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DECISION DIAGNOSTICS CORP - 10-Q - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
(Edgar Glimpses Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Overview
Decision Diagnostics Corp. is a nationwide prescription and non-prescription
diagnostics and home testing products distributor. The U.S. FDA, in a manner
similar to prescription drugs, regulates diagnostic test kits and at-home
patient testing products similarly to the regulation of prescription medicine.
The company has, since 2005, contracted with independent pharmacies for use of
their prescription drug distribution licenses. However, the products we
currently distribute, for the most part, do not require a doctor's prescription
for anything other than insurance benefit compliance. Our business model works
well in this regulated environment.
Our subsidiaries, Pharma Tech Solutions, Inc. and PDA Services, Inc. operate in
several healthcare products distribution channels. We distribute brand name
prescription and non-prescription diagnostics products, as well as several lines
of ostomy, wound care and post-surgery medical products. We have also continued
to ready the company, subject only to receipt of an expected FDA 510(k)
approval, to introduce a proprietary diagnostic product, the Shasta Genstrip,
for at-home testing of blood glucose. The worldwide market for at-home blood
glucose testing is an estimated $22.5 billion. Shasta Genstrip will compete
directly with one of the largest worldwide platform manufacturer for at-home
blood glucose testing, a product currently used daily by over 3 million diabetes
afflicted Americans. In anticipation of the introduction of Genstrip, which is
in the final stages of FDA approval, and currently completing that approval
process, we have evaluated our brand-name distribution model, a model that
provides streams of revenue but extremely low profit margins, and over the
course of the last 15 months has phased out sales of those brand name products
that have been a backbone of our current distribution business but provide low
profit margins, if any at all, and will, in the future, compete directly with
our Shasta Genstrip. Phasing out these products lowered our order intake by
approximately $8,450,000 in FY2011 and $7,400,000 through the period ending June
30, 2012.
Typically, and except for our own Shasta Genstrip, which is an alternative
product, we distribute name brand products manufactured primarily by large U.S.
and international pharmaceutical companies. The company directs its marketing
efforts to ambulatory and semi-ambulatory older Americans afflicted with
diabetes and complications caused by diabetes and old age. The company,
originally a medical IT company with proprietary IT product lines, acquired its
medical products distribution business in late 2004 through a merger with
Phoenix, Arizona based CareGeneration, Inc. We have grown the original
CareGeneration business through subsequent acquisitions of private businesses
and strategic partnerships with larger private pharmacies.
On November 1, 2011 we completed the acquisition of Diagnostic Newco LLC from
its owner Kimberly Binder. Diagnostic Newco LLC is a design company that
specializes in product packaging design, medical products advertising design and
graphic art. Ms. Binder has joined the staff of the company's Pharma Tech
Solutions, Inc. subsidiary and has worked closely with the contract manufacturer
for Genstrip, making subtle changes to packaging design among other
responsibilities. She will also be responsible for the package design for new
diagnostic products the company is currently working on. We also intend to
acquire additional private companies, focusing on small engineering companies
that have developed technology requiring either regulatory approval,
distribution or both. In December 2011 we made another small acquisition, to
acquire the services of Mr. Patrick DiParini. We are moving quickly to achieve
our goal of becoming a vertically integrated, full service value added provider
of products and services to an ever-growing market. The at-home diabetes testing
market continues to grow as diabetics continue to be diagnosed. The market for
diabetes testing products is expected to grow from a current $22.5+ billion
worldwide base in 2010 to over $32 billion in 2017.
The company's current proprietary product offering, although not yet approved by
the FDA for commercial distribution, is the Shasta Genstrip blood glucose
diagnostic test strip for at-home testing. Shasta Genstrip is a product
conceived and designed by Shasta Technologies LLC, and fits into a diagnostic
product niche and will sell into the world-wide self-test (home test) market
that is expected to grow to $32 billion worldwide by 2017. The company has been
involved with Genstrip since early 2010. Products like Genstrip require FDA
approval but travel toward this approval through a well defined albeit slow and
unresponsive regulatory process. The company believes that all regulatory
hurdles have been addressed and satisfied, but as of this writing, Genstrip has
not received final regulatory approval or disapproval from the FDA. In March
2012 and then again in September 2012, representatives of the company met
face-to-face with the FDA, the September 2012 meeting at FDA's request, in an
effort to iron out remaining FDA questions, and in the case of the September
2012 meeting, to address two final issues, both concerns related to certain
post-approval manufacturing processes. Subsequent to each of these meetings
with FDA the company has received and responded to a series of follow up
questions and comments by FDA. In September 2012 these FDA comments and
questions were changed to a semi-informal process indicating to the company the
approaching end of the approval process. In early November 2012 the company
received an informal communication from FDA staff asking for clarification of
two issues remaining from the September 2012 face to face meeting. The company
responded to these requests. Within the body of the communication received from
FDA staff the company was informed that we [FDA] was close to reaching
resolution on this issue.
The company maintains a practice where comments and questions are responded to
as quickly as practical. Since Genstrip is a unique offering, employing a razor
blade only model (diagnostic test strip) into a razor (diagnostic meter)-razor
blade (diagnostic test strip) market, the Genstrip 510(k) application has
presented some unusual challenges for the FDA and an educational
challenge/opportunity for the company. Since the company plans additional
similar products in the future for other diagnostic platforms, the Genstrip
experience, however slow and unresponsive, has provided lessons and experience.
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Two years (and growing) is a standard development to market timeline for
in-vitro diagnostic products similar to Genstrip. As a result of previous delays
by Shasta Technologies in completing its FDA approval application [510(k)] and
then problems Shasta encountered in prosecuting its original application with
FDA staff, the company changed its contractual responsibilities and obligations
in June 2011 to include program management, regulatory process management,
management of the manufacturing forecasting and distribution processes, and new
products planning and development. As of October 31, 2012 the company has
narrowed the issues with FDA to two issues, the publication of two
post-manufacturing protocols. All other issues have been resolved.
In June 2010 the company was approached by the largest retailer in the world for
the distribution and sale of Genstrip at over 5,000 retail stores worldwide. A
contract with this retailer was negotiated in September 2010 and subsequently
renegotiated and renewed in April 2011, and as soon as the retail contract was
agreed to and as a means to conduct market research, the company began seeking
pre-conditioned letters of intent (pre-orders) for Genstrip, while continuing
the prosecution of the 510(k) application before the FDA. During this process
it became clear that initial market interest in Genstrip outstripped the
initially available manufacturing capacity. Thus the company quickly ended its
pre-order initiative. Management is confident that there is a very large market
available for Genstrip. Currently that market is dominated by four large
pharmaceutical manufacturers who provide very similar and equally focused
products, selling at essentially equal prices. Genstrip's introduction should
not only allow the company to achieve market share but because of the business
model to be employed by Genstrip is different than those models employed by the
major market players, the company may be able to change the market, lowering
average price or allowing for increased testing by diabetics for a lesser price,
thereby affecting all market segments.
We also offer information technology solutions in several medical care market
channels by providing physicians with information at the point of care. Our
products, unlike those from many other medical information companies, make use
of smart cell phones such as the Apple iPhone, the Palm Pre, the Google Droid
and a wide selection of Microsoft Windows based smart phones and operate in
either in a wireless or "wired" mode, which allow physicians to carry, access
and update their patients' histories, also known as electronic medical records
or EMR, medication data, and best care guidelines - all at the point of care, or
from any other location the physician may be located. In addition, the company's
products employ proprietary mathematical game theory features adapted by the
company for medical use that allow acceptance of diagnoses and treatment
protocols where the medical information may have originated from one or several
locations and one time or several times.
On February 26, 2010 we filed a full utility patent application, Management and
Communications System and Method, Serial No. 13/034,639. The patent application
covers one hundred four (104) separate processes and encompasses the method,
system and apparatus of our software technology and the integration of our
software technology into commercial computer networks through commercial smart
cell phone devices. In September 2011, the USPTO published our patent
application. In April 2011 the patent reached the prosecution stage with the
USPTO. We expect approval in a matter of a few months. Given that our patent
application lists a substantial number of claims, and that the company's
technologies are truly unique, we felt it prudent to engage counsel to prosecute
any of these claims against persons and entities that may have or will in the
future breach our patent. The company has created an asset pool for the purpose
of prosecuting any claims that may arise as a result of our patent approval.
Claims prosecution is standard fare for high technology companies.
We have entered into nine partnerships with freestanding pharmacies and Durable
Medical Goods distributors in the states of New York, Maryland, New Jersey,
Texas and Arizona. We believe that we will be able to provide value added
services to our customers by cost reductions brought about by increased
efficiencies and cross marketing opportunities.
We have received multiple inquiries from companies interested in perhaps
collaborating with the company for the implementation of its cell phone centric
technologies MD@Hand and MD@Work. However, the market available for products
similar to MD@Hand and MD@Work has changed since its introduction in 2009. The
legal challenges to the new health care law, and the federal government's
inability to enact regulations have altered the landscape, again. We remain in
discussions with multiple concerns for the marketing of our MD@ products, and
any agreement we may enter will require us to provide contract software
programming, providing a new source of revenue for the company. In addition to
any proposed partnerships, we continue to discuss alternative propositions with
other interested companies ranging from clinical laboratories, service
organizations owned or aligned with medical health insurers, a medical content
provider and legacy healthcare systems companies. There remains sustained
interest in our MD@ products and technology. All of our discussions are with
companies are much larger than Decision Diagnostics. We may or may not entertain
additional proposed partnerships for our implementation of the cell phone
centric technologies, which has been hindered, as has the overall market, by the
slow implementation of regulations, protocols and data formats by the Federal
government, as well as a change in previously announced Federal government
monetary incentives.
In May 2010, we entered into agreement with Shasta Technologies, Inc. and
Broadtree, Inc. This agreement granted our Pharma Tech Solutions, Inc.
subsidiary the exclusive marketing rights to a new diagnostic product not yet on
the market named Shasta Genstrip ("Genstrip"). The Genstrip product was
developed to compete against the market leader in the $20 billion at home
testing market. In April 2011, the company renegotiated its agreement changing
its many roles and adding responsibility for regulatory approval, manufacturing
and forecasting, international sales and additional sales markets in the U.S.
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We currently employ five full-time staff at our executive office located at 2660
Townsgate Road, Suite 300, Westlake Village, California 91361. In addition, we
maintain two full-time and seven part-time positions between our distribution
centers located in Florida, Arizona, California and New Jersey. The company is
currently hiring pharmaceutical detail representatives and three medically
trained college interns across the country and three additional interns to work
out of its California office.. All of our positions existing, and newly listed,
are for sales and marketing, distribution, product development and customer
service representatives. Our telephone number is (805) 446-1973 and our website
address is www.decisiondiagnostics.com.
Business activities throughout the next twelve months:
The company's business on a day-to-day basis includes the distribution of
prescription and non-prescription diagnostics, at-home testing, post-surgical
products, and, as soon as the FDA grants pre-market approval, the sales and
distribution of Shasta Genstrip.
Beginning in November 2009, we introduced our cell-phone centric medical IT
products that offer solutions in medical care and management by providing
physicians with information at the point of care. Unlike other medical
information systems using standard computer terminals or even palm-sized
computers (PDA's), our software applications operate on a series of late
generation smart e-cell phones including the Apple iPhone, the Palm Pre, the
Google Droid, several makes of RIM's Blackberry and many versions of the
Microsoft Windows smart phones. Our products allow physicians to access and
update their patients' histories, medication data, and best care guidelines
- all at the point of care. The company's Electronic Medical Records software is
believed to be the first EMR application running on any palm sized mobile
device. Recently we ported our software to run on a series of pad computers such
as Apple iPad and the 'Droid powered pads.
Our business objectives include:
1. The practice of specializing in the distribution of Shasta Genstrip and
several brand-name medical diagnostic and medical disposable products
associated with the on-going care of diabetes-inflicted patients and upon
receipt of the pre-market letter from the U.S. FDA, the world-wide
distribution of our new proprietary diagnostic product Shasta Genstrip.
2. Combining our wholesale and retail drug distribution with our cell phone
centric technologies, creating wholesale and retail ePharmacies similar in
function to existing Internet pharmacies but directed to serving the large
base of underinsured and uninsured Americans; and
3. Providing medical communication and EMR medical history and storage
devices based on networks of smart cell phones These products are believed
to provide benefits of on demand medical information to private practice
physicians, licensed medical service providers such as diagnostic testing
laboratories, and medical insurers. We have created cell phone-centric
products and a suite of Internet enhanced software applications that
include those features that specifically respond to the requirements of
the practicing physician and the regulations currently being promulgated
by the Federal government.
We also have adapted our medical communications and EMR technologies to service
the real estate management and hotel/motel/convenience industries in their own
commercial settings. In March 2010, our Board approved the sale of the company's
hotel/motel technologies and business base so we can focus on our core medical
IT and medical distribution businesses. In past years when we had market focus
on the hotel/motel industry, our real estate and hotel/motel objectives include
building electronic commerce networks based on personal digital assistants (PDA)
and pad based computers to the hotels, motels and single building, multi-unit
apartment buildings with a desire to offer local advertising and electronic
services to their tenants/guests.
Financing Requirements
At September 30, 2012, we had cash of $7,590 and working capital of $892,215.
We anticipate that we will require $56 million in trade debt financing to
finance our expected first year sales of Genstrip. In March 2012 we renewed our
agreement with Alpha Credit Resources to obtain this debt financing. We will
continue to seek a combination of equity and long-term debt financing as well as
other traditional cash flow and asset backed financing to meet our financing
needs and to reduce our overall cost of capital. Additionally, in order to
accelerate our growth rate and to finance general corporate activities, we may
supplement our existing sources of funds with financing arrangements at the
operating system level or through additional short-term borrowings. As a further
capital resource, we may sell or lease certain rights or assets from our
portfolio as appropriate opportunities become available. However, there can be
no assurance that we will be able to obtain any additional financing, on
acceptable terms or at all.
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Results of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011
compared.
The following tables summarize selected items from the statement of operations
for the three months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 2011.
For the Three Months Ended
September 30,
2012 2011
3 Months %
Revenue $ 1,223,060 $ 3,585,006 (2,361,946) (65.88)
Cost of sales 747,550 2,617,756 (1,870,206) (71.44)
Gross profit 475,511 967,250 (491,739) (50.84)
Expenses:
General & administrative expenses 553,597 1,111,276 (557,679) (50.18)
Consulting 34,905 12,928 21,977 170.00
Compensation expense 7,886 6,228 1,658 26.62
Professional fees 88,876 34,375 54,501 158.55
Total expenses 685,264 1,164,807 (479,543) 41.17
Net operating (loss) (209,753) (197,557) (12,196) 6.17
Other income (expense):
Financing costs (5,000) (109,040) 104,040 (95.41)
Interest expense, net (178,443) (127,755) (50,688) 39.68
Settlement expense (51,942) (7,500) (44,442) 592.56
Total other income (expense) (235,385) (244,295) 8,910 (3.65)
Net (loss) $ (445,138) $ (441,852) (3,286) (0.74)
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited
interim condensed consolidated financial statements (including the notes
thereto) included under Item 1 in this Form 10-Q.
Revenues and cost of sales
During the 3rd quarter of 2012, we experienced a decline in revenue compared to
the same period in the previous year. We attribute the decline in revenue to
the phasing out of sales of those brand name diagnostic products that will
directly compete with our new Shasta Genstrip. In addition, the overall at home
testing market is being hindered by the general poor economic conditions, longer
payment cycles from insurers, and because the company's business model does not
include the sale of retail brand-name products. These conditions have continued
into the current year. Our decrease in cost of sales is primarily the direct
result of our revenue decline. However, we were able to achieve an increase in
our overall gross profit margin based on our re-negotiated wholesale pricing.
Operational Expenses
Operational expenses include general and administration expenses, compensation
expense consulting and professional fees.
General and administration expenses include office expenses (including bad debt,
rent, cleaning and maintenance, utilities, and telephone), insurance, and bank
charges. During the 3rd quarter of 2012, general and administration expenses
decreased by $557,679 to $553,597 (3rd quarter 2011 - $1,111,276). The decrease
was due primarily to bad debt expense recorded in the 3rd quarter 2011. General
and administration expenses normally account for approximately 2% of our total
revenue and are not expected to increase significantly during the remainder of
2012 in relation to revenue. As we experience growth in revenues, general and
administration expenses are expected to decrease on a percentage of revenue
basis.
Consulting expenses during the 3rd quarter 2012 increased by $21,977to $34,905
(3rd quarter 2011 - $12,928). Historically, management shifts its labor
requirements between, outside consultants, casual labor and in-house management
dependent upon availability and cost effectiveness of resources. During 2012,
the majority of our labor was derived from the use of outside consultants. Our
compensation structure is comprised of both cash and equity of the Company.
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Professional fees include accounting services, legal fees and regulatory
reporting compliance. The increase of $54,501 is the result of an increase in
our contingency for legal fees. During the 3rd quarter of 2011, we engaged
additional legal counsel to assist in the review of potential new
sales/distributing agreements as well as to review general corporate matters. We
anticipate our legal fees to continue until all ongoing litigation issues are
resolved.
Other Income and Expense
Our other income and expense includes costs related to our financing activities,
more specifically the interest expense associated with our line of credit with
Alpha Credit Resources, LLC. ("Alpha"). Alpha has provided us a line of credit
up to $2,500,000. The interest rate of our line of credit is 24% per annum.
Interest expense increased by $50,688 to $178,443 (3rd quarter 2011 - $127,755).
For the three-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, management has
entered into various agreements for the settlement of the Company's historic
debt obligations. As a result of these negotiated settlements, the Company's
obligations have been reduced from their historical carrying amounts. In 2012,
settlement losses were $51,942 as compared to settlement losses of $7,500 in
2011. We may incur further gains or losses on debt settlement or other
settlement cost during 2012.
Net Income (Loss)
We recorded a net loss for the 3rd quarter of 2012 of $445,138 compared $441,852
for the 3rd quarter of 2011, representing a change of $3,286.
Results of Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011
compared.
The following tables summarize selected items from the statement of operations
for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 compared to 2011.
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2012 2011
9 Months %
Revenue $ 6,049,471 $ 10,604,519 (4,555,048) (42,95)
Cost of sales 4,561,938 8,500,912 (3,938,974) (46.34)
Gross profit 1,487,533 2,103,607 (616,074) (50.84)
Expenses:
General & administrative expenses 1,822,949 1,616,042 206,907 12.80
Consulting 224,807 116,688 108,119 92.66
Compensation expense 33,408 39,688 (6,280) (15.82)
Professional fees 243,361 126,899 116,462 91.78
Total expenses 2,324,525 1,899,317 425,208 22.39
Net operating (loss) (836,992) 204,290 (1,041,282) (509.71)
Other income (expense):
Financing costs (5,036) (422,173) 417,137 (98.81)
Interest expense, net (394,399) (367,598) (26,801) 7.29
Settlement expense (51,942) (135,650) 83,709 (61.71)
Total other income (expense) (451,377) (925,421) (474,045) (51.22)
Net (loss) $ (1,288,369) $ (721,131) (567,237) (78.66)
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited
interim condensed consolidated financial statements (including the notes
thereto) included under Item 1 in this Form 10-Q.
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Revenues and cost of sales
During the 3rd quarter of 2012, we experienced a decline in revenue compared to
the same period in the previous year. We attribute the decline in revenue to
the phasing out of sales of those brand name diagnostic products that will
directly compete with our new Shasta Genstrip. In addition, the overall at home
testing market is being hindered by the general poor economic conditions, longer
payment cycles from insurers, and because the company's business model does not
include the sale of retail brand-name products. These conditions have continued
into the current year. Our decrease in cost of sales is primarily the direct
result of our revenue decline. However, we were able to achieve an increase in
our overall gross profit margin based on our re-negotiated wholesale pricing.
Operational Expenses
Operational expenses include general and administration expenses, compensation
expense consulting and professional fees.
General and administration expenses include office expenses (including bad debt,
rent, cleaning and maintenance, utilities, and telephone), insurance, and bank
charges. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, general and
administration expenses increased by $206,907 to $1,822,949 (2011 - $1,616,042).
The increase was due primarily to bad debt expense. General and administration
expenses normally account for approximately 2% of our total revenue and are not
expected to increase significantly during the remainder of 2012 in relation to
revenue. As we experience growth in revenues, general and administration
expenses are expected to decrease on a percentage of revenue basis.
Consulting expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2012 increased by
$108,119 to $224,807 (2011 - $116,688). Historically, management shifts its
labor requirements between, outside consultants, casual labor and in-house
management dependent upon availability and cost effectiveness of resources.
During 2012, the majority of our labor was derived from the use of outside
consultants. Our compensation structure is comprised of both cash and equity of
the Company.
Professional fees include accounting services, legal fees and regulatory
reporting compliance. The increase of $116,462 is primarily attributable to an
increase in contingent legal fees. During the nine months ended September 30,
2012, we engaged additional legal counsel to assist in the review of potential
new sales/distributing agreements as well as to review general corporate
matters. We anticipate our legal fees to continue until all ongoing litigation
issues are resolved.
Other Income and Expense
Our other income and expense includes costs related to our financing activities,
more specifically the interest expense associated with our line of credit with
Alpha Credit Resources, LLC. ("Alpha"). Alpha has provided us a line of credit
up to $2,500,000. The interest rate of our line of credit is 24% per annum.
Interest expense increased by $26,801 to $394,399 (2011 - $367,598).
For the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, management has
entered into various agreements for the settlement of the Company's historic
debt obligations. As a result of these negotiated settlements, the Company's
obligations have been reduced from their historical carrying amounts. In 2012,
settlement losses were $51,942 as compared to settlement losses of $135,650 in
2011. We may incur further gains or losses on debt settlement or other
settlement cost during 2012.
Net Income (Loss)
We recorded a net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 of
$1,288,369 compared to a net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2011
of $721,131, representing a total change of $567,238.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
A critical component of our operating plan affecting our continued existence is
the ability to obtain favorable capital through additional equity and/or debt
financing. We do not anticipate generating sufficient positive internal
operating cash flow until we can increase our existing market share and improve
operating margins, which may take several years. In the event we cannot obtain
the necessary capital to pursue our strategic plan, we may have to cease or
significantly curtail our operations. This would materially impact our ability
to continue operations.
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The following table summarizes our current assets, liabilities and working
capital at September 30, 2012 compared to December 31, 2011.
SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31, INCREASE (DECREASE)
2012 2011 $ %
Current assets $ 4,366,818 $ 4,537,949 $ (171,131) (3.77%)
Current liabilities 3,357,336 2,532,217 825,119 32.58%
Working capital $ 1,009,482 $ 2,005,732 $ (996,250) (49.67%)
Cash to Operating Activities
During the nine months, ended September 30, 2012, operating activities provided
cash of $32,466 compared to using cash of $558,387 in 2011. Our loss for 2012
was $1,288,368, and included bad debt write-downs of $1,669,451 (2011 -
$1,241,043); and consulting expenses settled with equity $197,440 (2011 -
$77,400). Our accounts receivables have increased by $1,453,756 (2011 -
$3,217,737) due to a slowdown in our revenue cycle. Prepaid expenses decreased
by $16,472 (2011 - $1,293,582) due to the expiration of prepaid insurance in
2012. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities have increased by $368,554 (2011
-$524,739) due to a slowdown in our revenue cycle. Our contingent liabilities
increased $148,000 (2011 - $0.00) due to the uncertainty of our involvement in
legal matters.
Cash from Investing Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, investing activities used cash
of $37,225 (2011 - $5,490).
Cash from Financing Activities
During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, financing activities used cash
of $2,500 (2011 - 350,638). Cash was used for payments on notes payable of
$2,500 (2011 - $4,475).
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