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SIEBERT FINANCIAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2007 June (Form 10-Q)




U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

 

x

Quarterly report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

For the quarterly period ended  June 30, 2007

 

 

o

Transition report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act

 

 

 

For the transition period from _______________________ to _____________________

 

 

 

Commission file number  0-5703


 

Siebert Financial Corp.

 

(Exact Name of Issuer as Specified in its Charter)


 

 

 

New York

 

11-1796714

 

 

 

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


 

885 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022

 

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(212) 644-2400

 

(Issuer’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

 

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x          No o

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

(Check one) Large Accelerated Filer o

Accelerated Filer o

Non-Accelerated Filer x

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

Yes o          No x

          State the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common equity, as of the latest practicable date: As of July 23, 2007, there were 22,206,546 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, outstanding.

          Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company” shall mean Siebert Financial Corp. and its wholly owned subsidiaries and “Siebert” shall mean Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

          Certain statements contained in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” below and elsewhere in this document, as well as oral statements that may be made by us or

1


by our officers, directors or employees acting on our behalf, that are not statements of historical or current fact constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and known and unknown factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from our historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including, without limitation: changes in general economic and market conditions; fluctuations in volume and prices of securities; demand for brokerage and investment banking services; competition within and without the discount brokerage business, including the offer of broader services; competition from electronic discount brokerage firms offering lower rates on commissions than we do prevalence of a flat fee environment; decline in participation in equity or municipal finance underwritings; limited trading opportunities; the method of placing trades by our customers; computer and telephone system failures; our level of spending on advertising and promotions; trading errors and the possibility of losses from customer non-payment of amounts due; other increases in expenses and changes in net capital or other regulatory requirements. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date when such statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. An investment in us involves various risks, including those mentioned above and those which are detailed from time to time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

2



Part I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Siebert Financial Corp. & Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2007
(Unaudited)

 

December 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

33,018,000

 

$

32,606,000

 

Cash equivalents – restricted

 

 

1,300,000

 

 

1,300,000

 

Receivable from clearing brokers

 

 

2,466,000

 

 

2,468,000

 

Securities owned, at market value

 

 

380,000

 

 

 

 

Furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, net

 

 

1,016,000

 

 

510,000

 

Investment in and advances to equity investees

 

 

6,037,000

 

 

6,765,000

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

1,879,000

 

 

1,211,000

 

Intangibles, net

 

 

1,026,000

 

 

1,182,000

 

Deferred taxes

 

 

866,000

 

 

827,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

$

47,988,000

 

$

46,869,000

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

6,380,000

 

 

6,460,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value; 49,000,000 shares authorized, 23,206,046 shares issued and 22,206,546 shares outstanding at June 30, 2007 and 23,202,046 shares issued and 22,202, 546 shares outstanding at December 31, 2006, respectively

 

 

232,000

 

 

232,000

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

18,777,000

 

 

18,719,000

 

Retained earnings

 

 

27,103,000

 

 

25,962,000

 

Less: 999,500 shares of treasury stock, at cost at June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively

 

 

(4,504,000

)

 

(4,504,000

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

41,608,000

 

 

40,409,000

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

47,988,000

 

$

46,869,000

 

 

 

           

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

3


Siebert Financial Corp. & Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissions and fees

 

$

6,607,000

 

$

6,298,000

 

$

13,168,000

 

$

12,900,000

 

Investment banking

 

 

989,000

 

 

283,000

 

 

1,952,000

 

 

560,000

 

Trading profits

 

 

107,000

 

 

183,000

 

 

205,000

 

 

353,000

 

Income from equity investees

 

 

422,000

 

 

1,679,000

 

 

1,356,000

 

 

2,084,000

 

Interest and dividends

 

 

436,000

 

 

413,000

 

 

886,000

 

 

789,000

 

 

 

                     

 

 

 

 

8,561,000

 

 

8,856,000

 

 

17,567,000

 

 

16,686,000

 

 

 

                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee compensation and benefits

 

 

2,881,000

 

 

2,592,000

 

 

5,955,000

 

 

5,248,000

 

Clearing fees, including floor brokerage

 

 

1,558,000

 

 

1,339,000

 

 

2,967,000

 

 

2,830,000

 

Professional fees

 

 

1,275,000

 

 

887,000

 

 

2,308,000

 

 

1,771,000

 

Advertising and promotion

 

 

170,000

 

 

239,000

 

 

518,000

 

 

674,000

 

Communications

 

 

400,000

 

 

412,000

 

 

785,000

 

 

863,000

 

Occupancy

 

 

329,000

 

 

298,000

 

 

642,000

 

 

566,000

 

Other general and administrative

 

 

714,000

 

 

776,000

 

 

1,459,000

 

 

1,470,000

 

 

 

                     

 

 

 

 

7,327,000

 

 

6,543,000

 

 

14,634,000

 

 

13,422,000

 

 

 

                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

1,234,000

 

 

2,313,000

 

 

2,933,000

 

 

3,264,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

518,000

 

 

972,000

 

 

1,232,000

 

 

1,371,000

 

 

 

                     

 

Net Income

 

$

716,000

 

$

1,341,000

 

$

1,701,000

 

$

1,893,000

 

 

 

                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share of common stock -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and Diluted

 

$

.03

 

$

.06

 

$

.08

 

$

.09

 

Weighted average shares outstanding -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

22,206,546

 

 

22,122,421

 

 

22,204,955

 

 

22,122,696

 

Diluted

 

 

22,308,769

 

 

22,144,707

 

 

22,311,526

 

 

22,142,808

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

4


Siebert Financial Corp. & Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1,701,000

 

$

1,893,000

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

338,000

 

 

387,000

 

Income from equity investees

 

 

(1,356,000

)

 

(2,084,000

)

Deferred taxes

 

 

(39,000

)

 

12,000

 

Distribution from equity investees

 

 

2,144,000

 

 

1,408,000

 

Employee stock based compensation

 

 

47,000

 

 

103,000

 

Changes in:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receivable from clearing brokers

 

 

2,000

 

 

783,000

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

(668,000

)

 

(62,000

)

Securities owned, at market value

 

 

(380,000

)

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

(80,000

)

 

(292,000

)

 

 

         

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

1,709,000

 

 

2,148,000

 

 

 

         

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements

 

 

(688,000

)

 

(93,000

)

Payment of net advances made to equity investees

 

 

(60,000

)

 

(51,000

)

 

 

         

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(748,000

)

 

(144,000

)

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividend on common stock

 

 

(560,000

)

 

 

 

Proceeds from exercise of options

 

 

11,000

 

 

 

 

Repurchase of common stock

 

 

 

 

 

(6,000

)

 

 

         

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(549,000

)

 

(6,000

)

 

 

         

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

412,000

 

 

1,998,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period

 

 

32,606,000

 

 

30,980,000

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period

 

$

33,018,000

 

$

32,978,000

 

 

 

         

 

 

Supplemental cash flow disclosures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes

 

$

2,046,000

 

$

1,408,000

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

5


Siebert Financial Corp. & Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006
(Unaudited)

 

 

1.

Organization and Basis of Presentation:

 

 

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Siebert Financial Corp. (the “Company”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc. (“Siebert”) and Siebert Women’s Financial Network, Inc. (“WFN”). All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. Investment in two entities in which the Company has ownership interest of 49% and 33.33% are accounted for by the equity method. The statements are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary to reflect fairly the Company's financial position and results of operations, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, have been included.

 

 

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. Accordingly, the statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Because of the nature of the Company’s business, the results of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

 

 

2.

Stock-Based Compensation

 

 

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 123R “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”), which requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the statement of operations as an operating expense, based on their fair values on grant date. Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R the Company accounted for stock based compensation using the intrinsic value method. The Company adopted the provision of SFAS No. 123R effective January 1, 2006, using the modified prospective transition method. Under the modified prospective method, non-cash compensation expense is recognized for the portion of outstanding stock option awards granted prior to the adoption of SFAS 123R for which service has not been rendered, and for any future stock option grants. Accordingly, periods prior to adoption have not been restated. The Company recognizes share-based compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of awards. That cost is recognized as compensation expense over the service period, which would normally be the vesting period of the options.

 

 

 

The following table summarizes information related to options outstanding at June 30, 2007 and 2006:


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Shares

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding - beginning of the period

 

 

1,603,966

 

$

4.28

 

1,768,610

 

$

4.16

 

Forfeited

 

 

(126,966

)

$

4.36

 

(14,000

)

$

3.48

 

Exercised

 

(c)

(4,000

)

$

2.72

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

   

 

 

Outstanding - end of period

 

(a)

1,473,000

 

$

4.28

 

1,754,610

 

$

4.16

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

   

 

 

Fully vested and expected to vest at end of period

 

(b)

1,400,500

 

$

4.32

 

1,671,610

 

$

4.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

   

 

 

Exercisable at end of period

 

(b)

1,400,500

 

$

4.32

 

1,671,610

 

$

4.18

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

   

 

6


(a) Weighted average remaining contractual terms of 4.5 years and aggregate intrinsic value of $454,000.

(b) Weighted average remaining contractual terms of 4.3 years and aggregate intrinsic value of $388,000.

(c) Aggregate intrinsic value at date of exercise was $4,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 30, 2007

 

Options Outstanding

 

Options Exercisable

 

 

 

 

 

Range
Exercise
Prices

 

 

Number
Outstanding

 

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

Number
Exercisable

 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$0.00- 2.31

 

 

 

15,000

 

 

5.3Years

 

$

2.12

 

 

12,000

 

$

2.12

$2.31- 2.69

 

 

 

4,800

 

 

0.6Years

 

$

2.69

 

 

4,800

 

$

2.69

$2.69- 2.81

 

 

 

290,700

 

 

4.4Years

 

$

2.78

 

 

251,200

 

$

2.79

$2.81- 5.33

 

 

 

1,155,000

 

 

4.5Years

 

$

4.58

 

 

1,125,000

 

$

4.60

$5.34-32.50

 

 

 

7,500

 

 

2.4Years

 

$

17.81

 

 

7,500

 

$

17.81

 

 

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

$0.00-32.50

 

 

 

1,473,000

 

 

4.48 Years

 

$

4.28

 

 

1,400,500

 

$

4.32

 

 

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

As of June 30, 2007, there were $119,000 of unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested options which are expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4 years.

 

 

3.

Net Capital

 

 

 

Siebert is subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Uniform Net Capital Rule (Rule 15c3-1), which requires the maintenance of minimum net capital. Siebert has elected to use the alternative method, permitted by the rule, which requires that Siebert maintain minimum net capital, as defined, equal to the greater of $250,000 or two percent of aggregate debit balances arising from customer transactions, as defined. (The net capital rule of the New York Stock Exchange also provides that equity capital may not be withdrawn or cash dividends paid if resulting net capital would be less than five percent of aggregate debits.) As of June 30, 2007, Siebert had net capital of approximately $28,442,000 as compared with net capital requirements of $250,000.

 

 

4.

Capital Transactions:

 

 

 

On May 15, 2000, the board of directors of the Company authorized a stock buy back program of up to one million common shares. As of June 30, 2007, the Company had essentially completed the repurchase.

 

 

5.

Intuit Lawsuit:

 

 

 

Siebert filed a lawsuit against Intuit Inc. (“Intuit”) in New York State Supreme Court on September 17, 2003. The complaint sought $11.1 million in compensatory damages and $33.3 million in punitive damages for claims relating to the Joint Brokerage Service (the “JBS”) conducted during the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 under the Strategic Alliance Agreement between Siebert and Intuit. The Court denied Intuit’s motion to dismiss Siebert’s causes of action for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contractual obligations to pay shared expenses, promissory estoppel, and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The Court

7


 

 

 

granted Intuit’s motion to dismiss Siebert’s causes of action for breach of the express covenant of good faith and fair dealing, misrepresentation and/or fraud, and its request for punitive damages. Intuit has counterclaimed against Siebert, seeking not less than $6.6 million. Siebert and Intuit have appealed from certain portions of the Court’s decision and Siebert has also moved for reargument of that decision regarding punitive damages. In November 2005, Intuit’s counsel was disqualified by the Court from representing Intuit in this action. The Court’s Appellate Division reversed the order of disqualification, but, thereafter, granted Siebert’s motion for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court, which ordered all proceedings stayed pending Siebert’s appeal. By decision dated May 8, 2007, the Court of Appeals affirmed the Appellate Division’s reversal of the order of disqualification. The stay of proceedings was lifted following the decision by the Court of Appeals. The parties have resumed discovery. The outcome of this matter cannot be predicted.

 

 

6.

Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., LLC:

 

 

 

Summarized financial data (presented in thousands) of Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., LLC, (“SBS”) as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 is set forth below. Siebert holds a 49% ownership interest in SBS.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets including secured demand note of $1,200,000 in each period due from Siebert

 

$

26,706,000

 

$

17,470,000

 

 

Total liabilities including subordinated liabilities of $1,200,000 in each period due to Siebert

 

 

16,202,000

 

 

10,358,000

 

 

Total members’ capital

 

 

10,504,000

 

 

7,112,000

 

 

Total revenues

 

 

14,087,000

 

 

11,770,000

 

 

Net income

 

 

2,863,000

 

 

2,279,000

 


 

 

 

Siebert charged SBS $120,000 for general and administrative services for the six month period ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, which Siebert believes approximates the cost of furnishing such services.

 

 

 

Siebert’s share of SBS’s undistributed earnings amounted to $4,755,000 and $3,093,000 at June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Such amounts may not be immediately available for distribution to Siebert for various reasons including the amount of SBS’s available cash, the provisions of the agreement between Siebert and the principals and SBS’s continued compliance with its regulatory and net capital requirements.

 

 

7.

SBS Financial Products Company, LLC

 

 

 

The Company entered into an Operating Agreement, effective as of April 19, 2005 (the “Operating Agreement”), with the two individual principals of SBS (the “Principals”) for the formation of SBS Financial Products Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“SBSFPC”). Pursuant to the terms of the Operating Agreement, the Company and each of the Principals made an initial capital contribution of $400,000 in exchange for a 33.33% initial interest in SBSFPC. SBSFPC engages in derivatives transactions related to the municipal underwriting business. The Operating Agreement provides that profit will be shared 66.66% by the Principals and 33.33% by the Company.

 

 

 

The Company’s share of SBSFPC’s undistributed earnings amounted to $361,000 and $1,113,000 at June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

8


 

 

 

Summarized financial data of SBSFPC as of and for the six months June 30, 2007 and 2006 is set forth below.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

Total assets

 

$

5,438,000

 

$

7,514,000

 

 

Total liabilities

 

 

3,155,000

 

 

2,974,000

 

 

Total members’ capital

 

 

2,284,000

 

 

4,540,000

 

 

Total revenues

 

 

217,000

 

 

4,771,000

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

 

(140,000

)

 

2,905,000

 


 

 

8.

Commitments and Contingent Liabilities:

 

 

 

Siebert terminated the fully disclosed clearing agreement (the “Clearing Agreement”) with Pershing LLC (formerly the Pershing division of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation) (“Pershing”) in 2003. Based on consultation with counsel, Siebert believes that the $1,500,000 that it advanced to Pershing in January 2003 should have been returned and that Pershing may be liable for damages. Pershing expressed its belief that it was entitled to retain the advance and receive a minimum of $3 million for its unreimbursed costs, a termination fee of $500,000 and $5 million for lost revenues. Siebert received a release for the $3 million related to disputed claims for unreimbursed fees and costs. In 2004, Siebert decided not to commence proceedings against Pershing and charged off the $1,500,000 advance to Pershing. Siebert believes the Pershing claims are without merit and that the ultimate outcome of this matter will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

 

 

The Company is involved in various routine lawsuits of a nature deemed by the Company customary and incidental to its business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of such actions will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations.

 

 

9.

Dividend:

 

 

 

On June 4, 2007, the Board of Directors declared a dividend of twelve cents per share on common stock of the Company, which was paid on June 29, 2007 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 20, 2007.

 

 

 

The Chief Executive Officer of the Company waived the right to receive the dividend in excess of the aggregate amount paid to other shareholders.

 

 

10.

New Accounting Pronouncements:

 

 

 

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainties in income taxes recognized in a company’s financial statements in accordance with Statement 109 and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attributes for tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. We adopted the provisions of FIN 48 as of January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN 48 did not impact our financial position, results of operations or cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2007. The Company is not subject to any tax examination for any federal or major state tax jurisdiction for the years prior to 2003.

 

 

 

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 157 (“SFAS 157”), “Fair Value Measurements”. SFAS 157 defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value. It also expands the disclosures about the use of fair value to measure assets and liabilities. SFAS 157 is effective beginning the first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 157 on the Company’s financial statements.

9


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

          This discussion should be read in conjunction with the our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006, and the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

Business Environment

          The uncertainty over the state of the economy weighed on the markets in the second quarter of 2007 due to the high price of oil and the increase of defaults relating to subprime mortgages continues to affect interest in buying stocks. Competition in the brokerage industry remains intense although many of Siebert’s competitors have been consolidated or have gone out of business.

          Like other securities firms, we are directly affected by general economic and market conditions including fluctuations in volume and prices of securities, changes and prospects for changes in interest rates and demand for brokerage and investment banking services, all of which can affect our relative profitability. In periods of reduced market activity, profitability is likely to be adversely affected because certain expenses, including salaries and related costs, portions of communications costs and occupancy expenses remain relatively fixed. Earnings, or loss, for any period should not be considered representative of any other period.

Recent Developments

          On May 15, 2000, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of our common stock. As of June 30, 2007, we had essentially completed the repurchase.

Critical Accounting Policies

          We generally follow accounting policies standard in the brokerage industry and believe that our policies appropriately reflect our financial position and results of operations. Our management makes significant “estimates” that effect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the related disclosure of contigent assets and liabilities included in the financial statements. The estimates relate primarily to revenue and expense items in the normal course of business as to which we receive no confirmations, invoices, or other documentation at the time the books are closed for a period. We use our best judgment, based on our knowledge of these revenue transactions and expenses incurred, to estimate the amounts of such revenue and expense. We are not aware of any material differences between the estimates used in closing our books for the last five years and the actual amounts of revenue and expenses incurred when we subsequently receive the actual confirmations, invoices or other documentation. Estimates are also used in determining the useful lives of intangible assets, and the fair market value of intangible assets and securities. Our management believes that its estimates are reasonable.

Results of Operations

          We believe that our business reflects the current difficult business environment for discount and online and institutional brokers. We had net income of $716,000 and $1,701,000 for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2006

          Total revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $8.6 million, a decrease of $295,000 or 3.3% from the same period in 2006.

          Commission and fee income for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $6.6 million, an increase of $309,000 or 4.9% from the same period in 2006 due to an increase in institutional trading and the commission

10


recapture operation offset by a reduction in commissions generated by retail customers trading volumes as well as a decrease in the average commission charged per trade.

          Investment banking revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $989,000, an increase of $706,000 or 249.47% due to our participation in more new issues in the equity and debt capital markets.

          Income from Siebert’s equity investment in Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., LLC, an entity in which Siebert holds a 49% equity interest (“SBS”), for the three months ended June 30, 2007, was $471,000 compared to income of $686,000, a decrease of $215,000 or 31.4% from the same period in 2006. SBS serves as an underwriter for municipal bond offerings. This decrease was due primarily to an increase in salaries, commission expense and bonus accruals. Loss from our equity investment in SBS Financial Products Company, LLC, an entity in which we hold a 33% equity interest (“SBSFPC”) for the three months ended June 30, 2007, was $49,000 compared to income from our equity investment in SBSFPC of $993,000, a decrease of $1.0 million from the same period in 2006. This decrease was due to a decrease in the number and size of the transactions SBSFPC entered into in the second quarter of 2007.

          Trading profits were $107,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $76,000 or 41.5% over the same period in 2006 due to an overall decrease in trading volume.

          Interest and dividends for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $436,000, an increase of $23,000 or 5.6% from the same period in 2006 primarily due to higher cash balances.

          Total expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $7.3 million, an increase of $784,000 or 12.0% from the same period in 2006.

          Employee compensation and benefit costs for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $2.9 million, an increase of $289,000 or 11.1% from the same period in 2006. This increase was due to an increase in commissions paid based on production and bonus accrual offset by a decrease in employment of temporary employees.

          Clearing and floor brokerage costs for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $1.6 million, an increase of $219,000 or 16.4% from the same period in 2006 primarily due to an increase in listed floor executions for institutional customers executed at the New York Stock Exchange and increased volume relating to the commission recapture operations offset by a decreased volume of trade executions for retail customers.

          Professional fees for the three months ended June 30, 2007, was $1.3 million, an increase of $388,000 or 43.7% from the same period in 2006 due to an increase in consulting fees relating to the commission recapture business and Sarbanes-Oxley and legal fees relating to the Intuit case and other compliance issues.

          Advertising and promotion expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $170,000, a decrease of $69,000 or 28.9% from the same period in 2006 primarily due to the production and airing of television commercials in the Florida region in the second quarter 2006.

          Communications expense for the three months ended June 30, 2007, was $400,000, a decrease of $12,000 or 2.9% from the same period in 2006 due primarily to actively pursuing alternative vendors and utilizing new technologies and solutions.

          Occupancy costs for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $329,000, an increase of $31,000 or 10.4% from the same period in 2006 due to an increase in rents in the Florida branches and California office.

          Other general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2007 were $714,000, a decrease of $62,000 or 8.0% from the same period in 2006 due to the decrease in depreciation and amortization expenses, placement fees, employee training, travel and entertainment, registration and exchange fees offset by increases in printing, subscriptions and transportation costs.

11


          The tax provision for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 was $518,000 and $972,000, respectively, due to our income before income tax of $1,234,000 and $2,313,000, respectively. Such provisions represented effective tax rates of 42% and 42%, respectively.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2006

          Total revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $17.6 million, an increase of $881,000 or 5.3% from the same period in 2006.

          Commission and fee income for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $13.2 million, an increase of $268,000 or 2.1% from the same period in 2006 due to an increase in institutional trading and the commission recapture operation offset by commissions generated by a decrease in retail customers trading volumes as well as a decrease in the average commission charged per trade.

          Investment banking revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $2.0 million, an increase of $1.4 million or 248.6% from the same period in 2006 due to our participation in more new issues in the equity and debt capital markets.

          Income from the Siebert’s equity investment in Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., LLC, an entity in which Siebert holds a 49% equity interest (“SBS”) for the six months ended June 30, 2007, was $1.4 million, compared to income of $1.1 million, an increase of $286,000 or 25.6% from the same period in 2006. This increase was due to an increase in SBS participating in more and larger municipal bond offerings. SBS serves as an underwriter for municipal bond offerings. Loss from our equity investment in SBS Financial Products Company, LLC an entity in which we hold a 33% equity interest (“SBSFPC”) for the six months ended June 30, 2007, was $47,000 as compared to income from our equity investment in SBSFPC of $967,000 from the same period in 2006. This decrease was due to a decrease in the number and size of the transactions SBSFPC entered into in 2007.

          Trading profits were $205,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2007, a decrease of $148,000 or 41.9% over the same period in 2006 due to an overall decrease in trading and volume.

          Interest and dividends for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $886,000, an increase of $97,000 or 12.3% from the same period in 2006 primarily due to higher interest rates and higher cash balances.

          Total expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $14.6 million, an increase of $1.2 million or 9.0% from the same period in 2006.

          Employee compensation and benefit costs for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $6.0 million, an increase of $707,000 or 13.5% from the same period in 2006. This increase was due to an increase in commissions paid based on production and bonus accrual offset by a decrease in employment of temporary employees.

          Clearing and floor brokerage costs for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $3.0 million, an increase of $137,000 or 4.8% from the same period in 2006 primarily due to an increase in listed floor executions for institutional customers executed at the New York Stock Exchange and increase volume relating to the commission recapture operations offset by a decreased volume of trade executions for retail customers.

          Professional fees for the six months ended June 30, 2007, was $2.3 million, an increase of $537,000 or 30.3% from the same period in 2006 due to an increase in consulting fees relating to the commission recapture business and Sarbanes-Oxley and legal fees relating to the Intuit case and other compliance issues.

          Advertising and promotion expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $518,000, a decrease of $156,000 or 23.1% from the same period in 2006 primarily due to the production and airing of television commercials in the Florida region in 2006

12


          Communications expense for the six months ended June 30, 2007, was $785,000, a decrease of $78,000 or 9.0% from the same period in 2006 due to primarily actively pursuing alternative vendors and utilizing new technologies and solutions.

          Occupancy costs for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $642,000, an increase of $76,000 or 13.4% from the same period in 2006 due to an increase in rents in the Florida branches and California office.

          Other general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2007 were $1.5 million decreasing slightly from 2006. This decrease was a result of decreases in depreciation and amortization, placement fees, supplies, registration and exchange fees offset by increases in printing, subscriptions, dues and transportation costs.

          The tax provisions for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 was $1.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively, based on our income before income tax of $2.9 million and $3.3 million, respectively. Such provisions represented effective tax rates of 41% and 42%, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

          Our assets are highly liquid, consisting generally of cash, money market funds and commercial paper. Our total assets at June 30, 2007 were $48 million. As of that date, $35.5 million, or 74%, of total assets were regarded by us as highly liquid.

          On June 4, 2007, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of twelve cents per share on common stock, which was paid on June 29, 2007 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 20, 2007. Our Chief Executive Officer waived the right to receive the dividend in excess of the aggregate amount paid to other shareholders.

          Siebert is subject to the net capital requirements of the SEC, the NYSE and other regulatory authorities. At June 30, 2007, Siebert’s regulatory net capital was $28.4 million, $28.2 million in excess of its minimum capital requirement of $250,000.

          On May 15, 2000, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to 1,000,000 shares of our common stock. As of June 30, 2007, we essentially completed the repurchase.

          Siebert has entered into a Secured Demand Note Collateral Agreement with SBS under which it is obligated to lend to SBS up to $1.2 million pursuant to a secured promissory note on a subordinated basis. Amounts pledged by Siebert under the facility are reflected on our balance sheet as “cash equivalents – restricted”. SBS pays Siebert interest on this amount at the rate of 8% per annum. The facility expires on August 31, 2008, at which time SBS is obligated to repay to Siebert any amounts borrowed by SBS thereunder.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

          Working capital is generally temporarily invested in dollar denominated money market funds and commercial paper. These investments are not subject to material changes in value due to interest rate movements. We also invest in certain short-term municipal bonds, the values of which may fluctuate during the period they are held by us.

          In the normal course of its business, Siebert enters into transactions in various financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk. This risk includes both market and credit risk, which may be in excess of the amounts recognized in our financial statements. Retail customer transactions are cleared through clearing brokers on a fully disclosed basis. If customers do not fulfill their contractual obligations, the clearing broker may charge Siebert for any loss incurred in connection with the purchase or sale of securities at prevailing market prices to satisfy the customers’ obligations. Siebert regularly monitors the activity in its customer accounts for compliance with its margin requirements. Siebert is exposed to the risk of loss on unsettled customer transactions if customers and other counter parties are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations.

13


Item 4T. Controls and Procedures

          We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to us (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

          There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

14


Part II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

          See Part 1-Item 1 “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements-Intuit Lawsuit Update” with respect to our lawsuit against Intuit Inc. which was filed in New York State Supreme Court, County of New York on September 17, 2003, alleging, among other things, Intuit’s breach of contractual obligations, breach of fiduciary duties and misrepresentation and/or fraud, all relating to the Joint Brokerage services conducted under the Strategic Alliance Agreement between Siebert and Intuit.

          We are involved in various routine lawsuits of a nature deem to be customary and incidental to our business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate disposition of such actions will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, which could materially affect our business, financial position and results of operations. There are no material changes from the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

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

On May 15, 2000, our Board of Directors authorized a buy back of up to one million shares of our common stock. As of June 30, 2007, we had essentially completed the repurchase. A summary of our repurchase activity for the three months ended June 30, 2007 is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period

 

Total Number
Of Shares
Purchased

 

Average Price
Paid Per Share

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans

 

Maximum
Number of Shares
That May Yet Be
Purchased Under
The Plan

                 

April 2007

 

0

 

 

 

999,500

 

500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 2007

 

0

 

 

 

999,500

 

500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 2007

 

0

 

 

 

999,500

 

500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

0

 

 

 

999,500

 

500


Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

          None

15


Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

We held our annual meeting on June 4, 2007. At that meeting, the following matters were voted on and received the votes indicated:

 

 

 

 

 

(1)          Election of Directors

 

For

 

Withheld

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muriel F. Siebert

 

21,802,912

 

166,514

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Patricia L. Francy

 

21,876,853

 

92,573

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jane H. Macon

 

21,794,003

 

175,423

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonard M. Leiman

 

21,888,703

 

80,723

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy S. Peterson

 

21,927,624

 

41,802

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert P. Mazzarella

 

21,940,874

 

28,552

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2)          2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Shares Voted

 

19,567,864

 

101,098

 

4,874


Item 5. Other Information

          None

Item 6. Exhibits

          (a)

 

 

 

 

 

 

31.1

Certification of Muriel F. Siebert pursuant to Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

31.2

Certification of Joseph M. Ramos, Jr. pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

32.1

Certification of Muriel F. Siebert of Periodic Financial Report under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

 

32.2

Certification of Joseph M. Ramos, Jr. of Periodic Financial Report under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

16


SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

SIEBERT FINANCIAL CORP.

 

 

By:

/s/ Muriel F. Siebert

 

 

 

 

 

Muriel F. Siebert

 

 

Chairwoman and President

 

 

(principal executive officer)

 

 

 

Dated: August 14, 2007

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Joseph M. Ramos, Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph M. Ramos, Jr.

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(principal financial and accounting officer)

 

 

 

Dated: August 14, 2007

17