Unassociated Document
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM
10-Q
QUARTERLY
REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF
THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR
THE
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2008
COMMISSION FILE NO. 0-22810
MACE
SECURITY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
|
03-0311630
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
Identification
No.)
|
401
East Las Olas Boulevard, Suite 1570, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
33301
(Address
of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrant's
Telephone No., including area code: (954) 449-1300
1000
Crawford Place, Suite 400, Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054
(Former
Address)
Indicate
by checkmark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to
be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“the
Exchange Act”) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that
the registrant was required to file such report), and (2) has been subject
to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ¨
No
x
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company.
See
definition of “large accelerated filer” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check One):
Large
accelerated filer ¨
|
Accelerated
filer ¨
|
Non-accelerated
filer ¨
|
Smaller
reporting company x
|
Indicate
by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2
of the Exchange Act).
Yes
¨
No
x
Indicate
the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of Common
Stock:
As
of May
12, 2008, there were 16,465,253 Shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share, outstanding.
Mace
Security International, Inc.
Form
10-Q
Quarter
Ended March 31, 2008
Contents
|
Page
|
|
|
PART
I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
Item
1 - Financial Statements
|
3
|
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets –
March 31,
2008 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2007
|
3
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the three months ended March
31,
2008 and 2007
|
5
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited) for the three months ended
March 31, 2008
|
6
|
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the three months ended March
31,
2008 and 2007
|
7
|
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
|
8
|
|
|
Item
2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations
|
17
|
|
|
Item
3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market
Risk
|
31
|
|
|
Item
4T - Controls and Procedures
|
31
|
|
|
PART
II - OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
|
|
Item
1 - Legal Proceedings
|
32
|
|
|
Item
1A - Risk Factors
|
32
|
|
|
Item
2 - Unregistered Sales of Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
43
|
|
|
Item
6 - Exhibits
|
44
|
|
|
Signatures
|
45
|
PART
I
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
Item
1. Financial
Statements
Mace
Security International, Inc.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
(In
thousands, except share information)
|
|
March
31,
2008
|
|
December
31,
2007
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
12,937
|
|
$
|
8,103
|
|
Short-term
investments
|
|
|
4,167
|
|
|
4,249
|
|
Accounts
receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
of $833 and $791 in 2008 and 2007, respectively
|
|
|
2,328
|
|
|
2,920
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
9,853
|
|
|
9,296
|
|
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
2,192
|
|
|
2,241
|
|
Assets
held for sale
|
|
|
1,004
|
|
|
5,665
|
|
Total
current assets
|
|
|
32,481
|
|
|
32,474
|
|
Property
and equipment:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land
|
|
|
12,041
|
|
|
12,322
|
|
Buildings
and leasehold improvements
|
|
|
16,720
|
|
|
17,418
|
|
Machinery
and equipment
|
|
|
6,038
|
|
|
6,353
|
|
Furniture
and fixtures
|
|
|
643
|
|
|
558
|
|
Total
property and equipment
|
|
|
35,442
|
|
|
36,651
|
|
Accumulated
depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(8,021
|
)
|
|
(8,477
|
)
|
Total
property and equipment, net
|
|
|
27,421
|
|
|
28,174
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
8,231
|
|
|
8,231
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of
$1,272 and $1,123 in 2008 and 2007, respectively
|
|
|
5,424
|
|
|
5,565
|
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
941
|
|
|
992
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$
|
74,498
|
|
$
|
75,436
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral
part
of these financial statements.
|
|
March
31,
2008
|
|
December
31,
2007
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
|
$
|
931
|
|
$
|
2,022
|
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
3,906
|
|
|
4,661
|
|
Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities
|
|
|
3,558
|
|
|
2,581
|
|
Income
taxes payable
|
|
|
787
|
|
|
778
|
|
Deferred
revenue
|
|
|
163
|
|
|
174
|
|
Liabilities
related to assets held for sale
|
|
|
738
|
|
|
4,494
|
|
Total
current liabilities
|
|
|
10,083
|
|
|
14,710
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
debt, net of current portion
|
|
|
6,826
|
|
|
7,160
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’
equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred
stock, $.01 par value:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Authorized
shares of 10,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issued
and outstanding shares - none
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Common
stock, $.01 par value:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Authorized
shares - 100,000,000,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issued
and outstanding shares of 16,465,253 at March 31, 2008 and December
31,
2007
|
|
|
165
|
|
|
165
|
|
Additional
paid-in capital
|
|
|
93,941
|
|
|
93,685
|
|
Accumulated
other comprehensive income
|
|
|
115
|
|
|
322
|
|
Accumulated
deficit
|
|
|
(36,521
|
)
|
|
(40,495
|
)
|
|
|
|
57,700
|
|
|
53,677
|
|
Less
treasury stock at cost-53,909 shares
|
|
|
(111
|
)
|
|
(111
|
)
|
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
57,589
|
|
|
53,566
|
|
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
|
$
|
74,498
|
|
$
|
75,436
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral
part
of these financial statements.
Mace
Security International, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
(In
thousands, except share and per share information)
|
|
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security
|
|
$
|
5,286
|
|
$
|
5,435
|
|
Digital
media marketing
|
|
|
5,445
|
|
|
-
|
|
Car
wash and detailing services
|
|
|
2,545
|
|
|
3,031
|
|
Lube
and other automotive services
|
|
|
681
|
|
|
805
|
|
Fuel
and merchandise
|
|
|
545
|
|
|
544
|
|
|
|
|
14,502
|
|
|
9,815
|
|
Cost
of revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Security
|
|
|
3,746
|
|
|
4,047
|
|
Digital
media marketing
|
|
|
3,589
|
|
|
-
|
|
Car
wash and detailing services
|
|
|
2,169
|
|
|
2,429
|
|
Lube
and other automotive services
|
|
|
540
|
|
|
634
|
|
Fuel
and merchandise
|
|
|
561
|
|
|
518
|
|
|
|
|
10,605
|
|
|
7,628
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
5,834
|
|
|
3,976
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
382
|
|
|
331
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
loss
|
|
|
(2,319
|
)
|
|
(2,120
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest
expense, net
|
|
|
(41
|
)
|
|
(193
|
)
|
Other
income
|
|
|
115
|
|
|
129
|
|
Loss
from continuing operations before income taxes
|
|
|
(2,245
|
)
|
|
(2,184
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
tax expense
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
25
|
|
Loss
from continuing operations
|
|
|
(2,270
|
)
|
|
(2,209
|
)
|
Income
from discontinued operations, net of tax of $0
in 2008 and 2007
|
|
|
6,244
|
|
|
1,551
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$
|
3,974
|
|
$
|
(658
|
)
|
Per
share of common stock (basic and diluted):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss
from continuing operations
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
Income
from discontinued operations
|
|
|
0.38
|
|
|
0.10
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$
|
0.24
|
|
$
|
(0.04
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
16,465,253
|
|
|
15,275,382
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
16,465,253
|
|
|
15,275,382
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral
part
of these financial statements.
Mace
Security International, Inc.
Consolidated
Statement of Stockholders' Equity
(Unaudited)
(In
thousands, except share information)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
Stock
|
|
Additional
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
Amount
|
|
Paid-in
Capital
|
|
Comprehensive
Income
|
|
Accumulated
Deficit
|
|
Treasury
Stock
|
|
Total
|
|
Balance
at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
16,465,253
|
|
$
|
165
|
|
$
|
93,685
|
|
$
|
322
|
|
$
|
(40,495
|
)
|
$
|
(111
|
)
|
$
|
53,566
|
|
Stock-based
compensation expense (see note 6)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
256
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
256
|
|
Unrealized
loss on short-term investments
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(207
|
)
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
(207
|
)
|
Net
income
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
3,974
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
3,974
|
|
Total
comprehensive income
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
3,767
|
|
Balance
at March 31, 2008
|
|
|
16,465,253
|
|
$
|
165
|
|
$
|
93,941
|
|
$
|
115
|
|
$
|
(36,521
|
)
|
$
|
(111
|
)
|
$
|
57,589
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral
part
of this financial statement.
Mace
Security International, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
(In
thousands)
|
|
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
Operating
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$
|
3,974
|
|
$
|
(658
|
)
|
Income
from discontinued operations, net of tax
|
|
|
6,244
|
|
|
1,551
|
|
Loss
from continuing operations
|
|
|
(2,270
|
)
|
|
(2,209
|
)
|
Adjustments
to reconcile loss from continuing operations to
net cash used in operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
382
|
|
|
331
|
|
Stock-based
compensation (see Note 6)
|
|
|
254
|
|
|
200
|
|
Provision
for losses on receivables
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
70
|
|
Loss
(gain) on sale of property and equipment
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
(9
|
)
|
Gain
on short-term investments
|
|
|
(125
|
)
|
|
(102
|
)
|
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
536
|
|
|
50
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
(450
|
)
|
|
709
|
|
Prepaid
expenses and other assets
|
|
|
116
|
|
|
(401
|
)
|
Accounts
payable
|
|
|
(755
|
)
|
|
(677
|
)
|
Deferred
revenue
|
|
|
(129
|
)
|
|
(118
|
)
|
Accrued
expenses
|
|
|
376
|
|
|
86
|
|
Income
taxes payable
|
|
|
(6
|
)
|
|
36
|
|
Net
cash used in operating activities-continuing operations
|
|
|
(2,013
|
)
|
|
(2,034
|
)
|
Net
cash (used in) provided by operating activities-discontinued
operations
|
|
|
(85
|
)
|
|
625
|
|
Net
cash used in operating activities
|
|
|
(2,098
|
)
|
|
(1,409
|
)
|
Investing
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase
of property and equipment
|
|
|
(154
|
)
|
|
(99
|
)
|
Proceeds
from sale of property and equipment
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
282
|
|
Payments
for intangibles
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
(4
|
)
|
Net
cash (used in) provided by investing activities-continuing
operations
|
|
|
(160
|
)
|
|
179
|
|
Net
cash provided by investing activities-discontinued
operations
|
|
|
7,950
|
|
|
7,989
|
|
Net
cash provided by investing activities
|
|
|
7,790
|
|
|
8,168
|
|
Financing
activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments
on long-term debt
|
|
|
(752
|
)
|
|
(221
|
)
|
Net
cash used in financing activities-continuing operations
|
|
|
(752
|
)
|
|
(221
|
)
|
Net
cash used in financing activities-discontinued operations
|
|
|
(106
|
)
|
|
(356
|
)
|
Net
cash used in financing activities
|
|
|
(858
|
)
|
|
(577
|
)
|
Net
increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
4,834
|
|
|
6,182
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
8,103
|
|
|
4,055
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
12,937
|
|
$
|
10,237
|
|
The
accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial
statements.
Mace
Security International, Inc.
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
1.
|
Basis
of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
|
The
accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Mace
Security International, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively,
the “Company” or “Mace”). All significant intercompany transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation. The Company currently operates in three business
segments: the Security Segment, producing, for sale, consumer safety and
personal defense products, as well as electronic surveillance and monitoring
products; the Digital Media Marketing Segment, providing online marketing
services and selling consumer products on the internet; and the Car Wash
Segment, supplying complete car care services (including wash, detailing, lube,
and minor repairs). The Company entered the Digital Media Marketing business
with its acquisition of Linkstar Interactive, Inc. (“Linkstar”) on July 20, 2007
(See Note 4. Business Acquisitions and Divestitures). The Company’s remaining
car and truck wash operations as of March 31, 2008 were located in Texas. The
Company entered into two separate agreements in November 2007 to sell five
of
its six Florida full service car washes and a third agreement in January 2008
to
sell the Company’s final car wash in the Sarasota, Florida area. All six Florida
car washes were sold from January 4, 2008 to March 3, 2008. The Company also
completed the sale of its Arizona car wash region in May 2007 and completed
the
divesture of its Northeast car wash region in August 2007. Additionally, the
Company sold its five truck washes on December 31, 2007 under a lease-to-sell
agreement entered into on December 31, 2005 with Eagle United Truck Wash, LLC
(“Eagle”) to lease Mace’s five truck washes for two years beginning January 1,
2006. The Company did not recognize revenue or operating expenses of the truck
washes during the term of the lease other than rental income, depreciation
expense and interest expense. The results for the Arizona, Northeast, and
Florida car wash regions and the Company’s truck washes have been classified as
discontinued operations in the accompanying statements of operations and cash
flows. The statements of operations and the statements of cash flows for the
prior period have been restated to reflect the discontinued operations in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 144,
Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets
(See
Note 5. Discontinued Operations and Assets Held for Sale).
2.
|
New
Accounting Standards
|
The
company has partially adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 157 Fair
Value Measurements,
(“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes guidelines for
measuring fair value and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements
for those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring and
nonrecurring basis. SFAS
157
does not
require any new fair value measurements but rather eliminates inconsistencies
in
guidance found in various prior accounting pronouncements. The provisions of
SFAS 157 were deferred for those nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial
liabilities that are typically valued by the Company on a nonrecurring basis
which include long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible
assets.
The
following table shows the assets included in the accompanying balance sheet
which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the source of the
fair
value measurement:
(In
thousands)
|
|
Fair
Value Measurement Using
|
|
Description
|
|
Fair Value at
March 31, 2008
|
|
Quoted Market
Prices(1)
|
|
Observable
Inputs(2)
|
|
Unobservable
Inputs(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term
investments
|
|
$
|
4,167
|
|
$
|
4,167
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
(1)
The highest level of fair value input and represents inputs to fair value from
quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities to those
being valued.
(2)
Directly or indirectly observable inputs, other than quoted prices in active
markets, for the assets or liabilities being valued including but not limited
to, interest rates, yield curves, principal-to-principal markets,
etc.
(3)
Lowest level of fair value input because it is unobservable and reflects the
Company’s own assumptions about what market participants would use in pricing
assets and liabilities at fair value.
SFAS
No.
159, The
Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
Liabilities,
was also
effective at the beginning of the Company’s 2008 fiscal year. The Company has
elected not to apply the fair value option to measure any of the financial
assets and liabilities on its balance sheet not already valued at fair value
under other accounting pronouncements. These other financial assets and
liabilities are primarily accounts receivable, account payable and debt which
are reported at historical value. The fair value of these financial assets
and
liabilities approximate their fair value because of their short duration and,
in
the case of the debt, because it carries variable interest rates which are
reset
frequently.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business
Combinations.
This
statement replaces SFAS No. 141, Business
Combinations,
requires an acquirer to recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed
and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date,
measured at their fair values as of that date, with limited exceptions. SFAS
No.
141R requires costs incurred to effect the acquisition to be recognized
separately from the acquisition as period costs. SFAS No. 141R also requires
the
acquirer to recognize restructuring costs that the acquirer expects to incur,
but is not obligated to incur, separately from the business combination. In
addition, this statement requires an acquirer to recognize assets and
liabilities assumed arising from contractual contingencies as of the acquisition
date, measured at their acquisition-date fair values. Other key provisions
of
this statement include the requirement to recognize the acquisition-date fair
values of research and development assets separately from goodwill and the
requirement to recognize changes in the amount of deferred tax benefits that
are
recognizable due to the business combination in either income from continuing
operations in the period of the combination or directly in contributed capital,
depending on the circumstances. With the exception of certain tax-related
aspects described above, this statement applies prospectively to business
combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of
the
first annual reporting period after December 15, 2008. The Company will comply
with the provisions of SFAS No. 141R should the Company complete an acquisition
subsequent to December 31, 2008.
3.
Other Intangible Assets
The
following table reflects the components of intangible assets, excluding goodwill
(in thousands):
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
December
31, 2007
|
|
|
|
Gross
Carrying Amount
|
|
Accumulated
Amortization
|
|
Gross
Carrying Amount
|
|
Accumulated
Amortization
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortized
intangible assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-compete
agreement
|
|
$
|
465
|
|
$
|
110
|
|
$
|
465
|
|
$
|
91
|
|
Customer
lists
|
|
|
2,751
|
|
|
668
|
|
|
2,751
|
|
|
591
|
|
Product
lists
|
|
|
590
|
|
|
221
|
|
|
590
|
|
|
207
|
|
Software
|
|
|
883
|
|
|
98
|
|
|
883
|
|
|
61
|
|
Deferred
financing costs
|
|
|
231
|
|
|
175
|
|
|
231
|
|
|
173
|
|
Total
amortized intangible assets
|
|
|
4,920
|
|
|
1,272
|
|
|
4,920
|
|
|
1,123
|
|
Non-amortized
intangible assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trademarks-Security
Segment
|
|
|
1,285
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
1,285
|
|
|
-
|
|
Trademarks-Digital
Media Marketing Segment
|
|
|
478
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
478
|
|
|
-
|
|
Patent
costs
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total
non-amortized intangible assets
|
|
|
1,776
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
1,768
|
|
|
-
|
|
Total
intangible assets
|
|
$
|
6,696
|
|
$
|
1,272
|
|
$
|
6,688
|
|
$
|
1,123
|
|
The
following sets forth the estimated amortization expense on intangible assets
for
the fiscal years ending December 31 (in thousands):
|
|
$
|
596
|
|
2009
|
|
$
|
560
|
|
2010
|
|
$
|
551
|
|
|
|
$
|
551
|
|
2012
|
|
$
|
541
|
|
Amortization
expense of other intangible assets was approximately $149,000, and $70,000
for
the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The weighted
average useful life of amortizing intangible assets was 8.4 years at March
31,
2008.
4.
Business Acquisitions and Divestitures
On
July
20, 2007, the Company completed the purchase of all of the outstanding common
stock of Linkstar from Linkstar’s shareholders. Linkstar is an online internet
advertising and e-commerce direct marketing company. Linkstar’s primary assets
at the time of purchase were inventory, accounts receivable, proprietary
software, customer contracts, and its business methods. The acquisition of
Linkstar enables the Company to expand the marketing of its security products
through online channels and provides the Company with a presence in the online
and digital media services industry. The Company paid approximately $10.5
million to the Linkstar shareholders consisting of $7.0 million in cash at
closing, $500,000 of promissory notes bearing a 5% interest rate due on January
3, 2008 and 1,176,471 unregistered shares of the Company’s common stock. The
Company’s stock was issued based on a closing price of $2.55 per share or a
total value of $2.9 million, net of estimated costs to register the stock.
In
addition to the $10.5 million of consideration at closing, the Company incurred
approximately $261,000 in related acquisition costs and recorded an additional
estimated receivable of $160,000 for working capital acquired below the minimum
working capital requirement of $500,000, as per the purchase agreement. The
purchase price was allocated as follows: approximately (i) $248,000 cash; (ii)
$183,000 for inventory; (iii) $1.12 million for accounts receivable; (iv)
$41,000 for prepaids; (v) $80,000 for equipment; (vi) the assumption of $1.26
million of liabilities, and (vii) the remainder, or $10.18 million, allocated
to
goodwill and other intangible assets. Of the $10.18 million of acquired
intangible assets, $478,000 was assigned to trademarks and $6.89 million was
assigned to goodwill, neither of which is subject to amortization expense.
The
remaining intangible assets were assigned to customer relationships for $1.57
million, non-compete agreements for $367,000 and software for $883,000. The
allocation of the purchase price of the Linkstar acquisition reflects certain
reclasses from the allocation reported as of September 30, 2007 as a result
of
refinements to certain data utilized for the acquisition valuation. Customer
relationships, non-compete agreements, and software costs were assigned a life
of nine, seven, and six years, respectively. The acquisition was accounted
for
as a business combination in accordance with SFAS 141, Business
Combinations.
Unaudited
proforma financial information, assuming the Linkstar acquisition occurred
on
January 1, 2007, is as follows (in thousands, except per shares
amounts):
|
|
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2007
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
15,594
|
|
Net
Loss
|
|
$
|
(529
|
)
|
Loss
per share-basic and dilutive
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
In
the
first quarter ended March 31, 2007, the Company sold seven car washes consisting
of: (i) three full service car washes in the Philadelphia area on January 29,
2007 and a full service car wash in Cherry Hill, New Jersey on February 1,
2007
for a total of $7.8 million in cash at a gain of approximately $1.0 million;
(ii) an exterior car wash in Moorestown, New Jersey on January 5, 2007 for
$350,000 cash, which approximates book value; (iii) an exterior car wash in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 1, 2007 for $475,000 in cash at a gain
of
approximately $141,000; and (iv) a full service car wash in Fort Worth, Texas
on
March 7, 2007 for $285,000 in cash at a gain of approximately
$9,000.
In
the
second quarter ended June 30, 2007, the Company sold 14 car washes consisting
of: (i) an exterior car wash in Yeadon, Pennsylvania on May 14, 2007 for
$100,000 in cash at a gain of approximately $90,000; (ii) twelve full service
car washes in the Phoenix, Arizona area representing our entire Arizona region
on May 17, 2007 for $19,380,000 in cash at a gain of approximately $413,000;
and
(iii) an exterior car wash in Smyrna, Delaware on May 31, 2007 for $220,000
in
cash at a gain of approximately $202,000.
In
the
third quarter ended September 30, 2007, the Company sold its two remaining
exterior car wash sites in Camden and Sicklerville, New Jersey on August 3,
2007
for total cash consideration of $1.38 million at a gain of approximately
$179,000.
In
the
fourth quarter ending December 31, 2007, the Company sold two of its San
Antonio, Texas car wash sites in two separate transactions on November 8, 2007
and November 13, 2007 for total cash consideration of $2.96 million at a total
gain of approximately $38,000. Additionally, on December 31, 2007, the Company
completed its sale of its five truck washes under its lease-to-sell agreement
with Eagle United Truck Wash, LLC (“Eagle”). Eagle purchased the five truck
washes for total consideration of $1.2 million, consisting of $280,000 cash
and
a $920,000 five year note payable to Mace secured by mortgages on the truck
washes. The current portion of the note payable, approximately $28,000, is
included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and the non-current
portion, approximately $892,000 is included in other assets. The Company
recorded a gain of approximately $279,000 on the sale.
In
the
first quarter ending March 31, 2008, the Company sold its six full service
car
washes in Florida in three separate transactions from January 4, 2008 to March
3, 2008 for total cash consideration of approximately $12.5 million at a gain
of
approximately $6.9 million. Simultaneously with the sale, $4.2 million of cash
was used to pay down related mortgage debt.
5.
Discontinued Operations and Assets
Held for Sale
On
December 7, 2006, the Company signed an agreement with Twisted Cactus
Enterprises, LLC to sell its Arizona car washes. This transaction closed on
May
17, 2007. Additionally, the Company sold nine of its Northeast region car washes
in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 which represent all of the revenues
within the Northeast region. The Company completed the sale of its truck washes
on December 31, 2007 under a lease-to-sell agreement executed on December 31,
2005 with Eagle to lease Mace’s five truck washes beginning January 1, 2006
through December 31, 2007. The Company did not recognize revenue or operating
expenses during the term of the lease other than rental income, depreciation
expense and interest expense. The Company also entered into two separate
agreements on November 8, 2007 and November 19, 2007 to sell five of its six
full service car washes and a third agreement in January 2008 to sell its final
car wash in the Sarasota, Florida area. All six Florida car washes were sold
from January 4, 2008 to March 3, 2008. Accordingly, for financial statement
purposes, the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of
the
operations of our Arizona, Northeast and Florida car washes and our truck washes
have been segregated from those of continuing operations and are presented
in
the Company’s consolidated financial statements as discontinued operations.
Revenues
from discontinued operations were $81,000 and $4.6 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Operating (loss) income from
discontinued operations was $(707,000) and $587,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
In
the
third quarter ended September 30, 2007, the Company signed agreements to sell
a
full service car wash in Fort Worth, Texas. This car wash is presented in the
Company’s consolidated financial statements as assets and liabilities held for
sale.
Assets
and liabilities held for sale are comprised of the following at March 31, 2008
(in thousands):
Assets
held for sale:
|
|
Fort
Worth,
Texas
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventory
|
|
$
86
|
|
Property,
plant and equipment, net
|
|
|
918
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
assets
|
|
$
|
1,004
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
related to assets held for sale:
|
|
|
|
|
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
|
$
|
197
|
|
Long-term
debt, net of current portion
|
|
|
541
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
$
|
738
|
|
6.
Stock-Based Compensation
The
Company has two stock-based employee compensation plans. On January 1, 2006,
the
Company adopted SFAS 123(R), Share-Based
Payment,
which
requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions
be recognized in the financial statements. The cost is recognized as
compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the life of the instruments,
based upon the grant date fair value of the equity or liability instruments
issued. Total stock compensation expense is approximately $256,000 for the
three
months ended March 31, 2008 ($253,600 included in SG&A expense, and $2,400
in discontinued operations) and $227,000 for the three months ended March 31,
2007 ($223,000 included in SG&A expense and $4,000 in discontinued
operations).
The
fair
values of the Company’s options were estimated at the dates of grant using a
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions:
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
Expected
term (years)
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
10
|
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
|
|
3.51%
to 3.91%
|
|
|
5.80%
|
|
Volatility
|
|
|
46%
|
|
|
52%
|
|
Dividend
yield
|
|
|
0%
|
|
|
0%
|
|
Expected
term: The Company’s expected life is based on the period the options are
expected to remain outstanding. The Company estimated this amount based on
historical experience of similar awards, giving consideration to the contractual
terms of the awards, vesting requirements and expectations of future
behavior.
Risk-free
interest rate: The Company uses the risk-free interest rate of a U.S. Treasury
Note with a similar term on the date of the grant.
Expected
volatility: The Company calculates the volatility of the stock price based
on
historical value and corresponding volatility of the Company’s stock price over
the prior four years.
Dividend
yield: The Company uses a 0% expected dividend yield as the Company has not
paid
and does not anticipate declaring dividends in the near future.
Forfeitures:
The Company estimates forfeitures based on historical experience and factors
of
known historical or future projected work force reduction actions to anticipate
the projected forfeiture rates.
The
weighted-averages of the fair value of stock option grants are $1.02 and $1.86
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. As of March
31, 2008, total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense is $512,000,
which
has a weighted average period to be recognized of approximately 1.47
years.
The
Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the
fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully
transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly
subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because
the Company’s employee stock options have characteristics significantly
different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective
input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management’s
opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single
measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.
7.
Commitments and Contingencies
The
Company is obligated under various operating leases, primarily for certain
equipment, vehicles, and real estate. Certain of these leases contain purchase
options, renewal provisions, and contingent rentals for the proportionate share
of taxes, utilities, insurance, and annual cost of living increases. Future
minimum lease payments under operating leases with initial or remaining
noncancellable lease terms in excess of one year as of March 31, 2008 for
continuing operations are as follows: 2009 - $1.0 million; 2010 - $738,000;
2011
- $603,000; 2012 - $481,000; 2013 - $409,000 and thereafter - $873,000. Rental
expense under these leases was $200,500, and $221,800 for the three months
ended
March 31, 2008, and 2007, respectively.
The
Company subleases a portion of the building space at several of its car wash
facilities and its California leased office space in its Digital Media Marketing
Segment either on a month-to-month basis or under cancelable leases. During
the
three months ending March 31, 2008 and 2007, revenues under these leases were
approximately $13,600, and $4,200, respectively. These amounts are classified
as
other income in the accompanying statements of operations.
The
Company is subject to federal and state environmental regulations, including
rules relating to air and water pollution and the storage and disposal of oil,
other chemicals, and waste. The Company believes that it complies, in all
material respects, with all applicable laws relating to its business. See also
the discussion below concerning the environmental remediation occuring at the
Bennington, Vermont location.
Certain
of the Company’s executive officers have entered into employee stock option
agreements whereby options issued to them shall be entitled to immediate vesting
upon a change in control of the Company. Additionally, the employment agreement
of the Company’s Principal Executive Officer, Louis D. Paolino, Jr., dated
August 21, 2006, entitles Mr. Paolino to a payment of 2.99 times Mr. Paolino’s
average total compensation (base salary plus any bonuses plus the value of
any
option award, valued using the Black-Scholes method) over the past five years,
upon termination of employment under certain conditions or upon a change in
control. The employment agreement also provides that if Mr. Paolino receives
the
change of control bonus, his employment agreement can then be terminated without
an additional payment.
As
previously disclosed, on March 13, 2006, the Company was served with a search
warrant issued by the United States District Court for the District of New
Jersey relating to a criminal immigration investigation. A search of the
Company’s headquarters and four out of the Company’s then 48 car washes was
conducted by representatives of the United States Department of Investigations
and Customs Enforcement and certain other agencies. Three of the car washes
searched were located in Pennsylvania and the fourth was located in New Jersey.
These four car washes were sold by the Company in the quarter ended March 31,
2007. Documents were seized and a number of car wash employees of Car Care,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, were taken into custody by
the
United States immigration authorities. On May 8, 2008, Car Care, Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company (“Car Care”), as well as the Company’s former
Northeast Regional car wash manager and four former general managers of the
four
Northeast Region car washes that were searched in March 2006, were indicted
with
one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, harboring illegal aliens
and
identity theft. Car Care has reached an agreement in principle, subject to
executing a written plea agreement with the government, to plead guilty to
the
one count of conspiracy charged in the indictment. Under this agreement, Car
Care will pay a criminal fine of $100,000 and will forfeit $500,000 in proceeds
from the sale of the four car washes. An accrual of $600,000 was recorded as
a
component of income from discontinued operations as of March 31, 2008, as
prescribed by SFAS No.5, Accounting
for Contingencies.
The
Company was not named in the indictment and, according to the agreement in
principle, will not be charged. The Company fully cooperated with the
government in its investigation of this matter.
Shortly
following the search of the Company’s premises in March 2006, the Company’s
Audit Committee retained independent outside counsel (“Special Counsel”) to
conduct an independent investigation of the Company’s hiring practices at the
Company’s car washes and other related matters. Special Counsel’s findings
included, among other things, a finding that the Company’s internal controls for
financial reporting at the corporate level were adequate and appropriate, and
that there was no financial statement impact implicated by the Company’s hiring
practices, except for a potential contingent liability. The Company incurred
$704,000 in legal, consulting and accounting expenses associated with the Audit
Committee investigations in fiscal 2006 and a total of $1.52 million ($674,000
and $796,000, in fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively and $47,000 in the three
months ended March 31, 2008) in legal fees associated with the governmental
investigation and Company’s defense and negotiations with the government. As a
result of this matter, the Company has incorporated additional internal control
procedures at the corporate, regional and site level to further enhance the
existing internal controls with respect to the Company’s hiring procedures at
the car wash locations to prevent the hiring of undocumented
workers.
During
January 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) conducted a site
investigation at the Company’s Bennington, Vermont location and the building the
facility is located within. The Company does not own the building or land
and
leases 44,000 square feet of the building from Vermont Mill Properties,
Inc
(“Vermont Mill”). The site investigation was focused
on discovering whether hazardous substances were being improperly
stored.
Subsequent to the investigation and search, the EPA notified the Company
and the
building owner that remediation of certain hazardous wastes are required.
The
hazardous materials and waste identified to date are (i) metal contaminated
soils on the building grounds (waste from sand blasting paint from the
building,
the clean up of which the Company believes the building owner and not Mace
is
responsible); (ii) 212 drums of hazardous waste (waste gases generated
from
testing the defense spray units sold by the Company, defective spray units,
and
empty containers which had contained hazardous wastes); (iii) 55 thousand
pounds
of 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile stored in eight pound plastic containers
(a
chemical used to make tear gas); and (iv) three steel drums containing
a
chemical used to make pyrotechnic grenades (this material is held for resale).
The EPA, the Company and the building owner have entered into an Administrative
Consent Order under which the hazardous materials and waste are being
remediated. The Company expects the remediation to be complete by May 30,
2008,
within the time required by the Administrative Consent Order. A
total
cost of approximately $665,000, which includes disposal of the waste materials,
as well as expenses incurred to engage environmental engineers and legal
counsel
and the cost of reimbursing the EPA for its costs, has been recorded through
March 31, 2008. This amount represents management’s best estimate of probable
loss, as defined by SFAS No. 5, Accounting
for Contingencies.
Approximately $68,000 has been paid to the date, leaving an accrual balance
of
$597,000 at March 31, 2008. The accrual was increased by $380,000 in the
first
quarter due to there being more hazardous waste to dispose of than originally
estimated, increase in cost estimates for additional EPA requirements in
handling and oversight related to disposing of the hazardous waste, and
the cost
of obtaining additional engineering reports requested by the
EPA.
The
United States Attorney for the District of Vermont (“US Attorney”)
conducted a
search of the Company’s Bennington, Vermont location and the building it is
located within during February 2008 under a search warrant issued by the
U.S.
District Court for the District of Vermont. On May 2, 2008 the US Attorney
issued a grand jury subpoena to the Company. The subpoena requires the
Company
to provide the US Attorney with documents related to the storage, disposal
and
transportation of materials at the Bennington, Vermont location. The Company
intends to supply the documents and fully cooperate with the US Attorney’s investigation.
The Company is unable at this time to determine whether further action
will be
taken by the US Attorney or if any charges, fines or penalties will be
sought
from the Company. The Company has made no provision for any future costs
associated with the investigation.
The
Company is a party to various other legal proceedings related to its normal
business activities. In the opinion of the Company’s management, none of these
proceedings are material in relation to the Company’s results of operations,
liquidity, cash flows, or financial condition.
8.
Business Segments Information
The
Company currently operates in three segments: the Security Segment, the Digital
Media Marketing Segment and the Car Wash Segment.
Financial
information regarding the Company’s segments, excluding discontinued operations,
is as follows (in thousands):
|
|
Security
|
|
Digital
Media
Marketing
|
|
Car
Wash
|
|
Corporate
Functions*
|
|
Three
months ended March 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
from external customers
|
|
$
|
5,286
|
|
$
|
5,445
|
|
$
|
3,771
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Segment
operating (loss) income
|
|
$
|
(724
|
)
|
$
|
34
|
|
$
|
(156
|
)
|
$
|
(1,473
|
)
|
Segment
assets
|
|
$
|
18,847
|
|
$
|
12,131
|
|
$
|
42,516
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
$
|
1,343
|
|
$
|
6,888
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Capital
expenditures
|
|
$
|
43
|
|
$
|
17
|
|
$
|
91
|
|
$
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
months ended March 31, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
from external customers
|
|
$
|
5,435
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
4,380
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Segment
operating(loss) income
|
|
$
|
(843
|
)
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
97
|
|
$
|
(1,374
|
)
|
Segment
assets
|
|
$
|
18,466
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
48,984
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
$
|
1,623
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Capital
expenditures
|
|
$
|
59
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
38
|
|
$
|
1
|
|
*
Corporate functions include the corporate treasury, legal, financial reporting,
information technology, corporate tax corporate
insurance, human resources, investor relations, and other typical centralized
administrative functions.
9.
Use of Estimates
The
preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of
assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, as well as the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of its consolidated financial
statements. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, actuarial
valuations and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under
the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments
about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent
from other sources. Some of those judgments can be subjective and complex,
and
consequently, actual results may differ from these estimates under different
assumptions or conditions. The Company must make these estimates and assumptions
because certain information is dependent on future events and cannot be
calculated with a high degree of precision from the data currently available.
Such estimates include the Company's estimates of reserves such as the allowance
for doubtful accounts, sales returns, warranty allowances, inventory valuation
allowances, insurance losses and loss reserves, valuation of long-lived assets,
estimates of realization of income tax net operating loss carryforwards,
computation of stock-based compensation, as well as valuation calculations
such
as the Company’s goodwill impairment calculations under the provisions of SFAS
142, Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets.
10.
Income Taxes
The
Company recorded income tax expense of $25,000 from continuing operations in
each of the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007. Income tax expense
reflects the recording of income taxes on income at an effective rate of
approximately (1)% in 2008 and 2007. The effective rate differs from the federal
statutory rate for each year primarily due to state and local income taxes,
non-deductible costs related to intangibles, fixed asset adjustments and changes
to the valuation allowance. It is management’s belief that it is unlikely that
the net deferred tax asset will be realized and as a result has been fully
reserved. Additionally, the Company recorded no income tax expense related
to
discontinued operations for either of the three month periods ended March 31,
2008 and 2007.
Effective
January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation
No.
48, Accounting
for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
(“FIN
48”), an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“SFAS 109”). FIN 48
prescribes a model for the recognition and measurement of a tax position taken
or expected to be taken in a tax return, and provides guidance on recognition,
classification, interest and penalties, disclosure and transition.
Implementation of FIN 48 did not result in a cumulative effect adjustment to
retained earnings. At March 31, 2008, the Company did not have any significant
unrecognized tax benefits. The total amount of interest and penalties recognized
in the statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007 is insignificant and when incurred is reported as interest
expense.
11.
Related Party Transactions
The
Company’s Security Segment leases manufacturing and office space under a
five-year lease with Vermont Mill. Vermont Mill is controlled by Jon E.
Goodrich, a former director and current employee of the Company. In November
2004, the Company exercised an option to continue the lease through November
2009 at a rate of $10,576 per month. The Company believes that the lease rate
is
lower than lease rates charged for similar properties in the Bennington, Vermont
area. On July 22, 2002, the lease was amended to provide Mace the option and
right to cancel the lease with proper notice and a payment equal to six months
of the then current rent for the leased space occupied by Mace. Rent expense
under this lease was $31,728 for each of the three months ending March 31,
2008
and 2007.
12.
Long-Term Debt, Notes Payable and Capital Lease
Obligations
At
March
31, 2008, we had borrowings, including borrowings related to discontinued
operations, of approximately $8.5 million, substantially all of which is secured
by mortgages against certain of our real property. Of such borrowings,
approximately $1.7 million, including $738,000 of long-term debt included in
liabilities related to assets held for sale, is reported as current as it is
due
or expected to be repaid or up for renewal in less than twelve months from
March
31, 2008.
We
have
two letters of credit outstanding at March 31, 2008 totaling $831,000 as
collateral relating to workers’ compensation insurance policies. We maintain a
$500,000 revolving credit facility to provide financing for additional
electronic surveillance product inventory purchases. There were no borrowings
outstanding under the revolving credit facility at March 31, 2008. The
Company also maintains a $300,000 line of credit for commercial letters of
credit for the importation of inventory. There were no outstanding commercial
letters of credit under this commitment at March 31, 2008.
Our
most
significant borrowings, including borrowings related to discontinued operations
are secured notes payable to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase”), the successor
of Bank One, Texas, N.A. in the amount of $6.0 million, $4.6 million of which
was classified as non-current debt at March 31, 2008. The Chase agreements
contain affirmative and negative covenants, including the maintenance of certain
levels of tangible net worth, maintenance of certain levels of unencumbered
cash
and marketable securities, limitations on capital spending and certain financial
reporting requirements. The Chase agreements are our only debt agreement that
contains an expressed prohibition on incurring additional debt for borrowed
money without the approval of the lender. As of March 31, 2008, our warehouse
and office facility in Farmers Branch, Texas and nine car washes were encumbered
by mortgages.
The
Chase
term loan agreement also limits capital expenditures annually to $1.0 million,
requires the Company to provide Chase with a Form 10-K and audited financial
statements within 120 days of the Company’s fiscal year end and a Form 10-Q
within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, and requires the
maintenance of a minimum total unencumbered cash and marketable securities
balance of $5 million. If we are unable to satisfy these covenants and we cannot
obtain waivers, the Chase notes may be reflected as current in future balance
sheets and as a result our stock price may decline.
If
we
default on any of the Chase covenants and are not able to obtain further
amendments or waivers of acceleration, Chase debt totaling $6.0 million at
March
31, 2008, including debt recorded as long-term debt at March 31, 2008, could
become due and payable on demand, and Chase could foreclose on the assets
pledged in support of the relevant indebtedness. If our assets (including up
to
nine of our car wash facilities as of March 31, 2008) are foreclosed upon,
revenues from our Car Wash Segment, which comprised 45% of our total revenues
for fiscal year 2007 and 26% of our total revenues for the three months ended
March 31, 2008, would be severely impacted and we may be unable to continue
to
operate our business.
13.
Accrued
Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued
expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following (in
thousands):
|
|
March
31,
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued
compensation
|
|
$
|
557
|
|
$
|
662
|
|
Accrued
fines and penalties
|
|
|
600
|
|
|
-
|
|
Accrued
EPA remediation costs
|
|
|
597
|
|
|
285
|
|
Other
|
|
|
1,804
|
|
|
1,634
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,558
|
|
$
|
2,581
|
|
14.
Earnings Per Share
The
following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per
share (in thousands, except shares and per share data):
|
|
Three
Months Ended
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
$
|
3,974
|
|
$
|
(658
|
)
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator
for basic earnings per
share - weighted-average shares
|
|
|
16,465,253
|
|
|
15,275,382
|
|
Dilutive
effect of options and Warrants
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
Denominator
for diluted earnings
per share - weighted- average shares
|
|
|
16,465,253
|
|
|
15,275,382
|
|
Basic
and diluted income (loss) per share
|
|
|
0.24
|
|
|
(0.04
|
)
|
The
effect of options and warrants for the period in which we incurred a net loss
has been excluded as it would be anti-dilutive. The dilutive effect of options
and warrants excluded were 243,270 and 511,533 for the three months ended March
31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
15.
Equity
On
August
13, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a Stock Buy Back Plan to
purchase shares of the Company’s common stock up to a maximum value of $2.0
million. Purchases will be made in the open market, if and when management
determines to effect purchases. Management may elect not to make purchases
or to
make purchases less than $2.0 million in amount. Through March 31, 2008, the
Company purchased 36,538 shares on the open market which are included in
treasury stock at a total cost of approximately $111,000.
16.
Florida Security Division
In
April
2007, we determined that the former divisional controller of the Florida
Security division embezzled funds from the Company. We initially conducted
an
internal investigation, and our Audit Committee subsequently engaged a
consulting firm to conduct an independent forensic investigation. As a result
of
the investigation, we identified that the amount embezzled by the employee
during fiscal 2006 was approximately $240,000, with an additional $99,000
embezzled in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. The embezzlement primarily
occurred from a local petty cash checking account and from diversion of customer
cash payments at the Florida Security division. Additionally, the investigation
uncovered an unexplained inventory shortage in 2006 in the Florida Security
division of approximately $350,000, which may have been due to theft. We filed
a
civil complaint against the former employee in June 2007 and intend to pursue
all legal measures to recover our losses. Selling, general and administrative
expenses include $99,000 in the quarter ended March 31, 2007, representing
embezzled funds at our Florida Security division. If we recover any of the
embezzled funds, such amounts will be recorded as recoveries in future periods
when they are received.
17.
Subsequent Events
On
May 8,
2008, Car Care, Inc.; a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Car Care”), as
well as the Company’s former Northeast Regional car wash manager and four former
general managers of the four Northeast Region car washes that were searched
in
March 2006, were indicted with one count of conspiracy to defraud the
government, harboring illegal aliens and identify theft. Car Care has reached
an
agreement in principle, subject to executing a written plea agreement with
the
government, to plead guilty to the one count of conspiracy charged in the
indictment. Under this agreement, Car Care will pay a criminal fine of $100,000
and will forfeit $500,000 in proceeds from the sale of the four car washes.
An
accrual of $600,000 was recorded as a component of income from discontinued
operations as of March 31, 2008, as prescribed by SFAS No. 5, Accounting
for Contingencies.
The
Company was not named in the indictment and will not be charged. The Company
fully cooperated with the government in its investigation of this matter.
Item
2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of
Operations
The
following discussion of the financial condition and results of operations should
be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto
included in this report on Form 10-Q.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A
of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Forward-Looking Statements”). All statements
other than statements of historical fact included in this report are
Forward-Looking Statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected
in such Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance
that
such expectations will prove to be correct. Generally, these statements relate
to business plans or strategies, projected or anticipated benefits or other
consequences of such plans or strategies, number of acquisitions, and projected
or anticipated benefits from acquisitions made by or to be made by us, or
projections involving anticipated revenues, earnings, and levels of capital
expenditures or other aspects of operating results. All phases of our operations
are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks, and other influences, many
of
which are outside our control and any one of which, or a combination of which,
could materially affect the results of our operations and whether
Forward-Looking Statements made by us ultimately prove to be accurate. Such
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from
our
expectations are disclosed in Part II, Item
1A Risk Factors of
this
report. All subsequent written and oral Forward-Looking Statements attributable
to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their
entirety by the important factors described below that could cause actual
results to differ from our expectations. The Forward-Looking Statements made
herein are only made as of the date of this filing, and we undertake no
obligation to publicly update such Forward-Looking Statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstances.
Summary
of Critical Accounting Policies
The
discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations
is
based upon the Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires the
Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Company's financial
statements. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different
assumptions or conditions.
Critical
accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant
judgments and uncertainties, and potentially result in materially different
results under different assumptions and conditions. The Company’s critical
accounting policies are described below.
Revenue
Recognition and
Deferred Revenue
The
Company recognizes revenue in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”)
No. 104, Revenue
Recognition in Financial Statements.
Under
SAB No. 104, the Company recognizes revenue when the following criteria have
been met: persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the fees are fixed
and
determinable, no significant obligations remain and collection of the related
receivable is reasonably assured. Allowances for sales returns, discounts and
allowances, are estimated and recorded concurrent with the recognition of the
sale and are primarily based on historical return rates.
Revenues
from the Company’s Security Segment are recognized when shipments are made and
title has passed. Shipping and handling costs of $602,000 and $193,000 in the
three months ending March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, are included in
selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense.
Revenues
from the Company’s Digital Media Marketing Segment are recognized in accordance
with Staff Accounting Bulletin SAB No. 104, Revenue
Recognition in Financial Statements.
The
e-commerce division recognizes revenue and the related product costs for trial
product shipments after the expiration of the trial period. Marketing costs
incurred by the e-commerce division are recognized as incurred. The online
marketing division recognizes revenue and cost of sales consistent with the
provisions of the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) Issue No. 99-19,
Reporting
Revenue Gross as a Principal versus Net as an Agent,
the
Company records revenue based on the gross amount received from advertisers
and
the amount paid to the publishers placing the advertisements as cost of sales.
Revenues
from the Company’s Car Wash Segment are recognized, net of customer coupon
discounts, when services are rendered or fuel or merchandise is sold. The
Company records a liability for gift certificates, ticket books, and seasonal
and annual passes sold at its car care locations but not yet redeemed. The
Company estimates these unredeemed amounts based on gift certificate and ticket
book sales and redemptions throughout the year, as well as utilizing historical
sales and tracking of redemption rates per the car washes’ point-of-sale
systems. Seasonal and annual passes are amortized on a straight-line basis
over
the time during which the passes are valid.
Accounts
Receivable
The
Company’s accounts receivable are due from trade customers. Credit is extended
based on evaluation of customers’ financial condition and, generally, collateral
is not required. Accounts receivable payment terms vary and amounts due from
customers are stated in the financial statements net of an allowance for
doubtful accounts. Accounts outstanding longer than the payment terms are
considered past due. The Company determines its allowance by considering a
number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are
past due, the Company’s previous loss history, the customer’s current ability to
pay its obligation to the Company, and the condition of the general economy
and
the industry as a whole. The Company writes off accounts receivable when they
are deemed uncollectible, and payments subsequently received on such receivables
are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts. Risk of losses from
international sales within the Security Segment are reduced by requiring
substantially all international customers to provide irrevocable confirmed
letters of credit and/or cash advances.
Inventories
Inventories
are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in
first-out (FIFO) method for security, e-commerce and car care products.
Inventories at the Company’s car wash locations consist of various chemicals and
cleaning supplies used in operations and merchandise and fuel for resale to
consumers. Inventories within the Company’s Security Segment consist of defense
sprays, child safety products, electronic security monitors, cameras and digital
recorders, and various other consumer security and safety products. Inventories
within the e-commerce division of the Digital Media Marketing segment consist
of
several health and beauty products. The Company continually reviews the book
value of slow moving inventory items, as well as, discontinued product lines
to
determine if inventory items are property valued. The Company identifies slow
moving or discontinued product lines and assesses the ability to dispose of
them
at a price greater than costs. If it is determined that costs is less than
market value, then cost is used for inventory valuation. If market value is
less
than costs, then an adjustment is made to the Company’s obsolescence reserve to
adjust the inventory to market value.
Advertising
and Marketing Costs
The
Company expenses advertising costs in its Security and Car Wash Segments,
including advertising production cost, as the costs are incurred or the first
time the advertisement appears. Marketing costs in the Company’s Digital Media
Marketing Segment, which consist of the costs to acquire new members for its
e-commerce business, are expensed as incurred rather than deferred and amortized
over the expected life of a customer, based on the Company’s application of
Statement of Position (“SOP”) 93-7. Under SOP 93-7, a company could capitalize
and amortize direct-response advertising costs in a stable, established market
where a company can demonstrate a history of profitability in the related
product or advertising campaign. The Company’s determination is that neither the
history nor stable market criteria are currently met.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
In
accordance with SFAS 144, Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,
we
periodically review the carrying value of our long-lived assets held and used,
and assets to be disposed of, when events and circumstances warrant such a
review. If significant events or changes in circumstances indicate that the
carrying value of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable, we perform
a
test of recoverability by comparing the carrying value of the asset or asset
group to its undiscounted expected future cash flows. Cash flow projections
are
sometimes based on a group of assets, rather than a single asset. If cash flows
cannot be separately and independently identified for a single asset, we
determine whether an impairment has occurred for the group of assets for which
we can identify the projected cash flows. If the carrying values are in excess
of undiscounted expected future cash flows, we measure any impairment by
comparing the fair value of the asset group to its carrying value. If the fair
value of an asset or asset group is determined to be less than the carrying
amount of the asset or asset group, an impairment in the amount of the
difference is recorded.
Goodwill
In
accordance with SFAS 142, Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets,
the
Company completes its annual impairment tests as of November 30 of each year.
In
addition, an impairment test is conducted whenever there is an impairment
indicator. The Company’s annual impairment testing corresponds with the
Company’s determination of its annual operating budgets for the upcoming year.
The Company’s valuation of goodwill is based on a discounted cash flow model
applying an appropriate discount rate to future expected cash flows and
management’s annual review of historical data and future assessment of certain
critical operating factors, including security product sales and related costs,
car wash volumes, average car wash and detailing revenue rates per car, wash
and
detailing labor cost percentages, weather trends and recent and expected
operating cost levels. Estimating cash flows requires significant judgment
including factors beyond our control and our projections may vary from cash
flows eventually realized. Adverse business conditions could affect
recoverability of goodwill in the future and, accordingly, the Company may
record additional impairments in subsequent years.
Other
Intangible Assets
Other
intangible assets consist primarily of deferred financing costs, non-compete
agreements, customer lists, software costs, product lists and trademarks. In
accordance with SFAS 142, Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets,
our
trademarks are considered to have indefinite lives, and as such, are not subject
to amortization. These assets are tested for impairment using discounted cash
flow methodology annually and whenever there is an impairment indicator.
Estimating future cash flows requires significant judgment and projections
may
vary from cash flows eventually realized. Several impairment indicators are
beyond our control, and determining whether or not they will occur cannot be
predicted with any certainty. Deferred financing costs are amortized on a
straight-line basis over the terms of the respective debt instruments. Customer
lists, product lists, software costs, patents and non-compete agreements are
amortized on a straight-line or accelerated basis over their respective assigned
estimated useful lives.
Income
Taxes
Deferred
income taxes are determined based on the difference between the financial
accounting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Deferred income tax expense
(benefit) represents the change during the period in the deferred income tax
assets and deferred income tax liabilities. In establishing the provision for
income taxes and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and valuation
allowances against deferred tax assets, the Company makes judgments and
interpretations based on enacted laws, published tax guidance and estimates
of
future earnings. Deferred income tax assets include tax loss and credit
carryforwards and are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on available
evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred
income tax assets will not be realized.
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company has two stock-based employee compensation plans. On January 1, 2006,
the
Company adopted SFAS 123 (R), Share-Based
Payment,
which
requires that the compensation cost relating to share-based payment transactions
be recognized in financial statements. The cost is recognized as compensation
expense over the vesting period of the instruments, based upon the grant date
fair value of the equity or liability instruments issued. In the three months
ended March 31, 2008, SFAS 123(R) resulted in compensation expense and therefore
a reduction of income before income taxes of $256,000 ($253,600 in continuing
operations-SG&A, and $2,400 in discontinued operations).
In
the
three months ended March 31, 2007, SFAS 123(R) resulted in stock compensation
expense and therefore a reduction of income before income taxes of $227,000
($223,000 in continuing operations-SG&A expense and $4,000 in discontinued
operations). The Company expects the application of SFAS 123(R) to result in
stock compensation expense and therefore a reduction of income before income
taxes in 2008 of $1.1 million to $1.2 million. The Company’s actual stock
compensation expense in 2008 could differ materially from this estimate
depending on the timing, magnitude and vesting of new awards, the number of
new
awards and changes in the market price or the volatility of the Company’s common
stock.
Supplementary
Cash Flow Information
Interest
paid on all indebtedness was approximately $146,000 and $199,000 for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Income taxes paid were
$9,900 and $250 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. Noncash investing and financing activity of the Company include
the recording of the sale of property and equipment and the simultaneous pay
down of related mortgages of $4.2 million for the three months ended March
31,
2008.
Introduction
Revenues
Security
Our
Security Segment designs, manufactures, markets and sells a wide range of
products. The Company’s primary focus in the Security Segment is the sourcing
and selection of electronic surveillance products and components that it
produces and sells, primarily to installing dealers, system integrators,
retailers and end users. Other products in our Security Segment include, but
are
not limited to, less-than-lethal Mace defense sprays, personal alarms, high-end
digital and machine vision cameras and imaging components, as well as video
conferencing equipment and monitors. The main marketing channels for our
products are industry shows and publications, outside sales representatives,
catalogs, internet and sales through a call center. Revenues
generated for the three months ended March 31, 2008 for the Security Segment
were comprised of approximately 35% from our professional electronic
surveillance operation in Florida, 44% from our consumer direct electronic
surveillance and machine vision camera and video conferencing equipment
operation in Texas, and 21% from our personal defense and law enforcement
aerosol operation in Vermont.
Digital
Media Marketing
Our
Digital Media Marketing Segment is an online marketing and e-commerce business
which has two business divisions: (1) online marketing and (2) e-commerce.
The
segment uses proprietary technologies and software to provide marketing services
to third party advertisers and to sell products on the internet.
Our
online marketing division, PromoPath, is an online affiliate marketing company
that drives customer acquisitions or leads for advertising clients principally
using the cost-per-acquisition (“CPA”) model. PromoPath helps companies create
effective performance driven marketing campaigns and provides design, brand
and
technical support services in order to achieve these goals. PromoPath works
with
many large publishers to reach many areas of interactive media. PromoPath’s
advertising clients are typically established direct-response advertisers with
well recognized brands and broad consumer appeal such as NetFlix®,
Discover®credit cards and Bertelsmann Group. PromoPath generates CPA revenue,
both brokered and through co-partnered sites, as well as list management and
lead generation revenues. CPA revenue or “Cost per Acquisition” in the digital
marketing marketplace refers to paying a fee for the acquisition of a new
customer, prospect or lead. List management revenue is based on a relationship
between a data owner and a list management company. The data owner compiles,
collects, owns and maintains a proprietary computerized database composed of
consumer information. The data owner grants a list manager a non-exclusive,
non-transferable, revocable worldwide license to manage, make use and have
access to the Data pursuant to defined terms and conditions for which the data
owner is paid revenue. Lead Generation is referred to as CPL “Cost per Lead” in
the digital media marketplace. Advertisers purchasing media on a Cost per Lead
basis are interested in collecting data from consumers expressing interest
in a
product or service. Cost per Lead varies from Cost per Acquisition in that
no
credit card information needs to be provided to the advertiser for the
publishing source to be paid for the lead.
Our
e-commerce division is a direct-response product business that develops, markets
and sells products directly to consumers through the internet. We reach our
customers predominately
through online advertising on both the PromoPath platform as well as third-party
websites. Our products include: Vioderm, an anti-wrinkle skin care product
(www.vioderm.com);
Purity
by Mineral Science, a mineral cosmetic (www.mineralscience.com);
TrimDay™, a weight-loss supplement (www.trimday.com);
and
Eternal Minerals, a dead sea spa product line (www.eternalminerals.com);
as
well as Mace’s pepper sprays and surveillance
products. We continuously develop and test product offerings to determine
customer acquisition costs and revenue potential, as well as to identify the
most efficient marketing programs.
Revenues
within our Digital Media Marketing Segment for the three months ended March
31,
2008, were approximately $5.4 million.
Car
Wash Services
At
March
31, 2008, we owned full service and self-service car wash locations in Texas.
We
earn revenues from washing and detailing automobiles; performing oil and
lubrication services, minor auto repairs, and state inspections; selling fuel;
and selling merchandise through convenience stores within the car wash
facilities. Revenues generated in the three months ended March 31, 2008 for
the
Car Wash Segment were comprised of approximately 67% from car washing and
detailing, 18% from lube and other automotive services, and 15% from fuel and
merchandise. Additionally, our Arizona, Florida and our Northeast region car
washes and our truck washes are being reported as discontinued operations,
(see
Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), and accordingly,
have
been segregated from the following revenue and expense discussion. Revenues
from
discontinued operations were $81,000 and $4.6 million for the three months
ending March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Operating (loss) income from
discontinued operations was $(707,000), and $587,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
The
Company executed a lease-to-sell agreement on December 31, 2005 with Eagle
to
lease Mace’s five truck washes beginning January 1, 2006 for up to two years.
Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, Eagle paid Mace $9,000 per month to
lease the Company’s truck washes and was responsible for all underlying property
expenses. On December 31, 2007 Eagle completed the purchase of the truck washes
for $1.2 million consideration, consisting of $280,000 cash and a $920,000
note
payable to Mace secured by mortgages on the truck washes. The $920,000 note
has
a five-year term, with principal and interest paid on a 15-year amortization
schedule. As a result, we did not recognize revenue or operating expenses during
the term of the lease other than rental income and interest expense.
The
majority of revenues from our Car Wash Segment are collected in the form of
cash
or credit card receipts, thus minimizing customer accounts
receivable.
Cost
of Revenues
Security
Cost
of
revenues within the Security Segment consists primarily of costs to purchase
or
manufacture the security products including direct labor and related taxes
and
fringe benefits, and raw material costs. Product warranty costs related to
the
Security Segment are mitigated in that a significant portion of customer product
warranty claims are reimbursed by the supplier.
Digital
Media Marketing
Cost
of
revenues within the Digital Media Marketing Segment consist primarily of amounts
we pay to website publishers that are directly related to revenue-generating
events, including the cost to enroll new members, fulfillment and warehousing
costs, including direct labor and related taxes and fringe benefits and
e-commerce product costs.
Car
Wash Services
Cost
of
revenues within the Car Wash Segment consists primarily of direct labor and
related taxes and fringe benefits, certain insurance costs, chemicals, wash
and
detailing supplies, rent, real estate taxes, utilities, car damages, maintenance
and repairs of equipment and facilities, as well as the cost of the fuel and
merchandise sold.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
Selling,
general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses consist primarily of
management, clerical and administrative salaries, professional services,
insurance premiums, sales commissions, and other costs relating to marketing
and
sales.
We
capitalize direct incremental costs associated with business acquisitions.
Indirect acquisition costs, such as executive salaries, corporate overhead,
public relations, and other corporate services and overhead are expensed as
incurred.
Depreciation
and Amortization
Depreciation
and amortization consists primarily of depreciation of buildings and equipment,
and amortization of leasehold improvements and certain intangible assets.
Buildings and equipment are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of
the
assets using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are amortized
over
the shorter of their useful lives or the lease term with renewal options.
Intangible assets, other than goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite
useful lives, are amortized over their useful lives ranging from three to
fifteen years, using the straight-line method.
Other
Income
Other
income consists primarily of rental income received on renting out excess space
at our car wash facilities and includes gains and losses on the sale of property
and equipment and gains and losses on short-term investments.
Income
Taxes
Income
tax expense is derived from tax provisions for interim periods that are based
on
the Company’s estimated annual effective rate. Currently, the effective rate
differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to state and local income
taxes, non-deductible costs related to acquired intangibles, and changes to
the
valuation allowance.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Cash
and
cash equivalents and short-term investments were approximately $17.1 million
at
March 31, 2008. The ratio of our total debt to total capitalization, which
consists of total debt plus stockholders’ equity, was 12.9% at March 31, 2008,
and 20.2% at December 31, 2007.
Our
business requires a substantial amount of capital, most notably to pursue our
expansion strategies, including our current expansion in the Security and
Digital Media Marketing Segments, and for equipment purchases and upgrades
for
our Car Wash Segment. We plan to meet these capital needs from various financing
sources, including borrowings, internally generated funds, and the issuance
of
common stock if the market price of the Company’s stock is at a desirable
level.
As
of
March 31, 2008, we had working capital of approximately $22.4 million. At
December 31, 2007, working capital was approximately $17.8 million. Our working
capital increased by approximately $4.6 million from December 31, 2007 to March
31, 2008 principally due to the sale of our six Florida car washes and payoff
of
their related mortgage debt, recorded as current at December 31, 2007, in the
first quarter of 2008.
During
the three month periods ending March 31, 2008 and 2007, we made capital
expenditures within our Car Wash Segment of $91,000 and $149,000, respectively,
including $0 and $111,000, respectively, of capital expenditures related to
discontinued operations. We estimate aggregate capital expenditures for our
Car
Wash Segment, exclusive of acquisitions of businesses, of approximately $250,000
for the remainder of the year ending December 31, 2008. In years subsequent
to
2008, we estimate that our Car Wash Segment will require annual capital
expenditures of $350,000 to $400,000. This estimate could differ depending
on
the timing of the sale of the remaining car washes. Capital expenditures within
our Car Wash Segment are necessary to maintain the efficiency and
competitiveness of our sites.
Capital
expenditures for our Security Segment were $43,000 and $59,000 for the three
month periods ending March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. We estimate capital
expenditures for the Security Segment will be approximately $150,000 for the
remainder of 2008.
We
expect
to invest significant resources and capital to grow our new Digital Media
Marketing Segment. We expect to continue to invest in engineering staff and
in
the development of new services and technologies within our online marketing
division as well as additional products within our e-commerce division. Further,
we may need to expend additional capital resources in member acquisition costs
and in integrating new technologies to improve the speed, performance, features,
ease of use and reliability of our consumer services in order to adapt to
rapidly changing industry standards. As usage of our websites increases, we
will
need to increase networking equipment to maintain adequate data transmission
speeds, the availability of which may be limited or the cost of which may be
significant. Our online marketing division will also require the infusion of
additional capital as we grow because our advertising customers, which are
billed at the end of the month with payment terms of approximately 45 days,
where as we typically pay our website publishers in approximately 15 days.
Additionally, as we introduce new e-commerce products we develop, upfront
capital spending is required to purchase inventory as well as pay for upfront
media costs to enroll new e-commerce members.
We
intend
to continue to expend significant cash for the purchase of inventory for our
Security Segment and the e-commerce division of our Digital Media Marketing
Segment as we grow and introduce new video surveillance products and e-commerce
products in 2008 and in years subsequent to 2008. We anticipate that inventory
purchases will be funded from cash collected from sales and working capital.
At
March 31, 2008, we maintained an unused $500,000 revolving credit facility
with
Chase to provide financing for additional inventory purchases. The amount of
capital that we will spend for the remainder of 2008 and in years subsequent
to
2008 is largely dependent on the marketing success we achieve with our video
surveillance systems and components and in our e-commerce internet
business.
As
previously disclosed, on March 13, 2006, the Company was served with a search
warrant issued by the United States District Court for the District of New
Jersey relating to a criminal immigration investigation. A search of the
Company’s headquarters and four out of the Company’s then 48 car washes was
conducted by representatives of the United States Department of Investigations
and Customs Enforcement and certain other agencies. Three of the car washes
searched were located in Pennsylvania and the fourth was located in New Jersey.
These four car washes were sold by the Company in the quarter ended March 31,
2007. Documents were seized and a number of car wash employees of Car Care,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, were taken into custody by
the
United States immigration authorities. On May 8, 2008, Car Care, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Car Care”), as well as the Company’s
former Northeast Regional car wash manager and four former general managers
of
the four Northeast Region car washes that were searched in March 2006, were
indicted with one count of conspiracy to defraud the government, harboring
illegal aliens and identity theft. Car Care has reached an agreement in
principle, subject to executing a written plea agreement with the government,
to
plead guilty to the one count of conspiracy charged in the indictment. Under
this agreement, Car Care will pay a criminal fine of $100,000 and will forfeit
$500,000 in proceeds from the sale of the four car washes. An accrual of
$600,000 was recorded as a component of income from discontinued operations
as
of March 31, 2008, as prescribed by SFAS No.5, Accounting
for Contingencies.
The
Company was not named in the indictment and, according to the agreement in
principle, will not be charged. The Company fully cooperated with the
government in its investigation of this matter.
Shortly
following the search of the Company’s premises in March 2006, the Company’s
Audit Committee retained independent outside counsel (“Special Counsel”) to
conduct an independent investigation of the Company’s hiring practices at the
Company’s car washes and other related matters. Special Counsel’s findings
included, among other things, a finding that the Company’s internal controls for
financial reporting at the corporate level were adequate and appropriate, and
that there was no financial statement impact implicated by the Company’s hiring
practices, except for a potential contingent liability. The Company incurred
$704,000 in legal, consulting and accounting expenses associated with the Audit
Committee investigations in fiscal 2006 and a total of $1.52 million ($674,000
and $796,000, in fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively and $47,000 in the three
months ended March 31, 2008) in legal fees associated with the governmental
investigation and Company’s defense and negotiations with the government. As a
result of this matter, the Company has incorporated additional internal control
procedures at the corporate, regional and site level to further enhance the
existing internal controls with respect to the Company’s hiring procedures at
the car wash locations to prevent the hiring of undocumented
workers.
During
January 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) conducted a site
investigation at the Company’s Bennington, Vermont location and the building the
facility is located within. The Company does not own the building or land
and
leases 44,000 square feet of the building from Vermont Mill Properties, Inc
(“Vermont Mill”). The site investigation was focused
on discovering whether hazardous substances were being improperly
stored.
Subsequent to the investigation and search, the EPA notified the Company
and the
building owner that remediation of certain hazardous wastes are required.
The
hazardous materials and waste identified to date are (i) metal contaminated
soils on the building grounds (waste from sand blasting paint from the building,
the clean up of which the Company believes the building owner and not Mace
is
responsible); (ii) 212 drums of hazardous waste (waste gases generated from
testing the defense spray units sold by the Company, defective spray units,
and
empty containers which had contained hazardous wastes); (iii) 55 thousand
pounds
of 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile stored in eight pound plastic containers (a
chemical used to make tear gas); and (iv) three steel drums containing a
chemical used to make pyrotechnic grenades (this material is held for resale).
The EPA, the Company and the building owner have entered into an Administrative
Consent Order under which the hazardous materials and waste are being
remediated. The Company expects the remediation to be complete by May 30,
2008,
within the time required by the Administrative Consent Order. A
total
cost of approximately $665,000, which includes disposal of the waste materials,
as well as expenses incurred to engage environmental engineers and legal
counsel
and the cost of reimbursing the EPA for its costs, has been recorded through
March 31, 2008. This amount represents management’s best estimate of probable
loss, as defined by SFAS No. 5, Accounting
for Contingencies.
Approximately $68,000 has been paid to the date, leaving an accrual balance
of
$597,000 at March 31, 2008. The accrual was increased by $380,000 in the
first
quarter due to there being more hazardous waste to dispose of than originally
estimated, increase in cost estimates for additional EPA requirements in
handling and oversight related to disposing of the hazardous waste, and the
cost
of obtaining additional engineering reports requested by the
EPA.
The
United States Attorney for the District of Vermont (“US Attorney”)
conducted a
search of the Company’s Bennington, Vermont location and the building it is
located within during February 2008 under a search warrant issued by the
U.S.
District Court for the District of Vermont. On May 2, 2008 the US Attorney
issued a grand jury subpoena to the Company. The subpoena requires the Company
to provide the US Attorney with documents related to the storage, disposal
and
transportation of materials at the Bennington, Vermont location. The Company
intends to supply the documents and fully cooperate with the US Attorney’s investigation.
The Company is unable at this time to determine whether further action will
be
taken by the US Attorney or if any charges, fines or penalties will be sought
from the Company. The Company has made no provision for any future costs
associated with the investigation.
The
Company is a party to various other legal proceedings related to its normal
business activities. In the opinion of the Company’s management, none of these
proceedings are material in relation to the Company’s results of operations,
liquidity, cash flows, or financial condition.
Despite
our recent operating losses, we believe our cash and short-term investment
balance of approximately $17.1 million at March 31, 2008, cash flow from
operating activities, cash provided from the sale of assets, and the revolving
credit facility will be sufficient to meet our security, digital media marketing
and car wash operations capital expenditure and operating funding needs through
at least the next twelve months and provide for growth in 2008.
From
December 2005 through March 31, 2008, we sold 34 car washes and our five truck
washes with total cash proceeds generated of approximately $33.7 million, net
of
pay off of related mortgage debt. We believe we will be successful in selling
additional car washes and generating cash. Cash from car wash sales have been
used to fund operating needs and expansion of our Security and Digital Media
Marketing Segment. If the cash provided from operating activities does not
improve during the balance of 2008 and in future years and if current cash
balances are depleted, we will need to raise additional capital to meet our
ongoing capital requirements.
In
the
past, we have been successful in raising capital by selling common stock,
obtaining mortgage loans and selling car wash properties. Our ability to raise
additional capital can be adversely impacted by our stock price. Any failure
to
maintain the required debt covenants on existing loans could also adversely
impact our ability to raise additional capital. We are reluctant to sell common
stock at market prices below our per share book value. Our ability to raise
additional capital will be limited if our stock price is not above our per
share
book value and if our cash from operating activities does not improve.
Currently, we cannot incur additional long-term debt without the approval of
one
of our commercial lenders which requires the Company to demonstrate that the
cash flow benefit from the use of any new loan proceeds exceeds the resulting
future debt service requirements.
Debt
Capitalization and Other Financing Arrangements
At
March
31, 2008, we had borrowings, including liabilities related to assets held for
sale, of approximately $8.5 million. We had two letters of credit outstanding
at
March 31, 2008, totaling $831,000 as collateral relating to workers’
compensation insurance policies. We maintain a $500,000 revolving credit
facility to provide financing for additional video surveillance product
inventory purchases. There were no borrowings outstanding under the revolving
credit facility at March 31, 2008. The Company also maintains a $300,000
guidance line for commercial letters of credit for the importation of inventory.
There were outstanding commercial letters of credit of under this commitment
at
March 31, 2008.
Several
of our debt agreements, as amended, contain certain affirmative and negative
covenants and require the maintenance of certain levels of tangible net worth,
require the maintenance of certain unencumbered cash and marketable securities
balances, contain limitations on capital spending and certain financial
reporting requirements.
The
Chase
term loan agreements limit capital expenditures annually to $1.0 million,
require the Company to provide Chase with a Form 10-K and audited financial
statements within 120 days of the Company’s fiscal year end and a Form 10-Q
within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, and require the maintenance
of a minimum total unencumbered cash and marketable securities balance of $5
million. If we are unable to satisfy these covenants and we cannot obtain
waivers, the Chase notes may be reflected as current in future balance sheets
and as a result our stock price may decline.
If
we
default on any of the Chase covenants and are not able to obtain amendments
or
waivers of acceleration, Chase debt totaling $6.0 million at March 31, 2008,
including debt recorded as long-term debt at March 31, 2008, could become due
and payable on demand, and Chase could foreclose on the assets pledged in
support of the relevant indebtedness. If our assets (including up to nine of
our
car wash facilities as of March 31, 2008) are foreclosed upon, revenues from
our
Car Wash Segment, which comprised 45% of our total revenues for fiscal year
2007
and 26% of our total revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2008, would
be
severely impacted and we may be unable to continue to operate our business.
The
Company is obligated under various operating leases, primarily for certain
equipment and real estate within the Car Wash Segment. Certain of these leases
contain purchase options, renewal provisions, and contingent rentals for our
proportionate share of taxes, utilities, insurance and annual cost of living
increases.
The
following are summaries of our contractual obligations and other commercial
commitments at March 31, 2008, including debt included in liabilities related
to
assets held for sale (in thousands):
|
|
Payments
Due By Period
|
|
Contractual
Obligations (1)
|
|
Total
|
|
Less than
One Year
|
|
One to
Three Years
|
|
Three to
Five Years
|
|
More Than
Five Years
|
|
Long-term
debt (2)
|
|
$
|
8,495
|
|
$
|
1,129
|
|
$
|
3,942
|
|
$
|
2,315
|
|
$
|
1,109
|
|
Minimum
operating lease payments
|
|
|
4,113
|
|
|
1,009
|
|
|
1,341
|
|
|
890
|
|
|
873
|
|
|
|
$
|
12,608
|
|
$
|
2,138
|
|
$
|
5,283
|
|
$
|
3,205
|
|
$
|
1,982
|
|
|
|
Amounts
Expiring Per Period
|
|
Other
Commercial Commitments
|
|
Total
|
|
Less Than
One Year
|
|
One to
Three
Years
|
|
Three to
Five Years
|
|
More Than
Five
Years
|
|
Line
of credit (3)
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Standby
letters of credit (4)
|
|
|
831
|
|
|
831
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
$
|
831
|
|
$
|
831
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
(1)
Potential amounts for inventory ordered under purchase orders are not reflected
in the amounts above as they are typically cancelable prior to delivery and,
if
purchased, would be sold within the normal business cycle.
(2)
Related interest obligations have been excluded from this maturity schedule.
Our
interest payments for the next twelve month period, based on current market
rates, are expected to be approximately $470,000.
(3)
The
Company maintains a $500,000 line of credit with Chase. There were no borrowings
outstanding under this line of credit at March 31, 2008.
(4)
The
Company maintains a $300,000 guidance line for commercial letters of credit
with
Chase for the importation of inventory. There were no outstanding commercial
letters of credit under this commitment at March 31,2008. Outstanding letters
of
credit of $831,000 represent collateral for workers’ compensation insurance
policies.
Mace
currently employs Louis D. Paolino, Jr. as its President and Chief Executive
Officer under a three-year employment agreement dated August 21, 2006. The
principal terms of the employment agreement include: an annual salary of
$450,000; three annual stock option grants fully vested on the date of each
grant; certain bonus payments for the sale or purchase of businesses; a car
at a
lease cost of $1,500 per month; provision for certain medical and other employee
benefits; and prohibition against competing with Mace during employment and
for
a three-month period following a termination of employment. Mr. Paolino’s
employment agreement also provides for a payment of 2.99 times Mr. Paolino’s
average total compensation (base salary plus any bonuses plus the value of
any
option award, valued using the Black-Scholes method) over the past five years,
upon termination of employment under certain conditions or upon a change in
control. Additionally, if Mr. Paolino receives the change of control bonus,
his
employment agreement can then be terminated without an additional payment.
Of
the three stock option grants provided for in Mr. Paolino’s employment
agreement, the first grant, exercisable into 450,000 shares of the Company’s
common stock, was made on August 21, 2006 and the second grant, exercisable
into
300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, was made on February 22, 2008. The
third grant is expected be made on or about August 21, 2008. Because the grants
are fully vested on the date of grant, they do not provide an incentive against
Mr. Paolino resigning his employment.
Cash
Flows
Operating
Activities.
Net cash
used in operating activities totaled $2.1 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2008. Cash used in operating activities in 2008 was primarily due
to a
net loss from continuing operations of $2.3 million, which included $254,000
in
non-cash stock-based compensation charges from continuing operations and
$382,000 of depreciation and amortization. Cash was also impacted by a decrease
in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $379,000, a decrease in accounts
receivable of $536,000 and an increase in inventory of $450,000. Net cash used
in operating activities totaled $1.4 million for the three months ended March
31, 2007. Cash used in operating activities in 2007 was primarily due to a
net
loss from continuing operations of $2.2 million offset partially by $200,000
in
non-cash stock based compensation charges from continuing operations and
$331,000 of depreciation and amortization.
Investing
Activities.
Cash
provided by investing activities totaled approximately $7.8 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2008, which includes cash provided by investing
activities from discontinued operations of $8.0 million related to the sale
of
six car wash sites in the three months ended March 31, 2008. Cash provided
by
investing activities totaled approximately $8.2 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2007, which includes proceeds from sale of discontinued
operations of $8.1 million, capital expenditures of $40,000 related to ongoing
car wash operations, $59,000 for Security Segment operations, and $111,000
for
discontinued operations.
Financing
Activities.
Cash
used in financing activities was approximately $858,000 for the three months
ended March 31, 2008, which includes $752,000 of routine principal payments
on
debt from continuing operations and $106,000 of routine principal payments
on
debt related to discontinued operations. Cash used in financing activities
was
approximately $577,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007, which includes
$221,000 of routine principal payments on debt from continuing operations and
$356,000 of routine principal payments on debt related to discontinued
operations
Results
of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008
Compared
to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007
The
following table presents the percentage each item in the consolidated statements
of operations bears to revenues:
|
|
Three months Ended
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
|
100
|
%
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
|
73.1
|
|
|
77.7
|
|
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
40.3
|
|
|
40.5
|
|
Depreciation
and amortization
|
|
|
2.6
|
|
|
3.4
|
|
Operating
loss
|
|
|
(16.0
|
)
|
|
(21.6
|
)
|
Interest
expense, net
|
|
|
(0.3
|
)
|
|
(2.0
|
)
|
Other
income
|
|
|
0.8
|
|
|
1.3
|
|
Loss
from continuing operations before income taxes
|
|
|
(15.5
|
)
|
|
(22.3
|
)
|
Income
tax expense
|
|
|
0.2
|
|
|
0.2
|
|
Loss
from continuing operations
|
|
|
(15.7
|
)
|
|
(22.5
|
)
|
Income
from discontinued operations
|
|
|
43.1
|
|
|
15.8
|
|
Net
income (loss)
|
|
|
27.4
|
%
|
|
(6.7
|
)%
|
Revenues
Security
Revenues
within the Security Segment were approximately $5.3 million and $5.4 million
for
the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Of the $5.3
million of revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008, $1.9 million,
or
35%, was generated from our professional electronic surveillance operation
in
Florida, $1.0 million, or 19%, from our consumer direct electronic surveillance
equipment operations in Texas, $1.3 million or 25%, from our machine vision
camera and video conferencing equipment operation in Texas, and $1.1 million,
or
21%, from our personal defense and law enforcement aerosol operation. Of the
$5.4 million of revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2007, $1.8
million, or 33%, was generated from our professional electronic surveillance
operation in Florida, $1.1 million, or 20%, from our consumer direct electronic
surveillance equipment operation in Texas, $1.4 million, or 27%, from our
machine vision camera and video conference equipment operation in Texas, and
$1.1 million, or 20%, from our personal defense and law enforcement aerosol
operation. The decrease in revenues within the Security Segment was due to
a
decrease in sales of our consumer direct electronic surveillance and machine
vision camera and video conferencing equipment in Texas and our personal defense
and law enforcement aerosol operations partially offset by an increase in our
professional electronic surveillance operation in Florida. The increase in
sales
in our professional electronic surveillance operation was the result of an
improvement in vendors relationship to supply high volume products in a timely
manner, increased sales effort, and the elimination of the impact on operations
and management of the Florida embezzlement investigation in the first six months
of 2007. The decrease in sales of our consumer direct electronic surveillance
and machine vision camera and video conference equipment operations in Texas
was
largely a result of increased competition. The Company’s machine vision camera
and video conferencing equipment operations continue to be impacted by
competition and certain large customers purchasing direct from its main
supplier. The slight decrease of approximately $28,000 in revenues in our
personal defense and law enforcement aerosol operation was largely a result
of
the timing of TG Guard installations and related sales.
Digital
Media Marketing
Revenues
within our Digital Media Marketing Segment, acquired in July 2007, were
approximately $5.4 million for three months ended March 31, 2008; $1.0 million
related to our online marketing division and $4.4 million related to our
e-commerce division.
Car
Wash Services
Revenues
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $3.8 million as compared to
$4.4
million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, a decrease of 609,000 or
14%.
This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in wash and detail
services and lube and other automotive services. Of the $3.8 million of revenues
for the three months ended March 31, 2008, $2.5 million, or 67%, was generated
from car wash and detailing, $681,000, or 18%, from lube and other automotive
services, and $545,000, or 15%, from fuel and merchandise sales. Of the $4.4
million of revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2007, $3.0 million,
or
69%, was generated from car wash and detailing, $805,000, or 18%, from lube
and
other automotive services, and $544,000, or 13%, from fuel and merchandise
sales. The decrease in wash and detail revenues in 2008 was principally due
to
the sale of car washes and reduced car wash volumes in the Texas market due
to
unfavorable weather. Overall car wash volumes declined by 24,000 cars, or 14%,
in the first three months of 2007 as compared to the first three months of
2008,
5% excluding the impact of a car wash volume reduction of 16,000 cars from
the
closure and divestiture of three Texas car wash locations since January 2007
included in continuing operations. Additionally, the Company experienced a
slight decline in average wash and detailing revenue per car from $17.93 in
the
first three months of 2007 to $17.68 in the same period in 2008.
Cost
of Revenues
Security
During
the three months ended March 31, 2008, cost of revenues was $3.7 million, or
71%, of revenues, as compared to $4.0 million or 74% of revenues for the three
months ended March 31, 2007. The decrease in cost of revenues as a percentage
of
revenues is due to a change in customer and product mix and a conscious effort
to reduce discounting of list prices and sell products at higher profit margins.
Additionally, the margins within our professional electronic surveillance
operation in Florida were negatively impacted in the first quarter of 2007
by an
increase in sales of discontinued products, refurbished items and substitute
items as a result of the inability of some of Mace’s vendors to supply high
volume products in a timely manner.
Digital
Media Marketing
Cost
of
revenues within our Digital Media Marketing Segment were approximately $3.6
million, or 66% of revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2008; $895,000
related to our online marketing division and $2.7 million related to our
e-commerce division.
Car
Wash Services
Cost
of
revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $3.3 million, or 87%
of
revenues, with car washing and detailing costs at 85% of respective revenues,
lube and other automotive services costs at 79% of respective revenues, and
fuel
and merchandise costs at 103% of respective revenues. Cost of revenues for
the
three months ended March 31, 2007 were $3.6 million, or 82% of revenues, with
car washing and detailing costs at 80% of respective revenues, lube and other
automotive services costs at 79% of respective revenues, and fuel and
merchandise costs at 95% of respective revenues. This increase in car wash
and
detailing costs as a percent of revenues in 2008 was the result of an increase
in the cost of labor as a percent of car wash and detailing revenues from 53%
in
2007 to 56% in 2008 as a result of reduced volumes.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A
expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 were $5.8 million compared
to
$4.0 million for the same period in 2007. SG&A expenses as a percent of
revenues were 40% for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 41% for the
three months ended March 31, 2007. The increase in SG&A costs is primarily
the result of the acquisition of Linkstar, which added SG&A costs of $1.7
million in 2008. SG&A expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2008
include an additional accrual of approximately $380,000 for the waste
remediation at our personal defense and law enforcement aerosol operation in
Vermont (See Note 7. Commitments and Contingencies). This increase was partially
offset by a decrease in costs related to the ongoing immigration investigation.
SG&A expenses include $47,000 of legal, consulting and accounting fees in
the first three months of 2008 relating to the ongoing immigration investigation
as compared to $132,000 in the first three months of 2007. SG&A costs also
include non-cash compensation expense from continuing operations of
approximately $254,000 and $227,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2008
and
2007, respectively. In April 2007, we determined that our former Florida
security based divisional controller embezzled funds from the Company. The
Company initially conducted an internal investigation, and our Audit Committee
subsequently engaged an independent consulting firm to conduct an independent
forensic investigation. As a result of our investigation, we estimated that
the
amount embezzled by the employee was approximately $240,000 during fiscal 2006
and $99,000 in the first quarter of fiscal 2007. SG&A expenses for the three
months ending March 31, 2007 also include approximately $310,000 of legal,
consulting and accounting fees related to the Florida embezzlement
investigation.
Depreciation
and Amortization
Depreciation
and amortization totaled $382,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008
as
compared to $331,000 for the same period in 2007. The increase in depreciation
and amortization expense was related to amortization expense on Linkstar
acquired intangible assets.
Interest
Expense, Net
Interest
expense, net of interest income, for the three months ended March 31, 2008
was
$41,000 compared to $193,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The
decrease in net interest expense is due to a decrease in interest expense of
approximately $77,000 as a result of decreasing interest rates and a reduction
in outstanding debt due to routine principal payments offset by and an increase
in interest income of approximately $74,000 with the Company’s increase in cash
and cash equivalents.
Other
Income
Other
income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $115,000 compared to
$129,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2007. The 2008 other income
includes $96,000 of earnings on short term investments. The 2007 other income
includes $105,000 of earnings on short-term investments.
Income
Taxes
The
Company recorded tax expense of $25,000 in each of the three months ended March
31, 2008 and 2007. Tax expense (benefit) reflects the recording of income taxes
at an effective rate of approximately (1)% in 2008 and 2007.
Item
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk
There
has
been no material change in our exposure to market risks arising from
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices
or market interest rates since December 31, 2007 as reported on our Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007.
With
the
pay off of the Arizona fixed rate mortgages in 2007, nearly 100% of the
Company’s debt at March 31, 2008, including debt related to discontinued
operations, is at variable rates. Substantially all of our variable rate debt
obligations are tied to the prime rate, as is our incremental borrowing rate.
A
one percent increase in the prime rates would not have a material effect on
the
fair value of our variable rate debt at March 31, 2008. The impact of increasing
interest rates by one percent would have been an increase in interest expense
of
approximately $117,000 on an annual basis.
On
October 14, 2004, we entered into an interest rate cap that effectively changes
our interest rate exposure on approximately $7 million of variable rate debt.
The interest rate cap contract had a 36-month term and caps the interest rate
on
the $7 million of variable rate debt at 6.5%. The contract expired at September
30, 2007.
Item
4T. Controls and Procedures
The
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that
information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it
files
or submits under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules, and include
controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated
and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive
and financial officers, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Based on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure
controls and procedures as of March 31, 2008 required by Rule 13a-15(b) under
the Exchange Act and conducted by the Company’s chief executive officer and
chief financial officer, such officers concluded that the Company’s disclosures
controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2008. In making this
assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal
Control-Integrated Framework.
Management’s
Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The
management of Mace Security International, Inc. and its subsidiaries is
responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over
financial reporting. With the participation of the Principal Executive Officer
and the Principal Financial Officer, management has evaluated the effectiveness
of its internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2008. Based
on
such evaluation, management has concluded that Mace Security International,
Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting is effective as of March 31,
2008.
Changes
in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Remediation
Actions
As
we
previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2006 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ending
March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007 and September 30, 2007, we began the remediation
of the material weakness in our internal controls over cash and financial
reporting associated with the Company’s Florida based security operation
through: (i) hiring of new divisional accounting personnel for this location
(ii) restrictions on access to cash disbursement activity at the Florida
Security Division; (iii) reinforcement of control procedures at the regional
level for maintenance of the purchase order clearing account, cash accounts,
and
other significant balance sheet accounts; (iv) reinforcement of controls over
timely review of account reconciliations and journal entries; and (v) increased
corporate supervision of regional accounting personnel. We have completed the
remediation as of December 31, 2007 and will continue to closely monitor the
effectiveness of our processes, procedures and controls, and will make further
changes as management determines appropriate.
PART
II
OTHER
INFORMATION
Item
1. Legal Proceedings
On
May 8,
2008, Car Care, Inc.; a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Car Care”), as
well as the Company’s former Northeast Regional car wash manager and four former
general managers of the four Northeast Region car washes that were searched
in
March 2006, were indicted with one count of conspiracy to defraud the
government, harboring illegal aliens and identify theft. Car Care has reached
an
agreement in principle, subject to executing a written plea agreement with
the
government, to plead guilty to the one count of conspiracy charged in the
indictment. Under this agreement, Car Care will pay a criminal fine of $100,000
and will forfeit $500,000 in proceeds from the sale of the four car washes.
An
accrual of $600,000 was recorded as a component of income from discontinued
operations as of March 31, 2008, as prescribed by SFAS No. 5, Accounting
for Contingencies.
The
Company was not named in the indictment and will not be charged. The Company
fully cooperated with the government in its investigation of this matter.
Additional
information regarding our legal proceedings can be found in Note 7 of the Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q.
Item
1A. Risks Factors
Risks
Related to Our Business
During
the last several months, the Board of Directors and Management has had
differences in determining the direction and business plan for increasing
shareholder value; should the differences continue, the Company may no longer
be
managed or operate effectively.The
board
of directors has experienced two tied votes over the last several months
in
terms of determining the best course of action on certain issues. During
the
last several months there have also existed very strong disagreements between
management and several members of the board of directors related to the best
direction of the Company for achieving profitability and maximizing shareholder
value. The recent inability of the board of directors and management to agree
to
any particular plan could materially affect the operations of the Company
as
well as its ability to increase revenues and reach profitability.
If
we are unable to finance the growth of our business, our stock price could
decline. Our
business plan involves growing our Security Segment and Digital Media Marketing
Segments through acquisitions and internal development, and divesting of our
car
washes through third party sales. The growth of our Security Segment and Digital
Media Segment requires significant capital that we hope to partially fund
through the sale of our car washes. Our capital requirements also include
working capital for daily operations and capital for equipment purchases.
Although we had positive working capital of $22.4 million as of March 31, 2008,
we have a history of net losses and in some years we have ended our fiscal
year
with a negative working capital balance. Our positive working capital increased
by approximately $4.6 million from December 31, 2007 to March 31, 2008
principally due the sale of our six Florida car washes and payoff of their
related mortgage debt recorded as current at December 31, 2007 in the first
quarter of 2008. To the extent that we lack cash to meet our future capital
needs, we will need to raise additional funds through bank borrowings and
additional equity and/or debt financings, which may result in significant
increases in leverage and interest expense and/or substantial dilution of our
outstanding equity. If we are unable to raise additional capital, we may need
to
substantially reduce the scale of our operations and curtail our business plan.
Although we have generated cash from the sale of our car washes, there is no
guarantee that we will be able to sell our remaining car washes.
If
we fail to manage the growth of our business, our stock price could
decline. Our
business plan is predicated on growth. If we succeed in growing, it will place
significant burdens on our management and on our operational and other
resources. For example, it may be difficult to assimilate the operations and
personnel of an acquired business into our existing business; we must integrate
management information and accounting systems of an acquired business into
our
current systems; our management must devote its attention to assimilating the
acquired business, which diverts attention from other business concerns; we
may
enter markets in which we have limited prior experience; and we may lose key
employees of an acquired business. We will also need to attract, train,
motivate, retain, and supervise senior managers and other employees. If we
fail
to manage these burdens successfully, one or more of the acquisitions could
be
unprofitable, the shift of our management’s focus could harm our other
businesses, and we may be forced to abandon our business plan, which relies
on
growth.
We
have debt secured by mortgages, which can be foreclosed upon if we default
on
the debt. Our
bank
debt borrowings as of March 31, 2008 were $8.5 million, including borrowings
related to assets held for sale, substantially all of which are secured by
mortgages against certain of our real property (including up to nine of our
car
wash facilities at March 31, 2008). Our most significant borrowings are secured
notes payable to JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Chase”) in the amount of $6.0
million. We have in the past violated loan covenants in our Chase agreements.
We
have obtained waivers for our violations of the Chase agreements. Our ongoing
ability to comply with the debt covenants under our credit arrangements and
refinance our debt depends largely on our achievement of adequate levels of
cash
flow. Our cash flow has been and could continue to be adversely affected by
the
expenses of the criminal immigration investigation and economic conditions.
If
we default on our loan covenants in the future and are not able to obtain
amendments or waivers of acceleration, our debt could become due and payable
on
demand, and Chase could foreclose on the assets pledged in support of the
relevant indebtedness. If our assets (including up to nine of our car wash
facilities at March 31, 2008) are foreclosed upon, revenues from our Car Wash
Segment, which comprised 26% of our total revenues for the first quarter of
2008, would be severely impacted and we may go out of business.
Our
loans with Chase have financial covenants that restrict our operations, and
which can cause our loans to be accelerated. Our
secured notes payable to Chase total $6.0 million, $4.6 million of which was
classified as non-current debt at March 31, 2008. The Chase agreements contain
affirmative and negative covenants, including the maintenance of certain levels
of tangible net worth, maintenance of certain levels of unencumbered cash and
marketable securities, limitations on capital spending, and certain financial
reporting requirements. Our Chase agreements are the only debt agreements that
contain an express prohibition on incurring additional debt without the approval
of the lender. None of our other agreements contain such a prohibition. The
Chase term loan agreements also limit capital expenditures annually to $1.0
million, require the Company to provide Chase with a Form 10-K and audited
financial statements within 120 days of the Company’s fiscal year end and a Form
10-Q within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter, and require the
maintenance of a minimum total unencumbered cash and marketable securities
balance of $5 million. If we are unable to satisfy the Chase covenants and
we
cannot obtain further waivers or amendments to our loan agreements, the Chase
notes may be reflected as current in future balance sheets and as a result
our
stock price may decline.
We
have reported net losses in the past. If we continue to report net losses,
the
price of our common stock may decline, or we could go out of business.
We
reported net losses for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004
and we reported negative cash flow from operating activities from continuing
operations in 2007, 2006 and 2005. Although a portion of the reported losses
in
past years related to non-cash impairment charges of intangible assets under
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) 142 and non-cash
stock-based compensation expense under SFAS 123(R), we may continue to report
net losses and negative cash flow in the future. Additionally, SFAS 142 requires
annual fair value based impairment tests of goodwill and other intangible assets
identified with indefinite useful lives. As a result, we may be required to
record additional impairments in the future, which could materially reduce
our
earnings and equity. If we continue to report net losses and negative cash
flows, our stock price could be adversely impacted.
We
compete with many companies, some of whom are more established and better
capitalized than us.
We
compete with a variety of companies on a worldwide basis. Some of these
companies are larger and better capitalized than us. There are also few
barriers to entry in our markets and thus above average profit margins will
likely attract additional competitors. Our competitors may develop
products and services that are superior to, or have greater market acceptance
than our products and services. For example, many of our current and potential
competitors have longer operating histories, significantly greater financial,
technical, marketing and other resources and larger customer bases than
us. These factors may allow our competitors to respond more quickly than
we can to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer
requirements. Our competitors may engage in more extensive research and
development efforts, undertake more far-reaching marketing campaigns and adopt
more aggressive pricing policies which may allow them to offer superior products
and services.
Failure
or circumvention of our controls or procedures could seriously harm our
business. An
internal control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide
only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the control system’s objectives
will be met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact
that
there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered
relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control
systems, no system of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control
issues, mistakes and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been
or
will be detected. The design of any system of controls is based in part upon
certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and we cannot assure
you that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all
potential future conditions. Any failure of our controls and procedures to
detect error or fraud could seriously harm our business and results of
operations.
If
we lose the services of our executive officers, our business may suffer.
If
we
lose the services of one or more of our executive officers and do not replace
them with experienced personnel, that loss of talent and experience will make
our business plan, which is dependent on active growth and management, more
difficult to implement and could adversely impact our operations.
If
our insurance is inadequate, we could face significant losses.
We
maintain various insurance coverages for our assets and operations. These
coverages include property coverages including business interruption protection
for each location. We maintain commercial general liability coverage in the
amount of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in the aggregate with an
umbrella policy which provides coverage up to $25 million. We also maintain
workers’ compensation policies in every state in which we operate. Commencing
July 2002, as a result of increasing costs of the Company’s insurance program,
including auto, general liability, and workers’ compensation coverage, we are
insured through participation in a captive insurance program with other
unrelated businesses. The Company maintains excess coverage through
occurrence-based policies. With respect to our auto, general liability, and
workers’ compensation policies, we are required to set aside an actuarially
determined amount of cash in a restricted “loss fund” account for the payment of
claims under the policies. We expect to fund these accounts annually as required
by the insurance company. Should funds deposited exceed claims incurred and
paid, unused deposited funds are returned to us with interest after the fifth
anniversary of the policy year-end. The captive insurance program is further
secured by a letter of credit from Mace in the amount of $827,747 at March
31,
2008. The Company records a monthly expense for losses up to the reinsurance
limit per claim based on the Company’s tracking of claims and the insurance
company’s reporting of amounts paid on claims plus an estimate of reserves for
possible future losses on reported claims and claims incurred but not reported.
There can be no assurance that our insurance will provide sufficient coverage
in
the event a claim is made against us, or that we will be able to maintain in
place such insurance at reasonable prices. An uninsured or under insured claim
against us of sufficient magnitude could have a material adverse effect on
our
business and results of operations.
Risks
Related to our Security Segment
We
could become subject to litigation regarding intellectual property rights,
which
could seriously harm our business. Although
we have not been the subject of any such actions, third parties may in the
future assert against us infringement claims or claims that we have violated
a
patent or infringed upon a copyright, trademark or other proprietary right
belonging to them. We provide the specifications for most of our security
products and contract with independent suppliers to engineer and manufacture
those products and deliver them to us. Certain of these products contain
proprietary intellectual property of these independent suppliers. Third parties
may in the future assert claims against our suppliers that such suppliers have
violated a patent or infringed upon a copyright, trademark or other proprietary
right belonging to them. If such infringement by our suppliers or us were found
to exist, a party could seek an injunction preventing the use of their
intellectual property. In addition, if an infringement by us were found to
exist, we may attempt to acquire a license or right to use such technology
or
intellectual property. Some of our suppliers have agreed to indemnify us against
any such infringement claim, but any infringement claim, even if not meritorious
and/or covered by an indemnification obligation, could result in the expenditure
of a significant amount of our financial and managerial resources, which would
adversely effect our operations and financial results.
If
our Mace brand name falls into common usage, we could lose the exclusive right
to the brand name. The
Mace
registered name and trademark is important to our security business and defense
spray business. If we do not defend the Mace name or allow it to fall into
common usage, our security segment business could be adversely
affected.
If
our original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) fail to adequately supply our
products, our security products sales may suffer. Reliance
upon OEMs, as well as industry supply conditions generally involves several
additional risks, including the possibility of defective products (which can
adversely affect our reputation for reliability), a shortage of components
and
reduced control over delivery schedules (which can adversely affect our
distribution schedules), and increases in component costs (which can adversely
affect our profitability). We have some single-sourced manufacturer
relationships, either because alternative sources are not readily or
economically available or because the relationship is advantageous due to
performance, quality, support, delivery, capacity, or price considerations.
If
these sources are unable or unwilling to manufacture our products in a timely
and reliable manner, we could experience temporary distribution interruptions,
delays, or inefficiencies, adversely affecting our results of operations. Even
where alternative OEMs are available, qualification of the alternative
manufacturers and establishment of reliable suppliers could result in delays
and
a possible loss of sales, which could affect operating results
adversely.
The
businesses that manufacturer our electronic surveillance products are located
in
foreign countries, making it difficult to recover damages, if the manufacturers
fail to meet their obligations. Our
electronic surveillance products are manufactured on an OEM basis. Most of
the
OEM suppliers we deal with are located in Asian countries and are paid a
significant portion of an order in advance of the shipment of the product.
We
also have limited information on the OEM suppliers from which we purchase,
including their financial strength, location and ownership of the actual
manufacturing facilities producing the goods. If any of the OEM suppliers
defaulted on their agreement with the Company, it would be difficult for the
Company to obtain legal recourse because of the suppliers’ assets being located
in foreign countries.
If
people are injured by our consumer safety products, we could be held liable
and
face damage awards. We
face
claims of injury allegedly resulting from our defense sprays, which we market
as
less-than-lethal. For example, we are aware of allegations that defense sprays
used by law enforcement personnel resulted in deaths of prisoners and of
suspects in custody. In addition to use or misuse by law enforcement agencies,
the general public may pursue legal action against us based on injuries alleged
to have been caused by our products. We may also face claims by purchasers
of
our electronic surveillance systems, if they fail to operate properly during
the
commission of a crime. As the use of defense sprays and electronic surveillance
systems by the public increases, we could be subject to additional product
liability claims. We have a $25,000 deductible on our consumer safety products
insurance policy, meaning that all such lawsuits, even unsuccessful ones and
ones covered by insurance, cost the Company money. Furthermore, if our insurance
coverage is exceeded, we will have to pay the excess liability directly. Our
product liability insurance provides coverage of $1 million per occurrence
and
$2 million in the aggregate with an umbrella policy which provides coverage
up
to $25 million. However, if we are required to directly pay a claim in excess
of
our coverage, our income will be significantly reduced, and in the event of
a
large claim, we could go out of business.
If
governmental regulations regarding defense sprays change or are applied
differently, our business could suffer.
The
distribution, sale, ownership and use of consumer defense sprays are legal
in
some form in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Restrictions on the
manufacture or use of consumer defense sprays may be enacted, which would
severely restrict the market for our products or increase our costs of doing
business.
Our
defense sprays use hazardous materials which if not properly handled would
result in our being liable for damages under environmental laws.
Our
consumer defense spray manufacturing operation currently incorporates hazardous
materials, the use and emission of which are regulated by various state and
federal environmental protection agencies, including the United States
Environmental Protection Agency. We also store a chemical component of tear
gas
in our Bennington, Vermont facility in such quantities that if all the chemical
was released into the air, could cause an evacuation of Bennington, Vermont
until the chemical broke down into its components. If we fail to comply with
any
environmental requirements, these changes or failures may expose us to
significant liabilities that would have a material adverse effect on our
business and financial condition. The Environmental Protection Agency conducted
a site investigation at our Bennington, Vermont facility in January, 2008 and
found the facility in need of remediation. See Note
7. Commitments and Contingencies.
Risks
Related to our Digital Media Marketing Segment
If
we lose the services of the two operational executives who head our Digital
Media Marketing Segment, our business will suffer. If
we
lose the services of one or both of the executives who head the operations
of
our Linkstar and PromoPath subsidiaries and do not replace the executives with
equally experienced personnel, the segment will be adversely impacted. The
business plan for the Digital Media Marketing Segment is dependent on active
growth and management. Without the experienced executives it is unlikely that
the business plan will be accomplished, resulting in revenue loss and lack
of
profit. If the executives leave and are not replaced with equally experienced
executives, the Digital Marketing Segment will be negatively impacted.
Composition
of Board of Directors. The
current members of the Company’s board of directors do not have any practical
experience with e-commerce or digital media marketing advertising. Mr. Paolino
has urged the Board to expand the Board to seven directors and appoint a
director with practical experience with e-commerce or digital media advertising.
The Nominating Committee is conducting a search for a nominee with e-commerce
experience; however, the Board has not voted to expand the Board to seven
directors. Mr. Paolino, as Chief Executive Officer believes the existing
independent directors have insufficient experience to provide adequate oversight
for the Company’s e-commerce and digital media marketing adverting business.
Our
online marketing business lacks long-term contracts with
clients.
Our clients who retain us to perform online marketing of their products hire
us
under contracts of less than twelve months. As a result, our online
marketing revenues are difficult to predict and may vary significantly.
Because we sometimes incur costs based on expectations of future revenues,
our
failure to predict future revenues accurately could have a material adverse
effect on our business, results of operations, and financial
condition.
Our
e-commerce brands are not well known.
Our e-commerce brands of Vioderm (anti-wrinkle products), TrimDay (diet
supplement), Purity by Mineral Science (mineral based facial makeup) and Eternal
Minerals (dead sea spa products) are relatively new. We have not yet been able
to develop widespread awareness of our e-commerce brands. Lack of brand
awareness could harm the success of our marketing campaigns, which could have
a
material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial
condition and the trading price of our common stock.
We
have a concentration of our e-commerce business in limited products.
E-Commerce
revenues are currently generated from three product lines. The concentration
of
our business in limited products creates the risk of adverse financial impact
if
we are unable to continue to sell these products or unable to develop new
additional products. We believe that we can mitigate the financial impact of
any
decrease in sales by the development of new products, however we cannot predict
the timing of or success of new products.
We
compete with many established e-commerce companies that have been in business
longer than us. Current
and potential e-commerce and online marketing competitors are making, and are
expected to continue to make, strategic acquisitions or establish cooperative,
and, in some cases, exclusive relationships with significant companies or
competitors to expand their businesses or to offer more comprehensive products
and services. To the extent these competitors or potential competitors
establish exclusive relationships with major portals, search engines and ISPs,
our ability to reach potential members through online advertising may be
restricted. Any of these competitors could cause us difficulty in
attracting and retaining online registrants and converting registrants into
customers and could jeopardize our existing affiliate program and relationships
with portals, search engines, ISPs and other internet properties. Failure
to compete effectively including by developing and enhancing our services
offerings would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations, financial condition and the trading price of our common
stock.
We
need to attract and retain a large number of e-commerce customers who purchase
our products on a recurring basis.
Our e-commerce model is driven by the need to attract a large number of
customers to our continuity program and to maintain customers for an extended
period of time. We have fixed costs in obtaining an initial customer which
can
be defrayed only by a customer making further purchases. For our business to
be
profitable, we must convert a certain percentage of our initial customers to
customers that purchase our products on a reoccurring monthly basis for a period
of time. To do so, we must continue to invest significant resources in order
to
enhance our existing products and to introduce new high-quality products and
services. There is no assurance we will have the resources, financial or
otherwise, required to enhance or develop products and services. Further,
if we are unable to predict user preferences or industry changes, or if we
are
unable to improve our products and services on a timely basis, we may lose
existing members and may fail to attract new customers. Failure to enhance
or develop products and services or to respond to the needs of our customers
in
an effective or timely manner could have a material adverse effect on our
business, results of operations, financial condition and the trading price
of
our common stock.
Our
member acquisition costs may increase significantly.
The customer acquisition cost of our business depends in part upon our ability
to purchase advertising at a reasonable cost. Advertising costs vary over
time, depending upon a number of factors, some of which are beyond our
control. Historically, we have used online advertising as the sole means
of marketing our products. In general, the costs of online advertising
have increased substantially and are expected to continue to increase as long
as
the demand for online advertising remains robust. We may not be able to
pass these costs on in the form of higher product prices. Continuing
increases in advertising costs could thus have a material adverse effect on
our
business, results of operations, financial condition and the trading price
of
our common stock.
Our
online marketing business must keep pace with rapid technological change to
remain competitive.
Our online marketing business operates in a market characterized by rapidly
changing technology, evolving industry standards, frequent new product and
service announcements, enhancements, and changing customer demands. We
must adapt to rapidly changing technologies and industry standards and
continually improve the speed, performance, features, ease of use and
reliability of our services and products. Introducing new technology into
our systems involves numerous technical challenges, requires substantial amounts
of capital and personnel resources, and often takes many months to
complete. We may not successfully integrate new technology into our
websites on a timely basis, which may degrade the responsiveness and speed
of
our websites. Technology, once integrated, may not function as
expected. Failure to generally keep pace with the rapid technological
change could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations, financial condition and the trading price of our common
stock.
We
depend on our merchant and banking relationships, as well as strategic
relationships with third parties, who provide us with payment processing
solutions.
Our e-commerce products are sold by us on the internet and are paid for by
customers through credit card. From time to time, VISA and MasterCard increase
the fees that they charge processors. We may attempt to pass these increases
along to our customers, but this might result in the loss of those customers
to
our competitors who do not pass along the increases. Our revenues from merchant
account processing are dependent upon our continued merchant relationships
which
are highly sensitive and can be canceled if customer charge-backs escalate
and
generate concern that the company has held back sufficient funds in reserve
accounts to cover these charge-backs. Cancellation by our merchant providers
would most likely result in the loss of new customers and lead to a reduction
in
our revenues.
We
depend on credit card processing for a majority of our e-commerce business,
to
include but not be limited to Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and
Discover.
Significant changes to the merchant operating regulations, merchant rules and
guidelines, card acceptance methods and/or card authorization methods could
significantly impact our revenues. Additionally our e-commerce membership
programs are accepted under a negative option billing term (customers are
charged monthly until they cancel), and change in regulation of negative option
billing could significantly impact our revenue.
We
are exposed to risks associated with credit card fraud and credit
payment.
Our customers use credit cards to pay for our e-commerce products and for the
products we market for third parties. We have suffered losses, and may
continue to suffer losses, as a result of orders placed with fraudulent credit
card data, even though the associated financial institution approved
payment. Under current credit card practices, a merchant is liable for
fraudulent credit card transactions when the merchant does not obtain a
cardholder’s signature. A failure to adequately control fraudulent credit
card transactions would result in significantly higher credit card-related
costs
and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations,
financial condition and the trading price of our common stock.
Security
breaches and inappropriate internet use could damage our Digital Media Marketing
business.
Failure
to successfully prevent security breaches could significantly harm our business
and expose us to lawsuits. Anyone who is able to circumvent our security
measures could misappropriate proprietary information, including customer credit
card and personal data, cause interruptions in our operations, or damage our
brand and reputation. Breach of our security measures could result in the
disclosure of personally identifiable information and could expose us to legal
liability. We cannot assure you that our financial systems and other
technology resources are completely secure from security breaches or sabotage.
We have experienced security breaches and attempts at “hacking.” We may be
required to incur significant costs to protect against security breaches or
to
alleviate problems caused by breaches. All of these factors could
have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial
condition and the trading price of our common stock.
Our
online marketing business depends on strategic relationships with our partners.
We
expect
to generate significant commerce and advertising revenues from strategic
relationships with certain outside companies. It is our business plan that
our
websites and the websites of strategic partners will be jointly promoted.
However, there can be no assurance that our existing relationships will be
maintained through their initial terms or that additional third-party alliances
will be available to the Company on acceptable commercial terms, or at all.
The
inability to enter into new strategic alliances or to maintain any one or more
of our existing strategic alliances could result in decreased third-party paid
advertising and product and service sales revenue. Even if we are able to
maintain our strategic alliances, there can be no assurance that these alliances
will be successful or that our infrastructure of hardware and software will
be
sufficient to handle any potential increased traffic or sales volume resulting
from these alliances.
Changes
in government regulation and industry standards, could decrease demand for
our
products and services and increase our costs of doing
business. Laws
and
regulations that apply to internet communications, commerce and advertising
are
becoming more prevalent. These regulations could affect the costs of
communicating on the web and could adversely affect the demand for our
advertising solutions or otherwise harm our business, results of operations
and
financial condition. The United States Congress has enacted internet legislation
regarding children’s privacy, copyrights, sending of commercial email (e.g., the
Federal CAN-SPAM Act of 2003), and taxation. The United States Congress has
pending legislation regarding spyware (e.g., H.R. 964, the “Spy Act of 2007”).
Other laws and regulations have been adopted and may be adopted in the
future, and may address issues such as user privacy, spyware, “do not
email” lists, pricing, intellectual property ownership and infringement,
copyright, trademark, trade secret, export of encryption technology,
click-fraud, acceptable content, search terms, lead generation, behavioral
targeting, taxation, and quality of products and services. This legislation
could hinder growth in the use of the web generally and adversely affect our
business. Moreover, it could decrease the acceptance of the web as a
communications, commercial and advertising medium. The Company does not use
any
form of spam or spyware and has policies to prohibit abusive internet
behavior, including prohibiting the use of spam and spyware by our web publisher
partners.
Government
enforcement actions could result in decreased demand for our products and
services. The
Federal Trade Commission and other governmental or regulatory bodies have
increasingly focused on issues impacting online marketing practices and consumer
protection. The Federal Trade Commission has conducted investigations of
competitors and filed law suits against competitors. Some of the investigations
and law suits have been settled by consent orders which have imposed fines
and
changes with regard to how competitors conduct business. The New York Attorney
General’s office has sued a major Internet marketer for alleged violations of
legal restrictions against false advertising and deceptive business practices
related to spyware. In our judgment, the marketing claims we make in
advertisements we place to obtain new e-commerce customers are legally
permissible. Governmental or regulatory bodies may make a different judgment
about the legally permissibility of the advertising we place and the marketing
claims we make. We could be subject to regulatory proceedings for past marketing
campaigns, or could be required to make changes in our future marketing claims,
either of which could adversely affect our revenues.
Our
business could be subject to regulation by foreign countries, new unforeseen
laws and unexpected interpretations of existing laws, resulting in an increase
cost of doing business. Due
to
the global nature of the web, it is possible that, although our transmissions
originate in California and Pennsylvania, the governments of other states or
foreign countries might attempt to regulate our transmissions or levy sales
or
other taxes relating to our activities. In addition, the growth and development
of the market for internet commerce may prompt calls for more stringent
consumer protection laws, both in the United States and abroad, that
may impose additional burdens on companies conducting business over the
Internet. The laws governing the internet remain largely unsettled, even in
areas where there has been some legislative action. It may take years to
determine how existing laws, including those governing intellectual property,
privacy, libel and taxation, apply to the Internet and Internet advertising.
Our
business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially
and
adversely affected by the adoption or modification of industry standards, laws
or regulations relating to the Internet, or the application of existing laws
to
the Internet or Internet-based advertising.
If
the technology that we currently use to deliver online advertisements is
restricted, our expenses would increase. Websites
typically place small files of non-personalized (or “anonymous”) information,
commonly known as cookies, on an Internet user’s hard drive. Cookies generally
collect information about users on a non-personalized basis to enable websites
to provide users with a more customized experience. Cookie information is passed
to the website through an Internet user’s browser software. We currently use
cookies to track an Internet user’s movement through our advertiser customer’s
websites and to monitor and prevent fraudulent activity on our networks. Most
currently available Internet browsers allow Internet users to modify their
browser settings to prevent cookies from being stored on their hard drive,
and
some users currently do so. Internet users can also delete cookies from their
hard drives at any time. Some Internet commentators and privacy advocates have
suggested limiting or eliminating the use of cookies, and legislation has been
introduced in some jurisdictions to regulate the use of cookie technology.
The
effectiveness of our technology could be limited by any reduction or limitation
in the use of cookies. If the use or effectiveness of cookies were limited,
we
would have to switch to other technologies to gather demographic and behavioral
information. While such technologies currently exist, they are substantially
less effective than cookies. We would also have to develop or acquire other
technology to monitor and prevent fraudulent activity on our networks.
Replacement of cookies could require significant reengineering time and
resources, might not be completed in time to avoid losing customers or
advertising inventory, and might not be commercially feasible. Our use of cookie
technology or any other technologies designed to collect Internet usage
information may subject us to litigation or investigations in the future.
Any litigation or government action against us could be costly and time
consuming, could require us to change our business practices and could divert
management’s attention.
We
could lose customers or advertising inventory if we fail to measure impressions,
clicks and actions on advertisements in a manner that is acceptable to our
advertisers and web publishers. We
earn
revenue from advertisers and make payments to web publishers based on the number
of impressions, clicks and actions from advertisements delivered on our networks
of websites. Advertisers’ and web publishers’ willingness to use our products
and services and join our networks will depend on the extent to which they
perceive our measurements of impressions, clicks and actions to be accurate
and
reliable. Advertisers and web publishers often maintain their own technologies
and methodologies for counting impressions, clicks and actions, and from time
to
time we have had to resolve differences between our measurements and theirs.
Any
significant dispute over the proper measurement of user responses to
advertisements could cause us to lose customers or advertising
inventory.
Competition
from other internet advertising companies could result in less revenue and
smaller margins. Competition
for advertising placements among current and future suppliers of Internet
navigational and informational services, high-traffic websites and Internet
service providers (“ISPs”), as well as competition with other media for
advertising placements, could result in significant price competition, declining
margins and reductions in advertising revenue. Google has made available offline
public-domain works through its search engine, which creates additional
competition for advertisers. In addition, as we continue our efforts to expand
the scope of our web services, we may compete with a greater number of web
publishers and other media companies across an increasing range of different
web
services, including in vertical markets where competitors may have
advantages in expertise, brand recognition and other areas. If existing or
future competitors develop or offer products or services that provide
significant performance, price, creative or other advantages over those offered
by us, our business, results of operations and financial condition would be
negatively affected. We also compete with traditional advertising media, such
as
direct mail, television, radio, cable, and print, for a share of advertisers’
total advertising budgets. Many current and potential competitors enjoy
competitive advantages over us, such as longer operating histories, greater
name
recognition, larger customer bases, greater access to advertising space on
high-traffic websites, and significantly greater financial, technical, sales,
and marketing resources. As a result, we may not be able to compete
successfully. If we fail to compete successfully, we could lose customers or
advertising inventory and our revenue and results of operations could
decline.
We
depend on third parties to manufacture all of the products we sell within our
e-commerce division, and if we are unable to maintain these manufacturing and
product supply relationships or enter into additional or different arrangements,
we may fail to meet customer demand and our net sales and profitability may
suffer as a result. In addition, shortages of raw ingredients, especially
for our Purity mineral cosmetics line, could affect our supply chain and impede
current and future sales and net revenues. All
of
our products are contract manufactured or supplied by third parties. The fact
that we do not have long-term contracts with our other third-party manufacturers
means that they could cease manufacturing these products for us at any time
and
for any reason. In addition, our third-party manufacturers are not restricted
from manufacturing our competitors’ products, including mineral-based products.
If we are unable to obtain adequate supplies of suitable products because of
the
loss of one or more key vendors or manufacturers, our business and results
of
operations would suffer until we could make alternative supply arrangements.
In
addition, identifying and selecting alternative vendors would be time-consuming
and expensive, and we might experience significant delays in production during
this selection process. Our inability to secure adequate and timely supplies
of
merchandise would harm inventory levels, net sales and gross profit, and
ultimately our results of operations.
The
quality of our e-commerce products depend on quality control of third party
manufacturers. For
our
e-commerce products, third-party manufacturers may not continue to produce
products that are consistent with our standards or current or future regulatory
requirements, which would require us to find alternative suppliers of our
products. Our third-party manufacturers may not maintain adequate controls
with
respect to product specifications and quality and may not continue to produce
products that are consistent with our standards or applicable regulatory
requirements. If we are forced to rely on products of inferior quality, then
our
customer satisfaction and brand reputation would likely suffer, which would
lead
to reduced net sales.
Within
our e-commerce division, we manufacture and market health and beauty consumer
products that are ingestible or applied topically. These products may cause
unexpected and undesirable side effects that could limit their use, require
their removal from the market or prevent further development. In addition,
we
are vulnerable to claims that our products are not as effective as we claim
them
to be. We also may be vulnerable to product liability claims from their use.
Unexpected
and undesirable side effects caused by our products for which we have not
provided sufficient label warnings could result in our recall or discontinuance
of sales of our products. Unexpected and undesirable side effects could prevent
us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the affected products
or
could substantially increase the costs and expenses of commercializing new
products. In addition, consumers or industry analysts may assert claims that
our
products are not as effective as we claim them to be. Unexpected and undesirable
side effects associated with our products or assertions that our products are
not as effective as we claim them to be also could cause negative publicity
regarding our company, brand or products, which could in turn harm our
reputation and net sales. Our business exposes us to potential liability risks
that arise from the testing, manufacture and sale of our beauty products.
Plaintiffs in the past have received substantial damage awards from other
cosmetics companies based upon claims for injuries allegedly caused by the
use
of their products. We currently maintain general liability insurance in the
amount of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in the aggregate with an
umbrella policy which provides coverage up to $25 million. Any claims brought
against us may exceed our existing or future insurance policy coverage or
limits. Any judgment against us that is in excess of our policy limits would
have to be paid from our cash reserves, which would reduce our capital
resources. Any product liability claim or series of claims brought against
us
could harm our business significantly, particularly if a claim were to result
in
adverse publicity or damage awards outside or in excess of our insurance policy
limits.
Risks
Related to our Car Wash Segment
Our
car wash work force may expose us to claims that might adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations; our insurance coverage
may not cover all of our potential liability. We
employ
a large number of workers who perform manual labor at the car washes we operate.
Many of the workers are paid at or slightly above minimum wage. Also, a large
percentage of our car wash work force is composed of employees who have been
employed by us for relatively short periods of time. This work force is
constantly turning over. Our work force may subject us to financial claims
in a
variety of ways, such as:
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· |
claims
by customers that employees damaged automobiles in our
custody;
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· |
claims
related to theft by employees;
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· |
claims
by customers that our employees harassed or physically harmed
them;
|
|
· |
claims
related to the inadvertent hiring of undocumented
workers;
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· |
claims
for payment of workers’ compensation claims and other similar claims;
and
|
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· |
claims
for violations of wage and hour
requirements.
|
We
may
incur fines and other losses or negative publicity with respect to these claims.
In addition, some or all of these claims may rise to litigation, which could
be
costly and time consuming to our management team, and could have a negative
impact on our business. We cannot assure you that we will not experience these
problems in the future, that our insurance will cover all claims or that our
insurance coverage will continue to be available at economically feasible
rates
Our
car wash operations face governmental regulations, including environmental
regulations, and if we fail to or are unable to comply with those regulations,
our business may suffer. We
are
governed by federal, state and local laws and regulations, including
environmental regulations, that regulate the operation of our car wash centers
and other car care services businesses. Other car care services and products,
such as gasoline and lubrication, use a number of oil derivatives and other
regulated hazardous substances. As a result, we are governed by environmental
laws and regulations dealing with, among other things:
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· |
transportation,
storage, presence, use, disposal, and handling of hazardous materials
and
wastes;
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· |
discharge
of storm water; and
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|
· |
underground
storage tanks.
|
If
uncontrolled hazardous substances are found on any of our properties, including
leased property, or if we are otherwise found to be in violation of applicable
laws and regulations, we could be responsible for clean-up costs, property
damage, fines, or other penalties, any one of which could have a material
adverse effect on our financial condition and results of
operations.
Through
our Car Wash Segment, we face a variety of potential environmental liabilities,
including those arising out of improperly disposing waste oil or lubricants
at
our lube centers, and leaks from our underground gasoline storage tanks. If
we
improperly dispose of oil or other hazardous substances, or if our underground
gasoline tanks leak, we could be assessed fines by federal or state regulatory
authorities and/or be required to remediate the property. Although each case
is
different, and there can be no assurance as to the cost to remediate an
environmental problem, if any, at one of our properties, the costs for
remediation of a leaking underground storage tank typically range from $30,000
to $75,000.
If
our car wash equipment is not maintained, our car washes will not be operable.
Many
of
our car washes have older equipment that requires frequent repair or
replacement. Although we undertake to keep our car washing equipment in adequate
operating condition, the operating environment in car washes results in frequent
mechanical problems. If we fail to properly maintain the equipment in a car
wash, that car wash could become inoperable or malfunction resulting in a loss
of revenue, damage to vehicles and poorly washed vehicles.
If
we sell our Car Wash Segment, our revenues will decrease and our business may
suffer. We
can
offer no assurances that we will be able to locate additional potential buyers
for our remaining car washes or that we will be able to consummate any further
sales to potential buyers we do locate. In addition if we are able to sell
our
remaining car washes, our total revenues will decrease and our business will
become reliant on the success of our Security Segment and our Digital Marketing
Media Segment. Our business faces significant risks as set forth herein and
may
impact our ability to generate positive operating income or cash flows from
operations, may cause our financial results to become more volatile, or may
otherwise materially adversely affect us.
Risks
Related to our Stock
Our
stock price has been, and likely will continue to be, volatile and your
investment may suffer a decline in value.
The
market price of our common stock, has in the past been, and is likely to
continue to be volatile in the future. That volatility depends upon many
factors, some of which are beyond our control, including:
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·
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announcements
regarding the results of expansion or development efforts by us or
our
competitors;
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·
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announcements
regarding the acquisition of businesses or companies by us or our
competitors;
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·
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announcements
regarding the disposition of all or a significant portion of the
assets
that comprise our Car Wash Segment, which may or may not be on favorable
terms;
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technological
innovations or new commercial products developed by us or our
competitors;
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changes
in our, or our suppliers’ intellectual property
portfolio;
|
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issuance
of new or changed securities analysts’ reports and/or recommendations
applicable to us or our
competitors;
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additions
or departures of our key personnel;
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operating
losses by us;
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actual
or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly financial and operating
results and degree of trading liquidity in our common stock;
and
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our
ability to maintain our common stock listing on the Nasdaq Global
Market.
|
One
or
more of these factors could cause a decline in our revenues and income or in
the
price of our common stock, thereby reducing the value of an investment in our
Company.
We
could lose our listing on the Nasdaq Global Market if our stock price falls
below $1.00 for 30 consecutive days, and the loss of the listing would make
our
stock significantly less liquid and would affect its value.
Our
common stock is listed on Nasdaq Global Market with a closing price of $1.45
at
the close of the market on May 12, 2008. If the price of our common stock falls
below $1.00 and for 30 consecutive days remains below $1.00, we would be subject
to being delisted from the Nasdaq Global Market. Upon delisting from the Nasdaq
Global Market, our stock would be traded on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market until
we
maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 for 30 consecutive days at which time
we
would be able to regain our listing on the Nasdaq Global Market. If our stock
fails to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 for 30 consecutive days during
a
180-day grace period on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market or a 360-day grace period
if
compliance with certain core listing standards are demonstrated, we could
receive a delisting notice from the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. Upon delisting
from
the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, our stock would be traded over-the-counter, more
commonly known as OTC. OTC transactions involve risks in addition to those
associated with transactions in securities traded on the Nasdaq Global Market
or
the Nasdaq SmallCap Market (together “Nasdaq-Listed Stocks”). Many OTC stocks
trade less frequently and in smaller volumes than Nasdaq-Listed Stocks.
Accordingly, our stock would be less liquid than it would be otherwise. Also,
the values of these stocks may be more volatile than Nasdaq-Listed Stocks.
If
our stock is traded in the OTC market and a market maker sponsors us, we may
have the price of our stock electronically displayed on the OTC Bulletin Board,
or OTCBB. However, if we lack sufficient market maker support for display on
the
OTCBB, we must have our price published by the National Quotations Bureau LLP
in
a paper publication known as the Pink Sheets. The marketability of our stock
would be even more limited if our price must be published on the Pink
Sheets.
Because
we are a Delaware corporation, it may be difficult for a third party to acquire
us, which could affect our stock price. We
are
governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits
a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination”
with an entity who is an “interested stockholder” (as defined in Section 203 an
owner of 15% or more of the outstanding stock of the corporation) for a period
of three years following the shareholders becoming an “interested shareholder,”
unless approved in a prescribed manner. This provision of Delaware law may
affect our ability to merge with, or to engage in other similar activities with,
some other companies. This means that we may be a less attractive target to
a
potential acquirer who otherwise may be willing to pay a premium for our common
stock above its market price.
If
we issue our authorized preferred stock, the rights of the holders of our common
stock may be affected and other entities may be discouraged from seeking to
acquire control of our Company. Our
certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 10 million shares
of “blank check” preferred stock that could be designated and issued by our
board of directors to increase the number of outstanding shares and thwart
a
takeover attempt. No shares of preferred stock are currently outstanding. It
is
not possible to state the precise effect of preferred stock upon the rights
of
the holders of our common stock until the board of directors determines the
respective preferences, limitations, and relative rights of the holders of
one
or more series or classes of the preferred stock. However, such effect might
include: (i) reduction of the amount otherwise available for payment of
dividends on common stock, to the extent dividends are payable on any issued
shares of preferred stock, and restrictions on dividends on common stock if
dividends on the preferred stock are in arrears, (ii) dilution of the voting
power of the common stock to the extent that the preferred stock has voting
rights, and (iii) the holders of common stock not being entitled to share in
our
assets upon liquidation until satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted
to the holders of our preferred stock. The “blank check” preferred stock may be
viewed as having the effect of discouraging an unsolicited attempt by another
entity to acquire control of us and may therefore have an anti-takeover effect.
Issuances of authorized preferred stock can be implemented, and have been
implemented by some companies in recent years, with voting or conversion
privileges intended to make an acquisition of a company more difficult or
costly. Such an issuance, or the perceived threat of such an issuance, could
discourage or limit the stockholders’ participation in certain types of
transactions that might be proposed (such as a tender offer), whether or not
such transactions were favored by the majority of the stockholders, and could
enhance the ability of officers and directors to retain their
positions.
Our
policy of not paying cash dividends on our common stock could negatively affect
the price of our common stock. We
have
not paid in the past, and do not expect to pay in the foreseeable future, cash
dividends on our common stock. We expect to reinvest in our business any cash
otherwise available for dividends. Our decision not to pay cash dividends may
negatively affect the price of our common stock.
Item
2. Unregistered Sales of Securities and Use of Proceeds
None
(e)
Issuer Purchases of Securities
The
following table summarizes our equity security repurchase during the three
months ended March 31, 2008:
Period
|
|
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
|
|
Average Price
Paid per Share
|
|
Total Number of
Share Purchased
as part of
Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
|
|
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased Under
the Plans or
Programs (1)
|
|
January
1 to January 31, 2008
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
1,888,000
|
|
February
1 to February 29, 2008
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
1,888,000
|
|
March
1 to March 31, 2008
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
1,888,000
|
|
Total
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
On
August
13, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program
to allow the Company to repurchase up to an aggregate $2,000,000 of its common
shares in the future if the market conditions so dictate. As of March 31, 2008,
53,909 shares had been repurchased under this program at a cost of approximately
$111,000.
Item
6. Exhibits
(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
31.2
|
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
32.1
|
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
32.2
|
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
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.
Mace
Security International, Inc.
|
|
|
BY:
|
/s/
Louis D. Paolino, Jr.
|
|
Louis
D. Paolino, Jr., Chairman, Principal Executive Officer and
President
|
|
|
BY:
|
/s/
Gregory M. Krzemien
|
|
Gregory
M. Krzemien, Principal Financial
Officer
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
|
|
Description
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
|
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
31.2
|
|
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
32.2.
|
|
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|