transferable and are subject to forfeiture.
The Board may terminate the Plan without shareholder approval or ratification at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan will terminate in December 2016. The Board may also amend the Plan, provided that no amendment will be effective without approval of the Company’s shareholders if shareholder approval is required to satisfy any applicable statutory or regulatory requirements.
A total of 1,980,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, representing 39.4% of the total number of shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2011, are reserved for issuance under the Plan. If an award expires or terminates unexercised or is forfeited to the Company, or shares covered by an award are used to fully or partially pay the exercise price of an option granted under the Plan or shares are retained by the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with an option exercise or the vesting of another award, those shares will become available for further awards under the Plan.
At December 31, 2011, common shares reserved for future issuance include 1,980,000 shares issuable under the Plan, as well as 20,000 shares issuable outside the Plan. At December 31, 2011, there are 1,403,842 options outstanding under the Plan and 576,158 options are available for future grants.
The fair values of new option awards granted under the Plan were estimated at the grant date or modification date using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:
Volatility for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 is computed using the volatility of the Company’s common stock since its IPO transaction in late 2006. The risk-free interest rate is based on the rates in effect on the grant date for U.S. Treasury instruments with maturities matching the relevant expected term of the award. Due to the limited period of time its equity shares have been publicly traded, and the lack of sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term, the expected term is calculated using the simplified method for all options granted on each grant date.
Stock option activity under the Plan for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, was as follows:
On December 22, 2011, the Company modified the exercise price and exercisability dates for 822,592 stock options awarded to four board members, one executive officer and fifteen employees. Effective December 22, 2011, the exercise price for those option holders was reduced to $1.54 per share. Original exercise amounts ranged from $3.47 per share to $7.00 per share.
Prior to the modification, the 822,592 option awards were fully vested and immediately exercisable. Effective December 22, 2011, 50% of the awards are immediately exercisable and 50% of the awards are exercisable on or after December 22, 2012.
In accordance with ASC 718, modifications to the terms of an equity award are treated as an exchange of the original award for a new award. Incremental compensation cost is measured as the excess, if any, of the fair value of the original award immediately before its terms are modified, measured based on the share price and other pertinent factors at that date. For these modified awards, the Company recognized incremental compensation cost of approximately $208,000 during the year ended December 31, 2011.
Stock Options Outstanding and Exercisable
The following summarizes stock options outstanding under our 2006 Stock Option Plan at December 31, 2011, as modified by the provisions of the stock option modification agreement effective December 22, 2011:
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Options Outstanding and Exercisable | |
|
| |
| Exercise Prices | | Number of Options Outstanding | | Number of Options Exercisable | | Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years) | |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| $ | 1.54 | | | 822,592 | | | 411,296 | | | 5.15 | |
| | 1.64 | | | 30,000 | | | 30,000 | | | 9.88 | |
| | 1.97 | | | 20,000 | | | 20,000 | | | 7.55 | |
| | 3.81 | | | 36,250 | | | 36,250 | | | 6.62 | |
| | 4.48 | | | 20,000 | | | 20,000 | | | 4.97 | |
| | 7.00 | | | 475,000 | | | 475,000 | | | 4.97 | |
| | | |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
| $ | 1.54 - $7.00 | | | 1,403,843 | | | 992,546 | | | 5.26 | |
At December 31, 2011, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable was $164,692. At December 31, 2010, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and exercisable was $41,000.
At December 31, 2011, all outstanding options under the Plan were fully vested with no remaining unrecognized compensation expense. Of these, 992,546 shares are immediately exercisable as of December 31, 2011, and the remaining 411,296 become first exercisable on December 22, 2012.
Non-Employee Stock Options
On March 21, 2007, the Company issued stock options to non-employees to purchase 20,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $7.00 per share vesting over the next three years and expiring December 19, 2016. These stock options remain outstanding as of December 31, 2011.
Warrants
In connection with the IPO, the Company issued warrants to the underwriters to purchase 300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $ 8.40 per share. These warrants were exercisable at any time on or before December 19, 2011. None of these warrants remain outstanding as of December 31, 2011.
Restricted Stock
On June 25, 2007, Zunicom issued an aggregate of 645,133 shares of restricted stock to certain employees of UPG for past and future services. Under the terms of the grant, these shares could not be sold, conveyed, transferred, pledged, encumbered or otherwise disposed of prior to the earlier of June 25, 2011 or the date on which the employee’s employment is terminated by UPG, whichever occurred first. In January 2009, 227,229 of these shares were forfeited when the Company’s then chief executive officer resigned. In May 2011, another 19,760 shares were forfeited by employees who voluntarily terminated their employment with the Company. The Company amortized the fair value of these shares as compensation expense over the 48 month vesting period. Approximately $14,000 and $61,000 of compensation expense related to these shares was recorded during 2011 and 2010 respectively. As of December 31, 2011, the compensation expense for this group has been fully recognized.
On June 24, 2011, Zunicom issued an additional 99,538 restricted shares of its common stock to the same Company employees who received the grant in June 2007 and who were still employed by the Company. As a condition to this grant, the grantees agreed to extend the restricted period on the shares issued in June 2007 for an additional three years. As a result, all 497,683 shares will vest on June 24, 2014. The fair value of the shares issued on June 24, 2011 at the issue date was approximately $34,000. The Company is amortizing the fair value as compensation expense over the 36-month vesting period in accordance with ASC Topic 718,Compensation – Stock Compensation. Approximately $5,700 compensation expense related to these shares was recorded during 2011. At December 31, 2011, there is approximately $28,000 of remaining unrecognized compensation expense associated with this grant.
NOTE I. CREDIT CONCENTRATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable.
Effective July 1, 2010, the FDIC’s insurance limits were permanently increased to $250,000. Pursuant to legislation evocated in 2010, the FDIC will fully insure all non-interest bearing accounts beginning December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2012, at all FDIC insured institutions.
In the normal course of business, the Company extends unsecured credit to virtually all of its customers. Because of the credit risk involved, management has provided an allowance for doubtful accounts that reflects its estimate of amounts which may become uncollectible. In the event of complete non-performance by the Company’s customers, the maximum exposure to the Company is the outstanding accounts receivable balance at the date of non-performance.
At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Company had receivables due from ADT Security Services that comprised approximately 23% and 13%, respectively of total trade receivables. During the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, ADT Security Services accounted for 14% and 28%, respectively, of net sales. The loss of ADT Security Services would materially decrease the Company’s net sales.
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A significant portion of the Company’s inventory purchases are from two suppliers, representing 48% and 7% for the year ended December 31, 2011, and 45% and 25% for the year ended December 31, 2010, respectively. The Company purchased approximately 29% and 35%, of its inventory from domestic sources with the remainder purchased from international sources, predominantly China, for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Historically, the Company has had significant long-term relationships with manufacturers located principally in China, specifically one key supplier. The Company has since expanded its supplier relationships throughout the Pacific Rim including Taiwan, Malaysia and Vietnam, in an effort to reduce supplier concentration and better supplement the Company’s supply base.
NOTE J. SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
In March 2009, in an effort to improve efficiencies within its sourcing channels, the Company entered into an agreement with its primary independent sourcing agent canceling its relationship with that agent. Under the agreement, the Company agreed to pay its former sourcing agent a total of $2.565 million, including amounts owed with respect to purchases prior to the cancellation of the relationship, over a three-year period. The sourcing agent assigned to the Company all of the North American distribution rights on products manufactured by certain factories, including the Company’s primary battery supplier, and agreed to a three-year non-compete covenant. At December 31, 2011 and 2010, there was approximately $241,000 and $975,000, respectively, recorded as settlement accrual in the accompanying balance sheet that are due and payable to the agent pursuant to this agreement. The Company recorded the entire settlement amount as settlement expense during 2009 and an aggregate of $89,000 will be expensed as interest over the term of the agreement.
NOTE K. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Licensing Agreement
During 2009, the Company entered into a licensing agreement for the development and sale of automotive battery chargers and maintainers, automotive jump-starters and power inverters. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will pay a royalty of a defined percentage on net sales of licensed products as defined in the agreement. This agreement was subsequently amended to terminate at the end of 2012 and the related minimum annual royalty guarantee requirements waived.
Litigation
Universal Power Group, Inc., (Plaintiff and Counterdefendant) v. Randy T. Hardin, Steven W. Crow and Bright Way Group, LLC (Defendants, Counter Plaintiffs and Third-Party Plaintiffs) v. William Tan, Ian Edmonds and Mimi Tan Edmonds (Third-Party Defendants),Cause No. 11-09787-E (In the District Court of Dallas County, Texas, 101st Judicial District).
The Company initiated the above referenced case on August 8, 2011 by filing its Original Petition and Application for Temporary Injunction and for Permanent Injunctive Relief against Randy Hardin, a former President of the Company, Bright Way Group, Hardin’s new business venture, and Steven Crow, the Company’s former Vice President of Product Development and Retail Chain Sales. On March 19, 2012, the parties entered into a settlement agreement whereby Defendants agreed to pay the Company a sum of money and agreed to the entry of a temporary injunction restricting Defendants from contacting certain of the Company’s customers and suppliers until January 1, 2013. The parties have agreed to dismiss all claims and counterclaims in the lawsuit.
The Company is subject to legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe that the outcome of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, operating results, or cash flows. However, there can be no assurance that such legal proceedings will not have a material impact.
Operating Leases
The Company leases certain office and warehouse facilities and various vehicles and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases, some with escalating payment and free rent clauses with various maturity dates through 2018. Minimum future payments on these leases as of December 31, 2011 are as follows:
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Years Ending December 31, | | (dollars in thousands) | |
| | | |
2012 | | $ | 1,095 | |
2013 | | | 475 | |
2014 | | | 375 | |
2015 | | | 324 | |
2016 | | | 193 | |
Thereafter | | | 189 | |
| |
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| |
| | $ | 2,651 | |
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|
| |
Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 totaled approximately $1.428 million and $1.063 million, respectively.
Employment Agreements and Arrangements
The Company has an employment agreement (the “Agreement”) effective as of June 1, 2009 (the ‘Effective Date”), with Ian Edmonds, its President and Chief Executive Officer. The current employment term ends on May 31, 2015. However, beginning on June 1, of each year the term is automatically extended by an additional year unless either party provides at least 180 days prior written notice to the other of its election not to extend the term by another year. Under the Agreement, Mr. Edmonds earns a base salary of $250,000 per annum plus an annual cash bonus equal in amount to seven and one-half percent (7 1/2%) of the Company’s net income before provision for income taxes, as adjusted, provided it
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meets or exceed the annual targeted performance levels established by the Compensation Committee for each year. Mr. Edmonds is entitled to participate on the same basis as other senior executives in any of our benefit plans or programs available to them. In addition, the Agreement also provides, generally, that during the employment term and for the two-year period immediately following the end of such term, Mr. Edmonds shall not compete with us, solicit any of our employees for hire by an unaffiliated entity or knowingly release any of our confidential information, without the prior approval of our Board.
On January 21, 2009, the Company entered into a Separation Agreement with Randy Hardin (“Hardin”), its former chief executive officer, terminating his employment agreement. Under the Separation Agreement, the Company agreed to continue to pay Hardin his annual base salary and to reimburse him for the costs of his healthcare insurance coverage through January 21, 2011 (the “Restricted Period”) to the same extent it paid for such insurance immediately prior to the termination of his employment agreement. In consideration therefore, Hardin agreed that he would not during the Restricted Period (i) compete with the Company in any of its lines of business including the battery and related power accessory supply and distribution business and its third-party logistics services business; (ii) solicit or hire any of its employees; or (iii) encourage any person or entity that has an existing business relationship with the Company to curtail or cancel its relationship with the Company. In addition, Hardin agreed not to disclose any of its confidential or proprietary information. (See Note K.)
NOTE L. BUSINESS COMBINATION
In April 2011, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the business assets of PTI for approximately $3.3 million, including $2.3 million in cash and $1.0 million in notes payable to third parties. PTI, which is based in Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, is an assembler and distributor of battery packs. As a result of the acquisition, the Company will have an opportunity to increase its battery pack sales. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Company incurred approximately $0.2 million of third-party acquisition-related costs, which are included in operating expenses in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations. The acquisition was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, under which the aggregate purchase price (including liabilities assumed of $0.3 million) is allocated to tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired based on their fair values. The excess of the purchase price over those fair values has been recorded as goodwill. The fair values of assets acquired are as follows: receivables of $0.6 million, inventory of $0.6 million, prepaid expenses and other assets of $0.1 million, property and equipment of $0.1 million, intangible assets of $0.7 million. The excess of the purchase consideration over the net fair value of assets acquired resulted in goodwill of $1.4 million. The goodwill of $1.4 million arising from the acquisition consists largely of the economies of scale expected from combining the operations of the Company and PTI. All of the goodwill was assigned to this reporting unit of the Company. The goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. Goodwill will not be amortized but rather be tested annually for impairment or on more frequently if impairment indicators arise.
Accumulated amortization associated with the intangibles acquired was $219,834 at December 31, 2011. The weighted average remaining useful life of the intangibles at December 31, 2011 is 3.58 years. Amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2011 was $219,834. Estimated amortization at December 31, 2011 for each of the following five years is:
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Years Ending December 31, | | | | |
| | | | |
2012 | | $ | 186,100 | |
2013 | | | 152,100 | |
2014 | | | 76,600 | |
2015 | | | 51,433 | |
2016 | | | 51,433 | |
Thereafter | | | 9,334 | |
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| |
| | $ | 527,000 | |
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| |
NOTE M. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
The Company established and continues to maintain a 401(k) plan intended to qualify under sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. All employees who are at least 18 years of age are eligible to participate in the plan. There is no minimum service requirement to participate in the plan. Under the plan, an eligible employee can elect to defer from 1% to 85% of his salary subject to Internal Revenue Code limitations. The Company may, at its sole discretion, contribute and allocate to plan participant’s account a percentage of the plan participant’s contribution. PTI has a 401(k) plan which the employer contributes 3% under the safe harbor contribution. Total Company contributions to the 401(k) plans were $20,000 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
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