DAILY JOURNAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2006 December (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2006

or

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 0-14665

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(213) 229-5300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one)

Large Accelerated Filer:  ¨    Accelerated Filer:  ¨    Non-accelerated Filer:  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    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.

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DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

INDEX

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PART I

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Note 1 - The Corporation and Operations

The Daily Journal Corporation (the “Company”) publishes newspapers and web sites covering California, Arizona and Nevada, as well as the California Lawyer and 8-K magazines, and produces several specialized information services. Sustain Technologies, Inc. (“Sustain”), a 93% owned subsidiary as of December 31, 2006, has been consolidated since it was acquired in January 1999. Sustain supplies case management software systems and related products to courts and other justice agencies, including district attorney offices and administrative law organizations. These courts and agencies use the Sustain family of products to help manage cases and information electronically and to interface with other critical justice partners. Sustain’s products are designed to help users manage electronic case files from inception to disposition, including all aspects of calendaring and accounting, report and notice generation, the implementation of standards and business rules and other corollary functions. Essentially all of the Company’s operations are based in California, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.

Note 2 - Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair statement of its financial position as of December 31, 2006, the results of operations for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 and its cash flows for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. The results of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006.

Certain reclassifications of previously reported amounts have been made to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Note 3 - Basic and Diluted Income Per Share

The Company does not have any common stock equivalents, and therefore the basic and diluted income per share are the same.

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Note 4 - Operating Segments

Summarized financial information concerning the Company’s reportable segments is shown in the following table:

Note 5 - Revenue Recognition

Proceeds from the sale of subscriptions for newspapers, court rule books and other publications and other services are recorded as deferred revenue and are included in earned revenue only when the services are provided, generally over the subscription or lease term. Advertising revenues are recognized when advertisements are published and are net of commissions.

The Company recognizes revenues from both the lease and sale of software products. Revenues from leases of software products are recognized over the life of the lease while revenues from software product sales are recognized normally upon delivery, installation or acceptance pursuant to a signed agreement. Revenues from annual maintenance contracts generally call for the Company to provide software updates and upgrades to customers and are recognized ratably over the maintenance period. Consulting and other services are recognized as performed or upon acceptance by the customers.

Note 6 - Income Taxes

On a pretax profit of $1,040,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006, the Company recorded a tax provision of $410,000 using approximately the statutory rate. On a pretax profit of $975,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2005, the Company recorded a tax provision of only $380,000, which was lower than the amount computed under the statutory rate, because it was able to utilize the state tax benefits from Sustain-segment operating loss carry-forwards. (Still under review by the Internal Revenue Service is the status of the Research and Development credit of $800,000 that was utilized by the Company in prior years. Any adjustment to the credit amount would result in an additional federal income tax assessment, although the amount of any possible adjustment is not known at this time.)

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Note 7 - Debt and Commitments

The Company owns its facilities in Los Angeles and leases space for its other offices under operating leases, which expire at various dates through 2010. The Company is responsible for a portion of maintenance, insurance and property tax expenses relating to certain leased property. Rental expenses for comparable three-month periods ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 were $152,000 and $150,000, respectively.

As of December 31, 2006, the Company had two real estate loans. One of $1,477,000, which bears a fixed interest rate of 6.84%, is repayable in equal monthly installments of about $18,000 through 2016. Another of $2,683,000, which bears a fixed interest rate of 6.84%, is repayable in equal monthly installments of about $22,000 through 2024. Each loan is secured by one of the Company’s two buildings in Los Angeles and can be paid off without prepayment penalty.

Note 8 - Contingencies

There has never been a resolution of the payment dispute between Sustain and a terminated outside service provider whose software development work was terminated by Sustain in April 2001 as a result of serious flaws and long delays. The terminated outside service provider filed for bankruptcy in December 2001 and stated in its filings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court that it was considering bringing a collection action against Sustain. If it does, Sustain will assert counter-claims that completely offset the terminated outside provider’s claims. Sustain will vigorously defend any litigation or action brought by the terminated outside service provider, although no assurances can be made as to the ultimate outcome of the dispute. It is the opinion of management that adequate provision has been made for any amounts that may become due as a result of the dispute.

Sustain received a letter in April 2003 from counsel to the Ontario, Canada Ministry of the Solicitor General, Ministry of Public Safety and Security and Ministry of the Attorney General (collectively, the “Ministries”). The Ministries had entered into a contract with Sustain, dated as of April 22, 1999 (the “Contract”), pursuant to which the Ministries sought to license the software product that was to be developed by the outside service provider referred to above. The Contract was formally terminated in June 2002. The letter from counsel purported to invoke the dispute resolution process set forth in the Contract and claimed damages in the amount of $20 million. Counsel for Sustain and counsel for the Ministries engaged in preliminary discussions with respect to this matter, and the dispute resolution process set forth in the Contract was not utilized. Counsel for Sustain last communicated with counsel for the Ministries by a letter sent in April 2003. At this point, management is unable to determine whether this matter will have a material adverse effect on Sustain and the Company.

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Revenues were $8,012,000 and $7,897,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. This increase of $115,000 (1%) primarily resulted from increased trustee sales public notice advertising revenues, partially offset by decreased commercial advertising and circulation revenues.

Display advertising revenues decreased by $33,000, and classified advertising revenues decreased by $153,000. Public notice advertising revenues increased by $365,000 primarily resulting from an increase in trustee foreclosure sales in California. The Company’s smaller newspapers, those other than the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals (“The Daily Journals”), accounted for about 95% of the total public notice advertising revenues. Public notice advertising revenues and related advertising and other service fees constituted about 33% of the Company’s total revenues. The Daily Journals accounted for about 75% of the Company’s total circulation revenues. The court rule and judicial profile services generated about 14% of the total circulation revenues, with the other newspapers and services accounting for the balance. Total circulation revenues decreased by $160,000, including about $89,000 (4%) for the Daily Journals. This is fairly consistent with recent trends. Information system and service revenues decreased by $48,000 (5%) primarily because of a decline in Sustain’s consulting revenues due to temporary delays in several California court projects. Consulting revenues are normally recognized upon acceptance by the customers, and the delays have pushed back the time for acceptance of the California court projects. The Company’s revenues derived from Sustain’s operations constituted about 11% and 12% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Other revenues increased primarily because of more small print jobs for governmental agencies.

Costs and expenses increased by $118,000 (2%) to $7,092,000 from $6,974,000. Total personnel costs increased by $100,000 (2%) to $4,222,000. Outside service costs decreased by $48,000 (6%) primarily resulting from reduced outside contractors’ expenses for Sustain’s software development program. Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $43,000 (22%) mainly due to the amortization of the new editorial/advertising software installed last year. Other general and administrative expenses increased by $51,000 (6%) primarily resulting from increased legal and accounting fees.

The Company’s expenditures for the development of new Sustain software products are highly significant and will materially impact overall results at least through fiscal 2007. These costs are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility of the product has been established, at which time such costs are capitalized, subject to expected recovery. Sustain’s internal development costs, which are primarily incremental costs for both employees and outside contractors, aggregated $361,000 and $356,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. If Sustain’s internal development programs are not successful, they will significantly and adversely impact the Company’s ability to maximize its existing investment in the Sustain software, to service its existing customers, and to compete for new opportunities in the case management software business.

The Company’s traditional business segment pretax profit increased by $93,000 (8%) from $1,172,000 to $1,265,000 primarily resulting from increased trustee notice advertising revenues, partially offset by decreased commercial advertising and circulation revenues. Sustain’s business segment pretax loss increased $28,000 from $197,000 to $225,000, primarily because of the decline in Sustain’s consulting revenues due to temporary delays in several California court projects. Projected consulting revenues are subject to uncertainty because they depend on (i) the timing of the acceptance of the completed consulting tasks and (ii) the unpredictable needs of Sustain’s existing customers and its ability to secure new customers.

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Consolidated net income was $630,000 and $595,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. On a pretax profit of $1,040,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006, the Company recorded a tax provision of $410,000 using approximately the statutory rate. On a pretax profit of $975,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2005, the Company recorded a tax provision of only $380,000, which was lower than the amount computed under the statutory rate, because it was able to utilize the state tax benefits from Sustain-segment operating loss carry-forwards. (Still under review by the Internal Revenue Service is the status of the Research and Development credit of $800,000 that was utilized by the Company in prior years. Any adjustment to the credit amount would result in an additional federal income tax assessment, although the amount of any possible adjustment is not known at this time.) Net income per share increased to $.43 from $.41.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

During the three months ended December 31, 2006, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and U.S. Treasury Note and Bill positions decreased by $8,000. Cash and cash equivalents were used for the purchase of capital assets of $94,000, primarily for computer software and equipment and the purchase of the Company’s common stock of $2,000. The cash provided by operating activities of $108,000 included a net decrease in prepayments for subscriptions and other revenues of $37,000. Proceeds from the sale of subscriptions from newspapers, court rule books and other publications and for software licenses and maintenance and other services are recorded as deferred revenue and are included in earned revenue only when the services are rendered. Cash flows from operating activities increased by $102,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2006 as compared to the prior comparable period primarily due to the increases in net income of $35,000, depreciation and amortization expenses of $43,000, accrued liabilities of $215,000 and deferred subscription and other revenues of $657,000, partially offset by a net increase in accounts receivable of $866,000. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had working capital of $9,570,000 before deducting the liability for deferred subscription revenues and other revenues of $6,456,000, which are scheduled to be earned within one year. In addition, the company had long-term U.S. Treasury Notes of about $6,979,000 at December 31, 2006.

As of December 31, 2006, the Company had two real estate loans. One of $1,477,000, which bears a fixed interest rate of 6.84%, is repayable in equal monthly installments of about $18,000 through 2016. Another of $2,683,000, which bears a fixed interest rate of 6.84%, is repayable in equal monthly installments of about $22,000 through 2024. Each loan is secured by one of the Company’s two buildings in Los Angeles and can be paid off without prepayment penalty.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s application of accounting policies. Management believes that revenue recognition, accounting for capitalized software costs and income taxes are critical accounting policies.

The Company recognizes revenues from both the lease and sale of software products. Revenues from leases of software products are recognized over the life of the lease while revenues from software product sales are recognized normally upon delivery, installation or acceptance pursuant to a signed agreement. Revenues from annual maintenance contracts generally call for the Company to provide software updates and upgrades to customers and are recognized ratably over the maintenance period. Consulting and other services are recognized as performed or upon acceptance by the customers. Proceeds from the sale of subscriptions for newspapers, court rule books and other publications and other services are recorded as

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deferred revenue and are included in earned revenue only when the services are provided, generally over the subscription or lease term. Advertising revenues are recognized when advertisements are published and are net of commissions.

Pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 86, Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software to be Sold, Leased, or Otherwise Marketed, costs related to the research and development of a new software product are to be expensed as incurred until the technological feasibility of the product is established. Accordingly, costs related to the development of new Sustain software products are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has been established, at which time such costs are capitalized, subject to expected recoverability. In general, “technological feasibility” is achieved when the developer has established the necessary skills, hardware and technology to produce a product and a detailed program design has been (a) completed, (b) traced to the product specifications and (c) reviewed for high-risk development issues.

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, establishes financial accounting and reporting standards for the effect of income taxes. The objectives of accounting for income taxes are to recognize the amount of taxes payable or refundable for the current year and the deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial statements or tax returns. Judgment is required in assessing the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Fluctuations in the actual outcome of these future tax consequences could materially impact the Company’s financial position or its results of operations.

In July 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109), which was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006 with earlier adoption encouraged. This interpretation was issued to clarify the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statements recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This interpretation is effective beginning on October 1, 2007, and is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, codified as SAB Topic 1.N, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements When Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”). SAB 108 describes the approach that should be used to quantify the materiality of a misstatement and provides guidance for correcting prior year errors. This interpretation was effective for fiscal years ending on or before November 15, 2006. The adoption of SAB 108 has not had a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The above discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in this report.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Certain statements contained in this document, including but not limited to those in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, are “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “should,” “believes,” “will,” “plans,” “estimates,” “may,” variations

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of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. There are many factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others: risks associated with the functionality and resources required for new and existing case management software projects; the success or failure of Sustain’s internal software development efforts; Sustain’s reliance on the time and materials professional services engagement with the California Administrative Office of the Courts for a substantial portion of its consulting revenues; the ultimate resolution, if any, of the dispute with the Ontario, Canada Ministries; material changes in the costs of materials; a further decline in subscriber and classified revenues; an inability to continue borrowing on current terms; possible changes in tax laws; collectibility of accounts receivable; potential increases in employee and consultant costs; attraction, training and retention of employees; changes in accounting guidance; and competitive factors in both the case management software business and the publishing business. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, general economic conditions (particularly in California) and other factors. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are disclosed in this Form 10-Q, including in conjunction with the forward-looking statements themselves. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in Item 1A – “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006.

The Company does not use derivative financial instruments. The Company does maintain a portfolio of cash equivalents maturing in three months or less and a portfolio of U.S. Treasury Bills and Notes maturing within three years. Given the nature of the investments and the fact that the Company had no outstanding borrowing except for the two real estate loans, which bear a fixed interest rate, the Company was not subject to significant interest rate risk. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had two real estate loans. One of $1,477,000, which bears a fixed interest rate of 6.84%, is repayable in equal monthly installments of about $18,000 through 2016. Another of $2,683,000, which bears a fixed interest rate of 6.84%, is repayable in equal monthly installments of about $22,000 through 2024. Each loan is secured by one of the Company’s two buildings in Los Angeles and can be paid off without prepayment penalty.

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including Gerald L. Salzman, its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2006. Based on that evaluation, Mr. Salzman concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities Exchange Commission and (2) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including Mr. Salzman, in such a way as to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. There have been no material changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting or in other factors reasonably likely to affect its internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2006.

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PART II

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

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SIGNATURE

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 thereunto duly authorized.

DATE: February 12, 2007

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