SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited - In thousands, except per share data)

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited - In thousands, except per share data)

 

   

   

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Unaudited - In thousands)

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited – In thousands)

   

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(Unaudited – In thousands)

   

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(Unaudited – In thousands)

 

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

 

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

 

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

 

 

 

SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (“Safeguard” or “we”), the industries in which we operate and other matters, as well as management's beliefs and assumptions and other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts. These statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies and prospects. For example, when we use words such as “projects,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “will,” “opportunity,” “potential” or “may,” variations of such words or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes, we are making forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, include, among others, our ability to make good decisions about the deployment of capital, the fact that our ownership interests may vary from period to period, our substantial capital requirements and absence of liquidity from our holdings, fluctuations in the market prices of our publicly traded holdings, competition, our inability to obtain maximum value for our ownership interests, our ability to attract and retain qualified employees, our ability to execute our strategy, market valuations in sectors in which our ownership interests operate, our inability to control our ownership interests, our need to manage our assets to avoid registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and risks associated with our ownership interests and their performance, including the fact that most of our ownership interests have a limited history and a history of operating losses, face intense competition and may never be profitable, the effect of economic conditions in the business sectors in which Safeguard's ownership interests operate, compliance with government regulation and legal liabilities, all of which are discussed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in Safeguard's Annual Report on Form 10-K and updated, as applicable, in “Factors that May Affect Future Results” and Item 1A. “Risk Factors” below. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to predict or control. In addition, as a result of these and other factors, our past financial performance should not be relied on as an indication of future performance. All forward-looking statements attributable to us, or to persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this report might not occur.

 

 

Business Overview

 

Over the recent past, Safeguard has provided capital and relevant expertise to fuel the growth of technology-driven businesses. In many, but not all cases, we are actively involved, influencing development through board representation and management support, in addition to the influence we exert through our equity ownership. We also continue to hold relatively small equity interests in other enterprises where we do not exert significant influence and do not participate in management activities. In some cases, those ownership interests relate to residual interests from prior larger interests or from companies that acquired companies in which we had ownership interests.

 

In January 2018, Safeguard announced that we will not deploy any capital into new opportunities and will focus on supporting our existing companies and maximizing monetization opportunities to enable the return of value to shareholders. In that context, we have, are and will consider initiatives including, among others: the sale of our ownership interests, the sale of certain or all ownership interests in secondary market transactions, or a combination thereof, as well as other opportunities to maximize shareholder value. We initiated the return of value to shareholders in 2019 with a $1.00 per share special dividend.  We anticipate additional actions in the future in the form of stock repurchases and/or special dividends based on available cash resources, prevailing market conditions and other factors.

 

During the first quarter of 2020, Safeguard was impacted by the circumstances of COVID-19 and the related economic impacts.  In addition to a slowed mergers and acquisitions environment, our companies have been impacted in a variety of operational ways including general declines in the markets in which they operate, reduced access to customers or prospective customers, reduced or delayed collections of amounts due from customers and different ways to work with their employee base.  Our companies have also been negatively impacted in their ability to access debt or equity capital.  The management teams of the entities in which the Company holds such ownership interests are continuing to take actions to respond to the rapidly changing environment, including implementing cost reduction efforts, securing additional capital or other actions, which could mitigate some of the expected impacts.  There are uncertainties as to if these actions will be successful or adequate in this uncertain economic environment.  

 

Results of Operations

 

We operate as one operating segment based upon the similar nature of our technology-driven companies, the functional alignment of the organizational structure, and the reports that are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker for the purpose of assessing performance and allocating resources.

 

There is intense competition in the markets in which our companies operate. Additionally, the markets in which these companies operate are characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards, frequent introduction of new products and services, shifting distribution channels, evolving government regulation, frequently changing intellectual property landscapes and changing customer demands. Their future success depends on each company’s ability to execute its business plan and to adapt to its respective rapidly changing market.

 

 

 

The following is a listing of certain of our ownership interests as of March 31, 2020  and March 31, 2019.

 

		Safeguard Primary Ownership as of March 31,
Company Name		2020			2019		Accounting Method
Aktana, Inc.		17.5%			18.9%		Equity
Clutch Holdings, Inc.		41.2%			41.2%		Equity
Flashtalking		13.4%			10.1%		Other
InfoBionic, Inc.		25.2%			25.4%		Equity
Lumesis, Inc.		43.5%			43.6%		Equity
MediaMath, Inc.		13.3%			13.4%		Other
meQuilibrium		32.7%			33.1%		Equity
Moxe Health Corporation		29.9%			32.4%		Equity
Prognos Health Inc.		28.7%			28.7%		Equity
QuanticMind, Inc.		24.2%			24.2%		Equity
Sonobi, Inc.		21.6%			21.6%		Equity
Syapse, Inc.		20.0%			20.0%		Equity
T-REX Group, Inc.		13.7%			17.8%		Other
Trice Medical, Inc.		16.6%			16.7%		Equity
WebLinc, Inc.		38.5%			38.5%		Equity
Zipnosis, Inc.		37.7%			34.7%		Equity

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2020 versus the three months ended March 31, 2019

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2020				2019				Variance
		(In thousands)
General and administrative expense		$	(3,532	)		$	(3,057	)		$	(475	)
Other income (loss), net			(3,567	)			(1,885	)			(1,682	)
Interest income			105				873				(768	)
Interest expense			—				(2,535	)			2,535
Equity income (loss), net			(9,014	)			28,267				(37,281	)
		$	(16,008	)		$	21,663			$	(37,671	)

 

General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense increased $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period primarily due to the $1.7 million severance charge incurred during the quarter, which was partially offset by decreases in depreciation of $0.5 million, employee compensation of $0.2 million, lower stock-based compensation of $0.3 million, lower office rental costs of $0.1 million and lower professional fees of $0.1 million.  

 

Other Income (loss), net. Other income (loss), net increased $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period.  During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recorded impairments of $5.1 million related to the ownership interests of T-REX, b8ta and others accounted for under the Other method.  The impairments were determined based on declines in the fair value of our ownership interests resulting from reduced valuation expectations and extended exit timelines resulting from the more challenging mergers and acquisitions environment related to COVID-19 and the related uncertain economic impact.  Partially offsetting these impairments, the quarter also included a $1.5 million non-cash gain for the increase in the fair value our ownership interest in Flashtalking based upon an observable price change.  Other income (loss), net for the three months ended March 31, 2019 included a $2.0 million loss related to an increase in the fair value of the amended credit facility repayment feature liability.  The credit facility was repaid in full during 2019 resulting in the elimination of the credit facility repayment feature liability.  

 

Interest Income. Interest income decreased $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period primarily attributable to lower average notes receivable and lower average investment and cash equivalent balances at lower rates in 2020.

 

Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period due to the pay-off of borrowings under the Credit facility in 2019.

 

Equity Income (loss), net. Equity income (loss), net decreased $37.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period. The components of equity income (loss), net for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows:

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2020				2019				Variance
		(In thousands)
Gains on sales of ownership interests		$	25			$	35,132			$	(35,107	)
Unrealized dilution gains			—				470				(470	)
Loss on impairments			(6,200	)			—				(6,200	)
Share of loss of our equity method companies, net			(2,839	)			(7,335	)			4,496
		$	(9,014	)		$	28,267			$	(37,281	)

 

The unrealized dilution gains for the three months ended March 31, 2019 were the result of T-Rex and Trice, who each raised additional equity capital that diluted the Company's interest in those entities.

 

 

 

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recorded impairments of $6.2 million related to the ownership interests of WebLinc, Inc. and QuanticMind, Inc. accounted for under the equity method.  The impairments were determined based on declines in the fair value of our ownership interests resulting from reduced valuation expectations and extended exit timelines resulting from the more challenging mergers and acquisitions environment related to COVID-19 and the related uncertain economic impact.    There were no losses from impairments for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

The change in our share of equity loss of our equity method companies for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period was due to a decrease in the number of ownership interests and a decrease in losses associated with the remaining ownership interests.

 

Income Tax Benefit (Expense)

 

Income tax benefit (expense) was $0.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. We have recorded a valuation allowance to reduce our net deferred tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized in future years. Accordingly, the income tax provision that would have been recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 was offset by changes in the valuation allowance.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

As of March 31, 2020, we had $20.9 million of cash and cash equivalents.

 

       In January 2018, Safeguard announced that, from that date forward, we will not deploy any capital into new opportunities and will focus on supporting our existing ownership interests and maximizing monetization opportunities to return value to shareholders. In that context, we have, are and will consider initiatives including, among others: the sale of individual ownership interests, the sale of certain ownership interests in secondary market transactions, or a combination thereof, as well as other opportunities to maximize shareholder value. 

 

In 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized us, from time to time and depending on market conditions, to repurchase up to $25.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock. During the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2020, we did not repurchase any shares under this authorization.

 

Our ability to generate liquidity from transactions involving our ownership interests has been adversely affected from time to time by adverse circumstances in the U.S. capital markets and other factors, including the impact of COVID-19.  We may be required to provide additional capital to our companies, which may cause us to face liquidity issues that will constrain our ability to execute our business strategy and limit our ability to provide financial support to all of our existing companies in the amounts that we desire.  The transactions we enter into in pursuit of our strategy could increase or decrease our liquidity at any point in time. As we seek to provide additional funding to existing companies where we have an ownership interest or commit capital to other initiatives, we may be required to expend our cash or incur debt, which will decrease our liquidity. Conversely, as we dispose of our interests in our ownership interests, we may receive proceeds from such sales, which could increase our liquidity. From time to time, we are engaged in discussions concerning acquisitions and dispositions which, if consummated, could impact our liquidity, perhaps significantly. The Company believes that its cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2020 will be sufficient to fund operations past one year from the issuance of these financial statements.

 

 

Analysis of Consolidated Cash Flows

 

Cash flow activity was as follows:

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2020				2019				Variance
		(In thousands)
Net cash used in operating activities		$	(2,551	)		$	(5,782	)		$	3,231
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities			(1,533	)			42,845				(44,378	)
Net cash used in financing activities			(11	)			(149	)			138
		$	(4,095	)		$	36,914			$	(41,009	)

 

Net Cash Used In Operating Activities

 

Net cash used in operating activities decreased by $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period. The activity during the three months ended March 31, 2020 was primarily the result of various non-cash adjustments to net loss, including the $9.0 million of equity loss and $5.1 million of impairments to Other method ownership interests, which were partially offset by non-cash gains of $1.5 million for an observable price change.  The Company did not make any cash interest payments for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to $1.9 million of cash interest payments for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The activity during the three months ended March 31, 2019 was primarily the result of various non-cash adjustments to net income, including $28.3 million of equity income, a $2.0 million loss from the increase in the fair value of the repayment feature derivative, depreciation, and the amortization of debt discount.  

 

Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities

 

Net cash provided by investing activities decreased by $44.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period. The decrease primarily related to $41.5 million in proceeds from the sale of Propeller in the previous year. The Company also did not have any marketable security activity during the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to $5.0 million of marketable securities sales during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

 

Net Cash Used In Financing Activities

 

There were no significant financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 or 2019, respectively.

 

Contractual Cash Obligations and Other Commercial Commitments

 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and other commercial commitments as of March 31, 2020, by period due or expiration of the commitment. 

 

		Payments Due by Period
		Total				2020 (remainder)				2021 and 2022				2023 and 2024				After 2024
		(In millions)
Contractual Cash Obligations:
Operating leases (a)		$	3.7			$	0.5			$	1.2			$	1.2			$	0.8
Severance payments			1.8				1.8				—				—				—
Total Contractual Cash Obligations (b)		$	5.5			$	2.3			$	1.2			$	1.2			$	0.8

 

(a)

In 2015, we entered into an agreement for the lease of our former principal executive offices which expires in April 2026. In March 2019, we entered into a sublease for these offices which is expected to result in future aggregate sublease receipts of $3.4 million through April 2026.

(b)

The maximum aggregate exposure under employment and severance agreements for remaining employees was approximately $1.9 million at March 31, 2020 (not reflected in the table above).

 

 

Factors That May Affect Future Results

 

You should carefully consider the information set forth below. The following risk factors describe situations in which our business, financial condition and/or results of operations could be materially harmed, and the value of our securities may be adversely affected. You should also refer to other information included or incorporated by reference in this report. 

 

The COVID-19 pandemic is adversely affecting the businesses, financial conditions and operating results of the companies in which we have an ownership interest, as well as our ability to monetize such interests, and it may also cause us to increase the amount of additional capital we will need to provide to such companies.

 

The current economic and market conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are negatively impacting the companies in which we have ownership interests, including, without limitation, their operations, supply chains, sales infrastructures and the demand for their products and services.  This is negatively affecting their businesses, financial conditions and operating results.  As a result, we may be required to provide additional capital to such companies, which may cause us to face liquidity issues that will constrain our ability to execute our business strategy and limit our ability to provide financial support to all of our existing companies in the amounts that we desire.  We are also experiencing a more challenging mergers and acquisitions market in general for such companies, which has resulted in lower valuation expectations and extended exit timelines for such companies, which, in turn, could negatively affect the amount and timing of the monetization opportunities for such companies and our ability to return value to shareholders.  

 

The COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect parties with obligations to us, including the subtenant of our previous office space.

 

In March 2019, we entered into a sublease of our prior corporate headquarters office space beginning in June 2019. The term of the sublease is through April 2026, the same as our underlying lease. Fixed sublease payments to us are escalating over the term of the sublease.  We remain obligated under the original lease for such office space and, in the event the subtenant of such office space fails to satisfy its obligations under the sublease, we would be required to satisfy our obligations directly to the landlord under such original lease.

 

The intended monetization of our company interests and the return of value to shareholders are subject to factors beyond our control.

 

In January 2018, we announced that we will not deploy any capital into new companies.  We will instead focus on supporting, and maximizing monetization opportunities for, our existing company interests to return value to shareholders.  However, this strategic plan may require providing additional capital and operational support to such existing companies and we may not be able to sell our company interests during any specific time frame or otherwise on desirable terms, if at all, and there can be no assurance as to how long this process will take or the results that this process will yield.  There can be no assurance as to whether we will realize the value of escrowed proceeds, holdbacks or other contingent consideration, if any, associated with the sale of our company interests.  Additionally, there can be no assurance that we will be able to satisfy our liabilities during this process.  Further, the method, timing and amount of any return of value resulting from the monetization of existing company interests will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on market and business conditions and our overall liabilities, capital structure and liquidity position.

 

A disposition of one or more of our company interests may occur at a time that will yield less value than if we held such interests for a longer period of time.

 

Our companies are at various stages in their lifecycles. The value of our interests in our companies at any point in time is highly dependent on the progress and success such companies have made at such time with respect to the development and marketing of their products and services and that value may fluctuate significantly. In order to effect our strategy of monetizing our interests in our companies, we may dispose of such interests at a time prior to the applicable company reaching its maximum value. Doing so will result in a return of value to shareholders that is less than that which may have been returned if we retained our interests in such company for a longer period of time.

 

The continuing costs and burdens associated with being a public company will constitute a much larger percentage of our expenses and we may in the future delist our common stock with the New York Stock Exchange and seek to deregister our common stock with the SEC.

 

We will remain a public company and will continue to be subject to the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange and SEC rules and regulations, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  The costs and burdens of being a public company will be a significant and continually increasing portion of our expenses if we are able to monetize our company interests.  As part of such monetization efforts, we will likely in the future, once the majority of our company interests have been monetized, delist our common stock from the New York Stock Exchange and seek to deregister our common stock with the SEC.  However, there can be no assurance as to the timing of such transactions, or whether such transactions will be completed at all, and we will continue to face the costs and burdens of being a public company until such time as our common stock is delisted with the New York Stock Exchange and deregistered with the SEC.

 

Our principal business strategy depends upon our ability to make good decisions regarding the deployment of capital into, and subsequent disposition of, our existing company interests and, ultimately, the performance of such companies, which is uncertain.

 

If we make poor decisions regarding the deployment of capital into, and subsequent disposition of, our existing companies, our business strategy will not succeed. If such companies do not succeed, the value of our assets could be significantly reduced and require substantial impairments or write-offs and our results of operations and the price of our common stock would be adversely affected. The risks relating to our companies include:

•	most of our companies have a history of operating losses and/or limited operating history;

•	the intense competition affecting the products and services our companies offer could adversely affect their businesses, financial condition, results of operations and prospects for growth;

•	the inability to adapt to changing marketplaces;

•	the inability to manage growth;

•	the need for additional capital to fund their operations, which we may not be able to fund or which may not be available from third parties on acceptable terms, if at all;

•	the inability to protect their proprietary rights and/or infringing on the proprietary rights of others

•	that our companies could face legal liabilities from claims made against them based upon their operations, products or work;

•	the impact of economic downturns on their operations, results and growth prospects;

•	the inability to attract and retain qualified personnel;

•	the existence of government regulations and legal uncertainties may place financial burdens on the businesses of our companies; and

•	the inability to plan for and manage catastrophic events.

 

 

 

These and other risks are discussed in detail under the caption “Risks Related to Our Companies” below.

 

As we execute against our strategy, a significant amount of our deployed capital may be concentrated in companies operating in the same or similar industries, limiting our diversification.

 

Our capital deployments could be concentrated in several companies that operate in the same or similar industries. This may cause us to be more susceptible to any single economic, regulatory or other occurrence affecting those particular industries than we would otherwise be if our companies operated in more diversified industries.

 

Our business model does not rely upon, or plan for, the receipt of operating cash flows from our companies. Our companies do not provide us with cash flow from their operations. We rely on cash on hand, liquidity events and our ability to generate cash from capital raising activities to finance our operations.

 

We need capital to fund the capital needs of our existing companies. We also need cash to finance our corporate overhead and meet our existing funding commitments. As a result, we have substantial cash requirements. Our companies do not provide us with cash flow from their operations. To the extent our companies generate any cash from operations, they generally retain the funds to develop their own businesses. As a result, we must rely on cash on hand, company liquidity events and new capital raising activities to meet our cash needs. If we are unable to find ways of monetizing our holdings of company interests or raising additional capital on attractive terms, we may face liquidity issues that will require us to constrain our ability to execute our business strategy and limit our ability to provide financial support to our existing companies.

 

Fluctuations in the price of the common stock of our publicly traded holdings may affect the price of our common stock.

 

From time to time, we may hold equity interests in companies that are publicly traded. Fluctuations in the market prices of the common stock of publicly traded holdings may affect the price of our common stock. Historically, the market prices of our publicly traded holdings have been highly volatile and subject to fluctuations unrelated or disproportionate to operating performance.

 

We may be unable to obtain maximum value for our holdings or to sell our holdings on a timely basis.

 

We hold significant positions in our companies. If we were to divest all or part of our holdings in a company, we may have to sell our interests at a relative discount to intrinsic value. For companies with publicly traded stock, we may be unable to sell our holdings at then-quoted market prices. The trading volume and public float in the common stock of a publicly traded company in which we have an interest may be small relative to our holdings. As a result, any significant open-market divestiture by us of our holdings in such a company, if possible at all, would likely have a material adverse effect on the market price of its common stock and on our proceeds from such a divestiture. Additionally, we may not be able to take our companies public as a means of monetizing our position or creating shareholder value. Registration and other requirements under applicable securities laws and contractual restrictions also may adversely affect our ability to dispose of our company holdings on a timely basis.

 

Our success is dependent on our senior management.

 

Our success is dependent on our senior management team’s ability to execute our strategy. In connection with our new strategy announced in 2018, we made a series of management changes intended to streamline our organizational structure and reduce our operating costs and since then we have made, and may make, further management changes from time to time.  A loss of one or more of the remaining members of our senior management team without adequate replacement could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

Our business strategy may not be successful if valuations in the market sectors in which our companies participate decline.

 

Our strategy involves creating value for our shareholders by helping our companies build value and, if appropriate, accessing the public and private capital markets. Therefore, our success is dependent on the value of our companies as determined by the public and private capital markets. Many factors, including reduced market interest, may cause the market value of our companies to decline. If valuations in the market sectors in which our companies participate decline, their access to the public and private capital markets on terms acceptable to them may be limited.

 

Our companies could make business decisions that are not in our best interests or with which we do not agree, which could impair the value of our holdings.

 

Although we currently own a significant, influential interest in some of our companies, we do not maintain a controlling interest in any of our companies. Acquisitions of interests in companies in which we share or have no control, and the dilution of our interests in or a further reduction of our control of companies, will involve additional risks that could cause the performance of our interests and our operating results to suffer, including:

•	the management teams or other equity or debt holders of our companies having economic or business interests or objectives that are different from ours; and

•	the companies not taking our advice with respect to the financial or operating issues they may encounter.

 

Our inability to control our companies also could prevent us from assisting them, financially or otherwise, or could prevent us from liquidating our interests in them at a time or at a price that is favorable to us. Additionally, our companies may not act in ways that are consistent with our business strategy. These factors could hamper our ability to maximize returns on our interests and cause us to incur losses on our interests in these companies.

 

We may have to buy, sell or retain assets when we would otherwise not wish to do so in order to avoid registration under the Investment Company Act.

 

The Investment Company Act of 1940 regulates companies which are engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading in securities. Under the Investment Company Act, a company may be deemed to be an investment company if it owns investment securities with a value exceeding 40% of the value of its total assets (excluding government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis, unless an exemption or safe harbor applies. We refer to this test as the “40% Test.” Securities issued by companies other than consolidated companies are generally considered “investment securities” for purposes of the Investment Company Act, unless other circumstances exist which actively involve the company holding such interests in the management of the underlying company. We are a company that partners with growth-stage companies to build value; we are not engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting or trading in securities. We are in compliance with the 40% Test. Consequently, we do not believe that we are an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

 

We monitor our compliance with the 40% Test and seek to conduct our business activities to comply with this test. It is not feasible for us to be regulated as an investment company because the Investment Company Act rules are inconsistent with our strategy of actively helping our companies in their efforts to build value. In order to continue to comply with the 40% Test, we may need to take various actions which we would otherwise not pursue. For example, we may be limited in the manner or timing in which we sell our interests in a company. Our ownership levels also may be affected if our companies are acquired by third parties or if our companies issue stock which dilutes our ownership interest. The actions we may need to take to address these issues while maintaining compliance with the 40% Test could adversely affect our ability to create and realize value at our companies.

 

Economic disruptions and downturns may have negative repercussions for us.

 

Events in the United States and international capital markets, debt markets and economies may negatively impact our stock price and our ability to pursue certain tactical and strategic initiatives, such as accessing additional public or private equity or debt financing for us or for our companies and selling our interests in companies on terms acceptable to us and in time frames consistent with our expectations.

 

We cannot provide assurance that material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting will not be identified in the future.

 

We cannot assure you that material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting will not be identified in the future. Any failure to maintain or implement required new or improved controls, or any difficulties we encounter in their implementation, could result in a material weakness, or could result in material misstatements in our Consolidated Financial Statements. These misstatements could result in a restatement of our Consolidated Financial Statements, cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and/or cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, leading to a decline in our stock price.

 

 

Risks Related to Our Companies

Most of our companies have a history of operating losses and/or limited operating history and may never be profitable.

 

Most of our companies have a history of operating losses and/or limited operating history, have significant historical losses and may never be profitable. Many have incurred substantial costs to develop and market their products, have incurred net losses and cannot fund their cash needs from operations. We expect that the operating expenses of certain of our companies will increase substantially in the foreseeable future as they continue to develop products and services, increase sales and marketing efforts, and expand operations.

 

Our companies face intense competition, which could adversely affect their business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects for growth.

 

There is intense competition in the technology marketplaces, and we expect competition to intensify in the future. Our business, financial condition, and results of operations will be materially adversely affected if our companies are not able to compete successfully. Many of the present and potential competitors may have greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources than those of our companies. This may place our companies at a disadvantage in responding to the offerings of their competitors, technological changes or changes in client requirements. Also, our companies may be at a competitive disadvantage because many of their competitors have greater name recognition, more extensive client bases and a broader range of product offerings. In addition, our companies may compete against one another.

 

The success or failure of many of our companies is dependent upon the ultimate effectiveness of newly-created technologies, medical devices, financial services, healthcare diagnostics, etc.

 

Our companies’ business strategies are often highly dependent upon the successful launch and commercialization of an innovative technology or device, including, without limitation, technologies or devices used in healthcare, financial services or digital media.  Despite all of our efforts to understand the research and development underlying the innovation or creation of such technologies and devices before we deploy capital into a company, sometimes the performance of the technology or device does not match our expectations or those of such company. In those situations, it is likely that we will incur a partial or total loss of the capital which we deployed in such company.

 

Our companies may fail if they do not adapt to changing marketplaces.

 

If our companies fail to adapt to changes in technology and customer and supplier demands, they may not become or remain profitable. There is no assurance that the products and services of our companies will achieve or maintain market penetration or commercial success, or that the businesses of our companies will be successful.

 

The technology marketplaces are characterized by:

•	rapidly changing technology;

•	evolving industry standards;

•	frequent introduction of new products and services;

•	shifting distribution channels;

•	evolving government regulation;

•	frequently changing intellectual property landscapes; and

•	changing customer demands.

 

Our future success will depend on our companies’ ability to adapt to these evolving marketplaces. They may not be able to adequately or economically adapt their products and services, develop new products and services or establish and maintain effective distribution channels for their products and services. If our companies are unable to offer competitive products and services or maintain effective distribution channels, they will sell fewer products and services and forego potential revenue, possibly causing them to lose money. In addition, we and our companies may not be able to respond to the marketplace changes in an economically efficient manner, and our companies may become or remain unprofitable.

 

Our companies may grow rapidly and may be unable to manage their growth.

 

We expect some of our companies to grow rapidly. Rapid growth often places considerable operational, managerial and financial strain on a business. To successfully manage rapid growth, our companies must, among other things:

•	improve, upgrade and expand their business infrastructures;

•	scale up production operations;

•	develop appropriate financial reporting controls;

•	attract and retain qualified personnel; and

•	maintain appropriate levels of liquidity.

 

If our companies are unable to manage their growth successfully, their ability to respond effectively to competition and to achieve or maintain profitability will be adversely affected.

 

 

Based on our business model, some or all of our companies will need to raise additional capital to fund their operations at any given time. We may not be able to, or decline to, fund some or all of such amounts and such amounts may not be available from third parties on acceptable terms, if at all. Further, if our companies do raise additional capital from third parties, either debt or equity, such capital may rank senior to, or dilute, our interests in such companies.

 

We cannot be certain that our companies will be able to obtain additional financing on favorable terms when needed, if at all. We may not be able to, or decline to, provide our companies with sufficient capital resources to enable them to reach a cash-flow positive position or a sale of the company. General economic disruptions and downturns may also negatively affect the ability of some of our companies to fund their operations from other stockholders and capital sources. We also may fail to accurately project the capital needs of companies. If our companies need capital, but are not able to raise capital from us or other outside sources, they may need to cease or scale back operations. In such event, our interest in any such company will become less valuable. If our companies raise additional capital from third parties, either debt or equity, such capital may be dilutive, making our interests less valuable or if such capital ranks senior to the capital we have deployed, such capital may entitle its holders to receive returns of capital before we are entitled to receive any return of our deployed capital. Also, in the event of any insolvency, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or bankruptcy of one or more our companies, holders of such company’s instruments that rank senior to our deployed capital will typically be entitled to receive payment in full before we receive any return of our deployed capital. After returning such senior capital, such company may not have any remaining assets to use for returning capital to us, causing us to lose some or all of our deployed capital in such company.

 

Economic disruptions and downturns may negatively affect our companies’ plans and their results of operations.

 

Many of our companies are largely dependent upon outside sources of capital to fund their operations. Disruptions in the availability of capital from such sources will negatively affect the ability of such companies to pursue their business models and will force such companies to revise their growth and development plans accordingly. Any such changes will, in turn, negatively affect our ability to realize the value of our capital deployments in such companies.

 

In addition, downturns in the economy as well as possible governmental responses to such downturns and/or to specific situations in the economy could affect the business prospects of certain of our companies, including, but not limited to, in the following ways: weaknesses in the financial services industries; reduced business and/or consumer spending; and/or systemic changes in the ways the healthcare system operates in the United States.

 

Some of our companies may be unable to protect their proprietary rights and may infringe on the proprietary rights of others.

 

Our companies assert various forms of intellectual property protection. Intellectual property may constitute an important part of our companies’ assets and competitive strengths. Federal law, most typically copyright, patent, trademark and trade secret laws, generally protects intellectual property rights. Although we expect that our companies will take reasonable efforts to protect the rights to their intellectual property, third parties may develop similar intellectual property independently. Moreover, the complexity of international trade secret, copyright, trademark and patent law, coupled with the limited resources of our companies and the demands of quick delivery of products and services to market, create a risk that our companies’ efforts to prevent misappropriation of their technology will prove inadequate.

 

Some of our companies also license intellectual property from third parties and it is possible that they could become subject to infringement actions based upon their use of the intellectual property licensed from those third parties. Our companies generally obtain representations as to the origin and ownership of such licensed intellectual property. However, this may not adequately protect them. Any claims against our companies’ proprietary rights, with or without merit, could subject the companies to costly litigation and divert their technical and management personnel from other business concerns. If our companies incur costly litigation and their personnel are not effectively deployed, the expenses and losses incurred by our companies will increase and their profits, if any, will decrease.

 

Third parties have and may assert infringement or other intellectual property claims against our companies based on their patents or other intellectual property claims. Even though we believe our companies’ products do not infringe any third party’s patents, they may have to pay substantial damages, possibly including treble damages, if it is ultimately determined that they do. They may have to obtain a license to sell their products if it is determined that their products infringe on another person’s intellectual property. Our companies might be prohibited from selling their products before they obtain a license, which, if available at all, may require them to pay substantial royalties. Even if infringement claims against our companies are without merit, defending these types of lawsuits takes significant time, is expensive and may divert management attention from other business concerns.

 

Certain of our companies could face legal liabilities from claims made against their operations, products or work.

 

Because the manufacture and sale of certain company products entail an inherent risk of product liability, certain of our companies maintain product liability insurance. Although none of our current companies have experienced any material losses in this regard, there can be no assurance that they will be able to maintain or acquire adequate product liability insurance in the future and any product liability claim could have a material adverse effect on a company’s financial stability, revenues and results of operations. In addition, many of the engagements of our companies involve projects that are critical to the operation of their clients’ businesses. If our companies fail to meet their contractual obligations, they could be subject to legal liability, which could adversely affect their business, operating results and financial condition. Our companies’ contracts typically include provisions designed to limit their exposure to legal claims relating to their services and products. However, these provisions may not protect our companies or may not be enforceable. Also, some of our companies depend on their relationships with their clients and their reputation for high-quality services and integrity to retain and attract clients. As a result, claims made against our companies’ work may damage their reputation, which in turn could impact their ability to compete for new work and negatively impact their revenue and profitability.

 

Our companies’ success depends on their ability to attract and retain qualified personnel.

 

Our companies depend upon their ability to attract and retain senior management and key personnel, including trained technical and marketing personnel. Our companies also will need to continue to hire additional personnel as they expand. Although our current companies have not been the subject of a work stoppage, any future work stoppage could have a material adverse effect on their respective operations. A shortage in the availability of the requisite qualified personnel or work stoppage would limit the ability of our companies to grow, to increase sales of their existing products and services, and to launch new products and services.

 

Government regulations and legal uncertainties may place financial burdens on the businesses of our companies.

 

Manufacturers of medical diagnostic devices and operators of laboratory facilities are subject to strict federal and state regulation regarding validation and the quality of manufacturing and laboratory facilities. Failure to comply with these quality regulation systems requirements could result in civil or criminal penalties or enforcement proceedings, including the recall of a product or a “cease distribution” order. The enactment of any additional laws or regulations that affect healthcare insurance policy and reimbursement (including Medicare reimbursement) could negatively affect some of our companies. If Medicare or private payers change the rates at which our companies or their customers are reimbursed by insurance providers for their products, such changes could adversely impact our companies.

 

Some of our companies may be subject to significant environmental, health, data security and safety regulation.

 

Some of our companies may be subject to licensing and regulation under federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and human health and safety, including laws and regulations relating to the handling, transportation and disposal of medical specimens, infectious and hazardous waste and radioactive materials, as well as to the safety and health of manufacturing and laboratory employees. In addition, some of our companies are subject to federal, state and local financial securities and data security regulations, including, without limitation, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, the California Consumer Privacy Act and the European General Data Protection Regulation, which impose varying degrees of additional obligations, costs and risks upon such companies, including the imposition of significant penalties in the event of any non-compliance. Further, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established extensive requirements relating to workplace safety. Compliance with such regulations could increase operating costs at certain of our companies, and the failure to comply could negatively affect the operations and results of some of our companies.

 

Catastrophic events may disrupt our companies’ businesses.

 

Some of our companies are highly automated businesses and rely on their network infrastructure, various software applications and many internal technology systems and data networks for their customer support, development, sales and marketing and accounting and finance functions. Further, some of our companies provide services to their customers from data center facilities in multiple locations. Some of these data centers are operated by third parties, and the companies have limited control over those facilities. A disruption or failure of these systems or data centers in the event of a natural disaster, telecommunications failure, power outage, cyber-attack, war, terrorist attack or other catastrophic event could cause system interruptions, reputational harm, delays in product development, breaches of data security and loss of critical data. Such an event could also prevent the companies from fulfilling customer orders or maintaining certain service level requirements, particularly in respect of their SaaS offerings. While certain of our companies have developed certain disaster recovery plans and maintain backup systems to reduce the potentially adverse effect of such events, a catastrophic event that resulted in the destruction or disruption of any of their data centers or their critical business or information technology systems could severely affect their ability to conduct normal business operations and, as a result, their business, operating results and financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

We cannot provide assurance that our companies’ disaster recovery plans will address all of the issues they may encounter in the event of a disaster or other unanticipated issue, and their business interruption insurance may not adequately compensate them for losses that may occur from any of the foregoing. In the event that a natural disaster, terrorist attack or other catastrophic event were to destroy any part of their facilities or interrupt their operations for any extended period of time, or if harsh weather or health conditions prevent them from delivering products in a timely manner, their business, financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

There have been no material changes to the information we previously disclosed under Item 7A of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020.

 

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2020 are functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure. A controls system cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the controls system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.

 

(b) Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

No change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II

 

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

None.  

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Except as included under the heading “Factors That May Affect Future Results” above, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from the information set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

The following table provides information about purchases of equity securities by the Company and affiliated purchasers of the Company, during the quarter ended March 31, 2020, which equity securities are registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"):

 

Period		Total Number of Shares Purchased (a)				Average Price Paid Per Share				Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan (b)				Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plan (b)
January 1, 2020 - January 31, 2020			—			$	—				—			$	14,636,135
February 1, 2020 - February 29, 2020			—			$	—				—			$	14,636,135
March 1, 2020 - March 31, 2020			1,753			$	6.24				—			$	14,636,135
Total			1,753			$	6.24				—

 

(a)

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company repurchased an aggregate of 2 thousand shares of its common stock initially issued as restricted stock awards to employees and subsequently withheld from employees to satisfy the statutory withholding tax liability upon the vesting of such restricted stock awards.

 

(b)

In July 2015, our Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase shares of its outstanding common stock with an aggregate value of up to $25.0 million. These repurchases may be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions, including under plans complying with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act, based on market conditions, stock price, and other factors. The share repurchase program does not obligate the Company to acquire any specific number of shares.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

None.

 

 

Item 6.  Exhibits

 

(a) Exhibits.

 

The following is a list of exhibits required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K to be filed as part of this Report. For exhibits that previously have been filed, the Registrant incorporates those exhibits herein by reference. Documents which are incorporated by reference to filings by parties other than the Registrant are identified in a footnote to this table.

 

Exhibit Number			Description
31.1 †			Certification of Robert J. Rosenthal pursuant to Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
31.2 †			Certification of Mark A. Herndon pursuant to Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
32.1 ‡			Certification of Robert J. Rosenthal pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2 ‡			Certification of Mark A. Herndon pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101			The following materials from Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language); (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited); (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited); (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited); (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited); (v) Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (unaudited); and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

 

†	Filed herewith

‡	Furnished herewith

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

   

   

		SAFEGUARD SCIENTIFICS, INC.
Date:	April 30, 2020	/s/    Robert J. Rosenthal
		Robert J. Rosenthal
		Executive Chairman
Date:	April 30, 2020	/s/    Mark A. Herndon
		Mark A. Herndon
		Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer