UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark one)
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007.
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________
Commission file number 0-5576
SPHERIX INCORPORATED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
| 52-0849320 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
| (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
12051 Indian Creek Court, Beltsville, Maryland 20705
(Address of principal executive offices)
301-419-3900
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 filer, 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
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant’s classes of Common Stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class |
| Outstanding as of May 9, 2007 |
Common Stock, $0.005 par value |
| 14,254,562 shares |
Spherix Incorporated
Form 10-Q
For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2007
Index
2
Spherix Incorporated
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
|
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
| ||||
|
| 2007 |
| 2006 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Revenue |
| $ | 5,347,172 |
| $ | 5,922,164 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Operating expense |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Direct contract and operating costs |
| 4,916,180 |
| 4,920,555 |
| ||
Selling, general and administrative expense |
| 1,410,223 |
| 1,429,944 |
| ||
Research and development expense |
| 1,399,603 |
| 104,751 |
| ||
Total operating expense |
| 7,726,006 |
| 6,455,250 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Loss from operations |
| (2,378,834 | ) | (533,086 | ) | ||
Interest income |
| 109,995 |
| 34,246 |
| ||
Interest expenses |
| 9,182 |
| 34,189 |
| ||
Loss before taxes |
| (2,278,021 | ) | (533,029 | ) | ||
Income tax expense |
| 12,500 |
| — |
| ||
Net loss |
| $ | (2,290,521 | ) | $ | (533,029 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net loss per share, basic |
| $ | (0.16 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) |
Net loss per share, diluted |
| $ | (0.16 | ) | $ | (0.04 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic |
| 13,996,759 |
| 12,982,950 |
| ||
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted |
| 13,996,759 |
| 12,982,950 |
| ||
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
3
Spherix Incorporated
ASSETS |
| March 31, 2007 |
| December 31, |
| ||
Current assets |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents |
| $ | 9,882,630 |
| $ | 10,951,275 |
|
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0 and $15,000 |
| 2,423,619 |
| 2,165,605 |
| ||
Other receivables |
| 75,916 |
| 13,759 |
| ||
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
| 969,525 |
| 643,461 |
| ||
Total current assets |
| 13,351,690 |
| 13,774,100 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Property and equipment, net |
| 3,781,916 |
| 3,914,300 |
| ||
Patents, net of accumulated amortization of $571,213 and $529,971 |
| 646,284 |
| 687,526 |
| ||
Total assets |
| $ | 17,779,890 |
| $ | 18,375,926 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Bank line of credit |
| $ | — |
| $ | — |
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
| 2,790,084 |
| 1,535,543 |
| ||
Accrued salaries and benefits |
| 895,929 |
| 1,147,523 |
| ||
Capital lease obligations |
| 200,334 |
| 225,451 |
| ||
Total current liabilities |
| 3,886,347 |
| 2,908,517 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Capital lease obligations |
| 106,026 |
| 138,748 |
| ||
Deferred compensation |
| 496,426 |
| 495,000 |
| ||
Deferred rent |
| 266,582 |
| 283,064 |
| ||
Total liabilities |
| 4,755,381 |
| 3,825,329 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Commitments and contingencies |
| — |
| — |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Stockholders’ equity |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding |
| — |
| — |
| ||
Common stock, $0.005 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 14,335,000 and 13,892,642 issued, and 14,254,562 and 13,812,204 shares outstanding at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 |
| 71,496 |
| 69,463 |
| ||
Paid-in capital in excess of par value |
| 27,434,784 |
| 26,672,384 |
| ||
Treasury stock, 80,438 shares at cost |
| (464,786 | ) | (464,786 | ) | ||
Accumulated deficit |
| (14,016,985 | ) | (11,726,464 | ) | ||
Total stockholders’ equity |
| 13,024,509 |
| 14,550,597 |
| ||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
| $ | 17,779,890 |
| $ | 18,375,926 |
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
4
Spherix Incorporated
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
|
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
| ||||
|
| 2007 |
| 2006 |
| ||
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net loss |
| $ | (2,290,521 | ) | $ | (533,029 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 643,053 |
| 634,513 |
| ||
Provision for uncollected accounts receivable |
| (15,000 | ) | — |
| ||
Stock-based compensation |
| 6,933 |
| 11,229 |
| ||
Changes in assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Trade accounts receivable |
| (243,014 | ) | (1,637,999 | ) | ||
Other receivables |
| (62,157 | ) | 224,739 |
| ||
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
| (326,064 | ) | (84,828 | ) | ||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
| 761,137 |
| 935,539 |
| ||
Deferred rent |
| (16,482 | ) | (7,550 | ) | ||
Deferred compensation |
| 1,426 |
| 1,426 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net cash used in operating activities |
| (1,540,689 | ) | (455,960 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Purchases of property and equipment |
| (552,040 | ) | (476,519 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net cash used in investing activities |
| (552,040 | ) | (476,519 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net change on bank line of credit |
| — |
| 38,278 |
| ||
Net change in book overdraft |
| 324,423 |
| 24,948 |
| ||
Payments on capital lease obligations |
| (57,839 | ) | (4,114 | ) | ||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock |
| 757,500 |
| 2,665,164 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
| 1,024,084 |
| 2,724,276 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
| (1,068,645 | ) | 1,791,797 |
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
| 10,951,275 |
| 2,667,733 |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
| $ | 9,882,630 |
| $ | 4,459,530 |
|
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
5
Spherix Incorporated
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation
On January 1, 2006, Spherix transferred the assets of its InfoSpherix division to a new wholly-owned subsidiary, InfoSpherix Incorporated (“InfoSpherix”). The activities of the “BioSpherix” Division continue to operate through Spherix Incorporated. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of both Spherix Incorporated and InfoSpherix Incorporated (collectively, the “Company”). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company are unaudited and do not include all of the information and disclosures generally required for annual financial statements. In the opinion of management, the statements contain all material adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2007, the results of its operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, and its cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2007 and 2006. This report should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, which does contain the complete information and disclosure for the year ended December 31, 2006.
2. Use of Estimates and Assumptions
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. This requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the period. Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.
3. Net Loss Per Share
Basic loss per common share has been computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per common share has been computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding without an assumed increase in common shares outstanding for common stock equivalents, as common stock equivalents are antidilutive. Common stock equivalents consist of stock options and warrants that are assumed likely to be exercised. Common stock equivalents were 32,455 at March 31, 2006 and none at March 31, 2007.
4. Stockholders’ Equity
During the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Company sold 442,358 shares for an additional $757,500 in proceeds under the July 22, 2005, Standby Equity Distribution Agreement (“SEDA”). At March 31, 2007, the remaining maximum amount available for future draws under the SEDA was $800,000.
On March 9, 2006, in exchange for the Company’s agreement to reduce the exercise price to $2.04 per share, an institutional investor (“the Investor”) agreed to exercise the remainder of its warrants for the purchase of 585,973 shares of common stock for total proceeds of approximately $1.2 million. In connection with these warrants, the Investor agreed that it would not exercise any of the warrants to the extent that it would acquire shares of Common Stock exceeding 9.9% of the outstanding Common Stock, nor would it knowingly sell shares to anyone to the extent that their holdings in the Company would exceed 4.9% of the outstanding Common Stock. The warrants and shares of Common Stock were issued in transactions exempt from Registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act. The Company has registered the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants for resale by the institutional Investor.
6
5. Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment” (FAS 123R), which requires the measurement of all employee share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, using a fair-value based method and the recording of such expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company uses a Black-Scholes option pricing model and has elected to use the modified prospective transition method and, therefore, has not restated results for prior periods. At the time the Company adopted FAS 123R, there were no unvested options outstanding. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company recognized $6,933 and $3,466 in stock-based compensation expense relating to 59,000 stock options awarded in February 2006. The effect of adopting FAS 123R for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, increased the loss from operations, the loss before taxes, and the net loss by $6,933 and $3,466 and had no effect on basic and diluted earnings per share, net cash flow from operations, or net cash flow from financing activities.
A summary of option activity under the Company’s employee stock option plan for the three months ended March 31, 2007, is presented below:
Options |
|
|
| Shares |
| Weighted- |
| Weighted- |
| Aggregate |
| ||
Outstanding at December 31, 2006 |
| 501,000 |
| $ | 7.11 |
|
|
|
|
| |||
Granted |
| — |
| — |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Exercised |
| — |
| — |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Expired or forfeited |
| — |
| — |
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Outstanding at March 31, 2007 |
| 501,000 |
| $ | 7.11 |
| 2.1 |
| $ | — |
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Exercisable at March 31, 2007 |
| 475,600 |
| $ | 7.37 |
| 2.0 |
| $ | — |
| ||
As of March 31, 2007, there were approximately 25,500 unvested options to purchase common stock under the plans. The total fair value of the unvested options was approximately $47,940. An estimated compensation cost of $79,722 related to these unvested options is expected to be recognized over the next three years.
The Company used the following assumptions in the Black-Scholes calculation used to measure the fair value of the February 2006 option awards in accordance with FAS 123R.
Expected term (in years) |
| 4 |
|
Expected volatility |
| 140.9% |
|
Expected dividends |
| 0% |
|
Risk-free rate |
| 4.6% |
|
6. Income Tax
The Company adopted Financial Standards Accounting Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”) on January 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company recognized no material adjustments. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties on tax liabilities as interest expense. At January 1, 2007 and March 31, 2007, the Company had no unrecognized income tax benefits and recognized no interest or penalties on income tax liabilities.
The Federal and significant State statutes of limitations have not expired for the Company’s tax years ended December 31, 2003 through December 31, 2005. As such, each of these tax years remain subject to examination by taxing authorities. The Federal and significant State statutes of limitations for the Company’s tax years ended December 31, 1998, December 31, 1999 and December 31, 2002 have expired; however $10,217,142 of Federal net operating loss
7
carryforwards generated in these closed years remain available to the Company and are subject to adjustment prior to utilization in future tax years.
7. Information by Business Segment
The Company operates via two principal segments, BioSpherix and InfoSpherix. BioSpherix develops proprietary products for commercial applications. InfoSpherix provides contact center information and reservation services for government and industry, with substantially all of InfoSpherix revenue generated from government customers. Revenue from reservation and tourism services is greatest in the spring and summer when vacation planning is the heaviest. Revenue from other sources tends to be more evenly spread throughout the year, although the fourth quarter is historically the low period of the year.
Financial information by business segment for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 is summarized below:
|
|
|
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
| ||||
|
|
|
| (Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||
|
|
|
| 2007 |
| 2006 |
| ||
Revenue |
| InfoSpherix |
| $ | 5,347 |
| $ | 5,919 |
|
|
| BioSpherix |
| — |
| 3 |
| ||
|
| Total revenue |
| $ | 5,347 |
| $ | 5,922 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Operating (Loss) Income |
| InfoSpherix |
| $ | (302 | ) | $ | 137 |
|
and (Loss) Income Before |
| BioSpherix |
| (2,077 | ) | (670 | ) | ||
Income Taxes |
| Total operating loss |
| (2,379 | ) | (533 | ) | ||
|
| Interest income |
| 110 |
| 34 |
| ||
|
| Interest expense |
| 9 |
| 34 |
| ||
|
| Income (loss) from operations before income taxes |
| $ | (2,278 | ) | $ | (533 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||
Identifiable Assets |
| InfoSpherix |
| $ | 15,229 |
| $ | 11,282 |
|
|
| BioSpherix |
| 2,551 |
| 5,037 |
| ||
|
| Total assets |
| $ | 17,780 |
| $ | 16,319 |
|
8. Subsequent Event
In April 2007, the Company committed to a plan to sell the InfoSpherix subsidiary and on April 17, 2007 signed a non-binding letter of intent to sell the InfoSpherix. The sale will allow Spherix to focus all of its efforts on the BioSpherix Division’s biotechnology products, with the principal focus on the commercialization of Naturlose. The Company is in negotiations regarding the terms of the sale and the sale is subject to several contingencies, including execution of a definitive agreement of sale, and approval of the transaction by the Company’s stockholders. The sale is expected to close by the end of the summer of 2007. The InfoSpherix segment (see note 7) comprises the majority of the Company’s operations.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following is intended to update the information contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, and presumes that readers have access to, and will have read, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in such Form 10-K.
Certain statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as “believes,” “expects,” is or are “expected,” “anticipates,” “anticipated,” “should” and words of similar impact. These forward-looking statements are based on the
8
Company’s current expectations. Because forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, the Company’s actual results could differ materially. See the Company’s Form 8-K filing dated March 26, 1999, for a more detailed statement concerning forward-looking statements.
Overview
The Company operates via two principal segments, BioSpherix and InfoSpherix. BioSpherix develops proprietary products for commercial applications. InfoSpherix provides contact center information and reservation services for government and industry, with substantially all of InfoSpherix revenue generated from government customers.
BioSpherix engages in product development, notably tagatose. The Company’s current focus is on the non-food use of tagatose, which we will market under the name “Naturlose”. Our principal efforts have been to explore whether Naturlose is an effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes. In April 2007, the Company commenced a Phase 3 trial for this purpose.
InfoSpherix has developed a niche in providing campground and other reservation services via its ReserveWorld business line and is one of only two major suppliers of campground reservation services in the U.S. Reservation contracts make up over 50% of the Company’s revenue. The reservation services contracts have revenue streams that are historically greater in the spring and summer months when vacation planning is more prevalent. These reservation contracts have certain fixed costs that continue throughout the year such as depreciation, telephone and computer related service and maintenance contracts, and minimum staffing requirements. These contracts also incur certain costs in advance of the peak seasons in order to staff up and train the work force that will be needed during the peak seasons. On January 23, 2007, the Company concluded its long-standing National Park Service contract. The National Park Service contract contributed approximately $4.0 million in revenue for each of the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, and $174,000 and $794,000 in revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
In April 2007, the Company committed to a plan to sell the InfoSpherix subsidiary and on April 17, 2007 signed a non-binding letter of intent to sell the InfoSpherix. The sale will allow Spherix to focus all of its efforts on the BioSpherix Division’s biotechnology products, with the principal focus on the commercialization of Naturlose. The Company is in negotiations regarding the terms of the sale and the sale is subject to several contingencies, including execution of a definitive agreement of sale, and approval of the transaction by the Company’s stockholders. The sale is expected to close by the end of the summer of 2007. The InfoSpherix segment (see note 7) comprises the majority of the Company’s operations.
Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006
Revenue and Direct Contract and Operating Costs
See “InfoSpherix” below.
Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007, were consistent with those of the same period of the prior year. The Company’s selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of executive management salaries and fringes, sales and marketing costs, finance and accounting, and human resources, as well as costs related to being a public company.
Research and Development
See “BioSpherix” below.
9
Interest
Interest income increased $101,000 between years as a direct result of the increased cash invested, principally generated by the $6 million settlement award with the Department of Agriculture in October 2006.
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2007 |
| 2006 |
| ||
Revenue |
| $ | 5,347,000 |
| $ | 5,919,000 |
|
Direct cost and operating expense |
| 4,916,000 |
| 4,921,000 |
| ||
Gross margin |
| $ | 431,000 |
| $ | 998,000 |
|
InfoSpherix
Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2007, decreased $575,000 (9.7%) from the same period in 2006 due to the completion of the National Park Service contract, which concluded on January 23, 2007. Reductions from the direct costs associated with the National Park Service Contract were off-set by increased costs under the new Michigan contract and additional costs incurred under the contracts transferred from the former South Dakota facility to the new facility in Indiana. The National Park Service contract contributed approximately $4.0 million in revenue for each of the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, and $174,000 and $794,000 in revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
BioSpherix
The primary focus of BioSpherix’s research and development (R&D) activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007, has been on the planning and preparation of a Phase 3 clinical trial in the use of Naturlose for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The Company has completed a dose range-finding study, and the recruitment of patients for the trial, which will take place in Australia and the United States, is on-going. The first participants began the Phase 3 clinical trial in April 2007. More than 400 subjects from the United States and abroad, representing the demographic mix in the U.S., will receive oral doses of Naturlose to test its ability to treat Type 2 diabetes. A Phase 3 clinical trial, which gathers evidence regarding effectiveness and safety, is needed to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of new drugs proposed to the FDA. The Company believes its chances for a successful outcome are enhanced by the widely demonstrated safety of the product, lack of safety being the primary cause for failure of most drug candidates.
In 2005, the Company contracted with the University of Maryland School of Dentistry to conduct a human clinical trial on the oral anti-plaque efficacy of Naturlose. The study demonstrated tagatose to be much more resistant to oral bacteria, which form plaque, than is sorbitol, a sugar substitute that is widely used in oral care products. The study suggested ways of modifying the Naturlose product to effect desired plaque reduction. Such modifications have been made, and the Company has arranged with the University of Maryland School of Dentistry to conduct a trial of Naturlose toothpaste formulated by the Company in an attempt to establish an anti-plaque claim for the toothpaste. The clinical trial started in early 2007.
In the first quarter of 2007, the Company expended $1.4 million in furtherance of its BioSpherix R&D activities, as compared to $105,000 in the first quarter of 2006. The increased level of expenditures is primarily attributable to the Phase 3 trial.
Liquidity and Capital Resources, Consolidated
On March 31, 2006, the Company entered into a new agreement with Bank of America (“the Bank”) to establish a line-of-credit (“New Agreement”) for its subsidiary, InfoSpherix Incorporated, with the outstanding borrowings under the old line of credit transferred to the new agreement. The New Agreement, which matures June 30, 2008, provides for borrowings up to $1.5 million, is collateralized by the subsidiary’s accounts receivables and equipment, and contains covenants on tangible net worth and funded debt to EBITDA ratios. Such covenants could have a limiting effect on the amount of cash that the subsidiary can advance to Spherix. The interest rate under the Agreement is based on the LIBOR daily floating rate plus 3% (approximately 8.5% at March 31, 2007). The Company had no outstanding borrowings under the Agreement at March 31, 2007, and the total amount available for future advances to the subsidiary was $1.5 million under the Agreement.
10
Working capital as of March 31, 2007, was $9.5 million, which represents a $1.4 million decrease from working capital of $10.9 million at December 31, 2006. The decrease in working capital was largely related to the Company’s Phase 3 clinical trial costs.
Spherix expects to expend up to $5 million over the next year in costs related to the Phase 3 clinical trial and other R&D activity. The clinical trial is expected to take at least two years to complete. The Company intends to finance the BioSpherix activities through Spherix’s cash reserves, proceeds from the issuance of common stock, and proceeds from the sale of the InfoSpherix subsidiary. The Company also intends to seek pharmaceutical partners to assist in completing development of the BioSpherix products.
InfoSpherix Incorporated intends to finance its furniture and equipment needs through financing or leasing arrangements where practicable, including those related to the start-up costs of new contracts the Company may win.
Cash flow for the three months ended March 31, 2007, reflects a net cash outflow of $1.1 million, consisting of $1.5 million used in operating activities, $552,000 used in investing activities, and $1 million provided by financing activities. The increase in cash used by operating activities in 2007 from that of the prior year is primarily related to the cost of the Phase 3 clinical trial. Cash used in investing activities was consistent with that of the prior year. Cash flows from financing activities in 2006 included proceeds from the issuance of warrants.
Trends and Outlooks
BioSpherix
· BioSpherix’s primary emphasis is on a Phase 3 clinical trial to demonstrate that Naturlose is a successful treatment for Type 2 diabetes. The first participants have already been enrolled and the trial began in April 2007.
· Costs of conducting the Phase 3 trial have substantially increased as we have obtained further direction from the FDA concerning the processes to be employed in the trial. The Company expects to spend up to $5 million in R&D costs over the next year. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the sale of the InfoSpherix subsidiary to fund the Phase 3 trial. If the sale is not concluded, the Company will need to reassess continuation of the tests in view of the increased costs of the tests and the expected follow on costs in pursuit of FDA approval.
InfoSpherix
· The Company concluded the National Park Service contract on January 23, 2007. The National Park Service contract contributed approximately $4 million in revenue for each of the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005. The loss of the National Park Service contract will have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial results in comparison to the prior year.
· Since 1998, InfoSpherix has grown its government park reservation business from one contract to 17 government reservation contracts. InfoSpherix’s reservation business accounted for over 60% of the Company’s revenue in 2006 and 2005, and over 50% for the three months ended March 31, 2007. InfoSpherix is now one of only two major suppliers of Government campground reservation services in the U.S.
· On February 6, 2007, the Company signed an agreement to lease 32,423 square feet of facility space in Frostburg, Maryland effective December 1, 2007, for use as a call center to replace the existing Cumberland, Maryland facility.
· In April 2007, the Company signed a non-binding letter of intent to sell the InfoSpherix subsidiary. The sale will allow Spherix to focus all of its efforts on the BioSpherix Division’s biotechnology products, with the principal focus on the commercialization of Naturlose.
11
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The Company manages its debt and its available cash considering available investment opportunities and risks, tax consequences and overall financing strategies.
At March 31, 2007, the Company did not have any fixed-rate or variable-rate indebtedness. The Company has not entered into any interest rate swaps or other derivatives with respect to its indebtedness.
Cash available for investment is typically invested in short term funds, which generally mature in 30 days, or money-market funds. In general, such funds are not subject to market risk because the interest paid on such funds fluctuates with the prevailing interest rate. The carrying amounts approximate market value. It is the Company’s practice to hold these investments to maturity.
Assuming the March 31, 2007, variable rate debt and cash and cash available for investment, a one percent change in interest rates would impact net interest income by less than $100,000.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures. We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports, such as this report on Form 10-Q, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. These controls and procedures are based closely on the definition of “disclosure controls and procedures” in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Rules adopted by the SEC require that we present the conclusions of the Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer about the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report.
Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls. Management, including our Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer, do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and fraud. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management’s override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
Periodic Evaluation and Conclusion. 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/Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their objective pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective at that reasonable assurance level. There were no significant changes in internal controls during the latest quarter over financial reporting that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal controls over financial reporting.
12
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 Form 10-K for the year ending December 31, 2006, which could materially affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The risks described in our Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.
31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Spherix Incorporated pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Spherix Incorporated pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
| Spherix Incorporated | ||
|
|
| (Registrant) | |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Date: |
| May 18, 2007 | By: | /s/ Richard C. Levin |
|
|
|
| Richard C. Levin |
|
|
|
| Chief Executive Officer, President, |
|
|
|
| and Chief Financial Officer |
13