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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JULY 31, 2004

 

Commission File Number 0-23410

 


 

CROWN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

NEW JERSEY   13-1924455

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

525 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07310

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (201) 459-9500

 


 

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 is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2)     Yes  ¨    No  x

 

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

 

At September 13, 2004, the number of the Registrant’s common stock shares issued and outstanding was 18,463,902.

 



Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

    

Item 1.

   Consolidated Financial Statements     
     Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of July 31 and January 31, 2004    3
     Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2004 and July 31, 2003    4
     Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the six months ended July 31, 2004    5
     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended July 31, 2004 and July 31, 2003    6
     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    7

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    18

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    26

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    26

PART II OTHER INFORMATION:

    

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    27

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    28

Item 3.

   Defaults Upon Senior Securities    28

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    28

Item 5.

   Other Information    28

Item 6.

   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K    28

Signatures

   30

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company”, “Crown”, “We”, or “Our” shall mean Crown Financial Group, Inc., and its consolidated subsidiary.

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements

 

CROWN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

 

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

 

    

July 31,

2004


   

January 31,

2004


 
     (unaudited)        

ASSETS

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 3,211,671     $ 2,375,720  

Deposits with and receivables from brokers and dealers

     2,988,808       3,990,242  

Securities owned, held at clearing brokers, at market value

     901,493       3,233,596  

Furniture, equipment, capitalized software, and leasehold improvements at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization

     2,144,424       1,725,426  

Receivables from trading and sales personnel, net of reserves

     143,645       186,641  

Insurance recovery receivable

     1,000,000       1,000,000  

Prepaid expenses

     381,601       214,548  

Other assets

     134,525       221,212  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 10,906,167     $ 12,947,385  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Liabilities:

                

Securities sold, not yet purchased

   $ 85,661     $ 492,081  

Accrued compensation expense

     200,854       1,250,573  

Accrued NASD arbitration liability

     5,000,000       5,000,000  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     1,192,628       1,453,829  
    


 


Total liabilities

     6,479,143       8,196,483  
    


 


Commitments and contingent liabilities

                

Subordinated loans

     2,000,000       2,000,000  
    


 


Stockholders’ equity:

                

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized; 13,636,359 shares issued and outstanding at July 31, 2004 and 11,425,333 shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2004

     136,364       114,253  

Unearned compensation

     (26,514 )     (65,215 )

Treasury stock, at cost (50,000 shares)

     (200,000 )     (200,000 )

Additional paid-in capital

     27,253,670       25,295,796  

Accumulated deficit

     (24,736,496 )     (22,393,932 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     2,427,024       2,750,902  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 10,906,167     $ 12,947,385  
    


 


 

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

 

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CROWN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

(Unaudited)

 

    

For the three months ended

July 31,


   

For the six months ended

July 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

REVENUES

                                

Net trading revenues

   $ 2,940,608     $ 4,602,509     $ 8,986,639     $ 6,322,941  

Commissions

     244,741       323,542       647,165       665,637  

Underwriting and investment banking fees

     —         89,975       50,000       160,871  

Settlement proceeds

     700,000       —         700,000       —    

Gain on sale of investment

     145,256       —         145,256       —    

Interest and other

     7,780       99,106       17,670       191,264  
    


 


 


 


Total revenues

     4,038,385       5,115,132       10,546,730       7,340,713  
    


 


 


 


EXPENSES

                                

Employee compensation and benefits

     2,481,000       3,053,071       6,048,870       4,719,507  

Communications and data processing

     973,016       522,691       1,894,725       1,055,911  

Execution and clearance charges

     718,251       1,046,085       1,773,957       1,903,778  

Professional fees

     480,648       782,807       800,211       1,222,632  

Occupancy and equipment rentals

     352,392       335,734       685,126       676,988  

Business development

     104,820       118,267       355,470       234,535  

Depreciation and amortization

     122,448       51,059       230,812       104,167  

Postage, printing and office supplies

     31,631       231,434       89,820       360,068  

Interest expense

     27,703       52,405       47,703       79,470  

NASD settlements

     39,513       (240,000 )     39,513       (247,110 )

Restatement costs

     —         —         283,775       —    

Other expenses

     282,659       249,003       610,562       429,106  
    


 


 


 


Total expenses

     5,614,081       6,202,556       12,860,544       10,539,052  
    


 


 


 


Loss before income taxes

     (1,575,696 )     (1,087,424 )     (2,313,814 )     (3,198,339 )

Provision for income taxes

     12,671       12,483       28,750       15,695  
    


 


 


 


Net loss

   $ (1,588,367 )   $ (1,099,907 )   $ (2,342,564 )   $ (3,214,034 )
    


 


 


 


Basic loss per share of common stock

   $ (0.12 )   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (0.36 )
    


 


 


 


Diluted loss per share of common stock

   $ (0.12 )   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (0.36 )
    


 


 


 


Weighted average number of shares outstanding

     13,089,684       9,603,865       12,293,732       8,913,895  
    


 


 


 


Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding

     13,089,684       9,603,865       12,293,732       8,913,895  
    


 


 


 


 

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

 

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CROWN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

 

For the Six Months Ended July 31, 2004

 

(Unaudited)

 

    Common Stock

 

Unearned

Compensation


   

Treasury

Stock


   

Additional

Paid-In

Capital


   

(Accumulated
Deficit)


   

Total

Stockholders’
Equity


 
    Shares

  Amount

         

Balances at January 31, 2004

  11,425,333   $ 114,253   $ (65,215 )   $ (200,000 )   $ 25,295,796     $ (22,393,932 )   $ 2,750,902  

Net loss

  —       —       —         —         —         (2,342,564 )     (2,342,564 )

Options granted or modified

  —       —       —         —         2,100       —         2,100  

Options forfeited

  —       —       —         —         (27,858 )     —         (27,858 )

Amortization of unearned compensation

  —       —       38,701       —         —         —         38,701  

Options exercised

  3,637     37     —         —         4,787       —         4,824  

Shares issued

  2,207,389     22,074     —         —         1,978,845       —         2,000,919  
   
 

 


 


 


 


 


Balances at July 31, 2004

  13,636,359   $ 136,364   $ (26,514 )   $ (200,000 )   $ 27,253,670     $ (24,736,496 )   $ 2,427,024  
   
 

 


 


 


 


 


 

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

 

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CROWN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

(Unaudited)

 

    

For the six months ended

July 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Cash flows from operating activities

                

Net loss

   $ (2,342,564 )   $ (3,214,034 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     230,812       104,167  

Gain on sale of investment

     (145,256 )     —    

Compensation and consulting expense on options granted

     12,943       174,013  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                

(Increase) decrease in assets:

                

Deposits with and receivables from brokers and dealers

     1,001,434       (1,139,070 )

Securities owned, held at clearing brokers, at market value

     2,332,103       (673,199 )

Receivables from trading and sales personnel, net of reserve

     42,996       271,246  

Prepaid expenses

     (167,053 )     32,028  

Other assets

     (18,057 )     2,315  

Increase (decrease) in liabilities:

                

Securities sold, not yet purchased

     (406,420 )     458,412  

Accrued compensation expense

     (1,049,719 )     90,040  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (261,201 )     248,437  
    


 


Net cash used in operating activities

     (769,983 )     (3,645,645 )
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities

                

Proceeds from sale of investment

     250,000       —    

Other investments

     —         507,962  

Purchases of furniture, equipment and capitalized software

     (649,809 )     (332,186 )
    


 


Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     (399,809 )     175,776  
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities

                

Net proceeds from sale of common stock

     2,000,919       3,050,650  

Net proceeds from exercise of stock options

     4,824       111,689  

Cash contribution to equity

     —         130,000  
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     2,005,743       3,292,339  
    


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     835,951       (177,530 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     2,375,720       961,465  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 3,211,671     $ 783,935  
    


 


Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

                

Cash paid for interest

   $ 47,703     $ 38,720  

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ —       $ 481  

 

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

 

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CROWN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1. ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS

 

CROWN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. (the “Company”), formerly M.H. MEYERSON & CO., INC. is a market maker currently making markets in excess of 7,000 securities listed on the Nasdaq National Market System, Nasdaq SmallCap, OTC Bulletin Board and the Pink Sheets. The Company is a registered broker-dealer with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”). The Company provides securities trading, underwriting, investment banking and brokerage services, primarily for institutions and corporations. The Company, like other broker dealers, is directly affected by general economics and market conditions, including fluctuations in volume and price level of securities, changes in interest rates, all of which have an impact on the Company’s liquidity.

 

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Crown Financial International Limited (“CFIL”), which was established on June 2, 2003, in London, England. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. In the opinion of management, the financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting primarily of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim period. Certain footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The nature of the Company’s business is such that the results of an interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year. These unaudited financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2004, as filed with the SEC.

 

Restatement and Restatement Costs

 

In January of 2003, John P. Leighton became the Company’s Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Subsequently, he assumed the role of sole Chairman and President, and installed a new management team and a new business plan. In mid-September 2003, a new finance team was also appointed to further the implementation of this new business plan.

 

On October 17, 2003, as part of the closing of the Company’s financial records for the month of September 2003, the new finance team of the Company determined that certain items in the Company’s previously issued unaudited financial statements for the interim periods of the year ended January 31, 2004, were misstated. The Company immediately commenced an internal review to determine the scope of the financial statement misstatements and to issue restated financial statements (the “Restatement”) for any prior periods materially impacted by the misstatements.

 

As a result of the findings of the review, the Company restated its financial statements for the years ended January 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, including the corresponding 2003 interim periods, and the quarterly periods ended April 30, 2003 and July 31, 2003. The restated financial statements were filed with the SEC in March 2004 in amended annual and quarterly reports.

 

The internal review and the restatement of the financial statements required significant outside resources in the form of accounting services in order to complete the process on a timely basis. The direct accounting costs isolated as Restatement Costs in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, represent the professional fees incurred during the three months ended April 30, 2004 related to this project. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004, $505,612 of Restatement Costs were incurred related to the restatement project and an additional $283,775 were incurred during the three months ended April 30, 2004.

 

Settlement Proceeds

 

On June 30, 2004, Crown and John P. Leighton, its Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Sanville & Company, the Company’s former independent auditors, and its principal, Robert Sanville (collectively, “Sanville”), entered into an Amended Release and Settlement Agreement (the “Settlement”). Under the terms and provisions of the Settlement, Crown and John P. Leighton agreed to release and discharge Sanville from all claims which Crown could assert against Sanville relating to the auditing services rendered to Crown by Sanville, in consideration for a $700,000 payment by Sanville to Crown. Mr. Leighton did not receive any consideration from Sanville. Sanville served as Crown’s independent auditor from March 1, 2002 to June 12, 2003. Crown received the consideration payable under the Settlement on June 30, 2004.

 

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Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Securities Owned, Securities Sold, Not Yet Purchased and Related Revenue Recognition

 

Securities transactions, and related commission revenue and expense, if applicable, are recorded on a trade date basis.

 

Securities owned and securities sold, not yet purchased are carried at market value and are recorded on a trade date basis with unrealized gains and losses included in net trading revenues. Net trading revenues (trading gains, net of trading losses) and commissions and related expenses, including compensation and benefits, execution and clearance fees and payments for order flow, are also recorded on a trade date basis. The Company’s clearing agreements call for payment of or receipt of interest income, net of interest expense, for facilitating the settlement and financing of securities transactions.

 

The market value of securities owned, and securities sold, not yet purchased, which consist primarily of equities, is determined by the Company utilizing quoted market prices, dealer quotes and prices obtained from independent third parties.

 

Substantially all of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities are carried at market value or at amounts which, because of the short-term nature of the financial instruments, approximate current fair value.

 

Underwriting fees are recorded at the time the underwriting is completed.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash and cash equivalents include demand deposit accounts at banks.

 

Concentration of Credit Risks

 

The Company maintains its cash in bank deposit accounts that, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts. Management believes the Company is not exposed to any significant credit risk related to cash.

 

Other Investments

 

Other investments are included within other assets on the Statements of Financial Condition, including at January 31, 2004 the Company’s investment in ViewTrade Holding Corporation, and are accounted for at the lower of cost or fair value. The fair value of other investments, for which a quoted market or dealer price is not available, is based on management’s estimate. Among the factors considered by management in determining the fair value of investments are the financial condition, operating results and cash flows of the issuer, the long-term business potential of the issuer, the terms and liquidity of the investment, the sales price of recently issued securities, the quoted market price of securities with similar quality and yield that are publicly traded, and other factors generally pertinent to the valuation of investments.

 

Gain on Sale of Investment

 

On July 28, 2004, Crown entered into a Stock Repurchase Agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with ViewTrade Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ViewTrade”), pursuant to which Crown agreed to sell its entire beneficial interest in ViewTrade to ViewTrade. Under the terms of the Repurchase Agreement, Crown agreed to divest itself of 793,981 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of ViewTrade, which shares represented approximately 16% of ViewTrade’s outstanding securities (the “Shares”). In turn, ViewTrade agreed to pay the purchase price in the amount of $250,000 for the Shares. The closing of the Repurchase Agreement occurred on July 29, 2004. Crown had the investment recorded at $104,744, resulting in a $145,256 gain on the sale of the investment. Crown acquired its beneficial interest in ViewTrade when Crown’s former subsidiary, eMeyerson.com, Inc. merged into a wholly-owned subsidiary of ViewTrade on July 25, 2001.

 

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Furniture, Equipment, Capitalized Software and Leasehold Improvements

 

Furniture and equipment is stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Office furniture and equipment are depreciated over their estimated useful lives, ranging from three to seven years using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the remaining life of the lease or the estimated economic life of the improvements.

 

During the year ended January 31, 2004, the Company began capitalizing certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining internal use software pursuant to Statement of Position 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. Unamortized capitalized software development costs of $1,193,532 and $773,203 are carried in furniture, equipment, capitalized software and leasehold improvements in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition as of July 31 and January 31, 2004, respectively. Of the $1,193,532 of unamortized capitalized software as of July 31, 2004, $720,775 represented software that was still in development and was not being amortized and $472,757 represented software that had been placed in service and was being amortized. Of the $773,203 of unamortized capitalized software as of January 31, 2004, $455,784 represented software that was still in development and was not being amortized and $317,419 represented software that has now been placed in service and is being amortized.

 

Receivables from Trading and Sales Personnel

 

Some trading and sales personnel receive draws, which represent advances against future commission payments. Receivables from trading and sales personnel result when the cumulative earned commission payments are less than the cumulative draws paid. The Company expects to collect these receivables from future earned commissions.

 

The Company has established a reserve as an offset to the receivable balance on the basis of a review of historical collections and estimates of future collections. The reserve amount is $47,882 and $360,697 at July 31 and January 31, 2004, respectively. During the six month period ended July 31, 2004, certain receivables that were fully reserved were written-off because the underlying compensation was recharacterized as salary expense.

 

Stock Based Compensation

 

The Company has established employee stock option plans administered by the Board of Directors. Under the plans, options may be granted to employees of the Company and other qualified individuals up to an aggregate of 8,000,000 shares of Common Stock. As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123 Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, the Company accounts for the stock options issued to employees and directors as fixed plan options using the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Accordingly, compensation cost is recorded to the extent, if any, that the exercise price of the option is less than the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Any such compensation expense is charged to income over the service period (vesting period) and at termination, any charges related to unvested options are reversed. The Company recognized a credit of $9,917 and a charge of $12,943 on such grants during the three and six months ended July 31, 2004, respectively and charges of $114,018 and $156,763 of compensation expense during the three and six months ended July 31, 2003, respectively.

 

As required by SFAS No. 123, stock options issued to other than employees or directors are valued at fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, and the value of the options is charged to expense as the options vest. The Company recognized no expense on such grants during the six months ended July 31, 2004, while $17,250 was recognized during both the three and six months ended July 31, 2003.

 

As required by SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure, the Company has computed for pro forma disclosure purposes, the fair value of options granted to employees and directors using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. It should be noted that the Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of the traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable, and therefore are different from employee and director options which have both vesting and transfer restrictions which may affect their value. In addition, option valuation models required the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. In applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model, the Company used the following assumptions:

 

    

For the three months ended

July 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Risk free interest rate

   3.32 %   2.63 %

Weighted average expected life of options (years)

   4.00     4.00  

Expected volatility of Company’s common stock

   176 %   169 %

Expected dividends

   —       —    

 

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The following pro forma information of net loss and net loss per share was determined as if the Company had accounted for the stock option plans under the fair value method of SFAS No. 123:

 

     For the three months ended
July 31,


   

For the six months ended

July 31,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Net loss as reported

   $ (1,588,367 )   $ (1,099,907 )   $ (2,342,564 )   $ (3,214,034 )

Deduct: Total stock-based compensation/consulting expense determined under fair value based method for all awards

     (1,169,677 )     (110,433 )     (2,720,943 )     (180,364 )

Add (subtract): Total stock-based compensation/consulting expense (credits) determined under intrinsic value based method for all awards

     (9,917 )     131,268       12,943       174,013  
    


 


 


 


Pro forma net loss

   $ (2,767,961 )   $ (1,079,072 )   $ (5,050,564 )   $ (3,220,385 )
    


 


 


 


Earnings per share:

                                

Basic and diluted net loss per share as reported

   $ (0.12 )   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (0.36 )

Basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share

   $ (0.21 )   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.41 )   $ (0.36 )

 

The weighted average fair value of the stock options granted was $0.92 and $1.24 for the three and six months ended July 31, 2004, respectively and the weighted average fair value of the stock options granted was $2.15 and $1.33 for the three and six months ended July 31, 2003, respectively.

 

NASD Settlements

 

The Company is subject to settlement expenses arising from NASD arbitration and settlements with the NASD related to regulatory matters.During the three and six months ended July 31, 2003, a $240,000 credit was recorded representing Martin H. Meyerson’s, the Company’s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, reimbursement of a prior year settlement related to a regulatory matter.

 

Unearned Compensation

 

Unearned compensation represents the portion of option related charges which will be amortized as compensation expense over the remainder of the applicable vesting periods.

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company provides for current and deferred taxes payable or refundable utilizing the liability method prescribed by SFAS No. 109. That method recognized deferred assets and liabilities for differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities, utilizing currently enacted tax laws and rates. Deferred tax expenses or benefits represent changes in deferred tax assets or liabilities between years.

 

The Company files a federal income tax return as well as state income tax returns in certain jurisdictions. Additionally, the Company has a branch that is treated as a corporation for UK tax purposes. The Company includes the UK branch as a disregarded entity in its federal income tax return.

 

At July 31, 2004, the Company had a federal net operating loss carryforward of approximately $19,500,000. The federal net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in the fiscal year ending in 2022 and expires completely in the fiscal year ending in 2024.

 

In addition, the Company has state net operating loss carryforwards. The state net operating loss carryforwards range by jurisdiction up to approximately $26,000,000. These state net operating loss carryforwards expire between fiscal years ended in 2009 and 2013.

 

At July 31, 2004 the Company has net deferred tax assets, before valuation allowances, of $12,549,134. The Company’s deferred tax assets are subject to a 100% valuation allowance as currently management is unable to conclude that it is more likely than not the Company will generate sufficient future taxable income to realize the deferred tax assets.

 

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The following table reconciles the provision to the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate:

 

     For the three months ended
July 31, 2004


    For the three months ended
July 31, 2003


 

U.S. federal statutory income tax benefit

   (35.0 )%   (35.0 )%

Valuation allowance

   33.7  %   34.7  %

Other

   2.0  %   0.5  %
    

 

Effective income tax rate

   0.7  %   0.2  %
    

 

    

For the six months ended

July 31, 2004


   

For the six months ended

July 31, 2003


 

U.S. federal statutory income tax benefit

   (35.0 )%   (35.0 )%

Valuation allowance

   33.0  %   34.7  %

Other

   3.2  %   0.5  %
    

 

Effective income tax rate

   1.2  %   0.2  %
    

 

 

Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share

 

Basic earnings (loss) per common share (“EPS”) have been calculated by dividing net loss by the weighted average shares of Common Stock outstanding during the year. Diluted EPS reflects the potential reduction in EPS using the treasury stock method to reflect the impact of common share equivalents if stock awards such as stock options and restricted stock were exercised or converted into common stock.

 

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share computations for the three and six months ended July 31, 2004 and 2003:

 

    

For the three months ended

July 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 
    

Numerator /

net loss


   

Denominator /

shares


   

Numerator /

net loss


   

Denominator /

shares


 

Loss and shares used in basic calculations

   $ (1,588,367 )     13,089,684     $ (1,099,907 )     9,603,865  

Effect of dilutive stock based awards

     —         —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


Loss and shares used in diluted calculations

   $ (1,588,367 )     13,089,684     $ (1,099,907 )     9,603,865  
    


 


 


 


Basic earnings (loss) per share

           $ (0.12 )           $ (0.11 )

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

           $ (0.12 )           $ (0.11 )
    

For the six months ended

July 31,


 
     2004

    2003

 
    

Numerator /

net loss


   

Denominator /

shares


   

Numerator /

net loss


   

Denominator /

shares


 

Loss and shares used in basic calculations

   $ (2,342,564 )     12,293,732     $ (3,214,034 )     8,913,895  

Effect of dilutive stock based awards

     —         —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


Loss and shares used in diluted calculations

   $ (2,342,564 )     12,293,732     $ (3,214,034 )     8,913,895  
    


 


 


 


Basic earnings (loss) per share

           $ (0.19 )           $ (0.36 )

Diluted earnings (loss) per share

           $ (0.19 )           $ (0.36 )

 

For the three and six months ended July 31, 2004 and 2003, common stock equivalents in the amount of 4,519,420 and 1,857,610 shares were not included in the calculation of weighted average shares for diluted EPS because the Company incurred losses during the periods and the effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain fiscal 2004 amounts have been reclassified to conform with fiscal 2005 classifications.

 

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3. SECURITIES OWNED AND SECURITIES SOLD, NOT YET PURCHASED

 

Marketable securities owned consist of investment securities at quoted market values. Securities not readily marketable include investment securities (a) for which there is no market on a securities exchange or no independent publicly quoted market, (b) that cannot be publicly offered or sold unless registration has been effected under the Securities Act of 1933, or (c) that cannot be offered or sold because of other arrangements, restrictions, or conditions applicable to the securities or to the Company.

 

    

July 31,

2004


  

January 31,

2004


Securities owned, marketable:

             

Equities

   $ 844,308    $ 3,222,383

Other

     2,494      11,213
    

  

       846,802      3,233,596

Securities owned, not readily marketable:

             

Equities

     54,691      0
    

  

     $ 901,493    $ 3,233,596
    

  

Securities sold, not yet purchased:

             

Equities

   $ 85,661    $ 492,081
    

  

 

4. DEPOSITS WITH AND RECEIVABLES FROM BROKERS AND DEALERS

 

The Company maintains clearing agreements with Spear, Leads & Kellogg (“SLK”) and Fiserv Securities, Inc., (“Fiserv”). Under the agreement with SLK, the Company maintains a clearing deposit of $1,000,000. The Company primarily clears its proprietary equity market making and institutional client activity through SLK. Under the agreement with Fiserv, the Company maintains a clearing deposit of $100,000. The Company primarily clears its fixed income and individual investor activity through Fiserv.

 

The amounts receivable from brokers and dealers consist of the following:

 

    

July 31,

2004


  

January 31,

2004


Receivable:

             

Clearing brokers

   $ 1,378,056    $ 2,380,887

Deposits

     1,100,000      1,100,000

Other

     510,752      509,355
    

  

     $ 2,988,808    $ 3,990,242
    

  

 

The amount shown as Other represents the Company’s deposit with our former clearing broker, Bear Stearns & Co. Inc., which is being retained pending the resolution of the C.V.I. Group Arbitration matter (see Note 9, “C.V.I. Group Arbitration”).

 

5. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS

 

The Company considers significant customers to be customers who account for 10% or more of the total trades by the Company during the period. The Company had no such significant customers for the three months ended July 31, 2004, as compared to two such significant customers, both U.S. broker-dealers, accounting for 28% and 17% of the total trades in the comparable period in 2003. The Company had one such significant customer, a U.S. broker-dealer, which accounted for 14% of the total trades for the six months ended July 31, 2004, as compared to two such significant customers, both U.S. broker-dealers, accounting for 28% and 17% of the total trades in the comparable period in 2003.

 

The Company’s customers include both institutions and broker-dealers. Institutional clients primarily include mutual funds, pension plans, plan sponsors, hedge funds, trusts and endowments. Broker-dealer clients include global, national and regional broker-dealers and on-line brokers.

 

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6. NET CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS

 

As a registered broker-dealer, the Company is subject to regulatory requirements intended to ensure the general financial soundness and liquidity of broker-dealers and requiring the maintenance of minimum levels of net capital, as defined in the SEC Rule 15c3-1. These regulations also prohibit a broker-dealer from repaying subordinated borrowings, paying cash dividends, making loans to its parent, affiliates or employees, or otherwise entering into transactions which would result in a reduction of its total net capital to less than 120% of its required minimum capital. Moreover, broker-dealers are required to notify the SEC before repaying any subordinated borrowings, paying dividends and making loans to its parent, affiliates or employees, or otherwise entering into transactions, which, if executed, would result in a reduction of 30% or more of its excess net capital (net capital less minimum requirement). The SEC has the ability to prohibit or restrict such transactions if the result is detrimental to the financial integrity of the broker-dealer. At July 31, 2004, the Company had net capital of $1,363,559 compared to a minimum net capital requirement of $1,000,000.

 

7. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Until July 29, 2004 the Company owned an interest in ViewTrade of approximately 16% (see Note 2, “Gain on Sale of Investment”). ViewTrade subleased space from the Company until the lease was terminated on February 29, 2004. The Company recorded no sublease income for the three and six months ended July 31, 2004 and $48,703 and $116,905 for the three and six months ended July 31, 2003, respectively. This income is included in Other Income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

During the six months ended July 31, 2004, the Company sold in privately negotiated transactions certain shares of Company common stock, not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, to executive officers, or family members of executive officers, for cash proceeds. See Note 10.

 

8. SUBORDINATED LOANS

 

The Company entered into a NASD approved subordinated loan agreement with SLK dated June 3, 1997 and effective August 1, 1997. The loan is for $2,000,000 and it matured on August 31, 1999, but was extended to August 31, 2003. The maturity of the subordinated loan was again extended, to August 31, 2005, by an agreement dated July 22, 2003, which the Company and SLK entered into in conjunction with a renegotiation of the clearing services SLK provides to the Company. The subordinated loan is subject to monthly interest payments at the Prime Rate and is unsecured. This subordinated loan is considered debt for purposes of the debt to debt-equity ratio.

 

9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

 

The Company has entered into arrangements with organizations, including clearing brokers, which provide for indemnification against losses, costs, claims and liabilities arising from the performance of their obligations under our agreement, except for gross negligence or bad faith. The Company has had no claims or payments pursuant to these or prior agreements, and we believe the likelihood of a claim being made, the adverse outcome of which, individually or in the aggregate, that can be predicted with any reasonable certainty, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results, is remote.

 

The Company leases office space under noncancelable operating leases, including a British pound denominated lease related to its U.K. subsidiary. The office leases contain certain escalation clauses whereby the rental commitments may be increased if certain conditions are satisfied and specify yearly adjustments to the lease amounts based on annual adjustments to the Consumer Price Index. The Company leases certain computer and other equipment under noncancelable operating leases. Additionally, the Company leases office equipment under various leases expiring in 2005 and 2006.

 

The rental expense for the three months ended July 31, 2004 and 2003 was $300,062 and $262,645 respectively and the rental expense for the six months ended July 31, 2004 and 2003 was $597,574 and $522,593, respectively. As of July 31, 2004, future minimum rental commitments under all noncancelable office leases, computer leases and equipment leases were as follows:

 

    

Office

Leases


  

Other

Obligations


   Total

Six months ended January 31, 2005

   $ 495,447    $ 89,525    $ 584,972

Year ended January 31, 2006

     887,000      29,249      916,249

Year ended January 31, 2007

     905,946      9,515      915,461

Year ended January 31, 2008

     921,300      —        921,300

Year ended January 31, 2009

     897,933      —        897,933

Thereafter through July 31, 2011

     2,233,150      —        2,233,150
    

  

  

     $ 6,340,776    $ 128,289    $ 6,469,065
    

  

  

 

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The Company has commitments for guaranteed employment contracts with certain executive management personnel of approximately $487,500 for the six months ended January 31, 2005 and $400,000 for the year ended January 31, 2006.

 

The following litigation and arbitration matters are pending at July 31, 2004:

 

RAINBOW MEDICAL (FLORIDA)

 

Harry Binder, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, Plaintiff, v. Rainbow Medical Inc., Rainbow Pediatrics, Inc., M.H. Meyerson & Co., Inc., Hugo D. Goldstraj, M.D, Marcela C. Goldstraj, M.D., Roberto P. Novo, M.D., Sandra R. Giblin, Martin Leventhal, Gina Bertinelli, Defendants, Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami Dade, Florida, Case No. 00-24851 CA.

 

On September 19, 2000, plaintiff commenced a class action lawsuit alleging that the class, consisting of all investors who purchased investment units in Rainbow Medical, Inc. (“Rainbow”) in a $2.5 million private placement offering in June 1997, purchased units which became worthless when, after the offering closed, certain officers and inside directors of Rainbow, specifically defendants Hugo D. Goldstraj, M.D., Marcela C. Goldstraj, M.D., and Roberto P. Novo, M.D., looted Rainbow and stole the proceeds of the offering. The Company was the placement and selling agent for the private placement. Martin Leventhal, C.P.A., a director of the Company became an outside director of Rainbow after the offering closed.

 

Plaintiff in its Amended Complaint claims against the Company and Leventhal for breach of fiduciary duty, negligent misrepresentation and negligence. Plaintiff alleges that the Company failed to make certain disclosures in the offering memorandum concerning legal proceedings involving Rainbow’s officers, that the Company failed to ensure that Rainbow engaged in certain corporate actions and that Rainbow failed to use the offering proceeds in the manner stated in the offering memorandum. Plaintiff seeks approximately $2.6 million in damages on behalf of the “class” of investors.

 

On July 19, 2001, plaintiff Harry Binder, as the putative class representative, filed a motion to have the lawsuit certified as a class action. On December 11, 2001, the Trial Court issued an Order denying the motion. Plaintiff appealed the Court’s Order denying class certification. On November 27, 2002, the Third District Court of Appeal, Florida issued a decision affirming the Trial Court’s denial of class certification. Accordingly, the only claims that remained were the plaintiff’s individual claims, which sought damages of $37,500, together with interest and attorney’s fees.

 

On June 24, 2004, the Company and Martin Leventhal have been dismissed from this matter with prejudice pursuant to a Stipulation and Order of Dismissal executed between the parties.

 

FEDERAL SECURITIES CLAIMS (NEW JERSEY)

 

In re M.H. Meyerson & Co., Inc. Securities Litigation, United States District Court, District of New Jersey, 02 div. 2724.

 

On June 6, 2002, the plaintiff (who is also the plaintiff in the Florida lawsuit discussed above) filed a Class Action Complaint against the Company and defendants, Martin Meyerson, Kenneth Koock, Estate of Eugene Whitehouse, Jeffrey Meyerson, Bertram Siegel, Martin Leventhal and Alfred Duncan who are directors of the Company. In their complaint, Plaintiffs allege fraud claims under the federal securities law relating to the Company’s disclosures, and alleged failures to disclose certain information relating to prior litigations involving the Company, the efforts of the Company’s subsidiary, eMeyerson.com, Inc., to develop an electronic trading program through a license agreement with TradinGear.com, Inc., and a litigation arising from eMeyerson’s termination of that agreement, and other matters. Plaintiffs seek damages in excess of $15 million for the alleged class.

 

Subsequently, a virtually identical class action lawsuit was filed by other plaintiffs against the same defendants in the same court, Choung v. M.H. Meyerson & Co., Inc., et al., U.S. District Court of New Jersey, 02 Civ. 3622. On September 24, 2002, the District Court consolidated the two cases under the caption, “In re M.H. Meyerson & Co. Securities Litigation,” Master File No. 02-CV-2724. The plaintiffs have served an Amended Complaint, which repeats the allegations of the initial pleading.

 

Upon the Company’s motion, and pursuant to an Order of the U.S. District Court dated September 29, 2003, the consolidated action was dismissed with leave to amend within thirty days. On or about October 30, 2003, plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Consolidated Class Action Complaint (“Second Amended Complaint”). All defendants have recently filed a motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint.

 

On June 3, 2004, the court granted the plaintiffs’ motion to file a Third Amended Complaint to include facts arising from the Company’s restatement of its financial results for fiscal 2001, 2002 and 2003 and the interim periods ended April 30, 2003 and July 31, 2003.

 

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The Company intends to continue to contest the allegations and has not recorded a provision for any loss that may be incurred as a result of the action.

 

C.V.I. GROUP ARBITRATION

 

C.V.I. Group v. M.H. Meyerson & Co., Inc. and Bear Stearns & Co., Inc.

 

In February 2000, claimants filed a Statement of Claim in arbitration with the National Association of Securities Dealers (“NASD”) alleging that the Company wrongfully transferred 20,000,000 shares of Whitehall Enterprises, Inc. that were deposited with the Company and its then clearing agent, Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. (“Bear Stearns”). Claimants contend that their damages are based upon the market price of the shares at the date of the transfer, $.25 per share. This claim is partially covered by the Company’s Broker/Dealer Errors and Omissions Policy for a net amount of $1,000,000.

 

The Company denied all liability and asserted that the transfer of the shares were authorized and duly executed by each of the claimant entities, EMES, SLR, and Ontario, to Global Financial. Each of EMES, SLR, and Ontario, in its respective Power of Attorney, appointed Global Financial as its agent and attorney-in-fact with full and unlimited power and authority to buy, sell, assign, endorse, and transfer all securities of any nature standing anywhere in the name, respectively, of EMES, SLR, and Ontario. Claimants sent copies of each of the Powers of Attorney to the Company to facilitate the transfer of the shares to Global Financial.

 

The evidence showed that claimants did not send a revocation of the Powers of Attorney until January 27, 2000, which was three days after the shares were transferred. Moreover, the Powers of Attorney specifically stated that any revocation is ineffective for any transaction that was initiated before a revocation. This matter was arbitrated in Buffalo, NY on October 15-17, 2001.

 

On January 8, 2002, the NASD arbitration panel awarded $5,000,000 in compensatory damages against the Company and Bear Stearns. The award was joint and several against both firms. Neither Bear Stearns nor the Company asserted cross claims against each other in the arbitration. Either may attempt, subject to defenses of the other, to assert a cross claim against the other under the clearing agreement or other law for its share of the award. Pending resolution of this matter, Bear Stearns has retained the Company’s clearing deposit (see Note 4). The Company and Bear Stearns have each filed motions to vacate the award in its entirety with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Bear Stearns has also requested the Court to vacate the award as to itself, if the Court does not vacate the entire award. Although the Company previously expected that these motions together, with the Claimant’s motion to confirm, would be resolved sometime during the second calendar quarter of 2004, the Company is now unable to predict the timing of the resolution of this matter.

 

While both the management of the Company and its legal counsel believe that a vacation or modification of the award is very possible, due to the fact that the legal grounds for vacating an award are somewhat narrow, the Company elected to record the $5,000,000 adverse award as a liability in its financial statements during January 2002. Because the award is joint and several, and may be overturned, the Company has not accrued a reserve for interest on the award. The Company has a Securities Broker/Dealer’s Professional Liability Insurance policy with coverage of $1,000,000 for each loss. The insurance company has acknowledged that the adverse arbitration award is covered under the policy. Accordingly, the Company has recorded a $1,000,000 insurance receivable in the consolidated financial statements.

 

HOOVER ARBITRATION

 

James D. Hoover, Jr. and Kimberly R. Hoover v. M.H. Meyerson & Co, Inc., Martin H. Meyerson and Ronald Heller, NASD Arbitration No. 03-02234

 

In March 2003, claimants filed a Statement of Claim in arbitration with the NASD alleging the respondents engaged in excessive and unauthorized trading and entered into unsuitable investments in the claimants’ account. Claimants further alleged that respondent, Heller, solicited investments in several private placements in which respondents had vested interests. Claimants seek damages in the amount of $2.5 million. In May 2003, the Company filed its answer denying the allegation and moved to dismiss the claim.

 

The Company believes that the allegations in the Statement of Claim are meritless. The Company intends to continue to contest the allegations vigorously and has not recorded a provision for any loss that may be incurred as a result of the action.

 

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NEWMAN ARBITRATIONS

 

Annette Newman, IRA v. M.H. Meyerson & Co, Inc., NASD Arbitration No. 02-07064

 

Claimant filed arbitration with the NASD alleging a former registered representative of the Company recommended and entered into unsuitable investments for claimant’s account. Claimant also alleged that the registered representative engaged in unauthorized trading in the claimant’s account. Claimant seeks damages in the amount of $113,000. In March 2003, the Company filed its answer denying all allegations.

 

Martin Newman and Annette Newman v. M.H. Meyerson & Co, Inc., NASD Arbitration No. 03-00129

 

In January 2003 claimants filed a Statement of Claim in arbitration with the NASD alleging a former registered representative of the Company engaged in excessive trading and made unauthorized investments in the claimants’ account. Claimants also alleged that Company failed to supervise adequately the activities of its representative. Claimants seek damages in the amount of $120,100. On April 3, 2003, the Company filed its answer denying all allegations.

 

The parties have agreed in principle to settle all claims asserted in the above arbitrations for an amount that will not have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

G-TRADE SECURITIES AND INSTINET DIVIDEND CLAIMS

 

In late June 2004, Instinet and G-Trade Securities asserted dividend claims against the Company aggregating $263,644. These claims are connected with certain securities arbitrage transactions that were conducted by the Company during the period between May 27, 2004 and June 14, 2004. The Company utilized the claimants as their agent in these transactions, which consisted of purchases of certain foreign company ordinary shares that were ultimately converted by Citibank, N.A. (the depositary bank) into American Depository Receipts (“ADR’s”). The ADR’s were then simultaneously sold to a third party. During the time period that these transactions were conducted, the securities that were being traded were in the midst of a series of dividend distributions.

 

The Company believes that the dividend claims are meritless. The Company intends to contest the claims vigorously and has not recorded a provision for any loss that may be incurred as a result of the claims.

 

NASD PROCEEDING

 

As the result of misstatements to the Company’s financial statements discovered in October 2003 and restated in March 2004 (see Note 2, “Restatement and Restatement Costs”), the Company’s originally reported net capital was misstated for the years ended January 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, including the corresponding interim periods, and the interim periods through July 31, 2003. The NASD has verbally notified counsel to the Company of the NASD’s intent to recommend the initiation of an enforcement proceeding against the Company and a former officer relating to the Company’s failure to accurately report its net capital for the years ended January 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, including the corresponding interim periods, and the interim periods through July 31, 2003. The Company, through counsel, is discussing with the NASD the possibility of informally resolving the matter. There can be no assurance that an informal resolution will be reached and the Company has not recorded a provision for any loss that may be incurred as a result of the proceeding.

 

Miscellaneous

 

From time to time, certain of the Company’s past and present officers, directors and employees have been named as parties in lawsuits, securities arbitration and administrative claims. These past and present officers, directors and employees are currently the subject of proceedings that are in their initial stages. In the opinion of management, based upon consultation with legal counsel, the Company is not currently a party to any other legal or arbitration proceeding not already disclosed, the adverse outcome of which, individually or in the aggregate, that can be predicted with any reasonable certainty, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

 

Dissatisfied customers of the Company’s broker-dealer clients may complain to the NASD or the SEC who may investigate those complaints. These complaints may even rise to the level of arbitration or disciplinary action. In addition, the securities industry is subject to extensive regulation under federal, state and applicable international laws. As a result, the Company is required to comply with many complex laws and rules and the Company’s ability to so comply is dependent in large part upon the establishment and maintenance of a qualified compliance system. The Company is aware of no other SEC or NASD review, or NASD arbitration that would have a materially adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition and operating results.

 

10. COMMON STOCK

 

During the three months ended April 30, 2004, the Company sold in privately negotiated transactions 125,000 shares of Company common stock, not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) to executive officers, or family members of executive officers, for cash proceeds of $207,500.

 

During the three months ended July 31, 2004, the Company sold in privately negotiated transactions 2,082,389 shares of Company common stock not registered under the Securities Act for net cash proceeds of $1,828,600. Placement fees totaling $35,180 were paid to two placement agents in connection with this share issuance. Shares totaling 1,553,601 were sold to unaffiliated accredited investors and shares totaling 528,788 were sold to an executive officer of the Company.

 

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11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Commencing in August 2004, the Company issued, in a series of private offerings, 4,824,243 shares of Company common stock in exchange for $1,525,000 in cash. These shares were sold without registration and are subject to restrictions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and the securities laws of certain states, in reliance on the private offering exemptions contained in Sections 4(2), 4(6) and/or 3(b) of the Securities Act and on Regulation D promulgated thereunder, and in reliance on similar exemptions under applicable state laws.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

GENERAL

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as well as the Annual Report on Form 10-K and amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004 filed with the SEC on April 30 and June 1, 2004, respectively.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our critical accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. However, certain accounting policies and estimates are particularly important to the understanding of our consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations and require the application of significant judgment by our management or can be materially affected by changes, from period to period, in economic factors or conditions that are outside the control of management. As a result, they are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. In applying these policies, our management uses their judgment to determine the appropriate assumptions to be used in the determination of certain estimates. Those estimates are based on our historical operations, our future business plans and projected financial results, the terms of existing contracts, our observance of trends in the industry and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. The following discusses our critical accounting policies and estimates.

 

Other Investments— Other investments are included within other assets on the Statements of Financial Condition, including the Company’s investment in ViewTrade Holding Corporation as of January 31, 2004, and are accounted for at the lower of cost or fair value. The fair value of other investments, for which a quoted market or dealer price is not available, is based on management’s estimate. Among the factors considered by management in determining the fair value of investments are the financial condition, operating results and cash flows of the issuer, the long-term business potential of the issuer, the terms and liquidity of the investment, the sales price of recently issued securities the quoted market price of securities with similar quality and yield that are publicly traded, and other factors generally pertinent to the valuation of investments. The fair value of these investments is subject to a high degree of volatility and may be susceptible to significant fluctuations in the near term. Investments are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that the valuations have not been impaired.

 

Stock Options—As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, the Company accounts for the stock options issued to employees and directors as fixed plan options using the intrinsic value method prescribed by Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Accordingly, compensation cost is recorded only to the extent, if any, that the exercise price of the option is less than the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Any such compensation expense is charged to income over the service period (vesting period).

 

As required by SFAS No. 123, stock options issued to other than employees or directors are valued at fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, and the value of the options is charged to expense as the options vest.

 

As required by SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure (“SFAS 148”), the Company has computed for pro forma disclosure purposes, the fair value of options granted to employees and directors using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. It should be noted that the Black-Scholes option-pricing model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of the traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable, and therefore are different from employee and director options which have both vesting and transfer restrictions which may affect their value. In addition, option valuation models required the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Such assumptions may change over time.

 

Allowance for doubtful accounts—In the third quarter of fiscal 2003, the Company began recording an allowance against accounts receivable from trading and sales personnel. That allowance is $47,882 at July 31, 2004. Accounts receivable from trading and sales personnel represent amounts owed to the Company by its traders and sales persons for draws (i.e., advance compensation payments) in excess of their profits and commissions earned. New management has assessed the probability of collection for each receivable and has established an allowance consistent with that assessment. However, estimating the allowance is highly subjective, and estimates may differ significantly from the actual amount because the majority of our traders and sales persons are new to the Company, and the Company’s new management does not have a lengthy history about collections from its traders and sales persons. We will reassess and refine our methodology continuously as the new management accumulates sufficient history of collections from its traders and sales persons, and that process may result in changes to our estimates.

 

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Capitalization of proprietary software—During the year ended January 31, 2004, the Company began capitalizing certain costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining internal use software pursuant to Statement of Position 98-1, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. Unamortized capitalized software development costs of $1,193,532 are carried in furniture, equipment, capitalized software and leasehold improvements in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition as of July 31, 2004. Of that amount, $720,775 represents software that is still in development and is not being amortized and $472,757 represents software that has been placed in service and is being amortized. Capitalized software is amortized over its estimated useful life of three years.

 

Contingent liabilities—As discussed in Note 9 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company is the defendant in several law suits or arbitrations brought by brokerage customers or investors who purchased securities in offerings for which the Company acted as underwriter or placement agent. The claims in these actions represent contingent liabilities, which are accounted for under SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies. Under SFAS No. 5, a loss and a liability is recorded for a settlement or award when management concludes that such loss is probable and can be reasonably estimated. In many of the actions described in Note 9, we intend to vigorously defend ourselves, and/or are presently unable to predict the outcome, and therefore to date have not accrued for any losses. However, as these actions proceed and more information becomes available, our assessment of the future outcome of a matter may change or, notwithstanding our defenses, we may choose to settle a matter or a plaintiff may receive an award, at which time a loss may be recorded. The actual future outcomes of these matters may differ from our assessments at any point in time, and significant differences could have a material affect on our financial position and results of operations.

 

Income taxes—As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes. This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure, together with assessing temporary differences resulting from the difference in the financial reporting and tax treatments of specific items, such as stock compensation, the valuation of financial instruments, the allowance for doubtful accounts, and other items. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. We also record a deferred tax asset for net operating loss carryforwards. We then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income, and to the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we must establish a valuation allowance. Our future tax expense as reported in the financial statements will be affected by the extent to which we establish a valuation allowance or the increase or decrease in the allowance during a period. To date, we have recorded a valuation allowance of $12,549,134, the entire amount of our deferred tax assets (primarily net operating loss carryforwards), as currently we cannot determine that it is more likely than not that we will generate sufficient taxable income in the U.S. to use those net operating loss carryforwards. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates, or we adjust these estimates in future periods, we may need to adjust the valuation allowance, which could materially impact our financial position and results of operations.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FIN No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. The FASB subsequently revised and issued Financial Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 46 (Revised) in December 2003. FIN No. 46 requires a company to consolidate a variable interest entity (“VIE”) if the company has variable interests that give it a majority of the expected losses or a majority of the expected residual returns of the entity. Before FIN No. 46, VIEs were commonly referred to as special purpose entities. As the Company does not have any interests in VIEs, the adoption of this statement did not have an effect on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts (collectively referred to as derivatives) and for hedging activities under FASB No. 133 Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. This Statement is effective for derivative contracts and hedging instruments entered into after June 30, 2003. The adoption of this statement did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity. SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity, and imposes certain additional disclosure requirements. The provisions of SFAS No. 150 are effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and must be applied to all financial instruments at the beginning of the third quarter of 2003. The adoption of this statement did not have an effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

 

This report contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and information relating to the Company that are based on management’s exercise of business judgment as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management.

 

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When used in this document, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” and “intend” and words of similar import, are intended to identify any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current view of future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties as noted below. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Certain Factors Affecting Results of Operations

 

Although we believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will materialize. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. Several of these factors include, without limitation the Company’s ability to:

 

  finance and manage expected growth;

 

  provide ongoing competitive services and pricing;

 

  retain and attract key personnel;

 

  attract new subscribers while minimizing subscriber attrition;

 

  address legal proceedings in an effective manner;

 

  adopt new, or changes in, accounting principles;

 

  attract sufficient capital to fund its business and maintain adequate regulatory capital;

 

  manage the risks attendant to the value of our securities positions;

 

  attract an adequate volume of our market-making activities;

 

  attract an adequate dollar value of securities traded;

 

  adapt to volatility in the securities markets;

 

  realize adequate demand for our investment banking and advisory services;

 

  adapt to changes in investor sentiment;

 

  manage through any seasonality in business volume;

 

  manage personnel, overhead and other expenses;

 

  adapt to changes in payments for order flow and clearing costs;

 

  manage changes in senior management and sales, trading and technology professionals;

 

  adjust to legislative, legal and regulatory changes;

 

  adequately address all regulatory matters;

 

  adapt to technological changes and events; and

 

  compete and adjust to market and macroeconomic conditions.

 

We undertake no obligation and do not intend to update, revise or otherwise publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of any unanticipated events.

 

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Revenues

 

Our revenues consist principally of net trading revenue from U.S. securities market-making activities. Net trading revenue, which consists of trading gains, net of trading losses and commission equivalents, is primarily affected by changes in U.S. equity trade and share volumes, our average revenue capture per share, dollar value of equities traded, our ability to properly manage inventory positions, changes in our execution standards, volatility in the marketplace, our mix of broker-dealer and institutional clients and by regulatory changes and evolving industry customs and practices.

 

Securities transactions with clients are executed as principal, riskless principal or agent. Profits and losses on principal transactions and commission equivalents on riskless principal transactions are included within net trading revenue, and commissions earned on agency transactions are included within commissions. We execute the majority of our institutional client orders on a riskless principal or agency basis, generating commission equivalents or commissions. We execute the majority of our broker-dealer client orders as principal. Commissions and fees are primarily affected by changes in our agency trade and share volumes.

 

We also earned commissions from our retail customers, which are primarily affected by changes in our retail customers’ trade and share volume, changes in the number of retail customer accounts, as well as changes in commission rates. As a part of the new management’s focus on market making activities, the Company exited the retail business and transferred the majority of our retail customer accounts to GunnAllen Financial, Inc. on March 27, 2004.

 

We earn underwriting and advisory fees from our corporate clients, mostly on an agency basis. Underwriting and investment banking fees are primarily affected by the level of underwriting and advisory assignments we obtain, as well as volatility in the marketplace and investor sentiment.

 

We earn interest income from our cash held at banks and cash held in trading accounts at clearing brokers. The Company’s clearing agreements call for payment or receipt of interest income, net of transaction-related interest charged by clearing brokers for facilitating the settlement and financing of securities transactions. Net interest is primarily affected by interest rates, the changes in cash balances held at banks and clearing brokers and our level of securities positions owned compared to our securities positions in which we are short.

 

Expenses

 

Our principal operating expenses consist of employee compensation and benefits, communication and data processing, and execution and clearance charges.

 

Employee compensation and benefits expense primarily consists of salaries and wages paid to all employees and profitability based compensation, which includes compensation paid to market-making and sales personnel primarily based on their individual and overall performance and incentive compensation paid to other employees based on our overall profitability. Compensation for employees engaged in sales activities is determined primarily based on a percentage of their gross revenues net of expenses including payments for execution and clearance costs and overhead allocations. Employee compensation and benefits expense fluctuates, for the most part, based on changes in net trading revenue, our profitability and our number of employees.

 

Communications and data processing expense primarily consists of costs for obtaining market data, telecommunications services and systems maintenance. Communication and data processing fees primarily fluctuate based on the number of our sales and trading professionals.

 

Execution and clearance fees primarily represent clearance fees paid to clearing brokers for equities transactions, transaction fees paid to Nasdaq, execution fees paid to third parties, primarily for executing trades in listed securities on the NYSE and AMEX, and for executing orders through ECNs. Execution and clearance fees primarily fluctuate based on changes in equity trade and share volume, clearance fees charged by clearing brokers and fees paid to access ECNs and exchanges.

 

Other operating expenses are:

 

Professional fees, which consist of legal, auditing and other professional fees, as well as fees paid to computer programming, systems and management consultants.

 

Occupancy and equipment rentals expense, which primarily consists of rental payments on office and equipment leases.

 

Business development expense, which primarily consists of travel, entertainment and advertising costs.

 

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Depreciation and amortization expense from the depreciation of furniture and equipment and the amortization of leasehold improvements and capitalized software.

 

Postage, printing and office supplies expense which consists of expenditures related to mail, overnight shipping costs, and office supplies.

 

NASD settlements expense arise from NASD arbitration and settlements with the NASD related to regulatory matters.

 

Interest expense, which primarily relates to subordinated debt interest.

 

Other expenses, which primarily consist of administrative expenses and other operating costs such as regulatory fees and general office expenses.

 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended July 31, 2004 and 2003

 

The net loss for the three months ended July 31, 2004 was $1,588,367 resulting in a loss per share on both a basic and fully diluted basis of $0.12. This compares to a net loss of $1,099,907 and a loss per share of $0.11 on both a basic and fully diluted basis for the comparable period in 2003. In the three months ended July 31, 2004, total revenues decreased 21% to $4,038,385 from $5,115,132 for the comparable period in 2003, primarily related to a decrease in trading revenues, partially offset by aggregate proceeds of $845,256 from a settlement and a gain on the sale of an investment. The gains from the settlement and the sale of an investment are non-recurring in nature.

 

Expenses decreased 9% to $5,614,081 for the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $6,202,556 in the comparable period in 2003. The decrease is directly related to the decreased level of trading activity and share volumes, partially offset by increased communications and data processing expenses. Additionally, the expenses for the comparable period in 2003 were reduced by $240,000 received from the Company’s former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, related to reimbursement of a prior year settlement related to a regulatory matter.

 

The Company has provided a full valuation allowance related to potential future tax benefits associated with the tax loss carry forward and current year losses.

 

Revenues

 

Net trading revenue decreased 36% to $2,940,608 in the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $4,602,509 for the comparable period in 2003. The decrease was due to a reduction in trade volume including the effects of the loss of a significant customer and a major decline in volume from another significant customer, partially offset by new customers and new business from existing customers.

 

The number of trades conducted for the major customer lost were 361,496 during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004, 99,887 for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 2,407 for the three months ended July 31, 2004. The Company estimates (on the basis of a trading system that estimates revenues for a customer using certain assumptions) that the net trading revenues from the major customer lost were $409,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and $26,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2004. The number of trades conducted for the major customer that reduced its business were 170,873 during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004, 36,200 for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and 5,108 for the three months ended July 31, 2004. The estimated net trading revenues from the major customer that reduced its business were $403,000 for the three months ended April 30, 2004 and $40,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2004. Until the Company is able to replace these revenues through the addition of volumes or the Company’s market share, its revenues may be expected to continue to be at levels below those of the last three quarters of the year ended January 31, 2004 and the quarter ended April 20, 2004, and the Company’s results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

Commissions decreased 24% to $244,741 for the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $323,542 in the comparable period for 2003, due to the decline in trade volumes.

 

Underwriting and investment banking fees were none for the three months ended July 31, 2004, down from $89,975 in the comparable period in 2003. This decrease is primarily due to a reduction in resources committed to investment banking.

 

Settlement proceeds of $700,000 were realized during the three months ended July 31, 2004 due to an agreement reached with our former independent auditors Sanville & Company and it’s principal Robert Sanville (see “Settlement Proceeds” in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). There were no settlement proceeds realized during the three months ended July 31, 2003.

 

Gain on sale of investment of $145,256 was realized during the three months ended July 31, 2004 due to the sale of the Company’s approximately 16% interest in ViewTrade for total proceeds of $250,000 (see “Gain on Sale of Investment in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). There were no gains on sales of investments during the three months ended July 31, 2003.

 

Interest and other revenue decreased 92% to $7,780 for the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $99,106 in the comparable period for 2003, primarily due to the absence of sub-lease income during the 2004 quarter and a decline in investment income.

 

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Expenses

 

Employee compensation and benefits expense decreased 19% to $2,481,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $3,053,071 in the comparable period in 2003. This decrease was largely a result of lower production related compensation due to the decline in trading and share volumes.

 

Communications and data processing increased 86% to $973,016 in the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $522,691 for the comparable period in 2003. The increase is primarily attributable to increased costs associated with the enhanced trading platform for which billings initiated in January 2004, plus additional requirements for market data services.

 

Execution and clearance fees decreased 31% to $718,251 in the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $1,046,085 for the comparable period in 2003, due to the decrease in trading and share volumes and a renegotiated, more favorable clearance rate schedule.

 

Professional fees decreased 39% to $480,648 in the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $782,807 for the comparable period in 2003. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in legal costs associated with outstanding litigation and arbitration matters and a reduction in consulting expense.

 

Occupancy and equipment rental expense increased 5% to $352,392 for the three months ended July 31, 2004, compared to $335,734 for the comparable period in 2003.

 

Business development expense decreased 11% to $104,820 for the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $118,267 for the comparable period in 2003.

 

Depreciation and amortization increased 140% to $122,448 for the three months ended July 31, 2004, compared to $51,059 for the comparable period in 2003. This increase is primarily due to an increase in technology and software development expenditures, resulting in increased depreciation and amortization expense.

 

Postage, printing and office supplies expense decreased 86% to $31,631 for the three months ended July 31, 2004 from $231,434 for the comparable period in 2003. The decrease is primarily attributable to a reduction in the headcount, including the exit from the retail business and other cost reduction measures.

 

Interest expense decreased 47% to $27,703 for the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $52,405 for the comparable period in 2003. The decrease is a result of reducing our subordinated debt outstanding.

 

NASD settlements expense was $39,513 for the three months ended July 31, 2004 as compared to a $240,000 credit for the three months ended July 31, 2004. During the three months ended July 31, 2003, the $240,000 credit represented Martin H. Meyerson’s reimbursement of a prior year settlement related to a regulatory matter (see “NASD Settlements” in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Other expenses increased by 14% to $282,659 for the three months ended July 31, 2004, from $249,003 for the comparable period in 2003, primarily due to an increase in insurance costs.

 

Six Months Ended July 31, 2004 and 2003

 

The net loss for the six months ended July 31, 2004 was $2,342,564, resulting in a loss per share on both a basic and fully diluted basis of $0.19. This compares to a net loss of $3,214,034 and a loss per share of $0.36 on both a basic and fully diluted basis for the comparable period in 2003. In the six months ended July 31, 2003, total revenues increased 44% to $10,546,730, from $7,340,713 for the comparable period in 2003, primarily related to an increase in trading revenues in the quarter ended April 30, 2004 and the proceeds from a settlement and a gain on the sale of an investment.

 

Expenses increased 22% to $12,860,544 for the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $10,539,052 in the comparable period in 2003. The increase is directly related to the increased level of trading activity in the quarter ended April 30, 2004, the increase in communications and data processing costs, and the restatement costs.

 

The Company has provided a full valuation allowance related to potential future tax benefits associated with the tax loss carry forward and current year losses.

 

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Revenues

 

Net trading revenue increased 42% to $8,986,639 in the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $6,322,941 for the comparable period in 2003. The increase was primarily due to increased trade volumes during the quarter ended April 30, 2004 partially offset by reductions in trading volumes in the quarter ended July 31, 2004.

 

Commissions decreased 3% to $647,165 for the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $665,637 in the comparable period for 2003. The increase in commissions for the quarter ended April 30, 2004 was offset by the decrease in commissions for the quarter ended July 31, 2004.

 

Underwriting and investment banking fees decreased 69% to $50,000 for the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $160,871 in the comparable period in 2003. This decrease is primarily due to a reduction in resources committed to investment banking.

 

Settlement proceeds of $700,000 were realized during the six months ended July 31, 2004 due to an agreement reached with our former auditors Sanville & Company and it’s principal Robert Sanville (see “Settlement Proceeds” in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). There were no settlement proceeds realized during the six months ended July 31, 2003.

 

Gain on sale of investment of $145,256 was realized during the six months ended July 31, 2004 due to the sale of the Company’s approximately 16% interest in ViewTrade for total proceeds of $250,000 (see “Gain on Sale of Investment in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). There were no gains on sales of investments during the six months ended July 31, 2003.

 

Interest and other revenue decreased 91% to $17,670 for the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $191,264 in the comparable period for 2003, primarily due to the absence of sub-lease income during the 2004 half year.

 

Expenses

 

Employee compensation and benefits expense increased 28% to $6,048,870 for the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $4,719,507 in the comparable period in 2003. This increase was due to the increased productivity of trading and sales personnel as well as strategic additions to management and administrative personnel in the quarter ended April 30, 2004 partially offset by the effects of lower production related compensation in the quarter ended July 31, 2004 due to the decline in trading and share volumes in that quarter.

 

Communications and data processing increased 79% to $1,894,725 in the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $1,055,911 for the comparable period in 2003. The increase is primarily attributable to increased costs associated with the enhanced trading platform for which billings began in January 2004, plus additional requirements for market data services.

 

Execution and clearance fees decreased 7% to $1,773,957 in the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $1,903,778 in the comparable period in 2003, despite the increase in trading volume, due to a renegotiated, more favorable clearing agreement with our primary clearing broker.

 

Professional fees decreased 35% to $800,211 in the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $1,222,632 for the comparable period in 2003. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in legal costs associated with outstanding litigation and arbitration matters and a decline in consulting expense.

 

Occupancy and equipment rental expense increased 1% to $685,126 for the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $676,988 for the comparable period in 2003.

 

Business development expense increased 52% to $355,470 for the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $234,535 for the comparable period in 2003. The increase primarily reflects management’s efforts to communicate the new capabilities of the Company to the market place.

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased 122% to $230,812 for the six months ended July 31, 2004 from $104,167 for the comparable period in 2003. This increase is primarily due to an increase in technology and software development expenditures, resulting in increased depreciation and amortization expense.

 

Postage, printing and office supplies expense decreased 75% to $89,820 for the six months ended July 31, 2004 from $360,068 for the comparable period in 2003. The decrease is primarily attributable to a reduction in the headcount, the exit from the retail business and other cost reduction measures.

 

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Interest expense decreased 40% to $47,703 for the six months ended July 31, 2004, from $79,470 for the comparable period in 2003. The decrease is a result of reducing our subordinated debt outstanding.

 

NASD settlements expense was $39,513 for the six months ended July 31, 2004 as compared to a $247,110 credit for the three months ended July 31, 2004. During the six months ended July 31, 2003, $240,000 of the credit represented Martin H. Meyerson’s reimbursement of a prior year settlement related to a regulatory matter (see “NASD Settlements” in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).

 

Restatement costs expense was $283,775 for the six months ended July 31, 2004 as compared to no such expense for the six months ended July 31, 2004. The internal review and the restatement of the financial statements required significant outside resources in the form of accounting services in order to complete the process on a timely basis (see “Restatement and Restatement Costs” in Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details).

 

Other expenses increased 42% to $610,562 for the six months ended July 31, 2004 from $429,106 for the comparable period in 2003, primarily due to an increase in insurance costs.

 

Three Months Ended July 31, 2004 and Three Months Ended April 30, 2004

 

The net loss for the three months ended July 31, 2004 was $1,588,367 compared to the net loss of $754,197 for the three months ended April 30, 2004. Revenues for the three months ended July 31, 2004 were $4.0 million compared to revenues of $6.5 million for the three months ended April 30, 2004. The revenues for the three months ended July 31, 2004 included aggregate proceeds of $845,256 from a settlement and a gain on the sale of an investment. The gains from the settlement and the sale of an investment are non-recurring in nature.

 

The Company’s operating results declined for the three months ended July 31, 2004 as compared to the three months ended April 30, 2004, due to the decrease in revenues discussed above. As discussed above, until the Company is able to replace the revenues lost from the loss of a significant customer and a major decline in volume from another significant customer, through the addition of new customers, increases in trades for existing customers, or an overall increase in industry market volumes or the Company’s market share, its revenues may be expected to continue to be at levels below those of the last three quarters of the year ended January 31, 2004 and the quarter ended April 30, 2004, and the Company’s results of operations may be adversely affected.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Working Capital

 

The Company’s statements of financial position reflect a liquid financial position as cash and assets readily convertible to cash (principally receivables from brokers and dealers and marketable securities owned) represent 65% and 74% of total assets at July 31, 2004 and January 31, 2004, respectively. Receivables from brokers and dealers include interest-bearing cash balances held with clearing brokers, including, or net of, amounts related to securities transactions that have not yet reached their contracted settlement date, which is generally within three business days of the trade date. Securities owned principally consist of equity securities that trade on Nasdaq, on the OTC Bulletin Board and in the Pink Sheets.

 

The Company currently does not have any outstanding bank borrowings or long-term debt, other than a $2 million subordinated loan from our primary clearing broker, and does not have any available lines of credit.

 

The Company has not declared and paid, nor does it expect to declare and pay any dividends on the Common Stock in the near term.

 

The Company’s requirement for funding is primarily driven by regulatory net capital requirements. See Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended July 31, 2004 and 2003 was $769,983 and $3,645,645, respectively. Our net cash used in operating activities is materially impacted by changes in our results of operations, as well as the level of our long and short securities positions, and the cash balances at our clearing brokers. The negative operating cash flows for the six months ended July 31, 2004 and 2003 were financed from the proceeds of the issuance of common stock and cash and cash equivalents on hand at the beginning of the periods.

 

During the six months ended July 31, 2004 the Company substantially reduced its holdings of securities, from $3,233,596 at January 31, 2004 to $901,493 at July 31, 2004. The proceeds from the sale of these positions partially offset other uses of cash in operating activities. The Company reduced its securities holdings during this period in order to ensure compliance with regulatory net capital requirements.

 

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Investing Activities

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended July 31, 2004 was $399,809. The 2004 investing net outflows resulted from the purchase of fixed assets and the capitalization of internally developed software partially offset by the proceeds from the sale of the Company’s interest in ViewTrade Holdings Corporation. For the six months ended July 31, 2003 investing activities provided net cash flows of $175,776 from the sale of securities investments partially offset by the purchase of fixed assets and the capitalization of internally developed software.

 

Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended July 31, 2004 and 2003 was $2,005,743 and $3,292,339, respectively. During the six months ended July 31, 2004 we issued 2,207,389 shares of Common Stock in private offerings and 3,637 shares related to option exercises. During the six months ended July 31, 2003 we issued 2,199,219 shares of Common Stock in private offerings and 146,094 shares related to option exercises. The proceeds from the issuance of common stock during the six months ended July 31, 2004 and 2003 were used for the Company’s working capital purposes and to increase the Company’s level of stockholders’ equity and the Company’s net capital as defined in SEC Rule 15c3-1.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

In connection with its operating activities, the Company enters into certain contractual obligations. The Company’s future cash payments associated with its contractual obligations pursuant to its operating leases and guaranteed employment contracts with certain executive management personnel longer than one year as of July 31, 2004 are summarized below:

 

     Payments due in

For the years ended January 31


   2005

   2006-2007

   2008-2009

   2010-
Thereafter


   Total

Operating lease contracts(1)

   $ 584,972    $ 1,831,710    $ 1,819,233    $ 2,233,150    $ 6,469,065

Guaranteed employment contracts

     487,500      400,000      —        —        887,500
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 1,072,472    $ 2,231,710    $ 1,819,233    $ 2,233,150    $ 7,356,565
    

  

  

  

  


(1) See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1, ‘Financial Statements and Supplementary Data’.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of July 31, 2004, the Company did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of SEC Regulation S-K.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The Company’s market making activities expose the Company to significant risks, including but not limited to changes in price and/or liquidity of its trading positions. The Company uses an automated trading system to provide management with a real-time overview of its traders’ activity, positions, and profit/loss. Each trader’s total positions are regularly reviewed and limited by management.

 

In the course of the Company’s business, it maintains inventory, consisting mainly of Nasdaq and OTC securities. The market value of the Company’s inventory was $901,493 in long positions and $85,661 in short positions at July 31, 2004. The loss to the Company, assuming a hypothetical 10% decline in prices, would be $81,583 due to the losses on the long positions being partially offset by gains on the short positions.

 

The Company, from time to time, invests in certificates of deposit and/or maintains interest bearing balances in its accounts with its clearing brokers, for working capital purposes, which are classified as cash equivalents and receivables from clearing brokers, respectively, in the Statements of Financial Condition. The receivables from clearing brokers are all available for immediate withdrawal, except the Bear Stearns receivable (see Note 4) and the portion required to meet margin or deposit requirements and the certificates of deposit are for periods of 31 days or less, and do not present a material market risk. The Company does not normally trade or carry positions in listed derivative instruments. Our cash and cash equivalents held in foreign currencies are subject to the exposure of foreign currency fluctuations but are not material to the Companies overall cash position.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, the Company carried out, under the supervision of and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (the “Certifying Officers”), an evaluation of the effectiveness of its “disclosure controls and procedures” (as the term is defined under

 

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Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on this evaluation, the Certifying Officers have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported by management of the Company on a timely basis in order to comply with the Company’s disclosure obligations under the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Further, there were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

The nature of the Company’s business subjects it to claims, lawsuits, regulatory examinations, and other proceedings in the ordinary course of business. While the Company is contesting liability and/or the amount of damages in each pending matter, the ultimate outcome of the matters described at Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended July 31, 2004, respectively, and other proceedings and claims pending against the Company, cannot be determined at this time and the results of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty. There can be no assurance that these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in any future period, depending partly on the results for that period, and a substantial judgment could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. However, it is the opinion of management at this time, after consultation with legal counsel and information currently available, that the ultimate outcome of these existing claims and proceedings will not have a material adverse impact on the financial condition of the Company, although they might be material to operating results for any particular period, depending, in part upon operating results for that period.

 

For further information on Legal Proceedings, see Note 9 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The NASD and Net Capital Requirements

 

Regulatory bodies, including the NASD, are charged with safeguarding the integrity of the securities and with protecting the interests of investors participating in those markets. Broker-dealers are subject to regulations covering all aspects of the securities business, including sales methods, trade practices among broker-dealers, use and safekeeping of clients’ funds and securities, capital structure, record keeping and the conduct of directors, officers and employees.

 

The SEC, NASD and various other regulatory agencies have rigid rules, including the maintenance of specific levels of net capital by securities brokers and dealers pursuant to the SEC’s Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1 with which the Company must comply. As of July 31, 2004, the Company had total net capital of $1,363,559, $363,559 in excess of the Company’s minimum net capital requirement of $1,000,000.

 

The NASD has verbally notified counsel to the Company of the NASD’s intent to recommend the initiation of an enforcement proceeding against the Company and a former officer relating to the Company’s failure to accurately report its net capital for the years ended January 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, including the corresponding interim periods, and the interim periods through July 31, 2003. The Company through counsel is discussing with the NASD the possibility of informally resolving the matter. There can be no assurance that an informal resolution will be reached.

 

Exchange Listing Matters

 

Subsequent to the delisting of its securities from the Nasdaq SmallCap Market in December 2003, the Company’s securities have been and are currently quoted in the Pink Sheets. While there can be no assurance, the Company’s securities may become eligible to be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board.

 

The Department of Labor

 

The Company is also subject to oversight by the U.S. Department of Labor in connection with our benefit plan. The annual 401(k) benefit plan audits for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 had not been completed by the prior management on a timely basis. These audits will be completed and filed and could lead to an examination or penalties being assessed by the Department of Labor.

 

Other Matters

 

In March 2004, in connection with a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) investigation of trade activity, conduct, supervision and record-keeping at Knight Trading Group, Inc. (“Knight”), the SEC staff and the NASD Department of Market Regulation served Wells Notices to John Leighton (a former Knight Senior Vice President), Knight and other former Knight employees. Mr. Leighton is the Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. The Wells Notices indicate that the regulators are considering recommending civil injunctive and administrative enforcement actions for possible violations of securities laws. The Company is not a party to this matter.

 

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On March 25, 2004, the Company announced that the Board accepted Mr. Leighton’s request for administrative leave to devote his full attention to addressing the aforementioned regulatory issues arising out of his tenure with another NASD member firm. The Board also accepted Mr. Leighton’s nomination of Charles B. Kennedy III as Interim CEO and President.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

During the three months ended July 31, 2004, the Company issued in privately negotiated transactions 2,082,388 shares of Company common stock, not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), to “accredited investors” (as the term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act) and an executive officer, in exchange for $1,828,600 in cash pursuant to Section 4(2), Section 4(6) and/or 3(b) of the Securities Act and on Regulation D promulgated thereunder, and in reliance on similar exemptions under applicable state laws. These share issuances were approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. The investors in the Company’s securities had access to the kind of information about the Company that the Company would provide in a registration statement, were “accredited investors” as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and represented to the Company their intentions to acquire the Company’s securities for investment purposes only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof. Appropriate legends were affixed to the certificates representing the securities issued. Placement fees totaling $35,180 were paid to two placement agents in connection with this share issuance.

 

Subsequent to July 31, 2004, the Company additionally issued in privately negotiated transactions 4,824,243 shares of Company common stock, not registered under the Securities Act, to “accredited investors” (as the term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act) and an executive officer, in exchange for $1,525,000, in cash pursuant to Section 4(2), Section 4(6) and/or 3(b) of the Securities Act and on Regulation D promulgated thereunder, and in reliance on similar exemptions under applicable state laws. These share issuances were approved by the Company’s Board of Directors. The investors in the Company’s securities had access to the kind of information about the Company that the Company would provide in a registration statement, were “accredited investors” as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and represented to the Company their intentions to acquire the Company’s securities for investment purposes only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof. Appropriate legends were affixed to the certificates representing the securities issued. No underwriter or placement agent was used and no commissions were paid in connection with the issuance of the securities.

 

All of the proceeds from the above referenced share issuances were used for the Company’s working capital purposes, to increase the Company’s level of shareholders’ equity and its net capital as defined in SEC Rule 15c3-1.

 

The issuer did not purchase any equity securities during the three months ended July 31, 2004.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders of the Company during the three months ended July 31, 2004.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit


      
3.1   Articles of Incorporation, as amended    (1 )
3.2   By-Laws, as amended    (1 )
31.1   Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    (2 )
31.2   Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    (2 )

 

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32.1   Officers Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    (2 )
32.2   Officers Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002    (2 )

(1) Incorporated herein by reference from the Registration Statement (Reg. No. 33-80363) filed by the Company on Form S-3.
(2) Filed herewith.

 

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

 

The following Current Report on Form 8-K was filed during the quarter ended July 31, 2004:

 

On July 20, 2004, a Current Report on Form 8-K was filed by the Company under Item 4 (Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant), and Item 5 (Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure).

 

No financial statements were filed with the foregoing Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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, in the City of Jersey City, State of New Jersey, on this 14th day of September, 2004.

 

CROWN FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Charles B. Kennedy III


   

Charles B. Kennedy III

Interim Chief Executive Officer and

Interim President

 

By:

 

/s/ Robert S. Thornton


   

Robert S. Thornton

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and

Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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