|
Quotes & Info
|
| EST > SEC Filings for EST > Form 10-Q on 14-Aug-2008 | All Recent SEC Filings |
14-Aug-2008
Quarterly Report
The following MD&A is intended to help the reader understand the results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows of the Company. MD&A is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, our financial statements and the accompanying notes to the financial statements.
Special Note About Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A"), other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. A detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in the section entitled "Risk Factors" (refer to Part II, Item 1A). We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
The financial statements, except for the December 31, 2007 balance sheet and the statement of stockholders' equity and income for the year ended December 31, 2007, are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2007 as presented in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements contain all adjustments, which are of a normal and recurring nature, necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007, and the results of operations for the three months ended June 30, 2008, the six months ended June 30, 2008 and the period from inception (July 9, 2007) through June 30, 2008, and stockholders' equity and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2008 and the period from inception (July 9, 2007) through June 30, 2008. Because the Company is in the development stage and looking at targets for a potential business combination, operating results for the Company on a quarterly basis may not be indicative of operating results for the full year.
Overview
We are a Delaware blank check company incorporated on July 9, 2007 in order to serve as a vehicle for the acquisition of one or more operating businesses.
On November 6, 2007, Staton Bell Blank Check LLC, an affiliate of certain of our officers and directors, purchased an aggregate of 7,500,000 Insider Warrants (the "Insider Warrants") from us in a private placement transaction at a purchase price of $1.00 per Insider Warrant (the "Private Placement"). The Insider Warrants are identical to the Warrants underlying the Units issued in our IPO except that the Insider Warrants will be (i) exercisable on a "cashless basis", and (ii) will not be redeemable by us so long as they are still held by the purchasers or their affiliates. Staton Bell Blank Check LLC has agreed that the Insider Warrants will not be sold or transferred by them until the later of November 7, 2008 and thirty days after we complete a business combination.
On November 7, 2007, the registration statement (File No. 333-145154) for our
IPO of 25,000,000 units, each unit consisting of one share of common stock, par
value $0.0001 per share, and one warrant exercisable for an additional share of
common stock (a "Warrant") was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"). We completed the IPO on November 14, 2007, resulting in
total gross proceeds of $250,000,000. The managing underwriters for the IPO
were UBS Securities LLC and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. Of the net proceeds
after offering expenses of the IPO and the private placement, $247,575,000 was
placed in a trust account maintained at Continental Stock Transfer & Trust
Company (the "Trust Account"). The proceeds in the Trust Account include $8.375
million of the gross proceeds representing deferred underwriting discounts and
commissions that will be released to the underwriters on completion of a
business combination. The remaining proceeds outside of the Trust Account may
be used to pay for business, legal and accounting due diligence on prospective
acquisitions, tax expenses and continuing general and administrative expenses.
In addition, up to $2,450,000 of the interest earned on the funds held in the
Trust Account may be released to fund expenses related to investigating and
selecting a target business and other working capital requirements, plus any
amounts we may need to pay our tax obligations.
Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase from us one share of common stock at an exercise price of $7.50 commencing on the later of the completion of a business combination with a target business and November 7, 2008 and expiring November 7, 2011, unless earlier redeemed. The Warrants will be redeemable at a price of $0.01 per Warrant upon 30 days' notice after the Warrants become exercisable, only in the event that the last sale price of the common stock is at least $14.25 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third business day prior to the date on which notice of redemption is given. In accordance with the Warrant Agreement relating to the Warrants sold in the IPO, we are only required to use our best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement covering the Warrants. We will not be obligated to deliver securities, and there are no contractual penalties for failure to deliver securities, if a registration statement is not effective at the time of exercise. Additionally, in the event that a registration is not effective at the time of exercise, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to exercise such Warrant and in no event (whether in the case of a registration statement not being effective or otherwise) will we be required to cash settle or net cash settle the attempted warrant exercise. Consequently, the Warrants may expire unexercised and unredeemed.
The initial target business or businesses with which we combine must have a collective fair market value equal to at least 80% of the balance in the trust account (excluding deferred underwriters' discounts and commissions). However, we may not use all of the proceeds held in the trust account in connection with a business combination, either because the consideration for the business combination is less than the proceeds in trust or because we finance a portion of the consideration with capital stock or debt securities that we can issue. In that event, the proceeds held in the trust account as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be used to finance the operations of the target business or businesses.
We may issue additional capital stock or debt securities to finance a business
combination. The issuance of additional capital stock, including upon
conversion of any convertible debt securities we may issue, or the incurrence of
debt, could have material consequences on our business and financial condition.
The issuance of additional shares of our capital stock (including upon
conversion of convertible debt securities):
• may significantly reduce the equity interest of our stockholders;
• will likely cause a change in control if a substantial number of our shares of common stock or voting preferred stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, if any, and may also result in the resignation or removal of one or more of our present officers and directors; and
• may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our common stock.
Similarly, if we issue debt securities, it could result in:
• default and foreclosure on our assets if our operating revenues after a business combination are insufficient to pay our debt obligations;
• acceleration of our obligations to repay the indebtedness even if we make all principal and interest payments when due if we breach the covenants contained in any debt securities, such as covenants that require the satisfaction or maintenance of certain financial ratios or reserves, without a waiver or renegotiation of such covenants;
• an obligation to immediately repay all principal and accrued interest, if any, upon demand to the extent any debt securities are payable on demand; and
• our inability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, to the extent any debt securities contain covenants restricting our ability to obtain additional financing while such security is outstanding, or to the extent our existing leverage discourages other potential investors.
Through June 30, 2008, our efforts have been limited to organizational activities, activities relating to our initial public offering, activities relating to identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, and activities relating to general corporate matters; we have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues, other than interest income earned on the proceeds of the Private Placement and our IPO.
As of June 30, 2008, after giving effect to our IPO and our operations subsequent thereto, including our withdrawal of approximately, $3.1 million of the interest earned on the funds held in the trust account through June 30, 2008 for taxes and operating expenses, approximately $249.8 million was held in trust and we had $40,141 of unrestricted cash, and approximately $1.5 million of
the $2.45 million that we are entitled to withdraw from interest earned on the funds held in the trust account, available to us for our activities in connection with identifying and conducting due diligence of a suitable business combination, and for general corporate matters.
We have incurred $993,000 in deferred acquisition costs that have been capitalized while a transaction with a potential target business is being investigated. As of June 30, 2008, we have paid $589,000 of these charges with the balance to be paid in the third quarter. If the target business is not acquired or the transaction is treated as a recapitalization or reverse merger for accounting purposes, these costs will be expensed.
Results of Operations, Financial Condition and Liquidity
Our operating expenses totaled $137,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and $323,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2008. Operating expenses were comprised primarily of accounting, legal, franchise taxes, printing fees and expenses.
We had interest income net of expenses earned on marketable securities held in
the Trust Account of approximately $1.4 million for the quarter ended June 30,
2008 and approximately $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008.
Interest income excludes earnings on funds held in the Trust Account associated
with common stock subject to possible conversion and, except for amounts for
operating purposes up to $2.45 million and amounts equal to any taxes payable by
us relating to such interest earned, will not be released from the Trust Account
until the earlier of the completion of a business combination or the expiration
of the time period during which we may complete a business combination.
We have provided for an effective tax rate of approximately 41.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2008 and 41.4% on an inception to date basis primarily because of state income taxes and the nondeductible portion of formation costs and a valuation allowance.
We expect to use substantially all of the proceeds from our initial public offering to acquire a target business, including identifying and evaluating prospective acquisition candidates, selecting the target business and structuring, negotiating and consummating the business combination. To the extent that our capital stock is used in whole or in part as consideration to effect a business combination the proceeds held in the trust account as well as any other net proceeds not expended will be used to finance operations of the target business. We believe we will have sufficient available funds outside of the trust account to operate through November 7, 2009, assuming that a business combination is not consummated during that time. Until we enter into a business combination, we expect to use our available resources for general working capital as well as legal, accounting and due diligence expenses for structuring and negotiating a business combination and legal and accounting fees relating to our Securities and Exchange Commission reporting obligations.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements and have not established any special purpose entities. We have not guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities or entered into any options on non-financial assets.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations
are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and
judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and
expenses. On an ongoing basis, we re-evaluate all of our estimates. We base
our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are
believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the
basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities
that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may materially
differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions as
additional information becomes available in future periods.
Management has discussed the development and selection of critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee has reviewed our disclosure relating to critical accounting estimates in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We believe the following are the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
|
|