Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Daily Journal Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Daily Journal Corporation (the "Company") as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
- 31 -
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Determination of Distinct Performance Obligations in Software Revenue Contracts
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, Journal Technologies generates revenues from contracts related to the sale of products and services including subscription software licenses, maintenance and support, implementation consulting services, and hosting services. The Company recognizes revenues for these services when or as the performance obligations are satisfied.
We identified the Company's determination of distinct performance obligations in its Journal Technologies contracts and their effect on revenue recognition as a critical audit matter. Auditing the Company’s determination of distinct performance obligations related to its subscription software license products, maintenance and support services, implementation consulting services and hosting services involved complex auditor judgment. In particular, significant judgment was required when assessing whether the promised products and services are separate performance obligations or inputs to a combined performance obligation, due to the evaluation of the interdependency or interrelation of the promised products and services within each contract.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included:
●
Obtaining an understanding of the Company’s revenue recognition policy and evaluated for appropriateness.
●
Evaluating the design and implementation of internal controls related to the Company’s revenue recognition process.
●
Evaluating whether good and services promised by the Company meet the criteria to be identified as separate or combined performance obligations, through a review of contracts, discussions with management, and inquiries of personnel outside the accounting function to corroborate our understanding of certain terms and conditions present in the contracts. More specifically, we evaluated the Company’s determination of whether the contract was to deliver (1) multiple promised products or services that constitute separate performance obligations or (2) a single performance obligation that is comprised of the combined products or services. That is, considering the utility, integration, or interdependence of the products and services, we evaluated whether the multiple promised products and services that were delivered to the customer were outputs or inputs to a combined item.
●
Testing a sample of Journal Technologies contracts for proper revenue recognition by inspecting the underlying customer agreements and supporting documentation, and evaluating for consistency with the Company's revenue recognition policies.
/s/ Baker Tilly US, LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2016 .
Irvine, California
December 30, 2024
- 32 -
DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (000)
September 30
September 30
2024
2023
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
12,986
$
20,844
Restricted cash
2,191
2,100
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan – trust account asset value
748
194
Marketable securities at fair value -- common stocks
358,691
303,128
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $ 250,000 at September 30, 2024 and 2023
19,219
18,687
Inventories
15
72
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
612
380
Income tax receivable
33
---
Total current assets
394,495
345,405
Property, plant and equipment, at cost
Land, buildings and improvements
16,418
16,400
Furniture, office equipment and computer software
1,723
1,703
Machinery and equipment
1,521
1,521
19,662
19,624
Less accumulated depreciation
( 10,520
)
( 10,264
)
9,142
9,360
Operating lease right-of-use assets
126
95
Total assets
$
403,763
$
354,860
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
$
6,049
$
6,643
Accrued liabilities
8,517
8,789
Income tax payable
—
1,069
Note payable collateralized by real estate
164
158
Deferred subscriptions
2,558
2,678
Deferred consulting fees
2,031
5,828
Deferred maintenance agreements and others
19,124
17,033
Total current liabilities
38,443
42,198
Long term liabilities
Investment margin account borrowings
27,500
75,000
Note payable collateralized by real estate
956
1,120
Deferred maintenance agreements
883
1,000
Accrued liabilities
3,772
4,274
Accrued non-qualified deferred compensation
784
200
Deferred income taxes
52,641
30,599
Total long-term liabilities
86,536
112,193
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 4 and 5)
Shareholders' equity
Preferred stock, $ .01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued
---
---
Common stock, $ .01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; 1,805,053 shares issued, including 427,627 and 428,027 treasury shares, at September 30, 2024, and 2023, respectively
14
14
Additional paid-in capital
1,957
1,755
Retained earnings
276,813
198,700
Total shareholders' equity
278,784
200,469
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
403,763
$
354,860
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
- 33 -
DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (000 except for Share)
2024
2023
Revenues
Advertising
$
9,325
$
8,955
Circulation
4,462
4,403
Advertising service fees and other
3,039
2,895
Licensing and maintenance fees
28,265
23,503
Consulting fees
15,086
19,776
Other public service fees
9,754
8,177
Total revenues
69,931
67,709
Costs and expenses
Salaries and employee benefits
47,178
43,450
Stock based compensation
202
---
Decrease to the long-term supplemental compensation accrual
( 495
)
( 295
)
Agency commissions
1,146
1,018
Outside services
7,151
6,768
Postage and delivery expenses
752
684
Newsprint and printing expenses
669
795
Depreciation and amortization
267
279
Equipment maintenance and software
1,574
1,315
Credit card merchant discount fees
2,237
1,938
Rent expenses
303
289
Accounting and legal fees
1,026
940
Other general and administrative expenses
3,851
3,876
Total costs and expenses
65,861
61,057
Income from operations
4,070
6,652
Other income (expenses)
Dividends and interest income
7,102
8,340
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments
96,142
17,446
Net unrealized gains (losses) on non-qualified deferred compensation plan
47
( 4
)
Interest expense on note payable collateralized by real estate
( 69
)
( 77
)
Interest expense on margin loans and others
( 3,018
)
( 4,255
)
Gains on sale of capital assets
4
---
Income before taxes
104,278
28,102
Provision for income taxes
( 26,165
)
( 6,650
)
Net income
$
78,113
$
21,452
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic and diluted
1,377,026
1,377,026
Basic and diluted net income per share
$
56.73
$
15.58
Comprehensive income
$
78,113
$
21,452
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
- 34 -
DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS ’ EQUITY (000 except for Share)
Additional
Total
Common Stock
Treasury Stock
Paid-in
Retained
Shareholders'
Share
Amount
Share
Amount
Capital
Earnings
Equity
Balance at September 30, 2022
1,805,053
$
18
( 428,027
)
$
( 4
)
$
1,755
$
177,248
$
179,017
Net income
---
---
---
---
---
21,452
21,452
Balance at September 30, 2023
1,805,053
18
( 428,027
)
( 4
)
1,755
198,700
200,469
Issuance of treasury stock
---
---
400
---
202
---
202
Net income
---
---
---
---
---
78,113
78,113
Balance at September 30, 2024
1,805,053
$
18
( 427,627
)
$
( 4
)
$
1,957
$
276,813
$
278,784
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
- 35 -
DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (000)
2024
2023
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income
$
78,113
$
21,452
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
Stock-based compensation
202
---
Depreciation and amortization
267
279
Gains on sales of capital assets
( 4
)
---
N et realized and U nrealized gains on marketable securities
( 96,142
)
(17,446
)
Stock dividends
---
( 2,978
)
Deferred income taxes
22,042
5,326
Changes in assets and liabilities
(Increase) decrease in current assets
Accounts receivable, net
( 532
)
( 1,756
)
Inventories
57
( 16
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
( 263
)
80
Income tax receivable
( 33
)
1,019
Increase (decrease) in liabilities
Accounts payable
( 594
)
1,581
Accrued liabilities, including non-qualified deferred compensation
( 190
)
1,650
Income tax payable
( 1,069
)
1,069
Deferred subscriptions
( 120
)
( 1
)
Deferred consulting fees
( 3,797
)
( 566
)
Deferred maintenance agreements and others
1,974
5,391
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
( 89
)
15,084
Cash flows from investing activities
Sales of marketable securities
40,579
2,826
Purchases of marketable securities
---
( 10,001
)
Gains on sales of capital assets
4
---
Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net
( 49
)
( 86
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
40,534
( 7,261
)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from margin loan borrowing
---
6,011
Payment to margin loan borrowing
( 47,500
)
( 6,011
)
Payment of real estate loan principal
( 158
)
( 153
)
Net cash used in financing activities
( 47,658
)
( 153
)
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
( 7,213
)
7,670
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
Beginning of year
Cash and Cash equivalents
20,844
13,423
Restricted cash
2,100
2,045
Non-qualified deferred compensation plan – trust account asset value
194
---
End of year
$
15,925
$
23,138
Interest paid during year
$
3,050
$
4,269
Income taxes paid during year
$
5,128
$
806
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
- 36 -
DAILY JOURNAL CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. THE COMPANY AND OPERATIONS
Daily Journal Corporation (“Daily Journal” or “the Company”) publishes newspapers and websites covering California and Arizona and produces several specialized information services. It also serves as a newspaper representative specializing in public notice advertising. This is sometimes referred to as the Company’s “Traditional Business”.
Journal Technologies, Inc. (“Journal Technologies”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daily Journal, supplies case management software systems and related products to courts, prosecutor and public defender offices, probation departments and other justice agencies, including administrative law organizations, city and county governments and bar associations. These organizations use the Journal Technologies family of products to help manage cases and information electronically, to interface with other critical justice partners and to extend electronic services to the public, including e-filing and a website to pay traffic citations and fees online. These products are licensed or subscribed to in approximately 32 states and internationally.
Essentially all of the Company’s U.S. operations are based in California, Arizona and Utah. The Company also has a presence in Australia where Journal Technologies is working on three software installation projects and in British Columbia, Canada, where the Company established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Journal Technologies (Canada) Inc., since August 2022.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Certain reclassifications of previously reported amounts have been made to conform to the current year’s presentation.
Concentrations of Credit Risk: The Company extends unsecured credit to most of its advertising customers. The Company recognizes that extending credit and setting appropriate reserves for receivables is largely a subjective decision based on knowledge of the customer and the industry. Credit limits, setting and maintaining credit standards, and managing the overall quality of the credit portfolio is largely centralized. The level of credit is influenced by the customer’s credit and payment history which the Company monitors when establishing a reserve.
The Company maintains the reserve account for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of its customers were to deteriorate or its judgments about their abilities to pay are incorrect, additional allowances might be required and its results of operations could be materially affected.
Cash Equivalents: The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
- 37 -
Restricted Cash: The Company considers cash to be restricted when withdrawal or general use is legally restricted. Restricted cash of $ 2,191,000 and $ 2,100,000 at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, represents cash held to secure two letters of credit issued by a bank for a software installation contract in Australia.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments: The carrying amounts of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of their short maturities. In addition, the Company has investments in marketable securities, all categorized as “available-for-sale” and stated at fair market value. In fiscal 2019, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities . This ASU requires an entity that holds financial assets or owes financial liabilities to, among other things, measure equity investments at fair value and recognize unrealized gains through net income. Accordingly, the Company’s net income of $ 78,113,000 for fiscal 2024, included net realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities of $ 96,142,000 . In fiscal 2023, the Company’s net income of 21,452,000 included net realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities of $ 17,446,000 . The Company uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (consistent with the Level 1 definition in the fair value hierarchy) to measure the fair value of its marketable securities on a recurring basis pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures . At September 30, 2024, the aggregate fair market value of the Company’s marketable securities was $ 358,691,000 . These marketable securities had approximately $ 219,597,000 of net unrealized gains before taxes of $ 57,100,000 . Most of the unrealized net gains were in the common stocks of three U.S. financial institutions and one foreign manufacturer. At September 30, 2023, the Company had marketable securities at fair market value of approximately $ 303,128,000 , including approximately $ 137,716,000 of unrealized net gains before taxes of $ 36,260,000 .
Investment in Financial Instruments (000)
September 30, 2024
September 30, 2023
Aggregate
fair value
Amortized/
Adjusted
cost basis
Pretax
unrealized
gains
Aggregate
fair value
Amortized/
Adjusted
cost basis
Pretax
unrealized
gains
Marketable securities
Common stocks
$
358,691
$
139,094
$
219,597
$
303,128
$
165,412
$
137,716
All marketable securities are classified as “Current assets” because they are available for sale at any time.
In March 2024, the Company sold part of its marketable securities for approximately $ 40,579,000 , realizing net gains of $ 14,261,000 . The Company used these proceeds and excess cash from operations to pay down the margin loan balance to $ 27,500,000 from $ 75,000,000 , aggregating a paydown of approximately $ 47,500,000 during the twelve months ended September 30, 2024.
During fiscal 2023, the Company sold part of its marketable securities for approximately $ 2,826,000 , realizing a total net gain of approximately $ 422,000 , and simultaneously bought some additional marketable securities for an aggregated cost of approximately $ 10,001,000 with additional borrowings of $ 6,011,000 from the margin loan account. The Company subsequently repaid $ 6,011,000 reducing the balance of the margin loan to $ 75,000,000 . In addition, the Company received stock dividends in March 2023 worth approximately $ 2,978,000 from one of the companies in which it holds marketable securities.
- 38 -
Comparative pretax realized and unrealized gains on investments are as follows:
Fiscal 2024
Fiscal 2023
Realized
Gains
Unrealized
Gains
Total Pretax Gains
Realized
Gains
Unrealized
Gains
Total Pretax Gains
Marketable securities
Common stocks
$
14,261
$
81,881
$
96,142
$
422
$
17,024
$
17,446
Inventories: Inventories, comprised of newsprint and paper, are stated at cost, on a first-in, first-out basis, which does not exceed current net realizable value.
Property, plant and equipment: Property, plant and equipment are carried on the basis of cost or fair value for assets acquired in business combinations. Depreciation of assets is provided in amounts sufficient to depreciate the cost of related assets over their estimated useful lives ranging from 3 – 39 years. At September 30, 2024, the estimated useful lives were (i) 5 – 39 years for building and improvements, (ii) 3 – 5 years for furniture, office equipment and software, and (iii) 3 – 10 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the related leases or the useful life of the assets, whichever is shorter. Assets are depreciated using the straight-line method for financial statements and accelerated method for tax purposes. Depreciation and amortization expenses were $ 267,000 and $ 279,000 for fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Significant expenditures which extend the useful lives of existing assets are capitalized. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. Gains or losses on dispositions of assets are reflected in current earnings.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets: The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. There were no such impairments identified during fiscal 2024 and 2023.
Journal Technologies ’ Software Development Costs: Development costs related to software products for sale or licensing are expensed as incurred until the technological feasibility of the product has been established. Thereafter, until the product is released for sale, software development costs are capitalized and reported at the lower of unamortized cost or net realizable value of the related product. The establishment of technological feasibility and the ongoing assessment of recoverability of costs require considerable judgment by the Company with respect to certain internal and external factors, including, but not limited to, anticipated future product revenue, estimated economic life and changes in hardware and software technology.
The Company believes its process for developing software is essentially completed concurrent with the establishment of technological feasibility, and accordingly, no software development costs have been capitalized to date.
Revenue Recognition:
The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with the provisions of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606) .
For the Traditional Business, proceeds from the sale of subscriptions for newspapers, court rule books and other publications and other services are recorded as deferred revenue and are included in earned revenue only when the services are provided, generally over the subscription term. Advertising and advertising service fees and other revenues are recognized when advertisements are published. Advertising service fees and other revenues primarily represent commissions earned by the Company for sourcing the advertisements from its customers on behalf of third-party publications and are recorded on a net basis.
- 39 -
Journal Technologies contracts may include several products and services, which are generally distinct and include separate transaction pricing and performance obligations. Most are one-transaction contracts. These current subscription-type contract revenues include (i) implementation consulting fees to configure the system to go-live, (ii) subscription software license, maintenance (including updates and upgrades) and support fees, and (iii) third-party hosting fees when used. For contracts containing multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the transaction price on the basis of the relative standalone selling price of each distinct good or service, and utilizes the residual approach to estimate the standalone selling price of implementation consulting fees, whereby the standalone selling price is estimated by reference to the total transaction price less the sum of the observable standalone selling prices of its subscription software licenses, maintenance and support fees, and third-party hosting fees. These contracts include assurance warranty provisions for limited periods and do not include financing terms. For some contracts, the Company acts as a principal with respect to certain services, such as data conversion, interfaces and hosting that are provided by third parties, and recognizes such revenues and related costs on a gross basis. The Company considers several factors to determine if it controls the good or service and therefore is the principal. These factors include (1) if we have primary responsibility for fulfilling the promise; and (2) if we have discretion in establishing price for the specified good or service. For legacy contracts with perpetual license arrangements, licenses and consulting services are recognized at point of delivery, and maintenance revenues are recognized ratably after the go-live.
The Traditional Business and Journal Technologies issue invoices that have payment terms which require payment within 30 days. Contracts do not have a significant financing component and do not have variable consideration. Amounts that have been invoiced are recorded in accounts receivable and in deferred revenue or revenue, depending on whether transfer of control to customers has occurred. Proceeds from subscription-type revenues, including circulation revenue, license, maintenance and support services, and hosting services, are deferred at the time of sale and are recognized on a pro rata basis over the terms of the subscriptions or service period, and unearned proceeds are recognized within deferred subscriptions and deferred maintenance agreements and others in the consolidated balance sheets. Proceeds from consulting fees are recognized at point of delivery upon completion of services, and unearned consulting fee proceeds are recognized within deferred consulting fees in the consolidated balance sheets. Other public service fees are earned and recognized as revenues when the Company processes credit card payments on behalf of the courts via its websites through which the public can e-file cases and pay traffic citations and other fees.
The adoption of ASC 606 also requires the capitalization of certain costs of obtaining contracts, specifically sales commissions which are to be amortized over the expected term of the contracts. For its software contracts, the Company incurs an immaterial amount of sales commission costs which have no significant impact on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the Company’s implementation and fulfillment costs do not meet all criteria required for capitalization.
Since the Company recognizes revenues when it can invoice the customer pursuant to the contract for the value of completed performance, as a practical expedient and because reliable estimates cannot be made, it has elected not to include the transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations. These unallocated prices primarily relate to the eFile-it™ and ePay-it™ transactions of which service fees are collected and recognized when the Company processes credit card payments on behalf of the courts via its websites through which the public e-file cases or pay traffic citations. Furthermore, there are no fulfillment costs to be capitalized for the software contracts because these costs do not generate or enhance resources that will be used in satisfying future performance obligations.
Approximately 76 % of the Company’s revenues in fiscal 2024 and 2023 were derived from sales of software licenses, annual software licenses, maintenance and support agreements and consulting services that typically include implementation and training.
The change in total deferred revenues, including the long-term portion, is as follows:
Changes in total deferred revenues (000)
Description
Balance at
Beginning
of Year
Addition to
the Deferral
Recognition from Deferral
Balance
at End
of Year
Fiscal 2024
Total deferred revenues
$
26,539
$
34,581
$
( 36,524
)
$
24,596
Fiscal 2023
Total deferred revenues
$
21,715
$
33,295
$
( 28,471
)
$
26,539
- 40 -
The change in allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (000)
Description
Balance at
Beginning
of Year
Additions charged to
Costs and
Expenses
Accounts
charged
off less
Recoveries
Balance
at End
of Year
Fiscal 2024
Allowance for doubtful accounts
$
250
$
5
$
( 5
)
$
250
Fiscal 2023
Allowance for doubtful accounts
$
250
$
8
$
( 8
)
$
250
Advertising : The Company’s policy is to expense advertising expenses as incurred, if any. There were no advertising expenses during both fiscal 2024 and 2023 as the Company advertises itself via its own newspapers and websites.
Stock-based compensation : In fiscal 2024, the Company implemented an Equity Incentive Plan, a share-based award plan that provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units, and other equity-based awards to key employees. As of September 30, 2024, there were 3,320 shares available for future grants from the 3,720 shares authorized for grant under the Equity Incentive Plan. Restricted stock unit grants generally vest ratably over two years of continuous services from the date of grant. We account for share-based compensation utilizing the fair value recognition pursuant to ASC 718.
For restricted stock units, we use the closed market price on the date of grant as the fair market value of these stocks. We have not historically paid any cash dividends on our common stock and as a result do not reduce the grant-date fair value per share by the present value of dividends expected to be paid during the requisite service period for restricted stock units. We amortize the fair value of all awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods, which are generally the vesting periods.
We will recognize the effect of awards for which the requisite service period is not rendered when the award is forfeited. That is, we recognize the effect of forfeitures in compensation cost when they occur. Previously recognized compensation cost for an award is reversed in the period the award is forfeited.
The following table summarized stock unit activity during the periods presented:
Number of Shares
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
per Share
Unvested at September 30, 2023
—
—
Granted
800
$
463.64
Vested
400
463.64
Forfeited
—
—
Unvested at September 30, 2024
400
$
463.64
As of September 30, 2024, we had total unrecognized compensation cost of approximately $ 169,000 related to unvested restricted stock units which is expected to be amortized over a weighted average amortization period of approximately 1.82 years.
- 41 -
The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense related to share-based awards which is recorded in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income:
Year ended
September 30, 2024
Stock-based compensation
$
202,000
Total stock-based compensation expense
202,000
Total tax benefit
( 51,000
)
Net decrease in net income
$
151,000
Management Incentive Plan : In fiscal 1987, the Company implemented a Management Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) that entitles a participant to participate in pretax earnings before adjustment for certain items of the Company for ten years. Because this plan was expanded in February 2022 to include the participation of all Journal Technologies employees, management subsequently realized in 2023 there would be an inadvertent future diluting effect on the shareholders’ interest when additional staff is hired as the Company grows. Therefore, the Company decided to put a pause on any new grants under the Incentive Plan in fiscal 2023 after making grants to about 14 new Journal Technologies employees (net of terminations and expirations of outstanding Certificates after 10 years). Management intends to propose and implement a replacement plan in fiscal 2025 based on a model where adding additional employees are dilutive relative to a specific percentage of profits allocated to the program.
Certificate interests entitled participants to receive 4.38 % and 4.71 % (amounting to $ 418,700 and $ 388,450 , respectively) of Daily Journal non-consolidated income before taxes, workers’ compensation, supplemental compensation and certain other items, 20.2 % and 22.2 % (amounting to $ 702,960 and $ 1,491,840 , respectively) for Journal Technologies and 8.12 % and 8.86 % (amounting to $ 1,059,195 and $ 1,260,800 , respectively) for Daily Journal consolidated in fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company accrued $ 3,735,000 and $ 4,230,000 as of September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, for the Incentive Plan’s future commitment for those who will still have Certificates at the age of 65. This future commitment included a decrease in the accrual in fiscal 2024 of $ 495,000 (or -$ .36 per outstanding share on a pretax basis), primarily due to no new grants of Certificates or replacement of expired Certificates under this Incentive Plan because of the pause mentioned above, as compared with a decrease in fiscal 2023 of $ 295,000 (or -$ .21 per outstanding share). The estimated Incentive Plan’s future commitment is calculated using level 3 inputs based on an average of the past year and the current year pretax earnings before certain items, discounted to the present value at 6 % because each granted Certificate will expire over its remaining life term of up to 10 years. In projecting the Incentive Plan’s future commitment, the significant input is the average of the past year and the current year pretax earnings before certain items. Significant increases or decreases in this input would result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement. In addition, the use of a different discount rate to discount cash flows to their present value would also result in a higher or lower fair value measurement.
Income taxes: The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach which requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes and the tax basis of the assets and liabilities. The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes under ASC 740-10 which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement methodology to recognize and measure an income tax position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return. The evaluation of a tax position is based on a two-step approach. The first step requires an entity to evaluate whether the tax position would “more likely than not” be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority. The second step requires the tax position be measured at the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. In addition, previously recognized benefits from tax positions that no longer meet the new criteria would be derecognized.
- 42 -
Treasury stock and net income per common share:
In June 2022, the Company received from Charles T. Munger 3,720 shares of Daily Journal common stock as his gracious personal gift (worth approximately $ 1 million on the date of the gift) for the purpose of establishing a new senior management equity incentive plan, which is still under consideration and has yet to be established. These donated shares were considered treasury stock, and the Company accounted for them using the par method which resulted in an immaterial effected amount on Treasury Stock and Additional Paid-in Capital. In addition, the number of outstanding shares of the Company was reduced by these 3,720 shares to reflect the actual number of outstanding shares of 1,377,026 at September 30, 2022. The net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each year. The shares used in the calculation were 1,377,026 for both fiscal 2024 and 2023. The Company does not have any common stock equivalents, and therefore basic and diluted net income per share is the same. (The Board approved the grant of 400 shares to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer in July 2024, but these shares were not actually transferred to him until after September 30, 2024.)
Use of Estimates: The presentation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
Right-of-Use (ROU) Asset: At the beginning of fiscal 2020, the Company adopted ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which requires that all leases be recognized by lessees on the balance sheet through a right-of-use (ROU) asset and corresponding lease liability, including today’s operating leases. There has been no significant impact on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or disclosures. At September 30, 2024, the Company recorded a ROU asset and lease liability of approximately $ 126,000 for its operating office and equipment leases, including approximately $ 37,000 beyond one year. (In the prior fiscal year, there were ROU asset and lease liability of $ 95,000 with $ 44,000 beyond one year.) Operating office and equipment leases are included in operating lease ROU assets, current accrued liabilities and long-term accrued liabilities in the Company’s accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Accrued Liabilities: Accrued current liabilities primarily consisted of (i) accrued vacation of $ 3,425,000 and $ 3,160,000 at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, (ii) current portion of the supplemental compensation accrual of $ 2,248,000 and $ 3,240,000 at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and (iii) accrued payroll of $ 1,354,000 and $ 1,274,000 at September, 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Accrued long-term liabilities primarily consist of the long-term portion of the supplemental compensation accruals of $ 3,735,000 and $ 4,230,000 at September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Accounting Pronouncement adopted in fiscal 2024: In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a new Accounting Standards Codification (“ASU”) requiring financial assets measured at amortized cost be presented at the net amount expected to be collected, through an allowance for credit losses that is deducted from the amortized cost basis. The ASU eliminates the threshold for initial recognition in current U.S. GAAP and reflects an entity’s current estimate of all expected credit losses. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the financial assets. The ASU is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. The adoption of this guidance has not had a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
- 43 -
3. INCOME TAXES
The provision (benefit) (000) from income taxes consists of the following:
2024
2023
Current:
Federal
$
3,000
$
1,275
State
1,053
49
Foreign
70
0
4,123
1,324
Deferred:
Federal
17,005
3,940
State
5,037
1,386
Foreign
0
0
22,042
5,326
$
26,165
$
6,650
The difference between the statutory federal income tax rate and the Company’s effective rate is summarized below:
2024
2023
Statutory federal income tax rate
21.0
%
21.0
%
State franchise taxes (net of federal tax benefit)
5.0
5.0
Effect of state rate change on beginning balance of deferred tax liabilities
( 0.4
)
( 1.0
)
Dividends received deduction
( 0.5
)
( 1.6
)
Others
( 0.0
)
0.3
Effective tax rate
25.1
%
23.7
%
The Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities (000) were comprised of the following:
2024
2023
Deferred tax assets attributable to:
Accrued liabilities, including supplemental compensation and vacation pay accrual
$
1,903
$
1,990
Impairment losses on marketable securities
( 280
)
( 306
)
Bad debt reserves not yet deductible
55
55
Depreciation and amortization
1,730
2,206
Deferred revenues
517
1,068
Goodwill
265
370
Net operating losses
166
281
Credits and other
103
( 3
)
Total deferred tax assets
4,459
5,661
Deferred tax liabilities attributable to:
Unrealized gains on marketable securities
( 57,100
)
( 36,260
)
Net deferred income taxes
$
( 52,641
)
$
( 30,599
)
During fiscal 2024, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $ 26,165,000 on pretax income of $ 104,278,000 . The income tax provision consisted of tax expenses of $ 24,534,000 on the realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities, and $ 2,175,000 on operating income, partially offset by a tax benefit of $ 544,000 for the dividends received deduction and other permanent differences. Consequently, the overall effective tax rate for fiscal 2024 was 25.1 %, after including the taxes on the realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities.
- 44 -
During fiscal 2023, the Company recorded an income tax provision of $ 6,650,000 on pretax income of $ 28,102,000 . The income tax provision consisted of tax provisions of $ 4,250,000 on the realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities, and $ 2,803,000 on operating income, partially offset by a tax benefit of $ 403,000 for the dividends received deduction and other permanent differences. Consequently, the overall effective tax rate for fiscal 2023 was 23.7 %, after including the taxes on the realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities.
The Company files consolidated federal income tax returns, with its domestic subsidiary, in the United States and with various state jurisdictions and is no longer subject to examinations for fiscal years before fiscal 2020 with regard to federal income taxes and fiscal 2019 for state income taxes. The Canadian subsidiary files a federal and provincial tax return in Canada.
During fiscal 2021, the Company utilized all of its federal and certain state net operating losses (NOL). California suspended the use of NOLs for fiscal years beginning in 2020 and 2021. During fiscal 2022, the Company utilized $ 4.2 million of $ 5.5 million California NOLs and used the remaining $ 1.3 million of California NOLs in fiscal 2024. The Company also has NOLs in other states, expiring as follows:
Fiscal Year ended (in million)
California NOLs
Other State NOLs
September 30, 2029 through September 30, 2036
$
---
$
. 1
September 30, 2037
---
. 1
September 30, 2038
---
. 2
September 30, 2039
---
. 1
No expiration
---
2.1
Total
$
---
$
2.7
- 45 -
4. DEBTS AND COMMITMENTS
During fiscal 2013, the Company borrowed from its investment margin account the aggregate purchase price of $ 29.5 million for two acquisitions, in each case pledging its marketable securities as collateral. In addition, there were subsequent borrowings of $ 45.5 million to purchase additional marketable securities bringing the margin loan balance up to $ 75 million during fiscal 2023. In March 2024, the Company sold a portion of its marketable securities for approximately $ 40.6 million and used these proceeds and excess cash from operations to pay down the margin loan balance to $ 27.5 million at September 30, 2024.
The interest rate for these investment margin account borrowings fluctuates based on the Federal Funds Rate plus 50 basis points with interest only payable monthly. The interest rate as of September 30, 2024 was 5.5 % after the first cut of 50 basis points to the central bank's key interest rate by Federal Reserve since 2020. The Federal Reserve may continue to reduce the rate in the near future. These investment margin account borrowings do not mature.
In November 2015, the Company purchased a 30,700 square foot office building constructed in 1998 on about 3.6 acres in Logan, Utah that had been previously leased for Journal Technologies. The Company paid $ 1.24 million and financed the balance with a real estate bank loan of $ 2.26 million which had a fixed interest rate of 4.66 %. This loan is secured by the Logan facility and can be paid off at any time without prepayment penalty. In October 2020, the Company executed an amendment to lower the interest rate of this loan to a fixed rate of 3.33 % for the remaining 10 years. This real estate loan had a balance of approximately $ 1.12 million as of September 30, 2024. Each monthly installment payment is approximately $ 16,700 .
The Company also owns its facilities in Los Angeles and leases space for its other offices under operating leases which expire at various dates through October 2025.
The Company is responsible for a portion of maintenance, insurance and property tax expenses relating to the leased properties. Rental expenses, inclusive of these expenses, for fiscal years 2024 and 2023 were $ 303,000 and $ 289,000 , respectively.
Effective January 1, 2023, the Company began sponsoring a 401(k) retirement plan and a 409(A) non-qualified deferred compensation plan for its employees. The 401(k) retirement plan is a defined contribution plan available to employees meeting minimum service requirements. Eligible employees can contribute up to 100 % of their current compensation to the plan subject to certain statutory limitations. The Company matches 50 % of the 401(k) contribution up to 4 % of total compensation. Contributions to the retirement plan were $ 610,000 and $ 363,000 for fiscal 2024 and 2023, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, there were deferred compensation liabilities of approximately $ 784,000 of which $ 748,000 were held under a trust account for the 409(A) plan.
- 46 -
The following table represents the Company’s future obligations:
Payments due by Fiscal Year (000)
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
and after
Total
Real estate loan
$
164,000
$
169,000
$
175,000
$
181,000
$
187,000
$
244,000
$
1,120,000
Obligations under operating leases
89,000
37,000
---
---
---
---
126,000
Non-qualified deferred compensation 409(A) plan
---
784,000
---
---
---
---
784,000
Long-term accrued liabilities*
---
1,742,000
805,000
508,000
333,000
347,000
3,735,000
$
253,000
$
2,732,000
$
980,000
$
689,000
$
520,000
$
591,000
$
5,765,000
*
The long-term accrued liabilities for the Management Incentive Plan are discounted to the present value using a discount rate of 6 %.
5. CONTINGENCIES
From time to time, the Company is subject to litigation arising in the normal course of its business. While it is not possible to predict the results of such litigation, management does not believe the ultimate outcome of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
6. REPORTABLE SEGMENTS
An operating segment is defined as a component of an enterprise which has discrete financial information that is evaluated regularly by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to decide how to allocate resources and to assess performance.
In accordance with ASC 280-10, Segment Reporting , the Company has two segments of business. The Company’s reportable segments are: (i) the Traditional Business and (ii) Journal Technologies which includes Journal Technologies, Inc. and Journal Technologies (Canada) Inc. All inter-segment transactions were eliminated.
- 47 -
Additional detail about each of the reportable segments and its corporate income and expenses is set forth below:
Overall Financial Results (000)
For the twelve months ended September 30
Reportable Segments
Traditional
Business
Journal
Technologies
Corporate
Total
2024
2023
2024
2023
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenues
Advertising
$
9,325
$
8,955
$
---
$
---
$
---
$
---
$
9,325
$
8,955
Circulation
4,462
4,403
---
---
---
---
4,462
4,403
Advertising service fees and other
3,039
2,895
---
---
---
---
3,039
2,895
Licensing and maintenance fees
---
---
28,265
23,503
---
---
28,265
23,503
Consulting fees
---
---
15,086
19,776
---
---
15,086
19,776
Other public service fees
---
---
9,754
8,177
---
---
9,754
8,177
Total operating revenues
16,826
16,253
53,105
51,456
---
---
69,931
67,709
Operating expenses
Salaries and employee benefits
10,352
10,416
36,826
33,034
---
---
47,178
43,450
Stock-based compensation
30
---
172
---
---
---
202
---
(Decrease) increase to the long-term Supplemental compensation accrual
( 495
)
( 470
)
---
175
---
---
( 495
)
( 295
)
Others
5,360
4,626
13,616
13,276
---
---
18,976
17,902
Total operating expenses
15,247
14,572
50,614
46,485
---
---
65,861
61,057
Income from operations
1,579
1,681
2,491
4,971
---
---
4,070
6,652
Dividends and interest income
---
---
---
---
7,102
8,340
7,102
8,340
Interest expenses on note payable collateralized by real estate and other
---
---
---
---
( 69
)
( 77
)
( 69
)
( 77
)
Interest expense on margin loans
---
---
---
---
( 3,018
)
( 4,255
)
( 3,018
)
( 4,255
)
Gains on sales of capital assets
---
---
---
---
4
---
4
---
Net realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities
---
---
---
---
96,142
17,446
96,142
17,446
Net unrealized gains (losses) on non-qualified deferred compensation plan
---
---
---
---
47
( 4
)
47
( 4
)
Pretax income
1,579
1,681
2,491
4,971
100,208
21,450
104,278
28,102
Income tax expense
( 395
)
( 520
)
( 735
)
( 1,450
)
( 25,035
)
( 4,680
)
( 26,165
)
( 6,650
)
Net income
$
1,184
$
1,161
$
1,756
$
3,521
$
75,173
$
16,770
$
78,113
$
21,452
Total assets
$
14,486
$
18,744
$
29,838
$
33,100
$
359,439
$
303,016
$
403,763
$
354,860
Capital expenditures
$
23
$
70
$
26
$
16
---
---
$
49
$
86
- 48 -
During fiscal 2024 and 2023, the Traditional Business had total operating revenues of $ 16,826,000 and $ 16,253,000 of which $ 12,364,000 and $ 11,850,000 , respectively, were recognized after services were provided while $ 4,462,000 and $ 4,403,000 , respectively, were recognized ratably over the subscription terms. Total operating revenues for the Company’s software business were $ 53,105,000 and $ 51,456,000 , of which $ 25,112,000 and $ 28,209,000 , respectively, were recognized upon completion of services while $ 27,993,000 and $ 23,247,000 , respectively, were recognized ratably over the subscription periods.
7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company has completed an evaluation of all subsequent events through the issuance date of these financial statements and concluded that no additional subsequent events occurred that required recognition in the financial statements or disclosures in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
- 49 -
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.