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GEE Group Inc. - Annual Report: 2017 (Form 10-K)

gee_10k.htm

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

x Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Commission File Number 1-05707

 

GEE GROUP INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Illinois

 

36-6097429

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

184 Shuman Blvd., Suite 420, Naperville, IL

 

60563

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (630) 954-0400

 

___________________________________________________________

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

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, no par value

 

NYSE MKT

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x

 

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 o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 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). Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K. o

 

Indicate by checkmark 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

o

Accelerated filer

o

Non-accelerated filer

o

Smaller reporting company

x

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on March 31, 2017 was 7,274,956 x $4.95 = $36,011,032.

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of December 27, 2017 was 10,012,847.

 

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART I

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Business.

 

3

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors.

 

6

 

 

 

 

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

10

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Properties.

 

10

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings.

 

11

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

11

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

12

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data.

 

13

 

 

 

 

Item 7.

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

 

13

 

 

 

 

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

25

 

 

 

 

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

F-1

 

 

 

 

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

26

 

 

 

 

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures.

 

26

 

 

 

 

Item 9B.

Other Information.

 

27

 

 

 

 

PART III

 

 

 

 

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

28

 

 

 

 

Item 11.

Executive Compensation.

 

35

 

 

 

 

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

39

 

 

 

 

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

40

 

 

 

 

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

41

 

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 

 

 

 

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

42

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

50

 

 

 
2
 

 

PART I

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K 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 (the “Exchange Act”). The Company has based these forward-looking statements on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us and the Company’s subsidiaries that may cause the Company’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a material difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed elsewhere in this Annual Report, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” and the risks discussed in the Company’s other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited Financial Statements and related Notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.

 

Item 1. Business.

 

General

 

GEE Group Inc. (the “Company”, “us”, “our” or “we”) was incorporated in the State of Illinois in 1962 and is the successor to employment offices doing business since 1893. We are a provider of permanent and temporary professional, industrial and physician assistant staffing and placement services in and near several major U.S cities. We specialize in the placement of information technology, engineering, medical and accounting professionals for direct hire and contract staffing for our clients, and provide temporary staffing services for our commercial clients.

 

The Company has several corporations and names it does business under and are all consolidated under GEE Group, Inc. These names include Triad Personnel Services, Inc., General Employment, Ashley Ellis, Omni One, Scribe Solutions, SNI Companies, Access, Paladin and Agile Resources.

 

On October 4, 2015, the Company entered a Stock Purchase Agreement with William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier (the “Access Sellers”) pursuant to which the Company acquired on October 4, 2015, 100% of the outstanding stock of Access Data Consulting Corporation., a Colorado corporation, for a purchase price equal to approximately $16,000,000 in consideration. The purchase price consisted of $8,000,000 in cash (subject to minimum working capital), the issuance to the Access Sellers 327,869 shares of Company common stock, a Promissory note in the aggregate of $3,000,000 and up to $2,000,000 of an “earnout”. On April 4, 2016, the Company issued approximately 123,000 of additional shares of common stock to the Sellers of Access Data Consulting Corporation. This was based on market value of the stock on April 4, 2016 being approximately $544,000 less than $2,000,000 six month guaranteed and based on the closing stock price of $4.44 per common share. The Company recognized a loss on change of contingent consideration of approximately $44,000 for the year ended September 30, 2016. The earnout was not achieved. In addition, the Company increased the original purchase price by approximately $600,000 related to a mutual tax election as described in the purchase agreement.

 

On January 1, 2016, the Company entered a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Paladin Agreement”) with Enoch S. Timothy and Dorothy Timothy. Pursuant to the terms of the Paladin Agreement the Company acquired on January 1, 2016, 100% of the outstanding stock of Paladin Consulting Inc., a Texas corporation (“Paladin”), for a purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) equal to $1,750,000, minus the Circle Lending Loan Amount ( as defined in the Paladin Agreement) plus up to $1,000,000 in contingent promissory notes, minus the NWC Reduction Amount (as defined in the Paladin Agreement ) (if any) plus up to $1,250,000 of “earnouts”, for a total of approximately $2,625,000.

 

The Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 31, 2017 (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Company, GEE Group Portfolio, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, (the “GEE Portfolio”), SNI Holdco Inc., a Delaware corporation (“SNI Holdco”), Smith Holdings, LLC a Delaware limited liability company, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a Wisconsin corporation, organized as a fraternal benefits society (“Thrivent”), Madison Capital Funding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Madison”) and Ronald R. Smith, in his capacity as a stockholder (“Mr. Smith” and collectively with Smith Holdings, LLC, Thrivent and Madison, the “Principal Stockholders”) and Ronald R. Smith in his capacity as the representative of the SNIH Stockholders (“Stockholders’ Representative”). The Merger Agreement provided for the merger subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement of SNI Holdco with and into GEE Portfolio pursuant to which GEE Portfolio would be the surviving corporation (the “Merger”). The Merger was consummated on April 3, 2017. As a result of the Merger, GEE Portfolio became the owner 100% of the outstanding capital stock of SNI Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI Holdco (“SNI Companies” and collectively with SNI Holdco, the “Acquired Companies”).

 

 
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The aggregate consideration paid for the shares of SNI Holdco (the “Merger Consideration”) was $86 million minus the $20,220,710 of Long Term Debt (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Acquired Companies immediately before closing plus or minus the “NWC Adjustment Amount” or the difference in the book value of the Closing Net Working Capital (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Acquired Companies as compared to the Benchmark Net Working Capital (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Acquired Companies of $9.2 million.

 

On April 3, 2017, the Company paid to certain SNIH Stockholders as part of the Merger Consideration (i) an aggregate of approximately $18,550,000 in cash, (ii) an aggregate of $12.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its 9.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes and (iii) an aggregate of 5,926,000 shares of its Series B convertible preferred stock. The 9.5% Notes mature on October 3, 2021 (the “Maturity Date”). The 9.5% Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a conversion price equal to $5.83 per share. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $4.86 per share. Each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder thereof into one share of Common Stock at an initial conversion price equal to $4.86 per share.

 

At the Closing, $1.5 million of the cash of the Merger Consideration was retained by the Company (the “Working Capital Reserve Fund”) and is subject to payment and adjustment as follows. The Merger Consideration will be adjusted (positively or negatively) based upon the difference in the book value of the Closing Net Working Capital (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as compared to the Benchmark Net Working Capital (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of $9.2 million (such difference to be called the “NWC Adjustment Amount”). If the NWC Adjustment Amount is positive, the Merger Consideration will be increased by the NWC Adjustment Amount. If the NWC Adjustment Amount is negative, the Merger Consideration will be decreased by the NWC Adjustment Amount. If the Merger Consideration increases, then the Company will pay the Stockholders’ Representative account for payment to SNIH Stockholders the amount of the increase plus the Working Capital Reserve Fund in immediately available funds within three (3) business days of a final determination thereof. If the Merger Consideration decreases, then SNIH Stockholders will pay the amount of the decrease to the Company within three (3) business days of a final determination thereof, which first shall be funded from the Working Capital Reserve Fund (which shall be credited to the SNIH Stockholders). If the amount of the Merger Consideration decrease exceeds the Working Capital Reserve Fund, then the SNIH Stockholders, will pay the difference to the Company, severally, not jointly, in accordance with their SNIH Ownership Proportion (as defined in the Merger Agreement), in immediately available funds within twenty (20) days of a final determination. If the Working Capital Reserve Fund exceeds the payment due from SNIH Stockholders then the remaining balance of those funds after the payment to the Company shall be paid to the Stockholders’ Representative’s account for payment to the SNIH Stockholders in immediately available funds.

 

Services Provided

 

The Company and its subsidiaries provide the following services: (a) professional placement services specializing in the placement of information technology, engineering, medical data entry assistants (medical scribes) who specialize in electronic medical records (EMR) services for emergency departments, specialty physician practices and clinics and accounting professionals for direct hire and contract staffing, (b) temporary staffing services in light industrial staffing.

 

Together with its subsidiaries, the Company provides staffing services through a network of branch offices located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. The Company’s professional staffing services provide information technology, engineering, medical and accounting professionals to clients on either a regular placement basis or a temporary contract basis. The Company’s industrial staffing business provides weekly temporary staffing for light industrial clients, primarily in Ohio.

 

 
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The percentage of revenues derived from each of the Company’s continuing operations is as follows:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Industrial contract services

 

 

18 %

 

 

26 %

Professional contract services

 

 

71 %

 

 

66 %

Direct hire placement services

 

 

11

%

 

 

8

%

 

Marketing

 

The Company markets its services using the trade names General Employment Enterprises, Omni One, Ashley Ellis, Agile Resources, Scribe Solutions Inc., Access Data Consulting Corporation, Paladin Consulting Inc., SNI Companies, Inc., Triad Personnel Services and Triad Staffing. As of September 30, 2017, we operated forty-seven branch offices in downtown or suburban areas of major U.S. cities in sixteen states. We have one office located in each of Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Washington DC and Virginia, two offices in New Jersey, four offices in Colorado and Massachusetts, five offices in Illinois and Texas, seven offices in Ohio and eleven offices in Florida.

 

The Company markets its staffing services to prospective clients primarily through telephone marketing by its recruiting and sales consultants, and through mailing of employment bulletins which list candidates available for placement and contract employees available for assignment.

 

There was no customer that represented more than 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenue in fiscal 2017 or fiscal 2016.

 

Competition

 

The staffing industry is highly competitive. There are relatively few barriers to entry by firms offering placement services, while significant amounts of working capital typically are required for firms offering contract services. The Company’s competitors include many sole-proprietorship operations, as well as regional and national organizations. Many of them are large corporations with substantially greater resources than the Company.

 

The Company’s professional and industrial staffing services compete by providing highly qualified candidates who are well matched for the position, by responding quickly to client requests, and by establishing offices in convenient locations. As part of its service, the Company provides professional reference checking, scrutiny of candidates’ work experience and optional background checks. In general, pricing is secondary to quality of service as a competitive factor. During slow hiring periods, however, competition can put pressure on the Company’s pricing.

 

Recruiting

 

The success of the Company’s services is highly dependent on its ability to obtain qualified candidates. Prospective employment candidates are generally recruited over the telephone, by the Company’s employment consultants or through postings on the Internet. For Internet postings, the Company maintains its own web page at www.geegroup.com and uses other Internet job posting bulletin board services. The Company maintains database records of applicants’ skills to assist in matching them with job openings and contract assignments. The Company generally screens and interviews all applicants who are presented to its clients.

 

Employees

 

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had approximately 475 regular employees and the number of contract service employees varied week to week from a minimum of approximately 2,515 to a maximum of 4,245.

 

Available Information

 

We file annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy and information statements and amendments to reports filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The public may obtain these filings at the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington DC 20549 or by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site at http//www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding the Company and other companies that file material with the SEC electronically. Copies of the Company’s reports can be obtained, free of charge, electronically through our internet website, http//www.geegroup.com. Information on the Company’s website is not incorporated in this report by the foregoing reference.

 

 
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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED LOSSES FROM OPERATIONS AND MAY NOT BE PROFITABLE IN THE FUTURE.

 

The Company experienced a loss for the year ended September 30, 2017. There can be no assurance that the Company will not incur losses in the future. There are no assurances that the Company will be able to generate sufficient revenue to meet its operating expenditures or operate profitably in the future.

 

RECENT GLOBAL TRENDS IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS, LIQUIDITY AND FINANCIAL RESULTS.

 

Recent global economic conditions, including disruption of financial markets, could adversely affect our business and results of operations, primarily through limiting our access to credit, our ability to refinance debt and disrupting our customers’ businesses, which are heavily dependent on retail and e-commerce transactions. Although we currently believe that we will be able to obtain the necessary financing in the future, there is no assurance that these institutions will be able to loan us the necessary capital, which could have a material adverse impact on our business. In addition, continuation or worsening of general market conditions in the United States economy important to our businesses may adversely affect our customers’ level of spending, ability to obtain financing for acquisitions and ability to make timely payments to us for our services, which could require us to increase our allowance for doubtful accounts, negatively impact our days sales outstanding and adversely affect our results of operations.

 

WE DEPEND ON ATTRACTING, INTEGRATING, MANAGING, AND RETAINING QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

 

Our success depends upon our ability to attract, integrate, manage and retain personnel who possess the skills and experience necessary to fulfill our clients’ needs. Our ability to hire and retain qualified personnel could be impaired by any diminution of our reputation, decrease in compensation levels relative to our competitors or modifications to our total compensation philosophy or competitor hiring programs. If we cannot attract, hire and retain qualified personnel, our business, financial condition and results of operations may suffer. Our future success also depends upon our ability to manage the performance of our personnel. Failure to successfully manage the performance of our personnel could affect our profitability by causing operating inefficiencies that could increase operating expenses and reduce operating income.

 

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMPETE EFFECTIVELY.

 

Competition in the market for placement and staffing services is intense. The Company faces competition from many larger, more established companies. In addition, other companies could seek to introduce competing services and increased competition could result in a decrease in the price charged by the Company’s competitors for their services or reduce demand for the Company’s products and services, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully with its existing or potential competitors, which may have substantially greater financial, technical, and marketing resources, longer operating histories, greater name recognition or more established relationships in the industry than the Company. If any of these competitors provides competitive services to the marketplace in the future, the Company cannot be sure that it will have the resources or expertise to compete successfully.

 

CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT REGULATION COULD LIMIT OUR GROWTH OR RESULT IN ADDITIONAL COSTS OF DOING BUSINESS.

 

We are subject to the same federal, state and local laws as other companies conducting placement and staffing services, which is extensive. The adoption or modification of laws related to the placement and staffing industry, such as the Healthcare for America Plan, could harm our business, operating results and financial condition by increasing our costs and administrative burdens.

 

 
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INTERRUPTION OF THE COMPANY’S BUSINESS COULD RESULT FROM INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES IN RESPONSE TO TERRORISM.

 

The continued threat of terrorism within the United States and the ongoing military action and heightened security measures in response to such threat has and may cause significant disruption to commerce. The U.S. economy in general is being adversely affected by terrorist activities and potential activities. Any economic downturn could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations, impair the Company’s ability to raise capital or otherwise adversely affect the Company’s ability to grow the business. It is impossible to predict how this may affect the Company’s business or the economy in the U.S. and in the world. In the event of further threats or acts of terrorism, the Company’s business and operations may be severely and adversely affected or destroyed.

 

SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATION OF THE COMPANY’S CURRENT BUSINESS AND REVENUE MODEL COULD HURT SHORT-TERM RESULTS.

 

The Company’s present business and revenue model represents the current view of the optimal business and revenue structure, which is to derive revenues and achieve profitability in the shortest period. There can be no assurance that current models will not be altered significantly or replaced with an alternative model that is driven by motivations other than near-term revenues and/or profitability (for example, building market share before the Company’s competitors). Any such alteration or replacement of the business and revenue model may ultimately result in the deferring of certain revenues in favor of potentially establishing larger market share. The Company cannot assure that any adjustment or change in the business and revenue model will prove to be successful.

 

THE REQUIREMENTS OF BEING A PUBLIC COMPANY MAY STRAIN OUR RESOURCES AND DISTRACT MANAGEMENT.

 

As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”). These requirements are extensive. The Exchange Act requires that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting.

 

We may incur significant costs associated with our public company reporting requirements and costs associated with applicable corporate governance requirements. We expect all of these applicable rules and regulations to significantly increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some activities more time consuming and costly. This may divert management’s attention from other business concerns, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We also expect that these applicable rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified individuals to serve on our Board of Directors or as executive officers. We are currently evaluating and monitoring developments with respect to these rules, and we cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.

 

FAILURE TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN EFFECTIVE INTERNAL CONTROLS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 404 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS AND OPERATING RESULTS. IN ADDITION, CURRENT AND POTENTIAL STOCKHOLDERS COULD LOSE CONFIDENCE IN OUR FINANCIAL REPORTING, WHICH COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR STOCK PRICE.

 

Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our operating results could be harmed. We are required to document and test our internal control procedures in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. During the course of our testing, we may identify deficiencies which we may not be able to remediate in time for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. In addition, if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Failure to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a material adverse effect on our stock price.

 

 
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We cannot provide assurance as to the result of these efforts. We cannot be certain that any measures we take will ensure that we implement and maintain adequate internal controls in the future. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations.

 

A MORE ACTIVE, LIQUID TRADING MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK MAY NOT DEVELOP, AND THE PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAY FLUCTUATE SIGNIFICANTLY.

 

Although our common stock is listed on the NYSE MKT, we cannot assure you that an active public market will develop for our common stock. There has been relatively limited trading volume in the market for our common stock, and a more active, liquid public trading market may not develop or may not be sustained. Limited liquidity in the trading market for our common stock may adversely affect a stockholder’s ability to sell its shares of common stock at the time it wishes to sell them or at a price that it considers acceptable. If a more active, liquid public trading market does not develop, we may be limited in our ability to raise capital by selling shares of common stock and our ability to acquire other companies or assets by using shares of our common stock as consideration. In addition, if there is a thin trading market or “float” for our stock, the market price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly more than the stock market as a whole. Without a large float, our common stock would be less liquid than the stock of companies with broader public ownership and, as a result, the trading prices of our common stock may be more volatile. Furthermore, the stock market is subject to significant price and volume fluctuations, and the price of our common stock could fluctuate widely in response to several factors, including:

 

 

·

our quarterly or annual operating results;

 

·

changes in our earnings estimates;

 

·

investment recommendations by securities analysts following our business or our industry;

 

·

additions or departures of key personnel;

 

·

changes in the business, earnings estimates or market perceptions of our competitors;

 

·

our failure to achieve operating results consistent with securities analysts’ projections;

 

·

changes in industry, general market or economic conditions; and

 

·

announcements of legislative or regulatory changes.

 

The stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations in recent years that have significantly affected the quoted prices of the securities of many companies, including companies in our industry. The changes often appear to occur without regard to specific operating performance. The price of our common stock could fluctuate based upon factors that have little or nothing to do with our company and these fluctuations could materially reduce our stock price.

 

NO DIVIDENDS ANTICIPATED.

 

We intend to retain all future earnings for use in the development of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the near future.

 

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY ADDITIONAL FINANCING TO ACHIEVE OUR STRATEGIC GOALS.

 

There is no guarantee that we will be able to obtain any additional financing that may be required to continue to expand our business. Our continued viability depends on our ability to raise capital. Changes in economic, regulatory or competitive conditions may lead to cost increases. Management may also determine that it is in our best interest to expand more rapidly than currently intended, to expand marketing activities, to develop new or enhance existing services or products, to respond to competitive pressures or to acquire complementary services, businesses or technologies. In any such case or other change of circumstance, additional financing will be necessary. If any additional financing is required, there can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain such additional financing on terms acceptable to us and at times required by us, if at all. In such event, we may be required to materially alter our business plan or curtail all or a part of our expansion plans.

 

 
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WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MANAGE EXPECTED GROWTH AND INTERNAL EXPANSION.

 

We have not yet undergone the significant managerial and internal expansion that we expect will occur, and our inability to manage growth could hurt our results of operations. Expansion of our operations will be required to address anticipated growth of our customer base and market opportunities. Expansion will place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources. Currently, we have a limited number of employees. We will need to improve existing procedures and controls as well as implement new transaction processing, operational and financial systems, procedures and controls to expand, train and manage our employee base. Our failure to manage growth effectively could have a damaging effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

WE COULD BE HARMED BY IMPROPER DISCLOSURE OR LOSS OF SENSITIVE OR CONFIDENTIAL COMPANY, EMPLOYEE, ASSOCIATE OR CLIENT DATA, INCLUDING PERSONAL DATA.

 

In connection with the operation of our business, we store, process and transmit a large amount of data, including personnel and payment information, about our employees, clients, associates and candidates, a portion of which is confidential and/or personally sensitive. In doing so, we rely on our own technology and systems, and those of third party vendors we use for a variety of processes. We and our third-party vendors have established policies and procedures to help protect the security and privacy of this information. Unauthorized disclosure or loss of sensitive or confidential data may occur through a variety of methods. These include, but are not limited to, systems failure, employee negligence, fraud or misappropriation, or unauthorized access to or through our information systems, whether by our employees or third parties, including a cyberattack by computer programmers, hackers, members of organized crime and/or state-sponsored organizations, who may develop and deploy viruses, worms or other malicious software programs.

 

Such disclosure, loss or breach could harm our reputation and subject us to government sanctions and liability under our contracts and laws that protect sensitive or personal data and confidential information, resulting in increased costs or loss of revenues. It is possible that security controls over sensitive or confidential data and other practices we and our third-party vendors follow may not prevent the improper access to, disclosure of, or loss of such information. The potential risk of security breaches and cyberattacks may increase as we introduce new services and offerings, such as mobile technology. Further, data privacy is subject to frequently changing rules and regulations, which sometimes conflict among the various jurisdictions in which we provide services. Any failure or perceived failure to successfully manage the collection, use, disclosure, or security of personal information or other privacy related matters, or any failure to comply with changing regulatory requirements in this area, could result in legal liability or impairment to our reputation in the marketplace.

 

WE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ACQUISITIONS AND JOINT VENTURES.

 

We intend to expand our business through investments in joint ventures with, or acquisitions of, complementary businesses, technologies, services or products, subject to our business plans and management’s ability to identify, acquire and develop suitable investments or acquisition targets in both new and existing service categories. In certain circumstances, acceptable investments or acquisition targets might not be available. Acquisitions involve a number of risks, including: (1) difficulty in integrating the operations, technologies, products and personnel of an acquired business, including consolidating redundant facilities and infrastructure; (2) potential disruption of our ongoing business and the distraction of management from our day-to-day operations; (3) difficulty entering markets in which we have limited or no prior experience and in which competitors have a stronger market position; (4) difficulty maintaining the quality of services that such acquired companies have historically provided; (5) potential legal and financial responsibility for liabilities of acquired businesses; (6) overpayment for the acquired company or assets or failure to achieve anticipated benefits, such as cost savings and revenue enhancements; (7) increased expenses associated with completing an acquisition and amortizing any acquired intangible assets; (8) challenges in implementing uniform standards, accounting policies, customs, controls, procedures and policies throughout an acquired business; (9) failure to retain, motivate and integrate key management and other employees of the acquired business; and (10) loss of customers and a failure to integrate customer bases.

 

 
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In addition, if we incur indebtedness to finance an acquisition, it may reduce our capacity to borrow additional amounts and require us to dedicate a greater percentage of our cash flow from operations to payments on our debt, thereby reducing the cash resources available to us to fund capital expenditures, pursue other acquisitions or investments in new business initiatives and meet general corporate and working capital needs. This increased indebtedness may also limit our flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in or challenges relating to our business and industry.

 

The use of our common stock or other securities (including those convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for our common stock) to finance any such acquisition may also result in dilution of our existing shareholders.

 

The potential risks associated with future acquisitions could disrupt our ongoing business, result in the loss of key customers or personnel, increase expenses and otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

WE FACE SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYMENT-RELATED LEGAL RISK.

 

We employ people internally and in the workplaces of other businesses. Many of these individuals have access to client information systems and confidential information. An inherent risk of such activity includes possible claims of errors and omissions; intentional misconduct; release, misuse or misappropriation of client intellectual property, confidential information, funds, or other property; cyber security breaches affecting our clients and/or us; discrimination and harassment claims; employment of illegal aliens; criminal activity; torts; or other claims. Such claims may result in negative publicity, injunctive relief, criminal investigations and/or charges, civil litigation, payment by us of monetary damages or fines, or other material adverse effects on our business.

 

OUR ABILITY TO UTILIZE OUR NET OPERATING CARRYFOWARDS AND CERTAIN OTHER TAX ATTRIBUTES MAY BE LIMITED.

 

Federal and state laws impose restrictions on the utilization of net operating loss (“NOL”) and tax credit carryforwards in the event of an “ownership change” as defined by section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 382”). Generally, an ownership change occurs if the percentage of the value of the stock that is owned by one or more direct or indirect “five percent shareholders” increases by more than 50% over their lowest ownership percentage at any time during the applicable testing period (typically, three years).

 

Under Section 382, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOL carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. We have not completed a study to assess whether an “ownership change” has occurred or whether there have been multiple ownership changes since we became a “loss corporation” as defined in Section 382. Future changes in our stock ownership, which may be outside of our control, may trigger an “ownership change”. In addition, future equity offerings or acquisitions that have equity as a component of the purchase price could result in an “ownership change.” If an “ownership change” has occurred or does occur in the future, utilization of the NOL carryforwards or other tax attributes may be limited, which could potentially result in increased future tax liability to us.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Properties.

 

The Company’s policy is to lease commercial office space for all of its offices. The Company’s headquarters are located in a building near Chicago, Illinois. The Company leases approximately 5,000 square feet of space at that location under a lease that will expire in 2018.

 

 
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The Company markets its services using the trade names General Employment Enterprises, Omni One, Ashley Ellis, Agile Resources, Scribe Solutions Inc., Access Data Consulting Corporation, Paladin Consulting Inc., SNI Companies, Inc., Triad Personnel Services and Triad Staffing. As of September 30, 2017, we operated forty-seven branch offices in downtown or suburban areas of major U.S. cities in sixteen states. We have one office located in each of Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Washington DC and Virginia, two offices in New Jersey, four offices in Colorado and Massachusetts, five offices in Illinois and Texas, seven offices in Ohio and eleven offices in Florida.

 

Established offices are operated from leased space ranging from 800 to 7,500 square feet, generally for initial lease periods of one to five years, with cancellation clauses after certain periods of occupancy in some cases. Management believes that existing facilities are adequate for the Company’s current needs and that its leasing strategies provide the Company with sufficient flexibility to open or close offices to accommodate business needs.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

As of September 30, 2017, the Company was not a party to any material legal proceedings.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

 
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PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

Market Information

 

The Company’s common stock is listed on the NYSE MKT and is traded under the symbol “JOB.” The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low sales prices per share of the Company’s common stock on the consolidated market for each quarter within the last two fiscal years.

 

 

 

Fourth

Quarter

 

 

Third

Quarter

 

 

Second

Quarter

 

 

First

Quarter

 

Fiscal 2017:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High

 

$ 5.58

 

 

$ 7.00

 

 

$ 5.58

 

 

$ 5.27

 

Low

 

 

2.81

 

 

 

4.99

 

 

 

4.06

 

 

 

3.83

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High

 

$ 6.89

 

 

$ 4.60

 

 

$ 5.99

 

 

$ 7.70

 

Low

 

 

3.61

 

 

 

3.71

 

 

 

3.56

 

 

 

4.00

 

 

Holders of Record

 

There were approximately 624 holders of record of the Company’s common stock on December 27, 2017.

 

Dividends

 

No dividends were declared or paid during the years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends for the foreseeable future.

 

During the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, no equity securities of the Company were repurchased by the Company.

 

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

 

As of September 30, 2017, there were stock options outstanding under the Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan, Second Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan, 1999 Stock Option Plan and the 2011 Company Incentive Plan. All four plans were approved by the shareholders. The 1995 Stock Option Plan and the 1999 Stock Option Plan have expired, and no further options may be granted under those plans. During fiscal 2009, the Second Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan was amended to make an additional 59,200 options available for granting and as of September 30, 2013, there were no shares available for issuance under the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan. As of September 30, 2017, there were shares available for issuance under the 2011 Company Incentive Plan, however management does not anticipate issuing any shares under this plan. The plans granted specified numbers of options to non-employee directors, and they authorized the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors to grant either incentive or non-statutory stock options to employees. Vesting periods are established by the Compensation Committee at the time of grant. All stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 were non-statutory stock options, had exercise prices equal to the market price on the date of grant, and had expiration dates ten years from the date of grant.

 

 
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On July 23, 2013, the Board of Directors approved the Company’s 2013 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2013 Plan”), and resolved to cease issuing securities under all prior Company equity compensation plans. The 2013 Plan was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on September 9, 2013. The purpose of the 2013 Plan is to provide additional incentives to select persons who can make, are making, and continue to make substantial contributions to the growth and success of the Company, to attract and retain the employment and services of such persons, and to encourage and reward such contributions, by providing these individuals with an opportunity to acquire or increase stock ownership in the Company through either the grant of options or restricted stock. The 2013 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee or such other committee as is appointed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the 2013 Plan (the “Committee”). The Committee has full authority to administer and interpret the provisions of the 2013 Plan including, but not limited to, the authority to make all determinations with regard to the terms and conditions of an award made under the 2013 Plan. The maximum number of shares that may be granted under the 2013 Plan is 4,000,000. This number is subject to adjustment to reflect changes in the capital structure or organization of the Company.

 

(number of shares in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan category

 

Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights

 

 

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights

 

 

Number of securities

remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in first column)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

 

908

 

 

$ 5.13

 

 

 

3,075

(1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

908

 

 

$ 5.13

 

 

 

3,075

(1)

_______________

(1) Includes only the number of securities that could be issuable under the 2013 Plan.

 

On December 12, 2017, the Company issued 135,655 shares of common stock, valued at approximately $595,000 for the conversion of the Jax legacy (“Jax”) note and the accrued interest through September 30, 2017. These shares issued to Jax were not registered under the Securities Act. Jax is an accredited investor. The issuance of these shares to Jax is exempt from the registration requirements of the Act in reliance on an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Act.

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. Management’s discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that are provided to assist in the understanding of anticipated future performance. However, future performance involves risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. See “Forward-Looking Statements”.

 

Overview

 

We specialize in the placement of information technology, engineering, and accounting professionals for direct hire and contract staffing for our clients, data entry assistants (medical scribes) who specialize in electronic medical records (EMR) services for emergency departments, specialty physician practices and clinics and provide temporary staffing services for our light industrial clients. The acquisitions of Agile Resources, Inc. a Georgia corporation (“Agile”), Access Data Consulting Corporation, a Colorado corporation (“Access”), Paladin Consulting Inc., a Texas corporation (“Paladin”) and SNI Companies, Inc. a Delaware corporation (“SNI”) expanded our geographical footprint within the placement and contract staffing of information technology.

 

The Company markets its services using the trade names General Employment Enterprises, Omni One, Ashley Ellis, Agile Resources, Scribe Solutions Inc., Access Data Consulting Corporation, Paladin Consulting Inc., SNI Companies, Inc., Triad Personnel Services and Triad Staffing. As of September 30, 2017, we operated forty-seven branch offices in downtown or suburban areas of major U.S. cities in sixteen states. We have one office located in each of Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Washington DC and Virginia, two offices in New Jersey, four offices in Colorado and Massachusetts, five offices in Illinois and Texas, seven offices in Ohio and eleven offices in Florida.

 

 
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Management has implemented a strategy which included cost reduction efforts as well as identifying strategic acquisitions, financed primarily through the issuance of equity and debt to improve the overall profitability and cash flows of the Company. We believe our current segments complement one another and position us for future growth.

 

Results of Operations

 

Net Revenues

 

Consolidated net revenues are comprised of the following:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial contract services

 

$ 24,851

 

 

$ 21,916

 

Professional contract services

 

 

95,396

 

 

 

54,249

 

Direct hire placement services

 

 

14,731

 

 

 

6,909

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated net revenues

 

$ 134,978

 

 

$ 83,074

 

 

Consolidated net revenues increased approximately $51,904,000 or 62% compared with the same period last year. The Company acquired SNI as of March 31, 2017, which increased the professional contract services by approximately $40,083,000 and increased direct hire placement services by approximately $9,627,000. Direct hire placement services excluding SNI is down as the total number of recruiters and sales professionals are down in the Company. Industrial contract services increased due to a management effort to replace certain customers lost in the prior year. Executive management has started to hire additional national sales force that can be serviced by the expanded geographical service area.

 

Cost of Contract Services

 

Consolidated cost of contract services are comprised of the following:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial contract services

 

$ 20,744

 

 

$ 19,037

 

Professional contract services

 

 

69,259

 

 

 

40,408

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated cost of contract services

 

$ 90,003

 

 

$ 59,445

 

 

Cost of services includes wages and related payroll taxes and employee benefits of the Company’s employees while they work on contract assignments. Cost of contract services for the year ended September 30, 2017, increased by approximately 51% to approximately $90 million compared with the prior year of approximately $59 million. The increase includes approximately $27 million in cost of contract services related to SNI. Cost of contract services, as a percentage of contract revenue, for the year ended September 30, 2017, decreased by approximately 5% to 67% compared to 72% in the prior year. The change in the contract revenue gross margin is related to several factors, including the increased permanent placement services from SNI, improved gross margins in industrial contract services and overall improved gross margins in the professional contract services.

 

 
14
 
 

 

Gross Profit percentage by segment:

 

Gross Profit Margin %

 

Year Ended

September 30,
2017

 

 

Year Ended

September 30,
2016

 

Direct hire placement services

 

 

100 %

 

 

100 %

Industrial contract services

 

 

16.5 %

 

 

13.1 %

Professional contract services

 

 

27.4 %

 

 

25.5 %

Combined Gross Profit Margin % (1)

 

 

33.3 %

 

 

28.4 %

________________

(1) Includes gross profit from direct hire placements, which all associated costs are recorded as selling, general and administrative expenses.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses include the following categories:

 

 

· Compensation and benefits in the operating divisions, which includes salaries, wages and commissions earned by the Company’s employment consultants and branch managers on permanent and temporary placements.

 

· Administrative compensation, which includes salaries, wages, payroll taxes and employee benefits associated with general management and the operation of the finance, legal, human resources and information technology functions.

 

· Occupancy costs, which includes office rent, depreciation and amortization, and other office operating expenses.

 

· Recruitment advertising, which includes the cost of identifying job applicants.

 

· Other selling, general and administrative expenses, which includes travel, bad debt expense, fees for outside professional services and other corporate-level expenses such as business insurance and taxes.
 

The Company’s largest selling, general and administrative expense is for compensation in the operating divisions. Most of the Company’s sales agents and recruiters are paid on a commission basis and receive advances against future commissions. When commissions are earned, prior advances are applied against them and the sales agent or recruiter is paid the net amount. The Company recognizes the full amount as commission expense, and advance expense is reduced by the amount recovered. Thus, the Company’s advance expense represents the net amount of advances paid, less amounts applied against commissions, plus commission accruals for billed but uncollected revenue.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended September 30, 2017, increased by approximately $19.6 million to approximately $39.5 million as compared to the prior year of approximately $19.9 million. The increase was primarily related to the inclusion of approximately $21.4 million of selling, general and administrative expenses of SNI following the acquisition by the Company. Management continues efforts to reduce general and administrative expenses as the Company consolidates the back office and can capitalize on the Company’s growth.

 

Acquisition, Integration and Restructuring Charges

 

Acquisition, integration and restructuring charges are legal expenses, travel expenses, finder’s fees, severance agreements and other expenses that the Company has expensed as incurred and are related to various acquisition transactions the Company has executed. The Company expects to have these expenses each quarter while we continue our growth strategy, however these expenses would not necessarily be incurred by the Company on a recurring basis in normal operations, without acquisitions.

 

 
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The acquisition, integration and restructuring charges for the year ended September 30, 2017 was $2,925,000, an increase of approximately $2,223,000 or 317% compared to approximately $702,000 for the year ended September 30, 2016. The increase was primarily related to the evaluation of more potential acquisitions, due diligence performed on several options and the completion of the SNI acquisition.

 

Depreciation Expense

 

Depreciation expense for the year ended September 30, 2017, increased $95,000, or 29% compared with the prior year, primarily as a result of the acquisition and the depreciation of their property and equipment.

 

Amortization Expense

 

Amortization expense for the year ended September 30, 2017, increased $1,991,000, or 130% compared with the prior year, primarily as a result of the acquisition and the related amortization of their identified intangible assets.

 

Change in Contingent Consideration

 

At the time the Company makes an acquisition, the Company estimates contingent consideration, such as earn-outs or other guarantees that could affect the purchase price when the contingency is resolved. Contingent consideration is evaluated by management each quarter or when the contingency is resolved. The change in contingent consideration with respect to the Company’s acquisitions was approximately $1,581,000 during the year ended September 30, 2016. In the prior year, the Company recognized a $1,956,000 gain from the reduction in Access contingent consideration as a result of a decrease in expected EBITDA, offset by a $375,000 loss recognized for the increase in Paladin expected contingent consideration as a result of an increase in their expected EBITDA. In the current year, the Company did not recognize or change any contingent.

 

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt

 

Loss on the extinguishment of debt for the year ended September 30, 2017, increased $994,000, compared with the prior year as the debt was converted during the current year, which includes the change of the revolving credit facility and other subordinated debt.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense for the year ended September 30, 2017, increased $4,393,000, or 274% compared with the prior year primarily as a result of the newly obtained long-term debt, the interest expense for acquisition payments and higher average borrowings related to the new acquisitions.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The following table sets forth certain consolidated statements of cash flows data (in thousands):

 

 

 

For the year

ended

September 30,
2017

 

 

For the year

ended

September 30,
2016

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities

 

$ 222

 

 

$ 723

 

Cash flows used in investing activities

 

$ (25,606 )

 

$ (9,515 )

Cash flows provided by financing activities

 

$ 25,641

 

 

$ 5,388

 

 

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had cash of approximately $2,785,000, which was an increase of approximately $257,000 from approximately $2,528,000 at September 30, 2016. Working capital at September 30, 2017 was approximately $1,588,000 as compared to negative working capital of approximately $597,000 for September 30, 2016. The Company’s current ratio was approximately 106%, an increase of approximately 10% from the prior year. Shareholders’ equity as of September 30, 2017, was approximately $24,063,000 which represented approximately 17% of total assets. At the Company’s option, approximately $1,200,000 of its current liabilities related to the acquisitions can be paid in stock at market price, instead of cash. The net loss for the year ended September 30, 2017, was approximately $(2,372,000).

 

 
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Net cash provided by operating activities for the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $222,000 and $723,000 respectively. The fluctuation is due to the significant loss from operations, the increase in allowance for doubtful accounts, increase in accrued interest, increase in accrued deposit, increase in accounts payable, decrease in accrued compensation, account receivable and increase in other current assets for the year ended September 30, 2017 and offset by non-cash related expense for depreciation, amortization and stock compensation, in addition to the non-cash tax provision benefit from the acquisition.

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $(25,606,000) and approximately $(9,515,000) respectively. The primary use of cash was for the acquisitions of SNI for the year ended September 30, 2017 and Access and Paladin during the year ended September 30, 2016.

 

Net cash flow provided by financing activities for the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $25,641,000 and $5,388,000, respectively. Fluctuations in financing activities are attributable to the new term-loan and the level of net borrowings of the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

All of the Company’s office facilities are leased. As of September 30, 2017, future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable lease commitments having initial terms in excess of one year, including closed offices, totaled approximately $7,100,000.

 

On March 31, 2017, the Company and its subsidiaries, as borrowers, entered into a Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”), and certain investment funds managed by MGG Investment Group LP (“MGG”).

 

Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company may borrow up to $73,750,000 consisting of a four-year term loan in the principal amount of $48,750,000 and revolving loans in a maximum amount up to the lesser of (i) $25,000,000 or (ii) an amount determined pursuant to a borrowing base that is calculated based on the outstanding amount of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable, as described in the Credit Agreement. The loans under the Credit Agreement mature on March 31, 2021.

 

Amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement may be used by the Company to repay existing indebtedness, to partially fund capital expenditures, to fund a portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding stock of SNI Holdco Inc. pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 31, 2017 (the “Merger Agreement”), to provide for on-going working capital needs and general corporate needs, and to fund future acquisitions subject to certain customary conditions of the lenders. On the closing date of the Credit Agreement, the Company borrowed $48,750,000 from term-loans and borrowed approximately $7,476,316 from the Revolving Credit Facility for a total of $56,226,316 which was used by the Company to repay existing indebtedness, to pay fees and expenses relating to the Credit Agreement, and to pay a portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of all of the outstanding stock of SNI Holdco Inc. pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

 

The loans under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at rates at the Company’s option of LIBOR rate plus 10% or PNC’s floating base rate plus 9%. The Term Loans may consist of Domestic Rate Loans or LIBOR Rate Loans, or a combination thereof. At September 30, 2017 the interest rate was approximately 13%.

 

The Credit Agreement is secured by all of the Company’s property and assets, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, and whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or in which it now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interests.

 

The Term Loans were advanced on April 3, 2017 and are, with respect to principal, payable as follows, subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under the Credit Agreement or termination of the Credit Agreement and provided that all unpaid principal, accrued and unpaid interest and all unpaid fees and expenses shall be due and payable in full on March 31, 2021. Principal payments are required pursuant to the credit agreement, as amended, as follows: Fiscal year 2018 – $3,636,000, Fiscal year 2019 – $7,728,000, Fiscal year 2020 – $8,337,000 and Fiscal year 2021 - $28,440,000.

 

 
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The Credit Agreement contains certain covenants including the following:

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Company shall cause to be maintained as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for itself and its subsidiaries on a Consolidated Basis of not less the amount set forth in the Credit Agreement, which is 1.25 to 1.0.

 

Minimum EBITDA. The Company shall cause to be maintained as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, EBITDA for itself and its subsidiaries on a Consolidated Basis of not less than the amount set forth in the Credit Agreement for each fiscal quarter specified therein, in each case, measured on a trailing four (4) quarter basis as set in the Credit Agreement, which ranges from $11,000,000 to $14,000,000 over the term of the Credit Agreement.

 

Senior Leverage Ratio. The Company shall cause to be maintained as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, a Senior Leverage Ratio for itself and its subsidiaries on a Consolidated Basis of not greater than the amount set forth in the Credit Agreement for each fiscal quarter, in each case, measured on a trailing four (4) quarter basis as set in the agreement, which ranges from 5.25 to 1.0 to 2.0 to 1.0 over the term of the Credit Agreement.

 

In addition to these financial covenants, the Credit Agreement includes other restrictive covenants. The Credit Agreement permits capital expenditures up to a certain level, and contains customary default and acceleration provisions. The Credit Agreement also restricts, above certain levels, acquisitions, incurrence of additional indebtedness, and payment of dividends.

 

On August 31, 2017, the Company entered into a Consent to Extension of Waiver to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (the “Waiver”). Under the terms of the Waiver, the Lenders and the Agents agreed to extend to October 3, 2017 the deadline by which the Borrowers must deliver to the Agents and the Lenders, (i) updated financial information and projections of the Loan Parties in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents and the Lenders to amend the financial covenant levels set forth in Section 6.5 to the Loan Agreement in a manner acceptable to the Agents and the Lenders in their sole discretion, and (ii) a fully executed amendment to the Loan Agreement that amends the financial covenant levels set forth in Section 6.5 of the Loan Agreement in a manner acceptable to the Agents and the Lenders and any other terms and conditions required by the Agents and the Lenders in their sole discretion. Additionally, the Borrowers paid a $73,500 consent fee to the Agents for the pro rata benefit of the Lenders, in connection with the Waiver.

 

In addition, on August 31, 2017, the Company received a waiver (“Additional Waiver”) made to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2017 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Loan Parties, Administrative Agent and the Term Loan Agent, pursuant to which the Administrative Agent agreed, and the Administrative Agent has been advised that the Term Loan Agent has agreed, that notwithstanding the terms of Section 6.17(d) of the Credit Agreement, the due date for the Borrowers to deliver to the Agents the Subordination Agreement (Dampier) (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and an amended Subordinated Note (Dampier) (as defined in the Credit Agreement), in each case duly executed by the Persons party thereto and in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents, shall be extended from August 31, 2017 to October 3, 2017.

 

On October 2, 2017, the Company, the other borrower entities and guarantor entities named therein (collectively, the “Loan Parties”), PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”), and certain investment funds managed by MGG Investment Group LP (“MGG”) (collectively the (“Lenders”) entered into a First Amendment and Waiver (the “Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among the Loan Parties, and the Lenders.

 

The Amendment, which was effective as of October 2, 2017, modified the required principal repayment schedule with respect to the Term Loans. The Amendment also modified the ability of the Loan Parties to repay or make other payments with respect to certain other loans that are subordinated in right of payment to the indebtedness under the Credit Agreement.

 

 
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Pursuant to the Amendment the Lenders also waived any Event of Default arising out of the Loan Parties’ failure to deliver, on or before October 3, 2017, the materials satisfying the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 5 of the Waiver to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2017, as amended.

 

On November 14, 2017, the Company and its subsidiaries, as Borrowers, each subsidiary of the Company listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto (together with each other Person joined thereto as a guarantor from time to time, collectively, the “Guarantors”, and each a “Guarantor”, and together with the Borrowers, collectively, the “Loan Parties” and each a “Loan Party”), certain lenders which now are or which thereafter become a party thereto that make Revolving Advances thereunder (together with their respective successors and assigns, collectively, the “Revolving Lenders” and each a “Revolving Lender”), the lenders which now are or which thereafter become a party thereto that made or acquire an interest in the Term Loans (together with their respective successors and assigns, collectively, the “Term Loan Lenders” and each a “Term Loan Lender”, and together with the Revolving Lenders, collectively, the “Lenders” and each a “Lender”), MGG Investment Group LP (“MGG”), as administrative agent for the Lenders (together with its successors and assigns, in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), as collateral agent for the Lenders (together with its successors and assigns, in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), and as term loan agent (together with its successors and assigns, in such capacity, the “Term Loan Agent” and together with the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, each an “Agent” and, collectively, the “Agents”), entered into a second amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2017 (the “Credit Agreement”).

 

Pursuant to the Second Amendment the Borrowers agreed, among other things, to use commercially reasonable efforts to prepay, or cause to be prepaid, $10,000,000 in principal amount of Advances (as defined in the Credit Agreement) outstanding, which amount shall be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the applicable terms of the Credit Agreement. Any prepayment to the term loan is contingent upon a future financing, non-operational cash flow or excess cash flow as defined in the agreement. The Borrowers also agreed to amend (i) the applicable minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratios required to be maintained by the Company as set forth in the Second Amendment, (ii) the minimum EBITDA required to be maintained by the Company, as set forth in the Second Amendment and (iii) the maximum senior leverage ratios required to be maintained by the Company, as set forth in the Second Amendment. The Borrowers agreed to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Lenders, an amendment fee of $364,140, in connection with their execution and delivery of the Second Amendment. Such fee is payable on the earlier of (a) June 30, 2018 and (b) the first date on which all of the Obligations (as defined in the Credit Agreement) are paid in full in cash and the Total Commitment (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Lenders is terminated. For the period ended September 30, 2017 there were no financial covenants required under the new amendment.

 

The Company believes that its current cash on hand and the borrowing availability under the new PNC Credit Agreement will be adequate to fund its working capital needs and provide sufficient cash for the next twelve months from the date of this report.

 

On October 2, 2015, the Company issued and sold a Subordinated Note in the aggregate principal amount of $4,185,000 to JAX Legacy – Investment 1, LLC (“Jax”) pursuant to a Subscription Agreement dated October 2, 2015 between the Company and Jax. On April 3, 2017, the Company and Jax amended and restated the Subordinated Note in its entirety in the form of the 10% Convertible Subordinated Note (the “10% Note”) in the aggregate principal amount of $4,185,000. The 10% Note matures on October 3, 2021 (the “Maturity Date”). The 10% Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a conversion price equal to $5.83 per share (subject to adjustment as provided in the 10% Note upon any stock dividend, stock combination or stock split or upon the consummation of certain fundamental transactions) (the “Conversion Price”). The 10% Note is subordinated in payment to the obligations of the Company to the lenders parties to the Credit Agreement, pursuant to a Subordination and Intercreditor Agreements, dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among the Company, the Borrowers, the Agent and Jax. The 10% Note issued to Jax is not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Jax is an accredited investor. The issuance of the 10% Note to Jax is exempt from the registration requirements of the Act in reliance on an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Act.

 

On October 4, 2015, the Company issued to the sellers of Access Data Consulting Corporation (see note 13) a Promissory Note. Interest on the outstanding principal balance of the Promissory Note is payable at the rate of 5.5% per annum. The principal and interest amount of the Promissory Note is payable as follows: (i) for the first twelve months commencing on November 4, 2015 and ending on October 4, 2016, a monthly payment of approximately $57,000 in principal and interest, (ii) on October 4, 2016 a balloon payment of principal of $1,000,000, (iii) for the next twelve months commencing on November 4, 2016 and ending on October 4, 2017, a monthly payment of approximately $28,000 in principal and interest, (iv) on October 4, 2017 a balloon payment of principal of $1,202,000 and (v) on October 4, 2017 any and all amounts of previously unpaid principal and accrued interest. The Credit Agreement requires this loan to be subordinated to PNC and MGG, however the sellers of Access Data Consulting Corporation have not agreed to the subordination.

 

 
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On October 4, 2017, the Company executed an Amended and Restated Non-Negotiable Promissory Note in favor of William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier in the amount of $1,202,405 (the “Note”). This Note amends and, as so amended, restates in its entirety and replaces that certain Subordinated Nonnegotiable Promissory Note dated October 4, 2015, issued by the Company to William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier in the original principal amount of $3,000,000. The Company agreed to pay William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier 12 equal installments of $107,675, commencing on November 4, 2017 and ending on October 4, 2018.

 

On January 20, 2017, the Company entered into Addendum No. 1 (the “Addendum”) to the Paladin Agreement Pursuant to the terms of the Addendum, the Company and the Sellers agreed (a) that the conditions to the “Earnouts” (as defined in the Paladin Agreement) had been satisfied or waived and (b) that the amounts payable to the Sellers in connection with the Earnouts shall be amended and restructured as follows: (i) the Company shall pay $250,000 in cash to the Sellers on or prior to January 31, 2017 (the “Earnout Cash Payment”) and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Sellers a subordinated promissory note in the principal amount of $1,000,000 (the “Subordinated Note”), The Subordinated Note shall bear interest at the rate of 5.5% per annum. Interest on the Subordinated Note shall be payable monthly. The Subordinated Note shall have a term of three years and may be prepaid without penalty. The principal of and interest on the Subordinated Note may be paid, at the option of the Company, either in cash or in shares of common stock of the Company or in any combination of cash and common stock. The Sellers have agreed that all payments and obligations under the Subordinated Note shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any “Senior Indebtedness” (as defined in the Paladin Agreement) now or hereafter existing to “Senior Lenders” (current or future) (as defined in the Paladin Agreement). The Company has paid the $250,000 cash payment to the Sellers.

 

On April 3, 2017, the Company agreed to issue to certain SNIH Stockholders upon receipt of duly executed letters of transmittal as part of the Merger Consideration, an aggregate of approximately 5,926,000 shares of its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock as part of the Merger Consideration. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference equal to $4.86 per share and ranks senior to all “Junior Securities” (including the Company’s Common Stock) with respect to any distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary. In the event that the Company declares or pays a dividend or distribution on its Common Stock, whether such dividend or distribution is payable in cash, securities or other property, including the purchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or property, the Company is required to simultaneously declare and pay a dividend on the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock on a pro rata basis with the Common Stock determined on an as-converted basis assuming all Shares had been converted as of immediately prior to the record date of the applicable dividend or distribution. On April 3, 2017, the Company filed a Statement of Resolution Establishing its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock with the State of Illinois. (the “Resolution Establishing Series”). Except as set forth in the Resolution Establishing Series, the holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock have no voting rights. Pursuant to the Resolution Establishing Series, without the prior written consent of holders of not less than a majority of the then total outstanding Shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, voting separately as a single class, the Company shall not create, or authorize the creation of, any additional class or series of capital stock of the Company (or any security convertible into or exercisable for any class or series of capital stock of the Company) that ranks pari passu with or superior to the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in relative rights, preferences or privileges (including with respect to dividends, liquidation or voting). Each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder thereof into one share of Common Stock at an initial conversion price equal to $4.86 per share, each as subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock combinations, capital reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, mergers or sales, as set forth in the Resolution Establishing Series.

 

None of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock issued to the SNIH Stockholders are registered under the Securities Act. Each of the SNIH Stockholders who received shares of Series B Preferred Stock is an accredited investor. The issuance of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock to such SNIH Stockholders is exempt from the registration requirements of the Act in reliance on an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Act.

 

 
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On April 3, 2017, the Company issued and paid to certain SNIH Stockholders as part of the Merger Consideration (see note 10) an aggregate of $12.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its 9.5% Notes. The 9.5% Notes mature on October 3, 2021 (the “Maturity Date”). The 9.5% Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a conversion price equal to $5.83 per share. Interest on the 9.5% Notes accrues at the rate of 9.5% per annum and shall be paid quarterly in arrears on June 30, September 30, December 31 and March 31, beginning on June 30, 2017, on each conversion date with respect to the 9.5% Notes (as to that principal amount then being converted), and on the Maturity Date (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”). At the option of the Company, interest may be paid on an Interest Payment Date either in cash or in shares of Common Stock of the Company, which Common Stock shall be valued based on the terms of the agreement, subject to certain limitations defined in the loan agreement. Each of the 9.5% Notes is subordinated in payment to the obligations of the Company to the lenders parties to the Credit Agreement, pursuant to those certain Subordination and Intercreditor Agreements, each dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among the Company, the other borrowers under the Credit Agreement, the Agent under the Credit Agreement and each of the holders of the 9.5% Notes.

 

In recent years, the Company has incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from operations. Management has implemented a strategy which included cost reduction efforts as well as identifying strategic acquisitions, financed primarily through the issuance of common stock, to improve the overall profitability and cash flows of the Company. Management believes with the availability under the Credit Agreement and its current cash, the Company will have sufficient liquidity for the next 12 months.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

As of September 30, 2017, and 2016, and during the two years then ended, there were no transactions, agreements or other contractual arrangements to which an unconsolidated entity was a party, under which the Company (a) had any direct or contingent obligation under a guarantee contract, derivative instrument or variable interest in the unconsolidated entity, or (b) had a retained or contingent interest in assets transferred to the unconsolidated entity.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and the rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The following accounting policies are considered by management to be “critical” because of the judgments and uncertainties involved, and because different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions.

 

Estimates and Assumptions

 

Management makes estimates and assumptions that can affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported as of the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the amounts of reported revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Those estimates and assumptions typically involve expectations about events to occur subsequent to the balance sheet date, and it is possible that actual results could ultimately differ from the estimates. If differences were to occur in a subsequent period, the Company would recognize those differences when they became known. Significant matters requiring the use of estimates and assumptions include, but may not be limited to, deferred income tax valuation allowances, accounts receivable allowances, accounting for acquisitions, accounting for derivative liabilities and evaluation of impairment. Management believes that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, based on information that is available at the time they are made.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Direct hire placement service revenues are recognized when applicants accept offers of employment, less a provision for estimated losses due to applicants not remaining employed for the Company’s guarantee period. Contract staffing service revenues are recognized when services are rendered.

 

Falloffs and refunds during the period are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations as a reduction of placement service revenues and were approximately $1,495,000 in fiscal 2017 and $470,000 in fiscal 2016. Expected future falloffs and refunds are reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as a reduction of accounts receivable and were approximately $997,000 and $60,000 as of September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

 
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Cost of Contract Staffing Services

 

The cost of contract services includes the wages and the related payroll taxes and employee benefits of the Company’s employees while they work on contract assignments.

 

Income Taxes

 

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, we determine deferred tax assets and liabilities on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

We recognize deferred tax assets to the extent that we believe that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If we determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, we would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

 

We record uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) we determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.

 

We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits on the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. As of September 30, 2017, no accrued interest or penalties are included on the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

The Company extends credit to its various customers based on evaluation of the customer’s financial condition and ability to pay the Company in accordance with the payment terms. An allowance for placement fall-offs is recorded, as a reduction of revenues, for estimated losses due to applicants not remaining employed for the Company’s guarantee period. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded, as a charge to bad debt expense, where collection is considered to be doubtful due to credit issues. These allowances together reflect management’s estimate of the potential losses inherent in the accounts receivable balances, based on historical loss statistics and known factors impacting its customers. The nature of the contract service business, where companies are dependent on employees for the production cycle allows for a small accounts receivable allowance. Based on management’s review of accounts receivable, an allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $1,712,000 and $191,000 is considered necessary as of September 30, 2017, and September 30, 2016, respectively. The Company charges uncollectible accounts against the allowance once the invoices are deemed unlikely to be collectible. The reserve includes the $997,000 and $60,000 reserve for permanent placement falloffs considered necessary as of September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets acquired in the various acquisitions. The Company assesses goodwill for impairment at least annually. Testing Goodwill for impairment, which allows the Company to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the entity determines that this threshold is not met, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. An impairment loss would be recognized to the extent the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.

 

Fair Value Measurement

 

The Company follows the provisions of the accounting standard which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and enhances fair value measurement disclosure. Under these provisions, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

 
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The standard establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is described below:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

 

Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.

 

Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

 

The fair value of the Company’s current assets and current liabilities approximate their carrying values due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the Company’s long-term liabilities represents their fair value based on level 3 inputs. The Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis using level 3 inputs, as discussed in Note 5.

 

Intangible Assets

 

Customer lists, non-compete agreements, customer relationships, management agreements and trade names were recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition and are amortized over their estimated useful lives ranging from two to ten years using both accelerated and straight-line methods.

 

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

 

The Company records an impairment of long-lived assets used in operations, other than goodwill, when events or circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired and the estimated undiscounted cash flows to be generated by those assets over their remaining lives are less than the carrying amount of those items. The net carrying value of assets not recoverable is reduced to fair value, which is typically calculated using the undiscounted cash flow method. The Company did not record any impairment during the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees in accordance with applicable accounting principles, which requires compensation expense related to share-based transactions, including employee stock options, to be measured and recognized in the financial statements based on a determination of the fair value of the stock options. The grant date fair value is determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton (“Black-Scholes”) pricing model. For all employee stock options, we recognize expense over the requisite service period on an accelerated basis over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). The Company’s option pricing model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility, expected term, and forfeiture rate. Any changes in these highly subjective assumptions significantly impact stock-based compensation expense.

 

Options awarded to purchase shares of common stock issued to non-employees in exchange for services are accounted for as variable awards in accordance with applicable accounting principles. Such options are valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

See Note 11 for the assumptions used to calculate the fair value of stock-based employee and non-employee compensation. Upon the exercise of options, it is the Company’s policy to issue new shares rather than utilizing treasury shares.

 

 
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Segment Data

 

The Company provides the following distinctive services: (a) direct hire placement services, (b) temporary professional services staffing in the fields of information technology, engineering, medical, and accounting, and (c) temporary light industrial staffing. These distinct services can be divided into two reportable segments, industrial staffing services and professional staffing services. Selling, general and administrative expenses are not completely separately allocated among light industrial services and professional staffing services.

 

Operating results are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and to assess its performance. Other factors, including type of business, type of employee, length of employment and revenue recognition are considered in determining these operating segments.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements.

 

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which delayed the effective date of the new standard from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018. The FASB also agreed to allow entities to choose to adopt the standard as of the original effective date. This ASU permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has the Company determined the effect of the standard on the Company’s ongoing financial reporting.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which changes how deferred taxes are classified on a company’s balance sheet. The new guidance eliminates the current requirement for companies to present deferred tax liabilities and assets as current and noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. Instead, companies will be required to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The guidance may be applied either prospectively, for all deferred tax assets and liabilities, or retrospectively (i.e., by reclassifying the comparative balance sheet). If applied prospectively, entities are required to include a statement that prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. If applied retrospectively, entities are also required to include quantitative information about the effects of the change on prior periods. Except for balance sheet classification requirements related to deferred tax assets and liabilities, the Company does not expect this guidance to have an effect on its financial statements. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on its financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 2016-09 on its financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which changes financial reporting as it relates to leasing transactions. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, for the lease term. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early application is permitted for all entities upon issuance. Lessees and lessors must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on its financial statements.

 

 
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In August 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance designed to address diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows, including: i) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; ii) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; and iii) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies. The new guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. The Company believes the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which clarifies the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The standard will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”. The update simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount. The new rules will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

 

No other recent accounting pronouncements were issued by FASB and the SEC that are believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s present or future financial statements.

 

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Not applicable.

 

 
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

F-2

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016

 

F-3

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016

 

F-4

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016

 

F-5

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016

 

F-6

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

F-7

 

 

 
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

GEE Group, Inc.

Naperville, Illinois

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of GEE Group, Inc. as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended. The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of GEE Group, Inc. as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

 

/s/ Friedman LLP

Marlton, New Jersey

December 28, 2017

 

 
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GEE GROUP INC.

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash

 

$ 2,785

 

 

$ 2,528

 

Accounts receivable, less allowances ($1,712 and $191, respectively)

 

 

23,178

 

 

 

11,569

 

Other current assets

 

 

3,014

 

 

 

1,500

 

Total current assets

 

 

28,977

 

 

 

15,597

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

914

 

 

 

611

 

Other long-term assets

 

 

282

 

 

 

34

 

Goodwill

 

 

76,593

 

 

 

18,590

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

35,049

 

 

 

11,094

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$ 141,815

 

 

$ 45,926

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit facility

 

$ 7,904

 

 

$ 7,073

 

Acquisition deposit for working capital guarantee

 

 

1,500

 

 

 

-

 

Accrued interest

 

 

2,175

 

 

 

54

 

Accounts payable

 

 

3,243

 

 

 

2,224

 

Accrued compensation

 

 

7,394

 

 

 

3,116

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

515

 

 

 

692

 

Short-term portion of subordinated debt

 

 

1,225

 

 

 

1,285

 

Short-term portion of term-note, net of discount

 

 

3,433

 

 

 

-

 

Contingent consideration

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,750

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

27,389

 

 

 

16,194

 

Deferred rent

 

 

334

 

 

 

162

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

958

 

 

 

-

 

Term-loan, net of debt discounts

 

 

42,018

 

 

 

-

 

Subordinated debt

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

4,981

 

Subordinated convertible debt

 

 

16,685

 

 

 

-

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

35

 

 

 

56

 

Total long-term liabilities

 

 

61,030

 

 

 

5,199

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEZZANINE EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock; no par value; authorized - 20,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 5,926

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred series A stock, 160 authorized; issued and outstanding - none

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Preferred series B stock - 5,950 authorized; issued and outstanding - 5,926

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liquidation value of the preferred series B stock is approximately $28,800

 

 

29,333

 

 

 

-

 

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, no-par value; authorized - 200,000 shares; issued and outstanding - 9,879

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

shares at September 30, 2017 and 9,379 shares at September 30, 2016, respectively

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Additional paid in capital

 

 

39,517

 

 

 

37,615

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(15,454 )

 

 

(13,082 )

Total shareholders' equity

 

 

24,063

 

 

 

24,533

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

$ 141,815

 

 

$ 45,926

 

 

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

 

 
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GEE GROUP INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contract staffing services

 

$ 120,247

 

 

$ 76,165

 

Direct hire placement services

 

 

14,731

 

 

 

6,909

 

NET REVENUES

 

 

134,978

 

 

 

83,074

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of contract services

 

 

90,003

 

 

 

59,445

 

GROSS PROFIT

 

 

44,975

 

 

 

23,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

39,498

 

 

 

19,863

 

Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses

 

 

2,925

 

 

 

702

 

Depreciation expense

 

 

426

 

 

 

331

 

Amortization of intangible assets

 

 

3,527

 

 

 

1,536

 

INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS

 

 

(1,401 )

 

 

1,197

 

Change in contingent consideration

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,581

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

 

(994 )

 

 

-

 

Interest expense

 

 

(5,995 )

 

 

(1,602 )

INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAX PROVISION

 

 

(8,390 )

 

 

1,176

 

(Provision) Benefit for income tax

 

 

6,018

 

 

 

(3 )

NET INCOME (LOSS)

 

$ (2,372 )

 

$ 1,173

 

NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

 

$ (2,372 )

 

$ 1,173

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

 

$ (0.25 )

 

$ 0.13

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES - BASIC

 

 

9,630

 

 

 

9,313

 

DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

 

$ (0.25 )

 

$ 0.12

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES - DILUTED

 

 

9,630

 

 

 

9,891

 

 

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

 

 
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GEE GROUP INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

 

 

Common Stock

 

 

Additional Paid

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

Shareholders'

 

 

 

Shares

 

 

In Capital

 

 

Deficit

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2015

 

 

8,833

 

 

$ 33,492

 

 

$ (14,255 )

 

$ 19,237

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares issued for JAX Legacy debt

 

 

95

 

 

 

589

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

589

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of common stock for contingent consideration related to the acquisition of Access Data Consulting Corporation

 

 

123

 

 

 

544

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

544

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of stock option expense

 

 

-

 

 

 

793

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

793

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of common stock for acquisition of Access Data Consulting Corporation

 

 

328

 

 

 

2,197

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2,197

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,173

 

 

 

1,173

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2016

 

 

9,379

 

 

$ 37,615

 

 

$ (13,082 )

 

$ 24,533

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of stock option expense

 

 

-

 

 

 

902

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

902

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise of stock warrants

 

 

500

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

(2,372 )

 

 

(2,372 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, September 30, 2017

 

 

9,879

 

 

$ 39,517

 

 

$ (15,454 )

 

$ 24,063

 

 

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

 

 
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GEE GROUP INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

$ (2,372 )

 

$ 1,173

 

Adjustments to reconcile (net loss) net income to cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

3,953

 

 

 

1,867

 

Stock option expense

 

 

902

 

 

 

793

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

 

1,521

 

 

 

(44 )

Tax provision benefit, non cash

 

 

(6,012 )

 

 

-

 

Amortization of debt discount and non cash extinguishment of debt

 

 

1,198

 

 

 

215

 

Change in contingent consideration

 

 

-

 

 

 

(1,581 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

(2,393 )

 

 

(100 )

Acquisition deposit

 

 

1,500

 

 

 

-

 

Accrued interest

 

 

2,121

 

 

 

-

 

Accounts payable

 

 

446

 

 

 

343

 

Accrued compensation

 

 

214

 

 

 

(871 )

Other current items, net

 

 

(881 )

 

 

(1,086 )

Long-term liabilities

 

 

25

 

 

 

14

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

222

 

 

 

723

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of property and equipment

 

 

(250 )

 

 

(120 )

Acquisition payments, net of cash acquired

 

 

(25,356 )

 

 

(9,395 )

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(25,606 )

 

 

(9,515 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from subordinated debt

 

 

-

 

 

 

4,107

 

Payment on SNI debt

 

 

(19,951 )

 

 

-

 

Payments on the debt related to acquisitions

 

 

(1,285 )

 

 

(492 )

Payments on senior debt

 

 

(609 )

 

 

-

 

Proceeds from exercise of stock warrants

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

-

 

Payments on capital lease

 

 

(21 )

 

 

(66 )

Net proceeds from debt

 

 

45,676

 

 

 

-

 

Net proceeds from short-term debt

 

 

831

 

 

 

1,839

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

25,641

 

 

 

5,388

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net change in cash

 

 

257

 

 

 

(3,404 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at beginning of period

 

 

2,528

 

 

 

5,932

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash at end of period

 

$ 2,785

 

 

$ 2,528

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for interest

 

$ 3,383

 

 

$ 1,070

 

Cash paid for taxes

 

$ 247

 

 

$ 3

 

Non-cash financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock paid for prepaid interest on subordinated note

 

$ -

 

 

$ 566

 

Stock paid for fees in connection with subordinated note

 

$ -

 

 

$ 23

 

Issuance of common stock for acquisition

 

$ -

 

 

$ 2,197

 

Note issued in connection with acquisition

 

$ -

 

 

$ 3,000

 

Earn-out liability, contingent consideration, and other liabilities incurred in connection with acquisition

 

$ -

 

 

$ 4,246

 

Payment of contingent consideration with common shares

 

$ -

 

 

$ 544

 

Issuance of preferred stock for acquisition

 

$ 29,333

 

 

$ -

 

Issuance of note payable for acquisition

 

$ 12,500

 

 

$ -

 

Issuance of stock for extinguishment of debt

 

$ 385

 

 

$ -

 

 

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

 

 
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GEE GROUP INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. Description of Business

 

GEE Group Inc. (the “Company”, “us”, “our” or “we”) was incorporated in the State of Illinois in 1962 and is the successor to employment offices doing business since 1893. We are a provider of permanent and temporary professional, industrial and physician assistant staffing and placement services in and near several major U.S cities. We specialize in the placement of information technology, engineering, medical and accounting professionals for direct hire and contract staffing for our clients, and provide temporary staffing services for our commercial clients.

 

2. Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and the rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Liquidity

 

The Company has experienced significant losses and negative cash flows from operations in the past. Management has implemented a strategy which included cost reduction efforts, consolidation of certain back office activities to gain efficiencies as well as identifying strategic acquisitions, financed primarily through the issuance of preferred and common stock and convertible debt, to improve the overall profitability and cash flows of the Company.

 

After the close of business on March 31, 2017, the Company and its subsidiaries, as borrowers, entered into a Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”), and certain investment funds managed by MGG Investment Group LP (“MGG”). All funds were distributed on April 3, 2017 (the “Closing Date”).

 

Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company may borrow up to $73,750,000 consisting of a four-year term loan in the principal amount of $48,750,000 and revolving loans in a maximum amount up to the lesser of (i) $25,000,000 or (ii) an amount determined pursuant to a borrowing base that is calculated based on the outstanding amount of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable, as described in the Credit Agreement. The loans under the Credit Agreement mature on March 31, 2021.

 

On October 2, 2017, the Company, the other borrower entities and guarantor entities named therein (collectively, the “Loan Parties”), PNC, and certain investment funds managed by MGG (collectively the (“Lenders”) entered into a First Amendment and Waiver (the “Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among the Loan Parties, and the Lenders.

 

The Amendment, which was effective as of October 2, 2017, modified the required principal repayment schedule with respect to the Term Loans. The Amendment also modified the ability of the Loan Parties to repay or make other payments with respect to certain other loans that are subordinated in right of payment to the indebtedness under the Credit Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the Amendment the Lenders also waived any Event of Default arising out of the Loan Parties’ failure to deliver, on or before October 3, 2017, the materials satisfying the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 5 of the Waiver to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2017, as amended.

 

 
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On November 14, 2017, the Company and its subsidiaries, as Borrowers, each subsidiary of the Company listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto (together with each other Person joined thereto as a guarantor from time to time, collectively, the “Guarantors”, and each a “Guarantor”, and together with the Borrowers, collectively, the “Loan Parties” and each a “Loan Party”), certain lenders which now are or which thereafter become a party thereto that make Revolving Advances thereunder (together with their respective successors and assigns, collectively, the “Revolving Lenders” and each a “Revolving Lender”), the lenders which now are or which thereafter become a party thereto that made or acquire an interest in the Term Loans (together with their respective successors and assigns, collectively, the “Term Loan Lenders” and each a “Term Loan Lender”, and together with the Revolving Lenders, collectively, the “Lenders” and each a “Lender”), MGG, as administrative agent for the Lenders (together with its successors and assigns, in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), as collateral agent for the Lenders (together with its successors and assigns, in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), and as term loan agent (together with its successors and assigns, in such capacity, the “Term Loan Agent” and together with the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, each an “Agent” and, collectively, the “Agents”), entered into a second amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2017 (the “Credit Agreement”).

 

Pursuant to the Second Amendment the Borrowers agreed, among other things, to use commercially reasonable efforts to prepay, or cause to be prepaid, $10,000,000 in principal amount of Advances (as defined in the Credit Agreement) outstanding, which amount shall be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the applicable terms of the Credit Agreement. Any prepayment to the term loan is contingent upon a future financing, non-operational cash flow or excess cash flow as defined in the agreement. The Borrowers also agreed to amend (i) the applicable minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratios required to be maintained by the Company as set forth in the Second Amendment, (ii) the minimum EBITDA required to be maintained by the Company, as set forth in the Second Amendment and (iii) the maximum senior leverage ratios required to be maintained by the Company, as set forth in the Second Amendment. The Borrowers agreed to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Lenders, an amendment fee of $364,140, in connection with their execution and delivery of the Second Amendment. Such fee is payable on the earlier of (a) June 30, 2018 and (b) the first date on which all of the Obligations (as defined in the Credit Agreement) are paid in full in cash and the Total Commitment (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Lenders is terminated.

 

The loans under the credit agreement for the period commencing on the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date up to and including May 31, 2018, (i) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.75 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.75% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.75% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans and (ii) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is less than 3.75 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans.

 

The loans under the credit agreement for the period commencing on June 1, 2018 up to and including August 31, 2018, (i) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 4.00 to 1.00, an amount equal to 14.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 15.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans and (ii) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is less than 4.00 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.75% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.75% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans. For the period ended September 30, 2017 there were no financial covenants required under the new amendment.

 

The loans under the credit agreement for the period commencing on September 1, 2018 through the remainder of the Term, (i) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.50 to 1.00, an amount equal to 14.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 15.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans and (ii) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is less than 3.50 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans.

 

At September 30, 2017, approximately $6,000,000 of the Revolving Credit facility was fixed for a three-month period at an interest of approximately 11.3%.

 

Although the Company did not have financial covenants for the period ended September 30, 2017, the Company was in compliance with non-financial covenants of this loan and management expects to be in compliance with the newly amended financial covenants for December 31, 2017, the first measurement date under the Amendment.

 

Management believes that the future cash flow from operations and the availability under the Revolving Credit Facility will have sufficient liquidity for the next 12 months.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and transactions of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

 

 
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Estimates and Assumptions

 

Management makes estimates and assumptions that can affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as the amounts of reported revenues and expenses during the periods presented. Those estimates and assumptions typically involve expectations about events to occur subsequent to the balance sheet date, and it is possible that actual results could ultimately differ from the estimates. If differences were to occur in a subsequent period, the Company would recognize those differences when they became known. Significant matters requiring the use of estimates and assumptions include, but may not be limited to, deferred income tax valuation allowances, accounts receivable allowances, accounting for acquisitions, accounting for derivatives and evaluation of impairment. Management believes that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, based on information that is available at the time they are made.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Direct hire placement service revenues are recognized when applicants accept offers of employment, less a provision for estimated losses due to applicants not remaining employed for the Company’s guarantee period. Contract staffing service revenues are recognized when services are rendered.

 

Falloffs and refunds during the period are reflected in the consolidated statements of operations as a reduction of placement service revenues and were approximately $1,495,000 in fiscal 2017 and $470,000 in fiscal 2016. Expected future falloffs and refunds are reflected in the consolidated balance sheet as a reduction of accounts receivable and were approximately $997,000 and $60,000 as of September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

Cost of Contract Staffing Services

 

The cost of contract services includes the wages and the related payroll taxes and employee benefits of the Company’s employees while they work on contract assignments.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered to be cash equivalents. At September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, there were no cash equivalents. The Company maintains deposits in financial institutions in excess of amounts guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Cash and cash equivalents are maintained at financial institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. We have never experienced any losses related to these balances.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

The Company extends credit to its various customers based on evaluation of the customer’s financial condition and ability to pay the Company in accordance with the payment terms. An allowance for placement fall-offs is recorded, as a reduction of revenues, for estimated losses due to applicants not remaining employed for the Company’s guarantee period. An allowance for doubtful accounts is recorded, as a charge to bad debt expense, where collection is considered to be doubtful due to credit issues. These allowances together reflect management’s estimate of the potential losses inherent in the accounts receivable balances, based on historical loss statistics and known factors impacting its customers. The nature of the contract service business, where companies are dependent on employees for the production cycle allows for a small accounts receivable allowance. Based on management’s review of accounts receivable, an allowance for doubtful accounts of approximately $1,712,000 and $191,000 is considered necessary as of September 30, 2017, and September 30, 2016, respectively. The Company charges uncollectible accounts against the allowance once the invoices are deemed unlikely to be collectible. The reserve includes the $997,000 and $60,000 reserve for permanent placement falloffs considered necessary as of September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation expense is calculated on a straight-line basis over estimated useful lives of five years for computer equipment and two to ten years for office equipment, furniture and fixtures. The Company capitalizes computer software purchased or developed for internal use and amortizes it over an estimated useful life of five years. The carrying value of property and equipment is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that it may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of an asset group is greater than its estimated future undiscounted cash flows, the carrying value is written down to the estimated fair value. There was no impairment of property and equipment for the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

 
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Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets acquired in the various acquisitions. The Company assesses goodwill for impairment at least annually. Testing goodwill for impairment allows the Company to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the entity determines that this threshold is not met, then performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. An impairment loss would be recognized to the extent the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its implied fair value.

 

Fair Value Measurement

 

The Company follows the provisions of the accounting standard which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and enhances fair value measurement disclosure. Under these provisions, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., the “exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

 

The standard establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use on unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is described below:

 

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.

 

Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.

 

Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.

 

The fair value of the Company’s current assets and current liabilities approximate their carrying values due to their short-term nature. The carrying value of the Company’s long-term liabilities represents their fair value based on level 3 inputs. The Company’s goodwill and other intangible assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis using level 3 inputs, as discussed in Note 5.

 

Earnings and Loss per Share

 

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted loss per share is computed giving effect to all potentially dilutive common shares. Potentially dilutive common shares may consist of incremental shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options and warrants and the conversion of notes payable to common stock. In periods in which a net loss has been incurred, all potentially dilutive common shares are considered anti-dilutive and thus are excluded from the calculation. Common share equivalents of approximately 577,000 was included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended September 30, 2016. There were approximately 10,120,958 and 413,000 of common stock equivalents excluded for the year ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively because their effect is anti-dilutive.

 

Advertising Expenses

 

Most of the Company’s advertising expense budget is used to support the Company’s business. Most of the advertisements are in print or internet media, with expenses recorded as they are incurred. For the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, included in selling, general and administrative expenses was advertising expense totaling approximately $1,710,000 and $834,000, respectively.

 

 
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Intangible Assets

 

Customer lists, non-compete agreements, customer relationships and trade names were recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition and are amortized over their estimated useful lives ranging from two to ten years using both accelerated and straight-line methods.

 

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

 

The Company records an impairment of long-lived assets used in operations, other than goodwill, when events or circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired and the estimated undiscounted cash flows to be generated by those assets over their remaining lives are less than the carrying amount of those items. The net carrying value of assets not recoverable is reduced to fair value, which is typically calculated using the discounted cash flow method. The Company did not record any impairment during the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees in accordance with applicable accounting principles, which requires compensation expense related to share-based transactions, including employee stock options, to be measured and recognized in the financial statements based on a determination of the fair value of the stock options. The grant date fair value is determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton (“Black-Scholes”) pricing model. For all employee stock options, we recognize expense over the requisite service period on an accelerated basis over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period of the equity grant). The Company’s option pricing model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility, expected term, and forfeiture rate. Any changes in these highly subjective assumptions significantly impact stock-based compensation expense.

 

Options awarded to purchase shares of common stock issued to non-employees in exchange for services are accounted for as variable awards in accordance with applicable accounting principles. Such options are valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

 

See Note 11 for the assumptions used to calculate the fair value of stock-based employee and non-employee compensation. Upon the exercise of options, it is the Company’s policy to issue new shares rather than utilizing treasury shares.

 

Income Taxes

 

We account for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, we determine deferred tax assets and liabilities on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

We recognize deferred tax assets to the extent that we believe that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If we determine that we would be able to realize our deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, we would make an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance, which would reduce the provision for income taxes.

 

We record uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 on the basis of a two-step process in which (1) we determine whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, we recognize the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.

 

 
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We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits on the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. As of September 30, 2017, no accrued interest or penalties are included on the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Reclassification

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the financial statements as of and for the years ended September 30, 2016 to conform to the current year presentation. There is no effect on assets, liabilities, equity or net income.

 

Segment Data

 

The Company provides the following distinctive services: (a) direct hire placement services, (b) temporary professional services staffing in the fields of information technology, engineering, medical, and accounting, and (c) temporary light industrial staffing. These distinct services can be divided into two reportable segments, Industrial Staffing Services and Professional Staffing Services. Selling, general and administrative expenses are not completely separately allocated among light industrial services and professional staffing services. Operating results are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and to assess its performance. Other factors, including type of business, type of employee, length of employment and revenue recognition are considered in determining these operating segments.

 

3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. The ASU will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in U.S. GAAP when it becomes effective. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which delayed the effective date of the new standard from January 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018. The FASB also agreed to allow entities to choose to adopt the standard as of the original effective date. This ASU permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2014-09 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has not yet selected a transition method nor has the Company determined the effect of the standard on the Company’s ongoing financial reporting.

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which changes how deferred taxes are classified on a company’s balance sheet. The new guidance eliminates the current requirement for companies to present deferred tax liabilities and assets as current and noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. Instead, companies will be required to classify all deferred tax assets and liabilities as noncurrent. The new guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The guidance may be applied either prospectively, for all deferred tax assets and liabilities, or retrospectively (i.e., by reclassifying the comparative balance sheet). If applied prospectively, entities are required to include a statement that prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. If applied retrospectively, entities are also required to include quantitative information about the effects of the change on prior periods. Except for balance sheet classification requirements related to deferred tax assets and liabilities, the Company does not expect this guidance to have an effect on its financial statements. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on its financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the potential impact of adopting ASU 2016-09 on its financial statements and related disclosures.

 

 
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In February 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which changes financial reporting as it relates to leasing transactions. Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, for the lease term. The new guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early application is permitted for all entities upon issuance. Lessees and lessors must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this guidance on its financial statements.

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance designed to address diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows, including: i) contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; ii) proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; and iii) proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies. The new guidance is effective for the Company for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. The Company believes the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which clarifies the definition of a business to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The standard will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”. The update simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Step 2 measures a goodwill impairment loss by comparing the implied fair value of a reporting unit’s goodwill with the carrying amount. The new rules will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

 

No other recent accounting pronouncements were issued by FASB and the SEC that are believed by management to have a material impact on the Company’s present or future financial statements.

 

4. Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment consisted of the following as of September 30:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Useful Lives

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Computer software

 

5 years

 

$ 1,447

 

 

$ 1,447

 

Office equipment, furniture and fixtures and leasehold improvements

 

2 to 10 years

 

 

3,243

 

 

 

2,514

 

Total property and equipment, at cost

 

 

 

 

4,690

 

 

 

3,961

 

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

 

 

 

(3,776 )

 

 

(3,350 )

Property and equipment, net

 

 

 

$ 914

 

 

$ 611

 

 

Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the lease.

 

Depreciation expense for the year ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was approximately $426,000 and $331,000, respectively.

 

 
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5. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

Goodwill

 

The following table sets forth activity in goodwill from September 30, 2015 through September 30, 2017. See Note 13 for details of acquisitions that occurred during the year ended September 30, 2016 and 2017. (thousands)

 

Goodwill as of September 30, 2015

 

$ 8,220

 

Acquisition of Access

 

 

8,316

 

Acquisition of Paladin

 

 

2,054

 

Goodwill as of September 30, 2016

 

$ 18,590

 

Acquisition of SNI Companies

 

 

58,003

 

Goodwill as of September 30, 2017

 

$ 76,593

 

 

During the year ended September 30, 2017 and the year ended September 30, 2016 the Company did not record any impairment of goodwill.

 

Intangible Assets

 

As of September 30, 2017

 

(In Thousands)

 

Cost

 

 

Accumulated

Amortization

 

 

Net

Book Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

$ 29,070

 

 

$ 4,601

 

 

$ 24,469

 

Trade name

 

 

8,329

 

 

 

1,115

 

 

 

7,214

 

Non-compete agreements

 

 

4,331

 

 

 

965

 

 

 

3,366

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 41,730

 

 

$ 6,681

 

 

$ 35,049

 

 

As of September 30, 2016

 

(In Thousands)

 

Cost

 

 

Accumulated

Amortization

 

 

Net

Book Value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer relationships

 

$ 10,758

 

 

$ 2,662

 

 

$ 8,096

 

Trade name

 

 

2,429

 

 

 

285

 

 

 

2,144

 

Non-compete agreements

 

 

1,061

 

 

 

207

 

 

 

854

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ 14,248

 

 

$ 3,154

 

 

$ 11,094

 

 

The amortization expense attributable to the amortization of identifiable intangible assets was approximately $3,527,000 and $1,536,000 for the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

 

The trade names are amortized on a straight – line basis over the estimated useful life of between five and ten years. Customer relationships are amortized based on the future undiscounted cash flows or straight – line basis over estimated remaining useful lives of five to ten years. Non-compete agreements are amortized based on a straight-line basis over the term of the non-compete agreement, typically five years. Over the next five years and thereafter, annual amortization expense for these finite life intangible assets will total approximately $35,049,000, as follows: fiscal 2018 - $5,582,000, fiscal 2019 - $5,586,000, fiscal 2020 - $5,005,000, fiscal 2021 – $4,148,000, fiscal 2022 – $3,469,000 and thereafter - $11,259,000.

 

Long-lived assets, such as purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. The Company regularly evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate possible impairment and relies on a number of factors, including operating results, business plans, economic projections, and anticipated future cash flows. The Company uses an estimate of the future undiscounted net cash flows of the related asset or asset group over the remaining life in measuring whether the assets are recoverable.

 

 
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6. Revolving Credit Facility

 

On September 27, 2013, the Company (“Borrower”) entered into agreements with ACF FINCO I LP (successor-in-interest to Keltic Financial Partners II, LP) (“ACF”) (“Lender”), that provided the Company with long term financing through a six million dollar ($6,000,000) secured revolving note (the “Note”). The Note had a term of three years and has no amortization prior to maturity. The interest rate for the Note was a fluctuating rate that, when annualized, is equal to the greatest of (A) the Prime Rate plus three and one quarter percent (3.25%), (B) the LIBOR Rate plus six and one quarter percent (6.25%), and (C) six and one-half percent (6.50%), with the interest paid on a monthly basis. Loan advances pursuant to the Note are based on the accounts receivable balance and other assets. The Note was secured by all of the Company’s property and assets, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, and whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or in which it now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interests. On January 1, 2016, the Company entered into an eighth Amendment and Waiver to the Loan and Security Agreement with ACF to increase the maximum amount of revolving credit under the Amended Loan Agreement from $6,000,000 to $10,000,000. On September 27, 2016, the Company entered into a ninth Amendment and Waiver to the Loan and Security Agreement with ACF. Pursuant to the Amendment, the Lender agreed (i) to decrease the annual Facility Fee (as defined in the Credit Agreement) payable by Borrower on the total Revolving Credit Limit (as defined in the Loan Agreement) to 0.75% , (ii) to allow the Borrower to make certain prepayments of amounts owed under the Amended Loan Agreement and the other loan documents on or prior to September 27, 2018, (iii) to amend the provision regarding liquidated damages payable by Borrower in the event of any early termination of the revolving credit line under the Amended Credit Agreement such that Borrower shall pay liquidated damages to Lender in an amount equal to the Revolving Credit Limit multiplied by (X) two percent (2.00%) if such prepayment, repayment, demand or acceleration occurs prior to September 28, 2017, and (Y) one percent (1.00%) if such prepayment, repayment, demand or acceleration occurs on or after September 28, 2017, (iv) to change the minimum EBITDA (as defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) thresholds required to be maintained by the Company as outlined below (v) to extend the Revolving Credit Termination Date to the earliest to occur of (a) September 27, 2018, (b) the date Lender terminates the Revolving Credit pursuant to the terms of the Amended Credit Agreement, and (c) the date on which repayment of the Revolving Credit, or any portion thereof, becomes immediately due and payable pursuant to the terms of the Amended Loan Agreement, (vi) to amend the definition of EBITDA and (vii) to change the Revolving Credit Rate to a fluctuating rate that, when annualized, is equal to the greatest of (A) the Prime Rate plus one and one half percent (1.50%), (B) the LIBOR Rate plus four and one half percent (4.50%), and (C) four and three quarters percent (4.75%). There were several subsequent amendments to the loan.

 

At September 30, 2016, the interest rate was 4.75%. This loan was repaid and closed as of April 3, 2017, with the proceeds from the PNC Revolving Credit Facility, as noted below. The Company paid approximately $288,000 in fees and are included in the loss on the extinguishment of debt.

 

After the close of business on March 31, 2017, the Company and its subsidiaries, as borrowers, entered into a Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with PNC, and certain investment funds managed by MGG. All funds were distributed on April 3, 2017 (the “Closing Date”).

 

Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company may borrow up to $73,750,000 consisting of a four-year term loan in the principal amount of $48,750,000 and revolving loans in a maximum amount up to the lesser of (i) $25,000,000 or (ii) an amount determined pursuant to a borrowing base that is calculated based on the outstanding amount of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable, as described in the Credit Agreement. The loans under the Credit Agreement mature on March 31, 2021.

 

On October 2, 2017, the Company, the other borrower entities and guarantor entities named therein (collectively, the “Loan Parties”), PNC, and certain investment funds managed by MGG (collectively the (“Lenders”) entered into a First Amendment and Waiver (the “Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among the Loan Parties, and the Lenders.

 

The Amendment, which was effective as of October 2, 2017, modified the required principal repayment schedule with respect to the Term Loans. The Amendment also modified the ability of the Loan Parties to repay or make other payments with respect to certain other loans that are subordinated in right of payment to the indebtedness under the Credit Agreement.

 

 
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Pursuant to the Amendment the Lenders also waived any Event of Default arising out of the Loan Parties’ failure to deliver, on or before October 3, 2017, the materials satisfying the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 5 of the Waiver to Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2017, as amended.

 

Pursuant to the Second Amendment the Borrowers agreed, among other things, to use commercially reasonable efforts to prepay, or cause to be prepaid, $10,000,000 in principal amount of Advances (as defined in the Credit Agreement) outstanding, which amount shall be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the applicable terms of the Credit Agreement. Any prepayment to the term loan is contingent upon a future financing, non-operational cash flow or excess cash flow as defined in the agreement. The Borrowers also agreed to amend (i) the applicable minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratios required to be maintained by the Company as set forth in the Second Amendment, (ii) the minimum EBITA required to be maintained by the Company, as set forth in the Second Amendment and (iii) the maximum senior leverage ratios required to be maintained by the Company, as set forth in the Second Amendment. The Borrowers agreed to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Lenders, an amendment fee of $364,140, in connection with their execution and delivery of the Second Amendment. Such fee is payable on the earlier of (a) June 30, 2018 and (b) the first date on which all of the Obligations (as defined in the Credit Agreement) are paid in full in cash and the Total Commitment (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Lenders is terminated.

 

The loans under the credit agreement for the period commencing on the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date up to and including May 31, 2018, (i) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.75 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.75% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.75% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans and (ii) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is less than 3.75 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans.

 

The loans under the credit agreement for the period commencing on June 1, 2018 up to and including August 31, 2018, (i) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 4.00 to 1.00, an amount equal to 14.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 15.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans and (ii) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is less than 4.00 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.75% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.75% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans.

 

The loans under the credit agreement for the period commencing on September 1, 2018 through the remainder of the Term, (i) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.50 to 1.00, an amount equal to 14.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 15.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans and (ii) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is less than 3.50 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans.

 

At September 30, 2017, approximately $6,000,000 of the Revolving Credit facility was fixed for a three-month period at an interest of approximately 11.3%.

 

The Revolving Credit Facility is secured by all of the Company’s property and assets, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, and whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or in which it now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interests.

 

The Revolving Credit Facility has the same covenants as the Term-loan (See note 7).

 

7. Term-loan

 

After the close of business on March 31, 2017, the Company and its subsidiaries, as borrowers, entered into a Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with PNC, and certain investment funds managed by MGG. All funds were distributed on April 3, 2017 (the “Closing Date”).

 

Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Company may borrow up to $73,750,000 consisting of a four-year term loan in the principal amount of $48,750,000 and revolving loans in a maximum amount up to the lesser of (i) $25,000,000 or (ii) an amount determined pursuant to a borrowing base that is calculated based on the outstanding amount of the Company’s eligible accounts receivable, as described in the Credit Agreement. The loans under the Credit Agreement mature on March 31, 2021.

 

Amounts borrowed under the Credit Agreement may be used by the Company to repay existing indebtedness, to partially fund capital expenditures, to fund a portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding stock of SNI Holdco Inc. pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 31, 2017 (the “Merger Agreement”) (see note 10), to provide for on-going working capital needs and general corporate needs, and to fund future acquisitions subject to certain customary conditions of the lenders. On the closing date of the Credit Agreement, the Company borrowed $48,750,000 from term-loans and borrowed approximately $7,476,316 from the Revolving Credit Facility for a total of $56,226,316 which was used by the Company to repay existing indebtedness, to pay fees and expenses relating to the Credit Agreement, and to pay a portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of all of the outstanding stock of SNI Holdco Inc. pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

 

 
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On November 14, 2017, the Company and its subsidiaries, as Borrowers, each subsidiary of the Company listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto (together with each other Person joined thereto as a guarantor from time to time, collectively, the “Guarantors”, and each a “Guarantor”, and together with the Borrowers, collectively, the “Loan Parties” and each a “Loan Party”), certain lenders which now are or which thereafter become a party thereto that make Revolving Advances thereunder (together with their respective successors and assigns, collectively, the “Revolving Lenders” and each a “Revolving Lender”), the lenders which now are or which thereafter become a party thereto that made or acquire an interest in the Term Loans (together with their respective successors and assigns, collectively, the “Term Loan Lenders” and each a “Term Loan Lender”, and together with the Revolving Lenders, collectively, the “Lenders” and each a “Lender”), MGG, as administrative agent for the Lenders (together with its successors and assigns, in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), as collateral agent for the Lenders (together with its successors and assigns, in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), and as term loan agent (together with its successors and assigns, in such capacity, the “Term Loan Agent” and together with the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, each an “Agent” and, collectively, the “Agents”), entered into a second amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2017 (the “Credit Agreement”).

 

Pursuant to the Second Amendment the Borrowers agreed, among other things, to use commercially reasonable efforts to prepay, or cause to be prepaid, $10,000,000 in principal amount of Advances (as defined in the Credit Agreement) outstanding, which amount shall be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the applicable terms of the Credit Agreement. Any prepayment to the term loan is contingent upon a future financing, non-operational cash flow or excess cash flow as defined in the agreement. The Borrowers also agreed to amend (i) the applicable minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratios required to be maintained by the Company as set forth in the Second Amendment, (ii) the minimum EBITA required to be maintained by the Company, as set forth in the Second Amendment and (iii) the maximum senior leverage ratios required to be maintained by the Company, as set forth in the Second Amendment. The Borrowers agreed to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Lenders, an amendment fee of $364,140, in connection with their execution and delivery of the Second Amendment. Such fee is payable on the earlier of (a) June 30, 2018 and (b) the first date on which all of the Obligations (as defined in the Credit Agreement) are paid in full in cash and the Total Commitment (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Lenders is terminated.

 

The loans under the credit agreement for the period commencing on the Amendment No. 2 Effective Date up to and including May 31, 2018, (i) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.75 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.75% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.75% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans and (ii) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is less than 3.75 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans.

 

The loans under the credit agreement for the period commencing on June 1, 2018 up to and including August 31, 2018, (i) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 4.00 to 1.00, an amount equal to 14.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 15.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans and (ii) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is less than 4.00 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.75% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.75% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans.

 

The loans under the credit agreement for the period commencing on September 1, 2018 through the remainder of the Term, (i) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is equal to or greater than 3.50 to 1.00, an amount equal to 14.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 15.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans and (ii) so long as the Senior Leverage Ratio is less than 3.50 to 1.00, an amount equal to 9.00% for Advances consisting of Domestic Rate Loans and 10.00% for Advances consisting of LIBOR Rate Loans.

 

The Credit Agreement is secured by all of the Company’s property and assets, whether real or personal, tangible or intangible, and whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or in which it now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interests.

 

The Term Loans were advanced on the Closing Date and are, with respect to principal, payable as follows, subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under the Credit Agreement or termination of the Credit Agreement and provided that all unpaid principal, accrued and unpaid interest and all unpaid fees and expenses shall be due and payable in full on March 31, 2021. Principal payments are required as follows: Fiscal year 2018 – $3,636,000, Fiscal year 2019 – $7,728,000, Fiscal year 2020 – $8,337,000 and Fiscal year 2021 - $28,440,000.

 

 
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The Company shall prepay the outstanding amount of the Term-loans in an amount equal to the Specified Excess Cash Flow Amount (as defined in the agreement) for the immediately preceding fiscal year, commencing with the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, payable following the delivery to the Agents of the financial statements referred to in the Agreement for such fiscal year but in any event not later than one hundred five (105) days after the end of each such fiscal year (the “Excess Cash Flow Prepayment Date”); provided that (i) if the Specified Term-loan Prepayment Conditions shall not be satisfied on any Excess Cash Flow Prepayment Date, Borrowers shall (A) on the Excess Cash Flow Prepayment Date, pay such portion of the Specified Excess Cash Flow Amount then due for such period that does not cause Borrowers to breach the Specified Term Loan Prepayment Conditions, (B) on the date on which the next Borrowing Base Certificate is due to be delivered to Agents pursuant to the Agreement (the “Borrowing Base Reference Date”), pay the remaining portion of such Specified Excess Cash Flow Amount (or such portion thereof that does not cause Borrowers to breach the Specified Term Loan Prepayment Conditions) and (C) if any Specified Excess Cash Flow Amount for such period remains due and owing after payment of the amount described in preceding clause (ii), on the next Borrowing Base Reference Date and each Borrowing Base Reference Date thereafter, pay such portion of the unpaid Specified Excess Cash Flow Amount that does not cause Borrowers to breach the Specified Term Loan Prepayment Conditions until such Specified Excess Flow Amount then due for such period is paid in full, and (ii) the failure of the Borrowers to make a prepayment of all or any portion of the Specified Excess Cash Flow Amount pursuant the Agreement solely as a result of Borrowers’ failure to satisfy the Specified Term Loan Prepayment Conditions shall not constitute an Event of Default.

 

The amended Credit Agreement contains certain covenants including the following:

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Company shall cause to be maintained as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for itself and its subsidiaries on a Consolidated Basis of not less the amount set forth in the Credit Agreement of 1.25 to 1.0.

 

Minimum EBITDA. The Company shall cause to be maintained as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, EBITDA for itself and its subsidiaries on a Consolidated Basis of not less than the amount set forth in the Credit Agreement for each fiscal quarter specified therein, in each case, measured on a trailing four (4) quarter basis as set in the Credit Agreement, which ranges from $11,000,000 to $14,000,000 over the term of the Credit Agreement.

 

Senior Leverage Ratio. The Company shall cause to be maintained as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, a Senior Leverage Ratio for itself and its subsidiaries on a Consolidated Basis of not greater than the amount set forth in the Credit Agreement for each fiscal quarter, in each case, measured on a trailing four (4) quarter basis as set in the agreement, which ranges from 5.25 to 1.0 to 2.5 to 1.0 over the term of the Credit Agreement.

 

In addition to these financial covenants, the Credit Agreement includes other restrictive covenants. The Credit Agreement permits capital expenditures up to a certain level, and contains customary default and acceleration provisions. The Credit Agreement also restricts, above certain levels, acquisitions, incurrence of additional indebtedness, and payment of dividends.

 

At September 30, 2017, based on the new amendment, there was no financial covenants. The Company was in compliance with other non-financial covenants.

 

Balance of:

 

September 30, 2017

 

Term loan

 

$ 48,141,000

 

Unamortized debt discount

 

 

(2,690,000 )

 

 

 

45,451,000

 

Short term portion of term loan

 

 

(3,433,000 )

Term loan

 

$ 42,018,000

 

 

 
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In connection with this both the Credit Agreement (the Revolving Credit Facility and the Term-loan), the Company agreed to pay an original discount fee of approximately $901,300, a closing fee for the term loan of approximately $75,000, a finder’s fee of approximately $1,597,000 and a closing fee for the revolving credit facility of approximately $500,000. The total of the loan fees paid is approximately $3,073,300. The Company has recorded this as a reduction of the term-loan and amortized as interest expense of the term of the loans. During the year ended, September 30, 2017, the Company amortized approximately $492,000 of the debt discount.

 

8. Accrued Compensation

 

Accrued Compensation includes accrued wages, the related payroll taxes, employee benefits of the Company’s employees while they work on contract assignments, commissions earned and not yet paid and estimated commission payable.

 

9. Subordinated Debt – Convertible and Non - Convertible

 

On October 2, 2015, the Company issued and sold the Subordinated Note to JAX Legacy – Investment 1, LLC (the “Jax”, “Investor”) pursuant to a Subscription Agreement dated October 2, 2015 between the Company and the Investor (the “Subscription Agreement”) in the amount of $4,185,000. The Subordinated Note was due on October 2, 2018. The Company paid fees of approximately $25,000 and 3,000 shares of common stock to the Investor, valued at approximately $23,000. In addition, the Company had approximately $33,000 of legal fees related to the transaction. Total discount recorded at issuance was approximately $647,000. Total amortization of debt discount for the year ended September 30, 2017 was approximately $107,000, and the remaining $322,000 was written off to loss on extinguishment of debt.

 

On April 3, 2017, the Company and Jax amended and restated the Subordinated Note in its entirety in the form of a 10% Convertible Subordinated Note (the “10% Note”) in the aggregate principal amount of $4,185,000. The 10% Note matures on October 3, 2021 (the “Maturity Date”). The 10% Note is convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a conversion price equal to $5.83 per share. All or any portion of the 10% Note may be redeemed by the Company for cash at any time on or after April 3, 2018 that the average daily VWAP of the Company’s Common Stock reported on the principal trading market for the Common Stock exceeds the then applicable Conversion Price for a period of 20 trading days. The redemption price shall be an amount equal to 100% of the then outstanding principal amount of the 10% Note being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The Company agreed to issue to the investors in Jax approximately 77,775 shares of common stock, at a value of approximately $385,000 which was expensed as loss on the extinguishment of debt during the year ended September 30, 2017. On December 13, 2017 the Company issued 133,655 shares of common stock for both the conversion and paid in kind interest through September 30, 2017.

 

On October 4, 2015, the Company issued to the sellers of Access Data Consulting Corporation (see note 13) a Promissory Note. Interest on the outstanding principal balance of the Promissory Note is payable at the rate of 5.5% per annum. The principal and interest amount of the Promissory Note is payable as follows: (i) for the first twelve months commencing on November 4, 2015 and ending on October 4, 2016, a monthly payment of approximately $57,000 in principal and interest, (ii) on October 4, 2016 a balloon payment of principal of $1,000,000, (iii) for the next twelve months commencing on November 4, 2016 and ending on October 4, 2017, a monthly payment of approximately $28,000 in principal and interest, (iv) on October 4, 2017 a balloon payment of principal of $1,202,000 and (v) on October 4, 2017 any and all amounts of previously unpaid principal and accrued interest. The Credit Agreement requires this loan to be subordinated to PNC and MGG, however the sellers of Access Data Consulting Corporation have not agreed to the subordination.

 

On October 4, 2017, the Company executed an Amended and Restated Non-Negotiable Promissory Note in favor of William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier in the amount of $1,202,405 (the “Note”). This Note amends and, as so amended, restates in its entirety and replaces that certain Subordinated Nonnegotiable Promissory Note dated October 4, 2015, issued by the Company to William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier in the original principal amount of $3,000,000. The Company agreed to pay William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier 12 equal installments of $107,675, commencing on November 4, 2017 and ending on October 4, 2018. The entire loan is classified as current and subordinate to the senior debt.

 

 
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On January 20, 2017, the Company entered into Addendum No. 1 (the “Addendum”) to the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of January 1, 2016 (the “Paladin Agreement”) by and among the Company and Enoch S. Timothy and Dorothy Timothy (collectively, the “Sellers”). Pursuant to the terms of the Addendum, the Company and the Sellers agreed (a) that the conditions to the “Earnouts” (as defined in the Paladin Agreement) had been satisfied or waived and (b) that the amounts payable to the Sellers in connection with the Earnouts shall be amended and restructured as follows: (i) the Company paid $250,000 in cash to the Sellers prior to January 31, 2017 (the “Earnout Cash Payment”) and (ii) the Company shall issue to the Sellers a subordinated promissory note in the principal amount of $1,000,000 (the “Subordinated Note”), The Subordinated Note shall bear interest at the rate of 5.5% per annum. Interest on the Subordinated Note shall be payable monthly, principle can only be paid in stock until the term-loan and Revolving Credit Facility are repaid. The Subordinated Note shall have a term of three years and may be prepaid without penalty. The principal of and interest on the Subordinated Note may be paid, at the option of the Company, either in cash or in shares of common stock of the Company or in any combination of cash and common stock. The Sellers have agreed that all payments and obligations under the Subordinated Note shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to any “Senior Indebtedness” (as defined in the Paladin Agreement) now or hereafter existing to “Senior Lenders” (current or future) (as defined in the Paladin Agreement).

 

On April 3, 2017, the Company issued and paid to certain SNIH Stockholders as part of the Merger Consideration (see note 10) an aggregate of $12.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its 9.5% Notes. The 9.5% Notes mature on October 3, 2021 (the “Maturity Date”). The 9.5% Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a conversion price equal to $5.83 per share. Interest on the 9.5% Notes accrues at the rate of 9.5% per annum and shall be paid quarterly in arrears on June 30, September 30, December 31 and March 31, beginning on June 30, 2017, on each conversion date with respect to the 9.5% Notes (as to that principal amount then being converted), and on the Maturity Date (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date”). At the option of the Company, interest may be paid on an Interest Payment Date either in cash or in shares of Common Stock of the Company, which Common Stock shall be valued based on the terms of the agreement, subject to certain limitations defined in the loan agreement. Each of the 9.5% Notes is subordinated in payment to the obligations of the Company to the lenders parties to that certain Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among the Company, the Company’s subsidiaries named as borrowers therein (collectively with the Company, the “Borrowers”), the senior lenders named therein and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “Agent”) for the senior lenders (the “Senior Credit Agreement”), pursuant to those certain Subordination and Intercreditor Agreements, each dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among the Company, the Borrowers, the Agent and each of the holders of the 9.5% Notes.

 

None of the 9.5% Notes issued to the SNIH Stockholders are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Each of the SNIH Stockholders who received 9.5% Notes is an accredited investor. The issuance of the 9.5% Notes to such SNIH Stockholders is exempt from the registration requirements of the Act in reliance on an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Act.

 

Balance as of:

 

September 30, 2017

 

 

September 30, 2016

 

JAX Legacy debt

 

$ 4,185

 

 

$ 4,185

 

Access Data debt

 

 

1,225

 

 

 

2,510

 

Paladin debt

 

 

1,000

 

 

 

-

 

9.5% convertible debt

 

 

12,500

 

 

 

-

 

JAX Legacy debt discount

 

 

-

 

 

 

(429 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total subordinated debt, convertible and non-convertible

 

 

18,910

 

 

 

6,266

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term portion of subordinated debt, convertible and non-convertible

 

 

(1,225 )

 

 

(1,285 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term portion of subordinated debt, convertible and non-convertible

 

$ 17,685

 

 

$ 4,981

 

 

Future minimum payments of subordinated debt will total approximately $18,910,000 as follows: fiscal 2018 - $1,225,000, fiscal 2019 - $0, fiscal 2020 - $1,000,000, fiscal 2021- $0 and fiscal 2022 - $16,685,000.

 

 
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10. Equity

 

On October 2, 2015, the Company issued approximately 95,000 shares of common stock to JAX Legacy related to the subordinated note. The stock was valued at approximately $589,000.

 

On October 4, 2015, the Company issued approximately 328,000 shares of common stock to the sellers of Access Data Consulting Corporation. The Company also agreed if the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the trading day immediately preceding the day on which the Issued Shares are first freely salable under Rule 144 (the “Rule 144 Date”) is less than 90% of the Issue Price, then the Company shall make a one-time adjustment and shall promptly pay to the Sellers, in stock in the form of additional shares of common stock of the Company at the market value on the Rule 144 Date, the difference between the aggregate value of the Issued Shares at the Issue Price and the aggregate value of the Issued Shares at the closing price on the Rule 144 Date.

 

On April 4, 2016, the Company issued approximately 123,000 shares of common stock to the sellers of Access Data Consulting Corporation related to the guarantee, discussed above. This was based on market value of the stock on April 4, 2016 being approximately $544,000 less than the $2,000,000 six-month guarantee provided in the Access Data Agreement and based on the closing stock price of $4.44 per common share.

 

On March 31, 2017, the Company issued approximately 500,000 shares of common stock upon exercise of warrants by two officers and received cash of $1,000,000.

 

Stock Options

 

The Company has recognized compensation expense in the amount of approximately $902,000 and $793,000 during the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, related to the issuance of stock options.

 

During the year ended September 30, 2017, there were options granted to purchase 382,000 shares of common stock with a weighted average price of between $4.02 and $5.94 per common share. This estimated value was made using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and approximated $1,864,000. The stock options vest over a three to five-year period. The average expected life (years) of the options were 10, the estimated stock price volatility was 104% and the risk-free interest rate was 2.2%. At September 30, 2017, there was approximately $2,178,000 of unamortized compensation.

 

At September 30, 2017, there were exercisable options granted to purchase approximately 408,000 shares of common stock and exercisable warrants to purchase approximately 497,000 shares of common stock.

 

Warrants

 

(Number of Warrants in Thousands)

 

Number of Shares

 

 

Exercise Price

 

 

Expiration

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2016

 

 

997

 

 

$ 2.92

 

 

 

 

Warrants exercised

 

 

(500

)

 

 

2.00

 

 

Warrants granted

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2017

 

 

497

 

 

$ 3.84

 

 

 

 

 

The weighted average exercise price of outstanding warrants was $3.84 at September 30, 2017 and 2.92 at September 30, 2016, with expiration dates ranging from February 7, 2020 to April 1, 2025.

 

 
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11. Stock Option Plans

 

As of September 30, 2017, there were stock options outstanding under the Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan, Second Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan, 1999 Stock Option Plan and the 2011 Company Incentive Plan. All four plans were approved by the shareholders. The 1995 Stock Option Plan and the 1999 Stock Option Plan have expired, and no further options may be granted under those plans. During fiscal 2009, the Second Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan was amended to make an additional 592,000 options available for granting and as of September 30, 2013 there were no shares available for issuance under the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan. As of September 30, 2017, there were no shares available for issuance under the 2011 Company Incentive Plan. The plans granted specified numbers of options to non-employee directors, and they authorized the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors to grant either incentive or non-statutory stock options to employees. Vesting periods are established by the Compensation Committee at the time of grant. All stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 were non-statutory stock options, had exercise prices equal to the market price on the date of grant, and had expiration dates ten years from the date of grant.

 

On July 23, 2013, the Board of Directors approved the Company’s 2013 Incentive Stock Plan (the “2013 Plan”), and resolved to cease issuing securities under all prior Company equity compensation plans. The 2013 Plan was approved by the Company’s shareholders at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on September 9, 2013. The purpose of the 2013 Plan is to provide additional incentives to select persons who can make, are making, and continue to make substantial contributions to the growth and success of the Company, to attract and retain the employment and services of such persons, and to encourage and reward such contributions, by providing these individuals with an opportunity to acquire or increase stock ownership in the Company through either the grant of options or restricted stock. The 2013 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee or such other committee as is appointed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the 2013 Plan (the “Committee”). The Committee has full authority to administer and interpret the provisions of the 2013 Plan including, but not limited to, the authority to make all determinations with regard to the terms and conditions of an award made under the 2013 Plan. The maximum number of shares that may be granted under the 2013 Plan is 1,000,000. This number is subject to adjustment to reflect changes in the capital structure or organization of the Company.

 

On August 16, 2017 the Stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s 2013 Incentive Stock Plan to increase the number of shares available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Plan from 1,000,000 shares to 4,000,000 shares.

 

A summary of stock option activity is as follows:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

(Number of Options in Thousands)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of options outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of year

 

 

568

 

 

 

414

 

Granted

 

 

382

 

 

 

163

 

Exercised

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Terminated

 

 

(42 )

 

 

(9 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of year

 

 

908

 

 

 

568

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of options exercisable at end of year

 

 

408

 

 

 

230

 

Number of options available for grant at end of year

 

 

3,075

 

 

 

470

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average option prices per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted during the year

 

$ 5.15

 

 

$ 5.17

 

Exercised during the year

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Terminated during the year

 

 

4.38

 

 

 

5.99

 

Outstanding at end of year

 

 

5.11

 

 

 

5.09

 

Exercisable at end of year

 

 

4.79

 

 

 

4.39

 

 

 
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Stock options outstanding as of September 30, 2017 were as follows (number of options in thousands):

 

Range of

Exercise Prices

 

Number Outstanding

 

 

Weighted Average Price

 

 

Number Exercisable

 

 

Weighted Average Price

 

 

Average Remaining Life (Years)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Under $5.00

 

 

476

 

 

$ 4.00

 

 

 

214

 

 

$ 3.31

 

 

 

8.1

 

5.01 to 10.00

 

 

432

 

 

$

6.37

 

 

 

154

 

 

$

6.77

 

 

 

8.0

 

 

As of September 30, 2017, the aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding stock options and exercisable stock options was approximately $461,000 and $303,000, respectively.

 

The average fair value of stock options granted was estimated to be $4.63 per share in fiscal 2017 and $7.00 per share in fiscal 2017 and 2016, respectively. This estimate was made using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions:

 

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expected option life (years)

 

 

10

 

 

 

10

 

Expected stock price volatility

 

 

104 %

 

 

125 %

Expected dividend yield

 

 

%

 

 

%

Risk-free interest rate

 

 

2.20 %

 

 

2.20 %

 

Stock-based compensation expense attributable to stock options was $902,000 and $793,000 in 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, there was approximately $2,178,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options outstanding, and the weighted average vesting period for those options was 3.5 years.

 

12. Income Taxes

 

The components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Current expense (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$ -

 

 

$ -

 

State

 

 

126

 

 

 

3

 

Total current expense (benefit):

 

$ 126

 

 

$ 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred expense (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$ (5,549 )

 

$ -

 

State

 

 

(595 )

 

 

-

 

Total deferred expense (benefit):

 

$ (6,144 )

 

$ -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total income tax expense (benefit):

 

$ (6,018 )

 

$ 3

 

 

 
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A reconciliation of the Company’s statutory income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

Income at US Statutory Rate

 

$ (2,853 )

 

$ 400

 

State Taxes, net of Federal benefit

 

 

(633 )

 

 

56

 

Tax Credits

 

 

(99 )

 

 

 

 

Acquisition Related Costs

 

 

476

 

 

 

 

 

Statutory Rate Changes

 

 

(571 )

 

 

 

 

Valuation Allowance

 

 

(2,370 )

 

 

(456 )

Other

 

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$ (6,018 )

 

$ -

 

 

The net deferred income tax asset balance related to the following:

 

 

 

Year Ended September 30,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Operating Losses

 

$ 8,177

 

 

$ 5,272

 

Stock Options

 

 

881

 

 

 

512

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

 

958

 

 

 

67

 

Accrued & Prepaid Expenses

 

 

911

 

 

 

48

 

TaxCredit Carryforwards

 

 

171

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

-

 

 

 

61

 

Total Deferred tax assets

 

$ 11,098

 

 

$ 5,960

 

Intangibles

 

$ (10,308 )

 

$ (1,952 )

Depreciation

 

 

(110 )

 

 

-

 

Total deferred tax liability

 

$ (10,418 )

 

$ (1,952 )

Deferred tax asset (liability)

 

$ 680

 

 

$ 4,008

 

Valuation allowance

 

 

(1,638 )

 

 

(4,008 )

Net deferred tax asset (liability)

 

$ (958 )

 

$ -

 

 

As of September 30, 2017, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $21,633,000 and $22,949,000, respectively, which begin to expire in 2028 for federal and 2022 for state purposes.

 

Future realization of the tax benefits of existing temporary differences and net operating loss carryforwards ultimately depends on the existence of sufficient taxable income within the carryforward period. As of September 30, 2017, and 2016, the Company performed an evaluation to determine whether a valuation allowance was needed. The Company considered all available evidence, both positive and negative, which included the results of operations for the current and preceding years. The Company also considered whether there was any currently available information about future years. Because long-term contracts are not a significant part of the Company’s business, future results cannot be reliably predicted by considering past trends or by extrapolating past results. Moreover, the Company’s earnings are strongly influenced by national economic conditions and have been volatile in the past. Considering these factors, the Company determined that it was not possible to reasonably quantify future taxable income. The Company determined that it is more likely than not that all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Accordingly, the Company maintained a full valuation allowance as of September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

With the passage of time, the Company will continue to generate additional deferred tax assets and liabilities related to amortization of acquired intangible assets for tax purposes. As goodwill, an indefinite-lived intangible asset, will not be amortized for financial reporting purposes under current accounting standards, any tax amortization related goodwill claimed by the Company in future years will give rise to an increasing deferred tax liability, which will only reverse at the time of a future impairment under current accounting rules or ultimate sale of the underlying intangible assets. Due to the uncertain timing of this reversal, the temporary difference cannot be considered as a source of future taxable income for purposes of determining a valuation allowance against the Company’s other net deferred tax assets. As a result, the Company’s net deferred tax position at September 30, 2016 and 2017, represents the tax impact of the cumulative tax amortization of goodwill, which is primarily attributable to historical tax deductible goodwill from SNI.

 

 
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Under Internal Revenue Code 382, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOL carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income may be limited. We have not completed a study to assess whether an “ownership change” has occurred or whether there have been multiple ownership changes since we became a “loss corporation” as defined in Section 382. Future changes in our stock ownership, which may be outside of our control, may trigger an “ownership change”. In addition, future equity offerings or acquisitions that have equity as a component of the purchase price could result in an “ownership change.” If an “ownership change” has occurred or does occur in the future, utilization of the NOL carryforwards or other tax attributes may be limited, which could potentially result in increased future tax liability to us.

 

The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations for both federal taxes and the many states in which we operate or do business in. ASC 740 states that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, on the basis of the technical merits.

 

We record tax positions as liabilities in accordance with ASC 740 and adjust these liabilities when our judgement changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. Because of the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from our current estimate of the recognized tax benefit liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which new information is available. As of September 30, 2016, and 2017 we have not recorded any uncertain tax positions in our financial statements.

 

We recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits on the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. As of September 30, 2016, and 2017, no accrued interest or penalties are included on the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheet.

 

The Company files tax returns as prescribed by the tax laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by federal and state jurisdictions, where applicable. There are currently no pending tax examinations. The Company’s tax years are still open under statute from September 30, 2014, to the present. Earlier years may be examined to the extent that the net operating loss carryforwards form those earlier years are used in future periods. The resolution of tax matters is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

13. Acquisitions

 

Access

 

On October 4, 2015, the Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Access Data Agreement”) with William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier (collectively, the “Sellers”). Pursuant to the terms of the Access Data Agreement the Company acquired on October 4, 2015, 100% of the outstanding stock of Access Data Consulting Corporation., a Colorado corporation (“Access Data”), for a purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) equal to approximately $16,168,000, which includes $600,000 related to a mutual tax election of which $350,000 was paid during the year ended September 30, 2017 and the remaining $150,000 is included in current liabilities.

 

Paladin

 

The Company entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of January 1, 2016 (the “Paladin Agreement”) with Enoch S. Timothy and Dorothy Timothy (collectively, the “Sellers”). Pursuant to the terms of the Paladin Agreement the Company acquired on January 1, 2016, 100% of the outstanding stock of Paladin Consulting Inc., a Texas corporation (“Paladin”), for a purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) equal to approximately $2,625,000.

 

 
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SNI

 

The Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 31, 2017 (the “Merger Agreement”) by and among the Company, GEE Group Portfolio, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, (“GEE Portfolio”), SNI Holdco Inc., a Delaware corporation (“SNIH”), Smith Holdings, LLC a Delaware limited liability company, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a Wisconsin corporation, organized as a fraternal benefits society (“Thrivent”), Madison Capital Funding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Madison”) and Ronald R. Smith, in his capacity as a stockholder (“Mr. Smith” and collectively with Smith Holdings, LLC, Thrivent and Madison, the “Principal Stockholders”) and Ronald R. Smith in his capacity as the representative of the SNIH Stockholders (“Stockholders’ Representative”). The Merger Agreement provided for the merger subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement of SNI Holdco with and into GEE Portfolio pursuant to which GEE Portfolio would be the surviving corporation (the “Merger”). The Merger was consummated on April 3, 2017 (the “Closing”) and did not require stockholder approval in order to be completed. As a result of the merger, GEE Portfolio became the owner of 100% of the outstanding capital stock of SNI Companies, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI Holdco (“SNI Companies” and collectively with SNI Holdco, the “Acquired Companies”).

 

SNI Companies, led by co-founder and then current Chairman and CEO Ron Smith, is a premier provider of recruitment and staffing services specializing in administrative, finance, accounting, banking, technology, and legal professions. Through its Staffing Now ®, Accounting Now ®, SNI Technology ®, SNI Financial ®, Legal Now ®, SNI Energy ® and SNI Certes ® divisions, SNI Companies delivers staffing solutions on a temporary/contract, temp/contract-to hire, full time and direct hire basis, across a wide range of disciplines and industries including finance, accounting, banking, technical, software, tax, human resources, legal, engineering, construction, manufacturing, natural resources, energy and administrative professional. SNI Companies has offices in Colorado, Connecticut, Washington DC, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

 

Merger Consideration and Closing Payments

 

The aggregate consideration paid for the shares of SNI Holdco (the “Merger Consideration”) was approximately $66,300,000, plus or minus the “NWC Adjustment Amount” or the difference in the book value of the Closing Net Working Capital (as defined in Merger Agreement) of the Acquired Companies as compared to the Benchmark Net Working Capital (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of the Acquired Companies of $9.2 million.

 

On the date of the Closing the Company made the following payments:

 

 

·

Cash Payment to Stockholders of SNIH (the “SNIH Stockholders”) or as directed by SNIH Stockholders. At the Closing, the Company paid approximately an aggregate of $23,000,000 in cash to the SNIH Stockholders.

 

·

Issuance of 9.5% Convertible Subordinated Notes. At the Closing, the Company issued and paid to certain SNIH Stockholders an aggregate of $12,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of its 9.5% Notes.

 

·

Issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. At the Closing, the Company agreed to issue to certain SNIH Stockholders upon receipt of duly executed letters of transmittal an aggregate of approximately 5,926,000 shares of its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (with an approximate value of $29,300,000 based on the closing stock price of GEE Group, Inc. common stock of $4.95 on March 31, 2017).

 

·

Working Capital Reserve Fund. At the Closing, $1.5 million of the cash of the Merger Consideration was retained by the Company (the “Working Capital Reserve Fund”) and is subject to payment and adjustment as follows. The Merger Consideration will be adjusted (positively or negatively) based upon the difference in the book value of the Closing Net Working Capital (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as compared to the Benchmark Net Working Capital (as defined in the Merger Agreement) of $9.2 million (such difference to be called the “NWC Adjustment Amount”). If the NWC Adjustment Amount is positive, the Merger Consideration will be increased by the NWC Adjustment Amount. If the NWC Adjustment Amount is negative, the Merger Consideration will be decreased by the NWC Adjustment Amount. If the Merger Consideration increases, then the Company will pay the Stockholders’ Representative account for payment to SNIH Stockholders the amount of the increase plus the Working Capital Reserve Fund in immediately available funds within three (3) business days of a final determination thereof. If the Merger Consideration decreases, then SNIH Stockholders will pay the amount of the decrease to the Company within three (3) business days of a final determination thereof, which first shall be funded from the Working Capital Reserve Fund (which shall be credited to the SNIH Stockholders). If the amount of the Merger Consideration decrease exceeds the Working Capital Reserve Fund, then the SNIH Stockholders, will pay the difference to the Company, severally, not jointly, in accordance with their SNIH Ownership Proportion (as defined in the Merger Agreement), in immediately available funds within twenty (20) days of a final determination. If the Working Capital Reserve Fund exceeds the payment due from SNIH Stockholders then the remaining balance of those funds after the payment to the Company shall be paid to the Stockholders’ Representative’s account for payment to the SNIH Stockholders in immediately available funds.

 

 
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The intangibles were recorded, based on the Company’s estimate of fair value, which consist primarily of customer lists with an estimated life of five to ten years and goodwill. The Company has not finalized the purchase price allocation at September 30, 2017 and subject to change based on the working capital contingency.

 

(in Thousands)

 

$ 12,989

 

 

Assets Purchased

 

32,174

 

 

Liabilities Assumed

 

19,185

 

 

Net Liabilities Assumed

 

66,300

 

 

Purchase Price

$ 85,485

 

 

Intangible Asset from Purchase

 

Intangible asset detail

 

$ 18,312

 

 

Intangible asset customer list

 

5,900

 

 

Intangible asset trade name

 

3,270

 

 

Intangible asset non-compete agreement

 

58,003

 

 

Goodwill

$ 85,485

 

 

Intangible Asset from Purchase

 

All goodwill and intangibles related to the acquisition of SNI companies will not be deductible for tax purposes.

 

Consolidated pro-forma unaudited financial statements

 

The following unaudited pro forma combined financial information is based on the historical financial statements of the Company, SNI Companies, Inc. and Paladin Consulting, Inc., after giving effect to the Company’s acquisition as if the acquisitions occurred on October 1, 2015.

 

The following unaudited pro forma information does not purport to present what the Company’s actual results would have been had the acquisitions occurred on October 1, 2015, nor is the financial information indicative of the results of future operations. The following table represents the unaudited consolidated pro forma results of operations for the years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 as if the acquisition occurred on October 1, 2015. The pro forma results of operations for the years ended September 30, 2016 only include three months of Paladin and twelve months of SNI Companies, as all other acquisitions either occurred prior to October 1, 2015 or had an immaterial effect on pro forma balances. Operating expenses have been increased for the amortization expense associated with the estimated fair value adjustment as of each acquisition during the respective period for the expected definite lived intangible assets. Operating expenses have been increased for the amortization expense associated with the fair value adjustment of definite lived intangible assets of approximately $4,100,000 and $107,000 for the years ended September 30, 2016 for the Paladin and SNI acquisitions, respectively. Operating expenses have been increased for the amortization expense associated with the fair value adjustment of definite lived intangible assets of approximately $2,100,000 for the year ended September 30, 2017 for the SNI acquisition.

 

(in Thousands, except per share data)

 

Pro Forma, unaudited

 

Year Ended September 30, 2017

 

 

Year Ended September 30, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$ 189,149

 

 

$ 201,433

 

Cost of sales

 

$ 119,817

 

 

$ 126,708

 

Operating expenses

 

$ 68,794

 

 

$ 66,390

 

Net income

 

$ (2,670

)

 

$ 2,679

 

Basic income per common share

 

$ (0.28

)

 

$ 0.29

 

Dilutive income per common share

 

$ (0.28

)

 

$ 0.28

 

 

 
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The proforma results of operations for the years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, included approximately $54,170,000 and $113,460,000 of sales, respectively, and approximately $2,606,000 and $1,227,000 of net income, respectively of SNI Companies. The year ended September 30, 2016 included approximately, $4,785,000 of sales and approximately $842,000 of a net income of Paladin.

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2017 include the actual results of SNI Companies since the date of acquisition and include sales of approximately $49,710,000 and net income of approximately $741,000 for the year ended September 30, 2017. The consolidated financial statements for the years ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 included sale of approximately $17,572,000 of $14,697,000 of sales and approximately $403,000 and $842,000 of net income.

 

14. Commitment and Contingencies

 

Lease

 

The Company leases space for all of its branch offices, which are located either in downtown or suburban business centers, and for its corporate headquarters. Branch offices are generally leased over periods from three to five years. The corporate office lease expires in 2018. The leases generally provide for payment of basic rent plus a share of building real estate taxes, maintenance costs and utilities.

 

Rent expense was approximately $2,600,000 and $1,114,000 for the years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. As of September 30, 2017, future minimum lease payments due under non-cancelable lease agreements having initial terms in excess of one year, including certain closed offices, totaled approximately $7,079,000 as follows: fiscal 2018 - $2,950,000, fiscal 2019 - $2,313,000, fiscal 2020 - $1,219,000, fiscal 2021 - $341,000 fiscal 2022 - $203,000 and thereafter - $53,000.

 

Working Capital Deposit

 

The Company retained approximately $1,500,000 of the purchase price, in cash, as a guarantee from the sellers that the SNI Companies would provide a minimum of $9,200,000 of working capital, as defined in the purchase agreement. As of September 30, 2017, the Company and the sellers of the SNI Companies have not agreed to the provided working capital and the amount continues to be retained by the Company.

 

15. Mezzanine Equity

 

On April 3, 2017, the Company agreed to issue to certain SNIH Stockholders upon receipt of duly executed letters of transmittal as part of the Merger Consideration, an aggregate of approximately 5,926,000 shares of its no par value, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to certain of the SNIH Stockholders as part of the Merger Consideration. The no par value, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference equal to $4.86 per share and ranks senior to all “Junior Securities” (including the Company’s Common Stock) with respect to any distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary. In the event that the Company declares or pays a dividend or distribution on its Common Stock, whether such dividend or distribution is payable in cash, securities or other property, including the purchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of shares of Common Stock for cash, securities or property, the Company is required to simultaneously declare and pay a dividend on the no par value, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock on a pro rata basis with the Common Stock determined on an as-converted basis assuming all shares had been converted as of immediately prior to the record date of the applicable dividend or distribution. Except as set forth in the Resolution Establishing Series (as defined below) as may be required by Illinois law, the holders of the no par value, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock have no voting rights. Pursuant to the Resolution Establishing Series, without the prior written consent of holders of not less than a majority of the then total outstanding Shares of no par value, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, voting separately as a single class, the Company shall not create, or authorize the creation of, any additional class or series of capital stock of the Company (or any security convertible into or exercisable for any class or series of capital stock of the Company) that ranks pari passu with or superior to the no par value, Series B Convertible Preferred Stock in relative rights, preferences or privileges (including with respect to dividends, liquidation or voting). Each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be convertible at the option of the holder thereof into one share of Common Stock at an initial conversion price equal to $4.86 per share, each as subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock combinations, capital reorganizations, reclassifications, consolidations, mergers or sales, as set forth in the Resolution Establishing Series.

 

 
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None of the shares of no par value, Series B Preferred Stock issued to the SNIH Stockholders are registered under the Securities Act. Each of the SNIH Stockholders who received shares of Series B Preferred Stock is an accredited investor. The issuance of the shares of no par value, Series B Preferred Stock to such SNIH Stockholders is exempt from the registration requirements of the Act in reliance on an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Act.

 

Based on the terms of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, if certain fundamental transactions were to occur, the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock would require redemption, which precludes permanent equity classification on the accompanying consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

16. Segment Data

 

The Company provides the following distinctive services: (a) direct hire placement services, (b) temporary professional services staffing in the fields of information technology, engineering, medical, and accounting, and (c) temporary light industrial staffing. These distinct services can be divided into two reportable segments, Industrial Staffing Services and Professional Staffing Services. Selling, general and administrative expenses are not completely separately allocated among light industrial services and professional staffing services.

 

Unallocated Corporate expenses primarily include, certain executive compensation expenses and salaries, certain administrative salaries, corporate legal expenses, stock amortization expenses, consulting expenses, audit fees, corporate rent and facility costs, board fees, acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses and interest expense.

 

 

 

Fiscal Year Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

(In Thousands)

 

2017

 

 

2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial Staffing Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

Industrial services revenue

 

$ 24,851

 

 

$ 21,916

 

Industrial services gross margin

 

 

16.5 %

 

 

13.1 %

Operating income

 

$ 1,625

 

 

$ 539

 

Depreciation & amortization

 

 

268

 

 

 

280

 

Accounts receivable – net

 

 

3,959

 

 

 

3,145

 

Intangible assets

 

 

691

 

 

 

908

 

Goodwill

 

 

1,084

 

 

 

1,083

 

Total assets

 

$ 9,271

 

 

$ 7,448

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professional Staffing Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permanent placement revenue

 

$ 14,731

 

 

$ 6,909

 

Placement services gross margin

 

 

100 %

 

 

100 %

Professional services revenue

 

$ 95,396

 

 

$ 54,249

 

Professional services gross margin

 

 

27.4 %

 

 

25.5 %

Operating income

 

$ 4,275

 

 

$ 4,407

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

3,685

 

 

 

1,587

 

Accounts receivable – net

 

 

19,219

 

 

 

8,424

 

Intangible assets

 

 

34,358

 

 

 

10,186

 

Goodwill

 

 

75,509

 

 

 

17,507

 

Total assets

 

$ 132,544

 

 

$ 38,478

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unallocated Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate administrative expenses

 

$ 3,285

 

 

$ 1,997

 

Corporate facility expenses

 

 

301

 

 

 

239

 

Stock option amortization expense

 

 

902

 

 

 

792

 

Board related expenses

 

 

38

 

 

 

19

 

Acquisition, integration and restructuring expenses

 

 

2,775

 

 

 

702

 

Total unallocated expenses

 

$ 7,301

 

 

$ 3,749

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

 

$ 134,978

 

 

$ 83,074

 

Operating (loss) income

 

 

(1,401 )

 

 

1,197

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

3,953

 

 

 

1,867

 

Total accounts receivables – net

 

 

23,178

 

 

 

11,569

 

Intangible assets

 

 

35,049

 

 

 

11,094

 

Goodwill

 

 

76,593

 

 

 

18,590

 

Total assets

 

$ 141,815

 

 

$ 45,926

 

 

17. Subsequent Events

 

On December 12, 2017, the Company issued 135,655 shares of common stock, valued at approximately $595,000 as an inducement to change the loan agreement with Jax legacy (“Jax”) note and the accrued interest through September 30, 2017. These shares issued to Jax were not registered under the Securities Act. Jax is an accredited investor. The issuance of these shares to Jax is exempt from the registration requirements of the Act in reliance on an exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Act.

 

On December 26, 2017, The Company and Mr. Bajalia entered into a written employment agreement with respect to Mr. Bajalia’s service as President of the Company. The Company and Mr. Bajalia have agreed to an initial term of five years and that Mr. Bajalia shall receive a base salary of $270,000 per year, subject to increase, but not decrease, at the discretion of the Board. In addition, the Company and Mr. Bajalia have agreed that (i) Mr. Bajalia shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 100% of his base salary based on his meeting certain performance based targets and (ii) Mr. Bajalia shall also receive a total of 500,000 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2013 Stock Incentive Plan. These shares shall cliff vest 20% per year of service. Mr. Bajalia shall also be eligible to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans as in effect from time to time on the same basis as generally made available to other senior executives of the Company and have other benefits provided to executives of the Company.

 

 
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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

None.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

 

We carried out an evaluation required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” and “internal control over financial reporting” as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report.

 

The evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting included a review of our objectives and processes, implementation by us and the effect on the information generated for use in this Annual Report. In the course of this evaluation and in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act, we sought to identify material weaknesses in our controls, to determine whether we had identified any acts of fraud involving personnel who have a significant role in our internal control over financial reporting that would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, and to confirm that any necessary corrective action, including process improvements, were being undertaken. Our evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures is done quarterly and management reports the effectiveness of our controls and procedures in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our internal control over financial reporting is also evaluated on an ongoing basis by our executive management and by other individuals in our organization. The overall goals of these evaluation activities are to monitor our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting and to make modifications as necessary. We periodically evaluate our processes and procedures and make improvements as required.

 

Because of inherent limitations, disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Management applies its judgment in assessing the benefits of controls relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions, regardless of how remote.

 

 
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Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure controls and procedures are designed with the objective of ensuring that (i) information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and (ii) information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Based on their evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2017.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the 2013 framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Based on the foregoing evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2017.

 

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of the year ended September 30, 2017, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. Management excluded the SNI Acquisition from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017 because it was acquired by the Company in fiscal 2017. SNI acquisition is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company and represents $99,240,000, $49,710,000 and $741,000 of the Company's consolidated total assets, total revenue and net income (loss) as of and for the year ended September 30, 2017.

 

Item 9B. Other Information.

 

On December 26, 2017, The Company and Mr. Bajalia entered into a written employment agreement with respect to Mr. Bajalia’s service as President of the Company. The Company and Mr. Bajalia have agreed to an initial term of five years and that Mr. Bajalia shall receive a base salary of $270,000 per year, subject to increase, but not decrease, at the discretion of the Board. In addition, the Company and Mr. Bajalia have agreed that (i) Mr. Bajalia shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 100% of his base salary based on his meeting certain performance based targets and (ii) Mr. Bajalia shall also receive a total of 500,000 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2013 Stock Incentive Plan. These shares shall cliff vest 20% per year of service. Mr. Bajalia shall also be eligible to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans as in effect from time to time on the same basis as generally made available to other senior executives of the Company and have other benefits provided to executives of the Company.  

 

 
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PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

 

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Executive Officers

 

The named executive officers and directors of the Company as of December 19, 2017 are as follows:

 

Name

 

Age

 

Position

Derek Dewan

 

62

 

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board

Alex Stuckey

 

51

 

Chief Administrative Officer

Andrew J. Norstrud

 

44

 

Chief Financial Officer

George A. Bajalia

 

60

 

President and Director

William M. Isaac (1)(3)

 

73

 

Director

Dr. Arthur B. Laffer (1)(2)(3)

 

77

 

Director

Peter J. Tanous (1)(2)

 

79

 

Director

Thomas C. Williams (1)(2)(3)

 

58

 

Director

Ronald R. Smith

 

65

 

Director

 

(1) Member of the Audit Committee.

 

(2) Member of the Compensation Committee.

 

(3) Member of the Nominating Committee.

 

Derek Dewan – Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board

 

Mr. Dewan, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Scribe Solutions, Inc. was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Company effective April 1, 2015. Mr. Dewan was previously Chairman and CEO of MPS Group, Inc. In January 1994, Mr. Dewan joined AccuStaff Incorporated, MPS Group’s predecessor, as President and Chief Executive Officer, and took that company public in August 1994. Under Mr. Dewan’s leadership the company became a Fortune 1000 world-class, global multi-billion-dollar staffing services provider through significant organic growth and strategic acquisitions. MPS Group grew to include a vast network of offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Asia and Australia. MPS Group experienced many years of continued success during Mr. Dewan’s tenure and he led successful secondary stock offerings of $110 million and $370 million. The company was on the Wall Street Journal’s “top performing stock list” for three consecutive years and included in the Standard and Poor’s (S&P) Mid-Cap 400. In 2009, Mr. Dewan was instrumental in the sale of MPS Group to the largest staffing company in the world, Adecco Group, for $1.3 billion.

 

Alex Stuckey - Chief Administrative Officer

 

Mr. Stuckey became the Company’s Chief Administrative Officer April 6, 2017. Mr. Stuckey joined the Company in April 2015 as its Chief Operating Officer and President and served in those positions until April 10, 2017. Mr. Stuckey was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Scribe Solutions, Inc. Prior to joining Scribe, Mr. Stuckey was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fire Fighters Equipment Co. Mr. Stuckey led that company from a start up to a multi-million-dollar enterprise with substantial net profits through both organic and acquisition growth. At Fire Fighters, Mr. Stuckey developed unique marketing strategies, which were revolutionary to the industry. His efforts led to a successful stock sale of Fire Fighters to Cintas. Stuckey also has extensive experience in banking and finance, which he obtained after a successful career at Barnett Bank as a special assets officer. Mr. Stuckey graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s in Entrepreneurship and Business Enterprises.

 

 
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Andrew J. Norstrud – Chief Financial Officer

 

Mr. Norstrud joined the Company in March 2013 as CFO and served as CEO from March 7, 2014 until April 1, 2015. Mr. Norstrud served as a director of the Company from March 7, 2014 until August 16, 2017. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Norstrud was a consultant with Norco Accounting and Consulting from October 2011 until March 2013. From October 2005 to October 2011, Mr. Norstrud served as the Chief Financial Officer for Jagged Peak. Prior to his role at Jagged Peak, Mr. Norstrud was the Chief Financial Officer of Segmentz, Inc. (XPO Logistics), and played an instrumental role in the company achieving its strategic goals by pursuing and attaining growth initiatives, building a financial team, completing and integrating strategic acquisitions and implementing the structure required of public companies. Previously, Mr. Norstrud worked for Grant Thornton LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and has extensive experience with young, rapid growth public companies. Mr. Norstrud earned a BA in Business and Accounting from Western State College and a Master of Accounting with a systems emphasis from the University of Florida. Mr. Norstrud is a Florida licensed Certified Public Accountant.

 

George A. Bajalia – President and Director

 

Mr. Bajalia became the Company’s President on April 6, 2017. Mr. Bajalia joined the Company as a director in January 2015. Mr. Bajalia has over 30 years of business experience, with financial, operational and management expertise in many industries including the staffing industry. Since 2001, Bajalia has provided consulting, advisory and interim management services to executive management, boards, business owners and private equity firms. He has assisted them with implementing their growth and working capital strategies, turnarounds, recapitalizations and strategic objectives.

 

Mr. Bajalia started his career as a certified public accountant (CPA) at KPMG Peat Marwick in 1980. From 1984 to 1991, Bajalia worked in all areas of finance and as a portfolio company manager for an investment holding company based in Florida. In 1991 he became the chief financial officer (CFO) of one of the public company portfolio investments, Wickes Inc. The company was a leading multi-state distributor of building materials and manufacturer of building components in the US with approximately $1 billion in revenue. During his tenure with Wickes, Mr. Bajalia led the development and implementation of a turnaround and strategic business plan and a $300 million recapitalization including a public stock and bond offering.

 

From 1998 to 2001 Mr. Bajalia served as chief executive officer (CEO) and chief operating officer (COO) of the professional services division of MPS Group, Inc. (MPS), a publicly traded staffing company. This division had offices throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, and over $650 million in revenue and $80 million in pretax profits. Mr. Bajalia’s achievements with MPS included the integration of five specialty business units, which led to increased organic revenue growth of $200 million and pretax profits of $40 million within two years. He also served as a director of MPS.

 

Mr. Bajalia’s leadership and communication skills have earned him the reputation as a results-oriented manager. He received his B.S. in Accounting from Florida State University, is a licensed CPA and real estate broker, and is a member of several professional associations.

 

William M. Isaac – Director

 

Mr. Isaac joined the Company as a director in June 2015. A former Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), he has significant experience as a director on boards of directors of several public and private companies, including publicly traded (NYSE) staffing giant MPS Group, Inc., which was sold to the largest staffing firm in the world, Adecco Group for $1.3 billion in 2009. Mr. Isaac is presently a senior managing director of FTI Consulting, Inc. (“FTI”).

 

Mr. Isaac has extensive experience in business, finance and governance. In 1986, he founded The Secura Group, a leading financial institutions consulting firm and operated the business until it was acquired by FTI in 2011. Prior to forming Secura, Mr. Isaac headed the FDIC during the banking crisis of the 1980s, serving under Presidents Carter and Reagan from 1978 through 1985. Mr. Isaac currently serves as a member of the board of TSYS, a leading worldwide payments system processing company, and is the former Chairman of Fifth Third Bancorp, one of the nation’s leading banking companies. Also, Isaac is a former member of the boards of Trans Union Corporation; The Associates prior to its sale to Citigroup and Amex Centurion Bank. He is involved extensively in thought leadership relating to the financial services industry. Mr. Isaac is the author of Senseless Panic: How Washington Failed America with a foreword by legendary former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker. Senseless Panic provides an inside account of the banking and S&L crises of the 1980s and compares that period to the financial crisis of 2008-2009. Mr. Isaac’s articles are published in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, American Banker, Forbes, Financial Times, Washington Times, and other leading publications. He also appears regularly on television and radio, testifies before Congress, and is a frequent speaker before audiences throughout the world.

 

 
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Mr. Isaac served as chairman of the FDIC during one of the most tumultuous periods in US banking history. Some 3,000 banks and thrifts failed during the 1980s, including Continental Illinois and nine of the ten largest banks in Texas. The President appointed Mr. Isaac to the board of the FDIC at the age of 34, making him the youngest FDIC board member and chairman in history. Mr. Isaac also served as chairman of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (1983-85), as a member of the Depository Institutions Deregulation Committee (1981–85), and as a member of the Vice President’s Task Group on Regulation of Financial Services (1984).

 

Mr. Isaac began his career as an attorney with Foley & Lardner and was a senior partner with Arnold & Porter. He holds a JD, summa cum laude, College of Law, The Ohio State University (“OSU”) and a B.S in economics and LLD (“honorary”) from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Isaac is involved with several charitable and not for profit organizations including current and past service on the OSU Foundation Board, member of the OSU “Presidents Club”, former Trustee of the Miami University Foundation Board and a member the University’s “Business Advisory Council”, Goodwill Industries and the Community Foundation of Sarasota, Fl. Bill received a “Distinguished Achievement Medal” in 1995 from Miami University and a “Distinguished Alumnus Award” in 2013 from OSU.

 

Dr. Arthur B. Laffer – Director

 

Dr. Laffer joined the Company as a director in January 2015. Dr. Arthur Laffer is the founder and chairman of Laffer Associates, an economic research and consulting firm. A former member of President Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board during the 1980s, Dr. Laffer’s economic acumen and influence have earned him the distinction in many publications as “The Father of Supply-Side Economics”. He has served on several boards of directors of public and private companies, including staffing giant MPS Group, Inc., which was sold to Adecco Group for $1.3 billion in 2009. Dr. Laffer was previously a consultant to Secretary of the Treasury William Simon, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and Secretary of the Treasury George Shultz. In the early 1970s, Dr. Laffer was the first to hold the title of Chief Economist at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Mr. Shultz.

 

Additionally, Dr. Laffer was formerly the Distinguished University Professor at Pepperdine University and a member of the Pepperdine Board of Directors. He also served as Charles B. Thornton Professor of Business Economics at the University of Southern California and as Associate Professor of Business Economics at the University of Chicago.

 

Laffer is credited with advancing the concept of supply-side economics when he drew a curve on the back of a napkin at a dinner meeting, showing that government tax receipts can sometimes increase when federal income tax rates are lowered. The Laffer Curve and supply–side economics served as the foundation for Reaganomics in the 1980s when Dr. Laffer served on the President’s Economic Policy Advisory Board from 1981 to 1989. Dr. Laffer has been recognized for his achievements in economics, having been featured in Time Magazine’s 1999 cover story, “The Century’s Greatest Minds”, for inventing the Laffer Curve, which Time deemed “one of a few of the advances that powered this extraordinary century”. Bloomberg BusinessWeek recently featured the Laffer Curve as part of “The 85 Most Disruptive Ideas in Our History”. A video is available on their website which features a re-creation of the famous drawing of the Laffer Curve with Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney.

 

Dr. Laffer has received multiple awards for his economic work, including two Graham and Dodd Awards from the Financial Analyst Federation; the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of Investment Clubs; the Adam Smith Award for his insights and contributions to the Wealth of Nations; and the Daniel Webster Award for public speaking by the International Platform Association. Dr. Laffer received a B.A. in economics from Yale University and an MBA and Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University.

 

Peter J. Tanous – Director

 

Mr. Tanous joined the Company as a director in May 2015. He has served on several boards of directors of public and private companies, including staffing giant and publicly traded (NYSE) MPS Group, Inc. (“MPS”), which was sold to the largest staffing company in the world, Adecco Group for $1.3 billion in 2009. Mr. Tanous is Chairman of Lynx Investment Advisory of Washington D.C., an SEC registered investment advisory firm. In prior years, Mr. Tanous was International Regional Director with Smith Barney and a member of the executive committee of Smith Barney International, Inc. He served for ten years as executive vice president and a director of Bank Audi (USA) in New York, and was earlier chairman of Petra Capital Corporation in New York. A graduate of Georgetown University, he serves on the university’s investment committee and as a member of the Georgetown University Library Board.

 

 
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Mr. Tanous’ book, Investment Gurus, published by Prentice Hall in 1997, received wide critical acclaim in financial circles and was chosen as a main selection of The Money Book Club. His subsequent book, The Wealth Equation, was also chosen as a Money Book Club main selection. Investment Visionaries, was published in August 2003 by Penguin Putnam and Kiplinger’s Build a Winning Portfolio, was published by Kaplan Press in January 2008. Tanous co-authored (with Dr. Arthur Laffer, the “Father of Supply Side Economics” and Stephen Moore, former Wall Street Journal writer and editorial board member) “The End of Prosperity,” published by Simon & Schuster in October 2008. His most recent book, Debt, Deficits and the Demise of the American Economy, co-authored with Jeff Cox, finance editor at CNBC, was published by Wiley in May 2011. In addition to Georgetown University, Tanous serves on several investment committees including: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Lebanese American University.

 

Mr. Tanous’ experience as a director on corporate boards is extensive. At MPS Group (“MPS”), he served as chairman of the audit committee and on several other committees over many years. He gained significant staffing industry knowledge and experience as MPS was one of the largest companies in the U.S. in the field of professional staffing with specialization in accounting, engineering, health care and legal services including a significant concentration on information technology delivered through its “Modis” brand. Also, Mr. Tanous served on the board of Cedars Bank, Los Angeles, a California state commercial bank with branches in Orange County and San Francisco, and as a director at Worldcare Ltd., Cambridge, Mass, a company in the field of health care services and telemedicine diagnostics.

 

Thomas C. Williams – Director

 

Mr. Williams has served as a director of the Company since July 2009. Since 2005, Mr. Williams has served as acting Vice Chairman of Capital Management of Bermuda (previously Travelers of Bermuda), a company providing pension benefits for expatriates who have worked outside the U.S. and accrued benefits towards their retirement which are not covered by their domestic pension plans. Additionally, Mr. Williams has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Innova Insurance Ltd., a Bermuda based insurer, which provides extension risk to the Capital Markets on life insurance related assets from 2005 to 2009 when it was acquired. Mr. Williams is Chairman of the Nominating Committee and is a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees. The Company believes that Mr. Williams is qualified to sit on the Board of Directors because of his significant management experience.

 

Ronald Smith - Director

 

Mr Smith has served as a director since August 16, 2017. Mr. Smith co-founded SNI and was the Chairman and CEO until March 31, 2017. Mr. Smith is a seasoned staffing executive with over 40 years’ experience in the industry. Smith previously worked for a large international staffing and recruiting firm where he ultimately owned six franchises. After selling his franchises to a large international staffing and recruiting firm in 1988, Smith was promoted to Regional Manager and integrated 20 locations for a large international staffing and recruiting firm.

 

All executive officers are elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held following each Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and they hold office until their successors are elected and qualified. There are no family relationships among any of the directors or executive officers of the Company.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires the Company’s directors and officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of its equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership (typically, Forms 3, 4 and/or 5) of such equity securities with the SEC. Such entities are also required by SEC regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all such Section 16(a) reports.

 

Based solely on a review of Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto furnished to the Company and written representations that no Form 5 or amendments thereto were required, the Company believes that during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, its directors and officers, and greater than 10% beneficial owners, other than Mr. Smith, have complied with all Section 16(a) filing.

 

 
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Board of Directors Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

 

Our Board has no policy regarding the separation of the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. We currently combine the role of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. The Board believes that Mr. Dewan’s service as both Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Mr. Dewan possesses detailed and in-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing the Company and its business and is thus best positioned to develop agendas that ensure that the Board’s time and attention are focused on the most critical matters. His combined role enables decisive leadership, ensures clear accountability and enhances the Company’s ability to communicate its strategy clearly and consistently to the Company’s shareholders, employees and customers.

 

Independent directors and management have different perspectives and roles in strategy development. The Company’s independent directors bring experience, oversight and expertise from outside the company and industry, while the management brings company-specific experience and expertise. The Board of Directors believes that a board of directors combined with independent board members and management is in the best interest of shareholders because it promotes strategy development and execution, and facilitates information flow between management and the Board of Directors, which are essential to effective governance.

 

The Board of Directors does not have a lead independent director. The Board of Directors provides overall risk oversight for the Company as part of its normal, ongoing responsibilities. It receives reports from Mr. Dewan, Mr. Bajalia and other members of senior management on a periodic basis on areas of risk facing the Company. In addition, Board of Directors committees oversee specific elements of risk or potential risk.

 

Director Independence

 

The Board of Directors has determined that each director, other than Mr. Dewan, Mr. Smith and Mr. Bajalia, is an independent director under the listing standards of the NYSE MKT. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that each current member of the Audit Committee meets the additional independence criteria required for audit committee membership under the listing standards of the NYSE MKT and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.

 

Board of Directors and Committee Meetings

 

The Board of Directors meets on a regularly scheduled basis to review significant developments affecting the Company and to act on matters requiring Board of Directors approval. It also holds special meetings when an important matter requires Board of Directors action between scheduled meetings. The Board of Directors held 6 meetings during the last fiscal year. No director of the Company attended less than 75% of the total meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees on which such Board of Directors members served during this period.

 

The members of the Board of Directors are expected to attend the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders. There are three standing committees of the Board of Directors, which are the Nominating Committee, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.

 

Nominating Committee

 

The functions of the Nominating Committee are to assist the Board of Directors in identifying, interviewing and recommending to the Board of Directors qualified candidates to fill positions on the Board of Directors. The Nominating Committee met one time during fiscal 2017.

 

The Company does not have a policy regarding the consideration of diversity, however defined, in identifying nominees for director. Instead, in evaluating candidates to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors, consideration is given to the level of experience, financial literacy and business acumen of the candidate. In addition, qualified candidates for director are those who, in the judgment of the Nominating Committee, have significant decision-making responsibility, with business, legal or academic experience. The Nominating Committee will consider recommendations for Board of Directors candidates that are received from various sources, including directors and officers of the Company, other business associates and shareholders, and all candidates will be considered on an equal basis, regardless of source.

 

 
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Shareholders may contact the Nominating Committee to make such recommendations by writing in care of the Secretary of the Company, at 184 Shuman Blvd., Suite 420, Naperville, Illinois 60563. Submissions must be in accordance with the Company’s By-Laws and include: (a) a statement that the writer is a shareholder and is proposing a candidate for consideration by the Nominating Committee; (b) the name, address and number of shares beneficially owned by the shareholder; (c) the name, address and contact information of the candidate being recommended; (d) a description of the qualifications and business experience of the candidate; (e) a statement detailing any relationships between the candidate and the Company and any relationships or understandings between the candidate and the proposing shareholder; and (f) the written consent of the candidate that the candidate is willing to serve as a director if nominated and elected.

 

The Nominating Committee is presently composed of three non-employee, independent directors: Thomas C. Williams (Chairman), Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, and William Issac.

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website. A copy of the Nominating Committee Charter was attached as an appendix to the proxy statement prepared in connection with the January 21, 2011, Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee is primarily concerned with the effectiveness of the Company’s accounting policies and practices, its financial reporting and its internal accounting controls. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews and approves the scope of the annual audit of the Company’s books, reviews the findings and recommendations of the independent registered public accounting firm at the completion of their audit, and approves annual audit fees and the selection of an auditing firm. The Audit Committee met four times during fiscal 2017.

 

The Audit Committee is presently composed of four non-employee, independent directors: Peter J. Tanous (Chairman), Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, Thomas C. William and William M. Isaac. Peter J. Tanous was appointed by the Board of Directors as the Chairman of the Audit Committee in July of 2016. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Williams, Dr. Laffer, Mr. Tanous and Mr. Isaac are all considered an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by rules of the SEC. The Board of Directors has determined that each audit committee financial expert meets the additional independence criteria required under the listing standards of the NYSE MKT and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.

 

The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee Charter is available on the Company’s website. A copy of the Audit Committee Charter is attached to the form 10-Q filed with the SEC on February 16, 2016.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The Compensation Committee has the sole responsibility for approving and evaluating the officer compensation plans, policies and programs. It may not delegate this authority. It meets as often as necessary to carry out its responsibilities. The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain compensation consultants, but has not done so. The Compensation Committee met one time during fiscal 2017.

 

In the past, the Compensation Committee has met each September to consider the compensation of the Company’s executive officers, including the establishment of base salaries and performance targets for the succeeding year, and the consideration of stock option awards. Management provides the Compensation Committee with such information as may be requested by the Compensation Committee, which in the past has included historical compensation information of the executive officers, tally sheets, internal pay equity statistics, and market survey data. Under the guidelines of the NYSE MKT, the Chief Executive Officer may not be present during the Compensation Committee’s deliberations regarding his compensation. If requested by the Committee, the Chief Executive Officer may provide recommendations regarding the compensation of the other officers.

 

The Compensation Committee also has the responsibility to make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the compensation of directors.

 

The Compensation Committee is presently composed of three non-employee, independent directors: Dr. Arthur B. Laffer (Chairman), Peter Tanous and Thomas C. Williams.

 

 
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The Board of Directors has adopted a written charter for the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee Charter is not available on the Company’s website. A copy the Compensation Committee Charter was attached as an appendix to the proxy statement prepared in connection with the January 28, 2010, Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

 

Mergers and Acquisition Committee

 

The Mergers and Acquisition Committee has the responsibility for evaluating acquisitions and the necessary financing to complete the acquisitions that are determined by management to meet the minimum criteria for evaluation. The Mergers and Acquisitions Committee has the responsibility to keep the entire board informed of managements acquisitions and only after the Committee has determined an acquisition qualifies is the acquisition presented to the entire board for approval. The Mergers and Acquisition Committee has the authority to retain compensation consultants, but has not done so. The Mergers and Acquisition Committee met twice during fiscal 2017.

 

The Mergers and Acquisition Committee is presently composed of three non-employee, independent directors: George A. Bajalia (Chairman), Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, and William M. Isaac.

 

Shareholder Communications

 

The Board of Directors has established a procedure by which shareholders of the Company can communicate with the Board of Directors. Shareholders interested in communicating with the Board of Directors as a group or with individual directors may do so, in writing. Correspondence to the directors should be sent by regular mail c/o the Secretary, General Employment Enterprises, Inc., 184 Shuman Blvd, Suite 420, Naperville, Illinois 60563. Any such correspondence will be reviewed by the Secretary, who will then forward it to the appropriate parties. Communications that are solicitations or deemed to be irrelevant to the Board of Directors’ responsibilities may be discarded, at the discretion of the Secretary.

 

Corporate Code of Ethics

 

We have a Code of Ethics that applies to all directors and employees, including our senior management team. The Code of Ethics is designed to deter wrongdoing, to promote the honest and ethical conduct of all employees and to promote compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements under applicable SEC rules relating to amendments to the Code of Ethics or waivers from any provision thereof applicable to our principal executive officer, our principal financial officer and principal accounting officer by posting such information on our website pursuant to SEC rules.

 

Our Code of Ethics was attached as an exhibit to our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2013. In addition, you may obtain a printed copy of the Code of Ethics, without charge, by sending a request to: General Employment Enterprises, Inc., 184 Shuman Blvd., Suite 420, Naperville, Illinois 60563, Attn.: Secretary.

 

 
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Item 11. Executive Compensation.

 

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Summary Compensation Information

 

The following table summarizes all compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to all individuals serving as the Company’s principal executive officer, its two most highly compensated executive officers other than the principal executive officer, and up to two additional individuals who were serving as executive officers at the end of the last completed fiscal year, for each of the last two completed fiscal years. These individuals are referred to throughout this proxy statement as the “named executive officers.”

 

Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and

Principal Position

 

Fiscal Year

 

Salary

($)

 

 

Bonus

($)

 

 

Stock

Awards

($)

 

 

Option Awards

($)

 

 

NonEquity Incentive Plan Compensation

($)

 

 

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings

($)

 

All Other Compensation

($)

 

Total

($)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derek Dewan (1) Chief Executive Officer

 

2017

 

 

300,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

300,000

 

 

 

2016

 

 

130,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

130,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex Stuckey (2)

Chief Administrative Officer

 

2017

 

 

184,000

 

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

194,000

 

 

 

2016

 

 

174,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

174,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Bajalia (4)

President

 

2017

 

 

145,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

135,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Norstrud (3)

 

2017

 

 

250,000

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

––

 

 

 

––

 

 

 

––

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

2016

 

 

246,000

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

246,000

 

 

(1) Mr. Dewan was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company on April 1, 2015.

(2) Mr. Stuckey became the President and Chief Operating Officer on April 1, 2015, resigned these positions and accepted the appointment to Chief Administrative Officer as of April 10, 2017.

(3) Mr. Norstrud has served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company since March 2013.

(4) Mr. Bajalia was appointed as President as of April 10, 2017.

 

 
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Employment and Change in Control Agreements

 

Andrew Norstrud: On August 13, 2013, the Company entered an employment agreement with Andrew J. Norstrud (the “Norstrud Employment Agreement”). The Norstrud Employment Agreement provided for a three-year term ending on March 29, 2016, unless employment is earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions thereof. Mr. Norstrud received a starting base salary at the rate of $200,000 per year which was adjusted by the Compensation Committee to $250,000 per year. Mr. Norstrud received options to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with his execution of the Norstrud Employment Agreement, and is also entitled to receive an annual bonus based on criteria to be agreed to by Mr. Norstrud and the Compensation Committee. Mr. Norstrud was granted an additional option to purchase 100,000 and 20,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with his employment with the Company. The Norstrud Employment Agreement contains standard termination, change of control, non-compete and confidentiality provisions. On July 24, 2015, the Company entered into an amendment to the Norstrud Employment Agreement pursuant to which Mr. Norstrud’s term of employment was extended to March 29, 2017. Additionally, the term will automatically extend for successive one year periods unless written notice is given by either party no later than 90 days prior to the expiration of the initial term.

 

Derek Dewan: On August 12, 2016, the Company entered an employment agreement with Derek Dewan (the “Dewan Employment Agreement”). The Dewan Employment Agreement provides for a five-year term ending on August 15, 2021, unless employment is earlier terminated in accordance with the provisions thereof and after the initial term has a standard 1 year automatic extension clause if there is no notice by the Company of termination. Mr. Dewan received a starting base salary at the rate of $300,000 per year which can be adjusted by the Compensation Committee. Mr. Dewan is entitled to receive an annual bonus based on criteria to be agreed to by Mr. Dewan and the Compensation Committee. The Dewan Employment Agreement contains standard termination, change of control, non-compete and confidentiality provisions.

 

George Bajalia: The Company and Mr. Bajalia have entered into a written employment agreement with respect to Mr. Bajalia’s service as President of the Company. The Company and Mr. Bajalia have agreed to an initial term of five years and that Mr. Bajalia shall receive a base salary of $270,000 per year, subject to increase, but not decrease, at the discretion of the Board. In addition, the Company and Mr. Bajalia have agreed that (i) Mr. Bajalia shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus of up to 100% of his base salary based on his meeting certain performance based targets and (ii) Mr. Bajalia shall also receive a total of 500,000 shares of restricted stock under the Company’s 2013 Stock Incentive Plan. These shares shall cliff vest 20% per year of service. Mr. Bajalia shall also be eligible to participate in the Company’s employee benefit plans as in effect from time to time on the same basis as generally made available to other senior executives of the Company and have other benefits provided to executives of the Company for the year ended September 30, 2017 there was no bonus or shares owed or earned.

 

Option Awards

 

The option awards column represents the fair value of the stock options as measured on the grant date. The methods and assumptions used to determine the fair value of stock options granted are disclosed in “Note 10 - Stock Option Plans” in the notes to consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere herein.

 

All stock options awarded to the named executive officers during fiscal 2017 and 2016 were at option prices that were equal to the market price on the date of grant, had vesting dates three years or less after the date of grant, and had expiration dates ten years after the date of grant.

 

 
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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year- End Table

 

The following table summarizes equity awards granted to Named Executive Officers and directors that were outstanding as of September 30, 2017:

 

 

 

Option Awards

 

Stock Awards

 

Name

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options:

# Exercisable

 

 

Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options:

# Unexercisable

 

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards:

Number of Securities Underlying Unearned and Unexercisable Options:

 

 

Option Exercise Price

$

 

 

Option

Expiration

Date

 

# of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested

#

 

 

Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested

$

 

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards:

Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested

#

 

 

Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market of Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derek Dewan, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex Stuckey, Chief Administrative Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Norstrud,

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

2.50

 

 

1/27/2024

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.50

 

 

3/04/2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20,000

 

 

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.00

 

 

7/24/2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retirement Benefits

 

The Company does not maintain a tax-qualified defined benefit retirement plan for any of its executive officers or employees. The Company has a 401(k)-retirement plan in which all full-time employees may participate after one year of service.

 

 
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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 

Compensation of Directors

 

Under the Company’s standard compensation arrangements that were in effect during fiscal 2015, each non-employee director received a monthly retainer of $2,000. This was discontinued as of April 18, 2015 and the members of the Board of Directors have only received stock options for their services as board members. Employees of the Company did not receive any additional compensation for service on the Board of Directors.

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation paid to each of the non-employee directors during fiscal 2017:

 

Director Compensation

 

Name

 

Fees Earned

or Paid in Cash

($)

 

 

Option Awards (1)

($)

 

 

Total

($)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

George Bajalia

 

$ 37,500

 

 

 

-

 

 

 

-

 

 

Option Awards

 

The option awards column represents the fair value of the stock options as measured on the grant date. The methods and assumptions used to determine the fair value of stock options granted are disclosed in “Note 10 - Stock Option Plans” in the notes to consolidated financial statements in the Company’s Annual Report for fiscal 2017.

 

 
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Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

 

The following table sets forth information concerning the beneficial ownership of our voting securities as of December 28, 2017 by (i) each person who is known by us, based solely on a review of public filings, to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our outstanding voting securities, (ii) each director, (iii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table and (iv) all executive officers and directors as a group.

 

Under applicable SEC rules, a person is deemed to be the “beneficial owner” of a voting security if such person has (or shares) either investment power or voting power over such security or has (or shares) the right to acquire such security within 60 days by any of a number of means, including upon the exercise of options or warrants or the conversion of convertible securities. A beneficial owner’s percentage ownership is determined by assuming that options, warrants and convertible securities that are held by the beneficial owner, but not those held by any other person, and which are exercisable or convertible within 60 days, have been exercised or converted.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all voting securities shown as being owned by them. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner in the table below is care of GEE Group inc. 184 Shuman Blvd, Suite 420, Naperville, Illinois 60563.

 

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner

 

Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership

 

Percent of
Class(1)

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

Derek Dewan

 

443,266

(2)

 

4.41

%

Andrew J. Norstrud

 

145,000

(3)

 

1.43

%

Dr. Arthur Laffer

 

93,571

(4)

 

0.93

%

Thomas Williams

 

55,000

(5)

 

0.55

%

Peter Tanous

 

14,000

(6)

 

0.14

%

William Isaac

 

42,500

(7)

 

0.42

%

George A. Bajalia

 

48,571

(8)

 

0.48

%

Ronald Smith

4,434,169

(10)

44.28

%

Alex Stuckey

 

1,808,936

(9)

 

18.00

%

Current directors and executive officers as a group (9 individuals)

 

7,085,013

 

68.60

%

5% or Greater Holders

 

Brittany M. Dewan as Trustee of the Derek E. Dewan Irrevocable Living Trust II dated the 27th of July 2010

 

655,042

(11)

 

6.54

%

 

(1)

Based on 10,012,847 shares issued and outstanding as of December 28, 2017.

 

(2)

Represents 404,630 shares of common stock that Mr. Dewan owns independently. The remaining 38,636 shares can be acquired by Mr. Dewan upon the exercise of 38,636 common stock purchase warrants of the Company, at an exercise price of $2.00 per share. Mr. Dewan beneficially owns 443,266 shares and has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares.

 

(3)

Represents (i) 5,000 shares of Common Stock, and (ii) 150,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options approximately 140,000 are currently exercisable and included in the ownership table.

 

(4)

Represents (i) 78,571 shares of Common Stock, and (ii) 55,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options approximately 15,000 are currently exercisable and included in the ownership table.

 

(5)

Represents (i) 15,000 shares of common stock, (ii) 40,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options of which approximately 40,000 are currently exercisable and included in the ownership table.

 

 
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(6)

Represents (i) 4,000 shares of Common Stock, and (ii) 50,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options of which approximately 10,000 are currently exercisable and included in the ownership table.

 

(7)

Represents (i) 30,000 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 42,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options of which approximately 12,500 are currently exercisable and included in the ownership table.

 

(8)

Represents (i) 28,571 shares of Common Stock owned through Landmark Financial Corp, and (ii) 40,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options of which approximately 20,000 are currently exercisable and included in the ownership table. Mr. Bajalia beneficially owns 28,571 shares of Common Stock and has sole voting and dispositive power over these shares.

 

(9)

Represents 134,637 shares of common stock that Mr. Stuckey owns independently. Mr. Stuckey owns 1,637,663 shares of common stock from the conversion of 320,000 shares of the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. The remaining 38,636 Shares can be acquired by Mr. Stuckey upon the exercise of 38,636 common stock purchase warrants of the Company, at an exercise price of $2.00 per share. Mr. Stuckey beneficially owns 2,076,234 shares of common stock and has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares.

 

(10)

 

Represents 4,434,169 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, which can be converted into 4,434,169 share of common stock of the Company.

 

(11)

Ms. Brittany M. Dewan is the trustee of the Derek E. Dewan Irrevocable Living Trust II Dated the 27th of July 2010. Ms. Dewan has the sole voting power and sole dispositive power over the 655,042 shares of Common Stock.

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence. 

 

Director Independence

 

Our Board of Directors is responsible to make independence determinations annually with the assistance of the Nominating Committee. Such independence determinations are made by reference to the independence standard under the definition of “independent director” under the NYSE MKT Listed Company Manual. Our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that William Isaac, Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, Peter Tanous, and Thomas C. Williams satisfy the independence standards under the NYSE MKT Listed Company Manual.

 

In addition to the independence standards provided in the NYSE MKT Listed Company Manual, our Board of Directors has determined that each director who serves on our Audit Committee satisfies standards established by the SEC providing that, in order to qualify as “independent” for the purposes of membership on that committee, members of audit committees may not (1) accept directly or indirectly any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the Company other than their director compensation or (2) be an affiliated person of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The Board of Directors has also determined that each member of the Compensation Committee satisfies the newly-adopted NYSE MKT standards for independence of Compensation Committee members, which became effective on July 1, 2013.

 

Related Party Transactions

 

Other than as disclosed below, except for the Norstrud Employment Agreement, the Dewan Employment Agreement and the Bajalia Employment Agreement described in “Executive Compensation” there have been no transactions since October 1, 2015, or any currently proposed transaction or series of similar transactions to which the Company was or is to be a party, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any current or former director or officer of the Company, any 5% or greater stockholder of the Company or any member of the immediate family of any such persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

 
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The Company entered into the Merger Agreement as of March 31, 2017 and consummated the Merger on April 3, 2017. Mr. Ronald R. Smith, a former stockholder of SNIH and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors received $1,879,127 and 4,424,169 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock as Merger Consideration for his shares of SNIH. Mr. Smith also serves as the Stockholder Representative for the former SNIH Stockholders. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company has agreed to reimburse Mr. Smith for up to $500,000 in expenses he may incur in his role as Stockholder Representative.

 

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

 

The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors has selected Friedman, LLP to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and to audit the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2017 and 2016. Friedman LLP has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since November 29, 2012.

 

The following table presents fees billed by Friedman, LLP for the following professional services rendered for the Company for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

 

 

 

Fiscal 2017

 

 

Fiscal 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audit fees

 

$ 200,000

 

 

$ 163,000

 

Audit-related fees

 

 

63,000

 

 

 

143,000

 

Tax fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

All other fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Audit fees” relate to services for the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year and for reviews of the interim consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s quarterly reports filed with the SEC.

 

“Audit-related fees” relate to services that are reasonably related to the audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and are not included in “audit fees.” These services include audits of the Company’s 401(k) retirement plan and audits related to acquisitions and S-8 filings.

 

The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, and to not engage them to perform the specific non-audit services proscribed by law or regulation. At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Audit Committee meets with the independent registered public accounting firm and approves the fees and services to be performed for the ensuing year. On a quarterly basis, the Audit Committee reviews the fees billed for all services provided for the year to date, and it pre-approves additional services if necessary. The Audit Committee’s pre-approval policies allow management to engage the independent registered public accounting firm for consultations on tax or accounting matters up to an aggregate of $10,000 annually. All fees listed in the table above were approved in accordance with the Audit Committee’s policies.

 

 
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PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

Exhibits

 

The following exhibits are filed as part of this report:

 

No.

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

2.01

 

Securities Purchase and Tender Offer Agreement, dated March 30, 2009, by and among GEE Group Inc. and PSQ, LLC.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 2009, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

2.02

 

Acquisition of Assets of On-Site Services dated June 2. 2010. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 8, 2010, File No. 1-05707.

 

 

2.03

 

Financial Statements of On-Site Services dated August 16, 2010, Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1, Exhibit 99.2 and Exhibit 99.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 16, 2010, File No. 1-05707.

 

 

 

2.04

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among GEE Group, Inc., an Illinois corporation, GEE Group Portfolio, Inc., a Delaware corporation, SNI Holdco Inc., a Delaware corporation, Smith Holdings, LLC a Delaware limited liability company, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a Wisconsin corporation, organized as a fraternal benefits society, Madison Capital Funding, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and Ronald R. Smith, in his capacity as a stockholder and Ronald R. Smith in his capacity as the representative of the SNIH Stockholders. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

3.01

 

Articles of Incorporation and amendments thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended March 31, 1996, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

3.02

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 6, 2013.

 

 

3.03

 

By-Laws of GEE Group Inc. as amended June 30, 2009.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 2009, Commission File No. 1-05707

 

 

3.04

 

Certificate of designation of series a convertible preferred stock of GEE Group Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.04 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 22, 2014.

 

 

3.05

 

Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company Reflecting the Reverse Stock Split. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 9, 2015

 

 

3.06

 

Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company Reflecting the Capital Increase. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 9, 2015

  

 
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3.07

 

Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 14, 2016

 

 

 

3.08

 

Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

 

4.01

 

Rights Agreement dated as of February 4, 2000, between GEE Group Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 7, 2000, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

4.02

 

Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2009, by and between GEE Group Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Rights Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2009, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

4.03

 

Subordinated Nonnegotiable Promissory Note dated October 4, 2015 from GEE Group Inc. to William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 7, 2015.

 

 

4.04

 

Promissory Note dated October 2, 2015 from GEE Group Inc. to JAX Legacy – Investment 1, LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 7, 2015.

 

 

4.05

 

Form of Contingent Promissory Note issuable by the Company. to Enoch S. Timothy and Dorothy Timothy. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016

 

 

4.06

 

Form of Subordinated Promissory Note dated January 20, 2017 issued by GEE Group, Inc. to Enoch S. Timothy and Dorothy Timothy. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 25, 2017.

 

 

 

4.07

 

Form of 10% Convertible Subordinated Note dated April 3, 2017 from GEE Group, Inc. to JAX Legacy – Investment 1, LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

 

4.08

 

Form of 9.5% Convertible Subordinated Note due October 3, 2021. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

 

10.01*

 

Key Manager Plan, adopted May 22, 1990. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(h) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1990, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.02*

 

GEE Group Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form S-8 Registration Statement dated April 25, 1995, Registration No. 33-91550.

 

 

10.03*

 

Second Amended and Restated GEE Group Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.03 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on January 8, 2010.

 

 

10.04*

 

GEE Group Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.05*

 

Chief Executive Officer Bonus Plan, adopted September 24, 2001. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.06*

 

Operational Vice President Bonus Plan effective for fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 2004. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2004, Commission File No. 1-05707.


 
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10.07*

 

Form of stock option agreement under the GEE Group Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.01 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K dated September 25, 2006, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

 

10.08*

 

Chief Executive Officer Bonus Plan Amendment 1, effective for fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 2006. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-QSB for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2006, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.09*

 

Form of director stock option agreement under the Amended and Restated GEE Group Inc., 1997 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.10*

 

Form of stock option agreement under the GEE Group Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.11*

 

Form of indemnity agreement with directors and officers, adopted November 19, 2007. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.12*

 

Escrow Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2009, by and among GEE Group Inc., PSQ, LLC and Park Avenue Bank, as escrow agent.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 2009, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.13*

 

Consulting Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2009, by and among Herbert F. Imhoff, Jr., GEE Group Inc. and PSQ LLC.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 2009, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.14*

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2009, by and between GEE Group Inc., PSQ, LLC and Herbert F. Imhoff, Jr.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 2009, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.15*

 

Amendment No. 1, dated as of June 22, 2009, to Consulting Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2009, by and among Herbert F. Imhoff, Jr., GEE Group Inc. and PSQ LLC.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 22, 2009, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.16*

 

Employment Agreement between GEE Group Inc. and Kent M. Yauch, dated June 26, 2009.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 22, 2009, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.17*

 

Employment Agreement between GEE Group Inc. and Marilyn L. White, dated June 26, 2009.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 22, 2009, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

10.18*

 

Form of director stock option under the Second Amended and Restated GEE Group Inc., 1997 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Information Statement filed with the SEC on October 16, 2009.

 

 

10.19*

 

Form of employee stock option under the Second Amended and Restated GEE Group Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan. Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company’s Definitive Information Statement filed with the SEC on October 16, 2009.

 

 

10.20*

 

Amendment No. 4 dated as of February 5, 2010 to Statement of Acquisition of Beneficial Ownership by Herbert F. Imhoff, Jr. Incorporated by reference to Form SC 13D dated February 5, 2010, Commission File No. 5-40677.

 

 

10.21 

 

Account Purchase Agreement dated as December 14, 2010 by and between Wells Fargo Bank, National Association and Triad Personnel Services, Inc., the Company,.jpgS, Inc., BMCH, Inc. d/b/a Triad Personnel Services, and BMCH PA, Inc. d/b/a Triad Temporaries (the “Account Purchase Agreement”).  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2011, Commission File No. 001-05707.


 
44
 
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10.22 

 

First Amendment to Account Purchase Agreement dated May 2, 2011.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2013.

 

 

10.23

 

Second Amendment to Account Purchase Agreement dated as February 15, 2012.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 30, 2012, Commission File No. 001-05707.

 

 

10.24

 

Third Amendment to Account Purchase Agreement dated September 25, 2012.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2013.

 

 

10.25

 

Fourth Amendment to Account Purchase Agreement dated December 14, 2012. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2013.

 

 

10.26

 

Fifth Amendment to Account Purchase Agreement dated as January 14, 2013.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2013.

 

 

10.27

 

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2011, by and among GEE Group Inc., Ashley Ellis LLC and Brad A. Imhoff.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 7, 2011, Commission File No. 001-05707.

 

 

10.28

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2011, by and between GEE Group Inc. and Ashley Ellis LLC.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 7, 2011, Commission File No. 001-05707.

 

 

10.29

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2011, by and between GEE Group Inc., and Katy M. Imhoff.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 7, 2011, Commission File No. 001-05707.

 

 

10.30

 

Change of Control Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2011, by and between GEE Group Inc. and Katy M. Imhoff.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 7, 2011, Commission File No. 001-05707.

 

 

10.31

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2011, by and between GEE Group Inc., and Salvatore J. Zizza.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 7, 2011, Commission File No. 001-05707.

 

 

10.32

 

Change of Control Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2011, by and between GEE Group Inc. and Salvatore J. Zizza.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 7, 2011, Commission File No. 001-05707.

 

 

10.33

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2011, by and between GEE Group Inc. and Brad A. Imhoff.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 7, 2011, Commission File No. 001-05707.

 

 

10.34

 

Change of Control Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2011, by and between GEE Group Inc. and Brad A. Imhoff.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 7, 2011, Commission File No. 001-05707.

 

 

10.35

 

Registration Rights Agreement, effective as of December 30, 2010, by and among GEE Group Inc., Triad Personnel Services, Inc., DMCC Staffing, LLC and RFFG of Cleveland, LLC.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 5, 2011, Commission File No. 001-05707.

 

 

10.36

 

GEE Group Inc. 2011 Incentive Plan.  Incorporated by reference as Appendix B to the Company’s Proxy Statement dated January 23, 2012, Commission File No. 1-05707.*


 
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10.37

 

Sixth Amendment to Account Purchase Agreement dated as March 27, 2013. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 29, 2013.

 

 

 

10.38

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Brad A. Imhoff dated June 26, 2013.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 1, 2013.

 

 

 

10.39

 

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Katy Imhoff dated June 26, 2013.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 1, 2013.

 

 

 

10.40

 

Executive Employment Agreement with Andrew Norstrud, dated March 29, 2013.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 15, 2013.

 

 

10.41

 

Amendment to Asset Purchase Agreement by and among DMCC Staffing, LLC, RFFG of Cleveland, LLC, the Company and Triad Personnel Services, Inc., dated April 17, 2013.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 24, 2013.

 

 

10.42

 

GEE Group Inc. 2013 Incentive Stock Plan, effective July 23, 2013.  Incorporated by reference as Exhibit A to the Company’s Proxy Statement dated August 21, 2013, Commission File No. 001-05707.*

 

 

10.43

 

Loan and Security agreement and between Keltic Financial Partners II, LLP and GEE Group Inc., Triad Personnel Services, Inc.,.jpgS, Inc., BMCH, Inc. d/b/a Triad Personnel Services, and BMCH PA, Inc., Triad Logistics (the “Loan Agreement”).  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Commission on January 13, 2014.

 

 

10.44

 

Second Amendment to Loan and Security agreement and between ACF FINCO I LP (successor-in-interest to Keltic Financial Partners II, LP) and GEE Group Inc., Triad Personnel Services, Inc.,.jpgS, Inc., BMCH, Inc. d/b/a Triad Personnel Services, and BMCH PA, Inc., Triad Logistics (the “Loan Agreement”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on December 22, 2014.

 

 

10.45

 

Securities Purchase Agreement by and between GEE Group Inc. and Aracle SPF I, LLC dated March 31, 2014. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 20, 2014.

 

 

10.46

 

First Amendment and Waiver to the Loan and Security Agreement between GEE Group Inc. and Keltic Financial Partners II, LP, dated September 27, 2013 Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on May 20, 2014.

 

 

10.47

 

Convertible Note Issued to Brio Capital Master Fund, Ltd. Dated August 6, 2014. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 14, 2014.

 

 

10.48

 

Securities Purchase Agreement by and between GEE Group Inc. and Brio Capital Master Fund, Ltd. dated August 6, 2014. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed with the Commission on August 14, 2014.

 

 

10.49

 

Stock Exchange Agreement by and between GEE Group Inc., Brittany M. Dewan as Trustee of the Derek E. Dewan Irrevocable Living Trust II dated the 27th of July 2010, Brittany M. Dewan, individually, Allison Dewan, individually, Mary Menze, individually, and Alex Stuckey, individually. Incorporated by reference to Appendix B of Schedule 14C filed on March 6, 2015.

 

 

10.50

 

The Amendment to the Employment Agreement by and among GEE Group Inc. and Mr. Andrew J. Norstrud, effective as of July 24, 2015. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 28, 2015.

 

 

10.51

 

Stock Purchase Agreement dated July 31, 2015 by and between GEE Group Inc. and Tricia Dempsey. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 4, 2015.


 
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10.52

 

Stock Purchase Agreement dated October 4, 2015 by and among GEE Group Inc., William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 7, 2015.

 

 

10.53

 

Subordinated Security Agreement dated October 4, 2015 by and among GEE Group Inc., William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 7, 2015.

 

 

10.54

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated October 2, 2015 by and between GEE Group Inc. and JAX Legacy – Investment 1, LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 7, 2015.

 

 

10.55

 

Subscription Agreement dated October 2, 2015 by and between GEE Group Inc. and JAX Legacy – Investment 1, LLC. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 7, 2015.

 

 

10.56

 

Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of January 1, 2016 by and among GEE Group Inc., Enoch S. Timothy and Dorothy Timothy. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 4, 2016

 

 

10.57

 

Eighth Amendment, Consent and Waiver dated as of January 1, 2016 (the "Amendment") to the Loan and Security Agreement dated September 27, 2013 by and among the Company, the Borrowers named therein, Access Data, Paladin and ACF FINCO I LP, as Lender Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 5, 2016

 

 

10.58

 

Form of Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note dated as of January 1, 2016. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 5, 2016

 

 

10.59

 

Employment Agreement dated August 12, 2016 between the Company and Derek Dewan. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.56 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 15, 2016

 

 

10.60

 

Ninth Amendment, Consent and Waiver dated as of September 27, 2016 to the Loan and Security Agreement dated September 27, 2013 by and among the Company, the other borrowers’ parties thereto and ACF FINCO I LP, as Lender Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 29, 2016

 

 

10.61

 

Form of Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note dated as of September 27, 2016. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 29, 2016

 

 

10.62

 

Reaffirmation Agreement dated as of September 27, 2016 by and among the Company, the other borrowers parties thereto and ACF FINCO LLP, as Lender. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 29, 2016

 

 

 

10.63

 

Addendum No. 1 dated January 20, 2017 to the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of January 1, 2016 by and among GEE Group. Inc. and Enoch S. Timothy and Dorothy Timothy. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 25, 2017.

 

 

 

10.64

 

Tenth Amendment, Consent and Waiver dated as of January 1, 2016 (the “Amendment”) to the Loan and Security Agreement dated September 27, 2013 by and among the Company, the Borrowers named therein and ACF FINCO I LP, as Lender. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on January 25, 2017.

 

 

 

10.65

 

Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among GEE Group, Inc., (“Parent”) ”), each Subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto and each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto and PNC Bank, National Association (“PNC”), as administrative agent and collateral agent for certain investment funds managed by MGG Investment Group LP (“MGG”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.


 
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10.66

 

Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Senior Lenders referred to therein , Jax Legacy-Investment 1, LLC , GEE Group Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Parent”), each Subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto and each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

 

10.67

 

Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Senior Lenders referred to therein , Madison Capital Funding LLC , GEE Group Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Parent”), each Subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto and each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto. ”). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

 

10.68

 

Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Senior Lenders referred to therein , Peter Langlois , GEE Group Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Parent”), each Subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto and each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

 

10.69

 

Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Senior Lenders referred to therein , Maurice R. Harrison IV , GEE Group Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Parent”), each Subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto and each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

 

10.70

 

Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Senior Lenders referred to therein , Thrivent Financial for Lutherans , GEE Group Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Parent”), each Subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto and each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

 

10.71

 

Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Senior Lenders referred to therein , Shane Parr , GEE Group Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Parent”), each Subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto and each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

 

10.72

 

Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 31, 2017 by and among PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Senior Lenders referred to therein , Vincent Lombardo , GEE Group Inc., an Illinois corporation (“Parent”), each Subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Borrower” on the signature pages thereto and each subsidiary of the Parent listed as a “Guarantor” on the signature pages thereto. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.

 

 

 

10.73

 

Agreement dated as of April 3, 2017 by and between GEE Group, Inc., an Illinois Corporation and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a Wisconsin Corporation organized as a fraternal benefits society. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on April 6, 2017.


 
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10.74

 

Waiver to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement dated as of August 31, 2017, by and among GEE Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries as a “Borrower” and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent for certain investment funds managed by MGG Investment Group LP. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on September 1, 2017.

 

 

 

10.75

 

First Amendment, dated as of October 2, 2017, to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2017, as amended, by and among GEE Group, Inc., the other borrower entities and guarantor entities named therein, PNC Bank, National Association and certain investment funds managed by MGG Investment Group LP. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 5, 2017.

 

 

 

10.76

 

Amended and Restated Non-Negotiable Promissory Note dated October 4, 2017 from GEE Group, Inc. to William Daniel Dampier and Carol Lee Dampier. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 5, 2017.

 

 

 

10.77

 

Second Amendment, dated as of November 14, 2017, to the Revolving Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2017, as amended, by and among GEE Group, Inc., the other borrower entities and guarantor entities named therein, and certain investment funds managed by MGG Investment Group LP. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Commission on November 17, 2017.

 

 

 

10.78

 

Employment Agreement, dated as of December 26, 2017, by and between GEE Group Inc., and George Bajalia.

 

 

14.01

 

GEE Group Inc. Code of Ethics for Directors, Officers and Employees, adopted as of August 16, 2004. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.01 to the Company’s Form 8-K Current Report dated August 16, 2004, Commission File No. 1-05707.

 

 

23.01

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

 

 

31.01

 

Certification of the principal executive officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

31.02

 

Certification of the principal financial officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

 

32.01

 

Certifications of the principal executive officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

 

 

32.02

 

Certifications for the principal financial officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code.

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instant Document

 

 

101.SCH

 

XBRL Schema Document

 

101.CAL

 

XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document

 

101.DEF

 

XBRL Definition Linkbase Document

 

101.LAB

 

XBRL Label Linkbase Document

 

101.PRE

 

XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document

______________

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

 
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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

GEE GROUP INC.

(Registrant)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Date: December 28, 2017

By:

/s/ Derek Dewan

 

 

Derek Dewan

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

Date: December 28, 2017

By:

/s/ Andrew J. Norstrud

 

 

Andrew J. Norstrud

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

Date: December 28, 2017

By:

/s/ George A. Bajalia

 

 

George A. Bajalia

 

 

 

President

 

 

 

Date: December 28, 2017

By:

/s/ William M. Isaac

 

 

William M. Isaac, Director

 

 

 

Date: December 28, 2017

By:

/s/ Dr. Arthur B. Laffer

 

 

Dr. Arthur B. Laffer, Director

 

 

 

Date: December 28, 2017

By:

/s/ Peter J. Tanous

 

 

Peter J. Tanous, Director

 

 

Date: December 28, 2017

By:

/s/ Thomas C. Williams

 

 

Thomas C. Williams, Director

 

 

 

 

 

Date: December 28, 2017

By:

/s/ Ronald Smith

 

 

 

Ronald Smith, Director

 

 

 

50