Financial Information
REVIEW OF OPERATIONS
RevenueTotal revenue increased from 2003 to 2004 by $2,464,040 or 21%, primarily reflecting the increase in MRR. MRR increased by approximately $2,097,000 or 19% in the same period. Over the same period the average number of subscribers during the year increased from approximately 37,300 to 44,000, up 19%. The balance of the net change was due mainly to increase in amortization of deferred revenue from sales of add-on equipment options, which comprised approximately 7% of total revenue.
Cost of salesCost of sales increased by $92,408 or 3% from 2003 to 2004. Direct costs decreased as a result of the company’s acquisition of certain franchise rights, resulting in elimination of fees paid to franchisees. The cost of acquisition of the rights is being amortized over the respective remaining franchise terms, resulting in a partially offsetting increase in amortization expense.
Certain costs of the burglar alarm company’s central monitoring station are relatively fixed and therefore the per-account cost is decreasing as economies of scale are realized from an expanding account base. The company is vertically integrated and manufactures, installs, monitors and services AlarmVoice alarm systems. The alarm system facilitates live two-way voice communication with the Central Station thereby offering immediate response and/or assistance in certain emergencies. The Central Station is located at the home alarm monitoring Company’s head office in Toronto from which the subscriber accounts are monitored.
Gross marginGross margin increased from 2003 to 2004 by $2,371,632 or 27%, due primarily to greater operating efficiency of the central monitoring station. Gross margin as a percentage of total revenue increased from 74% to 79% which is consistent with increased efficiency of operations, and consistent with the decrease in the per-account monitoring cost as the account base has increased.
Operating expensesGeneral, Administrative & Selling expenses increased from 2003 to 2004 by $979,464 or 27%. Of this increase, an increase of $489,000 (21% increase) was due to the increase in number of employees and yearly salary increases. Total salaries expense increased due to recruitment of additional employees to replace franchisees and increase capacity in connection with the franchise rights acquired. In addition the company minimizes reliance on outsourcing and subcontracts, resulting in increased recruiting of employees to staff all aspects of its manufacturing, marketing and distribution activities, thereby better controlling the quality of service provided to customers. Sales representatives manage leads and book the driveway alarm installations, while other employees and associates located throughout the country are responsible for the installation and service to subscribers. The alarm monitoring Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $105,000 in 2004 in accordance with the adoption of the new policy. No expense was recorded in 2003 in accordance with GAAP at that time, thus contributing to the total increase in expenses in 2004. The fair value of stock options granted in 2004 is determined based on the Black- Scholes option pricing model.
The balance of increase was due to occupancy expense and miscellaneous office and general expenses.
Other expensesAmortization expenses include amortization of the cost of revenue equipment, deferred direct-response marketing charges and franchise rights. Amortization of revenue equipment is calculated on a straight line basis over the ten year estimated life of the equipment consisting of wireless security systems installed in subscriber homes. This amount increased by $205,161 or 16%, reflecting the increase in the total number of subscribers with monitored systems. Amortization of deferred direct-response marketing charges, which is calculated over the four-year term of the subscriber contracts to which they relate, correspondingly increased by $523,578 or 32%. Amortization of intangible assets increased by $150,771 due to new acquisitions of franchise rights.
Interest expense decreased by $64,725, reflecting the decreased average borrowings requirements in 2004 as compared to 2003. The company closed two private placements during the year resulting in additional capital in the company to finance growth and working capital. The company has also controlled the use of debt financing for new growth in subscriber accounts by maintaining a low cost of creation relative to the industry. The company uses an organic growth model to build the account base as opposed to acquiring existing accounts, and this has proved effective in reducing the debt-to-equity ratio in the company.
Income taxesThe company’s effective tax rate was higher than the statutory rate of 36.12% due mainly to the effect of nondeductible amortization of intangible assets. In addition, in 2004 there was an offsetting gain from a net decrease in the statutory tax rates compared to the prior year.
For income tax purposes the company is able to deduct certain deferred charges in excess of the expense amounts recorded for accounting purposes, resulting in timing differences that are expected to reverse in future. Accordingly the company has recorded a liability for future income taxes expected to be paid in connection with the timing differences. The future tax liability is reduced by future income tax assets resulting from certain opposite timing differences, which result from the accounting deferral and amortization of sales revenue that are included in taxable income immediately at the time that the sale is completed. These differences are also expected to reverse in the future.
In addition, certain share issuance costs incurred in 2004 are deductible from taxable income over a period of five years, resulting in timing differences and a future tax asset of approximately $140,000.
The tax effects of the significant components of temporary differences giving rise to the future tax assets and liabilities are as follows for the years 2002-2004, after restating the prior years for the change in accounting policy in 2004.
| 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | |
| $ | $ | $ | |
| Future tax liabilities arising from deferred marketing | |||
| charges and property, plant and equipment | 2,579,600 | 1,832,100 | 1,438,200 |
| Future tax assets arising from deferred revenue and | |||
| other miscellaneous items | (629,600) | (585,100) | (718,200) |
| Net future tax liability | 1,950,000 | 1,247,000 | 720,000 |
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Testimonials
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We have had your service for more than 15 years and are more than pleased. Your service technicians in the Barrie area have been great.
-G & M, ON -
The alarm allows me to sleep at night without worrying too much. I had a house that had several break-ins, hopefully the AlarmForce tags on my doors and windows will discourage thieves.
-Sandra, BC -
I wanted to let you know what a nice person James Gipson is. He is so friendly and took his time and went beyond the call of duty explaining everything to me. It was not a rush job and I didn’t feel it was just taking my money. He is exceptional and I would like to make sure he knows he is appreciated.
-Inyang, GA -
Very impressed with your company. Have referred several people.
-Dusty, OH -
I am very satisfied with the prompt appointment and quick, easy installation. Simple to use - it even talks.. something that I think should be put on the website that it gives voice prompts. I accidentally set off the system somehow and all of a sudden I hear Attention this is the AlarmForce central station, identify yourself. I was just sitting on the couch playing with the phone features, so not sure what I did. It was so simple that I didn’t get a phone call, I just talked directly to the voice that came on. My old system that I had after the system went off or an silent alarm went off it could take up to 10 minutes to get a phone call. This was within 2 minutes that someone was there. I felt safe in my home but now I feel a lot safer and the installer put the motion detector up right the first time (I have a 60 lb dog and it took 3 trips for my old system before they got it right. Thanks AlarmForce and the best thing is the basic system is free so you only pay for the month of service and any extras that you need. That was a huge relief in the time of need. being tight on money with all the rising costs. The cost for my other system came to $52 a month and now I only pay $26 – another great thing with such a powerful alarm.
-Dustin, OH -
Our house alarm system was just installed yesterday and you have no idea how peaceful our mind is knowing that AlarmForce is watching us and our house at night and when we are away. I commend your professionalism and efficiency on answering my questions and concerns. I certainly commend Gary who is very thorough with the installation. Not only thorough but efficient as well. He arrived 30mins before the schedule appointment time; thus, maximizing my day more. Thank you very much and I will surely recommend you to my friends who are looking for a good home security system and at the same time being affordable too. Not only that, I talked to my wife last night about the system and your company and she agrees to have the next house that we will be buying be installed with AlarmForce. Your company sure knows how to build a lasting relationship.
-Arnel, BC -
AlarmForce gives me a no-nonsense protection that is not matched by other competitors. While cars outside our home have been tampered with and had contents stolen, no one has ever touched our home. Perhaps it is the name, perhaps it is the consistent reminders on your commercials, but the crooks seem to leave us alone now that we have AlarmForce.
-Art V. - Calgary, AB -
I am replying as requested in the email to confirm the installation date and time. I would also like to thank you for taking the time to answer all of my questions and addressing all of my concerns in a professional and courteous manner. It seems to me these traits are rare these days. I would also like to thank AlarmForce for providing a top rate security system very competitive price. Since being in the market for a residential alarm system for some time now, I researched several companies, this included calling for quotes, checking the internet (ie. company websites, and independent forums), checking with the BBB, talking to neighbors with different alarm monitoring companies. I also checked with the local police and Sheriff's department to get the stats on their responses to alarm calls in the area. Through out my research one company consistently out performed every other company I checked out. That company was AlarmForce. In the area of cost and installation, the price of the different systems ranged from $0 to $299. As far as calling for quotes, it ranged from getting a knowledgeable live person right away to an automated operator asking for a callback number so that the sale team could call back. My experience with the call back normally took several days. Upon checking with the online forums and neighbors, I received response that ranged from very satisfied to deplorable with the different alarm companies. As a police officer I know the importance of responding to an active alarm call and having as much information as possible, and this was agreed to in the reports I got from the local police and Sheriff's department. With AlarmForce's live two-way voice alarm system the responding officers are able to better know the true nature of the alarm. As a police officer in Mid-town Atlanta, Ga. I know first hand the importance of a reliable alarm system and monitoring company. I would like to reiterate that after my extensive research I feel AlarmForce provides both a reliable alarm system and monitoring company at a very competitive price. Again thank you AlarmForce for the great service your company offers.
-Jonathan, GA






