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Related-Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Related-Party Transactions  
Related-Party Transactions

Note 4.  Related-Party Transactions

Transactions with Common ownership affiliates:

On January 24, 2006, the Company entered into a licensing agreement with AYA International, Inc. (“AYA”) granting AYA the right to use the Company’s trademarks in connection with its online video chat website, “Scoreslive.com.” The agreement with AYA provides for royalty payments to be made directly to the Company at the rate of 4.99% of weekly gross revenues from all revenue sources within the AYA website. On December 21, 2009, AYA transferred all of its rights in Scoreslive.com and in its licensing agreement with the Company to Swan Media Group, Inc., (“Swan”) a newly formed New York corporation whose majority owner (80%) is Robert M. Gans, who is also the majority shareholder and chief executive officer of the Company. The Company is owed $0 and $0 in unpaid royalties and expenses as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018,respectively.

On January 27, 2009, the Company entered into a licensing agreement with its affiliate through common ownership I.M. Operating LLC (“IMO”) for the use of the Scores brand name “Scores New York”.  Robert M. Gans is the majority owner (72%) of IMO and is also the Company’s majority shareholder, and Howard Rosenbluth, the Company’s Treasurer and a Director, owns 2%. IMO owes the Company a royalty receivable of $0 and $0 as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 respectively.

On August 31, 2017, IMO entered into an agreement to sell all of its assets to Club Azure LLC (“CA”). Effective September 1, 2017, IMO no longer operated Scores New York and terminated its licensing agreement with the Company. Mark Yackow is the sole owner (100%) of CA and former Chief Operating Officer of IMO. Effective September 1, 2017, the Company granted an exclusive, non-transferable license for the use of the “Scores New York” to CA for its gentlemen’s club in New York City. Royalties under this license are payable at a rate of $5,000 per month, commencing in September 2017, and the license is for a term of five years, with five successive five-year renewal terms.

The Company also leases office space directly from Westside Realty of New York, Inc. (WSR), the owner of the West 27th Street Building.  The majority owner of WSR (80%) is Robert M. Gans.  Since April 1, 2009, the monthly rent has been $2,500 per month including overhead costs.  The Company owed WSR $7,500 and $7,500 in unpaid rents as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

Effective January 1, 2013, the Company entered into a management services agreement with Metropolitan Lumber Hardware and Building Supplies, Inc., pursuant to which Metropolitan Lumber Hardware and Building Supplies, Inc. provides management and other services to the Company, including the services of Robert M. Gans and Howard Rosenbluth to act as executive officers of the Company. In consideration of the services, the Company paid Metropolitan Lumber Hardware and Building Supplies, Inc. a fee in the amount of $30,000 per year. Effective May 5, 2015, the agreement was amended increasing the annual fee to $90,000.  Effective January 1, 2017, the agreement was further amended to remove the requirement that the services of Robert M. Gans be provided under the agreement. In addition, Metropolitan Lumber Hardware and Building Supplies, Inc. shall be eligible for a discretionary cash bonus. The agreement may be terminated by either party upon ten days written notice. Mr. Gans is the sole owner of Metropolitan Lumber Hardware and Building Supplies, Inc. The Company owed $22,500 and $67,500 in unpaid management services as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

The Company has accrued expenses of $7,500 due to Metropolitan Lumber Hardware and Building Supplies, Inc. The Company owed $7,500 and $18,949 as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

Effective July 1, 2018, after being having been closed from August 15, 2016 to June 28, 2018, the Company terminated the previous licensing agreement and granted an exclusive, non-transferable license for the use of the “Scores Atlantic City” name to Star Light Events LLC (“Star Light”) for its gentlemen’s club in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Royalties under this license are payable at the rate of $5,000 per month, commencing in July 2018, and the license is for a term of five years, with five successive five-year renewal terms. Pursuant to the written agreement, the Company also granted Star Light a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to sell certain licensed products bearing the Company's trademarks. Starlight will purchase the licensed products from the Company or its affiliates at cost plus 25%.  Robert M. Gans, the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and a director, is the majority owner  (92.165%)  of Star Light Events LLC and Howard Rosenbluth, the Company's Secretary, Treasurer and a Director, owns  1%.  Starlight owes the Company a royalty receivable of $0 and $0 as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

On December 9, 2013, the Company entered into a license agreement with its subsidiary, SLC, granting SLC the exclusive right to use certain trademarks, including the “Scores” stylized trademark, in connection with certain goods and services.  The grant of license also includes the right to issue sublicenses to third parties, subject to the approval of the Company.  Pursuant to the agreement, SLC shall pay to the Company a royalty, as determined by the Company, such as a percentage of net revenue or a flat fee, received in connection with the provision of services and/or sale of goods using the trademarks.  SLC may also pay a percentage, as determined by the Company, of all royalties received by SLC under any sublicense agreements.  SLC and any sublicensees are to adhere to quality standards as set by the Company, and the Company has the right to inspect all facilities and approve all promotional and marketing materials as well as any related packaging.  The agreement has a one-year term with automatic one-year renewals, subject to either party’s election to terminate the agreement at least thirty days prior to such renewal.  The Company also has the right to terminate the agreement, with immediate effect, upon the occurrence of certain events.  The license is subject to any pre-existing license agreements as of the date of the agreement.

Effective February 28, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), the Company entered into separate Settlement Agreements (each, a “Settlement Agreement”) with three licensees, IMO, Star Light and Swan, controlled by Robert M. Gans, the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board of Directors.

As of the Effective Date, IMO owed the Company an aggregate of $255,406 in unpaid royalties and other fees. Under its Settlement Agreement, IMO has agreed to pay the entire amount owed to the Company, in full settlement of all claims the Company may have against it. The settlement amount is payable pursuant to a promissory note in 22 consecutive monthly installments commencing March 1, 2017, and bears simple interest at the rate of 4% per year.  Included as an event of default under the note is a requirement that IMO remain current in its obligations to the Company under its license agreement from and after the Effective Date.  This obligation was satisfied under the terms of the Offset Agreement as discussed further below.

As of the Effective Date, Starlight owed the Company an aggregate of $250,000 in unpaid royalties and other fees. Starlight is currently inactive and has no revenue. Under its Settlement Agreement, Starlight has agreed to pay the Company $75,000,  in full settlement of all claims the Company may have against it. The settlement amount is payable pursuant to a promissory note in 10 consecutive monthly installments commencing March 1, 2017, and bears simple interest at the rate of 4% per year. This obligation was satisfied under the terms of the Offset Agreement as discussed further below.

As of the Effective Date, Swan owed the Company an aggregate of $166,000 in unpaid royalties and other fees. Swan is currently unprofitable. Under its Settlement Agreement, Swan has agreed to pay the Company $50,000, in full settlement of all claims the Company may have against it. The settlement amount is payable pursuant to a promissory note in 10 consecutive monthly installments commencing March 1, 2017, and bears simple interest at the rate of 4% per year.  Included as an event of default under the note is a requirement that Swan remain current in its obligations to the Company under its license agreement from and after the Effective Date. This obligation was satisfied under the terms of the Offset Agreement as discussed further below.

On August 4, 2018, the Company settled the Plaintiffs claims in the Voronina matter for $1,310,000. See Note 7 for additional information. The Company had insufficient liquid resources to enable it to make a portion of the settlement payments called for by the Voronina Settlement Agreement. Metropolitan Lumber, Hardware and Building Supplies, Inc., a company wholly-owned by Robert M. Gans, the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, made loans to the Company in the aggregate amount of $770,000 to enable the Company to make the payments under the Voronina Settlement Agreement. In addition to the aforementioned loan and as discussed further in Note 7, the Company filed a third party complaint against certain licensees. The amount of money paid to the Company by settling with Third-Party Defendants and the Company’s insurance carrier was $505,660.

The Company previously entered into the 3 Royalty Settlement Agreements noted above where Robert M. Gans is a majority owner of the equity of each of the Licensees. Robert M. Gans guaranteed the payment of each Licensee’s obligations under each of the 3 Settlement Documents. The Licensees were not current with respect to their obligations under the Settlement Documents and the Company did not call upon Mr. Gans to honor his guaranties.

The past due amounts under the Royalty Settlement Agreements aggregated $382,259 (the “Aggregate Royalty Amount”) as of December 1, 2018. As of such date, the Company, the Licensees, Metropolitan and Robert M. Gans entered into a Settlement and Offset Agreement (the “Offset Agreement”) pursuant to which the Aggregate Royalty Amount was offset against the Voronina Amount, thereby reducing the amount owed by the Company to Metropolitan to $408,546 (the “Net Voronina Amount”). The Net Voronina Amount is payable pursuant to a promissory note (the “Voronina Note”), which bears simple interest at the rate of 4% per annum, in 86 consecutive monthly installments of $5,000, and a final installment of $1,370, with the initial installment due and payable on January 1, 2022 (or the first business day thereafter). The Company may prepay the Voronina Note at any time, in whole or in part without premium or penalty. The Offset Agreement also provides for the immediate termination of the Royalty Settlement Agreements and the related promissory notes and guarantees.

The total amounts due to the various related parties as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $383,111 and $494,419 respectively and the total amounts due to the Company from the various related parties as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $0 and $0 respectively.