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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
 
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
   
 
For the quarter ended March 31, 2005
   
 
OR
   
q
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
   
 
For the transition period from _______ to _____
Commission file number 0-27887
 
 
 
 
 
COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
33-0846191
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or organization)
 
 
1921 E. Alton Avenue, Santa Ana, California 92705
(address of principal executive offices and zip code)
 
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (949) 567-1234


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   ü  No ___

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ___ No  ü .

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 
Class
Outstanding at April, 22, 2005
 
Common Stock $.001 Par Value
8,601,112
 
       









COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.
QUARTERLY REPORT
ON FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
Financial Information
Page
 
Item 1.
 
   
1
       
   
2
       
   
3
       
   
4
       
 
Item 2.
11
   
11
   
11
   
12
   
14
   
15
   
18
   
20
       
 
Item 3.
21
       
 
Item 4.
21
       
PART II
Other Information
 
 
Item 6.
22
     
 
S-1
     
E-1
     
EXHIBITS
   
     
Exhibit 31.1
Certifications of Chief Executive Officer Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
     
Exhibit 31.2
Certifications of Chief Financial Officer Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
     
Exhibit 32.1
Chief Executive Officer Certification of Periodic Report Under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
     
Exhibit 32.2
Chief Financial Officer Certification of Periodic Report Under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 




i



PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)

   
 
March 31,
 
 
June 30,
 
   
2005
(unaudited)
 
2004
 
 
ASSETS
         
Current assets:
             
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
63,632
 
$
21,454
 
Short-term investments
   
2,294
   
-
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $62 (March) and $30 (June)
   
918
   
790
 
Note receivable
   
242
   
-
 
Inventories, net
   
399
   
452
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
789
   
781
 
Refundable income taxes
   
-
   
13
 
Deferred income taxes
   
1,174
   
1,174
 
Receivables from sale of net assets of discontinued operations
   
68
   
1,611
 
Current assets of discontinued operations held for sale
   
415
   
1,267
 
Total current assets
   
69,931
   
27,542
 
Property and equipment, net
   
876
   
1,045
 
Deferred income taxes
   
3,256
   
5,205
 
Intangible and other assets
   
275
   
165
 
Non-current assets of discontinued operations held for sale
   
65
   
117
 
   
$
74,403
 
$
34,074
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
Current liabilities:
             
Accounts payable
 
$
823
 
$
455
 
Accrued liabilities
   
1,655
   
1,351
 
Accrued compensation and benefits
   
807
   
936
 
Deferred revenue
   
1,248
   
1,225
 
Current liabilities of discontinued operations held for sale
   
54
   
276
 
Total current liabilities
   
4,587
   
4,243
 
Deferred rent and other long-term liabilities
   
537
   
465
 
Commitment and contingencies
             
Stockholders' equity:
             
Preferred stock, $.001 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding
   
-
   
-
 
Common stock, $.001 par value; 45,000 shares authorized; issued 8,601 at March 31, 2005 and 6,338 at June 30, 2004
   
9
   
6
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
78,493
   
42,215
 
Accumulated deficit
   
(8,202
)
 
(11,834
)
Treasury stock, at cost (125 shares)
   
(1,021
)
 
(1,021
)
Total stockholders' equity
   
69,279
   
29,366
 
   
$
74,403
 
$
34,074
 
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
1


COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)



   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Net revenues
 
$
8,955
 
$
6,896
 
$
25,132
 
$
18,661
 
Cost of revenues
   
3,263
   
2,597
   
9,087
   
7,495
 
Gross profit
   
5,692
   
4,299
   
16,045
   
11,166
 
Selling and marketing expenses
   
876
   
788
   
2,581
   
2,316
 
General and administrative expenses
   
2,588
   
2,135
   
7,167
   
6,298
 
Settlement of lawsuit
   
-
   
-
   
500
   
-
 
Total operating expenses
   
3,464
   
2,923
   
10,248
   
8,614
 
Operating income
   
2,228
   
1,376
   
5,797
   
2,552
 
Interest income, net
   
245
   
11
   
419
   
25
 
Other expenses
   
(20
)
 
(4
)
 
(18
)
 
(23
)
Income before income taxes
   
2,453
   
1,383
   
6,198
   
2,554
 
Provision for income taxes
   
981
   
592
   
2,487
   
1,075
 
Income from continuing operations
   
1,472
   
791
   
3,711
   
1,479
 
(Loss) income from operations of discontinued operations, net of  gains on
    sales of discontinued businesses (net of income taxes)
   
(3
)
 
201
   
(79
)
 
(534
)
Net income
 
$
1,469
 
$
992
 
$
3,632
 
$
945
 
                           
Net income per basic share:
                         
Income from continuing operations
 
$
0.21
 
$
0.13
 
$
0.57
 
$
0.24
 
    (Loss) income from operations of discontinued operations, net of gains
    on sales of discontinued businesses (net of income taxes)
   
-
   
0.03
   
(0.01
)
 
(0.09
)
Net income
 
$
0.21
 
$
0.16
 
$
0.56
 
$
0.15
 
                           
Net income per diluted share:
                         
Income from continuing operations
 
$
0.19
 
$
0.13
 
$
0.53
 
$
0.23
 
    (Loss) income from operations of discontinued operations, net of gains
    on sales of discontinued businesses (net of income taxes)
   
-
   
0.03
   
(0.01
)
 
(0.08
)
Net income
 
$
0.19
 
$
0.16
 
$
0.52
 
$
0.15
 
                           
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                         
Basic
   
7,113
   
6,135
   
6,523
   
6,160
 
Diluted
   
7,571
   
6,319
   
6,968
   
6,306
 


See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements


 
2


COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
   
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
         
Income from continuing operations
 
$
3,711
 
$
1,479
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
             
Depreciation and amortization
   
355
   
500
 
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
   
-
   
31
 
Provision for doubtful accounts
   
18
   
25
 
Provisions for inventory write down
   
-
   
38
 
Stock-based compensation
   
27
   
-
 
Provision for deferred income taxes
   
2,264
   
-
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
             
Short-term investments
   
(2,294
)
 
-
 
Accounts receivable
   
(146
)
 
(246
)
Inventories
   
53
   
(261
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
(8
)
 
(125
)
Income taxes receivable/payable
   
13
   
1,931
 
Other assets
   
(18
)
 
87
 
Accounts payable
   
213
   
(330
)
Accrued liabilities
   
205
   
(203
)
Accrued compensation and benefits
   
(129
)
 
277
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
72
   
50
 
Deferred revenue
   
23
   
440
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
4,359
   
3,693
 
               
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
             
Capital expenditures
   
(178
)
 
(456
)
Collection of receivables from sales of discontinued operations
   
1,543
   
-
 
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
   
-
   
70
 
Advances on notes receivable
   
(2,575
)
 
-
 
Proceeds from collection of notes receivable
   
2,333
   
-
 
Purchase of intangible assets
   
(100
)
 
-
 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
1,023
   
(386
)
               
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
             
Proceeds from sale of common stock, net
   
35,897
   
-
 
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan
   
34
   
21
 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
   
262
   
748
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
   
36,193
   
769
 
Net cash provided by discontinued operations
   
603
   
7,181
 
               
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
   
42,178
   
11,257
 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
21,454
   
4,482
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
63,632
 
$
15,739
 
               
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
             
Interest paid
 
$
3
 
$
-
 
Income taxes paid
 
$
156
 
$
14
 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INFORMATION:

During the nine months ended March 31, 2005, the Company recorded a tax benefit from the exercise of stock options of $315,000, which is included as an increase to Deferred Income Taxes and an increase to Additional Paid-In Capital.



 
3



COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1.    SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Principles of Consolidation
 
The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Collectors Universe, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.
 
Unaudited Interim Financial Information
 
The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for interim financial reporting. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments and accruals) necessary to present fairly the condensed consolidated balance sheets, consolidated results of operations, and consolidated cash flows for the periods presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Operating results for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending June 30, 2005 or for any other interim period during such year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, as amended by its Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on January 19, 2005.
 
Reclassifications
 
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation, including the reclassification from general and administrative expenses to cost of revenues of occupancy, security and insurance costs which directly relate to providing authentication and grading services.
 
Revenue Recognition
 
Net revenues consist primarily of fees generated from the authentication and grading of coins, sportscards, autographs and stamps. Authentication and grading revenues are recognized when those services have been performed by us and the item is shipped back to the customer. Authentication and grading fees generally are prepaid, although we offer open account privileges to larger dealers. Advance payments received for grading services are deferred until the service is performed and the graded item is shipped to the customer. In the case of dealers to whom we have extended credit, we record revenues at the time the item is shipped to the customer.
 
Use of Estimates
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to these condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123R, Share-Based Payment. SFAS No. 123R will eliminate the ability to account for share-based compensation transactions using Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and instead will require that such transactions be accounted for using a fair-value-based method with compensation costs related
 
4

 
to share-based payments to be recognized in the financial statements. SFAS No. 123R also requires the tax benefit associated with these share-based payments to be classified as financing activities in the statement of cash flows rather than operating activities as currently required. SFAS No. 123R is effective as of the first annual period beginning after June 15, 2005. As a result, we will be required to adopt SFAS No. 123R effective as of July 1, 2005. SFAS No. 123R offers alternative methods of implementing this final rule. At the present time, we have not yet determined which alternative method we will use. Regardless of the method we choose to implement, SFAS No. 123R will result in increased compensation expenses in our reported consolidated results of operations.
 
                Concentrations
 
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, accounts receivable and notes receivables.
 
Financial Instruments and Cash Balances. Through September 30, 2004, the Company invested its excess cash in a large uninsured institutional money market fund. In September 2004, the Company adopted a policy to invest its excess cash in a portfolio of high quality U.S. dollar-denominated money market type or similar securities, and appointed a new portfolio manager. At March 31, 2005, the Company’s excess funds of approximately $63 million were primarily invested in high quality commercial paper and a money market fund. In addition, at March 31 2005, the Company had approximately $3 million in a non-interest bearing bank account for general day-to-day operations.
 
Accounts Receivable. A substantial portion of accounts receivable is due from collectibles dealers. The Company performs an analysis of the expected collectibility of accounts receivable based on several factors, including the age and extent of significant past due accounts and economic conditions or trends that may offset the ability of the debtor to pay their account receivable balances. Based on such review, the Company makes an allowance for doubtful accounts, when necessary. The allowance for doubtful accounts receivable was $62,000 and $30,000 at March 31, 2005 and June 30, 2004, respectively.
 
Customers. The authentication and grading of collectible coins accounted for approximately 70% and 66% of our net revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. In the nine months ended March 31, 2005, one of our coin segment customers accounted for approximately 10% of the Company’s net revenues.
 
Stock Option Plans
 
At March 31, 2005, the Company had three stock-based compensation plans. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and net income per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, to stock-based employee compensation:
 
   
(in thousands,
except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
(in thousands,
except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Net income, as reported
 
$
1,469
 
$
992
 
$
3,632
 
$
945
 
Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in  reported net income, net of related tax effects
   
16
   
-
   
16
   
-
 
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense
    determined under fair value based method for awards,
    net of related tax effects
   
(125
)
 
30
   
(273
)
 
(242
)
Pro forma net income
 
$
1,360
 
$
1,022
 
$
3,375
 
$
703
 
                           
Net income per common share - basic:
                         
As reported
 
$
0.21
 
$
0.16
 
$
0.56
 
$
0.15
 
Pro forma
 
$
0.19
 
$
0.17
 
$
0.52
 
$
0.11
 
Net income per common share - diluted:
                         
As reported
 
$
0.19
 
$
0.16
 
$
0.52
 
$
0.15
 
Pro forma
 
$
0.18
 
$
0.16
 
$
0.48
 
$
0.11
 

 

 
5


The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following weighted-average assumptions:
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Dividend yield
   
-
   
-
   
-
   
-
 
Expected volatility
   
75.00
%
 
-
   
74.31
%
 
80.00
%
Risk-free interest rate
   
3.66
%
 
-
   
2.92
%
 
1.23
%
Expected lives
   
2 years
   
-
   
2 years
   
10 months
 

2.    CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

At March 31, 2005, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments included approximately $57 million of trading securities primarily comprising high quality commercial paper issued by U.S. or foreign companies. The minimum credit quality of the portfolio must be rated no less than single-A long term or A1/P1 short term and the portfolio must contain no more than 25% exposure to securities of issuers whose principal business activities are in the same industry. In addition, the weighted average maturity of the portfolio must not exceed 90 days. Such trading securities are carried at market value in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2005. Unrealized gains on such trading securities were approximately $83,000 at March 31, 2005.

3.    NOTE RECEIVABLE
 
During the second and third quarters of fiscal 2005, the Company made cash advances to its largest customer, secured by certain collectible coins that the customer submitted to us for authentication and grading. In addition, at March 31, 2005, the Company had committed to make additional advances to this customer up to approximately $865,000. The highest amount of the advances outstanding at any one time, since the inception of this arrangement, totaled approximately $2,100,000 and the outstanding principal balance at March 31, 2005 was $242,000. Principal reduction payments are required at the time the Company returns the authenticated and graded coins to the customer. Current advances bear interest at a rate based on the Prime Rate and the outstanding borrowings, together with accrued, but unpaid interest, are required to be repaid by the customer by no later than June 30, 2005.
 
4.    INVENTORIES
 
Inventories consist of the following:
 
   
(in thousands)
 
   
March 31,
 
June 30,
 
   
2005
(unaudited)
 
2004
 
 
Coins
 
$
182
 
$
253
 
Other collectibles
   
58
   
58
 
Grading raw materials consumable inventory
   
167
   
194
 
     
407
   
505
 
Less inventory reserve
   
(8
)
 
(53
)
Inventories, net
 
$
399
 
$
452
 


 
6


5.    PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
Property and equipment consist of the following:
 
   
(in thousands)
 
   
March 31,
 
June 30,
 
   
2005
(unaudited)
 
2004
 
 
Grading reference sets
 
$
62
 
$
57
 
Computer hardware and equipment
   
1,034
   
997
 
Computer software
   
900
   
867
 
Equipment
   
1,356
   
1,283
 
Furniture and office equipment
   
677
   
659
 
Leasehold improvements
   
434
   
422
 
Trading card reference library
   
52
   
52
 
     
4,515
   
4,337
 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
   
(3,639
)
 
(3,292
)
Property and equipment, net
 
$
876
 
$
1,045
 

6.    ACCRUED LIABILITIES
 
 Accrued liabilities consist of the following:      
 
 
(in thousands)
 
   
March 31,
 
June 30,
 
   
2005
(unaudited)
 
2004
 
 
Warranty Costs
 
$
720
 
$
492
 
Professional fees
   
339
   
546
 
Other
   
596
   
313
 
   
$
1,655
 
$
1,351
 
 
                The following table presents the changes in the Company’s warranty reserves during the nine months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
 
   
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
   
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
Warranty reserve, beginning of period
 
$
492
 
$
304
 
Charged to cost of revenue
   
406
   
498
 
Payments
   
(178
)
 
(381
)
Warranty reserve, end of period
 
$
720
 
$
421
 

7.    DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
As previously disclosed, on December 4, 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized management to implement a plan to focus the Company’s financial and management resources, and collectibles expertise, on the operations and growth of its authentication and grading businesses and to divest the Company’s collectibles auctions and direct sales businesses.
 
Therefore, in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, the assets and related liabilities of those collectibles sales businesses, which were comprised of Bowers and Merena, Superior Sports Auctions, Kingswood Coin Auctions, Odyssey Publications, Lyn Knight Currency Auctions and DHRC, were classified as held for sale and the related operating results are classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2005 and June 30, 2004 and
 

 
7


condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004. The Company sold all of its collectibles auctions and direct sales businesses prior to the beginning of the quarter ended March 31, 2005, but elected to retain, and has been liquidating, the remaining inventories, accounts receivable and liabilities of those businesses.
 
The operating results of the discontinued collectible sales businesses included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations, are as follows:
 
   
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
 
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Nine Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
2005
 
March 31,
2004
 
March 31,
2005
 
March 31,
2004
 
Net revenues
 
$
73
 
$
4,789
 
$
343
 
$
23,540
 
Loss before income taxes
 
$
(2
)
$
(1,578
)
$
(294
)
$
(2,833
)
Gain (loss) on sale of  discontinued business
   
(2
)
 
1,872
   
162
   
1,872
 
     
(4
)
 
294
   
(132
)
 
(961
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
   
(1
)
 
93
   
(53
)
 
(427
)
Net income (loss) from  discontinued operations
 
$
(3
)
$
201
 
$
(79
)
$
(534
)
 
The (loss) and gain realized on the sales of the discontinued businesses in, respectively, the three-month and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2005 related to consideration that became determinable in those periods, partially offset by adjustments to severance obligations directly related to the disposition of certain of the discontinued businesses.
 
The following table contains summary balance sheet information with respect to the net assets and liabilities of the collectibles sales businesses held for sale that are included in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets:
 
   
(in thousands)
 
   
March 31,
2005
(unaudited)
 
June 30,
2004
 
 
Current assets:
             
Accounts receivable
 
$
-
 
$
379
 
Inventories
   
294
   
657
 
Consignment advances
   
30
   
45
 
Notes receivable
   
91
   
186
 
   
$
415
 
$
1,267
 
Non-current assets:
             
Notes receivable, net of current portion
 
$
65
 
$
117
 
   
$
65
 
$
117
 
Current liabilities:
             
Consignors payable
 
$
1
 
$
1
 
Other current liabilities
   
53
   
275
 
   
$
54
 
$
276
 

In connection with an accounts receivable balance that existed for one of the discontinued businesses and for which the Company had established a bad debt reserve for a substantial portion of such receivable in prior periods, the Company took ownership of certain customer-owned inventory in satisfaction of a part of its receivable balance. Such inventory is classified as inventory of discontinued businesses at March 31, 2005.



8


8.    INCOME TAXES
 
Income tax expense was provided for at a 40% rate for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005. This rate reflects the expected federal and state statutory rate of approximately 39%, adjusted for certain permanent tax differences. In the three and nine months ended March 31, 2004, income tax expense was provided for at approximately 43% and 42%, respectively, which rate reflected the expected federal and state statutory rate, adjusted for certain permanent differences in those periods.
 
9.    NET INCOME PER SHARE
 
   
(in thousands,
except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
(in thousands,
except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Income from continuing operations
 
$
1,472
 
$
791
 
$
3,711
 
$
1.479
 
Loss from discontinued operations, net of gains on sales of   discontinued businesses (net of income taxes)
   
(3
)
 
201
   
(79
)
 
(534
)
Net income
 
$
1,469
 
$
992
 
$
3,632
 
$
945
 
                           
Income (loss) per basic share:
                         
From continuing operations
 
$
0.21
 
$
0.13
 
$
0.57
 
$
0.24
 
From discontinued operations, net of gains
on sales of discontinued businesses (net of income taxes)
   
-
   
0.03
   
(0.01
)
 
(0.09
)
Net income
 
$
0.21
 
$
0.16
 
$
0.56
 
$
0.15
 
                           
Income (loss) per diluted share:
                         
From continuing operations
 
$
0.19
 
$
0.13
 
$
0.53
 
$
0.23
 
From discontinued operations, net of gains
on sales of discontinued businesses (net of income taxes)
   
-
   
0.03
   
(0.01
)
 
(0.08
)
Net income
 
$
0.19
 
$
0.16
 
$
0.52
 
$
0.15
 
                           
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                         
Basic
   
7,113
   
6,135
   
6,523
   
6,160
 
Effect of dilutive shares
   
458
   
184
   
445
   
146
 
Diluted
   
7,571
   
6,319
   
6,968
   
6,306
 

               Options and warrants to purchase approximately 414,000 shares of common stock for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005, respectively, and approximately 368,000 and 460,000 for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2004 at exercise prices of up to $24 per share, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options’ and warrants’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price for the respective period.

10.    BUSINESS SEGMENTS
 
Operating segments are defined as the components or “segments” of an enterprise for which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources to and in assessing performance of those components or “segments.” The Company’s chief operating decision-maker is its Chief Executive Officer. The operating segments of the Company are organized based on the respective services that they offer to customers of the Company. Similar operating segments have been aggregated to reportable operating segments based on having similar services, types of customers, and other criteria that are set forth in SFAS No. 131, Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information.
 
For our continuing operations, we operate principally in three reportable service segments: coins, sportscards and other high-value collectibles. Services provided by these segments include authentication, grading, publication and advertising. Effective, January 1, 2005, the Company introduced and commenced the
 

 
9


operations of a new currency grading service. Our new currency grading service did not generate any revenues in the quarter; however, the costs of the operations of that service have been included as part of the operating loss of the other collectibles segment.
 
We allocate operating expenses to each service segment based upon activity levels. We do not allocate specific assets to these service segments. All of our sales and identifiable assets are located in the United States.
 
   
(in thousands)
 
(in thousands)
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
Net revenues from external customers
   
2005
   
2004
   
2005
   
2004
 
Coins
 
$
6,386
 
$
4,659
 
$
17,487
 
$
12,241
 
Sportscards
   
2,070
   
1,734
   
6,093
   
5,165
 
Other
   
499
   
503
   
1,552
   
1,255
 
Total revenue
   
8,955
   
6,896
   
25,132
   
18,661
 
Operating income (loss) before unallocated expenses 
                         
Coins
 
$
3,496
 
$
2,449
 
$
9,254
 
$
6,005
 
Sportscards
   
286
   
194
   
924
   
683
 
Other
   
(333
)
 
9
   
(573
)
 
(77
)
Total
   
3,449
   
2,652
   
9,605
   
6,611
 
Legal settlement
   
-
   
-
   
(500
)
 
-
 
Unallocated operating expenses
   
(1,221
)
 
(1,276
)
 
(3,308
)
 
(4,059
)
Consolidated operating income
 
$
2,228
 
$
1,376
 
$
5,797
 
$
2,552
 

 
11.    LEGAL SETTLEMENT
 
As previously reported, the Company was named as a co-defendant in a lawsuit brought by Real Legends, Inc. (Plaintiff), against When It Was a Game (“WIWAG”), a sports card dealer. In that lawsuit Plaintiff was seeking alleged damages to its business of $4 million, alleged to have arisen out of actions taken by WIWAG, together with punitive damages. Plaintiff also alleged that the Company was liable for those damages, because a Company employee had introduced WIWAG to Plaintiff.
 
On January 26, 2005, the Company and Plaintiff settled that lawsuit. Pursuant to the settlement, all claims against the Company were released by Plaintiff and the Company paid Plaintiff the sum of $600,000 on or about February 23, 2005. The cost of the settlement to the Company, net of a $100,000 insurance reimbursement, was $500,000 which was recorded as part of operating expenses in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2005 and was accrued as a liability as of December 31, 2004, at which time it had been determined that a settlement of the suit was probable and the estimated cost to the Company of the settlement had become determinable.
 
The Company is named, from time to time, as a defendant in lawsuits that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Management of the Company believes that none of the lawsuits currently pending against it is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
 
12.    EQUITY OFFERING

During the quarter ended March 31, 2005, the Company completed a firm commitment underwritten public offering of a total of 3,450,000 million shares of its common stock, of which a total of 2,195,856 shares were sold by the Company, and the remaining shares were sold by David G. Hall and Van D. Simmons, at a public offering price of $17.50 per share. Messrs. Hall and Simmons, who founded the Company in 1986, are directors of the Company and Mr. Hall also is the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer. The proceeds (net of the underwriting discount) to the Company were approximately $36,300,000. The estimated offering expenses were approximately $675,000, of which approximately $420,000 had been paid by March 31, 2005. The Company did not receive any of the net proceeds from the sale of shares by Messrs. Hall and Simmons.
 
10

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
The discussion in this Item 2 and in Item 3 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). Those Sections of the 1933 Act and 1934 Act provide a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide information about their expected future financial performance, so long as they provide meaningful, cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results in the future to differ from those set forth in its forward-looking statements. Other than statements of historical fact, all statements in this Report and, in particular, any projections of or statements as to our expectations or beliefs concerning our future financial performance or future financial condition or as to trends in our business or our markets, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements often include the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "project," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Our actual financial performance in future periods may differ, possibly significantly, from our currently expected financial performance that is set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this Report. The sections below entitled “Factors That Can Affect our Financial Position and Operating Results” and “Risks and Uncertainties That Could Affect our Future Financial Performance” describe some, but not all, of the factors and the risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences, and you are urged to read those sections of this Report in their entirety. On February 16, 2005, we filed a Prospectus for our recently completed public offering with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. You should also review the Section of that Prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” which contains additional information regarding risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect our future financial performance.
 
Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this Report, which speak only as of the date of this Report, or to make predictions about future performance based solely on historical financial performance. We also disclaim any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this Report or in the Prospectus mentioned above.
 
Our Business
 
We provide authentication and grading services and other services to dealers and collectors of high value collectible coins, sportscards, autographs and stamps, the market values of which can range from $40 to over $1 million, depending principally on their rarity, age or association with famous individuals or historical events, and their authenticity and state of preservation, or quality. We believe that, because our authentication and grading services provide independent confirmation to dealers and collectors of the authenticity and quality of high value collectibles, we are able to enhance their marketability and, thereby, provide increased liquidity to the dealers and collectors that own, and buy and sell, these types of collectibles.
 
We principally generate revenues from the fees paid by dealers and collectors for our authentication and grading services. To a much lesser extent, we generate revenues from sales of (i) advertising on our websites and in printed publications and collectibles price guides; (ii) historical data and information about the collectibles that we have authenticated or graded; and (iii) memberships in our collectors clubs, which entitle subscribers to receive authentication and grading services and access to our collectibles publications and historical data.
 
The following table provides information regarding the respective numbers of coins, sportscards, autographs and stamps that we authenticated or graded in the three and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, and their values as estimated by the dealers and collectors who submitted them to us for authentication and grading.
 
   
Units Processed
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Estimated Value (000)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2005
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Coins
   
449,000
   
59
%
 
297,000
   
52
%
$
321,632
   
92
%
$
291,919
   
90
%
Sportcards
   
283,000
   
38
%
 
242,000
   
43
%
 
17,110
   
5
%
 
17,074
   
5
%
Autographs
   
15,000
   
2
%
 
25,000
   
4
%
 
6,466
   
2
%
 
11,400
   
4
%
Stamps
   
7,000
   
1
%
 
4,000
   
1
%
 
4,051
   
1
%
 
3,016
   
1
%
Total
   
754,000
   
100
%
 
568,000
   
100
%
$
349,259
   
100
%
$
323,409
   
100
%


 
11



   
Units Processed
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
Estimated Value (000)
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Coins
   
1,241,000
   
59
%
 
864,000
   
52
%
$
897,853
   
91
%
$
689,045
   
89
%
Sportcards
   
801,000
   
38
%
 
730,000
   
44
%
 
48,989
   
5
%
 
51,289
   
7
%
Autographs
   
54,000
   
2
%
 
48,000
   
3
%
 
23,424
   
2
%
 
21,888
   
3
%
Stamps
   
19,000
   
1
%
 
12,000
   
1
%
 
14,579
   
2
%
 
9,805
   
1
%
Total
   
2,115,000
   
100
%
 
1,654,000
   
100
%
$
984,845
   
100
%
$
772,027
   
100
%
 
During the period from 1999 through the latter part of fiscal 2004, we also were engaged in the business of marketing and selling collectible coins, sportscards and sports entertainment and historical memorabilia. Most of those sales were made at multi-venue auctions that were conducted by our collectibles sales divisions. We also sold collectible coins, at retail, by direct sales methods.
 
At the authorization of our Board of Directors, in December 2003 we adopted a plan to focus our financial and managerial resources and collectibles expertise on the operation and growth of our authentication and grading and other collectibles service businesses, and to divest our collectibles auctions and direct sales businesses.
 
Pursuant to that plan, during fiscal 2004 we sold our collectibles auction businesses and terminated our direct sales collectible coins business. However, we retained the collectibles inventories and the outstanding accounts receivables of those businesses, substantially all of which had been liquidated by March 31, 2005.
 
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 144, the assets and related liabilities of the collectible sales businesses have been classified as held for sale and their related operating results have been classified as discontinued operations.
 
As a result of our divestiture of our collectibles auctions and sales businesses, the discussion that follows focuses almost entirely on our authentication and grading businesses, which comprise our continuing operations.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
General. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), we record certain of our assets at the lower of cost or fair value. In determining the fair value of those assets, principally inventories and accounts receivable, we must make judgments, estimates and assumptions regarding circumstances or trends that could affect the value of those assets, such as economic conditions or trends that could impact our ability to realize the amounts at which our inventories are recorded, or to fully collect the accounts receivable shown, on our balance sheet. Those judgments, estimates and assumptions are made based on current information available to us at that time. Many of those conditions, trends and circumstances, however, are outside of our control and, if changes were to occur in economic conditions or trends on which our judgments or estimates were based, or unanticipated events were to occur, we may be required under GAAP to adjust our earlier estimates that are affected by those changes. Changes in such estimates may require that we reduce the carrying value of the affected assets on our balance sheet (which are commonly referred to as “write-downs” of the assets involved).
 
It is our practice to establish reserves or allowances to record such downward adjustments or “write-downs” in the carrying value of assets such as accounts receivable and inventory. Such write-downs are recorded as charges to income or increases in expense in our statement of operations in the periods when those reserves or allowances are established or increased to take account of changed conditions or events. As a result, our judgments, estimates and assumptions about future events, and changes in the conditions, events or trends upon which those estimates and judgments were based, can and will affect not only the amounts at which we record those assets on our balance sheet, but also our results of operations.
 
The decisions as to the timing of adjustments or write-downs of this nature also require subjective evaluations or assessments about the effects and duration of events or changes in circumstances. For example, it is difficult to predict whether events, such as occurred on September 11, 2001, or increases in interest rates or economic slowdowns, will have short or longer term consequences for our business, and it is not uncommon for it to take some time after the occurrence of an event or the onset of changes in economic circumstances for their full effects to be measured. Therefore, management makes such estimates based upon the information available at that time and reevaluates and adjusts its reserves and allowances for potential write-downs on a quarterly basis.
 

 
12


Under GAAP, businesses also must make estimates or judgments regarding the periods during which, and also regarding the amounts at which, sales are recorded. Those estimates and judgments will depend on a number of factors, including whether customers are granted rights to return the products or reject or adjust the payment for the services provided to them (return rights). As a general rule, GAAP will require a business that grants its customers return rights to establish a reserve or allowance for product returns by means of a reduction in the amount at which its sales are recorded, based primarily on the nature, extent and duration of those rights and its historical return experience.
 
In making our estimates and assumptions, we follow GAAP in order to enable us to make fair and consistent estimates of the fair value of assets and to establish adequate reserves or allowances for possible write-downs in their carrying values. Set forth below is a summary of the accounting policies that we believe are material to an understanding of our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Revenue Recognition Policies. We record revenue at the time of shipment of the graded collectible to the customer. Our authentication and grading customers generally prepay our authentication and grading fees when they submit their collectibles to us for authentication and grading. We record those prepayments as deferred revenue until their graded collectibles are shipped back to them. At that time, we record the revenue from the authentication and grading services we have performed for the customer and deduct this amount from deferred revenue.
 
Accounts Receivable and the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. In the normal course of business, we extend payment terms to many of the larger, more creditworthy collectibles dealers who submit collectibles to us for authentication and grading on a recurring basis. We regularly review their accounts, estimate the amount of, and establish an allowance for, uncollectible amounts in each quarterly period. The amount of that allowance is based on several factors, including the age and extent of significant past due accounts, and economic conditions or trends that may affect the ability of account debtors to pay their accounts receivable balances. Estimates of uncollectible amounts are reviewed each quarter and, based on that review, are revised to reflect changed circumstances or conditions in the quarterly period they become known. For example, if the financial condition of certain dealers or economic conditions were to deteriorate, adversely affecting their ability to make payments on their accounts, increases in the allowance may be required. Since the allowance is created by recording a charge against income that is recorded in general and administrative expenses, an increase in the allowance will cause a decline in our operating results in the period when the increase is recorded.
 
Inventory Valuation Reserve. Our collectibles inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market and have been reduced by an inventory valuation allowance to provide for declines in the estimated value of those inventories. The amount of the allowance is determined on the basis of market knowledge, historical experience and estimates concerning future economic conditions that may impact the sales values of our collectibles inventories. Additionally, due to the relative uniqueness of some of the collectibles included in our collectibles inventory, their valuation often involves judgments that are more subjective than the judgments involved in valuing more standardized products sold by other businesses. If events or circumstances, such as changes in economic conditions, occur that we believe will make it more difficult, or will cause us to reduce the prices at which we will be able, to sell the collectibles, it may become necessary to increase the allowance. Increases in this allowance will cause a decline in operating results, because such increases are recorded by charges against income.
 
Grading Warranty Costs. We offer a warranty covering the coins and sportscards we authenticate and grade. Under the warranty, if any coin or sportscard that was previously graded by us is later submitted to us for re-grading and either (i) receives a lower grade upon that resubmittal or (ii) is determined not to have been authentic, we will offer to purchase the coin or sportscard or pay the difference in value of the item at its original grade as compared with its lower grade. However, this warranty is voided if the coin or sportscard, upon resubmittal to us, is not in the same tamper resistant clear plastic holder in which it was placed at the time we last graded it or shows signs of tampering. We accrue for estimated warranty costs based on historical trends and related experience. To date our reserves have proved to be adequate. However, if warranty claims were to increase in relation to historical trends and experience, we would be required to increase our warranty reserves and incur additional charges that would have the effect of reducing our income in those periods during which the warranty reserve is increased.
 

 
13


Factors That Can Affect our Financial Position and Operating Results
 
Factors that Can Affect our Revenues and Cash Flows. The provision of authentication and grading services has provided relatively stable and predictable cash flows for us, as the fees for most of the authentication and grading submissions we receive are prepaid. In the nine months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively, we generated cash of $4,359,000 (which is net of investments of $2,294,000 in short-term investments, which had maturities greater than 90 days when purchased) and $3,693,000, respectively, from our continuing operations.
 
Additionally, during the nine months ended March 31, 2005, we generated cash of $2,146,000 from the sales of our collectibles sales businesses and the liquidation of the inventories and accounts receivable of those businesses. As a result, at March 31, 2005, the remaining assets of those businesses, which we are in the process of liquidating, totaled approximately $480,000, as compared to $1,384,000 at June 30, 2004.
 
Factors Affecting our Gross Profit Margins. The gross profit margins on authentication and grading submissions are primarily affected by the mix of collectibles submitted to us for grading (i) between coins and sportscards and (ii) between vintage or “classic” coins and sportscards, on the one hand, and modern coins and sportscards, on the other hand. Generally, the prices for authentication and grading of collectible coins are higher than those charged for the grading of sportscards, autographs or stamps. In addition, our fees for authentication and grading of coins and sportscards vary depending on the “turn-around” time requested by our customers, because we charge higher fees for faster service times. Since, as a general rule, customers request faster turn-around times for vintage or classic coins and sportscards than they do for modern submissions, the mix of submissions between vintage and modern collectibles also affects our profit margin.
 
Impact of Economic Conditions on Financial Performance. We generate substantially all of our revenues from the collectibles market. Accordingly, our operating results are affected by that market’s financial performance, which depends, to a great extent, on (i) discretionary consumer spending and, hence, on the availability of disposable income, (ii) on other economic conditions, including prevailing interest and inflation rates, which affect consumer confidence, and (iii) the performance and volatility of the precious metals and stock markets. These conditions primarily affect the volume of purchases and sales of collectibles which, in turn, affects the volume of authentication and grading submissions to us, because our services facilitate commerce in collectibles. Accordingly, factors such as improving economic conditions which usually result in increases in disposable income and consumer confidence, and volatility in and declines in the prices of stocks and a weakening in the value of the U.S. Dollar, which lead investors to increase their purchases of precious metals, such as gold bullion and other coins, and other collectibles, usually result in increases in submissions of collectibles for our services. By contrast, the volume of collectibles sales and purchases and, therefore, the volume of authentication and grading submissions, usually decline during periods characterized by recessionary economic conditions and by declines in disposable income and consumer confidence or by increasing stock prices and relative stability in the stock markets. We believe that the recent strengthening of the economy in the United States, together with the recent weakening of the U.S. Dollar, resulted in an increased demand for gold and other precious metals and, therefore, contributed to the increase in our authentication and grading revenues during the nine months ended March 31, 2005.
 

 
14


Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth certain financial data, expressed as a percentage of net revenues, derived from our statements of operations for the respective periods indicated below:
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Net revenues 
   
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
Cost of revenues 
   
36.4
%
 
37.7
%
 
36.2
%
 
40.2
%
Gross profit 
   
63.6
%
 
62.3
%
 
63.8
%
 
59.8
%
Operating expenses:
                         
Selling and marketing expenses
   
9.8
%
 
11.4
%
 
10.3
%
 
12.4
%
General and administrative expenses
   
28.9
%
 
31.0
%
 
28.5
%
 
33.7
%
Settlement of lawsuit
   
-
   
-
   
2.0
%
 
-
 
Total operating expenses
   
38.7
%
 
42.4
%
 
40.8
%
 
46.1
%
Operating income 
   
24.9
%
 
19.9
%
 
23.0
%
 
13.7
%
Interest income, net 
   
2.7
%
 
0.2
%
 
1.7
%
 
0.1
%
Other expenses 
   
(0.2
%)
 
-
   
(0.1
%)
 
(0.1
%)
Income before provision for income taxes 
   
27.4
%
 
20.1
%
 
24.6
%
 
13.7
%
Provision for income taxes 
   
(11.0
%)
 
(8.6
%)
 
(9.9
%)
 
(5.8
%)
Income from continuing operations after income taxes 
   
16.4
%
 
11.5
%
 
14.7
%
 
7.9
%
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of gain on sales of
     discontinued businesses (net of income taxes)
   
-
 
 
2.9
%
 
(0.3
%)
 
(2.9
%)
Net income 
   
16.4
%
 
14.4
%
 
14.4
%
 
5.0
%
 
Net Revenues
 
Net revenues consist primarily of fees generated from the authentication and grading of high-value coins, sportscards, autographs and stamps and, to a much lesser extent, revenues from the publication of collectibles magazines and the sale of advertising for placement on our websites and in our magazines and from the sale of collectors club memberships. Net revenues are determined net of discounts and allowances.
 
The following table sets forth information regarding the net revenues attributable to the authentication and grading of coins, sportscards and other collectibles (principally autographs and stamps), respectively, in the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004:
 
   
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Percentage
Increase
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005 over 2004
 
   
 
Amount
 
% of Net Revenues
 
 
Amount
 
% of Net Revenues
     
Coins
 
$
6,386,000
   
71.3
%
$
4,659,000
   
67.6
%
 
37.1
%
Sportscards
   
2,070,000
   
23.1
%
 
1,734,000
   
25.1
%
 
19.4
%
Other collectibles
   
499,000
   
5.6
%
 
503,000
   
7.3
%
 
(0.1
%)
Net revenues
 
$
8,955,000
   
100.0
%
$
6,896,000
   
100.0
%
 
29.9
%

   
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
Percentage
Increase
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005 over 2004
 
   
 
Amount
 
% of Net Revenues
 
 
Amount
 
% of Net Revenues
     
Coins
 
$
17,487,000
   
69.6
%
$
12,241,000
   
65.6
%
 
42.9
%
Sportscards
   
6,093,000
   
24.2
%
 
5,165,000
   
27.7
%
 
18.0
%
Other collectibles
   
1,552,000
   
6.2
%
 
1,255,000
   
6.7
%
 
23.7
%
Net revenues
 
$
25,132,000
   
100.0
%
$
18,661,000
   
100.0
%
 
34.7
%
 
 
15

The increases in net revenues in the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005, as compared to the same respective periods of 2004, were primarily attributable to increases of 33% and 28%, respectively, in the numbers of collectibles authenticated and graded in those three and nine-month periods this year, as compared to those same periods last year. Also contributing to the increases in net revenues were increases in sales of advertising and collectors club memberships of approximately $200,000 and $850,000, in the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005, as compared to the same periods of the prior year, respectively, and an increase in the average of the service fees paid for the authentication and grading of collectibles. That increase in the average of the service fees paid for authentication and grading was attributable to (i) the 44% increase in coin authentication grading submissions, the fees for which are higher than for the grading of sportscards and other collectibles, and (ii) an increase in the coin authentication and grading submissions for which customers requested faster turn around times for which our fees are higher than for other levels of service. As a result, although coins represented 59% of the number of collectibles authenticated and graded by us in the third quarter this year, coin submissions accounted for 71% of our net revenues in that quarter, as compared to 52% of the number of collectibles we authenticated and graded and 68% of the net revenues that we generated in the three months ended March 31, 2004. For the nine months ended March 31, 2005, coins represented 59% of the number of collectibles that we authenticated and graded, and 70% of our net revenues, as compared to 52% of the number of collectibles that we authenticated and graded and 66% of the net revenues that we generated in the nine months ended March 31, 2004.
 
We believe that the increase in the demand for our coin grading services was largely attributable to two factors: (i) an increase in purchases and sales of collectible and gold bullion coins by investors, which we believe was due in large part to a shift by investors of some of their funds from marketable securities to tangible assets primarily in response to the decline in the value of the U.S. Dollar, and uncertainties and volatility in the stock markets, and (ii) new marketing programs that we initiated in the second half of fiscal 2004.
 
Gross Profit
 
Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of revenues from net revenues. Cost of revenues primarily consist of labor to grade and authenticate coins and sportscards, production and printing costs, credit cards fees, warranty expense and occupancy, security and insurance costs that directly relate to providing authentication and grading services. Gross profit margin is gross profit stated as a percent of net revenues.
 
Set forth below is information regarding our gross profits in the quarters and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004.
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Gross profit 
 
$
5,692,000
 
$
4,299,000
 
$
16,045,000
 
$
11,166,000
 
Gross profit margin 
   
63.6
%
 
62.3
%
 
63.8
%
 
59.8
%
 
The increases in the gross profit margin in the three and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2005, as compared to the same three and nine-month periods of 2004, were primarily attributable to:
 
·  
increases of 37% and 43%, respectively, in coin authentication and grading revenues, on which we realize higher margins than on authentication and grading submissions of sportscards and other collectibles;
 
·  
the increases in net revenues (described above), which caused the fixed elements of our costs of revenues to represent a lower percentage of total revenues than in the corresponding three and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2004; and
 
·  
increases, as compared to the three and nine months ended March 31, 2004, in sales of website advertising, for which the costs of sales are relatively low.  
 
 
16


Selling and Marketing Expenses
 
Selling and marketing expenses are comprised primarily of advertising and promotions costs, trade-show related expenses, customer service personnel costs and third party consulting costs. Set forth below is information regarding our selling and marketing expenses in the three and nine-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and 2004.
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Selling and marketing expenses
 
$
876,000
 
$
788,000
 
$
2,581,000
 
$
2,316,000
 
Percent of net revenue
   
9.8
%
 
11.4
%
 
10.3
%
 
12.4
%
 
The increases in the dollar amounts of selling and marketing expenses in the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005, compared to the same respective periods of 2004, were primarily attributable to increases in general marketing expenses and trade show related cost increases of approximately $107,000 in the nine months ended March 31, 2005. Notwithstanding those increases, however, as a percentage of net revenues, selling and marketing expenses decreased from 11.4% of net revenues in the quarter ended March 31, 2004 to 9.8% in the quarter ended March 31, 2005, and from 12.4% of net revenues in the nine months ended March 31, 2004 to 10.3% in the nine months ended March 31, 2005, indicating that we were able to increase authentication and grading submissions and sales of advertising without having to make commensurate increases in our selling and marketing expenses.
 
General and Administrative Expenses
 
General and administrative (“G&A”) expenses are comprised primarily of compensation paid to general and administrative personnel, including executive management, finance and accounting and information technology personnel, and facilities management costs and other miscellaneous expenses.
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
General and administrative expenses 
 
$
2,588,000
 
$
2,135,000
 
$
7,167,000
 
$
6,298,000
 
Percent of net revenues 
   
28.9
%
 
31.0
%
 
28.5
%
 
33.7
%
 
Although, as indicated in the table above, G&A expenses increased by $453,000 in the quarter ended March 31, 2005, as compared to the same quarter last year, and by $869,000 in the nine months ended March 31, 2005, compared to the same period of 2004, such expenses did not increase at the same rate as did net revenues, due to improvements in operating efficiencies and staff reductions we were able to make as a result of the disposition of our collectibles sales businesses. Therefore, as a percentage of net revenues, G&A expenses declined to 28.9% in the three months ended March, 31, 2005 from 31.0% for the same period of 2004, and to 28.5% for the nine months ended March 31, 2005 from 33.7% in the same nine months of 2004. In dollar terms, the main components of the increases in G&A costs in the three-month period ended March 31, 2005, consisted primarily of (i) increases of $70,000 in professional fees; (ii) G&A costs approximating $130,000 incurred in connection with the launch of our new currency grading service during the quarter ended March 31, 2005, (iii) consulting fees and costs of approximately $80,000 incurred in connection with the documentation and preliminary testing of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002; and iv) general expense incurred to support the increased volume of business that we conducted during that period.
 
Settlement of Lawsuit
 
As previously reported, in January 2005, without any admission of wrongdoing, we settled a legal action brought in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego, by Real Legends, Inc., a seller of sports cards (plaintiff) against When It Was a Game (“WIWAG”), a sports card dealer, and against us as a co-defendant. Pursuant to the settlement terms, all of the claims asserted against the Company by plaintiff were settled and plaintiff terminated the litigation, with prejudice, and we paid plaintiff $600,000, of which $100,000 was reimbursed to us by one of our insurers. As a result, the net cost to us of the settlement, which was recorded in our statement of operations for our second quarter ended December 31, 2004, was $500,000, or 2.0% of our net revenues for the nine months ended March 31, 2005.
 

 
17


Interest Income, Net
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Interest income, net
 
$
245,000
 
$
11,000
 
$
419,000
 
$
25,000
 
Percent of net revenue 
   
2.7
%
 
0.2
%
 
1.7
%
 
0.1
%
 
The increases in interest income, net in the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005, as compared to the corresponding periods of the prior year, resulted primarily from increases in our cash, cash equivalent and short-term investment balances that were attributable to (i) the cash generated from the disposition of our collectibles sales businesses, (ii) the increases in income generated by our authentication and grading businesses, and (iii) the completion, in the third quarter of 2005, of our common stock offering from which we received net proceeds of $35,897,000. Also contributing to the increase in interest income in the second and third quarters was an increase in the rates at which we earned interest on our cash balances and the interest earned on the short-term advances that we made to one of our customers.
 
Income Tax Expense
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Income tax expense 
 
$
981,000
 
$
592,000
 
$
2,487,000
 
$
1,075,000
 
 
The income tax expense recorded in the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005 was calculated based on our expected combined federal and state effective income tax rate of approximately 40% for fiscal year 2005, compared to approximately 42%, respectively, for the comparable periods of the prior year.
 
Discontinued Operations
 
   
Three Months Ended
March 31
 
Nine Months Ended
March 31,
 
   
2005
 
2004
 
2005
 
2004
 
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of gain on sales of 
    discontinued businesses (net of income taxes)
 
$
(3
)
$
201
 
$
(79
)
$
(534
)
 
The net losses from discontinued operations in the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005 were primarily the result of (i) an increase in inventory reserves for the remaining collectibles inventories that we had retained when we sold our discontinued collectibles auctions and direct sales businesses, and (ii) costs incurred in collecting their remaining accounts receivable. Those costs were partially offset by gains realized in both the three and nine months ended March 31, 2005, attributable to consideration earned from the sale of one of those businesses reduced by adjustments to severance obligations of a discontinued business.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
At March 31, 2005, we had cash and cash equivalents of $63,632,000 and short-term investments of $2,294,000, as compared to cash and cash equivalents of $21,454,000 at June 30, 2004. Contributing to that increase were (i) the net proceeds of $35.9 million from our offering, consummated in the third quarter of 2005, of additional shares of common stock to the public; (ii) increases in operating income that were primarily attributable to the increases in authentication and grading revenues, and (iii) the receipt, in the nine months ended March 31, 2005, of contingent cash consideration attributable to the sales of our collectibles sales businesses in fiscal 2004, together with cash from collections of their accounts receivables and from sales of their collectibles inventories, which we chose to retain and liquidate ourselves, rather than sell to the buyers of those businesses.
 

 
18


Historically, we have relied on internally-generated funds, rather than borrowings, as our primary source of funds to support our grading operations. We expect our authentication and grading services to provide us with relatively stable and predictable cash flows, largely because (i) in many instances our customers prepay for those services at the time they submit their collectibles to us for authentication and grading, and (ii) in the event of a decline in authentication and grading submissions, we can reduce some of our variable costs to reduce the impact on our cash flows of such a decline.
 
During the nine months ended March 31, 2005, continuing operations provided net cash of $4,359,000 (which is net of an investment of $2,294,000 in short-term investments with maturities greater than 90 days at the date of purchase). This compares to net cash provided by continuing operations of $3,693,000 in the nine months ended March 31, 2004.
 
Net cash generated by investing activities was $1,023,000 for the nine months ended March 31, 2005 and consisted primarily of cash received from the sale of our discontinued businesses of $1,543,000, offset by capital expenditures and the purchase of intangible assets of $278,000 and advances, net of collections, on a note receivable of $242,000.
 
In the nine months ended March 31, 2005, financing activities provided net cash of $36,193,000, primarily from the sale of the shares in our public offering during the quarter ended March 31, 2005. During the quarter ended March 31, 2005, we also received cash of $262,000 from the exercise of employee stock options and $34,000 from the sale of shares under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
 
At June 30, 2004, we had the following outstanding obligations under operating leases, net of sublease income for years ending June 30:
 
2005 
 
$
906,000
 
2006 
   
908,000
 
2007 
   
925,000
 
2008 
   
908,000
 
2009 
   
905,000
 
Thereafter 
   
324,000
 
   
$
4,876,000
 
 
With the exception of those obligations, we do not have any material financial obligations, such as long-term debt, capital lease, or purchase obligations.
 
However, we are currently seeking a line of credit from a bank or other lending institution primarily to enable us to fund a dealer financing program pursuant to which we would provide short term loans and credit lines to coin and other collectibles dealers as a means of generating additional interest income and also providing an additional incentive for large collectibles dealers to do business with us. We anticipate that any such loans that we might make generally would be secured by collectibles submitted to us for authentication and grading. There is no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining such a line of credit.
 
We plan to use our cash resources, including the net proceeds of the public offering, to (i) expand existing and implement new marketing programs, (ii) introduce new services for our customers; (iii) acquire or start-up other high-value collectibles or high-value asset authentication and grading businesses, and (iv) fund working capital requirements, and for other corporate purposes. We also may seek borrowings, and we may issue additional shares of our stock, to finance acquisitions of additional authentication and grading businesses.
 
At this time, we are not engaged in discussions with respect to any possible material business acquisitions and we cannot predict if we will, or the terms on which we might, obtain such borrowings or issue additional shares.
 

 
19


Risks and Uncertainties That Could Affect Our Future Financial Performance
 
There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could affect our future operating results and financial condition and which could cause our future operating results to differ materially from those expected at this time. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:
 
·  
changes in general economic conditions or changes in conditions in the collectibles markets in which we operate, such as a possible decline in the popularity of some high-value collectibles, either of which could reduce the volume of authentication and grading submissions and, therefore, the grading fees we generate;
 
·  
a lack of diversity in our sources of revenues and, more particularly, our dependence on collectible coin authentication and grading for a significant percentage of our total revenues, which makes us more vulnerable to adverse changes in economic conditions, including declines in the value of precious metals or recessionary conditions that could lead to reduced coin and other collectibles submissions that would, in turn, result in reductions in our revenues and income;
 
·  
our dependence on certain key executives and collectibles experts, the loss of the services of any of which could adversely affect our ability to obtain authentication and grading submissions and, therefore, could harm our operating results;
 
·  
increased competition from other collectibles’ authentication and grading companies that could result in reductions in collectibles submissions to us or could require us to reduce the prices we charge for our services, either of which could result in reductions in our revenue and income;
 
·  
the risk that we will incur unanticipated liabilities under our authentication and grading warranties that would increase our operating expenses;
 
·  
The risk that new service offerings and business initiatives, such as autograph, stamp and paper currency grading services, and a proposed new dealer financing program, will not gain market acceptance or will be unsuccessful and will, as a result, increase our operating expenses and reduce our overall profitability or cause us to incur losses;
 
·  
the risk that our strategy to exit the collectibles sales business and focus substantially all of our resources on our authentication and grading businesses will not be successful in enabling us to improve our profitability over the longer term or to grow our existing businesses or acquire or commence authentication and grading businesses outside our current markets;
 
·  
the risks involved in acquiring existing or commencing new authentication and grading businesses, including the risks that we will be unable to successfully integrate new businesses into our operations, that our new businesses may not gain market acceptance; that business expansion may result in a costly diversion of management time and resources from our existing businesses and increase our operating expenses, and that we will not achieve adequate returns on the investments we may make in acquiring other or establishing new businesses, any of which would harm our profitability or cause us to incur losses;
 
·  
the risks that we will encounter problems with or failures of our computer systems that would interrupt our services or result in loss of data that we need for our business; and
 
·  
the potential of increased government regulation of our businesses that could cause operating costs to increase.
 
Certain of these risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks, are more fully described above in this Section of this Report (entitled “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”) and in the Section entitled “Risk Factors” in the Prospectus dated February 16, 2005 that we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
Due to these and other possible uncertainties and risks, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this Report, which speak only as of the date of this Report. We also disclaim any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this Report or in the Prospectus mentioned above.
 

 
20


ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company due to adverse changes in financial market prices, including interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange rate risk, commodity price risk and other relevant market rate or price risks.
 
Due to the cash and cash equivalent balances that we maintain, we are exposed to risk of changes in short-term interest rates. At March 31, 2005, we had $65,926,000 in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, primarily invested in a high-grade commercial paper and Money Market Fund. Reductions in short-term interest rates could result in reductions in the amount of that income. However, the impact on our operating results of such changes is not expected to be material.
 
The Company has no activities that would expose it to foreign currency exchange rate risk or commodity price risks.
 
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under that Act (the Exchange Act), such as this Quarterly Report, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our disclosure controls and procedures also are designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
 
Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures in effect as of March 31, 2005. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2005, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that material information, relating to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, required to be included in our Exchange Act reports, including this Quarterly Report on Form 10−Q, is made known to management, including the CEO and CFO, on a timely basis.
 
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2005, that has materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 

 
21



 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
 
Exhibits
 
   
Exhibit 31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
Exhibit 31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
Exhibit 32.1
Chief Executive Officer Certification of Periodic Report Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
Exhibit 32.2
Chief Financial Officer Certification of Periodic Report Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


 
22




SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



   
COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.
     
Date: May 13, 2005
 
/s/ MICHAEL R. HAYNES
   
Michael R. Haynes
   
Chief Executive Officer



   
COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.
     
Date: May 13, 2005
 
/s/ MICHAEL J. LEWIS
   
Michael J. Lewis
   
Chief Financial Officer



































S-1




Number
Description
   
Exhibit 31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
Exhibit 31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
Exhibit 32.1
Chief Executive Officer Certification of Periodic Report Under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
Exhibit 32.2
Chief Financial Officer Certification of Periodic Report Under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
































E-1