SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 11-K
(Mark One):
[ X ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (de) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission file number 0-17156
A. Full title of the plan and address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below: Merisel, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: Merisel, Inc. 127 West 30th Street, New York, NY 10001
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Financial Statements
and Supplemental Schedule
December 31, 2007
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Table of Contents
Page(s)
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 1 |
| | |
Financial Statements: Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits at December 31, 2007 and 2006 | 2 |
| | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the year ended December 31, 2007 | 3 |
| | |
| Notes to Financial Statements | 4-10 |
| | |
Supplemental Schedule: Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2007 | 11 |
| | |
| Signatures | 12 |
| | |
Exhibit Index | 13 |
| | |
| Exhibit 23.1 – Consent of Independent Registered Accounting Firm | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Plan Administrator
Merisel, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
New York, NY
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of the Merisel, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2007. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2007 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming opinions on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule, as listed in the table of contents as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
New York, New York
June 27, 2008
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
December 31, 2007 and 2006
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| Assets: | | | | | | |
Investments : Prudential Retirement Insurance group annuity contract: | | | | | | |
| Pooled separate accounts | | $ | 13,862,473 | | | $ | 11,869,723 | |
| Guaranteed income fund | | | 5,771,245 | | | | 3,518,731 | |
| Merisel, Inc. common stock | | | 165,506 | | | | 252,742 | |
| Participant loans | | | 530,479 | | | | 396,093 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Total investments | | | 20,329,703 | | | | 16,037,289 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Receivables: | | | | | | | | |
| Employer contributions | | | 40,672 | | | | 38,546 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Total assets | | | 20,370,375 | | | | 16,075,835 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Net assets available for benefits | | $ | 20,370,375 | | | $ | 16,075,835 | |
See notes to financial statements
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
Year ended December 31, 2007
| Additions to net assets attributed to: | | | |
| Investment income: | | | |
| Interest income | | $ | 190,476 | |
| Net depreciation in fair value of Merisel, Inc. common stock | | | (22,690 | ) |
| Net appreciation in fair value of pooled separate accounts | | | 1,138,105 | |
| Total investment income | | | 1,305,891 | |
| | | | | |
| Contributions: | | | | |
| Employer | | | 655,516 | |
| Participant | | | 1,878,675 | |
| Rollover | | | 2,274,366 | |
| Total contributions and rollovers | | | 4,808,557 | |
| | | | | |
| Total additions | | | 6,114,448 | |
| | | | | |
| Deductions from net assets attributed to: | | | | |
| | | | | |
| Benefits paid to participants | | | 1,714,213 | |
| Deemed distributions | | | 57,120 | |
| Administrative expenses and other deductions, net | | | 48,575 | |
| Total deductions | | | 1,819,908 | |
| | | | | |
| Net increase in net assets during the year | | | 4,294,540 | |
| | | | | |
| Net assets available for benefits: | | | | |
| Beginning of year | | | 16,075,835 | |
| | | | | |
| End of year | | $ | 20,370,375 | |
See notes to financial statements
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
1. Description of Plan
The following description of the Merisel, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan ("Plan") provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions.
General
The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering employees of Merisel, Inc. the (“Company”) who have 30 days of service and are aged twenty-one years or older. It is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA").
Contributions
Each year, participants may contribute up to 25 percent of pretax annual compensation, as defined by the Plan. Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified defined benefit or defined contribution plans. The Company contributes 50 percent of the first 6 percent of annual compensation that a participant contributes to the Plan. The Company’s matching contribution is made on a bi-weekly basis in line with each pay period and is subject to an annual true up adjustment. To qualify for the bi-weekly matching contribution, participants must be employed by the Company on the last day of each pay period. The amount of the matching contribution is determined each year by the Board of Directors which may, at its discretion, determine that no matching contribution will be made.
Investment Options
Prudential Bank and Trust Company is the trustee while Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (collectively “Prudential”) is the custodian and record keeper of the plan. Participants direct the investment of their contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan. The investment options, under the Plan’s group annuity contract with Prudential, are comprised of pooled separate accounts as well as funds held in the insurance company general account reflecting a guaranteed income fund.
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
Participant Accounts
Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and allocations of (a) the Company’s contribution and (b) Plan earnings, and charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings, contributions or account balances, as specified by the Plan. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's vested account.
Vesting
Participants are vested immediately in their contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the Company’s contribution portion of their accounts is based on years of continuous service. A participant is 100 percent vested after four years of credited service.
Participant Loans
Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of $50,000 or 50 percent of their vested account balance. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account and bear an interest rate equal to 2 percentage points more than the prime rate stated in the Wall Street Journal on the day the loan is made. The interest rates for loans outstanding at December 31, 2007 ranged from 5.0% percent to 10.25% percent. Principal and interest is paid ratably through payroll deductions. The repayment terms are five years or less, but a longer repayment may be permitted for a loan used to buy a principal residence.
Payment of Benefits
On termination of service due to death, disability, retirement or other reasons, a participant may elect to receive either a lump-sum amount equal to the value of the participant’s vested interest in his or her account, or annual installments over a fixed period of years. Inservice distributions are allowed under certain conditions.
Forfeited Accounts
At December 31, 2007 and 2006, forfeited nonvested accounts totaled $26,792 and $3,206 respectively. These accounts may be used to reduce future employer contributions to the Plan and/or to pay administrative expenses. In 2007 and 2006, employer contributions were reduced by $30,150 and $19,730, respectively, and administrative expenses were reduced by $0 and $2,250, respectively, from forfeited nonvested accounts.
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
Acquisitions
During the Plan year ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 Merisel, Inc. acquired several operating entities. The retained employees were allowed to rollover their account balances from their previous employers’ plans and to join the Merisel, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan. Vesting of employer contributions for all such new participants will be based on their previous employers hire date in determining their vesting date.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared under the accrual method of accounting.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires the Plan Administrator to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Investment Valuation and Income Recoginition
The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value. The fair values of units owned by the Plan in pooled separate accounts are based on quoted redemption values on the last trade date of the Plan year. Common stock is valued at the close price on the last trade date of the Plan year. Participant loans are valued at their outstanding balances, which approximate fair value.
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
The Plan’s investment in Merisel, Inc. common stock is stated at fair value as determined by quoted market prices.
Participant loans are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value.
Risks and Uncertainties
The plan provides for various investments options. Investments are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, credit and overall market volatility risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investments and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investments, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risks in the near term would materially affect participant’s account balances and the amounts reported in the accompanying financial statements.
Payment of Benefits
Benefits are recorded when paid.
Expenses
Expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan are paid by the Plan, unless paid by the Company at its option. During 2007 and 2006, the Plan paid $10,392 and $2,250, respectively, to Prudential for administrative and transaction charges, as well as for fees related to the purchase and sale of Merisel, Inc. common stock. The Company at its discretion, decided to pay the fees of the independent registered public accounting firm.
3. Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants would become 100 percent vested in their employer contributions.
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
4. Investments
The following presents the fair value of investments that represent five percent or more of the Plan’s net assets at December 31, 2007 and 2006:
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| Prudential Retirement Insurance group annuity contract accounts: | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Guaranteed Income Fund | | $ | 5,771,245 | | | $ | 3,518,731 | |
| Pooled separate accounts: | | | | | | | | |
| Dryden S&P 500 ® Index Fund | | | 1,587,105 | | | | 1,461,231 | |
| Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Account | | | 1,894,148 | | | | 1,486,424 | |
| Lifetime Growth Fund | | | 1,003,618 | | | | 888,929 | |
| Lifetime Balanced Fund | | | 1,292,127 | | | | 1,307,767 | |
| Lifetime Conservative Growth Fund | | | 1,392,264 | | | | 1,179,250 | |
| International Blend/Munder Capital Fund | | | 1,098,411 | | | | 844,472 | |
| Mid Cap Value Fund (Wellington Mgmt.) | | | * | | | | 965,380 | |
| Wells Fargo Advantage Small Cap Value Fund | | | 1,405,601 | | | | 1,247,502 | |
| Mid Cap Growth/Artisan Partners Fund | | | 1,138,320 | | | | 803,476 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| Merisel, Inc. Common Stock | | | * | | | | * | |
* Amount represents less than 5%.
For the year ended December 31, 2007 the net appreciation in the fair value of investments in pooled separate accounts was $1,138,105 and the net depreciation of the fair value of the investment in Merisel, Inc. Common Stock was $22,690.
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
The investment contracts (Guaranteed Account) earned an average interest rate of approximately 3.65% and 3.3% in the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The credited interest rates for new contributions, which approximate the current market rate, were 3.65% at December 31, 2007 and 2006. The rate on new contributions is guaranteed through the three succeeding calendar year quarters. The credited interest rates for the remaining contract value balance, which approximate the current market rate, were 3.65% at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and were determined based upon the performance of the Company’s general account. The credited interest rates can be changed semi-annually. The guarantee is based on the Company’s ability to meet its financial obligations from its general assets. Restrictions apply to the aggregate movement of funds to other investment options. The fair value of the investment contracts approximates contract value. Participants are allocated interest on the investment contracts based on the average rate earned on all Plan investments in the investment contracts.
The Plan is an individually designed plan. The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated September 30, 2002, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”). Although the Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.
| 6. | Party-In-Interest Transactions |
Certain plan investments are separate accounts managed by Prudential. Since Prudential is the trustee, custodian, and record keeper as discussed in Note 1, Plan expenses discussed in Note 2 are considered party-in-interest transactions. Participant loans and Merisel, Inc. common stock are also considered party-in-interest transactions.
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 2007 and 2006
| 7. | Form 5500 Reconciliation |
Due to reconciling items net assets available for benefits do not agree to the Form 5500. The schedule of the reconciling item follows:
| | | Years Ended December 31, | |
| | | 2007 | | | 2006 | |
| Net assets available for benefits per the finaical statements | | $ | 20,370,375 | | | $ | 16,075,835 | |
| Benefit payments | | | - | | | | 262,281 | |
| Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500 | | $ | 20,370,375 | | | $ | 15,813,554 | |
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
(EIN 95-4172359 Plan 004)
Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
(Schedule H, Part IV, Item 4i - Form 5500)
December 31, 2007
Identity of issuer or borrower | Description of investment | Cost ** | | Current value | |
| | | | | | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Group annuity contract (GA-37125) | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Guaranteed Income Fund | | | $ | 5,771,245 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Dryden S&P 500 ® Index Fund | | | | 1,587,105 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Account | | | | 1,894,148 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Lifetime Aggressive Growth Fund | | | | 680,275 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Lifetime Growth Fund | | | | 1,003,618 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Lifetime Balanced Fund | | | | 1,292,127 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Lifetime Conservative Growth Fund | | | | 1,392,264 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | International Blend/Munder Capital Fund. | | | | 1,098,411 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Mid Cap Value Fund (Wellington Mgmt.) | | | | 997,317 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Wells Fargo Advantage Small Cap Value Fund | | | | 1,405,601 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | AllianceBerstein Growth & Income Fund | | | | 810,240 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Mid Cap Growth/Artisan Partners Fund | | | | 1,138,320 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Small Cap Growth/Granahan Fund | | | | 418,748 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Thornburg International Value Fund | | | | 46,962 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | T. Rowe Growth Stock Fund | | | | 7,567 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Lord Abbett Small Cap Blend Fund | | | | 6,038 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | American Century Heritage Account | | | | 66,352 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | AIM Small Cap Growth Fund | | | | 12,036 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Neuberger Berman Partners Trust Class | | | | 169 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | Core Bond Enhanced Index / PIM Fund | | | | 3,978 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | MSIF Trust U.S. Mid Cap Value Fund | | | | 395 | |
| *Prudential Retirement Insurance | AP Fund | | | | 802 | |
| *Participant loans | Loans to participants with interest rates ranging from 5.00% to 10.25% | | | | 530,479 | |
| *Merisel, Inc. | Shares of plan sponsor common stock | | | | 165,506 | |
| | | | | | |
| | | | $ | 20,329,703 | |
| *Indicates a party-in-interest to the Plan as defined by ERISA. | | | | | |
| | | | | | |
| ** Cost of participant directed investments is not required to be disclosed. | | | | | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the plan administrator has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Date: June 30, 2008 | Merisel, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan |
| | (Name of plan) |
| | |
| | |
| By: | |
| | Jon Peterson |
| | Chief Financial Officer |
MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
