WESTERN CAPITAL RESOURCES, INC. - Quarter Report: 2021 September (Form 10-Q)

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-Q

☒   Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021

☐   Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File Number:   000-52015

Western Capital Resources, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

11550 “I” Street, Suite 150, Omaha, Nebraska 68137 

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (402) 551-8888

N/A

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

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

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 ☑  No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☑   No ☐

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

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

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

Yes ☐ No ☑

As of November 12, 2021, the registrant had outstanding 9,108,053 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

Western Capital Resources, Inc.

Index

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

WESTERN CAPITAL RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONTENTS

 WESTERN CAPITAL RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)  

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements                

WESTERN CAPITAL RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)  

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

WESTERN CAPITAL RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY (Unaudited)  

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

WESTERN CAPITAL RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES  

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)  

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

WESTERN CAPITAL RESOURCES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

Western Capital Resources, Inc. (“WCR”) is a parent company owning operating subsidiaries, with percentage owned shown parenthetically, as summarized below.

Cellular Retail

PQH Wireless, Inc. (“PQH”) (100%) – operates 231 cellular retail stores as of September 30, 2021 (130 100% owned plus 101 held through its controlled but less than 100% owned subsidiaries), exclusively as an authorized retailer of the Cricket brand.

Direct to Consumer

J&P Park Acquisitions, Inc. (“JPPA”) (100%) – an online and direct marketing distribution retailer of 1) live plants, seeds, holiday gifts and garden accessories selling its products under Park Seed, Jackson & Perkins, and Wayside Gardens brand names and 2) home improvement and restoration products operating under the Van Dyke’s Restorers brand, as well as a seed wholesaler under the Park Wholesale brand.

J&P Real Estate, LLC (“JPRE”) (100%) – owns real estate utilized as JPPA’s distribution and warehouse facility.

Manufacturing

Swisher Acquisition, Inc. (“SAI”) (100%) - a manufacturer of lawn and garden power equipment and emergency safety shelters under the Swisher brand name, and a provider of turn-key manufacturing services to third parties.

Consumer Finance

Wyoming Financial Lenders, Inc. (“WFL”) (100%) – owns and operates “payday” stores (19 as of September 30, 2021) in four states (Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota and Wyoming) providing sub-prime short-term uncollateralized non-recourse “cash advance” or “payday” loans typically ranging from $100 to $500 with a maturity of generally two to four weeks, sub-prime short-term uncollateralized non-recourse installment loans typically ranging from $300 to $800 with a maturity of six months, check cashing and other money services to individuals.

Express Pawn, Inc. (“EPI”) (100%) – owns and operates retail pawn stores (three as of September 30, 2021) in Nebraska and Iowa providing collateralized non-recourse pawn loans and retail sales of merchandise obtained from forfeited pawn loans or purchased from customers.

References in these financial statement notes to “Company,” “we” or “us” refer to Western Capital Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries. References to specific companies within our enterprise, such as” “PQH,” “JPPA,” “JPRE,” “SAI,” “WFL,” or “EPI” are references only to those companies.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared according to the instructions to Form 10-Q and Section 210.8-03(b) of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and, therefore, certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been omitted.

On January 8, 2021, we completed a merger with SAI (“Merger Transaction”). The Company issued 408,000 shares of our common stock in exchange for all of the equity interest of SAI resulting in SAI becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The transaction falls under the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, “Business Combinations” for entities under common control. Financial statements and financial information presented herein for prior years has been retrospectively adjusted using the pooling-of-interest method to furnish enhanced comparative information.

In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021.

Management has analyzed the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”) on its financial statements as of September 30, 2021 and has determined that the changes to its significant judgements and estimates did not have a material impact with respect to goodwill, intangible assets or long-lived assets.

For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

Basis of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of WCR, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and other entities in which the Company owns a controlling financial interest. For financial interests in which the Company owns a controlling financial interest, the Company applies the provisions of ASC 810, “Consolidation” applicable to reporting the equity and net income or loss attributable to noncontrolling interests. Intercompany balances and transactions of the Company have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that may affect certain reported amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on historical experience, estimated expected lifetime credits losses, economic conditions or future economic trends and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant management estimates relate to the loans receivable allowance for credit losses, carrying value and impairment of goodwill, other long-lived assets, right-of-use assets and related liabilities (including the applicable discount rate), inventory valuation and obsolescence, estimated useful lives of intangible assets and property and equipment, gift certificate and merchandise credits liability and deferred taxes and tax uncertainties.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Inventory

Manufacturing

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost for manufactured finished goods is determined using the standard cost method. Raw materials consist primarily of parts used to make products. Fabricated components consist of processed raw materials, capitalized labor and overhead. Finished goods consist of completed products, parts and accessories available for sale. An inventory valuation allowance is provided for excess, obsolete and slow-moving inventory.

Earnings Per Common Share

The Company computes basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) in accordance with ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share,” which is computed by dividing the income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS gives effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding during the period, as calculated using the treasury stock method. In computing diluted EPS, the weighted average market price for the period is used in determining the number of common shares assumed to be purchased from the exercise of stock options. As of September 30, 2020, 65,000 of potential common shares equivalents from stock options were excluded from the diluted EPS calculations as their effect is anti-dilutive.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which eliminates certain exceptions to the existing guidance for income taxes related to the approach for intra-period tax allocations, the methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period and the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. This ASU also simplifies the accounting for income taxes by clarifying and amending existing guidance related to the effects of enacted changes in tax laws or rates in the effective tax rate computation, the recognition of franchise tax and the evaluation of a step-up in the tax basis of goodwill, among other clarifications. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted ASU 2019-12 on January 1, 2021, the adoption of which did not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

No other new accounting pronouncements issued or effective during the fiscal year have had or are expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Supply Chain - Fluctuations in the availability and price of inputs could have an adverse effect on our ability to manufacture and sell our products profitably and could adversely affect our margins and revenue.

Our manufacturing operations depend upon the adequate supply of steel, engines and other components of raw materials. Our direct-to-consumer operations depend upon an adequate supply of, among other things, seeds and live plants. Our inability to procure any of these production materials, components or finished goods, delays in receiving them or not being able to procure them at competitive prices, particularly during applicable peak seasons, could adversely impact our ability to produce our products and to sell our products on a cost effective basis which, in turn, could adversely affect our revenue and profitability.

Our results of operations may be negatively impacted by product liability lawsuits.

The Company’s Manufacturing segment is subject to potential product liability risks that relate to the design, manufacture, sale and use of our products. To date, we have not incurred material costs related to these product liability claims. While we believe our current general liability and product liability insurance is adequate to protect us from future product liability claims, there can be no assurance that our coverage will be adequate to cover all claims that may arise. Additionally, we may not be able to maintain insurance coverage in the future at an acceptable cost. Significant losses not covered by insurance or for which third-party indemnification is not available could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In addition, it may be necessary for us to recall products that do not meet approved specifications, which could result in adverse publicity as well as costs connected to the recall and loss of revenue.

Regulatory

The Company’s Consumer Finance segment activities are highly regulated under numerous federal, state, and local laws, regulations and rules, which are subject to change. New laws, regulations or rules could be enacted or issued, interpretations of existing laws, regulations or rules may change and enforcement action by regulatory agencies may intensify. Over the past several years, consumer advocacy groups and certain media reports have advocated governmental and regulatory action to prohibit or severely restrict sub-prime lending activities of the kind conducted by the Company. After several years of research, debate, and public hearings, in October 2017 the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) adopted a new rule for payday lending. The 2017 rule, originally scheduled to go into effect in August 2019, would have imposed significant restrictions on the industry, and it was expected that a large number of lenders would be forced to close their stores. The CFPB’s studies projected a reduction in the number of lenders by 50%, while industry studies forecasted a much higher attrition rate if the rule is implemented as originally adopted.

However, in January 2018, the CFPB issued a statement that it intended to “reconsider” the regulation. In July 2020, the CFPB issued a final rule applicable to the 2017 rule. The final rule rescinded the mandatory underwriting provisions of the 2017 rule but did not rescind or alter the payments provisions of the 2017 rule. The CFPB will seek to have these rules go into effect with a reasonable period for entities to come into compliance. The implementation of the final rule is likely to result in a reduction of in-house bad debt collections, higher collection costs and thus a negative impact and further contraction of our Consumer Finance segment.

The above rule or any other adverse change in present federal, state, or local laws or regulations that govern or otherwise affect lending could result in the Consumer Finance segment’s curtailment or cessation of operations in certain or all jurisdictions or locations. Furthermore, any failure to comply with any applicable local, state or federal laws or regulations could result in fines, litigation, closure of one or more store locations or negative publicity. Any such change or failure would have a corresponding impact on the Company’s and segment’s results of operations and financial condition, primarily through a decrease in revenues resulting from the cessation or curtailment of operations, or a decrease in operating income through increased legal expenditures or fines, and could also negatively affect the Company’s general business prospects due to lost or decreased operating income or if negative publicity effects its ability to obtain additional financing as needed.

In addition, the passage of federal, additional state or local laws and regulations or changes in interpretations of them could, at any point, essentially prohibit the Consumer Finance segment from conducting its lending business in its current form. Any such legal or regulatory change would certainly have a material and adverse effect on the Company, its operating results, financial condition and prospects, and perhaps even the viability of the Consumer Finance segment.

The following table shows the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, held-to-maturity investments, and other investments by significant investment category, recorded as cash and cash equivalents or short- and long-term investments:

Investments consisted of the following:

Interest income recognized on held-to-maturity investments and other sources was as follows:

The Company has demand deposits at financial institutions, often times in excess of the limit for insurance by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had demand deposits in excess of insurance amounts of approximately $7.04 million.

The Company has deposited in aggregate $2.79 million of cash across many different accounts at financial institutions as an accommodation to its majority stockholder, which has other business relationships with the financial institution. The funds in these accounts can be withdrawn at any time, do not serve as collateral in any way, and are held on market terms.

5.       Loans Receivable –

The Consumer Finance segment’s outstanding loans receivable aging is as follows:

A breakdown of accounts receivables by segment is as follows:

A portion of accounts receivable are unsettled credit card sales from the prior one to five business days. Included in Accounts Receivable is $574,633 and $492,213 of merchant accounts receivable as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

A breakdown of inventory is as follows:

Inventory write-downs have been reflected in adjustments to cost of goods sold in the Statements of Income. Management believes that these reductions properly reflect inventory values, and no additional losses will be incurred upon disposition.

Prepaid direct-response advertising costs as of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were $0 and $0.48 million, respectively. Included in Advertising, Marketing and Development for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were advertising expenses of $1.41 million and $0.72 million and $4.58 million and $4.15 million, respectively.

Total components of operating lease expense (in thousands) are as follows:

Other information related to operating leases was as follows:

Future minimum lease payments under operating leases as of September 30, 2021 (in thousands) are as follows:

10.       Intangible Assets –

A rollforward of the Company’s intangible assets is as follows:

As of September 30, 2021, estimated future amortization expense for the amortizable intangible assets is as follows:

A breakdown of notes payable – long term is as follows:

Future minimum long-term principal payments are as follows:

On October 22, 2010 SAI obtained a senior credit facility (“Revolving Loan”) with a bank. The Revolving Loan, as previously amended, had a credit limit of up to $4,500,000 based on percentages of eligible inventory, an interest rate of LIBOR plus 4.5% (4.625% at September 30, 2021), and a maturity date of October 21, 2021, and contained certain restrictive financial covenants. SAI entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with its senior lender on April 8, 2021. The Credit Agreement modified the revolving line of credit limit to $2.5 million based on an inventory and receivables availability, and subjects SAI to various covenants, including a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage ratio and maximum Senior Funded Debt to EBITDA ratio. The Commercial Promissory Note associated with the Credit Agreement has a maturity date of April 30, 2022. The Revolving Loan, as amended, continues to be secured by substantially all assets of SAI.

On August 6, 2010 SAI executed secured subordinated promissory notes (“Subordinated Loans”) to borrow $1,350,000 from parties that were majority shareholders of SAI until the Merger Transaction on January 8, 2021. The notes, as amended, included interest at 16% and a maturity date of December 31, 2023. Pursuant to the Merger Transaction, $596,602 of principal and $123,572 of accrued interest was paid at or around the closing of the Merger Transaction and the remaining principal balance of $922,178 was repaid with WCR stock issued in the Merger Transaction. The $922,178 repayment is presented herein retrospectively to furnish comparative information.

SAI was party to a Management and Advisory Agreement dated August 6, 2010, as amended April 1, 2012, with Blackstreet Capital Management, LLC (“Blackstreet”) under which Blackstreet provides certain financial, managerial, strategic and operating advice and assistance. The agreement required SAI to pay Blackstreet a fee in an amount equal to the greater of (i) $250,000 (subject to annual increases of five percent) or (ii) five percent of SAI’s “EBITDA” as defined under the agreement. As of December 31, 2020, SAI owed Blackstreet $2,513,546 of accrued fees under the agreement. On January 8, 2021, pursuant to the Merger Transaction, the agreement was terminated, $13,546 of the accrued fees were paid to Blackstreet, and the remaining $2,500,000 was converted into a subordinated note payable to Blackstreet. The note is payable in ten consecutive annual lump sum installments of $250,000, without interest thereon, commencing on January 31, 2021, is unsecured and is guaranteed by the Company. The accrued liability converted to a note is presented herein retrospectively to furnish comparative information.

Legal Proceedings

The Company is party to a variety of legal actions arising out of the normal course of business. Plaintiffs occasionally seek punitive or exemplary damages. The Company does not believe that such normal and routine litigation will have a material impact on its consolidated financial results.

Cellular Retail

Compensation from Cricket Wireless – As a Cricket Wireless authorized retailer, we earn compensation from Cricket Wireless for activating a new customer on the Cricket Wireless network and activating new devices for existing Cricket Wireless customers (“back-end compensation”) and upon an existing Cricket Wireless customer whom we originally activated on the Cricket Wireless GSM network making a continuing service payment (“CSP”). Compensation from Cricket Wireless for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was $9.01 million and $8.05 million and $26.19 million and $25.93 million, respectively. Due to COVID-19 and at the request of Cricket Wireless, the Cellular Retail segment temporarily closed approximately 75 retail locations in March 2020. Included in the compensation from Cricket Wireless for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 were COVID-19 related supplemental commissions of $1.24 million and $1.53 million, respectively.

Cellular Retail revenues are recognized per ASC 606, “Revenue Recognition” and consist of the following:

Direct to Consumer

Direct to Consumer revenue is recognized per ASC 606 and consists of the following:

Manufacturing

Manufacturing revenue is recognized per ASC 606 and consists of the following:

Consumer Finance

Consumer Finance revenue from merchandise sales is recognized per ASC 606 and consists of the following:

Consumer finance revenue from loan fees and interest is recognized per ASC 825 and consist of the following:

See Note 16, “Segment Information,” for disaggregation of revenue by segment.

A breakout of other expense is as follows:

Cellular Retail Acquisition

On September 9, 2021, the Company’s Cellular Retail segment completed an acquisition of assets accounted for under ASC 805-50, acquiring 25 Cricket Wireless retail stores from another authorized Cricket retailer.

The purchase price calculation (in thousands) was as follows:

The assets acquired and liabilities assumed (in thousands) were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the purchase date as follows:

Segment information related to the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands) is as follows:

Following is the calculation of basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three and nine month periods ended on September 30, 2021 and 2020: