Fiscal 2021 had operating income of $701,000 versus $5,536,000 in fiscal 2020. The decrease in operating income was due primarily to the operational and
start-up
costs related to the Blaw-Knox asset acquisition and professional fees to support business development efforts.
On October 1, 2020, the Company acquired the Blaw-Knox assets, including inventory, fixed assets and related intellectual property, from Volvo Construction Equipment North America, LLC (“Volvo CE”). The acquisition provided the Company entry into the asphalt paver sector of the asphalt industry. The acquisition was accounted for as a business combination under ASC 805, “Business Combinations.” The initial purchase price of approximately $14.4 million, which was subject to post-closing adjustments, was funded by cash on hand. After post-closing adjustments transacted during quarter ended March 31, 2021, the final purchase price was $13.8 million, including $10.4 million in inventory and $3.4 million in fixed assets. There were no liabilities assumed. The accompanying consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended September 30, 2021, include the assets, liabilities and operating results of the paver line. There were no paver equipment revenues during the quarter ended December 31, 2020, as the facility was being readied for production which began in the quarter ended March 31, 2021.
As of September 30, 2021 and 2020, the cost basis of the investment portfolio was $93.7 million and $89.5 million, respectively. For the year ended September 30, 2021, interest and dividend income, net of fees, from the investment portfolio was $1,306,000, as compared to $2,321,000 for year ended September 30, 2020. Interest income for the year ended September 30, 2021, also included $456,000 of interest collected from a customer. The higher interest income from the investment portfolio in fiscal 2020 reflects the impact from a larger investment in corporate bonds and a higher average yield to maturity. The fiscal 2021 corporate bonds were reduced as the related investments were partially liquidated to fund the Blaw-Knox acquisition. Net realized and unrealized gains on marketable securities were $4,171,000 for the year ended September 30, 2021 versus net realized and unrealized losses of $(1,160,000) for the year ended September 30, 2020. The fiscal 2020 investment losses reflect the decline in the domestic equity markets from the impact of the
COVID-19
pandemic. The total cash, cash equivalents and investments balance at September 30, 2021 was $118.2 million, compared to the September 30, 2020 cash, cash equivalents and investments balance of $125.1 million, a decrease of $6.9 million.
The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2021 was 12.5% versus 17.2% in fiscal 2020.
In fiscal 2021, the Company generated $335,000 of federal research and development tax credits (“R&D Credits”), all of which were used in fiscal 2021. In fiscal 2020, the Company generated $421,000 of R&D Credits, all of which were used in fiscal 2020. There were no R&D Credits carryforwards as of September 30, 2021 or September 30, 2020.
Net income for the year ended September 30, 2021 was $5,805,000 or $0.39 per diluted share versus net income of $5,531,000 or $0.38 per diluted share for the year ended September 30, 2020.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company generates capital resources through operations and returns from its investments.
The Company had no long-term debt outstanding at September 30, 2021 or 2020. As of September 30, 2021, the Company has funded $85,000 in cash deposits at insurance companies to cover collateral needs. In April 2020, a financial institution issued an irrevocable standby letter of credit (“letter of credit”) on behalf of the Company for the benefit of one of the Company’s insurance carriers. The maximum amount that can be drawn by the beneficiary under the letter of credit is $150,000. The letter of credit expires in April 2022, unless terminated earlier, and can be extended, as provided by the agreement. The Company intends to renew the letter of credit for as long as the Company does business with the beneficiary insurance carrier. The letter is collateralized by restricted cash of the same amount on any outstanding drawings. To date, no amounts have been drawn under the letter of credit.