================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 ---------- FORM 10-Q (Mark One) X QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES --- EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 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 0-5214 PEERLESS MFG. CO. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) <Table> TEXAS 75-0724417 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) 2819 WALNUT HILL LANE, DALLAS, TEXAS 75229 ---------------------------------------- ---------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) </Table> (214) 357-6181 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code) Indicate by check 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 X No --- --- Indicate by check whether registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No X --- --- As of November 12, 2003 there were 3,002,534 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding. ================================================================================ 1 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS <Table> PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2003 (unaudited) and June 30, 2003................................................................................ 3 Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002......................................................... 4 Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002............................................... 5 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements................................................... 6 ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS................................................... 14 ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK ........................... 27 ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES .............................................................. 28 PART II:.OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS..................................................................... 28 ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS............................................. 28 ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES....................................................... 28 ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS................................... 28 ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION..................................................................... 28 ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K...................................................... 28 SIGNATURES................................................................................................ 30 </Table> 2 PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) <Table> <Caption> September 30, June 30, 2003 2003 ------------- ------------- (unaudited) ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,600 $ 6,680 Short term investments 310 309 Accounts receivable - principally trade - net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $315 at September 30, 2003 and $402 at June 30, 2003 15,582 14,916 Inventories 3,915 3,215 Costs and earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts 9,115 7,589 Deferred income taxes 1,445 1,445 Other 1,145 1,098 Current assets of discontinued operations 2,264 2,760 ------------- ------------- Total current assets 41,376 38,012 Property, plant and equipment - net 3,352 3,400 Other assets 985 1,110 Other assets of discontinued operations 28 30 ------------- ------------- $ 45,741 $ 42,552 ============= ============= LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Account payable - trade $ 14,992 $ 12,661 Billings in excess of costs and earnings on uncompleted contracts 2,027 2,027 Commissions payable 1,165 1,041 Income taxes payable 470 53 Product warranties 702 846 Accrued liabilities and other 2,652 2,749 Current liabilities of discontinued operations 583 864 ------------- ------------- Total current liabilities 22,591 20,241 Shareholders' equity Common stock 3,001 2,999 Additional paid-in capital 1,785 1,771 Other 36 18 Retained earnings 18,328 17,523 ------------- ------------- Total shareholders' equity 23,150 22,311 ------------- ------------- Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 45,741 $ 42,552 ============= ============= </Table> See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 3 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS) (UNAUDITED) <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Revenues $ 16,807 $ 13,276 Cost of goods sold 12,001 10,003 ------------- ------------- Gross profit 4,806 3,273 Operating expenses Sales and marketing 1,603 1,586 Engineering and project management 1,094 1,673 General and administrative 958 1,184 Restructuring expense -- 483 ------------- ------------- 3,655 4,926 ------------- ------------- Operating income (loss) 1,151 (1,653) Other income (expense) Foreign exchange loss (47) (63) Other income, net 17 41 ------------- ------------- (30) (22) ------------- ------------- Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 1,121 (1,675) Income tax expense (benefit) 381 (620) ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations 740 (1,055) Discontinued operations (Note 5) Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations (including gain on disposal of $140 in 2003) 99 (457) Income tax expense (benefit) 34 (169) ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 65 (288) ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) $ 805 $ (1,343) ============= ============= BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE Earnings (loss) from continuing operations $ 0.25 $ (0.35) Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 0.02 (0.10) ------------- ------------- Basic earnings (loss) per share $ 0.27 $ (0.45) ============= ============= DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE Earnings (loss) from continuing operations $ 0.24 $ (0.35) Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 0.02 (0.10) ------------- ------------- Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.26 $ (0.45) ============= ============= </Table> See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 4 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Dollars in thousands) (UNAUDITED) <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings (loss) $ 805 $ (1,343) Net (earnings) loss from discontinued operations (65) 288 ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations 740 (1,055) Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 191 147 Bad debt expense 69 30 Foreign exchange loss 47 63 Other 4 22 Changes in operating assets and liabilities Accounts receivable (598) 5,369 Inventories (701) 96 Costs and earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts (1,526) 4,600 Other current assets (50) (371) Other assets 125 57 Accounts payable 2,317 (3,560) Billings in excess of costs and earnings uncompleted contracts -- (782) Commissions payable 124 (187) Product warranties (144) 168 Accrued expenses and other 320 (2,097) ------------- ------------- 178 3,555 ------------- ------------- Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations 918 2,500 Cash flow from investing activities: Net purchases of property and equipment (143) (32) Proceeds from sale of property (1) -- ------------- ------------- Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations (144) (32) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from issuance of common stock 13 13 ------------- ------------- Net cash provided by financing activities of continuing operations 13 13 Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operations 132 (210) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 1 (10) ------------- ------------- Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 920 2,261 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 6,680 1,386 ------------- ------------- Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 7,600 $ 3,647 ============= ============= </Table> See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 5 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION The accompanying consolidated financial statements of Peerless Mfg. Co. and Subsidiaries (hereafter referred to as the "Company", "we", "us", "our") have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of September 30, 2003, and for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 are unaudited and, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments necessary for the fair presentation of the financial position and results of operations of the Company for the interim periods. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2003. The results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year (see Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Factors That May Affect Our Operating Results and Other Risk Factors" following). The Company's fiscal year ends on June 30th. References herein to fiscal 2002, fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004 refer to our fiscal years ended June 30, 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. In connection with the sale of our Boiler operations (see Note 5 - "Discontinued Operations"), the current year financial information has been presented and the prior year financial information has been restated to report such as a discontinued operation in accordance with SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets." Certain fiscal 2003 items have been reclassified to conform to the fiscal 2004 presentation. All dollar and share amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts. 2. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In November 2002, FASB reached a consensus on Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue 00-21, "Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables." The guidance in this Issue is effective for revenue arrangements entered into in fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2003. The Issue addresses certain aspects of the accounting by a vendor for arrangements under which it will perform multiple revenue-generating activities and whether, as a result, there is embedded more than one earnings process for revenue recognition purposes. We do not expect the adoption of this pronouncement to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of our operations. In April 2003, FASB issued Statement No. 149, "Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." FASB Statement No. 149 requires that contracts with comparable characteristics be accounted for similarly. The Statement clarifies the circumstances in which a contract with an initial net investment meets the characteristics of a derivative, and when a derivative contains a financing component and amends certain other existing pronouncements. This Statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003. We do not expect the adoption of this pronouncement to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of our operations. 6 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 2. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS - CONTINUED In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity." SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. Many of these instruments were previously classified as equity. SFAS No. 150 requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability, or as an asset in some circumstances. This Statement applies to three types of freestanding financial instruments, other than outstanding shares. One type is mandatory redeemable shares, which the issuing company is obligated to buy back in exchange for cash or assets; a second type includes put options and forward purchase contracts that require or may require the issuer to buy back some of its shares in exchange for cash or other assets; and the third type is obligations that can be settled with shares, the monetary value of which is fixed, ties solely or predominantly to a variable such as a market index, or varies inversely with the value of the issuer's shares. SFAS No. 150 does not apply to features embedded in a financial instrument that is not a derivative in its entirety. SFAS No. 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. We will implement SFAS No. 150 in our first quarter of fiscal year 2004. We have not, nor do we expect to enter into any transactions that would be covered by SFAS No. 150 and therefore the adoption of the Statement is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements. 3. INVENTORIES Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. Principal components of inventories are as follows: <Table> <Caption> September 30, June 30, 2003 2003 ------------- ------------- Raw materials $ 2,907 $ 2,322 Work in process 717 581 Finished goods 291 312 ------------- ------------- Total inventories $ 3,915 $ 3,215 ============= ============= </Table> 4. PRODUCT WARRANTIES The Company warrants that its products will be free from defects in materials and workmanship and will conform to agreed upon specifications at the time of delivery and typically for a period of 18 to 36 months from the date of customer acceptance, depending upon the specific product and terms of the customer agreement. Typical warranties require the Company to repair or replace defective products during the warranty period at no cost to the customer. The Company attempts to obtain back-up concurrent warranties for major component parts from our suppliers. The Company provides for the estimated cost of product warranties, based on 7 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 4. PRODUCT WARRANTIES - CONTINUED historical experience by product type, expectation of future conditions and the extent of back-up concurrent supplier warranties in place, at the time the product revenue is recognized. Should these factors, or other factors affecting warranty costs differ from our estimates, revisions to the estimated product warranty liability are made. Product warranty activity for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, are as follows: <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Balance at the beginning of the period $ 846 $ 627 Provision for warranty expense (13) 406 Warranty charges (131) (238) ------------- ------------- Balance at the end of the period $ 702 $ 795 ============= ============= </Table> 5. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS During fiscal 2003, the Board authorized the suspension of the Boiler business unit. In September 2003, the Board of Directors authorized the divestiture and the Company sold its Boiler operations. In connection with the sale, the Company sold assets with a net book value of approximately $110, for $250, resulting in a gain on disposal of $140. Please see Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Restructuring and Organizational Realignment" of this Report. The following represent a summary of operating results and the gain on disposition of the Boiler segment presented as discontinued operations: <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Revenues $ 360 $ 1,178 Cost of goods sold 172 1,215 ------------- ------------- Gross profit (loss) 188 (37) Operating expenses 229 402 ------------- ------------- Operating loss (41) (439) Other expense -- 18 Income tax benefit (14) (169) ------------- ------------- Net loss from operations (27) (288) Gain on disposal, net of taxes 92 -- ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) $ 65 $ (288) ============= ============= Diluted earnings (loss) per share Net loss from operations $ (0.01) $ (0.10) ============= ============= Net gain on disposal $ 0.03 $ -- ============= ============= Net earnings (loss) $ 0.02 $ (0.10) ============= ============= </Table> 8 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 5. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS - CONTINUED The current and non-current assets and liabilities of the discontinued Boiler segment as of September 30, 2003 and June 30, 2003 are as follows: <Table> <Caption> September 30, June 30, 2003 2003 ------------- ------------- Accounts receivable, principally trade - net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of $800 at September 30, 2003 and $650 at June 30, 2003 $ 2,201 $ 2,631 Inventories -- 3 Costs and earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts 63 126 ------------- ------------- Current assets of discontinued operations 2,264 2,760 Equipment, net 28 30 ------------- ------------- Total assets of discontinued operations $ 2,292 $ 2,790 ============= ============= Accounts payable $ 136 $ 336 Commissions payable 74 78 Product warranties 148 148 Accrued liabilities and other 225 302 ------------- ------------- Total current liabilities of discontinued operations $ 583 $ 864 ============= ============= </Table> 6. CONTINGENCIES Included in our discontinued operations is a $2.2 million receivable due from a customer that recently filed a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (original amount of the contract was approximately $6.1 million). We have been classified as an unsecured creditor under such filing. However, the customer/debtor has reportedly assigned all its rights, claims, duties and defenses under our contract to the project's owner, who has apparently assumed such rights, claims, duties and defenses. We have obtained outside counsel to help with the collection of this receivable and have filed a statutory lien on the refinery where our equipment was installed. In addition, we have filed a lawsuit to perfect our lien interest against the owner of the refinery, and also to pursue our contractual claims against the owner as assignee of the customer/debtor. We have also been informed that the owner/assignee intends to allege counterclaims in the lawsuit. While we have reason to believe that our lien and our contractual claims will be found to be valid, no assurances can be given. We intend to vigorously pursue the collection of this receivable and believe that it will be collected. In the event that our lien is held to be invalid, or if the receivable or a significant portion thereof is deemed to be not collectible, and/or if the owner/assignee is able to successfully assert counterclaims, we will be required to write down the receivable to its net realizable value. To the extent that our existing allowance for doubtful accounts is not adequate to cover this write down, the additional reserve required will be a charge against the Company's results of discontinued operations. 9 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 7. EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE Basic earnings (loss) per share have been computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if options or other contracts to issue common shares were exercised or converted into common stock. The following table sets forth the computation for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share for the periods indicated. <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations $ 740 $ (1,055) Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 65 (288) ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) $ 805 $ (1,343) ============= ============= Basic weighted average common shares outstanding 2,999 2,992 Effect of dilutive options 38 -- ------------- ------------- Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 3,037 2,992 ============= ============= Net earnings (loss) per share - basic: Earnings (loss) from continuing operations $ 0.25 $ (0.35) Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 0.02 (0.10) ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) per share $ 0.27 $ (0.45) ============= ============= Net earnings (loss) per share - diluted: Earnings (loss) from continuing operations $ 0.24 $ (0.35) Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 0.02 (0.10) ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) per share $ 0.26 $ (0.45) ============= ============= </Table> The weighted average common shares outstanding-diluted computation excluded 65 and 210 outstanding stock options for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively, because their impact would be anti-dilutive. 10 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 8. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS). Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as all changes in equity during a period, except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. The components of comprehensive income (loss) were as follows: <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations $ 740 $ (1,055) Net earnings (loss) from discontinued operations 65 (288) Foreign currency translation adjustment 17 23 ------------- ------------- Comprehensive income (loss) $ 822 $ (1,320) ============= ============= </Table> 9. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION In December 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation - Transition and Disclosure" (SFAS 148) which amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" (SFAS 123). SFAS 148 provides alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and requires disclosures in annual and interim financial statements of the effects of stock-based compensation as reflected below. The Company continues to account for its stock options under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related Interpretations. No stock based employee compensation expense related to the Company's stock options is reflected in the net earnings (loss), as all options granted under the plan had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The following table illustrates the effect on net earnings (loss) and earnings (loss) per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to stock-based compensation. <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss), as reported $ 805 $ (1,343) Less total stock-based employee compensation expense determined using the fair value based method for all awards, net of tax (21) (24) ------------- ------------- Pro forma net earnings (loss) $ 784 $ (1,367) ============= ============= Net earnings (loss) per share: Basic - as reported $ 0.27 $ (0.45) ============= ============= Basic - pro forma $ 0.26 $ (0.46) ============= ============= Diluted - as reported $ 0.26 $ (0.45) ============= ============= Diluted - pro forma $ 0.26 $ (0.46) ============= ============= </Table> 11 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 10. LINE OF CREDIT The Company maintained a $10 million revolving credit facility that expired on October 31, 2003. The credit line carried a floating interest rate based on the prime or Euros rate plus or minus an applicable margin (Euros plus 2.00% at September 30, 2003), and was secured by substantially all of the Company's assets. As of September 30, 2003, the Company had no outstanding loans under the credit facility; it had $3.6 million outstanding under letters of credit, leaving it $6.4 million of availability under its facility. The facility contained financial covenants, restrictions on capital expenditures, acquisitions, asset dispositions, and additional debt, as well as other customary covenants. As of September 30, 2003, the Company was in compliance with all financial and other covenants of this loan agreement. On October 31, 2003, the Company entered into a new $12.5 million revolving credit facility that expires on October 31, 2006. The facility carries a floating interest rate based on the prime or Euros rate plus or minus an applicable margin (Euros plus 1.75% on October 31, 2003), and is secured by substantially all the Company's domestic assets. The facility contains financial covenants, and certain restrictions on capital expenditures, acquisitions, asset dispositions and additional debt, as well as other customary covenants. 11. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION Net cash flows from operating activities reflects cash payments for interest and income taxes as follows: <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 2002 ---------- ---------- Interest paid $ -- $ -- Income taxes paid $ 40 $ 461 </Table> 12 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 12. SEGMENT INFORMATION The Company identifies reportable segments based on management responsibility within the corporate structure. The Company has two reportable industry segments: Environmental Systems and Separation Filtration Systems. The main product of the Environmental Systems segment is its Selective Catalytic Reduction Systems, referred to as "SCR Systems". These environmental control systems are used for air pollution abatement and convert nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from exhaust gases caused by burning hydrocarbon fuels such as coal, gasoline, natural gas and oil. Along with the SCR Systems, this segment also offers systems to reduce other pollutants such as CO and particulate matter. The Company combines these systems with other components, such as instruments, controls and related valves and piping to offer its customers a totally integrated system. The Separation Filtration Systems segment produces specialized products known as "separators" or "filters" which are used for a variety of purposes in cleaning gases and liquids as they move through piping systems. These products are used primarily to remove solid and liquid contaminants from natural gas and saltwater aerosols from combustion intake air of shipboard gas turbine and diesel engines. Separators are also used in nuclear power plants to remove water from saturated steam. The Company previously had three-reportable segments, its third segment - Boilers was suspended during the first quarter of fiscal 2003 and discontinued during the first quarter of fiscal 2004. Please see Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Restructuring and Organizational Realignment" and Note 5 - "Discontinued Operations" of this Report. Segment profit and loss is based on revenue less direct expenses of the segment before allocation of general and administrative costs. All inter-company transfers between segments have been eliminated. Segment information and reconciliation to operating profit (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 are presented below. Note that the Company does not allocate general and administrative and restructuring expenses ("unallocated overhead"), assets, expenditures for assets or depreciation expense on a segment basis for internal management reporting, and therefore such information is not presented. Certain information for the first quarter of fiscal 2003 has been restated to be on a comparable basis with the first quarter of fiscal 2004 presentation. <Table> <Caption> Separation Environmental Filtration Unallocated Systems Systems overhead Consolidated ------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ Three months ended September 30, 2003 - ------------------------------- Revenue from customers $ 10,079 $ 6,728 $ 16,807 Segment profit (loss) 1,735 374 (958) 1,151 Three months ended September 30, 2002 - ------------------------------- Revenue from customers $ 6,943 $ 6,333 $ 13,276 Segment profit (loss) (426) 440 (1,667) (1,653) </Table> 13 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS From time to time, we make oral and written statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" (rather than historical facts) as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996 or by the Securities and Exchange Commission in its rules, regulations and releases, including statements regarding our expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. We desire to take advantage of the "safe harbor" provisions in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996 for forward-looking statements made from time to time, including, but not limited to, the forward-looking statements made in this Report on Form 10-Q, as well as those made in our other filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this Report are based on management's current plans and expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. In the preparation of this Report, where such forward-looking statements appear, we have sought to accompany such statements with meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the "Factors That May Affect Our Operating Results and Other Risk Factors," as set forth starting on page 23 of this Report. All forward-looking statements included in this Report are based on information available to us on the date hereof, and we expressly disclaim any obligation to release publicly any updates or changes in the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of changes in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based. OVERVIEW We are a global company providing environmental and separation and filtration products for the abatement of air pollution and the removal of contaminants from gases and liquids through our two principal business segments - - Environmental Systems and Separation Filtration Systems. During the first quarter of fiscal 2003, we suspended the operations of our Boiler business and in connection with its sale we discontinued this business unit during the first quarter of fiscal 2004. See "Restructuring and Organizational Realignment" following for additional discussion on the suspension and discontinuance of this business unit. Environmental Systems. In this business segment, which represented 59% of our consolidated first quarter fiscal 2004 revenues, we design, engineer, manufacture and sell highly specialized environmental control systems, which are used for air pollution abatement. Our main product, Selective Catalytic Reduction systems, referred to as "SCR Systems," is used to convert nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from exhaust gases, caused by burning hydrocarbon fuels, such as coal, gasoline, natural gas and oil, into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. These systems are totally integrated, complete with instruments, controls and related values and piping. In this segment, we also offer systems to reduce other pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter. 14 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 Separation Filtration Systems. In this business segment, which represented 39% of our consolidated first quarter fiscal 2004 revenues, we design, engineer, manufacture and sell specialized products known as "separators" or "filters" which are used for a variety of purposes in cleaning gases and liquids as they move through piping systems. These products are used primarily to remove solid and liquid contaminants from natural gas and saltwater aerosols from combustion intake air of shipboard gas turbine and diesel engines. Separators are also used in nuclear power plants to remove water from saturated steam. Boilers. In this discontinued business segment, which represented 2% of our consolidated first quarter fiscal 2004 revenues, we designed, engineered, manufactured and sold packaged boilers and other steam generating equipment. This equipment is used to produce steam, used for heating, drying, driving steam engines and a variety of other applications. See "Restructuring and Organizational Realignment" following for additional discussion on the suspension and discontinuance of this business unit. RESTRUCTURING AND ORGANIZATIONAL REALIGNMENT During fiscal 2002, the construction of new merchant power plants in the United States slowed considerably, as doubts emerged regarding the actual demand for electricity began to surface, coupled with the continued weakness in the United States economy. In addition, recent regulatory uncertainties have caused NOx reduction initiatives relating to retrofit projects to be delayed. As a response to the slowdown of new merchant power plants, continued weakness in the United States and global economies, and recent regulatory and political uncertainties, in July 2002 we initiated our "restructuring and organizational realignment initiative." The goal of this initiative was to reduce costs, streamline operations, and identify and exit certain non-critical, marginally performing operating activities, thereby positioning us with a more competitive cost structure vital for our overall long-term success. The plan included, among other things, the consolidation of manufacturing facilities and processes, the scaling down of capacities at the remaining facilities to meet anticipated market requirements and current economic conditions, suspension of non-strategic business units, and the realignment of the organization to focus on our two primary business segments: Environmental Systems and Separation Filtration. In connection therewith, we suspended the operations of our Boiler unit during the first quarter of fiscal 2003 and sold this business unit during the first quarter of fiscal 2004, and as such have presented this as discontinued operations for the periods presented. We believe that the result of these initiatives, including the redirection of our resources and focus on our two principal segments, has positioned us to maximize our current operational efficiencies and allow us the flexibility to meet our customers' current and anticipated needs, without sacrificing our ability to expand our business to meet future demand. While the initial phase of our restructuring and organizational realignment initiatives have been completed, we continue to look for ways to improve our operational efficiencies and performance during these challenging times. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Our estimates, judgments and assumptions are continually evaluated based on available 15 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 information and experience. Because of the use of estimates inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain of our accounting policies require a higher degree of judgment than others in their application. These include revenue recognition on long-term contracts, accrual for estimated warranty costs and allowance for doubtful accounts. Our policies and related procedures for revenue recognition on long-term contracts, accrual of warranty costs and allowance for doubtful accounts are summarized below. Revenue Recognition. We provide products under long-term, generally fixed-priced, contracts that may extend up to 18 months, or longer, in duration. In connection with these contracts, we follow the guidance contained in AICPA Statement of Position ("SOP") 81-1, "Accounting for Performance of Construction-Type and Certain Production-Type Contracts." SOP 81-1 requires the use of percentage-of-completion accounting for long-term contracts that contain enforceable rights regarding services to be provided and received by the contracting parties, consideration to be exchanged, and the manner and terms of settlement, assuming reasonably dependable estimates of revenues and expenses can be made. The percentage-of-completion methodology generally results in the recognition of reasonably consistent profit margins over the life of a contract. Amounts recognized in revenue are calculated using the percentage of construction cost completed, generally on a cumulative cost to total cost basis. Cumulative revenues recognized may be less or greater than cumulative costs and profits billed at any point in time during a contract's term. The resulting difference is recognized as "costs and earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts" or "billings in excess of costs and earnings on uncompleted contracts." When using the percentage-of-completion method, we must be able to accurately estimate the total costs we expect to incur on a project in order to record the proper amount of revenues for that period. We continually update our estimates of costs and status of each project with our subcontractors and our manufacturing plants. If it is determined that a loss will result from the performance of a contract, the entire amount of the loss is charged against income when it is determined. The impact of revisions in contract estimates are recognized on a cumulative basis in the period in which the revisions are made. In addition, significant portions of the our costs are subcontracted under fixed-price arrangements, thereby reducing the risk of significant cost overruns on any given project. However, a number of internal and external factors, including labor rates, plant utilization factors, future material prices, customer change specifications, and other factors can affect our cost estimates. While we attempt to reduce the risk relating to revenue and cost estimates in percentage-of-completion models through corporate policy and approval and monitoring processes, any estimation process, including that used in preparing contract accounting models, involves inherent risk. Product Warranties. We offer warranty periods of various lengths to our customers depending upon the specific product and terms of the customer agreement. We typically negotiate varying terms regarding warranty coverage and length of warranty dependent upon the product involved and customary practices. In general our warranties require us to repair or replace defective products during the warranty period at no cost to the customer. We attempt to obtain back-up concurrent warranties for major component parts from our suppliers. As of each balance sheet date, we record an estimate for warranty related costs for products sold based on historical experience, expectation of future conditions and the extent of back-up concurrent supplier warranties in place. While we believe that our estimated warranty reserve is adequate and the judgment applied is appropriate, due to a number of factors our estimated liability for product warranties could differ from future actual warranty costs incurred. 16 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts to reflect estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to make required payments. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate the collectibility of accounts receivable based upon historical collection trends, current economic factors, and the assessment of the collectibility of specific accounts. We evaluate the collectibility of specific accounts using a combination of factors, including the age of the outstanding balances, evaluation of customers' current and past financial condition and credit scores, recent payment history, current economic environment, and discussions with our project managers and with the customers directly. See Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources" of this Report. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following table displays our statements of operations as a percentage of net revenues: <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Net revenues 100.0 % 100.0 % Cost of revenues 71.4 75.3 ------------- ------------- Gross margin 28.6 24.7 Operating expenses 21.7 33.5 Restructuring expenses -- 3.6 ------------- ------------- 21.7 37.1 ------------- ------------- Operating income (loss) 6.9 (12.4) Other income (expense) (0.2) (0.2) ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 6.7 (12.6) Income tax expense (benefit) 2.3 (4.7) ------------- ------------- Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax 4.4 (7.9) Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax 0.4 (2.2) ------------- ------------- Net earnings (loss) 4.8% (10.1)% ============= ============= </Table> THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 COMPARED TO THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2002 RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - CONSOLIDATED Revenues. Net revenues from continuing operations increased by approximately $3.5 million, or 26.3%, from $13.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002 to $16.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003. The increase in revenues during the period related primarily to an increase in our Environmental Systems revenues, which increased from $6.9 million to $10.1 million, or 46.4%, and to an increase in our Separation Filtration Systems revenues, which increased from $6.3 million to $6.7 million, or 6.4%. 17 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 The Company's backlog of unfilled orders was approximately $38 million at September 30, 2003, compared to $38 million at September 30, 2002 and $40 million at June 30, 2003. While we are beginning to see some stability in our backlog, we feel that the reduction in the construction of new power plants, environmental regulatory uncertainties, and the current economic climate all continue to have a significant impact on our domestic sales and backlog. All of these factors have contributed to planned projects being placed on hold or production rescheduled, and new environmental and gas treatment projects being canceled or delayed. In addition, our backlog at September 30, 2003 has been impacted by our decision to suspend our Boiler business during fiscal 2003. At September 30, 2003 we did not have any Boiler orders in our backlog, compared to approximately $2.0 million in Boiler orders in our backlog at September 30, 2002. The adoption of regulations related to NOx emissions have in the past resulted in increased sales of our Environmental Systems, either through new-source or retrofit applications, and we would anticipate that this trend will continue in the future as compliance dates approach and regulatory uncertainties are resolved. In addition, while the construction of new power plants has seen a significant decline over the past 24 months, there is expected to be a continued demand for our Environmental Systems as new power plants are built to replace older, less efficient plants, and as regulatory compliance projects are commenced. Gross Profit. Our gross profit increased $1.5 million, or 45.5%, from $3.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002 to $4.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003. Our gross profit, as a percentage of sales, increased from 24.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2002 to 28.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2003. Our reported margins during the current period were impacted by three primary factors: higher sales volume, lower start-up and warranty costs and shifts in our product mix. As we manufacture a significant portion of our products, fluctuations in revenues, from quarter to quarter or year to year, may impact our manufacturing absorption factors, which will directly impact our reported margins. Our start-up and warrants costs during the quarter were 2% lower, as a percentage of sales, compared to the same period last year. In addition, certain of our products historically have higher margins than others; as a result, shifts in the composition of our sales can have a significant impact on our reported margins. This was a factor during this quarter of fiscal 2004, as our Environmental Systems revenues, which historically have higher gross profit margins, represented 60.0% of our total revenues from continuing operations compared with 52.3% for the same quarter last year. Operating Expenses. For the first quarter of fiscal 2004, operating expenses from continuing operations decreased by $1.3 million, or 26.5%, to $3.6 million, compared to $4.9 million for first quarter of fiscal 2003. Operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, were 21.7% for the first quarter of fiscal 2004, compared to 37.1% for the first quarter of fiscal 2003. The decrease in the amount of operating expenses during the first quarter of fiscal 2004 was due to the implementation of our restructuring and organizational realignment initiative, which began during fiscal 2003. As a result of this initiative, as a percentage of sales, our sales and marketing expenses decreased from 11.9% to 9.5%, our engineering and project management expenses decreased from 12.6% to 6.5% and our general, administrative and restructuring expenses decreased from 12.6% to 5.7%, for the three months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003, respectively. During the first quarter of fiscal 2003, in connection with this initiative, we incurred approximately $500,000 in severance payments and related costs. Excluding these costs, operating expenses, as a percentage of sales, would have been 33.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2002. See also Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - Restructuring and Organizational Realignment" of this Report. Other Income and Expense. Other income and expense items changed by approximately $8,000 from an expense of approximately $22,000 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2003 to and expense of $30,000 for the first quarter of fiscal year 2004. We realized foreign currency exchange losses of 18 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 approximately $47,000 during the current quarter compared to approximately $63,000 for the same quarter last year. Income Taxes. The Company's effective income tax rate was approximately 34.0% and 37.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively. The decrease in our effective tax rate for the current quarter, compared to the same quarter last year, resulted from the increased portion of our income in this quarter which was either subject to a lower foreign tax rate or foreign sales income exclusions. Net Earnings (loss) from Continuing Operations. Net earnings from continuing operations were approximately $740,000, or 4.4% of sales, for the three months ended September 30, 2003 compared to a net loss of approximately $1.1 million, or 7.9% sales, for the same period last year. Basic earnings per share from continuing operations increased from a loss of $0.35 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2003, to net earnings of $0.25 per share for three months ended September 30, 2003. Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations increased from a loss of $0.35 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, to net earnings of $0.24 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2003. Discontinued Operations. Earnings from discontinued operations for the three months ended September 30, 2003 were $65,000, compared to a net loss of $288,000 for the same period last year. Included in our net earnings for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 was a net gain related to the disposal of our boiler operations of approximately $92,000 ($140,000 gain less taxes of $48,000). Earnings (loss) per basic and diluted share, from discontinued operations, were $.02 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2003, and a loss $.10 per share for the same period last year. Net Earnings (loss). As a result of the above factors, net earnings were approximately $805,000, or 4.8% of sales, for the three months ended September 30, 2003, compared to a net loss of approximately $1.3 million, or 10.1% sales, for the same period last year. Basic earnings per share increased from a loss of $0.45 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2002, to net earnings of $0.27 per share for the same quarter this fiscal year. Diluted earnings per share increased from a loss of $0.45 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2002, to net earnings of $0.26 per share for same quarter this fiscal year. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - SEGMENTS Currently we are organized on a global basis along two lines of business: Environmental Systems, and Separation Filtration Systems. The Company had three reportable segments - Environmental Systems, Separation Filtration Systems and Boilers for fiscal 2003. The Boiler operation was sold during the first quarter of fiscal 2004 and has therefore been classified as a discontinued operation in the Company's financial statements. Revenues. The following table displays revenues by reportable segment (dollars in thousands). <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 % 2002 % ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Revenues Environmental Systems $ 10,079 60.0 $ 6,943 52.3 Separation Filtration Systems 6,728 40.0 6,333 47.7 ------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- Total $ 16,807 100.0 $ 13,276 100.0 ============= ============= ============= ============= </Table> 19 Revenues from our Environmental Systems increased by approximately $3.2 million, or 46.4%, from $6.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002, to $10.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003. The increase related primarily to the substantial completion of several large Environmental Systems contracts in our backlog at June 30, 2003. Separation Filtration Systems revenues increased by approximately $400,000, or 6.4%, from $6.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002 to $6.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003. On a comparative basis, the Company saw its international sales increase by approximately $1.2 million, or 54.5%, and saw its domestic and Canadian sales decline by approximately $800,000, or 19.5%. The continued weakness in the U.S. economy continues to have a major impact on our domestic sales. Segment Profit (Loss). Management uses segment profit (loss), which consists of segment revenues less segment costs and expenses before allocation of general and administrative costs to measure segment profit or loss. The Company does not allocate its general and administrative expenses to its individual segments. The following table displays segment profit (loss) by reportable segment (dollars in thousands). <Table> <Caption> Three Months Ended September 30, 2003 2002 ------------- ------------- Segment profit (loss) Environmental Systems $ 1,735 $ (426) Separation Filtration Systems 374 440 ------------- ------------- Total 2,109 14 Unallocated general and administrative expenses (958) (1,667) ------------- ------------- Operating income (loss) $ 1,151 $ (1,653) ============= ============= </Table> Environmental Systems profit in the first quarter of fiscal 2004 increased by $2.1 million, from a loss of approximately $426,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2002, to a profit of approximately $1.7 million for the same quarter this fiscal year. As a percentage of Environmental Systems revenue, our operational performance increased from a segment loss of 6.1% to a segment profit of 17.2%. The increase in our Environmental Systems operational performance during the current fiscal year related primarily to the increase in this segment's revenues during the period and the resulting impact on our manufacturing and operational efficiencies. Separation Filtration Systems profit in the first quarter of fiscal year 2004 decreased approximately $66,000, or 15.0%, from a profit of approximately $440,000 for the first quarter of fiscal 2003 to a profit of $374,000 for the same quarter this fiscal year. As a percentage of Separation Filtration Systems revenue, our operational performance decreased from a segment profit of 6.9%, to a segment profit of 5.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2002 and 2003, respectively. The decrease in our Separation Filtration Systems operational performance during this period relates to the increased component of international sales, where we tend to realize a lower net margin than domestically. 20 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 FINANCIAL POSITION Assets. Total assets increased by approximately $3.1 million, or 7.3%, from $42.6 million at June 30, 2003 to $45.7 million at September 30, 2003. The increase in our assets during this period resulted primarily from the increase in our receivables and inventories, which can be attributed to the increase in our business. At September 30, 2003, we held cash and short-term investments of $7.9 million, had working capital of $18.8 million, and a current ratio of 1.83-to-1.0. This compares with cash and short-term investments of $7.0 million, $17.8 million in working capital, and a current ratio of 1.88-to-1.0 at June 30, 2003. The slight decline in our current ratio was a result of an 8.9% increase in our current assets compared to an 11.9% increase in our current liabilities. Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity. Total liabilities increased by approximately $2.4 million, or 11.9%, from $20.2 million at June 30, 2003 to $22.6 million at September 30, 2003. This related primarily to an increase our accounts payable of approximately $2.3 million, which related to the increase in our business. The increase in our equity of approximately $840,000, or 3.8%, from $22.3 million at June 30, 2002 to $23.2 million at September 30, 2003 resulted primarily from our earnings for the period. As a result, our debt-to-equity ratio increased slightly from .91-to-1.0 at June 30, 2003 to ..98-to-1.0 at September 30, 2003. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Our cash and cash equivalents were $7.6 million as of September 30, 2003, compared to $6.7 million at June 30, 2003. Cash provided by continuing operating activities during the first quarter of fiscal year 2004 was approximately $918,000, compared to $2.5 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2003. Because we are engaged in the business of manufacturing custom systems, our progress billing practices are event-oriented rather than date-oriented, and vary from contract to contract. We customarily bill our customers after the occurrence of project milestones. Billings to customers affect the balance of billings in excess of costs and earnings or the balance of cost and earnings in excess of billings, as well as the balance of accounts receivable. Consequently, we focus on the net amount of these accounts along with accounts payable, to determine our management of working capital. The balance of these working capital accounts was approximately $7.7 million at September 30, 2003 and $7.8 million at June 30, 2003, representing a decrease in our investment in these working capital items of approximately $100,000. In addition, operationally cash was provided from our earnings from continuing operations and reductions in other assets and increases in other liabilities. We used cash for operational purposes, during the period, to increase our inventories due to the increase in our business. Cash used in investing activities was approximately $144,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2003, compared to approximately $32,000 for the same period last year. The increase in cash used during the current fiscal year related to a increase in capital expenditures during this period. We had approximately $13,000 of cash provided by financing activities during both the current and prior period. The cash provided by financing activities, during both these periods, related to the cash received from the issuance of common stock pursuant to our employee stock options. 21 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 We maintained a $10 million revolving credit facility that expired on October 31, 2003. The credit line carried a floating interest rate based on the prime or Euros rate plus or minus an applicable margin (Euros plus 2.00% at September 30, 2003), and was secured by substantially all our assets. As of September 30, 2003, we had no outstanding loans under the credit facility; we had $3.6 million outstanding under letters of credit, leaving us $6.4 million of availability under our facility. The facility contained financial covenants, restrictions on capital expenditures, acquisitions, asset dispositions, and additional debt, as well as other customary covenants. As of September 30, 2003, the Company was in compliance with all financial and other covenants of this loan agreement. On October 31, 2003, we entered into a new $12.5 million revolving credit facility that expires on October 31, 2006. The facility carries a floating interest rate based on the prime or Euros rate plus or minus an applicable margin (Euros plus 1.75% on October 31, 2003), and is secured by substantially all our domestic assets. The facility contains financial covenants, and certain restrictions on capital expenditures, acquisitions, asset dispositions and additional debt, as well as other customary covenants. We believe that we maintain adequate liquidity to support our existing operations and our planned growth, as well as to continue operations during reasonable periods of unanticipated adversity. Included in our discontinued operations is a $2.2 million receivable due from a customer that recently filed a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (original amount of the contract was approximately $6.1 million). We have been classified as an unsecured creditor under such filing. However, the customer/debtor has reportedly assigned all its rights, claims, duties and defenses under our contract to the project's owner, who has apparently assumed such rights, claims, duties and defenses. We have obtained outside counsel to help with the collection of this receivable and have filed a statutory lien on the refinery where our equipment was installed. In addition, we have filed a lawsuit to perfect our lien interest against the owner of the refinery, and also to pursue our contractual claims against the owner as assignee of the customer/debtor. We have also been informed that the owner/assignee intends to allege counterclaims in the lawsuit. While we have reason to believe that our lien and our contractual claims will be found to be valid, no assurances can be given. We intend to vigorously pursue the collection of this receivable and believe that it will be collected. In the event that our lien is held to be invalid, or if the receivable or a significant portion thereof is deemed to be not collectible, and/or if the owner/assignee is able to successfully asset counterclaims, we will be required to write down the receivable to its net realizable value. To the extent that our existing allowance for doubtful accounts is not adequate to cover this write down, the additional reserve required will be a charge against our results of discontinued operations. Such an event could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and reported results, and in addition, could potentially trigger a violation of our loan covenants. While we would attempt, and have reason to believe that we would be able, to obtain a waiver for such violations, or find other lending alternatives, no assurances can be given that we would be successful in such endeavors. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS In November 2002, FASB reached a consensus on Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue 00-21, "Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables." The guidance in this Issue is effective for revenue arrangements entered into in fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2003. The Issue addresses certain aspects of the accounting by a vendor for arrangements under which it will perform multiple revenue-generating activities and whether, as a result, there is embedded more than one earnings 22 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 process for revenue recognition purposes. We do not expect the adoption of this pronouncement to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of our operations. In April 2003, FASB issued Statement No. 149, "Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." FASB Statement No. 149 requires that contracts with comparable characteristics be accounted for similarly. The Statement clarifies the circumstances in which a contract with an initial net investment meets the characteristics of a derivative, and when a derivative contains a financing component and amends certain other existing pronouncements. This Statement is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003. We do not expect the adoption of this pronouncement to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of our operations. In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity." SFAS No. 150 establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. Many of these instruments were previously classified as equity. SFAS No. 150 requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability, or as an asset in some circumstances. This Statement applies to three types of freestanding financial instruments, other than outstanding shares. One type is mandatory redeemable shares, which the issuing company is obligated to buy back in exchange for cash or assets; a second type includes put options and forward purchase contracts that require or may require the issuer to buy back some of its shares in exchange for cash or other assets; and the third type is obligations that can be settled with shares, the monetary value of which is fixed, ties solely or predominantly to a variable such as a market index, or varies inversely with the value of the issuer's shares. SFAS No. 150 does not apply to features embedded in a financial instrument that is not a derivative in its entirety. SFAS No. 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. We will implement SFAS No. 150 in our first quarter of fiscal year 2004. We have not, nor do we expect to enter into any transactions that would be covered by SFAS No. 150 and therefore the adoption of the Statement is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements. FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT OUR OPERATING RESULTS AND OTHER RISK FACTORS Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Any of the following risks could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations or prospects, financial or otherwise. Reference to these factors in the context of a forward-looking statement or statements shall be deemed to be a statement that any one or more of the following factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statement or statements. See Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Forward-Looking Statements" of this Report. CHANGES IN THE POWER GENERATION INDUSTRY AND/OR THE ECONOMY COULD HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON OUR SALES OF ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND OUR OPERATING RESULTS. The demand for our Environmental Systems depends to an extent on the continued construction of power generation plants and the upgrade of existing power plants. In first quarter of fiscal 2004, approximately 59% of our consolidated revenues were derived from sales of Environmental Systems for new and refurbished power plants, compared to approximately 48% for the same period in fiscal 2003. 23 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 The power generation industry has experienced cyclical periods of slow growth or decline. Any change in the power plant industry that results in a decline in the construction of power plants or a decline in the upgrading of existing power plants could have a materially adverse impact on our Environmental Systems revenues and our results of operations. See Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Report. CHANGES IN CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION COULD HAVE AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE SALE OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND ON OUR OPERATING RESULTS. Our Environmental Systems business is primarily regulatory driven. Laws and regulations governing the discharge of pollutants into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment or human health have played a significant part in the increased use of Environmental Systems in the United States. These laws include U.S. federal statutes such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, or CERCLA, the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act, and the regulations implementing them, as well as similar laws and regulations at state and local levels and in other countries. These laws and regulations may change or other jurisdictions may not adopt similar laws and regulations. This business will be adversely impacted to the extent that current regulations requiring the reduction of NOx emissions are repealed, amended or implementation dates delayed or to the extent that regulatory authorities minimize enforcement. See Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Report. COMPETITION COULD RESULT IN LOWER SALES AND DECREASED MARGINS. We operate in highly competitive markets worldwide. Competition could result in not only a reduction in our sales, but also a reduction in the prices we charge for our products. To remain competitive we must be able to not only anticipate or respond quickly to our customers' needs and enhance and upgrade our existing products and services to meet those needs, but also continue to price our products competitively. Our competitors may develop cheaper, more efficient products or may be willing to charge lower prices for strategic marketing or to increase market share. Some of our competitors have more capital and resources than we do and may be better able to take advantage of acquisition opportunities or adapt more quickly to changes in customer requirements. WE ENTER INTO FIXED-PRICED CONTRACTS. IF OUR ACTUAL COSTS EXCEED OUR ORIGINAL ESTIMATES, OUR PROFITS WILL BE REDUCED. The majority of our contracts are on a fixed-price basis. Although we benefit from cost savings, we have limited ability to recover cost overruns. Because of the large scale and long duration of our contracts, unanticipated cost increases may occur as a result of several factors, including, but not limited to, (1) increases in the cost, or shortages of components, materials or labor; (2) unanticipated technical problems; (3) required project modifications not initiated by the customer; and (4) suppliers' or subcontractors' failure to perform. These factors could delay delivery of our products and our contracts often provide for liquidated damages for late delivery. Unanticipated costs that we cannot pass on to our customers or the payment of liquidated damages under fixed contracts would negatively impact our profits. 24 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 OUR BACKLOG MAY NOT BE INDICATIVE OF OUR FUTURE REVENUE. Customers may cancel or delay projects for reasons beyond our control. Our orders normally contain cancellation provisions, which permit us to recover only our costs and a portion of our anticipated profit in the event a customer cancels an order. If a customer elects to cancel, we may not realize the full amount of revenues included in our backlog. If projects are delayed, the timing of our revenues could be affected and projects may remain in our backlog for extended periods of time. Revenue recognition occurs over long periods of time and is subject to unanticipated delays. If we receive relatively large orders in any given quarter, fluctuations in the levels of our quarterly backlog can result because the backlog in that quarter may reach levels that may not be sustained in subsequent quarters. Our backlog may not be indicative of our future revenues. See Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of this Report. OUR ABILITY TO CONDUCT BUSINESS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY FACTORS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL AND OUR REVENUES AND PROFITS FROM INTERNATIONAL SALES COULD BE ADVERSELY IMPACTED. Our operations and earnings throughout the world have been, and may in the future be, affected from time to time in varying degrees by war, political developments and foreign laws and regulations, such as regional economic uncertainty, political instability, restrictions, customs and tariffs, changing regulatory environments, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and adverse tax consequences. The likelihood of such occurrences and their overall effect upon us vary greatly from country to country and are not predictable. These factors may result in a decline in revenues or profitability and could adversely affect our ability to expand our business outside of the United States. OUR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MAY VARY SIGNIFICANTLY FROM QUARTER TO QUARTER, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE FUTURE REVENUE. Our quarterly revenues and earnings have varied in the past and are likely to vary in the future. Our Environmental Systems contracts generally stipulate customer specific delivery terms and may have contract cycles of a year or more, which subjects them to many factors beyond our control. In addition, these contracts are significantly larger in size than our typical Separation Filtration Systems contracts, which tend to intensify their impact on our quarterly operating results. Furthermore, as a significant portion of our operating costs are fixed, an unanticipated decrease in our Environmental Systems revenues, a delay or cancellation of orders in backlog, or a decrease in the demand for our Environmental Systems products, may have a significant impact on our quarterly operating results. Therefore, our quarterly operating results may be subject to significant variations and our operating performance in one quarter may not be indicative of our future performance. OUR MARGINS ARE AFFECTED BY SHIFTS IN OUR PRODUCT MIX. Certain of our products have higher margins than others. Consequently, changes in the composition of our sales between products from quarter-to-quarter or from period-to-period can have a significant impact on our reported margins. 25 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 OUR PRODUCTS ARE COVERED BY WARRANTIES. UNANTICIPATED WARRANTY COSTS FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND REPUTATION. We provide warranties on our products generally for terms of three years or less. These warranties require us to repair or replace faulty products and meet certain performance standards, among other customary warranty provisions. While we continually monitor our warranty claims and provide a reserve for estimated warranty issues on an on-going basis, an unanticipated claim could have a material adverse impact on our operations. In some cases, we may be able to subrogate a claim back to a subcontractor, if the subcontractor supplied the defective product or performed the service, but this may not always be possible. The need to repair or replace products with design or manufacturing defects could temporarily delay the sale of new products, reduce our profits and could adversely affect our reputation. See Note 3 - "Product Warranties" of this Report for further discussion and analysis of our product warranties. PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. We may be subject to product liability claims involving claims of personal injury or property damage. While we maintain product liability insurance coverage to protect us in the event of such a claim, our coverage may not be adequate to cover the cost of defense and the potential award in the event of a claim. Also, a well-publicized actual or perceived problem could adversely affect our reputation and reduce the demand for our products. LARGE CONTRACTS REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, WHICH INCREASES OUR EXPOSURE TO CREDIT RISK. We continue to closely monitor the credit worthiness of our customers and have not, to date, experienced any significant credit losses. Significant portions of our sales are to customers who place large orders for custom products and whose activities are related to the power industry. As such, our exposure to credit risk is affected to some degree by conditions within the power industry and governmental and/or political conditions. We try to mitigate our exposure to credit risk, to some extent, by requiring progress payments and letters of credit. However, as some of our exposure is outside of our control, unanticipated events could have a materially adverse impact on our operating results. See Item 2 - "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - Liquidity and Capital Resources" of this Report. THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OUR CREDIT FACILITY IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON OUR OPERATIONS. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL, IF NEEDED. The terms and conditions of our new $12.5 million revolving credit facility impose certain restrictions on our ability to incur debt, make capital expenditures, merge, sell assets, make distributions, or create or incur liens, among other things. Availability of our credit facility is also subject to certain financial covenants, including a minimum level of shareholders' equity. Our ability to comply with the covenants may be affected by events beyond our control and we cannot assure that we will achieve operating results meeting the requirements of the credit agreement. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our credit facility. In the event of a default, the bank could elect to declare the outstanding principal amount of our credit facility, all interest thereon, and all other amounts payable under our credit facility to be immediately due and payable. As of September 30, 2003 we were in compliance with all terms and conditions of our $10 million credit facility, which expired on October 31, 26 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 2003. We were also in compliance with all terms and conditions of our new credit facility, which commenced on October 31, 2003. See Note 10 - "Line of Credit" of this Report for additional discussion on our old and new credit facility. Our ability to satisfy any debt obligations will depend upon our future operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic, financial and business conditions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. We anticipate that borrowings from our existing revolving credit facility, or the refinancing of our revolving credit facility, and cash provided by operating activities, should provide sufficient funds to finance capital expenditures, working capital and otherwise meet our operating expenses and service our debt requirements as they become due. However, in the event that we require additional capital, there can be no assurance that we will be able to raise such capital when needed or on satisfactory terms, if at all. OUR BUSINESS IS SUBJECT TO RISKS OF TERRORIST ACTS AND ACTS OF WAR. Terrorist acts and acts of war may disrupt our operations, as well as our customers operations. Such acts have created, and continue to create, economic and political uncertainties and have contributed to the global economic instability that we are currently facing. Any future terrorist activities, or any continued military or security operations could further weaken the global economy and create additional uncertainties forcing our customers to further reduce their capital spending, or cancel or delay already planned construction projects, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition. OUR COMMON STOCK IS THINLY TRADED, WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOW LIQUIDITY. The daily trading volume of our common stock is relatively low and therefore the liquidity and appreciation in our stock may not meet our shareholders' expectations. The market price of our common stock could be adversely impacted as a result of sales by our existing shareholders of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market, or the perception that such sales could occur. ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK. Our primary market risk exposures are in the areas of interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk. We feel our risk to interest rate fluctuations is nominal, as our investments are short-term in nature and we are currently not in a borrowing position. Our exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations has been, and is expected to continue to be, modest as foreign contracts payable in currencies other than US dollars are performed, for the most part, in the local currency and therefore provide a "natural hedge" against currency fluctuations. We, on occasion, will purchase derivative transactions with respect to foreign contracts that do not contain a "natural hedge," but the impact of any fluctuation in the exchange rates in these hedged currencies, would be expected to have an immaterial impact on our financial operations. The impact of currency exchange rate movements on inter-company transactions has been, and is expected to continue to be, immaterial. We did not have any derivative transactions outstanding as of September 30, 2003. 27 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES The Company, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2003 to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. There were no changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the Company's fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2003 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. PART II. OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS From time to time we are involved in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of our business. We do not believe the disposition of any current matter will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations. ITEMS 2, 3, 4 AND 5 ARE NOT APPLICABLE AND HAVE BEEN OMITTED ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) Exhibits The following exhibits are filed as part of this report. <Table> <Caption> Exhibit Number Exhibit ------- ------- 3(a) Articles of Incorporation, as amended to date (filed as Exhibit 3 (a) to our report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference). 3(b) Bylaws, as amended to date (filed as Exhibit 3 (b) to our report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference). 4(a) Rights Agreement dated May 22, 1997 between Peerless Mfg. Co. and Mellon Investor Services, LLC (formerly Chase Mellon Shareholder Services, LLC), as </Table> 28 PEERLESS MFG. CO. AND SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 <Table> Rights Agent (filed as Exhibit 1 to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated May 22, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference). 4(b) Amendment to Rights Agreement dated August 23, 2001, between Peerless Mfg. Co. and Mellon Investor Services, LLC, as Rights Agent (filed as Exhibit 2 to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A dated August 30, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference). 10(m) Employment Agreement dated July 16, 2003, by and between Peerless Mfg. Co. and William T. Strohecker. * 10(n) Agreement dated July 16, 2003, by and between Peerless Mfg. Co. and William T. Strohecker. * 31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. * 31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. * 32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ** 32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. ** </Table> - ---------- * Filed herewith ** Furnished herewith (b) Reports on Form 8-K. On September 19, 2003, the Registrant filed a Report on Form 8-K to file a press release announcing its financial results for the fourth quarter and for the year ended June 30, 2003, which information was "furnished" and not "filed" with the Commission. On November 10, 2003, the Registrant filed a Report on Form 8-K to file a press release announcing its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, which information was "furnished" and not "filed" with the Commission. 29 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. PEERLESS MFG. CO. Date: November 14, 2003 /s/ Sherrill Stone ----------------- -------------------------------------------- Sherrill Stone Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Date: November 14, 2003 /s/ Richard L. Travis ----------------- -------------------------------------------- Richard L. Travis, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) 30