10-Q 1 d10q.htm FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2009 For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009.

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number: 000-28843

 

 

Turnstone Systems, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   77-0473640

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

548 Market Street #26575

San Francisco, California

  94104
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(408) 907-1400

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

 

 

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 preceding 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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    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 definitions of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value, was 63,417,130 as of July 31, 2009.

 

 

 


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION   

Item 1.

   Financial Statements   
   Condensed Statements of Net Assets in Liquidation as of June 30, 2009 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2008    3
  

Unaudited Condensed Statements of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation for the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008

   4
   Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements    5

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    7

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    9

Item 4T.

   Controls and Procedures    10
PART II: OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings    10

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    10

Item 6.

   Exhibits    12

Signatures

      13

EXHIBIT 31.1

EXHIBIT 31.2

EXHIBIT 32.1

 

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PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

TURNSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS IN LIQUIDATION

(IN THOUSANDS)

 

     June 30, 2009
(Unaudited)
   December 31,
2008

Assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 974    $ 1,019
             

Total assets

     974      1,019

Liabilities

     

Estimated costs to be incurred during liquidation

     70      106
             

Total liabilities

     70      106
             

Net assets in liquidation

   $ 904    $ 913
             

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

 

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TURNSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS IN LIQUIDATION

(IN THOUSANDS)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2009    2008     2009     2008  

Net assets in liquidation at beginning of period

   $ 904    $ 979      $ 913      $ 985   

Adjust assets and liabilities to fair value

     —        (12     (9     (18
                               

Net assets in liquidation at end of period

   $ 904    $ 967      $ 904      $ 967   
                               

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

 

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TURNSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Description Of Business

On August 6, 2003, the Board of Directors of Turnstone Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) approved, subject to the approval by stockholders, a plan to liquidate and dissolve the Company (the “Plan”). The Plan was approved by a majority of the Company’s stockholders on November 11, 2003. The key features of the Plan are (1) file a Certificate of Dissolution with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (2) cease conducting normal business operations, except as may be required to wind up the Company’s business affairs; (3) attempt to convert all of the Company’s remaining assets into cash or cash equivalents in an orderly fashion; (4) pay or attempt to adequately provide for the payment of all of the Company’s known obligations and liabilities; and (5) distribute pro rata in one or more liquidating distributions all of the Company’s remaining assets to its stockholders as of the applicable record date.

The Company formerly developed and marketed products that enable local exchange carriers to rapidly deploy and efficiently maintain copper local loop services.

2. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited interim financial statements, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, and other adjustments related to our liquidation, considered necessary for a fair presentation.

The accompanying condensed statement of net assets as of December 31, 2008, which has been derived from audited financial statements, and the unaudited interim condensed financial statements of the Company, which include the activities for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 and the related footnote information have been prepared on a basis substantially consistent with and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements as of December 31, 2008 contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC (the “Annual Report”). We evaluated events and transactions after June 30, 2009 and before the date the financial statements were issued, for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 165, Subsequent Events (“SFAS 165”) (discussed further in the “Significant Recent Accounting Pronouncements” section of Note 3 below). In connection with preparing the accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements as of and for the quarter and six-month period ended June 30, 2009, management evaluated subsequent events through August 11, 2009 which is the date that such financial statements were issued (filed with the SEC).

3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

As a result of the stockholders’ approval of the Plan and the imminent nature of the liquidation, the Company adopted the liquidation basis of accounting effective November 11, 2003.

This basis of accounting is considered appropriate when, among other things, liquidation of a company is probable and the net realizable value of assets is reasonably determinable. Under this basis of accounting, assets are valued at their estimated net realizable values and liabilities are stated at their estimated settlement amounts.

Use of Estimates and Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles 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 reported results of operations during the reporting periods. The liquidation basis of accounting

 

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requires us to make assumptions, judgments and estimates that can have a significant impact on our reported net assets in liquidation. We base our assumptions, judgments and estimates on the most recent information available and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. On a regular basis we evaluate our assumptions, judgments and estimates involved in the accounting for the estimated costs to be incurred during liquidation have the greatest potential impact on our financial statements, so we consider estimates associated with these obligations to be critical to our financial statements. We discuss below the critical accounting estimates associated with these policies.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

The financial instrument that potentially exposes the Company to a concentration of credit risk principally consists of cash. At June 30, 2009, cash equivalents consisted primarily of money market funds which invest exclusively in short-term United States Government obligations, including securities issued or guaranteed by the United States Government, its agencies, authorities, instrumentalities or sponsored entities, and United States Treasury securities and related repurchase agreements. Money market funds are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of less than three months at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 consisted primarily of money market funds.

Estimated Costs To Be Incurred During Liquidation

Under the liquidation basis of accounting, the Company accrues for the remaining costs to be incurred during liquidation, including consulting fees, fees of professional service providers, estimates to resolve outstanding litigation and miscellaneous other costs, partially offset by estimated future interest earnings. At December 31, 2008, estimated costs to be incurred during liquidation is based on estimated costs for a period of twelve to eighteen months. At June 30, 2009, due to the progress of the pending IPO litigation matter (see Note 4), the period of accrual was reduced to nine months.

The actual amount available for the final distribution, if any, could be substantially less if the Company cannot successfully or timely resolve the outstanding federal securities class action lawsuit related to its initial public offering, or discovers additional liabilities or claims or incurs unexpected or greater than expected expenses. The timing of any final distribution will depend primarily on if and when the Company can successfully resolve the IPO litigation matter disclosed below.

Significant Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS 165 which established general standards for accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. In particular, SFAS 165 sets forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements; the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. SFAS 165 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and became effective for the Company in the second quarter of 2009. The adoption of SFAS 165 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or liquidity.

 

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4. Commitments and Contingencies

IPO Litigation

On November 9, 2001, Arthur Mendoza filed a securities class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging claims against the Company, certain of its current and former officers and directors, and the underwriters of the Company’s initial public offering of stock as well as the Company’s secondary offering of stock. The complaint is purportedly brought on behalf of a class of individuals who purchased common stock in the Company’s initial public offering and secondary stock offering between January 31 and December 6, 2000. The complaint alleges generally that the prospectuses under which such securities were sold contained false and misleading statements with respect to discounts and commissions received by the underwriters. The case has been coordinated for pre-trial purposes with over 300 cases raising the same or similar issues and also currently pending in the Southern District of New York. On April 18, 2002, Michael Szymanowski was appointed lead plaintiff in the action. On April 22, 2002, an amended complaint was filed. On July 1, 2002, the underwriter defendants filed an omnibus motion to dismiss. On July 15, 2002, the Company, collectively with the other issuer defendants, also filed an omnibus motion to dismiss. The lead plaintiff filed an opposition to the underwriters’ motion to dismiss on August 15, 2002 and to the issuers’ motion to dismiss on August 27, 2002. The underwriters’ reply to the opposition was filed on September 13, 2002, and the Company’s reply to the opposition was filed on September 27, 2002. On February 19, 2003, the district court issued an order denying the motions to dismiss with respect to substantially all of the plaintiffs’ claims, including those against us. In February 2005, the district court granted preliminary approval for a proposed settlement and release of claims against the issuer defendants, including Turnstone. In April, June and October 2006, the district court judge met with the issuer defendants and their insurance companies to review the fairness of the proposed settlement. In December 2006, as a result of an appeal by the underwriter defendants, the second circuit court of appeals issued a decision to decertify the class action. In July 2007, the settlement approval process was officially terminated by the district court. In February 2009, the parties reached another proposed global settlement of the litigation and so advised the district court. Under the settlement, which remains subject to final court approval, the insurers would pay the full amount of settlement share allocated to the Company, and the Company would bear no financial liability. The Company, as well as its officer and director defendants who were previously dismissed from the action pursuant to tolling agreements, would receive complete dismissals from the case. In June 2009, the district court issued an order granting preliminary approval of the proposed settlement. The final court approval hearing has been tentatively scheduled for September 2009. If no settlement is reached or approved by the district court, the plaintiffs may litigate against each of the defendant issuers, including the Company, one by one, beginning with the six focus cases selected by the district court, which does not include the case against the Company. The Company has determined that it is in the best interest of stockholders for the Company to make a final distribution after the final resolution of the IPO litigation matter. Plaintiffs in this class action lawsuit have claimed damages in the hundreds of millions of dollars. If the settlement does not occur, and litigation against the Company continues, the Company believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to defend the case vigorously. The Company does not estimate that there will be future costs associated with this case and has not included costs associated with this case in estimated litigation settlement costs at June 30, 2009.

In addition, on October 3, 2007, Vanessa Simmonds filed a complaint for recovery of short-swing profits under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and Bank of America Corporation related to the Company’s initial public offering of stock, in the United States District Court, Western District of Washington. The Company is named as a nominal defendant in the action. The complaint alleges that Goldman Sachs and Bank of America illegally profited from transactions related to the allocation and sale of shares offered in the Company’s initial public offering and seeks disgorgement of such profits from them. The Company does not estimate that there will be future costs associated with this case and has not included costs associated with this case in estimated litigation settlement costs at June 30, 2009

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

In addition to the other information in this report, certain statements in the following Management’s Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation (MD&A) are forward looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”). When used in this report, the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. Statements reflecting our expectations, beliefs, intentions and strategies regarding our liquidation and dissolution, including, without limitation, statements regarding the execution, timing and expenses associated with our complete plan of liquidation and dissolution, disposition of our existing assets, the resolution of outstanding creditor claims and the ongoing litigation against us, and liquidating distributions, if any, to our stockholders, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the PSLRA. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements contained herein. Such risks and uncertainties are set forth below under the sections entitled “Overview” and “Risk Factors,” on pages 8 to 9, and 10 to 12 of this document, respectively. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Financial Statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.

 

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OVERVIEW

On August 6, 2003, our board of directors approved, subject to stockholder ratification at our 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a special cash distribution to stockholders of $2.77 per common share or such lesser amount as the board of directors might later determine to be appropriate. The board of directors also approved, subject to stockholder approval at our 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the liquidation and dissolution of Turnstone Systems, Inc. pursuant to a plan of complete liquidation and dissolution.

The special cash distribution was ratified by a majority of the shares present at the Annual Meeting on November 11, 2003. Following the Annual Meeting, our board of directors approved a special distribution of $2.77 per common share payable on November 28, 2003 to our stockholders of record as of November 21, 2003. The special cash distribution to stockholders, totalling $175.7 million, was paid on November 28, 2003.

On November 11, 2003, the holders of a majority of our outstanding shares approved the plan of dissolution. The key features of the plan are (1) file a certificate of dissolution with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (2) cease conducting normal business operations, except as may be required to wind up our business affairs; (3) attempt to convert all of our remaining assets into cash or cash equivalents in an orderly fashion; (4) pay or attempt to adequately provide for the payment of all of our known obligations and liabilities; and (5) distribute pro rata in one or more liquidating distributions all of our remaining assets to our stockholders as of the applicable record date.

We filed our certificate of dissolution with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware effective December 4, 2003. During the liquidation period, we will continue to convert our estimated net assets to cash for future distribution to our stockholders. We are not permitted to continue our business as a going concern.

At the close of business on December 4, 2003, we closed our stock transfer books, discontinued recording transfers of our common stock, and our common stock was de-listed from the Nasdaq National Market. Any future distributions we make will be made solely to our stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 4, 2003.

In June 2004, our board of directors approved a liquidating cash distribution of approximately $10.8 million, or $0.17 per common share, to our stockholders of record as of December 4, 2003. The distribution was completed on July 8, 2004. At the end of June 2004, we also terminated the employment of Albert Y. Liu, General Counsel & Director of Human Resources, and Eric S. Yeaman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, our two remaining employees, and concurrently entered into consulting agreements with each of them to continue ongoing management of our liquidation. Compensation under these consulting agreements is based on actual hours of service at a fixed hourly rate of $125. The agreements do not provide for minimum retainer payments or termination fees.

As of June 30, 2009, we had one outstanding litigation matter remaining related to our initial public offering of common stock in 2000. In 2005 the district court had approved a preliminary settlement of the matter that we believe would not have required any cash contribution from us, and therefore would have allowed us to make a final liquidating distribution at the end of 2006. However, in December 2006 and prior to the proposed settlement being finalized, a federal appeals court decertified the IPO class action at the request of the defendant underwriters, which resulted in the proposed settlement being stayed until the plaintiff’s appeal of such decision is completed. In July 2007, the settlement approval process was officially terminated by the district court. In February 2009, the parties reached another proposed global settlement of the litigation and so advised the district court. Under the settlement, which remains subject to final court approval, the insurers would pay the full amount of settlement share allocated to us, and we would bear no financial liability. We, as well as our officer and director defendants who were previously dismissed from the action pursuant to tolling agreements, would receive complete dismissals from the case. In June 2009, the district court issued an order granting preliminary approval of the proposed settlement. The final court approval hearing has been tentatively scheduled for September 2009. If no settlement is reached or approved by the district court, the plaintiffs may litigate against each of the defendant issuers, including us, one by one, beginning with the six focus cases selected by the district court, which does not include the case against us. We have determined that it is in the best interest of stockholders for us to make a final distribution after the final resolution of the IPO litigation matter.

Based on our projections of operating expenses and liquidation costs as of June 30, 2009, we estimate that the amount of future liquidating distributions will be approximately $0.014 per common share. The actual amount available for distribution, if any, could be substantially less if we cannot successfully or timely resolve the IPO litigation matter, discover additional liabilities or claims or incur unexpected or greater than expected expenses.

 

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We may at some point determine that the continued liquidation of Turnstone may be more efficiently handled by retaining a third party liquidator to manage the liquidation process.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

In connection with the adoption of the plan of dissolution and the anticipated liquidation, we adopted the liquidation basis of accounting effective November 11, 2003, whereby assets are valued at their estimated net realizable cash values and liabilities are stated at their estimated settlement amounts. The preparation of condensed financial statements using the liquidation basis of accounting requires us to make assumptions, judgments and estimates that can have a significant impact on our reported net assets in liquidation. We base our assumptions, judgments and estimates on the most recent information available and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. On a regular basis we evaluate our assumptions, judgments and estimates and make changes accordingly. We believe that the assumptions, judgments and estimates involved in the accounting for estimated costs to be incurred during liquidation have the greatest potential impact on our condensed financial statements.

Estimated Costs to be Incurred During Liquidation

Under the liquidation basis of accounting, we accrue for the remaining costs to be incurred during liquidation, including consulting fees, fees of professional service providers and miscellaneous other costs, partially offset by estimated future interest earnings. Such costs were estimated at $70,000 at June 30, 2009. Our estimates are based on assumptions regarding our ability to resolve the IPO litigation matter, settle outstanding obligations to creditors, and the timing of distributions to stockholders. At June 30, 2009, estimated costs to be incurred during liquidation is based on estimated costs for a period of nine months. If there are delays, or we are not successful, in achieving these objectives, actual costs incurred during liquidation may increase, reducing net assets available in liquidation. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, the company increased the fair value of estimated costs to be incurred in liquidation by $9,000. The increase in fair value of estimated costs to be incurred in liquidation is primarily attributable to estimated decreases in yields on cash and cash equivalents during the liquidation.

Significant Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS 165 which established general standards for accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. In particular, SFAS 165 sets forth the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements; the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements and the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date. SFAS 165 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009 and became effective for the Company in the second quarter of 2009. The adoption of SFAS 165 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or liquidity.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of June 30, 2009, net assets in liquidation totaled $904,000, consisting of $974,000 in cash and cash equivalents, partially offset by $70,000 of estimated costs to be incurred during liquidation. We expect to use our capital resources to execute our complete plan of liquidation and dissolution, settle existing claims against the company, including existing litigation and other current liabilities and accrued expenses, and to make liquidating distributions to stockholders. Capital resources available for liquidating distributions to stockholders may vary if we incur greater than estimated operating expenses associated with executing the plan of complete liquidation and dissolution, actual settlement costs for the IPO litigation matter and any other existing claims against the company vary from estimates, or if there are existing, but unknown claims made against us in the future. At June 30, 2009, our cash and cash equivalents were held primarily in money market funds. We expect to continue to hold our cash and cash equivalents primarily in money market funds while we execute the plan of dissolution.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Not applicable.

 

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Item 4T. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the applicable rules and forms, and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Controls

During the most recent fiscal quarter, there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

The information set forth under Note 4 of the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Financial Statements, included in Part I, Item 1 of this report, is incorporated herein by reference. For an additional discussion of certain risks associated with legal proceedings, see the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this report.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to other information in this Form 10-Q, the following risk factors should be carefully considered in evaluating us and our liquidation and dissolution because such factors may have a significant impact on the execution of our plan of dissolution and the timing and amount of liquidating distributions, if any, to our stockholders. As a result of the risk factors set forth below and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, and the risks discussed in our other Securities and Exchange Commission filings, actual results could differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements.

We cannot assure you of the exact amount or timing of any future distribution to our stockholders under the plan of dissolution.

The liquidation and dissolution process is subject to numerous uncertainties and may not result in any remaining capital for future distribution to our stockholders. The precise nature, amount and timing of any future distribution to our stockholders will primarily depend on and could be delayed by the resolution of the outstanding IPO litigation matter. Other secondary matters that could affect any future distributions include, among other things, sales of our non-cash assets, claim settlements with creditors, resolution of outstanding litigation matters, and unexpected or greater than expected expenses. Furthermore, we cannot provide any assurances that we will actually make additional distributions. The estimates we have provided are based on currently available information, and actual payments, if any, could be substantially less than the amount we have estimated. Any amounts to be distributed to our stockholders may be less than the price or prices at which our common stock has recently traded or may trade in the future.

Our common stock is continuing to trade even though we are in the process of liquidation and liquidating distributions, if any, may be below any trading price.

Until December 4, 2003, when our certificate of dissolution became effective and we voluntarily de-listed our common stock and closed our transfer books, our common stock was traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “TSTN.” Since the de-listing, our common stock has been trading in the Over the Counter Market’s “pink sheets” under the symbol “TSTN.PK.” It has been trading under “due-bill” contractual obligations between the seller and purchaser of the stock, who negotiate and rely on themselves with respect to the allocation of stockholder proceeds arising from ownership of the shares. No assignments or transfers of our common stock were recorded or will be recorded after December 4, 2003. Trading in our stock is highly speculative and the market for our stock is highly illiquid. The only value associated with our shares is the right to receive further distributions as part of the liquidation process. Because of the difficulty in estimating the amount and timing of the liquidating distributions, and due to the other risk factors discussed herein, our common stock may be subject to significant volatility and may trade above the amount of any liquidating distribution that is made.

 

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We may not be able to settle all of our obligations to creditors and resolve all of our outstanding litigation.

If we do not settle all of our obligations to creditors and resolve all of our outstanding litigation, we may be prevented from completing our plan of dissolution. Our obligations to creditors may include, among other things, contractual obligations to certain of our vendors. Our outstanding litigation consists of the IPO federal securities class action litigation. As part of the wind down process, we will attempt to settle our obligations with our creditors and resolve all of the outstanding litigation. However, with respect to the IPO federal securities class action litigation, we are uncertain whether a class settlement will be available in the future and/or whether plaintiffs will litigate against each of the defendant issuers, including us, one by one if a class action cannot be certified. Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit have claimed damages in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Our inability to reach settlement with our creditors and resolve outstanding litigation could delay or even prevent us from completing the plan of dissolution. Moreover, amounts required to settle our obligations to creditors and resolve any outstanding litigation will reduce the amount of remaining capital available for future distribution to stockholders.

We will continue to incur claims, liabilities and expenses that will reduce the amount available for distribution out of the liquidation to stockholders.

Claims, liabilities and expenses incurred during the wind down process, such as legal, accounting and consulting fees and miscellaneous office expenses, will reduce the amount of assets available for future distribution out of the liquidation to stockholders. If available cash and amounts received on the sale of non-cash assets are not adequate to provide for our obligations, liabilities, expenses and claims, we may not be able to distribute out of the liquidation meaningful cash, or any cash at all, to our stockholders.

Distribution of assets out of the liquidation, if any, to our stockholders could be delayed.

We are currently unable to predict the precise timing of any liquidating distributions. The timing of such distributions will depend on and could be delayed by, among other things, the resolution of the outstanding IPO litigation matter, the timing of sales of our non-cash assets, claim settlements with creditors and the settlement of any other outstanding litigation matters. Additionally, a creditor could seek an injunction against the making of such distributions to our stockholders on the ground that the amounts to be distributed were needed to provide for the payment of our liabilities and expenses. Any action of this type could delay or substantially diminish the amount available for such distribution to our stockholders.

If we fail to create an adequate contingency reserve for payment of our expenses and liabilities, each stockholder could be held liable for payment to our creditors of his or her pro rata share of amounts owed to creditors in excess of the contingency reserve, up to the amount actually distributed to such stockholder.

We filed our certificate of dissolution with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware effective December 4, 2003. Pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, we will continue to exist for three years after the certificate of dissolution is filed or for such longer period as the Delaware Court of Chancery shall direct, for the purpose of prosecuting and defending suits against us and enabling us gradually to close our business, to dispose of our property, to discharge our liabilities and to distribute to our stockholders any remaining assets. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, in the event we fail to create during this three-year period an adequate contingency reserve for payment of our expenses and liabilities, each stockholder could be held liable for payment to our creditors of such stockholder’s pro rata share of amounts owed to creditors in excess of the contingency reserve, up to the amount actually distributed to such stockholder.

Although the liability of any stockholder is limited to the amounts previously received by such stockholder from us (and from any liquidating trust or trusts) in the dissolution, this means that a stockholder could be required to return all distributions previously made to such stockholder and receive nothing from us under the plan of dissolution. Moreover, in the event a stockholder has paid taxes on amounts previously received, a repayment of all or a portion of such amount could result in a stockholder incurring a net tax cost if the stockholder’s repayment of an amount previously distributed does not cause a commensurate reduction in taxes payable. While we will endeavour to make adequate reserves for all known, contingent, and unknown liabilities, there is no guarantee that the reserves established by us will be adequate to cover all such expenses and liabilities.

 

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We will continue to incur the expenses of complying with public company reporting requirements.

We have an obligation to continue to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, referred to as the “Exchange Act,” even though compliance with such reporting requirements is economically burdensome. We have sought and will continue to attempt to seek relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission from the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act, but to date we have not been successful in obtaining relief. We anticipate that, if such relief were granted, we would continue to file current reports on Form 8-K to disclose material events relating to our liquidation and dissolution along with any other reports that the Securities and Exchange Commission might require. However, the Securities and Exchange Commission may not grant any such relief, and we do not anticipate we will be successful in obtaining relief while active trading of our shares is continuing.

Our board of directors may at any time turn management of the liquidation of Turnstone Systems over to a third party, and some or all of our directors may resign from our board at that time.

Our board of directors may at any time turn our management over to a third party to complete the liquidation of our remaining assets and distribute the available proceeds to our stockholders, and some or all of our directors may resign from our board at that time. Our board of directors currently consists of Eric S. Yeaman, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and Albert Y. Liu, our General Counsel and Director of Human Resources, who are overseeing our liquidation on a consulting basis. If management is turned over to a third party and all of our directors resign from our board, the third party would have sole control over the liquidation process, including the sale or distribution of any remaining assets.

If we are deemed to be an investment company, we may be subject to substantial regulation that would cause us to incur additional expenses and reduce the amount of assets available for distribution.

If we invest our cash and/or cash equivalents in investment securities, we may be subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940. If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act because of our investment securities holdings, we must register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act. As a registered investment company, we would be subject to the further regulatory oversight of the Division of Investment Management of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and our activities would be subject to substantial regulation under the Investment Company Act. Compliance with these regulations would cause us to incur additional expenses, which would reduce the amount of assets available for distribution to our stockholders. To avoid these compliance costs, we intend to invest our cash proceeds in money market funds and government securities, which are exempt from the Investment Company Act but which currently provide a very modest return.

Item 6. Exhibits

 

EXHIBIT NO.

 

DESCRIPTION

  3.1(1)     Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Turnstone Systems
  3.2(2)     Amended and Restated Bylaws of Turnstone Systems
  4.1(3)     Form of Common Stock certificate
10.1(3)     Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into by Turnstone Systems with each of its directors and executive officers
10.19(4)   Consulting Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2004, between Turnstone Systems, Inc. and Albert Y. Liu
10.20(5)   Consulting Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2004, between Turnstone Systems, Inc. and Eric S. Yeaman
31.1         Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer
31.2         Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer
32.1         Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer

 

(1) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 10, 2004 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(2) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 10, 2004 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(3) Incorporated by reference herein to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 and all amendments thereto filed on November 22, 1999 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (No. 333-45130).
(4) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 28, 2004 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(5) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 28, 2004 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

TURNSTONE SYSTEMS, INC.
Registrant

/s/    ERIC S. YEAMAN

Eric S. Yeaman
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Date: August 11, 2009

 

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Exhibit Index

 

EXHIBIT NO.

 

DESCRIPTION

  3.1(1)     Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Turnstone Systems
  3.2(2)     Amended and Restated Bylaws of Turnstone Systems
  4.1(3)     Form of Common Stock certificate
10.1(3)     Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into by Turnstone Systems with each of its directors and executive officers
10.19(4)   Consulting Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2004, between Turnstone Systems, Inc. and Albert Y. Liu
10.20(5)   Consulting Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2004, between Turnstone Systems, Inc. and Eric S. Yeaman
31.1         Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer
31.2         Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer
32.1         Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer

 

(1) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 10, 2004 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(2) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 10, 2004 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(3) Incorporated by reference herein to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 and all amendments thereto filed on November 22, 1999 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (No. 333-45130).
(4) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 28, 2004 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(5) Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 of our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 28, 2004 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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