UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2017

or

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _________________ to _____________________

        For the transition period from _______________ to _____________________

       

Commission File Number 0-14665

 

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

South Carolina

95-4133299

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)Identification No.)
  
915 East First Street 
Los Angeles, California90012-4050
(Address of principal executiveoffices)    executive offices)(Zip code)

(213) 229-5300

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

None

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark 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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  

Yes: X             No:

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes:X             No:

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

     

Large Accelerated Filer: 

Accelerated Filer: X 

Non-accelerated Filer:  

Smaller Reporting Company:

 Non-accelerated Filer: Smaller Reporting Company:
  Emerging Growth Company:

            

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark 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 the latest practicable date.

 

                            Class                                

Outstanding atJuly 31April 30, 20172018

Common Stock, par value $ .01 per share

1,380,746 shares

                             


 

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

 

 

INDEX

 

 

Page Nos.

Page Nos.
PART I    Financial Information

Item 1.      Financial Statements
   
  

Consolidated Balance Sheets -

March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017

3
    
 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income -

Three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017

4

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income -

Six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 

5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -

Six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017

6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements7
Item 2.      Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations16
Item 3.      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk23
Item 4.      Controls and Procedures23
Item 5.      Other Information23
Part II    Other Information
Item 6.       Exhibits24


PART I

Item 1. Financial StatementsFINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets ‑June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016

3

  

March 31

  

September 30

 
  

2018

  

2017

 

ASSETS

        

Current assets

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $7,224,000  $3,384,000 

Marketable securities at fair value, including common stocks of $217,803,000 at March 31, 2018, and common stocks of $220,973,000 and bonds of $8,292,000 at September 30, 2017

  217,803,000   229,265,000 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $200,000 at March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017

  4,239,000   5,358,000 

Inventories

  46,000   40,000 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  612,000   798,000 

Income tax receivable

  854,000   909,000 

Total current assets

  230,778,000   239,754,000 
         

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

        

Land, buildings and improvements

  16,409,000   16,396,000 

Furniture, office equipment and computer software

  2,752,000   2,724,000 

Machinery and equipment

  1,818,000   1,799,000 
   20,979,000   20,919,000 

Less accumulated depreciation

  (9,584,000)  (9,292,000)
   11,395,000   11,627,000 

Intangibles, net

  1,248,000   3,058,000 

Goodwill

  13,400,000   13,400,000 

Deferred income taxes - Federal

  7,622,000   10,652,000 

Deferred income taxes - State

  2,299,000   2,217,000 
  $266,742,000  $280,708,000 
         

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

        

Current liabilities

        

Accounts payable

 $2,898,000  $3,049,000 

Accrued liabilities

  2,932,000   3,112,000 

Note payable collateralized by real estate

  118,000   115,000 

Deferred subscriptions

  3,117,000   3,284,000 

Deferred installation contracts

  4,342,000   5,072,000 

Deferred maintenance agreements and others

  8,998,000   9,442,000 

Total current liabilities

  22,405,000   24,074,000 
         

Long term liabilities

        

Investment margin account borrowings

  29,493,000   29,493,000 

Note payable collateralized by real estate

  1,896,000   1,956,000 

Deferred maintenance agreements

  492,000   759,000 

Accrued liabilities

  135,000   135,000 

Deferred income taxes

  42,369,000   64,550,000 

Total long term liabilities

  74,385,000   96,893,000 
         

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 10 and 11)

  ---   --- 
         

Shareholders' equity

        

Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued

  ---   --- 

Common stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; 1,805,053 shares issued, including 424,307 treasury shares, at March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017

  14,000   14,000 

Additional paid-in capital

  1,755,000   1,755,000 

Retained earnings

  51,667,000   57,150,000 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

  116,516,000   100,822,000 

Total shareholders' equity

  169,952,000   159,741,000 
  $266,742,000  $280,708,000 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) ‑Three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016

4

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) ‑Nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016

5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows ‑Nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016

6

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  7Item 2.     Management's Discussion


DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

(Unaudited)

  

Three months

ended March 31

 
  

2018

  

2017

 
         

Revenues

        

Advertising

 $2,209,000  $2,123,000 

Circulation

  1,356,000   1,424,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  659,000   695,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  3,981,000   3,882,000 

Consulting fees

  212,000   1,310,000 

Other public service fees

  921,000   845,000 
   9,338,000   10,279,000 
         

Costs and expenses

        

Salaries and employee benefits

  8,555,000   8,097,000 

Outside services

  1,044,000   1,087,000 

Postage and delivery expenses

  216,000   285,000 

Newsprint and printing expenses

  191,000   230,000 

Depreciation and amortization

  899,000   1,389,000 

Other general and administrative expenses

  2,806,000   2,457,000 
   13,711,000   13,545,000 

Loss from operations

  (4,373,000)  (3,266,000)

Other income (expense)

        

Dividends and interest income

  1,024,000   1,368,000 

Gain on sale of bonds

  3,180,000   --- 

Other income

  10,000   6,000 

Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate

  (24,000)  (25,000)

Interest expense on margin loans

  (149,000)  (96,000)

Reversal of accrued interest and penalty expense for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits

  ---   752,000 

Loss before income taxes

  (332,000)  (1,261,000)

Benefit from income taxes

  100,000   4,240,000 

Net (loss) income

 $(232,000) $2,979,000 
         

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted

  1,380,746   1,380,746 

Basic and diluted net (loss) income per share

 $(0.17) $2.16 
         

Comprehensive (loss) income

        

Net (loss) income

 $(232,000) $2,979,000 

Net (decrease) increase in unrealized appreciation of marketable securities (net of taxes)

  (13,861,000)  4,638,000 
  $(14,093,000) $7,617,000 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

  

Six months

ended March 31

 
  

2018

  

2017

 
         

Revenues

        

Advertising

 $4,325,000  $4,433,000 

Circulation

  2,719,000   2,873,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  1,261,000   1,333,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  8,331,000   7,848,000 

Consulting fees

  1,207,000   2,158,000 

Other public service fees

  1,747,000   1,624,000 
   19,590,000   20,269,000 
         

Costs and expenses

        

Salaries and employee benefits

  16,752,000   15,738,000 

Outside services

  2,083,000   2,067,000 

Postage and delivery expenses

  433,000   563,000 

Newsprint and printing expenses

  403,000   439,000 

Depreciation and amortization

  2,117,000   2,781,000 

Other general and administrative expenses

  5,620,000   4,800,000 
   27,408,000   26,388,000 

Loss from operations

  (7,818,000)  (6,119,000)

Other income (expense)

        

Dividends and interest income

  2,507,000   2,539,000 

Gains on sales of bonds and capital asset

  3,182,000   --- 

Other income

  19,000   21,000 

Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate

  (48,000)  (51,000)

Interest expense on margin loans

  (285,000)  (175,000)

Reversal of accrued interest and penalty expense for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits

  ---   743,000 

Loss before income taxes

  (2,443,000)  (3,042,000)

Benefit from income taxes

  16,950,000   4,550,000 

Net income

 $14,507,000  $1,508,000 
         

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted

  1,380,746   1,380,746 

Basic and diluted net income per share

 $10.51  $1.09 
         

Comprehensive income

        

Net income

 $14,507,000  $1,508,000 

Net (decrease) increase in unrealized appreciation of marketable securities (net of taxes)

  (1,743,000)  19,657,000 
  $12,764,000  $21,165,000 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

  

Six months

ended March 31

 
  

2018

  

2017

 

Cash flows from operating activities

        

Net income

 $14,507,000  $1,508,000 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operations

        

Depreciation and amortization

  2,117,000   2,781,000 

Deferred income taxes

  (17,012,000)  (2,115,000)

Gains on sale of bonds

  (3,180,000)  --- 

Discounts earned on bonds

  ---   (1,000)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

        

(Increase) decrease in current assets

        

Accounts receivable, net

  1,119,000   (578,000)

Inventories

  (6,000)  (9,000)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  186,000   55,000 

Income tax receivable

  55,000   240,000 

Increase (decrease) in liabilities

        

Accounts payable

  (151,000)  514,000 

Accrued liabilities

  (180,000)  (773,000)

Income taxes

  ---   (2,723,000)

Deferred subscriptions

  (167,000)  (122,000)

Deferred maintenance agreements and others

  (711,000)  511,000 

Deferred installation contracts

  (730,000)  (1,388,000)

Net cash used in operating activities

  (4,153,000)  (2,100,000)
         

Cash flows from investing activities

        

Sales (purchases) of marketable securities

  8,125,000   (5,013,000)

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

  (75,000)  (194,000)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

  8,050,000   (5,207,000)
         

Cash flows from financing activities

        

Payment of real estate loan principal

  (57,000)  (54,000)

Net cash used in financing activities

  (57,000)  (54,000)
         

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

  3,840,000   (7,361,000)
         

Cash and cash equivalents

        

Beginning of period

  3,384,000   11,411,000 

End of period

 $7,224,000  $4,050,000 
         

Interest paid during period

 $329,000  $220,000 

Net income taxes paid during period

 $6,000  $16,000 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Note 1 - The Corporation and Analysis ofFinancial Condition and Results of Operations14Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk21Item 4.     Controls and Procedures 21Part II Other InformationItem 6.      Exhibits22

 

Daily Journal Corporation (the “Company”) publishes newspapers and websites covering California and Arizona and produces several specialized information services. It also serves as a newspaper representative specializing in public notice advertising.

Journal Technologies, Inc. (“Journal Technologies”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, supplies case management software systems and related products to courts, prosecutor and public defender offices, probation departments and other justice agencies, including administrative law organizations, city and county governments and bar associations. These organizations use the Journal Technologies family of products to help manage cases and information electronically, to interface with other critical justice partners and to extend electronic services to the public, including efiling and a website to pay traffic citations online, and bar members. These products are licensed to more than 500 organizations in 42 states and internationally.

Essentially all of the Company’s operations are based in California, Arizona, Colorado and Utah.

Note 2 - Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of its financial position as of March 31, 2018, its results of operations for the three- and six-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 and cash flows for the six months ended March 31, 2018. The results of operations for the six months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

Certain reclassifications of previously reported amounts have been made to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Note 3 - Accounting Standards Adopted in Fiscal 2018 and Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Standards Adopted in Fiscal 2018

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No.2015-17,Income Taxes (Topic 740): Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. This update requires deferred tax liabilities and assets to be classified as noncurrent in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company has adopted this guidance effective October 1, 2017 and concluded that it has no significant impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or disclosures because it is simply a reclassification of current deferred taxes to non-current deferred taxes with an itemization of federal and state deferred taxes.


In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No.2014-09,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606) which requires that revenues be recognized in an amount reflecting the consideration an entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services. The Company elected to adopt early the ASC Topic 606 effective October 1, 2017 using the modified retrospective method.

The Company has concluded that the adoption of the ASC Topic 606 in fiscal 2018 has no significant impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. For the Company’s traditional publishing business (the “Traditional Business”), revenue recognition related to advertising, circulation, and public fees remains unchanged. For the software business, the Company previously utilized the completed performance method of accounting, pursuant to which the Company did not recognize revenues for implementation services or licenses, maintenance, support and hosting services until after the services were performed and accepted by the customer (go-live), due to the fact that the customer’s acceptance was typically unpredictable and reliable estimates of the progress towards completion could not be made. Thus, the Company’s past revenue recognition policy was already in conformity with ASU Topic 606, which calls for revenue recognition at the point of delivery when a performance obligation is fulfilled. Consequently, the Company believes there are no required material retrospective or accumulated catch-up adjustments with respect to prior years’ financial figures, as revenues have been recognized consistently in the same manner throughout the comparative reporting periods.

The adoption of ASC 606 also requires the capitalization of certain costs of obtaining contracts, specifically sales commissions which are to be amortized over the expected term of the contracts. For its software contracts, the Company incurs an immaterial amount of sales commission costs which have no significant impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the Company’s implementation and fulfillment costs do not meet all criteria required for capitalization.

In mid- February, the FASB issued an amendment to ASC Subtopic 220-10,Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI). This amendment permits entities to reclassify stranded tax effects resulting from tax rate changes related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act), from AOCI to retained earnings. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The election can be applied as of the first day of the interim period in which it is adopted or retroactively to the first interim period in which the tax effects of the Act were recognized. The Company elected to adopt this amendment as of January 1, 2018. Pursuant to this amendment, the Company can only reclassify the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act and not those relative to the previous California/State apportionment. As such, the Company recorded a reclassification of stranded tax effects of $19,960,000 between AOCI and retained earnings. This represented a decrease to retained earnings and an increase to AOCI, both of which are listed under the “Shareholders’ equity” section of the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Other Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company will continue to evaluate the other new accounting pronouncements as detailed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2017.


Note 4 – Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with the provisions of ASU No.2014-09,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606).

For the Traditional Business, proceeds from the sale of subscriptions for newspapers, court rule books and other publications and other services are recorded as deferred revenue and are included in earned revenue only when the services are provided, generally over the subscription term. Advertising revenues are recognized when advertisements are published and are net of agency commissions.

Journal Technologies contracts may include several products and services, which are generally distinct and include separate transaction pricing and performance obligations. Most are one-transaction contracts. These current subscription-type contract revenues include (i) implementation consulting fees to configure the system to go live and (ii) subscription software license, maintenance (including updates and upgrades) and support fees, and third-party hosting fees when used. Revenues for consulting are recognized at point of delivery (go-live) upon completion of services and customer acceptance, and subscription fees are recognized ratably (using the output method based on time-elapsed) after the go-live. These contracts include assurance warranty provisions for limited periods and do not include financing terms. For some contracts, the Company acts as a principal with respect to certain services, such as data conversion, interfaces and hosting that are provided by third-parties, and recognizes such revenues on a gross basis. For legacy contracts with perpetual license arrangements, licenses and consulting services are recognized at point of delivery (go-live), and maintenance revenues are recognized ratably after the go-live. (Also see Note 12 for additional disclosures related to ASC Topic 606 adoption.)

Other public service fees are earned and recognized as revenues when the Company processes credit card payments on behalf of the courts via its websites through which the public can efile cases and pay traffic citations and other fees.

Since the Company recognizes revenues when it can invoice the customer pursuant to the contract for the value of completed performance, as a practical expedient and because reliable estimates cannot be made, it has elected not to include the transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations. Also, as a practical expedient, the Company has elected not to include its evaluation of variable consideration of certain usage based fees (i.e. public service fees) that are included in some contracts. Furthermore, there are no fulfillment costs to be capitalized for the software contracts because these costs do not generate or enhance resources that will be used in satisfying future performance obligations.

Note 5 - Basic and Diluted Income Per Share

The Company does not have any common stock equivalents, and therefore basic and diluted income (loss) per share are the same.

Note 6 - Investments in Marketable Securities

Investments in marketable securities categorized as “available-for-sale” are stated at fair value. The Company uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (consistent with the Level 1 definition in the fair value hierarchy) to measure the fair value of its investments on a recurring basis pursuant to ASC 820,Fair Value Measurement. As of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017, unrealized gains of $159,354,000 and $165,872,000, respectively, were recorded before taxes of $42,369,000 and $64,550,000, respectively, in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Most of the unrealized gains were in the common stocks of three U.S. financial institutions and one foreign manufacturer.


Investments in equity securities and securities with fixed maturity as of March 31, 2018 and September 30, 2017 are summarized below.

  

March 31, 2018

  

September 30, 2017

 
  

(Unaudited)

             
  

 

Aggregate

fair value

  

Amortized/

Adjusted

cost basis

  

Pretax

unrealized

gains

  

 

Aggregate

fair value

  

Amortized/

Adjusted

cost basis

  

Pretax

unrealized

gains

 

Marketable securities

                        

Common stocks

 $217,803,000  $58,449,000  $159,354,000  $220,973,000  $58,449,000  $162,524,000 

Bonds

  ---   ---   ---   8,292,000   4,944,000   3,348,000 
  $217,803,000  $58,449,000  $159,354,000  $229,265,000  $63,393,000  $165,872,000 

All investments are classified as “Current assets” because they are available for sale at any time. In February 2018, the Company sold its bond investments for $8,125,000 with a gain of approximately $3,180,000 and simultaneously reclassified a previously lodged tax effect of $30,000 from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. This represented a decrease to retained earnings and an increase to accumulated other comprehensive income. (The Company uses an “individual security approach” to release stranded tax effects for its available-for-sale securities when sold or extinguished.)

As of March 31, 2018, the Company performed an evaluation for an equity security with a fair value below cost to determine if the unrealized loss was other-than-temporary. This evaluation considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security until fair value recovers. The assessment of the ability and intent to hold this security to recovery focuses on liquidity needs, asset/liability management objectives and security portfolio objectives. Based on the result of the evaluation, the Company concluded that as of March 31, 2018, the unrealized loss related to an equity security it owns was temporary.

Note 7 - Intangible Assets

  Intangible Assets 
  

March 31, 2018

  

September 30, 2017

 
  

Customer Relationships

  

Developed Technology

  

 

Total

  

Customer Relationships

  

Developed Technology

  

 

Total

 
                         

Gross intangibles

 $21,950,000  $2,525,000  $24,475,000  $21,950,000  $2,525,000  $24,475,000 

Accumulated amortization

  (20,812,000)  (2,415,000)  (23,227,000)  (19,174,000)  (2,243,000)  (21,417,000)
  $1,138,000  $110,000  $1,248,000  $2,776,000  $282,000  $3,058,000 

These intangible assets are being amortized over five years for financial statement purposes due to the short life cycle of technology on which customer relationships depend and over 15 years on a straight-line basis for tax purposes. The intangible amortization expenses were $1,810,000 for the six-month period ended March 31, 2018, as compared with $2,447,000 in the prior year period, primarily because the intangible assets of one of the two acquisitions in fiscal 2013 were fully amortized during the first quarter of fiscal 2018.


Note 8 – Goodwill

The Company accounts for goodwill in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 350,Intangibles — Goodwill and Other. Goodwill, which is not amortized for financial statement purposes, is amortized over a 15-year period for tax purposes, but evaluated for impairment annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the value may not be recoverable. Considered factors for potential goodwill impairment evaluation with respect to Journal Technologies include, among other things, the current year’s business profitability before intangible amortization, fluctuations of revenues, changes in the marketplace, the status of deferred installation contracts and new business.

In addition, ASU 2011-08,Intangible – Goodwill and Others -- Testing Goodwill for Impairment, allows for the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of a reporting unit. If it is determined based on qualitative factors that there is no impairment to goodwill, then the fair value of a reporting unit is not needed. If a quantitative analysis is required and the unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, then the second step is performed to measure the amount of potential impairment. The Company’s annual goodwill impairment analysis in fiscal 2017 did not result in an impairment charge based on the qualitative assessment. There was no indicator of impairment during the six-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

Note 9 - Income Taxes

The December 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) reduced the maximum corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018.  The Company has completed its review of the Tax Act.  The impact to its financial statements is as follows:  (i) current income tax expense or benefit is calculated using a blended rate of 24.28% pursuant to IRC Section 15, (ii) deferred tax expense includes a discrete net tax benefit of approximately $16 million resulting from a revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities to the expected tax rate that will be applied when temporary differences are expected to reverse, (iii) items that are expected to reverse during fiscal 2018 are valued at the blended rate of 24.28% while temporary differences that will reverse after fiscal 2018 are valued at the 21% rate, and (iv) approximately $20 million of the revaluation of deferred taxes relates to items that were initially recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”).  This revaluation of approximately $20 million was recorded as a component of income tax expense or benefit in continuing operations. 

For the six months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $16,950,000 on pretax loss of $2,443,000.  The income tax benefit was the result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2018 to pretax loss for the six-month period ended March 31, 2018.   The effective tax rate (before the discrete Tax Act item discussed above) was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to the dividends received deduction which increases the loss for tax purposes. 

During the prior fiscal year, on pretax loss of $3,042,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $4,550,000 which was the net result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2017 to pretax loss for the six months ended March 31, 2017 and included a reversal of an accrued liability of approximately $2,665,000 for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits relating to an acquisition in fiscal 2013.  The Internal Revenue Service concluded its examination of the Company’s fiscal 2014 income tax return with no proposed changes to the tax position that gave rise to this liability.  As a result, this liability was reversed along with the related accrued interest and penalty expense of $743,000.  In addition, a deferred tax liability, in the amount of $352,000, relating to temporary differences that would only exist if the uncertain tax position was never recognized, was reversed. The effective tax rate (before the discrete IRS item) was greater than the statutory rate mainly resulting from the dividends received deduction. 


The Company’s effective tax rate was 694% and 150% for the six months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The Company files consolidated federal income tax returns in the United States and with various state jurisdictions and is no longer subject to examinations for fiscal years before fiscal 2015 with regard to federal income taxes and fiscal 2013 for state income taxes. 

Note 10 - Debt and Commitments

During fiscal 2013, the Company borrowed from its investment margin account the aggregate purchase price of $29.5 million for two acquisitions, in each case pledging its marketable securities as collateral. The interest rate for these investment margin account borrowings fluctuates based on the Federal Funds Rate plus 50 basis points with interest only payable monthly. The interest rate as of March 31, 2018 was 2%. These investment margin account borrowings do not mature.

In fiscal 2015, the Company purchased a 30,700 square foot office building constructed in 1998 on about 3.6 acres in Logan, Utah that had been previously leased by Journal Technologies. The Company paid $1.24 million and financed the balance with a real estate bank loan of $2.26 million which bears a fixed interest rate of 4.66% and is repayable in equal monthly installments of about $17,600 through 2030. This loan is secured by the Logan facility and can be paid off at any time without prepayment penalty. This real estate loan had a balance of approximately $2.01 million as of March 31, 2018.

The Company also owns its facilities in Los Angeles and leases space for its other offices under operating leases which expire at various dates through fiscal 2021. During fiscal 2014, the Company renewed its office lease for its San Francisco office for five years (expiring in October 2019) with a current monthly rent of approximately $25,000 for about 6,200 square feet. In fiscal 2017, the Company leased approximately 9,800 square feet of office space (expiring in August 2020) in Englewood, Colorado.

The Company is responsible for a portion of maintenance, insurance and property tax expenses relating to the leased properties. Rental expenses were $487,000 for the six-month period ended March 31, 2018, as compared with $356,000 in the prior year period.

Note 11 - Contingencies

From time to time, the Company is subject to contingencies, including litigation, arising in the normal course of its business. While it is not possible to predict the results of such contingencies, management does not believe the ultimate outcome of these matters will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations or cash flows.


Note 12 - Operating Segments

The Company’s reportable segments are: (i) the Traditional Business and (ii) Journal Technologies. All inter-segment transactions were eliminated. Summarized financial information regarding the Company’s reportable segments is shown in the following table:

  

Reportable Segments

         
  

Traditional

Business

  

Journal

Technologies

  

Corporate income

and expenses

  

 

Total

 

Six months ended March 31, 2018

                

Revenues

                

Advertising

 $4,325,000  $---  $---  $4,325,000 

Circulation

  2,719,000   ---   ---   2,719,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  1,261,000   ---   ---   1,261,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  ---   8,331,000   ---   8,331,000 

Consulting fees

  ---   1,207,000   ---   1,207,000 

Other public service fees

  ---   1,747,000   ---   1,747,000 

Operating expenses

  8,507,000   18,901,000   ---   27,408,000 

Loss from operations

  (202,000)  (7,616,000)  ---   (7,818,000)

Dividends and interest income

  ---   ---   2,507,000   2,507,000 

Gains on sales of bonds and capital asset

  ---   ---   3,182,000   3,182,000 

Other income

  ---   ---   19,000   19,000 

Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate

  (48,000)  ---   ---   (48,000)

Interest expenses on margin loans

  ---   ---   (285,000)  (285,000)

Pretax (loss) income

  (250,000)  (7,616,000)  5,423,000   (2,443,000)

Income tax benefit (expense)

  (785,000)  (935,000)  18,670,000   16,950,000 

Net income (loss)

  (1,035,000)  (8,551,000)  24,093,000   14,507,000 

Total assets

  22,347,000   26,592,000   217,803,000   266,742,000 

Capital expenditures

  75,000   ---   ---   75,000 

Amortization of intangible assets

  ---   1,810,000   ---   1,810,000 

  

Reportable Segments

         
  

Traditional

Business

  

Journal

Technologies

  

Corporate income

and expenses

  

 

Total

 

Six months ended March 31, 2017

                

Revenues

                

Advertising

 $4,433,000  $---  $---  $4,433,000 

Circulation

  2,873,000   ---   ---   2,873,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  1,333,000   ---   ---   1,333,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  ---   7,848,000   ---   7,848,000 

Consulting fees

  ---   2,158,000   ---   2,158,000 

Other public service fees

  ---   1,624,000   ---   1,624,000 

Operating expenses

  8,863,000   17,525,000   ---   26,388,000 

Loss from operations

  (224,000)  (5,895,000)  ---   (6,119,000)

Dividends and interest income

  ---   ---   2,539,000   2,539,000 

Other income

  21,000   ---   ---   21,000 

Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate

  (51,000)  ---   ---   (51,000)

Interest expenses on margin loans

  ---   ---   (175,000)  (175,000)

Interest and penalty expense reversal for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits

  ---   743,000   ---   743,000 

Pretax (loss) income

  (254,000)  (5,152,000)  2,364,000   (3,042,000)

Income tax (expense) benefit

  (75,000)  5,120,000   (495,000)  4,550,000 

Net income (loss)

  (329,000)  (32,000)  1,869,000   1,508,000 

Total assets

  15,618,000   35,763,000   203,778,000   255,159,000 

Capital expenditures

  160,000   34,000   ---   194,000 

Amortization of intangible assets

  ---   2,447,000   ---   2,447,000 


  

Reportable Segments

         
  

Traditional

Business

  

Journal

Technologies

  

Corporate income

and expenses

  

 

Total

 

Three months ended March 31, 2018

                

Revenues

                

Advertising

 $2,209,000  $---  $---  $2,209,000 

Circulation

  1,356,000   ---   ---   1,356,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  659,000   ---   ---   659,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  ---   3,981,000   ---   3,981,000 

Consulting fees

  ---   212,000   ---   212,000 

Other public service fees

  ---   921,000   ---   921,000 

Operating expenses

  4,193,000   9,518,000   ---   13,711,000 

Income (loss) from operations

  31,000   (4,404,000)  ---   (4,373,000)

Dividends and interest income

  ---   ---   1,024,000   1,024,000 

Gains on sales of bonds and capital asset

  ---   ---   3,180,000   3,180,000 

Other income

  ---   ---   10,000   10,000 

Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate

  (24,000)  ---   ---   (24,000)

Interest expenses on margin loans

  ---   ---   (149,000)  (149,000)

Pretax (loss) income

  7,000   (4,404,000)  4,065,000   (332,000)

Income tax benefit (expense)

  (105,000)  1,250,000   (1,045,000)  100,000 

Net income (loss)

  (98,000)  (3,154,000)  3,020,000   (232,000)

Total assets

  22,347,000   26,592,000   217,803,000   266,742,000 

Capital expenditures

  41,000   ---   ---   41,000 

Amortization of intangible assets

  ---   748,000   ---   748,000 

  

Reportable Segments

         
  

Traditional

Business

  

Journal

Technologies

  

Corporate income

and expenses

  

 

Total

 

Three months ended March 31, 2017

                

Revenues

                

Advertising

 $2,123,000  $---  $---  $2,123,000 

Circulation

  1,424,000   ---   ---   1,424,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  695,000   ---   ---   695,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  ---   3,882,000   ---   3,882,000 

Consulting fees

  ---   1,310,000   ---   1,310,000 

Other public service fees

  ---   845,000   ---   845,000 

Operating expenses

  4,463,000   9,082,000   ---   13,545,000 

Loss from operations

  (221,000)  (3,045,000)  ---   (3,266,000)

Dividends and interest income

  ---   ---   1,368,000   1,368,000 

Other income

  6,000   ---   ---   6,000 

Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate

  (25,000)  ---   ---   (25,000)

Interest expenses on margin loans

  ---   ---   (96,000)  (96,000)

Interest and penalty expense reversal for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits

  ---   752,000   ---   752,000 

Pretax (loss) income

  (240,000)  (2,293,000)  1,272,000   (1,261,000)

Income tax (expense) benefit

  (75,000)  4,345,000   (30,000)  4,240,000 

Net income (loss)

  (315,000)  2,052,000   1,242,000   2,979,000 

Total assets

  15,618,000   35,763,000   203,778,000   255,159,000 

Capital expenditures

  ---   7,000   ---   7,000 

Amortization of intangible assets

  ---   1,223,000   ---   1,223,000 

During the six months ended March 31, 2018, the Traditional Business had total revenues of $8,305,000 of which $5,586,000 were recognized after services were provided and $2,719,000 were recognized ratably over the subscription terms. Total revenues for the Company’s software business were $11,285,000 of which $3,353,000 were recognized upon completion of services with customer acceptance while $7,932,000 were recognized ratably over the subscription periods.


During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Traditional Business had total revenues of $4,224,000 of which $2,868,000 were recognized after services were provided and $1,356,000 were recognized ratably over the subscription terms. Total revenues for the Company’s software business were $5,114,000 of which $1,289,000 were recognized upon completion of services with customer acceptance while $3,825,000 were recognized ratably over the subscription periods.

Approximately 55% and 58% of the Company’s revenues during the three- and six-month periods ended March 31, 2018, respectively, were derived from Journal Technologies, as compared with 59% and 57% in the prior year periods. In addition, the Company’s revenues have been primarily from the United States, with approximately 1% from foreign countries. Journal Technologies’ revenues are all from governmental agencies.

The following table sets forth certain deferred obligations from October 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018:

  

Beginning

Balance

  

 

Addition

  

 

Recognized

  

Ending

Balance

 
                 

Deferred subscriptions

 $3,284,000  $2,552,000  $(2,719,000) $3,117,000 

Deferred installation contracts

  5,072,000   2,623,000   (3,353,000)  4,342,000 

Deferred maintenance agreements and others

  10,201,000   7,221,000   (7,932,000)  9,490,000 

Note 13 - Subsequent Events

The Company has completed an evaluation of all subsequent events through the issuance date of these financial statements and concluded that no subsequent events occurred that required recognition to the financial statements or disclosures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements or cash flows.

 


PART I

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

  

June 30

  

September 30

 
  

2017

  

2016

 

ASSETS

        

Current assets

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $2,635,000  $11,411,000 

Marketable securities at fair value, including common stocks of $202,149,000and bonds of $8,404,000 at June 30, 2017 and common stocks of$158,462,000 and bonds of $8,172,000 at September 30, 2016

  210,553,000   166,634,000 

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $200,000 atJune 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016

  5,649,000   4,707,000 

Inventories

  49,000   41,000 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

  933,000   800,000 

Income tax receivable

  956,000   890,000 

Total current assets

  220,775,000   184,483,000 
         

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

        

Land, buildings and improvements

  16,396,000   16,306,000 

Furniture, office equipment and computer software

  2,722,000   2,743,000 

Machinery and equipment

  1,799,000   1,864,000 
   20,917,000   20,913,000 

Less accumulated depreciation

  (9,134,000)  (8,849,000)
   11,783,000   12,064,000 

Intangibles, net

  4,282,000   7,953,000 

Goodwill

  13,400,000   13,400,000 

Deferred income taxes, net

  11,163,000   7,546,000 
  $261,403,000  $225,446,000 
         

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

        

Current liabilities

        

Accounts payable

 $2,914,000  $2,644,000 

Accrued liabilities

  2,995,000   2,583,000 

Note payable collateralized by real estate

  114,000   110,000 

Deferred subscriptions

  2,901,000   3,402,000 

Deferred installation contracts

  6,497,000   7,340,000 

Deferred maintenance agreements and others

  7,703,000   7,280,000 

Deferred income taxes, net

  56,761,000   41,501,000 

Total current liabilities

  79,885,000   64,860,000 
         

Long term liabilities

        

Investment margin account borrowings

  29,493,000   29,493,000 

Note payable collateralized by real estate

  1,985,000   2,071,000 

Deferred maintenance agreements

  543,000   149,000 

Income tax payable

  ---   2,723,000 

Accrued interest and penalty for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits

  ---   745,000 

Accrued liabilities

  82,000   62,000 

Total long term liabilities

  32,103,000   35,243,000 
         

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

  ---   --- 
         

Shareholders' equity

        

Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized and noshares issued

  ---   --- 

Common stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized;1,805,053 shares issued, including 424,307 treasury shares,at June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016

  14,000   14,000 

Additional paid-in capital

  1,755,000   1,755,000 

Retained earnings

  58,225,000   58,068,000 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

  89,421,000   65,506,000 

Total shareholders' equity

  149,415,000   125,343,000 
  $261,403,000  $225,446,000 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

  

Three months

ended June 30

 
  

2017

  

2016

 
         

Revenues

        

Advertising

 $2,400,000  $2,715,000 

Circulation

  1,385,000   1,467,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  778,000   720,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  3,916,000   3,679,000 

Consulting fees

  869,000   748,000 

Other public service fees

  853,000   1,009,000 
   10,201,000   10,338,000 
         

Costs and expenses

        

Salaries and employee benefits

  8,126,000   6,860,000 

Outside services

  1,116,000   913,000 

Postage and delivery expenses

  283,000   279,000 

Newsprint and printing expenses

  224,000   243,000 

Depreciation and amortization

  1,423,000   1,445,000 

Other general and administrative expenses

  2,662,000   2,380,000 
   13,834,000   12,120,000 

Loss from operations

  (3,633,000)  (1,782,000)

Other income (expense)

        

Dividends and interest income

  952,000   1,277,000 

Other income

  4,000   16,000 

Interest expense on note payable collateralized byreal estate

  (24,000)  (26,000)

Interest expense on margin loans

  (115,000)  (82,000)

Interest and penalty expense accrual foruncertain and unrecognized tax benefits

  -   (26,000)

Loss before income taxes

  (2,816,000)  (623,000)

Benefit from income taxes

  1,465,000   285,000 

Net loss

 $(1,351,000) $(338,000)
         

Weighted average number of commonshares outstanding - basic and diluted

  1,380,746   1,380,746 

Basic and diluted net loss per share

 $(0.98) $(0.25)
         
         

Comprehensive income (loss)

        

Net loss

 $(1,351,000) $(338,000)

Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciationof marketable securities (net of taxes)

  4,258,000   (1,222,000)
  $2,907,000  $(1,560,000)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

  

Nine months

ended June 30

 
  

2017

  

2016

 
         

Revenues

        

Advertising

 $6,833,000  $7,382,000 

Circulation

  4,258,000   4,431,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  2,111,000   2,014,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  11,764,000   11,433,000 

Consulting fees

  3,027,000   3,788,000 

Other public service fees

  2,477,000   3,547,000 
   30,470,000   32,595,000 
         

Costs and expenses

        

Salaries and employee benefits

  23,864,000   20,537,000 

Outside services

  3,183,000   2,590,000 

Postage and delivery expenses

  846,000   857,000 

Newsprint and printing expenses

  663,000   679,000 

Depreciation and amortization

  4,204,000   4,288,000 

Other general and administrative expenses

  7,462,000   6,964,000 
   40,222,000   35,915,000 

Loss from operations

  (9,752,000)  (3,320,000)

Other income (expense)

        

Dividends and interest income

  3,491,000   3,013,000 

Other income

  25,000   46,000 

Interest expense on note payable collateralized byreal estate

  (75,000)  (62,000)

Interest expense on margin loans

  (290,000)  (208,000)

Interest and penalty expense reversal (accrual) foruncertain and unrecognized tax benefits

  743,000   (75,000)

Loss before income taxes

  (5,858,000)  (606,000)

Benefit from income taxes

  6,015,000   525,000 

Net income (loss)

 $157,000  $(81,000)
         

Weighted average number of commonshares outstanding - basic and diluted

  1,380,746   1,380,746 

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share

 $0.11  $(0.06)
         
         

Comprehensive income (loss)

        

Net income (loss)

 $157,000  $(81,000)

Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciationof marketable securities (net of taxes)

  23,915,000   (5,353,000)
  $24,072,000  $(5,434,000)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

  

Nine months

ended June 30

 
  

2017

  

2016

 

Cash flows from operating activities

        

Net income (loss)

 $157,000  $(81,000)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash (used in) provided by operations

        

Depreciation and amortization

  4,204,000   4,288,000 

Deferred income taxes

  (3,347,000)  (512,000)

Discounts earned on bonds

  (2,000)  (2,000)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

        

(Increase) decrease in current assets

        

Accounts receivable, net

  (942,000)  (57,000)

Inventories

  (8,000)  1,000 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  (133,000)  70,000 

Income tax receivable

  (66,000)  97,000 

Increase (decrease) in liabilities

        

Accounts payable

  270,000   (1,553,000)

Accrued liabilities

  (313,000)  137,000 

Income taxes

  (2,723,000)  (186,000)

Deferred subscriptions

  (501,000)  91,000 

Deferred maintenance agreements and others

  817,000   (1,046,000)

Deferred installation contracts

  (843,000)  (1,202,000)

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

  (3,430,000)  45,000 
         

Cash flows from investing activities

        

Purchases of marketable securities

  (5,013,000)  (3,838,000)

Purchases of property, plant and equipment, including theLogan, Utah office building in fiscal 2016

  (251,000)  (3,670,000)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (5,264,000)  (7,508,000)
         

Cash flows from financing activities

        

Note payable collateralized by real estate

  ---   2,234,000 

Payment of real estate loan principal

  (82,000)  (26,000)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

  (82,000)  2,208,000 
         

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

  (8,776,000)  (5,255,000)
         

Cash and cash equivalents

        

Beginning of period

  11,411,000   15,617,000 

End of period

 $2,635,000  $10,362,000 
         

Interest paid during period

 $359,000  $254,000 

Net income taxes paid (refunded) during period

 $1,000  $(11,000)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Note 1 - The Corporation and Operations

Daily Journal Corporation (the “Company”) publishes newspapers and web sites covering California and Arizona and produces several specialized information services. It also serves as a newspaper representative specializing in public notice advertising.

Journal Technologies, Inc. (“Journal Technologies”), a wholly-owned subsidiary, supplies case management software systems and related products to courts, prosecutor and public defender offices, probation departments and other justice agencies, including administrative law organizations, city and county governments and bar associations. These organizations use the Journal Technologies family of products to help manage cases and information electronically, to interface with other critical justice partners and to extend electronic services to bar members and the public, including a website to pay traffic citations online. These products are licensed to more than 500 organizations in 42 states and internationally.

Essentially all of the Company’s operations are based in California, Arizona, Colorado and Utah.

Note 2 - Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of its financial position as of June 30, 2017, its results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 and its cash flows for the nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016. The results of operations for the nine months ended June 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.

Certain reclassifications of previously reported amounts have been made to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Note 3 –Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASU”) No. 2016-01,Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This ASU updates certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments and applies to all entities that hold financial assets or owe financial liabilities. It requires an entity to: (i) measure equity investments at fair value through net income, with certain exceptions; (ii) present in Other Comprehensive Income changes in instrument-specific credit risk for financial liabilities measured using the fair value option; (iii) present financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset; (iv) calculate the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes based on an exit price and; (v) assess a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets related to unrealized losses of available-for-sale debt securities in combination with other deferred tax assets. The Update also requires a qualitative impairment assessment of such equity investments and amends certain fair value disclosure requirements. This ASU is effective for public business with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interimperiods within that annual period, which is the Company’s fiscal 2019.   The Company has not yet evaluated what impact, if any, the adoption of this ASU may have on its financial condition, results of operations or disclosures.


In January 2017, FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04,Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test and requiring impairment charges to be based on Step 1 which is to compare the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. A goodwill impairment should be recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. This ASU is effective for public business with fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019,which is the Company’s fiscal 2021. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company has not yet evaluated what impact, if any, the adoption of this ASU may have on its financial condition, results of operations or disclosures.

In addition, the Company will evaluate the other new accounting pronouncements as detailed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016.

Note 4 - Basic and Diluted Income Per Share

The Company does not have any common stock equivalents, and therefore the basic and diluted income per share are the same.

Note 5 - Intangible Assets

Intangible Assets

 
  

June 30, 2017

  

September 30, 2016

 
  

Customer Relationships

  

Developed Technology

  

Total

  

Customer Relationships

  

Developed Technology

  

Total

 
                         

Gross intangibles

 $21,950,000  $2,525,000  $24,475,000  $22,104,000  $2,525,000  $24,629,000 

Accumulatedamortization

  (18,077,000)  (2,116,000)  (20,193,000)  (14,938,000)  (1,738,000)  (16,676,000)
  $3,873,000  $409,000  $4,282,000  $7,166,000  $787,000  $7,953,000 

These gross intangible assets are being amortized over five years for financial statement purposes due to the short life cycle of technology that customer relationships depend on and over 15 years on a straight-line basis for tax purposes. The intangible amortization expenses were $3,671,000 and $1,224,000 for the nine- and three-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, as compared with $3,777,000 and $1,259,000 in the prior year periods.

Note 6 – Goodwill

       The Company accounts for goodwill in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 350,Intangibles — Goodwill and Other. Goodwill, which is not amortized for financial statement purposes, is amortized over a 15-year period for tax purposes, but evaluated for impairment annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the value may not be recoverable. Considered factors for potential goodwill impairment evaluation with respect to Journal Technologies include the current year’s business profitability before intangible amortization, fluctuations of revenues, changes in the marketplace, the status of deferred installation contracts and new business, among other things.


In addition, ASU 2011-08,Intangible – Goodwill and Others -- Testing Goodwill for Impairment, allows for the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of a reporting unit. If it is determined based on qualitative factors that there is no impairment to goodwill, then the fair value of a reporting unit is not needed. If a quantitative analysis is required and the unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, then the second step is performed to measure the amount of potential impairment. The Company’s annual goodwill impairment analysis in fiscal 2016 did not result in an impairment charge based on the qualitative assessment. There was no indicator of impairment during the nine-month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016.

Note 7 - Investments in Marketable Securities

Investments in marketable securities categorized as “available-for-sale” are stated at fair value. The Company uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (consistent with the Level 1 definition in the fair value hierarchy) to measure the fair value of its investments on a recurring basis pursuant to ASC 820,Fair Value Measurement. As of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, unrealized gains of $147,161,000 and $108,256,000, respectively, were recorded before taxes of $57,240,000 and $42,250,000, respectively, in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Most of the unrealized gains were in the common stocks of three U.S. financial institutions.

Investments in equity securities and securities with fixed maturity as of June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016 are summarized below.

  

June 30, 2017

  

September 30, 2016

 
  

(Unaudited)

             
  

 

Aggregate

fair value

  

Amortized/

Adjusted

cost basis

  

Pretax

unrealized

gains

  

 

Aggregate

fair value

  

Amortized/

Adjusted

cost basis

  

Pretax

unrealized

gains

 

Marketable securities

                        

Common stocks

 $202,149,000  $58,449,000  $143,700,000  $158,462,000  $53,436,000  $105,026,000 

Bonds

  8,404,000   4,943,000   3,461,000   8,172,000   4,942,000   3,230,000 
  $210,553,000  $63,392,000  $147,161,000  $166,634,000  $58,378,000  $108,256,000 

All investments are classified as “Current assets” because they are available for sale at any time. The bonds mature in 2039.

As of June 30, 2017, the Company performed an evaluation for an equity security with a fair value below cost to determine if the unrealized loss was other-than-temporary. This evaluation considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security until fair value recovers. The assessment of the ability and intent to hold this security to recovery focuses on liquidity needs, asset/liability management objectives and security portfolio objectives. Based on the result of the evaluation, the Company concluded that as of June 30, 2017, the unrealized loss related to an equity security it owns was temporary.


Note 8 – Revenue Recognition

For the Company’s traditional publishing business (the “Traditional Business”), proceeds from the sale of subscriptions for newspapers, court rule books and other publications and other services are recorded as deferred revenue and are included in earned revenue only when the services are provided, generally over the subscription term. Advertising revenues are recognized when advertisements are published and are net of commissions.

Journal Technologies recognizes revenues in accordance with the provisions of ASC 985-605,Software—Revenue Recognition. Revenues from software product sales are generally recognized upon delivery, installation or acceptance pursuant to a signed agreement. Revenues from license and maintenance agreements generally call for the Company to provide software updates and upgrades to customers and are recognized ratably over the maintenance period. Consulting and other services are recognized upon completion of the services and acceptance by the customers under the completed performance method. The Company elects to use the completed performance method because each customer’s acceptance is unpredictable and reliable estimates of the progress towards completion cannot be made. Only upon completion and a customer’s acceptance does the customer realize value, and any advances are generally no longer at risk of refund and are therefore considered earned. Other public service fees, as disclosed in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), are primarily service fees earned and recognized as revenues at the time when the Company processes credit card payments on behalf of the courts via its ePayIt secure websites through which the general public can pay traffic citations.

The Company has established Vendor Specific Objective Evidence (VSOE) of the fair value of annual maintenance because a substantial majority of Journal Technologies’ actual maintenance renewals is within a narrow range of pricing as a percentage of the underlying license fees for the legacy contracts and is deemed substantive. Approximately 57% and 55% of the Company’s revenues during the nine- and three-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, were derived from Journal Technologies, as compared with 58% and 53% in the prior year periods.

Note 9 - Income Taxes

Taxes

For the nine months ended June 30, 2017, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $6,015,000 on pretax loss of $5,858,000.

The Company had anaccrued liability of approximately $2,655,000 for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits relating to an acquisition in fiscal 2013. During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, the Internal Revenue Service concluded its examination of the Company’s fiscal 2014 income tax return and proposed no changes to the tax position that gave rise to this liability. Consequently, this liability was reversed in March 2017 along with the related accrued interest and penalty expenses of $743,000. In addition, a deferred tax liability, in the amount of $352,000, relating to temporary differences that would only exist if the uncertain tax position was never recognized, was reversed.

The income tax benefit was also the result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2017 to pretax loss for the nine-month period ended June 30, 2017. The effective tax rate (before the discrete item discussed above) was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to the dividends received deduction which increases the loss for tax purposes.  On pretax loss of $606,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $525,000 which was the net result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2016 to pretax loss for the nine months ended June 30, 2016. The Company’s effective tax rate was 103% and 87% for the nine months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 


The Company files consolidated federal income tax returns in the United States and with various state jurisdictions and is no longer subject to examinations for fiscal years before fiscal 2015 with regard to federal income taxes and fiscal 2013 for state income taxes.

Note 10 - Debt and Commitments and Contingencies

The Company borrowed from its investment margin account during fiscal 2013 the purchase price of two acquisitions aggregating $29.5 million, in each case pledging its marketable securities as collateral. The interest rate for these investment margin account borrowings fluctuates based on the Federal Funds Rate plus 50 basis points with interest only payable monthly. The interest rate as of June 30, 2017 was 1.75%. These investment margin account borrowings do not mature.

In November 2015, the Company purchased a 30,700 square foot office building constructed in 1998 on about 3.6 acres in Logan, Utah that had been previously leased by Journal Technologies. The Company paid $1.24 million and financed the balance with a real estate bank loan of $2.26 million which bears a fixed interest rate of 4.66% and is repayable in equal monthly installments of about $17,600 through 2030. This loan is secured by the Logan facility and can be paid off at any time without prepayment penalty. This real estate loan had a balance of approximately $2.1 million as of June 30, 2017.

The Company owns its facilities in Los Angeles and leases space for its other offices under operating leases which expire at various dates through fiscal 2020. The Company is responsible for a portion of maintenance, insurance and property tax expenses relating to these leased properties and certain other leased properties. Rental expenses were $537,000 and $181,000 for the nine- and three-month periods ended June 30, 2017, respectively, as compared with $579,000 and $164,000 in the prior year periods.

From time to time, the Company is subject to contingencies, including litigation, arising in the normal course of its business. While it is not possible to predict the results of such contingencies, management does not believe the ultimate outcome of these matters will have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations or cash flows.


Note 11 - Operating Segments

The Company’s reportable segments are: (i) the Traditional Business and (ii) Journal Technologies. All inter-segment transactions were eliminated. Summarized financial information regarding the Company’s reportable segments is shown in the following table:

  

Reportable Segments

         
  

Traditional

Business

  

Journal

Technologies

  

Corporate income

and expenses

  

 

Total

 

Nine months ended June 30, 2017

                

Revenues

                

Advertising

 $6,833,000  $---  $---  $6,833,000 

Circulation

  4,258,000   ---   ---   4,258,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  2,111,000   ---   ---   2,111,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  ---   11,764,000   ---   11,764,000 

Consulting fees

  ---   3,027,000   ---   3,027,000 

Other public service fees

  ---   2,477,000   ---   2,477,000 

Operating expenses

  13,295,000   26,927,000   ---   40,222,000 

Loss from operations

  (93,000)  (9,659,000)  ---   (9,752,000)

Dividends and interest income

  ---   ---   3,491,000   3,491,000 

Other income

  22,000   ---   3,000   25,000 

Interest expenses on note payablecollateralized by real estate

  (75,000)  ---   ---   (75,000)

Interest expenses on margin loans

  ---   ---   (290,000)  (290,000)

Interest and penalty expense reversal foruncertain and unrecognized tax benefits

  ---   743,000   ---   743,000 

Pretax income (loss)

  (146,000)  (8,916,000)  3,204,000   (5,858,000)

Income tax (expense) benefit

  (125,000)  6,690,000   (550,000)  6,015,000 

Net income (loss)

  (271,000)  (2,226,000)  2,654,000   157,000 

Total assets

  16,333,000   34,517,000   210,553,000   261,403,000 

Capital expenditures

  160,000   91,000   ---   251,000 

Amortization of intangible assets

  ---   3,671,000   ---   3,671,000 

  

Reportable Segments

         
  

Traditional

Business

  

Journal

Technologies

  

Corporate income

and expenses

  

 

Total

 

Nine months ended June 30, 2016

                

Revenues

                

Advertising

 $7,382,000  $---  $---  $7,382,000 

Circulation

  4,431,000   ---   ---   4,431,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  2,014,000   ---   ---   2,014,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  ---   11,433,000   ---   11,433,000 

Consulting fees

  ---   3,788,000   ---   3,788,000 

Other public service fees

  ---   3,547,000   ---   3,547,000 

Operating expenses

  12,911,000   23,004,000   ---   35,915,000 

Income (loss) from operations

  916,000   (4,236,000)  ---   (3,320,000)

Dividends and interest income

  ---   ---   3,013,000   3,013,000 

Other income

  37,000   ---   9,000   46,000 

Interest expenses on note payablecollateralized by real estate

  (62,000)  ---   ---   (62,000)

Interest expenses on margin loans

  ---   ---   (208,000)  (208,000)

Interest expense accrued for uncertainand unrecognized tax benefits

  ---   (75,000)  ---   (75,000)

Pretax income (loss)

  891,000   (4,311,000)  2,814,000   (606,000)

Income tax (expense) benefit

  (685,000)  1,680,000   (470,000)  525,000 

Net income (loss)

  206,000   (2,631,000)  2,344,000   (81,000)

Total assets

  18,553,000   40,119,000   161,250,000   219,922,000 

Capital expenditures, including purchaseof Logan building

  3,635,000   35,000   ---   3,670,000 

Amortization of intangible assets

  106,000   3,671,000   ---   3,777,000 


  

Reportable Segments

         
  

Traditional

Business

  

Journal

Technologies

  

Corporate income

and expenses

  

 

Total

 

Three months ended June 30, 2017

                

Revenues

                

Advertising

 $2,400,000  $---  $---  $2,400,000 

Circulation

  1,385,000   ---   ---   1,385,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  778,000   ---   ---   778,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  ---   3,916,000   ---   3,916,000 

Consulting fees

  ---   869,000   ---   869,000 

Other public service fees

  ---   853,000   ---   853,000 

Operating expenses

  4,432,000   9,402,000   ---   13,834,000 

Loss from operations

  131,000   (3,764,000)  ---   (3,633,000)

Dividends and interest income

  ---   ---   952,000   952,000 

Other income

  1,000   ---   3,000   4,000 

Interest expenses on note payablecollateralized by real estate

  (24,000)  ---   ---   (24,000)

Interest expenses on margin loans

  ---   ---   (115,000)  (115,000)

Pretax income (loss)

  108,000   (3,764,000)  840,000   (2,816,000)

Income tax (expense) benefit

  (50,000)  1,570,000   (55,000)  1,465,000 

Net income (loss)

  58,000   (2,194,000)  785,000   (1,351,000)

Total assets

  16,333,000   34,517,000   210,553,000   261,403,000 

Capital expenditures

  ---   57,000   ---   57,000 

Amortization of intangible assets

  ---   1,224,000   ---   1,224,000 

  

Reportable Segments

         
  

Traditional

Business

  

Journal

Technologies

  

Corporate income

and expenses

  

 

Total

 

Three months ended June 30, 2016

                

Revenues

                

Advertising

 $2,715,000  $---  $---  $2,715,000 

Circulation

  1,467,000   ---   ---   1,467,000 

Advertising service fees and other

  720,000   ---   ---   720,000 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  ---   3,679,000   ---   3,679,000 

Consulting fees

  ---   748,000   ---   748,000 

Other public service fees

  ---   1,009,000   ---   1,009,000 

Operating expenses

  4,136,000   7,984,000   ---   12,120,000 

Income (loss) from operations

  766,000   (2,548,000)  ---   (1,782,000)

Dividends and interest income

  ---   ---   1,277,000   1,277,000 

Other income

  16,000   ---   ---   16,000 

Interest expenses on note payablecollateralized by real estate

  (26,000)  ---   ---   (26,000)

Interest expenses on margin loans

  ---   ---   (82,000)  (82,000)

Interest expense accrued for uncertainand unrecognized tax benefits

  ---   (26,000)  ---   (26,000)

Pretax income (loss)

  756,000   (2,574,000)  1,195,000   (623,000)

Income tax (expense) benefit

  (520,000)  1,010,000   (205,000)  285,000 

Net income (loss)

  236,000   (1,564,000)  990,000   (338,000)

Total assets

  18,553,000   40,119,000   161,250,000   219,922,000 

Capital expenditures

  10,000   32,000   ---   42,000 

Amortization of intangible assets

  35,000   1,224,000   ---   1,259,000 

Note 12 - Subsequent Events

The Company has completed an evaluation of all subsequent events through the issuance date of these financial statements and concluded that no subsequent events occurred that required recognition to the financial statements or disclosures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements or cash flows.


 

Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION ANDRESULTSAND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Results of Operations

 

The Company continues to operate as two different businesses: (1) The Traditional Business, being the business of newspaper publishing and related services that the Company had before 1999 when it purchased a software development company, and (2) Journal Technologies, Inc. (“Journal Technologies”), a wholly-owned subsidiary which supplies case management software systems and related products to courts, prosecutor and public defender offices, probation departments and other justice agencies, including administrative law organizations, city and county governments and bar associations. These organizations use the Journal Technologies family of products to help manage cases and information electronically, to interface with other critical justice partners and to extend electronic services to bar members and the public, including efiling and a website to pay traffic citations online.online, and bar members. These products are licensed to more than 500 organizations in 42 states and internationally.

 

ComprehensiveIncome (Loss)

 

Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and unrealized net (losses) gains (losses) on investments, net of taxes, as summarized below:

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 
  
  

Nine months ended June 30

 
  

2017

  

2016

 
         

Net income (loss)

 $157,000  $(81,000)

Net increase (decrease) in unrealized appreciation ofmarketable securities (net of taxes)

  23,915,000   (5,353,000)
  $24,072,000  $(5,434,000)

Comprehensive Income

 
  

Six months ended March 31

 
  

2018

  

2017

 
         

Net income

 $14,507,000  $1,508,000 

Net (decrease) increase in unrealized appreciation of marketable securities (net of taxes)

  (1,743,000)  19,657,000 
  $12,764,000  $21,165,000 

 

Comparablenine-monthsix-month periods endedJune 30March 31, 2018 and 2017, 2017 and 2016

 

Consolidated revenues were $30,470,000$19,590,000 and $32,595,000$20,269,000 for the ninesix months ended June 30,March 31, 2018 and 2017, and 2016, respectively. This decrease of $2,125,000 (7%)$679,000 was primarily from decreased Journal Technologies’ consulting fees of $951,000, which are recognized upon project go-lives, and the reduction in (i) The Traditional Business’s trustee sale notice and its related service fee revenues of $527,000$109,000, commercial advertising and (ii) Journal Technologies’ consulting feesConference revenues of $761,000$40,000, and public service feescirculation revenues of $1,070,000 primarily due to a reduction in the number of traffic tickets processed online for the public to pay traffic citations,$154,000, partially offset by increased Journal Technologies’ license and maintenance fees of $331,000.$483,000 and public service fees of $123,000. The Company’s revenues derived from Journal Technologies’ operations constituted about 57%58% and 58%57% of the Company’s total revenues for the ninesix months ended June 30,March 31, 2018 and 2017, and 2016, respectively.

 

Consolidated operating expenses increased by $4,307,000 (12%$1,020,000 (4%) to $40,222,000$27,408,000 from $35,915,000,$26,388,000, primarily resulting from additional personnel costs and services for Journal Technologies. Total personnel costs increased by $3,327,000 (16%$1,014,000 (6%) to $23,864,000$16,752,000 from $20,537,000. Outside services increased$15,738,000. Postage and delivery expenses decreased by $593,000$130,000 (23%) to $3,183,000$433,000 from $2,590,000.$563,000, primarily due to reduced subscriptions and delivery service fees. Depreciation and amortization costs, which included primarily the amortization of Journal Technologies’ intangible assets, of $3,671,000 for both fiscal periods, decreased by $84,000$664,000 to $4,204,000$2,117,000 from $4,288,000.$2,781,000 primarily because the intangible assets of one of the two acquisitions in fiscal 2013 were fully amortized during the first quarter of fiscal 2018. Other general and administrative expenses increased by $820,000 (17%) to $5,620,000 from $4,800,000 mainly because of increased office equipment and software maintenance fees for Journal Technologies.

 


 

The Company’s non-operating income, net of expenses, increased by $1,180,000 (43%$2,298,000 (75%) to $3,894,000$5,375,000 from $2,714,000$3,077,000 primarily because of the capital gains of $3,180,000 from the sale of bonds, partially offset by the prior year’s reversal of accrued interest and penalty expense reversalexpenses of $743,000 for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits and more dividend income, partially offset by increases in the interest rate on the two acquisition margin loans and additional interest expense for the Company’s real estate loan.benefits.

 

During the ninesix months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, consolidated pretax loss was $5,858,000 after recording the interest and penalty expense reversal of $743,000 for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits$2,443,000, as compared with $606,000$3,042,000 in the prior year period. There was consolidated net income of $157,000$14,507,000 ($0.1110.51 per share) after tax benefits, primarily from tax cuts, for the ninesix months ended June 30, 2017, primarily because of the reversal of the tax liability for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits,March 31, 2018, as compared with a net loss of $81,000 (-$0.06$1,508,000 ($1.09 per share) in the prior year period. (SeeTaxes.)

 

At June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, the aggregate fair market value of the Company’s marketable securities was $210,553,000.$217,803,000. These securities had approximately $147,161,000$159,354,000 of unrealized gains before taxes of $57,240,000$42,369,000 and generated approximately $3,491,000$2,507,000 in dividends and interest income during the ninesix months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018, which lowers the Company’s effective income tax rate because of the dividends received deduction. Most of the unrealized gains were in the common stocks of three U.S. financial institutions.institutions and one foreign manufacturer.

 

Additional detail about each of the Company’s reportable segments, and its corporate income and expenses, is set forth below:

 

Overall Financial Results (000)

For the ninesix months ended June 30March 31

 

 

Reportable Segments

                  

Reportable Segments

                 
 

Traditional

Business

  

Journal

Technologies

  

Corporate

income and expenses

  

Total

  

Traditional

Business

  

Journal

Technologies

  

Corporate

income and expenses

  

 

Total

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2018

  

2017

  

2018

  

2017

  

2018

  

2017

  

2018

  

2017

 

Revenues

                                                                

Advertising

 $6,833  $7,382  $---  $---  $---  $---  $6,833  $7,382  $4,325  $4,433  $---  $---  $---  $---  $4,325  $4,433 

Circulation

  4,258   4,431   ---   ---   ---   ---   4,258   4,431   2,719   2,873   ---   ---   ---   ---   2,719   2,873 

Advertising service fees and other

  2,111   2,014   ---   ---   ---   ---   2,111   2,014   1,261   1,333   ---   ---   ---   ---   1,261   1,333 

Licensing and maintenance fees

  ---   ---   11,764   11,433   ---   ---   11,764   11,433   ---   ---   8,331   7,848   ---   ---   8,331   7,848 

Consulting fees

  ---   ---   3,027   3,788   ---   ---   3,027   3,788   ---   ---   1,207   2,158   ---   ---   1,207   2,158 

Other public service fees

  ---   ---   2,477   3,547   ---   ---   2,477   3,547   ---   ---   1,747   1,624   ---   ---   1,747   1,624 

Total revenues

  13,202   13,827   17,268   18,768   ---   ---   30,470   32,595   8,305   8,639   11,285   11,630   ---   ---   19,590   20,269 

Operating expenses

                                                                

Salaries and employee benefits

  7,818   7,450   16,046   13,087   ---   ---   23,864   20,537   5,188   5,222   11,564   10,516   ---   ---   16,752   15,738 

Amortization of intangible assets

  ---   106   3,671   3,671   ---   ---   3,671   3,777   ---   ---   1,810   2,447   ---   ---   1,810   2,447 

Others

  5,477   5,355   7,210   6,246   ---   ---   12,687   11,601   3,319   3,641   5,527   4,562   ---   ---   8,846   8,203 

Total operating expenses

  13,295   12,911   26,927   23,004   ---   ---   40,222   35,915   8,507   8,863   18,901   17,525   ---   ---   27,408   26,388 

(Loss) income from operations

  (93)  916   (9,659)  (4,236)  ---   ---   (9,752)  (3,320)
                                

Loss from operations

  (202)  (224)  (7,616)  (5,895)  ---   ---   (7,818)  (6,119)

Dividends and interest income

  ---   ---   ---   ---   3,491   3,013   3,491   3,013   ---   ---   ---   ---   2,507   2,539   2,507   2,539 

Gains on sales of bonds and capital asset

  ---   ---   ---   ---   3,182   ---   3,182   --- 

Other income (net)

  22   37   ---   ---   3   9   25   46   ---   21   ---   ---   19   ---   19   21 

Interest expenses on note payablecollateralized by real estate

  (75)  (62)  ---   ---   ---   ---   (75)  (62)

Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate

  (48)  (51)  ---   ---   ---   ---   (48)  (51)

Interest expenses on margin loans

  ---   ---   ---   ---   (290)  (208)  (290)  (208)  ---   ---   ---   ---   (285)  (175)  (285)  (175)

Interest and penalty expensesreversal (accrual) for uncertain andunrecognized tax benefits

  ---   ---   743   (75)  ---   ---   743   (75)

Reversal of accrued interest and penalty expenses for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits

  ---   ---   ---   743   ---   ---   ---   743 

Pretax (loss) income

 $(146) $891  $(8,916) $(4,311) $3,204  $2,814  $(5,858) $(606) $(250) $(254) $(7,616) $(5,152) $5,423  $2,364  $(2,443) $(3,042)

 


 

The Traditional Business

 

The Traditional Business segment’s pretax incomeloss decreased by $1,037,000$4,000 to a pretax loss of $146,000$250,000 from pretax income of $891,000.$254,000.

 

Advertising revenues decreased by $549,000$108,000 to $6,833,000$4,325,000 from $7,382,000$4,433,000, primarily resulting from the declines in trustee sale notice advertising and its related service fee revenues of $527,000.$80,000 and net commercial advertising and Conference revenues of $40,000.

 

Trustee sale notices are very much dependent on the number of California and Arizona foreclosures for which public notice advertising is required by law. The number of foreclosure notices published by the Company decreased by 27%13% during the ninesix months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 as compared to the prior year period. Because this slowing is expected to continue, the Company expects there will be fewer foreclosure notice and other public notice advertisements and declining revenues in fiscal 2017,2018, and the Company’s print-based earnings will also likely decline significantly because it will be impractical for the Company to offset all revenue losses by expense reduction. The Company’s smaller newspapers, those other than the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals (“The Daily Journals”), accounted for about 89%88% of the total public notice advertising revenues in the ninesix months ended June 30, 2017.March 31, 2018. Public notice advertising revenues and related advertising and other service fees constituted about 21% and 22% of the Company’s total revenues for both of the nine-month periodssix months ended June 30,March 31 2018 and 2017, and 2016.respectively. Because of this concentration, the Company’s revenues would be significantly adversely affected if California and Arizona eliminated the legal requirement to publish public notices in adjudicated newspapers of general circulation, as had been recently implemented in Arizona for one notice type with approximately $500,000 in annual revenues.type. Also, if the adjudication of one or more of the Company’s newspapers was challenged and revoked, those newspapers would no longer be eligible to publish public notice advertising, and it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s revenues.

 

The Daily Journals accounted for about 87%89% of The Traditional Business’ total circulation revenues, which declined by $173,000$154,000 to $4,258,000$2,719,000 from $4,431,000.$2,873,000. The court rule and judicial profile services generated about 9%8% of the total circulation revenues, with the other newspapers and services accounting for the balance. Advertising service fees and other are Traditional Business segment revenues, which include primarily (i) agency commissions received from outside newspapers in which the advertising is placed, and (ii) fees generated when filing notices with government agencies.

 

The Traditional Business segment operating expenses increaseddecreased by $384,000 (3%$356,000 (4%) to $13,295,000$8,507,000 from $12,911,000.$8,863,000, primarily due to decreased personnel costs.

Journal Technologies

 

Journal Technologies

Journal Technologies’ business segment pretax loss increased by $4,605,000 (107%$2,464,000 (48%) to $8,916,000$7,616,000 from $4,311,000$5,152,000, after recording the interest and penalty expense reversal of $743,000 for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits in March 2017 and including the amortization costs of intangible assets of $3,671,000$1,810,000 and $2,447,000 for both of the nine-month periodssix months ended June 30,March 31, 2018 and 2017, and 2016. (SeeTaxes.)respectively.

 

Revenues decreased by $1,500,000 (8%$345,000 (3%) to $17,268,000$11,285,000 from $18,768,000$11,630,000 in the prior year period. Licensing and maintenance fees increased by $331,000 (3%$483,000 (6%) to $11,764,000$8,331,000 from $11,433,000.$7,848,000. Consulting fees decreased by $761,000 (20%$951,000 (44%) to $3,027,000$1,207,000 from $3,788,000. Consulting revenues from installations projects will only be recognized, if at all, upon completion and acceptance of the services by customers. Deferred revenues on installation contracts primarily represent the fair value of advances from customers of Journal Technologies for installation services. Only upon completion and a customer’s acceptance does the customer realize value, and any advances are generally no longer at risk of refund and are therefore considered earned. Deferred revenues on license and maintenance contracts represent prepayments of annual license and maintenance$2,158,000 because consulting fees and are recognized ratably over the maintenance period.upon project go-lives. Other public service fees decreasedincreased by $1,070,000 (30%$123,000 (8%) to $2,477,000$1,747,000 from $3,547,000$1,624,000 primarily due to a reductionan increase in the number of traffic tickets processed online for the public to pay traffic citations.

 


 

Operating expenses increased by $3,923,000 (17%$1,376,000 (8%) to $26,927,000$18,901,000 from $23,004,000$17,525,000, primarily due to increased personnel costs.costs and computer services.

 

Intangible assets, including customer relationships and developed technology, are being amortized on a straight-line basis over five years for financial statement purposes, due to the short life cycle of technology thaton which customer relationships depend on and over 15 years for tax purposes. Goodwill, which is not amortized for financial statement purposes, is amortized over 15 years for tax purposes. Goodwill represents the expected synergies in expanding the Company’s software business. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the value may not be recoverable. Considered factors for potential goodwill impairment evaluation include the current year’s business profitabilityoperating financial results before intangible asset amortization, fluctuations of revenues, changes in the market place, the status of installation contracts and new business, among other things. There was no indicator of impairment during the six-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Journal Technologies is continuing to update and upgrade its software products. These costs are expensed as incurred and will impact earnings at least through the foreseeable future.

 

Taxes

 

      The December 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) reduced the maximum corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018.  The Company has completed its review of the Tax Act.  The impact to its financial statements is as follows:  (i) current income tax expense or benefit is calculated using a blended rate of 24.28% pursuant to IRC Section 15, (ii) deferred tax expense includes a discrete net tax benefit of approximately $16 million resulting from a revaluation of deferred tax assets and liabilities to the expected tax rate that will be applied when temporary differences are expected to reverse, (iii) items that are expected to reverse during fiscal 2018 are valued at the blended rate of 24.28% while temporary differences that will reverse after fiscal 2018 are valued at the 21% rate, and (iv) approximately $20 million of the revaluation of deferred taxes relates to items that were initially recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”).  This revaluation of approximately $20 million was recorded as a component of income tax expense or benefit in continuing operations. 

For the ninesix months ended June 30,March 31, 2018, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $16,950,000 on pretax loss of $2,443,000.  The income tax benefit was the result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2018 to pretax loss for the six-month period ended March 31, 2018.   The effective tax rate (before the discrete Tax Act item discussed above) was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to the dividends received deduction which increases the loss for tax purposes. 

During the prior fiscal year, on pretax loss of $3,042,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $6,015,000 on$4,550,000 which was the net result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2017 to pretax loss for the six months ended March 31, 2017 and included a reversal of $5,858,000.

The Company had anaccruedan accrued liability of approximately $2,655,000$2,665,000 for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits relating to an acquisition in fiscal 2013.  During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, theThe Internal Revenue Service concluded its examination of the Company’s fiscal 2014 income tax return andwith no proposed no changes to the tax position that gave rise to this liability.  Consequently,As a result, this liability was reversed in March 2017 along with the related accrued interest and penalty expensesexpense of $743,000.  In addition, a deferred tax liability, in the amount of $352,000, relating to temporary differences that would only exist if the uncertain tax position was never recognized, was reversed.

The income tax benefit was also the result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2017 to pretax loss for the nine-month period ended June 30, 2017. The effective tax rate (before the discrete item discussed above)IRS item) was greater than the statutory rate primarily due tomainly resulting from the dividends received deduction which increases the loss for tax purposes.  On pretax loss of $606,000 for the nine months ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $525,000 which was the net result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2016 to pretax loss for the nine months ended June 30, 2016. deduction. 


The Company’s effective tax rate was 103%694% and 87%150% for the ninesix months ended June 30,March 31, 2018 and 2017, and 2016, respectively. 

 

The Company files consolidated federal income tax returns in the United States and with various state jurisdictions and is no longer subject to examinations for fiscal years before fiscal 2015 with regard to federal income taxes and fiscal 2013 for state income taxes.

 


Comparable three-monththree-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017June 30, 2017 and 2016

 

Consolidated revenues were $10,201,000$9,338,000 and $10,338,000$10,279,000 for the three months ended June 30,March 31, 2018 and 2017, and 2016, respectively. This decrease of $137,000 (1%)$941,000 was primarily from decreased Journal Technologies’ consulting fees of $1,098,000, which are recognized upon project go-lives, and the reduction in (i) The Traditional Business’s trustee sale notice and its related service fee revenues of $218,000 and (ii) Journal Technologies’ public service fees of $156,000 primarily due to a reduction in the number of traffic tickets processed online for the public to pay traffic citations. These decreases were$52,000, partially offset by increases inincreased Journal Technologies’ license and maintenance fees of $237,000$99,000 and consultingpublic service fees of $121,000.$76,000. The Company’s revenues derived from Journal Technologies’ operations constituted about 55% and 53%59% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended June 30,March 31, 2018 and 2017, and 2016, respectively.

 

Consolidated operating expenses increased by $1,714,000 (14%$166,000 (1%) to $13,834,000$13,711,000 from $12,120,000$13,545,000, primarily due to increasedresulting from additional personnel costs and services for Journal Technologies. Total personnel costs increased by $1,266,000 (18%$458,000 (6%) to $8,126,000$8,555,000 from $6,860,000. Outside services increased$8,097,000. Postage and delivery expenses decreased by $203,000 (22%$69,000 (24%) to $1,116,000$216,000 from $913,000.$285,000 primarily due to reduced subscriptions and delivery service fees. Depreciation and amortization costs, which included primarily the amortization of Journal Technologies’ intangible assets, of $1,224,000 for both fiscal periods, decreased by $22,000$490,000 (35%) to $1,423,000$899,000 from $1,445,000.$1,389,000 because the intangible assets of one of the two acquisitions in fiscal 2013 were fully amortized. Other general and administrative expenses increased by $349,000 (14%) to $2,806,000 from $2,457,000 mainly because of increased office equipment and software maintenance fees for Journal Technologies.

 

The Company’s non-operating income, net of expenses, decreasedincreased by $342,000$2,036,000 to $817,000$4,041,000 from $1,159,000$2,005,000 primarily because of the timing differencecapital gains of one invested company’s dividend declaration dates which occurred during$3,180,000 from the second quartersale of this fiscal year as compared to the third quarter ofbonds, partially offset by the prior fiscal year. There were also increases in theyear’s reversal of accrued interest rate on the two acquisition margin loans.and penalty expenses of $752,000 for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits.

 

During the three months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, consolidated pretax loss was $2,816,000,$332,000, as compared with $623,000$1,261,000 in the prior year period. There was a consolidated net loss of $1,351,000$232,000 (-$0.98.17 per share) after tax benefits, for the three months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, as compared with a net lossincome of $338,000 (-$0.25$2,979,000 ($2.16 per share) in the prior year period.   period primarily because of the reversal of the tax liability for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits. (See Taxes.)

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

During the ninesix months ended June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and marketable security positions increaseddecreased by $35,143,000$7,622,000 to $213,188,000.$225,027,000 after the sale of the bonds for $8,125,000 with a capital gain of $3,180,000. Cash and cash equivalents were used primarily for the purchase of marketable securities of $5,013,000 and capital assets of $251,000. $75,000 and operating activities of $4,153,000, which included net decreases of $1,608,000 in deferred subscriptions, deferred installation contracts and deferred maintenance agreements and others.


The investments in marketable securities, which had an adjusted cost basis of approximately $63,392,000$58,449,000 and a market value of about $210,553,000$217,803,000 at June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, generated approximately $3,491,000$2,507,000 in dividends and interest income.

 

Cash flows from operating activities decreased by $3,475,000$2,053,000 during the ninesix months ended June 30, 2017March 31, 2018 as compared to the prior year period, primarily resulting from (i) gains on sale of bonds of $3,180,000 and (ii) increases in deferred income taxes of $2,835,000 and decreases in net income tax payable of $2,374,000$14,897,000 mainly because of the reversal of the liability for uncertain and unrecognizeddiscrete tax benefitsitems mentioned above, partially offset by increases in net income of $238,000$12,999,000 and net increasesincome tax payable of $2,723,000. Cash flows from investing activities increased by $13,257,000 primarily because of the sale of bond investments of $8,125,000 in accounts payable and accrued liabilitiesFebruary 2018 versus the purchases of $1,373,000. The net cash used in operating activitiesmarketable securities of $3,430,000 included net decreases of $527,000 in deferred subscriptions, deferred installation contracts and deferred maintenance agreements and others.$5,013,000 during the prior year period.

 

As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, the Company had working capital of $140,890,000,$208,373,000, including the liabilities for deferred subscriptions, and deferred installation contracts and deferred maintenance agreements and others of $17,101,000, which are scheduled to be earned within one year, and the deferred tax liability of $57,240,000 for the unrealized gains described above.$16,457,000.


 

The Company believes that it will be able to fund its operations for the foreseeable future through its cash flows from operations and its current working capital and expects that any such cash flows will be invested in its businesses. The Company may or may not have the ability to borrow against its marketable securities. The Company also may entertain additional business acquisition opportunities. Any excess cash flows could be used to reduce the investment margin account liability or note payable collateralized by real estate or invested as management and the Board of Directors deem appropriate at the time.

 

Such investments may include additional securities of the companies in which the Company has already invested, securities of other companies, government securities (including U.S. Treasury Notes and Bills) or other instruments. The decision as to particular investments will be driven by the Company’s belief about the risk/reward profile of the various investment choices at the time, and it may utilize government securities as a default if attractive opportunities for a better return are not available. The Company’s Chairman of the Board, Charles Munger, is also the vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., which maintains a substantial investment portfolio. The Company’s Board of Directors has utilized his judgment and suggestions, as well as those of J.P. Guerin, the Company’s vice chairman, when selecting investments, and both of them will continue to play an important role in monitoring existing investments and selecting any future investments.

 

As of June 30, 2017,March 31, 2018, the investments were concentrated in just sevensix companies. Accordingly, a significant decline in the market value of one or more of the Company’s investments may not be offset by the hypothetically better performance of other investments, and that could result in a large decrease in the Company’s shareholders’ equity and, under certain circumstances, in the recognition of impairment losses in the Company’s comprehensive income statement.

 


Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The Company’s financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. These estimates and assumptions are affected by management’s application of accounting policies. Management believes that revenue recognition, accounting for software costs, fair value measurement and disclosures (including for the long-term Incentive Plan liabilities), accounting for business combinations, testing for goodwill impairment and income taxes are critical accounting policies and estimates.

 


The Company’s critical accounting policies are detailed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016.2017. The above discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this report.

 

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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. Certain statements contained in this document, including but not limited to those in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”,Operations,” are “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “should,” “believes,” “will,” “plans,” “estimates,” “may,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. There are many factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others: risks associated with software development and implementation efforts; Journal Technologies’ reliance on professional services engagements with justice agencies, including California courts, for a substantial portion of its revenues; material changes in the costs of postage and paper; possible changes in the law, particularly changes limiting or eliminating the requirements for public notice advertising; possible loss of the adjudicated status of the Company’s newspapers and their legal authority to publish public notice advertising; a further decline in public notice advertising revenues because of fewer foreclosures; a further decline in subscriber and commercial advertising revenues; possible security breaches of the Company’s software or websites; the Company’s reliance on its president and chief executive officer; changes in accounting guidance; material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and declines in the market prices of the securities owned by the Company. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions, general economic conditions (particularly in California) and other factors. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are discussed in this Form 10-Q, including in conjunction with the forward-looking statements themselves. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.2017.

 


 

 Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

For information regarding the Company’s market risk, refer to Item 7A – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.2017. There have been no material changes to the Company’s market risk exposures since September 30, 2016.2017.

 

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

AnChanges in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During this quarter, the Company continued to improve its internal control over its Information Technology function by using Jira ticketing system to track changes made to its legal advertising system. Management believes this addressed another aspect of a material weakness previously identified. Management will continue to assess the effectiveness of its remediation efforts in connection with management's future evaluations of internal control over financial reporting.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Based on the evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including Gerald L. Salzman, its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2017. Based on that evaluation,March 31, 2018, Mr. Salzman concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There were no material changes

Item 5.  OTHER INFORMATION

In April 2018, Gerald L. Salzman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) stroke.  Mr. Salzman was released from the hospital after one night and is currently working from home, performing his executive roles with the Company while he undergoes physical therapy.  He has reduced his work schedule to a more sustainable level and has begun and will continue to delegate certain of his duties to other managers.

The information reported under this Item 5 was not required to be disclosed by the Company in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors reasonably likely to affect its internal control over financial reportinga report on Form 8-K during the nine-month period ended June 30, 2017.covered by this Form 10-Q.  The information reported by the Company under this Item 5 is provided because the Company deems it to be of importance to its shareholders and would have otherwise reported such information under Item 8.01 of Form 8-K, “Other Events.”

 


 

PART II

 

Item 6.    Exhibits

 

31

Certification by Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant toSection 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32

Certification by Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant toSection 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

101.INS**

XBRL Instance

101.SCH**

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL**

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation

101.DEF**

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition

101.LAB**

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels

101.PRE**

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation

** XBRL

information is furnished and not filed as a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

                 

SIGNATURE

 

     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.

 

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

(Registrant)

 /s/

/s/ Gerald L. Salzman

Chief Executive Officer

President

Chief Financial Officer

Treasurer

(Principal Executive Officer,

Principal Financial Officer and

Principal Accounting Officer)

                                         

DATE: AugustMay 8, 20172018

 

24

22