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EMERSON RADIO CORP - Quarter Report: 2013 September (Form 10-Q)

Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013

Or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 001-07731

 

 

EMERSON RADIO CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

DELAWARE   22-3285224

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

3 University Plaza, Suite 405, Hackensack, NJ   07601
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

(973) 428-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(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.    x  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every interactive data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    x  Yes    ¨  No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   x

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of common stock as of November 14, 2013: 27,129,832.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1. Financial Statements

     3   

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

     14   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

     19   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

     19   

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

     21   

Item 1A. Risk Factors

     21   

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

     21   

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

     21   

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure

     21   

Item 5. Other Information

     21   

Item 6. Exhibits

     22   

SIGNATURES

     23   

 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except earnings per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30
     Six Months Ended
September 30
 
     2013     2012      2013      2012  

Net Revenues:

          

Net product sales

   $ 17,258      $ 32,299       $ 40,739       $ 77,175   

Licensing revenue

     1,080        2,416         2,251         3,551   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     18,338        34,715         42,990         80,726   

Costs and expenses:

          

Cost of sales

     15,635        29,102         36,619         68,275   

Other operating costs and expenses

     171        385         322         793   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     2,325        1,737         4,513         3,745   

Impairment of trademark

     —          1,326         —           1,326   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     18,131        32,550         41,454         74,139   

Operating income

     207        2,165         1,536         6,587   

Other income:

          

Interest income, net

     121        67         343         98   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     328        2,232         1,879         6,685   

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

     (60     285         122         898   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 388      $ 1,947       $ 1,757       $ 5,787   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income per share:

          

Basic

   $ .01      $ .07       $ .06       $ .21   

Diluted

   $ .01      $ .07       $ .06       $ .21   

Weighted average shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     27,130        27,130         27,130         27,130   

Diluted

     27,130        27,130         27,130         27,130   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended  
     September 30      September 30  
     2013      2012      2013      2012  

Net income

   $ 388       $ 1,947       $ 1,757       $ 5,787   

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

           

Foreign currency translation adj.

     —           —           —           427   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

   $ 388       $ 1,947       $ 1,757       $ 6,214   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands except share data)

 

     September 30, 2013     March 31, 2013  

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 52,108      $ 21,412   

Restricted cash

     73        70   

Short term investments

     15,155        45,235   

Accounts receivable, net

     5,249        7,883   

Other receivables

     231        969   

Due from affiliates

     —          1   

Inventory

     7,299        3,454   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,833        1,873   

Deferred tax assets

     1,582        1,685   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     84,530        82,582   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     229        258   

Trademarks, net

     219        219   

Deferred tax assets

     1,113        1,121   

Other assets

     43        104   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 86,134      $ 84,284   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term borrowings

     43        43   

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     8,347        7,790   

Accrued sales returns

     1,077        965   

Income taxes payable

     711        1,281   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     10,178        10,079   

Long-term borrowings

     15        30   

Deferred tax liabilities

     203        194   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     10,396        10,303   

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Preferred shares — $.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively; 3,677 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively; liquidation preference of $3,677,000 at September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively

     3,310        3,310   

Common shares — $.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 52,965,797 shares issued at September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively; 27,129,832 shares outstanding at September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, respectively

     529        529   

Additional paid-in capital

     98,785        98,785   

Accumulated deficit

     (2,662     (4,419

Treasury stock, at cost, 25,835,965 shares

     (24,224     (24,224
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     75,738        73,981   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 86,134      $ 84,284   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Six Months Ended
September 30
 
     2013     2012  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 1,757      $ 5,787   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     52        48   

Deferred tax expense

     120        17   

Asset allowances, reserves and other

     (243     229   

Impairment of trademark

     —          1,326   

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     2,989        (4,116

Other receivables

     738        (1,084

Due from affiliates

     1        —    

Inventories

     (3,845     (1,364

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (960     (2,583

Other assets

     61        (69

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     557        9,140   

Due to affiliates

     —          (11

Interest and income taxes payable

     (570     125   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     657        7,445   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Short term investment

     30,080        (25,000

(Increase) decrease in restricted cash

     (3     97   

Additions to property and equipment

     (23     (1

Disposals of property and equipment

     —          7   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

     30,054        (24,897
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Repayments of short-term borrowings

     —          1   

Net decrease in capital lease

     (15     (21
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used by financing activities

     (15     (20
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     30,696        (17,472

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     21,412        44,960   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 52,108      $ 27,488   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for:

    

Interest

   $ 6      $ 7   

Income taxes

   $ 573      $ 606   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 — BACKGROUND AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Emerson Radio Corp. (“Emerson”, consolidated — the “Company”), and its subsidiaries. The Company designs, sources, imports and markets a variety of houseware and consumer electronic products, and licenses the Company’s trademarks for a variety of products domestically and internationally.

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present a fair statement of the Company’s consolidated financial position as of September 30, 2013 and the results of operations for the three and six month periods ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary in order to make the financial statements not misleading have been included. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes; actual results could materially differ from those estimates. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and accordingly do not include all of the disclosures normally made in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 (“fiscal 2013”), included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, for fiscal 2013.

The results of operations for the three and six month periods ended September 30, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for any other interim periods or for the full year ended March 31, 2014 (“fiscal 2014”).

Whenever necessary, reclassifications are made to conform the prior year’s financial statements to the current year’s presentation.

Unless otherwise disclosed in the notes to these financial statements, the estimated fair value of the financial assets and liabilities approximates the carrying value.

Subsequent events have been evaluated through November 14, 2013.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company measures compensation cost for stock-based compensation arrangements based on grant date fair value. The computed fair value is expensed ratably over the requisite vesting period as required by Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718 “Compensation — Stock Compensation”. All outstanding stock based compensation arrangements issued by the Company were fully vested as of November 30, 2009. Consequently, the Company recorded no compensation costs during either of the three or six month periods ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012.

Sales Allowance and Marketing Support Expenses

Sales allowances, marketing support programs, promotions and other volume-based incentives which are provided to retailers and distributors are accounted for on an accrual basis as a reduction to net revenues in the period in which the related sales are recognized in accordance with ASC topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, subtopic 50 “Customer Payments and Incentives” and Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletins 101 “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements,” and 104 “Revenue Recognition, corrected copy” (“SAB’s 101 and 104”).

At the time of sale, the Company reduces recognized gross revenue by allowances to cover, in addition to estimated sales returns as required by ASC topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, subtopic 15 “Products”, (i) sales incentives offered to customers that meet the criteria for accrual under ASC topic 605, subtopic 50 and (ii) under SAB’s 101 and 104, an estimated amount to recognize additional non-offered deductions it anticipates and can reasonably estimate will be taken by customers which it does not expect to recover. Accruals for the estimated amount of future non-offered deductions are required to be made as contra-revenue items because that percentage of shipped revenue fails to meet the collectability criteria within SAB 104’s and 101’s four revenue recognition criteria, all of which are required to be met in order to recognize revenue.

If additional marketing support programs, promotions and other volume-based incentives are required to promote the Company’s products subsequent to the initial sale, then additional reserves may be required and are accrued for when such support is offered.

 

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NOTE 2 — NET EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three months ended
September 30,
     Six months ended
September 30,
 
     2013      2012      2013      2012  

Numerator:

           

Net income

   $ 388       $ 1,947       $ 1,757       $ 5,787   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator:

           

Denominator for basic earnings per share — weighted average shares

     27,130         27,130         27,130         27,130   

Effect of dilutive securities on denominator:

           

Options (computed using the treasury stock method)

     —          —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator for diluted earnings per share — weighted average shares and assumed conversions

     27,130         27,130         27,130         27,130   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share

   $ .01       $ .07       $ .06       $ .21   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE 3 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Outstanding capital stock at September 30, 2013 consisted of common stock and Series A preferred stock. The Series A preferred stock is non-voting, has no dividend preferences and has not been convertible since March 31, 2002; however, it retains a liquidation preference.

At September 30, 2013, the Company had approximately 50,000 options outstanding and exercisable, all of which were non-dilutive for the three and six month periods ending September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, with exercise prices ranging from $3.07 to $3.19. 25,000 of these options expire in January 2016 and 25,000 of these options expire in November 2016.

NOTE 4 — INVENTORY

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. As of September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2013      March 31, 2013  
     (Unaudited)         

Finished goods

   $ 7,299       $ 3,454   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE 5 — INCOME TAXES

Income Tax Issues Concerning Overseas Income

On April 15, 2013 and June 5, 2013, Emerson received correspondence from the IRS including a (i) Form 5701 and Form 886-A regarding Adjusted Sales Income (collectively referred to as “NOPA 1”) and (ii) Form 5701 and Form 886-A regarding Adjusted Subpart F-Foreign Base Company Sales Income (collectively referred to as “NOPA 2”).

With respect to NOPA 1, the IRS is (i) challenging the position of the Company with respect to the way the Company’s controlled foreign corporation in Macao (the “Macao CFC”) recorded its product sales during Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 and (ii) asserting that an upward adjustment to the Company’s Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 taxable income of $4,981,520 and $5,680,182, respectively, is required.

With respect to NOPA 2, the IRS is challenging the position of the Company with respect to the fact that the Company considered the service fee paid by the Company to the Macao CFC to be non-taxable in the U.S. The IRS has taken the position that the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company constitutes foreign base company sales income (“FBCSI”). The IRS asserts that the service fee earned by the Macao CFC in connection with its sales of products to the Company should be taxable to the Company as FBCSI. As a result, the IRS determined that an upward adjustment to the Company’s Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 taxable income of $1,553,984 and $1,143,162, respectively, is required.

The Company has evaluated the determinations made by the IRS as set forth in each of NOPA 1 and NOPA 2 in order to decide (a) how it will proceed and (b) the potential impact on the Company’s financial condition and operations. Furthermore, although NOPA 1 and NOPA 2 represent potential adjustments to Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 only, the Company believes it is likely that the IRS will take the position that the same type of adjustments should be made for each of the Company’s subsequent fiscal years. The assessment and payment of such additional taxes, penalties and interest would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

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With respect to NOPA 1, the Company is appealing the proposed adjustment with the IRS. In the event that the Company is not successful in its appeal, the Company estimates that it could be liable for a maximum in taxes, penalties and interest of approximately $13.3 million pertaining to NOPA 1, in the aggregate, for its Fiscal 2010, Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2013 periods. However, because the Company’s current assessment is that its appeal of NOPA 1 is more likely than not to be successful, the Company has not recorded any liability to its September 30, 2013 or March 31, 2013 balance sheets related to NOPA 1.

With respect to NOPA 2, the Company agrees in principle with the IRS’ position that the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company would be treated as FBCSI and taxable to the Company but the Company does not agree with the adjustment to the Company’s taxable income as calculated by the IRS. However, the Company has estimated at approximately $1.1 million the amount of taxes, penalties and interest for which it would be liable for its Fiscal 2010, Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2013 periods using the adjustments to taxable income as proposed by the IRS, and recorded such amount as a liability to its September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013 balance sheets.

The Company has no U.S. federal net operating loss carry forwards and some U.S. state net operating loss carry forwards included in net deferred tax assets that are available to offset future taxable income and can be carried forward for 20 years. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that all of the net deferred tax assets will be realized through tax planning strategies available in future periods and through future profitable operating results. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable could be reduced or eliminated if certain tax planning strategies are not successfully executed or estimates of future taxable income during the carry forward period are reduced. If management determines that the Company would not be able to realize all or part of the net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.

The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to expenses that are not deductible for federal income tax purposes, income and losses incurred in foreign jurisdictions and taxed at locally applicable tax rates, and state income taxes.

The Company is subject to examination and assessment by tax authorities in numerous jurisdictions. A summary of the Company’s open tax years is as follows as of September 30, 2013:

 

Jurisdiction    Open tax years  

U.S. federal

     2008-2012   

States

     2008-2012   

Based on the outcome of tax examinations or due to the expiration of statutes of limitations, it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken in previously filed returns may be different from the liabilities that have been recorded for these unrecognized tax benefits. As a result, the Company may be subject to additional tax expense.

NOTE 6 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

From time to time, Emerson engages in business transactions with its controlling shareholder, The Grande Holdings Limited (In Liquidation) (“Grande”), a Bermuda Corporation, and one or more of Grande’s direct and indirect subsidiaries. Set forth below is a summary of such transactions.

Controlling Shareholder

Grande has, together with S&T International Distribution Limited (“S&T”), a subsidiary of Grande, and Grande N.A.K.S. Ltd., a subsidiary of Grande (together with Grande, the “Reporting Persons”), filed, on April 29, 2013, a Schedule 13D/A with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) stating that, as of the filing date, the Reporting Persons had the shared power to vote and direct the disposition of 15,243,283 shares, or approximately 56.2%, of the outstanding common stock of Emerson. As the Reporting Persons, and by extension Grande (as their ultimate parent) have control of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of Emerson, Emerson is a Controlled company, as defined in Section 801(a) of the NYSE MKT Rules.

 

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On May 31, 2011, upon application of a major creditor, the High Court of Hong Kong appointed Fok Hei Yu (who is also known by the anglicized name Vincent Fok), a current director of the Company, and Roderick John Sutton, both of FTI Consulting (Hong Kong) Limited (“FTI”), as Joint and Several Provisional Liquidators over Grande. Accordingly, as of May 31, 2011, the directors of Grande no longer have the ability to exercise control over Grande or the power to direct the voting and disposition of the 15,243,283 shares beneficially owned by Grande. Instead, Mr. Fok and Mr. Sutton, as Provisional Liquidators over Grande, have such power. In addition, on March 20, 2013, the Provisional Liquidators informed Emerson that they are obligated to liquidate the 15,243,283 shares in the Company beneficially owned by Grande. The Company can make no assurances regarding whether or to what extent such shares will be liquidated or retained by Grande, the timing, prices or amounts of any sales of shares or the impact, if any, on the Company, its other shareholders or the trading price of its common stock of any actual or anticipated dispositions of shares by the Provisional Liquidators.

Related Party Transactions

Rented Office Space in Hong Kong

Until May 2013, at which time these charges ceased, the Company was billed for service charges from Brighton Marketing Limited, a subsidiary of Grande, in connection with the Company’s rented office space in Hong Kong. These charges totaled approximately $2,000 for the three month period ended September 30, 2012. For the six month periods ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, these charges totaled approximately $1,000 and $2,000, respectively. Emerson owed Brighton Marketing Limited nil at both September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012 pertaining to these charges.

The Company continues to be charged for service charges from The Grande Properties Management Limited, a related party to Christopher Ho, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, in connection with the Company’s rented office space in Hong Kong. These charges totaled approximately $4,000 and $10,000, respectively for the three month periods ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012. These charges totaled approximately $8,000 and $21,000, respectively, for the six month periods ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012. The Company owed nil to The Grande Properties Management Limited related to these charges at both September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012.

Beginning July 3, 2012, the Company entered into a rental agreement with Lafe Strategic Services Limited (“Lafe”), which is a related party to Mr Ho, whereby the Company was leasing out excess space within its rented office space in Hong Kong to Lafe. The rental agreement was on a month-by-month basis, cancellable by either the Company or Lafe on one month’s written notice. During the three month period ended September 30, 2012, the Company earned rental income of approximately $9,000 and owed Lafe an amount of approximately $6,000 for a security deposit paid the Company by Lafe at the inception of the agreement. The agreement was cancelled by Lafe effective April 1, 2013 at which time Lafe owed Emerson nil in rental payable from the arrangement. Emerson returned the approximately $6,000 to Lafe in July 2013 that Emerson had been holding as a security deposit in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Mr. Ho did not stand for re-election to serve as a director of the Company at the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on November 7, 2013. Accordingly, Mr. Ho is no longer a director of the Company or a related party to the Company after November 7, 2013.

Consulting Services Provided to Emerson by one of its Directors

During the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, Emerson paid consulting fees of approximately $29,000 and $23,000, respectively, to Eduard Will, a director of Emerson, for work performed by Mr. Will related to strategy for the Kayne Litigation as more fully described in Note 8 – “Legal Proceedings – Kayne Litigation” and merger and acquisition research. In addition, during the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, Emerson paid expense reimbursements and advances, in the aggregate, of nil and approximately $8,000, respectively, to Mr. Will, related to this consulting work and his service as a director of Emerson.

During the six months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, Emerson paid consulting fees of approximately $58,000 and $52,000, respectively, to Mr. Will, for work performed by Mr. Will related to strategy for the Kayne Litigation as more fully described in Note 8 – “Legal Proceedings – Kayne Litigation”, merger and acquisition research, as well as work related to the strategy for a shareholder derivative lawsuit that the Company settled in January 2011. In addition, during the six months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, Emerson paid expense reimbursements and advances, in the aggregate, of nil and approximately $10,000, respectively, to Mr. Will, related to this consulting work and his service as a director of Emerson.

At both September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, the Company owed Mr. Will nil related to these activities.

Mr. Will was not re-elected to serve as a director of the Company at the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on November 7, 2013. Accordingly, Mr. Will is no longer a director of the Company or a related party to the Company after November 7, 2013.

 

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Dividend-Related Issues with S&T

On March 2, 2010, the Board declared an extraordinary dividend of $1.10 per common share, which was paid on March 24, 2010. In connection with the Company’s determination as to the taxability of the dividend, the Board relied upon information and research provided to it by the Company’s tax advisors and, in reliance on the “stock-for-debt” exception in the Internal Revenue Code Sections 108(e)(8) and (e)(10), concluded that 4.9% of such dividend paid was taxable to the recipients.

In August 2012, the Company received a Form 886-A from the IRS which challenges the Company’s conclusions and determines that the Company does not qualify for the above-referenced exception. Accordingly, the IRS has concluded that 100% of the dividend paid was taxable to the recipients. The Company is defending its position and calculations and is contesting the position asserted by the IRS. The Company prepared and, on October 25, 2012, delivered its rebuttal to the IRS contesting the IRS determination. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in defending its position.

In the event that the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company calculations were correct, then the shareholders who received the dividend likely will be subject to and liable for an assessment of additional taxes due. Moreover, the Company may be contingently liable for taxes due by certain of its shareholders resulting from the dividend paid by the Company.

 

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Initially, the Company withheld from the dividend paid to foreign shareholders an amount equal to the tax liability associated with such dividend. On April 7, 2010, upon a request made to the Company by its foreign controlling shareholder, S&T, the Company entered into an agreement with S&T (the “Agreement”), whereby the Company returned to S&T on April 7, 2010 that portion of the funds withheld for taxes from the dividend paid on March 24, 2010 to S&T, which the Company believes is not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. The Agreement includes provisions pursuant to which S&T agreed to indemnify the Company for any liability imposed on it as a result of the Company’s agreement not to withhold such funds for S&T’s possible tax liability and a pledge of stock as collateral. The Company continues to assert that such dividend is largely not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. In addition, the Company also continues to assert that this transaction results in an off-balance sheet arrangement and a possible contingent tax liability of the Company, which, if recognized, would be offset in part by the calling by the Company on S&T of the indemnification provisions of the Agreement.

Per the terms of the Agreement, Emerson invoiced S&T in June 2010 approximately $42,000 for reimbursement of legal fees incurred by Emerson with regard to the Agreement and approximately $33,000 as a transaction fee for having entered into the Agreement. In January 2011, Emerson agreed, upon the request of S&T, to waive approximately $5,000 of the legal charges that had been invoiced to S&T in June 2010. S&T paid the full amount owed to Emerson of approximately $70,000 in February 2011.

In February 2011, upon the request of S&T to the Company, the Company and S&T agreed that the collateral pledged as a part of the Agreement would no longer be required and such collateral was returned by the Company to S&T in March 2011 and the Agreement was amended and restated to remove the collateral requirement but retain the indemnification provisions. The Agreement, as amended (the “Amended Agreement”), remains in effect as of today. In the event that (i) the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct and (ii) S&T is unable or unwilling to pay the additional taxes due or indemnify the Company under the terms of the Amended Agreement, the Company may be liable to pay such additional taxes which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Other

During the three months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, Emerson invoiced Vigers Appraisal & Consulting Ltd. (“Vigers”), a related party to Mr. Ho, approximately $1,000 and $1,000, respectively, for usage of telephone and data lines maintained by Emerson. During the six months ended September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, Emerson invoiced Vigers approximately $2,000 and $2,000, respectively, for usage of telephone and data lines maintained by Emerson. Vigers owed Emerson nil and approximately $1,000 at September 30, 2013 and September 30, 2012, respectively, related to this activity.

Mr. Ho did not stand for re-election to serve as a director of the Company at the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on November 7, 2013. Accordingly, Mr. Ho is no longer a director of the Company or a related party to the Company after November 7, 2013.

NOTE 7 — BORROWINGS

Short-term Borrowings

Letters of Credit — The Company uses Hang Seng Bank to issue letters of credit on behalf of the Company, as needed, on a 100% cash collateralized basis. At September 30, 2013, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $73,000. A like amount of cash, which was posted by the Company as collateral against these outstanding letters of credit, at September 30, 2013, has been classified by the Company as Restricted Cash on the balance sheet.

Long-term Borrowings

At September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013, borrowings under long-term facilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     September 30, 2013     March 31, 2013  
     (Unaudited)        

Capitalized lease obligations

     58        73   

Less current maturities

     (43     (43
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Long term borrowings

   $ 15      $ 30   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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NOTE 8 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Kayne Litigation. On July 7, 2011, the Company was served with an amended complaint (the “Complaint”) filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California alleging, among other things, that the Company, certain of its present and former directors and other entities or individuals now or previously associated with Grande, intentionally interfered with the ability of the plaintiffs to collect on a judgment (now, with interest, approximately $60 million) they had against Grande by engaging in transactions (such as the dividend paid to all shareholders in March 2010) which transferred assets out of the United States. The Complaint also asserts claims under the civil RICO statute and for alter ego liability. In the Company’s opinion, the claims appear to be devoid of merit. Accordingly, on September 27, 2011, Emerson moved to dismiss the action for failure to state a claim. On or about February 27, 2012, the Court dismissed the intentional interference claim and portions of the Civil RICO claim with leave to re-plead, but denied the motion to dismiss the alter ego claim. On March 19, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint setting forth the same claims as the Complaint. On April 20, 2012, the Company moved to dismiss the re-pleaded intentional interference and RICO claims, and oral arguments on this motion were held on June 18, 2012. On September 6, 2012, the Court dismissed the RICO claim, but granted the plaintiffs leave to re-plead. On September 17, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a Third Amended Complaint setting forth the same claims as the Complaint. The Company’s response to the Third Amended Complaint was due and filed on October 4, 2012, which joined in a co-defendants’ motion to dismiss the alter ego claim and the RICO claim. The Court heard oral argument on December 17, 2012. On May 9, 2013, the Court granted, in part, the motion to dismiss and dismissed the RICO claim with prejudice. On May 23, 2013, Emerson filed an Answer in which it denied the allegations of the Third Amended Complaint. Discovery, which included the exchange of thousands of documents and numerous depositions of fact and expert witnesses, is now complete. On June 24, 2013, Emerson, and the other parties moved for summary judgment seeking dismissal of the remaining two claims. The court held oral argument on that motion on July 29, 2013. On August 28, 2013, the Court granted the motion, in part, and dismissed the intentional interference claim. The alter ego claim is the only remaining claim. Emerson will continue to defend the action vigorously. This matter is scheduled for trial on December 3, 2013.

Other. Except for the litigation matter described above, the Company is not currently a party to any legal proceedings other than litigation matters, in most cases involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to our business. Management cannot estimate with certainty the Company’s ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to such pending litigation matters. However, management believes, based on our examination of such matters, that the Company’s ultimate liability will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE 9 — TRADEMARKS

In September 2012, upon completion of an analysis which showed the absence of future expected cash flows, the Company determined that the value of one of its non-strategic trademarks was fully impaired. Thus, the Company recorded in September 2012 an impairment charge of $1.3 million to write off this trademark. The Company does not anticipate any future material adverse financial impacts arising from this impairment.

NOTE 10 — SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS

During the six months ended September 30, 2013, the Company had $15.2 million invested in certificates of deposit with durations in excess of three months. $10.1 million of the certificates mature on December 4, 2013 and $5.1 million of the certificates mature on March 31, 2014.

 

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

The following discussion of the Company’s operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

In the following discussions, most percentages and dollar amounts have been rounded to aid presentation. Accordingly, all amounts are approximations.

Forward-Looking Information

This report contains 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.

Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond the Company’s control, and which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. The reader can identify these forward-looking statements through the Company’s use of words such as “may,” “will,” “can,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “seek,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “potential,” and other similar words and expressions of the future. These forward-looking statements may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

 

    the impact, if any, on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operation arising from the appointment of the Provisional Liquidators over Grande;

 

    the decline in, and any further deterioration of, consumer spending for retail products, such as the Company’s products;

 

    the Company’s inability to resist price increases from its suppliers or pass through such increases to its customers;

 

    the loss of any of the Company’s key customers or reduction in the purchase of the Company’s products by any such customers;

 

    conflicts of interest that exist based on the Company’s relationship with Grande;

 

    the Company’s inability to improve and maintain effective internal controls or the failure by its personnel to comply with such internal controls;

 

    the Company’s inability to maintain its relationships with its licensees and distributors, renew existing licenses, or the failure to obtain new licensees or distribution relationships on favorable terms;

 

    cash generated by operating activities represents the Company’s principal source of funding and therefore the Company depends on its ability to successfully manage its operating cash flows to fund its operations;

 

    the Company’s inability to anticipate market trends, enhance existing products or achieve market acceptance of new products;

 

    the Company’s dependence on a limited number of suppliers for its components and raw materials;

 

    the Company’s dependence on third party manufacturers to manufacture and deliver its products;

 

    changes in consumer spending and economic conditions;

 

    the failure of third party sales representatives to adequately promote, market and sell the Company’s products;

 

    the Company’s inability to protect its intellectual property;

 

    the effects of competition;

 

    changes in foreign laws and regulations and changes in the political and economic conditions in the foreign countries in which the Company operates;

 

    changes in accounting policies, rules and practices;

 

    limited access to financing or increased cost of financing;

 

    the effects of the continuing appreciation of the renminbi and increases in costs of production in China and;

 

    the other factors listed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K, as amended, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

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All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report or the date of the document incorporated by reference into this report. The Company has no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Management has expressed its expectations, beliefs and projections in good faith and it believes it has a reasonable basis for them. However, management cannot assure the reader that its expectations, beliefs or projections will be achieved or accomplished.

Results of Operations

The following table summarizes certain financial information for the three and six month periods ended September 30, 2013 (fiscal 2014) and September 30, 2012 (fiscal 2013) (in thousands):

 

     Three months ended
September 30
     Six months ended
September 30
 
     2013     2012      2013      2012  

Net product sales

   $ 17,258      $ 32,299       $ 40,739       $ 77,175   

Licensing revenue

     1,080        2,416         2,251         3,551   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     18,338        34,715         42,990         80,726   

Cost of sales

     15,635        29,102         36,619         68,275   

Other operating costs and expenses

     171        385         322         793   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     2,325        1,737         4,513         3,745   

Impairment of trademark

     —          1,326         —           1,326   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     207        2,165         1,536         6,587   

Interest income, net

     121        67         343         98   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     328        2,232         1,879         6,685   

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     (60     285         122         898   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 388      $ 1,947       $ 1,757       $ 5,787   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net product sales — Net product sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 were $17.3 million as compared to $32.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2013, a decrease of $15.0 million or 46.6%. For the six month period of fiscal 2014, net product sales were $40.7 million as compared to $77.2 million for the six month period of fiscal 2013, a decrease of $36.5 million or 47.2%. The Company’s sales during the six month periods of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 were highly concentrated among the Company’s two largest customers, as to which gross product sales comprised approximately 89.7% and 94.9%, respectively, of the Company’s total gross product sales. Net product sales may be periodically impacted by adjustments made to the Company’s sales allowance and marketing support accrual to record unanticipated customer deductions from accounts receivable or to reduce the accrual by any amounts which were accrued in the past but not taken by customers through deductions from accounts receivable within a certain time period. In the aggregate, these adjustments had the effect of increasing net product sales and operating income by approximately $0.1 million and $0.3 million for the second quarters of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, respectively, and approximately $0.2 million and $0.5 million for the six month periods of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, respectively. The Company confronts increasing pricing pressure which is a trend that management expects to continue.

Net product sales are comprised primarily of the sales of houseware and audio products which bear the Emerson® brand name. The major elements which contributed to the overall decrease in net product sales were as follows:

 

  i) Houseware product net sales decreased $14.6 million, or 46.8%, to $16.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to $31.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, principally driven by a decrease in sales of microwave ovens and compact refrigerators, partially offset by an increase in wine coolers. For the six month period of fiscal 2014, houseware products net sales were $39.0 million, a decrease of $36.1 million or 48.1%, from $75.1 million for the six month period of fiscal 2013, principally driven by a decrease in sales of microwave ovens and compact refrigerators, partially offset by an increase in wine coolers.

As reported by the Company in a Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 19, 2012, the Company was informed by one of its major customers, that, commencing with the Spring of 2013, this customer would discontinue purchasing from Emerson two microwave oven products that had been sold by the Company to this customer. Emerson continued shipping these two products throughout the remainder of Fiscal 2013 (the year ending March 31, 2013), with sales of such products declining through the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2013. During Fiscal 2013, these two microwave oven products comprised, in the aggregate, approximately $36.1 million, or 29.7%, of the Company’s net product sales. Emerson anticipates that the full impact of this customer’s decision will be realized by the Company in Fiscal 2014, which began on April 1, 2013. As previously disclosed by the Company, the complete loss of, or significant reduction in, business with either of the Company’s key customers will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations. Accordingly, this customer’s decision is having a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to increase sales of such products at levels sufficient to offset the adverse impact of this customer’s decision, if at all.

 

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As a result of the above, during the second quarter and six month periods of fiscal 2014, sales of these two products by the Company were nil as compared to approximately $11.9 million and $24.0 million during the second quarter and six month periods of fiscal 2013, respectively.

 

  ii) Audio product net sales were $0.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to $1.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, a decrease of $0.4 million, or 39.2%, resulting from decreased sales of the Company’s portable audio and clock radio product offerings. For the six month period of fiscal 2014, audio product net sales were $1.8 million, a decrease of $0.3 million, or 13.8%, from $2.1 million in the six month period of fiscal 2013, resulting from decreased net sales of the Company’s portable audio and clock radio product offerings.

Licensing revenue — Licensing revenue in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 was $1.1 million compared to $2.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, a decrease of $1.3 million or 55.3%. Licensing revenue for the six month period of fiscal 2014 was $2.3 million as compared to $3.6 million for the six month period of fiscal 2013, a decrease of $1.3 million or 36.6%. The decrease in year-over-year licensing revenue for both the second quarter and six month periods of fiscal 2013 was due to approximately $1.3 million of lower year-over-year licensing revenue earned from the Company’s largest licensee, Funai Corporation, Inc. (“Funai”), because Funai has not yet met or exceeded its annual minimum royalty payment obligation for fiscal 2014, whereas in fiscal 2013 Funai exceeded its annual minimum royalty payment obligation during the second quarter of the Company’s fiscal year.

The Company’s largest license agreement is with Funai, which accounted for approximately 87% and 83% of the Company’s total licensing revenue for the second quarter and six month period of fiscal 2014, respectively, and approximately 92% and 89% of the Company’s total licensing revenue for the second quarter and six month period of fiscal 2013, and which was amended during December 2012 to extend the term of the agreement until March 31, 2015. The agreement provides that Funai will manufacture, market, sell and distribute specified products bearing the Emerson® trademark to customers in the U.S. and Canadian markets. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company receives non-refundable minimum annual royalty payments of $3.75 million each calendar year and a license fee on Funai’s sales of product in excess of the minimum annual royalties.

Net revenues — As a result of the foregoing factors, the Company’s net revenues were $18.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to $34.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, a decrease of $16.4 million, or 47.2%, and $43.0 million in the six month period of fiscal 2014 as compared to $80.7 million in the six month period of fiscal 2013, a decrease of $37.7 million, or 46.8%.

Cost of Sales — In absolute terms, cost of sales decreased $13.5 million, or 46.3%, to $15.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to $29.1 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net revenues was 85.3% in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to 83.8% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net product sales was 90.6% in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to 90.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. The decrease in absolute terms for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was primarily related to the reduced net product sales, partly offset by slightly higher year-over-year gross cost of sales as a percentage of gross sales.

In absolute terms, cost of sales decreased $31.7 million, or 46.4%, to $36.6 million in the six month period of fiscal 2014 as compared to $68.3 million in the six month period of fiscal 2013. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net revenues was 85.2% in the six month period of fiscal 2014 as compared to 84.6% in the six month period of fiscal 2013. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net product sales was 89.9% in the six month period of fiscal 2014 as compared to 88.5% in the six month period of fiscal 2013. The decrease in absolute terms for the six month period of fiscal 2014 as compared to the six month period of fiscal 2013 was primarily related to the reduced net product sales, partly offset by slightly higher year-over-year gross cost of sales as a percentage of gross sales.

The Company purchases the products it sells from a limited number of factory suppliers. For the second quarter of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, 78% and 84%, respectively, of such purchases were from the Company’s largest two suppliers. For the six month period of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, 76% and 76%, respectively, of such purchases were from the Company’s largest two suppliers.

Other Operating Costs and Expenses — As a percentage of net revenues, other operating costs and expenses were 0.9% in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 and 1.1% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. In absolute terms, other operating costs and expenses decreased $0.2 million, or 55.6%, to $0.2 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to $0.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013 as a result of lower warranty and returns processing costs. For the six month period of fiscal 2014, other operating costs were 0.8% of net revenues as compared to 1.0% of net revenues for the six month period of fiscal 2013. In absolute terms, other operating costs and expenses decreased $0.5 million, or 59.4%, to $0.3 million for the six month period of fiscal 2014 as compared to $0.8 million for the six month period of fiscal 2013 also resulting from lower warranty and returns processing costs.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (“S,G&A”) — S,G&A, as a percentage of net revenues, was 12.7% in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to 5.0% in the second quarter of fiscal 2013. S,G&A, in absolute terms, increased $0.6 million, or 33.9%, to $2.3 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to $1.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2013. The increase in S,G&A in absolute terms between the second quarter of fiscal 2014 and second quarter of fiscal 2013 was primarily due to higher legal fees, a reduced benefit in bad debt expense, higher tax consulting costs and higher fees paid to outside providers. For the six month period of fiscal 2014, S,G&A was 10.5% of net revenues as compared to 4.6% for the six month period of fiscal 2013. In absolute terms, S,G&A increased $0.8 million, or 20.5%, to $4.5 million for the six month period of fiscal 2014 as compared to $3.7 million in the six month period of fiscal 2013. The increase in S,G&A in absolute terms between the six month periods of fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 was primarily due to higher legal fees, higher tax consulting costs, a reduced benefit in bad debt expense, and higher fees paid to outside providers.

Impairment of trademark — During the three months ended September 30, 2012, upon completion of an analysis which showed the absence of future expected cash flows, the Company determined that the value of one of its non-strategic trademarks was fully impaired. Thus, the Company recorded in September 2012 an impairment charge of $1.3 million to write off this trademark. The Company does not anticipate any future material adverse financial impacts arising from this impairment.

Interest income (expense), net — Interest income, net, was $121,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to $67,000 in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, an increase of $54,000. Interest income, net, was $343,000 in the six month period of fiscal 2014 as compared to $98,000 in the six month period of fiscal 2013, an increase of $245,000.

Provision (benefit) for Income Taxes — In the second quarter and six month period of fiscal 2014, the Company recorded a benefit of $60,00 and income tax expense of $0.1 million, respectively, as compared to income tax expense of $0.3 million and $0.9 million, respectively, in the second quarter and six month period of fiscal 2013.

Net income — As a result of the foregoing factors, the Company realized net income of $0.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 as compared to $1.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, a decrease of $1.5 million, or 80.1%. For the six month period of fiscal 2014, the Company realized net income of $1.8 million as compared to $5.8 million in the six month period of fiscal 2013, a decrease of $4.0 million, or 69.6%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

General

As of September 30, 2013, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $52.1 million, as compared to approximately $27.5 million at September 30, 2012. Working capital increased to $74.4 million at September 30, 2013 as compared to $71.6 million at September 30, 2012. The increase in cash and cash equivalents of approximately $24.6 million was primarily due to a decrease in accounts receivable, a decrease in short term investments, a decrease in inventory, a decrease in prepaid expenses, a decrease in other receivables and the net income generated by the Company during the twelve months ended September 30, 2013, partly offset by a decrease in accounts payable inventory and a decrease in accrued sales returns.

Cash flow provided by operating activities was $0.7 million for the six months ended September 30, 2013, resulting primarily from decreases in accounts receivable, the net income generated during the period, a decrease in other receivables and an increase in accounts payable, partially offset by increases in inventory, an increase in prepaid expenses and a decrease in income taxes payable.

Net cash provided by investing activities was $30.1 million for the six months ended September 30, 2013, primarily due to redemptions of short term investments in certificates of deposit, partially offset by additions to property and equipment.

Net cash used by financing activities was $15,000 for the six months ended September 30, 2013, resulting from payments made on the Company’s capital lease and rental obligations.

Other Events and Circumstances Pertaining to Liquidity

Potential Income Tax Issues Concerning the Extraordinary Dividend Paid by the Company in March 2010

On March 2, 2010, the Board declared an extraordinary dividend of $1.10 per common share which was paid on March 24, 2010. In connection with the Company’s determination as to the taxability of the dividend, the Board relied upon information and research provided to it by the Company’s tax advisors and, in reliance on the “stock-for-debt” exception in the Internal Revenue Code Sections 108(e)(8) and (e)(10), concluded that 4.9% of such dividend paid was taxable to the recipients.

In August 2012, the Company received a Form 886-A from the IRS which challenges the Company’s conclusions and determines that the Company does not qualify for the above-referenced exception. Accordingly, the IRS has concluded that 100% of the dividend paid was taxable to the recipients. The Company is defending its position and calculations and is contesting the position asserted by the IRS. The Company prepared and, on October 25, 2012, delivered its rebuttal to the IRS contesting the IRS determination. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in defending its position.

 

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In the event that the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company calculations were correct, then the shareholders who received the dividend likely will be subject to and liable for an assessment of additional taxes due. Moreover, the Company may be contingently liable for taxes due by certain of its shareholders resulting from the dividend paid by the Company.

Initially, the Company withheld from the dividend paid to foreign shareholders an amount equal to the tax liability associated with such dividend. On April 7, 2010, upon a request made to the Company by its foreign controlling shareholder, S&T, the Company entered into an agreement with S&T (the “Agreement”), whereby the Company returned to S&T on April 7, 2010 that portion of the funds withheld for taxes from the dividend paid on March 24, 2010 to S&T, which the Company believes is not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. The Agreement includes provisions pursuant to which S&T agreed to indemnify the Company for any liability imposed on it as a result of the Company’s agreement not to withhold such funds for S&T’s possible tax liability and a pledge of stock as collateral. The Company continues to assert that such dividend is largely not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. In addition, the Company also continues to assert that this transaction results in an off-balance sheet arrangement and a possible contingent tax liability of the Company, which, if recognized, would be offset in part by the calling by the Company on S&T of the indemnification provisions of the Agreement.

In February 2011, upon the request of S&T to the Company, the Company and S&T agreed that the collateral pledged as a part of the Agreement would no longer be required and such collateral was returned by the Company to S&T in March 2011 and the Agreement was amended and restated to remove the collateral requirement but retain the indemnification provisions. The Agreement, as amended (the “Amended Agreement”), remains in effect as of today. In the event that (i) the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct and (ii) S&T is unable or unwilling to pay the additional taxes due or indemnify the Company under the terms of the Amended Agreement, the Company may be liable to pay such additional taxes which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

Income Tax Issues Concerning Overseas Income

On April 15, 2013 and June 5, 2013, Emerson received correspondence from the IRS including a (i) Form 5701 and Form 886-A regarding Adjusted Sales Income (collectively referred to as “NOPA 1”) and (ii) Form 5701 and Form 886-A regarding Adjusted Subpart F-Foreign Base Company Sales Income (collectively referred to as “NOPA 2”).

With respect to NOPA 1, the IRS is (i) challenging the position of the Company with respect to the way the Company’s controlled foreign corporation in Macao (the “Macao CFC”) recorded its product sales during Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 and (ii) asserting that an upward adjustment to the Company’s Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 taxable income of $4,981,520 and $5,680,182, respectively, is required.

With respect to NOPA 2, the IRS is challenging the position of the Company with respect to the fact that the Company considered the service fee paid by the Company to the Macao CFC to be non-taxable in the U.S. The IRS has taken the position that the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company constitutes foreign base company sales income (“FBCSI”). The IRS asserts that the service fee earned by the Macao CFC in connection with its sales of products to the Company should be taxable to the Company as FBCSI. As a result, the IRS determined that an upward adjustment to the Company’s Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 taxable income of $1,553,984 and $1,143,162, respectively, is required.

The Company has evaluated the determinations made by the IRS as set forth in each of NOPA 1 and NOPA 2 in order to decide (a) how it will proceed and (b) the potential impact on the Company’s financial condition and operations. Furthermore, although NOPA 1 and NOPA 2 represent potential adjustments to Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 only, the Company believes it is likely that the IRS will take the position that the same type of adjustments should be made for each of the Company’s subsequent fiscal years. The assessment and payment of such additional taxes, penalties and interest would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

With respect to NOPA 1, the Company is appealing the proposed adjustment with the IRS. In the event that the Company is not successful in its appeal, the Company estimates that it could be liable for a maximum in taxes, penalties and interest of approximately $13.3 million pertaining to NOPA 1, in the aggregate, for its Fiscal 2010, Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2013 periods. However, because the Company’s current assessment is that its appeal of NOPA 1 is more likely than not to be successful, the Company has not recorded any liability to its September 30, 2013 or March 31, 2013 balance sheets related to NOPA 1.

With respect to NOPA 2, the Company agrees in principle with the IRS’ position that the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company would be treated as FBCSI and taxable to the Company but the Company does not agree with the adjustment to the Company’s taxable income as calculated by the IRS. However, the Company has estimated at approximately $1.1 million the amount of taxes, penalties and interest for which it would be liable for its Fiscal 2010, Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2013 periods using the adjustments to taxable income as proposed by the IRS, and recorded such amount as a liability to its September 30, 2013 and March 31, 2013 balance sheets.

 

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Credit Arrangements

Letters of Credit — The Company utilizes Hang Seng Bank to issue letters of credit on behalf of the Company, as needed, on a 100% cash collateralized basis. At September 30, 2013, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling $73,000. A like amount of cash, which was posted by the Company as collateral against these outstanding letters of credit, at September 30, 2013, has been classified by the Company as Restricted Cash on the balance sheet.

Short-term Liquidity

For both the three and six months ended September 30, 2013, products representing approximately 71% of net sales were imported directly to the Company’s customers. The direct importation of product by the Company to its customers significantly benefits the Company’s liquidity because this inventory does not need to be financed by the Company.

The Company’s principal existing sources of cash are generated from operations. The Company believes that its existing cash balance and sources of cash will be sufficient to support existing operations over the next 12 months.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The following Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) were issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board during the three months ended September 30, 2013 or during the interim period between September 30, 2013 and November 14, 2013 which relate to or could relate to the Company as concerns the Company’s normal ongoing operations or the industry in which the Company operates:

Accounting Standards Update 2013-11, Income Taxes – Topic 740. Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carry-forward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carry-forward Exists.

This Update applies to all entities that have unrecognized tax benefits when a net operating loss carry-forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry-forward exists at the reporting date. An unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carry-forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry-forward, except as follows. To the extent a net operating loss carry-forward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carry-forward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and should be made presuming disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments should be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Retrospective application is permitted. This ASU is not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

Inflation, Foreign Currency, and Interest Rates

The Company’s exposure to currency fluctuations has been minimized by the use of U.S. dollar denominated purchase orders. The Company purchases virtually all of its products from manufacturers located in China.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

(a) Disclosure controls and procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d — 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its Exchange Act reports are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Due to the inherent limitations of control systems, not all misstatements may be detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons; by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. Our controls and procedures can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the above objectives have been met.

 

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The Company’s management concluded that disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of September 30, 2013, are effective to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2013 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

Kayne Litigation. On July 7, 2011, the Company was served with an amended complaint (the “Complaint”) filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California alleging, among other things, that the Company, certain of its present and former directors and other entities or individuals now or previously associated with Grande, intentionally interfered with the ability of the plaintiffs to collect on a judgment (now, with interest, approximately $60 million) they had against Grande by engaging in transactions (such as the dividend paid to all shareholders in March 2010) which transferred assets out of the United States. The Complaint also asserts claims under the civil RICO statute and for alter ego liability. In the Company’s opinion, the claims appear to be devoid of merit. Accordingly, on September 27, 2011, Emerson moved to dismiss the action for failure to state a claim. On or about February 27, 2012, the Court dismissed the intentional interference claim and portions of the Civil RICO claim with leave to re-plead, but denied the motion to dismiss the alter ego claim. On March 19, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint setting forth the same claims as the Complaint. On April 20, 2012, the Company moved to dismiss the re-pleaded intentional interference and RICO claims, and oral arguments on this motion were held on June 18, 2012. On September 6, 2012, the Court dismissed the RICO claim, but granted the plaintiffs leave to re-plead. On September 17, 2012, the plaintiffs filed a Third Amended Complaint setting forth the same claims as the Complaint. The Company’s response to the Third Amended Complaint was due and filed on October 4, 2012, which joined in a co-defendants’ motion to dismiss the alter ego claim and the RICO claim. The Court heard oral argument on December 17, 2012. On May 9, 2013, the Court granted, in part, the motion to dismiss and dismissed the RICO claim with prejudice. On May 23, 2013, Emerson filed an Answer in which it denied the allegations of the Third Amended Complaint. Discovery, which included the exchange of thousands of documents and numerous depositions of fact and expert witnesses, is now complete. On June 24, 2013, Emerson, and the other parties moved for summary judgment seeking dismissal of the remaining two claims. The court held oral argument on that motion on July 29, 2013. On August 28, 2013, the Court granted the motion, in part, and dismissed the intentional interference claim. The alter ego claim is the only remaining claim. Emerson will continue to defend the action vigorously. This matter is scheduled for trial on December 3, 2013.

Other. Except for the litigation matter described above, the Company is not currently a party to any legal proceedings other than litigation matters, in most cases involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to our business. Management cannot estimate with certainty the Company’s ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to such pending litigation matters. However, management believes, based on our examination of such matters, that the Company’s ultimate liability will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There were no material changes in any risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 16, 2013.

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

None

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

(a) None

(b) None

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

None

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

 

31.1    Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
31.2    Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
32    Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
101.1+    XBRL Instance Document.
101.2+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.3+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.4+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.5+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.6+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

* filed herewith
** furnished herewith

 

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

     

EMERSON RADIO CORP.

(Registrant)

      /s/ Duncan Hon
Date: November 14, 2013       Duncan Hon
     

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

      /s/ Andrew L. Davis
Date: November 14, 2013       Andrew L. Davis
     

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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