APPENDIX B
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2021
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: 001-00106
The LGL Group, Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 38-1799862 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
2525 Shader Road, Orlando, Florida | 32804 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (407) 298-2000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
| Trading Symbol(s) |
| Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value |
| LGL |
| NYSE American |
Warrants to Purchase Common Stock, $0.01 par value |
| LGL WS |
| NYSE American |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
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 ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.:
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the registrant's voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the $10.41 per share closing price of the registrant's common stock on June 30, 2021, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was $31,326,646. Solely for the purpose of this calculation, shares held by directors and executive officers of the registrant have been excluded. Such exclusion should not be deemed a determination or an admission by the registrant that such individuals are, in fact, affiliates of the registrant.
The number of outstanding shares of the registrant's common stock was 5,365,256 as of March 10, 2022.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None.
THE LGL GROUP, INC.
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| Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. |
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| Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure. |
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| Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. |
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| Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence. |
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Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This annual report on Form 10-K (this "Report") and the Company's (as defined below) other communications and statements may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements about the Company's beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, estimates, projections and intentions. These statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. The words "may," "could," "should," "would," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "target," "goal," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual future results may differ materially from those set forth in the Company's forward-looking statements. For information concerning these factors and related matters, see "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A in this Report, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 in this Report. However, other factors besides those referenced could adversely affect the Company's results, and you should not consider any such list of factors to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties. Any forward-looking statements made by the Company herein speak as of the date of this Report. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. As a result, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
General
The LGL Group, Inc. (the "Company," "LGL," "we," "us," or "our") is engaged in investment and manufacturing business activities. The Company, through its manufacturing business subsidiaries, is a globally-positioned producer of industrial and commercial products and services. We operate in two identified segments. Our electronic components segment is currently focused on the design and manufacture of highly-engineered, high reliability frequency and spectrum control products. These electronic components and modules ensure reliability and security in both commercial and military aerospace and defense communications, low noise and base accuracy for laboratory instruments, and synchronous data transfers throughout the wireless and Internet infrastructure. Our electronic instruments segment is focused on the design and manufacture of high-performance Frequency and Time reference standards that form the basis for timing and synchronization in various applications including satellite communication, time transfer systems, network synchronization, electricity distribution and metrology.
The Company was incorporated in 1928 under the laws of the State of Indiana, and in 2007, the Company was reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware as The LGL Group, Inc. We maintain our executive offices at 2525 Shader Road, Orlando, Florida 32804. Our telephone number is (407) 298-2000. Our Internet address is www.lglgroup.com. Our common stock and warrants are traded on the NYSE American (“NYSE”) under the symbols "LGL" and “LGL WS”, respectively.
Manufacturing Businesses and Potential Spin-Off
We operate our manufacturing businesses through our two principal subsidiaries, M-tron Industries, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, "MtronPTI"), which has design and manufacturing facilities in Orlando, Florida; Yankton, South Dakota; and Noida, India, and Precise Time and Frequency, LLC ("PTF"), which has a design and manufacturing facility in Wakefield, Massachusetts. We also have local sales and customer support offices in Hong Kong and Austin, Texas.
In late 2021, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) approved progressing with the Spin-Off (as defined below) of MtronPTI. Completion of the Spin-Off is subject to a number of conditions, including stockholder approval of the transaction. If approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Spin-Off will separate the business activities and investments of the Company and create two separate, publicly-traded companies: (1) the Company, which will continue to own and operate PTF and hold substantially all the Company’s cash and marketable securities, and (2) MtronPTI, which includes the operations of Piezo Technology, Inc. and M-tron Asia, LLC (the “Spin-Off”).
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The Spin-Off, if approved by the Company’s stockholders, is expected to be effected through a pro rata issuance of shares of MtronPTI’s common stock to the Company’s stockholders structured as a tax-free distribution. Stockholders of the Company will receive one share of MtronPTI’s common stock for each share of the Company’s common stock held of record as of the close of business on the record date for the distribution. As a result, the Company’s stockholders as of the record date for the Spin-Off will also become the stockholders of MtronPTI after the Spin-Off. The Company will cease to have any ownership interest in MtronPTI following the Spin-Off, but the Company’s stockholders will, unless they sell their shares, be the stockholders of both the Company and MtronPTI.
Management believes that, if completed, the Spin-Off would enable shareholders to more clearly evaluate the performance and future potential of each entity on a standalone basis, while allowing each entity to pursue its own distinct business strategy and capital allocation policy. There can be no assurance that the Spin-Off will be completed.
Investment in Sponsor of a SPAC which Completed its 2021 Merger with IRNT
LGL Systems Acquisition Holding Company, LLC, a partially owned subsidiary of the LGL Group, served as the sponsor (the “Sponsor”) of LGL Systems Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, commonly referred to as a “SPAC” or blank check company, formed for the purpose of effecting a business combination in the aerospace, defense and communications industries (the “SPAC”). The Company invested $6.1 million for its partial ownership in the Sponsor. The SPAC completed a merger with its target company, IronNet Cybersecurity, Inc., on August 26, 2021 and changed its name to IronNet, Inc. (“IronNet” or “IRNT”) (the “IronNet Business Combination”). On September 14, 2021, as a result of its investment in the Sponsor, the Company received 1,572,529 shares of IRNT common stock and 2,065,000 private warrants exchangeable into shares of IRNT common stock. IRNT is a publicly-traded company on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “IRNT.” As of December 31, 2021, the Company sold 1,455,315 shares of its IRNT common stock partially monetizing its $6.1 million Sponsor investment. Proceeds of $18.5 million from the sale of these shares and the closing of certain IRNT-related derivative transactions were received. At December 31, 2021, 1,338,620 shares of IRNT common stock remained in our portfolio.
Business Strategy
Our objective is to delivery long-term investment growth to our shareholders maximizing shareholder value. This includes developing businesses and positioning them as independent entities to enhance shareholder value and alignment.
Our manufacturing businesses, MtronPTI and PTF, employ a market-based approach of designing and offering new products to our customers through both organic research and development, and through strategic partnerships, joint ventures, acquisitions or mergers. We seek to leverage our core strength as an engineering leader to expand client access, add new capabilities and continue to diversify our product offerings. Our focus is on investments that will differentiate us, broaden our portfolio and lead toward higher levels of integration organically and through joint venture, merger and acquisition opportunities. We believe that successful execution of this strategy will lead to a transformation of our product portfolio towards multi-component integrated offerings, longer product life cycles, better margins and improved competitive position.
LGL Group continues to strive for profitable growth internally and through acquisition. LGL, on a proforma standalone basis after the Spin-Off, would continue to own and develop its frequency reference and time standard synchronization solutions business through its PTF subsidiary platform, and is expected to retain substantially all the Company’s cash and marketable securities of approximately $46 million at December 31, 2021.
Business Segments
The Company conducts its business through two business segments: Electronic Components, which includes all products manufactured and sold by MtronPTI, and Electronic Instruments, which includes all products manufactured and sold by PTF.
Electronic Components Segment
Overview of MtronPTI
Originally founded in 1965, MtronPTI designs, manufactures and markets highly-engineered, high reliability frequency and spectrum control products.
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These component-level devices and modules are used extensively in electronic systems for applications in commercial and military defense, aerospace, earth-orbiting satellites, down-hole drilling, medical devices, instrumentation, industrial devices and global positioning systems as well as in infrastructure equipment for the telecommunications and network equipment industries. As an engineering-centric company, MtronPTI provides close support to the customer throughout its products' entire life cycle, including product design, prototyping, production and subsequent product upgrades and maintenance. This collaborative approach has resulted in the development and growth of long-standing business relationships with its blue-chip customer base.
All of MtronPTI’s production facilities are ISO 9001:2015 certified, ITAR registered and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (“RoHS”) compliant. In addition, its U.S. production facilities in Orlando and Yankton are AS9100 Rev D and MIL-STD-790 certified.
MtronPTI Products
MtronPTI's portfolio is divided into two product groupings, Frequency Control and Spectrum Control, and has expanded from primarily crystal-based components to include higher levels of integration, advanced materials science, cavity-based products, and various types of compensation methods employing integrated circuits and other methods to create products geared for applications that require high reliability in harsh environments. These products are differentiated by their precise level of accuracy, stability over time and within harsh environments, and very low phase noise.
MtronPTI's Frequency Control product group includes a broad portfolio of quartz crystal resonators, clock oscillators, VCXO, TCXO OCXO and DOCXO devices which meet some of the tightest specifications, including IEEE 1588 standards. These devices may be based on quartz, quartz MEMS or advanced materials science designed to achieve higher performance levels than quartz. MtronPTI's products offer high reliability over a wide temperature range and are well-suited for harsh environments, including shock and vibration-resistant oscillators with low-g sensitivity. These products are designed for applications within aerospace and defense, telecommunications infrastructure and instrumentation markets.
MtronPTI's Spectrum Control product group includes a wide array of radio frequency (“RF”), microwave and millimeter wave filters and diplexers covering a frequency range from 1 MHz to 90 GHz, and solid-state power amplifiers covering a frequency range from 300 MHz to 26 GHz, with power output from 10 Watts to 10 kWatts. Filter devices include crystal, ceramic, LC, tubular, combline, cavity, interdigital and metal insert waveguide, as well as digital, analog and mechanical tunable filters, switched filter arrays and RF subsystems. Power amplifiers add active devices to MtronPTI's portfolio and include GaN, GaAS FET, LDMOS and chip and wire technologies in narrow or broadband, module or rack-mounted packages. These products are employed in applications within the commercial and military aerospace, defense, space and other commercial markets.
New product development continues to be a key focus for MtronPTI as it continues to push its roadmap to meet the needs of its served markets. Within Frequency Control, design efforts are focused on smaller packages, lower power, lower phase noise and use of new materials to provide compensation and harsh environment performance that surpasses customer requirements. Spectrum Control seeks to develop higher power handling, higher levels of integration and a range of integrated products within the RF subsystem.
Electronic Instruments Segment
Overview of PTF
PTF designs, manufactures and markets for sale time and frequency products. The industries PTF serves include computer networking, satellite ground stations, electric utilities, broadcasting and telecommunication systems. PTF was originally founded in 2002 and its assets were acquired by LGL in September 2016 through a business acquisition, making us a broader-based supplier of highly engineered products for the generation of time and frequency references for synchronization and control. Since its inception, PTF has developed a comprehensive portfolio of time and frequency instruments complemented by a wide range of ancillary products such as distribution amplifiers and redundancy auto switches.
PTF Products
PTF's products range from simple, low-cost time and frequency solutions to premium products designed to deliver maximum performance for the most demanding applications. PTF's products include Frequency and Time Reference
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Standards, RF, digital, and optical time code distribution amplifiers, redundancy auto switches and NTP servers, all of which are used in a broad range of applications worldwide.
PTF's Frequency and Time Reference Standards include quartz Frequency Standards, GPS/GNS Frequency and Time Standards and rubidium atomic Frequency Standards. The de facto standard for many highly demanding applications, such as satellite communications, is PTF's range of GPS/GNS disciplined quartz frequency and time standards. The MtronPTI high-quality quartz oscillators utilized deliver outstanding phase noise and short-term stability performance for applications where low noise is paramount. This outstanding short-term performance, coupled with the long-term stability and accuracy of the external GNS reference signals, which can be from GPS, Galileo, Glonass or QZSS, provides the user excellent all-around performance that is highly cost-effective.
When two or more computers are involved, accurate time keeping is a challenge especially when the computers are in different locations. PTF's range of GNS Time and Frequency References and Network Time Servers deliver a high level of performance that allows customers to synchronize to Universal Time Coordinated, in a number of cost- effective forms to meet a multitude of time and frequency reference requirements. Applications range from low phase noise, highly stable and accurate system frequency references for Sat-Com and Digital Broadcasting applications, to computer networks, shipboard time code references and e-commerce time stamping applications. With respect to Universal Coordinated Time (“UTC”), the Company has recently developed long-term time synchronization capability of less than 10 nanoseconds.
PTF's portfolio of distribution amplifiers covers multiple signal types including RF, digital, time code, configurable and optical. The distribution range is designed to complement the high quality of the frequency and time references and provide the most effective cost/performance solution for the application, including options for full remote monitoring/control (including RF analog signal monitoring) and optional level control.
The distribution product range includes standard fixed configuration units with either 12 or 16 channels together with more flexible units that allow the user to define specific configurations including different types of input/output signals combined into a convenient 1U or 2U package with up to 36 output channels.
PTF's series of redundancy auto switches range from simple level detection to highly sophisticated sensing capability, extremely fast switching options and full Ethernet connectivity, to provide remote monitoring control, and including integration with SNMP management systems. The most recent model includes multi-channel input capability as well as the ability to switch up to three input types of signals.
Customers
We primarily work directly with original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) to define the right solutions for their unique applications, including the design of custom parts with unique part numbers. Actual sales of production parts may be directly to the OEM or through either its designated contract manufacturers or franchised distributors of our products. As a result, we have highly-skilled sales engineers who work directly with the designers and program managers at their OEMs providing a high-level of engineering support at all points within the process.
In 2021, our largest customer, a commercial aerospace and defense company, accounted for $7,870,000, or 28.0%, of the Company's total revenues, compared to $7,810,000, or 25.1%, of the Company’s total revenues in 2020. The Company’s second largest customer in 2021, a defense contractor, accounted for $3,138,000, or 11.2%, of the Company's total revenues, compared to $5,550,000, or 17.8%, of the Company’s total revenues, in 2020. The loss of either of these customers, or a decrease in their demand for our products, could have a material adverse effect on our results.
As of December 31, 2021, four of our largest customers accounted for approximately $2,595,000, or 53.2%, of accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2020, four of our largest customers accounted for approximately $2,301,000, or 53.4%, of accounts receivable. The insolvency of any of these customers could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity.
We design, manufacture and market products for the generation, synchronization and control of time and frequency as well as spectrum control products. There are numerous domestic and international manufacturers who are capable of providing custom-designed products comparable in quality and performance to our products. Our competitive strategy begins with our focus on niche markets where precise specification and reliability are the major
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requirements. Competitors in our electronic components segment include, but are not limited to, Vectron International and Microsemi Corporation (both divisions of Microchip Technology Incorporated), K&L Microwave (a division of Dover Corporation) and Rakon Limited. Competitors in our electronic instruments segment include, but are not limited to, Microsemi Corporation, Spectracom Corporation and Brandywine Communications.
Research and Development
Utilizing our understanding of market requirements, we employ a disciplined approach to capital allocation when selecting new product development projects. A cross-functional team comprised of engineering, marketing, operations, sales and finance reviews the merits of specific projects seeking to invest in products that will exceed a specific return on investment level and a payback expectation within one to two years. In addition, the team considers the inherent value of intellectual property that each project presents with consideration for technical roadmap objectives.
Research and development expense was approximately $2,212,000 and $2,142,000 in 2021 and 2020, respectively, and will remain a significant part of the Company's efforts to revitalize our intellectual property position.
Marketing and Sales
We have a highly skilled team of sales engineers who work in tandem with a worldwide network of more than 30 independent external manufacturer representatives and franchised electronics distributors to market and sell our products. An important part of the sales process is gaining qualification of specific products from the OEM, confirming suitability for use in a specific system design, which is commonly referred to as a "design-win." Through direct contact with our clients and through our representative network, we are able to understand the needs of the marketplace and then guide our product development process to allocate resources to meeting those requirements.
Domestic Revenues
Our domestic revenues were $22,096,000 in 2021, or 78.5% of total consolidated revenues, compared to $23,752,000, or 76.2% of total consolidated revenues, in 2020.
International Revenues
Our international revenues were $6,044,000 in 2021, or 21.5% of total consolidated revenues, compared to $7,410,000, or 23.8% of total consolidated revenues, in 2020. In each of 2021 and 2020, these revenues were derived mainly from customers in Asia, with significant sales in Malaysia. We avoid significant currency exchange risk by transacting and settling substantially all of our international sales in United States dollars.
Seasonality
Our business is not seasonal, although shipment schedules may be affected by the production schedules of our customers, or their contract manufacturers based on regional practices or customs.
Order Backlog
Our order backlog was $29,797,000 and $19,801,000 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The backlog of unfilled orders includes amounts based on signed contracts as well as agreed letters of intent, which we have determined are firm orders and likely to proceed. Although backlog represents only firm orders that are considered likely to be fulfilled primarily within the 12 months following receipt of the order, cancellations or scope adjustments may and do occur.
Order backlog is adjusted quarterly to reflect project cancellations, deferrals, revised project scope and cost. We expect to fill substantially all of our 2021 order backlog in 2022, but cannot provide assurances as to what portion of the order backlog will be fulfilled in a given year.
Raw Materials
Generally, most raw materials used in the production of our products are available in adequate supply from a number of sources and the prices of these raw materials are relatively stable. However, some raw materials, including printed circuit boards, quartz and certain metals including steel, aluminum, silver, gold, tantalum and
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palladium, are subject to greater supply fluctuations and price volatility, as experienced in recent years. In general, we have been able to include some cost increases in our pricing, but in some cases our margins were adversely impacted.
Changes in global economic and geopolitical conditions and the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic has caused disrupted supply chains and the ability to obtain components and raw materials around the world for most companies, including us. On occasion, one or more of the components used in our products have become unavailable resulting in unanticipated redesign and/or delays in shipments. Continued identification of alternative supply sources or other mitigations are important in minimizing disruption to our supply chain.
Intellectual Property
We have no patents, trademarks or licenses that are considered to be significant to our business or operations. Rather, we believe that our technological position depends primarily on the technical competence and creative ability of our engineering and technical staff in areas of product design and manufacturing processes, including our staff’s ability to customize products to meet difficult specifications, as well as proprietary know-how and information.
Government Regulations
As a supplier to certain U.S. Government defense contractors, we must comply with significant procurement regulations and other requirements. Maintaining registration under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations for all of our related production facilities is also required. One of those production facilities must comply with additional requirements for its production processes and for selected personnel in order to maintain the security of classified information. These requirements, although customary within these markets, increase our performance and compliance costs.
We are routinely audited and reviewed by the U.S. Government and its agencies such as the Defense Contract Audit Agency and Defense Contract Management Agency. These agencies review our performance under our contracts, our cost structure and our compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards, as well as the adequacy of our internal control systems and policies. Any cost found to be improperly allocated to a specific contract will not be reimbursed. If an audit uncovers improper or illegal activities, we may be subject to civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions.
From time to time, we may also be subject to U.S. Government investigations relating to our or our customers' operations and products, and are expected to perform in compliance with a vast array of federal laws, including the Truth in Negotiations Act, the False Claims Act, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations promulgated under the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. We or our customers may be subject to reductions of the value of contracts, contract modifications or termination, and the assessment of penalties and fines, which could negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition, or result in a diminution in revenue from our customers, if we or our customers are found to have violated the law or are indicted or convicted for violations of federal laws related to government security regulations, employment practices or protection of the environment, or are found not to have acted responsibly as defined by the law. Such convictions could also result in suspension or debarment from serving as a supplier to government contractors for some period of time. Such convictions or actions could have a material adverse effect on us and our operating results. The costs of cooperating or complying with such audits or investigations may also adversely impact our financial results.
Our manufacturing operations, products, and/or product packaging are subject to environmental laws and regulations governing air emissions, wastewater discharges, and the handling, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances, wastes and other chemicals. In addition, more stringent environmental regulations may be enacted in the future, both within the United States and internationally, and we cannot presently determine the modifications, if any, in our operations that any future regulations might require, or the cost of compliance that would be associated with such regulations. To date, capital expenditures, earnings and competitive position of the Company have not been materially affected by compliance with current federal, state, and local laws and regulations (domestic and foreign) relating to the protection of the environment. However, we cannot predict the effect of future laws and regulations.
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Employees
As of December 31, 2021, we employed 306 people, including 161 full-time and 14 part-time employees, along with 131 contractors. Of this total, the Company has 151 full-time, 13 part-time, and 13 contract employees within the U.S., with 143 located in Orlando, Florida, 27 in Yankton, South Dakota, and seven within its subsidiary, PTF, in Wakefield, Massachusetts. The Company has two full-time employees and one part-time employee in Hong Kong, and eight full-time employees and 118 contractors in Noida, India. None of the Company's employees are represented by a labor union and the Company considers its relationships with employees to be good.
As an engineered products and solutions company, a significant number of our workforce consists of degreed engineers providing expertise in product design and process development.
Investing in our securities involves risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described below. Any of these risks could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, or prospects, and could cause the trading price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face, but represent those risks and uncertainties that we believe are material to our business, operating results, prospects and financial condition. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also harm our business.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
Macroeconomic fluctuations may harm our business, results of operations and stock price.
Our business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows may be adversely affected by changes in global economic conditions and geopolitical risks, including credit market conditions, trade policies, levels of consumer and business confidence, commodity prices and availability, inflationary pressure, exchange rates, levels of government spending and deficits, political conditions, and other challenges that could affect the global economy including impacts associated with any economic sanctions imposed against Russia in response to its recent invasion of Ukraine. These economic and geopolitical conditions could affect businesses such as ours in a number of ways. Such conditions could have an adverse impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions and on our ability to fund our operations. In addition, restrictions on credit availability could adversely affect the ability of our customers to make payments. Similarly, credit restrictions may adversely affect our supplier base and increase the potential for one or more of our suppliers to experience financial distress.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business are uncertain and may adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had and may continue to have an adverse impact on our operations and financial performance, as well as on the operations and financial performance of many of the customers and suppliers in industries that we serve. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present business challenges, and we continue to experience impacts related to COVID-19, primarily in higher raw material prices, disruptions in global supply chains, delays in supplier deliveries, delays in deliveries to customers, travel restrictions, quarantine restrictions, labor shortages and employee absences. Because the severity, magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences remain uncertain and rapidly changing, it is difficult to predict the extent of the pandemic’s impact on our operations and financial performance. Further, the ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and financial performance depends on many factors that are not within our control, including, but not limited to, duration of the pandemic, potential subsequent waves of COVID-19 infection or potential new variants, the effectiveness and adoption of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, governmental, business and individuals’ actions that have been and continue to be taken in response to the pandemic (including shutdown orders, border closings, restrictions on travel and transport and workplace restrictions) and resulting supplier impacts. In addition, to the extent global vaccination programs do not achieve intended results and a longer period of economic and global supply chain and related disruption continues, the more adverse the impact will be on our business operations, financial performance and results of operations.
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We are dependent on a single line of business.
Prior to our September 2016 acquisition of PTF, we were engaged only in the design, manufacture and marketing of standard and custom-engineered electronic components that are used primarily for the control of frequency and spectrum of signals in electronic circuits. Although our acquisition of PTF added an additional product line of electronic instruments that includes highly engineered products for the generation of time and frequency references for synchronization and control, until we see significant growth from the PTF electronic instruments product line or develop or acquire additional product lines, we will remain dependent on our electronic components line of business. Virtually all of our 2021 and 2020 revenues came from sales of electronic components, which consist of packaged quartz crystals, oscillator modules, electronic filters and integrated modules.
Given our reliance on this single line of business, any decline in demand for this product line or failure to achieve continued market acceptance of existing and new versions of this product line may harm our business and our financial condition. Additionally, unfavorable market conditions affecting this line of business would likely have a disproportionate impact on us in comparison with certain competitors, who have more diversified operations and multiple lines of business. Should this line of business fail to generate sufficient sales to support ongoing operations, there can be no assurance that we will be able to develop alternate business lines.
Our operating results vary significantly from period to period.
We experience fluctuations in our operating results. Some of the principal factors that contribute to these fluctuations include changes in demand for our products; our effectiveness in managing manufacturing processes, costs and inventory; our effectiveness in engineering and qualifying new product designs with our OEM customers and in managing the risks associated with offering those new products into production; changes in the cost and availability of raw materials, which often occur in the electronics manufacturing industry and which affect our margins and our ability to meet delivery schedules; macroeconomic and served industry conditions; and events that may affect our production capabilities, such as labor conditions and political instability. In addition, due to the prevailing economic climate and competitive differences between the various market segments which we serve, the mix of sales between our communications, networking, aerospace, defense, industrial and instrumentation market segments may affect our operating results from period to period.
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we had net income of approximately $14,638,000 and $968,000, respectively. The increase was from the gain from our Sponsor investment as a result of the IronNet Business Combination, partially offset by realized and unrealized accounting losses in IRNT securities through December 31, 2021. Our revenues are derived primarily from MtronPTI, whose future rate of growth and profitability are highly dependent on the development and growth of demand for our products in the communications, networking, aerospace, defense, instrumentation and industrial markets, which are cyclical. We cannot be certain whether we will generate sufficient revenues or sufficiently manage expenses to sustain profitability.
We have a large customer that accounts for a significant portion of our revenues, and the loss of this customer, or decrease in its demand for our products, could have a material adverse effect on our results.
In 2021, our largest customer, a commercial aerospace and defense company, accounted for $7,870,000, or 28.0%, of the Company's total revenues, compared to $7,810,000, or 25.1%, of the Company’s total revenues in 2020. The Company’s second largest customer in 2021, a defense contractor, accounted for $3,138,000, or 11.2%, of the Company's total revenues, compared to $5,550,000, or 17.8%, of the Company’s total revenues in 2020. The loss of either of these customers, or a decrease in their demand for our products, could have a material adverse effect on our results.
A relatively small number of customers account for a significant portion of our accounts receivable, and the insolvency of any of these customers could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity.
As of December 31, 2021, four of our largest customers accounted for approximately $2,595,000, or 53.2%, of accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2020, four of our largest customers accounted for approximately $2,301,000, or 53.4%, of accounts receivable. The insolvency of any of these customers could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity.
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Our order backlog may not be indicative of future revenues.
Our order backlog is comprised of orders that are subject to specific production release, orders under written contracts, oral and written orders from customers with which we have had long-standing relationships and written purchase orders from sales representatives. Our customers may order products from multiple sources to ensure timely delivery when backlog is particularly long and may cancel or defer orders without significant penalty. They also may cancel orders when business is weak, and inventories are excessive. As a result, we cannot provide assurances as to the portion of backlog orders to be filled in a given year, and our order backlog as of any particular date may not be representative of actual revenues for any subsequent period.
We are a holding company and, therefore, are dependent upon the operations of our subsidiaries to meet our obligations.
We are a holding company that transacts business through our operating subsidiaries. Our primary assets are cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, the shares of our operating subsidiaries and intercompany loans. Should our cash and cash equivalents be depleted, our ability to meet our operating requirements and to make other payments will depend on the surplus and earnings of our subsidiaries and their ability to pay dividends or to advance or repay funds.
Our future rate of growth and profitability are highly dependent on the development and growth of the communications, networking, aerospace, defense, instrumentation and industrial markets, which are cyclical.
In 2021 and 2020, the majority of our revenues were derived from sales to manufacturers of equipment for the defense, aerospace, instrumentation and industrial markets for frequency and spectrum control devices, including indirect sales through distributors and contract manufacturers. During 2022, we expect a significant portion of our revenues to continue to be derived from sales to these manufacturers. Often OEMs and other service providers within these markets have experienced periods of capacity shortage and periods of excess capacity, as well as periods of either high or low demand for their products. In periods of excess capacity or low demand, purchases of capital equipment may be curtailed, including equipment that incorporates our products. A reduction in demand for the manufacture and purchase of equipment for these markets, whether due to cyclical, macroeconomic or other factors, or due to our reduced ability to compete based on cost or technical factors, could substantially reduce our net sales and operating results and adversely affect our financial condition. Moreover, if these markets fail to grow as expected, we may be unable to maintain or grow our revenues. The multiple variables which affect the communications, networking, aerospace, defense, instrumentation and industrial markets for our products, as well as the number of parties involved in the supply chain and manufacturing process, can impact inventory levels and lead to supply chain inefficiencies. As a result of these complexities, we have limited visibility to forecast revenue projections accurately for the near and medium-term timeframes.
The market share of our customers in the communications, networking, aerospace, defense, instrumentation and industrial markets may change over time, reducing the potential value of our relationships with our existing customer base.
We have developed long-term relationships with our existing customers, including pricing contracts, custom designs and approved vendor status. If these customers lose market share to other equipment manufacturers in the communications, networking, aerospace, defense, instrumentation and industrial markets with whom we do not have similar relationships, our ability to maintain revenue, margin or operating performance may be adversely affected.
We may make acquisitions that are not successful, or we may fail to integrate acquired businesses into our operations properly.
We intend to continue exploring opportunities to buy other businesses or technologies that could complement, enhance, or expand our current business or product lines, or that might otherwise offer us growth opportunities. We may have difficulty finding such opportunities or, if such opportunities are identified, we may not be able to complete such transactions for reasons including a failure to secure necessary financing.
Any transactions that we are able to identify and complete may involve a number of risks, including:
‒ | The diversion of our management's attention from the management of our existing business to the integration of the operations and personnel of the acquired or combined business or joint venture; |
‒ | Material business risks not identified in due diligence; |
‒ | Possible adverse effects on our operating results during the integration process; |
‒ | Substantial acquisition-related expenses, which would reduce our net income, if any, in future years; |
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‒ | The loss of key employees and customers as a result of changes in management; and |
‒ | Our possible inability to achieve the intended objectives of the transaction. |
In addition, we may not be able to integrate, operate, maintain or manage, successfully or profitably, our newly acquired operations or employees. We may not be able to maintain uniform standards, controls, policies and procedures, and this may lead to operational inefficiencies.
Any of these difficulties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
If we are unable to introduce innovative products, demand for our products may decrease.
Our future operating results are dependent on our ability to develop, introduce and market innovative products continually, to modify existing products, to respond to technological change and to customize some of our products to meet customer requirements. There are numerous risks inherent in this process, including the risks that we will be unable to anticipate the direction of technological change or that we will be unable to develop and market new products and applications in a timely or cost-effective manner to satisfy customer demand.
Our markets are highly competitive, and we may lose business to larger and better-financed competitors.
Our markets are highly competitive worldwide, with low transportation costs and few import barriers. We compete principally on the basis of product quality and reliability, availability, customer service, technological innovation, timely delivery and price. Within the industries in which we compete, competition has become increasingly concentrated and global in recent years.
Many of our major competitors, some of which are larger than us, and potential competitors have substantially greater financial resources and more extensive engineering, manufacturing, marketing and customer support capabilities. If we are unable to successfully compete against current and future competitors, our operating results will be adversely affected.
Our success depends on our ability to retain key management and technical personnel and attracting, retaining, and training new technical personnel.
Our future growth and success will depend in large part upon our ability to recruit highly-skilled technical personnel, including engineers, and to retain our existing management and technical personnel. There is a labor shortage in the markets in which we operate which are highly competitive, and some of our operations are not located in highly populated areas. As a result, we may not be able to recruit and retain key personnel. Our failure to hire, retain or adequately train key personnel could have a negative impact on our performance.
We purchase certain key components and raw materials from single or limited sources and could lose sales if these sources fail to fulfill our needs for any reason, including the inability to obtain these key components or raw materials due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
If single-source components or key raw materials were to become unavailable on satisfactory terms, and we could not obtain comparable replacement components or raw materials from other sources in a timely manner, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed. On occasion, one or more of the components used in our products have become unavailable, resulting in unanticipated redesign and related delays in shipments. Changes in global economic and geopolitical conditions and the outbreak of COVID-19 have disrupted supply chains and the ability to obtain components and raw materials around the world for all companies, including us. We cannot give assurance that we will be able to obtain the necessary components and raw materials necessary to conduct our business during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we also cannot give assurance that similar delays will not occur in the future. In addition, our suppliers may be impacted by compliance with environmental regulations including RoHS and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment ("WEEE"), which could disrupt the supply of components or raw materials or cause additional costs for us to implement new components or raw materials into our manufacturing processes.
As a supplier to U.S. Government defense contractors, we are subject to a number of procurement regulations and other requirements and could be adversely affected by changes in regulations or any negative findings from a U.S. Government audit or investigation.
A number of our customers are U.S. Government contractors. As one of their suppliers, we must comply with significant procurement regulations and other requirements. Under applicable federal regulations for defense
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contractors, we are required to comply with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (“CMMC”) program in the next several years and other similar cybersecurity requirements. We also maintain registration under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations for all of our production facilities. One of those production facilities must comply with additional requirements and regulations for its production processes and for selected personnel in order to maintain the security of classified information. These requirements, although customary within these markets, increase our performance and compliance costs. If any of these various requirements change, our costs of complying with them could increase and reduce our operating margins. To the extent that we are unable to comply with the CMMC or other requirements, our business with the Department of Defense or its prime customers could be at risk.
We operate in a highly regulated environment and are routinely audited and reviewed by the U.S. Government and its agencies such as the Defense Contract Audit Agency and Defense Contract Management Agency. These agencies review our performance under our contracts, our cost structure and our compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards, as well as the adequacy of, and our compliance with, our internal control systems and policies. Systems that are subject to review include our purchasing systems, billing systems, property management and control systems, cost estimating systems, compensation systems and management information systems.
Any costs found to be improperly allocated to a specific contract will not be reimbursed or must be refunded if already reimbursed. If an audit uncovers improper or illegal activities, we may be subject to civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, which may include termination of contracts, forfeiture of profits, suspension of payments, fines and suspension or prohibition from doing business as a supplier to contractors who sell products and services to the U.S. Government. In addition, our reputation could be adversely affected if allegations of impropriety were made against us.
From time to time, we may also be subject to U.S. Government investigations relating to our or our customers' operations and products, and are expected to perform in compliance with a vast array of federal laws, including the Truth in Negotiations Act, the False Claims Act, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations promulgated under the Arms Export Control Act, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. We or our customers may be subject to reductions of the value of contracts, contract modifications or termination, and the assessment of penalties and fines, which could negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition, or result in a diminution in revenue from our customers, if we or our customers are found to have violated the law or are indicted or convicted for violations of federal laws related to government security regulations, employment practices or protection of the environment, or are found not to have acted responsibly as defined by the law. Such convictions could also result in suspension or debarment from serving as a supplier to government contractors for some period of time. Such convictions or actions could have a material adverse effect on us and our operating results. The costs of cooperating or complying with such audits or investigations may also adversely impact our financial results.
Our products are complex and may contain errors or design flaws, which could be costly to correct.
When we release new products, or new versions of existing products, they may contain undetected or unresolved errors or defects. The vast majority of our products are custom designed for requirements of specific OEM systems. The expected business life of these products ranges from less than one year to more than 10 years depending on the application. Some of the customizations are modest changes to existing product designs while others are major product redesigns or new product platforms.
Despite testing, errors or defects may be found in new products or upgrades after the commencement of commercial shipments. Undetected errors and design flaws have occurred in the past and could occur in the future. These errors could result in delays, loss of market acceptance and sales, diversion of development resources, damage to the Company's reputation, product liability claims and legal action by its customers and third parties, failure to attract new customers and increased service costs.
Communications and network infrastructure equipment manufacturers increasingly rely upon contract manufacturers, thereby diminishing our ability to sell our products directly to those equipment manufacturers.
There is a continuing trend among communications and network infrastructure equipment manufacturers to outsource the manufacturing of their equipment or components. As a result, our ability to persuade these OEMs to utilize our products in customer designs could be reduced and, in the absence of a manufacturer's specification of our products, the prices that we can charge for them may be subject to greater competition.
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Future changes in our environmental liability and compliance obligations may increase costs and decrease profitability.
Our present and past manufacturing operations, products, and/or product packaging are subject to environmental laws and regulations governing air emissions, wastewater discharges, and the handling, disposal and remediation of hazardous substances, wastes and other chemicals. In addition, more stringent environmental regulations may be enacted in the future, and we cannot presently determine the modifications, if any, in our operations that any future regulations might require, or the cost of compliance that would be associated with such regulations.
Environmental laws and regulations may cause us to change our manufacturing processes, redesign some of our products, and change components to eliminate some substances in our products in order to be able to continue to offer them for sale.
We have significant international operations and sales to customers outside of the United States that subject us to certain business, economic and political risks.
We have office and manufacturing space in Noida, India, and a sales office in Hong Kong. Additionally, foreign revenues for 2021 and 2020 (primarily to Malaysia) accounted for 21.5% and 23.8% of our 2021 and 2020 consolidated revenues, respectively. We anticipate that sales to customers located outside of the United States will continue to be a significant part of our revenues for the foreseeable future. Our international operations and sales to customers outside of the United States subject our operating results and financial condition to certain business, economic, political, health, regulatory and other risks, including but not limited to:
‒ | Political and economic instability in countries in which our products are manufactured and sold; |
‒ | Expropriation or the imposition of government controls; |
‒ | Responsibility to comply with anti-bribery laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar anti-bribery laws in other jurisdictions; |
‒ | Sanctions or restrictions on trade imposed by the United States Government; |
‒ | Export license requirements; |
‒ | Trade restrictions; |
‒ | Currency controls or fluctuations in exchange rates; |
‒ | High levels of inflation or deflation; |
‒ | Difficulty in staffing and managing non-U.S. operations; |
‒ | Greater difficulty in collecting accounts receivable and longer payment cycles; |
‒ | Changes in labor conditions and difficulties in staffing and managing international operations; |
‒ | The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak; and |
‒ | Limitations on insurance coverage against geopolitical risks, natural disasters and business operations. |
Additionally, to date, very few of our international revenue and cost obligations have been denominated in foreign currencies. As a result, changes in the value of the United States dollar relative to foreign currencies may affect our competitiveness in foreign markets. We do not currently engage in foreign currency hedging activities, but may do so in the future to the extent that we incur a significant amount of foreign-currency denominated liabilities.
We rely on information technology systems to conduct our business, and disruption, failure or security breaches of these systems could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
We rely on information technology ("IT") systems in order to achieve our business objectives. We also rely upon industry accepted security measures and technology to securely maintain confidential information maintained on our IT systems. However, our portfolio of hardware and software products, solutions and services and our enterprise IT systems may be vulnerable to damage or disruption caused by circumstances beyond our control such as catastrophic events, power outages, natural disasters, computer system or network failures, computer viruses, cyber-attacks or other malicious software programs. The failure or disruption of our IT systems to perform as anticipated for any reason could disrupt our business and result in decreased performance, significant remediation costs, transaction errors, loss of data, processing inefficiencies, downtime, litigation and the loss of suppliers or customers. A significant disruption or failure could have a material adverse effect on our business operations, financial performance and financial condition.
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Cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents may adversely affect our business by causing a disruption to our operations, a compromise or corruption of our confidential information, and/or damage to our business relationships, all of which could negatively impact our financial results.
A cyber incident is considered to be any adverse event that threatens the confidentiality, integrity or availability of our information resources. These incidents may be an intentional attack or an unintentional event and could involve gaining unauthorized access to our information systems for purposes of misappropriating assets, stealing confidential information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. The result of these incidents may include disrupted operations, misstated or unreliable financial data, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cybersecurity protection and insurance costs, litigation and damage to our investor relationships. As our reliance on technology increases, so will the risks posed to our information systems, both internal and those we outsource. There is no guarantee that any processes, procedures and internal controls we have implemented or will implement will prevent cyber intrusions, which could have a negative impact on our financial results, operations, business relationships or confidential information.
If we fail to correct any material weakness that we identify in our internal control over financial reporting or otherwise fail to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately and timely, in which case our business may be harmed, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the price of our common stock may decline.
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting and for evaluating and reporting on our system of internal control. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). We are required to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and other rules that govern public companies.
If we identify material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting in the future, if we cannot comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a timely manner or attest that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm cannot express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting when required, we may not be able to report our financial results accurately and timely. As a result, investors, counterparties and consumers may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports. Accordingly, access to capital markets and perceptions of our creditworthiness could be adversely affected, and the market price of our common stock could decline. In addition, we could become subject to investigations by the stock exchange on which our securities are listed, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources. These events could have a material and adverse effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and prospects.
Risks Related to Our Securities
The price of our common stock has fluctuated considerably and is likely to remain volatile, in part due to the limited market for our common stock.
From January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, the high and low closing sales prices for our common stock were $14.50 and $9.90, respectively. There is a limited public market for our common stock, and we cannot provide assurances that a more active trading market will develop or be sustained. As a result of limited trading volume in our common stock, the purchase or sale of a relatively small number of shares could result in significant price fluctuations and it may be difficult for holders to sell their shares without depressing the market price for our common stock.
Additionally, the market price of our common stock may continue to fluctuate significantly in response to a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including the following:
‒ | General economic conditions affecting the availability of long-term or short-term credit facilities, the purchasing and payment patterns of our customers, or the requirements imposed by our suppliers; |
‒ | Economic conditions in our industry and in the industries of our customers and suppliers (including the impact of COVID-19); |
‒ | Changes in financial estimates or investment recommendations by securities analysts relating to our common stock; |
‒ | Market reaction to our reported financial results; |
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‒ | Loss of a major customer; |
‒ | Announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments; and |
‒ | Changes in key personnel. |
Our officers, directors and 10% or greater stockholders have significant voting power and may vote their shares in a manner that is not in the best interest of other stockholders.
Our officers, directors and 10% or greater stockholders control approximately 38.7% of the voting power represented by our outstanding shares of common stock as of March 10, 2022. If these stockholders act together, they may be able to exert significant control over our management and affairs requiring stockholder approval, including approval of significant corporate transactions. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock. This concentration of ownership may not be in the best interests of all of our stockholders.
Provisions in our corporate charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of the Company more difficult, which acquisition may be beneficial to our stockholders.
Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and by-laws, as well as provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware ("DGCL"), may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of the Company, even if such a change in control would be beneficial to our stockholders. These provisions include prohibiting our stockholders from fixing the number of directors and establishing advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals that can be acted on at stockholder meetings and nominations to our Board.
Additionally, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner. We have not opted out of the restrictions under Section 203, as permitted under DGCL.
The warrants to purchase shares of our common stock may not have any value.
The warrants to purchase shares of our common stock are “modified European style warrants” and will only become exercisable on the earlier of (i) the expiration date, November 16, 2025, and (ii) such date that the 30-day volume weighted average price per share, or VWAP, of our common stock is greater than or equal to $17.50. Once the warrants become exercisable, they may be exercised in accordance with the terms of the warrant agreement until their expiration.
The warrants have an exercise price of $12.50 per share. This exercise price does not necessarily bear any relationship to established criteria for valuation of our common stock, such as book value per share, cash flows, or earnings; and the holder of such warrant should not consider this exercise price as an indication of the current or future market price of our common stock. There can be no assurance that the market price of our common stock will exceed $12.50 per share at any time, on the expiration date of the warrants, November 16, 2025, or at any other time the warrants may be exercised. If the warrants only become exercisable on the expiration date and the market price of our common stock on such date does not exceed $12.50 per share, the warrants will be of no value.
There can be no assurance that the 30-day VWAP of our common stock will be greater than or equal to $17.50 at any time prior to the expiration date of the warrants, November 16, 2025. As a result, the warrants may become exercisable only on the expiration date. If the warrants may be exercised only on the expiration date and the holder thereof does not exercise its warrants on that date, such warrants will expire and be of no value.
An active trading market for the warrants to purchase shares of our common stock may not develop.
If an active market for the warrants to purchase shares of our common stock does not develop or is not sustained, it may be difficult for the holders thereof to sell such warrants without depressing the market price for such securities.
Holders of the warrants to purchase shares of our common stock will have no rights as a common stockholder until such holders exercise their warrants and acquire shares of our common stock.
Until warrant holders acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise of the warrants, warrant holders will have no rights with respect to the shares of our common stock underlying such warrants. Upon the acquisition of shares of our common stock upon exercise of the warrants, the holders thereof will be entitled to exercise the rights of a
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common stockholder only as to matters for which the record date for the matter occurs after the exercise date of the warrants.
Adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants, or the number of shares of common stock for which the warrants are exercisable, following certain corporate events may not fully compensate warrant holders for the value they would have received if they held the common stock underlying the warrants at the time of such events.
The warrants provide for adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants following a number of corporate events, including (i) our issuance of a stock dividend or the subdivision or combination of our common stock, (ii) our issuance of rights, options or warrants to purchase our common stock at a price below the 10-day VWAP of our common stock, (iii) a distribution of capital stock of the Company or any subsidiary other than our common stock, rights to acquire such capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or assets, (iv) our issuance of a cash dividend on our common stock, and (v) certain tender offers for our common stock by the Company or one or more of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. If the Spin-Off is approved by the stockholders, the exercise price of the warrants will be determined ten trading days after the Spin-Off based upon a formula included in the warrant agreement. The warrants also provide for adjustments to the number of shares of common stock for which the warrants are exercisable following our issuance of a stock dividend or the subdivision or combination of our common stock. Any adjustment made to the exercise price of the warrants or the number of shares of common stock for which the warrants are exercisable following a corporate event in accordance with these provisions may not fully compensate warrant holders for the value they would have received if they held the common stock underlying the warrants at the time of the event.
Risks Related to the Spin-Off, if Approved by Stockholders
We may be unable to achieve some or all of the expected benefits of the Spin-Off, and the Spin-Off may adversely affect our business.
As a new, publicly-traded company, MtronPTI may be more susceptible to market fluctuations and other adverse events attendant to our separation from the Company. MtronPTI performance may not meet expectations for a variety of reasons. As a subsidiary of the Company, MtronPTI enjoyed certain benefits, including economies of scope and scale in costs, employees and business relationships. These benefits may not be as readily achievable as a stand-alone company. There can be no assurance that the Spin-Off will not adversely affect our business.
The distribution of MtronPTI common stock may not qualify for tax-free treatment.
There is a risk that the distribution of MtronPTI common stock in the Spin-Off may not qualify for tax-free treatment and, accordingly, will be a taxable transaction to the Company’s stockholders. While the distribution is intended to be tax-free under Section 355 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and while we believe that the Company’s stockholders should not recognize gain or loss as a result of the distribution and that no amount should be included in their income as a result of the distribution for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company has not obtained, and does not expect to obtain, a tax opinion with respect to the tax consequences of the Spin-Off. Furthermore, neither the Company nor MtronPTI has applied or will apply for a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) with respect to the tax consequences of the distribution. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the IRS or another taxing authority will not assert that the distribution is taxable to the Company, MtronPTI or the Company’s stockholders. If the distribution is determined to be taxable for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the receipt of MtronPTI common stock in the Spin-Off is expected to be treated as a distribution of property in an amount equal to the fair market value of the stock received. We believe that a reasonable approach to determine the fair market value of the shares of MtronPTI common stock received would be to use the VWAP of MtronPTI common stock on the first full trading day following the distribution. In such circumstances, the distribution of MtronPTI common stock in the Spin-Off would be treated as ordinary dividend income to the extent considered paid out of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Distributions in excess of the Company’s current year and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a non-taxable return of capital, which reduces basis, to the extent of the holder’s basis in its shares of the Company’s common stock, as applicable, and thereafter as capital gain. The amount of those earnings and profits is not determinable at this time because it will depend on the Company’s income for the entire tax year in which the distribution occurs.
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MtronPTI’s ability to meet capital needs may be harmed by the loss of financial support from the Company, and MtronPTI may not be able to obtain funds necessary to operate its business.
MtronPTI’s ability to meet capital needs, which turn on its financial condition and future prospects, may be harmed after the completion of the Spin-Off, and MtronPTI will not be able to access financial support from the Company following the Spin-Off. To the extent MtronPTI seeks funds through accessing equity or debt capital markets, as a standalone company, the cost of financing will depend on many factors, among other things, such as its performance and financial market conditions generally. Accordingly, MtronPTI may not be able to obtain financing or otherwise raise funds necessary to operate its business on favorable terms, or at all. If MtronPTI is unable to raise additional capital when required or on acceptable terms, MtronPTI may have to significantly delay or scale back its acquisition activity and planned capital expenditures, which could adversely impact the business and prospects. In addition, to the extent debt financing, if available, is obtained, MtronPTI may be subject to operating and financial covenants that may restrict its operations and if unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to meet future debt payment obligations, MtronPTI may be required to attempt to restructure or refinance such debt, raise additional capital or take other actions such as selling assets, or reducing or delaying capital expenditures. There is no assurance that MtronPTI will be able to effect any such actions or do so on satisfactory terms, if at all, or that such actions would be permitted by the terms of its indebtedness. Further, to the extent that MtronPTI raises additional funds by issuing equity securities, its stockholders would experience dilution, which may be significant and could cause the market price of MtronPTI common stock to decline.
After the separation, certain of our directors and officers may have actual or potential conflicts of interest because of their positions or relationships with MtronPTI.
After the Spin-Off, Marc J. Gabelli will serve as the non-executive chairman of the board of MtronPTI and will also serve as chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the Company and Michael J. Ferrantino will serve as chief executive officer and as a director of MtronPTI and also as a director of the Company. Such dual roles could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of interest when the Company and MtronPTI’s officers and directors face decisions that could have different implications for the two companies.
In addition, potential conflicts of interest could arise in connection with the resolution of any dispute that may arise between the Company and MtronPTI regarding the terms of the agreements governing the separation and the relationship thereafter between the companies.
The aggregate post-distribution value of the MtronPTI common stock and the Company’s common stock may not equal or exceed the pre-Spin-Off value of the Company’s common stock.
After the Spin-Off, the Company’s common stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “LGL.” The MtronPTI common stock is expected to be listed on the NYSE under the symbol “MPTI.” No assurances can be made that the combined value of the Company’s common stock and MtronPTI’s common stock after the Spin-Off will be equal to or greater than the value of the Company’s common stock prior to the Spin-Off. Until the market has fully evaluated the business of the Company without the business of MtronPTI, the value of the Company’s common stock may fluctuate significantly. Similarly, until the market has fully evaluated the business of MtronPTI, the value of MtronPTI common stock may fluctuate significantly.
16
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
The Company's principal executive offices are located in Orlando, Florida within an MtronPTI operating facility. MtronPTI's operations, which make up our electronic components segment, are located in Orlando, Florida; Yankton, South Dakota; and Noida, India. PTF's operations, which make up our electronic instruments segment, are located in Wakefield, Massachusetts. We also have sales offices in Austin, Texas and Hong Kong.
MtronPTI owns a facility in Orlando, Florida, containing approximately 71,000 square feet on approximately five acres of land and owns a facility in Yankton, South Dakota, containing approximately 32,000 square feet on approximately 11 acres of land. MtronPTI also leases approximately 13,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space in Noida, India. PTF leases approximately 3,600 square feet of office and manufacturing space in Wakefield, Massachusetts. We also lease approximately 700 square feet of office space in Hong Kong. It is our opinion that the facilities referred to above are in good operating condition, suitable, and adequate for present uses.
None.
Not applicable.
17
Item 5. | Market for the Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. |
Market for Common Equity
Our common stock and warrants are traded on the NYSE, under the symbols “LGL” and “LGL WS”, respectively. Based upon information furnished by our transfer agent, at March 10, 2022, we had 399 holders of record of our common stock and 416 holders of record of our common stock warrants.
Stock Repurchase Program
On August 29, 2011, our Board authorized the Company to repurchase up to 100,000 shares of its common stock in accordance with applicable securities laws. This authorization increased the total number of shares authorized and available for repurchase under the Company's existing share repurchase program to 540,000 shares, at such times, amounts and prices as the Company shall deem appropriate. Subject to certain safe harbor rules, the timing, amounts, and manner in which the Company can repurchase shares is tied to prevailing trading volumes and other limitations, which includes a general limitation to 25% of the average daily trading volume based on the most recent prior four weeks. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had repurchased a total of 81,584 shares of common stock under this program at a cost of $580,000, which shares are currently held in treasury. No shares were repurchased during the year ended December 31, 2021.
ATM Offering
On January 22, 2020, the Company entered into an Open Market Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC, as sales agent (“Jefferies”), pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, in what is deemed to be an “at the market offering” (“ATM Offering”) through Jefferies, shares of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $15,000,000. Shares sold under the Sales Agreement are issued pursuant to the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-235767), filed by the Company with the SEC on December 31, 2019, which was declared effective on January 8, 2020. The Company filed a prospectus supplement with the SEC on January 23, 2020 in connection with the offer and sale of the shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement. During February and March of 2020, 263,725 shares were sold under the Sales Agreement, at an average price per share of $13.65, generating net proceeds of approximately $3,492,000 after brokerage charges of $108,000 were deducted and paid to Jefferies. As required under the Sales Agreement, the Company obtained the prior consent of Jefferies in order to consummate this offering. The Sales Agreement and ATM Offering remain in effect in accordance with their terms.
Cash Dividend Policy
Our Board has adhered to a practice of not paying cash dividends. This policy takes into account our long-term growth objectives, including our anticipated investments for organic growth, potential technology acquisitions or other strategic ventures and stockholders' desire for capital appreciation of their holdings. In addition, the covenants under MtronPTI’s credit facility effectively place certain limitations on its ability to make certain payments to its parent, including but not limited to payments of dividends and other distributions, which effectively could limit the Company’s ability to pay cash dividends to stockholders. No cash dividends have been paid to our stockholders since January 30, 1989, and none are expected to be paid for the foreseeable future.
Warrant Dividend
On October 27, 2020, our Board declared a dividend of warrants to purchase shares of our common stock to holders of record of our common stock as of November 9, 2020. Each holder of our common stock as of the record date received one warrant for each share of common stock owned. Five warrants will entitle their holder to purchase one share of our common stock at an exercise price of $12.50. The warrants are "modified European style warrants" and will be exercisable on the earlier of (i) their expiration date, November 16, 2025, and (ii) such date that the 30-day VWAP of our common stock is greater than or equal to $17.50. The warrants were issued on November 16, 2020. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the distribution of the warrants. Assuming that all warrants are exercised, the net proceeds from the exercise of the warrants will be approximately $13.0 million. The Company
18
intends to use the net proceeds from the exercise of the warrants for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, general and administrative expenses, capital expenditures and implementation of our strategic priorities. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we may invest the proceeds in short-term, interest bearing, investment-grade marketable securities or money market obligations.
19
You should read the following discussion and analysis together with our audited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. This discussion contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding our expected financial position, business and financing plans. These statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this Report, particularly under the headings "Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors”.
Overview
The Company is a diversified holding company with subsidiaries engaged in the designing, manufacturing and marketing of highly-engineered, high reliability frequency and spectrum control products used to control the frequency or timing of signals in electronic circuits, and in the design of high performance Frequency and Time Reference Standards that form the basis for timing and synchronization in various applications. The Company’s primary markets are aerospace and defense.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its majority-owned subsidiaries except its sole variable interest entity (“VIE”), LGL Systems Acquisition Holding Company, LLC (the “Sponsor”). The VIE, which is accounted for under the equity method of accounting, served as the sponsor to a special purpose acquisition company, LGL Systems Acquisition Corp. (the “SPAC” or “DFNS”). The SPAC completed a merger with its target company, IronNet Cybersecurity, Inc., on August 26, 2021 and changed its name to IronNet, Inc. (“IronNet” or “IRNT”) (the “IronNet Business Combination”). IronNet is a publicly-traded company on the NYSE American (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “IRNT.”
Results of Operations
Factors Which May Influence Results of Operations
We are not aware of any material trends or uncertainties, other than the global economic conditions affecting our industry generally, that may reasonably be expected to have a material impact, favorable or unfavorable, on our revenues or income other than those listed in Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic (“COVID”) has had and may continue to have an adverse impact on our operations and financial performance, as well as on the operations and financial performance of many of the customers and suppliers in industries that we serve. The COVID pandemic continues to present business challenges, and we continue to experience impacts related to COVID, primarily in higher raw material prices, disruptions in global supply chains, delays in supplier deliveries, delays in deliveries to customers, travel restrictions, quarantine restrictions, labor shortages and employee absences.
As a result of COVID, the Company’s operations in India were closed on March 23, 2020 and resumed limited operations on May 7, 2020 with a reduced level of staffing. By the end of June 2020, the Company’s India facilities were fully operational. Post COVID revenue and bookings declined; and cost saving measures were taken.
In accordance with the Department of Defense guidance issued in March 2020 designating the Defense Industrial Base as a critical infrastructure workforce, our U.S. production facilities have continued to operate in support of essential products and services required to meet national security commitments to the U.S. Government and the U.S. military; however, facility closures or work slowdowns or temporary stoppages have occurred and could occur in the future. In addition, other countries have different practices and policies that can affect our international operations and the operations of our suppliers and customers.
The ultimate impact of COVID on our operations and financial performance depends on many factors that are not within our control, including, but not limited to, duration of the pandemic, potential subsequent waves of COVID infection or potential new variants, the effectiveness and adoption of COVID vaccines and therapeutics, governmental, business and individuals’ actions that have been and continue to be taken in response to the pandemic (including shutdown orders, border closings, restrictions on travel and transport and workplace restrictions) and resulting supplier impacts. In addition, to the extent global vaccination programs do not achieve intended results and
20
a longer period of economic and global supply chain and related disruption continues, the more adverse the impact will be on our business operations, financial performance and results of operations.
2021 Compared to 2020
Consolidated Revenues, Gross Margin and Backlog
Total revenues were $28,140,000, a decrease of $3,022,000, or 9.7%, from $31,162,000 in 2020. The decrease in revenue reflects a significant decline in shipments to the avionics market during the COVID pandemic partially offset by strong space business performance. The comparison also reflects first quarter of 2020 pre-COVID conditions.
Consolidated gross margin, which is consolidated revenues less manufacturing cost of sales as a percentage of revenues, improved to 35.8% compared to 35.1% for the prior year. Gross margins improved over last year but were muted by inflationary cost pressures. The margin improvement was from favorable mix and cost reductions, including the elimination of certain previously required redundancies to preserve manufacturing capabilities in response to the COVID impacts on our business. The Company’s India operations were shut down for over six weeks during 2020 requiring onshoring of production to U.S. factories, resulting in increased production costs. As LGL is an essential business, we maintained our production and operations, to support our customer requirements.
As of December 31, 2021, our order backlog was $29,797,000, an increase of 50.5% compared to $19,801,000 as of December 31, 2020. Strong bookings of $38,136,000 following depressed 2020 orders, after the rapid falloff from avionics and other related COVID pandemic issues, drove the improvement. Current year bookings reflect the recovering avionics market and strong defense orders including a fourth quarter 2021 $6.3 million order related to a major missile defense program, most of which is expected to ship subsequent to 2022. The backlog of unfilled orders includes amounts based on signed contracts as well as agreed letters of intent, which we have determined are firm orders likely to be fulfilled primarily in the next 12 months.
Order backlog is adjusted quarterly to reflect project cancellations, deferrals, revised project scope and cost, and sales of subsidiaries, if any. We expect to fill a substantial portion of our order backlog as of December 31, 2021 in 2022, but cannot provide assurances as to what portion of the order backlog will be fulfilled in a given year.
Operating (Loss) Income
The Company reported an operating loss of ($786,000). Operating income, without the $1,318,000 non-cash charitable donation of IRNT common stock, was $532,000 compared to operating income of $1,415,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. This decrease reflects the lower revenues, inflationary pressures and $200,000 of Spin-Off costs incurred during 2021 somewhat offset by the above-described profitability improvements and lower non-cash stock-based compensation costs of $377,000. Engineering, selling and administrative expenses were 38.6% (33.9% excluding the charitable donation) of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 30.5% of revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Gain (Loss) on Equity Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary
The Company recognized a gain on equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiary of $59,453,000 compared to a loss of ($262,000) for the year ended December 31, 2020. As more fully described below in the Non-Recurring Items: Equity Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary section, the substantial increase reflects the impact of the IronNet Business Combination and subsequent Sponsor distribution of IRNT securities. The fair value of IRNT securities determined at the date of distribution represents the basis of these securities in determining realized and unrealized (losses) and gains.
Realized (Loss) Income on Marketable Securities
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the realized loss on marketable securities was ($16,962,000) compared to $74,000 of realized income for the year ended December 31, 2020. Excluding the realized loss related to the disposition of IRNT common stock and related derivative positions of $17,377,000, investment income improved to $415,000 compared to $74,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. See Note D – Marketable Securities in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for details.
21
Unrealized (Loss) Gain on Marketable Securities
During the year ended December 31, 2021, unrealized loss on marketable securities was ($22,949,000). Excluding the unrealized loss of ($22,834,000) from the change in fair value of the Company’s IRNT common stock and derivative positions held at December 31, 2021, the unrealized loss of ($155,000) compared to a $139,000 unrealized gain for the year ended December 31, 2020. See Note D – Marketable Securities in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for details.
Investment gains and losses have caused and are expected to continue to cause significant volatility in our earnings, particularly with respect to our IRNT securities position.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net was $11,000 compared to ($51,000) for the year ended December 31, 2020 reflecting currency changes.
Income Tax Provision
We must make certain estimates and judgments in determining income tax expense for financial statement purposes. These estimates and judgments occur in the calculation of tax credits, tax benefits and deductions and in the calculation of certain tax assets and liabilities, which arise from differences in the timing of recognition of revenue and expense for tax and financial statement purposes. Significant changes to these estimates may result in an increase or decrease to the tax provision in a subsequent period.
During 2021, the Company released its $379,000 valuation allowance over a portion of its deferred tax assets as the deferred tax assets became more likely than not to be realized given the expected gains on IRNT share sales. We recorded a tax expense of $4,118,000 and $336,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The substantially higher tax expense was driven by the gain from our Sponsor investment as a result of the IronNet Business Combination, and an increase in the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, but was partly offset by the tax benefit from the reduction of the Company’s previously recorded valuation allowance.
Net Income
Net income was $14,638,000 compared to $968,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase was from the aforementioned gain from our Sponsor investment as a result of the IronNet Business Combination, partially offset by realized and unrealized accounting losses in IRNT-related securities through December 31, 2021. Basic net income per share for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $2.77 and $0.19, respectively. Diluted net income per share for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $2.74 and $0.19, respectively.
Non-Recurring Items: Equity Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary
The Company invested $6.1 million in LGL Systems Acquisition Holdings, LLC, the Sponsor of LGL Systems Acquisition Corp., a NYSE-listed SPAC trading under the symbol “DFNS” which later completed a business combination with IronNet Cybersecurity, Inc. and began trading on the NYSE under the symbol “IRNT”. On September 14, 2021, the Company received 1,572,529 shares of IRNT common stock and 2,065,000 IRNT private warrants, as part of the Sponsor’s distribution to certain of its members, with an aggregate fair value of $65.3 million on the date of distribution. Of these shares of common stock, 1,300,000 shares were restricted from sale for at least six months from the date of closing and subject to the applicable shareholder lock-up agreements. In an effort to continue its stakeholder responsibilities in the context of global corporate citizenship, the Company made a charitable gift on September 28, 2021 of 50,000 of these restricted shares of IRNT stock, leaving a balance of 1,250,000 shares of restricted common stock at December 31, 2021. In October 2021, the Company received 1,271,406 shares of IRNT common stock from a cashless exercise of its private warrants.
Prior to the distribution on September 14, 2021, the Company reported its original $6.1 million investment in the Sponsor under the equity method of accounting, recognizing a cumulative Sponsor gain of $59.5 million since its initial 2019 investment which included the $65.3 million investment value increase from the Sponsor’s receipt of IRNT securities. After the Sponsor’s distribution, the Company’s IRNT securities have been classified as marketable securities, with the change in fair value reported as realized and unrealized losses.
22
As of December 31, 2021, the Company sold 1,455,315 shares of its IRNT common stock partially monetizing its $6.1 million Sponsor investment. Proceeds of $18.5 million from the sale of these shares and the closing of certain IRNT-related derivative transactions were received. At December 31, 2021, we held 1,338,620 shares of IRNT common stock in our portfolio of which 300,000 shares were hedged and in the money. In addition, as a result of the tax gain on the IRNT share sales, the Company was able to utilize nearly all of its net operating loss carryforwards along with a significant portion of its tax credit carryforward to reduce federal and state taxes payable by approximately $2.5 million.
The favorable impact of the Sponsor investment increased the Company’s 2021 other income by $19.3 million consisting of a $59.5 million gain on equity investment and a $40.2 loss on the change in fair value of IRNT securities since the Sponsor distribution ($17.4 million realized and $22.8 million unrealized). This reflects mark to market accounting treatment in determining the fair value of the Company’s membership interest at distribution and IRNT marketable securities and not the actual realized economic return on our $6.1 million investment in the Sponsor of the SPAC. SPACs characteristically exhibit significant stock price volatility from a shortage of tradeable shares coupled with post-merger derivative transactions, and so we expect significant volatility in our reported earnings as we mark to market our remaining IronNet holdings until they are sold. An independent committee of the Board was established to oversee the orderly liquidation of the investment. The Company has put options for 300,000 IRNT common shares with a strike price of $8 remaining in its portfolio as of December 31, 2021.
Reconciliations of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) basis, the Company used certain non-GAAP measures as presented in the following Non-GAAP proforma Statements of Operations. The Non-GAAP statements have been prepared to exclude transactions associated with our investment in the Sponsor (collectively the “Sponsor Transactions”). The Sponsor Transactions include: 1) the Company’s third quarter 2021 $1,318,000 non-cash donation of 50,000 shares of IRNT common stock, 2) $59,453,000 gain on equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiary for the year ended December 31, 2021, 3) ($17,377,000) realized loss on the 2021 disposition of IRNT common stock and related derivatives and 4) ($22,834,000) unrealized loss on the mark to market of IRNT-related securities held at December 31, 2021. The Sponsor Transactions include the ($262,000) loss on equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiary for the year ended December 31, 2020.
(Dollars in Thousands) |
| GAAP |
|
| Non-GAAP Adjustment for Sponsor Transactions |
|
| Non-GAAP Proforma without Sponsor Transactions |
|
| GAAP |
|
| Non-GAAP Adjustment for Sponsor Transactions |
|
| Non-GAAP Proforma without Sponsor Transactions |
| ||||||
|
| For the Year Ended |
|
| For the Year Ended |
| ||||||||||||||||||
|
| December 31, 2021 |
|
| December 31, 2020 |
| ||||||||||||||||||
REVENUES |
| $ | 28,140 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 28,140 |
|
| $ | 31,162 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 31,162 |
|
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manufacturing cost of sales |
|
| 18,069 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 18,069 |
|
|
| 20,233 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 20,233 |
|
Engineering, selling and administrative |
|
| 10,857 |
|
|
| 1,318 |
|
|
| 9,539 |
|
|
| 9,514 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 9,514 |
|
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME |
|
| (786 | ) |
|
| (1,318 | ) |
|
| 532 |
|
|
| 1,415 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 1,415 |
|
Gain (loss) on equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiary |
|
| 59,453 |
|
|
| 59,453 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| (262 | ) |
|
| (262 | ) |
|
| — |
|
Realized (loss) income on marketable securities |
|
| (16,962 | ) |
|
| (17,377 | ) |
|
| 415 |
|
|
| 74 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 74 |
|
Unrealized (loss) gain on marketable securities |
|
| (22,949 | ) |
|
| (22,834 | ) |
|
| (115 | ) |
|
| 139 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 139 |
|
Interest expense, net |
|
| (11 | ) |
|
| — |
|
|
| (11 | ) |
|
| (11 | ) |
|
| — |
|
|
| (11 | ) |
Other income (expense), net |
|
| 11 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 11 |
|
|
| (51 | ) |
|
| — |
|
|
| (51 | ) |
Income before income taxes |
| $ | 18,756 |
|
| $ | 17,924 |
|
| $ | 832 |
|
| $ | 1,304 |
|
| $ | (262 | ) |
| $ | 1,566 |
|
23
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, cash and cash equivalents were $29,016,000 and $18,331,000, respectively. The $18,548,000 of proceeds from the sale of IRNT-related securities drove the significant increase in cash and cash equivalents.
Cash provided by operating activities was $1,352,000 and $3,192,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The $1,840,000 decrease was largely due to the lower operating earnings and changes in receivable and inventory levels in 2021 as compared to 2020.
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $9,406,000 and ($428,000), respectively. The increase reflects $18,548,000 of proceeds from the sale of IRNT common stock and related derivatives partly offset by the purchase of $5,318,000 of marketable securities and the $2,725,000 funding for the Company’s Sponsor investment for its private placement subscription in connection with the IronNet Business Combination. Increased capital expenditures, $1,099,000 in 2021 versus $407,000 in 2020, were for investment in production equipment to improve cost and efficiency.
Cash (used in) provided by financing activities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was ($73,000) and $3,114,000, respectively. In 2020, the Company sold securities under its ATM Offering of $3,254,000 and incurred costs related to the issuance of common stock warrants of $202,000. In 2021, Company payments related to net share settlement of equity awards exceeded funds received from the exercise of stock options by $73,000.
As of December 31, 2021, our consolidated working capital was $51,410,000, compared to $30,384,000 as of December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2021, we had current assets of $55,836,000, current liabilities of $4,426,000 and a ratio of current assets to current liabilities of 12.62 to 1.00. As of December 31, 2020, we had current assets of $33,781,000, current liabilities of $3,397,000 and a ratio of current assets to current liabilities of 9.94 to 1.00. Management continues to focus on efficiently managing working capital requirements to match operating activity levels and will seek to deploy the Company’s working capital where it will generate the greatest returns.
We believe that existing cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and cash generated from operations will provide sufficient liquidity to meet our ongoing working capital and capital expenditure requirements for the next 12 months from the date of this filing. The Company’s management continues to strive for profitability both internally and through acquisition.
See Note I – Revolving Credit Agreement and Note K – Stockholders’ Equity in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for details of the revolving credit agreement and the ATM Offering.
Our Board has adhered to a practice of not paying cash dividends. This policy takes into account our long-term growth objectives, including our anticipated investments for organic growth, potential acquisitions or other strategic ventures and stockholders' desire for capital appreciation of their holdings. No cash dividends have been paid to the Company's stockholders since January 30, 1989, and none are expected to be paid for the foreseeable future.
Spin-Off
In late 2021, the Company’s Board approved progressing with the Spin-Off (as defined below) of MtronPTI. Completion of the Spin-Off is subject to a number of conditions, including stockholder approval of the transaction. If approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Spin-Off will separate the business activities and investments of the Company and create two separate, publicly-traded companies: (1) the Company, which will continue to own and operate PTF and hold substantially all the Company’s cash and marketable securities, and (2) MtronPTI, which includes the operations of Piezo Technology, Inc. and M-tron Asia, LLC (the “Spin-Off”). If completed, upon effectiveness of the transaction, LGL stockholders would own shares of both companies.
Management believes that, if completed, the Spin-Off of MtronPTI would enable shareholders to more clearly evaluate the performance and future potential of each entity on a standalone basis, while allowing each entity to pursue its own distinct business strategy and capital allocation policy. Separating MtronPTI as an independent, publicly owned company positions both MtronPTI and LGL Group to create value for their respective shareholders. The Spin-Off would permit each company to tailor its strategic plans and growth opportunities, more efficiently raise and allocate resources, including capital raised through debt or equity offerings, flexibly use its own stock as currency for incentive compensation and potential acquisitions and provide investors a more targeted investment opportunity.
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See Note R – Spin-Off of MtronPTI in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details of the transaction.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Our significant accounting policies are more fully described Note B – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in the accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Certain accounting policies require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions, and the effects of revisions are reflected in the financial statements in the period in which they are determined to be necessary. The accounting policies described below are those that most frequently require us to make estimates and judgments and, therefore, are critical to understanding our results of operations.
Income Taxes
We account for income taxes in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification Topic 740 “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”), which requires an asset and liability approach for the financial accounting and reporting of income taxes. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. These balances are measured using the enacted tax rates expected to apply in the year(s) in which these temporary differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred income taxes is recognized in income in the period when the change is enacted.
Based on consideration of all available evidence regarding their utilization, we record net deferred tax assets to the extent that it is more likely than not that they will be realized. Where, based on the weight of all available evidence, it is more likely than not that some amount of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, we establish a valuation allowance for the amount that, in our judgment, is sufficient to reduce the deferred tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. In reaching such conclusions, we consider available positive and negative evidence including past operating results, projections of future taxable income, the feasibility of ongoing tax planning strategies and the realizability of tax loss carryforwards. Our projections of future taxable income include estimates and assumptions regarding our income and costs, as well as the timing and amount of reversals of taxable temporary differences.
We account for unrecognized tax benefits in accordance with ASC 740, which prescribes a minimum probability threshold that a tax position must meet before a financial statement benefit is recognized. The minimum threshold is defined as a tax position that is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by the applicable taxing authority, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation, based solely on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefit recognized is the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
As a result of the tax gain on the IRNT share sales in 2021, the Company was able to utilize nearly all of its net operating loss carryforwards along with a significant portion of its tax credit carryforward prior to their expiration reducing 2021 federal and state taxes payable by approximately $2.5 million. We had a valuation allowance of $379,000 at the year ended December 31, 2020; however, this was reversed in 2021 given the significant change in our taxable income assumption from IRNT share sales.
Inventories
We account for inventories at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the FIFO (first-in, first-out) method.
Inventory reserves are determined based on estimated losses that result from inventory that becomes obsolete or for which the Company has excess inventory levels. In determining these estimates, the Company performs an analysis on current demand and usage for each inventory item over historical time periods. Based on that analysis, the Company reserves a percentage of the inventory amount within each time period based on historical demand and usage patterns of specific items in inventory. Actual experience could differ from the amounts estimated requiring adjustments to inventory valuation in future periods.
25
Not applicable.
See the financial statements included at the end of this Report beginning on page 40.
None.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to us, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
As required by Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b) of the Exchange Act, an evaluation as of December 31, 2021 was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures, as of December 31, 2021, were effective.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 based on the framework in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on that evaluation, our management has concluded that our internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of December 31, 2021.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended December 31, 2021 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
None.
Not applicable.
26
Directors
The following table sets forth information regarding our directors as of December 31, 2021, including their business experience for the past five years (and, in some instances, for prior years) and their specific experience, qualifications, attributes or skills that led to the conclusion that they should serve as directors.
Name |
| Age |
| Director Since |
| Offices and Positions Held with the Company, Business Experience and Principal Occupation for the Last Five Years, and Directorships in Public Corporations and Investment Companies |
Marc J. Gabelli |
| 53 |
| 2004 |
| Mr. Gabelli currently serves as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, The LGL Group, Inc. (December 2017 to present, and September 2004 to April 2016); Managing Partner, Horizon Research (January 2013 to present), an investment management and research services provider; Chief Executive Officer, Gabelli Securities International Ltd. (1994 to present), a global alternative asset management platform and merchant advisor; President and Managing Partner, GGCP, Inc. (1999 to present), a private corporation that makes investments for its own account; Managing Member, Commonwealth Management Partners LLC (2008 to present); and Director and Managing Partner, GAMA Funds Holdings GmbH (2009 to present). He formerly served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, LGL Systems Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: DFNS) from September 2019 to August 2021 and was also a Director from its inception in early 2019 to August 2021; Chairman of Gabelli Merger Plus Trust since July 2017; Director of GAMCO Investors, Inc. from November 2014 to May 2016; and Director and President of Associated Capital Group (October 2015 to May 2016); Mr. Gabelli brings to the Board his extensive knowledge of the Company's business and industry due to his longstanding service on the Board, as well as his financial expertise and leadership experience as an executive of various investment firms. |
Timothy Foufas |
| 53 |
| 2007 |
| Mr. Foufas serves as Managing Partner, Plato Foufas & Co. LLC (2005 to present), a financial services company. He previously served as Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, LGL Systems Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: DFNS) from September 2019 to August 2021; Chief Executive Officer of LGL Systems Acquisition Corp. from inception to September 2019; President, Levalon Properties LLC (2007 to 2018), a real estate property management company; Senior Vice President, Bayshore Management Co. LLC (2005 to 2006), a real estate property management company; Director of Investments, Liam Ventures Inc. (2000 to 2005), a private equity investment firm; and Director, ICTC Group, Inc. (2010 to 2013), a rural local exchange carrier headquartered in Nome, ND. Mr. Foufas brings to the Board his management skills and expertise in financial, investment and real estate matters. |
27
Donald H. Hunter |
| 65 |
| 2013 |
| Mr. Hunter is the Principal, Donald Hunter LLC (April 2007 to present), a consulting practice based in Wellesley, MA; and the Chairman of the Board and a member of the Audit Committee and Compensation Committees of Greenlane Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNLN), a global house of brands and one of the largest sellers of premium cannabis accessories (August 2021 to present). He previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for Harbor Global Company Limited (October 2000 to December 2006), a public company that owned and operated international investment management and natural resources subsidiaries; Chief Operating Officer, Pioneer Global Investments, a Division of the Pioneer Group, Inc. (August 1998 to October 2000), a company that provided investment management services and owned several natural resources investments; and Manager of International Finance, the Pioneer Group, Inc. (January 1991 to August 1998), with financial responsibility for international strategic start-ups. Mr. Hunter served as a director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of KushCo Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: KSHB), a packaging and supply company serving the regulated cannabis industry (February 2018 to August 2021); director of Juniper Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (February 2014 to March 2016), a specialty pharmaceuticals company (NASDAQ: JNP), where he served as Chairman of the Audit Committee; LICT Corporation (June 2014 to May 2015), an integrated provider of broadband and voice services (OTC PK: LICT); and the Pioneer First Polish Trust Fund, where he served as Audit Committee Chairman for the first mutual fund in Poland. Mr. Hunter brings to the Board financial, operating, governance, international and mergers and acquisition experience. |
Manjit Kalha |
| 46 |
| 2011 |
| Mr. Kalha has served as an Executive Vice President (Finance) at PMV Consumer Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: PMVC) (September 2020 to present); Managing Partner, Horizon Research (August 2012 to present), a firm that provides investment management and research services; Chief Executive Officer, Horizon AMC (June 2008 to present), a firm that provides investment management and consulting services; and Chief Executive Officer and Director, Jeet Associates Private Limited (December 2006 to present), a consulting firm based in New Delhi that provides business strategy, finance, and taxation advisory services. Mr. Kalha began his career at Arthur Andersen’s New Delhi office. Mr. Kalha brings to the Board his experience in management and manufacturing operations, and an extensive knowledge of global financial markets. |
Ivan Arteaga |
| 53 |
| 2019 |
| Mr. Arteaga is the Managing Member and Chief Investment Officer of Arteaga Capital Management, LLC (2006 to present), an investment manager to alternative global investment funds and provider of equity research services; Portfolio Manager of Arteaga Global Partners, LP (2007 to present), a global equity investment partnership; Managing Member of Arteaga Investment Management Group, LLC (2008 to present), a registered investment advisor; Director of Brick Skirt Holdings, Inc. (2014 to present), an owner of rural local exchange carrier DFT Communications. Formerly, he was Interim Chief Executive Officer of The LGL Group, Inc. (January 2020 to March 2021); Portfolio Manager at GAMCO Investors, Inc. (1994 to 2006); Vice President of Equity Research, Gabelli & Company, Inc., a provider of institutional research and brokerage services (1992 to 2002); and Senior Associate at KPMG Inc., a global CPA, audit and consulting firm. Mr. Arteaga brings to the Board his extensive financial and investment experience, his knowledge of global financial markets, and his knowledge and experience as an analyst and investor in the communications and satellite industry. |
Bel Lazar
|
| 61 |
| 2019 |
| Mr. Lazar is currently Chief Operations Officer and member of the Board of Directors at Efficient Power Conversion, a leading provider of gallium nitride (GaN)-based power management technology (April 2015 to present); and Chief Executive Officer of EPC Space LLC, a high reliability wide-gap power management technology company, and was previously President and CEO of API Technologies Corp., formerly a NASDAQ listed company. Mr. Lazar brings to the Board his experience in management and aerospace manufacturing operations within our industry, and significant mergers and acquisition experience. |
28
Michael Ferrantino |
| 50 |
| 2019 |
| Mr. Ferrantino’s biographical information can be found under the section for Executive Officers, below. |
John Mega |
| 69 |
| 2020 |
| Mr. Mega served as President of LGL Systems Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: DFNS) from September 2019 to August 2021. Mr. Mega was an original founding member of L3, which merged with Harris Technologies and is now L3Harris Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: LHX). Mr. Mega built and managed several divisions at L3 since its formation in 1997 after spinning off from Lockheed Martin. Prior to his retirement in 2018, he was a corporate Senior Vice President and President of L3’s Communication Systems, one of the four L3 major business segments. Earlier in his career, he had been President of L3’s Microwave Group, President of Narda Microwave, President of Logimetrics Inc., Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of at Lockheed Martin Corp’s Tactical Defense Systems, Group Controller at Loral Corp and a principal at Raytheon Company (RTN: NYSE). Mr. Mega brings to the Board his considerable experience in management and manufacturing operations within our industry. |
29
Executive Officers
The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of December 31, 2021, including their business experience for the past five years and prior years.
Name |
| Age |
| Offices and Positions Held with the Company, Business Experience and Principal Occupation for the Last Five Years |
Michael Ferrantino
|
| 50 |
| Mr. Ferrantino currently holds the position of President and Chief Executive Officer for The LGL Group, Inc. (April 2021 to present) and also holds the position of Chief Executive Officer for Interex, Inc. and is on the board of Gabelli Equity Trust, Inc. and Gabelli Utility Trust. Mr. Ferrantino formerly served as a Director of LGL Systems Acquisition Corp. from September 2019 to August 2021 (NYSE: DFNS) and was Chief Executive Officer & Director at Valpey-Fisher Corp. Mr. Ferrantino received an undergraduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland. Mr. Ferrantino brings to the Board his experience in management and manufacturing operations, and an extensive knowledge of global financial markets.
|
James W. Tivy |
| 54 |
| Chief Financial Officer, The LGL Group, Inc. (January 2018 to present); SVP, Finance for INTL FCStone Securities Inc. (November 2012 to January 2017); Group Controller, INTL FCStone Inc. (January 2008 to November 2012). |
Joan Atkinson Nano |
| 66 |
| Chief Accounting Officer, The LGL Group, Inc. (June 2020 to present); Chief Financial Officer of Revolution Lighting Technologies, Inc., formerly a NASDAQ listed company (June 2019 to September 2020). Mrs. Nano has served as Managing Director for Finance Solutions, LLC, a financial consulting firm, since 2008. As a financial consultant, she led initiatives on SEC reporting matters, acquisition analysis, cost savings, cash flow improvement, ERP implementation and tax matters for clients including Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO), Catalyst Capital Group and Tronox Limited (NYSE: TROX). From 2001 to 2008, Mrs. Nano served as Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of Crane Co. (NYSE: CR), a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products for various markets including aerospace and defense, where she led all of the business unit finance teams as well as corporate financial planning and analysis, accounting and financial reporting. Prior to Crane Co., Mrs. Nano held positions at GE Capital Corporation and Pitney Bowes. Mrs. Nano is a Certified Public Accountant, holds a BS degree from Sacred Heart University-Jack Welsh College of Business & Technology, graduating cum laude, and completed executive training at the Wharton School. |
Linda Biles |
| 60 |
| Vice-President, Controller, The LGL Group, Inc. (June 2020 to present); Vice-President and Controller for MtronPTI (2007 to present). |
Patrick Huvane |
| 54 |
| Senior Vice-President, Business Development, The LGL Group, Inc. (April 2019 to present); Vice President, Finance and Accounting, LGL Systems Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: DFNS) (September 2019 to August 2021); Chief Financial Officer of Teton Advisors, Inc. (OTC: TETAA) since 2019. From 2007 to 2018, Mr. Huvane was employed by Tiptree Inc. (NASD: TIPT) as Chief Accounting Officer. |
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our equity securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the SEC. Based solely upon a review of the reports filed during 2021 and/or written representations from the reporting persons, we believe that, during our fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, all required Section 16(a) filings were timely and correctly made by reporting persons for 2021.
30
Code of Ethics
We adopted a code of ethics as part of our Business Conduct Policy, which applies to all of our employees, including our principal executive, financial and accounting officers. Our Business Conduct Policy is available at www.lglgroup.com. Amendments to and waivers of our code of ethics and Business Conduct Policy will be disclosed on our website.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee of the Board (the "Audit Committee") consists of Messrs. Hunter, Kalha and Foufas. The Board has determined that all Audit Committee members are financially literate and independent under applicable NYSE listing standards. Mr. Hunter serves as Chairman of the Audit Committee, and the Board has determined that he qualifies as the Audit Committee financial expert, as defined under the Exchange Act.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information with respect to compensation earned by the named executive officers:
Name and Principal Position |
| Year |
| Salary ($) |
|
| Bonus ($) |
|
| Stock Awards (1) ($) |
|
| Total ($) |
| ||||
Michael Ferrantino (2) |
| 2021 |
|
| 161,827 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 532,800 |
| (3) |
| 694,627 |
|
President and Chief |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ivan Arteaga (2) |
| 2021 |
|
| 17,702 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 17,702 |
|
Former Interim Chief |
| 2020 |
|
| 46,708 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 405,450 |
| (4) |
| 452,158 |
|
Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
James W. Tivy |
| 2021 |
|
| 96,000 |
|
|
| 25,000 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 121,000 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
| 2020 |
|
| 96,000 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 96,000 |
|
Linda Biles |
| 2021 |
|
| 132,018 |
|
|
| 27,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 159,018 |
|
Vice President, Controller |
| 2020 |
|
| 130,160 |
|
|
| 52,000 |
|
|
| 120,000 |
| (5) |
| 302,160 |
|
| (2) | While serving as an officer of the Company, compensation is not provided for services as a director. See Non-Employee Director Compensation table for (i) Mr. Ferrantino’s remuneration as a director prior to his appointment as an officer; and (ii) Mr. Arteaga’s remuneration as a director following the completion of his assignment as Interim Chief Executive Officer. |
| (3) | On December 28, 2021, the Company awarded Mr. Ferrantino 45,000 restricted shares of common stock with a grant date fair value of $532,800. |
| (4) | On March 26, 2020, the Company awarded Mr. Arteaga 45,000 restricted shares of common stock with a grant date fair value of $405,450. Upon completion of his assignment as Interim Chief Executive Officer in March 2021, 26,250 of these shares were forfeited. The remaining 18,750 shares with a grant date fair value of $168,938 vest through 2023 provided he continues to serve on the Company’s Board. |
| (5) | On December 29, 2020, the Company awarded Ms. Biles 10,762 restricted shares of common stock with a grant date fair value of $120,000. |
31
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth the information with respect to outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2021.
|
| Stock Awards (1) |
| |||||
Name |
| Number of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested (#) |
|
| Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested ($) (5) |
| ||
Michael Ferrantino (2) |
|
| 30,000 |
|
|
| 342,000 |
|
Ivan Arteaga (3) |
|
| 18,750 |
|
|
| 213,750 |
|
Linda Biles (4) |
|
| 7,533 |
|
|
| 85,876 |
|
| (1) | There are no LGL stock options held by any named executive officers. |
| (2) | On December 28, 2021, the Company granted Mr. Ferrantino 45,000 restricted shares of common stock with a grant date fair value of $532,800. These shares vest as follows: 15,000 at December 28, 2021, 15,000 at April 1, 2022 and 15,000 at April 1, 2023. |
| (3) | On March 26, 2020, the Company awarded Mr. Arteaga 45,000 restricted shares of common stock in connection with his role as LGL’s Interim Chief Executive Officer. Upon completion of his assignment in March 2021, 26,250 of these shares were forfeited. The remaining 18,750 shares had a grant date fair value of $168,938 and vest as follows: 15,000 at January 1, 2022 and 3,750 at January 1, 2023. |
| (4) | On December 29, 2020, the Company awarded Ms. Biles 10,762 restricted shares of common stock with a grant date fair value of $120,000. These shares vest as follows: 3,229 at December 29, 2021, 3,229 at December 29, 2022 and 4,304 at December 29, 2023. |
| (5) | Market value is based on the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2021 of $11.40 per share. |
Non-Employee Director Compensation
The following table sets forth information with respect to compensation earned by or awarded to each non-employee director who served on the Board during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021:
Name |
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) |
|
| Stock Awards ($) (1) |
|
| Total ($) |
| |||
|
| 16,750 |
|
|
| 15,001 |
|
|
| 31,751 |
| |
Timothy Foufas |
|
| 25,250 |
|
|
| 15,001 |
|
|
| 40,251 |
|
Donald H. Hunter |
|
| 24,250 |
|
|
| 15,001 |
|
|
| 39,251 |
|
Manjit Kalha |
|
| 23,250 |
|
|
| 15,001 |
|
|
| 38,251 |
|
Bel Lazar |
|
| 19,750 |
|
|
| 15,001 |
|
|
| 34,751 |
|
John Mega |
|
| 17,750 |
|
|
| 15,001 |
|
|
| 32,751 |
|
Ivan Arteaga (2) |
|
| 11,250 |
|
|
| 15,001 |
|
|
| 26,251 |
|
Robert LaPenta (3) |
|
| 14,250 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 14,250 |
|
Michael Ferrantino (4) |
|
| 4,750 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 4,750 |
|
| (1) | These shares were granted under the 2021 Incentive Plan. |
| (2) | Reflects Mr. Arteaga’s compensation earned as a non-employee director since completing his assignment as Interim Chief Executive Officer in March 2021. |
| (3) | Mr. LaPenta was a member of the Company’s Board until his resignation on September 27, 2021, as he joined IronNet as a board member upon the IRNT Business Combination. |
| (4) | Since Mr. Ferrantino’s appointment as President and Chief Executive Officer, he no longer receives compensation for his service as a director. See Summary Compensation Table for Mr. Ferrantino’s remuneration as an executive officer. |
Non-employee directors also receive the following in addition to the equity awards granted as part of their base compensation: (i) their annual base cash compensation of $10,000; (ii) $2,000 for each meeting of the Board attended in person and $750 for attendance at each meeting held telephonically and (iii) the Audit Committee Chairman receives a $2,000 annual cash retainer, and the Nominating Committee Chairman and Compensation Committee Chairman each receives a $1,000 annual cash retainer.
32
Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters. |
The following table sets forth information regarding the number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned on March 10, 2022, by:
| • | Each person who is known to us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock; |
| • | Each of our directors, nominees and named executive officers; and |
| • | All of our directors and executive officers, as a group. |
The amounts and percentages of common stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or direct the voting of a security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of a security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed a beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which such person has no economic interest. Except as otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, each of the beneficial owners listed has, to our knowledge, sole voting and investment power with respect to the indicated shares of common stock.
Except as otherwise set forth below, the address of each of the persons listed below is: The LGL Group, Inc., 2525 Shader Road, Orlando, Florida 32804.
|
| Common Stock Beneficially Owned (1) |
| ||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
| Shares |
|
|
| % |
| ||
5% Stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mario J. Gabelli |
|
| 1,042,612 |
| (2) |
|
| 19.4 |
|
Directors and Named Executive Officers: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marc J. Gabelli |
|
| 844,883 |
| (3) |
|
| 15.7 |
|
Michael Ferrantino |
|
| 46,507 |
| (4) |
| * |
| |
Timothy Foufas |
|
| 38,542 |
|
|
| * |
| |
Donald H. Hunter |
|
| 26,515 |
|
|
| * |
| |
Manjit Kalha |
|
| 24,751 |
|
|
| * |
| |
Ivan Arteaga |
|
| 20,017 |
| (5) |
| * |
| |
Linda Biles |
|
| 16,353 |
| (6) |
| * |
| |
Bel Lazar |
|
| 7,142 |
|
|
| * |
| |
John Mega |
|
| 6,625 |
|
|
| * |
| |
James W. Tivy |
|
| 3,000 |
|
|
| * |
| |
All executive officers and directors as a group (12 persons) |
|
| 1,034,335 |
|
|
|
| 19.3 |
|
| * | Less than 1% of outstanding shares. |
| (1) | The applicable percentage of ownership for each beneficial owner is based on 5,365,256 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 10, 2022. Shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options, warrants or other rights beneficially owned that are exercisable within 60 days are deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such securities and rights and all executive officers and directors as a group. |
| (2) | Includes (i) 500,675 shares of common stock owned directly by Mario J. Gabelli; (ii) 476,937 shares owned by GGCP Inc., of which Mario J. Gabelli is the chief executive officer, a director and controlling shareholder; (iii) 64,500 shares held by the Gabelli Foundation, Inc. and (iv) 500 shares owned by GAMCO Asset Management, Inc. Mario J. Gabelli disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by MJG-IV Limited Partnership, and GGCP, Inc. except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Mario J. Gabelli's business address is 401 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Rye, New York 10580-1430. This disclosure is based solely on information in a Form 4 filed by Mario J. Gabelli with the SEC on November 18, 2020. |
| (3) | Includes (i) 80,580 shares of common stock owned directly by Marc J. Gabelli; and (ii) 764,303 shares held by Venator Merchant Fund, L.P. ("Venator Fund"). Venator Global, LLC ("Venator Global"), which is the sole general partner of Venator Fund, may be deemed to beneficially own the securities owned by Venator Fund. Marc J. Gabelli, who is the President and Sole Member of Venator Global, may be deemed to beneficially own the securities owned by |
33
| Venator Fund. Marc J. Gabelli disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities owned by Venator Fund, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
| (4) | Includes 30,000 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (5) | Includes 3,750 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
| (6) | Includes 7,533 shares of unvested restricted stock. |
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2021 about our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under all of our existing equity compensation plans (including individual arrangements):
Plan Category |
| Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) |
|
| Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b) |
|
| Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) |
| |||
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (1) |
|
| 25,000 |
|
| $ | 12.72 |
|
|
| 946,511 |
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
Total |
|
| 25,000 |
|
| $ | 12.72 |
|
|
| 946,511 |
|
| (1) | The 2021 Incentive Plan was approved by our stockholders on December 28, 2021. 1,000,000 shares of common stock are authorized for issuance under the 2021 Incentive Plan. Options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock issued under the Amended and Restated 2011 Incentive Plan were outstanding as of December 31, 2021. Restricted stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2021 amounted to 56,283, of which 26,283 were issued under the Amended and Restated 2011 Incentive Plan and 30,000 were issued under the 2021 Incentive Plan. |
Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons
Certain cash equivalents and marketable securities held and invested in various mutual funds are managed by a related entity (the "Fund Manager"). Marc Gabelli, the Company’s non-executive Chairman of the Board, who is also a greater than 10% stockholder, serves as an executive officer of the Fund Manager. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the balance with the Fund Manager totaled $15,595,000 and $19,063,000, respectively. Fund management fees earned by the Fund Manager are anticipated to be approximately 0.50% of the asset balances under management on an annual basis. The brokerage and fund transactions in 2021 and 2020 were directed solely at the discretion of the Company’s management.
All transactions between us and any of our officers, directors, director nominees, principal stockholders or their immediate family members are to be approved by the Audit Committee and are to be on terms no less favorable to us than we could obtain from unaffiliated third parties. Such policy and procedures are set forth in a resolution of the Board.
Director Independence
As required under NYSE rules, a majority of the members of a listed company's board of directors must qualify as "independent," as affirmatively determined by such board of directors. The Board has determined that Messrs. Foufas, Hunter, Kalha, Lazar and Mega, comprising a majority of the members of the Board, are independent within the meaning of NYSE rules.
Audit Fees
Aggregate audit fees for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, were $247,125 and $238,395, respectively, and include fees billed by RSM US LLP ("RSM") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm
34
for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. Audit fees include services relating to auditing the Company's annual financial statements included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K and reviewing the Company's financial statements included in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.
Audit-Related Fees
During 2021, RSM rendered audit-related services in connection with the Company’s Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A relating to obtaining stockholder approval for the Spin-Off of its MtronPTI subsidiary and charged fees of $36,750.
During 2020, RSM rendered audit-related services in connection with the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-249639) relating to a dividend of warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock and charged fees of $26,500 during the year ended December 31, 2020 for these services.
Tax Fees
During the year ended December 31, 2020, RSM rendered tax services in connection with the Company’s required federal and state income tax reporting. Total fees charged during the year ended December 31, 2020 totaled $40,425. These non-audit tax preparation services performed by RSM were pre-approved by the Company’s Audit Committee.
All Other Fees
RSM did not render any other services during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures
The Audit Committee policy and procedures for the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm are reflected in the Audit Committee Charter. The Audit Committee Charter provides that the Audit Committee shall pre-approve all audit and non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm and shall not engage the independent registered public accounting firm to perform the specific non-audit services proscribed by law or regulation. The Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to a member of the Audit Committee. The decisions of any Audit Committee member to whom pre-approval authority is delegated must be presented to the full Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.
If any services other than audit services are rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee determines whether such services are compatible with maintaining our independent registered public accounting firm's independence.
All services performed by our independent registered public accounting firm were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
35
| (a) | List of documents filed as part of this report: |
1. | Financial Statements: |
2. | Financial Statement Schedules: |
None.
3. Exhibit Index
The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Form 10-K:
Exhibit No. |
| Description |
|
|
|
2.1 |
| |
|
|
|
3.1 |
| |
|
|
|
3.2 |
| |
|
|
|
3.3 |
| |
|
|
|
3.4 |
| |
|
|
|
3.5 |
| |
|
|
|
3.6 |
| |
|
|
|
4.1 |
| |
|
|
|
4.2 |
| |
|
|
|
36
Exhibit No. |
| Description |
4.3 |
|
|
4.4 |
| Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.* |
|
|
|
4.5 |
| |
|
|
|
4.6 |
| |
|
|
|
10.1 |
| |
|
|
|
10.2 |
| |
|
|
|
10.3 |
| |
|
|
|
10.4 |
| |
|
|
|
10.5 |
| |
|
|
|
10.6 |
| |
|
|
|
10.7 |
| |
|
|
|
10.8 |
| |
|
|
|
10.9 |
| |
|
|
|
10.10 |
| |
|
|
|
10.11 |
| |
|
|
|
10.12 |
| |
|
|
|
37
Exhibit No. |
| Description |
10.13 |
| |
|
|
|
21.1 |
| Subsidiaries of The LGL Group, Inc.* |
|
|
|
23.1 |
| Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm – RSM US LLP.* |
|
|
|
31.1 |
| Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
|
|
|
31.2 |
| Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
|
|
|
32.1 |
| Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.** |
|
|
|
32.2 |
| Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.** |
|
|
|
101.INS |
| Inline XBRL Instance Document* |
|
|
|
101.SCH |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document* |
|
|
|
101.CAL |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document* |
|
|
|
101.DEF |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document* |
|
|
|
101.LAB |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document* |
|
|
|
101.PRE |
| Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document* |
|
|
|
104 |
| Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)* |
|
|
|
|
|
|
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith. In accordance with Item 601(b)(32) of Regulation S-K, this Exhibit is not deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section. Such certifications will not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.
+ Indicates management or compensatory plan.
The exhibits listed above have been filed separately with the SEC in conjunction with this Annual Report on Form 10-K or have been incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Upon request, the Company will furnish to each of its stockholders a copy of any such exhibit. Requests should be addressed to the Corporate Secretary, The LGL Group, Inc., 2525 Shader Road, Orlando, Florida 32804.
None.
38
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| THE LGL GROUP, INC. | ||
|
| ||
March 28, 2022 | By: |
| /s/ Michael Ferrantino |
|
|
| Michael Ferrantino |
|
|
| President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive 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:
SIGNATURE |
| CAPACITY |
| DATE |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Michael Ferrantino |
| President, Chief Executive Officer and Director |
| March 28, 2022 |
MICHAEL FERRANTINO |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Chief Financial Officer |
| March 28, 2022 | |
JAMES W. TIVY |
| (Principal Financial Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Joan Atkinson Nano |
| Chief Accounting Officer |
| March 28, 2022 |
JOAN ATKINSON NANO |
| (Principal Accounting Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Marc J. Gabelli |
| Director |
| March 28, 2022 |
MARC J. GABELLI |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Timothy Foufas |
| Director |
| March 28, 2022 |
TIMOTHY FOUFAS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Donald H. Hunter |
| Director |
| March 28, 2022 |
DONALD H. HUNTER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Manjit Kalha |
| Director |
| March 28, 2022 |
MANJIT KALHA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Bel Lazar |
| Director |
| March 28, 2022 |
BEL LAZAR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Ivan Arteaga |
| Director |
| March 28, 2022 |
IVAN ARTEAGA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ John Mega |
| Director |
| March 28, 2022 |
JOHN MEGA |
|
|
|
|
39
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of The LGL Group, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The LGL Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involves our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Inventory Valuation Reserve
As described in Notes B and G to the financial statements, the Company’s net inventory balance of approximately $5.5 million included a reserve for obsolete and excess inventory of approximately $1.4 million at December 31, 2021. The Company maintains a reserve for inventory based on estimated losses that result from inventory that becomes obsolete or for which the Company has excess inventory levels. In determining this estimate, the Company performs an analysis on current demand and usage for each inventory item over historical time periods. Based on that analysis, the Company reserves a percentage of the inventory amount within each time period based on historical demand and usage patterns of specific items in inventory.
40
We identified the reserve for obsolete and excess inventory as a critical audit matter because auditing management’s assumptions used in the estimate for obsolete and excess inventory involved a high degree of auditor judgement and increased audit effort, including the use of information technology professionals, due to the impact these assumptions have on management’s estimate.
Our audit procedures related to the Company’s reserve for obsolete and excess inventory included the following, among others:
| • | We tested the accuracy and completeness of the underlying data used in management’s estimates of the inventory reserve, including reports related to the relevant inventory demand and historical usage. |
| • | Developed an independent expectation of the expected inventory reserve at year-end based upon a trend analysis of historical product usage and compared it to management’s estimate. |
| • | We utilized an internal information technology professional to verify the underlying logic data of the report used by management to produce usage data. |
| • | Tested the mathematical accuracy of management’s inventory reserve calculation and the reports used by management as inputs in the calculation. |
/s/ RSM US LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2011.
Orlando, Florida
March 28, 2022
41
THE LGL GROUP, INC.
(Dollars in Thousands, Except per Share Amounts)
|
| December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
| $ | 29,016 |
|
| $ | 18,331 |
|
Marketable securities |
|
| 16,167 |
|
|
| 5,791 |
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $208 and $189, respectively |
|
| 4,667 |
|
|
| 4,122 |
|
Inventories, net |
|
| 5,492 |
|
|
| 5,280 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
| 494 |
|
|
| 257 |
|
Total Current Assets |
|
| 55,836 |
|
|
| 33,781 |
|
Property, Plant and Equipment |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Land |
|
| 536 |
|
|
| 536 |
|
Buildings and improvements |
|
| 4,869 |
|
|
| 4,810 |
|
Machinery and equipment |
|
| 18,815 |
|
|
| 17,775 |
|
Gross property, plant and equipment |
|
| 24,220 |
|
|
| 23,121 |
|
Less: accumulated depreciation |
|
| (20,837 | ) |
|
| (20,336 | ) |
Net property, plant and equipment |
|
| 3,383 |
|
|
| 2,785 |
|
Right-of-use lease asset |
|
| 396 |
|
|
| 422 |
|
Equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiary |
|
| — |
|
|
| 3,072 |
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
| 252 |
|
|
| 327 |
|
Deferred income tax asset |
|
| 34 |
|
|
| 3,052 |
|
Other assets |
|
| 5 |
|
|
| 16 |
|
Total Assets |
| $ | 59,906 |
|
| $ | 43,455 |
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
| $ | 1,455 |
|
| $ | 1,240 |
|
Accrued compensation and commissions expense |
|
| 1,549 |
|
|
| 1,324 |
|
Income taxes payable |
|
| 599 |
|
|
| 25 |
|
Other accrued expenses and liabilities |
|
| 823 |
|
|
| 808 |
|
Total Current Liabilities |
|
| 4,426 |
|
|
| 3,397 |
|
Deferred income tax liability |
|
| 124 |
|
|
| — |
|
Other liabilities |
|
| 613 |
|
|
| 293 |
|
Total Liabilities |
|
| 5,163 |
|
|
| 3,690 |
|
Contingencies (Note O) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders' Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, $0.01 par value - 30,000,000 and 10,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively; 5,446,840 shares issued and 5,308,973 shares outstanding at December 31, 2021, and 5,409,550 shares issued and 5,272,204 shares outstanding at December 31, 2020 |
|
| 53 |
|
|
| 53 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
| 45,817 |
|
|
| 45,477 |
|
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) |
|
| 9,453 |
|
|
| (5,185 | ) |
Treasury stock, 81,584 shares held in treasury at cost at December 31, 2021 and 2020 |
|
| (580 | ) |
|
| (580 | ) |
Total Stockholders' Equity |
|
| 54,743 |
|
|
| 39,765 |
|
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity |
| $ | 59,906 |
|
| $ | 43,455 |
|
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
42
THE LGL GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
REVENUES |
| $ | 28,140 |
|
| $ | 31,162 |
|
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manufacturing cost of sales |
|
| 18,069 |
|
|
| 20,233 |
|
Engineering, selling and administrative |
|
| 10,857 |
|
|
| 9,514 |
|
OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME |
|
| (786 | ) |
|
| 1,415 |
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense, net |
|
| (11 | ) |
|
| (11 | ) |
Gain (loss) on equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiary |
|
| 59,453 |
|
|
| (262 | ) |
Realized (loss) income on marketable securities |
|
| (16,962 | ) |
|
| 74 |
|
Unrealized (loss) gain on marketable securities |
|
| (22,949 | ) |
|
| 139 |
|
Other income (expense), net |
|
| 11 |
|
|
| (51 | ) |
Total other income (expense), net |
|
| 19,542 |
|
|
| (111 | ) |
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES |
|
| 18,756 |
|
|
| 1,304 |
|
Income tax provision |
|
| 4,118 |
|
|
| 336 |
|
NET INCOME |
| $ | 14,638 |
|
| $ | 968 |
|
Basic per share information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of shares used in basic earnings per share calculation |
|
| 5,275,374 |
|
|
| 5,173,430 |
|
Basic net income per share |
| $ | 2.77 |
|
| $ | 0.19 |
|
Diluted per share information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of shares used in diluted earnings per share calculation |
|
| 5,334,087 |
|
|
| 5,216,859 |
|
Diluted net income per share |
| $ | 2.74 |
|
| $ | 0.19 |
|
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
43
THE LGL GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Dollars in Thousands)
|
| Shares of Common Stock Outstanding |
|
| Common Stock |
|
| Additional Paid-In Capital |
|
| Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) |
|
| Treasury Stock |
|
| Total |
| ||||||
Balance at December 31, 2019 |
|
| 4,933,063 |
|
| $ | 50 |
|
| $ | 41,576 |
|
| $ | (6,153 | ) |
| $ | (580 | ) |
| $ | 34,893 |
|
Net income |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 968 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 968 |
|
Exercise of stock options |
|
| 20,329 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 85 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 85 |
|
Repurchase of shares exercised |
|
| (2,295 | ) |
|
| — |
|
|
| (23 | ) |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| (23 | ) |
Stock-based compensation |
|
| 57,382 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 790 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 790 |
|
At-the market stock sales |
|
| 263,725 |
|
|
| 3 |
|
|
| 3,251 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 3,254 |
|
Share-related issuance costs |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| (202 | ) |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| (202 | ) |
Balance at December 31, 2020 |
|
| 5,272,204 |
|
|
| 53 |
|
|
| 45,477 |
|
|
| (5,185 | ) |
|
| (580 | ) |
|
| 39,765 |
|
Net income |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 14,638 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 14,638 |
|
Exercise of stock options |
|
| 33,050 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 178 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 178 |
|
Repurchase of shares exercised |
|
| (22,999 | ) |
|
| — |
|
|
| (251 | ) |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| (251 | ) |
Stock-based compensation |
|
| 26,718 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 413 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 413 |
|
Balance at December 31, 2021 |
|
| 5,308,973 |
|
| $ | 53 |
|
| $ | 45,817 |
|
| $ | 9,453 |
|
| $ | (580 | ) |
| $ | 54,743 |
|
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
44
THE LGL GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in Thousands)
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
| $ | 14,638 |
|
| $ | 968 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
| |||||||
Depreciation |
|
| 501 |
|
|
| 453 |
|
Amortization of finite-lived intangible assets |
|
| 75 |
|
|
| 75 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
| 413 |
|
|
| 790 |
|
(Gain) loss on equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiary |
|
| (59,453 | ) |
|
| 262 |
|
Realized loss on sale of marketable securities |
|
| 17,377 |
|
|
| — |
|
Unrealized loss (gain) on marketable securities |
|
| 22,949 |
|
|
| (139 | ) |
Non-cash donation of IRNT common stock |
|
| 1,318 |
|
|
| — |
|
Deferred income tax expense |
|
| 3,142 |
|
|
| 255 |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net |
|
| (545 | ) |
|
| 323 |
|
(Increase) decrease in inventories, net |
|
| (212 | ) |
|
| 736 |
|
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
| (226 | ) |
|
| 194 |
|
Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable |
|
| 574 |
|
|
| (8 | ) |
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued compensation and commissions expense and other |
|
| 801 |
|
|
| (717 | ) |
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
| 1,352 |
|
|
| 3,192 |
|
INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subscription agreement funding |
|
| (2,725 | ) |
|
| — |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
| (1,099 | ) |
|
| (407 | ) |
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities |
|
| 18,548 |
|
|
| — |
|
Purchase of marketable securities |
|
| (5,318 | ) |
|
| (21 | ) |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
| 9,406 |
|
|
| (428 | ) |
FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of at-the-market stock sales |
|
| — |
|
|
| 3,254 |
|
Share-related issuance costs |
|
| — |
|
|
| (202 | ) |
Proceeds from stock option exercise |
|
| 178 |
|
|
| 85 |
|
Payment for taxes related to net share settlement of equity awards |
|
| (251 | ) |
|
| (23 | ) |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
|
| (73 | ) |
|
| 3,114 |
|
Increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
| 10,685 |
|
|
| 5,878 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
|
| 18,331 |
|
|
| 12,453 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
| $ | 29,016 |
|
| $ | 18,331 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Noncash Investing Activity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution of IRNT securities by Sponsor (unconsolidated subsidiary) |
| $ | 65,250 |
|
| $ | — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental Disclosure: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest paid |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 3 |
|
Income taxes paid |
| $ | 72 |
|
| $ | 60 |
|
See Accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
45
THE LGL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A. Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The LGL Group, Inc. (the “Company”, “LGL Group”, “we”, “LGL”, “our” or “us”) and all of its majority-owned subsidiaries except its sole variable interest entity (“VIE”), LGL Systems Acquisition Holding Company, LLC. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. These consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”).
Certain amounts in prior year consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
The Company was incorporated in 1928 under the laws of the State of Indiana and reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 2007, and is a diversified holding company with subsidiaries engaged in the design, manufacturing and marketing of highly-engineered, high reliability frequency and spectrum control products used to control the frequency or timing of signals in electronic circuits and in the design of high performance Frequency and Time Reference Standards that form the basis for timing and synchronization in various applications.
The Company is engaged in investment and manufacturing business activities. Its manufacturing businesses are operated through its two principal subsidiaries, (1) M-tron Industries, Inc. ("MtronPTI"), which includes the operations of Piezo Technology, Inc. ("PTI") and M-tron Asia, LLC ("Mtron"), and (2) Precise Time and Frequency, LLC ("PTF"). The Company has operations in Orlando, Florida; Yankton, South Dakota; Wakefield, Massachusetts; and Noida, India. MtronPTI also has sales offices in Austin, Texas and Hong Kong.
In 2019, the Company created an intermediate holding company, M-tron Systems Holdings, LLC, for its existing operating assets and reorganized to facilitate opportunities to further diversify its portfolio. The Company formed three subsidiaries: M-tron Systems Holdings, LLC, LGL Systems Acquisition Holding Company, LLC and LGL Systems Acquisition Corp. LGL Systems Acquisition Holding Company, LLC (the “Sponsor”) was the sponsor of LGL Systems Acquisition Corp. (the “SPAC”), a special purpose acquisition company, commonly referred to as a SPAC or blank check company, formed for the purpose of effecting a business combination in the aerospace, defense and communications industries which was completed in 2021. The SPAC was listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “DFNS” until August 2021 when the merger with its target company was completed. See Note C - Equity Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary.
B. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its majority-owned subsidiaries except its sole VIE, LGL Systems Acquisition Holding Company, LLC (the “Sponsor”). Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. The VIE served as the Sponsor to the SPAC. The SPAC completed a merger with its target company, IronNet Cybersecurity, Inc., on August 26, 2021 and changed its name to IronNet, Inc. (“IronNet” or “IRNT”) (the “IronNet Business Combination”). IronNet is a publicly-traded company on the NYSE American (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “IRNT.”
VIE: Our sole interest in a VIE, the Sponsor, was accounted for under the equity method of accounting and not consolidated. Determining whether to consolidate a VIE requires judgement in assessing whether an entity is a VIE and if we are the entity’s primary beneficiary. If we are the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we are required to consolidate the entity. To determine if we are the primary beneficiary, we evaluate whether we have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Our evaluation included identification of significant activities and an assessment of our ability to direct those activities, based on operating and other legal agreements as well as governance provisions. As a result of our review, we concluded that we were not the primary beneficiary of the VIE and that consolidation was not warranted.
The Sponsor is managed by LGL Systems Nevada Management Partners LLC (“Nevada GP”), an affiliated entity deemed to be under the significant influence of Marc Gabelli, the Company’s non-executive Chairman of the Board, who is also a greater than 10% stockholder of the Company. The Company has determined that it is not the primary
46
beneficiary of the Sponsor, as Nevada GP has the power to direct the activities of the Sponsor that most significantly impact the Sponsor’s economic performance through an operating agreement. The Company, therefore, accounts for the Sponsor under the equity method of accounting.
Equity-Method Investments: When the Company does not have a controlling financial interest in an entity but can exert significant influence over the entity’s operating and financial policies, the investment is accounted for either (i) under the equity method of accounting or (ii) at fair value by electing the fair value option available under GAAP. Significant influence generally exists when the Company owns 20% to 50% of the entity’s common stock or in-substance common stock. In applying the equity method, we record the investment at cost and subsequently increase or decrease the carrying amount of the investment by our proportionate share of earnings or losses of the investee. We record dividends or other equity distributions as reductions in the carrying value of the investment. The Company reports the equity income (loss) from its investment in the Sponsor on a one-quarter lag basis. Following the Sponsor’s 2021 distribution of IRNT securities to the Company, as more fully described in Note C – Equity Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary, the Company’s remaining investment in the Sponsor is de minimis.
Uses of Estimates
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of highly-liquid investments with no maturity or with a maturity of less than three months when purchased.
Marketable Securities
Marketable equity securities are reported at fair value with the change in fair value from acquisition being recorded as gains and losses in the consolidated statement of operations. Gains and losses are reported as realized on securities sold during the period and unrealized on securities held at the end of the period.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable consists principally of amounts due from both domestic and foreign customers. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of the customer's financial condition and collateral is not required. In relation to export sales, the Company requires letters of credit supporting a significant portion of the sales price prior to production to limit exposure to credit risk. Certain credit sales are made to industries that are subject to cyclical economic changes.
The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. These allowances are maintained at a level that management believes is sufficient to cover potential credit losses. Estimates are based on historical collection experience, current trends, credit policy and the relationship between accounts receivable and revenues. In determining these estimates, the Company examines historical write-offs of its receivables and reviews each customer's account to identify any specific customer collection issues. If the financial condition of its customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payment, additional allowances might be required.
Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the FIFO (first-in, first-out) method.
The Company maintains a reserve for inventory based on estimated losses that result from inventory that becomes obsolete or for which the Company has excess inventory levels. In determining these estimates, the Company performs an analysis on current demand and usage for each inventory item over historical time periods. Based on that analysis, the Company reserves a percentage of the inventory amount within each time period based on historical demand and usage patterns of specific items in inventory.
47
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation and include expenditures for major improvements. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation is computed for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 5 years to 35 years for buildings and improvements, and from 3 years to 10 years for other fixed assets. Property, plant and equipment are periodically reviewed for indicators of impairment. If any such indicators were noted, the Company would assess the appropriateness of the assets' carrying value and record any impairment at that time.
Depreciation expense was approximately $501,000 for 2021 and $453,000 for 2020.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are recorded at cost less accumulated amortization. Amortization is computed for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range up to 10 years. The intangible assets consist of intellectual property and goodwill. The net carrying value of the amortizable intangible assets was $212,000 and $287,000 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Goodwill, which is not amortizable, was $40,000 as of both December 31, 2021 and 2020.
The estimated aggregate amortization expense for intangible assets, excluding goodwill, for each of the remaining years of the estimated useful life is as follows (in thousands):
2022 |
| $ | 75 |
|
2023 |
|
| 75 |
|
2024 |
|
| 26 |
|
2025 |
|
| 22 |
|
2026 |
|
| 14 |
|
Total |
| $ | 212 |
|
Warranties
The Company offers a standard one-year warranty. The Company tests its products prior to shipment in order to ensure that they meet each customer's requirements based upon specifications received from each customer at the time its order is received and accepted. The Company's customers may request to return products for various reasons, including, but not limited to, the customers' belief that the products are not performing to specification. The Company's return policy states that it will accept product returns only with prior authorization and if the product does not meet customer specifications, in which case the product would be replaced or repaired. To accommodate the Company's customers, each request for return is reviewed; and if and when it is approved, a return materials authorization ("RMA") is issued to the customer.
Each month, the Company records a specific warranty reserve for approved RMAs covering products that have not yet been returned. The Company does not maintain a general warranty reserve because, historically, valid warranty returns resulting from a product not meeting specifications or being non-functional have been de minimis. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, accrued warranty reserve was $80,000 and $21,000, respectively.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of its products in accordance with the criteria in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which are:
Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer.
Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract.
Step 3: Determine the transaction price.
Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.
Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.
The Company meets these conditions upon the Company’s satisfaction of the performance obligation, usually at the time of shipment to the customer, because control passes to the customer at that time. Our standard payment terms for customers are net due within 30 days, with a few exceptions, none regularly exceeding 60 days.
The Company provides disaggregated revenue details by segment in Note P – Segment Information and geographic markets in Note Q – Domestic and Foreign Revenues.
48
The Company offers a limited right of return and/or authorized price protection provisions in its agreements with certain electronic component distributors who resell the Company's products to original equipment manufacturers or electronic manufacturing services companies. As a result, the Company estimates and records a reserve for future returns and other charges against revenue at the time of shipment consistent with the terms of sale. The reserve is estimated based on historical experience with each respective distributor. These reserves and charges are immaterial as the Company does not have a history of significant price protection adjustments or returns. The Company provides a standard assurance warranty that does not create a performance obligation.
Practical Expedients:
| - | The Company applies the practical expedient for shipping and handling as fulfillment costs. |
| - | The Company expenses sales commissions as sales and marketing expenses in the period they are incurred. |
Shipping Costs
Amounts billed to customers related to shipping and handling are classified as revenue, and the Company's shipping and handling costs are included in manufacturing cost of sales.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are charged to operations as incurred. Such costs were approximately $2,212,000 and $2,142,000 in 2021 and 2020, respectively, and are included within engineering, selling and administrative expenses.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures the cost of employee services in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award and recognizes the cost over the requisite service period, typically the vesting period.
The Company estimates the fair value of stock options on the grant date using the Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model. The Black-Scholes-Merton option-pricing model requires subjective assumptions, including future stock price volatility and expected time to exercise, which greatly affect the calculated values. There is no expected dividend rate. Historical Company information was the basis for the expected volatility assumption as the Company believes that the historical volatility over the life of the option is indicative of expected volatility in the future. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon rates with a remaining term equal to the expected term of the option. The Company records any forfeitures in the period that the shares are forfeited.
Restricted stock awards are measured at the fair value of the Company's common stock on the date of the grant and recognized over the respective service period.
Earnings Per Share
The Company computes earnings per share in accordance with ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share adjusts basic earnings per share for the effects of warrants, stock options and other potentially dilutive financial instruments, only in the periods in which the effects are dilutive.
For both the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, there were warrants to purchase 1,051,664 shares of common stock and options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock that were excluded from the diluted earnings per share computation because the impact of the assumed exercise of such warrants and stock options would have been anti-dilutive.
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic |
|
| 5,275,374 |
|
|
| 5,173,430 |
|
Effect of diluted securities |
|
| 58,713 |
|
|
| 43,429 |
|
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted |
|
| 5,334,087 |
|
|
| 5,216,859 |
|
49
Income Taxes
The Company's deferred income tax assets represent (a) temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amount and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities that will result in deductible amounts in future years and (b) the tax effects of net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards and tax credit carryforwards.
The Company periodically undertakes a review of its valuation allowance, and it evaluates all positive and negative factors that may affect whether it is more likely than not that the Company would realize its future tax benefits from its deferred tax balances. Pursuant to ASC 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”), the Company determined, during the year ended December 31, 2021, that it is more likely than not that substantially all of its U.S. deferred tax assets related to research and development tax credits can be utilized in the foreseeable future and that a previously recorded valuation allowance, amounting to $379,000, be reversed to record deferred tax assets at their expected net realizable value.
We recognize tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. For those positions where it is not more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained, no tax benefit has been recognized in the financial statements. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded unrecognized tax benefits of $458,000.
In the ordinary course of business, we are examined by various federal, state, and foreign tax authorities. We regularly assess the potential outcomes of these examinations and any future examinations for the current or prior years in determining the adequacy of our provision for income taxes. See Note H – Income Taxes, for further information regarding income taxes.
Concentration Risks
In 2021, the Company's largest customer, a commercial aerospace and defense company, accounted for $7,870,000, or 28.0%, of the Company's total revenues, compared to $7,810,000, or 25.1%, of the Company’s total revenues in 2020. The Company’s second largest customer, a defense contractor, accounted for $3,138,000, or 11.2%, of the Company's total revenues, compared to $5,550,000, or 17.8%, of the Company’s total revenues in 2020.
A significant portion of the Company's accounts receivable is concentrated with a relatively small number of customers. As of December 31, 2021, four of the Company's largest customers accounted for approximately $2,595,000, or 53.2%, of accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2020, four of the Company's largest customers accounted for approximately $2,301,000, or 53.4%, of accounts receivable. The Company carefully evaluates the creditworthiness of its customers in deciding to extend credit and utilizes letters of credit to further limit credit risk for export sales. As a result of these policies, the Company has experienced very low historical bad debt expense and believes the related risk to be minimal.
At various times throughout the year and at December 31, 2021 and 2020, some deposits held at financial institutions were in excess of federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses related to these balances.
Segment Information
The Company reports segment information in accordance with ASC 280, Segment Information ("ASC 280"). ASC 280 requires companies to report financial and descriptive information for each identified operating segment based on management's internal organizational decision-making structure. Management has identified the Company’s two segments as electronic components and electronic instruments.
Impairments of Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets, including intangible assets subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Long-lived assets
are grouped with other assets to the lowest level to which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. Management assesses the recoverability of the carrying cost of the assets based on a review of projected undiscounted cash flows. If an asset is held for sale, management reviews its estimated fair value less cost to sell. Fair value is determined using pertinent market information, including appraisals or broker's estimates, and/or projected discounted cash flows. In the event an impairment loss is identified, it is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the long-lived asset.
50
We performed an assessment to determine if there were any indicators of impairment as a result of the operating conditions resulting from the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic at the end of each 2021 fiscal quarter, including at December 31, 2021. We concluded that, while there were events and circumstances in the macro-environment that did impact us, we did not experience any entity-specific indicators of asset impairment and no triggering events occurred.
Financial Instruments
Cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, trade accounts payable and accrued expenses are carried at cost which approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.
Derivatives are carried at fair value and included in marketable securities in the consolidated balance sheet. Changes in fair value since acquisition are reported as realized and unrealized (loss) gain in the consolidated statement of operations.
Foreign Currency Translation
The assets and liabilities of international operations are remeasured at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date for monetary assets and liabilities and at historical rates for nonmonetary assets and liabilities, with the related remeasurement gains or losses reported within the consolidated statement of operations. The results of international operations are remeasured at the monthly average exchange rates. The Company's foreign subsidiaries and respective operations' functional currency is the U.S. dollar. The Company has determined this based upon the majority of transactions with customers as well as intercompany transactions and parental support being based in U.S. dollars. The Company has recognized a remeasurement gain (loss) of $11,000 and ($95,000) in 2021 and 2020, respectively, which is included within other income, net in the consolidated statements of operations.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments-Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13),” which changes the impairment model for most financial assets. The standard replaces the incurred loss model with the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model to estimate credit losses for financial assets. The provisions of the standard are effective for the Company on January 1, 2023; early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on its financial statements.
C. Equity Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiary
In November 2019, the Company made its initial investment of $3.35 million in the Sponsor of the SPAC and subscribed to an additional investment of $2.725 million in March 2021. The incremental investment was part of the Sponsor syndication to participate in a private placement (“PIPE”) in connection with the IronNet Business Combination.
On September 14, 2021, as a result of its Sponsor investment, the Company received 1,572,529 shares of IRNT common stock and 2,065,000 IRNT private warrants exchangeable into shares of IRNT common stock, representing an aggregate fair value of $65.3 million. While LGL continues to hold an interest in the Sponsor, it is immaterial. See Note D - Marketable Securities for the basis of determining the fair value of the securities received.
For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized a gain (loss) on equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiary of $59,453,000 and ($262,000), respectively, for its share of the Sponsor’s gains and losses through the September 14, 2021 distribution of IRNT common stock and private warrants. The Company has recognized a cumulative gain of $59,175,000 on its investment in the unconsolidated Sponsor through December 31, 2021.
Subsequent to the September 14, 2021 Sponsor distribution, the Company’s IRNT securities held have been classified as marketable securities, under ASC 321, Investments – Equity Securities (“ASC 321”), with the change in fair value of period end holdings reported as an unrealized gain or loss.
On April 12, 2021, the SEC’s Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (the “Staff Statement”) was released. The SPAC evaluated the applicability and impact of the Staff Statement on its historical financial statements that have been filed with the SEC and determined that restatement was required. In the first quarter of 2021, the SPAC changed its accounting treatment for
51
both its public and private warrants outstanding using liability classification instead of equity classification resulting in a mark to market warrant liability adjustment for each reporting period since issuance in 2019. Prior to the IronNet Business Combination, the Company reported its investment in the Sponsor under the equity method of accounting using hypothetical liquidation book value (“HLBV”). The SPAC’s mark to market accounting adjustments for the warrant liability did not change the Company’s HLBV due to the warrants requiring no cash settlement as of December 31, 2020 under a hypothetical liquidation; therefore, the SPAC’s restatement did not impact the Company’s carrying amount of its equity investment in the Sponsor.
D. Marketable Securities
The Company accounts for equity securities under ASC 321. Such securities are reported at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets, and the related unrealized gains and losses are reported in the consolidated statements of cash flows as non-cash adjustments to income. Any unrealized appreciation or depreciation on investment securities is reported in the consolidated statements of operations as an unrealized gain or loss on marketable securities. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, realized (loss) gain on marketable securities was ($16,962,000) and $74,000, respectively. Unrealized (loss) gain on marketable securities was ($22,949,000) and $139,000, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Details of marketable securities held at December 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cumulative |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Unrealized |
| |
|
| Fair Value |
|
| Basis |
|
| (Loss) Gain |
| |||
IronNet: |
| December 31, 2021 |
| |||||||||
1,250,000 common shares - restricted |
| $ | 4,734 |
|
| $ | 26,501 |
|
| $ | (21,767 | ) |
88,620 common shares - unrestricted |
|
| 372 |
|
|
| 2,195 |
|
|
| (1,823 | ) |
Put options |
|
| 1,245 |
|
|
| 489 |
|
|
| 756 |
|
|
|
| 6,351 |
|
|
| 29,185 |
|
|
| (22,834 | ) |
Equity fund and other securities |
|
| 9,816 |
|
|
| 9,808 |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
| $ | 16,167 |
|
| $ | 38,993 |
|
| $ | (22,826 | ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| December 31, 2020 |
| |||||||||
Equity fund and other securities |
|
| 5,791 |
|
|
| 5,668 |
|
|
| 123 |
|
|
| $ | 5,791 |
|
| $ | 5,668 |
|
| $ | 123 |
|
The IRNT common stock was received by the Company as a result of the previously discussed Sponsor distribution. The fair value of these shares determined at the date of distribution represents the basis of these securities.
As a result of the IronNet Business Combination and LGL’s investment in the Sponsor, LGL was distributed 2,065,000 IRNT private warrants and 1,572,529 shares of common stock on September 14, 2021. Of these shares of common stock, 1,300,000 shares are restricted from sale for at least six months from the date of closing and subject to the applicable shareholder lock-up agreements. In an effort to continue its stakeholder responsibilities in the context of global corporate citizenship, the Company made a charitable gift on September 28, 2021 of 50,000 shares of IRNT common stock recognizing the fair value of $1,318,000 as an administrative expense at the date of donation. The fair value of the remaining 1,250,000 shares of IRNT restricted common stock outstanding was determined by applying a discount for lack of marketability to the publicly quoted market price of IRNT common stock. The 272,529 shares of PIPE-related common stock and 2,065,000 private warrants were subject to trading restrictions upon distribution until the registration statement became effective on September 30, 2021. A Monte Carlo simulation model was used to estimate the market price of IRNT private warrants.
On October 1, 2021, the Company exercised its 2,065,000 IRNT private warrants on a cashless basis and received 1,271,406 shares of IRNT common stock upon such exercise. The basis of the private warrants was carried over to the IRNT common shares received upon exercise of such warrants. As of December 31, 2021, the Company sold 1,455,315 shares of IRNT common stock and closed certain related derivative positions resulting in approximately $18,548,000 of pre-tax proceeds. At December 31, 2021, the Company held 88,620 shares of unrestricted IRNT common stock and 1,250,000 shares of IRNT common stock that are restricted from sale for at least six months from the date of the IronNet Business Combination.
52
The Company has executed derivatives transactions as part of its plan to minimize the economic risk of IRNT share price volatility to its IRNT holdings. At December 31, 2021, the Company reported an unrealized gain of $756,000 related to put options for 300,000 shares of IRNT common stock with a second quarter 2022 expiration date.
E. Related Party Transactions
Certain balances held and invested in various mutual funds are managed by a related entity (the "Fund Manager"). Marc Gabelli, the Company’s non-executive Chairman of the Board, who is also a greater than 10% stockholder, currently serves as an executive officer of the Fund Manager. The brokerage and fund transactions in 2021 and 2020 were directed solely at the discretion of the Company’s management.
As of December 31, 2021, the balance with the Fund Manager totaled $15,595,000, including $5,823,000 which is classified within cash and cash equivalents on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and $9,772,000 which is classified as marketable securities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Amounts invested generated $301,000 of realized and unrealized investment income during 2021.
As of December 31, 2020, the balance with the Fund Manager totaled $19,063,000, including $13,283,000 which is classified within cash and cash equivalents on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and $5,780,000 which is classified as marketable securities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Amounts invested generated $213,000 of realized and unrealized investment income during 2020.
Fund management fees earned by the Fund Manager are anticipated to be approximately 0.50% of the asset balances under management on an annual basis.
Members of our board of directors (the “Board”), including Marc Gabelli, John Mega, Timothy Foufas, Manjit Kalha and Michael Ferrantino, and members of our management, Patrick Huvane and Michael Ferrantino, are members of the Sponsor. Robert LaPenta was a member of our Board until his resignation on September 27, 2021, as he joined IronNet as a board member upon the IRNT Business Combination. Robert LaPenta remains a passive member of the SPAC Sponsor. All except Mr. Kalha also served in various capacities of the SPAC but have all since resigned from the SPAC. Prior to resignation, John Mega was President of the SPAC; Timothy Foufas was Chief Operating Officer of the SPAC; Robert LaPenta was Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the SPAC; Mr. Gabelli was the Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of the SPAC, Michael Ferrantino was a SPAC board member and Patrick Huvane was a SPAC officer. Mr. Foufas, Mr. Huvane and Mr. Gabelli are managing members of the Sponsor. Mr. Huvane became a managing member on September 27, 2021.
F. Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value guidance identifies three primary valuation techniques: the market approach, the income approach and the cost approach. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to convert future amounts, such as cash flows or earnings, to a single present amount. The measurement is based on the value indicated by current market expectations about those future amounts. The cost approach is based on the amount that currently would be required to replace the service capacity of an asset.
The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The maximization of observable inputs and the minimization of the use of unobservable inputs are required.
Classification within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the objectivity of the inputs that are significant to the valuation of an asset or liability as of the measurement date. The three levels within the fair value hierarchy are characterized as follows:
Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs include: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that
53
are observable for the asset or liability and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability for which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date. Unobservable inputs reflect the Company's own assumptions about what market participants would use to price the asset or liability. These inputs may include internally developed pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies as well as instruments for which the fair value determination requires significant management judgment.
Assets
To estimate the fair value of its cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, the Company obtains current market pricing from quoted market sources or uses pricing for identical securities adjusted for liquidity, when applicable. Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below (in thousands).
(in thousands) |
| Level 1 |
|
| Level 2 |
|
| Level 3 |
|
| Total December 31, 2021 |
| ||||
Equity Security |
| $ | 416 |
|
| $ | 4,734 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 5,150 |
|
Equity Mutual Fund |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 9,523 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 9,523 |
|
Commodity Mutual Fund |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 249 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 249 |
|
Derivative Contract Asset |
| $ | 1,245 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 1,245 |
|
U.S. Treasury Mutual Funds |
| $ | 12,889 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 12,889 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
| Level 1 |
|
| Level 2 |
|
| Level 3 |
|
| Total December 31, 2020 |
| ||||
Equity Security |
| $ | 11 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 11 |
|
Equity Mutual Fund |
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 5,780 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 5,780 |
|
U.S. Treasury Mutual Fund |
| $ | 13,282 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 13,282 |
|
The Company has other assets that may be subject to measurement at fair value on a non-recurring basis including goodwill and intangible assets and other long-lived assets. The Company reviews goodwill annually and the carrying value of long-lived assets whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of the assets may not be recoverable. If it is determined that the assets are impaired, the carrying value would be reduced to estimated recoverable value. There were no liabilities subject to fair value on a non-recurring or recurring basis as of December 31, 2021 or 2020. The Company’s Common Stock Warrants (as defined below) were measured at fair value as disclosed in Note K - Stockholders’ Equity.
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had investments in four and two mutual funds, respectively. The Equity Mutual Fund was invested in the Gabelli ABC Fund and the Commodity Mutual Fund was invested in the Gabelli Gold Fund. The U.S. Treasury Mutual Funds, included in cash and cash equivalents, were invested in the Gabelli US Treasury Money Market Fund and the BlackRock Liquidity Treasury Trust Money Market Fund at December 31, 2021 and the Gabelli US Treasury Money Market Fund at December 31, 2020.
The Company utilizes a Level 2 category fair value measurement to value its investment in certain IronNet common stock holdings. Although IronNet common stock has a quoted price in active markets, a portion of it related to our 1,250,000 shares of restricted IRNT common stock is classified as a Level 2 asset as there is a discount associated with its lack of marketability.
The 2,065,000 IronNet private warrants received as part of the Sponsor’s distribution on September 14, 2021 were classified as Level 3 assets since the warrants were valued using a Monte Carlo fair value pricing model which included assumptions regarding the duration and expected volatility of the warrants. On October 1, 2021, the Company exercised the warrants and converted them to unrestricted shares of IRNT common stock. The remaining 88,620 unrestricted shares held at December 31, 2021 were classified as Level 1 assets.
54
G. Inventories
The Company reduces the value of its inventories to net realizable value when the net realizable value is believed to be less than the cost of the item. The inventory reserve for excess and obsolescence inventory as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $1,428,000 and $1,219,000, respectively. The components of inventory as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 are summarized below:
|
| December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
|
| (in thousands) |
| |||||
Raw materials |
| $ | 2,314 |
|
| $ | 2,080 |
|
Work in process |
|
| 2,196 |
|
|
| 2,467 |
|
Finished goods |
|
| 982 |
|
|
| 733 |
|
Total Inventories, net |
| $ | 5,492 |
|
| $ | 5,280 |
|
H. Income Taxes
The Company periodically undertakes a review of its valuation allowance and evaluates all positive and negative factors that may affect whether it is more likely than not that the Company would realize its future tax benefits from its deferred tax balances. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become realizable.
During 2021, the Company released its valuation allowance over a portion of its deferred tax assets as the deferred tax assets became more likely than not to be realized.
Income tax provision (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 is as follows:
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
|
| (in thousands) |
| |||||
Current: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal |
| $ | 860 |
|
| $ | — |
|
State and local |
|
| 116 |
|
|
| 31 |
|
Foreign |
|
| — |
|
|
| 50 |
|
Total Current |
|
| 976 |
|
|
| 81 |
|
Deferred: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal |
|
| 3,188 |
|
|
| 238 |
|
State and local |
|
| 332 |
|
|
| (6 | ) |
Foreign |
|
| 1 |
|
|
| 32 |
|
Total before change in valuation allowance |
|
| 3,521 |
|
|
| 264 |
|
Change in valuation allowance |
|
| (379 | ) |
|
| (9 | ) |
Net deferred |
|
| 3,142 |
|
|
| 255 |
|
Income tax provision |
| $ | 4,118 |
|
| $ | 336 |
|
55
A reconciliation of the provision (benefit) for income taxes and the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes is detailed below:
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
|
| (in thousands) |
| |||||
Tax provision at expected statutory rate |
| $ | 3,939 |
|
| $ | 274 |
|
State taxes, net of federal benefit |
|
| 448 |
|
|
| 31 |
|
Permanent differences |
|
| (271 | ) |
|
| 45 |
|
Tax credits |
|
| (116 | ) |
|
| (125 | ) |
Tax credit expiration |
|
| — |
|
|
| 132 |
|
Foreign tax expense, and other |
|
| (7 | ) |
|
| 1 |
|
Change in rate |
|
| — |
|
|
| (38 | ) |
Change in valuation allowance |
|
| (379 | ) |
|
| (9 | ) |
Change in uncertain tax positions |
|
| 458 |
|
|
| — |
|
Provision to return |
|
| 13 |
|
|
| 15 |
|
Other |
|
| 33 |
|
|
| 10 |
|
Provision for income taxes |
| $ | 4,118 |
|
| $ | 336 |
|
Effective tax rate |
|
| 22.0 | % |
|
| 25.8 | % |
Deferred income taxes for 2021 and 2020 were provided for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the income tax basis of the Company's assets and liabilities. Tax effects of temporary differences and carryforwards at December 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows:
|
| December 31, 2021 |
|
| December 31, 2020 |
| ||||||||||
|
| Deferred Tax |
|
| Deferred Tax |
| ||||||||||
|
| Asset |
|
| Liability |
|
| Asset |
|
| Liability |
| ||||
|
| (in thousands) |
| |||||||||||||
Inventory reserve |
| $ | 345 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 286 |
|
| $ | — |
|
Fixed assets |
|
| — |
|
|
| 44 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 58 |
|
Other reserves and accruals |
|
| 262 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 338 |
|
|
| — |
|
Unrealized gains on marketable securities |
|
| — |
|
|
| 1,024 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 27 |
|
Stock-based compensation |
|
| 2 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 8 |
|
|
| — |
|
Other |
|
| — |
|
|
| 6 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 12 |
|
Tax credit carryforwards |
|
| 318 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 1,717 |
|
|
| — |
|
Federal tax loss carryforwards |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 892 |
|
|
| — |
|
State tax loss carryforwards |
|
| 23 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 252 |
|
|
| — |
|
Foreign tax loss carryforwards |
|
| 34 |
|
|
| — |
|
|
| 35 |
|
|
| — |
|
Total deferred income taxes |
|
| 984 |
|
| $ | 1,074 |
|
|
| 3,528 |
|
| $ | 97 |
|
Valuation allowance |
|
| — |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (379 | ) |
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets |
| $ | (90 | ) |
|
|
|
|
| $ | 3,052 |
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax liability totaled $90,000 at December 31, 2021 which includes the tax effect of state and foreign NOL carryforwards. We recognize federal, state and foreign NOL carryforwards and our federal tax credits as deferred tax assets, subject to any required valuation allowance.
Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide provision for income taxes. In the ordinary course of a global business, there are many transactions for which the ultimate tax outcome is uncertain. We review our tax contingencies on a regular basis and make appropriate accruals as necessary.
56
As of December 31, 2021, our unrecognized tax benefits totaled $458,000, and are included within other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheet. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
|
| 2021 |
| |
|
| (in thousands) |
| |
Balance at January 1 |
| $ | — |
|
Additions for tax positions of prior years |
|
| 429 |
|
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year |
|
| 29 |
|
Balance at December 31 |
| $ | 458 |
|
The Company will recognize any interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax positions in income tax expense. Net adjustments to accruals for interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions was immaterial for 2021. Our total accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions were immaterial as of December 31, 2021. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate is $458,000. We do not expect a significant change to the amount of unrecognized tax benefits over the next 12 months. We believe that the taxes accrued in our consolidated balance sheet fairly represent the amount of income taxes to be settled or realized in the future.
The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal, various state, Hong Kong and India jurisdictions. The statute of limitations for assessment by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and state tax authorities is open for tax returns for years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020; although carryforward attributes that were generated prior to tax year 2018, including NOL carryforwards and tax credits, may still be adjusted upon examination by the IRS or state tax authorities, if they either have been or will be used in a future period. The Company is generally subject to examinations by foreign tax authorities from 2016 to the present.
I. Revolving Credit Agreement
On May 12, 2020, MtronPTI and PTI (collectively, the “Borrowers”), both operating subsidiaries of the Company, entered into a loan agreement for a revolving line of credit with Synovus Bank, an unaffiliated entity, as the lender (“Lender”), for up to $3,500,000 (the “Loan Agreement”), such amount to be used for working capital and general operations. The Loan Agreement is evidenced by a promissory note dated May 12, 2020 that matures on May 12, 2022 (the “Note”) and a corresponding security agreement (the “Security Agreement”). The Note bears interest at the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) 30-day rate plus 2.50% with a floor of 0.50%. Upon discontinuance or lack of availability of the LIBOR rate, Lender is required to determine a comparable equivalent replacement rate. Accrued interest-only payments are due on a monthly basis until the maturity date. The Borrowers may prepay all or any portion of the loans under the Loan Agreement at any time, without fee, premium or penalty. The Loan Agreement also includes a clean-up provision whereby, during each 12-month period, the outstanding balance must remain at zero for 30 consecutive days. In accordance with the Security Agreement, all property of the Borrowers, both tangible and intangible, will serve as security for borrowings under the Loan Agreement. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under its revolving line of credit with Synovus Bank.
The Loan Agreement contains various affirmative and negative covenants that are customary for lines of credit and transactions of this type which the Company is in compliance with, including limitations on the incurrence of debt and liabilities by the Borrowers, as well as financial reporting requirements. The Loan Agreement also imposes certain financial covenants based on Debt Service Coverage Ratio and the Ratio of Total Liabilities to Total Net Worth (as such terms are defined in the Loan Agreement). In the event of default, the Lender has the right to terminate its commitment to make loans pursuant to the Loan Agreement and to accelerate the payment on any unpaid principal amount of all outstanding loans and interest thereon.
57
J. Leases
The Company leases certain manufacturing and office space and equipment. We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. A contract is or contains a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of identified property, plant or equipment (an identified asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Amounts associated with operating leases, which are not short-term, are included in right-of-use lease assets. Current lease liabilities are included in other accrued expenses and long-term lease liabilities are included in other liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. Right-of-use lease assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Right-of-use lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term. We use our incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Short-term leases, leases with an initial term of 12 months or less, are not recorded in the consolidated balance sheets; we recognize lease expense for these short-term leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
The Company leases certain property and equipment under operating leases with terms that range from one to five years. Our lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we renewed our lease on our facility in Hong Kong, resulting in the addition of $80,000 in right-of-use lease assets in exchange for operating lease liabilities.
Total operating lease costs amounted to $541,000 and $611,000 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
At December 31, 2021 and 2020, our total lease obligation was $396,000 and $422,000, respectively, of which the current portion of $135,000 and $129,000, respectively, was included in other accrued expenses on the consolidated balance sheet. The weighted average discount rate for both years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was 4.2%. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the weighted average remaining lease term was 3 years and 4 years, respectively.
Future minimum lease payment obligations under operating leases are as follows (in thousands):
|
| 2021 |
| |
2022 |
|
| 138 |
|
2023 |
|
| 138 |
|
2024 |
|
| 138 |
|
2025 |
|
| 11 |
|
Total lease payments |
|
| 425 |
|
Less: interest |
|
| (29 | ) |
Total lease payments |
| $ | 396 |
|
K. Stockholders' Equity
Shares Authorized
On December 28, 2021, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock to 30,000,000. Previously, the Company was authorized to issue 10,000,000 shares of common stock. The Company’s certificate of incorporation was amended and restated to effect this change. The number of authorized shares of common stock was increased to support the Company’s growth and provide flexibility for future corporate needs including financing, potential strategic transactions (mergers, acquisitions and business combinations) and grants under equity compensations plans.
Common Stock Warrant Dividend
On October 27, 2020, the Board declared a dividend of warrants to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Common Stock Warrants”). Pursuant to the warrant agreement, each holder of the Company’s common stock received one warrant for each share of common stock owned; five warrants will entitle their holder to purchase one share of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price of $12.50. The warrants are exercisable on the earlier of their expiration date, November 16, 2025, or such date that the 30-day volume weighted average price per share of the Company’s common stock is greater than or equal to $17.50. The Company distributed 5,258,320 Common Stock Warrants on November 16, 2020 to holders of record of outstanding shares of the Company’s
58
common stock as of the close of business on November 9, 2020. The Common Stock Warrants are listed on the NYSE and trade under the symbol "LGL WS."
The Common Stock Warrants were measured at fair value determined to be $3.6 million on the declaration date using a Monte Carlo simulation model. Due to the Company’s accumulated deficit, this dividend of warrants was recorded against additional paid-in capital instead of retained earnings resulting in no financial statement impact. The following level 2 inputs were used in the Monte Carlo simulation model: the expected life of the Common Stock Warrants, a volatility factor and the exercise price. The expected life of 5 years was based on the estimated term of the Common Stock Warrants, the volatility factor of 46.5% was based on historical volatilities of the Company’s common stock and the exercise price of $12.50 per share of the Company’s common stock was based on the terms of the warrant agreement.
1,051,664 shares of common stock were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 in connection with the Common Stock Warrants. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the distribution of the warrants. Assuming that all the warrants are exercised, the net proceeds from the exercise of the warrants and issuance of the shares of common stock will be approximately $13.0 million. The Company incurred $202,000 of costs in connection with the registration of the shares of common stock and the related Common Stock Warrants which were recorded against additional paid-in capital.
ATM Offering
On January 22, 2020, the Company entered into an Open Market Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Jefferies LLC, as sales agent (“Jefferies”), pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, in what is deemed to be an “at the market offering” (“ATM Offering”) through Jefferies, shares of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $15,000,000. Shares sold under the Sales Agreement are issued pursuant to the shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-235767), filed by the Company with the SEC on December 31, 2019, which was declared effective on January 8, 2020. The Company filed a prospectus supplement with the SEC on January 23, 2020 in connection with the offer and sale of the shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement. During February and March of 2020, 263,725 shares were sold under the Sales Agreement, at an average price per share of $13.65, generating net proceeds of approximately $3,492,000 after brokerage charges of $108,000 were deducted and paid to Jefferies. Form S-3 and at-the-market registration costs were approximately $238,000 and were charged to additional paid-in capital. The Sales Agreement and ATM Offering remain in effect in accordance with their terms.
Share Repurchase Program
On August 29, 2011, the Board authorized the Company to repurchase up to 100,000 shares of its common stock in accordance with applicable securities laws. This authorization increased the total number of shares authorized and available for repurchase under the Company's existing share repurchase program to 540,000 shares, at such times, amounts and prices as the Company shall deem appropriate. No shares were repurchased by the Company in 2021 or 2020. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had repurchased a total of 81,584 shares of common stock at a cost of $580,000, which shares are currently held in treasury.
On December 28, 2021, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2021 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), including the authority to issue 1,000,000 shares of common stock. This Plan is the only long-term plan under which equity compensation may be awarded to employees, advisors and members of the Board aligning their interest with those of stockholders. A new plan was implemented rather than amending the Company’s prior plan, the Amended and Restated 2011 Incentive Plan, to address certain tax law changes. At December 31, 2021, 946,511 shares remained available for future issuance under the Plan.
Restricted stock awards are measured at a value equal to the market price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant which is recognized over the service period of the shares. Option awards are generally granted with an exercise price either at or 10% above the market price of the Company's common stock at the date of grant; those option awards generally have 5-year contractual terms and generally vest over three years. Total stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $413,000 and $790,000, respectively.
59
Restricted Stock Awards
A summary of the Company’s restricted stock awards for the year ended December 31, 2021 follows:
|
| Number of Shares |
|
| Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|
| Aggregate Grant Date Fair value (in thousands) |
| |||
Balance at December 31, 2020 |
|
| 55,762 |
|
| $ | 9.42 |
|
| $ | 525 |
|
Granted |
|
| 53,489 |
|
|
| 11.84 |
|
| $ | 633 |
|
Vested |
|
| (26,718 | ) |
|
| 11.76 |
|
|
| (314 | ) |
Forfeited |
|
| (26,250 | ) |
|
| 9.01 |
|
|
| (237 | ) |
|
| 56,283 |
|
| $ | 10.80 |
|
| $ | 608 |
|
As of December 31, 2021, there was $435,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested shares granted. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of one year. Total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $314,000 and $640,000, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company issued 53,489 restricted stock awards with a grant date fair value of $11.84 per share. Certain of these shares vested immediately (23,489); the remaining 30,000 will vest during the next 1.25 years.
Stock Options
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2021:
|
| Number of Shares Outstanding |
|
| Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|
| Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|
| Weighted Average Remaining Term (in years) |
|
| Aggregate Intrinsic Value (in thousands) |
| |||||
Option Balances at December 31, 2020 |
|
| 58,050 |
|
| $ | 8.56 |
|
| $ | 2.37 |
|
|
| 2.5 |
|
| $ | 236 |
|
Options Granted |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
Options Exercised |
|
| (33,050 | ) |
|
| 5.41 |
|
|
| 1.12 |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
Options Forfeited |
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
|
| - |
|
Option Balances at December 31, 2021 |
|
| 25,000 |
|
| $ | 12.72 |
|
| $ | 4.02 |
|
|
| 2.8 |
|
| - |
| |
Options Exercisable at December 31, 2021 |
|
| 15,000 |
|
| $ | 12.72 |
|
| $ | 4.02 |
|
|
| 2.8 |
|
| - |
|
There were no options granted during 2021 or 2020. As of December 31, 2021, there was approximately $28,000 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested share-based compensation arrangements for stock options, which will be recognized over the weighted average remaining term of approximately one year.
M. Employee Benefit Plan
The Company offers a defined contribution plan for eligible employees in which the Company makes discretionary contributions up to 50% of the first 6% of eligible compensation contributed by participants. The Company contributed approximately $113,000 and $119,000 in discretionary contributions during 2021 and 2020, respectively. Participants vest in employer contributions starting after their second year of service at 20% increments, vesting 100% in year six.
N. Payroll Protection Program
On April 15, 2020, PTI, MtronPTI and PTF, all operating subsidiaries of the Company, entered into loans with City National Bank of Florida, a national banking association, as the lender, in an aggregate principal amount of $1,907,500 pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. On May 14, 2020, the Company returned all amounts pursuant to such loans and such loans were thereby terminated.
O. Contingencies
In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries may become defendants in certain product liability, patent infringement, worker claims and other litigation. The Company records a liability when it is
60
probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount is reasonably estimable. The Company is not involved in any legal proceedings other than routine litigation arising in the normal course of business, none of which the Company believes will have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
P. Segment Information
The Company has identified two reportable business segments from operations: electronic components, which includes all products manufactured and sold by MtronPTI, and electronic instruments, which includes all products manufactured and sold by PTF. The Company's foreign operations in Hong Kong and India fall under MtronPTI.
Operating income is equal to revenues less cost of sales and operating expenses, excluding investment (loss) income, interest expense, gain (loss) on equity investment and income taxes. Identifiable assets of the segment are those used in its operations and exclude general corporate assets. General corporate assets are principally cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, tax assets and certain other investments and receivables.
Business segment information for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 follows:
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
|
| (in thousands) |
| |||||
Revenues from Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic components |
| $ | 26,694 |
|
| $ | 29,980 |
|
Electronic instruments |
|
| 1,446 |
|
|
| 1,182 |
|
Total consolidated revenues |
| $ | 28,140 |
|
| $ | 31,162 |
|
Operating (Loss) Income from Operations |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic components |
| $ | 2,435 |
|
| $ | 2,844 |
|
Electronic instruments |
|
| 107 |
|
|
| 85 |
|
Unallocated corporate expense |
|
| (3,328 | ) |
|
| (1,514 | ) |
Consolidated total operating (loss) income |
|
| (786 | ) |
|
| 1,415 |
|
Interest expense, net |
|
| (11 | ) |
|
| (11 | ) |
Gain (loss) on equity investment in unconsolidated subsidiary |
|
| 59,453 |
|
|
| (262 | ) |
Realized (loss) income on marketable securities |
|
| (16,962 | ) |
|
| 74 |
|
Unrealized (loss) gain on marketable securities |
|
| (22,949 | ) |
|
| 139 |
|
Other income (expense), net |
|
| 11 |
|
|
| (51 | ) |
Total other income (expense) |
|
| 19,542 |
|
|
| (111 | ) |
Income Before Income Taxes |
| $ | 18,756 |
|
| $ | 1,304 |
|
Capital Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic components |
| $ | 1,099 |
|
| $ | 407 |
|
Electronic instruments |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
General corporate |
|
| — |
|
|
| — |
|
Total capital expenditures |
| $ | 1,099 |
|
| $ | 407 |
|
Total Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electronic components |
| $ | 15,900 |
|
| $ | 15,014 |
|
Electronic instruments |
|
| 1,260 |
|
|
| 1,106 |
|
General corporate |
|
| 42,746 |
|
|
| 27,335 |
|
Consolidated total assets |
| $ | 59,906 |
|
| $ | 43,455 |
|
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Q. Domestic and Foreign Revenues
Significant foreign revenues from operations (10% or more of foreign sales) were as follows:
|
| Years Ended December 31, |
| |||||
|
| 2021 |
|
| 2020 |
| ||
|
| (in thousands) |
| |||||
Malaysia |
| $ | 2,745 |
|
| $ | 2,842 |
|
Hong Kong |
|
| 682 |
|
|
| 1,211 |
|
Australia |
|
| 193 |
|
|
| 974 |
|
All other foreign countries |
|
| 2,424 |
|
|
| 2,383 |
|
Total foreign revenues |
| $ | 6,044 |
|
| $ | 7,410 |
|
Total domestic revenues |
| $ | 22,096 |
|
| $ | 23,752 |
|
The Company allocates its foreign revenue based on the customer's ship-to location.
R. Spin-Off of MtronPTI
In late 2021, the Company’s Board approved progressing with the Spin-Off (as defined below) of MtronPTI, which is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. On February 14, 2022, the Company filed a Preliminary Proxy Statement with the SEC indicating its intention to secure stockholder approval of the transaction. If approved by the Company’s stockholders, the Spin-Off will separate the business activities and investments of the Company and create two separate, publicly-traded companies: (1) the Company, which will continue to own and operate PTF and hold substantially all the Company’s cash and marketable securities, and (2) MtronPTI, which includes the operations of Piezo Technology, Inc. and M-tron Asia, LLC (the “Spin-Off”).
The Spin-Off, if approved by the Company’s stockholders, is expected to be effected through a pro rata issuance of shares of MtronPTI’s common stock to the Company’s stockholders structured as a tax-free distribution. Stockholders of the Company will receive one share of MtronPTI’s common stock for each share of the Company’s common stock held of record as of the close of business on the record date for the distribution. As a result, the Company’s stockholders as of the record date for the Spin-Off will also become the stockholders of MtronPTI after the Spin-Off. The Company will cease to have any ownership interest in MtronPTI following the Spin-Off, but the Company’s stockholders will, unless they sell their shares, be the stockholders of both the Company and MtronPTI.
Management believes that, if completed, the potential Spin-Off of MtronPTI would enable shareholders to more clearly evaluate the performance and future potential of each entity on a standalone basis, while allowing each entity to pursue its own distinct business strategy and capital allocation policy. Separating MtronPTI as an independent, publicly owned company positions both MtronPTI and LGL Group to create value for their respective shareholders. The Spin-Off permits each company to tailor its strategic plans and growth opportunities, more efficiently raise and allocate resources, including capital raised through debt or equity offerings, flexibly use its own stock as currency for incentive compensation and potential acquisitions and provide investors a more targeted investment opportunity.
Upon stockholder approval of the Spin-Off transaction, the Company anticipates reporting MtronPTI as a discontinued operation.
S. Subsequent Events
In the first quarter of 2022, the restriction from sale was released on the 1,250,000 IRNT common shares that had previously been subject to a shareholder lock-up agreement. Through February 28, 2022, we delivered 50,000 IRNT shares against our derivative position, for proceeds of $400,000. The Company currently holds 1,288,620 unrestricted IRNT shares and put options covering 250,000 of these shares.
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