SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS INC - Annual Report: 2009 (Form 10-K)

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-K

 

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

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009

 

Commission File Number 1-5620

 

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

(610) 293-0600

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

 

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 þ

 

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

 

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 þ     No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes o     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 this Form 10-K.  þ

 

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

 

 

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

 

As of June 30, 2009, the aggregate market value of the Registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $159,260,690 based on the closing sale price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock, as of March 15, 2010 was 20,465,160.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the definitive proxy statement (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the Company’s 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

 

FORM 10-K

 

DECEMBER 31, 2009

 

 

Cautionary Note concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (“Safeguard” or “we”), the industries in which we operate and other matters, as well as management’s beliefs and assumptions and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. These statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and prospects. For example, when we use words such as “projects,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “will,” “opportunity,” “potential” or “may,” variations of such words or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes, we are making forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, include, among others, managing rapidly changing technologies, limited access to capital, competition, the ability to attract and retain qualified employees, the ability to execute our strategy, the uncertainty of the future performance of our partner companies, acquisitions and dispositions of companies, the inability to manage growth, compliance with government regulation and legal liabilities, additional financing requirements, labor disputes and the effect of economic conditions in the business sectors in which our partner companies operate, all of which are discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.” Many of these factors are beyond our ability to predict or control. In addition, as a result of these and other factors, our past financial performance should not be relied on as an indication of future performance. All forward-looking statements attributable to us, or to persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this report might not occur.

 

 

Business Overview

 

Safeguard’s charter is to build value in growth-stage technology and life sciences businesses by providing partner companies with capital and a range of strategic, operational and management resources. Safeguard may participate in expansion financings, corporate spin-outs, management buy-outs, recapitalizations, industry consolidations and early-stage financings. Our vision is to be the preferred catalyst for creating great technology and life sciences companies. Throughout this document, we use the term “partner company” to generally refer to those companies that we have an economic interest in and that we are actively involved in influencing the development of, usually through board representation in addition to our equity ownership stake. From time to time, in addition to our partner companies, we also hold economic interest in other enterprises that we are not actively involved in the management of.

 

We strive to create long-term value for our shareholders by helping partner companies increase their market penetration, grow revenue and improve cash flow. We focus on companies with capital requirements of up to $25 million that operate in two sectors:

 

Technology — including companies focused on healthcare information technology, financial services technology and internet/new media businesses that have recurring or transactional revenue models; and

 

Life Sciences — including companies focused on molecular and point-of-care diagnostics, medical devices/regenerative medicine, specialty pharmaceuticals and healthcare services.

 

In 2009, our management team executed against the following objectives, to:

 

 

 

To meet these strategic objectives during 2010, Safeguard will continue to focus on:

 

 

We incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1953. Our corporate headquarters is located at 435 Devon Park Drive, Building 800, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087.

 

Significant 2009 Highlights

 

Here are our key developments from 2009:

 

 

Our Strategy

 

We focus on companies that address the strategic challenges facing businesses today and the opportunities they present. We believe these challenges have five general themes:

 

 

These strategic themes tend to drive growth and attract entrepreneurs who need capital, operational support and strategic guidance. Safeguard deploys capital, combined with management expertise, process excellence and marketplace insight, to provide tangible benefits to our partner companies.

 

Our corporate staff (29 employees at December 31, 2009) is dedicated to creating long-term value for our shareholders by helping our partner companies build value and by finding additional acquisition opportunities.

 

Identifying Opportunities

 

Safeguard’s go-to-market strategy and marketing and sourcing activities are designed to generate a large volume of high-quality opportunities to acquire majority or primary shareholder stakes in partner companies. Our principal focus is on acquiring stakes in growth-stage companies with attractive growth prospects in the technology and life sciences sectors. Generally, we prefer candidates:

 

 

Our sourcing efforts are targeted primarily on the eastern U.S. However, in-bound deal leads generate opportunities throughout the U.S. and southeastern Canada. Leads come from a variety of sources, including investment bankers, syndication partners, existing partner companies and advisory board members.

 

Our Technology Group currently targets companies with recurring revenue, transaction-based or software as a service business models and companies in the internet/new media, financial services IT or healthcare IT vertical markets.

 

Our Life Sciences Group currently targets companies with Product or Technology-Enabled Service business models and companies in the molecular and point-of-care diagnostics, medical device, regenerative medicine and specialty pharmaceutical vertical markets.

We believe there are many opportunities within these business models and vertical markets, and our sourcing activities are focused on finding candidate companies and evaluating how well they align with our criteria. However, we recognize we may have difficulty identifying candidate companies and completing transactions on terms we believe appropriate. As a result, we cannot be certain how frequently we will enter into transactions with new or existing partner companies.

 

Competition.  We face intense competition from other companies that acquire, or provide capital to technology and life sciences businesses. Competitors include venture capital and, occasionally, private equity investors, as well as companies seeking to make strategic acquisitions. Many providers of growth capital also offer strategic guidance, networking access for recruiting and general advice. Nonetheless, we believe we are a preferable capital provider to potential partner companies because our strategy and capabilities offer:

 

 

Helping Our Partner Companies Build Value

 

We offer operational and management support to each of our partner companies through our experienced professionals. Our employees have expertise in business and technology strategy, sales and marketing, operations, finance, legal and transactional support. We provide hands-on assistance to the management teams of our partner companies to support their growth. We believe our strengths include:

 

 

Strategic Support.  By helping our partner companies’ management teams remain focused on critical objectives through the provision of human, financial and strategic resources, we believe we are able to accelerate their development and success. We play an active role in developing the strategic direction of our partner companies, including:

 

 

Management and Operational Support.  We provide management and operational support, as well as ongoing planning and development assessment. Our executives and Advisory Board members provide mentoring,

advice and guidance to develop partner company management. Our executives serve on the boards of directors of partner companies, working with them to develop and implement strategic and operating plans. We measure and monitor achievement of these plans through regular operational and financial performance measurements. We believe these services provide partner companies with significant competitive advantages within their respective markets.

 

Realizing Value

 

In general, we will hold our stake in a partner company as long as we believe the risk-adjusted value of that stake is maximized by our continued ownership and effort. From time to time, we engage in discussions with other companies interested in our partner companies, either in response to inquiries or as part of a process we initiate. To the extent we believe that a partner company’s further growth and development can best be supported by a different ownership structure or if we otherwise believe it is in our shareholders’ best interests, we may sell some or all of our stake in the partner company. These sales may take the form of privately negotiated sales of securities or assets, public offerings of the partner company’s securities and, in the case of publicly traded partner companies, sales of their securities in the open market. We have taken partner companies public through rights offerings and direct share subscription programs, and we will continue to consider these (or similar) programs to maximize partner company value for our shareholders. We expect to use proceeds from these sales (and sales of other assets) primarily to pursue opportunities to create new partner company relationships or for other working capital purposes, either with existing partner companies or at Safeguard.

 

Our Partner Companies

 

An understanding of our partner companies is important to understanding Safeguard and its value-building strategy. Following are descriptions of partner companies in which we owned a stake at December 31, 2009. The indicated ownership percentage is presented as of December 31, 2009 and reflects the percentage of the vote we are entitled to cast based on issued and outstanding voting securities (on a common stock equivalent basis), excluding the effect of options, warrants and convertible debt (primary ownership).

 

LIFE SCIENCES PARTNER COMPANIES

 

 

Advanced BioHealing (www.advancedbiohealing.com), is a leader in the science and clinical application of regenerative medicine. Advanced BioHealing develops and markets cell-based and tissue-engineered products that use living cells to repair or replace body tissue damaged by injury, disease or the aging process. The company’s lead product, Dermagraft^tm (www.dermagraft.com), is FDA- approved for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, a common affliction of persons with diabetes. The company also is developing sales channels within the U.S. government and a treatment for venous leg ulcers.

 

We believe that Advanced BioHealing’s products help healthcare providers respond to increasing demand for effective treatments at lower costs. Diabetes affects approximately 16 million people in the U.S. Annual cases of diabetic foot ulcers in the U.S. are estimated at nearly 1 million, representing an addressable market of more than $1 billion. Clinical trials are underway to extend Dermagraft treatments to venous leg ulcers, a market opportunity estimated at an additional $600 million.

 

 

Alverix (www.alverix.com) produces low-cost, handheld readers with the accuracy and precision of laboratory instruments. Alverix partners with diagnostic and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) seeking to increase current test accuracy, improve portability of existing tests, or develop new assays for use at the point-of-care (POC). Whether at a physicians’ office, laboratory outreach location, retail clinic or a patient’s home, Alverix’s POC devices enable central laboratory quality results to be obtained where test information is critical to patient care. Previously, this level of performance required expensive laboratory instrumentation. Alverix is building on 30 years of expertise in optical sensors, image processing, software and signal enhancement algorithms to develop proprietary technologies for low-cost, portable detection devices for medical diagnostics and other applications.

Alverix was spun out of Avago Technologies, which itself was spun out of Agilent, Inc. Current applications include testing for drugs of abuse (DOA), and cardiac, cancer and infectious diseases. Alverix has signed two partnerships, representing significant potential revenue over the next five years. The company continues to grow its platform of OEM partners and await FDA approval of its first partnered product, which could lead to domestic sales in 2010.

 

Alverix is attempting to capitalize on two macro trends: first, growing demand for reduced cost and improved efficiency of healthcare delivery; and second, greater consumer control of personal healthcare. Both of these trends are increasing demand for rapid POC tests. In 2006, the POC professional segment of the overall in vitro diagnostic industry was valued at $4.7 billion, growing at 11% annually. Instrumentation represented more than $900 million in annual expenditures. We believe Alverix will be able to exploit significant portions of the fragmented multi-billion dollar POC market because its devices provide immediate, accurate results with potential for increased functionality and sensitivity. Additionally, Alverix’s flexible technology platform permits product expansions that increase access to new and existing diagnostic tests by physicians and patients.

 

 

Avid (www.avidrp.com) is developing molecular imaging agents to detect neurodegenerative diseases, initially Alzheimer’s disease (“AD”), Parkinson’s disease (“PD”) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (“DLB”). Avid is conducting clinical trials at more than 25 research centers across the U.S. and initiated Phase III trials in early 2009 for its amyloid imaging compound, florpiramine F18 (18F-AV-45), which tests for the presence of AD pathology in people with dementia. Avid remains on track with Phase III trials of its lead compound, 18F-AV-45, which binds to amyloid plaques in the brain to image AD, and anticipates completion and an NDA submission in 2010. AV-45 is also being employed by large biopharmaceutical companies including Lilly and Pfizer in clinical trials of drugs in development to treat AD. Avid’s 18F-AV-133 imaging compound for detection of Parkinson’s disease is currently in Phase II trials, while its compound for imaging diabetes is currently in proof of concept Phase I trials.

 

Avid is developing a new technology that targets the increasing demand among an aging population for value-oriented diagnostics. We believe Avid is well positioned to address the critical need to improve diagnosis and characterization of AD, PD and other chronic neurological disorders. The addressable market for Avid products is over $1 billion.

 

 

Cellumen (www.cellumen.com) delivers proprietary services and products to support drug discovery and development. By leveraging its cellular systems biology (“CSB”) technology, Cellumen’s objective is to improve efficacy, decrease toxicity and optimize patient stratification and treatment for pharmaceutical companies’ new and existing drugs. The goal of this approach is to obtain accurate measures of efficacy and potential toxicity of these drugs and biologics well before entering expensive clinical testing. Another goal is to improve clinical trial enrollment and increase new drug efficacy by conducting theranostic (predicting response to therapeutics) patient profiling. With the drug development failure rate surpassing 90%, there is a clear need for more efficient drug discovery methods and technologies.

 

 

Clarient (www.clarientinc.com) is a leading provider of comprehensive, cancer-diagnostic laboratory services, offering a menu of more than 300 advanced molecular tests to pathologists, oncologists, hospitals and biopharmaceutical companies throughout the U.S. From its state-of-the-art commercial laboratory and through its Internet-based application, Clarient also is developing proprietary companion diagnostic markers for therapeutics in breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers, as well as leukemia/lymphoma. After five years of rapid growth, Clarient is approaching sustainable profitability, due to new economies of scale, reduced bad debt expense as a percentage of revenue and improved timeliness of billing and collections. Revenue in 2009 of $91.6 million increased 24% from 2008. Shares of Clarient’s common stock trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “CLRT.”

 

The company’s primary competitors are two larger national laboratories, Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings and Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. Both competitors offer a wide test and product menu with significant

financial, sales, and logistical resources, and have extensive contracts with a variety of payor groups. Safeguard first took an ownership interest in Clarient in 1996.

 

 

Garnet (www.garnetbio.com) is a clinical stage regenerative medicine company focused on accelerating healing and reducing scarring in cosmetic, orthopedic and cardiovascular surgical wounds. Progress continues in Garnet’s Phase II clinical trial of its lead product candidate, a safe cell therapy that releases pro-healing and anti-inflammatory factors to accelerate wound closure and reduce or eliminate scarring. The company expects to complete Phase II trials in 2010. In addition, Garnet’s cost-effective, compliant manufacturing process generates a large number of patient doses from a single, adult donor of bone marrow stem cells.

 

We believe that Garnet is well positioned within the regenerative medicine field. In 2007, $8.3 billion was spent on cosmetic surgery in the U.S. An effective product at reducing or preventing scarring would apply to 13 of the top 21 cosmetic procedures, resulting in an addressable U.S. market of more than $850 million. Indications including burns and orthopedic surgery represent additional market potential of more than $1 billion.

 

 

Molecular Biometrics (www.molecularbiometrics.com) applies novel metabolomic technologies to develop accurate, non-invasive clinical tools to increase the probability of pregnancy and decrease multiple births from in vitro fertilization. The company has refined and validated its ViaMetrics-E test platform over the past two years, completing clinical testing on more than 3,000 samples. The product will be launched in Australia, Japan and Europe in 2010, with the U.S. launch expected in 2011. The patented technology also can be applied to other areas of reproductive medicine and neurodegenerative diseases.

 

Infertility affects 7.3 million people in the U.S. and millions of others worldwide. Molecular Biometrics’ ViaMetrics-E technology addresses a $10 billion global annual IVF market. Today’s IVF success rate is estimated at 25% to 35% worldwide. ViaMetrics-E holds significant potential to increase IVF success rates, while minimizing the number of IVF cycles and/or the number of embryos required to be implanted to achieve a live birth. ViaMetrics-E also could provide physicians with a procedure to reduce the incidence, costs and medical risk associated with multiple births, which constitute more than one-third of births under current IVF methods. Currently, the annual number of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) cycles, with the majority being IVF, exceeds 1 million worldwide. The typical IVF cycle in the U.S. costs between $10,000 and $15,000. The ability to reduce the number of IVF cycles and the complications associated with multiple births could result in substantial savings to the overall healthcare system.

 

 

NuPathe (www.nupathe.com) specializes in development of therapeutics for treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders including migraine and Parkinson’s disease. Phase III trials for Zelrix^tm, the first and only migraine patch that delivers sumatriptan through NuPathe’s proven, proprietary SmartRelief^tm technology, met all of its clinical endpoints and confirmed clear clinical benefits for migraine patients, including reductions in pain, nausea, sensitivity to light and sensitivity to sound compared with placebo patches. An NDA filing for Zelrix is anticipated in 2010. Steady progress is being made in pre-clinical, proof-of-concept studies for NuPathe’s NP201, a novel approach to the treatment of Parkinson’s.

 

Of the 12 million patients treated annually for migraines in the U.S., 2.4 million are placed on triptan therapy. Approximately 70% of these patients suffer from migraine-related nausea and vomiting, which reduces or prevents the effectiveness of an oral tablet. In addition, 30% of patients on triptan therapy experience recurring migraines despite medication. The current market for triptans in the U.S. is more than $2 billion, or 20% of the total $10 billion market for migraine treatments.

 

Quinnova (www.quinnova.com) develops and markets novel delivery, platform-based prescription dermatology drugs. The company’s FDA-approved Proderm Technology^tm Foam Delivery System addresses the need for improved cost-effective treatment options, while simultaneously enhancing efficacy and patient compliance in skin disorders, such as dermatitis, fungal infection, psoriasis and acne. The company currently has several products on the market. Growth capital is funding a Phase III clinical trial for an NDA product, expansion of the company’s sales and marketing capabilities, facilitating the company’s other NDA and medical device clinical trials, and supporting research and development initiatives to bring new products to market.

 

Quinnova’s products are based on proprietary delivery platforms, improve efficacy and patient compliance, and address more than half of the therapeutic dermatology market. Dermatology is a highly fragmented therapeutic category and market, which was estimated at $6.4 billion in 2007 and projected to grow to $8.9 billion by 2013.

 

 

Tengion (www.tengion.com) is a clinical stage regenerative medicine company developing, manufacturing and commercializing human neo-organs and neo-tissues for treatment of urologic and renal diseases. The company recently completed a Phase II trial of its patented Tengion Neo-Bladder Augment^® for children with neurogenic bladders due to spina bifida. Enrollment is complete in a second Phase II trial with the Neo-Bladder Augment in adults with neurogenic bladders due to spinal cord injuries. In 2010, human clinical trials are planned with Tengion’s Neo-Urinary Conduit^tm for patients with bladder cancer and the company expects to have additional pre-clinical proof-of-concept for its Neo-Kidney^tm intended to slow development of renal failure.

 

Tengion’s patented technology — Autologous Organ Regeneration Platform^tm — addresses critical problems facing organ-failure patients, including the shortage of donor organs, the risk of organ rejection and the high cost and toxicity of anti-rejection medications. The estimated cost of procuring an organ is between $50,000 and $100,000. With 21,000 annual bladder reconstructions or removals in the U.S. per year, the addressable market is estimated at more than $1 billion, and up to $3 billion worldwide.

 

In December 2009, Tengion filed an initial preliminary registration statement for an initial public offering of its common stock. It is currently anticipated that if such an initial public offering occurs, it will take place in 2010.

 

TECHNOLOGY PARTNER COMPANIES

 

 

AHS (www.ahsrcm.com) is among the nation’s largest medical-billing firms, using proven, proprietary software to deliver outsourced billing solutions to hospital physician groups. AHS employs continuous business-process improvement methods to increase the operating efficiencies of medical billing and to improve results for its physician customers.

 

AHS competes in a highly fragmented U.S. market estimated at $4.5 billion in 2008. Fewer than 20% of physician practices outsource billing and practice management. AHS continues to gain meaningful scale through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. The company completed four significant acquisitions from 2007 to early 2010, and is actively pursuing additional acquisition opportunities in targeted specialties. In 2009, AHS completed three acquisitions: Recency Alliance Services, Staten Island University Hospital physician billing division; Physician’s Service Center, a medical billing and practice management service provider located in Lombard, Illinois; and Medical Account Services, a medical billing and practice management service provider located in Dayton, Ohio. The company is actively pursuing additional acquisition opportunities.

 

 

Authentium (www.authentium.com) develops software and services to protect consumers in a connected world. Its anti-malware and identity-protection software are used by leading software providers, including Google, Microsoft and Symantec to create or enhance their offerings. Consumers use Authentium’s identity-theft prevention product SafeCentral^tm (www.safecentral.com) to protect e-commerce transactions through an end-to-end, secured

online environment. SafeCentral significantly reduces the risk of consumers having their personal information stolen while using internet services such as online banking, tax filing, etc. (which are significant sources of identity theft).

 

Rapid proliferation of viruses and malware has spawned an enormous anti-malware market expected to exceed $9.6 billion in 2012. Authentium’s SafeCentral, is a next generation anti-malware solution that is gaining traction with customers and partners such as Cyberdefender and Trend Micro. More than 8 million U.S. adults were affected by identity theft in 2007.

 

 

Beyond (www.beyond.com) is the largest internet career network, comprised of thousands of local, industry and niche communities in the U.S. and Canada. Beyond attracts niche audiences of job seekers, professionals, employees and advertisers and delivers targeted and highly relevant results through a multitude of online media and advertising models, including: recruitment advertising, email marketing, banner advertising and other lead generation vehicles. Despite a slow economy that impacted the job market, Beyond managed to grow both its local and niche brands and its community traffic, experiencing over 100% growth in unique visitors in 2009.

 

 

Bridgevine (www.bridgevine.com) is an internet marketing company that enables online consumers to compare and purchase digital services, including internet, phone, VoIP, TV, wireless, music, and entertainment. Bridgevine leverages its proprietary technology platform to acquire leads through numerous sources, including search, e-tail and retail, and then offers a bundle of services from its growing base of participating merchants, which now totals over 140. Founded to capitalize on a fragmented and confusing market for online services, Bridgevine simplifies shopping and enhances the experience through unique content and promotions, education and comparison services from its network of websites. Bridgevine’s advertising partners include Comcast, AT&T, Charter, Real Networks, Dlink, Vonage, Netflix, Qwest, Time Warner and Verizon.

 

Bridgevine participates in the large customer-generation segment of the U.S. digital services, which has been projected to grow to $10 billion by 2014. As additional services migrate to the digital domain, we believe that Bridgevine is well positioned to take advantage of new opportunities.

 

 

MediaMath (www.mediamath.com) has developed the advertising industry’s leading real-time algorithmic buying platform for display media, utilizing data and optimization for superior performance. MediaMath’s TerminalOne^tm automated buying platform provides advertising agencies with access to tens of billions of impressions (including banner ads and page displays) daily, and a simple workflow that manages the powerful analytics and rich data necessary to make best use of them. MediaMath first marketed its technology in 2007 and continues to build on its first-to-market advantage.

 

The advertising industry is undergoing a transformational shift, bringing more advertising dollars to “online” media from traditional “offline” outlets. This shift is driven by the increased level of performance-driven metrics in online advertising. MediaMath is positioned in the middle of this transformation.

 

 

Portico (www.porticosys.com) offers software and services to health insurance providers that help reduce administrative, medical and IT costs. Portico’s offerings also allow health insurance providers to eliminate duplicate processes, to shorten the cycle for launching new products and services, and to comply with federal privacy regulations. Through recent acquisitions and contracts with global healthcare companies including CIGNA and MMM Holdings, Portico now serves more than 35 healthcare systems with 42 million members annually.

 

Portico’s exclusive focus on provider operations has allowed the company to design the only modular end-to-end provider platform that streamlines the interactions between payors and their provider networks. In 2009,

Portico acquired Kryptiq Corp’s. Choreo health plan business which nearly doubled the number of customers. Portico competes in a market for U.S. healthcare payer IT spending estimated at $7 billion.

 

 

Swaptree (www.swaptree.com) is the internet’s largest online swapping site that enables users to trade books, CDs, DVDs and video games using its proprietary trading platform. With Swaptree, users can choose from tens of thousands of books, CDs, DVDs and video games that they can receive in trade for items which they no longer want. Swaptree’s innovative model has gained significant media attention, driving a five-fold increase in its user base and a 400% gain in unique-visitor total since becoming a Safeguard partner company in 2008. In a challenging economy, Swaptree expects to continue its rapid growth as consumers look towards swapping used items as an alternative to buying new items or paying for used items.

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT OPERATING SEGMENTS

 

Information on revenue, operating income (loss), equity income (loss) and net income (loss) from continuing operations for each operating segment of Safeguard’s business for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009 and assets as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 is contained in Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

The operations of Safeguard and its partner companies are subject to environmental laws and regulations. Safeguard does not believe that expenditures relating to those laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of Safeguard.

 

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

 

All periodic and current reports, registration statements, and other filings that Safeguard is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act, are available free of charge from the SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or public reference room at 450 Fifth Street N.W., Washington, DC 20549 (1-800-SEC-0330) or through Safeguard’s internet website (http://www.safeguard.com). Such documents are available as soon as reasonably practicable after electronic filing of the material with the SEC. Copies of these reports (excluding exhibits) also may be obtained free of charge, upon written request to: Investor Relations, Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., 435 Devon Park Drive, Building 800, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087.

 

The internet website addresses for Safeguard and its companies are included in this report for identification purposes. The information contained therein or connected thereto are not intended to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The following corporate governance documents are available free of charge on Safeguard’s website: the charters of our Audit, Compensation and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. We also will post on our website any amendments to or waivers of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that relate to our directors and executive officers.

 

You should carefully consider the information set forth below. The following risk factors describe situations in which our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially harmed, and the value of our securities may decline. You should also refer to other information included or incorporated by reference in this report.

 

Our business depends upon our ability to make good decisions regarding the deployment of capital into new or existing partner companies and, ultimately, the performance of our partner companies, which is uncertain.

 

If we make poor decisions regarding the deployment of capital into new or existing partner companies, our business model will not succeed. Our success as a company ultimately depends on our ability to choose the right partner companies. If our partner companies do not succeed, the value of our assets could be significantly reduced and require substantial impairments or write-offs and our results of operations and the price of our common stock could decline. The risks relating to our partner companies include:

 

 

These risks are discussed in greater detail under the caption “Risks Related to Our Partner Companies” below.

 

Our partner companies (and the nature of our interests in them) could vary widely from period to period.

 

As part of our strategy, we continually assess the value to our shareholders of our interests in our partner companies. We also regularly evaluate alternative uses for our capital resources. As a result, depending on market conditions, growth prospects and other key factors, we may at any time:

 

 

Therefore, the nature of our holdings could vary significantly from period to period.

 

Our consolidated financial results also may vary significantly based upon which partner companies are included in our Consolidated Financial Statements. For example:

 

 

Our business model does not rely, or plan, upon the receipt of operating cash flows from our partner companies. Our partner companies currently provide us with no cash flow from their operations. We rely on cash on hand, liquidity events and our ability to generate cash from capital raising activities to finance our operations.

 

We need capital to develop new partner company relationships and to fund the capital needs of our existing partner companies. We also need cash to service and repay our outstanding debt, finance our corporate overhead and meet our existing funding commitments. As a result, we have substantial cash requirements. Our partner companies currently provide us with no cash flow from their operations. To the extent our partner companies generate any cash from operations, they generally retain the funds to develop their own businesses. As a result, we must rely on cash on hand, liquidity events and new capital raising activities to meet our cash needs. If we are unable to find ways of monetizing our holdings or to raise additional capital on attractive terms, we may face liquidity issues that will require us to curtail our new business efforts, constrain our ability to execute our business strategy and limit our ability to provide financial support to our existing partner companies.

 

Fluctuations in the price of the common stock of our publicly traded holdings affect our net income (loss) and may affect the price of our common stock.

 

Fluctuations in the market prices of the common stock of our publicly traded holdings affect our net income (loss) and are likely to affect the price of our common stock. The market prices of our publicly traded holdings have been highly volatile and subject to fluctuations unrelated or disproportionate to operating performance. We have elected to apply the fair value option to account for our retained interest in Clarient following its deconsolidation on May 14, 2009. As a result, gains and losses on the mark-to-market of our holdings in Clarient are and will continue to be recognized in income (loss) from continuing operations for each accounting period for which we continue to maintain an interest in Clarient. The aggregate market value of our holdings in Clarient (Nasdaq: CLRT), our only public company holding, at December 31, 2009 was approximately $80.5 million and could vary significantly from period to period. By way of example, the aggregate market value of our holdings in Clarient was $74.0 million at March 15, 2010.

 

Intense competition from other acquirors of interests in companies could result in lower gains or possibly losses on our partner companies.

 

We face intense competition from other capital providers as we acquire and develop interests in our partner companies. Some of our competitors have more experience identifying, acquiring and selling companies and have greater financial and management resources, brand name recognition or industry contacts than we have. Despite making most of our acquisitions at a stage when our partner companies are not publicly traded, we may still pay higher prices for those equity interests because of higher valuations of similar public companies and competition from other acquirers and capital providers, which could result in lower gains or possibly losses.

 

We may be unable to obtain maximum value for our holdings or to sell our holdings on a timely basis.

 

We hold significant positions in our partner companies. Consequently, if we were to divest all or part of our holdings in a partner company, we may have to sell our interests at a relative discount to a price which may be received by a seller of a smaller portion. For partner companies with publicly traded stock, we may be unable to sell our holdings at then-quoted market prices. The trading volume and public float in the common stock of Clarient, our only publicly traded partner company, are small relative to our holdings. As a result, any significant open-market divestiture by us of our holdings in these partner companies, if possible at all, would likely have a material adverse effect on the market price of their common stock and on our proceeds from such a divestiture. Additionally, we may not be able to take our partner companies public as a means of monetizing our position or creating shareholder value.

 

Registration and other requirements under applicable securities laws may adversely affect our ability to dispose of our holdings on a timely basis.

Our success is dependent on our executive management.

 

Our success is dependent on our executive management team’s ability to execute our strategy. A loss of one or more of the members of our executive management team without adequate replacement could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Our business strategy may not be successful if valuations in the market sectors in which our partner companies participate decline.

 

Our strategy involves creating value for our shareholders by helping our partner companies build value and, if appropriate, accessing the public and private capital markets. Therefore, our success is dependent on the value of our partner companies as determined by the public and private capital markets. Many factors, including reduced market interest, may cause the market value of our publicly traded partner companies to decline. If valuations in the market sectors in which our partner companies participate decline, their access to the public and private capital markets on terms acceptable to them may be limited.

 

Our partner companies could make business decisions that are not in our best interests or with which we do not agree, which could impair the value of our holdings.

 

Although we may seek a controlling equity interest and participation in the management of our partner companies, we may not be able to control the significant business decisions of our partner companies. We may have shared control or no control over some of our partner companies. In addition, although we currently own a controlling interest in some of our partner companies, we may not maintain this controlling interest. Acquisitions of interests in partner companies in which we share or have no control, and the dilution of our interests in or loss of control of partner companies, will involve additional risks that could cause the performance of our interests and our operating results to suffer, including:

 

 

Our inability to control our partner companies also could prevent us from assisting them, financially or otherwise, or could prevent us from liquidating our interests in them at a time or at a price that is favorable to us. Additionally, our partner companies may not act in ways that are consistent with our business strategy. These factors could hamper our ability to maximize returns on our interests and cause us to recognize losses on our interests in these partner companies.

 

We may have to buy, sell or retain assets when we would otherwise not wish to do so in order to avoid registration under the Investment Company Act.

 

The Investment Company Act of 1940 regulates companies which are engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities. Under the Investment Company Act, a company may be deemed to be an investment company if it owns investment securities with a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (excluding government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis, unless an exemption or safe harbor applies. We refer to this test as the “40% Test.” Securities issued by companies other than consolidated partner companies are generally considered “investment securities” for purpose of the Investment Company Act; unless other circumstances exist which actively involve the company holding such interests in the management of the underlying company. We are a company that partners with growth-stage technology and life sciences companies to build value; we are not engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. We are in compliance with the 40% Test. Consequently, we do not believe that we are an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

 

We monitor our compliance with the 40% Test and seek to conduct our business activities to comply with this test. It is not feasible for us to be regulated as an investment company because the Investment Company Act rules are inconsistent with our strategy of actively helping our partner companies in their efforts to build value. In order to

continue to comply with the 40% Test, we may need to take various actions which we would otherwise not pursue. For example, we may need to retain a controlling interest in a partner company that we no longer consider strategic, we may not be able to acquire an interest in a company unless we are able to obtain a controlling ownership interest in the company, or we may be limited in the manner or timing in which we sell our interests in a partner company. Our ownership levels also may be affected if our partner companies are acquired by third parties or if our partner companies issue stock which dilutes our controlling ownership interest. The actions we may need to take to address these issues while maintaining compliance with the 40% Test could adversely affect our ability to create and realize value at our partner companies.

 

Recent economic disruptions and downturns may have negative repercussions for the Company.

 

Events over the past two years in the United States and international capital markets, debt markets and economies generally have and may negatively impact the Company’s ability to pursue certain tactical and strategic initiatives, such as accessing additional public or private equity or debt financing for itself or for its partner companies and selling the Company’s interests in partner companies on terms acceptable to the Company and in time frames consistent with our expectations.

 

We have had material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting related to Clarient in the recent past and cannot provide assurance that additional material weaknesses will not be identified in the future. Our failure to effectively maintain our internal control over financial reporting could result in material misstatements in our Consolidated Financial Statements which could require us to restate financial statements, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and/or have a negative effect on our stock price.

 

We cannot assure that material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting will not be identified in the future. Any failure to maintain or implement required new or improved controls, or any difficulties we encounter in their implementation, could result in additional material weaknesses, or could result in material misstatements in our Consolidated Financial Statements. These misstatements could result in a restatement of financial statements, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and/or cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, leading to a decline in our stock price.

 

Risks Related to our Partner Companies

 

Most of our partner companies have a history of operating losses or limited operating history and may never be profitable.

 

Most of our partner companies have a history of operating losses or limited operating history, have significant historical losses and may never be profitable. Many have incurred substantial costs to develop and market their products, have incurred net losses and cannot fund their cash needs from operations. We expect that the operating expenses of certain of our partner companies will increase substantially in the foreseeable future as they continue to develop products and services, increase sales and marketing efforts, and expand operations.

 

Our partner companies face intense competition, which could adversely affect their business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects for growth.

 

There is intense competition in the technology and life sciences marketplaces, and we expect competition to intensify in the future. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects for growth will be materially adversely affected if our partner companies are not able to compete successfully. Many of the present and potential competitors may have greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than those of our partner companies. This may place our partner companies at a disadvantage in responding to the offerings of their competitors, technological changes or changes in client requirements. Also, our partner companies may be at a competitive disadvantage because many of their competitors have greater name recognition, more extensive client bases and a broader range of product offerings. In addition, our partner companies may compete against one another.

Our partner companies may fail if they do not adapt to the rapidly changing technology and life sciences marketplaces.

 

If our partner companies fail to adapt to rapid changes in technology and customer and supplier demands, they may not become or remain profitable. There is no assurance that the products and services of our partner companies will achieve or maintain market penetration or commercial success, or that the businesses of our partner companies will be successful.

 

The technology and life sciences marketplaces are characterized by:

 

 

Our future success will depend on our partner companies’ ability to adapt to these rapidly evolving marketplaces. They may not be able to adequately or economically adapt their products and services, develop new products and services or establish and maintain effective distribution channels for their products and services. If our partner companies are unable to offer competitive products and services or maintain effective distribution channels, they will sell fewer products and services and forego potential revenue, possibly causing them to lose money. In addition, we and our partner companies may not be able to respond to the rapid technology changes in an economically efficient manner, and our partner companies may become or remain unprofitable.

 

Our partner companies may grow rapidly and may be unable to manage their growth.

 

We expect some of our partner companies to grow rapidly. Rapid growth often places considerable operational, managerial and financial strain on a business. To successfully manage rapid growth, our partner companies must, among other things:

 

 

If our partner companies are unable to manage their growth successfully, their ability to respond effectively to competition and to achieve or maintain profitability will be adversely affected.

 

Based on our business model, some or all of our partner companies will need to raise additional capital to fund their operations at any given time. We may not be able to fund some or all of such amounts and such amounts may not be available from third parties on acceptable terms, if at all.

 

We cannot be certain that our partner companies will be able to obtain additional financing on favorable terms, if at all. Because our resources and our ability to raise capital are limited, we may not be able to provide partner companies with sufficient capital resources to enable them to reach a cash-flow positive position. Recent economic disruptions and downturns have also negatively affected the ability of some of our partner companies to fund their operations from other stockholders and capital sources. We also may fail to accurately project the capital needs of partner companies. If partner companies need to but are not able to raise capital from us or other outside sources,

then they may need to cease or scale back operations. In such event, our interest in any such partner company will become less valuable.

 

Recent economic disruptions and downturns may negatively affect our partner companies’ plans and their results of operations.

 

Many of our partner companies are largely dependant upon outside sources of capital to fund their operations. Disruptions in the availability of capital from such sources will negatively affect the ability of such partner companies to pursue their business models and will force such companies to revise their growth and development plans accordingly. Any such changes will, in turn, affect the ability of the Company to realize the value of its capital deployments in such companies.

 

In addition, the downturn in the economy as well as possible governmental responses to such downturn and/or to specific situations in the economy could affect the business prospects of certain of our partner companies, including, but not limited to, in the following ways: weaknesses in the financial services industries; reduced business and/or consumer spending; and/or systematic changes in the ways the healthcare system operates in the United States.

 

Some of our partner companies may be unable to protect their proprietary rights and may infringe on the proprietary rights of others.

 

Partner companies assert various forms of intellectual property protection. Intellectual property may constitute an important part of partner company assets and competitive strengths. Federal law, most typically, copyright, patent, trademark and trade secret laws, generally protects intellectual property rights. Although we expect that partner companies will take reasonable efforts to protect the rights to their intellectual property, third parties may develop similar technology independently. Moreover, the complexity of international trade secret, copyright, trademark and patent law, coupled with the limited resources of these partner companies and the demands of quick delivery of products and services to market, create a risk that partner company efforts to prevent misappropriation of their technology will prove inadequate.

 

Some of our partner companies also license intellectual property from third parties and it is possible that they could become subject to infringement actions based upon their use of the intellectual property licensed from those third parties. Our partner companies generally obtain representations as to the origin and ownership of such licensed intellectual property. However, this may not adequately protect them. Any claims against our partner companies’ proprietary rights, with or without merit, could subject the companies to costly litigation and divert their technical and management personnel from other business concerns. If our partner companies incur costly litigation and their personnel are not effectively deployed, the expenses and losses incurred by our partner companies will increase and their profits, if any, will decrease.

 

Third parties have and may assert infringement or other intellectual property claims against our partner companies based on their patents or other intellectual property claims. Even though we believe our partner companies’ products do not infringe any third-party’s patents, they may have to pay substantial damages, possibly including treble damages, if it is ultimately determined that they do. They may have to obtain a license to sell their products if it is determined that their products infringe another person’s intellectual property. Our partner companies might be prohibited from selling their products before they obtain a license, which, if available at all, may require them to pay substantial royalties. Even if infringement claims against our partner companies are without merit, defending these types of lawsuits takes significant time, may be expensive and may divert management attention from other business concerns.

 

Certain of our partner companies could face legal liabilities from claims made against their operations, products or work.

 

Because manufacture and sale of certain partner company products entail an inherent risk of product liability, certain partner companies maintain product liability insurance. Although none of our partner companies to date have experienced any material losses, there can be no assurance that they will be able to maintain or acquire adequate product liability insurance in the future and any product liability claim could have a material adverse effect

on partner company revenue and income. In addition, many of the engagements of our partner companies involve projects that are critical to the operation of their clients’ businesses. If our partner companies fail to meet their contractual obligations, they could be subject to legal liability, which could adversely affect their business, operating results and financial condition. Partner company contracts typically include provisions designed to limit their exposure to legal claims relating to their services and the applications they develop. However, these provisions may not protect our partner companies or may not be enforceable. Also, as consultants, some of our partner companies depend on their relationships with their clients and their reputation for high-quality services and integrity to retain and attract clients. As a result, claims made against our partner companies’ work may damage their reputation, which in turn could impact their ability to compete for new work and negatively impact their revenue and profitability.

 

Our partner companies’ success depends on their ability to attract and retain qualified personnel.

 

Our partner companies depend upon their ability to attract and retain senior management and key personnel, including trained technical and marketing personnel. Our partner companies also will need to continue to hire additional personnel as they expand. At present, none of our partner companies have employees represented by labor unions. Although our partner companies have not been the subject of a work stoppage, any future work stoppage could have a material adverse effect on their respective operations. A shortage in the availability of the requisite qualified personnel or work stoppage would limit the ability of our partner companies to grow, to increase sales of their existing products and services, and to launch new products and services.

 

Government regulations and legal uncertainties may place financial burdens on the businesses of our partner companies.

 

Failure to comply with applicable requirements of the FDA or comparable regulation in foreign countries can result in fines, recall or seizure of products, total or partial suspension of production, withdrawal of existing product approvals or clearances, refusal to approve or clear new applications or notices and criminal prosecution. Manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and medical diagnostic devices and operators of laboratory facilities are subject to strict federal and state regulation regarding validation and the quality of manufacturing and laboratory facilities. Failure to comply with these quality regulation systems requirements could result in civil or criminal penalties or enforcement proceedings, including the recall of a product or a “cease distribution” order. The enactment of any additional laws or regulations that affect healthcare insurance policy and reimbursement (including Medicare reimbursement) could negatively affect our partner companies. If Medicare or private payors change the rates at which our partner companies or their customers are reimbursed by insurance providers for their products, such changes could adversely impact our partner companies.

 

Some of our partner companies are subject to significant environmental, health and safety regulation.

 

Some of our partner companies are subject to licensing and regulation under federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and human health and safety, including laws and regulations relating to the handling, transportation and disposal of medical specimens, infectious and hazardous waste and radioactive materials, as well as to the safety and health of manufacturing and laboratory employees. In addition, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration have established extensive requirements relating to workplace safety.

 

 

None.

 

 

Our corporate headquarters and administrative offices in Wayne, Pennsylvania contain approximately 18,000 square feet of office space in one building. We currently lease our corporate headquarters under a lease with approximately 4.5 years remaining.

 

We, as well as our partner companies, are involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. While in the current opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations, no assurance can be given as to the outcome of these lawsuits, and one or more adverse rulings could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position and results of operations, or that of our partner companies. See Note 15 included in “Item 8 — Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of ongoing claims and legal actions.

 

 

ANNEX TO PART I — EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

 

Mr. Boni joined Safeguard as President and Chief Executive Officer in August 2005. Prior to joining Safeguard, Mr. Boni was an Operating Partner for Advent International, a global private equity firm with $10 billion under management, from April 2004 to August 2005; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Surebridge, Inc., an applications outsourcer serving the mid-market, from March 2002 to April 2004; Managing Principal of Vested Interest LLC, a management consulting firm, from January 2001 to March 2002; and President and Chief Executive Officer of Prime Response, Inc., an enterprise applications software provider, from February 1999 to January 2001. Mr. Boni is a director of Clarient, Inc. and previously served as Non-executive Chairman of Intralinks, Inc.

 

Mr. Datin joined Safeguard as Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Life Sciences Group in September 2005. Mr. Datin served as Chief Executive Officer of Touchpoint Solutions, Inc., a provider of software that enables customers to develop and deploy applications, content and media on multi-user interactive devices, from December 2004 to June 2005; Group President in 2004, and as Group President, International, from 2001 to 2003, of Dendrite International, a provider of sales, marketing, clinical and compliance solutions and services to global pharmaceutical and other life sciences companies; and Group Director, Corporate Business Strategy and Planning at GlaxoSmithKline, from 1999 to 2001, where he also was a member of the company’s Predictive Medicine Board of Directors that evaluated acquisitions and alliances. His prior experience also includes international assignments with and identifying strategic growth opportunities for E Merck and Baxter. Mr. Datin is a director of Clarient, Inc.

 

Mr. Kemmerer joined Safeguard as Principal, Technology Group, in June 2004, became Senior Vice President, Technology in April 2006, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Technology in April 2008 and Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Technology in September 2008. Mr. Kemmerer served most recently as Director of Kennet Venture Partners, a venture capital firm for which he worked from November 2000 to June 2004 and previously as Principal, Mergers and Acquisitions of Broadview International, for whom he worked from August 1997 to November 2000.

Mr. Sisko joined Safeguard as Senior Vice President and General Counsel in August 2007. Prior to joining Safeguard, Mr. Sisko served as Chief Legal Officer, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Traffic.com (at the time, a public company), a former partner company of Safeguard that is a leading provider of accurate, real-time traffic information in the United States, from February 2006 until June 2007 (following its acquisition by NAVTEQ Corporation in March 2007); Chief Operating Officer from February 2005 to January 2006 of Halo Technology Holdings, Inc., a public holding company for enterprise software businesses (Halo Technology Holdings filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in August 2007); ran B/T Business and Technology, an advisor and strategic management consultant to a variety of public and private companies, from January 2002 to February 2005; and was a Managing Director from April 2000 to January 2002, of Katalyst, LLC, a venture capital and consulting firm. Mr. Sisko also previously served as Senior Vice President — Corporate Development and General Counsel of National Media Corporation, at the time a New York Stock Exchange-listed multi-media marketing company with operations in 70 countries, and as a partner in the corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions practice group of the Philadelphia-based law firm, Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg & Ellers LLP.

 

Mr. Zarrilli joined Safeguard as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in June 2008. Prior to joining Safeguard, Mr. Zarrilli co-founded, in 2004, the Penn Valley Group, a middle-market management advisory and private equity firm, and served as a Managing Director until June 2008, and continues to serve as non-executive chairman of the Penn Valley Group. While at the Penn Valley Group, Mr. Zarrilli also served as Acting Senior Vice President, Acting Chief Administrative Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer of Safeguard from December 2006 to June 2007. Mr. Zarrilli also served as the Chief Financial Officer, from 2001 to 2004, of Fiberlink Communications Corporation, a provider of remote access VPN solutions for large enterprises; as the Chief Executive Officer, from 2000 to 2001, of Concellera Software, Inc., a developer of content management software; as the Chief Executive Officer, from 1999 to 2000, and Chief Financial Officer, from 1994 to 1998, of US Interactive, Inc. (at the time a public company), a provider of internet strategy consulting, marketing and technology services (US Interactive filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in January 2001); and, previously, with Deloitte & Touche from 1983 to 1994. Mr. Zarrilli is a director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of NutriSystem, Inc. and a director of Clarient, Inc.

 

 

Safeguard’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Symbol: SFE). The high and low sale prices reported within each quarter of 2009 and 2008 are as follows:

 

 

The high and low sale prices reported in the first quarter of 2010 through March 15, 2010 were $13.33 and $10.07, respectively, and the last sale price reported on March 15, 2010, was $12.98. No cash dividends have been declared in any of the years presented, and Safeguard has no present intention to declare cash dividends. Sale prices

for periods prior to August 27, 2009 have been restated to reflect a one-for-six reverse split of our common stock which became effective on August 27, 2009.

 

As of March 15, 2010, there were approximately 31,000 beneficial holders of Safeguard’s common stock.

 

The following graph compares the cumulative total return on $100 invested in our common stock for the period from December 31, 2004 through December 31, 2009 with the cumulative total return on $100 invested for the same period in the Russell 2000 Index and the Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 Index. In light of the diverse nature of Safeguard’s business and based on our assessment of available published industry or line-of-business indices, we determined that no single industry or line-of-business index would provide a meaningful comparison to Safeguard. Further, we did not believe that we could readily identify an appropriate group of industry peer companies for this comparison. Accordingly, under SEC rules, we selected the Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 Index, a published market index in which the median market capitalization of the included companies is similar to our own. Safeguard’s common stock is included as a component of the Russell 2000 and Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 indices.

 

Comparison of Cumulative Total Returns

 

 

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

 

 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth our selected consolidated financial data for the five-year period ended December 31, 2009. The selected consolidated financial data presented below should be read in conjunction with Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in this report. The historical results presented herein may not be indicative of future results. During the five-year period ended December 31, 2009, certain consolidated partner companies, or components thereof, were sold. These businesses are reflected in discontinued operations through their respective disposal dates: Acsis, Inc., Alliance Consulting Group Associates, Inc. and Laureate Pharma, Inc. (May, 2008), Pacific Title & Art Studio Inc. (March 2007), Clarient’s technology business (March 2007), Mantas (October 2006), Alliance Consulting’s Southwest region business (July 2006) and Laureate Pharma’s Totowa, New Jersey operation (December 2005). The accounts of Clarient are included in continuing operations through May 14, 2009, the date of its deconsolidation. Effective January 1, 2009, we reflect the portion of equity (net assets) of our consolidated partner companies, if any, not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the parent company as a non-controlling interest within equity. Accordingly, Total equity has been restated for the years 2007, 2006 and 2005 to reflect this change. In addition, all share amounts and earnings per share information have been restated to reflect our one-for-six reverse stock split which became effective on August 27, 2009.

 

 

Certain amounts for prior periods in the Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform with current period presentations.

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data

 

 

Certain amounts for prior periods in the Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform with current period presentations.

 

Cautionary Note concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (“Safeguard” or “we”), the industries in which we operate and other matters, as well as management’s beliefs and assumptions and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. These statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and prospects. For example, when we use words such as “projects,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “will,” “opportunity,” “potential” or “may,” variations of such words or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes, we are making forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, include, among others, managing rapidly changing technologies, limited access to capital, competition, the ability to attract and retain qualified employees, the ability to execute our strategy, the uncertainty of the future performance of our partner companies, acquisitions and dispositions of companies, the inability to manage growth, compliance with government regulation and legal liabilities, additional financing requirements, labor disputes and the effect of economic conditions in the business sectors in which our partner companies operate, all of which are discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.” Many of these factors are beyond our ability to predict or control. In addition, as a result of these and other factors, our past financial performance should not be relied on as an indication of future performance. All forward-looking statements attributable to us, or to persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this report might not occur.

 

Overview

 

Safeguard’s charter is to build value in growth-stage technology and life sciences businesses by providing partner companies with capital and a range of strategic, operational and management resources. Safeguard may participate in expansion financings, corporate spin-outs, management buy-outs, recapitalizations, industry consolidations and early-stage financings. Our vision is to be the preferred catalyst for creating great technology and life sciences companies.

 

We strive to create long-term value for our shareholders by helping our partner companies increase market penetration, grow revenue and improve cash flow. We focus on companies with capital requirements of up to $25 million that operate in two categories:

 

Technology — including companies focused on providing healthcare information technology, financial services technology and internet/new media businesses that have recurring or transactional revenue models.

 

Life Sciences — including companies focused on molecular and point-of-care diagnostics, medical devices/regenerative medicine, specialty pharmaceuticals and healthcare services.

 

Principles of Accounting for Ownership Interests in Partner Companies

 

We account for our interests in our partner companies and private equity funds using any of four methods: consolidation, fair value, equity or cost. The accounting method applied is generally determined by the degree of our influence over the entity, primarily determined by our voting interest in the entity.

 

Consolidation Method.  We account for our partner companies in which we maintain a controlling financial interest, generally those in which we directly or indirectly own more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities, using the consolidation method of accounting. Upon consolidation of our partner companies, we reflect the portion of equity (net assets) in a subsidiary not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the parent company as a noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The noncontrolling interest is presented within equity, separately from the equity of the parent company. Losses attributable to the parent company and the noncontrolling interest may exceed their interest in the subsidiary’s equity. As a result, the noncontrolling interest shall continue to be attributed

its share of losses even if that attribution results in a deficit noncontrolling interest balance as of each balance sheet date. Revenue, expenses, gains, losses, net income or loss are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations at the consolidated amounts, which include the amounts attributable to the parent company’s common shareholders and the noncontrolling interest. As of December 31, 2009, we did not hold a controlling interest in any of our partner companies.

 

Equity Method.  We account for partner companies whose results are not consolidated, but over whom we exercise significant influence, using the equity method of accounting. We also account for our interests in some private equity funds under the equity method of accounting, depending on our general and limited partner interests. Under the equity method of accounting, our share of the income or loss of the company is reflected in Equity loss in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We report our share of the income or loss of the equity method partner companies on a one quarter lag.

 

When the carrying value of our holding in an equity method partner company is reduced to zero, no further losses are recorded in our Consolidated Statements of Operations unless we have outstanding guarantee obligations or have committed additional funding to the equity method partner company. When the equity method partner company subsequently reports income, we will not record our share of such income until it equals the amount of our share of losses not previously recognized.

 

Cost Method.  We account for partner companies which are not consolidated or accounted for under the equity method using the cost method of accounting. Under the cost method, our share of the income or losses of such partner companies is not included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. However, the effect of the change in market value of cost method partner company holdings classified as trading securities is reflected in Other income (loss), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. At December 31, 2009, we did not maintain any cost method partner company holdings classified as trading securities.

 

Fair Value Method.  We account for our holdings in Clarient, our publicly traded partner company, under the fair value option following its deconsolidation on May 14, 2009. Unrealized gains and losses on the mark-to-market of our holdings in Clarient and realized gains and losses on the sale of any of our holdings in Clarient are recognized in Income (loss) from continuing operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Accounting policies, methods and estimates are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements prepared by management and are based upon management’s current judgments. These judgments are normally based on knowledge and experience with regard to past and current events and assumptions about future events. Certain accounting policies, methods and estimates are particularly important because of their significance to the financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting them may differ from management’s current judgments. While there are a number of accounting policies, methods and estimates affecting our financial statements as described in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, areas that are particularly significant include the following:

 

 

Revenue Recognition

 

As of May 14, 2009, the date that Clarient was deconsolidated, we no longer report revenue from Clarient’s continuing operations. Prior to that date, all of our revenue from continuing operations for the periods presented was attributable to Clarient.

Revenue for Clarient’s diagnostic testing and interpretive services was recognized at the time of completion of such services. Clarient’s services were billed to various payors, including Medicare, health insurance companies and other directly billed healthcare institutions and patients. Clarient reported revenue from contracted payors, including certain health insurance companies and healthcare institutions, based on the contracted rate or, in certain instances, Clarient’s estimate of such rate. For billings to Medicare, Clarient utilized the published fee schedules, net of standard discounts commonly referred to as “contractual allowances.” Clarient reported revenue from non-contracted payors, including certain insurance companies and patients, based on the amount expected to be collected for services provided. Adjustments resulting from actual collections compared to Clarient’s estimates were recognized in the period realized.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Bad Debt Expense

 

All trade accounts receivable on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2008 related to Clarient. On May 14, 2009, all of the assets and liabilities of Clarient were deconsolidated. We have no trade accounts receivable at December 31, 2009 on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

An allowance for doubtful accounts was recorded for estimated uncollectible amounts due from various payor groups such as Medicare and private health insurance companies. The process for estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts associated with Clarient’s diagnostic services involved significant assumptions and judgments. Specifically, the allowance for doubtful accounts was adjusted periodically, based upon an evaluation of historical collection experience. Clarient also reviewed the age of receivables by payor class to assess its allowance at each period end. The payment realization cycle for certain governmental and managed care payors can be lengthy; involving denial, appeal and adjudication processes, and was subject to periodic adjustments that may be significant. Accounts receivable were periodically written off when identified as uncollectible and deducted from the allowance for doubtful accounts after appropriate collection efforts had been exhausted. Additions to the allowance for doubtful accounts were charged to bad debt expense within Selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Impairment of Ownership Interests In and Advances to Companies

 

On a periodic basis, but no less frequently than quarterly, we evaluate the carrying value of our equity and cost method partner companies for possible impairment based on achievement of business plan objectives and milestones, the financial condition and prospects of the company, market conditions and other relevant factors. The business plan objectives and milestones we consider include, among others, those related to financial performance, such as achievement of planned financial results or completion of capital raising activities, and those that are not primarily financial in nature, such as hiring of key employees or the establishment of strategic relationships. We then determine whether there has been an other than temporary decline in the value of our ownership interest in the company. Impairment to be recognized is measured as the amount by which the carrying value of an asset exceeds its fair value. The new carrying value of a partner company is not increased if circumstances suggest the value of the partner company has subsequently recovered.

 

The fair value of privately held partner companies is generally determined based on the value at which independent third parties have invested or have committed to invest in these companies, or based on other valuation methods including discounted cash flows, valuations of comparable public companies and valuations of acquisitions of comparable companies. The fair value of our ownership interests in private equity funds is generally determined based on the value of our pro rata portion of the funds’ net assets and estimated future proceeds from sales of investments provided by the funds’ managers. The fair value of our ownership interest in Clarient is determined by reference to quoted prices in an active market for Clarient’s publicly traded common stock.

 

Our partner companies operate in industries which are rapidly evolving and extremely competitive. It is reasonably possible that our accounting estimates with respect to the ultimate recoverability of the carrying value of ownership interests in and advances to companies could change in the near term and that the effect of such changes on our Consolidated Financial Statements could be material. While we believe that the current recorded carrying values of our equity and cost method companies are not impaired, there can be no assurance that our future results will confirm this assessment or that a significant write-down or write-off will not be required in the future.

Total impairment charges related to ownership interests in and advances to our equity and cost method partner companies were as follows:

 

 

Impairment charges related to equity method partner companies are included in Equity loss in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Impairment charges related to cost method partner companies are included in Other income (loss), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Income Taxes

 

We are required to estimate income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We must assess the likelihood that the deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and to the extent that we believe recovery is not likely, we must establish a valuation allowance. To the extent we establish a valuation allowance in a period, we must include an expense within the tax provision in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. We have recorded a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized in future years. If we determine in the future that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets would be realized, then the previously provided valuation allowance would be reversed.

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

From time to time, we are a defendant or plaintiff in various legal actions which arise in the normal course of business. Additionally, we have received distributions as both a general partner and a limited partner from private equity funds. In certain circumstances, we may be required to return a portion or all the distributions we received as a general partner of a fund for a further distribution to such fund’s limited partners (“clawback”). We are also a guarantor of various third-party obligations and commitments and are subject to the possibility of various loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business (see Note 15). We are required to assess the likelihood of any adverse outcomes to these matters as well as potential ranges of probable losses. A determination of the amount of provision required for these commitments and contingencies, if any, which would be charged to earnings, is made after careful analysis of each matter. The provision may change in the future due to new developments or changes in circumstances. Changes in the provision could increase or decrease our earnings in the period the changes are made.

 

Stock-Based Compensation

 

We measure all employee stock-based compensation awards using a fair value method and record such expense in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

We estimate the grant date fair value of stock options using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model which requires the input of highly subjective assumptions. These assumptions include estimating the expected term of the award and the estimated volatility of our stock price over the expected term. Changes in these assumptions and in the estimated forfeitures of stock option awards can materially affect the amount of stock-based compensation recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The requisite service periods for market-based stock option awards are based on our estimate of the dates on which the market conditions will be met as determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model. Changes in the derived requisite service period or achievement of market capitalization targets earlier than estimated can materially affect the amount of stock-based compensation recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The requisite service periods for performance-based awards are based on our best estimate of when the performance conditions will be met. Compensation expense is

recognized for performance-based awards for which the performance condition is considered probable of achievement. Changes in the requisite service period or the estimated probability of achievement of performance conditions can materially affect the amount of stock-based compensation recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Results of Operations

 

Prior to deconsolidating Clarient on May 14, 2009, we presented Clarient as a separate segment. As of May 14, 2009, we account for our retained interest in Clarient at fair value with unrealized gains and losses on the mark-to-market of our Clarient holdings and realized gains and losses on the sale of any of our Clarient holdings included in Other income (loss), net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During 2009, we re-evaluated our reportable operating segments and we made the determination that Clarient would no longer be reported as a separate segment since we do not separately evaluate Clarient’s performance based upon its operating results. Clarient is now included in the Life Sciences segment. We have restated the segment information for all of the periods presented to report Clarient as part of the Life Sciences segment. The results of operations of all of our partner companies are reported in our Life Sciences and Technology segments. The Life Sciences and Technology segments also include the gain or loss on the sale of respective partner companies, except for gains and losses included in discontinued operations.

 

On May 6, 2008, we consummated a transaction (the “Bundle Transaction’) pursuant to which we sold all of our equity and debt interests in Acsis, Inc. (“Acsis”), Alliance Consulting Group Associates, Inc. (“Alliance Consulting”), Laureate Pharma, Inc. (“Laureate Pharma”), ProModel Corporation (“ProModel”) and Neuronyx, Inc. (“Neuronyx”) (collectively, the “Bundle Companies”). Of the companies included in the Bundle Transaction, Acsis, Alliance Consulting and Laureate Pharma were majority-owned partner companies and Neuronyx and ProModel were minority-owned partner companies. We have presented the results of operations of Acsis, Alliance Consulting and Laureate Pharma as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

 

Our management evaluates the Life Sciences and Technology segments’ performance based on equity income (loss) which is based on the number of partner companies accounted for under the equity method, our voting ownership percentage in these partner companies and the net results of operations of these partner companies and Other income or loss associated with cost method partner companies.

 

Other items include certain expenses, which are not identifiable to the operations of our operating business segments. Other items primarily consist of general and administrative expenses related to corporate operations, including employee compensation, insurance and professional fees, interest income, interest expense, other income (loss) and equity income (loss) related to private equity holdings. Other Items also include income taxes, which are reviewed by management independent of segment results.

The following tables reflect our consolidated operating data by reportable segment. Segment results include our share of income or losses for entities accounted for under the equity method, when applicable. Segment results also include impairment charges and gains or losses related to the disposition of partner companies, except for those reported in discontinued operations. All significant inter-segment activity has been eliminated in consolidation. Our operating results, including net income (loss) before income taxes by segment, were as follows:

 

 

There is intense competition in the markets in which our partner companies operate, and we expect competition to intensify in the future. Additionally, the markets in which these companies operate are characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, frequent introduction of new products and services, shifting distribution channels, evolving government regulation, frequently changing intellectual property landscapes and changing customer demands. Their future success depends on each company’s ability to execute its business plan and to adapt to its respective rapidly changing markets.

 

As previously stated, throughout this document, we use the term “partner company” to generally refer to those companies that we have an economic interest in and that we are actively involved in influencing the development of, usually through board representation in addition to our equity ownership stake.

 

For purposes of the following listing of our Life Science and Technology partner companies, we omit from the listing companies which we have since sold our interest in or which we no longer consider to be active partner companies because we no longer actively influence the operations of such entities.

Life Sciences

 

The following active partner companies were included in Life Sciences during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

 

Results for the Life Sciences segment were as follows:

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2009 versus year ended December 31, 2008

 

Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2009 include the results of operations of Clarient for the 134 days in the period from January 1, 2009 through May 14, 2009 that Clarient was consolidated. Upon the deconsolidation of Clarient on May 14, 2009, we no longer reported revenue, cost of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses interest income and interest expense from Clarient’s continuing operations in our results of operations. Prior to that date, all of our Life Science segment’s revenue, cost of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses, interest income and interest expense from continuing operations was attributable to Clarient.

Other Income (Loss), Net.  On May 14, 2009, we deconsolidated our holdings in Clarient because we ceased to have a controlling financial interest in Clarient and recognized an unrealized gain on deconsolidation of $106.0 million as of that date. In addition, we recognized an unrealized gain of $19.5 million on the mark-to-market of our holdings in Clarient through December 31, 2009 which was offset by a $7.3 million realized loss of the sale of 18.4 million shares of common stock of Clarient and an impairment charge of $3.9 million related to our holdings in Tengion.

 

Equity Loss.  Equity loss fluctuates with the number of Life Sciences partner companies accounted for under the equity method, our voting ownership percentage in these partner companies and the net results of operations of these partner companies. We recognize our share of losses to the extent we have cost basis in the equity of the partner company or we have outstanding commitments or guarantees. Certain amounts recorded to reflect our share of the income or losses of our partner companies accounted for under the equity method are based on estimates and on unaudited results of operations of those partner companies and may require adjustments in the future when audits of these entities are made final. We report our share of the results of our equity method partner companies on a one quarter lag basis. Equity loss for Life Sciences decreased $7.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the prior year. Included in equity loss for the year ended December 31, 2009 were impairment charges and equity losses of $4.0 million associated with Rubicor Inc., a former partner company and $0.8 million in impairment charges associated with Cellumen. Rubicor effectively halted operations in 2008 after failing to attract sufficient capital to continue operations. At present, Rubicor is undergoing reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. The carrying value of Rubicor was zero at December 31, 2009. Also included in 2008 equity loss were expenses of $2.5 and $1.3 million associated with acquired in-process research and development related to our holdings in Molecular Biometrics and Nupathe, respectively.

 

Year ended December 31, 2008 versus year ended December 31, 2007

 

Revenue.  Revenue of $73.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 increased 71.5% or $30.7 million from $43.0 million in the prior year. The increase resulted from Clarient’s increase of diagnostic services volume of 51.5%, and increased Medicare reimbursement rates.

 

Clarient expanded its menu of oncology diagnostic testing services in the first quarter of 2008 to include markers for tumors of the colon, prostate, and lung. Clairent’s expanded capabilities in the test methodologies of immunohistochemistry (IHC), flow cytometry, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), and molecular/PCR, and its accompanying sales and marketing efforts drove its net revenue growth in the year ended December 31, 2008, as compared to 2007.

 

Cost of Sales.  Cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2008 was $33.0 million compared to $26.9 million in the prior year, an increase of 22.6%. The $6.1 million increase was driven by an overall increase in revenue, and was primarily related to: additional laboratory personnel costs of $2.1 million, increased laboratory reagents and other supplies expense of $1.4 million, increased allocated facilities expense of $0.4 million, increased cost of tests performed on its behalf by other laboratories of $1.7 million and an increase in shipping expense of $1.2 million.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses of $42.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 increased 51.2%, or $14.3 million, from $28.0 million for the prior year. The increase was primarily related to a $8.6 million increase in bad debt expense, additional administrative personnel costs of $2.6 million to support its business growth and new in house billing and collection department, additional sales and marketing personnel costs of $1.7 million, a $0.3 million increase in travel-related expenses and a $0.2 million increase in tradeshow and advertising expenses, partially offset by a $1.0 million decrease in third-party billing and collection fees. Accounting and legal fees increased by $0.8 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The increase in accounting fees was primarily associated with the testing of internal controls over financial reporting. The increase in legal fees was primarily associated with SEC compliance, corporate governance, financing arrangements and executive compensation.

 

The increase in bad debt expense was primarily related to Clarient’s increase in revenue as compared to the prior year and the impact on cash collections of delays in Clarient’s internal billing and collection efforts. Bad debt expense was also impacted by higher loss experience, including significant uncollectible accounts identified during the second half of 2008 which were previously serviced by Clarient’s former third-party billing and collection service provider.

Interest, net.  Interest expense in 2008 was $0.9 million, compared to $1.2 million in 2007. The decrease was due to lower outstanding borrowings under Clarient’s third party financing facilities.

 

Net Income (Loss).  Net income in 2008 was $0.8 million compared to a net loss of $7.4 million in 2007. The improvement was primarily attributable to higher margins from increased revenue.

 

Equity Loss.  Equity loss for Life Sciences increased $14.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the prior year. Included in equity loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 were impairment charges and equity losses of $8.8 million related to Rubicor, which effectively halted operations in 2008 after failing to attract sufficient capital to continue operations, and expense of $2.5 million associated with acquired in-process research and development related to our acquisition of a 37% interest in Molecular Biometrics. In addition, we recognized a $1.3 million expense in the fourth quarter of 2008 related to an in-process research and development charge recorded by NuPathe. The increase in equity loss was also due to an increase in the number of equity method partner companies, each of which generated losses, and larger losses incurred at certain partner companies. Other loss for the year ended December 31, 2007 reflected an impairment charge related to our holdings in Ventaira Pharmaceuticals, a former partner company as well as equity losses associated with other partner companies.

 

Technology

 

The following active partner companies were included in Technology during the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007:

 

 

 

 

Results for the Technology segment were as follows:

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2009 versus year ended December 31, 2008

 

Other Income (Loss), Net.  Other loss increased $3.6 million in 2009 compared to the prior year. The current year loss was entirely attributable to an impairment related to our holdings in GENBAND, a former partner company. The prior year loss reflected an impairment related to our holdings in Kadoo Inc., a former partner company.

Equity Loss.  Equity loss fluctuates with the number of Technology partner companies accounted for under the equity method, our voting ownership percentage in these partner companies and the net results of operations of these partner companies. We recognize our share of losses to the extent we have cost basis in the equity partner company or we have outstanding commitments or guarantees. Certain amounts recorded to reflect our share of the income or losses of our partner companies accounted for under the equity method are based on estimates and on unaudited results of operations of those partner companies and may require adjustments in the future when audits of these entities are made final. We report our share of the results of our equity method partner companies on a one quarter lag. Equity loss for Technology decreased $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to the prior year. The decrease was due principally to smaller losses incurred at certain partner companies and an impairment charge of $2.6 million related to our holdings in Authentium recorded in 2008.

 

Year ended December 31, 2008 versus year ended December 31, 2007

 

Other Income (Loss), Net.  Other loss for the year ended December 31, 2008 reflects a $2.3 million impairment charge related to our holdings in Kadoo.

 

Equity Loss.  Equity loss for Technology increased $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to the prior year. The increase was due principally to larger losses incurred at certain partner companies and an impairment charge of $2.6 million related to our holdings in Authentium.

 

Corporate Operations

 

 

General and Administrative.  Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee compensation, insurance, professional services such as legal, accounting and consulting, and travel-related costs.

 

General and administrative expenses decreased $1.8 million in 2009 as compared to 2008. The decrease is largely attributable to a $1.5 million decrease in severance costs, a $0.9 million decrease in professional fees and a $0.9 million decrease in other administrative expenses offset by an increase in employee costs of $1.5 million. General and administrative expenses decreased $2.5 million in 2008 as compared to 2007. The decrease is largely attributable to a $1.7 million decrease in employee costs, a $2.2 million decrease in professional fees and a $0.2 million decrease in insurance costs offset by an increase in severance costs of $1.5 million due to an increase in the actuarial liability for amounts payable to our former Chairman and CEO under an ongoing agreement.

 

Stock-Based Compensation.  Stock-based compensation consists primarily of expense related to grants of stock options, restricted stock and deferred stock units to our employees.

 

The $1.2 million increase in 2009 as compared to 2008 relates to stock option forfeitures during 2008. The $1.8 million decrease in 2008 as compared to 2007 relates to stock option forfeitures during 2008 and higher expense in the prior year period due to the acceleration of stock-based compensation expense related to our market-based stock options. Stock-based compensation expense related to market-based awards was $1.5 million, $0.4 million and $1.7 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense related to service-based awards was $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $1.8 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Stock-based compensation expense related to corporate operations is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Interest Income.  Interest income includes all interest earned on cash and marketable security balances.

 

Interest income decreased $2.6 million and $4.4 million in 2009 and 2008 respectively. The decrease in both years was due to declining interest rates and lower average cash balances over the past two years.

 

Interest Expense.  Interest expense is primarily related to our 2024 Debentures.

 

Interest expense decreased $1.0 million in 2009 as compared to 2008. Interest expense decreased $0.4 million in 2008 as compared to 2007. The decline in each year was attributable to the repurchase of $7.8 million and $43 million in face value of the 2024 Debentures in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

Other Income (Loss), Net.  Other income (loss), net in 2008 included a net gain of $9.0 million on the repurchase of $43 million in face value of the 2024 Debentures, a $2.5 million net gain on the sale of company interests, including the receipt of escrowed funds from a legacy asset and $1.0 gain on distributions from private equity funds.

 

Income Tax (Expense) Benefit

 

Our consolidated net income tax (expense) benefit for 2009, 2008 and 2007 was $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively. We recognized $0.7 million tax benefit in 2007 related to uncertain tax positions for which the statute of limitations expired during the respective period in the applicable tax jurisdictions. We have recorded a valuation allowance to reduce our net deferred tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized in future years. Accordingly, the tax expense that would have been recognized in 2009 and the net operating loss benefit that would have been recognized in 2008 and 2007 was offset by changes in the valuation allowance.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

The following are reported in discontinued operations for all periods through their respective sale date.

 

In May 2008, we sold all of our equity and debt interests in Acsis, Alliance Consulting, Laureate Pharma, ProModel and Neuronyx. The gross proceeds from the Bundle Transaction were $74.5 million, of which $6.4 million was placed in escrow pending expiration of a claims period, plus amounts advanced to certain Bundle Companies during the time between the signing of the Bundle Sale agreement and its consummation.

 

In March 2007, we sold Pacific Title & Art Studio for net cash proceeds of approximately $21.9 million, including $2.3 million held in escrow. As a result of the sale, we recorded a pre-tax gain of $2.7 million in 2007. In the first quarter of 2010, we received the final $0.5 million in cash from the escrow account. This amount was recorded as income from discontinued operations in 2009.

 

In March 2007, Clarient sold its technology business and related intellectual property for an aggregate purchase price of $12.5 million. The $12.5 million consisted of $11.0 million in cash and an additional $1.5 million in contingent consideration, subject to the satisfaction of certain post-closing conditions through March 2009. Clarient received the contingent consideration and recorded the $1.5 million in income from discontinued operations in 2009.

 

Income from discontinued operations in 2009 of $2.0 million was attributable to the receipt by Clarient of $1.5 million contingent consideration during 2009, prior to the deconsolidation of Clarient and our receipt of $0.5 million from escrow related to the sale of Pacific Title & Art Studio. The loss from discontinued operations in 2008 of $9.2 million was primarily attributable to operating losses incurred by Acsis, Alliance Consulting and Laureate Pharma of $1.6 million, an impairment loss of $3.6 million related to the write down of the aggregate carrying value of the Bundle Companies to the anticipated net proceeds, a $1.4 million pre-tax gain on disposal of the Bundle Companies, $0.9 million charge to accrue for severance payments due the former CEO of Alliance Consulting and charges totaling $2.7 million related to additional compensation paid to the former CEO of Pacific Title & Art Studio in connection with the March 2007 sale and related legal fees. The loss from discontinued operations in 2007 of $19.4 million was attributable primarily to the operating losses incurred by Acsis, Alliance

Consulting and Laureate Pharma, partially offset by the gain on the sale of Pacific Title & Art Studio and Clarient’s technology business.

 

Liquidity And Capital Resources

 

Parent Company

 

We fund our operations with cash on hand as well as proceeds from sales of and distributions from partner companies, private equity funds and marketable securities. In prior periods, we have also used sales of our equity and issuance of debt as sources of liquidity and may do so in the future. Our ability to generate liquidity from sales of partner companies, sales of marketable securities and from equity and debt issuances has been adversely affected from time to time by adverse circumstances in the U.S. capital markets and other factors.

 

As of December 31, 2009, at the parent company level, we had $67.3 million of cash and cash equivalents and $39.1 million of marketable securities for a total of $106.4 million. In addition, $6.9 million of cash was held in escrow, including accrued interest.

 

During 2009, we sold 18.4 million shares of common stock of Clarient for $61.3 million in net proceeds.

 

In connection with the Bundle Sale, an aggregate of $6.4 million of the gross proceeds of the sale were placed in escrow pending the expiration of a predetermined notification period, subject to possible extension in the event of a claim against the escrowed amounts. On April 25, 2009, the purchaser in the Bundle Sale notified us of claims being asserted against the entire escrowed amounts. We do not believe that such claims are valid and have instituted legal action to obtain the release of such amounts from escrow. The proceeds being held in escrow will remain there until the dispute over the claims have been settled or determined pursuant to legal process.

 

In February 2004, we completed the sale of the 2024 Debentures. At December 31, 2009, we had $78.2 million in face value of the 2024 Debentures outstanding. Interest on the 2024 Debentures is payable semi-annually. At the holders’ option, the 2024 Debentures are convertible into our common stock before the close of business on March 14, 2024 subject to certain conditions. The conversion rate of the 2024 Debentures is $43.3044 of principal amount per share. The closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2009 was $10.31. The 2024 Debentures holders have the right to require repurchase of the 2024 Debentures on March 21, 2011, March 20, 2014 or March 20, 2019 at a repurchase price equal to 100% of their respective face amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest. The 2024 Debentures holders also have the right to require repurchase of the 2024 Debentures upon certain events, including sale of all or substantially all of our common stock or assets, liquidation, dissolution, a change in control or the delisting of our common stock from the NYSE if we were unable to obtain a listing for our common stock on another national or regional securities exchange. Subject to certain conditions, we have the right to redeem all or some of the 2024 Debentures.

 

During 2009, we repurchased $7.8 million in face value of the 2024 Debentures for $7.3 million in cash, including accrued interest. In connection with the repurchases, we recorded $0.1 million of expense related to the acceleration of deferred debt issuance costs associated with the 2024 Debentures, resulting in a net gain of $0.5 million which was included in Other income. Through December 31, 2009, we repurchased a total of $71.8 million in face value of the 2024 debentures. We may seek to refinance, restructure, acquire or repay some or all of the remaining outstanding face amount of the 2024 Debentures prior to March, 2011. On March 10, 2010, we entered into agreements with institutional holders of an aggregate of $46.9 million in face value of our 2024 Debentures to exchange the debentures held by such holders for $46.9 million in face amount of newly issued 10.125% senior convertible debentures, due 2014. See Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In May 2008, our Board of Directors authorized us, from time to time and depending on market conditions, to repurchase shares of our outstanding common stock, with up to an aggregate value of $10.0 million, exclusive of fees and commissions. Approximately 4 thousand fractional shares were repurchased in 2009 for $44 thousand in connection with our one-for-six stock split in August 2009. During the year ended December 31, 2008, we repurchased approximately 163 thousand shares of common stock at a cost of $1.3 million. These repurchases, as well as repurchases of 2024 Debentures, have been and will be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and other applicable legal requirements. The manner, timing and amount of any purchases have been and will be determined by us based

upon an evaluation of market conditions, stock price and other factors. Our Board of Directors’ authorizations regarding common stock and 2024 Debentures repurchases do not obligate us to acquire any particular amount of common stock or 2024 Debentures and may be modified or suspended at any time at our discretion.

 

In February 2009, we entered into a loan agreement which provides us with a revolving credit facility in the maximum aggregate amount of $50 million in the form of borrowings, guarantees and issuances of letters of credit (subject to a $20 million sublimit). Actual availability under the credit facility is based on the amount of cash maintained at the bank as well as the value of our public and private partner company interests. This credit facility bears interest at the prime rate for outstanding borrowings, subject to an increase in certain circumstances. Other than for limited exceptions, we are required to maintain all of our depository and operating accounts and not less than 75% of our investment and securities accounts at the bank. The credit facility matures on December 31, 2010. Under the credit facility, we provided a $6.3 million letter of credit expiring on March 19, 2019 to the landlord of CompuCom Systems, Inc.’s Dallas headquarters which has been required in connection with our sale of CompuCom Systems in 2004. Availability under our revolving credit facility at December 31, 2009 was $43.7 million.

 

We have committed capital of approximately $1.6 million, including conditional commitments to provide partner companies with additional funding and commitments made to various private equity funds in prior years. These commitments will be funded over the next several years, including approximately $1.5 million which is expected to be funded in the next 12 months.

 

The transactions we enter into in pursuit of our strategy could increase or decrease our liquidity at any point in time. As we seek to acquire interests in technology and life sciences companies, provide additional funding to existing partner companies, or commit capital to other initiatives, we may be required to expend our cash or incur debt, which will decrease our liquidity. Conversely, as we dispose of our interests in partner companies from time to time, we may receive proceeds from such sales, which could increase our liquidity. From time to time, we are engaged in discussions concerning acquisitions and dispositions which, if consummated, could impact our liquidity, perhaps significantly.

 

In May 2001, we entered into a $26.5 million loan agreement with Warren V. Musser, our former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. In December 2006, we restructured the obligation to reduce the amount outstanding to $14.8 million, bearing interest at a rate of 5.0% per annum. Cash payments, when received, are recognized as Recovery — related party in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Since 2001 and through December 31, 2009, we have received a total of $16.8 million in payments on the loan. The carrying value of the loan at December 31, 2009 was zero.

 

We have received distributions as both a general partner and a limited partner from certain private equity funds. Under certain circumstances, we may be required to return a portion or all the distributions we received as a general partner of a fund for further distribution to such fund’s limited partners (“clawback”). The maximum clawback we could be required to return related to our general partner interest is $3.4 million, of which $2.0 million was reflected in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and $1.4 million was reflected in Other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2009.

 

Our previous ownership in the general partners of the funds that have potential clawback liabilities ranges from 19-30%. The clawback liability is joint and several, such that we may be required to fund the clawback for other general partners should they default. The funds have taken several steps to reduce the potential liabilities should other general partners default, including withholding all general partner distributions and placing them in escrow and adding rights of set-off among certain funds. We believe our potential liability due to the possibility of default by other general partners is remote.

 

For the reasons we presented above, we believe our cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2009, availability under our revolving credit facility and other internal sources of cash flow will be sufficient to fund our cash requirements for at least the next 12 months, including debt repayments, commitments to our existing companies and funds, possible additional funding of existing partner companies and our general corporate requirements. Our acquisition of new partner company interests is always contingent upon our availability of cash to fund such deployments, and our timing of monetization events directly affects our availability of cash.

Analysis of Parent Company Cash Flows

 

Cash flow activity for the Parent Company was as follows:

 

 

Cash Used In Operating Activities

 

Year ended December 31, 2009 versus year ended December 31, 2008.  Net cash used in operating activities increased $0.6 million in 2009 as compared to 2008. The increase is primarily attributable $1.2 million in cash used for interest payments on the 2024 Debentures in 2009 for which interest payments were previously made using restricted marketable securities held in escrow, partially offset by lower corporate operating expenditures.

 

Year ended December 31, 2008 versus year ended December 31, 2007.  Net cash used in operating activities decreased $2.7 million in 2008 as compared to 2007. The decrease was primarily due to lower corporate operating expenditures.

 

Cash Provided by Investing Activities

 

Year ended December 31, 2009 versus year ended December 31, 2008.  Net cash provided by investing activities decreased $11.5 million in 2009 as compared to 2008. The decrease was attributable to a $84.5 million decrease in proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations, a $10.3 million net increase in purchases of marketable securities and a $5.4 million increase in cash paid to acquire ownership interests in companies and funds, partially offset by a $57.0 million increase in proceeds from sales of and distributions from companies and funds, a $16.5 million decrease in advances to partner companies, a $14.3 million increase in repayment of advances from partner companies and a $0.9 decrease in restricted cash.

 

Year ended December 31, 2008 versus year ended December 31, 2007.  Net cash provided by investing activities decreased $23.5 million in 2008 as compared to 2007. The decrease was attributable to a $107.7 million net increase in marketable securities and a $12.6 million increase in advances to partner companies, offset by a $64.9 million increase in proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations and a $30.5 million decrease in the acquisition of ownership interests in companies and funds, net of cash acquired.

 

Cash Provided by (Used In) Financing Activities

 

Year ended December 31, 2009 versus year ended December 31, 2008.  Net cash used in financing activities decreased $27.6 million. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $26.3 million decrease in cash used to repurchase certain of our 2024 Debentures, as well as a $1.3 million decrease in cash used to repurchase our common stock as compared to the prior year.

 

Year ended December 31, 2008 versus year ended December 31, 2007.  Net cash used in financing activities increased $35.4 million in 2008 as compared to 2007. The increase was primarily attributable to $33.5 million in repurchases of our 2024 Debentures, excluding accrued interest and $1.3 million in purchases of treasury stock.

 

Consolidated Working Capital From Continuing Operations

 

Consolidated working capital from continuing operations increased to $106.0 at December 31, 2009 compared to $88.4 at December 31, 2008. The increase was primarily due to the sale of 18.4 million shares of common stock of Clarient during 2009 for net cash proceeds of $61.3 million, partially offset by the deconsolidation of Clarient on May 14, 2009.

Analysis of Consolidated Cash Flows

 

Cash flow activity was as follows:

 

 

Cash Used In Operating Activities

 

Year ended December 31, 2009 versus year ended December 31, 2008.  Net cash used in operating activities decreased $2.3 million in 2009 as compared to 2008. The decrease is primarily attributable to the deconsolidation of Clarient. The decrease is partially offset by $1.2 million in cash used for interest payments on the 2024 Debentures in 2009 for which interest payments were previously made using restricted marketable securities held in escrow, partially offset by lower corporate operating expenditures

 

Year ended December 31, 2008 versus year ended December 31, 2007.  Net cash used in operating activities decreased $14.7 million in 2008 as compared to 2007. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $7.0 million increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses, a $4.9 million decrease in the cash outflows from discontinued operations and a $13.9 million decrease in net loss, partially offset by a $14.2 million increase in accounts receivable.

 

Cash Provided by Investing Activities

 

Year ended December 31, 2009 versus year ended December 31, 2008.  Net cash provided by investing activities decreased $32.8 million in 2009 as compared to 2008. The decrease was attributable to an $82.2 million decrease in proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations, a $10.3 million net increase in purchases of marketable securities a $5.4 million increase in cash paid to acquire ownership interests in companies and funds, a $2.0 increase in restricted cash and a $2.7 million decrease in cash resulting from the deconsolidation of Clarient partially offset by a $57.0 million increase in proceeds from sales of and distributions from companies and funds, a $2.9 million decrease in advances to partner companies, a $5.7 million increase in repayment of advances from partner companies , a $2.8 million decrease in the cash used in discontinued operations, and a $1.4 million decrease in capital expenditures.

 

Year ended December 31, 2008 versus year ended December 31, 2007.  Net cash provided by investing activities decreased $20.3 million in 2008 as compared to 2007. The decrease was attributable to a $107.7 million net increase in marketable securities offset by a $53.8 million increase in proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations, a $4.9 million decrease in cash used in discontinued operations and a $30.5 million decrease in the acquisition of ownership interests in companies and funds, net of cash acquired.

 

Cash Provided by (Used In) Financing Activities

 

Year ended December 31, 2009 versus year ended December 31, 2008.  Net cash provided by financing activities increased $42.8 million in 2009 as compared to 2008. The increase was primarily related to a $27.1 million increase in proceeds from the issuance of subsidiary common stock, a $26.3 million decrease in cash used to repurchase certain of our 2024 Debentures and a $1.3 million decrease in cash used to repurchase our common stock in the prior year period, partially offset by $7.1 million net repayments of outstanding borrowings and a $4.8 million decrease in cash provided from financing activities of discontinued operations.

 

Year ended December 31, 2008 versus year ended December 31, 2007.  Net cash used in financing activities increased $48.9 million in 2008 as compared to 2007. The increase was attributable to $33.5 million in repurchases of our 2024 Debentures, excluding accrued interest, a $6.8 million increase in net repayments on revolving credit

facilities, $1.3 million in purchases of treasury stock and a $6.9 million decrease in the cash inflows from financing activities of discontinued operations.

 

Contractual Cash Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments

 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and other commercial commitments as of December 31, 2009, by period due or expiration of the commitment.

 

 

 

 

 

We have agreements with certain employees that provide for severance payments to the employee in the event the employee is terminated without cause or if the employee terminates his employment for “good reason.” The maximum aggregate cash exposure under the agreements was approximately $8 million at December 31, 2009.

 

We remain guarantor of Laureate Pharma’s Princeton, New Jersey facility lease (the “Laureate Lease Guaranty”). Such guarantee may extend through the lease expiration in 2016 under certain circumstances.

However, we are entitled to indemnification in connection with the continuation of such guaranty. As of December 31, 2009, scheduled lease payments to be made by Laureate Pharma over the remaining lease term equaled $7.8 million.

 

As of December 31, 2009, Safeguard had federal net operating loss carryforwards and federal capital loss carryforwards of approximately $202.7 million and $157.4 million, respectively. The net operating loss carryforwards expire in various amounts from 2010 to 2027. The capital loss carryforwards expire in various amounts from 2010 to 2012.

 

We are involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or results of operations.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In September 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) clarified how an entity should measure the fair value of liabilities and that restrictions which prevent the transfer of a liability should not be considered as separate inputs or adjustments in the measurement of the liability’s fair value. The guidance reaffirms the measurements concept of determining fair value based on an orderly transaction between market participants even though liabilities are infrequently transferred due to contractual or other legal restrictions. The guidance did not have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued a single source of authoritative non-governmental United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“US GAAP”), referred to as the Codification. The Codification does not change current U.S. GAAP, but is intended to simplify user access to all authoritative U.S. GAAP by providing all the authoritative literature related to a particular topic in one place. All existing accounting standard documents have been superseded and all other accounting literature not included in the Codification is considered non-authoritative. The Codification was effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The Codification did not impact our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued guidance which required disclosures about fair value of financial instruments for interim reporting periods as well as in annual financial statements. The guidance requires those disclosures in summarized financial statements at interim reporting periods. The guidance requires that an entity disclose in the body or in the accompanying notes of its financial information the fair value of all financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value, whether recognized or not recognized in the statement of financial position. In addition, an entity is required disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments. We adopted the provisions of this guidance on June 30, 2009 and have provided the necessary additional disclosures.

 

In November 2008, the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on certain matters associated with equity method accounting. The EITF retained the accounting for the initial carrying value of equity method investments which is based on a cost accumulation model and generally excludes contingent consideration. The EITF also specified that other-than-temporary impairment testing by the investor should be performed at the investment level and that a separate impairment assessment of the underlying assets is not required. An impairment charge by the investee should result in an adjustment of the investor’s basis of the impaired asset for the investor’s pro-rata share of such impairment. In addition, the EITF reached a consensus on how to account for an issuance of shares by an investee that reduces the investor’s ownership share of the investee. An investor should account for such transactions as if it had sold a proportionate share of its investment with any gains or losses recorded through earnings. The EITF also addressed the accounting for a change in an investment from the equity method to the cost method. The EITF affirmed the existing guidance, which requires cessation of the equity method of accounting and application of debt and equity security accounting, or the cost method, as appropriate. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. This consensus did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In June 2008, the EITF clarified how to determine whether certain instruments or features were indexed to an entity’s own stock. The consensus was effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after

December 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of the consensus did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In May 2008, the FASB issued guidance on the accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash or partially in cash upon conversion. An issuer of convertible debt instruments with cash settlement features is required to separately account for the liability and equity components of the instrument. The debt is recognized at the present value of its cash flows discounted using the issuer’s nonconvertible debt borrowing rate. The equity component is recognized as the difference between the proceeds from the issuance of the note and the fair value of the liability. The resultant debt discount is to be accreted over the expected life of the debt. The guidance did not have any impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements because the convertible senior debentures previously issued by us do not include any cash settlement features within the scope of this guidance. See Note 21 regarding the exchange of a portion of our senior debentures.

 

In April 2008, the FASB issued guidance that addresses the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful lives for intangible assets. The guidance requires an entity to consider its own historical experience in renewing or extending similar arrangements, regardless of whether those arrangements have explicit renewal or extension provisions, when determining the useful life of an intangible asset. In the absence of such experience, an entity shall consider the assumptions that market participants would use about renewal or extension, adjusted for entity-specific factors. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2008. The guidance did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB revised the accounting for business combinations. Under the new accounting, an acquiring entity is required to recognize all the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a transaction at the acquisition-date at fair value with limited exceptions. The accounting treatment for certain specific items was revised as follows:

 

 

The revised guidance also includes a substantial number of new disclosure requirements. The revised guidance is applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued new accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Specifically, the guidance requires the recognition of noncontrolling interests (minority interests) as equity in the consolidated financial statements and separate from the parent’s equity. The guidance clarifies that changes in a parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that does not result in deconsolidation are treated as equity transactions if the parent retains its controlling financial interest. Losses attributable to the noncontrolling interest that exceed its basis in the subsidiary’s equity result in a deficit noncontrolling interest reflected in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Revenue, expenses, gains, losses, net income or loss are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Operations at the consolidated amounts, which include the amounts attributable to the owners of the parent and noncontrolling interest. The amount of net income attributable to noncontrolling interests will be included in consolidated net income on the face of the income statement. In addition, this statement requires that a parent recognize a gain or loss in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated. Such gain or loss will be measured using the fair value of the noncontrolling equity investment on

the deconsolidation date. Expanded disclosures are also required regarding the interests of the parent and its noncontrolling interest. The guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. On January 1, 2009, we adopted the provisions of this guidance. As a result, we reflect the portion of equity (net assets) of our consolidated partner companies, if any, not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the parent company as a noncontrolling interest within equity, separate from the equity of the parent company.

 

 

We are exposed to equity price risks on the marketable portion of our ownership interests in our partner companies. At December 31, 2009, these interests include our equity position in Clarient, our only publicly-traded partner company, which has experienced significant volatility in its stock price. Historically, we have not attempted to reduce or eliminate our market exposure related to these interests. Based on closing market prices at December 31, 2009, the fair market value of our holdings in Clarient was approximately $80.5 million. A 20% decrease in Clarient’s stock price would result in an approximate $16.1 million decrease in the fair value of our holdings in Clarient.

 

In February 2004, we completed the issuance of $150.0 million of our 2024 Debentures with a stated maturity of March 15, 2024. Through December 31, 2009, we repurchased $71.8 million in face value of the 2024 Debentures. Interest payments of approximately $1.0 million are due in March and September of each year. The holders of these 2024 Debentures have the right to require repurchase of the 2024 Debentures on March 21, 2011, March 20, 2014 or March 20, 2019 at a repurchase price equal to 100% of their face amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.

 

 

On March 10, 2010, we entered into agreements with institutional holders of an aggregate of $46.9 million in face value of our 2024 Debentures to exchange the debentures held by such holders for $46.9 million in face amount of newly issued 10.125% senior convertible debentures, due 2014. See Note 21 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

We have historically had very low exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, and as such, have not used derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency fluctuation risk.

 

We maintain cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities with various financial institutions. The financial institutions are highly rated.

 

The following Consolidated Financial Statements, and the related Notes thereto, of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. and the Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are filed as a part of this Form 10-K.

 

 

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.:

 

We have audited Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.’s (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting (Item 9A.(b)). Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit 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 effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company’s 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. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit 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 management and directors of the company; and (3) 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.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 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.

 

In our opinion, Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, and our report dated March 16, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 16, 2010

 

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (the “Company”) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated 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. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 16, 2010 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 16, 2010

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS