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8-K - 8-K - NATIONAL HOLDINGS CORPform8-k.htm




NATIONAL HOLDING CORPORATION ANNOUNCES
FISCAL SECOND QUARTER 2016 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Management to Host Conference Call on May 17, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. ET


NEW YORK, NY, May 16, 2016 – National Holding Corporation (NASDAQ:NHLD) (“National” or the “Company”), a leading full service independent brokerage, investment banking and asset management firm providing diverse services including tax preparation & accounting services, today announced its financial results for the fiscal second quarter 2016 ended March 31, 2016.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2016 Financial Highlights
Revenue of $42.0 million, versus $42.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2015 and $39.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2016
Investment banking revenue increased 38% year-over-year to $6.1 million
Operating expenses included $0.5 million in professional fees related to the merger agreement with Fortress Biotech, Inc.
Net income increased 10% year-over-year to $0.4 million
Adjusted EBITDA increased 16% year-over-year to $1.2 million
Cash, receivables from clearing organizations and securities of $26.8 million and no debt at 3/31/16
Equity of $45.2 million at 3/31/16

Management Commentary
“Consistent with our diversification strategy, revenue excluding commissions and related fees grew 10%, nearly offsetting another year-over-year drop in our brokerage-related revenues,” said Mark Goldwasser, President of National. “Our non-brokerage revenues, which offer us comparatively greater profitability, accounted for almost 40% of our total revenue in the period, the highest percentage we have ever achieved.
“Our alternative investments business continued to perform well with revenue ahead of prior year levels and demand for other investment vehicles remained strong. Our highest growth business for the quarter was clearly Investment Banking, where revenue increased 38% and our deal pipeline remains solid. Elsewhere, we experienced moderate growth in our seasonally-strong Tax Prep and Accounting business, resulting from the acquisition of a small tax and accounting practice in 2015, and some stabilization in our Investment Advisory and Trading businesses, but saw Transfer Fees and Clearing Services fall in tandem with the drop in commissions resulting from reduced retail trading.”
Added Robert Fagenson, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Office of National, ”We’re pleased to report a second straight quarter of sequential improvement in revenue, net income and Adjusted EBITDA. We believe we have a solid mix of businesses in place that offer attractive long-term revenue and profit growth potential. Some of these businesses, like Investment Banking, we can grow organically, while others can benefit greatly from bolt-on and possibly larger acquisitions that can produce improved



economies of scale and greater cross-selling opportunities. The bottom line is that we remain focused on further diversifying our revenue base and scaling our businesses, particularly our brokerage system of registered representatives and investment advisors, while working to lower the cost base of our various business lines.”

Fiscal Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results
National Holdings reported fiscal second quarter 2016 revenue of $42.0 million, a decline of 2% versus $42.9 million in the fiscal second quarter 2015. The Company experienced an 8% decrease in commission revenues to $23.7 million in the second quarter as volatility in the market place in January and early February contributed to lower than normal commission and trading volumes. Investment banking revenue in the second quarter of 2016 increased 38% to $6.1 million driven by a strong deal pipeline with solid offerings and executions. Investment advisory revenue decreased slightly to $3.3 million on lower securities market values that reduced the billable asset base. Revenues from the Company’s tax and accounting business increased by 5% in the second quarter to $3.9 million. Net Dealer Inventory Gains remained relatively stable at $2.6 million despite industry volume contraction related to small cap markets, lack of volatility due to low but rising interest rates and Fed rate hike uncertainty and fixed income products falling out of favor due to equity market returns.
Total expenses decreased 2% to $41.4 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, compared with $42.4 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The decrease in total expenses was due to a decline in commissions, compensation and fees, which fell $0.2 million or 1% to $35.9 million, a decline in clearing fees, which fell $0.4 million or 41% to $0.5 million and a decline in other administrative expenses, which fell $0.5 million or 34% to $1.1 million.
Income from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $0.6 million, compared with income of $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 was $0.4 million, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share, compared with net income of $0.3 million, or $0.03 per basic and diluted share in 2015. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, was $1.2 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2016, compared with $1.0 million in the quarter ended March 31, 2015.
Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2015, National Holdings had $26.8 million in cash and equivalents, receivables from broker dealers and clearing organizations, and marketable securities and no debt, versus $28.6 million and no debt as of September 30, 2015. The company reported total stockholder’s equity of approximately $45.2 million, which represents a $0.1 million decrease from September 30, 2015.
Fiscal Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results Conference Call
Management will host a conference call to discuss the operating and financial results at 9:00am ET on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. To participate in the conference call, please dial (800) 279-9534 or (719) 457-2602 approximately 10 minutes prior to the call. Please reference conference ID #7044359.
A live webcast of the conference call will be available at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1363/15249 Please access the website 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to download and install any necessary audio software.
A replay of the conference call will be available through June 9, 2016 and can be accessed by dialing (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820, conference ID #7044359. A webcast replay of the conference call will also be available in the Investors section of the Company’s website following the call.




About National Holdings Corporation
National Holdings Corporation is a full-service investment banking and asset management firm that provides a range of services, including independent retail brokerage and advisory services, investment banking, institutional sales and trading and equity research, financial planning, market making, tax preparation, insurance and annuities, to corporations, institutional investors and high net-worth clients. With over 1,100 independent advisors, brokers, traders and sales associates, the Company is a leading Independent Advisor and Broker services company. National Holdings operates through five subsidiaries: National Securities Corporation, vFinance Investments, Inc., National Insurance Corporation, National Asset Management, Inc. and Gilman Ciocia, Inc. The Company’s National Securities subsidiary was founded in 1947. National Holdings was organized in 1999 and is headquartered in New York and Florida. For more information, visit www.nhldcorp.com.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release provides cautionary statements under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements we make in this report or in other documents that reference this press release. All statements that express or involve discussions as to: expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, identified through the use of words or phrases such as we or our management believes, expects, anticipates or hopes and words or phrases such as will result, are expected to, will continue, is anticipated, estimates, projection and outlook, and words of similar import) are not statements of historical facts and may be forward-looking. These forward looking statements are based largely on our expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, regulatory, growth strategies, available financing and other factors discussed elsewhere in this report and in the documents filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Many of these factors are beyond our control. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this report or in other documents that reference this report. In light of these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the results anticipated in the forward-looking information contained in this report or other documents that reference this report will, in fact, occur.

These forward-looking statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties, and, accordingly, actual results could differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These uncertainties include, among others, the following: (i) the inability of our broker-dealer operations to operate profitably in the face of intense competition from larger full service and discount brokers; (ii) a general decrease in merger and acquisition activities and our potential inability to receive success fees as a result of transactions not being completed; (iii) increased competition from business development portals; (iv) technological changes; (v) our potential inability to implement our growth strategy through acquisitions or joint ventures; and (vi) our potential inability to secure additional debt or equity financing.

Other uncertainties related to the transaction contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") dated as of April 27, 2016, by and among National Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“National” or the “Company”), Fortress Biotech, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Fortress"), and FBIO Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Acquisition Sub") include, but are not limited to: (i) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; (ii) successful completion of the proposed transactions on a timely basis; (iii) uncertainties as to how many of the Company shareholders will tender their shares into the tender offer; (iv) the impact of regulatory reviews on the proposed transaction; (v) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against one or both of the Company and Fortress and others following the announcement of the Merger Agreement; (vi) risks that the



proposed transaction disrupts current plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the transaction; and (vii) other factors described in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all of such factors, nor can our management assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.




        
        

NATIONAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
 
 
March 31,
 
September 30,
 
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
$
22,747,000

 
 
$
24,642,000

 
Restricted cash
 
373,000

 
 
218,000

 
Cash deposits with clearing organizations
 
1,030,000

 
 
1,005,000

 
Securities owned, at fair value
 
510,000

 
 
887,000

 
Receivables from broker-dealers and clearing organizations
 
3,552,000

 
 
3,078,000

 
Forgivable loans receivable
 
1,567,000

 
 
1,368,000

 
Other receivables, net
 
4,509,000

 
 
3,709,000

 
Prepaid expenses
 
2,028,000

 
 
1,727,000

 
Fixed assets, net
 
756,000

 
 
712,000

 
Intangible assets, net
 
6,958,000

 
 
7,331,000

 
Goodwill
 
6,531,000

 
 
6,531,000

 
Deferred tax asset, net
 
11,629,000

 
 
11,662,000

 
Other assets, principally refundable deposits
 
310,000

 
 
512,000

 
Total Assets
 
$
62,500,000

 
 
$
63,382,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
 
$
1,000

 
 
$
32,000

 
Accrued commissions and payroll payable
 
10,470,000

 
 
10,244,000

 
Accounts payable and accrued expense
 
5,510,000

 
 
6,602,000

 
Deferred clearing and marketing credits
 
1,100,000

 
 
1,205,000

 
Other
 
226,000

 
 
37,000

 
Total Liabilities
 
17,307,000

 
 
18,120,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stockholders’ Equity
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding
 
-

 
 
 -

 
Common stock $0.02 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized; 12,440,035 and 12,473,968 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016 and at September 30, 2015, respectively
 
249,000

 
 
249,000

 
Additional paid-in-capital
 
80,295,000

 
 
80,282,000

 
Accumulated deficit
 
(35,366,000
)
 
 
(35,284,000
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total National Holdings Corporation Stockholders’ Equity
 
45,178,000

 
 
45,247,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-Controlling interest
 
15,000

 
 
15,000

 
Total Stockholders’ Equity
 
45,193,000

 
 
45,262,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
 
$
62,500,000

 
 
$
63,382,000

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



        
        

 NATIONAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

 
Three Month Periods Ended March 31,
 
Six Month Periods Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions

$23,676,000

 

$25,746,000

 

$46,671,000

 

$50,162,000

Net dealer inventory gains
2,599,000

 
2,705,000

 
5,143,000

 
6,143,000

Investment banking
6,069,000

 
4,391,000

 
12,186,000

 
9,513,000

Investment advisory
3,316,000

 
3,527,000

 
6,976,000

 
7,352,000

Interest and dividends
794,000

 
847,000

 
1,712,000

 
1,678,000

Transaction fees and clearing services
1,549,000

 
1,853,000

 
3,921,000

 
4,567,000

Tax preparation and accounting
3,936,000

 
3,748,000

 
4,836,000

 
4,507,000

Other
93,000

 
100,000

 
209,000

 
193,000

Total Revenues
42,032,000

 
42,917,000

 
81,654,000

 
84,115,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions, compensation and fees
35,883,000

 
36,099,000

 
70,593,000

 
71,397,000

Clearing fees
527,000

 
886,000

 
1,290,000

 
1,528,000

Communications
812,000

 
936,000

 
1,645,000

 
1,964,000

Occupancy
969,000

 
981,000

 
1,904,000

 
1,979,000

License and registration
383,000

 
378,000

 
740,000

 
690,000

Professional fees
1,484,000

 
1,198,000

 
2,570,000

 
2,007,000

Interest
2,000

 
2,000

 
3,000

 
6,000

Depreciation and amortization
296,000

 
294,000

 
596,000

 
568,000

Other administrative expenses
1,061,000

 
1,610,000

 
2,342,000

 
2,928,000

Total Operating Expenses
41,417,000

 
42,384,000

 
81,683,000

 
83,067,000

Income (loss) before Income Tax Expense
615,000

 
533,000

 
(29,000)

 
1,048,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense
245,000

 
196,000

 
53,000

 
417,000

Net Income (loss)
$
370,000

 
$
337,000

 
$
(82,000
)
 
$
631,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per share - Basic
$
0.03

 
$
0.03

 
$
(0.01
)
 
$
0.05

Net income (loss) per share - Diluted
$
0.03

 
$
0.03

 
$
(0.01
)
 
$
0.05

Weighted number of shares outstanding - Basic
12,440,035

 
12,446,365

 
12,459,940

 
12,446,365

Weighted number of shares outstanding - Diluted
12,440,035

 
12,502,758

 
12,459,940

 
12,497,628










        
        



Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
To provide investors with greater insight, promote transparency and allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making, the Company supplements its consolidated statements of income presented on a GAAP basis with non-GAAP financial measures of earnings. Please refer to the schedule in this release for a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP measures.
 
Management uses Earnings before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) and adjusted EBITDA as financial measures to evaluate the profitability and efficiency of the Company’s business model. EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not presented in accordance with GAAP.
 
Investors should consider the non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, the Company’s non-GAAP measures may differ from similar measures used by other companies, even if similar terms are used to identify such measures.


National Holdings Corporation
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Measures
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Six Months Ended March 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2016
 
2015
Net income (loss), as reported
$
370,000

 
$
337,000

 
$
(82,000
)
 
$
631,000

Interest expense
2,000

 
2,000

 
3,000

 
6,000

Income taxes
245,000

 
196,000

 
53,000

 
417,000

Depreciation
116,000

 
82,000

 
223,000

 
159,000

Amortization
180,000

 
212,000

 
373,000

 
409,000

EBITDA
913,000

 
829,000

 
570,000

 
1,622,000

Non-cash compensation expense
62,000

 
85,000

 
99,000

 
253,000

Forgivable loan amortization
183,000

 
83,000

 
324,000

 
149,000

EBITDA, as adjusted
$
1,158,000

 
$
997,000

 
$
993,000

 
$
2,024,000




Contacts:
National Holdings Corporation
Robert Fagenson, Executive Chairman & Chief Executive Officer        Tel: +1 212 417 8210

LHA
Ed McGregor/Jody Burfening                        Tel: +1 212 838 3777
emcgregor@lhai.com