Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
Form 10-K
(Mark One)
     
þ   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year ended March 31, 2011
OR
     
o   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   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification Number)
     
85 Oxford Drive, Moonachie, NJ   07074
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(973) 428-2000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
     
Title of Each Class   Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
     
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share   NYSE Amex
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
o YES þ NO.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act).
o YES þ NO.
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 requirement for the past 90 days. þ YES o NO.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 229.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). o YES o NO.
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
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 o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company þ
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). o YES þ NO.
Aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity of the registrant held by non-affiliates of the registrant at September 30, 2010 (computed by reference to the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the NYSE Amex on such date): $26,744,733.
Number of Common Shares outstanding at July 14, 2011: 27,129,832
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
     
    Part of the
Document   Form 10-K
Proxy Statement for 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K
  Part III
 
 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
Item 1. BUSINESS
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 2. PROPERTIES
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 4. Removed and reserved
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER REPURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Item 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
SIGNATURES
Exhibit 21.1
Exhibit 23.1
Exhibit 31.1
Exhibit 31.2
Exhibit 32


Table of Contents

PART I
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains, in addition to historical information, “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) that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Business- Forward-Looking Statements.”
Item 1.  
BUSINESS
The Company — Overview
Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “the Company” and “Emerson,” refers to Emerson Radio Corp. and its subsidiaries.
The Company designs, sources, imports and markets a variety of houseware and consumer electronic products, and licenses its trademarks to others on a worldwide basis for a variety of products.
For additional disclosures of the Company’s major customers, as well as financial information about geographical areas of our operations, see Item 8 — “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” and Note 15 “Geographic Information”.
Controlling Shareholder
The Grande Holdings Limited (Provisional Liquidators Appointed) (“Grande”), a Bermuda corporation, has advised the Company that, as of March 31, 2011, one of its indirect subsidiaries held beneficially 15,243,283 shares or approximately 56.2% of the outstanding common stock of Emerson. That number of shares includes 3,391,967 shares (the “Pledged Shares”) which, according to public filings made by Deutsche Bank AG (“Deutsche Bank”) in March 2010 had previously been pledged to Deutsche Bank to secure indebtedness owed to it. In February 2011, Deutsche Bank filed a Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that Deutsche Bank had sole voting and sole dispositive power over the Pledged Shares (which represent approximately 12.5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock). The Company believes that both Grande and Deutsche Bank have claimed beneficial ownership of the Pledged Shares. As of July 14, 2011, the Company has not been able to verify independently the beneficial ownership of the Pledged Shares. (see Item 1A “Risk Factors — Business Related Risks — “Uncertain Impact of Appointment of Provisional Liquidators for Grande, Emerson’s Controlling Shareholder”).
On May 31, 2011, upon application of a major creditor, the High Court of Hong Kong appointed Fok Hei Yu and Roderick John Sutton, both of FTI Consulting (Hong Kong) Limited (“FTI”), as Joint and Several Provisional Liquidators over Grande (the “Provisional Liquidators over Grande”). In addition, in June 2011, Grande filed a Chapter 15 petition under the United States Bankruptcy Code with the United States Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. (see Item 1A “Risk Factors — Business Related Risks — “Uncertain Impact of Appointment of Provisional Liquidators for Grande, Emerson’s Controlling Shareholder”).
Supervision and Regulation
The Company files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Readers may read and copy any document the Company files at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operations of the public reference room. The Company’s filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document retrieval services and at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The Company makes available through its internet website free of charge its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, amendments to such reports and other filings made by the Company with the SEC, as soon as practicable after the Company electronically files such reports and filings with the SEC. The Company’s website address is www.emersonradio.com. The information contained in the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference in this report.

 

2


Table of Contents

General
The Company, directly and through several subsidiaries, designs, sources, imports, markets, sells and licenses to certain licensees a variety of houseware and consumer electronic products, both domestically and internationally, under the Emerson(R), HH Scott(R) and Olevia(R) brand names. These products include:
   
microwave ovens, compact refrigerators and wine coolers;
   
clock radios and other audio products; and
   
video and other products — primarily televisions, digital video disc (DVD) players and mobile electronics
The trade name “Emerson Radio” dates back to 1912 and is one of the oldest and most well respected names in the consumer electronics industry. See “Licensing and Related Activities.”

 

3


Table of Contents

The Company believes it possesses an advantage over its competitors due to the combination of:
   
recognition of the “(EMERSON LOGO)” brand;
   
the Company’s distribution base and established customer relations;
   
the Company’s sourcing expertise and established vendor relations;
   
an infrastructure with personnel experienced in servicing and providing logistical support to the domestic mass merchant distribution channel; and
   
the Company’s extensive experience in establishing license and distribution agreements on a global basis for a variety of products.
The Company intends to continue leveraging its core competencies to offer a variety of current and new houseware and consumer electronic products to customers. In addition, the Company intends to enter into licenses for the use of its trade names and trademarks by third parties, which the Company refers to as “outward licenses”. The Company continues to enter into distribution agreements that leverage its trademarks and utilize the logistical and sourcing advantages of unrelated third-parties for products that are more efficiently marketed through these agreements. The Company continuously evaluates potential licenses and distribution agreements. See “Licensing and Related Activities.”
The Company’s core business consists of selling, distributing, and licensing various low and moderately priced houseware and consumer electronic products in various categories. A substantial portion of the Company’s marketing and sales efforts are concentrated in the United States, although the Company also sells, or licenses for sale, its products in certain other international regions.
Products
The Company’s current product and branded categories consist of the following:
         
Houseware Products   Audio Products   Other
Microwave ovens
  Digital clock radios   Televisions
Compact refrigerators
  Portable stereo systems   DVD players
Wine Coolers
      Telephones and telephone accessories
 
      Mobile electronics
Sales and Distribution
The Company’s Direct Import Program allows its customers to import and receive product directly from its contracted manufacturers located outside the United States. Under the Direct Import Program, title for the Company’s product passes to the customer in the country of origin when the product is shipped by the manufacturer. The Company also sells product to customers from its United States based finished goods inventory, which is referred to as the Domestic Program. Under the Domestic Program, title for product typically passes at the time of shipment. Under both programs, the Company recognizes revenues at the time title passes to the customer. See Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
The Company has an integrated system to coordinate the purchasing, sales and distribution aspects of its operations. The Company receives orders from its major customers via electronic data interface, facsimile, telephone or mail. The Company does not have long-term contracts with any of its customers, but rather receives orders on an ongoing basis. Products imported by the Company for the Domestic Program, generally from factories in Asia, are shipped by ocean and/or inland freight and then stored in the Company’s warehouse facilities for shipment to customers. The Company monitors its inventory levels and goods in transit through the use of an electronic inventory system. When a purchase order under the Domestic Program is received, it is filled from the Company’s inventory and the warehoused product is labeled and prepared for outbound shipment to the customer by common, contract or small package carrier.
Domestic Marketing
In the United States, the Company markets its products primarily through mass merchandisers.

 

4


Table of Contents

In fiscal 2011 and 2010, Wal-Mart accounted for approximately 58% and 53% of the Company’s net revenues, respectively, and Target accounted for approximately 29% and 25% of the Company’s net revenues, respectively. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of net revenues in either period. The trade accounts receivable balances for Wal-Mart and Target, net of specific reserves, were 88% and 11% as of March 31, 2011, respectively, and 68% and 15% as of March 31, 2010, respectively. Management believes that a loss, or a significant reduction, of sales to Wal-Mart or Target would have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.
Approximately 37% and 38% of the Company’s net revenues in fiscal 2011 and 2010, respectively, were made through third-party sales representative organizations that receive sales commissions and work in conjunction with the Company’s own sales personnel. With the Company’s permission, third-party sales representative organizations may sell competitive products in addition to the Company’s products. In most instances, either party may terminate a sales representative relationship on 30 days prior notice by the Company and 90 days prior notice by the sales representative organization in accordance with customary industry practice. In fiscal 2011, the Company utilized approximately 20 sales representative organizations, including one through which approximately 29% of its net revenues, including revenues from one of the Company’s two major customers described above, were made in fiscal 2011. In fiscal 2010, the Company utilized approximately 20 sales representative organizations, including one through which approximately 25% of its net revenues, including revenues from one of the Company’s two major customers described above, were made in fiscal 2010. No other sales representative organization accounted for more than 10% of net revenues in either year. The remainder of the Company’s sales is to customers that are serviced by its sales personnel. Although sales and operating results could be negatively impacted, management does not believe that the loss of one or more sales representative organizations would have a material adverse effect on its business and results of operations, as the Company believes that new sales representative organizations could be identified if needed, although that could be a time consuming process.
Foreign Marketing
The Company primarily markets and distributes its products in the United States. Accordingly, foreign sales account for less than 10% of total revenues and are not considered material.
Licensing and Related Activities
Throughout various parts of the world, the Company is party to numerous distribution and outward license agreements with third party licensees that allow the licensees to manufacture and/or sell various products bearing the Company’s trademarks into defined geographic areas. The Company believes that such activities have had and will continue to have a positive impact on operating results by generating income with minimal, if any, incremental costs and without any working capital requirements, and intends to pursue additional licensing and distribution opportunities. The Company continues to protect its brand through rigid license and product selection and control processes. See Item 1A — “Risk Factors — Business Related Risks — The failure by the Company to maintain its relationships with its licensees, licensors and distributors, or the failure to obtain new licensees, licensors and distributions relationships could materially adversely affect the Company’s revenues and earnings”, Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 13 “License Agreements”.
Design and Manufacturing
The Company’s products are manufactured by several original equipment manufacturers in accordance with the Company’s specifications. During fiscal 2011 and 2010, 100% of the Company’s purchases consisted of finished goods from foreign manufacturers, primarily located in People’s Republic of China, substantially all of which were imported into the United States.
The Company’s design team is responsible for product development and works closely with suppliers. The Company’s engineers determine the detailed cosmetic, electronic and other features for new products, which typically incorporate commercially available electronic parts to be assembled according to the Company’s designs. Accordingly, the exterior designs and operating features of the products reflect the Company’s judgment of current styles and consumer preferences.
The following summarizes the Company’s purchases from its major suppliers that provided more than 10% of the Company’s total purchases in fiscal 2011 and 2010:
                 
    Fiscal Year  
Supplier   2011     2010  
Midea
    73 %     73 %
Hualing
    14 %     *  
     
*  
Less than 10%.

 

5


Table of Contents

The Company considers its relationships with its suppliers to be satisfactory and believes that, barring any unusual material or part shortages or economic, fiscal or monetary conditions, the Company could develop alternative suppliers. No assurance can be given that ample supply of product would be available at current prices and on current credit terms if the Company were required to seek alternative sources of supply without adequate notice by a supplier or a reasonable opportunity to seek alternate production facilities and component parts. (see Item 1A “Risk Factors — Business Related Risks — “Uncertain Impact of Appointment of Provisional Liquidators for Grande, Emerson’s Controlling Shareholder”) and Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.
Warranties
The Company offers limited warranties for its consumer electronics, comparable to those offered to consumers by the Company’s competitors in the United States. Such warranties typically consist of a one year period for microwaves and a 90 day period for audio products, under which the Company pays for labor and parts, or offers a new or similar unit in exchange for a non-performing unit.
Returned Products
The Company’s customers return product for a variety of reasons, including:
   
retailer return policies with their customers;
   
damage to goods in transit and cosmetic imperfections; and
   
mechanical failures.
Backlog
The Company does not believe that backlog is a significant factor. The ability of management to correctly anticipate and provide for inventory requirements is essential to the successful operation of the Company’s business.
Trademarks
The Company owns the following principal trademarks
   
“(EMERSON LOGO)”
 
   
“Emerson Research(R)”
 
   
“H.H. Scott(R)”
 
   
“iDEA(R)”
 
   
“IDIVA(R)”
 
   
“Ölevia(R)”
 
   
“Scott(R)”
 
   
“SmartSet(R)”
for certain consumer electronic products in the United States, Canada, Mexico and various other countries. The Company’s trademark registrations must be renewed at various times. The Company intends to renew all trademarks necessary for the conduct of its business. The Company considers the “(EMERSON LOGO)” trademark to be of material importance to its business and, to a lesser degree, the remaining trademarks. The Company licenses the “(EMERSON LOGO)” and certain of its other trademarks to third parties, the scope of which is on a limited product and geographic basis and for a period of time. See “Licensing and Related Activities.”

 

6


Table of Contents

Competition
The Company primarily competes in the low-to-medium-priced sector of the housewares and consumer electronics market. Management estimates that the Company has several dozen competitors that are manufacturers and/or distributors, many of which are much larger and have greater financial resources than the Company. The Company competes primarily on the basis of:
   
brand recognition;
   
reliability;
   
quality;
   
price;
   
design;
   
consumer acceptance of the Company’s products; and
   
the quality of service and support to retailers and their customers.
The Company also competes at the retail level for shelf space and promotional displays, all of which have an impact on our success in established and proposed distribution channels.
Working Capital
The Company’s loan agreement with Wachovia Bank N.A. expired by its terms on December 23, 2010. Beginning November 2010, the Company began utilizing Hang Seng Bank to issue letters of credit on behalf of the Company, on an as-needed basis. The Company anticipates that its cash on hand and cash flows generated from operations will provide sufficient liquidity to meet the Company’s operating requirements in the year ahead (see Item 1A “Risk Factors — Business Related Risks — “Uncertain Impact of Appointment of Provisional Liquidators for Grande, Emerson’s Controlling Shareholder”).
Government Regulation
Pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, the Trade Act of 1974 and regulations promulgated there under, the United States government charges tariff duties, excess charges, assessments and penalties on many imports. These regulations are subject to continuous change and revision by government agencies and by action of the United States Trade Representative and may have the effect of increasing the cost of goods purchased by the Company or limiting quantities of goods available to the Company from our overseas suppliers. A number of states have adopted statutes regulating the manner of determining the amount of payments to independent service centers performing warranty service on products such as those sold by the Company. Additional Federal legislation and regulations regarding the importation of consumer electronics products, including the products marketed by the Company, have been proposed from time to time and, if enacted into law, could adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
Product Liability and Insurance
Because of the nature of the products it sells, the Company is periodically subject to product liability claims resulting from personal injuries. The Company may also become involved in various lawsuits incidental to its business.
Although the Company maintains product liability insurance coverage, there can be no absolute assurance that the Company’s coverage limits will be sufficient to cover any successful product liability claims made against it in the future. In management’s opinion, any ultimate liability arising out of currently pending product liability claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. However, any claims substantially in excess of the Company’s insurance coverage, or any substantial claim not covered by insurance, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

7


Table of Contents

Employees
As of July 14, 2011, the Company had approximately 85 employees, comprised of 34 in the United States and 51 in Asia. None of the Company’s employees are represented by unions, and we believe our labor relations are good.
Item 1A.  
Risk Factors
The reader should carefully consider these risk factors in addition to those set forth in the Company’s financial statements or the notes thereto. Additional risks about which the Company is not yet aware or that the Company currently believes to be immaterial also may adversely affect the Company’s business operations. If any of the following occur, the Company’s business, financial condition or operating results may be adversely affected. In that case, the price of the Company’s common stock may decline.
Business Related Risks
Uncertain Impact of Appointment of Provisional Liquidators for Grande, Emerson’s Controlling Shareholder.
The consequences for the Company, if any, of the appointment of Provisional Liquidators over Grande and the subsequent filing by Grande with the United States Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan in June 2011 of a Chapter 15 petition under the United States Bankruptcy Code are uncertain at this time, although it is possible, as noted below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, that actions taken by the Provisional Liquidator over Grande could affect in an adverse way a number of significant aspects of the Company’s business. Subsequent to the appointment, certain major factory suppliers, including Midea, have significantly reduced the maximum amount of open credit lines available to the Company. At the factories’ request, the Company made accelerated payments in June and July of 2011 to reduce the balances owing from the Company on its open trade payable accounts with the respective factory suppliers to comply with such new credit terms. The Company relies on its cash on hand and cash generated by ongoing operations to manage its business. The Provisional Liquidators informed Emerson, on June 1, 2011, that they do not have any intention of interrupting the business of Emerson, that Emerson will continue to be operated as usual without interruption, and that they did not have any intent at that point of disposing of the shares of Emerson stock held by Grande.
The majority ownership of the Company’s common stock by an indirect subsidiary of Grande, which is listed and is based in Hong Kong, substantially reduces the influence of other stockholders, and the interests of Grande may conflict with the interests of the Company’s other stockholders.
Grande, through one of its indirect subsidiaries (collectively, “Grande”) is the beneficial owner of a significant amount of the Company’s outstanding common stock as of June 29, 2011 (see Item 1 “Business — Controlling Shareholder” for disclosures regarding the approximate shareholding position of Grande in the Company). As a result, Grande currently controls significantly the approval process for actions that require stockholder approval, including: the election of the Company’s directors and the approval of mergers, sales of assets or other significant corporate transactions or matters submitted for stockholder approval. Because of Grande’s ownership position, other stockholders have little or no influence over matters submitted for stockholder approval.
A number of the Company’s directors and senior executive officers also are managing directors or senior officers of Grande and have loyalties and fiduciary obligations to both Grande and the Company.
Christopher Ho, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, and Duncan Hon, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, are also directors of Grande. In addition, Mr. Ho serves as The Chairman of the Board of Grande and Duncan Hon serves as an officer and director of Grande. Adrian Ma, the Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, also served as Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Grande until his resignation from such positions with Grande on June 23, 2011. As described in Note 3 to the Company’s financial statements and in the Company’s previous filings with the SEC, there have been a number of related party transactions between the Company and Grande. Grande does not owe the Company any amounts under any existing related party transactions as at March 31, 2011 (see Item 1A “Risk Factors — Business Related Risks — “Uncertain Impact of Appointment of Provisional Liquidators for Grande, Emerson’s Controlling Shareholder”).
The Company has established adequate procedures designed to ensure that future material related party transactions are fair to the Company.

 

8


Table of Contents

The loss or significant reduction in business of any of the Company’s key customers, including Wal-Mart and Target, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s revenues and earnings.
The Company is highly dependent upon sales of its products to Wal-Mart and Target. For the fiscal years ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, Wal-Mart accounted for approximately 58% and 53% of the Company’s net revenues, respectively, and Target accounted for approximately 29% and 25%, respectively, of the Company’s net revenues. No other customer accounted for greater than 10% of the Company’s net revenues during these periods. All customer purchases are made through purchase orders and the Company does not have any long-term contracts with its customers. The complete loss of, or significant reduction in business from, or a material adverse change in the financial condition of, Wal-Mart or Target will cause a material and adverse change in the Company’s revenues and operating results (see Item 1A “Risk Factors — Business Related Risks — “Uncertain Impact of Appointment of Provisional Liquidators for Grande, Emerson’s Controlling Shareholder”).
The Company depends on a limited number of suppliers for its products. The inability to secure products could reduce the Company’s revenues and adversely affect its relationship with its customers.
Although there are multiple suppliers for each of the Company’s products, the Company relies and is dependent on a limited number of suppliers for its main products, all of which are located outside of the United States. This reliance involves a number of significant potential risks, including:
   
lack of availability of materials and interruptions in delivery of components and raw materials from suppliers;
   
manufacturing delays caused by such lack of availability or interruptions in delivery;
   
fluctuations in the quality and the price of components and raw materials, in particular due to the petroleum price impact on such materials; and
   
risk related to foreign operations.
The Company does not have any long-term or exclusive purchase commitments with any of its suppliers. Midea was the Company’s largest supplier during fiscal 2011 and accounted for 73% of the Company’s purchases of products during fiscal 2011. The Company’s failure to maintain existing relationships with its suppliers or to establish new relationships on similar pricing and credit terms in the future could negatively affect the Company’s ability to obtain products in a timely manner. If the Company is unable to obtain an ample supply of product from its existing suppliers or alternative sources of supply, it may be unable to satisfy its customers’ orders, which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s revenues and relationships with its customers. Finding replacement suppliers could be a time consuming process during which the Company’s revenues and liquidity could be negatively impacted (see Item 1A “Risk Factors — Business Related Risks — “Uncertain Impact of Appointment of Provisional Liquidators for Grande, Emerson’s Controlling Shareholder”).
If the Company’s contract manufacturers are unable to deliver products in the required amounts and in a timely fashion, the Company could experience delays or reductions in shipments to its customers, which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s revenues and relationships with its customers. Unanticipated disruptions in the Company’s operations, slowdowns or shutdowns by its suppliers, manufacturers and shipping companies could adversely affect the Company’s ability to deliver its products and services to its customers which could materially and adversely affect the Company’s revenues and relationships with its customers.
The Company’s ability to provide high quality customer service, process and fulfill orders, and manage inventory depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of its distribution centers and the timely and uninterrupted performance of third party manufacturers and suppliers, shipping companies and dock workers. Any material disruption, slowdown or shutdown of the Company’s operation of its call center, distribution centers, or management information systems, or comparable disruptions, slowdowns or shutdowns suffered by the Company’s principal manufacturers, suppliers and shippers could cause delays in the Company’s ability to receive, process and fulfill customer orders and may cause orders to be canceled, lost or delivered late, goods to be returned or receipt of goods to be refused. As a result, the Company’s revenues and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.
All of the Company’s products are manufactured in accordance with its specifications by factories principally located in China. If the Company is unable to obtain products from these factories in the required quantities and quality and in a timely fashion, the Company could experience delays or reductions in product shipments to its customers, which could negatively affect the Company’s ability to meet the requirements of its customers, as well as its relationships with its customers, which in turn could materially and adversely affect the Company’s revenues and operating results.

 

9


Table of Contents

Substantially all of the Company’s suppliers are located in China. Inadequate development and maintenance of infrastructure in China, including inadequate power and water supplies, transportation and raw materials availability, and the deterioration in the general political, economic and social environments in China may make it difficult, more expensive and possibly prohibitive for these suppliers to continue to operate in China. If the Company cannot find suitable replacements for any manufacturers that have or may in the future close their facilities, the Company’s revenues and operating results could be materially and adversely affected.
The failure by the Company to maintain its relationships with its licensees, licensors and distributors or the failure to obtain new licensees, licensors or distribution relationships could materially and adversely affect the Company’s revenues and earnings.
The Company maintains agreements that allow licensees to use the Company’s trademarks for the manufacture and sale of specific consumer electronics and other products. In addition, the Company maintains agreements for the distribution of products bearing its brands into defined geographic areas. Although the Company has entered into agreements with certain of its licensees and distributors of its products, most have terms of three years or less, including the Company’s agreement with Funai, which expires in December 2012 unless renewed. The Company cannot assure that such agreements will be renewed or that the Company’s relationships with its licensees or distributors will be maintained on satisfactory terms or at all. The failure to maintain its relationships with Funai and other licensees and distributors on terms satisfactory to the Company, the failure to obtain new licensees or distribution relationships or the failure by the Company’s licensees to protect the integrity and reputation of the Company’s trademarks could materially and adversely affect the Company’s licensing revenues and earnings.
The Company’s business could be materially and adversely affected if it cannot protect its intellectual property rights or if it infringes on the intellectual property rights of others.
The Company’s ability to compete effectively depends on its ability to maintain and protect its proprietary rights. The Company owns the Emerson(R) and other trademarks, which are materially important to its business, as well as other trademarks, patents, licenses and proprietary rights that are used for certain of the products that it markets and sells. The Company’s trademarks are registered throughout the world, including the United States and other countries. The Company also has two patents in the United States on its SmartSet(R) technology, both of which expire in September 2018. The laws of some foreign countries in which the Company operates may not protect the Company’s proprietary rights to the same extent as do laws in the United States. The protections afforded by the laws of such countries may not be adequate to protect the Company’s intellectual property rights.
Third parties may seek to challenge, invalidate, circumvent or render unenforceable any trademarks, patents or proprietary rights owned by or licensed to the Company. In addition, in the event third party licensees fail to protect the integrity of the Company’s trademarks, the value of these marks could be materially and adversely affected. The Company’s inability to protect its proprietary rights could materially and adversely affect the license of its trade names, trademarks and patents to third parties as well as its ability to sell its products. Litigation may be necessary to enforce the Company’s intellectual property rights, protect the Company’s trade secrets; and determine the scope and validity of such intellectual property rights. Any such litigation, whether or not successful, could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management’s attention from the operation of the Company’s business.
The Company may receive notices of claims of infringement of other parties’ proprietary rights. Such actions could result in litigation and the Company could incur significant costs and diversion of resources in defending such claims. The party making such claims could secure a judgment awarding substantial damages, as well as injunctive or other equitable relief. Such relief could effectively block the Company’s ability to make, use, sell, distribute or market its products and services in such jurisdiction. The Company may also be required to seek licenses to such intellectual property. The Company cannot predict, however, whether such licenses would be available or, if available, that such licenses could be obtained on terms that are commercially reasonable and acceptable to the Company. The failure to obtain the necessary licenses or other rights could delay or preclude the sale, manufacture or distribution of its products and could result in increased costs to the Company.
The Company’s revenues and earnings could be materially and adversely affected if it cannot anticipate market trends or enhance existing products or achieve market acceptance of new products.
The Company’s success is dependent on its ability to anticipate and respond to changing consumer demands and trends in a timely manner, as well as expanding into new markets and developing new products. In addition, to increase the Company’s penetration of current markets and gain footholds in new markets for its products, the Company must maintain its existing products and integrate them with new products. The Company may not be successful in developing, marketing and releasing new products that respond to technological developments or changing customer needs and preferences. The Company may also experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful development, introduction and sale of these new products. These new products may not adequately meet the requirements of the marketplace and may not achieve any significant degree of market acceptance. If release dates of any future products or enhancements to the Company’s products are delayed, or if these products or enhancements fail to achieve market acceptance when released, the Company’s sales volume may decline and earnings could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, new products or enhancements by the Company’s competitors may cause customers to defer or forgo purchases of the Company’s products, which could also materially and adversely affect the Company’s revenues and earnings.

 

10


Table of Contents

The Company relies on its cash on hand and cash generated from operations to fund its business.
The Company relies on its cash on hand and cash generated by on-going operations to manage its business, and has not attempted to seek alternative sources of financing at this time.
Foreign regulations and changes in the political, social and economic conditions in the foreign countries in which the Company operates its business could affect the Company’s revenues and earnings materially and adversely.
The Company derives a significant portion of its revenue from sales of products manufactured by third parties located primarily in China. In addition, third parties located in China and other countries located in the same region produce and supply many of the components and raw materials used in the Company’s products. Conducting an international business inherently involves a number of difficulties and risks that could materially and adversely affect the Company’s ability to generate revenues and could subject the Company to increased costs. Among the factors that may adversely affect the Company’s revenues and increase its costs are:
   
currency fluctuations which could cause an increase in the price of the components and raw materials used in the Company’s products and a decrease in its profits;
   
Chinese labor laws;
   
labor shortages in manufacturing facilities located in China;
   
the elimination or reduction of value-added tax refunds to Chinese factories that manufacture products for export;
   
the rise of inflation and substantial economic growth in China;
   
more stringent export restrictions in the countries in which the Company operates which could adversely affect its ability to deliver its products to its customers;
   
tariffs and other trade barriers which could make it more expensive for the Company to obtain and deliver its products to its customers;
   
political instability and economic downturns in these countries which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to obtain its products from its manufacturers or deliver its products to its customers in a timely fashion; and
   
new restrictions on the sale of electronic products containing certain hazardous substances.
   
the laws of China are likely to govern many of the Company’s supplier agreements.
Any of the factors described above may materially and adversely affect the Company’s revenues and/or increase its operating expenses.

 

11


Table of Contents

The inability to use its tax net operating losses could result in a charge to earnings and could require the Company to pay higher taxes.
The Company has substantial tax net operating losses available to reduce taxable income for federal and state income tax purposes. A portion of the benefit associated with the tax net operating losses has been recognized as a deferred tax asset in the Company’s financial statements and could be used to reduce its tax liability in future profitable periods. The Company believes these net deferred tax assets will be realized through tax planning strategies available in future periods and future profitable operating results. Although realization is not assured, the Company believes it is more likely than not that most of the remaining net deferred tax assets will be realized prior to expiration. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be reduced or eliminated in the near term if certain tax planning strategies are not successfully executed, or estimates of future taxable income during the carry-forward period is reduced.
The Company is subject to intense competition in the industry in which it operates, which could cause material changes in the selling price of its products or losses of its market share.
The housewares and consumer electronics industry is highly competitive, especially with respect to pricing and the introduction of new products and features. The Company’s products compete in the low to medium-priced sector of the housewares and consumer electronics market and compete primarily on the basis of reliability, brand recognition, quality, price, design, consumer acceptance of the Emerson(R) trademark and quality service and support to retailers and its customers. The Company and many of its competitors are subject to factory cost increases, and the Company expects these pressures to continue. If these pressures are not mitigated by increases in selling price or cost reductions from the Company’s suppliers or changes in product mix, of if the consumers of the Company’s products change their buying habits as a result of the Company’s actions, the Company’s revenues and profits could be substantially reduced. As compared to the Company, many of its competitors have significantly greater managerial, financial, marketing, technical and other competitive resources and greater brand recognition. As a result, the Company’s competitors may be able to (i) adapt more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements; (ii) devote greater resources to the promotion and sale of their products and services; and (iii) respond more effectively to pricing pressures.
In addition, competition could increase if new companies enter the market, existing competitors expand their product mix or the Company expands into new markets. An increase in competition could result in material price reductions or loss of the Company’s market share.

 

12


Table of Contents

Changes in consumer spending and economic conditions may cause its quarterly operating results to fluctuate and cause its stock price to decline.
The Company’s net revenue and operating results may vary significantly from year to year, which may adversely affect its results of operations and the market price for its common stock. Factors that may cause these fluctuations include:
   
changes in market and economic conditions;
   
the discretionary nature of consumers’ demands and spending patterns;
   
variations in the sales of the Company’s products to its significant customers;
   
variations in manufacturing and supplier relationships;
   
if the Company is unable to correctly anticipate and provide for inventory requirements, it may not have sufficient inventory to deliver its products to its customers in a timely fashion or the Company may have excess inventory that it is unable to sell;
   
new product developments or introductions;
   
product reviews and other media coverage;
   
competition, including competitive price pressures; and
   
political instability, war, acts of terrorism or other disasters.
If the Company’s third party sales representatives fail to adequately promote, market and sell the Company’s products, the Company’s revenues could significantly decrease.
A significant portion of the Company’s product sales are made through third party sales representative organizations, whose members are not employees of the Company. The Company’s level of sales depends on the effectiveness of these organizations, as well as the effectiveness of its own employees. Some of these third party representatives may sell (and do sell), with the Company’s permission, competitive products of third parties as well as the Company’s products. During the Company’s fiscal years ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, these organizations were responsible for approximately 37% and 38%, respectively, of its net revenues during such periods. In addition, one of these representative organizations was responsible for a significant portion of these revenues. If any of the Company’s third party sales representative organizations engaged by the Company, especially the Company’s largest, fails to adequately promote, market and sell its products, the Company’s revenues could be significantly decreased until a replacement organization or distributor could be retained by the Company. Finding replacement organizations and distributors could be a time consuming process during which the Company’s revenues could be negatively impacted.
The Company could be exposed to product liability or other claims for which its product liability or other insurance may be inadequate.
A failure of any of the products marketed by the Company may subject it to the risk of product liability claims and litigation arising from injuries allegedly caused by the improper functioning or design of its products. Although the Company currently maintains product liability insurance in amounts which the Company considers adequate, the Company cannot assure that:
   
its insurance will provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities;
   
adequate product liability insurance will continue to be available in the future; or
   
its insurance can be maintained on acceptable terms.
Although the Company maintains liability insurance in amounts that it considers adequate, the Company cannot assure that such policies will provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. To the extent product liability or other litigation losses are beyond the limits or scope of the Company’s insurance coverage, the Company’s expenses could materially increase.

 

13


Table of Contents

Market Related Risks
Grande’s controlling interest in the Company’s common stock as well as its organizational documents and Delaware law make it difficult for the Company to be acquired without the consent and cooperation of Grande, the Company’s board of directors and management.
Grande’s controlling interest in the Company’s shares as well as several provisions of its organizational documents and Delaware law may deter or prevent a takeover attempt, including a takeover attempt in which the potential purchaser offers to pay a per share price greater than the current market price of its common stock. Under the terms of the Company’s certificate of incorporation, its board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. The ability to issue shares of preferred stock could tend to discourage takeover or acquisition proposals not supported by its current board of directors (see Item 1A “Risk Factors — Business Related Risks — “Uncertain Impact of Appointment of Provisional Liquidators for Grande, Emerson’s Controlling Shareholder”).
If the Company’s common stock is de-listed from the NYSE Amex, shareholders liquidity in their shares may be adversely affected and shareholders may have difficulty selling their shares or attaining a satisfactory price.
In order for the Company’s common stock to be eligible to continue to be listed on the NYSE Amex, the Company must meet the current NYSE Amex continued listing requirements, including satisfying the Audit Committee composition requirements and the timely filing of periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If the Company is unable to continue to meet these requirements, its common stock could be de-listed from the NYSE Amex. If the Company’s common stock were to be de-listed from the NYSE Amex, its common stock could continue to trade on the National Association of Securities Dealers’ over-the-counter bulletin board or on the Pink Sheets, as the case may be. Any such de-listing of the Company’s common stock could have an adverse effect on the market price of, and the efficiency of the trading market for its common stock, in terms of the number of shares that can be bought and sold at a given price and through delays in the timing of transactions and less coverage of the Company by securities analysts, if any. It also could have an adverse effect on the Company’s ability to raise capital in the public or private equity markets if the Company were to determine that it needs to seek additional equity capital in the future.
Forward-Looking Information
This report contains forward looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 under 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 its 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. You can identify these forward-looking statements through the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “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 see Item 1A “Risk Factors — Business Related Risks — “Uncertain Impact of Appointment of Provisional Liquidators for Grande, Emerson’s Controlling Shareholder”;
   
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 improve and maintain effective internal controls or the failure by its personnel to comply with such internal controls;

 

14


Table of Contents

   
the Company’s inability to maintain its relationships with its licensees and distributors or the failure to obtain new licensees or distribution relationships on favorable terms;
   
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 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;
   
changes in accounting policies, rules and practices;
   
limited access to financing or increased cost of financing; and
   
the other factors listed under “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with 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 annual report or the date of the document incorporated by reference into this annual report. The Company has no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, revise or correct any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Company has expressed its expectations, beliefs and projections in good faith and the Company believes they have a reasonable basis. However, the Company cannot assure the reader that its expectations, beliefs or projections will result or be achieved or accomplished.
Item 2.  
PROPERTIES
The following table sets forth the material properties owned or leased by the Company:
                 
    Approximate          
    Square         Lease Expires (If
Facility Purpose   Footage     Location   Leased Property)
Corporate headquarters
    23,000     Moonachie, NJ   Owned
New York office*
    3,032     New York, NY   July 2012
China office
    6,351     Zhongshan, China   **
Hong Kong office
    36,014     Hong Kong, China   December 2011
Macao office
    4,333     Macao, China   March 2013
Warehouse
    180,650     Mira Loma, CA   September 2013
 
     
*  
The Company’s leased office space in New York City is currently not occupied by the Company and has been subleased to a third party.
 
**  
The Company terminated its lease for this office during May 2011.
Periodically, depending on need and circumstances, the Company may also utilize public warehouse space with terms typically of one year or less. Public warehouse expenses vary based upon the volume and value of products shipped from each leased location.
The Company believes that the properties used for its operations are in satisfactory condition and adequate for its present and anticipated future operations.

 

15


Table of Contents

Item 3.  
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Settlement of In re: Emerson Radio Shareholder Derivative Litigation. On January 18, 2011, the Delaware Court of Chancery (the “Court”) approved the settlement of two previously filed and later consolidated derivative actions (the Berkowitz and Pinchuk actions) against two current and one former director of Emerson Radio Corp. (the “Company”) in which it was alleged that the named defendants violated their fiduciary duties to the Company in connection with a number of related party transactions with affiliates of The Grande Holdings Limited (Provisional Liquidators Appointed), the Company’s controlling shareholder. As approved, the settlement calls for the payment to the Company by or on behalf of the defendants of the sum of $3.0 million, which was paid to the Company in full by the named defendants in March 2011, and the continuation of a number of previously adopted corporate governance reforms. On March 28, 2011, the Court approved an award to plaintiff’s attorneys payable out of the settlement proceeds of $875,000 on account of legal services rendered and costs and expenses incurred, which the Company paid to the plaintiff’s attorneys in April 2011.
Kayne Litigation. On July 7, 2011, the Company was served with a complaint filed in the Federal District Court for the Central District of California alleging that it, certain of its present and former directors and other entities or individuals now or previously associated with Grande, intentionally interfered with the ability of the plaintiffs to collect on a judgment (now approximately $47 million) it had against Grande by engaging in transactions (such as the dividend paid to all shareholders in March 2010) which transferred assets out of the United States. The complaint also asserts claims under the civil RICO statute. In the Company’s opinion, based on an initial review, the claims appear to be devoid of merit. Emerson intends to defend the action vigorously.
Other. Except for the litigation matters described above, 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 4.  
Removed and reserved

 

16


Table of Contents

PART II
Item 5.  
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER REPURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
(a) Market Information
The Company’s common stock began trading on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol MSN on December 22, 1994, and currently trades on the NYSE Amex under the same symbol, as a result of NYSE Euronext’s acquisition of the American Stock Exchange in 2008. The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices for the Company’s common stock as reported by the NYSE Amex and American Stock Exchanges during the last two fiscal years.
                                 
    Fiscal 2011     Fiscal 2010  
    High     Low     High     Low  
First Quarter
  $ 2.41     $ 1.52     $ .75     $ .46  
Second Quarter
    2.84       1.57       1.64       .51  
Third Quarter
    2.26       1.85       2.75       1.24  
Fourth Quarter
    2.96       1.97       4.78       2.06  
There is no established trading market for the Company’s Series A convertible preferred stock, whose conversion feature expired as of March 31, 2002.
(b) Holders
At July 5, 2011, there were approximately 268 stockholders of the Company’s common stock whose shares were registered with the Company’s transfer agent. The Company believes that the number of beneficial owners is substantially greater than the number of registered shareholders, because a large portion of the Company’s common stock is held of record in broker “street names”.
(c) Dividends
Other than the one-time extraordinary dividend of $1.10 per common share paid by the Company on March 24, 2010, the Company has not paid cash dividends on its common stock.
Item 6.  
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
Not applicable.
Item 7.  
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
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 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Special Note: Certain statements set forth below constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. See Item 1A — “Risk Factors — Forward-Looking Information.”
In the following discussions, most percentages and dollar amounts have been rounded to aid presentation. As a result, all figures are approximations.

 

17


Table of Contents

Results of Operations:
The following table summarizes certain financial information for the fiscal years ended March 31 (in thousands):
                 
    2011     2010  
Net revenues
  $ 200,841     $ 206,960  
Cost of sales
    172,917       175,463  
Other operating costs and expenses
    1,636       3,134  
Selling, general and administrative
    7,383       14,598  
 
           
Operating income
    18,905       13,765  
Gain on settlement of litigation
    1,806        
Realized gains on trading securities
    966        
Interest income (expense), net
    32       (24 )
 
           
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    21,709       13,741  
Provision for income taxes
    5,791       2,371  
 
           
Net income from continuing operations
  $ 15,918     $ 11,370  
 
           
As a result of the Company’s sale of its membership in the ASI joint venture in April 2009, the results of operations of the Company’s membership interest in the ASI joint venture have been presented as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Results of Continuing Operations — Fiscal 2011 compared with Fiscal 2010
Net Revenues — Net revenues for fiscal 2011 were $200.8 million as compared to $207.0 million for fiscal 2010, a decrease of $6.2 million or 3.0%. Net revenues 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 revenues and operating income by $0.7 million and $1.2 million for fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, respectively.
Net revenues are primarily comprised of Emerson(R) houseware product sales, branded product sales and licensing revenues. Emerson(R) branded product sales arise from the sale of products, other than houseware products, bearing the Emerson(R) or HH Scott(R) brand name, and licensing revenues are derived from licensing the Emerson(R), HH Scott(R) and Olevia(R) brand names to licensees for a fee. The major elements which contributed to the overall decrease in net revenues were as follows:
i) Houseware product net sales increased $18.4 million, or 11.4%, to $179.1 million in fiscal 2011 as compared to $160.7 million in fiscal 2010, on increased net sales of, compact refrigerators, microwave ovens and wine coolers, partially offset by decreased net sales of toaster ovens and coffee makers;
ii) Emerson(R) branded product net sales were $14.4 million in fiscal 2011 compared to $33.1 million in fiscal 2010, a decrease of $18.7 million, or 56.3%, resulting from decreased net sales volumes across the entire audio product category;
iii) Licensing revenues in fiscal 2011 were $7.3 million as compared to $6.9 million for fiscal 2010, an increase of $0.4 million or 5.3%. The Company’s largest license agreement is with Funai Corporation, Inc. (“Funai”), which expires December 31, 2012. The agreement provides that Funai will manufacture, market, sell and distribute specified products bearing the “(EMERSON LOGO)” trademark to customers in the U.S. and Canadian markets. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will receive 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 fiscal 2011 and 2010, revenues of $5.3 million and $4.9 million, respectively, were recorded under this agreement.
iv) Themed product net sales were nil in fiscal 2011 as compared to $3.2 million in fiscal 2010. The Company’s license agreement with Mattel expired in December 2009 and was not renewed.
v) Net sales of other products were nil in fiscal 2011 as compared to $3.0 million in fiscal 2010. Other products net sales in fiscal 2010 were comprised of a sale of semiconductors in March 2010.
Cost of Sales — Cost of Sales includes those components as described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In absolute terms, cost of sales decreased $2.5 million, or 1.5%, to $172.9 million in fiscal 2011 as compared to $175.5 million in fiscal 2010. Cost of sales, as a percentage of net revenues, was 86.1% in fiscal 2011 as compared to 84.8% in fiscal 2010. Cost of sales as a percentage of net revenues less license revenues was 89.4% in fiscal 2011 as compared to 87.7% in fiscal 2010. The decrease in absolute terms for fiscal 2011 as compared to fiscal 2010 was primarily related to reduced sales, partially offset by higher inventory valuation reserves.

 

18


Table of Contents

Gross profit margins across all product categories were under pressure during fiscal 2011 due to upward trends in product and transportation costs and the pricing to the Company’s major customers within the categories where the Company competes. The Company’s products are generally placed in the low-to-medium priced category of the market, which has a tendency to be highly competitive and subject to intense margin pressure.
Other Operating Costs and Expenses — Other operating costs and expenses include those components as described in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Other operating costs and expenses as a percentage of net revenues were 0.8% in fiscal 2011 and 1.5% in fiscal 2010. In absolute terms, other operating costs and expenses decreased $1.5 million, or 47.8%, to $1.6 million for fiscal 2011 as compared to $3.1 million in fiscal 2010, on lower costs associated with returned products, warranty claims, and warehouse supplies.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (“S,G&A”) — S,G&A, as a percentage of net revenues, was 3.7% in fiscal 2011 as compared to 7.1% in fiscal 2010. S,G&A, in absolute terms, decreased $7.2 million, or 49.4%, to $7.4 million in fiscal 2011 as compared to $14.6 million in fiscal 2010. The decrease in S,G&A in absolute terms between fiscal 2011 and 2010 was primarily due to a decrease in personnel costs of approximately $1.5 million, a decrease in legal fees of $2.1 million, a decrease in rent expense of $1.5 million, a decrease in bad debt expense of $1.0 million and a decrease in other expenses of $0.6 million.
Gain on settlement of Litigation—In fiscal 2011, the Company recorded a net gain of $1.8 million due to a favorable judgment in the Emerson Radio Shareholder Derivative Litigation, which resulted in a cash payment made to the Company by the defendants in the amount of $3.0 million, against which the Company recorded a $1.2 million provision for related legal fees. See Note 14 — “Legal Proceedings”.
Realized Gain on Sale of Marketable Securities—In fiscal 2011, the Company realized a gain of $1.0 million resulting from the sale of a $3.1 million face value auction rate security. See Note 11 — “Marketable Securities”.
Interest income (expense), net — Interest income, net, was $32,000 in fiscal 2011 as compared to interest expense, net, of $24,000 in fiscal 2010.
Provision for Income Taxes — In fiscal 2011, the Company recorded an income tax expense of $5.8 million attributable to the income from continuing operations of $21.1 million, which was largely settled through reductions in the deferred tax assets associated with the Company’s prior operating losses in the United States. This compares to fiscal 2010, when the Company recorded an income tax expense of $2.4 million attributable to income from continuing operations of $13.7 million. See Item 8 — “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data and Note 7 “Income Taxes”.
Net income from continuing operations — As a result of the foregoing factors, the Company’s net income from continuing operations was $15.9 million for fiscal 2011 as compared to net income from continuing operations of $11.4 million for fiscal 2010.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General
As of March 31, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $39.1 million, compared to approximately $15.1 million at March 31, 2010. Working capital increased to $50.4 million at March 31, 2011 as compared to $23.9 at March 31, 2010. The increase in cash and cash equivalents of approximately $24.0 million was due to net cash provided by operating activities of $25.1 million.
Net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $25.1 million for fiscal 2011, primarily resulting from the net income from continuing operations of $15.9 million, decreases in accounts receivable and inventory of $10.3 million and $2.1 million, respectively, and reduced deferred tax assets of $4.6 million, partially offset by reductions in accounts payable and other current liabilities of $6.4 million.

 

19


Table of Contents

Net cash provided by investing activities of $2.1 million for fiscal 2011 was attributable to the sale of an auction rate security for $3.1 million, partially offset by an increase in restricted cash of approximately $0.7 million and additions to property, plant and equipment of approximately $0.2 million.
Net cash used in financing activities was $3.2 million for fiscal 2011, resulting primarily from payments made of $3.1 million to reduce the outstanding loan against the Company’s investment in auction rate securities upon its sale.
Other Events and Circumstances Pertaining to Liquidity
On May 31, 2011, upon application of a major creditor, the High Court of Hong Kong appointed Provisional Liquidators over Grande, which is the Company’s majority stockholder. Following the appointment of the Provisional Liquidators over Grande, certain major factory suppliers, including Midea, have significantly reduced the maximum amount of open credit lines available to the Company. At the factories’ request, the Company made accelerated payments in June and July of 2011 to reduce the balances owing from the Company on its open trade payable accounts with the respective factory suppliers to comply with such new credit terms. The Company relies on its cash on hand and cash generated by ongoing operations to manage its business.
Commercial Credit
The Company’s loan agreement with Wachovia Bank N.A. expired by its terms on December 23, 2010. Beginning November 2010, the Company began utilizing Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong to issue secured letters of credit on behalf of the Company, as needed, on a 100% cash collateralized basis. At March 31, 2011, there were approximately $0.5 million in letters of credit outstanding under this arrangement. The Company anticipates that its cash on hand and cash flow generated from operations will provide sufficient liquidity to meet the Company’s operating requirements in the year ahead.
Short-term Liquidity.
In fiscal 2011, products representing approximately 30% 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.
The Company’s principal existing sources of cash are generated from operations. The Company believes that its cash on hand and existing sources of cash will be sufficient to support its existing operations over the next 12 months.
As of March 31, 2011, there were no material capital expenditure commitments and no substantial commitments for purchase orders outside the normal purchase orders used to secure product.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
On April 7, 2010, upon a request made to the Company by its foreign controlling stockholder, S&T, the Company entered into an agreement with S&T whereby the Company returned to S&T on April 7, 2010 that portion of the taxes that the Company had withheld from the dividend paid on March 24, 2010 to S&T, as the Company believes the dividend paid is not subject to U.S. tax based on the Company’s good-faith estimate of its accumulated earnings and profits, and received collateral (in the form of shares in the Company) which was sufficient to cover any claims for taxes on the dividend paid (the “Agreement”). The Company believes this transaction resulted in an off-balance sheet arrangement, which is comprised of 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 the collateral pledged as a part of the Agreement would no longer be required and this collateral was returned by the Company to S&T in March 2011 (see Note 3 “Related Party Transactions”).
Critical Accounting Policies
The discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon its consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles that are generally accepted within the United States. The preparation of the Company’s financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Management considers certain accounting policies related to inventories, trade accounts receivables, impairment of long-lived assets, valuation of deferred tax assets, sales return reserves and sales allowance accruals to be critical policies due to the estimation processes involved in each.

 

20


Table of Contents

Revenue Recognition. Revenues from product distribution are recognized at the time title passes to the customer. Under the Direct Import Program, title passes in the country of origin. Under the Domestic Program, title passes primarily at the time of shipment. Estimates for possible returns are based upon historical return rates and netted against revenues. Except in connection with infrequent sales with specific arrangements to the contrary, returns are not permitted unless the goods are defective.
In addition to the distribution of products, the Company grants licenses for the right to use the Company’s trademarks for a stated term for the manufacture and/or sale of consumer electronics and other products under agreements which require payment of either i) a non-refundable minimum guaranteed royalty or, ii) the greater of the actual royalties due (based on a contractual calculation, normally comprised of actual product sales by the licensee multiplied by a stated royalty rate, or “Sales Royalties”) or a minimum guaranteed royalty amount. In the case of (i), such amounts are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the license agreement. In the case of (ii), Sales Royalties in excess of guaranteed minimums are accounted for as variable fees and are not recognized as revenue until the Company has ascertained that the licensee’s sales of products have exceeded the guaranteed minimum. In effect, the Company recognizes the greater of Sales Royalties earned to date or the straight-line amount of minimum guaranteed royalties to date. In the case where a royalty is paid to the Company in advance, the royalty payment is initially recorded as a liability and recognized as revenue as the royalties are deemed to be earned according to the principles outlined above.
Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out basis. The Company records inventory reserves to reduce the carrying value of inventory for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory reserves may be required. Conversely, if market conditions improve, such reserves are reduced.
Trade Accounts Receivable. The Company extends credit based upon evaluations of a customer’s financial condition and provides for any anticipated credit losses in the Company’s financial statements based upon management’s estimates and ongoing reviews of recorded allowances. If the financial condition of a customer deteriorates, resulting in an impairment of that customer’s ability to make payments, additional reserves may be required. Conversely, reserves are reduced to reflect credit and collection improvements.
Income Taxes. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce the amount of its deferred tax assets to the amount that management estimates is more likely than not to be realized. While management considers future taxable income and ongoing tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, in the event that management determines that a deferred tax asset will likely be realized in the future in excess of the net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would increase income in the period such determination was made. Likewise, if it is determined that all or part of a net deferred tax asset will likely not be realized in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.
Sales Return Reserves. Management must make estimates of potential future product returns related to current period product revenue. Management analyzes historical returns, current economic trends and changes in customer demand for our products when evaluating the adequacy of the reserve for sales returns. Management judgments and estimates must be made and used in connection with establishing the sales return reserves in any accounting period. Additional reserves may be required if actual sales returns increase above the historical return rates. Conversely, the sales return reserve could be decreased if the actual return rates are less than the historical return rates, which were used to establish the reserve.

 

21


Table of Contents

Sales Allowance and Marketing Support Accruals. 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 ASC topic 605, “Revenue Recognition”, subtopic 50 “Customer Payments and Incentives” and Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletins 101 “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements,” and 104 “Revenue Recognition, corrected copy” (“SAB’s 101 and 104”).
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’s 101 and 104, 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 104’s and 101’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.
Recently-Issued Financial Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting Standards Update 2010-17, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605): Milestone Method
In April 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2010-17, “Revenue Recognition — Milestone Method”, which amended guidance on the criteria that should be met for determining whether the milestone method of revenue recognition is appropriate. A vendor can recognize consideration that is contingent upon achievement of a milestone in its entirety as revenue in the period in which the milestone is achieved only if the milestone meets all criteria to be considered substantive.
The consideration earned by achieving the milestone should:
1. Be commensurate with either of the following:
a. The vendor’s performance to achieve the milestone
b. The enhancement of the value of the item delivered as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the vendor’s performance to achieve the milestone
2. Relate solely to past performance
3. Be reasonable relative to all deliverables and payment terms in the arrangement.
A milestone should be considered substantive in its entirety. An individual milestone may not be bifurcated. An arrangement may include more than one milestone, and each milestone should be evaluated separately to determine whether the milestone is substantive. Accordingly, an arrangement may contain both substantive and non-substantive milestones.
The amendments in this ASU are effective on a prospective basis for milestones achieved in fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe that adoption of ASU 2010-17 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Update 2010-20, Receivables (Topic 310): Disclosure about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses
In July 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-20, “Receivables: Disclosure about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses”, which amended disclosure in order to facilitate financial statement users’ evaluation of the following:
 
The nature of credit risk inherent in the entity’s portfolio of financing receivables;
 
 
How that risk is analyzed and assessed in arriving at the allowance for credit losses; and
 
 
The changes and reasons for those changes in the allowance for credit losses.

 

22


Table of Contents

To achieve these objectives, an entity should provide disclosures on a disaggregated basis on two defined levels: (1) portfolio segment; and (2) class of financing receivable. The ASU makes changes to existing disclosure requirements and includes additional disclosure requirements about financing receivables, including:
 
Credit quality indicators of financing receivables at the end of the reporting period by class of financing receivables;
 
 
The aging of past due financing receivables at the end of the reporting period by class of financing receivables; and
 
 
The nature and extent of troubled debt restructurings that occurred during the period by class of financing receivables and their effect on the allowance for credit losses.
The amendments in this ASU are effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. The disclosures about activity that occurs during a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The Company does not believe that adoption of ASU 2010-20 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Update 2010-28, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts
In December 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2010-28, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other: When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts”, to address questions about entities with reporting units holding goodwill and other intangibles with zero or negative carrying amounts. The amendments in this update modify Step 1 of the goodwill and other intangible impairment tests included under ASC Topic 350 for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts and require the entity to perform Step 2 of the impairment tests included under ASC Topic 350 for those reporting units if it is more likely than not that an impairment exists. Then, any resulting impairment should be recorded as a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings in the period of adoption, and any impairments occurring after the initial adoption of the amendments should be included in earnings as required by ASC Topic 350.
For public entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company does not believe that adoption of ASU 2010-28 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Update 2010-29, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Disclosure of Supplementary ProForma Information for Business Combinations
In December 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2010-29, “Business Combinations: Disclosure of Supplementary ProForma Information for Business Combinations”, to address diversity in practice about the interpretation of the pro forma revenue and earnings disclosure requirements for business combinations. The amendments in this Update specify that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments in this Update also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures under Topic 850 to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings.
The amendments in this Update are effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The Company does not believe that adoption of ASU 2010-29 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Update 2011-01, Receivables (Topic 310): Deferral of the Effective Date of Disclosures about Troubled Debt Restructurings in Update No. 2010-20
The amendments in this Update are effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The Company does not believe that adoption of ASU 2010-29 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

23


Table of Contents

Accounting Standards Update 2011-02, Receivables (Topic 310): A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring is a Troubled Debt Restructuring
The amendments in this Update would provide additional guidance to assist creditors in determining whether a restructuring of a receivable meets the criteria to be considered a troubled debt restructuring.
Accounting Standards Update 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs
The amendments in this Update generally represent clarifications of Topic 820, but also include some instances where a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or disclosing information about fair value measurements has changed. This Update results in common principles and requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.
Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income
The amendments in this Update require that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In the two-statement approach, the first statement should present total net income and its components followed consecutively by a second statement that should present total other comprehensive income, the components of other comprehensive income, and the total of comprehensive income.
The amendments in this Update should be applied retrospectively. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted, because compliance with the amendments is already permitted. The amendments do not require any transition disclosures. The Company has not chosen to early adopt the provisions of this Update.
Item 7A.  
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not applicable.

 

24


Table of Contents

Item 8.  
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
         
    Page No.  
    26  
 
    27  
 
    28  
 
    29  
 
    30  
 
    31  

 

25


Table of Contents

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of Emerson Radio Corp and Subsidiaries
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Emerson Radio Corp. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”), as of March 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2011 and 2010, and the consolidated results of their operations, and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
         
  /s/ MSPC    
  Certified Public Accountants   
  and Advisors, A Professional Corporation   
Cranford, New Jersey
July 14, 2011

 

26


Table of Contents

EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For The Years Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
                 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
Net revenues:
               
Net revenues
  $ 200,841     $ 206,960  
 
               
Costs and expenses:
               
Cost of sales
    172,917       175,463  
Other operating costs and expenses
    1,636       3,134  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    7,383       14,598  
 
           
 
    181,936       193,195  
 
           
Operating income
    18,905       13,765  
Other income (expense):
               
Gain on settlement of litigation
    1,806        
Realized gain on sale of marketable securities
    966        
Interest income (expense), net
    32       (24 )
 
           
 
    2,804       (24 )
 
           
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
    21,709       13,741  
Provision for income taxes
    5,791       2,371  
 
           
Income from continuing operations
    15,918       11,370  
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit
          (55 )
 
           
Net income
    15,918       11,315  
 
           
Basic net income per share
               
Continuing operations
  $ .59     $ .42  
Discontinued operations
           
 
           
 
  $ .59     $ .42  
 
           
 
               
Diluted net income per share
               
Continuing operations
  $ .59     $ .42  
Discontinued operations
           
 
           
 
  $ .59     $ .42  
 
           
 
               
Weighted average shares outstanding
               
Basic
    27,130       27,130  
Diluted
    27,130       27,131  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

27


Table of Contents

EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of March 31, 2011 and 2010
                 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands, except share data)  
ASSETS
               
Current Assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 39,056     $ 15,051  
Restricted cash
    740       1  
Net accounts receivable
    10,929       20,350  
Other receivables
    1,413       1,037  
Net inventory
    8,515       10,952  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    549       736  
Investments in marketable securities
    4,725        
Deferred tax assets
    2,825       3,383  
 
           
Total Current Assets
    68,752       51,510  
Property, plant, and equipment, net
    2,921       3,131  
Trademarks and other intangible assets, net
    1,545       1,606  
Due from affiliates
          185  
Investments in marketable securities
          6,031  
Deferred tax assets
    2,540       6,588  
Other assets
    958       205  
 
           
Total Assets
  $ 76,716     $ 69,256  
 
           
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Short-term borrowings
  $ 2,466     $ 5,629  
Current maturities of long-term borrowings
    46       30  
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
    14,408       20,776  
Due to affiliates
    2       28  
Accrued sales returns
    1,199       957  
Income taxes payable
    196       174  
 
           
Total Current Liabilities
    18,317       27,594  
Long-term borrowings
    150       201  
Deferred tax liabilities
    158       119  
Shareholders’ Equity:
               
Preferred shares — 10,000,000 shares authorized; 3,677 shares issued and outstanding; liquidation preference of $3,677,000
    3,310       3,310  
Common shares — $0.01 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized; 52,965,797 shares issued at March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, respectively; 27,129,832 shares outstanding at March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, respectively
    529       529  
Capital in excess of par value
    98,785       98,785  
Accumulated other comprehensive losses
    746       (82 )
Accumulated deficit
    (21,055 )     (36,976 )
Treasury stock, at cost, 25,835,965 shares
    (24,224 )     (24,224 )
 
           
Total shareholders’ equity
    58,091       41,342  
 
           
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
  $ 76,716     $ 69,256  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

28


Table of Contents

EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For The Years Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
                                                                 
                                            Accumulated                
            Common Shares Issued             Capital     Other             Total  
    Preferred     Number     Par     Treasury     in Excess of     Comprehensive     Accumulated     Shareholders’  
    Stock     of Shares     Value     Stock     Par Value     Losses     Deficit     Equity  
    (In thousands, except share data)  
Balance — March 31, 2009
  $ 3,310       52,965,797     $ 529     $ (24,224 )   $ 117,243     $ (82 )   $ (36,976 )   $ 59,800  
Stock based compensation
                                    12                       12  
Dividend paid
                                    (18,470 )             (11,372 )     (29,842 )
Comprehensive income:
                                                               
Net income
                                                    11,372       11,372  
 
                                                             
Comprehensive income
                                                            11,372  
 
                                               
Balance — March 31, 2010
  $ 3,310       52,965,797     $ 529     $ (24,224 )   $ 98,785     $ (82 )   $ (36,976 )   $ 41,342  
Unrealized gain on securities
                                            828               828  
Comprehensive income:
                                                               
Net income
                                                    15,921       15,921  
 
                                                             
Comprehensive income
                                                            16,749  
 
                                               
Balance — March 31, 2011
  $ 3,310       52,965,797     $ 529     $ (24,224 )   $ 98,785     $ 746     $ (21,055 )   $ 58,091  
 
                                               
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statement.

 

29


Table of Contents

EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For The Years Ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
                 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
               
Income from continuing operations
  $ 15,918     $ 11,370  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    502       846  
Non cash compensation
          12  
Deferred tax benefit
    4,645       2,035  
Asset allowances, reserves, and other
    (287 )     (3,554 )
Gain on sale of investment
    (966 )      
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    10,272       (2,752 )
Other receivables
    (376 )     550  
Due from affiliates
    185       7  
Inventories
    2,118       11,495  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    187       1,454  
Other assets
    (753 )     128  
Accounts payable and other current liabilities
    (6,368 )     1,847  
Due to affiliates
    (26 )     (38 )
Income taxes payable
    22       19  
 
           
Net cash provided by operating activities
    25,073       23,419  
 
           
Cash Flow From Investing Activities:
               
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities
    3,100        
Restricted cash
    (739 )     3,024  
Purchase of trademark
          (1,469 )
Additions to property and equipment (continuing operations)
    (231 )     (2,581 )
 
           
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities
    2,130       (1,026 )
 
           
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
               
Repayments of short-term borrowings
    (3,147 )     (159 )
Dividends paid
          (29,843 )
Net (decrease) increase in capital lease and other rental obligations-
    (51 )     142  
Borrowings under long-term credit facility
    88,162       124,314  
Repayments of borrowings under long-term credit facility
    (88,162 )     (124,314 )
 
           
Net cash (used) by financing activities
    (3,198 )     (29,860 )
 
           
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    24,005       (7,467 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    15,051       22,518  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of
  $ 39,056     $ 15,051  
 
           
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities:
               
Interest
  $ 103     $ 114  
Income taxes
  $ 704     $ 22  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

 

30


Table of Contents

EMERSON RADIO CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
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 Emerson trademark for a variety of products domestically and internationally.
The financial position and results of operations of the Company’s former joint venture interest in Advanced Sound and Image, LLC for the nine month period ended December 31, 2009 have been presented as discontinued operations. See Note 16 “Discontinued Operations”.
Use of Estimates
In preparing financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company is required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash Equivalents
Highly liquid short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.
Fair Values of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, cash securing bank loans, trade accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The carrying amounts of bank debt approximate their fair values due to their variable rate interest features.
Investments
The Company determines the appropriate classifications of securities at the time of purchase and evaluates the continuing appropriateness of that classification thereafter. The Company’s investments in auction rate securities were classified as available-for—sale securities at both March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010. Realized gains and losses are determined on a specific identification basis and are reported separately as a component of income. Decreases and increases in the fair value of securities deemed to be other than temporary are included in earnings.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Certain financial instruments potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk. Accounts receivable represent sales to retailers and distributors of consumer electronics throughout the United States and Canada. The Company periodically performs credit evaluations of its customers but generally does not require collateral. The Company provides for any anticipated credit losses in the financial statements based upon management’s estimates and ongoing reviews of recorded allowances. The accounts receivable allowance for doubtful accounts was $455,000 at March 31, 2011 and $557,000 at March 31, 2010.
The Company maintains its cash accounts with major U.S. and foreign financial institutions. The total cash balances are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000 per bank as of March 31, 2011 and $250,000 per bank as of March 31, 2010 for interest-bearing accounts. Non-interest bearing accounts became insured by the FDIC with no limit, starting December 31, 2010 and are scheduled to remain so through December 31, 2012. The Company’s cash balances in excess of FDIC-insured limits were approximately $2.3 million and approximately $38.8 million at March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, respectively.

 

31


Table of Contents

Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets being depreciated. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease. The cost of maintenance and repairs is charged to expense as incurred. Significant renewals and betterments are capitalized and depreciated over the remaining estimated useful lives of the related assets. At time of disposal, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the Company’s records and the difference between net carrying value of the asset and the sale proceeds is recorded as a gain or loss.
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is provided by the straight-line method as follows:
     
Machinery and Equipment
  Three years to seven years
Furniture & Fixtures
  Seven years
Building
  Fifteen years
Long-Lived Assets
The Company’s long-lived assets include property and equipment, trademark and other amortizable intangibles. At March 31, 2011, the Company had approximately $2,921,000 of property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, and approximately $1,545,000 of trademark and other amortizable intangible assets, net of amortization, accounting for approximately 6% of the Company’s total assets. The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in accordance with ASC Topics 350 “Intangibles” and 360 “Property, Plant and Equipment”. Recoverability of assets held and used are measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of the asset to the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. Future events could cause the Company to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that long-lived assets may be impaired. Any resulting impairment loss could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
Revenue Recognition
Distribution of products
Revenues from product distribution are recognized at the time title passes to the customer. Under the Direct Import Program, title passes in the country of origin. Under the Domestic Program, title passes primarily at the time of shipment. Estimates for possible returns are based upon historical return rates and netted against revenues. Except in connection with infrequent sales with specific arrangements to the contrary, returns are not permitted unless the goods are defective.
Management must make estimates of potential future product returns related to current period product revenue. Management analyzes historical returns, current economic trends and changes in customer demand for our products when evaluating the adequacy of the reserve for sales returns. Management judgments and estimates must be made and used in connection with establishing the sales return reserves in any accounting period. Additional reserves may be required if actual sales returns increase above the historical return rates. Conversely, the sales return reserve could be decreased if the actual return rates are less than the historical return rates, which were used to establish the reserve.
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 ASC topic 605, “Revenue Recognition.”, subtopic 50 “Customer Payments and Incentives” and Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletins 101 “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements,” and 104 “Revenue Recognition, corrected copy” (“SAB’s 101 and 104”).
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’s 101 and 104, 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 104’s and 101’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.

 

32


Table of Contents

Licensing
In addition to the distribution of products, the Company grants licenses for the right to use the Company’s trademarks for a stated term for the manufacture and/or sale of consumer electronics and other products under agreements which require payment of either i) a non-refundable minimum guaranteed royalty or, ii) the greater of the actual royalties due (based on a contractual calculation, normally comprised of actual product sales by the licensee multiplied by a stated royalty rate, or “Sales Royalties”) or a minimum guaranteed royalty amount. In the case of (i), such amounts are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the license agreement. In the case of (ii), Sales Royalties in excess of guaranteed minimums are accounted for as variable fees and are not recognized as revenue until the Company has ascertained that the licensee’s sales of products have exceeded the guaranteed minimum. In effect, the Company recognizes the greater of Sales Royalties earned to date or the straight-line amount of minimum guaranteed royalties to date. In the case where a royalty is paid to the Company in advance, the royalty payment is initially recorded as a liability and recognized as revenue as the royalties are deemed to be earned according to the principles outlined above.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales includes actual product cost, change in inventory reserves, duty, buying costs, the cost of transportation to the Company’s warehouses from its manufacturers, warehousing costs, and an allocation of those selling, general and administrative expenses that are directly related to these activities.
Other Operating Costs and Expenses
Other operating costs and expenses include costs associated with returned product received from retailers, warranty costs, warehouse supply expenses, and an allocation of those selling, general and administrative expenses that are directly related to these activities. Because other operating costs and expenses is not included in cost of sales, the reported gross margin may not be comparable to those of other distributors that may include all costs related to the cost of product to their cost of sales and in the calculation of gross margin.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses include all operating costs of the Company that are not directly related to the cost of procuring product or costs not included in other operating costs and expenses.
Foreign Currency
The assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries have been translated at current exchange rates, and related revenues and expenses have been translated at average rates of exchange in effect during the year. Related translation adjustments are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Losses and gains resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the results of operations.
The Company generally does not enter into foreign currency exchange contracts to hedge its exposures related to foreign currency fluctuations and there were no foreign exchange forward contracts held by the Company at March 31, 2011 or March 31, 2010.

 

33


Table of Contents

Advertising Expenses
Advertising expenses are charged to operations as incurred and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company incurred no advertising expenses during fiscal 2011 and approximately $155,000 during fiscal 2010.
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 ASC topic 605, “Revenue Recognition.”, subtopic 50 “Customer Payments and Incentives” and Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletins 101 “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements,” and 104 “Revenue Recognition, corrected copy” (“SAB’s 101 and 104”).
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’s 101 and 104, 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 104’s and 101’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.
The sales and marketing support accrual activity for fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 was as follows (in thousands):
         
Balance at March 31, 2009
  $ 3,964  
Fiscal 2010 additions
    3,973  
Fiscal 2010 usages
    (3,766 )
Fiscal 2010 adjustments
    (1,226 )
 
     
Balance at March 31, 2010
  $ 2,945  
Fiscal 2011 additions
    3176  
Fiscal 2011 usages
    (2,424 )
Fiscal 2011 adjustments
    (662 )
 
     
Balance at March 31, 2011
  $ 3,035  
 
     
Interest income (expense), net
The Company records interest as incurred. The interest income (expense) for fiscal 2011 and 2010 consist of:
                 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Interest (expense)
  $ (160 )   $ (174 )
Amortization of deferred financing costs
          (139 )
Interest income
    192       289  
 
           
Interest income (expense), net
  $ 32     $ (24 )
 
           
Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes are provided for the tax effects of differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets have been recorded net of an appropriate valuation allowance, to the extent management believes it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized. (See Note 7 “Income Taxes”).
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income or loss, as disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity, is net income or loss adjusted for changes in the fair value of hedge instruments, unrealized gains or losses on securities, and foreign currency translation adjustments.

 

34


Table of Contents

Net Earnings Per Common Share
Net earnings per common share are based upon the weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding. Outstanding stock options and warrants are treated as common stock equivalents when dilution results from their assumed exercise.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for all share based payments in accordance with ASC Topic 71X, “Compensation”, subtopic 718 “Compensation — Stock Compensation”. Accordingly, the computed fair value is expensed ratably over the requisite vesting period. The Company recorded no compensation costs during fiscal 2011 and $12,000 during fiscal 2010.
There were no stock options granted by the Company in fiscal 2011 or fiscal 2010.
Recent Pronouncements
Accounting Standards Update 2010-17, Revenue Recognition (Topic 605): Milestone Method
In April 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2010-17, “Revenue Recognition — Milestone Method”, which amended guidance on the criteria that should be met for determining whether the milestone method of revenue recognition is appropriate. A vendor can recognize consideration that is contingent upon achievement of a milestone in its entirety as revenue in the period in which the milestone is achieved only if the milestone meets all criteria to be considered substantive.
The consideration earned by achieving the milestone should:
1. Be commensurate with either of the following:
a. The vendor’s performance to achieve the milestone
b. The enhancement of the value of the item delivered as a result of a specific outcome resulting from the vendor’s performance to achieve the milestone
  2.  
Relate solely to past performance
 
  3.  
Be reasonable relative to all deliverables and payment terms in the arrangement.
A milestone should be considered substantive in its entirety. An individual milestone may not be bifurcated. An arrangement may include more than one milestone, and each milestone should be evaluated separately to determine whether the milestone is substantive. Accordingly, an arrangement may contain both substantive and non-substantive milestones.
The amendments in this ASU are effective on a prospective basis for milestones achieved in fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after June 15, 2010. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe that adoption of ASU 2010-17 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Update 2010-20, Receivables (Topic 310): Disclosure about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses
In July 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-20, “Receivables: Disclosure about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses”, which amended disclosure in order to facilitate financial statement users’ evaluation of the following:
 
The nature of credit risk inherent in the entity’s portfolio of financing receivables;
 
 
How that risk is analyzed and assessed in arriving at the allowance for credit losses; and
 
 
The changes and reasons for those changes in the allowance for credit losses.

 

35


Table of Contents

To achieve these objectives, an entity should provide disclosures on a disaggregated basis on two defined levels: (1) portfolio segment; and (2) class of financing receivable. The ASU makes changes to existing disclosure requirements and includes additional disclosure requirements about financing receivables, including:
 
Credit quality indicators of financing receivables at the end of the reporting period by class of financing receivables;
 
 
The aging of past due financing receivables at the end of the reporting period by class of financing receivables; and
 
 
The nature and extent of troubled debt restructurings that occurred during the period by class of financing receivables and their effect on the allowance for credit losses.
The amendments in this ASU are effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. The disclosures about activity that occurs during a reporting period are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The Company does not believe that adoption of ASU 2010-20 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Update 2010-28, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts
In December 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2010-28, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other: When to Perform Step 2 of the Goodwill Impairment Test for Reporting Units with Zero or Negative Carrying Amounts”, to address questions about entities with reporting units holding goodwill and other intangibles with zero or negative carrying amounts. The amendments in this update modify Step 1 of the goodwill and other intangible impairment tests included under ASC Topic 350 for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts and require the entity to perform Step 2 of the impairment tests included under ASC Topic 350 for those reporting units if it is more likely than not that an impairment exists. Then, any resulting impairment should be recorded as a cumulative-effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings in the period of adoption, and any impairments occurring after the initial adoption of the amendments should be included in earnings as required by ASC Topic 350.
For public entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company does not believe that adoption of ASU 2010-28 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Update 2010-29, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Disclosure of Supplementary ProForma Information for Business Combinations
In December 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2010-29, “Business Combinations: Disclosure of Supplementary ProForma Information for Business Combinations”, to address diversity in practice about the interpretation of the pro forma revenue and earnings disclosure requirements for business combinations. The amendments in this Update specify that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements, the entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments in this Update also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures under Topic 850 to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings.
The amendments in this Update are effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The Company does not believe that adoption of ASU 2010-29 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
Accounting Standards Update 2011-01, Receivables (Topic 310): Deferral of the Effective Date of Disclosures about Troubled Debt Restructurings in Update No. 2010-20
The amendments in this Update are effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The Company does not believe that adoption of ASU 2010-29 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

36


Table of Contents

Accounting Standards Update 2011-02, Receivables (Topic 310): A Creditor’s Determination of Whether a Restructuring is a Troubled Debt Restructuring
The amendments in this Update would provide additional guidance to assist creditors in determining whether a restructuring of a receivable meets the criteria to be considered a troubled debt restructuring.
Accounting Standards Update 2011-04, Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs
The amendments in this Update generally represent clarifications of Topic 820, but also include some instances where a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or disclosing information about fair value measurements has changed. This Update results in common principles and requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.
Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income
The amendments in this Update require that all nonowner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In the two-statement approach, the first statement should present total net income and its components followed consecutively by a second statement that should present total other comprehensive income, the components of other comprehensive income, and the total of comprehensive income.
The amendments in this Update should be applied retrospectively. For public entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted, because compliance with the amendments is already permitted. The amendments do not require any transition disclosures. The Company has not chosen to early adopt the provisions of this Update.
NOTE 2 — INVENTORIES:
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. As of March 31, 2011 and 2010, inventories of continuing operations consisted of the following:
                 
    March 31, 2011     March 31, 2010  
    (In thousands)  
Finished goods
  $ 10,592     $ 12,710  
Less inventory allowances
    (2,077 )     (1,758 )
 
           
 
  $ 8,515     $ 10,952  
 
           
NOTE 3 — RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
From time to time, Emerson engages in business transactions with its controlling shareholder, The Grande Holdings Limited (Provisional Liquidators Appointed) and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (“Grande”). Set forth below is a summary of such transactions.
Majority Shareholder
Grande’s Ownership Interest in Emerson. The Grande Holdings Limited (Provisional Liquidators Appointed) (“Grande”), a Bermuda corporation, has advised the Company that, as of March 31, 2011, one of its indirect subsidiaries held beneficially 15,243,283 shares or approximately 56.2% of the outstanding common stock of Emerson. That number of shares includes 3,391,967 shares (the “Pledged Shares”) which, according to public filings made by Deutsche Bank AG (“Deutsche Bank”) in March 2010 had previously been pledged to Deutsche Bank to secure indebtedness owed to it. In February 2011, Deutsche Bank filed a Schedule 13G with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that Deutsche Bank had sole voting and sole dispositive power over the Pledged Shares (which represent approximately 12.5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock). The Company believes that both Grande and Deutsche Bank have claimed beneficial ownership of the Pledged Shares. As of July 14, 2011, the Company has not been able to verify independently the beneficial ownership of the Pledged Shares.

 

37


Table of Contents

Related Party Transactions
Leases and Other Real Estate Transactions.
Rented Space in Hong Kong
Effective May 15, 2009, Emerson entered into an amended lease agreement with The Grande Properties Ltd., presently known as Lafe Properties (Hong Kong) Limited (“Lafe”), pursuant to which the space rented from Lafe was increased from 18,476 square feet to 19,484 square feet. This amended agreement by its terms expired on December 31, 2009.
Effective June 1, 2009, Emerson entered into another lease agreement with Lafe, pursuant to which additional space was rented from Lafe totaling 17,056 square feet for Emerson’s use to refurbish certain returned products. In connection with this new space rental, during June 2009, Emerson paid a security deposit of approximately $71,400 to Lafe. This lease agreement expired on December 31, 2009.
Effective January 1, 2010, Emerson entered into a lease agreement with Lafe, pursuant to which Emerson rented 36,540 square feet from Lafe for the purpose of housing its Hong Kong based office personnel and for its use to refurbish certain returned products. This lease agreement expired on December 31, 2010 and was renewed for a one year period on substantially the same terms during December 2010, and therefore now expires on December 31, 2011. Per information obtained from Grande, on December 31, 2010, Lafe was sold by its immediate holding company to an independent third party. As such, the Company is no longer considering Lafe to be a related party to the Company beginning December 31, 2010.
Rent expense and related service charges associated with these lease agreements totaled approximately $552,000 and $703,000 for the twelve months ending March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, respectively. The rent expense and related service charges associated with these lease agreements are included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as a component of selling, general, and administrative expenses.
Emerson owed Grande approximately $1,700 pertaining to rental related service charges at both March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, and a security deposit paid by Emerson of $153,000 on the leased property described above was held by Lafe at March 31, 2010, which was returned to Emerson during fiscal 2011.
Rented Space in the People’s Republic of China
In December 2008, Emerson signed a lease agreement with Akai Electric (China) Co., Ltd. (“Akai China”), a subsidiary of Grande prior to its disposal on December 24, 2010, concerning the rental of office space, office equipment, and lab equipment for Emerson’s quality assurance personnel in Zhongshan, People’s Republic of China. The lease term began in July 2007 and ended by its terms in June 2009, at which time the agreement renewed automatically on a month-by-month basis unless canceled by either party. The agreement was cancelled in May 2011.
On December 24, 2010, Grande announced that it sold Capetronic Group Ltd. (“Capetronic”) to a purchaser who, along with its beneficial owner, are third parties independent of Grande and its connected persons, as defined in the Listing Rules to the best of Grande’s and its directors’ knowledge, information and belief, having made all reasonable enquiries (the “Sale”). As Akai China was a subsidiary of Capetronic at the time of the Sale, and was disposed of along with Capetronic by Grande, the Company is no longer considering Akai China to be a related party to the Company beginning December 24, 2010.
Rent charges with Akai China totaled approximately $85,000 and $109,000 for the twelve months ending March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, respectively, and a security deposit paid by Emerson of $31,600 on the leased property described above was held by Akai China at March 31, 2010, which was returned to Emerson during fiscal 2011.
Other.
In June 2009, Emerson paid a consulting fee of approximately $6,000 to Mr. Michael A.B. Binney, a former director of Grande, related to Emerson’s licensing business, certain potential business opportunities and the investigation of various international sales opportunities.
During September 2009, Nakamichi Corporation Ltd. (“Nakamcihi”), a subsidiary of Grande, invoiced Emerson approximately $1,000 for audio samples. As of March 31, 2010, Emerson owed Nakamichi nil as a result of this invoice.

 

38


Table of Contents

In December 2009, Emerson paid a consulting fee and related expenses of approximately $8,000 to Mr. Eduard Will, a director of Emerson, for work performed by Mr. Will relating to the investigation of a potential acquisition in 2008 and 2009.
During the twelve months ending March 31, 2011, Emerson also paid consulting fees and related expense reimbursements of approximately $114,000 and approximately $23,000, respectively, to Mr. Will for work performed by Mr. Will relating to the Emerson Radio Shareholder Derivative Litigation (“The Berkowitz Litigation”) described in Footnote 14 — “Legal Proceedings”. In May 2010, Emerson signed an agreement with Mr. Will, which formalized the arrangement and commits Emerson to paying a consulting fee of a minimum of $12,500 per quarter to Mr. Will relating to The Berkowitz Litigation.
During the twelve months ending March 31, 2010, Emerson paid Innovative Capital Limited, a subsidiary of Grande, consulting fees of $125,000, respectively, for services rendered to Emerson during the first five months of fiscal 2010 by personnel of Grande. This consulting arrangement ended on September 30, 2009.
During the twelve months ending March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, respectively, Akai Sales Pte Ltd. (“Akai Sales”), a subsidiary of Grande, invoiced Emerson approximately $7,300 and approximately $26,000 for travel expenses which Akai Sales paid on Emerson’s behalf. Including earlier invoices related to similar charges paid for by Akai Sales on Emerson’s behalf, Emerson owed Akai Sales nil at March 31, 2011 and approximately $26,000 at March 31, 2010, as a result of these invoices.
On April 7, 2010, upon a request made to the Company by its foreign controlling stockholder, S&T, the Company entered into an agreement with S&T whereby the Company returned to S&T on April 7, 2010 that portion of the taxes that the Company had withheld 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”). The Company believes this transaction results in an off-balance sheet arrangement, which is comprised of 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. Per the terms of the Agreement, Emerson invoiced S&T in June 2010 approximately $42,000 for reimbursement of legal fees incurred by Emerson with regard to the Agreement and approximately $33,000 as a transaction fee for having entered into the Agreement. In January 2011, Emerson agreed, upon the request of S&T, to waive approximately $5,000 of the legal charges that had been invoiced to S&T in June 2010. S&T paid the full amount owed to Emerson of approximately $70,000 in February 2011. In February 2011, upon the request of S&T to the Company, the Company and S&T agreed the collateral pledged as a part of the Agreement would no longer be required and this collateral was returned by the Company to S&T in March 2011.
NOTE 4 — PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT:
As of March 31, 2011 and 2010, property, plant, and equipment from continuing operations is comprised of the following:
                 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Computer equipment & software
    343       357  
Furniture and fixtures
    357       328  
Machinery and equipment
    948       802  
Building
    2,028       2,008  
Land
    641       641  
 
           
 
    4,317       4,136  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (1,396 )     (1,005 )
 
           
 
  $ 2,921     $ 3,131  
 
           
Depreciation of property, plant, and equipment from continuing operations amounted to approximately $441,000 and $589,000 for the years ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. During fiscal 2011 and 2010, the Company recorded dispositions of property, plant and equipment with gross book values totaling approximately $66,000 and $4.9 million, respectively, and corresponding losses on disposals of approximately $2,000 and $400,000, respectively.
NOTE 5 — COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Comprehensive income for fiscal 2011 fiscal 2010 is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    2011     2010  
    (Unaudited)  
Income from continuing operations
  $ 15,918     $ 11,370  
Unrealized gain on securities
    828        
 
           
Comprehensive income
  $ 16,746     $ 11,370  
 
           

 

39


Table of Contents

NOTE 6 — BORROWINGS:
Short-term Borrowings
At March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, there were $2.5 million and $5.6 million of short-term borrowings outstanding, respectively, under a credit line maintained with Smith Barney. This facility was backed exclusively by the Company’s auction rate securities, bore interest at the Fed Open Market Rate plus 0.25%, and these borrowings had no net carrying cost. On May 18, 2011, the Company sold its last remaining Auction Rate Security, and paid off the open loan balance on the date of sale, closing this credit facility. (See Note 17 “Subsequent Events”).
Long-term Borrowings
As of March 31, 2011 and 2010, long-term borrowings consisted of the following:
                 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Capitalized lease obligations and other
  $ 196     $ 231  
 
           
Less current maturities of capitalized lease obligations
    46       30  
 
           
Long-term borrowings
  $ 150     $ 201  
 
           
Maturities of long-term borrowings as of March 31, 2011, by fiscal year and in the aggregate are as follows (in thousands):
         
2012
  $ 46  
2013
    71  
2014
    43  
2015
    30  
2016
    6  
Thereafter
     
 
     
Total
    196  
Less current portion
    46  
 
     
Total long term portion
  $ 150  
 
     
Emerson Credit Facility:
The Company’s loan agreement with Wachovia Bank N.A. expired by its terms on December 23, 2010.

 

40


Table of Contents

NOTE 7 — INCOME TAXES:
                 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Current:
               
Federal
  $ 285     $ 2  
Foreign, state and other
    808       332  
Prior year state and local
    98        
Deferred:
               
Federal
    4,444       1,571  
Foreign, state and other
    156       466  
 
           
 
  $ 5,791     $ 2,371  
 
           
The Company files a consolidated federal return and certain state and local income tax returns.
The difference between the effective rate reflected in the provision for income taxes and the amounts determined by applying the statutory federal rate of 34% to earnings from continuing operations before income taxes for the years ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 is analyzed below:
                 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Statutory provision (benefit)
  $ 7,381     $ 4,725  
Foreign subsidiary
    (2,523 )     (2,543 )
State taxes
    671       322  
Permanent differences
    7       27  
True up of prior year taxes
    (764 )      
Expiration of NOL
          (159 )
Usage of NOL
    (156 )      
Valuation allowance
    1,158        
Other, net
    17       (1 )
 
           
Total income tax (benefit)
  $ 5,791     $ 2,371  
 
           
As of March 31, 2011 and 2010, the significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities were as follows:
                 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands)  
Deferred tax assets:
               
Current:
               
Accounts receivable reserves
  $ 1,432     $ 1,556  
Inventory reserves
    1,227       1,340  
Accruals
          320  
Stock warrants
    166       166  
Non-current:
               
Property, plant, and equipment
    699       528  
Impairment of auction rate securities
    828       828  
Net operating loss and credit carryforwards
    2,249       5,305  
Stock compensation
    79       84  
 
           
Gross deferred tax assets
    6,680       10,127  
Valuation allowances
    (1,315 )     (157 )
 
           
Total deferred tax assets
    5,365       9,970  
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
Non-current:
               
Capital lease expense
    158       119  
 
           
Total Deferred Tax Liabilities
    158       119  
 
           
Net deferred tax assets
  $ 5,207     $ 9,851  
 
           

 

41


Table of Contents

The amounts of federal net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) on which the related deferred tax asset (“DTA”) was calculated are as follows as of March 31, 2011 (in millions $):
                 
Loss Year (Fiscal)   Included in DTA     Expiration Year (Fiscal)  
2009
    3.1       2029  
The amounts of state NOLs available by year as of March 31, 2011 are as follows (in millions $):
                 
Loss Year (Fiscal)   Included in DTA     Expiration Year (Fiscal)  
2007
    1.3       2017  
2008
    2.6       2018  
The tax benefits related to these operating loss carryforwards and future deductible temporary differences are recorded to the extent management believes it is more likely than not that such benefits will be realized.
Income of foreign subsidiaries before taxes was $7,983,000 and $8,396,000 for the years ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
No provision was made for U.S. or additional foreign taxes on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Such earnings have been and will be reinvested but could become subject to additional tax if they were remitted as dividends, or were loaned to the Company or a domestic affiliate, or if the Company should sell its stock in the foreign subsidiaries. It is not practicable to determine the amount of additional tax, if any, that might be payable on undistributed foreign earnings.
A reconciliation of the Company’s changes in uncertain tax positions from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011 is as follows:
         
    In 000’s  
Total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of April 1, 2010
  $ 121  
Gross increases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of tax positions taken during a prior period
     
Gross decreases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of tax positions taken during a prior period
     
Gross increases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of tax positions taken during the current period
     
Gross decreases in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of tax positions taken during the current period
     
Decreases in unrecognized tax benefits relating to settlements with taxing authorities
     
Reductions to unrecognized tax benefits as a result of lapse of statute of limitations
     
Total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2011
  $ 121  
The effective tax rate on the Company’s income from continuing operations before income taxes for fiscal 2011 differs from the federal statutory rate primarily as a result of difference in tax rate between U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, state income taxes, and change in net operating loss carryforwards. The effective tax rate on the Company’s loss from continuing operations before income taxes for fiscal 2010 differs from the federal statutory rate primarily as a result of difference in tax rate between U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, state income taxes, change in net operating loss carryforwards and change in valuation allowance.
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 March 31, 2011:
         
Jurisdiction   Open Tax Years  
U.S. Federal
    2007-2010  
U.S. States
    2006-2010  
Foreign
    2004-2010  
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.

 

42


Table of Contents

NOTE 8 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES:
Leases:
The Company leases warehouse and office space with annual commitments as follows (in thousands):
                         
            Rental Commitments  
Fiscal Years   Amount     Affiliate     Non-Affiliate  
2012
    1,562       402       1,160  
2013
    987             987  
2014
    444             444  
2015
    33             33  
Thereafter
                 
 
                 
Total
  $ 3,026     $ 402     $ 2,624  
 
                 
Rent expense from continuing operations resulting from leases from non-affiliates, which includes month-to-month leases, aggregated $990,000 and $2,439,000, respectively, for fiscal 2011 and 2010.
Letters of Credit:
The Company utilizes the services of banks to issue secured letters of credit on behalf of the Company, as needed, on a 100% cash collateralized basis. At March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, the Company had approximately $0.5 million and $1.8 million of letters of credit outstanding.
Capital Expenditure and Other Commitments:
As of March 31, 2011, there were no material capital expenditure commitments and no substantial commitments for purchase orders outside the normal purchase orders used to secure product.
Employee Benefit Plan:
The Company currently sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) retirement plan which is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The Company matches a percentage of the participants’ contributions up to a specified amount. These contributions to the plan for fiscal 2011 and 2010 were $74,000 and $104,000, respectively, and were charged to operations for the periods presented.
NOTE 9 — STOCK BASED COMPENSATION:
In 2004, the Company adopted the 2004 Employee Stock Options Plan. The provisions for exercise price, term and vesting schedule are, for the most part, the same as the previous Incentive Stock Option Plan. The maximum aggregate number of shares of common stock available pursuant to the Program is 2,500,000 shares.

 

43


Table of Contents

A summary of transactions during the last two years is as follows:
                 
    Number of     Weighted Average  
    Options     Exercise Price  
Outstanding — April 1, 2009
    34,000     $ 2.45  
Cancelled
    (32,000 )     2.54  
 
             
Outstanding — March 31, 2010
    2,000     $ 1.00  
Expired
    (2,000 )     1.00  
 
             
Outstanding — March 31, 2011
    0     $ .00  
 
           
Exercisable at March 31, 2011
    0     $ .00  
 
           
As of March 31, 2011, there were no options outstanding. At March 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, the weighted average exercise price of exercisable options under the Program was $0, $1.00, and $2.45, respectively.
In 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors, and the stockholders subsequently approved the 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, the provisions for exercise price, term and vesting schedule being, for the most part, the same as the 1994 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock available under such plan was 250,000 shares. In December 2006, an additional listing application was approved by the American Stock Exchange permitting the issuance of up to 500,000 shares pursuant to the 2004 plan.
A summary of transactions under the plan for the two years ended March 31, 2011 is as follows:
                 
    Number of     Weighted Average  
    Options     Exercise Price  
Outstanding — April 1, 2009
    100,000     $ 3.17  
Cancelled
    (25,000 )     3.23  
 
             
Outstanding — March 31, 2010
    75,000     $ 3.15  
Cancelled
    (25,000 )     3.19  
 
             
Outstanding — March 31, 2011
    50,000     $ 3.13  
 
           
Exercisable at March 31, 2011
    50,000     $ 3.13  
 
           
The following table provides additional information as to the options outstanding under the Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan as of March 31, 2011:
                                         
    Options Outstanding     Options Exercisable  
            Weighted     Weighted        
            Average     Average             Weighted  
    Amount     Remaining     Exercise     Amount     Average  
Range of Exercise Prices   Outstanding     Contractual Life     Price     Exercisable     Exercise Price  
$3.07
    25,000       4.8     $ 3.07       25,000     $ 3.07  
$3.19
    25,000       5.6       3.19       25,000       3.19  
 
                             
 
    50,000       5.2     $ 3.13       50,000     $ 3.13  
 
                             

 

44


Table of Contents

There were no options granted during the fiscal years ending March 31, 2011 or 2010. As of March 31, 2011, there were a total of 50,000 options outstanding with exercise prices ranging from $3.07 per share to $3.19 per share, all of which were fully vested. As of March 31, 2011 and 2010, the weighted average exercise price of exercisable options under the Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan was $3.13 and $3.17, respectively.
NOTE 10 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Common Shares:
Authorized common shares total 75,000,000 shares of common shares, par value $0.01 per share, of which, 27,129,832 were issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2011 and 2010. Shares held in treasury at March 31, 2011 and 2010 were 25,835,965.
Common Stock Repurchase Program:
In September 2003, the Company’s Board authorized a share repurchase programs for 2,000,000 shares. No shares were repurchased in fiscal 2011 or fiscal 2010. As of March 31, 2011, 732,377 shares remain available for repurchase under this program.
Series A Preferred Stock:
The Company has issued and outstanding 3,677 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, (“Preferred Stock”) $.01 par value, with a face value of $3,677,000, which had no determinable market value as of March 31, 2011. Effective March 31, 2002, the previously existing conversion feature of the Preferred Stock expired. The Series A convertible preferred stock is non-voting, has no dividend preferences and has not been convertible since March 31, 2002; however, it retains a liquidation preference.
NOTE 11 — MARKETABLE SECURITIES:
As of March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, the Company had a net book value investment in trading securities of $4.7 million and $6.0 million, respectively, consisting entirely of student loan auction rate securities (“SLARS”). As of both March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010, the Company’s investments in the SLARS were classified as available-for-sale securities. In December 2010, the Company sold for cash proceeds one of its two SLARS having a net book value of $2.1 million for $3.1 million, realizing a gain of $1.0 million as a result. In May 2011, the Company sold for cash proceeds its last remaining SLARS for $4.7 million. As a result, in March 2011, the Company wrote up the value of this SLARS from its net written-down book value of $3.9 million to $4.7 million, recognizing an unrealized gain of $0.8 million on the balance sheet as a result (See Note 17 “Subsequent Events”).
NOTE 12 — NET EARNINGS PER SHARE:
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the years ended March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010:
                 
    2011     2010  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
Numerator:
               
Income from continuing operations for basic and diluted earnings per share
  $ 15,918     $ 11,370  
 
           
Denominator:
               
Denominator for basic earnings per share — weighted average shares
    27,130       27,130  
Effect of dilutive securities on denominator:
               
Options
          1  
 
           
Denominator for diluted earnings per share — weighted average shares and assumed conversions
    27,130       27,131  
 
           
Income from continuing operations
               
Basic and diluted loss per share
  $ .59     $ .42  
 
           

 

45


Table of Contents

For the year ended March 31, 2011, 50,000 shares attributable to outstanding stock options were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price of the options and warrants exceeded the average price of the common shares, and therefore their inclusion would have been antidilutive.
NOTE 13 — LICENSE AGREEMENTS:
The Company is party to numerous license agreements that allow licensees to use its trademarks for the manufacture and/or the sale of consumer electronics and other products and are referred to as “outward licenses”. These license agreements (i) allow the licensee to use the Company’s trademarks for a specific product category, or for sale within specific geographic areas, or for sales to a specific customer base, or any combination of the above, or any other category that might be defined in the license agreement, (ii) may be subject to renewal at the initial expiration of the agreements and are governed by the laws of the United States and (iii) have expiration dates ranging through December 2016.
In January 2011, the Company’s inward license agreement with Apple Computer Inc was terminated. The license had allowed the Company to develop and market products that are compatible with iPod(R) portable audio and video devices, and further provided the right to use the “made for iPod(R)” logo on the Company’s packaging and promotional material.
NOTE 14 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS:
Settlement of In re: Emerson Radio Shareholder Derivative Litigation. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded as income the sum of $1.8 million representing the excess of (i) the $3.0 million paid to the Company in March 2011 by or on behalf of two current and one former director of the Company in a court approved settlement of two previously filed and later consolidated derivative actions in which it was alleged that the named defendants violated their fiduciary duties to the Company in connection with a number of related party transactions with affiliates of The Grande Holdings Limited (Provisional Liquidators Appointed), the Company’s controlling shareholder over the sum of (ii) a $0.9 million provision for expenses to plaintiffs’ attorneys for services rendered in the action which were paid to the plaintiffs’ attorneys in April 2011 and $0.3 million of miscellaneous other expenses incurred by the Company during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 which related to the litigation.
Other. Except for the litigation matters described above, 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 15 — GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION:
Net revenues and identifiable assets from continuing operations of the Company for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2011 and March 31, 2010 are summarized below by geographic area (in thousands). Net revenues are attributed to geographic area based on location of customer.
                         
    Year Ended March 31, 2011  
    U.S.     Foreign     Consolidated  
Net third party revenue
  $ 200,674     $ 167     $ 200,841  
 
                 
Long-lived assets
  $ 60,965     $ 5,666     $ 66,631  
 
                 

 

46


Table of Contents

                         
    Year Ended March 31, 2010  
    U.S.     Foreign     Consolidated  
Net third party revenue
  $ 205,536     $ 1,424     $ 206,960  
 
                 
Long-lived assets
  $ 40,578     $ 12,655     $ 53,233  
 
                 
At March 31, 2010, foreign long-lived assets included amounts due from several wholly owned subsidiaries of Grande in the aggregate amount of $185,000. See Note 3 “Related Party Transactions”. At March 31, 2011, there were no amounts due from Grande or its subsidiaries included in foreign long-lived assets. All of the U.S. and foreign long-lived assets presented in the table above are operating assets.
NOTE 16 — DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
As a result of the Company’s sale of its membership in the ASI joint venture in April 2009, the results of operations of the Company’s membership interest in the ASI joint venture have been presented as discontinued operations for the twelve months ended March 31, 2010. Discontinued operations, net of tax for the fiscal years ending March 31, 2011 and 2010, relating to this transaction were nil and $55,000, respectively.
NOTE 17 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:
In May 2011, the Company sold for cash proceeds of $4.7 million its last remaining Auction Rate Security, having a $5.0 million face value and a $3.9 million net written-down book value, recording a $0.8 million realized gain as a result.
In May 2011, upon application of a major creditor, the High Court of Hong Kong appointed Fok Hei Yu and Roderick John Sutton, both of FTI Consulting (Hong Kong) Limited (“FTI”), as Joint and Several Provisional Liquidators over The Grande Holdings Limited (Provisional Liquidators Appointed) (“Grande”). In addition, in June 2011, Grande filed a Chapter 15 petition under the United States Bankruptcy Code with the United States Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. An indirect subsidiary of Grande owns a significant amount of the outstanding shares of the Company and two of the Company’s seven directors, including Emerson’s Chairman and Deputy Chief Executive Officer also are directors and officers of Grande.
Upon the appointment of the Provisional Liquidator over Grande on May 31, 2011, certain factory suppliers, including Midea, have significantly reduced the maximum amount of open credit lines available to the Company. At the factories’ request, the Company made accelerated payments in June and July of 2011 to reduce the balances owing from the Company on its open trade payable accounts with the respective factory suppliers to comply with such new credit terms. The Company relies on its cash on hand and cash generated by ongoing operations to manage its business.
On July 7, 2011, the Company was served with a complaint filed in the Federal District Court for the Central District of California alleging that it, certain of its present and former directors and other entities or individuals now or previously associated with Grande, intentionally interfered with the ability of the plaintiffs to collect on a judgment (now approximately $47 million) it had against Grande by engaging in transactions (such as the dividend paid to all shareholders in March 2010) which transferred assets out of the United States. The complaint also asserts claims under the civil RICO statute. In the Company’s opinion, based on an initial review, the claims appear to be devoid of merit. Emerson intends to defend the action vigorously.
Item 9.  
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
Item 9A.  
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of 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.

 

47


Table of Contents

As a result of its internal assessment, 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 the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, to ensure that such information 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.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on its evaluation under this framework, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.
This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2011, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

48


Table of Contents

PART III
Item 10.  
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The information required is incorporated herein by reference to Emerson’s definitive Proxy Statement, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before July 29, 2011.
Item 11.  
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required is incorporated herein by reference to Emerson’s definitive Proxy Statement, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before July 29, 2011.
Item 12.  
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required is incorporated herein by reference to Emerson’s definitive Proxy Statement, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before July 29, 2011.
Item 13.  
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The information required is incorporated herein by reference to Emerson’s definitive Proxy Statement, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before July 29, 2011.
Item 14.  
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information required is incorporated herein by reference to Emerson’s definitive Proxy Statement, or an amendment to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or before July 29, 2011.

 

49


Table of Contents

PART IV
Item 15.  
EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
(a) List of Financial Statements, Financial Statement Schedules, and Exhibits.
1. Financial Statements. The following financial statements of Emerson Radio Corp. are included in Item 8 of Part II of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
         
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
    26  
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
    27  
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2011 and 2010
    28  
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
    29  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended March 31, 2011 and 2010
    30  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
    31  
All financial statement schedules are omitted from this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as they are not required or applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
2. Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K or are incorporated herein by reference, as indicated.
         
Exhibit
Number
  3.1    
Certificate of Incorporation of Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3) (a) of Emerson’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-53621, declared effective by the SEC on August 9, 1994).
       
 
  3.4    
Certificate of Designation for Series A Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3) (b) of Emerson’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, Registration No. 33-53621, declared effective by the SEC on August 9, 1994).
       
 
  3.5    
Amendment dated February 14, 1996 to the Certificate of Incorporation of Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3) (a) of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1995).
       
 
  3.6    
By-Laws of Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2007).
       
 
  3.7    
Amendment dated November 28, 1995 to the By-Laws of Emerson adopted March 1994 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (3) (b) of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1995).
       
 
  3.8    
Amendment effective as of November 10, 2009 to the By-Laws of Emerson adopted March 1994 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Emerson’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2009).
       
 
  10.12    
License Agreement effective as of January 1, 2001 by and between Funai Corporation and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) (z) of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000).
       
 
  10.12.1    
First Amendment to License Agreement dated February 19, 2002 by and between Funai Corporation and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.12.1) of Emerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2002).
       
 
  10.12.2    
Second Amendment to License Agreement effective August 1, 2002 by and between Funai Corporation and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.12.2) of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002).
       
 
  10.12.3    
Third Amendment to License Agreement effective February 18, 2004 by and between Funai Corporation and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12.3 of Emerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending March 31, 2004).
       
 
  10.12.4    
Fourth Amendment to License Agreement effective December 3, 2004 by and between Funai Corporation, Inc. and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.12.4) of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2004).
       
 
  10.12.5    
Fifth Amendment to License Agreement effective May 18, 2005 by and between Funai Corporation, Inc. and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.12.5) of Emerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ending March 31, 2005).

 

50


Table of Contents

         
Exhibit
Number
  10.12.7    
Seventh Amendment to License Agreement effective December 22, 2005 by and between Funai Corporation, Inc. and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Emerson’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2005).
       
 
  10.13    
Second Lease Modification dated as of May 15, 1998 between Hartz Mountain, Parsippany and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) (v) of Emerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 3, 1998).
       
 
  10.13.1    
Third Lease Modification made the 26th day of October, 1998 between Hartz Mountain Parsippany and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10) (b) of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 2, 1998).
       
 
  10.13.2    
Fourth Lease Modification made the 12th day of February, 2003 between Hartz Mountain Parsippany and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.13.2) of Emerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2003).
       
 
  10.13.3    
Lease Agreement dated as of October 8, 2004 between Sealy TA Texas, L.P., a Georgia limited partnership, and Emerson Radio Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.13.3) of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004).
       
 
  10.13.4    
Fifth Lease Modification Agreement made the 2nd day of December, 2004 between Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. and Emerson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (10.13.3) of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2004).
       
 
  10.13.5    
Lease Agreement (Single Tenant) between Ontario Warehouse I, Inc., a Florida corporation, as Landlord, and Emerson Radio Corp., a Delaware corporation, as Tenant, effective as of December 6, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Emerson’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 4, 2006).
       
 
  10.13.6    
Letter agreement, dated November 28, 2005, between Emerson Radio Corp. and The Grande Group (Hong Kong) Limited regarding lease of office space. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13.6 to Emerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2006).
       
 
  10.13.7    
Letter agreement, dated November 29, 2005, between Emerson Radio Corp. and The Grande Group (Hong Kong) Limited regarding management services for office space. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13.7 to Emerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2006).
       
 
  10.18.1    
Emerson Radio Corp. 2004 Employee Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 of Emerson’s 2004 Proxy Statement).
       
 
  10.18.2    
Emerson Radio Corp. 2004 Non-Employee Outside Director Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 of Emerson’s 2004 Proxy Statement).
       
 
  10.25    
Employment Agreement, dated as of April 3, 2007, by and between Emerson Radio Corp. and Greenfield Pitts (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Emerson’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 6, 2007).
       
 
  10.26    
Employment Agreement, dated as of October 15, 2007, by and between Emerson Radio Corp. and John Spielberger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on July 11, 2008).
       
 
  10.27.5    
Loan and Security Agreement dated as of December 23, 2005, among Emerson Radio Corp., Emerson Radio Macao Commercial Offshore Limited, Majexco Imports, Inc., Emerson Radio (Hong Kong) Ltd., and Emerson Radio International Ltd. (as Borrowers) and Wachovia Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Emerson’s Form 8-K dated December 29, 2005).
       
 
  10.27.6    
Seventh Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of December 23, 2005 among Emerson Radio Corp., Emerson Radio Macao Commercial Offshore Limited, Majexco Imports, Inc., Emerson Radio (Hong Kong) Ltd. and Emerson Radio International Ltd. (as Borrowers) and Wachovia Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27.6 of Emerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended March 31, 2009).
       
 
  10.27.7    
Eighth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of December 23, 2005 among Emerson Radio Corp., Emerson Radio Macao Commercial Offshore Limited, Majexco Imports, Inc., Emerson Radio (Hong Kong) Ltd. and Emerson Radio International Ltd.
       
 
  10.27.8    
Ninth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of December 23, 2005 among Emerson Radio Corp., Emerson Radio Macao Commercial Offshore Limited, Majexco Imports, Inc., Emerson Radio (Hong Kong) Ltd. and Emerson Radio International Ltd.
       
 
  10.28.1    
Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement entered into on October 7, 2003 by and between Emerson Radio Corp. and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28.1 of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2003).

 

51


Table of Contents

         
Exhibit
Number
  10.28.2    
Common Stock Purchase Warrant Agreement entered into on August 1, 2004 by and between Emerson Radio Corp. and EPOCH Financial Services, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28.2 of Emerson’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004).
       
 
  10.28.3    
Stock Purchase Agreement among Emerson Radio Corp., Collegiate Pacific Inc. and Emerson Radio (Hong Kong) Limited, dated July 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Emerson’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 8, 2005).
       
 
  10.29    
Employment Agreement dated as of October 1, 2009 between Emerson and Duncan Hon (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Emerson’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 16, 2009).
       
 
  14.1    
Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 of Emerson’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2004).
       
 
  21.1    
Subsidiaries of the Company as of March 31, 2011.*
       
 
  23.1    
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm — MSPC, Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, Professional Corporation.*
       
 
  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.*
 
     
*  
Filed herewith.
(b) Exhibits. The exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are filed herewith or incorporated by reference.
(c) Financial Statement Schedules and Other Financial Statements.
Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
All other financial statement schedules are omitted from this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as they are not required or applicable or the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.

 

52


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
         
  EMERSON RADIO CORP.
 
 
  By:   /s/ Adrian Ma    
    Adrian Ma   
    Chief Executive Officer   
Dated: July 14, 2011
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
         
/s/ Christopher Ho
 
Christopher Ho
  Chairman of the Board of Directors    July 14, 2011
 
       
/s/ Eduard Will
 
Eduard Will
  Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors    July 14, 2011
 
       
/s/ Adrian Ma
 
Adrian Ma
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer) and Director
  July 14, 2011
 
       
/s/ Duncan Hon
 
Duncan Hon
  Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Director    July 14, 2011
 
       
/s/ Mirzan Mahathir
 
Mirzan Mahathir
  Director    July 14, 2011
 
       
/s/ Kareem E. Sethi
 
Kareem E. Sethi
  Director    July 14, 2011
 
       
/s/ Terence A. Snellings
 
Terence A. Snellings
  Director    July 14, 2011

 

53