UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended October 29, 201127, 2012

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 0-13200

 

 

Astro-Med, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Rhode Island 05-0318215

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

600 East Greenwich Avenue, West Warwick, Rhode Island 02893
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(401) 828-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  ¨.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer ¨  Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨  Smaller reporting company x

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, $.05 Par Value – 7,396,7287,337,442 shares

(excluding treasury shares) as of November 30, 20112012

 

 

 


ASTRO-MED, INC.

INDEX

 

    Page No. 

Part I.

 

Financial Information

 

Item 1.

 Item 1.

Financial Statements

 
 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets – October 29, 2011 (unaudited)27, 2012 and January 31, 2011 (audited)2012

  3  
 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations – Three and Nine Months Ended October 29, 201127, 2012 and October 30, 201029, 2011

  4  

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income – Three and Nine Months Ended October 27, 2012 and October 29, 2011

5
 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Nine Months Ended October 29, 201127,  2012 and October 30, 201029, 2011

  56  
 

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

  6-127-14  

Item 2.

 Item 2.

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

  13-2215-20  

Item 3.

 Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

  2220  

Item 4.

 Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

  2220  

Part II.

 

Other Information

 

Item 1.

 Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

  2321  

Item 1A.

 Item 1A.

Risk Factors

  2321  

Item 2.

 Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

  2321  

Item 6.

Exhibits

 21
ExhibitsSignatures  23

Signatures

2422  


Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Financial Statements

ASTRO-MED, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 

  October 29,
2011
 January 31,
2011
 
  (Unaudited) (Audited)   October 27,
2012
 January 31,
2012
 

ASSETS

      

CURRENT ASSETS

      

Cash and Cash Equivalents

  $10,655,057   $7,720,135    $14,789,337   $11,703,621  

Securities Available for Sale

   11,376,791    12,910,232     8,173,835    11,335,924  

Accounts Receivable, net

   11,350,148    11,111,974     11,804,104    11,800,481  

Inventories

   13,606,992    14,404,914     14,487,300    14,128,599  

Deferred Tax Assets

   3,088,885    2,577,166     2,463,523    2,618,578  

Line of Credit Receivable

   300,000    —    

Note Recievable

   125,000    —    

Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

   975,769    975,928     805,653    891,047  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Total Current Assets

   51,053,642    49,700,349     52,948,752    52,478,250  

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

   39,180,832    38,148,516     38,371,091    37,876,071  

Less Accumulated Depreciation

   (26,785,886  (25,606,561   (27,671,765  (26,705,341
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Property, Plant and Equipment, net

   12,394,946    12,541,955     10,699,326    11,170,730  

OTHER ASSETS

      

Intangible Assets, net

   277,639    331,389  

Goodwill

   2,336,721    2,336,721     2,336,721    2,336,721  

Notes Receivable

   844,700    969,700  

Other

   108,685    88,799     107,446    106,735  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Total Other Assets

   2,723,045    2,756,909     3,288,867    3,413,156  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

  $66,171,633   $64,999,213    $66,936,945   $67,062,136  
  

 

  

 

 
  

 

  

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

      

CURRENT LIABILITIES

      

Accounts Payable

  $2,068,584   $2,748,293    $2,181,561   $2,540,116  

Accrued Compensation

   2,427,542    2,179,448     2,798,981    3,228,728  

Other Accrued Expenses

   1,932,715    1,750,515     1,556,367    1,807,675  

Deferred Revenue

   595,293    787,988     581,568    623,223  

Income Taxes Payable

   447,072    36,979     411,344    72,725  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Total Current Liabilities

   7,471,206    7,503,223     7,529,821    8,272,467  

Deferred Tax Liabilities

   2,360,654    2,060,418     1,811,097    1,894,104  

Other Long Term Liabilities

   1,178,516    1,146,978     838,661    1,232,699  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

   11,010,376    10,710,619     10,179,579    11,399,270  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

      

Common Stock, $.05 Par Value, Authorized 13,000,000 shares; Issued 8,926,578 and 8,660,270 shares at October 29, 2011 and January 31, 2011, respectively

   446,333    433,017  

Common Stock, $.05 Par Value, Authorized 13,000,000 shares; Issued 9,005,976 and 8,956,488 shares at October 27, 2012 and January 31, 2012, respectively

   450,303    447,829  

Additional Paid-In Capital

   37,510,974    36,586,226     38,504,592    37,964,204  

Retained Earnings

   27,582,855    26,842,890     29,491,905    27,919,367  

Treasury Stock, at Cost, 1,543,720 and 1,414,981 shares at October 29, 2011 and January 31, 2011, respectively

   (10,788,983  (9,840,052

Treasury Stock, at Cost, 1,673,214 and 1,542,276 shares at October 27, 2012 and January 31, 2012, respectively

   (11,736,237  (10,789,805

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

   410,078    266,513     46,803    121,271  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Total Shareholders’ Equity

   55,161,257    54,288,594     56,757,366    55,662,866  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

  $66,171,633   $64,999,213    $66,936,945   $67,062,136  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

See Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

ASTRO-MED, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

(Unaudited)

 

  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 
  October 29,
2011
 October 30,
2010
 October 29,
2011
   October 30,
2010
   October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
 October 27,
2012
 October 29,
2011
 

Net Sales

  $19,568,600   $18,329,000   $58,764,264    $53,159,060    $20,562,076    $19,568,600   $58,559,205   $58,764,264  

Cost of Sales

   11,554,870    10,928,429    35,348,220     31,869,215     11,724,077     11,554,870    34,051,302    35,348,220  
  

 

  

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

  

 

 

Gross Profit

   8,013,730    7,400,571    23,416,044     21,289,845     8,837,999     8,013,730    24,507,903    23,416,044  

Costs and Expenses:

            

Selling and Marketing

   4,554,875    4,231,926    13,646,526     12,349,272     4,431,135     4,554,875    12,972,867    13,646,526  

General and Administrative

   1,009,145    1,078,942    2,884,286     3,326,920     1,187,354     1,009,145    3,338,997    2,884,286  

Research and Development

   1,261,632    1,382,696    3,916,899     3,736,909     1,126,319     1,261,632    3,537,646    3,916,899  
  

 

  

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

  

 

 

Operating Expenses

   6,825,652    6,693,564    20,447,711     19,413,101     6,744,808     6,825,652    19,849,510    20,447,711  
  

 

  

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

  

 

 

Operating Income

   1,188,078    707,007    2,968,333     1,876,744     2,093,191     1,188,078    4,658,393    2,968,333  

Other (Expense) Income

   (68,663  24,157    378,619     130,392  

Other Income (Expense)

   46,651     (68,663  (56,377  378,619  
  

 

  

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

  

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

   1,119,415    731,164    3,346,952     2,007,136     2,139,842     1,119,415    4,602,016    3,346,952  

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

   319,428    (61,137  1,069,688     462,012  

Income Tax Provision

   832,388     319,428    1,470,974    1,069,688  
  

 

  

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

  

 

 

Net Income

  $799,987   $792,301   $2,277,264    $1,545,124    $1,307,454    $799,987   $3,131,042   $2,277,264  
  

 

  

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

  

 

 

Net Income per Common Share:

            

Basic

  $0.11   $0.11   $0.31    $0.21    $0.18    $0.11   $0.42   $0.31  

Diluted

  $0.11   $0.11   $0.31    $0.21    $0.18    $0.11   $0.42   $0.31  

Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding:

            

Basic

   7,339,639    7,334,589    7,300,167     7,276,835     7,379,094     7,339,639    7,414,273    7,300,167  

Diluted

   7,420,835    7,491,981    7,422,787     7,488,343     7,461,958     7,420,835    7,486,588    7,422,787  

Dividends Declared Per Common Share

  $0.07   $0.07   $0.21    $0.21    $0.07    $0.07   $0.21   $0.21  

See Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

ASTRO-MED, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited)

   Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
   October 27,
2012
  October 29,
2011
  October 27,
2012
  October 29,
2011
 

Net Income

  $1,307,454   $799,987   $3,131,042   $2,277,264  

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Taxes and Reclassification Adjustments:

     

Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments

   184,758    (92,983  (65,951  140,341  

Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) Arising During the Period

   (1,673  (4,882  (8,518  3,223  
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

   183,085    (97,865  (74,469  143,564  
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income

  $1,490,539   $702,122   $3,056,573   $2,420,828  
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

 

See Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

ASTRO-MED, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited)

(Unaudited)

 

  Nine Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
  October 29,
2011
 October 30,
2010
   October 27,
2012
 October 29,
2011
 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

      

Net Income

  $2,277,264   $1,545,124    $3,131,042   $2,277,264  

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:

      

Depreciation and Amortization

   1,192,466    1,179,678     993,495    1,192,466  

Share-Based Compensation

   161,242    253,025     305,551    161,242  

Deferred Income Tax Benefit

   (211,483  (22,956

Legal Settlement

   —      1,495,051  

Loss on Sale of Securities Available for Sale

   —      30,961  

Deferred Income Tax Provision

   72,048    (211,483

Changes in Assets and Liabilities:

      

Accounts Receivable

   (238,174  (1,664,901   (3,623  (238,174

Inventories

   797,922    (1,925,228   (358,701  797,922  

Income Taxes

   676,916    (323,274   174,204    676,916  

Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

   (442,110  423,410     (1,081,265  (442,110

Other

   (138,675  58,638     (201,123  (138,675
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

   4,075,368    1,049,528     3,031,628    4,075,368  

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

      

Proceeds from Sales/Maturities of Securities Available for Sale

   8,905,000    6,149,039     14,965,000    8,905,000  

Purchases of Securities Available for Sale

   (7,366,676  (6,980,000   (11,815,817  (7,366,676

Line of Credit Issuance

   (300,000  —    

Additions to Property, Plant and Equipment

   (970,867  (1,925,588   (527,472  (970,867
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Net Cash Provided (Used) by Investing Activities

   567,457    (2,756,549

Net Cash Provided by Investing Activities

   2,321,711    567,457  

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

      

Proceeds from Common Shares Issued Under Employee Benefit Plans and Employee Stock Option Plans, Net of Payment of Minimum Tax Withholdings

   (170,604  411,010     60,881    (170,604

Purchase of Treasury Stock

   —      (272,682   (770,000  —    

Cash Settlement of Stock Options

   —      (186,031

Dividends Paid

   (1,537,299  (1,529,703   (1,558,504  (1,537,299
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

   (1,707,903  (1,577,406   (2,267,623  (1,707,903

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents

   2,934,922    (3,284,427

Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

   3,085,716    2,934,922  

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

   7,720,135    14,155,096     11,703,621    7,720,135  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

  $10,655,057   $10,870,669    $14,789,337   $10,655,057  
  

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:

      

Cash Paid During the Period for Income Taxes, Net of Refunds

  $553,599   $861,546    $1,354,432   $553,599  

See Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements (unaudited).

ASTRO-MED, INC.

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

(1) Overview

Headquartered in West Warwick, Rhode Island, Astro-Med Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and manufacturesdistributes a broad range of specialty printers and data acquisition and analysis systems. Our products are distributed through our own sales force and authorized dealers in the United States. We also sell to customers outside of the United States primarily by using authorized dealers and international sales representatives, who are managed from our foreign sales offices. Astro-Med, Inc. products are sold under the brand names Astro-Med® Test & Measurement, Grass® Technologies and QuickLabel® Systems and are employed around the world in a wide range of aerospace, automotive, communications, chemical, food and beverage, medical, military, industrial, and packaging applications.

Unless otherwise indicated, references to “Astro-Med,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q refer to Astro-Med, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

(2) Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Astro-Med pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and reflect all adjustments consisting of normal recurring adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods included herein. These financial statements do not include all disclosures associated with annual financial statements and, accordingly, should be read in conjunction with footnotes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011.2012.

Results of operations for the interim periods presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

The presentation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Some of the more significant estimates relate to the allowances for doubtful accounts and credits, inventory valuation, impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, income taxes, share-based compensation and warranty reserves. Management’s estimates are based on the facts and circumstances available at the time estimates are made, past historical experience, risk of loss, general economic conditions and trends, and management’s assessments of the probable future outcome of these matters. Consequently, actual results could differ from those estimates.

Certain amounts in prior year’s financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

(3) Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

(4) Net Income Per Common Share

Basic net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares and, if dilutive, common equivalent shares for stock options, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units outstanding during the period. A reconciliation of the shares used in calculating basic and diluted net income per share is as follows:

 

  Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
  October 29,
2011
   October 30,
2010
   October 29,
2011
   October 30,
2010
   October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
   October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding – Basic

   7,339,639     7,334,589     7,300,167     7,276,835     7,379,094     7,339,639     7,414,273     7,300,167  

Effect of Dilutive Options

   81,196     157,392     122,620     211,508  

Effect of Dilutive Options, Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units

   82,864     81,196     72,315     122,620  
  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding – Diluted

   7,420,835     7,491,981     7,422,787     7,488,343     7,461,958     7,420,835     7,486,588     7,422,787  
  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

 

For the three and nine months ended October 27, 2012, the diluted per share amounts do not reflect common equivalent shares outstanding of 595,394 and 654,194, respectively, because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the three and nine months ended October 29, 2011, the diluted per share amounts do not reflect options outstanding of 679,890 and 664,690, respectively. For the three and nine months ended October 30, 2010, the diluted per share amounts do not reflect options outstanding of 782,346. These outstanding options were not included due to their anti-dilutive effect, as the exercise price of the options was greater than the average market price of the underlying stock during the periodsperiod presented.

(5) Share-Based Compensation

Astro-Med has one equity incentive plan (the “Plan”) under which incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) and other equity based awards may be granted to directors, officers and certain employees. To date, only options have been granted under the Plan. Options granted to employees vest over four years. An aggregate of 1,000,000 shares were authorized for awards under the Plan. Options granted to employees vest over four years. The exercise price of each stock option will be established at the discretion of the Compensation Committee; however, any incentive stock options granted must be at an exercise price of not less than fair market value at the date of grant. Beginning in fiscal year 2013, a portion of the Company’s long-term incentive compensation will be awarded in the form of RSUs. The RSUs vest fifty-percent on the first anniversary of the grant date and fifty-percent on the second anniversary of the grant date provided that the grantee is employed on each vesting date by Astro-Med or an affiliate company and provided the Company achieves specific thresholds of net sales and annual operating income as established under the Management Bonus Domestic Plan. At October 27, 2012, 460,444 shares were available for grant under the Plan.

On September 6, 2012, Astro-Med, Inc. announced the appointment of Gregory A. Woods, as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Upon this appointment, Mr. Woods was granted 50,000 shares of restricted stock and options to purchase 50,000 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, all of which vest in four equal, annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of his appointment. Mr. Woods will be eligible to participate in the incentive compensation and bonus plans applicable to executive officers of the Company.

The Plan provides for an automatic annual grant of ten-year options to purchase 5,000 shares of stock to each non-employee director upon the adjournment of each annual shareholders’ meeting. Each such option is exercisable at the fair market value as of the grant date and vests immediately prior to the next succeeding annual shareholders’ meeting. DuringIn addition to the thirdautomatic option grant under Plan, the Company adopted a Non-Employee Director Annual Compensation Program (the “Program”) effective as of February 1, 2012. The Program provides that each non-employee director is entitled to an annual cash retainer of $7,000 (the “Cash Retainer”), plus $500 for each Board and committee meeting attended, provided that if more than one meeting occurs on the same day, no more than $500 shall be paid for such day. The non-employee director may elect for any fiscal year to receive all or a portion of the Cash Retainer in the form of common stock of the Company, which will be issued under the Plan. If a non-employee director elects to receive all or a portion of the Cash Retainer in the form of common stock, such shares shall be issued in four quarterly installments on the first day of each fiscal quarter, and the number of fiscalshares of common stock to be issued shall be based on the fair market value of such common stock on the date such installment is payable. The common stock received in lieu of such Cash Retainer will be fully vested. However, a non-employee director who receives common stock in lieu of all or a portion of the Cash Retainer may not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber the common stock prior to the first anniversary of the date on which such shares were issuable. In the event of the death or disability of a nonemployee director, or a change in control of the Company, any shares of common stock issued in lieu of such Cash Retainer, shall no longer be subject to such restrictions on transfer.

In addition, under the Program, commencing with the 2012 5,000 options were grantedannual meeting, each non-employee director will receive RSAs with a value equal to Mitchell Quain in connection with his election as$20,000 (the “Equity Retainer”). If a member of Astro-Med’snon-employee director is first appointed or elected to the Board of Directors. At October 29, 2011, 683,444 sharesDirectors effective on a date other than at the annual shareholders meeting, on the date of such appointment or election, the director shall receive a pro rata award of restricted common stock having a value based on the number of days remaining until the next annual meeting. The Equity Retainer will vest on the earlier of 12 months after the grant date or the date immediately prior to the next annual meeting of the shareholders following the meeting at which such RSAs were availablegranted. However, a non-employee director may not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber the vested common stock prior to the second anniversary of the vesting date. In the event of the death or disability of a non-employee director, or a change in control of the Company, the RSAs shall immediately vest and shall no longer be subject to such restrictions on transfer.

We account for grant undercompensation cost related to share-based payments based on fair value of the Plan.

stock options, RSUs and RSAs when awarded to an employee or director. We have estimated the fair value of each option on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Our estimate of share-based compensation requires a number of complex and subjective assumptions including our stock price volatility, employee exercise patterns (expected life of the options), the risk-free interest rate and the Company’s dividend yield. The stock price volatility assumption is based on the historical weekly price data of our common stock over a period equivalent to the weighted average expected life of our options. Management evaluated whether there were factors during that period which were unusual and would distort the volatility figure if used to estimate future volatility and concluded that there were no such factors. In determining the expected life of the option grants, the Company has observed the actual terms of prior grants with similar characteristics and the actual vesting schedule of the grant and has assessed the expected risk tolerance of different option groups. The risk-free interest rate is based on the actual U.S. Treasury zero coupon rates for bonds matching the expected term of the option as of the option grant date. Our accounting for share-based compensation for RSUs and RSAs is also based on the fair value method. The fair value of the RSUs and RSAs is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the grant date of the RSU or RSA.

Share-based compensation expense was recognized as follows:

   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
   October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
 

Stock Options

  $42,167    $42,996    $120,497    $161,242  

Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Units

   137,924     —       185,054     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $180,091    $42,996    $305,551    $161,242  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stock Options

The fair value of stock options granted during the nine months ended October 29, 201127, 2012 and October 30, 201029, 2011 was estimated using the following assumptions:

 

  Nine Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
  October 29,
2011
 October 30,
2010
   October 27,
2012
 October 29,
2011

Risk Free Interest Rate

   0.9% - 2.0  2.11% - 2.42  0.9% 1.9%

Expected Volatility

   39.1% - 39.4  41.3  39.2% 39.3%

Expected Life (in years)

   5.0    5.0    5.0 5.0

Dividend Yield

   3.5% - 3.9  3.4  3.4% 3.8%

The weighted average fair value per share for options granted was $2.09, $2.01 and $1.93 during the first, second and third quarter of fiscal 2013, respectively. On a comparative basis, the weighted average fair value per share for options granted was $2.03, $2.05 and $1.86 during the first, second and third quartersquarter of fiscal 2012, respectively. On a comparative basis, the weighted average fair value per share for options granted was $2.12 and $2.06 during the first and second quarters of fiscal 2011. No options were granted during the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Aggregated information regarding stock options granted under the Plan for the nine months ended October 29, 201127, 2012 is summarized below:

 

   Number of Options  Weighted Average
Exercise Price
   Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(in Years)
   Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
 

Outstanding at January 31, 2011

   1,219,183   $7.03     4.2    $1,946,412  

Granted

   55,000    7.91      

Exercised

   (261,821  2.86      

Expired or canceled

   (96,669  8.64      
  

 

 

  

 

 

     

Outstanding at October 29, 2011

   915,693   $8.11     4.8    $504,557  
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Exercisable at October 29, 2011

   764,685   $8.23     4.1    $454,711  
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Share-based compensation expense was recognized as follows:

   Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended 
   October 29, 2011   October 30, 2010   October 29, 2011   October 30, 2010 

Cost of Sales

  $7,119    $13,996    $28,395    $46,154  

Operating Expenses

   35,877     64,524     132,847     206,871  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $42,996    $78,520    $161,242    $253,025  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   Number of Options  Weighted Average
Exercise Price
   Weighted Average
Remaining
Contractual Life
(in Years)
   Aggregate Intrinsic
Value
 

Outstanding at January 31, 2012

   888,097   $8.27     4.7    $547,874  

Granted

   144,000    8.09      

Exercised

   (43,048  4.40      

Expired or canceled

   (42,022  8.51      
  

 

 

  

 

 

     

Outstanding at October 27, 2012

   947,027   $8.41     4.8    $554,850  
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Exercisable at October 27, 2012

   733,627   $8.58     3.6    $430,720  
  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of October 29, 201127, 2012 there was $227,744$342,314 of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested options.

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Restricted Stock Awards (RSAs)

Aggregated information regarding RSUs and RSAs granted under the Plan for the nine months ended October 27, 2012 is summarized below:

   RSAs & RSUs   Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair Value
 

Outstanding at January 31, 2012

   —      $—    

Granted

   96,900     8.10  

Exercised

   —       —    

Expired or canceled

   —       —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Outstanding at October 27, 2012

   96,900    $8.10  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of October 27, 2012 there was $599,388 of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSUs and RSAs.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Astro-Med has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan allowing eligible employees to purchase shares of common stock at a 15% discount from fair value on the date of purchase. A total of 247,500 shares were reserved for issuance under this plan. During the quarters ended October 27, 2012 and October 29, 2011, 1,535 and October 30, 2010, 1,210 and 1,993 shares respectively, were purchased under this plan. During the nine months ended October 27, 2012 and October 29, 2011, 4,082 and October 30, 2010, 4,487 and 5,660 shares respectively, were purchased under this plan. As of October 29, 2011, 72,52127, 2012, 66,125 shares remain available.

(6) Comprehensive Income

The Company’s comprehensive income is as follows:

   Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
   October 29,
2011
  October 30,
2010
  October 29,
2011
   October 30,
2010
 

Net Income

  $799,987   $792,301   $2,277,264    $1,545,124  

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of taxes and reclassification adjustments:

      

Foreign currency translation adjustments

   (92,983  155,480    140,341     (66,968

Unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during the period

   (4,882  (1,945  3,223     12,101  
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

   (97,865  153,535    143,564     (54,867
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive Income

  $702,122   $954,836   $2,420,828    $1,490,257  
  

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(7) Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market and include material, labor and manufacturing overhead. The components of inventories are as follows:

 

   October 29, 2011   January 31, 2011 

Materials and Supplies

  $8,515,142    $8,450,985  

Work-In-Process

   1,260,846     982,092  

Finished Goods

   3,831,004     4,971,837  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $13,606,992    $14,404,914  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

   October 27, 2012   January 31, 2012 

Materials and Supplies

  $8,664,879    $9,204,853  

Work-In-Process

   1,531,561     1,274,397  

Finished Goods

   4,290,860     3,649,349  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
  $14,487,300    $14,128,599  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

(8)(7) Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rates for the periods, which are based on the projected effective tax rate for the full year, are as follows:

 

  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 

Fiscal 2013

   38.9  32.0

Fiscal 2012

   28.5  32.0   28.5  32.0

Fiscal 2011

   (8.4)%   23.0

During the third quarter of fiscalnine months ended October 27, 2012, wethe Company recognized an income tax expense of approximately $319,000$1,471,000 which included an expense of $432,000$1,773,000 on the quarter’s pre-taxnine month’s pretax income and a benefit of $113,000 related to the difference between the prior year’s tax provision and the actual returns as filed. During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we recognized an income tax benefit of approximately $61,000, which included an expense of $340,000 on the quarter’s pre-tax income, a benefit of $251,000$302,000 primarily related to the favorable resolution of a previously uncertain tax position and a benefit of $150,000 related to the difference between the prior year’s tax provision and the actual returns as filed.

positions. During the nine months ended October 29, 2011, wethe Company recognized an income tax expense of approximately $1,070,000 which included an expense of $1,183,000 on the nine month’s pre-taxpretax income and a benefit of $113,000 related the difference between the prior year’s tax provision and the actual returns as filed. During the nine months ended October 30, 2010, we recognized an income tax expense of approximately $462,000, which included an expense of $863,000 on the nine month’s pre-tax income, a benefit of $251,000 related to the favorable resolution of a previously uncertain tax position and a benefit of $150,000 related the difference between the prior year’s tax provision and the actual returns as filed.

As of October 29, 2011,27, 2012, the Company’s cumulative unrecognized tax benefits totaled $758,200$533,354 compared to $726,661$779,543 as of January 31, 2011.2012. There were no developments affecting unrecognized tax benefits during the three and nine monthsquarter ended October 29, 2011.27, 2012.

(8) Line of Credit and Note Receivable

On January 30, 2012, we completed the sale of our label manufacturing operations in Asheboro, North Carolina to Label Line Ltd. The net sales price of $1,000,000 was received in the form of a promissory note issued by Label Line Ltd. and is fully secured by a first lien on various collateral, including the Asheboro plant and plant assets. The note bears interest at a rate equal to the lesser of (i) the United States prime rate as of January 30, 2013 plus 50 basis points or (ii) six percent per annum and is payable in sixteen quarterly installments of principal and interest commencing on January 30, 2013. The Note Receivable is disclosed at its present value on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet for the periods ended October 27, 2012 and January 31, 2012.

The terms of the Asheboro sale also included an agreement for Astro-Med to provide Label Line Ltd. with additional financing in the form of a revolving line of credit in the amount of $600,000. This line of credit is fully secured by first lien on various collateral of Label Line Ltd., including the Asheboro plant and plant assets and bears interest at a rate equal to the United States prime rate plus an additional margin of two percent of the outstanding credit balance. The line of credit has an initial term of one-year from the date of the sale which may be extended for consecutive one-year terms on mutual agreement of both parties. There were no outstanding borrowings due as of January 31, 2012. As of October 27, 2012, Astro-Med has extended $300,000 on this revolving line of credit.

(9) Segment Information

The Company reports three segments consistent with its sales product groups: Test & Measurement (T&M); QuickLabel Systems (QuickLabel) and Grass Technologies (Grass). The Company evaluates segment performance based on the segment profit before corporate expenses.

Summarized below are the Net Sales and Segment Operating Profit for each reporting segment:

 

   Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
   Net Sales   Segment Operating Profit  Net Sales   Segment Operating Profit 

(In thousands)

  October 29,
2011
   October 30,
2010
   October 29,
2011
  October 30,
2010
  October 29,
2011
   October 30,
2010
   October 29,
2011
   October 30,
2010
 

T&M

  $4,325    $4,137    $595   $192   $12,550    $10,964    $1,469    $910  

QuickLabel

   10,352     9,851     392    575    32,364     30,107     1,798     1,631  

Grass

   4,892     4,341     1,176    894    13,850     12,088     2,587     2,250  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $19,569    $18,329     2,163    1,661   $58,764    $53,159     5,854     4,791  
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

     

Corporate Expenses

       975    954        2,886     2,914  
      

 

 

  

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating Income

       1,188    707        2,968     1,877  

Other (Expense) Income — Net

       (69  24        379     130  
      

 

 

  

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

       1,119    731        3,347     2,007  

Income Tax Provision (Benefit)

       319    (61      1,070     462  
      

 

 

  

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income

      $800   $792       $2,277    $1,545  
      

 

 

  

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

 

   Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended 
   Net Sales   Segment Operating Profit  Net Sales   Segment Operating Profit 

(In thousands)

  October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
   October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
  October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
   October 27,
2012
  October 29,
2011
 

T&M

  $5,359    $4,325    $1,280    $595   $13,187    $12,550    $2,391   $1,469  

QuickLabel

   10,680     10,352     1,164     392    31,851     32,364     3,142    1,798  

Grass

   4,523     4,892     919     1,176    13,521     13,850     2,464    2,587  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

  

 

 

 

Total

  $20,562    $19,569     3,363     2,163   $58,559    $58,764     7,997    5,854  
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

   

 

 

    

Corporate Expenses

       1,270     975        3,339    2,886  
      

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

  

 

 

 

Operating Income

       2,093     1,188        4,658    2,968  

Other Income (Expense) — Net

       47     (69      (56  379  
      

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

  

 

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

       2,140     1,119        4,602    3,347  

Income Tax Provision

       832     319        1,471    1,070  
      

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

  

 

 

 

Net Income

      $1,308    $800       $3,131   $2,277  
      

 

 

   

 

 

      

 

 

  

 

 

 

(10) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

GoodwillIntangibles

In September 2011,July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2011-08, “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing GoodwillASU 2012-02, “Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment”Impairment,” which is intendedallows entities to reduce the complexity and costs relateduse a qualitative approach to the testing goodwilltest indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. ASU 2011-08 allows2012-02 permits an entity the option to make afirst assess qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of goodwill impairment in orderfactors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test already included in Topic 350. An entity will no longer be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on its qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unitindefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. ASU 2011-08 also expands upon the examples of events and circumstances that an entity should consider between annual impairment tests in determining whethervalue. If it is more likely thanconcluded that this is the case, it is necessary to perform the currently prescribed quantitative impairment test. Otherwise, the quantitative impairment test is not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. This amended guidancerequired. ASU 2012-02 is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after DecemberSeptember 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted. We do not expect the2012. The adoption of the provisions of ASU 2011-08 to2012-02 will not have a material effectimpact on our consolidatedthe Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, “Presentation of Comprehensive Income,” which requires entities to present the components of net income and other comprehensive income either as one continuous statement or as two consecutive statements. ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in shareholders’ equity. While ASU-2011-05ASU 2011-05 changes the presentation of comprehensive income, it does not change the components that are recognized in net income or comprehensive income under current accounting guidance. This amended guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, ending December 15, 2011, and must be applied retroactively. Since ASU 2011-05 impacts presentation only,also requires entities to present reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income by component in both the adoption of this guidance will not have any effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Fair Value Measurements

statement in which net income is presented and the statement in which other comprehensive income is presented. In MayDecember 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, “Amendments2011-12, “Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirementsthe Presentation of Reclassification of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs,Accounting Standard Update No. 2011-05,” which is intendedindefinitely defers the guidance related to improve the comparabilitypresentation of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and IFRS.reclassification adjustments. ASU 2011-04 does not extend the use of fair value accounting, but provides guidance on how it should be applied where its use is already required or permitted by other standards within U.S. GAAP or IFRSs. ASU 2011-04 changes the wording used to describe many requirements in U.S. GAAP for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements. Additionally, ASU 2011-04 clarifies the FASB’s intent about the application of existing fair value measurement. This update2011-05 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.2011, and must be applied retrospectively. We do not expect the provisions of ASU 2011-04 to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In January 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-06, “Improving Disclosures About Fair Value Measurement,” which requires reporting entities to make new disclosures about recurring or nonrecurring fair value measurements including significant transfers into and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and information on purchases, sales, issuances and settlements on a gross basisadopted this guidance in the reconciliationfirst quarter of Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2010-06 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for Level 3 reconciliation disclosures which were effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2010. The adoption of ASU 2010-06 did notfiscal 2013 and have a material effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Revenue Recognition

In October 2009, the FASB issued ASU 2009-13, “Revenue Recognition (Topic 605)—Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements—a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force” and ASU 2009-14, “Software (Topic 985)—Certain Arrangements That Include Software Elements—a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force.” ASU 2009-13 provides amendments to the criteria in Subtopic 605-25 for separating consideration in multiple-deliverable arrangements.

The amendments in this update established a selling price hierarchy for determining the selling price of a deliverable. ASU 2009-13 also eliminates the residual method of allocating arrangement consideration and significantly expandsprovided the disclosures required for multiple-element revenue arrangements. ASU 2009-14 removes (1) tangible products containing software componentsthe three and (2) non-software components that function together to delivernine months ended October 27, 2012 and October 29, 2011, in the tangible products essential functionality fromaccompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

No new accounting pronouncements, issued or effective during the scope of software revenue guidance (ASC 965-605). ASU 2009-14 also provides guidance on determining whether software deliverables in an arrangement that includes a tangible product are covered by the scopethird quarter of the software revenue guidance. We adopted ASU 2009-13 and ASU 2009-14 prospectively for revenue arrangements entered intocurrent year, have had or materially modified on or after February 1, 2011. Adoption of the new guidance did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.

Except for the ASU’s discussed above, all other ASUs issued by the FASB as of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not expected to have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

(11) Securities Available for Sale

Pursuant to our investment policy, securities available for sale include state and municipal securities with various contractual or anticipated maturity dates ranging from one to twenty-six34 months. Securities available for sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity until realized. Realized gains and losses from the sale of available for sale securities, if any, are determined on a specific identification basis. A decline in the fair value of any available for sale security below cost that is determined to be other than temporary will result in a write-down of its carrying amount to fair value. No such impairment charges were recorded for any period presented. All short-term investment securities have original maturities greater than 90 days. The fair value, amortized cost and gross unrealized gains and losses of the securities are as follows:

October 29, 2011

  Amortized Cost   Gross Unrealized
Gains
   Gross Unrealized
Losses
 Fair Value 

October 27, 2012

  Amortized Cost   Gross Unrealized
Gains
   Gross Unrealized
Losses
 Fair Value 

State and Municipal Obligations

  $11,358,898    $20,251    $(2,358 $11,376,791    $8,163,830    $10,090    $(85 $8,173,835  
  

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

 

January 31, 2011

  Amortized Cost   Gross Unrealized
Gains
   Gross Unrealized
Losses
 Fair Value 

January 31, 2012

  Amortized Cost   Gross Unrealized
Gains
   Gross Unrealized
Losses
 Fair Value 

State and Municipal Obligations

  $12,897,221    $15,949    $(2,938 $12,910,232    $11,313,013    $22,933    $(22 $11,335,924  
  

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

 

(12) Fair Value

We measure our financial assets at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with the guidance provided in ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures” which defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.date (exit price). In addition, ASC 820 establishes a three-tiered hierarchy for inputs used in management’s determination of fair value of financial instruments that emphasizes the use of observable inputs over the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect management’s belief about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing a financial instrument based on the best information available in the circumstances.

The fair value hierarchy is summarized as follows:

 

Level 1 — 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 

Level 2 — 2—Inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and

 

Level 3 — 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

The following table representsCash and cash equivalents; accounts receivables; line of credit receivable; accounts payable, accrued compensation and other expenses; and income tax payable are reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at carrying value, which approximates fair value hierarchy for our financial assets (cash equivalents and investments)due to the short term nature of the these instruments.

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis:basis are summarized below:

 

October 29, 2011

  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 

Money Market Funds

  $5,851,869    $—      $—      $5,851,869  

State and Municipal Obligations

   11,376,791     —       —       11,376,791  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $17,228,660    $—      $—      $17,228,660  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

October 27, 2012

  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 

Money Market Funds (included in Cash and Cash Equivalents)

  $9,104,455    $—      $—      $9,104,455  

State and Municipal Obligations (included in Securities Available for Sale)

   8,173,835     —       —       8,173,835  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $17,278,290    $—      $—      $17,278,290  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

January 31, 2011

  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 

Money Market Funds

  $4,926,983    $—      $—      $4,926,983  

State and Municipal Obligations

   12,910,232     —       —       12,910,232  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $17,837,215    $—      $—      $17,837,215  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

January 31, 2012

  Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 

Money Market Funds (included in Cash and Cash Equivalents)

  $5,922,179    $—      $—      $5,922,179  

State and Municipal Obligations (included in Securities Available for Sale)

   11,335,924         11,335,924  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $17,258,103    $—      $—      $17,258,103  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

For our money market funds and state and municipal obligations, we utilize the market approach to measure fair value. The market approach is based on using quoted market prices for identical assets.

(14)(13) Life Insurance Proceeds

During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we recognized income on key-man life insurance proceeds of $300,000. This income is included in other income in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the nine month period ended October 29, 2011.

(15) Litigation Settlement

In November 2009, Astro-Med was awarded a $1,391,000 judgment related to a lawsuit filed by the Company against a former employee and a competitor business. At issue in the lawsuit was the violation of a non-competition agreement which the former employee had signed as a condition of employment with Astro-Med. The $1,391,000 judgment included both punitive and exemplary damages, as well as attorney fees (all of which have been previously expensed) and related interest earned on the judgment and was recorded as a gain on legal settlement in the consolidated statement of operations and as a receivable in prepaid and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2010. In November 2009, the Company also filed a motion to amend the original judgment to include additional legal fees of $73,000. This motion was granted on February 12, 2010. On February 17, 2010, the Company collected a total of $1,495,000 related to this legal proceeding, which included the $1,391,000 gain on legal settlement recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 and $104,000 for interest and the additional attorney fees as granted pursuant to the February 12, 2010 motion. The $104,000 was recorded as an additional gain on legal settlement in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 and is included in other income in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the nine month period ended October 30, 2010.

Item 2.

Item 2.

ASTRO-MED, INC.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Business Overview

This section should be read in conjunction with Astro-Med’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011.2012.

Astro-Med is a multi-national enterprise, which designs, develops, manufactures, distributes and services a broad range of products that acquire, store, analyze and present data in multiple formats. The Company organizes its structure around a core set of competencies, including research and development, manufacturing, service, marketing and distribution. We market and sell our products and services through the following three sales product groups:

 

Test and Measurement Product Group (T&M)—representsoffers a suite of Ruggedized Printer products designed for military and commercial applications to be used in the avionics industry to print weather maps, communications and other critical flight information. T&M also comprises a suite of telemetry recorder products sold to the aerospace and defense industries, as well as portable data acquisition recorders, which offer diagnostic and test functions to a wide range of manufacturers including automotive, energy, paper and steel fabrication. In addition, T&M also includes a suite of ruggedized printer products and ethernet switches designed for military and commercial applications to be used in the avionics industry to print weather and airport maps, communications and other critical flight information.

 

QuickLabel Systems Product Group (QuickLabel)—offers label printer hardware, labeling software, service contracts and medialabel and ink consumable products that create on demanddigitally print color labels and store and produce images in color or non-color formats on a broad range of medialabel and tag substrates.

 

Grass Technologies Product Group (Grass)—centers onoffers diagnostic and monitoring productsinstrumentation that serve the clinical and research neurophysiology markets and the life science markets, as well as a range of biomedical instrumentation products and supplies focused on the life sciences markets.consumable supplies.

Astro-Med markets and sells its products and services globally through a diverse distribution structure of sales personnel, manufacturing representatives and authorized dealers that deliver a full complement of branded products and services to customers in our respective markets.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended October 29, 201127, 2012 vs. Three Months Ended October 30, 201029, 2011

Net sales by product group and current quarter percentage change over prior year for the three months ended October 29, 201127, 2012 and October 30, 201029, 2011 were:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

  October 29,
2011
   As a
% of
Net Sales
 October 30,
2010
   As a
% of
Net Sales
 % Change
Over
Prior Year
   October 27,
2012
   As a
% of
Net Sales
 October 29,
2011
   As a
% of
Net Sales
 % Change
Over
Prior Year
 

T&M

  $4,325     22.1 $4,137     22.6  4.5  $5,359     26.1 $4,325     22.1  23.9

QuickLabel

   10,352     52.9  9,851     53.7  5.1   10,680     51.9  10,352     52.9  3.2

Grass

   4,892     25.0  4,341     23.7  12.7   4,523     22.0  4,892     25.0  (7.5)% 
  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Total

  $19,569     100.0 $18,329     100.0  6.8  $20,562     100.0 $19,569     100.0  5.1
  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

The Company’sNet sales for the third quarter of the current year third quarter sales were $19,569,000,$20,562,000, representing a 6.8% improvement over prior5.1% increase as compared to both the previous year’s third quarter sales of $18,329,000.$19,569,000 and current year second quarter sales of $19,572,000. Sales through the domestic channels for the current quarter were $14,127,000,$14,642,000, an increase of 5.9%3.7% over the prior year. International shipments for the third quarter of the current year were $5,442,000,$5,920,000, representing a 9.0%an 8.8% increase from the previous year. Current year’s third quarter international sales include a $125,000 favorable impact due toan unfavorable foreign exchange rates.rate impact of $204,000.

Hardware sales in the current quarter were $8,356,000, a 6.2% improvement over the$9,750,000, an increase of 17.1% as compared to prior year’s third quarter sales of $7,869,000. With$8,329,000, and a 9.9% improvement over the exceptioncurrent year second quarter sales of $8,875,000. The current quarter increase is primarily due to the increase in demand for T&M’s Recorder product line,Ruggedized products, as sales have increased 55.8% as compared to the prior year. Also contributing to the current quarter increase in hardware sales was evident in all three product groups. However, T&M’s otherare sales of QuickLabel’s color printer product line, Ruggedized printers & switches, posted a double-digit increment over thewhich has more than doubled as compared to prior year’syear third quarter sales of Ruggedized products. Quick Label’ssales. The overall hardware sales for the third quarter of the current year were up 9.2% over the prior year’s sales. Grass Technologies’ current quarterincrease is somewhat tempered by a decline in Grass’s hardware sales increased 10.0% from prior year.products.

Consumables sales in the current quarter were $9,873,000,$9,504,000, representing an increase of 7.1%a 4.0% decrease over the prior year’s third quarter consumable sales of $9,215,000.$9,899,000, and an almost 1.0% decrease as compared to current year second quarter consumable sales of $9,589,000. The increasecurrent quarter decrease in consumable sales foras compared to the currentprior year is an outgrowth of the January 2012 divestiture of the Asheboro, North Carolina label business, which contributed sales of $938,000 in the third quarter of the prior year. The overall decrease in third quarter consumable sales was tempered by Grass’s double-digit increase in sales of the electrodes and cream product lines and the single digit increase in sales of QuickLabel’s digital color printer supplies as compared to prior year’s third quarter was primarily attributable to sales of digital color printer supplies within the QuickLabel product group, which were up 55.9%. Also contributing to the current quarter increase were the sales of Grass electrodes and cream products which increased 18.0%. This overall increase was slightly tempered by the decrease in sales of QuickLabel’s thermal transfer ribbon product lines as compared to prior year’s third quarter, due to a decline in the installed base of thermal transfer printers.quarter.

Service and other revenues of $1,340,000$1,308,000 in the current quarter increased 7.6% compared towere down from prior year’s third quarter service and other revenues of $1,245,000,$1,341,000, primarily due to the increasedecrease in repair and service revenue during the quarter.

Gross profit for theCurrent year third quarter of thegross profit was $8,838,000, reflecting a 6.5% improvement over current year was $8,014,000, reflecting an 8.3%second quarter gross profit of $8,299,000 and a 10.3% improvement over the prior year’s third quarter gross profit of $7,401,000.$8,014,000. The Company’s gross profit margin of 41.0%43.0% in the current quarter reflects an increase as compared tofrom the prior year’s third quarter gross profit margin of 40.4%41.0%. The increase inhigher gross profit and related margin for the current quarter as compared to prior year is primarily attributable to higher sales volume, favorable product mix and lower manufacturing costs.

Operating expenses for the current quarter were $6,826,000,$6,745,000, a 2.0% increase fromslight decrease as compared to prior year’s third quarter operating expenses of $6,694,000.$6,826,000. Specifically, selling and marketing expenses for the current quarter increased 7.6%decreased 2.7% to $4,555,000$4,431,000 as compared to the previous year’s third quarter selling and marketing expenses of $4,232,000.$4,555,000. The increasedecrease in selling and marketing for the current quarter was primarily due to increasesdecreases in personnel related costs,wages and benefits, as well as anadvertising spend. The overall decrease in third quarter operating expenses was tempered by the increase in rental and leasing expenses due to the expansion of both our German and Canadian facilities. General and administrative (G&A) expenses. G&A expenses decreased 6.5%increased 17.6% to $1,009,000$1,187,000 in the third quarter of the current year as compared to prior year’s third quarter G&A expenses of $1,079,000.$1,009,000. The decreaseincrease in G&A was primarily due to a decreaseincrease in wages as well as a benefit recognized on the reversal of the sales based incentive earn out accrual which did not reach its negotiated sales goal.and benefits and professional service costs. Investment in research & development (R&D)R&D in the third quarter of the current year of $1,262,000$1,126,000 represents an 8.7%a 10.8% decrease compared to prior year’s third quarter investment of $1,383,000. The decrease in R&D for the current quarter was primarily due to the decline in third party research and development.$1,262,000. The current quarter spending in R&D represents 6.4%5.5% of sales, a decline from thean increase as compared to prior year’s third quarter level of 7.5%6.4%.

Third quarter operating income of $1,188,000$2,093,000 increased 68.0%76.2% as compared to the prior year’s third quarter operating income of $707,000.$1,188,000. Operating margin for the third quarter of the current year was 6.1%of 10.2% is also up as compared to the prior year’s third quarter margin of 3.9%6.1%. The increase in both operating profit dollarsincome and related margin foris primarily attributable to higher sales volume and reduced selling and marketing expenses during the current quarter is due to increased sales and favorable product mix.quarter.

Other expenseincome during the third quarter of the current year were $69,000was $47,000 compared to other incomeexpense of $24,000$69,000 in the third quarter of the previous year. The decreaseincrease was primarily due to unfavorablethe increase in foreign exchange.exchange gain recognized in the third quarter of the current year.

The provision for federal, state and stateforeign income taxes for the secondthird quarter of the current year was $832,000 reflecting an effective tax rate of 38.9%. This result compares to the prior year’s third quarter income tax expense of $319,000 reflecting an effective tax rate of 28.5%. The increased effective tax rate for the third quarter of the current year as compared to the prior year is primarily due to a result of the $113,000 tax benefit related to the difference between the prior year’s tax provision and the actual returns as filed. This result compares tofiled recognized in the third quarter of the prior year’s third quarter income tax benefit of $61,000 reflecting an effective tax rate of negative 8.4%. The prior year’s third quarter tax benefit is due to the recognition of $251,000 related to the favorable resolution of a previously uncertain tax position and $150,000 related to difference between the prior year’s tax provision and the actual returns as filed.year.

The Company reported $800,000$1,308,000 in net income for the third quarter of the current year, reflecting a return on sales of 4.1%6.4% and generating EPS of $0.11$0.18 per diluted share. Included in net income is a tax benefit of $113,000 or $0.02 per diluted share related to favorable adjustment in the filing of the prior year’s tax returns. On a comparative basis, in the prior year’s third quarter the Company recognized net income of $792,000$800,000 reflecting a return on sales of 4.3%4.1% and an EPS of $0.11 per diluted share. Prior year’s third quarter net incomeshare, which includes a tax benefit of approximately $400,000 or $0.05$0.02 per diluted share dueattributable to a favorable resolution of a previously uncertain$113,000 tax position and a favorable adjustment inbenefit related to the filing ofdifference between the prior yearyear’s tax returns.provision and the actual returns as filed.

Nine Months Ended October 29, 201127, 2012 vs. Nine Months Ended October 30, 201029, 2011

Net sales by product group and current quarter percentage change over prior year for the nine months ended October 29, 201127, 2012 and October 30, 201029, 2011 were:

 

(Dollars in thousands)

  October 29,
2011
   As a
% of
Net Sales
 October 30,
2010
   As a
% of
Net Sales
 % Change
Over
Prior Year
   October 27,
2012
   As a
% of
Net Sales
 October 29,
2011
   As a
% of
Net Sales
 % Change
Over
Prior Year
 

T&M

  $12,550     21.3 $10,964     20.6  14.5  $13,187     22.5 $12,550     21.3  5.1

QuickLabel

   32,364     55.1  30,107     56.7  7.5   31,851     54.4  32,364     55.1  (1.6)% 

Grass

   13,850     23.6  12,088     22.7  14.6   13,521     23.1  13,850     23.6  (2.4)% 
  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Total

  $58,764     100.0 $53,159     100.0  10.5  $58,559     100.0 $58,764     100.0  (0.3)% 
  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

  

 

 

Net sales for the nine month period of the current fiscal year were $58,559,000, slight decrease as compared to sales of $58,764,000 as reported for the first nine months of the current fiscal year were $58,764,000, a 10.5% increase as compared to sales of $53,159,000 as reported in the prior fiscal year. Sales through the domestic channels for the first nine months of the current fiscal year were $40,974,000,$41,394,000, a 7.5%slight increase from the prior year.year’s domestic sales of $40,975,000. International sales for the first nine months of the current fiscal year of $17,790,000$17,165,000 includes a favorablean unfavorable impact of $767,000$872,000 due to foreign exchange rates and reflects an 18.2% increase3.5% decrease as compared to the prior year.

The Company’s hardware sales were $25,640,000$26,546,000 in the first nine months of fiscal 2012,2013, a 23.2%3.7% increase as compared to the same period in the prior year. All three product groups experienced double-digitContributing to the increase in hardware growth in the current year withwas T&M hardware sales for the first nine months of the current year up 21.7% compared to prior year’s T&M hardware sales; QuickLabel hardware sales for the first nine months of the current year are up 35.1%$11,857,000, a 7.4% increase compared to prior year’s sales of QuickLabel printers$11,043,000 and GrassQuickLabel’s hardware sales for the first nine months of the current year of posted an 18.1%$6,621,000, a 15.8% increase as compared to prior year’s sales of $5,719,000. The increase was partially offset by the 8.6% decrease in Grass clinical and researchTechnologies hardware products.sales for the first nine months of the current year with sales of $8,069,000 compared to prior year’s sales of $8,830,000.

Consumables sales for the first nine months of the current fiscal year were $29,317,000,$28,405,000, representing an increasea decrease of 3.7% over3.3% as compared to the prior year’s consumable sales of $28,266,000.$29,361,000. The overall increasedecrease in consumable sales for the first nine months of the current fiscal year was primarily attributable to lower label and tag sales in the QuickLabel product group due to the January 2012 divestiture of the Asheboro, North Carolina facilities, which contributed sales of approximately $3,000,000 in the first nine months of the prior year. This overall decrease in consumable sales in the current year was somewhat tempered by the increase in sales of digital color printer supplies within the QuickLabel product group, which were up 35.3% over the prior year. Also contributing to the current year increase were sales of Grass electrodes and cream products which increased 12.6%17.8% as compared to the prior year. This overall increase was somewhat tempered by a decrease in sales of chart paper within the T&M group, as well as a 4.0% decrease in sales of QuickLabel’s thermal transfer ribbon product lines as compared to the prior year.

Service and other revenues of $3,807,000$3,608,000 in the first nine months of fiscal 20122013 were down 6.5%5.3% from prior year’s service and other revenues of $4,074,000,$3,811,000, primarily due to the decrease in repair and parts revenue.

The Company achieved $23,416,000$24,508,000 in gross profit for the first nine months of fiscal 20122013 and generated a gross profit margin of 39.8%41.9% as compared to prior year’s gross profit of $21,290,000$23,416,000 and related gross profit margin of 40.0%39.8%. The nominal declineincrease in gross profit and related margin for the first nine months of the current fiscal year is due to higherlower manufacturing costs. The Company incurred an increase in the purchase price variance expense this year as a result of the higher cost of precious sensitive materialcosts and paper stock.favorable product mix.

Operating expenses in the first nine months of the current fiscal year were $20,448,000,$19,850,000, representing a 5.3% increase2.9% decrease from the prior year. Selling and marketing expenses for the first nine months of the current fiscal year increased 10.5%decreased 4.9% from the prior year to $13,647,000$12,973,000, with the increasedecrease traceable primarily to higher personnel cost, as well as increasedlower trade shows, commissions and outside serviceadvertising spending. R&D spending for the current nine months is $3,917,000,$3,538,000, representing a 4.8% increase9.7% decrease as compared with prior year R&D spending of $3,737,000.$3,917,000. Spending in R&D represents 6.7%6.0% of sales for the first nine months of the current fiscal year and as compared to 7.0% for the same nine month period6.7% in the prior year. General and administrative (G&A) expenses for the first nine months of the current fiscal year were $2,884,000,$3,339,000, a 13.3% decrease15.8% increase from the prior year. The lowerincreased spending level for G&A in the current year is mainly attributed to the lower personnel costsincrease in benefits and higher professional services spending, as well as the benefit recognized on the reversal of sales based incentive earnout accrual which did not reach its negotiated sales goal.costs.

The Company earned $2,968,000$4,658,000 in operating income during the first nine months of fiscal 2012,year 2013, a 56.9% increase as compared to $1,877,000$2,968,000 for the same period in the prior year. On a margin basis, this year’s operating income reflects an operating margin of 5.1%8.0% on sales compared to prior year’s operating margin of 3.5%5.1%.

Other incomeexpense realized during the first nine months of the current fiscal year is $379,000$56,000 as compared to the other income of $130,000$379,000 reported in the same period of the previous year. This increased level of other income fordecrease in the current year is a result of income recognized of $300,000 related to the disposition of a key-man life insurance policy.policy in the prior year. Also increases in investment income, as well ascontributing to the current period decline is the recognition of a foreign exchange gains recognizedloss of $148,000 in the current year contributedas compared to the increase overa foreign exchange gain of $50,000 in the prior year. Other income for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 includes a $104,000 gain on legal settlement for interest and attorney fees recognized as a result of damages collected from a lawsuit filed against a former employee and competitor business.

The Company has provided federal, state and stateforeign income tax expense of $1,070,000$1,471,000 for the nine month period ended October 29, 2011.27, 2012. This year’s provision reflects an effective tax rate of 32.0%. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of the current fiscal year includes a $113,000 tax benefit related to the difference between, no change from the prior year’s tax provision and the actual returns as filed. This result compares to the prior year’s income tax of $462,000 reflecting an effective tax rate of 23.0%32.0%. The prior year’sIncluded in the current year income tax includesexpense is a benefit of $251,000$302,000 related to the favorable resolution of a previously uncertain tax position andposition. This compares to a $113,000 benefit of $150,000recognized in the prior year related to difference between the prior year’s tax provision and the actual returns as filed.

Net income earned during the first nine months of the current fiscal year was $3,131,000, a 37.5% increase as compared to prior year’s first nine months of net income of $2,277,000, reflectingand reflects a return on sales of 5.3%. This year’s net income resulted in an EPS of $0.42 per diluted share which includes a favorable tax benefit of $0.04 per share which was recognized in the first quarter. On a comparative basis, prior year’s first nine months net income reflected a return on sales of 3.9% and a sharp increase from prior year’s net income of $1,545,000. This year’s net income resulted ingenerated an EPS of $0.31 per diluted share which includes $0.04 per diluted share related to $300,000 of income from key-man life insurance proceeds recognized in the currentprior year as well as $0.02 per diluted share forrelated to a $113,000 tax benefit of $113,000 related to favorable adjustmentfor the difference in the filing of the prior year’s tax returns. On a comparative basis, prior year’s net income was $1,545,000, reflecting a return on sales of 2.9%provision and an EPS of $0.21 per diluted share. Prior year’s net income includes a tax benefit of approximately $400,000 or $0.05 per diluted share due to a favorable resolution of a previously uncertain tax position and a favorable adjustment in the filing of the prior year tax returns.actual returns as filed.

Segment Analysis

The Company reports three segments consistent with its sales product groups: Test & Measurement (T&M); QuickLabel Systems (QuickLabel) and Grass Technologies (Grass). The Company evaluates segment performance based on the segment profit before corporate and financial administration expenses.

Summarized below are the Net Sales and Segment Operating Profit for each reporting segment:

 

  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 
  Net Sales   Segment Operating Profit Net Sales   Segment Operating Profit   Net Sales   Segment Operating Profit Net Sales   Segment Operating Profit 

(In thousands)

  October 29,
2011
   October 30,
2010
   October 29,
2011
 October 30,
2010
 October 29,
2011
   October 30,
2010
   October 29,
2011
   October 30,
2010
   October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
   October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
 October 27,
2012
   October 29,
2011
   October 27,
2012
 October 29,
2011
 

T&M

  $4,325    $4,137    $595   $192   $12,550    $10,964    $1,469    $910    $5,359    $4,325    $1,280    $595   $13,187    $12,550    $2,391   $1,469  

QuickLabel

   10,352     9,851     392    575    32,364     30,107     1,798     1,631     10,680     10,352     1,164     392    31,851     32,364     3,142    1,798  

Grass

   4,892     4,341     1,176    894    13,850     12,088     2,587     2,250     4,523     4,892     919     1,176    13,521     13,850     2,464    2,587  
  

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

 

Total

  $19,569    $18,329     2,163    1,661   $58,764    $53,159     5,854     4,791    $20,562    $19,569     3,363     2,163   $58,559    $58,764     7,997    5,854  
  

 

   

 

     

 

   

 

       

 

   

 

      

 

   

 

    

Corporate Expenses

       975    954        2,886     2,914         1,270     975        3,339    2,886  
      

 

  

 

      

 

   

 

       

 

   

 

      

 

  

 

 

Operating Income

       1,188    707        2,968     1,877         2,093     1,188        4,658    2,968  

Other Income (Expense) — Net

       (69  24        379     130         47     (69      (56  379  
      

 

  

 

      

 

   

 

       

 

   

 

      

 

  

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

       1,119    731        3,347     2,007         2,140     1,119        4,602    3,347  

Income Tax Provision Benefit

       319    (61      1,070     462  

Income Tax Provision

       832     319        1,471    1,070  
      

 

  

 

      

 

   

 

       

 

   

 

      

 

  

 

 

Net Income

      $800   $792       $2,277    $1,545        $1,308    $800       $3,131   $2,277  
      

 

  

 

      

 

   

 

       

 

   

 

      

 

  

 

 

Test & Measurement—T&M

Sales revenues from the Test & MeasurementT&M product group were $4,325,000$5,359,000 for the third quarter of the current fiscal year, representing a 4.5%23.9% increase as compared to sales of $4,137,000$4,325,000 for the same period in the prior year. The increase is primarily attributable to double-digit sales growth of the Ruggedizedhardware product line, of printersas Ruggedized and ethernet switchesTMX product line sales recognized double-digit growth as compared to the prior year’s third quarter. T&M’s current quarter sales increase is tempered by a decline in the recorder hardware business.volume. T&M’s third quarter segment operating profit increased to $595,000 resultingof $1,280,000 resulted in a 13.7%23.9% profit margin as compared to the prior year’s segment operating profit of $192,000$595,000 and related operating margin of 4.6%13.7%. The improvementincrease in both segment operating profit and related margin was due to higher sales and favorable sales product mix and lower operating expenses.mix.

For the first nine months of the current fiscal year, sales revenues of the T&M product group were $12,550,000,$13,187,000, a 14.5%5.1% increase as compared to sales of $10,964,000$12,550,000 for the same period of the previous year. The increase in sales is primarily attributable to the double digit increase in Ruggedizedhardware product line sales, as compared toboth Ruggedized and TMX hardware product lines sales have increased from the prior year due to increased shipments of contracted orders foryear. However, the first nine months of fiscal 2012. The overall increase in sales for the current yearof T&M’s hardware business was slightly tempered by the decreasedecline in sales of T&M’s traditional recorder hardware business as compared to the prior year.hardware. T&M current year’s segment operating profit of $1,469,000$2,391,000 represents a 61.4%62.8% increase from the prior year’s segment operating profit of $910,000$1,469,000 and provided an operating profit margin of 11.7%18.1%, an increase from the prior year’s margin of 8.3%11.7%. The increase in T&M current year’s segment operating profit and related margin is traceable to higher sales favorable product mix and lower operating expenses.favorable.

QuickLabel Systems—QuickLabel

Sales revenues from the QuickLabel Systems product group were $10,352,000$10,680,000 in the third quarter of the current year representing a 5.1% increase as compared to $9,851,000$10,352,000 in the same quarter of the prior year. The increase in sales is primarily due to the consumable product line sales of Vivo! and Zeo! supplies. The hardware product line also contributedwhich increased 62.6% from the prior year primarily attributed to the overall current quarter increase in sales, with a 9.2% increase compared to prior year sales. Within the hardware line, sales ofdemand for the Vivo! Touch and Zeo! products, which includes the new Vivo! Touch, increased 10.1%, from the same period in the prior year.Kiaro! product line. Also contributing to the hardware sales increase for the current quarter wereincrease was the 8.1% increase in the digital color printer supplies. The year-over-year increase in sales was somewhat tempered by lower consumable product sales of monochromatic printers.labels and tags, an outgrowth of the January 2012 divestiture of the Asheboro, North Carolina business. QuickLabel’s current quarter segment operating profit was $392,000,$1,164,000, reflecting a profit margin of 3.8%, a decline compared to10.9% and an increase from prior year’s third quarter segment profit of $575,000$392,000 and with a related profit margin of 5.8%3.8%. The decreaseincrease in QuickLabel’s current year’s segment operating profit and related margin is due to higher manufacturingsales, favorable product mix and raw materiallower manufacturing costs and unfavorable product mix.operating expenses.

The QuickLabel product group had sales revenue of $32,364,000$31,851,000 for the first nine months of the current fiscal year, a 1.6% decline as compared with $30,107,000$32,364,000 in sales revenues reported for the same period in the prior year. The increasekey driver of the decrease was the

decline in current year’slabel and tag sales is primarily attributedin the QuickLabel product group due to the hardware product linesJanuary 2012 divestiture of the Asheboro, North Carolina facilities, which increased 35.1% fromcontributed sales of approximately $3,000,000 in the first nine months of the prior year. WithinThis decline was slightly tempered by the hardware line,17.8% increase in the consumable sales of digital color printer supplies and sales of the Vivo! and Zeo!new Kiaro! product lines,line, which includeswas introduced in July 2012, as well as the new Vivo! Touch, made a significant contribution to the overall growth rate. Current year revenues from QuickLabel’s consumable product lines also represents an increase over the previous year’s sales, primarily attributable to thedouble-digit increase in sales of Vivo! and Zeo! supplies. Segmentmonochromatic printers as compared to the prior year. The segment operating profit margin of 5.6%9.9% for the first nine months of the current fiscal year has slightly decreased as comparedimproved relative to a 5.4%5.6% profit margin for the same period of the previous year. The current year increase in QuickLabel’s profit margin is due to lower manufacturing costs, favorable product mix and lower operating expenses.

Grass Technologies—Grass

Sales revenues in the third quarter of the current year for the Grass product group were $4,892,000,$4,523,000 representing a 12.7% increase7.5% decrease as compared to prior year’s third quarter sales of $4,341,000.$4,892,000. The increasedecrease in sales is primarily attributable to sales in the Clinical hardware line, as current quarter sales were up 7.8% overlower as compared to prior year’s third quarter sales. The increase is particularly evident in the EEG and Long-Term Monitoring product lines. Also contributing to the increase in salesdecrease for the current quarter are sales of the Research product line which was down 12.1% as compared to prior year. The lower hardware sales are slightly tempered by an increase in the consumable products of electrodes and creams, which have increased 18.0%,15.4% as compared to the prior year sales and an 18.8% increase in Research hardware product line sales. Segmentyear. The segment operating profits increased 31.5%profit in the current quarter with theof $919,000 generated a segment achieving an operating profit margin of 24.1% as compared20.3% and compares to a segment operating profit margin of 20.6%24.0% as reported in the third quarter of the prior year. The increase inlower segment operating profit and related margin is primarily due to higherlower sales and favorableunfavorable product mix.

Grass sales were $13,850,000$13,521,000 for the first nine months of the current fiscal year, an increase of 14.6%a 2.4% decrease as compared to sales of $12,088,000$13,850,000 for the same period of the prior year. The year over year increasedecrease is primarily attributed to the 11.2% decrease in current year sales of the Clinicalclinical hardware product lines, which have increased 23.8%. Within the Clinical hardware product line, current year EEG sales increased 90.1%, while the Long Term Monitoring product line sales increased 20.9% as compared to the same period in the prior year.line. This increasedecrease was slightly tempered by a decline in the sales of the PSG hardware product line, as current year sales have decreased 11.8% as compared to the prior year. Also contributing to the9.3% increase in sales for the current year are the consumable productssales of electrodes and creams, which have increased 12.6%, as compared to the prior year. Segmentcreams. The segment operating profit increased 15.0 % to $2,587,000, resulting inof $2,464,000 produced an 18.7%18.2% operating profit margin a slight increase as comparedand compares to prior year’s segment operating profit margin of 18.6%18.7%. The decrease in segment profit and related margin is primarily due to lower sales and unfavorable product mix.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

The Company believes that cash provided by operations will continue to be sufficient to meet operating and capital needs for at least the next twelve months. However, in the event that cash from operations is not sufficient, the Company has a substantial cash and short term marketable securities balance, as well as a $5.0 million revolving bank line of credit, all of which is currently available. Borrowings under this line of credit bear interest at either a fluctuating rate equal to 75 basis points below the base rate, as defined in the agreement, or at a fixed rate equal to 150 basis points above LIBOR.

The Company’s statements of cash flows for the nine months ended October 29, 201127, 2012 and October 30, 201029, 2011 are included on page 5.6. Net cash flows provided by operating activities was $4,075,000$3,032,000 in the current year compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $1,050,000$4,075,000 in the previous year. The improveddecline in operating cash flow provided in the third quarterfirst nine months of the current year as compared to the same period in the previous year is primarily related to higher net incomeinventory and lower inventory balances. Inventoryaccounts payable, accrued compensation and other expenses. This decline in the current year was slightly offset by the increase in current year’s net income. Accounts receivables remained flat at $11,804,000 at the end of the third quarter as compared to $11,800,000 at year-end, but the accounts receivable collection cycle decreased to $13,607,00046 days sales outstanding at the end of the current quarter as compared to 51 days outstanding at year end. Inventory increased to $14,487,000 at the end of the third quarter compared to $14,405,000$14,129,000 at year end. Inventoryend and inventory days on hand also decreasedincreased to 106111 days on hand at the end of the current quarter from 124105 days at year end. The increase in cash provided by operations for the third quarter was slightly tempered by the increase in accounts receivable. Accounts receivables increased to $11,350,000 at the end of the second quarter as compared to $11,112,000 at year-end; however, the accounts receivable collection cycle decreased to 51 days sales outstanding at the end of the quarter as compared to 54 days outstanding at year end.

The Company’s cash, cash equivalents and investments at the end of the third quarter totaled $22,032,000$22,963,000 compared to $20,630,000$23,040,000 at year end. The increasedlower cash and investment position at October 27, 2012 resulted from higher net incomethe increase in inventory and athe decrease in inventories,accounts payable, accrued compensation and other expense, as noted above. The increase was slightly tempered byabove, as well as cash used to acquire property, plant and equipment of $971,000$527,000 and to pay cash dividends of $1,537,000.$1,558,000. Cash of $770,000 was also used during the period to purchase treasury shares.

The Company’s backlog increased 5.8%27.9% from year-end to $7,524,000$7,954,000 at the end of the third quarter from a backlog of $7,114,000 at year-end.quarter.

Critical Accounting Policies, Commitments and Certain Other Matters

In the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011,2012, the Company’s most critical accounting policies and estimates upon which our financial status depends were identified as those relating to revenue recognition, warranty claims, bad debts, inventories, income taxes, long-lived assets, goodwill and share-based compensation. We considered the disclosure requirements of Financial Release (“FR”) 60 (“FR-60”) regarding critical accounting policies and FR-61 regarding liquidity and capital resources, certain trading activities and related party/certain other disclosures, and concluded that nothing materially changed during the quarter that would warrant further disclosure under these releases.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, but rather reflect our current expectations concerning future events and results. We generally use the words “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “likely,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements, including those concerning our expectations, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to (a) general economic, financial and business conditions; (b) declining demand in the test and measurement markets, especially defense and aerospace; (c) competition in the specialty printer industry; (d) ability to develop market acceptance of our products and effective design of customer required features; (e) competition in the data acquisition industry; (f) competition in the neurophysiology industry; (g) the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on the results of operations; (h) the ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; (i) the business abilities and judgment of personnel and changes in business strategy; (j) the efficacy of research and development investments to develop new products; (k) the launching of significant new products which could result in unanticipated expenses; (l) bankruptcy or other financial problems at major suppliers or customers that could cause disruptions in the Company’s supply chain or difficulty in collecting amounts owed by such customers; (m) and other risks included under “Item 1A-Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011.2012. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The registrant is a smaller reporting company and is not required to provide this information.

 

Item 4.Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management has evaluated, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b)13a- 15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner, and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to have materially affected, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Legal Proceedings

There are no pending or threatened legal proceedings against the Company believed to be material to the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

 

Item 1A.Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011,2012, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future operating results. The risks described in our Annual Report on 10-K are not the only risks that we face, as additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating result as well as adversely affect the value of our investments in our common stock.

There have been no material updates to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011.2012.

 

Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On August 16, 2004, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had approved the repurchase of 600,000 shares of common stock. This is an ongoing authorization without any expiration date.

On August 22, 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase in the number of shares authorized for repurchase from 254,089 to 500,000.500,000 shares of common stock. This is an ongoing authorization without any expiration date.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2012,2013, the Company made the following repurchases of its common stock:

 

Total Number
of Shares
Repurchased
Average
Price paid
Per Share
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
Maximum Number
of Shares That
May Be Purchased
Under The Plans
or Programs

July 31 – August 27

—  $—  —  500,000

August 28 – September 24

—  (a)(b)(c) $—  —  500,000

September 25 – October 29

—  $—  —  500,000
   Total Number
of Shares
Repurchased
   Average
Price paid
Per Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
   Maximum Number
of Shares That
May Be Purchased
Under The Plans
or Programs
 

July 29 – August 25

   —      $—       —       500,000  

August 26 – September 22

   110,000   $7.00    110,000    390,000  

September 22– October 27

   —      $—       —       390,000  

 

(a)On September 9, 2011, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer delivered 38,241 shares of the Company’s common stock to satisfy the exercise price for 66,687 stock options exercised. The shares delivered were valued at $7.30 per share and are included with treasury stock in the consolidated balance sheet. This transaction did not impact the number of shares authorized for repurchase under the Company’s current repurchase program.

(b)On September 15, 2011, the Company’s Vice President of Media Products delivered 2,595 shares of the Company’s common stock to satisfy the exercise price for 6,875 stock options exercised. The shares delivered were valued at $7.13 per share and are included with treasury stock in the consolidated balance sheet. This transaction did not impact the number of shares authorized for repurchase under the Company’s current repurchase program.

(c)On September 16, 2011, the Estate of the Company’s former Chief Executive Officer delivered 32,174 shares of the Company’s common stock to satisfy the exercise price for 85,250 stock options exercised. The shares delivered were valued at $7.13 per share and are included with treasury stock in the consolidated balance sheet. This transaction did not impact the number of shares authorized for repurchase under the Company’s current repurchase program.

Item 6.Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as part of this report on Form 10-Q:

 

31.1  Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2  Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1  Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2  Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS  XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEFXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Database
101.LAB  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

SIGNATURES

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

 

  

ASTRO-MED, INC.

(Registrant)

Date: December 6, 20115, 2012  By 

/s/ Everett V. Pizzuti

   Everett V. Pizzuti,
   

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

  By 

/s/ Joseph P. O’Connell

   Joseph P. O’Connell
   

Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

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