BEL FUSE INC /NJ - Quarter Report: 2008 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
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 March
31,
2008
or
o |
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-F11676
BEL
FUSE
INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
NEW
JERSEY
|
22-1463699
|
|
(State
of other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
|
|
206
Van Vorst Street
|
Jersey
City, New Jersey
|
07302
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
(201)
432-0463
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report)
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 and 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. x
Yes o
No
Indicate
by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the
definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer o
|
Accelerated
filer x
|
Non-accelerated
filer o
|
Smaller
reporting company o
|
(Do
not check if a smaller
|
|||
reporting
company)
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
o
Yes x
No
At
May 7,
2008, there were 2,530,489 shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.10 par value,
outstanding and 9,321,693 shares of Class B Common Stock, $0.10 par value,
outstanding.
BEL
FUSE
INC.
INDEX
Page
|
|||
Part
I
|
Financial
Information
|
||
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements
|
1
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2008
|
|||
and
December 31, 2007
|
2-3
|
||
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three
|
|||
Months
Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
|
4
|
||
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for
|
|||
the
Year Ended December 31, 2007 and the Three Months Ended
|
|||
March
31, 2008
|
5
|
||
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three
|
|||
Months
Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007
|
6-7
|
||
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
|
8-29
|
||
Item
2.
|
Management's
Discussion and Analysis of
|
||
Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
30-41
|
||
Item
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About
|
||
Market
Risk
|
42
|
||
Item
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
43
|
|
Part
II
|
Other
Information
|
||
Item
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
43-44
|
|
Item
2.
|
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
45
|
|
Item
6.
|
Exhibits
|
46
|
|
Signatures
|
47
|
PART
I.
Financial
Information
Item
1. Financial
Statements (Unaudited)
Certain
information and footnote disclosures required under accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or
omitted from the following condensed consolidated financial statements pursuant
to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. It
is
suggested that the following condensed consolidated financial statements be
read
in conjunction with the year-end consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007.
The
results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 are
not
necessarily indicative of the results for the entire fiscal year or for any
other period.
-
1
-
BEL
FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars
in thousands)
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
Current
Assets:
|
|||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$
|
88,874
|
$
|
83,875
|
|||
Marketable
securities
|
18,286
|
3,273
|
|||||
Short-term
investments
|
6,576
|
20,542
|
|||||
Accounts
receivable - less allowance for doubtful
|
|||||||
accounts
of $1,092 and $977 at March 31,
|
|||||||
2008
and December 31, 2007, respectively
|
42,542
|
52,217
|
|||||
Inventories
|
42,484
|
39,049
|
|||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current
|
|||||||
assets
|
1,921
|
1,446
|
|||||
Refundable
income taxes
|
2,764
|
3,168
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
1,723
|
2,661
|
|||||
Total
Current Assets
|
205,170
|
206,231
|
|||||
Property,
plant and equipment - net
|
41,217
|
41,113
|
|||||
Restricted
cash
|
4,576
|
4,553
|
|||||
Long-term
investment
|
8,455
|
2,536
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
3,665
|
4,364
|
|||||
Intangible
assets - net
|
1,138
|
1,181
|
|||||
Goodwill
|
28,620
|
28,447
|
|||||
Other
assets
|
5,310
|
5,435
|
|||||
TOTAL
ASSETS
|
$
|
298,151
|
$
|
293,860
|
See
notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements.
-
2
-
BEL
FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars
in thousands, except per share data)
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|||||||
Current
Liabilities:
|
|||||||
Accounts
payable
|
$
|
17,202
|
$
|
16,145
|
|||
Accrued
expenses
|
9,849
|
12,113
|
|||||
Income
taxes payable
|
4,183
|
4,007
|
|||||
Dividends
payable
|
825
|
795
|
|||||
Total
Current Liabilities
|
32,059
|
33,060
|
|||||
Long-term
Liabilities:
|
|||||||
Deferred
gain on sale of property
|
4,642
|
4,645
|
|||||
Liability
for uncertain tax positions
|
7,174
|
6,930
|
|||||
Minimum
pension obligation and unfunded pension liability
|
4,855
|
4,698
|
|||||
Total
Long-term Liabilities
|
16,671
|
16,273
|
|||||
Total
Liabilities
|
48,730
|
49,333
|
|||||
Commitments
and Contingencies
|
|||||||
Stockholders'
Equity:
|
|||||||
Preferred
stock, no par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares; none
issued
|
-
|
-
|
|||||
Class
A common stock, par value $.10 per share -
|
|||||||
authorized
10,000,000 shares; outstanding 2,530,489 and 2,545,644 shares,
respectively (net of 1,072,770 treasury shares)
|
253
|
255
|
|||||
Class
B common stock, par value $.10 per share -
|
|||||||
authorized
30,000,000 shares; outstanding 9,307,693 and 9,286,627 shares,
respectively (net of 3,218,310 treasury shares)
|
931
|
929
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
29,016
|
29,107
|
|||||
Retained
earnings
|
215,952
|
214,580
|
|||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss)
|
3,269
|
(344
|
)
|
||||
Total
Stockholders' Equity
|
249,421
|
244,527
|
|||||
TOTAL
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
$
|
298,151
|
$
|
293,860
|
See
notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements.
-
3
-
BEL
FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars
in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
|
|||||||
March 31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
|
|||||||
Net
Sales
|
$
|
60,869
|
$
|
61,807
|
|||
Costs
and expenses:
|
|||||||
Cost
of sales
|
49,638
|
47,891
|
|||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
8,933
|
9,483
|
|||||
58,571
|
57,374
|
||||||
Income
from operations
|
2,298
|
4,433
|
|||||
Interest
expense and other costs
|
-
|
(122
|
)
|
||||
Realized
loss/impairment charge on investment
|
(280
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Interest
income
|
913
|
833
|
|||||
Earnings
before provision for income taxes
|
2,931
|
5,144
|
|||||
Income
tax provision
|
764
|
1,135
|
|||||
Net
earnings
|
$
|
2,167
|
$
|
4,009
|
|||
Earnings
per Class A common share
|
|||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.17
|
$
|
0.32
|
|||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.17
|
$
|
0.32
|
|||
Weighted
average Class A common shares outstanding
|
|||||||
Basic
|
2,532,408
|
2,702,677
|
|||||
Diluted
|
2,532,408
|
2,702,677
|
|||||
Earnings
per Class B common share
|
|||||||
Basic
|
$
|
0.19
|
$
|
0.34
|
|||
Diluted
|
$
|
0.19
|
$
|
0.34
|
|||
Weighted
average Class B common shares outstanding
|
|||||||
Basic
|
9,306,940
|
9,172,736
|
|||||
Diluted
|
9,313,556
|
9,206,463
|
See
notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements.
-
4
-
BEL
FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(dollars
in thousands)
|
Accumulated
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Compre-
|
Other
|
Class A
|
Class B
|
Additional
|
||||||||||||||||||
hensive
|
Retained
|
Comprehensive
|
Common
|
Common
|
Paid-In
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total
|
Income
|
Earnings
|
Income (loss)
|
Stock
|
Stock
|
Capital
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
January 1, 2007
|
$
|
222,150
|
$
|
190,953
|
$
|
(1,816
|
)
|
$
|
270
|
$
|
917
|
$
|
31,826
|
|||||||||
Exercise
of stock options
|
1,452
|
6
|
1,446
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Tax
benefits arising from the disposition
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
of
non-qualified incentive stock options
|
149
|
149
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash
dividends declared on Class A
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
common
stock
|
(534
|
)
|
(534
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||
Cash
dividends declared on Class B
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
common
stock
|
(2,175
|
)
|
(2,175
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||
Issuance
of restricted common stock
|
-
|
7
|
(7
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||
Termination
of restricted common stock
|
-
|
(1
|
)
|
1
|
||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase/retirement
of Class A
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
common
stock
|
(5,733
|
)
|
(15
|
)
|
(5,718
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||
Currency
translation adjustment
|
960
|
960
|
960
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
holding gains on marketable
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
securities
arising during the year, net of taxes
|
2,077
|
2,077
|
2,077
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Reclassification
adjustment for gains
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
included
in net earnings, net of taxes
|
(2,058
|
)
|
(2,058
|
)
|
(2,058
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
1,410
|
1,410
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Change
in unfunded SERP liability,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
net
of taxes
|
493
|
493
|
493
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Net
earnings
|
26,336
|
26,336
|
26,336
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income
|
$
|
27,808
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
December 31, 2007
|
$
|
244,527
|
$
|
214,580
|
$
|
(344
|
)
|
$
|
255
|
$
|
929
|
$
|
29,107
|
|||||||||
Exercise
of stock options
|
49
|
2
|
47
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Cash
dividends declared on Class A
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
common
stock
|
(158
|
)
|
(158
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||
Cash
dividends declared on Class B
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
common
stock
|
(637
|
)
|
(637
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase/retirement
of Class A
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
common
stock
|
(394
|
)
|
(2
|
)
|
(392
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||
Currency
translation adjustment
|
719
|
719
|
719
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Unrealized
holding gains on marketable
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
securities
arising during the year, net of taxes
|
2,894
|
2,894
|
2,894
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
254
|
254
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net
earnings
|
2,167
|
2,167
|
2,167
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive
income
|
$
|
5,780
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Balance,
March 31, 2008
|
$
|
249,421
|
$
|
215,952
|
$
|
3,269
|
$
|
253
|
$
|
931
|
$
|
29,016
|
See
notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements.
-
5
-
BEL
FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars
in thousands)
Three Months Ended
|
|||||||
March
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Cash
flows from operating activities:
|
|||||||
Net
earnings
|
$
|
2,167
|
$
|
4,009
|
|||
Adjustments
to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
|||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
1,813
|
1,916
|
|||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
254
|
404
|
|||||
Excess
tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
|
-
|
(62
|
)
|
||||
Realized
loss/impairment charge on investment
|
280
|
-
|
|||||
Unrealized
foreign exchange transaction gains
|
(139
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Other,
net
|
157
|
185
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
(248
|
)
|
(224
|
)
|
|||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities
|
5,752
|
676
|
|||||
Net
Cash Provided by Operating Activities
|
10,036
|
6,904
|
|||||
Cash
flows from investing activities:
|
|||||||
Purchase
of property, plant and equipment
|
(1,659
|
)
|
(2,827
|
)
|
|||
Purchase
of intangible asset
|
(150
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Purchase
of marketable securities
|
(10,124
|
)
|
(11,801
|
)
|
|||
Redemption
of investment
|
7,766
|
-
|
|||||
Net
Cash Used In Investing Activities
|
(4,167
|
)
|
(14,628
|
)
|
See
notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements.
-
6
-
BEL
FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(dollars
in thousands)
Three Months Ended
|
|||||||
March
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Cash
flows from financing activities:
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from exercise of stock options
|
49
|
489
|
|||||
Dividends
paid to common shareholders
|
(765
|
)
|
(558
|
)
|
|||
Purchase
and retirement of Class A common stock
|
(394
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Excess
tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements
|
-
|
62
|
|||||
Net
Cash Used In Financing Activities
|
(1,110
|
)
|
(7
|
)
|
|||
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash
|
240
|
41
|
|||||
Net
Increase (decrease) in
|
|||||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
|
4,999
|
(7,690
|
)
|
||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
|
|
|
|||||
-
beginning of period
|
83,875
|
76,761
|
|||||
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
|
|||||||
-
end of period
|
$
|
88,874
|
$
|
69,071
|
|||
Changes
in operating assets and liabilities consist of:
|
|||||||
Decrease
in accounts receivable
|
$
|
9,988
|
$
|
1,525
|
|||
(Increase)
decrease in inventories
|
(3,234
|
)
|
1,771
|
||||
Increase
in prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
(453
|
)
|
(103
|
)
|
|||
Increase
in other assets
|
(161
|
)
|
(163
|
)
|
|||
(Increase)
decrease in accounts payable
|
981
|
(1,017
|
)
|
||||
Increase
in income taxes
|
919
|
797
|
|||||
Decrease
in accrued expenses
|
(2,288
|
)
|
(2,134
|
)
|
|||
$
|
5,752
|
$
|
676
|
||||
Supplementary
information:
|
|||||||
Cash
paid during the period for income taxes
|
$
|
137
|
$
|
493
|
See
notes
to condensed consolidated financial statements.
-
7
-
BEL
FUSE
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES
TO
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. BASIS
OF
PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The
condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2008, and the condensed
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows
for
the periods presented herein have been prepared by Bel Fuse Inc. (the "Company"
or "Bel") and are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments
(consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly
the financial position, results of operations, changes in stockholders' equity
and cash flows for all periods presented have been made. The results for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 should not be viewed as indicative of the
Company’s annual results or the Company’s results for any other period. The
information for the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31,
2007
was derived from audited financial statements.
Accounting
Policies
DESCRIPTION
OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Bel
Fuse
Inc. and subsidiaries operate in one industry with three geographic reporting
segments and are engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of products used
in
local area networking, telecommunication, business equipment and consumer
electronic applications. The Company manages its operations geographically
through its three reporting units: North America, Asia and Europe. Sales are
predominantly in North America, Europe and Asia.
PRINCIPLES
OF CONSOLIDATION
- The
condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly owned subsidiaries, including businesses acquired since their
respective dates of acquisition. All intercompany transactions and balances
have
been eliminated.
USE
OF
ESTIMATES
- The
preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts
of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
CASH
EQUIVALENTS
- Cash
equivalents include short-term investments in U.S. treasury bills and commercial
paper with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased. At
March
31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, cash equivalents approximated $33.7 million
and
$33.4 million, respectively.
MARKETABLE
SECURITIES
- The
Company generally classifies its equity securities as "available for sale",
and
accordingly, reflects unrealized gains and losses, net of deferred income taxes,
as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. In
accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Staff Position
Nos. FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1 “The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and
Its Application to Certain Investments” (“FSP 115-1”), the Company periodically
reviews its marketable securities and determines whether the investments are
other-than-temporarily impaired. If the investments are deemed to be
other-than-temporarily impaired, the investments are written down to their
then
current fair market value. See Note 2 for further discussion regarding an
impairment charge taken in the first quarter of 2008.
-
8
-
The
fair
values of marketable securities are based on quoted market prices. Realized
gains or losses from the sale of marketable securities are based on the specific
identification method.
ACQUISITION
EXPENSES
- The
Company currently capitalizes all direct costs associated with proposed
acquisitions. If the proposed acquisition is consummated, such costs will be
included as a component of the overall cost of the acquisition. Such costs
are
expensed at such time as the Company deems the consummation of a proposed
acquisition to be unsuccessful.
Effective January 1, 2009, acquisition-related costs, including restructuring
costs, will be recognized separately from the acquisition and will generally
be
expensed as incurred in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141(R), “Business Combinations”.
FOREIGN
CURRENCY TRANSLATION
- The
functional currency for some foreign operations is the local currency. Assets
and liabilities of foreign operations are translated at exchange rates as of
the
balance sheet date, and income, expense and cash flow items are translated
at
the average exchange rate for the applicable period. Translation adjustments
are
recorded in Other Comprehensive Income. The U.S. Dollar is used as the
functional currency for certain foreign operations that conduct their business
in U.S. Dollars. Realized
foreign currency gains were minimal for the three months ended March 31, 2008
and 2007.
CONCENTRATION
OF CREDIT RISK
-
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations
of
credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable and temporary cash
investments. The Company grants credit to customers that are primarily original
equipment manufacturers and to subcontractors of original equipment
manufacturers based on an evaluation of the customer's financial condition,
without requiring collateral. Exposure to losses on receivables is principally
dependent on each customer's financial condition. The Company controls its
exposure to credit risk through credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring
procedures and establishes allowances for anticipated losses.
The
Company places its temporary cash investments with quality financial
institutions and commercial issuers of short-term paper and, by policy, limits
the amount of credit exposure in any one financial instrument. In December
2007,
the Company was notified that a $25.7 million investment in the Columbia
Strategic Cash Portfolio was being liquidated and the fund was converting from
a
fixed net asset value (NAV) to a floating NAV. The Company recorded a $0.3
million impairment charge in the first quarter of 2008 due to market value
changes. See Note 3 for additional information regarding this
liquidation.
INVENTORIES
-
Inventories are stated at the lower of weighted average cost or
market.
REVENUE
RECOGNITION – The
Company recognizes revenue in accordance with the guidance contained in SEC
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, "Revenue Recognition in Financial
Statements". Revenue is recognized when the product has been delivered and
title
and risk of loss has passed to the customer, collection of the resulting
receivable is deemed reasonably assured by management, persuasive evidence
of an
arrangement exists and the sales price is fixed and determinable. Substantially
all of the Company's shipments are FCA (free carrier) which provides for title
to pass upon delivery to the customer's freight carrier. Some product is shipped
DDP/DDU with title passing when the product arrives at the customer's dock.
DDP
is defined as Delivered Duty Paid by the Company and DDU is Delivered Duty
Unpaid by the Company.
-
9
-
For
certain customers, the Company provides consigned inventory, either at the
customer’s facility or at a third party warehouse. Sales of consigned inventory
are recorded when the customer withdraws inventory from consignment.
During
all periods in 2008 and 2007, inventory on consignment was
immaterial.
The
Company typically has a twelve-month warranty policy for workmanship defects.
During June 2007, the Company established a warranty accrual in the amount
of
approximately $1.2 million, which included a $0.4 million inventory write off
of
inventory on hand. The accrual related to certain defective parts, which the
Company is replacing, sold to a customer primarily within the same quarter.
This
accrual has been classified within cost of sales. During the first quarter
of
2008, $0.4 million of this accrual was reversed, as the actual quantity of
returns has been lower than anticipated. As of March 31, 2008, the Company
has a
remaining warranty accrual related to these defective parts in the amount of
$0.4 million. The Company believes that this liability will be utilized in
2008.
As the Company has not historically had significant warranty claims, no general
reserves for warranties have been established.
The
Company is not contractually obligated to accept returns except for defective
product or in instances where the product does not meet the customer's quality
specifications. However, the Company may permit its customers to return product
for other reasons. In these instances, the Company would generally require
a
significant cancellation penalty payment by the customer. The Company estimates
such returns, where applicable, based upon management's evaluation of historical
experience, market acceptance of products produced and known negotiations with
customers. Such estimates are deducted from sales and provided for at the time
revenue is recognized.
GOODWILL –
The
Company tests goodwill for impairment annually during the fourth quarter, using
a fair value approach at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an
operating segment or one level below an operating segment for which discrete
financial information is available and reviewed regularly by management. Assets
and liabilities of the Company have been assigned to the reporting units to
the
extent that they are employed in or are considered a liability related to the
operations of the reporting unit and were considered in determining the fair
value of the reporting unit.
DEPRECIATION
-
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation
and amortization. Depreciation and amortization are calculated primarily using
the declining-balance method for machinery and equipment and the straight-line
method for buildings and improvements over their estimated useful lives.
INCOME
TAXES
- The
Company accounts for income taxes using an asset and liability approach under
which deferred income taxes are recognized by applying enacted tax rates
applicable to future years to the differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts and the tax bases of reported assets and
liabilities.
-
10
-
For
that
portion of foreign earnings that have not been repatriated, an income tax
provision has not been recorded for U.S. federal income taxes on the
undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries as such earnings are intended
to
be permanently reinvested in those operations. Such earnings would become
taxable upon the sale or liquidation of these foreign subsidiaries or upon
the
repatriation of earnings.
The
principal items giving rise to deferred taxes are deferred gains on property
sales, unrealized gains/losses on marketable securities available for sale,
foreign tax credits, the use of accelerated depreciation methods for machinery
and equipment, timing differences between book and tax amortization of
intangible assets and goodwill and certain expenses including the SERP which
have been deducted for financial reporting purposes which are not currently
deductible for income tax purposes.
Effective
January 1, 2007, uncertain tax positions are accounted for in accordance with
FASB Interpretation No. 48 “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.” See
Note 6 for further discussion.
STOCK-BASED
COMPENSATION –
The
Company has one stock-based compensation plan under which both incentive
stock-options and restricted stock awards are granted to employees and
directors. The Company accounts for stock-based compensation under SFAS No.
123
(R), "Share-Based Payment" using the modified prospective method. Under modified
prospective application, SFAS 123(R) applies to new awards and to awards
modified, repurchased, or cancelled after the required effective date (January
1, 2006). Additionally, compensation costs for the portion of the awards for
which the requisite service has not been rendered that are outstanding as of
the
required effective date are being recognized as the requisite service is
rendered after the required effective date. The compensation cost for the
portion of awards is based on the grant-date fair value of those awards as
calculated for either recognition or pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123.
Changes to the grant-date fair value of equity awards granted before the
required effective date of this Statement are precluded. The compensation cost
for those earlier awards is attributed to periods beginning on or after the
required effective date of SFAS 123(R) using the attribution method that was
used under SFAS 123, except that the method of recognizing forfeitures only
as
they occur was not continued.
There
were no stock options or restricted stock awards granted by the Company during
the three months ended March 31, 2008 or 2007.
RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT
-
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred, and are included in
cost of sales. Generally all research and development is performed internally
for the benefit of the Company. The Company does not perform such activities
for
others. Research and development costs include salaries, building maintenance
and utilities, rents, materials, administration costs and miscellaneous other
items. Research and development expenses for the three months ended March 31,
2008 and 2007 amounted to $2.0 million and $1.7 million, respectively.
EVALUATION
OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS –
The
Company reviews property and equipment and finite-lived intangible assets for
impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying
value may not be recoverable in accordance with guidance in SFAS No. 144,
“Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” If the
carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds the present value of the related
estimated future cash flows, the asset would be adjusted to its fair value
and
an impairment loss would be charged to operations in the period
identified.
-
11
-
EARNINGS
PER SHARE –
The
Company utilizes the two-class method to report its earnings per share. The
two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings
per
share for each class of common stock according to dividends declared and
participation rights in undistributed earnings. The Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, states that Class B common shares are entitled to
dividends at least 5% greater than dividends paid to Class A common shares,
resulting in the two-class method of computing earnings per share. In computing
earnings per share, the Company has allocated dividends declared to Class A
and
Class B based on amounts actually declared for each class of stock and 5% more
of the undistributed earnings have been allocated to Class B shares than to
the
Class A shares on a per share basis. Basic earnings per common share are
computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share, for
each class of common stock, are computed by dividing net earnings by the
weighted average number of common shares and potential common shares outstanding
during the period. Potential common shares used in computing diluted earnings
per share relate to stock options for Class A and B common shares which, if
exercised, would have a dilutive effect on earnings per share.
-
12
-
The
earnings and weighted average shares outstanding used in the computation of
basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows (dollars in thousands,
except share and per share data):
Three
Months Ended
|
|||||||
March
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Numerator:
|
|||||||
Net
earnings
|
$
|
2,167
|
$
|
4,009
|
|||
Less
Dividends declared:
|
|||||||
Class
A
|
158
|
108
|
|||||
Class
B
|
637
|
450
|
|||||
Undistributed
earnings
|
$
|
1,372
|
$
|
3,451
|
|||
Undistributed
earnings allocation - basic:
|
|||||||
Class
A undistributed earnings
|
$
|
282
|
$
|
756
|
|||
Class
B undistributed earnings
|
1,090
|
2,695
|
|||||
Total
undistributed earnings
|
$
|
1,372
|
$
|
3,451
|
|||
Undistributed
earnings allocation - diluted:
|
|||||||
Class
A undistributed earnings
|
$
|
282
|
$
|
754
|
|||
Class
B undistributed earnings
|
1,090
|
2,697
|
|||||
Total
undistributed earnings
|
$
|
1,372
|
$
|
3,451
|
|||
Net
earnings allocation - basic:
|
|||||||
Class
A undistributed earnings
|
$
|
440
|
$
|
864
|
|||
Class
B undistributed earnings
|
1,727
|
3,145
|
|||||
Net
earnings
|
$
|
2,167
|
$
|
4,009
|
|||
Net
earnings allocation - diluted:
|
|||||||
Class
A undistributed earnings
|
$
|
440
|
$
|
862
|
|||
Class
B undistributed earnings
|
1,727
|
3,147
|
|||||
Net
earnings
|
$
|
2,167
|
$
|
4,009
|
|||
Denominator:
|
|||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding:
|
|||||||
Class
A - basic and diluted
|
2,532,408
|
2,702,677
|
|||||
Class
B - basic
|
9,306,940
|
9,172,736
|
|||||
Dilutive
impact of stock options and
|
|||||||
unvested
restricted stock awards
|
6,616
|
33,727
|
|||||
Class
B - diluted
|
9,313,556
|
9,206,463
|
|||||
Earnings
per share:
|
|||||||
Class
A - basic
|
$
|
0.17
|
$
|
0.32
|
|||
Class
A - diluted
|
$
|
0.17
|
$
|
0.32
|
|||
Class
B - basic
|
$
|
0.19
|
$
|
0.34
|
|||
Class
B - diluted
|
$
|
0.19
|
$
|
0.34
|
During
the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, 53,000 and 14,000 outstanding
options, respectively, were not included in the foregoing computations for
Class
B common shares because their effect would be antidilutive.
-
13
-
FAIR
VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
- For
financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, marketable
securities, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses, the
carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short maturities of
such
instruments. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”
(“SFAS 157”) for the Company’s financial assets and liabilities. The adoption of
SFAS 157 in the quarter ended March 31, 2008 had no material impact on the
financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company, but
resulted in certain additional disclosures reflected in Note 2.
2. MARKETABLE
SECURITIES
At
March
31, 2008, the Company has an investment consisting of a private placement of
units of beneficial interest in the Columbia Strategic Cash Portfolio (the
“Columbia Portfolio”), which is an enhanced cash fund sold as an alternative to
money-market funds. Since June 2007, the Company has invested a portion of
its
cash balances on hand in this fund. During the second and third quarters of
2007, the amounts were appropriately classified as cash equivalents in the
consolidated balance sheet as the fund was considered both short-term and highly
liquid in nature. These investments are subject to credit, liquidity, market
and
interest rate risk. For example, the Columbia Portfolio includes investments
in
certain asset backed securities and structured investment vehicles that are
collateralized by sub-prime mortgage securities or related to mortgage
securities, among other assets. As a result of adverse market conditions that
have unfavorably affected the fair value and liquidity availability of
collateral underlying the Columbia Portfolio, the Columbia Portfolio was
overwhelmed with withdrawal requests from investors and it was closed with
a
restriction placed upon the cash redemption ability of its holders in the fourth
quarter of 2007. At
that
time, the Company had $25.7 million invested in this fund, including $0.7
million of reinvested interest. As
such,
the Company redesignated the Columbia Portfolio units from cash equivalents
to
short-term investments or long-term investments based upon the liquidation
schedule provided by the fund.
The
Company deemed a portion of its carrying value in the Columbia Portfolio to
be
other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2007. Accordingly, the Company
wrote down the carrying value of the investments to their then current market
value at December 31, 2007 and the reduction in value of $0.3 million was
recorded as an impairment charge during the fourth quarter of 2007. The net
asset value of these investments continued to decline throughout the first
quarter to an NAV of $.9701 at March 31, 2008 and, accordingly, the Company
recorded an additional impairment charge of $0.3 million during the first
quarter of 2008. This is included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated
Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008. As of March
31, 2008, the Company has received total cash redemptions to date of $10.1
million (including $7.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2008) at
a
weighted-average net asset value of $.9863 per unit. The additional realized
losses associated with these redemptions were minimal. Information and the
markets relating to these investments remain dynamic, and there may be further
declines in the value of these investments, the value of the collateral held
by
these entities, and the liquidity of the Company’s investments. To the extent
that the Company determines that there is a further decline in fair value,
the
Company may recognize additional impairment charges in future periods up to
the
aggregate amount of these investments.
-
14
-
As
of
March 31, 2008, the Company owned a total of 1,840,919 shares, or approximately
1.9%
of the
outstanding shares,
of the
common stock of Toko, Inc. (“Toko”) at a total cost of $5.6 million. Toko had a
market capitalization of approximately $225.3 million as of March 31, 2008.
These shares are reflected on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance
sheets as marketable securities. These marketable securities are considered
to
be available for sale under SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in
Debt and Equity Securities”. Thus, as of March 31, 2008, the Company has
recorded an unrealized loss, net of income tax benefit, of approximately $0.9
million which is included in accumulated other comprehensive income in
stockholders’ equity. The Company’s investment in Toko has been in an unrealized
loss position for approximately twelve months. In accordance with FSP 115-1,
the
Company periodically reviews its marketable securities and determines whether
the investments are other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company reviewed
various factors in making its determination, including volatility of the Toko
share price over the last year, Toko’s recent financial results and the
Company’s intention and ability to hold the investment. The Toko share price has
been extremely volatile over the last year, ranging from $1.22 - $4.20 (the
Company’s cost basis in its remaining shares of Toko stock is $3.07 per share).
In the second quarter of 2007, a gain was recognized on the disposition of
a
majority of the Company’s holdings of Toko stock. In addition, the Company’s
unrealized loss, net of tax benefit, improved from $1.4 million at December
31,
2007 to $0.9 million at March 31, 2008, as the Toko share price increased from
$1.77 at December 31, 2007 to $2.31 at March 31, 2008. The Company has the
intention and the ability to hold the investment until it is in a gain position.
As a result of these factors, management believes that the investment in Toko
is
not other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2008.
On
February 25, 2008, the Company announced that it had acquired 4,370,052 shares
of Power-One, Inc. (“Power-One”) common stock representing, to the Company’s
knowledge, 5% of Power-One’s outstanding common stock, at a total purchase price
of $10.1 million. Power-One’s common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global
Market. Power-One is a designer and manufacturer of power conversion and power
management products. As
of
March 31, 2008, the Company has recorded an unrealized gain, net of income
tax,
of approximately $2.4 million which is included in accumulated other
comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity.
At
March
31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, marketable securities had a cost
of approximately $15.8 million and $5.6 million, an estimated fair value of
approximately $18.3 million and $3.3 million and gross unrealized gains (losses)
of approximately $2.5 million and $(2.3) million. Such unrealized gains (losses)
are included, net of tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
The
Company had no realized gains or losses during the three months ending March
31,
2008 or 2007. Included in other assets at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
are marketable securities designated for utilization in accordance with the
Company’s SERP plan with a cost of approximately $4.6 million and $4.6 million,
respectively, and an estimated fair value of approximately $4.7 million and
$4.9
million, respectively. Such unrealized net gains are included, net of tax,
in
accumulated other comprehensive loss.
-
15
-
Effective
January 1, 2008, the Company has adopted the provisions of SFAS 157 for its
financial assets and liabilities. Although this partial adoption of SFAS 157
had
no material impact on its financial condition, results of operations or cash
flows, the Company is now required to provide additional disclosures as part
of
its financial statements. SFAS 157 clarifies that fair value is an exit price,
representing the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to
transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants
at
the measurement date. The Company utilizes market data or assumptions that
market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. SFAS 157
establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs
used
in measuring fair value. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable
inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets; Level 2, defined as
inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly
or
indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs about which
little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its
own assumptions.
As
of
March 31, 2008, the Company held certain financial assets that are measured
at
fair value on a recurring basis. These consisted of the Company’s investments in
Toko and Power-One stock (categorized as available-for-sale securities) and
the
marketable securities designated for utilization in accordance with the
Company’s SERP plan (categorized as an other long-term investment). The fair
value of these investments is determined based on quoted market prices in public
market and are categorized as Level 1. The Company does not have any financial
assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis categorized as Level 2 or
Level 3, and there were no transfers in or out of Level 2 or Level 3 during
the
quarter ended March 31, 2008.
The
following table sets forth by level within SFAS 157’s fair value hierarchy of
the Company’s financial assets accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis
as of March 31, 2008 (dollars in thousands).
Assets at Fair Value as of March 31, 2008
|
|||||||||||||
Total
|
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
|
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
|
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
|
||||||||||
Available-for-sale
securities
|
$
|
18,278
|
$
|
18,278
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||
Other
long-term investment
|
4,722
|
4,722
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Total
|
$
|
23,000
|
$
|
23,000
|
-
|
-
|
-
16
-
The
following table sets forth by level within SFAS 157’s fair value hierarchy of
the Company’s financial assets accounted for at fair value on a nonrecurring
basis as of March 31, 2008 (dollars in thousands). These consisted of the
Company’s investment in the Columbia Portfolio (categorized as an other
investment in the table below). The fair value of these investments is
determined based on significant other observable inputs and are categorized
as
Level 2.
Assets at Fair Value as of March 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Total
|
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
(Level 1)
|
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
|
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
|
Total Gains
(Losses) During
the Three
Months Ended
March 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||
Other
investment
|
$
|
15,031
|
-
|
$
|
15,031
|
-
|
$ |
(280
|
)
|
|||||||
Total
|
$
|
15,031
|
-
|
$
|
15,031
|
-
|
$ |
(280
|
)
|
There
were no changes to the Company’s valuation techniques used to measure asset fair
values on a recurring or nonrecurring basis during the quarter ended March
31,
2008 and the Company did not have any financial liabilities as of March 31,
2008.
3. INVENTORIES
The
components of inventories are as follows (dollars in thousands):
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Raw
materials
|
$
|
26,832
|
$
|
24,089
|
|||
Work
in progress
|
2,837
|
2,434
|
|||||
Finished
goods
|
12,815
|
12,526
|
|||||
$
|
42,484
|
$
|
39,049
|
-
17
-
4. BUSINESS
SEGMENT INFORMATION
The
Company operates in one industry with three reportable segments. The segments
are geographic and include North America, Asia and Europe. The primary criteria
by which financial performance is evaluated and resources are allocated are
revenues and operating income. The following is a summary of key financial
data
(dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended
|
|||||||
March
31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Total
segment revenues
|
|||||||
North
America
|
$
|
22,991
|
$
|
18,431
|
|||
Asia
|
42,139
|
46,036
|
|||||
Europe
|
6,786
|
9,134
|
|||||
Total
segment revenues
|
71,916
|
73,601
|
|||||
Reconciling
items:
|
|||||||
Intersegment
revenues
|
(11,047
|
)
|
(11,794
|
)
|
|||
Net
sales
|
$
|
60,869
|
$
|
61,807
|
|||
Income
from Operations:
|
|||||||
North
America
|
$
|
1,097
|
$
|
959
|
|||
Asia
|
841
|
3,157
|
|||||
Europe
|
360
|
317
|
|||||
$
|
2,298
|
$
|
4,433
|
5.
DEBT
Short-term
debt
During
the first quarter of 2007, the Company entered into a new unsecured credit
agreement in the amount of $20 million, which expires on July 21, 2008. There
have not been any borrowings under the credit agreement and as such, there
was
no balance outstanding as of March 31, 2008. At that date, the entire $20
million line of credit was available to the Company to borrow. The credit
agreement bears interest at LIBOR plus 0.75% to 1.25% based on certain financial
statement ratios maintained by the Company.
The
Company’s Hong Kong subsidiary had an unsecured line of credit of approximately
$2 million which was unused as of March 31, 2008. The line of credit expires
July 31, 2008. Any borrowing on the line of credit will be guaranteed by the
U.S. parent. The line of credit bears interest at a rate determined by the
bank
as the financing is extended.
Included
in interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 is the write-off
of approximately $0.1 million of previously unamortized deferred financing
charges in connection with the Company’s prior credit facility.
-
18
-
6.
INCOME
TAXES
The
Company adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for
Uncertainties in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”), on January 1, 2007. Although the
implementation of FIN 48 did not impact the total amount of the Company’s
liabilities for uncertain tax positions, which amounted to $12.4 million at
January 1, 2007, the Company separately recognizes the liability for uncertain
tax positions on its balance sheet. Included in the liabilities for uncertain
tax positions at the date of adoption is $1.4 million for interest and
penalties.
At
March
31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the Company has approximately $9.4 million
and
$9.2 million, respectively, of liabilities for uncertain tax positions
(including interest and penalties). Of these amounts, the current portions
of
$2.2 million and $2.3 million are included in income tax payable and the
noncurrent portions of $7.2 million and $6.9 million are included in liability
for uncertain tax positions. These liabilities for uncertain tax positions,
if
recognized, would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate.
The
Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal
jurisdiction and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company is no
longer subject to U.S. federal examinations by tax authorities for years before
2004 and for state examinations before 2003. Regarding foreign subsidiaries,
the
Company is no longer subject to examination by tax authorities for years before
2000. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) commenced an examination of the
Company’s U.S. income tax returns for 2004 and reviewed 2003 and 2005 during the
fourth quarter of 2006. During April 2007, the IRS wrote a preliminary letter
to
the Company accepting the tax return as originally filed for 2004.
The
Company is currently being audited by the State of New Jersey, Department of
the
Treasury, Division of Taxation (“New Jersey”) for the years ended December 31,
2003 through 2006. The State of New Jersey is proposing a tax adjustment for
the
years 2003 through 2006 in the amount of $0.2 million. The assessment arises
from the method the Company utilized to account for home office charges from
the
parent company to its related entities. The Company intends to challenge the
state’s position on this matter. During the quarter ended March 31, 2008, the
Company accrued the $0.2 million tax assessment.
During
February 2008, the Company received correspondence from the State of California
Franchise Tax Board. They requested copies of U.S. federal income tax returns
for the years 2005 and 2006 for further analysis to determine if the tax returns
will be selected for audit. To date, the Company has not received any further
communications from the State of California regarding this matter.
The
Inland Revenue Department (“IRD”) of Hong Kong commenced an examination of one
of the Company’s Hong Kong subsidiaries’ income tax returns for the years 2000
through 2005 and issued a notice of additional assessment during 2007 and demand
for tax in the amount of $3.8 million. This was paid in May and August 2007.
There is no interest or penalties in connection with this assessment. The IRD
proposed certain adjustments to the Company’s offshore income tax claim
position, with which Company management agreed.
-
19
-
Based
on
possible outcomes of the examinations mentioned above, or as a result of the
expiration of the statute of limitations for specific jurisdictions, it is
reasonably possible that the related unrecognized benefits for tax positions
taken regarding previously filed tax returns may change materially from those
recorded as liabilities for uncertain tax positions in the Company’s condensed
consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2008. Based on the number of
tax
years currently under audit by the relevant tax authorities, the Company
anticipates that several of these audits may be finalized in the next twelve
months. It is not possible to estimate the effect of changes, if any, that
will
be made to previously recorded uncertain tax positions over the next
year.
The
Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax
positions as a component of the current provision for income taxes. During
the
three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized approximately
$0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively in interest and penalties in the
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company has approximately
$1.9 million and $1.8 million accrued for the payment of interest and penalties
at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively, which is included in
both
income taxes payable and liability for uncertain tax positions in the Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets.
7. ACCRUED
EXPENSES
Accrued
expenses consist of the following (dollars in thousands):
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Sales
commissions
|
$
|
1,576
|
$
|
2,930
|
|||
Subcontracting
labor
|
2,229
|
1,723
|
|||||
Salaries,
bonuses and related
benefits
|
3,489
|
4,208
|
|||||
Other
|
2,555
|
3,252
|
|||||
$
|
9,849
|
$
|
12,113
|
8. RETIREMENT
FUND AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN
The
Company maintains a domestic profit sharing plan and a contributory stock
ownership and savings 401(K) plan, which combines stock ownership and individual
voluntary savings provisions to provide retirement benefits for plan
participants. The plan provides for participants to voluntarily contribute
a
portion of their compensation, subject to certain legal maximums. The Company
will match, based on a sliding scale, up to $350 for the first $600 contributed
by each participant. Matching contributions plus additional discretionary
contributions are made with Company stock purchased in the open market.
The
expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 amounted to
approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively. As of March 31,
2008,
the plans owned 17,121 and 146,604 shares of Bel Fuse Inc. Class A and Class
B
common stock, respectively.
The
Company's subsidiaries in Asia have a retirement fund covering substantially
all
of their Hong Kong based full-time employees. Eligible employees contribute
up
to 5% of salary to the fund. In addition, the Company must contribute a minimum
of 5% of eligible salary, as determined by Hong Kong government regulations.
The
Company currently contributes 7% of eligible salary, in cash or Company stock.
The
expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 amounted to
approximately $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. As of March 31,
2008,
the plan owned 3,323 and 17,756 shares of Bel Fuse Inc. Class A and Class B
common stock, respectively.
-
20
-
The
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the "SERP" or the “Plan”) is designed to
provide a limited group of key management and highly compensated employees
of
the Company with
supplemental
retirement and death benefits. Participants
in the SERP are selected by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors.
The
SERP initially became effective in 2002
and
was amended and restated in April 2007 to conform with applicable requirements
of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and to modify the provisions
regarding benefits payable in connection with a change in control of the
Company. The
Plan
is unfunded. Benefits under the SERP are payable from the general assets of
the
Company, but the Company has certain life insurance policies in effect on
participants to partially cover the Company’s obligations under the Plan. The
Plan also allows the Company to establish a grantor trust to provide for the
payment of Plan benefits.
The
components of SERP expense are as follows (dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended
|
|||||||
March 31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Service
cost
|
$
|
73
|
$
|
78
|
|||
Interest
cost
|
76
|
70
|
|||||
Amortization
of adjustments
|
33
|
37
|
|||||
Total
SERP expense
|
$
|
182
|
$
|
185
|
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Balance
sheet amounts:
|
|||||||
Minimum
pension obligation
|
|||||||
and
unfunded pension liability
|
4,855
|
4,698
|
|||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive
|
|||||||
income
(loss)
|
(1,154
|
)
|
(1,154
|
)
|
Included
in other assets at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 are marketable
securities designated for utilization in accordance with the Company’s SERP plan
with a cost of approximately $4.6 million and $4.6 million, respectively, and
an
estimated fair value of approximately $4.7 million and $4.9 million,
respectively. Such unrealized net gains are included, net of tax, in accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss). The
Company contributed $0.1 million to this investment during the three months
ended March 31, 2008. No contributions were made to this investment during
the
three months ended March 31, 2007.
-
21
-
9.
SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
On
January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123 (R)
"Share-Based Payment" requiring the recognition of compensation expense in
the
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations related to the fair value of
its
employee stock-based options and awards. SFAS No. 123 (R)
revises SFAS No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" and supersedes
APB Opinion No. 25 "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees." SFAS No. 123(R)
is supplemented by SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 107 "Share-Based
Payment." SAB No. 107 expresses the SEC staff's views regarding the interaction
between SFAS No. 123(R) and certain SEC rules and regulations including the
valuation of stock-based payment arrangements.
The
aggregate pretax compensation cost recognized in net earnings for stock-based
compensation (including incentive stock options and restricted stock, as further
discussed below) amounted to approximately $0.3 million and $0.4 million for
the
three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
The
Company did not use any cash to settle any equity instruments granted under
share-based arrangements during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.
Stock
Options
The
Company has an
equity
compensation program
(the
"Program")
which
provides for the granting of "Incentive Stock Options" within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended,
non-qualified stock options and restricted stock awards.
The
Company believes that such awards better align the interest of its employees
with those of its shareholders. The Program provides for the issuance of 2.4
million common shares. Unless
otherwise provided at the date of grant or unless subsequently accelerated,
options granted under the Program become
exercisable twenty-five percent (25%) one
year
from the date of grant and twenty-five percent (25%) for each year of the three
years thereafter. Upon exercise the Company will issue new shares. The exercise
price of incentive
stock
options
granted pursuant to the Plan is not to be less than 100 percent of the fair
market value of the shares on the date of grant. In
general,
no option will be exercisable after ten
years
from the date granted. No stock options were granted during the three months
ended March 31, 2008 or 2007.
-
22
-
Information
regarding the Company’s stock
options
for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 is as follows. All of the stock options noted
below relate to options to purchase shares of the Company’s Class B common
stock.
Weighted
|
|||||||||||||
Average
|
|||||||||||||
Weighted
|
Remaining
|
Aggregate
|
|||||||||||
Average
|
Contractual
|
Intrinsic
|
|||||||||||
Options
|
Shares
|
Exercise
Price
|
Term
|
Value
(000's)
|
|||||||||
Outstanding
at January 1, 2008
|
70,000
|
$
|
28.42
|
||||||||||
Granted
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Exercised
|
(2,500
|
)
|
18.89
|
||||||||||
Forfeited
or expired
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Outstanding
at March 31, 2008
|
67,500
|
$
|
28.78
|
1.55
years
|
$
|
130
|
|||||||
Exercisable
at March 31, 2008
|
34,000
|
$
|
27.29
|
1.02
years
|
$
|
130
|
During
the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 the Company received less than
$0.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively, from the exercise of stock options
and realized minimal tax benefits during the three months ended March 31, 2008
and $0.1 million in tax benefits during the three months ended March 31, 2007.
The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007 was less than $0.1 million and $0.3 million,
respectively. Stock compensation expense applicable to stock options was minimal
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and was approximately $0.1 million
for
the three months ended March 31, 2007.
A
summary
of the status of the Company's nonvested shares as of December 31, 2007 and
changes during the three months ended March 31, 2008 is presented
below:
Weighted-Average
|
|||||||
Grant-Date
|
|||||||
Nonvested
Shares
|
Shares
|
Fair Value
|
|||||
Nonvested
at December 31, 2007
|
33,500
|
$
|
30.28
|
||||
Granted
|
-
|
||||||
Vested
|
-
|
||||||
Forfeited
|
-
|
||||||
Nonvested
at March 31, 2008
|
33,500
|
$
|
30.28
|
At
March
31, 2008, there was less than $0.1 million of total unrecognized cost related
to
nonvested incentive stock options arrangements under the Program.
The
cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.75 months.
Currently, the Company believes that substantially all options will vest.
-
23
-
Restricted
Stock Awards
The
Company provides common stock awards to certain officers and key employees.
The
Company grants these awards, at its discretion, from the shares available under
the Program.
Unless otherwise provided at the date of grant or unless subsequently
accelerated, the
shares
awarded are earned in 25% increments on the second,
third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the award,
respectively, and are distributed provided the employee has remained employed
by
the Company through such anniversary dates; otherwise the unearned shares are
forfeited. The market value of these shares at the date of award is recorded
as
compensation expense on the straight-line method over the five year
periods from the respective award dates, as adjusted for forfeitures of unvested
awards. No common stock awards were granted by the Company during the three
months ended March 31, 2008 or 2007. In connection with awards granted in prior
years, the Company recorded pre-tax compensation expense of $0.2 million and
$0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
A
summary
of the activity under the Restricted Stock Awards Plan as of March 31, 2008
is
presented below:
Weighted
|
||||||||||
Weighted
|
Average
|
|||||||||
Average
|
Remaining
|
|||||||||
Restricted
Stock
|
Award
|
Contractual
|
||||||||
Awards
|
Shares
|
Price
|
Term
|
|||||||
Outstanding
at January 1, 2008
|
195,400
|
$
|
35.31
|
3.43
years
|
||||||
Granted
|
-
|
|||||||||
Vested
|
-
|
|||||||||
Forfeited
|
(3,850
|
)
|
$
|
33.98
|
||||||
Outstanding
at March 31, 2008
|
191,550
|
$
|
35.33
|
3.18
years
|
As
of
March 31, 2008, there was $4.6 million of total pre-tax unrecognized
compensation cost included within additional paid-in-capital related to
non-vested stock based compensation arrangements granted under the restricted
stock award plan; that cost is expected to be recognized over a period of 4.1
years. The
Company's policy is to issue new shares to satisfy Restricted Stock Awards
and
incentive stock option exercises. In calculating the stock-based compensation
expense related to stock awards, the Company has estimated that 5% of the
outstanding unvested stock awards will forfeit each year related to employee
attrition.
-
24
-
10.
COMMON STOCK
During
2000, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the purchase of up to
ten
percent of the Company’s outstanding common shares. As of March 31, 2008, the
Company had purchased and retired 23,600 Class B common shares at a cost of
approximately $0.8 million and had purchased and retired 172,240 Class A common
shares at a cost of approximately $6.1 million. No shares of Class B common
stock were repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 12,207
shares of Class A common stock were repurchased during the three months ended
March 31, 2008 at a cost of $0.4 million.
There
are
no contractual restrictions on the Company's ability to pay dividends provided
the Company is not in default immediately before such payment and after giving
effect to such payment. On February 1, 2008, the Company paid a $0.07 per share
dividend to all shareholders of record of Class B Common Stock in the total
amount of $0.6 million and a $0.06 per share dividend to all shareholders of
record of Class A Common Stock in the total amount of $0.2 million.
11.
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Comprehensive
income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 consists of the
following (dollars in thousands):
Three Months Ended
|
|||||||
March 31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Net
earnings
|
$
|
2,167
|
$
|
4,009
|
|||
Currency
translation adjustment
|
719
|
358
|
|||||
Increase
(decrease) in unrealized
|
|||||||
gain
on marketable securities
|
|||||||
-
net of taxes
|
2,894
|
4,296
|
|||||
Comprehensive
income
|
$
|
5,780
|
$
|
8,663
|
12.
SALE
OF PROPERTY
During
May 2007, the Company sold a parcel of land located in Jersey City, New Jersey
for $6.0 million. The Company had previously estimated that approximately $0.8
million of the proceeds would be payable to the State of New Jersey, as a
portion of the property is subject to tideland claims. In December 2007, the
Tidelands Resource Council voted to approve the Bureau of Tideland’s
Management’s recommendation for a Statement of No Interest. On March 14, 2008,
the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection signed a letter
to approve the Statement of No Interest. As final approval of the Statement
of
No Interest is still pending, the Company has continued to defer the estimated
gain on sale of the land, in the amount of $4.6 million. Of the $6.0 million
sales price, the Company received cash of $1.5 million before closing costs,
and
$4.6 million (including interest) is being held in escrow pending final
resolution of the State of New Jersey tideland claim and certain environmental
costs the Company is liable for in the maximum amount of $0.4 million. The
Company anticipates resolution of this sale, release of the escrow and
corresponding guarantees and recognition of the gain by the end of fiscal 2008.
As the timing of the release of the escrow of $4.6 million is not under the
Company’s control, it has been classified in non-current assets as restricted
cash and the deferred gain of $4.6 million has been classified in deferred
gain
on the sale of property in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March
31, 2008.
-
25
-
13. NEW
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS
No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines
fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally
accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value
measurements. SFAS 157 was effective for the Company’s financial assets and
liabilities on January 1, 2008. The FASB approved a one-year deferral of the
adoption of SFAS 157 as it relates to non-financial assets and liabilities
with the issuance in February 2008 of FASB Staff Position FAS 157-2,“Effective
Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, as a result of which implementation by the
Company is now required on January 1, 2009. The partial adoption of
SFAS 157 in the quarter ended March 31, 2008 had no material impact on
the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company,
but
resulted in certain additional disclosures reflected in Note 2.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159 (“SFAS 159”) “The Fair Value Option
for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”, providing companies with an
option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The
Standard’s objective is to reduce both complexity in accounting for financial
instruments and the volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets
and liabilities differently. It also requires entities to display the fair
value
of those assets and liabilities for which the Company has chosen to use fair
value on the face of the balance sheet. The adoption of SFAS 159 on January
1,
2008 did not impact the Company’s condensed consolidated financial
statements.
In
June
2007, the FASB issued EITF Issue No. 07-3, "Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance
Payments for Goods or Services Received for Use in Future Research and
Development Activities". The Task Force concluded that nonrefundable advance
payments for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research
and development activities should be deferred and capitalized. Such amounts
should be recognized as an expense as the related goods are delivered or the
services are performed, or when the goods or services are no longer expected
to
be provided. The
adoption of the guidance under EITF Issue No. 07-3 on January 1, 2008 did not
impact the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141(R), which replaces SFAS 141 “Business
Combinations”. This Statement is intended to improve the relevance, completeness
and representational faithfulness of the information provided in financial
reports about the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in a business
combination. This Statement requires an acquirer to recognize the assets
acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the
acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at their fair values as of that
date,
with limited exceptions specified in the Statement. Under SFAS 141(R),
acquisition-related costs, including restructuring costs, must be recognized
separately from the acquisition and will generally be expensed as incurred.
That
replaces SFAS 141’s cost-allocation process, which required the cost of an
acquisition to be allocated to the individual assets acquired and liabilities
assumed based on their estimated fair values. SFAS 141(R) shall be applied
prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on
or
after the beginning of the first annual report period beginning on or after
December 15, 2008. The Company will implement this Statement in
2009.
-
26
-
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS No.
160”). SFAS No. 160 amends Accounting Research Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 51 to
establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling (minority)
interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It
clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership
interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the
Consolidated Financial Statements. SFAS No. 160 also requires consolidated
net
income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both
the parent and the noncontrolling interest on the face of the consolidated
statement of income. Under SFAS No. 160, the accounting for changes in a
parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in
deconsolidation must be accounted for as equity transactions for the difference
between the parent’s carrying value and the cash exchanged in the transaction.
In addition, SFAS No. 160 also requires that a parent recognize a gain or loss
in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated (except in the case of a
spin-off), and requires expanded disclosure in the Consolidated Financial
Statements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the
parent’s ownership interest and the interests of the noncontrolling owners of a
subsidiary. This Statement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods
within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company
will adopt SFAS No. 160 on January 1, 2009, as required, and is currently
evaluating the impact of such adoption on its financial statements.
In
March
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities”, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS No.
161”). The new standard is intended to improve financial reporting about
derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures
to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s financial
position, financial performance and cash flows. It is effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November
15, 2008. The Company does not believe that SFAS No. 161 will have a material
impact on its financial statements.
14. LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
The
Company is a defendant in a lawsuit captioned Synqor, Inc. v. Artesyn
Technologies, Inc., Astec America, Inc., Emerson Network Power, Inc., Emerson
Electric Co., Bel Fuse Inc., Cherokee International Corp., Delta Electronics,
Inc., Delta Products Corp., Murata Electronics North America, Inc., Murata
Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Power-One, Inc., Tyco Electronics Corp. and Tyco
Electronics Ltd. brought in the United States District Court, Eastern District
of Texas in November 2007. With respect to its claims against the Company,
the
Plaintiff claims that the Company infringed its patents covering certain power
products. Synqor is seeking unspecified damages against the Company. The Company
filed an Answer to Synqor’s complaint, denying the allegations of infringement
and asserting invalidity of the patents.
-
27
-
The
Company is a defendant in a lawsuit captioned Halo Electronics, Inc. (“Halo”) v.
Bel Fuse Inc., Pulse Engineering, Inc. and Technitrol, Inc. brought in Nevada
Federal District Court. Plaintiff claims that the Company has infringed its
patents covering certain surface mount discrete magnetic products made by the
Company. Halo is seeking unspecified damages, which it claims should be trebled.
In December 2007, this case was dismissed by the Nevada Federal District Court
for lack of personal jurisdiction. Halo then re-filed this suit in the Northern
California Federal District Court, captioned Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Bel
Fuse
Inc., Elec & Eltek (USA) Corporation, Wurth Electronics Midcom, Inc., and
Xfmrs, Inc.
The
Company is a plaintiff in a lawsuit captioned Bel Fuse Inc. v. Halo Electronics,
Inc. brought in the United States District Court of New Jersey during May 2007.
The Company claims that Halo has infringed a patent covering certain integrated
connector modules made by Halo. The Company is seeking unspecified damages
plus
interest, costs and attorney fees.
The
Company and two of its officers were defendants in a wrongful termination
lawsuit brought in the District Court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany by a former
employee at a foreign subsidiary of the Company. During July 2007, this lawsuit
was settled for approximately $0.5 million. The Company had provided for this
liability in its financial statements prior to the settlement.
The
Company is a plaintiff in a lawsuit captioned Bel Fuse Inc. and Bel Power,
Inc.
v. Andrew Ferencz, Gregory Zvonar, Bernhard Schroter, EE2GO, Inc., Howard E.
Kaepplein and William Ng, brought in the Superior Court of the Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts. The Company was granted injunctive relief and is seeking damages
against the former stockholders of Galaxy Power, Inc., key employees of Galaxy
and a corporation formed by some or all of the individual defendants. The
Company has alleged that the defendants violated their written non-competition,
non-disclosure and non-solicitation agreements, diverted business and usurped
substantial business opportunities with key customers, misappropriated
confidential information and trade secrets, and harmed the Company’s business.
In
a
related matter, the Company is a defendant in a lawsuit captioned Robert
Chimielnski, P.C. on behalf of the stockholder representatives and the former
stockholders of Galaxy Power, Inc. v. Bel Fuse Inc. et al. brought in the
Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This complaint for damages
and injunctive relief is based on an alleged breach of contract and other
allegedly illegal acts in a corporate context arising out of the Company’s
objection to the release of nearly $2.0 million held in escrow under the terms
of the stock purchase agreement between Galaxy and the Company.
The
Company is a defendant in a lawsuit captioned Murata Manufacturing Company,
Ltd.
v. Bel Fuse Inc. et al, brought in the United States District Court, Northern
District of Illinois. Plaintiff claims that its patent covers all of the
Company's modular jack products. That party had previously advised the Company
that it was willing to grant a non-exclusive license to the Company under the
patent for a 3% royalty on all future gross sales of ICM products; payment
of a
lump sum of 3% of past sales including sales of applicable Insilco products;
an
annual minimum royalty of $0.5 million; payment of all attorney fees; and
marking of all licensed ICM's with the third party's patent number. The Company
is also a defendant in a lawsuit, captioned Regal Electronics, Inc. v. Bel
Fuse
Inc., brought in California Federal District Court. Plaintiff claims that its
patent covers certain of the Company's modular jack products. That party had
previously advised the Company that it was willing to grant a non-transferable
license to the Company for an up-front fee of $0.5 million plus a 6% royalty
on
future sales. The District Court has granted summary judgment in the Company's
favor dismissing Regal Electronics' infringement claims, while at the same
time
dismissing the Company's invalidity counterclaim against Regal Electronics.
Regal has appealed the Court's rejection of its infringement claims to the
U.S.
Court of Appeals. The case was heard on February 6, 2007 and the U.S. Court
of
Appeals upheld the District Court’s ruling in favor of the Company.
-
28
-
The
Company cannot predict the outcome of the unresolved matters; however,
management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not
have
a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition or results
of operations. As of March 31, 2008, no amounts have been accrued in connection
with these lawsuits, as the amounts are not determinable.
The
Company is not a party to any other legal proceeding, the adverse outcome of
which is likely
to
have a
material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition or
results of operations.
15. ACCUMULATED
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The
components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of March 31,
2008
and December 31, 2007 are summarized below (dollars in thousands):
March 31,
|
December 31,
|
||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
$
|
2,820
|
$
|
2,101
|
|||
Unrealized
holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale
|
|||||||
securities
under SFAS No. 115, net of taxes of
|
|||||||
$985
and $(789) as of March 31, 2008 and December 31,
2007
|
1,603
|
(1,291
|
)
|
||||
Unfunded
SERP liability, net of taxes of ($483)
|
|||||||
as
of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007
|
(1,154
|
)
|
(1,154
|
)
|
|||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income (loss)
|
$
|
3,269
|
$
|
(344
|
)
|
-
29
-
Item
2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
The
Company’s quarterly and annual operating results are affected by a wide variety
of factors that could materially and adversely affect revenues and
profitability, including the risk factors described in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. As a result of these
and other factors, the Company may experience material fluctuations in future
operating results on a quarterly or annual basis, which could materially and
adversely affect its business, financial condition, operating results, and
stock
prices. Furthermore, this document and other documents filed by the Company
with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) contain certain
forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of
1995 (“Forward-Looking Statements”) with respect to the business of the Company.
These Forward-Looking Statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties,
including those detailed in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from these Forward-Looking Statements. The Company undertakes no
obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these
Forward-Looking Statements which may be necessary to reflect events or
circumstances after the date such statements are made or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events. An investment in the Company involves
various risks, including those which are detailed from time to time in the
Company’s SEC filings.
Overview
Bel
is a
leading producer of electronic products that help make global connectivity
a
reality. The Company designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of
magnetics, modules, circuit protection devices and interconnect products. While
these products are deployed primarily in the computer, networking and
telecommunication industries, Bel’s expanding portfolio of products also finds
application in the automotive, medical and consumer electronics markets. Bel's
products are designed to protect, regulate, connect, isolate or manage a variety
of electronic circuits.
The
Company’s revenues are primarily driven by the designs of its products for
customer applications and by working closely with its customers’ engineering
staffs and aligning them with industry standards committees and various
integrated circuit (IC) manufacturers.
The
Company’s expenses are driven principally by the cost of labor where Bel’s
factories are located and the cost of the materials that it uses. Since
the
conclusion of Chinese New Year holiday in early February, the Company hired
approximately 3,500 employees to meet a 40% increase in its Magnetics product
backlog. The Company will need to hire an additional 1,500 workers to bring
its
backlog down to normal lead times. As a result of the considerable number of
new
hires, the Company experienced a significant reduction in productivity levels
while new workers became familiar with our methods of production. In addition,
People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) officials announced an increase in wage rates
to be effective April 1, 2008 in the areas where our products are manufactured.
In order to attract new workers, and encourage existing workers to return to
work after returning home for the Chinese New Year, the Company needed to effect
an early implementation of those higher wage rates during the first quarter
of
2008. Additionally, the U.S. dollar continued to fall in value against the
PRC
yuan in which all PRC factory workers are paid. With
regard to material costs, the increasing cost of gold, copper, solder wire
and
tantalum capacitors have had a significant impact on the Company’s overall cost
of sales.
The
weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to the PRC yuan also exacerbated the
increase in material costs.
-
30
-
The
Company’s sales decreased by $0.9 million or 1.5% during the three months ended
March 31, 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. The decrease in sales
is
primarily due to a decrease in the Company’s ICM sales of $5.8 million from the
first quarter of 2007 to the first quarter of 2008 as a result of the production
inefficiencies in the PRC referred to above, which inhibited the Company’s
ability to ship product and resulted in an increase in backlog. These factors
were offset in part by an increase in power products revenue by $3.8 million
and
an increase in interconnect products revenue by $1.0 million during the first
quarter of 2008 as compared with the same period in 2007. Certain of the power
products went into production at the end of the first quarter of 2007, as
compared to a full quarter of revenue stream associated with these new products
in 2008.
Gross
profit margins were lower during the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared
to the same period in 2007 by $2.7 million. Approximately $1.6 million of this
decrease in margin relates to increased labor costs associated with Bel’s ICM
revenue. As a percentage of revenue, the labor costs on this product line
increased from 16.7% during the first quarter of 2007 to 25.3% during the first
quarter of 2008. In addition, sales of the Company’s power products increased by
$3.8 million in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the first quarter
of
2007. While
these products are strategic to Bel’s growth and important to total earnings,
they return lower gross profit percentage margins as a larger percentage of
their bills of material are purchased components. As these sales continue to
increase, the Company’s average gross profit percentage will likely decrease
unless offset by increased sales of higher margin products. Other product lines
have also experienced a reduction in margin as a result of the increasing cost
of materials such as gold, copper, solder wire and tantalum
capacitors.
Critical
Accounting Policies
The
Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of
operations are based upon the Company’s condensed consolidated financial
statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these
financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that
affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses,
and
related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis,
the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to product returns,
bad debts, inventories, intangible assets, investments, SERP expense, income
taxes and contingencies and litigation. The Company bases its estimates on
historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to
be
reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for
making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are
not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these
estimates under different assumptions or conditions. For a discussion of the
Company’s critical accounting policies, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K for 2007.
-
31
-
Results
of Operations
The
following table sets forth, for the periods presented, the percentage
relationship to net sales of certain items included in the Company’s condensed
consolidated statements of operations.
Percentage of Net Sales
|
|||||||
Three Months Ended
|
|||||||
March 31,
|
|||||||
2008
|
2007
|
||||||
Net
sales
|
100.0
|
%
|
100.0
|
%
|
|||
Cost
of sales
|
81.5
|
77.5
|
|||||
Selling,
general and
|
|||||||
administrative
expenses
|
14.7
|
15.3
|
|||||
Realized
loss/impairment charge on
|
|||||||
investment
|
(0.5
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Interest
income, net of interest
|
|||||||
and
financing expense
|
1.5
|
1.1
|
|||||
Earnings
before provision
|
|||||||
for
income taxes
|
4.8
|
8.3
|
|||||
Income
tax provision
|
1.3
|
1.8
|
|||||
Net
earnings
|
3.6
|
6.5
|
The
following table sets forth the year over year percentage increase or decrease
of
certain items included in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of
operations.
Increase (decrease) from
|
||||
Prior Period
|
||||
Three Months Ended
|
||||
March 31, 2008
|
||||
Compared with
|
||||
Three Months Ended
|
||||
March 31, 2007
|
||||
Net
sales
|
(1.5)
|
%
|
||
Cost
of sales
|
3.6
|
|||
Selling,
general and
|
||||
administrative
expenses
|
(5.8
|
)
|
||
Net
earnings
|
(45.9
|
)
|
-
32
-
THREE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008 VERSUS
THREE
MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2007
Sales
Net
sales
decreased 1.5% from $61.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2007
to $60.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2008. The Company
attributes the decrease to a decrease in magnetic sales of $6.6 million, and
a
decrease in circuit protection sales of $0.3 million offset in part by an
increase in module sales of $5.1 million and an increase in interconnect sales
of $0.9 million. The decrease in magnetic sales is primarily due to a decrease
in the Company’s ICM sales of $5.8 million from the first quarter of 2007 to the
first quarter of 2008 as a result of production inefficiencies in the PRC
referred to above. The partially offsetting increase in module sales includes
$3.8 million of additional power products revenue during the first quarter
of
2008 as compared with the same period in 2007. Certain of the power products
went into production at the end of the first quarter of 2007, as compared to
a
full quarter of revenue stream associated with these new products in 2008.
The
increase in module sales was constrained by production inefficiencies associated
with increased demand.
The
significant components of the Company's revenues for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 were magnetic products of $25.0 million (as compared with $31.6
million during the three months ended March 31, 2007), interconnect products
of
$12.0 million (as compared with $11.1 million during the three months ended
March 31, 2007), module products of $19.9 million (as compared with $14.8
million during the three months ended March 31, 2007), and circuit protection
products of $4.0 million (as compared with $4.3 million during the three months
ended March 31, 2007).
Cost
of Sales
Cost
of
sales as a percentage of net sales increased from 77.5% during the three months
ended March 31, 2007 to 81.5% during the three months ended March 31, 2008.
The
increase in the cost of sales percentage is primarily attributable to the
following:
¨ |
The
Company is currently paying higher wage rates and benefits to its
production workers in China. These higher rates and benefits are
reflected
in the Company’s cost of sales and result from new labor regulations and a
continuing tightening of the labor market. In addition, the foreign
exchange impact of the weakened U.S. dollar has contributed to the
rising
cost of labor in China.
|
¨ |
The
Company incurred a 2.4% increase in material costs as a percentage
of net
sales. The increase in raw material costs is principally related
to
increased costs for raw materials such as gold, copper, solder wire
and
tantalum capacitors. In addition, the shift in product mix has lead
to
increased manufacturing of value-added products, which have a higher
raw
material content than the Company’s other products. Since the majority of
the manufacturing is conducted in Asia, the increased material costs
negatively impact the Company’s operating profits in
Asia.
|
-
33
-
¨ |
Sales
of the Company’s DC-DC power products have increased. While these products
are strategic to Bel’s growth and important to total earnings, they return
lower gross profit percentage margins as a larger percentage of their
bills of materials are purchased components. As these sales continue
to
increase, the Company’s average gross profit percentage will likely
decrease.
|
¨ |
These
increases in cost of sales were partially offset by a reversal of
$0.4
million of a warranty accrual established during 2007 for a defective
part, as actual returns were lower than anticipated.
|
Included
in cost of sales are research and development expenses of $2.0 million and
$1.7
million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
Selling,
General and Administrative Expenses
The
percentage relationship of selling, general and administrative expenses to
net
sales decreased from 15.3% during the three months ended March 31, 2007 to
14.7%
during the three months ended March 31, 2008. The decrease in the dollar amount
of selling, general and administrative expense for the three months ended March
31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007 was approximately
$0.6 million. The dollar decrease is principally attributed to the
following:
¨
|
Legal
and professional fees decreased by $0.5 million from the first quarter
of
2007 principally due to the implementation of an internal audit and
SOX
function which reduced audit and external consultant fees
significantly.
|
¨
|
Other
general and administrative costs decreased by $0.3 million during
the
first quarter of 2008 as compared to the first quarter of 2007. The
Company did not accrue any additional discretionary bonuses during
the
first quarter of 2008 as a result of lower profitability this quarter.
In
addition, the Company recorded a $0.1 million reduction of stock-based
compensation expense related to forfeitures of the restricted stock
awards. There were additional reductions in other general and
administrative costs that were not individually
significant.
|
Offsetting
these factors in part, bad debt expense increased by $0.2 million during the
first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period of 2007. This increase
resulted from a specific reserve on a large account in Germany that was recorded
during the first quarter of 2008.
Interest
Income
Interest
income earned on cash and cash equivalents increased by approximately $0.1
million during the three months ended March 31, 2008, as compared to the
comparable period in 2007. The increase is due primarily to increased average
balances of cash and cash equivalent balances, partially offset by lower
interest rates earned on invested balances.
-
34
-
Realized
Loss/Impairment Charge on Investment
During
the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company recorded an
other-than-temporary impairment charge of $0.3 million related to its investment
in the Columbia Strategic Cash Portfolio. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources”
for further discussion.
Provision
for Income Taxes
The
provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $0.8
million compared to a $1.1 million provision for the three months ended March
31, 2007. The Company's earnings before income taxes for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 are approximately $2.2 million lower than the same period in
2007. The Company’s effective tax rate, the income tax provision as a percentage
of earnings before provision for income taxes, was 26.1% and 22.1% for the
three
months ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007, respectively. The increase
is
principally related to an increase in the provision related to the State of
New
Jersey tax assessment in the amount of $0.2 million during the quarter ended
March 31, 2008 and higher U.S. taxable income to total pretax income during
the
quarter ended March 31, 2008 compared with March 31, 2007.
Inflation
and Foreign Currency Exchange
During
the past two years, the effect of inflation on the Company's profitability
was
not material. Historically, fluctuations of the U.S. Dollar against other major
currencies have not significantly affected the Company's foreign operations
as
most sales have been denominated in U.S. Dollars or currencies directly or
indirectly linked to the U.S. Dollar. Most significant expenses, including
raw
materials, labor and manufacturing expenses, are either incurred in U.S. Dollars
or the currencies of the Hong Kong Dollar, the Macao Pataca or the Chinese
Renminbi.
However, the Chinese Renminbi has appreciated in value significantly
(approximately 7.6%) during the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same
period of 2007.
Further
appreciation of the Renminbi would result in the Company’s incurring higher
costs for all expenses incurred in the PRC. Commencing with the Company’s
acquisition of its Passive Components Group in 2005, the Company's European
entity has sales transactions which are denominated principally in Euros and
British Pounds.
Conversion of these transactions into U.S. dollars has resulted in unrealized
exchange gains of $0.7 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended
March
31, 2008 and March 31, 2007, respectively, relating
to the translation of foreign subsidiary financial statements which are included
in accumulated other comprehensive income. Realized currency gains (losses)
during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007 were not
material. Any change in the linkage of the U.S. Dollar and the Hong Kong Dollar
or the Macao Pataca could have a material effect on the Company's consolidated
financial position or results of operations.
-
35
-
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Historically,
the Company has financed its capital expenditures primarily through cash flows
from operating activities
and has
financed acquisitions both through cash flows from operating activities and
borrowings.
Management believes that the cash flow from operations after payments of
dividends combined with its existing capital base and the Company's available
lines of credit, will be sufficient to fund its operations for at least the
next
twelve months. Such statement constitutes a Forward Looking Statement. Factors
which could cause the Company to require additional capital include, among
other
things, a softening in the demand for the Company’s existing products, an
inability to respond to customer demand for new products, potential acquisitions
requiring substantial capital, future expansion of the Company's operations
and
net losses that would result in net cash being used in operating, investing
and/or financing activities which result in net decreases in cash and cash
equivalents. Net losses may result in the loss of domestic and foreign credit
facilities and preclude the Company from raising debt or equity financing in
the
capital markets
on
affordable terms or otherwise.
During
February 2007, the Company entered into a new unsecured credit agreement in
the
amount of $20 million, which expires on July 21, 2008. There was no balance
outstanding as of March 31, 2008. At that date, the entire $20 million line
of
credit was available to the Company to borrow. The loan bears interest at LIBOR
plus 0.75% to 1.25% based on certain financial statement ratios maintained
by
the Company.
The
Company's Hong Kong subsidiary had an unsecured line of credit of approximately
$2 million,
which
was unused at March 31, 2008. The
line
of credit expires during July 2008. Borrowing on the line of credit was
guaranteed by the U.S. parent. The line of credit bears interest at a rate
determined by the bank as the financing is extended.
For
information regarding further commitments under the Company's operating leases,
see Note 15 of Notes to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements in
the
Company's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
During
May 2007, the Company sold a parcel of land located in Jersey City, New Jersey
for $6.0 million. The Company had previously estimated that approximately $0.8
million of the proceeds would be payable to the State of New Jersey as a portion
of the property is subject to tideland claims. In December 2007, the Tidelands
Resource Council voted to approve the Bureau of Tideland’s Management’s
recommendation for a Statement of No Interest. On March 14, 2008, the
Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection signed a letter
to
approve the Statement of No Interest. As final approval of the Statement of
No
Interest is still pending, the Company has continued to defer the estimated
gain
on sale of the land, in the amount of $4.6 million. Of the $6.0 million sales
price, the Company received cash of $1.5 million before closing costs, and
$4.6
million (including interest) is being held in escrow pending final resolution
of
the State of New Jersey tideland claim and certain environmental costs the
Company is liable for in the maximum amount of $0.4 million. The Company
anticipates resolution of this sale, release of the escrow and corresponding
guarantees and recognition of the gain by the end of fiscal 2008. As the timing
of the release of the escrow of $4.6 million is not under the Company’s control,
it has been classified in non-current assets as restricted cash and the deferred
gain of $4.6 million has been classified in deferred gain on the sale of
property in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2008.
-
36
-
At
March
31, 2008, the Company has an investment consisting of a private placement of
units of beneficial interest in the Columbia Strategic Cash Portfolio (the
“Columbia Portfolio”), which is an enhanced cash fund sold as an alternative to
money-market funds. Since June 2007, the Company has invested a portion of
its
cash balances on hand in this fund. During the second and third quarters of
2007, the amounts were appropriately classified as cash equivalents in the
consolidated balance sheet, as the fund was considered both short-term and
highly liquid in nature. These investments are subject to credit, liquidity,
market and interest rate risk. For example, the Columbia Portfolio includes
investments in certain asset backed securities and structured investment
vehicles that are collateralized by sub-prime mortgage securities or related
to
mortgage securities, among other assets. As a result of adverse market
conditions that have unfavorably affected the fair value and liquidity
availability of collateral underlying the Columbia Portfolio, the Columbia
Portfolio was overwhelmed with withdrawal requests from investors and it was
closed with a restriction placed upon the cash redemption ability of its holders
in the fourth quarter of 2007. At
that
time, the Company had $25.7 million invested in this fund, including $0.7
million of reinvested interest. As
such,
the Company redesignated the Columbia Portfolio units from cash equivalents
to
short-term investments or long-term investments based upon the liquidation
schedule provided by the fund.
The
Company deemed a portion of its carrying value in the Columbia Portfolio to
be
other-than-temporarily impaired at December 31, 2007. Accordingly, the Company
wrote down the carrying value of the investments to their then current market
value at December 31, 2007 and the reduction in value of $0.3 million was
recorded as an impairment charge during the fourth quarter of 2007. The net
asset value of these investments continued to decline throughout the first
quarter to an NAV of $.9701 at March 31, 2008 and, accordingly, the Company
recorded an additional impairment charge of $0.3 million during the first
quarter of 2008. This is included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated
Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008. As of March
31, 2008, the Company has received total cash redemptions to-date of $10.1
million (including $7.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2008) at
a
weighted-average net asset value of $.9863 per unit. The additional realized
losses associated with these redemptions were minimal. Information and the
markets relating to these investments remain dynamic, and there may be further
declines in the value of these investments, the value of the collateral held
by
these entities, and the liquidity of the Company’s investments. To the extent
that the Company determines that there is a further decline in fair value,
the
Company may recognize additional impairment charges in future periods up to
the
aggregate amount of these investments.
-
37
-
As
of
March 31, 2008, the Company owned a total of 1,840,919 shares, or approximately
1.9%
of the
outstanding shares,
of the
common stock of Toko, Inc. (“Toko”) at a total cost of $5.6 million. Toko had a
market capitalization of approximately $225.3 million as of March 31, 2008.
These shares are reflected on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance
sheets as marketable securities. These marketable securities are considered
to
be available for sale under SFAS No. 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in
Debt and Equity Securities”. Thus, as of March 31, 2008, the Company has
recorded an unrealized loss, net of income tax benefit, of approximately $0.9
million which is included in accumulated other comprehensive income in
stockholders’ equity. The Company’s investment in Toko has been in an unrealized
loss position for approximately twelve months. In accordance with FSP 115-1,
the
Company periodically reviews its marketable securities and determines whether
the investments are other-than-temporarily impaired. The Company reviewed
various factors in making its determination, including volatility of the Toko
share price over the last year, Toko’s recent financial results and the
Company’s intention and ability to hold the investment. The Toko share price has
been extremely volatile over the last year, ranging from $1.22 - $4.20 (the
Company’s cost basis in its remaining shares of Toko stock is $3.07 per share).
In the second quarter of 2007, a gain was recognized on the disposition of
a
majority of the Company’s holdings of Toko stock. In addition, the Company’s
unrealized loss, net of tax benefit, improved from $1.4 million at December
31,
2007 to $0.9 million at March 31, 2008, as the Toko share price increased from
$1.77 at December 31, 2007 to $2.31 at March 31, 2008. The Company has the
intention and the ability to hold the investment until it is in a gain position.
As a result of these factors, management believes that the investment in Toko
is
not other-than-temporarily impaired at March 31, 2008.
On
February 25, 2008, the Company announced that it had acquired 4,370,052 shares
of Power-One, Inc. (“Power-One”) common stock representing, to the Company’s
knowledge, 5% of Power-One’s outstanding common stock, at a total purchase price
of $10.1 million. Power-One’s common stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Global
Market. Power-One is a designer and manufacturer of power conversion and power
management products. As
of
March 31, 2008, the Company has recorded an unrealized gain, net of income
tax,
of approximately $2.4 million which is included in accumulated other
comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity.
During
2000, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the purchase of up to
ten
percent of the Company’s outstanding common shares. As of March 31, 2008, the
Company had purchased and retired 23,600 Class B common shares at a cost of
approximately $0.8 million and had purchased and retired 172,240 Class A common
shares at a cost of approximately $6.1 million. No shares of Class B common
stock were repurchased during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 12,207
shares of Class A common stock were repurchased during the three months ended
March 31, 2008 at a cost of $0.4 million.
During
the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company's cash and cash equivalents
increased by $5.0 million, reflecting approximately $10.0 million provided
by
operating activities (principally as a result of net income of $2.2 million,
depreciation and amortization expense of $1.8 million and a $5.8 million
increase in operating assets and liabilities), $7.8 million from the partial
redemption of the Columbia Portfolio offset, in part, by $10.1 million used
for
purchases of marketable securities, $1.7 million for the purchase of property,
plant and equipment, $0.4 million for the repurchase of the Company’s common
stock and $0.8 million for payments of dividends.
Cash
and
cash equivalents, marketable securities, short-term investments and accounts
receivable comprised approximately 52.4% and 52.7%
of the
Company's total assets at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.
The Company's current ratio (i.e., the ratio of current assets to current
liabilities) was 6.4 to 1 and 5.5 to 1 at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007,
respectively.
-
38
-
The
following table sets forth at March 31, 2008 the amounts of payments due under
specific types of contractual obligations, aggregated by category of contractual
obligation, for the time periods described below. This table excludes
liabilities recorded relative to uncertain income tax positions under FIN 48,
amounting to $2.2 million included in income taxes payable and $7.2 million
included in liability for uncertain tax positions, as of March 31, 2008, due
to
the uncertain timing of the resolution of such matters.
Payments due by period
|
||||||||||||||||
Contractual Obligations
|
Total
|
Less than 1
year
|
1-3
years
|
3-5
years
|
More than
5 years
|
|||||||||||
Capital
expenditure obligations
|
$
|
1,964
|
$
|
1,964
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
-
|
||||||
Operating
leases
|
4,595
|
1,369
|
1,743
|
1,181
|
302
|
|||||||||||
Raw
material purchase obligations
|
26,727
|
26,727
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Total
|
$
|
33,286
|
$
|
30,060
|
$
|
1,743
|
$
|
1,181
|
$
|
302
|
The
Company is required to pay SERP obligations at the occurrence of certain events.
As of March 31, 2008, the SERP had an unfunded benefit obligation of
approximately $1.2 million, net of deferred income tax benefit. The gross
minimum pension obligation and unfunded benefit obligation in the amount of
$4.7
million is included in long-term liabilities as an unfunded pension obligation
on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. Included in other assets
at March 31, 2008 are marketable securities with an estimated value of $4.7
million, which have been designated by the Company to be utilized to fund the
Company’s SERP obligations.
New
Financial Accounting Standards
In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS
No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”). SFAS 157 defines
fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally
accepted accounting principles and expands disclosures about fair value
measurements. SFAS 157 was effective for the Company’s financial assets and
liabilities on January 1, 2008. The FASB approved a one-year deferral of the
adoption of SFAS 157 as it relates to non-financial assets and liabilities
with the issuance in February 2008 of FASB Staff Position FAS 157-2, “Effective
Date of FASB Statement No. 157”, as a result of which implementation by the
Company is now required on January 1, 2009. The partial adoption of
SFAS 157 in the quarter ended March 31, 2008 had no material impact on
the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company,
but
resulted in certain additional disclosures reflected in Note 2 to the
Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(“SFAS”) No. 159 (“SFAS 159”) “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and
Financial Liabilities”, providing companies with an option to report selected
financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The Standard’s objective is to
reduce both complexity in accounting for financial instruments and the
volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities
differently. It also requires entities to display the fair value of those assets
and liabilities for which the Company has chosen to use fair value on the face
of the balance sheet. The adoption of SFAS 159 on January 1, 2008 did not impact
the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
-
39
-
In
June
2007, the FASB issued EITF Issue No. 07-3, "Accounting for Nonrefundable Advance
Payments for Goods or Services Received for Use in Future Research and
Development Activities". The Task Force concluded that nonrefundable advance
payments for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research
and development activities should be deferred and capitalized. Such amounts
should be recognized as an expense as the related goods are delivered or the
services are performed, or when the goods or services are no longer expected
to
be provided. The
adoption of the guidance under EITF Issue No. 07-3 on January 1, 2008 did not
impact the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141(R) (“SFAS 141(R)”), which replaces SFAS
141 “Business Combinations”. This Statement is intended to improve the
relevance, completeness and representational faithfulness of the information
provided in financial reports about the assets acquired and the liabilities
assumed in a business combination. This Statement requires an acquirer to
recognize the assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling
interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date, measured at their fair values
as of that date, with limited exceptions specified in the Statement. Under
SFAS
141(R), acquisition-related costs, including restructuring costs, must be
recognized separately from the acquisition and will generally be expensed as
incurred. That replaces SFAS 141’s cost-allocation process, which required the
cost of an acquisition to be allocated to the individual assets acquired and
liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. SFAS 141(R) shall
be
applied prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date
is
on or after the beginning of the first annual report period beginning on or
after December 15, 2008. The Company will implement this Statement in
2009.
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in
Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS No.
160”). SFAS No. 160 amends Accounting Research Bulletin (“ARB”) No. 51 to
establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling (minority)
interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It
clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership
interest in the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the
Consolidated Financial Statements. SFAS No. 160 also requires consolidated
net
income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both
the parent and the noncontrolling interest on the face of the consolidated
statement of income. Under SFAS No. 160, the accounting for changes in a
parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in
deconsolidation must be accounted for as equity transactions for the difference
between the parent’s carrying value and the cash exchanged in the transaction.
In addition, SFAS No. 160 also requires that a parent recognize a gain or loss
in net income when a subsidiary is deconsolidated (except in the case of a
spin-off), and requires expanded disclosure in the Consolidated Financial
Statements that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the
parent’s ownership interest and the interests of the noncontrolling owners of a
subsidiary. This Statement is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods
within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The Company
will adopt SFAS No. 160 on January 1, 2009, as required, and is currently
evaluating the impact of such adoption on its financial statements.
-
40
-
In
March
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities”, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS No.
161”). The new standard is intended to improve financial reporting about
derivative instruments and hedging activities by requiring enhanced disclosures
to enable investors to better understand their effects on an entity’s financial
position, financial performance and cash flows. It is effective for financial
statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November
15, 2008. The Company does not believe that SFAS No. 161 will have a material
impact on its financial statements.
-
41
-
Item
3.
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments — The estimated fair values of financial
instruments have been determined by the Company using available market
information and appropriate valuation methodologies.
The
Company has not entered into, and does not expect to enter into, financial
instruments for trading or hedging purposes. The Company does not currently
anticipate entering into interest rate swaps and/or similar
instruments.
The
Company's carrying values of cash, marketable securities, accounts receivable,
accounts payable and accrued expenses are a reasonable approximation of their
fair value. At
March
31, 2008, two of the Company’s investments - the Company’s investment in Toko
stock and the Company’s investment in the Columbia Strategic Cash Portfolio (the
“Columbia Portfolio”) - have been subject to recent market declines and if this
trend continues, it could have a negative impact on the Company’s results of
operations. If the per share fair market value of the remaining 1.8 million
shares of Toko stock were to decrease by $0.23 per share (10% of the March
31,
2008 Toko stock price), this would result in an additional unrealized loss
of
$0.4 million. This investment has been in a loss position since April 2007.
While the Company has the ability and intent to hold the stock for an indefinite
period of time, if the stock price does not regain a positive position within
the next three months, this investment may be deemed other-than-temporarily
impaired. This would result in recognition of a realized loss on the Toko
investment (the associated pre-tax unrealized loss at March 31, 2008 is $1.4
million). The Company’s investment in the Columbia Portfolio has also been
sensitive to the recent market decline. In December 2007, the Company was
notified that its $25.7 million investment in the Columbia Portfolio was being
liquidated and that the fund was converting from a fixed net asset value (“NAV”)
to a floating NAV, which resulted in the Company’s recording a $0.3 million
impairment charge during the year ended December 31, 2007 and an additional
impairment charge of $0.3 million was recorded in the three months ended March
31, 2008. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Company’s Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements. As of March 31, 2008, the Company has a total of $15.0
million invested in the Columbia Portfolio. If the NAV were to decline by $0.10
per unit (10% of the NAV of $0.9701 at March 31, 2008), the net impact to the
Company’s results of operations and cash flows would be a decrease of income
before provision for income taxes and cash flows from operating activities
of
approximately $1.5 million.
The
Company enters into transactions denominated in U.S. Dollars, Hong Kong Dollars,
the Macao Pataca, the Chinese Renminbi, Euros, British Pounds and the Czech
Koruna. Fluctuations in the U.S. dollar exchange rate against these currencies
could significantly impact the Company's consolidated results of
operations.
The
Company believes that a change in interest rates of 1% or 2% would not have
a
material effect on the Company's condensed consolidated statement of operations
or balance sheet.
-
42
-
Item
4.
Controls
and Procedures
a)
|
Disclosure
controls and procedures.
As of the end of the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter
covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, with
the
participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s chief
executive officer and vice president of finance, of the effectiveness
of
the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Securities
Exchange Act Rule 13a-15. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s chief
executive officer and vice president of finance concluded that the
Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring
that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports
that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified
in
the SEC’s rules and forms.
|
b.)
|
Changes
in internal controls over financial reporting:
There have been no changes in the Company's internal controls over
financial reporting that occurred during the Company's last fiscal
quarter
to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are
reasonable likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting.
|
PART
II.
Other Information
Item
1. Legal
Proceedings
The
Company is a defendant in a lawsuit captioned Synqor, Inc. v. Artesyn
Technologies, Inc., Astec America, Inc., Emerson Network Power, Inc., Emerson
Electric Co., Bel Fuse Inc., Cherokee International Corp., Delta Electronics,
Inc., Delta Products Corp., Murata Electronics North America, Inc., Murata
Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Power-One, Inc., Tyco Electronics Corp. and Tyco
Electronics Ltd. brought in the United States District Court, Eastern District
of Texas in November 2007. With respect to its claims against the Company,
the
plaintiff claims that the Company infringed its patents covering certain power
products. Synqor is seeking unspecified damages against the Company. The Company
filed an Answer to Synqor’s complaint, denying the allegations of infringement
and asserting invalidity of the patents.
The
Company is a defendant in a lawsuit captioned Halo Electronics, Inc. (“Halo”) v.
Bel Fuse Inc., Pulse Engineering, Inc. and Technitrol, Inc. brought in Nevada
Federal District Court. Plaintiff claims that the Company has infringed its
patents covering certain surface mount discrete magnetic products made by the
Company. Halo is seeking unspecified damages, which it claims should be trebled.
In December 2007, this case was dismissed by the Nevada Federal District Court
for lack of personal jurisdiction. Halo then re-filed this suit in the Northern
California Federal District Court, captioned Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Bel
Fuse
Inc., Elec & Eltek (USA) Corporation, Wurth Electronics Midcom, Inc., and
Xfmrs, Inc.
The
Company is a plaintiff in a lawsuit captioned Bel Fuse Inc. v. Halo Electronics,
Inc. brought in the United States District Court of New Jersey during May 2007.
The Company claims that Halo has infringed a patent covering certain integrated
connector modules made by Halo. The Company is seeking unspecified damages
plus
interest, costs and attorney fees.
The
Company and two of its officers were defendants in a wrongful termination
lawsuit brought in the District Court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany by a former
employee at a foreign subsidiary of the Company. During July 2007, this lawsuit
was settled for approximately $0.5 million. The Company had provided for this
liability in its financial statements prior to the settlement.
-
43
-
The
Company is a plaintiff in a lawsuit captioned Bel Fuse Inc. and Bel Power,
Inc.
v. Andrew Ferencz, Gregory Zvonar, Bernhard Schroter, EE2GO, Inc., Howard E.
Kaepplein and William Ng, brought in the Superior Court of the Commonwealth
of
Massachusetts. The Company was granted injunctive relief and is seeking damages
against the former stockholders of Galaxy Power, Inc., key employees of Galaxy
and a corporation formed by some or all of the individual defendants. The
Company has alleged that the defendants violated their written non-competition,
non-disclosure and non-solicitation agreements, diverted business and usurped
substantial business opportunities with key customers, misappropriated
confidential information and trade secrets, and harmed the Company’s business.
In
a
related matter, the Company is a defendant in a lawsuit captioned Robert
Chimielnski, P.C. on behalf of the stockholder representatives and the former
stockholders of Galaxy Power, Inc. v. Bel Fuse Inc. et al. brought in the
Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This complaint for damages
and injunctive relief is based on an alleged breach of contract and other
allegedly illegal acts in a corporate context arising out of the Company’s
objection to the release of nearly $2.0 million held in escrow under the terms
of the stock purchase agreement between Galaxy and the Company.
The
Company is a defendant in a lawsuit captioned Murata Manufacturing Company,
Ltd.
v. Bel Fuse Inc. et al, brought in the United States District Court, Northern
District of Illinois. Plaintiff claims that its patent covers all of the
Company's modular jack products. That party had previously advised the Company
that it was willing to grant a non-exclusive license to the Company under the
patent for a 3% royalty on all future gross sales of ICM products; payment
of a
lump sum of 3% of past sales including sales of applicable Insilco products;
an
annual minimum royalty of $0.5 million; payment of all attorney fees; and
marking of all licensed ICM's with the third party's patent number. The Company
is also a defendant in a lawsuit, captioned Regal Electronics, Inc. v. Bel
Fuse
Inc., brought in California Federal District Court. Plaintiff claims that its
patent covers certain of the Company's modular jack products. That party had
previously advised the Company that it was willing to grant a non-transferable
license to the Company for an up-front fee of $0.5 million plus a 6% royalty
on
future sales. The District Court has granted summary judgment in the Company's
favor dismissing Regal Electronics' infringement claims, while at the same
time
dismissing the Company's invalidity counterclaim against Regal Electronics.
Regal has appealed the Court's rejection of its infringement claims to the
U.S.
Court of Appeals. The case was heard on February 6, 2007 and the U.S. Court
of
Appeals upheld the District Court’s ruling in favor of the Company.
The
Company cannot predict the outcome of the unresolved matters; however,
management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not
have
a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition or results
of operations. As of March 31, 2008, no amounts have been accrued in connection
with these lawsuits, as the amounts are not determinable.
The
Company is not a party to any other legal proceeding, the adverse outcome of
which is likely
to
have a
material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition or
results of operations.
-
44
-
Item
2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
The
following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company's purchase
of shares of its Class A Common Stock during each calendar month in the quarter
ended March 31, 2008:
Period
|
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
|
Average
Price Paid
per Share
|
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs
|
Maximum Number
of Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plan
|
|||||||||
January
1 - January 31, 2008
|
12,207
|
$
|
32.10
|
12,207
|
80,809
|
||||||||
February
1 - February 29, 2008
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
80,809
|
|||||||||
March
1 - March 31, 2008
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
80,809
|
|||||||||
Total
|
12,207
|
$
|
32.10
|
12,207
|
80,809
|
As
of
March 31, 2008, the Company had cumulatively purchased and retired 23,600 shares
of the Company’s Class B Common Stock. No shares of Class B common stock were
repurchased during the quarter ended March 31, 2008. The maximum number of
shares of Class B common stock that may yet be purchased under the plan as
of
January 31, 2008, February 29, 2008 and March 31, 2008 were 907,094, 907,094
and
907,169, respectively.
-
45
-
Item
6.
Exhibits
(a)
Exhibits:
31.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
|
31.2
|
Certification
of the Vice President of Finance pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.1
|
Certification
of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes
-
Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.2 |
Certification
of the Vice-President of Finance pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
-
46
-
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.
BEL
FUSE INC.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/Daniel
Bernstein
|
||
Daniel
Bernstein, President and
|
|||
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Colin Dunn
|
||
Colin
Dunn, Vice President of Finance
|
Dated:
May 9, 2008
-
47
-
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
31.1 - Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302
of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit
31.2 - Certification of the Vice President of Finance pursuant to Section 302
of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit
32.1 - Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906
of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit
32.2 - Certification of the Vice President of Finance pursuant to Section 906
of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
-
48
-