NEW YORK, May 14, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- PubliCARD, Inc. (OTCBB:CARD) reported its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.
Sales for the first quarter of 2004 declined to $828,000, compared to $1,413,000 a year ago. The Company experienced substantially reduced volume in its direct sales channel in the United Kingdom as well as a decline in revenues through its U.S. distribution partners. The Company reported a net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 of $503,000, or $0.02 per share, compared with net income of $1,000,000, or $0.04 per share, a year ago. The 2004 and 2003 results include gains of $477,000 and $1,707,000, respectively, relating to various insurance settlements.
As of March 31, 2004, cash and short-term investments totaled $2,871,000. In February 2004, the Company entered into a binding agreement to assign to a third party certain insurance claims against a group of historic insurers. The claims involve several historic general liability policies of insurance issued to the Company. After allowance for associated expenses and offsetting adjustments, the Company received net proceeds of approximately $477,000 in May 2004.
About PubliCARD, Inc.
Headquartered in New York, NY, PubliCARD, through its Infineer Ltd. subsidiary, designs smart card solutions for educational and corporate sites. The Company's future plans revolve around a potential acquisition strategy that would focus on businesses in areas outside the high technology sector while continuing to support the expansion of the Infineer business. However, the Company will not be able to implement such plans unless it is successful in obtaining additional funding, as to which no assurance can be given. More information about PubliCARD can be found on its web site www.publicard.com.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the applicable statements. Such factors include general economic and business conditions, the ability to fund operations and need to raise capital, the ability to identify and consummate acquisitions and strategic alliances, business and product development, time to market, the loss of market share, ability to attract and retain employees, development of competitive products by others, ability to protect our intellectual property, impact of pending litigation, liquidity of our common shares, market makers choosing not to make a market for our common shares on the OTC Bulletin Board and other factors over which PubliCARD has no control. For more information on the potential factors which could affect financial results, refer to the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as filed with the SEC.
(table to follow)
PUBLICARD, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2004 AND 2003
(in thousands, except share data)
(unaudited)
2004 2003
----- -----
Revenues $ 828 $ 1,413
Cost of sales 406 619
----- -----
Gross margin 422 794
----- -----
Operating expenses:
General and
administrative 663 704
Sales and marketing 419 482
Product development 178 89
Amortization of
intangibles 10 10
----- -----
1,270 1,285
----- -----
Loss from operations (848) (491)
----- -----
Other income (expenses):
Interest income 6 3
Interest expense (4) (3)
Cost of pensions --
non-operating (134) (217)
Gain on insurance
recoveries 477 1,707
Other income
(expenses), net -- 1
----- -----
345 1,491
----- -----
Net (loss) income $ (503) $ 1,000
===== =====
Basic and diluted
(loss) earnings per
common share $ (.02) $ .04
===== =====
Weighted average shares
outstanding:
Basic 24,690,902 24,315,902
Diluted 24,690,902 26,103,402
========== ==========
See Note 1 below.
PUBLICARD, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF
March 31, 2004 AND DECEMBER 31, 2003
(in thousands, except share data)
March 31, December 31,
2004 2003
----- -----
(unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash, including
short-term investments
of $2,836 and $3,501
in 2004 and 2003,
respectively $ 2,871 $ 3,580
Trade receivables, less
allowance for doubtful
accounts of $89 and $115
in 2004 and 2003,
respectively 967 1,133
Inventories 659 635
Prepaid insurance and
other 1,096 440
--------- --------
Total current assets 5,593 5,788
--------- --------
Equipment and leasehold
improvements, net 159 191
Goodwill and intangibles 812 822
Other assets 548 598
--------- --------
$ 7,112 $ 7,399
========= ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS'
DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Trade accounts payable
and overdraft $ 1,472 $ 1,569
Accrued liabilities 5,923 5,206
--------- --------
Total current liabilities 7,395 6,775
Other non-current
liabilities 3,150 3,552
--------- --------
Total liabilities 10,545 10,327
--------- --------
Commitments and
contingencies
Shareholders' deficit:
Class A Preferred
Stock, Second Series,
no par value: 1,000
shares authorized; 565
shares issued and
outstanding as of
March 31, 2004 and
December 31, 2003 2,825 2,825
Common shares, $0.10
par value: 40,000,000
shares authorized;
24,690,902 shares
issued and outstanding
as of March 31, 2004
and December 31, 2003 2,469 2,469
Additional paid-in
capital 108,119 108,119
Accumulated deficit (114,120) (113,617)
Other comprehensive
loss (2,726) (2,724)
--------- ---------
Total shareholders' deficit (3,433) (2,928)
--------- ---------
$ 7,112 $ 7,399
========= =========
See Note 1 below.
Note 1--Liquidity and Going Concern Considerations
The condensed consolidated statements of operations and balance
sheets presented above contemplate the realization of assets and the
satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. The
Company has incurred operating losses, a substantial decline in
working capital and negative cash flow from operations for a number
of years. The Company has also experienced a substantial reduction
in its cash and short term investments, which declined from $17.0
million at December 31, 2000 to $2.9 million at March 31, 2004. The
Company also had a working capital deficit of $1.8 million and an
accumulated deficit of $114.1 million at March 31, 2004.
If the distress termination of the Company's defined benefit pension
plan for which the Company has applied is completed, for which no
assurance can be given, the Company's 2003 and 2004 funding
requirements to the plan could be eliminated, in which case
management believes that existing cash and short term investments may
be sufficient to meet the Company's operating and capital
requirements at the currently anticipated levels through December 31,
2004. However, additional capital will be necessary in order to
operate beyond December 2004 and to fund the current business plan
and other obligations. While the Company is actively considering
various funding alternatives, the Company has not secured or entered
into any arrangements to obtain additional funds. There can be no
assurance that the Company will eliminate the 2003 or 2004 funding
requirements for the defined benefit pension plan or be able to
obtain additional funding on acceptable terms or at all. If the
Company cannot raise additional capital to continue its present
level of operations it may not be able to meet its obligations, take
advantage of future acquisition opportunities or further develop or
enhance its product offering, any of which could have a material
adverse effect on its business and results of operations and could
lead the Company to seek bankruptcy protection. These conditions
raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a
going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include
any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this
uncertainty. The independent auditors' report on the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended December 31,
2003 contained an emphasis paragraph concerning substantial doubt
about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.