UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016

OR

For the transition period from       to

Commission file number: 0-17973

Heritage Global Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

12625 High Bluff Drive, Suite 305, San Diego, CA 91230

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(858) 847-0656
(Registrant’s Telephone Number)

N/A

(Registrant’s Former Name)

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 and Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter time 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  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  o    No  x

As of May 5, 2016, there were 28,487,648 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding.

 

 

 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

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PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1 – Financial Statements.

HERITAGE GLOBAL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands of US dollars, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

 

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

 

 

 

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HERITAGE GLOBAL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(In thousands of US dollars, except share and per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

 

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

 

 

 

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HERITAGE GLOBAL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands of US dollars, except share amounts)
(unaudited)

 

 

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

 

 

 

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HERITAGE GLOBAL INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands of US dollars)

(unaudited)

 

 

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

 

 

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HERITAGE GLOBAL INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

 

Note 1 –Basis of Presentation

These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements include the accounts of Heritage Global Inc. together with its subsidiaries, including Heritage Global Partners, Inc. (“HGP”), Heritage Global LLC (“HG LLC”), Equity Partners HG LLC (“Equity Partners”), National Loan Exchange, Inc. (“NLEX”), C2 Communications Technologies Inc. and C2 Investments Inc. These entities, collectively, are referred to as “HGI,” the “Company,” “we” or “our” in these financial statements. Our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements were prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”), as outlined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”), and include the assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses of all subsidiaries over which HGI exercises control. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. The Company’s sole operating segment is its asset liquidation business.  HGI provides an array of value-added capital and financial asset solutions:  auction and appraisal services, traditional asset disposition sales, and financial solutions for distressed businesses and properties.

We have prepared the condensed consolidated interim financial statements included herein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In management’s opinion, these financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary to present fairly the results for the interim periods included herein. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, we believe that the disclosures are appropriate. These unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2016.

The results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of those operating results to be expected for any subsequent interim period or for the entire year ending December 31, 2016. The accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015, contained in the above referenced Form 10-K.  

 

 

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Significant estimates include the assessment of collectability of revenue recognized, and the valuation of accounts receivable, inventory, investments, goodwill and intangible assets, liabilities, contingent consideration, deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and stock-based compensation. These estimates have the potential to significantly impact our consolidated financial statements, either because of the significance of the financial statement item to which they relate, or because they require judgment and estimation due to the uncertainty involved in measuring, at a specific point in time, events that are continuous in nature.

Foreign Currency

The functional currency of foreign operations is deemed to be the local country’s currency.  Assets and liabilities of operations outside of the United States are generally translated into U.S dollars, and the effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).

Reclassifications

Certain prior year balances within the condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

 

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The critical accounting policies used in the preparation of our audited consolidated financial statements are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. There have been no changes to these policies in the first three months of 2016.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2015-01, Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items (“ASU 2015-01”). ASU 2015-01 eliminates the requirement for entities to consider whether an underlying event or transaction is extraordinary, and, if so, to separately present the item in the income statement net of tax, after income from continuing operations. Instead, items that are both unusual and infrequent should be separately presented as a component of income from continuing operations, or be disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.  ASU 2015-01 became effective January 1, 2016, and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2015-02, Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis (“ASU 2015-02”). ASU 2015-02 eliminates entity specific consolidation guidance for limited partnerships, and revises other aspects of the consolidation analysis, but does not change the existing consolidation guidance for corporations that are not variable interest entities (“VIEs”). ASU 2015-02 became effective January 1, 2016, and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In April 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements, by requiring them to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability, rather than as an asset. Amortization of the costs is reported as interest expense. There is no change to the current guidance on the recognition and measurement of debt issuance costs. ASU 2015-03 became effective January 1, 2016, and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2015-15, Interest – Imputation of Interest, (“ASU 2015-15”).  ASU 2015-15 amends subtopic 835-30 of the accounting standards codification (which was previously amended by ASU 2015-03), to allow for the capitalization of debt issuance costs related to line of credit agreements.  Capitalized costs would be presented as an asset and subsequently amortized ratably over the term of the line of credit.  ASU 2015-15 became effective January 1, 2016, and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In September 2015, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2015-16, Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments (“ASU 2015-16”).  ASU 2015-16 changes the recognition of business combination adjustments by requiring acquirers to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined.  The acquirer is required to record the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts.  These amounts are calculated as if the accounting was completed at acquisition date.  The acquirer is also required to present separately on the face of the income statement, or disclose in the notes, the amount recorded in current-period earnings (by line item) that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods had the adjustments been recognized as of the acquisition date.  ASU 2015-16 became effective January 1, 2016, and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements

Future Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2016-02, Leases, (“ASU 2016-02”).  ASU 2016-02 changes the accounting for leases previously classified as operating leases under GAAP, by, among other things, requiring a Company to recognize the lease on the balance sheet with a right-of-use asset and a lease liability.  ASU 2016-02 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018.  The Company has not yet adopted ASU 2016-02 nor assessed its potential impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2016-07, Investments – Equity Method and Joint Ventures (“ASU 2016-07”), which simplifies the transition to the equity method of accounting by, among other things, eliminating retroactive adjustments to the investments as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence.  ASU 2016-07 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016.  The Company has not yet adopted ASU 2016-07 nor assessed its potential impact on its consolidated financial statements.  

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2016-08”), which provides clarity on the implementation of guidance on principal versus agent considerations (reporting of revenue on a

 

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gross basis versus net basis).  ASU 2016-08 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017.  The Company does not believe that the clarification of the implementation of the guidance will change the conclusions reached in its current analysis of principal versus agent considerations for reporting of revenue.  

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“ASU 2016-09”), which provides improvements to employee share-based payment accounting.  ASU 2016-09 simplifies the accounting and presentation of various elements of share-based compensation including, but not limited to, income taxes, excess tax benefits, statutory tax withholding requirements, payment of employee taxes, and award assumptions.  ASU 2016-09 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016.  The Company is still assessing the impact the standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.  

In April 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards update 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2016-10”), which provides clarity on identifying performance obligations and licensing.  ASU 2016-10 clarifies how an entity identifies performance obligations and whether that entity’s promise to grant a license provides a customer with either a right to use the entity’s intellectual property or a right to access the entity’s intellectual property.  ASU 2016-10 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017.  The Company has not yet adopted ASU 2016-10 nor assessed its potential impact on its consolidated financial statements.  

 

 

Note 3 – Real Estate Inventory

In the first quarter of 2016 the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement with International Auto Processing Inc. (“IAP”) to sell the Company’s real estate inventory for $4.1 million.  

Concurrently, the Company entered into a five year lease agreement with an affiliate of IAP to lease the building during the escrow period, which will terminate at the close of escrow.  The purchase agreement gives IAP the right to terminate its obligation to consummate the sale for any reason before June 9, 2016, but in the event the sale is not consummated, the lease agreement will continue on through the end of the lease term.  

Annual rental payments under the lease are $0.7 million, and the lessee is responsible for all operating costs associated with the property.  During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the Company earned rental income of $0.1 million, which is included within services revenue in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.  No rental income was earned during the three months ended March 31, 2015.    

 

 

Note 4 – Stock-based Compensation

Options

At March 31, 2016 the Company had three stock-based compensation plans, which are described more fully in Note 16 to the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015, contained in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.

During the first three months of 2016 the Company issued options to purchase a total of 70,000 shares of common stock to the Company’s independent directors as part of their annual compensation.

The following summarizes the changes in common stock options for the three months ended March 31, 2016:

 

 

 

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The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options of $36,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  As of March 31, 2016 there is approximately $0.1 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested option awards outstanding, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.6 years.

Restricted Stock

Restricted stock awards represent a right to receive shares of common stock at a future date determined in accordance with the participant’s award agreement.  There is no exercise price and no monetary payment required for receipt of restricted stock awards or the shares issued in settlement of the award.  Instead, consideration is furnished in the form of the participant’s services to the Company.  Compensation cost for these awards is based on the fair value on the date of grant and recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

The following summarizes the changes in restricted stock awards for the three months ended March 31 2016:

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense related to restricted stock awards was not material for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

 

Note 5 – Earnings Per Share

The Company is required, in periods in which it has net income, to calculate basic earnings per share (“basic EPS”) using the two-class method. The two-class method is required because the Company’s Class N preferred shares, each of which is convertible to 40 common shares, have the right to receive dividends or dividend equivalents should the Company declare dividends on its common stock. Under the two-class method, earnings for the period are allocated on a pro-rata basis to the common and preferred stockholders. The weighted-average number of common and preferred shares outstanding during the period is then used to calculate basic EPS for each class of shares.

In periods in which the Company has a net loss, basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The two-class method is not used in periods in which the Company has a net loss because the preferred stock does not participate in losses.

Stock options and other potential common shares are included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share (“diluted EPS”), since they are assumed to be exercised or converted, except when their effect would be anti-dilutive. The table below shows the calculation of the shares used in computing diluted EPS.

 

Potential common shares that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because they would have been anti-dilutive for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were 2.2 million.  No potential common shares were included for the three months ended March 31, 2015, as the Company generated a net loss, and therefore basic EPS was the same as diluted EPS.  

 

 

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Note 6 – Intangible Assets and Goodwill

Identifiable intangible assets

The Company’s identifiable intangible assets are associated with its acquisitions of HGP in 2012 and NLEX in 2014, as shown in the table below (in thousands), and are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives of two to twelve years.  The Company’s tradename acquired as part of the acquisition of NLEX in 2014 has an indefinite life and therefore is not amortized.

 

 

Amortization expense during the first three months of 2016 and 2015 was $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

The estimated amortization expense as of March 31, 2016 during the next five fiscal years and thereafter is shown below (in thousands):

 

 

Goodwill

The Company’s goodwill is related to its asset liquidation business, and is comprised of goodwill from three acquisitions, as shown in the table below (in thousands). There were no impairment losses or other charges to the carrying amount of goodwill during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

 

 

 

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Note 7 – Debt

Outstanding debt at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 is summarized as follows (in thousands):

 

 

The Company entered into a loan with an unrelated party (the “Third Party Debt”) during 2014 for a principal amount of $2.5 million. The loan bears interest at 6% and had an original maturity date of January 15, 2015. In December 2014, the maturity date was extended to January 15, 2016 at the same interest rate, and in the first quarter of 2016, the maturity date was further extended to January 15, 2017 at the same interest rate.  The loan is not subject to any covenants or conditions.

The Company’s Related Party Debt (the “Street Capital Loan”), which is due on demand, was originally entered into in 2003 and accrued interest at 10% per annum compounded quarterly from the date funds were advanced. The Street Capital Loan is secured by the assets of the Company.

In 2014, following Street Capital Group Inc.’s (“Street Capital”) distribution of its ownership interest in HGI to Street Capital shareholders as a dividend in kind, the unpaid balance of the Street Capital Loan began accruing interest at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of the Wall St. Journal (“WSJ”) prime rate + 2.0%, or the maximum rate allowable by law. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the interest rate on the loan was 5.50%. Please see Note 10 for further discussion of transactions with Street Capital.

In the first quarter of 2016, the Company entered into a related party loan with a trust controlled by certain executive officers of the Company.  The Company received proceeds of $0.4 million.  The loan accrued interest at 10% per annum and was payable within 90 days of the loan date.  The Company repaid the loan plus accrued interest in March 2016.  

 

 

Note 8 – Fair Value Measurements

In accordance with the authoritative guidance for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value from market-based assumptions to entity specific assumptions:

As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company had no Level 1 or Level 2 assets or liabilities measured at fair value.  As of both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company’s contingent consideration from the acquisition of NLEX in 2014 of $3.5 million, was the only liability measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and was classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy.  The fair value of the Company’s contingent consideration was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis, which is based on significant inputs that are not observable in the market.

 

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The following tables present the Company’s hierarchy for its assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

 

When valuing its Level 3 liabilities, the Company gives consideration to operating results, financial condition, economic and/or market events, and other pertinent information that would impact its estimate of the expected contingent consideration payment.  The valuation of the liability is primarily based on management’s estimate of the Net Profits of NLEX (as defined in the NLEX stock purchase agreement).  Given the short term nature of the contingent consideration periods, changes in the discount rate are not expected to have a material impact on the fair value of the liability.

 

          

The following table summarizes the changes in the fair value of the liability during the three months ended March 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

The Company had no assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of March 31, 2016.

 

 

Note 9 – Income Taxes

At March 31, 2016 the Company has aggregate tax net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $74.0 million ($58.9 million of unrestricted net operating tax losses and approximately $15.1 million of restricted net operating tax losses) and unused minimum tax credit carry forwards of $0.5 million. Substantially all of the net operating loss carry forwards and unused minimum tax credit carry forwards expire between 2025 and 2035. The Company’s utilization of restricted net operating tax loss carry forwards against future income for tax purposes is restricted pursuant to the “change in ownership” rules in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.

The reported tax expense varies from the amount that would be provided by applying the statutory U.S. Federal income tax rate to the loss from operations before taxes primarily as a result of the change in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance.

The Company records net deferred tax assets to the extent that it believes such assets will more likely than not be realized. As a result of our cumulative losses and uncertainty with respect to future taxable income, we have provided a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016.

 

 

Note 10 – Related Party Transactions

Debt with Street Capital

Until the second quarter of 2014, as discussed below, Street Capital was the Company’s majority shareholder. Street Capital remained a related party following the distribution of its investment in HGI to Street Capital shareholders as a result of the Services Agreement discussed below. The Services Agreement terminated on August 31, 2015, however subsequent to its termination Street Capital remained a related party because Allan Silber, an affiliate of Street Capital, is the Company’s chairman of the board, and a significant shareholder of the Company.  At both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company reported amounts owed to Street Capital of $1.7 million as related party debt (see Note 7). Total interest of $0.5 million has been accrued on the debt through March 31, 2016, and remains unpaid.

 

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Street Capital Services Provided to the Company

Beginning in 2004, HGI and Street Capital entered into successive annual management services agreements (collectively, the “Agreement”). Under the terms of the Agreement, HGI agreed to pay Street Capital for ongoing management services provided to HGI by Street Capital personnel.  Refer to Note 14 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 17, 2016 for further detail on the Agreement.  

In 2013, Street Capital announced its plan to dispose of its interest in HGI, and on March 20, 2014, Street Capital declared a dividend in kind, consisting of Street Capital’s distribution of its majority interest in HGI to Street Capital shareholders. The dividend was paid on April 30, 2014 to shareholders of record as of April 1, 2014.

Following this disposition, the Company and Street Capital entered into a replacement management services agreement (the “Services Agreement”). Under the terms of the Services Agreement, Street Capital remained as external manager and continued to provide the same services, at similar rates, until the Services Agreement was terminated effective August 31, 2015, as described more fully in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 1, 2015.

The amounts charged by Street Capital, which have been accrued and added to the Street Capital Loan balance, are detailed below (in thousands):

 

 

Transactions with Other Related Parties

The Company leases office space in Foster City, CA as part of the operations of HGP. The premises are owned by an entity that is jointly controlled by senior officers of HGI. It also leases office space in Edwardsville, IL, as part of the operations of NLEX, which is owned by senior officers of NLEX. The lease amounts paid by the Company to the related parties, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, are detailed below (in thousands):

 

 

In the first quarter of 2016, the Company entered into a related party loan with a trust controlled by certain executive officers of the Company.  The Company received proceeds of $0.4 million.  The loan accrued interest at 10% per annum and was payable within 90 days of the loan date.  The Company repaid the loan plus accrued interest in March 2016.  Interest charged and paid during the three months ended March 31, 2016, was $8,000.    

 

 

Note 11 – Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated events subsequent to March 31, 2016 for potential recognition or disclosure in its condensed consolidated financial statements.  There have been no material subsequent events requiring recognition or disclosure in this Report.

 

 

 

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

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Company and the related notes thereto for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, appearing elsewhere herein, and in conjunction with the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

Forward Looking Information

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Report”) contains certain “forward-looking statements” that are based on management’s exercise of business judgment as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. When used in this document, the words “may,” "will,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “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 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC, and 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. 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. Although we believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will materialize.

Overview, History and Recent Developments

Heritage Global Inc. (“HGI,” “we” or the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Florida in 1983 under the name “MedCross, Inc.” The Company’s name was changed to “I-Link Incorporated” in 1997, to “Acceris Communications Inc.” in 2003, to “C2 Global Technologies Inc.” in 2005, to “Counsel RB Capital Inc.” in 2011, and to Heritage Global Inc. effective in 2013. The most recent name change more closely identifies the Company with its core auction business, Heritage Global Partners, Inc. (“HGP”).

In 2014, the Company’s former majority shareholder, Street Capital Group Inc. (“Street Capital”), declared a dividend of all of its shares of the Company. This dividend was paid on April 30, 2014 to Street Capital’s common shareholders of record as of April 1, 2014.

In 2014, the Company acquired all of the outstanding equity of National Loan Exchange, Inc. (“NLEX”), a broker of charged-off receivables in the United States and Canada. As a result of this acquisition, NLEX now operates as a wholly owned division of the Company.

On March 11, 2016, the Company entered into a purchase and sale agreement with International Auto Processing Inc. (“IAP”) to sell the Company’s real estate inventory for $4.1 million.  Concurrently, the Company entered into a five-year lease agreement with an affiliate of IAP to lease the building during the escrow period, which will terminate at the close of escrow.  The purchase agreement gives IAP the right to terminate its obligation to consummate the sale for any reason, but in the event the sale is not consummated, the lease agreement will continue on through the end of the lease term.

 

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The organization chart below outlines the basic corporate structure of the Company as of March 31, 2016.

 

 

 

Asset liquidation

The Company is a value-driven, innovative leader in corporate and financial asset liquidation transactions, valuations and advisory services.  The Company specializes both in acting as an adviser, as well as acquiring or brokering turnkey manufacturing facilities, surplus industrial machinery and equipment, industrial inventories, accounts receivable portfolios, and entire business enterprises.

The asset liquidation business began operations in 2009 with the establishment of Heritage Global LLC (“HG LLC”). In addition to acquiring turnkey manufacturing facilities and used industrial machinery and equipment, HG LLC arranges traditional asset disposition sales, including liquidation and auction sales. In 2011, HG LLC acquired 100% of the business of EP USA, LLC (d/b/a Equity Partners) (“Equity Partners”), thereby expanding the Company’s operations. Equity Partners is a boutique M&A advisory firm and provider of financial solutions for distressed businesses and properties.

In 2012 the Company increased its in-house asset liquidation expertise via its acquisition of 100% of the outstanding equity of Heritage Global Partners, Inc. (“HGP”), a global full-service auction, appraisal and asset advisory firm, and in 2012, the Company launched Heritage Global Partners Europe (“HGP Europe”). Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Heritage Global Partners UK Limited, the Company opened three European-based offices, one each in the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain.

In 2014, the Company again expanded its asset liquidation operations with the acquisition of National Loan Exchange (‘NLEX”). NLEX is the largest volume broker of charged-off receivables in the United States and Canada, and its offerings include national, state and regional portfolios on behalf of many of the world’s top financial institutions. The NLEX acquisition is consistent with HGI’s strategy to expand and diversify the services provided by its asset liquidation business.

As a result of the events and acquisitions outlined above, management believes that HGI’s expanded global platform will allow the Company to achieve its long term industry leadership goals.

Intellectual property licensing

The Company holds several patents, including two that relate to Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”). U.S. Patent No. 6,438,124 was developed by the Company, and encompasses the technology that allows two parties to converse phone-to-phone, regardless of the distance, by transmitting voice/sound via the Internet. U.S. Patent No. 6,243,373 (the “VoIP Patent”) was purchased from a third party (the “Vendor”). These patents, together with related international patents and patent applications, form the

 

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Company’s international VoIP Patent Portfolio (the “Portfolio”) that covers the basic process and technology that enable VoIP communication as used in the market today. As part of the consideration for the acquisition of the VoIP Patent, the Vendor is entitled to receive 35% of the net earnings from the Portfolio. At this time, although the Company expects to continue to incur costs relating to maintaining ownership of these patents, it is not expected that either these costs or related revenue will be material.

Industry and Competition

Asset Liquidation

The asset liquidation business consists primarily of the auction, appraisal and asset advisory services provided by HGP, mergers and acquisitions advisory services provided by Equity Partners, and the accounts receivable brokerage services provided by NLEX. It also includes the purchase and sale, including at auction, of industrial machinery and equipment, real estate, inventories, accounts receivable and distressed debt. The market for these services and assets is highly fragmented. To acquire auction or appraisal contracts, or assets for resale, HGI competes with other liquidators, auction companies, dealers and brokers. It also competes with them for potential purchasers, as well as with equipment manufacturers, distributors, dealers and equipment rental companies. Some competitors have significantly greater financial and marketing resources and name recognition.

HGI’s business strategy includes the option of partnering with one or more additional purchasers, pursuant to a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company agreement (collectively, “Joint Ventures”). These Joint Ventures give the Company access to more opportunities, helping to mitigate some of the competition from the market’s larger participants and contribute to the Company’s objective to be the leading resource for clients requiring capital asset solutions.

Government Regulation

We are subject to federal, state and local consumer protection laws, including laws protecting the privacy of customer non-public information and regulations prohibiting unfair and deceptive trade practices. Many jurisdictions also regulate "auctions" and "auctioneers" and may regulate online auction services. These consumer protection laws and regulations could result in substantial compliance costs and could interfere with the conduct of our business.

Legislation in the United States, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, has increased public companies’ regulatory and compliance costs as well as the scope and cost of work provided by independent registered public accountants and legal advisors. The mandatory adoption of XBRL reporting in 2011 has also increased the Company’s costs paid to third party service providers. As regulatory and compliance guidelines continue to evolve, we expect to continue to incur costs, which may or may not be material, in order to comply with legislative requirements or rules, pronouncements and guidelines by regulatory bodies.

Critical Accounting Policies

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations references our unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). This requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and various other factors that are considered to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Significant estimates required in the preparation of the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included in this Report include the assessment of collectability of revenue recognized, and the valuation of accounts receivable, inventory, investments, goodwill, intangible assets, liabilities, contingent consideration, deferred income tax assets and liabilities and stock-based compensation. These estimates are considered significant either because of the significance of the financial statement items to which they relate, or because they require judgment and estimation due to the uncertainty involved in measuring, at a specific point in time, events that are continuous in nature.

The critical accounting policies used in the preparation of our audited consolidated financial statements are discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. There have been no changes to these policies in the first three months of 2016.

 

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Management’s Discussion of Financial Condition

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity

At March 31, 2016 the Company had a working capital deficit of $7.4 million, as compared to a working capital deficit of $5.1 million at December 31, 2015, an increase of approximately $2.3 million.

The Company’s current assets decreased to $3.2 million compared to $4.3 million at December 31, 2015. The most significant change was a decrease of $1.5 million in cash, primarily due to the payment of current liabilities.  This decrease was offset by other individually insignificant changes in the current assets.  

The Company’s current liabilities increased to $10.5 million compared to $9.4 million at December 31, 2015.  The most significant change was the $2.5 million increase in the current portion of third party debt, the classification of which changed from non-current as of December 31, 2015 to current as of March 31, 2016 as it matures on January 15, 2017.  This was offset slightly by the approximately $1.3 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, due to the pay down of liabilities owed to clients.  

During the first three months of 2016, the Company’s primary sources of cash were the operations of its asset liquidation business and advances of $0.4 million from a related party loan.  Cash disbursements, other than those related to debt repayment of $0.4 million (all of which was paid to a related party), were primarily related to operating expenses.

The Company has historically classified both real estate inventory and asset liquidation related equity method investments as non-current, although they are expected to be converted to cash within a year. At both March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, these assets totaled approximately $3.7 million.

The Company expects that its asset liquidation business will continue to be the primary source of cash required for ongoing operations for the foreseeable future.

Ownership Structure and Capital Resources

 

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Cash Position and Cash Flows

Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2016 were $1.3 million as compared to $2.8 million at December 31, 2015, a decrease of approximately $1.5 million.

Cash used in operating activities.  Cash used in operating activities was $1.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 as compared to $0.4 million cash used during the same period in 2015. The $1.0 million change was primarily attributable to the following: we generated $0.1 million less return on equity method investments in the first three months of 2016 compared to 2015, and we had a net unfavorable change of $1.3 million in the operating assets and liabilities in the first three months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.  This was offset slightly by a favorable change in the net income/loss adjusted for noncash items, which was $0.4 million better during the first three months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.  There were no significant noncash items in either period.  

The significant changes in operating assets and liabilities during the first three months of 2016 as compared to 2015 are primarily due to the nature of the Company’s operations. The Company earns revenue from discrete asset liquidation deals that vary considerably with respect to their magnitude and timing, and that can consist of fees, commissions, asset sale proceeds, or a combination of these. The operating assets and liabilities associated with these deals are therefore subject to the same variability and can be quite different at the end of any given period.

Cash provided by investing activities.  There was no cash provided by or used in investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $2.2 million cash provided during the same period in 2015. The 2015 activity consisted primarily of the following cash receipts related to the Company’s equity method investments: $2.0 million of proceeds from the Company’s December 2014 exit from its investment in Polaroid (received in 2015), and $0.2 million of distributions from the Company’s equity method investments.  

Cash used in financing activities.  Cash used in financing activities was $21,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2016, as compared to $1.6 million cash used during the same period in 2015. During the first three months of 2016 the Company received proceeds of $0.4 million from a related party loan.  The loan was repaid in full during the same period.  The 2015 activity consisted of net $1.1 million of debt repaid to Street Capital, and $0.5 million of debt repaid to third parties.

Management’s Discussion of Results of Operations

The following table sets out the Company’s condensed consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (dollars in thousands).

 

 

 

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The Company’s asset liquidation business model has several components: (1) traditional fee based asset disposition services, such as commissions from on-line and webcast auctions, liquidations and negotiated sales, and commissions from the NLEX charged-off receivables business, (2) the acquisition and subsequent disposition of distressed and surplus assets, including industrial machinery and equipment and real estate, and (3) fees earned for appraisal and management advisory services. The Company also earns income from its asset liquidation business through its earnings from equity method investments.

Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2016 Compared to Three-Month Period Ended March 31, 2015

Revenues and cost of revenues – Revenues were $5.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to $4.7 million during the same period in 2015. Costs of services revenue and asset sales were $2.1 million during the same period in 2016 compared to $2.0 million during the same period in 2015, and earnings of equity method investments were $8,000 during the first three months in 2016 compared to $34,000 during the same period in 2015.  The gross profit of these three items was therefore $3.4 million during the first three months in 2016 compared to $2.7 million during the same period in 2015, an increase of approximately $0.7 million, or approximately 24%.  Because the Company conducts its asset liquidation operations both independently and through partnerships, and the ratio of the two is unlikely to remain constant in each period, the operations must be considered as a whole rather than on a line-by-line basis. The increased gross profit in the current year reflects the vagaries of the timing of asset liquidation transactions.

Selling, general and administrative expense – Selling, general and administrative expense was $3.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016, compared to $3.0 million during the same period in 2015, an increase of approximately $0.1 million or approximately 4%.  The increase was largely attributable to an increase in personnel expense due to the Company’s increased headcount in the second half of 2015 to promote operational growth.  

Significant components of selling, general and administrative expense were as shown below (dollars in thousands):

 

 

The increase in personnel expense during the three months ended March 31, 2016, was offset slightly by decreases in stock-based compensation and the Street Capital management fees.  The decrease in stock-based compensation is primarily the result of awards becoming fully vested during 2015 and not incurring any related expense in the first quarter of 2016.  The decrease in the Street Capital management fee is the result of the termination of the Services Agreement in third quarter of 2015 (see Note 10 for further detail).    

Depreciation and amortization expense – Depreciation and amortization expenses was $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to $0.2 million during the same period in 2015, and consisted almost entirely of amortization expense related to intangible assets.  The decrease in 2016 was the result of an impairment charge taken during the fourth quarter of 2015, reducing the carrying value of the HGP customer network to its fair value.  In both years the depreciation of property and equipment was not material.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements –The Company had no off-balance sheet arrangements during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.  

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”)

We prepared our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). We use the non-GAAP financial measure “EBITDA” in assessing the Company’s results. Additionally, we use an alternative measure, “Adjusted EBITDA,” to further reconcile from the standard definition to an amount management believes is a more appropriate metric for the Company.  We define Adjusted EBITDA as net loss plus interest expense, provision for income taxes, stock-based compensation, inventory write-downs, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, mark-to-market of contingent liabilities, and depreciation and amortization. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA is relevant and useful supplemental information for our investors. Management believes that the presentation of this non-GAAP financial measure, when considered together with our GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, provides a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company than could be obtained absent these disclosures. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA to make operating and strategic decisions and to evaluate the Company’s performance. We have disclosed this non-GAAP financial measure so that our investors have the same financial data that management uses, with the intention of assisting investors to make comparisons to our historical operating results and analyze our underlying performance. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful supplemental tool to evaluate the underlying operating performance of the Company on an ongoing basis. Our use of Adjusted EBITDA is not meant to be, and should not be, considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, any GAAP financial measure. You should carefully evaluate the quarterly financial information, below, which reconciles our GAAP reported net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented (in thousands).

 

 

 

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

Our primary exposure to market risk is limited to interest rate and foreign exchange rate sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of interest rates and foreign exchange rates. Due to the fact that our cash is deposited with major financial institutions in non-interest bearing accounts, we believe that we are not subject to any material interest rate risk as it relates to interest income. As to interest expense, we have one debt instrument that has a variable interest rate. The Street Capital Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of the WSJ prime rate + 2.0%, or the maximum rate allowable by law. Assuming that the Street Capital Loan amount at March 31, 2016 was constant during the next twelve-month period, the impact of a one percent increase in the interest rate would be an increase in interest expense of approximately $17,000 for that twelve-month period. We do not believe that, in the near term, we are subject to material interest rate risk on our debt.  There have been no material changes to the interest rate risks since December 31, 2015.

We did not have any foreign currency hedges or other derivative financial instruments as of March 31, 2016. We do not enter into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes and do not currently utilize derivative financial instruments. Although our operations are conducted primarily in the United States we do conduct some asset liquidation services in foreign countries and sometimes use foreign currencies to conduct those services.  Thus we are occasionally subject to foreign currency exchange rate risk. Management monitors operations and will act as required to minimize this risk.  There have been no material changes to the foreign currency risks since December 31, 2015.

 

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (the “Certifying Officers”) conducted evaluations of our disclosure controls and procedures. As defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the term “disclosure controls and procedures” means controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including the Certifying Officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this evaluation, the Certifying Officers have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Further, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the first fiscal quarter of 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

There have been no material changes to the legal proceedings discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the SEC on March 17, 2016.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as filed with the SEC on March 17, 2016.

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

On March 21, 2016, a director of the Company exercised a previously granted option to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share.  No commissions were paid on this purchase.  This purchase was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.  

On March 31, 2016, a director of the Company exercised a previously granted option to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.15 per share.  No commissions were paid on this purchase.  This purchase was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.  

On March 31, 2016, each of the seven non-employee directors of the Company was granted an option to purchase 10,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $0.24 per share.  These grants were made in exchange for services rendered and no consideration or commissions were paid.  These options were exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder.  

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

None.

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

Item 5.  Other Information.

Effective May 5, 2016, Messrs. Henry Y.L. Toh, Hal B. Heaton, and David L. Turock resigned from the Board of Directors (“the Board”) of the Company and all committees thereof.  Their resignations were not due to any disagreement with the Company, or any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices, or otherwise.    

In addition, effective May 5, 2016, the Board has reconstituted its standing committees as follows:  the Board has appointed Mr. Samuel L Shimer to serve as the chairman of the Audit Committee, and Messrs. Morris Perlis and J. Brendan Ryan to serve on the Audit Committee.  The Board appointed Mr. Perlis to serve as the chairman of the Compensation Committee, and Messrs. Shimer and Ryan to serve on the Compensation Committee.  The Board also determined that Mr. Shimer, through his education and experience, satisfies the definition of an “Audit Committee financial expert” as defined by Item 407(d) of Regulation S-K.  

 

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Item 6.  Exhibits.

(a) Exhibits

 

 

 

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunder duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

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