10-Q 1 ironstone_10q-033112.htm FORM 10-Q ironstone_10q-033112.htm
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
 x
QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

 o
TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number 0-12346

IRONSTONE GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 Delaware    95-2829956
(State or other jurisdiction of   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)    
 
Pier 1, Bay 3, San Francisco, California 94111
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(415) 551-3260
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NONE
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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 past 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.    Yes [X]    No [  ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer. or a smaller reporting company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “non-accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in  Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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 Exchange Act)  Yes  [X]    No [  ]

As of April 26, 2012, 1,872,964 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, were outstanding.





TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES:   19   INDEX TO EXHIBITS AT PAGE: N/A

 
 

 
 
IRONSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
   
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)  
   
Condensed consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011
3
   
Condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
4
   
Condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011
5
   
Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements
6
   
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 11
   
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 12
   
Item 4T. Controls and Procedures 13
   
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION  
   
Item 6. Exhibits 14
   
Signatures 15
Exhibit 31.1
16
Exhibit 31.2
17
Exhibit 32.1
18
Exhibit 32.2
19
                                                                                                                                                       
 
2

 
 
IRONSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
   
(unaudited)
       
   
March 31, 2012
   
December 31, 2011
 
             
ASSETS:
           
Current assets:
           
Cash
  $ 1,820     $ 5,154  
Marketable securities, available for sale, at fair value
    1,007,020       7,800  
Salon Media Group, Inc. common stock, at fair value
    7,997       3,998  
Salon Media Group, Inc. Series C Preferred, at fair value
    84,300       42,150  
                 
Total assets
  $ 1,101,137     $ 59,102  
                 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
               
Current liabilities:
               
Line of credit borrowings
  $ 350,000     $ 350,000  
Note payable to related party
    -       279,500  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    34,098       83,434  
                 
Total current liabilities
    384,098       712,934  
                 
Note payable net of discount of $56,188
    943,812       -  
                 
Total liabilities
    1,327,910       712,934  
                 
                 
Stockholders' equity:
               
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized of which there are no issued and outstanding shares
               
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, 2,618,500 shares are issued and 1,872,964 are outstanding on March 31, 2012; 1,487,644 shares are issued and 742,108 shares are outstanding on December 31, 2011
    26,187       14,878  
Additional paid-in capital
    21,554,521       21,170,385  
Accumulated deficit
    (21,282,957 )     (21,269,202 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    (1,950 )     (47,319 )
      295,801       (131,258 )
Less: Treasury Stock, 745,536 shares, at cost
    (522,574 )     (522,574 )
                 
Total stockholders' equity
    (226,773 )     (653,832 )
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,101,137     $ 59,102  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements
 
 
3

 

IRONSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(unaudited)
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Operating expenses:
           
Professional fees
  $ 1,308     $ 2,040  
Miscellaneous expenses
    264          
Total operating expenses
    1,572       2,040  
                 
Loss from operations
    (1,572 )     (2,040 )
                 
Other income (expense):
               
Interest expense, net
    (12,183 )     (11,144 )
                 
                 
Net (loss)
  $ (13,755 )   $ (13,184 )
                 
                 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX:
               
Net loss
  $ (13,755 )   $ (13,184 )
Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during the period
    45,369       (780 )
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 31,614     $ (13,964 )
                 
                 
Basic and diluted:
               
Net loss per share
  $ (0.01 )   $ (0.02 )
Weighted average shares outstanding
    1,500,071       742,108  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements

 
4

 
 
IRONSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31  
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
           
Net loss
  $ (13,755 )   $ (13,184 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
    5,421       4,455  
Net cash used in operating activities
    (8,334 )     (8,729 )
                 
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchased Non Marketable TangoMe, Inc
    (1,000,000 )        
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,000,000 )     -  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Note payable to related party
    5,000       20,000  
Note payable
    1,000,000          
Net cash provided from financing activities
    1,005,000       20,000  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash
    (3,334 )     11,271  
                 
Cash at beginning of period
    5,154       1,566  
                 
Cash at end of period
  $ 1,820     $ 12,837  
                 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
               
Cash paid during the period for interest
  $ 6,763     $ 6,688  
Supplemental disclosure of noncash financing activities:
               
Issuance of common stock for note payable ($284,500) and and accrued interest ($54,757) to related party
  $ 339,257          

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements
 
 
5

 

IRONSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2012
(UNAUDITED)
 
 
1. BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Business Activities

Ironstone Group, Inc. and subsidiaries have no operations but are seeking appropriate business combination opportunities.

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Ironstone Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, AcadiEnergy, Inc., Belt Perry Associates, Inc., DeMoss Corporation, and TaxNet, Inc., (collectively the “Company”).  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Marketable Securities

Marketable securities have been classified by management as available for sale in accordance with ASC 320, marketable securities are recorded at fair value and any unrealized gains or losses are excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity until realized. The fair value of the Company’s marketable securities and investments at March 31, 2012 is based on quoted market prices. For the purpose of computing realized gains and losses, cost is identified on a specific identification basis. For marketable securities for which there is an other-than-temporary impairment, an impairment loss is recognized as a realized loss, and related adjustments are not made for recovery in value.

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. Certain information and disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although Ironstone believes that the following disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair and comparable presentation have been included and are of a normal recurring nature. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 
6

 
 
IRONSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2011
(UNAUDITED)


1. BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (concluded)

Earnings (Loss) per Share

Basic earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares actually outstanding during the period.  Diluted EPS reflects the dilution from potentially dilutive securities, except where inclusion of such potentially dilutive securities would have an anti-dilutive effect, using the average stock price during the period in the computation and because of the net loss for the periods presented.

Income Taxes

The Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Income taxes are provided for the tax effects of transactions reported in the financial statements and consist of taxes currently due plus deferred income taxes. Deferred income taxes are recognized for differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. Deferred income taxes are also recognized for net operating loss carryforwards that are available to offset future taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company does not expect the adoption of any recent accounting pronouncements will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 
7

 
 
IRONSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2012
(UNAUDITED)


2. FAIR VALUE of FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Due to the short maturity of cash, accounts payable, the line of credit, and the note payable, the carrying amount reported in the consolidated balance sheets approximates fair market value.

Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”. ASC 820 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and enhances disclosures about fair value measurements. Fair value is defined under ASC 820 as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value under ASC 820 must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. ASC 820 describes a fair value hierarchy based on three levels of inputs of which the first two are considered observable and the last unobservable, that may be used to measure fair value which are the following:
 
  Level 1    Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.  
         
  Level 2   Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.  
         
  Level 3   Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.  
 
In addition to using the guidelines set forth in ASC 820 for valuing fixed income securities, each company is also required to disclose information that enables users of its financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those valuations. Market values were determined for each security in the investment portfolio based on quoted market prices and quoted market prices for similar securities.
 
   
Quoted
   
Significant
   
Significant
   
Total Carrying
 
   
Market Prices
   
Other
   
Other
   
Value In The
 
   
In Active
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
   
Consolidated
 
   
Markets
   
Input
   
Input
   
Balance Sheet at
 
Description  
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
   
March 31, 2012
 
                         
Securities available for sale   $ 15,017     $ 1,084,300       -     $ 1,099,317  
 
   
Quoted
   
Significant
   
Significant
   
Total Carrying
 
   
Market Prices
   
Other
   
Other
   
Value In The
 
   
In Active
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
   
Consolidated
 
   
Markets
   
Input
   
Input
   
Balance Sheet at
 
Description
 
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
   
December 31, 2011
 
                                 
Securities available for sale   $ 11,798     $ 42,150       -     $ 53,948  
 
 
8

 

IRONSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2012
(UNAUDITED)


3. INVESTMENTS

TANGO ME, INC.

On March 30, 2012, the Company purchased 468,121 shares of Series A Preferred stock from William R. Hambrecht at $2.1362 per share ($1,000,000). The value of this transaction was determined using the fair value of similar securities sold to unrelated third parties. There was no change in the fair value of this investment to March 31, 2012.

SALON MEDIA GROUP, INC.

The Company owns 843 shares of Series C Preferred Stock of Salon Media Group, Inc. (“Salon”).  These shares resulted from the December 31, 2003 conversion of Convertible Promissory Notes purchased by the Company and are convertible to common stock at any time. The Series C Preferred Stock is convertible into common stock of Salon at the conversion rate determined by dividing the Series C Preferred Stock per share price of $800 by the Series C Conversion Price of $0.80, or at the rate of one share of Series C Preferred Stock to 1,000 shares of common stock. If converted, the Company’s shares of Series C Preferred Stock represent 843,000 common shares of Salon, or 7.4% of Salon’s common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2012. The investment in Series C Preferred Stock of Salon is valued at the converted common stock value of $.10 and $.05 per share, or $84,300 and $42,150 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded a related unrealized gain of $42,150.

Additionally, in conjunction with making the investment in Salon, the Company received warrants to purchase common stock in Salon. In 2006, the Company exercised its warrants to purchase a total of 79,970 shares of common stock of Salon. The investment in common shares of Salon is valued at $.10 and $.05 per share, or $7,997 and $3,998 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded a related unrealized gain of $3,999.

The quoted market price for the Salon Media Group at March 31, 2012 was $.50; however, as we recorded an other-than-temporary loss on these securities in 2009 (down to $.10 per share), we did not adjust the carrying value for this subsequent recovery in value.

Flexi

The Company owns 78,000 shares of Flexi International Software stock and accounts for this investment as an available-for-sale security on its balance sheet. The investment in common shares of Flexi is valued at $.09 and $.10 per share, or $7,020 and $7,800 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded a related unrealized loss of $780.

4. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

A Director and a former President and Chief Executive Officer of Salon is the sister of a member of the Board of Directors and the daughter of the Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. William R Hambrecht, Chief Executive Officer is a minority stockholder in Salon Media Group.

On March 13, 2012 the Company borrowed $5,000 from Mr. William R. Hambrecht at 7.75% interest with a December 31, 2012 maturity.

On March 30, 2012 the Company paid the loan and interest due William R. Hambrecht in the amount of $339,257 through the issuance of 1,130,856 common shares at a price of $.30 per share.

On March 30, 2012, the Company purchased 468,121 shares of TangoMe Inc. Series A Preferred from William R. Hambrecht at $2.1362 per share.

 
9

 

IRONSTONE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2012
(UNAUDITED)


5. NOTE PAYABLE

On March 31, 2012, the Company received $1,000,000 from a third party and issued a related promissory note. This note carries an 8% interest rate, per annum, and has a maturity date of March 31, 2017. The note is secured by all of the assets of the Company through an accompanying security agreement. If the Company defaults on the note or security agreement, interest would accrue at 10% per annum.

In connection with the note agreement, the Company also issued warrants to this third party to purchase 187,296 shares of the Company’s common stock, at a price of $1. If the third party elects to purchase only a portion of the allotted shares, then the purchase price shall be prorated for the portion purchased. The warrants were separately valued using the Black-Scholes model, and it was determined the fair value of the warrants at March 31, 2012 was $56,188. This amount has been recorded as a discount on the $1,000,000 note payable and will be amortized over the 5 year term of the note. No amortization of this discount has been recorded as of March 31, 2012.

The inputs to the Black-Scholes model were as follows:  Stock price at March 31, 2012 of $.30; Exercise price of $.000005; Expected term of 10 years; Risk-free interest rate of 4.84%; Dividend rate of 0; Volatility of 60%. All 187,296 warrants were issued and outstanding at March 31, 2012.

6. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Treasury Stock – On September 15, 2003, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase 745,536 shares of Company common stock at $0.70 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $521,875. The repurchase represented 50.11% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company paid $699 for fractional Treasury shares. As of December 31, 2011, the treasury shares are held by the Company.

Preferred Stock – The Company is authorized to issue up to five million shares of preferred stock without further shareholder approval; the rights, preferences and privileges of which would be determined at the time of issuance. No shares have ever been issued.

Stock Option Plans -- The Company has adopted a 1989 Equity Incentive Plan, a 1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan and a 1994 Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, the "Plans"). In March 1994, the 1989 Equity Incentive Plan was amended to reduce the number of shares reserved there under and the Board of Directors determined that no further grants would be made under this plan. As of March 31, 2012, 331,680 shares were available for grant under the Plans (no options are issued or outstanding at March 31, 2012). The Plans provide for incentive stock options to be granted at times and prices determined by the Company’s Board of Directors, to be granted at not less than 100% of the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Options are generally subject to a three or four-year vesting schedule. Options issued under the Plans expire at the earlier of the end of the exercise period of no more than ten years from the date of grant or 90 days following the grantee’s end of service to the Company.

On March 30, 2012 the Company paid the loan and interest due William R. Hambrecht in the amount of $339,257 through the issuance of 1,130,856 common shares at a price of $.30 per share.

7. LINE OF CREDIT ARRANGEMENT

The Company has a line of credit arrangement with First Republic Bank (the “lender”) with a borrowing limit of $350,000 with interest based upon the lender’s prime rate. Interest is payable monthly at 7.75% at March 31, 2012. The line is guaranteed by William R. Hambrecht, Chief Executive Officer, Director and Robert H. Hambrecht, Secretary, Director. The line of credit is due on demand and is secured by all of the Company’s business assets. At March 31, 2012, the outstanding balance under the line was $350,000.The total recorded interest expense on this note for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was $6,763 and $6,688 (this amount was also paid during each respective period).

8. GOING CONCERN

As reflected in the accompanying financial statements the Company has net losses and has a negative cash flow from operations. This raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If necessary the Company may seek to sell additional debt or equity securities or enter into new credit facilities to meet its cash needs. The Company cannot make assurances that it will be able to complete any financing or liquidity transaction, that such financing or liquidity transaction will be adequate for the Company’s needs, or that a financing or liquidity transaction will be completed in a timely manner.

 
10

 
 
Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements in this document that are not historical facts, including, without limitation, statements of future expectations, projections of financial condition and results of operations, statements of future economic performance and other forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from  those contemplated in such forward-looking statements.  In addition to the specific matters referred to herein, important factors which may cause actual results to differ from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements include (i) the results of the Company’s efforts to implement its business strategy; (ii) actions of the Company’s competitors and the Company’s ability to respond to such actions; (iii) changes in governmental regulation, tax rates and similar matters; and (iv) other risks detailed in the Company’s other filings with the Commission.

Results of Operations

Comparison of 2012 to 2011

Operating expenses for the three-month period ended March 31, 2012 decreased $468 or 23% as compared to the same period in 2011. This was primarily due to an decrease in professional fees.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $8,334. We have working capital at March 31, 2012 of $717,039, and negative working capital at December 31, 2011 of $653,832. The positive change is due mainly to paying off short term debt and issuing a long term note payable..Cash decreased by $3,334 from $5,154 at December 31, 2011 to $1,820 at March 31, 2012.

To meet its cash needs during the first quarter of 2012, William R. Hambrecht lent $5,000 to the Company. On March 30, 2012 this loan was repaid by the issuance of common stock. See Note #4 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

On March 30, 2012 the Company issued a note in the principal amount of $1,000,000 to Shea Ventures, LLC. The note matures on March 31, 2017, bears interest at a rate of 8%, and is secured by the assets of the Company. In connection with the note, Shea Ventures was granted warrants to purchase 187,296 common shares of the Company at a nominal price per share. The warrants were valued at $56,188 using the Black-Scholes Model.

The Company may obtain additional equity or working capital through additional bank borrowings and public or private sales of equity securities and exercises of outstanding stock options. There can be no assurance, however, that such additional financing will be available on terms favorable to the Company, or at all.

While the Company explores new business opportunities the primary capital resource of the Company is the March 30, 2012 purchase of 468,121 shares of TangoMe, Inc. The investment in TangoMe, Inc. is valued at a price of $2.1362 per share, or $1,000,000 at March 31, 2012.

Also another capital resource of the Company is 843 shares of Series C Preferred Stock of Salon Media Group, Inc. (“Salon”). These shares were converted on December 31, 2003 from Convertible Promissory Notes purchased by the Company and are convertible to common stock at any time.  The Series C Preferred Stock is convertible into common stock of Salon at the conversion rate determined by dividing the Series C Preferred Stock per share price of $800 by the Series C Conversion Price of $0.80, or at the rate of one share of Series C Preferred Stock to 1,000 shares of common stock. If converted, the Company’s shares of Series C Preferred Stock represent 843,000 shares or 7.4% of Salon’s common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2012. The investment in Salon is valued at the converted common stock value of $.10 per share, or $84,300 at March 31, 2012.

 
11

 

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis and Results of Operations (concluded)

In conjunction with making the investment in Salon, the Company received warrants to purchase common stock in Salon. In 2006, the Company exercised its warrants to purchase a total of 79,970 shares of common stock of Salon. The investment in common shares of Salon is valued at $.10 per share, or $7,997 at March 31, 2012.

The quoted market price for the Salon Media Group at March 31, 2012 was $.50, however, as we recorded an other-than-temporary loss on these securities in 2009 (down to $.10 per share), we did not adjust the carrying value for this subsequent recovery in value.

As of April 11, 2012, 2012, Salon’s common stock was quoted at $.06 per share.  There can be no assurance that a market will continue to exist for either the Series C Preferred Stock or the common stock of Salon.

The Company owns 78,000 shares of Flexi International Software stock and accounts for this investment as an available-for-sale security on its balance sheet. The investment in common shares of Flexi is valued at $.09 and $.10 per share, or $7,020 and $7,800 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded a related unrealized loss of $780.

Trends and Uncertainties

Termination of Historical Business Lines

Since winding down the Company’s traditional lines of business, Management and the Board of Directors have been seeking appropriate business opportunities for the Company.  In the alternative, management and the Board are looking for an investment opportunity for the Company to invest some or all of its remaining liquid assets. Otherwise, the Company’s cash assets are invested in corporate securities and demand deposit accounts. If the Company does not find an operating entity to combine with, and if its assets are not invested in certain types of securities (primarily government securities), it may be deemed to be an investment company under the terms of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

We are a Smaller Reporting Company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are not required to provide the information under this item.

 
12

 
 
Item 4T. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the officers who certify the financial statements and to other members of senior management and the Board of Directors.
 
We conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Based on this evaluation our chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2012, our disclosure controls and procedures are not effective.
 
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting for the three-months ended March 31, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
Management’s Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.
 
All internal controls over financial reporting, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of controls. Therefore, even effective internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting may vary over time.
 
Our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2012. In making its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework. Based on our evaluation, management concluded that, as of March 31, 2012, our internal control over financial reporting was not effective based on those criteria because of the existence of the following material weaknesses.
 
 
1)
The Company does not have an adequate number of independent board members nor therefore an independent audit committee.
 
 
2)
Our limited number of employees results in the Company’s inability to have a sufficient segregation of duties within its accounting and financial reporting activities.
 
These absences constitute material weaknesses in the Company’s corporate governance structure. These weaknesses were also reported in our December 31, 2011 Form 10-K filing.
 
Item 5. Other Information

On March 30, 2012, Mr. Denis T. Rice was appointed to the Board of Directors to fill an existing vacancy on the Board.

 
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
 

Item 6.  Exhibits

 
31.1
Section 302 – Principal Executive Officer Certification
 
31.2
Section 302 – Principal Financial Officer Certification
 
32.1
Section 1350 – Certification – Chief Executive Officer
 
32.2
Section 1350 – Certification – Chief Financial Officer
 
101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document.
 
101.SCH*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
101.CAL*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
 
101.DEF*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
 
101.LAB*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
 
101.PRE*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
 
   
*
Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates such information by reference.
                                       
 
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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 on Form 10-Q to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
IRONSTONE GROUP, INC.
a Delaware corporation
 
       
       
Date: May 21, 2012      
  By: /s/  William R. Hambrecht  
    William R. Hambrecht  
    Chief 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/ William R. Hambrecht     Director, Chief Executive Officer    May 21, 2012  
William R. Hambrecht   (Principal Executive Officer)      
           
           
/s/ Quock Q. Fong      Chief Financial Officer   May 21, 2012  
Quock Q. Fong          
           
           
/s/ Robert H. Hambrecht    Director, Secretary   May 21, 2012  
Robert H. Hambrecht          
           
           
/s/ Denis T. Rice    Director    May 21, 2012  
Denis T. Rice          
                                                                                        
 
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