UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Annual Report

FORM 20-F

 

    REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g)

         OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

OR

    X    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

         THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014

 

OR

  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

        THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

OR

 

   SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of event requiring this shell company report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

        For the transition period from __________ to ________

 

Commission file number 333-98397

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

(FORMERLY LINGO MEDIA INC.)

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Ontario, Canada

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

151 Bloor Street West, Suite 703, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1S4 Canada

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Michael Kraft, President & CEO

Tel: (416) 927-7000 x23 Fax: (416) 927-1222 Email: investor@lingomedia.com

Lingo Media Corporation 151 Bloor Street West, Suite 703, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1S4 Canada

 

(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

 

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

 

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Shares, without par value

(Title of Class)

 

 

 
 

 

 

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report. 22,379,177

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined by Rule 405 of the Securities Act

Yes ___ No X

 

If this report is an annual transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes ___ No X

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X   No ___

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes ___ No X

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer ___Accelerated Filer ___Non-accelerated filer X

 

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

 

U.S. GAAP ___ International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by Other ___the International Accounting Standards Board X

 

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question mark, indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow: Item 17 ___   Item 18 ___

 

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ___ No X

 

 

 

 
2

 

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

FORM 20-F ANNUAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

PART I
     

Item 1.

Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors

4

Item 2.

Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

4

Item 3.

Key Information

4

Item 4.

Information on the Company

12

Item 5.

Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

19

Item 6.

Directors, Senior Management and Employees

34

Item 7.

Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

43

Item 8.

Financial Information

44

Item 9.

The Offer and Listing

45

Item 10.

Additional Information

48

Item 11.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

59

Item 12.

Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities

60

     
     

PART II

     

Item 13.

Default, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

60

Item 14.

Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

60

Item 15.

Controls and Procedures

60

Item 16.A.

Audit Committee Financial Expert

62

Item 16.B.

Code of Ethics

62

Item 16.C.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

62

     
     
     

PART III

     

Item 17.

Financial Statements

63

Item 18.

Financial Statements

63

Item 19.

Exhibits

63

 

 

 

 
3

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains certain forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s expectations regarding the Company’s results of operations, performance, growth, and business prospects and opportunities.

 

Statements about the Company’s future plans and intentions, results, levels of activity, performance, goals or achievements or other future events constitute forward-looking statements. Wherever possible, words such as "may," "will," "should," "could," "expect," "plan," "intend," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management’s current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.

 

Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this Annual Report, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including: general economic and market segment conditions, competitor activity, product capability and acceptance, international risk and currency exchange rates and technology changes. More detailed assessment of the risks that could cause actual results to materially differ than current expectations is contained in the sections entitled "Risk Factors", “Information on the Company” and “Operating and Financial Review and Prospects”.

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisors

 

Not applicable

 

ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

 

Lingo Media Corporation (“Lingo Media” or the “Company”) is a publicly listed company incorporated in Canada with limited liability under the legislation of the Province of Ontario and its shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol LM and inter-listed on the OTCQB Marketplace under the symbol LMDCF. The consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the year ended December 31, 2014 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

Lingo Media (www.lingomedia.com) is an ESL EdTech industry acquisition company whose goal is to ‘Change the way the world learns English combining education with technology. The Company is focused on online and print-based technologies and solutions through its four subsidiaries: Lingo Learning Inc. (Lingo Learning”), ELL Technologies Ltd. (“ELL Technologies”); Speak2Me Inc. (“Speak2Me”) and Parlo Corporation (“Parlo”). Lingo Learning is a print-based publisher of English language training programs. ELL Technologies is a globally-established English language learning multi-media and online training company. Speak2Me is a free-to-consumer advertising-based online English language learning service in China. Parlo is a fee-based online English language training and assessment service. (See Item 4 “Information on the Company – History and Development of the Company”)

 

 

 
4

 

 

The head office, principal address and registered and records office of the Company is located at 151 Bloor Street West, Suite 703, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1S4.

 

3.A      Selected Financial Data

 

Conversion to International Financial Reporting Standards

 

The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and interpretations of the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”).

 

The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and other financial information included elsewhere in the Annual Report.

 

The Company has not declared any dividends since incorporation and does not anticipate that it will do so in the foreseeable future. The present policy of the Company is to retain any future earnings for use in its operations and the expansion of its business.

 

The following data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is derived from our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS (and the data for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 is derived from our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP) and all are expressed in Canadian Dollars.

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31

 

2014

2013

2012

2011

Revenue

$2,512,464

$2,008,066

   $2,016,261

$2,066,969

Profit/(Loss) from Operations

523,736

370,681

      (996,816)

(4,203,274)

Total Comprehensive Profit/(Loss)

107,406

   (56,331)

(1,364,737)

(4,799,626)

Total Assets

2,423,438

2,214,590

     2,660,648

3,049,175

Current Assets

1,411,416

1,166,151

     1,606,441

1,761,715

Issued Share Capital

22,379,177

21,779,177

20,899,177

20,543,177

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

21,986,300

21,174,026

20,652,415

18,797,185

Total Equity

743,956

510,887

      417,292

1,449,834

Dividends per Common Share

NIL

NIL

NIL

NIL

Basic and Diluted Earnings/ (Loss) per Share

$0.01

     $(0.00)

        $(0.07)

$(0.25)

 

The following selected financial data has been extracted from the consolidated financial statements previously filed with our Annual Reports on Form 20-F for the 2010 fiscal year, which were prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP and reconciled to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”). 

 

 

 
5

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended

December 31

 

2010

Revenue from Continuing Operation

$1,985,153

Loss from Continuing Operations

(3,679,127)

Loss from Discontinued Operations

-

Total Comprehensive Loss

(3,679,127)

Total Assets

5,700,522

Current Assets

1,255,472

Issued Share Capital

13,949,189

Weighted Number of Common Shares

13,277,226

Total Equity

1,716,212

Dividends per Common Share

NIL

Basic and Diluted Loss per Share from Continuing Operations

(0.28)

Basic and Diluted Loss per Share from Discontinued Operations

-

US GAAP Loss from Continuing Operations

(3,679,127)

US GAAP Loss from Discontinued Operations

-

US GAAP Total Comprehensive Loss

(1,746,530)

US GAAP Total Assets

2,851,294

US GAAP Equity

(1,133,016)

US GAAP Loss per Share from Continuing Operations

(0.13)

US GAAP Loss per Share from Discontinued Operations

-

                

3.A.3.      Exchange Rates

 

In this Annual Report, unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian Dollars ($). The Government of Canada permits a floating exchange rate to determine the value of the Canadian Dollar against the U.S. Dollar (USD).

 

The table sets forth the rate of exchange for the Canadian Dollar at the end of the five most recent fiscal periods ended December 31st, the average rates for the period and the range of high and low rates for the period. The data for each month during the previous twelve months is also provided.

 

Table No. 4

U.S. Dollar/Canadian Dollar

 

 

Average

High

Low

Close

Mar - 15

1.2619

1.2803

1.2440

1.2683

Feb - 15

1.2500

1.2635

1.2403

1.2508

Jan - 15

1.2115

1.2717

1.1728

1.2717

Dec - 14

1.1532

1.1643

1.1344

1.1601

Nov -14

1.1326

1.1427

1.1236

1.1427

Oct - 14

1.1213

1.1289

1.1136

1.1275

Sep - 14

1.1012

1.1208

1.0863

1.1208

Aug - 14

1.0927

1.0982

1.0857

1.0858

Jul - 14

1.0739

1.0909

1.0634

1.0890

Jun - 14

1.0831

1.0937

1.0676

1.0676

May -14

1.0893

1.0973

1.0837

1.0867

Apr - 14

1.0991

1.1042

1.0903

1.0957

 

 

 
6

 

 

         

Fiscal Yr Ended Dec., 31, 2014

1.1048

1.1643

1.0614

1.1601

Fiscal Yr Ended Dec., 31, 2013

1.0302

1.0697

0.9839

1.0636

Fiscal Yr Ended Dec. 31, 2012

0.9996

1.0279

0.9790

0.9902

Fiscal Yr Ended Dec. 31, 2011

0.9959

1.0130

0.98

0.9944

Fiscal Yr Ended Dec. 31, 2010

1.0295

1.0778

0.9946

0.9946

 

3.B.      Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not applicable

 

3.C.      Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable

 

3.D.      Risk Factors

 

Financial risk management objectives and policies

 

The financial risk arising from the Company’s operations are currency risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. These risks arise from the normal course of operations and all transactions undertaken are to support the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. The risks associated with these financial instruments and the policies on how to mitigate these risks are as follows:

 

Management manages and monitors these exposures to ensure appropriate measures are implemented on a timely and effective manner. The Company’s Management oversees these risks. The Board of Directors reviews and agrees on policies for managing each of these risks are as follows:

 

Foreign currency risk

 

Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in underlying foreign exchange rates. The Company’s exposure to the risk of changes in foreign exchange rates relates primarily to the Company’s operating activities (when revenue or expense is denominated in a different currency from the Company’s functional currency) and the Company’s net investments in foreign subsidiaries. The Company operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk as certain expenditures are denominated in non-Canadian Dollar currencies.

 

A 10% strengthening of the US Dollar against the Canadian Dollar would have increased the net equity by $90,365 (2013 - $76,850) due to reduction in the value of net liability balance. A 10% of weakening of the US Dollar against the Canadian Dollar at December 31, 2014 would have had the equal but opposite effect. The significant financial instruments of the Company, their carrying values and the exposure to other denominated monetary assets and liabilities, as of December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

 

US Denominated

China Denominated

Euro Denominated

 

USD

RMB

Euro

Cash

-

18,412

11,091

Accounts receivable

681,916

-

16,691

Accounts payable

45,926

-

-

 

 

 
7

 

 

The carrying values and the exposure to other denominated monetary assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2013 are as follows:

 

 

US Denominated

China Denominated

 

USD

RMB

Cash

43,422

8,978

Accounts receivable

788,497

3,935

Accounts payable

68,785

-

 

Liquidity Risk

 

The Company manages its liquidity risk by preparing and monitoring forecasts of cash expenditures to ensure that it will have sufficient liquidity to meet liabilities when due. The Company’s accounts payable and accrued liabilities generally have maturities of less than 90 days. At December 31, 2014, the Company had cash of $477,001(2013 - $78,091), accounts and grants receivable of $849,344 (2013 - $1,003,440) and prepaid and other receivables of $85,071 (2013- $84,620) to settle current liabilities of $1,679,482 (2013 - $1,703,703).

 

Credit Risk

 

Credit risk refers to the risk that one party to a financial instrument will cause a financial loss for the
counterparty by failing to discharge an obligation. The Company is primarily exposed to credit risk through accounts receivable. The maximum credit risk exposure is limited to the reported amounts of these financial assets. Credit risk is managed by ongoing review of the amount and aging of accounts receivable balances. As at December 31, 2014, the Company has outstanding receivables of $849,344 (2013- $1,003,440). An allowance for doubtful accounts is taken on accounts receivable if the account has not been collected after a predetermined period of time and is offset against other operating expenses. The Company deposits its cash with high credit quality financial institutions, with the majority deposited within Canadian Tier 1 Banks.

 

Dependence on Major Customer

 

The Company has sales to a major customer in 2014 and 2013, a government agency of the People’s Republic of China. The total percentage of sales to this customer during the year was 65% (2013 – 75%, 2012 – 66%) and the total percentage of accounts receivable at December 31, 2014 was 84% (2013 – 68%, 2012 – 87%).

 

Market Trends and Business Uncertainties

 

Lingo Media believes that the trends in English language learning in China are strong and continue to grow. Developing countries around the world, specifically in the Far East and Latin America, are expanding their mandates for the teaching of English to students, young professionals and adults. Although the outlook for learning English in China, other Far East countries, and Latin America remains positive, there can be no assurance that this trend will continue or that the Company will benefit from this trend.

 

If our major customer and distributors of our print-based products in China fail to devote sufficient time and resources to our business, or if their performance is substandard, our revenues will be materially adversely affected. We have no experience in directly distributing our products in China and no internal capability to do so yet. We have and will continue to establish collaborative relationships, and those relationships may expose us to a number of other unidentifiable risks.

 

 

 
8

 

 

Competitive Markets

 

We operate in competitive and evolving markets locally, nationally and globally. These markets are subject to rapid technological change and changes in customer preferences and demand. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain market acceptance or compete for market share. We must be able to keep current with the rapidly changing technologies, to adapt its services to evolving industry standards and to improve the performance and reliability of its services. New technologies could enable competitive product offerings and adversely affect us and our failure to adapt to such changes could seriously harm its business.

 

Failure of Delivery Infrastructure to Perform Consistently

 

Our success as a business depends, in part, on its ability to provide consistently high quality online services to users via the delivery infrastructure. There is no guarantee that the Company’s delivery infrastructure and/or its software will not experience problems or other performance issues. If the delivery infrastructure or software fails or suffers performance problems, then it would likely affect the quality and interrupt the continuation of our services and significantly harm the business.

 

The Company’s delivery infrastructure is susceptible to natural or man-made disasters such as earthquakes, floods, fires, power loss and sabotage, as well as interruptions from technology malfunctions, computer viruses and hacker attacks. Other potential service interruptions may result from unanticipated demands on network infrastructure, increased traffic or problems in customer service. Significant disruptions in the delivery infrastructure could harm the Company’s goodwill and its brands and ultimately could significantly and negatively impact the amount of revenue it may earn from its service. Like all Internet transmissions, our services may be subject to interception and malicious attack. Pirates may be able to obtain or copy our products without paying fees. The delivery infrastructure is exposed to spam, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, malware, spyware, denial of service or other attacks by hackers and other acts of malice. The Company uses security measures intended to make theft of its software more difficult. However, if the Company is required to upgrade or replace existing security technology, the cost of such security upgrades or replacements could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, profitability and cash flows.

 

Limited Intellectual Property Protection

 

The Company relies on a combination of copyright and trademark laws, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect its proprietary rights. In addition, our success may depend, in part, on its ability to obtain patent protection and operate without infringing the rights of third parties. There can be no assurance that, once filed, the Company’s patent applications will be successful, that we will develop future proprietary products that are patentable, that any issued patents will provide us with any competitive advantages or will not be successfully challenged by any third parties or that the patents of others will not have an adverse effect on the ability of the Company to do business. In addition, there can be no assurance that others will not independently develop similar products, duplicate some or all of our products or, if patents are issued, design their products so as to circumvent the patent protection held by the Company. We protect our product documentation and other written materials under trade secret and copyright laws which afford only limited protection. Despite precautions taken by the Company, it may be possible for unauthorized third parties to copy aspects of our business and marketing plans or future strategic documents or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary. There can be no assurance that the Company’s means of protecting its proprietary rights will be adequate or that our competitors will not independently develop similar or superior technology. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights, to protect trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of the propriety rights of others. Such litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources, and there can be no guarantee of the ultimate success thereof.

 

 

 
9

 

 

Government Regulation and Licensing

 

The Company’s operations may be subject to Canadian and foreign provincial and/or state and federal regulations and licensing. There can be no assurance that we will be able to comply with the regulations or secure and maintain the required licensing for its operations. Government regulation and licensing could seriously impact our ability to achieve its financial and operational objectives. The Company is subject to local, provincial and/or state, federal, and international laws affecting companies conducting business on the Internet, including user privacy laws, laws giving special protection to children, regulations prohibiting unfair and deceptive trade practices and laws addressing issues such as freedom of expression, pricing and access charges, quality of products and services, taxation, advertising, intellectual property rights and information security. The restrictions imposed by and the costs of complying with, current and possible future laws and regulations related to its business could limit our growth and reduce client base and revenue.

 

Operating in Foreign Jurisdictions

 

The Company’s current and future development opportunities relate to geographical areas outside of Canada. There are a number of risks inherent in international business activities, including government policies concerning the import and export of goods and services, costs of localizing products and subcontractors in foreign countries, costs associated with the use of foreign agents, potentially adverse tax consequences, limits on repatriation of earnings, the burdens of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws, nationalization and possible social, labour, political and economic instability. There can be no assurance that such risks will not adversely affect the business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, a portion of expenditures and revenues will be in currencies other than the Canadian Dollar. Foreign exchange exposure may change over time with changes in the geographic mix of its business activities. Foreign currencies may be unfavourably impacted by global developments, country-specific events and many other factors. As a result, future results may be adversely affected by significant foreign exchange fluctuations.

 

Economic Conditions

 

Unfavorable economic and market conditions could increase our financing costs, reduce demand for its products and services, limit access to capital markets and negatively impact any access to future credit facilities. Expenditures by advertisers tend to be cyclical, reflecting overall economic conditions as well as budgeting and buying patterns.

 

Working Capital

 

We may need to raise additional funds in order to finance our operations. The Company expects that corporate growth will be funded from equity and/or debt financing(s) to help generate needed capital. Insuring that capital is available to increase production; sales and marketing capacity; and to provide support materials and training in the market place and to expand is essential to success. There can be no assurance that financing will be available on terms favorable to us, or at all. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, we may be forced to curtail or cease our operations. Even if we are able to continue our operations, the failure to obtain financing could have a substantial adverse effect on our business and financial results.

 

 

 

 
10

 

 

 

Uncertainty of Assumptions Underlying Business Plan

 

The Company’s business plan is based upon numerous assumptions that may later prove to be incorrect. The Company’s ability to adhere to its business plan will depend upon a variety of factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Likewise, the Company’s management is not bound to follow its business plan, and may elect to adopt other strategies and courses of action based upon changes in circumstances and/or market conditions. The Company cannot assure that the actual results of the Company’s operations will materially conform to its business plan.

 

Success Dependent on Key Management Personnel

 

The success of the Company is highly dependent on the skills, experience and successful performance of the Company’s management team. The loss of such services could adversely affect development of the Company’s business, revenues, cash flows and profitability.

 

Managing Growth

 

The Company must expand its business to achieve profitability. Any further expansion of the Company’s business may strain its current managerial, financial, operational, and other resources. Success in managing this expansion and growth will depend, in part, upon the ability of senior management to manage growth effectively. Any failure to do so may lead to inefficiencies and redundancies, and result in reduced growth prospects. As a result, the Company’s profitability, if any, may be curtailed or eliminated.

 

Supply Failures

 

The Company relies on third parties for the timely supply of maintenance services. Although the Company actively manages these third party relationships to ensure continuity of services on time and to its required specifications, some events beyond its control could result in the complete or partial failure of services or services not being delivered on time. Any such failure could negatively affect the Company’s operating results.

 

Our Public Trading Market is Highly Volatile

 

The Company's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "LM", and on the OTCQB under the symbol “LMDCF”.

 

The market price of our common shares could fluctuate substantially due to:

 

 

Quarterly fluctuations in operating results;

 

 

Announcements of new products or services by us or our competitors;

 

 

Technological innovations by us or our competitors;

 

 

General market conditions or market conditions specific to our or our customer’s industries; or

 

 

Changes in earning estimates or recommendations by analysts.

 

 

 
11

 

 

Penny Stock Rules

 

Our common shares are quoted on the OTCQB Marketplace; a FINRA sponsored and operated quotation system for equity securities. It is a more limited trading market than the NASDAQ Capital Market, and timely, accurate quotations of the price of our common shares may not always be available. You may expect trading volume to be low in such a market. Consequently, the activity of only a few shares may affect the market and may result in wide swings in price and in volume.

 

Our common shares are listed on the OTCQB Marketplace, and are subject to the requirements of Rule 15(g)- 9, promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act as long as the price of our common shares is below $5.00 per share. Under such rule, broker-dealers who recommend low-priced securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors must satisfy special sales practice requirements, including a requirement that they make an individualized written suitability determination for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s consent prior to the transaction. The Securities Enforcement Remedies and Penny Stock Reform Act of 1990 also requires additional disclosure in connection with any trade involving a stock defined as a penny stock. Generally, the Commission defines a penny stock as any equity security not traded on an exchange or quoted on NASDAQ that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share. The required penny stock disclosures include the delivery, prior to any transaction, of a disclosure schedule explaining the penny stock market and the risks associated with it. Such requirements could severely limit the market liquidity of the securities and the ability of purchasers to sell their securities in the secondary market.

 

The stock market has experienced significant price and volume fluctuations, and the market prices of companies, have been highly volatile. Investors may not be able to sell their shares at or above the then current, OTCQB price. In addition, our results of operations during future fiscal periods might fail to meet the expectations of stock market analysts and investors. This failure could lead the market price of our common shares to decline.

 

There is Uncertainty as to the Company’s Shareholders’ Ability to Enforce Civil Liabilities Both Within and Outside of the United States

 

The preponderance of our assets are located outside the United States and are held through companies incorporated under the laws of Canada, China, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom and representative office in China. In addition, all of our directors and officers are nationals and/or residents of countries other than the United States. All or a substantial portion of the assets of these persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for shareholders to effect service of process within the United States upon these persons. In addition, investors may have difficulty enforcing, both in and outside the United States, judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the Securities laws of the United States or any State thereof.

 

ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

 

4.A.      History and Development of the Company

 

Incorporation and Name Changes

 

The Company was incorporated under the name Alpha Publishing Inc. pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) on April 22, 1996. The name was changed to Alpha Ventures Inc. on May 24, 1996. Pursuant to Articles of Continuance effective April 22, 1998, the Company was continued as an Ontario company under the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) under the name, Alpha Communications Corp. The name was changed to Lingo Media Inc. on July 4, 2000, and changed to Lingo Media Corporation on October 16, 2007.

 

The Company currently has four active subsidiaries: Lingo Learning Inc. "LLI", ELL Technologies Ltd. (“ELL Technologies”), Speak2Me Inc. and Parlo Corporation (“Parlo”)

 

Lingo Learning Inc. was incorporated pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on November 21, 1994 under the name Alpha Corporation. Alpha Corporation changed its name to Lingo Media Ltd. on August 25, 2000 and again on March 6, 2008 to Lingo Learning Inc.

 

 

 
12

 

 

ELL Technologies Ltd. was incorporated pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on February 23, 2012 under the name 2318041 Ontario Inc. 2318041 Ontario Inc. changed its name to ELL Technologies Ltd. on January 15, 2014.

 

Speak2Me Inc. was incorporated pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on February 22, 2007.

 

Parlo Corporation was incorporated pursuant to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) on September 24, 2009.

 

The Company’s Executive Office is located at:

 

151 Bloor Street West

Suite 703

Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1S4 Canada

Telephone: (416) 927-7000

Facsimile: (416) 927-1222

E-mail: investor@lingomedia.com

Website: www.lingomedia.com

 

The Company’s Beijing Representative Office is located at:

 

Suite 1805, Tower B, Fuli Twins Tower,

#55 Middle Road East Third Ring,

Chaoyang District,

Beijing 100022, China

 

The Company's fiscal year ends on December 31st.

 

The Company's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "LM", on the OTCQB under the symbol “LMDCF” and are quoted on the Berlin-Bremen Stock Exchange under the symbol “LIM.BE” and the German securities code is (WKN) 121226.

 

4.B.      BUSINESS OVERVIEW

 

Background

 

Lingo Media (www.lingomedia.com) is an ESL EdTech industry acquisition company whose goal is to ‘Change the way the world learns English’ combining education with technology. The Company is focused on online and print-based technologies and solutions through its four subsidiaries: Lingo Learning Inc. (Lingo Learning”), ELL Technologies Ltd. (“ELL Technologies”); Speak2Me Inc. (“Speak2Me”) and Parlo Corporation (“Parlo”). Lingo Learning is a print-based publisher of English language training programs. ELL Technologies is a globally-established English language learning multi-media and online training company. Speak2Me is a free-to-consumer advertising-based online English language learning service in China. Parlo is a fee-based online English language training and assessment service. Lingo Media has formed successful relationships with key government and industry organizations, establishing a strong presence in China’s education market of more than 300 million students. The Company is extending its global reach, with an initial market expansion into Latin America and continues to expand its product offerings and technology applications.

 

 

 
13

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2014, the Company operated two distinct business segments as follows:

 

Print-Based English Language Learning

 

The Company continues to maintain and to grow its legacy business of earning royalty revenue through its subsidiary Lingo Learning Inc., a print-based publisher of English language training programs in China since 2001. Lingo Learning has an established presence in China’s education market of over 300 million students. To date, it has co-published more than 520 million units from its library of program titles.

 

China Publishing

 

Lingo Media has spent 15 years developing English Language Learning (ELL), products, programs, and relationships in the Chinese market. Learning to communicate in English is seen as a top priority for Chinese school students and young adult learners. Along with learning how to use a PC, English skills are perceived as a key determinant of their future levels of prosperity. The Company’s ELL books, audio and CD-based programs are unique in that they have a special focus on the spoken language. In addition to developing learning materials, considerable resources have been expended on the development of relationships with leading Chinese publishers, both in the education and trade sectors, as well as in extensive marketing of Lingo Media’s programs.

 

The Company is capitalizing on its co-development approach in the Chinese market. Lingo Media sees its relationships with leading Chinese publishers; its Canadian and Chinese author teams; and its original custom-developed content as key factors in opening up the Chinese educational market. The Company has secured long-term publishing contracts for the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12) and higher educational markets, which it anticipates will generate ongoing revenue streams from the sale of its programs.

 

Co-Publishing Partner in China

 

People's Education Press

 

People's Education Press (“PEP”) a division of China's State Ministry of Education, publishes more than 60% of educational materials for the Kindergarten to Grade 12 (“K-12”) market throughout China, for all subjects, including English Language Learning. PEP has a readership of more than 120 million students. Lingo Learning has two programs with PEP. These series target the elementary market of 100 million students: PEP Primary English (for Grades 3-6; Chinese students now begin learning English in Grade 3); and Starting Line (Grades 1-6); All series include the core textbooks in addition to supplemental activity books, audiocassettes, teacher resource books, and other materials.

 

Seasonality

 

The Company may experience some seasonal trends in the sale of its publications. For example, sales of educational published materials experience seasonal fluctuations with higher sales in the Spring (second calendar quarter) and Fall (fourth calendar quarter).

 

Online English Language Learning

 

(i) Training Model

 

ELL Technologies, acquired in 2010, offers more than 1,700 hours of interactive learning through a number of product offerings that include Scholar, Master, Kids, and other tailor-made solutions. ELL Technologies is marketed in 12 countries through a network of distributors and earns its revenues from the sale from licensing and subscription fees.

 

 

 
14

 

 

To further leverage its Speak2Me lesson and technology platform, the Company acquired Parlo in 2009 to expand its online offerings to include fee-based spoken English training solutions for corporations, governments, and educational institutions. This fee-based training service incorporates a reporting platform in the form of a Learning Management System for human resources administrators. Parlo’s spoken language learning platform has now been integrated into ELL Technologies.

 

(ii) Social Learning Model

 

The Company has operated an online English language learning service in China through www.Speak2Me.cn that included a unique social learning infrastructure. This website incorporated its proven pedagogy with fun, interactive lesson modules to address the rapidly growing need for spoken English in China. Speak2Me's platform uses speech recognition technology to teach spoken English online through more than 350 targeted lessons that engage users in interactive conversations with a virtual instructor.

 

Segmented Information (Before Other Financial Items Below)

 

2014

Online English

Language Learning

Print-Based English

Language Learning

Total

Segmented assets

$ 1,407,525

 $ 1,015,913

$ 2,423,438

Segmented liabilities

623,349

1,056,134

1,679,483

Segmented revenue

        831,650

      1,680,814

2,512,464

Segmented direct costs

286,945

95,649

382,594

Segmented selling, general & administrative

307,361

642,868

950,229

Segmented intangible amortization

582,857

-

582,857

Segmented other expense

3,652

272,853

276,505

Segmented income (loss)

(349,165)

669,444

320,279

Segmented intangible addition

544,635

-

544,635

 

       

2013

Online English

Language Learning

Print-Based English

Language Learning

Total

Segmented assets

$ 1,215,023

 $  999,567

$ 2,214,590

Segmented liabilities

496,975

1,206,728

1,703,703

Segmented revenue

        466,869

      1,541,197

2,008,066

Segmented direct costs

153,200

42,124

195,324

Segmented selling, general & administrative

295,893

645,569

941,462

Segmented intangible amortization

431,049

-

431,049

Segmented other expense

6,171

243,119

249,290

Segmented income (loss)

(419,444)

610,385

190,941

Segmented intangible addition

431,711

-

431,711

 

 

 

 
15

 

 

 

2012

Online English

Language Learning

Print-Based English

Language Learning

Total

Segmented assets

$ 1,269,953

$ 1,390,695

$ 2,660,648

Segmented liabilities

814,887

1,428,469

2,243,356

Segmented revenue

680,321

1,335,940

2,016,261

Segmented direct costs

261,341

11,714

273,055

Segmented selling, general & administrative

1,014,346

1,106,890

2,121,236

Segmented intangible amortization

365,752

-

365,752

Segmented other expense

8,415

223,411

231,826

Segmented income (loss)

(969,533)

(6,075)

(975,608)

Segmented intangible addition

143,215

-

143,215

 

2011

Online English

Language Learning

Print-Based English

Language Learning

Total

Segmented assets

$ 1,610,229

$ 1,438,946

$ 3,049,175

Segmented liabilities

656,422

942,919

1,599,341

Segmented revenue

829,589

1,237,380

2,066,969

Segmented direct costs

168,013

(26,264)

141,749

Segmented selling, general & administrative

1,474,810

865,745

2,340,555

Segmented intangible amortization

2,544,818

-

2,544,818

Segmented other expense

891,386

213,991

1,105,377

Segmented income (loss)

(4,074,438)

(743,938)

(4,818,376)

Segmented intangible addition

138,681

-

138,681

 

Other Financial Items

2014

2013

2012

2011

Print-Based English Language Learning segmented income (loss)

$ 669,444

 $ 610,385

$ (6,075)

$ 183,908

Online English Language Learning segmented income (loss)

(349,165)

(419,444)

(969,533)

(4,074,438)

Foreign exchange gain

106,437

134,444

25,046

19,709

Interest and other financial

(217,040)

(240,516)

(168,769)

(328,112)

Stock-based payments

(65,663)

(61,926)

(243,195)

(518,114)

Other comprehensive income

(36,607)

(79,274)

(2,211)

(82,579)

Total Comprehensive Loss

$ 107,406

$ (56,331)

$ (1,364,737)

$ (4,799,626)

 

Revenue by Geographic Region

 

 

2014

2013

2012

2011

China

$ 1,822,660

 $ 1,543,753

$ 1,366,415

$ 1,320,945

Other

689,804

464,313

649,846

746,024

 

$ 2,512,464

$ 2,008,066

$ 2,016,261

$ 2,066,969

 

 

 

 
16

 

 

 

Identifiable Assets by Geographic Region

 

 

2014

2013

2012

2011

Canada

$ 2,410,202

 $ 1,919,176

$ 2,510,182

$ 2,923,211

China

13,236

295,414

150,466

121,964

 

$ 2,423,438

$ 2,214,590

$ 2,660,648

$ 3,049,175

 

 

Intangibles

Software and

Web Development

Content Platform

Customer

Relationships

Total

Cost, January 1, 2011

6,523,227

1,477,112

130,000

8,130,339

Additions

126,472

-

-

126,472

Cost, December 31, 2011

6,649,699

1,477,112

130,000

8,256,811

Additions

142,464

-

-

142,464

Cost, December 31, 2012

6,792,163

1,477,112

130,000

8,399,275

Additions

431,711

-

-

431,711

Effect of foreign exchange

1,191

-

-

1,191

Cost, December 31, 2013

7,225,065

1,477,112

130,000

8,832,117

Additions

544,635

-

-

544,635

Effect of foreign exchange

11,911

-

-

11,911

Cost, December 31, 2014

7,781,611

1,477,112

130,000

9,388,723

 

       

 

Intangibles

Software and

Web Development

Content Platform

Customer

Relationships

Total

Accumulated depreciation, January 31, 2011 

3,695,622

174,792

130,000

4,000,414

Charge for the year

2,184,396

295,422

-

2,479,818

Impairment Loss

703,600

-

-

703,600

Accumulated depreciation, December 31, 2011

6,583,618

470,214

130,000

7,183,832

Charge for the year

42,978

296,232

-

339,210

Accumulated depreciation, December 31, 2012

6,626,596

766,446

130,000

7,523,042

Charge for the year

135,627

295,422

-

431,049

Effect of foreign exchange

1,191

-

-

1,191

Accumulated depreciation, December 31, 2013

6,763,414

1,061,868

130,000

7,955,282

Charge for the year

287,435

295,422

-

582,857

Effect of foreign exchange

2,986

-

-

2,986

Accumulated depreciation, December 31, 2014 

7,053,835

1,357,290

130,000

8,541,125

         

Net book value, December 31, 2011

66,081

1,006,898

26,542

1,099,521

Net book value, December 31, 2012

165,567

710,666

-

876,233

Net book value, December 31, 2013

461,651

415,244

-

876,895

Net book value, December 31, 2014

727,776

119,822

-

847,598

 

 

 
17

 

 

The Company began commercial production and sale of its services and products during 2009 and started amortizing the cost of software and web development costs on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the assets which is estimated to be 3 years. During 2011, the Company recognized an impairment loss of $703,600 in relation to its software and web development in Speak2Me because the carrying value of the software and web development exceeded the expected recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is based on management’s best estimate of the selling price, less costs to sell. In 2014, the Company focused on redesign and upgrade of its ELL Technologies suite of products and invested $544,635 in the product development cost. The project is expected to be complete in 2015, however, the Company has started the commercial production and sale of some of its products. No impairment was recognized in 2013 or 2014.

 

4.C.      Organization Structure

 

See 4.A. “History and Development of the Company” for more information.

 

Name of subsidiary

Principal activity

Place of incorporation

and operation

Proportion of ownership interest

and voting rights held

     

December 31, 2014

December 31, 2013

December 31, 2012

Lingo Learning Inc.

 

Developer and publisher of English language learning print and audio-based products

Canada

100%

100%

100%

ELL Technologies Ltd.¹

English language learning multi-media & online training service

Canada

100%

100%

100%

ELL Technologies Limited

English language learning multi-media & online training service

U.K.

100%

100%

100%

Speak2Me Inc.

Free English language learning online service

Canada

100%

100%

100%

Parlo Corporation

Fee-based online English language learning training and assessment service 

Canada

100%

100%

100%

Notes:

 

 

1.

This subsidiary was incorporated in February 2012.

 

4.D.      Property and Equipment

 

The Company’s executive offices are located in rented premises of approximately 4,270 sq. ft. at 151 Bloor Street West, Suite 703, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1S4 Canada. The Company began occupying these facilities, through its subsidiary Lingo Learning Inc. in March 2006.

 

 

 
18

 

 

The Company’s Beijing representative offices are located in rented premises of approximately 2,174 sq. ft. at Suite 1805, Tower B, Fuli Twins Tower, #55 Middle Road East Third Ring, Chaoyang District Beijing, China, 100022

 

The Company has office equipment, furniture and computer equipment located in these offices and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010, they have a net carrying value of $24,806, $31,926, $38,356, $48,321, and $58,161, respectively.

 

ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

 

The following discussion for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012 should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the notes thereon.

 

The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described herein and in other documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

5.A      Overview

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

BASIS OF PREPARATION

 

Statement of compliance and going concern

 

The consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and interpretations of the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”).

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has incurred significant losses over the years. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company reported a net profit of $144,013 (2013 – net profit of $22,943; 2012 – net loss of $1,362,526), positive cash flows from operations of $953,081 (2013 - $845,554; 2012 - negative cash flows from operations of $665,304).  As at December 31, 2014, the Company had a working capital deficiency of $268,066 (2013-$537,552).  The Company’s success depends on the continued profitable commercialization of its online English language learning technology programs.  Given the fact that the Company has had an increase in revenue of $504,398, increase in net profit of $121,070 and an increase in cash flows of $398,910, and the Company’s current operating and financial plans, management of the Company believes that it will have sufficient access to financial resources to fund the Company’s planned operations through fiscal 2015.

 

Basis of measurement

 

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except as otherwise noted. The comparative figures presented in the consolidated financial statements are in accordance with IFRS.

 

 
19

 

 

Basis of consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Company and the entities controlled by the Company (the “Group”) as at December 31, 2014. Control exists when the Company is exposed to, or has the rights to variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect these returns through its power over the entity.

 

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date of acquisition, being the date on which the Group obtains control, and continue to be consolidated until the date when such control ceases. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the parent company, using consistent accounting policies. All inter-group balances, transactions, unrealized gains and losses resulting from inter-group transactions and dividends are eliminated in full. 

 

Functional and presentation currency

 

The functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates and has been determined for each entity within the Group. These consolidated financial statements are presented in Canadian Dollars, which is the Company’s functional currency and presentation currency. The functional currency of ELL Technologies is the United States Dollar (“USD”) and the functional currency of Speak2Me is Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”). All other subsidiaries’ functional currency is Canadian Dollar (“CAD”).

 

The functional currency determinations were conducted through an analysis of the consideration factors identified in IAS 21, “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates”.  

 

 

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS, ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS

 

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies, reported amounts of assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities, revenues and expenses at the date of the consolidated financial statements and during the reporting period.

 

Estimates and assumptions are continuously evaluated and are based on management’s historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. However, actual outcomes can differ from these estimates. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and further periods if the review affects both current and future periods.

 

Information about critical judgements in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements is included in the following notes:

 

 

Determination of functional and presentation currency

 

Determination of the recoverability of the carrying value of intangible assets and goodwill

 

Determination and recognition of long-term revenue contracts

 

Recognition of government grant and grant receivable

 

Recognition of deferred tax assets

 

Valuation of share-based payments

 

Recognition of provisions and contingent liabilities

 

Assessing whether material uncertainties exist that would cause doubt as to whether the Company could continue as a going concern.

 

 

 
20

 

 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Revenue recognition

 

Revenue from fee-based English language training and assessment services and licenses are recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the agreement and when collectability is reasonably assured.

 

When the outcome of a contract cannot be reliably estimated, all contract related costs are expensed and revenues are recognized only to the extent that those costs are recoverable. When the uncertainties that prevented reliable estimation of the outcome of a contract no longer exist, contract revenue and expenses are recognized using the percentage of completion method. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company had one long-term contract, for which revenues of $230,000 were recognized based on the cost recovery method.

 

Revenue from online advertising and sponsorships in China is recognized at the time of the rendering of services and when collectability is reasonably assured.

 

Revenue from royalty and licensing sales in China is recognized based on confirmation of finished products produced by its co-publishing partners and when collectability is reasonably assured. Royalty revenue from audiovisual products is recognized based on the confirmation of sales by its co-publishing partners, and when collectability is reasonably assured. Royalty revenues are not subject to right of return or product warranties. Revenue from the sale of published and supplemental products is recognized upon delivery and when the risk of ownership is transferred and collectability is reasonably assured.

 

Comprehensive income

 

Comprehensive income measures net earnings for the period plus other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income consists of changes in equity from non-owner sources, such as changes to foreign currency translation adjustments of foreign operations during the period. Amounts reported as other comprehensive income are accumulated in a separate component of shareholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

Property and equipment

 

Property and equipment are initially recorded at cost. Amortization is provided using methods outlined below at rates intended to amortize the cost of assets over their estimated useful lives.

 

Method

Rate

   
Computer and office equipment Declining balance 20%

 

Software and web development costs

 

The Company capitalizes all costs related to the development of its free-to-consumer and fee-based ELL products and services when the feasibility and profitability of the project can be reasonably considered certain. Expenditure on development activities, whereby research findings are applied to a plan or design for the production of new or substantially improved products and processes, is capitalized if the product or process is technically and commercially feasible and the Group has sufficient resources to complete development. The expenditure capitalized includes the cost of materials and direct labour. Other development expenditure is recognized in the statement of comprehensive income as an expense as incurred. Capitalized development expenditure is stated at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment losses. The software and web development cost are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the asset, which is estimated to be 3 years.

 

 

 
21

 

 

Content Platform

 

In 2010, the Company acquired a content platform which was already commercialized. The content platform costs are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the asset which is estimated to be 5 years.

 

Customer relationships

 

The Company acquired customer relationships through its acquisition of ELL Technologies. The customer relationships are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the asset which is estimated to be 2 years. As at December 31, 2014, customer relationships were fully amortized.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable assets of an acquired business.

 

The Company measures goodwill as the fair value of the consideration transferred including the recognized amount of any non-controlling interest in the venture, less the net recognized amount (fair value) of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, all measured as of the acquisition date. When the excess is negative, a bargain purchase gain is recognized immediately in profit. 

 

The Company elects on a transaction-by-transaction basis whether to measure non-controlling interest at its fair value, or at its proportionate share of the recognized amount of the identifiable net assets, at the acquisition date. Transaction costs, other than those associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, that the Company incurs in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred.

 

Government grants

 

The Company receives government grants based on certain eligibility criteria for book publishing industry development in Canada. These government grants are recorded as a reduction of general and administrative expenses to offset direct costs funded by the grant. The Company records a liability for the repayment of the grants and a charge to operations in the period in which conditions arise that will cause the government grants to be repayable.

 

Deferred income taxes

 

Deferred taxation is recognized using the liability method on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes.

 

However, deferred taxation is not recognized if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred taxation is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the reporting date and are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset is realized or the deferred tax liability is settled.

 

 

 
22

 

 

A deferred tax asset is recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the temporary difference can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized.

 

Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, except where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the Company and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset if a legally enforceable right exists to offset current income tax assets against current income tax liabilities and the deferred taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.

 

Foreign currency translation

 

Foreign currency transactions are initially recorded in the functional currency at the transaction date exchange rate. At the balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into the functional currency at the reporting date exchange rate. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the re-measurement of monetary items at year-end exchange rates are recognized in the income statement.

 

Non-monetary items measured at historical cost are translated using the historical exchange rate. Non-monetary items measured at fair value are translated using the exchange rates at the date when fair value was determined.

 

Financial statements of subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures for which the functional currency is not the Canadian Dollar are translated into Canadian Dollars as follows: all asset and liability accounts are translated at the balance sheet exchange rate and all earnings and expense accounts and cash flow statement items are translated at average exchange rates for the period. The resulting translation gains and losses are recorded as foreign currency translation adjustments in other comprehensive income and recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income in equity. On disposal of a foreign operation the cumulative translation differences recognized in equity are reclassified to the income statement and recognized as part of the gain or loss on disposal. Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity have been treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign entity and translated into Canadian Dollars at the balance sheet rate.

 

Foreign exchange gains or losses arising from a monetary item receivable from or payable to a foreign operation, the settlement of which is neither planned nor likely to occur in the foreseeable future and which in substance is considered to form part of the net investment in the foreign operation, are recognized in other comprehensive income in accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

Earnings (loss) per share

 

Earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the earnings (loss) for the year by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year, including contingently issuable shares which are included when the conditions necessary for issuance have been met. Diluted earnings per share is calculated in a similar manner, except that the weighted average number of common shares outstanding is increased to include potentially issuable common shares from the assumed exercise of common share purchase options and warrants, if dilutive. During the year ended December 31, 2014, all the outstanding stock options, warrants and brokers’ warrants were anti-dilutive.

 

 

 
23

 

 

Share-based compensation plan

 

The Stock Option Plan allows Company management, employees, directors and consultants to acquire shares of the Company. The fair value of share-based payment awards granted is recognized as an employee or consultant expense with a corresponding increase in equity. An individual is classified as an employee when the individual is an employee for legal or tax purposes (direct employee) or provides services similar to those performed by a direct employee.

 

Each tranche in an award is considered a separate award with its own vesting period and grant date fair value. The fair value is measured at grant date and each tranche is recognized on a graded vesting basis over the period during which the share purchase options vest. The fair value of the share-based payment awards granted is measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the awards were granted. At each financial position reporting date, the amount recognized as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of awards, for which the related service and non-market vesting conditions are expected to be met.

 

For equity-settled share-based payment transactions, the Company measures the goods or services received, and the corresponding increase in equity, directly, at the fair value of the goods or services received, unless that fair value cannot be estimated reliably, in which cases, the Company measures their value, and the corresponding increase in equity, indirectly, by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted.

 

Financial instruments

 

All financial instruments are recorded initially at fair value. In subsequent periods, all financial instruments are measured based on the classification adopted for the financial instrument: fair value through profit and loss (“FVTPL”); held to maturity; loans and receivables; and available for sale or other liability.

Financial assets: FVTPL assets are subsequently measured at fair value with the change in the fair value recognized in net income during the period.

 

Loans and receivables are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

 

Financial liabilities: Other liabilities are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. Costs that are directly attributable to a financial instrument’s origination, acquisition, issuance or assumption, are included in the fair value adjustment of the financial instrument. These costs are amortized over the life of the financial instrument.

 

The Company has classified its financial instruments as follows:

 

 

Financial Instrument

Classification

Cash

FVTPL

Accounts and grants receivable

Loans and receivables

Accounts payable

Other liabilities

Accrued liabilities

Other liabilities

Loans payable

Other liabilities

 

 

 
24

 

 

 

The Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on the balance sheet consist of cash, which is measured at level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. There are three levels of the fair value hierarchy as follows:

  

Level 1:     Values based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2:     Values based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or model inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

Level 3:     Values based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

 

Impairment of long-lived assets

 

The Company’s property and equipment and intangibles with finite lives are reviewed for an indication of impairment at each balance sheet date. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually or at any time if an indicator of impairment exists if indication of impairment exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated.  The recoverable amount is the greater of the asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. 

 

An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of an asset, or its cash-generating unit, exceeds its recoverable amount. A cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.  Impairment losses are recognized in profit and loss for the period.

 

An impairment loss, other than goodwill impairment, is reversed if there is an indication that there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortization, if no impairment loss had been recognized.

 

Operating Results

 

Financial information for the year ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB.

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2014 vs. Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013

 

Revenues from print-based English language learning for the year ended December 31, 2014 were $1,680,814 compared to $1,541,197 for fiscal 2013. Direct costs associated with publishing revenue are kept to a minimum and has been consistent throughout the years. The Company continues to maintain its relationship with PEP and is investing in the development of its existing and new programs and marketing activities to maintain and increase its royalty revenues.

 

Publishing revenue for the year ended December 31, 2014 increased 9% compared to fiscal 2013. This increase is mainly attributed to the increased royalties through licensing sales to local publishers rather than direct sales made by PEP. Since the State Ministry of Education has mandated the increase of licensing sales vs. direct sales to local publishers, PEP had increased its licensing sales revenues. The Company expects this trend to continue but it does not have any control over PEP’s attempt to enter into licensing sales vs. direct sales with additional local publishers.

 

In 2014, Lingo Media generated $831,650 in online English language learning revenue as compared to $466,869 in 2013, an increase of 78%. This increase in sales is due to the Company’s increased sales efforts related to its ELL Technologies redesigned suite of products. The Company has completely redesigned the user interface, learning management system and the multi-browser delivery system for desktops and tablets for its ELL Technologies suite of products including Scholar, Master, and Kids. The product overhaul has been completed and full sales efforts have resumed in 2014.

 

 

 
25

 

 

Selling, General and Administrative Costs

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $950,229 in fiscal 2014 compared to $941,462 for fiscal 2013, an increase of 1%. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the two segments are segregated below.

 

(i) Print-Based English Language Learning

 

 

Selling, general and administrative costs for print-based publishing decreased from 2013 to 2014. The decrease in sales, marketing & administration, travel and premises was primarily due to cost rationalization efforts in 2014. The following is a breakdown of selling, general and administrative costs directly related to print-based English language learning:

 

 

2014

2013

Sales, marketing & administration

        $ 142,544 

        $189,676 

Consulting fees

382,564

396,809

Travel

60,007

84,705

Premises

111,598

131,257

Shareholder service

49,399

54,073

Professional fees

79,887

60,696

Less: Grants

(183,131)

(271,647)

 

$ 642,868 

$645,569 

 

(ii) Online English Language Learning

 

 

Selling, general and administrative costs related to online English language learning were $307,361 for fiscal 2014 compared to $295,893 in 2013. Selling, general and administrative costs for this business unit increased in 2014 as a result of the increase in operations and revenue growth. The following is a breakdown of selling, general and administrative costs directly related to Online English Language Learning:

 

 

2014

2013

Sales, marketing & administration

$ 166,207

$  133,138

Consulting fees and salaries

79,588

69,213

Travel

13,136

7,990

Premises

45,888

32,814

Shareholder service

-

-

Professional fees

60,876

52,738

Grant repayment accrual

(58,334)

-

 

$ 307,361

$ 295,893

Total

950,229

941,462

 

 

 
26

 

 

Government Grants

 

Lingo Media makes applications to the Canadian government for various types of grants to support its publishing and international marketing activities. Each year, the amount of any grant may vary depending on certain eligibility criteria (including prior year revenues) and the monies available to and the number of eligible candidates. These government grants are recorded as a reduction of general and administrative expenses to offset direct costs funded by the grant. During the year, the Company recorded $241,465 of such grants.

 

One government grant for the print-based English language learning segment is repayable in the event that the segment’s annual net income for each of the previous two years exceeds 15% of revenue and at such time a liability would be recorded. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the conditions for the repayment of the government grant were not met and no liability was recorded.

 

One grant, relating to the Company’s “Development of Comprehensive, Interactive Phonetic English Learning Solution” project, is repayable semi-annually at a royalty rate of 2.5% per year’s gross sales derived from this project until 100% of the grant is repaid. No royalty was paid in 2014, 2013 or 2012 as no sales were generated from this project.

 

During 2008, Lingo Media was audited by a government grant agency and was assessed with a repayment of $115,075 relating to a publishing grant. In 2010, the Company was reassessed with a reduction to the repayment to $100,000 which is recorded in accrued liabilities and this audit finding was appealed by the Company. In 2013, the appeal was approved and the liability was reduced to $16,263, which was paid, and the difference of $87,737 was recorded as grant during that year.

 

While the Company will continue to apply for various government grants to fund its ongoing development and market expansion, there can be no assurance the Company will be successful in obtaining these grants in the future or that the Company will meet the eligibility requirements for the grants or that the grant programs will continue to be offered.

 

Segmented Information

 

Total comprehensive income for the Company was $107,408 for the year ended December 31, 2014 as compared to a total comprehensive loss of $(56,331) in 2013. These gains can be attributed to the two operating segments and other financial costs as shown below:

 

Online English Language Learning

2014

2013

Revenue

$ 831,650

466,869

Expenses:

   

Direct costs

286,945

153,200

Selling, general & administrative

307,361

295,893

Amortization of property & equipment

3,253

3,533

Amortization of development costs

582,857

431,049

Income taxes and other taxes

399

2,638

 

1,180,815

886,313

Segmented (Loss) - Online English Language Learning

(349,165)

(419,444)

 

 

 
27

 

  

Print-Based English Language Learning

2014

2013

Revenue

1,680,814

1,541,197

Expenses:

   

Direct costs

95,649

42,124

Selling, general & administrative

642,868

645,569

Amortization of property & equipment

4,133

4,091

Income taxes and other taxes

268,720

239,028

 

1,011,370

930,812

Segmented Income – Print-Based English Language Learning

669,444

610,385

     

Other

2014

2013

Foreign exchange

106,437

134,444

Interest and other financial expenses

(217,040)

(240,516)

Share-based compensation

(65,663)

(61,926)

Other comprehensive income

(36,607)

(79,274)

 

(212,873)

(247,272)

Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)

$ 107,406

(56,331)

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company continued to invest in product development and redesigned its fee-based online training and assessment service. The majority of its expenses consist of selling, general and administrative expenses detailed in the selling, general and administrative section above. The loss decreased as a result of decreased expenditures related to cost rationalization, and reduced financial expenses and share-based compensation.

 

Share-Based Payments

 

The Company amortizes share-based payments with a corresponding increase to the contributed surplus account. During 2014, the Company recorded an expense of $65,663 compared to $61,926 during 2013. The increase in this expense is due to stock options granted and vested, and no financing activities.

 

Foreign Exchange

 

The Company recorded foreign exchange gain in 2014 of $106,437 as compared to a gain of $134,444 in fiscal 2013, relating to the Company's currency risk through its activities denominated in foreign currencies.

 

The Company is exposed to foreign exchange risk as a significant portion of its revenue and expenses are denominated in US Dollars, European Euros, and Chinese Renminbi.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

The Company recorded a tax expense of $269,119 for the year ended December 31, 2014 compared to a tax expense of $241,666 in 2013. This tax is a withholding tax paid on revenues earned in China and repatriated outside of China.

 

 

 
28

 

 

Net Profit / (Loss) for the Year

 

The Company reported a net profit of $144,013 for the year ended December 31, 2014, as compared to $22,943 in 2013, an operational improvement of $121,070. This improvement in profitability is primarily attributed to increase in revenue accompanied by a proportionate increase in direct costs.

 

Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013 vs. Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2012

 

Revenues from print-based English language learning for the year ended December 31, 2013 were $1,541,197 compared to $1,335,940 for fiscal 2012. Direct costs associated with publishing revenue are kept to a minimum and has been consistent throughout the years. The Company continues to maintain its relationship with PEP and is investing in the development of its existing and new programs and marketing activities to maintain and increase its royalty revenues.

 

Publishing revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013 increased 15% compared to fiscal 2012. This increase is mainly attributed to the increased royalties through licensing sales to local publishers rather than direct sales made by PEP. Since the State Ministry of Education has mandated the increase of licensing sales vs. direct sales to local publishers, PEP had increased its licensing sales revenues. The Company expects this trend to continue but it does not have any control over PEP’s attempt to enter into licensing sales vs. direct sales with additional local publishers.

 

In 2013, Lingo Media generated $466,869 in online English language learning revenue as compared to $680,321 in 2012, a decrease of 31%. This decrease in sales is due to the fact that the Company had minimized its sales efforts related to its ELL Technologies legacy suite of products. The Company has been completely redesigning the user interface, learning management system and the multi-browser delivery system for desktops and tablets for its ELL Technologies suite of products including Scholar, Master, Business, Kids and Placement Test. The product overhaul has been completed and full sales efforts have resumed.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Costs

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $941,462 in fiscal 2013 compared to $2,121,237 for fiscal 2012, a reduction of 56%. This decrease was due to the rationalization of costs related to the operations of both business segments. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the two segments are segregated below.

 

(i) Print-Based English Language Learning

 

 

Selling, general and administrative costs for print-based publishing decreased significantly from 2012 to 2013. The decrease in sales, marketing & administration and professional fees was primarily due to cost rationalization efforts in 2013. The increase in grants reflects the re-assessment of a liability and a one-time increase of $87,737 was recorded. The following is a breakdown of selling, general and administrative costs directly related to print-based English language learning:

 

 

 
29

 

 

 

2013

2012

Sales, marketing & administration

        $189,676 

        $ 436,081 

Consulting fees

396,809

 468,678 

Travel

84,705

60,118

Premises

131,257

146,715

Shareholder service

54,073

51,812

Professional fees

60,696

130,379

Less: Grants

(271,647)

(186,893)

 

$645,569 

$ 1,106,890 

 

(ii) Online English Language Learning

 

 

Selling, general and administrative costs related to online English language learning were $295,893 for fiscal 2013 compared to $1,014,346 for the same period in 2012. Selling, general and administrative costs for this business unit continued to decrease in 2013 as a result of cost rationalization.

 

 

2013

2012

Sales, marketing & administration

$ 133,138

$ 650,729

Consulting fees and salaries

69,213

152,170

Travel

7,990

14,810

Premises

32,814

58,318

Professional fees

52,738

79,986

Grant repayment accrual

-

58,333

 

$295,893 

$ 1,014,346

 

Government Grants

 

Lingo Media makes applications to the Canadian government for various types of grants to support its publishing and international marketing activities. Each year, the amount of any grant may vary depending on certain eligibility criteria (including prior year revenues) and the monies available to and the number of eligible candidates. These government grants are recorded as a reduction of general and administrative expenses to offset direct costs funded by the grant. During the year, the Company recorded $271,647 of such grants.

 

One government grant for the print-based English language learning segment is repayable in the event that the segment’s annual net income for each of the previous two years exceeds 15% of revenue and at such time a liability would be recorded. During the year, the conditions for the repayment of the government grant were not met and no liability was recorded.

 

One grant, relating to the Company’s “Development of Comprehensive, Interactive Phonetic English Learning Solution” project, is repayable semi-annually at a royalty rate of 2.5% per year’s gross sales derived from this project until 100% of the grant is repaid. No royalty was paid in 2013 or 2012 as no sales were generated from this project.

 

During 2008, Lingo Media was audited by a government grant agency and was assessed with a repayment of $115,075 relating to a publishing grant. In 2010, the Company was reassessed with a reduction to the repayment to $100,000 which is recorded in accrued liabilities and this audit finding was appealed by the Company. In 2013, the appeal was approved and the liability was reduced to $16,263, which was paid, and the difference of $87,737 was recorded as grant revenue during the year.

 

While the Company will continue to apply for various government grants to fund its ongoing development and market expansion, there can be no assurance the Company will be successful in obtaining these grants in the future or that the Company will meet the eligibility requirements for the grants or that the grant programs will continue to be offered.

 

 

 
30

 

 

Segmented Information

 

Total comprehensive loss for the Company was $56,331 for the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to $1,364,737 in 2012. These losses can be attributed to the two operating segments and other financial costs as shown below:

 

Online English Language Learning

2013

2012

Revenue

466,869

680,321

Expenses:

   

Direct costs

153,200

261,341

Selling, general & administrative

295,893

1,014,346

Amortization of property & equipment

3,533

4,177

Amortization of development costs

431,049

365,752

Income taxes and other taxes

2,638

4,238

 

886,313

1,649,854

Segmented (Loss) - Online English Language Learning

(419,444)

(969,533)

     

Print-Based English Language Learning

2013

2012

Revenue

1,541,197

1,335,940

Expenses:

   

Direct costs

42,124

11,714

Selling, general & administrative

645,569

1,106,890 

Amortization of property & equipment

4,091

    5,662

Income taxes and other taxes

239,028

   217,749

 

930,812

1,342,015 

Segmented Income / (Loss) – Print-Based English Language Learning

610,385

    (6,075)

     
     
     

Other Financial Items

2013

2012

Foreign exchange

134,444

25,046 

Interest and other financial expenses

(240,516)

(168,769)

Share-based compensation

(61,926)

(243,195)

Other comprehensive income

(79,274)

(2,211)

 

(247,272)

(389,129)

Total Comprehensive Loss

(56,331)

    (1,364,737)

 

During the year, the Company continued to invest in product development and redesigned its fee-based online training and assessment service. The majority of its expenses consist of selling, general and administrative expenses detailed in the selling, general and administrative section above. The loss decreased as a result of decreased expenditures related to cost rationalization, and reduced financial expenses and share-based compensation.

 

 

 
31

 

 

Share-Based Payments

 

The Company amortizes share-based payments with a corresponding increase to the contributed surplus account. During 2013, the Company recorded an expense of $61,926 compared to $243,195 during 2012. The decrease in this expense is due to fewer stock options granted and vested, and no financing activities.

 

Foreign Exchange

 

The Company recorded foreign exchange gain in 2013 of $134,444 as compared to a gain of $25,046 in fiscal 2012, relating to the Company's currency risk through its activities denominated in foreign currencies. The Company is exposed to foreign exchange risk as a significant portion of its revenue and expenses are denominated in US Dollars, European Euros, and Chinese Renminbi.

 

Income Tax Expense

 

The Company recorded a tax expense of $241,666 for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to a tax expense of $221,987 in 2012. This tax is a withholding tax paid on revenues earned in China and repatriated outside of China.

 

Net Profit / (Loss) for the Year

 

The Company reported a net profit of $22,943 for the year ended December 31, 2013, as compared to a net loss of $(1,362,526) in 2012, an operational improvement of $1,385,469. This improvement in profitability is primarily attributed to a reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses of $1,179,775.

 

5.B      Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Financial information for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was prepared in accordance with IFRS as issued by the IASB.

 

As at December 31, 2014, the Company had cash of $477,001 as compared to $78,091 in 2013 and $39,248 in 2012. Accounts and grants receivable of $849,344 were outstanding at the end of 2014 as compared to $1,003,440 in 2013 and $1,446,962 in 2012. With 65% of its receivables from PEP and having a 180 day collection cycle, the Company does not anticipate an effect on its liquidity. Total current assets amounted to $1,411,416 (2013 - $1,166,151, 2012 - $1,606,441) with current liabilities of $1,679,482 (2013 - $1,703,703, 2012 - $2,243,356) resulting in a working capital deficit of $268,066 (2013 – $537,552, 2012 – $636,915).   

 

5.C      Research and Development

 

During the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, the Company expended $544,635, $431,711, and $143,215 on intangibles, under the categories of “software and web development costs” and “content platform”. These expenditures in 2014, 2013, and 2012 were primarily directed at developing the ELL Technologies products for the international market.

 

5.D      Trend Information

 

Lingo Media believes that the trends in English language learning are strong and will continue to grow. Developing countries around the world, specifically in the Far East and Latin America are expanding their mandates for the teaching of English to students, young professionals and adults. Although the outlook for learning English in China, other Far East countries, and Latin America remains positive, there can be no assurance that this trend will continue or that the Company will benefit from this trend.

 

 

 
32

 

 

5.E      Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company has not entered into any off-balance sheet finance arrangements.

 

5.F      Tabular disclosure of contractual obligations

 

Our obligations as of December 31, 2014 were as follows:

 

The Company has future minimum lease payments under operating leases for premises and equipment as follows:

 

     2015          $ 192,804

     2016          35,990

     2017          -     

 

The rent expense associated with operating lease for premise and equipment is recognized on a straight-line basis. As a result of the acquisition of ELL Technologies, the Company will owe royalties of 3-9% (Year 2) and 2-8% (Year 3) of ELL Technologies revenues based upon a number of gross revenue targets. Royalty amounts will be due on a quarterly basis. As of December 31, 2014, royalties in the amount of $117,314 (2013 - $117,314) have been expensed.

 

5.G. Safe Harbor

Portions of this Annual Report on Form 20-F may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities laws. These statements are made in reliance upon Sections 21E and 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results, performance, or expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially from management's expectations and projections and thus readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as "may," "should," "expect," "hope," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "estimate" and similar expressions. The Company’s expectations, among other things, are dependent upon general economic conditions, the continued and growth in demand for its products, retention of its key management and operating personnel, its need for and availability of additional capital as well as other uncontrollable or unknown factors. No assurance can be given that the actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by US Federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason.

 

 

 

 
33

 

  

ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

 

6.A.      Directors and Senior Management

 

Table No. 6

Directors and Senior Management

April 30, 2015

 

Name

Position

Age

Date of Election/ Appointment

Michael P. Kraft

President/CEO/Director

52

November 1996

Khurram Qureshi

CFO/Secretary/Treasurer

53

April 1997/December 2011

Gali Bar-Ziv

COO

43

June 2009

Scott Remborg

Director

65

July 2000

Jerry Grafstein

Director

61

September 2010

Tommy Weibing Gong

Director

47

September 2010

Martin Bernholtz

Director

52

August 2013

 

Michael P. Kraft is the Founder, President & CEO and a Director of Lingo Media and has been since its inception in 1996.  He is also the Chairman of Buckingham Group Limited, a private merchant banking corporation that has played a significant role in the capital formation strategy and financing as a principal of various emerging and growth enterprises, since 1994. Mr. Kraft is also President of MPK Inc. a management services and consulting business corporation providing strategic planning, business development, corporate development and capital raising services since 1989.  He is a director of several TSX Venture Exchange listed companies including JM Capital II Corp., HTN Inc. and Pioneering Technology Corp. and private companies including WeedMD Rx Inc., MakMera Upstream Inc. and REIN Capital Corp. Mr. Kraft received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from York University in 1985.

 

Khurram R. Qureshi was the Chief Financial Officer of the Company from 1997 to July 2009, and was reappointed as such in December 2011. Mr. Qureshi received a Bachelor of Administrative Studies from York University in 1987 and received the Chartered Accountant designation in 1990. Mr. Qureshi is also a partner at CQK Chartered Accountants LLP.

Gali Bar-Ziv brings more than 10 years of management and entrepreneurial experience, including financing, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, channel development and corporate development.  Most recently, Gali profitably grew a sales, marketing and distribution start-up to sales growth of more than 700% year over year. Prior to that, Gali successfully turned around the largest service division of a $300MM financial services company.  Gali holds a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) degree from the University of London and an MBA in Strategic and Entrepreneurial studies from the Schulich School of Business in Toronto. 

 

Scott Remborg is an independent consultant in the information technology and eCommerce sector.  From 1994 to 1999, he initiated and led the development of Sympatico, Canada’s largest Internet service and portal, for Bell Canada and twelve other telecommunications companies across Canada. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Remborg was General Manager, eBusiness, at Air Canada. He also held senior management positions at Reuters and I.P. Sharp Associates. Mr. Remborg has an MBA from BI Norwegian School of Management and the University of Alberta.

 

 

 
34

 

 

The Honourable Jerry S. Grafstein, Q.C., holds degrees from the University of Western Ontario and the University of Toronto and has taught the Bar Admission Course at Osgoode Hall. Mr. Grafstein has wide-ranging legal and business experience in all aspects of media. He was a co-founder of a range of media companies, focusing on broadcasting, cable, communications, and publication enterprises in Canada, the USA, the UK and South America. He advised several key government ministries, including Transportation, External Affairs, Consumer and Corporate Affairs and Justice. He was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 1984 by then Prime Minister Pierre- Elliott Trudeau. Mr. Grafstein has served on all Senate Committees, including the Foreign Affairs and the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committees. He served as Chairman of the Senate Banking, Trade and Commerce Committee. While in the Senate, he was a long serving Co-Chair of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group, and a long serving senior officer of the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA). Mr. Grafstein retired from the Senate on January 1, 2010.  He continues his law practice in corporate finance and communication law as counsel to Minden Gross LLP in Toronto and remains active in the local affairs in Toronto.

 

Tommy Weibing Gong holds an Electrical & Mechanical Engineering degree from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China, and professional IT certifications through his North American education and started his IT career in 1996 in Silicon Valley. He is founder of Polar Bear Energy Inc., a business in the cleantech and greentech sector. Mr. Gong is now a leading commercial property developer in Shanghai with his partnership with Shanghai Green Town Plaza Real Estate Development Co., Ltd, Shanghai Zhetie Green Town Real Estate Development Co., Ltd, and through his interests as founder of Zysteq North America Corporation and Chairman of Shanghai Tommy Real Estate Development Co., Ltd, and Shanghai Tommy & Jane Property Investment and Management Co., Ltd.

 

Martin Bernholtz, BBA, CA is the Chief Financial Officer of Kerbel Group Inc. since 1988, an integrated construction and land development company. In this capacity he is responsible for strategy, finance, accounting, taxation and personnel. Mr. Bernholtz has considerable sophisticated business experience in real estate, finance and public markets. Mr. Bernholtz graduated with a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from York University in 1981 and became a Chartered Accountant in 1984. While in practice at Laventhol & Horwath and at BDO Dunwoody he gained considerable experience in the business valuation and litigation support areas.

 

The Directors have served in their respective capacities since their election and/or appointment and will serve until the next Annual General Meeting or until a successor is duly elected, unless the office is vacated in accordance with the Articles/By-Laws of the Company.

 

The Senior Management serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors with management service contracts but without term of office, except as disclosed herein.

 

No Director and/or Executive Officer has been the subject of any order, judgment, or decree of any governmental agency or administrator or of any court or competent jurisdiction, revoking or suspending for cause any license, permit or other authority of such person or of any corporation of which he is a Director and/or Executive Officer, to engage in the securities business or in the sale of a particular security or temporarily or permanently restraining or enjoining any such person or any corporation of which he is an officer or director from engaging in or continuing any conduct, practice, or employment in connection with the purchase or sale of securities, or convicting such person of any felony or misdemeanor involving a security or any aspect of the securities business or of theft or of any felony.

 

There are no arrangements or understandings between any two or more Directors or Executive Officers, pursuant to which he was selected as a Director or Executive Officer. There are no family relationships between any two or more Directors or Executive Officers.

 

 

 
35

 

 

6.B.      Compensation

 

The table below sets forth information concerning the compensation paid, during each of the last three fiscal years (as applicable), to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other Executive Officers of the Company and its subsidiaries who received total remuneration, determined on the basis of base salary and bonuses in excess of $100,000 during the last three fiscal years ended December 31 (the “Named Executive Officers”).

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

 

 

Name and principal position

Year

 

 

Salary

($)

 

Share-based

awards

($)

 

Option-based

awards

($)(2)

Non-equity incentive plan compensation

Pension Value ($)

 

All other compensation

($)(1)

 

Total

compensation

($)

         

Annual incentive plans

Long-term incentive plans(3)

     

Michael P. Kraft

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

2014

2013

2012

150,000

38,000

180,000

Nil

Nil

Nil

14,000

Nil

43,290

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

24,287

24,294

20,520

188,287

62,294

243,810

Gali Bar-Ziv

Chief Operating Officer

2014

2013

2012

120,000

120,000

144,000

Nil

Nil

Nil

42,000

Nil

14,430

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

15,359

46,764

Nil

180,764

137,084

158,430

Khurram Qureshi

Chief Financial Officer

2014

2013

2012

60,000

60,000

60,000

Nil

Nil

Nil

14,000

Nil

14,430

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

74,000

60,000

74,430

 

Notes:

(1)

Perquisites and other personal benefits, securities or property that do not in the aggregate exceed the lesser of $50,000 and 10% of the total of the annual salary and bonus for any NEO for the financial year, if any, are not disclosed.

(2)

The weighted average grant date fair value was calculated in accordance with the Black-Scholes model using the common share price on the date of grant, with the key valuation assumptions being stock-price volatility of 79%, risk free interest rate of 1.35%, no dividend yields, and expected life of 5 years.

(3)

"LTIP" or "long term incentive plan" means any plan which provides compensation intended to serve as incentive for performance to occur over a period longer than one financial year, but does not include option or stock appreciation right plans or plans for compensation through restricted shares or restricted share units.

 

Management Agreements

 

Michael P. Kraft

 

The Company entered into a consulting agreement (the "Kraft Consulting Agreement") dated as of October 18, 2007 with MPK Inc. pursuant to which the Company engaged MPK Inc. to provide the services of Michael P. Kraft (the "Consultant") to be the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Company. MPK Inc. is a corporation wholly-owned and controlled by Michael P. Kraft.

 

The Kraft Consulting Agreement provides for an initial term of twenty-four (24) months to begin on January 1, 2008 and was renewed in January 2010 and 2012, and 2014. (The Kraft Consulting Agreement and Amendment provide that the Company pay MPK Inc. an aggregate of $38,000 plus applicable HST for the Applicable Period. In consideration of the Consultant agreeing to a reduction of consulting fees from $180,000 to $150,000. A further reduction was taken in 2013, from $150,000 to $38,000. The Company agrees to pay the Consultant a cash bonus in the amount of $100,000 upon completion of a merger or acquisition as approved by the board of directors or if the Company’s market capitalization increases from approximately $3,000,000 to $6,000,000.) Further, beginning on January 1, 2014, the Kraft Consulting Agreement resumed to $150,000 per year. In addition to providing an allowance for a health plan, the Kraft Consulting Agreement also provides for an automobile allowance of up to $1,500 per month.

 

 

 
36

 

 

Gali Bar-Ziv

 

The Company entered into a consulting agreement (the "Bar-Ziv Consulting Agreement") dated as of June 1, 2009 with Busy Babies Inc. pursuant to which the Company engaged Busy Babies Inc. to provide the services of Gali Bar-Ziv (the "Consultant") to be the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Busy Babies Inc. is a corporation wholly-owned and controlled by Gali Bar-Ziv.

 

The Bar-Ziv Consulting Agreement provided for an initial term of twelve (12) months to begin on June 1, 2009 and automatic renewals for a further one (1) year unless terminated pursuant to the terms thereof. The Bar-Ziv Consulting Agreement provides that the Company pay Busy Babies Inc. an aggregate of $120,000 plus applicable HST for the Applicable Period. In consideration of the Consultant agreeing to a reduction of consulting fees from $144,000 from 2009 to 2012 to $120,000 in 2013 plus reimbursement for certain expenses properly incurred in connection with the Company. The Company agreed to enable the Consultant to participate in the Company’s sales commission program, 7% of net revenue for business initiative, 2% of net revenue for direct influence, other discretionary bonus by the board if applicable. The Bar-Ziv Consulting Agreement also provides for an automobile allowance of $500 per month, mobile phone, and parking allowance.

 

Khurram Qureshi

 

Mr. Qureshi is engaged by the Company on a month-to-month basis and receives $5,000 per month plus reimbursement for certain expenses properly incurred in connection with the Company’s business.

 

Stock Options

 

The Company grants stock options to Directors, Senior Management, employees and consultants; refer to ITEM #6.E., "Share Ownership, Stock Options”.

 

Director Compensation

 

The non-management directors of the Company are entitled to reimbursement for reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may award special remuneration to any Director undertaking any special services on behalf of the Company other than services ordinarily required of a Director. Other than indicated below no Director received any compensation for his services as a Director, including committee participation and/or special assignments.

 

Change of Control Remuneration

 

Michael P. Kraft

 

1.

The Consultant may terminate the Kraft Consulting Agreement upon ninety (90) days written notice to the Company and the Company shall pay to the Consultant, all amounts due and owing up to the effective date of termination. The Consultant may also terminate the Kraft Consulting Agreement for the following reasons: (i) a material change in the position, duties and responsibilities of the Consultant; (ii) the Consultant ceases to be the most senior officer of the Company; (iii) any material reduction in the compensation payable to the Consultant in accordance with the terms of the Kraft Consulting Agreement; and (iv) the Company's head office being located more than 50 kilometres from its current location and the Consultant's current residence ("Good Cause"). If the Consultant terminates the Kraft Consulting Agreement for Good Cause the Company shall pay to the Consultant, all amounts due and owing up to the effective date of termination and a settlement amount equal to eighteen (18) months of compensation at the rate of compensation payable to the Consultant immediately prior to the effective date of termination.

 

 

 
37

 

 

2.

The Kraft Consulting Agreement may be terminated by the Company by giving written notice to the Consultant and the Company shall pay to the Consultant, all amounts due and owing up to the effective date of termination and a settlement amount equal to eighteen (18) months of compensation at the rate of compensation payable to the Consultant immediately prior to the effective date of termination.

 

3.

In the event of a change of control, the Consultant may, for a period of six (6) months after the effective date of any such change of control, elect to terminate the Kraft Consulting Agreement with the Company upon eight weeks’ notice and the Company shall pay to the Consultant, all amounts due and owing up to the effective date of termination and a settlement amount equal to eighteen (18) months of compensation at the rate of compensation payable to the Consultant immediately prior to the effective date of termination by voluntary resignation. In the event of a change of control and if the Company terminates the Consultant without cause, the settlement amount shall be equal to twenty-four (24) months of compensation at the rate of compensation payable to the Consultant immediately prior to the effective date of termination.

 

The Consultant is subject to an 18 month non-compete period following the termination of the Kraft Consulting Agreement.

 

Gali Bar-Ziv

 

1.

The Consultant may terminate the Bar-Ziv Consulting Agreement upon ninety (90) days written notice to the Company and the Company shall pay to the Consultant, all amounts due and owing up to the effective date of termination. The Consultant may also terminate the Bar-Ziv Consulting Agreement for the following reasons: (i) a material change in the position, duties and responsibilities of the Consultant; (ii) the Consultant ceases to be the most senior officer of the Company; (iii) any material reduction in the compensation payable to the Consultant in accordance with the terms of the Bar-Ziv Consulting Agreement; and (iv) the Company's head office being located more than 50 kilometres from its current location and the Consultant's current residence ("Good Cause"). If the Consultant terminates the Bar-Ziv Consulting Agreement for Good Cause the Company shall pay to the Consultant, all amounts due and owing up to the effective date of termination and a settlement amount equal to six (6) months of compensation at the rate of compensation payable to the Consultant immediately prior to the effective date of termination.

 

2.

The Bar-Ziv Consulting Agreement may be terminated by the Company by giving written notice to the Consultant and the Company shall pay to the Consultant, all amounts due and owing up to the effective date of termination and a settlement amount equal to nice (9) months of compensation at the rate of compensation payable to the Consultant immediately prior to the effective date of termination.

 

The Consultant is subject to a nine month non-compete period following the termination of the Bar-Ziv Consulting Agreement.

 

 

 
38

 

 

Other Compensation

 

No Executive Officer/Director received “other compensation” in excess of the lesser of US$25,000 or 10% of such officer's cash compensation, and all Executive Officers/Directors as a group did not receive other compensation which exceeded US$25,000 times the number of persons in the group or 10% of the compensation.

 

Bonus/Profit Sharing/Non-Cash Compensation

 

Except for the stock option program discussed in ITEM #6.E., the Company has agreed to pay Michael P. Kraft a cash bonus in the amount of $100,000 upon completion of a merger or acquisition as approved by the board of directors or if the Company’s market capitalization increases from approximately $3,000,000 to $6,000,000. Similarly, the Company also agreed to enable Gali Bar-Ziv to participate in the Company’s sales commission program, pursuant to which Mr. Bar-Ziv is to receive 7% of net revenue for business initiative, 2% of net revenue for direct influence, other discretionary bonus by the board if applicable.

 

Pension/Retirement Benefits

 

No funds were set aside or accrued by the Company during fiscal 2014 to provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for Directors or Executive Officers.

 

6.C.      Board Practices

 

6.C.1.      Terms of Office.

 

The Directors have served in their respective capacities since their election and/or appointment and will serve until the next Annual General Meeting or until a successor is duly elected, unless the office is vacated in accordance with the Articles/By-Laws of the Company.

 

The Senior Management serves at the pleasure of the Board of Directors with management service contracts but without term of office, except as disclosed herein.

 

6.C.2.      Termination benefits

 

Not applicable

 

6.C.3.      Board of Director Committees.

 

The Company has established an Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee in compliance with the Guidelines.

 

The Audit Committee assists the Board in its oversight of: (i) the integrity of the financial reporting of the Company; (ii) the independence and performance of the Company's external auditors; and (iii) the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The members of the Audit Committee during the past fiscal year were Martin Bernholtz (Chairman), Scott Remborg, and Michael Kraft, Messrs. Bernholtz and Remborg being independent as defined in the Guidelines. Following the 2014 shareholder meeting, the Committee was comprised of Martin Bernholtz (Chairman), Scott Remborg, and Michael Kraft, with Messrs. Bernholtz and Remborg being independent as defined in the Guidelines.

 

The Compensation Committee assists the Board in fulfilling its obligations relating to human resource and compensation matters of the Company and its subsidiaries and to establish a plan for the continuity and development of senior management. The members of the Compensation Committee during the past fiscal year were Martin Bernholtz (Chairman), Jerry Grafstein, and Michael Kraft, Messrs. Bernholtz and Grafstein being independent as defined in the Guidelines. Following the 2014 shareholder meeting, the Committee was comprised of Martin Bernholtz (Chairman), Scott Remborg, and Tommy Gong, all being independent as defined in the Guidelines.

 

The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee assists the Board by: (i) developing, reviewing and planning the Company's approach to corporate governance issues, including developing a set of corporate governance principles and guidelines specifically applicable to the Company; (ii) identifying and recommending to the Board potential new nominees to the Board; (iii) monitoring management's succession plan for the Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") and other senior management; and (iv) overseeing enforcement of and compliance with the Company's proposed Code of Business Conduct. The members of the Corporate Governance Committee during the past fiscal year were Messrs. Grafstein (Chairman), Bernholtz and Kraft, Messrs. Grafstein and Bernholtz being independent directors as defined in the Guidelines.

 

 
39

 

  

6.E.      Share Ownership

 

Table No. 7 lists, as of March 31, 2015, Directors and Executive Officers who beneficially own the Company's voting securities and the amount of the Company's voting securities owned by the Directors and Executive Officers as a group. Table No. 7 includes all persons/companies where the Company is aware that they have 5% or greater beneficial interest in the Company’s securities.

 

Table No. 7

Shareholdings of Directors and Executive Officers

Shareholdings of 5% Shareholders

 

Title

Amount and Nature

Percent

 

of

of Beneficial

of

 

Class

Name of Beneficial Owner

Ownership(1)

Class

Common

Michael P. Kraft(2)(4)

1,974,450(5)

8.1%

Common

Khurram Qureshi

134,990(7)

*

Common

Gali Bar-Ziv

125,364(8)

*

Common

Scott Remborg(2)(3)

154,372(6)

*

Common

Tommy Gong(3)

[nil](9)

*

Common

Jerry Grafstein(4)

268,182(10)

1.2%

Common

Global Telecom Holding SAE

2,857,143

12.8%

Common

SCP Partners

2,016,617

9.0%

As a group (10 parties)

 

7,631,800

34.1%

 

* Less than 1%.

 

 

(1)

The information as to voting securities beneficially owned, controlled or directed, not being within the knowledge of the Company, has been furnished by the respective individuals.

 

(2)

Member of the Audit Committee.

 

(3)

Member of the Compensation Committee.

 

(4)

Member of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

 

(5)

Of such shares, 95,636 are held in Mr. Kraft's RRSP, and 1,878,814 are held by Buckingham Group Limited, a company controlled by Mr. Kraft.  Mr. Kraft also holds 650,000 options and 166,670 warrants to purchase up to an additional 816,670 common shares of the Company.

 

(6)

Of such shares, 3,428 are held in Mr. Remborg's RRSP account. Mr. Remborg also holds options to purchase up to an additional 324,250 common shares of the Company.

 

(7)

Of such shares, 58,250 are held in Mr. Qureshi’s RRSP account, and 51,925 are held in his wife’s RRSP account. Khurram Qureshi also holds options to purchase up to an additional 300,000 common shares of the Company.

 

(8)

Of such shares, 2,000 are held in Mr. Bar-Ziv's RRSP, and 123,364 are held by Busy Babies Inc., a company controlled by Mr. Bar-Ziv.  Mr. Bar-Ziv also holds 840,000 options and 30,000 warrants to purchase up to an additional 870,000 common shares of the Company.

 

(9)

Tommy Gong also holds options to purchase up to an additional 222,500 common shares of the Company.

 

(10)

Of such shares, 268,182 are held by New Court Corporation, a company controlled by Mr. Grafstein.  Mr. Grafstein also holds options to purchase up to an additional 332,500 common shares of the Company.

 

(11)

Of such shares, 30,682 are held by Accretive Capital Corporation, a company controlled by Mr. Bernholtz. Mr. Bernholtz also holds options to purchase up to an additional 277,500 common shares of the Company.

 

 

 
40

 

 

Stock Options

 

TSX Venture Exchange Rules and Policies

 

Incentive options granted by the Company are made in accordance with the rules and policies of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX VEN"), including the number of common shares under option, the exercise price and expiration date of such options, and any amendments thereto.

 

Such terms and conditions, including the pricing of the options, expiration and the eligibility of personnel for such stock options; are described below. The TSX VEN policy in respect of incentive stock options provides that shareholder approval is not required if the aggregate number of common shares that may be reserved for issuance pursuant to incentive stock options does not exceed 10% of the issued common shares of the Company, 5% to any one individual and 2% to any consultant at the time of granting.

 

Shareholder approval of the grant of incentive stock options is required pursuant to the rules of the TSX VEN where the grant will result in the Company having options outstanding which, in aggregate, are exercisable to acquire over 10% (to a maximum of 20%) of the outstanding common shares of the Company. In addition, disinterested shareholders (all shareholders excluding insiders and associates of insiders) approval is required pursuant to the rules of the TSX VEN where:

 

(a) grant of incentive stock options could result at any time in:

 

(i) the Company having options outstanding to insiders which, in aggregate, are exercisable to acquire over 20% of the outstanding common shares of the Company; or

(ii) the issuance to insiders, within a one year period, of common shares which, in aggregate, exceed 10% of the outstanding common shares of the Company; or

(iii) the issuance to any one insider and such insider's associates, within a one year period, of common shares which, in aggregate, exceed 5% of the outstanding common shares of the Company; or

(iv) the issuance to any consultant of common shares which, in aggregate, exceed 2% of the outstanding common shares of the Company; or

 

(b) the Company is proposing to decrease the exercise price of stock options held by any insiders.

 

 

 
41

 

 

Company Stock Option Plan 

 

The Board has approved a stock option plan (the "Stock Option Plan") whereby options may be granted to directors, officers, employees, consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries. The number of shares which may be reserved for issuance under the Stock Option Plan is limited to 4,108,635 common shares, representing approximately 20% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as at November 3, 2011.

 

The maximum number of common shares which may be reserved for issuance in a 12 month period to any one individual under the Stock Option Plan, shall not, in the aggregate, exceed 5% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company at the time of grant. The maximum number of common shares which may be reserved for issuance in a 12 month period to any consultants and persons engaged in investor relations activities for the Company, shall not, in the aggregate, exceed 2% of the issued and outstanding common shares at the time of grant. Any common shares subject to a prior option granted under the Stock Option Plan which for any reason are cancelled or terminated prior to exercise will be available for a subsequent grant under the Stock Option Plan.  

 

The option price of any common shares cannot be less than the closing price of the shares on the day immediately preceding the day upon which the option is granted less any permitted discount. Options may be granted under the Stock Option Plan to be exercisable for a maximum period of ten years, subject to earlier termination, upon the termination of the optionee’s employment, upon the optionee ceasing to be an employee, officer, director or consultant of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, as applicable, or upon the optionee retiring, becoming permanently disabled or dying. The options under the Stock Option Plan are non-transferable. The Stock Option Plan contains provisions for adjustment in the number of shares issuable thereunder in the event of a subdivision, consolidation, reclassification or change of the common shares, a merger or other relevant changes in the Company’s capitalization.

 

As of the date hereof, options to purchase an aggregate of 3,070,500 common shares are outstanding under the Stock Option Plan.

 

The names and titles of the Directors/Executive Officers of the Company to whom outstanding stock options have been granted and the number of common shares subject to such options are set forth in the Table below as of March 31, 2015, as well as the number of options granted to Directors and officers as a group.

 

 

 

 

 
42

 

 

Stock Options Outstanding

Expressed in Canadian Dollars

 

 

Number of securities

underlying unexercised

options (#)

Option exercise

price (C$)

Option

expiration date

Michael P. Kraft

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

100,000

300,000

200,000

50,000

0.14

0.24

0.66

1.00

November 17, 2017

November 26, 2017

February 15, 2016

February 15, 2016

Gali Bar-Ziv

Chief Operating Officer

300,000

100,000

100,000

340,000

0.14

0.24

1.07

0.66

November 17, 2017

November 26, 2017

February 15, 2016

February 15, 2016

Khurram Qureshi

Chief Financial Officer

100,000

100,000

50,000

50,000

0.14

0.24

1.70

1.00

November 17, 2017

November 26, 2017

February 15, 2016

February 15, 2016

Scott Remborg

Director

85,000

85,000

92,500

42,500

50,000

30,750

0.14

0.13

0.24

0.66

1.00

1.75

November 17, 2017

September 9, 2017

November 26, 2017

February 15, 2016

February 15, 2016

May 1, 2014

Jerry Grafstein 

Director

80,000

80,000

82,500

30,000

0.14

0.13

0.24

0.66

November 17, 2017

September 9, 2017

November 26, 2017

February 15, 2016

Tommy Weibing Gong

Director

70,000

70,000

62,500

20,000

0.14

0.13

0.24

0.66

November 17, 2017

September 9, 2017

November 26, 2017

February 15, 2016

Martin Bernholtz

Director

120,000

120,000

37,500

0.14

0.13

0.24

November 17, 2017

September 9, 2017

November 26, 2017

 

 

 
43

 

 

ITEM 7.      MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

7.A.      Major Shareholders

 

7.A.1.a.     Holdings By Major Shareholders

 

Refer to ITEM #6.E.

 

7.A.1.b. Significant Changes in Major Shareholders’ Holdings

 

None.

7.A.1.c. Different Voting Rights

 

None.

 

7.A.2. Canadian Share Ownership

 

As of April 30, 2015, the Company’s registered shareholders’ list showed 27,379,177 common shares outstanding with 54 registered shareholders, with 21,959,545 shares owned by 43 shareholders residing in Canada, 2,398,331 shares owned by 5 registered shareholders in US and 3,021,301 shares owned by 6 foreign registered shareholders.

 

7.A.3. Control of Company. The Company is a publicly owned Canadian corporation, the shares of which are owned by U.S. residents, Canadian residents and other foreign residents. The Company is not controlled by any foreign government or other person(s).

 

7.A.4. Change in Control

 

None.

 

7.B. Related Party Transactions

 

During the year, the Company had the following transactions with related parties, made in the normal course of operations, and accounted for at an amount of consideration established and agreed to by the Company and related parties.

 

(a)

Key management compensation was $361,405 (2013 – $228,800, 2012 - $312,000) and is reflected as consulting fees paid to corporations owned by a director and officers of the Company, of which, $385,566 (2013 -$340,944, 2012 - $277,092) is unpaid and included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Options granted to key management during the year are valued at $36,050 (2013 - $Nil, 2012 - $84,055).

 

(b)

At the year end, the Company had loans payable bearing interest at 9% per annum due to corporations controlled by directors and officers of the Company in the amount of $480,000 (2013 - $480,000, 2012 - $435,000). Interest expense related to these loans is $43,200 (2013 - $48,731, 2012 - $45,271).

 

(c)

Common shares issued to lenders for the extension of the $880,000 (2013 - $880,000) loan include 327,273 (2013 – 480,000, 2012 – 174,000) common shares issued at $0.10 (2013 - $0.10, 2012 - $0.25) per share to lenders’ corporations controlled by directors and an officer.

 

 

 
44

 

 

Other than as disclosed above, there have been no transactions since December 31, 2014 or proposed transactions, which have materially affected or will materially affect the Company in which any director, executive officer, or beneficial holder of more than 10% of the outstanding common stock, or any of their respective relatives, spouses, associates or affiliates has had or will have any direct or material indirect interest. Management believes the transactions referenced above were on terms at least as favorable to the Company as the Company could have obtained from unaffiliated parties.

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

8.A. 1-6      Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

 

The Company's financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and interpretations of the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”).

 

The financial statements as required under ITEM #18 are attached hereto and found immediately following the text of this Annual Report. The audit reports of Collins Barrow Toronto LLP are included herein immediately preceding the financial statements and schedules.

Audited Financial Statements for Fiscal 2014 and Fiscal 2013

 

8.A.7.      Legal/Arbitration Proceedings

 

The Directors and the management of the Company do not know of any material, active or pending, legal proceedings against them; nor is the Company involved as a plaintiff in any material proceeding or pending litigation.The Directors and the management of the Company know of no active or pending proceedings against anyone that might materially adversely affect an interest of the Company.

 

8.A.8      Company Policy on Dividend Distribution

 

The Company does not intend to pay dividends in cash or in kind in the foreseeable future. The Company expects to retain any earnings to finance the further growth of the Company. The directors of the Company will determine if and when dividends should be declared and paid in the future based upon the earnings and financial conditions of the Company at the relevant time and such other factors as the directors may deem relevant. All of the Common Shares of the Company are entitled to an equal share in any dividends declared and paid.

 

8.B.      Significant Changes

 

None. .

 

ITEM 9.      THE OFFER AND LISTING

 

9.A.1-3. Not applicable

 

9.A.4.      Common Share Trading Information

 

The Company's common shares began trading on the Alberta Stock Exchange in Calgary, Alberta, Canada under its former name Alpha Ventures Inc. in November 1996. The Alberta Stock Exchange was absorbed by the Canadian Venture Exchange, which in turn was absorbed by the TSX Venture Exchange (“Exchange”). The Company’s listing was automatically transferred from the Alberta Stock Exchange to the Exchange as a Tier 2 company. The current stock symbol on the Exchange is “LM”. The CUSIP number is 5357441065.

 

 

 
45

 

 

The Exchange currently classifies Issuers into different tiers based on standards, including historical financial performance, stage of development and financial resources of the Issuer at the time of listing. Specific Minimum Listing Requirements for each industry segment in each of Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 have also been established by the Exchange.

 

Policy 2.1 of the Exchange outlines the Minimum Listing Requirements for each industry segment in Tier 1 and Tier 2. Under this policy, Lingo Media Corporation is a Tier 2 Issuer in the industry segment category of Junior Industrial. Each industry segment is further divided into categories. Quantitative minimum requirements for listing for the industry segment Junior Industrial and Tier 2 are provided in Section 4.3 of Exchange Policy 2.1.

 

Similarly, Policy 2.5 of the Exchange sets out the minimum standards to be met by Issuers to continue to qualify for listing in each Tier, referred to as Tier Maintenance Requirements (“TMR”). A Tier 2 Issuer which fails to meet one of the Tier 2 TMR will not automatically be suspended or designated as “Inactive”. Rather, the Exchange will provide notice of failure to meet one of the Tier 2 TMR and will allow the Issuer 6 months from the date of notice to meet the requirement, failing which the Exchange may designate the Issuer as Inactive. If a Tier 2 Issuer fails to meet more than one Tier 2 TMR, notice will be given to the Issuer by the Exchange and if the requirements are not met within 90 days of the notice, the Exchange will designate the Issuer as Inactive and apply the restrictions on Inactive Issuers retroactively. An Inactive Issuer may continue to trade on Tier 2 of the Exchange for 18 months from the date it is designated as Inactive. If the Issuer does not meet all of the applicable Tier 2 TMR within that 18 month period, its listed shares may be suspended from trading by the Exchange.

 

To maintain a listing as an active Tier 2 Issuer, an Issuer must meet all Tier 2 TMR for its industry segment as set out in Section 4 of the Exchange Policy 2.5.

 

Table No. 9 lists the volume of trading and high, low and closing sales prices on the TSX Venture Exchange for the Company's common shares for: the last 12 months, the last twelve fiscal quarters; and the last five fiscal years.

 

Table No. 9

TSX Venture Exchange

Common Shares Trading Activity

 

         
Period Sales Canadian Dollars  
Ended Volume High Low Close

Monthly

       

March 2015

338,500

0.12

0.10

0.10

February 2015

67,000

0.16

0.10

0.10

January 2015

85,500

0.14

0.10

0.13

December 2014

65,700

0.13

0.11

0.11

November 2014

191,500

0.15

0.10

0.12

October 2014

83,200

0.13

0.10

0.10

September 2014

121,100

0.15

0.13

0.13

August 2014

92,500

0.15

0.11

0.15

July 2014

128,600

0.17

0.13

0.15

June 2014

75,600

0.18

0.13

0.17

May 2014

35,700

0.18

0.12

0.13

April 2014

447,700

0.25

0.15

0.17

 

Yearly

12/31/2014

1,887,900

0.25

0.07

0.11

12/31/2013

12/31/2012

2,395,000

2,439,295

0.27

0.45

0.08

0.16

0.11

0.27

12/31/2011

1,793,567

0.95

0.24

0.35

12/31/2010

2,022,202

1.24

0.39

0.75

 

 

 
46

 

 

Quarterly

3/31/2015

491,000

0.16

0.10

0.10

12/31/2014

340,400

0.15

0.10

0.11

9/30/2014

342,200

0.17

0.11

0.13

6/30/2014

559,000

0.25

0.12

0.17

3/31/2014

646,300

0.22

0.07

0.21

12/31/2013

1,031,200

0.15

0.10

0.11

9/30/2013

411,100

0.15

0.08

0.10

6/30/2013

403,900

0.23

0.10

0.12

3/31/2013

548,800

0.27

0.22

0.22

12/31/2012

1,194,600

0.35

0.19

0.27

09/30/2012

812,200

0.30

0.16

0.25

06/30/2012

369,800

0.36

0.23

0.24

 

The Company's shares became quoted for trading on the OTCQB Marketplace on January 22, 2014.

 

Table No.10 lists the volume of trading and high, low and closing sales prices on the OTCQB Marketplace for the Company's common shares for the last 12 months, the last twelve fiscal quarters; and the last five fiscal years.

 

Table No. 10

OTCQB Marketplace

Common Shares Trading Activity

 

         
Period Sales US Dollars  
Ended Volume High Low Close
Monthly        

March 2015

0

0.12

0.12

0.12

February 2015

0

0.12

0.12

0.12

January 2015

0

0.12

0.12

0.12

December 2014

900

0.12

0.11

0.12

November 2014

0

0.11

0.11

0.11

October 2014

0

0.11

0.11

0.11

September 2014

0

0.11

0.11

0.11

August 2014

300

0.12

0.11

0.11

July 2014

0

0.12

0.12

0.12

June 2014

3,500

0.12

0.08

0.12

May 2014

0

0.08

0.08

0.08

April 2014

0

0.08

0.08

0.08

 

Yearly

12/31/2014

18,400

0.12

0.08

0.12

12/31/2013

29,600

0.26

0.07

0.10

12/31/2012

97,200

0.37

0.23

0.26

12/31/2011

137,246

0.99

0.26

0.26

12/31/2010

924,558

1.52

0.38

0.46

 

 

 
47

 

  

Quarterly

03/31/2015

0

0.12

0.12

0.12

12/31/2014

900

0.12

0.11

0.12

09/30/2014

300

0.12

0.11

0.11

06/30/2014

3,500

0.12

0.08

0.12

03/31/2014

13,900

0.10

0.08

0.08

12/31/2013

3,500

0.14

0.09

0.10

09/30/2013

22,500

0.13

0.07

0.09

06/30/2013

3,600

0.26

0.13

0.13

03/31/2013

0

0.26

0.26

0.26

12/31/2012

1,700

0.26

0.23

0.26

09/30/2012

1,400

0.26

0.23

0.23

06/30/2012

93,900

0.37

0.25

0.26

3/31/2012

200

0.37

0.26

0.37

12/31/2011

8,880

0.59

0.26

0.26

9/30/2011

44,076

0.81

0.57

0.59

6/30/2011

8,584

0.99

0.74

0.74

 

The Company's common shares became quoted for trading on the Berlin-Bremen Stock Exchange on August 20, 2003. No trades of the Company's common shares have taken place on the Berlin-Bremen Stock Exchange to this date.

 

9.A.5.      Common Share Description

 

Not Applicable

 

9.C.      Stock Exchanges Identified

 

The common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange, OTCQB and are quoted for trading on the Berlin-Bremen Stock Exchange.

 

9.B, D-F. Not applicable

 

 

ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

10.A.      Share Capital

 

Not Applicable

 

 

 
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10.B.      Memorandum and Articles of Association

 

Objects and Purposes

 

The Company’s corporation number as assigned by the Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations is 4020-1165. The Company’s Articles of Incorporation do not contain the Company’s purpose or its objectives, as neither is required under the laws of Ontario.

 

Disclosure of Interest of Directors

 

No director of the Company is permitted to vote on any resolution to approve a material contract or transaction in which such director has a material interest.

Subject to the Articles of Incorporation and any unanimous shareholder agreement, the board may fix their remuneration.

 

Borrowing Powers of Directors, ByLaws - Section 3.10

 

The board of directors may from time to time:

 

(i)

borrow money upon the credit of the Corporation;

 

(ii)

issue, reissue, sell or pledge debt obligations of the Corporation;

 

(iii)

subject to the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), give a guarantee on behalf of the Corporation to secure performance of an obligation of any person; and

 

(iv)

mortgage, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise create a security interest in all or any property of the Corporation, owned or subsequently acquired, to secure any debt obligations of the Corporation.

  

Delegation of Power to Borrow, Bylaws – Section 3.11

 

The board may by resolution delegate all or any of the powers conferred on them by paragraphs (i) and (iii) of section 3.10 of the bylaws, to any one or more of the directors, the Managing Director, the executive committee, the Chairman of the Board (if any), the President, any Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or the General Manager.

 

Director Qualification and Retirement

 

Neither the Articles of Incorporation nor the Bylaws of the Company discuss the retirement or non-retirement of directors under an age limit requirement, and there is no number of shares required for director qualification.

 

Description of Rights, Preferences and Restrictions

Attaching to Each Class of Shares

 

a)

Class/Number of Shares. The Company’s Articles of Incorporation provide that: the Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of shares, namely an unlimited number of Preferred Shares without nominal or par value (“Preferred Shares”) and an unlimited number of Common Shares (“Common Shares”).

 

b)

Common Shares. The holders of Common Shares shall be entitled:

 

1)

to vote at all meetings of shareholders, except meetings at which only holders of a specified class of shares are entitled to vote, and on every poll taken at every such meeting, or adjourned meeting, every holder of Common Shares shall be entitled to one vote in respect of each Common Share held; and

 

 

2)

subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Shares, to receive the remaining property of the Corporation upon a dissolution; and

 

 

3)

subject to the rights of the holders of Preferred Shares, to receive all other dividends declared by the Corporation.

 

 

 
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c)

Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares as a class shall carry and be subject to the following rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions:

 

 

1)

Directors’ Rights to Issue in One or More Series.

 

The Preferred Shares may at any time or from time to time be issued in one or more series, each series to consist of such number of shares as may before the issue thereof be determined by the Directors by resolution; the Directors of the Company may (subject as hereinafter provided) by resolution fix, from time to time before the issued thereof, the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the shares of such series including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing (1) the issue price, (2) the rate, amount or method of calculation of dividends and whether the same are subject to change of dividends and whether the same are subject to change or adjustment, (3) whether such dividends shall be cumulative, non-cumulative or partly cumulative, (4) the dates, manner and currencies of payments of dividends and the dates from which dividends shall accrue, (5) the redemption and/or purchase prices and terms and conditions of redemption and/or purchase, with or without provision for sinking or similar funds, (6) conversion and/or exchange and/or classification rights, (7) the voting rights if any, and/or (8) other provisions, the whole subject to the following provisions, and to the issue of Certificate(s) of Amendment setting forth such designations, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the shares of each series.

 

 

2)

Ranking of Preferred Shares.

 

The Preferred Shares shall be entitled to preference over the Common Shares of the Corporation and over any other shares ranking junior to the Preferred Shares with respect to payment of dividends and distribution of assets in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of the assets of the Corporation among its shareholders for the purpose of winding up its affairs and may also be given such other preferences not inconsistent with paragraphs (1) and (2) hereof over the Common Shares of the Corporation and over any other shares ranking junior to the Preferred Shares as may be determined in the case of each series of Preferred Shares authorized to be issued.

 

 

3)

Amendment with Approval of Holders of Preferred Shares.

 

The rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Preferred Shares as a class may be repealed, altered, modified, amended or amplified by Certificate(s) of Amendment, but in each case with the approval of the holders of Preferred Shares (only as a class but not as individual series) given as hereinafter specified.

 

 

 
50

 

 

 

4)

Approval of Holders of Preferred Shares.

 

Subject to the Provisions of the Business Corporations Act, any consent or approval given by the holders of Preferred Shares as a class shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given if it shall have been given in writing by the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66²/³%) of the outstanding Preferred Shares or by a resolution passed at a meeting of holders of Preferred Shares duly called and held upon not less than fifteen days’ notice at which the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares are present or are represented by proxy and carried by the affirmative vote of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the votes cast at such meetings, in addition to any other consent or approval required by the Business Corporation Act. If at any such meeting the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares are not present or represented by proxy within one-half hour after the time appointed for such meeting, then the meeting shall be adjourned to such date not less than fifteen days thereafter and to such time and place as may be designated by the Chairman, and not less than ten days’ written notice shall be given of such adjourned meeting. At such adjourned meeting the holders of the Preferred Shares present or represented by proxy may transact the business for which the meeting was originally convened and a resolution passed by the affirmative vote of not less than sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the votes cast at such meeting shall constitute the consent or approval of the holders of Preferred Shares. On every poll taken at every meeting, every holder of Preferred Shares shall be entitled to one vote in respect of each share held. Subject to the foregoing, the formalities to be observed in respect of the giving or waiving of notice of any such meeting and the conduct thereof shall be those from time to time prescribed in the Bylaws of the Corporation with respect to meetings of shareholders. Any consent or approval given by the holders of Preferred Shares or a series as a class shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given if in the same manner as provided herein regarding holders of Preferred Shares as a class.

 

d)

Dividend Rights. The Company’s Bylaws provide that holders of common shares shall be entitled to receive dividends and the Company shall pay dividends thereon, as and when declared by the board of directors of the Company out of moneys properly applicable to the payment of dividends, in such amount and in such form as the board of directors may from time to time determine and all dividends which the directors may declare on the common shares shall be declared and paid in equal amounts per share on all common shares at the time outstanding, subject to the prior rights of any shares ranking senior to the common shares with respect to priority in the payment of dividends.

 

e)

Voting Rights. Neither the Company’s Bylaws nor its Articles of Incorporation provide for the election or re-election of directors at staggered intervals.

 

f)

Redemption Provisions. The Company may purchase any of its issued common shares subject to the provisions of the Ontario Business Corporations Act.

 

g)

Sinking Fund Provisions. Neither the Company’s Articles of Incorporation nor its Bylaws contain sinking fund provisions.

 

h)

Liability to Further Capital Calls by the Company. Neither the Company’s Articles of Incorporation nor its Bylaws contain provisions allowing the Company to make further capital calls with respect to any shareholder of the Company.

 

i)

Discriminatory Provisions Based on Substantial Ownership. Neither the Company’s Articles of Incorporation nor its Bylaws contain provisions that discriminate against any existing or prospective holders of securities as a result of such shareholder owning a substantial number of shares.

 

 

 
51

 

 

j)

Miscellaneous Provisions. Neither the Articles of Incorporation nor the Bylaws of the Company address the process by which the rights of holders of stock may be changed. The general provisions of the Ontario Business Corporations Act apply to this process, and require shareholder meetings and independent voting for such changes.

 

A meeting of shareholders may be called at any time by resolution or by the Chairman of the Board or by the President and the Secretary shall cause notice of a meeting of shareholders to be given when directed so to do by resolution of the board or by the Chairman or the Board or the President.

 

The board shall call an annual meeting of the shareholders not later than eighteen (18) months after the Corporation comes into existence and subsequently not later than fifteen (15) months after holding the last preceding annual meeting.

 

A special meeting of shareholders may be called at any time and may be held in conjunction with an annual meeting of shareholders.

 

Meeting of shareholders shall be held at the place within Canada determined by the board from time to time. Notwithstanding the above subsection, a meeting of shareholders may be held outside Canada if all the shareholders entitled to vote at that meeting so agree, and a shareholder who attends a meeting of shareholders held outside Canada is deemed to have so agreed except when he attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the meeting is not lawfully held.

 

Neither the Articles of Incorporation nor the Bylaws of the Company discuss limitations on the rights to own securities or exercise voting rights thereon.

 

Although not expressly enumerated in the Articles, pursuant to Canadian regulations, shareholder ownership must be disclosed by any shareholder who owns more than 10% of the Company’s common stock.

 

There is no provision of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws that would delay, defer or prevent a change in control of the Company, and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition, or corporate restructuring involving the Company (or any of its subsidiaries). The Company’s Bylaws do not contain a provision indicating the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed. With respect to the matters discussed in this Item 10B, the law applicable to the Company is not significantly different from United States law. Neither the Articles of Incorporation nor Bylaws contain provisions governing changes in capital that are more stringent than the conditions required by law.

 

The Ontario Business Corporations Act contains provisions that require a "special resolution" for effecting certain corporate actions. Such a "special resolution" requires a three-quarters vote of shareholders rather than a simple majority for passage. The principle corporate actions for which the Company would require a "special resolution" include:

 

a.

Changing its name;

 

b.

Changing the place where its registered office is situated;

 

c.  

Adding, changing or removing any restriction on the business or businesses that the corporation may carry on;

 

d.

Certain reorganizations of the corporation and alterations of share capital;

 

e.

Increasing or decreasing the number of directors or the minimum or maximum number of directors;

 

f.

Any amendment to its articles regarding constraining the issue or transfer of shares to persons who are not resident Canadians; and

 

g.

Dissolution of the corporation.

 

 

 
52

 

 

10.C. Material Contracts

 

Not Applicable 

 

10.D. Exchange Controls

 

Except as discussed in ITEM #10.E., the Company is unaware of any Canadian federal or provincial laws, decrees, or regulations that restrict the export or import of capital, including foreign exchange controls, or that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to non-Canadian holders of the common shares. The Company is unaware of any limitations on the right of non-Canadian owners to hold or vote the common shares imposed by Canadian federal or provincial law or by the charter or other constituent documents of the Company.

 

10.E. Taxation

 

A brief description of provisions of the tax treaty between Canada and the United States is included below, together with a brief outline of certain taxes, including withholding provisions, to which United States security holders are subject under existing laws and regulations of Canada. The consequences, if any, of provincial, state and local taxes are not considered.

 

Security holders should seek the advice of their own tax advisors, tax counsel or accountants with respect to the applicability or effect on their own individual circumstances of the matters referred to herein and of any provincial, state or local taxes.

 

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the US Internal Revenue Service, please be advised that any information on U.S. federal taxation contained in this report (including any exhibit hereto) is not intended or written to be used or relied upon, and cannot be used or relied upon, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

 

Material Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences

 

The discussion under this heading relates to the principal Canadian federal income tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of shares of common stock of the Company for a shareholder of the Company who is not a resident of Canada but is a resident of the United States and who will acquire and hold shares of common stock of the Company as capital property for the purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the “Canadian Tax Act”). This summary does not apply to a shareholder who carries on business in Canada through a “permanent establishment” situated in Canada or performs independent personal services in Canada through a fixed base in Canada if the shareholder’s holding in the Company is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. This information is based on the provisions of the Canadian Tax Act and the regulations thereunder and on an understanding of the administrative practices of Canada Revenue Agency, and takes into account all specific proposals to amend the Canadian Tax Act or regulations made by the Minister of Finance of Canada as of the date hereof. This discussion is not a substitute for independent advice from a shareholder’s own Canadian and U.S. tax advisors.

 

 

 
53

 

 

The provisions of the Canadian Tax Act are subject to income tax treaties to which Canada is a party, including the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention (1980), as amended (the “Convention”).

 

Dividends on Common Shares and Other Income. Under the Canadian Tax Act, a non-resident of Canada is subject to Canadian withholding tax at the rate of 25 percent on dividends paid or deemed to have been paid to him or her by a corporation resident in Canada. The Convention limits the rate to 15 percent if the shareholder is a resident of the United States and the dividends are beneficially owned by and paid to such shareholder, and to 5 percent if the shareholder is also a corporation that beneficially owns at least 10 percent of the voting stock of the payor-corporation.

 

The amount of a stock dividend (for tax purposes) would be equal to the amount by which the paid up or stated capital of the Company had increased because of the payment of such dividend. The Company will furnish additional tax information to shareholders in the event of such a dividend. Interest paid or deemed to be paid on the Company’s debt securities held by non-Canadian residents may also be subject to Canadian withholding tax, depending upon the terms and provisions of such securities and any applicable tax treaty.

 

The Convention exempts from Canadian income tax dividends paid to a religious, scientific, literary, educational or charitable organization or to an organization constituted and operated exclusively to administer a pension, retirement or employee benefit fund or plan, if the organization is a resident of the United States and is exempt from income tax under the laws of the United States.

 

Dispositions of Common Shares. Under the Canadian Tax Act, a taxpayer’s capital gain or capital loss from a disposition of a share of common stock of the Company is the amount, if any, by which his or her proceeds of disposition exceed (or are exceeded by, respectively) the aggregate of his or her adjusted cost base of the share and reasonable expenses of disposition. One-half of a capital gain (the “taxable capital gain”) is included in income, and one-half of a capital loss in a year (the “allowable capital loss”) is deductible from taxable capital gains realized in the same year. The amount by which a shareholder’s allowable capital loss exceeds the taxable capital gain in a year may be deducted from a taxable capital gain realized by the shareholder in the three previous or any subsequent year, subject to adjustment when the capital gains inclusion rate in the year of disposition differs from the inclusion rate in the year the deduction is claimed.

 

If a share of common stock of the Company is disposed of to the Company other than in the open market in the manner in which shares would normally be purchased by the public, the proceeds of disposition will, in general terms, be considered as limited to the paid-up capital of the share and the balance of the price paid will be deemed to be a dividend. In the case of a shareholder that is a corporation, the amount of any capital loss otherwise determined may be reduced by the amount of dividends previously received in respect of the shares disposed of, unless the corporation owned the shares for at least 365 days prior to sustaining the loss and (together with corporations, persons and other entities, with whom the corporation was not dealing at arm’s length) did not own more than five percent of the shares of any class of the corporation from which the dividend was received. These loss limitation rules may also apply where a corporation is a member of a partnership or a beneficiary of a trust that owned the shares disposed of.

 

Under the Canadian Tax Act, a non-resident of Canada is subject to Canadian tax on taxable capital gains, and may deduct allowable capital losses, realized on a disposition of “taxable Canadian property.” Shares of common stock of the Company will constitute taxable Canadian property of a shareholder at a particular time if the shareholder used the shares in carrying on business in Canada, or if at any time in the five years immediately preceding the disposition 25 percent or more of the issued shares of any class or series in the capital stock of the Company belonged to one or more persons in a group comprising the shareholder and persons with whom the shareholder did not deal at arm’s length.

 

 

 
54

 

 

The Convention relieves United States residents from liability for Canadian tax on capital gains derived on a disposition of shares unless (a) the value of the shares is derived principally from “real property” in Canada, including the right to explore for or exploit natural resources and rights to amounts computed by reference to production, (b) the shareholder was resident in Canada for 120 months during any period of 20 consecutive years preceding, and at any time during the 10 years immediately preceding, the disposition and the shares were owned by him when he or she ceased to be resident in Canada, or (c) the shares formed part of the business property of a “permanent establishment” that the holder has or had in Canada within the 12 months preceding the disposition.

 

Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

 

The following discussion is based upon the sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Treasury Regulations, published Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rulings, published administrative positions of the IRS and court decisions that are currently applicable. This discussion does not consider the potential effects, both adverse and beneficial, of any recently proposed legislation that, if enacted, could be applied, possibly on a retroactive basis, at any time. Holders and prospective holders of shares of the Company should consult their own tax advisors about the Federal; state, local and foreign tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of shares of the Company.

 

U.S. Holders. As used herein, a "U.S. Holder" includes a holder of shares of the Company who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, any entity that is taxable as a corporation for U.S. tax purposes and any other person or entity whose ownership of shares of the Company is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States. A U.S. Holder does not include persons subject to special provisions of Federal income tax law, such as tax exempt organizations, qualified retirement plans, financial institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, broker-dealers, nonresident alien individuals or foreign corporations whose ownership of shares of the Company is not effectively connected with conduct of trade or business in the United States, shareholders who acquired their stock through the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation and shareholders who hold their stock as ordinary assets and not as capital assets.

 

Distributions on Shares of the Company. U.S. Holders receiving dividend distributions (including constructive dividends) with respect to shares of the Company are required to include in gross income for United States Federal income tax purposes the gross amount of such distributions to the extent that the Company has current or accumulated earnings and profits as defined under U.S. Federal tax law, without reduction for any Canadian income tax withheld from such distributions. Such Canadian tax withheld may be credited against the U.S. Holder's United States Federal income tax liability or, alternatively, may be deducted in computing the U.S. Holder's United States Federal taxable income by those who itemize deductions. (See discussion that is more detailed at "Foreign Tax Credit" below). To the extent that distributions exceed current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Company, they will be treated first as a return of capital up to the U.S. Holder's adjusted basis in the shares and thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of the shares. Preferential tax rates for net capital gains are applicable to a U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate or trust. There are currently no preferential tax rates for long-term capital gains for a U.S. Holder that is a corporation.

 

Dividends paid on the shares of the Company are not expected to be eligible for the dividends received deduction provided to corporations receiving dividends from certain United States corporations. A U.S. Holder that is a corporation may be entitled to a 70% deduction of the United States source portion of dividends received from the Company (unless the Company qualifies as a "foreign personal holding company" or a "passive foreign investment company", as defined below) if such U.S. Holder owns shares representing at least 10% of the voting power and value of the Company.

 

 

 
55

 

 

In the case of foreign currency received as a dividend that is not converted by the recipient into U.S. Dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in the foreign currency equal to its U.S. Dollar value on the date of receipt. Any gain or loss recognized upon a subsequent sale or other disposition of the foreign currency, including the exchange for U.S. Dollars, will be ordinary income or loss. However, for tax years after 1997, an individual whose realized foreign exchange gain does not exceed U.S. $200 will not recognize that gain, to the extent that there are not expenses associated with the transaction that meet the requirement for deductibility as a trade or business expense (other than travel expenses in connection with a business trip or as an expense for the production of income).

 

Foreign Tax Credit. A U.S. Holder who pays (or has withheld from distributions) Canadian income tax with respect to the ownership of shares of the Company may be entitled, at the option of the U.S. Holder, to either a deduction or a tax credit for such foreign tax paid or withheld. It will be more advantageous to claim a credit because a credit reduces United States Federal income taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis, while a deduction merely reduces the taxpayer's income subject to tax. This election is made on a year-by-year basis and applies to all foreign taxes paid by (or withheld from) the U.S. Holder during that year. There are significant and complex limitations that apply to the credit, among which is the general limitation that the credit cannot exceed the proportionate share of the U.S. Holder's United States Federal income tax liability that the U.S. Holder's foreign source income bears to his or its worldwide taxable income. In the determination of the application of this limitation, the various items of income and deduction must be classified into foreign and domestic sources. Complex rules govern this classification process. There are further limitations on the foreign tax credit for certain types of income such as "passive income", "high withholding tax interest", "financial services income", and "shipping income". The availability of the foreign tax credit and the application of the limitations on the credit are fact specific and holders and prospective holders of shares of the Company should consult their own tax advisors regarding their individual circumstances.

 

In the case of certain U.S. Holders that are corporations (other than corporations subject to Subchapter S of the Code), owning 10% or more of the Company's Common Shares, a portion of the qualifying Canadian income tax paid by the Company will also be available as a foreign tax credit for U.S. federal income tax purposes, at the election of the U.S. Holder.

 

Disposition of Shares of the Company. A U.S. Holder will recognize a gain or loss upon the sale of shares of the Company equal to the difference, if any, between (i) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any property received, and (ii) the shareholder's tax basis in the shares of the Company. This gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss if the shares are a capital asset in the hands of the U.S. Holder, and will be a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depending upon the holding period of the U.S. Holder. Gains and losses are netted and combined according to special rules in arriving at the overall capital gain or loss for a particular tax year. Deductions for net capital losses are subject to significant limitations. Corporate capital losses (other than losses of corporations electing under Subchapter S or the Code) are deductible to the extent of capital gains. Non-corporate taxpayers may deduct net capital losses, whether short-term or long-term, up to U.S. $3,000 a year (U.S. $1,500 in the case of a married individual filing separately). For U.S. Holders that are individuals, any unused portion of such net capital loss may be carried over to be used in later tax years until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted. For U.S. Holders that are corporations (other than corporations subject to Subchapter S of the Code), an unused net capital loss may be carried back three years from the loss year and carried forward five years from the loss year to be offset against capital gains until such net capital loss is thereby exhausted.

 

 

 
56

 

 

Other Considerations

 

In the following circumstances, the above sections of this discussion may not describe the United States Federal income tax consequences resulting from the holding and disposition of shares of the Company:

 

Foreign Personal Holding Company. If at any time during a taxable year more than 50% of the total combined voting power or the total value of the Company's outstanding shares is owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals who are citizens or residents of the United States and 60% (50% in subsequent years) or more of the Company's gross income for such year was derived from certain passive sources (e.g., from dividends received from its subsidiaries), the Company would be treated as a "foreign personal holding company". In that event, U.S. Holders that hold shares of the Company (on the earlier of the last day of the Company's tax year or the last date on which the Company was a foreign personal holding company) would be required to include in gross income for such year their allowable portions of such passive income to the extent the Company does not actually distribute such income.

 

Foreign Investment Company. If 50% or more of the combined voting power or total value of the Company's outstanding shares are held, directly or indirectly, by citizens or residents of the United States, United States domestic partnerships or corporations, or estates or trusts other than foreign estates or trusts (as defined by the Code Section 7701 (a)(31)), and the Company is found to be engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, or trading in securities, commodities, or any interest, it is possible that the Company might be treated as a "foreign investment company" as defined in Section 1246 of the Code, causing all or part of any gain realized by a U.S. Holder selling or exchanging shares of the Company to be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain.

 

Passive Foreign Investment Company. As a foreign corporation with U.S. Holders, the Company will be treated as a passive foreign investment company ("PFIC"), as defined in Section 1297 of the Code, if 75% or more of its gross income in a taxable year is passive income, or the average percentage of the Company’s assets (by value) during the taxable year which produce passive income or which are held for production of same is at least 50%. Passive income is defined to include gross income in the nature of dividends, interest, royalties, rents and annuities; excess of gains over losses from certain transactions in any commodities not arising inter alia from a PFIC whose business is actively involved in such commodities; certain foreign currency gains; and other similar types of income. Foreign mining companies that are in the exploration stage may have little or no income from operations and/or may hold substantial cash and short-term securities that pay interest and dividends while awaiting expenditure in connection with the business. Given the complexities of determining what expenditures may be deductible and of how assets held for production of active income should be valued, the Company, based on advice from its professional advisers, cannot conclude whether it is a PFIC.

 

It is not the intention of the Company to be considered a PFIC and the Company does not consider this to be a material risk. In the event that it were to become classified as a PFIC, the following should be taken into consideration. U.S. Holders owning shares of a PFIC are subject to a special tax and to an interest charge based on the value of deferral of U.S. tax attributable to undistributed earnings of a PFIC for the period during which the shares of the PFIC are owned. This special tax would apply to any gain realized on the disposition of shares of a PFIC. In addition, the gain is subject to U.S. federal income tax as ordinary income, taxed at top marginal rates, rather than as capital gain income. The special tax would also be payable on receipt of excess distributions (any distributions received in the current year that are in excess of 125% of the average distributions received during the 3 preceding years or, if shorter, the shareholder's holding period). If, however, the U.S. Holder makes a timely election to treat a PFIC as a qualified electing fund ("QEF") with respect to such shareholder's interest and the Company provides an annual information statement, the above-described rules will not apply. The Company will provide such an information statement upon request from a U.S. Holder for current and prior taxable years. Instead, the electing U.S. Holder would include annually in his gross income his pro rata share of the PFIC's ordinary earnings and any net capital gain regardless of whether such income or gain was actually distributed. A U.S. Holder of a PFIC treated as a QEF can, however, further elect to defer the payment of United States Federal income tax on such income and gain inclusions, with tax payments ultimately requiring payment of an interest factor. In addition, with a timely QEF election, the electing U.S. Holder will obtain capital gain treatment on the gain realized on disposition of such U.S. Holder’s interest in the PFIC. Special rules apply to U.S. Holders who own their interests in a PFIC through intermediate entities or persons.

 

 

 
57

 

 

Effective for tax years of U.S. Holders beginning after December 31, 1997, U.S. Holders who hold, actually or constructively, marketable stock of a foreign corporation that qualifies as a PFIC may elect to mark such stock to the market (a “mark-to-market election”). If such an election is made, such U.S. Holder will not be subject to the special taxation rules of PFIC described above for the taxable years for which the mark-to-market election is made. A U.S. Holder who makes such an election will include in income for the taxable year an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the shares of the Company as of the close of such tax year over such U.S. Holder's adjusted basis in such shares. In addition, the U.S. Holder is allowed a deduction for the lesser of (i) the excess, if any, of such U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the shares over the fair market value of such shares as of the close of the tax year, or (ii) the excess, if any of (A) the mark-to-market gains for the shares in the Company included by such U.S. Holder for prior tax years, including any amount which would have been included for any prior year but for Section 1291 interest on tax deferral rules discussed above with respect to a U.S. Holder, who has not made a timely QEF election during the year in which he holds (or is deemed to have held) shares in the Company and the Company is a PFIC (“Non-Electing U.S. Holder”), over (B) the mark-to-market losses for shares that were allowed as deductions for prior tax years. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the shares of the Company will be increased or decreased to reflect the amount included or deducted as a result of mark-to-market election. A mark-to-market election will apply to the tax year for which the election is made and to all later tax years, unless the PFIC stock ceases to be marketable or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election.

 

The IRS has issued proposed regulations that would treat as taxable certain transfers of PFIC stock by a Non-Electing U.S. Holder that are not otherwise taxed, such as gifts, exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at death. In such cases, the basis of the Company's shares in the hands of the transferee and the basis of any property received in the exchange for those shares would be increased by the amount of gain recognized. A U.S. Holder who has made a timely QEF election (as discussed herein) will not be taxed on certain transfers of PFIC stock, such as gifts, exchanges pursuant to corporate reorganizations, and transfers at death. The transferee's basis in this case will depend on the manner of the transfer. The specific tax effect to the U.S. Holder and the transferee may vary based on the manner in which the shares of the Company are transferred. Each U.S. Holder should consult a tax advisor with respect to how the PFIC rules affect their tax situation.

 

The PFIC and QEF election rules are complex. U.S. Holders should consult a tax advisor regarding the availability and procedure for making the QEF election as well as the applicable method for recognizing gains or earnings and profits under the foregoing rules.

 

Controlled Foreign Corporation. If more than 50% of the voting power of all classes of stock or the total value of the stock of the Company is owned, directly or indirectly, by citizens or residents of the United States, United States domestic partnerships and corporations or estates or trusts other than foreign estates or trusts, each of whom own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company ("United States shareholder"), the Company could be treated as a "controlled foreign corporation" under Subpart F of the Code. This classification would effect many complex results including the required inclusion by such United States shareholders in income of their pro rata share of "Subpart F income" (as specially defined by the Code) of the Company. Subpart F requires current inclusions in the income of United States shareholders to the extent of a controlled foreign corporation's accumulated earnings invested in "excess passive" assets (as defined by the Code). In addition, under Section 1248 of the Code, a gain from the sale or exchange of shares by a U.S. Holder who is or was a United States shareholder at any time during the five year period ending with the sale or exchange is treated as ordinary dividend income to the extent of earnings and profits of the Company attributable to the stock sold or exchanged. Because of the complexity of Subpart F, and because it is not clear that Subpart F would apply to the U.S. Holders of shares of the Company, a more detailed review of these rules is outside of the scope of this discussion.

 

 

 
58

 

 

If the Company is both a PFIC and controlled foreign corporation, the company will not be treated as a PFIC with respect to United States shareholders of the controlled foreign corporation. This rule will be effective for taxable years of the Company ending with or within such taxable years of United States shareholders.

 

Summary

 

Management believes this discussion covers all material tax consequences. Nevertheless, this is not intended to be, nor should it be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any holder of common shares of the Company Holders and prospective holders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisers with respect to their particular circumstances.

 

10.H.      Documents on Display

 

Documents responsive to this item may be obtained by request from the Company at its principal executive offices and from SEDAR, www.sedar.com

 

10.H.      Subsidiary Information

 

Not applicable

 

Item 11.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Foreign Currency Risk

 

Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. The Company’s exposure to the risk of changes in foreign exchange rates relates primarily to the Company’s operating activities (when revenue or expense is denominated in a different currency from the Company’s functional currency) and the Company’s net investments in foreign subsidiaries. The Company operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk as certain expenditures are denominated in non-Canadian Dollar currencies.

 

A 10% strengthening of the US dollars against Canadian dollars would have increased the net equity by $90,365 (2013 - $76,850) due to reduction in the value of net liability balance. A 10% of weakening of the US dollar against Canadian dollar at December 31, 2014 would have had the equal but opposite effect. The significant financial instruments of the Company, their carrying values and the exposure to other denominated monetary assets and liabilities, as of December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

 

US Denominated

China Denominated

Euro Denominated

 

USD

RMB

Euro

Cash

-

18,412

11,091

Accounts receivable

681,916

-

16,691

Accounts payable

45,926

-

-

 

 

 
59

 

 

 

The carrying values and the exposure to other denominated monetary assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2013 are as follows:

 

 

US Denominated

China Denominated

 

USD

RMB

Cash

43,422

8,978

Accounts receivable

788,497

3,935

Accounts payable

68,785

-

 

 

The Company operates one segment of its business in China, and a substantial portion of our operating expenses are in Canadian dollars, whereas our revenue from co-publishing agreements are primarily in Renminbi which is first converted to US dollars then to Canadian dollars.  

 

A significant adverse change in foreign currency exchange rates between the Canadian dollars relative to US dollars or Renminbi to US dollars could have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows. We have not hedged exposures denominated in foreign currencies, as they are not material at this time.

 

 

RMB

USD

USD

USD

USD

   

At 12/31/2014

+0.05

+0.10

+0.15

Year-end Exchange Rate For 1 RMB to USD

 

0.1611

0.2111

0.2611

0.3111

Annual Revenue From China

9,087,275

1,463,960

1,918,324

2,372,688

2,827,051

Accounts Receivable

3,730,271

600,947

787,460

973,974

1,160,487

           
 

USD

CAD

CAD

CAD

CAD

   

Year 2014

+0.05

+0.10

+0.15

Average Annual Exchange Rate for 1 USD to CAD

 

1.1047

1.1547

1.2047

1.2547

Annual Revenue From China

1,474,945

1,629,372

1,703,119

1,776,866

1,850,613

           
 

USD

CAD

CAD

CAD

CAD

   

At 12/31/2014

+0.05

+0.10

+0.15

Year-end Exchange Rate for 1 USD to CAD

 

1.1601

1.2101

1.2601

1.3101

Cash

367,816

426,703

445,094

463,485

481,876

Accounts Receivable

660,247

765,953

798,965

831,977

864,990

Accounts Payable

34,612

40,153

41,884

43,615

45,345

 

Item 12.     Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

 

None

 

PART II

 

Item 13.     Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

 

None

 

 

 
60

 

 

Item 14.     Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

 

None

 

ITEM 15.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

15.A.        As of the end of the period covered by this report ("Date of Evaluation"), an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

The following pronouncements issued by the IASB and interpretations published by IFRIC will become effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2015

 

Effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016

 

IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements was amended by the IASB in December 2014. The amendments are designed to further encourage companies to apply professional judgement in determining what information to disclose in their financial statements. For example, the amendments make clear that materiality applies to the whole of financial statements and that the inclusion of immaterial information can inhibit the usefulness of financial disclosures. Furthermore, the amendments clarify that companies should use professional judgement in determining where and in what order information is presented in the financial disclosures. Earlier application is permitted.

 

Effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017

 

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers was issued by the IASB in May 2014. The core principle of the new standard is for companies to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration (that is, payment) to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard will also result in enhanced disclosures about revenue, provide guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively (for example, service revenue and contract modifications) and improve guidance for multiple-element arrangements. Earlier application is permitted. IFRS 15 supersedes the following standards: IAS 11 Construction Contracts, IAS 18 Revenue, IFRIC 13 Customer Loyalty Programmes, IFRIC 15 Agreements for the Construction of Real Estate, IFRIC 18 Transfers of Assets from Customers, and SIC-31 Revenue—Barter Transactions Involving Advertising Services.

 

Effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018

 

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments was issued by the IASB in July 2014 and will replace IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. IFRS 9 uses a single approach to determine whether a financial asset is measured at amortized cost or fair value, replacing the multiple rules in IAS 39. The approach in IFRS 9 is based on how an entity manages its financial instruments in the context of its business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets. Most of the requirements in IAS 39 for classification and measurement of financial liabilities were carried forward unchanged to IFRS 9. The new standard also requires a single impairment method to be used, replacing the multiple impairment methods in IAS 39.. A new hedge accounting model is introduced and represents a substantial overhaul of hedge accounting which will allow entities to better reflect their risk management activities in the financial statements. The most significant improvements apply to those that hedge non-financial risk, and so these improvements are expected to be of particular interest to non-financial institutions. Earlier application is permitted.

 

The Company has not yet completed its evaluations of the effect of adopting the above standards and the impact it may have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 
61

 

 

15.B.        There have been no changes that have materially affected, or that is reasonably likely to affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this Annual Report.

 

 

ITEM 16.      RESERVED

 

ITEM 16A.      AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

 

During the past fiscal year, the members of the audit committee (the "Audit Committee") were Martin Bernholtz ("Chairman"), Scott Remborg and Michael P. Kraft, of whom Martin Bernholtz and Scott Remborg are independent. Martin Bernholtz is an audit committee financial expert. Mr. Gong was succeeded as Chairman by Martin Bernholtz in August 2013. Each member of the Audit Committee is financially literate as defined by MI 52-110.

 

A member of the Audit Committee is independent if the member has no direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. A material relationship means a relationship which could, in the view of the Board, reasonably interfere with the exercise of a member's independent judgment.

 

A member of the Audit Committee is considered financially literate if he or she has the ability to read and understand a set of financial statements that present a breadth and level of complexity of accounting issues that are generally comparable to the breadth and complexity of the issues that can reasonably be expected to be raised by the Company. Each has acquired these attributes through relevant experience serving as directors and/or audit committee members of various other private and public companies.

 

ITEM 16B.      CODE OF ETHICS

 

The Company has adopted a “Code of Conduct”, the text of such code is available through its internet website, www.lingomedia.com .

 

ITEM 16C.      PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Nature of Services

Fees Paid to Auditor Year-ended

December 31, 2014

Fees Paid to Auditor Year-ended

December 31, 2013

Fees Paid to Auditor Year-ended

December 31, 2012

Audit Fees(1)

$ 77,864

$ 81,077

$ 94,245

Audit-Related Fees(2)

9,029

6,934

4,200

Tax Fees(3)

Nil

Nil

Nil

All Other Fees(4)

Nil

Nil

Nil

Total

$93,644

$94,385

$103,466

 

 

 
62

 

 

Notes:

 

(1)

"Audit Fees" include fees necessary to perform the annual audit and any quarterly reviews of the Company's financial statements

 

(2)

"Audit-Related Fees" include services that are traditionally performed by the auditor. These audit-related services include employee benefit audits, due diligence assistance, accounting consultations on proposed transactions, internal control reviews and audit or attest services not required by legislation or regulation.

 

(3)

"Tax Fees" include fees for all tax services other than those included in "Audit Fees" and "Audit-Related Fees". This category includes fees for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice. Tax planning and tax advice includes assistance with tax audits and appeals, tax advice related to mergers and acquisitions, and requests for rulings or technical advice from tax authorities

 

(4)

"All Other Fees" include all other non-audit services

 

 

ITEM 16D.      NOT APPLICABLE

 

ITEM 16E.      NOT APPLICABLE

 

ITEM 16F.      NOT APPLICABLE

 

ITEM 16G.      NOT APPLICABLE


ITEM 16H.      NOT APPLICABLE

 

 

PART III

 

ITEM 17.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Company has elected to provide financial statements pursuant to ITEM #18.

 

ITEM 18.      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The Company's financial statements are stated in Canadian Dollars (CAD) and are prepared in accordance with with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and interpretations of the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”).

 

The financial statements as required under ITEM #18 are attached hereto as exhibits. The audit reports of Collins Barrow Toronto LLP are included herein immediately preceding the financial statements and schedules.

 

Audited Financial Statements

 

Auditor's Report, dated April 29, 2015

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012

 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, and 2012

 

Notes to Financial Statements

 

 

 
63

 

 

 

ITEM 19.      EXHIBITS

 

 

1.1

    Articles of Amendment. Certificates of Incorporation, By-Laws/Articles, incorporated by reference from the Lingo Media Inc. F-1 Registration Statement filed August 20, 2002.

 

1.2

Amended By-Laws of the Company incorporated by reference from the Lingo Media Corporation Form 20-F/A filed February 17, 2012.

 

4.1

Consulting Agreement of MPK Inc.

 

4.2

Consulting Agreement of Busy Babies Inc.

 

4.3

Stock Option Plan

  

12.1. Certificate of the CEO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

12.2. Certificate of the CFO pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

13.1 Certificate of the CEO and CFO pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf.

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

 

By:_/s/Michael Kraft

 

Michael P. Kraft

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

By:_/s/Khurram Qureshi

 

Khurram Qureshi

Chief Financial Officer

May 15, 2015

 

 64

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

 

Consolidated Financial Statements

 

For the years ended December 31, 2014

 

and December 31, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

Management’s Responsibility


 

To the Shareholders of
Lingo Media Corporation

 

Management is responsible for the preparation and presentation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements, including responsibility for significant accounting judgments and estimates in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and ensuring that all information in the Management Discussion & Analysis is consistent with the statements. This responsibility includes selecting appropriate accounting principles and methods, and making decisions affecting the measurement of transactions in which objective judgment is required.

 

In discharging its responsibilities for the integrity and fairness of the consolidated financial statements, management designs and maintains the necessary accounting systems and related internal controls to provide reasonable assurance that transactions are authorized, assets are safeguarded and financial records are properly maintained to provide reliable information for the preparation of financial statements.

 

The Board of Directors and the Audit Committee include some Directors who are neither management nor employees of the Company. The Board is responsible for overseeing management in the performance of its financial reporting responsibilities, and for approving the financial information included in the annual report. The Audit Committee has the responsibility of meeting with management and external auditors to discuss the internal controls over the financial reporting process, auditing matters and financial reporting issues. The Audit Committee is also responsible for recommending the appointment of the Company’s external auditors.

 

Collins Barrow Toronto LLP, an independent firm of Chartered Accountants, is appointed by the Audit Committee of the Board to audit the consolidated financial statements and report directly to them; their report follows. The external auditors have full and free access to, and meet periodically and separately with, both the Audit Committee and management to discuss their audit findings.

 

April 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

    /s/ Michael Kraft

 

 

    /s/ Khurram Qureshi 

 

    President & CEO

 

 

    Chief Financial Officer

 

               

 
1

 

 

 

Collins Barrow Toronto LLP

Collins Barrow Place 11 King Street West

Suite 700, PO Box 27

Toronto, Ontario

M5H 4C7 Canada

 

T.   416.480.0160

F.   416.480.2646

 

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

 

To the Shareholders of Lingo Media Corporation

www.collinsbarrow.com

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Lingo Media Corporation and its subsidiaries, which comprise the consolidated balance sheets as at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, changes in equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

 

Management’s Responsibility for the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

 

Auditors' Responsibility

 

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

 

An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained in our audits is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

 

Opinion

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Lingo Media Corporation and its subsidiaries as at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, and its financial performance and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2014, December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2012 in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

 

 

/s/ Collins Barrow Toronto LLP

 

Chartered Professional Accountants

Licensed Public Accountants

Toronto, Ontario

April 29, 2015

 

 
2

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Consolidated Financial Statements

As at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013

 

 

Contents

 
   

Consolidated Financial Statements

Page

   

Consolidated Balance Sheets

4

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

5

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

7

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

8 – 26

 

 
3

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 (Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

As at December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013

 

   

Notes

   

December 31, 2014

   

December 31, 2013

 
                         

ASSETS

                       

Current Assets

                       
                         

Cash

          $ 477,001     $ 78,091  

Accounts and grants receivable

    6       849,344       1,003,440  

Prepaid and other receivables

            85,071       84,620  
                         
              1,411,416       1,166,151  

Non-Current Assets

                       
                         

Property and equipment

    7       24,806       31,926  

Intangibles

    8       847,598       876,895  

Goodwill

            139,618       139,618  
                         

TOTAL ASSETS

          $ 2,423,438     $ 2,214,590  
                         

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

                       
                         

Current Liabilities

                       
                         

Accounts payable

            150,634       282,315  

Accrued liabilities

            690,015       601,843  

Loans payable

    9       838,833       819,545  
              1,679,482       1,703,703  
                         

Equity

                       
                         

Share capital

    10       18,162,347       18,102,347  

Share-based payment reserve

    11       2,578,380       2,512,717  

Warrants

    12       1,393,202       1,132,685  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

            (204,852 )     (168,245 )

Deficit

            (21,185,121 )     (21,068,617 )

TOTAL EQUITY

            743,956       510,887  
                         

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

          $ 2,423,438     $ 2,214,590  

 

Commitments and contingency 19

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

These consolidated financial statements are authorized for issue by the Board of Directors on April 30, 2015.

 

 

/s/ Michael Kraft

 

/s/ Martin Bernholtz

Director

 

Director

 

 
4

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

 

   

Notes

   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 
                                 

Revenue

          $ 2,512,464     $ 2,008,066     $ 2,016,261  
                                 

Expenses

                               
                                 

Selling, general and administrative

            950,229       941,462       2,121,237  

Amortization – intangibles

    8       582,857       431,049       365,752  

Direct costs

            382,593       195,324       273,055  

Share-based payments

    11       65,663       61,926       243,195  

Depreciation – property and equipment

    7       7,386       7,624       9,838  

Total Expenses

            1,988,728       1,637,385       3,013,077  
                                 

Profit / (Loss) from Operations

            523,736       370,681       (996,816 )
                                 

Net Finance Charges

                               
                                 

Interest expense

            217,040       240,516       168,769  

Foreign exchange gain

            (106,437 )     (134,444 )     (25,046 )
                                 

Profit / (Loss) Before Income Tax

            413,132       264,609       (1,140,539 )
                                 

Income Tax Expense

    13       269,119       241,666       221,987  
                                 

Net Profit / (Loss) for the Year

          $ 144,013     $ 22,943     $ (1,362,526 )
                                 

Other Comprehensive Income

                               
                                 

Items subsequently transferred to net profit (loss)

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations loss

            (36,607 )     (79,274 )     (2,211 )
                                 

Total Comprehensive Income / (Loss), Net of Tax

          $ 107,406     $ (56,331 )   $ (1,364,737 )
                                 

Earnings / (Loss) per Share

                               

Basic and Diluted

          $ 0.01     $ (0.00 )   $ (0.07 )
                                 

Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding

                               

Basic and Diluted

            21,986,300       21,174,026       20,652,415  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 
5

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

 

   

Issued Share Capital

   

Share-Based Payment Reserve

   

Warrants

   

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

   

Deficit

   

Total Equity

 
   

Number of shares

   

Amount

                                         

Balance as at January 1, 2012

    20,543,177     $ 17,925,347     $ 2,130,735     $ 1,046,365     $ (86,760 )   $ (19,565,853 )   $ 1,449,834  

Issued shares – against loan payable

    356,000       89,000       -       -       -       -       89,000  

Loss for the year

    -       -       -       -       -       (1,362,526 )     (1,362,526 )

Warrants expired

    -       -       76,861       (76,861 )     -       -       -  

Warrants extension

    -       -       -       163,181       -       (163,181 )     -  

Share-based payments charged to operations

    -       -       243,195       -       -       -       243,195  

Other comprehensive loss

    -       -       -       -       (2,211 )     -       (2,211 )

Balance as at December 31, 2012

    20,899,177       18,014,347       2,450,791       1,132,685       (88,971 )     (21,091,560 )     417,292  

Profit for the year

    -       -       -       -       -       22,943       22,943  

Other comprehensive loss

    -       -       -       -       (79,274 )     -       (79,274 )

Issued share – as financing cost against loan payable

    880,000       88,000       -       -       -       -       88,000  

Share-based payments charged to operations

    -       -       61,926       -       -       -       61,926  

Balance as at December 31, 2013

    21,779,177       18,102,347       2,512,717       1,132,685       (168,245 )     (21,068,617 )     510,887  

Profit for the year

    -       -       -       -       -       144,013       144,013  

Other comprehensive loss

    -       -       -       -       (36,607 )     -       (36,607 )

Warrants extension (Note 10(b))

    -       -       -       260,517       -       (260,517 )     -  

Issued shares – as financing cost against loans payable

    600,000       60,000       -       -       -       -       -  

Share-based payments charged to operations

    -       -       65,663       -       -       -       65,663  

Balance as at December 31, 2014

    22,379,177     $ 18,162,347     $ 2,578,380     $ 1,393,202     $ (204,852 )   $ (21,185,121 )   $ 743,956  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 
6

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)

 

   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                       
                         

Net Profit (Loss) for the Year

  $ 144,013     $ 22,943     $ (1,362,526 )
                         

Adjustments to Net Profit for Non-Cash Items:

                       

Amortization – intangibles

    582,857       431,049       365,752  

Share-based payments

    65,663       61,926       243,195  

Unrealized foreign exchange gain

    (44,035 )     (80,468 )     (1,331 )

Interest accretion

    79,288       88,931       27,614  

Depreciation - property & equipment

    7,386       7,624       9,838  

Loss on disposition of property and equipment

    7,773       -       --  

Operating Profit before Working Capital Changes

    842,945       532,005       (717,458 )
                         

Working Capital Adjustments:

                       

Decrease / (Increase) in accounts and grants receivable

    154,096       443,522       (271,632 )

(Increase) / Decrease in prepaid and other receivables

    (451 )     35,611       (16,613 )

Increase / (Decrease) in accounts payable

    (131,681 )     (295,340 )     204,133  

Increase in accrued liabilities

    88,172       129,756       136,266  

Cash Generated from Operations

    953,081       845,554       (665,304 )
                         

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                       

Expenditures on Software & Web Development Cost

    (544,635 )     (431,711 )     (143,215 )

Purchase of property and equipment

    (9,536 )     -       -  

Net Cash Flows (Used) in Investing Activities

    (554,171 )     (431,711 )     (143,215 )
                         

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                       

Proceeds from loans

    -       240,000       365,000  

Repayment of loan payable

    -       (615,000 )     -  

Net Cash Flows (Used in) / Generated by Financing Activities

    -       (375,000 )     365,000  

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH

    398,910       38,843       (443,519 )

Cash at the Beginning of the Year

    78,091       39,248       482,767  

Cash at the End of the Year

  $ 477,001     $ 78,091     $ 39,248  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 
7

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


 

1.

CORPORATE INFORMATION

 

Lingo Media Corporation (“Lingo Media” or the “Company”) is a publicly listed company incorporated in Canada with limited liability under the legislation of the Province of Ontario and its shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and inter-listed on the OTCQB Marketplace. The consolidated financial statements of the Company as at and for the year ended December 31, 2014 comprise the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

 

Lingo Media is an ESL EdTech industry acquisition company whose goal is to "Change the way the world learns English" by combining education with technology.  The company is focused on online and print-based technologies and solutions through its four distinct business units: Lingo Learning Inc. (“Lingo Learning”), ELL Technologies Ltd. (“ELL Technologies”); Speak2Me Inc. (“Speak2Me”) and Parlo Corporation (“Parlo”). Lingo Learning is a print-based publisher of English school programs in China. ELL Technologies is a globally-established English language learning multi-media and online training company. Speak2Me is a free-to-consumer advertising-based online English language learning service in China. Parlo is a fee-based online English language learning training and assessment service.

 

The head office, principal address and registered and records office of the Company is located at 151 Bloor Street West, Suite 703, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1S4.

 

2.         BASIS OF PREPARATION

 

2.1       Statement of compliance and going concern

 

These consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and interpretations of the IFRS Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”).

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which contemplates the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company has incurred significant losses over the years. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company reported a net profit of $144,013 (2013 – net profit of $22,943; 2012 – net loss of $1,362,526), positive cash flows from operations of $953,081 (2013 - $845,554; 2012 - negative cash flows from operations of $665,304).  As at December 31, 2014, the Company had a working capital deficiency of $268,066 (2013-$537,552).  The Company’s success depends on the continued profitable commercialization of its online English language learning technology programs.  Given the fact that the Company has had an increase in revenue of $504,398, increase in net profit of $121,070 and an increase in cash flows of $398,910, and the Company’s current operating and financial plans, management of the Company believes that it will have sufficient access to financial resources to fund the Company’s planned operations through fiscal 2015.

 

2.2       Basis of measurement

 

These consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except as provided in note 4. The comparative figures presented in these consolidated financial statements are in accordance with IFRS.

 

2.3       Basis of consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries controlled by the Company (the “Group”) as at December 31, 2014. Control exists when the Company is exposed to, or has the rights to variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect these returns through its power over the entity.

 

 
8

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


 

2.         BASIS OF PREPARATION (Cont’d)

 

2.3       Basis of consolidation (Cont’d)

Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date of acquisition, being the date on which the Group obtains control, and continue to be consolidated until the date when such control ceases. The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting period as the parent company, using consistent accounting policies. All inter-group balances, transactions, unrealized gains and losses resulting from inter-group transactions and dividends are eliminated in full.

 

2.4       Functional and presentation currency

 

The functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates and has been determined for each entity within the Group. These consolidated financial statements are presented in Canadian Dollars, which is the Company’s functional currency and presentation currency. The functional currency of ELL Technologies is the United States Dollar (“USD”) and the functional currency of Speak2Me is Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”). All other subsidiaries’ functional currency is Canadian Dollar (“CAD”).

 

The functional currency determinations were conducted through an analysis of the consideration factors identified in IAS 21, “The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates”.

 

3.          SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS, ESTIMATES AND ASSUMPTIONS

 

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies, reported amounts of assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities, revenues and expenses at the date of the consolidated financial statements and during the reporting period.

 

Estimates and assumptions are continuously evaluated and are based on management’s historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. However, actual outcomes can differ from these estimates. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and further periods if the review affects both current and future periods.

 

Information about critical judgements in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the consolidated financial statements is included in the following notes:

 

  Determination of functional and presentation currency
     
  Determination of the recoverability of the carrying value of intangible assets and goodwill
     
  Determination and recognition of long-term revenue contracts
     
  Recognition of government grant and grant receivable
     
  Recognition of deferred tax assets
     
  Valuation of share-based payments
     
  Recognition of provisions and contingent liabilities
     
 

Assessing whether material uncertainties exist that would cause doubt as to whether the Company could continue as a going concern.

 

 
9

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


  

4.          SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

4.1      Revenue recognition

 

Revenue from fee-based English language training and assessment services and licenses are recognized on a straight line basis over the term of the agreement and when collectability is reasonably assured.

 

When the outcome of a contract cannot be reliably estimated, all contract related costs are expensed and revenues are recognized only to the extent that those costs are recoverable. When the uncertainties that prevented reliable estimation of the outcome of a contract no longer exist, contract revenue and expenses are recognized using the percentage of completion method. During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company had one long-term contract, for which revenues of $230,000 were recognized based on the cost recovery method.

 

Revenue from online advertising and sponsorships in China is recognized at the time of the rendering of services and when collectability is reasonably assured.

 

Revenue from royalty and licensing sales in China is recognized based on confirmation of finished products produced by the Company’s co-publishing partners and when collectability is reasonably assured. Royalty revenue from audiovisual products is recognized based on the confirmation of sales by its co-publishing partners, and when collectability is reasonably assured. Royalty revenues are not subject to right of return or product warranties. Revenue from the sale of published and supplemental products is recognized upon delivery and when the risk of ownership is transferred and collectability is reasonably assured.

 

4.2      Comprehensive income

 

Comprehensive income measures net earnings for the period plus other comprehensive income. Other comprehensive income consists of changes in equity from non-owner sources, such as changes to foreign currency translation adjustments of foreign operations during the period. Amounts reported as other comprehensive income are accumulated in a separate component of shareholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

4.3      Property and equipment

 

Property and equipment are initially recorded at cost. Amortization is provided using methods outlined below at rates intended to amortize the cost of assets over their estimated useful lives.

 

 Method

Rate

 

 

 Computer and office equipment 

Declining balance     20 %

      

4.4      Software and web development costs

 

The Company capitalizes all costs related to the development of its fee-based English Language Learning products and services and free-to-consumer when the feasibility and profitability of the project can be reasonably considered certain. Expenditure on development activities, whereby research findings are applied to a plan or design for the production of new or substantially improved products and processes, is capitalized if the product or process is technically and commercially feasible and the Group has sufficient resources to complete development. The expenditure capitalized includes the cost of material, and direct labour. Other development expenditure is recognized in the statement of comprehensive income as an expense as incurred. Capitalized development expenditure is stated at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment losses. The software and web development cost are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the asset, which is estimated to be 3 years.

 

 
10

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


   

4.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont’d)

 

4.5      Content platform

 

The Company acquired a content platform, which was already commercialized. The content platform costs are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the asset which is estimated to be 5 years.

 

4.6      Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable assets of an acquired business.

 

The Company measures goodwill as the fair value of the consideration transferred including the recognized amount of any non-controlling interest in the venture, less the net recognized amount (fair value) of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, all measured as of the acquisition date. When the excess is negative, a bargain purchase gain is recognized immediately in profit.

 

The Company elects on a transaction-by-transaction basis whether to measure non-controlling interest at its fair value, or at its proportionate share of the recognized amount of the identifiable net assets, at the acquisition date. Transaction costs, other than those associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, that the Company incurs in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred.

 

4.7      Government grants

 

The Company receives government grants based on certain eligibility criteria for book publishing industry development in Canada. These government grants are recorded as a reduction of general and administrative expenses to offset direct costs funded by the grant during the period in which the criteria to receive the grant is met. The Company records a liability for the repayment of the grants and a charge to operations in the period in which conditions arise that will cause the government grants to be repayable.

 

4.8      Deferred income taxes

 

Deferred taxation is recognized using the liability method on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes.

 

However, the deferred taxation is not recognized if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred taxation is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the reporting date and are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset is realized or the deferred tax liability is settled.

 

A deferred tax asset is recognized to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the temporary difference can be utilized. Deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realized.

 

Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, except where the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the Company and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

 

 
11

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


   

4.          SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont’d)

 

4.8      Deferred income taxes (Cont’d)

 

Deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities are offset, if a legally enforceable right exists to offset current income tax assets against current income tax liabilities and the deferred taxes relate to the same taxable entity and the same taxation authority.

 

4.9      Foreign currency translation

 

Foreign currency transactions are initially recorded in the functional currency at the transaction date exchange rate. At the balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into the functional currency at the reporting date exchange rate. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the remeasurement of monetary items at year-end exchange rates are recognized in the income statement.

 

Non-monetary items measured at historical cost are translated using the historical exchange rate. Non-monetary items measured at fair value are translated using the exchange rates at the date when fair value was determined.

 

Financial statements of subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures for which the functional currency is not the Canadian Dollar are translated into the Canadian Dollar as follows: all asset and liability accounts are translated at the balance sheet exchange rate and all earnings and expense accounts and cash flow statement items are translated at average exchange rates for the period. The resulting translation gains and losses are recorded as foreign currency translation adjustments in other comprehensive income and recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income in equity. On disposal of a foreign operation the cumulative translation differences recognized in equity are reclassified to the statement of comprehensive income and recognized as part of the gain or loss on disposal. Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity have been treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign entity and translated into Canadian Dollars at the balance sheet rate.

 

Foreign exchange gains or losses arising from a monetary item receivable from or payable to a foreign operation, the settlement of which is neither planned nor likely to occur in the foreseeable future and which in substance is considered to form part of the net investment in the foreign operation, are recognized in other comprehensive income in Accumulated other comprehensive income.

 

4.10    Earnings (loss) per share

 

Earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing the earnings (loss) for the year by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the year, including contingently issuable shares which are included when the conditions necessary for issuance have been met. Diluted earnings per share is calculated in a similar manner, except that the weighted average number of common shares outstanding is increased to include potentially issuable common shares from the assumed exercise of common share purchase options and warrants, if dilutive. During the year ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, all the outstanding stock options, warrants and brokers’ warrants were anti-dilutive.

 

4.11    Share-based compensation plan

 

The share-based compensation plan allows the Company employees and consultants to acquire shares of the Company. The fair value of share-based payment awards granted is recognized as an employee or consultant expense with a corresponding increase in equity. An individual is classified as an employee when the individual is an employee for legal or tax purposes (direct employee) or provides services similar to those performed by a direct employee.

 

 
12

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


    

4.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont’d)

 

4.11    Share-based compensation plan (Cont’d)

 

Each tranche in an award is considered a separate award with its own vesting period and grant date fair value. The fair value is measured at grant date and each tranche is recognized on a graded vesting basis over the period during which the share purchase options vest. The fair value of the share-based payment awards granted is measured using the Black-Scholes option pricing model taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the awards were granted. At each financial position reporting date, the amount recognized as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of awards, for which the related service and non-market vesting conditions are expected to be met. 

 

For equity-settled share-based payment transactions, the Company measures the goods or services received, and the corresponding increase in equity, directly, at the fair value of the goods or services received, unless that fair value cannot be estimated reliably, in which cases, the Company measures their value, and the corresponding increase in equity, indirectly, by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted.

 

4.12    Financial instruments

 

All financial instruments are recorded initially at fair value. In subsequent periods, all financial instruments are measured based on the classification adopted for the financial instrument: fair value through profit and loss (“FVTPL”); held to maturity; loans and receivables; and available for sale or other liability.

 

Financial assets: FVTPL assets are subsequently measured at fair value with the change in the fair value recognized in net income during the period.

 

Loans and receivables are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method.

 

Financial liabilities: Other liabilities are subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. Costs that are directly attributable to a financial instrument’s origination, acquisition, issuance or assumption, are included in the fair value adjustment of the financial instrument. These costs are amortized over the life of the financial instrument.

 

The Company has classified its financial instruments as follows:

 

Financial Instrument

Classification

Cash

FVTPL

Accounts and grants receivable

Loans and receivables

Accounts payable

Other liabilities

Accrued liabilities

Other liabilities

Loans payable

Other liabilities

 

The Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on the balance sheet consist of cash, which is measured at level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. There are three levels of the fair value hierarchy as follows:

 

Level 1: Values based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical assets or liabilities.

 

Level 2: Values based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or model inputs that are observable either directly or indirectly for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

Level 3: Values based on prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

 

 
13

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


  

4.          SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Cont’d)

 

4.13     Impairment of long-lived assets

 

The Company’s property and equipment and intangibles with finite lives are reviewed for an indication of impairment at each balance sheet date. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually or at any time if an indicator of impairment exists. If indication of impairment exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated.  The recoverable amount is the greater of the asset’s fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset.  An impairment loss is recognized when the carrying amount of an asset, or its cash-generating unit, exceeds its recoverable amount. A cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.  Impairment losses are recognized in profit and loss for the period.

 

An impairment loss, other than goodwill impairment, is reversed if there is an indication that there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortization, if no impairment loss had been recognized.

 

5.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

The following pronouncements issued by the IASB and interpretations published by IFRIC will become effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2015.

 

Effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2016

 

IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements was amended by the IASB in December 2014. The amendments are designed to further encourage companies to apply professional judgement in determining what information to disclose in their financial statements. For example, the amendments make clear that materiality applies to the whole of financial statements and that the inclusion of immaterial information can inhibit the usefulness of financial disclosures. Furthermore, the amendments clarify that companies should use professional judgement in determining where and in what order information is presented in the financial disclosures. Earlier application is permitted.

 

Effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2017

 

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers was issued by the IASB in May 2014. The core principle of the new standard is for companies to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration (that is, payment) to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard will also result in enhanced disclosures about revenue, provide guidance for transactions that were not previously addressed comprehensively (for example, service revenue and contract modifications) and improve guidance for multiple-element arrangements. Earlier application is permitted. IFRS 15 supersedes the following standards: IAS 11 Construction Contracts, IAS 18 Revenue, IFRIC 13 Customer Loyalty Programmes, IFRIC 15 Agreements for the Construction of Real Estate, IFRIC 18 Transfers of Assets from Customers, and SIC-31 Revenue—Barter Transactions Involving Advertising Services.

 

 
14

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


   

5.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS (Cont’d)

 

Effective for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018

 

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments was issued by the IASB in July 2014 and will replace IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. IFRS 9 uses a single approach to determine whether a financial asset is measured at amortized cost or fair value, replacing the multiple rules in IAS 39. The approach in IFRS 9 is based on how an entity manages its financial instruments in the context of its business model and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial assets. Most of the requirements in IAS 39 for classification and measurement of financial liabilities were carried forward unchanged to IFRS 9. The new standard also requires a single impairment method to be used, replacing the multiple impairment methods in IAS 39. A new hedge accounting model is introduced and represents a substantial overhaul of hedge accounting which will allow entities to better reflect their risk management activities in the financial statements. The most significant improvements apply to those that hedge non-financial risk, and so these improvements are expected to be of particular interest to non-financial institutions. Earlier application is permitted.

 

The Company has not yet completed its evaluations of the effect of adopting the above standards and the impact it may have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

6.         ACCOUNTS AND GRANTS RECEIVABLE

 

   

December 31, 2014

   

December 31, 2013

 

Trade receivable

  $ 831,137     $ 839,336  

Government grants receivable (Note 14)

    18,207       164,104  
    $ 849,344     $ 1,003,440  

 

As at December 31, 2014, the Company had accounts receivable of $43,209 (2013 - $13,014) greater than 30 days overdue and not impaired.

 

7.         PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

 

Cost, January 1, 2013

  $ 212,329  

Additions

    -  

Effect of foreign exchange

    3,270  

Cost, December 31, 2013

  $ 215,599  

Additions

    9,536  

Disposal

    (41,551 )

Effect of foreign exchange

    (9,905 )

Cost, December 31, 2014

  $ 173,679  
         

Accumulated depreciation, January 1, 2013

  $ 173,973  

Charge for the year

    7,624  

Effect of foreign exchange

    2,076  

Accumulated depreciation, December 31, 2013

  $ 183,673  

Charge for the year

    7,386  

Disposal

    (33,778 )

Effect of foreign exchange

    (8,408 )

Accumulated depreciation, December 31, 2014

  $ 148,873  
         

Net book value, December 31, 2013

  $ 31,926  

Net book value, December 31, 2014

  $ 24,806  

 

 
15

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


   

8.         INTANGIBLES

 

   

Software and Web Development

   

Content

Platform

   

Total

 

Cost, January 1, 2013

  $ 6,792,163     $ 1,477,112     $ 8,269,275  

Additions

    431,711       -       431,711  

Effect of foreign exchange

    1,191       -       1,191  

Cost, December 31, 2013

    7,225,065       1,477,112       8,702,177  

Additions

    544,635       -       544,635  

Effect of foreign exchange

    11,911       -       11,911  

Cost, December 31, 2014

  $ 7,781,611     $ 1,477,112     $ 9,258,723  

 

   

Software and Web Development

   

Content

Platform

   

Total

 

Accumulated amortization, January 1, 2013

  $ 6,626,596     $ 766,446       7,393,042  

Charge for the year

    135,627       295,422       431,049  

Effect of foreign exchange

    1,191       -       1,191  

Accumulated amortization, December 31, 2013

    6,763,414       1,061,868       7,825,282  

Charge for the year

    287,435       295,422       582,857  

Effect of foreign exchange

    2,986       -       2,986  

Accumulated amortization December 31, 2014

  $ 7,053,835     $ 1,357,290     $ 8,411,125  
                         

Net book value, December 31, 2013

  $ 461,651     $ 415,244     $ 876,895  

Net book value, December 31, 2014

  $ 727,776     $ 119,822     $ 847,598  

 

The Company began commercial production and sale of its services and products during 2009. In 2014, the Company focused on the redesign and upgrade of its ELL Technologies’ suite of products and invested $544,635. The ELL Technologies’ suite of products includes five different products, each designed to suit the needs of different demographic groups. Although the full suite of product is not yet complete, the Company has started the commercial production and sale of three of these products.

 

 9.         LOANS PAYABLE

 

   

December 31, 2014

   

December 31, 2013

 

Loans payable, interest bearing at 9% per annum with monthly interest payments, secured by a general security agreement and due on September 8, 2015(i)(ii)

  $ 880,000     $ 880,000  

Unamortized transaction costs

    (41,167 )     (60,455 )
    $ 838,833     $ 819,545  

 

 
 16

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


 

9.      LOANS PAYABLE (Cont’d)

 

 

(i)

On August 27, 2014, the Company extended the term of the loan originally advanced on September 8, 2010, and extended for a further one-year term on September 8, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. As additional consideration for the extension of the loan, the Company issued to the lenders an aggregate of 600,000 (2013 - 880,000) common shares of Lingo Media. The common shares were issued based on 6.8 percent of the value of the loan (2013 – 10 percent), divided by the market value per common share on the date of issuance.

 

 

(ii)

Included in loans payable are loans amounting to $480,000 (2013 – $480,000) to related parties as disclosed in Note 21.

 

10.       SHARE CAPITAL

 

a)          Authorized

 

Unlimited number of preference shares with no par value

Unlimited number of common shares with no par value

 

b)         Common shares - Transactions:

(ii)        (i)     On March 4, 2011, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement financing of 2,500,000 units (each a "Unit") at $0.60 per Unit and an over-allotment of 1,158,668 Units for gross proceeds of $2,195,200 (the "Financing"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share (each a "Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.75 per share until September 4, 2012. The Warrants are callable, at the option of Lingo Media, after July 5, 2011 in the event its Common Shares trade at or over $1.20 per share for 10 consecutive trading days.

 

On August 23, 2012, the expiry date of the Warrants was extended for additional 18 months to March 4, 2014 with all other conditions remaining the same. On February 21, 2014, the expiry date of the warrants was extended for an additional 2 years to March 4, 2016 with all other terms remaining consistent.

 

 

(iii)

On May 11, 2011, Lingo Media closed a non-brokered private placement financing of 1,875,000 units at $0.60 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1,125,000 (the "Second Financing"). Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.75 per share until November 11, 2012. The Warrants are callable, at the option of Lingo Media, after September 11, 2011 in the event its Common Shares trade at or over $1.20 per share for 10 consecutive trading days.

 

On August 23, 2012, the expiry date of the Warrants from the Second Financing was extended for an additional 18 months to May 11, 2014 with all other conditions remaining the same. Additionally, on February 21, 2014, the warrants were extended for an additional 2 years to May 11, 2016 with all other terms remaining consistent.

 

 

(iv)

On September 8, 2013, the Company extended the term of the $880,000 loan to September 8, 2014, originally advanced on September 8, 2010, and previously extended for a further one-year term on September 8, 2011 and 2012. As additional consideration for the extension of the loan, the Company respectively issued to the lenders an aggregate of 880,000 common shares of Lingo Media. The common shares were issued based on 10 per cent of the value of the loan, divided by a market price of $0.10 per common share. In the absence of a reliable measure of the services received, the services have been measured at the fair value of the common shares issued.

 

 
17

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


     

10. SHARE CAPITAL (Cont’d)

 

 

b)

Common shares - Transactions: (Cont’d)

 

 

(v)

On August 27, 2014, the Company extended the term of the $880,000 loan to September 8, 2015, originally advanced on September 8, 2010, and previously extended for a further one-year term on September 8, 2011, 2012 and 2013. As additional consideration for the extension of the loan, the Company issued to the lenders an aggregate of 600,000 common shares of Lingo Media. The common shares were valued at market price of $0.10 per share. In the absence of a reliable measure of the services received, the services have been measured at the fair value of the common shares issued.

 

11.       SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

 

In December 2011, the Company amended its stock option plan (the “2011 Plan“). The 2011 Plan was established to provide an incentive to management (officers), employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries. The maximum number of shares which may be reserved for issuance under the 2011 Plan is limited to 4,108,635 common shares less the number of shares reserved for issuance pursuant to options granted under the 1996 Plan, the 2000 Plan, the 2005 Plan and the 2009 Plan, provided that the Board of Directors of the Company has the right, from time to time, to increase such number subject to the approval of the relevant exchange on which the shares are listed and the approval of the shareholders of the Company.

 

The maximum number of common shares that may be reserved for issuance to any one person under the 2011 Plan is 5% of the common shares outstanding at the time of the grant (calculated on a non-diluted basis) less the number of shares reserved for issuance to such person under any option to purchase common shares of the Company granted as a compensation or incentive mechanism.

 

The exercise price of each option cannot be less than the market price of the shares on the day immediately preceding the day of the grant less any permitted discount. The exercise period of the options granted cannot exceed 10 years. Options granted under the 2011 Plan do not have any required vesting provisions. However, the Board of Directors of the Company may, from time to time, amend or revise the terms of the 2011 Plan or may terminate it at any time. The following summarizes the options outstanding:

 

   

Number of Options

   

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

 

Outstanding as at January 1, 2012

    2,035,070     $ 0.89  

Granted

    1,700,000       0.24  

Expired

    (227,570 )     0.72  

Forfeited

    (437,000 )     1.04  

Outstanding as at January 1, 2013

    3,070,500     $ 0.52  

Granted

    25,000       0.20  

Forfeited

    (105,000 )     0.66  

Expired

    (207,250 )     0.86  

Outstanding as at January 1, 2014

    2,783,250       0.48  

Granted

    1,590,000       0.14  

Forfeited

    (5,000 )     0.66  

Expired

    (600,750 )     0.37  

Outstanding as at December 31, 2014

    3,767,500       0.35  

 

 
18

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


     

11.       SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS (Cont’d)

 

Options exercisable as at December 31, 2012

1,934,534

$0.66

Options exercisable as at December 31, 2013

2,033,004

$0.55

Options exercisable as at December 31, 2014

2,461,166

$0.45

 

The weighted average remaining contractual life for the stock options outstanding as at December 31, 2014 was 2.07 years (2013 – 2.13 years, 2012 – 2.62 years). The range of exercise prices for the stock options outstanding as at December 31, 2014 was $0.13 - $1.70 (2013 - $0.20 - $1.75, 2012 - $0.24 - $2.00). The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted to management, employees, directors and consultants during 2014 has been estimated at $0.07 (2013 - $0.20, 2012 - $0.24) using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The estimated fair value of the options granted is expensed over the options vesting periods.

 

The vesting periods on the options granted in 2014 are as follows, 435,000 (2013 – nil, 2012 – 550,000) stock options vested immediately upon issuance, 445,000 (2013 - 25,000, 2012 – 750,000) stock options will vest quarterly over 18 months, 410,000 stock options will vest quarterly over 12 months, and 300,000 (2013 – nil, 2012 – 400,000) stock options will vest upon achievements of certain milestones.

 

The pricing model assumes the weighted average risk free interest rates of 1.21% (2013 – 0.98%, 2012 – 1.37%) weighted average expected dividend yields of nil (2013 – nil, 2012 - nil), the weighted average expected common stock price volatility (based on historical trading) of 79% (2013 – 93.57%, 2012 – 82.64%), a forfeiture rate of zero, a weighted average stock price of $0.14 (2013 - $0.19, 2012 – $0.22), a weighted average exercise price of $0.14 (2013 - $0.20, 2012 - $0.24), and a weighted average expected life of 3 years (2013 – 2 years, 2012 – 4.73 years), which were estimated based on past experience with options and option contract specifics.

 

12.       Warrants 

 

The following summarizes the warrants outstanding:

 

 

Weighted Average Remaining

Contractual Life (Years)

 

Series

Number of

Warrants

Weighted Average

Exercise Price

Extended

1.17

 

A

3,658,668

$ 0.75

Extended

1.36

 

B

1,875,000

0.75

December 31, 2012

     

5,533,668

0.75

December 31, 2013

     

5,533,668

0.75

December 31, 2014

     

5,533,668

$ 0.75

 

The 3,658,668 warrants issued on March 4, 2011 and the 1,875,000 warrants issued on May 11, 2011 had an expiry date of March 4, 2014 and May 11, 2014 respectively. On February 14, 2014, the warrants were extended to March 4, 2016 and May 11, 2016 respectively.

 

 
19

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


     

13.        INCOME TAXES

 

The provision for income taxes reflects an effective income tax rate, which differs from the Canadian corporate income tax rate as follows:

 

   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Combined basic Canadian federal and provincial income tax rate

    26.50 %     26.50 %     26.50 %

Effective income tax recovery on loss from continuing operations before income taxes

  $ 109,480     $ 40,438       (302,243 )

Increase (decrease) resulting from change in the deferred tax assets not recognized

    99,353       283,976       2,244,155  

Withholding tax on sales to China

    260,630       233,799       208,040  

Non-deductible items

    23,013       19,416       66,027  

Change in prior year estimates

    (223,357 )     (335,963 )     (1,993,992 )
    $ 269,119     $ 241,666       221,987  

 

The tax effect of temporary differences representing deferred tax assets is as follows:

 

   

2014

   

2013

 

Deferred tax assets:

               

Operating loss carry forwards

  $ 5,524,000     $ 5,425,000  

Share issue costs

    9,000       18,000  
    $ 5,533,000     $ 5,443,000  

Deferred tax assets not recognized

    (5,274,000 )     (5,175,000 )

Deferred tax assets recognized

    259,000       268,000  

Software and web development costs

    (262,000 )     (269,000 )

Property and equipment

    3,000       1,000  

Net deferred tax assets

  $ -     $ -  

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities will be impacted by changes in tax laws and rates. The effects of these changes are not currently determinable. In assessing whether the deferred tax assets are realizable, management considers whether it is probable that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of taxable income during the years in which those temporary differences become deductible.

 

Management considers projected taxable income, uncertainties related to the industry in which the Company operates and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. The Company has not recognized any benefit for these losses.

 

 
20

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


      

13.       INCOME TAXES (Cont’d)

 

At December 31, 2014, the Company has non-capital losses available for carry forward for Canadian income tax purposes amounting to $20,177,006 (2013 - $20,472,135). These losses expire in the following fiscal years:

 

2015     674,805  

2026

    1,189,664  

2027

    1,067,640  

2028

    2,162,781  

2029

    2,991,207  

2030

    4,395,814  

2031

    5,184,479  

2032

    1,663,076  

2033

    795,911  

2034 

    51,629  
    $ 20,177,006  

 

14.      GOVERNMENT GRANTS

 

Included as a reduction of selling, general and administrative expenses are government grants of $241,465 (2013 - $271,647, 2012 - $128,560), relating to the Company's publishing and software projects. At the end of the year, $18,207 (2013 - $164,104, 2012 - $17,736) is included in accounts and grants receivable.

 

During 2008, the Company was audited by a government agency and was assessed with a repayment amount of $115,075 related to a publishing grant. In 2010, the Company was reassessed with a reduction to the repayment reassessment to $100,000 which was recorded in accrued liabilities and this audit finding was appealed by the Company. In 2013, the appeal was approved and the liability was re-assessed and reduced to $16,263, which was paid and the difference of $87,737 was recorded as grant revenue during 2013.

 

One government grant for the print-based English language learning segment is repayable in the event that the segment’s annual net income for each of the previous two years exceeds 15% of revenue. During the year, the conditions for the repayment of grants did not arise and no liability was recorded.

 

One grant, relating to the Company’s “Development of Comprehensive, Interactive Phonetic English Learning Solution” project, is repayable semi-annually at a royalty rate of 2.5% per year’s gross sales derived from this project until 100% of the grant is repaid. No royalty was paid in 2014, 2013 or 2012 as no sales were generated from this project.

 

15.       FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

15.1     Fair values

 

The carrying value of cash and accounts and grants receivable, approximates its fair value due to the liquidity of these instruments. The carrying value of accounts payables and accrued liabilities and loans payables approximates its fair value due to the requirement to extinguish the liabilities on demand or payable within a year.

 

15.2     Financial risk management objectives and policies

 

The financial risk arising from the Company’s operations are currency risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. These risks arise from the normal course of operations and all transactions undertaken are to support the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. The risks associated with these financial instruments and the policies on how to mitigate these risks are as follows:

 

 
21

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


        

15.      FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Cont’d)

 

15.3    Foreign currency risk

 

Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. The Company’s exposure to the risk of changes in foreign exchange rates relates primarily to the Company’s operating activities (when revenue or expense is denominated in a different currency from the Company’s functional currency) and the Company’s net investments in foreign subsidiaries. The Company operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk as certain expenditures are denominated in non-Canadian Dollar currencies.

 

A 10% strengthening of the US Dollars against Canadian Dollars would have increased the net equity by $90,365 (2013 - $76,850) due to reduction in the value of net liability balance. A 10% of weakening of the US Dollar against Canadian Dollar at December 31, 2014 would have had the equal but opposite effect. The significant financial instruments of the Company, their carrying values and the exposure to other denominated monetary assets and liabilities, as of December 31, 2014 are as follows:

 

 

US Denominated

China Denominated

Euro Denominated

 

USD

RMB

Euro

Cash

-

18,412

11,091

Accounts receivable

681,916

-

16,691

Accounts payable

45,926

-

-

 

The carrying values and the exposure to other denominated monetary assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2013 are as follows:

 

 

US Denominated

China Denominated

 
 

USD

RMB

 

Cash

43,422

8,978

 

Accounts receivable

788,497

3,935

 

Accounts payable

68,785

-

 

 

15.4     Liquidity Risk

 

The Company manages its liquidity risk by preparing and monitoring forecasts of cash expenditures to ensure that it will have sufficient liquidity to meet liabilities when due. The Company’s accounts payable and accrued liabilities generally have maturities of less than 90 days. At December 31, 2014, the Company had cash of $477,001 (2013 - $78,091), accounts and grants receivable of $849,344 (2013 - $1,003,440) and prepaid and other receivables of $85,071 (2013 - $84,620) to settle current liabilities of $1,679,482 (2013 - $1,703,703).

 

15.5    Credit Risk

 

Credit risk refers to the risk that one party to a financial instrument will cause a financial loss for the counterparty by failing to discharge an obligation. The Company is primarily exposed to credit risk through accounts receivable. The maximum credit risk exposure is limited to the reported amounts of these financial assets. Credit risk is managed by ongoing review of the amount and aging of accounts receivable balances. As at December 31, 2014, the Company has outstanding receivables of $849,344 (2013- $1,003,440). An allowance for doubtful accounts is taken on accounts receivable if the account has not been collected after a predetermined period of time and is offset to other operating expenses. The Company deposits its cash with high credit quality financial institutions, with the majority deposited within Canadian Tier 1 Banks.

 

 
22

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


        

16.       MAJOR CUSTOMER

 

The Company has sales to a major customer in 2014 and 2013, a government agency of the People’s Republic of China. The total percentage of sales to this customer during the year was 65% (2013 – 75%, 2012 – 66%) and the total percentage of accounts receivable at December 31, 2014 was 84% (2013 – 68%, 2012 – 87%).

 

17.       CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

 

The Company’s primary objectives when managing capital are to (a) safeguard the Company’s ability to develop, market, distribute and sell English language learning products, and (b) provide a sound capital structure for raising capital at a reasonable cost for the funding of ongoing development of its products and new growth initiatives. The Board of Directors does not establish quantitative capital criteria for management, but rather relies on the expertise of the Company’s management to sustain future development of the business.

 

The Company includes equity, comprised of issued share capital, warrants, share-based payments reserve and deficit, in the definition of capital. The Company is dependent on cash flow from co-publishing and licensing agreements and external financing to fund its activities. In order to carry out planned development of its products and pay for administrative costs, the Company will spend its existing working capital and raise additional amounts as needed. Management reviews its capital management approach on an ongoing basis and believes that this approach, given the relative size of the Company, is reasonable. There has been no change to the Company’s capital management in 2014 or 2013.

 

18.      SEGMENTED INFORMATION

 

The Company operates two distinct reportable business segments as follows:

 

Print-based English Language Learning: Lingo Learning is a print-based publisher of English school programs in China.

 

Online English Language Learning: ELL Technologies is a globally-established English language learning multi-media and online training company. Parlo is a fee-based online English language training and assessment service. Speak2Me is a free-to-customer advertising-based online English learning service in China.

 

2014

 

Online English Language Learning

   

Print-Based English Language Learning

   

Total

 

Segmented assets

  $ 1,407,525     $ 1,015,913     $ 2,423,438  

Segmented liabilities

    623,349       1,056,134       1,679,483  

Segmented revenue

    831,650       1,680,814       2,512,464  

Segmented direct costs

    286,945       95,649       382,594  

Segmented selling, general & administrative

    307,361       642,868       950,229  

Segmented intangible amortization

    582,857       -       582,857  

Segmented other expense

    3,652       272,853       276,505  

Segmented income (loss)

    (349,165 )     669,444       320,279  

Segmented intangible addition

    544,635       -       544,635  

 

 
23

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


         

18.      SEGMENTED INFORMATION (Cont’d)

 

2013

 

Online English Language Learning

   

Print-Based English Language Learning

   

Total

 

Segmented assets

  $ 1,215,023     $ 999,567     $ 2,214,590  

Segmented liabilities

    496,975       1,206,728       1,703,703  

Segmented revenue

    466,869       1,541,197       2,008,066  

Segmented direct costs

    153,200       42,124       195,324  

Segmented selling, general & administrative

    295,893       645,569       941,462  

Segmented intangible amortization

    431,049       -       431,049  

Segmented other expense

    6,171       243,119       249,290  

Segmented income (loss)

    (419,444 )     610,385       190,941  

Segmented intangible addition

    431,711       -       431,711  

 

2012

 

Online English Language Learning

   

Print-Based English Language Learning

   

Total

 

Segmented assets

  $ 1,269,953     $ 1,390,695     $ 2,660,648  

Segmented liabilities

    814,887       1,428,469       2,243,356  

Segmented revenue

    680,321       1,335,940       2,016,261  

Segmented direct costs

    261,341       11,714       273,055  

Segmented selling, general & administrative

    1,014,346       1,106,890       2,121,236  

Segmented intangible amortization

    365,752       -       365,752  

Segmented other expense

    8,415       223,411       231,826  

Segmented income (loss)

    (969,533 )     (6,075 )     (975,608 )

Segmented intangible addition

    143,215       -       143,215  

 

Other Financial Items

 

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Print-Based English Language Learning segment income (loss)

  $ 669,444     $ 610,385     $ (6,075 )

Online English Language Learning segment income (loss)

    (349,165 )     (419,444 )     (969,533 )

Foreign exchange gain

    106,437       134,444       25,046  

Interest and other financial

    (217,040 )     (240,516 )     (168,769 )

Share-based payments

    (65,663 )     (61,926 )     (243,195 )

Other comprehensive income

    (36,607 )     (79,274 )     (2,211 )

Total Comprehensive Income /(Loss)

  $ 107,406     $ (56,331 )   $ (1,364,737 )

 

Revenue by Geographic Region

 

   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

China

  $ 1,822,660     $ 1,543,753     $ 1,366,415  

Other

    689,804       464,313       649,846  
    $ 2,512,464     $ 2,008,066     $ 2,016,261  

 

 
24

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


           

18.       SEGMENTED INFORMATION (Cont’d)

 

Identifiable Assets by Geographic Region

 

   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Canada

  $ 2,410,202     $ 1,919,176     $ 2,510,182  

China

    13,236       295,414       150,466  
    $ 2,423,438     $ 2,214,590     $ 2,660,648  

 

Transactions between operating segments are recorded at the exchange amount and eliminated upon consolidation.

 

19.       COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCY

 

The Company has future minimum lease payments under operating leases for premises and equipment as follows:

 

2015

$ 192,804

2016

     35,990

2017

-

 

The rent expense associated with operating lease for premise and equipment is recognized on a straight-line basis.

 

As a result of the acquisition of ELL Technologies, the Company will owe royalties of 3-9% (Year 2) and 2-8% (Year 3) of ELL Technologies revenues based upon a number of gross revenue targets. Royalty amounts will be due on a quarterly basis. As of December 31, 2014, royalties in the amount of $117,314 have been expensed.

 

20.      SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

   

2014

   

2013

   

2012

 

Income taxes and other taxes paid

  $ 269,119     $ 191,579     $ 147,707  

Interest paid

  $ 85,876     $ 151,585     $ 93,648  

 

Non-cash transactions:

 

 

(a)

In 2014, 600,000 (2013 – 880, 000) shares of the Company, valued at $60,000 (2013 - $88,000), were issued to lenders as a bonus for the loan extension.

 

21.       RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS

 

During the year, the Company had the following transactions with related parties, made in the normal course of operations, and accounted for at an amount of consideration established and agreed to by the Company and related parties.

 

 

(a)

Key management compensation was $361,405 (2013 – $228,800, 2012 - $312,000) and is reflected as consulting fees paid to corporations owned by a director and officers of the Company, of which, $385,566 (2013 -$340,944, 2012 - $277,092) is unpaid and included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Options granted to key management during the year are valued at $36,050 (2013 - $Nil, 2012 - $84,055).

 

 

(b)

At the year end, the Company had loans payable bearing interest at 9% per annum due to corporations controlled by directors and officers of the Company in the amount of $480,000 (2013 - $480,000, 2012 - $435,000). Interest expense related to these loans is $43,200 (2013 - $48,731, 2012 - $45,271).

 

 
25

 

 

LINGO MEDIA CORPORATION

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012

(Expressed in Canadian Dollars, unless otherwise stated)


            

21.        RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS (Cont’d)

 

 

(c)

Common shares issued to lenders for the extension of the $880,000 (2013 - $880,000) loan include 327,273 common shares (2013 – 480,000, 2012 – 174,000) issued at $0.10 per share (2013 - $0.10, 2012 - $0.25) to lenders’ corporations controlled by directors and an officer.

 

22.

SUBSEQUENT EVENT

 

On April 17, 2015, the Company closed a non-brokered private placement financing of 5,000,000 units at $0.10 per unit for gross proceeds of $500,000. Each Unit is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company and one common share purchase warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.125 per share until April 17, 2016. No finders’ fee was paid. One director participated in the private placement financing.

 

 

26



Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 



Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 



Exhibit 4.3

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT 12.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

I, Michael Kraft, certify that:

 

1.      I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Lingo Media Corporation;

 

2.      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.      Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.      The company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.      The company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: May 15, 2015

 

 

 

/s/ Michael Kraft


Michael Kraft, President/CEO



 

EXHIBIT 12.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

I, Khurram Qureshi, certify that:

 

1.      I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Lingo Media Corporation;

 

2.      Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.      Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.      The company’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the company and have:

 

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the company’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.      The company’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the company’s auditors and the audit committee of the company’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: May 15, 2015

 

 

 

s/ Khurram Qureshi


Khurram Qureshi, CFO & Treasurer

 



 

EXHIBIT 13.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

The certification set forth below is being submitted in connection with the Annual Report of Lingo Media Corporation. on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 (the “Report”) pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) for the purpose of complying with Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) of the Exchange Act and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

 

Michael Kraft, President OF Lingo Media Corporation, and Khurram Qureishi, Chief Financial OffIcer of Lingo Media Corporation, each certifies that, to the best of his knowledge:

 

 

(1)

the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and

 

 

(2)

the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Hitachi, Ltd.

 

         

Date:    May 15, 2015

 

By:

 

/s/ Michael Kraft

 

 

 

 

Name:         Michael Kraft

 

 

 

 

Title:           President and CEO

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Khurram Qureshi

 

 

Name:         Khurram Qureshi

 

 

Title:           Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

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