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Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Note 1. - Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Business

AutoInfo, Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Sunteck Transport Group, Inc. and E-Transport Group, Inc., including its subsidiary Eleets Logistics, Inc. (collectively, the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), operates in two business segments, non-asset based transportation services and agent support services. The non-asset based transportation services segment includes our brokerage and contract carrier services which are provided through a network of independent sales agents throughout the United States and Canada. Revenue in this segment is generated from freight transportation transactions. The agent support services segment includes an array of services that we provide to our agent network to support and encourage the expansion of our agents’ businesses, primarily financial support through interest bearing long-term loans and non-interest bearing short-term loans, as well as other services including training, margin analysis, marketing assistance, industry and market segment data, and business analysis tools.  Revenue in this segment consists primarily of interest on interest bearing loans made to agents.
 
On July 8, 2011, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Acquisition Agreement”) with Eleets Transportation Company, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Significant Agent”) to acquire substantially all of the operations of the Significant Agent’s truck agent business. This principally consisted of the future revenue stream generated by independent agents, customers and owner operators already under contract with and operating under the authorities and licenses of the Company, which were managed by the Significant Agent and for which the Significant Agent received 100% of the net profit earned.  The purchase price totaled approximately $10 million and principally consisted of an unconditional release and discharge of the Significant Agent from approximately $9.4 million of indebtedness due to the Company plus the assumption of certain liabilities. The Company is in the process of integrating and coordinating the operations of this truck agent business with its other business operations.

As a non-asset based provider of brokerage and contract carrier transportation services, the Company does not own any equipment and its services are provided through its strategic alliances with less than truckload, truckload, air, rail, ocean common carriers and independent owner-operators to service customers’ needs. The Company’s brokerage and contract carrier services are provided through a network of independent sales agents throughout the United States and Canada. During its most recently completed fiscal year, the Company generated revenue, income from operations and net income of approximately $279.7 million, $5.7 million and $3.1 million, respectively.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements of the Company have been prepared using the accrual basis of accounting under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP).

The consolidated financial statements, which are unaudited, have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. In management’s opinion, these financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire year.  Pursuant to SEC rules and regulations, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted from these statements.  The consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the AutoInfo, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Sunteck Transport Group, Inc. and E-Transport Group, Inc. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions.  These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods presented. The Company believes that all such assumptions are reasonable and that all estimates are adequate, however, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Gross revenues from transportation services consist of the total dollar value of services purchased by shippers.  Revenue is recognized upon delivery of freight, at which time the related transportation cost, including commission, is also recognized.  At that time, the Company’s obligations are completed and collection of receivables is reasonably assured. Gross revenues and profits from agent support services consist primarily of interest on interest bearing loans.

Accounting Standards Codification Topic 605-45 “Revenue Recognition – Principal Agent Considerations” (ASC 605-45), establishes criteria for recognizing revenues on a gross or net basis. The Company is the primary obligor in its transactions, has all credit risk, maintains substantially all risk and rewards, has discretion in selecting the supplier, and has latitude in pricing decisions.  Accordingly, the Company records all transactions at the gross amount, consistent with the provisions of ASC 605-45.

Income on all loans is recognized on the interest method. Accrual of interest is suspended at the earlier of the time at which collection becomes doubtful or the loan becomes delinquent.  Interest income on impaired loans is recognized either as cash is collected or on a cost-recovery basis as conditions warrant.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash in banks.

Provision For Doubtful Accounts

The Company continuously monitors the creditworthiness of its customers and has established an allowance for amounts that may become uncollectible in the future based on current economic trends, its historical payment and bad debt write-off experience, and any specific customer related collection issues. Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the Company assumed the liability for potential uncollectible accounts related to the business acquired which were previously the responsibility of the Significant Agent. As a result, the provision for doubtful accounts was increased by $200,000.

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, consisting primarily of furniture, fixtures and equipment and computer system development costs, were carried at cost net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of fixed assets was provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets which range from three to five years.

Intangible Assets

Goodwill represents the excess between the purchase price and the fair value of the net assets acquired.  Goodwill is not amortized, but is tested at least annually for impairment using a fair value approach.  Other intangible assets are primarily comprised of non-competition agreements which are being amortized on a straight-line basis of the estimated useful lives of three years.

Income Per Share

Basic income per share is based on net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.  Common stock equivalents outstanding were 1,151,000 and 1,095,000, and 1,487,000 and 1,053,000, respectively, for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company utilizes the asset and liability method for accounting for income taxes.  Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Segment Information

The Company operates in two business segments, non-asset based transportation services and agent support services. The non-asset based transportation services segment includes our brokerage and contract carrier services which are provided through a network of independent sales agents throughout the United States and Canada. Revenue in this segment is generated from freight transportation transactions.  The agent support services segment includes an array of services that we provide to our agent network to support and encourage the expansion of our agents’ businesses, primarily financial support through interest bearing long-term loans and non-interest bearing short-term loans, as well as other services including training, margin analysis, marketing assistance, industry and market segment data, and business analysis tools.  Revenue in this segment consists primarily of interest on interest bearing loans. This segment also includes potential revenues related to profit participations and realization on options to acquire equity that the Company may receive related to a loan or advance extended to an agent.