Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion is intended to provide an analysis of the Company’s financial condition and Plan of Operation and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and the notes thereto set forth herein. The matters discussed in this section that is not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances and developments. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those discussed below.
Plan of Operation
We have been in operation since December 30, 2004. Our efforts have largely been to generate cash flows from operations and cash flow from the sales of our common shares. The majority of these cash flows were applied towards, production costs, and the investment in a series of shows, including Havana Nights.
Since inception, we have sold music CD’s representing the majority of our music revenue. In the prior fiscal year we created a music business segment named Fuego Entertainment Music International (FEMI) the purpose of which is to sell our music content under this name. Our current main priority is the marketing, distribution and sale of our music catalog.
Since launching FEMI, and lauching our joint venture Echo-Fuego we expanded our music and video catalog, by signing new artists, and acquiring music masters containing over 3,800 music tracks. We have also expanded our marketing and distribution capabilities and enhanced sales in the process.
We executed a new deal with The Orchard (ORCD - News), a global leader in digital music and entertainment, to add more than 1.1 million tracks from The Orchard's catalog to the digital download store www.FuegoMio.com. The addition of The Orchard music catalog, which includes one of the largest and best Latin music offerings available, will increase the total tracks available for sale on the Fuego music store to about 2.5 million tracks. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of songs spanning nearly every genre, The Orchard will deliver a diverse offering of Latin artist tracks by the likes of Daddy Yankee, Joan Sebastian, Hector Lavoe, Antonio Aguilar, Willie Colon, Cuisillos, Ivy Queen.
We executed an agreement with IODA, the global leader in digital distribution, marketing, and technology solutions for the independent music and film industry, the Company will be adding more than one million music tracks and over two thousand video and film titles to our FuegoMio.com music and video retail store. The addition of more than one million music tracks and over two thousand video and film titles from IODA is an important step in Fuego Entertainment's commitment to becoming one of the largest music and video digital retail stores. Through Fuego's new digital retail music store, www.FuegoMio.com, the Company will be providing high quality digital audio content. As IODA continues to grow its music, film and video catalogs, it is expected that Fuego will continue to receive new releases.
We also executed an agreement with UK digital distributor Vidzone. Most recently we executed a publishing agreement with Ediciones Musicales Clippers. On March 1, 2007 we retained the services of Adolfo Fernandez, a prestigious publicist from F&F Media Group. Mr. Fernandez's firm represents companies such as WEA Music, Sony BMG, Televisa Group, Univision Music Group, EMI US Latin, EMI Music Colombia, Venemusic, Fonosound, Grupo Origin, Warner Music Latina, and others. Mr. Fernandez has worked with many artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Mark Anthony, Shakira, Gilberto Santarosa, Jennifer Lopez, and others.
Sales Strategy
We leverage our relationships in traditional channels of distribution for retail and other media outlets to sell its content. Additionally, the Company is actively developing new media distribution outlets by launching digital distribution of music and video content through agreements with The Orchard, IODA, Koch Entertainment and VidZone. Various radio stations, television producers, newspaper editors, and other traditional media is regularly informed on Fuego’s activities to push other avenues for sales growth.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - continued
Digital distribution has become the focus of Fuego’s sales strategy, utilizing the Internet instead of bricks and mortars to compete for music sales. We have finalized our our digital encoding process of our music, film and video catalog. All of our music, and film catalog is now available for digital distribution In aggregating content, Fuego currently has agreements with three major distributors, Koch Entertainment LP (“Koch”), The Orchard Enterprises, Inc. (“The Orchard”), and Independent Online Distribution Alliance, Inc. (“IODA”). The Orchard (NASDAQ: ORCD) currently distributes to the iTunes Store, which as of April 3, 2008, surpassed Wal-Mart to become the number one music retailer in the US based on the latest data from the NPD Group. With over 50 million customers, iTunes has sold over four billion songs and features the world’s largest music catalog of over six million songs. Fuego intends to follow the same operating model of the iTunes Store by focusing on Latin customer demographics.
Target Markets
We offer our media and entertainment products with a Latin flair in the English language, gaining a crossover into English-speaking markets with a focus on the Hispanic/Latin market.
We have focused on the creation and development of our four filming projects. Three of the four projects are documentaries titled One Million Millionaires, Gold in Ecuador and Counterfeit Conspiracy. The fourth project is a reality television series titled The Trader. Our four filming projects, all in the development stage, cost $45,509 as of February 28, 2009. The work in progress includes script development, principal photography, sound engineering, personnel, such as a cameraman, producer and assistant producer, location permits, filming insurance, equipment rental travel and hotel accommodations and crew meals. No general and administrative costs were capitalized.
Operating expenses for the nine months ended February 28, 2009 were principally for selling, general and administrative expenses, the major components of which were stock based compensation costs of $48,766, and audit and accounting fees of $41,066.
In general, our filming projects are in final stages of development. We have no plans to engage in any more in house productions until we have completed the four current projects that we have undertaken to complete, thereby reducing the possibility of incurring further significant costs. Until our in process production filming projects are completed, we believe we can sustain our cash flows through sales of our music, television and film content, publishing revenues and work for hire such as the sale of corporate videos, from consulting services, and from the sale of our common stock should our expected cash flows in the next 12 months require it. However, there is no guarantee that our cash flow requirements will exceed the amount of funds received from the sale of securities or the cash flow generated from our current operation activities.
Our minimum expected cash flows to continue our current level of operations during the next 12 months is approximately $375,000 , however up to $ 500,000 would be needed to pursue our goals during that period. These additional funds would be needed to license products from other parties and properly market, promote and distribute them, including our own projects presently in process. To date our revenues have been largely generated from sales of our music content. If the additional $375,000 , is not raised, we may be unable to continue operations.
We previously entered into a 10-year licensing agreement with Ciocan for their music library catalogue. This library consists of 33 finished albums (over 300 tracks) by 8 different artists who are exclusively recording with Ciocan for the release of other future projects. Ciocan has marketed the catalogue to the Latin market, but we plan to penetrate the non-Hispanic markets and develop the current marketing efforts within the Latin base. We plan to develop live productions for artists we intend to sign. The agreement to license Ciocan's music requires us to pay a royalty of 25% of the net sales proceeds quarterly from sales.
The President and CEO of the Company own 100% of the rights to a popular film he owns and produced in Cuba called Zafiros Lucura Azul (Sapphire Blue Maddness). This film has never been distributed or commercialized. We acquired from Mr. Hugo Cancio the right to market, promote, and distribute the film in all formats: Theatrical release, Television, cable, DVD. This is part of a 10 year licensing agreement in which Fuego Entertainment will keep 75% of the net revenues generated. There was no payment of any kind involved in the transaction. We will account for all sales and costs on a gross basis for the above agreements in accordance with the criteria set forth in Emerging Issues Task Force Abstract Issue No. 99-19, since we will be responsible for all production and distribution costs and expenses, and have full discretion in selecting suppliers and product specifications. If there are no net proceeds after one year, all rights revert to the producer.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - continued
Additional sources of income may include projects where we will also act as an agent and contract organization for certain entertainment projects. These services may include marketing, distribution, principal photography, development, pre- and post-production, introductory services, and many others that are within our realm of expertise. To date, we currently do not have any agreements or projects whereby we act as an agent.
In the past few month we have branched out into the production of live music events. Our goal is utilize our relationships our recording artist to also produce our live music events. We believe have access to the artist recordings, marketing, distributing their recording and producing their live acts will be a great opportunity to expose our products and create a new source of revenues. We have scheduled over 12 live music events during the next coming months. These events will include some of Cuba’s most popular artist which we hope to obtain visas and working permits permissable. In order to fully achieve our plans, we require additional capital of $ 500,000. We have applied for visas for several Cuban music groups and we are currently awating final approvals.
Fuego has an arrangement with Tota Productions, a music and video production company located in Torino, Italy, that produces Spanish Hip Hop and Pop artists from Europe. Under the arrangement we obtained the ownership of over 300 CD masters and supporting data with which to market the library.
.We have generated revenues from sales of our music, television and film content, publishing revenues and work for hire such as the production of corporate videos and consulting services. It is our intention to continue offering these services as they incur no material costs or expenses by the Company, as they are mostly borne by the clients. Our efforts are provided by Mr. Cancio whose compensation has been and will continue to be contributed to the Company until we reach profitable ongoing operations. We have also generated revenues by providing consulting services to companies that are in need of reaching the US Hispanic/ Latino Markets with their products or services. Consulting services do not incur material costs or expenses since such services are provided solely by Mr. Cancio. We will continue seeking these consulting activities in order to generate revenues.
Cuba: The releationship between the US and Cuba since to going into a new direction to where certain restriction have been lifted by the Barack Obama administration. The president of the company has excellent relations with individuals within Cuba and we currently exploring opportunites in Cuba in the travel related field, arts and entertainment.
Results of Operations for the Three Month and Nine Month Periods ended February 28, 2009, Compared to prior year periods ended February 29, 2008
Revenues and Cost of Filming and Music
The Company's major revenue source has shifted from filming based to music based. As a result, in the prior year ended May 31, 2007, filming revenue represented 80% of all revenues generated and music revenue producing projects had not yet been entered into. In the current year ended May 31, 2008 and nine months ended February 28, 2009, filming revenues represented 0% of total revenues. We earned a net revenue of $23,067 for the three months ended February 28, 2009 as compared to $259,767 for the three months ended February 29, 2008. We earned a net revenue of $17,477 for the nine months ended February 28, 2009 as compared to $271,718 for the nine months ended February 29, 2008. The current direction of the Company is towards generating revenues from music sales and live concert events.
Operating Expenses
The current year's operating activities were more involved since they included the stock based compensation. For the three month period ended February 28, 2009 we incurred $-0- of stock-based compensation as compared to $50,354 for the three month period ended February 29, 2008. We incurred $48,766 in stock-based compensation for the nine month period ended February 28, 2009 and $181,029 for the nine month period ended February 29, 2008. However it should be noted that the stock based compensation of $137,500 reported for 2007 was later recaptured as income for services not rendered by certain directors. Other selling, general and administrative expenses were $45,974 for the three month period ended February 28, 2009 as compared to $79,400 for the three month period ended February 29, 2008. We incurred $216,827 for the nine month period ended February 28, 2009 as compared to $234,184 for the nine month period ended February 29, 2008. Other selling, general and administrative expenses of the current year were in line with the level of expenses incurred in the prior year.
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - continued
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company has a deficit in working capital at year end, and is past due on the majority of its accounts payable. It has no line of credit or other outside financing sources presently to enable it to finance exist operations, and is dependent on its music sales and the occasional planned sales of its investment in securities in Beverage Plus AG for current cash flows. Beverage Plus has applied for a public company listing on a significant German stock exchange and awaits a response sometime in early May, 2009. Beverage Plus has also secured retail distribution in several thousand locations in the USA with an intent to sell the Beverage Plus products throughout the U.S. in up to 10,000 retail locations. Beverage Plus AG has been assigned the trading symbol 1bi and the German WKN number of A0NJNV (note the zero after the A). Accordingly, it is presently seeking financing to continue in existence. Up to the date of this report, the Company is primarily dependent on its President/CEO for all revenue generating opportunities as well as on-going cash flow requirements.
Material Commitments
We have no material commitments as at the date of this registration statement.
Purchase of Significant Equipment
We do not intend to purchase any significant equipment during the next twelve (12) months.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS 123R, Share Based Payments. SFAS 123R is applicable to transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods and services. It focuses primarily on transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. SFAS No. 123R supersedes the intrinsic value method prescribed by APB No. 25, requiring that the fair value of such equity instruments be recorded as an expense as services are performed. Prior to SFAS 123R, only certain pro forma disclosures of accounting for these transactions at fair value were required. SFAS 123R will be effective for the first quarter 2006 financial statements, and permits varying transition methods including retroactive adjustment of prior periods or prospective application beginning in 2006. The Company adopted SFAS 123R using the modified prospective method effective January 1, 2006. Under this transition method the Company will begin recording stock option expense prospectively, beginning with that date.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Not required.
Item 4T. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. This evaluation was done under the supervision and with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. Based upon that evaluation, he concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective in gathering, analyzing and disclosing information needed to satisfy our disclosure obligations under the Exchange Act.
There were no changes in internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting. We also note the incorrect characterization of production costs in our statement of cash flows that resulted in a material change to cash flows from operating and investing activities.
In connection with the development of a leased TV channel in Puerto Rico, the Company shared in paying for certain expenses including travel, lodging and meals for its President, in connection with the pursuit of available TV programming in that area. There was inadequate documentation to support the allocation of such expenses between the Company and the TV station owned by the Company’s president. In addition there were no signed agreements between the Company and the personnel retained to perform services in connection with obtaining TV programming which should disclose as a minimum, the nature of the services to be rendered, the amount of periodic compensation being paid and the term of the services.
The lack of support concerning the above matters was considered to be a material weakness in internal control, which weakness commenced during the entire period from inception of the Company as to the first matter and the last quarter of the fiscal year ended May 31, 2008, as to the second matter.
The President of the Company has since required documentation for all disbursements, has recorded in a journal the information necessary to allocate amounts among entities, and will obtain written agreements for all services to be provided to the Company.
Changes in Internal Controls
There were no changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect those controls since the most recent evaluation of such controls.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Other than what is disclosed in this section, we were not a party to any legal proceedings during the reporting period, and we know of no legal proceedings pending or threatened or judgments entered against any director or officer of the Company in their capacity as such.
In the matter of the Miami case of Apple Corp Vs. Hugo Cancio and Fuego Entertainment, We entered into a private settlement agreement with Apple Corps Limited and Apple Records, Inc. (representing The Beatles) which resolves the lawsuit against Fuego Entertainment and others to the parties' mutual satisfaction. Fuego has agreed not to release, distribute, sell or otherwise exploit any recordings containing The Beatles performances from the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany in 1962.
In the matter of the lawsuit filed by, Genovesse, Joblove and Battista as the result of a billing dispute over the final legal bill . On March, 31 2009 A final default judgment was entered against Fuego Entertainment, Inc in the amount of $94,404.95 in favor of the legal firm Genovese, Joblove and Batista. Fuego has engaged a new attorney to continue our legal argument.Fuego herein disputes the amount in questions and intends to defend the company further.
In the matter of Fuego Entertainment, Inc Vs. Var Growth Corporation and Barry Davis and Ice Cold Stocks, Fuego filed a lawsuit against this individuals for money damages and for injunctive relief as to shares issued to the Defendants but allegedly not earned. In July, 2008, the case was settled out of court via private agreement and the lawsuit dismissed. Fuego agreed to drop all legal action against Var Growth. Var Growth retained 400,000 shares of Fuego stock and Var Growth returned 475,000 shares of Fuego stock.
In the Nevada case in the matter of Fuego Entertainment, Inc Vs. Nicole Durr and Viashow Inc., Fuego filed a lawsuit against these organizations and individuals associated with an allegation that the Defendants failed to pay necessary royalties to Fuego and that the Defendants failed to conduct a full five-city schedule of the Havana Night Club show. The show originally appeared in Miami, FL and was scheduled to appear in New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and or California. The Defendants failed to run any of these shows. The case is not yet set for a hearing. The parties entered into initial settlement negotiations. There is no resolution of the case as of the date of this filing. In the past two months we have amended our complaint and file a motion for mediation and motion for deposition of Nicole N Durr.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Not required.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None