VASO Vaso Corporation (QX)

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers", a comprehensive new revenue recognition standard which will supersede previous existing revenue recognition guidance. The standard creates a five-step model for revenue recognition that requires companies to exercise judgment when considering contract terms and relevant facts and circumstances. The five-step model includes (1) identifying the contract, (2) identifying the separate performance obligations in the contract, (3) determining the transaction price, (4) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations and (5) recognizing revenue when each performance obligation has been satisfied. The standard also requires expanded disclosures surrounding revenue recognition. The standard allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption. Public business entities should apply the guidance in ASU 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period.  Earlier application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. In 2016, the FASB issued additional ASUs that clarify the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations (ASU 2016-08), on identifying performance obligations and licensing (ASU 2016-10), on narrow-scope improvements and practical expedients (ASU 2016-12), and on the revenue recognition criteria and other technical corrections (ASU 2016-20).  The Company plans to adopt the ASU using the modified retrospective method.  Such method provides that the cumulative effect from prior periods upon applying the new guidance is recognized in our consolidated balance sheets as of the date of adoption, including an adjustment to retained earnings.  Prior periods will not be retrospectively adjusted.  We have determined the only significant incremental costs incurred to obtain contracts with customers within the scope of ASC 606 are certain sales commissions paid to associates. Under current U.S. GAAP, we recognize sales commissions as incurred.  Under the new guidance, we expect to record sales commissions as an asset, and amortize to expense over the related contract performance period. At the date of adoption of this new guidance, we expect to record an asset in our consolidated balance sheets for the amount of unamortized sales commissions for prior periods, as calculated under the new guidance. Such amount will subsequently be amortized to expense over the remaining performance periods of the related contracts with remaining performance obligations.   Our analysis and evaluation of the new standard will continue through the effective date on January 1, 2018.  A significant amount of work remains due to the complexity of revenue recognition within our industry, the increased number of judgments and estimates required by this new guidance, and the volume of our contract portfolio which must be examined. We must quantify all impacts of this new guidance, including the topics discussed above, which may be material to our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. We must also implement any necessary changes/modifications to processes, accounting systems, and internal controls.

 

In February 2016, The FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (Topic 842), "Leases". ASU 2016-02 requires that a lessee recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from operating leases. A lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. This new standard would be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2019 with early adoption permitted.  The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. The standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim and annual goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017.  The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Variable Interest Entities

The Company follows the guidance of accounting for variable interest entities, which requires certain variable interest entities to be consolidated by the primary beneficiary of the entities.  Biox is a Variable Interest Entity ("VIE").

Liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating this VIE do not represent additional claims on the Company's general assets. The financial information of Biox, which is included in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, is presented as follows:

                                                                                      

 

Vaso Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

		(in thousands)
		Three months ended June 30,								Six months ended June 30,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Total net revenue		$	420			$	566			$	731			$	914
Net (loss) income		$	(501	)		$	162			$	(536	)		$	160

Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform with the current period presentation.

NOTE C – SEGMENT REPORTING AND CONCENTRATIONS

Vaso Corporation principally operates in three distinct business segments in the healthcare and information technology industries.  We manage and evaluate our operations, and report our financial results, through these three reportable segments.

·	IT segment, operating through a wholly-owned subsidiary VasoTechnology, Inc., primarily focuses on healthcare IT and managed network technology services;

·	Professional sales service segment, operating through a wholly-owned subsidiary Vaso Diagnostics, Inc. d/b/a VasoHealthcare, primarily focuses on the sale of healthcare capital equipment for GEHC into the healthcare provider middle market; and

·	Equipment segment, operating through a wholly-owned subsidiary VasoMedical, Inc., primarily focuses on the design, manufacture, sale and service of proprietary medical devices.

The chief operating decision maker is the Company's Chief Executive Officer, who, in conjunction with upper management, evaluates segment performance based on operating income and adjusted EBITDA (net income (loss), plus interest expense (income), net; tax expense; depreciation and amortization; and non-cash stock-based compensation).  Administrative functions such as finance, human resources, and information technology are centralized and related expenses allocated to each segment.  Other costs not directly attributable to operating segments, such as audit, legal, director fees, investor relations, and others, as well as certain assets – primarily cash balances – are reported in the Corporate entity below.  There are no intersegment revenues.  Summary financial information for the segments is set forth below:

Vaso Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

                      

		(in thousands)
		Three months ended								Six months ended
		June 30,								June 30,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Revenues from external customers
IT		$	10,811			$	10,124			$	20,611			$	19,851
Professional sales service			6,005				6,860				11,876				13,706
Equipment			1,037				1,230				1,740				2,199
Total revenues		$	17,853			$	18,214			$	34,227			$	35,756
Gross Profit
IT		$	4,374			$	3,959			$	8,396			$	7,965
Professional sales service			4,707				5,278				9,316				10,713
Equipment			717				876				1,156				1,447
Total gross profit		$	9,798			$	10,113			$	18,868			$	20,125
Operating (loss) income
IT		$	(712	)		$	(853	)		$	(1,630	)		$	(1,596	)
Professional sales service			403				1,422				318				3,410
Equipment			(127	)			(13	)			(532	)			(711	)
Corporate			(273	)			(292	)			(706	)			(680	)
Total operating (loss) income		$	(709	)		$	264			$	(2,550	)		$	423
Capital expenditures
IT		$	432			$	481			$	1,188			$	741
Professional sales service			36				69				114				111
Equipment			16				28				21				55
Corporate			-				-				-				-
Total cash capital expenditures		$	484			$	578			$	1,323			$	907

                                               

In the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company revised its method for allocating certain corporate expenses to its reportable segments resulting in lower amounts allocated to the IT segment and higher amounts allocated to the professional sales service and equipment segments.  Consequently, due primarily to the change in allocation method, as well as to a $33,000 increase in total corporate costs allocated, the IT segment received $115,000 lower allocations, and the professional sales service segment and equipment segment received $140,000 and $8,000 higher allocations, respectively, for the three months ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.  Similarly, for the six months ended June 30, 2017, total corporate costs allocated increased $17,000, the IT segment received $254,000 lower allocations, and the professional sales service segment and equipment segment received $260,000 and $11,000 higher allocations, respectively, as compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.

 

 

GE Healthcare accounted for 34% and 38% of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and 35% and 38% of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.  GE Healthcare also accounted for $5.3 million or 60%, and $7.9 million or 62%, of accounts and other receivables at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.

 

The following table represents common stock equivalents that were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, because the effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

                                                       

Trade receivables include amounts due for shipped products and services rendered.  Amounts currently due under the GEHC Agreement are subject to adjustment in subsequent periods should the underlying sales order amount, upon which the receivable is based, change.

Allowance for doubtful accounts and commission adjustments include estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments, and adjustments arising from subsequent changes in sales order amounts that may reduce the amount the Company will ultimately receive under the GEHC Agreement.  Due from employees is primarily commission advances made to sales personnel.

 

 

Vaso Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

NOTE F – INVENTORIES, NET

Inventories, net of reserves, consist of the following:

		(in thousands)
		June 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
		(unaudited)
Raw materials		$	549			$	501
Work in process			907				727
Finished goods			1,351				1,167
		$	2,807			$	2,395

At June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company maintained reserves for slow moving inventories of $823,000 and $827,000, respectively.

Vaso Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

The Company's other intangible assets consist of capitalized customer-related intangibles, patent and technology costs, and software costs, as set forth in the following:

 

		(in thousands)
		June 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
		(unaudited)
Customer-related
Costs		$	5,831			$	5,831
Accumulated amortization			(2,134	)			(1,768	)
			3,697				4,063
Patents and Technology
Costs			2,363				2,363
Accumulated amortization			(1,183	)			(1,061	)
			1,180				1,302
Software
Costs			1,673				1,394
Accumulated amortization			(865	)			(763	)
			808				631
		$	5,685			$	5,996

Patents and technology are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of ten and eight years, respectively.  The cost of significant customer-related intangibles is amortized in proportion to estimated total related revenue; cost of other customer-related intangible assets is amortized on a straight-line basis over the asset's estimated economic life of seven years . Software costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over its expected useful life of five years.

Amortization expense amounted to $305,000 and $283,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $591,000 and $563,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Amortization of intangibles for the next five years is:

                                                                                                  

 

Vaso Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

NOTE H – OTHER ASSETS, NET

Other assets, net consist of the following at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

       

		(in thousands)
		June 30, 2017				December 31, 2016
		(unaudited)
Deferred commission expense - noncurrent		$	2,356			$	2,967
Trade receivables - noncurrent			933				1,064
Other, net of allowance for loss on loan receivable of
$412 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016			866				970
		$	4,155			$	5,001

Vaso Corporation and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

NOTE J - DEFERRED REVENUE

The changes in the Company's deferred revenues are as follows:

         

		(in thousands)
		For the three months ended								For the six months ended
		June 30, 2017				June 30, 2016				June 30, 2017				June 30, 2016
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Deferred revenue at beginning of period		$	19,785			$	17,903			$	19,404			$	18,516
Additions:
Deferred extended service contracts			248				115				435				328
Deferred in-service and training			8				5				8				8
Deferred service arrangements			20				10				20				20
Deferred commission revenues			3,367				2,785				6,251				5,083
Recognized as revenue:
Deferred extended service contracts			(164	)			(199	)			(341	)			(398	)
Deferred in-service and training			(8	)			(8	)			(10	)			(13	)
Deferred service arrangements			(11	)			(11	)			(23	)			(20	)
Deferred commission revenues			(2,553	)			(2,817	)			(5,052	)			(5,741	)
Deferred revenue at end of period			20,692				17,783				20,692				17,783
Less: current portion			11,062				9,613				11,062				9,613
Long-term deferred revenue at end of period		$	9,630			$	8,170			$	9,630			$	8,170

NOTE K – LINE OF CREDIT

In August 2016, the Company executed a $2.0 million line of credit agreement with a lending institution.  Advances under the line, which expires on August 23, 2017, bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 2.25% and are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company.  No advances under the line had been drawn as of June 30, 2017.  The line of credit agreement includes certain financial covenants.  At June 30, 2017, the Company was not in compliance with one of the covenants, and has received a waiver of the non-compliance from the lending institution for the period through the expiration date.

NOTE L – EQUITY

In March 2017, the Company granted 975,000 shares of restricted common stock to officers and key employees under the 2016 Stock Plan.  The shares vested in April 2017.

NOTE M – RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS

On May 29, 2015, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement with MedTechnology Investments, LLC ("MedTech") pursuant to which it issued MedTech a secured subordinated promissory note ("Note") for $3,800,000 for the purchase of NetWolves. MedTech was formed to acquire the Note, and $1,950,000 of the aggregate funds used to acquire the Note was provided by six of our directors.  In June 2015, a second Note for $750,000 was issued to MedTech for working capital purposes, of which $250,000 was provided by a director and a director's relative.  In July 2015, an additional $250,000 was borrowed under the Note Purchase Agreement.  The Notes bear interest, payable quarterly, at an annual rate of 9%, mature on May 29, 2019, may be prepaid without penalty, and are subordinated to any current or future Senior Debt as defined in the Subordinated Security Agreement. The Subordinated Security Agreement secures payment and performance of the Company's obligations under the Notes and as a result, MedTech was granted a subordinated security interest in the Company's assets.

 

 

 

David Lieberman, the Vice Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors, is a practicing attorney in the State of New York and a senior partner at the law firm of Beckman, Lieberman & Barandes, LLP, which performs certain legal services for the Company.   Fees of approximately $85,000 were billed by the firm for the three month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, and fees of approximately $170,000 were billed for the six month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, at which dates no amounts were outstanding.

At June 30, 2017, the Company had contributed $522,000 to the VSK joint venture, and $269,000, net, was due to VSK.  The Company's pro-rata share in VSK's loss from operations approximated $14,000 and $4,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $59,000 and $77,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and is included in interest and other income (expense), net in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

NOTE N – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation

The Company is currently, and has been in the past, a party to various legal proceedings, primarily employee related matters, incident to its business. The Company believes that the outcome of all pending legal proceedings in the aggregate is unlikely to have a material adverse effect on the business or consolidated financial condition of the Company.

Sales representation agreement

In June 2012, the Company concluded an amendment of the GEHC Agreement with GEHC, originally signed on May 19, 2010.  The amendment, effective July 1, 2012, extended the initial term of three years commencing July 1, 2010 to five years through June 30, 2015.  In December 2014, the Company concluded an additional amendment, effective January 1, 2015, extending the term through December 31, 2018, subject to earlier termination under certain circumstances and termination without cause on six months written notice.  These circumstances include not materially achieving certain sales goals, not maintaining a minimum number of sales representatives, and various legal and GEHC policy requirements.  Under the terms of the agreement, the Company is required to lease dedicated computer equipment from GEHC for connectivity to their network.

 

Operating loss in the IT segment decreased in the three-month period ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the same period of 2016 due to higher gross profit, partially offset byhigher research and development costs .  Operating income in the professional sales service segment decreased in the three-month period ended June 30, 2017 as compared operating income in the same period of 2016 due to lower gross profit combined with higher selling, general, and administrative ("SG&A") costs.  Operating loss in the equipment segment increased in the three-month period ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the same period of 2016 due to lower gross profit, partially offset by lower SG&A costs.

SG&A costs for the three months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were $10,247,000 and $9,744,000, respectively, representing an increase of $503,000, or 5% year-over-year.  On a segment basis, SG&A costs in the equipment segment decreased $56,000, while SG&A costs in the professional sales service segment increased $447,000 due to increased headcount and other personnel-related costs. SG&A costs in the IT segment increased by $133,000 to $4,944,000 in the second quarter of 2017 from $4,812,000 in the same quarter of the prior year due to increased personnel costs in the IT VAR business.  Corporate costs not allocated to segments decreased by $19,000 from $292,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2016 to $273,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2017, due primarily to lower legal fees.

Research and development ("R&D") expenses were $260,000, or 1% of revenues, for the second quarter of 2017, an increase of $155,000, or 148%, from $105,000, or 1% of revenues, for the second quarter of 2016. The increase is primarily attributable to higher software development expenses in the IT segment.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA (earnings (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as net income (loss), plus interest expense (income), net; tax expense; depreciation and amortization; and non-cash expenses for share-based compensation.  Adjusted EBITDA is a metric that is used by the investment community for comparative and valuation purposes.  We disclose this metric in order to support and facilitate the dialogue with research analysts and investors.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for operating income, which we consider to be the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and when assessing our operating performance, you should not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation, or as a substitute for net income or other consolidated income statement data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA is set forth below:

Vaso Corporation and Subsidiaries

                              

		(in thousands)
		Three months ended June 30,
		2017				2016
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Net (loss) income		$	(987	)		$	213
Interest expense (income), net			166				154
Income tax expense (benefit)			111				(51	)
Depreciation and amortization			588				536
Share-based compensation			98				34
Adjusted EBITDA		$	(24	)		$	886

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $910,000, to $(24,000) in the quarter ended June 30, 2017 from $886,000 in the quarter ended June 30, 2016.  The decrease was primarily attributable to the lower net income, partially offset by higher fixed asset depreciation in the IT segment and higher share-based compensation.

Interest and Other Income (Expense)

Interest and other income (expense) for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was $(167,000) as compared to $(102,000) for the corresponding period of 2016. The increase was due primarily to higher interest expense due to additional equipment financing and lower other income in 2017.

Income Tax Expense

For the three months ended June 30, 2017, we recorded income tax expense of $111,000 as compared to income tax benefit of $51,000 for the corresponding period of 2016.  The increase arose mainly from application of alternative minimum tax credits in second quarter 2016.

Net Income (Loss)

Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2017 was $987,000 as compared to net income of $213,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $1,200,000.  Our net loss per share was $0.01 in the three-month period ended June 30, 2017, as compared to net income of $0.00 per share in the three-month period ended June 30, 2016.  The principal cause of the decrease in net income is the decrease in revenue in the professional sales service segment combined with the increase in SG&A costs.  As discussed earlier, as revenues in the professional sales service segment increase through the balance of the year and the IT segment continues to grow we expect that the Company will continue to be profitable for the year.

Results of Operations – For the Six months Ended June 30, 2017 and 2016

Revenues

Total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was $34,227,000 and $35,756,000, respectively, representing a decrease of $1,529,000, or 4% year-over-year.  On a segment basis, revenue in the IT segment increased $760,000, while revenue in the professional sales service and equipment segments decreased $1,830,000 and $459,000, respectively.

 

Revenue in the IT segment for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $20,611,000 compared to $19,851,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016, an increase of $760,000, of which $883,000 resulted from growth in the operations of NetWolves, partially offset by a $124,000 decrease in the healthcare IT VAR business, due to lower average revenue per installation, partially offset by an increase in new installations in the first half of 2017.  Our monthly recurring revenue in the managed network services operations continues to grow month over month as we add new customers and expand our services to existing customers; at the same time, the backlog of orders in our IT VAR operations increased to $8.8 million at June 30, 2017 from $7.4 million at December 31, 2016 and $4.9 million at June 30, 2016, due to growth in orders and clients.  We anticipate that as our IT VAR operations become more developed and the service delivery process accelerated, the backlog will convert to revenue in a more timely fashion and, coupled with continued growth in order volume,  profitability will improve in this segment.

 

 

Commission revenues in the professional sales services segment were $11,876,000 in the first half of 2017, a decrease of 13%, as compared to $13,706,000 in the first half of 2016.  The decrease in commission revenues was due primarily to a decrease in the volume of equipment delivered by GEHC during the period.  The first half of each year is typically lower in deliveries than the second half of the year, with the fourth quarter of each year typically the strongest.  Therefore, we expect that deliveries and revenue will improve significantly through the remainder of 2017.  The Company recognizes commission revenue when the underlying equipment has been accepted at the customer site in accordance with the specific terms of the sales agreement.  Consequently, amounts billable under the agreement with GE Healthcare prior to customer acceptance of the equipment are recorded as deferred revenue in the condensed consolidated balance sheet.  As of June 30, 2017, $19,704,000 in deferred commission revenue was recorded in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet, of which $9,188,000 was long-term.  At June 30, 2016, $16,710,000 in deferred commission revenue was recorded in the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet, of which $7,716,000 was long-term.

Revenue in the equipment segment decreased by $459,000, or 21%, to $1,740,000 for the six-month period ended June 30, 2017 from $2,199,000 for the same period of the prior year.  The decrease was principally due to a decrease in EECP ^® and Biox ambulatory monitor revenues as a result of lower sales volume, as well as lower EECP ^® service contract and accessory revenues.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was $18,868,000, or 55% of revenue, and $20,125,000, or 56% of revenue, respectively, representing a decrease of $1,257,000, or 6% year-over-year.  On a segment basis, gross profit in the IT segment increased $431,000, while gross profit in the professional sales services segment and equipment segment decreased $1,397,000 and $291,000, respectively.

IT segment gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $8,396,000, or 41% of the segment revenue, compared to $7,965,000, or 40% of the segment revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2016, with the increase primarily resulting from higher sales at NetWolves.

Operating Income (Loss)

Operating (loss) income for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 was $(2,550,000) and $423,000, respectively, representing a decrease of $2,973,000, primarily due to higher operating costs and lower gross profit.  On a segment basis, operating loss increased $34,000 in the IT segment and operating income in the professional sales service segment decreased $3,092,000, while operating loss in the equipment segment decreased $179,000. In addition, corporate expenses increased $26,000.

 

Operating loss in the IT segment increased in the six-month period ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the same period of 2016 due to higher research and development and SG&A costs, partially offset by higher gross profit.  Operating income in the professional sales service segment decreased in the six-month period ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the same period of 2016 due to lower gross profit combined with higher SG&A costs.  Operating loss in the equipment segment decreased in the six-month period ended June 30, 2017 as compared to the same period of 2016 due to lower SG&A costs, partially offset by lower gross profit.

 

SG&A costs for the six months ended June 30, 2017 and 2016 were $20,937,000 and $19,450,000, respectively, representing an increase of $1,487,000, or 8% year-over-year.  On a segment basis, SG&A costs in the equipment segment decreased $445,000 due mainly to a provision for loan loss made in the first half of 2016, while SG&A costs in the professional sales service segment increased $1,695,000 due to increased headcount and other personnel-related costs. SG&A costs in the IT segment increased by $211,000 to $9,772,000 in the first half of 2017 from $9,561,000 in the same period of the prior year due to increased personnel costs in the IT VAR business.  Corporate costs not allocated to segments increased by $26,000 from $680,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016 to $706,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2017, due primarily to higher accounting and director fees.

Research and development ("R&D") expenses were $481,000, or 1% of revenues, for the first half of 2017, an increase of $229,000, or 91%, from $252,000, or 1% of revenues, for the first half of 2016. The increase is primarily attributable to higher software development expenses in the IT segment.

Adjusted EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA (earnings (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as net income (loss), plus interest expense (income), net; tax expense; depreciation and amortization; and non-cash expenses for share-based compensation.  Adjusted EBITDA is a metric that is used by the investment community for comparative and valuation purposes.  We disclose this metric in order to support and facilitate the dialogue with research analysts and investors.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under U.S. GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for operating income, which we consider to be the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and when assessing our operating performance, you should not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation, or as a substitute for net income or other consolidated income statement data prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA is set forth below:

Vaso Corporation and Subsidiaries

                            

		(in thousands)
		Six months ended June 30,
		2017				2016
		(unaudited)				(unaudited)
Net (loss) income		$	(3,118	)		$	109
Interest expense (income), net			331				311
Income tax expense			220				51
Depreciation and amortization			1,170				1,059
Share-based compensation			317				67
Adjusted EBITDA		$	(1,080	)		$	1,597

Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $2,677,000, to $(1,080,000) in the six months ended June 30, 2017 from $1,597,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2016.  The decrease was primarily attributable to the lower net income, partially offset by higher fixed asset depreciation in the IT segment and higher share-based compensation.

Interest and Other Income (Expense)

 

Interest and other income (expense) for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $(348,000) as compared to $(263,000) for the corresponding period of 2016. The increase was due primarily to higher interest expense due to additional equipment financing and lower other income in 2017, partially offset by lower pro-rata share of the loss at VSK.

Income Tax Expense

For the six months ended June 30, 2017, we recorded income tax expense of $220,000 as compared to income tax expense of $51,000 for the corresponding period of 2016.  The increase arose mainly from application of alternative minimum tax credits in the prior year period.

Net Income (Loss)

Net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $3,118,000 compared to net income of $109,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2016, representing a decrease of $3,227,000.  Our net loss per share was $0.02 in the six month period ended June 30, 2017, as compared to net income of $0.00 per share in the six month period ended June 30, 2016.  The principal cause of the decrease in net income is the decrease in revenue in the professional sales service segment combined with the increase in SG&A costs.  As discussed earlier, as revenues in the professional sales service segment increase through the balance of the year and the IT segment continues to grow we expect that the Company will again be profitable for the year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash and Cash Flow

We have financed our operations from working capital.  At June 30, 2017, we had cash and cash equivalents of $6,517,000 and negative working capital of $5,053,000 compared to cash and cash equivalents of $7,087,000 and negative working capital of $567,000 at December 31, 2016.  $8,516,000 in negative working capital at June 30, 2017 is attributable to the net balance of deferred commission expense and deferred revenue.  These are non-cash expense and revenue items and have no impact on future cash flows.

Cash provided by operating activities was $1,375,000, which consisted of net loss after adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash of $1,299,000 and cash provided by operating assets and liabilities of $2,674,000, during the six months ended June 30, 2017, compared to cash provided by operating activities of $3,748,000 for the same period in 2016. The changes in the account balances primarily reflect a decrease in accounts and other receivables of $3,865,000 and increase in deferred revenue of $1,288,000, partially offset by decreases in accounts payable of $586,000 and accrued commissions of $814,000.

 

 

Cash used in investing activities during the six-month period ended June 30, 2017 was $1,323,000 for the purchase of equipment and software.

Cash used in financing activities during the six-month period ended June 30, 2017 was $630,000 as a result of $426,000 in net repayments on our line of credit and $202,000 in payments of notes and capital leases issued for equipment purchases.

Liquidity

The Company expects to be profitable for the year ending December 31, 2017 and expects to maintain sufficient liquidity through its cash on hand, availability of funds under its lines of credit, and internally generated funds to meet its obligations one year from the isuance of these financial statements.