Table of Contents

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2014

Or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 001-07731

 

 

EMERSON RADIO CORP.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

DELAWARE   22-3285224

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

3 University Plaza, Suite 405, Hackensack, NJ   07601
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

(973) 428-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(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.     x   Yes     ¨   No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, 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).      x   Yes     ¨   No

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

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     ¨   Yes     x   No

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of common stock as of February 17, 2015: 27,129,832.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

  3   

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

  14   

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

  20   

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

  20   

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

  21   

Item 1A. Risk Factors

  21   

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

  21   

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

  21   

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure

  21   

Item 5. Other Information

  21   

Item 6. Exhibits

  21   

SIGNATURES

  23   

 

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements.

EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except earnings per share data)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31
    Nine Months Ended
December 31
 
     2014      2013     2014      2013  

Net Revenues:

          

Net product sales

   $ 19,596       $ 18,443      $ 57,300       $ 59,182   

Licensing revenue

     3,302         2,414        5,788         4,665   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     22,898         20,857        63,088         63,847   

Costs and expenses:

          

Cost of sales

     17,247         15,986        51,441         52,605   

Other operating costs and expenses

     116         361        560         683   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     1,841         3,216        6,572         7,729   

Impairment of trademark

     —           219        —           219   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 
     19,204         19,782        58,573         61,236   

Operating income

     3,694         1,075        4,515         2,611   

Other income (loss):

          

Loss on settlement of litigation

     —           (4,000     —           (4,000

Interest income, net

     42         98        151         441   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     3,736         (2,827     4,666         (948

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     882         (1,446     1,114         (1,324
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,854       $ (1,381   $ 3,552       $ 376   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss) per share:

          

Basic

   $ .11       $ (.05   $ .13       $ .01   

Diluted

   $ .11       $ (.05   $ .13       $ .01   

Weighted average shares outstanding:

          

Basic

     27,130         27,130        27,130         27,130   

Diluted

     27,130         27,130        27,130         27,130   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31
    Nine Months Ended
December 31
 
     2014      2013     2014      2013  

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,854       $ (1,381   $ 3,552       $ 376   

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

     —          —         —          —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 2,854       $ (1,381   $ 3,552       $ 376   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands except share data)

 

     December 31, 2014     March 31, 2014  

ASSETS

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 24,211      $ 26,328   

Restricted cash

     500        —     

Short term investments

     15,033        32,194   

Trade accounts receivable, net

     9,587        4,354   

Royalties receivable

     3,184        3,865   

Inventory

     4,440        5,438   

Prepaid purchases

     2,557        2,047   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,785        1,604   

Deferred tax assets

     995        1,394   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Current Assets

  62,292      77,224   

Property, plant and equipment, net

  95      142   

Deferred tax assets

  1,152      1,753   

Other assets

  86      130   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Non-current Assets

  1,333      2,025   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Assets

$ 63,625    $ 79,249   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

  2,850      3,951   

Due to affiliates

  500      —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Current Liabilities

  3,350      3,951   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

  416      —     

Total Non-current Liabilities

  416      —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

  3,766      3,951   

Shareholders’ equity:

Preferred shares -$.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, respectively; 3,677 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, respectively; liquidation preference of $3,677,000 at December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, respectively

  3,310      3,310   

Common shares — $.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 52,965,797 shares issued at December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, respectively; 27,129,832 shares outstanding at December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, respectively

  529      529   

Additional paid-in capital

  79,794      98,785   

Accumulated earnings (deficit)

  450      (3,102

Treasury stock, at cost, 25,835,965 shares

  (24,224   (24,224
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

  59,859      75,298   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$ 63,625    $ 79,249   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     Nine Months Ended
December 31
 
     2014     2013  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    

Net income

   $ 3,552      $ 376   

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     57        71   

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (5,645     (1,689

Royalties receivable

     681        (766

Due to affiliates

     500        1   

Inventory

     998        (2,229

Prepaid purchases

     (510     (888

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (181     158   

Deferred tax assets and liabilities

     1,416        (1,327

Other assets

     44        85   

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     (1,101     (3,018

Asset allowances, reserves and other

     412        (636

Impairment of trademark

     —          219   

Interest and income taxes payable

     —          (1,112
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

     223        (10,755
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

    

Short term investment

     17,161        8,009   

Restricted cash

     (500     70   

Additions to property and equipment

     (10     (23
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by investing activities

     16,651        8,056   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    

Dividend paid

     (18,991     —     

Net decrease in long-term capital lease obligations

     —          (15
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used by financing activities

     (18,991     (15
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (2,117     (2,714

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     26,328        21,412   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 24,211      $ 18,698   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for:

    

Interest

   $ —        $ 7   

Income taxes

   $ 55      $ 1,171   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

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EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 — BACKGROUND AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Emerson Radio Corp. (“Emerson”, consolidated — the “Company”), and its subsidiaries. The Company designs, sources, imports and markets a variety of houseware and consumer electronic products, and licenses the Company’s trademarks for a variety of products domestically and internationally.

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present a fair statement of the Company’s consolidated financial position as of December 31, 2014 and the results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary in order to make the financial statements not misleading have been included. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes; actual results could materially differ from those estimates. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and accordingly do not include all of the disclosures normally made in the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 (“fiscal 2014”), included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, for fiscal 2014.

The results of operations for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be expected for any other interim periods or for the full year ended March 31, 2015 (“fiscal 2015”).

Whenever necessary, reclassifications are made to conform the prior year’s financial statements to the current year’s presentation.

Unless otherwise disclosed in the notes to these financial statements, the estimated fair value of the financial assets and liabilities approximates the carrying value.

Subsequent events have been evaluated through February 13, 2015.

Sales Allowance and Marketing Support Expenses

Sales allowances, marketing support programs, promotions and other volume-based incentives which are provided to retailers and distributors are accounted for on an accrual basis as a reduction to net revenues in the period in which the related sales are recognized in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, subtopic 50 “Customer Payments and Incentives” and Securities and Exchange Commission Codification of Staff Accounting Bulletins (“SAB”) Topic 13: Revenue Recognition.

At the time of sale, the Company reduces recognized gross revenue by allowances to cover, in addition to estimated sales returns as required by ASC topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, subtopic 15 “Products”, (i) sales incentives offered to customers that meet the criteria for accrual under ASC topic 605, subtopic 50 and (ii) under SAB Topic 13, an estimated amount to recognize additional non-offered deductions it anticipates and can reasonably estimate will be taken by customers which it does not expect to recover. Accruals for the estimated amount of future non-offered deductions are required to be made as contra-revenue items because that percentage of shipped revenue fails to meet the collectability criteria within SAB Topic 13’s four revenue recognition criteria, all of which are required to be met in order to recognize revenue.

If additional marketing support programs, promotions and other volume-based incentives are required to promote the Company’s products subsequent to the initial sale, then additional reserves may be required and are accrued for when such support is offered.

 

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NOTE 2 — NET EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 

     Three months ended
December 31,
    Nine months ended
December 31,
 
     2014      2013     2014      2013  

Numerator:

          

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,854       $ (1,381   $ 3,552       $ 376   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator:

          

Denominator for basic earnings per share — weighted average shares

     27,130         27,130        27,130         27,130   

Effect of dilutive securities on denominator:

          

Options (computed using the treasury stock method)

     —          —         —          —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator for diluted earnings per share — weighted average shares and assumed conversions

     27,130         27,130        27,130         27,130   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share

   $ .11       $ (.05   $ .13       $ .01   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE 3 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Outstanding capital stock at December 31, 2014 consisted of common stock and Series A preferred stock. The Series A preferred stock is non-voting, has no dividend preferences and has not been convertible since March 31, 2002; however, it retains a liquidation preference.

At December 31, 2014, the Company had no options, warrants or other potentially dilutive securities outstanding.

September 30, 2014 Extraordinary Cash Dividend

On August 21, 2014, the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Company declared an extraordinary cash dividend of $0.70 per common share payable on September 30, 2014 to shareholders of record of the Company at the close of trading on September 12, 2014 and as a result, the Company paid out a net amount to stockholders of approximately $18.5 million on September 30, 2014.

NOTE 4 — INVENTORY

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. As of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2014      March 31, 2014  

Finished goods

   $ 4,440       $ 5,438   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

NOTE 5 — INCOME TAXES

Income Tax Issues Concerning Overseas Income

On April 15, 2013 and June 5, 2013, the Company received correspondence from the IRS including a (i) Form 5701 and Form 886-A regarding Adjusted Sales Income (collectively referred to as “NOPA 1”) and (ii) Form 5701 and Form 886-A regarding Adjusted Subpart F-Foreign Base Company Sales Income (collectively referred to as “NOPA 2”).

With respect to NOPA 1, the IRS is (i) challenging the position of the Company with respect to the way the Company’s controlled foreign corporation in Macao (the “Macao CFC”) recorded its product sales during Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 and (ii) asserting that an upward adjustment to the Company’s Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 taxable income of $4,981,520 and $5,680,182, respectively, is required.

With respect to NOPA 2, the IRS is challenging the position of the Company with respect to the fact that the Company considered the service fee paid by the Company to the Macao CFC to be non-taxable in the US. The IRS has taken the position that the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company constitutes foreign base company sales income (“FBCSI”). The IRS asserts that the service fee earned by the Macao CFC in connection with its sale of products to the Company should be taxable to the Company as FBCSI. As a result, the IRS determined that an upward adjustment to the Company’s Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 taxable income of $1,553,984 and $1,143,162, respectively, is required.

 

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The Company has evaluated the determinations made by the IRS as set forth in each of NOPA 1 and NOPA 2 in order to decide (a) how it will proceed and (b) the potential impact on the Company’s financial condition and operations. Furthermore, although NOPA 1 and NOPA 2 represent potential adjustments to Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 only, the Company believes it is likely that the IRS will take the position that the same type of adjustments should be made for each of the Company’s subsequent fiscal years. The assessment and payment of such additional taxes, penalties and interest would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

With respect to NOPA 1, the Company is disputing the proposed adjustment with the IRS. In the event that the Company is not successful in its dispute, the Company estimates that it could be liable for a maximum in taxes, penalties and interest of approximately $14.9 million pertaining to NOPA 1, in the aggregate, for its Fiscal 2010 through Fiscal 2014 years. However, because the Company’s current assessment is that its appeal of NOPA 1 is more likely than not to be successful, the Company has not recorded any liability to its December 31, 2014 or March 31, 2014 balance sheets related to NOPA 1.

With respect to NOPA 2, the Company is disputing the proposed adjustment with the IRS. Originally, the Company had acquiesced to the IRS’s position that the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company would be treated as taxable FBCSI to the Company. However, upon further research conducted while preparing its fiscal year 2014 income tax returns in December 2014, the Company no longer believes that the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company is taxable FBCSI to the Company. As a result, neither the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company during fiscal 2014 of $0.5 million nor the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company during the nine months ending December 31, 2014 of $0.5 million has been included as FBCSI in the Company’s U.S. income tax calculations reflected within the financial statements as of December 31, 2014. If included, these would have the effect of increasing US income taxes owed by the Company by approximately $0.4 million. Although the Company does not agree with the IRS position on NOPA 2 as stated above, there is some uncertainty as to what the ultimate outcome of NOPA 2 may be. Therefore, an uncertain tax position under the requirements of ASC 740-10 “Income Tax Accounting” exists, and the Company has recorded to its December 31, 2014 financial statements, income tax expense and liability of approximately $0.4 million, representing the amount of income taxes, penalties and interest that the Company estimates it could owe for fiscal 2014 and the nine months ending December 31, 2014 if it does not ultimately prevail in its appeal of NOPA 2. The Company is considering its options with respect to the approximately $1.6 million in taxes that it previously paid in the U.S. pertaining to NOPA 2 for fiscal years 2010-2013.

Other

At December 31, 2014, the Company had approximately $3.8 million of U.S. federal net operating loss carry forwards and some U.S. state net operating loss carry forwards included in net deferred tax assets that are available to offset future taxable income and can be carried forward for 20 years. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that all of the net deferred tax assets will be realized through tax planning strategies available in future periods and through future profitable operating results. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable could be reduced or eliminated if certain tax planning strategies are not successfully executed or estimates of future taxable income during the carry forward period are reduced. If management determines that the Company would not be able to realize all or part of the net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.

The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the federal statutory rate primarily due to expenses that are not deductible for federal income tax purposes, income and losses incurred in foreign jurisdictions and taxed at locally applicable tax rates, and state income taxes.

The Company is subject to examination and assessment by tax authorities in numerous jurisdictions. A summary of the Company’s open tax years is as follows as of December 31, 2014:

 

Jurisdiction    Open tax years  

U.S. federal

     2009-2013   

States

     2009-2013   

Based on the outcome of tax examinations or due to the expiration of statutes of limitations, it is reasonably possible that the unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions taken in previously filed returns may be different from the liabilities that have been recorded for these unrecognized tax benefits. As a result, the Company may be subject to additional tax expense.

 

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NOTE 6 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

From time to time, Emerson has engaged in business transactions with its controlling shareholder, The Grande Holdings Limited (In Liquidation) (“Grande”), and one or more of Grande’s direct and indirect subsidiaries. Set forth below is a summary of such transactions.

Controlling Shareholder

Grande has, together with S&T International Distribution Limited (“S&T”), a subsidiary of Grande, and Grande N.A.K.S. Ltd., a subsidiary of Grande (together with Grande, the “Reporting Persons”), filed, on July 9, 2014, a Schedule 13D/A with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) stating that, as of the filing date, the Reporting Persons had the shared power to vote and direct the disposition of 15,243,283 shares, or approximately 56.2%, of the outstanding common stock of Emerson. As the Reporting Persons, and by extension Grande (as their ultimate parent) have control of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of Emerson, Emerson is a Controlled company, as defined in Section 801(a) of the NYSE MKT Rules.

On May 31, 2011, upon application of a major creditor, the High Court of Hong Kong appointed Fok Hei Yu (who is also known by the anglicized name Vincent Fok), formerly a director and Chairman of the Board of the Company, and Roderick John Sutton, both of FTI Consulting (Hong Kong) Limited (“FTI”), as Joint and Several Provisional Liquidators over Grande. Accordingly, as of May 31, 2011, the directors of Grande no longer have the ability to exercise control over Grande or the power to direct the voting and disposition of the 15,243,283 shares beneficially owned by Grande. Instead, Mr. Fok and Mr. Sutton, as Provisional Liquidators over Grande, currently have such power. In addition, on March 20, 2013, the Provisional Liquidators provided to Emerson a written statement that they are obligated to liquidate the 15,243,283 shares in the Company beneficially owned by Grande. However, in February 2014, the Provisional Liquidators for and on behalf of Grande issued a public announcement that Grande, among other things, had been in discussions with different investors to pursue a restructuring plan and the resumption of trading of Grande’s shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (“HKSE”). In addition, in May 2014, the Provisional Liquidators for and on behalf of Grande issued a public announcement (the “Grande Public Announcement”), disclosing that on May 2, 2014, Grande, the Provisional Liquidators and a creditor of Grande entered into an agreement to implement a restructuring proposal (the “Grande Restructuring Proposal”) submitted by a creditor of Grande. Based on information contained within the Grande Public Announcement, if this Grande Restructuring Proposal is implemented, Mr. Christopher Ho, who served as the Company’s Chairman of the Board until November 2013 and is currently the sole director of Grande, and his associates would continue to have a majority interest in Grande. As disclosed in the Schedule 13D/A filed by the Reporting Persons on May 22, 2014, the Grande Restructuring Proposal includes a plan to re-list Grande on the HKSE and provides that many assets of Grande, including its shares of Emerson, would remain part of Grande. According to the Grande Public Announcement, the Grande Restructuring Plan will require approvals, consents and sanctions of the HKSE, courts in Hong Kong and Bermuda, and the creditors and shareholders of Grande. In addition, on June 11, 2014, Grande announced that it had received a summons issued by a creditor of Grande seeking the removal of the Provisional Liquidators.

It is not possible at this time to predict whether the Grande Restructuring Proposal will receive all necessary approvals, nor can there be any assurances regarding the timing, terms or effects of implementing this restructuring proposal or if the Provisional Liquidator(s) will be removed. However, even though the Provisional Liquidators continue to maintain the ability to exercise the power to direct the voting and disposition of shares, as long as the Provisional Liquidators are pursuing the restructuring proposal that would result in Grande retaining beneficial ownership of the 15,243,283 shares of Emerson common stock, the Provisional Liquidators may not be actively seeking to liquidate those shares. If the Grande Restructuring Proposal is completed as described within the Grande Public Announcement, it is expected that the 15,243,283 shares of Emerson common stock held of record by Grande’s subsidiary, S&T, would remain with S&T and that Grande would once again have the power to direct the voting and disposition of this 56.2% controlling interest in Emerson common stock. It is not possible at this time to predict what impact the removal of the Provisional Liquidators would have on the Grande Restructuring Proposal or Emerson and Emerson cannot predict nor provide any assurances regarding the possible effects on the Company, its shareholders, the trading price of its common stock or any other consequences that could result if the Grande Restructuring Proposal is approved and Grande again has the power to control Emerson.

 

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Related Party Transactions

Rented Office Space in Hong Kong

Transactions with Brighton Marketing Limited, a subsidiary of Grande

Until May 2013, at which time these charges ceased, the Company was billed for service charges from Brighton Marketing Limited, a subsidiary of Grande, in connection with the Company’s rented office space in Hong Kong. These charges totaled approximately $1,000 for the nine month period ended December 31, 2013. Emerson owed Brighton Marketing Limited nil at December 31, 2013 and March 31, 2014 pertaining to these charges.

Transactions with The Grande Properties Management Limited, a related party to Christopher Ho, the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company

The Company is charged for service charges from The Grande Properties Management Limited, a related party to Christopher Ho, the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, in connection with the Company’s rented office space in Hong Kong. Mr. Ho did not stand for re-election to serve as a director of the Company at the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on November 7, 2013. Accordingly, Mr. Ho is no longer a director of the Company or a related party to the Company after November 7, 2013, and, consequently, such service charges from The Grande Properties Management Limited, are not considered Related Party Transactions after November 7, 2013.

These charges totaled approximately $3,000 for the period October 1, 2013 through November 7, 2013 and approximately $11,000 for the period April 1, 2013 through November 7, 2013. The Company owed nil to The Grande Properties Management Limited related to these charges at November 6, 2013.

Transactions with Lafe Strategic Services Limited, a related party to Christopher Ho, the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company

Beginning July 3, 2012, the Company entered into a rental agreement with Lafe Strategic Services Limited (“Lafe”), which is a related party to Mr. Ho, whereby the Company was leasing out excess space within its rented office space in Hong Kong to Lafe. The rental agreement was on a month-by-month basis, cancellable by either the Company or Lafe on one month’s written notice. The agreement was cancelled by Lafe effective April 1, 2013 at which time Lafe owed Emerson nil in rental payable from the arrangement. Emerson returned the approximately $6,000 to Lafe in July 2013 that Emerson had been holding as a security deposit in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Consulting Services Provided to Emerson by one of its Directors

Until such agreement was cancelled by the Company effective November 7, 2013, Mr. Eduard Will, a former director of Emerson, was paid consulting fees by the Company for work performed by Mr. Will related to a lawsuit that the Company settled in December 2013, and merger and acquisition research. Mr. Will was not re-elected to serve as a director of the Company at the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on November 7, 2013. Accordingly, Mr. Will is no longer a director of the Company or a related party to the Company after November 7, 2013.

During the period October 1, 2013 through November 7, 2013, Emerson paid consulting fees of approximately $10,000 to Mr. Will for such work performed by Mr. Will as well as a travel advance of approximately $6,000, the travel for which was completed during November 2013. During the period April 1, 2013 through November 7, 2013, Emerson paid consulting fees of approximately $68,000 to Mr. Will for such work performed by Mr. Will as well as expense reimbursements and advances, in the aggregate, of approximately $6,000 related to this consulting work and his service as a director of Emerson.

At November 7, 2013, the Company owed Mr. Will nil related to these activities.

Dividend-Related Issues with S&T

On March 2, 2010, the Board declared an extraordinary dividend of $1.10 per common share which was paid on March 24, 2010. In connection with the Company’s determination as to the taxability of the dividend, the Board relied upon information and research provided to it by the Company’s tax advisors and, in reliance on the “stock-for-debt” exception in the Internal Revenue Code Sections 108(e)(8) and (e)(10), concluded that 4.9% of such dividend paid was taxable to the recipients.

In August 2012, the Company received a Form 886-A from the IRS which challenges the Company’s conclusions and determines that the Company does not qualify for the above-referenced exception. Accordingly, the IRS has concluded that 100% of the dividend paid was taxable to the recipients. The Company is defending its position and calculations and is contesting the position asserted by the IRS. The Company prepared and, on October 25, 2012, delivered its rebuttal to the IRS contesting the IRS determination. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in defending its position.

In the event that the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct, then the shareholders who received the dividend likely will be subject to and liable for an assessment of additional taxes due. Moreover, the Company may be contingently liable for taxes due by certain of its shareholders resulting from the dividend paid by the Company.

 

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Initially, the Company withheld from the dividend paid to foreign shareholders an amount equal to the tax liability associated with such dividend. On April 7, 2010, upon a request made to the Company by its foreign controlling shareholder, S&T, the Company entered into an agreement with S&T (the “Agreement”), whereby the Company returned to S&T on April 7, 2010 that portion of the funds withheld for taxes from the dividend paid on March 24, 2010 to S&T, which the Company believes is not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. The Agreement includes provisions pursuant to which S&T agreed to indemnify the Company for any liability imposed on it as a result of the Company’s agreement not to withhold such funds for S&T’s possible tax liability and a pledge of stock as collateral. The Company continues to assert that such dividend is largely not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. In addition, the Company also continues to assert that this transaction results in an off-balance sheet arrangement and a possible contingent tax liability of the Company, which, if recognized, would be offset by the calling by the Company on S&T of the indemnification provisions of the Agreement.

In February 2011, upon the request of S&T to the Company, the Company and S&T agreed that the collateral pledged as a part of the Agreement would no longer be required and such collateral was returned by the Company to S&T in March 2011 and the Agreement was amended and restated to remove the collateral requirement but retain the indemnification provisions. The Agreement, as amended (the “Amended Agreement”), remains in effect as of today.

In September 2014, the Company and S&T agreed that the Company would withhold $0.5 million in cash, to be pledged as collateral against the Amended Agreement, from the dividend paid to S&T on September 30, 2014 along with such dividend paid on that date to all common stockholders. The Company did make the withholding as described and thus holds, as of September 30, 2014, $0.5 million in cash collateral from S&T against the Amended Agreement. In the event that (i) the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct and (ii) S&T is unable or unwilling to pay the additional taxes due or indemnify the Company under the terms of the Amended Agreement, the Company may be liable to pay such additional taxes, which, together with penalties and interest, are currently estimated by the Company to be approximately $4.8 million as of December 31, 2014, $0.5 million of which is collateralized in cash held by the Company as of December 31, 2014 as described above. Any such liability, should it be required to be recognized by the Company, would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in the period recognized. S&T is a subsidiary of Grande, which is currently in liquidation (as described above under “ Controlling Shareholder ”). Therefore, the ability of the Company to enforce its rights to indemnification under the Amended Agreement and to collect from S&T any additional taxes, interest and penalties due may be severely impaired.

Other

Until such shared usage stopped, effective on January 1, 2014, the Company formerly charged Vigers Appraisal & Consulting Ltd. (“Vigers”), a related party of Christopher Ho, the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, for usage of telephone and data lines maintained by Emerson. Mr. Ho did not stand for re-election to serve as a director of the Company at the Company’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on November 7, 2013. Accordingly, Mr. Ho is no longer a director of the Company or a related party to the Company after November 7, 2013, and, consequently, such service charges from the Company to Vigers are not considered Related Party Transactions after November 7, 2013.

During the period October 1, 2013 through November 7, 2013, Emerson invoiced Vigers approximately $1,000 under this arrangement. During the period April 2, 2013 through November 7, 2013, Emerson invoiced Vigers approximately $3,000 under this arrangement. Vigers owed Emerson nil at November 7, 2013 related to this activity.

NOTE 7 — BORROWINGS

Short-term Borrowings

Letters of Credit — The Company uses Hang Seng Bank to issue letters of credit on behalf of the Company, as needed, on a 100% cash collateralized basis. At December 31, 2014, the Company had no outstanding letters of credit. In the event that the Company does have outstanding letters of credit with Hang Seng Bank, a like amount of cash is posted by the Company as collateral against such outstanding letters of credit, and is classified by the Company as Restricted Cash on the balance sheet.

Long-term Borrowings

At December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, the Company had no borrowings.

 

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NOTE 8 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is not currently a party to any legal proceedings other than litigation matters, in most cases involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to our business. Management cannot estimate with certainty the Company’s ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to such pending litigation matters. However, management believes, based on our examination of such matters, that the Company’s ultimate liability will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE 9 — SHORT TERM INVESTMENTS

At December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2014, the Company held short term investments totaling $15.0 million and $32.2 million, respectively. The investments as of December 31, 2014 of $15.0 million are invested in certificates of deposit with durations in excess of three months, all of which matured on January 30, 2015, and which were all reinvested on that date along with accrued interest, such that the Company currently has $15.1 million invested in certificates of deposit, all of which mature on April 30, 2015.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

The following discussion of the Company’s operations and financial condition should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.

In the following discussions, most percentages and dollar amounts have been rounded to aid presentation. Accordingly, all amounts are approximations.

Forward-Looking Information

This report contains forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to the Company’s beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions, and future performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond the Company’s control, and which may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be forward-looking statements. The reader can identify these forward-looking statements through the Company’s use of words such as “may,” “can,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “should,” “indicate,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “seek,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “potential,” and other similar words and expressions of the future. These forward-looking statements may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation:

 

    the impact, if any, on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operation arising from the appointment of the Provisional Liquidators over Grande and the restructuring process for Grande;

 

    the decline in, and any further deterioration of, consumer spending for retail products, such as the Company’s products;

 

    the Company’s inability to resist price increases from its suppliers or pass through such increases to its customers;

 

    the loss of any of the Company’s key customers or reduction in the purchase of the Company’s products by any such customers;

 

    conflicts of interest that exist based on the Company’s relationship with Grande;

 

    the Company’s inability to maintain effective internal controls or the failure by its personnel to comply with such internal controls;

 

    the Company’s inability to maintain its relationships with its key licensee and its other licensees and distributors or renew existing licenses on favorable terms, or at all;

 

    the Company’s ability to manage its brand and develop new licensing relationships on favorable terms;

 

    cash generated by operating activities represents the Company’s principal source of funding and therefore the Company depends on its ability to successfully manage its operating cash flows to fund its operations;

 

    the Company’s inability to anticipate market trends, enhance existing products or achieve market acceptance of new products;

 

    the Company’s dependence on a limited number of suppliers for its components and raw materials;

 

    the impact of any unanticipated disruption of the Company’s operations or slowdowns or shutdowns by its suppliers, manufacturers and shipping companies, including the impact from the work slowdowns or strike at the Los Angeles Long Beach Port;

 

    the Company’s dependence on third party manufacturers to manufacture and deliver its products;

 

    changes in consumer spending and economic conditions;

 

    the failure of third party sales representatives to adequately promote, market and sell the Company’s products;

 

    the Company’s inability to protect its intellectual property;

 

    the effects of competition;

 

    changes in foreign laws and regulations and changes in the political and economic conditions in the foreign countries in which the Company operates;

 

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    changes in accounting policies, rules and practices;

 

    limited access to financing or increased cost of financing;

 

    the effects of currency fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and Chinese renminbi, and increases in costs of production in China; and

 

    the other factors listed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Form 10-K, as amended, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2014 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report or the date of the document incorporated by reference into this report. The Company has no obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Management has expressed its expectations, beliefs and projections in good faith and it believes it has a reasonable basis for them. However, management cannot assure the reader that its expectations, beliefs or projections will be achieved or accomplished.

Results of Operations

The following table summarizes certain financial information for the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2014 (fiscal 2015) and December 31, 2013 (fiscal 2014) (in thousands):

 

     Three months ended
December 31
    Nine months ended
December 31
 
     2014      2013     2014      2013  

Net product sales

   $ 19,596       $ 18,443      $ 57,300       $ 59,182   

Licensing revenue

     3,302         2,414        5,788         4,665   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net revenues

     22,898         20,857        63,088         63,847   

Cost of sales

     17,247         15,986        51,441         52,605   

Other operating costs and expenses

     116         361        560         683   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     1,841         3,216        6,572         7,729   

Impairment of trademark

     —           219        —           219   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     3,694         1,075        4,515         2,611   

Loss on settlement of litigation

     —           (4,000     —           (4,000

Interest income, net

     42         98        151         441   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     3,736         (2,827     4,666         (948

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

     882         (1,446     1,114         (1,324
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ 2,854       $ (1,381   $ 3,552       $ 376   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net product sales — Net product sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 were $19.6 million as compared to $18.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2014, an increase of $1.2 million or 6.3%. For the nine month period of fiscal 2015, net product sales were $57.3 million as compared to $59.2 million for the nine month period of fiscal 2014, a decrease of $1.9 million or 3.2%. The Company’s sales during the nine month periods of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 were highly concentrated among the Company’s two largest customers, as to which gross product sales comprised approximately 89.1% in both periods, of the Company’s total gross product sales. Net product sales may be periodically impacted by adjustments made to the Company’s sales allowance and marketing support accrual to record unanticipated customer deductions from accounts receivable or to reduce the accrual by any amounts which were accrued in the past but not taken by customers through deductions from accounts receivable within a certain time period. In the aggregate, these adjustments had the effect of increasing net product sales and operating income by approximately $0.1 million in both the third quarters of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, respectively, and approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million for the nine month periods of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, respectively.

Net product sales are comprised primarily of the sales of houseware and audio products which bear the Emerson ® brand name. The major elements which contributed to the overall decrease in net product sales were as follows:

 

  i) Houseware product net sales increased $1.3 million, or 7.5%, to $18.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to $17.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, principally driven by an increase in sales of microwave ovens, partially offset by decreases in compact refrigerators and wine coolers. For the nine month period of fiscal 2015, houseware products net sales were $54.9 million, a decrease of $1.6 million or 2.8%, from $56.5 million for the nine month period of fiscal 2014, principally driven by a decrease in sales of compact refrigerators and wine coolers, partially offset by an increase in sales of microwave ovens.

 

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  ii) Audio product net sales were $0.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to $0.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 18.6%, primarily resulting from decreased sales of the Company’s portable audio and clock radio product offerings. For the nine month period of fiscal 2015, audio product net sales were $2.4 million, a decrease of $0.3 million, or 11.7%, from $2.7 million in the nine month period of fiscal 2014, primarily resulting from decreased net sales of the Company’s portable audio and clock radio product offerings.

Licensing revenue — Licensing revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 was $3.3 million compared to $2.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, an increase of $0.9 million or 36.8%. Licensing revenue for the nine month period of fiscal 2015 was $5.8 million as compared to $4.7 million for the nine month period of fiscal 2014, an increase of $1.1 million or 24.1%. The increase for both the third quarter and nine month periods of fiscal 2015 was due to higher sales by the Company’s licensees of Emerson ® branded products.

The Company’s largest license agreement is with Funai Corporation, Inc. (“Funai”), which accounted for approximately 92% and 85% of the Company’s total licensing revenue for the third quarter and nine month period of fiscal 2015, respectively, and approximately 89% and 86% of the Company’s total licensing revenue for the third quarter and nine month period of fiscal 2014. The license agreement was amended in November 2013 to extend the term until March 31, 2018. The agreement provides that Funai will manufacture, market, sell and distribute specified products bearing the Emerson ® trademark to customers in the U.S. and Canadian markets. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company receives non-refundable minimum annual royalty payments of $3.75 million each calendar year and a license fee on sales of product subject to the agreement in excess of the minimum annual royalties. During the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, licensing revenues of approximately $3.0 million and approximately $2.2 million, respectively, were earned under this agreement. During the nine month period of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, licensing revenues of approximately $4.9 million and approximately $4.0 million, respectively, were earned under this agreement.

Net revenues — As a result of the foregoing factors, the Company’s net revenues were $22.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to $20.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, an increase of $2.0 million, or 9.8%, and $63.1 million in the nine month period of fiscal 2015 as compared to $63.8 million in the nine month period of fiscal 2014, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 1.2%.

Cost of Sales — In absolute terms, cost of sales increased $1.2 million, or 7.9%, to $17.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to $16.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net product sales was 88.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to 86.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. The increase in absolute terms for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2014 was primarily related to the increased net product sales and higher year-over-year gross cost of sales as a percentage of gross sales.

In absolute terms, cost of sales decreased $1.2 million, or 2.2%, to $51.4 million in the nine month period of fiscal 2015 as compared to $52.6 million in the nine month period of fiscal 2014. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net product sales was 89.8% in the nine month period of fiscal 2015 as compared to 88.9% in the nine month period of fiscal 2014. The decrease in absolute terms for the nine month period of fiscal 2015 as compared to the nine month period of fiscal 2014 was primarily related to the reduced net product sales and a $0.7 million reversal of reserves no longer required, partly offset by higher year-over-year gross cost of sales as a percentage of gross sales.

The Company purchases the products it sells from a limited number of factory suppliers. For the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, the Company purchased 88% and 85%, respectively, from its two largest suppliers. For the nine month period of fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, the Company purchased 89% and 74%, respectively, from its two largest suppliers.

Other Operating Costs and Expenses — Other operating costs and expenses as a percentage of net product sales were 0.6% for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and 2.0% for the third quarter of fiscal 2014. In absolute terms, other operating costs and expenses decreased $0.3 million, or 67.9%, to $0.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to $0.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014 as a result of lower warranty and returns processing costs. For the nine month period of fiscal 2015, other operating costs were 1.0% of net revenues as compared to 1.2% of net revenues for the nine month period of fiscal 2014. In absolute terms, other operating costs and expenses decreased $0.1 million, or 18.0%, to $0.6 million for the nine month period of fiscal 2015 as compared to $0.7 million for the nine month period of fiscal 2014 resulting from lower returns processing costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (“S,G&A”) — S,G&A, as a percentage of net revenues, was 8.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to 15.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2014. S,G&A, in absolute terms, was $1.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to $3.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2014. For the nine month period of fiscal 2015, S,G&A was 10.4% of net revenues as compared to 12.1% for the nine month period of fiscal 2014. In absolute terms, S,G&A decreased $1.1 million, or 15.0%, to $6.6 million for the nine month period of fiscal 2015 as compared to $7.7 million in the nine month period of fiscal 2014.

 

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Analysis of S,G&A

The third quarter of fiscal 2015 S,G&A included approximately $0.2 million in legal and advisory fees pertaining to work performed for the Special Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

The third quarter of fiscal 2014 S,G&A included approximately $0.2 million in legal fees pertaining to work performed for the Special Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, $0.9 million in legal fees related to a lawsuit that the Company was defending against which it settled in December 2013, and approximately $0.1 million in tax advisory fees related to the audit of the Company’s tax returns by the IRS, as mentioned elsewhere within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Excluding the aforementioned items, third quarter fiscal 2015 S, G&A was $1.6 million and third quarter fiscal 2014 S,G&A was $2.0 million, a decrease of $0.4 million, or 20.0%, primarily due to lower year-over-year personnel costs and other recurring legal fees.

The nine month period of fiscal 2015 S,G&A included approximately $1.4million in legal and advisory fees pertaining to work performed for the Special Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors and approximately $0.1 million in tax advisory fees related to the audit of the Company’s tax returns by the IRS, as mentioned elsewhere within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

The nine month period of fiscal 2014 S,G&A included approximately $0.2 million in legal fees pertaining to work performed for the Special Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors, $1.6 million in legal fees related to a lawsuit that the Company was defending against which it settled in December 2013, and approximately $0.3 million in tax advisory fees related to the audit of the Company’s tax returns by the IRS, as mentioned elsewhere within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, partly offset by a $0.2 million gain on an insurance settlement.

Excluding the aforementioned items, the nine month period of fiscal 2015 S, G&A was $5.1 million and the nine month period of fiscal 2014 S,G&A was $5.8 million, a decrease of $0.7 million, or 12.1%, primarily due to lower year-over-year personnel costs.

Interest income (expense), net — Interest income, net, was $42,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to $98,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, a decrease of $56,000. Interest income, net, was $151,000 in the nine month period of fiscal 2015 as compared to $441,000 in the nine month period of fiscal 2014, a decrease of $290,000. The decrease in interest income for both periods was due to a reduction of investments in Certificates of Deposit.

Provision (benefit) for Income Taxes — In the third quarter and nine month periods of fiscal 2015, the Company recorded income tax expense of $0.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively, as compared to income tax benefits of $1.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively, in the third quarter and nine month periods of fiscal 2014.

Net income — As a result of the foregoing factors and the $4.0 million loss on settlement of litigation recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company realized net income of $2.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 as compared to a net loss of $1.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2014, an increase of $4.2 million. For the nine month period of fiscal 2015, the Company realized net income of $3.6 million as compared to $0.4 million in the nine month period of fiscal 2014, an increase of $3.2 million, or 844.7%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

General

As of December 31, 2014, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $24.2 million, as compared to approximately $18.7 million at December 31, 2013, and as of December 31, 2014, the Company had $0.5 million in restricted cash. The restricted cash is the $0.5 million cash withheld from S&T from the dividend paid to S&T on September 30, 2014 along with such dividend paid on that date to all common stockholders, and which is pledged to the Company by S&T as collateral against the Amended Agreement between the Company and S&T as referred to in Note 6 “Related Party Transactions” above. Working capital decreased to $58.9 million at December 31, 2014 as compared to $71.8 million at December 31, 2013. The increase in cash and cash equivalents of approximately $5.5 million was primarily due to a decrease in short term investments, the net income generated during the prior 12 months, a decrease in deferred tax assets and a decrease in inventory, primarily offset by the dividend payout in September 2014, an increase in royalty receivables, a decrease in accounts payable and other current liabilities, increases in prepaid expenses and prepaid purchases and an increase in accounts receivable.

 

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Cash flow provided by operating activities was $0.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2014, resulting primarily from net income generated during the period, a decrease in deferred tax assets, a decrease in inventory and a decrease in other receivables offset by an increase in accounts receivable, a decrease in accounts payable and other current liabilities and an increase in prepaid purchases.

Net cash provided by investing activities was $16.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to redemptions of short term investments in certificates of deposit partially offset by an increase in restricted cash.

Net cash used by financing activities was $19.0 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2014, resulting from the net payment to stockholders of $18.5 million for the $0.70 per common share extraordinary dividend paid out on September 30, 2014.

Other Events and Circumstances Pertaining to Liquidity

Income Tax Issues Concerning Overseas Income

On April 15, 2013 and June 5, 2013, the Company received correspondence from the IRS including a (i) Form 5701 and Form 886-A regarding Adjusted Sales Income (collectively referred to as “NOPA 1”) and (ii) Form 5701 and Form 886-A regarding Adjusted Subpart F-Foreign Base Company Sales Income (collectively referred to as “NOPA 2”).

With respect to NOPA 1, the IRS is (i) challenging the position of the Company with respect to the way the Company’s controlled foreign corporation in Macao (the “Macao CFC”) recorded its product sales during Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 and (ii) asserting that an upward adjustment to the Company’s Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 taxable income of $4,981,520 and $5,680,182, respectively, is required.

With respect to NOPA 2, the IRS is challenging the position of the Company with respect to the fact that the Company considered the service fee paid by the Company to the Macao CFC to be non-taxable in the US. The IRS has taken the position that the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company constitutes foreign base company sales income (“FBCSI”). The IRS asserts that the service fee earned by the Macao CFC in connection with its sale of products to the Company should be taxable to the Company as FBCSI. As a result, the IRS determined that an upward adjustment to the Company’s Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 taxable income of $1,553,984 and $1,143,162, respectively, is required.

The Company has evaluated the determinations made by the IRS as set forth in each of NOPA 1 and NOPA 2 in order to decide (a) how it will proceed and (b) the potential impact on the Company’s financial condition and operations. Furthermore, although NOPA 1 and NOPA 2 represent potential adjustments to Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2011 only, the Company believes it is likely that the IRS will take the position that the same type of adjustments should be made for each of the Company’s subsequent fiscal years. The assessment and payment of such additional taxes, penalties and interest would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

With respect to NOPA 1, the Company is disputing the proposed adjustment with the IRS. In the event that the Company is not successful in its dispute, the Company estimates that it could be liable for a maximum in taxes, penalties and interest of approximately $14.9 million pertaining to NOPA 1, in the aggregate, for its Fiscal 2010 through Fiscal 2014 years. However, because the Company’s current assessment is that its appeal of NOPA 1 is more likely than not to be successful, the Company has not recorded any liability to its December 31, 2014 or March 31, 2014 balance sheets related to NOPA 1.

With respect to NOPA 2, the Company is disputing the proposed adjustment with the IRS. Originally, the Company had acquiesced to the IRS’s position that the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company would be treated as taxable FBCSI to the Company. However, upon further research conducted while preparing its fiscal year 2014 income tax returns in December 2014, the Company no longer believes that the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company is taxable FBCSI to the Company. As a result, neither the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company during fiscal 2014 of $0.5 million nor the service fee paid to the Macao CFC by the Company during the nine months ending December 31, 2014 of $0.5 million has been included as FBCSI in the Company’s U.S. income tax calculations reflected within the financial statements as of December 31, 2014. If included, these would have the effect of increasing US income taxes owed by the Company by approximately $0.4 million. Although the Company does not agree with the IRS position on NOPA 2 as stated above, there is some uncertainty as to what the ultimate outcome of NOPA 2 may be. Therefore, an uncertain tax position under the requirements of ASC 740-10 “Income Tax Accounting” exists, and the Company has recorded to its December 31, 2014 financial statements, income tax expense and liability of approximately $0.4 million, representing the amount of income taxes, penalties and interest that the Company estimates it could owe for fiscal 2014 and the nine months ending December 31, 2014 if it does not ultimately prevail in its appeal of NOPA 2. The Company is considering its options with respect to the approximately $1.6 million in taxes that it previously paid in the U.S. pertaining to NOPA 2 for fiscal years 2010-2013.

 

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Potential Income Tax Issues Concerning the Extraordinary Dividend Paid by the Company in March 2010

On March 2, 2010, the Board declared an extraordinary dividend of $1.10 per common share which was paid on March 24, 2010. In connection with the Company’s determination as to the taxability of the dividend, the Board relied upon information and research provided to it by the Company’s tax advisors and, in reliance on the “stock-for-debt” exception in the Internal Revenue Code Sections 108(e)(8) and (e)(10), concluded that 4.9% of such dividend paid was taxable to the recipients.

In August 2012, the Company received a Form 886-A from the IRS which challenges the Company’s conclusions and determines that the Company does not qualify for the above-referenced exception. Accordingly, the IRS has concluded that 100% of the dividend paid was taxable to the recipients. The Company is defending its position and calculations and is contesting the position asserted by the IRS. The Company prepared and, on October 25, 2012, delivered its rebuttal to the IRS contesting the IRS determination. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in defending its position.

In the event that the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct, then the shareholders who received the dividend likely will be subject to and liable for an assessment of additional taxes due. Moreover, the Company may be contingently liable for taxes due by certain of its shareholders resulting from the dividend paid by the Company.

Initially, the Company withheld from the dividend paid to foreign shareholders an amount equal to the tax liability associated with such dividend. On April 7, 2010, upon a request made to the Company by its foreign controlling shareholder, S&T, the Company entered into an agreement with S&T (the “Agreement”), whereby the Company returned to S&T on April 7, 2010 that portion of the funds withheld for taxes from the dividend paid on March 24, 2010 to S&T, which the Company believes is not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. The Agreement includes provisions pursuant to which S&T agreed to indemnify the Company for any liability imposed on it as a result of the Company’s agreement not to withhold such funds for S&T’s possible tax liability and a pledge of stock as collateral. The Company continues to assert that such dividend is largely not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits. In addition, the Company also continues to assert that this transaction results in an off-balance sheet arrangement and a possible contingent tax liability of the Company, which, if recognized, would be offset by the calling by the Company on S&T of the indemnification provisions of the Agreement.

In February 2011, upon the request of S&T to the Company, the Company and S&T agreed that the collateral pledged as a part of the Agreement would no longer be required and such collateral was returned by the Company to S&T in March 2011 and the Agreement was amended and restated to remove the collateral requirement but retain the indemnification provisions. The Agreement, as amended (the “Amended Agreement”), remains in effect as of today.

In September 2014, the Company and S&T agreed that the Company would withhold $0.5 million in cash, to be pledged as collateral against the Amended Agreement, from the dividend paid to S&T on September 30, 2014 along with such dividend paid on that date to all common stockholders. The Company did make the withholding as described and thus holds, as of September 30, 2014, $0.5 million in cash collateral from S&T against the Amended Agreement. In the event that (i) the Company is not successful in establishing with the IRS that the Company’s calculations were correct and (ii) S&T is unable or unwilling to pay the additional taxes due or indemnify the Company under the terms of the Amended Agreement, the Company may be liable to pay such additional taxes, which, together with penalties and interest, are currently estimated by the Company to be approximately $4.8 million as of December 31, 2014, $0.5 million of which is collateralized in cash held by the Company as of December 31, 2014 as described above. Any such liability, should it be required to be recognized by the Company, would likely have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations in the period recognized. S&T is a subsidiary of Grande, which is currently in liquidation (as described above under “ Controlling Shareholder ”). Therefore, the ability of the Company to enforce its rights to indemnification under the Amended Agreement and to collect from S&T any additional taxes, interest and penalties due may be severely impaired.

Credit Arrangements

Letters of Credit — The Company utilizes Hang Seng Bank to issue letters of credit on behalf of the Company, as needed, on a 100% cash collateralized basis. At December 31, 2014, the Company had no outstanding letters of credit. In the event that the Company does have outstanding letters of credit with Hang Seng Bank, a like amount of cash is posted by the Company as collateral against such outstanding letters of credit, and is classified by the Company as Restricted Cash on the balance sheet.

Short-term Liquidity

For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2014, products representing approximately 55% and 57%, respectively, of net sales were imported directly to the Company’s customers. The direct importation of product by the Company to its customers significantly benefits the Company’s liquidity because this inventory does not need to be financed by the Company.

 

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The Company’s principal existing sources of cash are generated from operations. The Company believes that its existing cash balance and sources of cash will be sufficient to support existing operations over the next 12 months.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

The following Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) were issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board during the three months ended December 31, 2014 or during the interim period between December 31, 2014 and February 17, 2015 which relate to or could relate to the Company as concerns the Company’s normal ongoing operations or the industry in which the Company operates:

Accounting Standards Update 2014-17, Business Combinations (Topic 718) Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 805): Pushdown Accounting a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force (Issued November 2014)

The amendments in this Update provide an acquired entity with an option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements upon occurrence of an event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquired entity. An acquired entity may elect the option to apply pushdown accounting in the reporting period in which the change-in-control event occurs. An acquired entity should determine whether to elect to apply pushdown accounting for each individual change-in-control event in which an acquirer obtains control of the acquired entity. If pushdown accounting is not applied in the reporting period in which the change-in-control event occurs, an acquired entity will have the option to elect to apply pushdown accounting in a subsequent reporting period to the acquired entity’s most recent change-in-control event. An election to apply pushdown accounting in a reporting period after the reporting period in which the change-in-control event occurred should be considered a change in accounting principle in accordance with Topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. If pushdown accounting is applied to an individual change-in-control event, that election is irrevocable. If an acquired entity elects the option to apply pushdown accounting in its separate financial statements, it should disclose information in the current reporting period that enables users of financial statements to evaluate the effect of pushdown accounting. The amendments in this Update are effective on November 18, 2014. After the effective date, an acquired entity can make an election to apply the guidance to future change-in-control events or to its most recent change-in-control event. However, if the financial statements for the period in which the most recent change-in-control event occurred already have been issued or made available to be issued, the application of this guidance would be a change in accounting principle.

Accounting Standards Update 2015-01, Income Statement – Extraordinary and Unusual Items (Subtopic 225-20) Simplifying Income Statement Presentation by Eliminating the Concept of Extraordinary Items

This Update eliminates from GAAP the concept of extraordinary items. Subtopic 225-20, Income Statement—Extraordinary and Unusual Items, required that an entity separately classify, present, and disclose extraordinary events and transactions. The amendments in this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2015. A reporting entity may apply the amendments prospectively. A reporting entity also may apply the amendments retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is permitted provided that the guidance is applied from the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The effective date is the same for both public business entities and all other entities.

Inflation, Foreign Currency, and Interest Rates

The Company’s exposure to currency fluctuations has been minimized by the use of U.S. dollar denominated purchase orders. The Company purchases virtually all of its products from manufacturers located in China.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Not applicable.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

(a) Disclosure controls and procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d — 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in its Exchange Act reports are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Due to the inherent limitations of control systems, not all misstatements may be detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of a simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons; by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. Our controls and procedures can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the above objectives have been met.

 

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The Company’s management concluded that disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of December 31, 2014, are effective to reasonably ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2014 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Pr oceedings .

The Company is not currently a party to any legal proceedings other than litigation matters, in most cases involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to our business. Management cannot estimate with certainty the Company’s ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to such pending litigation matters. However, management believes, based on our examination of such matters, that the Company’s ultimate liability will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

There were no material changes in any risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2014.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

None

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

(a) None

(b) None

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

None

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

  10.1 Form of Indemnification Agreement
  31.1 Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
  31.2 Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
  32 Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
101.1+ XBRL Instance Document.

 

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101.2+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.3+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.4+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.5+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
101.6+    XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

* filed herewith
** furnished herewith

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

EMERSON RADIO CORP.

(Registrant)

    /s/ Duncan Hon
Date: February 17, 2015    

Duncan Hon

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

    /s/ Andrew L. Davis
Date: February 17, 2015    

Andrew L. Davis

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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Exhibit 10.1

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of             , 20     by and between Emerson Radio Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and             (“Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, highly competent persons have become more reluctant to serve publicly-held corporations as directors or officers or in other capacities unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance or adequate indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of the corporation and due to the fact that such exposure frequently bears no relationship to compensation paid to such officers and directors;

WHEREAS, the Company and Indemnitee recognize that plaintiffs often seek damages in such large amounts and the costs of litigation may be so enormous (whether or not the case is meritorious), that the defense and/or settlement of such litigation is often beyond the personal resources of directors and officers;

WHEREAS, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws require indemnification of the officers and directors of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The Bylaws expressly provide that the indemnification provisions set forth therein are not exclusive and contemplate that contracts may be entered into between the Company and its directors and officers with respect to indemnification;

WHEREAS, Section 145 of the DGCL empowers the Company to indemnify its officers, directors, employees and agents by agreement and to indemnify persons who serve, at the Company’s request, as the directors, officers, employees or agents of other corporations or enterprises;

WHEREAS, Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL allows the Company to include in its Certificate of Incorporation a provision limiting or eliminating the personal liability of a director for monetary damages in respect of claims by shareholders and corporations for breach of certain fiduciary duties, and the Company has so provided in its Certificate of Incorporation that each director shall be exculpated from such liability to the maximum extent permitted by law;

WHEREAS, the Company, after reasonable investigation, has determined that the liability insurance coverage presently available to the Company may be inadequate in certain circumstances to cover all possible exposure for which Indemnitee should be protected.

WHEREAS, the uncertainties relating to such insurance and to indemnification have increased the difficulty of attracting and retaining highly competent persons to serve as directors and officers. The Board has determined that the increased difficulty in attracting and retaining such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company’s stockholders and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;


WHEREAS, it is reasonable, prudent and necessary for the Company contractually to obligate itself to indemnify, and to advance expenses on behalf of, such persons to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law so that they will serve or continue to serve the Company free from undue concern that they will not be so indemnified;

WHEREAS, this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and any resolutions adopted pursuant thereto, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder; and

WHEREAS, Indemnitee does not regard the protection available under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and insurance as adequate in the present circumstances, and may not be willing to serve, or to continue to serve, as an officer or director without adequate protection, and the Company desires Indemnitee to serve, or to continue to serve, in such capacity. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that he be so indemnified;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:

Section 1. Services to the Company. Indemnitee agrees to serve, or to continue to serve, as a director or officer of the Company or, at the request of the Company, as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. Indemnitee may at any time and for any reason resign from such position (subject to any other contractual obligation or any obligation imposed by operation of law), in which event the Company shall have no obligation under this Agreement to continue Indemnitee in such position. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving at the Company’s request as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that Indemnitee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving at the Company’s request as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary), if any, is at will, and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment contract between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving at the Company’s request as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary). The foregoing notwithstanding, this Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as an officer or director of the Company.

 

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Section 2. Definitions. As used in this Agreement:

(a) A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur upon the earliest to occur after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events:

i. Acquisition of Stock by Third Party . Any Person (as defined below) becomes the Beneficial Owner (as defined below), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

ii. Change in Board . During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Sections 2(a)(i), 2(a)(iii) or 2(a)(iv)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board;

iii. Corporate Transactions . The effective date of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 51% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation and with the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors or other governing body of such surviving entity;

iv. Liquidation . The approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets; and

v. Other Events . There occurs any other event of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or a response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement. The parties expressly agree that the removal of Fok Hei Yu (who is also known by the anglicized name Vincent Fok and Roderick John Sutton, both of FTI Consulting (Hong Kong) Limited, as Joint and Several Provisional Liquidators over The Grande Holdings Limited after the date hereof is deemed a “Change in Control” for purposes of this Agreement.

For purposes of this Section 2(a), the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(A) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

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(B) “Person” shall have the meaning as set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Person shall exclude (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, and (iii) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company.

(C) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given to such term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that Beneficial Owner shall exclude any Person otherwise becoming a Beneficial Owner by reason of the stockholders of the Company approving a merger of the Company with another entity.

(b) “Corporate Status” describes the status of a person who is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company or of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the request of the Company.

(c) “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee.

(d) “Expenses” shall include all reasonable attorneys’ fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, or otherwise participating in, a Proceeding. Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 13(d) only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee.

(e) “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

 

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(f) “Proceeding” shall include any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil, criminal, administrative legislative, or investigative nature, including any appeal therefrom, in which Indemnitee was, is or will be involved as a party, potential party, non-party witness or otherwise by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Company, by reason of any action taken by him or of any action on his part while acting as director or officer of the Company, or by reason of the fact that he is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in each case whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which indemnification, reimbursement, or advancement of expenses can be provided under this Agreement; except one initiated by an Indemnitee to enforce his rights under this Agreement.

Section 3. Indemnity in Third-Party Proceedings. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding, other than a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 3, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and, in the case of a criminal proceeding had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

Section 4. Indemnity in Proceedings by or in the Right of the Company. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4 if Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be made, a party to or a participant in any Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor. Pursuant to this Section 4, Indemnitee shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such Proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company. No indemnification for Expenses shall be made under this Section 4 in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been finally adjudged by a court to be liable to the Company, unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or any court in which the Proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification.

 

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Section 5. Indemnification for Expenses of a Party Who is Wholly or Partly Successful. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is a party to (or a participant in) and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, in whole or in part, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter. If the Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding, the Company also shall indemnify Indemnitee against all Expenses reasonably incurred in connection with a claim, issue or matter related to any claim, issue, or matter on which the Indemnitee was successful. For purposes of this Section and without limiting the foregoing, if any Proceeding is disposed of, on the merits or otherwise (including a disposition without prejudice), without (i) the disposition being adverse to Indemnitee, (ii) an adjudication that Indemnitee was liable to the Company, (iii) a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by Indemnitee, (iv) an adjudication that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company and (v) with respect to any criminal proceeding, an adjudication that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful, Indemnitee shall be considered for purposes of this Agreement to have been successful with respect thereto.

Section 6. Indemnification For Expenses of a Witness. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee is, by reason of his Corporate Status, a witness or otherwise participates in any Proceeding to which Indemnitee is not a party, he shall be indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.

Section 7. Additional Indemnification.

(a) Notwithstanding any limitation in Sections 3, 4, or 5, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law if Indemnitee is a party to or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (including a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor) against all Expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the Proceeding.

(b) For purposes of Section 7(a), the meaning of the phrase “to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law” shall include, but not be limited to:

i. to the fullest extent permitted by the provision of the DGCL that authorizes or contemplates additional indemnification by agreement, or the corresponding provision of any amendment to or replacement of the DGCL, and

ii. to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by any amendments to or replacements of the DGCL adopted after the date of this Agreement that increase the extent to which a corporation may indemnify its officers and directors.

Section 8. Exclusions. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated under this Agreement to make any indemnity in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee:

(a) for which payment has actually been made to or on behalf of Indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision; or

 

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(b) for any Proceedings with respect to which final judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for payment of (i) an accounting of profits made from the purchase and sale (or sale and purchase) by Indemnitee of securities of the Company within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (as defined in Section 2(a) hereof) or similar provisions of state statutory law or common law, or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by the Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by the Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act” or pursuant to Section 954 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), or

(c) any Proceeding involving the enforcement of non-compete and/or non-disclosure agreements or the non-compete and/or non-disclosure provisions of employment, consulting or similar agreements the Indemnitee may be a party to with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any other applicable foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, if any; or

(d) except as provided in Section 13(d) of this Agreement, in connection with any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee, including any Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) initiated by Indemnitee against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees, unless (i) the Board authorized the Proceeding (or any part of any Proceeding) prior to its initiation or (ii) the Company provides the indemnification, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under applicable law.

Section 9. Advances of Expenses. The Company shall advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding, and such advancement shall be made within thirty (30) days after receipt by the Corporation of (i) a statement or statements from Indemnitee requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of any Proceeding, and (ii) an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay such amount or amounts, only if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized by this Agreement or otherwise. Such undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the financial ability of Indemnitee to make such repayment. Advances shall be unsecured and interest free. Advances shall include any and all reasonable Expenses incurred pursuing an action to enforce this right of advancement, including Expenses incurred preparing and forwarding statements to the Company to support the advances claimed. This Section 9 shall not apply to any claim made by Indemnitee for which indemnity is excluded pursuant to Section 8 or to any Proceeding for which the Company has assumed the defense thereof in accordance with Section 10(b) of this Agreement.

 

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Section 10. Procedure for Notification and Defense of Claim.

(a) Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing of any matter with respect to which Indemnitee intends to seek indemnification or advancement of Expenses hereunder as soon as reasonably practicable following the receipt by Indemnitee of written notice thereof. The written notification to the Company shall include a description of the nature of the Proceeding and the facts underlying the Proceeding. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding. Except to the extent the Corporation is prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit or proceeding as a result of such failure or delay, the failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement. The Secretary of the Company shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.

(b) In the event the Company shall be obligated to pay the Expenses of Indemnitee with respect to a Proceeding, as provided in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Proceeding, with counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee, upon delivery of written notice of its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same Proceeding, provided that (1) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee’s own counsel in such Proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense and (2) if (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized in writing by the Company, (ii) counsel to the Company or Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest or position, or reasonably believes that a conflict is likely to arise, on any significant issue between the Company and the Indemnitee in the conduct of such defense or (iii) the Company shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Proceeding, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Company, except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement.

(c) The Company will be entitled to participate in the Proceeding at its own expense.

 

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Section 11. Procedure Upon Application for Indemnification.

(a) Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a), a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred after the date of this Agreement, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred after the date of this Agreement, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board, (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors or, if such Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (D) if so directed by the Disinterested Directors, by the stockholders of the Company; and, if it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination. Any costs or Expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.

(b) In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the Independent Counsel shall be selected as provided in this Section 11(b). If a Change in Control shall not have occurred after the date of this Agreement, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Change in Control shall have occurred after the date of this Agreement, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee (unless Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board, in which event the preceding sentence shall apply), and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either event, Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, may, within ten (10) days after such written notice of selection shall have been given, deliver to the Company or to Indemnitee, as the case may be, a written objection to such selection; provided , however , that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not meet the requirements of “Independent Counsel” as defined in Section 2 of this Agreement, and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is so made and substantiated, the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit. If, within twenty (20) days after the submission by Indemnitee or the Company, as the case may be, of a written objection, no Independent Counsel shall have been selected and not objected to, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for resolution of any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other’s selection of Independent Counsel and/or for the appointment as Independent Counsel of a person selected by the Court or by such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person so appointed shall act as Independent Counsel under Section 11(a) hereof. Upon the due commencement of any judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, Independent Counsel shall be discharged and relieved of any further responsibility in such capacity (subject to the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing).

 

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Section 12. Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.

(a) In making a determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making by any person, persons or entity of any determination contrary to that presumption. Neither the failure of the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any action pursuant to this Agreement that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual determination by the Company (including by its directors or independent legal counsel) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(b) Subject to Section 13(e), if the person, persons or entity empowered or selected under Section 11 of this Agreement to determine whether Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification shall not have made a determination within sixty (60) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided, however, that such 60-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto; and provided, further, that the foregoing provisions of this Section 12(b) shall not apply (i) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by the stockholders pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement and if (A) within fifteen (15) days after receipt by the Company of the request for such determination the Board has resolved to submit such determination to the stockholders for their consideration at an annual meeting thereof to be held within seventy-five (75) days after such receipt and such determination is made thereat, or (B) a special meeting of stockholders is called within fifteen (15) days after such receipt for the purpose of making such determination, such meeting is held for such purpose within sixty (60) days after having been so called and such determination is made thereat, or (ii) if the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement.

(c) The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement) of itself adversely affect the right of Indemnitee to indemnification or create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company or, with respect to any criminal Proceeding, that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

 

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(d) Reliance as Safe Harbor . For purposes of any determination of good faith, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if Indemnitee’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Company or other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, including financial statements, or on information supplied to Indemnitee by the officers of the Company or other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Company or other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with the reasonable care by the Company or other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary. The provisions of this Section 12(d) shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the other circumstances in which the Indemnitee may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Agreement.

(e) Actions of Others . The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which Indemnitee was serving as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnification under this Agreement.

Section 13. Remedies of Indemnitee.

(a) Subject to Section 13(e), in the event that (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advancement of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ninety (90) days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Section 5 or 6 or the last sentence of Section 11(a) of this Agreement within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to Section 3, 4 or 7 of this Agreement is not made within ten (10) days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, or (vi) in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or Proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Indemnitee the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication by a court of his entitlement to such indemnification or advancement of Expenses. Alternatively, Indemnitee, at his option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. Indemnitee shall commence such proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 13(a); provided , however , that the foregoing clause shall not apply in respect of a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his rights under Section 5 of this Agreement. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.

 

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(b) In the event that a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification, any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 shall be conducted in all respects as a de novo trial, or arbitration, on the merits and Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of that adverse determination. In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 the Company shall have the burden of proving Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advancement of Expenses, as the case may be.

(c) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 11(a) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13, absent (i) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification, or (ii) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law.

(d) The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 13 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all the provisions of this Agreement. It is the intent of the Company that the Indemnitee not be required to incur legal fees or other Expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Indemnitee hereunder. The Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against any and all Expenses and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall (within ten (10) days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor) advance, to the extent not prohibited by law, such Expenses to Indemnitee, which are incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by Indemnitee for indemnification or advance of Expenses from the Company under this Agreement or under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, advancement of Expenses or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Proceeding.

Section 14. Non-exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Insurance; Subrogation.

(a) The rights of indemnification and to receive advancement of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s By-laws, any agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal. To the extent that a change in Delaware law, whether by statute or judicial decision, permits greater indemnification or advancement of Expenses than would be afforded currently under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s By-laws and this Agreement, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right and remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.

 

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(b) The Company shall maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies providing insurance for past, present, and future directors, officers, and employees of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company. The insurance policies must provide policy limits, terms, conditions, and scope of coverage that are at least as favorable as the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies in effect as of the effective date of this Agreement.

(c) If, for any reason, the Company ceases to maintain the insurance required by Section 14(b), the Company, at its own expense, shall purchase “tail” directors and officers liability coverage for the benefit of past, present, and future directors, officers, and employees of the Company or of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which such person serves at the request of the Company. The tail coverage shall be in effect for a policy period of no less than six (6) years from the date that directors and officers coverage is no longer maintained. The “tail” policy shall provide full prior acts coverage and shall provide policy limits, terms, conditions, and scope of coverage that are at least as favorable as the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies in effect as of the effective date of this Agreement.

(d) Indemnitee shall be covered by the policies required by Sections 14(b) and/or 14(c) in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any such director, officer, or employee under such policies. If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to the terms hereof, the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company and the Indemnitee shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(e) In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee with respect to any insurance policy, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.

(f) The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable (or for which advancement is provided hereunder) hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise. However, this Section 14(f) shall not affect any subrogation rights that an insurance company, issuing the insurance policies required by Sections 14(b) and/or 14(c), may have against the Company because of the Company’s failure to indemnify Indemnitee.

 

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(g) The Company’s obligation to indemnify or advance Expenses hereunder to Indemnitee who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount Indemnitee has actually received as indemnification or advancement of Expenses from such other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. However, this Section 14(g) shall not affect any subrogation rights that an insurance company, issuing the insurance policies required by Sections 14(b) and/or 14(c), may have against the Company because of the Company’s failure to indemnify Indemnitee.

Section 15. Severability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.

Section 16. Enforcement . The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on it hereby in order to induce Indemnitee to serve as a director or officer of the Company, and the Company acknowledges that Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement in serving as a director or officer of the Company.

Section 17. Entire Agreement. Supersedes Prior Agreements . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral, written and implied, between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof; provided, however, that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

Section 18. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the parties thereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions of this Agreement nor shall any waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

Section 19. Notice by Indemnitee. Indemnitee agrees promptly to notify the Company in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, information or other document relating to any Proceeding or matter which may be subject to indemnification or advancement of Expenses covered hereunder. The failure of Indemnitee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of any obligation which it may have to the Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise except to the extent the Corporation is prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit or proceeding as a result of such failure.

 

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Section 20. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (a) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, (b) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed, (c) mailed by reputable overnight courier and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed or (d) sent by facsimile transmission, with receipt of oral confirmation that such transmission has been received:

(a) If to Indemnitee, at the address indicated on the signature page of this Agreement, or such other address as Indemnitee shall provide to the Company.

(b) If to the Company to

Emerson Radio Corp.

3 University Plaza, Suite 405

Hackensack, NJ 07601

Attention: Corporate Secretary

or to any other address as may have been furnished to Indemnitee by the Company.

Section 21. Contribution. To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, if the indemnification provided for in this Agreement is unavailable to Indemnitee for any reason whatsoever, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and/or for Expenses, in connection with any claim relating to an indemnifiable event under this Agreement, in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances of such Proceeding in order to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Proceeding; and/or (ii) the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with such event(s) and/or transaction(s).

Section 22. Applicable Law and Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement and the legal relations among the parties shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws rules. Except with respect to any arbitration commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 13(a) of this Agreement, the Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (i) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware (the “Delaware Court”), and not in any other state or federal court in the United States of America or any court in any other country, (ii) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, (iii) appoint, to the extent such party is not otherwise subject to service of process in the State of Delaware, irrevocably CT Corporation as its agent in the State of Delaware as such party’s agent for acceptance of legal process in connection with any such action or proceeding against such party with the same legal force and validity as if served upon such party personally within the State of Delaware, (iv) waive any objection to the laying of venue of any such action or proceeding in the Delaware Court, and (v) waive, and agree not to plead or to make, any claim that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum.

 

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Section 23. Identical Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

Section 24. Miscellaneous. Use of the masculine pronoun shall be deemed to include usage of the feminine pronoun where appropriate. The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.

Section 25. Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.

 

EMERSON RADIO CORP. INDEMNITEE
                                                                
By:                                                   Name:                                                      
Name: Address:                                                   
Title:                                                                 

 

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Exhibit 31.1

Certification

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes — Oxley Act of 2002

I, Duncan Hon, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Emerson Radio Corp.;

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: February 17, 2015 /s/ Duncan Hon
Duncan Hon
Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 302 has been provided to Emerson Radio Corp. and will be retained by Emerson Radio Corp. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

Exhibit 31.2

Certification

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes — Oxley Act of 2002

I, Andrew L. Davis, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Emerson Radio Corp.;

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: February 17, 2015 /s/ Andrew L. Davis
Andrew L. Davis
Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 302 has been provided to Emerson Radio Corp. and will be retained by Emerson Radio Corp. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Emerson Radio Corp. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Duncan Hon, Chief Executive Officer, and Andrew L. Davis, Chief Financial Officer, of the Company each hereby certifies pursuant to 18 U.S.C. section 1350, as adopted pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the dates presented and the consolidated result of operations of the Company for the periods presented.

Dated: February 17, 2015

 

By: /s/ Duncan Hon
Duncan Hon
Chief Executive Officer
By:  /s/ Andrew L. Davis
Andrew L. Davis
Chief Financial Officer

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code) and is not being filed as part of the Form 10-Q or as a separate disclosure document.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to Emerson Radio Corp. and will be retained by Emerson Radio Corp. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.