For
the Quarter Ended March 31, 2007
|
Commission
File Number 001-12629
|
Delaware
|
36-4128138
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
|
incorporation
or organization)
|
Identification
No.)
|
March
31,
|
September
30,
|
||||||
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
(unaudited)
|
(see
note below)
|
||||||
CASH
|
$
|
1,536,000
|
$
|
1,441,000
|
|||
DEPOSITS
WITH CLEARING ORGANIZATIONS
|
301,000
|
300,000
|
|||||
RECEIVABLES
FROM BROKER-DEALERS AND CLEARING ORGANIZATIONS
|
4,478,000
|
3,548,000
|
|||||
OTHER
RECEIVABLES, net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of
$467,000
|
|||||||
at
March 31, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively
|
664,000
|
380,000
|
|||||
ADVANCES
TO REGISTERED REPRESENTATIVES
|
2,318,000
|
1,556,000
|
|||||
SECURITIES
OWNED
|
|||||||
Marketable,
at market value
|
890,000
|
475,000
|
|||||
Non-marketable,
at fair value
|
-
|
402,000
|
|||||
FIXED
ASSETS, net
|
289,000
|
305,000
|
|||||
SECURED
DEMAND NOTE
|
1,000,000
|
1,000,000
|
|||||
OTHER
ASSETS
|
446,000
|
300,000
|
|||||
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
$
|
11,922,000
|
$
|
9,707,000
|
|||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|||||||
PAYABLE
TO BROKER-DEALERS AND CLEARING ORGANIZATIONS
|
$
|
714,000
|
$
|
113,000
|
|||
SECURITIES
SOLD, BUT NOT YET PURCHASED, at market
|
176,000
|
162,000
|
|||||
ACCOUNTS
PAYABLE, ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER LIABILITIES
|
4,707,000
|
3,943,000
|
|||||
CONVERTIBLE
NOTES PAYABLE, net of debt discounts of $140,000 and
$159,000
|
|||||||
at
March 31, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively
|
860,000
|
841,000
|
|||||
NOTES
PAYABLE, net of debt discounts of $187,000 and $45,000
|
|||||||
at
March 31, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively
|
813,000
|
805,000
|
|||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES
|
7,270,000
|
5,864,000
|
|||||
SUBORDINATED
BORROWINGS
|
1,000,000
|
1,000,000
|
|||||
COMMITMENTS
AND CONTINGENCIES
|
|||||||
STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
|
|||||||
Preferred
stock, $.01 par value, 200,000 shares authorized; 50,000
shares
|
|||||||
designated
as Series A and 20,000 shares designated as Series B
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Series
A 9% cumulative convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value,
50,000
|
|||||||
shares
authorized; 37,550 shares issued and outstanding
(liquidation
|
|||||||
preference:
$3,755,000) at March 31, 2007 and 35,316 shares issued and
|
|||||||
outstanding
(liquidation preference: $3,531,600) at September 30, 2006
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Series
B 10% cumulative convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value,
20,000
|
|||||||
shares
authorized; 10,000 shares issued and outstanding
(liquidation
|
|||||||
preference:
$1,000,000) at March 31, 2007 and September 30, 2006,
|
|||||||
respectively
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Common
stock, $.02 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized;
|
|||||||
5,402,851
and 5,223,968 shares issued and outstanding,
|
|||||||
at
March 31, 2007 and September 30, 2006, respectively
|
108,000
|
104,000
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
17,639,000
|
16,956,000
|
|||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(14,095,000
|
)
|
(14,217,000
|
)
|
|||
TOTAL
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
3,652,000
|
2,843,000
|
|||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
$
|
11,922,000
|
$
|
9,707,000
|
Three
Months Ended
|
Six
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||
March
31,
|
March
31,
|
March
31,
|
March
31,
|
||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
REVENUES:
|
|||||||||||||
Commissions
|
$
|
8,522,000
|
$
|
10,714,000
|
$
|
16,944,000
|
$
|
17,871,000
|
|||||
Net
dealer inventory gains
|
3,760,000
|
2,191,000
|
7,059,000
|
4,052,000
|
|||||||||
Investment
banking
|
3,112,000
|
4,042,000
|
3,667,000
|
7,093,000
|
|||||||||
Total
commission and fee revenues
|
15,394,000
|
16,947,000
|
27,670,000
|
29,016,000
|
|||||||||
Interest
and dividends
|
796,000
|
696,000
|
1,361,000
|
1,382,000
|
|||||||||
Transfer
fees and clearing services
|
1,005,000
|
969,000
|
2,015,000
|
1,730,000
|
|||||||||
Other
|
420,000
|
175,000
|
853,000
|
347,000
|
|||||||||
TOTAL
REVENUES
|
17,615,000
|
18,787,000
|
31,899,000
|
32,475,000
|
|||||||||
EXPENSES:
|
|||||||||||||
Commissions
|
12,392,000
|
14,043,000
|
22,176,000
|
23,731,000
|
|||||||||
Employee
compensation and related expenses
|
1,749,000
|
1,592,000
|
3,262,000
|
2,884,000
|
|||||||||
Clearing
fees
|
343,000
|
436,000
|
718,000
|
800,000
|
|||||||||
Communications
|
426,000
|
546,000
|
828,000
|
1,033,000
|
|||||||||
Occupancy
and equipment costs
|
741,000
|
633,000
|
1,476,000
|
1,308,000
|
|||||||||
Professional
fees
|
559,000
|
246,000
|
1,517,000
|
584,000
|
|||||||||
Interest
|
105,000
|
176,000
|
209,000
|
285,000
|
|||||||||
Taxes,
licenses, registration
|
164,000
|
169,000
|
342,000
|
314,000
|
|||||||||
Other
administrative expenses
|
560,000
|
522,000
|
880,000
|
854,000
|
|||||||||
TOTAL
EXPENSES
|
17,039,000
|
18,363,000
|
31,408,000
|
31,793,000
|
|||||||||
NET
INCOME
|
576,000
|
424,000
|
491,000
|
682,000
|
|||||||||
Preferred
stock dividends
|
(103,000
|
)
|
(95,000
|
)
|
(208,000
|
)
|
(171,000
|
)
|
|||||
Net
income attributable to common stockholders
|
$
|
473,000
|
$
|
329,000
|
$
|
283,000
|
$
|
511,000
|
|||||
NET
INCOME PER COMMON SHARE
|
|||||||||||||
Basic:
|
|||||||||||||
Net
income attributable to common stockholders
|
$
|
0.09
|
$
|
0.06
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.10
|
|||||
Diluted:
|
|||||||||||||
Net
income attributable to common stockholders
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.04
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.07
|
|||||
Weighted
average number of shares outstanding
|
|||||||||||||
Basic
|
5,370,917
|
5,089,625
|
5,310,762
|
5,068,451
|
|||||||||
Diluted
|
11,193,816
|
10,383,571
|
10,909,161
|
10,283,235
|
Six
Months Ended
|
|||||||
March
31, 2007
|
March
31, 2006
|
||||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
|
|
||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
491,000
|
$
|
682,000
|
|||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net
|
|||||||
cash
provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
74,000
|
68,000
|
|||||
Amortization
of deferred financing costs
|
4,000
|
1,000
|
|||||
Amortization
of note discount
|
61,000
|
130,000
|
|||||
Compensatory
element of common stock issuance
|
-
|
12,000
|
|||||
Compensatory
element of common stock option issuances
|
29,000
|
5,000
|
|||||
Changes
in assets and liabilities
|
|||||||
Deposits
with clearing organizations
|
(1,000
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Receivables
from broker-dealers, clearing organizations and others
|
(1,976,000
|
)
|
(1,198,000
|
)
|
|||
Securities
owned: marketable, at market value
|
(415,000
|
)
|
(300,000
|
)
|
|||
Securities
owned: non-marketable, at fair value
|
402,000
|
-
|
|||||
Other
assets
|
(146,000
|
)
|
(96,000
|
)
|
|||
Payables
|
1,392,000
|
1,678,000
|
|||||
Securities
sold, but not yet purchased, at market
|
14,000
|
29,000
|
|||||
Net
cash (used in) provided by operating activities
|
(71,000
|
)
|
1,011,000
|
||||
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
|
|||||||
Purchase
of fixed assets
|
(58,000
|
)
|
(117,000
|
)
|
|||
CASH
FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
|
|||||||
Net
proceeds from issuance of common stock
|
-
|
175,000
|
|||||
Net
proceeds from issuance of preferred stock
|
-
|
972,000
|
|||||
Net
proceeds from issuance of convertible notes payable
|
-
|
1,000,000
|
|||||
Net
proceeds from issuance of notes payable
|
1,000,000
|
-
|
|||||
Cash
payment of deferred financing costs
|
(22,000
|
)
|
(28,000
|
)
|
|||
Payment
of notes payable
|
(850,000
|
)
|
(1,175,000
|
)
|
|||
Dividends
paid
|
(50,000
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Exercise
of stock options and warrants
|
146,000
|
-
|
|||||
Net
cash provided by financing activities
|
224,000
|
944,000
|
|||||
NET
INCREASE IN CASH
|
95,000
|
1,838,000
|
|||||
CASH
BALANCE
|
|||||||
Beginning
of the period
|
1,441,000
|
398,000
|
|||||
End
of the period
|
$
|
1,536,000
|
$
|
2,236,000
|
|||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
|
|||||||
Cash
paid during the period for:
|
|||||||
Interest
|
$
|
163,000
|
$
|
165,000
|
|||
Series
B preferred stock dividends
|
$
|
50,000
|
$
|
-
|
|||
SUPPLEMENTAL
DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH INVESTING AND
|
|||||||
FINANCING
ACTIVITIES
|
|||||||
Warrants
issued in connection with debt
|
$
|
195,000
|
$
|
187,000
|
|||
Preferred
stock dividends
|
$
|
317,000
|
$
|
300,000
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Assumptions:
|
|||||||
Risk-free
interest rate
|
4.40
|
%
|
4.40
|
%
|
|||
Expected
life, in years
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
|||||
Expected
volatility
|
83
|
%
|
88
|
%
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
Remaining
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
Contractual
|
|
Intrinsic
|
|
||||
|
|
Shares
|
|
Price
|
|
Term
|
|
Value
|
|||||
Outstanding
at September 30, 2006
|
932,000
|
$
|
1.30
|
3.31
|
|||||||||
Granted
|
720,000
|
$
|
1.60
|
4.91
|
|||||||||
Exercised
|
(20,000
|
)
|
$
|
0.72
|
|||||||||
Expired
|
(25,000
|
)
|
$
|
2.00
|
|||||||||
Outstanding
at March 31, 2007
|
1,607,000
|
$
|
1.43
|
3.83
|
$
|
425,000
|
|||||||
Exerciseable
at March 31, 2007
|
962,000
|
$
|
1.33
|
3.17
|
$
|
333,000
|
Weighted
|
|||||||
Average
|
|||||||
Grant
Date
|
|||||||
Nonvested
Shares
|
Shares
|
Fair
Value
|
|||||
Nonvested
at September 30, 2006
|
75,000
|
$
|
0.33
|
||||
Granted
|
595,000
|
$
|
0.81
|
||||
Vested
|
(25,000
|
)
|
$
|
0.33
|
|||
Expired
|
-
|
||||||
Nonvested
at March 31, 2007
|
645,000
|
$
|
0.78
|
Securities
held
|
Securities
sold, but
|
||||||
for
resale
|
not
yet purchased
|
||||||
Corporate
stocks
|
$
|
868,000
|
$
|
176,000
|
|||
Corporate
bonds
|
6,000
|
-
|
|||||
Government
obligations
|
16,000
|
-
|
|||||
$
|
890,000
|
$
|
176,000
|
Three
Months Ended
|
Six
Months Ended
|
||||||||||||
March
31, 2007
|
March
31, 2006
|
March
31, 2007
|
March
31, 2006
|
||||||||||
Numerator:
|
|||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$
|
576,000
|
$
|
424,000
|
$
|
491,000
|
$
|
682,000
|
|||||
Preferred
stock dividends
|
(103,000
|
)
|
(95,000
|
)
|
(208,000
|
)
|
(171,000
|
)
|
|||||
Numerator
for basic earnings per share
|
|||||||||||||
--
net income attributable to
|
|||||||||||||
common
stockholders - as reported
|
473,000
|
329,000
|
283,000
|
511,000
|
|||||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
|||||||||||||
Interest
on convertible notes
|
27,000
|
24,000
|
54,000
|
24,000
|
|||||||||
Preferred
stock dividends
|
103,000
|
95,000
|
208,000
|
171,000
|
|||||||||
Numerator
for basic earnings per share
|
|||||||||||||
--
net income attributable to
|
|||||||||||||
common
stockholders - as adjusted
|
$
|
603,000
|
$
|
448,000
|
$
|
545,000
|
$
|
706,000
|
|||||
Denominator:
|
|||||||||||||
Denominator
for basic earnings per
|
|||||||||||||
share--weighted
average shares
|
5,370,917
|
5,089,625
|
5,310,762
|
5,068,451
|
|||||||||
Effect
of dilutive securities:
|
|||||||||||||
Stock
options
|
207,934
|
37,372
|
104,786
|
17,905
|
|||||||||
Warrants
|
277,632
|
97,961
|
156,280
|
38,266
|
|||||||||
Assumed
conversion of:
|
|||||||||||||
Series
A Preferred Stock
|
3,004,000
|
2,825,280
|
3,004,000
|
2,825,280
|
|||||||||
Series
B Preferred Stock
|
1,333,333
|
1,333,333
|
1,333,333
|
1,333,333
|
|||||||||
Notes
|
1,000,000
|
1,000,000
|
1,000,000
|
1,000,000
|
|||||||||
Dilutive
potential common shares
|
5,822,899
|
5,293,946
|
5,598,399
|
5,214,784
|
|||||||||
Denominator
for diluted earnings per
|
|||||||||||||
share--adjusted
weighted-average
|
|||||||||||||
shares
and assumed conversions
|
11,193,816
|
10,383,571
|
10,909,161
|
10,283,235
|
|||||||||
Net
income available to
|
|||||||||||||
common
stockholders
|
|||||||||||||
Basic:
|
$
|
0.09
|
$
|
0.06
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.10
|
|||||
Diluted:
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.04
|
$
|
0.05
|
$
|
0.07
|
March
31, 2007
|
September
30, 2006
|
||||||
Commissions
payable
|
$
|
1,975,000
|
$
|
1,993,000
|
|||
Legal
payable
|
348,000
|
325,000
|
|||||
Other
|
2,384,000
|
1,625,000
|
|||||
Total
|
$
|
4,707,000
|
$
|
3,943,000
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||
March
31,
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
Amount
|
Percent
|
||||||||||
Commissions
|
$
|
8,522,000
|
$
|
10,714,000
|
$
|
(2,192,000
|
)
|
(20
|
%)
|
||||
Proprietary
trading
|
3,498,000
|
2,062,000
|
1,436,000
|
70
|
%
|
||||||||
Market
making
|
168,000
|
76,000
|
92,000
|
121
|
%
|
||||||||
Mark-ups
and mark-downs
|
94,000
|
53,000
|
41,000
|
77
|
%
|
||||||||
Net
dealer inventory gains
|
3,760,000
|
2,191,000
|
1,569,000
|
72
|
%
|
||||||||
Investment
banking
|
3,112,000
|
4,042,000
|
(930,000
|
)
|
(23
|
%)
|
|||||||
Interest
and dividends
|
796,000
|
696,000
|
100,000
|
14
|
%
|
||||||||
Transfer
fees and clearance services
|
1,005,000
|
969,000
|
36,000
|
4
|
%
|
||||||||
Other
|
420,000
|
175,000
|
245,000
|
140
|
%
|
||||||||
$
|
17,615,000
|
$
|
18,787,000
|
$
|
(1,172,000
|
)
|
(6
|
%)
|
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||
March
31,
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
Amount
|
Percent
|
||||||||||
Commission
expense related to:
|
|||||||||||||
Commission
revenue
|
$
|
7,629,000
|
$
|
9,449,000
|
$
|
(1,820,000
|
)
|
(19
|
%)
|
||||
Net
dealer inventory gains
|
2,927,000
|
1,644,000
|
1,283,000
|
78
|
%
|
||||||||
Investment
banking
|
1,836,000
|
2,950,000
|
(1,114,000
|
)
|
38
|
%
|
|||||||
Commissions
|
12,392,000
|
14,043,000
|
(1,651,000
|
)
|
(12
|
%)
|
|||||||
Employee
compensation
|
1,749,000
|
1,592,000
|
157,000
|
10
|
%
|
||||||||
Clearing
fees
|
343,000
|
436,000
|
(93,000
|
)
|
(21
|
%)
|
|||||||
Communications
|
426,000
|
546,000
|
(120,000
|
)
|
(22
|
%)
|
|||||||
Occupancy
and equipment costs
|
741,000
|
633,000
|
108,000
|
17
|
%
|
||||||||
Professional
fees
|
559,000
|
246,000
|
313,000
|
127
|
%
|
||||||||
Interest
|
105,000
|
176,000
|
(71,000
|
)
|
(40
|
%)
|
|||||||
Taxes,
licenses and registration
|
164,000
|
169,000
|
(5,000
|
)
|
(3
|
%)
|
|||||||
Other
administrative expenses
|
560,000
|
522,000
|
38,000
|
7
|
%
|
||||||||
$
|
17,039,000
|
$
|
18,363,000
|
$
|
(1,324,000
|
)
|
(7
|
%)
|
Six
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||
March
31,
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
Amount
|
Percent
|
||||||||||
Commissions
|
$
|
16,944,000
|
$
|
17,871,000
|
$
|
(927,000
|
)
|
(5
|
%)
|
||||
Proprietary
trading
|
6,299,000
|
3,895,000
|
2,404,000
|
62
|
%
|
||||||||
Market
making
|
615,000
|
84,000
|
531,000
|
632
|
%
|
||||||||
Mark-ups
and mark-downs
|
145,000
|
73,000
|
72,000
|
99
|
%
|
||||||||
Net
dealer inventory gains
|
7,059,000
|
4,052,000
|
3,007,000
|
74
|
%
|
||||||||
Investment
banking
|
3,667,000
|
7,093,000
|
(3,426,000
|
)
|
(48
|
%)
|
|||||||
Interest
and dividends
|
1,361,000
|
1,382,000
|
(21,000
|
)
|
(2
|
%)
|
|||||||
Transfer
fees and clearance services
|
2,015,000
|
1,730,000
|
285,000
|
16
|
%
|
||||||||
Other
|
853,000
|
347,000
|
506,000
|
146
|
%
|
||||||||
$
|
31,899,000
|
$
|
32,475,000
|
$
|
(576,000
|
)
|
(2
|
%)
|
Six
Months Ended
|
|||||||||||||
March
31,
|
Increase
(Decrease)
|
||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
Amount
|
Percent
|
||||||||||
Commission
expense related to:
|
|||||||||||||
Commission
revenue
|
$
|
14,962,000
|
$
|
15,722,000
|
$
|
(760,000
|
)
|
(5
|
%)
|
||||
Net
dealer inventory gains
|
5,368,000
|
2,984,000
|
2,384,000
|
80
|
%
|
||||||||
Investment
banking
|
1,846,000
|
5,025,000
|
(3,179,000
|
)
|
(63
|
%)
|
|||||||
Commissions
|
22,176,000
|
23,731,000
|
(1,555,000
|
)
|
(7
|
%)
|
|||||||
Employee
compensation
|
3,262,000
|
2,884,000
|
378,000
|
13
|
%
|
||||||||
Clearing
fees
|
718,000
|
800,000
|
(82,000
|
)
|
(10
|
%)
|
|||||||
Communications
|
828,000
|
1,033,000
|
(205,000
|
)
|
(20
|
%)
|
|||||||
Occupancy
and equipment costs
|
1,476,000
|
1,308,000
|
168,000
|
13
|
%
|
||||||||
Professional
fees
|
1,517,000
|
584,000
|
933,000
|
160
|
%
|
||||||||
Interest
|
209,000
|
285,000
|
(76,000
|
)
|
(27
|
%)
|
|||||||
Taxes,
licenses and registration
|
342,000
|
314,000
|
28,000
|
9
|
%
|
||||||||
Other
administrative expenses
|
880,000
|
854,000
|
26,000
|
3
|
%
|
||||||||
$
|
31,408,000
|
$
|
31,793,000
|
$
|
(385,000
|
)
|
(1
|
%)
|
Long
|
Short
|
Net
|
||||||||
Corporate
stocks
|
$
|
868,000
|
$
|
176,000
|
$
|
692,000
|
||||
Corporate
bonds
|
6,000
|
-
|
6,000
|
|||||||
Government
obligations
|
16,000
|
-
|
16,000
|
|||||||
$
|
890,000
|
$
|
176,000
|
$
|
714,000
|
Withhold
|
|||||||
For
|
Authority
|
||||||
In
Person
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
By
Proxy
|
6,597,649
|
8,833
|
|||||
Total
|
6,597,649
|
8,833
|
Withhold
|
|||||||
For
|
Authority
|
||||||
In
Person
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
By
Proxy
|
6,593,274
|
13,208
|
|||||
Total
|
6,593,274
|
13,208
|
For
|
Against
|
Abstain
|
||||||||
In
Person
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||
By
Proxy
|
6,605,182
|
1,300
|
-
|
|||||||
Total
|
6,605,182
|
1,300
|
-
|
31.1
|
Chief
Executive Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
31.2
|
Chief
Financial Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.1
|
Chief
Executive Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.2
|
Chief
Financial Officer’s Certificate pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
|
|
May 10, 2007 | By: | /s/ Mark Goldwasser |
Mark Goldwasser |
||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
May 10, 2007 | By: | /s/ Robert H. Daskal |
Robert H. Daskal |
||
Chief
Financial Officer
|