MERISEL INC /DE/
11-K, 2000-06-30
COMPUTERS & PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549



                                    FORM 11-K


                                  ANNUAL REPORT
                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




(Mark One):

[ X ]  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
       OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999

[  ]  TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO SECTION 15 (d) OF THE  SECURITIES
      EXCHANGE  ACT OF 1934 For the  transition  period  from  __________  to
      __________

                           Commission file number 0-17156

A.  Full title of the plan and address of the plan, if different from that of
the issuer named below:  Merisel, Inc. 401(k)Retirement Savings Plan

B.  Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address
of its principal executive office:  Merisel, Inc. 200 Continental Blvd.,
El Segundo, California 90245










<PAGE>



    Merisel, Inc.
    401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
    Financial  Statements  as of and for the Years Ended  December  31, 1999 and
    1998,  Supplemental  Schedules  for the Year  Ended  December  31,  1999 and
    Independent Auditors' Report






<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS
-------------------------------------------


                                                                                      Page

<S>                                                                                   <C>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT                                                            1


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits as of December 31, 1999
     and 1998                                                                           2

Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits for the
     Years Ended December 31, 1999 and 1998                                             3

   Notes to Financial Statements                                                       4-7


SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES:

   Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes as of December 31, 1999              8

   Schedule of Reportable Transactions for the Year Ended December 31, 1999             9



</TABLE>


<PAGE>



INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT


Merisel, Inc.
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan:

We have audited the  accompanying  statements  of net assets  available for plan
benefits of the Merisel,  Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan as of December 31,
1999 and 1998, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for
plan  benefits  for the years then ended.  These  financial  statements  are the
responsibility  of the Plan's  management.  Our  responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the  United  States of  America.  Those  standards  require  that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a
test basis,  evidence  supporting  the amounts and  disclosures in the financial
statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant  estimates  made by  management,  as well as evaluating  the overall
financial  statement  presentation.   We  believe  that  our  audits  provide  a
reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the net assets available for plan benefits of the Plan as
of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the changes in net assets  available for plan
benefits  for the years  then ended in  conformity  with  accounting  principles
generally accepted in the United States of America.

Our audits  were  performed  for the  purpose of forming an opinion on the basic
financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental  schedules of (1) assets
held for  investment  purposes  as of  December  31,  1999,  and (2)  reportable
transactions for the year ended December 31, 1999, are presented for the purpose
of  additional  analysis  and are not a  required  part of the  basic  financial
statements,  but are  supplementary  information  required by the  Department of
Labor's Rules and  Regulations  for Reporting and Disclosure  under the Employee
Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974.  These  supplemental  schedules are the
responsibility of the Plan's  management.  The supplemental  schedules have been
subjected  to the  auditing  procedures  applied  in  the  audits  of the  basic
financial  statements  and, in our  opinion,  are fairly  stated in all material
respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.



Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Los Angeles, California
June 16, 2000



<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN  BENEFITS
DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND 1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                                      1999                     1998

<S>                                                                               <C>                     <C>
ASSETS:
  Investments (Notes 2 and 3):
    Participant directed                                                           $ 18,690,302            $ 13,400,749
    Nonparticipant directed (Note 4)                                                  1,020,032                 745,509
    Participant loans                                                                   636,697                 333,747
                                                                                      ---------                --------

           Total investments                                                         20,347,031              14,480,005

  Accounts receivable - employer and employee contribution (Note 1)                   1,403,162                 889,321
                                                                                    -----------              ----------

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS                                             $ 21,750,193            $ 15,369,326
                                                                                   ============            ============


          See accompanying notes to financial statements.





</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND 1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                                            1999               1998

<S>                                                                                    <C>                 <C>
ADDITIONS TO NET ASSETS:
  Investment income (Notes 1 and 3):
    Net appreciation in fair value of investments                                       $ 2,061,182        $ 1,604,705
    Interest income                                                                         111,891            103,521
                                                                                         ----------         ----------

          Total investment income                                                         2,173,073          1,708,226
                                                                                         ----------         ----------

  Contributions (Note 1):
    Employee                                                                              4,015,924          2,707,206
    Employer                                                                              1,252,524            902,671
    Rollover                                                                                292,872             74,880
                                                                                        -----------         ----------

          Total contributions                                                             5,561,320          3,684,757
                                                                                        -----------         ----------

          Total additions                                                                 7,734,393          5,392,983
                                                                                        -----------         ----------

DEDUCTIONS TO NET ASSETS (Note 1):
  Benefits paid to participants                                                           1,296,441          2,454,340
  Contract administrator fees                                                                57,085             19,650
                                                                                        -----------         ----------

         Total deductions                                                                 1,353,526          2,473,990
                                                                                        -----------         ----------

INCREASE IN NET ASSETS                                                                    6,380,867          2,918,993

NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS:
  BEGINNING OF YEAR                                                                      15,369,326         12,450,333
                                                                                       ------------        -----------

  END OF YEAR                                                                          $ 21,750,193       $ 15,369,326
                                                                                       ============       ============


          See accompanying notes to financial statements.

</TABLE>






<PAGE>


MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND 1998



1.    PLAN DESCRIPTION AND RELATED INFORMATION

      General - The Merisel, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (the "Plan") is
      a qualified defined  contribution  plan established to provide  retirement
      benefits to Merisel, Inc. (the "Company" or the "Plan Sponsor") employees.
      The following  description of the Plan provides only general  information.
      Participants  should  refer  to the  plan  agreement  for a more  complete
      description of the Plan's provisions.

     Risk and Uncertainties - In 1999, the Plan Sponsor incurred a net loss
     of $61.2 million, increasing its accumulated deficit to $179.7 million. The
     financial condition was further deteriorated during the quarter ended March
     31, 2000 as the Plan Sponsor incurred a net loss $20.4 million,  increasing
     its  accumulated  deficit to $193.1 million.  Effective  December 1999, the
     Plan Sponsor  announced a restructuring  plan that would combine its United
     States and Canadian distribution  businesses,  and would reduce its planned
     workforce.  In  connection  with the  restructuring,  the Plan  Sponsor has
     developed a business plan, which, if successfully implemented, will provide
     sufficient  cash  flow  to  support  its  operations  throughout  2000  and
     ultimately return the Company to profitability. If the Company is unable to
     successfully implement its business plan it could have a material impact on
     the  Company's  ability to  continue as a going  concern.  By virtue of the
     Company  being the Plan Sponsor,  such a material  impact could also impact
     the Plan's ability to continue as a going concern.

      Contributions, Participant Accounts, and Vesting - Under provisions of the
      Plan, all full-time employees of the Company who have completed 30 days of
      service and are at least 21 years of age are  eligible to  participate  in
      the Plan. Total annual participant contributions are limited to the lesser
      of $10,000 or 15 percent of the participant's  pretax annual compensation.
      Participants  may also make rollover  contributions  from other  qualified
      plans. The amount of the Company  matching  contributions is determined by
      the Board of Directors.

      Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution
      and an  allocation  of  the  Company's  contribution  and  plan  earnings.
      Participant  contributions are invested in any of ten available investment
      funds or Company  common stock,  as directed by the  participant.  Company
      contributions  are invested as directed by the Company.  Plan earnings are
      allocated  to  participants  based  upon  participant   account  balances.
      Forfeitures  of terminated  participants'  nonvested  accounts are used to
      reduce future Company contributions.

      Participants are immediately vested in their voluntary  contributions plus
      actual earnings thereon.  Vesting in the Company's  contributions is based
      on years of continuous  service.  A participant is fully vested after four
      years of credited service.

      Payments of Benefits - A  participant's  plan benefits will be distributed
      at  retirement,  death,  disability  or  termination  of  employment.  The
      participant  or  beneficiary  may elect to  receive  such  benefits  in an
      annuity or lump-sum payment.  Benefits payable to terminated  participants
      are not reflected in the  accompanying  financial  statements.  Net assets
      available for plan benefits  included $9,309 and $13,371 for  participants
      who are no longer  employed  by the  Company as of  December  31, 1999 and
      1998, respectively.

      Termination  -  Although  it has not  expressed  any  intent to do so, the
      Company has the right to terminate  the Plan subject to the  provisions of
      the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974  ("ERISA").  In the
      event of  termination,  participants  would  become 100 percent  vested in
      their employer contributions.

      Tax Status - The  Internal  Revenue  Service  ("IRS") has  determined  and
      informed  the Company by letter that the Plan is qualified  under  Section
      401 of the Internal  Revenue Code ("IRC") and  therefore is not subject to
      tax under present income tax law. Although the Plan has been amended since
      receiving the determination  letter, the plan administrator and the Plan's
      tax counsel  believe  that the Plan is  designed  and is  currently  being
      operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC.

      Management believes that the Plan is designed and currently being operated
      within the applicable requirements of the IRC.

      Administrative  Expenses -  Administrative  expenses are allocated to plan
      participants on a pro rata basis based on individual account values.

      Participant  Loans -  Participants  may borrow from their fund  accounts a
      minimum  of $1,000 up to a maximum  equal to the  lesser of  $50,000 or 50
      percent  of  the  participant's   vested  account  balance.  The  term  of
      participant loans may not exceed five years,  except where the proceeds of
      the loan are used to purchase the principal  residence of the participant.
      The loans bear interest at the rate of two percent above the prime rate as
      published in the Wall Street Journal on the day the loan is made.

      Related Party  Transactions - Certain plan investments are shares of funds
      managed by CIGNA  Retirement &  Investment  Services.  CIGNA  Retirement &
      Investment  Services is the trustee as defined by the Plan, and therefore,
      these transactions qualify as party-in-interest. Fees paid by the Plan for
      the investment  management services amounted to $57,085 for the year ended
      December 31, 1999 and $19,650 for the year ended December 31, 1998.

      Reclassifications - In September 1999, Statement of Position ("SOP") 99-3,
      "Accounting for and Reporting of Certain Defined Contribution Benefit Plan
      Investments  and Other  Disclosure  Matters," was issued.  The SOP,  among
      other  items,   eliminates  the  previous   requirements   for  a  defined
      contribution  plan to present plan  investment by general or fund type for
      participant-directed  investments.  As a result, certain reclassifications
      were  made  to the  1998  financial  statements  to  conform  to the  1999
      financial statements presentation.

2.    SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

      Basis of  Accounting - The  accompanying  financial  statements  have been
      prepared using the accrual basis of accounting.

      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  amounts of assets and
      liabilities,  and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and
      liabilities. Actual results may differ from estimates.

      Investment  Valuation and Income  Recognition - The Plan's investments are
      stated at fair value.  Shares of registered  investment  companies and the
      Company stock are valued at quoted market  prices.  Investments  in pooled
      separate  accounts are recorded at fair value,  as  determined by the unit
      value as reported  by the  Connecticut  General  Life  Insurance  Company.
      Investments  in the CIGNA  Guaranteed  Income Fund are  non-fully  benefit
      responsive  guaranteed  investment  contracts  which are  recorded at fair
      value.  Participant  loans are  valued at cost,  which  approximates  fair
      value.  Purchases  and sales of  securities  are  recorded on a trade-date
      basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.

3.    INVESTMENT INFORMATION BY FUND
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      The following presents investments that represent 5 percent or more of the
      Plan's net assets:

                                                                                                   December 31,
                                                                                   ------------------------------------
                                                                                              1999              1998

<S>                                                                                       <C>               <C>
         CIGNA Guaranteed Income Fund                                                     $2,638,322        $1,814,472
         CIGNA Large Company Stock Index Fund                                              3,179,810         2,147,005
         Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities Fund                                        3,379,777         3,011,517
         Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Account                                            5,408,428         3,470,611
         CIGNA Lifetime 30 Fund                                                            1,179,606           850,163

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      During  1999,  the  Plan's  investments  (including  gains  and  losses on
      investments  bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated
      in value by $2,173,073 as follows:

<S>                                                                                                        <C>
         Investment funds                                                                                  $ 2,765,085
         Common stock                                                                                         (703,678)
         Investment contracts                                                                                  111,666
                                                                                                          -------------

                                                                                                           $ 2,173,073
                                                                                                          =============

</TABLE>


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

4.       NONPARTICIPANT - DIRECTED INVESTMENTS

      Information  about the net assets and the  significant  components  of the
      changes in net assets relating to the nonparticipant  directed investments
      is as follows:

                                                                                                 December 31,
                                                                                     ----------------------------------
                                                                                            1999            1998

        <S>                                                                            <C>               <C>
           Net Assets:
           Merisel, Inc. common stock                                                   $ 1,020,032       $ 745,509
                                                                                        ===========       =========
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                          Year Ended
                                                                                                          December 31,
                                                                                                              1999
<S>                                                                                                     <C>
         Increase in net assets:
           Contributions                                                                                  $ 1,170,787
           Net depreciation                                                                                  (703,678)
           Benefits paid to participants                                                                     (163,184)
           Fund transfers                                                                                      21,755
           Contract administrator fees                                                                        (40,475)
           Other                                                                                              (10,682)
                                                                                                      ----------------


                                                                                                            $ 274,523
                                                                                                     =================
</TABLE>

5.    GUARANTEED INVESTMENT CONTRACTS

      The Plan participates in contracts with Connecticut General Life Insurance
      Company via investments in the CIGNA Guaranteed Income Fund.  General Life
      Insurance  Company  commingles the assets of the CIGNA  Guaranteed  Income
      Fund with other assets.  The contracts are non-fully  benefit  responsive,
      with average yields of 5.45 percent and 5.70 percent,  with interest rates
      of 5.45  percent  and 5.70  percent for 1999 and 1998,  respectively,  and
      estimated fair values of $2,638,322 at December 31, 1999 and $1,814,472 at
      December 31, 1998.

6.    RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO FORM 5500

      The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per
      the financial statements to the Form 5500:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                             December 31,
                                                                                ---------------------------------------
                                                                                       1999                1998

<S>                                                                                <C>                <C>
         Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements            $ 21,750,193       $ 15,369,326
         Accounts receivable - employer and employee contribution                    (1,403,162)          (889,321)
                                                                                   -------------      -------------

         Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500                       $ 20,347,031       $ 14,480,005
                                                                                   ============       ============

</TABLE>


<PAGE>

MERISEL, INC.
401 (k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AT END OF YEAR
DECEMBER 31, 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


 (a)                (b)                                    (c)                             (d)               (e)
                                               Description of Investment,
            Identity of Issue,                  Including Maturity Date,
            Borrower, Lessor or                 Interest Rate, Collateral                                     Fair
               Similar Party                    and Par or Maturity Value                     Cost             Value

<S>                                                                                          <C>               <C>
  *   Connecticut General Life        Cash Transaction Account (GST)                         $  8,812          $  8,812
        Insurance Company
  *   Connecticut General Life        CIGNA Guaranteed Income Fund                          2,638,322         2,638,322
        Insurance Company
  *   Connecticut General Life        CIGNA Large Company Stock Index                       2,060,455         3,179,810
        Insurance Company               Fund
  *   Connecticut General Life        Fidelity Advisor Growth Opportunities                 2,357,872         3,379,777
        Insurance Company               Fund
  *   Connecticut General Life        Fidelity Advisor Equity Growth Account                2,885,386         5,408,428
        Insurance Company
  *   Connecticut General Life        CIGNA Lifetime 20 Fund                                  672,143           943,685
        Insurance Company
  *   Connecticut General Life        CIGNA Lifetime 30 Fund                                  817,183         1,179,606
        Insurance Company
  *   Connecticut General Life        CIGNA Lifetime 40 Fund                                  514,882           738,907
        Insurance Company
  *   Connecticut General Life        CIGNA Lifetime 50 Fund                                  402,901           566,171
        Insurance Company
  *   Merisel, Inc.                   Merisel, Inc. Common Stock                            1,975,529         1,020,032
  *   Connecticut General Life        Janus Worldwide Account                                 498,787           632,509
        Insurance Company
  *   Connecticut General Life        CIGNA Foreign Stock                                      12,543            14,275
        Insurance Company             Bank of Ireland Asset Management
  *   Participant loans               Loans to participants, maturities up                        -             636,697
                                        to 10 years, 9.5%-11.0% interest


*  Indicates an identified person known to be a party-in-interest.

</TABLE>


<PAGE>




MERISEL, INC.
401(k) RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN

SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


<S>    <C>                            <C>                  <C>            <C>              <C>            <C>               <C>
      (a)                             (b)                    (c)             (d)             (g)             (h)             (i)
                                                                                                         Current Value       Net
                                                           Purchase        Selling          Cost         on Transaction      Gain
Identity of Party Involved      Description of Asset        Price           Price         of Asset           Date           (Loss)

       Merisel, Inc.              Common stock           $ 869,419       Not applicable  $ 869,419         $ 869,419         $ -
       Merisel, Inc.              Common stock         Not applicable     $ 145,290        243,250           145,290       (97,960)



</TABLE>

<PAGE>











                                                              SIGNATURES





Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
trustees (or other persons who administer  the employee  benefit plan) have duly
caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.



Date:  June 30, 2000               Merisel, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
                                   --------------------------------------------
                                                  (Name of plan)


                                          By:/s/ Timothy N. Jenson
                                                 Executive Vice President


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