For each jurisdiction that we operate in, we are required to estimate our annual effective tax rate together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our consolidated balance sheet. We must also assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and unless we believe that recovery is more likely than not, a valuation allowance is established. Our income tax provision on the consolidated statement of operations would be impacted by changes in the valuation allowance. This process is complex and involves significant management judgment in determining our provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowances recorded against our net deferred tax assets.
This report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those statements relating to development of new products, the financial condition of the Company and the ability to increase distribution of our products. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “continue”, “plans”, “intends”, or other similar terminology. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are beyond our control and, in many cases, we cannot predict the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and, except as otherwise required by law, we disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why the actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Investors are cautioned to consider the risk factors identified below and in our other SEC filings when considering forward-looking statements. If any of these items actually occur, our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
As a percentage of net sales: | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of sales | 64.3% | | 66.0% | | | | 64.9% | | 65.9% | | |
Gross margin | 35.7% | | 34.0% | | | | 35.1% | | 34.1% | | |
Research and development | 4.5% | | 5.0% | | | | 4.7% | | 4.9% | | |
Selling | 2.6% | | 2.1% | | | | 2.7% | | 2.0% | | |
Administration | 6.2% | | 9.2% | | | | 7.3% | | 8.8% | | |
Realignment of operations | 1.2% | | - | | | | 0.6% | | - | | |
Operating income | 21.2% | | 17.7% | | | | 19.7% | | 18.4% | | |
Comparative – Three month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
NM = Not Meaningful
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Three Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Net sales | | $19,898 | | $17,192 | | 15.7% |
Net sales increased $2,706 in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2005, primarily due to increased sales volumes of electronic throttle control systems, specifically in the North American, Asian and European markets, and to a lesser extent increases in sales of our pneumatic control systems.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Three Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Gross profit | | $7,097 | | $5,844 | | 21.4% |
Gross profit was $7,097, or 35.7% of net sales in the third quarter of 2006, an increase of $1,253 compared to the gross profit of $5,844, or 34.0% of net sales, in the comparable fiscal 2005 period.
The increase in gross profit in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 is primarily driven by a 15.7% increase in sales of electronic throttle and pneumatic control systems to heavy truck and transit bus customers and a decrease in overhead expenses as a percentage of net sales. Gross profit was negatively impacted by actual overhead expenses increasing over the prior year as a result of costs associated with our manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China, which was opened during the second quarter of fiscal 2005 and an overall increase in labor costs to support higher sales volumes.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Three Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Research and development | | $898 | | $855 | | 5.0% |
Research and development activity for the third fiscal quarter of 2006 remained relatively constant when compared to the comparable period in 2005, increasing by $43. The increase in research and development expense is attributable to a larger number of projects under development during fiscal 2006. The Company’s research and development expenditures will fluctuate based on the products under development at any given point in time. Overall, we expect research and development expenses to increase over fiscal 2005 levels due to additional new product design projects and continued sensor development efforts.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Three Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Selling | | $522 | | $364 | | 43.4% |
Selling expenses increased $158 during the three month period ended June 30, 2006 as compared with the three month period ended June 30, 2005. In the second half of fiscal 2005 and the first nine months of fiscal 2006, the Company took several steps in expanding its sales efforts, including the addition of sales personnel in the United States and increased promotional materials. Selling expenses for our European and China sales offices also increased over the third quarter in the prior year as we continue to increase the sales and marketing efforts in these offices. We expect to continue to incur increased expenses associated with our current foreign customers and expanded selling and marketing efforts worldwide.
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| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Three Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Administration | | $1,235 | | $1,577 | | (21.7%) |
Administration expenses for the three month period ended June 30, 2006 decreased $342 when compared with the same period in fiscal 2005. The decrease in administration expenses is primarily a result of decreased legal costs associated with the class action lawsuit discussed in Note 15 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and other legal costs, a reduction in management fees as discussed in Note 13, and to a lesser extent fiscal 2005 included one time compensation costs associated with the commencement of employment of our President and Chief Executive Officer. Offsetting these decreases was an increase in information technology expenses to support our international operations and stock option compensation expense as a result of adopting SFAS No. 123R in the current fiscal year.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Three Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Realignment of operations | | $229 | | $ - | | 100.0% |
The Company recorded expenses of $229 related to its realignment of operations as discussed in Note 3 of the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Three Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Interest income | | $ | (13) | | $ | (13) | | 0% |
Interest expense | | $ | 323 | | $ | 312 | | 3.5% |
Interest expense increased $11 in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2005 primarily due to higher overall interest rates. We expect interest expense to decrease in fiscal 2006 when compared to fiscal 2005 due to the continued reduction of debt levels resulting from scheduled debt payments each quarter.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Three Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Loss on put/call option agreement | | $ - | | $59 | | NM |
The Company recorded a $59 loss in the third quarter of fiscal 2005 related to the change in the net value of the Put and Call option agreement as discussed in Note 13 of the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. As discussed in Note 13, the Put and Call option agreement was terminated during the first quarter of fiscal 2006 with no significant gain or loss.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Three Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Other (income) expense, net | | $ (151) | | $ 1 | | NM |
Other (income) expense was income of $151 in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 compared to expenses of $1 in third quarter of fiscal 2005. This increase in other income is primarily due to recording a gain of $161 for the reversal of old accounts payable related to closed insolvent subsidiaries of the Company as discussed in Note 9 of the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financials Statements.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Three Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Income tax expense | | $1,285 | | $1,079 | | 19.1% |
Tax expense reflects an effective tax rate of 31.7% for the three month period ended June 30, 2006 compared to an effective tax rate of 40.1% for the comparable three month period in fiscal 2005.
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The reduction in the tax rate was primarily caused by the following factors: a significant reduction in the amount of foreign entity losses for which no tax benefit is provided; a reduction in the state tax rate due to the Oregon “kicker” refund; and the inclusion of the manufacturing production deduction, which became effective in fiscal 2006 for the first time.
Comparative – Nine month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005
NM = Not Meaningful
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Nine Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Net sales | | $54,826 | | $49,928 | | 9.8% |
Net sales increased $4,898 in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2005, primarily due to increased sales volumes of electronic throttle control systems, specifically in the North American, Asian and European markets, and to a lesser extent increases in sales of our pneumatic control systems.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Nine Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Gross profit | | $19,243 | | $17,027 | | 13.0% |
Gross profit was $19,243, or 35.1% of net sales in the first nine months of 2006, an increase of $2,216 compared to the gross profit of $17,027, or 34.1% of net sales, in the comparable fiscal 2005 period.
The increase in gross profit in fiscal 2006 is primarily driven by a 9.8% increase in sales of electronic throttle and pneumatic control systems to heavy truck and transit bus customers and a reduction in our warranty liability of $184 as discussed in Note 11 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, and reductions in pension and post-retirement benefit costs. Gross profit was negatively impacted by overhead expenses increasing over the prior year as a result of costs associated with our manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China, which was opened during the second quarter of fiscal 2005 and increased labor costs to support higher sales volumes.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Nine Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Research and development | | $2,560 | | $2,445 | | 4.7% |
Research and development expenses increased $115 for the first nine months of fiscal 2006 compared to the comparable period in fiscal 2005. The increased research and development expense is largely attributable to an increase in development efforts for new products, markets and sensors, resulting in higher staffing levels and an overall increase in project expenses. The Company’s research and development expenditures will fluctuate based on the products under development at any given point in time. Overall, we expect research and development expenses to increase over fiscal 2005 levels due to additional new product design projects and continued sensor development efforts.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Nine Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Selling | | $1,501 | | $974 | | 54.1% |
Selling expenses increased $527 for the nine month period ended June 30, 2006 as compared with the nine month period ended June 30, 2005. In the second half of fiscal 2005 and the first nine months of fiscal 2006, the Company took several steps in expanding its sales efforts, including the addition of sales personnel in the United States, China and Europe and increased promotional materials. Additionally, we opened our Europe and China sales offices in mid-fiscal 2005, and accordingly we did not incur significant costs associated with these offices during the first nine months of fiscal 2005 as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2006. We expect to continue to incur increased expenses associated with our current foreign customers and expanded selling and marketing efforts worldwide.
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| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Nine Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Administration | | $4,024 | | $4,397 | | (8.5%) |
Administration expenses for the first nine months of fiscal 2006 decreased $373 as compared to the same period in fiscal 2005. Included in administration expenses for the nine month period ended June 30, 2005 were one time compensation and relocation costs incurred in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 with the commencement of employment of our President and Chief Executive Officer and management fees, which were reduced as discussed in Note 13 to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, legal costs associated with the class action lawsuit discussed in Note 15 and other legal costs decreased from the prior year. Offsetting these reductions was an increase in information technology expenses to support our international operations and stock option compensation expense as a result of adopting SFAS No. 123R in the current fiscal year.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Nine Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Realignment of operations | | $353 | | $ - | | 100.0% |
The Company recorded expenses of $353 related to its realignment of operations as discussed in Note 3 of the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Nine Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Interest income | | $ | (53) | | $ | (33) | | 60.6% |
Interest expense | | $ | 955 | | $ | 1,134 | | (15.8%) |
Interest expense decreased $179 in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 as compared to the same period in fiscal 2005 due to reductions in debt levels, partially offset by higher overall interest rates. We expect interest expense to continue to decrease in fiscal 2006 when compared to fiscal 2005 due to the continued reduction of debt levels resulting from scheduled debt payments each quarter.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Nine Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Gain on put/call option agreement | | $ - | | ($323) | | NM |
The Company recorded a $323 gain in the nine month period ended June 30, 2005 related to the change in the net value of the Put and Call option agreement as discussed in Note 13 of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. As discussed in Note 13, the Put and Call option agreement was terminated during the first quarter of fiscal 2006 with no significant gain or loss.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Nine Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Other (income) expense, net | | $ (317) | | $ (23) | | NM |
Other (income) expense was income of $317 in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 compared to income of $23 in the comparable period in fiscal 2005. This increase in other income is primarily due to recording a gain of $339 in the nine month period ended June 30, 2006 compared to a gain of $53 for the same period in fiscal 2005 for the reversal of old accounts payable related to closed insolvent subsidiaries of the Company as discussed in Note 9 of the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financials Statements.
| | | | | | Percent Change |
For the Nine Month Period Ended June 30: | | 2006 | | 2005 | | 2006 to 2005 |
Income tax expense | | $3,486 | | $3,357 | | 3.8% |
Tax expense reflects an effective tax rate of 34.1% for the first nine months of fiscal 2006 compared to an effective tax rate of 39.7% for the comparable period in fiscal 2005.
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The reduction in the tax rate was primarily caused by the following factors: a significant reduction in the amount of foreign entity losses for which no tax benefit is provided; a reduction in the state tax rate due to the Oregon “kicker” refund; and the inclusion of the manufacturing production deduction, which became effective in fiscal 2006 for the first time.
Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash generated by operating activities was $4,013 for the first nine months of fiscal 2006, a decrease of $5,471 from the cash generated by operating activities of $9,484 during the first nine months of fiscal 2005. Cash flows from operations for the nine month period ended June 30, 2006 included net income of $6,734 and a non-cash deferred tax provision of $760 related to utilization of the remaining net operating loss. Cash flows from operations for the nine month period ended June 30, 2005 included net income of $5,099 and a non-cash deferred tax provision of $3,047 related to utilization of a portion of the net operating loss.
Cash flows from operations primarily decreased in the nine month period ended June 30, 2006 compared to the corresponding prior year period due to an increase in inventories, a decrease in accounts payable and an increase in tax payments as we utilized our remaining federal net operating loss carryforwards in the first quarter of fiscal 2006. The higher inventory levels are associated primarily with additional safety stock to facilitate changing suppliers, the transfer of some manufacturing from our Portland, Oregon to Suzhou, China facility, increased lead times associated with sourcing of components from overseas suppliers and additional inventory levels to support our China operations. In addition, cash flows from operations for the nine month period ended June 30, 2006 included payments to our pension plans of $1,031. For the nine month period ended June 30, 2005, we made payments of $795 to fund our pension plans. We believe we will continue to generate positive cash from continuing operations.
Cash used in investing activities was $1,734 for the nine month period ended June 30, 2006 and was comprised solely of purchases of property, plant and equipment. For the nine month period ended June 30, 2005, cash used in investing activities was $2,311 and was comprised solely of purchases of property, plant and equipment. We expect our cash use for investing activities to increase throughout the fiscal year as we continue to make purchases of capital equipment.
Cash used in financing activities was $6,361 for the nine month period ended June 30, 2006, compared to cash used in financing activities of $5,601 for the nine month period ended June 30, 2005. The use of cash for financing activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2006 primarily relates to the repurchase of common stock from AIP of $3,200, scheduled debt payments on our Merrill Lynch term loan and the payment of $2,074 related to the excess cash flow requirement of our loan agreement with Merrill Lynch. Offsetting these uses of cash were net borrowings on our revolving credit facility of $1,000 and proceeds from the exercise of stock options. The cash used for financing activities in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 primarily relates to scheduled debt payments on our Merrill Lynch term loan and the payoff of our then existing revolving credit facility with Merrill Lynch.
Contractual Obligations as of June 30, 2006
At June 30, 2006, our contractual obligations consisted of bank debt, operating lease obligations, a service agreement and a license agreement. We do not have any material letters of credit, purchase commitments, or debt guarantees outstanding at June 30, 2006. Maturities of these contractual obligations consist of the following:
| | Payments due by period |
| | Total | | Less than 1 year | | 1 – 3 years | | 3 – 5 years | | More than 5 years |
Term loan | | $ | 9,252 | | $ | 2,847 | | $ | 6,405 | | $ | - | | $ | - |
Revolver | | | 1,000 | | | - | | | 1,000 | | | - | | | - |
Operating leases | | | 1,416 | | | 345 | | | 879 | | | 192 | | | - |
MMT license - minimum royalties | | | 365 | | | - | | | 65 | | | 150 | | | 150 |
Management Services Agreement | | | 120 | | | - | | | 120 | | | - | | | - |
| | $ | 12,153 | | $ | 3,192 | | $ | 8,469 | | $ | 342 | | $ | 150 |
Certain liabilities, including those related to our pension and post-retirement benefit plans, are reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets but are not reflected in the table above due to the absence of stated maturities. The Company has net obligations at June 30, 2006 related to its pension plans and post-retirement medical plan of $4,563 and
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$3,243, respectively. The Company funded $1,031 to its pension plans during the first nine months of fiscal 2006 compared to contributions of $795 for the first nine months of fiscal 2005. We expect to make payments of approximately $373 throughout the rest of fiscal 2006.
At June 30, 2006, we had $7,000 available under our revolving credit facility with Merrill Lynch plus cash and cash equivalents of $970. We believe these resources, when combined with cash provided by operations, will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs on a short-term and long-term basis.
Included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet is approximately $987 of accounts payable related to closed insolvent subsidiaries of the Company. In accordance with SFAS No. 140 “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities”, a debtor can only relieve itself of a liability if it has been extinguished. A liability is considered extinguished if (a) the debtor pays the creditor and is relieved of its obligation for the liability or (b) the debtor is legally released from being the primary obligor under the liability, either judicially or by the creditor. During the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2006, the Company was judicially released from and reversed $161 and $339, respectively, of old accounts payable related to closed insolvent subsidiaries of the Company resulting in a gain, which has been recorded in other (income) expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. During the three and nine month periods ended June 30, 2005, the Company was judicially released from and reversed $2 and $53, respectively. The Company expects to reverse amounts in future periods based on the recognition of the liabilities being judicially released in accordance with SFAS No. 140 of $222 remaining in fiscal 2006; $731 in fiscal 2007; and $34 in fiscal 2010.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”), an interpretation of SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”, which clarifies the accounting uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109. The interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold of more-likely-than-not and a measurement attribute on all tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return in order to be recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. Accordingly, the Company will adopt FIN 48 on October 1, 2007 and the Company is currently assessing the impact FIN 48 will have on its financial statements.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and changes in the market value of investments. The Company’s primary market risk results from fluctuations in interest rates.
• | The Company has a five-year revolving and term loan agreement with its primary lender Merrill Lynch. Interest rates under the agreements are variable and are based on the election of the Company of either a LIBOR rate or Prime rate. |
• | As of June 30, 2006, the outstanding balance on the term loan was $9,252 and the outstanding balance on the revolving loan was $1,000. The effective annual interest rate on the term loan and revolving loan was 9.9% and 8.9%, respectively, as of June 30, 2006. The Company does not believe that a hypothetical 10% change in end of the period interest rates or changes in future interest rates on these variable rate obligations would have a material effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. The Company has not hedged its exposure to interest rate fluctuations. |
Foreign Currency Risk:
• | We sell our products to customers in the heavy truck, transit bus and off-road equipment industries. For the nine month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, the Company had foreign sales of approximately 35.4% and 34.6% of net sales, respectively. All of the worldwide sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2005 and all but $163 of sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2006 were denominated in U.S. dollars. During fiscal 2005, we established a manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China and we opened sales offices in Shanghai, China and Ismaning (which is near Munich), Germany. The Company does not believe that changes in future exchange rates would have a |
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| material effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows as the majority of its foreign sales transactions are currently denominated in U.S. dollars and the investments in China and Germany are relatively small at this time in relation to our United States operations; however, we anticipate that in future years a higher percentage of our sales will be denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. As a result, the Company has not entered at this time into forward exchange or option contracts for transactions to hedge against foreign currency risk. The Company will continue to assess its foreign currency risk as its international operations and sales increase. |
• | The Company does not use derivative financial or commodity instruments. The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable and long-term obligations. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable balances are short-term in nature, and, thus, the Company believes they are not exposed to material investment risk. |
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely manner, and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Controls
There has been no change in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.
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Part II. Other Information
We are parties to various pending judicial and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Our management and legal counsel have reviewed the probable outcome of these proceedings, the costs and expenses reasonably expected to be incurred, the availability and limits of our insurance coverage, and our established liabilities. While the outcome of the pending proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, based on our review, we believe that any liability that may result is not reasonably likely to have a material effect on our liquidity, financial condition or results from operations.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks discussed below and the other information in this report on Form 10-Q before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. There are no material changes to risk factors as previously disclosed in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K.
Risks related to our business:
A significant portion of our sales are derived from a limited number of customers, and results of operations could be adversely affected and stockholder value harmed if we lose any of these customers.
A significant portion of our revenues historically have been derived from a limited number of customers. For the years ended September 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003, Freightliner, LLC accounted for 18%, 20% and 21%, The Volvo Group accounted for 18%, 16% and 14%, Paccar, Inc. accounted for 17%, 16% and 10%, Navistar International Corporation accounted for 7%, 8% and 11%, and Caterpillar, Inc. accounted for 5%, 5% and 4%, respectively, of net sales from continuing operations. The loss of any significant customer would adversely affect our revenues and stockholder value.
Demand for equipment on which our products are installed may decrease, which could adversely affect our revenues and stockholder value.
We sell our products primarily to manufacturers of heavy trucks, transit busses and off-road equipment. If demand for our customers’ vehicles and equipment decreases, demand for our products would decrease as well. This decrease in demand would adversely impact our revenues and stockholder value.
Our products could be recalled, which could increase our costs and decrease our revenues.
Our vehicle component products must comply with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, as amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder, which are administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”). If NHTSA finds that we are not in compliance with its standards or regulations, it may, among other things, require that we recall products found not to be in compliance, and repair or replace such products. Such a recall could increase our costs and adversely impact our reputation in our industry, both of which would adversely affect our revenues, profit margins, results from operations and stockholder value. We experienced such a recall with respect to certain of our products in fiscal 2001.
We purchase raw materials and component parts from suppliers and changes in the relationships with such suppliers, as well as increases in the costs of such raw materials and/or component parts, would adversely affect our ability to produce and market our products, which would adversely affect our profit margins, results from operations and stockholder value.
We purchase raw materials and component parts from suppliers to be used in the manufacturing of our products. If a supplier is unable or unwilling to provide us with such raw materials and/or component parts, we may be unable to produce certain products, which could result in a decrease in revenue and adversely impact our reputation in our industry. Also, if prices of such raw materials and/or component parts increase and we are not able to pass on such increase to our customers, our profit margins would decrease. The occurrence of either of these would adversely affect our results from operations and stockholder value.
Our products could be subject to product liability claims by customers and/or consumers, which would adversely affect our profit margins, results from operations and stockholder value.
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A significant portion of our products are used on heavy trucks and transit busses. If our products are not properly designed or built and/or personal injuries are sustained as a result of our equipment, we could be subject to claims for damages based on theories of product liability and other legal theories. The costs and resources to defend such claims could be substantial, and if such claims are successful, we could be responsible for paying some or all of the damages. Also, our reputation could be adversely affected, regardless of whether such claims are successful. Any of these results would adversely affect our profit margins, results from operations and stockholder value.We are currently named as a co-defendant in a product liability case that seeks class action.
Work stoppages or other changes in the relationships with our employees could make it difficult for us to produce and effectively market our products, which would adversely affect our profit margins, results from operations and stockholder value.
If we experience significant work stoppages, as we did in fiscal 2003, we likely would have difficulty manufacturing our products. Also, our labor costs could increase and we may not be able to pass such increase on to our customers. The occurrence of either of the foregoing would adversely affect profit margins, results from operations and stockholder value.
Our defined benefit pension plans are under-funded and, therefore, we may be required to increase our contributions to the plans, which would adversely affect our cash flows.
We maintain two defined benefit pension plans among the retirement plans we sponsor. No new employees are being admitted to participate in these two plans. Participants in these two plans are entitled to a fixed formula benefit upon retirement. Although we make regular contributions to these two plans in accordance with minimum ERISA funding requirements, investment earnings may be less than expected, and we may be required to increase contributions to the under-funded plan(s), which would adversely affect our cash flows.
Risks related to environmental laws:
The soil and groundwater at our Portland, Oregon facility contains certain contaminants that may require us to incur substantial expense to investigate and remediate, which would adversely affect our profit margins, results from operations and stockholder value.
The soil and groundwater at our Portland, Oregon facility contains certain contaminants. Some of this contamination has migrated offsite to a neighboring property and potentially to other properties. We have retained an environmental consulting firm to investigate the extent of the contamination and to determine what, if any, remediation will be required and the associated costs. During the third quarter of fiscal 2004, we entered the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s voluntary clean-up program and during fiscal 2004 we established a liability of $950 for this matter. As of June 30, 2006, this liability was $561. Our costs could exceed this liability. We may incur substantial expenses if we are required to remediate the contamination, which would adversely affect our profit margins, results from operations and stockholder value.
We are required to comply with federal and state environmental laws, which could become increasingly expensive and could result in substantial liability if we do not comply.
We produce small quantities of hazardous waste in our operations and are subject to federal and state air, water and land pollution control laws and regulations. Compliance with such laws and regulations could become increasingly costly and the failure to comply could result in substantial liability. Either of these results could increase expenses, thereby adversely affecting our profit margins and stockholder value.
Risks related to foreign operations:
Fluctuations in the value of currencies could adversely affect our international sales, which would result in reduced revenues and stockholder value.
We sell products in Canada, Belgium, Sweden, Mexico, South America, the Pacific Rim nations, Australia, China and certain European nations, and have a manufacturing and sales operation in China, and a sales and technical center in Germany. For both the first nine months of fiscal 2006 and 2005, foreign sales were approximately 35% of net sales. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003, foreign sales were approximately 35%, 33%, and 31% of net sales, respectively. Although currently virtually all of our sales and purchases are made in U.S. dollars, we anticipate that over time more of our sales will be denominated in foreign currencies. We do not presently engage in any hedging of foreign currency
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risk. In the future, our operations in the foreign markets will likely become subject to fluctuations in currency values between the U.S. dollar and the currency of the foreign markets. Our results from operations and stockholder value could be adversely affected if currency of any of the foreign markets increases in value relative to the U.S. dollar.
Complying with the laws applicable to foreign markets may become more difficult and expensive in the future, which could adversely affect our results from operations and stockholder value.
Our operations in foreign markets are subject to the laws of such markets. Compliance with these laws may become more difficult and costly in the future. In addition, these laws may change and such change may require us to change our operations. Any of these results could adversely affect our results from operations and stockholder value by increasing expenses and reducing revenues, thereby reducing profits.
Political and economic instability in the foreign markets may make doing business there more difficult and costly, which could adversely affect our results from operations and stockholder value.
Economic and political instability may increase in the future in foreign markets. Such instability may make it more difficult to do business there and may make it more expensive to do so. If our operations were nationalized by the government of China, this could cause us to write off the value of our operations in such foreign markets and eliminate revenues generated by such operations. Any of these results could result in onetime charges or increased expenses as well as lower revenues, which would adversely affect our results of operations and harm stockholder value.
Risks Related to our Capital Structure:
The market price of our stock has been and may continue to be volatile, which could result in losses for stockholders.
Our common stock is listed on the OTC and is thinly traded. Volatility on the OTC is typically higher than the volatility of stocks traded on the Nasdaq stock market or other major exchanges. Stocks traded on the OTC are typically less liquid than stocks traded on the Nasdaq stock market or other major exchanges. The market price of our common stock has been and, in the future, could be subject to significant fluctuations as a result of the foregoing, as well as variations in our operating results, announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors, announcements of new strategic relationships by us or our competitors, general conditions in our industries or market conditions unrelated to our business and operating results. Any of these results would adversely impact stockholder value.
The expenses associated with becoming compliant with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could be significant, and therefore could adversely affect our results from operations and cash flows.
Our Company currently qualifies as a non-accelerated filer in accordance with Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We are therefore not currently subject to the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(“SOX 404”). If we were to become an accelerated filer under Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or meet other criteria requiring us to comply with SOX 404, which under current SEC rules we would have to comply with SOX 404 beginning in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007, we could incur significant costs and expenses in becoming compliant and continuing to comply with SOX 404. Such costs and expenses would include, without limitation, internal expenses associated with the development and implementation of tests and processes relating to our internal controls, as well as increased expenses payable to our external auditors. Such costs and expenses may adversely affect our results from operations and cash flows.
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
None
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
None
Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
None
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None
3.01 | | Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant as amended.(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s annual report on form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1995) |
3.02 | | Restated By-Laws of the Registrant as amended July 1, 2002.(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to the Registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002) |
4.01 | | Specimen Unit Certificate (including Specimen Certificate for shares of Common Stock and Specimen Certificate for the Warrants).(Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 1.1 and 1.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, Commission File No. 0-18083, filed with the Commission on November 1, 1989) |
4.02 | | Certificate to Provide for the Designation, Preferences, Rights, Qualifications, Limitations or Restrictions Thereof, of the Series A Preferred Stock, 71/2% Redeemable Convertible Series(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s quarterly report on form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998) |
4.03 | | Certificate to Provide for the Designation, Preferences, Rights, Qualifications, Limitations or Restrictions Thereof, of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Non-Redeemable Convertible Series.(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002) |
4.04 | | Certificate to Provide for the Designation, Preferences, Rights, Qualifications, Limitations or Restrictions Thereof, of the Series B Preferred Stock, 15% Redeemable Convertible Series(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(v) to the Schedule TO-I/A filed on July 5, 2002) |
4.05 | | Certificate of Elimination for Mandatory Preferred Stock(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(vi) to the Schedule TO-I/A filed on July 5, 2002) |
4.06 | | Certificate of Amendment to the Designation, Preferences, Rights, Qualifications, Limitations or Restrictions Thereof, of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Non-Redeemable Convertible Series(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s report on Form 8-K, filed on September 29, 2004) |
4.07 | | Certificate to Provide for the Designation, Preferences, Rights, Qualifications, Limitations or Restrictions Thereof, of the Series C Preferred Stock, 15% Redeemable Non-Convertible Series(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s report on Form 8-K, filed on September 29, 2004) |
4.08 | | Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate to Provide for the Designation, Preferences, Rights, Qualifications, Limitations or Restrictions Thereof, of the Series B Preferred Stock, 15% Redeemable Convertible Series(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s report on Form 8-K, filed on September 29, 2004) |
10.01(a) | | Form of Indemnification Agreement for H. Samuel Greenawalt.(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1(c) to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1993) |
10.01(b) | | Form of Indemnification Agreement for Douglas E. Hailey(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1(a) to the Registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2001) |
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10.02 | | The Company’s 1995 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1995) |
10.03 | | The Registrant’s 1993 Stock Option Plan as amended to date.(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4(b) to the Registrant’s annual report on Form 10-k for the fiscal year ended September 30,1998) |
10.06 | | Dolphin Side Letter, dated as of July 1, 2002(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(xi) to the Schedule TO-I/A filed on July 5, 2002) |
10.07 | | Form of Amended and Restated Subordinated Debenture Due July 1, 2004(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(xii) to the Schedule TO-I/A filed on July 5, 2002) |
10.08 | | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, including Promissory Notes for the Revolving Credit Loan and Terms Loans A and B, dated July 1, 2002(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(xiii) to the Schedule TO-I/A filed on July 5, 2002) |
10.09 | | Put/Call Option Agreement, dated September 30, 2004, between Williams and American Industrial Partners Capital Fund III, L.P.(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s report on Form 8-K, filed on September 29, 2004) |
10.10 | | Credit Agreement, dated September 27, 2004, among Williams, Williams Controls Industries, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Williams, and Merrill Lynch Capital, a division of Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services, Inc.(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s report on Form 8-K, filed on September 29, 2004) |
10.11 | | Amended and Restated Management Services Agreement, dated September 30, 2004, among Williams, American Industrial Partners and Dolphin Advisors, LLC(Incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s report on Form 8-K, filed on September 29, 2004) |
31.01 | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) (Filed herewith) |
31.02 | | Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) (Filed herewith) |
32.01 | | Certification of Patrick W. Cavanagh pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.02 | | Certification of Dennis E. Bunday pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
WILLIAMS CONTROLS, INC.
Date: August 10, 2006 | /s/ PATRICK W. CAVANAGH Patrick W. Cavanagh President and Chief Executive Officer |
Date: August 10, 2006 | /s/ DENNIS E. BUNDAY Dennis E. Bunday Chief Financial Officer |
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