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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
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12 Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dec. 31, 2014
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| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] |
Legal Matters
The Company is involved in litigation and arbitrations from time to time in the ordinary course of business. The Company does not believe that the outcome of any such pending or threatened litigation will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations. However, as is inherent in legal proceedings, there is a risk that an unpredictable decision adverse to the company could be reached. The Company records legal costs associated with loss contingencies as incurred. Settlements are accrued when, and if, they become probable and estimable.
Regulatory Matters
The partial settlement in May 2007 of a securities industry (FINRA) enforcement case first brought in 2004 left a few charges unresolved, principally, whether Company CEO, Scott Mathis, inadvertently or willfully failed to properly disclose the existence of certain federal tax liens on his Form U4 (the securities industry registration form) during the years 1996-2002. In December 2007, the FINRA Office of Hearing Officers (“OHO”) held that Mr. Mathis negligently failed to make certain disclosures on his Form U4 concerning personal tax liens, and willfully failed to make other required Form U4 disclosures regarding those tax liens. (All of the underlying tax liabilities were paid in 2003 so the liens were released in 2003.) Mr. Mathis received a three-month suspension, and a $10,000 fine for the lien nondisclosures. With respect to other non-willful late Form U4 filings relating to two customer complaints, he received an additional 10-day suspension (to run concurrently), plus an additional $2,500 fine. The suspension was completed on September 4, 2012, and all fines have been paid.
Mr. Mathis has never disputed that he failed to make, or timely make, these disclosures on his Form U4; he only disputed the willfulness finding. He appealed the decision (principally with respect to the willfulness issue) to the FINRA National Adjudicatory Council (“NAC”). In December 2008, NAC affirmed the OHO decision pertaining to the “willful” issue, and slightly broadened the finding. Thereafter, Mr. Mathis appealed the NAC decision to the Securities and Exchange Commission and thereafter to the U.S. Court of Appeals. In each instance, the decision of the NAC was affirmed.
Under FINRA’s rules, the finding that Mr. Mathis was found to have acted willfully subjects him to a “statutory disqualification.” This means that he might no longer be permitted to continue to work in the securities industry. In September 2012, Mr. Mathis submitted to FINRA an application on Form MC-400 in which he sought permission to continue to work in the securities industry, notwithstanding the fact that he is subject to a statutory disqualification. A hearing on that application was held in October, 2014, and it is not known when a decision will be made. While a denial of that application would preclude Mr. Mathis from continuing to work at the Company’s broker-dealer, he would still be able to continue performing his duties for the non-securities side of the business.
Pending Financial Disclosures
Mr. Mathis currently has two liens filed against him for unpaid taxes as disclosed on his Form U4. The majority of tax owed by Mr. Mathis resulted from the sale of a portion of his shares in Hollywood Burger Holdings, Inc., which Mr. Mathis liquidated in order to provide funds through a loan to the Company. Mr. Mathis has entered into payment plans with the IRS and is fully compliant with those plans. Mr. Mathis has made full payment of the tax owed to New York State and currently no amounts are outstanding with regard to taxes owed to New York State.
Employment Agreement
The CEO has an employment agreement which commenced on January 1, 2003 which automatically renews for annual periods following the initial two-year term. The agreement may be terminated by either party upon three months written notice in advance of any renewal date. Compensation pursuant to the agreement includes an annual salary of $250,000 (subject to annual increases of 5% beginning with the first automatic renewal), bonus eligibility, paid vacation and specified business expense reimbursements. The agreement sets limits on the CEO’s annual sales of AWLD common stock. If the CEO’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by the CEO for Good Reason, then the salary is payable for the remainder of the then current term, plus an additional six months. Upon a change of control (1) the CEO’s options fully vest; (2) the employment term resets to one year from the date of the change of control; (3) the CEO has the right to resign during the thirty day period commencing on the one year anniversary of the change of control and then receive, within thirty days of his termination, a lump sum payment equal to his then current annual salary. The CEO isn’t permitted to solicit AWLD clients or employees during a two-year non-solicitation period following his termination.
Commitments
The Company leases office space under an operating lease that expires on August 31, 2015. Most of the leases include renewal options. Future minimum payments on these operating leases are as follows:
Rent expense for this property for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 was $129,168 and $129,169, respectively, net of expense allocation to affiliates.
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