Transition Networks sales decreased 22% to $12,938,000 in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $16,556,000 in 2011.
The following table summarizes Transition Networks’ 2012 and 2011 first quarter sales by its major product groups:
Sales in North America decreased 29% or $3,891,000 related to the Federal Government due to the slow down in government purchases, which has resulted in project delays. This also caused the decrease in revenue from sales of media converters and Ethernet adapters. International sales increased $273,000, or 8%, due to increased project activity in the rest of world.
Gross margin on first quarter Transition Networks’ sales decreased 24% to $6,809,000 in 2012 from $8,977,000 in 2011. Gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased to 53% in 2012 as compared to 54% in 2011 due to larger contribution from project based sales, which have lower margins. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 5% to $5,622,000 in 2011 compared to $5,332,000 in 2011 due to additional administrative costs within the United Kingdom facility, as this business was acquired during the second half of 2011. Operating income decreased to $1,187,000 in 2012 compared to $3,644,000 in 2011.
JDL Technologies, Inc. sales decreased 81% to $728,000 in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $3,780,000 in 2011.
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JDL’s revenues by customer group were as follows:
| | | | | | | |
| | JDL Revenue by Customer Group | |
| | 2012 | | 2011 | |
Broward County FL schools | | $ | 481,000 | | $ | 3,737,000 | |
All other | | | 247,000 | | | 43,000 | |
| | $ | 728,000 | | $ | 3,780,000 | |
Revenues earned in Broward County, Florida decreased $3,256,000 or 87% in the first quarter 2012. In the first quarter of 2010, the Company received significant funding for federal government contract work. This contract work was of a long-term nature, and the Company completed these contracts during the quarter ended September 30, 2011. All other revenues increased $204,000 due to JDL’s concentrated effort to expand its market focus.
JDL gross margin decreased 85% to $238,000 in the first quarter of 2012 compared to $1,627,000 in the same period in 2011. Gross margin as a percentage of sales decreased to 33% in 2012 from 43% in 2011 due to purchasing discounts and rebates the Company was able to take advantage of during the prior year quarter. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased in 2012 to $585,000 compared to $513,000 in 2011 due to increased marketing expenses as JDL has expanded its market focus. JDL reported an operating loss of $347,000 in the first quarter of 2012 compared to operating income of $1,115,000 in the same period of 2011.
Other
The Company’s income before income taxes decreased to $94,000 in 2012 compared to $4,160,000 in 2011. The Company’s effective income tax rate was 41% in 2012 and 39% in 2011. This effective rate was higher than the standard rate of 35% due to state income taxes, foreign losses not deductible for U.S. income tax purposes, provisions for interest charges and settlement of uncertain income tax positions.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2012, the Company had approximately $40,655,000 in cash, cash equivalents and investments. Of this amount, $2,817,000 was invested in short-term money market funds that are not considered to be bank deposits and are not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or other government agency. These money market funds seek to preserve the value of the investment at $1.00 per share; however, it is possible to lose money investing in these funds. The remainder in cash and cash equivalents is operating cash and certificates of deposit, which are fully insured through the FDIC. The Company has not experienced any losses on its deposits of cash and cash equivalents. The Company also had $21,180,000 in investments consisting of certificates of deposit that are traded on the open market and are classified as available-for-sale at March 31, 2012.
The Company had current assets of approximately $87,509,000 and current liabilities of $11,600,000 at March 31, 2012 compared to current assets of $89,946,000 and current liabilities of $15,388,000 at December 31, 2011.
Cash flow used in operating activities was approximately $3,414,000 in 2012 compared to $359,000 provided by operations in 2011. Significant working capital changes from December 31, 2011 to March 31, 2012 included a decrease in accrued compensation and benefits of $3,136,000 related to the payment of the Company’s annual and long term compensation during the quarter.
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Investing activities provided $1,701,000 of cash in 2012 compared to cash used of $219,000 in 2011. This increase in cash provided in investing activities is due to sales of investments in excess of purchases during the quarter.
Net cash used by financing activities was $1,319,000 in 2012 compared to $1,308,000 in 2011. Cash dividends paid on common stock increased to $1,270,000 in 2012 ($0.16 per common share) from $1,263,000 in 2011 ($0.15 per common share). Proceeds from common stock issuances, principally shares sold to the Company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan and under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan, totaled approximately $54,000 in 2012 and $46,000 in 2011. The Company purchased and retired no shares in 2012 and 2011. At March 31, 2012, Board of Director authority to purchase approximately 481,938 additional shares remained in effect.
The Company has a $10,000,000 line of credit from Wells Fargo Bank. Interest on borrowings on the credit line is at the LIBOR plus 1.1% (1.6% at March 31, 2012). There were no borrowings on the line of credit during the first three months of 2012 or 2011. The credit agreement expires October 31, 2013 and is secured by assets of the Company.
As part of the acquisition of the new Minnetonka headquarters building in July 2007, the Company assumed an outstanding mortgage of $4,380,000. The mortgage is payable in monthly installments and carries an interest rate of 6.83%. The mortgage matures on March 1, 2016. Mortgage payments on principal totaled $104,000 during 2012. The outstanding balance on the mortgage was $1,898,000 at March 31, 2012.
In the opinion of management, based on the Company’s current financial and operating position and projected future expenditures, sufficient funds are available to meet the Company’s anticipated operating and capital expenditure needs.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our critical accounting policies, including the assumptions and judgments underlying them, are discussed in our 2011 Form 10-K in Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in our Consolidated Financial Statements. There were no significant changes to our critical accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2012.
The Company’s accounting policies have been consistently applied in all material respects and disclose such matters as allowance for doubtful accounts, sales returns, inventory valuation, warranty expense, income taxes, revenue recognition, asset and goodwill impairment recognition and foreign currency translation. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the result of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Results may differ from these estimates due to actual outcomes being different from those on which we based our assumptions. Management reviews these estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
We do not believe there are any recently issued accounting standards that have not yet been adopted that would have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
The Company has no freestanding or embedded derivatives. The Company’s policy is to not use freestanding derivatives and to not enter into contracts with terms that cannot be designated as normal purchases or sales.
The vast majority of our transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars; as such, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates have historically not been material to the Company. At March 31, 2012 our bank line of credit carried a variable interest rate based on the LIBOR plus 1.1%. The Company’s investments are either money market type of investments that earn interest at prevailing market rates or certificates of deposits insured through the FDIC and as such do not have material risk exposure.
Based on the Company’s operations, in the opinion of management, no material future losses or exposure exist relative to market risk.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
There was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
|
Item 1. Legal Proceedings |
Not Applicable. |
|
Item 1A. Risk Factors |
Not Applicable. |
|
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
Not applicable. |
|
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
Not Applicable. |
|
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures |
Not Applicable. |
|
Item 5. Other Information |
Not Applicable. |
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Item 6. Exhibits.
| | |
| The following exhibits are included herein: |
| |
| 31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 of the Exchange Act). |
| 31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 of the Exchange Act). |
| 32. | Certifications pursuant Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. §1350). |
| 99.1 | Press Release dated May 9, 2012 announcing 2012 First Quarter Results. |
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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereto duly authorized.
| | | | |
| | | Communications Systems, Inc. |
| | | |
| | By | /s/ William G. Schultz | |
| | | William G. Schultz |
Date: | May 10, 2012 | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | | |
| | | /s/ David T. McGraw | |
| | | David T. McGraw |
Date: | May 10, 2012 | | Chief Financial Officer |
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