1
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-QSB
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 1998
Commission file number 33-98346C
BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
--------------------------------------
(Exact name of small business issuer as specified in its charter)
Iowa 42-1312639
- ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)
100 Second Street SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
-----------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)
(319) 365-2506
--------------
(Issuer's telephone number)
Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section
13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 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
--- ---
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS
State the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common
equity, as of the latest practicable date: 452,529 shares of Class A common
stock as of June 30, 1998.
Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format (Check one): Yes No X
--- ---
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BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
INDEX
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)
Balance sheet - June 30, 1998
Statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss)-
Three months ended June 30, 1998 and three months ended June
30, 1997. Six months ended June 30, 1998 and six months ended
June 30, 1997.
Statements of cash flows - six months ended June 30, 1998 and
six months ended June 30, 1997
Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Item 2. Changes in Securities
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Item 5. Other Information
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
Signatures
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BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
BALANCE SHEET (UNAUDITED)
JUNE 30, 1998
ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 592,314
Notes receivable 4,272,129
Net investment in direct financing leases (Note 3) 7,136,512
Allowance for possible loan and lease losses (Note 4) (168,235)
------------
Notes receivable and direct financing leases, net 11,240,406
Equipment under operating lease, less accumulated depreciation of $46,705 138,410
Due from affiliates 55,327
Receivable from Parent under tax allocation agreement 453,733
Investments in:
Limited partnerships 111,340
Not readily marketable securities, at cost 264,184
Available for sale security, at fair value 190,505
Furniture and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of $192,650 174,849
Deferred income taxes 388,362
Deferred costs, less accumulated amortization of $423,741 432,605
Other assets 418,171
------------
TOTAL $ 14,460,206
============
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES:
Line of credit agreement (Note 5) $ 4,580,942
Demand note payable to Parent 1,063,000
Trade accounts payable 54,504
Due to affiliates 96,419
Accrued expenses 214,984
Lease security deposits 306,351
Notes payable (Note 5) 1,258,231
Subordinated notes payable (Note 5) 2,997,084
Subordinated debenture payable to parent (Note 5) 2,000,000
------------
Total Liabilities 12,571,515
------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 6)
REDEEMABLE CLASS B NONVOTING CONVERTIBLE STOCK (NOTE 7) 724,941
------------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Series A preferred stock, no par value-authorized 125,000 shares, issued
and outstanding 125,000 shares (Note 8) ($1,750,000 liquidation
value, convertible into 109,375 shares of Class A common stock) 1,621,422
Class A common stock, no par value-authorized 1,000,000 shares,
issued and outstanding 452,529 shares 754,474
Common stock warrants 121,831
Accumulated deficit (1,334,616)
Accumulated other comprehensive income 639
------------
Total stockholders' equity 1,163,750
------------
TOTAL $ 14,460,206
============
See accompanying notes
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BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(UNAUDITED)
Three Months Ending
June 30
1998 1997
---- ----
REVENUE:
Income from direct financing leases $ 271,517 $ 293,882
Management fees from affiliates 229,058 187,283
Interest income 159,330 191,006
Gain on early terminations 217,149 1,913
Other revenues 30,469 4,474
--------- ---------
Total revenues 907,523 678,558
--------- ---------
EXPENSES:
Employment compensation and benefits 100,143 93,612
Management fees to affiliates 62,500 62,500
Interest expense 324,150 400,977
Provision for possible loan and lease losses 243,393 12,166
Other expenses 222,362 209,545
--------- ---------
Total expenses 952,548 778,800
--------- ---------
Loss before income taxes (45,025) (100,242)
Income tax credit (10,423) (31,383)
--------- ---------
Net loss (34,602) (68,859)
Comprehensive income (loss): (Note 9)
Unrealized gain on available for
sale security, net of tax 62,699 -0-
--------- ---------
Comprehensive income (loss) $ 28,097 $ (68,859)
========= =========
LOSS PER COMMON SHARE CALCULATION:
Net loss (34,602) $ (68,859)
Dividends on convertible preferred stock (Note 8) (34,904) (18,519)
--------- ---------
Net loss attributable to Class A stock $ (69,506) $ (87,378)
========= =========
Basic $ (.17) $ (.22)
Fully Diluted $ (.17) $ (.22)
Weighted average common shares outstanding 419,932 400,000
See accompanying notes
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BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(UNAUDITED)
Six Months Ending
June 30
1998 1997
---- ----
REVENUE:
Income from direct financing leases $ 512,222 $ 595,480
Management fees from affiliates 458,779 396,847
Interest income 364,616 406,966
Gain on early terminations 227,828 14,675
Other revenues 51,827 24,964
----------- -----------
Total revenues 1,615,272 1,438,932
----------- -----------
EXPENSES:
Employment compensation and benefits 193,288 206,913
Management fees to affiliates 125,000 162,146
Interest expense 686,822 810,497
Provision for possible loan and lease losses 255,048 24,712
Other expenses 451,796 423,068
----------- -----------
Total expenses 1,711,954 1,627,336
----------- -----------
Loss before income taxes (96,682) (188,404)
Income tax credit (27,986) (64,061)
----------- -----------
Net loss (68,696) (124,343)
Comprehensive income (loss): (Note 9)
Unrealized gain on available for
sale security, net of tax 108,298 -0-
----------- -----------
Comprehensive income (loss) $ 39,602 $ (124,343)
=========== ===========
LOSS PER COMMON SHARE CALCULATION:
Net loss (68,698) $ (124,343)
Dividends on convertible preferred stock (Note 9) (69,425) (29,525)
----------- -----------
Net loss attributable to Class A stock $ (138,123) $ (153,868)
=========== ===========
Basic $ (.34) $ (.38)
Fully Diluted $ (.34) $ (.38)
Weighted average common shares outstanding 411,960 400,000
See accompanying notes
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BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)
SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, 1998 JUNE 30, 1997
------------- -------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Loss $ (68,696) $ (124,343)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Gain on early termination of leases and notes (227,828) (14,675)
Depreciation of furniture and equipment 40,670 38,231
Amortization of deferred costs 88,272 77,318
Provision for possible loan and lease losses 255,049 24,712
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Due from affiliates 6,605 (5,387)
Recoverable from parent under tax allocation agreement (28,733) (65,388)
Other assets (98,210) (906)
Trade accounts payable excluding equipment
purchase costs accrued 24,885 (81,733)
Due to affiliates (3,008) (35,204)
Accrued expenses (38,244) (40,926)
----------- -----------
Net cash from operating activities (49,238) (228,301)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of equipment for direct financing leases (876,481) (1,486,725)
Repayments of direct financing leases 773,819 1,640,556
Proceeds from sale or early termination of
direct financing leases 304,723 97,790
Issuance of notes receivable -0- (75,000)
Repayments of notes receivable 553,854 789,133
Proceeds from early termination of notes receivable 1,942,404 287,467
Distributions from limited partnerships -0- 66,166
Net lease security deposits repaid (51,892) 18,049
Purchases of furniture and equipment (9,191) (14,289)
----------- -----------
Net cash from investing activities 2,637,236 1,323,147
(Continued)
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BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from exercise of stock warrants 583,548 -0-
Net repayments of line of credit (2,180,551) (1,578,936)
Net repayments of notes payable (271,699) (502,112)
Net proceeds from issuance of Series A
preferred stock and warrants -0- 717,188
----------- -----------
Net cash from financing activities (1,868,702) (1,363,860)
----------- -----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 719,296 (269,014)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period (126,982) 342,726
----------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 592,314 $ 73,712
=========== ===========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest $ 380,826 $ 805,610
Income taxes -0- -0-
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Amortization of Class B nonvoting convertible
stock issuance costs -0- 4,014
Equipment reclassified from direct financing leases
to operating leases -0- 526,395
Decrease in trade accounts payable attributed
to equipment purchase costs -0- 37,858
Note receivable converted to investment in
not readily marketable security 25,400 715,000
See accompanying notes.
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BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial
information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and
footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete
financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting
of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have
been included. Operating results for the six months ended June 30, 1998 are not
necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending
December 31, 1998. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with
the Company's annual report on Form 10-KSB filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission for the year ended December 31, 1997.
2. ORGANIZATION
Berthel Fisher & Company Leasing, Inc. (the "Company") is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Berthel Fisher & Company, (the "Parent"). During the year ended
December 31, 1994, the Company formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Communications
Finance Corporation. All of the assets and liabilities of Communications Finance
Corporation have been assumed by the Company. The Company intends to keep
Communications Finance Corporation as a shell for use in future financing
transactions.
The Company is the general partner in three limited partnerships,
Telecommunications Income Fund IX, L.P. ("TIFIX"), Telecommunications Income
Fund X, L.P. ("TIFX"), and Telecommunications Income Fund XI, L.P. ("TIFXI")
collectively referred to as the "TIFS". The Company accounts for its general
partnership interests in the TIFS under the equity method of accounting.
3. NET INVESTMENT IN DIRECT FINANCING LEASES
The Company's net investment in direct financing leases at June 30, 1998
consists of:
Minimum lease payments receivable $ 7,611,055
Estimated unguaranteed residual values 577,088
Unamortorized initial direct costs 120,154
Unearned income (1,171,785)
------------
$ 7,136,512
============
4. ALLOWANCE FOR POSSIBLE LOAN AND LEASE LOSSES
The change in the allowance for possible loan and lease losses for the
six months ended June 30, 1998 is as follows:
Balance at beginning of year $ 435,292
Provision 218,750
Charge offs (517,956)
Recovery 32,149
-----------
$ 168,235
===========
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BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
The allowance for loan and lease losses, excluding specific reserves,
expressed as a percent of the total portfolio is as follows:
June 30, 1998 December 31, 1997 June 30, 1997
------------- ----------------- -------------
1.5 % 1.9 % 2.1 %
5. CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS
The Company had a note payable consisting of a line-of-credit agreement
with Firstar Bank which expired June 30, 1998 and will not be renewed with the
current lender. Management is currently working to establish a new line of
credit with another financial institution. All payments received by the Company
pertaining to leases and notes that are collateralized by Firstar are required
to go towards reducing the loan balance with Firstar under the expired
agreement. Firstar Bank expects the Company to sell a portion of its portfolio
to a third party before September 8, 1998, to repay Firstar. Any balance
outstanding on or after September 8, 1998 will be assessed a default rate equal
to 2% over the current rate which is 1.76% over prime. Any balance remaining as
of September 30, 1998 will be due immediately.
Notes payable at June 30, 1998 consists of:
Installment loan agreements with banks, 7.75% to 11%, maturing
through 2000 with subjective acceleration clauses,
collateralized by net investment in certain direct financing
leases, certain agreements are also guaranteed by the Company's
Parent $ 1,248,202
Capital lease obligations, 5.37%, due through 2000 10,029
-----------
Notes payable $ 1,258,231
===========
Subordinated debt consists of the following:
Uncollateralized subordinated debenture payable to
Parent, floating interest rate, maturing in 2005 $ 2,000,000
Uncollateralized subordinated notes payable, 9.5%
to 10%, maturing in 2001 and 2004 2,997,084
-----------
Total subordinated debt $ 4,997,084
===========
6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company is contingently liable for all debts of TIF IX, X and XI as
the general partner.
The Company also had guaranteed amounts outstanding under a
line-of-credit agreement with a bank of TIFIX. The amounts borrowed under this
agreement were paid off April 30, 1998. The agreement will not be renewed.
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BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
The Company also has guaranteed amounts outstanding under a
line-of-credit agreement with a bank of TIFX. The line-of-credit agreement
allowed TIFX to borrow the lesser of $6 million or 40% of its qualified
accounts, as defined in the agreement. The balance outstanding under this
line-of-credit was $1,906,398 at June 30, 1998. The agreement expired June 30,
1998. The note is also guaranteed by the Company's Parent and a principal
stockholder of the Company's Parent. The Company is currently working with the
existing lender to renew the line of credit agreement. As of July 31, 1998, the
agreement had not been renewed.
The Company has also guaranteed amounts outstanding under installment
loan agreements of TIFX totaling $153,691 at June 30, 1998. The agreements are
collateralized by certain direct financing leases and a second interest in all
assets of TIFX.
7. CLASS B NONVOTING CONVERTIBLE STOCK
The Company's Class B nonvoting convertible stock carries a 12%
noncumulative dividend limited to 25% of the Company's income before taxes each
year, up to a maximum of $1.20 per share. The Class B nonvoting convertible is
convertible on a one-for-one basis up to a maximum of 20% of the Class A common
stock of the Company after conversion. The stock is redeemable at $10 per share
for a 30-day period after the tenth anniversary of the issuance date (April,
1990 to September, 1991) at the option of the holder. Shares which are not
redeemed during that time are automatically converted to Class A common stock on
a one-for-one basis.
The following summarizes the amounts pertaining to the Class B nonvoting
convertible stock as set forth in the balance sheets at June 30, 1998:
Class B nonvoting convertible stock (no par value-authorized 100,000
shares, issued and outstanding 74,500 shares) at redemption or
liquidation value $ 745,000
Unamortorized stock issuance costs (20,059)
----------
$ 724,941
==========
8. PREFERRED STOCK
Each share of the Series A preferred stock is entitled to cumulative
annual dividends of 8% payable, if as and when declared by the Board of
Directors, quarterly. Unpaid dividends will accumulate and be payable prior to
the payment of dividends on the Company's Class A common stock. The preferred
stock is redeemable at any time at the option of the Company, on not less than
30 days written notice to registered holders. The redemption price shall be
$14.70 per share if redeemed during 1997, $14.56 per share if redeemed during
1998, $14.42 per share if redeemed during 1999, $14.28 per share if redeemed
during 2000, $14.14 per share if redeemed during 2001, and $14.00 per share if
redeemed thereafter, plus, in each case, accumulated unpaid dividends. Unless
previously redeemed by the Company, the holders of the preferred stock are
entitled at any time to convert each share into .875 shares of Class A common
stock. The preferred stock is not entitled to vote on any matter except where
the Iowa Corporation Act requires voting as a class, in which case each share of
stock shall be entitled to one vote per
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BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED) (CONTINUED)
share on those matters where the preferred stock is voting as a class. The
preferred stock is entitled to a preference on liquidation equal to $14.00 per
share, plus accumulated dividends.
The Company issued, in connection with the Series A preferred stock
offering, common stock warrants as follows:
Expiration Exercise Number
Date Price Outstanding
---- ----- -----------
A Warrants 04/30/98 $12.00 125,000
B Warrants 1999 $14.00 125,000
During the second quarter of 1998, 48,629 warrants were exercised at
$12.00 per share. The Company's Parent exercised 31,250 of these warrants and
was issued $375,000 of common stock.
9. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
In December, 1996, the Company's Parent transferred 81,282 shares of a
customers restricted common stock to the Company as part of a debt conversion
with it's Parent. Beginning in November 1997, the stock was marked to fair value
since the restriction period had elapsed, and is being accounted for as being
available for sale. The stock is marked to market with unrealized gains or
losses recorded as a separate component of equity.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Total revenues in the six months ended June 30, 1998 have increased
$176,340 from the same period in 1997, primarily due to gains on early lease
terminations which occurred in 1998. During the second quarter of 1998, the
Company sold approximately $1,441,000 of it's net investment in leases and
notes. These sales generated net gains of approximately $217,000 in the second
quarter of 1998 as compared to $1,900 of net gains in 1997.
A customer had issued to the Company, as a part of a note agreement,
shares of it's common stock. The customer completed an IPO in the second quarter
of 1998. The customer paid off the note during the second quarter. The cash
proceeds of this disposition and the deferred gain of $183,250 from the stock
issuance resulted in a net gain of $186,689 on this note disposition.
The Company receives, from TIFXI, a 5% acquisition fee on equipment
purchased by TIFXI for investments in leases and notes. The Company has earned
$163,000 of acquisition fees in 1998 versus none in 1997.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
Management fees the Company receives from the TIFS have decreased
approximately $136,000 for the six months ended June 30, 1998, as compared to
the same period in 1997. TIFIX entered its liquidation phase May 1, 1998 and, as
a result, the Company will not receive any further management fees from TIFIX.
Management fees received by the Company in 1998 for TIFIX were $58,829 compared
to $148,337 for the same period in 1997. Currently, the Company receives a fee
equal to 5% of TIFX's note and lease payments and 2% of TIFXI's note and lease
payments. TIFX management fees have decreased approximately $55,000 in the first
six months of 1998 compared to the same period in 1997. TIFX's lease and note
portfolio has decreased approximately $5.2 million dollars as of June 30, 1998
compared to June 30, 1997, resulting in less management fees received by the
Company from TIFX. If TIFX is unable to obtain a line of credit agreement with a
lender, the Partnership will be unable to originate new equipment financing
contracts. The lack of new contracts in TIFX will result in the Company not
receiving management fees on the payments of the new contracts.
Lease and interest income has decreased approximately $125,000 for the
six months ended June 30, 1998 compared to the same period in 1997. The
Company's investment in its lease and note portfolio has decreased approximately
$2.4 million in the same period, resulting in less income being recorded. The
decrease in the lease and note income as a result of the declining portfolio has
been mitigated by the increase of approximately $213,000 of gains recorded on
early terminations as discussed above.
The Company's charge off policy requires an analysis of delinquent
accounts on a quarterly basis. Those accounts which are determined to be
uncollectible are removed from the performing portfolio and charged to the loss
reserve. A total of $356,975 and $160,981 was charged to the loss reserve in the
first and second quarters of 1998, respectively.
During 1995 and 1996, the Company sold approximately $6,150,000 of its
portfolio to a financial institution ("FI"). The selling agreement required the
Company to service the portfolio and remit to the FI the payments received from
lessees. The agreement also allowed the FI to put back to the Company any leases
which became more than 60 days delinquent. Since the agreement has been in
place, the FI has, from time to time, put leases back to the Company. During the
second quarter of 1998, the Company was required to purchase, from the FI,
$328,189 less a $102,054 reserve (held by the FI as a part of the original sale)
of leases past due 60 or more days. A charge for $107,242 was made to the loss
reserve for those leases deemed uncollectible.
In order to bring the loss reserve to a level of approximately 1.5% of
the lease and note portfolio, which management believes is adequate to cover
losses in the portfolio, $243,393 was charged to provision expense in the second
quarter of 1998.
The Company recognizes that the arrival of the Year 2000 poses a unique
challenge to the ability of all systems to recognize the date change from
December 31, 1999 to January 1, 2000 and, like other companies, has assessed its
computer applications and business processes to provide for their continued
functionality. An assessment of the readiness of external entities which it
interfaces with, such as vendors, counterparties, customers, payment systems,
and
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]
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
others, is ongoing. The Company does not expect the cost to address the Year
2000 will be material.
The Company has determined that the software it utilizes in its
operations is compatible with the Year 2000. The Company has not yet fully
determined whether the Year 2000 issue has been addressed by all of its
customers. If the Company's customers have not addressed this issue, it could
lead to non-payments of amounts owed to the Company. The Company has contacted
all of its customers regarding this issue. The customers contacted have
indicated various stages of readiness. The Company will continue to determine
customer Year 2000 compliance by follow-up with customers who have indicated
non-compliance.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company relies primarily upon debt financing to originate its leases
and notes receivable. At June 30, 1998, the Company had a $10 million revolving
line-of-credit with Firstar Bank Milwaukee, N.A. with an expiration date of
April 30, 1998, which had been extended to June 30, 1998. This agreement has
expired and will not be renewed with Firstar Bank of Milwaukee. Management is
currently attempting to establish a new line of credit with another lender. See
note 5 to financial statements for further discussion.
A total of 48,629 of "A" warrants were exercised at $12.00 per share in
the second quarter of 1998. As a result, the Company issued to the holders of
the "A" warrants 48,629 shares of its common stock and received $583,548 in
return.
The Company is currently sponsoring a limited partnership, TIFXI, for
which the Company serves as general partner. TIFXI is offering a minimum of
$1,200,000 and a maximum of $25,000,000 in units of limited partnership interest
("Units") in the partnership. As of July 24, 1998, 3,692 Units were sold. The
Company, as general partner, will originate leases and finance contracts for
TIFXI. This will result in the Company realizing acquisition fees and management
fees.
OUTLOOK
This Section and other portions of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB
contains statements relating to future results of the Company that are
"forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as
a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to
changes in economic conditions, changes in interest rates, availability to the
Company of lease business, changes in personnel, regulation of the
telecommunications industry, and the success or failure of the Company's
customers as well as other risks and uncertainties. The Company does not
undertake, and specifically disclaims, any obligation to update any forward
looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date
of such statements.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
The business of the Company is dependent upon being able to continue
originating leases, both for its own portfolio and for the portfolios of third
party entities, such as the TIFS. If the Company cannot continue to originate
leases, the Company will not be able to grow, either through the expansion of
its portfolio of leases or by deriving revenue from originating and managing
leases for other entities. The successful completion of the Company's business
plan is dependent upon having sufficient funds available to enable the Company
to continue to originate leases. The Company's primary source of capital for
itself was the private placement offering for the issuance of $2 million of
Class A preferred stock and warrants and the line of credit discussed below. If
these funds are not sufficient, the Company will have to consider the
alternatives for obtaining capital, including the sale of existing leases owned
by the Company and obtaining new capital from the Company's Parent. Such
alternative capital may not be available depending upon a variety of factors,
including without limitation the possibility that purchasers of leases cannot be
found, interest rates increase, the Company's Parent has no funds available to
it or the Company fails to operate effectively in 1998.
The Company's current business plan includes the Company's sponsorship of
TIFXI, for which the Company serves as general partner. The Company registered
interests in TIFXI under the Securities Act of 1933 and is offering those
interests publicly. If the offering is successful, the Company, as general
partner, will originate leases and finance contracts for TIFXI resulting in the
Company realizing acquisition fees and management fees. The Company may not be
able to rely upon the availability of TIFXI's capital beyond the capital raised
to date, to originate leases. The offering of TIFXI could be abandoned due to
several factors, including lack of investor interest. If the public offering
does not result in additional investments in TIFXI the Company will not realize
revenue from management fees and acquisition fees. The Company's long term
success is highly dependent upon the successful offering of TIFXI.
The best-efforts public offering of TIFXI is in process and through July
24, 1998, approximately $3,692,000 has been raised out of a maximum offering
amount of $25,000,000. No assurance can be provided that such offering will be
completed as planned.
The Company must find a lender who will extend to the Company a line of
credit. Until such time, the Company will not be able to originate new leases
for its own portfolio unless funds are advanced to the Company from its Parent.
The Company is currently working to sell a portion of its portfolio to pay off
the remaining line of credit debt of approximately $4.2 million as of July 24,
1998. The Company does not expect to incur any loss on the portfolio it may
sell, nor does it expect to incur any additional costs payable to Firstar Bank
other than normal interest charges.
A debt consolidation plan has been formulated which would allow the
Company the opportunity to pay off a significant portion of its remaining debt
and allow it to invest $3.0 million in leases and notes over a 60 month period.
The reduced interest and related expenses, plus the income from the new
investments would allow the Company to generate sufficient cash and revenues to
make it profitable on an ongoing basis. The Company would incur a significant
one time charge to earnings of approximately $544,000 due to the write off of
deferred costs associated with the old debt as a result of this debt
consolidation, but would recover this in approximately 17 months.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
There is no assurance a lender can be found which will allow the debt
consolidation plan to be implemented. In the absence of new debt, the Company
will be forced to look to its Parent for additional funding and the sale of
existing leases to cash flow.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None
ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES
None
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
a. Exhibits - None
b. No Report on Form 8-K was filed for the quarter ended
June 30, 1998
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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.
BERTHEL FISHER & COMPANY LEASING, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: August 10, 1998 /s/ Ronald O. Brendengen
----------------- ---------------------------------------
Ronald O. Brendengen, Chief Financial
Officer, Treasurer
Date: August 10, 1998 /s/ Daniel P. Wegmann
----------------- ---------------------------------------
Daniel P. Wegmann, Controller
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