The Company accounts for its investment in Princeton under the equity method of accounting (as the Company does not exhibit control over Princeton) and records the equity in net loss of Princeton on a three-month lag. As of March 31, 2004, the Company’s ownership percentage of the preferred stock, the outstanding stock and the fully diluted stock of Princeton was 26.5%, 28.7% and 22.9%, respectively. As of December 31, 2003, the Company’s ownership percentage of the preferred stock, the outstanding stock and the fully diluted stock of Princeton was 34.0%, 36.2% and 31.7%, respectively.
Princeton’s summarized balance sheets as of December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, are as follows:
Princeton’s statements of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 have been used to calculate the equity in net loss recorded in the Company’s statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Princeton’s summarized statements of operations are as follows:
During the three months ended December 31, 2003, Princeton’s revenues were adversely affected by the loss of certain customers. There can be no assurances that Princeton will replace the revenues attributable to the lost customers.
In March 2004, Princeton completed a $10.3 million private equity financing for working capital purposes, in which the Company did not participate.
Note 8. Related Party Transactions
In November 2001, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (“Employment Agreement”) with the Company’s Chairman and CEO. As part of the Employment Agreement, the Company entered into a Split-Dollar Life Insurance Agreement (“Insurance Agreement”) with a trust beneficially owned by the CEO pursuant to which the Company paid the annual insurance premium of $0.2 million. The underlying life insurance policy (New York Life policy number 46731037) had a face value of $4.5 million and required remaining annual premium payments through March 2012, totaling $1.5 million. In December 2003, the CEO and the Company agreed to amend the Employment Agreement and terminate the provisions of the Employment Agreement related to the Insurance Agreement in exchange for payments by the Company to, and on behalf of, the CEO totaling $0.7 million in cash. Accordingly, the Company assigned to the CEO, and the CEO assumed, all future obligations and benefits related to the Insurance Agreement. The CEO released and discharged the Company from any further obligation to provide or fund any life insurance for the benefit of the CEO, including the Insurance Agreement. The remaining provisions of the Employment Agreement remain in full force and effect. The entire $0.7 million was included in selling, general and administrative expenses during the year ended December 31, 2003. In December 2003, $0.2 million of the total $0.7 million was paid. The remaining $0.5 million was accrued at December 31, 2003 and paid in January 2004.
In August 2003, the Company issued 435,484 shares of its common stock to its CEO in exchange for a salary reduction of $135,000 for the employment period of October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004. These shares were issued under the New Century Equity Holdings Corp. 1996 Employee Comprehensive Stock Plan, which allows for this type of issuance without any material amendments.
In April 2000, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a restricted stock grant to the Company’s CEO. The restricted stock grant consists of Princeton stock equal to 2% of Princeton’s fully diluted shares. The restricted stock grant vested on April 30, 2003. The Company expensed the fair market value of the restricted stock grant over the three-year period ended April 30, 2003. The Company recognized $150,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2003, as compensation expense related to the stock grant.
The Company’s CEO served as Chairman of the Board of Tanisys Technology, Inc. (“Tanisys”) at the time of the Company’s investment in Tanisys and until his resignation in February 2002. A member of the Company’s Board served as Tanisys’ Chairman of the Board and CEO from February 2002 until February 2003 and as a member of Tanisys’ Board from February 2002 to March 2003. This Board member was entitled to receive approximately $15,000 per month from Tanisys as compensation for services as Chairman of the Board and CEO. The Company also appointed the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) and another one of its’ Board members to the Board of Tanisys. This Board member resigned from the Board of Tanisys in February 2003 and the Company’s CFO resigned from the Board of Tanisys in March 2003.
The Company’s CEO served on the Board of Princeton from September 1998 until March 2004. The Company’s CEO served as Chairman of the Board of Princeton from January 2002 until December 2002. The Company’s CFO served as a member of the Board of Princeton from August 2001 until June 2002.
The Company’s CEO and one of its’ Board members serve on the Board of Sharps and did so at the time the Company invested in Sharps. The Company’s CFO was appointed CFO of Sharps in February 2003. In March 2003, Sharps began reimbursing the Company for certain expenses incurred by the Company’s CFO. As of March 31, 2004, approximately $15,000 was due to the Company by Sharps for the unpaid portion of these expenses, all of which was collected in April 2004.
Note 9. Discontinued Operations
In August 2001, the Company invested $1,060,000 in Tanisys. In February 2003, the Company sold its preferred stock in Tanisys to ATE Worldwide LLC, whose majority shareholder is a leader in the semiconductor testing equipment market. The Company received approximately $0.2 million in exchange for its preferred stock, which is reported as net income from disposal of discontinued operations during the three months ended March 31, 2003.
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Item 2.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain “forward-looking” statements as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries that are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company’s management. When used in this report, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect” and “intend” and words or phrases of similar import, as they relate to the Company or its subsidiaries or Company management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, competitive factors, general economic conditions, customer relations, relationships with vendors, the interest rate environment, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, distribution networks, products introductions and acceptance, technological change, changes in industry practices, onetime events and other factors described herein and in other filings made by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Based upon changing conditions, should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
General
The following is a discussion of the interim condensed consolidated financial condition and results of operations for New Century Equity Holdings Corp. and subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”), for the three months ended March 31, 2004. It should be read in conjunction with the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company, the notes thereto and other financial information included elsewhere in this report, and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Results of Operations
Continuing Operations
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses are comprised of all selling, marketing and administrative costs incurred in direct support of the business operations of the Company. For the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, SG&A expenses totaled $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively. SG&A expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2003 includes $0.2 million of compensation expense related to the restricted stock grant issued to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.
Equity in net loss of affiliate totaled $1.2 million and $0.6 million during the three months ended
March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The increase in the equity in net loss of affiliate is the result of an increase in the net loss generated by Princeton eCom Corporation (“Princeton”).
Princeton
Princeton’s revenues decreased to $5.9 million during the three months ended December 31, 2003, from $8.6 million during the three months ended December 31, 2002. Princeton’s net loss of $3.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003, increased from $1.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002. During the three months ended December 31, 2003, Princeton’s revenues and net loss were adversely affected by the loss of certain customers. There can be no assurances that Princeton will replace the revenues attributable to the lost customers.
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Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) is a key indicator used by management to evaluate the operating performance of Princeton. While EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flow from operations as defined by generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered as an indicator of operating performance or an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity, it is included herein to provide additional information with respect to Princeton’s ability to meet future debt service, capital expenditure and working capital requirements. This calculation may differ in method of calculation from similarly titled measures used by other companies. Princeton’s EBITDA is calculated as follows:
| | | Three Months Ended December 31, | |
| | |
| |
| (in thousands) | | 2003 | | 2002 | |
| | |
| |
| |
| Net loss | | $ | (3,527 | ) | $ | (1,817 | ) |
| Less: | | | | | | | |
| Depreciation and amortization expense | | | (1,642 | ) | | (1,480 | ) |
| Interest (expense) income | | | (10 | ) | | 10 | |
| Income tax benefit | | | 250 | | | 292 | |
| | |
|
| |
|
| |
| | | | | | | | |
| EBITDA | | $ | (2,125 | ) | $ | (639 | ) |
| | |
|
| |
|
| |
Discontinued Operations
In February 2003, the Company sold its preferred stock in Tanisys Technology, Inc. to ATE Worldwide LLC, whose majority shareholder is a leader in the semiconductor testing equipment market. The Company received approximately $0.2 million in exchange for its preferred stock, which is reported as net income from disposal of discontinued operations during the three months ended March 31, 2003.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s cash balance decreased to $4.4 million at March 31, 2004, from $5.3 million at December 31, 2003. The decrease relates to the $0.5 million payment related to the termination of the split dollar life insurance agreement with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and the cash portion of corporate expenses. There were no capital expenditures during the three months ended March 31, 2004. The Company anticipates minimal capital expenditures before acquisitions, if any, during the remainder of 2004.
Effective March 25, 2004, the Company entered into a definitive agreement, subject to stockholder approval, to sell all of its holdings in Princeton eCom Corporation (“Princeton”) to existing and new investors of Princeton for $10.0 million in cash. This agreement was executed in conjunction with an equity financing that infused an additional $10.3 million in Princeton for working capital purposes. In conjunction with this financing, the Company’s ownership percentage of the preferred stock, the outstanding stock and the fully diluted stock of Princeton decreased to 26.5%, 28.7% and 22.9%, respectively. The Company also lost its right to appoint a member to Princeton’s Board of Directors. The sale of the Company’s holdings in Princeton and the related proposed liquidation of the Company described below require shareholder approval. The Company’s Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on May 7, 2004, as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting of stockholders on July 6, 2004.
In addition, the Company’s Board of Directors unanimously approved a plan of liquidation of the Company, contingent upon the sale of the Company’s holdings in Princeton. If and when Princeton engages in additional equity financings, the Company’s inability to participate will result in further dilution of the Company’s ownership in Princeton. In addition, the Company has no ongoing operations and therefore no additional cash to continue to support the current holdings or invest in new businesses. The Company currently anticipates that if the proposed sale of the Company’s holdings in Princeton and the proposed liquidation of the Company are not approved, as early as mid-to-late 2005, the Company will have to begin the process of liquidating portions of its holdings in Princeton to raise cash necessary to pay the corporate overhead expenses as well as expenses associated with being a public company. The Company filed a definitive proxy statement seeking shareholder approval of the proposed sale of the Company’s holdings in Princeton and the proposed liquidation of the Company.
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At July 6, 2004 (the date set for the special meeting of stockholders), the Company’s cash position is estimated to be approximately $4.1 million before payment of transaction related fees. In addition to the Company’s cash, the liquidation proceeds would include $10.0 million in cash from the sale of the Company’s holdings in Princeton. The Company also currently holds 375,000 common shares in Sharps Compliance Corp. (“Sharps”) which would be sold for an estimated $0.3 million. The above items represent approximately $14.4 million in estimated liquidation proceeds, before related transaction expenses.
In conjunction with the proposed liquidation, the Company anticipates utilizing cash through completion of the liquidation, including but not limited to: (i) ongoing operating costs of approximately $0.5 million for the period subsequent to shareholder approval, (ii) payment of approximately $0.6 million to the Company’s CEO for his interest in the Company’s holdings of Princeton, (iii) legal, consulting and other transaction related fees estimated at $0.5 million, (iv) severance related expenditures totaling approximately $2.6 million, including payments of approximately $2.5 million to the Company’s two executive officers, (iii) other costs, including payments of accrued liabilities, insurance, vendor arrangement and lease termination and other wind down costs estimated to range from $0.5 million to $1.4 million. In addition, the Company has initially determined that approximately $0.5 million to $0.7 million should be reserved for any unknown liabilities that may arise. As a result, the Company currently estimates that it should be able to distribute to its shareholders, in one or more cash distributions over time, approximately $8.1 million to $9.2 million, or $0.23 to $0.27 per share, in liquidation. These amounts are estimates only and could ultimately be higher or lower.
Lease Guarantees
In October 2000, the Company sold its primary operation companies to Platinum Holdings (“Platinum”). Under the terms of this sale, all leases and corresponding obligations associated with the Transaction Processing and Software divisions were assumed by Platinum. Prior to the Transaction, the Company guaranteed two operating leases for office space of the divested companies. The first lease is related to office space located in San Antonio, Texas, and expires in 2006. Under the original terms of the first lease, the remaining minimum undiscounted rent payments total $4.7 million at March 31, 2004. The second lease is related to office space located in Austin, Texas, and expires in 2010. Under the original terms of the second lease, the remaining minimum undiscounted rent payments total $8.1 million at March 31, 2004. The Company does not believe it is probable that it will be required to perform under these lease guarantees and therefore, no liability has been accrued on the Company’s financial statements. In conjunction with the Transaction, Platinum indemnified the Company should the underlying operating companies not perform under the terms of the office leases.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk
The Company is exposed to interest rate risk primarily through its portfolio of cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities. The Company does not believe that it has significant exposure to market risks associated with changing interest rates as of March 31, 2004, because the Company’s intention is to maintain a liquid portfolio. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments in its operations.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Within the ninety days prior to the date of this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company’s periodic SEC filings.
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The Company is not currently involved in any material litigation, claims or assessments.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
| (a) | Exhibits: |
| | | |
| | 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer in Accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (filed herewith) |
| | | |
| | 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer in Accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (filed herewith) |
| | | |
| | 32.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer in Accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (filed herewith) |
| | | |
| | 32.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer in Accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (filed herewith) |
| | | |
| (b) | Current Reports on Form 8-K: |
| | |
| | Pursuant to General Instructions B.2. and B.6. of Form 8-K, to the extent that the Forms 8-K listed below contain Item 9 and/or Item 12 disclosures, those Items of such Forms 8-K are not incorporated into this Form 10-Q or into any other form or report filed with the Commission into which this Form 10-Q would be incorporated by reference. |
| | |
| | Form 8-K, dated January 22, 2004, filed January 23, 2004, announcing an agreement between the Company and the former majority shareholders of Operator Service Company (“OSC”) to settle all claims related to the April 2000 acquisition of OSC by the Company. |
| | |
| | Form 8-K, dated and filed March 29, 2004, announcing a definitive agreement to sell the Company’s holdings in Princeton eCom Corporation, the Company’s Plan of Liquidation and Dissolution and the Company’s results of operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2003. |
| | |
| | Form 8-K, dated and filed May 12, 2004, announcing the Company’s results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004. |
Items 2, 3, 4 and 5 are not applicable and have been omitted.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| NEW CENTURY EQUITY HOLDINGS CORP. |
| (Registrant) |
| |
Date: May 13, 2004 | By: | /s/ DAVID P. TUSA |
| |
|
| | David P. Tusa |
| | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial |
| | Officer and Corporate Secretary |
| | (Duly authorized and principal financial officer) |
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