QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q ------------------------------------------------------- [x] Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 For the period ended March 31, 2000 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 0-7903 I.R.S. Employer Identification Number 36-2675371 QUIXOTE CORPORATION (a Delaware Corporation) One East Wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 60601 Telephone: (312) 467-6755 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 XX NO ----- ---- Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 7,850,547 shares of the Company's Common Stock ($.01-2/3 par value) were outstanding as of March 31, 2000. PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION QUIXOTE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended March 31, ------------------------------- 2000 1999 ---- ---- Net sales .................................. $ 55,584,000 $ 49,212,000 Cost of sales .............................. 29,400,000 27,400,000 ------------ ------------ Gross profit ............................... 26,184,000 21,812,000 Operating expenses: Selling & administrative ................. 17,336,000 14,327,000 Research & development ................... 1,044,000 1,186,000 ------------ ------------ 18,380,000 15,513,000 Operating profit ........................... 7,804,000 6,299,000 ------------ ------------ Other income (expense): Interest income .......................... 23,000 76,000 Interest expense ......................... (617,000) (723,000) Other .................................... (4,000) 29,000 ------------ ------------ (598,000) (618,000) ------------ ------------ Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes ............................. 7,206,000 5,681,000 Provision for income taxes ................. 2,738,000 1,988,000 ------------ ------------ Earnings from continuing operations......... 4,468,000 3,693,000 ------------ ------------ Earnings from discontinued operations (net of income taxes) .................... 240,000 ------------ ------------ Net earnings ............................... $ 4,468,000 $ 3,933,000 ============ ============ Per share data - basic: Earnings from continuing operations....... $ .56 $ .46 Earnings from discontinued operations..... .03 ------------ ------------ Net earnings.............................. $ .56 $ .49 ============ ============ Weighted average common shares outstanding 7,997,553 7,962,584 ============ ============ See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 2 QUIXOTE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Operations-Continued (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended March 31, ----------------------------- 2000 1999 ---- ---- Per share data - diluted: Earnings from continuing operations ........... $ .54 $ .45 Earnings from discontinued operations.......... .03 ---------- ---------- Net earnings .................................. $ .54 $ .48 ========== ========== Weighted average common shares outstanding..... 8,270,950 8,216,341 ========== ========== See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 3 QUIXOTE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, ------------------------------- 2000 1999 ---- ---- Net sales .................................. $ 20,053,000 $ 18,347,000 Cost of sales .............................. 10,309,000 10,098,000 ------------ ------------ Gross profit ............................... 9,744,000 8,249,000 Operating expenses: Selling & administrative ................. 6,739,000 5,746,000 Research & development ................... 376,000 456,000 ------------ ------------ 7,115,000 6,202,000 Operating profit ........................... 2,629,000 2,047,000 ------------ ------------ Other income (expense): Interest income .......................... 8,000 10,000 Interest expense ......................... (225,000) (343,000) Other .................................... (19,000) 29,000 ------------ ------------ (236,000) (304,000) ------------ ------------ Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes ............................. 2,393,000 1,743,000 Provision for income taxes ................. 909,000 610,000 ------------ ------------ Earnings from continuing operations......... 1,484,000 1,133,000 ------------ ------------ Earnings from discontinued operations (net of income taxes) .................... 240,000 ------------ ------------ Net earnings ............................... $ 1,484,000 $ 1,373,000 ============ ============ Per share data - basic: Earnings from continuing operations....... $ .19 $ .14 Earnings from discontinued operations..... .03 ------------ ------------ Net earnings.............................. $ .19 $ .17 ============ ============ Weighted average common shares outstanding 7,891,580 8,018,193 ============ ============ See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 4 QUIXOTE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Operations-Continued (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, ----------------------------- 2000 1999 ---- ---- Per share data - diluted: Earnings from continuing operations ........... $ .18 $ .14 Earnings from discontinued operations.......... .03 ---------- ---------- Net earnings .................................. $ .18 $ .17 ========== ========== Weighted average common shares outstanding..... 8,068,079 8,238,973 ========== ========== See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 5 QUIXOTE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets As of March 31, June 30, ------------------------------- ASSETS 2000 1999 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents ...................... $ 689,000 $2,153,000 Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $893,000 at March 31 and $480,000 at June 30 ............. 16,317,000 17,078,000 Inventories: Raw materials ................................ 3,568,000 3,069,000 Work in process .............................. 1,610,000 1,527,000 Finished goods ............................... 3,453,000 3,941,000 ----------- ---------- 8,631,000 8,537,000 ----------- ---------- Deferred income tax assets .................... 2,491,000 2,491,000 Other current assets .......................... 512,000 538,000 ----------- ---------- Total current assets ............................ 28,640,000 30,797,000 ----------- ---------- Property, plant and equipment, at cost .......... 27,775,000 26,794,000 Less: accumulated depreciation .................. (12,602,000) (11,195,000) ----------- ---------- 15,173,000 15,599,000 ----------- ---------- Intangible assets, net.......................... 23,041,000 24,038,000 Other assets.................................... 1,485,000 1,340,000 ----------- ---------- $68,339,000 $71,774,000 =========== =========== See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 6 QUIXOTE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets-Continued As of March 31, June 30, --------------------------- LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY 2000 1999 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Unaudited) Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt ................ $ 714,000 $ 722,000 Accounts payable ................................. 2,028,000 3,300,000 Dividends payable ................................ 1,128,000 Accrued expenses ................................. 4,290,000 4,693,000 Income taxes payable.............................. 1,586,000 691,000 Liabilities of discontinued operations ........... 559,000 1,684,000 ----------- ---------- Total current liabilities .......................... 9,177,000 12,218,000 ----------- ---------- Long-term debt, net of current portion.............. 11,774,000 11,901,000 Deferred income tax liabilities .................... 1,449,000 1,449,000 Liabilities of discontinued operations.............. 353,000 224,000 Shareholders' equity: Preferred stock, no par value; authorized 100,000 shares; none issued............................. Common stock, par value $.01-2/3; authorized 15,000,000 shares; 9,186,067 issued shares at March 31 and 9,104,166 shares at June 30 ....... 153,000 151,000 Capital in excess of par value of common stock ... 33,487,000 32,929,000 Retained earnings ................................ 24,232,000 20,884,000 Treasury stock, at cost, 1,335,520 shares at March 31 and 1,032,420 shares at June 30........ (12,286,000) (7,982,000) ----------- ---------- Total shareholders' equity ......................... 45,586,000 45,982,000 ----------- ---------- $68,339,000 $71,774,000 =========== =========== See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 7 QUIXOTE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Nine Months Ended March 31, ---------------------------- 2000 1999 ---- ---- Cash from operating activities: Earnings from continuing operations............. $ 4,468,000 $ 3,693,000 Adjustments to reconcile earnings from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation ................................. 1,556,000 1,320,000 Amortization.................................. 1,140,000 1,210,000 Provisions for losses on accounts receivable.. 413,000 (94,000) Changes in operating assets and liabilities (net of the effect of acquisitions): Accounts receivable ........................ 348,000 (865,000) Refundable income taxes .................... 1,132,000 Inventories and other current assets........ (68,000) (2,635,000) Accounts payable and accrued expenses ...... (1,675,000) 1,051,000 Income taxes payable ....................... 895,000 2,410,000 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations........................... 7,077,000 7,222,000 Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations...................................... (996,000) 1,542,000 ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by operating activities ........ 6,081,000 8,764,000 ----------- ----------- Investing activities: Cash paid for acquired business (net of cash on books)........................................ (13,701,000) Purchase of property, plant and equipment ...... (1,130,000) (1,881,000) Investment in Transportation Management Technologies, L.L.C. ......................... (361,000) (500,000) Other .......................................... 73,000 (49,000) ----------- ----------- Net cash used in investing activities ............ (1,418,000) (16,131,000) ----------- ----------- Financing activities: Payments on revolving line of credit ........... (4,100,000) Borrowings on revolving line of credit.......... 4,400,000 7,100,000 Payments on notes payable....................... (435,000) (797,000) Payment of semi-annual cash dividend ........... (2,248,000) (2,135,000) Proceeds from exercise of common stock options.. 560,000 612,000 Repurchase of common stock for the treasury..... (4,304,000) ----------- ----------- Net cash provided by(used in)financing activities...................................... (6,127,000) 4,780,000 ----------- ----------- Decrease in cash and cash equivalents ............ (1,464,000) (2,587,000) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period.. 2,153,000 3,927,000 ----------- ----------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period ....... $ 689,000 $ 1,340,000 =========== =========== Note: During the nine months ended March 31, 2000, the Company paid $1,844,000 for income taxes and paid $580,000 for interest. During the same period in the prior year, the Company had net cash refunds of $1,554,000 for income taxes and paid $742,000 for interest. See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 8 QUIXOTE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) 1. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements present information in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and applicable rules of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all information or footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. The June 30, 1999 consolidated balance sheet as presented was derived from audited financial statements. The interim financial statements and notes should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1999. Management believes the financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented. 2. The provision for income taxes is based upon the estimated effective income tax rate for the year. 3. Operating results for the first nine months of fiscal 2000 are not necessarily indicative of the performance for the entire year. The Company's business is historically seasonal with a higher level of sales in the Company's first and fourth fiscal quarters. 4. The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share, as prescribed by FASB No. 128, is as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended March 31, March 31, 2000 1999 2000 1999 ---- ---- ---- ---- Net earnings per share of common stock: Basic ...................... $ .19 $ .17 $ .56 $ .49 Diluted .................... $ .18 $ .17 $ .54 $ .48 Numerator: - ---------- Net earnings available to common shareholders-basic and diluted: ................. $1,484,000 $1,373,000 $4,468,000 $3,933,000 ========== ========== ========== ========== Denominator: - ------------ Weighted average shares outstanding-basic: ........... 7,891,580 8,018,193 7,997,553 7,962,584 Effect of dilutive securities: Stock options ................ 176,499 220,780 273,397 253,757 ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted: ......... 8,068,079 8,238,973 8,270,950 8,216,341 ========== ========== ========== ========== Options to purchase 60,000 shares of common stock at $21 per share were outstanding during the first nine months of both fiscal 2000 and fiscal 1999 and were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options' exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares or anti-dilutive. 9 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS CURRENT YEAR-TO-DATE VERSUS PRIOR YEAR-TO-DATE - ---------------------------------------------- The Company's sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2000 increased 13% to $55,584,000 from $49,212,000 in the first nine months of fiscal 1999 due to solid internal sales growth as well as growth from one acquisition the Company completed during fiscal 1999. Internal sales increased 8% primarily due to domestic and international demand for the Company's permanent crash cushion products. Sales of Energy Absorption Systems, Inc. ("Energy Absorption") and its subsidiaries increased 5% due to strong demand for its permanent line of crash cushion products. Sales of Energy Absorption Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries' permanent line of crash cushion products increased 14% primarily due to strong unit sales of the REACT 350 -Registered Trademark- crash cushion and its QuadGuard -Registered Trademark- family of crash cushions. Sales of the new Safe-Stop -trademark- truck-mounted attenuator ("TMA"), the Energite -Registered Trademark- barrel product line, parts, and highway delineators also increased during the first nine months of fiscal 2000. Energy Absorption and its subsidiaries' sales increase was offset in part by a decrease in sales of its other TMA products, Universal Module -Registered Trademark- barrels, the Triton Barrier -Registered Trademark-, glare screen and custom-molded products. Nu-Metrics, Inc., acquired in December 1998, contributed sales of $5,309,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2000 compared to $1,801,000 for the four months as part of the Company last year. Sales of Highway Information Systems, Inc. ("HIS") increased 23% to $2,081,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 2000 from $1,696,000 for the first nine months of fiscal 1999 primarily due to strong sales of its highway advisory radio systems. The gross profit margin in the first nine months of the current year increased to 47.1% from 44.3% in the first nine months of fiscal 1999. This was due principally to increased sales of higher margin products at Nu-Metrics, Inc. and HIS. A change in sales mix at Energy Absorption and its subsidiaries also contributed to the increase in margin due to increased sales of the higher margin QuadGuard -Registered Trademark- family of products along with decreased sales of the lower margin TMA product line. Offsetting the increase in part was the effect of the increase in sales of the lower margin REACT 350 -Registered Trademark-. Energy Absorption and its subsidiaries benefited from lower vendor costs obtained for certain products along with price increases that occurred on selected products. Selling and administrative expenses in the first nine months of the current year increased 21% to $17,336,000 from $14,327,000 in the first nine months last year. This was due principally to the higher level of sales and the December 1998 acquisition of Nu-Metrics, Inc. which added $968,000 in selling and administrative expenses compared to the prior year. Energy Absorption and its subsidiaries had a $1,074,000 increase in selling and administrative expenses primarily related to the increased level of their sales and business development efforts. HIS' selling and administrative expenses increased $454,000 primarily due to the increased level of their sales. Corporate level administrative expenses increased $461,000 primarily as a result of increased international acquisition and development efforts as well as increased health insurance and certain employee benefit expenses. In addition, the increase was due to the equity loss on the investment in the joint venture, Transportation Management Technologies, L.L.C. ("TMT"), reclassified from other expenses. Research and development expenses in the first nine months of the current year decreased 12% to $1,044,000 compared to $1,186,000 in the first nine months last year. This was due to a considerable amount of testing in the prior year of a wider version of the REACT-Registered Trademark- crash cushion and the development of the Safe-Stop -trademark- TMA. During the first nine months of fiscal 2000, the Company made expenditures for the development of products relating to the Safe-Stop -trademark- TMA and for European qualifying tests of certain QuadGuard-Registered Trademark- crash cushion products. The Company continued with its development and testing of a reflective pavement marker for warm weather climates and of a snowplowable road marker, the development of an anti-icing system for bridges, new broadband wireless sensors and other developmental projects. 10 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Interest income in the first nine months of the current year was $23,000 compared to $76,000 in the first nine months last year. Interest income declined as a result of a decline in the Company's invested cash balance. Interest expense in the first nine months of the current year was $617,000 compared to $723,000 in the first nine months last year. The decrease in interest expense is related to the higher level of average long-term debt outstanding in the first nine months of fiscal 1999 in connection with the acquisition of Nu-Metrics, Inc. in December 1998. The Company's effective income tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2000 was 38% compared to an effective income tax rate of 35% in the same period last year due to last year's greater realization of certain tax benefits. The Company believes its effective income tax rate for the current year will be approximately 38%. CURRENT YEAR QUARTER VERSUS PRIOR YEAR QUARTER - ---------------------------------------------- The Company's sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2000 increased 9% to $20,053,000 from $18,347,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 1999 due to increased sales at Energy Absorption Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries as well as Nu-Metrics, Inc. and HIS. Sales of Energy Absorption Systems, Inc. and its subsidiaries increased 4% due to strong demand for its permanent line of crash cushion products for which sales increased 11%. Strong unit sales of the REACT 350 -Registered Trademark- crash cushion were offset in part by a decrease in sales of its QuadGuard -Registered Trademark- family of crash cushions. Sales of the Safe-Stop - trademark- TMA, Energite -Registered Trademark- barrels, parts and custom-molded products also increased during the quarter. Energy Absorption and its subsidiaries' sales increase was offset in part by a decrease in sales of its Triton Barrier -Registered Trademark-, Universal Module -Registered Trademark- barrels, highway delineators and glare screen products. Sales of Nu-Metrics, Inc.'s products increased 54% to $2,017,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 2000 compared to $1,314,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 1999 primarily due to strong unit sales of its Groundhog -Registered Trademark- line of permanent traffic monitors and its Hi-Star-Registered Trademark- portable traffic counter. Sales of HIS increased 74% to $766,000 for the third quarter of the current year from $440,000 for the third quarter of the prior year as a result of strong sales of its highway advisory radio systems. The gross profit margin in the third quarter of the current year increased to 48.6% from 45.0% in the third quarter of the prior year. This was due principally to increased sales of higher margin products at Nu-Metrics, Inc. and HIS and to the increased sales volume of these companies. The increase was offset by a slight decrease in gross margin due to a change in sales mix at Energy Absorption and its subsidiaries with increased sales of the lower margin REACT 350 -Registered Trademark- and Safe-Stop -trademark- TMA and decreased sales of the higher margin QuadGuard -Registered Trademark- family of products. However, Energy Absorption and its subsidiaries continued to benefit from lower vendor costs obtained for certain products along with price increases that occurred on selected products. Selling and administrative expenses in the third quarter of the current year increased 17% to $6,739,000 from $5,746,000 in the same period last year. This was due principally to the higher level of sales for the third quarter of the current year. Energy Absorption and its subsidiaries had a $362,000 increase in selling and administrative expenses primarily related to the increased level of their sales and business development efforts. Selling and administrative expenses at Nu-Metrics, Inc. and HIS increased $523,000 primarily due to the increased level of their sales. Corporate level administrative expenses increased $108,000 primarily as a result of the equity loss on the investment in the joint venture, TMT, reclassified from other expenses. Research and development expenses in the third quarter of the current year decreased 18% to $376,000 compared to $456,000 in the third quarter last year. This was due to a considerable amount of testing in the prior year relating to the development of the Safe-Stop -trademark- TMA. 11 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Interest income in the third quarter of the current year was $8,000 compared to $10,000 in the third quarter last year. Interest income declined as a result of a decline in the Company's invested cash balance. Interest expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2000 was $225,000 compared to $343,000 in the third quarter of fiscal 1999. The decrease in interest expense is related to the higher level of average long-term debt outstanding in the third quarter of fiscal 1999 in connection with the acquisition of Nu-Metrics, Inc. in December 1998. Other expense in the current quarter was $19,000 primarily due to the reclassification to operating income of $100,000 in royalty income earned by Nu-Metrics, Inc. offset by an $84,000 equity loss on the investment in the joint venture, TMT. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES - ------------------------------- The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $689,000 and access to additional funds of $31,700,000 under its bank arrangements as of March 31, 2000. Continuing operating activities were a source of cash for the Company for the first nine months of fiscal 2000 providing $7,077,000. Discontinued operations, however, used cash of $996,000 primarily for lease commitments as well as accounting and legal expenses. This resulted in net cash provided from operating activities of $6,081,000. Investing activities used cash of $1,418,000 during the first nine months of fiscal 2000 including $1,130,000 for the purchase of equipment and $361,000 for the Company's investment in TMT. Financing activities used cash of $6,127,000 during the first nine months of the current year. The payment of the Company's semi-annual cash dividend used cash of $2,248,000. The Company also borrowed $4,400,000 on its revolving credit facility offset by payments of $4,100,000. In addition, the Company used cash of $435,000 for the payment of notes payable due in connection with the acquisitions of Roadway Safety Service, Inc. and Nu-Metrics, Inc. and paid $4,304,000 to purchase 303,100 shares of its own common stock for the treasury. Offsetting these cash payments somewhat, the Company received cash of $560,000 for the exercise of common stock options. For fiscal 2000, the Company anticipates needing less than $2,000,000 in cash for capital expenditures. The Company may also need additional cash as it considers acquiring businesses that complement its existing operations. Also, the Company will require additional investments in working capital to maintain growth. The Company may also need additional funds to repurchase its own common stock from time to time. These expenditures will be financed either through the Company's invested cash, cash generated from its operations or from borrowings available under the Company's revolving credit facility. The Company believes its existing cash, cash generated from operations and funds available under its existing credit facility are sufficient for all planned operating and capital requirements. 12 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS - -------------------------- Various statements made within the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q constitute "forward looking statements" for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Investors are cautioned that all forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from the Company's expectations. Factors which could cause materially different results include, among others, uncertainties related to the introduction of the Company's products and services; the successful completion and integration of acquisitions; continued funding from federal highway legislation; and competitive and general economic conditions. 13 PART II - OTHER INFORMATION There is no information required to be reported under any items except as indicated below: ITEM 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K - ----------------------------------------- (a) Exhibits Exhibit 3(b) Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company as amended through February 24, 2000, filed herewith. Exhibit 27 Financial Data Scehdule (b) Reports on Form 8-K. None 14 SIGNATURE ---------- Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. QUIXOTE CORPORATION DATED: May 12, 2000 /s/ Daniel P. Gorey ----------------- ------------------- DANIEL P. GOREY Chief Financial Officer, Vice President and Treasurer (Chief Financial & Accounting Officer) 15