UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

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

 

For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2015

or

 

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

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from: _____________ to _____________

 

usell.com, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 000-50494 98-0412432
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation or Organization) File Number) Identification No.)

 

171 Madison Avenue, 17th Floor

New York, New York 10016

(Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)

 

(212) 213-6805

 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $0.0001 par value

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. ¨ Yes x No

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. ¨ Yes x No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes ¨ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232-405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files.) x Yes ¨ No  

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ¨ Yes No x

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the closing price as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter was approximately $10.9 million.

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of March 30, 2016 was 19,751,999 shares.

 

 

 

 

INDEX

 

  PART I  
Item 1. Business. 1
Item 1A. Risk Factors. 3
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments. 3
Item 2. Properties. 4
Item 3. Legal Proceedings. 4
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures. 4
  PART II  
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issue Purchases of Equity Securities. 4
Item 6. Selected Financial Data. 5
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 5
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. 18
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. 18
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. 18
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures. 18
Item 9B. Other Information. 18
  PART III  
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance. 19
Item 11. Executive Compensation. 22
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. 24
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence. 26
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services. 26
  PART IV  
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules. 27

 

 

 

 

PART I

 

Item 1.Business.

 

uSell.com, Inc. is a technology based company focused on extracting the maximum value from used mobile devices, at large scale. uSell acquires products from both individual consumers, on its website, uSell.com, and from major carriers, big box retailers, and manufacturers through its subsidiary, We Sell Cellular, LLC. These devices are then distributed globally, leveraging both a traditional sales force and an online marketplace where professional buyers of used smartphones compete to buy inventory in an on-demand fashion. Through participation on uSell’s marketplace platforms and through interaction with uSell’s salesforce, buyers can acquire high volumes of inventory in a cost effective manner, while minimizing risk.

 

Device Acquisition

 

uSell has two primary means of sourcing devices to fuel its marketplace and satisfy demand from its global base of customers. The first source is through its wholly-owned subsidiary, We Sell Cellular, which was acquired in the fourth quarter of 2015. We Sell Cellular is among a handful of top tier wholesalers whose primary business is to buy used smartphones that have been traded in with the major carriers and the big box retailers, fully inspect and grade these devices, and then sell these devices wholesale and retail through its highly experienced sales force. We Sell Cellular is one of a few wholesalers that has qualified for R2 certification, the industry standard for both data destruction and environmental protection.

 

uSell’s second method of sourcing devices is through its website, uSell.com, where individual consumers can find cash offers for their items based on the make, model, and condition of each item. Upon accepting an offer, consumers can ship their devices for free using either a prepaid shipping kit or shipping label, and then track the progress of their orders online from initiation to final payment of their devices. We have historically utilized consumer oriented advertising efforts, such as direct response television commercials and various forms of Internet advertising, to attract sellers to our website. However, during 2015, we decided to strategically reduce our marketing spend in favor of seeking out wholesale supply.

 

Device Disposition

 

We sell devices through three primary means:

·Utilizing our proprietary marketplace bidding platforms where buyers can source devices on demand
·Employing our highly experienced sales force to sell devices to its global client base
·Leveraging third party eCommerce platforms such as eBay and Amazon

 

We work with professional, wholesale buyers and provide them with a low risk, cost-efficient way to acquire inventory that they can then resell through various means. Through participation in the uSell marketplace or through interaction with our salesforce, our buyers gain access to the high volume of devices that we acquire through both retail and wholesale means, without taking on the risk and investment involved in marketing directly to consumers or purchasing directly from carriers, big box retailers, and manufacturers.

 

Revenue Model

 

We make money by either taking possession of devices and selling these devices for a premium (“Principal Device Revenue”) or by facilitating transactions between buyers and sellers and collecting a commission (“Agent Commission Revenue”).

 

Historically a large part of our retail business utilized the Agent Commission Revenue model, whereby we did not take possession of the devices that were sold by consumers but rather facilitated transactions between these consumers and our network of professional buyers. However, in October 2014, we launched our Managed by uSell service, whereby we partnered with a third party logistics company to inspect and process devices before passing them along to buyers offering the highest prices for each device. By centralizing the inspection process, we standardized the grading procedures for devices, guaranteeing quick processing times and ensuring swift and successful payment to the sellers upon inspection. Through this approach, we take possession of devices for a brief period of time before they are passed on to the ultimate buyer. The bulk of our volume through our retail business now uses this Principal Device Revenue approach. Devices sourced wholesale through our subsidiary, We Sell Cellular, are also bought and sold using the Principal Device Revenue model. Thus, the vast majority of our business is characterized by this approach.

 

Lastly, we also earn revenue by advertising on our website, uSell.com, and by providing value added services to our buyers.

 

 1 

 

Company Evolution

 

Our vision to build the premier marketplace for used mobile devices was established in 2010, as the smartphone trade in market was just beginning to take shape. From the beginning, we recognized the value of connecting a global marketplace of smaller wholesalers, distributors, and retailers with supply that they could otherwise not access. In April, 2012, we acquired ecoSquid Inc., or Acquisition Corp, which had developed the intellectual property that we licensed in order to implement the first iteration of our marketplace platform.

 

Over the next two years, uSell drove supply into its marketplace by advertising the uSell.com website directly to consumers, primarily through direct response, television advertising. Over time, an analysis of consumer price elasticity indicated that price, more so than any form of paid marketing, was what drove sellers into the marketplace. It became apparent that the way to increase the price that our buyers would pay our sellers for their devices was to reduce risk and eliminate friction in the transaction. These reductions in risk and friction came in many forms: automated shipping and logistics, seamless payment processing, and finally, centralized grading of devices with the launch of our Managed by uSell offering in October, 2014.

 

By the end of 2014, the trade in market had gone mainstream, as the carriers realized that trade-in was their means of eliminating the costly smartphone subsidies that they had been funding. During the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6S, major carriers like AT&T and Verizon and big box retailers, like Apple and Best Buy, became very aggressive in marketing their trade in programs. While this market shift created a challenge in terms of marketing directly to consumers, it opened up a much larger opportunity to exponentially increase supply in our marketplace by sourcing directly from the major carriers, retailers, and manufacturers.

 

In 2015, we began seeking partnerships with wholesalers and distributors with direct access to this supply. Our efforts culminated in the acquisition of a top tier wholesaler, We Sell Cellular, in October, 2015. We Sell Cellular is among a handful of top tier wholesalers whose primary business is to buy used smartphones that have been traded in with the major carriers and the big box retailers, fully test and grade these devices, and then sell these devices wholesale and retail through its highly experienced sales force. We believe that the combination of We Sell Cellular’s financial strength, access to supply, and expertise and uSell’s technology, buyer network, and access to capital is extremely synergistic and provides the combined company with opportunities that were previously unavailable to us separately. We Sell Cellular has built a strong brand in the wholesale industry due to its highly accurate testing and grading methods and its track record of great service. uSell has built an industry-leading marketplace technology, as well as a platform, to make the testing and grading process more efficient. Together, uSell and We Sell Cellular can scale more efficiently while extracting maximum value from used devices.

 

Market Opportunity

 

Five years ago, trade-in was merely an idea. Less than 10% of consumers at the time reported selling their used mobile devices. The vast majority of these valuable devices wasted away in drawers. Numerous concepts arose to capture this untapped value, from websites that offered to purchase devices directly, to marketplaces that enabled consumers to sell devices peer to peer, to ATM machines that offered cash for smartphones on the spot, and finally to point of sale trade-in systems marketed through carriers and retailers.

 

At first it was unclear which of these was going to win, but these doubts have been erased over the last twenty-four months, as the wireless carriers realized that trade-in was their means of eliminating the costly smartphone subsidies that they had been funding. The dominant model that has evolved has two components: a leasing or financing component where the consumer is able to defer the cost of a device, and a trade-in component at the end of the term whereby the carrier can capture the residual value of the device. This model has achieved such rapid adoption that Apple offered its own solution in early September, 2015, with the launch of its iPhone Upgrade Program. For retailers like Apple, this model offers a different opportunity: the chance to control the relationship with the consumer. Between the carriers and the retailers, it is estimated that these programs have already achieved between 60-70% adoption.

 

With 150 million phones sold in the US in 2014 and the majority of these devices coming up for upgrade in 2016, we estimate that the smartphone aftermarket represents a $12 billion annual opportunity in the United States alone. Despite this massive opportunity, there is no dominant marketplace for smartphones in the United States geared towards professional merchants looking to acquire inventory.

 

Competition

 

The trade-in market for used mobile devices has gained significant momentum over the last two years. Competitors include:

 

·Wireless carriers offering trade-in as a way for consumers to self subsidize smartphones, either through a direct trade-in program, an Equipment Installment Plan (EIP), or a handset lease. While these carriers compete directly with our uSell.com trade-in platform, we also view them as an important channel to source wholesale inventory

 

 2 

 

 

·Retailers and big box stores such as Best Buy and Walmart that have implemented buyback programs. These retailers offer trade-in programs that issue gift cards or store credit. As in the case of the wireless carriers, these retailers compete directly with our uSell.com trade in platform, but they are also a channel to source wholesale inventory

 

·Large handset distributors and handset insurance providers such as Brightstar that process and resell traded in devices for the carriers. As in the above cases, these companies also act as a channel to source wholesale inventory

 

·Large wholesalers and distributors, similar to We Sell Cellular, that purchase traded in devices from major carriers, big box retailers, manufacturers, and logistics providers. We estimate that, in the United States, there are 5 to 10 wholesalers of similar size to We Sell Cellular with the required certifications and financial resources to service the major carriers and retailers. We believe that, among these wholesalers, there is little to no technology enablement and a general lack of professional management

 

·Direct-to-consumer buyers such as Gazelle.com and ecoATM (both owned by Outerwall, Inc.)

 

·Traditional online marketplaces such as eBay and online classified sites such as Craigslist. These sites continue to offer an alternative to sellers but require a time intensive review of all available offers and less streamlined logistics. While we compete with these platforms to source devices, we also utilize them to sell devices

 

Government Regulation

 

Advertising and promotional information presented to visitors on our websites and other marketing activities that we have undertaken are subject to federal and state consumer protection laws that regulate unfair and deceptive practices. In the United States, Congress has begun to adopt legislation that regulates certain aspects of the Internet, including online content, user privacy, taxation, liability for third-party activities and jurisdiction. Such legislation includes the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which regulates content of material on the Internet and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, which provides recourse for owners of copyrighted material who believe that their rights under U.S. copyright law have been infringed on the Internet. In the area of data protection, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and certain state agencies have investigated various Internet companies’ use of their customers’ personal information, and certain federal and state statutes regulate specific aspects of privacy and data collection practices. We are also subject to a variety of state and federal regulations and laws including state telemarketing laws, federal and state privacy laws, the CAN-SPAM Act, and the Federal Trade Commission Act and its accompanying regulations and guidelines, including “little” unfair trade practice laws. Because we have in the past and may in the future engage in marketing activities over the Internet and email, we may be subject to some of these laws and regulations.

 

Federal, state, local and foreign governments are also considering other legislative and regulatory proposals that would regulate the Internet in more and different ways than exist today. It is impossible to predict whether new restrictions, fees, or taxes will be imposed on our services, and whether and how we would be affected. Increased regulation of the Internet both in the United States and abroad may decrease its growth and hinder technological development, which may negatively impact the cost of doing business via the Internet or otherwise materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or operational results.

 

Employees

 

As of March 14, 2016, we had 72 full-time employees and no part-time employees. None of our employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement. 

 

Intellectual Property

 

Our proprietary intellectual property consists of trade secrets. We rely primarily on a combination of copyrights, trademarks, trade secret laws, and restrictions on disclosure to protect our intellectual property rights. We enter into proprietary information and confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants and commercial buyers and control access to, and distribution of our software documentation and other proprietary information. Our copyrights, trademarks and licenses expire at various dates, and we believe that none is individually significant.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

 

Not applicable to smaller reporting companies. However, our principal risk factors are described under “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

 

None.

 

 3 

 

 

Item 2. Properties.

 

We lease approximately 2,100 square feet for our corporate headquarters, sales, marketing, development and customer support divisions located in New York, New York 10016 under a lease expiring in August 2018.

 

We lease approximately 8,200 square feet for our warehouse and office located in West Babylon, New York 11704 under a lease expiring in December 2019.

 

We believe that our existing facilities are suitable and adequate and that we have sufficient capacity to meet our current anticipated needs. None of these facilities are critical to our operations because suitable alternatives are available in substantially all of the locations where we conduct business. We continuously review our anticipated requirements for facilities and, on the basis of that review, may from time to time acquire or lease additional facilities and/or dispose of existing facilities.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

 

On May 29, 2014, Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (“Samsung”) filed suit in the Dallas County, Texas State District Court against BST Distribution, Inc. (“BST”) alleging that the Company breached a Distribution Agreement and seeking approximately $152,000 in damages and attorney’s fees. BST has counterclaimed against Samsung alleging fraud and misrepresentation, breach of contract and estoppel and is seeking to recover out of pocket damages and lost profits, as well as attorney’s fees. The case is consolidated with a case filed by We Sell Cellular arising out of the same or similar facts against Samsung alleging fraud and misrepresentation, breach of contract and estoppel. We Sell Cellular is seeking recovery of out of pocket damages, lost profits and attorney fees. Samsung counter claimed against We Sell Cellular alleging breach of contract seeking approximately $152,000 in damages plus attorney fees. The consolidated cases are in the discovery phase of litigation. In connection with the acquisition of BST by uSell, Brian and Scott Tepfer, BST’s then sole shareholders, agreed to pay all further litigation costs and pay any adverse judgement or settlement amount in exchange for retaining any sums BST may recover from Samsung.

 

From time to time, we are periodically a party to or otherwise involved in legal proceedings arising in the normal and ordinary course of business. As of the date of this report, we are not aware of any proceeding, threatened or pending, against us which, if determined adversely, would have a material effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

 

Not applicable.

 

PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

 

Our common stock is quoted on the OTC Markets, Inc. under the symbol “USEL.” As of March 29, 2016, the last reported sale price of our common stock as reported by the OTC Markets was $0.87 per share. As of that date, there were approximately 126 shareholders of record. This number does not include beneficial owners whose shares are held in the names of various securities brokers, dealers and registered clearing agencies. All share and per share information in the table below reflects the 1-for-15 reverse stock split which was effected on January 21, 2014.

 

The following table provides the high and low bid price information for our common stock for the periods indicated which reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.

 

Year  Quarter Ended  Stock Price 
      High   Low 
      ($)   ($) 
2015  December 31   2.00    0.72 
   September 30   1.25    0.67 
   June 30   1.73    0.72 
   March 31   2.01    1.00 
              
2014  December 31   2.78    1.82 
   September 30   4.02    2.46 
   June 30   4.98    2.85 
   March 31   5.42    3.37 

 

 4 

 

 

Dividend Policy

 

We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock and do not plan to pay any such dividends in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to use all available funds to develop our business. We can give no assurances that we will ever have excess funds available to pay dividends.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

None

 

Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

 

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

 

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to those set forth under “Risk Factors.”

 

Overview of 2015 Events

 

Acquisition of We Sell Cellular

 

On October 26, 2015, pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement (“SPA”), we acquired BST Distribution, Inc., (“BST”), which owns We Sell Cellular, a company primarily engaged in the wholesale acquisition and resale of smartphones and related devices from carriers and big box stores. The total consideration paid for the acquisition amounted to $14,626,000, which consisted of the issuance of 9,358,837 shares of our common stock to Brian Tepfer and Scott Tepfer (together, the “Tepfers”), the former owners of BST, valued at $10,388,000, cash of $3,108,000 and certain Placement Rights (as defined below), valued at $1,130,000. See Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further description.

 

In accordance with the SPA, if the Tepfers elect to sell shares of our common stock, we will use our best efforts to assist the Tepfers in selling their shares of common stock acquired under the SPA for up to $6,000,000 in gross proceeds (together and not each) through private placements or public offerings, with target sales of $1,500,000 quarterly, commencing with the quarter ending December 31, 2015 (“Placement Rights”). If the price per share received by the Tepfers is less than the greater of $1.20 or the product of an EBITDA-based formula, we will issue the Tepfers additional shares of common stock. The Tepfers did not elect to sell shares of common stock during the quarters ending December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016.

 

In addition, pursuant to the SPA, we granted the Tepfers certain piggyback registration rights and a right of first refusal to participate in future financings. We also created a pool of 350,000 restricted stock units, shares of restricted stock and options which can be granted to employees of We Sell Cellular designated by the Tepfers and a similar pool for parent company employees designated by our Chief Executive Officer. A total of 655,000 shares were awarded including 55,000 options during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

The operating results for We Sell Cellular are included in the consolidated financial statements from the effective date of acquisition of October 26, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

 

Note Purchase Agreement

 

On October 23, 2015 (the “Note Closing Date”), in connection with the acquisition of We Sell Cellular, we entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (“NPA”) with BAM Administrative Services, LLC (“BAM”), as agent, and an institutional investor (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which we issued and sold the Purchaser a 1% original issue discount Secured Term Note in the aggregate principal amount of $4,040,000 (the “Initial Note”) in exchange for gross proceeds of $4,000,000. Within six months of the Note Closing Date, we may, subject to certain conditions, elect to receive up to two additional draws of funds in connection with the issuance of additional 1% original issue discount Secured Term Note (the “Deferred Draw Notes,” and with the “Initial Note,” the “Notes”). The NPA provides that the Company may elect to receive a total of another $4,000,000 under the Deferred Draw Notes in compliance with the covenants under the NPA.

 

The Notes mature three years from the Note Closing Date and accrue interest at 13% annually, which is payable monthly in arrears, beginning November 1, 2015. Repayment of principal commences seven months from the Note Closing Date in monthly installments of 1/48th of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Notes are prepayable at 103%, beginning one year from the Note Closing Date, in increments of $500,000. See page 6 for a description of the amendment to the NPA that will delay the initial amortization date to September 1, 2017.

 

 5 

 

 

In connection with the issuance of the Initial Note, we issued the Purchaser 740,000 shares of its common stock. On December 1, 2015, we elected to borrow an additional $2,000,000 and issued the Purchaser a Deferred Draw Note in the principal amount of $2,020,000 and issued the Purchaser an additional 120,000 shares of common stock. To the extent that the Deferred Draw Notes are issued, we will issue the Purchaser an additional 60,000 shares per $1,000,000 of principal amount of Deferred Draw Notes issued.

 

We granted the Purchaser piggyback registration rights with respect to the shares issued in connection with the Note. We also granted the Purchaser a right of first refusal to participate in future financings, where the future purpose of the proceeds is to acquire additional inventory. The right of first refusal expires upon the earlier of (i) 18 months from the Note Closing Date or (ii) such time as the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Note is less than $1,500,000. The right of first refusal does not cover conventional public and private securities offerings.

 

In connection with the execution of the NPA and issuance of the Note, the Company, BST, We Sell Cellular and certain of their wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) entered into a Security Agreement for the benefit of BAM and the Purchaser as secured parties. Pursuant to the Security Agreement, the Debtors granted the secured parties a lien on all of the Debtors’ respective assets, including, but not limited to, equipment, inventory, accounts, and intellectual property. The wholly-owned subsidiaries party to the Security Agreement also jointly and severally guaranteed payment and performance of all obligations under the Notes and related transaction documents.

 

As additional collateral to guarantee the Notes and related obligations, the Company, BST and We Sell Cellular also entered into a Pledge Agreement for the benefit of BAM and the Purchaser pursuant to which they pledged the equity interests of certain of their wholly-owned subsidiaries, including BST and We Sell Cellular. Under a Collateral Assignment Agreement, we also assigned BAM, as agent for the Purchaser, all of its rights under the SPA.

 

On March 30, 2016, the Company and BAM entered into an agreement to modify the NPA and take the following steps:

 

·The Company will issue the Second Deferred Draw Note and receive an additional $2 million;
·The Purchaser will receive an additional 350,000 shares of restricted common stock, consisting of the 120,000 shares required by the original NPA for each $2 million borrowed under the Deferred Draw Notes and an additional 230,000 shares as consideration for the favorable modification listed below;
·The interest rate will be increased by one-quarter of one percent (25 basis points);
·The EBITDA covenants will not apply until September 2017;
·The amortization period of the principal will not commence until September 1, 2017;
·The Company will get 75% credit for new purchase orders towards the borrowing base of the facility instead of the current 50%; and
·The Company will get a 90% credit for inventory in transit towards the borrowing base instead of the current 75%.

 

The Company expects to close the remaining $2 million on or shortly after the filing of this Report, since all required steps have been taken and all signatures and the stock are being held in escrow pending funding.

 

2015 Financial Highlights

 

As a result of the We Sell Cellular acquisition, our business was fundamentally transformed and our financial situation substantially improved. The financials contained within this Form 10K reflect just over two months of joint operations, as the acquisition was consummated in the last week of October, 2015. Key financial metrics were as follows:

 

·Working capital increased to $5,597,000 at December 31, 2015 from $1,684,000 at December 31, 2014.
·Stockholders’ equity increased to $13,990,000 at December 31, 2015 from $2,569,000 at December 31, 2014.
·Revenues increased by $20,429,000, or 306%, from $6,665,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $27,094,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015.
·Net loss decreased by $4,656,000, or 64%, from $7,288,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $2,632,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015.
·Net loss decreased from $1,386,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 to $333,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015.
·Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, improved from ($3,619,000) for the year ended December 31, 2014 to ($795,000) for the year ended December 31, 2015. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Adjusted EBITDA” below.
·Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, improved from ($780,000) for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 to $321,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2015. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Adjusted EBITDA” below.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

See Note 2 to the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein for a discussion of recent accounting pronouncements.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

 

In response to financial reporting release FR-60, Cautionary Advice Regarding Disclosure About Critical Accounting Policies, from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we have selected our more subjective accounting estimation processes for purposes of explaining the methodology used in calculating the estimate, in addition to the inherent uncertainties pertaining to the estimate and the possible effects on the our financial condition. The accounting estimates are discussed below and involve certain assumptions that if incorrect could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. See Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein for further discussion regarding our critical accounting policies and estimates.

 

Capitalized Technology Costs

 

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350-40, Internal-Use Software, we capitalize certain external and internal computer software costs incurred during the application development stage. The application development stage generally includes software design and configuration, coding, testing and installation activities. Training and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred, while upgrades and enhancements are capitalized if it is probable that such expenditures will result in additional functionality. Capitalized technology costs are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the software assets on a straight-line basis, generally not exceeding three years.

 

Business Combinations

 

ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), applies the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations to all acquisitions where the acquirer gains a controlling interest, regardless of whether consideration was exchanged. ASC 805 establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer: a) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree; b) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and c) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. Accounting for acquisitions requires us to recognize, separately from goodwill, the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at their acquisition-date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred and the net of the acquisition-date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. While we use our best estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, we may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

We account for goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350”). ASC 350 requires that goodwill and other intangibles with indefinite lives should be tested for impairment annually or on an interim basis if events or circumstances indicate that the fair value of an asset has decreased below its carrying value.

 

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. We consider our market capitalization and the carrying value of our assets and liabilities, including goodwill, when performing the goodwill impairment test. When conducting the annual goodwill impairment assessment, we initially perform a qualitative evaluation of whether it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired. If it is determined by a qualitative evaluation that it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, we then apply a two-step impairment test. The two-step impairment test first compares the fair value of our reporting unit to its carrying or book value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and we are not required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, we determine the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill and if the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then an impairment loss equal to the difference is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

Intangible assets represent customer relationships and trade names/trademarks related to We Sell Cellular. Finite lived assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Indefinite lived intangible assets are not amortized, but instead are subject to impairment evaluation.

 

We periodically review the carrying values of our intangible assets and other long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that their carrying values may exceed their fair values, and record an impairment charge when considered necessary. When circumstances indicate that an impairment of value may have occurred, we test such assets for recoverability by comparing the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of such assets and their eventual disposition to their carrying amounts. If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss, measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its estimated fair value, is recognized. The cash flow estimates used in such calculations are based on estimates and assumptions, using all available information that management believes is reasonable. Fair value, for purposes of calculating impairment, is measured based on estimated future cash flows, discounted at a market rate of interest.

 

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Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue is recognized when all of the following conditions exist: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) delivery has occurred, (3) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and (4) collectability is reasonably assured.

 

Principal Device Revenue

 

Through our We Sell Cellular subsidiary, we generate revenue from the sale of our cellular telephones and related equipment and recognize revenue “FOB shipping point.” Delivery to the customer is deemed to have occurred when the customer takes title to the product. Generally, title passes to the customer when the products leave our warehouse. Payment terms generally require payment once an order is placed. We allow customers to return product within 30 days of shipment if the product is defective. Allowances for product returns are recorded as a reduction of sales at the time revenue is recognized based on historical data.

 

Under our “Managed by uSell” service on uSell.com, which was launched in October 2014, we partner with a third party logistics company to inspect, wipe and process devices before passing them along to buyers. Under this model, title to a device passes to uSell upon issuance of payment to the seller, which is generally within one to two days from the receipt of the device at the third party warehouse. Title to a device is then transferred to the buyer upon shipment to the buyer.

 

Agent Commission Revenue

 

In certain cases, sellers on our uSell.com website are shown a larger list of offers directly from third party buyers interested in purchasing their devices. These offers are shown instead of or in addition to the “Managed by uSell” offer. If a seller chooses one of these offers, s/he ships his/her device directly to the buyer, rather than to our third party warehouse. The buyer is then responsible for testing the device, servicing the customer, and ultimately paying the seller for the device or returning it. During 2013, and into 2014, we earned up front “lead fees” from buyers when sellers accepted such offers on our website and filled out a form to request a free shipping kit. This fee was received regardless of whether the sellers ultimately sent in their devices to the buyers. We recognized revenue upon online acceptance of the buyer’s offer by the seller. Beginning in February 2014, we began to charge a commission to our buyers only when the seller sent in a device and was successfully paid for it. This approach reduced risk for our buyers and better aligned our incentives with them. We therefore began to recognize Agent Commission Revenue upon payment to the seller.

 

Fulfillment Revenue

 

We offer fulfillment services on behalf of our buyers for the items sold using the Agent Commission Revenue approach outlined above. We act as the agent in these fulfillment services transactions, passing orders booked by our buyers to our third party fulfillment vendor, who then assembles the kits and mails them directly to the sellers. We earn a standard fee from our buyers and recognize revenue upon shipment of the kits to the sellers. We evaluated the presentation of revenue on a gross versus net basis and determined that since we perform as an agent without assuming the risks and rewards of ownership of the goods, revenue should be reported on a net basis.

 

Advertising Revenue

 

Advertising revenues primarily come from payments for text-based sponsored links and display advertisements. Generally, our advertisers pay us on a cost per click, or CPC basis, which means advertisers pay us only when someone clicks on one of their advertisements, or on a cost per thousand impression basis, or CPM. Paying on a CPM basis means that advertisers pay us based on the number of times their advertisements appear on our websites or mobile applications. Advertising revenue is recognized as income when the advertising services are rendered.

  

Share-Based Payment Arrangements

 

We account for stock options in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718: Compensation - Stock Compensation. ASC 718 requires generally that all equity awards be accounted for at their “fair value.” This fair value is measured on the grant date for stock-settled awards, and at subsequent exercise or settlement for cash-settled awards. Fair value is equal to the underlying value of the stock for “full-value” awards such as restricted stock and performance shares, and estimated using an option-pricing model with traditional inputs for “appreciation” awards such as stock options and stock appreciation rights.

 

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Costs equal to these fair values are recognized ratably over the requisite service period based on the number of awards that are expected to vest, or in the period of grant for awards that vest immediately and have no future service condition. For awards that vest over time, cumulative adjustments in later periods are recorded to the extent actual forfeitures differ from our initial estimates: previously recognized compensation cost is reversed if the service or performance conditions are not satisfied and the award is forfeited. The expense resulting from share-based payments is recorded in general and administrative expense.

 

Subsequent modifications to outstanding awards result in incremental cost if the fair value is increased as a result of the modification. Thus, a value-for-value stock option repricing or exchange of awards in conjunction with an equity restructuring does not result in additional compensation cost.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the Year Ended December 31, 2015 to the Year Ended December 31, 2014

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, consolidated statements of operations information:

 

   Years Ended December 31,   Change   Change 
   2015   2014   (Dollars)   (Percentage) 
Revenue  $27,093,928   $6,665,429   $20,428,499    306%
Cost of Revenue   23,549,098    1,921,175    21,627,923    1,126%
Gross Profit   3,544,830    4,744,254    (1,199,424)   (25)%
Operating Expenses:                    
Sales and Marketing   2,037,371    5,811,873    (3,774,502)   (65)%
General and Administrative   6,344,539    4,659,710    1,684,829    36%
Total Operating Expenses   8,381,910    10,471,583    (2,089,673)   (20)%
Operating Loss   (4,837,080)   (5,727,329)   890,249    (16)%
Other Expense   (188,289)   (1,561,153)   1,372,864    (88)%
Income Tax Benefit   (2,392,994)   -    (2,392,994)   100%
Net Loss  $(2,632,375)  $(7,288,482)  $4,656,107    (64)%

 

Revenue by Type

 

The following table breaks down our revenue by type:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
   2015   2014 
Principal Device Revenue  $26,238,124    97%  $1,531,227    23%
Agent Commission Revenue   516,232    2%   4,430,052    66%
Other   339,572    1%   704,150    11%
   $27,093,928    100%  $6,665,429    100%

 

Principal Device Revenue increased by $24,707,000, or 1,614%, from $1,531,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $26,238,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015. Agency Commission Revenue decreased by $3,914,000, or 88%, from $4,430,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $516,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015. Principal Device Revenue related to We Sell Cellular amounted $17,646,000 for the period from October 27, 2015 through December 31, 2015. Historically a large part of our retail business utilized the Agent Commission Revenue model, whereby we did not take possession of the devices that were sold by consumers but rather facilitated transactions between these consumers and our network of professional buyers. However, in October 2014, we launched our Managed by uSell service, whereby we partnered with a third party logistics company to inspect and process devices before passing them along to buyers offering the highest prices for each device. By centralizing the inspection process, we standardized the grading procedures for devices, guaranteeing quick processing times and ensuring swift and successful payment to the sellers upon inspection. Through this approach, we take possession of devices for a brief period of time before they are passed on to the ultimate buyer. By the end of 2015, the bulk of our volume through our retail business used this Principal Device Revenue approach. Devices sourced wholesale through our subsidiary, We Sell Cellular, are also bought and sold using the Principal Device Revenue model. Thus, the vast majority of our business is now characterized by this approach.

 

Cost of Revenue

 

Cost of revenue increased by $21,628,000 or 1,126% from $1,921,000 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $23,549,000 for the year ended December 31, 2015. Cost of revenue related to We Sell Cellular amounted to $16,207,000 for the period from October 27, 2015 through December 31, 2015. Prior to the launch of our Managed by uSell service, our cost of revenue for generating transactions for our buyers on uSell.com consisted primarily of costs to access and maintain our website, as well as amortization expense on our technology platform software. Starting in October 2014, cost of revenue pertaining to the sale of devices through our Managed by uSell service began to include the cost of acquiring the device, as well as any other direct costs and expenses required to inspect and process the devices internally before shipping them to the buyers. Furthermore, with the acquisition of We Sell Cellular we saw a substantial increase in Principal Device Revenue associated with the wholesale acquisition and sale of devices. Accordingly, our cost of revenue has increased substantially.

 

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Sales and Marketing

 

Sales and marketing expense decreased $3,775,000, or 65%, from $5,812,000 during the year ended December 31, 2014 to $2,037,000 during the year ended December 31, 2015 mainly as a result of our decision to strategically reduce our marketing staff and marketing spend in favor of seeking out wholesale supply. With the We Sell Cellular acquisition and our newfound ability to source devices directly from the carriers, retailers, and manufacturers, our primary sales and marketing expenses have shifted from consumer marketing to paying out sales commissions. We believe this shifting profile will enable us to scale volume significantly while maintaining sales and marketing expense as a much lower percentage of sales than in prior years. Sales and marketing include $579,000 of expenses related to We Sell Cellular for the period from October 27, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

 

General and Administrative

 

General and administrative expenses include professional fees for technology, legal and accounting services as well as consulting and internal personnel costs for our back office support functions. General and administrative expenses are impacted by non-cash compensation expense pertaining to share grants and option grants for services.

 

Excluding non-cash compensation expense, our general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015 increased by $223,000, or 7%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase is mainly attributable to the increase in depreciation and amortization expense. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $248,000, from $4,530 for the year ended December 31, 2014 to $252,649 for the year ended December 31, 2015, mainly as a result of the amortization of the intangible assets acquired in connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition. Not included in this amount is $567,000 and $611,000 of amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to our capitalized technology, which is included in cost of revenues.

 

Offsetting the increase in general and administrative expenses is a decrease in salary and salary-related expenses of $405,000 and professional fees of $206,000. The decrease in salaries and salary related expenses is the result of the reduction in our marketing headcount. Professional fees decreased mainly as a result of lower recruiting fee expense due to our hiring freeze, offset by legal and accounting expenses of $294,000 related to the We Sell Cellular acquisition. General and administrative expenses include $556,000 of expenses related to We Sell Cellular for the period from October 27, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

 

Non-cash compensation expense amounted to $2,954,000 and $1,492,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015 ad 2014, respectively. The increase in compensation expense is mainly the result of the accelerated vesting of previously granted restricted stock units and stock options and the granting of certain restricted stock units in connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition on October 26, 2015.

 

Other Income (Expenses)

 

Other expense during the year ended December 31, 2015 is primarily comprised of interest expense attributable to the NPA entered into in October 2015 in connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition.

 

Other income (expense) during the year ended December 31, 2014 resulted primarily from the conversion of our Convertible Notes in February 2014. As a result of the conversion, the remaining unamortized discount of $874,000, as well as the remaining unamortized balance of debt issue costs of $9,000, was recognized as non-cash interest expense. Additionally, we recorded approximately $9,000 of contractual interest expense and approximately $681,000 of derivative expense related to the change in the fair market value of the derivative liability on our Convertible Notes through the date of conversion.

 

Income Tax Benefit  

 

The benefit for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2015 relates to the release of the valuation allowance resulting from the deferred tax liability related to the intangible assets acquired from We Sell Cellular.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measure - Adjusted EBITDA

 

We make reference to “Adjusted EBITDA,” a measure of financial performance not calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). Management has included EBITDA because it believes that investors may find it useful to review our financial results as adjusted to exclude items as determined by management. Reconciliations of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net loss, to the extent available without unreasonable effort, are set forth below. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings or (loss) from continuing operations before the items noted in the table below.

 

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Management believes Adjusted EBITDA provides a meaningful representation of our operating performance that provides useful information to investors regarding our financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used by financial analysts and others to measure operating performance. Furthermore, management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure may provide investors with additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results of prior periods as they are expected to be reflective of our core ongoing business. However, while we consider Adjusted EBITDA to be an important measure of operating performance, Adjusted EBITDA and other non-GAAP financial measures have limitations, and investors should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Further, Adjusted EBITDA, as we define it, may not be comparable to EBITDA, or similarly titled measures, as defined by other companies.

 

The following table presents Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, and provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to the directly comparable GAAP measure reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements:

 

   Three Months Ended   Year Ended 
   December 31,   December 31, 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
Net loss  $(333,000)  $(1,386,000)  $(2,632,000)  $(7,288,000)
Income tax benefit   (2,393,000)   -    (2,393,000)   - 
Stock-based compensation expense   2,300,000    394,000    2,954,000    1,492,000 
Depreciation and amortization   386,000    213,000    820,000    616,000 
Acquisition related costs   173,000    -    268,000    - 
Interest expense   188,000    -    189,000    892,000 
Interest and other income   -    (1,000)   (1,000)   (3,000)
Gain on settlement of accounts payable   -    -    -    (9,000)
Change in fair value of derivative liability   -    -    -    681,000 
Adjusted EBITDA  $321,000   $(780,000)  $(795,000)  $(3,619,000)

 

For the first time in the Company’s operating history, we experienced positive Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2015. This was primarily the result of the We Sell Cellular acquisition, but was also positively impacted by efficiency gains within our legacy retail business. These efficiency gains were a direct result of our strategic decision to reduce marketing staff and marketing spend in favor of the wholesale acquisition of devices.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We do not yet have a sustained history of financial stability. Historically, our principal source of liquidity has been the issuances of debt and equity securities (including to related parties), including preferred stock, common stock and various debt financing transactions. We believe that, with our recent acquisition of We Sell Cellular, the closing of the final $2 million under our financing facility, and our current available cash along with the anticipated increase in revenues, we will have sufficient funds to meet our anticipated cash needs for the next 12 months.

 

There can be no assurance that the plans and actions proposed by management will be successful, that we will generate profitability and positive cash flows in the future. We cannot assure you that financing will enable us to meet our working capital needs. Future efforts to raise additional funds may not be successful or they may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all.

 

Our cash flow has been significantly impacted by the We Sell Cellular acquisition. In connection with the acquisition, we entered into an $8 million financing facility, of which we have borrowed $6 million as of December 31, 2015 and $2 million on or shortly after the filing of this Report. The proceeds were used, in part, to fund the acquisition of We Sell Cellular, in order for them to repay a previously existing bank loan, repay an amount due to one of the founders of We Sell Cellular and for the purchase of inventory. The remaining proceeds have been primarily used for the purchase of inventory and working capital needs. The Company is required to begin repaying the principal of this loan in 1/48th increments beginning May 23, 2016. Upon the closing of the amendment to our existing loan facility, the initial amortization payments will be postponed until September 1, 2017 and be amortized until the maturity date of October 23, 2018.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

We used $3,343,000 of cash in operating activities during the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to $3,485,000 during the year ended December 31, 2014. Our net loss during the year ended December 31, 2015 of $2,632,000 was primarily affected by an income tax benefit of $2,393,000, offset by $2,954,000 of stock-based compensation and $820,000 of depreciation and amortization. Changes in working capital used $2,148,000 of cash during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Our net loss during the year ended December 31, 2014 of $7,288,000 was mainly offset by $1,492,000 of stock-based compensation, $874,000 from the amortization of remaining debt discount on our Convertible Notes, $681,000 from the change in the market value of the derivative liability pertaining to our Convertible Notes and $616,000 of depreciation and amortization. Changes in working capital provided $121,000 of cash during the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we paid $2,366,000 in connection with our acquisition of We Sell Cellular on October 26, 2015, we capitalized $601,000 of website development costs and purchased $17,000 of property and equipment. Our restricted cash account changed by $801,000 as a result of our requirement under the NPA to maintain a dedicated bank account controlled by BAM.

 

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During the year ended December 31, 2014, we capitalized $657,000 of website development costs.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we received $6,000,000 in proceeds under our NPA and paid $239,000 in costs associated with the NPA.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, our financing activities generated $4,650,000 in proceeds from the August 2014 public offering and $1,775,000 in proceeds from the private placement offering of our common stock. In addition, we received proceeds of $300,000 from the sale of our Convertible Series A Preferred Stock and $388,000 from the exercise of warrants. Proceeds from our financing activities were offset by $1,042,000 of offering costs paid. 

 

Related Party Transactions

 

None.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

 

This report includes forward-looking statements including statements regarding liquidity, anticipated revenues, capital expenditures, expectations from proposed capital raises, and anticipated results from increasing buyers on our site.

 

The words “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs.  

 

The results anticipated by any or all of these forward-looking statements might not occur. Important factors, uncertainties and risks that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are contained in the Risk Factors that follow. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as the result of new information, future events or otherwise. For more information regarding some of the ongoing risks and uncertainties of our business, see the Risk Factors and our other filings with the SEC.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk.  You should carefully consider the following Risk Factors before deciding whether to purchase or sell securities of uSell.  Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also impair our business operations or our financial condition.  If any of the events discussed in the Risk Factors below occur, our business, consolidated financial condition, results of operations or prospects could be materially and adversely affected.  In such case, the value and marketability of the common stock could decline.

 

Risks Relating to Our Business

 

uSell and We Sell Cellular may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of the We Sell Cellular acquisition.

 

To realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, the combined company must successfully integrate the businesses of uSell and We Sell Cellular. This integration will be complex and time-consuming.

 

Potential difficulties uSell and We Sell Cellular may encounter include, among others:

·unanticipated issues in integrating logistics, information, communications and other systems;
·integrating personnel from the two companies while maintaining focus on providing a consistent, high quality level of service;
·integrating complex systems, technology, networks and other assets of We Sell Cellular in a seamless manner that minimizes any adverse impact on suppliers, employees and buyers;
·performance shortfalls at one or both of the companies as a result of the diversion of management's attention from day-to-day operations caused by activities surrounding the completion of the acquisition and integration of the companies’ operations;

 

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·potential unknown liabilities, liabilities that are significantly larger than anticipated, unforeseen expenses or delays associated with the acquisition and the integration process;
·unanticipated changes in applicable laws and regulations;
·the impact on usell’s internal controls and compliance with the regulatory requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including, but not limited to, complexities that arise as a result of integrating the accounting system and internal controls of a private company with that of a public company; and
·complexities associated with managing the larger, combined business.

 

Some of these factors are outside the control of either company.

 

uSell has not completed a merger or acquisition comparable in size or scope to this acquisition. The failure of the combined company to successfully integrate the operations of uSell and We Sell Cellular or otherwise to realize any of the anticipated benefits of the acquisition could cause an interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, the activities of the combined company and could adversely affect its results of operations. The integration process maybe more difficult, costly or time-consuming than anticipated, which could cause uSell’s stock price to decline.

 

If we are unable to raise sufficient capital, we will not be able to purchase additional inventory to grow our business and our results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

In order to continue growing operations, we will need to purchase a larger number of phones to sell to buyers which will require us to raise capital. Because of the difficulty that microcap companies have in raising capital, the lack of available credit for companies like us, and our stock price, we may be hampered in our ability to raise the necessary working capital. Even if we do find a source of additional capital, we may not be able to negotiate terms and conditions for receiving the additional capital that are acceptable to us. Any future capital investments may dilute or otherwise materially and adversely affect the holdings or rights of our existing shareholders. In addition, new equity or debt securities issued by us to obtain financing could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to our common stock.

 

Additionally, as partial consideration for the acquisition of We Sell Cellular, the Company entered into Employment Agreements with the then principals of We Sell Cellular, Messrs. Brian and Scott Tepfer. The Employment Agreements contain non-compete provisions which prohibit the Tepfers from competing against the Company; however, these provisions terminate if uSell fails to sell a total of $6 million of stock owned by the Tepfers by not later than August 2017. In such event, either of the Tepfers may compete with uSell and take their existing supplier relationships away from uSell and the We Sell Cellular business, revenues and profitability would be adversely affected.

 

If we fail to meet the covenants under our loan agreement, we may sustain material adverse consequences including the possibility of the Purchaser declaring a default.

 

As is customary with institutional loan agreements, our loan agreement requires us to meet future a number of financial covenants. If we fail to comply with any of these covenants, we may sustain a number of material adverse consequences including:

 

·we may incur penalties which may be material; and
·the Purchaser may declare a default which may cause us to cease operations or seek relief from a bankruptcy court.

 

If any of these events were to occur, your investment may be lost. As described earlier, the Company has entered into an agreement with BAM to permit it to borrow the remaining $2 million and make changes favorable to us including postponing an EBITDA covenant until September 30, 2017. See Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

If we pay too much or do not offer a sufficient amount to our suppliers for phones, our revenues will be adversely affected.

 

Recently, we acquired We Sell Cellular which primarily engages in the wholesale acquisition and resale of smartphones and related devices from carriers and big box stores. The We Sell Cellular business is reliant on its ability to purchase phones at low prices which result in profitability on liquidation. Conversely, if the prices that We Sell Cellular offers suppliers for the phones are too low, than we will be unsuccessful at obtaining the phones and our revenues will be adversely affected. Although we believe that the combination of uSell’s technology platform and access to capital and We Sell Cellular’s brand and relationships with suppliers in the wholesale industry will provide investors with significant value, we cannot assure you that the acquisition of We Sell Cellular will result in profitability for uSell.

 

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Because we acquired 94% of our phones in 2015 from one supplier, if that supplier reduces its sales to us, it may adversely affect our results of operations.

 

We Sell Cellular’s business has been characterized by a high degree of supplier concentration. In 2015, We Sell Cellular purchased 94% of its inventory from one supplier. Unless we were to find new large suppliers, the relationship with this supplier is vital to the continued success of We Sell Cellular. We Sell Cellular continues to purchase phones from this supplier, however, as in any private company acquisition, the policies and internal controls of the public company may not integrate well with the relationships that the private company had prior to becoming a part of an SEC reporting company. Although this supplier continues to sell We Sell Cellular phones in large quantities, we cannot assure you that the supplier will continue to provide us with phones at a cost effective rate for any reason. In the event that our relationship with the supplier was terminated or the number of phones supplied to We Sell Cellular from this supplier were reduced, our revenues and profitability would be adversely affected.

 

If we cannot manage our growth effectively, we may not become profitable.

 

Businesses which grow rapidly often have difficulty managing their growth. If we continue to grow as rapidly as we anticipate, we will need to expand our management by recruiting and employing experienced executives and key employees capable of providing the necessary support. We cannot assure you that our management will be able to manage our growth effectively or successfully. Our failure to meet these challenges could cause us to lose money, and your investment could be lost.

 

If we fail to retain our key personnel, we may not be able to achieve our anticipated level of growth and our business could suffer.

 

Our future depends, in part, on our ability to attract and retain key personnel and the continued contributions of our executive officers including Nikhil Raman, uSell’s Chief Executive Officer, Brian Tepfer, We Sell Cellular’s Chief Executive Officer and Scott Tepfer, We Sell Cellular’s President, each of whom may be difficult to replace. The loss of the services of any of these officers and the process to replace any key personnel would involve significant time and expense and may significantly delay or prevent the achievement of our business objectives.

 

Because we rely on the continuing rapid pace of technological development in the smartphone and tablet industries, if innovation in these industries were to decrease or providers were to extend the upgrade cycles on phones, our future results of operation will be adversely affected.

 

We believe that one of the driving factors for the potential success of our business is the continued improvements and developments in the smartphone industry as well as the continued reduction in the amount of time consumers have to wait to upgrade their phones with no penalties. Because consumers have in the past expressed a continual need to have the latest generation phones and iPads or other tablets, the opportunity for liquidating these huge quantities of depreciating assets in a profitable yet efficient manner is very promising. If innovation in smartphone or tablet device technology were to level off, the upgrade cycles were to be extended or there were fewer new phone launches, the purchase of new phones and tablets could be diminished, reducing the demand for used electronics and consequently the wholesale market for them. In such an event, our results of operations would suffer and we may not be able to continue operations.

 

Because we rely on information technology to operate our businesses and maintain our competitiveness, any failure to adapt to technological developments or industry trends could harm our business.

 

We depend upon the use of sophisticated information technology, including software. As our operations grow in both size and scope, we must continuously improve and upgrade our systems including our hardware and infrastructure to offer our enhanced products, services, features and functionality, while maintaining the reliability and integrity of our systems and infrastructure. Our future success also depends on our ability to adapt our services and infrastructure to meet rapidly evolving industry standards while continuing to improve the performance, features and reliability of our service in response to competitive service and product offerings and the changing demands of the marketplace. In particular, expanding our systems and infrastructure to meet any potential increases in business volume will require us to commit additional financial, operational and technical resources before those increases materialize, with no assurance that they actually will. Furthermore, our use of this technology could be challenged by claims that we have infringed upon the patents, copyrights or other intellectual property rights of others.

 

In addition, we may not be able to maintain our existing systems, obtain new technologies and systems, or replace or introduce new technologies and systems as quickly as our competitors or in a cost-effective manner. Also, we may fail to achieve the benefits anticipated or required from any new technology or system, or we may be unable to devote financial resources to new technologies and systems in the future.

  

If we experience system interruptions, it may cause us to lose customers and may harm our business.

 

Our inability to maintain and improve our information technology systems and infrastructure may result in system interruptions. System interruptions and slow delivery times, unreliable service levels, prolonged or frequent service outages, or insufficient capacity may prevent us from efficiently providing services to the buyers and/or customers on our website, which could result in our losing customers and revenue

 

 14 

 

 

We lease space for our data center and rely on a co-location partner for power, security, connectivity and other services. We also rely on third party providers for bandwidth and content delivery. We do not control these vendors and it would take significant time and effort to replace them. We have experienced, and may in the future experience, website disruptions, outages and other performance problems due to a variety of factors, including infrastructure changes, human or software errors and capacity constraints. Our systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from terrorist attacks, floods, fires, power loss, telecommunications failures, hurricanes, computer viruses, computer denial of service attacks or other attempts to harm our systems. If the site is unavailable when customers attempt to access it or access is slower than a customer expects, customers may stop visiting our site and become less likely to return, if at all. We expect to continue to make significant investments in our technology infrastructure to maintain and improve all aspects of user experience and site performance. To the extent that our disaster recovery systems are not adequate, or we do not effectively address capacity constraints, upgrade our systems, and continually develop our technology and network architecture to accommodate increasing traffic, our business and operating results may suffer.

 

Our software is highly technical and undetected errors, if any, could adversely affect our business.

 

Our service incorporates software that is highly technical and complex. Our software has contained, and may now or in the future contain, undetected errors, bugs, flaws, corrupted data or vulnerabilities. Some errors in our software code may only be discovered after the code has been released. Any errors, bugs, flaws or corrupted data could result in damage to our reputation, loss of users, or loss of revenue, any of which could adversely affect our business and financial results.

 

Because our networks and IT systems may be vulnerable to unauthorized persons hacking our systems, it could disrupt our operations and result in the theft of our proprietary information.

 

A party who is able to breach the security measures on our networks could misappropriate either our proprietary information or the personal information provided by participants on our website, or cause interruptions or malfunctions in our operations. Hacking of websites is a growing problem. If we grow and obtain more visibility, we may be more vulnerable to hacking. We may be required to expend significant capital and other resources to protect against such threats or to alleviate problems caused by breaches in security, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial performance and operating results.

 

Our business is subject to a variety of U.S. and other laws, rules and regulations that could subject us to claims or otherwise harm our business.

 

Government regulation of the Internet and e-commerce is evolving and unfavorable changes could substantially harm our business and results of operations. We are subject to a variety of laws in the U.S. and elsewhere that affect advertising, that are costly with which to comply, can result in negative publicity and diversion of management time and effort, and can subject us to claims or other remedies.  In addition, the laws relating to the liability of providers of online services are currently unsettled both within the U.S. and elsewhere.  Claims can be brought under both U.S. and foreign law for defamation and other tort claims, unlawful activity, copyright, and trademark infringement.

 

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act has provisions that limit, but do not necessarily eliminate, our liability for listing or linking to third-party websites that include materials that infringe copyrights or other rights, so long as we comply with the statutory requirements of this act.  The Child Online Protection Act and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act restrict the distribution of materials considered harmful to children and impose additional restrictions on the ability of online services to collect information from minors. In the area of data protection, the European Union and many states have passed laws requiring notification to users when there is a security breach for personal data, such as California’s Information Practices Act. We must comply with the Federal Trade Commission’s unfair trade practices rules and state consumer protection laws including “little” unfair trade practice rules.  Any failure on our part to comply with these laws, rules and regulations may subject us to additional liabilities.

 

As Internet commerce develops, federal, state and foreign governments may draft and propose new laws to regulate Internet commerce, which may negatively affect our business.

 

As Internet commerce continues to evolve, increasing regulation by federal, state or foreign governments becomes more likely.  Our business could be negatively impacted by the application of existing laws and regulations or the enactment of new laws applicable to our business. The cost to comply with such laws or regulations could be significant and would increase our operating expenses.

 

 15 

 

 

If there is new tax treatment of companies engaged in Internet commerce, it could adversely affect the commercial use of our services and our financial results.

 

Due to the global nature of the Internet, it is possible that governments might attempt to tax our activities. New or revised tax regulations may subject us to additional sales, income and other taxes.  New York State, for example, taxes online sales. Recently there has been movement toward Congress permitting states and localities to impose sale taxes on online purchases. Recently, the United States Senate passed legislation to permit taxation of Internet sales but it stalled in the House of Representatives. We cannot predict the effect of current attempts to impose sales, income or other taxes on commerce over the Internet. New or revised taxes and especially sales taxes would likely increase the cost of doing business online, and increase the cost of doing business over the Internet. Any of these events will increase our costs and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

 

If a third party asserts that we are infringing on its intellectual property, whether successful or not, it could subject us to costly and time-consuming litigation or require us to obtain expensive licenses, and our business may be adversely affected.

 

The Internet industry is characterized by the existence of a large number of patents, trademarks and copyrights and by frequent litigation based on allegations of infringement or other violations of intellectual property rights. A party may assert patent and other intellectual property infringement litigation against us claiming our platform infringes on its patents or otherwise violates its intellectual property rights.  Any lawsuit, whether or not successful, could:

 

·Divert management’s attention;
·Result in prohibitive costs;
·Require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements, which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all.

 

As a result, any third-party intellectual property claims against us could increase our expenses and adversely affect our business. In addition, agreements with third parties require us to indemnify them for intellectual property infringement claims, which would increase the cost to us resulting from an adverse ruling on any such claim. Even if we have not infringed any intellectual property rights, we cannot be sure our legal defenses will be successful, and even if we are successful in defending against such claims, our legal defense could require significant financial resources and management time. Finally, if a claimant successfully asserts a claim that our services infringe their proprietary rights, royalty or licensing agreements might not be available on terms we find acceptable, or at all.

 

If we cannot protect our intellectual property rights, we may be unable to compete with competitors developing similar technologies.

 

We regard the protection of our trade secrets and other intellectual property rights as critical to our success. A substantial amount of our processes and technologies is protected by trade secret laws. In order to protect these technologies and processes, we rely in part on confidentiality agreements with our employees, licensees, independent contractors and other advisors. These agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of confidential information, including trade secrets, and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. In addition, others may independently discover our trade secrets and proprietary information, and in such cases we could not assert any trade secret rights against such parties. To the extent that our employees, contractors or other third parties with which we do business use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions. Laws regarding trade secret rights in certain markets in which we currently, or in the future, operate may afford little or no protection to our trade secrets. The loss of trade secret protection could make it easier for third parties to compete with our platform by copying functionality. In addition, any changes in, or unexpected interpretations of, the trade secret and other intellectual property laws may compromise our ability to enforce our trade secret and intellectual property rights. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights, and failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could adversely affect our business, revenue, reputation and competitive position.

 

Risks Related to Our Common Stock  

 

Because the market for our common stock is limited, persons who purchase our common stock may not be able to resell their shares at or above the purchase price paid for them.

 

Our common stock trades on the OTBQB, which is not liquid. There is currently only a limited public market for our common stock. We cannot assure you that an active public market for our common stock will develop or be sustained in the future. If an active market for our common stock does not develop there may be a substantial decrease in the price of our common stock.

 

Because we are subject to the “penny stock” rules, brokers cannot generally solicit the purchase of our common stock, which adversely affects its liquidity and market price.

 

The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define “penny stock” to be an equity security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to specific exemptions, including listing on a national securities exchange like NASDAQ. The market price of our common stock on the OTC Markets is less than $5.00 per share and therefore we are currently considered a “penny stock” according to SEC rules.  This designation requires any broker-dealer selling these securities to disclose certain information concerning the transaction, obtain a written agreement from the purchaser and determine that the purchaser is reasonably suitable to purchase the securities. We will remain subject to the “penny stock” rules unless our stock price is above $5.00.

 

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Due to factors beyond our control, our stock price may be volatile.

 

Any of the following factors could affect the market price of our common stock:

·Our failure to integrate We Sell Cellular efficiently;
·Our failure to increase revenue in each succeeding quarter;
·Our failure to achieve and maintain profitability;
·Our failure to meet our revenue and earnings guidance or our failure to meet financial analysts’ performance expectations;
·The loss of a number of suppliers (see risk factor on page 14) or our failure to attract more suppliers;
·The loss of a number of buyers or our failure to attract more buyers;
·The sale of a large amount of common stock by our shareholders;
·Our announcement of a pending or completed acquisition or our failure to complete a proposed acquisition;
·An adverse court ruling or regulatory action;
·Changes in market valuations of similar companies;
·Short selling activities;
·Our announcement of any financing which is dilutive to our shareholders;
·Our announcement of a change in the direction of our business; or
·Announcements by us, or our competitors, of significant contracts, acquisitions, commercial relationships, joint ventures or capital commitments.

 

In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, securities class action litigation has often been instituted.  A securities class action suit against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s time and attention, which would otherwise be used to benefit our business.

 

Because we may not be able to attract the attention of major brokerage firms, it could have a material impact upon the price of our common stock.

 

It is not likely that securities analysts of major brokerage firms will provide research coverage for our common stock since the firm itself cannot recommend the purchase of our common stock under the penny stock rules referenced in an earlier risk factor.  The absence of such coverage limits the likelihood that an active market will develop for our common stock.  It may also make it more difficult for us to attract new investors at times when we acquire additional capital.

 

If we become subject to a regulatory investigation, it could cause us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices in a manner materially adverse to our business.

 

From time to time, we may receive inquiries from regulators regarding our compliance with laws and other matters. Responding to or defending other such actions would cause us to incur substantial expenses and divert our management’s attention. If we are unsuccessful, we may have to change our policies or practices. Any such change or defense of a regulatory investigation or action could reduce our future revenues and increase our costs and adversely affect our future operating results.

 

Violation of existing or future regulatory orders or consent decrees could subject us to substantial monetary fines and other penalties that could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, it is possible that future orders issued by, or enforcement actions initiated by, regulatory authorities could cause us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices in a manner materially adverse to our business.

 

Because our executive officers and directors beneficially own a significant amount of our common stock, it is likely that they will continue to be able to exert significant control over matters which require shareholder approval including election of directors and the future sale of our business.

 

As of March 30, 2016, our executive officers and directors beneficially owned approximately 55% of our outstanding voting stock. Therefore, these shareholders will have the ability to influence us through this ownership position. These shareholders may be able to determine all matters requiring shareholder approval and, acting together, may be able to control elections of directors, amendments of our organizational documents, or approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transaction. This may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our common stock you may believe are in your best interest as one of our shareholders.

 

We do not expect to pay dividends in the future, which means that investors may not be able to realize the value of their shares except through a sale.

 

We have never, and do not anticipate that we will, declare or pay a cash dividend. We expect to retain future earnings, if any, for our business and do not anticipate paying dividends on common stock at any time in the foreseeable future. Because we do not anticipate paying dividends in the future, the only opportunity for our shareholders to realize the creation of value in our common stock will likely be through a sale of those shares.

 

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

 

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

The requirements of this Item can be found beginning on page F-1 found elsewhere herein.

  

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

 

None.

 

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management carried out an evaluation, with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).  Based on their evaluation, our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2015.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act). Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsor Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework as issued in 2013. Based on that evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective based on that criteria.

 

Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B. Other Information.

 

None.

 

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PART III

 

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance. 

 

The following is a list of our executive officers and directors.  All directors serve one-year terms or until each of their successors are duly qualified and elected.   The officers are elected by the Board of Directors, which we refer to as our “Board.”

 

Name   Age   Position
Nik Raman   32   Chief Executive Officer and Director
         
Daniel Brauser   35   Executive Chairman
         
Jennifer Calabrese   45   Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
         
Peter Benz   56   Director
         
Grant Fitzwilliam   48   Director
         
Amitabh Jhawar   34   Director
         
Brian Tepfer   37   Director
 

 

Nik Raman was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer on November 6, 2014 and as a director on April 24, 2012. From January 27, 2012 until November 6, 2014, Mr. Raman served as our Chief Operating Officer. After graduating from Harvard Business School, Mr. Raman founded and served as Manager of Ft. Knox Recycling, LLC doing business as EcoSquid. Mr. Raman also served as Chief Executive Officer of EcoSquid from its founding through its acquisition by the Company in April 2012. From 2008 until 2010, Mr. Raman attended Harvard Business School. Mr. Raman was appointed a director in connection with the acquisition of Acquisition Corp. in April 2012.

 

Daniel Brauser has served as a director since July 23, 2008 and as Executive Chairman since November 6, 2014. From October 16, 2013 to November 6, 2014, Mr. Brauser served as our Chief Executive Officer. Additionally, Mr. Brauser served as our Chief Executive Officer from July 10, 2012 until October 10, 2012. Prior to being appointed Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Brauser served as our Chief Financial Officer from July 23, 2008 through July 10, 2012. From July 23, 2008 through May 7, 2009, Mr. Brauser also served as our President and Chief Operating Officer. From November 2005 until September 2007, Mr. Brauser served as the Senior Vice President of Health Benefits Direct Corporation. In March 2015, Mr. Brauser was appointed as a director of IDI, Inc. (NYSE MKT: IDI). Mr. Brauser was selected as a director for his extensive experience managing the growth of young companies from start-up through to maturity. In addition, as a founder of our reverse logistics business, Mr. Brauser possesses an in-depth understanding of the challenges and risks and characteristics unique to our business model and the reverse logistics market.

 

Jennifer Calabrese was appointed Executive Vice President of Finance on March 28, 2013 and Chief Financial Officer on April 11, 2014 initially on an interim basis and more recently on a permanent basis. Ms. Calabrese had been acting as our principal financial and accounting officer since October 2012 when our then Chief Financial Officer began providing a high level direction on a very limited basis due to health reasons. Since August 2012, Ms. Calabrese has been the Managing Member of Calabrese Consulting, LLC, a company she founded, which provides SEC financial reporting compliance and consulting services. From March 2010 through August 2012, Ms. Calabrese served as the Director of Accounting and SEC Reporting at eLandia Group, Inc., a provider of information technology products and services to small, medium-sized and large businesses as well as government entities, primarily in Latin America. From July 2007 through March 2010, Ms. Calabrese was the Managing Director of SEC Solutions Group, LLC, a company specializing in SEC financial reporting compliance and consulting services. She is a Certified Public Accountant in New York.

 

Peter Benz was appointed a director on May 15, 2014. Mr. Benz is the Chief Executive Officer of Viking Asset Management, LLC, an asset and investment management company which he founded in 2001. Since January 2012, Mr. Benz has served as a director of Starboard Resources, Inc. Since June 2015, Mr. Benz has served as a director of IDI, Inc. (NYSE MKT: IDI). Mr. Benz was appointed a director as a result of his knowledge and experience in developing companies and capital markets that strengthen our Board's collective qualifications, skills, and experience.

  

Grant Fitzwilliam has served as a director since September 30, 2009. Mr. Fitzwilliam is currently the President of 3c InSight, a software and consulting firm that he co-founded in 2008, which is focused on providing operational excellence solutions for companies throughout the United States. From August 2005 until August 2007, Mr. Fitzwilliam served as Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer of The Hackett Group, a leading business and technology consulting firm and also served as a Managing Director leading Hackett’s national Oracle and Sarbanes-Oxley business units. Mr. Fitzwilliam was formerly an auditor with KPMG LLP and is a licensed CPA in Georgia. Mr. Fitzwilliam was selected as a director for his accounting, financial and professional management experience.

 

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Amitabh Jhawar was appointed a director on May 15, 2014. Since January 2012, Mr. Jhawar has been Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Braintree, a mobile app payments company. In December 2013, PayPal, which is an eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY) company, purchased Braintree for $800 million in cash. As COO and CFO at Braintree, Mr. Jhawar is responsible for the management and direction of that company's finance and accounting functions and new business development initiatives, including expanding Braintree's partnerships and continued international growth. Prior to Braintree, Mr. Jhawar was an Associate at KKR Capstone & Co. L.P. from July 2010 to December 2011. Previous to this, Mr. Jhawar was a student at Harvard Business School where he graduated with high honors in 2010. Mr. Jhawar was appointed a director due to his expertise in online marketplaces and accounting and finance.

 

Brian Tepfer was appointed a director in October 2015 in connection with the acquisition of We Sell Cellular. Mr. Tepfer was the Chief Executive Officer of BST for over five years prior to the We Sell Cellular acquisition. Mr. Tepfer was appointed as a director in connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition and for his expertise and extensive knowledge of the smartphone wholesale business.

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships among our directors and executive officers.

 

Corporate Governance

 

Board Responsibilities and Structure

 

The Board oversees, counsels, and directs management in the long-term interest of uSell and its shareholders. The Board’s responsibilities include:

 

·Establishing broad corporate policies,
·Reviewing the overall performance of uSell and
·Monitoring risks.

 

The Board is not, however, involved in the operating details on a day-to-day basis.

 

Board Committees and Charters

 

The Board and its Committees meet and act by written consent from time to time as appropriate. The Board has formed and appointed members to its: Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Committees are expected to regularly report on their activities and actions to the Board. Each of the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee each have a written charter approved by the Board. Each of our committee charters, as well as our Code of Ethics and Insider Trading Policy are available through the “Investors” section on our website, which can be found at www.uSell.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated herein. In addition, we will provide a copy of any of the foregoing documents, without charge, to anyone that requests one in writing to uSell.com, Inc., 171 Madison Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10016, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

  

The following table identifies the independent and non-independent current Board and Committee members:

 

Name   Independent   Audit   Compensation   Nominating
& Corporate
Governance
                 
Peter Benz        
Daniel Brauser                
Grant Fitzwilliam     Chairman      
Amitabh Jhawar          
Nik Raman                
Brian Tepfer                

 

Independence

 

Our Board has determined that Messrs. Benz, Fitzwilliam and Jhawar are independent under the NASDAQ Stock Market listing rules and are independent in accordance with the NASDAQ independence standards for audit committees and compensation committees.

 

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Audit Committee

 

The Audit Committee’s primary role is to review our accounting policies and any issues which may arise in the course of the audit of our financial statements. The Audit Committee selects our independent registered public accounting firm, approves all audit and non-audit services, and reviews the independence of our independent registered public accounting firm.  The Audit Committee also reviews the audit and non-audit fees of the auditors.  Our Audit Committee is also responsible for certain corporate governance and legal compliance matters including internal and disclosure controls and compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Our Board has determined that Grant Fitzwilliam and Amitabh Jhawar are qualified as Audit Committee Financial Experts, as that term is defined by the rules of the SEC and in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Compensation Committee

 

The function of the Compensation Committee is to determine the compensation of our executive officers.  The Compensation Committee has the power to set performance targets for determining periodic bonuses payable to executive officers and may review and make recommendations with respect to shareholder proposals related to compensation matters. Additionally, the Compensation Committee is responsible for administering our 2008 Equity Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the Plan.

 

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

 

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee assists the Board with developing and maintaining the Company's corporate governance policies, determining the qualifications, qualities, skills, and other expertise required to be a director and identifying individuals meeting those criteria. In considering prospective Board nominees, the Committee will consider, among other factors, the candidate’s demonstrated leadership ability, business experience, and personal and professional ethics, as well as a candidate’s independence under the NASDAQ standards. The Committee may also consider whether a prospective Board member will contribute a diversity of viewpoints, background, experience and demographics as compared to the current members of the Board.

 

The Committee will consider any nominations of director candidates validly made by stockholders in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations and the provisions of the Company's charter documents. Director candidates submitted by our stockholders will be evaluated by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee on the same basis as any other director candidates.

 

Board Assessment of Risk

 

The Board is actively involved in the oversight of risks that could affect uSell. This oversight is conducted primarily through the Audit Committee, but the full Board has retained responsibility for general oversight of risks. The Audit Committee considers and reviews with our independent public accounting firm and management the adequacy of our internal controls, including the processes for identifying significant risks and exposures, and elicits recommendations for the improvements of such procedures where desirable. In addition to the Audit Committee’s role, the full Board is involved in oversight and administration of risk and risk management practices. Members of our senior management have day-to-day responsibility for risk management and establishing risk management practices, and members of management are expected to report matters relating specifically to the Audit Committee directly thereto, and to report all other matters directly to the Board as a whole. Members of our senior management have an open line of communication to the Board and have the discretion to raise issues from time-to-time in any manner they deem appropriate, and management’s reporting on issues relating to risk management typically occurs through direct communication with directors or committee members as matters requiring attention arise. Members of our senior management regularly attend portions of the Board’s meetings, and often discuss the risks related to our business.

 

Presently, the largest risk affecting uSell is having sufficient liquidity to expand the business, integration of the We Sell and uSell business, and maintaining our relationship with our largest supplier and obtaining additional suppliers. The Board actively interfaces with management on seeking solutions.

 

Risk Assessment Regarding Compensation Policies and Practices

 

Our compensation program for employees does not create incentives for excessive risk taking by our employees or involve risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on uSell. Our compensation has the following risk-limiting characteristics:

 

·Our base pay programs consist of competitive salary rates that represent a reasonable portion of total compensation and provide a reliable level of income on a regular basis, which decreases incentive on the part of our executives to take unnecessary or imprudent risks;
·A portion of executive incentive compensation opportunity is tied to long-term incentive compensation that emphasizes sustained performance over time. This reduces any incentive to take risks that might increase short-term compensation at the expense of longer-term Company results.
·Awards are not tied to formulas that could focus executives on specific short-term outcomes;
·Equity awards may be recovered by us should a restatement of earnings occur upon which incentive compensation awards were based, or in the event of other wrongdoing by the recipient; and
·Equity awards, generally, have multi-year vesting which aligns the long-term interests of our executives with those of our shareholders and, again, discourages the taking of short-term risk at the expense of long-term performance.

 

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Code of Ethics

 

Our Board has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of our employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Although not required, the Code of Ethics also applies to our directors. The Code of Ethics provides written standards that we believe are reasonably designed to deter wrongdoing and promote honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships, full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure and compliance with laws, rules and regulations, including insider trading, corporate opportunities and whistle-blowing or the prompt reporting of illegal or unethical behavior. See “Board Committees and Charters,” above, for information on accessing or requesting a copy, free of charge, of our Code of Ethics and other corporate governance documents.

  

Shareholder Communications

 

Although we do not have a formal policy regarding communications with our Board, shareholders may communicate with the Board by writing to us at uSell.com, Inc., 171 Madison Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10016, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by facsimile (888) 748-1120. Shareholders who would like their submission directed to a member of the Board may so specify, and the communication will be forwarded, as appropriate.

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of common stock and the other equity securities. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent shareholders are required by SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.

 

Based solely on a review of the reports furnished to us, or written representations from reporting persons that all reportable transactions were reported and that no Form 5s were required, we believe that during 2014 our officers, directors and greater than 10% owners timely filed all reports they were required to file under Section 16(a) with the exception of a Form 4 reporting one transaction by Jennifer Calabrese, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, as a result of legal counsel’s failure to timely file the document on her behalf. 

 

Item 11. Executive Compensation.

 

The following information is related to the compensation paid, distributed or accrued by us to our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and the two other most highly compensated executive officers serving at the end of the last fiscal year whose total compensation exceeded $100,000 in 2015. We refer to these persons as the “Named Executive Officers.” With the exception of its Chief Executive Officer, the Company had no other executive officers whose compensation exceeded $100,000 in 2015.

 

2015 Summary Compensation Table

 

Name and
Principal Position
  Year  Salary
($)(1)
   Stock
Awards
($)(2)
   Total
($)
 
Nik Raman(3)  2015   147,920    385,000    532,920 
Chief Executive Officer  2014   124,918    720,000    844,918 
                   
Daniel Brauser(3)  2015   33,654    115,500    149,154 
Executive Chairman  2014   125,961    720,000    845,961 

 

(1) Represents cash paid for salary.
(2) The amounts in this column represent the fair value of the award as of the grant date as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 and the SEC disclosure rules. These amounts represent equity awards and do not reflect the actual amounts that may be realized by the Named Executive Officer. Our assumptions with respect to the calculation of these values are set forth in Note 2 of our Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein.
(3) In October 2015, in connection with the acquisition of We Sell Cellular, Messrs. Raman and Brauser were each granted 150,000 fully vested shares of restricted stock. Also in October 2015, in connection with the acquisition of We Sell Cellular, Mr. Raman was granted 350,000 restricted stock units which vest annually over a three-year period, subject to continued employment with uSell on each applicable vesting date and fully vesting upon a change of control of uSell.

 

 22 

 

 

Named Executive Officer Employment Arrangement

 

Nik Raman. Prior to April 1, 2015, Mr. Nik Raman received a base salary of $175,000 per year under an oral contract. Effective April 1, 2015, Mr. Raman’s base salary was reduced to $140,000.

 

Daniel Brauser. Prior to April 1, 2015, Mr. Daniel Brauser received a base salary of $175,000 per year under an oral contract. Effective April 1, 2015 Mr. Brauser is no longer paid a base salary.

 

Termination Provisions

 

No Named Executive Officer is entitled to any severance rights.

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2015 Fiscal Year-End

 

Listed below is information with respect to unexercised options and shares of common stock that have not vested for each Named Executive Officer outstanding as of December 31, 2015:

 

   Stock Awards 
Name  Number of
 Shares or Units
of Stock That
Have Not Vested
(#) (1)
   Market Value of
 Shares or Units
of Stock That
Have Not Vested
($) (1)
 
           
Nik Raman   350,000    430,500 

 

(1) Represents unvested restricted stock units. Market value is based on $1.23 closing price on December 31, 2015.

 

Does not include shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units that were granted after December 31, 2015.

 

Director Compensation

 

We do not pay cash compensation to our directors for service on our Board. Directors are reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings and carrying out duties as Board and committee members.

 

2015 Director Compensation

 

None of our non-employee directors were awarded, paid or earned any compensation serving on the Board during 2015.

 

On January 6, 2016, we granted 100,000 shares to Mr. Benz, including 10,000 shares as an Audit Committee member, 70,000 shares to Mr. Jhawar, including 10,000 shares as an Audit Committee member, and 20,000 shares to Mr. Fitzwilliam for service as Audit Committee Chairman. Each of the awards vest in two equal annual increments, subject to continued service on each vesting date, with the first vesting date being one year from the grant date, and full vesting upon a change in control.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following chart reflects the number of awards granted under equity compensation plans approved and not approved by shareholders and the weighted average exercise price for such plans as of December 31, 2015.

 

 23 

 

 

Name Of Plan  Number of shares
of common stock to
be issued upon exercise
of outstanding
options, warrants and rights  (1)
(a)
   Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options warrants and rights
(b)($)
   Number of shares remaining
available for future issuance
under equity compensation
plans (excluding the
shares reflected
in column (a))(2)
(c)
 
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders               
2012 Equity Incentive Plan (2)   273,063   $1.88    115,125 
Non-Plan Equity Compensation (3)   777,622   $3.05    N/A 
                
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders (4)   350,000    -    - 
Total   1,050,685   $2.75    115,125 

 

(1) Consists of stock options and restricted stock units.
(2) This represents securities issued under our Plan. As of December 31, 2015, we had 115,125 shares remaining under the Plan. Because we have issued 703,835 shares of restricted stock, the number of securities available for future issuance has been reduced.
(3) This represents securities issued outside our Plan. Includes 53,332 of fully vested options granted to executive officers and directors with a weighted average exercise price of $3.00 per share.
(4) Represents 350,000 unvested restricted stock units granted to Mr. Raman.

 

In November 2015 and January 2016, uSell amended the Plan to increase the number of authorized shares under the Plan by 507,727 and 290,000 shares, respectively (to a total of 1,382,023 authorized shares).

 

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

 

The following table sets forth the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned as of March 30, 2016 by (i) those persons known by us to be owners of more than 5% of our common stock, (ii) each director, (iii) our Named Executive Officers and (iv) all of our executive officers and directors of as a group. Unless otherwise specified in the notes to this table, the address for each person is: c/o uSell.com, Inc., 171 Madison Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10016.

 

Title of Class  Beneficial Owner  Amount and
Nature of Beneficial
Owner (1)
   Percent of
Class (1)  
 
            
Directors and Executive Officers:             
              
Common Stock  Nik Raman (2)   648,166    3.3%
Common Stock  Daniel Brauser (3)   1,045,675    3.4%
Common Stock  Peter Benz (4)   80,500     * 
Common Stock  Grant Fitzwilliam (5)   51,702     * 
Common Stock  Amitabh Jhawar (6)   38,000     * 
Common Stock  Brian Tepfer (7)   4,684,419    23.7%
Common Stock  All directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons) (8)   4,682,418    54.9%
              
5% Shareholders:             
              
Common Stock  Todd Oretsky (9)   1,032,342    5.2%
Common Stock  Hakan Koyuncu (10)   1,032,342    5.2%
Common Stock  Douglas Feirstein (11)   1,045,675    5.3%
Common Stock  Leslie J. Schreyer, as Trustee (12)   1,399,000    6.9%
Common Stock  Scott Tepfer (13)   4,682,418    23.7%

  

* Less than 1%.

 

 24 

 

 

(1) Applicable percentages are based on 19,751,999 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 30, 2016. Beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Shares of common stock subject to options, warrants, convertible notes and preferred stock currently exercisable or convertible or exercisable or convertible within 60 days are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of the person holding such securities but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person. The table includes shares of common stock, options, warrants, and preferred stock exercisable or convertible into common stock and vested or vesting within 60 days. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that each of the shareholders named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares of common stock indicated as beneficially owned by them. The table does not include: (i) restricted stock units that do not have the right to vote until they vest and the shares are delivered or (ii) unvested options that do not vest within 60 days of the date listed above in this Note (1).

 

The shares of common stock beneficially owned by each of Messrs. Daniel Brauser, Feirstein, Koyuncu and Oretsky include all shares of common stock subject to a Shareholders Agreement, which terminates when each member of the group beneficially owns less than 127 shares. Under the Shareholders Agreement, the group agreed to vote all of their shares of common stock together on any action as determined by a majority of the members of the group still owning 25 shares. The shares of common stock individually owned by them are:

  

Mr. Brauser 657,900 shares
Mr. Feirstein 357,195 shares
Mr. Koyuncu 6,097 shares
Mr. Oretsky 11,151 shares

 

The shares of common stock beneficially owned by each of Messrs. Brauser, Raman, and Brian and Scott Tepfer include all shares of common stock subject to a Shareholders Agreement. Under the Shareholders Agreement, each person agreed that, in connection with any annual meeting, special meeting or written consent of uSell shareholders, such person would vote together with the other three parties on each matter. However, the parties further agreed that if they cannot reach an agreement, then the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the voting power of all shares of outstanding voting stock of uSell is required to take action. As a result, for so long as the Shareholders Agreement remains in effect, future action by uSell shareholders will effectively require either the unanimous consent of Raman, Brauser, and the Tepfers, or a 75% supermajority vote of outstanding shares. This voting agreement terminates if certain covenants under the Securities Purchase Agreement are not met. The shares of common stock individually owned by them are:

  

Mr. Brauser 657,900 shares
Mr. Raman 621,500 shares
Mr. Brian Tepfer 4,684,419 shares
Mr. Scott Tepfer 4,682,418 shares

 

(2) Mr. Raman is a director and executive officer. Includes 26,666 vested options.
(3) Mr. Daniel Brauser is a director and executive officer. Includes 13,333 vested options.
(4) Mr. Benz is a director.
(5) Mr. Fitzwilliam is a director. Includes 13,333 vested options.
(6) Mr. Jhawar is a director.
(7) Mr. Tepfer is a director.  
(8) Includes executive officers of uSell and We Sell Cellular who are not Named Executive Officers.  
(9) Mr. Oretsky is a former executive officer and director. Mr. Oretsky’s shares are held by Jack Oretsky Holdings, LLC, a limited liability company in which Mr. Oretsky, to our knowledge, is the managing member. Mr. Oretsky is a former director and executive officer. Address is 547 N.E. 59th Street, Miami, Florida 33137. See Note (1) above.
(10) Mr. Koyuncu is a former executive officer and director. Address is 750 SW 3rd Street, Boca Raton, Florida 33486. See Note (1) above.
(11) Mr. Feirstein is a former executive officer and director. Represents: (i) 393,198 shares of common stock (of which 3,176 are held by the Feirstein Family Holdings, LLLP, an entity controlled by Mr. Feirstein), and (ii) 13,333 vested options. See Note (1) above.
(12) Includes: (i) 550,000 shares and 275,000 warrants held in the Trust Agreement dated December 23, 1989 FBO the issue of Jonathan D. Sackler (the “Trust”) for which Leslie J. Schreyer serves as sole trustee, (ii) 300,000 shares and 150,000 warrants held by M3C Holdings LLC (“M3C”), which is wholly-owned by Mary Corson and Richard S. Sackler, M.D., as trustees of the Mary Corson Trust dated January 15, 2004 and (iii) 124,000 shares held jointly by Robert and Mickel Averick. Mary Corson is the sole beneficiary of the Mary Corson Trust and the wife of Jonathan D. Sackler. Mr. Averick is employed by Kokino LLC, which is a family office and provides non-discretionary investment advice to family clients, including the Trust and M3C. This information is based on the Schedule 13G/A filed on February 16 2016. The address is: c/o Chadbourne & Parke LLP, 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Leslie J. Schreyer.
(13) Mr. Tepfer is an executive officer of We Sell Cellular and his ownership is also included within the “directors and executive officers as a group” ownership. See Note (8) above.

 

 25 

 

 

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

 

In July 2013, uSell issued a $300,000 note to Frost Gamma Investments Trust, a former 5% beneficial owner of uSell, in exchange for a $300,000 investment. The note was convertible at $3.00 per share. In February 2014, Frost Gamma Investments Trust converted the note into shares of Series E preferred stock. The investment was made on terms identical to the terms provided to other investors in the 2013 note offering.

 

On January 27, 2014, in exchange for $300,000, we sold 100,000 shares of newly designated Series A convertible preferred stock, which we refer to as Series A, to GRQ Consultants, Inc. 401(K), of which Mr. Barry Honig, a former 5% beneficial owner of uSell, is the trustee. The Series A shares: (i) convert into 100,000 shares of uSell’s common stock. Additionally, we issued GRQ 146,667 shares of newly designated Series C convertible preferred stock in exchange for 216,667 warrants, which were cancelled. The Series C shares convert into 146,667 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

On February 14, 2014, in exchange for $300,000, we sold 100,000 shares of common stock to Frost Gamma Investments Trust, a former 5% beneficial owner of uSell. On the same date, in exchange for $300,000, we sold 100,000 shares of common stock to Gerald Unterman, a former 5% beneficial owner. The investments were made on terms identical to the terms provided to other investors in the February 2014 common stock offering.

 

In accordance with a Commission Agreement, Digital Connect Solutions, Inc. which we refer to as DCS, an entity controlled by Scott Frohman, a former director, received a 25% commission on the gross profits generated by us from traffic generated by DCS. We paid DCS $29,691 in 2013 and $3,622 in 2014. The Commission Agreement was terminated in January 2014.

 

In April 2014, we entered into agreements with Michael Brauser, our then Chairman of the Board, and Douglas Feirstein, our then director, where they agreed within 90 days to exercise 216,666 and 33,333 warrants, respectively, exercisable at $3.00 per share, with one-half exercised for cash and the other half exchanged for restricted stock units. Upon exercise in July 2014, Mr. Brauser and Mr. Feirstein paid us $324,999 and $50,000, respectively. The warrants were exercisable at any time through January 2017.

 

Jennifer Calabrese, our Executive Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer, provides her services through Calabrese Consulting, LLC, a company she controls. Beginning in April 2014, we began paying this company $50,000 per year. As of April, 2015, Ms. Calabrese has been receiving shares of common stock in lieu of $2,083 of monthly cash compensation. As of the date of this report, Ms. Calabrese has been issued 24,027 shares of common stock in lieu of $25,000.

 

In November 2014, uSell entered into a Consulting Agreement with Sunder Raman, the father of Nik Raman, our Chief Executive Officer. In connection with this agreement, Mr. Raman was issued 35,000 restricted stock units which vest in equal increments every three months over a 36-month period, subject to him providing services on each applicable vesting date.

 

In connection with the acquisition of We Sell Cellular, the Company Sell issued the Brian and Scott Tepfers (collectively, the “Tepfers”) 9,358,837 shares of uSell common stock (or approximately 49% of uSell on a fully-diluted basis). In accordance with the Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”), if the Tepfers elect to sell shares of common stock, uSell will use its best efforts to assist the Tepfers in selling their shares of uSell stock acquired under the SPA for up to $6,000,000 in gross proceeds (together and not each) through private placements or public offerings, with target sales of $1,500,000 quarterly, commencing the quarter ending December 31, 2015. If the price per share received by the Tepfers is less than the greater of $1.20 or the product of an EBITDA-based formula, uSell will issue the Tepfers additional shares of uSell stock. In addition, pursuant to the SPA, uSell granted the Tepfers certain piggyback registration rights and a right of first refusal to participate in future uSell financings. uSell also created a pool of 300,000 restricted stock units which can be granted to employees of We Sell Cellular designated by the Tepfers.

 

Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

 

Our Audit Committee pre-approves audit and permissible non-audit services performed by its independent registered public accounting firm, as well as the fees charged for such services.  All of the services related to audit fees and audit-related fees charged by Marcum, LLP, if any, were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.  The following table shows the fees for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

   2015   2014 
Audit Fees (1)  $93,076   $143,410 
Audit Related Fees   -    - 
Tax Fees   -    - 
All Other Fees   -    - 
Total  $93,076   $143,410 

 

 26 

 

 

(1) Audit related fees consisted principally of services related to our assurance and related services by our principal accountant that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our annual and quarterly financial statements as well as the review of our registration statements.

 

PART IV

 

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

 

(a) Documents filed as part of the report.

 

  (1) Financial Statements.  See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements, which appears on page F-1 hereof.  The financial statements listed in the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial Statements are filed herewith in response to this Item.
  (2) Financial Statements Schedules.  All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or because the required information is contained in the consolidated financial statements or notes included in this report.
  (3) Exhibits. The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this report.

 

 27 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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, on March 30, 2016. 

 

  uSell.com, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Nik Raman
    Nik Raman
   

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature   Title   Date  
         
/s/ Nik Raman   Principal Executive Officer and Director   March 30, 2016
Nik Raman      
         
/s/ Jennifer Calabrese   Chief Financial Officer   March 30, 2016
Jennifer Calabrese  

(Principal Financial Officer) and

Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

   
         
/s/ Daniel Brauser   Director and Executive Chairman   March 30, 2016
Daniel Brauser        
         
/s/ Peter Benz   Director   March 30, 2016
Peter Benz        
         
/s/ Grant Fitzwilliam   Director    March 30, 2016
Grant Fitzwilliam        
         
/s/ Amitabh Jhawar   Director    March 30, 2016
Amitabh Jhawar        

 

/s/ Brian Tepfer   Director    March 30, 2016
Brian Tepfer        

 

 28 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit       Incorporated by Reference  

Filed or

Furnished

No.   Exhibit Description   Form   Date   Number   Herewith
                     
3.1     Certificate of Incorporation, as amended    10-K    3/31/15    3.1    
3.2     Second Amended and Restated Bylaws   S-1   9/21/12   3.16    
3.2(a)     Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Bylaws   8-K   11/7/14   3.1    
10.1     Form of 2013 Convertible Note   10-Q   8/14/13   10.1    
10.2     Form of Subscription Agreement - 2013 Convertible Note   10-Q   8/14/13   10.2    
10.3     Form of Securities Purchase Agreement - February 2014 Common Stock Offering   10-K   3/28/14   10.15    
10.4     Shareholders Agreement – Brauser, Feirstein, Oretsky and Koyuncu   10-Q   8/19/09   10.3    
10.5     Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement    10-K   3/31/15     10.5    
10.6     Consulting Agreement - Digital Connect   10-Q   4/1/13   10.3    
10.7     2008 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended*   10-K   4/1/13   10.11    
10.7(a)   Amendment to the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended* - Increased Authorized Shares   8-K   11/1/13   10.1    
10.7(b)   Amendment to the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended* - Increased Authorized Shares   8-K   11/26/14   10.1    
10.7(c)   Amendment to the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended* - Increased Authorized Shares (1,382,023 shares)   8-K   1/12/16   10.1    
10.8     Form of Placement Agent Agreement   8-K   8/15/14   10.1    
10.9     Form of Warrant Certificate   8-K   8/15/14   4.1    
10.10     Form of Placement Agent’s Warrant   S-1/A   8/15/14   4.3    
10.11     Sunder Raman Consulting Agreement    10-K    3/31/15    10.12    
10.12     Stock Purchase Agreement – We Sell Cellular^^   8-K    10/27/15   10.1    
10.13     Registration Rights Agreement – Brian and Scott Tepfer   8-K   10/27/15   10.2    
10.14     Shareholders Agreement – Raman, Brauser and Tepfers   8-K   10/27/15   10.3    
10.15     Management Agreement – Raman, Brauser and Tepfers   8-K   10/27/15   10.4    
10.16     Brian Tepfer Employment Agreement   8-K   10/27/15   10.5    
10.17     Scott Tepfer Employment Agreement   8-K   10/27/15   10.6    
10.18     Note Purchase Agreement - BAM Administrative Services, LLC^^   8-K   10/27/15   10.7    
10.19     Form of Secured Term Note dated October 23, 2015   8-K   10/27/15   10.8    
10.20     Security Agreement - BAM Administrative Services, LLC^^   8-K   10/27/15   10.9    
10.21     Subsidiary Guaranty - BAM Administrative Services, LLC   8-K   10/27/15   10.10    
10.22     Pledge Agreement – BAM Administrative Services, LLC   8-K   10/27/15   10.11    
10.23     Collateral Assignment Agreement – BAM Administrative Services, LLC   8-K   10/27/15   10.12    
21.1     Subsidiaries               Filed
31.1     Certification of Principal Executive Officer (302)               Filed
31.2     Certification of Principal Financial Officer (302)               Filed
32.1     Certification of Principal Executive and Principal Financial Officer (906)               Furnished**
101.INS   XBRL Instance Document               Filed
101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document               Filed
101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document               Filed
101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document               Filed
101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document               Filed
101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document               Filed

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

** This exhibit is being furnished rather than filed and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing, in accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

 

^^ Certain schedules, appendices and exhibits to this agreement have been omitted in accordance with Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy of any omitted schedule and/or exhibit will be furnished supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission staff upon request.

 

Copies of this report (including the financial statements) and any of the exhibits referred to above will be furnished at no cost to our shareholders who make a written request to our Corporate Secretary at 171 Madison Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10016. 

  

 29 

 

 

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

    Page
     
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm   F-2
     
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2015 and 2014   F-3
     
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014   F-4
     
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014   F-5
     
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014   F-7
     
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements   F-9

 

 F-1 

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Audit Committee of the

Board of Directors and Stockholders

of uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  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.  The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, 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.  An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted new accounting guidance in 2015 related to the accounting for debt issuance costs which are presented in the consolidated balance sheets as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of promissory note payable.

 

/s/ Marcum LLP

 

West Palm Beach, FL

March 30, 2016

 

 F-2 

 

  

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

   December 31, 
   2015   2014 
         
Assets          
Current Assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $1,047,786   $2,414,757 
Restricted cash   801,230    - 
Accounts receivable, net   463,187    141,327 
Inventory   7,099,970    - 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   297,023    99,529 
Total Current Assets   9,709,196    2,655,613 
           
Property and equipment, net   193,243    6,928 
Goodwill   8,406,561    - 
Intangible assets, net   5,043,972    - 
Capitalized technology, net   886,543    852,093 
Other assets   79,145    25,875 
           
Total Assets  $24,318,660   $3,540,509 
           
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity          
Current Liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $2,563,598   $539,566 
Accrued expenses   729,160    168,093 
Deferred revenue   814,295    263,739 
Lease termination payable   5,000    - 
Total Current Liabilities   4,112,053    971,398 
           
Promissory note payable, net of current portion   5,087,043    - 
Placement rights derivative liability    1,130,000    - 
Total Liabilities   10,329,096    971,398 
           
Stockholders' Equity:          
Convertible Series A preferred stock; $0.0001 par value; 325,000 shares authorized; 0 shares and 100,000 shares issued and outstanding, respectively. Liquidation preference $0 and $300,000, respectively   -    10 
Convertible Series B preferred stock; $0.0001 value per share; 4,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares and 951,250 shares issued and outstanding, respectively. Liquidation preference $0 and $951,250, respectively   -    95 
Convertible Series C preferred stock; $0.0001 value per share; 146,667 shares authorized; 0 and 146,667 shares issued and outstanding, respectively.   -    15 
Convertible Series E preferred stock; $0.0001 value per share; 103,232 shares authorized; 0 and 103,232 shares issued and outstanding, respectively   -    10 
Common stock; $0.0001 par value; 43,333,333 shares authorized; 19,751,999 and 7,572,703 shares issued, respectively, and 19,751,999 and 7,533,817 shares outstanding, respectively   1,976    753 
Additional paid in capital   68,662,578    54,610,843 
Accumulated deficit   (54,674,990)   (52,042,615)
Total Stockholders' Equity   13,989,564    2,569,111 
           
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity  $24,318,660   $3,540,509 

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 F-3 

 

  

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

  

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2015   2014 
Revenue  $27,093,928   $6,665,429 
           
Cost of Revenue   23,549,098    1,921,175 
           
Gross Profit   3,544,830    4,744,254 
           
Operating Expenses:          
Sales and marketing   2,037,371    5,811,873 
General and administrative   6,344,539    4,659,710 
Total operating expenses   8,381,910    10,471,583 
Loss from Operations   (4,837,080)   (5,727,329)
           
Other (Expense) Income:          
Interest income   956    2,527 
Interest expense   (189,245)   (891,596)
Gain on settlements of accounts payable   -    9,038 
Change in fair value of derivative liability - convertible notes payable   -    (681,122)
Total Other Expense, Net   (188,289)   (1,561,153)
           
Loss before Income Tax Benefit   (5,025,369)   (7,288,482)
           
Income Tax Benefit   (2,392,994)   - 
           
Net Loss  $(2,632,375)  $(7,288,482)
           
Basic and Diluted Loss per Common Share:          
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted  $(0.27)  $(1.15)
           
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period - basic and diluted   9,687,951    6,331,377 

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 F-4 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

   Series A Preferred Stock,
$0.0001 Par Value
   Series B Preferred Stock,
$0.0001 Par Value
   Series C Preferred Stock,
$0.0001 Par Value
   Series E Preferred Stock,
$0.0001 Par Value
 
   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount 
Balance, January 1, 2014   -   $-    976,250   $98    -   $-    -   $- 
                                         
Proceeds from the Sale of Series A Preferred Stock   100,000    10    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Issuance of Series C Preferred Stock in exchange for warrants   -    -    -    -    146,667    15    -    - 
                                         
Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock to Common Stock   -    -    (25,000)   (3)   -    -    -    - 
                                         
Conversion of Convertible Notes and Accrued Interest to Common Stock   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Conversion of Convertible Notes and Accrued Interest to Series E Preferred Stock   -    -    -    -    -    -    103,232    10 
                                         
Proceeds from the exercise of warrants   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Reclassification of Derivative Liability upon Conversion of Convertible Notes to Common Stock and Series E Preferred Stock   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Proceeds from the Sale of Common Stock, net of Offering Costs   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Contributed capital resulting from forgiveness of previously recorded accrued expenses   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Stock based compensation   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Balance, December 31, 2014   100,000   $10    951,250   $95    146,667   $15    103,232   $10 
                                         
Conversion of Series A Preferred Stock to Common Stock   (100,000)   (10)   -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock to Common Stock   -    -    (951,250)   (95)   -    -    -    - 
                                         
Conversion of Series C Preferred Stock to Common Stock   -    -    -    -    (146,667)   (15)   -    - 
                                         
Conversion of Series E Preferred Stock to Common Stock   -    -    -    -    -    -    (103,232)   (10)
                                         
Issuance of Common Stock in connection with We Sell Cellular acquisition   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Issuance of Common Stock in connection with Note Purchase Agreement   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Stock based compensation   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Net loss   -    -    -    -    -    -    -    - 
                                         
Balance, December 31, 2015   -   $-    -   $-    -   $-    -   $- 

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 F-5 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2015 and 2014

(Continued)

 

   Common Stock,
$0.0001 Par Value
   Additional    Accumulated    Total Stockholders' 
   Shares   Amount   Paid in Capital   Deficit   Equity 
Balance, January 1, 2014   4,907,462   $490   $44,087,232   $(44,754,133)  $(666,313)
                          
Proceeds from the Sale of Series A Preferred Stock   -    -    299,990    -    300,000 
                          
Issuance of Series C Preferred Stock in exchange for warrants        -    (15)   -    - 
                          
Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock to Common Stock   1,587    -    3    -    - 
                          
Conversion of Convertible Notes and Accrued Interest to Common Stock   280,427    28    841,266    -    841,294 
                          
Conversion of Convertible Notes and Accrued Interest to Series E Preferred Stock   -    -    309,688    -    309,698 
                          
Proceeds from the exercise of warrants   129,166    13    387,487    -    387,500 
                          
Reclassification of Derivative Liability upon Conversion of Convertible Notes to Common Stock and Series E Preferred Stock   -    -    1,682,507    -    1,682,507 
                          
Proceeds from the Sale of Common Stock, net of Offering Costs   2,141,666    214    5,383,099    -    5,383,313 
                          
Contributed capital resulting from forgiveness of previously recorded accrued expenses   -    -    121,568    -    121,568 
                          
Stock based compensation   73,509    8    1,498,018    -    1,498,026 
                          
Net loss   -    -    -    (7,288,482)   (7,288,482)
                          
Balance, December 31, 2014   7,533,817   $753   $54,610,843   $(52,042,615)  $2,569,111 
                          
Conversion of Series A Preferred Stock to Common Stock   100,000    10    -    -    - 
                          
Conversion of Series B Preferred Stock to Common Stock   60,411    6    89    -    - 
                          
Conversion of Series C Preferred Stock to Common Stock   146,667    15    -    -    - 
                          
Conversion of Series E Preferred Stock to Common Stock   103,232    10    -    -    - 
                          
Issuance of Common Stock in connection with We Sell Cellular acquisition   9,358,837    936    10,387,373    -    10,388,309 
                          
Issuance of Common Stock in connection with Note Purchase Agreement   860,000    86    725,714    -    725,800 
                          
Stock based compensation   1,589,035    160    2,938,559    -    2,938,719 
                          
Net loss   -    -    -    (2,632,375)   (2,632,375)
                          
Balance, December 31, 2015   19,751,999   $1,976   $68,662,578   $(54,674,990)  $13,989,564 

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 F-6 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2015   2014 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:          
Net loss  $(2,632,375)  $(7,288,482)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash and cash equivalents used in operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   819,604    615,907 
Provision for bad debt   5,432    20,148 
Stock based compensation expense   2,953,969    1,492,341 
Deferred tax benefit   (2,392,994)   - 
Amortization of debt issue costs into interest expense   51,564    8,645 
Amortization of debt discount into interest expense   -    873,872 
Gain on settlement of accounts payable   -    (9,038)
Change in fair value of derivative liability - convertible notes payable   -    681,122 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable   (76,205)   32,078 
Other receivables   -    20,422 
Inventory   (3,718,347)   - 
Prepaid and other current assets   669,565    1,966 
Other assets   (26,750)   - 
Accounts payable   727,466   (102,692)
Accrued expenses   (173,297)   (7,262)
Lease termination payable   (10,000)   - 
Deferred revenues   459,400    176,426 
Net Cash and Cash Equivalents Used In Operating Activities   (3,342,968)   (3,484,547)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:          
Website development costs   (601,404)   (656,506)
Cash paid for acquisition, net of cash acquired   (2,365,859)   - 
Restricted cash   (801,230)   - 
Cash paid to purchase property and equipment   (16,789)   (4,169)
Net Cash and Cash Equivalents Used In Investing Activities   (3,785,282)   (660,675)
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
Proceeds from note payable   6,000,000    - 
Proceeds from sale of common stock   -    6,424,999 
Proceeds from sale of convertible Series A preferred stock   -    300,000 
Proceeds from exercise of warrants   -    387,500 
Cash paid for debt issue costs   (238,721)   - 
Cash paid for direct offering costs   -    (1,041,686)
Net Cash and Cash Equivalents Provided By Financing Activities   5,761,279    6,070,813 
           
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents   (1,366,971)   1,925,591 
Cash and Cash Equivalents - Beginning of Period   2,414,757    489,166 
           
Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period  $1,047,786   $2,414,757 

 

 F-7 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Continued)

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2015   2014 
SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW INFORMATION:          
Cash Paid During the Period for:          
Interest  $136,858   $- 
Taxes  $-   $- 
           
SUPPLEMENTARY DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:          
           
Common stock issued in connection with We Sell Cellular Acquisition  $10,388,309   $- 
Fair value of Placement Rights in connection with We Sell Cellular acquisition  $1,130,000   $- 
Common stock issued in connection with note payable  $725,800   $- 
Common stock issued for services  $4,450   $51,695 
Conversion of Series A preferred stock into common stock  $10   $- 
Conversion of Series B preferred stock into common stock  $95   $3 
Conversion of Series C preferred stock into common stock  $15   $- 
Conversion of Series E preferred stock into common stock  $10   $- 
Derivative liability reclassified to Additional Paid in Capital upon conversion of Convertible Notes Payable  $-   $1,682,507 
Conversion of Convertible Notes Payable and accrued interest to common stock  $-   $841,294 
Conversion of Convertible Notes Payable and accrued interest to Series E preferred stock  $-   $309,698 
Contributed capital resulting from forgiveness of previously recorded accrued expenses  $-   $121,568 
Issuance of Series C preferred stock in exchange for warrants  $-   $15 

 

See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

 F-8 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Note 1 - Organization and Business

 

uSell.com, Inc., through our wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, “uSell,” or the “Company”), is a technology based company that engages in the acquisition and resale of smartphones and related devices, allowing buyers to acquire high volumes of inventory in a cost effective manner, via two sources: through uSell.com from individual customers and wholesale from major carriers, retailers and manufacturers.

 

Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

 

Principals of Consolidation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of uSell and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The operating results for We Sell Cellular, LLC are included in the consolidated financial statements from the effective date of acquisition of October 26, 2015 through December 31, 2015.

 

Segment Information

 

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in making decisions on how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is its Chief Executive Officer. The Company and its Chief Executive Officer view the Company’s operations and manage its business as one operating segment.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.

  

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the consolidated financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, the actual results could differ significantly from these estimates.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

All highly liquid investments with an original maturity of 90 days or less when purchased are considered to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates market value. Cash equivalents generally consist of money market accounts.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable represent obligations from the Company’s customers and are recorded net of allowances for cash discounts, doubtful accounts, and sales returns. The Company’s policy is to reserve for uncollectible accounts based on its best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in its existing accounts receivable. The Company periodically reviews its accounts receivable to determine whether an allowance for doubtful accounts is necessary based on an analysis of past due accounts and other factors that may indicate that the realization of an account may be in doubt. Account balances deemed to be uncollectible are charged to the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The allowance for doubtful accounts was $14,300 and $9,600 at December 31, 2015 and 2014 respectively.

 

 F-9 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Inventory, net

 

Inventory, comprised of all finished goods, is stated at the lower of cost (average cost method) or market.

 

Allowances for obsolete inventory are provided based on historical experience of a variety of factors, including sales volume, product life and levels of inventory at the end of the period. The Company has deemed it unnecessary to establish an allowance for obsolete inventory as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

Substantially all of the Company’s inventory purchases are paid for before inventory is received in the Company’s warehouse. Prepaid inventory amounted to approximately $133,000 and $0 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and is included in inventory, net in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment represent costs associated with leasehold improvements, software, and computer and office equipment. Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation on property and equipment is calculated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which typically range from three to five years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or the remaining lease term. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred; expenditures that enhance the value of property or extend their useful lives are capitalized. When assets are sold or returned, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is included in income.

 

Capitalized Technology Costs

 

In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350-40, Internal-Use Software, the Company capitalizes certain external and internal computer software costs incurred during the application development stage. The application development stage generally includes software design and configuration, coding, testing and installation activities. Training and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred, while upgrades and enhancements are capitalized if it is probable that such expenditures will result in additional functionality. Capitalized technology costs are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the software assets on a straight-line basis, generally not exceeding three years.

 

Business Combinations

 

ASC 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”), applies the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations to all acquisitions where the acquirer gains a controlling interest, regardless of whether consideration was exchanged. ASC 805 establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer: a) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree; b) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and c) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. Accounting for acquisitions requires the Company to recognize, separately from goodwill, the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at their acquisition-date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of consideration transferred and the net of the acquisition-date fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. While the Company uses its best estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired or liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

 

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

 

The Company accounts for goodwill and intangible assets in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350”). ASC 350 requires that goodwill and other intangibles with indefinite lives should be tested for impairment annually or on an interim basis if events or circumstances indicate that the fair value of an asset has decreased below its carrying value.

 

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level (operating segment or one level below an operating segment) on an annual basis (December 31 for the Company) and between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. The Company considers its market capitalization and the carrying value of its assets and liabilities, including goodwill, when performing its goodwill impairment test. When conducting its annual goodwill impairment assessment, the Company initially performs a qualitative evaluation of whether it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired. If it is determined by a qualitative evaluation that it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, the Company then applies a two-step impairment test. The two-step impairment test first compares the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit to its carrying or book value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not impaired and the Company is not required to perform further testing. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company determines the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill and if the carrying value of the reporting unit's goodwill exceeds its implied fair value, then an impairment loss equal to the difference is recorded in the consolidated statements of operations. There was no impairment of goodwill as of December 31, 2015.

 

 F-10 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Intangible assets represent customer relationships and trade names/trademarks related to We Sell Cellular, LLC (“We Sell Cellular”). Finite lived assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Indefinite lived intangible assets are not amortized, but instead are subject to impairment evaluation.

 

The Company periodically reviews the carrying values of its intangible assets and other long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that their carrying values may exceed their fair values, and records an impairment charge when considered necessary. When circumstances indicate that an impairment of value may have occurred, the Company tests such assets for recoverability by comparing the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of such assets and their eventual disposition to their carrying amounts. If the undiscounted future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss, measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over its estimated fair value, is recognized. The cash flow estimates used in such calculations are based on estimates and assumptions, using all available information that management believes is reasonable. Fair value, for purposes of calculating impairment, is measured based on estimated future cash flows, discounted at a market rate of interest. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company noted no indicators of impairment.

 

Debt Issue Costs

 

Debt issuance costs incurred in connection with the Company’s debt are capitalized and amortized as interest expense over the term of the related debt. In accordance with Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-03, “Interest—Imputation of Interest,” the Company presents debt issuance costs as a reduction from the carrying amount of debt.

 

Convertible Instruments

 

The Company reviews all of its convertible instruments for the existence of an embedded conversion feature which may require bifurcation, if certain criteria are met. These criteria include circumstances in which:

 

  a) The economic characteristics and risks of the embedded derivative instrument are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics and risks of the host contract,
  b) The hybrid instrument that embodies both the embedded derivative instrument and the host contract is not remeasured at fair value under otherwise applicable GAAP with changes in fair value reported in earnings as they occur, and
  c) A separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded derivative instrument would be considered a derivative instrument subject to certain requirements (except for when the host instrument is deemed to be conventional).

 

A bifurcated derivative financial instrument may be required to be recorded at fair value and adjusted to market at each reporting period end date. In addition, the Company may be required to classify certain stock equivalents issued in connection with the underlying debt instrument as derivative liabilities.

 

For convertible instruments that the Company has determined should not be bifurcated from their host instruments, the Company records discounts to convertible notes for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in debt instruments based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the note transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the note. Debt discounts under these arrangements are amortized over the term of the related debt to their earliest date of redemption. Also when necessary, the Company records deemed dividends for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in preferred shares based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the financing transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the preferred shares.

 

Finally, if necessary, the Company will determine the existence of liquidated damage provisions. Liquidated damage provisions are not marked to market, but evaluated based upon the probability that a related liability should be recorded.

 

Common Stock Purchase Warrants and Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company reviews any common stock purchase warrants and other freestanding derivative financial instruments at each balance sheet date and classifies them on the consolidated balance sheet as:

 

  a) Equity if they (i) require physical settlement or net-share settlement, or (ii) gives the Company a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in its own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement), or

 

 F-11 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

  b) Assets or liabilities if they (i) require net-cash settlement (including a requirement to net cash settle the contract if an event occurs and if that event is outside the Company’s control), or (ii) give the counterparty a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement).

 

The Company assesses classification of its common stock purchase warrants and other freestanding derivatives at each reporting date to determine whether a change in classification between assets and liabilities is required. The Company determined that its outstanding common stock purchase warrants satisfied the criteria for classification as equity instruments at December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company also determined that the Placement Rights satisfied the criteria for classification as derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2015 (see Note 3).

 

Contingent Consideration

 

The Company recognizes the acquisition-date fair value of contingent consideration as part of the consideration transferred in exchange for the acquiree or assets of the acquiree in a business combination. The contingent consideration is classified as either a liability or equity in accordance with ASC 480-10, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity.” If classified as a liability, the liability is remeasured to fair value at each subsequent reporting date until the contingency is resolved. Increases in fair value are recorded as losses, while decreases are recorded as gains. If classified as equity, contingent consideration is not remeasured and subsequent settlement is accounted for within equity. 

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue is recognized when all of the following conditions exist: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (2) delivery has occurred, (3) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and (4) collectability is reasonably assured.

 

Principal Device Revenue

 

The Company, through We Sell Cellular, generates revenue from the sales of its cellular telephones and related equipment. The Company recognizes revenue “FOB shipping point” on such sales. Delivery to the customer is deemed to have occurred when the customer takes title to the product. Generally, title passes to the customer when the products leave the Company’s warehouse. Payment terms generally require payment once an order is placed. The Company allows customers to return product within 30 days of shipment if the product is defective. Allowances for product returns are recorded as a reduction of sales at the time revenue is recognized based on historical data. The allowance for product returns amounted to approximately $197,000 and $0 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which is recorded in accrued expenses in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

Under the Company’s “Managed by uSell” service on uSell.com, which was launched in October 2014, the Company partnered with a third party logistics company to inspect, wipe and process devices before passing them along to buyers. Under this model, title to a device passes to uSell upon issuance of payment to the seller, which is generally within one to two days from the receipt of the device at the third party warehouse. Title to a device is then transferred to the buyer upon shipment to the buyer.

 

Agent Commission Revenue

 

In certain cases, sellers on the Company’s uSell.com website are shown a larger list of offers directly from third party buyers interested in purchasing their devices. These offers are shown instead of or in addition to the “Managed by uSell” offer. If a seller chooses one of these offers, s/he ships his/her device directly to the buyer, rather than to the Company’s third party warehouse. The buyer is then responsible for testing the device, servicing the customer, and ultimately paying the seller for the device or returning it. During 2013, and into 2014, the Company earned up front “lead fees” from buyers when sellers accepted such offers on the Company’s website and filled out a form to request a free shipping kit. This fee was received regardless of whether the sellers ultimately sent in their devices to the buyers. The Company recognized revenue upon online acceptance of the buyer’s offer by the seller. Beginning in February 2014, the Company began to charge a commission to the buyers only when the seller sent in a device and was successfully paid for it. As such, the Company began recognizing Agent Commission Revenue upon payment to the seller.

  

Fulfillment Revenue

 

The Company offers fulfillment services on behalf of its buyers for the items sold using the Agent Commission Revenue approach outlined above. The Company acts as the agent in these fulfillment services transactions, passing orders booked by its buyers to its third party fulfillment vendor, who then assembles the kits and mails them directly to the sellers. The Company earns a standard fee from its buyers and recognizes revenue upon shipment of the kits to the sellers. The Company evaluated the presentation of revenue on a gross versus net basis and determined that since the Company performs as an agent without assuming the risks and rewards of ownership of the goods, revenue should be reported on a net basis.

 

 F-12 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Advertising Revenue

 

Advertising revenues primarily come from payments for text-based sponsored links and display advertisements. Generally, the Company’s advertisers pay the Company on a cost per click, or CPC basis, which means advertisers pay only when someone clicks on one of their advertisements, or on a cost per thousand impression basis, or CPM. Paying on a CPM basis means that advertisers pay the Company based on the number of times their advertisements appear on the Company’s websites or mobile applications. Advertising revenue is recognized as income when the advertising services are rendered.

 

Deferred revenue represents amounts billed to customers or payments received from customers prior to providing services and for which the related revenue recognition criteria have not been met.

 

Shipping and Handling Costs

 

The Company follows the provisions of ASC Topic 605-45 (formerly known as Emerging Issues Task Force Issue 00-10, “Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs”) regarding shipping and handling costs. Shipping and handling costs included in cost of revenue were approximately $116,000 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Advertising

 

Advertising costs are expensed as they are incurred and are included in sales and marketing expenses. Advertising expense amounted to approximately $1,324,000 and $5,498,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Share-Based Payment Arrangements

 

The Company accounts for stock options in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation - Stock Compensation.” ASC 718 requires generally that all equity awards be accounted for at their “fair value.” This fair value is measured on the grant date for stock-settled awards, and at subsequent exercise or settlement for cash-settled awards. Fair value is equal to the underlying value of the stock for “full-value” awards such as restricted stock and performance shares, and is estimated using an option-pricing model with traditional inputs for “appreciation” awards such as stock options and stock appreciation rights.

 

Costs equal to these fair values are recognized ratably over the requisite service period based on the number of awards that are expected to vest, or in the period of grant for awards that vest immediately and have no future service condition. For awards that vest over time, cumulative adjustments in later periods are recorded to the extent actual forfeitures differ from the Company’s initial estimates: previously recognized compensation cost is reversed if the service or performance conditions are not satisfied and the award is forfeited. The expense resulting from share-based payments is recorded in general and administrative expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

Subsequent modifications to outstanding awards result in incremental cost if the fair value is increased as a result of the modification. Thus, a value-for-value stock option repricing or exchange of awards in conjunction with an equity restructuring does not result in additional compensation cost. 

 

Income Taxes

 

The Company complies with the accounting and reporting requirements of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in future taxable or deductible amounts, based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

 

ASC Topic 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2015. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.

 

 F-13 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

The Company may be subject to potential income tax examinations by federal or state authorities. These potential examinations may include questioning the timing and amount of deductions, the nexus of income among various tax jurisdictions and compliance with federal and state tax laws. Management does not expect that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next twelve months.

 

The Company’s policy for recording interest and penalties associated with audits is to record such expense as a component of income tax expense. There were no amounts accrued for penalties or interest as of December 31, 2015.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and accounts receivable.

 

The Company minimizes credit risk associated with cash by periodically evaluating the credit quality of its primary financial institutions. At times, the Company’s cash may be uninsured or in deposit accounts that exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance limit. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company had not experienced losses on these accounts and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such accounts.

 

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivables is minimal due to the large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base and generally short payment terms.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

Financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses are carried at cost, which management believes approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair value of debt approximates its carrying amounts as a market rate of interest is attached to the repayment.

 

Net Loss per Share

 

Basic loss per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, excluding the effects of any potentially dilutive securities. Diluted EPS gives effect to all dilutive potential of shares of common stock outstanding during the period including stock options or warrants, using the treasury stock method, and convertible debt or convertible preferred stock, using the if-converted method. Diluted EPS excludes all dilutive potential of shares of common stock if their effect is anti-dilutive.

 

The computation of basic and diluted loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 excludes the common stock equivalents of the following potentially dilutive securities because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive:

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2015   2014 
Unvested Restricted Stock   356,662    48,886 
Unvested Restricted Stock Units   475,000    509,666 
Stock Warrants   802,520    802,520 
Stock Options   575,685    604,625 
Convertible Series A Preferred Stock   -    100,000 
Convertible Series B Preferred Stock   -    60,415 
Convertible Series C Preferred Stock   -    146,667 
Convertible Series E Preferred Stock   -    103,232 
    2,209,867    2,376,011 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued new lease accounting guidance ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases” (“ASU 2016-02”). Under the new guidance, at the commencement date, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability, which is a lessee‘s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. The new guidance is not applicable for leases with a term of 12 months or less. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2016-02 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early application is permitted upon issuance. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing, and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. Lessees and lessors may not apply a full retrospective transition approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

 

 F-14 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, “Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes” (“ASU 2015-17”) simplifying the balance sheet classification of deferred taxes. To simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes, ASU 2015-17 requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as non-current in a classified statement of financial position. Under prior guidance, an entity was required to separate deferred income tax liabilities and assets into current and non-current amounts. The current requirement that deferred tax liabilities and assets of a tax-paying component of an entity be offset and presented as a single amount is not affected. For public entities, the guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The guidance may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company adopted the new guidance on a prospective basis for its year ending December 31, 2015. Financial statements for prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. The new guidance had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In September 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-16, “Business Combinations – Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments” (“ASU 2015-16”), which eliminates the current guidance that requires an acquirer in a business combination to account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively as if the accounting for the business combination had been completed at the acquisition date. Instead, under the new guidance, an acquirer recognizes measurement-period adjustments in the period in which it determines the amount of the adjustment, including the effect on earnings of any amounts that would have been recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date. ASU 2015-16 does not change the criteria for determining whether an adjustment qualifies as a measurement-period adjustment or change the length of the measurement period, which cannot exceed one year from the date of the acquisition. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and the guidance is applied prospectively to adjustments to provisional amounts that occur after the adoption date. As permitted, the Company has elected to early adopt this guidance as of December 31, 2015. The adoption of this guidance did not have any impact of the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory” simplifying the measurement of inventory. The guidance requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, which consists of estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable cost of completion, disposal, and transportation. The new guidance eliminates unnecessary complexity that exists under current “lower of cost or market” guidance. For public entities, ASU No. 2015-11 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The guidance is to be applied prospectively as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe the implementation of this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-03, “Interest - Imputation of Interest” (“ASU 2015-03”). ASU 2015-03 simplifies the presentation of debt issuance costs by requiring that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts or premiums. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs would not be affected by the amendments of ASU 2015-03. In August 2015, ASU 2015-03 was amended by ASU No. 2015-15, “Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements” (ASU 2015-15). ASU 2015-15 adds language to ASU 2015-03 based on the SEC Staff Announcement that the SEC would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. For public business entities, ASU 2015-03, as amended by ASU 2015-15, is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, ASU 2015-03 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. The Company has early adopted ASU 2015-03 for the year ended December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2015, debt issuance costs of $972,957 were recorded as a reduction of the carrying amount of debt.

 

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-12, “Compensation - Stock Compensation” (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period (“ASU 2014-12”). ASU 2014-12 affects entities that grant their employees share-based payments in which terms of the award provide that a performance target that affects vesting could be achieved after the requisite service period. The amendments in ASU 2014-12 require that a performance target that affects vesting and that could be achieved after the requisite service period be treated as a performance condition. ASU 2014-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the method and impact the adoption of ASU 2014-12 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. 

 

 F-15 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (“ASU 2014-09”). ASU 2014-09 provides guidance for revenue recognition and affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets and supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, “Revenue Recognition,” and most industry-specific guidance. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is the recognition of revenue when a company transfers promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 defines a five-step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, companies will need to use more judgment and make more estimates than under the current guidance. These may include identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price to each separate performance obligation. ASU 2014-09 was initially effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods therein, using either of the following transition methods: (i) a full retrospective approach reflecting the application of the standard in each prior reporting period with the option to elect certain practical expedients, or (ii) a retrospective approach with the cumulative effect of initially adopting ASU 2014-09 recognized at the date of adoption (which includes additional footnote disclosures). Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the method and impact the adoption of ASU 2014-09 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures. In July 2015, the FASB deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 for one year, and proposed some modifications to the original provisions.

 

Note 3 – Acquisition

 

On October 26, 2015 (the “Closing Date”), the Company acquired BST Distribution, Inc., a New York corporation (“BST”), which owns We Sell Cellular, LLC (“We Sell Cellular”) and is engaged primarily in the wholesale acquisition and resale of smartphones and related devices from carriers and big box stores. In connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, the Company, BST and We Sell Cellular entered into a financing transaction on October 26, 2015 with BAM Administrative Services, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“BAM”), as agent, and an institutional investor (the “Purchaser”), pursuant to which the Company issued and sold the Purchaser a note in the principal amount of $4,040,000.

 

Stock Purchase Agreement

The Company, BST, and Brian Tepfer and Scott Tepfer (together, the “Tepfers”) entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) as a result of which BST became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The SPA and the related transactions, other than the financing transaction, were effective as of October 1, 2015. Prior to closing of the SPA, the Tepfers owned 100% of the outstanding stock of BST, which owns 100% of the membership interests of We Sell Cellular. In exchange for acquiring 100% of the outstanding stock of BST, the Company issued the Tepfers 9,358,837 shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to adjustment as described below.

 

Placement Rights

In accordance with the SPA, if the Tepfers elect to sell shares of the Company’s common stock, the Company will use its best efforts to assist the Tepfers in selling their shares of common stock acquired under the SPA for up to $6,000,000 in gross proceeds (together and not each) through private placements or public offerings, with target sales of $1,500,000 quarterly, commencing with the quarter ending December 31, 2015 (the “Placement Rights”). If the price per share received by the Tepfers is less than the greater of $1.20 or the product of an EBITDA-based formula, the Company will issue the Tepfers additional shares of common stock. The Tepfers did not elect to sell shares of common stock during the quarters ending December 31, 2015 and March 31, 2016.

 

In addition, pursuant to the SPA, the Company granted the Tepfers certain piggyback registration rights and a right of first refusal to participate in future Company financings. The Company also created a pool of 300,000 restricted stock units which can be granted to employees of We Sell Cellular designated by the Tepfers.

 

Shareholders Agreement

In connection with the closing of the SPA, Nikhil Raman (“Raman”), the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Brauser (“Brauser”), the Company’s Chairman, and the Tepfers entered into a Shareholders Agreement. The Shareholders Agreement will remain in effect until the earlier of: (i) the Tepfers no longer holding at least 10% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, (ii) Raman resigns or is terminated as an employee of the Company, or (iii) Brauser resigns or is removed as a director of the Company.

 

 F-16 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Under the Shareholders Agreement, each person agreed that, in connection with any annual meeting, special meeting or written consent of the Company’s shareholders, such person would vote together with the other three parties on each matter. However, the parties further agreed that if they cannot reach an agreement, then the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the voting power of all shares of outstanding voting stock of the Company is required to take action. As a result, for so long as the Shareholders Agreement remains in effect, future action by the Company’s shareholders will effectively require either the unanimous consent of Raman, Brauser, and the Tepfers, or a 75% supermajority vote of outstanding shares. This voting restriction will not be enforceable if the Company does not comply with its obligations under the SPA related to assisting the Tepfers with the sale of their common stock.

 

Pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement, the Company appointed Brian Tepfer to the Company’s Board of Directors and each party agreed to take all necessary and desirable action to ensure his future re-election.

 

Management Agreement

In connection with the closing of the SPA, the Company, the Tepfers, Raman, and Brauser also entered into a Management Agreement related to the future management of BST and We Sell Cellular. The Management Agreement will terminate at such time as the Tepfers have collectively received at least $500,000 in gross proceeds from the sale of the Company’s common stock.

 

Under the Management Agreement, the BST board of directors will consist of two members appointed by the Tepfers, who are initially the Tepfers, and two members appointed by the Company, who initially are Raman and Brauser. The Tepfers may replace their designees upon obtaining the approval of the Company, which will not be unreasonably withheld, and vice-versa. The Management Agreement also provides that BST will have three officers, two of which will be appointed by the Tepfers and initially are the Tepfers, and one of which will be appointed by the Company and initially is Raman. BST’s officers may not take certain major actions without the approval of 75% of the members of the BST board of directors.

 

The Management Agreement provides that the initial manager of We Sell Cellular will be Raman. The Company may appoint any replacement manager upon obtaining the approval of the Tepfers, which will not be unreasonably withheld. The manager may not take certain major actions without majority approval of the BST board of directors, which must include the approval of each of the Tepfers or their replacements. The Management Agreement also provides that We Sell Cellular will have three officers: a chairman, who will be the Manager, a chief executive officer, who will initially be Brian Tepfer, and a president, who will initially be Scott Tepfer. We Sell Cellular’s officers may not be removed without their express consent, with certain exceptions including termination of their employment. We Sell Cellular’s officers may not take certain major actions without the approval of the Manager.

 

Employment Agreements

In connection with the closing of the SPA, each of Brian Tepfer and Scott Tepfer entered into employment agreements with BST and We Sell Cellular, effective as of October 1, 2015, pursuant to which Brian Tepfer will serve as Chief Executive Officer of We Sell Cellular and Scott Tepfer will serve as President of We Sell Cellular. Each agreement has an initial term through December 31, 2018 with non-competes extending 12 months following termination of employment. Each agreement will automatically renew for subsequent one-year periods unless otherwise terminated or notice is given of non-renewal. Each of Brian and Scott Tepfer will receive a base salary of $500,000 annually, subject to downward adjustment based on the failure to meet future EBITDA targets, provided that no adjustment may be made below $360,000. In addition, each of the Tepfers will be eligible for a semi-annual target bonus of $250,000, subject to upward and downward adjustment based on the attainment of EBITDA targets. In connection with their employment agreements, the Tepfers also entered into non-compete agreements with BST and We Sell Cellular. These non-compete provisions terminate if the Company fails to meet two agreed upon conditions including the Tepfers electing to sell shares and their failure to receive together at least $6 million from the sale of their common stock by a date four months after the Company files its Form 10-K in 2017.

 

The We Sell Cellular acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting. Accordingly, the acquired assets and assumed liabilities were recorded at their estimated fair values, and operating results for We Sell Cellular are included in the consolidated financial statements from the effective date of acquisition of October 26, 2015.

 

 F-17 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

The allocation of the purchase price is summarized as follows:

 

Cash paid (see Note 8)  $3,107,830 
Fair value of common stock issued (9,358,837 shares)   10,388,309 
Fair value of Placement Rights   1,130,000 
Total consideration paid   14,626,139 
      
Allocated to:     
Cash  $741,971 
Accounts receivable, net   251,087 
Inventory   3,381,623 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   882,309 
Property and equipment, net   184,148 
Other assets   26,520 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   (2,030,930)
Deferred tax liability    (2,392,994)
Deferred revenue   (91,156)
Lease termination payable   (15,000)
Net assets acquired   937,578 
Tradenames   2,622,000 
Customer relationships   2,008,000 
eBay reputation relationship   369,000 
Non-Compete agreement   283,000 
Goodwill   8,406,561 
   $14,626,139 

 

The fair value of the common stock was determined to be $1.11 per share on the date of acquisition. The fair value of the common stock was determined by the Company and was derived from a valuation using discounted cash flows under the Income Approach. Management selected the Income Approach based on the Company being an operating entity expected to generate future cash flows and the fact that any future sale or transaction is expected to be based on the Company’s future cash flow expectations. A discounted cash flow analysis was developed based on the Company’s projections, historical financial information and guideline company/industry growth and margin indications. The discount rate applied to the Company’s projections of 20.75% was based on the weighted average cost of capital. Management determined that this valuation of the Company’s common stock on the date of acquisition is a better indicator of the fair value based upon the fact that the Company’s common stock is thinly traded, has limited trading activity and is mainly held by insiders and affiliates.

 

The fair value of the Placement Rights was determined assuming the Tepfers sell their shares of common stock evenly over the next four quarters, as permitted under the SPA. Accordingly, the Placement Rights were valued as if they expire on the dates the shares of common stock are sold. The Placement Rights were valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model utilizing the following assumptions: stock price of $1.11 per share, exercise price of $1.20 per share, dividend yield of zero, a risk-free interest rate of 0.02% - 0.25%, expected term of 0.18 to 0.93 years and an expected volatility of 59%. In accordance with ASC 480-10, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity,” the Placement Rights are treated as a derivative liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet because the Company is unable to determine if it will have sufficient authorized and unissued shares to deliver to the Tepfers.

 

Goodwill arising from the We Sell Cellular acquisition mainly consists of the combined synergies between uSell and We Sell Cellular. The We Sell Cellular acquisition combined We Sell Cellular’s financial strength, access to supply and expertise and uSell’s technology, buyer network and access to capital. Tradenames are amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives of seven years. Customer relationships are amortized on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives of five years. The eBay reputation relationship is amortized on a straight-line basis over its expected useful life of one year. The Non-Compete agreement is amortized on a straight-line basis over its expected useful life of one year. The Company incurred legal and other costs related to the transaction of approximately $268,000, which have been recognized in general and administrative expenses in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Because the acquisition was a stock purchase for tax purposes, the Company did not obtain a stepped-up tax basis in We Sell Cellular’s assets. A deferred tax liability of $2,392,994 million was established as part of the acquisition accounting to reflect the difference between the fair value of the acquired intangibles on the date of acquisition and the carryover tax basis of the intangibles.

 

Total revenues and income from operations since the date of the We Sell Cellular acquisition, included in the consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2015, were approximately $17,646,000 and $55,000, respectively.

 

 F-18 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

The following unaudited consolidated pro forma information gives effect to the We Sell Cellular acquisition as if the transaction had occurred on January 1, 2014. The following pro forma information is presented for illustration purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the results that would have been attained had the acquisition been completed on January 1, 2014, nor are they indicative of results that may occur in any future periods.

 

   Year Ended December 31, 
   2015   2014 
     
Revenues  78,563,161   46,839,584 
Loss from operations  $(2,516,609)  $(8,405,554)
Net loss  $(3,867,598)  $(9,064,058)
           
Basic and diluted loss per share  $(0.18)  $(0.50)
           
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic and diluted   21,387,247    18,030,673 

 

Note 4 - Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment consists of the following at December 31, 2015 and 2014:

 

   2015   2014 
Machinery and Equipment  $73,256   $14,216 
Leasehold Improvements   21,564    - 
Computer Software   120,333    - 
Furniture and Fixtures   5,645    5,645 
    220,798    19,861 
Less: Accumulated Depreciation   (27,555)   (12,933)
Property and Equipment, Net  $193,243   $6,928 

 

Depreciation expense on property and equipment amounted to $14,622 and $4,530 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Note 5 – Intangible Assets, Net

 

Intangible assets, net is as follows:

 

December 31, 2015  Useful Lives
(Years)
   Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net Carrying
Amount
 
Trade Name   5   $2,622,000   $(62,428)  $2,559,572 
Customer Relationships   5    2,008,000    (66,934)   1,941,066 
eBay Reputation Relationship   1    369,000    (61,500)   307,500 
Non-Compete Agreement   1    283,000    (47,166)   235,834 
Intangible assets, net       $5,282,000   $(238,028)  $5,043,972 

 

Amortization expense amounted to $238,028 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

 F-19 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Future annual estimated amortization expense is summarized as follows:

 

Years ending December 31,    
2016  $1,319,505 
2017   776,171 
2018   776,171 
2019   776,171 
2020   646,810 
Thereafter   749,144 
   5,043,972 

 

Note 6 – Capitalized Technology, Net

 

Capitalized technology consists of the following at December 31, 2015 and 2014:

 

   2015   2014 
Gross value  $2,575,886   $1,974,482 
Accumulated amortization   (1,689,343)   (1,122,389)
Net value  $886,543   $852,093 

 

Capitalized technology is amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of three years. Amortization expense amounted to $566,954 and $611,377 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and is included in cost of revenue.

 

Future annual estimated amortization expense is summarized as follows:

 

Years ending December 31,    
2016  $461,264 
2017   321,171 
2018   104,108 
   $886,543 

 

Note 7 - Convertible Notes

 

In February 2014, holders of $820,000 of convertible notes (“Convertible Notes”) converted their principal, plus accrued interest of $21,294, into 280,427 shares of common stock. In addition, in February 2014, a holder of a $300,000 Convertible Note converted his note, plus accrued interest of $9,698, into 103,232 shares of newly designated Series E Preferred Stock (see Note 10). On the date of conversion, the Company determined the fair value of the derivative liability to be $1,682,507 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

Risk-free interest rate   0.22%
Expected dividend yield   0.0%
Expected volatility   239.41%
%Expected term   1.35 - 1.77 years 

 

The Company recorded an expense of $681,122 during the year ended December 31, 2014, representing the net change in the fair value of the derivative liability pertaining to the Convertible Notes through the date of conversion and, as the derivative liability was eliminated upon conversion, recorded $1,682,507 as additional paid in capital.

 

The Company evaluated the conversion of the $300,000 Convertible Note into the Series E Preferred Stock using the applicable guidance in ASC 470-20, “Debt with Conversion and Other Options,” whereby if a convertible instrument is converted to equity securities of the debtor pursuant to an inducement offer, the debtor shall recognize an expense equal to the fair value of all securities and other consideration transferred in the transaction in excess of the fair value of securities issuable pursuant to the original conversion terms. No gain or loss was recognized by the Company upon the conversion of the Convertible Notes into the Series E Preferred Stock since the fair value of the securities transferred was determined to be equal to the fair value of the securities issuable pursuant to the original conversion terms.

  

 F-20 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

In connection with the conversion of the Convertible Notes, the Company recognized the remaining unamortized discount of $873,872 related to the Convertible Notes as non-cash interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2014. Contractual interest expense on the Convertible Notes amounted to $8,745 for the years ended December 31, 2014.

 

Note 8 - Promissory Notes

 

At December 31, 2015, the Company’s Notes (as defined below) is comprised of the following:

 

Total Notes  $6,060,000 
Less: Unamortized discount and debt issue costs   (972,957)
Total Notes, net of unamortized discount and debt issue costs   5,087,043 
Less: Current portion of Notes   -
Long-term Notes  5,087,043 

 

On October 23, 2015 (the “Note Closing Date”), in connection with the closing of the SPA and related transactions, the Company, BST, We Sell Cellular, BAM, as agent, and the Purchaser, an institutional investor, entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “NPA”) pursuant to which the Company issued and sold the Purchaser a 1% original issue discount Secured Term Note in the aggregate principal amount of $4,040,000 (the “Initial Note”) in exchange for gross proceeds of $4,000,000. Of this amount, $3,107,830 was advanced to We Sell Cellular in connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, of which $1,232,618 was used to repay a lender to We Sell Cellular, $300,000 was used to repay a loan to one of the Tepfers and $1,575,212 was used for working capital purposes.

 

Within six months of the Note Closing Date, the Company may, subject to certain conditions, elect to receive up to two additional draws of funds in connection with the issuance of additional 1% original issue discount Secured Term Note (the “Deferred Draw Notes,” and with the “Initial Note,” the “Notes”). The NPA provides that the Company may elect to receive a total of another $4,000,000 under the Deferred Draw Notes in compliance with the covenants under the NPA. The proceeds of the Notes may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

The Notes mature three years from the Note Closing Date and accrue interest at 13% annually, which is payable monthly in arrears, beginning November 1, 2015. Repayment of principal originally commenced seven months from the Note Closing Date in monthly installments of 1/48th of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (see Note 16). The Notes are prepayable at 103%, beginning one year from the Note Closing Date, in increments of $500,000.

 

In connection with the issuance of the Initial Note, the Company issued the Purchaser 740,000 shares of its common stock. On December 1, 2015, the Company elected to borrow an additional $2,000,000 and issued the Purchaser a Deferred Draw Note in the principal amount of $2,020,000 and issued the Purchaser an additional 120,000 shares of common stock. To the extent that the Deferred Draw Notes are issued, the Company will issue the Purchaser an additional 60,000 shares per $1,000,000 of principal amount of Deferred Draw Notes issued.

 

The Company granted the Purchaser piggyback registration rights with respect to the shares issued in connection with the Note. The Company also granted the Purchaser a right of first refusal to participate in future financings, where the future purpose of the proceeds is to acquire additional inventory of the Company. The right of first refusal expires upon the earlier of (i) 18 months from the Note Closing Date or (ii) such time as the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Note is less than $1,500,000. The right of first refusal does not cover conventional public and private securities offerings.

 

In connection with the execution of the NPA and issuance of the Note, the Company, BST, We Sell Cellular and certain of their wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) entered into a Security Agreement for the benefit of BAM and the Purchaser as secured parties. Pursuant to the Security Agreement, the Debtors granted the secured parties a lien on all of the Debtors’ respective assets, including, but not limited to, equipment, inventory, accounts, and intellectual property. The wholly-owned subsidiaries party to the Security Agreement also jointly and severally guaranteed payment and performance of all obligations under the Notes and related transaction documents.

 

As additional collateral to guarantee the Notes and related obligations, the Company, BST and We Sell Cellular also entered into a Pledge Agreement for the benefit of BAM and the Purchaser pursuant to which they pledged the equity interests of certain of their wholly-owned subsidiaries, including BST and We Sell Cellular. Under a Collateral Assignment Agreement, the Company also assigned BAM, as agent for the Purchaser, all of its rights under the SPA.

 

 F-21 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

The Company maintains a dedicated bank account with a third party custodian pursuant to which all accounts receivable and Collateral proceeds (as defined in the NPA) are deposited to this account. The Company can only access funds in this account in accordance with the terms of the NPA. This account is controlled by BAM and is presented as restricted cash in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

 

The Company determined the value of the 860,000 shares of common stock issued to the Purchaser to be $725,800, based upon the quoted closing trading price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The issuance of the 860,000 shares of common stock has been treated as a debt issue cost and, accordingly, has been recorded as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of Notes and is being amortized to interest expense over the contractual term of the Notes. During the year ended December 31, 2015, accretion of the costs amounted to $36,113.

 

The Company recorded a discount on the Notes of $60,000 which is being accreted to non-cash interest expense over the contractual term of the Notes. During the year ended December 31, 2015, accretion of the discount amounted to $2,793. Contractual interest expense on the Notes amounted to $171,923 for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

The Company incurred fees associated with the closing of the Notes of $238,721. These amounts have been treated as a debt issue cost and, accordingly, have been recorded as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of Notes and are being amortized to interest expense over the contractual term of the Notes. During the year ended December 31, 2015, accretion of the fees amounted to $12,658.

 

The NPA included covenants and events of default beginning in 2016, including that the Company satisfy an outstanding principal amount to EBITDA ratio (as defined in the NPA), satisfy a debt coverage ratio, maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio and limits the amount of capital expenditures the Company can make.

 

On March 30, 2016, the Company and BAM entered into an amendment to the NPA (see Note 16).

 

Scheduled principal payments, taking into account the amendment to the NPA noted above, are as follows: 

 

Year ended December 31,    
2016  $- 
2017   505,000 
2018   5,555,000 
   6,060,000 

 

Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies

 

Legal Proceedings

 

On May 29, 2014, Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC (“Samsung”) filed suit in the Dallas County, Texas State District Court against BST alleging that BST breached a Distribution Agreement and seeking approximately $152,000 in damages and attorney’s fees. BST has counterclaimed against Samsung alleging fraud and misrepresentation, breach of contract and estoppel and is seeking to recover out of pocket damages and lost profits, as well as attorney’s fees. The case is consolidated with a case filed by We Sell Cellular arising out of the same or similar facts against Samsung alleging fraud and misrepresentation, breach of contract and estoppel. We Sell Cellular is seeking recovery of out of pocket damages, lost profits and attorney fees. Samsung counter claimed against We Sell Cellular alleging breach of contract seeking approximately $152,000 in damages plus attorney fees. The consolidated cases are in the discovery phase of litigation. In connection with the acquisition of We Sell Cellular by uSell (see Note 3), Brian and Scott Tepfer, BST’s then sole shareholders, agreed to pay all further litigation costs and pay any adverse judgement or settlement amount in exchange for retaining any sums BST may recover from Samsung.

 

From time to time, The Company is a party to or otherwise involved in legal proceedings arising in the normal and ordinary course of business. As of the date of this report, the Company is not aware of any proceeding, threatened or pending, against the Company which, if determined adversely, would have a material effect on its business, results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

 

Operating Leases

 

The Company leased space for operations, sales, customer support and corporate purposes under a lease agreement that expired in August 2015. In August 2015, the Company relocated its operations and entered into a new lease that expires in August 2018. The Company also leases space for its warehouse and office under a lease that expires in December 2019. The leases contain provisions requiring the Company to pay maintenance, property taxes and insurance and require scheduled rent increases. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases.

 

Rent expense, amounting to $100,000 and $81,000 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, is included in general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

 F-22 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Future annual minimum payments due under the leases are summarized as follows:

 

Year ended December 31,    
2016  $170,900 
2017   176,000 
2018   152,000 
2019   68,900 
   567,800 

 

Note 10 – Stockholders’ Equity

 

Convertible Series A Preferred Stock

 

On January 27, 2014, the Company sold 100,000 shares of Series A for proceeds of $300,000.

 

In October 2015, in connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, holders of 100,000 shares of the Company’s Convertible Series A Preferred Stock agreed to convert their preferred stock into 100,000 shares of common stock. As a result, there are no shares of Convertible Series A Preferred Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2015.

 

Convertible Series B Preferred Stock

 

On February 4, 2014, a holder of 25,000 shares of the Company’s 2010 Series B PS converted his shares into 1,587 shares of common stock.

 

In October 2015, in connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, holders of 951,250 shares of the Company’s Convertible Series B Preferred agreed to convert their preferred stock converted into 60,411 shares of common stock. As a result, there are no shares of Convertible Series B Preferred Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2015.

 

Convertible Series C Preferred Stock

 

On January 27, 2014, the Company issued 146,667 shares of Series C in exchange for 216,667 warrants, which were cancelled.

 

 In October 2015, in connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, holders of 146,667 shares of the Company’s Convertible Series C Preferred Stock agreed to convert their preferred stock into 146,667 shares of common stock. As a result, there are no shares of Convertible Series C Preferred Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2015.

 

Series E Preferred Stock

 

In February 2014, the Company issued 103,232 shares of Series E upon the conversion of a $300,000 Convertible Note, plus accrued interest of $9,698.

 

In October 2015, in connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, holders of 103,232 shares of the Company’s Convertible Series E Preferred Stock agreed to convert their preferred stock into 103,232 shares of common stock. As a result, there are no shares of Convertible Series E Preferred Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2015.

 

Common Stock

 

In February and March 2014, the Company sold an aggregate of 591,666 shares of its common stock, par value $0.0001, in a private placement offering for gross proceeds of $1,774,999. Palladium Capital Advisors, LLC (“Palladium”) acted as the Company’s placement agent for the offering, received a commission of $75,000 and was issued 22,083 five-year warrants exercisable at $3.00 per share. The Company estimated that the fair value of warrant was $62,241 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of the warrant granted to Palladium was estimated as of the date of grant using the following assumptions: (1) expected volatility of 58.9%, (2) risk-free interest rate of 1.53% and (3) expected life of five years. The Company accounted for the fair value of the warrant as a cost of the private placement offering resulting in a charge directly to stockholders’ equity. Net proceeds, after the payment of commissions and legal and other expenses of $95,550, amounted to $1,679,449.

 

On March 16, 2015, the Company filed a Certificate of Correction pursuant to which the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock was decreased from 650,000,000 shares to 43,333,333 shares to properly reflect the Company’s 1-for-15 reverse stock split on January 21, 2014. The par value remained the same. All share and per share amounts have been retroactively restated to reflect the reverse stock split.

 

 F-23 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

Note 11 - Public Offering

 

On August 15, 2014, the Company sold an aggregate of 1,550,000 units at $3.00 per unit (“Units”) for gross proceeds of $4,650,000. Each Unit consisted of one share of the Company’s common stock and one-half warrant. Each warrant is exercisable for five years and entitles the holder to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $3.20 per share. The Company estimated the fair value of the warrant to be $1,204,759, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of the warrant was estimated as of the date of issuance using the following assumptions: (1) expected volatility of 60.7%, (2) risk-free interest rate of 1.55% and (3) expected life of five years. The Company accounted for the fair value of the warrant as a cost of the offering resulting in a charge directly to stockholders’ equity. Dawson James Securities, Inc. (“Dawson James”), the Company’s placement agent for the offering, received a commission of $559,900. In addition, the Company sold Dawson James, for $100, an option to purchase up to a total of 93,000 Units, exercisable for five years at $3.75 per Unit (or an aggregate exercise price of $348,750). The Company estimated the fair value of the unit purchase option to be $133,355, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of the unit purchase option was estimated as of the date of grant using the following assumptions: (1) expected volatility of 60.7%, (2) risk-free interest rate of 1.55% and (3) expected life of five years. The Company accounted for the fair value of the unit purchase option, inclusive of the receipt of $100 cash payment, as a cost of the offering resulting in a charge directly to stockholders’ equity. Net proceeds, after the payment of commissions and legal and other expenses of $946,136, amounted to $3,703,864.

 

Note 12 - Stock-Based Compensation

 

Stock Option Grants

 

On November 10, 2015, November 21, 2014 and October 30, 2013, the Company amended its 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock under the Plan by 507,727 shares, 300,000 shares and 250,000 shares, respectively. The Company is now authorized to issue 1,092,023 shares under the Plan. The Plan is administered by the board of directors. Under the Plan, the board of directors is authorized to grant awards to employees, consultants and any other persons to whom the Plan is applicable and to determine the number and types of such awards and the terms, conditions, vesting and other limitations applicable to each such award. The Plan provides for the issuance of both incentive stock options (“ISO’s”) and non-qualified stock options (“NQO’s”). ISO’s can only be granted to employees and NQO’s can be granted to directors, officers, employees, consultants, independent contractors and advisors. As of December 31, 2015, there were 115,125 shares of common stock available for issuance under the Plan. The Plan was further amended on January 6, 2016 to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock under the Plan to a total of 1,382,023 shares.

 

The fair value of options is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The valuation determined by the Black-Scholes pricing model is affected by the Company’s stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of highly complex and subjective variables. These variables include, but are not limited to, expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors. The risk free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rate for the expected life at the time of grant, volatility is based on the average long-term implied volatilities of peer companies, the expected life is based on the estimated average of the life of options using the simplified method, and forfeitures are estimated on the date of grant based on certain historical data. The Company utilizes the simplified method to determine the expected life of its options due to insufficient exercise activity during recent years as a basis from which to estimate future exercise patterns. The expected dividend assumption is based on the Company’s history and expectation of dividend payouts.

 

  Forfeitures are required to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company granted 128,332 stock options to employees for future services. These options had a fair value of $184,423, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

Risk free interest rate   1.19% - 1.43 %
Expected dividends   0%
Expected volatility   56.89% - 60.87%
Expected term   3.75 - 4.00 years 

 

 

The options are exercisable at exercise prices ranging from $2.69 to $5.15 per share over a five-year term and vest over four years. The Company recorded $81,086 and $27,152 during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, as compensation expense pertaining to these grants.

 

 F-24 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company granted 121,000 stock options to employees for future services. These options had a fair value of $79,139, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

Risk-free interest rate   1.12% – 1.47 %
Expected dividend yield   0%
Expected volatility   61.89% - 99.21 %
Expected term   3.75 years 

 

The options are exercisable over a five-year term and vest over four years. The Company recorded $25,615 during the year ended December 31, 2015 as compensation expense pertaining to these grants.

 

In connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, on October 26, 2015, the Company determined to accelerate the vesting of stock options previously granted to employees and, therefore, recognized the remaining value of the stock options in the amount of $329,649.

 

Including prior period grants and the above grants, the Company recorded non-cash compensation expense of $542,506 and $521,953 during the years ended December 31, 2015and 2014, respectively, pertaining to stock option grants.

 

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $0.65 and $1.44, respectively. Total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options at December 31, 2015 amounts to $45,988 and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.95 years.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

   Number of
Options
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(in Years)
   Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
 
Outstanding - December 31, 2014   604,625   $4.73    3.3   $- 
Granted   121,000    1.24           
Exercised   -    -           
Forfeited or Canceled   (149,940)   9.42           
Outstanding - December 31, 2015   575,685   $2.75    3.0   $1,509 
                     
Exercisable - December 31, 2015   520,685   $3.90    2.8   $1,509 

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s stock option activity for non-vested options for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

   Number of
Options
   Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
 
Balance at December 31, 2014   255,855   $2.65 
Granted   121,000    0.65 
Vested   (245,628)   (2.32)
Forfeited or Canceled   (76,227)   (1.83)
Balance at December 31, 2015   55,000   $0.86 

 

Warrants

 

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, there were 802,520 warrants outstanding and exercisable, with a weighted average exercise price of $3.21 per share. The weighted average remaining contractual life of the warrants outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2015 and 2014 was 3.6 and 4.6 years, respectively, and the aggregate intrinsic value was $0.

 

 F-25 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

The Company did not grant any warrants to purchase shares of common stock during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

As discussed in Note 10, in February 2014, in connection with the private placement offering of the Company’s common stock, the Company issued Palladium five-year warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 22,083 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share.

 

As discussed below, in July 2014, the Company’s former Chairman exercised and exchanged 216,666 warrants for 108,333 RSUs and 108,333 shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition, a former director of the Company exercised and exchanged 33,333 warrants for 16,666 RSUs and 16,667 shares of the Company’s common stock.

 

As discussed in Note 11, in August 2014, in connection with the Company’s public offering of Units, the Company issued five-years warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 775,000 shares of its commons stock at an exercise price of $3.20 per share.

 

As discussed in Note 10, the Company issued 146,667 shares of Series C in exchange for 216,667 warrants, which were cancelled.

 

There was no expense pertaining to warrants recorded during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

Shares Granted to Directors, Consultants and Employees

 

On January 27, 2014, the Company entered into a six month joint marketing agreement with a third party consultant. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Company was required to pay a cash fee of $40,000 for the first month of service, $30,000 for the second and third month and $10,000 per month thereafter. Additionally, the Company issued the consultant 30,000 fully vested shares of common stock, having a fair value of $123,744, based on the quoted closing trading price of the Company’s common stock as of the grant date. The Company recorded $123,744 as compensation expense pertaining to this grant during the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

On January 30, 2014, the Company granted 2,000 fully vested shares of common stock, having a fair value of $6,056, based on the based on the value of services provided, to an advisor for services provided. The Company recorded $6,056 as professional fees expense pertaining to this grant during the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

On August 15, 2014, the Company renewed an investor relations agreement with a third party consultant for an additional one-year term, commencing August 15, 2014. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the Company was required to pay a monthly cash fee of $3,000 and issue 20,000 shares of its common stock, with 10,000 shares vesting on August 15, 2014 and 10,000 shares vesting on May 15, 2015. The third party consultant received the 10,000 shares of vested common stock on August 15, 2014 and agreed to receive 5,000 shares of vested common stock in full settlement of the agreement on May 15, 2015. The Company recorded $ 19,700 and $15,250 as professional fees expense pertaining to this grant during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Restricted Stock Awards

 

On April 11, 2014, the Company granted 150,000 RSUs each to its Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The RSUs initially vested annually over a five year period, subject to continued service on each applicable vesting date. Additionally, the RSUs automatically vested under certain circumstances, including in the event of a change of control of the Company. The RSUs had no voting rights or dividend rights. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $4.80 per share, based upon the closing market price on the date of grant. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounted to $1,440,000, which was being recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period. As a result of the We Sell Cellular acquisition, the vesting of the RSUs was accelerated and the Company issued 150,000 shares of common stock to each of the Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The Company recorded $ 1,236,000 and $204,000 of compensation expense during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to this award.

 

On April 10, 2014, the Company entered into agreements with Michael Brauser, former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, and Doug Feirstein, a former director of the Company, through which each agreed within 90 days to prematurely exercise 216,666 warrants and 33,333 warrants, respectively, exercisable at $3.00 per share, with one-half exercised for cash and the other half exchanged for restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Mr. Brauser exercised and exchanged his warrants in July 2014 by paying $324,999 of cash and receiving 108,333 shares of common stock and 108,333 fully vested RSUs to be delivered on July 18, 2019. Mr. Feirstein exercised and exchanged his warrants in July 2014 by paying $50,000 of cash and receiving 16,667 shares of common stock and 16,666 fully vested RSUs to be delivered on July 18, 2019. In connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, the Company agreed to accelerate the delivery of the RSUs and the Company issued 108,333 shares and 16,666 shares of common stock to Mr. Brauser and Mr. Feirstein, respectively.

 

 F-26 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

On May 15, 2014, the Company granted 5,000 shares of fully vested restricted common stock to its Chief Financial Officer for services previously provided. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $4.55 per share, based upon the quoted closing trading price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounted to $22,750, which was recorded as compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Effective May 19, 2014, the Company granted an aggregate of 146,000 RSUs to its independent directors. The RSUs initially vested annually over a three year period, subject to continued service on each applicable vesting date. Additionally, the RSUs automatically vested under certain circumstances, including in the event of a change of control of the Company. The RSUs will have no voting rights or dividend rights. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $4.55 per share, based upon the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounted to $664,300, which was being recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period. During the year ended December 31, 2014, 38,000 unvested RSUs were forfeited upon the resignation of one of the Company’s directors. In connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, the Company agreed to accelerate the delivery of the RSUs and the Company issued 108,000 shares of common stock. The Company recorded $389,025 and $102,375 of compensation expense during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to this award.

  

On December 2, 2014, the Company granted an aggregate of 35,000 RSUs to a consultant for future services to be provided as an advisor to the Company. The RSUs initially vested quarterly over a three year period, subject to continued service on each applicable vesting date. Additionally, the RSUs automatically vested under certain circumstances, including in the event of a change of control of the Company. The RSUs will have no voting rights or dividend rights. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $2.01 per share, based upon the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounted to $70,350, which was being recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period. In connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, the Company agreed to accelerate the delivery of the RSUs and the Company issued 35,000 shares of common stock. The Company recorded $68,396 and $1,954 of compensation expense during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to this award.

 

 On April 1, 2015, the Company granted 5,200 RSUs to its Chief Financial Officer. The RSUs vested monthly over a three-month period through June 30, 2015, subject to continued service on each applicable vesting date. The RSUs have no voting or dividend rights. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $1.03 per share, based upon the closing market price on the grant date. In connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, the Company agreed to accelerate the delivery of the RSUs and the Company issued 5,200 shares of common stock. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounted to $5,356, which was recorded as compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

On July 1, 2015, the Company granted 5,384 RSUs to its Chief Financial Officer. The RSUs vested monthly over a three-month period through September 30, 2015, subject to continued service on each applicable vesting date. The RSUs have no voting or dividend rights. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $1.25 per share, based upon the closing market price on the grant date. In connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, the Company agreed to accelerate the delivery of the RSUs and the Company issued 5,384 shares of common stock. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounted to $6,730, which was recorded as compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

On October 1, 2015, the Company granted 8,235 RSUs to its Chief Financial Officer. The RSUs vested monthly over a three-month period through December 31, 2015, subject to continued service on each applicable vesting date. The RSUs have no voting or dividend rights. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $0.76 per share, based upon the closing market price on the grant date. In connection with the We Sell Cellular acquisition, the Company agreed to accelerate the delivery of the RSUs and the Company issued 8,235 shares of common stock. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounted to $6,259, which was recorded as compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

As a result of the We Sell Cellular acquisition, on October 26, 2015, the Company granted 150,000 shares of fully vested restricted common stock to each of its Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for services previously provided. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $0.77 per share, based upon the quoted closing trading price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounted to $231,000, which was recorded as compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

As a result of the We Sell Cellular acquisition, on October 26, 2015, the Company granted 350,000 RSUs to its Chief Executive Officer. The RSUs vest annually over three years, subject to continued service on each applicable vesting date. The RSUs have no voting or dividend rights. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $0.77 per share, based upon the quoted closing trading price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounts to $269,500, which will be recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period. The Company recorded $14,972 of compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2015 with respect to this award.

 

 F-27 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

On December 10, 2015, the Company granted 125,000 RSUs to certain of employees. The RSUs vest quarterly over a three years, subject to continued service on each applicable vesting date. The RSUs have no voting or dividend rights. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $1.28 per share, based upon the quoted closing trading price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounts to $160,000, which will be recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period. The Company recorded $4,445 of compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2015 with respect to this award.

 

On December 10, 2015, the Company granted 475,000 shares of restricted common stock to certain employees, of which 135,000 shares were fully vested on the date of grant. The remaining 340,000 shares of common stock vest quarterly over three years, subject to continued service on each applicable vesting date. The fair value of the common stock on the date of grant was $1.28 per share, based upon the quoted closing trading price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date. The aggregate grant date fair value of the award amounts to $608,000, which will be recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period. The Company recorded $184,888 of compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2015 with respect to this award.

 

Including prior period grants and the above grants, the Company recorded non-cash compensation expense of $2,411,463 and $970,388 during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock awards and unvested restricted stock units at December 31, 2015 amounts to $833,195 and is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.8 years.

 

A summary of the restricted stock award activity for the year ended December 31, 2015 is as follows:

 

   Number of
Shares
 
     
Unvested Outstanding at December 31, 2014   558,552 
Granted   1,268,819 
Cancelled   (5,000)
Vested   (990,709)
Unvested Outstanding at December 31, 2015   831,662 

 

Note 13 - Income Taxes

 

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for both the expected impact of differences between the financial statements and the tax basis of assets and liabilities, and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax losses and tax credit carryforwards. The Company established a valuation allowance to reflect the likelihood of realization of deferred tax assets.

 

The domestic and foreign components of the Company’s consolidated net pre-tax loss from operations for the respective periods are as follows:

 

   Year ended December 31, 
   2015   2014 
Domestic loss  $(5,025,000)  $(7,354,000)
Foreign income   -    65,000 
Consolidated net loss before income tax expense  $(5,025,000)  $(7,289,000)

 

The valuation allowance at December 31, 2015 was approximately $8,326,000. The net change in the valuation allowance during the year ended December 31, 2015 was a decrease of approximately $4,903,000. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred income tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred income tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred income tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based on consideration of these items, management has determined that enough uncertainty exists relative to the realization of the deferred tax asset to warrant the application of a full valuation allowance as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

 F-28 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

The Company has a net operating loss carryforward totaling approximately $15,130,000 at December 31, 2015, expiring through 2035. Pursuant to Code Sec. 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, the utilization of net operating loss carryforwards may be limited as a result of a cumulative change in stock ownership of more than 50% over a three year period. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company concluded that the future utilization of its net operating loss carryforwards is subject to certain limitations. Accordingly, the Company recorded a reduction in its deferred tax assets and related valuation allowance related to this limitation. Temporary differences, which give rise to a net deferred tax asset, are approximately as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2015   2014 
Current deferred tax assets:          
Accrued Expenses  $-   $30,000 
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts   -    4,000 
Subtotal current deferred tax asset   -    34,000 
           
Non-current deferred tax assets and liabilities:          
Accrued expenses  $259,000   $- 
Allowance for doubtful accounts   6,000    - 
Intangible Assets  (2,187,000)  65,000 
Fixed Assets   (238,000)   (147,000)
Charitable Contributions   2,000    - 
Stock Options   3,466,000    2,673,000 
Net operating loss carryover   7,018,000    10,604,000 
Subtotal non-current deferred tax asset   8,326,000    13,195,000 
           
Total deferred tax asset  $8,326,000   $13,229,000 
Less: valuation allowance   (8,326,000)   (13,229,000)
Net deferred tax assets  $-   $- 

 

The actual tax benefit differs from the expected tax benefit for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 (computed by applying the U.S. Federal Corporate income tax rate of 34%) as follows:

 

   December 31, 
   2015   2014 
         
Expected tax benefit   $1,709,000  $2,478,000
State income taxes, net of federal benefit   353,000   242,000
Foreign rate differential   -    2,000
Net operating loss adjustment due to Section 382 limitation   (5,346,000)   - 
Change in fair value of derivative liability - embedded conversion feature   -    (232,000)
Permanent items   (650,000)   (2,000)
Change in tax rate   537,000   - 
True-up   887,000   5,000
Change in valuation allowance   4,903,000   (2,493,000)
Actual tax benefit  $2,393,000  $- 

 

Note 14 – Customer and Vendor Concentrations

 

Customer Concentration

 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, there were no customers that represented at least 10% of revenues. During the year ended December 31, 2014, one customer represented at least 10% of revenues, accounting for 15% of the Company’s revenues. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, 24% and 0% of the Company’s revenues, respectively, were originated in Europe and 18% and 0% of the Company’s revenues, respectively, were originated in Hong Kong.

 

 F-29 

 

 

uSell.com, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

December 31, 2015 and 2014

 

At December 31, 2015, there were no customers that represented at least 10% of accounts receivable. At December 31, 2014, one customer represented at least 10% of accounts receivable, accounting for 24% of the Company’s accounts receivable.

 

Vendor Concentration

 

During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, one vendor represented at least 10% of purchases, accounting for 94% and 0% of the Company’s purchases, respectively.

 

At December 31, 2015, one vendor represented at least 10% of accounts payable, accounting for 40%, of the Company’s accounts payable. At December 31, 2014, two vendors represented at least 10% of accounts payable, accounting for 14% and 11% of the Company’s accounts payable.

 

Note 15 - Fair Value Measurements

 

The fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities reflects management’s estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:

 

  Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
  Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
  Level 3: Unobservable inputs based on the Company’s assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

 

The following table presents information about the Company’s liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2015 and 2014, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation inputs the Company utilized to determine such fair value:

 

      December 31, 
Description  Level  2015   2014 
Liabilities:             
Placement Right Derivative Liability  3  $1,130,000   $- 

 

The following table reflects the change in fair value of the Company’s derivative liability for the year ended December 31, 2015:

 

Balance – December 31, 2014  $- 
Initial placement right valuation   1,130,000 
Balance – December 31, 2015  $1,130,000 

 

The Company has determined the estimated fair value amounts using available market information and appropriate methodologies. However, considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. The estimates presented are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that the Company could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts. The Company has based these fair value estimates on pertinent information available as of the respective balance sheet dates and has determined that, as of such dates, the carrying value of all financial instruments approximates fair value.

 

Note 16 – Subsequent Events

 

The Company evaluates subsequent events and transactions that occur after the balance sheet date up to the date that the financial statements were issued for potential recognition or disclosure. Other than as described below, the Company did not identify any subsequent events that would have required adjustment or disclosure in the financial statements.

 

Share Grants

 

On January 6, 2016, we granted 250,000 shares to the directors of the Company’s Board of Directors. The awards vest in two equal annual increments, subject to continued service on each vesting date, with the first vesting date being one year from the grant date, and full vesting upon a change in control. Each director has the option to elect to receive the shares in the form of restricted stock or restricted stock units, with the election being fixed at the time each director executes an agreement with the Company. If elected, restricted stock units will be delivered three years from the date of grant.

 

Amended NPA

 

On March 30, 2016, the Company and BAM entered into an agreement to amend the NPA and take the following steps:

 

·The Company will issue the Second Deferred Draw Note and receive an additional $2 million;
·The Purchaser will receive an additional 350,000 shares of restricted common stock, consisting of the 120,000 shares required by the original NPA for each $2 million borrowed under the Deferred Draw Notes and an additional 230,000 shares as consideration for the favorable modification listed below;
·The interest rate will be increased by one-quarter of one percent (25 basis points);
·The EBITDA covenants will not apply until September 2017;
·The amortization period of the principal will not commence until September 1, 2017;
·The Company will get 75% credit for new purchase orders towards the borrowing base of the facility instead of the current 50%; and
·The Company will get a 90% credit for inventory in transit towards the borrowing base instead of the current 75%.

 

The Company expects to amend the NPA and close the remaining $2 million draw in the next several days since all required steps other than the lender’s signature to the amendment to the NPA are being held in escrow.

  

 F-30