On October 21, 2011, the Company issued a promissory note to PawnMart, Inc. in exchange for the repurchase of the 3,050,000 shares of preferred stock. The note carries an interest rate of 7%, with quarterly payments of $66,801. On March 30, 2012 the Company revised the agreement with PawnMart, Inc. to release the building as security on the original note. The Company made a payment of $925,922. In April of 2012, the Company made a $100,000 payment. The Company was to make quarterly payments of $34,000 with the last payment being $34,965 until maturity April 1, 2014. On March 1, 2013, the Company made a payment of $118,000. On March 28, 2013 the Company paid the promissory note in full plus accrued interest for a total payment of $46,353. Interest expense on this note was $5,512 in 2013. There is no longer a liability related to this note.
On August 9, 2013, the Company signed loan documents for a line of credit with a local bank, American Bank Center, in the amount of $300,000 in order to help fund the cash redemption of less than whole shares which resulted from the 1:10,000 reverse stock split, which occurred on August 14, 2013. The line of credit has a variable interest rate of 1.509 percent above Wall Street Journal U.S. Prime Rate which was 3.25% as of March 31, 2014. The Company makes monthly interest payments. The loan matures August 8, 2014. The Company has set up monthly payments with an automatic payment of $25,000. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had outstanding $127,827 against its line of credit. As of March 31, 2014 interest expense on this line of credit was $3,661. There are no financial covenants associated with the line of credit.
The Company measures and records compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors, including employee stock options, based on estimated fair values. There were no compensation costs or deferred tax benefits recognized for stock-based compensation awards for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013. Changes are due to the stock buyback and reverse stock split
Option activity for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013 and the three months ended March 31, 2014 was as follows:
Exercisable options totaled 538.8113 at December 31, 2013 and totaled 518.8113at March 31, 2014.
NOTE 10 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company operates in a legal and regulatory environment that exposes it to potentially significant litigation risks. Issuers of certain alternative products sold by the Company are in Bankruptcy or may have other financial difficulties. As a result of such alleged failings of alternative products and the uncertainty of client recovery from the various product issuers, the Company is subject to several legal and/or arbitration proceedings. These proceedings include customer suits and arbitrations related to the failure of Medical Capital, other alternative investments alleged to be unsuitable, the bankruptcy proceedings of the various DBSI entities and the bankruptcy of other various entities. The Company vigorously contests the allegations of the various proceedings and believes that there are multiple meritorious legal and fact based defenses in these matters. Such cases are subject to many uncertainties, and their outcome is often difficult to predict, including the impact on operations or on the financial statements, particularly in the earlier stages of a case. The Company makes provisions for cases brought against it when, in the opinion of management after seeking legal advice, it is probable that a liability exists, and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The current proceedings are subject to uncertainties and, as such, the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result from the outcome of these cases; however, results in these cases that are against the interests of the Company could have a severe negative impact on the financial position of the Company. At March 31, 2014, the Company is a defendant in seven on-going suits or arbitrations as discussed above. The Company expects to vigorously defend and ultimately prevail in these cases. In April 2014, the Company settled one of the aforementioned lawsuits in the amount of $6,000. During 2012, the Company settled lawsuits that required a $22,000 payment in 2013 and an additional $22,000 payment during 2014. This payment was made during April of 2014. Subsequent to the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the Company received an additional complaint. Should the complaint become an arbitration, it would be covered under the Company’s liability insurance policy and any amounts of shared coverage by the Company to the insurance company is not material to the financial statements. No further payments will be required on the aforementioned settled proceedings.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
GENERAL
Capital Financial Holdings, Inc. derives the majority of its revenues and net income from sales of mutual funds, insurance products, and various other securities through Capital Financial Services, Inc. (“CFS”), the Company’s broker-dealer subsidiary.
The Company has been engaged in the financial services business since 1987. The Company was incorporated September 22, 1987, as a North Dakota corporation. The Company’s principal offices are located at 1 Main Street North, Minot, North Dakota 58703. As of March 31, 2014, the Company had 17 full-time employees and 1 part-time employees consisting of officers, securities distribution, data processing, compliance, accounting, and clerical support staff.
CFS is a full-service brokerage firm. CFS is registered with the SEC as an investment advisor and broker-dealer and also with FINRA as a broker-dealer. CFS specializes in providing investment products and services to independent investment representatives, financial planners, and investment advisors and currently supports over 211 investment representatives and investment advisors.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
| | Three Months Ended | |
| | March 31, | |
| | 2014 | | | 2013 | |
Net income (loss) | | | (52,127 | ) | | | 5,722 | |
Income per share: | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | | (42 | ) | | | 4 | |
Diluted | | | (42 | ) | | | 4 | |
The Company reported net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, of $52,127, compared to net income of $5,722 for the same quarter in 2013. The loss in the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was due to stagnant growth and an increase in salaries, auditing expenses and commission expense during the first quarter of 2014.
Operating revenues
Total operating revenues for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 were $5,468,830, a slight increase from $5,462,140 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The increases for the three month period resulted primarily from increases in fee income received by CFS for assets held under management, the Company’s broker-dealer division.
Fee Income
Fee income for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was $366,267, an increase of 59% from $229,585 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The increases were due to an increase in fee income received by CFS, as a result of higher values of client assets under management.
The Company earns investment advisory fees in connection with CFS’ registered investment advisor. The Company pays the registered representatives a portion of this fee income as commission expense and retains the balance. These fees constituted 6% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for 2014.
Commission Income
Commission income includes CFS commissions. The Company pays the registered representatives a percentage of this income as commission expense and retains the balance. Commission income for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was $4,968,635, a decrease of 2% from $5,109,867 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The decreases were due primarily to the decrease in commissions received by CFS due to market conditions. Commission revenues constituted 92% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for 2014.
Other income
Interest and other income for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was $133,928, an increase of 9% from $122,688 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The increases were due to an increase in the marketing income received related to alternative investment products. Interest and other income constituted 2% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
Operating expenses
Total operating expenses for the quarter March 31, 2014 were $5,505,847, an increase of 1% from $5,432,545 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The increases resulted from the net increase in the expense categories described below.
Compensation and benefits
Compensation and benefits expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was $301,365, a slight increase from $300,349 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The increases resulted from an increase in wages and benefits to employees and payroll taxes.
Commission expense
Commission expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was $4,866,481, an increase of 2% from $4,758,550 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. While there was a slight increase in commission expense, overall expense was what the Company expected.
General and administrative expense
Total general and administrative expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 were $331,050, a decrease of 9% from $367,042 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013. The decreases were due primarily to a decrease in the legal expenses incurred through litigation costs and outside professional services..
Depreciation
Depreciation expense for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 was $6,949, an increase of 5% from $6,604 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013..
Liquidity and capital resources
Net cash used in operating activities was $370,016 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $70,599 during the three months ended March 31, 2013. The primary difference corresponds to bonus compensation paid to employees during the first quarter of 2014 as compared to bonus compensation paid to employees during the first quarter of 2013. The compensation for bonuses was included within accounts payable as of March 31, 2014.
Net cash used in investing activities was $3,550 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $12,668 for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The primary difference corresponds with the purchases of assets during the first quarter of 2014 as compared to first quarter in 2013.
Net cash used in financing activities was $72,896for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to net cash used in financing activities of $170,841 for the three months ended March 31, 2013. The primary difference corresponds with the early repayment of the promissory note with PawnMart, and the line of credit issued to the Company in 2013.
At March 31, 2014, the Company held $1,218,661 in cash and cash equivalents, as compared to $1,108,696 at March 31, 2013. The Company is required to maintain certain levels of cash and liquid securities in CFS to meet regulatory net capital requirements.
On August 9, 2013, the Company signed loan documents for a line of credit with a local bank, American Bank Center, in the amount of $300,000 in order to help fund the stock split. The line of credit has a variable interest rate of 1.509 percent above Wall Street Journal U.S. Prime Rate which was 3.25% as of March 31, 2014. The Company makes monthly interest payments. The loan matures August 8, 2014. The Company has set up monthly payments with an automatic payment of $25,000. As of March, the Company had outstanding $127,827 against its line of credit. As of March 31, 2014 interest expense on this line of credit was $6,274. There are no financial covenants associated with the line of credit.
The Company has historically relied upon sales of its equity securities and debt instruments, as well as bank loans, for liquidity and growth. Management believes that the Company’s existing liquid assets, along with cash flow from operations, will provide the Company with sufficient resources to meet its ordinary operating expenses during the next twelve months. Significant, unforeseen or extraordinary expenses may require the Company to seek alternative financing sources, including common or preferred share issuance or additional debt financing.
In addition to the liabilities coming due in the next twelve months, management expects that the principal needs for cash may be broker recruitment, repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock, and debt service. Management also expects to realize increases in consultant expenses as well as increased compliance and legal costs with respect to its broker dealer subsidiary related to regulatory and litigation matters.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
When used herein, in future filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), in the Company's press releases, and in other Company-authorized written or oral statements, the words and phrases "can be," "expects," "anticipates," "may affect," "may depend," "believes," "estimate," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including those set forth in this "Forward-Looking Statements" section, which could cause actual results for future periods to differ materially from those presently anticipated or projected. The Company does not undertake and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s:
● | Business strategies and investment policies, |
● | Possible or assumed future results of operations and operating cash flows, |
● | Financing plans and the availability of short-term borrowing, |
● | Potential growth opportunities, |
● | Recruitment and retention of the Company’s key employees, |
● | Potential operating performance, achievements, productivity improvements, efficiency and cost reduction efforts, |
● | Likelihood of success and impact of litigation, |
● | Expectations with respect to the economy, securities markets, the market for merger and acquisition activity, the market for asset management activity, and other industry trends, |
● | Effect from the impact of future legislation and regulation on the Company. |
The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, and future results could differ materially from historical performance:
● | General political and economic conditions which may be less favorable than expected; |
● | The effect of changes in interest rates, inflation rates, the stock markets, or other financial markets; |
● | Unfavorable legislative, regulatory, or judicial developments; |
● | Adverse findings or rulings in arbitrations, litigation or regulatory proceedings; |
● | Incidence and severity of catastrophes, both natural and man-made; |
● | Changes in accounting rules, policies, practices, and procedures which may adversely affect the business; |
● | Terrorist activities or other hostilities which may adversely affect the general economy. |
The Company is a financial services holding company that, through its broker dealer subsidiary, provides brokerage, investment advisory, insurance and related services. The Company operates in a highly regulated and competitive industry that is influenced by numerous external factors such as economic conditions, marketplace liquidity and volatility, monetary policy, global and national political events, regulatory developments, competition, and investor preferences. The Company’s revenues and net earnings may be either enhanced or diminished from period to period by such external factors. The Company remains focused on continuing to reduce redundant operating costs, upgrade operating efficiency, recruit quality representatives and grow our revenue base. The Company provides broker-dealer services in support of trading and investment by its representatives’ customers in corporate equity and debt securities, U.S. Government securities, municipal securities, mutual funds, private placement alternative investments, variable annuities and variable life insurance. The Company also provides investment advisory services for its representative’s customers
A key component of the broker-dealer subsidiary’s business strategy is to recruit well-established, productive representatives who generate substantial revenues from an array of investment products and services. Additionally, the broker-dealer subsidiary assists its representatives in developing and expanding their business by providing a variety of support services and a diversified range of investment products for their clients.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Not Applicable as a Smaller Reporting Company
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-14(c) and Rule 15c-14(c) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) of the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of March 31, 2014, and that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed and summarized, and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms.
Disclosure controls and procedures are the controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies or material weaknesses.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The Company operates in a legal and regulatory environment that exposes it to potentially significant litigation risks. Issuers of certain alternative products sold by the Company are in Bankruptcy or may have other financial difficulties. As a result of such alleged failings of alternative products and the uncertainty of client recovery from the various product issuers, the Company is subject to several legal and/or arbitration proceedings. These proceedings include customer suits and arbitrations related to the failure of Medical Capital, other alternative investments alleged to be unsuitable, the bankruptcy proceedings of the various DBSI entities and the bankruptcy of other various entities. The Company vigorously contests the allegations of the various proceedings and believes that there are multiple meritorious legal and fact based defenses in these matters. Such cases are subject to many uncertainties, and their outcome is often difficult to predict, including the impact on operations or on the financial statements, particularly in the earlier stages of a case. The Company makes provisions for cases brought against it when, in the opinion of management after seeking legal advice, it is probable that a liability exists, and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The current proceedings are subject to uncertainties and, as such, the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that may result from the outcome of these cases; however, results in these cases that are against the interests of the Company could have a severe negative impact on the financial position of the Company. At March 31, 2014, the Company is a defendant in seven on-going suits or arbitrations as discussed above. The Company expects to vigorously defend and ultimately prevail in these cases. In April 2014, the Company settled one of the aforementioned lawsuits in the amount of $6,000. During 2012, the Company settled lawsuits that required a $22,000 payment in 2013 and an additional $22,000 payment during 2014. This payment was made during April of 2014. Subsequent to the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the Company received an additional complaint. Should the complaint become an arbitration, it would be covered under the Company’s liability insurance policy and any amounts of shared coverage by the Company to the insurance company is not material to the financial statements. No further payments will be required on the aforementioned settled proceedings.
Not Applicable as a Smaller Reporting Company
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The Company has issued the following securities in the past quarter without registering the securities under the Securities Act:
None
Small Business Issuer Repurchases of Equity Securities:
In November of 1997, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the repurchase of up to $2,000,000 of its outstanding common stock from time to time in the open market. The table below displays the dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under this plan.
Period | | Total Number of Shares Purchased | | | Average Price Per Share | | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | | | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | |
January 2014 | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | $ | 597,754 | |
February 2014 | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | $ | 597,754 | |
March 2014 | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | $ | 597,754 | |
Total | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | $ | 597,754 | |
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None
Item 4. (Removed and Reserved)
Item 5. Other Information
None
Exhibits
31.1 | CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act |
31.2 | CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Exchange Act |
32.1 | CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 |
32.2 | CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 |
CAPITAL FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| CAPITAL FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC. | |
| | | |
Date: May 15, 2014 | By: | /s/ John Carlson | |
| | John Carlson | |
| | Chief Executive Officer & President | |
| | (Principal Executive Officer) | |
| | | |
| | | |
Date: May 15, 2014 | By: | /s/ Elizabeth Redding | |
| | Elizabeth A. Redding | |
| | Chief Financial Officer & Corporate Secretary | |
| | (Principal Financial Officer) | |