Despite the continued strengthening of the U.S. economy, the continuing uncertainty in the worldwide financial system has negatively impacted general business conditions. It is possible that a weakened economy could adversely affect our clients’ need for credit information, or even their solvency, but we cannot predict whether or to what extent this will occur.
Our strategic priorities and plans for 2016 are to continue to build on the improvement initiatives underway to achieve sustainable, profitable growth. Global market conditions, however, may affect the level and timing of resources deployed in pursuit of these initiatives in 2016.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table presents selected financial information and statistics as of December 31, 2015 and 2014 (dollars in thousands):
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2014
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
|
|
$
|
8,963
|
|
|
$
|
8,893
|
|
Accounts receivable, net
|
|
$
|
1,927
|
|
|
$
|
2,079
|
|
Working capital
|
|
$
|
2,884
|
|
|
$
|
2,507
|
|
Cash ratio
|
|
|
1.02
|
|
|
|
0.99
|
|
Quick ratio
|
|
|
1.24
|
|
|
|
1.22
|
|
Current ratio
|
|
|
1.33
|
|
|
|
1.28
|
|
The Company has invested some of its excess cash in debt instruments of the United States Government. All highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered cash equivalents, while those with maturities in excess of three months when purchased are reflected as marketable securities.
As of December 31, 2015, the Company had $8.96 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, an increase of approximately $70,000 from December 31, 2014. The reason for this increase was that the net cash generated by operating activities for the last 12 months ($630,000) exceeded the cash used for the purchase of fixed assets ($276,000) and the net cash outflow from financing activities ($240,000).
The Company’s cash generated by operating activities exceeded its net income due primarily to non-cash expenses (e.g., depreciation and stock-based compensation). Additionally, the main component of current liabilities at December 31, 2015 is deferred revenue of $7.44 million, which should not require significant future cash outlay other than the cost of preparation and delivery of the applicable commercial credit reports which cost much less than the deferred revenue shown. The deferred revenue is recognized as income over the subscription term, which approximates twelve months. The Company has no bank lines of credit or other currently available credit sources.
The Company believes that its existing balances of cash, cash equivalents and cash generated from operations will be sufficient to satisfy its currently anticipated cash requirements through at least the next 12 months and the foreseeable future. Moreover, the Company has been cash flow positive for 9 of the last 10 fiscal years and has no long-term debt. However, the Company’s liquidity could be negatively affected if it were to make an acquisition or if it were to license products or technologies, which may necessitate the need to raise additional capital through future debt or equity financing. Additional financing may not be available at all or on terms favorable to the Company.
As described more fully in Note 8 of the Notes to Financial Statements, at December 31, 2015 the Company had certain cash obligations, which are due as follows:
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Less than
1 Year
|
|
|
1-3 Years
|
|
|
4-5 Years
|
|
|
More than
5 Years
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating leases
|
|
$
|
798,914
|
|
|
$
|
166,592
|
|
|
$
|
345,023
|
|
|
$
|
287,299
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
798,914
|
|
|
$
|
166,592
|
|
|
$
|
345,023
|
|
|
$
|
287,299
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company is not a party to any other off-balance sheet arrangements.
Results of Operations
2015 vs. 2014
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2015
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
% of Total
Revenue
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
% of Total
Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating revenues
|
|
$
|
12,486,316
|
|
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
$
|
12,203,526
|
|
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data and product costs
|
|
|
4,665,360
|
|
|
|
37.37
|
%
|
|
|
4,721,114
|
|
|
|
38.69
|
%
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
6,685,528
|
|
|
|
53.54
|
%
|
|
|
6,568,885
|
|
|
|
53.83
|
%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
218,621
|
|
|
|
1.75
|
%
|
|
|
221,452
|
|
|
|
1.81
|
%
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
11,569,509
|
|
|
|
92.66
|
%
|
|
|
11,511,451
|
|
|
|
94.33
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
916,807
|
|
|
|
7.34
|
%
|
|
|
692,075
|
|
|
|
5.67
|
%
|
Other income, net
|
|
|
2,344
|
|
|
|
0.02
|
%
|
|
|
17,127
|
|
|
|
0.14
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
919,151
|
|
|
|
7.36
|
%
|
|
|
709,202
|
|
|
|
5.81
|
%
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(425,934
|
)
|
|
|
(3.41
|
%
)
|
|
|
(338,648
|
)
|
|
|
(2.78
|
%
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
493,217
|
|
|
|
3.95
|
%
|
|
$
|
370,554
|
|
|
|
3.03
|
%
|
Operating revenues increased $282,790, or 2%, for fiscal 2015 over the prior year. This overall revenue growth resulted from an increase in Internet subscription service revenue, attributable to increased sales to new and existing subscribers, partially offset by a decrease in the Company’s third-party international credit report subscription service, attributable to lower usage by subscribers.
Data and product costs decreased $55,754, or 1%, for fiscal 2015. This decrease was due primarily to the lower cost associated with the outsourcing of certain data entry tasks, as less tasks have been outsourced, partially offset by the higher cost of third-party content, as last year the amount reported was reduced by the refunds received on sales tax paid on third party content that covered the 45 month period ended May 2014.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $116,643, or 2%, for fiscal 2015. This increase was due to higher marketing expenditures, higher professional fees and higher salary and related employee benefits.
Depreciation and amortization decreased $2,831, or 1%, for fiscal 2015. This decrease was due to a lower net depreciable asset base, as the Company’s office lease expired at the end of July 2015 and all capitalized leasehold improvements were fully amortized as of that date, partially offset by the purchase of computer equipment.
Other income, net decreased $14,783 for fiscal 2015, primarily due to lower interest and dividend income as well as a larger negative mark-to-market adjustment recorded in 2015.
Provision for income taxes increased $87,286 due to the Company having higher pre-tax income because of the reasons enumerated.
2014 vs. 2013
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2014
|
|
|
2013
|
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
% of Total
Revenue
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
% of Total
Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating revenues
|
|
$
|
12,203,526
|
|
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
$
|
11,837,211
|
|
|
|
100.00
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Data and product costs
|
|
|
4,721,114
|
|
|
|
38.69
|
%
|
|
|
4,438,542
|
|
|
|
37.50
|
%
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses
|
|
|
6,568,885
|
|
|
|
53.83
|
%
|
|
|
6,611,687
|
|
|
|
55.85
|
%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
221,452
|
|
|
|
1.81
|
%
|
|
|
168,080
|
|
|
|
1.42
|
%
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
11,511,451
|
|
|
|
94.33
|
%
|
|
|
11,218,309
|
|
|
|
94.77
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
692,075
|
|
|
|
5.67
|
%
|
|
|
618,902
|
|
|
|
5.23
|
%
|
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
17,127
|
|
|
|
0.14
|
%
|
|
|
(38,560
|
)
|
|
|
(0.33
|
%
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
709,202
|
|
|
|
5.81
|
%
|
|
|
580,342
|
|
|
|
4.90
|
%
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(338,648
|
)
|
|
|
(2.78
|
%
)
|
|
|
(286,770
|
)
|
|
|
(2.42
|
%
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
370,554
|
|
|
|
3.03
|
%
|
|
$
|
293,572
|
|
|
|
2.48
|
%
|
Operating revenues increased approximately $336,315, or 3%, for fiscal 2014 over the prior year. This overall revenue growth resulted from an increase in Internet subscription service revenue, attributable to increased sales to new and existing subscribers, partially offset by a decrease in the Company’s third-party international credit report subscription service, attributable to lower usage by subscribers.
Data and product costs increased $282,572, or 6%, for fiscal 2014. This increase was primarily due to higher salary and related employee benefits, including additional quality control personnel, as well as the higher cost of third-party content due to the purchase of additional data elements, partially offset by the refunds received on sales tax paid on third party content that covered the 45 month period ended May 2014.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $42,802, or 1%, for fiscal 2014. This decrease was primarily due to lower professional fees partially offset by higher salary and related employee benefits.
Depreciation and amortization increased $53,372, or 32%, for fiscal 2014. This increase was due to the capitalization of leasehold improvements during the 2
nd
and 3
rd
quarters of 2013 associated with additional space leased at the Company’s corporate headquarters as well as the purchase of computer equipment.
Other income (expense), net increased $55,687 for fiscal 2014, primarily due to the smaller negative mark-to-market adjustment recorded in 2014.
Provision for income taxes increased $51,878 due to the Company having higher pre-tax income because of the reasons enumerated.
Future Operations
The Company over time intends to expand its operations by expanding the breadth and depth of its product and service offerings and introducing new and complementary products. Gross margins attributable to new business areas may be lower than those associated with the Company’s existing business activities.
As a result of the evolving nature of the markets in which it competes, the Company’s ability to accurately forecast its revenues, gross profits and operating expenses as a percentage of net sales is limited. The Company’s current and future expense levels are based largely on its investment plans and estimates of future revenues. To a large extent these costs do not vary with revenue. Sales and operating results generally depend on the Company’s ability to attract and retain customers and the volume of and timing of customer subscriptions for the Company’s services, which are difficult to forecast. The Company may be unable to adjust spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall. Accordingly, any significant shortfall in revenues in relation to the Company’s planned expenditures would have an immediate adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Further, as a strategic response to changes in the competitive environment, the Company may from time to time make certain pricing, service, marketing or acquisition decisions that could have a material adverse effect on its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Achieving greater profitability depends on the Company’s ability to generate and sustain increased revenue levels. The Company believes that its success will depend in large part on its ability to (i) increase its brand awareness, (ii) provide its customers with outstanding value, thus encouraging customer renewals, and (iii) achieve sufficient sales volume to realize economies of scale. Accordingly, the Company intends to continue to increase the size of its sales force and service staff, and to invest in product development, operating infrastructure, marketing and promotion. The Company believes that these expenditures will help it to sustain the revenue growth it has experienced over the last several years. We anticipate that sales and marketing expenses will continue to increase in dollar amount and as a percentage of revenues during 2016 and future periods as the Company continues to expand its business on a worldwide basis. Further, the Company expects that product development expenses will also continue to increase in dollar amount and may increase as a percentage of revenues in 2016 and future periods because it expects to employ more development personnel on average compared to prior periods and build the infrastructure required to support the development of new and improved products and services. However, as these expenditures are discretionary in nature, the Company expects that the actual amounts incurred will be in line with its projections of future cash flows in order not to negatively impact its future liquidity and capital needs. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to achieve these objectives within a meaningful time frame.
Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments
The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles that are generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Management continually evaluates its estimates and judgments, the most critical of which are those related to:
Revenue recognition
-- CreditRiskMonitor’s North American and worldwide service is sold on a subscription basis pursuant to customer contracts that span varying periods of time, but are generally for a period of one year. The Company initially records amounts billed as accounts receivable and defers the related revenue until persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, fees are fixed and determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. Revenues are recognized ratably over the related subscription period. Revenue from the Company’s third-party international credit report service is recognized as information is delivered and products and services are used by customers.
Valuation of goodwill
-- Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances warrant. If the carrying value of this asset exceeds its estimated fair value, the Company will record an impairment loss to write the asset down to its estimated fair value.
Income taxes
-- The Company provides for deferred income taxes resulting from temporary differences between financial statement and income tax reporting. Temporary differences are differences between the amounts of assets and liabilities reported for financial statement purposes and their tax bases. Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for temporary differences that will be taxable in future years’ tax returns. Deferred tax assets are recognized for temporary differences that will be deductible in future years’ tax returns and for operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if it is deemed more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) have issued accounting pronouncements as of December 31, 2015 that will become effective in subsequent periods; however, management does not believe that any of those pronouncements would have significantly affected our financial accounting measurements or disclosures had they been in effect during the annual period for which financial statements are included in this annual report, nor does management believe those pronouncements would have a significant effect on our future financial position or results of operations.
Risks and Other Considerations
The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or currently deemed immaterial also may impair its business operations. If any of the risks described below actually occur, the Company’s business could be impaired.
From time to time, information provided by the Company or statements made by its employees, or information provided in its filings with the SEC may contain forward-looking information. Any statements contained herein or otherwise made that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual future operating results or short-term or long-term liquidity may differ materially from those projections or statements made in such forward-looking information as a result of various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the following in addition to those set forth elsewhere herein or in other filings made by the Company with the SEC.
Slowing Rates of Growth and Margins
. In order to continue to grow its business and maintain or increase its profit margins, the Company among other things, must maintain and increase its customer base, implement and successfully execute its business and marketing strategy and its expansion into new product markets, effectively integrate acquisitions and other business combinations, continue to develop and upgrade its technology and transaction-processing systems, improve its website, provide superior customer service, respond to competitive developments and attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in addressing such risks, and the failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Unpredictability of Future Revenues and Profits; Potential Fluctuations in Operating Results
. The Company’s ability to accurately forecast its revenues, gross profits and operating expenses as a percentage of net sales is limited. The Company’s current and future expense levels are based largely on its investment plans and estimates of future revenues and to a large extent are fixed. Sales and operating results generally depend on the Company’s ability to attract and retain customers and the volume of and timing of their subscriptions for the Company’s services, which are difficult to forecast. The Company may be unable to adjust spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall. Accordingly, any significant shortfall in revenues in relation to the Company’s planned expenditures would have an immediate adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Further, as a strategic response to changes in the competitive environment, the Company may from time to time make certain pricing, service, marketing or acquisition decisions that could have a material adverse effect on its business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Maintaining and improving profitability depends on the Company’s ability to generate and sustain substantially increased revenue levels. The Company believes that its success will depend in large part on its ability to (i) extend its brand position, (ii) provide its customers with outstanding value, and (iii) achieve sufficient sales volume to realize economies of scale. Accordingly, the Company intends to continue to invest in marketing and promotion, product development and technology and operating infrastructure development. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to achieve these objectives within a meaningful time frame.
The Company expects to experience significant fluctuations in its future quarterly operating results due to a variety of factors, some of which are outside the Company’s control. Factors that may adversely affect the Company’s quarterly operating results include, among others, (i) the Company’s ability to retain existing customers, attract new customers at a steady rate and maintain customer satisfaction, (ii) the Company's ability to maintain gross margins in its existing business and in future product lines and markets, (iii) the development of new services and products by the Company and its competitors, (iv) price competition, (v) the level of use of the Internet and online services and increasing acceptance of the Internet and other online services for the purchase of products such as those offered by the Company, (vi) the Company’s ability to upgrade and develop its systems and infrastructure, (vii) the Company’s ability to attract new personnel in a timely and effective manner, (viii) the level of traffic on the Company’s website, (ix) the Company’s ability to manage effectively its development of new business segments and markets, (x) the Company’s ability to successfully manage the integration of operations and technology of acquisitions or other business combinations, (xi) technical difficulties, system downtime or Internet brownouts, (xii) the amount and timing of operating costs and capital expenditures relating to expansion of the Company’s business, operations and infrastructure, (xiii) governmental regulation and taxation policies, (xiv) disruptions in service by common carriers due to strikes or otherwise, (xv) risks of fire or other casualty, (xvi) litigation costs or other unanticipated expenses, (xvii) interest rate risks and inflationary pressures, and (xviii) general economic conditions and economic conditions specific to the Internet and online commerce.
Due to the foregoing factors and the Company’s limited forecasting abilities, the Company believes that period-to-period comparisons of its revenues and operating results are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied on as an indication of future performance.
Competition
. The online commerce market, particularly over the Web, is intensely competitive. The Company’s current or potential competitors include (i) companies now selling or who will be selling credit analysis data, such as Dun & Bradstreet which currently has the dominant position in the industry and the financial resources to invest much more than the Company can while withstanding substantial price competition, and (ii) a number of indirect competitors that specialize in online commerce or information or who derive a substantial portion of the revenues from online commerce, advertising or information, and who may offer competing products, and many of which possess significant brand awareness, sales volume and customer bases. The Company believes that the principal competitive factors in its market are brand recognition, selection, personalized services, convenience, price, accessibility, customer service, quality of search tools, breadth of coverage, quality of editorial and other site content and reliability and speed of delivery. Many of the Company’s competitors have longer operating histories, larger customer bases, greater brand recognition and significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources than the Company. Certain of the Company’s competitors may be able to secure data from vendors on more favorable terms, devote greater resources to marketing and promotional campaigns, adopt more aggressive pricing and devote substantially more resources to Web site and systems development than the Company. Increased competition may result in reduced operating margins, loss of market share and a diminished brand franchise. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors.
The Company expects that the competition in the Internet and online commerce markets will intensify in the future. For example, as various Internet market segments obtain large, loyal customer bases, participants in those segments may seek to leverage their market power to the detriment of participants in other market segments. In addition, new technologies and the expansion of existing technologies may increase the competitive pressures on the Company. Competitive pressures created by any one of the Company’s competitors, or by the Company’s competitors collectively, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Need for Additional Financing; Risks of Default
. The Company’s future liquidity and capital funding requirements will depend on numerous factors, including whether or when the Company will increase its customer base and revenues, and the costs and timing of expansion of sales, control of information costs and other expenses and competition. There can be no assurance that additional capital, if needed, will be available on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all. Furthermore, debt financing, if available, will likely include restrictive covenants, including financial maintenance covenants restricting the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness and to pay dividends. The failure of the Company to raise capital on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
System Development and Operation Risks
. Any system interruptions that result in the unavailability of the Company’s Web site would reduce the attractiveness of the Company’s service offerings. The Company has experienced periodic system interruptions, which it believes will continue to occur from time to time. The Company will be required to add additional software and hardware and further develop and upgrade its existing technology and network infrastructure to accommodate increased traffic on its Web site resulting from increased sales volume. Any inability to do so may cause unanticipated system disruptions, slower response times, degradation in levels of customer service, impaired quality, or delays in reporting accurate financial information. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to accurately project the rate or timing of increases, if any, in the use of its Web site or in a timely manner to effectively upgrade and expand its systems or to integrate smoothly any newly developed or purchased modules with its existing systems. Any inability to do so could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company’s web servers are located at a secure offsite location. Its back office computer and communications hardware is located at a single leased facility in Valley Cottage, New York. The Company’s systems and operations are vulnerable to damage or interruption from fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications failure, break-ins, earthquake and similar events. The Company does not currently have redundant systems or a formal disaster recovery plan and does not have sufficient business interruption insurance to compensate it for losses that may occur. Despite the implementation of network security measures by the Company, its servers are vulnerable to computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins and similar disruptions, which could lead to interruptions, delays, loss of critical data or the inability to accept and fulfill customer orders. The occurrence of any of the foregoing events could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Management of Potential Growth
. To continue to manage the expected growth of its operations and personnel, the Company will be required to improve existing and implement new operational and financial systems, procedures and controls, as well as to expand, train and manage its growing employee base. There can be no assurance that the Company's current and planned personnel, systems, procedures and controls will be adequate to support the Company’s future operations, that management will be able to hire, train, retain, motivate and manage required personnel or that Company management will be able to successfully identify, manage and exploit existing and potential market opportunities. If the Company is unable to manage growth effectively, such inability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Limited Personnel
. The Company currently has limited personnel and other resources to undertake the extensive marketing activities necessary to maintain and grow is revenues. The Company’s ability to continue to generate revenue will be dependent upon, among other things, its ability to manage an effective sales organization. The Company will need to continue to develop and expand a sales force and a marketing group with technical expertise to coordinate marketing efforts. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to market its products effectively through an in-house sales force, independent sales representatives, through arrangements with an outside sales force, or through strategic partners.
Risks of New Business Areas
. The Company intends to expand its operations by continuing to promote new and complementary products and by expanding the breadth and depth of its product or service offerings. Expansion of the Company’s operations in this manner will require significant additional expense and development, operations and editorial resources and could strain the Company’s management, financial and operational resources. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to expand its operations in a cost-effective or timely manner. Furthermore, any new business launched by the Company that is not favorably received by customers could damage the Company’s reputation or the CreditRiskMonitor brand. The lack of market acceptance of such efforts or the Company’s inability to generate satisfactory revenues from such expanded services or products to offset their cost could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Gross margins attributable to new business areas may be lower than those associated with the Company’s existing business activities.
Risks of Business Combinations and Strategic Alliances
. The Company may choose to expand its operations or market presence by entering into business combinations, investments, joint venture or other strategic alliances with third parties. Any such transaction will be accompanied by risks commonly encountered in such transactions, which include, among others, the difficulty of assimilating the operations, technology and personnel of the combined companies, the potential disruption of the Company's ongoing business, the possible inability to retain key technical and managerial personnel, the potential inability of management to maximize the financial and strategic position of the Company through the successful integration of acquired businesses, additional expenses associated with amortization of purchased intangible assets, additional operating losses and expenses associated with the activities and expansion of acquired businesses, the maintenance of uniform standards, controls and policies and the possible impairment of relationships with existing employees and customers. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with such business combinations, investments, joint ventures or other strategic alliances, or that such transactions will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Rapid Technological Change
. To remain competitive, the Company must continue to enhance and improve the responsiveness, functionality and features of its services. The Internet and the online commerce industry are characterized by rapid technological change, changes in user and customer requirements and preferences, frequent new products and service introductions embodying new technologies and the emergence of new industry standards and practices that could render the Company’s existing website and proprietary technology and systems obsolete. The Company’s success will depend, in part, on its ability to license leading technologies useful in its business, enhance its existing services, develop new services and technology that address the increasingly sophisticated and varied needs of its prospective customers and respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards and practices on a cost-effective and timely basis. The continuing development of a website and other proprietary technology entails significant technical, financial and business risks. There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully implement new technologies or adapt its website, proprietary technology and transaction-processing systems to customer requirements or emerging industry standards. If the Company is unable, for technical, legal, financial or other reasons, to adapt in a timely manner in response to changing market conditions or customer requirements, such inability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Dependence on Key Personnel
. The Company’s performance is substantially dependent on the continued services and on the performance of its senior management and other key personnel. The Company does not have long-term employment agreements with any of its key personnel and maintains no “key person” life insurance policies. The loss of the services of its executive officers or other key employees could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Reliance on Certain Suppliers
. The Company purchases its data and/or credit reports from a limited number of vendors under agreements having terms of 36 months or less. The Company has no longer-term contracts or arrangements with any vendor of data that guarantee the availability of data, the continuation of particular payment terms or the extension of credit. Nevertheless, the Company believes that it would be able to obtain the necessary data from other sources, at competitive prices, should it become necessary or advisable to do so. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company’s vendors will continue to supply data to the Company on current terms or that the Company will be able to establish new or extend current vendor relationships to ensure acquisition of information in a timely and efficient manner and on acceptable commercial terms. If the Company were unable to maintain or develop relationships with vendors that would allow it to obtain sufficient quantities of reliable information on acceptable commercial terms, such inability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Risk of Expansion and Implementation of Growth Strategy
. The Company’s growth and expansion have placed, and may continue to place, a strain on the Company’s management, administrative, operational, financial and technical resources and increased demands on its systems and controls. Demands on the Company’s network resources and technical staff and resources have grown rapidly with the Company’s expanding customer bases. A failure to effectively provide customer and technical support services will adversely affect the Company’s ability to attract and maintain its customer base. The Company expects to experience continued strain on its operational systems as it develops, operates and maintains its network. Expected increases in the Company’s Internet client base will produce increased demands on sales, marketing and administrative resources, its engineering and technical resources, and its customer and technical support resources. The Company believes that it will need, both in the short-term and the long-term, to hire additional sales and marketing and technical personnel as well as qualified administrative and management personnel in the accounting and finance areas to manage its financial control systems. In addition, the Company will need to hire or to train managerial and support personnel. Although the Company has hired additional personnel and upgraded certain of its systems, there can be no assurance that the Company’s administrative, operating and financial control systems, infrastructure, personnel and facilities will be adequate to support the Company’s future operations or maintain and effectively adapt to future growth.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to build its infrastructure, add services, expand its customer bases or implement the other features of its business strategy at the rate or to the extent presently planned, or that its business strategy will be successful. The Company’s ability to continue to grow may be affected by various factors, many of which are not within the Company’s control, including U.S. and foreign regulation of the Internet industry, competition and technological developments. The inability to continue to upgrade the networking systems or the operating and financial control systems, the inability to recruit and hire necessary personnel or the emergence of unexpected expansion difficulties could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks of Network Failure
. The success of the Company is largely dependent on its ability to deliver high quality, uninterrupted access to its product over the Internet. Any system or network failure that causes interruptions in the Company’s Internet operations could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company. The Company’s operations are dependent on its ability to successfully expand its network and integrate new and emerging technologies and equipment into its network, which are likely to increase the risk of system failure and cause unforeseen strain upon the network. The Company’s operations also are dependent on the Company’s protection of its hardware and other equipment from damage from natural disasters such as fires, floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes, or other sources of power loss, telecommunications failures or similar occurrences.
Significant or prolonged system failures could damage the reputation of the Company and result in the loss of customers. Such damage or losses could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to obtain new subscribers and customers, and on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Security Risks
. Despite the implementation of network security measures by the Company, such as limiting physical and network access to its routers, its Internet access systems and information services are vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins and similar disruptive problems caused by its customers or other Internet users. Such problems caused by third parties could lead to interruption, delays or cessation in service to the Company’s Internet customers. Furthermore, such inappropriate use of the Internet by third parties could also potentially jeopardize the security of confidential information stored in the computer systems of the Company’s customers and other parties connected to the Internet, which may deter potential subscribers. Persistent security problems continue to plague public and private data networks. Recent break-ins, “worms” and “viruses” reported in the press and otherwise have reached computers connected to the Internet at major corporations and Internet access providers and have involved the theft of information, including incidents in which hackers bypassed firewalls by posing as trusted computers. Alleviating problems caused by computer viruses, worms, break-ins or other problems caused by third parties may require significant expenditures of capital and resources by the Company, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Until more comprehensive security technologies are developed, the security and privacy concerns of existing and potential customers may inhibit the growth of the Internet service industry in general and the Company’s customer base and revenues in particular. Moreover, if the Company experiences a breach of network security or privacy, there can be no assurance that the Company’s customers will not assert or threaten claims against the Company based on or arising out of such breach, or that any such claims will not be upheld, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Associated with Domain Names
. The Company currently utilizes its domain names “CreditRiskMonitor.com” and “crmz.com” in its business. The acquisition and maintenance of domain names generally is regulated by governmental agencies and their designees. For example, in the United States, the National Science Foundation has appointed Network Solutions, Inc. as the exclusive registrar for the “.com”, “.net” and “.org” generic top-level domains. The regulation of domain names in the United States and in foreign countries is subject to change. Governing bodies may establish additional top-level domains, appoint additional domain name registrars or modify the requirements for holding domain names. As a result, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to acquire or maintain relevant domain names in the United States and all other countries in which it may conduct business. Furthermore, the relationship between regulations governing domain names and laws protecting trademarks and similar proprietary rights is unclear. The Company, therefore, may be unable to prevent third parties from acquiring domain names that are similar to, infringe upon or otherwise decrease the value of its trademarks and other proprietary rights. Any such inability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Governmental Regulation and Legal Uncertainties
. The Company is not currently subject to direct regulation by any domestic or foreign governmental agency, other than regulations applicable to businesses generally and laws or regulations directly applicable to access to online commerce. However, due to the increasing popularity and use of the Internet and other online services, it is possible that a number of laws and regulations may be adopted with respect to the Internet or other online services covering issues such as user privacy, pricing, content, copyrights, distribution and characteristics and quality of products and services. Furthermore, the growth and development of the market for online commerce may prompt calls for more stringent consumer protection laws that may impose additional burdens on those companies conducting business online. The adoption of any additional laws or regulations may decrease the growth of the Internet or other online services, which could, in turn, decrease the demand for the Company’s products and services and increase the Company’s cost of doing business, or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, the applicability to the Internet and other online services of existing laws in various jurisdictions governing issues such as property ownership, sales and other taxes, libel and personal privacy is uncertain and may take years to resolve. Any such new legislation or regulation, the application of laws and regulations from jurisdictions whose laws do not currently apply to the Company's business, or the application of existing laws and regulations to the Internet and other online services could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
Proprietary Rights
. The Company relies and expects to continue to rely on a combination of copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and contractual restrictions to establish and protect its technology. Other than trademarks for CRMZ and FRISK, the Company does not currently have any issued patents or registered copyrights or trademarks.
The Company has a policy to require employees and consultants to execute confidentiality and technology ownership agreements upon the commencement of their relationships with the Company. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by the Company will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of its technology or other proprietary rights, or that the Company’s competitors will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to the Company’s technology. There can be no assurance that the Company’s trademark applications will result in any trademark registrations, or that, if registered, any registered trademark will be held valid and enforceable if challenged.
In addition, to the extent the Company becomes involved in litigation to enforce or defend its intellectual property rights; such litigation can be a lengthy and costly process causing diversion of effort and resources by the Company and its management with no guarantee of success.