Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation:

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and Journal Technologies. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year financial statement presentation.

Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Concentrations of Credit Risk:

The Company extends unsecured credit to most of its advertising customers. The Company recognizes that extending credit and setting appropriate reserves for receivables is largely a subjective decision based on knowledge of the customer and the industry. Credit exposure also includes the amount of estimated unbilled sales. Credit limits, setting and maintaining credit standards, and managing the overall quality of the credit portfolio is largely centralized. The level of credit is influenced by the customer’s credit and payment history which the Company monitors when establishing a reserve.

The Company maintains the reserve account for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. If the financial conditions of its customers were to deteriorate or its judgments about their abilities to pay are incorrect, additional allowances might be required and its results of operations could be materially affected.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash equivalents:

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with insignificant risk of change in value within 3 months to be cash equivalents.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value of Financial Instruments:

The carrying amounts of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of their short maturities. In addition, the Company has investments in marketable securities, all categorized as “available-for-sale

” and stated at fair

market value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of tax

es, reported in

“Accumulated other comprehensive

income

” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

The Company uses quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (consistent with the Level 1 definition in the fair value hierarchy) to measure the fair value of its investments on a recurring basis pursuant to Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 820,

Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures

. At September 30, 2014, the aggregate fair market value of the Company’s marketable securities was $173,676,000. These investments had approximately $125,700,000 of unrealized gains before taxes of $48,896,000. Most of the unrealized gains were in the common stocks of three U.S. financial institutions. The bonds have a maturity date in 2039 and are classified as “Current assets” because they are available for sale. At September 30, 2013, the Company had marketable securities at fair market value of approximately $136,994,000, including approximately $89,018,000 of unrealized gains before taxes of $34,610,000.

 

Investment in Financial Instruments

	September 30, 2014						September 30, 2013
	Aggregate fair value		Amortized/Adjusted cost basis		Pretax unrealized gains		Aggregate fair value		Amortized/Adjusted cost basis		Pretax unrealized gains
Marketable securities
Common stocks	$	165,734,000	$	43,042,000	$	122,692,000	$	129,699,000	$	43,042,000	$	86,657,000
Bonds		7,942,000		4,934,000		3,008,000		7,295,000		4,934,000		2,361,000
	$	173,676,000	$	47,976,000	$	125,700,000	$	136,994,000	$	47,976,000	$	89,018,000

The Company perform

ed separate evaluations for impaired equity securities

quarterly to determine if the unrealized losses

were other-than-temporary. This evaluation

considered a number of factors including, but not limited to, the length of time and extent to which the fair value ha

d been less than cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer and

the Company’s ability and intent to hold the securities until fair value recovers. The assessment of the ability and intent to hold these securities to recovery focuses on liquidity

needs, asset/liability management and portfolio objectives

. As of September 30, 2014,

there were no unrealized losses related to

the marketable securities. In fiscal 2013 there were other-than-temporary impairment losses of $1,719,000 ($1,051,000 net of taxes) related to the marketable securities of one issuer and were recognized in earnings as U.S. GAAP requires that the Company recognize other-than-temporary impairment losses in earnings rather than in accumulated comprehensive income when the security prices remain below cost for a period of time that may be deemed excessive even in instances where the Company possesses the ability and intent to hold the security.   However, the recording of these impairment losses does not necessarily indicate that the loss in value of these securities is permanent.  

Business Combinations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Acquisitions:

     In December 2012, the Company purchased all of the outstanding stock of New Dawn for $14,000,000 in cash.

The results of operations of New Dawn from December 5, 2012 through September 30, 2013 have been included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal 2013: revenues were $10,403,000, expenses were $10,625,000 (including intangible amortization expenses of $1,587,000), and its pretax loss was $222,000. On September 13, 2013, the Company acquired substantially all of the operating assets and liabilities of ISD Corporation for about $16,000,000 in cash. The results of operations of ISD for the month of September 2013 have been included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal 2013: revenues were $784,000, expenses were $694,000 (including intangible amortization expenses of $278,000), and its pretax income was $90,000. Both acquisitions were accounted using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with ASC 805,

Business Combinations

. The Company incurred legal and tax fees of approximately $96,000 for the New Dawn acquisition and approximately $202,000 for the ISD acquisition during fiscal 2013. These costs were included in “Other general and administrative expenses” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income in fiscal 2013. The Company acquired New Dawn and ISD to expand its case management software business and to broaden its customer base in key markets.

On July 25, 2014, the Company finalized its valuation of ISD, which resulted in an allocation of $1,700,000 to goodwill and a reduction of the same amount in its intangible assets. The Company allocated the ISD purchase price to tangible assets ($4,410,000 including cash of $2,546,000; accounts receivable of $1,636,000; fixed assets of $141,000; and prepaid assets of $87,000), identifiable intangible assets (purchased software and customer relationships of $14,975,000 pursuant to the results of a third party valuation) and liabilities ($5,112,000 including accounts payable and accrued expenses of $2,270,000 and deferred maintenance agreements of $2,842,000) based on their fair values with the remaining balance in excess of the net assets allocated to goodwill ($1,700,000). 

Deferred revenues on installation contracts primarily represent the fair value of advances from customers of the Journal Technologies for software licenses and installation services. After a customer’s acceptance of the completed project, the advances are generally no longer at risk of refund and are therefore considered earned. Deferred revenues on maintenance contracts represent prepayments of annual license and maintenance fees.

The Company has determined that it is impracticable to include supplemental pro forma information regarding the revenues and earnings of New Dawn and ISD as if the acquisitions had occurred on October 1, 2011 because neither New Dawn nor ISD previously maintained its books on an accrual basis in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and New Dawn’s and ISD’s owners further operated each of the entities as an S corporation. As a result, the Company is unable to produce meaningful pro forma numbers through the use of reasonable efforts. Had the acquisitions occurred on October 1, 2011, the Company would have recorded additional interest expenses of $133,000 and $221,000 in 2013 and 2012, respectively, related to the margin account borrowings incurred to fund the acquisitions and would have recorded additional intangible amortization of $3,370,000 and $5,235,000 in 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Intangible Assets:

At September 30, 2014 and 2013, intangible assets were composed of (i) customer relationships of $15,946,000 and $20,310,000 (net of the accumulated amortization expenses of $6,004,000 and $1,640,000), respectively, and (ii) developed technology of $1,798,000 and $2,300,000 (net of accumulated amortization expenses of $727,000 and $225,000), respectively. These intangible assets are being amortized over five years based on their estimated useful lives. Future annual intangible amortization costs are estimated to be approximately $4,895,000 for fiscal 2015 through 2017 and $3,058,000 for fiscal 2018 and none thereafter. Intangible amortization expense was $4,866,000, $1,865,000 and $0 for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Intangible Assets

	September 30, 2014									September 30, 2013
	Customer Relationships			Developed Technology			Total			Customer Relationships			Developed Technology			Total
Gross intangible	$	21,950,000		$	2,525,000		$	24,475,000		$	21,950,000		$	2,525,000		$	24,475,000
Accumulated amortization		(6,004,000	)		(727,000	)		(6,731,000	)		(1,640,000	)		(225,000	)		(1,865,000	)
	$	15,946,000		$	1,798,000		$	17,744,000		$	20,310,000		$	2,300,000		$	22,610,000

Goodwill:

    The Company accounts for goodwill in accordance with ASC 350,

Intangibles — Goodwill and Other

. Goodwill is not amortized for financial statement purposes but evaluated for impairment annually, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the value may not be recoverable. The Company performed qualitative assessments for its New Dawn and ISD reporting units and determined there were no substantive changes during the current year and no indication of impairment. Goodwill represents the expected synergies in expanding the Company’s software business. Considered factors for potential goodwill impairment evaluation for the reporting units include the current year’s business profitability before intangible amortization, fluctuations of revenues, changes in the market place, the status of installation contracts and new business, among other things. As of September 30, 2014 and 2013, there was goodwill of $13,400,000.

Prepaid and Other Assets Policy [Policy Text Block]

Prepaid and Other Assets:

  Included in other assets are in-progress installation service costs for New Dawn projects from the acquisition for which revenues have not yet been recognized and are deferred.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Inventories:

Inventories, comprised of newsprint and paper, are stated at cost, on a first-in, first-out basis, which does not exceed current market value.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property, plant and equipment:

Property, plant and equipment are carried on the basis of cost or fair value for assets acquired in business combinations. Depreciation of assets is provided in amounts sufficient to depreciate the cost of related assets over their estimated useful lives ranging from 3 – 39 years. At September 30, 2014, the estimated useful lives were (i) 5 – 39 years for building and improvements, (ii) 3 – 5 years for furniture, office equipment and software, and (iii) 3 – 10 years for machinery and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the term of the related leases or the useful life of the assets, whichever is shorter. Assets are depreciated using the straight-line method for financial statements and accelerated method for tax purposes. Depreciation and amortization expenses were $650,000, $576,000 and $503,000 for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Significant expenditures which extend the useful lives of existing assets are capitalized. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. Gains or losses on dispositions of assets are reflected in current earnings.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets:

The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable.

There were no such impairments identified during fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Research, Development, and Computer Software, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Journal Technologies’ Software Development Costs:

 

Development costs related to software products developed for sale or licensing are expensed as incurred until the technological feasibility of the product has been established. Thereafter, until the product is released for sale, software development costs are capitalized and reported at the lower of unamortized cost or net realizable value of the related product. The establishment of technological feasibility and the ongoing assessment of recoverability of costs require considerable judgment by the Company with respect to certain internal and external factors, including, but not limited to, anticipated future product revenue, estimated economic life and changes in hardware and software technology.

The Company believes its process for developing software is essentially completed concurrent with the establishment of technological feasibility, and accordingly, no software development costs have been capitalized to date.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition:

For the Traditional Business, proceeds from the sale of subscriptions for newspapers, court rule books and other publications and other services are recorded as deferred revenue and are included in earned revenue only when the services are provided, generally over the subscription term. Advertising revenues are recognized when advertisements are published and are net of commissions. The change in allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows.

Description	Balance at Beginning of Year		Additions Charged to Costs and Expenses		Accounts Charged off less Recoveries			Balance at End of Year
2014
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	250,000	$	41,000	$	(41,000	)	$	250,000
2013
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	200,000	$	144,000	$	(94,000	)	$	250,000
2012
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	250,000	$	49,000	$	(99,000	)	$	200,000

Journal Technologies recognizes revenues in accordance with the provisions of ASC 985-605,

Software—Revenue Recognition

and ASC 605-35

Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts

. Revenues from leases of software products are recognized over the life of the lease while revenues from software product sales are generally recognized upon delivery, installation or acceptance pursuant to a signed agreement. Revenues from annual license and maintenance contracts generally call for the Company to provide software updates and upgrades to customers and are recognized ratably over the maintenance period. Consulting and other services are recognized upon acceptance by the customers under the completed contract method. The Company elects to use the completed contract method because each customer’s acceptance is unpredictable and reliable estimates of the progress towards completion cannot be made. Only after a customer’s acceptance of a completed project are customer advances generally no longer at risk of refund and are therefore considered earned.

Approximately 53%, 37% and 9% of the Company’s revenues in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively, were derived from sales and leases of software licenses, annual maintenance contract and support services and consulting services that typically include implementation and training.

The Company has established Vendor Specific Objective Evidence (VSOE) of fair value of the annual maintenance because a substantial majority of the Journal Technologies’ actual maintenance renewals is within a narrow range of pricing as a percentage of the underlying license fees for the legacy contracts and is deemed substantive.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Management Incentive Plan:

In fiscal 1987, the Company implemented a Management Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”) that entitles a participant to participate in pretax earnings before adjustment for certain items of the Company. In 2003, the Company modified the Incentive Plan to provide participants with three different types of non-negotiable incentive certificates based on the nature of the particular participants’ responsibilities. Each certificate entitles the participant to a specified share of the applicable pretax earnings in the year of grant and to receive the same percentage of pretax earnings to be generated in each of the next nine years provided they remain with the Company or are in retirement after working for the Company to age 65. If a participant dies while any of his or her certificates remain outstanding, future payments under those certificates will be made to the deceased participant’s beneficiaries. During fiscal 2012, the Company added a supplemental Addendum to the Sustain Certificate. This Addendum defines how the value of a Sustain Certificate will be paid upon a triggering event such as a sale of Sustain or an initial public offering.

Employees and consultants of New Dawn and ISD were not eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan, but starting in fiscal 2015 the Company has combined Sustain, New Dawn and ISD into one company, and the employees and consultants of the combined entity will be able to participate in new “Journal Technologies Certificates”. 

Certificate interests entitled participants to receive 3.85%, 3.66% and 3.60% (amounting to $265,490, $351,120 and $513,500, respectively) of Daily Journal non-consolidated income before taxes, workers’ compensation, supplemental compensation and certain other items, 9.25%, 7.95% and 8.23% (amounting to $0 for all three years) for Sustain and 8.2%, 8.2% and 8.2% (amounting to $0, $241,240 and $701,520, respectively) for Daily Journal consolidated in fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012. The Company accrued $780,000 and $1,620,000 as of September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, for the Plan’s future commitment, which included a

decrease in fiscal 2014 of $840,000 or $.61 per share outstanding on a pretax basis and a decrease in fiscal 2013 of $2,580,000 or $1.87 per share outstanding on a pretax basis due to reduced estimated future pretax income. The estimated Incentive Plan’s future commitment is calculated using Level 3 inputs, as defined in the fair value hierarchy, based on an average of the current year and the current expectation of fiscal 2015 pretax earnings before certain items, discounted to the present value at 6% since each granted Unit will expire over its remaining life term of up to 10 years.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income taxes:

The Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach which requires the recognition of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes and the tax basis of the assets and liabilities. The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes under ASC 740-10 which prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement methodology to recognize and measure an income tax position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return. The evaluation of a tax position is based on a two-step approach. The first step requires an entity to evaluate whether the tax position would “more likely than not” be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority. The second step requires the tax position be measured at the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. In addition, previously recognized benefits from tax positions that no longer meet the new criteria would be derecognized. The Company records liabilities related to uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740, Tax Provisions. At September 30, 2014, the Company accrued an approximately $3,244,000 tax liability for uncertain and unrecognized tax benefits relative to an aquisition in fiscal 2013. At September 30, 2013 and 2012, there were no unrecognized tax benefits for the uncertain tax positions as the Company settled the previously claimed research and development credits in its tax returns for the years 2002 to 2007 with the Internal Revenue Service in March 2012.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Net income per common share

:

   The net income per common share is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each year. The shares used in the calculation were 1,380,746 for fiscal 2014, 2013 and 2012. The Company does not have any common stock equivalents, and therefore basic and diluted net income per share is the same.

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates:

The presentation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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. The long-term Incentive Plan accrual is a significant estimate and relies on projections of future pretax income. The estimated Incentive Plan’s future commitment is calculated using Level 3 inputs, as defined in the fair value hierarchy, based on an average of the current year and the current expectation of fiscal 2015 pretax earnings, discounted to the present value at 6%

since each granted Unit will expire over its remaining life term of up to 10 years. Additionally, the purchase price allocations for New Dawn and ISD were based on estimates of fair value at the respective acquisition dates, using Level 3 measurement inputs under the fair value measurement hierarchy. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Accounting Standards Adopted in 2013

: In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASU”) No. 2013-02,

Reporting of Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

, requiring entities to disclose additional information with respect to changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) balances by component and significant items reclassified out of AOCI. This ASU was effective beginning October 1, 2013 for the Company, and the adoption has no impact on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial positions because it only represents a change to the presentation and disclosure requirements.     

New Accounting Pronouncement:

In September 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-15,

“Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern (Subtopic 205-40): Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern”

which defines when and how companies are required to disclose going concern uncertainties. Certain disclosure are required if substantial doubt that the entity will be unable to meet its obligations as they become due within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or available to be issued) exists.

The new standard applies prospectively to annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and to annual and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted under U.S. GAAP. The Company will adopt this standard when necessary.

In May 2014, FASB issued ASU 2014-09,

“Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”.

The amendments in this Update establish a comprehensive revenue recognition standard for contract between a vendor and a customer for the provision of goods and services, and the standard requires five basic steps: (i) identify the contract with the customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. This update will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods therein. Early adoption is prohibited under U.S. GAAP. The Company has not evaluated the impact of the adoption of the ASU on the consolidated financial statements.