Daily Journal - 10-Q quarterly report FY2017 Q2

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 (Mark One)

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

        For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017

or

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

        For the transition period from _______________ to _____________________

Commission File Number 0-14665

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(213) 229-5300

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

None

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.                           Yes: X          No:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).         Yes: X            No:

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

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

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

INDEX

PART I

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Note 1 - The Corporation and Operations

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

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

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

Note 2 - Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of its financial position as of March 31, 2017, its results of operations for the three- and six-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016 and its cash flows for the six-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. The results of operations for the six months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

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

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

Note 3 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements

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

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

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

Note 4 - Basic and Diluted Income Per Share

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

Note 5 - Intangible Assets

These gross intangible assets are being amortized over five years for financial statement purposes due to the short life cycle of technology that customer relationships depend on and over 15 years on a straight-line basis for tax purposes. The intangible amortization expenses were $2,447,000 for the six-month period ended March 31, 2017 as compared with $2,518,000 in the prior year period.

Note 6 – Goodwill

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

In addition, ASU 2011-08, Intangible – Goodwill and Others -- Testing Goodwill for Impairment, allows for the option of performing a qualitative assessment before calculating the fair value of a reporting unit. If it is determined based on qualitative factors that there is no impairment to goodwill, then the fair value of a reporting unit is not needed. If a quantitative analysis is required and the unit’s carrying amount exceeds its fair value, then the second step is performed to measure the amount of potential impairment. The Company’s annual goodwill impairment analysis in fiscal 2016 did not result in an impairment charge based on the qualitative assessment. There was no indicator of impairment during the six-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.

Note 7 – Revenue Recognition

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

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

The Company has established Vendor Specific Objective Evidence (VSOE) of the fair value of annual maintenance because a substantial majority of Journal Technologies’ actual maintenance renewals is within a narrow range of pricing as a percentage of the underlying license fees for the legacy contracts and is deemed substantive. Approximately 57% and 60% of the Company’s revenues during the six months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, were derived from Journal Technologies.

Note 8 - Income Taxes

Taxes

For the six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $4,550,000 on pretax loss of $3,042,000.

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

The income tax benefit was also the result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2017 to pretax loss for the six-month period ended March 31, 2017. The effective tax rate (before the discrete item) was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to the dividends received deduction which increases the loss for tax purposes.  On pretax income of $17,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $240,000 which was the net result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2016 to pretax income for the six months ended March 31, 2016. The Company’s effective tax rate was 150% and -1,412% for the six months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 

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

Note 9 - Investments in Marketable Securities

Investments in marketable securities categorized as “available-for-sale” are stated at fair value. The Company uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (consistent with the Level 1 definition in the fair value hierarchy) to measure the fair value of its investments on a recurring basis pursuant to ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement. As of March 31, 2017 and September 30, 2016, unrealized gains of $140,386,000 and $108,256,000, respectively, were recorded before taxes of $54,723,000 and $42,250,000, respectively, in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Most of the unrealized gains were in the common stocks of three U.S. financial institutions.

Investments in equity securities and securities with fixed maturity as of March 31, 2017 and September 30, 2016 are summarized below.

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

As of March 31, 2017, the Company performed an evaluation for an equity security with a fair value below cost to determine if the unrealized loss was other-than-temporary. This evaluation considers a number of factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security until fair value recovers. The assessment of the ability and intent to hold this security to recovery focuses on liquidity needs, asset/liability management objectives and security portfolio objectives. Based on the result of the evaluation, the Company concluded that as of March 31, 2017, the unrealized loss related to an equity security it owns was temporary.

Note 10 - Debt and Commitments and Contingencies

The Company borrowed from its investment margin account during fiscal 2013 the purchase price of two acquisitions aggregating $29.5 million, in each case pledging its marketable securities as collateral. The interest rate for these investment margin account borrowings fluctuates based on the Federal Funds Rate plus 50 basis points with interest only payable monthly. The interest rate as of March 31, 2017 was 1.5%. These investment margin account borrowings do not mature.

In November 2015, the Company purchased a 30,700 square foot office building constructed in 1998 on about 3.6 acres in Logan, Utah that had been previously leased by Journal Technologies. The Company paid $1.24 million and financed the balance with a real estate bank loan of $2.26 million which bears a fixed interest rate of 4.66% and is repayable in equal monthly installments of about $17,600 through 2030. This loan is secured by the Logan facility and can be paid off at any time without prepayment penalty. This real estate loan had a balance of approximately $2.13 million as of March 31, 2017.

The Company owns its facilities in Los Angeles and leases space for its other offices under operating leases which expire at various dates through fiscal 2020. The Company is responsible for a portion of maintenance, insurance and property tax expenses relating to these leased properties and certain other leased properties. Rental expenses were $356,000 for the six-month period ended March 31, 2017 as compared with $415,000 in the prior year period.

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

Note 11 - Operating Segments

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

Note 12 - Subsequent Events

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

Results of Operations

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

Comparable six-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016

Consolidated revenues were $20,269,000 and $22,257,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. This decrease of $1,988,000 (9%) was primarily from the reduction in (i) The Traditional Business’s trustee sale notice and related service fee revenues of $309,000 and (ii) Journal Technologies’ consulting fees of $882,000 and public service fees of $914,000 primarily due to a reduction in the number of traffic tickets processed online for the public to pay traffic citations, partially offset by increased Journal Technologies’ license and maintenance fees of $94,000. The Company’s revenues derived from Journal Technologies’ operations constituted about 57% and 60% of the Company’s total revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Consolidated operating expenses increased by $2,593,000 (11%) to $26,388,000 from $23,795,000, primarily resulting from additional personnel costs for Journal Technologies. Total personnel costs increased by $2,061,000 (15%) to $15,738,000 from $13,677,000. Outside services increased by $390,000 (23%) to $2,067,000 from $1,677,000 primarily due to increased services for Journal Technologies. Depreciation and amortization costs, which included primarily the amortization of Journal Technologies’ intangible assets of $2,447,000 for both fiscal periods, decreased by $62,000 to $2,781,000 from $2,843,000.

The Company’s non-operating income, net of expenses, increased by $1,522,000 (98%) to $3,077,000 from $1,555,000 primarily because of more dividend income, partially offset by an increase in the interest rate on the two acquisition margin loans and additional interest expense for the Company’s real estate loan.

During the six months ended March 31, 2017, consolidated pretax loss was $3,042,000 after recording the interest and penalty expense reversal of $743,000 for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits as compared with pretax income of $17,000 in the prior year period. There was net income of $1,508,000 ($1.09 per share) for the six months ended March 31, 2017, primarily because of the reversal of the tax liability for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits, as compared with net income of $257,000 ($0.19 per share) in the prior year period. (See Taxes.)

At March 31, 2017, the aggregate fair market value of the Company’s marketable securities was $203,778,000. These securities had approximately $140,386,000 of unrealized gains before taxes of $54,723,000 and generated approximately $2,539,000 in dividends and interest income during the six months ended March 31, 2017 which lowers the Company’s effective income tax rate because of the dividends received deduction. Most of the unrealized gains were in the common stocks of three U.S. financial institutions.

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

Overall Financial Results (000)

For the six months ended March 31

The Traditional Business

The Traditional Business segment’s pretax income decreased by $389,000 to a pretax loss of $254,000 from pretax income of $135,000.

Advertising revenues decreased by $234,000 to $4,433,000 from $4,667,000 primarily resulting from the declines in trustee sale notice advertising and related service fee revenues of $309,000, partial offset by increases in other public notice advertising.

Trustee sale notices are very much dependent on the number of California and Arizona foreclosures for which public notice advertising is required by law. The number of foreclosure notices published by the Company decreased by 24% during the six months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to the prior year period. Because this slowing is expected to continue, the Company expects there will be fewer foreclosure notice and other public notice advertisements and declining revenues in fiscal 2017, and the Company’s print-based earnings will also likely decline significantly because it will be impractical for the Company to offset all revenue losses by expense reduction. The Company’s smaller newspapers, those other than the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals (“The Daily Journals”), accounted for about 90% of the total public notice advertising revenues in the six months ended March 31, 2017. Public notice advertising revenues and related advertising and other service fees constituted about 22% and 21% of the Company’s total revenues for the six months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Because of this concentration, the Company’s revenues would be significantly adversely affected if California and Arizona eliminated the legal requirement to publish public notices in adjudicated newspapers of general circulation, as had been recently implemented in Arizona for one notice type with approximately $500,000 in annual revenues. Also, if the adjudication of one or more of the Company’s newspapers was challenged and revoked, those newspapers would no longer be eligible to publish public notice advertising, and it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s revenues.

The Daily Journals accounted for about 87% of The Traditional Business’ total circulation revenues, which declined by $91,000 to $2,873,000 from $2,964,000. The court rule and judicial profile services generated about 9% of the total circulation revenues, with the other newspapers and services accounting for the balance. Advertising service fees and other are Traditional Business segment revenues, which include primarily (i) agency commissions received from outside newspapers in which the advertising is placed and (ii) fees generated when filing notices with government agencies.

The Traditional Business segment operating expenses increased by $88,000 (1%) to $8,863,000 from $8,775,000.

Journal Technologies

Journal Technologies’ business segment pretax loss increased by $3,415,000 (197%) to $5,152,000 from $1,737,000 after recording the interest and penalty expense reversal of $743,000 for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits in March 2017 and including the amortization costs of intangible assets of $2,447,000 for both the six-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016. (See Taxes.)

Revenues decreased by $1,702,000 (13%) to $11,630,000 from $13,332,000 in the prior year period. Licensing and maintenance fees increased by $94,000 (1%) to $7,848,000 from $7,754,000. Consulting fees decreased by $882,000 (29%) to $2,158,000 from $3,040,000. In most cases, revenues from new installations projects will only be recognized, if at all, upon completion and acceptance of the services by the various customers. Deferred revenues on installation contracts primarily represent the fair value of advances from customers of Journal Technologies for software licenses and installation services. Only upon completion and a customer’s acceptance does the customer realize value, and any advances are generally no longer at risk of refund and are therefore considered earned. Deferred revenues on license and maintenance contracts represent prepayments of annual license and maintenance fees and are recognized ratably over the maintenance period. Other public service fees decreased by $914,000 (36%) to $1,624,000 from $2,538,000 primarily due to a reduction in the number of traffic tickets processed online for the public to pay traffic citations.

Operating expenses increased by $2,505,000 (17%) to $17,525,000 from $15,020,000 primarily due to increased personnel costs.

Intangible assets, including customer relationships and developed technology, are being amortized on a straight-line basis over five years due to the short life cycle of technology that customer relationships depend on and over 15 years for tax purposes. Goodwill, which is not amortized for financial statement purposes, is amortized over 15 years for tax purposes. Goodwill represents the expected synergies in expanding the Company’s software business. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the value may not be recoverable. Considered factors for potential goodwill impairment evaluation include the current year’s business profitability before intangible amortization, fluctuations of revenues, changes in the market place, the status of installation contracts and new business, among other things. Journal Technologies is continuing to update and upgrade its software products. These costs are expensed as incurred and will impact earnings at least through the foreseeable future.

Taxes

For the six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $4,550,000 on pretax loss of $3,042,000.

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

The income tax benefit was also the result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2017 to pretax loss for the six-month period ended March 31, 2017. The effective tax rate (before the discrete item) was greater than the statutory rate primarily due to the dividends received deduction which increases the loss for tax purposes.  On pretax income of $17,000 for the six months ended March 31, 2016, the Company recorded an income tax benefit of $240,000 which was the net result of applying the effective tax rate anticipated for fiscal 2016 to pretax income for the six months ended March 31, 2016. The Company’s effective tax rate was 150% and -1,412% for the six months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 

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

Comprehensive Income

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

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Comparable three-month periods ended March 31, 2017 and 2016

Consolidated revenues were $10,279,000 and $11,442,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. This decrease of $1,163,000 (10%) was primarily from the reduction in (i) The Traditional Business’s trustee sale notice and related service fee revenues of $167,000 and (ii) Journal Technologies’ license and maintenance fees of $225,000, consulting fees of $354,000 and public service fees of $378,000 primarily due to a reduction in the number of traffic tickets processed online for the public to pay traffic citations. The Company’s revenues derived from Journal Technologies’ operations constituted about 59% and 61% of the Company’s total revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Consolidated operating expenses increased by $1,527,000 (13%) to $13,545,000 from $12,018,000, primarily resulting from additional personnel costs for Journal Technologies. Total personnel costs increased by $1,068,000 (15%) to $8,097,000 from $7,029,000. Outside services increased by $274,000 (34%) to $1,087,000 from $813,000 primarily due to increased services for Journal Technologies. Depreciation and amortization costs, which included primarily the amortization of Journal Technologies’ intangible assets of $1,224,000 for both fiscal periods, decreased by $39,000 to $1,389,000 from $1,428,000.

The Company’s non-operating income, net of expenses, increased by $1,277,000 to $2,005,000 from $728,000 primarily because of more dividend income, partially offset by an increase in interest rate on the two acquisition margin loans and additional interest expense for the Company’s real estate loan.

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, consolidated pretax loss was $1,261,000 after recording the interest and penalty expense reversal for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits of $752,000 as compared with pretax income of $152,000 in the prior year period. There was net income of $2,979,000 ($2.16 per share) for the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily because of the reversal of the tax liability for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits, as compared with net income of $207,000 ($0.15 per share) in the prior year period.   (See Taxes.)

Liquidity and Capital Resources

During the six months ended March 31, 2017, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and marketable security positions increased by $29,783,000 to $207,828,000. Cash and cash equivalents were used primarily for the purchase of marketable securities of $5,013,000 and capital assets of $194,000. The investments in marketable securities, which had an adjusted cost basis of approximately $63,392,000 and a market value of about $203,778,000 at March 31, 2017, generated approximately $2,539,000 in dividends and interest income.

Cash flows from operating activities decreased by $943,000 during the six months ended March 31, 2017 as compared to prior year period primarily resulting from decreases in income tax payable of $2,598,000, partially offset by increases in net income of $1,251,000 because of the reversal of the tax liabilities mentioned above. The net cash used in operating activities of $2,100,000 included net decreases of $999,000 in deferred subscriptions, deferred installation contracts and deferred maintenance agreements and others.

As of March 31, 2017, the Company had working capital of $137,629,000, including the liabilities for deferred subscriptions and deferred installation contracts and deferred maintenance agreements and others of $17,029,000, which are scheduled to be earned within one year, and the deferred tax liability of $54,723,000 for the unrealized gains described above.

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

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

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

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

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

     The Company’s critical accounting policies are detailed in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016. The above discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this report.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Certain statements contained in this document, including but not limited to those in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, are “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future events or results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “should,” “believes,” “will,” “plans,” “estimates,” “may,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise. There are many factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others: risks associated with software development and implementation efforts; Journal Technologies’ reliance on professional services engagements with justice agencies, including California courts, for a substantial portion of its revenues; material changes in the costs of postage and paper; possible changes in the law, particularly changes limiting or eliminating the requirements for public notice advertising; possible loss of the adjudicated status of the Company’s newspapers and their legal authority to publish public notice advertising; a further decline in public notice advertising revenues because of fewer foreclosures; a further decline in subscriber and commercial advertising revenues; possible security breaches of the Company’s software or websites; the Company’s reliance on its president and chief executive officer; changes in accounting guidance; material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and declines in the market prices of the securities owned by the Company. In addition, such statements could be affected by general industry and market conditions, general economic conditions (particularly in California) and other factors. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are discussed in this Form 10-Q, including in conjunction with the forward-looking statements themselves. Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained from time to time in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016.

Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

For information regarding the Company’s market risk, refer to Item 7A – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016. There have been no material changes to the Company’s market risk exposures since September 30, 2016.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including Gerald L. Salzman, its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2017. Based on that evaluation, Mr. Salzman concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There were no material changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting or in other factors reasonably likely to affect its internal control over financial reporting during the six-month period ended March 31, 2017.

PART II

Item 6.    Exhibits

SIGNATURE

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

DATE: May 9, 2017

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