UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.

 

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

[X]

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d)

  OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

    For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20172019

 

or                                     

 

 

[   ]

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 1-2257

 

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

13-1394750

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

135 East 57th Street, 14th Floor, New York, New York  10022

135 East 57th Street, 14th Floor, New York, New York        10022  

(Address of registrant’s principal executive offices)               (Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (800) 243-5544

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  Common Stock, $0.001 par value

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes                 No     X              

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes                 No     X              

 

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             

 


 

CONTINUED

 

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION

20172019 Form 10-K Cover Page Continued

 

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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files.)  Yes    X         No             

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  [   ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer___filer __ Accelerated filer___filer __ Non-accelerated filer___filer  X  Smaller reporting company X Emerging growth company___ company ___

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.                

 

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

 

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant based upon the last sale price of the registrant’s Common Stock reported on OTCQBOTC Pink on June 30, 2017,2019, was approximately $630,000,$249,000, which value solely for the purposes of this calculation excludes shares held by the registrant’s officers, directors and 10% stockholders.  Such exclusion should not be deemed a determination by the registrant that all such individuals or entities are, in fact, affiliates of the registrant.  The registrant has no non-voting common stock.

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, as of the latest practicable date, on March 29, 2018,19, 2020, was 2,162,17113,446,276 shares of Common Stock.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

The information required by Part III of this Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference to certain portions of a definitive proxy statement which is expected to be filed by the Company pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the close of its fiscal year.None.

 


 

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION

20172019 Form 10-K Annual Report


 


Table of ContentContents


PART I

ITEM 1.                 BUSINESS

 

SUMMARY

 

Trans-Lux Corporation is a Delaware corporation incorporated on February 5, 1920.  Our Common Stock is quoted on OTC Pink under the symbol “TNLX.”  Our principal executive offices are located at 135 East 57th Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY  10022, where our telephone number is (800) 243-5544.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Trans-Lux,” the “Company,” the “Corporation,” “we,” “us,” and “our” as used herein refer to Trans-Lux Corporation and its subsidiaries.

 

The Company is a leading designer and manufacturer of digital display solutions and fixed digit scoreboards and LED Lighting fixtures and lamps.scoreboards.

 

DIGITAL DISPLAY PRODUCTS

 

The Company’s LED display systems include the latest features and functionality.  The Company’s product line of high-performance state-of-the-art digital display products and controllers are used to show full-color video and messages in virtually any configuration and application.  The products are used by sports arenas and stadiums; financial institutions, including brokerage firms, banks, energy companies, insurance companies and mutual fund companies; educational institutions; outdoor advertising companies; corporate and government communication centers; retail outlets; casinos, racetracks and other gaming establishments; airports, train stations, bus terminals and other transportation facilities; movie theatres; health maintenance organizations and in various other applications.  All sales and service, including fixed digit scoreboards, related to sports are sold through our wholly owned subsidiary, Fariplay Corporation, capitalizing on a well-recognized brand name that has been servicing this segment for over 85 years.

 

TheFor its fixed digit scoreboards, the Company has an industry leading unibody design that allows for seamless appearance and facilitates field installation.

For its digital displays, the Company employs a modular engineering design strategy, allowing basic “building blocks” of modules to be easily combined and configured in order to meet the broad application requirements of the various industries it serves.  This approach ensures product flexibility, reliability, ease of service and reduced spare parts requirements.

 

The Company’s display product line is comprised of two distinct segments: the Digital product sales division and the Digital product lease and maintenance division.

 

Digital Product Sales Division:  The Digital product sales division is segmented into five categories: Out-of-Home, Sports, Transportation, Live Entertainment and Retail & Hospitality.

 

Digital product Lease and Maintenance Division:  The Digital product lease and maintenance division leases and performs maintenance on digital products across all the sectors under agreement terms ranging from 30 days to 10 years.

 

Sales Order Backlog (excluding leases):  The amount of sales order backlog at December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 was approximately $2.5 million$967,000 and $3.1$3.2 million, respectively.  The December 31, 20172018 backlog included orders for which delivery had been delayed due to our financial issues at that time.  The December 31, 2019 backlog is expected to be recognized as sales in 2018,2020, although there can be no assurance thereof.  These amounts include only the sale of products; they do not include new lease orders or renewals of existing lease agreements that may be presently in-house.

LED LIGHTING

The LED lighting market provides energy-saving lighting solutions that feature a comprehensive offering of the latest LED lighting technologies that provide facilities and public infrastructure with “green” lighting solutions that emit less heat, save energy and enable creative designs.

The Company has developed what it believes is a unique business model for the LED Lighting market as a source manufacturer and distributor that integrates energy efficiency as well as customer experience solutions into a seamless package that is delivered directly to the end customer.  The Company manufactures and distributes all lighting solutions from single watt vanity lights to 750-watt facility lighting.

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The business model for the lighting sales team is ROI (return on investment) driven and focuses on maximizing rebates and energy incentives to subsidize upfront capital expenses.  We believe we provide our customers with the highest quality lights, widest array of financing options and world-class manufacturing with full product warranties and guarantees.

 

ENGINEERING AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

 

The Company’s ability to compete and operate successfully depends on its capacity to anticipate and respond to the changing technological and product needs of its customers, among other factors.  For this reason, the Company continually develops enhancements to its existing product lines and examines and tests new display technologies.

 

The Company’s TLVisionTM line includes our latest LED Large Screen Systems that feature the most recent digital product technologies and capabilities, available in various pitch design.  TLVisionTM consists of full-color video products that can be used in a multitude of applications.  These applications range from posting alphanumeric data to the displaying of full HD video.  The pixel pitches of the products range from 1.5mm for very close distance viewing and up to 50mm for very long-distance viewing.  The Company also continues to expand its line of scoreboard solutions using its TLVisionTM technology and improved hand-held, simple to operate remotes and wireless control devices.

 

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As part of its ongoing development efforts, the Company seeks to package certain products for specific market segments as well asand continually trackingtracks emerging technologies that can enhance its products.  Full color, live video and digital input technologies continue to be enhanced.

 

The Company maintains a staff responsible for product development and support.  The engineering, product enhancement and development efforts are supplemented by outside independent engineering consulting organizations, as required.

 

MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION

 

In North America, the Company markets its digital display products in the United States and Canada using a combination of distribution channels, including direct sales representatives and a network of independent dealers and distributors.  By working with software vendors and using the internet to expand the quality and quantity of multimedia content that can be delivered to our digital products, we offer customers relevant, timely information, content management software and display hardware in the form of turnkey display communications packages.

 

The Company employs a number of different marketing techniques to attract new customers, including direct marketing efforts by its sales force to known and potential users of information displays; internet marketing; advertising in industry publications; and exhibiting at domestic and international trade shows annually.shows.

 

Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company has sales and service offices in Des Moines,Urbandale, Iowa, and Hazelwood, Missouri, as well as satellite offices in other parts of the United States.

 

Internationally, the Company uses a combination of internal sales people and independent distributors to market its products outside the United States.  The Company has existing relationships with independent distributors worldwide covering the rest of North America, Europe, the Middle East, South America, Africa, the Far East and Australia.  Foreign revenues represented less than 10% of total revenues for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016, respectively.2018.

 

In 2017, one customer accounted for 23.2% of total revenues.  We do not expect similar revenues from this customer in2019 and 2018, but we do expect similar revenues from the sale of similar products to similar customers in 2018.  In 2016, there were no customers that accounted for at least 10% of the Company’s total revenues.

 

MANUFACTURING AND OPERATIONS

 

The Company’s production facilities arefacility is located in Des Moines, Iowa, and Hazelwood, Missouri.  The production facilitiesfacility consist principally of the manufacturing, assembly and testing of digital product units and related components. The Company performs most subassembly and final assembly of its digital display products.

 

All product lines are design engineered by the Company and controlled throughout the manufacturing process.  The Company has the ability to produce very large sheet metal fabrications, cable assemblies and surface mount and through-hole designed assemblies.  Some of the subassembly processes are outsourced.  The Company’s production of many of the subassemblies and final assemblies gives the Company the control opportunity needed for on-time delivery to its customers.

 

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The Company has the ability to modify its product lines.  The Company’s displays are designed with flexibility in mind, enabling the Company to customize its displays to meet different applications with a minimum amount of lead-time.  The Company designs certain of its materials to match components furnished by suppliers.  If such suppliers are unable to provide the Company with those components, the Company would have to contract with other suppliers to obtain replacement sources.  Such replacement might result in engineering design changes, as well asand delays in obtaining such replacement components.  The Company believes it maintains suitable inventory and has contracts providing for delivery of sufficient quantities of such components to meet its needs.  The Company also believes that there are presently other qualified vendors of these components.  Other than the LEDs and LED modules which are manufactured by foreign sources, the Company does not acquire significant amounts of components directly from foreign suppliers.  The Company’s products are third-party certified for compliance with applicable safety, electromagnetic emissions and susceptibility requirements worldwide.

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SERVICE AND SUPPORT

 

The Company emphasizes the quality and reliability of its products and the ability of its field service personnel and third-party agents to provide timely and expert service to the Company’s equipment on lease and maintenance bases and other types of customer-owned equipment.  The Company believes that the quality and timeliness of its on-site service personnel are essential components for the Company’s ongoing and future success.  The Company provides turnkey installation and support for the products it leases and sells in the United States and Canada.  The Company provides training to end-users and provides ongoing support to users who have questions regarding operating procedures, equipment problems or other issues.  The Company provides installation and service to those who purchase and lease equipment.  Additionally, the Company’s dealers and distributors offer support for the products they sell in the market segments they cover.

 

Personnel based in regional and satellite service locations throughout the United States and Canada provide high quality and timely on-site service for the installed equipment on lease and maintenance bases and other types of customer-owned equipment.  Purchasers or lessees of the Company’s larger products, such as financial exchanges, casinos and sports stadiums, often retain the Company to provide on-site service through the deployment of a service technician who is on-site daily for scheduled events. 

 

The Company operates its National Technical Services and Repair Centers from its facilities in Des Moines,Urbandale, Iowa and Hazelwood, Missouri.  Equipment repairs are performed in Des Moines,Urbandale, Iowa and service technicians are dispatched nationwide from various locations including Des MoinesUrbandale and Hazelwood.  The Company’s field service division is augmented by various service companies in the United States, Canada and overseas.  From time to time, the Company uses various third-party service agents to install, service and/or assist in the service of certain displays for reasons that include geographic area, size and height of displays.

 

COMPETITION

 

The Company’s availability of short and long-term leases to customers and its nationwide sales, service and installation capabilities are major competitive advantages in the digital product business. The Company believes that it is the largest supplier of large-scale stock, commodity, sports and race book gaming digital products in the United States, as well as one of the larger digital product and service organizations in the country.

 

The Company competes with a number of competitors, both larger and smaller than itself, with products based on different forms of technology.  There are several competitors whose current products utilize similar technology to the Company’s and who possess the resources necessary to develop competitive and more sophisticated products in the future.

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

The Company holds a number of trademarks for its products and considers such trademarks important to its business.

 

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EMPLOYEES

 

The Company had approximately 6850 employees as of March 1, 2018.  Approximately 24%2020, none of the employeeswhom are unionized, pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement, which expires on December 31, 2019.unionized.  The Company believes its employee relations are good.

 

ITEM 1A.              RISK FACTORS

 

THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL DOUBT ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE AS A GOING CONCERN

Our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an opinion on our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K that states that the Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern and further states that the continuing losses and uncertainty regarding our ability to make the required minimum funding contributions to the defined benefit pension plan and the past due principal and interest payments on our outstanding 8¼% Limited convertible senior subordinated notes due 2012 (the “Notes”) and 9½% Subordinated debentures due 2012 (the “Debentures”) raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.  In addition, if we are unable to (i) obtain additional liquidity for working capital, (ii) make the required minimum funding contributions to the defined benefit pension plan, (iii) make the required principal and interest payments on the Notes and the Debentures and/or (iv) repay our obligations under our Credit Agreement (hereinafter defined) with CNH Finance Fund I, L.P. (“CNH”) (formerly known as SCM Specialty Finance Opportunities Fund, L.P.), there would be a significant adverse impact on our financial position and operating results.

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED OPERATING LOSSES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, AND THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR REVENUE SUFFICIENTLY TO GENERATE THE CASH REQUIRED TO FUND OUR CURRENT OPERATIONS

 

We have incurred operating losses for the past several years.  During the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, we incurred losses of $2.8$1.4 million and $611,000,$4.7 million, respectively.  We are dependent upon future operating performance and, to the extent that operating performance falls short of our needs, future financing to generate sufficient cash flows in order to continue to run our businesses.  Future operating performance is dependent on general economic conditions, as well as financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control.  We have experienced a decline in our lease and maintenance bases for the past several years.  In addition, our ability to achieve profitability is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control including the impact of the current economic environment, the spread of major epidemics (including coronavirus) and other related uncertainties such as government imposed travel restrictions, interruptions to supply chains and extended shut down of businesses.  These macroeconomic developments could negatively affect our business, operating results, and financial condition in a number of ways.  For example, current or potential customers may delay or decrease spending with us or may not pay us or may delay paying us for previously performed services.

There can be no assurance that we will be able to increase our revenue sufficiently to generate the cash required to fund our current operations.operations, and to the extent we are unable to do so, we may need to undertake additional financings.  In addition, we cannot predict whether future financing, if any, will be in the form of equity, debt, or a combination of both.  We may not be able to obtain additional funds on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all.  Moreover, our ability to receive debt financing could be restricted by the covenants of our Credit Agreement with CNH and anyAny equity financing we receive could be substantially dilutive to our shareholders.

 

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WE HAVE RECEIVED WAIVERS, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS, OF THE 2009, 2010 AND 2012 MINIMUM FUNDING STANDARDS FOR OUR DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLAN, WHICH, IF WE FAIL TO FULFILL THE REQUIRED CONDITIONS FOR, MAY RESULT IN THE TERMINATION OF THE PLAN OR REQUIRE US TO MAKE THE UNPAID CONTRIBUTIONS

In March 2010, 2011 and 2013, the Company submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) requests for waivers of the 2009, 2010 and 2012 minimum funding standards for its defined benefit pension plan.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company has fully repaid the amounts deferred for each of these waivers.  In 2017, we made $298,000 of the $444,000 of minimum required contributions to the plan.  At this time, we expect to make our minimum required contributions in 2018 of $576,000, which includes the balance of the 2017 minimum required contributions; however, there is no assurance that we will be able to make any or all such remaining payments.  See Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Pension Plan for further details.

WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT DEBT, WHICH COULD IMPAIR OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

As of December 31, 2017,2019, we had outstanding debt of approximately $5.6$2.2 million (including $650,000 of a forgivable loan), $4.0$1.6 million of which was reflected under current portion of long-term debt in our consolidated balance sheet.  Such amount includes an aggregate of $607,000$572,000 of Notes8¼% Limited convertible senior subordinated notes due 2012 (the “Notes”) and Debentures9½% Subordinated debentures due 2012 (the “Debentures”) for which we are in default.  Our ability to satisfy our obligations will be dependent upon our future performance, which is subject to prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, including factors beyond our control.  There can be no assurance that our operating cash flows will be sufficient to meet our long-term debt service requirements or that we will be able to refinance indebtedness at maturity.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

4LIBOR IS EXPECTED TO BE DISCONTINUED AFTER 2021


Table

Our Loan Agreement with MidCap Business Credit LLC (“MidCap”) provides procedures for determining a replacement or alternative rate in the event that LIBOR is unavailable.  However, there can be no assurance as to whether such replacement or alternative rate will be more or less favorable than LIBOR.  We intend to monitor the developments with respect to the potential phasing out of Content

LIBOR after 2021 and will work with MidCap to ensure any transition away from LIBOR will have minimal impact on our financial condition.  We however can provide no assurance regarding the impact of the discontinuation of LIBOR on the interest rate that we would be required to pay or on our financial condition.

 

NON-PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON OUTSTANDING NOTES AND DEBENTURES HAS RESULTED IN EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND MAY CONTINUE TO NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR BALANCE SHEET

 

We haveAs of December 31, 2019, we had outstanding $387,000$352,000 of Notes.  The Notes matured as of March 1, 2012 and are currently in default.  The trustee, by notice to us, or the holders of 25% of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding, by notice to us and the trustee, may declare the outstanding principal plus interest due and payable immediately.

 

We haveAs of December 31, 2019, we had outstanding $220,000 of Debentures.  The Debentures matured as of December 1, 2012 and are currently in default.  The trustee, by notice to us, or the holders of 25% of the principal amount of the Debentures outstanding, by notice to us and the trustee, may declare the outstanding principal plus interest due and payable immediately.

 

OUR INDEBTEDNESS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL HEALTH

 

Our indebtedness could have important consequences to you. For example, it could: increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions; restrict us from making strategic acquisitions or cause us to make non-strategic divestitures; require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes; make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations to our creditors, resulting in possible defaults on and acceleration of such indebtedness; limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate; place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and limit our ability to borrow additional funds or increase our cost of borrowing.

 

In addition, the terms of the Credit Agreement with CNH contain restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interests. Our failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all of our obligations under the Credit Agreement with CNH as well as our other outstanding indebtedness. The occurrence of any one of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects.

COMPETITORS MAY POSSESS SUPERIOR RESOURCES AND DELIVER MORE MARKETABLE PRODUCTS, WHICH WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR OPERATING MARGINS

 

Our digital products compete with a number of competitors, both larger and smaller than us, and with products based on different forms of technology.  In addition, there are several competitors whose current products utilize similar technology and who possess the resources to develop competitive and more sophisticated products in the future.  Our success is, to some extent, dependent upon our ability to anticipate technological changes in the industry and to successfully identify, obtain, develop and market new products that satisfy evolving industry requirements.  There can be no assurance that competitors will not market new products which may have perceived advantages over our products or which, because of pricing strategies, render the products currently sold by us less marketable or would otherwise adversely affect our operating margins.

 

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OUR SUCCESS IS PARTIALLY DEPENDENT UPON OUR ABILITY TO OBTAIN THE RENEWAL OF EXISTING LEASES OR ENTER INTO NEW LEASES AS OUR CURRENT LEASES EXPIRE, WHICH MAY NOT BE FEASIBLE.  THE INABILITY TO RENEW OR REPLACE OUR LEASES WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR OPERATIONS

 

We derive a substantial percentage of our revenues from the leasing of our digital products, generally pursuant to leases that have an average term of one to five years.  Consequently, our future success is, at a minimum, dependent on our ability to obtain the renewal of existing leases or to enter into new leases as existing leases expire.  We also derive a significant percentage of our revenues from maintenance agreements relating to our digital display products.  The average term of such agreements is one to five years.  A portion of the maintenance agreements is cancelable upon 30 days notice.  There can be no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining the renewal of existing leases or maintenance agreements, obtaining replacement leases or realizing the value of assets currently under leases that are not renewed.  We expect our success in obtaining the renewal of existing leases or maintenance agreements or obtaining replacement leases will also be negatively impacted by the economic uncertainty arising from the impact of the coronavirus which has caused disruptions and extreme volatility in global financial markets and is expected to increase rates of default and bankruptcy, and impact levels of consumer and commercial spending.  See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Results of Operations.”

 

WE ARE DEPENDENT ON OUR PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND OTHER KEY PERSONNEL

 

We believe that our President and Chief Executive Officer, Jean-Marc Allain,Alberto Shaio, plays a significant role in our success and the loss of his services could have an adverse effect on us.  There can be no assurance that we would be able to find a suitable replacement for Mr. Allain.Shaio.  We have an employment agreement with Mr. AllainShaio that expiredexpires on February 16, 2018 and currently renews on a month-to-month basis.October 1, 2020.  We believe that in addition to Mr. Allain,Shaio, there is a core group of executives that also plays a significant role in our success.

 

OUR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS SUBJECT US TO POTENTIAL FLUCTUATIONS IN EXCHANGE RATES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES DOLLAR AND FOREIGN CURRENCIES, AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, WHICH COULD IMPACT OUR PROFITABILITY

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Our financial condition, operating results and future growth could be significantly impacted by risks associated with our international activities, including specifically changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies and international tax rules.  Because a portion of our business is transacted in Canada dollars, fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar could seriously impact our manufacturing and other costs, as well as overall profitability.  The risks to our business related to fluctuations in currency exchange rates is further magnified by the current volatility in the currency markets that are characteristic of financial markets, and currency markets in particular.

 

Compliance with U.S. and foreign laws and regulations that apply to our international operations, including import and export requirements, anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, tax laws (including U.S. taxes on foreign subsidiaries), foreign exchange controls, anti-money laundering and cash repatriation restrictions, data privacy requirements, labor laws and anti-competition regulations, increases the costs of doing business in foreign jurisdictions, and may subject us to additional costs which may arise in the future as a result of changes in these laws and regulations or in their interpretation.  We have not implemented formal policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with all of these laws and regulations.  Any such violations could individually or in the aggregate materially adversely affect our reputation, financial condition or operating results.

 

OUR RELIANCE UPON THIRD-PARTY MANUFACTURERS IN CHINA COULD SUBJECT US TO POLITICAL AND LEGAL RISKS BEYOND OUR CONTROL

 

Many components of our products are produced in China by third-party manufacturers.  Our reliance on third-party Chinese manufacturers exposes us to risks that are not in our control, such as unanticipated cost increases, or negative fluctuations in currency or the impact of the coronavirus on the ability of the third-party Chinese manufacturers to provide product and international commerce, which could negatively impact our results of operations and working capital.  Any termination of or significant disruption in our relationship with our Chinese suppliers may prevent us from filling customer orders in a timely manner.  Given the state of the Chinese political system, we cannot guaranty that our agreements with our Chinese suppliers will remain enforceable pursuant to Chinese law.  Furthermore, we cannot guaranty that all rights to payment or performance under our agreements with our Chinese manufacturing partners will be enforceable and that all debts owing to us, whether in the form of cash or product, will be collectible.  While we do not envision any adverse change to our international operations or suppliers, especially given the gradual move towards global integration by the Chinese government and financial markets, adverse changes to these operations as a result of political, governmental, regulatory, economic, exchange rate, labor, health-related, logistical or other factors could have a material adverse effect on our future operating results.

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THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The recent outbreak of the coronavirus in the United States and globally has resulted in the United States and other countries halting or sharply curtailing the movement of people, goods and services.  All of this has caused extended shutdowns of businesses and the prolonged economic impact remains uncertain.  At this point, we believe the conditions will have a material adverse effect on our business but given the rapidly changing developments we cannot accurately predict what effects these conditions will have on our business, which will depend on, among other factors, the ultimate geographic spread of the virus, the duration of the outbreak and travel restrictions and business closures imposed by the United States and various other governments.

 

SUPPLIERS MAY BE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO FURNISH US WITH REQUIRED COMPONENTS, WHICH MAY DELAY OR REDUCE OUR PRODUCT SHIPMENTS AND NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS

 

We design certain of our products to match components furnished by suppliers.  If such suppliers were unable or unwilling to provide us with those components, we would have to contract with other suppliers to obtain replacement sources.  In particular, we purchase most of the LEDs and LED module blocks used in our digital products and lighting from three main suppliers.  We do not have long-term supply contracts with these suppliers.  A change in suppliers of either LED module blocks or certain other components may result in engineering design changes, as well as delays in obtaining such replacement components.  We believe that there are presently other qualified vendors of these components.  Our inability to obtain sufficient quantities of certain components as required, or to develop alternative sources at acceptable prices and within a reasonable time, could result in delays or reductions in product shipments that could have a materially adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

CYBER-ATTACKS AND BREACHES COULD CAUSE OPERATIONAL DISRUPTIONS, FRAUD OR THEFT OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION

 

Aspects of our operations are reliant upon internet-based activities, such as ordering supplies and back-office functions such as accounting and transaction processing, making and accepting payments, processing payroll and other administrative functions, etc.  Although we have taken measures to protect our technology systems and infrastructure, including employee education programs regarding cybersecurity, a breach of the security surrounding these functions could result in operational disruptions, theft or fraud, or exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized parties.  A significant disruption or failure of our information technology systems may have a significant impact on our operations, potentially resulting in service interruptions, security violations, regulatory compliance failures and other operational difficulties.  In addition, any attack perpetrated against our information systems, including through a system failure, security breach or disruption by malware or other damage, could similarly impact our operations and result in loss or misuse of information, litigation and potential liability.  Although we have taken steps intended to mitigate the risks presented by potential cyber incidents, it is not possible to protect against every potential power loss, telecommunications failure, cybersecurity attack or similar event that may arise.  Moreover, the safeguards we use are subject to human implementation and maintenance and to other uncertainties.  Any of these cyber incidents may result in a violation of applicable laws or regulations (including privacy and other laws), damage our reputation, cause a loss of customers and give rise to monetary fines and other penalties, which could be significant.  Such events could result in additional costs related to operational inefficiencies, or damages, claims or fines.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUTSTANDING SERIES B CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

We currently have 16,512 sharesan adverse effect on our results of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“SBCPS”) issuedoperations, financial condition and outstanding.  The SBCPS carries a 6.0% cumulative annual dividend, payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 in cash or Common Stock, and is convertible into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion price of $10.00 per share, representing a conversion ratio of 20 common shares for each share of SBCPS held at the time of conversion.  Under Delaware law, we may only pay dividends or make a distribution to our stockholders from our surplus (as determined in accordance with Delaware General Corporate Law) or our net profits for the current fiscal year before the dividend or distribution is declared under certain circumstances.  Therefore, our ability to pay dividends and make any other distributions in the future will depend upon our financial results, liquidity and financial condition.

The shares of SBCPS may be subject to mandatory conversion at our discretion after November 19, 2018, or earlier if the closing sale price of our Common Stock has been greater than or equal to $15.00 for 30 consecutive days.  The conversion of all or substantially all of the SBCPS into Common Stock will be dilutive to the current holders of our Common Stock, and if the holders of the Common Stock received upon conversion of the SBCPS choose to sell all or some of all these shares of Common Stock, the resulting shares could depress the market value of our Common Stock.

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WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING PREFERRED STOCK AND WARRANTS, THE CONVERSION AND EXERCISE OF WHICH WOULD DILUTE THE THEN-EXISTING STOCKHOLDERS’ PERCENTAGE OWNERSHIP OF OUR COMMON STOCK

As of December 31, 2017, we had outstanding SBCPS convertible into 330,240 shares of Common Stock and outstanding warrants to purchase 52,000 shares of Common Stock.  If all of the outstanding warrants were exercised, the proceeds to us would average $12.40 per share.  In addition, to the extent that we elect to pay the dividends due on the SBCPS in shares of Common Stock, over the next year, up to an additional 20,000 shares of Common Stock are potentially issuable as dividends with respect to the SBCPS (based on an assumed dividend rate of 6% per annum).  The exercise of all of the outstanding warrants, the conversion of the SBCPS into Common Stock, the payment of dividends on the SBCPS through the issuance of Common Stock, the grant and exercise of additional options and/or the grant of restricted stock would dilute the then-existing stockholders’ percentage ownership of Common Stock, and any sales in the public market of the Common Stock issuable upon such exercise could adversely affect prevailing market prices for the Common Stock.  Moreover, the terms upon which we would be able to obtain additional equity capital could be adversely affected because the holders of such securities can be expected to exercise or convert them at a time when we would, in all likelihood, be able to obtain any needed capital on terms more favorable than those provided by such securities.liquidity.

 

EFFECT OF CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS AND CONTROL BY EXISTING STOCKHOLDERS

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (our “Certificate of Incorporation”) contains certain provisions that could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire, control of the Company.  Such provisions could limit the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our Common Stock, thus making it less likely that a stockholder will receive a premium on any sale of shares of our Common Stock.  Our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, each of which serves for a staggered three-year term, making it more difficult for a third party to gain control of our Board.  Our Certificate of Incorporation also contains a provision that requires a four-fifths vote on any merger, consolidation or sale of assets with or to an “Interested Person” or “Acquiring Person,” as well as any amendment to the provision which divides the Board into three classes.

 

Additionally, we are authorized to issue 500,0002,500,000 shares of preferred stock, of which (i) 416,500 are designated as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, none of which are outstanding, and (ii) 51,000 are designated as SBCPS, 16,512Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“SBCPS”), none of which are outstanding.  The remaining unissued preferred stock, if issued, will contain such rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions as may be fixed by our Board of Directors, which may adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of Common Stock or delay, defer or prevent a change in control of the Company, or discourage bids for the Common Stock at a premium over its market price or otherwise adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock.

 

These provisions and others that could be adopted in the future could deter unsolicited takeovers or delay or prevent changes in our control or management, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over then current market prices.  These provisions may also limit the ability of stockholders to approve transactions that they may deem to be in their best interests.

 

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CONCENTRATION OF OWNERSHIP AMONG OUR PRINCIPAL STOCK HOLDERS MAY LIMIT OUR OTHER STOCKHOLDERS FROM INFLUENCING SIGNIFICANT COMPANY DECISIONS

As of March 29, 2018, 10 stockholders who are executive officers and/or directors of the Company beneficially own approximately 48.1% of our Common Stock and19, 2020, one stockholder, who is neither an officer nor a director of the CompanyUnilumin North America Inc. (“Unilumin”), beneficially owns approximately 30.1%52.0% of our Common Stock.  In addition, three of the Company’s five directors are employed by Unilumin or other entities affiliated with Unilumin.  Accordingly, such stockholdersstockholder could exert significant control over any potential stockholder actions. The interests of this stockholder may not align with our interests or the interests of other stockholders and thereby could control our policies and operations, including the election of directors, the appointment of management, future issuances of our Common Stock or other securities, the incurrence or modification of debt by us, amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws, and the entering of extraordinary transactions, such as a merger or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.  In addition, this majority stockholder will be able to cause or prevent a change of control of the Company and could preclude any unsolicited acquisition of the Company.  This concentration of ownership could deprive stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their shares of Common Stock as part of a sale of the Company and ultimately might affect the market price of the Common Stock.

WE DO NOT EXPECT TO PAY ANY DIVIDENDS ON OUR COMMON STOCK FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE

We currently expect to retain all future earnings, if any, for future operation, expansion and debt repayment and have no current plans to pay any cash dividends to holders of our Common Stock for the foreseeable future.  Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on, among other things, our operating results, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant.  In addition, we must comply with the covenants in our credit agreement in order to be able to pay cash dividends, and our ability to pay dividends generally may be further limited by covenants of any existing and future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur.  As a result, you may not receive any return on an investment in our Common Stock unless you sell our Common Stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.

 

OUR COMMON STOCK IS QUOTED ON OTC PINK AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO LIMITED TRADING VOLUME AND PRICE VOLATILITY

 

Our Common Stock is quoted on the OTC Pink, an inter-dealer electronic quotation and trading system for equity securities.  Quotation of our Common Stock on OTC Pink may limit the liquidity and price of our Common Stock more than if our Common Stock were quoted or listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market or another national exchange.  Some investors may perceive our Common Stock to be less attractive because it is traded in the over-the-counter market.  In addition, as an OTC Pink company, we do not attract the extensive analyst coverage that accompanies companies listed on national exchanges.  Further, institutional and other investors may have investment guidelines that restrict or prohibit investing in securities traded on OTC Pink.  These factors may have an adverse impact on the trading and price of our Common Stock.

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Our Common Stock is not widely held and the volume of trading has been relatively low and sporadic.  Accordingly, our Common Stock is subject to increased price volatility and reduced liquidity.  There can be no assurance that a more active trading market for our Common Stock will develop or be sustained if it does develop.  The market price of our Common Stock has been and may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations in response to numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control.  These factors include, among other things, the factors described in the sections entitled “Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995” and “Risk Factors” in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the general state of the securities markets and the market for similar stocks, changes in capital markets that affect the perceived availability of capital to companies in our industry, and governmental legislation or regulation, as well as general economic and market conditions.

WE ARE DEPENDENT ON A SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER

For the year ended December 31, 2017, we had one customer which accounted for 23.2% of our total revenue.  We do not expect similar revenues from this customer in 2018, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.  In 2016, there were no customers that accounted for at least 10% of our total revenues.

 

ITEM 1B.              UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2.                 PROPERTIES

 

The Company’s headquarters and principal executive offices are located in a leased facility at 135 East 57th Street, 14th Floor, New York, New York, at an annual rental of $143,000,$135,000, which it uses as its primary executive, sales and administrative office.  The Company leases a facility in Des Moines, Iowa, at an annual rental of $158,000, which is used for manufacturing, sales and administrative operations.  The Company leases a facility in Hazelwood, Missouri, at an annual rental of $323,000,$334,000, which is being used for manufacturing operations.The Company leases a facility in Urbandale, Iowa, at an annual rental of $28,000, which is used for sales and administrative operations.

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The aggregate property rent expense was $848,000$608,000 and $625,000$662,000 for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively.

 

ITEM 3.                 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of its business and/or which are covered by insurance.  The Company has accrued reserves individually and in the aggregate for such legal proceedings.  Should actual litigation results differ from the Company’s estimates, revisions to increase or decrease the accrued reserves may be required.  A vendor has brought a claim against us for $87,000 plus interest and damages.  TheThere are no open matters that the Company has accrued for the $87,000 plus interest in Accounts payable and in Accrued liabilites in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2017. deems material.

 

ITEM 4.                 MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5.                 5.                MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY,, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

(a)               The Company’s Common Stock trades on the OTCQBOTC Pink under the symbol “TNLX.”  Sales price information is set forth in Item 5(d) below.

(b)  The Company had approximately 22386 holders of record of its Common Stock as of March 29, 2018.19, 2020.  The number of record holders does not include DTC participants or beneficial owners holding shares through nominee names.

(c)  The Board of Directors did not declare any cash dividends on Common Stock during 20172019 and the Company does not anticipate paying any cash dividends on its Common Stock for the foreseeable future.  In addition,As discussed in Note 14 to the terms ofConsolidated Financial Statements – Stockholders’ Deficit, the Company’s Credit Agreement with CNH restrict the payment ofCompany paid dividends on our Common Stock.  The Board of Directors declared cash dividends of $6.00 per shareits then outstanding SBCPS in April and November 2017, aggregating approximately $198,000, for each share of SBCPS.  As described herein, the SBCPS carries a 6.0% cumulative annual dividend.accordance with their terms.

 

(d)           The following table sets forth the range of Common Stock prices on the OTCQB:(b)           Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

 

2017

 

2016

High

 

Low

 

High

 

Low

First Quarter

 

$2.45

 

$1.42

 

$4.10

 

$3.05

Second Quarter

 

$2.00

 

$1.01

 

$4.15

 

$2.01

Third Quarter

 

$1.79

 

$0.75

 

$4.20

 

$2.28

Fourth Quarter

 

$1.55

 

$0.50

 

$3.20

 

$2.00

 

(e)                 (c)          The Company did not purchase any of its equity securities during any month of the fourth fiscal quarter of 2017.2019.

 

ITEM 6.                SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

(a)                 Not applicable.

(b)                 Not applicable.

 

ITEM 7.                 7.                MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Overview

 

Trans-Lux is a leading supplier of LED technology for displays and lightingdisplay applications.  The essential elements of these systems are the real-time, programmable digital products and lighting fixtures that we design, manufacture, distribute and service.  Designed to meet the digital signage solutions for any size venue’s indoor and outdoor needs, these displays are used primarily in applications for the financial, banking, gaming, corporate, advertising, transportation, entertainment and sports markets.  The Company’s LED lighting fixtures offer energy-saving lighting solutions that feature a comprehensive offering of the latest LED lighting technologies that provide facilities and public infrastructure with “green” lighting solutions that emit less heat, save energy and enable creative designs.  The Company operates in two reportable segments: Digital product sales and Digital product lease and maintenance.

 

The Digital product sales segment includes worldwide revenues and related expenses from the sales of both indoor and outdoor digital product signage and LED lighting solutions.signage.  This segment includes the financial, government/private, gaming, scoreboards and outdoor advertising markets.  The Digital product lease and maintenance segment includes worldwide revenues and related expenses from the lease and maintenance of both indoor and outdoor digital product signage.  This segment includes the lease and maintenance of digital product signage across all markets.

 

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Going Concern

We do not have adequate liquidity, including access to the debt and equity capital markets, to operate our business.  As a result, our short-term business focus has been to preserve our liquidity position.  Unless we are successful in obtaining additional liquidity, we believe that we will not have sufficient cash and liquid assets to fund normal operations for the next 12 months from the issuance of this Form 10-K.  In addition, the Company’s obligations under its defined benefit pension plan exceeded plan assets by $4.2 million at December 31, 2017, including $576,000 of minimum contributions due over the next 12 months.  The Company is in default on its Notes and Debentures, which have remaining principal balances of $387,000 and $220,000, respectively.  As a result, if the Company is unable to (i) obtain additional liquidity for working capital, (ii) make the required minimum funding contributions to the defined benefit pension plan, (iii) make the required principal and interest payments on the Notes and the Debentures and/or (iv) repay our obligations under our Credit Agreement with CNH, there would be a significant adverse impact on the financial position and operating results of the Company.

Moreover, because of the uncertainty surrounding our ability to obtain additional liquidity and the potential of the noteholders and/or trustees to give notice to the Company of a default on either the Debentures or the Notes, our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an opinion on our Consolidated Financial Statements that states that the Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern.  See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements - Going Concern.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the 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.  On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to uncollectible accounts receivable, slow-moving and obsolete inventories, rental equipment, goodwill, income taxes, warranty reserve, warrant liabilities,warrants, pension plan obligations, contingencies and litigation.  Management bases its estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.  Management has discussed the development and selection of these accounting estimates and the related disclosures with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

Management believes the following critical accounting policies, among others, involve its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its Consolidated Financial Statements:

 

Uncollectible Accounts Receivable:  The Company maintains allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments.  Should non-payment by customers differ from the Company’s estimates, a revision to increase or decrease the allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable may be required.

 

Slow-Moving and Obsolete Inventories:  The Company writes down its inventory for estimated obsolescence equal to the difference between the carrying value of the inventory and the estimated net realizable value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions.  If actual future demand or market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

 

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Rental Equipment:  The Company evaluates rental equipment assets for possible impairment annually to determine if the $2.0 million$927,000 carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable.  The Company uses a cash flow model to determine the fair value under the income approach, based on the remaining lengths of existing leases.  Changes in the assumptions used could materially impact our fair value estimates.  Assumptions critical to our fair value estimates are projected renewal rates and CPI rate changes.  These and other assumptions are impacted by national and global economic conditions including changes in national and international interest rates, taxes, inflation, etc. and will change in the future based on period-specific facts and circumstances, thereby possibly requiring an impairment charge in the future.  The December 31, 20172019 impairment analysis included a renewal rate estimate of 89.2%90.2% and a CPI rate change of approximately 1.8%2.2%, which were the actual average rates for the two-year period ended December 31, 2017.2019.  Based on these assumptions, the cash flow model determined a fair value of $8.0$6.7 million, exceeding its carrying value by 298%617%.  Therefore there is no impairment of the Rental Equipment.  For every 1-percentage-point change in the renewal rate, the valuation would change by approximately $151,000.$155,000.  For every 0.1-percentage-point change in the CPI rate, the valuation would change by approximately $23,000.$14,000.

 

Rental equipment is comprised of installed digital products on lease that are primarily used for indoor trading applications, time and temperature displays and other digital message displays and have estimated useful lives of 10-15 years.  For example, the Company is party to contracts for equipment originally installed over 30 or 40 years ago in the 1970’s and 1980’s, as well as dozens of installations from the 1990’s that are still in operation.  Current contracts have an average age of 19.620.4 years from their installation dates through the expiration of their current terms.

 

Goodwill:  The Company evaluates goodwill for possible impairment annually and when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.  The Company uses the income and the market approach to test for impairment of its goodwill, and considers other factors including economic trends and our market capitalization relative to net book value.  The Company weighs these approaches by using a 67% factor for the income approach and a 33% factor for the market approach.  Together these two factors estimate the fair value of the reporting unit.  The Company’s $744,000 goodwill relates to its digital product sales reporting unit.  The Company uses a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value under the income approach which contemplates a conservative overall weighted average revenue growth rate.  If the Company were to reduce its revenue projections on the reporting unit by 3.35.5 percentage points within the income approach, the fair value of the reporting unit would be below carrying value.  The gross profit margins used were consistent with historical margins achieved by the Company during previous years.  If there is a margin decline of 3.06.7 percentage points or more, the model would yield results of a fair value less than the carrying amount.  The Company uses a market multiple approach based on revenue to determine the fair value under the market approach which includes a selection of and market price of a group of comparable companies and the performance of the guidelines of the comparable companies and of the reporting unit.

 

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The October 1, 20172019 annual review indicated that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying value by 169.2%96.1%.  Therefore, there was no impairment of goodwill related to our digital product sales reporting unit.  Changes in the assumptions used could materially impact our fair value estimates.  Assumptions critical to our fair value estimates are: (i) discount rate used to derive the present value factors used in determining the fair value of the reporting unit, (ii) projected average revenue growth rates used in the reporting unit models and (iii) projected long-term growth rates used in the derivation of terminal year values.  These and other assumptions are impacted by economic conditions and expectations of management and will change in the future based on period-specific facts and circumstances, thereby possibly requiring an impairment charge in the future.

 

Restricted Cash:  The Company classifies cash as restricted when the cash is unavailable for withdrawal or usage for general operations.  Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits, contracts entered into with others, or the Company’s statements of intention with regard to particular deposits.  In May 2017, the Company deposited $650,000 in a savings account as collateral for a letter of credit in favor of the City of Hazelwood, Missouri as collateral for a forgivable loan.  In July 2016, the Company deposited $400,000 in a savings account as collateral for a letter of credit in favor of the landlord at its Hazelwood, Missouri manufacturing facility as a security deposit.  In October 2017, the security deposit was reduced by $100,000 to $300,000, in October 2018, the security deposit was reduced by $50,000 to $250,000, and in October 2019, the security deposit was reduced by an additional $50,000 to $200,000, so the related letter of credit and savings account deposit were also reduced.  In July 2014, the Company deposited $212,000 in a savings account as collateral for a letter of credit in favor of the landlord at its former New York headquarters as a security deposit.  The lease expired on November 29, 2017 and the related letter of credit was released on February 9, 2018.  The Company has presented these funds in Restricted cash in the Consolidated Balance Sheets since the use of the funds under the letters of credit is restricted.

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Income Taxes:  The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce its deferred tax assets to the amount that it believes is more likely than not to be realized.  While the Company has considered future taxable income and ongoing feasible tax planning strategies in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, in the event the Company were to determine that it would not be able to realize all or part of its net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would be charged to income in the period such determination was made.  Likewise, should the Company determine that it would be able to realize its deferred tax assets in the future in excess of its net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax assets would increase income in the period such determination was made.

 

Warranty Reserve:  The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time revenue is recognized.  While the Company engages in product quality programs and processes, including evaluating the quality of the component suppliers, the warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates.  Should actual product failure rates differ from the Company’s estimates, revisions to increase or decrease the estimated warranty liability may be required.

 

Pension Plan Obligations:  The Company is required to make estimates and assumptions to determine the obligation of our pension benefit plan, which includes investment returns and discount rates.  The Company recorded after-tax charges in unrecognized pension liability of $95,000$342,000 and $409,000$653,000 in 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively, in other comprehensive loss.  Estimates and assumptions are reviewed annually with the assistance of external actuarial professionals and adjusted as circumstances change.  Assumed mortality rates of plan participants are a critical estimate in measuring the expected payments a participant will receive over their lifetime and the amount of liability and expense we recognize.  At December 31, 2017,2019, plan assets were invested 28.0%30.7% in fixed income contracts and 72.0%69.3% in equity and index funds.  The investment return assumption takes the asset mix into consideration.  The assumed discount rate reflects the rate at which the pension benefits could be settled.  The Company utilizes a yield curve in lieu of a single weighted discount rate in determining liabilities and the interest cost for the following year.  At December 31, 2017,2019, the weighted average rates used for the computation of benefit plan liabilities were: investment returns, 8.00% and discount rate, 3.66%4.30%.  The net periodic cost for 20182020 will be based on the December 31, 20172019 valuation.  The defined benefit pension plan periodic cost (benefit) was ($31,000)$79,000 and $14,000($103,000) in 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively.  At December 31, 2017,2019, assuming no change in the other assumptions, a one-percentage point increase/(decrease) in the discount rate would have increased/(decreased) the net periodic cost by $7,000/$5,000/($16,000)13,000).

 

As of December 31, 2003, the benefit service under the defined benefit pension plan had been frozen and, accordingly, there is no service cost for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016.2018.  In March 2010, 2011 and 2013, the Company submitted to the IRS requests for waivers of the 2009, 2010 and 2012 minimum funding standards for its defined benefit pension plan.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company has fully repaid the amounts deferred for each of these waivers.  In 2017,2019, we made $298,000 of the $444,000$629,000 of minimum required contributions to the plan.  Subsequent to December 31, 2019, we made an $85,000 contribution to the plan.  At this time, we expect to make our remaining minimum required contributions in 20182020 of $576,000, which includes the balance of the 2017 minimum required contributions;$556,000; however, there is no assurance that we will be able to make any or all of such remaining payments.  See Note 1315 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Pension Plan for further details.

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Contingencies and Litigation:  The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of its business and/or which are covered by insurance.  The Company has accrued reserves individually and in the aggregate for such legal proceedings.  Should actual litigation results differ from the Company’s estimates, revisions to increase or decrease the accrued reserves may be required.A vendor has brought a claim against us for $87,000 plus interest and damages.  There are no open matters that the Company deems material.

The Company has accrued for the $87,000 plus interest in Accounts payable and in Accrued liabilites in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2017.  Potential damages, if any, are not yet determinable.

On May 23, 2017, the Company receiveda $650,000 structured as a forgivable loan from the City of Hazelwood, Missouri, which is included in Forgivable loanLong-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The loan will be forgiven on a pro-rata basis if predetermined employment levels are attained and would expire on April 1, 2024.2025.  If the Company attains the employment levels required by the agreement, there is no interest due, otherwise interest accrues at a rate of prime plus 2.00% (6.50%(6.75% at December 31, 2017)2019).  In February 2018, in accordance with the agreement, the Company requested a 1-year extension of the terms of the agreement, which was approved by the City of Hazelwood in March 2018, so the agreement now terminates on April 1, 2025.  As of December 31, 2017,2019, the Company hashad accrued interest of $26,000.

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Results of Operations

The following table presents our Statements of Operations data, expressed as a percentage of revenue for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016:2018:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

In thousands, except percentages

2019

 

2018

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital product sales

$

22,093

90.4

%

$

18,138

85.6

%

$

14,710

86.4

%

$

11,958

83.0

%

Digital product lease and maintenance

 

2,350

 

9.6

%

 

 

3,053

 

14.4

%

 

2,325

13.6

%

 

2,441

17.0

%

Total revenues

 

24,443

 

100.0

%

 

 

21,191

 

100.0

%

 

17,035

100.0

%

 

14,399

100.0

%

Cost of revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of digital product sales

19,221

78.6

%

13,355

63.0

%

12,273

72.1

%

10,094

70.1

%

Cost of digital product lease and maintenance

 

1,490

 

6.1

%

 

 

2,032

 

9.6

%

 

775

4.5

%

 

1,234

8.6

%

Total cost of revenues

 

20,711

 

84.7

%

 

 

15,387

 

72.6

%

 

13,048

76.6

%

 

11,328

78.7

%

Gross profit from operations

3,732

15.3

%

5,804

27.4

%

 

3,987

23.4

%

 

3,071

21.3

%

General and administrative expenses

 

(6,578)

 

(26.9)

%

 

 

(6,624)

 

(31.3)

%

 

(4,438)

(26.0)

%

 

(7,117)

(49.4)

%

Operating loss

(2,846)

(11.6)

%

(820)

(3.9)

%

 

(451)

(2.6)

%

 

(4,046)

(28.1)

%

Interest expense, net

(708)

(2.9)

%

(374)

(1.8)

%

(504)

(3.0)

%

(940)

(6.5)

%

Loss on foreign currency remeasurement

(178)

(0.7)

%

(45)

(0.2)

%

Gain on extinguishment of debt

-

-

%

462

2.2

%

(Loss) gain on foreign currency remeasurement

 

(130)

(0.8)

%

 

225

1.5

%

Loss on extinguishment of debt

(193)

(1.1)

%

-

-

%

Gain on sale/leaseback transaction

132

0.5

%

          121

0.6

%

 

-

-

%

 

11

0.1

%

Warrant expense

 

-

 

-

%

 

 

(21)

 

(0.1)

%

Pension (expense) benefit

 

(83)

(0.5)

%

 

103

0.7

%

Loss before income taxes

(3,600)

(14.7)

%

(677)

(3.2)

%

 

(1,361)

(8.0)

%

 

(4,647)

(32.3)

%

Income tax benefit

 

751

 

3.0

%

 

 

66

 

0.3

%

Income tax expense

 

(41)

(0.2)

%

 

(47)

(0.3)

%

Net loss

$

(2,849)

 

(17.7)

%

 

$

(611)

 

(2.9)

%

$

(1,402)

(8.2)

%

 

$

(4,694)

(32.6)

%

 

20172019 Compared to 20162018

 

Total revenues for the year ended December 31, 20172019 increased $3.2$2.6 million or 15.3%18.3% to $24.4$17.0 million from $21.2$14.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016,2018, primarily due to an increase in Digital product sales, partially offset by a decreasedecreases in consulting services and Digital product lease and maintenance.

 

Digital product sales revenues increased $2.7 million or 23.0% to $14.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased $4.02019 compared to $12.0 million or 21.8%,for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to a single large scoreboard customer sale,increases in the sports market, partially offset by a reductiondecrease in other sales to the scoreboard and lighting markets.consulting services.

 

Digital product lease and maintenance revenues decreased $116,000 or 4.8% to $2.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 decreased $703,000 or 23.0%,2019 compared to $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the continued expected revenue decline in the older outdoor display equipment rental and maintenance bases acquired in the early 1990s.

Total gross margin  The financial services market continues to be negatively impacted by the current investment climate resulting in consolidation within that industry and the wider use of flat-panel screens for the year ended December 31, 2017 decreased to 15.3% from 27.4% for the year ended December 31, 2016, primarily due to the strategically reduced margin on the single large scoreboard customer sale, partially offset by lower depreciation expense related to Digital product lease and maintenance revenues, as well as increased efficiencies achieved in our manufacturing facility.smaller applications.

 

Total operating loss for the year ended December 31, 2017 increased $2.02019 decreased $3.6 million to $2.8$451,000 from $4.0 million as compared to $820,000 for the year ended December 31, 2016,2018, principally due to the decreaseincrease in gross margin.revenues and a reduction in general and administrative expenses, partially offset by an increase in restructuring costs.

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Table of Contents

 

Digital product sales operating income (loss) increased $1.9 million to income decreased $1.8 millionof $183,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to a loss of $149,000 as compared to income of $1.6$1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to the increase in revenues and a decrease in gross margin.general and administrative expenses.  The cost of Digital product sales increased $5.9$2.2 million or 43.9%21.6%, primarily due to the decreased gross margin on the single large scoreboard customer sale and the increase in revenues.  The cost of Digital product sales represented 87.0%83.4% of related revenues in 20172019 compared to 73.6%84.4% in 2016.2018.  General and administrative expenses for Digital product sales general and administrative expenses decreased $131,000$1.4 million or 4.2%37.5%, primarily due to a decrease in bad debt expense.expenses, specifically related to two customers in 2018.

 

Digital product lease and maintenance operating income decreased $172,000increased $690,000 or 20.8%,65.0% to $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily as a result of a decreasedecreases in revenues,general and administrative expenses and in the cost of Digital product lease and maintenance, partially offset by the decrease in depreciation expense.revenues.  The cost of Digital product lease and maintenance decreased $542,000$459,000 or 26.7%37.2%, primarily due to thea decrease in depreciation expense.  The cost of Digital product lease and maintenance revenues represented 63.4%33.3% of related revenues in 20172019 compared to 66.6%50.6% in 2016.2018.  The cost of Digital product lease and maintenance includes field service expenses, plant repair costs, maintenance and depreciation.  General and administrative expenses for Digital product lease and maintenance general and administrative expenses increased $11,000decreased $347,000 or 5.6%239.3%, primarily due to an increasea decrease in bad debt expense.

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Table of Contentexpenses.

 

Corporate general and administrative expenses increased $74,000decreased $978,000 or 2.3%,29.1% to $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to decreases in payroll and expenses related to employees and directors of $670,000, consulting expenses of $355,000 and professional fees of $216,000, partially offset by an increase in payroll and benefits, partially offset by decreases in insurance, legal and pension plan expenses.restructuring costs of $306,000.

 

Net interest expense increased $334,000decreased $436,000 or 89.3%,46.4% to $504,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $940,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018, primarily due to an increasea decrease in the average outstanding long-term debt, as well as an increase in interest rates.due to the termination of the CNH Finance Fund I, L.P. (“CNH”) loans and the SMI and SMII notes (hereinafter defined).

 

The loss on foreign currency remeasurement increased $133,000 to $178,000 in 2017 as compared to $45,000 in 2016, primarily due to increased fluctuations in the exchange rate between currency in Canada and the United States.

Gain on extinguishment of debt in 2016 relatesfor the year ended December 31, 2019 represented the write-off of the remaining debt discount costs and the termination fees related to the Company’s offers to exchange each $1,000 of principal of its NotesCNH and Debentures, forgiving any related interest, for $200 in cash, for an aggregate paymentSM Investors loans, partially offset by the Companygain on the extinguishment of $71,000.

Warrant expense in 2016 is attributable to the amortization$35,000 of equity warrants granted to directors in 2013.Notes.

 

The effective tax rate for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 was a benefitan expense of 20.9%3.0% and 9.7%1.0%, respectively.  In 20172019 and 2016,2018, the Company recognized benefitsincome tax expense of $777,000$41,000 and $89,000, respectively, as a result of refundable alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credits.$47,000, respectively.  The income tax benefitexpense in 20172019 and 20162018 is also affected by income tax expense related to the Company’s Canadian subsidiary and the valuation allowance on the Company’s deferred tax assets as a result of reporting pre-tax losses.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Current Liquidity

 

The Company has incurred significant recurring losses and hascontinues to have a significant working capital deficiency.  The Company incurred a net loss of $2.8$1.4 million in 2017the year ended December 31, 2019 and had a working capital deficiency of $5.8$3.1 million as of December 31, 2017.2019.  As of December 31, 2018, the Company had a working capital deficiency of $8.5 million.  The decrease in the working capital deficiency as compared to December 31, 2018 is primarily due to the $5.3 million of net proceeds received from the exercises of the Unilumin Warrant and the $2.4 million of net proceeds raised from the Rights Offering (hereinafter defined), which allowed us to decrease the current portion of long-term debt and accounts payable.

 

The Company is dependent on future operating performance in order to generate sufficient cash flows in order to continue to run its businesses.  Future operating performance is dependent on general economic conditions, as well as financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control.  As a result, we have experienced a decline in our lease and maintenance bases.  The cash flows of the Company are constrained, and inIn order to more effectively manage its cash resources, in these challenging economic times, the Company has,had, from time to time, increased the timetable of its payment of some of its payables.  There can be no assurance that we will meetpayables, which had, from time to time,  delayed certain product deliveries from our anticipated current and near-termvendors, which in turn had, from time to time, delayed certain deliveries to our customers.  The recent cash requirements.infusions have resolved these previous issues.

A stockholder of the Company has committed to providing additional capital of up to $2.0 million, to the extent necessary to fund operations.  Management believes that its current cash resources and cash provided by operations would notwill be sufficient to fund its anticipated current and near-term cash requirements and is seeking additional financing in order to execute our operating plan.  We cannot predict whether future financing, if any, will be in the form of equity, debt, or a combination of both.  We may not be able to obtain additional funds on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all, and we have no commitments, agreements or understandings with respect to any equity or debt financing.  Moreover, our ability to receive debt financing could be restricted by the covenants of our Credit Agreement with CNH and any equity financing we receive could be substantially dilutive to our shareholders.  The Company continually evaluates the need and availability of long-term capital in order to meet its cash requirements and fund potential new opportunities.

 

12


Table of Contents

The Company used cash for operating activities of $810,000$4.3 million and $772,000 for$1.1 million in the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively.  The Company has implemented several initiatives to improve operational results and cash flows over future periods, including reducing headcount, reorganizing its sales department and outsourcing its human resources department and expanding its sales and marketing efforts in the LED lighting market.certain administrative functions.  The Company continues to explore ways to reduce operational and overhead costs.  The Company periodically takes steps to reduce the cost to maintain the digital products on lease and maintenance agreements.

 

Cash, and cash equivalents increased $141,000and restricted cash decreased $238,000 in 2017.2019.  The increasedecrease is primarily attributable to borrowingscash used in operating activities of long-term debt of $3.5$4.3 million, and proceeds from a forgivable loan of $650,000, offsetprimarily to reduce accounts payable by $2.8 million, payments of long-term debt of $2.2$1.6 million cash used for operations of $810,000, cash designated as restricted cash of $550,000, investments in equipment for rental, property and equipment of $222,000to terminate term loans and payments of dividends on$1.4 million to terminate the SBCPSCredit Agreement (hereinafter defined), partially offset by the net proceeds from the exercises of $198,000.the Unilumin Warrant (hereinafter defined) of $5.3 million and the net proceeds from the Rights Offering (hereinafter defined) of $2.4 million.  The current economic environment has increased the Company’s trade receivables collection cycle, and its allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable, but collections continue to be favorable.

 

Under various agreements, the Company is obligated to make future cash payments in fixed amounts.  These include payments under the Company’s long-term debt agreements, payments to the Company’s pension plan, employment agreement payments, warranty liabilities and rental payments required under operating lease agreements.  The Company has both variable and fixed interest rate debt.  Interest payments are projected based on actual interest payments incurred in 20172019 until the underlying debts mature.

14


Table of Content

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s fixed cash obligations as of December 31, 20172019 over the next five fiscal years:

 

In thousands

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

 

2024

Long-term debt, including interest

$

4,625

$

1,143

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

2,445

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

Pension plan payments

576

267

312

276

333

641

417

490

324

212

Employment obligations

100

-

-

-

-

 

338

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

Estimated warranty liability

103

87

64

44

24

149

117

88

49

27

Operating lease payments

 

701

 

 

356

 

 

336

 

 

342

 

 

348

 

513

 

370

 

348

 

309

 

-

Total

$

6,105

 

$

1,853

 

$

712

 

$

662

 

$

705

$

4,086

 

$

904

 

$

926

 

$

682

 

$

239

 

OfAs of December 31, 2019, the fixed cash obligations for debt for 2018, $1.0 million, including interest,Company still had outstanding $352,000 of Notes and Debentures remains outstanding.which matured as of March 1, 2012.  The Company also still had outstanding $220,000 of Debentures which matured on December 1, 2012.  The Company continues to consider future exchanges of the $352,000 of remaining Notes and $220,000 of remaining Debentures, but has no agreements, commitments or understandings with respect to any further exchanges.  See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Long-Term Debt for further details.

On September 16, 2019, the Company entered into the Loan Agreement (hereinafter defined) with MidCap (hereinafter defined).  The Loan Agreement has a term of three years, unless earlier terminated by the parties in accordance with the termination provisions of the Loan Agreement.  The Loan Agreement allows the Company to borrow up to an aggregate of $4.0 million at an interest rate of the 3-month LIBOR interest rate plus 4.75% (6.66% at December 31, 2019) on a revolving credit loan based on accounts receivable, inventory and equipment for general working capital purposes.  LIBOR is seekingexpected to be discontinued after 2021.  The Loan Agreement with MidCap provides procedures for determining a replacement or alternative rate in the event that LIBOR is unavailable.  We however can provide no assurance regarding the impact of the discontinuation of LIBOR on the interest rate that we would be required to pay or on our financial condition.  As of December 31, 2019, there is no balance outstanding under the Loan Agreement.

For a further description of the Company’s long-term debt, see Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Long-Term Debt.  The Company may still seek additional financing in order to provide enough cash to cover our remaining current fixed cash obligations as well as providing working capital.  However, there can be no assurance as to the amounts, if any, the Company will receive in any such financing or the terms thereof.  The Company has no agreements, commitments or understandings with respect to any such financings.  To the extent the Company issues additional equity securities, it could be dilutive to existing shareholders.

Long-Term Debt

On July 12, 2016, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Trans-Lux Display Corporation, Trans-Lux Midwest Corporation and Trans-Lux Energy Corporation (the “Borrowers”) entered into a credit and security agreement, as subsequently amended on September 8, 2016, February 14, 2017, March 28, 2017, July 28, 2017, October 10, 2017, November 9, 2017, November 16, 2017 and March 14, 2018 (collectively, the “Credit Agreement”) with CNH as lender.  Under the Credit Agreement, the Company can borrow up to an aggregate of $4.0 million, which includes (i) up to $3.0 million of a revolving loan, at an interest rate of prime plus 4.0% (amended to be prime plus 6.0% effective March 1, 2018), and (ii) a $1.0 million term loan, at an interest rate of prime plus 6.0%.  The availability under the revolving loan is calculated based on certain percentages of eligible receivables and inventory.  During 2017, the Company had drawn $917,000 on the revolving loan and $600,000 on the term loan.  As of December 31, 2017, $2.7 million and $790,000, respectively, were outstanding on the revolving loan and the term loan, respectively.  Interest under the Credit Agreement is payable monthly in arrears.  The Credit Agreement also requires the payment of certain fees, including, but not limited to a facility fee, an unused line fee and a collateral management fee.  See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Long-Term Debt for further details.

The Credit Agreement contains financial and other covenant requirements, including, but not limited to, financial covenants that require the Borrowers to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0 starting with their August 31, 2017 financial statements and a loan turnover rate of no more than 35 days.  As of December 31, 2017, the fixed charge ratio was 0.0 to 1.0 and the loan turnover rate was 44 days, so the Company was not in compliance with all covenants.  The Company entered into an Eighth Amendment to the Credit Agreement dated as of March 14, 2018 with CNH, to waive the Company’s non-compliance with these financial covenants and to amend the interest rate of prime plus 4.0% to be prime plus 6.0% effective March 1, 2018.

On April 27, 2016, the Company received a $500,000 loan from Carlisle Investments Inc. (“Carlisle”) at a fixed interest rate of 12.00%, which is due to mature on April 27, 2019 with a bullet payment of all principal due at such time.  Interest is payable monthly.  Marco Elser, a director of the Company, exercises voting and dispositive power as investment manager of Carlisle.

On November 6, 2017, the Company received an additional $500,000 loan from Carlisle at a fixed interest rate of 12.00%, which was due to mature on December 10, 2017 with a bullet payment of all principal due at such time (the “Second Carlisle Agreement”).  Interest is payable monthly.  As of December 31, 2017, the outstanding balance was $500,000.  Marco Elser, a director of the Company, exercises voting and dispositive power as investment manager of Carlisle.

On July 15, 2016, holders of $239,000 of the Notes and $114,000 of the Debentures accepted the Company’s offer to exchange each $1,000 of principal, forgiving any related interest, for $200 in cash, for an aggregate payment by the Company of $71,000.  The Company continues to consider future exchanges of the $387,000 of remaining Notes and $220,000 of remaining Debentures, but has no agreements, commitments or understandings with respect to any further such exchanges.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company still had outstanding $387,000 of Notes which matured as of March 1, 2012.  The Company also still had outstanding $220,000 of Debentures which matured on December 1, 2012.  See Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Long-Term Debt for further details.

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Table of Content

 

Pension Plan Contributions

 

In March 2010, 2011 and 2013, the Company submitted to the IRS requests for waivers of the 2009, 2010 and 2012 minimum funding standards for its defined benefit pension plan.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company had fully repaid the amounts deferred for each of these waivers.  In 2017,2019, we made $298,000 of the $444,000$629,000 of minimum required contributions to the pension benefit plan.  Subsequent to December 31, 2019, we made an $85,000 contribution to the pension benefit plan.  At this time, we expect to make our minimum required contributions to the pension benefit plan in 20182020 of $576,000, which includes the balance of the 2017 minimum required contributions;$556,000; however, there is no assurance that we will be able to make any or all of such remaining payments.  See Note 1315 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Pension Plan for further details.

13


Table of Contents

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements:  The Company has no majority-owned subsidiaries that are not included in the Consolidated Financial Statements nor does it have any interests in or relationships with any special purpose off-balance sheet financing entities.

 

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Reform Act of 1995

 

This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Any statement that is not a statement of historical fact should be considered a forward-looking statement.  We often use words or phrases of expectation or uncertainty like “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “intent,” “project,” “future,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would” and similar words to help identify forward-looking statements.  Examples of forward-looking statements include statements regarding our future financial results, operating results, business strategies, projected costs, product development or future sales, competitive positions and plans and objectives of management for future operations.

 

We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events.  However, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including the circumstances described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in this report.  Accordingly, our actual results or financial condition could differ materially and adversely from those discussed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.  We caution you not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.  Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except to the extent required by federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

ITEM 7A.              QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Company is subject to interest rate risk on its long-term debt.  The Company manages its exposure to changes in interest rates by the use of variable and fixed interest rate debt.  The fair value of the Company’s fixed rate long-term debt is disclosed in Note 1112 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Long-Term Debt.  Every 1-percentage-point change in interest rates would result in an annual interest expense fluctuation of approximately $42,000.$7,000.  In addition, the Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk mainly as a result of investment in its Canadian subsidiary.  A 10% change in the Canadian dollar relative to the U.S. dollar would result in a currency exchange expense fluctuation of approximately $284,000,$263,000, based on dealer quotes, considering current exchange rates.  The Company does not enter into derivatives for trading or speculative purposes and did not hold any derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2017.2019.

 

ITEM 8.                 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

The following financial statements of Trans-Lux Corporation and its subsidiaries are included on the following pages:

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm                                                                                                      15

17

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016

18

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

19

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

19

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit for the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

20

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

21

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

22

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 201816

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018                                                    17

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018                                    17

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018                18

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018                                                   19

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                                                              ��                                                               20

14


Table of ContentContents


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of

Trans-Lux Corporation


Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Trans-Lux Corporation and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in stockholders’ deficit, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017,2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”).  In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2017,2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Explanatory Paragraph – Going ConcernAdoption of New Accounting Standards

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern.  As more fully describeddiscussed in Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a significant working capital deficiency that raise substantial doubt aboutchanged its ability to continue as a going concern.  Further, the Company ismethod of accounting for leases in default of the indenture agreements governing its outstanding 9½% subordinated debentures which were due in 2012 (the "Debentures") and its 8¼% limited convertible senior subordinated notes which were due in 2012 (the "Notes") so that the trustees or holders of 25% of the outstanding Debentures and Notes have the right to demand payment immediately.  Additionally, the Company has a significant amount2019 due to their pension plan over the next 12 months.  Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 2.  The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result fromadoption of ASU No. 2016-12, Leases (Topic 842), as amended, effective January 1, 2019, using the outcome of this uncertainty.modified retrospective approach.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’sCompany's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.  We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.  The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting.  As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.  Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks.  Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements.  Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ S/ Marcum LLP

 

Marcum LLPllp

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.

 

Hartford, CT

March 30, 201820, 2020


15


Table of Contents

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31

2019

 

December 31

2018

In thousands, except share data                       

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

535

 

$

723

Receivables, net

2,381

2,271

Inventories

 

2,182

 

 

2,201

Prepaids and other assets

 

807

 

 

417

Total current assets

 

5,905

 

 

5,612

Long-term assets:

Rental equipment, net

 

927

 

 

1,310

Property, plant and equipment, net

2,284

2,180

Right of use assets

 

1,141

 

 

-

Goodwill

744

744

Restricted cash

 

850

 

 

900

Other assets

 

403

 

 

720

Total long-term assets

 

6,349

 

 

5,854

TOTAL ASSETS

$

12,254

 

$

11,466

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable

$

945

 

$

3,728

Accrued liabilities

6,046

6,332

Current portion of long-term debt

 

1,572

 

 

2,584

Current portion of long-term debt - related party

-

1,000

Current lease liabilities

 

284

 

 

-

Customer deposits

 

123

 

 

432

Total current liabilities

 

8,970

 

 

14,076

Long-term liabilities:

Long-term debt, less current portion

 

650

 

 

1,446

Long-term lease liabilities

893

-

Deferred pension liability and other

 

3,485

 

 

3,708

Total long-term liabilities

 

5,028

 

 

5,154

Total liabilities

 

13,998

 

 

19,230

Stockholders' deficit:

Preferred Stock Series A - $20 stated value -  416,500 shares authorized;
    shares issued and outstanding: 0 in 2019 and 2018

 

-

 

 

-

Preferred Stock Series B - $200 stated value -  51,000 shares authorized;
    shares issued and outstanding: 0 in 2019 and 16,512 in 2018

-

3,302

Common Stock - $0.001 par value -  30,000,000 shares authorized;
    shares issued: 13,474,116 in 2019 and 3,652,813 in 2018;
    shares outstanding: 13,446,276 in 2019 and 3,624,973 in 2018

 

13

 

 

4

Additional paid-in-capital

41,088

30,069

Accumulated deficit

 

(33,164)

 

 

(31,682)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(6,618)

(6,394)

Treasury stock - at cost - 27,840 common shares in 2019 and 2018

 

(3,063)

 

 

(3,063)

Total stockholders' deficit

 

(1,744)

 

 

(7,764)

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT

$

12,254

 

$

11,466

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

16


Table of Contents

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended

December 31

In thousands, except per share data

2019

 

2018

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Digital product sales

$

14,710

$

11,958

Digital product lease and maintenance

 

2,325

 

 

2,441

Total revenues

 

17,035

 

 

14,399

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues:

Cost of digital product sales

 

12,273

 

 

10,094

Cost of digital product lease and maintenance

 

775

 

 

1,234

Total cost of revenues

 

13,048

 

 

11,328

Gross profit

 

3,987

 

 

3,071

General and administrative expenses

(4,132)

(7,117)

Restructuring costs

 

(306)

 

 

-

Operating loss

(451)

 

(4,046)

Interest expense, net

 

(504)

 

 

(940)

(Loss) gain on foreign currency remeasurement

(130)

225

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

(193)

 

 

-

Gain on sale/leaseback transaction

-

11

Pension (expense) benefit

 

(83)

 

 

103

Loss before income taxes

(1,361)

 

 

(4,647)

Income tax expense

 

(41)

 

 

(47)

Net loss

$

(1,402)

 

$

(4,694)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss per share - basic and diluted

$

(0.13)

 

$

(1.88)

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

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended

December 31

In thousands

2019

 

2018

Net loss

$

(1,402)

 

$

(4,694)

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Unrealized foreign currency translation income (loss)

 

118

 

 

(205)

Change in unrecognized pension costs

 

(342)

 

 

(653)

Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

(224)

 

 

(858)

Comprehensive loss

$

(1,626)

 

$

(5,552)

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

 

17


Table of ContentContents

 

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

December 31

2017

 

December 31

2016

In thousands, except share data

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

747

 

$

606

Accounts receivable, net

3,522

3,118

Inventories

 

2,164

 

 

1,893

Prepaids and other assets

 

1,539

671

Total current assets

 

7,972

 

 

6,288

Long-term assets:

Rental equipment, net

 

2,016

 

 

3,089

Property, plant and equipment, net

2,286

2,292

Goodwill

 

744

 

 

744

Restricted cash

1,162

612

Other assets

 

804

 

 

389

Total long-term assets

 

7,012

 

 

7,126

TOTAL ASSETS

$

14,984

 

$

13,414

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

2,778

$

1,493

Accrued liabilities

 

5,781

 

 

5,566

Current portion of long-term debt

4,029

2,984

Customer deposits

 

1,135

 

 

234

Total current liabilities

 

13,723

 

 

10,277

Long-term liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, less current portion

384

57

Long-term debt - related party

 

500

 

 

500

Forgivable loan

650

-

Deferred pension liability and other

 

3,638

 

 

3,856

Total long-term liabilities

 

5,172

 

 

4,413

Total liabilities

 

18,895

 

 

14,690

Stockholders' deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Stock Series A - $20 stated value -  416,500 shares authorized;
  shares issued and outstanding: 0 in 2017 and 2016

-

-

Preferred Stock Series B - $200 stated value -  51,000 shares authorized;
  shares issued and outstanding: 16,512 in 2017 and 2016
  (liquidation preference $3,346,000)

 

3,302

 

 

3,302

Common Stock - $0.001 par value -  10,000,000 shares authorized;
  shares issued: 2,190,011 in 2017 and 1,738,511 in 2016;
  shares outstanding: 2,162,171 in 2017 and 1,710,671 in 2016

2

2

Additional paid-in-capital

 

28,273

 

 

27,935

Accumulated deficit

(26,889)

(23,842)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(5,536)

 

 

(5,610)

Treasury stock - at cost - 27,840 common shares in 2017 and 2016

 

(3,063)

 

 

(3,063)

Total stockholders' deficit

 

(3,911)

 

 

(1,276)

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT

$

14,984

 

$

13,414

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

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Loss

Total

Stock-

holders'

Deficit

Preferred Stock

Add'l

Paid-in

Capital

Series A

Series B

Common Stock

Accumulated

Deficit

Treasury

Stock

In thousands, except share data

Shares

 

Amt

Shares

 

Amt

Shares

 

Amt

 

 

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance January 1, 2019

-

$

-

16,512

$

3,302

3,652,813

$

4

$

30,069

$

(31,682)

$

(6,394)

$

(3,063)

$

(7,764)

Net loss

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(1,402)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(1,402)

Preferred stock converted to Common Stock

-

-

(16,512)

(3,302)

1,651,200

1

3,301

-

-

-

-

Exercise of warrants, net of costs

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

5,670,103

 

 

6

 

 

5,292

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

5,298

Rights Offering, net of costs

-

-

-

-

2,500,000

2

2,426

-

-

-

2,428

Dividends paid on preferred stock

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(80)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(80)

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

Unrealized foreign currency translation gain

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

118

 

 

-

 

 

118

Change in unrecognized pension costs

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(342)

-

(342)

Balance December 31, 2019

-

 

$

-

-

 

$

-

13,474,116

 

$

13

 

$

41,088

 

$

(33,164)

 

$

(6,618)

 

$

(3,063)

 

$

(1,744)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance January 1, 2018

-

$

-

16,512

$

3,302

2,190,011

$

2

$

28,273

$

(26,889)

$

(5,536)

$

(3,063)

$

(3,911)

Net loss

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(4,694)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(4,694)

Dividends paid on preferred stock

-

-

-

-

127,013

-

-

(99)

-

-

(99)

Unilumin Securities Purchase Agreement

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

1,315,789

 

 

2

 

 

1,498

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

1,500

Stock issued to officer in 2018

-

-

-

-

20,000

-

10

-

-

-

10

Warrants issued for financing

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

 

 

288

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

288

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

Unrealized foreign currency translation loss

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(205)

 

 

-

 

 

(205)

Change in unrecognized pension costs

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(653)

-

(653)

Balance December 31, 2018

-

 

$

-

16,512

 

$

3,302

3,652,813

 

$

4

 

$

30,069

 

$

(31,682)

 

$

(6,394)

 

$

(3,063)

 

$

(7,764)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

18


Table of ContentContents

 

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Years Ended

 December 31

In thousands, except per share data

2017

 

2016

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Digital product sales

$

22,093

$

18,138

Digital product lease and maintenance

 

2,350

 

 

3,053

Total revenues

 

24,443

 

 

21,191

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues:

Cost of digital product sales

 

19,221

 

 

13,355

Cost of digital product lease and maintenance

 

1,490

 

 

2,032

Total cost of revenues

 

20,711

 

 

15,387

Gross profit

 

3,732

 

 

5,804

General and administrative expenses

 

(6,578)

 

 

(6,624)

Operating loss

 

(2,846)

 

 

(820)

Interest expense, net

(708)

(374)

Loss on foreign currency remeasurement

 

(178)

 

 

(45)

Gain on extinguishment of debt

-

462

Gain on sale/leaseback transaction

 

132

 

 

121

Warrant expense

 

-

(21)

Loss before income taxes

 

(3,600)

 

 

(677)

Income tax benefit

 

751

66

Net loss

$

(2,849)

 

$

(611)

 

 

Loss per share - basic and diluted

$

(1.78)

 

$

(0.47)

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

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Years Ended

December 31

In thousands

2017

 

2016

Net loss

$

 (2,849)

 

$

 (611)

Other comprehensive income (loss):

Unrealized foreign currency translation gain

 

169

 

 

56

Change in unrecognized pension costs

 

 (95)

(409)

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax

 

74

 

 

(353)

Comprehensive loss

$

 (2,775)

 

$

(964)

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

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended

December 31

In thousands

2019

 

2018

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(1,402)

$

(4,694)

Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
    operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

668

952

Amortization of right of use assets

 

373

 

 

-

Amortization of gain on sale/leaseback transaction

-

(11)

Amortization of deferred financing fees and debt discount

 

96

 

 

238

Loss on disposal of assets

32

-

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

193

 

 

-

Loss (gain) on foreign currency remeasurement

130

(225)

Issuance of common stock for compensation

 

-

 

 

10

Bad debt expense

(93)

1,550

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

(18)

(300)

Inventories

 

19

 

 

(37)

Prepaids and other assets

(73)

1,206

Accounts payable

 

(2,783)

 

 

950

Accrued liabilities

(254)

615

Operating lease liabilities

 

(369)

 

 

-

Customer deposits

(309)

(703)

Deferred pension liability and other

 

(547)

 

 

(619)

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(4,337)

 

 

(1,068)

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Equipment manufactured for rental

(44)

-

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

(377)

 

 

(140)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(421)

 

 

(140)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from long-term debt

-

1,000

Issuance of common stock

 

-

 

 

1,500

Proceeds from warrant exercise, net of costs

5,298

-

Proceeds from rights offering, net of costs

 

2,428

 

 

-

Payments of long-term debt

(3,037)

(1,483)

Payments of dividends on preferred stock

 

(80)

 

 

(99)

Payments for deferred financing fees

(25)

-

Payments for fees on extinguishment of debt

 

(62)

 

 

-

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

4,522

 

 

918

Effect of exchange rate changes

 

(2)

 

 

4

Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(238)

(286)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year

 

1,623

 

 

1,909

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

1,385

 

$

1,623

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

$

239

$

555

Income taxes paid

 

22

 

 

26

Supplemental non-cash financing activities:

Preferred Stock Series B converted to Common Stock

$

3,302

 

$

-

Warrants issued to SMI and SMII

-

288

Warrants issued to Unilumin

 

-

 

 

964

Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash to amounts
    reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at end of period:

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

535

$

723

Long-term assets

 

 

 

 

 

Restricted cash

 

850

 

 

900

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

$

1,385

 

$

1,623

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

 

19


Table of Content

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Loss

Total

Stock-

holders'

Deficit

Preferred Stock

Add'l

Paid-in

Capital

In thousands, except share data

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016

Series A

Series B

Common Stock

Accumulated

Deficit

Treasury

Stock

Shares

 

Amt

 

Shares

 

Amt

 

Shares

 

Amt

 

 

 

 

 

Balance January 1, 2016

 -

 

$

-

 

       16,512

 

$

3,302

 

         1,738,511

 

$

2

 

$

27,914

 

$

(23,054)

 

$

(5,257)

 

$

(3,063)

 

$

(156)

Net loss

 -

-

-

-

-

-

-

(611)

 

-

-

(611)

Dividends paid on preferred stock

 -

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(177)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(177)

Warrants issued to directors in 2013

 -

-

-

-

-

-

21

-

 

-

-

21

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized foreign currency translation gain

 -

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 

56

-

56

Change in unrecognized pension costs

 -

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(409)

 

 

-

 

 

(409)

Balance December 31, 2016

 -

-

       16,512

3,302

         1,738,511

2

27,935

(23,842)

 

(5,610)

(3,063)

(1,276)

Net loss

 -

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(2,849)

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(2,849)

Dividends paid on preferred stock

 -

-

-

-

-

-

-

(198)

 

-

-

(198)

Stock issued to directors/officers in 2017

 -

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

            451,500

 

 

-

 

 

338

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

338

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

 

Unrealized foreign currency translation gain

 -

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

169

 

 

-

 

 

169

Change in unrecognized pension costs

 -

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(95)

 

 

-

 

 

(95)

Balance December 31, 2017

 -

 

$

-

 

       16,512

 

$

3,302

 

         2,190,011

 

$

2

 

$

28,273

 

$

(26,889)

 

$

(5,536)

 

$

(3,063)

 

$

(3,911)

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

20


Table of Content

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

Years Ended

December 31

In thousands

2017

 

2016

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

$

(2,849)

$

(611)

Adjustment to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
    operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

1,301

1,774

Amortization of gain on sale/leaseback transaction

 

(132)

 

 

(121)

Amortization of deferred financing fees

93

72

Gain on extinguishment of debt

 

-

 

 

(462)

Loss on foreign currency remeasurement

178

45

Amortization of warrants - stock compensation expense

 

-

 

 

21

Bad debt expense

196

305

Issuance of common stock for compensation

 

338

 

 

-

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable, net

 

(600)

 

 

(528)

Inventories

(271)

(17)

Prepaids and other assets

 

(1,271)

 

 

(125)

Accounts payable

1,285

284

Accrued liabilities

 

127

 

 

(318)

Customer deposits

901

(19)

Deferred pension liability and other

 

(106)

 

 

(1,072)

Net cash used in operating activities

(810)

 

 

(772)

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from sale/leaseback transaction

-

1,100

Equipment manufactured for rental

 

(32)

 

 

(44)

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

(190)

(2,037)

Restricted cash

 

(550)

 

 

(397)

Net cash used in investing activities

(772)

 

 

(1,378)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from long-term debt

3,017

2,955

Proceeds from long-term debt - related parties

 

500

 

 

500

Proceeds from forgivable loan

650

-

Payments of long-term debt

 

(2,182)

 

 

(682)

Payments of dividends on preferred stock

(198)

(177)

Payments for deferred financing fees

 

(69)

 

 

(368)

Payments for fees on extinguishment of debt

-

(27)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

1,718

 

 

2,201

Effect of exchange rate changes

5

 

 

8

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

141

 

 

59

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

606

547

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

747

 

$

606

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Interest paid

$

536

 

$

232

Income taxes paid

 

23

 

 

23

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

21


Table of ContentContents

 

Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Trans-Lux Corporation is a leading designer and manufacturer of digital signage displays and LED lightingdisplay solutions.  The Company sells and leases its digital signage displays and LED lightingdisplay solutions.

 

Principles of consolidation:  The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Trans-Lux Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and all wholly-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”).  Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of estimates:  The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) 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 the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.  Estimates and assumptions are reviewed periodically and the effects of revisions are reflected in the financial statements in the period in which the change is determined.  Estimates are used when accounting for such items as costs of long-term sales contracts, allowance for uncollectible accounts, inventory valuation allowances, depreciation and amortization, valuation of pension obligations, valuation of warrants, income taxes, warranty reserve, management’s assessment of going concern, contingencies and litigation.

 

Cash and cash equivalents:  The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The Company has deposits in United States financial institutions that maintain Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) deposit insurance on all interest and non-interest-bearing accounts, collectively, with an aggregate coverage up to $250,000 per depositor per financial institution.  At times, the amount of the deposits exceeds the FDIC limits.  The portion of the deposits in excess of FDIC limits represents a credit risk of the Company.

 

Accounts receivable, netReceivablesAccounts receivable are carried at net realizable value.  Credit is extended based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition; collateral is generally not required.  Reserves for uncollectible accounts receivable are provided based on historical experience and current trends.  The Company evaluates the adequacy of these reserves regularly.


The following is a summary of the allowance for uncollectible accounts at December 31:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Balance at beginning of year

$

39

$

559

$

1,797

$

235

Provisions

196

305

(97)

     1,562

Write-offs

 

-

 

(825)

 

(957)

 

          -

Balance at end of year

$

235

 

$

39

$

743

 

$

1,797

 

Concentrations of credit risk with respect to accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers, the relatively small account balances within the majority of the Company’s customer base and their dispersion across different businesses.  At December 31, 2017, three2019, two customers accounted for 52.4%39.8% of the balance in Accounts receivable, net.  In 2017,2019, no customers accounted for at least 10% of our total revenues.  At December 31, 2018, one customer accounted for 23.2% of total revenues. We do not expect similar revenues from this customer in 2018, but we do expect similar revenues from the sale of similar products to similar customers in 2018. At December 31, 2016, one customer accounted for 17.2%18.0% of the balance in Accounts receivable, net.  In 2016, there were2018, no customers that accounted for at least 10% of our total revenues.

 

Inventories:  Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or net realizable value.  Valuation allowances for slow-moving and obsolete inventories are provided based on historical experience and demand for servicing of the displays.  The Company evaluates the adequacy of these valuation allowances regularly.

 

Rental equipment and property, plant and equipment, net:  Rental equipment and property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over their respective useful lives using the straight-line method.  Leaseholds and improvements are amortized over the lesser of the useful lives or term of the lease.  Repairs and maintenance costs related to rental equipment and property, plant and equipment are expensed in the period incurred.

 

The estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

 

Years

Indoor rental equipment

10

Outdoor rental equipment

15

Machinery, fixtures and equipment

5 – 15

Leaseholds and improvements

7

 

When rental equipment and property, plant and equipment are fully depreciated, retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation are eliminated from the accounts.  Any gains or losses on disposals are recorded in the period incurred.

 

Goodwill:  Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the estimated fair value of net assets acquired.  The goodwill of $744,000 relates to the Digital product sales segment.

 

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The Company annually evaluates the value of its goodwill on October 1 and determines if it is impaired by comparing the carrying value of goodwill to its estimated fair value.  Changes in the assumptions used could materially impact the fair value estimates.  Assumptions critical to our fair value estimates are: (i) discount rate used to derive the present value factors used in determining the fair value of the reporting unit, (ii) projected average revenue growth rates used in the reporting unit models and (iii) projected long-term growth rates used in the derivation of terminal year values.  These and other assumptions are impacted by economic conditions and expectations of management and will change in the future based on period-specific facts and circumstances.  The Company uses the income and the market approach when testing for goodwill impairment.  The Company weighs these approaches by using a 67% factor for the income approach and a 33% factor for the market approach.  Together these two factors estimate the fair value of the reporting unit.  The Company uses a discounted cash flow model to determine the fair value under the income approach which contemplates a conservative overall weighted average revenue growth rate.  If the Company were to reduce its revenue projections on the reporting unit by 9.4%5.5% within the income approach, the fair value of the reporting unit would be below carrying value.  The gross profit margins used are consistent with historical margins achieved by the Company during previous years.  If there is a margin decline of 7.3%6.7% or more, the model would yield results of a fair value less than carrying amount.  The Company uses a market multiple approach based on revenue to determine the fair value under the market approach which includes a selection of and market price of a group of comparable companies and the performance of the guidelines of the comparable companies and of the reporting unit.  The impairment test for goodwill is a two-step process.  The first step of the goodwill impairment test compares the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount.  If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, a second step is performed to calculate the implied fair value of the goodwill of the reporting unit by deducting the fair value of all of the individual assets and liabilities of the reporting unit from the respective fair values of the reporting unit as a whole.  To the extent the calculated implied fair value of the goodwill is less than the recorded goodwill, an impairment charge is recorded for the difference.  Fair value is determined using cash flow and other valuation models (generally Level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy described in Note 34 – Fair Value).  There was no impairment of goodwill in 20172019 or 2016.2018.

 

Impairment or disposal of long-lived assets:  The Company evaluates whether there has been an impairment in value of its long-lived assets if certain circumstances indicate that a possible impairment may exist.  An impairment in value may exist when the carrying value of a long-lived asset exceeds its undiscounted cash flows.  If it is determined that an impairment in value has occurred, the carrying value is written down to its fair value as determined by a discounted cash flow model.  There were no impairments of long-lived assets in 20172019 or 2016.2018.

 

Restricted cash:  The Company classifies cash as restricted when the cash is unavailable for withdrawal or usage for general operations.  Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits, contracts entered into with others, or the Company’s statements of intention with regard to particular deposits.  In May 2017, theThe Company deposited $650,000had Restricted cash in a savings account as collateral2019 and 2018 for a letterletters of credit in favor ofconnection with the City of Hazelwood, Missouri as collateral forforgivable loan ($650,000 in 2019 and 2018) and security deposits ($200,000 in 2019 and $250,000 in 2018).  During 2019, a forgivable loan.  In July 2016, the Company deposited $400,000 in a savings account as collateral for a letter of credit in favor of the landlord at its Hazelwood, Missouri manufacturing facility as a security deposit.  In October 2017, the security deposit was reduced by $100,000 to $300,000, and the related letter of credit was also reduced.  In July 2014, the Company deposited $212,000 in a savings account as collateral for a letter of credit in favor of the landlord at its former New York headquarters as a security deposit.  The lease expired on November 29, 2017 and the related letter of credit was released on February 9, 2018.$50,000.  The Company has presented these funds in Restricted cash in the Consolidated Balance Sheets since the use of the funds under the letters of credit is restricted.

 

Shipping Costs:  The costs of shipping product to our customers of $614,000$436,000 and $610,000$487,000 in 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively, are included in Cost of digital product sales.

Advertising/Marketing Costs:  The Company expenses the costs of advertising and marketing at the time that the related advertising takes place.  Advertising and marketing costs of $401,000$43,000 and $147,000$174,000 in 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively, are included in General and administrative expenses.

 

Revenue recognitionRevenues from equipment lease and maintenance contracts are recognized during the term of the respective agreements, which generally run for periods of one month to 10 years.  At December 31, 2017, the future minimum lease payments due to the Company under operating leases that expire at varying dates through 2028 for its rental equipment and maintenance contracts, assuming no renewals of existing leases or any new leases, aggregating $4,947,000 are as follows:  $1,744,000See Note 32018, $1,146,000 – 2019, $947,000 – 2020, $342,000 – 2021, $188,000 – 2022 and $580,000 thereafter.

Revenues on equipment sales with long-term receivables are recorded on the installment basis.  At December 31, 2017, the future accounts receivables due to the Company under installment sales agreements aggregated $25,000 through 2018.  Revenues on equipment sales, other than long-term equipment sales contracts, are recognized upon shipment when title and risk of loss passes to the customer.

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Table of ContentRevenue Recognition.

 

Warranty reserve:  The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties at the time revenue is recognized.  While the Company engages in product quality programs and processes, including evaluating the quality of the component suppliers, the warranty obligation is affected by product failure rates.  Should actual product failure rates differ from the Company’s estimates, revisions to increase or decrease the estimated warranty liability may be required.

 

Taxes on income:  Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are established for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities at tax rates expected to be in effect when such temporary differences are expected to reverse and for operating loss carryforwards.  The temporary differences are primarily attributable to operating loss carryforwards, depreciation and the pension plan.  The Company records a valuation allowance against net deferred income tax assets if, based upon the available evidence, it is more-likely-than-not that the deferred income tax assets will not be realized.

 

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The Company considers whether it is more-likely-than-not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position.  Once it is determined that a position meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the position is measured to determine the amount of benefit to recognize in the financial statements.  The Company’s policy is to classify interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense.  To date, there have been no interest or penalties charged to the Company in relation to the underpayment of income taxes.  The Company’s determinations regarding uncertain income tax positions may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based upon factors including, but not limited to, an ongoing analysis of tax laws, regulations and interpretations thereof.

 

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJ Act”) was enacted.  Effective January 1, 2018, the legislation significantly changed U.S. tax law by lowering the federal corporate tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%, modifying the foreign earnings deferral provisions, and imposing a one-time toll charge on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017.  Effective for 2018 and forward, there are additional changes including changes to refundable AMT credits, bonus depreciation, the deduction for executive compensation and interest expense.  As of December 31, 2017, two provisions affecting the financial statements are the refundable AMT credits and the one-time toll charge.  The change in tax rate which would affect the value of deferred tax assets in the amount of $1.7 million does not affect the financial statements since those assets have had a valuation reserve established for several years.  Since the toll charge on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries is effective for the tax year ending in 2017, the company has included a deemed dividend in taxable income of $3.3 million for the tax year ending December 31, 2017.  The tax cost has been offset by net operating loss carryforwards.  The deferred refundable AMT credits amounting to $0.7 million, which are now fully refundable, have been included for the tax year ending December 31, 2017.  See Note 8 – Taxes on Income for further details.

Foreign currency:  The functional currency of the Company’s Canadian business operation is the Canadian dollar.  The assets and liabilities of such operation are translated into U.S. dollars at the year-end rate of exchange, and the operating and cash flow statements are converted at the average annual rate of exchange.  The resulting translation adjustment is recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and as a separate item in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss.  In relation to intercompany balances, these have been classified as short-term in nature and therefore the changes in the foreign currency remeasurement adjustment for intercompany balances are recorded as Loss(Loss) gain on foreign currency remeasurement in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Share-based compensation plans:  The Company measures share-based payments to employees, directors and directorsnon-employees at the grant date fair value of the instrument.  The fair value is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model, which requires various assumptions including estimating stock price volatility, expected life of the stock option,instrument, estimated forfeiture rate and risk free interest rate.  For details on the accounting effect of share-based compensation, see Note 1416 – Share-Based Compensation.

 

Consideration of Subsequent Events:  The Company evaluated events and transactions occurring after December 31, 20172019 through the date these Consolidated Financial Statements were included in this Form 10-K and filed with the SEC, to identify subsequent events which may need to be recognized or non-recognizable events which would need to be disclosed.

 

RecentThe following new accounting pronouncements:pronouncements were adopted in 2019:

In February 2018,2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income2016-02, Leases (Topic 220)842)Under ASU 2018-02 provides companies2016-02, a company must recognize for all leases (with the exception of leases with terms of 12 months or less) a lease liability representing a lessee's obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease and a right of use (“ROU”) asset representing the lessee's right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term.  A lessee should recognize in the statement of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and an optionROU asset representing its right to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”)use the underlying asset for the lease term.  For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities, which the Company has so elected. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach.  In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provided an additional (and optional) transition method to adopt the new leases standard whereby an entity initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in eachthe period of adoption.  The Company adopted this standard effective January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method in which the effectperiod of adoption.  The adoption of the changestandard had a material impact to our Consolidated Balance Sheets for the recognition of certain operating leases as ROU assets of $1,463,000, long-term lease liabilities of $1,127,000 and current lease liabilities of $368,000, but did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Statements of Operations, Comprehensive Loss, Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit or Cash Flows.  We have analyzed our leases, implemented systems, developed processes and internal controls and updated our accounting policies to comply with the standard's adoption requirements.  The Company's rental revenue agreements were accounted for under previous lease accounting standards through December 31, 2018 and are accounted for within the scope of Topic 842 following our adoption on January 1, 2019.  Topic 842 does not significantly affect the timing of recognition or presentation of revenue for our rental contracts.  See Note 13 – Leases for further details.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting.  ASU 2018-07 eliminates the separate accounting model for nonemployee share-based payment awards and generally requires companies to account for share-based payment transactions with nonemployees in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate insame way as share-based payment transactions with employees.  The accounting remains different for attribution, which represents how the TCJ Act (or portion thereof)equity-based payment cost is recorded.recognized over the vesting period, and a contractual term election for valuing nonemployee equity share options.  As required by this standard, the Company adopted ASU 2018-02 also requires disclosure of a description of the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI and whether an election was made to reclassify the stranded income tax effects from the TCJ Act.  Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2018-02 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years (i.e.,2018-07 on January 1, 2019), early application is permitted.2019. The Company is in the process of evaluating this pronouncement but has not yet determined the effect of the adoption of this standard on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

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In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715).  ASU 2017-07 improves the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost.  Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2017-07 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years (i.e., January 1, 2018), early application is permitted.  The Company doesdid not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

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Table of Contents


The following new accounting pronouncements, and related impacts on adoption, are being evaluated by the Company:

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other (Topic 350).  ASU 2017-04 simplifies the test for goodwill impairment.  Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2017-04 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years (i.e., January 1, 2020), early application is permitted.  The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

In November 2016,August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18,2018-14, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Defined Benefit Plans – General (Subtopic 715-20).  ASU 2016-182018-14 modifies the presentation of Restricted Cash on the Statement of Cash Flows.disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans.  Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2016-182018-14 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017,2020, including interim periods within those fiscal years (i.e., January 1, 2018), early2021).  Early application is permitted.  The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).  ASU 2016-02 requires that2. Liquidity

The Company has incurred recurring losses and has a lessee recognize the assetsworking capital deficiency.  The Company incurred a net loss of $1.4 million in 2019 and liabilities that arise from operating leases.  A lessee should recognize in the statementhad a working capital deficiency of financial position a liability to make lease payments (the lease liability) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term.  For leases with a term$3.1 million as of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach.  Public business entities should apply the amendments in ASU 2016-02 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years (i.e., January 1, 2019), early application is permitted.  31, 2019.

The Company is dependent on future operating performance in order to generate sufficient cash flows in order to continue to run its businesses.  Future operating performance is dependent on general economic conditions, as well as financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control.  In order to more effectively manage its cash resources, the processCompany had, from time to time, increased the timetable of evaluating this pronouncement but has not yet determined the effectits payment of the adoptionsome of this standard on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations.its payables, which delayed certain product deliveries from our vendors, which in turn delayed certain deliveries to our customers.

 

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, which defers the effective date of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) by one year.  As a result, the ASU is now effective for fiscal years,March and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017, which forApril 2019, the Company isreceived aggregate proceeds of $8.0 million from (i) a rights offering to current shareholders under which the first quartershareholders could purchase shares of 2018.  Earlier application is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016,our Common Stock at an exercise price of $1.00 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $2.5 million (the “Rights Offering”) and (ii) the exercise of the $5.5 million warrant (the “Unilumin Warrant”) issued to Unilumin North America Inc. (“Unilumin”)  Of these proceeds, a portion was used to satisfy outstanding obligations including interim reporting periods within those years, which forcertain long-term debt, certain payables, certain accrued liabilities and pension obligations.  On September 16, 2019, the Company isentered into a Loan and Security Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with MidCap Business Credit LLC (“MidCap”) as lender.  The Loan Agreement allows the first quarterCompany to borrow up to an aggregate of 2017.

This new accounting standard will replace most current GAAP guidance$4.0 million on this topica revolving credit loan based on accounts receivable, inventory and eliminate most industry-specific guidance.  The new revenue recognition standard provides a unified model to determine when and how revenue is recognized.  The core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transferequipment for general working capital purposes.  A stockholder of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration for which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  Entities may adopt the new standard either retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements (the full retrospective method) or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption (modified retrospective method) in the year of adoption without applying to comparative periods financial statements.

The Company will adopt the guidance for the annual reporting period beginning on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method. The Company has evaluated and continues to evaluate the impact of the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a monetarily material impact on the Company’s financial position and results of operations other than the need for increased disclosure.

Reclassifications:  Certain reclassifications of prior years’ amounts have been made to conform to the current year’s presentation. In 2016, Customer deposits were included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Table of Content

2.  Going Concern

A fundamental principle of the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP is the assumption that an entity will continue in existence as a going concern, which contemplates continuity of operations and the realization of assets and settlement of liabilities occurring in the ordinary course of business.  This principle is applicable to all entities except for entities in liquidation or entities for which liquidation appears imminent.  In accordance with this requirement, the Company has prepared its accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements assumingcommitted to providing additional capital up to $2.0 million through December 31, 2020, to the Company will continue as a going concern.extent necessary to fund operations.

 

We do not have adequate liquidity, including accessManagement believes that its current cash resources and cash provided by operations will be sufficient to the debtfund its anticipated current and equity capital markets, to operate our business over the next 12 monthsnear-term cash requirements within one year from the date of issuance of this Form 10-K.  The Company incurredcontinually evaluates the need and availability of long-term capital in order to meet its cash requirements and fund potential new opportunities.

3. Revenue Recognition

Under the revenue recognition guidance provided by ASU 2014-09, revenue is recognized when a net losscustomer obtains control of $2.8 millionpromised goods or services in 2017an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services.  To determine revenue recognition for arrangements that an entity determines are within the scope of this standard, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and had(v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a working capital deficiencyperformance obligation.  The Company only applies the five-step model to contracts when it is probable that the entity will collect the consideration it is entitled to in exchange for the goods or services it transfers to the customer.  At contract inception, once the contract is determined to be within the scope of $5.8 millionthis standard, the Company assesses the goods or services promised within each contract and determines those that are performance obligations and assesses whether each promised good or service is distinct.  The Company then recognizes as revenue the amount of the transaction price that is allocated to the respective performance obligation when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.  Sales tax, value added tax and other taxes collected on behalf of third parties are excluded from revenue.

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Table of Contents

Contracts with customers may contain multiple performance obligations.  For such arrangements, the transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised products or services underlying each performance obligation.  The Company determines standalone selling prices based on the price at which the performance obligation is sold separately.  If the standalone selling price is not observable through past transactions, the Company estimates the standalone selling price taking into account available information such as market conditions and internally approved pricing guidelines related to the performance obligations.

When determining the transaction price of a contract, an adjustment is made if payment from a customer occurs either significantly before or significantly after performance, resulting in a significant financing component.  Applying the practical expedient in paragraph 606-10-32-18, the Company does not assess whether a significant financing component exists if the period between when the Company performs its obligations under the contract and when the customer pays is one year or less.  None of the Company’s contracts contained a significant financing component as of December 31, 2017.2019.

In March 2016, the FASB issued updated lease accounting guidance ("Topic 842"), as explained further in Note 9 – Leases.  We adopted Topic 842 on January 1, 2019.  Topic 842 is an update to Topic 840, which was the lease accounting standard in place through December 31, 2018.  There were no significant changes to our revenue accounting upon adoption of Topic 842.

We recognize revenue in accordance with two different accounting standards: 1) Topic 606 and 2) Topic 842.  Under Topic 606, revenue from contracts with customers is measured based on the consideration specified in the contract with the customer, and excludes any sales incentives and amounts collected on behalf of third parties.  A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to a customer, and is the unit of account under Topic 606.  Our contracts with customers generally do not include multiple performance obligations.  We recognize revenue when we satisfy a performance obligation by transferring control over a product or service to a customer. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for such products or services.

Disaggregated Revenues

The following table represents a disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, along with the reportable segment for each category:

In thousands

2019

 

2018

Digital product sales:

 

 

 

 

 

Catalog and small
   customized products

$

13,322

 

$

10,958

Large customized
   products

 

1,388

 

 

1,000

Subtotal

 

14,710

 

 

11,958

Digital product lease and
    maintenance:

 

 

 

 

 

Operating leases

 

1,215

 

 

1,413

Maintenance agreements

 

1,110

 

 

1,028

Subtotal

 

2,325

 

 

2,441

Total

$

17,035

 

$

14,399

Performance Obligations

The Company has two primary revenue streams which are Digital product sales and Digital product lease and maintenance.

Digital Product Sales

The Company recognizes net revenue on digital product sales to its distribution partners and to end users related to digital display solutions and fixed digit scoreboards.  For the Company’s catalog products, revenue is generally recognized when the customer obtains control of the Company’s product, which occurs at a point in time, and may be upon shipment or upon delivery based on the contractual shipping terms of a contract.  For the Company’s customized products, revenue is either recognized at a point in time or over time depending on the size of the contract.  For those customized product contracts that are smaller in size, revenue is generally recognized when the customer obtains control of the Company’s product, which occurs at a point in time, and may be upon shipment or upon delivery based on the contractual shipping terms of a contract.  For those customized product contracts that are larger in size, revenue is recognized over time based on incurred costs as compared to projected costs using the input method, as this best reflects the Company’s progress in transferring control of the customized product to the customer.  The Company may also contract with a customer to perform installation services of digital display products.  Similar to the larger customized products, the Company recognizes the revenue associated with installation services using the input method, whereby the basis is the total contract costs incurred to date compared to the total expected costs to be incurred.

Revenue on sales to distribution partners are recorded net of prompt-pay discounts, if offered, and other deductions.  To the extent the transaction price includes variable consideration, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing the most likely amount method to which the Company expects to be entitled.  In the case of prompt-pay discounts, there are only two possible outcomes: either the customer pays on-time or does not.  Variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur.  Determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of the Company’s anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available.  The Company believes that the estimates it has established are reasonable based upon current facts and circumstances.  Applying different judgments to the same facts and circumstances could result in the estimated amounts to vary.  The Company offers an assurance-type warranty that the digital display products will conform to the published specifications.  Returns may only be made subject to this warranty and not for convenience.

Digital Product Lease and Maintenance

Lease and maintenance contracts generally run for periods of one month to 10 years.  A contract entered into by the Company with a customer may contain both lease and maintenance services (either or both services may be agreed upon based on the individual customer contract).  Maintenance services may consist of providing labor, parts and software maintenance as may be required to maintain the customer’s equipment in proper operating condition at the customer’s service location.  The Company concluded the lease and maintenance services represent a series of distinct services and the most representative method for measuring progress towards satisfying the performance obligation of these services is the input method.  Additionally, maintenance services require the Company to “stand ready” to provide support to the customer when and if needed.  As such, there is substantial doubt aboutno discernable pattern of efforts other than evenly over the lease and maintenance terms, the Company will recognize revenue straight-line over the lease and maintenance terms of service.

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The Company has an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date, as evidenced by the requirement that the customer pay upfront for each month of services. Lease and maintenance service amounts billed ahead of revenue recognition are recorded in deferred revenue and are included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Contract Balances with Customers

Contract assets primarily relate to rights to consideration for goods or services transferred to the customer when the right is conditional on something other than the passage of time.  The contract assets are transferred to the receivables when the rights become unconditional.  As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had no contract assets.  The contract liabilities primarily relate to the advance consideration received from customers for contracts prior to the transfer of control to the customer and therefore revenue is recognized on completion of delivery.  Contract liabilities are classified as deferred revenue and included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The following table presents the balances in the Company’s ability to continuereceivables and contract liabilities with customers as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:

In thousands

 

2019

2018

Gross receivables

$

3,124

 

$

4,067

Allowance for bad debts

 

743

 

 

1,796

Net receivables

 

2,381

 

 

2,271

Contract liabilities

 

230

 

 

465

During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized bad debt recovery (expense) of $97,000 and ($1.6 million), respectively.


During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized the following revenues as a going concernresult of changes in the contract asset and the contract liability balances in the period:

In thousands

 

2019

 

2018

Revenue recognized in the period from:

 

 

 

 

Amounts included in the contract liability

  at the beginning of the period

$

392

$

891

Performance obligations satisfied in

   previous periods (for example, due to

   changes in transaction price)

 

-

 

-

Transaction Price Allocated to Future Performance Obligations – alternative more qualitative presentation

Remaining performance obligations represents the transaction price of contracts for which work has not been performed (or has been partially performed).  The guidance provides certain practical expedients that limit this requirement and, therefore, the Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which revenue is recognized at the amount to which the Company has the right to invoice for services performed.  As of December 31, 2019, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations for digital product sales was $843,000 and digital product lease and maintenance was $3.3 million.

The Company expects to recognize revenue on approximately 59%, 20% and 21% of the remaining performance obligations over the next 12 months, from13 to 36 months and 37 or more months, respectively.

Costs to Obtain or Fulfill a Customer Contract

Prior to the dateadoption of issuance of this Form 10-K.  In addition,ASU 2014-9, the Company is obligatedexpensed incremental commissions paid to repaysales representatives for obtaining customer contracts.  Under ASU 2014-9, the balanceCompany currently capitalizes these incremental costs of obtaining customer contracts.  Capitalized commissions are amortized based on the transfer of the revolving credit line ($2.7 million as of December 31, 2017) andproducts or services to which the balloon payment onassets relate.  Applying the term loan of $490,000 owed under the Credit Agreement, as hereinafter defined,practical expedient in July 2019.  As a result, our short-term business focus has been to preserve our liquidity position.  Unless we are successful in obtaining additional liquidity, we believe that we will not have sufficient cash and liquid assets to fund normal operations for the next 12 months from the date of issuance of this Form 10-K.  In addition, the Company’s obligations under its pension plan exceeded plan assets by $4.2 million at December 31, 2017 andparagraph 340-40-25-4, the Company has a significant amount due to its pension plan overrecognizes the next 12 months.  The Company is in default on its 8¼% Limited convertible senior subordinated notes due 2012 (the "Notes") and 9½% Subordinated debentures due 2012 (the "Debentures"), which have remaining principal balancesincremental costs of $387,000 and $220,000, respectively.  As a result,obtaining contracts as an expense when incurred if the Company is unable to (i) obtain additional liquidity for working capital, (ii) make the required minimum funding contributions to the defined benefit pension plan, (iii) make the required principal and interest payments on the Notes and the Debentures and/or (iv) repay our obligations under our Credit Agreement with CNH Finance Fund I, L.P. (“CNH”) (formerly known as SCM Specialty Finance Opportunities Fund, L.P.), there would be a significant adverse impact on the financial position and operating resultsamortization period of the Company.  The accompanying financial statements do not include any adjustments relating toassets that the recoverabilityCompany otherwise would have recognized is one year or less.  These costs are included in General and classificationadministrative expenses.

25


Table of asset carrying amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty.  See Note 11 - Long-Term Debt for further details.Contents

 

The Company accounts for shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers as costs to fulfill the promise to transfer the associated products.  When shipping and handling costs are incurred after a customer obtains control of the products, the Company also has elected to account for these as costs to fulfill the promise and not as a separate performance obligation.  Shipping and handling costs associated with the distribution of finished products to customers are recorded in costs of goods sold and are recognized when the related finished product is seeking additional financing in order to provide enough cash to cover our remaining current fixed cash obligations as well as providing working capital.  However, there can be no assurance asshipped to the amounts, if any, the Company will receive in any additional financings or the terms thereof and the Company has no commitments, agreements or understandings with respect to any equity or debt financing.  To the extent the Company issues additional equity securities, it could be dilutive to existing shareholders.customer.

 

3.4.  Fair Value

 

The Company carries its money market funds andthe cash surrender value of life insurance related to its deferred compensation arrangements at fair value.  Under ASC 820, the fair value of all assets and liabilities is determined using a three-tier fair value hierarchy.

 

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels as follows:

 

  • Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology based on unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date.

  • Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology that include quoted market prices that are not considered to be active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

  • Level 3 – Inputs to the valuation methodology that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

 

Based on this hierarchy, the Company determined the fair value of its money market funds using quoted market prices, a Level 1 or an observable input, and the cash surrender value of life insurance, a Level 2 based on observable inputs primarily from the counter party.  The Company’s money market funds and the cash surrender value of life insurance had a carrying amountsamount of $1,000 and $55,000 respectively, at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, and areis included in Cash and cash equivalents and Other assets respectively, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short maturities of these items.  The fair value of the Company’s Notes,8¼% Limited convertible senior subordinated notes due 2012 (the “Notes”), using observable inputs, was $70,000 at December 31, 2019 and $77,000 at December 31, 2017 and 2016.2018.  The fair value of the Company’s Debentures,9½% Subordinated debentures due 2012 (the “Debentures”), using observable inputs, was $44,000 at December 31, 20172019 and 2016.2018.  The fair value of the Company’s remaining long-term debt including current portion approximates its carrying value of $4.5$1.7 million at December 31, 20172019 and $3.2$4.7 million at December 31, 2016.2018.

26


Table of Content

4.5.  Inventories

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Raw materials

$

1,204

$

1,245

$

1,393

$

1,178

Work-in-progress

704

410

512

626

Finished goods

 

256

 

 

238

 

277

 

 

397

Total inventory

$

2,164

 

$

1,893

$

2,182

 

$

2,201

 

5.6.  Rental Equipment, net

 

Rental equipment consists of the following:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

Rental equipment

$

10,425

$

15,354

Less accumulated depreciation

 

8,409

 

 

12,265

Net rental equipment

$

2,016

 

$

3,089

The Company entered into a Master Agreement for Sale and Assignment of Leases with AXIS Capital, Inc. (the “Assignment Agreement”) and financed the future receivables relating to certain lease contracts.  A security interest was granted on the rental equipment underlying the lease contract receivables sold to AXIS Capital, Inc. by the Company pursuant to the Assignment Agreement.

In thousands

2019

 

2018

Rental equipment

$

4,291

$

7,109

Less accumulated depreciation

 

3,364

 

 

5,799

Net rental equipment

$

927

 

$

1,310

 

During 2017, $5.02019, $2.9 million of fully depreciated rental equipment was written off.  Depreciation expense for rental equipment for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 was $1.1 million$427,000 and $1.6 million,$706,000, respectively.

 

6.7.  Property, Plant and Equipment, net

 

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Machinery, fixtures and equipment

$

2,972

$

2,839

$

2,884

$

2,691

Leaseholds and improvements

12

25

23

12

 

2,984

 

 

2,864

 

2,907

 

 

2,703

Less accumulated depreciation

 

698

 

 

572

 

623

 

 

523

Net property, plant and equipment

$

2,286

 

$

2,292

$

2,284

 

$

2,180

 

Equipment having a net book valuevalues of $2.3 million and $2.2 million at December 31, 20172019 and 20162018, respectively, are pledged as collateral under various financing agreements.

 

On February 1, 2016, the Company sold its Des Moines, Iowa facility for $1.1 million in a sale/leaseback transaction.  The lease is for a two year period at an annual rental of $158,000.  As a result of the sale, the remaining $329,000 mortgage was paid in full.  Net proceeds of $661,000 were received after paying off the related mortgage.  The Company calculated a gain of $267,000, which is being recognized over the 24 month term of the lease.  The Company recognized $132,000During 2019 and $121,000 of the gain in the years ended December 31, 20172018, $76,000 and 2016, respectively.

During 2017 and 2016, $70,000 and $36,000,$421,000, respectively, of fully depreciated property, plant and equipment was written off.  Depreciation expense for property, plant and equipment for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 was $196,000$241,000 and $137,000,$246,000, respectively.

 

7.8.  Other Assets

 

Other assets consist of the following:

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Refundable alternative minimum tax

(“AMT”) credits

$

611

$

-

Refundable AMT credits

$

275

$

592

Prepaids

121

109

55

55

Deposits

 

72

 

 

255

 

73

 

 

73

Long-term receivables

 

-

 

 

25

Total other assets

$

804

 

$

389

$

403

 

$

720

 

8.  Taxes on Income

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJ Act”) was enacted.  Effective January 1, 2018, the legislation significantly changed U.S. tax law by lowering the federal corporate tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%, modifying the foreign earnings deferral provisions, and imposing a one-time toll charge on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017.  Effective for 2018 and forward, there are additional changes including changes to refundable AMT credits, bonus depreciation, the deduction for executive compensation and interest expense.  As of December 31, 2017, two provisions affecting the financial statements are the refundable AMT credits and the one-time toll charge.  The change in tax rate which would affect the value of deferred tax assets in the amount of $1.7 million would be offset by a change in the valuation reserve.  Since the toll charge on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries is effective for the tax year ending in 2017, the Company has included a deemed dividend in taxable income of $3.3 million for the tax year ending December 31, 2017.  The tax cost has been offset by net operating loss carryforwards.  The deferred refundable AMT credits amounting to $777,000, which are now fully refundable, have been included for the tax year ending December 31, 2017.

The SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, which provides the Company with up to one year to finalize accounting for the impacts of the TCJ Act.  When the initial accounting for U.S Tax Reform impacts is incomplete, the Company may include provisional amounts when reasonable estimates can be made or continue to apply the prior tax law if a reasonable estimate cannot be made.  The Company has estimated the provisional tax impacts related to the toll charge and as result, the Company recognized a net tax expense of approximately $712,000 ($513,000 for Federal and $199,000 for State) offset by NOL's.  It has also recognized a tax benefit of $777,000 for fully refundable AMT credits.  The final impact may differ from this and other provisional amounts due to gathering additional information to more precisely compute the amount of tax, additional regulatory guidance that may be issued, and changes in interpretations and assumptions.  The Company expects to finalize accounting for the impacts of the TCJ Act during 2018.

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9.  Taxes on Income

 

The components of income tax benefitexpense are as follows:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Current:

Federal

$

(777)

$

(89)

$

-

$

-

State and local

-

-

25

25

Foreign

 

26

 

 

23

 

16

 

 

22

$

(751)

 

$

(66)

$

41

 

$

47

Deferred:

Federal

$

-

$

-

$

-

$

-

State and local

 

-

 

 

      -

 

-

 

 

      -

 

        -

 

 

      -

 

        -

 

 

      -

Income tax benefit

$

(751)

 

$

(66)

Income tax expense

$

41

 

$

47

 

Loss before income taxes from the United States operations was $3.5$1.2 million and $0.6$4.5 million for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively.  (Loss) incomeLoss before income taxes from Canada was $(0.1)$0.2 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively.

 

The effective income tax rate differed from the expected federal statutory income tax benefit rate of 34.0%21.0% as follows:

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Statutory federal income tax benefit rate

34.0

%

34.0

%

 

   21.0 %

 

 

  21.0 %

State income taxes, net of federal benefit

     2.5

    4.2

Deemed dividend tax of deferred foreign income under the TCJ Act

Deemed dividend tax of deferred foreign income

 

-

 

 

    0.5

Foreign income taxed at different rates

(1.9)

 

 

0.7

Deferred tax asset remeasured under the TCJ Act

(48.6)

 

 

-

 

    (3.6)

   (1.1)

Deferred tax asset valuation allowance

30.6

 

 

(29.4)

 

 

 285.5

 

 

(22.6)

Section 382 adjustment to deferred net operating loss

(309.3)

-

Other

(0.6)

 

 

1.3

 

 

     0.9

 

 

  (3.0)

Effective income tax benefit rate

20.9

%

 

9.7

%

Effective income tax benefit (expense) rate

 

   (3.0) %

 

 

(1.0)%


Deferred income taxes reflect the net effect of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.  Significant components of the Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities are as follows:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Deferred income tax asset:

 

 

 

 

 

Tax credit carryforwards

$

30

$

808

$

-

$

30

Operating loss carryforwards

4,663

6,533

 

1,487

 

 

5,347

Net pension costs

2,499

2,225

2,210

2,357

Accruals

(3)

240

 

-

 

 

(3)

Allowance for bad debts

45

(10)

182

467

Other

302

438

 

148

 

 

302

Valuation allowance

 

(6,405)

 

 

(8,318)

 

(3,563)

 

 

(7,447)

 

1,131

 

 

1,916

 

464

 

 

1,053

Deferred income tax liability:

Depreciation

559

1,071

 

345

 

 

425

Other

 

572

 

 

845

 

119

 

 

628

 

1,131

 

 

1,916

 

464

 

 

1,053

Net deferred income taxes

$

-

 

$

-

$

-

 

$

-

 

Operating tax loss carryforwards primarily relate to U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $16.5$4.9 million, which beginbegan to expire in 2019.  The operating loss carryforwards have been limited by a changechanges in ownership of the Company in 2012 and 2019 as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.  ThisThe change in ownership as of June 26, 2012 had limited our operating loss carryforwards at that pointtime to $295,000 per year aggregating $5.9 million.  LossesThe change in subsequent yearsownership as of April 10, 2019 limited our operating loss carryforwards at that time to $148,000 per year aggregating $3.0 million.  Subsequent losses in 2019 have increased the operating loss carryforwards.

 

A valuation allowance has been established for the amount of deferred income tax assets as management has concluded that it is more-likely-than-not that the benefits from such assets will not be realized.

 

The Company’s determinations regarding uncertain income tax positions may be subject to review and adjustment at a later date based upon factors including, but not limited to, an ongoing analysis of tax laws, regulations and interpretations thereof.  The Company does not have any material uncertain tax positions in 20172019 and 2016.2018.

 

The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax in multiple state and local jurisdictions and Canadian federal and provincial income tax.  Currently, no federal, state or provincial income tax returns are under examination.

 

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9.10.  Accrued Liabilities

 

Accrued liabilities consist of the following:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Directors fees

$

1,007

$

844

$

1,202

 

$

1,148

Taxes payable

1,114

1,083

Interest payable

 

875

 

 

731

Deferred revenues

1,003

681

787

1,000

Taxes payable

972

583

Current portion of pension liability

(see Note 15 – Pension Plan)

 

641

 

 

623

Warranty reserve

430

405

Compensation and employee benefits

596

590

 

336

 

 

636

Current portion of pension liability

(see Note 13)

576

660

Interest payable

498

408

Warranty reserve

322

303

Audit fees

165

135

122

148

Accrued manufacturing equipment cost

 

-

 

590

Other

 

642

 

 

772

 

539

 

 

558

$

5,781

 

$

5,566

$

6,046

 

$

6,332

 

A summary of the warranty reserve for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 is as follows:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Balance at beginning of year

$

303

$

389

$

405

$

322

Provisions

123

354

176

307

Deductions

 

(104)

 

 

(440)

 

(151)

 

 

(224)

Balance at end of year

$

322

 

$

303

$

430

 

$

405

 

10.11.  Warrant Issuances

In connection with a Securities Purchase Agreement (“SPA”) with Unilumin, the Company issued the Unilumin Warrant to purchase 5,670,103 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.97 per share.  In 2019, Unilumin fully exercised the Unilumin Warrant, aggregating $5.5 million.  The Company received cash of $5.3 million after fees related to the exercise of this warrant.

On June 11, 2018, in connection with a Subordinated Secured Promissory Note (the “SMI Note”), the Company issued SM Investors, L.P. (“SMI”) a three-year warrant to purchase 82,500 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share.  The Company utilized the Black-Scholes method to calculate the fair value of this warrant at the time of issuance, which was $95,000, and was treated as a debt discount.  This warrant has not yet been exercised.

On June 11, 2018, in connection with a Subordinated Secured Promissory Note (the “SMII Note”) with SM Investors II, L.P. (“SMII”), the Company issued SMII a three-year warrant to purchase 167,500 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share.    The Company utilized the Black-Scholes method to calculate the fair value of this warrant at the time of issuance, which was $192,000, and was treated as a debt discount.  This warrant has not yet been exercised.

 

On April 23, 2015, the Company entered into a credit agreement with BFI Capital Fund II, LLC (“BFI”) for a $1.5 million credit line, (the “BFI Agreement”), which was repaid in full prior to 2016.  In connection with the agreement, the Company also issued BFI a warrant to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $12.00 per share, which expires on April 23, 2020.  The fair value of this warrant at the date of issuance was $21,000.  This warrant doeshas not include a potential adjustment of the strike price if the Company sells or grants any options or warrants at a price per share less than the strike price of the warrants, so they are considered indexed to the Company’s Common Stock and were accounted for as equity in Additional paid-in-capital in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “SPA”) with Transtech LED Company Limited (“Transtech”) (formerly known as Retop Industrial (Hong Kong) Limited), pursuant to which Transtech purchased 333,333 shares of the Company’s Common Stock.  Yaozhong Shi, a director of the Company, is the Chairman of Transtech.  In connection with the SPA, the Company issued warrants to purchase 33,333 shares of the Company’s Common Stock to Transtech at an exercise price of $8.00 per share, which expired on June 27, 2016.  These warrants were part of a direct investment in our equity, so they were considered indexed to the Company’s Common Stock and were accounted for as equity.yet been exercised.

 

In November 2012, the Board of Directors approved the issuance to two board members, George W. Schiele and Salvatore J. Zizza, of warrants to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $12.50 per share.  In April 2013, the Board of Directors approved the issuance to one board member, Jean Firstenberg, of warrants to purchase 2,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $12.50 per share.  These warrants became fully vested on October 2, 2016 and expireexpired on October 2, 2018.  The Company recorded a non-cash expense of $21,000 in the year ended December 31, 2016 related to the value of the warrants issued, which is included in Warrant expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.  No expense was recorded in 20172019 or 2018 related to these warrants.  These warrants dodid not include a potential adjustment of the strike price if the Company sellssold or grantsgranted any options or warrants at a price per share less than the strike price of the warrants, so they arewere considered indexed to the Company’s Common Stock and were accounted for as equity.equity at the time of the grant.

 

11.12.  Long-Term Debt

 

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

2018

8¼% Limited convertible senior
subordinated notes due 2012

$

387

$

387

$

352

 

$

387

9½% Subordinated debentures

due 2012

220

220

220

220

Revolving credit line

2,722

1,805

 

-

 

 

1,440

Term loans

790

872

1,000

1,590

Term loans – related party

1,000

500

 

-

 

 

1,000

Forgivable loan

 

650

 

 

-

 

650

 

 

650

Total debt

5,769

3,784

 

2,222

 

 

5,287

Less deferred financing costs

 

206

 

 

243

Less deferred financing costs and debt

discount

 

-

 

 

257

Net debt

5,563

3,541

 

2,222

 

 

5,030

Less portion due within one year

 

4,029

 

 

2,984

 

1,572

 

 

3,584

Net long-term debt

$

1,534

 

$

557

$

650

 

$

1,446

 

Payments of long-term debt due for the next five years are:

 

In thousands

 

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

Thereafter

 

$

4,029

 

$

1,090

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

650

In   thousands

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

 

2024

 

Thereafter

 

$

1,572

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

$

650

 

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On July 12, 2016,September 16, 2019, the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries Trans-Lux Display Corporation, Trans-Lux Midwest Corporation and Trans-Lux Energy Corporation (the “Borrowers”) entered into a credit and security agreement, as subsequently amended on September 8, 2016, February 14, 2017, March 28, 2017, July 28, 2017, October 10, 2017, November 9, 2017, November 16, 2017 and March 14, 2018 (collectively, the “Credit Agreement”) with CNH as lender.  Under the Credit Agreement, the Company is able to borrow up to an aggregate of $4.0 million, which includes (i) up to $3.0 million of a revolving loan, at an interest rate of prime plus 4.0% (8.50% and 7.75% at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively), which was subsequently amended to be prime plus 6.0% (10.50% effective March 1, 2018, for an equipment purchase, repayment of certain outstanding obligations, including payments to the Company’s pension plan, the purchase of inventory/product and general working capital purposes, and (ii) a $1.0 million term loan, at an interest rate of prime plus 6.0% (10.50% and 9.75% at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively), for the purchase of equipment.  The availability under the revolving loan is calculated based on certain percentages of eligible receivables and inventory.

During 2017, the Company had drawn $917,000 on the revolving loan and $600,000 on the term loan, of which $2.7 million and $790,000, respectively, was outstanding as of December 31, 2017.  During 2016, the Company had drawn $1.8 million on the revolving loan and $400,000 on the term loan, of which $1.8 million and $380,000, respectively, was outstanding as of December 31, 2016.

Interest under the Credit Agreement is payable monthly in arrears.  The Credit Agreement also requires the payment of certain fees, including, but not limited to a facility fee, an unused line fee and a collateral management fee.

The Credit Agreement contains financial and other covenant requirements, including, but not limited to, financial covenants that require the Borrowers to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0 starting with their August 31, 2017 financial statements and a loan turnover rate of no more than 35 days.  As of December 31, 2017, the fixed charge ratio was 0.0 to 1.0 and the loan turnover rate was 44 days, so the Company was not in compliance with all covenants.  The Company entered into an Eighth Amendment to the CreditLoan Agreement dated aswith MidCap.  The Loan Agreement has a term of March 14, 2018 with CNH, to waive the Company’s non-compliance with these financial covenants and to amend the interest rate of prime plus 4.0% to be prime plus 6.0% effective March 1, 2018.

The Credit Agreement allows the Company to continue to pay dividends on all its SBCPS or any other new preferred stock, if any, which dividends will be excluded as fixed charges for the covenant calculations.

The Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of the Borrowers’ assets and expires July 12, 2019,three years, unless earlier terminated by the parties in accordance with the termination provisions of the CreditLoan Agreement.  The foregoing description of the CreditLoan Agreement is included to provide information regarding its terms.  It does not purport to be a complete description and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Credit Agreement.

On September 8, 2016,allows the Company entered into an agreement with BFI (the “BFI Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company can borrow up to $750,000an aggregate of $4.0 million at a fixedan interest rate of the 3-month LIBOR interest of 10.00%, withrate plus 4.75% (6.66% at December 31, 2019) on a maturity date of March 1, 2017.revolving credit loan based on accounts receivable, inventory and equipment for general working capital purposes.  As of December 31, 2016,2019, there is no balance outstanding under this Loan Agreement.  The Loan Agreement also requires the payment of certain fees, including a facility fee, an unused credit line fee and a collateral monitoring charge.  The Loan Agreement contains financial and other covenant requirements, including financial covenants that require the Borrowers to attain certain EBITDA amounts for certain periods, the first of which is for the three months ended December 31, 2019.  As of December 31, 2019, the Company had borrowed $750,000 undersatisfied this covenant.  The Loan Agreement is secured by substantially all of the BFI Agreement and had repaid $258,000, leaving an outstanding balance of $492,000.  On March 1, 2017, the Company repaid the loan in full and terminated the BFI Agreement. Borrowers’ assets.

 

The Company has a $500,000 loan from Carlisle Investments Inc. (“Carlisle”) at a fixed interest rate of 12.00%, which matured on April 27, 2019 with a bullet payment of all principal due at such time.  Interest is payable monthly.  Carlisle has agreed to not demand payment on the loan through at least December 31, 2020.  As of December 31, 2019, the entire amount was outstanding and is included in current portion of long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had accrued $120,000 and $60,000, respectively, of interest related to this loan, which are included in accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Marco Elser, a former director of the Company, exercises voting and dispositive power as investment manager of Carlisle.

The Company has an additional $500,000 loan from Carlisle at a fixed interest rate of 12.00%, which matured on December 10, 2017 with a bullet payment of all principal due at such time (the “Second Carlisle Agreement”).  Interest is payable monthly.  Carlisle has agreed to not demand payment on the loan through at least December 31, 2020.  As of December 31, 2019, the entire amount was outstanding and is included in current portion of long-term debt Consolidated Balance Sheets.  As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had accrued $120,000 and $60,000, respectively, of interest related to this loan, which are included in accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  Under the Second Carlisle Agreement, the Company granted a security interest to Carlisle in accounts receivable, materials and intangibles relating to a certain purchase order for equipment issued in April 2017.

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had outstanding $352,000 and $387,000, respectively, of Notes.  The Notes matured as of March 1, 2012 and are currently in default.  As of December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, the Company had accrued $266,000$300,000 and $234,000,$298,000, respectively, of interest related to the Notes, which is included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The trustee, by notice to the Company, or the holders of 25% of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding, by notice to the Company and the trustee, may declare the outstanding principal plus interest due and payable immediately. On JulyFebruary 15, 2016,2019, holders of $239,000$35,000 of the Notes accepted the Company’s offer to exchange each $1,000 of principal, forgiving any related interest, for $200 in cash, for an aggregate payment by the Company of $48,000.$7,000.  As a result of the transaction, the Company recorded a gain on the extinguishment of debt, net of expenses, of $308,000$52,000 in 2016.2019.

 

TheAs of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company hashad outstanding $220,000 of Debentures.  The Debentures matured as of December 1, 2012 and are currently in default.  As of December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, the Company had accrued $169,000$211,000 and $148,000,$190,000, respectively, of interest related to the Debentures, which is included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The trustee, by notice to the Company, or the holders of 25% of the principal amount of the Debentures outstanding, by notice to the Company and the trustee, may declare the outstanding principal plus interest due and payable immediately. On July 15, 2016, holders of $114,000 of the Debentures accepted the Company’s offer to exchange each $1,000 of principal, forgiving any related interest, for $200 in cash, for an aggregate payment by the Company of $23,000.  As a result of the transaction, the Company recorded a gain on the extinguishment of debt, net of expenses, of $154,000 in 2016.

On April 27, 2016, the Company received a $500,000 loan from Carlisle Investments Inc. (“Carlisle”) at a fixed interest rate of 12.00%, which is due to mature on April 27, 2019 with a bullet payment of all principal due at such time.  Interest is payable monthly.  Marco Elser, a director of the Company, exercises voting and dispositive power as investment manager of Carlisle.

On July 28, 2017, the Company entered into a credit agreement with Mr. Arnold Penner, pursuant to which the Company could borrow up to $1.5 million at a loan fee of $35,000, with a maturity date of August 19, 2017 (the “Penner Agreement”).  On October 17, 2017, the Company repaid the balance of the loan and satisfied the agreement in full.

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In connection with the Penner Agreement, the Company entered into a Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement dated as of July 28, 2017 with CNH, to provide for certain adjustments to the Credit Agreement to allow for the Company’s entry into the Penner Agreement and the security interest granted to Mr. Penner thereunder.  The Company, Mr. Penner and CNH also entered into a Mutual Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2017, setting forth CNH’s senior lien position to all collateral of the Company, except for the purchase order securing the Penner Agreement, and the rights of each of CNH and Mr. Penner with respect to the collateral of the Company, which was released in full when the loan was satisfied in full.

On November 6, 2017, the Company received an additional $500,000 loan from Carlisle at a fixed interest rate of 12.00%, which was due to mature on December 10, 2017 with a bullet payment of all principal due at such time (the “Second Carlisle Agreement”).  As of December 31, 2017, the entire amount was outstanding.  Under the Second Carlisle Agreement, the Company granted a security interest to Carlisle in accounts receivable, materials and intangibles relating to a certain purchase order for equipment issued in April 2017.

In connection with the Second Carlisle Agreement, the Company entered into a Fifth Amendment to the Credit Agreement dated as of October 10, 2017 with CNH to provide for certain adjustments to the Credit Agreement to allow for the Company’s entry into the Second Carlisle Agreement and the security interest granted to Carlisle thereunder.  The Company, Carlisle and CNH also entered into a Mutual Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2017, setting forth CNH’s senior lien position to all collateral of the Company, except for the purchase order securing the Second Carlisle Agreement, and the rights of each of CNH and Carlisle with respect to the collateral of the Company.

 

The Company entered intohas a Sixth Amendment to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 9, 2017 with CNH, to provide for certain adjustments to the Credit Agreement to set the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio financial covenant to be 1.0 to 1.0 beginning with a first test period of the one month ending August 31, 2017.

The Company entered into a Seventh Amendment to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 16, 2017 with CNH, to provide for certain adjustments to the Credit Agreement to remove the $2.0 million cap on the revolving credit line and to allow for the Company’s entry into the Second Carlisle Agreement and the security interest granted to Carlisle thereunder.  The Company, Carlisle and CNH also entered into a Mutual Lien Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of October 10, 2017, setting forth CNH’s senior lien position to all collateral of the Company, except for the purchase order securing the Second Carlisle Agreement, and the rights of each of CNH and Carlisle with respect to the collateral of the Company.

On May 23, 2017, the Company received $650,000 structured as a forgivable loan from the City of Hazelwood, Missouri, which is included in Forgivable loan in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.Missouri.  The loan will be forgiven on a pro-rata basis if predetermined employment levels are attained and would expire on April 1, 2024.2025.  If the Company attains the employment levels required by the agreement, there is no interest due, otherwise interest accrues at a rate of prime plus 2.00% (6.50%(6.75% at December 31, 2017)2019)In FebruaryAs of December 31, 2019 and 2018, in accordance with the agreement, the Company requestedhad accrued $118,000 and $71,000, respectively, of interest related to this loan, which is included in accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

On July 12, 2016, the Company entered into a 1-year extensioncredit agreement, as subsequently amended on various dates, the latest being March 1, 2019 (collectively, the “Credit Agreement”) with CNH Finance Fund I, L.P. (“CNH”) as lender.  Under the Credit Agreement, the Company was able to borrow up to an aggregate of $4.0 million, which included (i) up to $3.0 million of a revolving loan and (ii) a $1.0 million term loan.  On April 10, 2019, the termsCompany satisfied the Credit Agreement in full and the Credit Agreement was terminated.  The termination fee of $60,000 and the agreement,remaining debt discount of $23,000 were written off and included in loss on extinguishment of debt on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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On June 11, 2018, the Company entered into a Subordinated Secured Promissory Note (the “SMI Note”) with SM Investors, L.P. (“SMI”), pursuant to which the Company borrowed $330,000 from SMI.  On April 17, 2019, the Company satisfied the SMI Note in full and the remaining debt discount of $53,000 was approved bywritten off and included in loss on extinguishment of debt on the CityConsolidated Statements of HazelwoodOperations.

On June 11, 2018, the Company entered into another Subordinated Secured Promissory Note (the “SMII Note”) with SM Investors II, L.P. (“SMII”), pursuant to which the Company borrowed $670,000 from SMII.  On April 17, 2019, the Company satisfied the SMII Note in March 2018, sofull and the agreement now terminatesremaining debt discount of $109,000 was written off and included in loss on April 1, 2025.extinguishment of debt on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

12.13.  Leases

Certain premises are occupied under operating leases that expire at varying dates through 2023.  Certain of these leases provide for the payment of real estate taxes and other occupancy costs.  On June 21, 2016, the Company entered into a lease for a manufacturing facility in Hazelwood, Missouri for a seven-year lease period at an initial annual rental of $317,000.  On December 23, 2019, the Company entered into a lease for office space in Urbandale, Iowa for a two-year lease period at an initial annual rental of $28,000.  On February 1, 2016, the Company sold its Des Moines, Iowa facility in a sale/leaseback transaction.  The lease was for a two-year lease period at an annual rental of $158,000.  In 2017, the Company extended the lease through February 1, 2019 at the same rate.  In 2018, the Company extended the lease for another year through February 1, 2020 at the same rate.  Rent expense was $608,000 and $662,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

The Company leases administrative and manufacturing facilities through operating lease agreements. The Company has no finance leases as of December 31, 2019.  Our leases include both lease (e.g., fixed payments including rent) and non-lease components (e.g., common area or other maintenance costs). The facility leases include one or more options to renew.  The exercise of lease renewal options is typically at our sole discretion, therefore, the renewals to extend the lease terms are not included in our ROU assets or lease liabilities as they are not reasonably certain of exercise.  We regularly evaluate the renewal options and, when they are reasonably certain of exercise, we include the renewal period in our lease term.

Operating leases result in the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  ROU assets represent our right to use the leased asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments.  Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term.  As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our estimated incremental borrowing rate at the commencement date to determine the present value of lease payments.  Most real estate leases include one or more options to renew, with renewal terms that can extend the lease term from 1 to 5 years or more.  Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.  Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The primary leases we enter into with initial terms of 12 months or less are for equipment.

Supplemental information regarding leases:

 

2019

In thousands, unless otherwise noted

Balance Sheet:

 

 

ROU assets

$

1,141

Current lease liabilities

 

284

Non-current lease liabilities

893

Total lease liabilities

 

1,177

Weighted average remaining lease term (years)

2.5

Weighted average discount rate

 

9.0%

Future minimum lease payments:

2020

$

377

2021

370

2022

 

348

2023

295

2024

 

-

Thereafter

 

-

Total

 

1,390

Less: Imputed interest

 

213

Total lease liabilities

 

1,177

Less: Current lease liabilities

 

284

Long-term lease liabilities

$

893

Supplemental cash flow information regarding leases:

In thousands

2019

Operating cash flow information:

 

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement
   of lease liabilities

$

488

Non-cash activity:

 

 

ROU assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities

 

212

Total operating lease expense and short-term lease expense was $497,000 and $111,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019.

14.  Stockholders’ Deficit

 

During 20172019 and 2016,2018, the Board of Directors did not declare any quarterly cash dividends on the Company’s Common Stock.  The Board of Directors

During 2019, the Company declared cash dividends aggregating $80,000 which was paid in connection with the redemption of $6.00 per share in April and November 2017 for each shareall of the outstanding Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“SBCPS”).  In September 2018, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $6.00 per share for each share of SBCPS (aggregating $99,000, which was paid in November 2018).  In April 2018, the Board of Directors declared a stock dividend of 7.6923 shares of Common Stock for each share of SBCPS (aggregating 127,013 common shares, which were issued in May 2018).  As described herein,of December 31, 2018, the Company had recorded accumulated unpaid dividends related to SBCPS carries a 6.0% cumulative annual dividend.of $41,000.

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The Company iswas authorized to issue 500,0002,500,000 shares of preferred stock as of December 31, 2019, of which (i) 416,500 shares arewere designated as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, none of which arewere outstanding, (ii) 51,000 shares arewere designated as SBCPS, 16,512none of which arewere outstanding, and (iii) 32,5002,032,500 shares arewere not yet designated.  The SBCPS has a stated price of $200.00 per share and is convertible into 20 shares of Common Stock.  The undesignated preferred stock would contain such rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions as may be fixed by our Board of Directors.

 

Shares of the Company’s Common Stock reserved for future issuance in connection with convertible securities and stock option plans were 402,000260,000 and 622,0006,260,343 at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively.

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 The SBCPS carries a 6.0% cumulative annual dividend, which amounts to $198,000 on an annual basis.  The SBCPS is convertible into shares of Common Stock at an initial conversion price of $10.00 per share, representing a conversion ratio of 20 shares of Common Stock for each share of SBCPS held at the time of conversion, subject to adjustment.  As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had recorded accumulated unpaid dividends related to SBCPS of $44,000.  In the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company paid dividends related to the SBCPS of $198,000 and $177,000, respectively.  The shares of SBCPS may be subject to mandatory conversion after three years, or as early as one year if the closing sale price of the Common Stock has been greater than or equal to $15.00 for 30 consecutive trading days.

During 20172019 and 2016,2018, certain board members deferred payment of their director fees.  In lieu of a cash payment, certain board members and former board members have agreed to receive restricted shares of Common Stock of the Company or a combination of cash and restricted shares of Common Stock of the Company, which such restricted shares shall contain a legend under the Securities Act of 1933 and shall not be transferable unless and until registered or otherwise in accordance with applicable securities laws.  No restricted stock was issued in lieu of cash payments for directors’ fees in 20172019 or 2016.2018.

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss is comprised of approximately $5.8$6.8 million and $5.7$6.5 million of unrecognized pension costs at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively, and $281,000$194,000 and $112,000$76,000 of unrealized foreign currency translation gains at December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, respectively.

 

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss are as follows:

 

In thousands

Pension plan

actuarial loss

Foreign currency

translation gain

 

 

Total

 

Pension plan
actuarial loss

 

 

Foreign currency
translation
gain (loss)

 

 

Total

Balances at January 1, 2016

$

(5,313)

$

56

$

(5,257)

Balances at January 1, 2018

$

(5,817)

 

$

281

 

$

(5,536)

Actuarial loss

(653)

-

(653)

Translation loss

 

-

 

(205)

 

(205)

Balances at December 31, 2018

(6,470)

76

(6,394)

Actuarial loss

(409)

-

(409)

 

(342)

 

-

 

(342)

Translation gain

 

-

 

 

56

 

 

56

 

-

 

118

 

118

Balances at December 31, 2016

(5,722)

112

(5,610)

Actuarial loss

(95)

-

(95)

Translation gain

 

-

 

 

169

 

 

169

Balances at December 31, 2017

$

(5,817)

 

$

281

 

$

(5,536)

Balances at December 31, 2019

$

(6,812)

 

$

194

 

$

(6,618)

 

13.15.  Pension Plan

 

All eligible salaried employees of Trans-Lux Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries are covered by a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan.  Pension benefits vest after five years of service and are based on years of service and final average salary.  The Company’s general funding policy is to contribute at least the required minimum amounts sufficient to satisfy regulatory funding standards, but not more than the maximum tax-deductible amount.  The benefit service under the pension plan had been frozen since 2003 and, accordingly, there iswas no service cost for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016.2018.  In 2009, the compensation increments were frozen, and accordingly, no additional benefits are being accrued under the plan.  For 20172019 and 2016,2018, the accrued benefit obligation of the plan exceeded the fair value of plan assets, due primarily to the plan’s investment performance and updates to actuarial longevity tables.  The Company’s obligations under its pension plan exceeded plan assets by $4.2$4.1 million at December 31, 2017.2019.

 

The Company employs a total return investment approach whereby a mix of equities and fixed income investments are used to maximize the long-term return of plan assets for a prudent level of risk.  The intent of this strategy is to minimize plan expenses by outperforming plan liabilities over the long run.  Risk tolerance is established through careful consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status and corporate financial condition.  The portfolio contains a diversified blend of equity and fixed income investments.  Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through annual liability measurements, periodic asset/liability studies and quarterly investment portfolio reviews.

 

At December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, the Company’s pension plan weighted-average asset allocations by asset category are as follows:

 

 

2017

 

 

2016

2019

2018

Equity and index funds

72.0%

68.9%

  69.3%

  64.7%

Fixed income funds

 

28.0

 

 

31.1

  30.7

  35.3

 

100.0%

 

 

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

 

The pension plan asset information included below is presented at fair value as established by ASC 820.

 

The following table presents the pension plan assets by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 20172019 and 2016:2018:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Level 1:

 

 

 

 

 

Equity and index funds

$

7,289

$

6,186

$

7,028

$

5,593

Fixed income funds

 

2,841

 

 

2,798

 

3,120

 

 

3,054

Total Level 1

10,130

8,984

10,148

8,647

Level 2

-

-

 

-

 

 

-

Level 3

 

-

 

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

Total pension plan assets

$

10,130

 

$

8,984

$

10,148

 

$

8,647

 

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The funded status of the plan as of December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 is as follows:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Change in benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

Projected benefit obligation at

beginning of year

$

13,408

$

13,517

$

12,965

$

14,320

Interest cost

466

487

 

501

 

455

Actuarial loss

     1 067

369

Actuarial loss (gain)

1,565

(908)

Benefits paid

 

(621)

 

 

(965)

 

(773)

 

(902)

Projected benefit obligation at

end of year

 

14,320

 

 

13,408

 

14,258

 

12,965

 

 

 

 

Change in plan assets:

Fair value of plan assets at

beginning of year

8,984

8,193

Fair value of plan assets at

beginning of year

 

8,647

 

10,130

Actual return on plan assets

1,469

432

1,645

(1,002)

Company contributions

298

1,324

 

629

 

421

Benefits paid

 

(621)

 

 

(965)

 

(773)

 

(902)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

10,130

 

 

8,984

 

   10,148

 

     8,647

Funded status (underfunded)

$

(4,190)

 

$

(4,424)

$

(4,110)

 

$

(4,318)

Amounts recognized in other

accumulated comprehensive loss:

Net actuarial loss

$

7,301

 

$

7,206

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss

$

8,296

 

$

7,954

Weighted average assumptions as of

December 31:

 

 

 

 

Discount rate:

Components of cost

4.17%

4.31%

Components of cost

 

4.30%

 

3.65%

Benefit obligations

3.66%

4.16%

3.20%

4.30%

Expected return on plan assets

8.00%

8.00%

 

8.00%

 

 

8.00%

Rate of compensation increase

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

The Company determines the long-term rate of return for plan assets by studying historical markets and the long-term relationships between equity securities and fixed income securities, with the widely-accepted capital market principal that assets with higher volatility generate higher returns over the long run.  The 8.0% expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is determined based on long-term historical performance of plan assets, current asset allocation and projected long-term rates of return.

 

In 2018,2020, the Company expects to amortize $224,000$281,000 of actuarial losses to pension expense.  The accumulated benefit obligation at December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 was $14.3 million and $13.4$13.0 million, respectively.  The minimum required contribution in 20182020 is expected to be $576,000,$641,000, which is included in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.  The long-term pension liability is $3.5 million and is included in Deferred pension liability and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

In March 2010, 2011 and 2013,2019, we made the Company submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) requests for waivers$629,000 of the minimum funding standard for its defined benefit pension plan for the 2009, 2010 and 2012 plan years.  The waiver requests were submitted as a result of the economic climate and the business hardship that the Company was experiencing.  The waivers for the 2009, 2010 and 2012 plan years were approved and granted subject to certain conditions and have deferred payment of $285,000, $559,000 and $669,000 of the minimum funding standard for the 2009, 2010 and 2012 plan years, respectively.  As of December 31, 2017, the Company has fully repaid the amounts deferred for each of these waivers.  If the Company had not fulfilled the conditions of the waivers, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”) and the IRS would have had various enforcement remedies that could have been implemented to protect the participant’s benefits, such as termination of the plan or a requirement that the Company make the unpaid contributions.  In support of such enforcement remedies, the PBGC previously placed a lien on the Company’s assets with respect to amounts owed under the plan.  When the Company made additionalrequired contributions to the plan, in July 2016 abovewhich includes the balance of the 2018 minimum required contribution, the PBGC released its lien on our assets.  In 2017,contributions.  Subsequent to December 31, 2019, we made $298,000 of the $444,000 of minimum required contributionsan $85,000 contribution to the plan.  At this time, the Company is expecting to make its minimum required $576,000$556,000 of contributions remaining for 2018, which includes the balance of the 2017 minimum required contributions;2020; however, there is no assurance that the Company will be able to make any or all such remaining payments.  If we are unable to fulfill our related obligations, the implementation of any such enforcement remedies would have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations, and liquidity.

 

The following estimated benefit payments are expected to be paid by the Company’s pension plan in the next 5 years:

 

In thousands

2018

 

2019

 

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

761

 

$

941

 

$

710

 

$

1,195

 

$

711

 

In thousands

2020

 

2021

 

2022

 

2023

 

2024

 

$

720

 

$

1,229

 

$

731

 

$

865

 

$

956

The following table presents the components of the net periodic pension cost for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016:2018:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Interest cost

$

466

$

487

$

501

$

455

Expected return on plan assets

(716)

(672)

(682)

(787)

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

219

 

199

 

264

 

229

Net periodic pension cost

$

(31)

 

$

14

Net periodic pension cost (benefit)

$

83

 

$

(103)

 

The following table presents the change in unrecognized pension costs recorded in other comprehensive loss as of December 31, 20172019 and 2016:2018:

 

In thousands

2017

 

2016

Balance at beginning of year

$

7,206

$

6,797

Net actuarial loss

314

608

Recognized loss

 

(219)

 

 

(199)

Balance at end of year

$

7,301

 

$

7,206

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In thousands

2019

 

2018

Balance at beginning of year

$

7,954

$

7,301

Net actuarial loss

606

882

Recognized loss

 

(264)

 

 

(229)

Balance at end of year

$

8,296

 

$

7,954

 

In addition, the Company provided unfunded supplemental retirement benefits for the retired, former Chief Executive Officer.  During 2009 the Company accrued $0.5 million for such benefits, which has not yet been paid, which is includedwas settled in Accrued liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.November 2019.  The Company does not offer any post-retirement benefits other than the pension and supplemental retirement benefits described herein.

 

14.16.  Share-Based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for all share-based payments to employees and directors, including grants of employee stock options, at fair value and expenses the benefit in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the service period (generally the vesting period).  The fair value of each stock option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes pricing valuation model, which requires various assumptions including estimating stock price volatility, expected life of the stock option, risk free interest rate and estimated forfeiture rate.

 

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On December 29, 2017,October 5, 2018, the Company granted 451,50020,000 shares of Common Stock to certain directors and executive management team members.the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.  The closing share price on the date of the grant was $0.75$0.49 and there was no vesting period.  The Company recorded compensation expense of $338,000.$10,000 in 2018.

 

The Company currently has twoone stock option plans.plan.  As of December 31, 2017, no shares of Common Stock were available for grant under the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan and2019, 800 shares of Common Stock were available for grant under the Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan.

 

Changes in the stock option plansplan are as follows:

 

 

Number of Shares

 

Weighted
Average

Exercise

 

Authorized

 

Granted

 

Available

 

Price

Balance January 1, 2016

200,800

-

200,800

           N/A

Authorized

-

-

-

Expired

-

-

-

Granted

-

 

-

 

-

Balance December 31, 2016

200,800

-

200,800

   

Authorized

-

-

            -

Expired

(200,000)

-

(200,000)

Granted

-

 

-

 

            -

Balance December 31, 2017

800

 

-

 

800

 

 

Under the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan, option prices must be at least 100% of the market value of the Common Stock at the time of grant.  Exercise periods are for ten years from the date of grant and terminate at a stipulated period of time after an employee’s termination of employment.  During 2017, stock grants were awarded, causing the potential for stock options to be terminated.  At December 31, 2017, no options were outstanding or exercisable.  During 2017 and 2016, no options were granted or exercised.

 

Number of Shares

 

Weighted
Average

Exercise

Price

 

Authorized

 

Granted

 

Available

 

Balance January 1, 2018

800

-

800

           N/A

Authorized

-

-

-

Expired

-

-

-

Granted

-

 

-

 

-

Balance December 31, 2018

800

-

800

   

Authorized

-

-

            -

Expired

-

-

-

Granted

-

 

-

 

            -

Balance December 31, 2019

800

 

-

 

800

 

 

 

Under the Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, option prices must be at least 100% of the market value of the Common Stock at the time of grant.  No option may be exercised prior to one year after the date of grant and the optionee must be a director of the Company at the time of exercise, except in certain cases as permitted by the Compensation Committee.  Exercise periods are for six years from the date of grant and terminate at a stipulated period of time after an optionee ceases to be a director.  At December 31, 2017,2019, there were no outstanding options to purchase shares.

 

As of December 31, 2017,2019, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested options granted under the Plans.


15.17.  Loss Per Share

 

The following table presents the calculation of loss per share for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016:2018:

 

In thousands, except per share data

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Numerator:

Net loss, as reported

$

(2,849)

$

(611)

$

(1,402)

$

(4,694)

Dividends paid on preferred shares

(198)

(177)

(80)

(198)

Change in dividends accumulated on

preferred shares

 

 -

 

 

(21)

 

41

 

 

-

Net loss attributable to common

shares

$

(3,047)

 

$

(809)

$

(1,441)

 

$

(4,892)

Denominator:

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

1,714

 

 

1,711

 

11,417

 

 

2,603

Basic and diluted loss per share

$

(1.78)

 

$

(0.47)

$

(0.13)

 

$

(1.88)

 

At December 31, 2017 and 2016,2019, there are no dividends accumulated on preferred sharesthe Company’s SBCPS.  At December 31, 2018, dividends accumulated on the Company’s SBCPS totaled $44,000.$41,000.

 

Basic loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  Diluted loss per common share is computed by dividing net loss attributable to common shares, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding, adjusted for shares that would be assumed outstanding after warrants and stock options vested under the treasury stock method.

 

At December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, outstanding warrants convertibleexercisable into 52,000260,000 and 5,680,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because their impact would have been anti-dilutive.

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16.18.  Restructuring

The Company records restructuring liabilities that represent charges in connection with consolidations of certain operations as well as headcount reduction programs.  In the third quarter of 2019, the Company approved restructuring plans to consolidate the manufacturing facilities.  The Company recorded restructuring costs of $306,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, which mainly consisted of costs to relocate equipment and inventory and other costs to consolidate the manufacturing facilities.  This restructuring relates to the digital product sales segment.  Through December 31, 2019, the Company has paid $51,000 of costs so far to relocate equipment and inventory.  Therefore, the remaining $253,000 is included in accrued liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2019.  These remaining costs are expected to be paid in cash in the first quarter of 2020, when the consolidation of the manufacturing facilities is completed.  There were no restructuring costs in the year ended December 31, 2018.

19.  Commitments and Contingencies

 

Commitments:  The Company has employment agreements with its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief OperatingAccounting Officer, which expiredexpire in February 2018 and March 2018, respectively, and currently renew on a month-to-month basis.October 2020.  At December 31, 2017,2019, the aggregate commitment for future salaries, excluding bonuses, was approximately $100,000.$338,000.  Contractual salaries expense was $550,000$450,000 and $338,000 for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016.2018, respectively.

 

Contingencies:  The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of its business and/or which are covered by insurance.  The Company believes that it has accrued adequate reserves individually and in the aggregate for such legal proceedings.  Should actual litigation results differ from the Company’s estimates, revisions to increase or decrease the accrued reserves may be required.  A vendor has brought a claim against us for $87,000 plus interest and damages.  TheThere are no open matters that the Company has accrued for the $87,000 plus interest in Accounts payable and in Accrued liabilites in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2017.  Potential damages, if any, are not yet determinable.deems material.

 

33


Operating leases:  Certain premises are occupied under operating leases that expire at varying dates through 2023.  CertainTable of these leases provide for the payment of real estate taxes and other occupancy costs.  On February 1, 2016, the Company sold its Des Moines, Iowa facility in a sale/leaseback transaction.  The lease is for a two-year lease period at an annual rental of $158,000.  In 2017, the Company extended the lease for another year at the same rate.  On June 21, 2016, the Company entered into a new lease for a manufacturing facility in Hazelwood, Missouri for a seven-year lease period at an initial annual rental of $317,000.  Future minimum lease payments due under operating leases at December 31, 2017 aggregating $2.4 million are as follows: $701,000 - 2018, $356,000 – 2019, $336,000 – 2020, $342,000 – 2021, $348,000 – 2022 and $309,000 thereafter.  Rent expense was $848,000 and $651,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.Contents

 

17.20.  Related Party Transactions

 

On March 4, 2019, the Unilumin exercised $2.0 million of the Unilumin Warrant, and on April 5, 2019, Unilumin exercised the remaining $3.5 million of the Unilumin Warrant, raising an aggregate of $5.5 million for the Company.  Unilumin now owns 52.0% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.  Nicholas Fazio, Yang Liu and Yantao Yu, each directors of the Company, are each directors and/or officers of Unilumin.

On April 5, 2019, the Rights Offering terminated.  At the closing of the Rights Offering on April 9, 2019, the Company received gross proceeds of $2.5 million in exchange for 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock.  Participants in the Rights Offering included (a) Gabelli Funds, LLC, a greater than 5% stockholder, (b) Salvatore Zizza and George Schiele, both directors of the Company, and (c) Alberto Shaio and Todd Dupee, both executive officers of the Company.

In additionconnection with the Company’s agreement with Unilumin in 2018, the Company paid $175,000 to Durkin Law, LLC in early 2019.  In connection with Durkin Law, LLC’s representation of the Company in regards to the warrant issuances describedLoan Agreement and certain other general corporate matters later in Note 10 and2019, the Company paid $26,000 to Durkin Law, LLC.  Thomas E. Durkin, principal of Durkin Law, LLC, was appointed the Company’s loans from Carlisle described in Note 11, the Company has the following related party transactions:Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary on July 30, 2019.

 

Yaozhong Shi, a former director of the Company, is the Chairman of Transtech LED Company Limited (“Transtech”), which is one of our primary LED supplier.suppliers.  The Company purchased $1.9 million and $3.6 million$211,000 of product from Transtech in 2017 and 2016, respectively.  Amounts2018.  The amount payable by the Company to Transtech were $149,000 and $0was $305,000 as of December 31, 20172018.

As of December 31, 2019 and 2016,2018, the Company had outstanding payables to certain executive officers aggregating $19,000 and $427,000, respectively.

 

On June 30, 2016, the Company entered into a 1-year Trademark Licensing Agreement with Transtech, pursuant to which Transtech paid the Company $72,500 upon signing the agreement and would pay the Company a 3% royalty on any equipment sold using the Company’s trademark.  There were no such sales during the agreement period and the agreement expired as of June 30, 2017.

18.21.  Business Segment Data

 

Operating segments are based on the Company’s business components about which separate financial information is available and are evaluated regularly by the Company’s chief operating decision-maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance of the business.

 

The Company evaluates segment performance and allocates resources based upon operating income.  The Company’s operations are managed in two reportable business segments: Digital product sales and Digital product lease and maintenance.  Both design and produce large-scale, multi-color, real-time digital products and LED lighting, which has a line of energy-saving lighting solutions that provide facilities and public infrastructure with “green” lighting solutions that emit less heat, save energy and enable creative designs.products.  Both operating segments are conducted on a global basis, primarily through operations in the United States.  The Company also has operations in Canada.  The Digital product sales segment sells equipment and the Digital product lease and maintenance segment leases and maintains equipment.  Corporate general and administrative items relate to costs that are not directly identifiable with a segment.  There are no intersegment sales.

 

Foreign revenues represent less than 10% of the Company’s revenues for 20172019 and 2016.2018.  The foreign operation does not manufacture its own equipment; the domestic operation provides the equipment that the foreign operation leases or sells.  The foreign operation operates similarly to the domestic operation and has similar profit margins.  Foreign assets are immaterial.

 

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Information about the Company’s operations in its two business segments for the years ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 and as of December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 were as follows:

In thousands

2017

 

2016

2019

 

2018

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

Digital product sales

$

22,093

$

18,138

$

14,710

$

11,958

Digital product lease & maintenance

 

2,350

 

 

3,053

 

2,325

 

 

2,441

Total revenues

$

24,443

 

$

21,191

$

17,035

 

$

14,399

Operating (loss) income:

Operating income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

Digital product sales

$

(149)

$

1,631

$

183

$

(1,744)

Digital product lease & maintenance

653

825

 

    1,752

 

 

1,062

Corporate general and administrative expenses

 

(3,350)

 

 

(3,276)

 

(2,386)

 

 

(3,364)

Total operating loss

(2,846)

(820)

 

(451)

 

 

(4,046)

Interest expense, net

(708)

(374)

(504)

(940)

Loss on foreign currency

remeasurement

(178)

(45)

Gain on extinguishment of debt

-

462

(Loss) gain on foreign currency

remeasurement

 

(130)

 

 

225

Loss on extinguishment of debt

 

(193)

 

 

-

Gain on sale/leaseback transaction

132

121

-

11

Warrant expense

 

-

 

 

(21)

Pension (expense) benefit

 

(83)

 

 

103

Loss before income taxes

(3,600)

(677)

(1 361)

(4,647)

Income tax benefit

 

751

 

 

66

Income tax expense

 

(41)

 

 

(47)

Net loss

$

(2,849)

 

(611)

$

(1 402)

 

$

(4,694)

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Digital product sales

$

9,722

$

8,753

$

8,204

$

7,689

Digital product lease &

maintenance

 

4,515

 

 

4,055

 

3,515

 

 

3,054

Total identifiable assets

14,237

12,808

11,719

10,743

General corporate

 

747

 

 

606

 

535

 

 

723

Total assets

$

14,984

 

$

13,414

$

12,254

 

$

11,466

Depreciation and amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

Digital product sales

$

176

$

115

$

234

$

234

Digital product lease & maintenance

1,105

1,638

 

427

 

 

706

General corporate

 

20

 

 

21

 

7

 

 

12

Total depreciation and amortization

$

1,301

 

$

1,774

$

668

 

$

952

Capital expenditures:

Digital product sales

$

190

$

2,033

$

376

 

$

140

Digital product lease & maintenance

32

44

          44

-

General corporate

 

-

 

 

4

 

1

 

 

-

Total capital expenditures

$

222

 

$

2,081

$

421

 

$

140

 

19.22.  Subsequent Events

 

The Company has evaluated events and transactions subsequent to December 31, 20172019 and through the date these Consolidated Financial Statements were included in this Form 10-K and filed with the SEC.

 

As further discussed in Note 6 – Long-Term Debt, subsequent to December 31, 2017, the Company entered into the Eighth Amendment to the Credit Agreement.

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ITEM 9.                 CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A.              CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a)          Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.  As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (our principal executive officer) and our Chief Accounting Officer (our principal executive officer and (our principal accounting officer) and our Controller,, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)).  As a result of this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer hashave concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management (including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer) to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.  Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Accounting Officer hashave concluded these disclosure controls are effective as of December 31, 2017.2019.

(b)          Changes in internal control over financial reporting.  There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred in the fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

(c)           Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Company as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.  Our internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.  Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.  This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting.  Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

 

The Company’s management assessed its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 20172019 using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO 2013).  Management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Accounting Officer, and its Controller, based on their evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)), have concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017.2019.

 

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ITEM 9B.              OTHER INFORMATION

 

On December 29, 2017, the Company granted 451,500 shares of Common Stock to certain directors and executive management team members.  The closing share price on the date of the grant was $0.75 and there was no vesting period.  The Company recorded compensation expense of $338,000.Not applicable.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.              DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws the Company, the Board of Directors is divided into three separate classes of directors.  The directors of the Corporation, their ages and the expiration of their respective terms are as follows:

Name

Age

Expiration of Term

Nicholas Fazio

40

2022

Yang Liu

30

2020

George W. Schiele

88

2020

Yantao Yu

44

2022

Salvatore J. Zizza

74

2021

Directors:

Nicholas Fazio was appointed a director of the Company on November 19, 2018.  Mr. Fazio has been Director and Chief Executive Officer of Unilumin USA since 2017.  Previously, he was Senior Product Manager for Christie Digital Systems USA from 2014 to 2017 and Vice President of Engineering of McCann Systems from 1997 to 2014.  Mr. Fazio’s strong business knowledge and extensive history and resources in the LED display arena allow him to provide valuable contributions to the Board.

Yang Liu was appointed a director of the Company on November 19, 2018.  Mr. Liu has been Director of Unilumin Sports since 2016.  Previously, he was Director of Unilumin Visual from 2016 to 2017, Sales Manager of the Unilumin Amsterdam sales office from 2014 to 2016, and Sales Engineer for Unilumin Benelux from 2011 to 2013.  Mr. Liu’s strong business knowledge and extensive history and resources in the LED display arena allow him to provide valuable contributions to the Board.

George W. Schiele has served as a director of the Company since December 2009.  Mr. Schiele had served as Vice Chairman of the Board (a non-executive position) of the Company from September 28, 2018 through July 30, 2019 and as Chairman of the Board (a non-executive position) of the Company from September 29, 2010 through September 28, 2018.  Mr. Schiele currently serves as a trust management and private investment officer and has held such positions since 1974.  He is also President of ten other private companies, Vice President or Trustee of nine entities and President or Vice President of two Foundations.  Mr. Schiele additionally serves as Trustee of ten private trusts from 1974 through the present.  Mr. Schiele serves as an officer of two charitable foundations since 1974 and 2006 has been Managing Partner of two investment partnerships since 2008.  From 2003 until 2013 he was a Director of Connecticut Innovations, Inc., one of the nation’s five most active venture capital firms and was Chairman of its Investment Advisory and Investment Committees from 2004 until 2013, responsible during his tenure for more than 200 VC investments.  He was also a Director and officer of The Yankee Institute until 2016.  Mr. Schiele’s long experience in previous start-ups and corporate restructurings and his service to other boards of directors allow him to provide valuable contributions to the Board.

Yantao Yu was elected as a director of the Company on July 30, 2019.  Mr. Yu has been the Chief Financial Officer of ROE Visual, a subsidiary of the Unilumin Group Co. Ltd. in the United States, since September 2018.  With over 25 years of financial experience, his background includes positions as Senior Accountant and/or Controller of The Quaker Oats Company; Bostik China (a subsidiary of Total S.A [TOT]); Eton Electric; and Airwell Air-conditioning Technology (China) Co., Ltd. and Airwell Fedders North America Inc (subsidiaries of Elco Holdings, Ltd. [TASE: ELCO]).  From 1994 through 2012, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Lover Group and served as its Secretary of the Board from 2013 through August 2018.  Mr. Yu holds an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree from the University of Minnesota and his professional certifications include CPA, CGA, CMA and FCCA.  Mr. Yu’s extensive financial experience allows him to provide valuable contributions to the Board.

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Salvatore J. Zizza has served as an independent director since December 2009 and was elected Chairman of the Board (a non-executive position) of the Company on September 28, 2018.  He had served as Vice Chairman of the Board (a non-executive position) of the Company since September 29, 2010.  He currently serves as the Chairman of Zizza & Associates, LLC. and of Bethlehem Advanced Materials.  Additionally, Mr. Zizza serves as a Director of GAMCO Westwood Funds.  He has been an Independent Trustee of GAMCO Global Gold, Natural Resources & Income Trust by Gabelli since November 2005 and serves as a Director/trustee of 26 funds in the fund complex of Gabelli Funds, LLC.  He has been Director of General Employment Enterprises Inc. since January 8, 2010 and has been an Independent Trustee of Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust since 2003.  Mr. Zizza has been Independent Director of Gabelli Convertible & Income Securities Fund Inc. since April 24, 1991 and has been a Director of Gabelli Equity Trust, Inc. since 1986 and a Trustee of Gabelli Utility Trust since 1999.  Mr. Zizza has previously served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of General Employment Enterprises Inc. from December 23, 2009 until December 26, 2012.  Mr. Zizza had served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Bion Environmental Technologies Inc. from January 13, 2003 until December 31, 2005 and has served as Non-Executive Chairman of Harbor BioSciences, Inc. since March 27, 2009.  He served as Lead Independent Director of Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals from March 2006 to March 2009 and as a Director of Earl Scheib Inc. from March 1, 2004 to April 2009.  Mr. Zizza received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and his Master of Business Administration in Finance from St. John's University, which also has awarded him an Honorary Doctorate in Commercial Sciences.  Mr. Zizza’s extensive experience and service to numerous other boards of directors allow him to provide valuable contributions to the Board.  In addition, Mr. Zizza also serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee and is the “audit committee financial expert” as required under the rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Meetings of the Board of Directors and Certain Committees:

The Board of Directors held two meetings during 2019.  All directors attended 75% or more of such meetings and of the committee meetings for which they were members.  All directors attended the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  The Corporation does not have a formal policy regarding directors’ attendance at the Board meetings or the Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but strongly encourages and prefers that directors attend regular and special Board meetings as well as the Annual Meeting of Stockholders in person, although attendance by teleconference is considered adequate.  The Corporation recognizes that attendance of the board members at all meetings may not be possible and excuses absences for good cause.

Mr. Salvatore J. Zizza, the Chairman, receives a monthly fee of $3,000.  There are currently no other fees paid to board members.  Fees for members of the Board and Committees are determined annually by the entire Board of Directors based on review of compensation paid by other similar size companies, the amounts currently paid by the Company, the overall policy for determining compensation paid to officers and employees of the Company and the general financial condition of the Company.  During 2019 and 2018, certain board members deferred payment of their fees.  In lieu of a cash payment, certain board members and former board members have agreed to receive restricted shares of Common Stock of the Company or a combination of cash and restricted shares of Common Stock of the Company, which such restricted shares shall contain a legend under the Securities Act of 1933 and shall not be transferable unless and until registered or otherwise in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Corporate Governance Policies and Procedures

The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Guidelines (the “Ethics Code”) that applies specifically to board members and executive officers.  The Ethics Code is designed to promote compliance with applicable laws and regulations, to promote honest and ethical conduct, including full, fair, accurate and timely disclosure in reports and communications with the public.  The Ethics Code is available for viewing on the Corporation’s website at www.trans-lux.com.  Any amendments to, or waivers from, the Ethics Code will be posted on the website.  In addition, the Board of Directors adopted a Whistle Blowing policy, which provides procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Corporation regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters, as well as the confidential, anonymous submission of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing practices.

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Corporate Leadership Structure

The roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are separate positions.  Mr. Zizza serves as our Chairman and Mr. Shaio serves as our Chief Executive Officer.  We separate the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in recognition of the differences between the two roles.  The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for setting our strategic direction and our day-to-day leadership and performance, while the Chairman of the Board provides guidance to the Chief Executive Officer and presides over meetings of the Board.  We do not have a lead independent director.

Risk Management

Our Board of Directors and its Audit Committee are actively involved in risk management.  Both the Board and Audit Committee regularly review the financial position of the Corporation and its operations, and other relevant information, including cash management and the risks associated with the Corporation’s financial position and operations.  The Board regularly receives reports from senior management on areas of material risk to our Company, including our liquidity, operational and legal and regulatory risks.  Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee reviews our major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, and it also meets periodically with management to discuss policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management.

Communication with the Board of Directors

Security holders are permitted to communicate with the members of the Board by forwarding written communications to the Corporation’s Chief Accounting Officer at the Corporation’s headquarters in New York, New York.  The Chief Accounting Officer will present all communications, as received and without screening, to the Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

Committees of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has appointed a Compensation Committee, an Audit Committee, an Executive Committee and a Nominating Committee.  Each committee operates under a charter approved by our Board.  Copies of each committee’s charter are posted on the Investor Relations section of our website at www.trans-lux.com.

Compensation Committee

The members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors are Messrs. Fazio, Yu and Zizza, with Mr. Zizza serving as Chairman.  The Compensation Committee operates under a formal written charter approved by the Compensation Committee and adopted by the Board of Directors.  The Compensation Committee reviews compensation and other benefits.  The Compensation Committee held no meetings in 2019.  None of the members of the Compensation Committee is or has been an officer or employee of the Corporation.  There are no Compensation Committee interlock relationships with respect to the Corporation.  Members of the Compensation Committee do not receive any fees for their participation.

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Audit Committee

Our Audit Committee consists of Messrs. Yu and Zizza, with Mr. Zizza serving as Chairman. Our Board has determined that Mr. Zizza is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.  The Audit Committee held four meetings in 2019.  Members of the Audit Committee do not receive any fees for their participation.  Our Audit Committee’s responsibilities include:

•              appointing, compensating, retaining and overseeing the work of any public accounting firm engaged by us for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or performing other audit, review or attest services;

•              reviewing and discussing with management and the external auditors our audited financial statements;

•              considering the effectiveness of our internal control system;

•              reviewing and discussing with management the Company’s major financial risk exposures and steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures and liabilities;

•              establishing our policy regarding our hiring of employees or former employees of the external auditors and procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of accounting related complaints and concerns;

•              meeting independently with our external auditors and management;

•              reviewing and updating the Audit Committee Charter; and

•              preparing the Audit Committee report required by this Itemthe proxy rules of the SEC.

Executive Committee

The members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors are Messrs. Fazio, Yu and Zizza.  The Executive Committee operates under a formal written charter approved by the Committee and adopted by the Board of Directors.  Messrs. Fazio, Yu and Zizza are independent, meeting the requirements of Section 952 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  Each of the members of the Executive Committee qualify as "non-employee directors" for the purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Messrs. Fazio, Yu and Zizza qualify as "outside directors" for the purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended.  The primary purpose of the Executive Committee is incorporated hereinto provide the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company with a confidential sounding board for insights and advice, and to provide the Board with a more active formal interface with management and its day to day policy and actions.  Additionally, the secondary objective of the Executive Committee is to exercise the powers and authority of the Board, subject to certain limitations set forth in the charter, during the intervals between meetings of the Board, when, based on the business needs of the Company, it is desirable for the Board to meet but the convening of a special board meeting is not warranted as determined by referencethe Chairman of the Board.  It is the general intention that all substantive matters in the ordinary course of business be brought before the full Board for action, but the Board recognizes the need for flexibility to act on substantive matters where action may be necessary between Board meetings, which, in the Sections entitled “Electionopinion of the Chairman of the Board, should not be postponed until the next previously scheduled meeting of the Board.  The Executive Committee did not hold any meetings in 2019.  Members of the Executive Committee do not receive any fees for their participation.

Nominating Committee

The members of the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors” “Executive Officers,” “Compliance are Messrs. Fazio, Yu and Zizza, with Mr. Fazio serving as Chairman.   The Nominating Committee operates under a formal written charter approved by the Committee and adopted by the Board of Directors.  The Nominating Committee recommends for consideration by the Board of Directors, nominees for election of directors at the Corporation’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  Director nominees are considered on the basis of, among other things, experience, expertise, skills, knowledge, integrity, understanding the Corporation’s business and willingness to devote time and effort to Board responsibilities.  The Nominating Committee did not hold any meetings in 2019.  Members of the Nominating Committee do not receive any fees for their participation.  The Nominating Committee does not have a separate policy regarding diversity of the Board.

Corporate Governance Committee

The Board of Directors has not established a corporate governance committee.  The Board of Directors acts as the corporate governance committee.

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Independence of Non-Employee Directors

While the Corporation’s Common Stock is traded on the OTCQB, the Corporation follows the NYSE MKT Company Guide regarding the independence of directors.  A director is considered independent if the Board of Directors determines that the director does not have any direct or indirect material relationship with the Corporation.  Messrs. Fazio, Liu, Schiele, Yu and Zizza are non-employee directors of the Corporation.  The Board of Directors has determined that Messrs. Schiele and Zizza are “independent directors” since they had no relationship with the Corporation other than their status and payment as non-employee directors and as stockholders.  The Board of Directors has determined that its two Audit Committee members, Messrs. Yu and Zizza, are “independent directors”.

Stockholder Communication with the Board

The Board maintains a process for stockholders to communicate with the Board or with individual directors.  Stockholders who wish to communicate with the Board or with individual directors should direct written correspondence to our Corporate Secretary at our Company’s headquarters located at 135 East 57th Street, 14th Floor, New York, New York  10022.  Any such communication must contain:

a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of our capital stock;

the name and address, as they appear on our books, of the stockholder sending such communication; and

the class and number of shares of our capital stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder.

The Corporate Secretary will forward such communications to our Board or the specified individual director to whom the communication is directed unless such communication is unduly hostile, threatening, illegal or similarly inappropriate, in which case the Corporate Secretary has the authority to discard the communication or to take the appropriate legal action regarding such communication.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

The Corporation’s executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders are required under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934” “Code to file reports of Ethics”ownership and “Corporate Governance Policieschanges in ownership with the SEC.  Copies of those reports must also be furnished to the Corporation.  Based solely on a review of the copies of reports furnished to the Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2019, Alexandro Gomez, John Hammock and Procedures”Yang Liu still needed to make their Form 3 filings.  All of the Corporation’s other executive officers, directors and 10% stockholders have complied with the Section 16(a) filing requirements except that the Form 4 filings for Todd Dupee, Thomas Durkin, Nicholas Fazio, George Schiele, Alberto Shaio, Yantao Yu and Salvatore Zizza were not timely filed.

Executive Officers

The Corporation’s executive officers are as follows:

Name

Office

Age

Alberto Shaio

President and Chief Executive Officer

71

Thomas E. Durkin

Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

66

Alexandro Gomez

Senior Vice President and Chief Relationship Officer

50

John Hammock

Senior Vice President and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

57

Todd Dupee

Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

47

Mr. Shaio was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation on August 9, 2018.  Previously, Mr. Shaio had served as a director of the Corporation from October 2, 2013 to July 30, 2019.  Mr. Shaio was Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation from April 24, 2018 until August 8, 2018 and he served as Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation from October 6, 2014 until his appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation on August 8, 2018.  Prior thereto, Mr. Shaio served as President and CEO of Craftsmen Industries from January 1, 2011 through September 1, 2013 and held various posts with Farrel Corporation (Ansonia CT and Rochdale England) from 1986 until December 31, 2010, including the role of President and CEO since 2003.  Mr. Shaio was a Director of the HF Mixing Group (Germany) from 2002 until 2010.  From 1970 through 1986, Mr. Shaio was General Manager, Vice President or President of various companies such as Pavco, Filmtex (Colombia SA), and the Interamerican Investment Group.  He has served on the board of directors of New Energy Corporation, Farrel Corporation, Interactive Systems, Polifilm, Filmtex, PAVCO SA, and Harburg Freudenberg Maschinenbau GmbH (Germany) and on the Board of Advisors of Scorpion Capital.

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Mr. Durkin became Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of the Corporation on July 30, 2019.  Mr. Durkin, as principal of Durkin Law, LLC, has been engaged in the Company’s Proxy Statement.private practice of law acting as counsel to numerous private and public domestic and foreign based companies for the last fifteen years, including Unilumin on an ongoing basis.  Prior to that, from 2000 to 2004, Mr. Durkin served as Vice President of Corporate Development, General Counsel and Secretary of Capital Environmental Resource, Inc., now known as Waste Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: WSII).  He also served as Area Vice President of Corporate Development of Waste Services Inc. from 1997 to 2000.  Waste Services, Inc. is a multibillion dollar publicly held international solid waste management company. In both positions he was materially involved in strategic growth transactions and financings.  Mr. Durkin was a partner at Durkin & Durkin, a New Jersey based general practice and commercial law firm.  There he was involved with various areas of practice, ranging from commercial real estate, financial services, banking, environmental, regulatory, corporate, commercial transactions and business matters.  Mr. Durkin also served as a Director of CD&L, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDV) from 1999 to 2006.  During that time, he served on the company’s audit committee and was engaged as consultant to assist the company with strategic directives and relationships with preferred stockholders.  He successfully acted as lead director on the company’s sale to Velocity Express (both publicly traded entities) for a total consideration of approximately $90 million.  He was later engaged by Velocity to restructure $120 million of debt held by its bondholders.  Mr. Durkin has served as an officer and director of several private companies and other small cap public companies and is a member of the bar of New York and New Jersey.  Mr. Durkin graduated from Fordham University in 1975 and graduated Cum Laude from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1978.

Mr. Gomez became Senior Vice President and Chief Relationship Officer of the Corporation on September 28, 2018.  He had been Chief Revenue Officer since he had started with the Corporation in 2014.  Mr. Gomez previously worked for xclr8 Media from 2011 to 2014, Van Wagner Sports and Entertainment from 2003 to 2011, One-On-One Sports Radio Network from 2000 to 2001, Foot Locker Worldwide from 1998 to 2000 and News Corporation’s Fox Sports and Fox Video from 1992 to 1998.

Mr. Hammock became Senior Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of the Corporation on September 28, 2018.  He had been Chief Sales Officer since he had started with the Corporation in 2016.  Mr. Hammock has extensive experience in international business development and sales with Fortune 500 accounts.  Previously he was an Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Niagara Streaming Media.  Mr. Hammock has held numerous high profile Senior Vice President roles in telecom, software and manufacturing companies including Newbridge Networks, Corvis and Voxpath Networks.  As Vice President of Corvis, his team’s sales efforts were responsible for $238 million during the two-year period preceding a successful $1.6 billion IPO.  He has received numerous President Club and Circle of Excellence awards.

Mr. Dupee became Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Corporation effective October 1, 2018.  He had been Interim Chief Accounting Officer of the Corporation from April 26, 2018 until October 8, 2018 and Vice President of the Corporation from 2009 until October 8, 2018.  He had previously been Controller since 2004 (except when he served as Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer from December 3, 2012 to May 29, 2014) and has been with the Corporation since 1994.

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ITEM 11.              EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Compensation of Executive Officers

The following table provides certain summary information requiredfor the last two fiscal years of the Corporation concerning compensation paid or accrued by this Itemthe Corporation and its subsidiaries to or on behalf of the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer and the Company’s two most highly compensated executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer:

Summary Compensation Table

Annual Compensation

Change in

Pension Value

of Nonqualified

Deferred

Compensation

Earnings ($)

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan

Compensation

($)

Stock

Awards

($)

Option

Awards

($)

All Other

Compen-
sation

($) (1)

 

Bonus

($)

Total

($)

Name and Principal
Position

Year

Salary

($)

Alberto Shaio

2019

299,999

-

-

-

-

-

18,000

317,999

President and Chief

Executive Officer

2018

261,537

-

9,800

-

-

-

3,000

274,337

Alexandro Gomez

2019

199,998

36,198

-

-

-

-

-

236,196

Senior Vice President

and Chief Relationship

Officer

2018

167,767

-

-

-

-

-

-

169,767

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Hammock

2019

184,998

-

-

-

-

-

-

184,998

Senior Vice President

and Chief Sales and

Marketing Officer

2018

 

198,833

 

-

 

- 

-

-

-

-

 

198,833

 

(1)       See “All Other Compensation” for further details.

All Other Compensation

During 2019 and 2018, “All Other Compensation” consisted of director fees and other items.  The following is incorporated hereina table of amounts per named individual:

Name

Year

Director and/or Trustee Fees
($)

Other (1)
($)

Total All Other Compensation

($)

Alberto Shaio      

2019

-

18,000

18,000

 

2018

-

  3,000

  3,000

Alexandro Gomez

2019

-

-

-

 

2018

-

-

-

John Hammock

2019

-

-

-

 

2018

-

-

-

(1)             Other consists of vehicle allowance.

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Stock Option Plans and Stock Options

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

In 2019, the Company made the minimum requirement of $629,000 of contributions to the Company’s defined benefit pension plan for all eligible employees and the eligible individuals listed in the Summary Compensation Table.

The Company’s defined benefit pension plan, prior to being frozen, covered all salaried employees over age 21 with at least one year of service who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement to which the Company is a party.  Retirement benefits are based on the final average salary for the highest five of the ten years preceding retirement.  For example, estimated annual retirement benefits payable at normal retirement date, which normally is age 65, is approximately $15,000 for an individual with ten years of credited service and with a final average salary of $100,000; and approximately $120,000 for an individual with 40 years of credited service and with a final average salary of $200,000.  Currently, $285,000 is the legislated annual cap on determining the final average annual salary and $230,000 is the maximum legislated annual benefit payable from a qualified pension plan.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2019

There were no unexercised options held by any of our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2019.

Employment Agreements

The Corporation executed an employment agreement with Alberto Shaio, President and Chief Executive Officer, effective on October 1, 2018.  The initial two-year term expires on October 1, 2020.  The agreement provides for compensation at the annual rate of $300,000 per annum.  The agreement entitles Mr. Shaio to twenty days’ paid vacation per year, a vehicle allowance, “key person” insurance, business expense reimbursement and certain employee benefits generally available to employees of the Corporation.  The agreement provides for certain severance benefits depending on whether Mr. Shaio leaves the employ of the Corporation for “Cause,” “Good Reason” or “Without Cause and for Good Reason” prior to the termination of the agreement.  The agreement contains standard non-disparagement, confidentiality and non-solicitation provisions.  The foregoing is a summary of the agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Section entitled “Executive Compensation and Transactions with Management” intext of the Company’s Proxy Statement.agreement as filed as Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K dated October 4, 2018.

 

The Corporation executed an employment agreement with Todd Dupee, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, effective on October 1, 2018.  The initial two-year term expires on October 1, 2020.  The agreement provides for compensation at the annual rate of $150,000 per annum.  The agreement entitles Mr. Dupee to twenty days’ paid vacation per year, a vehicle allowance, “key person” insurance, business expense reimbursement and certain employee benefits generally available to employees of the Corporation.  The agreement provides for certain severance benefits depending on whether Mr. Dupee leaves the employ of the Corporation for “Cause,” “Good Reason” or “Without Cause and for Good Reason” prior to the termination of the agreement.  The agreement contains standard non-disparagement, confidentiality and non-solicitation provisions.  The foregoing is a summary of the agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the agreement as filed as Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K dated October 26, 2018.

Potential Payments Upon Severance or Change in Control

The following table sets forth the value of the severance benefits each Named Executive Officer would be entitled to receive under their respective employment agreements, as applicable, assuming that a Change in Control and the entitlement to receive Severance Benefits occurred on December 31, 2019 (neither Mr. Durkin, Mr. Gomez nor Mr. Hammock are entitled to any severance benefits):

Severance Benefit Component

 

Alberto Shaio

Base Salary

 

$

300,000

Bonus

 

$

        —

Value of Benefits

 

$

        —

Reduction to Avoid Excise Tax

 

$

        —

Equity Awards - Vested and Unvested Accelerated

 

$

        —

Total

 

$

300,000

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Director Compensation

Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan

The Board of Directors has previously established a Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan which, as amended, covers a maximum of 1,200 shares for grant.  Such options are granted for a term of six years and are priced at fair market value on the grant date.  The determination as to the amount of options to be granted to directors is based on years of service, and are calculated on a yearly basis as follows:  a minimum of 20 stock options are granted for each director; an additional 20 stock options are granted if a director has served for five years or more; an additional 20 stock options are granted if a director has served for ten years or more; and an additional 40 stock options are granted if a director has served for twenty years or more. Such options are exercisable at any time upon the first anniversary of the grant date.  The Corporation grants additional stock options upon the expiration or exercise of any such option if such exercise or expiration occurs no earlier than four years after date of grant, in an amount equal to the number of options that have been exercised or that have expired.

Compensation of Directors

The following table represents director compensation for 2019:

Name

Year

Fees Earned
($)

Stock Awards
($)

Option Awards
($)

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
($)

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings
($)

All Other Compensation
($)

Total
($)

Marco Elser (1)

2019

5,833

-

-

-

-

-

5,833

Nicholas Fazio

2019

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Alan K. Greene (2)

2019

7,567

-

-

-

-

-

7,567

Yang Liu

2019

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

George W. Schiele

2019

29,750

-

-

-

-

-

29,750

Alberto Shaio (2)

2019

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Yaozhong Shi (2)

2019

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Yantao Yu (3)

2019

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Salvatore J. Zizza

2019

46,950

-

-

-

-

-

46,950

(1)             Mr. Elser resigned from the Board on July 30, 2019.

(2)             Messrs. Greene, Shaio and Shi’s terms expired on July 30, 2019.

(3)             Mr. Yu was elected to the Board on July 30, 2019.

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ITEM 12.              SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

The following table sets forth information requiredas of March 19, 2020 (or such other date specified) with respect to (A) the beneficial ownership of Common Stock or shares issuable within 60 days of such date by this Item(i) each person known by the Corporation to own more than 5% of the Common Stock and who is incorporated herein by referencedeemed to be such beneficial owner of Common Stock under Rule 13d-3(a)(ii); (ii) each person who is a director of the Section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Directors and Executive Officers”Corporation; (iii) each named executive in the Company’s Proxy Statement.Summary Compensation Table and (iv) all persons as a group who are executive officers and directors of the Corporation, and (B) the percentage of outstanding shares held by them on that date:

Name, Status and Mailing Address

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned

Percent Of Class (%)

5% Stockholders:

Unilumin North America Inc.

6,985,892

(1)

52.0

254 West 31st Street

New York, NY  10001

Gabelli Funds, LLC

4,288,935

(2)

31.9

GAMCO Asset Management Inc.

Teton Advisors, Inc

One Corporate Center

Rye, NY  10580-1434

Non-Employee Directors:

Nicholas J. Fazio

6,985,892

(3)

52.0

Yang Liu

-

(3)

*

George W. Schiele

168,210

1.3

Yantao Yu

-

(3)

*

Salvatore J. Zizza

125,000

(4)

*

Named Executive Officers:

Alberto Shaio

175,471

1.3

Thomas E. Durkin

-

*

Alexandro Gomez

25,000

*

John Hammock

10,000

*

Todd Dupee

40,000

*

All directors and executive officers as a group

7,529,573

(5)

56.0

*Represents less than 1% of total number of outstanding shares.

 

ITEM 13.              CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE(1)             Based on Schedule 13D, as amended, dated April 15, 2019 by Unilumin.

 

(2)             Based on Schedule 13D, as amended, dated April 12, 2019 by Mario J. Gabelli, Gabelli Funds, LLC, Teton Advisors, Inc., Gamco Investors, Inc., GGCP, Inc., and Gamco Asset Management Inc., which companies are parent holding companies and/or registered investment advisers.  All securities are held as agent for the account of various investment company fund accounts managed by such reporting person.  Except under certain conditions, Gabelli Funds, LLC has beneficial ownership of such shares.  Based on such Schedule 13D amendment, Gabelli Funds, LLC beneficially owns 3,252,341 shares of Common Stock, GAMCO Asset Management Inc. beneficially owns 76,710 shares of Common Stock and Teton Advisors, Inc. beneficially owns 959,884 shares of Common Stock.

(3)             Mr. Fazio is Director and Chief Executive Officer of Unilumin North America Inc., which owns the 6,985,892 shares, so he may be deemed a beneficial owner of the shares owned by Unilumin North America Inc.  Mr. Fazio has no pecuniary interest in these shares and disclaims any beneficial interest.  The information requiredshare ownership with respect to Messrs. Liu and Yu does not include the shares held by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Section entitled “Executive Compensation and Transactions with Management”Unilumin North America Inc.

(4)             Mr. Zizza disclaims any interest in the Company’s Proxy Statement.shares set forth in footnote 2 above.

 

ITEM 14.              PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES(5)             See footnotes 3 and 4 above.

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the Section entitled “Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company’s Proxy Statement.

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Equity Compensation Plan Information

December 31, 2019

Securities

to be issued

upon exercise

Weighted

average

exercise price

Securities

available for

future issuance

Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders

-

-

800

ITEM 13.              CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Certain Transactions

Except as described below, there has not been, nor is there currently proposed, any transaction or series of similar transactions to which we were or are a party in which the amount involved exceeded or exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or 1% of our total assets and in which any of our directors, executive officers, holders of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than compensation arrangements with directors and executive officers and the transactions described or referred to below.

For a description of the Company’s transactions with related parties, please see Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Related Party Transactions.

ITEM 14.              PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

Marcum LLP (“Marcum”) have served as our independent registered public accounting firm since December 8, 2015.  The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed Marcum as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2020.  The proposal to appoint Marcum as the independent registered public accounting firm will be approved if, at the Annual Meeting at which a quorum is present, the votes cast in favor of the proposal exceed the votes cast opposing the proposal.

There are no disagreements between management and Marcum regarding accounting principles and their application or otherwise.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Independent Auditor Services:  All audit services provided by Marcum for 2019 and 2018 were approved by the Audit Committee in advance of the work being performed.

Audit Fees: Marcum audit fees were $206,000 in 2019 and $215,000 in 2018.  Marcum audit fees include fees and expenses associated with the annual audit of the Company’s financial statements.

Audit-Related Fees:  Marcum did not provide any audit-related serviced services in 2019 or 2018.

Tax Fees:  Marcum did not provide any tax services in 2019 or 2018.

All Other Fees:  Marcum did not provide any non-audit services in 2019 or 2018.

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15.              EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)           The following documents are filed as part of this report:

1              Consolidated Financial Statements of Trans-Lux Corporation:

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm as of

December 31, 20172019

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20172019 and 20162018

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the Years Ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

2              Financial Statement Schedules:  Not applicable.

 

3              Exhibits:

 

3(a)         Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 8-K dated July 2, 2012).

 

  (b)         Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 8-K filed February 9, 2019).

  (c)         Amended and Restated Bylaws of the registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Form 8-K datedfiled March 9, 2012).

  (c)         Certificate of Designations of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Form 8-K dated October 14, 2015).

 

4(a)         Indenture dated as of December 1, 1994 (form of said indenture is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 6 of Schedule 13E-4 Amendment No. 2 datedfiled December 23, 1994).

 

 (b)          Indenture dated as of March 1, 2004 (form of said indenture is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 12(d) of Schedule TO datedfiled March 2, 2004).

 (c)          Description of the Company’s securities registered pursuant to section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act on 1934.

 

10.1 **  Form of Indemnity Agreement - Directors (form of said agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registration No. 333-15481).

 

10.2 **  Form of Indemnity Agreement - Officers (form of said agreement is incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Registration No. 333-15481).

 

10.3        Amended and Restated Pension Plan dated January 1, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 10-K datedfiled March 29, 2016).

 

10.4 **  Supplemental Executive Retirement PlanEmployment agreement with Michael R. MulcahyAlberto Shaio dated JanuaryOctober 1, 20092018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K dated January 6, 2009)filed October 4, 2018).

 

10.5 **  Employment Agreementagreement with Jean-Marc AllainTodd Dupee dated February 15, 2015October 22, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.510.1 of Form 10-K dated April 1, 2015)8-K filed October 26, 2018).

 

10.6 **  Employment agreement with Alberto Shaio dated March 30, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Form 10-K/A dated April 29, 2016).

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10.7 **  Trans-Lux Corporation 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Form 8-K dated July 2, 2012).

10.8        Master Agreement for Sale and Assignment of Leases with AXIS Capital, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.01 of Form 8-K dated June 11, 2013).

10.9        Promissory note in favor of Carlisle Investments Inc. (“Carlisle”) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 of Form 10-K/A filed April 29, 2016).

 

10.10      Trademark licensing agreement effective as of June 30, 2016 by and between the Company as Licensor and Transtech as Licensee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 10-Q filed August 12, 2016).

10.11      Credit and Security Agreement with CNH Finance Fund I, L.P. (“CNH”) (formerly known as SCM Specialty Finance Opportunities Fund, L.P.) dated as of July 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K filed July 13, 2016).

10.12      First Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement with CNH dated as of September 8, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K filed September 12, 2016).

10.13      Second Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement with CNH dated as of February 14, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K filed February 17, 2017).

10.14      Third Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement with CNH dated as of March 28, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K filed March 29, 2017).

10.15      Fourth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement with CNH dated as of July 28, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Form 8-K filed August 2, 2017).

10.16      Fifth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement with CNH dated as of October 10, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2017).

10.17      Sixth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement with CNH dated as of November 9, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2017).

10.18      Seventh Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement with CNH dated as of November 16, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K filed November 20, 2017).

10.19      Eighth Amendment to Credit and Security Agreement with CNH dated as of March 14, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K filed March 16, 2018).

10.20        Credit Agreement with Carlisle dated as of November 6, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2017).

 

10.21      Mutual Lien Intercreditor Agreement by and between CNH and Carlisle dated as of November 6, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2017).

21           List of Subsidiaries, filed herewith.

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10.9        Loan and Security Agreement with MidCap Business Credit LLC dated as of September 16, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Form 8-K filed September 20, 2019).

31          

21           List of Subsidiaries, filed herewith.

31.1        Certification of Jean-Marc Allain,Alberto Shaio, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

31.2        Certification of Todd Dupee, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.herewith.

 

32           32.1        Certification of Jean-Marc Allain,Alberto Shaio, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.

32.2        Certification of Todd Dupee, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, filed herewith.herewith.

 

101         The following interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T from Trans-Lux Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the annual period ended December 31, 20172019 are formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Deficit for the Years Ended December 31, 20172019 and 2016,2018, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 20172019 and 20162018 and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. *

 

*                                              Furnished herewith.  Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the interactive data files in Exhibit 101 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Section 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and is deemed not filed for purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

**                                           Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

ITEM 16.                              16.                              FORM 10-K SUMMARY

 

Not applicable.

 

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Table of ContentContents

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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:

 

TRANS-LUX CORPORATION

By:

/s/  Jean-Marc AllainAlberto Shaio

Jean-Marc AllainAlberto Shaio

President and Chief Executive Officer &

Chief Accounting Officer

By:

/s/  Todd Dupee

Todd Dupee

Senior Vice President and ControllerChief Accounting Officer

Dated:  March 30, 201820, 2020

 

Trans-Lux Corporation, and each of the undersigned, do hereby appoint Jean-Marc AllainAlberto Shaio and Todd Dupee, and each of them severally, its or his/her true and lawful attorney to execute on behalf of Trans-Lux Corporation and the undersigned any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission; each of such attorneys shall have the power to act hereunder with or without the other.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated:

 

/s/ Salvatore J. Zizza

March 20, 2020

Salvatore J. Zizza, Chairman of the Board

/s/ Nicholas Fazio

March 20, 2020

Nicholas Fazio, Director

/s/ Yang Liu

March 20, 2020

Yang Liu, Director

/s/ George W. Schiele

March 30, 201820, 2020

George W. Schiele, Chairman of the BoardDirector

/s/ Salvatore J. ZizzaYantao Yu

March 30, 201820, 2020

Salvatore J. Zizza, Vice Chairman of the Board

/s/ Jean-Marc Allain

March 30, 2018

Jean-Marc Allain, Director, President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ Marco Elser

March 30, 2018

Marco Elser,Yantao Yu, Director

/s/ Alan K. Greene

March 30, 2018

Alan K. Greene, Director

March 30, 2018

Ryan Morris, Director

/s/ Alberto Shaio

March 30, 201820, 2020

Alberto Shaio, Director,President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Todd Dupee

March 20, 2020

Todd Dupee, Senior Vice President and Chief OperatingAccounting Officer

(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

March 30, 2018

Yaozhong Shi, Director

 

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