BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC.
One Jake Brown Road
Old Bridge, New Jersey 08857
July 18, 2005
VIA EDGAR TRANSMISSION
Larry Spirgel, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
Mail Stop 0407
Washington, DC 20549
Re: | Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. |
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005
File No. 1-14120
Dear Mr. Spirgel:
This letter will serve as a response to each of your comments regarding the above-referenced Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”) contained in your letter dated June 7, 2005. Attached to this response letter as an addendum is a draft Amendment No. 1 to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 (“Draft Form 10-K/A”), the form of which the Company proposes to file with the SEC following its review and analysis of this response letter.
For your convenience, we have numbered each of our responses to correspond to the comment of the same number contained in your comment letter dated June 7, 2005.
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2004
Management’s Discussion and Analysis
1. The requested disclosure has been included on pages 17, 18 and 22 of the Draft Form 10-K/A.
2. The requested disclosure has been included on page 18 of the Draft Form 10-K/A.
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
3. The Company has accounted for its 50% economic interest in Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (“BTT”) and NetLinc Communications, LLC (“NetLinc”) using the equity method due to its lack of substantive participating rights in BTT and NetLinc. For example, the Company only owns 49% of the outstanding membership shares of BTT while the other member
Larry Spirgel, Assistant Director
July 18, 2005
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("Majority Member") owns the remaining 51% of the outstanding memberships shares. While the Company and the Majority Member share economic rights on an equal basis, BTT has a Manager that manages, controls, administers and operates the business and affairs of BTT, which Manager is appointed by a majority vote of the members. Given that the Company only has a 49% voting interest in BTT, it cannot appoint or remove this Manager, who controls the day to day operations of BTT. Moreover, this Manager is a controlling member of the Majority Member of BTT. While certain actions on behalf of BTT require a unanimous vote of members, these matters are protective in nature such as creating a new class of membership interest, approving a change of control of BTT or a change in the nature of business of BTT. NetLinc has a similar structure such that the Company does not have substantive participating rights in the day to day operations, but merely has protective rights with regard to certain extraordinary corporate actions (see details of this structure on page 40 of the Draft Form 10-K/A). It should also be noted that the Company has a 50% interest in NetLinc and not a 90% interest as referenced in your comment letter. Based on these facts, consolidation of BTT and NetLinc is not required pursuant to EITF 96-16 and EITF 04-5. The Company has revised its disclosure on page 40 of the Draft Form 10-K/A to include disclosure of the Company’s and the other parties’ rights in these entities.
4. The requested disclosure has been included on page 40 (Note 1(a)) and page 56 (Note 13) of the Draft Form 10-K/A.
5. Given that the Company licenses products from Philips and makes payments to Philips, there are no revenue recognition issues related to Staff Accounting Bulletin 104. Nevertheless, the Company has included disclosure on page 46 of the Draft Form 10-K/A regarding the Company’s accounting policy with regard to royalty and license expense.
General
6. As noted in response #3 above, use of the equity method is appropriate. Accordingly, the Company has included as Exhibit 99.1 to the Draft Form 10-K/A audited financial statements of BTT pursuant to Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X.
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005
Note 5 - Debt, page 8
7. In March, 2004, the Company’s credit agreement with Commerce Bank was amended to suspend the applicability of the cash flow coverage ratio covenant until March 31, 2005 and impose a new covenant requiring the Company to achieve certain levels of consolidated pre-tax income on a quarterly basis commencing with the first fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2004. This amendment was made so that the Company would not be in violation of the cash flow coverage ratio covenant as of March 31, 2004 and eliminated the applicability of such financial covenant for all periods until March 31, 2005. In March, 2005, this credit agreement was amended again to waive the applicability of the consolidated pre-tax income requirement as of December 31, 2004, create new consolidated pre-tax income requirements for
Larry Spirgel, Assistant Director
July 18, 2005
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each quarter starting in March 31, 2005 and suspend the applicability of the cash flow coverage ratio until March 31, 2006.
The Company was in compliance with the consolidated pre-tax income covenant for the fiscal quarters ending March 31, 2004 and September 30, 2004. While the Company was not in compliance with this covenant for the fiscal quarters ending June 30, 2004, December 31, 2004 and March 31, 2005, the Company received waivers of such non-compliance each quarter so that the debt was not callable. It should be noted that this covenant is only measured on a quarterly basis (not annual) and the amount differs from quarter to quarter and, therefore, a non-compliance in one quarter does not directly impact the calculation for any subsequent quarter. Since this covenant on pre-tax income was measured quarterly, at the time of each waiver the Company believed it would be in compliance with the covenant for the next 12 months based on its projections. Accordingly, this treatment is in compliance with SFAS 78 and EITF 86-30.
In connection with this response to your comments, the Company acknowledges that:
· | the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filings; |
· | staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff comments do not foreclose the SEC from taking any action with respect to the filing; and |
· | the Company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the SEC or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. |
Should the Staff have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.
Respectively submitted,
/s/ Eric Skolnik
Eric Skolnik,
Senior Vice President - Finance
and Chief Financial Officer
cc: James Luksch, Chairman and CEO
Draft
July 18, 2005
FORM 10-K/A
AMENDMENT NO. 1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
[X] | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004, OR |
[ ] | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ___________________ to __________________ |
Commission file number: 1-14120
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 52-1611421 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
One Jake Brown Road, Old Bridge, New Jersey | 08857 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (732) 679-4000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Name of Exchange on which registered | |
Common Stock, Par Value $.001 | American Stock Exchange |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ X ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No X
The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant at June 30, 2004: $11,280,369.
Number of shares of common stock, par value $.001, outstanding as of March 19, 2005: 8,002,406.
Documents incorporated by reference:
Certain portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 24, 2005 (which is expected to be filed with the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the registrant’s last fiscal year) are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
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Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to historical information, this Annual Report of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. (“Blonder Tongue” or the “Company”) contains forward-looking statements relating to such matters as anticipated financial performance, business prospects, technological developments, new products, research and development activities and similar matters. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements. In order to comply with the terms of the safe harbor, the Company notes that a variety of factors could cause the Company’s actual results and experience to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company’s forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operation, performance, development and results of the Company’s business include, but are not limited to, those matters discussed herein in the sections entitled Item 1 - Business, Item 3 - Legal Proceedings, Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Risk Factors. The words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “project” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described herein and in other documents the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Explanatory Note
The Company is filing this Amendment No. 1 to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 (this “Form 10-K/A”) to include as Exhibit 99.1 certain audited financial information required under the Securities and Exchange Commission's (“SEC”) rules, related to Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC ("BTT"), of which the Company owns a 50% economic interest (“BTT Financial Statements”). The Company has also expanded or revised certain disclosures in response to comments received from the SEC after its periodic review of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. These changes consist primarily of expanded disclosure in (i) Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations related to the inventory reserve and bad debt expense, and (ii) Notes 1 and 13 to the Company’s Financial Statements related to the Company’s interest in BTT, NetLinc Communications, LLC and BDR Broadband, LLC, along with the Company’s accounting policy for royalty and license fees.
In accordance with Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the following Items of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 are being amended in their entirety: Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data; and Item 15 - Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules. In particular, the Company has included as exhibits to this Form 10-K/A the audited financial statements of BTT as Exhibit 99.1 and new certifications of its principal executive officer and principal financial officer as Exhibits 31.1, 31.2 and 32.1.
The remaining Items contained within this Form 10-K/A consist of all other Items originally contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 in the form filed on April 15, 2005. This Form 10-K/A does not reflect events occurring after the filing of the original Form 10-K, or modify or update those disclosures in any way other than as described above.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Introduction
Blonder Tongue is a designer, manufacturer and supplier of a comprehensive line of electronics and systems equipment, primarily for the cable television industry (both franchise and non-franchise, or “private,” cable). Over the past few years, the Company has also introduced equipment and innovative solutions for the high-speed transmission of data and the provision of telephony services in multiple dwelling unit applications. The Company’s products are used to acquire, distribute and protect the broad range of communications signals carried on fiber optic, twisted pair, coaxial cable and wireless distribution systems. These products are sold to customers
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providing an array of communications services, including television, high-speed data (Internet) and telephony, to single family dwellings, multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”), the lodging industry and institutions such as hospitals, prisons, schools and marinas.
Staying at the forefront of the communications broadband technology revolution is a continuing challenge. The Company continues to add products to respond to the changes taking place. Blonder Tongue’s most recent additions are a line of telephony products for the purpose of offering primary telephone service to MDUs and the MegaPort line of high-speed data products to provide broadband access to lodging and MDU communities. Other product additions over the past few years include digital satellite receivers, fiber communications network components, QPSK to QAM transcoders (for EchoStar and Digicipher II MPEG-2 Satellite Services), Digicipher II-compatible QAM set-top converters, and a broad range of interdiction products. This past year the Company introduced 8PSK to QAM transcoders for satellite-delivered HDTV channels and an HDTV processor for over-the-air HDTV channels.
The Company’s principal customers are cable system integrators (both franchise and private cable operators, as well as contractors) that design, package, install and in most instances operate, upgrade and maintain the systems they build.
The Company has historically enjoyed, and continues to enjoy, a dominant market position in the private cable industry, while progressively making inroads into the franchise cable market. As the Company has expanded its market coverage, however, the distinctions between private cable and franchise cable have become blurred. For example, the most efficient, highest revenue-producing private cable systems and small franchise cable systems are built with the same electronic building blocks. Most of the electronics required for these systems are available from Blonder Tongue.
The Company continues to expand its core product lines (headend and distribution), to maintain its ability to provide all of the electronic equipment needed to build small cable systems and much of the equipment needed in larger systems for the most efficient operation and highest profitability in high density applications.
Over the past several years, the Company has expanded beyond its core business by acquiring a private cable television system (BDR Broadband, LLC ) and by acquiring an interest in a company offering a private telephone program ideally suited to multiple dwelling unit applications (Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC).
BDR Broadband, LLC (“BDR Broadband”), a 90% owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired the rights-of-entry for certain MDU cable television and high-speed data systems in August 2002. The systems are presently comprised of approximately 2,909 existing MDU cable television subscribers and approximately 6,909 passings (taking into account the sale during 2004 of the rights-of-entry for two systems located outside the region where the remaining systems are located). BDR Broadband is a venture between the Company and Priority Systems, LLC, which has expertise in marketing and operating MDU cable television systems. During July 2003, the Company purchased the 10% interest in BDR Broadband that had been originally owned by Paradigm Capital Investments, LLC, for an aggregate purchase price of $35,000 resulting in the Company’s stake in BDR Broadband increasing from 80% to 90%. The Company believes that the model it has devised for acquiring and operating these systems has been successful and can be replicated. The Company is seeking opportunities to acquire additional rights-of-entry and is presently negotiating several such opportunities, although there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in consummating these transactions.
The Company entered into a series of agreements in March, 2003, and September, 2003 pursuant to which it acquired a 50% economic ownership interest in NetLinc Communications, LLC and Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (to which the Company has licensed its name). As a result of these acquisitions, the Company is now involved in providing a proprietary telephone system ideally suited for MDU deployment in both products and services. The Company receives incremental revenues associated with its direct sales of the telephony products, and it also expects to receive additional revenues from telephony services provided by or through contracts for such services obtained by BDR Broadband, Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (through the Company’s 50% stake therein), as well as joint ventures with third parties. The Company continues to acquire additional rights-of-entry for the provision of video, voice and/or high-speed data services, albeit at a modest pace. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Overview” for a more detailed description of the investments in the private cable operation and telephone program and the underlying operations.
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The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in November, 1988 and completed its initial public offering in December, 1995.
Industry Overview
The broadband signal distribution industry (involving the high-speed transmission of television, telephony and internet signals) is currently dominated by franchise multiple system cable operators, or MSOs. The markets for wireless, direct-broadcast satellite (“DBS”) and digital subscriber lines (“DSL”) used for these purposes continue to grow. Within the cable television market there are an increasing number of metropolitan areas that have awarded second cable television franchises to create competition with the existing franchisee. The government has been in favor of competition in this market and has passed regulations to encourage it. Franchise cable companies carefully monitor DBS penetration in their franchise areas and react rapidly to competition, all to the eventual benefit of the consumer. To fight competition, the operators offer more services and more television channels as well as discounted prices. The lineup of services typically includes an analog block of channels from 54 to 550 MHz, high-speed data service using high-speed cable modems, cable telephony either interfacing with switched networks or internet protocol networks, and digital television in the 550 to 750 MHz range. These upgraded services are possible in every system that has been rebuilt to 750 MHz of bandwidth. The standard architecture for these enhanced systems contemplates a hybrid distribution network with a combination of fiber optic cable to nodes of 100 to 500 subscribers, with coaxial cable from the node to the customer and full reverse-path capability for the pay-per-view, video-on-demand, data and phone services.
The traditional customer targeted for these expanded services is a homeowner likely to remain in the same home as a long-term subscriber (i.e. the single family home). For a variety of reasons, including the transient nature of the residents of many MDU areas, high levels of theft of service and excessive cost of replacing lost or stolen converters and modems, affect approximately 35% of cable television subscribers. Since converters, DBS receivers, digital converters and modems are offered at very low prices to stimulate sales, the operational costs in these demographic areas are considered too high to justify offering the advanced services that are generally made available in the traditional franchise cable demographic. To retain customers in these areas, a technology must be used that minimizes the operational losses due to theft and “churn” while providing a level of video, data and phone service that compares favorably with single family offerings, DBS, DSL and wireless providers. The Company believes that its Triple Play of products, which includes QAM delivered digital video, interdiction to control analog video, as well as high-speed data and telephone service, is the ideal solution for deployment in these areas.
The Company is a value-added distributor for Motorola’s QAM decoder to the United States private cable and Canadian franchise cable markets. Coupling this product with the Company’s Digicipher® II-compatible QTM transcoder line of products, provides a low-cost hardware solution for small system operators that want to offer digital programming from sources such as HITS® and EchoStar. The Company’s transcoder line has been further enhanced to include the High Definition TV Transcoder Series, which is intended for use with Dish™ Commercial TV from EchoStar and its HDTV processor for delivery of off-air HDTV signals over the systems distribution network.
Cable Television
Most cable television operators have built fiber optic networks with various combinations of fiber optic and coaxial cable to deliver television signal programming, data, and phone services on one drop cable. Cable television deployment of fiber optic trunk has been completed in most existing systems. The system architecture being employed to accomplish the combined provision of television, high-speed data and telephone service is a hybrid fiber coaxial (“HFC”) network. In an HFC network, fiber optic trunk lines connect to nodes which typically feed 100 to 500 subscribers, using coaxial cable.
The Company believes that most major metropolitan areas will eventually have complex networks of two or more independent operators interconnecting homes, while private cable operators will provide service to many multi-dwelling complexes. All of these networks are potential users of Blonder Tongue headend, digital, telephone and interdiction products.
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Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs)
MDUs, because they represent a large percentage of the private cable market, have historically been responsible for a large percentage of the Company’s sales. In the early days of cable television MDUs were served by franchise cable operators. In 1991, when the FCC allocated a designated frequency band for private cable, the private cable industry became a major supplier of TV services to MDUs since they could interconnect buildings with 18 GHz over-the-air links and reduce the cost-per-subscriber in building MDU networks. Of course, in 1991 the cost of a headend was significantly higher than today. This type of networking continues today, however, presently some MDU private cable systems are connected using fiber optics since it is more reliable, has much greater bandwidth, and can handle two-way communication, which is required for voice, data and video-on-demand. Most new systems deploy lower cost dedicated headends and by supplying all three services (video, voice and high-speed data), have significantly greater revenues per subscriber, thereby significantly improving the return on investment over what was possible 10 years ago.
A typical private cable MDU provides 60 to 80 channels of analog signals, as many as 500 digital video channels, high-speed data and telephone services, utilizing the Company’s core headend products (receivers, modulators, transcoders, processors, etc), primary telephone equipment and distribution products. MDUs served by franchise cable are also a large potential revenue source for Blonder Tongue since they generally fall into the category of customers where churn, theft of service and converter loss are extremely high. This makes these areas prime candidates for Blonder Tongue’s interdiction products.
Lodging
Since the early 1990’s, private cable integrators have competed to expand the lodging market by offering systems with more channels, video-on-demand and interactivity. These systems have been and continue to be well received in the market, as property owners have sought additional revenues and guests have demanded increased in-room conveniences. The leading system integrators in this market rely upon outside suppliers for their system electronics and most are Blonder Tongue customers. These companies and others offer lodging establishments systems that provide true video-on-demand movies with a large selection of titles. To meet these demands, the typical lodging system headend will include as many as 20 to 40 receivers and as many as 60 to 80 modulators, and will be capable of providing the guest with more free channels, video-on-demand for a broad selection of movie titles, and interactive services such as remote check-out and concierge services. This is in contrast to the systems which preceded them, which typically had 10 to 12 receivers and modulators and provided six to ten free channels and two to five channels of VCR-based movies running at published scheduled times.
Most of the systems with video-on-demand service were initially in large hotels, where the economics of high channel capacity systems are more easily justified. The conversion of hotel pay-per-view systems into video-on-demand is increasing. Smaller hotels and motels are being provided with video-on-demand as technology results in reduced headend costs, keeping the market growth reasonably steady. A current trend in lodging is to provide “plug-and-play” high-speed data service to customers and Blonder Tongue’s MegaPort high-speed data product is an ideal solution for hotel/motel high-speed data deployment.
International
Cable television service for much of the world is expanding as technological advancement reduces the cost to consumers. In addition, economic development in Latin America and Asia has allowed construction of integrated delivery systems that utilize a variety of electronics and broadband hardware. The pace of growth is difficult to predict, but as more alternatives become available and television service becomes increasingly affordable, it is anticipated that more equipment will be placed in the field. The Company utilizes several distributors in Florida and within Latin America to serve the Latin American market, although during the last several years international sales have not materially contributed to the Company’s revenue base.
Additional Considerations
The technological revolution with respect to video, data and voice services continues at a rapid pace. Cable TV’s QAM video is competing with DirecTV and EchoStar’s DBS service; cable modems compete with DSL offered by the Regional Bell Operating Companies (“RBOC”); RBOC’s are building national fiber networks and threatening to deliver video, data and voice services directly to the home over fiber optic cable, and
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Since United States television sets are for the most part analog (not digital), direct satellite television and other digitally compressed programming requires headend products or set-top decoding receivers or converters to convert the digitally transmitted satellite signals back to analog. The replacement of all television sets with digital sets will be costly and take many years to complete. The Company believes that for many years to come, program providers will deliver an analog television signal on standard channels to subscribers’ television sets using headend products at some distribution point in their networks or employ decoding receivers at each television set. Headend products are a large segment of Blonder Tongue’s business and the Company believes interdiction is an ideal product for a system operator to use to control access to the multitude of analog programming that will be available.
Products
Blonder Tongue’s products can be separated, according to function, into the several categories described below:
• Analog Video Headend Products used by a system operator for signal acquisition, processing and manipulation for further transmission. Among the products offered by the Company in this category are satellite receivers, integrated receiver/decoders, transcoders, demodulators, modulators, antennas and antenna mounts, amplifiers, equalizers, and processors. The headend of a television signal distribution system is the “brain” of the system, the central location where the multi-channel signal is initially received, converted and allocated to specific channels for analog distribution. In some cases, where the signal is transmitted in encrypted form or digitized and compressed, the receiver will also be required to decode the signal. Blonder Tongue is a licensee of Motorola, Inc.’s (“Motorola”) VideoCipher® and DigiCipher® encryption technologies and integrates their decoders into integrated receiver/decoder products, where required. The Company estimates that Headend Products accounted for approximately 52% of the Company’s revenues in 2004, 54% in 2003, and 66% in 2002.
• Digital Video Headend Products used by a system operator for acquisition, processing and manipulation of digital video signals. An alternative to converting signals to analog for distribution is to transcode the satellite signal’s modulation from QPSK (quadrature phase shift key) to QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) or 8PSK to QAM for HDTV signals received from a satellite transponder, since QPSK and 8PSK are optimum for satellite transmission and QAM is optimum for fiber/coaxial distribution. This maintains the signal in its digital form. Digital Products continue to expand in the cable marketplace and bring more advanced technology to consumers and operators. Blonder Tongue is constantly expanding its Digital Products offering, which includes a complete line of Transcoders for economically deploying and adding a digital programming tier, including both standard and HDTV channels, to systems, Digital QAM up-converters for data-over-cable applications and Digital High Definition Television Processors for delivery of HDTV programming.
• High-speed Data Products used to provide Internet access and data transfer over a hybrid fiber/coaxial cable system. Products in this category include standard cable modems and routers, and the MegaPort solution for providing broadband Internet access to MDUs. The MegaPort solution consists of two main components, the Gateway and the Intelligent Outlets. The Gateway is a broadband ethernet router or bridge that establishes a network within a building or community. The Intelligent Outlet serves as the modem, but is permanently installed in the home to eliminate loss of equipment associated with churn. Each Gateway can accommodate 64 enabled Outlets and with a software upgrade, up to 250 outlets.
• Telephony Products used to provide expanded telephone service to MDU subscribers. These products are designed to offer carrier class telephone service to residences using existing twisted pair wires. Service will be fully transparent to subscribers with advanced calling features such as 911, Caller ID, Call Waiting Plus, and Three-way Calling available and bundled at a flat rate to subscribers. The Blonder
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Tongue telephony family of products includes a T1 concentrator and a multiplexer. The system starts at a telephone company class 5 switch located at their local central office. A T1 line is routed from the switch and brought to the LoopXpress Concentrator. The telephone information is then routed to the LineXpress Multiplexer which converts the digital format into analog voice frequencies for transmission to up to 12 independent resident telephone lines. The existing twisted-pair telephone wiring infrastructure is utilized to provide dial tone at a resident’s premises using any standard telephone. System operation, including activating and deactivating phone lines, is achieved through a point-and-click software package. Communication to the equipment can be performed locally or remotely for increased operating efficiency and simplified system management. The Company does not have a significant history of sales of telephony products as it only acquired the distribution rights in 2003. In its preferred configuration, this telephone service (which is capable of deploying VOIP service at lower cost) is a true primary line service with full 911 capability. The Company believes that sales of those telephony products will grow into a significant source of revenue for the Company.
• Microwave Products used to transmit the output of a cable system headend to multiple locations using point-to-point communication links in the 18 GHz range of frequencies. Products offered in this category are power amplifiers, repeaters, receivers, transmitters and compatible accessories. These products convert the headend output up to the microwave band and transmit this signal using parabolic antennas. At each receiver site, a parabolic antenna-receiver combination converts the signal back to normal VHF frequencies for distribution to subscribers at the receiver site. Due to a Second Order on Reconsideration adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) in November 2002, coupled with the availability and inherent superiority of fiber optics in linking adjacent properties in MDU applications, sales of microwave products have diminished. While microwave products will continue to be sold to maintain existing systems, the Company does not anticipate that these products will contribute significantly to the Company’s revenues.
• Fiber Products used to transmit the output of a cable system headend to multiple locations using fiber optic cable. Among the products offered are optical transmitters, receivers, couplers, splitters and compatible accessories. These products convert RF frequencies to light (or infrared) frequencies and launch them on optical fiber. At each receiver site, an optical receiver is used to convert the signals back to normal VHF frequencies for distribution to subscribers. Sales of products in this category continue as they have become the product of choice in applications formerly suitable to the use of microwave products.
• Distribution Products used to permit signals to travel from the headend to their ultimate destination in a home, apartment unit, hotel room, office or other terminal location along a distribution network of fiber optic or coaxial cable. Among the products offered by the Company in this category are line extenders, broadband amplifiers, directional taps, splitters and wall taps. In cable television systems, the distribution products are either mounted on exterior telephone poles or encased in pedestals, vaults or other security devices. In private cable systems the distribution system is typically enclosed within the walls of the building (if a single structure) or added to an existing structure using various techniques to hide the coaxial cable and devices. The non-passive devices within this category are designed to ensure that the signal distributed from the headend is of sufficient strength when it arrives at its final destination to provide high quality audio/video images. The Company estimates distribution products accounted for approximately 19% of the Company’s revenues in 2004, 19% in 2003 and 17% in 2002.
• Addressable Subscriber and Interdiction Products used to control access to programming at the subscriber’s location. Among the products offered by the Company in this category are (i) its VideoMask™ addressable signal jammer, licensed from Philips Electronics North America Corporation and its affiliate Philips Broadband Networks, Inc. (ii) the SMI Interdiction product line acquired from Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. as part of its interdiction business, and (iii) the Addressable Multi-Tap (AMT). Interdiction products limit the availability of programs to subscribers, through jamming of particular channels. Such products enable an operator or consumer to control subscriber access to premium channels and other enhanced services locally or through a computer located off-premises. They also eliminate the necessity of an operator having to make a service call to install or remove passive traps and eliminate the costs associated with damage or loss of analog set-top converters in the subscribers’ locations. The Company believes that the reduction in operating costs, programming piracy, and converter loss which can be obtained through the use of interdiction can be a significant factor in further product penetration into the franchise cable market in MDU applications. Recently, the Company introduced a consumer version of
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this product, the TV Channel Blocker, which provides local (at the consumer level) control of the full analog block of channels. The customer can select which programs he or she considers objectionable to his or her children or family and locally select to block them. While it is not possible to predict the breadth of market acceptance for these products, the Company believes the potential is substantial in the private cable market, franchise cable market and consumer market as alternatives to, or in conjunction with, set-top converters and as a viable option for companies and municipalities who are overbuilding existing cable infrastructures and are seeking a more consumer-friendly and cost-effective way to compete with the incumbent franchise cable operator. The Company estimates that Interdiction products accounted for approximately 6% of the Company’s revenues in 2004, 11% in 2003 and 8% in 2002.
• Test Productsused for measuring signals in the Headend and Distribution. Among the products offered by the Company in this category are analog and digital Spectrum Analyzers, QPSK Analyzers, and hand held Palm Analyzers. While the Company expects to continue selling test products to meet the needs of customers, the Company does not anticipate that these products will contribute significantly to the Company’s revenues.
The Company will modify its products to meet specific customer requirements. Typically, these modifications are minor and do not materially alter the functionality of the products. Thus, the inability of the customer to accept such products does not generally result in the Company being otherwise unable to sell such products to other customers.
Research and Product Development
The markets served by Blonder Tongue are characterized by technological change, new product introductions, and evolving industry standards. To compete effectively in this environment, the Company must engage in ongoing research and development in order to (i) create new products, (ii) expand the frequency range of existing products in order to accommodate customer demand for greater channel capacity, (iii) license new technology (such as digital satellite receiver decoders and high-speed data transmission products), and (iv) acquire products incorporating technology that could not otherwise be developed quickly enough using internal resources, to suit the dynamics of the evolving marketplace. Research and development projects are often initially undertaken at the request of and in an effort to address the particular needs of the Company’s customers and customer prospects with the expectation or promise of substantial future orders from such customers or customer prospects. Additional research and development efforts are also continuously underway for the purpose of enhancing product quality and engineering to lower production costs. For the acquisition of new technologies, the Company may rely upon technology licenses from third parties when the Company believes that it can obtain such technology more quickly and/or cost-effectively from such third parties than the Company could otherwise develop on its own, or when the desired technology is proprietary to a third party. There were 14 employees in the research and development department of the Company at December 31, 2004. The Company spent $1,549,000, $1,833,000 and $1,972,000 on research and development expenses for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Marketing and Sales
Blonder Tongue markets and sells its products worldwide to the following markets: private cable operators, system contractors, franchise cable operators, the lodging industry, institutions, satellite dealers and retailers. Sales are made directly to customers by the Company’s internal sales force, as well as through numerous domestic stocking distributors (which accounted for approximately 44% of the Company’s revenues for fiscal 2004). These distributors serve multiple markets. Direct sales to private cable operators and system integrators accounted for approximately 24% of the Company’s revenues for fiscal 2004.
The Company’s sales and marketing function is predominantly performed by its internal sales force. Should it be deemed necessary, the Company may retain independent sales representatives in particular geographic areas or targeted to specific customer prospects. The Company’s internal sales force consists of 26 employees, which currently includes 12 salespersons (9 salespersons in Old Bridge, New Jersey, one salesperson in each of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Cudahy, Wisconsin, Folsom and Miami, Florida) and 14 sales-support personnel at the Company headquarters in Old Bridge, New Jersey.
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The Company’s standard customer payment terms are 2%-10, net 30 days. From time to time where the Company determines that circumstances warrant, such as when a customer agrees to commit to a large blanket purchase order, the Company extends payment terms beyond its standard payment terms.
The Company has several marketing programs to support the sale and distribution of its products. Blonder Tongue participates in industry trade shows and conferences. The Company also publishes technical articles in trade and technical journals, distributes sales and product literature and has an active public relations plan to ensure complete coverage of Blonder Tongue’s products and technology by editors of trade journals. The Company provides system design engineering for its customers, maintains extensive ongoing communications with many original equipment manufacturer customers and provides one-on-one demonstrations and technical seminars to potential new customers. Blonder Tongue supplies sales and applications support, product literature and training to its sales representatives and distributors. The management of the Company travels extensively, identifying customer needs and meeting potential customers.
The Company had approximately $303,000 in purchase orders as of December 31, 2004 and approximately $639,000 in purchase orders as of December 31, 2003. All of the purchase orders outstanding as of December 31, 2004 are expected to be shipped prior to December 31, 2005. The purchase orders are for the future delivery of products and are subject to cancellation by the customers.
Customers
Blonder Tongue has a broad customer base, which in 2004 consisted of approximately 500 active accounts. Approximately 39%, 43%, and 50% of the Company’s revenues in fiscal years 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively, were derived from sales of products to the Company’s five largest customers. In 2004 and 2003, sales to Toner Cable Equipment, Inc. accounted for approximately 18% and 21% respectively of the Company’s revenues. There can be no assurance that any sales to these entities, individually or as a group, will reach or exceed historical levels in any future period. However, the Company anticipates that these customers will continue to account for a significant portion of the Company’s revenues in future periods, although none of them is obligated to purchase any specified amount of products or to provide the Company with binding forecasts of product purchases for any future period.
The complement of leading customers may shift as the most efficient and better financed integrators grow more rapidly than others. The Company believes that many integrators will grow rapidly, and as such the Company’s success will depend in part on the viability of those customers and on the Company’s ability to maintain its position in the overall marketplace by shifting its emphasis to those customers with the greatest growth and growth prospects. Any substantial decrease or delay in sales to one or more of the Company’s leading customers, the financial failure of any of these entities, or the Company’s inability to develop and maintain solid relationships with the integrators which may replace the present leading customers, would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
The Company’s revenues are derived primarily from customers in the continental United States, however, the Company also derives revenues from customers outside the continental United States, primarily in Canada and to a more limited extent, in underdeveloped countries. Television service is less developed in many international markets, particularly Latin America and Asia, creating opportunity for those participants who offer quality products at a competitive price. Sales to customers outside of the United States represented approximately 4%, 2% and 8% of the Company’s revenues in fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002 respectively. All of the Company’s transactions with customers located outside of the continental United States are denominated in U.S. dollars, therefore, the Company has no material foreign currency transactions.
Manufacturing and Suppliers
Blonder Tongue’s manufacturing operations are located at the Company’s headquarters in Old Bridge, New Jersey. The Company’s manufacturing operations are vertically integrated and consist principally of the assembly and testing of electronic assemblies built from fabricated parts, printed circuit boards and electronic devices and the fabrication from raw sheet metal of chassis and cabinets for such assemblies. Management continues to implement a significant number of changes to the manufacturing process to increase production volume and reduce product cost, including logistics modifications on the factory floor, an increased use of surface mount, axial lead and radial lead robotics to place electronic components on printed circuit boards, a continuing program of
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circuit board redesign to make more products compatible with robotic insertion equipment and an increased integration in machining and fabrication. All of these efforts are consistent with and part of the Company’s strategy to provide its customers with high performance-to-cost ratio products.
Outside contractors supply standard components, etch-printed circuit boards and electronic subassemblies to the Company’s specifications. While the Company generally purchases electronic parts which do not have a unique source, certain electronic component parts used within the Company’s products are available from a limited number of suppliers and can be subject to temporary shortages because of general economic conditions and the demand and supply for such component parts. If the Company were to experience a temporary shortage of any given electronic part, the Company believes that alternative parts could be obtained or system design changes implemented. However, in such situations the Company may experience temporary reductions in its ability to ship products affected by the component shortage. On an as-needed basis, the Company purchases several products from sole suppliers for which alternative sources are not available, such as the VideoCipher® and DigiCipher® encryption systems manufactured by Motorola, which are standard encryption methodologies employed on U.S. C-Band and Ku-Band transponders, EchoStar digital receivers for delivery of DISH Network™ programming, and Hughes digital satellite receivers for delivery of DIRECTV™ programming. An inability to timely obtain sufficient quantities of these components could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operating results. The Company does not have an agreement with any sole source supplier requiring the supplier to sell a specified volume of components to the Company.
Blonder Tongue maintains a quality assurance program which tests samples of component parts purchased, as well as its finished products, on an ongoing basis and also conducts tests throughout the manufacturing process using commercially available and in-house built testing systems that incorporate proprietary procedures. Blonder Tongue performs final product tests on 100% of its products prior to shipment to customers.
Competition
All aspects of the Company’s business are highly competitive. The Company competes with national, regional and local manufacturers and distributors, including companies larger than Blonder Tongue which have substantially greater resources. Various manufacturers who are suppliers to the Company sell directly as well as through distributors into the franchise and private cable marketplaces. Because of the convergence of the cable, telecommunications and computer industries and rapid technological development, new competitors may seek to enter the principal markets served by the Company. Many of these potential competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, sales and other resources than Blonder Tongue. The Company expects that direct and indirect competition will increase in the future. Additional competition could result in price reductions, loss of market share and delays in the timing of customer orders. The principal methods of competition are product differentiation, performance and quality, price and terms, service, and technical and administrative support.
Intellectual Property
The Company currently holds 30 United States patents and 14 foreign patents covering a wide range of electronic systems and circuits, of which 19 United States patents and 10 foreign patents were obtained in the Company’s acquisition of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.’s interdiction business during 1998. Other than certain of the patents acquired from Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., none of the Company’s patents are considered material to the Company’s present operations because they do not relate to high volume applications. Because of the rapidly evolving nature of the cable television industry, the Company believes that its market position as a supplier to cable integrators derives primarily from its ability to develop a continuous stream of new products which are designed to meet its customers’ needs and which have a high performance-to-cost ratio.
The Company has a registered trademark on “Blonder Tongue®” and also on a “BT®” logo. In connection with the transactions pursuant to which the Company acquired an ownership interest in NetLinc and Blonder Tongue Telephone, the Company granted Blonder Tongue Telephone a non-exclusive, revocable and royalty-free license to use these trademarks and certain variations of such names.
The Company is a licensee of Philips Electronics North America Corporation and its affiliate Philips Broadband Networks, Inc., Motorola, Hughes and several smaller software development companies.
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Under the Philips License Agreements, the Company is granted a non-exclusive license for a term which expires in 2010, concurrently with the last to expire of the relevant patents. The Philips License Agreements provide for the payment by the Company of a one-time license fee and for the payment by the Company of royalties based upon unit sales of licensed products.
The Company is a licensee of Motorola relating to Motorola’s VideoCipher® encryption technology and is also a party to a private label agreement with Motorola relating to its DigiCipher® technology. Under the VideoCipher® license agreement, the Company is granted a non-exclusive license under certain proprietary know-how, to design and manufacture certain licensed products to be compatible with the VideoCipher® commercial descrambler module. The VideoCipher® license agreement provides for the payment by the Company of a one-time license fee for the Company’s first model of licensed product and additional one-time license fees for each additional model of licensed product. The VideoCipher® license agreement also provides for the payment by the Company of royalties based upon unit sales of licensed products. Under the DigiCipher® private label agreement, the Company is granted the non-exclusive right to sell DigiCipher® II integrated receiver decoders bearing the Blonder Tongue name for use in the commercial market. The DigiCipher® private label agreement provides for the payment by the Company of a one-time license fee for the Company’s first model of licensed product and additional one-time license fees for each additional model of licensed product.
During 1996, the Company entered into several software development and license agreements for specifically designed controller and interface software necessary for the operation of the Company’s Video Central™ remote interdiction control system, which is used for remote operation of VideoMask™ signal jammers installed at subscriber locations. These licenses are perpetual and require the payment of a one-time license fee and in one case additional payments, the aggregate of which are not material.
The Company relies on a combination of contractual rights and trade secret laws to protect its proprietary technologies and know-how. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to protect its technologies and know-how or that third parties will not be able to develop similar technologies and know-how independently. Therefore, existing and potential competitors may be able to develop products that are competitive with the Company’s products and such competition could adversely affect the prices for the Company’s products or the Company’s market share. The Company also believes that factors such as the technological and creative skills of its personnel, new product developments, frequent product enhancements, name recognition and reliable product maintenance are essential to establishing and maintaining its competitive position.
Regulation
Private cable, while in some cases subject to certain FCC licensing requirements, is not presently burdened with extensive government regulations. Franchise cable operators had been subject to extensive government regulation pursuant to the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, which among other things provided for rate rollbacks for basic tier cable service, further rate reductions under certain circumstances and limitations on future rate increases. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated many aspects of franchise cable system operation and opened the door to competition among cable operators and telephone companies in each of their respective industries.
In June, 2000, the FCC adopted and issued a Final Rule and Order relating to the re-designation of portions of the 18GHz-frequency band among the various currently allocated services. The Final Rules regarding this issue provided for the grandfathering, for a period of ten years, of certain pre-existing (installed) terrestrial fixed service operators (“TFSOs”) and TFSOs that had made application for a license prior to a certain date. The FCC segmented the 18GHz-frequency band into several sub-bands and provided for varying obligations and rights as between the TFSOs and Fixed Satellite Service Operators (“FSSOs”). Overall, the Final Rules were complex and placed a measure of uncertainty upon TFSOs considering the use of microwave gear in new systems. In November 2002, the FCC issued a Second Order on Reconsideration (the “Second Order”), which redefined the use of the 18 GHz microwave band. Among other things, the Second Order changed the permissible band of transmission for future microwave links from the 18.42 to 18.58 GHz band to the 17.7 GHz to 18.3 GHz band. As a result of the Second Order, the Company’s existing microwave inventory would have to be modified to function within the new frequency band. The new 18GHz band provides additional channel capacity to the private cable operator. In addition, on April 19, 2004, the FCC International Bureau released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”), Docket 04-143, which among other things, proposes channelization changes for the 18GHz band. Through this NPRM, the FCC International Bureau is seeking to reduce the useable band from 17.7-18.3GHz to 17.8-18.3GHz.
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This proposed change, if adopted, would reduce 18GHz channel capacity for private cable operator use. The impact on future 18GHz sales remains uncertain at this time. These issues, coupled with the expanding use of fiber optic cable and the inherent superiority in fiber due to its greater bandwidth capability, have resulted in a shift in customer purchases away from microwave gear and toward fiber optics.
Environmental Regulations
The Company is subject to a variety of Federal, state and local governmental regulations related to the storage, use, discharge and disposal of toxic, volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals used in its manufacturing processes. The Company did not incur in 2004 and does not anticipate incurring in 2005 material capital expenditures for compliance with Federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. There can be no assurance, however, that changes in environmental regulations will not result in the need for additional capital expenditures or otherwise impose additional financial burdens on the Company. Further, such regulations could restrict the Company’s ability to expand its operations. Any failure by the Company to obtain required permits for, control the use of, or adequately restrict the discharge of, hazardous substances under present or future regulations could subject the Company to substantial liability or could cause its manufacturing operations to be suspended.
The Company presently holds a permit from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”), Division of Environmental Quality, Air Pollution Control Program relating to its operation of certain process equipment, which permit expires in May, 2007. The Company has held such a permit for this equipment on a substantially continuous basis since approximately April, 1989. The Company also has authorization under the New Jersey Pollution Discharge Elimination System/Discharge to Surface Waters General Industrial Stormwater Permit, Permit No. NJ0088315. This permit will expire May 31, 2007.
Employees
As of February 8, 2005, the Company employed approximately 281 people, including 198 in manufacturing, 14 in research and development, 11 in quality assurance, 11 in production services, 26 in sales and marketing, and 21 in a general and administrative capacity. 130 of the Company’s employees are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, Local 2066, which has a one year labor agreement with the Company expiring in February, 2006. The Company considers its relations with its employees to be good.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company’s principal manufacturing, engineering, sales and administrative facilities consist of one building totaling approximately 130,000 square feet located on approximately 20 acres of land in Old Bridge, New Jersey (the “Old Bridge Facility”) which is owned by the Company. The Old Bridge Facility is encumbered by a mortgage held by Commerce Bank in the principal amount of $2,858,000 as of December 31, 2004.
Management believes that the Old Bridge Facility is adequate to support the Company’s anticipated needs in 2005. Subject to compliance with applicable zoning and building codes, the Old Bridge real property is large enough to double the size of the plant to accommodate expansion of the Company’s operations should the need arise.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is a party to certain proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of its business, none of which, in the current opinion of management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2004, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The Company’s common stock has been traded on the American Stock Exchange since the Company’s initial public offering on December 14, 1995. The following table sets forth for the fiscal quarters indicated, the high and low sale prices for the Company’s Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange.
Market Information
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2004: | High | Low | |||||
First Quarter | $ | 4.18 | $ | 3.25 | |||
Second Quarter | 3.40 | 2.46 | |||||
Third Quarter | 3.40 | 2.55 | |||||
Fourth Quarter | 4.94 | 2.95 | |||||
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2003: | High | Low | |||||
First Quarter | $ | 1.85 | $ | 1.30 | |||
Second Quarter | 2.31 | 1.43 | |||||
Third Quarter | 2.56 | 1.89 | |||||
Fourth Quarter | 3.30 | 1.91 |
The Company’s Common Stock is traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol “BDR”.
Holders
As of March 19, 2005, the Company had approximately 63 holders of record of the Common Stock. Since a portion of the Company’s common stock is held in “street” or nominee name, the Company is unable to determine the exact number of beneficial holders.
Dividends
The Company currently anticipates that it will retain all of its earnings to finance the operation and expansion of its business, and therefore does not intend to pay dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Other than in connection with certain “S” corporation distributions prior to its initial public offering, the Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock. Any determination to pay dividends in the future is at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, limitations contained in loan agreements and such other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant. The Company’s loan agreement with Commerce Bank, N.A. prohibits the payment of cash dividends by the Company on its Common Stock.
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected consolidated statement of operations data presented below for each of the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, are derived from, and are qualified by reference to, the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 are derived from audited consolidated financial statements not included herein. The data set forth below is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and other financial and statistical information appearing elsewhere herein.
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Certain amounts previously reported for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 have been restated. (See Note 1(q) to the consolidated financial statements for a description of the restatements.)
(as restated) | |||||||||||
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | |||||||
(In thousands, except per share data) | |||||||||||
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: Net sales | $39,233 | $35,437 | $46,951 | $53,627 | $70,196 | ||||||
Cost of goods sold (2) | 26,631 | 25,948 | 34,718 | 37,460 | 46,974 | ||||||
Gross profit | 12,602 | 9,489 | 12,233 | 16,167 | 23,222 | ||||||
Operating expenses: Selling, general and administrative | 10,269 | 9,837 | 9,060 | 11,209 | 13,572 | ||||||
Research and development | 1,549 | 1,833 | 1,972 | 2,200 | 2,125 | ||||||
Total operating expenses | 11,818 | 11,670 | 11,032 | 13,409 | 15,697 | ||||||
Earnings (loss) from operations (2) | 784 | (2,181) | 1,201 | 2,758 | 7,525 | ||||||
Interest and other income | (436) | - | - | - | - | ||||||
Interest expense | 903 | 1,105 | 1,074 | 1,369 | 1,938 | ||||||
Equity in loss of Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC | 613 | 154 | - | - | - | ||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes (2) | (296) | (3,440) | 127 | 1,389 | 5,587 | ||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes (2) | 2,826 | (318) | 43 | 509 | 2,011 | ||||||
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (2) | (3,122) | (3,122) | 84 | 880 | 3,576 | ||||||
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax (1) | - | - | (6,886) | - | - | ||||||
Net (loss) earnings (2) | $(3,122) | $(3,122) | $(6,802) | $ 880 | $ 3,576 | ||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (2) | $(0.39) | $(0.41) | $ 0.01 | $ 0.12 | $ 0.47 | ||||||
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax | - | - | (0.90) | - | - | ||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share (2) | $(0.39) | $(0.41) | $ (0.89) | $ 0.12 | $ 0.47 | ||||||
Basic weighted average shares outstanding | 8,001 | 7,654 | 7,604 | 7,613 | 7,620 | ||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (2) | $(0.39) | $(0.41) | $ 0.01 | $ 0.12 | $ 0.47 | ||||||
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax | - | - | (0.90) | - | - | ||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (2) | $(0.39) | $(0.41) | $ (0.89) | $ 0.12 | $ 0.47 | ||||||
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 8,001 | 7,654 | 7,604 | 7,637 | 7,632 |
(as restated) | ||||||||||||||
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | ||||||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: Working capital (2) | $10,603 | $11,591 | $29,635 | $30,527 | $27,154 | |||||||||
Total assets (2) | 38,156 | 47,990 | 52,375 | 64,191 | 62,834 | |||||||||
Long-term debt (including current maturities) | 8,513 | 12,946 | 16,910 | 16,195 | 16,184 | |||||||||
Stockholders’ equity (2) | 26,923 | 30,885 | 32,585 | 39,625 | 39,096 |
__________________
(1) Effective January 1, 2002, the Company implemented FAS 142, which resulted in the write off of $10,760 of the net book value of goodwill, offset by the future tax benefit thereof in the amount of $3,874.
(2) Amounts previously reported for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 have been restated. (See Note 1(q) to the consolidated financial statements for a description of the restatements.)
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s historical results of operations and liquidity and capital resources should be read in conjunction with “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and the
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consolidated financial statements of the Company and notes thereto appearing elsewhere herein. The following discussion and analysis also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. See “Forward Looking Statements” that precedes Item 1 above.
Overview
The Company was incorporated in November, 1988, under the laws of Delaware as GPS Acquisition Corp. for the purpose of acquiring the business of Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, Inc., a New Jersey corporation which was founded in 1950 by Ben H. Tongue and Isaac S. Blonder to design, manufacture and supply a line of electronics and systems equipment principally for the Private Cable industry. Following the acquisition, the Company changed its name to Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. The Company completed the initial public offering of its shares of Common Stock in December, 1995.
The Company is principally a designer, manufacturer and supplier of a comprehensive line of electronics and systems equipment, primarily for the cable television industry (both franchise and private cable). Over the past few years, the Company has also introduced equipment and innovative solutions for the high-speed transmission of data and the provision of telephony services in multiple dwelling unit applications. The Company’s products are used to acquire, distribute and protect the broad range of communications signals carried on fiber optic, twisted pair, coaxial cable and wireless distribution systems. These products are sold to customers providing an array of communications services, including television, high-speed data (Internet) and telephony, to single family dwellings, multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”), the lodging industry and institutions such as hospitals, prisons, schools and marinas. The Company’s principal customers are cable system integrators (both franchise and private cable operators, as well as contractors) that design, package, install and in most instances operate, upgrade and maintain the systems they build.
The Company’s success is due in part to management’s efforts to leverage the Company’s reputation by broadening its product line to offer one-stop shop convenience to private cable and franchise cable system integrators and to deliver products having a high performance-to-cost ratio. The Company continues to expand its core product lines (headend and distribution), to maintain its ability to provide all of the electronic equipment needed to build small cable systems and much of the equipment needed in larger systems for the most efficient operation and highest profitability in high density applications.
In March, 1998, the Company acquired all of the assets and technology rights, including the SMI Interdiction product line, of the interdiction business (the “Interdiction Business”) of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. (“Scientific”). The Company is utilizing the SMI Interdiction product line acquired from Scientific, which has been engineered primarily to serve the franchise cable market, as a supplement to the Company’s VideoMask™ Interdiction products, which are primarily focused on the private cable market.
Over the past several years, the Company has expanded beyond its core business by acquiring a private cable television system (BDR Broadband, LLC ) and by acquiring an interest in a company offering a private telephone program ideally suited to multiple dwelling unit applications (Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC). These acquisitions are described in more detail below.
During June, 2002, the Company formed a venture with Priority Systems, LLC and Paradigm Capital Investments, LLC for the purpose of acquiring the rights-of-entry for certain multiple dwelling unit cable television systems (the “Systems”) owned by affiliates of Verizon Communications, Inc. The venture entity, BDR Broadband, 90% of the outstanding capital stock of which is owned by the Company, acquired the Systems, which are currently comprised of approximately 2,909 existing MDU cable television subscribers and approximately 6,909 passings. BDR Broadband paid approximately $1,880,000 for the Systems, subject to adjustment, which constitutes a purchase price of $575 per subscriber. The final closing date for the transaction was on October 1, 2002. The Systems were cash flow positive beginning in the first year. To date, the Systems have been upgraded with approximately $1,348,000 of interdiction and other products of the Company, and during 2004, two Systems located outside the region where the remaining Systems are located, were sold. It is planned that the Systems will be upgraded with approximately $400,000 of additional interdiction and other products of the Company over the course of operation. During July, 2003, the Company purchased the 10% interest in BDR Broadband that had been originally owned by Paradigm Capital Investments, LLC, for an aggregate purchase price of $35,000, resulting in an increase in the Company’s stake in BDR Broadband from 80% to 90%.
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In consideration for its majority interest in BDR Broadband, the Company advanced to BDR Broadband $250,000, which was paid to the sellers as a down payment against the final purchase price for the Systems. The Company also agreed to guaranty payment of the aggregate purchase price for the Systems by BDR Broadband. The approximately $1,630,000 balance of the purchase price was paid by the Company on behalf of BDR Broadband on November 30, 2002, pursuant to the terms and in satisfaction of certain promissory notes (the “Seller Notes”) executed by BDR Broadband in favor of the sellers.
The Company believes that the model it devised for acquiring and operating the Systems has been successful and can be replicated for other transactions. The Company also believes that opportunities currently exist to acquire additional rights-of-entry for multiple dwelling unit cable television, high-speed data and/or telephony systems. The Company is seeking and is presently negotiating several such opportunities, although there is no assurance that the Company will be successful in consummating these transactions. In addition, the Company may need financing to acquire additional the rights-of-entry, and financing may not be available on acceptable terms or at all.
In March, 2003, the Company entered into a series of agreements, pursuant to which the Company acquired a 20% minority interest in NetLinc Communications, LLC (“NetLinc”) and a 35% minority interest in Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (“BTT”) (to which the Company has licensed its name). The aggregate purchase price consisted of (i) up to $3,500,000 payable over a minimum of two years, plus (ii) 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. NetLinc owns patents, proprietary technology and know-how for certain telephony products that allow Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (“CLECs”) to competitively provide voice service to MDUs. Certain distributorship agreements were also concurrently entered into among NetLinc, BTT and the Company pursuant to which the Company ultimately acquired the right to distribute NetLinc's telephony products to private and franchise cable operators as well as to all buyers for use in MDU applications. BTT partners with CLECs to offer primary voice service to MDUs, receiving a portion of the line charges due from the CLECs’ telephone customers, and the Company offers for sale a line of telephony equipment to complement the voice service.
As a result of NetLinc's inability to retain a contract manufacturer to manufacture and supply the products in a timely and consistent manner in accordance with the requisite specifications, in September, 2003 the parties agreed to restructure the terms of their business arrangement entered into in March, 2003. The restructured business arrangement was accomplished by amending certain of the agreements previously entered into and entering into certain new agreements. Some of the principal terms of the restructured arrangement include increasing the Company’s economic ownership in NetLinc from 20% to 50% and in BTT from 35% to 50%, all at no additional cost to the Company. The cash portion of the purchase price in the venture was decreased from $3,500,000 to $1,166,667 and the then outstanding balance of $342,000 was paid in installments of $50,000 per week until it was paid in full in October, 2003. In addition, of the 500,000 shares of common stock issued to BTT as the non-cash component of the purchase price (fair valued at $1,030,000), one-half (250,000 shares) have been pledged to the Company as collateral to secure BTT’s obligation to repay the $1,167,667 cash component of the purchase price to the Company via preferential distributions of cash flow under BTT’s limited liability company operating agreement. Under the restructured arrangement, the Company can purchase similar telephony products directly from third party suppliers other than NetLinc and, in connection therewith, the Company would pay certain future royalties to NetLinc and BTT from the sale of these products by the Company. While the distributorship agreements among NetLinc, BTT and the Company have not been terminated, the Company does not anticipate purchasing products from NetLinc in the near term. NetLinc, however, continues to own intellectual property, which may be further developed and used in the future to manufacture and sell telephony products under the distributorship agreements.
In addition to receiving incremental revenues associated with its direct sales of the telephony products, the Company also anticipates receiving additional revenues from telephony services provided by or through contracts for such services obtained by BDR Broadband, BTT (through the Company’s 50% stake therein) as well as through joint ventures with third parties. While the events related to the restructuring resulted in a delay in the Company’s anticipated revenue stream from the sale of telephony products, the Company believes that these revised terms are beneficial and will result in the Company enjoying higher gross margins on telephony equipment unit sales as well as an incrementally higher proportion of telephony service revenues. It has been the Company’s experience during the past year that the time frame from introduction of a telephony service opportunity to consummation of the associated right-of-entry agreement, is longer than the time frame relating to obtaining rights-of-entry for the provision of video and high-speed data services. This protracted time frame has had an adverse
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impact on the growth of telephony system revenues. Material incremental revenues associated with the sale of telephony products are not presently anticipated to be received until at least the third quarter of 2005.
Restatement
Subsequent to the Company’s issuance of its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company determined that a vendor’s account payable balance was incorrectly recorded in 2001 and 2002 due to certain inventories that were received from the vendor and not correctly recorded. These incorrect entries resulted in accounts payable being understated in 2001 and 2002, cost of goods sold being understated in 2001 and 2002, net income being overstated in 2001 and net loss being understated in 2002 and 2003. The Company restated its consolidated financial statements for each of the three-years ended December 31, 2003 to reflect the correction of the vendor’s account payable balance and the related impact to costs of good sold. In addition, as reported in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, the Company reclassified certain inventory not anticipated to be sold in the succeeding twelve months as non-current and reflected such reclassification on the December 31, 2003 balance sheet. The restatement also reflects this reclassification of certain inventory as non-current. See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements for a description of the reclassification and restatement.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth, for the fiscal periods indicated, certain consolidated statement of earnings data as a percentage of net sales. The Company believes that the product sales in 2005 will be slightly better than in 2004, with increases in the telephony and high-speed data product lines accounting for most of the growth. Gross margin, although impossible to predict due to the dependence on product mix, is expected to remain relatively constant.
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | |||||||||||
as restated | as restated | ||||||||||||
Net sales | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||
Costs of goods sold | 67.9 | 73.2 | 73.9 | ||||||||||
Gross profit | 32.1 | 26.8 | 26.1 | ||||||||||
Selling expenses | 10.6 | 10.5 | 8.7 | ||||||||||
General and administrative expenses | 15.5 | 17.3 | 10.6 | ||||||||||
Research and development expenses | 4.0 | 5.2 | 4.2 | ||||||||||
Earnings (loss) from operations | 2.0 | (6.2 | ) | 2.6 | |||||||||
Other expense, net | 2.8 | 3.5 | 2.3 | ||||||||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes and before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | (0.8 | ) | (9.7 | ) | 0.3 | ||||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 7.2 | (0.9 | ) | 0.1 |
2004 Compared with 2003
Net Sales. Net sales increased $3,796,000 or 10.7% to $39,233,000 in 2004 from $35,437,000 in 2003. The increase is attributed to an increase in capital spending by cable system operators, improved overall economic conditions and the collection of a $1,929,000 note receivable which was being recorded in revenue on a cash basis. As a result the Company experienced higher data and headed product sales. Included in net sales are revenues from BDR Broadband of $1,450,000 and $1,094,000 for 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold increased to $26,631,000 for 2004 from $25,948,000 for 2003 but decreased as a percentage of sales to 67.9% from 73.2%. The decrease as a percentage of sales is primarily attributable to a smaller increase in the inventory reserve of $872,000 in 2004 as compared to an increase in inventory reserve of $1,576,000 in 2003, as well as a higher portion of sales during 2004 being comprised of higher margin products. The increase in the inventory reserve during 2004 was primarily the result of an increase in the reserve of microwave products of $753,000.
Selling Expenses. Selling expenses increased to $4,169,000 for 2004 from $3,714,000 in 2003 and increased as a percentage of sales to 10.6% for 2004 from 10.5% for 2003. This $455,000 increase is primarily attributable to an increase in salaries and fringe benefits of $433,000 due to an increase in head count.
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General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased to $6,100,000 for 2004 from $6,123,000 for 2003 and decreased as a percentage of sales to 15.5% for 2004 from 17.3% for 2003. The $23,000 decrease can be primarily attributed to an increase of $203,000 in legal fees and an increase of $107,000 in operating expenses related to BDR Broadband, offset by a decrease in bad debt expense of $253,000. Bad debt expense decreased due to accounts previously reserved for in 2003 being written off in 2004, resulting in better aging of the accounts receivable in 2004.
Research and Development Expenses. Research and development expenses decreased to $1,549,000 in 2004 from $1,833,000 in 2003. The $284,000 decrease is primarily due to a decrease in salaries and fringe benefits of $134,000 due to a reduction in head count, as well as a decrease in licensing fees of $63,000. Research and development expenses as a percentage of sales, decreased to 4.0% in 2004 from 5.2% in 2003.
Operating Income (Loss). Operating income of $784,000 for 2004 represents an increase of $2,965,000 from an operating loss of $2,181,000 for 2003. Operating income (loss) as a percentage of sales increased to 2.0% in 2004 from (6.2%) in 2003.
Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased to $903,000 in 2004 from $1,105,000 in 2003. The decrease is the result of lower average borrowing.
Income Taxes. The provision (benefit) for income taxes for 2004 increased to an expense of $2,826,000 from a benefit of $318,000 for 2003. The expense for the current year is a result of a change in the valuation allowance of $2,849,000 since the realization of the deferred tax benefit is not considered more likely than not. The Company believes its current projected taxable income over the next five years as well as certain tax strategies are adequate to the realization of the remaining deferred tax benefit.
2003 Compared with 2002
Net Sales. Net sales decreased $11,514,000 or 24.5% to $35,437,000 in 2003 from $46,951,000 in 2002. The decrease is attributed to a decrease in capital spending by cable system operators and weak overall economic conditions. The decrease in capital spending by cable system operators was, in part, the result of the bankruptcy of WSNET, which had been a leading provider of programming to the private cable industry. As a result of this event, demand for the Company’s digital products, particularly its Motorola set-top box and QQQT transcoder line, were adversely affected. Digital product sales were $3,312,000 in 2003 compared to $6,265,000 in 2002. Included in net sales are revenues from BDR Broadband of $1,094,000 and $250,000 for 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold decreased to $25,948,000 for 2003 from $34,718,000 for 2002 and decreased as a percentage of sales to 73.2% from 73.9%. The decrease as a percentage of sales is primarily attributable to a higher portion of sales during 2003 being comprised of higher margin products, offset by an increase in the inventory reserve of $1,576,000 in 2003 as compared to an increase in inventory reserve of $500,000 in 2002. The change in the inventory reserve during 2003 was primarily the result of an increase of $480,000 in items identified as 100% obsolete as well as providing a reserve of $500,000 for raw materials where usage was not expected to continue at its current rate.
Selling Expenses. Selling expenses decreased to $3,714,000 for 2003 from $4,069,000 in 2002 but increased as a percentage of sales to 10.5% for 2003 from 8.7% for 2002. This $355,000 decrease is primarily attributable to a reduction in advertising of $122,000 achieved through implementation of expense control programs and a reduction of freight of $145,000 and commissions of $99,000 due to reduced sales levels.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased to $6,123,000 for 2003 from $4,991,000 for 2002 and increased as a percentage of sales to 17.3% for 2003 from 10.6% for 2002. The $1,132,000 increase can be primarily attributed to an increase of $180,000 in bad debt expense and an increase of $1,000,000 in operating expenses related to BDR Broadband, offset by a decrease in salaries and fringe benefits of $176,000 due to a reduction in head count. Bad debt expense increased during 2003 primarily due to taking a reserve on two accounts that filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
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fringe benefits of $184,000 due to a reduction in head count, offset by an increase in licensing fees of $38,000. Research and development expenses as a percentage of sales, increased to 5.2% in 2003 from 4.2% in 2002.
Operating Income (Loss). Operating loss of $2,181,000 for 2003 represents a decrease of $3,382,000 from operating income of $1,201,000 for 2002. Operating income (loss) as a percentage of sales decreased to (6.2%) in 2003 from 2.6% in 2002.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased to $1,105,000 in 2003 from $1,074,000 in 2002. The increase is the result of higher average borrowing and higher interest rates.
Income Taxes. The provision (benefit) for income taxes for 2003 decreased to a benefit of $318,000 from an expense of $43,000 for 2002 as a result of the current year loss of $3,440,000 as compared to income of $127,000 in 2002. The benefit for the current year loss has been subject to a valuation allowance of $1,028,000 since the realization of the deferred tax benefit is not considered more likely than not.
Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle. During the first three months of 2002, the Company implemented FAS 142, which resulted in the write off of $10,760,000 of the net book value of goodwill, offset by the future tax benefit thereof in the amount of $3,874,000. The net cumulative effect of this change in accounting principles was a one-time non-recurring $6,886,000 charge against earnings in the first three months of 2002.
Inflation and Seasonality
Inflation and seasonality have not had a material impact on the results of operations of the Company. Fourth quarter sales in 2004 as compared to other quarters were slightly impacted by fewer production days. The Company expects sales each year in the fourth quarter to be impacted by fewer production days.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company’s working capital was $10,603,000 and $11,591,000, respectively. The decrease in working capital is attributable primarily to an increase in capital expenditures.
The Company’s net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $3,915,000 primarily due to a reduction of $1,882,000 in accounts receivable and depreciation and amortization of $1,731,000, compared to net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2003 of $5,686,000.
Cash provided by investing activities was $336,000, which was attributable primarily to the collection of a note receivable of $843,000 offset by capital expenditures for new computers and test equipment of $639,000. The Company does not have any present plans or commitments for material capital expenditures for fiscal year 2005, other than anticipated expenditures of approximately $400,000 in connection with certain upgrades of the BDR Broadband Systems.
Cash used in financing activities was $4,376,000 for the period ended December 31, 2004, comprised primarily of repayment of debt of $19,588,000 offset by $15,155,000 in borrowings of debt.
On March 20, 2002 the Company entered into a credit agreement with Commerce Bank, N.A. for a $19,500,000 credit facility, comprised of (i) a $7,000,000 revolving line of credit under which funds may be borrowed at LIBOR, plus a margin ranging from 1.75% to 2.50%, in each case depending on the calculation of certain financial covenants, with a floor of 5% through March 19, 2003, (ii) a $9,000,000 term loan which bore interest at a rate of 6.75% through September 30, 2002, and thereafter at a fixed rate ranging from 6.50% to 7.25% to reset quarterly depending on the calculation of certain financial covenants and (iii) a $3,500,000 mortgage loan bearing interest at 7.5%. Borrowings under the revolving line of credit are limited to certain percentages of eligible accounts receivable and inventory, as defined in the credit agreement. The credit facility is collateralized by a security interest in all of the Company’s assets. The agreement also contains restrictions that require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios as well as restrictions on the payment of cash dividends. The Company did not meet certain financial ratios during 2003 and 2004 (see amendments below). The initial maturity date of the line of
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credit with Commerce Bank was March 20, 2004. The term loan requires equal monthly principal payments of $187,000 and matures on April 1, 2006. The mortgage loan requires equal monthly principal payments of $19,000 and matures on April 1, 2017. The mortgage loan is callable after five years at the lender’s option.
In November 2003, the Company's credit agreement with Commerce Bank was amended to modify the interest rate and amortization schedule for certain of the loans thereunder, as well as to modify one of the financial covenants. Beginning November 1, 2003, the revolving line of credit bore interest at the prime rate plus 1.5%, with a floor of 5.5% (6.75% at December 31, 2004), and the term loan bore interest at a fixed rate of 7.5%. Beginning December 1, 2003, the term loan required equal monthly principal payments of $193,000 plus interest with a final payment on April 1, 2006 of all remaining unpaid principal and interest.
At March 31, 2003, June 30, 2003, September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2003, the Company was unable to meet one of its financial covenants required under its credit agreement with Commerce Bank, which non-compliance was waived by the Bank effective as of each such date.
In March, 2004, the Company's credit agreement with Commerce Bank was amended to (i) extend the maturity date of the line of credit until April 1, 2005, (ii) reduce the maximum amount that may be borrowed under the line of credit to $6,000,000, (iii) suspend the applicability of the cash flow coverage ratio covenant until March 31, 2005, (iv) impose a new financial covenant requiring the Company to achieve certain levels of consolidated pre-tax income on a quarterly basis commencing with the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2004, and (v) require that the Company make a prepayment against its outstanding term loan to the Bank equal to 100% of the amount of any prepayment received by the Company on its outstanding note receivable from a customer, up to a maximum amount of $500,000.
At December 31, 2004, the Company was unable to meet one of its financial covenants required under its credit agreement with Commerce Bank, which non-compliance was waived by the Bank effective as of such date.
In March, 2005, the Company's credit agreement with Commerce Bank was amended to (i) extend the maturity date of the line of credit until April 1, 2006, (ii) provide for a interest rate on the revolving line of credit of the prime rate plus 2.0%, with a floor of 5.5%, (iii) waive the applicability of consolidated pre-tax income for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, (iv) suspend the applicability of the cash flow coverage ratio covenant until March 31, 2006, and (v) impose a financial covenant requiring the Company to achieve certain levels of consolidated pre-tax income on a quarterly basis commencing with the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2005.
At December 31, 2004, there was $2,946,000 outstanding under the revolving line of credit. The Company has the ability to borrow $3,054,000 under its line of credit, however only $1,654,000 was available at December 31, 2004, based on the Company’s current collateral. This commitment expires on April 1, 2006.
The average amount outstanding on the Company’s line of credit during 2004 was $3,670,000 at a weighted average interest rate of 5.9%. The maximum amount outstanding on the line of credit during 2004 was $4,926,000.
The Company has from time to time experienced short-term cash requirement issues. In 2002, the Company paid approximately $1,880,000 in connection with acquiring its majority interest in BDR Broadband and paying off the Seller Notes for BDR Broadband. In addition, the Company will incur additional obligations related to royalties, if any, in connection with its $1,167,000 cash investments during 2003, in NetLinc and BTT. While the Company’s existing lender agreed to allow the Company to fund both the BDR Broadband obligations and the NetLinc/BTT obligations using its line of credit, such lender did not agree to increase the maximum amount available under such line of credit. These expenditures, coupled with the March 2004 amendment to the Company’s credit agreement with Commerce Bank described above, and certain near-term funding requirements relating to the purchase of a large quantity of high-speed data and telephony products, will reduce the Company’s working capital. The Company has implemented various alternatives to enhance its working capital, including inventory-related pricing and product reengineering efforts. During 2004, BDR Broadband had positive cash flow, which is expected to continue in 2005. As such, BDR Broadband is not presently anticipated to adversely impact the Company’s working capital.
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Contractual Obligations and Commitments
At December 31, 2004, the Company’s contractual obligations and commitments to make future payments are as follows:
Payment Due by Period | |||||||||
Total | Less than 1 year | 1-3 years | 3-5 years | More than 5 years | |||||
Long-Term Debt Obligations | $8,047,000 | $2,476,000 | $3,413,000 | $466,000 | $1,692,000 | ||||
Capital Lease Obligations | 466,000 | 207,000 | 234,000 | 25,000 | - | ||||
Operating Leases | 162,000 | 84,000 | 78,000 | - | - | ||||
Purchase Commitments (1) | 9,613,000 | 9,613,000 | - | - | - | ||||
Consulting Agreement | 152,000 | 152,000 | - | - | - | ||||
Estimated Pension Obligations | 1,148,000 | 56,000 | 145,000 | 200,000 | 747,000 | ||||
Interest on Long-Term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations | 1,336,000 | 528,000 | 387,000 | 294,000 | 127,000 | ||||
Total Contractual Obligations | $20,924,000 | $13,116,000 | $4,257,000 | $985,000 | $2,566,000 |
________
(1) Purchase commitments consist primarily of obligations to purchase certain raw materials and finished goods inventory to be utilized in the ordinary course of business.
Critical Accounting Policies
The Company prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Preparing financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The following paragraphs include a discussion of some critical areas where estimates are required. You should also review Note 1 to the financial statements for further discussion of significant accounting policies.
Revenue Recognition
The Company records revenue when products are shipped. Legal title and risk of loss with respect to the products pass to customers at the point of shipment. Customers do not have a right to return products shipped. Products carry a three year warranty, which amount is not material to the Company’s operations.
Inventory and Obsolescence
The Company periodically analyzes anticipated product sales based on historical results, current backlog and marketing plans. Based on these analyses, the Company anticipates that certain products will not be sold during the next twelve months. Inventories that are not anticipated to be sold in the next twelve months, have been classified as non-current. This procedure has been applied to the December 31, 2004 and 2003 inventories and, accordingly, $8,968,000 and $11,106,000, respectively, have been classified to non-current assets.
Over 60% of the non-current inventories are comprised of raw materials. The Company has established a program to use interchangeable parts in its various product offerings and to modify certain of its finished goods to better match customer demands. In addition the Company has instituted additional marketing programs to dispose of the slower moving inventories.
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The Company continually analyzes its slow-moving, excess and obsolete inventories. Based on historical and projected sales volumes for finished goods, historical and projected usage of raw materials, and anticipated selling prices, the Company establishes reserves. If the Company does not meet its sales expectations these reserves are increased. Products that are determined to be obsolete are written down to net realizable value. During 2004 and 2003, the Company recorded an increase to its reserve of $872,000 and $1,576,000 respectively. The increase in the inventory reserve during 2004 was primarily the result of an increase in the reserve of microwave products of $753,000. The increase in the inventory reserve during 2003 was primarily the result of an increase of $480,000 in items identified as 100% obsolete as well as providing a reserve of $500,000 for raw materials where usage was not expected to continue at its current rate. The Company believes reserves are adequate and inventories are reflected at net realizable value.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Management periodically performs a detailed review of amounts due from customers to determine if accounts receivable balances are impaired based on factors affecting the collectibility of those balances. Management’s estimates of the allowance for doubtful accounts requires management to exercise significant judgment about the timing, frequency and severity of collection losses, which affects the allowances and net income. As these factors are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may alter management assumptions, these allowances may need to be adjusted in the future.
Long-Lived Assets
On a periodic basis, management assesses whether there are any indicators that the value of the Company’s long-lived assets may be impaired. An asset’s value may be impaired only if management’s estimate of the aggregate future cash flows, on an undiscounted basis, to be generated by the asset are less than the carrying value of the asset.
If impairment has occurred, the loss shall be measured as the excess of the carrying amount of the asset over the fair value of the long-lived asset. The Company’s estimates of aggregate future cash flows expected to be generated by each long-lived asset are based on a number of assumptions that are subject to economic and market uncertainties. As these factors are difficult to predict and are subject to future events that may alter management’s assumptions, the future cash flows estimated by management in their impairment analyses may not be achieved.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In December, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 123R, "Share-Based Payment." This statement is a revision to SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." This statement establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services, primarily focusing on the accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. Companies will be required to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award (with limited exceptions). The cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, which requisite service period will usually be the vesting period. The grant-date fair value of employee share options and similar instruments will be estimated using option-pricing models. If an equity award is modified after the grant date, incremental compensation cost will be recognized in an amount equal to the excess of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award immediately before the modification. SFAS No. 123R will be effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005 and allows for several alternative transition methods. Accordingly, the Company will adopt SFAS No. 123R in its first quarter of fiscal 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 123R and has not yet determined the impact that this Statement will have on its results of operations or financial position.
In November, 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, "Inventory Costs", an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43 Chapter 4. SFAS No. 151 clarifies the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs and wasted material. SFAS No. 151 is effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company does not believe adoption of SFAS No. 151 will have a material effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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In December, 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 109-1 ("FSP FAS No. 109-1"), "Application of FASB Statement No. 109, 'Accounting for Income Taxes,' to the Tax Deduction on Qualified Production Activities Provided by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004." The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 introduces a special tax deduction of up to 9% when fully phased in, of the lesser of "qualified production activities income" or taxable income. FSP FAS 109-1 clarifies that this tax deduction should be accounted for as a special tax deduction in accordance with SFAS No. 109. Although FSP FAS No. 109-1 was effective upon issuance, the Company is still evaluating the impact FSP FAS No. 109-1 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In December, 2003, the FASB issued a revision to SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits." This statement does not change the measurement or recognition aspects for pensions and other post-retirement benefit plans; however, it does revise employers' disclosures to include more information about the plan assets, obligations to pay benefits and funding obligations. SFAS No. 132, as revised, is generally effective for financial statements with a fiscal year ending after December 15, 2003. The Company has adopted the required provisions of SFAS No. 132, as revised. The adoption of the required provisions of SFAS No. 132, as revised, did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In May, 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity." SFAS No. 150 clarifies the definition of a liability as currently defined in FASB Concepts Statement No. 6 "Elements of Financial Statements," as well as other planned revisions. This statement requires a financial instrument that embodies an obligation of an issuer to be classified as a liability. In addition, the statement establishes standards for the initial and subsequent measurement of these financial instruments and disclosure requirements. SFAS No. 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and for all other matters, is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The adoption of SFAS No. 150 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
In January, 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation ("FIN") No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" and in December 2003, a revised interpretation was issued (FIN No. 46, as revised). In general, a variable interest entity ("VIE") is a corporation partnership, trust, or any other legal structure used for business purposes that either does not have equity investors with voting rights or has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. FIN No. 46, as revised requires a VIE to be consolidated by a company if that company is designated as the primary beneficiary. The interpretation applies to VIEs created after January 31, 2003, and for all financial statements issued after December 15, 2003 for VIEs in which an enterprise held a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003. The adoption of FIN No. 46, as revised, did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
RISK FACTORS
The Company’s business operates in a rapidly changing environment that involves numerous risks, some of which are beyond the Company’s control. The following “Risk Factors” highlights some of these risks. Additional risks not currently known to the Company or that the Company now deems immaterial may also affect the Company and the value of its common stock.
Dependence on Certain Large Customers
Approximately 39%, 43% and 50% of the Company’s revenues in fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, were derived from sales of products to the Company’s five largest customers. In 2004, 2003 and 2002, sales to Toner Cable Equipment, Inc. accounted for approximately 18%, 21%, and 20%, respectively, of the Company’s revenues. There can be no assurance that any sales to these customers, individually or as a group, will reach or exceed historical levels in any future period. However, the Company anticipates that these customers will continue to account for a significant portion of the Company’s revenues in future periods, although none of them is obligated to purchase any specified amount of products (beyond outstanding purchase orders) or to provide the Company with binding forecasts of product purchases for any future period.
The complement of leading customers may shift as the most efficient and better-financed integrators grow more rapidly than others. The Company believes that many integrators will grow rapidly, and, as such, the Company’s success will depend in part on the viability of those customers and on the Company’s ability to maintain its position in the overall marketplace by shifting its emphasis to those customers with the greatest growth
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and growth prospects. Any substantial decrease or delay in sales to one or more of the Company’s leading customers, the financial failure of any of these entities, or the Company’s inability to develop solid relationships with the integrators which may replace the present leading customers, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Dependence on Inventory Liquidation
The Company continually analyzes its slow-moving, excess and obsolete inventories. Based on historical and projected sales volumes and anticipated selling prices, the Company establishes reserves. If the Company does not meet its sales expectations, these reserves are increased. Products that are determined to be obsolete are written down to net realizable value. The Company recorded an increase to its reserve of $872,000, $1,576,000 and $500,000 during 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Although the Company believes reserves are adequate and inventories are reflected at net realizable value, there can be no assurance that the Company will not have to record additional inventory reserves in the future. Significant increases to inventory reserves could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Changes in Technologies, Industry Standards and Customers’ Needs
Both the private cable and franchised cable industries are characterized by the continuing advancement of technology, evolving industry standards and changing customer needs. To be successful, the Company must anticipate the evolution of industry standards and changes in customer needs, through the timely development and introduction of new products, enhancement of existing products and licensing of new technology from third parties. Although the Company depends primarily on its own research and development efforts to develop new products and enhancements to its existing products, the Company has and may continue to seek licenses for new technology from third parties when the Company believes that it can obtain such technology more quickly and/or cost-effectively from such third parties than the Company could otherwise develop on its own, or when the desired technology has already been patented by a third party. There can, however, be no assurance that new technology or such licenses will be available on terms acceptable to the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will anticipate the evolution of industry standards in the cable television or the communications industry generally, changes in the market and customer needs, or that technologies and applications under development by the Company will be successfully developed, or if they are successfully developed, that they will achieve market acceptance. If the Company is unable for technological or other reasons to develop and introduce products and applications or to obtain licenses for new technologies from third parties in a timely manner in response to changing market conditions or customer requirements, the Company’s results of operations and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.
Highly Competitive Market Place
All aspects of the Company’s business are highly competitive. The Company competes with national, regional and local manufacturers and distributors, including companies larger than itself, which have substantially greater resources. Various manufacturers who are suppliers to the Company sell directly as well as through distributors into the cable television marketplace. Because of the convergence of the cable, telecommunications and computer industries and rapid technological development, new competitors may seek to enter the principal markets served by the Company. Many of these potential competitors have significantly greater financial, technical, manufacturing, marketing, sales and other resources than the Company. The Company expects that direct and indirect competition will increase in the future. Additional competition could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition through price reductions, loss of market share and delays in the timing of customer orders and an inability to increase its penetration into the cable television market.
Dependence on Cable Industry Capital Spending
The Company estimates that approximately 24%, 23% and 45% of its revenues in fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002 came from worldwide sales of its products for use primarily in private cable systems. Demand for the Company’s products depends to a large extent upon capital spending on private cable systems and specifically by private cable operators for constructing, rebuilding, maintaining or upgrading their systems. Capital spending by private cable operators and, therefore, the Company’s sales and profitability, are dependent on a variety of factors, including access by private cable operators to financing, demand for their cable services, availability of alternative video delivery technologies, and general economic conditions. In addition, the Company’s sales and
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profitability may in the future be more dependent on capital spending by traditional franchise cable system operators as well as by new entrants to this market planning to over-build existing cable system infrastructures, or constructing, rebuilding, maintaining and upgrading their systems. There can be no assurance that system operators in private cable or franchise cable will continue capital spending for constructing, rebuilding, maintaining, or upgrading their systems. Any substantial decrease or delay in capital spending by private cable or franchise cable operators would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Dependence on Single Manufacturing Facility
The Company operates out of one manufacturing facility in Old Bridge, New Jersey (the “Old Bridge Facility”). While the Company maintains a limited amount of business interruption insurance, a casualty that results in a lengthy interruption of the ability to manufacture at that facility would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Dependence on Third Party Suppliers
The Company purchases several products from sole suppliers for which alternative sources are not available, such as the VideoCipher® and DigiCipher® encryption systems manufactured by General Instrument Corporation, which are standard encryption methodology employed on United States C-Band and Ku-Band transponders, certain components of EchoStar’s digital satellite receiver decoders, which are specifically designed to work with the DISH Network™, and certain components of Hughes Network Systems digital satellite receivers which are specifically designed to work with DIRECTV® programming. An inability to timely obtain sufficient quantities of these components could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. In addition, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected by receipt of a significant number of defective components, an increase in component prices or the inability of the Company to obtain lower component prices in response to competitive pressures on the pricing of the Company’s products.
Risks of International Operations
Sales to customers outside of the United States represented approximately 4%, 2% and 8% of the Company’s revenues in fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Such sales are subject to certain risks such as changes in foreign government regulations and telecommunications standards, export license requirements, tariffs and taxes, other trade barriers, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, and political and economic instability. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates could cause the Company’s products to become relatively more expensive to customers in a particular country, leading to a reduction in sales or profitability in that country. There can be no assurance that sales to customers outside the United States will reach or exceed historical levels in the future, or that international markets will continue to develop or that the Company will receive additional contracts to supply its products for use in systems and equipment in international markets. The Company’s results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected if international markets do not continue to develop, the Company does not continue to receive additional contracts to supply its products for use in systems and equipment in international markets or the Company’s international sales are affected by the other risks of international operations.
Limited Proprietary Protection
Other than the SMI Interdiction product line acquired by the Company from Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., the underlying technology for which is covered by numerous U.S. and international patents, the Company possesses limited patent or registered intellectual property rights with respect to its technology. The Company relies on a combination of contractual rights and trade secret laws to protect its proprietary technology and know-how. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to protect its technology and know-how or that third parties will not be able to develop similar technology independently. Therefore, existing and potential competitors may be able to develop similar products which compete with the Company’s products. Such competition could adversely affect the prices for the Company’s products or the Company’s market share and could have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
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Risk of Patent Infringement Claims
While the Company does not believe that its products (including products and technologies licensed from others) infringe the proprietary rights of any third parties, there can be no assurance that infringement or invalidity claims (or claims for indemnification resulting from infringement claims) will not be asserted against the Company or its customers. Damages for violation of third party proprietary rights could be substantial, in some instances are trebled, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operation. Regardless of the validity or the successful assertion of any such claims, the Company would incur significant costs and diversion of resources with respect to the defense thereof which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. If the Company is unsuccessful in defending any claims or actions that are asserted against the Company or its customers, the Company may seek to obtain a license under a third party’s intellectual property rights. There can be no assurance, however, that under such circumstances, a license would be available under reasonable terms or at all. The failure to obtain a license to a third party’s intellectual property rights on commercially reasonable terms could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Risks of Governmental Regulation
The private cable industry (estimated by the Company to represent approximately 24% of its business), while in some cases subject to certain FCC licensing requirements, is not presently burdened with extensive government regulations. It is possible, however, that regulations could be adopted in the future which impose burdensome restrictions on private cable operators resulting in, among other things, barriers to the entry of new competitors or limitations on capital expenditures by private cable operators. Any such regulations, if adopted, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Operators in the franchise cable market (estimated by the Company to represent approximately 5% of its business) had been subject to extensive government regulation pursuant to the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992, which among other things provided for rate rollbacks for basic tier cable service, further rate reductions under certain circumstances and limitations on future rate increases. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 has deregulated many aspects of franchise cable system operation and has opened the door to competition among cable operators and telephone companies in each of their respective industries. It is possible, however, that regulations could be adopted which would re-impose burdensome restrictions on franchise cable operators resulting in, among other things, the grant of exclusive rights or franchises within certain geographical areas. In addition, certain rules adopted by the FCC in June, 2000 (as further revised in 2002 and 2004) provide for the re-designation of portions of the 18GHz-frequency band among the various currently allocated services, which rules have shifted demand away from the Company’s microwave gear. Any increased regulation of franchise cable could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Environmental Regulations
The Company is subject to a variety of federal, state and local governmental regulations related to the storage, use, discharge and disposal of toxic, volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals used in its manufacturing processes. The Company does not anticipate material capital expenditures during the fiscal year ended 2005 for compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. There can be no assurance, however, that changes in environmental regulations will not result in the need for additional capital expenditures or otherwise impose additional financial burdens on the Company. Further, such regulations could restrict the Company’s ability to expand its operations. Any failure by the Company to obtain required permits for, control the use of, or adequately restrict the discharge of, hazardous substances under present or future regulations could subject the Company to substantial liability or could cause its manufacturing operations to be suspended. Such liability or suspension of manufacturing operations could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Dependence on Key Personnel
The Company’s future success depends in large part on the continued service of its key executives and technical and management personnel, including James A. Luksch, Chief Executive Officer, and Robert J. Pallé, President and Chief Operating Officer. The Company maintains and is the beneficiary of $1,000,000 of key man life insurance on each of Mr. Luksch and Mr. Pallé. The Company’s future success also depends on its ability to continue to attract and retain highly skilled engineering, manufacturing, marketing and managerial personnel. The
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competition for such personnel is intense, and the loss of key employees, in particular the principal members of its management and technical staff, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Potential Issuance of Preferred Stock and other Anti-Takeover Measures
The Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of undesignated Preferred Stock, to determine the powers, preferences and rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions granted to or imposed upon any unissued series of undesignated Preferred Stock and to fix the number of shares constituting any series and the designation of such series, without any further vote or action by the Company’s stockholders. The Preferred Stock could be issued with voting, liquidation, dividend and other rights superior to the rights of the Common Stock. Furthermore, such Preferred Stock may have other rights, including economic rights, senior to the Common Stock, and as a result, the issuance of such stock could have a material adverse effect on the market value of the Common Stock. In addition, the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation eliminates the right of stockholders to act without a meeting, does not provide cumulative voting for the election of directors or the right of stockholders to call special meetings, provides for a classified board of directors, and imposes various procedural requirements which could make it difficult for such stockholders to affect certain corporate actions. These provisions and the Board’s ability to issue Preferred Stock may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or offers from third parties to acquire the Company, preventing stockholders from receiving a premium for their shares of the Company’s Common Stock, or delaying or preventing changes in control or management of the Company. The Company is also afforded the protection of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which could delay or prevent a change in control of the Company, impede a merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company or discourage a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company. Any of these provisions which may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company could have a material adverse effect on the market value of the Company’s Common Stock.
Dividends Unlikely
The Company intends to retain its earnings to finance the growth of its business and therefore does not intend to pay dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future. Moreover, the Company’s loan agreement with Commerce Bank, N.A. prohibits the payment of cash dividends by the Company on its Common Stock.
Potential Volatility of Stock Price
Factors such as announcements of technological innovations or new products by the Company, its competitors or third parties, quarterly variations in the Company’s actual or anticipated results of operations, failure of revenues or earnings in any quarter to meet the investment community’s expectations, and market conditions for emerging growth stocks or cable industry stocks in general may cause the market price of the Company’s Common Stock to fluctuate significantly. The stock price may also be affected by broader market trends unrelated to the Company’s performance. These fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the Company’s Common Stock.
Risk of Labor Negotiations
All of the Company’s direct labor employees are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, Local 2066, under a collective bargaining agreement, which expires in February 2006. Delays or difficulties in negotiating and executing a new agreement, which may result in work stoppages, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The market risk inherent in the Company’s financial instruments and positions represents the potential loss arising from adverse changes in interest rates. At December 31, 2004 and 2003 the principal amount of the Company’s aggregate outstanding variable rate indebtedness was $2,946,000 and $4,136,000, respectively. A hypothetical 100 basis point adverse change in interest rates would have had an annualized unfavorable impact of approximately $29,000 and $41,000, respectively, on the Company’s earnings and cash flows based upon these year-end debt levels. At December 31, 2004, the Company did not have any derivative financial instruments.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Incorporated by reference from the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of the Company, which are attached hereto beginning on page 34.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective in timely alerting them to material information required to be included in the Company’s periodic SEC reports for the reasons described below. In connection with conducting its audit of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the Company’s independent auditor uncovered material weaknesses in certain accounting procedures, including preparation and review of certain account analyses, which led to issues relating to calculating inventory cost, its calculation of the equity loss in BTT and estimating a valuation reserve for deferred income taxes. The delay in preparing these estimates and reviewing such accounts resulted in fourth quarter adjustments in inventory, its calculation of the equity loss in BTT and deferred income taxes. The Company intends to prepare and review an analysis of these accounts on a quarterly basis going forward to rectify this weakness in accounting procedures.
In addition, the Company reviewed its internal control over financial reporting. In November, 2004, the Company instituted procedures to reconcile accounts payable to vendor accounts and also modified certain accounts payable and inventory related policies and procedures, provided education regarding such policies and procedures to relevant staff members and implemented enhanced monitoring of such policies and procedures and related accounting policies. These modifications were made to remediate certain material weaknesses related to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting with regard to (i) lack of reconciliation of accounts payable balances to vendor accounts and (ii) inadequate review of details of accounts payable, all as reported in the Company’s Form 10-Q for the third quarter ended September 30, 2004. During the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter of 2004, there have been no other changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, to the extent that elements of internal control over financial reporting are subsumed within disclosure controls and procedures, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The information about the Company’s directors and executive officers, its Audit Committee and the Audit Committee’s “audit committee financial expert,” and the procedures by which nominees are recommended to the Board, is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Directors and Executive Officers” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information about compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Each of the Company’s directors, officers and employee are required to comply with the Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. Code of Ethics adopted by the Company. The Code of Ethics sets forth policies covering a broad range of subjects and requires strict adherence to laws and regulations applicable to the Company’s
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business. The Code of Ethics is available on the Company’s website at www.blondertongue.com, under the “Investor Relations-Code of Ethics” captions. The Company will post to its website any amendments to the Code of Ethics, or waiver from the provisions thereof for executive officers or directors, under the “Investor Relations-Code of Ethics” caption.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information about director and executive compensation is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the headings “Directors’ Compensation,”“Executive Compensation,”“Report of Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation Policies” and “Comparative Stock Performance” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Information about security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information about the Company’s equity compensation plans is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Equity Compensation Plans” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Information about certain relationships and transactions with related parties is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the heading “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information about procedures related to the engagement of the independent registered public accountants and fees and services paid to the independent registered public accountants is incorporated by reference from the discussion under the headings “Audit and Other Fees Paid to Independent Registered Public Accountants” and “Pre-Approval Policy for Services by Independent Registered Public Accountants” in the Company’s proxy statement for its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a)(1) Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 35 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 | 36 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 | 37 |
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 | 38 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 | 39 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | 40 |
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(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules.
Included in Part IV of this report:
Schedule II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the applicable instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
(a)(3) Exhibits.
The exhibits are listed in the Index to Exhibits appearing below and are filed herewith or are incorporated by reference to exhibits previously filed with the Commission.
(b) Index to Exhibits:
Exhibit # | Description | Location | |
3.1 | Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. | |
3.2 | Restated Bylaws of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. | |
4.1 | Specimen of stock certificate. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. | |
10.1 | Consulting Agreement, dated January 1, 1995, between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and James H. Williams. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. |
10.2 | 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.5 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. | |
10.3 | 1995 Long Term Incentive Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.6 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. | |
10.4 | First Amendment to the 1995 Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.5(a) to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1997. | |
10.5 | Second Amendment to the 1995 Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 to S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-52519 originally filed on May 13, 1998. | |
10.6 | Third Amendment to the 1995 Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.4 to S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-37670, originally filed May 23, 2000. | |
10.7 | Fourth Amendment to the 1995 Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.5 to S-8 Registration Statement No. 33-96993, originally filed July 24, 2002. | |
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Exhibit # | Description | Location |
10.8 | Amended and Restated 1996 Director Option Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Appendix B to Registrant’s Proxy Statement for its 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed March 27, 1998. | |
10.9 | First Amendment to the Amended and Restated 1996 Director Option Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.2 to S-8 Registration Statement No. 333-111367, originally filed on December 19, 2003. | |
10.10 | Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into by Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of each of its Directors and Officers. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.10 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. | |
10.11 | VideoCipher® IICM Commercial Descrambler Module Master Purchase and License Agreement, dated August 23, 1990, between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and Cable/Home Communication Corp. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.11 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. | |
†10.12 | Patent License Agreement, dated August 21, 1995, between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and Philips Electronics North America Corporation. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.12 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. | |
†10.13 | Interdiction Technology License Agreement, dated August 21, 1995, between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and Philips Broadband Networks, Inc. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.13 to Registrant’s S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. | |
10.14 | Bargaining Unit Pension Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.22 to S-1 Registration Statement No. 33-98070, filed October 12, 1995, as amended. | |
10.15 | Executive Officer Bonus Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1997, filed May 13, 1997. |
10.16 | Second Amendment to Consulting and Non-Competition Agreement between Registrant and James H. Williams, dated as of June 30, 2000. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2000, filed August 14, 2000. | |
10.17 | Loan and Security Agreement dated March 20, 2002 between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and Commerce Bank, N.A. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2002, filed May 15, 2002. | |
10.18 | Revolving Credit Note dated March 20, 2002 by Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of Commerce Bank, N.A. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2002, filed May 15, 2002. | |
10.19 | Term Loan A Note dated March 20, 2002 by Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of Commerce Bank, N.A. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2002, filed May 15, 2002. | |
10.20 | Term Loan B Note dated March 20, 2002 by Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of Commerce Bank, N.A. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.4 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2002, filed May 15, 2002. | |
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Exhibit # | Description | Location |
10.21 | Mortgage, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing dated March 20, 2002, between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and Commerce Bank, N.A. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.5 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2002, filed May 15, 2002. | |
10.22 | Assignment of Rents and Leases made by Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of Commerce Bank, N.A. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.6 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2002, filed May 15, 2002. | |
10.23 | Patent Security Agreement dated March 20, 2002 by Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of Commerce Bank, N.A. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.7 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2002, filed May 15, 2002. | |
10.24 | Trademark Security Agreement dated March 20, 2002 by Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of Commerce Bank, N.A. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.8 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2002, filed May 15, 2002. | |
10.25 | Surety Agreement dated March 20, 2002 by Blonder Tongue Investment Company in favor of Commerce Bank, N.A. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.9 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2002, filed May 15, 2002. | |
10.26 | Capital Contribution Agreement between Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC, Resource Investment, LLC, H. Tyler Bell, NetLinc Communications, LLC and Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., dated March 26, 2003. | Incorporated by referenced from Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2003 and filed May 15, 2003. | |
10.27 | Amendment to Capital Contribution Agreement and Termination of Letter Agreement among Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC, Resource Investment Group, LLC, H. Tyler Bell, NetLinc Communications, LLC and Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc., dated as of September 11, 2003. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2003, filed November 14, 2003. |
10.28 | Loan and Security Agreement dated November 19, 2003 between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and Robert J. Pallé, Jr. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.28 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2003, filed March 30, 2004. | |
10.29 | Non-Recourse Line of Credit Note dated November 19, 2003 by Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. in favor of Robert J. Pallé, Jr. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.29 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2003, filed March 30, 2004. | |
10.30 | First Amendment and Waiver to Loan and Security Agreement between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and Commerce Bank, N.A., dated November 14, 2003. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.30 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2003, filed March 30, 2004. | |
10.31 | Collateral Pledge Agreement between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and Commerce Bank, N.A., dated November 14, 2003. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.31 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2003, filed March 30, 2004. | |
10.32 | Second Amendment and Waiver to Loan and Security Agreement between Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and Commerce Bank, N.A. dated March 29, 2004. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2004, filed May 17, 2004. | |
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Exhibit # | Description | Location |
10.33 | Form of Option Agreement under the 1995 Long Term Incentive Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.33 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2004, filed April 15, 2005. | |
10.34 | Form of Option Agreement under the 1996 Director Option Plan. | Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.34 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 2004, filed April 15, 2005. | |
21 | Subsidiaries of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. | Filed herewith. | |
23 | Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP. | Filed herewith. | |
31.1 | Certification of James A. Luksch pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Filed herewith. | |
31.2 | Certification of Eric Skolnik pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Filed herewith. | |
32.1 | Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Filed herewith. | |
99.1 | Audited Financial Statements of Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC | Filed herewith. |
______________________________
† Certain portions of exhibit have been afforded confidential treatment by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Exhibits 10.1 - 10.9, 10.15, 10.16, 10.33 and 10.34 represent management contracts or compensation plans or arrangements.
(c) Financial Statement Schedules:
Report of BDO Seidman, LLP on financial statement schedule is included on page 59 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A.
The following financial statement schedule is included on page 60 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A:
Schedule II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves.
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the applicable instructions or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
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BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page | |
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 35 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 | 36 |
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 | 37 |
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 | 38 |
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 | 39 |
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | 40 |
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.:
Old Bridge, New Jersey
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying consolidated financial statement for the year ended December 31, 2003 has been restated as discussed in Note 1.
/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
BDO Seidman, LLP
Woodbridge, New Jersey
April 12, 2005
35
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
December 31, | ||||||||||
2004 | 2003 | |||||||||
(restated) | ||||||||||
Assets (Note 4) | ||||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||||
Cash | $ | 70 | $ | 195 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $607 and $1,192 respectively (Note 8) | 3,693 | 5,682 | ||||||||
Inventories (Note 2) | 10,309 | 9,482 | ||||||||
Notes receivable (Note 14) | - | 627 | ||||||||
Income tax receivable | 320 | 679 | ||||||||
Prepaid benefit costs (Note 6) | - | 631 | ||||||||
Prepaid and other current assets | 654 | 695 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes (Note 12) | 960 | 960 | ||||||||
Total current assets | 16,006 | 18,951 | ||||||||
Notes receivable (Note 14) | - | 216 | ||||||||
Inventories, net non-current (Note 2) | 8,968 | 11,106 | ||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization (Notes 3 and 5) | 6,214 | 6,652 | ||||||||
Patents, net | 2,240 | 2,649 | ||||||||
Rights-of-Entry, net (Note 13) | 977 | 1,300 | ||||||||
Other assets, net (Note 7) | 925 | 851 | ||||||||
Investment in Blonder Tongue Telephone LLC (Note 13) | 1,430 | 2,043 | ||||||||
Deferred income taxes (Note 12) | 1,396 | 4,222 | ||||||||
$ | 38,156 | $ | 47,990 | |||||||
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | ||||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 4) | $ | 2,683 | $ | 3,201 | ||||||
Accounts payable | 1,497 | 2,731 | ||||||||
Accrued compensation | 639 | 560 | ||||||||
Accrued benefit liability (Note 6) | 314 | - | ||||||||
Other accrued expenses (Note 7) | 270 | 868 | ||||||||
Total current liabilities | 5,403 | 7,360 | ||||||||
Long-term debt (Note 4) | 5,830 | 9,745 | ||||||||
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 5, 6 and 7) | - | - | ||||||||
Stockholders’ equity (Notes 6, 9 and 11): | ||||||||||
Preferred stock, $.001 par value; authorized 5,000 shares; no shares outstanding | - | - | ||||||||
Common stock, $.001 par value; authorized 25,000 shares, 8,465 and 8,445 shares Issued | 8 | 8 | ||||||||
Paid-in capital | 24,202 | 24,145 | ||||||||
Retained earnings | 9,065 | 12,187 | ||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (897 | ) | - | |||||||
Treasury stock, at cost, 449 shares | (5,455 | ) | (5,455 | ) | ||||||
Total stockholders’ equity | 26,923 | 30,885 | ||||||||
$ | 38,156 | $ | 47,990 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
36
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||
restated | ||||||||||
Net sales (Note 8) | $ | 39,233 | $ | 35,437 | $ | 46,951 | ||||
Cost of goods sold | 26,631 | 25,948 | 34,718 | |||||||
Gross profit | 12,602 | 9,489 | 12,233 | |||||||
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||
Selling expenses | 4,169 | 3,714 | 4,069 | |||||||
General and administrative (Notes 5, 6, and 7) | 6,100 | 6,123 | 4,991 | |||||||
Research and development | 1,549 | 1,833 | 1,972 | |||||||
11,818 | 11,670 | 11,032 | ||||||||
Earnings (loss) from operations | 784 | (2,181 | ) | 1,201 | ||||||
Other expense: | ||||||||||
Interest expense | (903 | ) | (1,105 | ) | (1,074 | ) | ||||
Interest and other income (Note 14) | 436 | - | - | |||||||
Equity in loss of Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (Note 13) | (613 | ) | (154 | ) | - | |||||
(1,080 | ) | (1,259 | ) | (1,074 | ) | |||||
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | (296 | ) | (3,440 | ) | 127 | |||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes (Note 12) | 2,826 | (318 | ) | 43 | ||||||
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax | (3,122 | ) | (3,122 | ) | 84 | |||||
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax (Note 1) | - | - | (6,886 | ) | ||||||
Net loss | $ | (3,122 | ) | $ | (3,122 | ) | $ | (6,802 | ) | |
Basic and diluted earnings (loss)per share before cumulative effect (Note 10) | $ | (0.39 | ) | $ | (0.41 | ) | $ | 0.01 | ||
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax | - | - | (0.90 | ) | ||||||
Basic and diluted loss per share | $ | (0.39 | ) | $ | (0.41 | ) | ($ 0.89 | ) | ||
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding | 8,001 | 7,654 | 7,604 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
37
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands)
(restated)
Common Stock | ||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Paid-in Capital | Retained Earnings | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Treasury Stock | Total | ||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2002 | 8,444 | $ 8 | 24,143 | 22,111 | (351) | (6,286) | 39,625 | |||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | (6,802) | - | - | (6,802) | |||||||
Unrecognized pension expense, net of tax (Note 6) | - | - | - | - | (157) | - | (157) | |||||||
Comprehensive loss | (6,959) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 1 | - | 2 | - | - | - | 2 | |||||||
Acquisition of treasury stock | - | - | - | - | - | (83) | (83) | |||||||
Balance at December 31, 2002 | 8,445 | 8 | 24,145 | 15,309 | (508) | (6,369) | 32,585 | |||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | (3,122) | - | - | (3,122) | |||||||
Recognized pre-paid pension cost, net of tax (Note 6) | - | - | - | - | 508 | - | 508 | |||||||
Comprehensive loss | (2,614) | |||||||||||||
Issuance of stock to Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (Note 13) | - | - | - | - | - | 1,030 | 1,030 | |||||||
Acquisition of treasury stock | - | - | - | - | - | (116) | (116) | |||||||
Balance at December 31, 2003 | 8,445 | 8 | 24,145 | 12,187 | - | (5,455) | 30,885 | |||||||
Net loss | - | - | - | (3,122) | - | - | (3,122) | |||||||
Unrecognized pension expense, net of tax | - | - | - | - | (897) | - | (897) | |||||||
Comprehensive loss | (4,019) | |||||||||||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 20 | - | 57 | - | - | - | 57 | |||||||
Balance at December 31, 2004 | 8,465 | $8 | $24,202 | $9,065 | $(897) | $5,455 | $26,923 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
38
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||
restated | ||||||||||
Cash Flows From Operating Activities: | ||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | $ | (3,122 | ) | $ | (3,122 | ) | $ | (6,802 | ) | |
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||||
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle | - | - | 6,886 | |||||||
Equity in loss from Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC | 613 | 154 | - | |||||||
Depreciation | 1,052 | 1,133 | 1,269 | |||||||
Amortization | 679 | 750 | 550 | |||||||
Gain on sale of rights of entry | (54 | ) | - | - | ||||||
Provision for inventory reserves | 872 | 1,576 | 500 | |||||||
Provision for doubtful accounts | 107 | 360 | 180 | |||||||
Deferred income taxes | 2,826 | 373 | 130 | |||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||
Accounts receivable | 1,882 | 671 | 1,640 | |||||||
Inventories | 439 | 2,596 | 3,509 | |||||||
Prepaid and other current assets | 41 | (139 | ) | 376 | ||||||
Other assets | (26 | ) | 101 | (366 | ) | |||||
Income taxes | 359 | (241 | ) | (779 | ) | |||||
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and accrued compensation | (1,753 | ) | 1,474 | (5,836 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 3,915 | 5,686 | 1,257 | |||||||
Cash Flows From Investing Activities: | ||||||||||
Capital expenditures | (639 | ) | (954 | ) | (695 | ) | ||||
Collection of note receivable | 843 | 635 | - | |||||||
Investment in Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC | - | (1,167 | ) | - | ||||||
Acquisition of BDR Broadband assets | (19 | ) | (183 | ) | (1,880 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of rights of entry | 151 | - | - | |||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 336 | (1,669 | ) | (2,575 | ) | |||||
Cash Flows From Financing Activities: | ||||||||||
Repayments of debt | (19,588 | ) | (14,460 | ) | (34,909 | ) | ||||
Borrowings of debt | 15,155 | 10,496 | 35,624 | |||||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 57 | - | 2 | |||||||
Acquisition of treasury stock | - | (116 | ) | (83 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | (4,376 | ) | (4,080 | ) | 634 | |||||
Net decrease in cash | (125 | ) | (63 | ) | (684 | ) | ||||
Cash, beginning of year | 195 | 258 | 942 | |||||||
Cash, end of year | $ | 70 | $ | 195 | $ | 258 | ||||
Supplemental Cash Flow Information: | ||||||||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | 869 | $ | 1,073 | $ | 1,138 | ||||
Cash paid for income taxes | - | - | 537 | |||||||
Non-cash investing and financing activities: | ||||||||||
Inventory sold for notes receivable | - | $ | - | $ | 1,447 | |||||
Investment in Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC using treasury stock | - | (1,030 | ) | - |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
39
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Company and Basis of Presentation
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”) is a designer, manufacturer and supplier of electronics and systems equipment for the cable television industry, primarily throughout the United States. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries (including BDR Broadband, LLC). Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company’s investment in Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (“BTT”) and NetLinc Communications, LLC (“NetLinc”) are accounted for on the equity method since the Company does not have control over these entities.
BTT is managed on a day-to-day basis by its Manager, who has the authority to manage, control, administer and operate its business and affairs. The Manager is appointed by majority vote of the members, based on each member’s voting rights. Although the Company shares in the economic rights of BTT on an equal basis with the sole other member, the Company controls only 49% of the voting rights, and, therefore, does not control the appointment or removal of the Manager. The other member of BTT possesses substantive participating rights through its control of the appointment and removal of the Manager, who is also in a control position with respect to the other member of BTT. The Company does possess certain protective rights in connection with certain actions by BTT which require the unanimous approval of all members, including the creation of a new class of membership interest, approving a change of control, and approving a change in the nature of its business. The Company’s share of the losses from BTT includes losses in excess of capital contributed by other investors in BTT.
Similarly, the Company does not have substantive participating rights in the day-to-day operations of NetLinc. NetLinc is managed by a Board of Mangers consisting of two Managers, one of whom is a controlling member of the sole other member of NetLinc and the other is an officer of the Company. However, the Managers have delegated general and active management of NetLinc to a President, who is also in a control position with respect to such other member. Although the Company owns a 50% equity and voting interest in NetLinc, all decisions of the members, including the election of Managers, require a vote of at least 51% of the voting interests. In addition, each action of the Board of Managers, including the election and removal of the President, requires a majority vote of the Managers. The Company, therefore, does not control the election of the Managers or the President of NetLinc, and does not have the power to remove the President. Accordingly, the other member of NetLinc possesses substantive participating rights through its common affiliation with the President. The Company does possess certain protective rights in connection with certain actions by NetLinc which require the unanimous approval of all members, including the creation of a new class of membership interest, approving a change of control, and approving a change in the nature of its business.
(b) Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful accounts
Accounts receivable are customer obligations due under normal trade terms. The Company sells its products primarily to distributors and private cable operators. The Company performs continuing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and although the Company generally does not require collateral, letters of credit may be required from its customers in certain circumstances.
Senior management reviews accounts receivable on a monthly basis to determine if any receivables will potentially be uncollectible. The Company includes any accounts receivable balances that are determined to be uncollectible, along with a general reserve, in its overall allowance for doubtful accounts. After all attempts to collect a receivable have failed, the receivable is written off against the allowance. Based on the information available, the Company believes its allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2004 is adequate; however, actual write-offs might exceed the recorded allowance.
(c) Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, determined by the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method, or market.
40
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
The Company periodically analyzes anticipated product sales based on historical results, current backlog and marketing plans. Based on these analyses, the Company anticipates that certain products will not be sold during the next twelve months. Inventories that are not anticipated to be sold in the next twelve months, have been classified as non-current.
Over 60% of the non-current inventories are comprised of raw materials. The Company has established a program to use interchangeable parts in its various product offerings and to modify certain of its finished goods to better match customer demands. In addition, the Company has instituted additional marketing programs to dispose of the slower moving inventories.
The Company continually analyzes its slow-moving, excess and obsolete inventories. Based on historical and projected sales volumes and anticipated selling prices, the Company establishes reserves. If the Company does not meet its sales expectations, these reserves are increased. Products that are determined to be obsolete are written down to net realizable value. During 2004 and 2003, the Company recorded an increase to its reserve of $872 and $1,576, respectively. The Company believes reserves are adequate and inventories are reflected at net realizable value.
(d) Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. The Company provides for depreciation generally on the straight-line method based upon estimated useful lives of 3 to 5 years for office equipment, 5 to 7 years for furniture and fixtures, 6 to 10 years for machinery and equipment, 10 to 15 years for building improvements, 5 to 7 years for cable systems, and 40 years for the manufacturing and administrative office facility.
(e) Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences in the recognition of certain income and expenses for financial and tax reporting purposes. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.
(f) Intangible Assets
Intangible assets, net totaling $3,217 and $3,949 as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, consist of acquired patent rights and rights-of-entry, and are carried at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed utilizing the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the respective asset, 12 years for patents and 5 years for rights-of-entry.
The components of intangible assets at December 31, 2004 are as follows:
Cost | Accumulated Amortization | ||||||
Patents and trademarks | $ | 6,414 | $ | 4,174 | |||
Rights of entry | 1,585 | 608 | |||||
Total intangible assets | $ | 7,999 | $ | 4,782 |
The Company continues to amortize its patents and rights-of-entry over their estimated useful lives with no significant residual value. Amortization expense for intangible assets was $679, $750 and $550 for the years ending December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Intangibles amortization is projected to be approximately $679 per year for the next five years.
In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FAS No. 141, “Business Combinations” (“FAS 141”) and No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“FAS 142”). FAS 142 requires,
41
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
among other things, that companies no longer amortize goodwill, but instead test goodwill for impairment at least annually. The adoption of this pronouncement resulted in the Company recording a $6,886, non-cash charge, net of tax, to write off the carrying value of its goodwill. Such charge is reflected as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle. The Company’s previous business combinations were accounted for using the purchase method.
(g) Long-Lived Assets
The Company follows Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (“FAS 144”). FAS 144 standardized the accounting practices for the recognition and measurement of impairment losses on certain long-lived assets based on non-discounted cash flows. No impairment losses have been recorded through December 31, 2004.
(h) Statements of Cash Flows
For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity of less than three months at purchase to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents at December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.
(i) Research and Development
Research and development expenditures for the Company’s projects are expensed as incurred.
(j) Revenue Recognition
The Company records revenues when products are shipped. Customers do not have a right of return. The Company provides a three year warranty on most products.
(k) Earnings (loss) Per Share
Earnings (loss) per share are calculated in accordance with FAS 128, which provides for the calculation of “basic” and “diluted” earnings (loss) per share. Basic earnings (loss) per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect, in periods in which they have a dilutive effect, the effect of common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.
(l) Treasury Stock
Treasury Stock is recorded at cost. Gains and losses on disposition are recorded as increases or decreases to additional paid-in capital with losses in excess of previously recorded gains charged directly to retained earnings.
(m) Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company utilizes interest rate swaps at times to manage interest rate exposures. The Company specifically designates interest rate swaps as hedges of debt instruments and recognizes interest differentials as adjustments to interest expense in the period they occur. The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes. The Company did not hold any derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2004 or 2003.
(n) Significant Risks and Uncertainties
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
42
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
Approximately 46% of the Company’s employees are covered by a one year collective bargaining agreement, which expires in February 2006.
The Company estimates that headend products accounted for approximately 52% of the Company’s revenues in 2004, 54% in 2003 and 66% in 2002. Any substantial decrease in sales of headend products could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows.
On an as-needed basis, the Company purchases several products from sole suppliers for which alternative sources are not available, such as the VideoCipher® and DigiCipher® encryption systems manufactured by Motorola, Inc., which are standard encryption methodologies employed on U.S. C-Band and Ku-Band transponders ,and Hughes Network Systems' digital satellite receivers for delivery of DIRECTV™ programming. An inability to timely obtain sufficient quantities of these components could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operating results. The Company does not have an agreement with any sole source supplier requiring the supplier to sell a specified volume of components to the Company.
(o) Stock Options
The Company applies APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations in accounting for its stock option plans. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (“FAS 123”), Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, requires the Company to provide pro forma information regarding net income (loss) and net income (loss) per common share as if compensation cost for stock options granted under the plans, if applicable, had been determined in accordance with the fair value based method prescribed in FAS 123. The Company does not plan to adopt the fair value based method prescribed by FAS 123.
The Company estimates the fair value of each stock option grant by using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants: expected lives of 9.5 years, no dividend yield, volatility at 73%, risk free interest rate of 3.2% for 2004, 2003 and 2002.
Under accounting provisions of FAS 123, the Company’s net income (loss) to common shareholders and net income (loss) per common share would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts indicated below (in thousands, except per share data):
Years Ended December 31 | ||||||||||
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||
Net loss as reported | $ | (3,122 | ) | $ | (3,122 | ) | $ | (6,802 | ) | |
Adjustment for fair value of stock options | 204 | 324 | 590 | |||||||
Pro forma | $ | (3,326 | ) | $ | (3,446 | ) | $ | (7,392 | ) | |
Net loss per share basic and diluted: | ||||||||||
As reported | $ | (0.39 | ) | $ | (0.41 | ) | $ | (0.89 | ) | |
Pro forma | $ | (0.42 | ) | $ | (0.45 | ) | $ | (0.97 | ) |
(p) Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping and handling costs are recorded as a component of selling expenses. Revenues from shipping and handling are not significant. Shipping and handling costs were -0-, $36 and $181 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
(q) Restatement
Subsequent to the Company’s issuance of its consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company determined that a vendor’s account payable balance was incorrectly recorded in 2001 and 2002. Certain amounts due to this vendor related to inventories received that were not correctly recorded, and resulted in
43
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
accounts payable being understated. These incorrect amounts also resulted in the understatement of cost of goods sold in 2001 and 2002, the overstatement of net income in 2001 and the understatement of net loss in 2002 and 2003. The Company restated its consolidated financial statements for each of the three-years ended December 31, 2003 to reflect the correction of the vendor’s account payable balance and the related impact to costs of goods sold and other portions of the financial statements. The effect of these entries, net of taxes, on the financial statements of the Company is summarized below.
The following table sets forth selected line items from the Company’s consolidated statement of operations that are affected by the restatement on a restated basis and as previously reported:
(In thousands, except per-share amount) | |||||||||||||||||||
For the Year Ending December 31, 2003 | For the Year Ending December 31, 2002 | For the Year Ending December 31, 2001 | |||||||||||||||||
As restated | As reported | As restated | As reported | As restated | As reported | ||||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold | $ | 25,948 | $ | 25,948 | $ | 34,718 | $ | 34,195 | $ | 37,460 | $ | 36,928 | |||||||
Provision (benefit) for Income taxes | (318 | ) | (691 | ) | 43 | 221 | 509 | 704 | |||||||||||
Net (loss) earnings | (3,122 | ) | (2,749 | ) | (6,802 | ) | (6,457 | ) | 880 | 1,217 | |||||||||
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share | (0.41 | ) | (0.36 | ) | (0.89 | ) | (0.84 | ) | 0.12 | 0.16 |
The following table sets forth selected line items from the Company’s consolidated balance sheet that are affected by the restatement on a restated basis and as previously reported:
(In thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
At December 31, 2003 | At December 31, 2002 | At December 31, 2001 | |||||||||||||||||
As restated | As reported | As restated | As reported | As restated | As reported | ||||||||||||||
Deferred income Taxes (current) | $ | 960 | $ | 2,279 | $ | 2,231 | $ | 1,858 | $ | 1,551 | $ | 1,746 | |||||||
Accounts payable | 2,731 | 1,676 | 1,943 | 888 | 7,204 | 6,672 | |||||||||||||
Retained earnings | 12,187 | 13,242 | 15,309 | 15,991 | 22,111 | 22,448 |
Although the December 31, 2002 and 2001 balance sheets and statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2001 are not included in the consolidated financial statements provided in this Form 10-K/A, the Company’s balance sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2001 were also restated as reflected in the table above.
The Company reclassified its December 31, 2003 inventory. See Note 1(c) for a description of this reclassification.
(r) New Accounting Pronouncements
In December, 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 123R, "Share-Based Payment." This statement is a revision to SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." This statement establishes standards for the accounting for transactions in which an entity exchanges its equity instruments for goods or services, primarily focusing on the accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions.
44
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
Companies will be required to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award (with limited exceptions). The cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, which requisite service period will usually be the vesting period. The grant-date fair value of employee share options and similar instruments will be estimated using option-pricing models. If an equity award is modified after the grant date, incremental compensation cost will be recognized in an amount equal to the excess of the fair value of the modified award over the fair value of the original award immediately before the modification. SFAS No. 123R will be effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005 and allows for several alternative transition methods. Accordingly, the Company will adopt SFAS No. 123R in its first quarter of fiscal 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 123R and has not yet determined the impact that this Statement will have on its results of operations or financial position.
In November, 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, "Inventory Costs", an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43 Chapter 4. SFAS No. 151 clarifies the accounting for abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs and wasted material. SFAS No. 151 is effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company does not believe adoption of SFAS No. 151 will have a material effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In December, 2004, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 109-1 ("FSP FAS No. 109-1"), "Application of FASB Statement No. 109, 'Accounting for Income Taxes,' to the Tax Deduction on Qualified Production Activities Provided by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004." The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 introduces a special tax deduction of up to 9% when fully phased in, of the lesser of "qualified production activities income" or taxable income. FSP FAS 109-1 clarifies that this tax deduction should be accounted for as a special tax deduction in accordance with SFAS No. 109. Although FSP FAS No. 109-1 was effective upon issuance, the Company is still evaluating the impact FSP FAS No. 109-1 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In December, 2003, the FASB issued a revision to SFAS No. 132, "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits." This statement does not change the measurement or recognition aspects for pensions and other post-retirement benefit plans; however, it does revise employers' disclosures to include more information about the plan assets, obligations to pay benefits and funding obligations. SFAS No. 132, as revised, is generally effective for financial statements with a fiscal year ending after December 15, 2003. The Company has adopted the required provisions of SFAS No. 132, as revised. The adoption of the required provisions of SFAS No. 132, as revised, did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In May, 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity." SFAS No. 150 clarifies the definition of a liability as currently defined in FASB Concepts Statement No. 6 "Elements of Financial Statements," as well as other planned revisions. This statement requires a financial instrument that embodies an obligation of an issuer to be classified as a liability. In addition, the statement establishes standards for the initial and subsequent measurement of these financial instruments and disclosure requirements. SFAS No. 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and for all other matters, is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The adoption of SFAS No. 150 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
In January, 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation ("FIN") No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" and in December 2003, a revised interpretation was issued (FIN No. 46, as revised). In general, a variable interest entity ("VIE") is a corporation partnership, trust, or any other legal structure used for business purposes that either does not have equity investors with voting rights or has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. FIN No. 46, as revised requires a VIE to be consolidated by a company if that company is designated as the primary beneficiary. The interpretation applies to VIEs created after January 31, 2003, and for all financial statements issued after December 15, 2003 for VIEs in which an enterprise held a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003. The adoption of FIN No. 46, as revised, did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
45
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
(s) Royalty and License Expense
The Company records royalty expense, as applicable, when the related products are sold. Royalty expense is recorded as a component of selling expenses. The Company amortizes license fees over the life of the relevant contract.
Inventories, net of reserves, are summarized as follows:
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
Raw materials | $ | 11,308 | $ | 11,379 | |||
Work in process | 1,698 | 1,746 | |||||
Finished goods | 10,615 | 10,935 | |||||
23,621 | 24,060 | ||||||
Less current inventory | (10,309 | ) | (9,482 | ) | |||
13,312 | 14,578 | ||||||
Less reserve for slow moving and obsolete inventory | (4,344 | ) | (3,472 | ) | |||
$ | 8,968 | $ | 11,106 |
The Company recorded a $872 and $1,576 provision for slow moving and obsolete inventory during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. The Company periodically analyzes anticipated product sales based on historical results, current backlog and marketing plans.
Note 3 - Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are summarized as follows:
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
Land | $ | 1,000 | $ | 1,000 | |||
Building | 3,361 | 3,361 | |||||
Machinery and equipment | 7,843 | 7,613 | |||||
Cable systems | 1,791 | 1,460 | |||||
Furniture and fixtures | 404 | 401 | |||||
Office equipment | 1,899 | 1,873 | |||||
Building improvements | 690 | 686 | |||||
16,988 | 16,394 | ||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (10,774 | ) | (9,742 | ) | |||
$ | 6,214 | $ | 6,652 |
Note 4 - Debt
On March 20, 2002 the Company entered into a credit agreement with Commerce Bank, N.A. for a $19,500 credit facility, comprised of (i) a $7,000 revolving line of credit under which funds may be borrowed at LIBOR, plus a margin ranging from 1.75% to 2.50%, in each case depending on the calculation of certain financial covenants, with a floor of 5% through March 19, 2003, (ii) a $9,000 term loan which bore interest at a rate of 6.75% through September 30, 2002, and thereafter at a fixed rate ranging from 6.50% to 7.25% to reset quarterly depending on the calculation of certain financial covenants and (iii) a $3,500 mortgage loan bearing interest at 7.5%. Borrowings under the revolving line of credit are limited to certain percentages of eligible accounts receivable and inventory, as defined in the credit agreement. The credit facility is collateralized by a security interest in all of the Company’s assets. The agreement also contains restrictions that require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios as well as restrictions on the payment of cash dividends. The Company did not meet certain financial ratios during 2003 and 2004 (see amendments
46
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
below). The initial maturity date of the line of credit with Commerce Bank was March 20, 2004. The term loan required equal monthly principal payments of $187 and matures on April 1, 2006. The mortgage loan requires equal monthly principal payments of $19 and matures on April 1, 2017. The mortgage loan is callable after five years at the lender’s option.
In November 2003, the Company's credit agreement with Commerce Bank was amended to modify the interest rate and amortization schedule for certain of the loans thereunder, as well as to modify one of the financial covenants. Beginning November 1, 2003, the revolving line of credit bore interest at the prime rate plus 1.5%, with a floor of 5.5% (6.75% at December 31, 2004), and the term loan bore interest at a fixed rate of 7.5%. Beginning December 1, 2003, the term loan required equal monthly principal payments of $193 plus interest with a final payment on April 1, 2006 of all remaining unpaid principal and interest.
At March 31, 2003, June 30, 2003, September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2003, the Company was unable to meet one of its financial covenants required under its credit agreement with Commerce Bank, which non-compliance was waived by the Bank effective as of each such date.
In March, 2004, the Company's credit agreement with Commerce Bank was amended to (i) extend the maturity date of the line of credit until April 1, 2005, (ii) reduce the maximum amount that may be borrowed under the line of credit to $6,000, (iii) suspend the applicability of the cash flow coverage ratio covenant until March 31, 2005, (iv) impose a new financial covenant requiring the Company to achieve certain levels of consolidated pre-tax income on a quarterly basis commencing with the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2004, and (v) require that the Company make a prepayment against its outstanding term loan to the Bank equal to 100% of the amount of any prepayment received by the Company on its outstanding note receivable from a customer, up to a maximum amount of $500.
At December 31, 2004, the Company was unable to meet one of its financial covenants required under its credit agreement with Commerce Bank, which non-compliance was waived by the Bank effective as of such date.
In March, 2005, the Company's credit agreement with Commerce Bank was amended to (i) extend the maturity date of the line of credit until April 1, 2006, (ii) provide for a interest rate on the revolving line of credit of the prime rate plus 2.0%, with a floor of 5.5%, (iii) waive the applicability of consolidated pre-tax income for the quarter ended December 31, 2004, (iv) suspend the applicability of the cash flow coverage ratio covenant until March 31, 2006, and (v) impose a financial covenant requiring the Company to achieve certain levels of consolidated pre-tax income on a quarterly basis commencing with the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2005.
The fair value of the debt approximates the recorded value based on the borrowing rates currently available to the Company for loans with similar terms and maturities.
Long-term debt consists of the following:
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
Revolving Line of Credit | $ | 2,946 | $ | 4,136 | |||
Term Loan | 2,243 | 5,245 | |||||
Mortgage loan | 2,858 | 3,092 | |||||
Capital leases (Note 5) | 466 | 473 | |||||
8,513 | 12,946 | ||||||
Less: Current portion | (2,683 | ) | (3,201 | ) | |||
$ | 5,830 | $ | 9,745 |
47
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
Annual maturities of long-term debt at December 31, 2004 are:
2005 | $2,683 | |
2006 | 3,377 | |
2007 | 270 | |
2008 | 244 | |
2009 | 247 | |
Thereafter | 1,692 | |
$8,513 |
The average amount outstanding on the Company’s line of credit during 2004 and 2003 was $3,670 and $5,269, respectively. The maximum amount outstanding on the line of credit during 2004 and 2003 was $4,926 and $6,171, respectively. The weighted average interest rate at December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 was 5.9%, 5.0% and 5.0%, respectively.
Note 5 - Commitments and Contingencies
Leases
The Company leases certain factory, office and automotive equipment under noncancellable operating leases and equipment under capital leases expiring at various dates through December, 2009.
Future minimum rental payments, required for all noncancellable leases are as follows:
Capital | Operating | ||||||
2005 | $ | 246 | 84 | ||||
2006 | 216 | 53 | |||||
2007 | 44 | 25 | |||||
2008 | 15 | - | |||||
2009 | 15 | - | |||||
Thereafter | - | - | |||||
Total future minimum lease payments | 536 | $ | 162 | ||||
Less: amounts representing interest | 70 | ||||||
Present value of minimum lease payments | $ | 466 |
Property, plant and equipment included capitalized leases of $2,720 and $2,552 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, less accumulated amortization of $2,208 and $1,992 at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Rent expense was $158, $182 and $155 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Litigation
The Company is a party to certain proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of its business, none of which, in the current opinion of management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
48
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
Note 6 - Benefit Plans
Defined Contribution Plan
The Company has a defined contribution plan covering all full time non-union employees qualified under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, in which the Company matches a portion of an employee’s salary deferral. The Company’s contributions to this plan were $183, $194, and $213 for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Defined Benefit Pension Plan
Substantially all union employees who meet certain requirements of age, length of service and hours worked per year are covered by a Company sponsored non-contributory defined benefit pension plan. Benefits paid to retirees are based upon age at retirement and years of credited service. Net periodic pension cost for this plan includes the following components:
December 31, | ||||||||||
Components of net periodic pension cost: | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | |||||||
Service cost | $ | 104 | $ | 124 | $ | 137 | ||||
Interest cost | 144 | 139 | 127 | |||||||
Actual return on plan assets | (142 | ) | (125 | ) | (124 | ) | ||||
Recognized net actuarial (gain) loss | 38 | 53 | 29 | |||||||
Net periodic pension cost | $ | 144 | $ | 191 | $ | 169 |
The funded status of the plan and the amounts recorded in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are as follows:
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
Change in benefit obligation: | |||||||
Benefit obligation at beginning of year | $ | 2,020 | $ | 2,005 | |||
Service cost | 104 | 124 | |||||
Interest cost | 144 | 139 | |||||
Actuarial (gain) loss | 462 | (12 | ) | ||||
Benefits paid | (114 | ) | (236 | ) | |||
Benefit obligation at end of year | 2,616 | 2,020 | |||||
Change in plan assets: | |||||||
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year | 2,016 | 1,751 | |||||
Actual return on plan assets | 205 | 303 | |||||
Employer contribution | 133 | 198 | |||||
Benefits paid | (114 | ) | (236 | ) | |||
Fair value of plan assets at end of year | 2,240 | 2,016 | |||||
Funded status | (376 | ) | (4 | ) | |||
Unrecognized net actuarial loss | 979 | 624 | |||||
Unrecognized net transition liability | (20 | ) | 11 | ||||
Amount reflected in other comprehensive loss | (897 | ) | - | ||||
Prepaid (accrued) benefit cost | $ | (314 | ) | $ | 631 |
49
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
Key economic assumptions used in these determinations were:
December 31, | ||||
2004 | 2003 | |||
Discount rate | 6.0% | 7.0% | ||
Expected long-term rate of return | 7.0% | 7.0% |
The Company’s plan asset allocation at the end of 2004 and 2003 and target allocations for 2005 are as follows:
Security Type | Percentage of Plan Assets | Target Allocation | |||
2004 | 2003 | 2005 | |||
Cash Equivalents | - | 2% | - | ||
Equity Securities | 65% | 65% | 65% | ||
Debt Securities | 35% | 33% | 35% | ||
Total Plan Assets | 100% | 100% | 100% |
The Company’s investment policy is to invest in stock and balanced funds of mutual fund and insurance companies to preserve principal while at the same time establish a minimum rate of return of approximately 5%. No more than one-third of the total plan assets is placed in any one fund.
The expected long-term rate-of-return-on-assets is 7%. This return is based upon the historical performance of the currently invested funds.
The benefits expected to be paid for each of the next five years and in the aggregate for the following five years are:
2005 | $ | 56 | ||
2006 | 68 | |||
2007 | 77 | |||
2008 | 96 | |||
2009 | 104 | |||
20010-2014 | 747 |
The expected contribution to be made during 2005 is $200.
The Company recorded an unrecognized pension expense of $897, as an accumulated other comprehensive loss adjustment to stockholders’ equity in 2004 and recognized a prepaid benefit cost of $508 as an adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income in 2003. This amount represents a portion of the unrecognized net actuarial loss and the recognized prepaid benefit cost for the years ending December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Note 7 - Related Party Transactions
On January 1, 1995, the Company entered into a consulting and non-competition agreement with a director, who is also the largest stockholder. Under the agreement, the director provides consulting services on various operational and financial issues and is currently paid at an annual rate of $152 but in no event is such annual rate permitted to exceed $200. The director also agreed to keep all Company information confidential and will not compete directly or indirectly with the Company for the term of the agreement and for a period of two years thereafter. The initial term of this agreement expired on December 31, 2004 and automatically renews thereafter for successive one-year terms (subject to termination at the end of the initial term or any renewal term on at least 90 days’ notice). This agreement automatically renewed for a one-year extension until December 31, 2005.
50
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
As of December 31, 2004, the Chief Executive Officer was indebted to the Company in the amount of $201, for which no interest has been charged. This indebtedness arose from a series of cash advances, the latest of which was advanced in February 2002 and is included in other assets at December 31, 2004 and 2003.
The President of the Company lent the Company 100% of the purchase price of certain used-equipment inventory purchased by the Company in October through November of 2003. The inventory was purchased at a substantial discount to market price. While the aggregate cost to purchase all of the inventory was approximately $950, the maximum amount of indebtedness outstanding to the President at any one time during 2004 was $675. The President made the loan to the Company on a non-recourse basis, secured solely by a security interest in the inventory purchased by the Company and the proceeds resulting from the sale of the inventory. In consideration for the extension of credit on a non-recourse basis, the President received from the Company interest on the outstanding balance at the margin interest rate he incurred for borrowing the funds from his lenders and is entitled to receive from the Company 25 % of the gross profit derived from the Company’s resale of such inventory, which amounts will not be paid to the President until the outstanding balance of the indebtedness has been paid in full and a final accounting of the transaction has been concluded. In April 2004, the President of the Company acquired $75 of used equipment inventory, which was subsequently sold by him to the Company on a consignment basis. Payment by the Company for the goods become due upon the sale thereof by the Company and collection of the accounts receivable generated by such sales. In connection with the transaction, the Company agreed to pay the President cost plus 25% of the gross profit derived from the sale of such inventory. At December 31, 2004, the aggregate remaining outstanding balance due to the President from the foregoing transactions was approximately $92 and was included in other accrued expenses.
In March, 2003, the Company entered into a series of agreements, pursuant to which the Company acquired a 20% minority interest in NetLinc Communications, LLC (“NetLinc”) and a 35% minority interest in Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (“BTT”). During September, 2003, the parties restructured the terms of their business arrangement which included increasing Blonder Tongue’s economic ownership in NetLinc from 20% to 50% and in BTT from 35% to 50%, all at no additional cost to Blonder Tongue. The cash portion of the purchase price in the venture was decreased from $3,500 to $1,167, and was paid in full by the Company to BTT in October, 2003. As the non-cash component of the purchase price, the Company issued 500 shares of Common Stock to BTT, resulting in BTT becoming the owner of greater than 5% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company. The Company will receive preferential distributions equal to the $1,167 cash component of the purchase price from the cash flows of BTT. One-half of such Common Stock (250 shares) has been pledged to the Company as collateral to secure BTT’s obligation. Under the restructured arrangement, the Company pays certain future royalties to NetLinc and BTT upon the sale of telephony products. During 2004, the total accrued royalties to NetLinc and BTT were $20 and $58, respectively, which was paid to them by the Company in 2004. In addition, the Company paid certain expenses of BTT totaling approximately $69 and $95 in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Through this telephony venture, BTT offers primary voice service to MDUs and the Company offers for sale a line of telephony equipment to complement the voice service.
Note 8 - Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash deposits and trade accounts receivable.
The Company maintains cash balances at several banks located in the northeastern United States. As part of its cash management process, the Company periodically reviews the relative credit standing of these banks.
Credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable is concentrated with five of the Company’s customers. These customers accounted for approximately 39% and 40% of the Company’s outstanding trade accounts receivable at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. These customers are distributors of telecommunications and private cable television components, and providers of franchise and private cable television service. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition, uses credit insurance and requires collateral, such as letters of credit, to mitigate its credit risk. The deterioration of the financial condition of one or more of its major customers could adversely impact the Company’s operations. From time to time where the Company determines that circumstances warrant, such as when a customer agrees to commit to a large blanket purchase order, the Company extends payment terms beyond its standard payment terms.
51
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company’s largest customer accounted for approximately 18% of the Company’s sales. This customer also accounted for approximately 21% of the Company’s sales in 2003 and for approximately 20% of the Company’s sales in 2002. At December 31, 2003, this customer accounted for approximately 15% of the Company’s outstanding trade accounts receivable.
Note 9 - Stockholders’ Equity
On July 24, 2002, the Company commenced a stock repurchase program to acquire up to $300 of its outstanding common stock. The stock repurchase was funded by a combination of the Company’s cash on hand and borrowings against its revolving line of credit. The Company repurchased 70 and 48 shares during 2003 and 2002, respectively.
Note 10 - Earnings (loss) Per Share
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share for each of the three years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 are calculated as follows:
Net Loss (Numerator) | Shares (Denominator) | Per Share Amount | |||
For the year ended December 31, 2004: | |||||
Basic and diluted loss per share | $(3,122) | 8,001 | $(0.39) | ||
For the year ended December 31, 2003: | |||||
Basic and Diluted loss per share | $ (3,122) | 7,654 | $ (0.41) | ||
For the year ended December 31, 2002: | |||||
Basic and Diluted loss per share | $ (6,802) | 7,604 | $ (0.89) |
The diluted share base excludes incremental shares of 672, 1,231 and 1,301 related to stock options for December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively. These shares were excluded due to their antidilutive effect.
Note 11 - Stock Option Plans
In 1994, the Company established the 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the “1994 Plan”). The 1994 Plan provides for the granting of Incentive Stock Options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock to officers and key employees at a price not less than the fair market value at the date of grant as determined by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors. The maximum number of shares available for issuance under the plan was 298. Options become exercisable as determined by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors at the date of grant. Options expire ten years from the date of grant.
In October, 1995, the Company’s Board of Directors and stockholders approved the 1995 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “1995 Plan”). The 1995 Plan provides for grants of “incentive stock options” or nonqualified stock options, and awards of restricted stock, to executives and key employees, including officers and employee Directors. The 1995 Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which determines the optionees and the terms of the options granted under the 1995 Plan, including the exercise price, number of shares subject to the option and the exercisability thereof, as well as the recipients and number of shares awarded for restricted stock awards; provided, however, that no employee may receive stock options or restricted stock awards which would result, separately or in combination, in the acquisition of more than 100 shares of Common Stock of the Company under the 1995 Plan. The exercise price of incentive stock options granted under the 1995 Plan must be equal to at least the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. With respect to any optionee who owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of the Company’s outstanding capital stock, the exercise price of any incentive stock option must be equal to at least 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant, and the term of the option may not exceed five years. The term of all other incentive stock options granted under the 1995 Plan may not exceed ten years. The aggregate fair market value of Common Stock (determined as of the date of the option grant) for
52
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
which an incentive stock option may for the first time become exercisable in any calendar year may not exceed $100. The exercise price for nonqualified stock options is established by the Compensation Committee, and may be more or less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.
Stockholders have previously approved a total of 1,150 shares of common stock for issuance under the 1995 Plan, as amended to date.
In May, 1998, the stockholders of the Company approved the Amended and Restated 1996 Director Option Plan (the “Amended 1996 Plan”). Under the plan, Directors who are not currently employed by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company and have not been so employed within the preceding six months are eligible to receive options from time to time to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock determined by the Board in its discretion; provided, however, that no Director is permitted to receive options to purchase more than 5 shares of Common Stock in any one calendar year. The exercise price for such shares is the fair market value thereof on the date of grant, and the options vest as determined in each case by the Board of Directors. Options granted under the Amended 1996 Plan must be exercised within 10 years from the date of grant. A maximum of 200 shares of Common Stock are subject to issuance under the Amended 1996 Plan, as amended. The plan is administered by the Board of Directors.
In 1996, the Board of Directors granted a non-plan, non-qualified option for 10 shares to an individual, who was not an employee or director of the Company at the time of the grant. The option was originally exercisable at $10.25 per share and expires in 2006. This option was repriced to $6.88 per share on September 17, 1998.
The following tables summarize information about stock options outstanding for each of the three years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004:
1994 Plan (#) | Weighted- Average Exercise Price ($) | 1995 Plan (#) | Weighted-Average Exercise Price ($) | 1996 Plan (#) | Weighted-Average Exercise Price ($) | ||||||||||||||
Shares under option: | |||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding at | |||||||||||||||||||
January 1, 2002 | 87 | 3.42 | 767 | 6.18 | 74 | 5.80 | |||||||||||||
Granted | - | - | 302 | 3.42 | 20 | 3.40 | |||||||||||||
Exercised | (1 | ) | 2.88 | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Forfeited | (6 | ) | 3.16 | (30 | ) | 6.70 | - | - | |||||||||||
Outstanding at | |||||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2002 | 80 | 3.45 | 1,039 | 5.36 | 94 | 5.29 | |||||||||||||
Granted | - | - | - | - | 20 | 2.05 | |||||||||||||
Exercised | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||
Forfeited | - | - | (12 | ) | 4.56 | - | - | ||||||||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2003 | 80 | 3.45 | 1,027 | 5.37 | 114 | 4.70 | |||||||||||||
Granted | - | - | 24 | 3.32 | 20 | 3.10 | |||||||||||||
Exercised | - | - | (20 | ) | 2.88 | - | - | ||||||||||||
Forfeited | (26 | ) | 2.56 | (42 | ) | 5.43 | (6 | ) | 4.63 | ||||||||||
Options outstanding at December 31, 2004 | 54 | 3.85 | 989 | 5.35 | 128 | 4.37 | |||||||||||||
Options exercisable at December 31, 2004 | 54 | 3.85 | 853 | 5.59 | 108 | 4.60 | |||||||||||||
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during: 2002 2003 2004 | - - - | $2.70 - $2.63 | $2.60 $2.05 $2.46 |
53
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
Total options available for grant were 148 and 181 at December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively.
Options Outstanding | Options Exercisable | ||||||||||
Range of Exercise Prices ($) | Number of Options Outstanding at 12/31/04 | Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Life | Weighted-Average Exercise Price ($) | Number Exercisable at 12/31/04 | Weighted-Average Exercise Price ($) | ||||||
1994 Plan: | |||||||||||
2.57 to 2.88 | 23 | 6.1 | 2.88 | 23 | 2.88 | ||||||
4.33 | 28 | .4 | 4.33 | 28 | 4.33 | ||||||
6.88 | 3 | 1.9 | 6.88 | 3 | 6.88 | ||||||
54 | 2.9 | 3.85 | 54 | 3.85 | |||||||
1995 Plan: | |||||||||||
2.79 to 3.38 | 123 | 6.4 | 2.98 | 97 | 2.89 | ||||||
3.43 to 3.64 | 294 | 7.2 | 3.44 | 200 | 3.44 | ||||||
5.88 to 6.75 | 154 | 5.4 | 6.64 | 154 | 6.64 | ||||||
6.88 to 7.38 | 413 | 2.4 | 6.89 | 397 | 6.89 | ||||||
8.63 | 5 | 4.7 | 8.63 | 5 | 8.63 | ||||||
989 | 4.8 | 5.35 | 853 | 5.59 | |||||||
1996 Plan: | |||||||||||
2.05 to 3.10 | 60 | 8.1 | 2.68 | 40 | 2.46 | ||||||
3.40 | 20 | 7.1 | 3.40 | 20 | 3.40 | ||||||
6.53 | 8 | 4.5 | 6.53 | 8 | 6.53 | ||||||
6.88 to 7.03 | 40 | 4.5 | 6.96 | 40 | 6.96 | ||||||
128 | 6.6 | 4.37 | 108 | 4.60 |
Note 12 - Income Taxes
The following summarizes the provision (benefit) for income taxes:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||
Current: Federal | -- | $ | (691 | ) | $ | (56 | ) | |||
State and local | -- | -- | (31 | ) | ||||||
-- | (691 | ) | (87 | ) | ||||||
Deferred: | ||||||||||
Federal | 19 | (655 | ) | 116 | ||||||
State and local | 4 | -- | 14 | |||||||
23 | (655 | ) | 130 | |||||||
Valuation allowance | 2,849 | 1,028 | -- | |||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes | $ | 2,826 | $ | (318 | ) | $ | 43 |
54
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
The provision (benefit) for income taxes differs from the amounts computed by applying the applicable Federal statutory rates due to the following:
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||
Provision (benefit) for Federal income taxes at the statutory rate | (101 | ) | $ | (1,170 | ) | $ | 43 | |||
State and local income taxes, net of Federal benefit | (14 | ) | (159 | ) | 9 | |||||
Adjustment of prior year’s accruals | -- | -- | (55 | ) | ||||||
Other, net | 92 | (17 | ) | 46 | ||||||
Change in valuation allowance | 2,849 | 1,028 | -- | |||||||
Provision (benefit) for income taxes | $ | 2,826 | $ | (318 | ) | $ | 43 |
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
Deferred tax assets: Allowance for doubtful accounts | $ | 231 | $ | 453 | |||
Inventories | 1,974 | 1,642 | |||||
Other | 112 | 281 | |||||
Goodwill | 2,990 | 3,357 | |||||
Net operating loss carry forward | 1,043 | 646 | |||||
Total deferred tax assets | 6,350 | 6,379 | |||||
Deferred tax liabilities: | |||||||
Depreciation | (117 | ) | (169 | ) | |||
Total deferred tax liabilities | (117 | ) | (169 | ) | |||
6,233 | 6,210 | ||||||
Valuation allowance | (3,877 | ) | (1,028 | ) | |||
Net | $ | 2,356 | $ | 5,182 |
The Company has recorded $960 and $1,396 of short term and long term deferred tax assets, respectively, since it projects recovering these benefits over the next three to five years. The Company also considered various tax strategies in arriving at the carrying amount of deferred tax assets. A valuation allowance has been recorded against the balance of the long-term deferred tax benefits since management does not believe the realization of these benefits is more likely than not. As of December 31, 2004, the Company had a federal net operating loss carry forward of approximately $2,500,000, which will begin to expire in the year 2023.
Note 13 - Cable Systems and Telephone Products (Subscribers and passings in whole numbers)
During June, 2002, the Company formed a venture with Priority Systems, LLC and Paradigm Capital Investments, LLC for the purpose of acquiring the rights-of-entry for certain multiple dwelling unit cable television systems (the “Systems”) owned by affiliates of Verizon Communications, Inc. The venture entity, BDR Broadband, 90% of the outstanding capital stock of which is owned by the Company, acquired the Systems, which are presently comprised of approximately 2,909 existing MDU cable television subscribers and approximately 6,909 passings. BDR Broadband paid approximately $1,880 for the Systems, subject to adjustment, which constitutes a purchase price of $.575 per subscriber. The final closing date for the transaction was on October 1, 2002. The Systems were cash flow positive beginning in the first year. To date, the Systems have been upgraded with approximately $1,348 of interdiction and other products of the Company and, during 2004, two of the Systems located outside the region where the remaining Systems are located, were sold. It is planned that the Systems will be upgraded with approximately $400 of additional interdiction
55
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
and other products of the Company over the course of operation. During July 2003, the Company purchased the 10% interest in BDR Broadband that had been originally owned by Paradigm Capital Investments, LLC, for an aggregate purchase price of $35, resulting in an increase in the Company’s stake in BDR Broadband from 80% to 90%.
The purchase price was allocated $1,524 to rights-of-entry and $391 to fixed assets. The rights-of-entry are being amortized over a five year period.
In consideration for its majority interest in BDR Broadband, the Company advanced to BDR Broadband $250, which was paid to the sellers as a down payment against the final purchase price for the Systems. The Company also agreed to guaranty payment of the aggregate purchase price for the Systems by BDR Broadband. The approximately $1,630 balance of the purchase price was paid by the Company on behalf of BDR Broadband on November 30, 2002 pursuant to the terms and in satisfaction of certain promissory notes executed by BDR Broadband in favor of the sellers.
The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of BDR Broadband.
In March, 2003, the Company entered into a series of agreements, pursuant to which the Company acquired a 20% minority interest in NetLinc Communications, LLC (“NetLinc”) and a 35% minority interest in Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (“BTT”) (to which the Company has licensed its name). The aggregate purchase price consisted of (i) up to $3,500 payable over a minimum of two years, plus (ii) 500 shares of the Company’s common stock. NetLinc owns patents, proprietary technology and know-how for certain telephony products that allow Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (“CLECs”) to competitively provide voice service to MDUs. Certain distributorship agreements were also concurrently entered into among NetLinc, BTT and the Company pursuant to which the Company ultimately acquired the right to distribute NetLinc's telephony products to private and franchise cable operators as well as to all buyers for use in MDU applications. BTT partners with CLECs to offer primary voice service to MDUs, receiving a portion of the line charges due from the CLECs’ telephone customers, and the Company offers for sale a line of telephony equipment to complement the voice service.
As a result of NetLinc's inability to retain a contract manufacturer to manufacture and supply the products in a timely and consistent manner in accordance with the requisite specifications, in September, 2003 the parties agreed to restructure the terms of their business arrangement entered into in March, 2003. The restructured business arrangement was accomplished by amending certain of the agreements previously entered into and entering into certain new agreements. Some of the principal terms of the restructured arrangement include increasing the Company’s economic ownership in NetLinc from 20% to 50% and in BTT from 35% to 50%, all at no additional cost to the Company. The cash portion of the purchase price in the venture was decreased from $3,500 to $1,167 and the then outstanding balance of $342 was paid in installments of $50 per week until it was paid in full in October, 2003. BTT has an obligation to redeem the $1,167 cash component of the purchase price to the Company via preferential distributions of cash flow under BTT’s limited liability company operating agreement. In addition, of the 500 shares of common stock issued to BTT as the non-cash component of the purchase price (fair valued at $1,030), one-half (250 shares) have been pledged to the Company as collateral. Under the restructured arrangement, the Company can purchase similar telephony products directly from third party suppliers other than NetLinc and, in connection therewith, the Company would pay certain future royalties to NetLinc and BTT from the sale of these products by the Company. While the distributorship agreements among NetLinc, BTT and the Company have not been terminated, the Company does not anticipate purchasing products from NetLinc in the near term. NetLinc, however, continues to own intellectual property, which may be further developed and used in the future to manufacture and sell telephony products under the distributorship agreements.
The audited financial statements of Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC are included as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form 10-K/A.
56
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
The following is a summary of the condensed financial statements of BTT:
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
Balance Sheet Current assets | $ | 86 | $ | 17 | |||
Non-current assets | - | 163 | |||||
Investment in Blonder Tongue Common Stock | 2,155 | 1,605 | |||||
Receivable from affiliates | 439 | 737 | |||||
Total | 2,680 | 2,522 | |||||
Current liabilities | 35 | 29 | |||||
Payable to affiliates | 60 | - | |||||
Total liabilities | 95 | 29 | |||||
Net worth | 2,585 | 2,493 | |||||
Total liabilities and net worth | $ | 2,680 | $ | 2,522 |
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
Statement of Operations Revenue | $ | 117 | $ | 41 | |||
Expenses | 576 | 349 | |||||
Net loss | $ | (459 | ) | $ | (308 | ) |
December 31, | |||||||
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
Cash Flows Net cash used in operating activities | $ | (233 | ) | $ | (288 | ) | |
Net cash used in investing activities | (57 | ) | (180 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 284 | 473 | |||||
Net decrease/increase in cash | $ | (6 | ) | $ | 5 |
Note 14 - Notes Receivable
During September 2002, the Company sold inventory at a cost of approximately $1,447 to a private cable operator for approximately $1,929 in exchange for which the Company received notes receivable in the principal amount of approximately $1,929. The notes were payable by the customer in 48 monthly principal and interest (at 11.5%) installments of approximately $51 commencing January 1, 2003. The customer’s payment obligations under the notes were collateralized by purchase money liens on the inventory sold and blanket second liens on all other assets of the customer. The Company has recorded the notes receivable at the inventory cost and did not recognize any revenue or gross profit on the transaction until a substantial amount of the cost had been recovered, and collectibility was assured. The Company collected $612 during 2003 and recorded the receipts as a reduction in the note receivable balance. The balance of the notes was collected during 2004 and approximately $482 of gross margin and $356 of interest income was recognized.
57
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands)
Note 15 - Quarterly Financial Information - Unaudited
2004 Quarters | 2003 Quarters | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
restated(2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
First | Second | Third | Fourth | First | Second | Third | Fourth | ||||||||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 8,529 | $ | 10,917 | $ | 11,215 | $ | 8,572 | $ | 8,602 | $ | 8,534 | $ | 9,195 | $ | 9,106 | |||||||||
Gross profit (1) | 2,941 | 3,080 | 3,580 | 3,001 | 2,159 | 2,675 | 2,965 | 1,690 | |||||||||||||||||
Net earnings (loss) (3)(4) | (397 | ) | 236 | 406 | (3,367 | ) | (758 | ) | (390 | ) | (65 | ) | (1,909 | ) | |||||||||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share | (0.05 | ) | .03 | .05 | (0.42 | ) | (0.10 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.25 | ) | |||||||||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share | (0.05 | ) | .03 | .05 | (0.42 | ) | (0.10 | ) | (0.08 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.25 | ) |
(1) During the fourth quarter management did a thorough review of all of the Company’s inventory categories. As a result, the Company recorded an additional increase for excess inventory of $572 and $1,576 for 2004 and 2003, respectively.
(2)
2003 Quarters | |||||||||||||
First | Second | Third | Fourth | ||||||||||
As originally reported: | |||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 8,602 | $ | 8,534 | $ | 9,195 | $ | 9,106 | |||||
Gross profit | 2,159 | 2,675 | 2,965 | 1,690 | |||||||||
Net earnings (loss) | (758 | ) | (390 | ) | (65 | ) | (1,536 | ) | |||||
Basic earnings (loss) per share | (0.10 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.20 | ) | |||||
Diluted earnings (loss) per share | (0.10 | ) | (0.05 | ) | (0.01 | ) | (0.20 | ) |
(3) During the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company recorded a deferred tax valuation allowance of $2,826.
(4) During the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company recorded its share in the loss of BTT.
58
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.:
The audits referred to in our report dated April 12, 2005, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. and subsidiaries, which is contained in Item 8 of this Form 10-K/A, included the audit of the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement schedule based upon our audits.
In our opinion, such financial statement schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
BDO Seidman, LLP
Woodbridge, New Jersey
April 12, 2005
59
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SCHEDULE II. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(Dollars in thousands)
Column A | Column B | Column C Additions | Column D | Column E | |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts | Balance at Beginning of Year | Charged to Expenses | Charged to Other Accounts | Deductions Write-Offs | Balance at End of Year |
Year ended December 31, 2004: | $1,192 | $107 | -- | (692)(1) | $607 |
Year ended December 31, 2003: | $715 | $360 | $117 | -- | $1,192 |
Year ended December 31, 2002: | $1,833 | $180 | -- | ($1,298)(1) | $715 |
Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowance | |||||
Year ended December 31, 2004: | $1,028 | $2,849 | -- | -- | $3,877 |
Year ended December 31, 2003: | -- | $1,028 | -- | -- | $1,028 |
Year ended December 31, 2002: | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Inventory Reserve | |||||
Year ended December 31, 2004: | $3,472 | $872 | -- | -- | $4,344 |
Year ended December 31, 2003: | $2,443 | $1,576 | -- | ($547)(2) | $3,472 |
Year ended December 31, 2002: | $1,943 | $500 | -- | -- | $2,443 |
(1) Write off of uncollectible accounts.
(2) Disposal of fully reserved inventory.
60
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
BLONDER TONGUE LABORATORIES, INC. | |
Date: ____, 2005 | By: |
James A. Luksch | |
Chief Executive Officer | |
By: | |
Eric Skolnik | |
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name | Title | Date | ||
James A. Luksch | Director and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) | _____, 2005 | ||
Eric Skolnik | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | _____, 2005 | ||
Robert J. Pallé, Jr. | Director, President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary | _____, 2005 | ||
John E. Dwight | Director | _____, 2005 |
James H. Williams | Director | _____, 2005 | ||
James F. Williams | Director | _____, 2005 |
Robert B. Mayer | Director | _____, 2005 | ||
Gary P. Scharmett | Director | _____, 2005 | ||
Robert E. Heaton | Director | _____, 2005 | ||
Stephen K. Necessary | Director | _____, 2005 |
61
Exhibit 99.1
To the Members of
Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC
Williamstown, New Jersey
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC as of December 31, 2004 and the related statements of operations, members' equity and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. The financial statements of Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC as of December 31, 2003 were audited by other auditors, whose report dated February 12, 2004 expressed an unqualified opinion on those statements.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over the financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC as of December 31, 2004 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
1
Our audit was conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The information included in the accompanying schedules is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements. Such information has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
The accompanying financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003 have been restated as discussed in NOTE B.
/s/ Wheeler, Wolfenden & Dwares, P.A.
May 13, 2005
Wilmington, Delaware
2
BLONDER TONGUE TELEPHONE, LLC | |||||||
BALANCE SHEETS | |||||||
December 31, 2004 and 2003 | |||||||
ASSETS | |||||||
2004 | 2003* | ||||||
CURRENT ASSETS | |||||||
Cash | $ | 42 | $ | 5,577 | |||
Customer accounts receivable | 22,513 | - | |||||
Due from member, net | - | 14,041 | |||||
Other assets | 6,459 | 11,596 | |||||
Total current assets | 29,014 | 31,214 | |||||
EQUIPMENT - NET | 2,034 | - | |||||
Due from member, net | 326,887 | 597,404 | |||||
Due from affiliate | 112,564 | 126,033 | |||||
Deferred costs | 54,504 | - | |||||
Intangibles, net | - | 162,857 | |||||
Marketable equity securities | 2,155,000 | 1,605,000 | |||||
2,650,989 | 2,491,294 | ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 2,680,003 | $ | 2,522,508 | |||
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' EQUITY | |||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | 18,228 | $ | 14,418 | |||
Due to member, net | 42,590 | - | |||||
Due to affiliate, net | 18,019 | - | |||||
Refundable deposit | 3,000 | - | |||||
Accrued expenses | 13,690 | 14,611 | |||||
Total current liabilities | 95,527 | 29,029 | |||||
Commitments and contingencies | - | - | |||||
MEMBERS' EQUITY | |||||||
Members' capital | 2,226,667 | 2,226,667 | |||||
Accumulated deficit | (767,191 | ) | (308,188 | ) | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 1,125,000 | 575,000 | |||||
Total members' equity | 2,584,476 | 2,493,479 | |||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' EQUITY | $ | 2,680,003 | $ | 2,522,508 | |||
*Restated | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. |
3
BLONDER TONGUE TELEPHONE, LLC | |||||||
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | |||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 | |||||||
2004 | 2003* | ||||||
Revenue | |||||||
Subscriber | $ | 52,944 | $ | - | |||
Royalties | 35,964 | 21,541 | |||||
Total revenue | 88,908 | 21,541 | |||||
Cost of services | 88,022 | 10,661 | |||||
Gross Profit | 886 | 10,880 | |||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||
Selling and marketing | 1,361 | 10,153 | |||||
General and administrative | 323,949 | 311,232 | |||||
Amortization of intangibles | 19,285 | 17,143 | |||||
Asset impairment | 143,572 | - | |||||
Total operating expenses | 488,167 | 338,528 | |||||
Loss from operations | (487,281 | ) | (327,648 | ) | |||
Interest income | 28,278 | 19,460 | |||||
Net loss | (459,003 | ) | (308,188 | ) | |||
Other comprehensive income | |||||||
Unrealized holding gain | 550,000 | 575,000 | |||||
Comprehensive income | $ | 90,997 | $ | 266,812 | |||
*Restated | |||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. |
4
BLONDER TONGUE TELEPHONE, LLC | |||||||||||||
STATEMENTS OF MEMBERS' EQUITY AND | |||||||||||||
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | |||||||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 | |||||||||||||
Accumulated Other | |||||||||||||
Members' | Accumulated | Comprehensive | |||||||||||
Capital | Deficit | Income | Total | ||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2003 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | $ | - | |||||
Comprehensive income | |||||||||||||
Net loss | - | (308,188 | ) | - | (308,188 | ) | |||||||
Other comprehensive income | - | - | 575,000 | 575,000 | |||||||||
Total comprehensive income | - | (308,188 | ) | 575,000 | 266,812 | ||||||||
Capital contributions | 2,226,667 | - | - | 2,226,667 | |||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2003* | 2,226,667 | (308,188 | ) | 575,000 | 2,493,479 | ||||||||
Comprehensive income | |||||||||||||
Net loss | - | (459,003 | ) | - | (459,003 | ) | |||||||
Other comprehensive income | - | - | 550,000 | 550,000 | |||||||||
Total comprehensive income | - | (459,003 | ) | 550,000 | 90,997 | ||||||||
Capital contributions | - | - | - | - | |||||||||
Balance, December 31, 2004 | $ | 2,226,667 | $ | (767,191 | ) | $ | 1,125,000 | $ | 2,584,476 | ||||
*Restated | |||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. |
5
BLONDER TONGUE TELEPHONE, LLC | ||||||||||
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS | ||||||||||
For the Years Ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 | ||||||||||
2004 | 2003* | |||||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||
Net loss | $ | (459,003 | ) | $ | (308,188 | ) | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash utilized in | ||||||||||
operating activities: | ||||||||||
Amortization | 19,285 | 17,143 | ||||||||
Depreciation | 196 | - | ||||||||
Asset impairment | 143,572 | - | ||||||||
(Increase) decrease in assets | ||||||||||
Customer accounts receivable | (22,513 | ) | - | |||||||
Due from member, net | 56,631 | (14,041 | ) | |||||||
Due to affiliate, net | 18,019 | - | ||||||||
Other assets | 5,137 | (11,596 | ) | |||||||
Increase (decrease) in liabilities | ||||||||||
Accounts payable | 3,810 | 14,418 | ||||||||
Refundable deposit | 3,000 | - | ||||||||
Accrued expenses | (921 | ) | 14,611 | |||||||
Net cash utilized in operating activities | (232,787 | ) | (287,653 | ) | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||
Purchase of intangible assets | - | (180,000 | ) | |||||||
Purchase of equipment | (2,230 | ) | - | |||||||
Deferred costs | (54,504 | ) | - | |||||||
Net cash utilized in investing activities | (56,734 | ) | (180,000 | ) | ||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES | ||||||||||
Due from member | 270,517 | (597,404 | ) | |||||||
Due from affiliate | 13,469 | (126,033 | ) | |||||||
Members' contributions | - | 1,196,667 | ||||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 283,986 | 473,230 | ||||||||
Net (decrease) increase in cash | �� | (5,535 | ) | 5,577 | ||||||
Cash, beginning of year | 5,577 | - | ||||||||
Cash, end of year | $ | 42 | $ | 5,577 | ||||||
Supplemental disclosure | ||||||||||
Noncash investing transaction: | ||||||||||
Contribution of stock | $ | - | $ | 1,030,000 | ||||||
* Restated | ||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. |
6
BLONDER TONGUE TELEPHONE, LLC
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2004 and 2003
NOTE A - NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
1. Nature of Business
Blonder Tongue Telephone, LLC (the "Company") was formed December 26, 2002. The operations of the Company in 2002 were limited to the filing of a certificate of formation. The Company is a provider of primary telephone service for multiple-dwelling-unit communities in the United States. During 2004, the Company began providing service to communities in: Dallas, Texas; Great Mills, Maryland; and Lafayette, Indiana. The Company also sells telephone equipment; provides billing, collection and customer service; and provides training and technical support to complement the telephone service.
The Company operates under the terms of the Amended and Restated Operating Agreement (the "Agreement") dated September 11, 2003. The members of the Company ("Members") are Resource Marketable Equity Securities Group, LLC ("RIG") and Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. ("BT"). RIG and BT contributed cash of $30,000 and $1,166,667, respectively. BT also issued 500,000 shares of its publicly-traded common stock (AMEX:BDR) to the Company. BT will receive preferred distributions of $1,166,667 from the cash flows (as defined in the Agreement) of the Company. RIG and BT have 51 and 49 membership shares, respectively. Each Member has a percentage interest of 50%. Profits and losses (as defined in the Agreement) are allocated based on the percentage interest.
The Agreement provides that the Company will continue in perpetual existence, unless sooner terminated by unanimous written consent of all Members or a Voluntary or Involuntary Withdrawal (as defined in the Agreement.)
2. Revenue Recognition
The Company generally recognizes revenue as services are provided. Local service revenue is billed monthly, in advance, with revenue being recognized when earned.
7
NOTE A - NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
3. Liquidity and Capital Resources
Since inception, the Company has financed its operations through capital contributions from the Members. The Company has incurred substantial net losses and negative cash flow from operations since inception. Expenses are expected to exceed revenues until the Company establishes a sufficient subscriber base. Management expects operating losses to decrease in the future as the Company obtains more subscribers.
4. Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
5. Income Taxes
In conformity with the Internal Revenue Code and applicable state and local tax statutes, taxable income or loss of the Company is required to be reported in the tax returns of the Members in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and, accordingly, no provision has been made in the accompanying financial statements for any federal, state, or local taxes.
6. Intangible Assets
The Company reviews the carrying value of intangibles when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the estimated future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of an asset and its eventual disposition is less than its carrying amount. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the asset's carrying value exceeds its fair value.
7. Statement of Cash Flows
For the purposes of the statement of cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid debt investments with maturities of less then three months to be cash equivalents. The Company did not have any cash equivalents at December 31, 2004 and 2003.
BT contributed 500,000 shares of stock with a value of $1,030,000 as an initial capital contribution in 2003. This transaction is considered a non-cash transaction for purposes of the statement of cash flows.
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NOTE A - NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
8. Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The Company operates in the mid-Atlantic area of the United States, and grants credit to customers, substantially all of whom are within the local sector. Management believes that its contract acceptance, billings, and collection policies are adequate to minimize potential credit risk.
Trade accounts receivable are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms requiring payment due 5 days from receipt of the invoice, unless specified otherwise in a signed contract relating to a specific job. The Company does not charge interest or delinquency fees for receivables not paid on a timely basis.
Accounts receivable are stated at the amount billed to the customer. Customer account balances with invoices dated over 30 days old are considered delinquent and services cease until payment is made.
Payments of accounts receivable are allocated to the specific invoices identified on the customer's remittance advice or, if unspecified, are applied to the earliest unpaid invoices.
Trade accounts receivable are stated at their estimated realizable amounts. Bad debts are charged to expense when determined to be uncollectible by management. It is the belief of management that all amounts due at December 31, 2004 are collectible.
It is the opinion of management that the bad debt expense computed under this method is not materially different than what it would have been if the allowance method was used. Bad debt expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 amounted to $0.
9. Equipment
Equipment is carried at cost. Depreciation is computed by use of straight-line methods over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Estimated useful lives are 3 years for computer equipment. Equipment consisted of the following as of December 31:
2004 | 2003 | ||||||
Equipment | $ | 2,230 | $ | - | |||
Less: accumulated depreciation | (196 | ) | - | ||||
Equipment - net | $ | 2,034 | $ | - | |||
Depreciation expense was $196 at December 31, 2004.
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10. Advertising
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense was $1,360 and $10,153 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
11. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company's financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and trade payables. The carrying value of these financial instruments approximates their respective fair values.
12. Deferred Costs
Deferred costs consist of customer acquisition costs. These costs were incurred with the connection and activation of customers.
NOTE B - RESTATEMENT
Subsequent to the Company's issuance of its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company determined that the marketable equity securities balance was incorrectly recorded at 2003. The Company restated its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2003 to reflect the correction of the marketable equity securities account and the related impact on comprehensive income and other portions of the financial statements. This correction had no impact on net loss. The total value of the restatement was $575,000.
NOTE C - INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets consist of acquired intellectual property. These intangible assets were amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives of 7 years. Accumulative amortization was $19,285 through the fourth quarter of 2004 and $17,143 at December 31, 2003.
The Company follows Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets" (FAS 144). FAS 144 standardized the accounting practices for the recognition and measurement of impairment losses on certain long-lived assets based on non-discounted cash flows. During the fourth quarter of 2004, the Company performed an impairment assessment of its intellectual property as a result of the strategic alternatives being explored. Based on this assessment, it was determined that the intellectual property assets were impaired and the Company recorded a $143,572 non-cash impairment charge to reduce the carrying value of these assets to zero.
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NOTE D - MARKETABLE EQUITY SECURITIES
On September 16, 2003, 500,000 shares of common stock of BT valued at $1,030,000 were registered in the Company's name as part of BT's initial capital contribution. The market value as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 was $2,155,000 and $1,605,000, respectively. The Company requested the stock certificates; however, as of December 31, 2004 they were still held by BT. In accordance with the Stock Pledge Agreement dated September 11, 2003, 250,000 shares were pledged as security for the payment of BT's cash priority return in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement and all of the Company's obligations under the Stock Pledge Agreement.
This investment represents 80% and 64% of total assets and 83% and 64% of members' equity as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Any significant decline in the market price of this stock could have a significant impact on financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows.
NOTE E - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company had numerous transactions with related parties. As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, Resource Investment Group, LLC, a related party, is indebted to the Company in the amount of $326,887 and $597,404, respectively. This indebtedness arose from a series of member cash advances and repayments. As of December 31, 2004 and 2003, NetLinc Communications, LLC, a related party, was indebted to the Company in the amount of $112,564 and $126,033, respectively. These transactions result from the use of a centralized disbursement system for certain transactions. These amounts are within parameters as agreed upon in the Agreement.
Interest is accrued monthly at the Applicable Federal Rate. Amounts due become payable on demand after ten years. The interest rate, adjusted monthly, was 4.56% to 5.21% in 2004 and 4.09% to 5.11% in 2003, respectively. Interest earned on such loans amounted to $28,278 and $19,460 in 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Included in general and administrative expenses are $107,200 and $64,100 of salaries paid to affiliates in 2004 and 2003, respectively. These amounts are within parameters as agreed upon in the Agreement.
On September 11, 2003, the Company entered into a Royalty Agreement with a Member. In consideration of the Company facilitating a member's sales of certain telephone products (as defined in the royalty agreement), the Company earned royalties of $35,964 and $21,541 for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. At December 31, 2003, $14,041 of these royalties was due from the Member.
As of December 31, 2004, payables were due to a member in the amount of $42,590 for equipment purchased by the Company. Also, as of December 31, 2004, the Company was indebted to an affiliate in the amount of $18,019 as a result from the use of a centralized disbursement system for certain transactions.
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NOTE F - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
In the normal course of business, there are various commitments and contingencies outstanding which are not reflected in these financial statements. In the opinion of management, the outcome of such events, if any, will not have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
NOTE G - CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
The Company maintains operating cash balances in financial institutions located in Williamstown, New Jersey. These balances are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to $100,000. The uninsured amounts at December 31, 2004 and 2003 were $0 for both years.
NOTE H - VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation (FIN) No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" and in December 2003, a revised interpretation was issued (FIN No. 46, as revised). In general, a variable interest entity (VIE) is a corporation, partnership, trust or any other legal structure used for the business purposes that either does not have equity investors with the voting rights or has equity investors that do not provide sufficient financial resources for the entity to support its activities. FIN No. 46, as revised, requires a VIE to be consolidated by a company if that company is designated as the primary beneficiary. The interpretation applies to VIEs created after January 31, 2003, and for all financial statements issued after December 15, 2003 for VIEs in which an enterprise held a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003. The adoption of FIN No. 46, as revised, did not have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
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