ELECTRO SENSORS INC - Annual Report: 2015 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

Form 10-K

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ 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 ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). Yes ☒   No ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates (persons other than officers, directors, or holders of more than 5% of the outstanding stock) of the registrant was approximately $6,700,000 based upon the closing price of its common stock as reported on The Nasdaq Stock Market® on June 30, 2015.

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.10 par value, on March 9, 2016 was 3,395,521.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Certain information called for by Part III of this Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement, which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC.
Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2015
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PART I

Item 1.          Business.

Introduction

Electro-Sensors, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “ESI”) is engaged in manufacturing and selling industrial production monitoring and process control systems.

In addition, through our former subsidiary ESI Investment Company, we periodically made strategic investments in other businesses and companies, primarily when we believed that these investments would facilitate the development of technology complementary to our existing products. During 2015, we sold substantially all our remaining investments in other businesses and companies. Effective December 31, 2015, we merged ESI Investment Company and Senstar Corporation, a subsidiary with no business operations, into the parent company Electro-Sensors, Inc.

ESI was incorporated in Minnesota in July 1968. Our executive offices are located at 6111 Blue Circle Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota, 55343-9108. Our telephone number is (952) 930-0100.

Products

We manufacture and sell several different types of monitoring systems that measure actual machine production and operation rates, as well as systems that regulate the speed of related machines in production processes.

Our speed monitoring systems compare revolutions per minute or speed against acceptable rates as determined by a customer. The systems vary in complexity, from a simple system that detects slow-downs or stoppages, to more sophisticated systems that warn of deviations from precise tolerances and that permit various subsidiary operations to be determined through monitoring the shaft speed.

The speed monitoring systems also include a line of products that measure production counts or rates, such as parts, gallons, or board feet. The speed monitoring systems also include alarm systems, tachometers, and other devices that translate impulses from the sensors into alarm signals, computer inputs, or digital displays that are usable by the customer.

We also offer production monitoring devices that include a tilt switch, vibration monitor, and slide gate position monitor. A tilt switch is designed to alert the operator when a storage bin or production system reaches a certain capacity (e.g., when grain fills a silo). A vibration monitor will alert an operator when the vibration of a machine in a production system exceeds or is less than a specified level. The slide gate position monitor is used in plant operations to provide feedback of the position of a slide gate. As part of our Electro-Sentry Hazard Monitoring system, we also have temperature sensors that are used to monitor bearing temperature and belt misalignment.

We have several products used in drive control systems that regulate the speed of motors on related machines in a production sequence to ensure that the performances of various operations are coordinated. The products consist of a line of digital control products for motors that require a complete closed loop PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) control. The closed loop controllers coordinate production speed among process motors and reduce waste.

We have a sales agreement with Motrona GmbH, a German control and interface devices manufacturer, under which we have the right to distribute Motrona products in the United States. These products interface with our products on various applications.

In 2008, we introduced our Electro-Sentry 1 hazard monitoring system, which integrates our sensors for monitoring temperature, belt misalignment, and shaft speed with a programmable logic controller and touch screen interface to create a complete system for hazard monitoring. The system enables our customers to locate which part of their material handling system is operating incorrectly, typically in less than ten seconds, by using visual diagrams on a touch screen. In 2012, we introduced the Electro-Sentry 16 hazard monitoring system and added new features to the Electro-Sentry 1 system.

In 2013, the Company added ION Frequency/Discrete-In, a product that allows users to measure up to 12 shaft speeds and/or signal frequencies from pulse-frequency-output sensors. This is our third ION product, completing the ION product line to support all ESI sensor products and providing the customer high-speed/accuracy signal acquisition at low cost and saved wiring costs. The Company also expanded the Series 18 shaft speed sensors to include additional housings and connection options to reach a broader range of installations. In addition, in 2013 we also introduced product upgrades for sensing capability and ruggedness on our Hall-effect sensors.

In 2014, we introduced a process meter for analog output sensors, such as our TT420, temperature sensors, ST420, speed sensors, and SG1000, slide gate position monitor.

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Additionally, in 2014, the Company purchased the Insta-Link wireless hazard technology monitoring system and product family, together with related technology and intellectual property rights, from Harvest Engineering Inc., a privately held Illinois-based corporation, and its affiliated parties and owners (“Harvest”). The Company is marketing the wireless hazard monitoring products under its new HazardPRO^TM product line and manufacturing and servicing these products at its Minnetonka, Minnesota facility. The Company agreed to pay $1,200,000 for the product line, of which $400,000 was paid at closing, and additional payments of $400,000 will be paid on each of the first and second anniversary of the closing. The final payment of $400,000 was made on February 18, 2016. Harvest may earn up to an additional $550,000 of purchase price, depending upon the achievement of revenue measures during the four calendar years following the closing.

We expect to continue to expend resources to develop new products and to market new and existing products for use in a wide variety of monitoring applications.

Our customers have diverse applications for our products in the grain, feed, bio-fuels, power generation, water utilities and waste water treatment, mining, chemical, and other processing areas. We continue to look for new industries to expand sales and may also consider acquiring compatible businesses as part of our growth strategy. We believe that a wide variety of organizations can achieve significant savings in both time and materials by adding production monitoring and drive control technology to existing processes to coordinate the operation of related machines. Our products are sold into both the “retro-fit” market and into new manufacturing or processing systems.

Our corporate web site provides significant information and product application knowledge to existing and prospective customers and also direct knowledge to our sales partners. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference herein and is not a part of this Form 10-K.

Marketing and Distribution

We sell our products primarily through both our internal sales team and a number of manufacturer’s representatives and distributors located throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Australia, China, Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, and Singapore. Sales to customers outside the United States represent approximately 13% of sales in 2015. The sensing and control units are sold under the Electro-Sensors, Inc. brand as a range of products from simple sensors to complex motor speed controllers. These products are sold to businesses in a wide variety of industries, including agriculture, grain-handling, feed, biofuels, food processing, chemicals, mining, utility, forest products, steel, tire, glass and electronics. Any business that uses machinery with a rotating shaft is a potential customer.

We advertise in national industrial periodicals that cover a range of industrial products and attend several local, national and international tradeshows designated for the industry throughout the year. We also use our corporate website and other related industry websites for advertising and marketing purposes.

Competition

We face substantial competition in the sale of our production monitoring systems from a broad range of industrial and commercial businesses. Many of these competitors are well established and have greater sales volume. Among our larger competitors are Danaher Controls, Red Lion Controls, 4B Elevator Components Ltd., and Durant Corporation. We believe our competitive advantages include our products superior design and quality, the fact that our products are sold as ready-to-install units, and they can be used in a wide range of applications. Our major disadvantages include the fact that our major competitors are much larger, have a broader variety of sensing instruments, and have larger sales forces and established names.

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Suppliers

We purchase parts and materials for our systems from various manufacturers and distributors. In some instances, these materials are manufactured in accordance with our proprietary designs. Multiple sources of these parts and materials are generally available, and we are not dependent on any single source for these supplies and materials. We have not experienced any significant problem of short supply or delays from our suppliers.

Customers

We are not dependent upon a single or a few customers for a material (10% or more) portion of our sales.

Patents, Trademarks and Licenses

The Company relies on a combination of patent, trademark, and trade secret laws to establish proprietary right in its products.

We have registered the name “Electro-Sensors” as a trademark with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), Reg. No. 1,142,310. We believe this trademark has been and will continue to be useful in developing and protecting market recognition for our products. We established the HazardPRO^TM trademark in the first quarter of 2014 and intend to register the trademark with the USPTO during 2016.

We hold six patents relating to our production monitoring systems. The Company believes strongly in protecting its intellectual property and has a long history of obtaining patents, when available, in connection with its research and product development programs. The Company also relies upon trade secrets and proprietary know-how.

The Company seeks to protect its trade secrets and proprietary intellectual property, including know-how, in part, through confidentiality agreements with employees, consultants, and other parties. We cannot ensure, however, that these agreements will not be breached, that the Company would have adequate remedies for any breach, or that the Company’s trade secrets will not otherwise become known or independently developed by competitors.

Business Development Activities

We continue to seek growth opportunities, both internally through our existing portfolio of products, technologies and markets, as well as externally through technology partnerships or related-product acquisitions.

Governmental Approvals

Although, we are not required to obtain governmental approval of our products, we choose to obtain certain third party certifications to meet our customers’ needs. These certifications may expand our market opportunities in certain industries.

Effect of Governmental Regulations

We do not believe that any existing or proposed governmental regulations will have a material effect on our business.

Research and Development (in thousands)

We invest in research and development programs to develop new products in related markets and to integrate state-of-the-art technology into our existing products. We incurred research and development expenses of approximately $753 and $810 during 2015 and 2014, respectively. We undertake development projects based upon the identified specific needs of the markets we serve.

Our future success depends in part upon our ability to develop new products in our varying segments. Difficulties or delays in our ability to develop, produce, test and market new products could have a material adverse effect on future sales growth.

Compliance with Environmental Laws

Compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws has only a nominal effect on current or anticipated capital expenditures and has had no material effect on earnings or on our competitive position.

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Employees

As of March 9, 2016, we had 36 employees, all of whom are full-time. We believe that our relations with our employees are good. None of our employees are members of unions.

Our ability to maintain a competitive position and to continue to develop and market new products depends, in part, on our ability to retain key employees and qualified personnel. If we are unable to retain our key employees, or recruit and train others, our product development, marketing and sales could be negatively impacted.

Fluctuations in Operating Results.

We have experienced fluctuations in our past operating results, and expect to experience fluctuations in the future, which may affect the market price of our Common Stock. Sales can fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include: product competition and acceptance, timing of customer orders, cancellation of orders, the mix of products sold, downturns in the markets we serve and economic disruptions. Because fluctuations can happen, we caution investors that results of our operations for recent periods may not accurately predict how we will perform in the future. We cannot ensure that we will experience revenue or earnings growth.

Expending Funds for Changes in Industry Standards, Customer Preferences or Technology.

Our business depends upon periodically introducing new and enhanced products and solutions for customer needs. Our product development requires us to commit financial resources, personnel and time, usually in advance of significant market demand for these products. In order to compete, we must anticipate both future demand and the technology available to meet that demand. We cannot ensure that our research and development efforts will lead to new products or product innovations that can be made available to or will be accepted by the market.

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Cautionary Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. We have made, and may continue to make, forward-looking statements with respect to our business and financial matters, including statements contained in this document, other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and reports to shareholders. Forward-looking statements generally include discussion of current expectations or forecasts of future events and can be identified by the use of terminology such as “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “will,” and similar words or expressions. Any statement that does not relate solely to historical fact should be considered forward-looking.

Our forward-looking statements generally relate to our growth strategy, future financial results, product development and sales efforts. Forward-looking statements are made throughout this Annual Report, but primarily in this Item 1 and Item 7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and include statements relating to management’s intentions that we not become an investment company, our expectations and intentions with respect to growth, statements relating to management’s beliefs with respect to our marketing and product development, our expectations and beliefs with respect to the value of our intellectual property, our beliefs with respect to our competitive position in the marketplace, our beliefs with respect to the effect of governmental regulations on our business, our beliefs with respect to our employee relations, our expectations and beliefs with respect to the future performance of our investment securities, the adequacy of our facilities, expansion of our number of manufacturer’s representatives and exclusive distributors, our intention to develop new products, the possibility of acquiring compatible businesses as part of our growth strategy, and our expectations with respect to our cash requirements and use of cash.

Forward-looking statements cannot be guaranteed and our actual results may vary materially due to the uncertainties and risks, known and unknown, associated with these statements, including our ability to successfully develop new products and manage our cash requirements. We undertake no obligations to update any forward-looking statements. We wish to caution investors that the following important factors, among others, in some cases have affected and in the future could affect our actual results of operations and cause these results to differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements made in this document and elsewhere by us or on our behalf. We cannot foresee or identify all factors that could cause actual results to differ from expected or historical results. As such, investors should not consider any list of these factors to be an exhaustive statement of all risks, uncertainties or potentially inaccurate assumptions. These factors include our ability to:

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

We own and occupy a 25,400 square foot facility at 6111 Blue Circle Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343-9108. All operations are conducted within this facility. The facility is in excellent condition and we continue to maintain and update the facility as necessary. We believe the facility will be adequate for our needs in 2016.

We are not the subject of any legal proceedings as of the date of this filing. We are not aware of any threatened litigation.

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Not applicable.

PART II

Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market^® under the symbol “ELSE.” The following table sets forth the quarterly high and low reported last sales prices for our common stock for each period indicated as reported on the Nasdaq system.

Based on data provided by our transfer agent, as of March 9, 2016, we had 76 shareholders of record who held 903,331 shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition, nominees held an additional 2,492,190 shares for approximately 299 shareholders holding shares in street name.

From time to time, we may be required to repurchase some of our equity securities as a result of obligations described in Note 12 to our 2015 consolidated financial statements. We did not repurchase any equity securities during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

The information required by Item 201(d) is set forth in Item 12 of this Form 10-K.

Not required for smaller reporting companies.

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The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to various factors discussed under “Forward-Looking Statements” elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table contains selected financial information, for the periods indicated, from our consolidated statements of comprehensive income expressed as a percentage of net sales.

The following paragraphs discuss the Company’s performance for years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

Comparison of 2015 vs. 2014 (in thousands)

Net Sales

Net sales increased $595 or 8.5%, to $7,636 in 2015 from $7,041 in 2014. This increase was primarily driven by sales of HazardPRO wireless hazard monitoring systems following our receipt in early 2015 of third-party certification for installing HazardPRO systems into certain hazardous environments. These HazardPRO systems are now deployed in a wide–range of agricultural and industrial applications, including grain handling and milling, animal nutrition and hardwood processing.

We continue to see steady demand for our broad line of shaft speed switches and sensors as well as sensors for monitoring sliding gates and valves. These sensors and switches are highly desired for their durability, safety and long-term value. On a geographic basis, we experienced a 20% growth in sales to customers in the South Central U.S. International markets remain an important part of our business, providing over 13% of our 2015 revenue from shipments into 45 countries.

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Gross Profit

Gross profit for 2015 increased $140, or 3.4%, to $4,226 from $4,086 in 2014. Gross margin for 2015 was 55.3% compared to 58.0% in 2014. The slight decrease in the gross margin was primarily due to higher manufacturing costs on the initial HazardPRO products. We expect HazardPRO manufacturing costs to continue to decrease through production efficiencies and increased purchasing volume.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses increased $241, or 6.5%, to $3,936 in 2015 compared to $3,695 in 2014. This increase was due to the following:

Operating Income

Operating income decreased $101 or 25.8%, to $290 in 2015 from $391 in 2014, and decreased as a percentage of sales to 3.7% from 5.5%, due primarily to lower 2015 gross margin, which was slightly offset by lower operating expenses discussed above.

Non-Operating Income

Non-operating income increased $291 to $1,454 in 2015 from $1,163 in 2014, primarily as a result of additional realized gains on sales of shares of Rudolph Technologies, Inc. (“Rudolph”). As of December 31, 2015, the Company has fully liquidated all holdings in Rudolph stock.

Available-for-sale securities are stated at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

Realized gains and losses, including losses from declines in value of specific securities determined by management to be other-than-temporary, are included in the statement of comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses are determined on the basis of the specific securities sold.

Net Income After Tax

We reported net income of $1,214 in 2015 as compared to net income of $1,094 in 2014, an increase of $120, or 11.0%. Basic and diluted earnings per share were $0.36 and $0.33, respectively, in 2015, compared to basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.32 and $0.30, respectively, in 2014.

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OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We are not a party to any off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements or obligations that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a material effect on our financial condition, changes in the financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash and cash equivalents were $569 and $1,190 at December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The decrease was mainly due to net cash used in operating activities, as described below. Working capital was $9,941 at December 31, 2015 compared to $10,132 at December 31, 2014.

Cash used in operating activities in 2015 was $306, compared to cash generated from operating activities of $263 in 2014, resulting in a decrease of cash from operating activities of $569. The decrease resulted, in part, from an increase in inventories and a decrease in accrued expenses and income tax payable. The inventory increase is primarily due to the build-up of inventory for anticipated HazardPRO system orders. The decrease in accrued expenses is due to changes in compensation plans. The decrease in income tax accruals is due to the timing of income tax payments.

Cash generated from investing activities in 2015 was $66, compared to $581 cash used in 2014 investing activities. The increase is primarily due to the receipt of $1,467 for sales of available-for-sale securities during 2015 compared to $1,178 during 2014. In addition, the Company acquired the Harvest wireless hazard monitoring technology in February 2014 for $400,000 and financed the remaining purchase price through a seller-financed note.

We used cash of $381 in 2015 financing activities compared to cash of $3 generated in 2014. During 2015, we paid $381 on the long-term note owed to Harvest, which was the first installment under the note payable agreement. The final $400 installment on the note payable was paid on February 18, 2016.

Our ongoing cash usage requirements will be primarily used for capital expenditures, potential acquisitions, research and development, and working capital. Management believes that cash on hand and any cash provided by operations will be sufficient to meet our cash requirements through at least the next 12 months.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make decisions based upon estimates, assumptions, and factors it considers relevant to the circumstances. Those decisions include the selection of applicable accounting principles and the use of judgment in their application, the results of which impact reported amounts and disclosures. Changes in economic conditions or other business circumstances may affect the outcomes of management’s estimates and assumptions.

Significant estimates, including the underlying assumptions, consist of the economic lives of long-lived assets, realizability of trade receivables, valuation of deferred tax assets/liabilities, inventory, investments, contingent earn-out, and stock compensation expense. It is at least reasonably possible that these estimates may change in the near term.

Economic lives of long-lived assets 

We estimate the economic useful life of long-lived assets used in the business. Expected asset lives may be shortened or an impairment may be recorded based on a change in the expected use of the asset.

Realizability of trade receivables 

We estimate our allowance for doubtful accounts based on prior history and the aging of our trade receivables. We are unable to predict which, if any, of our customers will be unable to pay their open invoices at a future date.

Valuation of deferred tax assets/liabilities 

We estimate our deferred tax assets and liabilities based on current tax laws and rates. The tax laws and rates could change in the future to either disallow the deductions or increase/decrease the tax rates.

Valuation of inventory 

We purchase inventory based on estimated demand of products. It is possible that the inventory we have purchased will not be used in the products that our customers need or will not meet future technological requirements.

Valuation of investments 

Our investments in equity securities are valued at market prices in an open market. The prices are subject to the normal fluctuations that could be either negative or positive.

Valuation of stock-based compensation expense 

We estimate the expected life and forfeiture rates of stock options granted when calculating the value of options using the Black-Sholes-Merton model. The actual life and forfeiture rate could differ from what we estimated.

Valuation of the contingent earn-out 

We estimated the probability of meeting the revenue targets over the measurement period to determine the fair value of the contingent liability. The actual payout could be more or less than what we have estimated.

Additional information regarding our significant accounting policies is provided below in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data – Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 1, Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies.

Not applicable.

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Item 8.            Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Board of Directors
Electro-Sensors, Inc. and Subsidiaries 

Minnetonka, Minnesota

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Electro-Sensors, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015. The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audit included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Electro-Sensors, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. 

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts) 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)  

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 

(in thousands)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts) 

Note 1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies 

Nature of business: 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Electro-Sensors, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, ESI Investment Company and Senstar Corporation. Senstar has no assets or operations. As of December 31, 2015, these two subsidiaries were merged into the Electro-Sensors, Inc. parent company. Intercompany accounts, transactions and earnings have been eliminated in consolidation. The consolidated entity is referred to as “the Company” or “ESI.” 

Electro-Sensors, Inc. manufactures and markets a complete line of monitoring and control systems for a variety of industrial machinery. The Company uses leading-edge technology to continuously improve its products and make them easier to use, with the ultimate goal of manufacturing the industry-preferred product for every market served. The Company sells these products through an internal sales staff, manufacturer’s representatives, and distributors to a wide variety of industries that use the products in a range of applications to monitor process machinery operations. The Company markets its products to a variety of different industries located throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. 

In addition, through our former subsidiary ESI Investment Company, we periodically made strategic investments in other businesses, primarily when we believed that these investments would facilitate the development of technology complementary to our existing products. During 2015, we sold substantially all our remaining investments in other businesses and companies. See Note 3 for additional information regarding the Company’s investments. The Company’s investments in securities are subject to normal market risks. 

Significant accounting policies of the Company are summarized below:

Use of estimates 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates, including the underlying assumptions, consist of the economic lives of long lived assets, realizability of trade receivables, valuation of deferred tax assets/liabilities, inventory, investments, contingent earn-out, and stock compensation expense. It is at least reasonably possible that these estimates may change in the near term. 

Cash and cash equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid debt instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are invested in commercial paper, money market accounts and may, also, be invested in three month Treasury Bills. Cash equivalents are carried at cost plus accrued interest which approximates fair value. 

The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents in primarily one bank deposit account, which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any losses on these accounts. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant credit risk on cash. 

Trade receivables and credit policies 

Trade receivables are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms generally requiring payment within 30 days from the invoice date. Trade receivables are stated at the amount billed to the customer. Customer account balances with invoices over 90 days are considered delinquent. The Company does not accrue interest on delinquent trade receivables. 

Payments of trade receivables are allocated to the specific invoices identified on the customer’s remittance advice or, if unspecified, are applied to the earliest unpaid invoices. 

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts) 

The carrying amount of trade receivables is reduced by an allowance for doubtful accounts that reflects management’s best estimate of the amounts that will not be collected. Management individually reviews all trade receivable balances that exceed 90 days from the invoice date and based on an assessment of current creditworthiness, estimates the portion, if any, of the balance that may not be collected. Management uses this information to estimate the allowance. 

Available-for-sale securities 

The Company’s investments have traditionally consisted of equity securities, primarily common stocks and government debt securities. The estimated fair value of publicly traded equity securities is based on reported market prices or management’s reasonable market price when quoted prices are not available, and therefore subject to the inherent risk of market fluctuations. 

Management determines the appropriate classification of securities at the date individual investments are acquired, and evaluates the appropriateness of this classification at each balance sheet date.

Since the Company generally does not make investments in anticipation of short-term fluctuations in market price, the Company classifies its investments in equity securities and treasury bills as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities with readily determinable values are stated at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, are reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity and within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). 

Realized gains and losses on securities, including losses from declines in value of specific securities determined by management to be other-than-temporary, are included in the statement of comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses are determined on the basis of the specific securities sold. There were no other-than-temporary impairments recognized in the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company sold substantially all of its available-for-sale securities during 2015. 

Fair value measurements 

The Company’s policies incorporate the guidance for accounting for fair value measurements of financial assets and financial liabilities and for fair value measurements of nonfinancial items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis. These policies also incorporate the guidance for fair value measurement related to nonfinancial items that are recognized and disclosed at fair value in the consolidated financial statements on a nonrecurring basis. The guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to measurements involving significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a fair measurement in its entirety falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company currently has no nonfinancial or financial items that are measured on a nonrecurring basis.

The carrying value of cash equivalents, trade receivables, accounts payable, and other financial working capital items approximate fair value at December 31, 2015 and 2014 due to the short term maturity nature of these instruments.

Inventories

Inventories include material, labor and overhead and are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market.

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)  

Property and equipment 

Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided over estimated useful lives by use of the straight-line method. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Major improvements and betterments are capitalized.

Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and intangible assets, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset be tested for possible impairment, the Company first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by an asset to the carrying value of the asset. If the carrying value of the long-lived asset is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, the Company recognizes impairment to the extent that the carrying value of an asset exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including, but not limited to, discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals.

Estimated useful lives are as follows

Intangible assets

Intangible assets are comprised of a noncompete agreement and the HazardPRO^TM technology. The Company amortizes the cost of these intangible assets on a straight-line method over the estimated useful lives.

Revenue recognition

The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been picked up by common carrier, the fee is fixed and determinable and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. Product revenues are recognized upon shipment because the contracts generally do not include post-shipment obligations. The Company may offer discounts that it records at the time of sale. In addition to exchanges and warranty returns, customers have limited refund rights. Historically, returns have been minimal and immaterial to the consolidated financial statements and are generally recognized when the returned product is received by the Company. In some situations, the Company receives advance payments from its customers. The Company defers the recognition of revenue associated with these advance payments until the product ships.

Advertising costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Total advertising expense was $56 and $57 in fiscal 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Research and development

Expenditures for research and development are expensed as incurred. The Company incurred expenses of $753 and $810 in fiscal 2015 and 2014, respectively.

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts) 

Income taxes

The Company presents deferred income taxes on an asset and liability approach to financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. The Company annually determines the difference between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. The Company computes deferred income tax assets and liabilities for those differences that have future tax consequences using the currently enacted tax laws and rates that apply to the periods in which these laws are expected to affect taxable income. Income tax expense is the current tax payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the net change in the deferred tax assets and liabilities, excluding the portion of the deferred asset or liability allocated to other comprehensive income (loss). Deferred taxes are reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent that realization of the related deferred tax asset is not assured. No valuation allowance was deemed necessary at December 31, 2015 and 2014.

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not to be sustained. The Company recognized income tax positions at the largest amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The Company reflects changes in recognition or measurement in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.

The Company records interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense.

Net income per common share

Basic earnings per share (EPS) excludes dilution and is determined by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities and other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock.

The following information presents the Company’s computations of basic and diluted EPS for the periods presented in the statements of comprehensive income.  

Stock-Based Compensation 

The Company records compensation expense for stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) model. The Company uses historical data, among other factors, to estimate the expected price volatility, the expected option life and the expected forfeiture rate. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the estimated life of the option. At December 31, 2015, the Company had two stock-based compensation plans.  

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts) 

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements 

Inventory Measurement (Evaluating) 

In July 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2015-11, which amended Inventory (Topic 330) Related to Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory of the Accounting Standards Codification. The amended guidance applies to all inventory except that which is measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. Inventory measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost is included in the new amendments. Inventory within the scope of the new guidance should be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method. The amendments will take effect for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The new guidance should be applied prospectively, and earlier application is permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company does not expect this standard to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements. 

Contract Revenue Recognition (Evaluating) 

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09 which was amended in August 2015. This standard amended the Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) of the Accounting Standards Codification. The core principle of the new guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to reflect the transfer of goods and services to customers in an amount equal to the consideration the entity receives or expects to receive. The guidance will be effective for the Company for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company will apply the guidance using a modified retrospective approach. The Company does not expect this standard to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements. 

Note 2. Business Combination 

On February 18, 2014, the Company acquired Harvest Engineering, Inc.’s wireless hazard monitoring technology system and Insta-Link product family, together with related technology and intellectual property rights, for a total purchase price of $1,643. 

The fair value of the consideration transferred on the acquisition date consisted of the following: 

The transaction was recorded as a business combination and the results of operations have been included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income since the date of acquisition. Acquisition fees of approximately $15 incurred in connection with the transaction were recorded in operating expenses in 2014. 

In connection with the acquisition, the Company is obligated to pay an earn-out of up to $550 based upon the level of revenues generated from the acquired products during the four calendar years following closing. At the time of acquisition, the Company recorded a contingent liability of $472 representing the fair value estimate of the earn-out based upon the Company’s projected likelihood of meeting the revenue targets.

The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired at the acquisition date: 

The noncompete agreement is being amortized over a five-year period. The fair value of the noncompete agreement was estimated using a discounted cash flow model. The unobservable inputs are considered Level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy.

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)
 

Note 3. Investments

The cost and estimated fair value of the investments are as follows:

Realized gains and losses on investments are as follows:

At December 31, 2014, the Company’s significant investment in equity securities was 122,649 shares of Rudolph Technologies, Inc. (“Rudolph”) accounted for under the available-for-sale method. As of December 31, 2014, the aggregate value of the Company’s Rudolph shares as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange (ticker symbol RTEC) was approximately $1,254, with an approximate cost of $16. During fiscal 2015 and 2014, the Company sold 122,649 and 108,687 shares, respectively, of Rudolph stock and reported a gain of $1,447 and $1,163, respectively, in other income. 

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts) 

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) are as follows:

Note 4. Fair Value Measurements

The following table provides information on those assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

December 31, 2015

December 31, 2014

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts) 

The fair value of the money market funds, commercial paper, and treasury bills is based on quoted market prices in an active market. Available-for-sale securities include equity securities, except for the limited-marketable company, that are traded in an active market. Closing stock prices are readily available from active markets and are used as being representative of fair value. The Company classifies these securities as level 1. There is an insignificant market for the limited-marketable company and the Company has determined the value based on financial and other factors, which are considered level 3 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. Management estimated the probability of meeting the revenue targets over the measurement period to determine the fair value of the contingent earn-out, which is considered a level 3 input in the fair value hierarchy.

The change in level 3 liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis is summarized as follows:

The decrease in the contingent earn-out, in 2015, reflects the Company’s expectation of moderately lower future contingent payments due to delays in releasing the product due to development and obtaining third-party certifications.

Note 5. Inventories

Inventories used in the determination of cost of goods sold are as follows:

Note 6. Property and Equipment, Net

The following is a summary of property and equipment:

Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $113 and $116, respectively.

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)

Note 7. Net Intangible Assets

Intangible assets include the following:

Amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 was $235 and $93, respectively.

Estimated amortization expense over the next five years is as follows:

Note 8. Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses include the following:

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)

Note 9. Note Payable

The note payable consists of the following:

Note 10. Commitments

Lease commitments

The Company is leasing office equipment under an operating lease expiring in 2017.

Minimum lease payments required under non-cancelable operating leases are as follows:

Rental expense charged to operations was $8 and $21 for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Note 11. Common Stock Options and Stock Purchase Plan

Stock options

The 1997 Stock Option Plan (the “1997 Plan”) and 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”) authorize the issuance of both nonqualified and incentive stock options. Payment for the shares may be made in cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination thereof. Under the terms of the plans, incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options are granted at a minimum of 100% of fair market value on the date of grant and may be exercised at various times depending upon the terms of the option. All existing options expire 10 years from the date of grant or one year from the date of death.

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)

Stock-based compensation

Pursuant to the 2013 Plan, the Company is authorized to grant options to purchase up to 300,000 shares of its common stock. As of December 31, 2015, options to purchase an aggregate of 250,000 shares were outstanding, 165,000 shares were exercisable under the 2013 Plan, and 50,000 shares were available for issuance pursuant to awards that may be granted under the plan in the future.

Pursuant to the 1997 Plan, the Company was authorized to grant options to purchase up to 450,000 shares of its common stock. As of December 31, 2015, options to purchase an aggregate of 7,500 shares were outstanding and exercisable under the 1997 Plan. The board terminated the plan in 2014. The existing grants may be exercised according to the terms of the grant agreements but no additional options will be granted under the 1997 Plan.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, options to purchase 11,980 shares of common stock expired for four employees.

The following table summarizes the activity for outstanding incentive stock options under the 2013 Plan to employees of the company:

During the second quarter of 2014, the Company granted one outside director options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock. The options were priced above fair market value and vested 20% on the grant date, with an additional 20% vesting on the first four anniversaries of the grant date. The options expire ten years from the date of grant.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, one former outside director forfeited options to purchase 2,500 shares of common stock.

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)

The following table summarizes the activity for outstanding director stock options under both plans:

(1) The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as approximately the difference between the weighted average exercise price of the underlying awards and the Company’s estimated current fair market value at December 31, 2015.

The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the year ended December 31, 2014 was $35. The Company recognized compensation expense of approximately $63 and $67 during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, in connection with the issuance of the options.

The assumptions made in estimating the fair value of the options on the grant date based upon the BSM option-pricing model for the year ended December 31, 2014 are as follows:

The Company calculates expected volatility for stock options and other awards using historical volatility as the Company believes the expected volatility will approximate historical volatility.

There were no options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014.

As of December 31, 2015, there was approximately $109 of unrecognized compensation expense under the 2013 Plan. The Company expects to recognize this expense over the next three years. To the extent the forfeiture rate is different than we have anticipated, stock-based compensation related to these awards will be different from our expectations.

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts) 

Stock purchase plan

The 1996 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) allowed employees to set aside up to 10% of their earnings for the purchase of shares of the Company’s common stock. The purchase price was the lower of 85% of the market value at the date of the grant or the exercise date, which was six months from the date of the grant. Under the ESPP, the Company was authorized to sell and issue up to 150,000 shares of its common stock to its full-time employees. There were 81,653 shares issued under the plan. The plan was terminated effective January 1, 2014.

Note 12. Benefit Plans

Employee stock ownership plan

The Company sponsors an employee stock ownership plan (“ESOP”) that covers substantially all employees who work 1,000 or more hours during the year. The ESOP has, at various times, secured financing from the Company to purchase the Company’s shares on the open market. When the Plan purchases shares with the proceeds of the Company loans, the shares are pledged as collateral for these loans. The shares are maintained in a suspense account until released and allocated to participant accounts. The Plan owns 153,457 shares of the Company’s stock at December 31, 2015. All shares held by the Plan have been released and allocated. No dividends were paid during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. The Plan had no debt to the Company at December 31, 2015 or 2014.

The Company recognized compensation expense for contributions of $24 and $18, respectively, to the ESOP plan in 2015 and 2014.

In the event a terminated ESOP participant desires to sell his or her shares of the Company’s stock and the shares are not readily tradable, the Company may be required to purchase the shares from the participant at fair market value. In addition, the Company may distribute the ESOP’s shares to the terminated participant at the Company’s election. At December 31, 2015, 153,457 shares of the Company’s stock, with an aggregate fair market value of approximately $549, are held by ESOP participants who, if terminated, would have rights under the repurchase provisions. The Company believes that the market for its shares meets the ESOP requirements and that there would not be a current obligation to repurchase shares.

Profit sharing plan and savings plan

The Company has a salary reduction and profit sharing plan that conforms to IRS provisions for 401(k) plans. The Company may make profit sharing contributions with the approval of the Board of Directors. There were no profit sharing contributions by the Company in 2015 or 2014.

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ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2014 

(in thousands except share and per share amounts)

Note 13. Income Taxes

The components of the income tax provision for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 are as follows: 

The provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 differs from the amount obtained by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate to pretax income due to the following: 

The components of the net deferred tax asset (liability) consist of: