether or not a reserve is necessary to record the inventory at net realizable value. For the years ending December 31, 2011 and 2010 the Company did not recognize any charges to expense associated with excess and obsolete inventory cost adjustments.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated two year useful lives of the assets. When property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts, and any gain or loss is included in operations. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.
Website Development
Under ASC 350-50 - Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Website Development Costs, costs and expenses incurred during the planning and operating stages of the Company’s website development are expensed as incurred. The Company accounts for the development of its website by expensing all costs associated with the planning of the website as incurred and capitalizing the costs to develop the website. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated two year useful lives of the assets.
Software Development Costs
Software development costs include payments made to independent software developers under development arrangements. Software development costs are capitalized once technological feasibility of a product is established and it is determined that such costs should be recoverable against future revenues. For products where proven technology exists, this may occur early in the development cycle. Technological feasibility is evaluated on a product-by-product basis. Amounts related to software development that are not capitalized are charged immediately to product research and development costs.
Commencing upon the related product’s release, capitalized software development costs are amortized to cost of sales based upon the higher of (i) the ratio of current revenue to total projected revenue or (ii) the straight-line method. The amortization period is two years from the initial release of the product. The recoverability of capitalized software development costs is evaluated based on the expected performance of the specific products for which the costs relate. The following criteria are used to evaluate expected product performance: historical performance of comparable products using comparable technology and orders for the product prior to its release.
Significant management judgments and estimates are utilized in the assessment of when technological feasibility is established, as well as in the ongoing assessment of the recoverability of capitalized costs. If revised forecasted or actual product sales are less than and/or revised forecasted or actual costs are greater than the original forecasted amount utilized in the initial recoverability analysis, the net realizable value may be lower than originally estimated in any given quarter, which could result in an impairment charge.
Intangible Assets
The Company records identifiable intangible assets acquired from other enterprises or individuals in an “arm’s length” transaction at cost. Intangible assets consist primarily of a licensing agreement enabling the Company to sell its GPS-related vehicle tracking software and services and the purchase price of Code Amber, LLC in 2008. The Company evaluates its intangible assets for impairment on a regular basis and writes down the assets to net realizable value as deemed necessary. As of December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had capitalized $25,000 and $10,000, respectively, related to intangible assets.
Derivative Instruments
Our debt or equity instruments may contain embedded derivative instruments, such as conversion options, which in certain circumstances may be required to be bifurcated from the associated host instrument and accounted for separately as a derivative instrument liability.
The identification of, and accounting for, derivative instruments is complex. Our derivative instrument liabilities are re-valued at the end of each reporting period, with changes in the fair value of the derivative liability recorded as charges or credits to income, in the period in which the changes occur. For bifurcated conversion options that are accounted for as derivative instrument liabilities, we determine the fair value of these instruments using the Black -Scholes option pricing model. That model requires assumptions related to the remaining term of the instrument and risk-free rates of return, our current Common Stock price and expected dividend yield, and the expected volatility of our Common Stock price over the life of the option.
Net Loss Per Common Share
Net loss per common share is computed pursuant to ASC No. 260 “Earnings Per Share”. Basic net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potentially outstanding shares of common stock during each period. There were no dilutive shares outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.
Research and Development
Research and development costs are clearly identified and are expensed as incurred in accordance with ASC No. 730, "Research and Development". For the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company incurred approximately $10,000 and $68,000 of research and development costs, respectively.
Income Taxes
The Company uses the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized by applying the statutory tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences between the financial reporting and tax filing bases of existing assets and liabilities are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected to be realized.
Stock-based Compensation
Stock based compensation expense is recorded for stock and stock options awarded in return for services rendered. The expense is measured at the grant-date fair value of the award and recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis, which is generally commensurate with the vesting period. The Company estimates forfeitures that it expects will occur and records expense based upon the number of awards expected to vest.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued amended guidance on fair value measurement and related disclosures. The new guidance clarified the concepts applicable for fair value measurement of non-financial assets and requires the disclosure of quantitative information about the unobservable inputs used in a fair value measurement. This guidance will be effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and will be applied prospectively. We do not anticipate a material impact on our consolidated financial statements as a result of the adoption of this amended guidance.
Other recent accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB (including its Emerging Issues Task Force), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the SEC did not or are not believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s present or future financial statements.
3.INVENTORY
The components of inventory consist of the following:
4.PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment, net, consists of the following:
Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $196,437 and $179,638, respectively.
5.AETREX AGREEMENT
On March 18, 2010, GTX California entered into a license agreement with Aetrex under which we granted Aetrex the right to embed our GPS tracking device into certain footwear products manufactured and sold by Aetrex. Aetrex is a global leader in pedorthic footwear and foot orthotics, and the new product to be introduced is intended to monitor the locations of “wandering” seniors afflicted with dementia by embedding our patented location technology in Aetrex footwear.
During September 2011, the Company delivered its first shipment of approximately 3,000 GPS tracking devices to Aetrex in accordance with its license agreement dated March 18, 2010 (the “License Agreement”). Under the License Agreement we granted Aetrex the right to embed our GPS tracking device into certain footwear products manufactured and sold by Aetrex (the “GPS Shoe”). The License Agreement stipulates a one year warranty from the date of product acceptance by Aetrex. Based on management’s estimates, no accrual for warranty liability is necessary as of December 31, 2011.
On October 6, 2011, the Company, along with Aetrex, entered into a Fulfillment & Customer Service Services Agreement (the “Fulfillment Agreement”) with Omnilink Systems, Inc. whereby Omnilink will provide customer service fulfillment, electronic order taking and credit card processing, and management services to consumers who purchase the tracking plans and the GPS Shoes.
During December 2011, Aetrex ordered an additional 1,500 GPS tracking devices. As of December 31, 2011, $157,987 was recorded as Deferred Revenue in the accompanying consolidated financial statements relating to this order. The GPS tracking devices were shipped to Aetrex during January 2012 and the corresponding revenue was recognized upon the transfer of title. Aetrex soft launched the GPS shoe in December 2011.
6.DEBT
Convertible Promissory Note Payable
On December 16, 2010 and September 14, 2010 the Company entered into two separate Convertible Promissory Notes in the principal amounts of $52,000 and $45,000, respectively (the “Notes”). The Notes bore interest at 8% per annum and matured on September 20, 2011 and June 15, 2011, respectively. Beginning 180 days following the date of each Note, the lender had the right to convert all or any part of the outstanding and unpaid principal of the Notes into shares of the Company’s common stock; provided however, that in no event shall the lender be entitled to convert any portion of the Notes that would result in the beneficial ownership by it and its affiliates to be more than 4.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. The Notes were convertible at a variable conversion price which is calculated based on 60% of the average of the five closing prices of the Company’s common stock during the five trading day period ending one trading day prior to the date the conversion notice is sent by the lender.
Commencing on March 23, 2011 and continuing to July 6, 2011, the lender converted the principal balance of the Loans plus interest of approximately $4,000 into a total of 2,509,335 shares of common stock at conversion prices ranging from $0.0301 to $0.0558. As of September 30, 2011, both Notes were extinguished in full, leaving the Company with no outstanding convertible debt.
In connection with the issuance of the Notes, the Company has applied the guidance of FASB ASC Topic No. 815-40. Accordingly, the conversion features are accounted for as derivative liabilities at the date of issuance and adjusted to fair value through earnings at each reporting date.
The following table summarizes the convertible debt activity for the period from December 31, 2010 to December 31, 2011:
The decrease in fair value of the derivative liability of $74,340 includes $14,500 of actual change in fair value and $59,840 of extinguishment associated with the debt conversions. The Company recorded a gain of approximately $10,000 associated with the conversions.
Loan Payable
On May 17, 2011, the Company entered into an original issue discount loan agreement whereby we received $40,000 (the “Loan Payable”). The original issue discount totaling $10,000 was recorded as interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2011. The Loan Payable was secured by the Company’s equity line financing arrangement with Dutchess Opportunity Fund, II, LP (“Dutchess”). The Loan Payable was paid in full as of December 31, 2011.
7.INCOME TAXES
The provision for refundable Federal income tax consists of the following as of December 31:
The cumulative tax effect at the expected rate of 35% of significant items comprising our net deferred tax amount is as follows at December 31:
The Company established a full valuation allowance in accordance with the provision of ASC No. 740, Income Taxes. The Company continually reviews the adequacy of the valuation allowance and recognizes a benefit from income taxes only when reassessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the benefits will be realized.
At December 31, 2011, the Company had an unused net operating loss carryover approximating $7,579,000 that is available to offset future taxable income, which expires beginning in 2028.
No provision was made for federal income tax since the Company has net operating losses. The provision for income taxes included in the accompanying financial statements consists of the state minimum tax imposed on corporations.
8.EQUITY
Dutchess Investment Agreement
On November 16, 2009, the Company entered into an Investment Agreement with Dutchess Equity Fund, L.P. (now known as Dutchess Opportunity Fund, II, LP) (“Dutchess”) which was subsequently amended on March 11, 2010 (the "Investment Agreement"). Pursuant to the Investment Agreement, Dutchess committed to purchase up to $10,000,000 of the Company's common stock, over the course of thirty-six months (the "Equity Line Financing"). The aggregate number of shares issuable by the Company and purchasable by Dutchess under the Investment Agreement is 12,000,000.
The Company may draw on the facility from time to time, as and when it determines appropriate in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Investment Agreement. The maximum amount that the Company is entitled to put in any one notice is either (a) 200% of the average daily volume (U.S. market only) of the common stock for the three (3) trading days prior to the date of delivery of the applicable put notice, multiplied by the average of the closing prices for such trading days, or (b) any other specified amount, up to $500,000. The purchase price shall be set at ninety-four percent (94%) of the lowest daily volume weighted average price (VWAP) of the Company's common stock during the five (5) consecutive trading day period beginning on the trading day immediately following the date of delivery of the applicable put notice. There are put restrictions applied on days between the put notice date and the closing date with respect to that particular put. During this time, the Company shall not be entitled to deliver another put notice. In addition, Dutchess will not be obligated to purchase shares if Dutchess’s total number of shares beneficially held at that time would exceed 4.99% of the number of shares of the Company's common stock as determined in accordance with Rule 13d-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, the Company is not permitted to draw on the facility unless there is an effective registration statement to cover the resale of the shares.
On December 8, 2009 the Company filed on Form S-1 a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") to register the resale by Dutchess of the 12,000,000 shares of the common stock underlying the Investment Agreement. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on December 28, 2009.
During 2011 the Company sold 6,905,022 shares of common stock to Dutchess at prices ranging from $0.05 - $0.08 per share resulting in net proceeds of approximately $471,000. During 2010 the Company sold 2,338,836 shares of common stock to Dutchess at prices ranging from $0.10 - $0.1763 per share resulting in proceeds of approximately $298,000.
Registration Statement
During June 2011, we received proceeds totaling $297,500 from seven accredited investors for an aggregate of 5,950,000 units in a private placement. Included with the investors is the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer who purchased 200,000 units. The foregoing units consisted of 5,950,000 shares of our common stock and warrants (See “Common Stock Warrants” below) to purchase additional shares of common stock that were granted to the investors during August 2011. On October 3, 2011 the Company filed a Form S-1 registration statement (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to register 11,670,000 shares of our common stock for resale by the investors, of which 5,950,000 shares are currently outstanding and were issued to certain of the investors in the private placement. The remaining 5,720,000 shares included in the Registration Statement represent the estimated maximum number of shares that may be issued to the investors upon the exercise of the warrants. The warrants were also issued in private transactions. On October 26, 2011, we filed Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to include our counsel’s legal opinion as well as update the Registration Statement for subsequent events (see Note 8). Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on October 28, 2011.
Common Stock
The Company issued the following shares of stock from its 2008 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2008 Plan”):
The shares issued for services related to the development of our mobile phone applications were to one consultant, have been capitalized as Property and Equipment in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and will be depreciated through cost of goods sold. The shares issued for services rendered were to various members of management, employees and consultants and were expensed as Stock Based Compensation in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.
During July 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors reserved for issuance a pool of 40,000 shares of common stock of the Company under the 2008 Plan for grant and issuance to various consultants and/or employees in lieu of paying them cash for their services (the “Award Pool”). The Company’s Board of Directors created a Stock Award Committee that has the authority to grant and issue awards from the Award Pool. No shares were granted from the Award Pool during 2011 and 2010.
In addition to the shares issued under the 2008 Plan the Company issued the following shares of common stock subject to restrictions upon transfer pursuant to Rule 144, as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended:
Shares issued for services rendered were to various members of management, employees and consultants and are expensed as Stock Based Compensation in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Shares issued for accrued wages were granted to our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer as payment for portions of their salary that had been accrued since 2009 (See Note 4). Shares issued with repurchase rights relate to shares of common stock were issued in July 2010 to members of management and board members which contained repurchase rights whereby the Company retained the rights to acquire the shares from the stock recipients and such repurchase rights lapsed ratably over twelve months at a rate of 1/12th per month beginning on July 31, 2010. At the date of issuance, the shares were valued at par ($.001 per share) and recorded as an Other Current Asset in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The related stock based compensation expense was recorded in conjunction with the monthly vesting based on the average stock price during the respective month.
During July 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors reserved for issuance a pool of 35,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (“Restricted Stock Award Pool”) for grant and issuance to various consultants and/or employees in lieu of paying them cash for their services. These shares of common stock are subject to restrictions upon transfer pursuant to Rule 144, as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company’s Board of Directors created a Stock Award Committee that has the authority to grant and issue awards from the Restricted Stock Award Pool. No shares were issued from the Restricted Stock Award Pool during 2011 and 2010.
Common Stock Warrants
Since inception, the Company has issued numerous warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock to shareholders, consultants and employees as compensation for services rendered.
The 5,720,000 warrants included in the Registration Statement are exercisable until February 14, 2014 at $0.08 per warrant. Included in the 5,720,000 warrants sold to the investors are 520,000 warrants which were granted to consultants for business development services rendered. The fair value of the 5,200,000 warrants was estimated to be $198,000 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the following assumptions: expected dividend yield 0%, expected volatility 126%, risk-free interest rate 0.25%, and expected life of 30 months.
The 520,000 warrants granted to consultants for business development services rendered, as part of the Registration Statement, were estimated to have a fair value of approximately $19,800 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the following assumptions: expected dividend yield 0%, expected volatility 126%, risk-free interest rate 0.25%, and expected life of 30 months and is recorded as Stock Based Compensation expense in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.
A summary of the Company’s warrant activity and related information for the period from December 31, 2010 through December 31, 2011 is provided below:
Common Stock Options
Under the Company’s 2008 Plan, we are authorized to grant stock options intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, “ISO”, under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, non-qualified options, restricted and unrestricted stock awards and stock appreciation rights to purchase up to 7,000,000 shares of common stock to our employees, officers, directors and consultants, with the exception that ISOs may only be granted to employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, as defined in the 2008 Plan. The 2008 Plan shall be administered by a committee consisting of two or more members of the Board of Directors, or if a committee has not been elected, the Board of Directors of the Company shall serve as the committee.
The Company recognizes option expense ratably over the vesting periods. During 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded compensation expense related to options granted under the 2008 Plan of $38,913 and $270,434, respectively.
The fair value of option grants was estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:
No options were granted during 2011.
The Plan provides for the issuance of a maximum of 7,000,000 shares of which, after adjusting for estimated pre-vesting forfeitures, approximately 523,000 were still available for issuance as of March 28, 2012.
Stock option activity under the Plan for the period from December 31, 2009 to December 31, 2011 is summarized as follows:
As of December 31, 2011, after adjusting for estimated pre-vested forfeitures, there was approximately $1,074 of unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock options which is expected to be recognized monthly over the vesting period of the options. The Company intends to issue new shares to satisfy share option exercises.
Share-Based Compensation Payments
Total non-cash compensation expense related to the issuance of stock, warrants, and options was as follows:
9.COMMITMENTS & CONTINGENCIES
Bonuses
Several executive members of management have employment agreements which, among other provisions, provide for the payment of a bonus, as determined by the Board of Directors, in amounts ranging from 15% to 50% of the executive’s yearly compensation, to be paid in cash or stock at the Company’s sole discretion, if the Company has an increase in year over year revenues and the Executive performs his duties (i) within the time frame budgeted for such duties and (ii) at or below the cost budgeted for such duties.
Contingencies
From time to time, we may be involved in routine legal proceedings, as well as demands, claims and threatened litigation that arise in the normal course of our business. The ultimate amount of liability, if any, for any claims of any type (either alone or in the aggregate) may materially and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and liquidity. In addition, the ultimate outcome of any litigation is uncertain. Any outcome, whether favorable or unfavorable, may materially and adversely affect us due to legal costs and expenses, diversion of management attention and other factors. We expense legal costs in the period incurred. We cannot assure you that additional contingencies of a legal nature or contingencies having legal aspects will not be asserted against us in the future, and these matters could relate to prior, current or future transactions or events. Except as described below, we are not currently a party to any material litigation.
In January 2011, a lawsuit was filed against the Company by a former independent contractor who claims we owe him $16,250 for services rendered during 2008 and 2009. We contend that the independent contractor was paid in full for the services rendered and no additional funds are due to the former independent contractor. In February 2011 we filed a demurrer to the complaint and in June 2011 we filed a demurrer to the amended complaint. In February 2012, the courts granted our motion to strike the former independent contractor’s 2nd Amended Complaint as a result of his failing to timely amend after demurrer.
A lawsuit was filed against the Company in 2009 by a former consultant who claims we owe $23,912 plus interest and attorney fees for services rendered during 2009. During September 2011, a dismissal of the lawsuit was requested by the plaintiff and subsequently during October 2011 the lawsuit was dismissed by the court.
10.CONCENTRATIONS
The Company received approximately 50% of its revenues during 2011 from Aetrex and had receivables from Aetrex which totaled approximately 93% of net accounts receivable as of December 31, 2011 of which substantially all has been collected subsequent to year end.
11.SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In connection with the Company’s Equity Line, subsequent to December 31, 2011, three draws were submitted to Dutchess resulting in proceeds of approximately $152,000 and the sale of 2,115,497 shares of common stock at prices ranging from $0.07 to $0.075 per share.
In January 2012, 1,500 devices were shipped to Aetrex to fulfill the purchase order placed in December 2011. This allowed the Company to recognize approximately $157,000 of revenue.
During February 2012, 600,000 shares of common stock were issued to a total of four contractors and consultants as compensation for services rendered, the grant-date fair value of which was estimated at $42,000. Such shares are subject to restrictions upon transfer pursuant to Rule 144, as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.