Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Principles

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Principles

Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Principles

Basis of Presentation

Morgan Group Holding Co. (“Holding” or “the Company”) was incorporated in November 2001 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of LICT Corporation (“LICT”) to serve, among other business purposes, as a holding company for LICT’s controlling interest in The Morgan Group, Inc. (“Morgan”). On January 24, 2002, LICT spun off 2,820,051 shares of Holding common stock through a pro rata distribution (“Spin-Off”) to its stockholders and retained 235,294 shares.

On October 3, 2002, Morgan ceased its operations when its liability insurance expired and it was unable to secure replacement insurance. On October 18, 2002, Morgan and two of its operating subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division for the purpose of conducting an orderly liquidation of Morgan’s assets. On March 31, 2008, and the bankruptcy court dismissed the proceeding and it was entirely concluded at that time. The Company received no value for its equity ownership from the bankruptcy proceeding.

Significant Accounting Principles

Cash and Cash Equivalents

All highly liquid investments with maturity of three months or less when purchased are considered to be cash equivalents. The carrying value of a cash equivalent approximates its fair value based on its nature.

At December 31, 2016 and 2015 all cash and cash equivalents were invested in a United States Treasury money market fund, for which an affiliate of the Company serves as the investment manager.

Stock Based Compensation

During 2012, the Company issued stock options and warrants to two of the Company’s officers, see Note 5. The Company uses a fair value based method of accounting for stock-based compensation provided to our employees. The estimated fair value of option awards on the grant date is determined using the Black Scholes option-pricing model. This sophisticated model utilizes a number of assumptions in arriving at its results, including the estimated life of the option, the risk free interest rate at the date of grant and the volatility of the underlying common stock. There may be other factors which are not considered in the Black Scholes model but which may have an effect on the value of the options as well. The effects of changing any of the assumptions or factors employed by the Black Scholes model may result in a significantly different valuation for the options. No options or warrants were granted during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted earnings per share is based on basic shares plus the incremental shares that would be issued upon the assumed exercise of in-the-money stock options and unvested restricted stock using the treasury stock method, if dilutive.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.