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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003

 

OR

 

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

 

Commission File No. 1-15445

 


 

DRUGMAX, INC.,

formerly known as DrugMax.com, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

STATE OF NEVADA   34-1755390
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 137, Clearwater, FL   33763
(Address of Principal Executive Officers)   (Zip Code)

 

Issuer’s telephone number: (727) 533-0431

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:  None.

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:

 

Common stock, Par value $.001 per share

(Title of Class)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the past 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 if no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-B is not contained in this form, and no disclosure will be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b2 of the Act).  Yes  ¨    No  x

 

The aggregate market value of the Common Stock, $.001 par value, held by non-affiliates of the Registrant based upon the last price at which the common stock was sold as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, September 30, 2002, as reported on the NASDAQ Stock Market was approximately $4,833,000. Shares of Common Stock held by each officer and director and by each person who owns 5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock have been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

 

The number of shares outstanding of common stock as of July 9, 2003, was 7,178,976.

 



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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement to be used in connection with the Registrant’s 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed on or before July 29, 2003, are incorporated by reference in Part III, Items 10-13 of this Form 10-K. Except with respect to information specifically incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K, the Proxy Statement is not deemed to be filed as a part hereof.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

 

Certain oral statements made by management from time to time and certain statements contained in press releases and periodic reports issued by DrugMax, Inc. (the “Company”), including those contained herein, that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, including those in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, are statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations, estimates or projections of the Company, its Directors or its Officers about the Company and the industry in which it operates, and assumptions made by management, and include among other items, (a) the Company’s strategies regarding growth and business expansion, including future acquisitions; (b) the Company’s financing plans; (c) trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations; (d) the Company’s ability to continue to control costs and to meet its liquidity and other financing needs; (e) the Company’s ability to respond to changes in customer demand and regulations. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the anticipated results will occur. When used in this report, the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements.

 

Important factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other items, (i) changes in the regulatory and general economic environment related to the health care and pharmaceutical industries, including possible changes in reimbursement for healthcare products and in manufacturers’ pricing or distribution policies; (ii) conditions in the capital markets, including the interest rate environment and the availability of capital; (iii) changes in the competitive marketplace that could affect the Company’s revenue and/or cost bases, such as increased competition, lack of qualified marketing, management or other personnel, and increased labor and inventory costs; (iv) changes in technology or customer requirements, (v) changes regarding the availability and pricing of the products which the Company distributes, as well as the loss of one or more key suppliers for which alternative sources may not be available, (vi) customers’ willingness to accept the Company’s Internet platform and (v) the Company’s ability to integrate recently acquired businesses. Further information relating to factors that could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated is included but not limited to information under the headings “Business,” particularly under the subheading, “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Form 10-K. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ITEM

        PAGE

     PART I     

1.

  

Business

   4

2.

  

Properties

   14

3.

  

Legal Proceedings

   14

4.

  

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   15
     PART II     

5.

  

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

   15

6.

  

Selected Financial Data

   16

7.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   17

7A.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

   25

8.

  

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

   25

9.

  

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

   53
     PART III     

10.

  

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

   53

11.

  

Executive Compensation

   53

12.

  

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

   53

13.

  

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

   54

14.

  

Controls and Procedures

   54
     PART IV     

15.

  

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

   54
    

Signatures

   59

 

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PART I

 

Item 1.   BUSINESS.

 

General

 

DrugMax, Inc. (Nasdaq: DMAX) is a full-line, wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products, health and beauty care aids, nutritional supplements and other related products. The Company is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida and maintains distribution centers in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Louisiana. The Company distributes its products primarily to independent pharmacies in the continental United States, and secondarily to small and medium-sized pharmacy chains, alternative care facilities and other wholesalers. The Company maintains an inventory in excess of 20,000 stock keeping units from leading manufacturers and holds licenses to ship to all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

 

History

 

The Company was founded in 1993 under the name NuMED Surgical, Inc. as a subsidiary of NuMED Home Health Care, Inc., a publicly traded company. The Company was created to complete the distribution of certain assets and liabilities associated with NuMED Home Health Care’s surgical/medical products division to its stockholders. NuMED Home Health Care, Inc. contributed all of those assets and liabilities to the Company, and then distributed all of the shares of the Company’s common stock to its stockholders. In connection with the spin off, the Company’s common stock was registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Company began trading as a separate public company.

 

In April 1997, the Company sold its major product line and subsequently disposed of its operating assets because of continued losses caused by increased competition and the loss of exclusivity of its products. The sale of the Company’s major product line and assets was completed by March 31, 1998, and, accordingly, from April 1, 1998, to September 8, 1998, the Company used a liquidation basis of accounting.

 

On March 17, 1999, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common stock of Nutriceuticals.com Corporation (“Nutriceuticals”), a Florida corporation formed in September 1998 to engage in the online retailing of natural products over the Internet. For accounting purposes, this acquisition was treated as an acquisition of the Company by Nutriceuticals and a recapitalization of Nutriceuticals. Although the Company was incorporated in Nevada on October 18, 1993, the Company’s date of inception is September 8, 1998 for accounting purposes. After the Company acquired Nutriceuticals, the Company changed its corporate name to Nutriceuticals.com Corporation.

 

In November 1999, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Becan Distributors, Inc. (“Becan”), and its wholly owned subsidiary Discount Rx, Inc. (“Discount”), a wholesale distributor primarily of pharmaceuticals and, to a lesser extent, over-the-counter and health and beauty care products which had been in business since 1997. Following the acquisition of Becan, the Company changed its name to DrugMax.com, Inc. With the acquisition of Becan, the Company changed its primary focus from that of an online business-to-consumer retailer of vitamins and other health products to that of an e-commerce business-to-business wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products, health and beauty care products and nutritional supplements. In March 2000, Becan was merged into the Company.

 

In March 2000, the Company diversified its operations by acquiring all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Desktop Corporation, a Texas corporation located in Dallas, Texas. In addition, in May 2000, the Company formed Desktop Media Group, Inc. (“Desktop Media”) a Florida corporation, to develop web based and Internet software for the Company. On September 15, 2000, Desktop Corporation and Desktop Media executed Articles of Merger whereby Desktop Corporation was merged into Desktop Media, with Desktop Media Group, Inc. (“Desktop”) being the surviving entity. Desktop, in addition to being a designer and developer of customized Internet solutions, owned, at the time of acquisition, 50% of the outstanding shares of common stock of VetMall, LLC (later converted to a newly formed Florida corporation VetMall, Inc.) (“VetMall”), with the remaining shares being owned by W.A. Butler & Company (“Butler”), one of the nation’s largest veterinary products distributors. Concurrent with the acquisition of Desktop, the Company acquired an additional 20% interest in VetMall from Butler. In April 2003, Butler and the Company executed an agreement (the “April 2003 Agreement”) whereby Butler transferred its remaining 30% ownership in VetMall to the Company; accordingly, the Company now owns 100% of VetMall stock. Neither VetMall nor Desktop currently have any operations, and management anticipates the dissolution of these entities.

 

On April 19, 2000, the Company acquired Valley Drug Company (“Valley”), a full-line, primary wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products, health and beauty care products and general merchandise. This acquisition helped the

 

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Company expand its customer base, product line and market share, and provided the Company with the additional ability to serve its customers as a primary, full-line wholesale distributor, and offer them the convenience of one-stop shopping. Valley has been in operation since 1950, and its offices are located in Youngstown, Ohio. See “Acquisitions.”

 

In September 2001, the Company changed its name to DrugMax, Inc. to more appropriately reflect the Company’s business model.

 

On October 25, 2001, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Discount Rx, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, purchased substantially all of the net assets of Penner & Welsch, Inc. (“Penner”), a wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals based in Louisiana, pursuant to an Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Assets dated October 12, 2001. Penner was a Chapter 11 debtor which had voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 protection in the US Bankruptcy Court Eastern Division of Louisiana. Prior to its acquisition, commencing in September 2000, the Company managed the day-to-day operations of Penner, in exchange for a management fee equal to a percentage of the gross revenues of Penner each month. During such management period, the Company provided Penner with a collateralized revolving line of credit for the sole purpose of purchasing inventory from the Company. Penner has been in operation since 1963. The Company operates the acquired business in St. Rose, Louisiana under Valley Drug Company South, Inc. See “Acquisitions.”

 

On May 14, 2003, Discount Rx, Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, purchased substantially all of the assets, subject to certain liabilities, of Avery Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Avery Wholesale Pharmaceuticals, Inc., also known as Texas Vet Supply (jointly “Avery”), and Infinity Custom Plastics, Inc. (“Infinity”), wholesale distributors of pharmaceuticals and respiratory products based in Texas, pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated May 14, 2003 (the “Avery Agreement”).

 

Pursuant to the Avery Agreement, the Company acquired accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, furniture, the trade name and a patent pending for the process of the manufacture of vials for the respiratory therapy industry, which preliminarily totals $1,062,518. The liabilities assumed, which were comprised principally of trade payables, upon preliminary investigation, amounted to $912,518, and capital injected of $60,000. In addition, the Company executed a promissory note to the predecessor company’s 50% shareholder, as additional consideration. The $318,000 note includes a right of set off for accounts payable in excess of an agreed upon amount assumed at closing. The original note may not be reduced below $90,000 after set off, which management believes will be the adjusted note amount. Terms of the note provide for principal payments due monthly beginning July 5, 2003 through the due date of January 5, 2006. Interest on the note is due quarterly beginning September 5, 2003 at the rate of 6% per annum. Also, the Company executed a Consulting and Non-Competition Agreement (“Consulting Agreement”) with John VerVynck (“VerVynck”) an officer and shareholder of Avery and Infinity. The Consulting Agreement provides for the payment to VerVynck of $39,360, payable bi-monthly, over the six-month term of the Consulting Agreement. The Consulting Agreement prohibits VerVynck from competing for one year following his termination and the six-month term of the consulting agreement.

 

Industry Overview

 

Wholesale pharmaceutical distributors serve pharmacies and other healthcare providers by providing access to a single source for pharmaceutical and healthcare products from hundreds of different manufacturers. Wholesale pharmaceutical distributors lower customer inventory costs, provide efficient and timely product delivery, and provide valuable inventory and purchasing information. Customers also benefit from value-added programs developed by wholesale pharmaceutical distributors to reduce costs and to increase operating efficiencies for the customer, including packaging, stockless inventory, and pharmacy computer systems.

 

Wholesale distributors are critical links in the pharmaceutical supply chain, helping fuel the majority of the $192.2 billion in total prescription drug sales to retailers and institutions in 2001. The Unites States’ prescription drug sales increased 11.9% from $172 billion in 2001 to $192.2 billion in 2002. Prescription drug sales are expected to grow at an annual compound rate of 10% to 11% through 2003 according to IMS Health. The principal factors contributing to this historical and expected growth are the following:

 

    Aging of Population. The number of individuals over age 50 in the United States is projected to grow from 28% of the population presently to 40% of the population in 2005. The aging population’s therapy needs will be in predictable categories that require continued treatment for diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease and other health problems. This demographic group represents the largest percentage of new prescriptions filled and obtains more prescriptions per capita annually than any other age group.

 

    Importance of the Wholesale Distribution Channel. Over the past decade, as the cost and complexity of maintaining inventories and arranging for delivery of pharmaceutical products has risen, manufacturers of pharmaceuticals have significantly increased the distribution of their products through wholesalers. Drug wholesalers are generally able to offer their customers more efficient distribution and inventory management than pharmaceutical manufacturers. According to

 

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the Healthcare Distribution Management Association (“HDMA”), this channel saves healthcare systems over $186 billion each year by maximizing economies of scale, creating efficiencies, lowering expenses, and simplifying distribution.

 

    Rising Pharmaceutical Costs. From 1990 to 2000, the average retail price of a prescription increased from $22.06 to $45.79. The Company believes that price increases for branded pharmaceutical products by manufacturers will continue to equal or exceed the overall increases in the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). In 2000, actual pharmaceutical prices increased 3.9%, in line with the CPI increase of 3.4%.

 

    Increased Drug Utilization. In recent years, a number of factors have contributed to the increased utilization of drug-based therapies to prevent and to treat disease. Manufacturers spent over $2.6 billion in direct-to-consumer advertising and $16 billion to reach physicians in 2001. In 2000, pharmaceutical manufacturers spent approximately $22.5 billion in research and development, up from approximately $1.6 billion in 1980. New drug offerings continue to grow, with 8,191 products in 2000 compared to 5,492 in 1995.

 

The Company believes that its size, operating structure, strategy and high level of customer service allow it to benefit from the trends impacting the industry. Further, the Company believes that the increasing size, scale and consolidation of the wholesale pharmaceutical industry’s national participants and their strategy to be primary or major distributors to national pharmacy chains create opportunities for smaller distributors such as the Company, which focus sales primarily on independent pharmacies and secondarily on small and medium-sized pharmacy chains, alternative care facilities and other wholesalers.

 

Objectives and Strategy

 

The Company’s primary business objective is to become a leading full-line wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products, health and beauty care products, nutritional supplements and other related products, with a focus on sales primarily to independent pharmacies and secondarily on small and medium-sized pharmacy chains, and alternative care facilities. Historically, the Company has primarily grown its business through strategic acquisitions. In the future, the Company intends to continue to:

 

    provide quality products and efficient service at competitive prices;

 

    undertake beneficial strategic acquisitions;

 

    market its name, products and services to create brand recognition and generate and capture traffic on its web site;

 

    develop strategic relationships that increase the Company’s product offerings;

 

    maintain technology focus and expertise to improve efficiency and ease of use of its web site; and

 

    attract and retain exceptional employees.

 

Sales and Marketing, Customer Service and Support

 

The Company is a full-line, wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products, health and beauty care aids, nutritional supplements and other related products. The majority of the Company’s sales are in the pharmaceutical product line. The Company’s pharmaceutical products are divided into generic and brand products. In general, brand products offer smaller margins than generic products or the other products offered by the Company. Accordingly, while the Company continues to distribute brand products as requested by its customers, it is currently focusing its efforts on growing its generic pharmaceutical, over-the-counter and other products lines. Additionally, from time to time the Company seeks to acquire additional complimentary product lines, as it did with its acquisitions of Avery and Infinity. See “Acquisitions.”

 

The Company distributes its products primarily to independent pharmacies in the continental United States, and secondarily to small and medium-sized pharmacy chains, alternative care facilities and other wholesalers. The Company’s products are sold both through traditional wholesale distribution lines and the Company’s web site, www.drugmax.com. Since the early December 1999 launch of its web site, over 9,000 independent pharmacies, small regional pharmacy chains, wholesalers and distributors have registered to purchase products through the Company’s web site. Although the Company expects that it will continue to derive a significant portion of its revenue from its traditional “brick and mortar” full-line wholesale distribution business, the Company believes its e-commerce, business-to-business model will allow the Company to leverage its existing wholesale distribution business, thus increasing its ability to effectively market and distribute its products.

 

The Company uses a variety of programs to stimulate demand for its products and increase traffic to its web site, including the following:

 

Direct Sales. The Company maintains employees to act as its direct sales force to target organizations that buy and sell the products it carries.

 

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Telemarketing. The Company maintains an in-house telemarketing group for use in customer prospecting, lead generation and lead follow-up.

 

Advertising. The Company advertises in trade journals, at trade shows and engages in co-branding arrangements. In addition to strategic agreements and traditional advertising, the Company also uses many online sales and marketing techniques.

 

Customer Service and Support. The Company believes that it can establish and maintain long-term relationships with its customers and encourage repeat visits if, among other things, the Company has excellent customer support and service. The Company currently offers information regarding its products and services and answers customer questions about the ordering process, and investigates the status of orders, shipments and payments. A customer can access the Company by fax or e-mail by following prompts located on its web site or by calling the Company’s toll-free telephone line.

 

In addition, the Company is promoting, advertising and increasing recognition of its web site through a variety of marketing and promotional techniques, including:

 

    enhancing online content and ease of use of the Company web site;

 

    enhancing customer service and technical support; and

 

    advertising in trade journals and at industry trade shows.

 

During the years ended March 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, the Company’s 10 largest customers accounted for approximately 44%, 37% and 39%, respectively, of the Company’s net sales. The Company’s two largest customers during fiscal 2003, Supreme Distributors and QK Healthcare, accounted for approximately 17% and 11%, respectively, of net sales. In fiscal 2002, the Company’s largest customer, QK Healthcare, accounted for approximately 13% of net sales, and the Company’s largest customer in fiscal 2001, Penner and Welsch, Inc., accounted for approximately 16% of net sales.

 

Distribution

 

The Company’s wholesale distribution business is supported by three distribution centers located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Youngstown, Ohio; and St. Rose, Louisiana. These locations enable the Company to deliver approximately 95% of its products to its customers via next day delivery. The remaining product is distributed by its delivery vans in regions of eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, or by common carrier to more distant customers.

 

Purchasing

 

The Company purchases over 20,000 stock keeping units primarily from manufacturers and secondarily from other wholesalers and distributors. The Company utilizes sophisticated inventory control and purchasing software to track inventory, to analyze demand history and to project future demand. The system is designed to enhance profit margins by eliminating the manual ordering process, allowing for automatic inventory replenishment and identifying inventory buying opportunities. In addition, the Company’s purchasing department constantly monitors the market to take advantage of periodic volume discounts, market discounts and pricing changes.

 

The Company purchases products from approximately 400 vendors, such as Pfizer, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, Merck and others. The Company initiates purchase orders with vendors through its information system. During fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001, the Company’s 10 largest vendors accounted for approximately 40% (by dollar volume) of the Company’s purchases for each year. Historically, the Company has not experienced difficulty in purchasing desired products from suppliers. The Company believes that its relationships with its suppliers are good.

 

Competition

 

The wholesale distribution of pharmaceuticals, health and beauty aids, and other healthcare products is highly competitive. The Company faces strong competition both in price and service from national, regional and local full-line, short-line and specialty wholesalers, service merchandisers, self-warehousing chains and from manufacturers engaged in direct distribution. In Pittsburgh, for example, where the Company maintains a distribution facility, there are a number of suppliers that provide branded pharmaceuticals and other products to independent pharmacies, Internet pharmacies, clinics and other licensed outlets. These competitors compete primarily on the basis of service and price. Other competitive factors include delivery service, credit terms, breadth of product line, customer support, merchandising and marketing programs. Certain of the Company’s competitors, including McKesson HBOC, Inc., AmerisourceBergen Corporation, and Cardinal Health Inc., have significantly greater financial and marketing resources, longer operating histories and larger customer bases than the Company does. In addition, many of the Company’s competitors have greater brand recognition and significantly greater financial, marketing and other resources, and may be able to:

 

    secure merchandise from vendors on more favorable terms;

 

    devote greater resources to marketing and promotional campaigns; and

 

    adopt more aggressive pricing or inventory availability policies.

 

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In addition, certain of the Company’s competitors, such as McKesson HBOC, Inc., AmerisourceBergen Company, and Cardinal Health, Inc. have developed or may be able to develop e-commerce operations that compete with the Company’s e-commerce operations, and may be able to devote substantially more resources to web site development and systems development than the Company. The online commerce market is rapidly evolving and intensely competitive. The Company expects competition to intensify in the future because barriers to entry are minimal, and current and new competitors can launch new web sites at relatively low cost.

 

Government Regulations and Legal Uncertainties

 

The manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising, promotion, distribution and sale of most of the Company’s products are subject to regulation by numerous governmental agencies, including the United States Food and Drug Administration, which regulates most of its products under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The Company’s products are also subject to regulation by, among other regulatory agencies, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Environmental Regulation. Furthermore, the Company and/or its customers are subject to extensive licensing requirements and comprehensive regulation governing various aspects of the healthcare delivery system, including the so called “fraud and abuse” laws. The fraud and abuse laws and regulations are broad in scope and are subject to frequent modification and varied interpretations.

 

The Company’s advertising is also subject to regulation by the Federal Trade Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act, in addition to state and local regulation. The Federal Trade Commission Act prohibits unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. The Federal Trade Commission Act also provides that the dissemination or the causing to be disseminated of any false advertisement pertaining to drugs or foods is an unfair or deceptive act or practice. Under the Federal Trade Commission’s Substantiation Doctrine, an advertiser is required to have a “reasonable basis” for all objective product claims before the claims are made. Failure to adequately substantiate claims may be considered either deceptive or unfair practices.

 

In addition, the Company’s products function within the structure of the healthcare financing and reimbursement system of the United States. As a result of a wide variety of political, economic and regulatory influences, this system is currently under intense scrutiny and subject to fundamental changes. In recent years, the system has changed significantly in an effort to reduce costs. These changes include increased use of managed care, cuts in Medicare, consolidation of pharmaceutical and medical-surgical supply distributors, and the development of large, sophisticated purchasing groups. In addition, a variety of new approaches have been proposed to continue to reduce cost. Because of uncertainty regarding the ultimate features of reform initiatives and their enactment and implementation, the Company cannot predict which, if any, of such reform proposals will be adopted, when they may be adopted, or what impact they may have on the Company. While the Company uses its best efforts to adhere to the regulatory and licensing requirements, as well as any other requirements affecting the Company’s products, compliance with these often requires subjective legislative interpretation. Consequently, the Company cannot assure that its compliance efforts will be deemed sufficient by regulatory agencies and commissions enforcing these requirements. Violation of these regulations may result in civil and criminal penalties. See “Risk Factors.”

 

Intellectual Property

 

The principal trademarks and service marks of the Company include DRUGMAX® and DRUGMAX.COM®. The marks are registered in the United States. The United States federal registrations of these trademarks and service marks have ten-year terms and are subject to unlimited renewals. The Company believes that protecting its trademarks and registered domain names is important to its business strategy of building strong brand name recognition and that such trademarks have significant value in the marketing of the Company’s products. To protect its proprietary rights, the Company relies on copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, confidentiality agreements with employees and third parties, and license agreements with consultants, vendors and customers. Despite such protections, however, the Company may be unable to fully protect its intellectual property. See “Risk Factors.”

 

Employees

 

The Company employs 81 persons, 73 of which are full-time employees, and one consultant. Labor unions do not represent any of these employees. The Company considers its employee relations to be good.

 

Employees are permitted to participate in employee benefit plans of the Company that may be in effect from time to time, to the extent eligible. Each of the employees is eligible for stock option grants in accordance with the provisions of the Company’s 1999 Stock Option Plan, as determined by the Administrator of the Plan.

 

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In August 1999, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Company’s 1999 Stock Option Plan (“1999 Plan”). The purpose of the 1999 Plan is to enable the Company to attract and retain top-quality executive employees, officers, directors and consultants and to provide such executive employees, officers, directors and consultants with an incentive to enhance stockholder return. The 1999 Plan provides for the grant to officers, directors, or other key employees and consultants of the Company, of options to purchase an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of common stock.

 

ACQUISITIONS

 

The Company made the following acquisitions during the last three fiscal years:

 

Valley Drug Company

 

On April 19, 2000, DrugMax Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, Valley Drug Company (“Valley”), Ronald J. Patrick (“Patrick”) and Ralph A. Blundo (“Blundo” and together with Patrick, the “Sellers”) signed a Merger Purchase Agreement pursuant to which the Company acquired Valley. In connection with the merger, the Sellers received an aggregate of 226,666 shares of the Company’s common stock and cash in the amount of $1.7 million. Valley loaned the Sellers $170,000, of which $100,000 is outstanding at March 31, 2003, to pay for a portion of the flow through effects of their S Corporation taxable income resulting from the sale of Valley. These interest-free notes receivable are to be repaid upon the Sellers’ sale of Company common stock, which was restricted stock subject to a holding period which ended April 19, 2001. In addition, the Sellers deposited 22,666 shares of the Company’s common stock with an escrow agent (the “Holdback Shares”). Based on audited financial statements of Valley as of April 19, 2000, the stockholders’ equity amounted to $400,667, which was $141,160 less than the threshold amount of $541,827. Therefore, 9,411 of the Holdback Shares have been returned to the Company. After consideration of the return of the Holdback Shares, a total of 217,255 shares at $10.125 per share were issued for the acquisition.

 

Penner and Welsch, Inc.

 

On October 25, 2001, Discount, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, purchased substantially all of the net assets of Penner & Welsch, Inc. (“Penner”), a wholesale distributor of pharmaceuticals based in Louisiana, pursuant to an Agreement for the Purchase and Sale of Assets dated October 12, 2001 (“the Agreement”). As previously reported by the Company, Penner was a Chapter 11 debtor which had voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 protection in the US Bankruptcy Court Eastern Division of Louisiana. Prior to this acquisition, commencing in September 2000, the Company managed the day-to-day operations of Penner, in exchange for a management fee equal to a percentage of the gross revenues of Penner each month. During the management period, the Company provided Penner with a collateralized revolving line of credit for the sole purpose of purchasing inventory from the Company. Pursuant to the Agreement, Penner received an aggregate of 125,418 shares of restricted common stock of the Company, valued at $5.98 per share, cash in the amount of $488,619, and forgiveness of $1,604,793 in trade accounts payable and management fees owed to Discount. The source of the funds used to acquire Penner’s assets was the working capital of the Company. The Agreement, including the nature and amount of the consideration paid to Penner, was negotiated between the parties and, on October 15, 2001, was approved by the US Bankruptcy Court, Eastern Division of Louisiana. The Company operates the acquired business under Valley Drug Company South, Inc., its wholly owned subsidiary.

 

Avery Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

 

On May 14, 2003, Discount Rx, Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, purchased substantially all of the assets, subject to certain liabilities, of Avery Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Avery Wholesale Pharmaceuticals, Inc., also known as Texas Vet Supply (jointly “Avery”), and Infinity Custom Plastics, Inc. (“Infinity”), wholesale distributors of pharmaceuticals and respiratory products based in Texas, pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement dated May 14, 2003 (the “Avery Agreement”).

 

Pursuant to the Avery Agreement, the Company acquired accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, furniture, the trade name and a patent pending for the process of the manufacture of vials for the respiratory therapy industry, which preliminarily totals $1,062,518. The liabilities assumed, which were comprised principally of trade payables, upon preliminary investigation, amounted to $912,518, and capital injected of $60,000. In addition, the Company executed a promissory note to the predecessor company’s 50% shareholder, as additional consideration. The $318,000 note includes a right of set off for accounts payable in excess of an agreed upon amount assumed at closing. The original note may not be reduced below $90,000 after set off, which management believes will be the adjusted note amount. Terms of the note provide for principal payments due monthly beginning July 5, 2003 through the due date of January 5, 2006. Interest on the note is due quarterly beginning September 5, 2003 at the rate of 6% per annum. Also, the Company executed a Consulting and Non-Competition Agreement (“Consulting Agreement”) with John VerVynck (“VerVynck”) an officer and shareholder of Avery and Infinity. The Consulting Agreement provides for the payment to VerVynck of $39,360, payable bi-monthly, over the six-

 

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month term of the Consulting Agreement. The Consulting Agreement prohibits VerVynck from competing for one year following his termination and the six-month term of the consulting agreement.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

In addition to the other information in this Form 10-K, the following should be considered in evaluating the Company’s business and prospects:

 

The Company’s business could be adversely affected if relations with any of its significant suppliers are terminated.

 

The Company’s ability to purchase pharmaceuticals, or to expand the scope of pharmaceuticals purchased, from a particular supplier is largely dependent upon such supplier’s assessment of the Company’s creditworthiness and the Company’s ability to resell the products it purchases. The Company is also dependent upon its suppliers’ continuing need for, and willingness to utilize, the Company’s services to help them manage their inventories. If the Company ceases to be able to purchase pharmaceuticals from any of its significant suppliers, such occurrence could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition because many suppliers own exclusive patent rights and are the sole manufacturers of certain pharmaceuticals. If the Company becomes unable to purchase patented products from any such supplier, it could be required to purchase such products from other distributors on less favorable terms, and the Company’s profit margin on the sale of such products could be reduced or eliminated. Substantially all of the Company’s agreements with suppliers are terminable by either party upon short notice and without penalty. See “Business.”

 

The Company’s industry has experienced declining margin percentages in recent years and, if this trend continues, the Company’s business could be adversely affected.

 

Over the past decade, participants in the wholesale pharmaceutical distribution industry have experienced declining gross and operating margin percentages. Industry sources estimate that the average gross margin percentage of companies in the industry has decreased from approximately 7.35% in 1990 to approximately 4.20% in 1999. The Company’s gross margin percentage decreased from approximately 3.11% in 2001 to approximately 2.77% in 2002, and increased to approximately 2.78% in 2003. The profitability of wholesale distributors, including the Company, is largely dependent upon earning volume incentives, cash discounts and rebates from pharmaceutical manufacturers. The Company’s profitability is also increasingly dependent on its ability to purchase inventory in advance of anticipated or known manufacturer price increases. Although investment buying opportunities may enable the Company to increase its gross margin percentage when manufacturers increase prices, such buying requires subjective assessments of future price changes as well as significant working capital. If the Company’s gross margin percentages decline significantly, or if the Company’s assessments of future price changes are incorrect, or if the Company does not have the necessary working capital to take advantage of buying opportunities, the Company’s profitability could be materially adversely affected. To increase its margins, while the Company continues to distribute brand products as requested by its customers, it is currently focusing its efforts on growing its generic pharmaceutical, over-the-counter and other products lines. Additionally, from time to time the Company seeks to acquire additional complimentary product lines, as it did with its acquisition of Avery and Infinity. See “Acquisitions.” However, there can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in this regard. Growth in higher-margin products requires significant marketing and sales efforts, which may not be successful. Low demand for higher-margin products could prevent the Company from increasing its sales of these products, and increased competition in higher-margin products could reduce the margins on these products.

 

The loss of one or more of the Company’s largest customers or a significant decline in the level of purchases made by one or more of the Company’s largest customers could hurt the Company’s business by reducing the Company’s revenues and earnings.

 

As is customary in the Company’s industry, the Company’s customers are generally permitted to terminate the Company’s relationship or reduce purchasing levels on relatively short notice and without penalty. Termination of a relationship by a significant customer or a significant decline in the level of purchases made by a significant customer could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Additionally, an adverse change in the financial condition of a significant customer, including an adverse change as a result of a change in governmental or private reimbursement programs, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to collect its receivables from the customer and the volume of its sales to the customer.

 

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The Company’s markets are highly competitive and it may be unable to compete effectively.

 

The pharmaceutical and over-the-counter product industries are intensely competitive. To strategically respond to changes in the competitive environment, the Company may sometimes make pricing, service or marketing decisions or acquisitions that could materially hurt its business. The Company cannot guarantee that it can compete successfully against current and future competitors. See “Business—Competition.”

 

The Company’s business could be adversely affected if it lost any of its key personnel.

 

The Company is dependent on the services of the Company’s senior management and on the relationships between the Company’s key personnel and the Company’s significant customers and suppliers. The Company has entered into employment agreements or non-competition agreements with the key members of the Company’s management team. The loss of certain members of the Company’s senior management or of key purchasing or sales personnel, particularly the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. The Company generally does not carry life insurance policies on the lives of the Company’s key senior managers or key purchasing or sales personnel. As is generally true in the industry, if any of the Company’s senior management or key personnel with an established reputation within the industry were to leave the Company’s employment, there can be no assurance that the Company’s customers or suppliers who have relationships with such person would not purchase products from such person’s new employer, rather than from the Company.

 

The Company’s business could suffer if it is unable to complete and integrate acquisitions successfully.

 

One aspect of the Company’s growth and operating strategy is to pursue strategic acquisitions of other pharmaceutical wholesalers and companies that expand or complement the Company’s business. The Company cannot assure that suitable acquisition candidates will be identified, that acquisitions can be consummated on acceptable terms, that any acquired companies can be integrated successfully into the Company’s operations or that the Company will be able to retain an acquired company’s significant customer and supplier relationships or otherwise realize the intended benefits of any acquisition. Any such expansion could require significant capital resources and divert management’s attention from the Company’s existing business. Such acquisitions could also result in liabilities being incurred that were not known at the time of acquisition or the creation of tax and accounting problems. Failure to accomplish future acquisitions could limit the Company’s revenues and earnings potential.

 

The Company intends to continue to seek investments in complementary businesses, product lines and technology. If the Company buys a company, or an operating division, the Company could have difficulty in assimilating the personnel and operations. In addition, the key personnel of an acquired company may decide not to work for the Company and customers and vendors of the acquired company may decide not to do business with the Company. The Company could also have difficulty in assimilating the acquired business, products or technology into its operations. These difficulties could disrupt its ongoing business, distract its management and employees and increase its expenses. In addition, future acquisitions could have a negative impact on its business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the Company may have to incur debt or issue equity securities to pay for any future acquisition, the issuance of which may be dilutive to its existing stockholders.

 

If not managed efficiently, the Company’s rapid growth may divert management’s attention from the operation of its business which could hinder its ability to operate successfully.

 

The Company’s growth has placed, and its anticipated continued growth will continue to place, significant demands on its managerial and operational resources. The Company’s failure to manage its growth efficiently may divert management’s attention from the operation of its business and render the Company unable to keep pace with its customers’ demands.

 

The Company may require additional capital in the future which may not be available to the Company.

 

The Company has recently entered into a new line of credit agreement with Congress Financial Corporation, which the Company believes is sufficient for its immediately foreseeable needs. However, the Company’s future capital requirements will depend upon many factors, including, but not limited to:

 

    the extent to which the Company can develop and brand the Company’s name;

 

    the frequency with which the Company can make future acquisitions;

 

    the rate at which the Company can hire additional personnel;

 

    the rate at which the Company can expand the services that it offers; and

 

    the extent to which the Company can develop and upgrade the Company’s technology.

 

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Because of these factors, the Company’s actual revenues and costs are uncertain and may vary considerably. These variations may significantly affect the Company’s future need for capital. The actual amount and timing of the Company’s future capital requirements may differ materially from the Company’s estimates. In particular, the Company’s estimates may be inaccurate as a result of changes and fluctuations in the Company’s revenues, operating costs and development expenses. The Company’s revenues, operating costs and development expenses will be negatively affected by any inability to:

 

    effectively and efficiently manage the expansion of the Company’s operations;

 

    negotiate favorable contracts and relationships with manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers; and

 

    obtain brand recognition, attract a sufficient number of customers or increase the volume of e-commerce sales of the Company’s products.

 

Adequate funds may not be available when needed or may not be available on favorable terms. If funding is insufficient at any time in the future, the Company may be unable to develop or enhance its products or services, take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could harm the Company’s business.

 

The Company’s stock price may be volatile.

 

The market price of the Company’s common stock may be subject to significant fluctuations in response to various factors, including:

 

    quarterly fluctuations in the Company’s operating results;

 

    changes in securities analysts’ estimates of the Company’s future earnings; and

 

    the Company’s loss of significant customers or suppliers or significant business developments relating to the Company’s competitors.

 

The Company’s common stock’s market price also may be affected by the Company’s ability to meet analysts’ expectations, and any failure to meet such expectations, even if minor, could cause the market price of the Company’s common stock to decline. Because the number of shares of common stock publicly traded is small relative to the number of publicly traded shares of many other companies, the market price of the common stock may be more susceptible to fluctuation. In addition, stock markets have generally experienced a high level of price and volume volatility, and the market prices of equity securities of many companies have experienced wide price fluctuations not necessarily related to the operating performance of such companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the common stock’s market price.

 

The Company’s operations and quarterly results are not subject to seasonality and variability.

 

Management believes that the Company’s business is not seasonal; however, significant promotional activities can have a direct impact on sales volumes in any given quarter.

 

Changes in the healthcare industry could adversely affect the Company.

 

The healthcare industry has undergone significant change in recent years as a result of various efforts to reduce costs, including proposed national healthcare reform, trends toward managed care, spending cuts in Medicare, consolidation of pharmaceutical and medical/surgery supply distributors, the development of large, sophisticated purchasing groups and efforts by traditional third party payors to contain or reduce healthcare costs. The Company cannot predict whether these trends will continue or whether any other healthcare reform efforts will be enacted and what effect any such reforms may have on the Company’s practices and products or the Company’s customers and suppliers. Any future changes in the healthcare industry, including a reduction in governmental financial support of healthcare services, adverse changes in legislation or regulations governing the delivery or pricing of prescription drugs, healthcare services or mandated benefits may cause healthcare industry participants to significantly reduce the amount of the Company’s products and services they purchase or the price they are willing to pay for the Company’s products and services. Changes in pharmaceutical manufacturers’ pricing or distribution policies could also significantly and adversely affect the Company’s revenues, margins and profitability. See “Business.”

 

The Company could be adversely affected if there are changes in the regulations affecting the healthcare industry or if it fails to comply with current regulations applicable to the Company’s business.

 

The healthcare industry is more heavily regulated than many other industries. As a distributor of certain controlled substances and prescription pharmaceuticals, the Company is required to register with and obtain licenses and permits from certain federal and state agencies and must comply with operating and security measures prescribed by those agencies. The Company is also subject to various

 

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regulations including the 1987 Prescription Drug Marketing Act, an amendment to the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which regulates the purchase, storage, security and distribution of prescription pharmaceuticals. The Company’s compliance with these regulations is monitored through periodic site inspections conducted by various governmental agencies. Any failure to comply with these regulations or to respond to changes in these regulations could result in penalties on the Company such as fines, restrictions on the Company’s operations or a temporary or permanent closure of the Company’s facilities. These penalties could harm the Company’s operating results. The Company cannot assure that future changes in applicable laws or regulations will not materially increase the costs of conducting business or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. See “Business.”

 

The Company may not successfully protect its intellectual property.

 

The principal trademarks and service marks of the Company include DRUGMAX® and DRUGMAX.COM®. The marks are registered in the United States. The United States federal registrations of these trademarks and service marks have ten year terms and are subject to unlimited renewals. The Company believes that protecting its trademarks and registered domain names is important to its business strategy of building strong brand name recognition and that such trademarks have significant value in the marketing of the Company’s products. To protect its proprietary rights, the Company relies on copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, confidentiality agreements with employees and third parties, and license agreements with consultants, vendors and customers. Despite such protections, however, the Company may be unable to fully protect its intellectual property.

 

To date, the Company’s business has not been interrupted as the result of any claim of infringement. However, the Company cannot guarantee it will not be adversely affected by the successful assertion of intellectual property rights belonging to others. The effects of such assertions could include requiring the Company to alter or withdraw existing trademarks or products, delaying or preventing the introduction of products, or forcing the Company to pay damages if the products have been introduced. The steps it takes to protect its proprietary rights may be inadequate, or third parties might infringe or misappropriate its trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, trade dress and similar proprietary rights. In addition, others could independently develop substantially equivalent intellectual property. The Company may have to litigate in the future to enforce its intellectual property rights, to protect its trade secrets or to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others. Such litigation could result in substantial costs and the diversion of its management and technical resources which could harm the Company’s business.

 

The Company also utilizes the registered domain names www.drugmax.com. and www.penwel.com. Currently, the acquisition and maintenance of domain names is regulated by governmental agencies and their designees. The regulation of domain names in the United States and in foreign countries is expected to change in the near future. These changes could include the introduction of additional top level domains, which could cause confusion among web users trying to locate its sites. As a result, the Company may not be able to maintain its domain names. Furthermore, the relationship between regulations governing domain names and laws protecting trademarks and similar proprietary rights is unclear. The Company may be unable to prevent third parties from acquiring domain names that are similar to those belonging to the Company. The acquisition of similar domain names by third parties could cause confusion among web users attempting to locate the Company’s site and could decrease the value of its brand name.

 

A disruption in the Company’s information systems could adversely affect its business.

 

The Company is dependent on the Company’s information systems to receive and process customer orders, initiate orders with product suppliers, distribute products to the Company’s customers in a timely and cost-effective manner, track and secure inventory and maintain compliance with federal and state regulations. Any disruption in the Company’s information systems could thus have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

The Company hosts and maintains its web site and contracts with a third party that provides backup web hosting services. The backup provider delivers a secure platform for server hosting with uninterruptible power supply and back up generators, fire suppression, raised floors, heating ventilation and air-conditioning, separate cooling zones, operations twenty-four-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. To protect the customer information the Company receives, the Company uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encrypted protocol, user names and passwords, and other tools. The Company also has its own certificate server from Microsoft that encrypts the registration session to protect the customer information. In addition, the Company has taken steps to protect the registration information residing in its servers by using firewalls, backups and other preventive measures designed to protect the privacy of its customers. The Company restricts access to customer personal and financial data to those authorized employees who have a need for these records. The Company does not release information about its customers to third parties without the prior written consent of its customers unless otherwise required by law.

 

Notwithstanding these precautions, the Company cannot assure that the security mechanisms will prevent security breaches or service breakdowns. Despite the network security measures the Company has implemented, its servers may be vulnerable to computer viruses,

 

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physical or electronic break-ins or other similar disruptions. Such a disruption could lead to interruptions or delays in its service, loss of data, or its inability to accept and fulfill customer orders. Any of these events could materially affect the Company’s business.

 

The Company is subject to capacity constraint system development risks which may result in its inability to service its customers and meet its growth expectations.

 

A key element of its strategy is to generate a high volume of traffic on, and use of, the Company’s web site. Accordingly, the Company’s web site transaction processing systems and network infrastructure performance, reliability and availability are critical to its operating results. These factors are also critical to its reputation and its ability to attract and retain customers and maintain adequate customer service levels. The volume of goods it sells and the attractiveness of its product and service offerings will decrease if there are any systems interruptions that affect the availability of its web site or its ability to fulfill orders. The Company expects to continually enhance and expand its technology and transaction processing systems, and network infrastructure and other technologies, to accommodate increases in the volume of traffic on its web site. The Company may be unsuccessful in these efforts or its may be unable to accurately project the rate or timing of increases in the use of its web site. The Company may also fail timely to expand and upgrade its systems and infrastructure to accommodate these increases.

 

Item 2.   PROPERTIES.

 

The Company does not own or hold any legal or equitable interest in any real estate. The Company leases its principal administrative, marketing and customer service facility containing approximately 5,216 square feet of air-conditioned office space, located at 25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 137, Clearwater Florida 33763. The term of the lease for the Clearwater office is for five years expiring January 14, 2008, with an initial monthly lease payment of $6,303. The Company leases for its Pittsburgh facility, 1,424 square feet of office and 1,176 square feet of warehouse space located at 203 Parkway West Industrial Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15205. The term of the lease for the Pittsburgh facility is for three years expiring February 28, 2006, with a monthly lease payment of $1,658. The Youngstown facility is located at 318 West Boardman Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503 and consists of approximately 30,000 square feet of office (approximately 3,000 air conditioned space for offices), warehouse, shipping and distribution space. The premises are leased pursuant to a lease with a base term of five years expiring December 30, 2003, with a monthly lease payment of $6,000, renewable for an additional five years under the same terms. Management believes that a more modern and efficient warehouse facility would be beneficial to Valley’s operations, and expects to enter into a long-term lease arrangement with a property development company, which is owned by certain officers, directors, shareholders and key employees of the Company, with terms and conditions negotiated at market rate, with an expected occupancy date in December 2003, which will replace the existing lease for the Youngstown facility. The Company leases for its subsidiary, Discount, a building located at 10016 River Road, St. Rose, Louisiana, 70087, from River Road Real Estate LLC, a related party (See Note 13 of the consolidated financial statements.) The building consists of approximately 39,000 square feet of air-conditioned office and warehouse space. The lease for the St. Rose location is for a term of five years expiring October 2006, and carries a monthly lease payment of $15,000.

 

Item 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

 

From time to time, the Company may become involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of its business. The Company is not presently subject to any material legal proceedings other than as set forth below.

 

The Company previously executed an engagement letter with GunnAllen Financial (“GAF”) with an effective date of August 20, 2001, for consulting services over a three month period from the effective date, and renewable month to month thereafter until terminated by either party with a thirty day notice. The GAF agreement required that the Company pay to GAF, for consulting services performed, $5,000 per month plus expenses capped at $2,000 per month, and further required the Company to issue a warrant to GAF exercisable for a period of five years to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $5.80 per share. However, on October 12, 2001, the Company terminated the agreement with GAF and informed GAF that GAF was in breach of contract under the Agreement and that, accordingly, no warrants would be issued to GAF and no further fees would be paid to GAF. The Company also demanded the return of all fees previously paid to GAF. At March 31, 2003, no warrants had been issued to GAF. As of July 9, 2003 GAF had not instituted any legal proceedings against the Company. The Company cannot reasonably estimate any future possible loss as a result of this matter. The Company has made no provision in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for resolution of this matter.

 

In March 2000, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Desktop Corporation, a Texas corporation located in Dallas, Texas, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among the Company, K. Sterling Miller, Jimmy L. Fagala and HCT Capital Corp. (the “Reorganization Agreement”). On February 7, 2002, Messrs. Miller and Fagala filed a complaint against the Company in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pinellas County, Florida, alleging,

 

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among other things, that the Company had breached the Reorganization Agreement by failing to pay 38,809 shares of the Company’s common stock to plaintiffs. The complaint also includes a count of conversion and further alleges that the Company breached its employment agreements with Messrs. Miller and Fagala, for which the plaintiffs seek monetary damages. On March 11, 2002, the Company filed its answer, affirmative defenses and counterclaim against plaintiffs and HCT Capital Corp., in which it alleged, among other things, that plaintiffs had breached the Reorganization Agreement by misrepresenting the state of the acquired business, that the Company was entitled to set off its damages against the shares which the plaintiffs are seeking and further seeking contractual indemnity against the plaintiffs. On April 16, 2002, HCT Capital Corp. filed its answer, counterclaim against the Company and cross-claim against the plaintiffs. In September of 2002, Plaintiffs served the Company with written discovery requests. Since then there has been no activity by Plaintiffs or HCT, and the Company is currently considering how to proceed in light of this inactivity. The Company intends to vigorously defend the actions filed against it and to pursue its counterclaim. The Company cannot reasonably estimate any future possible loss as a result of this matter. The Company has made no provision in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for resolution of this matter.

 

On May 1, 2002, the Company filed suit against an established customer of the Company’s Pittsburgh distribution center for collection of past due accounts receivable. The customer accounted for approximately $4.1 million, or 1.5%, of the gross revenue of the Company in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2002. The Company has an unconditional personal guaranty signed by the customer’s owner. On May 23, 2002, the customer filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, under Chapter Eleven of the United States Bankruptcy Act, subsequent to which the customer failed to file the proper financial data with the court, causing the voluntary bankruptcy filing to be withdrawn. Management is continuing to pursue its claim for payment through the courts and working with the major creditors to process return of inventory. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, the Company has established an allowance for the account receivable of $669,000 and accrued $19,132 for legal costs.

 

Item 4.   SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.

 

Not applicable.

 

PART II

 

Item 5.   MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

 

The Company’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market under the symbol “DMAX.” The following table sets forth the closing high and low bid prices for the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market for each calendar quarter during the Company’s last two fiscal years, as reported by Nasdaq. Prices represent inter-dealer quotations without adjustment for retail markups, markdowns or commissions and may not represent actual transactions.