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| AAC > SEC Filings for AAC > Form 10-Q on 15-May-2008 | All Recent SEC Filings |
15-May-2008
Quarterly Report
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking statements,"
including without limitation statements relating to goals, plans and projections
regarding the Company's financial position and the Company's business strategy.
The words or phrases "would be," "will allow," "intends to," "may result," "are
expected to," "will continue," "anticipates," "expects," "estimate," "project,"
"indicate," "could," "potentially," "should," "believe," "considers" or similar
expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements", as well as
all projections of future results of operations or earnings. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause the actual results or achievements of the
registrant to be materially different from any future results or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include,
but are not limited to, the following: risks related to technological change;
the loss of the registrant's key personnel; the registrant's dependence on
marketing relationships with auction houses, third party suppliers and strategic
partners such as eBay; the registrant's ability to protect its intellectual
property rights; government regulation of Internet commerce and the auction
industry; dependence on continued growth in use of the Internet; capacity and
systems disruptions; uncertainty regarding infringing intellectual property
rights of others, risks over which the registrant has no control, such as a
general downturn in the economy which may adversely affect the value of real
property and impact discretionary spending by consumers, and the other risks and
uncertainties described in this report.
We do not undertake any responsibility to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements to take into account events or circumstances that occur after the date of this filing. Additionally, we do not undertake any responsibility to update you on the occurrence of any unanticipated events that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this filing. Please read carefully the risk factors disclosed in this report and in other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Overview
Management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition are based upon our financial statements. These statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates based on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making the estimates, judgments and assumptions referred to above. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
The following discussion of our results of operations should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes for the year ended December 31, 2007 contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-KSB filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2008.
Overview
We provide liquidation and merchandizing services along with auction and point-of-sale technology to businesses to assist them with managing the sale of their products. We also provide mortgages and loans to individuals and companies, and develop real estate. We classify our business interests into three reportable segments: the auction, liquidation and technology business, which consists principally of liquidation and merchandizing services; mortgages and loans, which consists of mortgages, loans and other investments; and real property and property development, which consists principally of properties held for development. We have included information in the discussion below about our websites. Information included on our websites is not a part of this report.
Liquidation Services - We sell merchandise through our Unlimited Closeouts and Ableauctions' liquidation stores located in California and British Columbia and through auctions we conduct in the United States and Canada. We also generate revenues by providing inventory brokerage services at unlimitedcloseouts.com and unlimitedcloseouts.ca (www.unlimitedcloseouts.com).
Auction Broadcast Services - We broadcast business and industrial auctions over the Internet for auctioneers and members of the National Auctioneers Association (NAA). These auctions are facilitated using our proprietary technology (www.ableauctions.com/technology) through the website NAAonlinesolutions.com (www.NAAonlinesolutions.com). Additionally, we broadcast antique and collectible auctions over the Internet for numerous galleries and auction houses throughout the world. These auctions are facilitated using eBay's live auction technology through the iCollector.com website (www.iCollector.com). We also provide auction-related products and services for a fee (www.icollectorlive.com/services.aspx).
Point-of-Sale (POS) Services - Through our subsidiary, Rapidfusion Technologies, Inc. (www.rapidfusion.com/technology), we sell to retailers, install and support our proprietary point-of-sale (POS) sales processing and reporting system.
Our objective is to become a leading provider of liquidation and merchandising services. We believe that our long term success in this area of our business depends on our continued innovation and integration of technologies and services for auctioneers and liquidators worldwide.
Investment, Real Property Development and Lending
Our wholly owned subsidiary, Axion Investment Corporation, develops real estate and makes short term loans. Ableauctions.com Inc. manages the investment of our cash and securities. The return on these investments has helped support the development of our liquidation and auction businesses. We intend to review our real property development and loan operations to determine if these segments of our business are compatible with our on-line businesses. If our review determines that the businesses are not compatible, we may take steps to divest these businesses.
As of March 31, 2008, our investments were broken down as follows:
Type of Investment Amount
Loans $1,423,341
Real Property $2,736,657
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When we deem it necessary, we use the income earned by these investments to support our operations.
Currently, through Axion, we are developing a vacant parcel of land located at 9655 King George Highway. We acquired the property in August 2005 for $1,270,000.
We intend to develop the property by improving it with a retail facility of approximately 4,326 square feet and with a residential complex consisting of 111 condominiums of approximately 91,132 square feet. We expect revenue of approximately $25.6 million ($25.4 million CAD) from the sale of the commercial and residential units and we estimate that the cost to develop the property will be approximately $21.4 million ($21.2 million CAD).
We entered into agreements to pre-sell 100% of the 111 residential condominiums
prior to construction and have collected approximately $2.36 million ($2.34
million CAD) in deposits that are being held in trust with Macdonald Realty Ltd.
We paid $341,446 ($366,749 CAD) to Macdonald Realty for its services to date.
We have committed an additional $695,806 ($689,750 CAD) to be paid to Macdonald
Realty for the balance of commissions and bonuses due upon the successful
completion of the sales and the final transfer of property title.
We received a building permit from the City of Surrey to develop the property and we have advanced refundable performance bonds for service and work totalling $379,010 ($384,833 CAD) as commitment for the development.
On March 12, 2008, we obtained an updated conditional credit facility in the amount of $16.56 million ($16.42 million CAD) from the Royal Bank of Canada for the development of this project.
Under the terms of the new credit facility, we are required to spend approximately $4.88 million ($4.84 million CAD) on the development. As of March 31, 2008, we had spent approximately $4.1 million ($4.2 million CAD) including the cost of the land. The credit facility is secured by guarantees from Axion and Ableauctions.com Inc., by a general security agreement covering all of the assets of Axion and by the property. The advances will accrue interest at the prime rate announced by Royal Bank of Canada plus .75% per annum. A fee of $45,225 ($48,000 CAD) was paid to the Royal Bank of Canada for arrangement of this credit facility. Of this amount, $35,378 ($38,000 CAD) was paid during the 2007 fiscal year with the remaining balance paid in the first quarter of 2008.
The credit facility was granted subject to a number of conditions, including appraisal of the project, the submission of an environmental report, the submission of a soils report, confirmation of permits and approvals, engagement of a project monitor, submission of a schedule of pre-sales contracts, the purchase of insurance and fixed price contracts for at least 80% of the project's hard construction costs.
As of the date of this report we have not made any draws against the credit facility.
During the period ending March 31, 2008 we entered into a Construction Management Agreement with Cantera Management Group Ltd. ("Cantera") to manage the development of the project. In consideration of these services, we have agreed to pay Cantera a fixed fee of $557,855 ($553,000 CAD) over the term of the contract calculated on a percentage of completion basis.
Based on Cantera's construction cost estimates, we expect the total cost to develop the property will be approximately $21.4 million ($21.2 million CAD), which includes the cost of land, professional fees, warranty and insurance costs, development fees, marketing costs, construction and financing costs.
On April 28, 2008, construction of the project commenced and it is estimated that it will be completed by November 30, 2009.
If the development is suspended for any reason, including but not limited to our inability to obtain financing, permits or trades, we will not be able to recover all of our expenses. There can be no assurance that the development will be successful or that developing the property in this manner will increase, or even maintain, its value.
Axion also provides short term loans to various businesses and individuals in Canada. The loans typically have terms of one year, earn interest at the rate of approximately 10% and are secured by real estate, general security agreements and personal guarantees, as appropriate. At March 31, 2008, Axion had approximately $1,423,341 outstanding in loans.
Trends, Events and Uncertainties
On April 15, 2008 we announced that we had been notified by eBay that eBay
intends to wind down the operations of its eBay Live Auctions platform effective
December 31, 2008. This event may have a material adverse affect on our
operations as we may have to suspend the live auction segment of our business.
Our subsidiary, iCollector.com, currently derives approximately $700,000 in
annual revenue (or 14% of our total revenue during the 2007 fiscal year) from
auctions broadcast on the eBay Live Auctions platform.
Alternatively, eBay's decision to wind down eBay Live Auctions may provide us with an opportunity to expand our NAALive operations, although there is no certainty that this will occur. We currently offer an alternative to auctioneers to the eBay Live Auctions platform with our proprietary live auction bidding software through NAALive.com. We have partnered with the National Auctioneers Association ("NAA") to serve as NAA's exclusive online auction contractor to broadcast business and industrial equipment auctions for its members on the website www.NAALive.com. We promote these services to NAA's estimated 7,000 members with technology that we have developed. This platform is the only web cast technology for live online auctions endorsed by the National Auctioneers Association.
Our business has been, and will continue to be, adversely affected by the downturn in the economy of the United States, from which we derived most of our revenues during the 2007 fiscal year. The downturn in the economy of the United States has affected the capital available for purchasing goods that are not necessities. The impact of this is evident in our liquidation operations, where revenues were 27% lower during the 2007 fiscal year and 34% lower during the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period in the previous year. There can be no assurance that we will be able to increase our revenues from our operations during the 2008 fiscal year.
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements, special purpose entities or financing partnerships.
We currently have no commitments for capital expenditures.
Other than as described above and elsewhere in this report, we know of no trends, events or uncertainties that could impact our revenues or liquidity.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
We have identified several accounting principles that we believe are key to an understanding of our financial statements. These important accounting policies require management's most difficult, subjective judgments.
Foreign Currency Translation
We have operations in both Canada and the U.S. with significant transactions in the currencies of both countries. Consequently, we are exposed to and have experienced significant gains and losses in respect to foreign exchange.
We account for foreign currency transactions and translation of foreign currency financial statements under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 52, "Foreign Currency Translation" ("SFAS 52"). We use the current rate method as the functional currency is the Canadian dollar. All assets and liabilities are translated at the current rates, while stockholder's equity accounts are translated at the appropriate historical rate or rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at the weighted-average rate for the year. Gains and losses from restatement of foreign assets and liabilities are included in comprehensive income. Revenues and expenses are translated at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates such items are recognized in earnings.
Financial statements of our Canadian subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date for assets and liabilities. Our investments in the structural capital of the Canadian subsidiaries have been recorded at the historical cost in U.S. dollars. The resulting gains or losses are reported as a separate component of stockholders' equity. The functional currency of the Canadian subsidiaries is the local currency, the Canadian dollar.
Loans and Real Property
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, our investment in loans generated
approximately $35,002 in revenues. During the three months ended March 31,
2008, 11% of the value of our assets was held in the form of loans and 61% of
the value of our assets was held in the form of real estate.
Type Carrying Amount % of Total Assets
Cash & Current Assets $ 2,582,689 19 %
Other Assets $ 1,268,471 9 %
Real Estate (head office) $ 2,642,802 20 %
Real Estate (development) $ 4,100,664 30 %
Real Estate (Joint Venture) $ 1,456,408 11 %
Loans $ 1,423,341 11 %
Total $ 13,474,375 100 %
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Revenue Recognition
A substantial portion of our revenues are earned through non-traditional sources, particularly Internet auctions. Our policies with respect to the timing and amount of revenue recognition from our auction activities are critical to an understanding of our financial statements.
Our net revenues result from fees and revenue associated with Internet based listing fees and auction activities. Internet related listing fees are derived principally from enabling independent auction houses to simultaneously broadcast their auctions over the Internet. These fees are recognized upon successful completion of each individual auction when the final terms of sales and commissions have been determined.
We generally earn revenues from our auction activities either through consignment sales, or through sales of inventory we purchase. For consignment sales, we earn auction fees charged to consignees, and buyer's premiums charged to purchasers, determined as a percentage of the sale price. For inventory sales, we earn a profit or incur a loss on the sale, to the extent the purchase price exceeds or is less than the purchase price paid for such inventory.
For each type of auction revenue an invoice is rendered to the purchaser, and we recognize revenue, at the date of the auction. The auction purchase creates a legal obligation upon the purchaser to take possession of and pay for the merchandise. This obligation generally provides us with reasonable assurance of collection of the sale proceeds, from which our earnings are derived, including the fees from consignees and purchasers, as well as resale profits.
Segmented information
Because we facilitate auctions and liquidations over the Internet, participants could come from anywhere in the world. However, our business presence is in both Canada and the U.S.
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information", we make required disclosures of information regarding our geographic segments.
Stock Based Compensation
The granting of stock options represents a very significant source of financing for us. Consequently, the accounting policies by which we account for these options is critical to an understanding of our financial statements.
We have chosen to account for stock based compensation using Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." Accordingly compensation cost for stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of our stock at the date of the grant over the amount an employee is required to pay for the stock.
We have adopted the disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock Based Compensation" for stock options granted to employees and directors. We disclose, on a supplemental basis, the pro-forma effect of accounting for stock options awarded to employees and directors, as if the fair value based method had been applied, using the Black-Scholes model. On October 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS 123(R) which requires that employee stock option expense be recognized under the fair value method rather than the intrinsic value method. We believe that the impact of the adoption of SFAS 123(R) will not be significant to our overall results of operations and financial position.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are provided for in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes". A deferred tax asset or liability is recorded for all temporary differences between financial and tax reporting and net operating loss carry forwards. Deferred tax expense (benefit) results from the net change during the year of deferred tax assets and liabilities.
We have net operating losses carried forward of approximately $9,500,000 which expire in years ranging from 2007 to 2026. We have provided a full valuation allowance of approximately $3,045,000 on the deferred tax asset because of the uncertainty of realizability.
Contractual Obligations
We are committed under the following contractual obligations.
Contractual Obligations Payments Due By Period Less than Total 1 year 1 to 3 Years 3 to 5 Years Over 5 Years Operating lease obligations $112,305 $62,854 $44,312 $5,139
As noted above, we are committed to payments with respect to agreements to lease office premises.
Results of Operations
Three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period in 2007.
Revenues. During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we had revenues of $797,888 compared to revenues of $1,014,911 during the same period in 2007, a decrease of $217,023 or 21%.
The decrease in revenues is a result of a 34% decrease in revenues from our
liquidation services. Revenues from our liquidation services totalled $433,245
(or 54% of our total revenue) compared to revenues of $651,803 (or 64% of our
total revenue) during the same period in 2007. Specifically, the decrease in
revenue from our liquidation service is the result of a decrease in demand of
liquidation inventory from top retailers. In order to weather the loss of
revenues during the US economic downturn, we have implemented significant cost
controls particularly in the area of inventory management and staffing in order
to reduce recurring operating expenditures related to this segment, most of
which have taken effect in the first quarter of the 2008 fiscal year and will be
reflected in the second quarter of the 2008 fiscal year. Operating expenses
declined by $26,813, or approximately 5%, to $507,701 for the three month period
ended March 31, 2008 as compared to $534,514 for the three month period ended
March 31, 2007 and $917,302 for the three month period ended December 31, 2007.
We expect operating expenses to further decrease in the second quarter of the
2008 fiscal year as additional cost cutting measures take effect.
In order to save inventory, storage and labor costs, we have established a drop-shipment facility and in order to find a wider audience of our goods we have listed our inventory with Overstock.com, a large Internet liquidator. We hope that these measures will allow us to generate additional revenues while continuing to reduce our operating overhead.
In addition to the downturn in the US economy, we expect that eBay's decision to shut down the operations of its eBay Live Auctions platform effective December 31, 2008 may adversely affect our business and results of operations. The loss of eBay Live Auctions may, in fact, result in the suspension of the live auction segment of our business.
Revenues from our iCollector and NAALive auction decreased by 8% to $201,980 during the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to the same period in 2007. The number of auction sessions facilitated during the three months ended March 31, 2008 decreased by approximately 15% to 338 compared to 399 auction sessions for the same period in 2007.
We anticipate that revenues from our liquidation sector will continue to represent a significant percentage of overall revenues. We believe that the results of our liquidation business and the number of antique and collectible auctions we manage is directly related to the general economy of the US, and that the current economic down-turn in the US could continue to have a dampening effect on our revenues in those two areas of our business.
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we had investment income of $35,002 compared to $113,343 for the same period in 2007. The decrease in investment income is a result of our shift in investment strategy towards real estate property development and away from marketable securities. The investment in property development is longer term in nature and, as a result, returns will be realized on completion of projects.
Gross Profit and Cost of Revenue. Cost of revenue was $414,510 or 52% of our revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to $540,091, or 53% of our revenues during the same period in 2007. Cost of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2008 decreased as a result of lower overall revenues and also included a write-down of inventory in the amount of $49,800.
Gross profit was $383,378 or 48% of total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2008, compared to gross profit of $474,820 or 47% of total revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
Future gross profit margins may vary considerably from quarter-to-quarter depending on the performance of our various divisions. We believe that over time, our gross profit as a percentage of revenue will range between 25% and 30%, based on the anticipated returns from our revenue streams.
Operating Expenses. During the three month period ended March 31, 2008, we put a number of cost cutting measures in place to withstand the decrease in revenues from our liquidation operations. Operating expenses during the three month period ended March 31, 2008 were $507,701 or approximately 64% of revenue compared to $534,514 during the three month period ended March 31, 2007 and $917,302 for the three month period ended December 31, 2007. Operating expenses are expected to further decrease in the second quarter of the 2008 fiscal year as we realize the effects of additional cost cutting measures.
During the three month period ended March 31, 2008, the cost of investor relations and shareholder information services was $23,670 as compared to $17,531 for the same period in 2007. We expect the cost of investor relations in 2008 will remain steady throughout the year.
During the three month period ended March 31, 2008, salaries and benefits totalled $317,321 as compared to $231,213 for the same period in 2007. The increase of $86,108 or approximately 37% from the previous year was due to a greater number of employees and increased benefits.
Total personnel expenses, including salaries and benefits, totalled $396,734 or 78% of our operating expenses during the three-month period ended March 31, 2008 as compared to $372,134 or 70% of our operating expenses during the three-month period ended March 31, 2007. In addition to salaries and benefits, personnel expenses included management fees of $39,000 (compared to $39,000 for the same period in 2007), and commissions of $40,413 (compared to $101,921 for the same period in 2007). Current cost cutting measures are expected to reduce personnel expenses for the remainder of the year.
During the three-month period ended March 31, 2008, advertising and promotion expenses were $6,586 or 1% of our operating expenses as compared to $13,444 or 3% of our operating expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007.
General overhead expenses decreased by $30,784 or approximately 28%, to $78,845 during the three month period ended March 31, 2008 (compared to $109,629 for the same period in 2007). General overhead expenses comprised 16% (compared to 21% for the same period in 2007) of our total operating expenses and 10% (compared to 11% for the same period in 2007) of our total revenue. General overhead expenses include rent and utilities, which totalled $15,801, telephone, which totalled $7,779, travel related to operations, which totalled $14,610, repairs and maintenance, which totalled $3,640, automotive, which totalled $3,028, insurance, which totalled $7,412, website maintenance, which totalled $16,147 and office and administration expenses, which totalled $10,428.
Depreciation and amortization expense was $45,358 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2008 as compared to $39,382 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2007. Depreciation and amortization expense was higher during the three months ended March 31, 2008 due to amortization of our intangible assets.
Net Loss. We realized a net loss of $194,051 or $(0.003) per share for the . . .
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