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 years ended September 30, 2022 and September 30, 2021, include the assets, liabilities and operating results of the paver line. There was no paver equipment revenue 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, 2022 and 2021, the cost basis of the investment portfolio was $94,879,000 and $93,690,000, respectively. For the year ended September 30, 2022, interest and dividend income, net of fees, from the investment portfolio was $1,305,000, as compared to $1,306,000 for year ended September 30, 2021. Interest income for the year ended September 30, 2021, also included $456,000 of interest collected from a customer. Net realized and unrealized losses on marketable securities were $(7,009,000) for the year ended September 30, 2022 versus net realized and unrealized gains of $4,171,000 for the year ended September 30, 2021. The fiscal 2022 investment losses reflect the general decline in global equity and bond markets. The total cash, cash equivalents and investments balance at September 30, 2022 was $98,881,000, compared to $118,208,000 at September 30, 2021, a decrease of $19,327,000, reflecting the investment losses and increased inventory.
The effective income tax rate for fiscal 2022 was a benefit of (78.0%) versus expense of 12.5% in fiscal 2021. The income tax benefit for fiscal 2022 reflects the impact of book to tax timing differences in the deductibility of certain items, the benefit from research and development tax refunds and credits, and other adjustments.
In fiscal 2022, the Company generated $475,000 of federal research and development tax credits (“R&D Credits”), all of which were used in fiscal 2022. In fiscal 2021, the Company generated $335,000 of R&D Credits, all of which were used in fiscal 2021. There were no R&D Credits carryforwards as of September 30, 2022 or September 30, 2021.
Net loss for the year ended September 30, 2022 was $(372,000) or $(0.03) per diluted share versus net income of $5,805,000 or $0.39 per diluted share for the year ended September 30, 2021.
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, 2022 or 2021. As of September 30, 2022, 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 2023, 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.
As of September 30, 2022, the Company had $9,581,000 in cash and cash equivalents, and $89,300,000 in marketable securities. The marketable securities are invested through a professional investment management firm. The securities may be liquidated at any time into cash and cash equivalents.
The Company’s backlog, which includes orders received through the filing date of this Annual Report, was $60.2 million at September 30, 2022 versus $64.1 million at September 30, 2021. The Company’s working capital was $150.1 million at September 30, 2022 versus $155.4 million at September 30, 2021.
The significant purchases, sales and maturities of marketable securities shown on the consolidated statements of cash flows typically reflect the frequent purchase and sale of United States treasury bills. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company liquidated approximately $17.0 million of its investments. The cash was primarily used to fund the October 2020 acquisition of the Blaw-Knox assets.
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