S-1/A
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d95933a2sv1za.txt
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO FORM S-1
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 8, 2002
REGISTRATION NO. 333-86190
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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ASPENBIO, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
COLORADO 2835 84-1553387
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(State or other jurisdiction of Primary Standard (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Industrial Classification No. Identification Number)
8100 SOUTHPARK WAY, BUILDING B-1
LITTLETON, COLORADO 80120
(303) 794-2000
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
ROGER D. HURST
ASPENBIO, INC.
8100 SOUTHPARK WAY, BUILDING B-1
LITTLETON, COLORADO 80120
(303) 794-2000
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
of Agent for Service)
With a Copy To:
ROBERT M. BEARMAN, ESQ.
NADA WOLFF CULVER, ESQ.
PATTON BOGGS, LLP
1660 LINCOLN STREET, SUITE 1900
DENVER, COLORADO 80264
(303) 830-1776
Approximate Date of Commencement of As soon as practicable after this Registration
Proposed Sale to the Public: Statement becomes effective
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box: [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the
Securities Act Registration Statement number of the earlier effective
Registration Statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
Registration Statement number of the earlier effective Registration Statement
for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
Registration Statement number of the earlier effective Registration Statement
for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, check
the following box. [ ]
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THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED.
WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS
PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND WE ARE NOT
SOLICITING OFFERS TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER
OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
PROSPECTUS
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
DATED JULY 8, 2002
1,489,280 SHARES
ASPENBIO, INC.
COMMON STOCK
This is the first public offering of our securities. Common stock
available for sale as a result of this prospectus will be sold by currently
existing shareholders. The selling shareholders identified in this prospectus
may offer, from time to time, up to 1,489,280 shares of our common stock. The
selling shareholders may sell these shares from time to time directly to
purchasers or through agents, underwriters or dealers. We will not receive any
money from the sale of common stock as a result of this offering.
One of our shareholders, Cambridge Holdings, Ltd., intends to
distribute 500,000 shares of our common stock to Cambridge's shareholders as a
stock distribution. Gregory Pusey, an officer and director of the Company,
should receive approximately 263,975 shares of our common stock in the
distribution by Cambridge. The 263,975 shares may be resold by Mr. Pusey as a
selling shareholder and are included in the 1,489,280 shares that may be sold by
the selling shareholders.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common
stock. We expect to have the common stock traded on the OTC Bulletin Board,
which is maintained by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
after this registration statement is declared effective. The shares will be
priced based upon bid and ask quotations submitted by broker-dealers.
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BEFORE BUYING ANY SHARES YOU SHOULD READ THE DISCUSSION OF MATERIAL RISKS OF
INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK IN "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 2.
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NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this prospectus is ____________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY..................................................................................................1
RISK FACTORS........................................................................................................2
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS..........................................................................................7
USE OF PROCEEDS.....................................................................................................7
DIVIDEND POLICY.....................................................................................................8
CAPITALIZATION......................................................................................................8
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.............................................................................................9
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS..............................11
BUSINESS...........................................................................................................16
MANAGEMENT.........................................................................................................25
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS...............................................................27
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS.............................................................................................29
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION...............................................................................................31
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK.......................................................................................34
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE....................................................................................36
LEGAL MATTERS......................................................................................................37
EXPERTS............................................................................................................37
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION................................................................................37
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.....................................................................................F-1
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary highlights information contained in other parts
of this prospectus. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all the
information you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should
read the entire prospectus carefully including "Risk Factors."
ASPENBIO, INC.
AspenBio is a purifier of human and animal antigens. AspenBio was
founded to acquire the antigen business from Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. in August
2000 and to leverage that base of operations and technology to develop new
products with substantial market potential. Our management team had been
conducting this business at Vitro Diagnostics since 1990. Over thirty products
are currently being purified and sold. Many new products have been developed
since the acquisition.
Our strategy is to search for niches we can dominate with our
purification abilities. We are focusing on expanding our business into other
uses of purified proteins, principally for diagnosis and treatment of humans and
animals.
We expect to market a new antigen pregnancy test for dairy and cow/calf
operators. This bovine pregnancy test is designed to indicate pregnancy between
days 15 and 32 after artificial insemination. An additional bovine test for
pregnancy determination 35 days after artificial insemination should be
available in Fall, 2002. We believe that the test for initially determining
pregnancy has a large market potential, as the worldwide population of cows
exceeds 120,000,000, of which approximately 58,000,000 cows are located in North
America, Europe and the former Soviet Union. It has been estimated that
approximately 70% of cows in the North American and European dairy industry are
artificially inseminated. Although there are no published reports known to us
regarding timed or synchronized cow breeding programs, based on our discussions
with industry sources, we estimate that approximately 10% of the artificially
inseminated cows are involved in these programs and would represent our primary
target market for our bovine pregnancy test. We have received inquiries from six
large companies interested in distributing the product.
The next product we intend to bring to market is a recombinant form of
bovine/porcine insulin known as PZI. Our initial plan for this product is for
sales to feline owners under a compassionate drug exemption from the FDA. We
also expect to apply simultaneously to the FDA for full drug approval. We plan
to form an alliance with a larger medical company to fund this approval process.
Ultimately, we intend to seek approval from the FDA for use in humans.
One of our other projects includes purifying and culturing an antigen
known as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as part of National Cancer Institute
studies to develop a vaccine for colon cancer in conjunction with NIH funded
university research. We are also developing equine proteins to diagnose and
treat problems or potential enhancements in fertility, lactation, thyroid and
wounds in horses.
Our executive offices are located at 8100 Southpark Way, Building B-1,
Littleton, Colorado 80120. Our telephone number is (303) 794-2000. Our website
is located at www.aspenbioinc.com. We are not incorporating by reference in this
document any material from our website. The reference above to our website is an
inactive textual reference to the uniform resource locator (URL) and is for your
reference only.
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THE OFFERING
Common Stock offered by selling shareholders.............. 1,489,280 shares
Use of Proceeds........................................... We will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of the
shares of common stock by the
selling shareholders or from the
distribution by Cambridge of
shares of AspenBio to the
Cambridge shareholders
Proposed OTC Bulletin Board Symbol........................ ASPB
RISK FACTORS
An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You
should consider carefully the following factors and other information in this
prospectus before deciding to invest in shares of AspenBio common stock. If any
of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition,
results of operations and prospects for growth would likely suffer. As a result,
the trading price of AspenBio common stock, if any market develops, could
decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Prospective investors should consider carefully these factors
concerning our business before purchasing the shares offered by this prospectus.
We make various statements in this section which constitute "forward-looking
statements" under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. See
"Forward-Looking Statements."
OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON OUR ABILITY TO COMMERCIALIZE NEW PRODUCT OFFERINGS.
We are currently engaged in human diagnostic antigen manufacturing
operations. However, we believe the growth potential in this market is limited.
We are developing several other products which we believe have significantly
greater potential for higher revenues and increased profits. Our ability to
achieve these objectives is dependent on a number of factors, including our
ability to complete development efforts, including any necessary testing and
regulatory approvals, and successfully commercialize these products.
We have been able to operate without incurring substantial losses.
Through December 31, 2001 we had retained earnings of $37,952. However, during
the quarter ended March 31, 2002, primarily due to lower sales from our two
largest customers and increased research and development expenses, we incurred a
net loss of $164,000. Although our financial statements for the quarter ended
June 30, 2002 have not been finalized, we expect that our loss for that quarter
was approximately $30,000 less than the loss incurred in the quarter ended March
31, 2002. Our ability to resume profitable operations will depend upon our
ability to quickly commercialize new product offerings.
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In order to achieve our business objectives, we will need to
manufacture these products (or arrange for manufacture) in commercial quantities
at a reasonable cost acceptable in the marketplace. Because of our limited
manufacturing experience, outside the antigen business, and the lack of a
marketing organization, we are likely to rely on other parties to perform one or
more tasks for the commercialization of our proposed products. We may incur
additional costs and delays while working with these parties, and these parties
may ultimately be unsuccessful in the manufacture or distribution of our
products.
WE ARE BUILDING A NEW FACILITY AND OUR COSTS MAY BE GREATER THAN ESTIMATED.
We believe that the current facility used by us will not be sufficient
to accommodate our growth. On July 5, 2002, we completed the purchase of land
for purposes of having a new facility constructed in Castle Rock, Colorado. We
estimate that the total cost for the purchase of the land and construction of
the building will be approximately $3,627,000. We borrowed $3,250,000 from a
bank in a construction loan and $625,000 from our president, Roger Hurst. The
bank required that we also pledge $350,000 of available funds and obtain a
guaranty for an additional $200,000. We obtained the $350,000 pledged to the
bank as part of a $500,000 loan from a shareholder, Michael Smith, and we
obtained the $200,000 guaranty from Cambridge. We believe that the funds
obtained from the bank, together with the additional funding, will be sufficient
to complete construction and furnish our new facility. However, cost overruns
may occur and there may be unforeseen developments in connection with the
construction of the building. The construction loan is due July 1, 2003. We
expect to obtain permanent financing to replace the construction loan. Any
additional costs or material delays in the project or in obtaining permanent
financing, could have an adverse impact on our business and financial condition.
WE RECENTLY ISSUED SECURITIES WHICH MAY NOT QUALIFY FOR THE PRIVATE OFFERING
EXEMPTION.
On July 5, 2002, we made a convertible promissory note to a shareholder
in connection with a $500,000 loan from him. Of the $500,000, $350,000 was used
to establish an account at the bank providing our construction loan to be used
as a pledge for repayment of the construction loan. The balance of $150,000 may
be used by us for general corporate purposes. The note is convertible at the
shareholder's option into our common stock at $1.50 per share at any time prior
to March 31, 2002. We also issued to the shareholder warrants to purchase up to
275,000 shares of our common stock at $1.50 per share during a three-year
period. We also obtained a $200,000 guaranty from Cambridge, and we issued to
Cambridge a warrant to purchase up to 100,000 shares of our common stock at
$1.50 per share for three-year period. The notes and warrants issued in these
transactions are securities and are required to be registered unless an
exemption is available. We relied on the private offering exemption from
registration in making these issuances. The persons to whom we issued these
securities are sophisticated, experienced investors who were shareholders of the
Company prior to these transactions and knowledgeable about the Company's
business, financial condition and the risks of investing in the Company's
securities. These transactions were made during the pendency of the processing
of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Under certain
circumstances, the SEC has determined that separate offerings should be
integrated which has the effect of destroying the private offering exemption. We
do not believe that these transactions by the Company should be integrated with
the sale of the Company's shares by the selling shareholders pursuant to this
prospectus. Nonetheless, the SEC may take the position that the offering should
be integrated and could challenge the availability of the private offering
exemption to us. In that event, we could be subject to enforcement proceedings
brought by the SEC and subject to injunctive or other relief, and could be
subject to possible civil action by the two purchasers of these securities. It
is also possible that the SEC could require the Company to make a rescission
offer through a registration statement to the purchasers of the securities. Any
such developments could be expensive and could harm our reputation and result in
an adverse impact on our business and financial condition.
OUR SUCCESS WILL DEPEND IN PART ON ESTABLISHING EFFECTIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
AND BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS.
A key aspect of our business strategy is to establish strategic
partnerships. We currently have license arrangements with the University of
Idaho and the University of Wyoming. It is likely that we will seek other
strategic alliances. We also intend to rely heavily on companies with greater
capital resources and marketing expertise to market some of our products. While
we have identified certain candidates, we may not reach definitive agreements
with any of them. Even if we enter into these arrangements, we may not be able
to maintain these collaborations or establish new collaborations in the future
on acceptable terms. Furthermore, these arrangements may require us to grant
certain rights to third parties, including exclusive marketing rights to one or
more products, or may have other terms that are burdensome to us, and may
involve the acquisition of our securities. Our partners may decide to develop
alternative technologies either on their own or in collaboration with others. If
any of our partners terminate their relationship with us or fail to perform
their obligations in a timely manner, the development or commercialization of
our technology in potential products may be substantially delayed.
WE HAVE LIMITED MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE, AND WE MAY EXPERIENCE MANUFACTURING
PROBLEMS THAT LIMIT THE GROWTH OF OUR REVENUE.
We purify human and animal antigens and tumor markers. In 2002, our
revenues from these sales were approximately $1.1 million. We intend to
introduce new products with substantially greater revenue potential. We may seek
to manufacture these products in-house or through contractual arrangements with
third parties. In either event, we may not be able to produce sufficient
quantities at an acceptable cost. In addition, we may encounter difficulties in
production due to, among other things, quality control, quality assurance and
component supply. These difficulties could reduce sales of our products,
increase our costs, or cause production delays, all of which could damage our
reputation and hurt our profitability. To the extent that we enter into
manufacturing arrangements with third parties, we will depend on them to perform
their obligations in a timely manner and in accordance with applicable
government regulations.
OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
RIGHTS.
Our success will partially depend on our ability to obtain and enforce
patents relating to our technology and to protect our trade secrets. We may not
receive any patents. In addition, third parties may challenge, narrow,
invalidate or circumvent our patents. The patent position of biotechnology
companies is generally highly uncertain, involves complex legal and factual
questions and has recently been the subject of much litigation. Neither the U.S.
Patent Office nor the courts have a consistent policy
-3-
regarding breadth of claims allowed or the degree of protection afforded under
many biotechnology patents.
In an effort to protect our unpatented proprietary technology,
processes and know-how, we require our employees and consultants to execute
confidentiality agreements. However, these agreements may not provide us with
adequate protection against improper use or disclosure of confidential
information. These agreements may be breached, and we may not have adequate
remedies for any such breach. In addition, in some situations, these agreements
may conflict, or be subject to, the rights of third parties with whom our
employees or consultants have previous employment or consulting relationships.
Also, others may independently develop substantial proprietary information and
techniques or otherwise gain access to our trade secrets. We intend to market
our products in many different countries some of which we will not have patents
in or applied for. Different countries have different patent rules and we may
sell in countries that do not honor patents and in which the risk that our
products could be copied and we would not be protected would be greater.
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO RETAIN KEY EMPLOYEES OR RECRUIT ADDITIONAL QUALIFIED
PERSONNEL.
Because of the specialized scientific nature of our business, we are
highly dependent upon qualified scientific, technical, and managerial personnel.
There is intense competition for qualified personnel in our business. Therefore,
we may not be able to attract and retain the qualified personnel necessary for
the development of our business. A loss of the services of existing personnel,
as well as the failure to recruit additional key scientific, technical and
managerial personnel in a timely manner would harm our development programs and
our business.
Roger Hurst has been our Chief Executive Officer since our inception.
We rely on him for his leadership and business direction. We do not have an
employment agreement with Mr. Hurst. The loss of his services could
significantly delay or prevent the achievement of our business objectives. Mr.
Hurst is our largest shareholder.
OUR COMPETITORS MAY HAVE GREATER RESOURCES OR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
CAPABILITIES THAN WE HAVE, AND WE MAY NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO
SUCCESSFULLY COMPETE WITH THEM.
Our business strategy has been to create a niche in the protein
purification area. We are aware of only one competitor in this area, Dr. Albert
Parlow, a UCLA professor. We believe that we have displaced Dr. Parlow as the
largest supplier of human antigens. However, we plan to expand our operations
into other areas as described in the "Business" section. The biotechnology
business is highly competitive, and we may face increasing competition. We
expect that many of our competitors will have greater financial and human
resources and more experience in research and development and more established
sales, marketing and distribution capabilities than we have. In addition, the
healthcare industry is characterized by rapid technological change. New product
introductions or other technological advancements could make some or all of our
products obsolete.
OUR COMMON STOCK WILL LIKELY BE CLASSIFIED AS A "PENNY STOCK" UNDER SEC RULES
AND THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAY BE HIGHLY UNSTABLE.
-4-
No public trading market exists for our common stock. We expect to have
our common stock traded on the OTC Bulletin Board, but we cannot predict the
market price of our common stock, when any trading may commence, or whether you
will be able to sell your shares quickly or at an acceptable price if trading in
our stock is not active. Based on recent private transactions, we do not expect
that the common stock will trade at $5 or more per share. Because our stock will
not be traded on a stock exchange or on the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq
Small Cap Market, if the market price of the common stock is less than $5 per
share, the common stock will be classified as a "penny stock." SEC Rule 15g-9
under the Exchange Act imposes additional sales practice requirements on
broker-dealers that recommend the purchase or sale of penny stocks to persons
other than those who qualify as an "established customer" or an "accredited
investor." This includes the requirement that a broker-dealer must make a
determination that investments in penny stock are suitable for the customer and
must make special disclosures to the customers concerning the risk of penny
stocks. Many broker-dealers decline to participate in penny stock transactions
because of the extra requirements imposed on penny stock transactions.
Application of the penny stock rules to our common stock could adversely affect
the market liquidity of the shares, which in turn may affect the ability of
holders of our common stock to resell the shares they purchase in this offering,
and they may not be able to resell at prices at or above the prices they paid.
A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OUR SHARES ARE OR WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE,
WHICH MAY CAUSE THE PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK TO DECLINE.
As of July 5, 2002, 9,300,000 shares of our common stock, 600,000
options and 1,205,000 warrants were outstanding. Of the 9,300,000 shares of our
common stock, 1,489,280 shares are being offered pursuant to this prospectus,
including approximately 263,975 shares to be received by Gregory Pusey and
members of his family in connection with the distribution by Cambridge to the
Cambridge shareholders. Mr. Pusey and members of his family may resell the
263,975 shares held by them immediately pursuant to this prospectus. Mr. Pusey
and members of his family own an additional 80,000 shares, which are also
registered for sale pursuant to this prospectus. Cambridge currently owns
1,000,000 shares of which it intends to distribute 500,000 shares to its
shareholders, including the 263,975 shares to be received by Mr. Pusey and
members of his family. The 500,000 shares to be retained by Cambridge may be
resold pursuant to Rule 144 commencing in December 2002. Our president, Roger
Hurst, owns 4,246,757 shares, which are restricted from resale because of Mr.
Hurst's affiliate status. The remaining 2,827,938 outstanding shares could be
available for sale under Rule 144, beginning 90 days after the date of this
prospectus. We have granted options to purchase up to 600,000 shares of our
common stock, of which options to purchase 200,000 shares are exercisable
currently. The options to purchase 400,000 shares are held by two employees
(200,000 shares each) and vest in one-third annual installments, commencing
April 3, 2003. The holding period for Rule 144 purposes would begin upon
exercise of the respective options. We also have issued warrants to purchase
1,205,000 shares which are currently exercisable and a $500,000 convertible
note, which may be converted at any time prior to repayment. We have granted
registration rights to the holders of the warrants and the convertible note
beginning September 30, 2002. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our
common stock in the public market or the exercise of a substantial number of
options or warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, or the perception
that such sales or exercises might occur, could cause the market price of our
common stock to decline. All of the shares offered for sale by the selling
shareholders under this prospectus will be freely tradable as will be the shares
distributed by Cambridge including the shares distributed to Gregory Pusey, who
is also a director of AspenBio.
-5-
BECAUSE ONE OF OUR SHAREHOLDERS OWNS MORE THAN 45% OF OUR COMMON STOCK, HE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF ALL MATTERS SUBMITTED TO OUR
SHAREHOLDERS FOR APPROVAL, REGARDLESS OF THE PREFERENCES OF THE MINORITY
SHAREHOLDERS.
Roger D. Hurst currently owns 45.7% of our outstanding common stock.
Accordingly, it is expected that he will have the ability to control all matters
affecting AspenBio, including the composition of our board of directors, any
determinations with respect to mergers, or other business combinations, our
acquisition or disposition of assets and our financings. In addition, Mr. Hurst
should be able to prevent or cause a change in control of our company and may be
able to amend our articles of incorporation and bylaws without the approval of
any other shareholder. His interests may conflict with the interests of our
other shareholders.
WE DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE INSURANCE THAT COVERS PRODUCT LIABILITY.
Our insurance policies do not currently cover claims and liability
arising out of defective products. As a result, if a claim is brought against
us, we would not have any insurance that would apply and would have to pay any
costs directly. Because our products have only been used as part of diagnostic
test kits, we did not believe that this insurance would be necessary. However,
as we expand into other products, the risk of claims will increase and we will
need to evaluate the need to obtain insurance.
IF WE FAIL TO OBTAIN FDA APPROVAL, WE CANNOT MARKET CERTAIN PRODUCTS IN THE
UNITED STATES.
Therapeutic products to be used by humans must be approved by the FDA
prior to marketing and sale. This would apply to our plan to market PZI to human
diabetics. In order to obtain approval, we must complete extensive clinical
trials and comply with numerous standards; this process can take substantial
amounts of time to complete. Even if we complete the trials, FDA approval is not
guaranteed. FDA approval can be suspended or revoked, or we could be fined,
based on a failure to continue to comply with those standards.
FDA approval is also required for therapeutic products that will be
used on animals prior to marketing and sale, and can also require considerable
time to complete. New drugs for companion animals must receive New Animal Drug
Application approval. This type of approval would be required for the use of PZI
for treatment of feline diabetes and for our therapeutic equine protein
products. The requirements for obtaining FDA approval are similar to those for
human drugs described above and may require similar clinical testing. Approval
is not assured and, once FDA approval is obtained, we would still be subject to
fines and suspension or revocation of approval if we fail to comply with FDA
requirements. We plan to file a compassionate drug exemption application for the
use of PZI, so that we can manufacture and use PZI while the FDA is conducting
the more comprehensive review. However, the interim approval is also not
guaranteed and could delay marketing of PZI until the New Animal Drug
Application is approved.
IF WE FAIL TO OBTAIN REGULATORY APPROVAL IN FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS, THEN WE
CANNOT MARKET OUR PRODUCTS IN THOSE JURISDICTIONS.
-6-
We plan to market some of our products in foreign jurisdictions.
Specifically, we plan to aggressively market the bovine pregnancy test in
foreign jurisdictions and may market our therapeutic products to foreign
jurisdictions, as well. We may need to obtain regulatory approval from the
European Union or other jurisdictions to do so and obtaining approval in one
jurisdiction does not necessarily guarantee approval in another. We may be
required to conduct additional testing or provide additional information,
resulting in additional expenses, to obtain necessary approvals.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with
the SEC. You should read both this prospectus and any supplement
together with additional information described under
"Where You Can Find More Information."
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY
SUPPLEMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENTS TO WHICH WE HAVE REFERRED YOU. WE HAVE NOT
AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT. THIS
PROSPECTUS MAY ONLY BE USED WHERE IT IS LEGAL TO SELL THESE SECURITIES.
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY SUPPLEMENT MAY ONLY BE ACCURATE AS
OF THE DATE OF THE FRONT OF SUCH DOCUMENTS.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Various statements that we make in this prospectus under the captions
of "Prospectus Summary," "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operation," "Business" and elsewhere in
this prospectus are "forward-looking statements". These forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that
can cause the actual results, performance or activities of our business, or
industry results, to be materially different from any future results,
performance or activities expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements. These factors include: general economic and business conditions, our
financial condition, competition, our dependence on other companies to
commercialize, manufacture and sell products using our technologies, the
uncertainty of results of animal and human testing, the risk of product
liability, our dependence on patents and other proprietary rights, dependence on
key management, the availability and cost of capital, the availability of
qualified personnel, changes in, or the failure to comply with, governmental
regulations, failure to obtain regulatory approvals for our products and other
factors discussed in this prospectus.
Many of these factors are beyond our control. We caution potential
investors that any forward-looking statements made by us are not guarantees of
future performance. We disclaim any obligation to update any such factors or to
announce publicly the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking
statements to reflect future events or developments.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of
common stock offered by the prospectus. Any proceeds from the sale of the shares
offered pursuant to this prospectus will be received by the selling
shareholders.
-7-
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have never paid a cash dividend on our common stock, and we do not
intend to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Instead, we currently
plan to retain all earnings, if any, for use in the operation of our business
and to fund future growth.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our actual capitalization as of March
31, 2002. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common
stock held by the selling shareholders; thus, no pro forma information has been
provided for such sale by the selling shareholders.
This table should be read in conjunction with the "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
the financial statements in the accompanying notes and other financial
information in this prospectus.
March 31, 2002
--------------
Liabilities:
Current liabilities ............................................... $ 176,503
Long-term debt .................................................... 327,435
----------
Total liabilities ............................................... 503,938
----------
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock, 15,000,000 shares authorized: 9,300,000 issued ..... 1,517,921
Retained earnings (deficit) ....................................... 126,182
----------
Total shareholders' equity ...................................... 1,391,746
----------
Total capitalization ............................................ $1,895,684
==========
The common stock data excludes common stock reserved for issuance under
our outstanding stock options, warrants and a convertible promissory note. As of
July 5, 2002, there were outstanding: (i) options to purchase 200,000 shares at
an exercise price of $1.00 per share, (ii) options to purchase 400,000 shares at
an exercise price of $1.25 per share, and (iii) warrants to purchase 830,000
shares at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, (iv) warrants to purchase
375,000 shares at an exercise price of $1.50 per share and (v) a convertible
promissory note for $500,000 convertible at $1.50 per share.
-8-
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected data presented below for the year ended December 31, 2001 and for
the period from inception to December 31, 2000, have been derived from financial
statements of the Company, which financial statements have been audited by
independent accountants. The selected data presented below for the predecessor
company, Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. as of and for the years ended October 31, 2000,
1999, 1998 and 1997, has been derived from financial statements audited by
independent accountants. This information should be read in conjunction with the
"Financial Statements" and "Management's Discussion And Analysis Of Financial
Condition And Results Of Operations" included elsewhere in this prospectus. The
selected financial date provided below are not necessarily indicative of the
future results of operations or financial performance of the Company.
|
| Vitro Diagnostics, Inc.
AspenBio, Inc | (Predecessor Financial Statements)
-------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------
Year ended Inception to | Nine Months Years ended October 31,
December 31, December 31, | ended July 31, ------------------------------------------
2001 2000 | 2000 1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ | ------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
|
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA |
Revenues $ 1,123,269 $ 288,910 | $ 821,564 $ 835,452 $ 1,232,244 $ 650,846
Gross profit 962,109 220,674 | 474,960 546,887 769,425 391,510
Selling, general and administrative 494,680 181,116 | 388,342 350,119 295,029 417,814
Research and development 160,943 28,101 | 355,312 276,484 52,209 81,579
Depreciation and amortization 109,488 45,025 | 14,346 13,763 14,897 15,245
Net income (loss) $ 101,184 $ (63,232) | $ (268,694) $ (140,803) $ 374,487 $ (144,445)
|
Net income (loss) per share $ 0.01 $ (0.01) | (1) (1) (1) (1)
|
BALANCE SHEET DATA |
Working capital $ 685,032 $ 143,623 | $ 413,596 $ 678,029 $ 367,550 $ 11,945
Property and equipment, net 202,018 228,601 | 54,212 31,076 26,886 27,990
Intangible assets, net 619,965 624,978 | 143,539 103,335 54,725 --
Total assets 1,984,237 1,280,998 | 758,666 936,393 764,670 496,670
Long term debt 290,921 586,859 | 122,578 105,432 -- --
Stockholders' equity 1,255,879 436,768 | 488,769 770,465 507,968 133,481
|
OPERATING AND OTHER DATA |
Cash flow from operations $ (111,420) $ 86,062 | $ (31,230) $ (241,760) $ 64,389 $ (46,079)
Cash flow from investments (71,600) (250,000) | (67,050) (73,065) (68,518) (10,619)
Cash flow from financing 499,195 271,528 | 60,506 363,364 7,635 26,598
(1) Not comparable to continuing results.
-9-
Selected unaudited financial data for the quarters ended March 31, 2002 and 2001
is presented in the following table.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
AspenBio, Inc
---------------------------------
Quarter ended Quarter ended
March 31, March 31,
2002 2001
------------- -------------
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA
Revenues $ 109,670 $ 234,506
Gross profit 87,214 180,799
Selling, general and administrative 98,272 254,517
Research and development 138,546 42,570
Depreciation and amortization 11,464 15,672
Net income (loss) $ (164,133) $ (151,472)
Net income (loss) per share $ (0.02) $ (0.02)
BALANCE SHEET DATA
Working capital $ 752,742 $ 136,100
Property and equipment, net 190,532 221,240
Intangible assets, net 646,694 621,438
Total assets 1,895,684 1,206,915
Long term debt 327,435 582,852
Stockholders' equity 1,391,746 422,351
OPERATING AND OTHER DATA
Cash flow from operations $ (93,335) $ (30,612)
Cash flow from investments (26,729) --
Cash flow from financing (6,336) (19,078)
-10-
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
BACKGROUND
Under an agreement dated August 7, 2000, and effective for accounting
purposes as of July 31, 2000, we acquired all of the diagnostic assets and
operations of Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. Our President and principal shareholder is
a former officer and continuing shareholder of Vitro. We paid $700,000 for these
assets, of which $250,000 was paid in cash and $450,000 was paid pursuant to a
promissory note. We paid the note to Vitro Diagnostics in full in 2000. We also
assumed the liabilities of Vitro Diagnostics associated with the diagnostic
operations.
Our operations focus 1) on the purification and sale of human antigens
and 2) on the development of new products and processes using proprietary
techniques and expertise that we have developed. The antigens sold are used as
raw materials for the diagnostic testing industry. We sell the antigens to a
number of customers for use in diagnostics kits, standards and controls,
antibody production and research. We sell to approximately 150 customers through
our own marketing efforts, independent brokers and distributors. While our
customer base is quite broad, generally a limited number of customers comprise a
significant portion of our total annual sales. Our research and development
activities are primarily performed internally on new product technology secured
through our relationships with various universities, or opportunities derived
from the marketplace.
We were formed to consummate the Vitro Diagnostics acquisition. The
acquisition has been accounted for under the purchase method of accounting,
whereby the results of the acquired operations are included in our financial
statements from the date of acquisition forward. In order to provide a
meaningful comparison, the following table for comparison purposes only, sets
forth on a pro forma basis for the year ended December 31, 2000, the amounts and
percentages of selected items of revenue and expense, as though the acquisition
of Vitro Diagnostics had been consummated as of the beginning of the year ended
December 31, 2000. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative if the
results that would have occurred had the acquisition occurred as of January 1,
2000.
Actual for year ended Proforma for year ended
December 31, 2001 December 31, 2000
--------------------------- -------------------------
Amount % Amount %
---------- ----- -------- -----
Sales $1,123,269 100.0% $995,000 100.0%
Cost of sales 161,160 14.4% 163,000 16.4%
Gross profit 962,109 85.8% 832,000 83.6%
Operating expenses 604,168 53.9% 564,000 56.7%
Research and development 160,943 14.4% 191,000 19.2%
Operating income (loss) 196,998 17.6% 77,000 7.7%
-11-
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Quarter Ended March 31, 2002 Compared to Quarter Ended March 31, 2001
Sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 totaled $109,670, which is a
$124,836 or 47% decrease from the quarter ended March 31, 2001. The decrease in
sales is attributable to the lack of production billed from our two largest
customers, BioRad and Golden West Biologics. It is not unusual for the builds of
these customers to occur twice per year, sometimes both within one quarter.
However, we cannot currently predict future sales volumes that could be expected
from these or other customers.
Costs of sales for the first quarter 2002 totaled $22,456, a $31,252 or
42% decrease as compared to the 2001 quarter. The reduction in cost of sales
resulted from lower sales. Gross profit percentage improved to 80% in the first
quarter of 2002, as compared to 77% in the first quarter of 2001.
Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2002 totaled $248,282, which
is a $64,477 or 20% decrease as compared to the first quarter of 2001. The
decrease was primarily attributed to issuing stock for services to employees of
$137,055 in the first quarter of 2001. The decrease in operating expenses was
offset by an increase in research and development expenses. Research and
development expenses in the first quarter of 2002 totaled $138,546, which is a
$95,977 or 40% increase as compared to the first quarter of 2001. The increase
in research and development expenses resulted primarily from the development of
the bovine pregnancy tests. Depending upon available cash, we expect research
and development expenses to continue to increase in 2002 as compared to 2001.
Interest expense for the first quarter of 2002 declined $5,447 or 18%
as compared to first quarter 2001.
We have an income tax benefit associated with the net loss for the
first quarter 2002 (should it continue through December 31, 2002) that may
be carried back to the year ended December 31, 2001. Thus, the entire amount of
accrued income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2001 ($11,000) may be
refunded.
Operating Activities
Net cash outflows from operating activities consumed $93,335 during the
first quarter ended March 31, 2002, as compared to consuming $30,612 in the
first quarter of 2001. Expenditures associated with the development of the
bovine pregnancy test and reduced product sales were the reasons for increased
cash outflow.
Investing Activities
Net cash outflows from investing activities consumed $26,729 during the
first quarter of 2002. The outflow was entirely attributed to payments for
licenses. There were no investing activities during the quarter ended March 31,
2001.
Financing Activities
Net cash outflows from financing activities consumed $6,336 during the
first quarter of 2002, as compared to consuming $19,078 in the first quarter of
2001. During the first quarter of 2002, the Company received $300,000 in
connection with the completion of sale of securities to Cambridge. Also, during
the first quarter of 2002, we paid $185,237 to reduce debt to our president and
$31,671 to reduce
-12-
the amount owed on our line of credit. The net outflows for the quarter ended
March 31, 2001 were entirely due to payments of debt.
Year Ended December 31, 2001 Compared to 2000 Pro Forma
Sales for the year ended December 31, 2001 totaled $1,123,000, which is
a $128,000 or 13% increase over the 2000 pro forma amount. The majority of the
increase is attributed to a general increase in sales to existing and new
customers, combined with the fact that during the 2000 pro forma period,
management's attention was split between completing the acquisition transaction
and securing sales. We added 50 new customers in 2001 which accounted for
$63,495 of the $128,000 increase over the 2000 pro forma amount. Cost of sales
in 2001 totaled $161,160; a $2,000 or 1% decrease as compared to the 2000 pro
forma amount. The reduction in cost of sales resulted from lower costs of raw
materials and supplies inventory. Gross profit percentage improved to 85.8% in
2001, as compared to 83.6% in the 2000 pro forma period. The improvement
resulted from tighter cost controls combined with a higher sales level spread
over certain fixed costs.
Operating expenses in 2001 totaled $604,168, which is a $40,000 or 7%
increase as compared to the 2000 pro forma amount. The increase in operating
expenses related to the fact that while sales volume increased and the general
level of costs increased, management implemented tighter expense controls
following the acquisition, which offset the impact of certain higher expenses.
Research and development expenses in 2001 totaled $160,963, a $30,000 or 16%
decrease as compared to the 2000 pro forma amount. The reduction in research and
development expenses resulted primarily from tighter expense controls following
the acquisition.
Operating income increased to $196,998, a $120,000 or 156% increase
over the 2000 pro forma amount. The improvement resulted from a combination of
higher sales levels and tighter expense controls, as discussed above.
Interest expense has remained generally consistent on an annualized
basis between the periods.
Income taxes have not been a significant item in our income statement
due to the low level of income combined with our S-Corporation status which was
effective through July 31, 2001. We have not had any significant deferred tax
differences between the financial reporting and income tax basis of assets and
liabilities. The future amortization for income tax purposes of the cost in
excess of value of purchased assets that arose from the Vitro acquisition will
begin to generate a deferred tax difference, since as of January 1, 2002, such
"goodwill" will no longer be amortized for financial reporting purposes, but
will be evaluated for impairment.
Operating Activities
Net cash outflows from operating activities consumed approximately
$111,000 during the year ended December 31, 2001, as compared to providing
$86,100 in the 2000 short period, a reduction of $197,100. Net income
improvement contributed $164,000 to the difference, in addition to the $137,000
non-cash expense in 2001 related to the charge for stock issued to employees for
compensation. This was offset by an approximate $557,000 increase in the cash
required to fund working capital items in 2001 as
-13-
compared to the 2000 short period amount. The continued investment in working
capital relates principally to continued increases in accounts receivable and
inventories to support continued and anticipated growth.
Investing Activities
Net cash outflows from investing activities consumed approximately
$72,000 during the year ended December 31, 2001, primarily for acquisitions of
long-lived assets. During the 2000 short period, approximately $250,000 was
consumed primarily in the acquisition of the assets of Vitro.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities contributed $499,000 in the
year ended December 31, 2001, while during the 2000 short period $272,000 was
contributed. During 2001 $581,000 in cash was generated through the sales of
common stock for cash, while $82,000 was used for debt reduction. During the
2000 short period, borrowings generated $794,000, in addition to $500,000 from
the sale of common stock, net of $1,022,000, which was used for debt reduction.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has recently issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 141, Business
Combinations, SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, SFAS No. 143,
Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations and SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.
SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations, requires the use of the purchase
method of accounting for all business combinations initiated after June 30,
2001. SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, addresses accounting
for the acquisition of intangible assets and accounting for goodwill and other
intangible assets after they have been initially recognized in the financial
statements, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2001; however, certain provisions of this Statement apply to goodwill and other
intangible assets acquired between July 1, 2001 and the effective date of SFAS
142.
Major provisions of these Statements and their effective dates for us
are as follows:
o All business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 must
use the purchase method of accounting, with the pooling of
interest method of accounting prohibited.
o Intangible assets acquired in a business combination must be
recorded separately from goodwill if they arise from
contractual or other legal rights or are separable from the
acquired entity.
o Goodwill, as well as intangible assets with indefinite lives,
acquired after June 30, 2001, will not be amortized. In the
year of adoption, all previously recognized goodwill and
intangible assets with indefinite lives will no longer be
subject to amortization.
o Goodwill, tested by business segment and intangible assets
with indefinite lives will be tested for impairment annually
and whenever there is an impairment indicator.
-14-
Management will adopt SFAS No. 141 and 142 as of January 1, 2002, and
anticipates that the impact on the 2002 financial statements will be a reduction
in annual amortization expense of approximately $28,000.
SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, addresses
accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement of
tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement costs. SFAS No.
143 will be effective for us for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2003 and
early adoption is encouraged. SFAS No. 143 requires that the fair value of a
liability for an asset's retirement obligation be recorded in the period in
which it is incurred and the corresponding cost capitalized by increasing the
carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. We estimate that the new
standard will not have a material impact on our financial statements but we are
in the process of evaluating this impact.
SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets, is effective for us on January 1, 2003, and addresses accounting and
reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. SFAS No. 144
supersedes SFAS No. 121, Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and
for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of and APB Opinion No. 30, Reporting the
Results of Operations-Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a
Business. SFAS No. 144 retains the fundamental provisions of SFAS No. 121 and
expands the reporting of discontinued operations to include all components of an
entity with operations that can be distinguished from the rest of the entity and
that will be eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity in a disposal
transaction. We estimate that the new standard will not have a material impact
on our financial statements but we are in the process of evaluating this impact.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The acquisition of Vitro effective as of July 31, 2000, was primarily
financed through debt and equity provided to us by our President and principal
shareholder, Roger Hurst. In August 2000 we made a note to Mr. Hurst for
$400,000 payable with interest at 8% per annum. We repaid $192,000 in January
2002 and expect to repay an additional $30,000 later in 2002. At our request,
the Note has been amended to provide for annual installments of principal and
interest of $50,000 on April 2003 and 2004, with final payment of all principal
and interest in April 2005. We may prepay the note without penalty.
Working capital as of March, 2002 totaled $753,000, an increase of
$117,000 over the comparable working capital amount as of December 31, 2001. The
increase was primarily attributable to the $300,000 balance due from Cambridge
received in March 2002 under the stock purchase agreement with Cambridge made in
December 2001.
During 2002-2003 cash requirements are anticipated to consist of
payments under existing debt obligations including the construction loan
agreement we entered into on July 5, 2002 for our new facility. The construction
loan is due on July 5, 2003 and, based on our discussions with the lender, we
expect to be able to convert the construction loan to a permanent loan for
occupancy of the building. Interest will accrue on the construction loan at
approximately 6% per annum and is payable monthly.
-15-
In order to facilitate the purchase of the land and construction of the new
facility, Mr. Hurst has loaned to us $625,000 and we have made a promissory note
to Mr. Hurst in that amount which is payable, with interest at 8% per annum on
May 5, 2004. We may prepay the Note at any time without penalty. We also have a
$50,000 line of credit with a bank, of which $37,300 was outstanding as of March
31, 2002.
We also borrowed $500,000 from a shareholder, of which $150,000 may be
used by us for general corporate purposes. The balance of $350,000 has been
placed in an account with, and pledged to, the bank which is our construction
lender. We made a convertible promissory note to the shareholder for $500,000,
plus interest at 6% payable on March 31, 2003 and issued to him warrants to
purchase up to 275,000 shares of our common stock. Our construction lender also
required a guarantee of $200,000 of the construction loan which we obtained from
Cambridge. We issued Cambridge warrants to purchase up to 100,000 shares of our
common stock in exchange for the guaranty and made a promissory note to cover
any funds used by Cambridge in connection with the guaranty.
In connection with an equipment lease, we issued a note payable to
Colorado Business Leasing, of which $151,000 was outstanding at March 31, 2002.
The note is payable with interest at 11% per annum, in monthly installments of
$9,053, and matures on October 1, 2003.
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS
AspenBio is a purifier of human and animal antigens. AspenBio was
founded to acquire the antigen business from Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. in August
2000 and to leverage that base of operations and technology to develop new
products with substantial market potential. Our management team had been
conducting this business at Vitro Diagnostics since 1990. Many new products have
been developed since the acquisition.
Our human diagnostic antigen division is currently our core business
and, taking into account the operations while this division was part of Vitro
Diagnostics, this part of our business has been in operation since 1990. We have
continued to expand this part of our business since it became part of AspenBio.
We manufacture over thirty products. Our products are used as standards and
controls in diagnostic test kits, antibody purification and in research
projects.
In the human body, antigens trigger formation of antibodies, which can
fight disease or provide immunity. Diagnostic test kits detect and measure the
presence of different substances in patients' bodily fluids or tissues. The
purified proteins we provide are used as controls in these test kits, so that
the medical personnel using the test kit can confirm that the test is
functioning properly. While the test kit is measuring the presence or levels of
certain antigens in patients' fluids or tissues, our purified protein provides a
known presence of the antigen. If the test kit registers the presence of the
antigen we provide, then the medical personnel know that the test kit is
functioning properly.
-16-
We are developing products using purified proteins for diagnosis and
treatment of animals. We can generate proteins that will react to the presence
of certain substances in animals' bodily fluid and tissues, in the same way that
our human antigens would react.
Our strategy is to search for niches that we can dominate with our
purification abilities. We are focusing on expanding our business into other
uses of purified proteins, principally for diagnosis and treatment of humans and
animals. An important factor in the diagnostics business is the vastly reduced
times required from product conception to saleable product as compared to
therapeutic products which often require many years to market, as they require
FDA approval.
The first new product expected to come to market is an antigen
pregnancy test for dairy and cow/calf operators designed to indicate if a cow is
pregnant between days 15 and 32 after artificial insemination (AI). Management
believes this test has large market potential because of the large number of
cows that are in AI programs. Also, the first attempt at AI is often
unsuccessful and cows in breeding programs are often inseminated more than once.
Accordingly, our test would then be used more than once for each cow.
Pregnancy status is currently determined using several methods, each of
which has substantial disadvantages to the dairy producer and cow/calf operator.
The commonly used technique is to watch for standing heat. This method is often
unreliable. Many cows do not show signs of standing heat, or the standing heat
is not easily observed. Even in cows that show signs of heat, this method
requires observation time, experience and knowledge to make a diagnosis. Because
this method is so subjective, it is often unreliable. Moreover, this method
requires the operator to wait until day 22-25 after AI. Re-insemination to
syncronize within the 21-day cycle would be useless without knowing the
pregnancy status before day 21 and this method is ineffective prior to day 22.
Ultrasound is often used to determine pregnancy, but it is only viable at about
the 28th day following AI. In addition, ultrasound requires expense equipment
and a trained technician. Palpation is a technique used by veterinarians and
involves reaching inside the cow and feeling for a marble-sized fetus indicating
pregnancy. This technique is not possible during the first 21-day cycle, is
labor intensive and intrusive to the cows, subjective, and may cause abortion.
The advantage of using our 15-32 day test is it enables the breeder to
potentially re-inseminate a cow within the same cycle as the first insemination.
The benefits to the breeder are reduced feeding, quicker generation of calves,
greater milk production for dairies and greater return on investment. This test
determines the pregnancy status of cows within 15 days of insemination, which is
much more quickly than other available tests or methods. The dairy and cattle
industries use AI to manage the reproduction of their herds, so we believe that
a test that allows them to determine if the AI has been successful faster will
be of benefit to their herd management.
We entered into licensing agreements with the University of Idaho and
the University of Wyoming in Fall, 2001, to make sure that we have exclusive
rights to manufacture the protein used in the bovine pregnancy test kit. We have
filed two provisional patent applications, as well as a trademark application
for "Surbred", the name of the bovine pregnancy test kit. This technology has
been in development for 12 years at the universities. We have also developed a
second bovine pregnancy test that will indicate pregnancy from 35 days after
insemination. This test could be useful to the cattle auction industry, so that
they can determine whether a cow is pregnant prior to sale and determine use of
the cow after sale. We
-17-
believe that both tests can also be used for other types of ungulates (such as
sheep, pigs, goats and elk). We are currently assessing the markets for the
additional tests.
Another product we are developing that we believe has significant
potential is a recombinant form of bovine/porcine insulin known as PZI. Our
initial plan for this product is for sales to feline owners under a
compassionate drug exemption from the FDA. We also expect to apply to the FDA
for full drug approval. We plan to form an alliance with a larger medical
company to fund this approval process. Ultimately, we intend to seek approval
from the FDA for use in humans. According to the American Diabetes Association
there are approximately 300,000 human diabetics whose bodies perform better on
bovine/porcine insulin than the recombinant human form of insulin currently
available in the market for them.
Our other projects include purifying and culturing an antigen known as
carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as part of National Cancer Institute studies to
develop a vaccine for colon cancer. If CEA can cause a person to form antibodies
that will ultimately provide immunity to colon cancer, then it can be used to
create a colon cancer vaccine. The possibility of such a vaccine is currently
being developed by the National Cancer Institute, through research performed by
universities. We provide purified CEA to be used in the research and have filed
a patent application to protect our purification process.
We are also developing equine proteins to diagnose and treat problems
or potential enhancements to fertility, lactation, thyroid and wounds.
Preliminary results experienced by doctors in the field experimenting with our
products have yielded encouraging results. Limited research and development is
ongoing at a recognized horse breeding farm in Kentucky. The proteins we create
could work to diagnose hormone levels related to horses' fertility and other
health issues, and could then also be used to treat the horses if the diagnosis
indicates that treatment is necessary.
PRODUCTS AND STATUS OF PRODUCTS
HUMAN ANTIGENS - We currently manufacture more than thirty human
antigens and tumor markers. These are proteins that we manufacture from human
tissues and fluids, using our proprietary purification processes, so that they
are in an especially pure form. These proteins are used as part of diagnostic
test kits. The test kits diagnose tumor marker levels within the blood or
hormone imbalances by measuring the presence and/or levels of certain proteins.
The proteins supplied by AspenBio are used to determine whether the test is
functioning correctly. We have manufactured human antigen products since 1990
and can produce additional proteins through our purification process.
We are also manufacturing CEA as part of a colon cancer vaccine. CEA is
produced by cancerous tumors, especially of the colon or liver. Measurement of
blood at CEA levels is valuable in the management of cancer. CEA is elaborated
by certain tumor cells and was one of the first tumor markers. During 2001 we
sold 7.4 mg of CEA for $4,000 to the National Cancer Institute. CEA is usually
obtained from a human liver. We are attempting to produce CEA through cell
culture technology rather than liver tissue so that larger quantities can be
obtained and purified. The colon cancer vaccine is expected to be part of NCI
Phase III studies that are currently anticipated to take place in 2003, and we
are attempting to produce the cell-line derived CEA for use in the studies. This
protein would have a therapeutic use, as
-18-
opposed to the diagnostic use of our other human antigen products. Total
quantity needs for CEA have not been determined.
In order to distribute our human antigen products, we manufacture the
purified proteins at our facility, then lyophilize (freeze dry) the ingredients
contained in a glass vial . We then send the products out to customers in vials
with tops that allow the use of a syringe to reconstitute the product enabling
the end user to remove and use the products.
UNGULATE PREGNANCY TEST - The ungulate pregnancy test initially
determines the pregnancy status of cows within days 15-32 of artificial
insemination and day 35 to termination of pregnancy. Pregnancy is necessary for
milk production and the dairy industry relies on artificial insemination to
increase pregnancy rates. The pregnancy tests (ultra sound and palpation) in use
currently can determine the pregnancy status of cows within 35 to 40 days of
insemination. Also, palpation includes a risk of inducing an abortion of the
calf. The test kit we intend to produce would permit pregnancy status to be
determined sooner, which, in turn, would permit a herd manager to repeat the
artificial insemination process at an earlier date on cows determined not to be
pregnant. Our test also does not include any physical risk to the calf. We
believe pregnancy in other hoofed animals can be determined using the same
antigen. We have also developed a bovine pregnancy test that is designed to
determine if a cow is pregnant 35 days or more after insemination. This would
permit herd managers and participants in the cattle auction industry to confirm
that a cow is still pregnant. The pig, elk, bison, and sheep industries also
utilize artificial insemination, so we plan to develop these pregnancy test
kits, as well. We are currently conducting initial clinical testing on the 15-32
day bovine pregnancy test kit and expect that it will be available to market
this year. If our continuing development efforts and marketing assessments are
satisfactory to us, we plan to have the 35 plus day bovine pregnancy test kit
available later in 2002 and the test kits for the other ungulates available in
2003.
The bovine pregnancy test consists of a plastic cartridge containing a
membrane which has been sprayed with an antibody. The antibody was created from
rabbits and mice that were exposed to a specific purified antigen manufactured
at AspenBio. Once a blood sample from a cow is exposed to the antibody on the
membrane it will cause the strip to change color indicating the presence of a
certain antigen which is only present in the blood of a cow pregnant either day
15- 32 or day 35 to termination of pregnancy depending which test is used. The
test strip will be sealed in a foil package along with a syringe and needle for
drawing the blood sample to place on the strip.
In order to create the test kits, we would initially produce the active
ingredients and send them to a company that manufactures test strips. This
company would place the active ingredients onto the test strips. The
manufacturer would ship the pregnancy test kits to our warehouse for
distribution. We are evaluating manufacturing the tests strips in house, once
the volume warrants it and we have relocated into a new facility.
INSULIN/PZI - We have developed a recombinant form of bovine and
porcine insulin, which is commonly referred to as PZI. PZI was previously
manufactured by Eli Lilly and was used for treatment of human diabetes, until it
was phased out of production in the mid-1990s and replaced by recombinant human
insulin. We expect to use PZI initially for treatment of feline diabetes. The
available human insulin does not successfully replace the cat's own insulin and
bovine insulin is more similar in molecular
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structure to feline insulin. We are currently working to create a recombinant
form of PZI that exactly matches the PZI previously manufactured by Eli Lilly.
We hope to begin selling PZI in Fall, 2002, if we can obtain a compassionate
drug exemption from the Food and Drug Administration to begin manufacturing and
marketing PZI while formal approval is pending. We can apply for a compassionate
drug exemption based on the need for PZI to treat feline diabetes when there are
no other comparable products. Based on our investigation of this process, we are
hopeful that we will be able to obtain an exemption. Initially, the manufacture
and bottling of PZI will be done by an outside entity because of clean room and
FDA requirements. We desire to enter into arrangements for marketing the
products with a pharmaceutical company prior to manufacturing them, and
preliminary work has been undertaken to locate an interested company. We are
also exploring joint venture or other partnering opportunities for reintroducing
PZI to the human diabetes market.
We would produce PZI using AspenBio technology at a facility that meets
the industry standard of good manufacturing practices (GMP). The GMP facility
would then ship the products directly to our customers, to a warehouse for
storage or to distributors.
EQUINE PROTEINS - The purified equine protein products we are
developing would have both diagnostic and therapeutic uses for horses. We began
purifying equine pituitary-derived antigens in 2001, and are currently working
on development of diagnostic test kits and recombinant antigens. The diagnostic
test kits can be used to measure hormone levels affecting fertility, thyroid,
growth and lactation. Uses of the recombinant antigens include inducing
fertility, improving healing of wounds, and inducing lactation. The purification
processes we use for the human antigens can be used in manufacturing equine
proteins. The therapeutic use of the equine proteins is currently in limited
testing on horse farms. The results to date based on discussions with the
doctors in the field have been encouraging. AspenBio's preliminary products
appear to solve some of the therapeutic problems related to problem breeding
situations in horses. We have manufactured preliminary batches of antigens
anticipated to be used in equine test kits. If we determine to market these
kits, we would probably try to enter into a distribution agreement with a
pharmaceutical company. We expect to make a decision regarding release of these
test kits in 2003. Provided the positive results we have experienced to date in
our preliminary research continues, the recombinant antigens should be available
in 2003, and applications submitted to the FDA in 2004 assuming we are able to
partner with another company in the pharmaceutical business.
RAW MATERIALS
The human antigens are purified from human tissue or fluids. We have
several sources available for the materials needed. The CEA is produced from a
cell line and so does not require any outside materials.
We have recombinant sources for both the protein for the bovine
pregnancy test and the PZI. We will initially utilize tissue from slaughter
houses for the equine protein products. We have also cultured cell lines and
recombinant material for both human and animal proteins, which can be used for
therapeutic applications, when produced in a GMP facility. Ultimately, we expect
that this type of production will replace the need for tissue or fluids as a
source material thereby reducing the chance of contamination from possible
impurities.
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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We have not filed patents for our human diagnostic antigens, although
we treat our protein purification process as proprietary. Much of the
purification work is considered an art form and the processes are trade secrets.
We have filed for a patent on the process used to purify the CEA for the colon
cancer vaccine, because we anticipate that, if successful, the vaccine will be
widely used and we will need to protect AspenBio's part in the development.
With respect to the ungulate pregnancy test, we entered into exclusive
licensing agreements with the University of Idaho and the University of Wyoming
in fall, 2001, for the manufacture, use, sale and distribution of the proteins
used in the test. We have titled the pregnancy test "Surbred" and have applied
for a trademark to protect the name. We have also filed a provisional patent
application for the bovine pregnancy test. We have taken these steps because we
believe that the potential widespread use of the ungulate pregnancy test
requires protection of our product.
Due to its previous manufacture by Eli Lilly and the availability of
the methods and formulations in the public domain, PZI is not a patentable
product and we have not filed a patent on the protein purification process. We
do not think it is likely that our development of recombinant PZI will result in
patentable products in the near term because of use of existing methods of
expression. However, we are hopeful that as we continue this development process
we may develop intellectual property regarding purification of recombinant
insulin. We are currently unable to predict whether we will be able to obtain
any patents in the future. Due to the status of development to date, we have not
filed patent applications with respect to the equine protein products.
MARKETING/COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS
PRODUCT MARKETS
HUMAN DIAGNOSTIC ANTIGENS - The total market for human antigens and
tumor markers is approximately $2 million, annually. We currently control
approximately 60% of the market, although we do not expect significant
additional growth in market share. All of our revenues to date have come from
sales of these products. We expect to continue adding products to our diagnostic
protein line. Our primary competitor for supply of human pituitary antigens is
Dr. Albert Parlow, a professor at UCLA, but we believe that we have displaced
Dr. Parlow as the largest supplier.
UNGULATE PREGNANCY TEST - The available bovine pregnancy tests cannot
determine pregnancy status until at least 30 days from insemination. Testing by
palpation includes a risk of aborting the calf and testing by using a blood test
requires the use of a centrifuge. Our 15-32 day bovine pregnancy test is
designed to determine status sooner, does not involve a physical risk to the
calf and does not require a centrifuge. Because the first attempt at artificial
insemination is often unsuccessful, cows in breeding programs are often
inseminated more than once, so our test would then be used more than once for
each cow. The worldwide population of cows exceeds 120,000,000, of which
approximately 58,000,000 cows are located in North America, Europe and the
former Soviet Union. It has been estimated that approximately 70% of cows in the
North American and European dairy industry are artificially inseminated.
Although there are no published reports known to us regarding timed or
synchronized cow
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breeding programs, based on our discussions with industry sources, we estimate
that approximately 10% of the artificially inseminated cows are involved in
these programs and would represent our primary target market for our bovine
pregnancy test. We have received inquiries from six large companies interested
in distributing the product. We are currently assessing the potential markets
for the bovine pregnancy test to be used 35 days or more after insemination and
for pregnancy tests of other ungulates. We will compete against the current
pregnancy methods and tests for the bovine market, as well as in the ovine and
porcine market.
INSULIN/PZI - PZI is not currently distributed in the United States by
any other companies, so we do not expect that we will have competition in this
area. We are developing PZI as a product for the feline diabetes market at the
request of Blue Ridge Pharmaceuticals. According to a study conducted by Idexx,
there are currently 66 million cats in the U.S. and approximately 20% are
expected to suffer from diabetes. We estimate this market to be approximately
$15 million annually once FDA approval is obtained for general distribution.
Also, according to the American Diabetes Association, there are approximately
300,000 human diabetics whose bodies perform better on bovine/porcine insulin
than the recombinant human form of insulin currently available. These people
would create another market for PZI if we can obtain the necessary FDA approvals
and partner with a pharmaceutical company.
EQUINE PROTEINS - Equine diagnostic kits and hormones for therapeutic
use are not currently commercially available, so we do not expect to encounter
competition in this market. Based on information developed by Dr. Clara
Singular, an independent consultant and doctor of veterinary medicine, we
estimate a $10 million annual market for therapeutic use of proteins to induce
fertility in horses and a $7 million annual market for diagnostic use of
proteins to measure thyroid function.
CUSTOMERS/MARKETING
HUMAN ANTIGENS DIVISION - The customers for our human antigen products
are the manufacturers of the diagnostic test kits and research facilities and
brokers who sell to these same end users. In this area, we have a few large
customers. Monobind and Golden West Biologics, which are brokers, accounted for
approximately eleven percent (11%) and thirteen percent (13%) of our business,
respectively, in 2001. Bio Rad, an end user, accounted for approximately
thirty-five percent (35%) of our business in 2001. In 2000, BioRad accounted for
approximately 80% of our sales. Monbind and Golden West Biologics were not
significant customers in 2000. In 2001, 54% of our receivables were related to
Golden West Biologics and in 2000, 33% of our receivables were related to
BioRad. The loss of these customers could have a material adverse effect on this
division of our business.
The National Cancer Institute, through the universities that conduct
its research, are also customers for the purchase of CEA.
UNGULATE PREGNANCY TEST - We expect that the customers for our bovine
pregnancy test will be primarily the artificial insemination (AI) providers. The
AI providers include three general categories of business: (1) pharmaceutical
companies selling prostaglandins, which are used to induce estrus in cows to be
artificially inseminated; (2) pharmaceutical companies selling cattle semen and
providing the actual AI services; and (3) AI equipment manufacturers and
suppliers. There are a limited number of these AI providers who service the
dairy industry. We would expect the AI providers to market the products as
well. We also
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expect that industry trade associations would market the bovine pregnancy test,
by endorsing the product and then receiving compensation based on the value
realized from such endorsements. We would be involved in marketing the bovine
pregnancy test, as well, but do not expect to be primarily responsible. We would
anticipate a similar customer base and marketing approach for the other ungulate
pregnancy tests when they are developed. AspenBio is in discussions with a
number of companies positioned to effectively distribute these products.
INSULIN/PZI - We anticipate that the ultimate customers for the PZI
would be veterinarians and cat owners. We plan to seek to enter into an
agreement with a pharmaceutical company for marketing and distribution if we can
develop recombinant PZI that matches the PZI manufactured by E.I. Lilly. If we
pursue approval to sell PZI to human diabetics, then they would provide an
additional customer base. We would expect to enter into arrangements with a
pharmaceutical company for marketing and distribution of PZI if such an expanded
use is possible.
EQUINE PROTEIN - We anticipate that the ultimate customers for the
equine protein products would be veterinarians and horse owners. However, we
anticipate entering into agreements with a pharmaceutical company for marketing
and distribution if the clinical testing is successful.
GENERAL OPERATIONS
BACKLOG AND INVENTORY - Our business in not seasonal in nature, so we
expect demand to remain relatively steady. Because we produce proteins on
demand, we do not maintain a backlog of orders. We have reliable sources of raw
materials, do not require significant amounts of raw materials, and can
manufacture all of our protein products (other than CEA, which is made from its
own cell line). As a result, we do not expend large amounts of capital to
maintain inventory.
PAYMENT TERMS - Because we currently act as a supplier to manufacturers
of test kits and research facilities, we do not provide extended payment terms.
REVENUES - The vast majority of our revenues come from domestic
customers. Less than 2% of our revenues come from foreign customers.
EMPLOYEES - We currently have eight full-time employees. We will hire
additional personnel as needed depending upon the implementation and success of
our new product lines.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
For the period from August, 2000, through December 31, 2000, we spent
$28,101 on research and development. We spent $160,943 on research and
development in fiscal 2001 and $138,546 during the quarter ended March 31, 2002.
We expect to spend significantly more over the next few years to develop our new
products, primarily on the equine proteins and ungulate pregnancy tests. We will
also continue research and development to improve and add antigens to the 15-32
day bovine pregnancy test, in order to improve accuracy and eliminate
competition. If we reach an arrangement with a pharmaceutical company to assess
the potential for marketing PZI to humans, we would also expect to spend
research and development funds on those efforts.
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COMPLIANCE
FDA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has regulatory authority over
certain of our planned products. Our existing products require no approvals at
our level.
HUMAN PATIENTS - FDA approval is required for therapeutic uses of
products. For use on human patients, FDA extensively regulates the testing,
manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, export and marketing of
therapeutic products. A therapeutic product administered to human patients is
regulated as a drug or a biologic drug and requires regulatory approval before
it may be commercialized. This would be applicable to AspenBio if we become
involved in the manufacture of either the colon cancer vaccine or the sale of
PZI to human diabetics.
Product approvals are granted after extensive clinical trials. Any
product approvals that are granted remain subject to continual FDA review, and
newly discovered or developed safety or efficacy data may result in withdrawal
of products from marketing. Moreover, if and when such approval is obtained, the
manufacture and marketing of such products remain subject to extensive
regulatory requirements administered by the FDA and other regulatory bodies,
including compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices, adverse event
reporting requirements and the FDA's general prohibitions against promoting
products for unapproved or "off-label" uses. Manufacturers are subject to
inspection and market surveillance by the FDA for compliance with these
regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with the requirements can, among
other things, result in warning letters, product seizures, recalls, fines,
injunctions, suspensions or withdrawals of regulatory approvals, operating
restrictions and criminal prosecutions. Any such enforcement action could have a
material adverse effect on our business. Unanticipated changes in existing
regulatory requirements or the adoption of new requirements could also have a
material adverse effect on our business.
UNGULATE PREGNANCY TEST - Because the ungulate pregnancy test will be a
diagnostic use only, it will not be subject to FDA regulation. However, we will
make a notification filing with the FDA, which advises the FDA of the expected
uses and labeling of the product.
PZI/FELINE DIABETES APPLICATION - FDA approval will be necessary for
PZI to be used for treatment of feline diabetes. New drugs for companion animals
must receive New Animal Drug Application approval prior to marketing. The
requirements for such approval are similar to those for human drugs and may
require similar clinical testing. We plan to file a compassionate drug exemption
application, so that we can manufacture and use PZI while the FDA is conducting
the more comprehensive review. This application would be based on the need for
PZI to treat diabetic cats and the fact that there are no comparable products
manufactured by a USA company. We expect to file the application in Spring,
2002, so that we can begin selling PZI in Fall, 2002. We are hopeful that FDA
approval will not be difficult to obtain because PZI was previously approved for
this use. If approval is obtained, we would once again be subject to ongoing
regulation, which exposes us to the risks associated with compliance failures.
EQUINE PROTEINS - As the equine proteins would have a therapeutic use,
they would require regulatory approval similar to that required for PZI.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
We are subject to various environmental laws pertaining to the disposal
of hazardous medical waste. We contract for disposal of our hazardous waste with
a licensed disposal facility. We do not expect to incur liabilities related to
compliance with environmental laws; however, we cannot make a definitive
prediction.
OTHER LAWS
We are also subject to other federal, state and local laws, pertaining
to matters such as safe working conditions and fire hazard control.
MANAGEMENT
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The following table lists members of our Board of Directors and our
executive officers with the position held by each and their ages as of June 6,
2002. Directors may hold office until removed by resolution of our shareholders,
or their resignation or death. Each executive officer's term of office continues
until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting
of shareholders and until the election and qualification of his successor. All
officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Name Age Position
---- --- --------
Roger D. Hurst...................... 51 President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Gregory Pusey....................... 49 Secretary and Director
Gail S. Schoettler.................. 58 Director
ROGER D. HURST, the founder of AspenBio, has served as President and
Chief Executive Officer, and as a director, since our formation in July 2000.
From 1988 to the sale of the antigen business from Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. to
AspenBio, Mr. Hurst served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Vitro Diagnostics. Mr. Hurst retains approximately 13% of the outstanding common
stock of Vitro. Mr. Hurst currently devotes his full business time to the
Company and is not involved in the management of Vitro Diagnostics. Mr. Hurst
holds a bachelor's degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University.
GREGORY PUSEY is the President of Advanced Nutraceuticals, Inc., a
publicly-held company engaged in manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical
products and nutritional supplements. Mr. Pusey has been associated with
Advanced Nutraceuticals, Inc. and its predecessors since 1997. Since 1988, Mr.
Pusey has been the President and a director of Cambridge Holdings, Ltd., a
publicly-held real estate development firm. He has also served as President of
Livingston Capital, Ltd. since 1987 and President and the General Partner of
Graystone Capital, Ltd. from 1987 to 1999, both venture capital firms. Mr. Pusey
holds a B.S. degree in finance from Boston College. Mr. Pusey became a director
of AspenBio in February 2002.
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GAIL S. SCHOETTLER has served as a U.S. Ambassador, Colorado Lt.
Governor, from 1995 to 1999, and Colorado State Treasurer from 1987 to 1995. She
was a trustee of the Public Employees Retirement Association, Colorado's $27
billion pension fund, for eight years. Ambassador Schoettler was a founder and
director of two banks and currently helps manage her family's ranching, vineyard
and real estate businesses. She speaks internationally on politics and business
and writes a column for The Denver Post. She is a trustee of several non-profit
organizations and the recipient of the French Chevalier of the Legion of Honor,
France's highest civilian award. She earned her BA with honors in economics from
Stanford University and her MA and PhD in history from the University of
California at Santa Barbara. Ambassador Schoettler became a director of AspenBio
in August 2001.
BIOGRAPHIES OF THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYEES ARE INCLUDED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AS THEY
ARE KEY PERSONNEL OF OUR COMPANY.
DR. MARK COLGIN, age 33, joined AspenBio in 2000 as our Director of
Recombinant Technology. He held post-doctoral positions at Colorado State
University from 1996 to 2000 where he was a National Institutes of Health
post-doctoral fellow. His area of post-doctoral research included gene
expression, neurvirology and gene delivery. Dr. Colgin is responsible for the
development of our molecular biology and cell culture products. He holds a
bachelor's degree in biochemistry and a Ph.D in molecular biology from the
University of Wyoming.
CATHY LANDMANN, age 48, has served as our Director of Laboratory
Operations since our purchase of assets from Vitro Diagnostics in 2000. She
worked at Vitro Diagnostics from 1992 until the sale and developed quality
control protocols to aid in the development of the antigen product line. At
AspenBio, she is responsible for quality control analysis of our products,
management of our laboratory staff and quality assurance of the production
facility. Ms. Landmann holds a B.S. degree in medical technology from the
University of Florida.
DIANE NEWMAN, age 30, is our Senior Production Scientist. She joined
Vitro Diagnostics in 1996 and served there until she joined the Company when
Vitro Diagnostics sold the antigen business to AspenBio. Ms. Newman has been
instrumental in developing methods and processes for protein purification. Ms.
Newman is our production manager and also works on new product development. She
holds a bachelor's degree in biotechnology from the University of Nebraska in
Omaha.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
Our directors do not currently receive any cash compensation from us
for their services as members of the Board of Directors. In August 2001, we
issued options to each of Bruce F. Deal, a former director of the Company, and
Gail S. Schoettler to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock at $1.00 per
share during a five-year period.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table shows, for the years 1999, 2000 and 2001, the
compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer and to each executive officer
whose salary and bonuses for their services in all capacities in 2001, exceeded
$100,000. During the year 2000, the compensation was received by these
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persons from AspenBio from August through December and from Vitro Diagnostics
from January through July. For the year 1999, all the compensation was received
from Vitro Diagnostics.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
Annual Compensation Awards Payouts
---------------------------------------------------- --------------------- -----------
Restricted All Other
Name and Fiscal Salary Other Annual Stock Options LTIP Payouts Compensation
Principal Position Year ($) Bonus Compensation Awards($) (#) ($) ($)
------------------ ------ ------ ----- ------------ ---------- ------- ------------ ------------
Roger D. Hurst 2001 64800 -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
President, Chief Executive 2000 57700 -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
Officer, Secretary and Director 1999 53800 -0- -0- -0- -0- -0-
No stock option grant table or year-end option table is included in this
prospectus because none of our executive officers holds any options to purchase
our common stock.
2002 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
In April 2002, we adopted our 2002 Stock Incentive Plan. The purpose of
the plan is to promote our interests and the interests of our shareholders by
providing participants a significant stake in our performance and providing an
opportunity for the participants to increase their holdings of our common stock.
The plan is administered by the Option Committee, which consists of the Board or
a committee of the Board, as the Board may from time to time designate, composed
of not less than two members of the Board, each of whom shall be a director who
is not employed by us. The Option Committee has the authority to select
employees and consultants (which may include directors) to receive awards, to
determine the number of shares of common stock covered by awards and to set the
terms and conditions of awards. The plan authorizes the grant of options to
purchase up to 900,000 shares of our common stock. In April 2002, we granted
options to purchase 200,000 shares of our common stock to each of two employees.
The options are exercisable in annual installments of one third each at $1.25
per share for a term of ten years. In addition to stock options, we may also
offer a participant a right to purchase shares of common stock subject to such
restrictions and conditions as the Option Committee may determine at the time of
grant. Such conditions may include continued services to us or the achievement
of specified performance goals or objectives. No common stock has been issued
pursuant to the plan.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
We were organized in July 2000 to purchase the antigen business from
Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. The initial capital to complete this purchase and for
the startup for our operations was provided primarily by our President and
principal shareholder, Roger D. Hurst. Mr. Hurst received 4,861,737 shares of
our common stock in consideration of a cash contribution of $470,000. Mr. Hurst
received a promissory note for the $400,000 loaned by him to us. On April 1,
2002, we made an Amended and Restated Promissory Note to Mr. Hurst in the amount
of $267,501, payable with interest of 8% per annum, in installments, with all
amounts due on April 30, 2005. We may prepay the note at any time without
penalty. Mr. Hurst is the holder of approximately 13% of the outstanding common
stock of Vitro Diagnostics, but has no involvement in the management of Vitro
Diagnostics.
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Prior to August 1, 2001, we operated as an S Corporation and our
shareholders were taxed on their proportionate share of our taxable income. We
made a distribution in connection with our S Corporation status to all of our
shareholders. We agreed with Roger Hurst not to pay Mr. Hurst his $29,755
distribution and we have made a promissory note to him on April 1, 2002 in that
amount which is payable, with interest at 8% per annum, on April 30, 2005. We
may prepay the note at any time without penalty.
We believe that the current facility used by us will not be sufficient
to accommodate our growth. Mr. Hurst located land in Castle Rock, Colorado, and
assigned his contract to purchase that land to us. In order to facilitate the
purchase of the land and construction of the facility, Mr. Hurst has loaned to
us $625,000 and we have made a promissory note to Mr. Hurst in that amount which
is payable, with interest at 8% per annum on May 5, 2004. We may prepay the note
at any time without penalty.
We borrowed $3,250,000 from a bank which bank also required that we
obtain an additional $350,000 to be pledged to the bank and a guaranty of an
$200,000 of the loan amount. Cambridge provided the Guaranty and we issued a
note in that amount to Cambridge and a three year warrant to purchase 100,000
shares of our common stock at $1.50 per share. We agreed to register these
shares for Cambridge at Cambridge's request between September 30, 2002 and June
30, 2005.
In November 2000 we leased laboratory equipment and issued a note to a
leasing company for $280,000. The note requires monthly payments of $9,053 and
we are current on our obligations. The note has been personally guaranteed by
Mr. Hurst. We have no obligation to compensate Mr. Hurst for his guarantee of
the laboratory equipment lease. At March 31, 2002, the remaining principal
balance on this note was $151,000.
In 2001, we sold 300,000 shares of our common stock to nine persons for
a total of $300,000. Bruce F. Deal and Gail S. Schoettler, who were then
directors of the Company and members of their immediate families, purchased an
aggregate of 90,000 shares of the 300,000 shares in this offering on the same
terms as other investors.
In connection with the 2001 private offering, we sent an investor
rights declaration regarding piggyback registration and other rights to the
purchasers. We also prematurely issued stock certificates to these purchasers
prior to filing amended articles of incorporation with the Colorado Secretary of
State to increase our authorized shares of common stock. We subsequently filed
the amended articles. We also offered to rescind the purchases by refunding the
purchase price plus 10% and requested return of the stock certificates and an
Amended Investors Rights Declaration. Of the nine purchasers, one purchaser of
50,000 shares accepted the offer of rescission and we paid him $55,000. All of
the other purchasers entered into the Amended Investors Rights Declaration which
clarifies that we will include their shares in any registration statement we
file between September 30, 2002 and June 30, 2007. In March 2002, we resold the
50,000 shares from the rescinded purchaser to the wife and father-in-law of our
director, Gregory Pusey, at $1.25 per share, or a total of $62,500.
We have issued to each of Mr. Deal and Ms. Schoettler options to
purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock at $1 per share for a five-year
term. Mr. Deal resigned as a director in April 2002.
In December 2001, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with
Cambridge providing for the sale of 1,000,000 shares of common stock and
warrants to purchase up to 830,000 shares of our common stock at $1 per share.
Cambridge paid to us $300,000 in December 2001 and an additional $300,000 in
March 2001 upon completion of the audit of our financial statements which are
included in this Prospectus. We issued to Cambridge 1,000,000 shares of common
stock and to Cambridge and its designees 830,000 warrants. Of the 1,000,000
shares issued to Cambridge, 500,000 shares are being distributed on a pro rata
basis to the shareholders of Cambridge. At the initial closing of this
transaction, Gregory Pusey, President and principal shareholder of Cambridge,
became a member of our Board of Directors. Mr. Pusey was subsequently elected as
our Secretary. Cambridge transferred 470,000 warrants to various persons,
including Mr. Pusey who received 150,000 warrants. Mr. Pusey, and members of his
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family, will receive approximately 263,975 shares of our common stock in
connection with the distribution of the Cambridge shares.
In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement with Cambridge, we
also entered into an Investor Rights Agreement, Consulting Agreement and
Shareholders Agreement. Cambridge has certain registration rights in the
Investor Rights Agreement as described in "Shares Eligible for Future Sales." In
the Consulting Agreement, Cambridge agreed to provide assistance to us,
including our efforts to become a publicly-held company and in marketing our
products. Cambridge's consulting services consisted of assisting us in our
efforts to become a publicly-held company, assistance with our efforts to create
strategic alliances, and introductions to prospective market makers. We agreed
to deliver to Cambridge the warrants described above that were provided for in
the Securities Purchase Agreement with Cambridge. We also agreed to reimburse
Cambridge for any reasonable and necessary expenses incurred, up to a maximum of
$100,000. The term of the agreement was to end on September 30, 2002. In March
2002, we confirmed with Cambridge that it had performed its duties under the
Consulting Agreement.
Under the Shareholders Agreement, Mr. Hurst has agreed that, so long as
Cambridge owns a minimum of 250,000 shares of our common stock, Mr. Hurst will
vote all of his shares of our stock to elect Mr. Pusey to our Board until June
30, 2003. Mr. Hurst also agreed that if at any time through January 20, 2005, he
sells 35% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock, or more than
50% of our common stock owned by him if he owns less than 35% but more than 15%
of the outstanding shares of our common stock, other than in a registered sale,
he will afford Cambridge the opportunity to participate in such sale.
In March 2002, Mr. Hurst and other shareholders sold an aggregate of
728,245 shares of our common stock at $1.25 per share for a total of $910,306 in
a private offering. Mr. Hurst sold 500,000 shares in this offering and received
$625,000. The other selling shareholders were Mark Colgin, Dianne Newmann and
Kilan Roth, who each sold 57,061 shares, and Cathy Landmann and MCL Trust, a
trust established by Ms. Landmann, who sold an aggregate of 57,061 shares. Each
of the purchasers in the private offering is listed as a selling shareholder in
the "Plan of Distribution" section of this prospectus. Each of the purchasers
had a pre-existing relationship with either Mr. Hurst or Mr. Pusey, our
directors.
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table shows information as of July 5, 2002, concerning
the beneficial ownership of AspenBio common stock by each of AspenBio's
directors, each executive officer of AspenBio listed in the Summary Compensation
Table, and all directors and executive offices of AspenBio's as a group and each
other person known by AspenBio to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of
AspenBio's common stock.
The ownership percentages listed on the table are based on 9,300,000
shares of AspenBio common stock outstanding as of July 5, 2002. Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. A person generally is deemed to be the beneficial owner of
shares over which he has either voting or investment power. Shares underlying
options that are currently exercisable, or that will become exercisable within
60 days, are deemed to be beneficially owned by the person holding the options,
and are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the beneficial
ownership percentage of that person, but are not considered to be outstanding
for the purpose of computing the ownership percentage of any other person.
-29-
Except as otherwise noted, the persons in the group identified in the
table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all the shares
of AspenBio common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
Name and Address Number of Shares Percent
---------------- ---------------- -------
Cambridge Holdings, Ltd.(1) 1,460,000 15.0%
106 S. University, No. 14
Denver, CO 80209
Mark Colgin 514,000 5.5%
8100 Southpark Way, Building B-1
Littleton, Colorado 80120
Roger D. Hurst 4,246,757 45.7%
8100 Southpark Way, Building B-1
Littleton, Colorado 80120
Cathy Landmann(2) 1,085,060 11.7%
8100 Southpark Way, Building B-1
Littleton, Colorado 80120
Diane Newman 514,000 5.5%
8100 Southpark Way, Building B-1
Littleton, Colorado 80120
Gregory Pusey(3) 1,690,000 17.1%
106 S. University, No. 14
Denver, CO 80209
Kilyn Roth 514,000 5.5%
8100 Southpark Way, Building B-1
Littleton, Colorado 80120
Gail S. Schoettler(4) 115,000 1.2%
11855 East Daley Circle
Parker, CO 80134
All Officers and Directors as a Group (3 persons) 6,051,757 61.1%
-30-
---------------
(1) Includes warrants to purchase 460,000 shares. Cambridge intends to
distribute 500,000 shares of our stock to Cambridge shareholders,
including Gregory Pusey.
(2) Includes 542,530 shares held in a trust (the MCL Trust) in which Ms.
Landmann and her husband are the beneficial owners.
(3) Includes 70,000 shares held by his wife and their children. Also
includes warrants to purchase 150,000 shares held by Mr. Pusey and
1,000,000 shares and warrants to purchase 460,000 shares held by
Cambridge. Mr. Pusey is President, a director and principal shareholder
of Cambridge. Does not include approximately 263,975 shares which may
be acquired by Mr. Pusey and members of his family in connection with
the Cambridge distribution of our stock.
(4) Includes options to purchase 100,000 shares.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Prior to this offering, no public market for our securities existed. A
total of up to 1,489,305 shares may be sold pursuant to this prospectus by the
shareholders listed below. We are registering the common stock on behalf of the
selling shareholders. The common stock may be sold from time to time to
purchasers directly by any of the selling shareholders, in one or more
transactions at a fixed offering price, which may be changed, or at varying
prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. Such prices will
be determined by the selling shareholders or by agreement between the selling
shareholders and underwriters or dealers. Alternatively, any of the selling
shareholders may from time to time offer the common stock through underwriters,
dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of underwriting
discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling shareholders and/or the
purchasers of common stock for whom they may act as agent. The selling
shareholders and any underwriters, dealers or agents that participate in the
distribution of common stock may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act, and any profit on the sale of common stock by
them and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by any such
underwriters, dealers or agents might be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act. In addition, 500,000 shares of our common
stock held by Cambridge are being distributed to the Cambridge shareholders as a
distribution of assets. One of our officers and directors, Gregory Pusey (and
members of his family) will receive approximately 263,975 shares in connection
with this distribution. The shares to be acquired from Cambridge by Mr. Pusey
and members of his family are included in the 1,489,305 shares that may be sold
pursuant to this prospectus.
The sale of common stock may be effected in transactions (which may
involve block transactions) (1) on any national securities exchange or quotation
service on which the offered securities may be listed or quoted at the time of
sale, (2) in the over-the-counter market, (3) otherwise than on such exchanges
or in the over-the-counter market, (4) in privately negotiated transactions, (5)
through the writing of options or other derivative contracts, (6) by a
distribution by a selling shareholder to his or his affiliates' beneficial
owners or (7) through pledge, mortgage or hypothecation. At the time a
particular offering of the common stock is made, if required, a prospectus
supplement will be distributed which will set forth the names of the selling
shareholders, the aggregate amount and type of securities being offered, and, to
the extent required, the terms of the offering including the name or names of
any underwriters, broker-dealers or
-31-
agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation
from the selling shareholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions
allowed or re-allowed or paid to broker-dealers.
To comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if
applicable, the shares will be offered or sold in such jurisdictions only
through a registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain
jurisdictions the offered shares may not be offered or sold unless they have
been registered or qualified for sale in such jurisdictions or any exemption
from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any
person engaged in a distribution of common stock may not simultaneously engage
in market-making activities with respect to such common stock for a period of
five business days prior to the commencement of such distribution and ending
upon the completion of such distribution. In addition, each selling shareholder
will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which provisions may limit the
timing of purchases and sales of any of the common stock by the selling
shareholders. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the common
stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making
activities with respect to the common stock.
We will pay substantially all of the expenses incident to the
registration, offering and sale of the common stock of the selling shareholders
to the public other than commissions and discounts of underwriters, dealers or
agents.
Shares owned Percentage of
Shares owned following shares following
Selling Shareholder prior to offering Shares registered offering offering
------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------ ----------------
A.G. Edwards & Sons 10,000 10,000 -0- --
CDN Gregory Pusey
IRA
A.G. Edwards & Sons 10,000 10,000 -0- --
CDN Jill J. Pusey IRA
John Bealer and 15,000 15,000 -0- --
Natalia Bealer
Robert M. Bearman 14,000 14,000 -0- --
Carylyn K. Bell 8,000 8,000 -0- --
J. Daniel Bell 20,000 20,000 -0- --
Charles Schwab & Co 25,000 25,000 -0- --
Inc fbo Allison Colgin, IRA
-32-
Shares owned Percentage of
Shares owned following shares following
Selling Shareholder prior to offering Shares registered offering offering
------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------ ----------------
Mark Colgin 514,000 14,000 500,000 5.4%
William F. Colgin 307,958 95,000 212,958 2.3%
James L. Cruce and 20,000 20,000 -0- --
Gail L. Tibbetts
JTWROS
Ann A. Deal 25,000 25,000 -0- --
Bruce F. Deal 25,000 25,000 -0- --
Jon Diack and 14,000 14,000 -0- --
Karen Diack JTWROS
Teresa Ehrlich 40,000 40,000 -0- --
Warren Ehrlich 245,000 245,000 -0- --
Robert G. Hopper 12,000 12,000 -0- --
Colin P. Hubbard Trust 10,000 10,000 -0- --
Blair Kittleson 20,000 20,000 -0- --
Cathy Landmann 542,530 42,530 500,000 5.4%
Lincoln Trust 12,000 12,000 -0- --
Company Custodian
FBO-Don Weaver
MCL Trust 542,530 42,530 500,000 5.4%
Earnest Mathis 20,000 20,000 -0- --
Jeff McGonegal 8,000 8,000 -0- --
Charles J. Neerdaels 100,000 100,000 -0- --
and Nicole R. Nelson,
as Trustees of the
Neerdaels-Nelson
Family Trust
Diane Newman 514,000 14,000 500,000 5.4%
Kathleen G. Palma 120,000 120,000 -0- --
Christopher Pusey 10,000 10,000 -0- --
Gregory Pusey(1) 263,975 263,975 -0- --
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Shares owned Percentage of
Shares owned following shares following
Selling Shareholder prior to offering Shares registered offering offering
------------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------ ----------------
Jill Pusey CDN for 10,000 10,000 -0- --
Jacqueline Pusey
Jill J. Pusey 40,000 40,000 -0- --
Kilyn Roth 514,000 14,000 500,000 5.4%
Gail S. Schoettler 15,000 15,000 -0- --
James Schoettler 25,000 25,000 -0- --
Steve Skaer 20,000 20,000 -0- --
Iris Smith 33,623 33,623 -0- --
Michael Smith 33,622 33,622 -0- --
Tom Weinberger 25,000 25,000 -0- --
David White 8,000 8,000 -0- --
Donald Yager 10,000 10,000 -0- --
(1) Consists of 263,975 shares anticipated to be acquired by Mr. Pusey (and
members of his family) in connection with the distribution of our stock
by Cambridge. Mr. Pusey will beneficially own additional shares
following this offering as set forth in "Principal Shareholders."
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following summary description of our capital stock is qualified in
its entirety by reference to our articles of incorporation, as amended, and our
bylaws.
GENERAL
AUTHORIZED, ISSUED AND OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK
We are authorized to issue 15,000,000 shares of common stock. As of
July 5, 2002, there were 9,300,000 shares of common stock outstanding.
FULLY PAID
The issued and outstanding shares of common stock, and any shares of
common stock issuable upon the stock incentive plan or upon the exercise of
warrants for common stock, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable.
-34-
COMMON STOCK
LISTING
This is the first public offering of our securities. Prior to this
offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. We expect to
have the common stock traded on the OTC Bulletin Board, which is maintained by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., after this registration
statement is declared effective.
DIVIDENDS
Holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends
as may be declared by the board of directors out of funds legally available
therefor. We do not expect to pay cash dividends on the common stock in the
foreseeable future.
RIGHTS UPON LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION OR WINDING UP
In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our
company, holders of common stock would have the right to a ratable portion of
assets remaining after payment of liabilities. Holders of common stock will have
no preemptive rights.
VOTING
Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share for each
share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders.
TRANSFER AGENT
The transfer agent for our common stock is Corporate Stock Transfer,
Inc., 3200 Cherry Creek South, Denver, Colorado 80209, (303) 282-4800.
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The Colorado Business Corporation Act provides the power to indemnify
and pay the litigation expenses of any officer, director or agent who has made
party to any proceeding. Our Articles of Incorporation also provide for
indemnification of our officers and directors for liabilities arising out of
their service to us to the maximum extent permitted by law. Insofar as
indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers, or persons controlling AspenBio as provided in
the foregoing provisions, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and thus cannot be enforced.
Our Articles of Incorporation authorize us also to purchase and
maintain insurance for our directors and officers to insure that such persons
entitled to the indemnification are properly indemnified.
Article Seventh(c) of our Articles of Incorporation requires us to
indemnify each of our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by
CBCA.
-35-
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
As of July 5, 2002, we had 9,300,000 shares of common stock
outstanding. All 9,300,000 shares of common stock are "restricted securities"
under the Securities Act. A total of up to 1,489,280 shares may be sold pursuant
to this prospectus by the shareholders listed in the "Plan of Distribution,"
including approximately 263,975 shares to be received by Gregory Pusey and
members of his family in connection with the distribution of our stock by
Cambridge to the Cambridge shareholders and an additional 80,000 shares owned by
Mr. Pusey and members of his family. Cambridge currently owns 1,000,000 shares,
of which it intends to distribute 500,000 shares to its shareholders (including
the approximately 263,975 shares to Mr. Pusey and members of his family) who may
resell those shares immediately pursuant to this prospectus. The 500,000 shares
to be retained by Cambridge may be resold pursuant to Rule 144 commencing in
December 2002. Our president, Roger Hurst, owns 4,246,757 shares, which are
restricted from resale because of Mr. Hurst's affiliate status. The remaining
2,827,938 shares could be available for sale under Rule 144, commencing 90 days
after the date of this prospectus.
In general, under Rule 144, a person holding restricted securities for
at least one year, may, within any three-month period, sell in ordinary
brokerage transaction, a number of shares equal to one percent of a company's
then outstanding common stock. If the company's stock is traded on a stock
exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market, the volume limitation becomes the greater
of one percent of the outstanding common stock or the average weekly trading
volume during the four-calendar weeks prior to the person's sales.
Sales under Rule 144 are also subject to manner of sale provisions,
notice requirements and the availability of current public information about us.
A shareholder who is not an "affiliate" of ours and has held the shares for at
least two years, may sell the shares without any quantity limitations, manner of
sale provisions or public information requirements. For purposes of Rule 144, an
"affiliate" is a person that, directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is in common control with,
such issuer.
As of the date of this Prospectus, there were options to purchase
600,000 shares of common stock outstanding, of which options to purchase 200,000
shares are exercisable currently. There are options to purchase 200,000 shares
to each of two employees, which vest in one-third annual installments,
commencing April 3, 2003. An additional 500,000 shares are reserved for issuance
under our 2002 Stock Incentive Plan. The holding period for Rule 144 purposes
would begin upon exercise of the options.
Also as of the date of this Prospectus, there were outstanding warrants
to purchase 1,175,000 shares of our common stock. The warrants are currently
exercisable. We have entered into investor rights agreements with Cambridge and
the holders of the warrants in which we agreed to register the shares held by
Cambridge and the shares underlying the warrants upon the request, one time
only, between September 30, 2002 and up to June 30, 2006. We have also agreed to
permit them to include their shares in any other Registration Statement we file
prior to June 30, 2007. We granted similar "piggyback" registration rights to
eight other shareholders who own an aggregate of 532,958 shares, of which
320,000 shares are included in this Prospectus.
-36-
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the AspenBio common stock offered by this prospectus
will be passed upon for AspenBio by Patton Boggs, LLP, Denver, Colorado. An
attorney with Patton Boggs, LLP owns 14,000 shares of our common stock and
warrants to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock.
EXPERTS
AspenBio's audited financial statements as of December 31, 2001 and
2000, and for the year ended December 31, 2001 and the five-month period ended
December 31, 2000, have been included herein and in the registration statement
in reliance upon the report of Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C., independent
accountants, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of Larry
O'Donnell, CPA, P.C. as experts in accounting and auditing. The financial
statements of Vitro Diagnostics for the year ended October 31, 1999 have been
included herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the report of
Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C., independent accountants, appearing elsewhere herein,
and upon the authority of Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C. as experts in accounting
and auditing.
The financial statements of Vitro Diagnostics as of July 31, 2000, and
for the nine months ended July 31, 2000 have been included herein and in the
registration statement in reliance upon the report of Cordovano and Harvey,
P.C., independent accountants, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the
authority of Cordovano and Harvey, P.C. as experts in accounting and auditing.
On October 9, 2000, Vitro Diagnostics, as approved by the Board of
Vitro Diagnostics, engaged Cordovano and Harvey, P.C., as its principal
accountant and independent auditors for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2000,
and simultaneously dismissed Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C., as its principal
accountant and auditor.
The reports of Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C. for the two preceding fiscal
years did not contain an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion and were not
qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
During Vitro Diagnostics two fiscal years preceding the dismissal of Larry
O'Donnell, CPA, P.C. and in the interim period through October 9, 2000, there
were no disagreements with Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C. on any matter of
accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing
scope and procedure, which, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Larry
O'Donnell, CPA, P.C., would have caused Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C. to make
reference to the matter in its report.
During the two fiscal years immediately preceding the appointment of
Cordovano and Harvey, P.C., in the interim period through October 9, 2000, Vitro
Diagnostics had not consulted Cordovano and Harvey, P.C., regarding any matter
requiring disclosure in the report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2000.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1,
including the exhibits, schedules and amendments to the registration statement,
under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the shares of common stock
covered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all the information
set forth in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this
prospectus to a contract or other document of ours, please be aware that the
reference is only a summary and that you should refer to the exhibits that are
part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document.
You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC's public
reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can
request copies of these documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing
to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the
operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings, including the
registration statement, are also available to you on the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov.
As a result of this offering, we will become subject to the information
reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and, in
connection therewith, will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC.
-37-
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AspenBio, Inc.
Interim unaudited balance sheets, March 31, 2002 and 2001............................... F-2
Interim unaudited statements of operations for the periods ended March 31, 2002
and 2001................................................................................ F-4
Interim unaudited statements of cash flows for the periods ended March 31, 2002
and 2001................................................................................ F-5
Notes to Financial Statements........................................................... F-7
Independent auditor's reports........................................................... F-8
Balance sheets, December 31, 2001 and 2000.............................................. F-9
Statements of operations for the periods ended December 31, 2001 and 2000............... F-11
Statements of shareholders' equity for the periods ended December 31, 2001 and 2000..... F-12
Statements of cash flows for the periods ended December 31, 2001 and 2000............... F-13
Notes to Financial Statements........................................................... F-15
Vitro Diagnostics, Inc.
Independent auditor's report............................................................ F-24
Balance sheet, July 31, 2000............................................................ F-25
Statements of operations, for the nine months ended July 31, 2000....................... F-26
Statement of changes in shareholders' equity, for the nine months ended July 31, 2002... F-27
Statements of cash flows, for the nine months ended July 31, 2000....................... F-28
Notes to financial statements........................................................... F-29
Independent auditor's report............................................................ F-35
Statement of operations for the year ended October 31, 1999............................. F-36
Statement of shareholders' equity for the year ended October 31, 1999................... F-37
Statement of cash flows for the year ended October 31, 1999............................. F-38
Notes to financial statements........................................................... F-41
F-1
AspenBio, Inc.
Unaudited Balance Sheets
Assets
March 31, December 31,
2002 2001
---------- ------------
Current assets
Cash $ 297,365 $ 423,765
Accounts receivable 74,376 231,429
Inventories 442,402 358,374
Prepaid expenses 108,902 108,901
Prepaid income taxes 6,200
---------- ----------
Total current assets 929,245 1,122,469
---------- ----------
Property and equipment
Laboratory equipment 209,002 209,002
Computer equipment 30,676 30,676
Leasehold improvements 27,645 27,645
Office equipment 22,205 22,205
---------- ----------
289,528 289,528
Accumulated depreciation 98,996 87,510
---------- ----------
190,532 202,018
---------- ----------
Other Assets
Intangible assets, net amortization of
2002 $60,712; 2001 $21,396 646,694 619,965
Security deposit 6,925 6,925
Non current inventory 32,860 32,860
Deferred offering costs 89,428
---------- ----------
775,907 659,750
---------- ----------
$1,895,684 $1,984,237
========== ==========
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-2
AspenBio, Inc.
Unaudited Balance Sheets (Continued)
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
March 31, December 31,
2002 2001
----------- ------------
Current liabilities
Short term notes $ 37,275 $ 68,946
Current portion of long-term debt 93,811 315,562
Accounts payable 37,848 37,915
Accrued liabilities 7,569 4,014
Accrued income taxes 11,000
----------- -----------
Total current liabilities 176,503 437,437
----------- -----------
Long-term debt-less current portion 327,435 290,921
----------- -----------
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, authorized
15,000,000 shares, issued 2002 9,300,000 shares;
2001 7,717,042 shares 1,517,927 1,217,927
Retained earnings (deficit) (126,182) 37,952
----------- -----------
1,391,746 1,255,879
----------- -----------
$ 1,895,684 $ 1,984,237
=========== ===========
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-3
AspenBio, Inc.
Unaudited Statements of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2002 and 2001
2002 2001
----------- -----------
Sales $ 109,670 $ 234,506
Cost of sales 22,456 53,707
----------- -----------
Gross profit 87,214 180,799
----------- -----------
Operating expenses
General lab expenses 23,678 55,899
General and administrative 74,594 198,618
Research and development 138,546 42,570
Depreciation and amortization 11,464 15,672
----------- -----------
248,282 312,759
----------- -----------
Operating income (loss) (161,068) (131,960)
Interest expense 14,065 19,512
----------- -----------
Income (loss) before income taxes (175,133) (151,472)
Income taxes (11,000)
----------- -----------
Net income (loss) $ (164,133) $ (151,472)
=========== ===========
Basic and diluted earnings per share $ (.02) $ (.02)
=========== ===========
Basic and diluted
weighted average shares outstanding 8,905,556 7,717,042
=========== ===========
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-4
AspenBio, Inc.
Unaudited Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31, 2002 and 2001
2002 2001
--------- ---------
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss) $(164,133) $(151,472)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash (used) by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization 11,486 10,901
Stock issued for compensation 137,055
(Increase) decrease in:
Accounts receivable 157,053 (9,194)
Inventories (84,028) 22,686
Prepaid expenses (6,201)
Increase (decrease) in:
Accrued liabilities 3,555 (2,102)
Accounts payable (67) (38,486)
Accrued income taxes (11,000)
--------- ---------
Net cash provided (used)
by operating activities (93,335) (30,612)
--------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of intangible assets (26,729)
--------- ---------
Net cash provided (used)
by investing activities (26,729)
--------- ---------
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-5
AspenBio, Inc.
Unaudited Statements of Cash Flows(Continued)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2002 and 2001
2002 2001
--------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities
Debt reduction
Long-term (185,237) (14,902)
Short-term (31,671) (4,196)
Proceeds from issuing common stock 300,000
Deferred offering costs (89,428)
--------- ---------
Net cash provided (used)
by financing activities (6,336) (19,078)
--------- ---------
Net increase(decrease) in cash (126,400) (49,690)
Cash at beginning of year 423,765 107,590
--------- ---------
Cash at end of the year $ 297,365 $ 57,900
========= =========
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the year for
Interest $ 14,065 $ 19,512
Income taxes $ 6,200
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-6
AspenBio, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Unaudited
Financial Statements
The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with the instructions for interim financial statements and do not include all of
the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting
principles for complete financial statements.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These
statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements
and notes thereto included in the Company's annual financial statements for the
year ended December 31, 2001.
COMMON STOCK SALES
On December 28, 2001, with Board of Directors' approval the Company entered into
an agreement to sell 1,000,000 shares of common stock for total consideration of
$600,000, of which 50% of the shares and consideration was completed upon
signing the agreement and the reminder was payable upon completion of specified
conditions, which were completed and funding paid as of March 11, 2002.
Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following:
March 31 December 31
2001 2000
Finished goods $ 131,100 $ 131,100
Goods in process 37,271 37,271
Raw materials 190,003 190,003
Noncurrent goods in process 32,860 32,860
------------ ------------
$ 391,234 $ 391,234
============ ============
F-7
[LARRY O'DONNELL, CPA, P.C. LETTERHEAD]
Independent Auditor's Report
Board of Directors and Stockholders
AspenBio, Inc.
I have audited the accompanying balance sheets of AspenBio, Inc. as of December
31, 2001 and 2000 and the related statements of operations, stockholders' equity
and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2001 and for the period from
inception July 24, 2000 to December 31, 2000. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. My responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on my audits.
I conducted my audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
in the United States of America. Those standards require that I plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. I believe my audits provide a reasonable basis for my
opinion.
In my opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of AspenBio, Inc. as of December 31,
2001 and 2000 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the year
ended December 31, 2001 and for the period from inception July 24, 2000 to
December 31, 2000 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in
the United States of America.
/s/ Larry O'Donnell
------------------------------------
LARRY O'DONNELL, CPA, P.C.
Aurora, CO
February 4, 2002
F-8
AspenBio, Inc.
Balance Sheets
December 31, 2001 and 2000
Assets
2001 2000
---------- ----------
Current assets
Cash $ 423,765 $ 107,590
Accounts receivable 231,429 40,765
Inventories 358,374 177,058
Prepaid expenses 108,901 75,581
---------- ----------
Total current assets 1,122,469 400,994
---------- ----------
Property and equipment
Laboratory equipment 209,002 175,243
Computer equipment 30,676 30,677
Leasehold improvements 27,645 27,645
Office equipment 22,205 22,205
---------- ----------
289,528 255,770
Accumulated depreciation 87,510 27,169
---------- ----------
202,018 228,601
---------- ----------
Other Assets
Intangible assets, net amortization of
2001 $60,712; 2000 $17,857 619,965 624,978
Security deposit 6,925 6,925
Non current inventory 32,860 19,500
---------- ----------
659,750 651,403
---------- ----------
$1,984,237 $1,280,998
========== ==========
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-9
AspenBio, Inc.
Balance Sheets (Continued)
December 31, 2001 and 2000
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
2001 2000
----------- -----------
Current liabilities
Short term notes $ 68,946 $ 85,957
Current portion of long-term debt, related party 216,787
Current portion of long-term debt 93,811 84,290
Accounts payable 37,915 83,835
Accrued liabilities 4,014 3,289
Accrued income taxes 11,000
----------- -----------
Total current liabilities 432,473 257,371
----------- -----------
Long-term debt-less current portion, related party 216,779 413,512
Long-term debt-less current portion 79,106 173,347
----------- -----------
295,885 586,859
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, authorized
15,000,000 shares, issued 2001 8,800,000 shares;
2000 5,432,798 shares 1,217,927 500,000
Retained earnings (deficit) 37,952 (63,232)
----------- -----------
1,255,879 436,768
----------- -----------
$ 1,984,237 $ 1,280,998
=========== ===========
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-10
AspenBio, Inc.
Statements of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2001 and
The Period From Inception, July 24, 2000 to December 31, 2000
2001 2000
----------- -----------
Sales $ 1,123,269 $ 288,910
Cost of sales 161,160 68,236
----------- -----------
Gross profit 962,109 220,674
----------- -----------
Operating expenses
General lab expenses 120,399 59,192
General and administrative 374,281 121,924
Research and development 160,943 28,101
Depreciation and amortization 109,488 45,025
----------- -----------
765,111 254,242
----------- -----------
Operating income (loss) 196,998 (33,568)
Interest expense 84,814 29,664
----------- -----------
Income (loss) before income taxes 112,184 (63,232)
Income taxes 11,000
----------- -----------
Net income (loss) $ 101,184 $ (63,232)
=========== ===========
Basic and diluted earnings per share $ .01 $ (.01)
=========== ===========
Basic and diluted
weighted average shares outstanding 7,964,749 5,432,798
=========== ===========
PROFORMA INFORMATION ASSUMING THE COMPANY
HAD BEEN TAXED AS A REGULAR CORPORATION
Income (loss) before income taxes 112,184 (63,232)
Income taxes 30,300
----------- -----------
Net income (loss) $ 81,884 $ (63,232)
=========== ===========
Basic and diluted earnings per share $ .01 $ (.01)
=========== ===========
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-11
AspenBio, Inc.
Statements of Stockholders' Equity
Year Ended December 31, 2001 and
The Period From Inception, July 24, 2000 to December 31, 2000
Common Stock
------------------------------ Retained
Shares Amount Earnings
----------- ----------- -----------
Insurance of common
stock for cash 5,432,798 $ 500,000
Net loss for the period $ (63,232)
----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, December 31, 2000 5,432,798 500,000 (63,232)
Issuance of common
stock for compensation 2,284,244 137,055
Issuance of common
stock for cash 582,958 280,874
Issuance of common
stock for cash 500,000 300,000
Net income for the year 101,184
----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, December 31, 2001 8,800,000 $ 1,217,927 $ 37,952
=========== =========== ===========
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-12
AspenBio, Inc.
Statements of Cash Flows
Year Ended December 31, 2001 and
The Period From Inception, July 24, 2000 to December 31, 2000
2001 2000
--------- ---------
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss) $ 101,184 $ (63,232)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash (used) by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization 103,196 45,026
Stock issued for compensation 137,055
(Increase) decrease in:
Accounts receivable (190,664) 167,377
Inventories (194,676) (56,243)
Prepaid expenses (33,320) (18,904)
Increase (decrease) in:
Accrued liabilities 725 (5,948)
Accounts payable (45,920) 17,986
Accrued income taxes 11,000
--------- ---------
Net cash provided (used)
by operating activities (111,420) 86,062
--------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment (33,758)
Purchases of intangible assets (37,842)
Purchase of Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. (250,000)
--------- ---------
Net cash provided (used)
by investing activities (71,600) (250,000)
--------- ---------
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-13
AspenBio, Inc.
Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)
Year Ended December 31, 2001 and
The Period From Inception, July 24, 2000 to December 31, 2000
2001 2000
--------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities
New borrowings
Long-term 743,512
Short-term 50,000
Debt reduction
Long-term (64,676) (188,983)
Short-term (17,001) (833,001)
Proceeds from issuing common stock 580,872 500,000
--------- ---------
Net cash provided (used)
by financing activities 499,195 271,528
--------- ---------
Net increase in cash 316,175 107,590
Cash at beginning of year 107,590
--------- ---------
Cash at end of the year $ 423,765 $ 107,590
========= =========
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash paid during the year for
Interest $ 51,360 $ 29,664
Income taxes
Schedule of noncash investing and financing transactions
Notes payable incurred to purchase Vitro
Diagnostics, Inc. $ 450,000
See Notes to Financial Statements
F-14
AspenBio, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
1. Summary of significant accounting policies
Nature of operations - The Company was organized on July 24, 2000 and
on August 1, 2000 purchased the entire assets and liabilities
(excluding one patent and two patents pending) of Vitro Diagnostic,
Inc. The president and a shareholder was also the president and a
shareholder of Vitro Diagnostic, Inc.
The Company purifies human pituitary antigens and tumor markets, and
animal hormones throughout the United States.
Cash and cash equivalents - For purposes of the statement of cash
flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt with original
maturities of ninety days or less, to be cash equivalents.
Concentration of credit risk - At December 31, 2001, the Company's cash
in financial institutions exceeded the federally insured deposit limit
by approximately $325,000. The Company has not experienced any losses
in such accounts.
Fair value of financials instruments - The Company's financial
instruments includes accounts receivable, accounts payable, notes
payable and long-term debt. The fair market value of accounts
receivable and accounts payable approximate their carrying values
because their maturities are generally less than one year. Long-term
notes receivable and debt obligations are estimated to approximate
their carrying values based upon their stated interest rates.
Inventories - Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in,
first-out) or market. Goods in process inventory which is not expected
to be completed and sold in the next fiscal year is classified as non
current.
Property and equipment - Property and equipment are stated at cost, net
of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided primarily by the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related
assets.
Intangible assets - Intangible assets are stated at cost net of
accumulated amortization. Amortization is provided on a straight-line
basis generally over fifteen years. In January 2002 the Company will
discontinue amortizing the cost in excess of fair value of purchased
assets under the provisions of FAS 142. Instead they will be tested for
impairment.
F-15
AspenBio, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
1. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Income taxes - At inception, the Company, with the consent of its
shareholders, elected under the Internal Revenue Code to be an S
corporation. In lieu of corporation income taxes, the shareholders of
an S corporation are taxed on their proportionate share of the
Company's taxable income. Therefore, no provision or liability for
federal income taxes from inception to August 1, 2001. On August 1,
2001, the Company revoked the election.
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes",
which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting
and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and
liabilities are computed annually for differences between the financial
statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities that will result in
taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax laws
and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are
expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established
when necessary to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount expected
to be realized. Income tax expense is payable or refundable for the
period plus or minus the change during the period in deferred tax
assets and liabilities.
Use of estimates - The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the
reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue recognition - Revenues from the sale of products are recognized
upon shipment to the customer. All products may be returned for a full
refund for any reason. Management provides an estimated allowance for
product returns based upon the history of product returns. Management
provides an estimated allowance for uncollectable accounts receivable
based upon an assessment of amounts outstanding and evaluation of
specific customer account balances. As of December 31, 2001 and 2000 no
allowance was deemed necessary.
Stock options - The Company accounts for stock options issued to
employees in accordance with APB No.25.
F-16
AspenBio, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
1. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
The Company has elected to adopt the disclosure requirements of SFAS
No.123 "Accounting for Stock-based Compensation". This statement
requires that the Company provide proforma information regarding net
income (loss) and income (loss) per share as if compensation cost for
the Company's stock options granted had been determined in accordance
with the fair value based method prescribed in SFAS No. 123.
Additionally, SFAS No. 123 generally requires that the Company record
options issued to non-employees, based on the fair value of the
options.
Income (Loss) per share - Basic earnings per share includes no dilution
and is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) available to
stockholders by the weighted number of common shares outstanding for
the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution
of securities that could share in the Company's earnings. The dilutive
effect of options and warrants was not sufficient to change the basic
amounts per share disclosed in the years ended December 31, 2001 and
2000.
Recent accounting pronouncements - The Financial Accounting Standards
Board (FASB) has recently issued Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (SFAS) No. 141, Business Combinations, SFAS No. 142, Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets, SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset
Retirement Obligations and SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment
or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.
SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations, requires the use of the purchase
method of accounting for all business combinations initiated after June
30, 2001. SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, addresses
accounting for the acquisition of intangible assets and accounting for
goodwill and other intangible assets after they have been initially
recognized in the financial statements, which is effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2001; however, certain provisions of
this Statement apply to goodwill and other intangible assets acquired
between July 1, 2001 and the effective date of SFAS 142.
Major provisions of these Statements and their effective dates for the
Company are as follows:
o All business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 must use
the purchase method of accounting, with the pooling of interest method
of accounting prohibited.
F-17
AspenBio, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
1. Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
o Intangible assets acquired in a business combination must be
recorded separately from goodwill if they arise from
contractual or other legal rights or are separable from the
acquired entity.
o Goodwill, as well as intangible assets with indefinite lives,
acquired after June 30, 2001, will not be amortized. In the
year of adoption, all previously recognized goodwill and
intangible assets with indefinite lives will no longer be
subject to amortization.
o Goodwill, tested by business segment and intangible assets
with indefinite lives will be tested for impairment annually
and whenever there is an impairment indicator.
Management will adopt SFAS No. 141 and 142 as of January 1, 2002, and
anticipates that the impact on the 2002 financial statements will be a
reduction in annual amortization expense of approximately $28,000.
SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, addresses
accounting and reporting for obligations associated with the retirement
of tangible long-lived assets and the associated asset retirement
costs. SFAS No. 143 will be effective for the Company for the fiscal
year beginning January 1, 2003 and early adoption is encouraged. SFAS
No. 143 requires that the fair value of a liability for an asset's
retirement obligation be recorded in the period in which it is incurred
and the corresponding cost capitalized by increasing the carrying
amount of the related long-lived asset. The Company estimates that the
new standard will not have a material impact on its financial
statements but is still in the process of evaluating the impact on its
financial statements.
SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets, is effective for the Company on January 1, 2003, and addresses
accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived
assets. SFAS No. 144 supersedes SFAS No. 121, Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be
Disposed Of and APB Opinion No. 30, Reporting the Results of
Operations-Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a
Business. SFAS No. 144 retains the fundamental provisions of SFAS No.
121 and expands the reporting of discontinued operations to include all
components of an entity with operations that can be distinguished from
the rest of the entity and that will be eliminated from the ongoing
operations of the entity in a disposal transaction. The Company
estimates that the new standard will not have a material impact on its
financial statements but is still in the process of evaluating the
impact on its financial statements.
F-18
AspenBio, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
2. Purchase of assets of Vitro Diagnostics, Inc.
On August 1, 2000 the Company purchased the entire assets and
liabilities (excluding one patent and two patents pending) of Vitro
Diagnostics, Inc. for $250,000 cash, a $450,000 promissory note and
assumed all liabilities and leases. The promissory note was paid during
2000. The president and a shareholder of the Company was also the
president and a shareholder of Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. The transaction
was recorded as follows:
Cash $ 7,454
Receivables 208,142
Inventory 140,315
Prepaid expenses 56,677
Property and equipment 255,770
Other assets 6,925
Cost in excess of value of purchased assets 642,835
----------
Total assets 1,318,118
----------
Accounts payable and accruals 75,086
Notes payable 202,577
----------
Total liabilities 277,663
----------
Net purchase $1,040,455
==========
The Company also assumed certain operating leases.
3. Inventories
Inventories consisted of the following at December 31:
2001 2000
Finished goods $131,100 $ 80,019
Goods in process 37,271 7,035
Raw materials 190,003 90,004
Noncurrent goods in process 32,860 19,500
-------- --------
$391,234 $196,558
======== ========
F-19
AspenBio, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
4. Intangible assets
Cost in excess of value of
purchased assets $642,835 $642,835
Licenses 30,000
Patents and trademarks 7,842
-------- --------
680,677 642,835
Accumulated amortization 60,712 17,857
-------- --------
$619,965 $624,978
======== ========
The Company has license agreements with the University of Wyoming and
University of Idaho. The Wyoming agreement is for $140,000 of which
$10,000 had been paid by December 31, 2001. The remainder is due in
semi-annual payments of $35,000 commencing January, 2002 through July,
2003. The purpose of the agreement is to continue research into other
possible pregnancy specific proteins that could be used in the
Company's Bovine Pregnancy Test. As well the University transferred its
existing pregnancy specific proteins to the Company Over and above the
payments the Company agreed to pay the University a 2.5% royalty on the
gross revenues generated by the pregnancy test. The agreement may be
terminated by the Company with 30 days notice and without future
obligations.
The Arizona agreement is for $20,000 which had been paid by December
31, 2001. The agreement further calls for a royalty of 2.5% to be paid
in the gross sales of the Company's pregnancy test. A minimum royalty
of $25,000 per year is due quarterly and is credited against earned
royalties. The purpose of the agreement was to transfer to the Company
a provisional patent filing held by the University entitled
"Determination of Pregnancy Status of Ungulates." The company with 30
days notice and without future obligations may terminate the agreement.
The Company has no assets which will be separately categorized when it
adopts Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142,
"Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets."
5. Notes payable
The following is a summary of notes payable at December 31:
Short-term 2001 2000
---------- -------- --------
Sun Trust, 6%, unsecured $ 30,107 $ 38,949
US Bank, 13%, credit line of $50,000 38,839 47,008
-------- --------
$ 68,946 $ 85,957
======== ========
Long-term
---------
Colorado Business Leasing, 11%, monthly
payments of $9,053, collateralized by
equipment due October, 2003 $172,917 $257,637
President and shareholder, 8%, unsecured
no fixed due date 433,566 413,512
-------- --------
606,483 671,149
Current maturities 315,562 84,290
-------- --------
$290,921 $586,859
======== ========
F-20
AspenBio, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
5. Notes payable (continued)
Future maturities of long-term debt for each of the years ended
December 31:
2002 $310,598; 2003 $111,764; 2004 $35,000, 2005 $149,121; 2006 none.
Subsequent to December 31, 2001, approximately $192,000 was repaid on
the above 8% loan. On April 1, 2002 the Company made an Amended and
Restated Promissory Note to its president in the amount of $267,501,
payable with interest of 8% per annum, in installments with all amounts
due on April 30, 2005.
6. Lease obligations
Leases:
The Company leases its facilities on a month to month basis. The lease
currently requires monthly payments of $8,129.46. Rent expense under
the lease was $58,000 and $28,335 for the periods ended December 31,
2001 and 2000, respectively.
The Company leases laboratory equipment under leases which are
classified as operating leases. The leases expire through 2004. Rent
expense under the leases was $122,800 and $30,922 for the periods ended
December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively.
Future minimum lease payments for each of the years ended December 31:
2002 $40,500; 2003 $31,100; 2004 $19,000.
7. Income taxes
Income taxes at the federal statutory rate is reconciled to the
Company's actual income taxes as follows:
2001 2000
-------- --------
Federal income tax at statutory rate (34%) $ 38,000 $(21,500)
State income tax net of federal tax effect 2,400
Effect of graduated rates (10,000)
Effect of S Corporation election (19,400) 21,500
-------- --------
$ 11,000 $
======== ========
There are no deferred tax assets or liabilities. There was no
recognition of deferred tax assets or liabilities upon termination of
the S corporation election.
F-21
AspenBio, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
8. Stockholders' equity
On August 1, 2001, the Board of Directors approved the increase in
the authorized shares from 100,000 to 15,000,000.
Also on August 1, 2001, the Board of Directors approved a split in
the outstanding shares such that the then outstanding shares of
15,550 became 8,000,000. The effect of this approximate 514 for 1
split, has been retroactively reflected in the accompanying
financial statements for all periods presented.
Also, on August 1, 2001 the Board of Directors granted stock
options to two directors totaling 200,000 shares for $1 per share.
The value of the options are minimal.
The following schedule details activity related to options to
directors of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2001 and
2000.
2001 2000
Price
Options outstanding, January 1 0 0
Granted 200,000 $1
Exercised
Forfeited
Expired
Options outstanding, December 31 200,000 0
Options exercisable, December 31 200,000
If the Company had elected to recognize compensation expense based
upon the fair value of the options at the date of grant for awards
granted in 2001 the Company's net income and earnings per share
would have approximated the pro forma amounts below:
Pro forma net income $101,184
Earnings per share $.01
The weighted-average fair value of each option granted in 2001 is
estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes
option-pricing model as follows:
Assumptions:
Risk-free interest rate 3.7%
Life in years 5
Volatility 5%
Dividend yield 0%
Fair value $.002
On December 28, 2001, with Board of Directors' approval the
Company entered into an agreement sell 1,000,000 shares of common
stock for total consideration of $600,000, of which 50% of the
shares and consideration was completed upon signing the agreement
and the reminder was payable upon completion of specified
conditions, which were completed and funding paid on March 12,
2002. As part of the agreement, the Company also agreed to issue
warrants to purchase 830,000 shares of common stock at $1 per
share.
9. Concentrations
Major customers - The Company had three customers who accounted
for 39%, 13% and 11% of its sales during the year ended December
31, 2001. At December 31, 2001, one customer accounted for 54% of
the Company's accounts receivable. The Company had one customer
who accounted for 80% of its sales during the period ended
December 31, 2000. At December 31, 2000, one customer accounted
for 33% of the Company's accounts receivable.
Credit risk - The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of
its customers' financial condition and, generally, requires no
collateral from its customers.
Raw materials - The Company purchases substantially all of its raw
materials from one supplier.
F-22
AspenBio, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements (Continued)
10. Related party transactions
The Company has notes payable due its President which are
discussed in detail in Note 5.
11. Subsequent events
Subsequent to year end the Company adopted the 2002 Incentive
Stock Option plan consisting of 900,000 authorized shares, and
issued 400,000 shares to employees. The options are exercisable in
annual installments of one-third each at $1.25 per share for a
term of 10 years. The Company may grant either options or stock
pursuant to the plan. No common stock has been issued pursuant to
the plan.
Subsequent to year end, the Company, with the approval of its
Board began preparing a Form S-1 Registration statement for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission to have its stock
become publicly traded.
F-23
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
Vitro Diagnostics, Inc.
We have audited the balance sheet of Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. as of July 31,
2000, and the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders' equity,
and cash flows for the nine months ended July 31, 2000. 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 audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. as of
July 31, 2000, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the nine
months ended July 31, 2000, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
Cordovano and Harvey, P.C.
Denver, Colorado
December 22, 2000
F-24
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
BALANCE SHEET
July 31, 2000
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ................................................................ $ 6,517
Accounts receivable ...................................................................... 208,142
Inventory ................................................................................ 335,198
Prepaid expenses ......................................................................... 11,058
------------
Total current assets 560,915
Inventory, non-current ........................................................................ --
Furniture and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $157,977 ......................... 54,212
Patents and deferred costs, net of accumulated amortization of $2,663 ......................... 143,539
------------
$ 758,666
============
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities on note payable (Note B) .............................................. $ 80,000
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities ................................................. 67,319
------------
Total current liabilities 147,319
Long-term debt (Note B):
Note payable, net of current maturities .................................................. 122,578
------------
Total liabilities 269,897
------------
Commitments (Note D) .......................................................................... --
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $.001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized;
8,455,087 shares issued and outstanding ............................................... 8,455
Additional paid-in capital ............................................................... 3,931,174
Retained deficit ......................................................................... (3,450,860)
------------
Total shareholders' equity 488,769
------------
$ 758,666
============
See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and
notes to financial statements.
F-25
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Nine Months Ended July 31, 2000
Revenue:
Product sales ..................................................................... $ 821,564
Cost of goods sold ................................................................ 346,604
------------
Gross profit 474,960
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative ............................................... 388,342
Research and development .......................................................... 355,312
------------
Total operating expenses 743,654
------------
Income (loss) from operations (268,694)
Other income (expense):
Interest income ................................................................... 7,892
Interest expense .................................................................. (20,894)
------------
Income (loss) before income taxes (281,696)
Provision for income taxes (Note C) .................................................... --
------------
NET INCOME (LOSS) $ (281,696)
============
Basic and diluted income (loss) per common share ....................................... $ (0.03)
============
Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding ........................... 8,455,087
============
See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and
notes to financial statements.
F-26
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common Stock Additional
----------------------------- Paid-in Retained
Shares Par Value Capital Deficit Total
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE, OCTOBER 31, 1999 8,455,087 $ 8,455 $ 3,931,174 $ (3,169,164) $ 770,465
Net loss for the nine months ended
July 31, 2000 ......................... -- -- -- (281,696) (281,696)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE, JULY 31, 2000 8,455,087 $ 8,455 $ 3,931,174 $ (3,450,860) $ 488,769
============ ============ ============ ============ ============
See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and
notes to financial statements.
F-27
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Nine Months Ended July 31, 2000
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss ......................................................................... $ (281,696)
Transactions not requiring cash:
Depreciation and amortization ................................................. 13,150
Changes in current assets and current liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, inventories,
prepaid expenses and deposits, net of sale to AspenBio ..................... 196,791
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses
and payroll taxes payable, net of sale to AspenBio ......................... 40,525
------------
Net cash used in operating activities ................................................. (31,230)
------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Property and equipment purchases ................................................. (29,683)
Payments for patents ............................................................. (43,867)
Proceeds from receipt of note receivable ......................................... 6,500
------------
Net cash provided by (used) in investing activities ................................... (67,050)
------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable .......................................... 195,000
Principal payments of notes payable .............................................. (134,494)
------------
Net cash provided by financing activities ............................................. 60,506
------------
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (37,774)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year .......................................... 44,291
------------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $ 6,517
============
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest ...................................................................... $ 20,894
============
Income taxes .................................................................. $ --
============
See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and
notes to financial statements.
F-28
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and
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.
CASH EQUIVALENTS
For the purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all
highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three
months or less to be cash equivalents.
REVENUE AND COST RECOGNITION
Revenues from the sale of products are recognized upon shipment to the customer.
Management provides an estimated allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable
based on assessment amounts outstanding and evaluation of specific customer
account balances. At July 31, 2000, management believed all receivables were
collectible and no allowance was deemed necessary.
INVENTORY
Inventory is valued utilizing the lower of cost or market value determined on
the first-in first-out (FIFO) valuation method. Physical inventories are
conducted quarterly. Goods in process inventory, which is not expected to be
completed and sold within the next fiscal year is classified as non-current.
PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND DEPRECIATION
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is calculated on the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation
expense totaled $10,487 for the nine months ended July 31, 2000.
PATENTS, DEFERRED COSTS AND AMORTIZATION
Patents consist of costs incurred to acquire issued patents. Amortization
commences once a patent is issued. Costs incurred to acquire patents that have
not been issued are reported as deferred costs. If a patent is denied, the costs
incurred are charged to operations in the year the patent is denied. The Company
amortizes its patent over a period of ten years. Amortization expense totaled
$2,663 for the nine months ended July 31, 2000.
F-29
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
The Company reports loss per share using a dual presentation of basic and
diluted loss per share. Basic loss per share excludes the impact of common stock
equivalents. Diluted loss per share utilizes the average market price per share
when applying the treasury stock method in determining common stock equivalents.
Common stock options outstanding at July 31, 2000 were not included in the
diluted loss per share as all 1,162,344 options were anti-dilutive. Therefore,
basic and diluted losses per share at July 31, 2000 were equal.
INCOME TAXES
Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the
financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes
related primarily to differences between the recorded book basis and the tax
basis of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting. The
deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax return consequences
of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets
and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred taxes are also recognized for
operating losses that are available to offset future taxable income and tax
credits that are available to offset future federal income taxes.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" was issued in October
1995 (SFAS 123). This accounting standard permits the use of either a "fair
value based method" or the "intrinsic value method" defined in Accounting
Principles Board Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" (APB 25)
to account for stock-based compensation arrangements.
SFAS 123 requires the fair value based method of accounting for stock issued to
non-employees in exchange for services.
Companies that elect to use the method provided in APB 25 are required to
disclose pro forma net income and pro forma earnings per share information that
would have resulted from the use of the fair value based method. The Company has
elected to continue to determine the value of stock-based compensation
arrangements under the provisions of APB 25. Pro forma disclosures have been
included in Note D.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
SFAS 107, "Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments," requires
certain disclosures regarding the fair value of financial instruments. The
carrying amounts of cash, accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of the instruments.
F-30
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE A: NATURE OF ORGANIZATION
The Company was incorporated under the laws of Nevada on March 31, 1986. From
November of 1990 through July 31, 2000, the Company was engaged in the
development, manufacturing and marketing of purified human antigens
("Diagnostics") and the development of therapeutic products (Therapeutics"). The
Company's sales have been solely attributable to the manufacturing of the
purified human antigens.
On August 7, 2000, the Company sold its Diagnostics operations to AspenBio, Inc.
("AspenBio"), a private affiliated company owned by a significant Company
shareholder and the Company's former president and director. AspenBio purchased
all of the assets and liabilities of the Company, excluding the patents, in
exchange for $250,000 and a $450,000 promissory note. The promissory note was
paid in full during September 2000. Because the transaction occurred between
related parties, the sale was treated as a transfer of assets and the Company's
gain on the transfer was recorded to equity as an increase to additional paid-in
capital. The net increase to additional paid-in capital of $354,770 was
calculated as follows:
Description Amount Totals
----------- ------ ------
Cash ................................................................. $ 6,517
Receivables .......................................................... 208,142
Inventory ............................................................ 335,198
Furniture and equipment, net ......................................... 54,212
Other assets ......................................................... 11,058
----------
Total Assets 615,127
Payables and accruals ................................................ (67,319)
Debt ................................................................. (202,578)
----------
Total Liabilities * (269,897)
----------
NET ASSETS SOLD TO ASPENBIO ........................................................... 345,230
----------
Cash ................................................................. 250,000
Promissory note ...................................................... 450,000
----------
CONSIDERATION RECEIVED FROM ASPENBIO .................................................. 700,000
----------
NET CONTRIBUTED CAPITAL RECEIVED FROM ASPENBIO ........................................ $ 354,770
==========
* Does not include $283,726 in off-balance sheet operating leases transferred to
AspenBio in the transaction.
Following the transfer of its Diagnostics operations, the Company began devoting
all efforts to its therapeutic drug development. The Company's target area for
its therapeutic products is the treatment of human infertility. The Company was
granted a patent for its product VITROPIN(TM) on November 23, 1999. VITROPIN(TM)
is a highly purified urinary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) preparation
produced according to the Company's patented purification process. The Company
is developing additional FSH-related drugs including VITROPIN-C(TM) and
VITROCELL(TM), and a syringe for administration of fertility drugs called
VITROJECT(TM).
F-31
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Company expects continuing losses over the next several years as research
and development efforts continue. Management plans to finance operations with
funds obtained through the transfer of the Diagnostics operations, issuances of
equity or debt securities, and in the longer term, research and development
contract revenue and revenue from product sales and royalties.
The following pro forma condensed, balance sheet gives effect to the transfer of
assets as if it occurred on July 31, 2000. The pro forma condensed, balance
sheet is not necessarily indicative of the financial position had the transfer
transaction occurred on July 31, 2000.
JULY 31, 2000
Vitro Pro Forma
(as reported) Adjustments Consolidated
------------- ----------- ------------
Cash ......................... $ 6,517 $ 218,483 (1) $ 225,000
Accounts receivable .......... 208,142 (208,142)(2) --
Note receivable .............. -- 450,000 (3) 450,000
Inventory .................... 335,198 (335,198)(4) --
Furniture and equipment, net . 54,212 (54,212)(5) --
Intangible assets, net ....... 143,539 -- 143,539
Other assets ................. 11,058 (11,058)(6) --
------------ ------------ ------------
Total assets ................. $ 758,666 $ 59,873 $ 818,539
============ ============ ============
Current liabilities .......... $ 67,319 $ (67,319)(7) $ --
Long-term debt ............... 202,578 (202,578)(7) --
------------ ------------ ------------
Total liabilities ............ 269,897 (269,897) --
------------ ------------ ------------
Shareholders' equity ......... 488,769 329,770 (8),(9) 818,539
------------ ------------ ------------
Total liabilities and
shareholders' deficit ..... $ 758,666 $ 59,873 $ 818,539
============ ============ ============
Pro forma condensed, balance sheet adjustments:
1. Increase cash balance to reflect $250,000 received in transfer
transaction (less $25,000 of closing costs);
2. Elimination of trade receivables;
3. Record note receivable acquired in transfer transaction;
4. Elimination of inventory;
5. Elimination of furniture and equipment;
6. Elimination of other assets;
7. Elimination of liabilities and debt;
8. Record gain on transfer transaction as an increase to additional
paid-in capital;
9. Record $25,000 of closing costs.
The following pro forma condensed, statement of operations gives effect to the
transfer of assets as if it occurred on November 1, 1999. The pro forma
condensed, statement of operations is not necessarily indicative of results of
operations had the transfer transaction occurred at the beginning of the period.
F-32
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NINE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31, 2000
Vitro Pro Forma
(as reported) Adjustments Consolidated
-------------- -------------- --------------
Revenues ..................... $ 821,564 $ (821,564) (1) $ 1
Cost of goods sold ........... 346,604 (346,604) (2) 2
Operating expenses ........... 743,654 30,263 (3),(4),(5) 773,917
-------------- -------------- --------------
Operating loss ............... (268,694) (505,223) (773,918)
Non-operating income
and expenses .............. (13,002) 13,002 (6) --
-------------- -------------- --------------
Net loss ..................... $ (281,696) $ (492,221) $ (773,918)
============== ============== ==============
Basic and diluted loss per
common share .............. $ (0.03) $ (0.09)
============== ==============
Basic and diluted weighted
average common shares
outstanding ............... 8,455,087 8,455,087
============== ==============
Condensed, consolidated statement of operations adjustments:
1. Elimination of revenues;
2. Elimination of cost of goods sold;
3. Record $25,000 of closing costs;
4. Record $15,750 of rent expense for the use of a related party's
facility for the nine month period ($1,750 per month);
5. Elimination of depreciation expense ($10,487);
6. Elimination of interest income and interest expense.
NOTE B: NOTE PAYABLE
Long-term debt consisted of the following note payable at July 31, 2000:
Colorado Business Leasing, interest rate of 11 percent,
monthly payments of $9,053, collateralized by equipment,
Net operating loss for which no tax benefit
matures October 2003 ....................................... $ 202,578
Less current maturities .................................... (80,000)
------------
$ 122,578
============
NOTE C: INCOME TAXES
A reconciliation of the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to the effective
rate is as follows:
F-33
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
July 31,
2000
-------
U.S. federal statutory graduated rate ................. 34.00%
State income tax rate, net of federal benefit ......... 3.14%
Net operating loss for which no tax benefit
is currently available ............................. (37.14)%
------
0.00%
======
At July 31, 2000, deferred taxes consisted of a net tax asset of $781,119, due
to operating loss carryforwards of $2,055,888, which was fully allowed for in
the valuation allowance of $781,119. The valuation allowance offsets the net
deferred tax asset for which there is no assurance of recovery. The deferred tax
asset for the nine months ended July 31, 2000 was $101,274. The change in the
valuation allowance from October 31, 1999 through July 31, 2000 was $101,274.
Net operating loss carryforwards will expire through 2020.
The valuation allowance will be evaluated at the end of each year, considering
positive and negative evidence about whether the asset will be realized. At that
time, the allowance will either be increased or reduced; reduction could result
in the complete elimination of the allowance if positive evidence indicates that
the value of the deferred tax asset is no longer impaired and the allowance is
no longer required.
NOTE D: COMMITMENTS
The Company leases its facilities on a month-to-month basis. The lease currently
requires monthly payments of $5,482. Rent expense under the facilities lease was
$$47,596 for the nine months ended July 31, 2000.
The Company leases laboratory equipment under leases which are classified as
operating leases. Rent expense under these leases totaled $22,116 for the nine
months ended July 31, 2000. Future minimum lease payments for each of the years
ended October 31 are as follows:
2001........................................................... $ 29,488
2002........................................................... $ 7,556
2003........................................................... $ 5,856
F-34
Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C.
Telephone (303) 745-4545
2280 South Xanadu Way, Suite 370
Aurora, Colorado 80014
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
To the Board of Directors
and Shareholders Vitro Diagnostics, Inc.
I have audited the balance sheet of Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. as of October 31,
1999 (not separately included herein), and the related statements of operations,
shareholders' equity and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. My responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on my audit.
I conducted my audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards require that I plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
I believe that my audit provides a reasonable basis for my opinion.
In my opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Vitro Diagnostics, Inc. as of
October 31, 1999 and the results of its operations and their cash flows for the
year then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C.
------------------------------
Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C.
Aurora, Colorado
January 18, 2000
F-35
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
Statement of Operations
For the Year ended October 31, 1999
Revenue:
Product sales ........................................ $ 835,452
Cost of goods sold ................................... 288,565
-----------
Gross profit ................. 546,887
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative ............. 363,882
Rent and facility fees, related party ........... --
Research and development ........................ 276,484
-----------
Total operating expenses ................. 640,366
-----------
Loss from operations ......... (93,479)
Other income (expense):
Interest income ................................. --
Interest expense ................................ (52,866)
Miscellaneous income ............................ 5,542
-----------
Loss before income taxes ..... (140,803)
Provision for income taxes ........................... --
-----------
Net loss ..................... $ (140,803)
===========
Basic and diluted loss per common share .............. $ (0.02)
===========
Basic and diluted weighted average common
shares outstanding ................................. 7,097,000
===========
See accompanying summary of significant accounting
policies and notes to the financial statements.
F-36
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
Statement of Shareholders' Equity
For the Year ended October 31, 1999
Common Stock Additional
----------------------------- Paid-in Retained
Shares Par Value Capital Deficit Total
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, October 31, 1998 .............. 6,419,816 $ 6,420 $ 3,529,909 $(3,028,361) $ 507,968
Common stock issued in exchange
for services ........................... 149,842 150 27,150 -- 27,300
Sale of common stock ................... 485,429 485 251,515 -- 252,000
Stock options exercised ................ 1,400,000 1,400 122,600 -- 124,000
Net loss for the year ended
October 31, 1999 ....................... -- -- -- (140,803) (140,803)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance, October 31, 1999 .............. 8,455,087 8,455 3,931,174 (3,169,164) 770,465
=========== =========== =========== =========== ===========
See accompanying summary of significant accounting
policies and notes to the financial statements.
F-37
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
Statements of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended October 31, 1999
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss ................................................. $(140,803)
Transactions not requiring cash:
Depreciation and amortization ......................... 13,763
Office and facility use contributed by affiliate ...... 5,250
Stock issued in exchange for services ................. 27,300
Changes in current assets and current liabilities:
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable,
inventories, prepaid expenses and deposits,
net of sale to AspenBio ............................ (68,130)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued
expenses and payroll taxes payable, net of
sale to AspenBio ................................... (73,890)
---------
Net cash used in operating activities ........................ (241,760)
---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from Purchase Agreement ......................... --
Property and equipment purchases ......................... (17,953)
Payments for patents ..................................... (48,612)
Issuance of note receivable .............................. (6,825)
Proceeds from receipts on note receivable ................ 325
Proceeds from AspenBio note receivable ................... --
---------
Net cash provided by (used) in investing activities .......... (73,065)
---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable .................. 150,000
Principal payments of notes payable ...................... (162,636)
Sale of common stock ..................................... 376,000
---------
Net cash provided by financing activities .................... 363,364
---------
Net change in cash and cash equivalents ............. 48,539
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year ................. (4,248)
---------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year .... $ 44,291
=========
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Cash paid during the year for:
Interest............................................... $ 51,854
=========
Income taxes................................................. $ --
=========
See accompanying summary of significant accounting
policies and notes to the financial statements.
F-38
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Use of estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, and
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.
Cash equivalents
For the purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all
highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three
months or less to be cash equivalents.
Revenue recognition
Revenues from the sale of products are recognized upon shipment to the customer.
All products may be returned for a full refund for any reason. Management
provides an estimated allowance for product returns based upon the history of
product returns. Management provides an estimated allowance for uncollectable
accounts receivable based upon an assessment of amounts outstanding and
evaluation of specific customer account balances.
Inventory
Inventory is valued utilizing the lower of cost or market value determined on
the first-in first-out (FIFO) valuation method. Physical inventories are
conducted quarterly.
Property, equipment and depreciation
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is calculated on the
straight-line method. Depreciation expense totaled $10,487 for the year ended
October 31, 1999.
Patents and amortization
Patents consist of costs incurred to acquire patents. Amortization commences
once a patent is granted. If a patent is denied, the costs incurred are charged
to operations in the year the patent is denied. The Company amortizes its patent
over a period of twenty years. Amortization expense totaled $3,859 for the year
ended October 31, 1999.
F-39
Income taxes
Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the
financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred taxes
related primarily to differences between the recorded book basis and the tax
basis of assets and liabilities for financial and income tax reporting. The
deferred tax assets and liabilities represent the future tax return consequences
of those differences, which will either be taxable or deductible when the assets
and liabilities are recovered or settled. Deferred taxes are also recognized for
operating losses that are available to offset future taxable income and tax
credits that are available to offset future federal income taxes.
Earnings/(loss) per share
The Company reports loss per share using a dual presentation of basic and
diluted loss per share. Basic loss per share excludes the impact of common stock
equivalents. Diluted loss per share utilizes the average market price per share
when applying the treasury stock method in determining common stock equivalents.
Common stock options outstanding at October 31, 1999 were not included in the
diluted loss per share as all 1,162,344 options were anti-dilutive. Therefore,
basic and diluted losses per share at October 31, 1999 were equal.
Stock-based compensation
SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" was issued in October
1995 (SFAS 123). This accounting standard permits the use of either a "fair
value based method" or the "intrinsic value method" defined in Accounting
Principles Board Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" (APB 25)
to account for stock-based compensation arrangements. SFAS 123 requires the fair
value based method of accounting for stock issued to non-employees in exchange
for services.
Companies that elect to use the method provided in APB 25 are required to
disclose pro forma net income and pro forma earnings per share information that
would have resulted from the use of the fair value based method. The Company has
elected to continue to determine the value of stock-based compensation
arrangements under the provisions of APB 25. Pro forma disclosures have been
included in Note D.
Fair value of financial instruments
SFAS 107, "Disclosure About Fair Value of Financial Instruments," requires
certain disclosures regarding the fair value of financial instruments. The
carrying amounts of cash, accounts payable and other accrued liabilities
approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of the instruments.
F-40
VITRO DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
Notes to Financial Statements
NOTE A: NATURE OF ORGANIZATION
The Company was incorporated under the laws of Nevada on March 31, 1986. From
November of 1990 through July 31, 2000, the Company was engaged in the
development, manufacturing and marketing of purified human antigens
("Diagnostics") and the development of therapeutic products (Therapeutics"). The
Company's sales have been solely attributable to the manufacturing of the
purified human antigens.
F-41
NOTE B: INCOME TAXES
A reconciliation of the U.S. statutory federal income tax rate to the effective
rate is as follows:
October 31,
1999
-----------
U.S. federal statutory graduated rate 26.51%
State income tax rate, net of federal benefit 3.49%
Contributed office and facility use 0.00%
Net operating loss for which no tax benefit
is currently available (30.00)%
-------
0.00%
=======
At October 31, 1999, deferred taxes consisted of a net tax asset of $660,000,
due to operating loss carryforwards of $1,777,000, which was fully allowed for
in the valuation allowance of $660,000. The valuation allowance offsets the net
deferred tax asset for which there is no assurance of recovery. Net operating
loss carryforwards will expire through 2020.
F-42
The valuation allowance will be evaluated at the end of each year, considering
positive and negative evidence about whether the asset will be realized. At that
time, the allowance will either be increased or reduced; reduction could result
in the complete elimination of the allowance if positive evidence indicates that
the value of the deferred tax asset is no longer impaired and the allowance is
no longer required.
NOTE C: SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
All stock options have been issued under the Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan.
An aggregate of 3,000,000 common shares has been reserved for issuance under the
1992 Plan. All stock options were fully vested on the date of grant. The
following schedule summarizes the changes in the Company's stock option plan:
Options Outstanding
and Exercisable
------------------------------------ Weighted Average
Number of Exercise Price Exercise Price
Shares Per Share Per Share
-------------- -------------- ----------------
Balance at October 31, 1998 ....... 2,440,000 $.07 to $.79 $ 0.10
Options granted ................ 220,000 $.63 to $.79 0.64
Options exercised .............. (1,400,000) $.07 to $.19 0.09
Options canceled ............... -- -- --
-------------- -------------- --------------
Balance at October 31, 1999 ....... 1,260,000 $.07 to $.79 0.22
F-43
Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share is required by
SFAS 123 as if the Company had accounted for its granted stock options under the
fair value method of that Statement. The fair value for these options was
estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with
the following assumptions:
Risk-free interest rate........................6.00%
Dividend yield.................................0.00%
Volatility factor.............................50.00%
Weighted average expected life...............5 years
The Black-Scholes options valuation model was developed for use in estimating
the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are
fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of
highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility.
Because the Company's stock options have characteristics significantly different
from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input
assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's
opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single
measure of the fair value of its stock options. However, the Company has
presented the pro forma net loss and pro forma basic and diluted loss per common
share using the assumptions noted above.
For the Years Ended
October 31, 1999
-------------------
Pro forma net loss $ (211,203)
===========
Pro forma basic and diluted net loss
per common share $ (0.03)
===========
F-44
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 13. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
The expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the issuance
and distribution of the securities being registered (other than underwriting
discounts and commissions, if any) are set forth below. Each item listed is
estimated, except for the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee $ 396.82
Accounting fees and expenses 15,000.00
Legal fees and expenses 60,000.00
Registrar and transfer agent's fees and expenses 2,500.00
Printing and engraving expenses 15,000.00
Miscellaneous 7,103.18
-----------
Total expenses $100,000.00
===========
ITEM 14. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 7-109-102 of the Colorado Business Corporation Act ("CBCA")
provides that a corporation may indemnify any director made a party to any
proceeding against expenses reasonably incurred by him in connection with the
defense or settlement of the action, if he acted in good faith and in a manner
he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, except that no indemnification may be made with respect to any
claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be
liable to the corporation. To the extent that a director or officer is
successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to
above, the corporation is required under Colorado law to indemnify that person
against reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith.
Article Seventh(c) of our Articles of Incorporation requires us to
indemnify each of our directors and officers to the maximum extent permitted by
CBCA.
Article Seventh(d) of the Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation
provides that no director shall be liable to the Registrant or its shareholders
for monetary damages for breach of his fiduciary duty as a director. However, a
director will be liable for any breach of his duty of loyalty to the Registrant
or its shareholders, for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving
intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law, any transaction from which
the director derived an improper personal benefit, or voting for or assenting to
a distribution that is unlawful under Colorado law.
ITEM 15. RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES
Since its inception on July 24, 2000, the Registrant has made the
following sales of securities that were not registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"):
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From July through December 2000, the Registrant sold 5,432,798 shares
of its Common Stock (as adjusted for a stock split in 2001) to Roger D. Hurst,
President of the Company, and Cathy Landmann, Director of Laboratory Operations
of the Company, for $500,000 in cash. In January 2001, the Registrant sold
282,958 shares (as adjusted for the stock split) to William F. Colgin, Jr. for
$15,458. Mr. Colgin is an attorney and is the brother of Dr. Mark Colgin, the
Company's Director of Recombinant Technology. All of these shares were issued
without registration in reliance on the exemption from registration under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
Effective January 1, 2001, the Registrant issued 2,284,244 shares of
its Common Stock to four key employees for services rendered valued at $137,055.
These shares were issued without registration in reliance on Rule 701 and the
exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
During the period from July 1, 2001 to December 28, 2001, the
Registrant issued 300,000 shares of its Common Stock to nine persons at $1.00
per share for aggregate consideration of $300,000. All of these shares were
issued without registration in reliance on the exemption from registration under
Section 3(b) of the Securities Act and SEC Rule 504. The Registrant also
believes that the Section 4(2) exemption would also be available due to the
limited size of the offering and the qualifications of the offerees.
In connection with the 2001 private offering, the Registrant sent an
investor rights declaration regarding piggyback registration and other rights to
the Purchasers. The Registrant also prematurely issued stock certificates to
these purchasers prior to filing amended articles of incorporation with the
Colorado Secretary of State to increase the Registrant's authorized shares of
common stock. The Registrant subsequently filed the amended articles. The
Registrant also offered to rescind the purchases by refunding the purchase price
plus 10% and requested return of the stock certificates and an Amended Investors
Rights Declaration. Of the nine purchasers, one purchaser of 50,000 shares
accepted the offer of rescission and the Registrant paid him $55,000. In March
2002, the Registrant resold the 50,000 shares to the wife and father-in-law of a
director at $1.25 per share, or a total of $62,500. The shares were issued
without registration in reliance on the exemption from registration under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and Rules 505 and 506.
In December 2001, the Registrant entered into an agreement to sell
1,000,000 shares and warrants to purchase up to 830,000 shares to Cambridge
Holdings, Ltd. and its designees for $600,000. These securities were issued
without registration in reliance on the exemption from registration under
Section 3(b) of the Securities Act and SEC Rule 504. These securities were
issued without registration in reliance on the exemption from registration under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) Exhibits
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
----------- -----------
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant filed July 24,
2000
3.1.1 Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the
Registrant filed December 26, 2001
II-2
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
----------- -----------
3.2 Bylaws of the Registrant
4.1(a) Specimen Certificate of Common Stock
(b) Specimen Warrant and Agreement to Amend Warrants
5.1 Opinion of Patton Boggs LLP as to legality of 1,489,280 of the
shares of AspenBio common stock being registered***
10.1 Agreement for Purchase of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities
by and among Vitro Diagnostics, Inc., Erik Van Horne, James
Musick, AspenBio, and Roger Hurst, dated August 7, 2000
10.2(a) Securities Purchase Agreement, dated December 28, 2001,
between AspenBio and Cambridge Holdings, Ltd.
10.3 Investor Rights Agreement, dated December 28, 2001, between
AspenBio and Cambridge Holdings, Ltd.
10.4(a) Consulting Agreement, dated December 28, 2001, between
AspenBio and Cambridge Holdings, Ltd.
(b) Letter, dated March 14, 2002, confirming performance and
termination of the Consulting Agreement
10.5 Shareholders Agreement, dated December 28, 2001, among
AspenBio, Cambridge Holdings and Roger Hurst
10.6 Amended Investor Rights Declaration dated December 28, 2001,
between AspenBio and Shareholders of AspenBio
10.7 2002 Stock Incentive Plan
10.8 Technology Transfer Agreement, dated October 29, 2001 between
AspenBio and the University of Wyoming**
10.9 License Agreement for Determination of Pregnancy Status of
Ungulates, dated September 25, 2001, between AspenBio and the
Idaho Research Foundation Inc.
10.10 Promissory Note, dated August 7, 2000, made by AspenBio to
Roger D. Hurst and Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated
April 1, 2002
10.11 Promissory Note, dated April 1, 2002 made by AspenBio to Roger
D. Hurst.
10.12 Promissory Note, dated November 1, 2000, made by AspenBio to
Colorado Business Leasing
10.13 Stock Option Agreement, dated August 21, 2001, between
AspenBio and Gail Schoettler
10.14 Stock Option Agreement, dated August 21, 2001, between
AspenBio and Bruce Deal
10.15 Promissory Note, dated May 6, 2002, made by AspenBio to Roger
D. Hurst
10.16(a) Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate, dated January 29, 2002,
between Roger D. Hurst and/or assigns and Urban Group, LLC
(b) Agreement to Amend/Extend Contract, dated April 19, 2002
(c) Agreement to Amend/Extend Contract, dated May 23, 2002
10.17 Loan Agreement to be made between FirstBank of Tech Center and
AspenBio, Inc. regarding a construction loan in the principal
amount of $3,250,000;***
10.18(a) 6% Convertible Promissory Note, dated July 5, 2002, by
AspenBio, Inc. to Michael S. Smith in the principal amount of
$500,000;***
10.18(b) Pledge Agreement, dated July 5, 2002, by AspenBio, Inc. to
Michael S. Smith regarding account for $350,000 at FirstBank
of Tech Center;***
10.18(c) Warrant, dated July 5, 2002, to purchase 275,000 shares of
AspenBio, Inc. common stock issued to Michael Smith;***
10.18(d) Investor Rights Agreement, dated July 5, 2002, between
AspenBio, Inc. and Michael S. Smith;***
10.19(a) Promissory Note, dated July 5, 2002, by AspenBio, Inc. to
Cambridge Holdings, Ltd. in the principal amount of
$200,000;***
10.19(b) Warrant, dated July 5, 2002, to purchase 100,000 shares of
AspenBio, Inc. common stock issued to Cambridge Holdings,
Ltd.;***
10.19(c) Investor Rights Agreement, dated July 5, 2002, between
AspenBio, Inc. and Cambridge Holdings, Ltd.;***
10.20 Agreement, dated February 26, 2002 and April 9, 2002 between
AspenBio, Inc. and Urban Construction, Inc.;***
23.1 Consent of Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C.***
23.2 Consent of Cordovano and Harvey, P.C.***
23.3 Consent of Patton Boggs LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
** Filed under an application for confidential treatment.
*** Filed with this amendment. All other exhibits were previously filed
except as indicated
(b) Financial Statement Schedule
No financial statement schedules are required.
II-3
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of the registration
statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not
exceed that which was registered) and any deviation
from the low or high end in the form of prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b),
if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
aggregate offering price set forth in the
"Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
effective registration statement:
(iii) To include any material information with respect to
the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
the registration statement or any material change to
such information in the registration statement."
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-4
SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements of filing on Form S-1 and authorizes this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, in the City of
Littleton, State of Colorado, on July 8, 2002.
ASPENBIO, INC.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Roger D. Hurst
----------------------------------
Roger D. Hurst, President
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement was signed by the following persons in the capacities and
on the date stated.
Date: July 8, 2002 /s/ Roger D. Hurst
---------------------------------------
Roger D. Hurst, President, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer and Director
Date: July 8, 2002 /s/ Gregory Pusey
---------------------------------------
Gregory Pusey, Secretary and Director
Date: July 8, 2002 /s/ Gail S. Schoettler
---------------------------------------
Gail S. Schoettler, Director
II-5
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
----------- -----------
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant filed July 24,
2000
3.1.1 Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the
Registrant filed December 26, 2001
3.2 Bylaws of the Registrant
4.1(a) Specimen Certificate of Common Stock
(b) Specimen Warrant and Agreement to Amend Warrants
5.1 Opinion of Patton Boggs LLP as to legality of 1,489,280 of the
shares of AspenBio common stock being registered***
10.1 Agreement for Purchase of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities
by and among Vitro Diagnostics, Inc., Erik Van Horne, James
Musick, AspenBio, and Roger Hurst, dated August 7, 2000
10.2(a) Securities Purchase Agreement, dated December 28, 2001,
between AspenBio and Cambridge Holdings, Ltd.
10.3 Investor Rights Agreement, dated December 28, 2001, between
AspenBio and Cambridge Holdings, Ltd.
10.4(a) Consulting Agreement, dated December 28, 2001, between
AspenBio and Cambridge Holdings, Ltd.
(b) Letter, dated March 14, 2002, confirming performance and
termination of the Consulting Agreement
10.5 Shareholders Agreement, dated December 28, 2001, among
AspenBio, Cambridge Holdings and Roger Hurst
10.6 Amended Investor Rights Declaration dated December 28, 2001,
between AspenBio and Shareholders of AspenBio
10.7 2002 Stock Incentive Plan
10.8 Technology Transfer Agreement, dated October 29, 2001 between
AspenBio and the University of Wyoming**
10.9 License Agreement for Determination of Pregnancy Status of
Ungulates, dated September 25, 2001, between AspenBio and the
Idaho Research Foundation Inc.
10.10 Promissory Note, dated August 7, 2000, made by AspenBio to
Roger D. Hurst and Amended and Restated Promissory Note, dated
April 1, 2002
10.11 Promissory Note, dated April 1, 2002 made by AspenBio to Roger
D. Hurst.
10.12 Promissory Note, dated November 1, 2000, made by AspenBio to
Colorado Business Leasing
10.13 Stock Option Agreement, dated August 21, 2001, between
AspenBio and Gail Schoettler
10.14 Stock Option Agreement, dated August 21, 2001, between
AspenBio and Bruce Deal
10.15 Promissory Note, dated May 6, 2002, made by AspenBio to Roger
D. Hurst
10.16(a) Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate, dated January 29, 2002,
between Roger D. Hurst and/or assigns and Urban Group, LLC
(b) Agreement to Amend/Extend Contract, dated April 19, 2002
(c) Agreement to Amend/Extend Contract, dated May 23, 2002
10.17 Loan Agreement to be made between FirstBank of Tech Center and
AspenBio, Inc. regarding a construction loan in the principal
amount of $3,250,000;***
10.18(a) 6% Convertible Promissory Note, dated July 5, 2002, by
AspenBio, Inc. to Michael S. Smith in the principal amount of
$500,000;***
10.18(b) Pledge Agreement, dated July 5, 2002, by AspenBio, Inc. to
Michael S. Smith regarding account for $350,000 at FirstBank
of Tech Center;***
10.18(c) Warrant, dated July 5, 2002, to purchase 275,000 shares of
AspenBio, Inc. common stock issued to Michael Smith;***
10.18(d) Investor Rights Agreement, dated July 5, 2002, between
AspenBio, Inc. and Michael S. Smith***
10.19(a) Promissory Note, dated July 5, 2002, by AspenBio, Inc. to
Cambridge Holdings, Ltd. in the principal amount of
$200,000***
10.19(b) Warrant, dated July 5, 2002, to purchase 100,000 shares of
AspenBio, Inc. common stock issued to Cambridge Holdings,
Ltd.***
10.19(c) Investor Rights Agreement, dated July 5, 2002, between
AspenBio, Inc. and Cambridge Holdings, Ltd.***
10.20 Agreement, dated February 26, 2002 and April 9, 2002 between
AspenBio, Inc. and Urban Construction, Inc.***
23.1 Consent of Larry O'Donnell, CPA, P.C.***
23.2 Consent of Cordovano and Harvey, P.C.***
23.3 Consent of Patton Boggs LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
** Filed under an application for confidential treatment.
*** Filed with this amendment. All other exhibits were previously filed
except as indicated