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BEL FUSE INC /NJ - Quarter Report: 2019 June (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 June 30, 2019
or
[    ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from ___________ to ____________

Commission File No. 0-11676
_____________________

BEL FUSE INC.
206 Van Vorst Street
Jersey City, NJ  07302
(201) 432-0463

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NEW JERSEY
 
22-1463699
(State of incorporation)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X]
No [   ]
     
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes [X]
No [   ]
     
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated 
filer [    ]
Accelerated 
filer [X]
Non-accelerated 
filer [    ]
Smaller reporting 
company [X]
Emerging growth
company [    ]
   
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
[   ]
 
 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
 
 Trading Symbol
 
Name of Exchange on Which Registered
Class A Common Stock ($0.10 par value)
   BELFA
 
Nasdaq Global Select Market
Class B Common Stock ($0.10 par value)
   BELFB  
Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes [   ]
 No [X]



Title of Each Class
 
Number of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding
 as of August 1, 2019
Class A Common Stock ($0.10 par value)
 
2,174,912
Class B Common Stock ($0.10 par value)
  10,141,602


BEL FUSE INC.
       
INDEX
       
     
Page
Part I
 
Financial Information
 
       
 
Item 1.
2
       
     
   
2
       
     
   
3
       
     
   
4
       
     
   
5
       
     
   
7
       
   
8 - 18
       
 
Item 2.
 
   
19 - 25
       
 
Item 3.
 
   
25
       
 
Item 4.
25
       
Part II
 
Other Information
 
       
 
Item 1.
25
       
 
Item 1A.
25
       
 
Item 6.
26
       
   
27

Return to Index

CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

The terms the “Company,” “Bel,” “we,” “us,” and “our” as used in this report refer to Bel Fuse Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise specified.

The Company’s consolidated 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 Item 1A of our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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, consolidated financial condition, operating results, and common stock prices.  Furthermore, this document and other documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“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.  Forward-Looking Statements are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Forward-Looking Statements can be identified by such words as “anticipates,” “believes,” “plan,” “assumes,” “could,” “should,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “potential,” “seek,” “predict,” “may,” “will” and similar references to future periods.  All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are Forward-Looking Statements.  These Forward-Looking Statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in Item 1A of our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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 hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.  Any Forward-Looking Statement made by the Company is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made.


1

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PART I.  Financial Information

Item 1.  Financial Statements (Unaudited)
BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
(unaudited)
 
             
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2019
   
2018
 
ASSETS
           
Current Assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
58,395
   
$
53,911
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,694
               
 and $1,638, respectively
   
84,248
     
91,939
 
Inventories
   
118,209
     
120,068
 
Unbilled receivables
   
11,470
     
15,799
 
Other current assets
   
9,090
     
8,792
 
    Total current assets
   
281,412
     
290,509
 
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
42,344
     
43,932
 
Right-of-use assets
   
17,885
     
-
 
Intangible assets, net
   
59,476
     
62,689
 
Goodwill
   
20,017
     
19,817
 
Deferred income taxes
   
1,194
     
496
 
Other assets
   
27,347
     
26,081
 
    Total assets
 
$
449,675
   
$
443,524
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
 
$
42,764
   
$
56,171
 
Accrued expenses
   
30,092
     
32,290
 
Current portion of long-term debt
   
3,997
     
2,508
 
Operating lease liability, current
   
6,238
     
-
 
Other current liabilities
   
4,060
     
15,061
 
    Total current liabilities
   
87,151
     
106,030
 
                 
Long-term Liabilities:
               
Long-term debt
   
108,960
     
111,705
 
Operating lease liability, long-term
   
12,121
     
-
 
Liability for uncertain tax positions
   
28,379
     
27,553
 
Minimum pension obligation and unfunded pension liability
   
19,126
     
18,683
 
Deferred income taxes
   
1,061
     
1,161
 
Other liabilities
   
12,601
     
1,922
 
    Total liabilities
   
269,399
     
267,054
 
                 
Commitments and contingencies
               
                 
Stockholders' Equity:
               
Preferred stock, no par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued
   
-
     
-
 
Class A common stock, par value $.10 per share, 10,000,000 shares
               
    authorized; 2,174,912 shares outstanding at each date (net of
               
    1,072,769 treasury shares)
   
217
     
217
 
Class B common stock, par value $.10 per share, 30,000,000 shares
               
     authorized; shares outstanding: 10,141,602 in 2019 and 10,092,352
               
     in 2018 (net of 3,218,307 treasury shares)
   
1,014
     
1,009
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
32,983
     
31,387
 
Retained earnings
   
171,583
     
168,695
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
   
(25,521
)
   
(24,838
)
    Total stockholders' equity
   
180,276
     
176,470
 
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
449,675
   
$
443,524
 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

2

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BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
(unaudited)
 
 
                       
  
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
 
                       
Net sales
 
$
127,416
   
$
140,710
   
$
252,805
   
$
258,961
 
Cost of sales
   
107,532
     
111,696
     
209,361
     
208,814
 
Gross profit
   
19,884
     
29,014
     
43,444
     
50,147
 
 
                               
Selling, general and administrative expenses
   
18,764
     
18,306
     
38,564
     
38,998
 
Gain on sale of property
   
(4,257
)
   
-
     
(4,257
)
   
-
 
Restructuring charges
   
424
     
41
     
1,370
     
45
 
Income from operations
   
4,953
     
10,667
     
7,767
     
11,104
 
 
                               
Interest expense
   
(1,381
)
   
(1,349
)
   
(2,820
)
   
(2,527
)
Interest income and other, net
   
(184
)
   
(285
)
   
(389
)
   
(521
)
Earnings before provision for income taxes
   
3,388
     
9,033
     
4,558
     
8,056
 
 
                               
Provision for income taxes
   
421
     
2,399
     
460
     
2,724
 
Net earnings available to common stockholders
 
$
2,967
   
$
6,634
   
$
4,098
   
$
5,332
 
 
                               
 
                               
Net earnings per common share:
                               
Class A common share - basic and diluted
 
$
0.23
   
$
0.52
   
$
0.31
   
$
0.41
 
Class B common share - basic and diluted
 
$
0.24
   
$
0.56
   
$
0.34
   
$
0.45
 
 
                               
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:
                               
Class A common share - basic and diluted
   
2,175
     
2,175
     
2,175
     
2,175
 
Class B common share - basic and diluted
   
10,112
     
9,844
     
10,100
     
9,850
 
 
                               
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

3

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BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
(unaudited)
 
 
                       
  
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
 
                       
Net earnings available to common stockholders
 
$
2,967
   
$
6,634
   
$
4,098
   
$
5,332
 
 
                               
Other comprehensive income (loss):
                               
Currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of $16 in the three months
                               
   ended June 30, 2019, $37 in the three months ended June 30, 2018, ($1) in
                               
   the six months ended June 30, 2019 and $12 in the six months ended
                               
    June 30, 2018
   
(834
)
   
(7,448
)
   
(294
)
   
(3,431
)
Unrealized losses on marketable securities arising during the period,
                               
net of taxes of $0 in the three months ended June 30, 2019, $0 in the
                               
three months ended June 30, 2018, $0 in the six months ended June 30,
                               
2019 and ($20) in the six months ended June 30, 2018
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
(31
)
Change in unfunded SERP liability, net of taxes of $11 in the three months
                               
ended June 30, 2019, $25 in the three months ended June 30, 2018, $22 in
                               
the six months ended June 30, 2019 and $51 in the six months ended
                               
 June 30, 2018
   
37
     
85
     
74
     
171
 
Other comprehensive loss
   
(797
)
   
(7,363
)
   
(220
)
   
(3,291
)
 
                               
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
2,170
   
$
(729
)
 
$
3,878
   
$
2,041
 
 
                               
 
                               
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

4

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BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
(in thousands)
 
 (unaudited)  

                                   
                                     
               
Accumulated
                   
               
Other
   
Class A
   
Class B
   
Additional
 
         
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
Common
   
Common
   
Paid-In
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Total
   
Earnings
   
(Loss) Income
   
Stock
   
Stock
   
Capital
 
                                     
Balance at March 31, 2019
 
$
178,153
   
$
169,451
   
$
(24,724
)
 
$
217
   
$
1,008
   
$
32,201
 
Net earnings
   
2,967
     
2,967
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Dividends declared:
                                               
Class A Common Stock, $0.06/share
   
(131
)
   
(131
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Class B Common Stock, $0.07/share
   
(704
)
   
(704
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Issuance of restricted common stock
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
7
     
(7
)
Forfeiture of restricted common stock
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(1
)
   
1
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of $16
   
(834
)
   
-
     
(834
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Stock-based compensation expense
   
788
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
788
 
Change in unfunded SERP liability, net of taxes of ($11)
   
37
     
-
     
37
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
                                                 
Balance at June 30, 2019
   
180,276
     
171,583
     
(25,521
)
   
217
     
1,014
     
32,983
 
                                                 
                                                 
                   
Accumulated
                         
                   
Other
   
Class A
   
Class B
   
Additional
 
           
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
Common
   
Common
   
Paid-In
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
Total
   
Earnings
   
(Loss) Income
   
Stock
   
Stock
   
Capital
 
                                                 
                                                 
Balance at March 31, 2018
 
$
164,175
   
$
149,171
   
$
(15,553
)
 
$
217
   
$
985
   
$
29,355
 
Net loss
   
6,634
     
6,634
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Dividends declared:
                                               
Class A Common Stock, $0.06/share
   
(131
)
   
(131
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Class B Common Stock, $0.07/share
   
(689
)
   
(689
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Forfeiture of restricted common stock
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(1
)
   
1
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of $37
   
(7,448
)
   
-
     
(7,448
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Stock-based compensation expense
   
671
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
671
 
Change in unfunded SERP liability, net of taxes of ($25)
   
85
     
-
     
85
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
                                                 
Balance at June 30, 2018
 
$
163,297
   
$
154,985
   
$
(22,916
)
 
$
217
   
$
984
   
$
30,027
 
                                                 
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

5

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BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
(in thousands)
 
(unaudited)
 
 
                                   
 
             
Accumulated
                   
 
             
Other
   
Class A
   
Class B
   
Additional
 
 
       
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
Common
   
Common
   
Paid-In
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Total
   
Earnings
   
(Loss) Income
   
Stock
   
Stock
   
Capital
 
                                     
Balance at December 31, 2018
 
$
176,470
   
$
168,695
   
$
(24,838
)
 
$
217
   
$
1,009
   
$
31,387
 
Net earnings
   
4,098
     
4,098
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Dividends declared:
                                               
Class A Common Stock, $0.12/share
   
(261
)
   
(261
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Class B Common Stock, $0.14/share
   
(1,412
)
   
(1,412
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Issuance of restricted common stock
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
7
     
(7
)
Forfeiture of restricted common stock
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(2
)
   
2
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of ($1)
   
(294
)
   
-
     
(294
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Stock-based compensation expense
   
1,601
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1,601
 
Change in unfunded SERP liability, net of taxes of ($22)
   
74
     
-
     
74
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Effect of adoption of ASU 2018-02 (Topic 220)
   
-
     
463
     
(463
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
 
                                               
Balance at June 30, 2019
   
180,276
     
171,583
     
(25,521
)
   
217
     
1,014
     
32,983
 
 
                                               
 
                                               
 
                 
Accumulated
                         
 
                 
Other
   
Class A
   
Class B
   
Additional
 
 
         
Retained
   
Comprehensive
   
Common
   
Common
   
Paid-In
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
Total
   
Earnings
   
(Loss) Income
   
Stock
   
Stock
   
Capital
 
 
                                               
 
                                               
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
$
157,960
   
$
147,807
   
$
(19,625
)
 
$
217
   
$
986
   
$
28,575
 
Net earnings
   
5,332
     
5,332
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Dividends declared:
                                               
Class A Common Stock, $0.12/share
   
(261
)
   
(261
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Class B Common Stock, $0.14/share
   
(1,390
)
   
(1,390
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Forfeiture of restricted common stock
   
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
(2
)
   
2
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of $12
   
(3,431
)
   
-
     
(3,431
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Unrealized holding losses on marketable securities
                                               
  arising during the year, net of taxes of $20
   
(31
)
   
-
     
(31
)
   
-
     
-
     
-
 
Stock-based compensation expense
   
1,450
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
1,450
 
Change in unfunded SERP liability, net of taxes of ($51)
   
171
     
-
     
171
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
Effect of adoption of ASU 2014-09 (Topic 606)
   
3,497
     
3,497
     
-
     
-
     
-
     
-
 
 
                                               
Balance at June 30, 2018
 
$
163,297
   
$
154,985
   
$
(22,916
)
 
$
217
   
$
984
   
$
30,027
 
 
                                               
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
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BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
(unaudited)
 
  
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
 
 
           
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net earnings
 
$
4,098
   
$
5,332
 
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net
               
 cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
   
8,216
     
9,320
 
Stock-based compensation
   
1,601
     
1,450
 
Amortization of deferred financing costs
   
232
     
294
 
Deferred income taxes
   
(1,002
)
   
1,780
 
Net unrealized losses on foreign currency revaluation
   
123
     
(871
)
Gain on sale of property
   
(4,257
)
   
-
 
Other, net
   
1,316
     
613
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable, net
   
7,734
     
(10,541
)
Unbilled receivables
   
4,329
     
(1,051
)
Inventories
   
1,799
     
(10,629
)
Account payable
   
(13,350
)
   
12,082
 
Accrued expenses
   
(2,052
)
   
(1,251
)
Other operating assets/liabilities, net
   
(1,032
)
   
(5,286
)
      Net cash provided by operating activities
   
7,755
     
1,242
 
 
               
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
   
(5,329
)
   
(5,870
)
Proceeds from disposal/sale of property, plant and equipment
   
5,784
     
53
 
       Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
455
     
(5,817
)
 
               
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Dividends paid to common stockholders
   
(1,600
)
   
(1,589
)
Borrowings under revolving credit line
   
12,000
     
-
 
Repayments of revolving credit line
   
(12,000
)
   
-
 
Repayments of long-term debt
   
(1,487
)
   
(7,525
)
       Net cash used in financing activities
   
(3,087
)
   
(9,114
)
 
               
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
   
(639
)
   
65
 
 
               
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
   
4,484
     
(13,624
)
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period
   
53,911
     
69,354
 
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period
 
$
58,395
   
$
55,730
 
 
               
 
               
Supplementary information:
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
    Income taxes, net of refunds received
 
$
2,805
   
$
5,073
 
    Interest payment
 
$
2,533
   
$
2,260
 
 
               
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

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BEL FUSE INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods presented herein have been prepared by the Company and are unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented have been made.  The results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.  These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Bel Fuse Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

Certain information and footnote disclosures required under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted from the following condensed consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations, including the interim reporting requirements, of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and the disclosure of contingent amounts in our condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.  There were no significant changes to these accounting policies during the six months ended June 30, 2019, except as discussed in “Recently Adopted Accounting Standards” below.

All amounts included in the tables to these notes to condensed consolidated financial statements, except per share amounts, are in thousands.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) (“ASU 2016-02”), to provide a new comprehensive model for lease accounting.  Under this guidance, lessees and lessors should apply a “right-of-use” model in accounting for all leases (including subleases) and eliminate the concept of operating leases and off-balance sheet leases.  Recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses will depend on classification as a finance or operating lease. Similar modifications have been made to lessor accounting in-line with revenue recognition guidance. This guidance was effective for annual periods and interim periods within those annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018.  The amendments also require certain quantitative and qualitative disclosures about leasing arrangements.
 
The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 as amended effective January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective approach.  In connection with the adoption, we elected to utilize the Comparatives Under 840 Option whereby the Company will continue to present prior period financial statements and disclosures under ASC 840.  In addition, we elected the transition package of three practical expedients permitted within the standard, which eliminates the requirements to reassess prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs.  Further, we elected a short-term lease exception policy, permitting us to not apply the recognition requirements of this standard to short-term leases (i.e. leases with terms of 12 months or less) and an accounting policy to account for lease and non-lease components as a single component for certain classes of assets.  We implemented a new lease system to facilitate the requirements of the new standard and completed the necessary changes to our accounting policies, processes, disclosures and internal control over financial reporting.

Adoption of the new standard resulted in the recording of right-of-use assets in the amount of $20.7 million and lease liabilities related to our operating leases in the amount of $21.0 million on our consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2019.  The standard did not materially affect the Company’s consolidated net earnings or have any impact on cash flows.  See Note 12, Leases, for Topic 842 disclosures in connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-02.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  This guidance allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted on December 22, 2017.  This guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years and should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized.  This guidance was adopted by the Company effective January 1, 2019.  In accordance with this guidance, the Company reclassified $0.5 million of stranded tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings within the equity section of the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2019.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

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In May 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which simplifies the accounting for share-based payments granted to nonemployees for goods and services.  This guidance will better align the treatment of share-based payments to nonemployees with the requirements for such share-based payments granted to employees.  This guidance is effective for all public entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that year.  This guidance was adopted by the Company effective January 1, 2019 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.


Accounting Standards Issued But Not Yet Adopted

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”).  The new guidance will broaden the information that an entity must consider in developing its expected credit loss estimates related to its financial instruments and adds to U.S. GAAP an impairment model that is based on expected losses rather than incurred losses.  The amendment is currently effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted.  Management is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-13, but it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (“ASU 2017-04”). ASU 2017-04 simplifies how an entity is required to test goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Early adoption is permitted for interim and annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017.  The Company is required to adopt ASU 2017-04 for its annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and the guidance is to be applied on a prospective basis.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement.  The updated guidance improves the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements.  The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019.  Early adoption is permitted for any removed or modified disclosures.  The Company is currently assessing the timing and impact of adopting the updated provisions.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-14, Compensation-Retirement Benefits-Defined Benefit Plans-General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans (“ASU 2018-14”).  This guidance removes certain disclosures that are not considered cost beneficial, clarifies certain required disclosures and added additional disclosures.  The standard is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020.  The amendments in ASU 2018-14 would need to be applied on a retrospective basis.  The Company is currently assessing the impact the new guidance will have on its disclosures.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Cost.  This guidance aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software.  This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and early adoption is permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the impacts that adoption of this ASU will have on its consolidated financial statements.

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2.
REVENUE

The following table provides information about disaggregated revenue by product group and sales channel, and includes a reconciliation of the disaggregated revenue to our reportable segments:


 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
   
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
 
 
North
                     
North
                   
 
 
America
   
Asia
   
Europe
   
Consolidated
   
America
   
Asia
   
Europe
   
Consolidated
 
 
                                               
By Product Group:
                                               
Connectivity solutions
 
$
31,297
   
$
3,027
   
$
8,212
   
$
42,536
   
$
63,418
   
$
6,502
   
$
16,977
   
$
86,897
 
Magnetic solutions
   
9,638
     
29,168
     
2,046
     
40,852
     
18,583
     
56,258
     
4,267
     
79,108
 
Power solutions and protection
   
26,131
     
7,129
     
10,768
     
44,028
     
49,652
     
13,841
     
23,307
     
86,800
 
 
 
$
67,066
   
$
39,324
   
$
21,026
   
$
127,416
   
$
131,653
   
$
76,601
   
$
44,551
   
$
252,805
 
 
                                                               
By Sales Channel:
                                                               
Direct to customer
 
$
45,442
   
$
32,707
   
$
13,293
   
$
91,442
   
$
89,323
   
$
63,835
   
$
29,506
   
$
182,664
 
Through distribution
   
21,624
     
6,617
     
7,733
     
35,974
     
42,330
     
12,766
     
15,045
     
70,141
 
 
 
$
67,066
   
$
39,324
   
$
21,026
   
$
127,416
   
$
131,653
   
$
76,601
   
$
44,551
   
$
252,805
 
 
                                                               
 
                                                               
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
   
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
 
 
North
                           
North
                         
 
 
America
   
Asia
   
Europe
   
Consolidated
   
America
   
Asia
   
Europe
   
Consolidated
 
 
                                                               
By Product Group:
                                                               
Connectivity solutions
 
$
34,834
   
$
4,820
   
$
9,274
   
$
48,928
   
$
65,878
   
$
8,241
   
$
17,727
   
$
91,846
 
Magnetic solutions
   
10,158
     
32,844
     
2,546
     
45,548
     
18,209
     
60,669
     
4,898
     
83,776
 
Power solutions and protection
   
26,248
     
8,250
     
11,736
     
46,234
     
46,609
     
15,625
     
21,105
     
83,339
 
 
 
$
71,240
   
$
45,914
   
$
23,556
   
$
140,710
   
$
130,696
   
$
84,535
   
$
43,730
   
$
258,961
 
 
                                                               
By Sales Channel:
                                                               
Direct to customer
 
$
44,055
   
$
39,402
   
$
15,990
   
$
99,447
   
$
81,951
   
$
72,330
   
$
30,183
   
$
184,464
 
Through distribution
   
27,185
     
6,512
     
7,566
     
41,263
     
48,745
     
12,205
     
13,547
     
74,497
 
 
 
$
71,240
   
$
45,914
   
$
23,556
   
$
140,710
   
$
130,696
   
$
84,535
   
$
43,730
   
$
258,961
 
 
                                                               



The balances of the Company’s contract assets and contract liabilities at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are as follows:

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2019
   
2018
 
             
Contract assets - current (unbilled receivable)
 
$
11,470
   
$
15,799
 
Contract liabilities - current (deferred revenue)
 
$
1,763
   
$
1,036
 


The change in balance of our unbilled receivables from December 31, 2018 to June 30, 2019 primarily relates to a timing difference between the Company’s performance (i.e. when our product is shipped to a customer-controlled hub) and the point at which the Company can invoice the customer per the terms of the customer contract (i.e. when the customer pulls our product from the customer-controlled hub).

The aggregate amount of transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations that have not been satisfied as of June 30, 2019 related to contracts that exceed one year in duration amounted to $14.3 million, with expected contract expiration dates that range from 2020 - 2025. It is expected that 21% of this aggregate amount will be recognized in 2020, 54% will be recognized in 2021 and the remainder will be recognized in years beyond 2021.

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3.
EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net earnings per common share under the two-class method for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018:

  
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
 
                       
Numerator:
                       
Net earnings
 
$
2,967
   
$
6,634
   
$
4,098
   
$
5,332
 
Less dividends declared:
                               
     Class A
   
131
     
131
     
261
     
261
 
     Class B
   
704
     
689
     
1,412
     
1,390
 
Undistributed earnings
 
$
2,132
   
$
5,814
   
$
2,425
   
$
3,681
 
 
                               
Undistributed earnings allocation - basic and diluted:
                               
     Class A undistributed earnings
 
$
363
   
$
1,010
   
$
412
   
$
640
 
     Class B undistributed earnings
   
1,769
     
4,804
     
2,013
     
3,041
 
     Total undistributed earnings
 
$
2,132
   
$
5,814
   
$
2,425
   
$
3,681
 
 
                               
Net earnings allocation - basic and diluted:
                               
     Class A net earnings
 
$
494
   
$
1,141
   
$
673
   
$
901
 
     Class B net earnings
   
2,473
     
5,493
     
3,425
     
4,431
 
     Net earnings
 
$
2,967
   
$
6,634
   
$
4,098
   
$
5,332
 
 
                               
Denominator:
                               
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
                               
     Class A - basic and diluted
   
2,175
     
2,175
     
2,175
     
2,175
 
     Class B - basic and diluted
   
10,112
     
9,844
     
10,100
     
9,850
 
 
                               
Net earnings per share:
                               
     Class A - basic and diluted
 
$
0.23
   
$
0.52
   
$
0.31
   
$
0.41
 
     Class B - basic and diluted
 
$
0.24
   
$
0.56
   
$
0.34
   
$
0.45
 



4. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as 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 based upon the best use of the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Entities are required to use a fair value hierarchy which maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.  There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 – Observable inputs such as quoted market prices in active markets;

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs about which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

As of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, our available-for-sale securities primarily consisted of investments held in a rabbi trust which are intended to fund the Company’s Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) obligations.  These securities are measured at fair value using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) inputs and amounted to $1.3 million at June 30, 2019 and $1.4 million at December 31, 2018.  The Company does not have any financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis categorized as Level 3, and there were no transfers in or out of Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 during the six months ended June 30, 2019 or June 30, 2018.  There were no changes to the Company’s valuation techniques used to measure asset fair values on a recurring or nonrecurring basis during the six months ended June 30, 2019 or June 30, 2018.

There were no financial assets accounted for at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of June 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018.

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The Company has other financial instruments, such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued expenses, which are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis but are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature.  The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated using a discounted cash flow method based on interest rates that are currently available for debt issuances with similar terms and maturities.  At June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the estimated fair value of total debt was $118.5 million and $117.9 million, respectively, compared to a carrying amount of $113.0 million and $114.2 million, respectively.  The Company did not have any other financial liabilities within the scope of the fair value disclosure requirements as of June 30, 2019.

Nonfinancial assets and liabilities, such as goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets and long-lived assets, are accounted for at fair value on a nonrecurring basis.  These items are tested for impairment upon the occurrence of a triggering event or in the case of goodwill, on at least an annual basis. There were no triggering events that occurred during the six months ended June 30, 2019 that would warrant interim impairment testing.


5.  INVENTORIES

The components of inventories are as follows:

 
 
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
 
Raw materials
 
$
53,251
   
$
63,348
 
Work in progress
   
28,548
     
21,441
 
Finished goods
   
36,410
     
35,279
 
Inventories
 
$
118,209
   
$
120,068
 


6.
 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:

 
 
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
 
Land
 
$
1,433
   
$
2,251
 
Buildings and improvements
   
29,319
     
30,119
 
Machinery and equipment
   
129,386
     
126,747
 
Construction in progress
   
5,516
     
4,687
 
 
   
165,654
     
163,804
 
Accumulated depreciation
   
(123,310
)
   
(119,872
)
Property, plant and equipment, net
 
$
42,344
   
$
43,932
 


Depreciation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 was $2.5 million and $2.9 million, respectively.  Depreciation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 was $5.0 million and $6.1 million, respectively.  Depreciation expense related to our manufacturing facilities and equipment is included in cost of sales and depreciation expense associated with administrative facilities and office equipment is included in selling, general and administrative expense within the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

During the first quarter of 2019, the Company finalized its plans to transition its manufacturing and warehousing operations from its Inwood, New York facility to Bel’s existing facilities in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania and the Dominican Republic.  In connection with this transition, the Company had classified $1.5 million of property, plant and equipment as held for sale on its condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2019.  The sale of the Inwood, New York property was completed during the second quarter of 2019, resulting in net proceeds of $5.8 million.  The resulting gain on sale of $4.3 million (pre-tax) was recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019.

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7.
ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consist of the following:

 
 
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
 
Sales commissions
 
$
2,628
   
$
2,609
 
Subcontracting labor
   
1,276
     
1,550
 
Salaries, bonuses and related benefits
   
14,918
     
18,275
 
Warranty accrual
   
1,329
     
1,078
 
Other
   
9,941
     
8,778
 
 
 
$
30,092
   
$
32,290
 

The change in warranty accrual during the six months ended June 30, 2019 primarily related to repair costs incurred and adjustments to pre-existing warranties.  There were no new material warranty charges incurred during the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Restructuring Activities

Included within other accrued expenses in the table above are costs accrued related to the Company’s restructuring activities.  Activity and liability balances related to restructuring costs for the six months ended June 30, 2019 are as follows:

 
       
Six Months Ended
       
 
       
June 30, 2019
       
 
 
Liability at
         
Cash Payments
   
Liability at
 
 
 
December 31,
   
New
   
and Other
   
June 30,
 
 
 
2018
   
Charges
   
Settlements
   
2019
 
Severance costs
 
$
-
   
$
311
   
$
(244
)
 
$
67
 
Other restructuring costs
   
-
     
809
     
(107
)
   
702
 
     Total
 
$
-
   
$
1,120
   
$
(351
)
 
$
769
 

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company’s restructuring charges included $0.9 million of costs associated with the Company’s decision to transition manufacturing and warehousing operations from our Inwood, New York facility to other existing Bel facilities.  The balance of the restructuring charges related to the realignment of our R&D resources dedicated to our Power Solutions and Protection group and other restructuring activities in Asia.

8.
 DEBT

The Company has a Credit and Security Agreement with KeyBank National Association (as amended, the “CSA”).  The CSA consists of (i) a term loan, with outstanding borrowings of $114.5 million and $116.0 million at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively and (ii) a $75 million revolving credit facility (“Revolver”), with no outstanding borrowings at June 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018.  The CSA has a maturity date of December 11, 2022.  At June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the carrying value of the debt on the condensed consolidated balance sheet is reflected net of $1.5 million and $1.8 million, respectively, of deferred financing costs. During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company borrowed $12.0 million from its revolver, all of which was repaid by June 30, 2019.
The weighted-average interest rate in effect was 4.19% at June 30, 2019 and 4.31% at December 31, 2018 and consisted of LIBOR plus the Company’s credit spread, as determined per the terms of the CSA.  The Company incurred $1.4 million and $1.3 million of interest expense during the three months ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018, respectively, and $2.8 million and $2.5 million of interest expense during the six months ended June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018, respectively.
The CSA contains customary representations and warranties, covenants and events of default and financial covenants that measure (i) the ratio of the Company's total funded indebtedness, on a consolidated basis, to the amount of the Company’s consolidated EBITDA, as defined, (“Leverage Ratio”) and (ii) the ratio of the amount of the Company’s consolidated EBITDA to the Company’s consolidated fixed charges. If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the CSA would be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due thereunder and all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor.  At June 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants, including its most restrictive covenant, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.

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9.  INCOME TAXES

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 2015 and for state examinations before 2012.   Regarding foreign subsidiaries, the Company is no longer subject to examination by tax authorities for years before 2008 in Asia and generally 2011 in Europe.  The Company is currently under examination by the taxing authorities in Slovakia for the tax year 2014.

As a result of the expiration of the statutes 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 consolidated financial statements at June 30, 2019.  The Company’s liabilities for uncertain tax positions totaled $28.5 million and $28.9 million at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, of which $0.1 million and $1.4 million is included in other current liabilities at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.  These amounts, if recognized, would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate.  As of June 30, 2019, approximately $0.1 million of the Company’s liabilities for uncertain tax positions are expected to be resolved during 2019 by way of expiration of the related statute of limitations.

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 six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized $0.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively, in interest and penalties in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.  During the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized a benefit of $0.7 million and a benefit of $0.4 million, respectively, for the reversal of such interest and penalties, relating to the settlement of the liability for uncertain tax positions.  The Company has approximately $4.5 million and $3.8 million accrued for the payment of interest and penalties at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, which is included in both income taxes payable and liability for uncertain tax positions in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Company continues to monitor the impacts of the U.S. tax reform and supplementary guidance as it becomes available.  At December 31, 2018, the remaining balance of the deemed repatriation tax was included in other current liabilities on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet.  At June 30, 2019, the majority of the deemed repatriation tax is included in other long-term liabilities on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet due to clarification of an Internal Revenue Service notice received in December 2018.

10. RETIREMENT FUND AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN

The Company maintains the Bel Fuse Inc. Employees’ Savings Plan, a defined contribution plan that is intended to meet the applicable requirements for tax-qualification under sections 401(a) and (k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The expense for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 amounted to $0.3 million in both periods. The expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 amounted to $0.6 million in both periods. The Company’s matching contribution is made in the form of Bel Fuse Inc. Class A common stock. As of June 30, 2019, the plan owned 133,280 and 107,962 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.  The expense for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 amounted to $0.1 million in both periods. The expense for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 amounted to $0.2 million in both periods.  As of June 30, 2019, the plan owned 3,323 and 17,342 shares of Bel Fuse Inc. Class A and Class B common stock, respectively.

The Company maintains a SERP, which is designed to provide a limited group of key management and other key employees of the Company with supplemental retirement and death benefits.  As discussed in Note 3 above, the Company has investments in a rabbi trust which are intended to fund the obligations of the SERP.

The components of SERP expense are as follows:

 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Service cost
 
$
144
   
$
183
   
$
288
   
$
366
 
Interest cost
   
185
     
166
     
370
     
332
 
Net amortization
   
48
     
111
     
96
     
222
 
Net periodic benefit cost
 
$
377
   
$
460
   
$
754
   
$
920
 


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The service cost component of net benefit cost is presented within cost of sales or selling, general and administrative expense on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations, in accordance with where compensation cost for the related associate is reported.  All other components of net benefit cost, including interest cost and net amortization noted above, are presented within other income/expense, net in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The following amounts are recognized net of tax in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

 
 
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
 
Prior service cost
 
$
828
   
$
918
 
Net loss
   
1,971
     
1,977
 
 
 
$
2,799
   
$
2,895
 



11. ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

The components of accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018 are summarized below:

 
 
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
 
 
           
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of taxes of ($752) at
           
  June 30, 2019 and ($751) at December 31, 2018
 
$
(22,929
)
 
$
(22,635
)
Unrealized holding gains on available-for-sale securities, net of taxes of
               
  $0 at June 30, 2019 and $0 at December 31, 2018
   
12
     
12
 
Unfunded SERP liability, net of taxes of ($195) at June 30, 2019
               
  and ($680) at December 31, 2018
   
(2,604
)
   
(2,215
)
 
               
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
$
(25,521
)
 
$
(24,838
)


Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component during the six months ended June 30, 2019 are as follows.  All amounts are net of tax.

 
       
Unrealized Holding
       
 
     
 
 
Foreign Currency
   
Gains on
       
 
     
 
 
Translation
   
Available-for-
   
Unfunded
 
 
     
 
 
Adjustment
   
Sale Securities
   
SERP Liability
 
 
 
Total
 
 
                 
 
     
Balance at January 1, 2019
 
$
(22,635
)
 
$
12
   
$
(2,215
)
 
 
$
(24,838
)
     Other comprehensive income before reclassifications
   
(294
)
   
-
     
11
 
 
   
(283
)
     Amount reclassified from accumulated other
                       
 
       
          comprehensive loss
   
-
     
-
     
63
 
 (a)
   
63
 
     Net current period other comprehensive income
   
(294
)
   
-
     
74
 
 
   
(220
)
 
                       
 
       
Effect of adoption of ASU 2018-02 (Topic 220)
   
-
     
-
     
(463
)
 
   
(463
)
Balance at June 30, 2019
 
$
(22,929
)
 
$
12
   
$
(2,604
)
 
 
$
(25,521
)
 
                       
 
       
(a) This reclassification relates to the amortization of prior service costs and gains/losses associated with the Company's SERP Plan.
         
 
       
This expense is allocated between cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expense based upon the employment
         
 
       
      classification of the plan participants.
                       
 
       


12.   LEASES

The Company has operating leases for its facilities used for manufacturing, research and development, sales and administration.  There are also operating and finance leases related to manufacturing equipment, office equipment and vehicles.  These leases have remaining lease terms ranging from 1 year to 8 years.  Certain of the leases contain options to extend the term of the lease and certain of the leases contain options to terminate the lease within a specified period of time.  These options to extend or terminate a lease are included in the lease term only when it is reasonably likely that the Company will elect that option.  The Company is not a party to any material sublease arrangements.

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The components of lease expense, which are included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expense, based on the underlying use of the ROU asset, were as follows:


 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
   
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Amortization of ROU Assets - Finance Leases
 
$
33
   
$
67
 
Interest on Lease Liabilities - Finance Leases
   
12
     
25
 
Operating Lease Cost (Cost resulting from lease payments)
   
1,978
     
3,969
 
Short-term Lease Cost
   
31
     
100
 
Variable Lease Cost (Cost excluded from lease payments)
   
61
     
121
 
Sublease Income
   
-
     
-
 
    Total Lease Cost
 
$
2,115
   
$
4,282
 


Supplemental cash flow information related to leases are as follows:

 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measruement of lease liabilities:
     
Operating cash flows from operating leases
 
$
3,963
 
Operating cash flows from finance leases
   
25
 
Finance cash flows from finance leases
   
57
 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
       
Operating leases
   
21,396
 
Finance leases
   
-
 


Supplemental balance sheet information related to leases was as follows:

 
 
June 30, 2019
 
Operating Leases:
     
Operating lease right-of-use assets
 
$
17,885
 
Operating lease liability, current
   
6,238
 
Operating lease liability, long-term
   
12,121
 
Total operating lease liabilities
   
18,359
 
 
       
Finance Leases:
       
Property, plant and equipment, gross
 
$
894
 
Accumulated depreciation
   
(202
)
Property, plant and equipment, net
   
692
 
Other current liabilities
   
120
 
Other long-term liabilities
   
626
 
Total finance lease liabilities
 
$
746
 


 
 
June 30, 2019
 
Weighted-Average Remaining Lease Term:
     
Operating leases
 
3.65 years
 
Finance leases
 
5.82 years
 
 
     
Weighted-Average Discount Rate:
     
Operating leases
   
6.0
%
Finance leases
   
6.5
%

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Our discount rate is based on our incremental borrowing rate, as adjusted based on the geographic regions in which our leases assets are located.

Maturities of lease liabilities were as follows as of June 30, 2019:

Year Ending
 
Operating
   
Finance
 
June 30,
 
Leases
   
Leases
 
2020
 
$
7,204
   
$
164
 
2021
   
5,549
     
163
 
2022
   
4,206
     
163
 
2023
   
2,440
     
163
 
2024
   
422
     
163
 
Thereafter
   
305
     
67
 
Total undiscounted cash flows
   
20,126
     
883
 
Less imputed interest
   
(1,767
)
   
(137
)
Present value of lease liabilities
 
$
18,359
   
$
746
 




As of June 30, 2019, the Company did not have any additional operating or financing leases that have not yet commenced.


13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Proceedings

The Company is party to a number of legal actions and claims, none of which individually or in the aggregate, in the opinion of management, are expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations or financial position.

In connection with the acquisition of Power Solutions, there is an ongoing claim by the Arezzo Revenue Agency in Italy concerning certain tax matters related to what was then Power-One Asia Pacific Electronics Shenzhen Co. Ltd. (now Bel Power Solutions Asia Pacific Electronics Shenzhen Co. Ltd, or “BPS China”) for the years 2004 to 2006.  In September 2012, the Tax Court of Arezzo ruled in favor of BPS China and cancelled the claim.  In February 2013, the Arezzo Revenue Agency filed an appeal of the Tax Court’s ruling. The hearing of the appeal was held on October 2, 2014.  On October 13, 2014, BPS China was informed of the Regional Tax Commission of Florence ruling which was in favor of the Arezzo Revenue Agency and against BPS China.  An appeal was filed on July 18, 2015 before the Regional Tax Commission of Florence and rejected.  On December 5, 2016, the Arezzo Revenue Agency filed an appeal with the Supreme Court and BPS China filed a counter-appeal on January 4, 2017.   The Supreme Court has yet to render its judgment.  The estimated liability related to this matter is approximately $12.0 million and has been included as a liability for uncertain tax positions on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.  As Bel is fully indemnified in this matter per the terms of the stock purchase agreement with ABB, a corresponding other asset for indemnification is also included in other assets on the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018.

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.
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14.  SEGMENTS

The Company operates in one industry with three reportable operating segments, which are geographic in nature.  The segments consist of North America, Asia and Europe.  The primary criteria by which financial performance is evaluated and resources are allocated are net sales and income from operations.  The following is a summary of key financial data:

 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Net Sales to External Customers:
                       
    North America
 
$
67,066
   
$
71,240
   
$
131,653
   
$
130,696
 
    Asia
   
39,324
     
45,914
     
76,601
     
84,535
 
    Europe
   
21,026
     
23,556
     
44,551
     
43,730
 
 
 
$
127,416
   
$
140,710
   
$
252,805
   
$
258,961
 
 
                               
Net Sales:
                               
North America
 
$
69,450
   
$
74,602
   
$
136,923
   
$
137,173
 
Asia
   
63,062
     
70,005
     
125,372
     
126,144
 
Europe
   
25,734
     
27,630
     
52,598
     
51,942
 
Less intercompany net sales
   
(30,830
)
   
(31,527
)
   
(62,088
)
   
(56,298
)
 
 
$
127,416
   
$
140,710
   
$
252,805
   
$
258,961
 
 
                               
Income from Operations:
                               
North America
 
$
2,373
   
$
2,963
   
$
1,880
   
$
2,661
 
Asia
   
270
     
5,319
     
1,283
     
5,234
 
Europe
   
2,310
     
2,385
     
4,604
     
3,209
 
 
 
$
4,953
   
$
10,667
   
$
7,767
   
$
11,104
 


Net Sales – Segment net sales are attributed to individual segments based on the geographic source of the billing for such customer sales.  Intercompany sales include finished products manufactured in foreign countries which are then transferred to the United States and Europe for sale; finished goods manufactured in the United States which are transferred to Europe and Asia for sale; and semi-finished components manufactured in the United States which are sold to Asia for further processing.

Income (loss) from operations represents net sales less operating costs and expenses and does not include any amounts related to intercompany transactions.


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Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The information in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes set forth in Item 1 of Part I of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, our MD&A set forth in Item 7 of Part II of our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K and our consolidated financial statements and related notes set forth in Item 8 of Part II of our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” below and “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information,” above, and the information referenced therein, for a description of risks that we face and important factors that we believe could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. All amounts and percentages are approximate due to rounding and all dollars in the text are in millions, except per share amounts or where otherwise noted. When we cross-reference to a “Note,” we are referring to our “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements,” unless the context indicates otherwise.  All amounts noted within the tables are in thousands and amounts and percentages are approximate due to rounding.


Overview

Our Company

We design, manufacture and market a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits.  These products are primarily used in the networking, telecommunications, computing, military, aerospace, transportation and broadcasting industries.  Bel’s portfolio of products also finds application in the automotive, medical and consumer electronics markets.

We operate through three geographic segments:  North America, Asia and Europe.  In the six months ended June 30, 2019, 52% of the Company’s revenues were derived from North America, 30% from Asia and 18% from its Europe operating segment.  By product group, 35% of sales for the six months ended June 30, 2019 related to the Company’s connectivity solutions products, 34% in power solutions and protection products and 31% in magnetic solutions products.

Our operating expenses are driven principally by the cost of labor where the factories that Bel uses are located, the cost of the materials that we use and our ability to effectively and efficiently manage overhead costs.  As labor and material costs vary by product line and region, any significant shift in product mix can have an associated impact on our costs of sales.  Costs are recorded as incurred for all products manufactured.  Such amounts are determined based upon the estimated stage of production and include labor cost and fringes and related allocations of factory overhead. Our products are manufactured at various facilities in the U.S., Mexico, Dominican Republic, England, Czech Republic, Slovakia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

We have little visibility into the ordering habits of our customers and we can be subjected to large and unpredictable variations in demand for our products.  Accordingly, we must continually recruit and train new workers to replace those lost to attrition and be able to address peaks in demand that may occur from time to time.  These recruiting and training efforts and related inefficiencies, and overtime required in order to meet any increase in demand, can add volatility to the labor costs incurred by us.

Key Factors Affecting our Business

The Company believes the key factors affecting Bel’s results for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and/or future results include the following:

·
Revenues – The Company’s revenues decreased by $6.2 million (or 2.4%) in the first half of 2019 as compared to the same period of 2018.  The sales decline was seen across all of our major product groups and was largely due to an over-inventoried supply channel at our customers and distributors following the high volume of purchases in 2018 in advance of the tariffs that went into effect in 2019. 

·
Backlog – Our backlog of orders amounted to $150.9 million at June 30, 2019, a decline of $20.3 million, or 12%, from December 31, 2018.  Since year-end, we saw an 8% increase in the backlog for our Connectivity Solutions products, primarily driven by additional orders from our military customers.  The backlog of orders for our Power Solutions and Protection products declined by 17% and backlog for our Magnetic Solutions products was down 29% from year-end 2018 levels.  Order volumes were lower in the first half of 2019 as a result of slowdowns in certain markets coupled with customers working down heighted inventory levels which had been built up in response to new product launches and the tariffs that went into effect in 2018 and 2019.

·
Product Mix – Material and labor costs vary by product line and any significant shift in product mix between higher- and lower-margin product lines will have a corresponding impact on the Company’s gross margin percentage.  In general, our connectivity products have the highest contribution margins, our magnetic products are more labor intensive and are therefore less profitable than the connectivity products and our power products are on the lower end of our profit margin range, due to their high material content.  Fluctuations in sales volume among our product groups will have a corresponding impact on Bel’s profit margins.

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·
Pricing and Availability of Materials – While material cost and availability for certain components have started to ease, the higher raw material costs which were in place during 2018, particularly related to resistors, capacitors and mosfets, are still running through our supply chain as we ship the balance of our inventory on hand from 2018.  Lead times continue to be extended for certain mosfets and costs for those components remain elevated.  As a result, the Company’s material costs as a percentage of sales increased to 43.8% during the first half of 2019 from 41.4% during the first half of 2018.  

·
Labor Costs – Labor costs decreased from 11.4% of sales during the first half of 2018 to 11.0% of sales during the first half of 2019, as a more favorable exchange rate environment in 2019 related to the Chinese Renminbi offset the overall impact of minimum wage increases in Mexico which went into effect on January 1, 2019 as well as minimum wage increases in the PRC which went into effect in the first and third quarters of 2018.

·
Restructuring – The Company continues to implement restructuring programs to increase operational efficiencies and incurred $1.4 million in restructuring costs during the first half of 2019.  During the second quarter, the Company completed the realignment of its R&D resources dedicated to its Power Solutions and Protection group and substantially completed the transition of manufacturing and warehousing operations from its Inwood, New York facility to other existing Bel facilities. The R&D and Inwood initiatives combined are expected to result in annualized cost savings of $2.1 million beginning in the third quarter of 2019.  We further identified and have started to implement measures at certain facilities in Asia that are expected to result in annualized cost savings of $1.4 million beginning in the fourth quarter of 2019. Incremental cost reduction measures are expected to follow throughout the third and fourth quarters of 2019 as our remaining sites are reviewed. The preceding sentences represent Forward-Looking Statements.  See “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”

·
Impact of Foreign Currency – During the first six months of 2019, the Company experienced lower labor and overhead costs of $3.2 million related to favorable fluctuations in exchange rates versus 2018, partially offset by foreign exchange transactional losses realized of $0.1 million. Since we are a U.S. domiciled company, we translate our foreign currency-denominated financial results into U.S. dollars.  Due to the changes in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, translating our financial results and the revaluation of certain intercompany as well as third-party transactions to and from foreign currencies to U.S. dollars may result in a favorable or unfavorable impact to our consolidated statements of operations and cash flows.  The Company was favorably impacted by transactional foreign exchange gains in the first half of 2019 due to the depreciation of the Euro, Pound, and Renminbi against the U.S. dollar as compared to exchange rates in effect during 2018.  The Company has significant manufacturing operations located in the PRC where labor and overhead costs are paid in local currency.  As a result, the U.S. Dollar equivalent costs of these operations were $3.2 million lower in the first half of 2019 as compared to the same period of 2018.  The Company monitors changes in foreign currencies and may implement pricing actions to help mitigate the impact that changes in foreign currencies may have on its consolidated operating results.

·
Effective Tax Rate – The Company’s effective tax rate will fluctuate based on the geographic segment in which our pretax profits are earned.  Of the geographic segments in which we operate, the U.S. and Europe’s tax rates are generally equivalent; and Asia has the lowest tax rates of the Company’s three geographical segments. See Note 9, “Income Taxes”.

After record bookings throughout 2018, the Company has experienced slower bookings during the first half of 2019 as customers work through their inventory on hand. The Company experienced margin pressure during the second quarter of 2019 due to lower sales volumes and high material costs from 2018 which continue to run through the Company’s statement of operations.  As a result of these ongoing factors, the Company expects the balance of 2019 to remain challenging from both a sales and margin perspective.    The preceding sentence represents a Forward-Looking Statement.  See “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”

Summary by Operating Segment

Net sales to external customers by operating segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
    North America
 
$
67,066
     
53
%
 
$
71,240
     
50
%
 
$
131,653
     
52
%
 
$
130,696
     
50
%
    Asia
   
39,324
     
31
%
   
45,914
     
33
%
   
76,601
     
30
%
   
84,535
     
33
%
    Europe
   
21,026
     
16
%
   
23,556
     
17
%
   
44,551
     
18
%
   
43,730
     
17
%
 
 
$
127,416
     
100
%
 
$
140,710
     
100
%
 
$
252,805
     
100
%
 
$
258,961
     
100
%


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Sales declines in our North America segment during the second quarter of 2019 reflected lower sales into our distribution channel as our distribution partners continue to work down their level of inventory on hand.  Sales of our connector products into military applications were also lower during the second quarter of 2019 compared to the same period of 2018, impacting our North America and European segment sales.  Sales in our Asia segment in the second quarter of 2019 were down versus 2018 as a result of customers working down heighted inventory levels which had been built up during 2018 in response to new product launches and the tariffs that went into effect in 2018 and 2019.

Net sales and income from operations by operating segment for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows. Segment net sales are attributed to individual segments based on the geographic source of the billing for customer sales.

 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Total segment sales:
                       
     North America
 
$
69,450
   
$
74,602
   
$
136,923
   
$
137,173
 
     Asia
   
63,062
     
70,005
     
125,372
     
126,144
 
     Europe
   
25,734
     
27,630
     
52,598
     
51,942
 
Total segment sales
   
158,246
     
172,237
     
314,893
     
315,259
 
Reconciling item:
                               
     Intersegment sales
   
(30,830
)
   
(31,527
)
   
(62,088
)
   
(56,298
)
Net sales
 
$
127,416
   
$
140,710
   
$
252,805
   
$
258,961
 
 
                               
Income from operations:
                               
    North America
 
$
2,373
   
$
2,963
   
$
1,880
   
$
2,661
 
    Asia
   
270
     
5,319
     
1,283
     
5,234
 
    Europe
   
2,310
     
2,385
     
4,604
     
3,209
 
 
 
$
4,953
   
$
10,667
   
$
7,767
   
$
11,104
 


Income from operations declined across all segments during the second quarter of 2019 as compared with the same quarter of 2018 primary due to lower sales volume.  Our Asia segment was also impacted by $0.4 million of restructuring charges during the second quarter of 2019.  During the first half of 2019, income from operations for our North America segment was unfavorably impacted by $0.9 million of restructuring costs associated with the transition of manufacturing and warehouse operations from our Inwood, New York facility to other existing Bel facilities, and higher labor costs in Mexico due to an increase in minimum wage rates which went into effect on January 1, 2019.

Net Sales

The Company’s net sales by major product line for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 were as follows:

 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Connectivity solutions
 
$
42,536
     
33
%
 
$
48,928
     
35
%
 
$
86,897
     
35
%
 
$
91,846
     
35
%
Magnetic solutions
   
40,852
     
32
%
   
45,548
     
32
%
   
79,108
     
31
%
   
83,776
     
33
%
Power solutions and protection
   
44,028
     
35
%
   
46,234
     
33
%
   
86,800
     
34
%
   
83,339
     
32
%
 
 
$
127,416
     
100
%
 
$
140,710
     
100
%
 
$
252,805
     
100
%
 
$
258,961
     
100
%

Connectivity Solutions:

Sales of our connectivity solutions products during the second quarter of 2019 declined $6.4 million primarily due to lower demand from military customers during the quarter, and reduced volume of product flowing through our distribution channels as our distribution partners continue to work down inventory levels that had been built up in 2018 ahead of the tariffs.  These factors also impacted the six-month period ended June 30, 2019, which declined $4.9 million from the same period of 2018, partially offset by higher sales to aerospace customers during the first quarter of 2019.

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Magnetic Solutions:

Sales of our magnetic products during the second quarter and first half of 2019 were down $4.7 million from the same periods of 2018 while inventory levels built up in advance of a new program launch during 2018 are worked through.

Power Solutions and Protection:

Sales of our power solutions and protection products were $2.2 million lower in the second quarter of 2019 compared to the same quarter of 2018.  Sales of our Bel Power Solutions products into datacenter applications decreased by $1.9 million and sales of our Custom Module products were $0.8 million lower as compared to last year’s second quarter.  These decreases were partially offset by a $0.8 million increase in sales of our DC/DC power products.  Sales during the six-month period ended June 30, 2019 increased by $3.5 million from the same period of 2018, as stronger sales into datacenter applications during the first quarter of 2019 lessened the impact of the second quarter declines on the six-month period.

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 consisted of the following:

 
 
Three Months Ended
   
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
 
 
2019
   
2018
   
2019
   
2018
 
Material costs
   
45.7
%
   
41.9
%
   
43.8
%
   
41.4
%
Labor costs
   
10.6
%
   
11.5
%
   
11.0
%
   
11.4
%
Research and development expenses
   
5.4
%
   
5.2
%
   
5.6
%
   
5.7
%
Other expenses
   
22.7
%
   
20.8
%
   
22.4
%
   
22.1
%
   Total cost of sales
   
84.4
%
   
79.4
%
   
82.8
%
   
80.6
%


Material costs as a percentage of sales continued to increase during the second quarter and first half of 2019 compared to the same periods of 2018 primarily due to the industry-wide supply constraints related to certain of our purchased components during 2018.  The finished goods shipped during the second quarter of 2019 still contained some of the higher-cost raw material components.

Labor costs as a percentage of sales also declined during the second quarter and first six months of 2019 compared to the same periods of 2018 as a more favorable exchange rate environment related to the Chinese Renminbi offset the overall impact of minimum wage increases in the PRC and Mexico.  The PRC government increased the minimum wage in the regions where Bel’s factories are located in February and July of 2018.  Furthermore, the minimum wage rates in Mexico increased effective January 1, 2019 which also drove labor costs higher in the second quarter and first half of 2019.

Included in cost of sales is research and development (“R&D”) expense of $6.9 million and $7.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $14.0 million and $14.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  The lower R&D expenses in 2019 as compared to the respective 2018 periods is largely reflective of cost savings related to the realignment of our Power Solutions R&D resources earlier in 2019.

The other expenses noted in the table above include fixed cost items such as support labor and fringe, depreciation and amortization, and facility costs (rent, utilities, insurance).  In total, these other expenses decreased during the three and six months ended June 30, 2019 by $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively, as compared to the same periods of 2018, primarily due to lower depreciation and amortization expense in the 2019 periods.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense (“SG&A”)

SG&A expenses were $18.8 million, up $0.5 million from the second quarter of 2018. Included within SG&A expenses is a foreign exchange gain of $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2019 compared to a foreign exchange gain of $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2018.  Excluding the effects of foreign exchange gains, SG&A expense was down $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2019 as compared to the same period of 2018, led by reductions in ERP costs of $0.5 million and sales and marketing expenses of $0.3 million from last year’s second quarter.

SG&A expenses were $38.6 million, down from $39.0 million in the first half of 2018. Factors contributing to the lower SG&A expense in the 2019 period were lower legal and professional fees and a reduction in sales and marketing expenses from the 2018 period. These reductions were partially offset by a $1.0 million unfavorable swing in foreign exchange rates (a loss of $0.1 million in the first half of 2019 compared to a foreign exchange gain of $0.9 million in the first half of 2018).

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Provision for Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rate will fluctuate based on the geographic segment in which the pretax profits are earned.  Of the geographic segments in which the Company operates, the U.S. and Europe’s tax rates are generally equivalent; and Asia has the lowest tax rates of the Company’s three geographical segments.  See Note 9, “Income Taxes”.

The provision for income taxes for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 was $0.4 million and $2.4 million, respectively.  The Company’s earnings before income taxes for the three months ended June 30, 2019, were approximately $5.6 million lower than the same period in 2018, primarily attributable to lower earnings in the Asia and Europe segments.  The Company’s effective tax rate was 12.4% and 26.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  The change in the effective tax rate during the three months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period in 2018, is primarily attributable to a decrease in U.S. taxes relating to income from foreign subsidiaries taxed in the U.S. as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  See Note 9, “Income Taxes.”

The provision for income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 was $0.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively.  The Company’s earnings before income taxes for the six months ended June 30, 2019 were approximately $3.5 million lower than the same period in 2018, primarily attributable to lower earnings in the Asia and Europe segment.   The Company’s effective tax rate was 10.1% and 33.8% for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.  The change in the effective tax rate during the six months ended June 30, 2019 as compared to the same period of 2018, is primarily attributable to a decrease in U.S. taxes relating to income from foreign subsidiaries taxed in the U.S. as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the impact of permanent differences on U.S. tax exempt activities.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our primary sources of cash are the collection of trade receivables generated from the sales of our products and services to our customers and amounts available under our existing lines of credit, including our credit facility. Our primary uses of cash are payments for operating expenses, investments in working capital, capital expenditures, interest, taxes, dividends, debt obligations and other long-term liabilities. We believe that our current liquidity position and future cash flows from operations will enable us to fund our operations, including all of the items mentioned above in the next twelve months.

At June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $37.6 million and $46.3 million, respectively (or 64% and 86%, respectively), of cash and cash equivalents was held by foreign subsidiaries of the Company.  During the first half of 2019, the Company repatriated $10.0 million of funds from outside of the U.S., with minimal incremental tax liability, and completed an intercompany loan from one of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries to its U.S. parent entity during the second quarter.  Management has current intentions to repatriate an additional $5.0 million of funds from outside of the U.S., with a minimal incremental tax liability, by the end of 2019 with the intent of reducing our outstanding debt balance.  The preceding sentence represents a Forward-Looking Statement.  See “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information." We continue to analyze our global working capital and cash requirements and the potential tax liabilities attributable to further repatriation, and we have yet to make any further determination regarding repatriation of funds from outside the U.S. to fund the Company’s U.S. operations in the future.  In the event these funds were needed for Bel’s U.S. operations, the Company would be required to accrue and pay U.S. state taxes and any applicable foreign withholding taxes to repatriate these funds.

Cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities and accounts receivable comprised approximately 31.7% of the Company’s total assets at June 30, 2019 and 32.9% of total assets at December 31, 2018. The Company’s current ratio (i.e., the ratio of current assets to current liabilities) was 3.2 to 1 at June 30, 2019 and 2.7 to 1 at December 31, 2018.

In June 2014, the Company entered into a senior Credit and Security Agreement, which was subsequently amended in March 2016, and further amended and refinanced in December 2017.  The Credit and Security Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants and events of default and financial covenants that measure (i) the ratio of the Company's total funded indebtedness, on a consolidated basis, to the amount of the Company’s consolidated EBITDA, as defined (“Leverage Ratio”), and (ii) the ratio of the amount of the Company’s consolidated EBITDA to the Company’s consolidated fixed charges (“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”). If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the Credit and Security Agreement would be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due thereunder and all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor.  At June 30, 2019, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants, including its most restrictive covenant, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  The unused credit available under the credit facility at June 30, 2019 was $75.0 million, of which we had the ability to borrow $37.1 million without violating our Leverage Ratio covenant based on the Company’s existing consolidated EBITDA.

We are currently engaged in a multi-year process of conforming the majority of our operations onto one global Enterprise Resource Planning system (“ERP”).  The ERP is designed to improve the efficiency of our supply chain and financial transaction processes, accurately maintain our books and records, and provide information important to the operation of the business to our management team. The implementation of the ERP is being conducted by business units on a three-phase approach through 2020. We currently estimate total costs over the course of this system implementation to be approximately $6.9 million.  The preceding sentence represents a Forward-Looking Statement.  See “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”  Since inception of the project, we have incurred a cumulative amount of $6.5 million in connection with this implementation, of which $0.4 million and $1.4 million in implementation costs was incurred during the three and six months ended June 30, 2019, respectively.  These costs are included in SG&A on the condensed consolidated financial statements.  The first phase of the ERP implementation project was completed in the first quarter of 2019 with the Power Solutions business going live on the new system effective January 1, 2019.  In relation to this first phase completed, we started realizing annualized cost savings of approximately $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2019. The preceding sentence represents a Forward-Looking Statement.  See “Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Information.”

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Cash Flows

Six Months Ended June 30, 2019

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents increased by $4.5 million.  This increase was primarily due to the following:

·
net cash provided by operating activities of $7.8 million;
·
purchases of property, plant and equipment of $5.3 million;
·
dividend payments of $1.6 million; and
·
repayments of long-term debt of $1.5 million

During the six months ended June 30, 2019, accounts receivable decreased by $7.7 million primarily due to lower sales during the second quarter of 2019 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.  Days sales outstanding (DSO) increased slightly to 60 days at June 30, 2019 from 59 days at December 31, 2018.  Inventory decreased by $1.8 million at June 30, 2019 compared to December 31, 2018.  Inventory turns were 3.6 at June 30, 2019 as compared to 3.7 at December 31, 2018.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2018

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company’s cash and cash equivalents decreased by $13.6 million.  This decrease was primarily due to the following:

·
purchases of property, plant and equipment of $5.9 million;
·
repayments of long-term debt of $7.5 million; and
·
dividend payments of $1.6 million; partially offset by
·
net cash provided by operations of $1.2 million.

During the six months ended June 30, 2018, accounts receivable increased by $10.5 million primarily due to higher sales volume in the second quarter of 2018 as compared to the fourth quarter of 2017.  Days sales outstanding (DSO) declined to 58 days at June 30, 2018 from 60 days at December 31, 2017.  Effective January 1, 2018, the Company implemented a change in the timing of revenue recognition (and related release of inventory from our books) in connection with the adoption of ASC 606.  Excluding the adoption adjustment related to this accounting change, inventory increased by $10.6 million at June 30, 2018 compared to December 31, 2017, primarily in raw materials.  The increased raw materials balance was driven by a higher volume of raw materials purchased to accommodate increased demand for our products, coupled with higher material costs in 2018 resulting from constraints in component availability.  Inventory turns increased from 3.6 at December 31, 2017 to 4.2 at June 30, 2018, primarily due to the change in revenue recognition accounting noted above.

Critical Accounting Policies

Management’s discussion and analysis of Bel’s financial condition and results of operations are based upon the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. 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, goodwill, intangible assets, investments, warranties, 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.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The discussion of new financial accounting standards applicable to the Company is incorporated herein by reference to Note 1 to the Company’s Financial Statements, “Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies,” included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company is exposed to market risk primarily from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and changes in interest rates associated with its long-term debt.  During the first half of 2019, the U.S. Dollar was stronger against most other currencies in which the Company pays its expenses.  In comparing average exchange rates during the first half of 2019 versus those during the first half of 2018, the Euro depreciated by 7%, the Pound depreciated by 6%, the Peso depreciated by 1% and the Renminbi depreciated by 6% against the U.S. Dollar.  The Company estimates that the depreciation in these foreign currencies led to lower operating costs of $3.2 million, as the majority of our expenses in the PRC, Europe and Mexico are paid in local currency.  This offset the foreign exchange loss recognized in the first half of 2019 of $0.1 million on translation of local currency balance sheet accounts to the U.S. Dollar in consolidation, resulting from foreign currency fluctuations since December 31, 2018.  Refer to Item 7A, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 for further discussion of market risks.

Item 4.   Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures:  As of the end of the period 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 on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Vice President of Finance concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Changes in internal controls over financial reporting:  There were no significant 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 reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II.     Other Information

Item 1.   Legal Proceedings

The information called for by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to Note 13 of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, under “Legal Proceedings”, as set forth in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We are also involved in various other legal actions incidental to our business. We believe, after consulting with counsel, that the disposition of these other legal proceedings and matters will not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

See Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. Except as required by the federal securities law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any risk factor, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Item 6.  Exhibits
 
   
(a) Exhibits:
 
   
   
31.1*
   
31.2*
   
 32.1**
   
 32.2**
   
101.INS*
XBRL Instance Document
   
101.SCH*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
   
101.CAL*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
101.DEF*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
   
101.LAB*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
   
101.PRE*
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
   

*   Filed herewith.
       ** Submitted herewith.
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SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



 
BEL FUSE INC.
August 6, 2019
 
By:
/s/ Daniel Bernstein
 
Daniel Bernstein
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
   
By:
/s/ Craig Brosious
 
Craig Brosious
 
Vice President of Finance and Secretary
 
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
27